NBA Basketball Betting: Weekend Matchups Previews Celtics vs Heat
Friday, April 08, 2011
by BetUS.com
There are some notable NBA betting matchups involving playoff-bound teams in both conferences this weekend. Here’s a look at the action from the pro hardwood:
- Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder
As of this week’s Western Conference standings, the Nuggets and Thunder could get to know each other very well in the coming weeks. The teams sit No. 4 and No. 5 in the West, setting up a first-round meeting, making Friday’s game a “coming attractions” preview for the NBA playoffs.
Denver has won seven of its last eight games, including a 104-96 win over the Dallas Mavericks as 4-point road underdogs on Wednesday night. The Nuggets continue to improve since trading away star small forward Carmelo Anthony. The new-look Nuggets, including former Knicks Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, and Wilson Chandler, are 16-5 SU and 17-3-1 against the NBA pointspreads since the deal. Those three players combined for 35 points in the win over Dallas.
Denver’s lone loss in the past eight games came at the hands of Oklahoma City, which is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 contests between these clubs. The Thunder have been just as hot, going 7-2 SU in their last nine games, but falling short when it comes to covering the spread; Oklahoma City was a mere 3-5-1 ATS in that span. Oklahoma City has already clinched the Northwest Division title and sits just one game back of the Mavericks for the third spot in the West, so there is still plenty of motivation for the young Thunder.
- Chicago Bulls at Orlando Magic
Two of the top teams in the East collide on the final Sunday of the NBA season. The Bulls, who played the Boston Celtics on Thursday night and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, are on top of the East fighting off Boston and the Miami Heat. Orlando, which has three full days to prepare for Chicago, will remain in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings and may rest players down the stretch.
The Magic will be without star center Dwight Howard on Sunday, as he was served his 18th technical foul of the season in Orlando’s win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday. That leaves the Magic without their dominant inside force against a very talented Bulls frontcourt. The Magic head into Sunday’s contest having won three of their last four games, but they managed to cover the spread only once in that span.
Chicago has also stumbled against the spread in recent games. As of Thursday the Bulls were 0-3 ATS in their last three games and just 2-5 against the spread in their last seven outings despite going 6-1 SU. They are 2-1 SU and ATS against Orlando this season, winning the past two meetings between these teams. Sunday’s game will be Chicago’s third outing in four days.
- Boston Celtics at Miami Heat
So much for a lazy Sunday in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics and Heat will be battling for the No. 2 spot in the conference, and perhaps a shot at the No. 1 seed, when they collide in South Beach this weekend. As of Thursday, Boston was three games back of the Bulls and Miami was 3.5 games out of the top spot in the East.
The Celtics faced Chicago on Thursday night and take on the Washington Wizards on Friday before heading to Miami. Boston, which has been plagued with injuries to its frontcourt all season, is getting solid production from veteran center Jermaine O’Neal since his return. He’s averaging just five points in his four games since coming back from a knee injury last week, but he chipped in with nine points in just over 12 minutes in the Celtics’ win over Philadelphia on Tuesday.
The Heat are dealing with a slew of issues heading into the postseason. Star guard Dwyane Wade is nursing a bruised thigh and sat out Wednesday’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, which was just the second time Miami has lost in the past 10 games. Also providing distraction for the Heat is the recent arrest of LeBron James’ mother, who allegedly assaulted a hotel worker. The Heat haven’t played well versus Boston, going 0-3 SU and ATS this season.
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boston celtics - carmelo anthony - chicago bulls - danilo gallinari - denver nuggets - dwight howard - dwyane wade - jermaine o’neal - lebron james - miami heat
