We hit on just 1/3 tips in Saturday’s NBA betting preview, but with a great six game slate on the cards this Thursday, the 8th of February, we’ll be aiming to bounce back with a few wins as we take a look at the key games of the day below.
2017-18 NBA Preview & Betting Tips for Thursday, 8th February
Houston Rockets at Miami Heat (11.30am AEDT)
Currently on a five game win streak, the Rockets are arguably the most in form team in the league at the moment. They have lost just one of their last 10 games and currently sit atop the NBA.com power rankings. While they still sit two games behind the Warriors in the win column, they’ll get a chance to close that gap on Thursday as they take on the Heat in Miami. James Harden has been firing on all cylinders since returning from injury, and is currently the favourite for MVP, averaging 31.2 points and 9.1 assists per game.
The Heat have been a massive surprise packet this season after many tipped them to be simply making up the numbers at the start of the year. They climbed as high as fourth in the Eastern Conference at one stage but after losing their last four games and seven of their last ten, they have slipped to seventh in the conference.
The Rockets start as 4.5 point favourites away from home here, which we think is a little low given the two teams form of late. The Rockets boast one of the best records against the spread away from home in the league at 15-11-0 while the Heat have been abysmal ATS at home at just 6-15-3. Back the Rockets to cover here.
TIP: Houston Rockets -4.5 - $1.95 at Sportsbet
Minnesota Timberwolves at Cleveland Cavaliers (12pm AEDT)
These two teams met just back on the 9th of January in Minnesota. On that day the Wolves were massive 28 point winners as Minnesota stars Jimmy Butler and Karl Anthony Towns both had big games. Since then the Cavs have been fairly average, losing six of their last 10 games and falling to third place in the Eastern Conference behind Boston and Toronto.
The inclusion of Isaiah Thomas into the Cavs line-up has thrown the team into disarray and throughout the trade period there was talk as to whether the Cavs would shake things up or stay with the same squad. The Wolves, on the other hand, have been playing fairly steadily, and maintain their fourth place in the Western Conference. With Jeff Teague back in the line-up, they have no injury concerns at the moment, while the Cavs will be without star forward Kevin Love for the next eight weeks.
Losing Love might actually bring some harmony to the Cavs line-up in the long term future, however, we can’t see them beating a Minnesota team that is really starting to click in their first year as a squad.
TIP: Minnesota Timberwolves to win - $1.73 at Ladbrokes
San Antonio Spurs at Phoenix Suns (2.30pm AEDT)
The Spurs are the consummate professionals when it comes to NBA franchises. You hardly ever hear about them in the news, but they continue to go about their business, even without their best player, and remain 3rd in the Western Conference standings. They have won just five of their last ten games but their strength lies in their ability to win at home, where they have a league best 22-6 record.
The Suns have probably played above their expectations slightly this year, but are still one of the easier beats in the league this season. They have the ability to put up big scores on any given night through their dynamic offence but are extremely undisciplined on defence.
The Spurs are still without SF combo Kawhi Leonard and Rudy Gay, however, they have been able to deal with their injuries well this year and we expect them to cope a lot better than Phoenix will without their star SG Devin Booker, who will miss Thursday’s game with a hip injury. Back the Spurs to get a comfortable win here, especially with the Suns on athe second night of a back to back.
TIP: San Antonio -8 - $1.95 at Sportsbet
