Tag: sports gambling

Portland Trail Blazers at Minnesota Timberwolves odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Thursday’s Portland Trail Blazers at Minnesota Timberwolves sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and bets.

The Portland Trail Blazers (16-22) meet the Minnesota Timberwolves (14-22) at Target Center Thursday for an 8 p.m. ET tip-off. We analyze Trail Blazers-Timberwolves sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.

Blazers at Timberwolves: Key injuries

Blazers

  • PF Skal Labissiere (knee) out
  • C Jusuf Nurkic (leg) out
  • SG Rodney Hood (Achilles) out
  • PF Zach Collins (shoulder) out

Timberwolves

  • C Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) out
  • SF Jake Layman (toe) out

Blazers at Timberwolves: 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.

Prediction

Timberwolves 118, Portland 113

Moneyline (ML)

The TIMBERWOLVES (+115) are playing better (4-3 record in the last seven games) without Towns, who’s been sidelined since Dec. 18. Also, they’ve beaten the Blazers (-139) in three of their last four games in Minnesota. The edge goes to the Wolves, who play with more tenacity than the Blazers game in, game out.

Minnesota scores the fifth most second-chance points in the NBA and the Blazers allow the most points in the paint. In addition, Blazers PG Damian Lillard doesn’t play up to form in games at Minnesota—he scores 22.5 points per game on a .425 field-goal percentage and .333 3-point%—all below his career averages.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

Let’s PASS on the Timberwolves’ (+1.5, +105) line because of low that number is and because neither team is good against the spread. The Blazers are 15-21-2 and the Timberwolves are 15-19-2. The Timberwolves have a plus-5.6 average margin of victory compared to the Blazers’ minus-4 margin over the last five games for both sides.

Over/Under (O/U)

Bet the OVER 224.5 (-106). Both teams are good offensively (Blazers rank 11th in points per game and the Timberwolves are 12th), and they’re below average defensively (Blazers are ranked 21st in PPG allowed and Timberwolves rank 24th), so watch out for a high-scoring game.

When you mix into the handicap that both teams play at an above-average pace—Blazers rank 11th in pace and the Timberwolves are ranked eighth—it’s hard to see this game going Under 224.5. Also, I’m always shopping for lower juiced odds. The Under is -115.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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New York Knicks at Utah Jazz odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Wednesday’s New York Knicks at Utah Jazz sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The New York Knicks (10-27) head to Salt Lake City to play the red-hot  Utah Jazz (24-12) Wednesday at Vivint Smart Home Arena at 9:00 p.m. ET. We analyze the Knicks-Jazz sports betting odds and lines, with NBA picks and tips for this matchup.

Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.

Knicks at Jazz: Key injuries

Knicks

  • PF Marcus Morris (neck) questionable
  • PG Dennis Smith Jr. (oblique) questionable

Jazz

  • PG Mike Conley (hamstring) out

Knicks at Jazz: 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 11:30 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Jazz 125, Knicks 104

Moneyline (ML)

There’s absolutely no value on the Jazz (-1000) moneyline and it’s hard to fathom the Knicks (+650) coming into Utah and scoring an upset. The Jazz are rolling right now with records of 9-1 straight up and 8-2 against the spread across their last 10 games. The Knicks struggle in the second game of back-to-backs, as they are 1-4 straight up and 2-3 ATS while allowing a whopping 119.6 points per game with a minus-17.6 margin of victory in those situations.

PASS on a moneyline play in Knicks-Jazz.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

On paper, this is a terrible matchup for the Knicks. The Jazz defense ranks sixth in opponent PPG and field goal percentage, and eighth in opponent 3-point percentage. The Knicks are 29th in PPG, 26th in FG% and 23rd in 3-point%. Long-distance shooting is a specialty for the Jazz—they are first in the NBA in 3-point%—and guarding the three is a weakness for the Knicks—ranked second to last in opponent 3-point%.

The Jazz should be energized by a home crowd they haven’t played in front of much lately—seven of the Jazz’s last 10 games were on the road. Also, both of the Knicks’ leading scorers in Morris and PF Julius Randle struggle historically against the Jazz. Morris averages 9.1 PPG, .303 field-goal percentage and three rebounds per game, while Randle averages 12.6 PPG, seven rebounds per game and .405 FG% (all below their career averages).

Bet JAZZ (-11.5, -125) to win by at least 12 points.

Over/under (O/U)

This is tight but I lean OVER 216.5 (-115) because of the Knicks giving up so many points in back-to-backs and the Jazz presumably being able to sink threes against them. Also, the Over has cashed in seven straight Knicks-Jazz games. It’s only a lean for several reasons, though. First, the combined Over/Under records of these two is 32-41. Second, the Knicks are unreliable, at best, offensively. Third, both teams have a 5-5 O/U record in their last 10 games overall.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Oklahoma City Thunder at Brooklyn Nets odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Oklahoma City Thunder at Brooklyn Nets sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Oklahoma City Thunder (20-16) meet the Brooklyn Nets (16-19) for a 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off at Barclays Center. We analyze the Thunder-Nets odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.

