We continue our coverage of the NBA season with previews and best bets for the 11-game slate on Thursday. Check out who we’ll be backing right here!
Also, be sure to check out our NBA tips page regularly to find our previews and best bets for every Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday slate for the entire NBA regular season!
NBA Betting Tips: Thursday 22nd December
Toronto Raptors at New York Knicks
Madison Square Garden, 11:30am AEDT
Two teams with complete opposite form lines will do battle at the Garden on Thursday morning. The Raptors are sporting a six-game losing streak while the Knicks have won eight on the bounce. Despite that, the Knicks ($1.85) are only slight favourites against the Raptors ($2).
Closing out tight games has been an issue all season for the Raptors. They’re currently 1-6 in games decided by 3 or less points, which is the worst such mark in the NBA.
Meanwhile, the Knicks are an even 2-2 in games decided by 3 or less points, but haven’t had to rely on crucial possessions down the stretch over their eight-game win streak, winning six of them by double figures.
Considering their recent form, I’m not sure why these teams are so close in the head-to-head market. The Knicks have momentum and confidence on their side and should be winning this at home.
New York Knicks
$1.85 (2 Units)
Los Angeles Lakers at Sacramento Kings
Golden 1 Center, 2pm AEDT
The Kings will be looking to bounce back from a bitterly disappointing defeat against the Hornets last start when they host the Lakers at the Golden 1 Center. The Kings are the short-priced favourites to get the chocolates ($1.41 vs $3).
Despite their loss against the last-placed Hornets, the 2022-23 season has been an exciting one for Kings fans up to this point. It’s been a long time since they were above 500 after 30 games in a season, but that’s exactly what they’ll be after Thursday’s game.
The Lakers struggles without Anthony Davis continued last game against the Suns where they were destroyed by 26 points. LeBron James and Russell Westbrook also both missed that game but the pair are expected to return to face the Kings.
It’s hard to like the chances of the Lakers winning many games over the next couple of weeks without AD, particularly against +500 clubs like the Kings. I expect the home team to have it nearly all their way just as they did in Los Angeles a little over a month ago.
Sacramento Kings -6
$1.90 (1.5 Units)
Charlotte Hornets at Los Angeles Clippers
Crypto.com Arena, 2:30pm AEDT
After finally snapping their losing streak, the Hornets will look to make it back-to-back wins when they take on the Clippers in Los Angeles. The Clippers will start as the hot favourites in the head-to-head market ($1.37 vs $3.20).
The Clippers are seemingly finally getting all their players healthy at the same time and will be looking to take advantage of that leading into the new year. They’ve won four of their last five games and have moved into fifth in the Western Conference standings.
Likewise, the Hornets have most of their key pieces back from injury and have been a lot more competitive as a result. Having LaMelo Ball back running the offence is the big key, and it was the main reason they were able to upset the Kings last start.
The Clippers have dominated the Hornets in recent meeting in LA, but the Hornets are more than capable of covering this big spread with Ball playing. I like the chances of the away team staying within striking distance here.
Charlotte Hornets +7
$1.85 (1 Unit)
