The meeting between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors on Christmas day failed to satisfy betting websites and sports betting pundits, particularly because of the league’s Last Two Minutes report that somehow showed that the results could have been different.
Hence, as the two teams renew their rivalry this Tuesday, live betting fans are expecting one of them to make a huge statement and show the whole NBA community who is the real team to beat.
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Golden State Warriors (January 17, 09:00 GMT+8)
The “best” team in the NBA is Golden State, according to LeBron James. Whether he said it as a piece sarcasm doesn’t matter as LeBron is determined to make Cleveland the destroyer of the best team.
This match is not the same as the first one as the Cavaliers have bolstered their shooting with the addition of Kyle Korver, and with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love remaining a threat; the Cavs are more lethal this time.
The Warriors will need to toughen their defence and avoid another fourth-quarter collapse if they want to get their revenge. However, most importantly, Stephen Curry must show up and prove doubters wrong.
I think this game will be close, but the Cavaliers—given the handicap—have the advantage. Thus, I’ll pick Cleveland +7.50 for 1.99.
Atlanta Hawks @ New York Knicks (January 17, 02:00 GMT+8)
New York have lost four of their last five matches – including a buzzer-beating defeat to the lowly Sixers – so they won’t have their hopes up in this clash with the soaring Hawks. Atlanta have been playing well against average teams, and the Knicks might just end up as an easy prey for them with their rock-solid defence.
Portland Trail Blazers @ Washington Wizards (January 17, 03:00 GMT+8)
Losing to a terrible offensive team like Orlando isn’t a good sign for Portland. Sure, they defeated the Cavaliers when Damian Lillard returned; but their defence remains a problem, and it might cost them the game when they visit a Washington team clicking offensively.
That said, go for the Wizards -4.00 for 2.04.
Philadelphia 76ers @ Milwaukee Bucks (January 17, 04:30 GMT+8)
The Sixers have been on a fantastic run, and they could have extended their winning streak the last time if not for Joel Embiid sitting out. Hence, with Embiid well-rested and full of energy, they should be able to pose a challenge against the Bucks who will be facing some fitness test after their gruelling match with the Hawks.
Philadelphia +6.50 for 2.00 should be a good bet.
New Orleans Pelicans @ Indiana Pacers (January 17, 05:00 GMT+8)
Indiana might have lost in London, but it doesn’t overshadow their incredible five-game winning run that saw them play their best basketball. The Pacers’ starting unit has been really good during that stretch, so they should be a nightmare matchup for the Pelicans who are still looking for some consistency from their starters besides Anthony Davis.
With that in mind, Indiana -5.50 for 1.94 is a worthy punt.
Orlando Magic @ Denver Nuggets (January 17, 06:00 GMT+8)
Nikola Jokic and the rest of the Denver crew will return home with their heads held high after showing one of their best performances at the O2. They are also likely to bank on their new-found confidence to sweep the season series against the struggling Orlando squad that have lost five of their last six games.
Charlotte Hornets @ Boston Celtics (January 17, 08:30 GMT+8)
Isaiah Thomas has been in sensational form for the Celtics, establishing himself as the league’s best fourth-quarter scorer and one of the best clutch performers. Thus, with the ‘King in the Fourth’ on their side, Boston’s impressive streak is unlikely to be stopped by a team that has failed to beat them in their first two meetings this season.
Utah Jazz @ Phoenix Suns (January 17, 10:00 GMT+8)
Phoenix will enter this battle full of confidence after taking down the Spurs in Mexico. Devin Booker and Eric Bledsoe are expected to carry the scoring load for the Suns; however, they will need to do more heavy lifting than usual as they’ll be facing Utah’s deadly duo of Gordon Hayward and George Hill who sparked the team’s climb to fifth in the Western Conference standings.
Although this could turn into an intense encounter, Utah still have more depth and talent at their disposal. I’ll go for the Jazz -5.00 for 1.86.
Oklahoma City Thunder @ LA Clippers (January 17, 11:30 GMT+8)
The Thunder haven’t been performing well on the road especially against top-tier squads, so this should be a tricky situation for them. The Clips are on a roll as well, and they could take advantage of Oklahoma’s struggles to continue their winning run.
Not to mention that fatigue could also be an issue for Oklahoma as this encounter will be their second game of a back-to-back on the road.
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
