It’s a short week around the NBA as the All-Star break begins Friday with the World vs. USA Rising Stars Challenge from Staples Center in Los Angeles. The 3-Point and Slam Dunk contests are Saturday night and the All-Star Game on Sunday. The schedule then goes dark until Feb. 22. Here are two intriguing NBA betting matchups this week, both on Tuesday. Check back for the latest NBA odds.
Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr. and George Hill all made their Cleveland debuts on Sunday. Hood was acquired last Thursday from Utah, Clarkson and Nance from the Lakers and Hill from the Kings. Hill was the only one to start Sunday and had 12 points in 21 minutes.
Top NBA Betting Picks & Predictions of the Week – February 12th Edition
#NBA: The @cavs have now won 3 straight, but where are they in the rankings?🏀 1️⃣ @HoustonRockets (+2) ⬆️ @Bucks (+7) ⬇️ @okcthunder (-2)https://t.co/SSQZosmXsW
— Sports Posts (@sprtsposts) February 11, 2018
Houston Rockets at Minnesota Timberwolves
When: Tuesday, 8 p.m. ET (NBA League Pass, FSN) Could be a potential playoff preview. A case can be made these are the two primary challengers to Golden State in the Western Conference, although San Antonio would be included in there too if Kawhi Leonard ever gets healthy. Houston is neck-and-neck with the Warriors for the best record in the NBA. The only shot I give the Rockets of winning a series with the Warriors would be if Houston does have home-court advantage. The rockets remain without swingman Trevor Ariza. Coach Mike D’Antoni said there is no timetable on Ariza (hamstring), but that Ariza is “getting close.” The team might just play it safe and keep him out until after the break. The Rockets didn’t make a trade ahead of last Thursday’s NBA trade deadline but will add former Jazz/Kings guard Joe Johnson. The Kings acquired the guard from the Jazz as part of a three-team deal prior to the deadline on Thursday. Johnson never played with the Kings and was bought out. He is expected to clear waivers on Monday and then sign so he could debut here. He is 39 3-pointers shy of becoming the ninth player in NBA history with 2,000. Forward Brandan Wright, who officially was waived the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, will also sign with the Rockets upon clearing waivers.Did Minnesota Make Any Additions to the Trade?
The Timberwolves didn’t make any additions at the trade deadline. Houston has won 15 of the past 17 meetings in this series and three straight overall. They have met just once so far this season, a 116-98 Rockets home win on Jan. 18. Minnesota trailed 73-66 with 4:27 left in the third before being outscored 16-4 the rest of the quarter; Eric Gordon had 11 of his game-high 30 points in the quarter. The Rockets led by double-digits for almost the entire fourth quarter. James Harden was held to just 10 points on 3-for-15 shooting, and added seven assists, two steals and two blocks in 26 minutes. Chris Paul had 19 points, nine assists and six rebounds for the Rockets, and Clint Capela added 20 points. Ariza missed that one too. Jimmy Butler led Minnesota with 23 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks. Andrew Wiggins finished with 16 points.Cleveland Cavaliers at Oklahoma City Thunder
When: Tuesday, 8 PM ET (TNT) NBA Finals preview? Not likely but not impossible. The Cavs were historically busy on Thursday’s deadline day and they look like a different team in the wake of that, routing the Hawks in Atlanta on Friday and then looking very impressive in a 121-99 victory in Boston on Sunday in a likely preview of the Eastern Conference Finals. LeBron James flirted with a triple-double Sunday with 24 points, 10 dimes, eight boards, one steal, one block and two turnovers in 28 minutes. He did briefly exit the game after banging knees with Aron Baynes, but he never went to the locker room and looked fine upon re-entering the game, so he should be fine for Tuesday’s game.
Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr. and George Hill all made their Cleveland debuts on Sunday. Hood was acquired last Thursday from Utah, Clarkson and Nance from the Lakers and Hill from the Kings. Hill was the only one to start Sunday and had 12 points in 21 minutes.
