NBA Betting Online – A Look At The Week’s Trends
Sports betting players have a big week ahead in the world of the NBA, where the two-time defending champions will be in action twice, along with a number of teams looking to challenge the champs in the playoffs. The stretch run is on the horizon, so each game is increasing in importance.
(Numbers as of Monday, March 7th)
Lakers Hawks Betting – Tuesday, 7:30 PM ET
The Lakers could be the road favorites in Atlanta for this contest, as they’re 2-3 SU and ATS in their last five games at Philips Arena against the Hawks, who are 10-19 ATS at home. The Lakers are 19-15 ATS away from the Staples Center, and they began their four-game road trip on Sunday with a 99-83 thrashing of San Antonio, flexing their muscles (figuratively and literally, as Ron Artest proved) and showing that the road in the West still goes through Los Angeles. This will be the final of a four-game homestand for the Hawks, who have dropped two in a row after a 92-79 loss to New York. The Lakers will want to put on a better show after losing by 17 in Atlanta last March, and they can see the finish line on the horizon.
Betting Edge: Los Angeles Lakers
Mavericks Hornets Betting – Wednesday, 8:00 PM ET
We think the Mavericks will be the NBA betting favorites on the road in this Western tilt, and we also think the Hornets will be without guard Chris Paul, who suffered a concussion and had to be stretchered off in a win over Cleveland on Sunday. However, you never know, given the Mavericks’ record in New Orleans: Dallas is 0-10 SU and 2-8 ATS in their last 10 trips to the “Big Easy”, including a two-point loss back in November. The Mavericks had a nine-game winning streak snapped on Sunday with a home loss against Memphis, so you know they’ll be eager to get back to winning in Monday’s trip to Minnesota, which precedes their game against the Hornets. Jarrett Jack will step into the starter’s role for Paul, but the Hornets aren’t the same without CP3 running the show.
Betting Edge: Dallas Mavericks
Lakers Heat Betting – Thursday, 7:00 PM ET
In the marquee NBA betting matchup of the week, the Heat should be slight favorites at home, but we wouldn’t be surprised at all if the Lakers were favored in South Beach, given Miami’s struggles. Like the Lakers, the Heat will play on Tuesday at home against Portland, and they will be aiming to snap a three-game skid at home after another heartbreaking loss against Chicago. The Lakers are 1-4 SU and 2-3 ATS in their last five trips to Miami, but the Heat are having problems in close games against good teams. It seems like the Heat doesn’t know who is going to make the plays down the stretch, while the Lakers know that Kobe Bryant is going to step up in those situations. Until the Heat can prove they can win in those sort of games, we have to go with the Lakers, who will surely want to avenge a 16-point beating they took at home against the Heat on Christmas Day.
Betting Edge: Los Angeles Lakers
Knicks Mavericks Betting – Thursday, 9:30 PM ET
The Mavericks should be the home favorites in the TNT nightcap, and they’re 4-1 SU and 2-3 ATS in their last five at home against the Knicks. Both teams will be in action on Wednesday night, as the Mavericks will be in New Orleans, while the Knicks will be in Memphis. The Knicks are 8-5 SU in the second half of back-to-back, while the Mavericks are 9-4 SU in the same situation, so throw in the added motivation of a nationally televised game and you should get a good one at American Airlines Center. This will be the Mavericks’ first meeting against a New York squad that has both Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire, so you may expect a lot of offense in this game. But strangely, the Knicks’ best performances have come when they play well defense, which they have in wins over Miami, New Orleans and Atlanta. It may not matter, because the Mavericks won’t want to lose two in a row at home after falling to Memphis on Sunday, which is why Dallas should be your online betting pick.
Betting Edge: Dallas Mavericks
