Category: SGP

One of the teams rising in strength in the Western Conference faces a red hot team from the East. The Timberwolves, fresh off of a 116-95 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, face off against the Boston Celtics. We have our SGP Picks below, which are all based off our NBA computer predictions.

Each of these teams has a lot to gain from a win in this game, primarily positioning. If the Timberwolves come away with a win, they could pass the Denver Nuggets.

The Boston Celtics have won five games in a row, most recently over the Utah Jazz. After beating the Jazz 125-97, the Celtics are ready to face the Timberwolves. Jayson Tatum is listed on the “day-to-day” list, however, so keep that in mind.

Boston has moved to the No.3 spot in the Eastern Conference, passing the Milwaukee Bucks. Another win could put them at No.2. 

Game Preview: Minnesota Timberwolves at Boston Celtics

The Timberwolves have the first-ranked scoring offense in the NBA, averaging 115.43. With an offense this effective, they’ll try to overwhelm the Celtics defense. Unfortunately for them, the Celtics have the No.1 ranked defense in points allowed.

This will be a tough game for the Timberwolves to overcome. They’ll have to rely on Karl-Anthony Towns to dominate the paint.

Boston will focus on what they do best, limit scoring opportunities. They’ll try to force Minnesota to take bad shots from the perimeter and eliminate Karl-Anthony Towns from the game. Tasked with this project will be Robert Williams III.

Unfortunately for the Celtics, Al Horford is out, which could be trouble. Still, the Boston Celtics only allow an average of 103.76 points per game.

Against the Spread: Minnesota Timberwolves +6

When these two last faced each other in December 2021, the Boston Celtics were 5.5-point favorites. This time, they come in as six-point favorites and are playing at home. In December, Minnesota beat them, 108-103, and we think Minnesota will win again here.

The injuries dealt to the Celtics might be too much to overcome. Especially since Minnesota’s offense is so efficient.

The Total: UNDER 227.5

As you can see from the score of the previous game, we doubt the total will go over 227.5. The Celtics’ defense will limit how many points the Timberwolves score, and this game will be close. This season, the Celtics are 35-38-1 against the total.

The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Minnesota’s last ten games. The best bet against the total on Sunday night is taking the under.

To score 15+ Points: Anthony Edwards (-530)

This pick is an easy one, especially with so much attention on Karl-Anthony Towns. Anthony Edwards has averaged 18.1 points over his last nine games against the Boston Celtics.

He put up 12 points against the Dallas Mavericks, one of the best defenses in the NBA. This game will come down to the wire, and Edwards could be the difference-maker on Sunday. 

Player Points: Karl-Anthony Towns OVER 23.5 (-104)

Towns is coming off of a tough game against the Dallas Mavericks. He was only able to score 20 points in that one, but we feel he’ll bounce back here.

Against the Celtics, Towns averages 24.8 points per game, slightly over the 23.5 required. With Al Horford out, Towns can really go to work in the paint. Expect a huge game from him tonight.

After suffering two straight losses, the Utah Jazz finds themselves facing the Charlotte Hornets. Charlotte has one of the best offenses in the NBA, and the Jazz have struggled against great offenses.

With a few players ruled out for the Jazz, they’ll look to Gobert and Mitchell to lead them to a win. However, with how they’ve performed lately, the Hornets could be the better pick.

The Charlotte Hornets are coming off of a 121-106 loss to the New York Knicks. For one of the best offenses in the NBA, the Knicks found a way to keep them from scoring.

Tonight, they face a strong interior defense led by Rudy Gobert. LaMelo Ball will look to get his team needed win on Friday night, but it’s easier said than done. Let’s build a single-game parlay for this game, but can also be a parlay pick.

Game Preview: Utah Jazz at Charlotte Hornets

The Utah Jazz has one of the top-ranked offenses in the NBA, although they haven’t shown it lately. On average, Utah scores 113.66 points per game, ranking sixth in the NBA.

However, in their last two losses, they’ve barely scored over 100 points. A few nights ago, the Boston Celtics beat them 125-97. Another performance like that, and the Hornets will walk away with this one.

The Charlotte Hornets average 114.84 points per game, ranking fifth in the NBA. However, similar to the Jazz, this hasn’t translated to wins lately. Falling to the New York Knicks by nearly 20 points was a bad look for the Hornets.

Still, leading up to that loss, the Hornets had won five straight games. Team basketball is how they win games, and that’s how they’ll beat the Jazz.

