A lot of NBA experts thought the Chicago Bulls would be much improved this season – certainly not contenders in the Eastern Conference but perhaps fighting for a playoff spot. Instead, the team has vastly underperformed. Coach Jim Boylen recently got a contract extension so the fall guy could be GM Gar Forman. Owner Jerry Reinsdorf reportedly is close to making a move. Here’s a look at two intriguing early-season matchup around the NBA Betting action. Check back for Mybookie NBA odds.
Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week – December 2nd Edition
Portland Trail Blazers vs Los Angeles Clippers
- When: Tuesday, 10 PM ET
- TV: TNT
- Live Stream: NBA League Pass
Portland got off to a sluggish start this season but appears to be waking up, while the Clippers look largely unstoppable in games in which Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are on the court. These clubs met Nov. 7 in Los Angeles and the Clippers won 107-101 for Coach Doc Rivers’ 900th career victory.
Lou Williams made a go-ahead jumper with 58 seconds left, then added a 3-pointer and finished with 26 points to lead Los Angeles. Leonard had 27 points, 13 rebounds and six turnovers. Leonard and Williams combined to score the Clippers’ final 15 points. Kawhi sealed the win with four straight free throws. George had yet to make his season debut for the Clips.
Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum led Portland with 22 points apiece, but both got blanked in the fourth quarter. Lillard missed four shots in the fourth and went 0 for 3 from 3-point range, while McCollum also missed four shots. With Lillard and McCollum getting shut down, Anfernee Simons scored 16 of his 17 points in the fourth, including Portland’s first 12 of the quarter. Hassan Whiteside had 17 points (7-18 FG, 3-4 FT), 19 rebounds and two blocks in 27 minutes.
Whiteside comes off a dominant effort in a win Friday vs. the Bulls with a season-high 10 blocks along with 15 rebounds. Those blocks were the most in the NBA this year; Utah’s Rudy Gobert had the mark with seven against Golden State. Carmelo Anthony made 8-of-16 from the field for 23 points with 11 rebounds, four assists, one steal, no turnovers and one 3-pointer in 37 minutes against the Bulls. Melo has found the Fountain of Youth of late.
Why the Clippers should be one of your NBA Betting Picks?
The Clippers are off a 150-125 win over the Wizards on Sunday. The Clippers scored 82 points in the first half and missed their franchise record of 152 points by a single basket. George hit 10-of-21 shots, four 3-pointers and 7-of-7 free throws on his way to 31 points along with eight rebounds. Leonard returned from a day of rest and hit 14-of-21 shots, two 3-pointers and 4-of-4 free throws for 34 points, six rebounds and three assists.L.A. could be down two reserves for this one in forwards JaMychal Green and Rodney McGruder. Green took a hard, awkward fall on Sunday, bruised his tailbone and didn’t return. Moe Harkless, Paul and Ivica Zubac would all see additional minutes if he misses time. McGruder has missed the past two with a hamstring injury.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Dallas Mavericks
- When: Wednesday, 8:30 PM ET
- TV: NBA TV
- Live Stream: NBA League Pass
Two vastly improved teams in the West thanks in large part to MVP-caliber seasons from Karl-Anthony Towns (Wolves) and Luka Doncic (Mavericks). It’s the first meeting of the season between the clubs. Last year, the Mavs won two of three. The Oct. 20 defeat ended Minnesota’s five-game series winning streak while the Jan. 11 win was Dallas’ first in its last five at Target Center.
Minnesota enters off a 115-107 home upset loss to Memphis on Sunday. The Wolves had a 12-0 run to take a 72-69 lead before a 10-0 run by the Grizzlies. Memphis finished the third quarter with a 15-3 run in which Minnesota went without a field goal. Andrew Wiggins had 18 points, seven assists, six rebounds, two blocks, one steal and one 3-pointer. Wiggins tied Anthony Peeler for the franchise record in made 3-pointers (465).
Towns had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves. Towns finished with his ninth straight double-double, but his shot was off. He scored just four points in the first half and finished the game 1 of 10 from 3. Shabazz Napier (strained right hamstring) returned to action on Sunday with four points, one rebound and one steal in nine minutes. Napier was back after missing 12 consecutive games.
Why the Mavs should be your NBA Betting pick?
The Mavs showed their potential on Sunday in winning 114-100 at the Lakers, who had won 10 straight games. Doncic piled up 27 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds and three steals. Doncic blew the game open with 16 points in the third quarter, adding five assists. Luka finished the month of November with averages of 32.4 points, 10.3 rebounds and 10.4 assists in 14 games. He became just the third player in NBA history to average a 30-point triple-double over any calendar month (minimum 10 games played), joining Oscar Robertson (5 times) and Russell Westbrook (twice).Delon Wright handed out a season-high nine assists vs. L.A. on Sunday, with 17 points, five rebounds, four steals and zero turnovers in 28 minutes. Dwight Powell scored a season-high 15 points on Sunday, going 6-of-11 from the field with nine rebounds.
