Friday NBA Betting Guide: 2 Best Bets and Top Player Prop for February 28

This Friday, take two teams that tend to push the pace to cover their spreads. First, Indiana travels to Miami where they have had the Heat’s number over the last year or so.

Tyrese Haliburton is putting up MVP-like numbers over his last four; expect his hot stretch to continue tonight. The Pacers are favored by 4.5 points. Elsewhere, Memphis is expected to win a close game against the injured New York Knicks tonight.

This game could get ugly early with Memphis’ bench just decimating the Knicks with their shooting and pace. Take the home team on two nights of rest.

PACERS -4.5 over Heat

The Pacers are 3-1 since their return from the mid-season break, setting their record at 33-24 with a great shot at hosting the opening series in the postseason should they stay ahead of Milwaukee in their race to the playoffs.

Tyrese Haliburton has been elite over their L4, averaging 25.8 PPG, 11.8 APG, and 5 3PM per contest. Historically, his statistics tend to fall just a touch post break, but not this season. Mix in the consistent bench contributions from Nesmith, Bryant, Mathurin, and Sheppard and this Pacers team is tough to stop.

Miami has lost 3 of their last 4 against Indiana – that win coming with both Nembhard and Nesmith out of the lineup and Adebayo going for 30 points. With the momentum on Indy’s side, I think they pick up another big win with their shooting down in South Florida.

GRIZZLIES -4 over Knicks

The Grizzlies depth and pace of play will be too much for New York tonight. The Knicks are hobbling into this game because Thibs still doesn’t understand that the regular season… doesn’t matter a whole lot in the Eastern Conference.

Their two wins since the break have come by two points against Chicago and five points against Philly (both at home). With KAT questionable, OG dealing with injury, and Bridges and Hart coming off a 40 minute outing against Philly, take Memphis all the way up to -6 tonight off two nights of rest after that 151-148 win against Phoenix.

G Desmond Bane (MEM): 8+ Assists (+300)

Bane has gone 7/2/8/9 in the assist category since the ASB, truly starring as the Memphis initiator out of the backcourt. This season, his assist averages are at a career high (5.5) and since January 1st, he’s averaged around six per contest.

With Memphis trying to push the pace against this New York team that is trending in the wrong direction, expect Bane to play big minutes as the lead playmaker while Morant sporadically sees the court due to his slight inconsistencies.