Friday night delivers games in the NBA and NHL as teams settle into the heart of the winter schedule. Despite a smaller slate, there is value on the board. On a night with limited matchups, finding the edge is key to starting the weekend off right. Here are tonight’s best bets brought to you by BetOnline.ag. Click here to join. All new players get a 50% welcome bonus and up to $250 in free bets.
First Pick: Warriors -1.5
Rundown: Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves (15-9) tip off with Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors (13-12) in a matchup from Chase Center.
The matchup pits Golden State’s fourth-ranked defense against Minnesota’s seventh-ranked offense, with the Warriors holding a slight edge based on recent trends. Golden State is 9-6 in 15 games as a favorite this season and has covered the spread in three straight contests. Minnesota is still searching for its first win as an underdog, going 0-4 in those spots, and has failed to cover in four consecutive games.
Minnesota’s 10th-ranked defense could slow a Warriors offense that sits in the bottom 10 in scoring, but Golden State has found success when clearing the Timberwolves’ defensive average of 114.8 points per game. In those situations, the Warriors are 7-3-1 against the spread. Minnesota’s broader ATS struggles remain concerning, with just two covers in its last 10 games and an overall cover rate of 33 percent this season. The numbers point toward Golden State extending its winning streak to three.
Second Pick: Blackhawks Moneyline
Rundown: The Chicago Blackhawks (13-11-6) visit the St. Louis Blues (11-14-7) on Friday night in a Central Division matchup at Enterprise Center.
Chicago enters tonight riding momentum after a shutout win over the New York Rangers on Wednesday, fueled by a two-point performance from Connor Bedard. St. Louis is searching for answers after allowing 12 total goals across back-to-back losses. Defensive issues have plagued the Blues all season, as they rank last in the NHL in goals allowed at 3.6 per game. The struggles extend to the offensive end, where St. Louis enters the matchup ranked 29th in scoring at 2.5 goals per game.
Chicago holds a clear edge across all three phases, ranking ahead of St. Louis in scoring offense, goals allowed and power-play efficiency. The Blackhawks have been steady on both ends of the ice, scoring and conceding 89 goals this season for an even goal differential that sits 16th in the league. Special teams have also been a strength, with Chicago ranking 11th in power-play goals and 10th in conversion rate at 22.2 percent. Look for the Blackhawks to dictate the tempo and skate away with a road victory.