NBA Handicapping – Situational And Totals Betting

Beating the NBA With Situational And Totals Betting

The NBA continues towards the All-Star break in one week, and we continue our pursuit of profit and analysis of NBA situations to support.  Back-to-back scheduling, travel, multiple road games in four or five nights and injury situations are just part of the puzzle when evaluating NBA contests above and beyond the fundamental match-ups and statistical profiles.

Such is the situation tonight from a totals perspective, and I provide you a situation to watch for in the weeks and months ahead that has produced greater than 60% winners on a large sample size of over 250+ games.

Washington visits Charlotte tonight in a quick turnaround and division rematch, and the Wizards have lost 4-straight games including 92-88 to these Charlotte Hornets on February 2nd.  Charlotte has played 4-straight games under the total with three victories and the Hornets have scored 92, 104, 86, 76, 90 and 78 points in their last six games. Charlotte’s last five home games have all gone under the total, yet the total tonight is still the same ( 186.5 ) as when the Hornets beat the Wizards in Washington in Charlotte’s last game February 2.  Note the Hornets were without leading scorer Kemba Walker ( 19 PPG ) against the Wizards, and he is out until March with a knee injury.

Both these teams are top-10 in defensive efficiency, but the Hornets are #29 in the league in offensive efficiency and now play without Walker for the fourth-straight game and the next six weeks. Washington is locked into second place in the Southwest division, but the Wizards are clearly not their best right now on a 0-4 SU and 0-8 ATS slide.

Division games are more intense and even the also-rans get up to play a familiar foe.  When you have a solid defensive team playing with more confidence and taking on a division opponent, the situation makes sense that a lower-scoring game will ensue.  Add in Charlotte’s poor offense and near league-worst shooting at 42% FG, and now without leading-scorer Walker, and this looks like a solid under the total take.

The division situation in play tonight and to watch for in the weeks and months ahead is pretty simple, and proven profitable over time.  We’re looking for a division game with one of the teams off a division road win.  That’s it.  Defensive intensity and momentum carry over to better than 60% winners playing under the total!

Best wishes in your pursuit of profit, and if you don’t have the time, energy or ability to research basketball and understand the match-ups, stats, situations and systems to support, then join me and we’ll win together!

Author: FairwayJay is a leading national sports betting analyst, writer, handicapper and sports betting insider providing insight and information you can bet on for nearly two decades from Las Vegas. He chips in additional sports betting coverage and reporting on industry news and events for leading media and sports betting sites and companies. Follow him on X (Twitter): @FairwayJay