The cream of the crop is taking to the court in a jam-packed slate of NBA this Wednesday. BetDeluxe profiles all five big games.
Bucks vs. Celtics
15th February 11:30am
It’s a battle of 1 vs 2 in this Eastern Conference blockbuster, with the Boston Celtics looking to assert their dominance over a rampaging Milwaukee.
The Bucks are riding a 10-game winning streak, and their latest triumph was a 106-119 win over the Clippers on Sunday night. Once again, Giannis led from the front with 35 points, eight rebounds and six assists, alongside Brook Lopez’s 22 points and 15 boards. Giannis is back to his best and sits behind just Joel Embiid and Luka Doncic in the league scoring title, with 32.4ppg.
The Celtics proved too strong for the Grizzlies on Monday, running out 10-point winners on the back of another all-round team display. Jayson Tatum was underwhelming for the second time in three games with 16 points, but Derrick White picked up the slack with 23 and 10 assists.
This could well be the preview to the Eastern Conference finals, and we’re heading the way of the ladders leaders at a price.
Suggested Bet: Celtics to win @ $4.48
Raptors vs. Magic
15th February 11:30AM
It might not have the gravitas as the Bucks-Celtics match-up, but the Toronto Raptors will be out to keep their playoff hopes alive when they host the Magic.
Sitting 10th in the East with a 27-31 record, the Raptors edged past Detroit 119-118 on Monday. Fred VanVleet was unstoppable with 35 points and eight assists, including 16 in the first term. It was VanVleet’s ninth match with 30+ points for the season.
The Magic will be on the 24-hour backup from their match with Chicago, but they’ve found some form of late with three wins from their past five.
With the extra day’s rest and an in-form VanVleet and Pascal Siakam, the Raptors should be too strong in this one.
Suggested Bet: Raptors to win @ $1.40
Suns vs. Kings
15th February 1:00PM
Another NBA Wednesday blockbuster, the Phoenix Suns will return from a four-day break against the Sacramento Kings.
Fresh from securing Kevin Durant at the trade deadline and after four wins from their past five, the Suns have launched into Western Conference favouritism at $3.10. While Durant is out with injury, they’ll have the services of Devin Booker and Chris Paul, who played a leading role in their 104-117 win over the Pacers on Saturday.
The Kings are in a rich vein of form, sitting third in the West after downing the Dallas Mavericks 133-128 in OT. Despite a combined 55 points from Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the Kings found a way again on the back of De’Aaron Fox’s 36 points.
They’re finding ways to score at every turn, averaging 134 points in their past three wins.
Suggested Bet: Suns to win @ $1.62
Clippers vs. Warriors
15th February 2PM
Two teams who desperately need to win, the LA Clippers will host the Golden State Warriors in a must-watch encounter.
The sixth-placed Clippers will have noticed the insane player movement in the West over the trade deadline and will need to improve on their 106-119 losing performance to the Bucks.
They should welcome Kawhi Leonard back into the fold after he missed the Bucks match with knee management, while Bones Hyland and Eric Gordon will enter the rotation after being traded in.
Things are looking grim for the Warriors as they sit in the ninth spot in the West, half a game behind the Pelicans and Timberwolves.
They’ve got the Wizards between now and then, but their most recent performance against a LeBron-less Lakers yielded a 103-109 loss. There’s no way to say it other than the Warriors are desperately out of form and on the verge of missing the playoffs.
Suggested Bet: Clippers to win @ $1.23
Trail Blazers vs. Wizards
15th February 2PM
In the final match of an action-packed Wednesday, the Portland Trail Blazers will face off with the Washington Wizards as both sides back up from games the day before.
It’s been an inconsistent season for the Trail Blazers, but that hasn’t slowed their star guard Damian Lillard, averaging 31ppg and 7.3apg. He dropped another 38 against the Thunder on Saturday, despite going down 129-138.
The ninth-placed Wizards are also on the negative side of the ledger (26-29) and sit two games behind Atlanta.
Kristaps Porzingis continues to find ways to score with 22.6ppg, just ahead of Bradley Beal with 22.5ppg.
Suggested Bet: Trail Blazers to win @ $1.61
