Friday’s slate had a little of everything for bettors, a comeback from 16 down in OKC, two overtime finishes, and a couple games that broke wide open after halftime. The scoring environment ran hot, and several results hinged on late execution, shot-making swings, and who could hold up when the game stretched.
NBA Lines Before They Move
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Latest NBA Odds & Lines
Before you lock anything in, check the moneyline, spread, and totals board for the latest NBA odds and lines. Numbers can move quickly as availability and minutes get clarified. Stay flexible, especially if you’re considering live angles.
NBA Picks of the Day
If you’re building a card off this slate, keep it bettor-first, target the spots where execution and tempo showed up clean. For quick-hit angles and daily plays, check today’s NBA picks and keep your exposure organized.
Utah Jazz
vs
New Orleans Pelicans
Open
vs
Feb 28, 2026 21:40 EST
–
Score
–
+6.50 -106
Spread
-6.50 -114
o+245.50-110
Total
u+245.50-110
+215
Moneyline
-263
Golden State Warriors
vs
Los Angeles Lakers
Open
vs
Feb 28, 2026 20:40 EST
–
Score
–
+3.50 -114
Spread
-3.50 -106
o+226.50-106
Total
u+226.50-114
+136
Moneyline
-161
Washington Wizards
vs
Toronto Raptors
Open
vs
Feb 28, 2026 19:10 EST
–
Score
–
+13.50 -110
Spread
-13.50 -110
o+227.50-110
Total
u+227.50-110
+540
Moneyline
-769
Top Takeaways
- Oklahoma City erased an early 16-point hole, then still got it done even with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the bench in overtime, that’s late-game resilience showing up in a tight spread environment.
- Denver’s late offense was real, Jamal Murray hit three 3s in the final 30 seconds, but it still wasn’t enough, which matters when you’re pricing late volatility and live totals.
- Detroit’s OT win came after rallying from nine down late in regulation, the kind of finish that punishes anyone who assumes the closing minutes are “safe.”
- Boston’s second half was the story, an 82-54 edge after halftime, that’s the type of split that swings second-half bets hard.
- New York got separation immediately, Brunson’s 22-point first quarter set the tone, and the Knicks’ 50% from three turned it into a runaway.
- Memphis snapped a skid by controlling the game in Dallas, while the Mavericks’ home slide continued, a reminder that form swings can show up fast on both sides.
NBA Game Recaps
Denver Nuggets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Recap: Oklahoma City Thunder wins 127-121
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 36 points in his return from injury and Chet Holmgren posted 15 points with a career-high 21 rebounds as Oklahoma City beat Denver 127-121. Alex Caruso finished with 12 points and stayed impactful late.
The swing came after the Thunder dug out of an early 16-point deficit, then held firm through the finish. Gilgeous-Alexander stayed on the bench in overtime, but Oklahoma City still closed, which is a big note for late-game execution and live bettors trying to price who has functional minutes at the end.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Detroit Pistons Recap: Detroit Pistons wins 122-119
Jalen Duren went off for 33 points and 16 rebounds as Detroit rallied and won 122-119 in overtime. Cade Cunningham added 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists before fouling out in regulation, and Ausar Thompson chipped in 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Detroit trailed by nine late in regulation and still forced overtime, then finished the job. Cleveland got 25 points and nine rebounds from Jarrett Allen, and played without Donovan Mitchell (groin) and James Harden (thumb), which shaped how the game ended once it tightened.
Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics Recap: Boston Celtics wins 148-111
Nikola Vucevic had 28 points and 11 rebounds in 25 minutes as Boston pulled away in the second half to beat Brooklyn 148-111. Jaylen Brown posted 28 points, seven rebounds and nine assists, and Boston hit 66.7% of its field-goal attempts.
Boston led by six midway through the third, then detonated with an 82-54 second half. Brooklyn got 18 from Michael Porter Jr. and 16 from Danny Wolf, but the second-half scoring gap made this one a blowout for anyone tracking halftime and live numbers.
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Memphis Grizzlies vs Dallas Mavericks Recap: Memphis Grizzlies wins 124-105
Cam Spencer scored 25 and Olivier-Maxence Prosper had 16 points with a career-high 10 rebounds for his first double-double as Memphis won 124-105 in Dallas. Scotty Pippen Jr. added 15, with GG Jackson and Jaylen Wells scoring 12 each.
Memphis snapped a three-game losing streak while handing Dallas its seventh straight home loss. Brandon Williams led the Mavericks with 16 points and eight rebounds, and Daniel Gafford went 7-of-8 for 14 points, but Dallas couldn’t keep pace as the game got away.
New York Knicks vs Milwaukee Bucks Recap: New York Knicks wins 127-98
Jalen Brunson scored 22 of his game-high 27 points in the first quarter, and the Knicks rolled past the Bucks 127-98. OG Anunoby added 24, Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and 13 rebounds, and New York shot 21-for-42 (50%) from 3.
This was decided early and extended from the perimeter, the Knicks’ shot-making created separation that never really came back. Milwaukee got 19 from Myles Turner, 17 from Kyle Kuzma, and 14 from Bobby Portis, but the Bucks could not match the scoring pace once New York got comfortable.
NBA Picks and Handicappers
If you’re betting NBA daily, you need volume and you need different reads on the same slate. That’s where following sports handicappers pays off, you can compare multiple styles, keep your process consistent, and avoid locking into one narrow angle when the schedule gets chaotic.
You can also mix in free service plays when you want action without forcing a purchase, then sharpen your approach with the Bettor’s Handbook and the NBA betting guide. When you’re ready to scale up across more experts and more daily volume, check the pricing packages and match it to how often you’re actually betting.
