We’re more than halfway into the 2024-25 NBA season. I’ll continue giving out NBA best bets and player props here as often as possible, and I’ll also occasionally write up features on big news that shakes up the league. So, make sure you check out my work throughout the season. With that out of the way, let’s get into some NBA best bets and NBA player props for Saturday, February 22nd. Also, make sure you check out the picks page (linked right below) before games tip off. I occasionally add picks throughout the day.
MORE: Check out our Pro Picks page for everything our experts have on February 22nd
NBA Best Bets Today – February 22nd
Houston Rockets at Utah Jazz – 9:30 pm ET
Look, it’s not fun being the guy that regularly backs teams like the Jazz, Hornets and Raptors. But the fact of the matter is that somebody has to do it. While bad teams don’t regularly win, they do occasionally find ways to cover. And in Utah’s case, the team does it somewhat often at home. While the Jazz are just 6-20 straight-up at home this season, they have covered in 13 of those 26 games. Also, under Will Hardy, Utah is 57-39 ATS as an underdog of 3.5 to 9.5 points. The team is also 16-13 ATS as a home ‘dog of 6.5 to 12 under Hardy, and the group happens to have a winning SU record (5-4) against up-tempo teams that average 93.0 or more shots per game in that span.
Utah is also 20-16-1 ATS on the second night of a back-to-back under Hardy, but Houston is 9-17 SU and 12-14 ATS in that situation under Ime Udoka. And the Rockets are coming off a hard-fought win over the Timberwolves, so they’re definitely in a bit of a letdown spot.
I also think this matchup is somewhat favorable for Utah. The team might be a bit of a mess defensively, but it helps facing a team that is far worse offensively than it is defensively. The Rockets have also cooled down a little after their scorching hot start to the year. Over the last 15 games, they’re 7-8 with a net rating of -1.5. Well, the Jazz have a home net rating of -4.9 over their last 15 home games. So, a 7.5-point spread feels too large. And I think Utah will have chances to win this outright.
Bet: Jazz +7.5 (-105 – 1.5 units) & Jazz ML (+250 – 0.5 units)
NBA Player Props Today – February 22nd
Phoenix Suns at Chicago Bulls – 5:00 pm ET
Since the start of February, Grayson Allen is averaging 10.7 points, 3.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game. The 29-year-old is playing some good basketball for Phoenix, and Mike Budenholzer clearly realizes it. Allen has been rewarded with at least 30 minutes of playing time in four of the last five games, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he flirts with that number again. Last game, the Suns experimented with a little more Allen and a little less Tyus Jones, who has been struggling on both ends of the floor. Well, if Allen does see some good minutes, he should enjoy this matchup with the Bulls. Chicago is just 26th in the NBA in adjusted defensive rating (116.2) and the team plays at the third-fastest pace (103.8) in the league. So, Allen could potentially be in for a nice night, especially with the way the Bulls close out. Chicago really emphasizes taking away the 3, but Allen is good at attacking scrambling defenses. Also, there’s only so much the Bulls can do to take Allen 3s away against a team with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.
Bet: Allen Over 15.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-120 – 1.5 units)
Brooklyn Nets at Philadelphia 76ers – 7:30 pm ET
This has been a brutal season for Paul George. The 34-year-old is averaging just 16.2 points per game on the year, and George is shooting just 42.8% from the floor and 36.2% from 3. However, this game is being played at the Wells Fargo Center, and George has been a little better offensively at home this season. In 13 home games, George is averaging 18.3 points and shooting 37.4% from 3. On top of that, George just played a solid offensive game against the Celtics, scoring 17 points in 29 minutes.
Realistically, George isn’t a player I’m looking to back on a regular basis, but we’re at the point where he’s being lined like Tobias Harris. Sure, some of that has to do with the fact that Brooklyn just held George to two points in 37 minutes on February 12th. But George also scored 17 against this team on January 4th. So, we have seen the decent George and the bad George in two meetings with the Nets. I’m hoping for the decent one tonight, but I’m sprinkling him to score 20+ at +300 odds. I’m aware he hasn’t looked like the same player this year — and he’s playing through a pretty significant injury — but +300 for a guy that averaged 22.6 a year ago is hard to pass up.
Bet: George Over 14.5 Points (-105 – 1.5 units) & George Alt 20+ (+300 – 0.5 units)
Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets – 8:30 pm ET
In Russell Westbrook’s first game back from injury, he had seven assists in 26 minutes of action. He didn’t look to be rusty whatsoever, and I now have a hard time believing he’ll fail to reach the six-assist mark tonight. In Westbrook’s only meeting with the Lakers this season, he had 14 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds in 24 minutes of action. He always gets juiced up for meetings with former teams, and he sees red with this Los Angeles team. Also, the Lakers are a worse defensive team now that Anthony Davis and Max Christie have been replaced with Luka Doncic. So, Westbrook should have no trouble getting into the paint and setting teammates up.
Bet: Westbrook Over 5.5 Assists (-104)
Additional Plays
This is where I’ll include any late added plays, teasers/parlays or in-season futures. Come back before tip if you don’t want to miss anything. It’s always possible I’ll add something to my card.
PARLAY: Nuggets ML vs. Lakers & Blazers ML vs. Hornets (+109 – 1.5 units)
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2024-25 NBA Record: 249-253-2 (-6.43 units)
