We’re coming off a fantastic slate on Tuesday where we only just missed out on going 5/5 due to MPJ missing his points line by one point! We now turn our attention to the upcoming Thursday slate where we’re again confident we’ve got some winners on the way. Check out our plays below and good luck if following!
NBA Betting Tips: Thursday, 22nd of April
Golden State Warriors at Washington Wizards
Capital One Arena, 9am AEST
Golden State Warriors are rolling at the moment with wins in five of their past six games to put themselves right back in the mix for a playoff spot. Their return to form has almost single-handedly been due to the unworldly form of Steph Curry who just continues to break shooting records.
Washington Wizards have also found their best form of the season over the past couple of weeks and enter this clash on a five-game winning streak. Russell Westbrook has been the man leading this Wizards surge and if he can keep it up, then his team will be a good chance of attaining a play-in spot.
Here, we have two teams playing their hearts out at the moment in order to at least finish in the top 10 in their respective conference. We’re expecting a great battle on Thursday and one that will include more defence than we’d usually expect between these two teams. All things considered; the total points look at least 5-10 points too high.
With Steph Curry taking a ton of shots of late and for good reason, there hasn’t been as many to around for the other starters and that includes Andrew Wiggins. The former #1 pick is averaging 18.1ppg, but has scored 18+ points just four times from 11 games in April, which makes his ‘unders’ look like really good value here.
Prop: Wiggins U20.5 Points ($1.79)
Total Points Under 239.5
$1.90
Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers
Quicken Loans Arena, 9am AEST
Chicago Bulls have been without one of their All-Stars in Zach LaVine for a couple of games now, but it hasn’t nearly hurt them as much as you would think. In fact, the Bulls come into their Thursday game on a two-game winning streak, which includes a 102-96 win on the road against the Celtics last time out.
Cleveland Cavaliers showed some signs of improvement and competitiveness early on in the season, but that’s well and truly fizzled out now as they come into this game having lost five of their last six and 10 of their last 13. Injuries have certainly hurt the Cavs this season and so has an obvious lack of star talent on their roster.
These teams met each other just a couple of days ago in Chicago and it was the Bulls who came away with a very comfortable double-digit win. With a play-in spot still well and truly in their grasps, we expect a similar result again this time around even if this one is in Cleveland.
We mentioned above how the Bulls have managed to perform well enough to win without Zach LaVine in their last two, and a lot of that has to do with Coby White stepping up. He hasn’t necessarily been shooting the lights out, but White has been stuffing the stat sheet in all areas and looks a good thing to eclipse his PRA line again on Thursday.
Prop: White O24.5 PRA ($1.78)
Utah Jazz at Houston Rockets
Toyota Center, 10am AEST
Utah Jazz were far too good for the undermanned Lakers in their rematch on Tuesday, winning by 14 points after losing in OT in their prior meeting. Wins continue to be of importance for the Jazz if they’re to finish with the one seed in the West, as the Suns are breathing down their necks at just 1.5-games behind.
Houston Rockets were unable to build from their 114-110 win over the Magic on Monday, as they were absolutely destroyed by the Heat on Tuesday by 22 points. It’s been a tremendously difficult season for the Rockets and it couldn’t end sooner enough.
There are no surprises here with the Jazz starting this as the favourites, but what is surprising is they aren’t 15-20-point favourites in the handicap markets. As long as the bulk of the normal Jazz line-up suits up, then this has the makings of a bloodbath.
