The coming NBA weekend offers numerous new betting opportunities, with rivaling franchises trying to set themselves up as best as possible before the All-Star weekend. 

The Denver Nuggets travel to Philadelphia to face their long-time rivals, the 76ers, which are having one of the worst and least competitive seasons this year. The Boston Celtics, on the other hand, should have no trouble on the road versus the Pelicans. The surprise team of the season, the Houston Rockets, are favored versus the Brooklyn Nets and the Thunder as well in their match against the Sacramento Kings.

We finish things off with a classic matchup between two of the most bellowed franchises in the NBA, as the Los Angeles Lakers play the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden. Now for our take on these games.

*Sports betting carries inherent risks, and outcomes can be unpredictable. The recommendations offered here are based on current data and analysis but should not be viewed as guarantees of success.

The Denver Nuggets (28-19) face the Philadelphia 76ers (19-27) on Friday at the Wells Fargo Center. The Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic, are looking to snap a three-game losing streak, while the 76ers aim to extend their four-game winning run despite key injuries. 

The Nuggets are 8-point favorites, with the over/under set at 232.5 points. Consider taking the over, as both teams have been trending towards high-scoring games recently, with a 10-4 record to the over in their last 14 games.

The defending champions. the Boston Celtics (33-15) are set to face the New Orleans Pelicans (12-36) on Friday, with the Celtics entering as 10.5-point favorites. The Pelicans have lost four straight, while the Celtics are looking to solidify their position in the Eastern Conference and continue chasing the Cavs, which are still the best in the East.

For those considering a wager, the over/under is set at 231.5 points, so consider the Celtics to cover the spread as they average 117.3 points per game, and the Pelicans struggle on defense.

The Brooklyn Nets (15-33) visit the Houston Rockets (33-14) in a cross-conference game, with the Rockets being 15-7 at home. The Rockets are coming off a close 120-119 loss to the Grizzlies, but they are still occupying the runner-up position in the West. The Nets have struggled this season and are without an All-Star for the third straight year. 

Given Houston’s strong home record and Brooklyn’s struggles, consider betting on the Rockets to cover the spread, and also look at the over, considering the high-scoring recent game between the Rockets and Grizzlies.

The Sacramento Kings visit the Oklahoma City Thunder in a West Conference showdown. The Thunder are hosting after a recent loss in which Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 52 points. The Thunder have been performing well overall, are 7-3 in their last 10 games, and have lost only three at home.

For betting, consider the over, given Gilgeous-Alexander’s recent scoring performance, and also look at the Thunder to win at home. 

The Los Angeles Lakers (26-19) will face the New York Knicks (32-16) at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. The Knicks enter the game with a stronger record as the third team in the East, but the Lakers are looking to improve their recent away game record, where they are currently 11-13.

Since everything can happen here, it is better to consider the over, as both teams have been scoring a high number of points recently; also note that the Lakers have five players on the injury list, which could impact their performance.

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