The Tuesday night NBA slate has 6 games, including a doubleheader on Peacock where the Hawks host the Magic before we see the Oklahoma City Thunder try to improve to 8-0 on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers (3-1 at home).
But we also have a stellar matchup in the Eastern Conference between the Bulls and 76ers, who are both 5-1 teams looking to return to the playoffs this year.
Let’s look at our top NBA picks today.
Which Star Shines the Brightest in Tonight’s NBA Picks
Our games for tonight’s NBA picks are close to evenly matched, but the Hawks will have to make do without Trae Young (MCL) while Orlando’s Paolo Banchero is ready to shine in a national TV spot.
Then we have a battle of 5-1 teams with Josh Giddey doing great work for the Bulls and 76ers rookie V.J. Edgecombe looking like the NBA Rookie of the Year. Then we’ll see if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can outduel Kawhi Leonard and James Harden on the road in Los Angeles.
But let’s start our best basketball bets with the early game in Atlanta.
Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks (+4.5)
Both teams are 3-4 this season and not getting off to the good starts they were supposed to.
However, the Hawks are 0-2 at home while the Magic are at least 2-2 on the road. Paolo Banchero’s 3-point shot hasn’t been falling at all (.276 3P%), but Franz Wagner (.433 3P%) is picking up the slack and is averaging 22.6 points per game.
The Magic also need Desmond Bane (.258 3P%) to shoot like he’s capable of doing.
But the Magic play solid defense, ranked No. 9 in Defensive Rating. Atlanta’s defense is middling at best, and the Hawks have really fallen off offensively (25th in Rating) even before Young’s injury as he was struggling.
Atlanta beat Orlando 111-107 in Game 2 this season, but that was Young’s strongest game. We’ll back the Magic to get payback with a cover on the road for your NBA picks.
Expert Pick: Orlando -4.5 (-105) at BetMGM
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Chicago Bulls (-1.5)
This could be a really fun game. The 76ers are back on track by featuring a heavy dose of offense (No. 2 in Offensive Rating) behind Tyrese Maxey (33.7 points per game), sensational rookie V.J. Edgecombe (20.3 points per game), and they’re working in Joel Embiid slowly.
Embiid is averaging solid points while playing just 22.3 minutes per game. The 76ers have scored at least 117 points in every win.
The Bulls are also thriving with a top 5 offense without Coby White as Josh Giddey is having his best season yet, flirting with a triple-double in both games against the Knicks. They also rank higher than the 76ers on defense but neither unit is top 10.
Three of the last four games for Chicago have gone over 250 points. We think they can get up there with this one, so our favorite pick is for the game to go over 239.5 points.
Expert Pick: 76ers-Bulls Over 239.5 (-110) at BetMGM
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Clippers (+7.5)
The Thunder are 7-0 even though their No. 2 player, Jalen Williams, has yet to play a game. How are they doing it? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s consistent scoring and ability to get to the free-throw line.
They’re still dominating turnovers and rank No. 1 in Defensive Rating. They are also getting great minutes from 2nd-year player Ajay Mitchell, who is averaging 17.3 points off the bench.
The Clippers are just 3-3 and coming off a 120-119 loss to the Heat last night. Kawhi Leonard and James Harden are doing what they can to help the team, but they’re not as consistent as they used to be.
We like the younger, better rested Thunder to go on the road and do what they do best with winning the turnover battle and finishing off the Clippers by at least 8 points to cover the spread and improve to 8-0.
Expert Pick: Thunder -7.5 (-110) at BetMGM
Place These Bets Today!
It’s never too late to join sportsbooks and place some bets, including our top NBA picks today for the Magic covering the spread, the over hitting in Chicago, and the Thunder covering to get to 8-0.
Timing is so important in sports betting, so be sure to price shop before placing your bets to get the best lines and odds possible for your NBA picks, whether it’s a spread, total, moneyline, or a player prop.
Join OddsTrader Turbo Today
Want real-time tools to elevate your player prop betting? OddsTrader Turbo is your ultimate betting tips and odds tracker platform.
Start your free 30-day trial to access:
- The BetStation chatbot: Get instant data-driven betting tips and player prop insights
- Sportsbook syncing: Track all your bets across multiple books in one place
- Live odds movement alerts: React immediately when props shift in your favor
- Game alerts: Never miss a kickoff or last-minute injury report
- 5-star AI picks: Receive AI-generated recommendations for player props
Use this sports betting tool to sharpen your NBA betting acumen on sides, totals, and player props. Explore all the odds tips and bet analyzers available now.
More Expert Picks
Check out Jefe Picks’ top picks for today’s slate below. And remember to visit our YouTube channel for more daily betting advice!
*21+ Seek help with a gambling addiction at 1-800-Gambler
*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.