Against the Spread: Charlotte Hornets +3.5

This is a great margin for the Charlotte Hornets because even if they lose, there’s a little bit of room. However, we don’t believe the Hornets will lose this game; in fact, we think they’ll win by more than five.

At home, the Charlotte Hornets are 19-17-1 against the spread, while the Jazz is 15-20-1 ATS on the road. Overall, the Hornets have a 39-32-2 record ATS this season. 

The Total: UNDER 230.5

Although both of these teams have high-powered offenses, something strange happens when they face each other. In their last game, in December of 2021, the total was set at 237.5.

By the end of the game, the total went well under the spread when the game finished, 112-102. It would seem that these two offenses often cancel each other out, so we’ll take the under in this one. 

Win Margin: Charlotte Hornets 1-10 (+230)

This is a great pick to add because it will increase your winnings for the night. Charlotte is a great team and has taken down teams like the Cavaliers and Mavericks.

Both of those teams have strong defenses, and the Hornets were able to overcome them. Look for Charlotte to win this game, with the winning margin staying between 1-10. 

To Score 15+ Points: LaMelo Ball (-500)

LaMelo Ball plays some of his best basketball against the Utah Jazz. On average, Ball scores 19.8 points per game; however, when facing the Jazz, it goes up to 21 points. We wish there was a wager on how many assists he’ll have since he averages 11 per game against Utah.

The Golden State Warriors are struggling without Stephen Curry in the lineup. They’ve lost the last three games of the season, one of which was to the Orlando Magic.

They haven’t lost their third-place spot in the Western Conference yet, but they’re close. The Warriors need a win to get their season back on track. Unfortunately, they face off against the Miami Heat tonight.

The Miami Heat are leading the Eastern Conference, led by Jimmy Butler. Similar to the Warriors, the Miami Heat are coming off of a loss as well.

However, the caliber of the team that beat the Heat is much higher than the Orlando Magic. Miami was recently defeated by the 76ers, one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Today, they’ll get a chance to rebound, in our Single Game Parlay, and NBA computer picks.

Game Preview: Golden State Warriors at Miami Heat

The Warriors aren’t missing nearly as many people as the Miami Heat are. However, what they are missing is one vital piece of their offense, Stephen Curry. With Curry out, their offense has suffered drastically, only scoring 90 points against the Magic.

Now, they face one of the best defenses in the NBA. On average, the Miami Heat allows just 104.90 points per game. 

The Miami Heat might not have a great offense, but they make up for it with their fourth-ranked defense. This team has a two-game hold on the Eastern Conference, and they aren’t looking to surrender that.

However, a few players are questionable for the game tonight. Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Victor Oladipo, and more still remain listed as questionable for tonight’s game.

Against the Spread: Miami Heat -6.5

We’ll begin our picks with the who to take against the spread, which is a tough one. We’re going to go with the Miami Heat, based on the Warriors’ performance against the Orlando Magic.

The Magic is one of the worst teams in the NBA and has one of the league’s worst defenses. The Warriors only scored 90 points against them; we don’t see them doing better against Miami.  

The Total: UNDER 213.5

This is a very low total, but we believe the game will actually go under in this one. The Miami Heat have one of the best defenses in the NBA, and the Warriors are missing Stephen Curry.

Because of this, we don’t expect the score to be very high in this game. In their last seven games of the season, the Warriors have gone under the total six times.

Win Margin: Miami Heat 1-10 (+165)

This is a great pick to balance out your ticket and earn yourself some extra winnings. We have faith that the Heat can cover the 6.5 points spread.

However, Miami usually plays teams pretty closely, and this game should remain within a ten-point margin. You’ll also have to take into consideration that the Heat could be missing a few players. 

Double Result: Miami Heat / Miami Heat (-145)

Double Result picks are based on the leader at halftime and at the end of the game. From what we’ve seen from the Warriors, we don’t see them leading at many points in this game.

Missing Stephen Curry has dealt a serious blow to their offensive cohesion. This is a good pick to fill your single-game parlay and increase your winnings. 

After taking down the Sacramento Kings with ease, the Boston Celtics set their sights on the Denver Nuggets. This game will be a tough one for the Celtics, and finding a way to stop Nikola Jokic isn’t easy, and that’s exactly what our NBA computer picks are saying.

However, with the way that Jayson Tatum has been playing, the Nuggets have a lot to worry about as well. Can the Boston Celtics take down the Nuggets while in Denver?

The Denver Nuggets come off of a recent loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Nuggets couldn’t find a way to get past the defense of the Cavaliers and found themselves taking another loss.

