NBA Best Bets: Friday's Top NBA Picks Feature Mavericks Spread, Lakers Total

Our staff of basketball betting experts dug into the latest odds and identified NBA picks for five of today's contests.

Feb. 28, 2026 at 8:39pm

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The NBA regular season is back in action with a total of nine matchups on the slate for Friday night. Our staff of basketball betting experts dug into the latest odds and identified NBA picks for five of today's contests, including the Heat vs. Hawks total, Nets vs. Thunder player prop, Mavericks vs. Timberwolves spread, Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers prop bet, and Clippers vs. Lakers over/under.

Why it matters

With the NBA regular season in full swing, these expert betting picks provide valuable insights and analysis for fans and bettors looking to make informed wagers on the day's top matchups.

The details

The Heat vs. Hawks total is projected to go Under 244.5 (-110) as Miami's defense is expected to slow down Atlanta's fast-paced offense, especially on the second night of a back-to-back. For the Nets vs. Thunder, the pick is Chet Holmgren Under 17.5 points (-115) as his usage may be limited with the Thunder as heavy favorites. The Mavericks +13.5 (-110) is a value play as road underdogs often bounce back after failing to cover in their previous game. Jonas Valanciunas Over 6.5 points (-112) is the pick for the Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers, as he's expected to get back on track after a down game. Lastly, the Clippers vs. Lakers Under 224 (-110) is the selection as division rivals often play tighter, lower-scoring games.

  • The Heat vs. Hawks game tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET.
  • The Nets vs. Thunder game tips off at 8 p.m. ET.
  • The Mavericks vs. Timberwolves game tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN.
  • The Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers game tips off at 10 p.m. ET.
  • The Clippers vs. Lakers game tips off at 10 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN.

The players

Chet Holmgren

A rookie center for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Jonas Valanciunas

A veteran center for the New Orleans Pelicans.

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What they’re saying

“Even if the Heat score in transition, that just helps them set their half-court defense against the Hawks on tired legs.”

— Matt Moore, NBA Betting Expert

“Given that this is Brooklyn's second game in as many days and the wide 17-point spread, I think there are plenty of paths to an Under here for Chet.”

— Joe Dellera, NBA Betting Analyst

What’s next

Bettors will want to monitor any late injury or lineup news that could impact these matchups before placing their wagers.

The takeaway

These expert NBA betting picks provide valuable insights and analysis for fans looking to make informed wagers on Friday's slate of games, highlighting potential value plays and trends to consider.