The Milwaukee Bucks will meet the Phoenix Suns for a rematch of last year’s NBA Finals. The Suns are somehow still winning despite missing All-Star guards Chris Paul and Devin Booker, but they will have their hands full against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, who have won three games in a row.
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant will look to stop the struggling Brooklyn Nets’ three-game losing skid when they pay a visit to the in-form Celtics in Boston.
Read on for SBOTOP’s preview of the NBA’s upcoming eight-game slate.
Brooklyn Nets @ Boston Celtics
The Celtics just keep rolling. Despite missing All-Star Jaylen Brown for the last two games, they still came out on top against the Hawks and Grizzlies. Jayson Tatum has been brilliant of late with back-to-back 30-point games.
Tatum also had 30 points in Boston’s 129-106 win over the Nets in their key matchup a few weeks ago. Brooklyn were without both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in that game, but both All-Stars will be available for the rematch in Boston. Durant scored 31 points on his return against the Heat.
Betting Tip: Nets Asian Handicap +3.50 @ 1.84
Phoenix Suns @ Milwaukee Bucks
The Suns haven’t let the loss of guards Chris Paul and Devin Booker slow them down as they’ve won back-to-back games against the Blazers and Knicks. Cam Johnson was the hero against New York with 38 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer that will go down as one of the top NBA 2022 highlights.
However, Johnson will add to Phoenix’s significant list of absentees against Milwaukee due to a quad injury.
Johnson’s absence will tip the NBA 2022 betting odds further toward the Bucks, who have won three straight games, which includes a big win Heat in their big East showdown against the Heat. The Bucks’ Big Three of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday has once again been carrying the team with their strong play on both ends of the court.
Betting Tip: Bucks Asian Handicap -7.50 @ 1.92
Indiana Pacers @ Washington Wizards
The plucky Pacers dropped to 3-3 in their last six games after a close loss to the Pistons. Malcolm Brogdon led the way with 26 points in a losing effort, while Tyrese Haliburton was limited to just 8 points, his fewest since joining Indiana in mid-February.
The Pacers will look to bounce back against the Wizards, whom they beat 113-108 a few weeks ago. Washington have dropped three of their last four games after a close loss to the Hawks. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who led the Wizards with 28 points against Atlanta, had 27 points in the loss to Indiana.
Betting Tip: Pacers Asian Handicap +2.50 @ 2.00
Memphis Grizzlies @ Houston Rockets
The Grizzlies quickly bounced back from their loss to Boston by drubbing the Magic 124-96 yesterday. That win, coupled with the Warriors’ loss to the Lakers, has seen Memphis climb up to No 2 in the West.
Ja Morant had another strong game with 25 points, while Desmond Bane snapped out of his recent shooting slump with 24 points.
Memphis will look to start a new winning streak against the last-placed Rockets, whose losing skid has extended to 12 games after a heavy defeat to a Denver Nuggets team missing MVP Nikola Jokic.
Betting Tip: Grizzlies Asian Handicap -11.50 @ 1.91
Utah Jazz @ Oklahoma City Thunder
The Jazz’s hot streak came to jarring end as they were pummeled 124-90 by the in-form Pelicans. It was a disastrous shooting performance from Utah, who were an abysmal 35 per cent from the field.
The Thunder will be equally desperate to deliver a better showing after getting thumped 138-101 by the Timberwolves. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to play lights out for the Thunder, though; he’s averaging 33.4 points on 58.5 per cent shooting in five games since his return.
Toronto Raptors @ Cleveland Cavaliers
The Raptors have lost ground in the race to escape the East play-in tournament after back-to-back defeats to the lowly Pistons and Magic. The absence of starters Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby has been big, although VanVleet is questionable to return against Cleveland.
The Cavs are on a similar losing skid, dropping six of their last seven. All-Star point guard Darius Garland returned from his recent back injury to drop 26 points and a career-high 19 assists in a losing effort against the 76ers.
Betting Tip: Raptors Asian Handicap +5.50 @ 1.88
New Orleans Pelicans @ Denver Nuggets
The Pelicans are fire at the moment. Powered by CJ McCollum’s fine play (23.8 points, 6.3 assists per game), they have won four games in a row, with the last three wins coming by 28 or more points.
But they will be hard-pressed to extend their winning run against the streaking Nuggets, who have won nine of their last 11 games. Demarcus Cousins exploded for 31 points in just 24 minutes in the absence of Jokic, but the MVP is expected to return to the lineup after his recent illness.
Betting Tip: Nuggets Asian Handicap -2.50 @ 1.85
New York Knicks @ LA Clippers
The Knicks slide is up to seven games in a row after a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of the shorthanded Suns. The previously red-hot RJ Barrett had a rough shooting game with 20 points on just 6-of-26 shooting.
Barrett will look to bounce back against the Clippers, who are currently the hottest team in the West with five wins in a row. That includes a 132-111 thumping of their city rival Lakers. Reggie Jackson roasted the Lakers for 36 points and is averaging 19.5 points and 7.7 assists over his last 10 games.
Betting Tip: Clippers Asian Handicap -3.50 @ 1.88
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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