The rising Los Angeles Lakers visit the slumping Houston Rockets in a high-profile NBA match that could well be a defining moment for both teams.
Los Angeles are on a roll and are positioning themselves as legitimate contenders with LeBron James at the helm. They are currently fourth in the highly competitive Western Conference, and a win over the Rockets—last year’s beaten West finalists—should solidify their status as real threats to the Golden State Warriors.
Meanwhile, Houston could really use a win right now as they try to get back on track. They have been up and down this season (mostly down), and they need to rack up Ws as soon as possible if they want any hope of making it to the postseason.
On the other Friday games, LA’s other team, the Clippers, also have a trip to Texas to take on the San Antonio Spurs. Dallas Mavericks have a scheduled fight with the Phoenix Suns in Arizona.
There’s also the chaotic Chicago Bulls who will look to move on from their recent issues when they play the Orlando Magic at Mexico.
Los Angeles Lakers @ Houston Rockets (December 14, 09:00 GMT+8)
LeBron and Co. have won six of their last seven matches, and hopes are high that they can maintain their winning ways when they play the Rockets.
Brandon Ingram has been out due to an ankle injury, but the Lakers continue to thrive without him. In the past three games without Ingram, Josh Hart served as a starter and averaged 10.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 1.0 block per game.
LeBron James continues to anchor the team, while Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball and JaVale McGee have all been impressive as well.
Houston will hope to build from their recent win over the Portland Trail Blazers—a game which saw them deploy a three-guard lineup featuring Chris Paul, James Harden and Eric Gordon.
Harden is the Rockets’ best weapon, and the fact that he is on pace to become only the sixth guard in NBA history to average at least 30 points in consecutive seasons speaks volume about how lethal a weapon he can be.
It’s also worth noting that Chris Paul is fresh from his first triple-double of the season.
Houston also won their previous match-up with the Lakers, a 124-115 victory at Staples Center.
Betting Tip: I think this will be a close encounter, so a bet on the Lakers +5.00 @ 1.95 seems to be the best choice.
LA Clippers @ San Antonio Spurs (December 14, 09:30 GMT+8)
The Spurs are streaking, and that could be the spark they need to be relevant in the Western Conference again.
Gregg Popovich’s men have won three straight, including a 133-120 victory over the Lakers which seemed to have returned their confidence after a rocky start to the 2018-19 campaign.
LaMarcus Aldridge, DeMar DeRozan and Rudy Gay have been sharing the scoring duties for the team, and it has worked wonders for them. Now, they are at .500 again and just one-and-a-half game behind the eighth-placed Sacramento Kings.
Sure enough, the Clippers pose a huge challenge. After all, it hasn’t been long since Doc Rivers and his crew found themselves atop the summit. They lack a true star unlike in previous years, but they make it up with an all-around team effort—they have five players averaging double-digit marks.
The Spurs are always tough to beat at home, though, so the Clips can’t be overconfident when they head to AT&T Center.
Betting Tip: The NBA 2018 odds at SBOBET favour the Spurs, and it’s hard to argue considering the winning streak and the home-court advantage. Go for San Antonio -3.00 @ 2.05.
Chicago Bulls @ Orlando Magic (December 14, 10:30 GMT+8)
The Bulls have been on the headlines of NBA 2018 news, and NOT for a good reason.
Following their franchise-worst 56-point loss to the Boston Celtics, more chaos descended on the once iconic franchise. The players attempted a mutiny on new coach Jim Boylen—no thanks to his allegedly excessive practices—and there were even speculations of veteran Bulls players threatening teammates if they show up on practice.
Disaster has been avoided … for now. However, problems like that aren’t fixed overnight. There is bound to be more issues, particularly when it comes to communication.
Those issues should work in favour of Orlando. The Magic have lost three straight games, but they have shown flashes of brilliance from time to time. There
Betting Tip: This game is Orlando’s to lose, so they should be a solid choice on Asian Handicap -5.50 @ 2.08.
Dallas Mavericks @ Phoenix Suns (December 14, 11:30 GMT+8)
Winners of 11 consecutive home games, the Mavs now go on the road to play the lottery-bound Suns.
Devin Booker is still out for the league’s worst team, and there’s little hope for the Suns who have lost 10 straight matches—currently the longest losing skid in the NBA.
Luka Doncic struggled in the Mavs’ opener against the Suns, but he has adjusted well to the NBA and is the frontrunner to win the Rookie of the Year. As additional good news, Dirk Nowitzki reportedly could make his much-awaited debut!
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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