Look left out to the West and there are a heap of delicious matches to get the blood pumping.
The same goes when we look out to the East with both conferences set for some massive showdowns on Thursday morning and afternoon.
The comprehensive Thursday preview from BetDeluxe has all the best bets from hoops over in the USA.
Houston @ Cleveland
december 16th 11:00am
The Cleveland Cavaliers play host to the Houston Rockets in a Western versus Eastern Conference clash from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The Cavaliers continued to entrench themselves in the playoffs picture by improving to 17-12 with their fourth win in a row after defeating Miami 105-94.
For Houston, however, its struggles have well and truly been put in the rear-view mirror with an 8-2 record in its last 10 fixtures.
The Rockets have been one of the most improved teams in the league over the last month and their last-quarter blitz over the Atlanta Hawks ensured they moved up to 13th in the Western Conference.
Seeing Eric Gordon and Darius Garland go head to head in this contest is hopefully going to be a sight to behold.
Both guards have been pivotal to their team’s successes in the last few weeks.
The Cavaliers are well fancied to win this game, and it is no wonder why given their stronger body of work through the season compared to the Rockets.
But Houston is a different team to the one that started the season so poorly.
Suggested Bets: Houston Rockets +8.5 at $2.01
la lakers @ dallas
december 16th 11:30am
The Purple and Gold Army led by Lebron James makes its way down south to Texas when the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Dallas Mavericks in a Western Conference duel.
It is the beginning of a three-game road trip for the Lakers after they put away Orlando Magic in the second half of their 106-94 victory, while the Mavericks crushed the Charlotte Hornets to hold down seventh spot spot in the Western Conference.
The Lakers have a winning record against the spread when beginning a game as underdogs on the road.
Cohesion and chemistry has been a big question mark looming over the Lakers since their season opener, but what looks to be an improving team is setting itself up to have a big crack at the playoffs.
James, Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony will be tasked with the duty of stopping Luka Doncic and his in-form troops.
In what looks to be a tight game, the value is with the Lakers.
Suggested Bet: Los Angeles Lakers +2 at $1.91
New Orleans @ Oklahoma City
december 16th 12:00pm
Oklahoma City Thunder (8-18) will be fresh as a daisy when it welcomes the New Orleans Pelicans to Paycom Center for a bottom-of-West tussle on Thursday afternoon.
The Thunder have not been particularly enamouring in their last few outings with a 2-8 record through their last 10, but they do have already have a win over the Pelicans this season.
The last time the teams met was on November 10 when the Thunder scored 108-100 win when Josh Giddey put on a passing masterclass with nine assists.
If that game is anything to go by, the edge has to be with the Thunder given they are at home.
Suggested Bet: Oklahoma City Thunder head to head at $2.06
washington @ sacramento
december 16th 2:00pm
Washington will enter this contest with a win-loss mark of 15-13 after its 113-107 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
The issues arising for the Wizards this season is their reliance on Bradley Beal and a poor output on the scoreboard.
They currently have an average of 105.8 points per contest (24th in the league) while shooting 46.2% from the floor.
But this game may just represent an opportunity to find way back into the winners list with the Kings’ defence containing more holes than Swiss cheese.
The Kings, defensively, are ranked 29th in the league for points-per-game given up with 114.4.
If that number is not tightened up here, the Wizards are a big chance of getting the ‘W.’
Suggested Bet: Washington Wizards head to head at $1.98
