The cream of the crop is taking to the court in a jam-packed slate of NBA. BetDeluxe profiles four of the big games to keep an eye on.
Cavaliers vs. Jazz
20th December 11:00AM
Two of the big surprise packets of the NBA meet in this fascinating duel. But while Utah has faded ever so slightly since its blistering opening to the season, Cleveland keeps on keeping on, sitting pretty in third place in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Cavs held firm in an overtime win over the Mavericks on Sunday and have shown no reason they can’t be a big contender for this year’s championship.
Jarrett Allen has been playing a dominant role at center since coming back from injury, cleaning up the boards at will, while Donovan Mitchell has made the team his own.
Mitchell will have plenty to prove against his former team in his first game against Utah, but the Jazz has as much to prove against Mitchell. Their new-look line-up has been lauded for its evenness this season, but they have had a mixed bag of results in recent times. They were poor in their most recent game against a Giannis-less Bucks and needed more from Kelly Olynyk and Jordan Clarkson. Lauri Markannen continues his campaign for Most Improved Player and will have a significant contribution here, but it won’t be enough to stop a rampaging Cleveland.
Suggested Bet: Same game multi
Leg 1: Cavaliers to win
Leg 2: L. Markannen to score more than 19.5
Leg 3: D. Mitchell to score more than 24.5
Leg 4: J. Allen to have more than 8.5 rebounds
Total: $5.25
76ers vs. Raptors
20th December 11:00AM
With four successive wins, Philadelphia is playing with stability that was absent in the season’s opening month. James Harden is finding his rhythm after injury problems, and Joel Embiid is presenting a solid case to be the league MVP with a comprehensive performance in the past couple of weeks.
Meanwhile, Toronto finds itself in no-mans land, looking unlikely to feature come playoff time and also unlikely to land a lottery pick. Veteran Pascal Siakam continues to post solid numbers and be the go-to for them, while Fred Van Vleet presents a reliable scoring option.
There is some deep recent history between these two teams, but that rivalry has taken a bit of a backseat with the no-name Raptors no match for a Philly team that has a pep in its step.
Suggested Bet: Philadelphia -7 at $1.94
Pelicans vs. Bucks
20th December 12:00PM
Undoubtedly the game of the week this week sees the top of the East Bucks against the second-best in the west Pelicans.
Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the recent win over Utah with a knee complaint and is no certainty to take his place here, but even if he doesn’t, the Bucks have more than enough depth to cover for him. A new element may be introduced to Milwaukee with shooter Joe Inglis edging closer to a return from a knee injury. He could contribute some handy buckets here.
New Orleans has lost its past three games, but that can’t be read into too much, with one of the league’s best defenses causing troubles all season. Zion Williamson is finally playing to his potential and has had a great season. He will relish the chance to play on the big stage here and may make a statement in the most emphatic way possible.
Suggested Bet: New Orleans to win at $1.94
Suns vs. Lakers
20th December 12:00PM
Phoenix looks to have arrested its recent mini-slump with some solid wins and a sensational rise by star Devin Booker. Booker dropped 58 points against New Orleans on Sunday and has looked unstoppable. He will rise once again here against a plucky Los Angeles team that has found some form lately. Veteran Chris Paul is bringing his usual consistent approach, which will be valuable against a Lakers team that is rising fast.
The Lakers have won three of their past four games, with LeBron James still looming large against all-comers. James has been brilliant lately, but his supporting cast has dropped away around him. Anthony Davis was in red-hot form just a couple of weeks ago, but as is usually the case with him, he now faces a couple of weeks sidelined with injury. Look for Phoenix to exploit the Lakers’ weaknesses and continue their winning ways.
Suggested Bet: Phoenix -10.5 at $1.92
