NBA Thursday Night Best Bets: December 23rd

NBA Thursday Night Best Bets:

Odds available as at 2 pm December 23rd 2021. Odds may now differ

Dallas Mavericks vs Milwaukee Bucks

The Dallas Mavericks are 8th in the Western Conference with 15 wins and 15 losses so far. Although their performance on the season is subpar, especially offensively, the Mavericks have been taking advantage of the league’s recent injury issues, ranking 3rd in the NBA in offensive and 8th in defensive rating and winning 3 of their last 5 games. The Mavericks are coming off a solid 114-102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves and will be enjoying home advantage in tonight’s game as well.

The defending NBA champions the Milwaukee Bucks are having a solid season so far, but they haven’t been as dominant as one would expect. With 20 wins and 13 losses, they are 3rd in the east and have won 6 of their last 10 games. They have ranked 20th in offensive and 19th in defensive rating in their last 5 games, winning just 2 of 5. The Bucks have covered the spread in just 42% of their games this season, and without Giannis and Lopez tonight, it’s difficult to imagine them getting the job done.

Tip: Dallas Mavericks +5.5 at 1.96 odds

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Phoenix Suns vs Oklahoma City Thunder

The Phoenix Suns have bounced back nicely after their poor start to the season, and are now sitting atop the Western Conference with 25 wins and 5 losses. Their performance this season against the spread has been solid at 56.7% of their games, but with their recent form, the bookmakers have caught on. The spread is at 14.5 points for tonight’s game, and this is something that makes them unbackable. Dominant teams underperform more often than not, and the OKC Thunder are no pushover against the spread. In fact, the Suns have ranked 14th in offensive rating in their last 5 games, and I expect them to take it easy against a much weaker opponent.

But the OKC Thunder have made strides in their defensive play recently ranking 6th in defensive rating in their last 5 games, and they are on a 3-game winning streak. Unlike most of the league at the moment, the OKC Thunder have remained unaffected by the recent illness situation and they are taking advantage. They are the 3rd best team in the league ATS this year at 63.3% largely due to their constant underdog status. In fact, almost 80% of bettors are backing the Suns tonight, which is why the spread is set so high. Although the Suns are a dangerous team, +14.5 points are just too good to ignore, and I have no choice but to back the Thunder tonight.

Tip: OKC Thunder +14.5 at 2.01 odds

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Golden State Warriors vs Memphis Grizzlies

The Golden State Warriors are having an excellent 2021/22 NBA season, sitting 2nd in the west with 25 wins and 6 losses. They have also been one of the best teams ATS this tear, covering in 65.5% of their games, but their recent form hasn’t been up to par. Their scoring has dropped in the last 5 games to 106.2 points per game, compared to their season average of 111.8, and their defence has ranked 16th in the league in defensive rating. With their recent drop in form along with 91% of bettors backing them tonight, it’s obvious the betting value is with the Grizzlies.

The Memphis Grizzlies have been one of the most surprising teams of the season, grabbing 4th place in the Western Conference, and pulling off multiple upsets against the top teams. They’ve been one of the top-scoring teams, but their defence has also seen an improvement. They have ranked 9th in offensive and 3rd in defensive rating in the last 5 games, and they’ve also been one of the best teams ATS this year. They’ve covered the spread in 69.2% of their away games this season, and are always worth backing on the road. They are heavy underdogs in this one, and I have no problem backing them tonight.

Tip: Memphis Grizzlies +5.5 at 2.05 odds

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Los Angeles Lakers vs San Antonio Spurs

The Los Angeles Lakers are 6th in the west with 16 wins and 16 losses and riding a 3-game losing streak. They have faced their share of injury issues this year, preventing them from ever gaining consistency. With a large part of their team either out with injuries or in the health/safety protocol, it’s hard to imagine them getting back on their feet soon. What’s more, they’ve been the absolute worst team in the league ATS this year, covering in just 37.5% of their games. Despite this, 81% of the bettors are backing them tonight, making them unbackable.

The San Antonio Spurs have been one of the diamonds in the rough this season, especially in recent games. With 12 wins and 18 losses, they are 11th in the Western Conference, but their form has seen a dramatic increase recently. They have ranked 1st in offensive and averaged 117 points per game. Whilst their defence is still subpar, they have remained healthy during this stretch and are a very good candidate to back this week. The Spurs are coming off a dominant 116-92 victory over the LA Lakers, and they have covered the spread in 9 of their 15 games this year. They are underdogs in this one, but they have a very good shot at pulling off an upset.

Tip: San Antonio Spurs to Win at 2.05 odds

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