NBA West Betting – Checking Out The Best Games In The West This Week
Sports betting players are gearing up for the postseason in the NBA as the regular season is almost completed, and there are a trio of matchups to check out in the Western Conference, including a playoff preview, one team making a final push for a spot, and another who is out to keep their momentum going.
(All numbers as of Monday, April 4th)
Thunder Nuggets Betting – Tuesday, 9:00 PM ET
The Nuggets should be slight NBA betting favorites at home in this probable first-round round preview, as the Thunder sit three games ahead of Denver in fourth place in the West. Denver is the hottest team in the conference with six straight wins, including a victory over the Lakers in Los Angeles on Sunday, while the Thunder have dropped two in a row on the road at Portland and the Clippers. The Nuggets are 15-4 SU and 16-2-1 ATS since the Carmelo Anthony trade, and they’re a completely different team, passing the ball around and most importantly, they’re playing defense. During this six-game streak, Denver has allowed 94.3 points, which is a definite improvement from their season average of 102.6 points, which is the highest of any playoff team in the West. The Thunder have lost five in a row SU in Denver since moving to Oklahoma City, but they’ve pulled out a 3-2 ATS This is also the first game of two this week for these West teams as the Thunder host the Nuggets on Friday night. We’re sticking with the home team in both contests, which is why home court will be so crucial in the playoffs.
Betting Edge: Denver Nuggets
Rockets Hornets Betting – Wednesday, 8:00 PM ET
The Hornets should be the NBA betting favorites at home as the Rockets look to chase them down to get into the playoffs, although it may be too little, too late. Houston was three games behind seventh-place New Orleans and eighth-place Memphis for the last playoff spot in the West ahead of their visit from Sacramento on Tuesday, and they’ve won eight of their last 10 SU, going 6-4 ATS. The game against Sacramento could affect them on Wednesday night as they’re 7-13 SU in the second half of back-to-back games this season, while the Hornets will be rested, having been off since a win over Indiana on Sunday night. The Hornets are 3-2 SU and ATS in their last five games against the Rockets at home, and all five of those games went under the posted total with a team scoring 100 points or more in one game. The Hornets have gotten a huge contribution from Carl Landry, who spent the first three seasons of his career in Houston, after David West went down with a knee injury. Landry has averaged 20.2 points and 6.4 rebounds in his last five games, and we think he’ll be motivated to play against the team that traded him to Sacramento last year.
Betting Edge: New Orleans Hornets
Trail Blazers Jazz Betting – Thursday, 10:30 PM ET
In the TNT nightcap on Thursday night, the Trail Blazers should be favored on the road against the Jazz, who should be deflated as they’re missing the postseason for the first time since 2006. Utah has lost eight consecutive games ahead of a trip to Los Angeles to face the Lakers on Tuesday, while the sixth-place Trail Blazers are aiming to keep their momentum ahead of the playoffs. Portland is 1-4 SU and ATS in their last five trips to Utah, although they did win 96-91 back in December, and this is a different team than the one that suited up for the Jazz back then. There is no Deron Williams in town, and along with the Jerry Sloan situation, it has been a wild year in Utah for the Jazz, who are just looking for the season to end. Coach Tyrone Corbin will be a busy man implementing his system in the offseason, but that won’t help on Thursday night. Take the Trail Blazers in your online betting picks.
Betting Edge: Portland Trail Blazers
