A disappointing 1-2 day last Saturday send our yearly NBA tips to a still respectable 35-25 on the season so far. We’ll be looking to add a few more wins to the tally today as ESPN are treating us to an Australia Day double header. So sit back, crank up the Hottest 100 and enjoy some basketball. We have you covered with NBA Betting Tips for the Thursday, January 26th games below.
Golden State at Charlotte Hornets (12pm AEDT)
I feel like I have to write about the Golden State Warriors everytime a decent ESPN double header rolls around. When you’re the best and most exciting team in the league to watch, however, that’s just the way it is. The Warriors suffered a shock defeat to the Miami Heat on Tuesday, giving them a 2-1 record going into their final match of this 4 game road trip. Although they would have expected to win all four, with tough games against the Rockets and Heat mixed in, I expect they will be very happy if they can manage to come out of it with three wins. They currently sit 2 games clear of the silent but deadly San Antonio Spurs, who look prime to pounce on any slip up the Warriors might make.
Barring a disappointing loss to the Warriors on Tuesday, the Charlotte Hornets were coming off the back of a few good wins against the likes of the Raptors and Portland. Hosting the Warriors should be a whole different kettle of fish however, especially a Warriors team that is fired up after a loss. The Hornets allow the highest percentage of opponent points from beyond the 3pt arc at around 31%. The Warriors should exploit their lack of 3pt defence, which makes me comfortable in taking them at the line.
TIP: Golden State Warriors -9.5 - $1.95 at Sportsbet
Los Angeles Lakers at Portland Trailblazers (2.30pm AEDT)
The Lakers are becoming the team everyone expected them to be at the start of the season. After a decent start that was pioneered by some ridiculous offensive play by bench players such as Nick Young and Lou Williams, they have finally come crashing back to Earth, in a dramatic way. They have slid to last in the West after a terrible run, losing 22 of their last 28 matches. No immediate reason comes to hand when you consider why the Lakers have been so bad except for the fact that they are a brutally inexperienced team.
Thursday they come up against a team that is similar to them in a lot of ways, except for the fact that they boast one (or two) out and out all stars in Damian Lillard and C.J McCollum. The Blazers have a disappointing 19-27 record on the season so far, however, they have shown at times that the star backcourt have been able to take over games which they were expected to win. They have come up against the Lakers twice in the last 3 weeks and beaten them by at least 9 points on both occasions. With the Lakers having the home court advantage and the Blazers line being stretched all the way out to 9.5 because of past results, I’m happy to take the Lakers here.
TIP: Los Angeles Lakers +9.5 - $1.95 at Sportsbet
Houston Rockets at Boston Celtics (11.30m AEDT)
I truly believe that this could be an underrated bet to be a finals preview. Over the last few weeks, both the Cavaliers and the Warriors have looked all but invincible, and the play of both the Rocket’s James Harden and the Celtic’s Isaiah Thomas has inspired me to think there might still be some interesting basketball in this post season.
Although they’v elost the last 3, the Celtics have been tearing through the East throughout the last month, with important wins over the likes of Charlotte, Atlanta, Washington and Toronto, all of whom will probably be their main obstacles in an Eastern Conference showdown with the Cavs. The fact that Thomas didn’t get voted to start in the all-star team is a massive oversight, and he has proven over the season to be the best 4th quarter player in the league.
Houston, similarly have a dominant fourth quarter player in James Harden, who if not for Thomas, would be the most clutch player in the league. Harden also has a surrounding core that is playing out of their skin in Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson and Trevor Ariza. It’s a tough game to pick, but with the Celtics holding home court advantage at a place they are well renowned for playing well at, I think they should have enough firepower to stay with the Rockets and cover the 3.4 point handicap they are being given.
TIP: Boston Celtics +3.5 - $1.95 at William Hill
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!
