NBA Best Bets for February 5: How To Bet Ahead of the Trade Deadline
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Spread Astaire
- February 5, 2025
Top NBA Pick: Phoenix Suns +12 (-103) at Bookmaker (visit our Bookmaker Review)
In the NBA tonight, we have an interesting situation with the trade deadline being on Thursday. Many teams will sit players out who are in trade rumors just in case they are moved.
Staying on top of these reports is key, so keep track of who is in potential trade talks knowing that they might sit out tonight’s games. With that in mind, let’s take a look at tonight’s two featured matchups to find winning NBA picks.
Before placing your bets, let’s dive into the latest NBA odds from top-rated sportsbooks.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Atlanta Hawks
Wednesday, February 05, 2025 – 07:00 PM ET at State Farm Arena
A Dynamic Duo in the Making
This is a fun game to handicap because we don’t have too many trade targets participating. The San Antonio Spurs already made their move, acquiring guard De’Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings. Fox will make his San Antonio debut tonight.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that there could be other trades for the team on the horizon. However, they are not a team currently embroiled in trade rumors, so there’s a pretty good chance that we will not get any late surprises before this game tips off.
Fox should be a good fit with San Antonio Spurs star center Victor Wembanyama. Victor is the future of the league and the ability for these two to play off each other has the potential to benefit both players.
Fox will get plenty of space to work, and his ability to throw lob passes should help him rack up assists while Victor piles up points. This is going to be a dynamic pairing that will give the Spurs a good chance to be a top team in the West very soon.
The Hawks have had some trade rumors around them, and they could be looking to add Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George. This means there is some possibility on the Atlanta side that they can have some late scratches if a trade is made. Trae Young is also listed as a game time decision.
The Pick
I like the Spurs in this game to have a great debut for De’Aaron Fox. The combination of Fox and Victor Wembanyama is going to be unstoppable and it will show it tonight. Atlanta is still suffering from the loss of Jalen Johnson, a key contributor who is out for the season. The Spurs are on their way up. Atlanta is trending down. Take the San Antonio Spurs.
NBA Pick: San Antonio Spurs -4.5 (-108) at Bookmaker
Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Wednesday, February 05, 2025 – 09:30 PM ET at Paycom Center
Superstar Subtraction?
The Phoenix Suns are catching a lot of points in this game because Kevin Durant is involved in trade rumors right now. Durant was added to the injury report as a game time decision with an ankle injury. If Durant is potentially on the move, he will most likely miss this game.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have the best record in the West. The Thunder are 39-9 this season. The Thunder are winning and winning by a margin. They have a point differential of +12.7 this season. This is in stark contrast to the Phoenix Suns’ point differential of -0.8
The Oklahoma City Thunder have a great chance to win a championship this season so that does give us reason to believe that they could be active for this trade deadline. The Thunder have plenty of talent and are playing excellent basketball. They have plenty of draft capital to acquire players for picks without giving up some of their top players. Keep this in mind when handicapping the Thunder tonight.
When looking at this line however I think we’re going to see a nice example of “Superstar Subtraction”. The line makers greatly moved the line with the news that Durant might miss the game, however, they’re failing to recognize the impact of the Suns’ other players and how much they will want to step up and prove their worth without Durant being in the lineup.
The first game out that a star misses is usually a nice time to take advantage of a team. The market usually overreacts to the injury and for at least one game the team missing their top player can overcome expectations and cover the spread.
The Pick
With that in mind, I think the line of 12 is simply too much. Devin Booker and Bradley Beal are still excellent scorers and will have plenty to prove. In the long-term, Durant’s absence will be too much to overcome but for one game I think the Suns can do it. Also, there is a chance that Durant is not traded and ends up playing the game.
In this case, we’re getting way more points than what the line would have been if they expected Durant to play. Either one sounds good to me. We are going to take the Phoenix Suns.
NBA Pick: Phoenix Suns +12 (-103) at Bookmaker
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