They face another one of those tough defenses tonight when they play the Celtics. The Nuggets need to avoid taking too many more losses, especially with the playoffs quickly approaching.

Game Preview: Boston Celtics at Denver Nuggets 

Possessing the best defense in points allowed per game definitely will help the Boston Celtics. On average, the Celtics allow just 103.58 points per game, but the interior is what matters most.

Robert Williams III is who will guard Nikola Jokic, and he better be at his best. Jokic isn’t just a great scorer but an incredible distributor as well. The Celtics will need to find a way to stop him.

For the Denver Nuggets, all eyes should be on Jayson Tatum. Tatum scored 32 points against the Kings and has been a consistent scorer lately. If the Nuggets can’t keep him from putting up a lot of points, they’ll lose this game.

However, it’s not just Tatum that the Nuggets have to be concerned about. Jaylen Brown put up 30 points as well in the game against Sacramento.

Against the Spread: Boston Celtics -3

These are great odds to get the Boston Celtics at because they often keep games pretty close. For instance, in their last game against the Nuggets, they won 108-102, failing to cover the 6.5-point spread.

However, coming in as three-point favorites gives you a slightly larger margin of error. They’re 3-0 against the Nuggets in the last three games; they’re 2-1 ATS in those three.

The Total: UNDER 222

Although we’ve seen the offensive prowess of both of these teams, we think the total goes under. The reason for this is primarily the defense of the Boston Celtics.

Allowing 103.58 points per game doesn’t just mean they prevent teams from scoring. It means the Celtics can control the pace. In the last three games against each other, the total’s gone under in all three games.

Player Points: Marcus Smart OVER 13.5 (-108)

We particularly like this bet because Smart is a great shooter from beyond the arc. Currently, he averages 12.2 points each game, but he plays incredibly well against Denver.

In fact, his average points per game against Denver is 22.0, along with seven assists. With Denver focusing their efforts on Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart can shine in this one. 

To score 15+ Points: Marcus Smart (+122)

This pick goes perfectly well with the one we placed above and gives you some extra winnings. Smart is likely to go over 15, especially with what his average normally is against Denver. Look for him to make a big impact in this game and at the sportsbook betting apps. 

In what could be a potential look at the NBA Finals, the Chicago Bulls face the Phoenix Suns. After suffering two straight losses, the Bulls really need to get back on the right track. Being able to claim a win over the Phoenix Suns could be exactly what this team needs right now.

Unfortunately, the Suns have been on a roll lately, winning their last three games with ease.

There’s a reason why the Phoenix Suns are at the top of the NBA with the best record. They play incredible team basketball and will be back at home after spending two games on the road.

They’re coming off a 17-point win over the Houston Rockets, the worst team in the NBA. However, the Suns also claimed wins over the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers. See all our NBA computer predictions here.

Game Preview: Chicago Bulls at Phoenix Suns

The Chicago Bulls have looked like a shell of their former selves in recent weeks. These last two games were losses to the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz. The loss to the Jazz is understandable, but not the loss to the Kings.

Now, they face one of the best offenses in the NBA and will hope their defense holds up. The bad news is their defense is ranked 17th overall.

The Phoenix Suns have the fifth-best offense in the NBA, averaging 114.49 points per game. With an offense this good, they don’t need a strong defense, but they have it.

The Suns’ defense is ranked sixth overall, allowing only 106.27 points per game. As they prepare to host the Bulls, the one player they need to focus on is DeMar DeRozan. They’ll need to stop him.

Against the Spread: Phoenix Suns -6

Although the Chicago Bulls have a strong offense, they’ve been unreliable in recent weeks. Because of this, you shouldn’t trust them to cover the spread at a sportsbook.

The Suns are 29-8 at home, one of the best records in the NBA. When they last played the Bulls, they beat them 127-124. Although they failed to cover the spread, the Suns were also on the road.

The Total: OVER 230

This one is kind of tough because of how good the Phoenix defense is. However, we’d rather take the over here because, in their last three meetings, the total has gone over twice.

Their last meeting, as we mentioned, ended with a score of 127-124, well over the total. With that being said, we think the smarter bet is to take the over, even if it’s rather high. 

Win Margin: Phoenix Suns 1-10 (+170)

This is a great bet to add since these teams usually finish games pretty close. However, it still leaves room for you to cover the six-point spread as well. Phoenix only won by three points in their most recent meeting; it’s likely the margin will stay between 1-10 here. 

