Time to slam dunk the BetDeluxe best bets as we preview our matches of the day ahead of a cracking schedule of the NBA action on Thursday.
Our team has forensically studied the markets and has found value in the New Orleans Pelicans versus Detroit Pistons as well as the Los Angeles Lakers against the Utah Jazz.
detroit @ new orleans
february 25th 12:00pm
New Orleans hosts the Detroit Pistons following the Pelicans’ 120-115 overtime victory over the Celtics last Sunday.
The Pelicans have gone 8-7 at home and lead the Western Conference with 11.6 offensive rebounds per game led by Steven Adams averaging 4.3 who is likely to return to the lineup today after spraining his right ankle.
He is set to go tag team with second-year, and first time All Star, Zion Williamson.
The 20-year-old power forward has been a revelation for the Pelicans this season averaging a team high 25.1 points per game and he will prove a thorn for this Detroit team who have struggled on its travels this season.
The Pistons have an atrocious 3-14 in road games and struggle to maintain control of games when committing more turnovers than the opposition with a 4-10 win-loss record when this occurs.
Averaging 14.8 turnovers a game, the Pistons will need to take much more care of the ball against a Pelicans team who has shown encouraging signs in the last week.
The ray of sunshine for Detroit heading into this game is a win over the Pelicans earlier this season.
The Pistons won 123-112 in the last matchup on February 14 with Josh Jackson heading the way for Detroit with 21 points.
Brandan Ingram toiled away valiantly that night as well with 26 points in the loss.
Lonzo Ball leads the Pelicans averaging three 3-pointers per match, and is scoring 14.3 points per game while shooting 39.1% from beyond the arc.
Ingram, too, is averaging three made 3-pointers and 25 points over the last 10 games for New Orleans.
Jerami Grant leads the Pistons averaging 23.3 points and is adding 5.2 rebounds per game but he is likely to miss the game today leaving a big hole in offence.
The last 10 games have also fared well for Josh Jackson who is averaging 16.3 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting 45.0% over the last 10 games for Detroit.
The return of Adams is a much welcomed boost of experience and strength on the boards and as such the Pelicans should win this comfortably.
Suggested Bet: New Orleans Pelicans to cover the -11.5 point spread
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: New Orleans point spread
Leg 2: Zion Williamson to score over 23.5 points
Leg 3: Steven Adams over 8.5 rebounds
Leg 4: Brandon Ingram to make 2+ three pointers
Combined odds = $4.75
toronto @ miami
february 25TH 12:00pm
Miami aims to keep its three-game win streak intact when the Heat take on Toronto.
Miami is 10-3 when winning the rebound battle and averages 42.6 rebounds per game and currently sits in the positive ledger with a 12-8 record in conference matchups.
Toronto ranks second in the league scoring 15.4 fast break points per game. Kyle Lowry leads the Raptors in this department averaging 3.6 per game.
This match marks the third encounter between the teams this year with the Raptors winning 101-81 in the last matchup on January 22.
Norman Powell led Toronto with 23 points that day, and Kendrick Nunn led Miami with 22 points
Bam Adebayo leads the Heat with 9.5 rebounds and averages 19.6 points, while star guard Jimmy Butler is averaging 19.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 9.1 assists and 1.7 steals over the last 10 games for Miami.
Raptors power forward and centre Pascal Siakam leads his team averaging 20.6 points and grabbing 7.7 rebounds for the regular season.
From a team statistical point of view the Heat have flipped their season around going 7-3 in the last 10 games.
Their away record has also been solid as well, sitting with nine wins from their 18 road trips this season but with a resurgent Miami starting to gain the form it showed last season which saw it fall agonizingly short in the NBA finals.
Suggested Bet: Miami Heat head to head at $1.80
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Miami Heat win
Leg 2: Jimmy Butler total points over 18.5
Leg 3: Pascal Siakam total points over 19.5
Combined odds = $4.6
LA LAKERS @ UTAH
february 25TH 2:00Pm
The Los Angeles Lakers face an uphill battle when it ventures off to the Vivint Smart Home Arena in an attempt to end the 14-game home winning streak of the Utah Jazz on Thursday.
After losing to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Jazz exploded with a 41-point fourth quarter more than enough to put away a feisty Charlotte Hornets team.
Donovan Mitchell continued his brilliant form with 23 points and eight assists in the 132-110 victory over the Hornets.
The Lakers, on the other hand, were the victims of a surprising loss at the Staples in overtime against the Washington Wizards. It marked the team’s third consecutive loss and its continued struggles without star tall Anthony Davis, who continues to battle with an ankle injury.
The story for the Jazz has been the Mitchell show by way of averaging 3.4 made 3-pointers, and scoring 24.5 points per game while shooting 38.9% from beyond the arc.
Jordan Clarkson is averaging 20.1 points and three rebounds while shooting 45.0% over the last 10 games for Utah, firming as a consensus 6th Man of the Year pick as we head towards the All Star Break.
Lakers champion and finals MVP LeBron James has been asked to carry an almost inhumane load with the absence of Davis.
James is averaging 35 minutes on the floor and his last three games have seen him average close to a triple double with 27.3 points, 9.6 assists and 8.6 rebounds.
Despite his high numbers, which are due mainly to the Lakers channelling their entire offense through him, his three point form has been horrendous.
He has only managed to convert four three point shots from his last 24 attempts as the Lakers stumbled to 22-10 and sit third in the Western Conference standings.
The Jazz get Los Angeles at the right time and should be able to inflict the Lakers fourth loss in a row.
Suggested Bet: Utah Jazz to cover the -8.5 point spread at $1.89
