The Scout: Thursday NBA Best Bets
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers
The Washington Wizards (7-3) take on the Cleveland Cavaliers (7-4) in a matchup between two Eastern Conference teams that have already surpassed expectations.
For Cleveland it has been their two big men getting it done with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley using their size to destroy teams. The pair pose a big threat to traditionally smaller lineups as they are powerful forces in the paint and are dominating opponents on the glass.
The Wizards are playing great with their new look roster but a potential weakness for them would be their lack of strength and good rebounding bigs. Kyle Kuzma is playing the power forward role and although he is a great scorer he will get targeted by Mobley and Allen and simply will not be able to defend them.
The Cavaliers are rolling and have won four straight matches with veteran point guard Ricky Rubio is stepping up in the absence of Colin Sexton and coming off a career-high 37 points against the Knicks. The combination of Rubio and Cleveland’s size will be too much for the Wizards as they get out rebounded and outscored.
Suggested Bet: Cleveland Win @ $2.20*
Dallas Mavericks @ Chicago Bulls
The Mavericks (7-3) are looking for a fourth win in a row as they take on the Bulls (7-3) who are looking to get back on a winning streak after destroying the Brooklyn Nets last match.
Chicago made significant changes in the offseason, but many were unsure how their new roster would gel. Any doubts have surely been put to rest as the Chicago Bulls are playing fantastic basketball. DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine have fit extremely well together and are carrying the scoring load for Chicago with the pair averaging 26 points per game.
It has not just been the offense that has impressed, the Bulls defensive efforts have been extremely effective. Lonzo Ball sets the tone for the defensive intensity as he hounds the opposition ball handler, often picking them up full court. Combine Ball’s ferocity with Alex Caruso who is top three in the league for steals per game and you have an elite defensive unit.
Luka Doncic is the lifeblood of the Mavericks and if he is on the court his team is always a threat however the defensive matchups the Bulls can put on him look promising. If Doncic is neutralised the Mavericks simply cannot keep up with the Bulls scoring and I expect this to be the story of this match.
Suggested Bet: Bulls -3.5 @ $1.91
Miami Heat @ Los Angeles Lakers
The Heat (7-3) enter this match off the back of a disappointing 113-96 loss to the Denver Nuggets while the Lakers (6-5) got a much-needed victory over the Hornets last match.
LeBron James is out indefinitely which means the Lakers will look to Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook to do some heaving lifting in the next few weeks. This is exactly what Westbrook was brought in to do, run the offense and score the basketball in the absence of James and he has the perfect opportunity to do so.
Despite the Heat being full strength and looking like a legitimate title contender, Miami will struggle against the Lakers. In their last match against Denver, the Heat were exposed by Nikola Jokic who used his size to bully Bam Adebayo and the undersized P.J. Tucker. This presents an opportunity for Anthony Davis to do the same.
Davis is an offensive beast and has multiple ways to score as he can play inside the paint and on the perimeter. These tools have allowed him to have success against Miami Heat in the past including an impressive run of scoring in the 2019-20 Finals series.
I expect this to be a close match however with the height and size advantage favouring Davis and the Lakers I can see this being the difference maker as the Lakers continue to win without LeBron.
Suggested Bet: Los Angeles Lakers @ $2.66
*Odds correct as at 8am, 10th November 2021.
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