NBA Preview and Best Bets (February 12): Will Mitchell Master Milwaukee Again?

Fridays are great for a lot of reasons, but at this time of year, they’re especially great because they are one of the best NBA betting days of the week. And tonight, along with a loaded schedule, we’ve got potentially one of the best games of the season on tap.

The Utah Jazz have been on an amazing run over the last month, winning 16 of 17. It’s a run that started with a road win over the Milwaukee Bucks on January 8. Tonight, Giannis and the Bucks get their crack at revenge when they visit SLC. The Jazz are still some distance behind the Lakers, Nets, Clippers, and Bucks in NBA title odds, but a second win over the Bucks could go a long way in legitimizing them as one of the top contenders as well.

In the other ten games of the night, there are not a lot of matchups that stand out in the way that one does. But there is a lot of money to be made, so let’s get to it.

All NBA odds are via Fanduel Sportsbook as of Friday, February 12 at 11:30 am ET

February 12 NBA Betting Schedule

Minnesota Timberwolves vs Charlotte Hornets

New York Knicks vs Washington Wizartds

San Antonio Spurs vs Atlanta Hawks

New Orleans Pelicans vs Dallas Mavericks

Los Angeles Clippers vs Chicago Bulls

Detroit Pistons vs Boston Celtics

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Denver Nuggets

Milwaukee Bucks vs Utah Jazz

Memphis Grizzlies vs Los Angeles Lakers

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Portland Trail Blazers

Orlando Magic vs Sacramento Kings

February 12 NBA Betting Game of the Day

Milwaukee Bucks (16-9, 13-12-0 ATS) vs Utah Jazz (20-5, 18-7-0 ATS)

• Time & TV: (NA), 9:00 pm ET
• Spread: Bucks +2 (-115), Jazz -2 (-105)
• Total: OVER 236.5 (-110), UNDER 236.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Bucks +108, Jazz -126

When these two teams met last, the Jazz were 4-4. Then Donovan Mitchell scored what was then a season-high 32 to lead the Jazz to a 131-118 win. Since then, the Jazz have been the best team in the NBA, racking up double-digit win after double-digit win.

The Bucks overcame an eight-point deficit in the last two and a half minutes against the Suns on Wednesday, only to lose by 125-124. That stopped a five-game win streak for Milwaukee, who appears to have found something resembling their best form as of late. Prior to the loss to the Suns, the Bucks had won their previous five games by at least 13 points.

Unstoppable force vs immovable object. Who’s going to take the win?

Key NBA Betting Trends: The Jazz are 15-2-0 ATS in their last 17 games and are 9-3 ATS at home this season. This is the first time that the Bucks are an underdog this season. Last season, they were 2-4-0 ATS as a dog in the regular season. The OVER is 6-1-1 in the Bucks’ last eight games.

February 12 NBA Betting: Best of the Rest

New Orleans Pelicans (11-13, 11-13-0 ATS) vs Dallas Mavericks (12-14, 10-16-0 ATS)

• Time & TV: ESPN, 7:30 pm ET
• Spread: Pelicans +3 (-110), Mavericks -3 (-110)
• Total: OVER 232 (-110), UNDER 232 (-110)
• Moneyline: Pelicans +126, Mavericks -148

Wednesday’s loss at Chicago snapped a season-high four-game win streak for the Pelicans. The Mavs have won four of five to creep towards the .500 mark. Is Luka Doncic’s NBA MVP campaign back on?

Key NBA Betting Trends: The Mavs are 1-10-0 ATS in their last 11 games. The OVER is 16-3-0 in the Pelicans’ last 19 games, while it has also hit in the Mavs’ last five games.

