Previewing Sunday’s Miami Heat at San Antonio Spurs sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.
The San Antonio Spurs (17-23) host the Miami Heat (29-12) Sunday afternoon at AT&T Center for a 3 p.m. ET matinee tip-off. We analyze the Heat-Spurs sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
Heat at Spurs: Key Injuries
Heat
SG Tyler Herro (knee) questionable
PG Justise Winslow (back) out
Spurs
PF Rudy Gay (illness) doubtful
PG Dejounte Murray (illness) questionable
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Heat at Spurs: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 9:45 a.m. ET.
The HEAT (-115) are a strong play as a slight road favorite against the Spurs (-106). Miami has won two straight games, beating the Spurs 106-100 at home Wednesday and the Oklahoma City Thunder 115-108 on the road Friday. San Antonio followed up Wednesday’s road loss against the Heat with a 121-120 setback at the hands of the lowly Atlanta Hawks Friday.
The Spurs are an adequate 11-10 at home, while the Heat are 11-11 on the road. Miami is 17-6 straight up on the season with one day of rest; San Antonio is just 10-18 in those situations. The Heat also have the better cross-conference record, going 10-6 against the west, while the Spurs are just 8-10 against Eastern Conference opponents.
Get slightly better value on the HEAT (-1.5, -106) by backing them to win by at least two points. A $10 bet on the Heat to win by two or more points results in a profit of $9.43. The same bet on the moneyline for the outright win would return a profit of $8.70.
Miami has the NBA’s second-best record against the spread at 24-15-2. San Antonio is 28th in the Association with an ATS record of 15-24-1. The Heat are 10-11-1 ATS on the road, but the Spurs are just 6-15-0 at home.
Play the UNDER 221.5 (-115). Wednesday’s combined point total fell well short of this number and both teams are playing their third game in five days. All four injury concerns mentioned above are averaging more than 10 points per game.
The Spurs are 25-15-0 against the Over/Under this season, while the Heat are 25-15-1. Bet against the trends Sunday and expect an output closer to what we saw earlier this week.
Esten’s NBA betting record: 148-118
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Previewing Friday’s Atlanta Hawks at San Antonio Spurs sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.
The Atlanta Hawks (9-32) visit the San Antonio Spurs (17-22) Friday at AT&T Center for an 8:30 p.m. ET tip-off. We analyze the Hawks-Spurs odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup. Atlanta won the first meeting of the season 108-100 at home Nov 5.
The Spurs return home after a 2-2 road trip, capped by a tight 106-100 loss at the Miami Heat Wednesday.
The Hawks snapped a four-game skid with a 123-110 home win against the Phoenix Suns Tuesday. They acquired PG Jeff Teague and SG Treveon Graham Wednesday from the Minnesota Timberwolves for SG Allen Crabbe.
Teague, an 11-year veteran who played his first seven seasons for Atlanta, should provide a reliable backup to PG Trae Young, who scored 36 points in Tuesday’s win.
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Hawks at Spurs: Key injuries
Hawks
SG Treveon Graham (trade pending) out
C Alex Len (back) out
PF Jabari Parker (shoulder) out
SF Chandler Parsons (concussion) out
PG Jeff Teague (trade pending) out
Hawks at Spurs: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 9:45 a.m. ET.
PASS. The Spurs (-357) have won their last 21 home games vs. the Hawks (+275) dating back to 1998, their longest active home winning streak against any opponent. I’m willing to make a small wager here because of that streak, but I can’t justify suggesting to bet/risk that kind of juice – every $3.57 wagered on the Spurs ML profits only $1 if they prevail.
The SPURS (-7.5, -115) are worth backing. They’re 14-5-1 ATS vs. the Hawks in the last 20 meetings. This would be the biggest spread the Spurs have covered this season if they do so, but the Hawks are 2-8 ATS when the line is between 7.5 and 9.5.
New to sports betting? Every $1.15 wagered on the Spurs spread will profit $1 if they win by 8 or more points.
The OVER 229.5 (-121) is the STRONGEST PLAY. The two teams rank in the bottom five by defensive points allowed. The Hawks surrender the third-most points per game at 116.9, while the Spurs yield the fifth-most at 114.8 PPG. On offense, the Spurs average 113.6 PPG, ranking eighth; the Hawks are 23rd at 107.4 PPG.
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Johnny’s January record: 11-8-1. Since Dec. 1: 33-18-2.
