The NBA season has reached December and a bombshell was dropped but expected with Kobe Bryant announcing that he will retire at the end of the season, unfortunately his farewell tour has gotten off to a bad start as the Lakers gave the 76ers their first win of the season. Continue reading for a look at the Pelicans vs Rockets game in our December 3 NBA Betting Tips article and as always, our NBA betting tips focus on Thursday games, including any games that are featured on Australian TV.
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New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets (Thursday 12pm AEDT - Live on ESPN Aus)
The Pelicans will be playing their second match in as many days after their loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. The side is still struggling from injuries to key players and have struggled with some of their best players on the sidelines. The team has only 4 wins from 18 games and in the tough Western Conference their season is already under threat.
Meanwhile the Rockets are still trending downwards since firing coach Kevin McHale last week. Their record fell to 7-11 when they suffered their latest loss to the Detroit Pistons. James Harden is still playing at an extremely high level but it is their defence that is letting them down as they continue to leak well over 100 points per game. However, the Rockets will do enough to pick up the victory against a side that is 1-9 on the road this season.
TIP: Rockets -3.5 @ $1.89 with Palmerbet
Golden State Warriors at Charlotte Hornets (Thursday 11am AEDT)
The defending champions made NBA history with the best start to an NBA season and they are continuing to extend that record every time they step on the court. The side suffered their first real injury set back with Harrison Barnes spraining his ankle and he will be out for at least a week. However, the side has the best depth in the league and the loss won’t be felt as strongly as it would on other teams. They were pushed to the limit against the Utah Jazz but were able to find a way to win and extend their winning start to 19-0.
The Hornets have improved in recent weeks and are now sitting in a solid position in the Eastern Conference. They will head into their match with a bit of confidence having beaten the Bucks in their previous match, however the task to break the streak will be too much as Al Jefferson is likely to be on the sidelines. Stephen Curry will continue to lead his side to greatness and with these two teams playing an up-tempo style of play – it will end in a high scoring match.
TIP: Hornets +9 @ $1.91 + Over 212 points @ $1.91 with Sportsbet
Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks (Thursday 11.30pm AEDT)
The 76ers picked up their first win of the season against the Lakers and are now 1-18, however they will be forced to play their second game in as many days. The side has been poor in back-to-backs this season and will not be able to match it with the Knicks.
The Knicks will be fresh after having three days off since their overtime loss to the Houston Rockets at home. They were forced to play that match without Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis and Aaron Affalo stepped up in his absence as they combined for 51 points off 21/32 shooting. The side has now fallen in their last three matches but they will snap that skid with a victory against the 76ers.
TIP: Knicks 1-10 @ $2.24 with Sportsbet
Toronto Raptors at Atlanta Hawks (Thursday 12pm AEDT)
These two sides are the biggest challengers for the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference and both are in a similar position at the moment.
The Raptors picked up a very impressive win last week as they held off the Cavs but they still have a lot to improve on if they want to be a fully healthy Cleveland outfit. The loss of Jonas Valanciunas has been missed as they have been without his offence whilst his replacement Bismack Biyombo in the starting line up has made the team leak 112 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor.
Meanwhile the Hawks are being led by Paul Millsap who will likely be selected for his third straight all star game this year as he has improved on his career average in points, rebounds, assists and steals. He will lead the way for the side as they pick up an important home victory, however it will be close.
TIP: Either team by less than 7 @ $2.44 with Crownbet
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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!
