ESPN Australia are once again giving us a double-header of NBA action this Saturday, December 3rd with the Cavs at Chicago followed by the Rockets at Denver. We have NBA betting tips for both games, and more here at Before You Bet.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls (12pm AEDT)
LeBron James will face off against old friend Dwayne Wade in Chicago Saturday night. With all the attention on the Warriors and Clippers at the moment, the Cavs have been quietly rolling through the East. Even after a tough loss to the Bucks three nights ago, the Cavs are 13-4 on the season and show no signs of slowing down. The Bulls on the other hand have been shaky over their last few games. A bad loss to the Lakers on Thursday left them at 10-7 on the season have won only two of their last five.
The Cavs have been susceptible to strong PG play, allowing the 4th most production to opposing PG’s in the league, and with Rajon Rondo a master of picking apart any weakness a defence might have, it could bode well for the Bulls. However, the Bulls inability to score the ball against a team that ranks in the top 10 All-Time in offensive efficiency will see them come up short in this one. After a tough loss to the Clippers yesterday - an embarrassing blowout - look for them to bounce back and dominate the Bulls here.
TIP: Cleveland Cavaliers at the line (-3.0) - $1.95 at Sportsbet
Houston Rockets at Denver Nuggets (2.30pm AEDT)
The Rockets roll into the Mile-High City sitting at 12-7 on the season so far. After a surprising double-overtime win against the Warriors yesterday, they face a Denver team that has been very inconsistent to say the least. With a 7-10 record, the Nuggets have had stand out games against the likes of the Bulls, Jazz and Celtics, but on the contrary, have endured woeful defeats to the Heat and Trail Blazers. With the number of guys that Denver Coach Mike Malone uses on a nightly basis, it’s hard to get a read on the Nuggets.
The Rockets are much the same in their inconsistency. I don’t fancy betting on one of these teams to win on the best of nights, so I’ll stay away from that market. However, one thing both of these teams do well is score the basketball. From their 36 combined games, the Rockets and Nuggets have failed to reach 100 points three times. If you’re a fan of offence, tune into this one, because I am predicting a huge score line.
TIP: Total Score OVER 221.5 points - $1.91 at Sportsbet
Sacramento Kings at Boston Celtics (11.30am AEDT)
After their Thursday game was postponed due to issues with the court, the Kings will have had an extended three-day break before their game against the Celtics, which bodes well for Boogie Cousins and co. The Celtics are the worst rebounding team in the league, and it’s no surprise that they allow the 4th most production to opposing Centres in the league.
I can see Cousins taking this game over, averaging 29 points and 10 rebounds per game, he has carried the Kings to most of the seven wins on the season so far. The Kings are a touch better than their record suggests, and with a long break, a fired up cousins and a 7-point head start, I like them in this one.
TIP: Sacramento Kings at the line (+7.0) - $1.91 at Sportsbet
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!