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We are getting closer to a point in the NCAA and international seasons to get a better idea of what the 2020 NBA Draft class may look like.
We are getting closer to a point in the NCAA and international seasons to get a better idea of what the 2020 NBA Draft class may look like.
Midway through the campaign, it is nearly impossible to predict early entrant decisions. But as the board begins to materialize with a more clear indication of who could be a legitimate help to NBA teams next season, it is worth it to revisit a full mock draft factoring in where each team will be selecting.
Note that some highly-rated freshmen (e.g. Florida’s Scottie Lewis and Tre Mann, Florida State’s Patrick Williams, LSU’s Trendon Watford, Kentucky’s Kahlil Whitney as well as Duke’s Wendell Moore and Matthew Hurt) were not included because of their disappointing first-year campaigns. As such, they are likely to return to school for a sophomore season and improve their draft stock to where it once was.
Typically, selecting the best player available was the biggest factor though team fit was also carefully considered.
All stats are updated through January 14, 2020. The draft order is set via Tankathon on January 15, 2020.
1. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: LaMelo Ball, Illawarra Hawks
Guard, 6-foot-7, 18 years old
This is a draft where the No. 1 pick might not be selected in that position in prior classes. While there may not be a unanimous selection at this point in the season like Zion Williamson was last season, the youngest Ball brother arguably has the highest ceiling of anyone in this class. He was nearly putting up a triple-double each appearance against professional basketball players in the NBL, scoring 17.1 points with 7.9 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game. He was not as accurate on his jumper as originally expected but he has also not a player who lacks confidence; expect him to keep shooting those and his three will develop over time. With his size and versatility on offense, he makes the most sense in the pole spot and his size would also allow him to guard bigger opponents, making him an option for nearly any team in the league even one as stacked as Golden State.
2. ATLANTA HAWKS: Anthony Edwards, Georgia
Wing, 6-foot-5, 18 years old
Under head coach Tom Crean, the Georgia freshman has been a standout prospect. He is averaging 18.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game during his first collegiate season. But a lot of his output has been helped by his high usage rate. He is shooting just 28.1 percent on jump shots in a set offense, per Synergy, and is shooting just 24.6 percent off the dribble. He is also taking too many shots from deep midrange, shooting 25.8 percent on these looks. Fortunately, Edwards has been an above-average defender and is averaging 1.4 steals per game. The young star can stay in his hometown for this pick, too.
3. NEW YORK KNICKS: Killian Hayes, Ratiopharm Ulm
Guard, 6-foot-5, 18 years old
Hayes has exceptional court vision and instincts as well as a true point guard mentality to create opportunities for his teammates. He is averaging 17.2 points and 8.3 assists per 36 minutes while facing professional talent in the Euroleague. He is also capable of creating his own shot off the dribble and many of his own buckets have been unassisted. As noted by Bleacher Report draft expert Jonathan Wasserman, the prospect is shooting 153-of-178 (85.9 percent) on free throws since the start of his 2018-19 campaign. Hayes has a very natural shooting stroke and is someone whose hype should continue to grow.
4. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: Onyeka Okongwu, USC
Big, 6-foot-9, 19 years old
The player who has helped his draft stock the most is Okongwu, who is putting up 16.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. He has 32 dunks so far this season, which ranks sixth-best among all NCAA players and can be one of the more immediately impactful lob threats in the NBA. The big man is 13-for-18 (72.2 percent) when rolling to the basket in pick-and-roll sets, which shows how he can fit into a pro scheme. On the defensive end, his block percentage (10.7 percent) trails just one player in college basketball this year. He would play a fantastic two-man game with Darius Garland and he can help their frontcourt depth with the likely departure of Kevin Love.
5. WASHINGTON WIZARDS: RJ Hampton, New Zealand Breakers
Guard, 6-foot-5, 19 years old
The Washington Wizards are far from being close to a winning franchise but they do have extraordinary talent on the wing with Bradley Beal. If they add to that by selecting Hampton, who can develop under the leadership of Beal, the fans can sell some hope to a franchise that has gotten a taste of it with the impressive play of Rui Hachimura during his rookie campaign thus far. Like Hachimura, however, Hampton will need some time to develop.
