Don’t look now, but the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder are the top teams in a cutthroat Western Conference. It seems like the new school is ready to take the next step in claiming the NBA as their league.
But before SBOTOP dives into the exciting matchups for the NBA’s hefty slate, mostly between budding teams, the clash between the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, and the star-studded LA Clippers surely deserves a spot on the marquee.
Denver Nuggets @ LA Clippers
The LA Clippers will do their best to fend off the mighty Nikola Jokic and the rest of the Denver Nuggets.
The Clippers are looking like a very dangerous team now that they have figured out how to utilize James Harden in their system. They went on an impressive run that culminated in a Paul George triple that went straight to the hearts of the Golden State Warriors.
Now, they face a bigger hurdle as they host the defending champions, led by Nikola Jokic, who is having another MVP-tier season with averages of 20.5 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists. Fortunately for the Clippers, Jamal Murray’s status remains questionable as he’s still mending a right ankle sprain.
Betting tip – 1X2 Denver Nuggets @ 2.00
San Antonio Spurs @ Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves currently have the best record in the entire league (15-4), and they look to extend their dominance atop the Western Conference when they host the struggling San Antonio Spurs at Target Center.
These teams have polar opposite narratives going for them this season, as the Wolves are having a renaissance season while Pop and the Spurs are struggling to make ends meet. But even if that’s the case, this matchup still holds its spot in the marquee because of Minnesota’s plethora of stars and the matchup between Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama.
Frenchman Rudy Gobert, the current NBA 2023 odds favourite for Defensive Player of the Year, has been putting up insane numbers. The Stifle Tower is averaging 13.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks this season. It’ll be interesting to see if Wemby will do better than fellow Rookie of the Year candidate Chet Holmgren when matched up against the veteran big man Gobert.
Brooklyn Nets @ Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks host the Brooklyn Nets in what will surely be a high-scoring game as both young teams boast their offencive prowess every chance they get.
The Nets ended the Orlando Magic’s nine-game winning streak, and it was all thanks to their budding star Mikal Bridges. Bridges scorched the Magic at Barclays Center, outscoring the whole Magic team in the first quarter, where Mikal had 26 and the Magic had just 21 points as a team.
Bridges ended the night with a 40-piece, and fans are excited to see what he can produce against Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks.
The Hawks’ star backcourt has been terrific for Quin Snyder this season, providing sustainable offence and dishing out assists to get teammates involved as well. Both Young and Murray average more than 20 points, five assists, and at least 1.5 steals per game.
Betting tip – Over 241.5 @ 1.96
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Houston Rockets
Another exciting matchup involving two up-and-coming teams will take place at Toyota Center when the Houston Rockets host the steamrolling Oklahoma City.
Seeing the Timberwolves and the Thunder atop the Western Conference table is a sight to behold. The Chet hype is in full swing, and he definitely lived up to expectations by averaging 17.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.3 blocks with 53-38-86 shooting splits.
But the Gonzaga standout will have a tough matchup against another skillful big in the Rockets’ Alperen Şengün. The Turkish center, aka ‘baby Jokic’, is having a stellar season of his own, posting insane numbers night in and night out.
Şengün’s emergence trail blazed the way for the young Rockets to a respectable record. But Ime Udoka and his boys are currently on a three-game losing streak, and it would be a tall order to break that slump against a blooming Thunder squad.
Betting tip – Oklahoma City Thunder @Asian Handicap -2.00 @ 1.96
Orlando Magic @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Something suddenly clicked in Orlando. The Magic had been on a nine-game winning streak before their last game against the Brooklyn Nets, but even though the Magic’s magical run has ended, it doesn’t mean they’re down and out. The Magic’s recent surge of favourable NBA 2023 results may have boosted their spot in the standings, but the real test for the young team is to maintain their newfound success moving forward.
Paolo Banchero and his teammates prove that they’re no pushovers when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have been a tough matchup for any team in the East this season. Expect a fast-paced bout at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, as both of these teams love and thrive on playing on the open court.
Betting tip – 1X2 Orlando Magic @ 2.47
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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