Happy Sunday, my friends! I hope you've been enjoying the weekend so far. Let's cap it off on a strong note with a handful of plays across the Association. I've got five NBA best bets for Sunday, February 1. Let's dive in.
For additional information on picks, props, moneylines, and more on today's slate, take a look at our NBA Picks Page or our NBA Odds Page.
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NBA Best Bets for Sunday, February 1 | Betting News
New York Knicks -4.5 (-112) vs Los Angeles Lakers
Madison Square Garden will host a marquee matchup between Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns as they take on LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
New York enters this matchup riding a five-game winning streak after a dominant 127–97 blowout win over Portland. That game allowed several Knicks starters to log reduced minutes, keeping them fresh heading into this spot. This will be New York's sixth game in 11 days, while the Lakers are set to play their seventh consecutive road game.
The scheduling edge favors the Knicks, and the recent form supports it as well. Over the last eight games, New York owns the league's top defensive rating, while Los Angeles ranks 19th during that span. Offensively, the Lakers have been strong, ranking third in offensive rating, while the Knicks sit 14th.
Season-long metrics continue to tilt toward New York. The Knicks rank third in points per 100 possessions and 12th in effective field goal percentage, while the Lakers' defense ranks 24th and 28th in those same categories.
This should be a fun, competitive game at the Garden, but it's one where the Knicks should eventually take control late, win outright and cover the 4.5-point spread.
Phoenix Suns vs Los Angeles Clippers – Total Over 210.5 (-115)
Let's move across the country to the desert, where the Suns host the Clippers. Phoenix will be without Devin Booker, while Los Angeles will be missing James Harden.
Even with those absences, I see value on the over 210.5. Over their last eight games, the Clippers rank fourth in offensive rating, while the Suns sit ninth in that same span. Phoenix has continued to find ways to score without Booker, as players like Dillon Brooks have stepped up in a big way, averaging 29.8 points per game during Booker's four-game absence.
Brooks and the rest of the Suns' supporting cast should be able to generate offense against a Clippers defense that has been mediocre this season, ranking 23rd in points per possession allowed.
On the other side, the Clippers' offense has been rolling lately and should still be able to create quality looks even without Harden. One area where Los Angeles can consistently capitalize is at the free-throw line. While Phoenix is solid defensively overall, they rank 23rd in opponent free throw rate, and the Clippers rank third in offensive free throw rate.
The Suns also have the potential to do damage from beyond the arc. They rank eighth in three-point attempts and 10th in three-point accuracy, and they'll be facing a Clippers defense that sits 25th in opponent three-point field-goal percentage. Los Angeles can counter in the mid-range, an area where they thrive offensively, while Phoenix ranks 21st in opponent field-goal percentage from that zone.
This total feels a bit too low given the absences on both sides. I'm buying the bad news here and expecting enough offensive efficiency from both teams to push this game over the number.
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Jamie Jaquez Jr Over 9.5 Rebounds + Assists (-120)
Let's move into the player prop portion of this article, starting with a guy who cashed for us the other night. Oddly enough, this will be the third straight matchup between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls, and Jaquez has feasted in this spot. I'm expecting more of the same.
On Thursday against Chicago, he finished with 10 rebounds and six assists. Then on Saturday, he followed that up with seven assists and six rebounds. Even going back to November, Jaquez posted seven rebounds and seven assists against the Bulls.
It's wild that sportsbooks haven't adjusted this prop yet, and I'm happy to keep taking advantage of it until they do.
Alex Sarr Over 10.5 Rebounds + Assissts (+100)
Let's take a look at Alex Sarr's potential in his matchup against the Sacramento Kings. His status is still up in the air, but assuming he plays, I'm expecting a productive outing for the Wizards' center.
On the season, Sarr is averaging roughly eight rebounds and three assists per game. Those numbers dipped a bit in January as his production became more volatile, particularly on the glass. Still, this sets up as a strong spot to play true to his form.
Sacramento ranks 28th in offensive points per 100 possessions and 24th in effective field goal percentage. Washington's defense isn't much better, but that should lead to a sloppy, inefficient game with plenty of missed shots – creating ample rebounding opportunities for a player like Sarr.
As for his facilitating, the matchup also works in his favor. The Kings rank 28th in defensive points per possession and 26th in effective field goal percentage, meaning if Sarr is distributing the ball, his teammates should have plenty of quality looks to convert.
If he's active, this matchup gives Sarr a clear path to filling up the box score.
Khris Middleton Over 3.5 Rebounds (-130)
Another player I'm targeting in this matchup is veteran Khris Middleton, who should be well-positioned to grab at least four rebounds. Middleton is averaging over four boards per game, and in a game that projects to feature plenty of missed shots and sloppy play, his rebounding opportunities should only increase. Let's look to capitalize on that.
Best Bets:
NBA Record: 108-98-1 (+8.00 units)
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