Oklahoma City Thunder (+110)
This game comes down to one thing – how much do you believe Dwight Howard will change the Washington Wizards team? Washington has featured one of the worst teams in the NBA this season, ranking 28th in net offensive and defensive rating (-9.9). They own a 1-6 record, beating the Portland Blazers by one point in overtime. They have played their first seven games without Howard, though. Still, Howard has been announced as a starter for this game, but is still dealing with back issues. His minutes should be limited, and while he can make an impact on the game in a short amount of time, it should be enough to have Washington favorited. The Oklahoma City Thunder only feature a -1.6 net off and def rating, but they have won three consecutive games, including a matchup against the Charlotte Hornets on the road. This line may flip by game time, so get your bets in early while OKC is still the underdog.
Bet 2 units on the Oklahoma City ML to win 2.2 units (+110)
Los Angeles Clippers (-160)
The Orlando Magic are a team that gets too much respect on a nightly basis, and we’ve been taking advantage of that. They feature the second worst net off and def rating (-10.2) in the NBA, while losing five of their last six games. They have also lost three consecutive games in Orlando, and they have not performed well at home this season. The Los Angeles Clippers tend to go a bit overlooked, but they feature the 12th best net off and def rating (3.2) in the league early this season. They have featured plenty of ups and downs this season, but they have only truly lost against higher end competition. They also have impressive wins over the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets (2). Los Angeles also played on the East coast last night, neutralizing that type of advantage for Orlando. This is another line that is likely to widen as the day continues, and betting early would be a wise move.
Bet 3 units on the Los Angeles Clippers -3.5 spread to win 2.6 units (-115)
Houston Rockets (-180)/Brooklyn Nets (+150)
This is an interesting matchup, as neither team has been pushing the pace too much this season. The Houston Rockets rank 16th in the NBA in pace, while the Brooklyn Nets rank only 28th. With that being said, these two teams also rank 24th and 21st in the league in defensive rating, respectively. The Rockets have been blown out in each of their last two games, but the Nets likely do not have the offensive firepower to accomplish that tonight. While it’s a bit concerning James Harden won’t be returning in this game, these two teams should have very little trouble scoring on the opposing defense. This total is still a bit low, and Houston should find ways to push the pace as Brooklyn plays catch-up.
Bet 3 units on the Houston/Brooklyn OVER 217 to win 2.7 units (-110)
Parlay Bet
Parlay 2 units on Los Angeles Clippers ML, Houston ML, Indiana ML, and Dallas ML to win 7.2 units (+360)
