Basketball online betting fans are in for a treat as 13 of the 16 NBA playoff contenders will see action this Thursday.
The biggest event will be the live betting showdown between the Warriors and the Celtics, but the other teams are all guaranteed to fill your hunger for intensity and drama as they aim to lock their postseason berths with just a little over a month remaining in the regular season.
Chicago Bulls @ Orlando Magic (March 9, 08:00 GMT+8)
Orlando’s starters are doing great with Aaron Gordon producing quality numbers at the #4 spot, but they still can’t convert performances into wins as they lack depth and the needed supporting cast to compete seriously. Chicago might be another inconsistent team, however, the presence of Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade makes the difference for them. If you’re punting, the Bulls -2.00 for 2.02 sounds like a good deal.
Brooklyn Nets @ Atlanta Hawks (March 9, 08:30 GMT+8)
Atlanta are one of the worst teams in defending the three-point territory, as proven in their defeats to the Cavs and Warriors. With such glaring hole in their wall, the three-happy Nets—who just defeated Memphis—could very well exploit it and secure their second consecutive victory.
Being the underdogs gives Brooklyn some advantage on handicap betting, so go for the Nets +10.00 for 1.88.
Charlotte Hornets @ Miami Heat (March 9, 08:30 GMT+8)
Back-to-back wins against the East-best Cavaliers will give the Heat some much-needed boost in their battle with the Hornets. Charlotte are on a roll themselves, but Miami’s continued excellence on the defensive end could spell trouble for them. Pick the Heat -4.00 for 1.98.
LA Clippers @ Minnesota Timberwolves (March 9, 09:00 GMT+8)
The postponement of their game against Portland could do some good for Minnesota who have been improving on both ends of the floor. Their match with the Clips will be a difficult test, though it’s not at all hopeless with Doc Rivers’ side struggling defensively and their bench unit playing surprisingly bad basketball. With that said, the Wolves +3.00 for 1.95 is a punt worth considering.
Detroit Pistons @ Indiana Pacers (March 9, 09:00 GMT+8)
Indiana will need Paul George to consistently perform if they want to secure a playoff spot in the East. They’ll be facing a top-10 defence in Detroit, and that should worry them given that they lost to the Hornets yesterday. Not to mention that the Pistons have found their pace on the offence following huge wins over Phila and Chicago.
I think Detroit are in a better position to win, and you can back them on +4.00 for 1.86.
Utah Jazz @ Houston Rockets (March 9, 09:00 GMT+8)
Both teams are playing much better now since their November split, so this should be an exciting game between these contenders. Utah are a great team on the road, while Houston are one of the best teams at home. It would come as a silver lining for the Rockets though that the Jazz have lost seven straight against their fellow West playoff teams.
This match should be close, but Houston -5.50 for 1.82 appears to be the best choice.
Toronto Raptors @ New Orleans Pelicans (March 9, 09:00 GMT+8)
The Boogie experiment isn’t working out well for New Orleans as their postseason dreams continue to diminish in front of their eyes. They might be able to score a win against the vulnerable Kyle Lowry-less Raptors given that their previous meeting was decided by just two points, but the chances of that happening are low with Toronto coming from a three-day rest. I think the Raps have enough depth to get a W here, so a +2.00 handicap for 1.98 is a steal.
New York Knicks @ Milwaukee Bucks (March 9, 09:00 GMT+8)
Victories over the Raps and Sixers should be enough to bring Milwaukee’s energy back. The Bucks have been on a terrific run behind Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, and that isn’t expected to end anytime soon, especially against a Knicks squad who are in the headlines again for all the wrong reasons. With that in mind, Milwaukee should be able to breeze through a handicap of -5.00 that pays at 1.98.
Sacramento Kings @ San Antonio Spurs (March 9, 09:30 GMT+8)
Undefeated in their last eight games, there’s just no stopping the Spurs from chasing the Warriors for the top seed. Sacramento, on the other hand, have lost five in a row since winning their first game without DeMarcus Cousins. Hence, it’s doubtful that they’ll pose any challenge against San Antonio who boast the league’s best defence over the past month. The Spurs -15.00 for 1.96 is a no-brainer.
Washington Wizards @ Denver Nuggets (March 9, 10:00 GMT+8)
Going into the second game of their back-to-back will certainly be a gruelling task for the Wizards considering that they’ll be facing the Nuggets who are looking to seize the eighth seed in the West. Additionally, Washington’s visit to Denver becomes more daunting as they can’t expect quality minutes from their reserves – which remain their biggest flaw.
Boston Celtics @ Golden State Warriors (March 9, 11:30 GMT+8)
Golden State are managing even without Kevin Durant, thanks in large part to their brilliant ball movement as well as the return of Andre Iguodala to the rotation. However, they are far from fixed as they remain dependent on the scoring streak of the Splash Bros. Despite this, Boston won’t have their hopes up against this undermanned squad as they are still banged up entering their third game in four days. Choose the Warriors -8.00 for 1.89.
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
