There have been some spectacular match-ups in the NBA over recent days, and the red hot action is set to continue tonight with more big-name clashes in both the Western and Eastern Conferences.
For tonight’s action, we’re looking at the Wizards clash with the Hornets, the Lakers’ trip to Milwaukee, and finally, the Chicago Bulls’ attempts to win three matches in succession on the road.
Starting in North Carolina, let’s take a look at the Hornets against the Wizards.
The Charlotte Hornets host Washington Wizards tonight with the Hornets on a three-match winning streak.
The Wizards are in even better form, having won their last five. A run that has taken them to the top of the Eastern Conference.
Charlotte is averaging 113.3 points per match, with Washington at 108.4.
In their last match, the Hornets claimed the scalp of the Golden State Warriors, who they beat 106 to 102 at Spectrum Center on Sunday.
At home, the Hornets have won four and lost two. And in their last 10 matches, they have a 4-6 record.
As for the Washington Wizards, they have an away record of four wins and two defeats, and in their last 10, they are 8-2.
Despite being at the top end of the conference table, the Wizards aren’t expected to be serious contenders come the end of this season.
| Odds To Win The Eastern Conference |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn Nets | +145 | +130 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +450 | +475 |
| Miami Heat | +500 | +550 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +1200 | +1100 |
| Atlanta Hawks | +1600 | +1200 |
| Chicago Bulls | +1600 | +1100 |
| Boston Celtics | +2500 | +2100 |
| New York Knicks | +2500 | +2500 |
With the best NBA betting sites, both these teams are long shots to win the Eastern Conference, and are both outsiders to win the NBA Championship.
I’m going with over the home side to win this match and I’m backing the Hornets to win at -2.5 on the Handicap.
Next up is the struggling Milwaukee Bucks who hosts the LA Lakers – another team not exactly firing on all cylinders.
The Bucks have still to really get going this season and sit mid-table in the Eastern Conference.
Their overall record reads 6-8, and in their last 10 matches, they are 3-7. The home form seems to be their biggest problem though. Their record is just 1-4 at the Fiserv Forum.
On top of all of that, they’ve just lost their last two matches – both on the road.
Last weekend the Bucks were crushed by 120 points to 100 by the Atlanta Hawks, a team with a 5-9 record this season. Prior to that defeat, they lost 122-113 to the Boston Celtics (OT was required).
The Bucks now have a run of five home matches to come and will be looking to address their Wisconsin form, starting with the Lakers tonight!
And what of the Lakers form? Well, they have an 8-7 win-loss record this season.
In their last 10 matches, they are 6-4, and they are on a losing streak of one.
That defeat came at the hands of the Chicago Bulls on Monday. The Bulls were convincing 121-103 winners at the Staples Center.
The Lakers had no LeBron James for that defeat, and there is no word whether he will be available for this match either.
Frank Vogel’s team has been very inconsistent this season. They did manage to string together a run of three wins at the end of October/start of November. But in general, it’s a case of win one, lose one.
It’s hard to pick a winner in this one, so I’m taking overs at -110.
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The final match I’m looking at today sees the Trail Blazers host the Bulls in Oregon.
A bit like the Bucks/Lakers match-up, these two sides are a bit hot and cold.
The Trail Blazers are on a winning streak of one, assuming you can call that a winning streak.
In their last match-up, they beat the Toronto Raptors 118-113.
The match was all-square going into the final quarter, which the Trail Blazers won by 33 points to 28 to complete the victory.
The win ended a sequence of four defeats for Portland, a run that included a 124-95 mauling at the hands of the Denver Nuggets.
Overall the Trail Blazers have a 7-8 win-loss record and sit 9th in the Western Conference. Crucially, they have a 6-1 home record this season though!
As for the Chicago Bulls, they come off the back of a demolition job they carried of the LA Lakers.
The 121-103 win over the Lakers came hot on the heels of a 100-90 win over the LA Clippers the previous night. The Bulls clearly enjoyed their trip to Los Angeles.
Prior to those back-to-back wins though, the Bulls were well beaten by the Golden State Warriors (they lost 119-93) on Friday night. Showing just how inconsistent they have been.
The back-to-back wins in LA leave the Bulls with an overall record of 10-4, and away from home, they are 5-2.
I can see the Bulls making it three wins in a row on the road. They have a +2.5 start on the Handicap, but I’m happy to go with the +100 available on the Moneyline with BetOnline.
Make sure you check out our BetOnline Sportsbook Review for even more betting offers on the NBA.
About the Author
Dean is primarily a fan of English football who regularly attends games, and combining his hobby with his job, he is now a full-time sports betting writer. Rather than going down the educational route into sports journalism, Dean learned his trade by writing for his English football betting website since 2009, where he now boasts nearly 15 years of experience. After writing about football daily for years, Dean has taken the skills he learned and now uses them to great effect writing for numerous affiliate sites across the internet. A general all-around sports enthusiast with a passion for English football and cricket, Dean is also well able to turn his hand to writing about golf, tennis, F1, boxing, snooker, darts, and North American sports. Combining his extensive knowledge and experience with British humor and wit, Dean has developed into a trusted voice within the sports betting industry.
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