Basketball Betting – Wednesday/Thursday NBA picks
NBA odds are turning on their head faster than we can say “Rashard Lewis for three.” Rapidly, the dream Lakers/Cavaliers final is becoming a mirage. Can the big guns fight back tonight and tomorrow night in basketball betting?
Lakers vs Nuggets odds: Game 5 tonight at 9:05 p.m. ET
NBA odds: Lakers -5 ½
Is it time for the Lakers to panic? Sure, they weren’t going to win Game 4 in Denver, where the Nuggets hadn’t lost consecutive games all season. But Carmelo Anthony was not himself, as a stomach illness had him wobbly in the legs and he rolled his ankle, contributing to his 3-of-16, 15-point performance. That left the door wide open for the Lakers to steal a second game in Denver, but they failed miserably. The Nuggets rallied around Melo and exploded; J.R. Smith had 24 points off the bench while Nene, Chris Andersen and Kenyon Martin amazingly all had 13 or more boards.
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Given how badly the supporting cast whooped L.A., is it time to worry? I say no. The sports wagering odds of Denver repeating that performance on the road are slim, and Anthony still probably won’t be 100 per cent. Even though Kobe had 34 points in Game 4, he was actually “cold,” going just 10 for 26 from the floor and hitting two of 10 three-point attempts. How many points will he score tonight if he gets “hot”? Phil Jackson should light a fire under the Lakers and make them work harder on the boards tonight. They’ll take it.
Online sports book pick: Lakers -5 ½
Cavaliers vs Magic odds: Game 5 Thursday, May 28 at 8:30 p.m. ET
NBA odds: Cavaliers -7.5
OK, Cavaliers odds. Time to show us we can still count on you. For whatever reason, the Magic have had Cleveland’s number this year; they’ve won 10 of the last 14 meetings between the two teams. It’s not that they’re containing LeBron – he went off for 44 points in Game 4 – but he needs more help. Mo Williams and Delonte West are getting their points but need to step it up with some elite performances; this ain’t the first round anymore and night after night of 33 per cent shooting won’t cut it for Mo. Plenty of Magic players are helping Dwight Howard, especially Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis, who keeps nailing clutch shots. Even Rafer Alston lit the diminutive Cavs guards up for six three-pointers in Game 4.
It’s put up or shut up time for the Cavs, and they should at least be good to extend the series one more game at home. If the basketball betting season ends Thursday, though, you can be the Cavs will spend the offseason looking to get LeBron more help.
Online sports book pick: Cavaliers -7.5
