NBA Thursday betting preview: Can Nets extend red-hot over run vs. Lakers?

We extended our recent run to 11-6 against the spread after the Jazz won yet again ATS, maintaining their historic start this season.

There are only three games on Thursday, but value can still be found.

Raptors @ Bucks (-6, 234.5)

The Bucks have been among the NBA's best bets over the last three years, but they've hit a rough patch amid a four-game losing streak - the team's longest since Mike Budenholzer took over as head coach in 2018. The fourth loss came Tuesday against the Raptors (+5.5), who covered as underdogs of five-plus points for the first time this season.

Toronto is 4-9 ATS against teams that enter a game with a winning record, and it'll struggle to pull off the two-game sweep. Clubs are 83-67-7 ATS (55.3%) since 2014 when facing an opponent the squad lost to one game earlier, including 8-2 ATS over the last 10 tries.

Pick: Bucks -6

Nets at Lakers (-2.5, 232.5)

The Nets can't seem to stop cashing overs, even with their offensive superstars sidelined. The latest came on Tuesday, when James Harden spearheaded the team's 40-point fourth quarter against the Suns to extend Brooklyn's 19-3 over run, despite Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving sitting out with injuries.

Irving is expected to be back for Thursday's tilt against the Lakers, who are without Anthony Davis for the sixth time this season, and the 16th time since acquiring him in 2019. Los Angeles is 10-5 to the over in those previous 15 games, and 3-3 this year despite all six contests coming against below-average offenses. Let the fireworks begin.

Pick: Over 232.5

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.