Fats Baller's Saturday NBA picks and analysis zero in on the Bucks, the Mavs, De'Andre Hunter and Devin Booker

It was another split night, small loss, with two easy wins thanks to Caris Levert and Jerami Grant, accompanied by dud games from Mitchell Robinson and Devin Booker.

Tonight my Knicks and Nets are off and my Sixers are playing an afternoon game with Marc Zumoff at point guard, so that's one to skip. Tonight I'm mixing it up with 4 plays in 4 games at decent odds. Nothing extraordinary needs to happen for me to win, but something extraordinary may happen for me to lose.

Tonight's thoughts:

The Mavs played well at home against the Nuggets, have a day off and are home against a Magic team that was putrid last night against the Rockets. Even assuming the Magic pull a rabbit out of their hats and play respectably, the Mavs should score and should win. Late note: The Mavericks have three key players out tonight due to Covid protocols so you may want to reconsider. Luka may have to go bananas.

The Bucks were ghastly losing at home last night to the Jazz. I expect them to bounce back and pummel the Cavs.

De'Andre Hunter has been a model of consistency. In his last 4 games he's put up between 17 and 23 points and pulled down from 5 to 8 boards. Any combination makes his number tonight.

Devin Booker let me down last night but in 3 of his last 4 games he's knocked down 3 or more threes. Seems a good risk at +150.

All wagers and returns based on $10.

Hawks at HORNETS, 7:05 pm EST, Suns at PACERS, 7:05 pm, Cavaliers at BUCKS, 8:05 pm, Magic at Mavericks, 8:35 pm

3-pointer: Mavericks win and Over 218.5 +165 (returns $26.50)

2-pointer: Bucks win and Over 221.5 +110 (returns $21.00)

Free throw: De'Andre Hunter (Hawks) over 20.5 points, rebounds, assists -110 (returns $19.10)

Steal: Devin Booker (Suns) make over 2.5 threes +150 (returns $25.00)

Friday Results

Winner:

2-pointer: Caris Levert (Nets) over 22.5 points -110 (returns $19.10) Without Kyrie and KD, Caris went off for 43 points.

Steal: Jerami Grant (Pistons) over 26.5 points, rebounds, assists -134 (returns $17.50) Grant won for me again as he continued his stellar play with 31 points and 10 boards and 43 PRA.

Losers:

3-pointer: Mitchell Robinson (Knicks) double-double +230 (returns $33.00). 6 points and 5 boards in 26 minutes. Now that I'm losing money on Robinson, I'm noticing he does not get many rebounds out of his zone. Straight up and down, he's incredible, but side-to-side crashing the boards, not so much.

Free throw: Devis Booker (Suns) over 34.5 points, rebounds, assists -117 (returns $18.60) Booker had a low-key 23-0-3 line for a 26 PRA as the Suns lost to the Pistons in OT.

$40 wagered (2-2), $36.60 returned.

Day 16: -$3.40

Total: -$154.05 (29-44 off 73 $10 wagers)