Best Bets for First Night of NBA Games Post All-Star Break February 20th

• NBA action resumes Thursday, Feb 20 with six games on the schedule
• Bucks continue quest for 70 wins and top seed in the East in Detroit
• Get the odds, our picks, and all the info you need to bet the games below

Bravo, NBA, for putting together the best all-star festivities of any sport in recent memory. It was a great weekend in Chicago, but now we’re in a sprint to the regular season finish. All teams have less than 30 games to get where they need to be, whether that’s to the top of the conference for a legitimate shot at the title, to home court in the first round, to sneaking into the eight seed, or plummeting to the bottom of the league.

That also means we’ve got to get our bets on and make hay down the home stretch. With NBA action resuming tonight (Feb 20), let’s look at some games and wagers you should be targeting. Click here for all the start times, betting odds and information you’ll need for all the games.

Milwaukee Bucks vs Detroit Pistons Odds

Odds taken February 19

Analysis: The Bucks are a machine right now, stomping through the league the way that deer did to Chris Paul’s garage in the State Farm commercial. They rank first in scoring, pumping in just under 120 points a contest, while leading the league in rebounding at 52 a game (no other team has even cracked 49), and they are blowing teams out of the water, with a point differential of +12.1.

One of my favorite clips I've cut this season. When Milwaukee puts Giannis at center, their transition actually looks like a herd of stampeding bucks. pic.twitter.com/dLzAYRF2OA

— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) February 19, 2020

Those are the numbers of a team that is chasing 70 wins and home court through the playoffs. Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the last two games for the birth of his first child, but the likely MVP repeat winner will be back in action for this one.

They have feasted on Detroit, having swept them in the four-game regular season meetings a year ago, then dismantling them in a four-game sweep in the playoffs, before disposing of them easily the first two meetings this season.

https://twitter.com/JustHoopsYT/status/1227994664583565312

And that was when the Pistons weren’t trying to lose. They’ve since traded away Andre Drummond, released Reggie Jackson, and Blake Griffin is on the shelf for the rest of the year with a knee injury. If that wasn’t enough, Luke Kennard — one of the few NBA-level players left on the roster — is injured as well. The one shining light? Perhaps Christian Wood is a keeper.

Milwaukee is 31-23 against the spread this year, and though they failed to cover against Indiana just before the all-star break, they had covered the previous five straight games prior.

The pick: Bucks -13 (-110)

Miami Heat vs Atlanta Hawks Odds

Odds taken February 19

Analysis: During the All-Star media session, Heat forward Jimmy Butler said in an interview that the Heat’s top priority in the second half was to get  things in order on the road. He’s not kidding.

Miami is a blistering 22-3 at home, putting up 116.6 points a game — a figure that would rank third overall in the NBA — while shooting just a tick under 40% from beyond the arc. But  away from South Beach, their scoring drops down nine points per game to 107.5, while their shooting splits from the field and from three-point range also suffer.

https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1215069810331176960

Their usual bread-and-butter is defense, but that too has sagged this season, where they’re outside the top-10 in both points allowed and defensive rating. That’s amplified on the road, where they are surrendering better than 110 points a contest, in the range of non contenders like the Pistons and SacTo Kings.

The new additions of Andre Iguodala, Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill should strengthen that defensive identity, and hopefully relieve Butler form the heavy lifting duties on the defensive end of the floor, keeping him fresh in the crunch.

Can't wait for that Trae Young – Clint Capela connection when the big guy returns. #Hawks #TrueToAtlanta pic.twitter.com/V2zx4IV15G

— Hawks Nation (@HawksNationCP) February 19, 2020

Atlanta is in Trae Young adoration mode, and not much else. The young all-star has helped the Hawks score better than 110 points a contest, but plenty of those points are coming in mop-up time. It appears Clint Capela still isn’t ready to return to the roster, and that doesn’t help a defense that is allowing 118.9 points a game — which trails only the Wizards as the worst in basketball.

Because of Miami’s poor road efforts, I’m wary of giving points. I do think that their defense will travel, and they’ve got a swarm of bodies to throw at Young.

The pick: Under 230.5 points (-113)

Charlotte Hornets vs Chicago Bulls Odds

Odds taken February 19

Analysis: Forgive me for not understanding how the Chicago Bulls are giving five points to anyone. Sure, they may have one more win than the Hornets do, but the Bulls aren’t exactly on the come up. Chicago staggered into all-star weekend losers of six straight.

https://twitter.com/WhiteSoxRants_/status/1227416679409442817

Zach LaVine appears to be flying this ship mostly solo as second-half action resumes, with guards Kris Dunn, Denzel Valentine and frontcourt regulars Otto Porter Jr, Laurie Markannen and Wendell Carter Jr all out with injuries.

https://twitter.com/ChiSportUpdates/status/1228096227591557122

The Hornets aren’t exactly the 2016 Warriors. Prior to their two-game winning streak into the All-Star break, Charlotte was in its own funk, having lost 13 of their previous 14 contests. They are also dead last in the NBA in scoring, putting up just 102.9 points a contest.

But Charlotte does have a 2-1 record against Chicago in the three regular season games they’ve played this season. While the first two contests were decided by a single point, the Hornets held the Bulls to just 73 points (scoring 83 of their own) in their latest matchup in Dec. 13.

MILES. BRIDGES. WOW. 😱 pic.twitter.com/r0Mjgjk2dZ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 15, 2020

They also have what resembles a pretty decent core of young players to work with. Miles Bridges is coming off an MVP showing in the Rising Stars game, while Devontae’ Graham is a candidate for most improved player, averaging 18.1 points and 7.8 assists while shooting it at a 37.4% clip from deep.

Until the Bulls get healthy, they are candidates to charge hard to the floor of the East. Nice value here to take the road team. Charlotte is also a surprising 15-14 ATS on the road this season.

The pick: Hornets +5 (-110)