6. DETROIT PISTONS: Tyrese Haliburton, Iowa State
Guard, 6-foot-5, 20 years old
The Iowa State sophomore is one of the most polarizing prospects in recent memory. He is producing 16.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game so far this season. The guard has been a solid shooter, connecting on 41.3 percent of his attempts from three-point range. His assist rate (39.1 percent) ranks Top 5 among all underclassmen in the NBA. Haliburton also fits the bill as perhaps the lengthiest guard in this draft class, measured with a 7-foot wingspan. As a defender, the guard is averaging 2.6 steals per game and his steal rate (4.0 percent) ranks third-best in the Big 12. He seems like a perfect point guard of the future for the rebuilding Pistons, who don’t have much of a direction.
7. CHICAGO BULLS: James Wiseman, USA
Big, 7-foot-1, 19 years old
The biggest reason why Wiseman is this high on draft boards is that he was the No. 1 overall player on RSCI, which combines all of the top high school rankings in the country. The other biggest factor is his massive size, notably his 7-foot-6 wingspan. While it will be hard to see what else he is able to add to his game while he is away from the NCAA following an incredibly brief stint with the Memphis Tigers, he can be an appealing development project. Much like Edwards in New York, the bright lights of Chicago would be an awesome way for Wiseman to start his professional career.
8. CHARLOTTE HORNETS: Isaac Okoro, Auburn
Wing, 6-foot-6, 19 years old
The hyperathletic freshman wing has shown a nice mix of offensive and defensive upside for his undefeated Auburn team, averaging 13.2 points with 4.5 rebounds per game. His jump shot is still a work in progress but he is finishing well near the basket, connecting on 65-for-88 (73.9 percent) for looks within five feet of the basket. As a defender, he is elite guarding the perimeter and has also averaged 0.9 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. They need a strong defender alongside their young backcourt and after hitting well on the PJ Washington selection, this could be another fantastic pick.
9. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: Obi Toppin, Dayton
Forward, 6-foot-9, 22 years old
The New Orleans Pelicans are going to be a team likely defined by Zion Williamson for years to come. Much like Williamson, Toppin is a high-flyer who currently leads the NCAA in dunks with 3.2 per game. But he won’t clog the paint from the dunker spot as he is averaging 2.6 three-point shot attempts per game. When determining potential fits for the Pelicans, it is worth considering their ability in transition offense because of their schemes. As such, it is important to note Toppin is 27-for-38 (71.1 percent) on these opportunities.
10. SACRAMENTO KINGS: Vernon Carey, Duke
Big, 6-foot-10, 18 years old
The Kings could continue their tradition of drafting big men from Duke by adding Carey to the mix. He would join Marvin Bagley and Harry Giles as former Blue Devils in the frontcourt for Sacramento. Carey has been an elite college basketball player, averaging 17.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. He leads all freshmen in defensive rebound percentage (28.0 percent), ranks Top 5 among freshmen in total dunks (24) and Top 10 in block percentage (7.8 percent) as well. If he eventually adds a more constant three-pointer to his arsenal, he could be a starter in the NBA very soon.
11. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: Nico Mannion, Arizona
Guard, 6-foot-3, 19 years old
Mannion is averaging 14.4 points and 6.3 assists per game, already an elite distributor at the NCAA level. He is a high-level scorer and passes well out of the pick-and-roll and his assist rate (36.5 percent) currently ranks as third-best among freshman so far this season. His assist-to-turnover ratio (2.3) is a good indication of his instincts. While he may be too young for a starting role next season, he is someone who projects in the first unit for a long time.
12. PHOENIX SUNS: Precious Achiuwa, Memphis
Forward, 6-foot-9, 19 years old
After the absence of Wiseman, the Memphis Tigers have turned to Achiuwa as the face of their team under Penny Hardaway. He has responded well and his defensive rebound percentage (25.4 percent) leads the American Athletic Conference. As a defender, his block percentage (7.4 percent) ranks third-best in the conference as well. He has turned it on as a scorer lately but he would not be leaned on as the primary option for a team with Devin Booker leading the charge.
13. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS: Aleksej Pokusevski, Olympiacos B
Forward, 7-foot, 18 years old
One of the most fascinating, underrated prospects for the 2020 NBA Draft is currently playing in the Greek HEBA A2 league. With a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Pokusevski has the ability to play a bit bigger than his already impressive 7-foot frame. He is averaging 16.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.4 three-pointers per 36 minutes. The Serbian-born prospect has also connected on 32.6 percent from three-point range. As a defender, his size has helped him secure 2.8 blocks per 36 minutes as well. Portland could play him in several different places but could provide his most value as a necessary help on the wing.
