The NBA’s All-Star break couldn’t come any sooner. As we will see this Friday night, a great deal of NBA teams are dealing with injuries. At least eight teams playing will be without several key players, though the NBA betting odds have the lines as you’d expect if they were healthy.
NBA Games For Feb. 4
Boston Celtics (28-25) at Detroit Pistons (12-39)
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Point Spread: Boston -10
- Moneyline: Boston -450, Detroit +350
- Total: 215
The Boston Celtics tip off Friday as the biggest favorite thanks to playing the woeful Detroit Pistons. Boston has the second-best net rating in 2022 at +9.2 even if they are just 7-10 against the spread (ATS) in this span. They are much better as a road a favorite overall: 7-3-0 ATS. The Pistons are 9-5 ATS at home against the conference.
Chicago Bulls (32-19) at Indiana Pacers (19-34)
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Point Spread: Chicago -2
- Moneyline: Chicago -135, Indiana +115
- Total: 230
Coming off an overtime loss against Toronto, the undermanned Chicago Bulls are back at it against the Indiana Pacers and as favorites. The Bulls are 6-4 on the second night of a back-to-back and 5-4 with a rest disadvantage. Indiana is just 3-7 as a home underdog, though they did cash bets online the last time they were (against the Los Angeles Clippers).
Cleveland Cavaliers (31-21) at Charlotte Hornets (28-24)
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Point Spread: Charlotte -5½
- Moneyline: Cleveland +175, Charlotte -210
- Total: 217
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Hornets are third and fourth in cover rate, respectively. However, the Cavs are just 1-6 ATS in its last seven games while Charlotte is just 2-4 ATS in its last four and just 1-4 ATS in its last five home games. On the totals, the Cavs’ last five road games have all gone over.
Atlanta Hawks (25-26) at Toronto Raptors (27-23)
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Point Spread: Toronto -3
- Moneyline: Atlanta +130, Toronto -150
- Total: 217½
These teams both played and won on Thursday night, though statistically the Toronto Raptors perform better when having no rest. The Raptors are 7-2 ATS while the Atlanta Hawks are just 3-6 ATS, though they just ended the Phoenix Suns’ 11-game unbeaten streak. Toronto beat Atlanta in their last matchup, but the Hawks won the three previous meetings.
The Raptors last 4 games:
W vs Bulls
W vs Heat
W @ Hawks
W @ HeatThey are 1.5 games back from the Nets. pic.twitter.com/cD930a38WT
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 4, 2022
Houston Rockets (15-36) at San Antonio Spurs (19-34)
- Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
- Point Spread San Antonio -7½
- Moneyline: Houston +240, San Antonio -290
- Total: 237½
In the span of four weeks, the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs will play each other for the third time. Each have won one game apiece and San Antonio is 3-2 in its last five games against Houston. On the spread, the Spurs are just 13-15 at home while Houston is 14-12-1 on the road. The total is the highest for the evening.
Brooklyn Nets (29-22) at Utah Jazz (31-21)
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Point Spread: Utah -5½
- Moneyline: Brooklyn +180, Utah -220
- Total: 229½
God have mercy on folks who keep betting online on either the Brooklyn Nets and Utah Jazz. The former has the worst cover rate at 38 percent while the latter is the fourth-worst at 41.2 percent. Injuries have played a big role in their underperformance, though Jazz All-star Donovan Mitchell could suit up for this game. Utah has won five straight games at home against Brooklyn.
New Orleans Pelicans (19-32) at Denver Nuggets (28-23)
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Point Spread: Denver -6
- Moneyline: New Orleans +200, Denver -240
- Total: 224
Speaking of injury-plagued teams, the Denver Nuggets host the New Orleans Pelicans as considerable favorites. Nikola Jokic’s gang is just 9-13 ATS at home and the Pels are only 11-16 ATS on the road. Peep the over here as Denver’s last seven home games have cashed it.
Oklahoma City Thunder (16-34) at Portland Trail Blazers (21-31)
- Time: 10 p.m. ET
- Point Spread: Portland -6½
- Moneyline: Oklahoma City +255, Portland -215
- Total: 212½
Two more victims of the injury bug square off with the Portland Trail Blazers being huge favorites. Portland has won just two of its last six games against Oklahoma City. Both will be without their best player, which explains the low totals. Four of Portland’s last five home games have gone under.
Philadelphia 76ers (31-20) at Dallas Mavericks (29-23)
- Time: 10 p.m. ET
- Point Spread: Dallas -1½
- Moneyline: N/A
- Total: 210½
The Philadelphia 76ers look to get back in the win column as they visit the Dallas Mavericks. In what has the lowest total of the evening, we have two top-ten defenses who are also ranked in the bottom four of the NBA in pace. However, Dallas’s last five games have all gone over.
