New York continued their dominant run of play on Wednesday with a 132-101 demolition of Washington. It was one-way traffic all game long, as New York dominated the opening quarter 38-22 and scored 30+ points in every period of the game to run up the score and breeze past the visitors. Mikal Bridges went 8/10 from the field to drop 23 points, four rebounds, five assists and two blocks and OG Anunoby had an efficient night for 19 points and one block. Karl-Anthony Towns dropped 19 points, 14 rebounds and two steals and Jalen Brunson added 21 points and four assists to round out a comfortable win for NY.
Denver put together a fourth quarter comeback to get within a couple of points of Detroit, but it wasn’t enough to get them over the line, in a 121-124 defeat on Wednesday. It was a riveting showdown against the Eastern Conference leaders, as Detroit dominated the opening three quarters, leading by as many as 20 points in the third, but the visitors slowly chipped away at that lead to get right back into the contest and set up a blockbuster finish. However, their defence couldn’t hold on in the last couple of minutes, seeing Detroit score seven points in the last 1:20 to hold on. Jamal Murray was Denver’s best, with 32 points, eight assists and two blocks in an elite showing, while Nikola Jokić again looked a step slow post-injury, with five turnovers and 9/19 shooting, to go with 24 points, 15 rebounds and four assists. Jonas Valančiūnas provided good minutes for 11 points and 11 rebounds, but poor shooting from Payton Watson and a rusty return from Christian Braun proved costly.
As both teams enter this game on night two of a back-to-back, I expect the short turnaround to benefit New York. With Jokić and Braun recently having returned from injury, they may be rested or have their minutes limited, and NY will want to take advantage at home. NY are 19-8 ATS at home this season and will do the job against an undermanned Denver side.
Toronto did just enough to beat Utah on Monday, picking up a 107-100 victory. It was far from the prettiest game of basketball, as both teams struggled to get the ball in the hoop, especially in the fourth, but Toronto’s defence did the job, limiting the visitors to just 16 points in the final 12 minutes to bank another win. Collin Murray-Boyles was again impressive on the defensive end, as was Scottie Barnes, who finished the night with 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and four blocks. Immanuel Quickley was also impressive, with 17/5/4 with four steals, while RJ Barrett added 21 points and four assists.
Minnesota’s four-game win streak came to an end on Tuesday in a 128-137 defeat to Memphis. It was another indicator of the inconsistent form of this Minnesota team, after beating this very Memphis team by 17 points just two days earlier before recording a terrible 139.2 defensive rating in Tuesday’s loss. Things threatened to get ugly for the visitors, trailing by 20 points early in the fourth, before somewhat pulling things back, but Minnesota never threatened the hosts in what was a dispiriting loss. Anthony Edwards did his best to get his team in front with 39 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while Jaden McDaniels went 11/14 for 29 points and three assists. However, poor defensive evenings from Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and Bones Hyland, kept Minnesota on the back foot for a loss on the road.
Mike Conley will be without the freshly-traded Mike Conley, and with Edwards and Randle both questionable on the injury report, there is a chance that the visitors go into this contest very short-handed. The many weapons of Toronto’s offence will be tricky for them to handle, but it’s the defence of the hosts’ frontcourt that I like most in this matchup. Toronto are 13-9 ATS as underdogs this season and as home underdogs, they are the bet.
San Antonio put together a strong second half to get past Orlando 112-103 on Monday. The visitors took a one-point lead into the main break, but San Antonio’s defence kicked into gear from then on, holding Orlando to just 42 second half points, making for a rather cruisy finish to the game for SA. Victor Wembanyama controlled the game in his time on the floor, with 25 points, eight rebounds, four steals and five blocks, while De’Aaron Fox contributed a valuable 14 points and 10 assists. Dylan Harper added 15 points and five assists, Keldon Johnson had 14 points and 10 boards and Davin Vassell provided an efficient 16 points and three assists.
Oklahoma City also enter Thursday’s game hot off a win over Orlando, thumping the men from Florida 128-92. It was a blowout from the get go, as Oklahoma City’s defence suffocated Orlando’s offence, holding the visitors to a miserable 95.2 offensive rating while OKC recorded an elite 139.3 offensive rating of their own to record a blowout. Isaiah Hartenstein recorded his first career triple-double, with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in just 23 minutes on the floor, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sat out the fourth quarter to finish the night with 20 points, nine assists and two steals. Isaiah Joe drilled five threes to record 22 points and Lu Dort’s range was also on point, with four threes for 18 points.
Oklahoma City recorded an emphatic 119-98 win over San Antonio to get their revenge a few weeks ago, but with three wins earlier in the season over the defending champions, it’s a bit surprising to see SA head into this contest as underdogs at home. Add to that the fact that OKC are on night two of a back-to-back, and I really like the spot that SA are in here. San Antonio are 11-6 ATS as underdogs this season.