Contrasting form lines and reputation are the theme of two key NBA games this Friday.
BetDeluxe finds out what you need to know.
Magic vs. Warriors
4th November 10:00AM
Not many would have picked Golden State to drop three consecutive games so early in the season, but that is the situation they are finding themselves in.
The usually impenetrable Warriors were committing all sorts of uncharacteristic errors, most notably three discontinued dribble calls against Jordan Poole and losing the fourth quarter by 15 points to throw away a lead.
Steph Curry is in good form, coming off his 10th regular season triple-double, but other parts of the much-vaunted Warriors outfit aren’t clicking.
Klay Thompson has drifted a little from the dominant shooting force he was several years ago, while Poole isn’t quite playing to the expectation that had him as the 6th man of the year favourite.
While the Warriors 3-5 record has them on the lower end of the standings, they aren’t quite as low as their opponents in this game.
Orlando has the equal worst record in the league at just 1-7, but there were some promising signs in Wednesday’s loss to the Thunder. Bol Bol shot the first 11 points of the game for the Magic, while Wendell Carter also played a crucial role in them leading by three at the final break.
Number one draft pick Paolo Banchero continues to firm for rookie of the year averaging 22.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in an encouraging sign for the future.
But Orlando still represents an easy kill for a Warriors team desperate to get back on the winner’s board, and even though they may have the ascendancy at times in this game, they won’t get the win.
Suggested Bet: Golden State -8.5 at $1.96
Value bet: Orlando to win the first quarter at $2.52
Thunder vs. Nuggets
4th November 11:00AM
Oklahoma City is in a sneaky purple patch, having won its past four matches, including a solid come-from-behind win over the Magic on Wednesday.
After some concern with a slow start to the season, OKC now looks to be firing on all cylinders with a playoff run in its sights.
Back-to-back wins over the Clippers and toppling Luca Doncic’s Mavericks have the Thunder full of belief, and they now face a stern test against perennial contenders Denver.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has stamped his authority on the team, slamming 13 of his 34 points in the final quarter against Orlando. With a 31.5 point per game average on the season, Gilgeous-Alexander could be one to watch for the individual award markets.
He was helped by the return from injury of Australian Josh Giddey, who brought an up-tempo element to the team, dishing off ten assists. Once he gets some continuity in his game, we should see even more improvement from the Thunder.
With the same 4-3 record, Denver should be on par with Oklahoma City, but they are coming off a relative form lapse as opposed to a hot run.
They are fresh off their worst loss to the season, a 121-110 defeat to hand the underwhelming LA Lakers their first campaign win, which raised eyebrows across the league.
But the Nuggets shouldn’t be too concerned, with some elements of their team still taking shape. Jamal Murray is improving steadily from the year-long knee injury that wiped his 2021-22 campaign, and Michael Porter Jr is shooting strongly when he has the ball.
The dependable Nikola Jokic isn’t quite at the level he has been over his MVP seasons, but he sits in the top 10 for rebounds and assists per game this season and has shown his ability to rise to the occasion. Nuggets in a close one here.
Suggested Bet: Same game multi
Leg 1: Nuggets to win
Leg 2: Total score over 229.5
Total: $2.80
