We hit on just one out of three NBA bets on Saturday to bring our profitable run of tips to an end. We’ll look to bounce straight back and get on the winners list again as we preview some of the key games in the NBA this Tuesday, the 23rd of January.
Miami Heat at Houston Rockets (12pm AEDT)
The Rockets are coming off a big win against their Western Conference rivals, the Warriors on Sunday. They’ll be looking to continue to improve their standings in the conference as they host the red hot Miami Heat on Tuesday. Miami have won 8 of their last 10 games and amazingly sit fourth in the Eastern Conference with what many believe to be a makeshift roster. Role players in Josh Richardson, James Johnson, Kelly Olynyk and Tyler Johnson have all been fantastic in the Heat’s run, but they will likely be without star point guard Goran Dragic for their clash on Tuesday.
Houston are fortunate to have a completely clean bill of health heading into this match after all-star point guard James Harden returned from injury last week. The MVP favourite is averaging 31.5 points and 9 assists so far this season, and should be the barometer for success on Tuesday.
The Rockets start as massive 9 point favourites here, likely due to being at home and Goran Dragic being out of the Miami line-up. Both teams sit at about even on the year against the spread, however, the Heat’s record ATS record away from home is the second best in the league at 15-7. All-star centre Hasan Whiteside is back to his best after some injury troubles earlier in the year and the litany of agile wings make Miami an above average team at defending the three. We like them to cover the 9.5 point line away from home here.
TIP: Miami +9.5 - $1.95 at Sportsbet
Chicago Bulls at New Orleans Pelicans (12pm AEDT)
The Bulls host the Pelicans Tuesday as New Orleans are fighting to stay in the playoffs of a tough Western Conference. Currently sitting 7th in the West with a 25-21 record, the Pelicans have won 6 of their last 10 games and with Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins now completely fit and firing on a nightly basis, they’ll look to cement that spot and possibly climb.
The Bulls have arguably already exceeded all 2017-18 season expectations, compiling an 18-28 through the first half of the season. They are still likely to miss the playoffs, but the host of young potential they have accumulated through trades and the draft is promising for any Bulls fan. The likes of Lauri Markkanen, Kris Dunn and Justin Holiday have all been extremely impressive so far this season and with Zach LaVine recently returning to the lineup, the Bulls are now a danger on any given night.
New Orleans defeinitely couldn’t be sonsidered a fortress, with the Pels maintaining just a 12-9 record there this season. The Bulls start as 6.5 point underdogs here, and given their top three standings in both games against the spread (28-16-2) and games ATS away from home at (14-8-1) we think they cover in NOLA.
TIP: Chicago Bulls +6.5 - $1.95 at Sportsbet
Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Clippers (2.30pm AEDT)
It was always obvious that the Timberwolves would improve this season with the additions of all-stars Jeff Teague and Jimmy Butler. However, the jump that they have made would have exceeded many expectations, as they currently sit 3rd in an extremely tough Western Conference with a 3-18 record. Butler and Karl Anthony-Towns have been dominant for the Wolves, with a host of quality role players playing valuable minutes. They could be without Butler for Tuesday’s clash against the Clippers, however, as the guard missed the team’s last game with a sore right knee.
The Clippers have found some form of late, winning 7 of the last 10 games and improving out of sight since Blake Griffin returned to the line-up. They are still battling a long list of injury troubles, with DeAndre Jordan, Danilo Gallinari, Austin Rivers and Patrick Beverly all set to miss Tuesday’s game. However, with Griffin and guard Lou Williams currently playing the way they are, their $1.96 price tag at home seems about right.
For one of the better team’s in the league, the Wolves have been susceptible away from home this year. They have just an 11-12 record straight up on the road and a 12-12-1 record against the spread. However, we think they should be too strong for a battered Clippers line-up Tuesday.
TIP: Minnesota -1 - $1.95 at Sportsbet
