The 2016-17 NBA season has reached its third week and there are a lot of crucial match ups. Continue reading for our Thursday, November 10 preview including betting tips for the Australian televised Rockets at Spurs.
Boston Celtics at Washington Wizards (Thursday 11am AEST)
The Wizards have struggled to start the season and have just one win in their opening six matches. They suffered another narrow loss in their last start but in positive news for the team Bradley Beal had his best game of the year and if he can find some consistency the side will begin to be more competitive. John Wall definitely needs the help in the backcourt as he has been doing a lot on his own.
Meanwhile the Celtics will enter this match after an embarrassing loss to the Nuggets on their home court. They were blown out and had 77-points put on them in the first half and were booed by their fans. The side will bounce back strongly and have too much talent to continue this slide they are on now. We are expecting Al Horford to have his best game of the year as the Celtics improve their away record.
TIP: Celtics @ $1.92 with Sportsbet
Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks (Thursday 11.30am AEST)
The Hawks are coming off a huge victory as they were able to defeat the previously undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers. It was the first time the side had beat them in 11 meetings and it will be a huge positive for the side moving forward. However, they will be playing a back-to-back in this contest and could be a little sloppy. Dwight Howard has been great for the Hawks defensively and he is a main contributor to the side having the second best defence in the league.
The Bulls bounced back from a 3-game skid with a dominant win over the Magic. Jimmy Butler, Dwayne Wade and Rajon Rondo have been dynamic as Rondo loves to give up the ball while the other two are happy to drive to the bucket whilst Wade has added the three point shot to his arsenal. The Bulls have found their attacking grove they have lost in the last few seasons and we are predicting them to have the edge in this one by a small margin due to the Hawks playing their second game in as many days and a tough contest against the Cavs.
TIP: Bulls 1-10 @ $3.45 with William Hill
Toronto Raptors at Oklahoma City Thunder (Thursday 12pm AEST)
This will be a huge match up between Western and Eastern Conference heavy weights. It will be an interesting contest too between Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan who have both been putting up crazy numbers to start the season.
Westbrook has essentially put the Thunder on his shoulders and carried them to a 6-1 record, which includes a tight victory over the Clippers and a perfect 4-0 record on their home court. The triple double machine has a fire in his belly since the departure of Kevin Durant and you know what to expect from him when he steps foot on the court.
The Raptors are entering the match after a loss to the Kings that saw the side go ice-cold in the fourth quarter. They were big favourites to improve to 5-1 but the side dropped their second game. Kyle Lowry will have his work cut out for him trying to stay in front of Westbrook while Jonas Valancunias will need to be protecting the rim. However, the Thunder are coming off a two-game break and will remain perfect on their home court on the back of Westbrook, Steven Adams and Enes Kanter.
TIP: Thunder -3.5 @ $1.87 with CrownBet
Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Clippers (Thursday 2.30pm AEST)
The Clippers are tied for first spot in the Western Conference and have suffered just one loss this season. They bounced back from that disappointment to annihilate the Spurs and they are looking like real title contenders this season. However, this isn’t the first time the Clippers have had a great start to the year but there is definitely a difference in this team and it is their depth and their defence. The side has the best defence in the league while they still have one of the best attacks. It is a lethal combination and is positive to see the side finally living up to its potential.
Meanwhile the Blazers are coming off a solid win against the Suns but will be forced to play their second game in as many days. CJ McCollum was on fire in that match and Damien Lillard was at his usual level. The Blazers don’t have the depth to compete with the Clippers and the home court advantage will be enough to see the Clippers blow this one out.
TIP: Clippers 11+ @ $2.00 with Sportsbet
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Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
