NBA Picks, Best Bets, Odds Tuesday

Betting on games always presents unknowns, but certain situations offer even more.

An example of this is Tuesday’s NBA Cup, when the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Phoenix Suns. All-Stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal are returning from injury and that is clearly changing the handicap.

A left calf strain has kept Durant out since Nov. 8, and Phoenix is ​​1-6 without him in the lineup.

The Suns underachieved last year, but they have played a high level of basketball this season with Durant, Beal and Devon Booker in the starting lineup. That will be the case against LA, but which version will we have given two returns from layoffs?

“Sometimes you get minute restrictions if the players have been absent for a long time. I wouldn’t expect that here, even if Durant’s calf injury could play a role,” says Las Vegas SuperBook head NBA oddsmaker Jeff Sherman told Only Players. “I would expect an adjustment period if these are players with a little history together, but since this is the second season of the Suns trio, I don’t expect that here.”

Lakers vs Sunds odds

Meanwhile, the Lakers have lost back-to-back games, but the effort and focus changes with an NBA Cup game. In fact, the Lakers won the tournament last season with an undefeated mark and are off to a 2-0 start in West Group B this year.

The Lakers are coming off a traditional home loss in the regular season, where they were outscored by 31 points in the second half by the Denver Nuggets. Rookie coach JJ Redick had strong criticism that was delivered constructively, and what you’ll see if you expect to bet on the Lakers.

I expect a strong start from LA and Phoenix to face a bit of an adjustment period as Durant and Beal return to a lineup that has looked a little lost without them.

I am thus betting on the Lakers in the first half as a point underdog.

I also like to use these situations to think outside the box.

For example, punters often forget to isolate a prop, such as the first team to reach 10 points, 15 points, 20 points, etc., instead of betting the first quarter or first half.

Bet on the NBA?

I don’t see a particular edge here, though, because the Lakers have a respectable bench and could make a push in the second quarter, and that’s where Phoenix’s rhythm could face a cold stretch.

The Lakers rank 11th in first-half scoring margin, but eighth-worst in second-half margin.

I’m comfortable backing them for the first 24 minutes and hope Redick pushes the right buttons for a team that has delivered in these NBA Cup games.

BEST BET: Lakers First Half +1 (-110, DraftKings)

Why Trust New York Post Bets

Doug Kezirian is a New York Post contributor who currently serves as Chief Content Officer for Only Players, a sports betting media company. Doug has more than two decades of experience in sports betting, including spending 11 years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He also grabbed headlines with a $297,000 win at the 2021 NFL Draft.