NBA Tips for Friday, February 20th 2026

We have NBA picks and predictions for Friday, February 20th, which features the Hawks vs. 76ers, Rockets vs. Hornets, and Celtics vs. Warriors.

Our picks include a best bet and NBA same game multi, and we’re looking forward to the NBA action this week.

Hawks vs. 76ers Predictions

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Best Bet

Hawks @ $1.99

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The Hawks and 76ers didn’t play well before the All Star break, but with the 76ers dealing with injuries, we’re backing the Hawks to deliver the goods on Friday.

They lost their last three games, but the likes of Jalen Johnson and CJ McCollum are capable of driving the offence and playing well on the road. Johnson had 19 points in his most recent, so he’ll look to turn that around.

We don’t have much trust in the 76ers without Joel Embiid, so back the Hawks at better odds.

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Same Game Multi

Hawks H2H, Jalen Johnson Over 22.5 Points, Tyrese Maxey Under 30.5 Points, Under 235.5 Points @ $10.25

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Johnson has 22+ points in four of his last five games, and he has been a saving grace for the Hawks after trading Trae Young. We expect him to have a big scoring performance in his return, and the line is generous.

Tyrese Maxey will need to play well for the 76ers to have any chance. Without Embiid, his line has inflated to 30.5 points, which could be too much for him to cover. Back Maxey to go under the total and end the game with around 26 points.

Under 235.5 points goes in our NBA same game multis based on our prediction that the 76ers struggle to produce the goods.

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Rockets vs. Hornets Predictions

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Best Bet

Hornets +4.5 @ $1.90

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The Hornets were one of the form teams leading into the All Star break, and they could pick up where they left off against the Rockets.

They won four of their last five games, and the Rockets haven’t played their best recently, so they could take a couple of weeks to get back into their groove.

We’re surprised by the line for the Hornets. Despite not having the star power of the Rockets, they are playing better basketball. They have roared into playoff contention, and LaMelo Ball is playing career-best basketball.

He was involved in a minor car crash on Thursday, but by all accounts, he’s fine and ready to play.

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Same Game Multi

Hornets +4.5, LaMelo Ball Over 20.5 Points, Kevin Durant Under 24.5 Points, Under 216.5 Points @ $9.75

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The Hornets defeated the Rockets four games ago, and Ball had 20 points in the win. His current line is right around the mark, and we think he’ll return from the break in good form. Back him to score over 20.5 points.

Durant scored only 21 points in his most recent game. He’s not taking as many shots as we’re accustomed to seeing, which doesn’t inspire us with confidence.

They combined for 208 points a couple of weeks ago, so under 216.5 points is worth including in NBA same game multi picks.

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Celtics vs. Warriors Predictions

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Best Bet

Celtics –5.5 @ $1.90

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Backing the Warriors without Steph Curry is fraught with danger, so we’re happy to include the Celtics –5.5 in our NBA picks today.

They have picked up the pace recently, and they have won four of their last five games against Western Conference opponents, which shows how competitive the Eastern Conference has become over the last couple of years.

We don’t rate the Warriors without their best player, and we don’t see who scores for them. Therefore, we expect Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard to dominate for the Celtics.

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Same Game Multi

Celtics –5.5, Jaylen Brown Over 28.5 Points, Payton Pritchard Over 17.5 Points, Over 212.5 Points @ $9.50

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We expect Brown and Prichard to have plenty of opportunities to score against the Warriors, so back them both. Brown comes off a 24-point performance, and he has recent totals of 30 and 33 points.

Pritchard can be a streaky shooter, but he’s electric from behind the three-point line on his day. He scored 26 points against the Bulls, and if he’s seeing the ball go through early, he could have another big performance.

The 212.5-point line is lower than expected, so we’re including the over.

Editor In Chief

Daryl Curnow

After graduating from the University of Auckland (BA - English), Daryl was thrown into the world of sports and horse racing journalism.

Having worked as a racing journalist for two years, he decided to move into the online world of horse racing and sports writing. After years of honing his craft, Daryl became a professional punter in 2009 - with a focus on horse racing, NRL, AFL, NBA, Rugby, NFL, and US college sports.

Daryl's tips have been featured on various websites around the world before joining the GoBet team. When he's not working, Daryl tries to avoid making bogeys on the golf course.