The 2015-16 NBA season continues this week as it's time for the last matches before players get a well-deserved break over the All Star weekend. ESPN will be televising two NBA matches on February 11 with Kobe Bryant facing off with Lebron James for the last time when the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Continue reading for our NBA February 11 Preview and Betting Tips.
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Los Angeles Lakers at Cleveland Cavaliers (Thursday 12pm AEDT)
Vintage Kobe Bryant has returned over the past week with the legend winding back the clock and putting up big numbers and clutch performances. However, the side is still struggling and they won’t be causing an upset in this one. Since David Blatt has been fired the Cavaliers have lost three matches but have improved on offence with the team sharing the ball a lot more and they will enter the match on Thursday with a two-game winning streak. Their defence is fourth in the league and they will hold the Lakers to under 100 points on their way to a big victory.
TIP: Cavaliers -15.5 @ $1.93 with Crownbet
San Antonio Spurs at Orlando Magic (Thursday 11am AEDT)
The Spurs will be playing a back-to-back in this one after earning a comfortable victory against the Heat a day earlier. Lamarcus Aldridge came up big in the contest as he returned to good form having a 28-point game. The big man will be relied upon heavily again in this one with Tim Duncan remaining on the sidelines until after the all-star break through injury.
Nicola Vucevic led the Magic to big come from behind victory against the Atlanta Hawks on the road in their last match as the centre put up 28 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists in his sides overtime victory. It will be a good match up between him and Aldridge but with the Spurs having so many other pieces around them and especially with Danny Green finally getting hot from behind the three point line – the Spurs will earn a victory and beat the line comfortably.
TIP: Spurs -7.5 @ $1.95 with William Hill
Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls (Thursday 12pm AEDT)
The Bulls have been hit but injuries again with Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose the latest to be sidelined. The two stars weren’t a part of the sides dismal loss to the Hornets in their last match and things won’t be getting any easier as they take on the Hawks.
There could be a lot of changes made to the Hawks starting line up soon with rumours circulating they might be altering their core in an attempt to improve. However, the side will be at full strength and despite having a poor away record they will earn the victory against the injured Bulls.
TIP: Hawks -2.5 @ $1.87 with Palmerbet
Toronto Raptors at Minnesota Timberwolves (Thursday 12pm AEDT)
The impressive run of the Raptors has continued with the side picking up three wins in a row and sitting just two wins behind the Cavaliers from first in the Eastern Conference. They have also won 9 of their last 10 matches. The sides health has returned and Demar Derozan and Kyle Lowry have taken their games to another level putting up impressive offensive numbers.
Meanwhile the Timberwolves have been terrible. Their inexperience has shown over the last month as the side has struggled for wins and they were blown out of the water in their latest loss to the New Orleans Pelicans and were never in the contest. They also lost to the bottom placed Lakers in the match before and we are expecting the Raptors to win by at least a double-digit margin.
TIP: Raptors -6.5 @ $1.91 with Sportsbet
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Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
