There are a handful of games in the NBA on Saturday. Here are our favorite total bets to consider for the day.
Memphis Grizzlies at Milwaukee Bucks Pick
Grizzlies vs. Bucks Betting Report
Best Bet: Over 236.5
The Grizzlies head to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks Saturday night, and the over is a good bet to consider. Both Memphis and Milwaukee play fast brands of basketball. In fact, the Bucks are tops in pace, and the Grizzlies are third.
This conversion of fast teams suggests scoring opportunities will be plenty. Pace is calculated by field goals attempted per game and possessions per game. Both teams take quick shots and move the ball up and down the floor quickly.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has returned to the lineup, and so too has our confidence in this Bucks team. Milwaukee is one of the NBA’s best offenses, currently in the top five. The Grizzlies are league average but tops in the league in scoring inside.
The Bucks are 32-22-1 against over/unders this season. The Grizzlies are 27-26.
Detroit Pistons vs. Washington Wizards Pick
Pistons vs. Wizards Betting Report
Best Bet: Wizards Team Total Over 115
For our next bet, we’ll be focusing on just one team: the Washington Wizards. The bet here is that the Wizards should hit their projected team total against the Detroit Pistons.
As a whole, Detroit’s defense is not good, as it is ranked in the bottom 10 of the league. The matchup advantage comes in the paint. Washington is ninth in the NBA in inside scoring, while Detroit is the fourth-most generous defense to inside scoring.
The Pistons are ill-equipped to stop the slashing and pull-up attack from Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal. Both guards should be in for a big night, so consider taking their point totals as well.
Another call back to pace, but Washington is fourth in the NBA at pace of play. The Wizards will be shooting the ball, and, assuming the Pistons defense continues its struggles, points will come.
The Wizards average nearly 114 points per game and have scored 123 and 125 in back-to-back games.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls Pick
Cavaliers vs. Bulls Betting Report
Best Bet: Over 214
The Cavaliers and Bulls both own below-average defenses that should make life easy on the offenses. At its core, that is one of the foundational reasons to bet on an over. Both Cleveland and Chicago are similarly constructed and have significant advantages in this game.
Both teams prefer to do their scoring near the basket. The Cavaliers rank fifth in scoring in the paint, while the Bulls rank sixth.
Chicago is 26th at defending the rim, while Cleveland comes in ranked 24th. Finding overlaps between offensive preferences and defensive weaknesses is a great way to find an over worth betting on.
The Cavaliers sport a pair of slashing guards in Collin Sexton and Darius Garland. The two young players are Cleveland’s leading scorers, and both shoot only four threes per game. With the majority of their work down low, they seem poised for big games.
Even with the absence of Zach LaVine, the Bulls have the talent to take advantage of this Cleveland defense. Expect a big game for Nikola Vucevic inside.
On the year, Chicago is 27-27 against over/unders, Cleveland is 24-30-1. This should be a reasonable line to bet on.
