NBA best bets today (Predictions for Pelicans-Jazz, Khris Middleton)

If you’re not tailing my NBA best bets column right now, what are you waiting for?

After a 2-1 night on Monday, I’ve hit 10 of the last 12 plays I’ve given our BetSided and FanSided community, and I’m looking to keep things going tonight.

We have some marquee matchups tonight in The Association, with the Los Angeles Lakers taking on the Boston Celtics and the Golden State Warriors playing the Milwaukee Bucks.

I’ve got a pair of player props, plus a side for tonight’s action. Let’s get into the three picks:

BetMGM

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DraftKings

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NBA Best Bets Record to Date

NBA Best Bets Today

• New Orleans Pelicans Moneyline (-130) vs. Utah Jazz
• Lonnie Walker IV OVER 13.5 Points (-110)
• Khris Middleton OVER 16.5 Points (-110)

FanDuel

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New Orleans Pelicans Moneyline (-130) vs. Utah Jazz

New Orleans Pelicans @ Utah Jazz | Current Best Odds

The New Orleans Pelicans are on fire as of late, moving to No. 2 in the NBA in net rating over this seven-game win streak and ranking fifth in offense and third in defense.

Now, they get a struggling Utah Jazz team that has gone just 3-7 in its last 10 games. The Pels are set as short road favorites in this one, but I’m just taking them to win outright.

Herb Jones (probable) is expected to be back in the lineup, and the Pels should expose Utah’s No. 24 defense.

New Orleans is 4-2 against the spread as a road favorite this season, and I think they grab another road win tonight.

Lonnie Walker IV OVER 13.5 Points (-110)

We’re going back to the well with Lonnie Walker IV’s points prop, even though it has gone up from 12.5 to 13.5.

Walker has cleared this line in 17 of his 23 games, averaging 16.0 points per game while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 39.0 percent from 3.

The Lakers are second in the NBA in pace, so they’re almost a guarantee to play a high-scoring game every time out.

Now, they get a Celtics team that is on the second night of a back-to-back and was blown out by the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.

Walker should see enough usage to clear this number again.

Khris Middleton OVER 16.5 Points (-110)

The Bucks had an injury scare for Khris Middleton (ankle) on Sunday, but he appears to be good to go tonight against Golden State.

Middleton scored 19 points on Dec. 9 against the Dallas Mavericks, taking 17 shots in that game.

As he comes back into this normal role, Middleton should see 15-plus shots per game and push around 20 points per night, something he’s done in four of the last five years.

Andrew Wiggins, the Warriors best wing defender, is out tonight, which should make things easier on Middleton to have a big game.

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.