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After a rather loaded Wednesday night (11 games) the NBA cools down on Thursday, with a light four-game slate. It’s still a fun one, with stars such as Kobe Bryant, James Harden and Anthony Davis hitting the hardwood. The best matchup we get in terms of likely competition is a duel between the Knicks and Pistons, but otherwise tonight could be tricky with some blowout potential.
If you’re not sure in regards to which way to lean with your NBA betting tonight, join us as we walk though each contest and hand out tonight’s NBA picks:
Knicks @ Pistons
New York and Detroit open the night in what is assumed to be the tightest game. Both teams are capable of playing solid defense and have more methodical offenses. Detroit is more explosive on a regular basis (102 points per game) and is strong at home (15-8), but will be without Marcus Morris. Both teams have been sluggish lately, losing at least six of their last 10 games. Even with Morris out, we’ll side with the home team, as the Knicks have lost two in a row and are tough to trust (9-16) away from MSG.
Pick: Pistons 91, Knicks 88
Rockets @ Suns
Houston is still treading water (5-5 in last 10 games) and they stink on the road (10-13) but Dwight Howard returns from a one-game suspension tonight and the Suns are awful. Phoenix lacks talent and have been flat out abysmal, losing five in a row and 9 of their last 10. The Rockets should win big.
Pick: Rockets 107, Suns 92
Lakers @ Pelicans
The Pelicans and Lakers are actually fairly evenly matched and neither side plays any defense, so I may have spoken too soon. If all goes well, this could be the best game of the night and also be the most high scoring. Kobe Bryant is active for this one and he could get his, but the Lakers are an atrocious 4-23 on the road and they have no one that can handle Anthony Davis.
Pick: Pelicans 106, Lakers 102
Raptors @ Blazers
If Portland plays like they have been, this could actually be the game of the night. That’s a big if, though, considering their five-game winning streak has come mostly against scrub teams. They’re 8-2 in their last 10 games and at home, though, so we can’t count them out. Nor can we count out the Raptors, who have been even better (9-1 in last 10 contests) and also have been very solid (15-10) on the road. I lie what Portland has been doing, but the Raptors bring more defense and experience to the table. This is their game to lose.
Pick: Raptors 105, Blazers 101