14. SAN ANTONIO SPURS: Josh Green, Arizona
Wing, 6-foot-6, 19 years old
The Arizona freshman was a fantastic scorer on the AAU circuit playing for West Coast Elite, averaging 20.2 points per game. This season, he has put up 12.9 points per game for the Wildcats. Green has also grabbed 5.1 rebounds per game, which has allowed him to be an interesting option operating as the ball handler in a transition offense. Green is currently averaging 1.35 points per possession on these opportunities, per Synergy, which ranks in the 95th percentile. He also has a 6-foot-10 wingspan, which will help him a lot on the defensive side of the ball.
Previewing Wednesday’s San Antonio Spurs at Miami Heat sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.
The San Antonio Spurs (17-21) visit the Miami Heat (27-12) Wednesday at AmericanAirlines Arena for a 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off. We analyze the Spurs-Heat odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup. This is their first meeting of the season – they’ll face off again in San Antonio Sunday afternoon.
The Spurs rallied from an 18-point deficit to beat the Toronto Raptors 105-104 Sunday, to improve to 2-1 on a current four-game road trip.
The Heat enter on a two-game skid, falling at the New York Knicks 124-121 Sunday and the Brooklyn Nets 117-113 Friday.
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Spurs at Heat: Key injuries
Heat
SF Justice Winslow (back) out
Spurs at Heat: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Wednesday at 1:25 a.m. ET.
AVOID. Miami (-223) is 17-1 at home, running off six in a row since a mid-December loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, San Antonio (+180) is 6-12 on the road. I’m going to PASS and focus on the spread.
The HEAT (-5.5, -106) are worth a small play. I usually would back the Spurs (+5.5, -115) in such a situation, but I’m counting on:
Miami being zoned in and focused following the back-to-back road losses at the Nets and Knicks.
San Antonio running out of gas down the stretch as this is the final game of its four-game trip. Plus, I’d guess the Spurs have been a little distracted, enjoying South Florida after playing in Toronto Sunday.
New to sports betting? Every $1.06 wagered on the Heat spread will profit $1 if they win by 6 points or more.
The OVER 221.5 (-106) is the STRONGEST PLAY. The Spurs average 113.9 points a game, ranking sixth in the league, while the Heat are 11th at 111.7 PPG. Plus, the Spurs rank fifth from the bottom in average points allowed at 115.0. Throw in that these are the top two NBA teams in Overs this season – San Antonio is 21-14, while Miami is 21-14-1 – and I like my chances to cash an Over ticket at the window.
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Johnny’s January record: 10-5-1. Strongest plays: 7-1.
Record since Dec. 1: 32-15-2. Strongest plays: 18-4.
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Previewing Sunday’s San Antonio Spurs at Toronto Raptors sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.
The San Antonio Spurs (16-21) visit the Toronto Raptors (25-13) Sunday at Scotiabank Arena. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET. We analyze the Spurs-Raptors sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
The RAPTORS (-162) have gone 5-5 across their last 10 games but are coming off a 112-110 overtime victory over the Charlotte Hornets Wednesday. The defending champs are expected to start getting some key players back from injury this week, with Powell expected to be the first to suit up Sunday.
The Spurs (+135) have also gone 5-5 across their last 10 games, but they’re coming off a 134-121 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies Friday. They’re just 5-12 at home while the Raps are 14-6 at home.
Toronto ranks fourth in the NBA with 105.2 points per game allowed, while San Antonio is in the bottom five of the league with 115.3 PPG allowed. Back the home side.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Raptors to win returns a profit of $6.20
Increase the profit margin on the RAPTORS (-2.5, -115) by backing them on the spread to win by at least 3 points. Toronto is 21-17 against the spread overall and 12-8 on home court. San Antonio is 14-22-1 ATS overall and 8-8 on the road.
All but two of the Raptors’ 25 wins this season were decided by at least 3 points. Each of the Spurs’ last five losses was by a margin of at least 3 points.
Take the UNDER 218.5 (+105) at plus-money for a better return on your investment. Both teams are rested coming into the day and will be ready for strong defensive efforts. The Spurs will be able to hold the Raptors’ thin roster below their opponent PPG average.
Esten’s NBA betting record: 138-106
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Previewing Friday’s San Antonio Spurs at Memphis Grizzlies sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.
