NBA Thursday best bets: Will Giannis, Bucks spoil Suns' run in title rematch?

After splitting our two NBA picks against the spread Wednesday, we're 6-1 ATS this week heading into Thursday's slate. Here are our best bets:

Grizzlies (-11.5) @ Pistons, 7 p.m. ET

For a brief moment, it looked like the Pistons may be turning a corner. Then Cade Cunningham got hurt, and it's been downhill since then.

Detroit's dropped five straight (0-5 ATS) by an average of 14.6 points dating back to its Feb. 1 loss to the Pelicans when Cunningham left with an injury. Four of those five losses came by at least 10 points, including a 30-point beatdown by the Mavericks on Tuesday.

Now they face a Grizzlies squad that continues to look like one of the best in the NBA after winning five of its previous six games by double digits. Memphis ranks fourth in net rating (plus-7.3) across its last 20 games with a stellar 16-4 ATS run; if Cunningham is out or less than 100% for this one, both marks should continue.

Pick: Grizzlies -11.5

Nets @ Wizards (-3, 218), 7:30 p.m.

The market is finally turning on the Nets, who are catching points from a team with a losing record for only the fourth time this season - with two of the other three coming against the talent-rich Lakers.

There's plenty of reason for it, too. Brooklyn has dropped nine straight games (1-8 ATS) and will be without stars James Harden, who the Nets traded Thursday, and Kevin Durant (knee), among others, for tonight's contest. Seven of those nine losses were by 10 or more points, with Tuesday's 35-point stomping by the Celtics serving as the low point for this run.

Still, the Wizards have hardly earned much respect in the market, either, having lost eight of their last nine games (1-8 ATS) dating back to a Jan. 19 loss to these same Nets. That includes a 1-3 mark without Bradley Beal (wrist) - who is out for the season - with all three losses coming by at least 14 points. Take the points in a matchup without a clear advantage.

Pick: Nets +3

Bucks @ Suns (-3.5, 233.5), 10 p.m.

The Suns have pulled away from the rest of the pack in recent weeks, winning 14 of their last 15 games to reach an NBA-best 44 wins. Standing in their way of victory No. 45 is the very team that robbed them of a Finals win a year ago.

The Bucks have surged, too, winning four straight by a combined 82 points (4-0 ATS) ahead of Thursday's title rematch. Fittingly, reigning Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has been stellar in those four wins, averaging 33.5 points, 12 rebounds, and 7.5 assists on a killer 67.7% from the floor.

Phoenix struggled to slow down the 76ers' frontcourt in its previous game, ceding a combined 64 points and 19 rebounds to Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris on Tuesday. If Antetokounmpo gets going in this one, watch out.

Pick: Bucks +3.5

C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at [email protected].