NBA Tuesday betting preview: Pelicans in a look-ahead spot vs. Hawks
Monday's seven-game NBA slate got bettors back into the swing of things, and the action picks up Tuesday with eight more on the board.
These are the top angles to keep in mind before locking in any wagers.
Pelicans @ Hawks (-3.5, 228.5)
The Pelicans get a star-studded prime-time game Wednesday against the Nets, but first, they have to duke it out with the Hawks in a potential look-ahead spot.
Atlanta's quietly climbed the ranks in the East to grab hold of the No. 4 seed entering Tuesday. The club recently weathered the storm on a grueling eight-game road trip - which was closed out with a win in New Orleans - and is now aiming for four in a row, both straight-up and against the spread.
While home-court advantage has mostly been a moot point in 2020-21, the Hawks have found their comfort zone at State Farm Arena - Atlanta's covered six straight overall, eight consecutive against teams with road winning percentages worse than .400, and four straight when favored.
This is a solid play on the Hawks and perhaps an even better fade on the Pelicans, who haven't covered against Atlanta in six straight meetings.
76ers @ Celtics (+2, 221.5)
The 76ers allowed 10.2 more points on the road than they did at home in 2019-20. It's safe to say the club's made some necessary improvements.
Philadelphia's won six straight as a road favorite, holding all six opponents under the team total.
76ers' last 6 as road favorites
| Opponent | Result | Team Total | Team Total O/U |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cavaliers | W 114-94 | 102.5 | Under |
| Lakers | W 109-101 | 103.5 | Under |
| Warriors | W 108-98 | 108.5 | Under |
| Knicks | W 101-101 | 105.5 | Under |
| Wizards | W 127-101 | 118.5 | Under |
| Raptors | W 109-102 | 110.5 | Under |
The Celtics are also trending under, hitting five straight overall. Don't be surprised if points come at a premium in this East clash.
Lakers @ Raptors (-1, 209)
This is a possible buy-low spot on a Raptors club playing well under its potential. Toronto's a 20-30 team playing like a 26-24 one, and the six-win difference in actual victories versus expected is the largest discrepancy in the league. Profits have been few and far between, but if there's any caveat, the Raptors have covered seven of the last 10 against winning franchises.
Meanwhile, the Lakers are just 2-6 ATS since LeBron James went down, and their offensive efficiency has cratered. Don't be hesitant to lay the short chalk with Toronto.
Grizzlies @ Heat (-5, 216)
The Grizzlies have been silent killers in the betting markets, sniping wins left and right. Although the team's overall record entering Tuesday would be just good enough to slip into the postseason, Memphis owns the third-best cover rate in the NBA (29-18, 61.7%).
Lo and behold, bettors should look that way again Tuesday when the Grizzlies match up with the Heat. Memphis is 6-2 ATS the last eight as 'dogs and has cashed five straight following a straight-up win, while Miami is just 2-6 ATS the previous eight after a double-digit victory.
Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.