The NBA rolls into week three as we preview the games of the round and highlight our best bets.
Giannis Antetokounmpo headlines the action this week as the Milwaukee Bucks face off against the Miami Heat while the Boston Celtics travel to Indiana.
Milwaukee bucks v miami heat
DECEMBER 30th 11:30aM
The Milwaukee Bucks will be looking to take advantage of a weakened Miami Heat line-up who will be without star guard Jimmy Butler.
Butler injured his ankle in the first-half against the New Orleans Pelicans and a return date for him is yet to be announced.
The Heat enter this clash with an even win-loss ledger (1-1) following its 111 to 98 win over the Pelicans while the Bucks come into this one after a disappointing 130 to 110 loss against the New York Knicks.
Avery Bradley, Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson are the three players required to take the reins offensively for the Heat in the absence of Butler.
Robinson was the most impressive of the three when Butler left the field against the Pelicans.
He tossed up 23 points to go with five rebounds while Bradley managed 12 points, four assists and two rebounds. Herro was the least productive with 11 points, three assists and two rebounds.
Despite the Bucks being slightly off the boil against the Knicks it was still able to get a productive output from NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo who finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.
Khris Middleton also showed his prowess around the ring with 22 points, five assists and four rebounds.
The Bucks will also tighten up defensively.
It was the number one ranked defence in the league throughout the 2019/20 regular season and conceded the eighth least points per game during that campaign.
Both sides have a heavy reliance on their star players to produce a winning outcome.
For the Bucks it’s Giannis and for the Heat it’s Butler.
Given the Heat will be without Butler it’s hard to see it holding out of the Bucks who will be keen to bounce back into winning on its home deck.
Prediction: Milwaukee Bucks to win.
Bet: Milwaukee Bucks to cover the line of -5.5 at $1.90.
Boston @ Indiana
DECEMBER 30TH 11:00am (AEDT)
The Boston Celtics remain in Indiana for their second clash with the Pacers.
It was the Pacers who accounted for the Celtics in a pulsating one-point 108 to 107 triumph.
The Pacers are undefeated to start the 2020/21 NBL season and also boast a 2-0 home record.
The team effort in the victory over the Celtics on Monday night highlighted a squad and organisation full of confidence and unity.
Pacers point guard Malcolm Brogdan led the floor with 25 points, five assists, five rebounds and two steals. He was duly accompanied by starters T.J. Warren (17 points and five rebounds) and Domantas Sabonis (19 points, 10 rebounds and five assists).
What was also impressive on behalf of the Pacers was its ability to influence the contest from the bench.
Small forward Doug McDermott hit the scoreboard with 16 points off the pine and provided three assists while shooting guard Justin Holiday entered the field to record 13 points and four assists.
The Pacers will also be looking to limit the success the Celtics have from outside the arc.
Boston shot at 39.1% from three point territory and if the Pacers can be wary of this and shut it down it will ensure the Celtics try to take a different route to the basket.
A huge factor in favour of the Pacers was points in the paint. This was well lopsided in its favour (60-42) and it will look to push forward and use this tactic again to give itself the advantage over the Celtics.
Rated the fourth best defence in the league and conceding the second last amount of points per game, the Celtics will want to return to that sort of form in order to quell the Pacers after allowing them to score as many points as it did in the paint.
The value seems to be with Boston in this one.
It’ll clamp down the defensive screws and hopefully make it much harder for the Pacers to score in the paint.
Prediction: Boston Celtics to bounce back and give the Pacers its first loss of the season.
Suggested bet: Back Boston head to head at $1.89.
