Best NBA Betting Picks and Parlay Today - Thursday, February 2, 2023

We're rolling with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers as one of our three NBA best bets for Thursday, February 2, but you'll want to keep reading to find out the rest. Tonight's slate is headlined by a TNT doubleheader in which the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Clippers face the Milwaukee Bucks. We're avoiding that first matchup, but we definitely have something we love in the second. These picks have also been profitable for us all year long, and they're backed by predictive analytics and artificial intelligence. The same goes for our NBA player props parlay, which will offer huge plus-money odds and a chance to really boost your bankroll. We have hit those parlays pretty regularly this season, so you might not want to miss out. 

RELATED: Check out our favorite NBA player props for tonight's slate

As always, we've simulated all of the night's NBA games 10,000 times each to determine where the value lies for sports bettors across the United States.

Best NBA Bets Today

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Indiana Pacers, 7:00PM ET

Our DimersBOT gives Los Angeles a 57% shot at winning this game outright, and it's hard to see the team doing so without covering. This is one in which the Lakers should be very hungry for a win, as they let a big lead slip away and ultimately lost on an Andrew Nembhard buzzer beater the last time they faced the Pacers. That was a home game back on November 28, and we envision LeBron James and Co. being eager to get revenge in this spot. 

The Lakers just earned a big win over the New York Knicks on January 31, and they have now gone 11-8 straight-up and 13-5-1 against the spread over their last 19 games. Los Angeles is beginning to play some good basketball, and the team now has both LeBron and Anthony Davis back in the mix. Meanwhile, Tyrese Haliburton will either miss this game or be playing a little banged up for Indiana — he's questionable with an injury that has kept him out multiple weeks. And overall, it's just hard to see the Pacers coming up with enough to win this one. 

The Lakers are actually 12-4 ATS when playing in road games with totals of 230 or higher this season. 

DID YOU KNOW? Los Angeles' LeBron James has scored more than 29.5 points in 16 of his last 23 appearances? That and more in our NBA Trends section.

BET: Lakers -1.5 (-110) with DraftKings ➡️ here ⬅️.

🏀 Lakers vs. Pacers Predictions
📈 Betting preview: Lakers vs. Pacers

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New Orleans Pelicans vs. Dallas Mavericks, 8:30PM ET

The Pelicans failed to cover for us against the Denver Nuggets the other night, but we think they'll have a better shot at doing so against the Mavericks on Thursday. New Orleans has lost nine games in a row, but the team is starting to get healthier. Sure, Zion Williamson is out indefinitely for the Pelicans, but Brandon Ingram is back. We think the lengthy forward will turn in a big game for New Orleans, with the same going for CJ McCollum. Dallas just isn't good defensively. 

The Pelicans also happen to have a decent defensive option to throw on Luka Doncic, as they can try Naji Marshall on the Mavericks star. Also, Ingram isn't a very good defender, but he does have long arms to contest Luka's shots when he's switched onto him. 

Jonas Valanciunas is a player to keep an eye on in this game. He has the size and strength to really make the Mavericks uncomfortable right around the basket. 

We should also point out that Dallas is 3-13 ATS when coming off a home win this year. The Mavericks have lost those games by an average of 2.2 points per game. And the DimersBOT gives the Pelicans a 53% chance to cover in this one. 

SAY WHAT? New Orleans' Jonas Valanciunas has scored more than 14.5 points in eight of his last 13 appearances. You can find more stats like this in our NBA Trends section.

BET: Pelicans +4.5 (-110) with DraftKings ➡️ here ⬅️.

🏀 Pelicans vs. Mavericks Predictions
📈 Betting preview: Pelicans vs. Mavericks

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Los Angeles Clippers vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 10:00PM ET

Over the last three seasons, Milwaukee is 5-15 ATS after scoring 120 or more points in three consecutive games. The Bucks have also lost those games by an average of 3.3 points per game. And we really wouldn't be too shocked if Los Angeles has a chance to win this one late. 

The Clippers have quietly been healthier over the last few weeks, and they're 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS in their last seven games. Kawhi Leonard is also at the point where he is playing like a superstar whenever he isn't resting, so he's fully back in his two-time NBA Finals MVP form. That's key when looking at this matchup specifically, as he should be able to give Giannis Antetokounmpo hell on both ends of the floor. And when Leonard isn't guarding Giannis, Paul George will also be able to do a decent job of covering him. 

We also like the Clippers' edge on the inside, where Ivica Zubac is just a lot more forceful than Brook Lopez. That should have Los Angeles doing a good job on the glass, creating second chances for his teammates to score against a Milwaukee team that might not be ready for the jump in competition after having just faced the Charlotte Hornets.  

TREND: We've also identified an NBA trend for Milwaukee's Brook Lopez that's worth consideration. Lopez has collected fewer than 6.5 rebounds in eight of his last 10 appearances.

BET: Bucks +4.5 (-110) with DraftKings ➡️ here ⬅️.

🏀 Clippers vs. Bucks Predictions
📈 Betting preview: Clippers vs. Bucks

Your game not here? Find out who we're betting on for every basketball game on Thursday via our NBA Bet Hub, where we deliver you NBA predictions and suggested bets, or check out the NBA Betting News section.

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Best NBA Bets Today

There are numerous different ways you can wager on NBA games in 2022, such as the moneyline, spread, total, player and team props, and, of course, parlays. While we normally suggest taking our picks on their own, we recognize the need to service a parlay-loving audience! With that said, check out the fat payout you can get by throwing all of our best bets together tonight. Also, feel free to make your own parlays using our NBA best bets page! 

🔥 Lakers -1.5
🔥 Pelicans +4.5
🔥 Clippers +4.5

*All odds and lines correct at time of publishing