NBA Wednesday best bets: Buy low on Kings after 53-point loss
We posted a 1-2 record against the spread Tuesday, cashing on the Lakers in Anthony Davis' return but missing on the Timberwolves and Mavericks. Here are our top plays for Wednesday.
Knicks @ Heat (-5.5, 203), 7:30 p.m. ET
Don't look now, but the Heat have surged to the East's No. 1 seed and look like one of the best teams in the NBA with their roster mostly intact.
Miami owns a top-five net rating since the start of January with an 8-3 ATS record, which includes a 3-1 ATS mark with stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo both active. Those two have picked up right where they left off, averaging a combined 31.3 points, 16.3 rebounds, and 12.3 assists - which includes a shortened stint for Butler (15 minutes) in the Heat's lone loss in that stretch.
With both stars healthy for this one, expect Miami to build an early lead against the Knicks, who have dropped four of five after Monday's loss to the Cavaliers. If Julius Randle can't establish himself against Adebayo and Co., it could be a long night for New York.
Pick: Heat -5.5
Kings @ Hawks (-9, 231.5), 7:30 p.m.
This is the definition of a buy-low, sell-high spot between these two clubs, who are coming off dramatically different results their last time out.
The Kings are less than 24 hours removed from a 53-point drubbing against the Celtics - the second-biggest loss by any team this year and fourth-worst in franchise history. They're the 11th team to lose by 50 or more since 2014; only one of those other 10 teams lost by 10 or more points in their following contest.
Meanwhile, the Hawks are fresh off a 22-point win over the Hornets on Sunday, extending their winning streak to four games. Only two of those came by double digits, which immediately followed a five-game losing streak for this group. Atlanta is still 11-15 ATS this year as a favorite and lost outright the last time it was favored by nine or more points.
Sacramento's loss on Tuesday was bad, but it was only this team's fourth double-digit loss in its last 15 games. Expect a bounce-back effort from the Kings in a clear value spot.
Pick: Kings +9
Nuggets (-2.5, 221) @ Nets, 8 p.m.
We successfully faded the Nets on Tuesday without two of their key stars, and we're going back to the well thanks to another lengthy injury report for the home side.
Brooklyn is expected to be without Kevin Durant (knee), Kyrie Irving (personal), Joe Harris (ankle), Paul Millsap (personal), and Nic Claxton (rest) for Wednesday's tilt. That's a heck of a lot of firepower to be missing for a team coming off back-to-back blowout losses.
The Nets are 4-7 ATS this season without Durant, who is not only this team's best offensive weapon but among its only legitimate defensive options against opposing bigs. Nuggets star Nikola Jokic has posted ridiculous numbers over his past six games (29.8 points, 13.7 rebounds, 11.0 assists) and should feast down low in this one.
Pick: Nuggets +2.5
C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.