NBA betting tips: Underdogs on top as Cavaliers meet Celtics and Timberwolves face Jazz
It is set to be another exciting weekend in the NBA, with there a number of high-profile showdowns to look forward to.
First up on Friday, there is a marquee clash at TD Garden as the second-placed Boston Celtics face league leaders the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The stars will then be out in tinseltown as the Los Angeles Lakers meet the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena to round off the evening.
Sports News Blitz tipster George Dempsey offers his best betting tips ahead of the action.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Utah Jazz
We are kicking off today’s NBA tips with a trip to downtown Salt Lake City, where the Utah Jazz play host to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Will Hardy’s side are looking to bounce back from a 118-101 defeat to the Sacramento Kings last time out.
Before that, the youngest team in the league was finding a nice rhythm on home court – knocking over the Warriors, Lakers, and Rockets while taking the Clippers to overtime and running the Trail Blazers close.
Tonight, they’ll go up against a Timberwolves side playing in a tricky back-to-back spot.
The Wolves went down 111-102 at the hands of the Lakers last night as Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert watched on from the sidelines. To make matters worse, Anthony Edwards may now sit out the second of this back-to-back.
Utah are dealing with injury problems too, but it is hoped that a day of rest will allow Jordan Clarkson, John Collins, and Lauri Markkanen to suit up this evening.
Travelling overnight to play consecutive games with a battered and bruised squad is tough enough, but doing so in Utah complicates things further.
There’s no doubt Minnesota are a much better side than the 14-44 Jazz, yet better sides have already fallen in the harsh altitude of Salt Lake City.
It’s also worth remembering that, despite their current record, the Jazz produced a winning home record last season, finishing 21-20.
Not only are Minnesota 26-33-1ATS on the season, they find ways to shoot themselves in the foot as a favourite, going 16-27ATS in that respect.
Suggested bet: Utah Jazz +3
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Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics
Despite boasting a 42-17 record this season, the Celtics are an iffy 11-17ATS as a home favourite. They’ve been overvalued on many occasions this season and this feels like the latest example.
The Cavs have won eight games on the spin since losing 112-105 to the Celtics in the reverse fixture, so you know they’ve had this game circled on the calendar for a while.
As well as playing with revenge in mind, the Cavs are fully healthy as they prepare to face a Boston side that could be without the services of Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday.
There is a chance Darius Garland could sit out for the visitors, but he’ll do everything he can to play this one and sit out the next game rather.
Should he be unavailable, though, Isaac Okoro will suit up in his place. It’s fair to say that Okoro is a significant downgrade, but Donovan Mitchell’s usual performance against the Celtics might bridge the gap.
The Cavs main man has averaged 35 points, eight rebounds, and five assists through seven meetings, a statline far better than his season average of 24, 4.3, and 4.8.
In the end, this is largely a situational play with the Cavs enjoying their second-best run of the season and targeting revenge.
Suggested bet: Cleveland Cavaliers +3
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