Top NBA Betting Games of the Week (Dec 5 – 11)

Posted by Kenny Bell on Monday,December 5, 2016 11:22, EDT in

The Golden State Warriors continue to have the NBA’s best record and are the betting favorites on NBA odds. But they have a very challenging week ahead of them. Here’s a look at three intriguing matchups, all of which are nationally televised.

Top NBA Betting Games of the Week (Dec 5 – 11)

San Antonio Spurs at Minnesota Timberwolves. Tuesday

This game is on NBA TV. San Antonio is the veteran, contending group while the Wolves have the most young talent in the NBA but are having some growing pains under first-year coach Tom Thibodeau. The Spurs have beaten Minnesota seven straight times – including four in a row at Target Center by an average of 23.5 ppg (113.3-89.8). Tony Parker holds the record for most points in Target Center history when he dropped 55 points on the Timberwolves on 11/5/08 in a double-overtime win. The Spurs have played just eight games with their projected starting lineup. The team holds a 7-1 record with Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol, Danny Green and Parker as the starting five. Danny Green missed the first seven games due to a left quad strain and another on rest. Parker and LaMarcus Aldridge each missed two games on rest and Parker sat out another three with right knee soreness and one with a left quad contusion. Pau Gasol has also missed one game due to rest.

Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks, Wednesday

First of an ESPN doubleheader. The Cavaliers lead the Eastern Conference in winning percentage (.722, 4th in NBA), points per game (110.0, 4th in NBA), three-pointers made (240, 2nd in NBA) and three-point percentage (.389, 2nd in NBA). LeBron James (6,973) is 27 assists away from reaching 7,000 for his career and has a franchise-leading 4,993 assists as a Cavalier (seven away from 5,000 assists with Cleveland). Kyrie Irving has scored at least 20 points in a career-high nine straight games, averaging 25.0 points on .525 shooting. The Cavs routed the Knicks 117-88 on opening night. James finished with 19 points on 9-14 (.643) shooting, a game-high 14 assists and 11 rebounds in 32 minutes; it was his first ever triple-double on opening night and 43rd triple-double of his regular season career. James became the first Cavs player in franchise history to have a triple-double on opening night and first NBA player to have a triple-double in a season opener since Jason Kidd on Nov. 1, 2006. New York brings a three-game winning streak into this week. It has won eight of 11 overall.

Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers, Wednesday

Second ESPN game and the marquee matchup of the week. The Clippers are the only team in the NBA that ranks in the top-5 in offensive rating (4th – 109.7) and defensive rating (1st – 98.9) this season. But Los Angeles was swept by the Warriors last year and has dropped six in a row in the series and three straight at home. games. The Warriors are ranked 1st in scoring, assists, blocks, steals and field goal percentage, 4th in 3-point field goal percentage in the NBA this season. Also 2nd in opponent 3-point field goal defense and 4th in field goal defense. Golden State has scored 100 or more points in every game but one this season.. Only game they did not reach the century mark was on November 4 at L.A. Lakers (97). This season the Warriors have dished out 30 or more assists in 14 contests (13-1 record in those games). Clippers forward-center Marreese Speights played three seasons (2013-14 – 2015-16) with the Warriors, averaging 8.0 points (.460 FG%, .831 FT%), 3.8 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 13.3 minutes per game in 227 games (started 12).