Monday NBA Best Bets Feb. 2: Will Sixers pull off small upset in L.A.?

Last Updated on February 2, 2026 10:47 am by Anthony Rome

Will the Hornets roll as a 6.5-point home favorite versus the Pelicans at 3:00 p.m. ET? Is the total in tonight’s Timberwolves versus Grizzlies matchup set too high at 7:30 p.m. ET? Will the 76ers pull off the small upset in L.A. against the Clippers at 10:00 p.m. ET? Our Monday NBA Best Bets Feb. 2 column offers selections on these three matchups.

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NBA Best Bet: Hornets -6.5 (vs. Pelicans)

The Hornets are heating up — they’ve won 8 of their last 10 and jumped out to a strong home court edge recently. Meanwhile, the Pelicans have struggled on the road and have inconsistency on both ends of the floor. Recent handicapping notes show the Hornets covering versus New Orleans when shooting efficiently and controlling tempo.

Why this matters for bettors:

New Orleans is one of the worst road teams in the league, and Charlotte defends well enough to keep teams under their average points allowed.
The Pelicans’ shooting woes (especially from deep) have been well–documented recently — a liability against a Hornets squad at home.
With a spread of -6.5, this number reflects a game where Charlotte can both hold serve and pull away late, especially if they close possessions with transition points.

NBA Best Bet: Timberwolves/Grizzlies under 230

Minnesota has been playing efficient, fast offense, but Memphis has one of the slower, tougher defensive sets at home. For bettors, this matchup screams strategic grinding rather than free-flowing points — especially with key Grizzlies players (including Morant) out or limited due to injury.

Key details:

Grizzlies missing core scorers — Morant, Aldama, Konchar — which cuts into their half-court offense.
Wolves have won and covered recently, but they tend to play under more when the opponent struggles to make shots and Memphis holds tempo.
U230 (under 230.0) anticipates a slower-paced game with lower scoring efficiency — a trend reinforced by Memphis’ inability to consistently score without its stars.

NBA Best Bet: 76ers +2 (at Clippers)

Despite the Clippers being favorites at home, the 76ers matchup well here for a cover. Philly’s perimeter attack — anchored by Joel Embiid when healthy and battle tested on the road — can keep this close, while LA is on a back-to-back and travel schedule.

Why this is actionable:

The reddit betting boards and handicappers have this trending as a close contest with Philly +2.5 still playable, and Embiid has shown the ability to keep games tight.
The sportsbook simulations project the total over 220.5, but also note a tight spread — which suggests this game is likely decided by a possession or two.
As a result, the 76ers on the plus side of a tight number gives bettors value if the Clippers don’t dominate late.