NBA Betting Tips: Three picks for Thursday’s action

The NBA returns on Thursday night after the All-Star break, with 12 games to enjoy. We've picked out our best bets for the upcoming matches.

Knicks @ 76ers - 76ers (-1.5) @ 10/11

The All-Star break couldn't come soon enough for the Knicks, who went into it on a four-game losing streak.

Injuries have played a significant role in New York's poor form, and Philly themselves have absences to deal with, too. Star big man Joel Embiid is out indefinitely, along with Robert Covington and De’Anthony Melton.

The absence of Embiid has seen the 76ers drop nine of their last 12 games, they’ve also not covered the spread in six-straight home games, however, New York have only won three times in their last 14 visits to the City of Brotherly Love.

Basically, both teams are struggling with injuries, but I'm giving the 76ers the advantage here, mainly because they're at home.

Suns @ Mavericks - Mavericks (-2.5) @ 10/11

This one is a huge game between two Western Conference outfits with championship aspirations.

Dallas went into the break as one of the hottest teams in the NBA winning six games in a row, and all but one of those wins were by double-digits. Phoenix didn't do too badly before All-Star weekend either, winning four of their last five.

Both sides had representatives in the All-Star game, with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker featuring in the showpiece game over the weekend, while Luka Doncic was Dallas' sole representative.

Phoenix has two wins in their last two visits to Dallas, but I think it’s time the Mavs put an end to that streak here. Durant and Booker may feel fatigued from the All-Star break, and I fancy Dallas to continue their hot streak.

Lakers @ Warriors - Lakers (+5.5) @ 10/11

Two of the NBA's hottest teams entering the All-Star break will hope the week off hasn't stalled their momentum as they go head-to-head on Thursday night.

The Los Angeles Lakers travel to San Francisco to face the Golden State Warriors, and the first meeting between the teams this season was a proper nail-biter, and I'm expecting a similar outcome in this game.

LeBron James is expected to be absent for the Lakers, which will be a huge miss, but LA managed to prevail without the superstar against Utah on February 14. I think the Lakers' offense has improved drastically in recent weeks, and they'll have enough firepower to hurt a Warriors' defense that I remain unconvinced by.

Of course, the Warriors possess perhaps the greatest offensive weapon in the league in Steph Curry and if the Lakers can stop him from getting hot, they've got every chance of covering the spread here.

Check out the rest of our NBA Betting Tips here.