Find the best NBA bets tonight with picks for Friday night's slate from the BUCKETS Podcast, where our analysts gave out picks for two of the games on tonight's eight-game slate — Mavericks vs. Hawks and Cavaliers vs. Bucks.
Read their analysis and listen to the latest episode of the BUCKETS Podcast below.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | Mavericks -2.5 |
  | 8 p.m. | Cavaliers +5.5 |
| 8 p.m. | Under 238.5 |
Mavericks -2 at Hawks
7 p.m. ET ⋅ NBA TV
By Matt Moore
The Hawks are on pace to be the worst against the spread team since our data tracks back to in 2003, which tells us the books don't know how to properly rate them. The line has already moved from 1 to 2.5.
I like to bet on Dallas against teams that are under .500 and are less serious than they are. This is the perfect spot against the Hawks. The Hawks don't have much of a home-court advantage and my model has the Mavs at -6.
Luka Doncic is questionable with a right ankle sprain but the indications are that he is going to play. Keep an eye out for the injury report because it is not a blind fade of the Hawks, but if Luka is playing I want them.
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Cavaliers +5.5 at Bucks
8 p.m. ET ⋅ NBA League Pass
By Sean Little
I am taking the Cavaliers in the duplex spot. The Cavaliers are playing really well and Donovan Mitchell should play with some extra motivation after Damian Lillard was chosen as an All-Star starter over him.
These two teams are very familiar with each other. On Jan. 17, the Cavs beat the Bucks by 40 and are coming off a loss in the first game for the Bucks since their firing of Adrian Griffin. The Bucks were able to get to the free throw line at will last time out and I don't see that happening again.
I think with a full day off and all these points available are too steep for me — it is too high. I expect the Cavs to come out aggressive and I think they will play much better defense this time around.
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Bucks vs. Cavaliers Under 238.5
8 p.m. ET ⋅ NBA League Pass
By Matt Moore
The Cavs gave up a huge number — 126 — to the Bucks in the last game out. The Bucks tend to go over when they shoot more free throws than their opponent, which is what happened in the first game. I think the Cavs will buckle down now that they know what the Bucks are trying to do in terms of baiting, mechanisms and moves to avoid those calls.
Targeting teams after playing the Cavs is typically a good under spot, and of course these teams are playing consecutive games against each other.
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