NBA Betting Preview (February 8): Jokic, Giannis Lock Horns in Denver

It’s a new week, and if you have a bigger bankroll after Super Bowl 55, today is a good day to add to it with some NBA betting.

In yesterday’s action, the Sacramento Kings moved over .500 with a 113-110 road win over the Paul George-less Los Angeles Clippers. The Kings, who have won four straight and seven of eight, are still +164 to make the NBA playoffs. There are still many games ahead, but those odds look very appealing right now.

Today’s NBA betting schedule features eight games, so there is plenty to choose from if you are looking to make the most of your Super Bowl Sunday winnings. The standout game of the night is in Denver, as Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets host Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks in a matchup of NBA MVP candidates.

All NBA odds are via Fanduel Sportsbook as of Monday, February 8

February 8 NBA Betting Game of the Day

Milwaukee Bucks (15-8) vs Denver Nuggets (12-10)

• Time & TV: NBATV, 9:30 pm ET
• Spread: Bucks -4 (-110), Nuggets +4 (-110)
• Total: OVER 234 (-110), UNDER 234 (-110)
• Moneyline: Bucks -176, Nuggets +148

The Bucks have won four in a row, but they are in for a tussle tonight against the Nuggets, who are playing only their second home game in the last three weeks. Nikola Jokic has three 35+ point performances in his last four games, and he is now +440 to be MVP. But the Nuggets will need more from Jamal Murray and Michael Porter, Jr. if they are to beat the Bucks tonight.

Key NBA Betting Trends: The OVER is 16-6-0 in Nuggets games this season. In their home games, the OVER is 7-3-0.

February 8 NBA Betting: Best of the Rest

Houston Rockets (11-11) vs Charlotte Hornets (11-13)

• Time & TV: NBATV, 7:00 pm ET
• Spread: Rockets -3 (-110), Hornets +3 (-110)
• Total: OVER 223.5 (-105), UNDER 223.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: Rockets -152, Hornets +128

This is one of the more interesting lines of the night. The Rockets are without Christian Wood, who is out with a right ankle sprain. Without their leading scorer (22.0 ppg) and rebounder (10.2 rpg), they finished off the Grizzlies Thursday but lost at home to the Spurs on Saturday. The Hornets, meanwhile, are trending up after winning four of their last six.

Key NBA Betting Trends: The UNDER is 14-7-1 in Rockets games this season, but it is only 6-6 on the road. The UNDER is 8-4-1 in the Hornets’ home games, but the OVER has hit in three of their last four at home and four of five overall.

Toronto Raptors (10-13) vs Memphis Grizzlies (9-9)

• Time & TV: (NA), 8:00 pm ET
• Spread: Raptors -3 (-106), Grizzlies +3 (-114)
• Total: OVER 224 (-110), UNDER 224 (-110)
• Moneyline: Raptors -144, Grizzlies +122

The Grizzlies have lost three in a row, while the Raptors have won three of their last four. Ja Morant is not having a prosperous February so far, shooting only 37.5 percent from the field and averaging only 13.5 ppg in four games. He needs to snap out of his slump soon. Will tonight be the night?

Key NBA Betting Trends: The OVER has been scorching in Raptors games as of late. It has hit in five straight and six of seven. The Raptors have had a big hand in that, scoring at least 115 points in each of their last five games.

Golden State Warriors (12-11) vs San Antonio Spurs (13-10)

• Time & TV: (NA), 8:30 pm ET
• Spread: Warriors +1.5 (-106), Spurs -1.5 (-114)
• Total: OVER 232.5 (-110), UNDER 232.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Warriors +110, Spurs -130

The Spurs bounced back from two ugly losses to the Grizzlies with consecutive wins over the Timberwolves and Rockets. They now seek their third three-game win streak of the young season. Steph Curry has found his shot after a subpar start from outside. In his last eight games, Steph has averaged 32.9 ppg and shot 52.1 percent (49 of 94) from three after shooting only 36.7 percent from deep in his first 15 games.

Key NBA Betting Trends: The Spurs are 8-5 at home, but they are only 6-7-0 ATS and have failed to cover the spread in their last three home games. The Warriors, meanwhile, are 5-2-0 ATS in their last seven games.

February 8 NBA Betting: Other Games

Washington Wizards (5-15) vs Chicago Bulls (9-13)

• Time & TV: (NA), 8:00 pm ET
• Spread: Wizards +2.5 (-106), Bulls -2.5 (-114)
• Total: OVER 237.5 (-105), UNDER 237.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: Wizards +118, Bulls -138

Neither one of these teams is good, but this spread looks generous to the Wizards. The Bulls beat the Wizards twice on the road already, and the Wizards go to Chicago after getting crushed by the Hornets yesterday.

Key NBA Betting Trends: The Wizards are 2-7-0 ATS in their last nine games. On the road, they are 1-6-0 ATS in their last seven games.

Minnesota Timberwolves (6-17) vs Dallas Mavericks (10-14)

• Time & TV: (NA), 8:30 pm ET
• Spread: Timberwolves +9.5 (-110), Mavericks -9.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 225.5 (-110), UNDER 225.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Timberwolves +360, Mavericks -460

After getting blown out at home by the Warriors on Thursday, the Mavs finally showed some life in Saturday’s rematch. In one of the best games of the NBA season, the Mavs took Steph Curry’s best and came out on top in a 134-132 win. Will that finally kick them into gear? Tonight will tell the tale. The T’Wolves have played close recently in the games that they have lost. The Mavs cannot play like they have in many games this season and expect to win.

Key NBA Betting Trends: The Timberwolves are 4-0-1 ATS in their last five games. The Mavs are 1-8-0 ATS in their last nine games.

Cleveland Cavaliers (10-14) vs Phoenix Suns (13-9)

• Time & TV: (NA), 9:00 pm ET
• Spread: Cavaliers +7.5 (-114), Suns -7.5 (-106)
• Total: OVER 214 (-115), UNDER 214 (-105)
• Moneyline: Cavaliers +250, Suns -310

This is the back end of a back-to-back for the Suns, who scored a solid win over the Celtics yesterday. The Suns are 4-1 in such games this season, and they enter tonight 5-1 in their last six games. The Cavs, meanwhile, have lost seven of nine and have lost their last three games by 22, 18, and 25 points.

Key NBA Betting Trends: The UNDER is 14-8-0 in Suns games, and it is 14-9-1 in Cavs games. Also, the Suns are 13-9-0 ATS, while the Cavs are 10-14-0 ATS.

Oklahoma City Thunder (10-12) vs Los Angeles Lakers (18-6)

• Time & TV: (NA), 10:00 pm ET
• Spread: Thunder +10 (-110), Lakers -10 (-110)
• Total: OVER 216 (-115), UNDER 216 (-105)
• Moneyline: Thunder +385, Lakers -500

The Thunder are a solid 7-4 on the road, with wins over the Nets, Suns, and Trail Blazers. So they could pose a challenge for the Lakers tonight. But the champs are on a nice run, having won four straight since losing to the Pistons almost two weeks ago.

Key NBA Betting Trends: The UNDER is 17-7-0 in Lakers games. Saturday’s double-overtime win over the Pistons broke a run of five straight unders.