There might only be three games of the NBA today but they will all be hotly contested as we preview the Los Angeles Lakers making play against the Brooklyn Nets as well as the Milwaukee Bucks hosting the Toronto Raptors again.
Time to slam dunk our best bets for the day.
toronto @ milwaukee
february 19th 11:30am
After sitting beautifully poised at 16-8, the Milwaukee Bucks face the Toronto Raptors for the second time this week and will look to reverse a four game slide at the Fiserv Arena today.
It was the Raptors who proved too good on Wednesday with a 124-113 win and ultimately improved its record to 13-15.
Despite losing Kyle Lowry to injury, the Raptors carried the momentum set by shooting guard Fred VanVleet who managed 33 points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was his usual dominant best with a game-high 34 points that came with 10 rebounds, eight assists, five steals and two blocks but it was enough to outlast a plucky Raptors outfit.
With scores level early in the last, some magic from Pascal Siakim late in the piece proved the difference with the big power forward finishing up with 23 points and 13 rebounds.
The Bucks have definitely felt the pinch since losing Jrue Holiday to injury with newly appointed starting shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo unable to replicate Holiday’s numbers just yet.
DiVincenzo had a few easy looks on Wednesday from long range but went 1 from 8 outside the perimeter.
He’ll need to produce a little bit more, as will Khris Middleton, who went completely cold in the loss on Wednesday.
Middleton had been averaging just over 20 points per game leading into the first of back to back matches against the Raptors but could only manage a meek 11 points and with that came five uncharacteristic turnovers.
Milwaukee is more than capable of bouncing back here and given it was the heavy favourite to win on Wednesday we will give them another chance here.
Suggested Bet: Milwaukee Bucks win at $1.42
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Milwaukee Bucks head to head
Leg 2: Giannis over 9.5 rebounds
Leg 3: Khris Middleton over 19.5 points
Leg 4: Donte DiVincenzo to score 2+ three-pointers
Combined odds = $3.4
brooklyn @ la lakers
february 19th 2:00pm
The Los Angeles Lakers get their first date with the Brooklyn Nets today as the pair do battle from the Staples Centre.
It’s a case of arguably the best defence in the league coming up against the best offence in the league.
The Lakers sit second in the NBA for points conceded, only allowing opposition to score 105.8 points per game while the Nets average an obscene 121.7 points scored per match.
Unfortunately, with this game being a highly anticipated contest after Brooklyn signed James Harden to boost its finals hopes and become the main challenge to the defending champion, we will be without some star players.
Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis will both miss due to injury but thankfully we will see Harden and Irving go head to head with LeBron James.
Frank Vogel’s men went on a seven-game win streak before losing to the Denver Nuggets only to bounce back against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday to make it eight wins in nine games.
Meanwhile, Brooklyn made it three from three to start its road trip unblemished and full of confidence ahead of the task tonight.
Wins against Indiana, Golden State, Sacramento and Phoenix mean the Nets hold firm in second spot of the Eastern Conference, while another win for the Lakers would see them continue to hold second top spot in the west.
It’s a tough game to assess but with the home court advantage we have to side with the Lakers to make it win number 23 this season.
Suggested Bet: Los Angeles Lakers to cover the -2.5 point spread at $1.90
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Los Angeles Lakers to cover point spread -2.5
Leg 2: James Harden to score over 27.5 points
Leg 3: LeBron James over 6.5 rebounds
Combined odds = $5.75
