NBA Best Bets: Expert picks for Friday, Feb. 9

Hawks vs. 76ers

Friday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass
Onyeka Okongwu Over 21.5 PTS + REB (-120, DraftKings)

By Bryan Fonseca

Okongwu is averaging 17.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in his five starts this season and will get another with Clint Capela still missing time. Okongwu has gone over 21.5 points + rebounds in four straight games and has done so in all but one start this season. 

Paul Reed is clearly a talented center, but Okongwu shouldn't have too many issues producing against him and the Sixers softer defense without Joel Embiid in what may be a high-scoring affair given a total of 246 total points.

Okongwu also deserves a light play at +165 to record a double-double, given that he has gotten this twice in three nights and three times in five starts this season.

Pick: Onyeka Okongwu Over 21.5 PTS + REB (-120)

Rockets vs. Raptors

Friday, Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass
Alperen Sengun Over 5.5 Assists (-113, FanDuel) 

By Joe Dellera

The Rockets take on the Raptors and tonight and will be without Fred VanVleet at the point guard position. One player that I expect to step up in a bigger role is Alperen Sengun.

Sengun can be the clear hub of the offense for this Rockets team and has averaged six assists over his last 10 games. In the three games VanVleet has missed this year, Sengun has tallied 4, 10, and 6 assists. The four-assist outing was in a tough matchup against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.

When the Rockets faced off against the Raptors just a week ago, Sengun lead the team with eight assists on 10 potentials, but VanVleet was second with six dimes on nine potentials and all of that playmaking will be lost tonight.

Toronto has been susceptible to the center position and has recently allowed Valanciunas, Holmgren, and Sengun to each exceed their assists prop in the last week.

I expect Sengun to have a strong game as a facilitator and exceed his 5.5 assists line.

Pick: Alperen Sengun Over 5.5 Assists (-113)

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Nuggets vs. Kings

Friday, Feb. 9, 10 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass
Over 232.5 (-110, Bet365)

By Chris Baker

The Nuggets are coming off a back to back here and I don’t like the way their defense matches up with the Kings without Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the lineup. KCP is their best on-ball perimeter defender and they are going to need him to play heavy minutes to stop De’aaron Fox and Malik Monk.

KCP hasn’t officially been ruled out but I wouldn’t expect him to be 100% and or play heavy minutes in this spot. Additionally, the Nuggets should have a consistent edge in the paint with Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon. Jokic had 36 points and 13 rebounds and 14 assists in the first matchup between these two.

We saw that game played at a scorching fast pace with both teams combining for 105 possessions. The Nuggets shot poorly in that one converting on just 26% of their three pointers. Still, the game went over as both teams combined for 240 points.

Keep in mind that Jamal Murray was out for that game and he will be back tonight. The Kings should be motivated to play fast as transition is where they have a massive advantage over the Nuggets. I think this should be closer to 235.5 so take this over at 233.

Pick: Over 232.5 (-110)

Nuggets vs. Kings

De'Aaron Fox Over 23.5 Points (-115, DraftKings)

By Joe Dellera

The Kings host the Denver Nuggets who are playing their second game in as many days.

One player I’m looking to see bounce back after a few down games is De’Aaron Fox. He scored just 12 points against Detroit and 19 against Cleveland but Fox has averaged 26.9 ppg this season and even against a relatively tough Denver defense, he should be able to thrive. His points prop is set at 23.5 and he’s exceeded that in 70% of games this season and has been even better at home with a 75% hit rate on the number.

Fox should be able to take some advantage of this Nuggets’ perimeter defense – Jamal Murray took a tough fall last night and may be a bit sore and KCP missed last night due to a hamstring injury. Having a lower body impediment is not ideal against someone as explosive as Fox.

I like Fox to bounce back tonight and exceed 23.5 points.

Pick: De'Aaron Fox Over 23.5 Points (-115)