NBA Wednesday is back with three fascinating clashes on the card. BetDeluxe looks at each game to tell you where the value is to be found.
Heat vs. Pistons
7th December 11:30AM
A young Detroit team has had a horrible time of it this year, made even worse by a barrage of injuries. After a few interesting line-up changes, the Pistons have caused the odd upset, but it would be unwise to think they will string together any semblance of form.
Saddiq Bey and Jaden Ivey have moved out of the starting line-up, while Killian Hayes has stepped up to be an essential role player, posting some vastly-improved numbers and is a healthy option to look at for a wager.
Miami has yo-yoed this season and has played below expectations. But with four wins from its past five games, the Heat have hit a little purple patch that could be worth riding.
Jimmy Butler is back after an injury layoff and was instrumental in the recent win over Boston, while Bam Adebayo is putting up solid defensive numbers. Look for those two to be big factors behind a Heat win.
Suggested Bet: Miami -8.5 at $1.91
Cavaliers vs. Lakers
7th December 11:30AM
Not everyone wants to admit it yet, but there are early signs that the Lakers are back. A woeful start to their season was one of basketball’s biggest talking points, with a strong focus on some big names not performing. But with three consecutive wins (and eight from its past ten games) and Anthony Davis in startling form, there are some rumblings about the Lakers.
Davis has scored 99 points in his past two games, making him the first Laker to achieve back-to-back 40s since Kobe Bryant in 2013 and has reminded everyone why he is one of the most prodigious talents in the sport. His blistering form should continue here against a Cleveland team that is missing center, Jarett Allen.
The Cavs continue to push their cause as an Eastern Conference sleeper, but with Allen and Dean Wade sidelined, they are a little weakened. Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley are two of the most exciting players to watch at the moment and could guide their team deep into the playoffs. But they might have got the Lakers at the wrong time here.
Suggested Bet: Lakers win at $2.45
Nuggets vs. Mavericks
7th December 2:00PM
This is a fascinating duel headlined by the two best European exports, possibly of all time.
Nikola Jokic is in MVP form for Denver, with incredible performances on offense and defense. He has had some good support from Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray, but there is a slight concern that Denver doesn’t have the depth to match it in the crunch truly.
Dallas is another team that has been exciting at times this season but has also left too much to too few, namely superstar Luka Doncic who has not slipped outside the top two in MVP favouritism all season.
But Doncic is becoming frustrated at shouldering the whole load, and despite his brilliant efforts, he leads a team hovering on a .500 record. Recent losses to New York and Detroit were disappointing, and the Mavs would want to move soon to climb to where many predicted they would be. But they may have to wait another night before that resurgence, with Denver the likely victor here.
Suggested Bet: Denver to win at $1.51
