NBA 2021 Week 5 Games to Must Bet On

Okay MyBookie NBA basketball betting buffs, with one month of action in the books and Week 5 getting underway on Monday night, it’s time to take a look at the most attractive matchups this coming week. Let’s get started with a matchup featuring the defending champs so you can make your bets against their NBA odds.

Must Bet Games in Week 5 of the 2020-21 Season

Golden State at LA Lakers at 10:00 PM ET

When: Monday, January 18
TV: TNT

The once, perennially-powerful Warriors are off to a decent, 6-6 start after a dozen games while LA is a league-best 11-3 heading into this contest. The Dubs are 4-3 over their last seven, but has dropped two straight including a 114-104 road loss against Denver on Thursday. Golden State averages a respectable 111.3 points per game (14th), but has been pretty awful defensively in allowing 115.3 points per game to rank 26th in points allowed. The Lakers have won five straight including a 1112-95 win over New Orleans on Friday night. The defending champs are ranked sixth in scoring (115.4 ppg) and an even more impressive third in points allowed (104.4 ppg).

New Orleans at Utah at 9:00 PM ET

When: Tuesday, January 19
TV: NBATV

The young Pelicans are off to an underwhelming 5-7 start under new head coach Stan Van Gundy while ranking an uninspiring 24th in scoring (107.8 ppg). The good news is that New Orleans has been better than expected defensively in limiting the opposition to just 108.8 points per game (10th). Utah is off to an encouraging 9-4 start heading into the new week. The Jazz have won five straight while Rudy Gobert (2.7 blocks per game) and company are ranked a stellar fourth in points allowed (105.4 ppg).

Dallas at Indiana at 7:00 PM ET

When: Wednesday, January 20

The Mavs are looking to take another step in their evolution after reaching the playoffs last season, but Dallas has been a bag of mixed marbles while splitting its first dozen games evenly (6-6). Luka Doncic and company are ranked an encouraging fifth in points allowed (106.1 ppg), but have struggled to score the ball in putting up 108.7 points per contest (22nd).

The Pacers got blown out of the water in its embarrassing 129-96 blowout loss against the Clippers on Sunday, but the Pacers are off to an encouraging 8-5 start. Indiana ranks 11th in scoring (112.9 ppg) and 13th in points allowed (109.8 ppg). I love their addition of former Nets swingman Caris Levert and I hope he can return from soon after a small mass was found on one of his kidneys earlier this week. The mass was found during a physical prior to the Pacers finalizing the trade to acquire LeVert. He will undergo further tests.

“On behalf of my family and myself, we want to thank the Indiana Pacers for their support and guidance,” LeVert said in a statement. “We are grateful for their extreme thoroughness during the physical process and I am looking forward to joining the team and being part of this great organization as soon as possible.”

LA Lakers at Milwaukee at 7:30 PM ET

When: Thursday, January 21
TV: TNT

Since we’ve already covered how dominant the Lakers have bee so far this season, let’s get to the Bucks. Milwaukee sits atop the Eastern Conference standings at 9-4 while ranking second in scoring (120.2 ppg) and 11th in points allowed (109.5 ppg). The Bucks are going to be one of the top seeds in the playoffs, but it’s all about playoff success for the Greek Freak and the slightly revamped Bucks.

Boston at Philadelphia at 7:30 PM ET

When: Friday, January 22
TV: ESPN

Even if you’re not old enough to remember the legendary rivalries between these longtime Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference rivals, this Week 5 matchup looks like a thriller just waiting to happen. Boston is in second place in the East at 8-4 while Philly is one spot back at 9-5.

The C’s are ranked a modest 15th in scoring (110.8 ppg) and 12th in points allowed (109.5 ppg). Philadelphia is ranked 10th in scoring (113.6 ppg) and 16th in points allowed (110.4 ppg). Jayson Tatum (26.9 ppg), Jaylen Brown (25.8 ppg) and Joel Embiid (35.0 ppg) are all having MVP-caliber seasons in the early going, though, for me, it is Embiid and Brown that have really stood out.

Miami at Brooklyn at 7:30 PM ET

When: Saturday, January 23
TV: NBATV

The Nets made a massive trade to acquire James Harden and now they have three genuine superstars as he joins KD and Kyrie. Brooklyn ranks a stellar third in scoring (118.9 ppg), but an uninspiring 22nd in points allowed (113.1 ppg). The Nets have won three straight heading into the new week including a 122-115 win over Orlando in Harden’s debut with the team on Saturday.

The defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat are off a surprisingly slow, 4-7 start heading into the new week. Miami is ranked 19th in scoring (110.0 ppg) and 24th in points allowed (114.5 ppg). While a mind-boggling eight layers are averaging double figures, all-star team leader Jimmy Butler is putting up an uninspiring 15.8 points per contest right now.

Denver at Phoenix at 9:00 PM ET

When: Saturday, January 23

The Nuggets are 6-7 heading into the new week while ranking an impressive seventh in scoring (115.4 ppg), but just 21st in points allowed (112.5 ppg). Denver has won two of three heading into the new week, but with those wins came against the rebuilding Knicks and Warriors, so I’m not all that impressed.

The addition of future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul has helped Phoenix improve in the early going of the new campaign – just as we expected! The Suns are off to an encouraging 7-4 start heading into the new week while averaging 110.5 points per game (17th). The addition of veteran point guard Chris Paul has clearly helped this young team improve, particularly at the defensive end of the floor where Phoenix ranks a stellar sixth in points allowed (106.7 ppg).

I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?