Player Points: DeMar DeRozan OVER 27.5

Although the Suns will likely try to find a way to stop DeMar DeRozan, he’ll still put up points.

DeRozan averages 27.9 points per game, slightly over the line here. His points per game against Phoenix, however, is 38.0. DeRozan performs well against Phoenix, and we suspect a big performance tonight. What do you think of our SGP Predictions?

The Philadelphia 76ers head to Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers Wednesday night. Led by James Harden and Joel Embiid, the 76ers will look to overwhelm the Cleveland defense. Below you will find our Same Game Parlay, as well as all our NBA Computer Predictions.

However, they’re coming off a 114-110 loss to the Denver Nuggets, who figured out their offense quickly. Can the 76ers bounce back on Wednesday night? Or will the Cavaliers take them out?

The Cavaliers are known for their strong defense, but unfortunately, that’s all they’re known for. If their offense was just a tad bit better, they’d likely have more wins under their belt.

Tonight, they face one of the best offenses in the NBA and will have to rely on their defense. If their defense fails, the 76ers will deal another blow to the Cavaliers. That being said, who should you take?

Game Preview: Philadelphia 76ers at Cleveland Cavaliers

The 76ers average 108.52 points per game, an increase since they’ve added James Harden to the team. Unfortunately, this hasn’t resulted in immediate wins, and lately, the 76ers have been inconsistent.

We’ve mentioned that they lost to the Denver Nuggets, but they also lost to the Nets and Heat recently. These inconsistencies make it hard to trust them at the sportsbook.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have their own shortcomings as well, mainly on offense. Averaging 106.87 points per game leaves the Cavaliers with the 25th best offense in the NBA.

The good news is their defense can usually make up for these shortcomings. On average, the Cavaliers only allow 103.79 points per game, ranking No.2 in the NBA. So, who’s the best bet in this one?

Against the Spread: Philadelphia 76ers -4

The 76ers only come in as four-point favorites in this game, making them a great pick. The last time they faced the Cavaliers, they won the game 125-119.

They have a better offense than the Cavaliers and are 22-11 on the road this season. Against the spread, the 76ers have a 20-13 record on the road. In their last ten games, the 76ers have won seven against Cleveland.

The Total: OVER 217.5

The spread in this game is low because of the defense of the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, we just pointed out above that their last game ended in a 125-119 score.

The Cavaliers’ defense will have a hard time stopping Embiid, especially with Evan Mobley guarding him. Look for Philadelphia to have a similar showing as their previous game and take the total over 217.5.

Player Points: Joel Embiid OVER 30.5 -112

As we mentioned above, Evan Mobley isn’t a great matchup for Joel Embiid. He’s undersized and a rookie without much NBA experience.

Because of this, Joel Embiid can go into his bag of tricks against Mobley and have a big night. Embiid averages 29.9 points per game already; it isn’t a stretch to say he’ll go over 30.5 tonight. 

Win Margin: Philadelphia 76ers 11+ (+230)

This was a tough one to choose, but we believe is a great one to have on your ticket. The 76ers have an incredible duo, and they’re coming off of a loss. In order to bounce back and build morale, they need a big win.

Sure, the Cavaliers defense is among the best in the NBA, but taking on Harden and Embiid together is tough. This win margin pick will boost your winnings.

The Los Angeles Clippers will need wins in order to retain their position in the Western Conference. As of today, they sit at the No.8 spot, but other teams are quickly approaching.

They could be knocked back to the play-in position if they lose, something no team really wants. However, they’re coming off a big win against the Detroit Pistons, which was a boost to morale.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have fallen to the No.6 spot in the Eastern Conference. They’ve been recently passed up by the Boston Celtics and have lost two games in a row.

As they prepare to host the Clippers, the main focus for the Cavaliers is defense. As always, they’ll lean on their defense to get them a win tonight. The question is, will it be enough for a win over the Clippers? See all our Same Game Parlay Picks and our Parlay predictions.

Game Preview: Los Angeles Clippers at Cleveland Cavaliers

The Clippers are a good basketball team and have stayed competitive regardless of injuries. This is quite shocking, considering they’ve lost Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

Players like Reggie Jackson have taken a larger role in the offense, helping the Clippers win. As a team, the Clippers rank 24th in the NBA in scoring. Unfortunately, they’re facing one of the best defenses.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are the No.2 defense in terms of points allowed per game. Most of their wins are based on playing strong defense instead of a great offense.

Still, they have a few players that shine on offense, one of them being Darius Garland. If they can get Garland good scoring opportunities, they can win this game. Whether they’ll win by six points is the key.

