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Top NBA Betting Picks & Predictions of the Week – February 19th Edition
#Power_rankings Week 17: Pundits split where OKC Thunder rank at break https://t.co/CvRrUTU5Wb via @thunderousint pic.twitter.com/XtQdAP8WlB
— FanSided NBA (@FanSidedNBA) February 19, 2018
Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz
When: Friday, 9 PM ET (NBA League Pass) If I asked you which club was the hottest in the NBA right now, you probably wouldn’t guess the Utah Jazz if you didn’t follow the NBA closely. But the Jazz bring an 11-game winning streak out of the All-Star break – they probably wish the break hadn’t happened. Despite that run, which has put Utah two games over .500 at 30-28, the Jazz wouldn’t make the playoffs as things stand. Donovan Mitchell is battling Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons for Rookie of the Year honors, and Mitchell won the All-Star Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday. Mitchell edged Larry Nance Jr. by two points, sealing his victory with a close approximation of the 360-degree spin dunk that Vince Carter used to win the 2000 contest. Mitchell is also the first rookie in NBA history to lead his team in scoring during a win streak of at least 11 games. He his stride with volume as a scorer with 24-plus in each of his last four games. Mitchell leads all rookies with 28 games of at least 20 points. Will the Jazz get back point guard Ricky Rubio for this game? He has missed the past three with a hip injury. Royce O’Neale has played well in Rubio’s spot. In his three starts, he leads the Jazz with a +22.1 net rating over his 107 minutes, averaging 10.3 points, 6.3 boards, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals. This is the third of four meetings between these teams this season. Last time the played was in Portland on Feb. 11 and the Jazz outscored the Trail Blazers in the third quarter, 38-19, on their way to a 115-96 victory. Mitchell led Utah with 27 points, six rebounds and two assists. Joe Ingles had a career-high 24 points. Damian Lillard scored a game-high 39 points for Portland. CJ McCollum scored 22 points. Utah and Portland split last season’s series, 2-2. Rudy Gobert averaged 14.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game. The Jazz won the second game of the season series by 23 points and the third meeting by 19 points, the first time in franchise history they put together back-to-back wins of 15+ points against Portland.Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden State Warriors
When: Saturday, 8:30 PM ET (ABC) There will be six All-Stars on the court, barring injury, for this ABC national TV game in Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook and Paul George, and Golden State’s Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Will George stick with OKC when he hits free agency this summer? George said he’s not interested in playing for “multiple teams” throughout his career. “The decision I make will ultimately be to build something,” said George of his upcoming free agency. “So, this next decision, whatever it is, is to make sure I’m there for a duration.” Most believe he will either re-sign with the Thunder or head to his hometown L.A. Lakers. The Thunder are hoping that a deep playoff run will entice him to re-up there. We’re in for a fun offseason.
On Feb. 6 at Golden State, the Thunder beat the Warriors 125-105, handing Golden State just their second 20-point loss at home under Steve Kerr, and marking the first time the Warriors have never led at any point in a home game since April 18, 2012. Oklahoma City is now 5-1 while averaging a +16.6 point-differential when playing against the Warriors, Rockets, Raptors and Cavaliers, something no other team in the NBA can claim. The Thunder are also an NBA-best 5-1 when underdogs, including wins at Golden State (Feb. 6), at Cleveland (Jan. 29), at Utah (Dec. 23), at Philadelphia (Dec. 15) and against Golden State (Nov. 22) while dropping only one at Minnesota (Jan. 10). Only the 2012-13 Heat have a better underdog record.
The Warriors lead the NBA this season in scoring, field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage, free throw percentage, assists per game and blocks per game. With Green and Thompson named as All-Star Game reserves, joining starters Curry and Durant, the Warriors became the 1st team in NBA history to have 4 All-Stars in consecutive years.