San Antonio Spurs (14-11, 14-11-0 ATS) vs Atlanta Hawks (11-13, 13-11-0 ATS)

• Time & TV: (NA), 7:30 pm ET
• Spread: Spurs +2 (-110), Hawks -2 (-110)
• Total: OVER 226 (-115), UNDER 226 (-105)
• Moneyline: Spurs +108, Hawks -126

The Spurs got walloped by the Warriors at home on Tuesday to end a three-game win streak. But they have been one of the league’s best teams on the road, registering a 7-3 record. The Hawks have lost five of their last seven games.

Key NBA Betting Trends: The UNDER is 8-3-0 in Atlanta’s home games. The UNDER is 6-4-0 in the Spurs’ road games. The Spurs are 7-3-0 ATS on the road, while the Hawks are 6-7-0 ATS at home.

Los Angeles Clippers (18-8, 14-12-0 ATS) vs Chicago Bulls (10-14, 14-10-0 ATS)

• Time & TV: (NA), 8:00 pm ET
• Spread: Clippers -7 (-114), Bulls +7 (-106)
• Total: OVER 227.5 (-110), UNDER 227.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Clippers -290, Bulls +235

The Clippers will be without Paul George (bone edema in foot) for the fourth straight game. The Bulls dropped 129 on the Pelicans in a win on Wednesday, with Zach LaVine scoring a season-high 46. His previous season high of 45 came against the Clippers in a 130-127 road loss on January 10.

Key NBA Betting Trends: The Clippers have not covered in this current stretch without Paul George. They are 2-4 straight up and 1-5-0 ATS without George this season. The OVER is 5-1-0 in the Clippers’ last six games, and it is 9-3-0 in the Bulls’ games this season against Western Conference opposition.

Memphis Grizzlies (10-10, 11-9-0 ATS) vs Los Angeles Lakers (20-6, 12-14-0 ATS)

• Time & TV: ESPN, 10:00 pm ET
• Spread: Grizzlies +7 (-115), Lakers -7 (-105)
• Total: OVER 220 (-110), UNDER 220 (-110)
• Moneyline: Grizzlies +245, Lakers -300

The Grizzlies broke a four-game losing skid Wednesday night with a 16-point win over the Charlotte Hornets. Ja Morant has not shot over 50 percent in his last five games, but he has 29 assists (and only eight turnovers) in his last three games. The Lakers have played (and won) three straight overtime games. The last two have been without Anthony Davis (sore Achilles), who has returned to practice but is still listed as questionable for tonight’s game.

Key NBA Betting Trends: The Lakers have won their last six games, but they are only 2-4-0 ATS in that stretch and 2-7-0 ATS in their last nine games overall. The Grizzlies are 6-3-0 ATS on the road this season. The OVER has hit in the Lakers’ last three games due to overtime. The UNDER has hit in their last five games that ended in regulation, and it has hit in both of their previous games against the Grizzlies this season.

February 12 NBA Betting: Other Games

Minnesota Timberwolves (6-19, 13-11-1 ATS) vs Charlotte Hornets (12-14, 14-11-1 ATS)

• Time & TV: (NA), 7:00 pm ET
• Spread: Timberwolves +3.5 (-110), Hornets -3.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 228.5 (-110), UNDER 228.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Timberwolves +140, Hornets -166

The Timberwolves are finding wins hard to come by, but they continue to play hard and covered against the Clippers on Wednesday. Can their ATS run continue against LaMelo Ball (21.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 6.3 apg in February) and the Hornets?

Key NBA Betting Trends: The Timberwolves have lost five of their last seven games, but they are 6-0-1 ATS in that stretch. The Hornets are 4-1-1 ATS in their last six home games. The OVER is 6-3-1 in the Hornets’ last 10 games and has hit in Minnesota’s last three games.

New York Knicks (11-15, 13-13-0 ATS) vs Washington Wizards (6-16, 9-13-0 ATS)

• Time & TV: (NA), 7:00 pm ET
• Spread: Knicks -2.5 (-110), Wizards +2.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 219.5 (-114), UNDER 219.5 (-106)
• Moneyline: Knicks -144, Wizards +122

The Knicks have lost seven of their last ten, but they have a great chance for a win tonight against the Wizards, who are resting Bradley Beal for the first time this season.