Against the Spread: Los Angeles Clippers +6

We know that the Cavaliers have an incredible defense, but the Clippers aren’t awful either. It’s also important to note how close the Cavaliers games usually are. They focus on playing defensive games, not running up the score.

Because of this, we think the six points they’ll need to cover is slightly too large. We’ll take the Los Angeles Clippers +6 on the road over Cleveland.

The Total: UNDER 211

The total for this game is already set pretty low, but we think it’ll still go under. The Clippers offense has struggled against teams like Detroit, only putting up 106 points.

Against a defense like the Cavaliers will prove even more troublesome. Even the Cavaliers have a below-par offense in terms of scoring. It’s a much smarter move to take the under in this game.

Win Margin: Cleveland Cavaliers (1-10) +170

We think that this is the perfect pick to pair with the ones above. We’ve already mentioned that the Cavaliers like to keep their games close.

Considering we also think the total will go under, it would make sense that they won’t win by much. Taking this 1-10 win margin pick will also boost your odds at +170, giving you more winnings. 

Double Result: Cleveland Cavaliers/Cleveland Cavaliers (-135)

This pick just means the Cavaliers will lead at the half and the end of the game. We’ve already mentioned that we believe the Cavaliers will win this game, albeit not by much. They’ll likely go into halftime leading as well.

This matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics is sure to be entertaining. The Mavericks, led by Luka Doncic, will head out to Boston to face Jayson Tatum and the Celtics.

Each of these teams is coming off a win, but the Mavericks will look to stop the Celtics’ hot streak. Whether they’ll be able to pull it off is a different story, especially with Tatum in Boston.

The Boston Celtics have won five games in a row, a few of which were over great teams. As they prepare to face the Mavericks, they’ve moved up to fifth in the Eastern Conference.

The Celtics don’t want to lose that spot and, in fact, want to keep moving up. They’ve beaten some of the best teams in the Western Conference recently and will hope to do so again on Sunday. See all NBA Same Game Parlays, or all our NBA computer predictions.

Game Preview: Dallas Mavericks at Boston Celtics

Both of these teams are at the No.5 spot in their respective conferences. The Mavericks, fresh off a win over the Rockets, have the second-best defense in the NBA.

On average, they only allow opponents to score 103.72 points per game. This is going to be a vital point in their game against the Celtics. Boston has been an offensive powerhouse lately; shutting them down is key.

In their last four games, the Celtics have scored 114 points or more in each of them. When they faced the Memphis Grizzlies, one of the league’s best offenses, they scored 120 points. They also faced the Brooklyn Nets recently and won the game 127-120.

The Celtics know how to put up points, but their defense is concerning. However, they come in as the favorites in this one.

Against the Spread: Boston Celtics -6

Now, personally, we wish the spread was slightly smaller, but the Celtics should be able to cover here. As much as we like Dallas’ defense, their scoring can’t match up with the Celtics.

The thing about Boston is they have multiple players that can put up points. This way, if Tatum is stopped, they can rely on the others to pick up the slack. Not to mention, they’re 24-11 at home.

The Total: Over 213

This one is tricky because of how good the Mavericks’ defense is, but we’ll take the over. The total is set rather low in this game, and the Celtics offense is on fire.

We expect that the Celtics will do most of the scoring in this one, but the total will still go over. In three of the Celtics’ last four games, the total has gone over. 

Player Points: Jayson Tatum UNDER 28.5

Normally, we’d say take the over when it comes to Tatum’s player points. However, this time, he’ll have a big target on his back in this game.

Tatum will likely hit his average of 26.8, falling just short of the 28.5 line. However, there is one player we’d be sure to add onto our ticket in terms of player points. 

To score 15+ Points: Marcus Smart +134

Since the Celtics are favorites in most of these categories, this pick will boost your winnings. With the Mavericks targeting Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart will have a chance to shine.

Currently, he averages 12.1 points per game, which isn’t far off. He’s a great shooter from beyond the arc as well, which could make up for the missing points.

The Charlotte Hornets have lost two straight games heading into this Friday night matchup. As they continue to slide down the Eastern Conference standings, this is a crucial game. Injuries have been somewhat of an issue for them, but there’s some good news in that regard. The team they’re facing, the New Orleans Pelicans, is dealing with a few injuries of their own. 

