3 Desperation NBA Best Bets Tuesday Include 2 Sub-.500 Squads

Betting on the NBA has turned into a hellscape for me. I've donked off several units over the last eight days and have used recent PGA Tour winnings to pay off all of these NBA losses. It's embarrassing and inexcusable. However, the only way out is through. We are entering the busiest part of the NBA season with no more football to bet on. 

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With that in mind, I'm down to start winning instead of losing. That sounds like a good idea. Unfortunately, I'll need to make some uncomfortable bets to do so. I'm backing the worst team in the NBA, a team missing its most productive player, and a massive favorite with a losing record vs. the spread when laying points. 

NBA Betting Card for Tuesday 

• The odds chosen are the best available at the time of writing.

Golden State Warriors (-11) at Washington Wizards, 7 p.m. ET

Even though they are -11 favorites, we are getting a "buy low" spot for the Warriors after they got crushed by the Denver Nuggets 119-103 at home Sunday. Golden State is 9-3 straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) this month. Washington has lost all 10 games in February by an average of 13.9 points per game (PPG). 

Also, the Warriors should have peak motivation Tuesday. They are in the thick of a playoff race out West and playing against their former teammate, Wizards combo guard Jordan Poole. We all remember when Draymond Green sucker-punched Poole at practice last year and how it affected Golden State for the rest of the season. 

Furthermore, this could be a get-right spot for the Warriors, who have struggled offensively recently. Golden State was held to 103 points by Denver and only scored 97 in the game prior vs. the Charlotte Hornets. Washington has the worst defensive rating in the NBA. 

The Wizards are 9-15 ATS as home underdogs with an -11.2 scoring margin and the Warriors are 7-4 ATS as road favorites. Lastly, according to Pregame.com, D.C. is getting more bets in the consensus market and Golden State is getting more money. It's wise to follow the money when it counters the betting splits. 

Bet 1.1u on Golden State -11 (-110) at FanDuel. The Warriors are playable up to -12. 

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Utah Jazz at Atlanta Hawks (-120), 7:30 p.m. ET

Hawks All-Star PG Trae Young is out indefinitely with a hand injury. I've said this a lot, but Trae is a negative player who's "addition by subtraction". Young doesn't play off the ball and is a bad defender. His production is mostly based on manipulating officials and he has a poor shot selection. 

Trae has a -3.6 on/off net rating, according to CleaningTheGlass.com (CTG). Meaning, Atlanta scores 3.6 more points per 100 possessions when he is off the floor. Trae and Hawks PG Dejounte Murray are "too many cooks in the kitchen." Atlanta works better with SG Bogdan Bogdanović on the floor with either Young or Murray. 

Atlanta Hawks PG Dejounte Murray goes to the basket against the Orlando Magic at State Farm Arena. 

(Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)

More importantly, the Jazz suck on the road and play terrible defense and the Hawks are 7th in offensive rating. Utah is 6-18 SU and 10-14 ATS as road underdogs with an -11.7 scoring margin. This includes four consecutive losses and three straight non-covers. Per CTG, the Jazz are 1-11 SU vs. top 10 offenses with a -6.7 spread differential. 

Bet 1.2u on Atlanta's moneyline (-120) at FanDuel. The Hawks are bet-able up to -2.5. 

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Detroit Pistons (+11) at Chicago Bulls, 8 p.m. ET

As disgraceful as this sounds, I've probably lost as much money betting the Pistons as any other NBA team this season. Why am I risking losing on Detroit again Tuesday? Because the Bulls shouldn't be double-digit favorites over anyone and the Pistons suffered a brutal loss Monday at the New York Knicks. 

Detroit is 14-9 ATS this season as double-digit underdogs and will play with a chip on its shoulder after getting a raw deal from the officials Monday. Plus, Chicago will have trouble winning by margin because it ranks 29th in pace and 24th in both free-throw attempt rate, 3-point-attempt rate, and true shooting. 

Believe it or not, the Pistons have as many wins on zero days rest (three) as one (three) more than when having 2-3 (two), and four days of rest (zero). One of Detroit's eight victories this season was against Chicago, 118-102, Oct. 28th. The Bulls got revenge 15 days later by beating the Pistons 119-108 at home as -6.5 favorites. 

Detroit Pistons C Jalen Duren celebrates with PG Cade Cunningham vs. the Chicago Bulls at Little Caesars Arena. 

(Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports)

Finally, the sharper offshore sportsbooks of Betcris and Bookmaker make Detroit +10.5 (-110). These are market-making sportsbooks that the larger legal U.S. oddsmakers typically copy. Eventually, FanDuel, DraftKings, and Caesars will follow Betcris and Bookmakers. Let's try to get the best of it now. 

Bet 1.1u on the Pistons +11 (-110) at DraftKings. Give me Detroit down to +10. 

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Follow me on X (or Twitter, whatever) @Geoffery-Clark and check out my OutKick Bets Podcast for more betting content and random rants. I'll be adding bets to my NBA 2023-24 betting record via X all season.