We had a great 3-0 day in the NBA on Saturday to cap off a profitable Christmas week of betting. Just a four game slate in the league this Tuesday, the 2nd of January but we’ll be hunting some more wins as we preview some of the key games of the day and giving our tips below.
Milwaukee Bucks at Toronto Raptors (11.30am AEDT)
After losing two of their last three games, the Raptors relinquished their hold on the top spot in the Eastern Conference. They did, however, bounce back to secure a god win over the Hawks on Saturday and come into this clash on the back of two full days rest over the New Year period.
The Bucks will also have the advantage of two days rest, after a last second dunk by Giannis Antetokounmpo gave them a two point win in their game against OKC on Saturday. The Bucks have won their last two games and currently sit in 6th place in the East.
Tough game to call here, the Raptors showed some great form in their meteoric rise up the Easter Conference standings but have waned a touch over the past week. They’ll return to Toronto for this clash, where they have a league best 13-1 home record. Back the Raptors to continue their great home run and cover the 6-point line here.
TIP: Toronto Raptors -6 - $1.95 at Sportsbet
Los Angeles Lakers at Minnesota Timberwolves (12pm AEDT)
The Timberwolves continue to impress after making some massive moves in the off season. They are currently 23-14 on the season so far and and sit 4th in the Western Conference. Although they have one of the best records in the league, the Timberwolves are just 16-19-2 against the spread and have a particularly bad home record against the spread at just 5-12-1.
The young Lakers have been extremely competitive in a large percentage of their games, however, after losing their last six games and winning just one of their last 10 they currently have the 2nd worst record in the league at 10-26.
The Wolves start as 11 point favourites here, which is a bit of a stretch in our opinion. In their last nine losses, the Lakers have lost just two by double digits. Combined with the Wolves bad record against the spread at home, we think the Lakers can cover the large line here.
TIP: Los Angeles Lakers +11 - $1.95 at William Hill
Portland Trailblazers at Chicago Bulls (12.10pm AEDT)
Remember when the Bulls were the worst team in the league? Doesn’t that seem like an age ago. Chicago have now won seven of their last 10 games and look like one of the most dominant offences in the Eastern Conference. They have the second best record against the spread in the league at 22-12-2 and come into this game at home as 3.5 point underdogs.
The Blazers have won five of their last 10 games and come into this games on the back of a tough 15-point loss to the Hawks in Atlanta. The Blazers have a 10-7 record away from home this season but the road loss to the Hawks without Damian Lillard was damming for them.
Lillard will be a game time decision for the clash against the Bulls, but with the Blazers facing the Cavs the night after in Cleveland, the all-star point guard might be held off for that clash. We like the Bulls to cover at home here.
TIP: Chicago Bulls +3.5 - $1.95 at Sportsbet
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