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An 0-1 record last night.
We took the red-hot Mavericks +2.5 against the Raptors on the road last night and it required a super human effort from the Raptors to break our seven-game winning streak here. This was the largest comeback in Raptors history as they were down 30 points at one point. They were +28 in the fourth quarter and this one is especially impressive without Marc Gasol and Pascal Siakam. This one was all about Kyle Lowry carrying his team here as he had 32 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds.
There is an absolutely stacked slate of games today as the league will take a day off tomorrow and then there only being a handful of games on Christmas day. I’ve got three tips today so let’s go into this break with some holiday spending cash.
Philadelphia 76ers at Detroit Pistons:
The Sixers had a rough week as teams threw zone defense at them to fluster them and it worked. They lost to both Miami and Dallas which really exposed their three-point shooting as a weakness. The good news is, I don’t think this Detroit team has the personnel that can attack them in that way.
The thing I am looking at here is Joel Embiid versus Andre Drummond. In all of the match-ups between these two teams, Embiid has dominated. He’s averaged 29 points in those games and the Sixers are 5-1 with the only loss being an overtime game.
On top of that, the Pistons are very injured right now. Luke Kennard, Blake Griffin, and Derrick Rose are all listed as questionable tonight which leaves Drummond to stand alone against Embiid. I don’t like those odds.
https://www.Bovada.lvBet Sixers -6
Washington Wizards vs. New York Knicks Betting Tips:
These are two of the worst defensive teams in the league and they are both coming off of a game in which they allowed 123 or more points. They are the worst (Wizards) and 26th (Knicks) ranked teams in the NBA by Defensive Rating and I don’t see those numbers getting much better tonight.
I think both of these teams probably have this game circled on the schedule as a game that they can win. That equals some effort in my mind, but the defense just isn’t there. I think both teams can put up/give up 120 in this game and, while high, this is a nice spot to grab the over.
https://www.Bovada.lvBet Knicks/Wizards Over 229.5
https://www.Bovada.lv
Utah Jazz vs. Miami Heat Betting Tips:
The Heat are 10-2 against the spread at home this season while the Jazz have a 5-9 against the spread record on the road. That’s a very surface state for this game, but it’s one that fits with what I am thinking. This is the third and final game of a road trip for the Jazz and while they’ve won the first two, they have been a lot closer than you’d expect for a good team against Atlanta and Charlotte as they failed to cover in either.
One match-up I am looking at for an advantage is the Jazz without Mike Conley against the Heat who now have Goran Dragic back. That point guard match-up will be tough. I am also really excited for Bam Adebayo against Rudy Gobert. Rudy is so used to dominating down low defensively that it is going to be very interesting to see him against a guy like Bam.
I am liking what I am seeing from Miami of late much more than I’ve seen of Utah. I think the Heat get the win and go into the break strong.
https://www.Bovada.lvBet Heat -4.5