The NBA schedule moves forward after a week that saw a few surprises and upsets. Heading into the upcoming week, teams like the Thunder and Clippers look to build on their momentum while the Atlanta Hawks are desperately trying to put an end to a horrendous seven-game losing skid. The Bulls and Knicks could also use a timely reversal of fortunes as both squads had a rough week. Here’s a look at the top five games this week for NBA betting.
Boston Celtics at Charlotte Hornets – Monday, November 19th
We kick of the betting action on Monday as the high-scoring Hornets host the Celtics. Boston capped off last week with a loss, while the Hornets are coming back down to Earth after suffering a pair of losses. After winning two straight, including an impressive victory over Toronto, the Celtics fell to the Jazz. One thing that sticks out with Boston is that they have been brutal on the road this year, especially when considering the spread (2-7 ATS on the road).
The Hornets have lost three of their last four although they have been finding a bit of success at home, where they are 4-3 SU and ATS. However, the Hornets have dropped six straight meetings with the Celtics in Charlotte, both SU and ATS. Nine of the last eleven games between these two teams in Charlotte have gone under the total which is a pretty strong trend.
My Pick: Under
Related: NBA Betting Guide
Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden State Warriors – Wednesday, November 21st
Don’t look now but the Thunder have won three straight and 10 of their last 11, while Golden State has dropped their last two games to finish off a rough week. The Thunder is also raking it in for spread backers as they have nine covers in their last ten games. Their five covers in seven road games shows that they are pretty well balanced.
The Warriors have just one win in their last four games and they have covered just once in their last six. This could be a great spot for Oklahoma City to make a statement. Nine of the last ten meetings between these two teams have resulted in the under.
My Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder ATS
Washington Wizards at Toronto Raptors – Friday, November 23rd
This game seems quite lopsided on the surface, but it looks a little closer when we dig deeper. As bad as the Wizards are, they have won three of their last four. True, they were favored in those games but in addition to winning, they also covered. Still, they are 2-6 SU and ATS on the road. Four of Washington’s five road games in which they have been underdogs have gone over the total.
The Raptors just ended their three-game slide with a win in Chicago but they have not been very good ATS. Toronto lost its last two home games as 9.5-point favorites which is a little alarming. Toronto should get the win, but recent trends go against them covering.
My Pick: Washington Wizards ATS
Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers – Friday, November 23rd
The Los Angeles Lakers have been racking up the wins lately with six victories in their last eight games, including five of six at home. The Jazz have won four of their last six games, but they haven’t been all that successful on the road. As impressive as the Lakers’ recent win/loss record is, they have been losing a lot of bets for their ATS backers.
The Jazz have won the last seven meetings between these two teams, but they are just 3-4 ATS in those games. The Lakers have been playing the better ball in the past couple of week and they will be hungry to break the losing trend that has emerged when they play Utah.
My Pick: Los Angeles Lakers ATS
Houston Rockets at Cleveland Cavaliers – Saturday, November 24th
After such a rocky start, the Houston Rockets have suddenly turned on the jets and have won their last four SU and ATS. This recent success has come against some pretty tough competition too. Cleveland finally notched their second win of the season and have now seen their last seven games go under the posted total. A similar trend has seen six of Houston’s last eight games go under the total, along with their last five straight road games.
My Pick: Under