The San Antonio Spurs (16-20) visit the Memphis Grizzles (16-22) Friday at FedExForum for an 8:00 p.m. ET tip-off. It’s a battle of the eighth- and ninth-place teams in the Western Conference, respectively. We analyze the Spurs-Grizzlies odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
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Spurs at Grizzlies: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 12:00 p.m. ET.
The Spurs (-110) enter off of back-to-back wins over Eastern Conference powerhouses, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 126-104 at home Monday and the Boston Celtics 129-114 on the road Wednesday. They’re 6-4 across their last 10 games and 5-11 on the road for the season. The Grizzlies (-110) have won three straight games for just the second time all season, most recently beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 119-112 on home court. They’re 6-4 across their last 10 outings and 8-12 at FedExForum for the year.
Take the value with the SPURS (-110) as the better team on offense and defense. They score 114.0 points per game to 114.8 allowed. The Grizzlies score 112.6 PPG against 116.3 allowed. The season series is split at a game apiece entering Friday, with the Grizzlies winning 113-109 in Memphis Nov. 11, and the Spurs responding with a 145-115 rout in San Antonio Dec. 23.
PASS on the spread and stick with the more profitable moneyline play. The Spurs (+1.5, -121) are getting just one point of insurance in the event of a loss while an outright win would result in $0.73 of lost profit on a $10 wager.
San Antonio is 14-21-1 against the spread overall but 8-7 on the road. Memphis is 19-18-1 ATS overall and 10-10 at home. The Spurs are attempting their first three-game win streak since opening the 2019-20 campaign with victories over the New York Knicks, Washington Wizards and Portland Trail Blazers.
Take the OVER 228.5 (-129) after the last head-to-head meeting crushed this number. Both sides are at full health and the Spurs are an uncharacteristic league-best 23-13 against the Over/Under. The Grizzlies are also 21-17 against the O/U and both sides top the projected totals by more than six points per game.
Esten’s NBA betting record: 132-103
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The Boston Celtics started slow and never got their footing against San Antonio, a momentum-killing call against Kemba Walker crushing their only signs of life against the Spurs.
The Boston Celtics started their home rematch with the San Antonio Spurs like a team in need of a few days off.
Boston didn’t even make its first field goal until nearly three minutes into the contest, a Gordon Hayward trey coming off of a Kemba Walker assist.
The next field goal for the Celtics took five minutes of game time to go in.
Oddly enough, it was a jumper nearly from the 3-point line from center Enes Kanter, which should tell you everything you need to know about how off-kilter the team started the game, already in a 19-point deficit by the time they’d scored multiple buckets.
Marcus Smart and Jayson Tatum would almost single-handedly carry Boston for the remainder of the first frame, and Jaylen Brown the second, but the Celtics didn’t turn up the defensive intensity nor attack until the penultimate frame.
Cutting the lead to nine with a Tatum layup after stealing the ball from DeMar DeRozan steal, an amped-up Boston looked poised to make a run at San Antonio before UConn product Walker got himself ejected for protesting a blown call.
1. Kemba gets laid out on a hard screen 2. Kemba gets ejected 3. Celtics fan throws a beer at the Spurs bench
The crowd nearly lost it after the Bronx native was leveled by LaMarcus Aldridge only to see Walker ejected for bothering to complain, and stayed angry and engaged for some time.
The momentum tilted back towards San Antonio for much of the rest of the third, the Spurs extending their lead to 21 points late in the quarter. The Celtics tried to turn the tide until the final five minutes of the fourth quarter, but couldn’t get the job done.
Head coach Brad Stevens subbed in the bench, who at least made a good showing in their limited playing time, the Spurs coming away with the 129-114 win.
San Antonio was led by a 30-point, 6-rebound, 10-of-17 shooting night from DeRozan and 15 points from Bryn Forbes, as well as 19 points off the bench from guard Lonnie Walker IV.
The Celtics saw Hayward have an excellent night with 18 points off 7-of-14 shooting (including 4-of-7 from three), and Brown logged 16 points while missing 5-of-6 attempts from deep.
Swingman Tatum had an equally poor night from beyond the arc, going 0-for-5 on the night despite a 15-point, 5-board outing.
The Boston Celtics next face the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center at 7pm ET Jan. 8.
Previewing Wednesday’s San Antonio Spurs at Boston Celtics sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.
