NBA first-half betting trends: Grizzlies have been best against the spread wager in league, Nets worst

The NBA returns from its All-Star break Thursday night and once again we want to remind you that teams are WAY past the halfway point of their 82-game schedule. Most have around 24 games remaining. That said, the Memphis Grizzlies were the best against the spread team before the break and the Brooklyn Nets the worst.

The best ATS team each season is usually one that was wildly undervalued by oddsmakers entering the year and exceed expectations. The New York Knicks, for example, were way better than expected in the 2020-21 campaign and were the best ATS bet. This year, no team in the Western Conference at least has exceeded expectations like the Grizzlies (41-19 SU) led by MVP candidate Ja Morant.

Memphis is 40-20 ATS, a league-best cover percentage of 66.7. Oddsmakers have largely caught up and are favoring the Grizzlies most nights, but they still are covering the spread by an average of 3.1 points per game. That's No. 2 in the NBA behind Cleveland, which is covering its spread by an average of 4.7 points per game and is third in overall cover percentage at 61.8 (34-21-3 ATS).

Oklahoma City is one of the league's worst teams at 18-40 straight up but second-best against the spread at 35-19-4 (64.8 percent), covering by an average of 0.9 points per game. Since the Thunder's average point differential is minus-6.6, that pretty much tells you where they are often priced ATS (+7.5 or so).

It's obviously easy to explain why Brooklyn (31-28 SU) has been the worst ATS team at 22-36-1 (37.9 percent) because the Nets barely have had Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving or James Harden together – shoot, rarely even two of them. The Nets were 27-15 SU when Durant suffered a left MCL sprain. In his absence, Brooklyn is 4-13. Yet oddsmakers still often favor them, although not so much now that Harden has been traded to Philadelphia and Irving can't play at home.

Brooklyn hosts Boston on Thursday and Durant still isn't ready nor is trade acquisition Ben Simmons. Irving still can't play at home, although NYC Mayor Eric Adams intimated today that the vaccine mandate is going to be gone soon. Thus, Irving should be good to go at home maybe by the end of March at the latest and surely in the playoffs.

The Lakers (26-32 ATS) have been another betting disappointment, and they are failing to cover their games by an average of 2.7 points, worst in the NBA (Brooklyn barely better at -2.6).

Philadelphia (29-29 ATS) and Boston (29-29-2 ATS) are the only teams with an exactly 50 percent cover rate.

Looking for the best picks against the spread, sharp plays on the total, and props you can take straight to the pay window? Join Jonathan Coachman on the Early Edge as he speaks with SportsLine's top handicappers to preview the day's biggest games. We promise to keep it short, sweet and to put some green in your pocket. Early Edge is in your feed every single day by 11 a.m. ET. Subscribe right here on YouTube to watch daily, plus don't miss the Early Edge specials and live shows!