Thunder at Nets: Key injuries

Thunder

  • C Nerlens Noel (ankle) questionable
  • SG Andre Roberson (knee) out

Nets

  • PG Kyrie Irving (shoulder) out
  • SG Caris LeVert (rest) probable
  • SF Kevin Durant (Achilles) out

Thunder at Nets: 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 1 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Nets 107, Thunder 103

Moneyline (ML)

The Thunder lost their five-game winning streak in a 120-113 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers Monday, while the Nets lost their sixth straight game Monday by a 101-89 count against the Orlando Magic. Look for the Nets to break out of their slump in this game because of LeVert’s return to the lineup and their 5-0 against the spread record as home underdogs. LeVert has a favorable matching, in Terrance Ferguson, in his second game back from injury and should provide a boost to a Nets offense that struggled against the Magic. Ferguson has a low offensive rating (102) and a high defensive rating (113).

Back the NETS (+120) to win outright. New to sports betting? A $100 bet for the Nets to win straight up can earn a $120 profit.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The Nets have gotten the better of the Thunder in their recent history. They are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games against the Thunder. Furthermore, the Nets have played well against good competition at home, going 6-2 overall versus teams above .500 in Brooklyn. I could also see this being a lookahead spot for the Thunder. They are on the second game of a back-to-back and wrapping up a four-game road trip, before returning home to play the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers.

Taking the NETS (+1.5, +100) for a small insurance play is acceptable, but not crucial. Obviously the +1.5 isn’t much insurance, but having a vig-less line is a nice sight.

Over/Under (O/U)

I’m PASSING on the projected total of 214.5 because I cannot find trends that could lead me toward the Over or Under. Both teams have a 5-5 Over/Under record in their last 10 games and the O/U is 5-4-1 in the last 10 head-to-head meetings. Also, with both teams playing the second half of a back-to-back I could see fatigue affecting either side of the ball.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Brooklyn Nets at Orlando Magic odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Monday’s Brooklyn Nets at Orlando Magic sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Brooklyn Nets (16-18) ride a five-game losing streak to their 7 p.m. ET game against the Orlando Magic (16-20) at Amway Center. We analyze the Nets-Magic odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.

Nets at Magic: Key injuries

Nets

  • C DeAndre Jordan (knee) probable
  • SG Caris LeVert (thumb) out
  • PG Kyrie Irving (shoulder) out
  • SF Kevin Durant (Achilles) out
  • PF Nicolas Claxton (hamstring) probable

Magic

  • PG Michael Carter-Williams (shoulder) out
  • SF Jonathan Isaac (knee) out
  • SF Al-Farouq Aminu (knee) out

Nets at Magic: 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 1:30 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Nets 105, Magic 99

Moneyline (ML)

It’s a bummer that recently activated SF Caris LeVert won’t be able to suit up for this matchup but we are still on the NETS (+170) here. We all know all-star C Nikola Vucevic is key to the Magic’s success and he hasn’t faired well against Jordan in their 12 career meetings. Vucevic’s teams are 2-10 versus Jordan’s teams and Jordan holds Vucevic below his averages in field goal percentage (.436) and points per game (13.7). Also, both Jordan and regular Nets starter C Jarrett Allen have better offensive ratings than Magic bigs Vucevic and C Mo Bamba.

New to sports betting? Bet $30 on the Nets to win outright to earn a profit of $51.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The Nets need to break out of their recent slump and playing a Magic team, which they are 6-4 against straight up (6-3-1 against the spread), will do the trick. Back to the frontcourt advantage for Brooklyn: The Magic’s fifth-ranked opponent’s points in the paint defense will be tested against a Nets team fourth in the NBA in points in the paint. While the Magic themselves are ranked fifth in points in the paint, the Nets do a good job minimizing inside scoring—ranked eighth in the NBA.

Furthermore, I like how the Nets defend the three (ranked third in opponent’s 3-point percentage) compared to the Magic’s outside shooting (ranked 27th in 3-point percentage) and the Nets get the second-most rebounds per game while the Magic are ranked 28th in opponent’s RPG.

Bet NETS (+4.5, -106). New to sports betting? Bet $70 on the Nets +4.5 (-106) to earn a profit of $66.

Over/Under (O/U)

Neither offense is impressive—Nets are ranked 16th in PPG, the Magic are ranked 30th. The Nets are 24th in FG% and the Magic are 27th. Plus, their combined Over/Under record is just 32-36-2. The low total of 210.5 (Over: +105, Under: -130) has me PASSING.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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