Wednesday night, the San Antonio Spurs (15-20) are in TD Garden to take on the Boston Celtics (25-9). We analyze the Spurs-Celtics odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
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Spurs at Celtics: Key injuries
Celtics
PG Kemba Walker (illness) questionable
C Daniel Theis (neck) questionable
C Vincent Poirier (finger) out
C Robert Williams III (hip) out
SG Romeo Langford (illness) out
Spurs at Celtics: Odds, lines, picks, and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 10:45 a.m. ET.
The CELTICS (-250) are big moneyline favorites over the Spurs after losing to the Washington Wizards Monday. Boston has won eight of its last 10 games while the Spurs have been one of the league’s most inconsistent teams. While the Spurs (+200) are an intriguing underdog pick here given their history, take the Celtics to win at home.
The CELTICS (-6.5, -106) are three-basket favorites over the Spurs and have been one of the league’s best teams this season at covering the spread. While they have covered in just two of their previous six games, Boston should have no problem scoring at will against the Spurs. Look for this contest to be close for most of the game, but for the Celtics to close it out at the end with their excellent free-throw shooting (80%).
The total for this contest is set at 217.5, which feels a bit high considering the Celtics’ defensive ability this season. Both teams have explosive offenses, but they can be far from consistent night-to-night. Look for both sides to cross the 100-point mark Wednesday, but for the UNDER 217.5 (+105) to hit.
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The 15-20 San Antonio Spurs take on the 25-9 Boston Celtics at TD Garden Wednesday night at 7pm ET, as the Celtics try to get back to their winning ways.
The 25-9 Boston Celtics take on the 15-20 San Antonio Spurs at TD Garden, with Boston looking to get back in the win column after dropping a game to the Washington Wizards Jan. 6.
The meeting is the second of two for the 2019-20 NBA season, Boston winning the prior on the road 135-115.
San Antonio won their last game, a 126-104 victory over the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks, and five of their last ten to hold the Western Conference’s eighth slot.
Boston, holding on to the East’s second slot ahead of the Miami Heat and behind the Bucks, has won eight of its last 10 games, but has been winning them narrowly over inferior teams, save Monday’s tilt with the Wizards.
Boston will be without centers Vincent Poirier (broken finger) and Robert Williams III (left hip bone edema), but Williams may be getting close to a return if his meeting with specialists this week is favorable, reports Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald.
If center Daniel Theis’ knee continues to bother him, the Celtics may need Williams, as the German big man is also questionable with left knee soreness. Boston may also be without the services of starting point guard Kemba Walker and rookie Romeo Langford, both of whom have missed time to illness.
The Spurs will be at full health for the contest.
The Celtics should have the advantage even with a number of players being out injured, reflected in online sportsbook spreads averaging -5.5 for Boston.
However, as San Antonio has demonstrated they can take out even the mighty Bucks when they aren’t locked in, Boston simply cannot come out with the level of effort they have in recent games and expect to win.
Previewing Monday’s Milwaukee Bucks at San Antonio Spurs sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.
The Milwaukee Bucks (32-5) and San Antonio Spurs (14-20) tangle at the AT&T Center Monday in San Antonio at 8:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the Bucks-Spurs odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM.
Bucks at Spurs: Key injuries
Bucks
SF Giannis Antetokounmpo (back) probable
PG George Hill (illness) probable
PF D.J. Wilson (illness) probable
SG Pat Connaughton (thigh) out
Spurs
PG Dejounte Murray (personal) probable
Bucks at Spurs: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 9:30 a.m. ET.
The Bucks (-334) will cost you over three times your investment, which is twice as much as I am comfortable laying. My limit is always -160 to -170 at the most. AVOID.
The BUCKS (-6.5, -121) are a tremendous bet on Monday night, assuming the visitors do not elect to rest Antetokounmpo, which is always possible. If he plays, this is a slam-dunk play, literally.
The Bucks are 5-1 ATS in the past six road games, and 13-5 ATS in the previous 18 games overall. They’re also 13-5 ATS in the past 18 games as a favorite, too, while going 5-1 ATS in the past six as a road favorite. The Spurs, on the other hand, are a dismal 7-20 ATS in the past 27 games at home, and 1-5 ATS in the past six tries at home against teams with a winning road mark.
A few years ago an OVER 227.5 (-129) total would have been unheard of, but defense is dead in the NBA. It’s all offense, all the time. The Bucks are better at offense than anyone, too, averaging 119.6 points per game while also leading the NBA with a 48.3 field-goal percentage. Conversely, the Spurs are seventh in the NBA in points scored (113.2), and 25th in points allowed (115.1).
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