The 2017-18 NBA season is now in full swing with most teams having played around 15-17 games. With 11 games on the schedule this Tuesday, the 21st of November, we take a look at some of the best value matchups and offer our betting tips below.
2017-18 NBA Preview & Betting Tips for Tuesday, 21st November
Los Angeles Clippers at New York Knicks (11.30am AEDT)
The Clippers started the season well but have now lost their last eight games to fall to 5-10 on the season. They travel to New York to face a fired up Knicks team on Tuesday in what should be a great clash. Kristaps Porzingus has led the Knicks to an 8-7 record to start the season and has picked up an Eastern Conference Player of the Week award for his dominant performance in week three of the season.
Injury problems have been a big factor in the Clippers form slump with Patrick Beverly, Milos Teodosic and Danilo Gallinari all missing from the starting line-up. It puts a lot of scoring pressure on the shoulders of Blake Griffin, who has fallen away after a hot start and now averages just 22 points per game.
It would be a tough game to call here if the Clippers were at full strength, however, with their makeshift starting line-up that consists of Austin Rivers and Wesley Johnson, LA just can’t score enough to keep up with teams, especially on the road. They scored just 85 points in Charlotte in their last game and we think their losing streak extends to 9 games here.
TIP: New York -1.5 - $1.95 at Sportsbet
Oklahoma City Thunder at New Orleans Pelicans (12pm AEDT)
Both the Thunder and the Pelicans have been hovering around the .500 mark for the majority of the season so far and will both be looking for wins here to improve their standings in a tight Western Conference. The Pelicans have lost their last two games and could be without star PF/C Anthony Davis for the clash against the Thunder due to a facial injury.
The Thunder have no injury concerns of their own, with Steven Adams returning from a injured calf in OKC’s match against the Spurs a few days ago. Regardless of the 7-8 record, the Thunder are starting to mesh as a unit after the standard trial period of a newly formed super team. Russel Westbrook has taken a backseat in the scoring department, averaging just 19.9 points per game as both Paul George and Carmelo Anthony have started to take on some of the scoring load.
With Davis in the lineup, the Pelicans are capable of beating any team in the league on their night, without him, they really struggle defensively. The Pels already allow the fourth most points in the league and the Thunder boast one of the best defences in the league, allowing just 97ppg. We think the Thunder should win away from home, especially with Davis potentially out of the line-up.
TIP: Oklahoma to win - $1.71 at Ladbrokes
Boston Celtics at Dallas Mavericks (12.30pm AEDT)
The league best Boston Celtics will attempt to extend their winning streak to a massive 16 games when they travel to Dallas to take on the Mavericks on Tuesday. After losing their first two games of the season to Cleveland and Milwaukee, Boston has looked unstoppable in their last 15 games, claiming some big scalps in the Warriors, Spurs, Raptors, Thunder and Bucks in the process.
After attempting to hold off for as long as possible, Dallas have conceded to a rebuild phase this year and currently have a league worst 3-14 record through their opening games. Rookie Dennis Smith Jr has been a shining light in an otherwise disappointing season for the Mavericks and their main focus will continue to be player development here.
Even at home, hard to picture a scenario where the Mavericks can be competitive in this one. The Celtics have been playing out of their skin and will be fired up in an attempt to keep this miraculous streak going. The Celts have allowed teams to stay in games down the stretch in their last few contests so the focus will be on putting the Mavs away early here.
TIP: Boston -7.5 - $1.95 at Sportsbet
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