There are only four games on the NBA betting schedule for this Saturday. Let’s take a look at each of these matchups against the spread and see which side makes the most sense.
Top NBA ATS Picks for Saturday (Feb. 20th)
Milwaukee (+8.5) at Atlanta (7:30pm Eastern time)
Even with all those points on the line, I would still take the Atlanta Hawks. They lost both ends of a home-and-home with Orlando, but then in their last game before the All-Star break they blew out the Chicago Bulls at home, 113-90, so I would say that they righted that ship before they had some time to relax and recuperate from the long season. Milwaukee comes in having had an incredibly inconsistent first half of the season. They are one of just four teams to knock off the Golden State Warriors (and they almost did it twice), but they have played mostly forgettable ball. I think that Atlanta can handle this challenge.
New York (+2.5) at Minnesota (8:00pm Eastern time)
I would take the New York Knicks all the way with this one. Yes, the Knicks have been inconsistent, but not nearly as inconsistent as the Timberwolves. I get the home court factor, but I don’t think that’s as strong in some arenas as others. For example, the altitude in Utah and Denver make those fairly large factors, and the raucous crowds that you get in places like Oklahoma City and Golden State (and you used to get in Seattle) make a difference. I’m not sure that Minnesota is one of those places, and I think the Knicks win this straight up.
Golden State (-4.5) at L.A. Clippers (8:30pm Eastern time)
Here’s my rule with the Warriors. I pick them to beat anybody except San Antonio and Oklahoma City if the spread is under five points. Yes, the game is in Los Angeles, and yes, the Clippers have been playing some scintillating ball lately, but the Warriors are on another planet right now. I would pick the Warriors to win this by as much as 8, but I’ll take that 4.5.
Washington (+6.5) at Miami (7:30pm Eastern time)
The Miami Heat are one of the top teams in the East right now, while the Wizards are still scuffling below the playoff line. However, the Wizards have developed a gritty reputation for taking teams to the limit. If this game were in Washington with the same line, I would pick the Wizards. However, away from their building, I see the Wizards losing by closer to double digits over the course of the night.
