Portland and New Orleans begin NBA this Wednesday, while the Mavericks meet the Timberwolves and the Lakers clash with the Suns.
The best bets from all the big games are here for the punters at BetDeluxe!
portland @ new orleans
december 22nd 12:00pm
Two Western Conference rivals come to blows when the Portland Trail Blazers meet up against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday afternoon at the Smoothie King Center.
Both teams have desperately struggled this year to get anywhere near the 0.500 mark, but it has been the Trail Blazers who have been the most disappointing of the two.
The Pelicans can potentially be excused for their poor season as they miss the power and energy of Zion Williamson.
It still did not stop them from defeating last year’s champion Milwaukee in overtime on Saturday as up stepped Brandon Ingram, Devonte’ Graham and Josh Hart.
With a few days extra rest compared to the Trail Blazers, they look well placed to make it three in a row.
Suggested Bet: New Orleans Pelicans head to head at $1.97
minnesota @ dallas
december 22nd 12:30pm
Five wins in a row are on offer for Minnesota when it faces the Dallas Mavericks for the second time in as many days on Wednesday afternoon at American Airlines Center.
The Timberwolves have been on a tear having won their last four fixtures and accounted for the Mavericks at the Target Center on Monday to surge into eighth spot on the Western Conference table.
The six-point 111-105 win for the Timberwolves was in main part thanks to their sharp-shooting from beyond the perimeter with a 44% conversation rate from three-point range.
It proved to be a telling factor in the final result and something the Mavericks need to learn from in order to reverse the scores.
If the Mavericks can limit the Timberwolves in the three-point area, they will go close to winning.
The problem for Dallas though, is its losing record against the spread when starting underdogs at home, while the Timberwolves have covered the spread the only time they have started favourites away from home.
Suggested Bet: Minnesota Timberwolves -1 at $1.89
Phoenix @ LA Lakers
december 22nd 2:00pm
Los Angeles Lakers will seek to stop a two-game slide when they face the Phoenix Suns at Crypto.com Arena come Wednesday afternoon.
The Lakers fell for the second time in as many games when failing to handle a brutal 38-point display from DeMar DeRozan despite the best efforts of LeBron James.
It has been the tale of the tape for the Lakers all season; great individual performances that is yet to translate to consistent winning form.
Phoenix, however, has surged to the top of the Western Conference with an impeccable 24-5 record.
The Suns hit this game with supreme confidence having crushed Charlotte 137-106 on Monday in what was a brilliant performance highlighting how strong their depth is.
With Devin Booker coming back into the fold after recovering from a hamstring issue, the Suns just look to have the Lakers covered in every department on the court.
Booker and Chris Paul, alongside centre DeAndre Ayton, are amongst the best trio of team mates in the league.
Cannot see anything but the Suns covering the spread.
Suggested Bet:
Phoenix Suns -6.5 at $1.91
detroit @ new york
december 22nd 11:30am
Holding up the bottom of the Eastern Conference must be becoming a painful for experience for the Detroit Piston and it does not get easier when they face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Gardens.
The Pistons took a stride towards the relieving the pressure when they knocked off Miami on Monday, but they still hold down last in the conference.
New York, meanwhile, is in desperate need of a win if it wishes to make a run for playoffs and get above that 0.500 mark.
A 114-107 loss against Boston did not help the Knicks’ cause, but this contest against inferior opposition should see them lock in the win.
Julius Randle and the like should be too much for the Pistons to handle on the road.
Suggested Bet: New York Knicks -9.5 at $1.91
