Locks

NBA (0.5 Unit) Minnesota Timberwolves/Orlando Magic Under 217 (-110; Odds via Fanduel): 6:00 PM CT on Bally Sports North

This low total is well-deserved as we get a matchup of the top two teams in defensive rating. Add in Minnesota’s recent scoring issues, especially on the road, plus significant injury problems for Orlando, and I don’t think we’ll see a lot of points here. These teams don’t play up-tempo and don’t take a lot of three’s, two key ingredients for handicapping NBA totals. Unders are 10-6 in Orlando this season, including Sunday when even a game with the Hawks stayed under this total until overtime, so tonight’s matchup should stay under as well.

NBA (0.75 Unit) Portland Trail Blazers @ NY Knicks -12 (-110; Odds via Fanduel): 6:30 PM CT on MSG

It looks like the Knicks knew what they were doing acquiring OG Anunoby, because everything has clicked since he joined the team. New York has gone 4-0 straight up and ATS with Anunoby in the fold, and they’ve run out three teams in a row. The Knicks tend to pay dividends against bad teams, going 8-3 ATS this season against opponents with a sub-.400 winning percentage. Portland is very banged up and has come apart on the road lately, going 1-4 ATS with the four losses by 20-plus points. The new-look Knicks should stay hot and roll a bad Blazers team for the MSG crowd.

Degenerates

No degenerates today.

Tiny Nick is 1913-1719 ATS (+86.4 Units) on his Locks since joining Zone Coverage. 

Every day he will offer his Locks and Degenerate picks. Locks are the games he’s confident in. Degenerates are entertaining but riskier picks.