Key NBA Betting Trends: The Wizards are 2-8 straight up and 3-7-0 ATS at home. The Knicks are 8-7-0 ATS on the road. The UNDER is 4-1-0 in the Wizards’ last five games, and it is 18-8-0 in Knicks games this season.

Detroit Pistons (6-19, 13-11-1 ATS) vs Boston Celtics (13-11, 13-11-0 ATS)

• Time & TV: (NA), 8:00 pm ET
• Spread: Pistons +8 (-105), Celtics -8 (-114)
• Total: OVER 214.5 (-110), UNDER 214.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Pistons +280, Celtics -350

The Celtics beat the Raptors by 14 last night to slow a skid in which they had lost five of seven. The Pistons have won only six games this season, but those wins are against the Celtics, Suns, Heat (their lone away win), 76ers, Lakers, and Nets.

Key NBA Betting Trends: The Celtics are 7-2-0 ATS at home. The Pistons are 1-11 straight up on the road, but they are 5-6-1 ATS. The OVER is 9-3 in Detroit’s road games this season, and it is 4-1-0 in Boston’s last five games.

Oklahoma City Thunder (10-14, 13-10-1 ATS) vs Denver Nuggets (13-11, 11-13-0 ATS)

• Time & TV: (NA), 9:00 pm ET
• Spread: Thunder +12 (-114), Nuggets -12 (-106)
• Total: OVER 222 (-106), UNDER 222 (-114)
• Moneyline: Thunder +570, Nuggets -820

The Thunder took the Lakers to overtime twice this week but could not come away with a win in either game. The Nuggets stopped a three-game losing streak with a 38-point win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.

Key NBA Betting Trends: The OVER is 9-2-0 in the Nuggets’ last 11 games. The OVER has hit in the Thunder’s last three games and is 7-3-0 in their last 10 road games.

Cleveland Cavaliers (10-16, 10-16-0 ATS) vs Portland Trail Blazers (14-10, 12-12-0 ATS)

• Time & TV: (NA), 10:00 pm ET
• Spread: Cavaliers +3.5 (-110), Trail Blazers -3.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 222.5 (-108), UNDER 222.5 (-114)
• Moneyline: Cavaliers +136, Blazers -162

The Trail Blazers scored a second win over the Philadelphia 76ers last night, their fourth win in their last five games. The Cavs have lost five straight and nine of 11.

Key NBA Betting Trends: The Cavs are 0-8-0 ATS in their last eight games. The Trail Blazers are 6-2-0 ATS in their last eight games. The OVER is 8-3-0 in Portland’s last 11 games, and it is 3-1-1 in the Cavs’ last five games.

Orlando Magic (9-17, 11-15-0 ATS) vs Sacramento Kings (12-12, 13-11-0 ATS)

• Time & TV: (NA), 10:00 pm ET
• Spread: Magic +8.5 (-105), Kings -8.5 (-115)
• Total: OVER 223.5 (-110), UNDER 223.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Magic +295, Kings -370

The Magic scored the late cover last night after being down by 13 with two minutes left. Can they repeat the feat tonight against the Kings, who have won six of eight?

Key NBA Betting Trends: Prior to Tuesday’s home loss to the 76ers, the Kings had covered in eight straight games. The Magic’s cover last night was only their second in their last eight games overall and third in their last 10 road games.

In the Kings’ last eight games, overs and unders have alternated in duos (most recent listed last): OO-UU-OO-UU. The UNDER is 6-2-1 in the Magic’s games this season against Western Conference teams.

February 12 NBA Betting: Best Bets

• 1. Bucks vs Jazz OVER
• 2. Thunder vs Nuggets OVER
• 3. Trail Blazers to cover vs Cavaliers
• 4. Pelicans vs Mavericks OVER
• 5. Clippers vs Bulls OVER