The New Orleans Pelicans look to be without their two best players on Friday night. Both C.J. McCollum and Brandon Ingram are currently listed as “out.” After picking up quite a bit of momentum, the Pelicans are on a three-game losing skid. Now, they’ve come to a complete stop. Without Brandon Ingram and C.J. McCollum, can the Pelicans come away with a win tonight, take a look at our SGP picks and see.

Game Preview: Charlotte Hornets at New Orleans Pelicans

The Hornets have one of the best offenses in the entire NBA. On average, they put up 114.18 points per game; however, this offense hasn’t saved them lately. The problem isn’t with the offense; it’s with the defense that has allowed 114.85 points per game this season. It won’t matter how many points the Hornets put up if their defense just allows their opponent to score.

The New Orleans Pelicans were doing very well for a significant stretch of games. They won four in a row but have now lost three straight. Considering that they’re missing their two best players, the Pelicans are at a disadvantage. However, they aren’t significant underdogs in this game. Today, they come in as only 1.5-point underdogs in the game against Charlotte.

Against the Spread: Charlotte Hornets -1.5

This is the perfect game for Charlotte to bounce back with. They’ve got a great offense, and New Orleans is missing key pieces. If they want to stop the losing skid, they need to win this game. The injuries sustained to the Pelicans are far worse than their own. The Hornets have also been pretty great against the spread this year. On the road, the Hornets have an 18-15-1 ATS record.

The Total: Over 228.5

When betting the over, you have to take into consideration the Hornets’ defense. This season, they’ve allowed their opponent to score over 114 points per game. Even if the Pelicans are missing a few players, they’ll be able to put up a significant amount of points. Although these two have gone under the total more often in the past, these defenses are much different now.

Win Margin: Charlotte Hornets 1-10 (+190)

We really like this win margin pick because the game is likely to remain close. Each time these two have played each other, the margin of victory isn’t very large. It’s also beneficial to add to your ticket since the odds are at +190. This gives you the chance to capitalize on your winnings along with selecting the spread and total. 

To Score 15+ Points: LaMelo Ball

This is a good pick to add because it’s essentially a sure thing. LaMelo Ball is the catalyst for the Hornets’ offense. He’s usually the player doing the most distribution but can put up a lot of points as well. 

A very favorable matchup is slated for the Los Angeles Lakers today. After suffering a loss to the San Antonio Spurs, they’ll head out to Houston to face the Rockets.

Considering that each game from now on is vital to their placement, they need to get a win here. A few players are still on the “day-to-day” list, but LeBron James should be good to go. Can they get a road win here?

The Houston Rockets are at the bottom of the Western Conference and coming off a big loss. They recently faced the Miami Heat, the best team in the Eastern Conference, and lost 123-106.

Playoff hopes are all but gone; however, the Rockets can spoil it for other teams. Beating the Lakers would deal a blow to their playoff hopes. So, could we see an upset in tonight’s game? See below our single-game parlay as well as all our NBA computer picks and predictions.

Game Preview: Los Angeles Lakers at Houston Rockets

The Los Angeles Lakers struggled to slow down the offense of the San Antonio Spurs a few days ago. This has been a problem for them in the past and could be against the Rockets as well.

Houston might not have very many wins, but it isn’t because of their offense. The Rockets’ offense ranks 18th in the NBA, averaging 108.58 points per game; their defense is the problem.

On average, Houston is allowing its opponents to score 117.94 points per game. This is the worst defense in points allowed in the entire NBA.

This is one of the main reasons why they’ve also had trouble covering the spread at the sportsbook. In their most recent game against Miami, they were 16.5-point underdogs. Because of their defense, they failed to cover the 16.5.

Against the Spread: Los Angeles Lakers -4

We know that the Lakers had trouble against the Spurs, but we think they’ll get back on track here. The Lakers are actually better at covering the spread when they’re traveling instead of playing at home.

Out of the games on Wednesday, this one seems like the best bet because the Lakers are only -4. In their last ten games against the Rockets, they’re 7-3 against the spread.

The Total: Over 233.5

Betting the total in this game is a little more tricky, but the Rockets’ defense is the key. In their last three games against Los Angeles, the total has gone over twice.

The last time they met was in late December of 2021, and the total was set at 227. The Lakers came into the game as six-point favorites and won the game 132-123. The smart move here is taking the over. 

Win Margin: Los Angeles Lakers 1-10 (+175)

We especially like this addition to your single-game parlay because the Lakers likely won’t blow them out. The games between them and the Rockets have always been pretty close.

The largest margin the Lakers have won by in the last three is ten points. It also balances out your ticket, giving you good odds against the other picks.