NBA Best Bets (Feb. 24): Thunder, Knicks and Lakers All In Action Tuesday

With about 25 games left in the NBA season, anything can happen. It’s not time to rest on one’s laurels, but some may still try. This, of course, adds a layer of complexity to NBA betting as teams try to manage winning while ensuring their superstars stay healthy for the second season, aka the playoffs.

Our NBA Best Bets list is geared toward helping bring some sense to all the chaos, well, at least for Tuesday’s slate. Not every game is included, of course, but I have tried to focus on the more interesting ones.

(Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)

Odds and Predictions for Tuesday's Slate of Games

All the odds I used in making this list of NBA predictions for games on Feb. 24 can be found at DraftKings.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Toronto Raptors

Dealing with injuries has been par for the course for the Thunder this season. But when it’s the defending MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, it becomes a little more challenging. However, Oklahoma City has not done too poorly with SGA out, winning four of seven games (to date).

Two of the losses were to other playoff-bound teams, the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs.

Toronto has the No. 6 defense in the NBA at the moment (111.7 points per game allowed), and held the Thunder to 101 points (while scoring 103) in a matchup earlier in the season with SGA in the lineup. So, we know the Raptors' defense can hold its own against the Thunder.

But can Toronto do enough to win against a tough OKC defense?

• My Pick: Toronto ML at -105

If OKC was hosting this game, I might lean the other way. But since the game is in Toronto and the Thunder have already ruled out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ajay Mitchell and Jalen Williams, I feel like a healthier and more talented Toronto team can take this one at home.

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New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Knicks and Cavs are currently the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds in the Eastern Conference with a game between them. Playoff implications? Eh — it’s still a little early for that, but it is certainly a game that demands attention.

Both teams are coming in hot. Cleveland lost to the Thunder in Oklahoma City on Saturday, 121-113, but has won 12 of its last 14 games. As for the Knicks, they are coming off a pair of gritty wins, 105-99 vs. the Chicago Bulls on Sunday and a 108-106 come-from-behind effort vs. the Houston Rockets.

New York has won 12 of its last 15 games and is 6-1 in road games during that stretch. But Cleveland has been playing well at home, going undefeated in their last five and 4-1 ATS. This will be the third of three games scheduled between the Knicks and Cavs this season. New York won the first two, both played at Madison Square Garden, 119-111 (Oct. 22) and 126-124 (Christmas Day).

• My Pick: OVER 230.5 at -110

My gut is telling me Cleveland will win, but using “my gut” is not considered valid data to support my claim. But what I can say without reservation is that we have two playoff-caliber teams here playing solid basketball right now. That means either team could conceivably win this game.

Expect plenty of points Tuesday in Cleveland

Either team could win this high-scoring game. Both teams feature high-volume shooters who are among the NBA’s highest scoring players. I’m a little concerned that the Knicks defense could contain the Cavs offense enough to keep the score low, but Cleveland scored 124 in the last game.

The Cavs' middle-of-the-road defense will not slow Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns down much — if at all.

If you're looking ahead to odds for the NBA playoffs, Ballislife has that and all future team and player bets on our website.

Orlando Magic vs. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers come into this game having had a run of bad luck as of late as losers in three of their last five games (all at home). Had they been at full strength in those games, they may have run the table, but they didn’t have Luka Doncic in the loss to the Thunder. Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves were out against San Antonio. But all three are expected to play against Orlando.

As for the Magic, Orlando has won five of its last seven, but just two of its last four, a 116-108 loss and a 113-110 2OT loss to Phoenix. The Magic won their last game, a tight 111-109 battle vs. the Clippers in Los Angeles. On the offensive end, both teams average around 115 points per game, but this number is misleading for the Lakers.

They have seldom had Doncic, James, and Reaves active in the same game.

• My Pick: Lakers -4.5 at -118

I’m tempted to go with the OVER  with how well the Lakers' offense matches up with the Magic. They will not have an answer for Doncic, James, and Reaves. But I’m not super confident that Orlando will hold up its end of the bargain and score enough against the Lakers' defense in LA to make it matter.