NBA Preview and Best Bets (February 21): Streaking Nets Seek Staples Sweep

There is a solid Sunday of NBA betting action ahead, with eight games on today’s NBA schedule.

Last night was one of the wildest of the season so far, which is saying a lot. But it featured the Golden State Warriors, sans an ill Steph Curry, losing a five-point lead and the game in the final minute thanks to an ill-timed Draymond Green technical foul and some Terry Rozier heroics.

PUT SOM3️⃣ R3️⃣SPECT ON HIS NAM3️⃣‼️

T3️⃣RRY. ROZI3️⃣R. pic.twitter.com/D9UxuKS2am

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) February 21, 2021

What does tonight have in store? The Brooklyn Nets will be aiming to follow up their big win against the Lakers with one over the Clippers. Elsewhere, the Toronto Raptors will be the latest team to be tasked with keeping Joel Embiid under 30 points, which is apparently very hard to do these days. As a result, Embiid is one of the leading NBA MVP betting favorites. Will he keep his fantastic February going tonight?

All NBA betting odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of Sunday, February 21 at 1:00 pm ET. Click here for updated NBA betting odds.

February 21 NBA Betting Schedule

Boston Celtics vs New Orleans Pelicans, 3:30 pm ET, ABC

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers, 7:00 pm ET

Detroit Pistons vs Orlando Magic, 7:00 pm ET

Philadelphia 76ers vs Toronto Raptors, 7:00 pm ET

Minnesota Timberwolves vs New York Knicks, 7:00 pm ET

Denver Nuggets vs Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 pm ET

Brooklyn Nets vs Los Angeles Clippers, 8:00 pm ET, ESPN

Sacramento Kings vs Milwaukee Bucks, 9:00 pm ET

February 21 NBA Betting Games of the Day

Brooklyn Nets vs Los Angeles Clippers

NBA Betting Matchup: Brooklyn Nets (19-12, 8-7 away, 15-16-0 ATS, 22-9-0 O/U) vs Los Angeles Clippers (22-9, 11-5 home, 18-13-0 ATS, 19-11-1 O/U)

• Spread: Nets +6.5 (-110), Clippers -6.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 236.5 (-110), UNDER 236.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Nets +220, Clippers -270

The Nets won their fifth straight win on Thursday night, strolling past the undermanned Los Angeles Lakers. Today, however, stands to be a little tougher. The Clippers got Paul George and Kawhi Leonard back for Friday’s matchup with the Utah Jazz, and that made all the difference as the Clippers handed the Jazz only their second loss in 22 games. The Nets are still without Kevin Durant, who is out with a hamstring injury, but James Harden and Kyrie Irving are now clicking well.

For a more in-depth look at tonight’s Nets vs Clippers matchup, check out our Nets vs Clippers preview.

Philadelphia 76ers vs Toronto Raptors

NBA Betting Matchup: Philadelphia 76ers (20-10, 7-8 away, 15-14-1 ATS, 17-13-0 O/U) vs Toronto Raptors (15-15, 6-6 home, 14-16-0 ATS, 17-13-0 O/U)

• Spread: 76ers -3 (-110), Raptors +3 (-110)
• Total: OVER 223 (-112), UNDER 223 (-108)
• Moneyline: 76ers -156, Raptors +132

LeBron James may be the NBA MVP betting favorite, but Joel Embiid is not going to go quietly as long as he continues to play as he is. Embiid went for 50 and 17 in Friday’s 112-105 win over the Chicago Bulls, his 11th 30+ point performance in his last 13 games. When he faced the Raptors on December 29, he had 29 points and 16 rebounds in a 100-93 win. What will he do in the rematch? The Raptors have won three in a row to reach .500 and allowed a season low-tying 81 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.

February 21 NBA Betting Top Trends

Nets vs Clippers

Key Nets vs Clippers NBA Betting Trends: The OVER is 9-3-0 in the Nets’ games this season against Western Conference opponents. Since starting the season with four consecutive unders, the Nets have had not the under hit in consecutive games.

76ers vs Raptors

Key 76ers vs Raptors NBA Betting Trends: The OVER is 7-2-0 in the 76ers’ last nine games.

Celtics vs Pelicans

NBA Betting Matchup: Boston Celtics (15-14, 7-9 away, 15-14-0 ATS, 15-14-0 O/U) vs New Orleans Pelicans (12-17, 7-7 home, 12-17-0 ATS, 21-8-0 O/U)

Key Celtics vs Pelicans NBA Betting Trends: Our Celtics vs Pelicans preview has more on this, but the OVER continues to be the most notable trend in Pelicans games.

Thunder vs Cavaliers

NBA Betting Matchup: Oklahoma City Thunder (11-18, 7-9 away, 15-13-1 ATS, 15-14-0 O/U) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (10-20, 7-8 home, 10-20-0 ATS, 13-16-1 O/U)

Key Thunder vs Cavaliers NBA Betting Trends: The Thunder are 11-5 ATS on the road this season. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, are 1-11 SU and 0-12-0 ATS in their last 12 games.

Pistons vs Magic

NBA Betting Matchup: Detroit Pistons (8-21, 2-13 away, 15-13-1 ATS, 15-14-0 O/U) vs Orlando Magic (12-18, 7-8 home, 14-16-0 ATS, 14-15-1 O/U)

Key Pistons vs Magic NBA Betting Trends: The Magic are 4-1-0 ATS in their last five games. The Pistons are 6-8-1 ATS on the road, compared to their 9-5-0 ATS mark at home.

Timberwolves vs Knicks

NBA Betting Matchup: Minnesota Timberwolves (7-23, 3-12 away, 14-15-1 ATS, 14-16-0 O/U) vs New York Knicks (14-16, 7-6 home, 16-14-0 ATS, 10-20-0 O/U)

Key Timberwolves vs Knicks NBA Betting Trends: The Knicks are 5-2-0 SU and ATS in their last seven games.

Nuggets vs Hawks

NBA Betting Matchup: Denver Nuggets (16-13, 8-7 away, 13-16-0 ATS, 20-9-0 O/U) vs Atlanta Hawks (12-17, 6-9 home, 14-15-0 ATS, 13-16-0 O/U)

Key Nuggets vs Hawks NBA Betting Trends: The OVER has hit in the Hawks’ last seven games after going 6-16-0 in their first 22 games. The OVER is 10-5-0 in the Nuggets’ road games this season.

Kings vs Bucks

NBA Betting Matchup: Sacramento Kings (12-17, 5-6 away, 13-16-0 ATS, 19-10-0 O/U) vs Milwaukee Bucks (17-13, 10-4 home, 14-16-0 ATS, 17-12-1 O/U)

Key Kings vs Bucks NBA Betting Trends: Friday’s 98-85 win over Oklahoma City was the Bucks’ first cover and SU win in six games. The Kings have lost six in a row and failed to cover in all six, three as a favorite and three as a dog.

February 21 NBA Betting: Best Bets

• 1. Celtics vs Pelicans OVER (Best Bet): As our Celtics vs Pelicans preview says, keep backing the OVER in Pelicans games.
• 2. Nets vs Clippers OVER: With PG and Kawhi back in the lineup for the Clippers, the offenses on both sides should perform and score at a high level.
• 3. 76ers vs Raptors OVER: Overs have been frequent for the 76ers, and that should remain the case. And lump on the odds for Embiid to hit the 30-point mark, as those odds are too generous given his form at the moment.
• 4. Nuggets vs Hawks OVER: An eighth straight over beckons tonight.
• 5. Magic to win and cover vs Pistons: The Magic are playing better as of late, while the Pistons are better at home than they are on the road.