Steve Makinen Reveals Top NBA Betting Trends and Picks for February 26

Morgan Winslow

Published: February 26, 2026 10:56 PM ET

NBA betting trends for February 26, 2026, reveal patterns that can significantly influence wagering strategies. These trends, analyzed by experts, provide insights into team performance and potential betting outcomes based on historical data.

Top NBA Betting Trends and Picks

Analytical Insights from Steve Makinen

Steve Makinen, a notable analyst, highlights promising betting systems and trends for today’s NBA matchups. The following key observations are of interest:

Favorites Success: In the Spurs-Nets non-conference series, favorites are on an impressive 25-2 straight-up (SU) and 22-4-1 against the spread (ATS) run over the last 27 games.
Road Performance: Teams that lost as home favorites historically rebound well when favored on the road; they are 179-81 SU and 147-109-4 ATS since the 2020-21 season.
Under Trends: NBA teams playing with one day of rest have a 173-114 record under the total against teams with extended rest periods.

Key Matchups and System Plays

Highlighted Games

Several matchups today present favorable betting conditions based on recent trends:

San Antonio Spurs vs. Brooklyn Nets: Bet on San Antonio -12.5.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns: Bet on Los Angeles -5.5.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Utah Jazz: Bet under 242.5.

Matchup Analysis

Teams face unique challenges depending on their schedules, injuries, and rest days:

Atlanta Hawks: Enjoy a positive trend with a 136-104 record over the total in one-day rest scenarios since November 2021.
Brooklyn Nets: An impressive 21-8 over the total when playing at home under similar rest conditions since February 2025.
Charlotte Hornets: Conversely, have underperformed with a 152-109 record under the total after one day of rest since March 2021.

Betting Trends by Divisional Matchups

Critical Observations

Within divisional matchups, strategic considerations emerge:

Winning Streaks: Teams with four or more consecutive wins make strong candidates for betting as large road favorites, showing a solid track record.
Close Games: Winning tight matches (by 1-3 points) has led to difficulties covering spreads in subsequent games.

Conclusion

The analysis of today’s NBA games reveals significant trends that can guide betting decisions. Understanding patterns in team performance, particularly regarding favorites, previous outcomes, and rest periods, is crucial for making informed wagers.

Stay updated with the latest insights on NBA betting at Filmogaz.com.