We are still a few weeks away from the All-Star break in the NBA and the battles for top spot in both conferences continues to rage. Given how things have been going this season, it really is tough to predict which teams will be sitting in the #1 spot in the East and West, as both conferences have seen some leapfrogging going on over the past few weeks. Let’s now look ahead at the coming week to some of the biggest games on the NBA calendar. Most of these games will have an impact on the playoff race, which means that they are all worth your NBA betting attention.
Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week – January 21st Edition
“THE MAN IS THE GREATEST SCORER IN THE GAME!”
Today’s the last day to vote @JHarden13 to the All-Star Game. VOTE NOW ➡️ https://t.co/cYTIg4qvHB | @antpoolofficial pic.twitter.com/yZsek3ZyKp — Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) 21 de enero de 2019
Houston Rockets at Philadelphia 76ers – Monday
These are a pair of teams that are almost certainly going to be in the playoffs this year, but both would certainly like to be a little higher up the rankings than they are right now. The Rockets have overcome a slow start to the season to haul themselves into the #5 spot, but they still have a tendency to be wildly inconsistent.
The same is true of the Philadelphia 76ers, who are #4 in the East, although they have been great at home, posting a 19-5 record in their own building. This should certainly be an entertaining tilt, but given that the Rockets are 3 games below .500 on the road, I need to take the 76ers here.
Portland Trail Blazers at Oklahoma City Thunder – Tuesday
It is the Thunder who hold the #3 spot in the Western Conference, with Portland right behind them courtesy of a smaller win percentage. Portland had some real success against OKC coming into this season, winning 6 in a row versus the Thunder before dropping their first meeting of the year.
OKC are barely clinging to their current conference standing, as they are a mediocre 5-5 in their last 10 games, whereas the Trail Blazers are on the rise after winning 7 of their last 10. Portland has won in each of their last 3 visits to Oklahoma City, so let’s take them again in this one.
Denver Nuggets at Utah Jazz – Wednesday
The Denver Nuggets have been one of the surprise teams of the season, as they have spent a bunch of time at the top of the Western Conference, locked in battle with the Golden State Warriors. It is the Warriors who have a half-game lead right now, but the Nuggets are still going strong, starting this week with back to back wins and 7 wins in their last 10 games.
They will be on the road to a resurgent Jazz team that is now above the playoff line after winning 6 in a row. The Nuggets comfortably beat the Jazz earlier this season and have now beaten them 3 straight times. Let’s go with Denver to make it 4 in a row.
Golden State Warriors at Washington Wizards – Thursday
This will be the second and final meeting between these two teams this season, with the Warriors winning comfortably the last time out to take their winning streak against the Wizards to 4 games.
It took Golden State a little bit of time to get going this season, but they have certainly hit their stride now, winning 7 in a row and 9 of their last 10. The Wizards are 6-4 in their last 10 games, but they need to start winning more frequently if they are to get above the playoff line. I don’t see them getting the win they need in this one.
