NBA betting tips: Toronto Raptors to tear apart New Orleans Pelicans, Brooklyn Nets to block out Phoenix Suns
Midweek action in the NBA sees a basement battle between the Raptors and the Pelicans as well as an intriguing clash between the Suns and the Nets in Phoenix.
If you took our advice and bet the mortgage on last week’s column, you split a pair of bets and your partner has not left you. Yet. So be grateful.
Plus, if a raptor and a pelican fought, we are pretty sure the dinosaur would tear the bird to shreds, but this is basketball so please read on.
Sports News Blitz writer George Dempsey is here to dive into a stacked Wednesday night card and see if payday cannot come early.
Toronto Raptors at New Orleans Pelicans
The Raptors and the Pelicans are a pair of 4-14 teams who have been ravaged by injury and thus unable to find any consistency this season.
On paper, the hosts are the better side. However, they are down their most important starter in Zion Williamson and could be well short on depth if Herb Jones and Jose Alvardo are absent as well.
To add to the Pelicans’ woes, Brandon Ingram, Jordan Hawkins, and Trey Murphy are questionable and likely to be less than 100% fit if they do suit up.
This game also illustrates one of our approaches in this column: When two teams that are winning 40% or fewer of their games meet and the line is 4.5 points or less either way, the road team is on a 72-48 winning run. Clearly, the approach is working.
Plus, since we slated the Raptors for their lack of offence previously, it is only fair to note that they recently scored 123 in an overtime loss against the Boston Celtics before dropping 130 on the Indiana Pacers and 110 on the Minnesota Timberwolves in a pair of wins.
As a result, they have shown that they have some depth and may be better equipped to deal with absentees than we thought — a probable side-effect of not being a great side is that the drop-off from the starters to the bench is less dramatic.
In the end, the Pelicans have lost their last five and, even if they do manage to get the win, they would no doubt end up making a meal of it.
Suggested bet: Toronto Raptors +3.5
READ MORE: Cricket news: Six talking points from the IPL auction: Pant, Bairstow and more
Brooklyn Nets at Phoenix Suns
Now, let us dig into some real basketball.
That is not to say that the Pelicans and the Raptors are bad but, if you went to the dance and took them home, you would wake up disappointed in yourself.
In contrast, the Nets making the trip to face the Suns could prove to be a 10/10.
Phoenix recently beat the Lakers 127-100 after finally getting Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant on the court at the same time.
And by putting their opponents away in the third quarter, Durant (30 minutes), Beal (27 minutes), and Josef Nurkic (27 minutes) were all afforded some much-needed rest.
That, plus getting to remain at home for the next game, largely negates this being a back-to-back spot for the Suns.
In addition, Durant certainly would not mind getting one over on his old side but, like the borough they come from, the Nets are made of tough stuff.
They are well rested after pulling off back-to-back upsets, beating the Sacramento Kings 108-103 before rolling into Oakland and taking down the Golden State Warriors 128-120.
Does that put them in let-down territory? Perhaps, but this team has played a winning schedule and continues to make a mockery of big spreads.
They are a +8.5 dog on Wednesday and we think the circumstances of the Suns' win have helped to keep this line high. In truth, it may be too high.
Suggested bet: Brooklyn Nets +8.5
