Another day of NBA previews and best bets.
The New Orleans Pelicans got us out of a hole on Monday and now we put our efforts towards Wednesday with the Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers all taking the court.
Let’s slam dunk these best bets and collect some coin!
Utah @ Boston
march 17th 10:30am
The Utah Jazz head to Boston when it faces the Celtics for its sixth road trip in seven fixtures.
Despite the four losses in its last five away games, the Jazz sit first in the Western Conference with a 28-10 win-loss record, while the Celtics sit at 20-18 and hover in fifth position of the Eastern Conference.
The Celtics only blemish in its last six games was a 121-109 loss against the Brooklyn Nets which is nothing to be ashamed of given they are genuine finals contenders.
In what is the second meeting between the Jazz and Celtics this season, it’s the home team who will be looking for revenge.
Donovan Mitchell proved too good for the Celtics after his prolific game-high 36 points helped the Jazz to a convincing 122-108 win over the Celtics on February 10.
The Jazz did have a tough time of it playing its second game in as many days against the Golden State Warriors which resulted in a 131-119 loss.
An extra handful of days to gain much needed respite should be enough to see the Jazz get over the line but the Celtics will be up for the fight.
Suggested Bet: Boston Celtics to cover the +4.5 point spread at $1.91
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Celtics +3.5
Leg 2 : R. Gobert over 11.5 Rebounds
Leg 3: J. Tatum over 30 Points + Rebounds
Combined Odds = $4.2
Cleveland @ Miami
17th march 11:00am
A six-game winning streak is on offer for the Miami Heat when it welcomes the Cleveland Cavaliers to the AmericanAirlines Centre.
In the first of the three-game series between the two franchises, it’s the Heat who come into this one as the short-priced favourites after a grinding 102-97 win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday.
The Cavaliers have been much improved in recent weeks after they put an end to their horrific 10-game losing run with four big wins in a row to sit at 14-21.
However, losses to Indiana, New Orleans and Atlanta have now resigned John-Blair Bickerstaff’s men to a 14-24 record and all hopes of a playoff berth dashed as they sit in 13th spot of the Eastern Conference.
Miami has begun to show the form which almost took it to glory in 2020 upon the resurgence of Jimmy Butler who is averaging 28.8 points in his last six matches.
While this should be a victory to a Heat squad who look playoff bound again, the point spread does look a bit inflated.
Suggested Bet: Cleveland Cavaliers to cover the +9.5 point spread at $1.99
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Cavs + 10.5
Leg 2: Total Points under 216.5
Leg 3: J. Butler Points + Assists + Rebounds over 30
Combined Odds = $3.6
New York @ Philadelphia
march 17th 11:00am
The Philadelphia 76ers grace their fortress on Wednesday morning for a clash against the New York Knicks.
Having extended its home record to 17-3 after a 134-99 rout of the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, the 76ers have now won its past five games and sit perched atop of the NBA East.
New York front up after yesterday’s narrow five-point loss to the Brooklyn Nets in a bid to get into a positive win-loss record.
This match marks the second of three games between both teams with the first encounter being a 109-89 victory in favor of the 76ers after its star duo Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons went to work.
Embiid led all point-scorers with 27 points to go with his 10 boards and two assists, while Simmons managed 15 points, nine rebounds and six assists as well as two blocks in defence.
The 76ers produced a second-half shutdown of the Knicks only allowing them to score 34 points through the third and final quarters.
Julius Randle (25 points, seven rebounds, three assists) and Alec Burks (22 points, five rebounds and three assists) toiled away in the 20-point loss but it was simply not enough to quell a rampant playoffs bound 76ers.
Off no break and having to travel to Philadelphia, this match could get ugly.
Expect the 76ers to do a number on the Knicks.
Suggested Bet: Philadelphia 76ers to cover the -6.5 point spread at $1.92
Oklahoma City @ Chicago
march 17th 11:00am
Zach LaVine and his Chicago Bulls welcome the Oklahoma City Thunder to the United Center with both teams sitting in 11th place of their respective conferences.
The Bulls did a number on a hapless Toronto Raptors with a 118-95 triumph to improve its record to 17-20 this season, while the Thunder overcame a plucky Memphis to record a 128-122 victory.
In the first of the two games series between the Thunder and Bulls, it was the Thunder who proved the superior team on January 16 after a tit for tat 127-125 overtime win.
LaVine (35 points) and his opposing shooting guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33 points) went basket for basket in the shootout and the pair look set to do the same here.
Turnovers really hurt the Bulls in the two-point loss. They would give the ball away 24 times compared to the Thunder’s 13 turnovers. It’s an area of the game the Bulls need to resolve if they want to flip the result of the game in Oklahoma two months ago.
Despite its carelessness with the ball in hand, Chicago had Oklahoma at its mercy.
Being 14 points to the good with just over four minutes of game time remaining back in January, the Bulls were left floundering late in the match and coughed up the result.
A 9-10 away record for the Thunder gives them a sniff of toppling the more fancied Bulls who themselves have a losing 8-13 record at the United Centre.
The price discrepancy between the two squads at the head to head market seems too big.
Have to side with Oklahoma at the price.
Suggested Bet: Oklahoma City Thunder head to head at $2.90
Atlanta @ Houston
march 17th 11:00am
The Atlanta Hawks head to the Toyota Centre in Houston with a five-game winning streak in hand as it teeters in eighth spot of the Eastern Conference table.
Meanwhile, the tale of the tape of the Rockets has been horrific.
A 16-game run of outs sees it languishing at 11-26 and in second last place of the Western Conference.
In a year that looked destined for a potential push towards playoffs given it say at 11-10, the gas that light the Rockets has almost completely run out.
The loss of James Harden to Brooklyn coupled with injuries to gun point guard John Wall and shooting guard Eric Gordon will only compound the misery for the Rockets.
Despite the poor form shown by the Rockets, a match at home against a team it is yet to face this year may represent an opportunity to break this horrendous run of form.
The Hawks will prove tough to beat having manufactured a 7-3 run in its last ten games to sit 19-20 and poised in eighth spot of the Eastern Conference.
While the market is siding the Hawks to win this win at the head to head, the Rockets, who have had a handful of games to adjust to their injuries, should be able to cover the spread.
Suggested Bet: Houston Rockets to cover the +9 point spread
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Hawks Win
Leg 2: Hawks over 111.5 Points
Leg 3: Rockets +9.5
Combined Odds = $4
New Orleans @ Portland
march 17th 1:00pm
The New Orleans Pelicans face the Portland Trail Blazers for the second time this season when they meet on in Portland today.
These teams will also face each other for the last time this season Thursday in Portland after taking Wednesday off.
It was the Trail Blazers who had the better of it in a tight 126-124 victory over the Pelicans on February 17th in New Orleans as Damian Lillard scored 43 points, including the game-winning three-point play.
The Pelicans are seeking their third straight win after blowing out the Cavaliers on Friday and the Clippers 135-115 on Sunday.
The Trail Blazers are looking to bounce back after losing 114-112 to the Timberwolves on Sunday, but they will get a huge boost as CJ McCollum will make his return from a foot injury that sidelined him since January 16th.
This should be an exciting game if you love offence, especially with McCollum back in action.
Both offences rank among the top seven in offensive rating while both defences rank among the bottom three in defensive rating.
Expect a high-scoring affair with the class of Portland proving that little bit better.
Suggested Bet: Portland Trail Blazers head to head at $1.77
