NBA Picks February 3: Oklahoma City Hosts Milwaukee in Featured Game

As the All-Star break approaches, teams are looking to make a push to position themselves for a strong second-half finish. There are ten games scheduled for February 2. The Oklahoma City Thunder, posting the top record in the Western Conference hosts the Milwaukee Bucks in the headlined matchup.

Milwaukee Bucks versus Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder enter with the top record in the Western Conference at 37-9 and the Bucks are 4th in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee is 4-2 over the last six and Oklahoma City is 3-3 during the same stretch. The teams are trending in games “over” the line with a score prediction of 114-113 in favor of the Thunder with 56 percent confidence.  The Thunder are 19-3 at home while the Bucks are 9-12 on the road. Oklahoma City has the best scoring differential edge in the league at +11.8 and has a +26 to +20 edge on the Power Ranks Indicator. Both teams consistently perform regarding their favorite/underdog status. Milwaukee won the first meeting between the teams by 17 points. I see a complete reversal this time around.  I like the Thunder in a game “over” the line.

Houston Rockets versus New York Knicks

The Knicks come in with the 3rd best record in the Eastern Conference and the Rockets are 2nd in the Western Conference. Both teams are “burning hot” on the Team Strength Oscillator and are a combined 9-3 over the last 12 games. The teams are even over the last 12 games in terms of over/under and the score prediction sits at 122-121 in favor of Houston with 67 percent confidence. The Knicks’ home record and the Rockets’ road record are nearly identical.  New York has a slight edge of +29 to +27 on the Power Ranks Indicator and +7.1 to +5.6 in the scoring differential. I like the Knicks in a game decided by five points or less but pass on the over/under.

Indiana Pacers versus Utah Jazz

The Jazz have lost eight straight and “dead” on the Team Strength Oscillator while the Pacers are “average up” after winning four of their last five. The teams are trending on opposite sides of the “over/under” line with a score prediction of 118-112 in favor of the Pacers which would be less than their +1.1 to -7.8 scoring differential edge. Indiana is +22 to +1 on the Power Ranks Indicator. Utah is the more stable team at +26 to +3 on the Team Volatility Oscillator, just meaning they are more consistent in matching their favorite/underdog status. There is little to indicate that the Jazz can win this game, even at home. I like the Pacers by double digits in a game “over” the line.

Phoenix Suns versus Portland Trail Blazers

Portland sits 13th in the Western Conference with Phoenix 9th. The Suns are 9-13 on the road and the Trail Blazers are 11-13 at home. Portland is 5-1 over the last six while Phoenix is 4-2 over the same period. The Suns have a +15 to +11 edge on the Power Ranks Indicator and both seams are in the red in scoring differential at -1 and -6.3, respectively. The teams have been involved in games “under” the line in seven of the last 12 combined.  Phoenix won the previous two games between the teams this season, both at home. The score prediction os 116-110 in favor of Phoenix with 75 percent confidence feels pretty much spot on. I like the Suns by between five and 10 points but pass on the “over/under” bet.