Top NBA Betting Picks & Predictions of the Week – December 26th

The top story from the Christmas matchups in the NBA might be the defense that Kevin Durant showed in slowing down LeBron James in the Warriors’ home win over Cleveland. However, the top story in the Eastern Conference right now is the Toronto Raptors, who have vaulted past Cleveland and Boston to take the top spot in the conference standings (in terms of percentage points) with a six-game winning streak. Orlando has made some news in the other direction; a team that sat high in the standings early has now dropped eight straight. Out West, Oklahoma City has a nice five-game winning streak going, including an impressive home win over Houston. Let’s look at some primo NBA betting picks  for you this week.

Top NBA Betting Picks & Predictions of the Week – December 26th

NBA Power Rankings: Look out! The Thunder are finally playing together: https://t.co/7QR0npz6oN pic.twitter.com/rUU8DSywnl

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 26, 2017

Wednesday, December 27

Denver at Minnesota (8:00pm ET, ALT, FSN)

Denver comes into this game with Minnesota with an interesting week behind them, having dropped games at Oklahoma City and at home against the same Timberwolves but then following them up with tough wins at Portland (by 17) and at Golden State (by 15). They do face Utah on Tuesday before heading up to the Twin Cities. The Nuggets don’t have any big-name scorers, but they do have balance on offense — it was Gary Harris who led the way for Denver with 19 points at Golden State, but it was the offense that was the most impressive. The Timberwolves ride in on a four-game winning streak, with a home win over Portland, followed by wins at Denver, Phoenix and the Lakers on Christmas Day. Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson have come up from Chicago to provide offensive leadership this season, which is what the team needed to balance the talents of youngster Karl-Anthony Towns. The Nuggets are making some noise in the West, but I see Minnesota taking this matchup at home. NBA Betting Prediction: Minnesota 110, Denver 106

Thursday, December 28

Houston at Boston (8:00pm ET, TNT)

Houston had won 14 games in a row — but now they’ve lost three straight, including a 112-107 setback at Oklahoma City on Christmas Day. Those other two losses are more troubling, as they came at home to a pair of teams that would not be in the postseason if the season ended today — the Lakers and the Clippers. The injury to Chris Paul has made a significant impact on the quality of play in Houston — and this is the sort of stretch that every team goes through in a season. But this is the wrong time to be struggling, as the Rockets head to Boston to take on a Celtics team that lost at home on Christmas, 111-103, to Washington. They have dropped three of four, in fact, having lost to Miami and at New York before beating Chicago. Jayson Tatum continues to emerge as a terrific young talent. However, Jaylen Brown has an undisclosed lower-body injury, and the team is struggling with their defensive intensity. Given that this game is in Boston, I see the Celtics winning this battle of two troubled contenders on Thursday night — especially since the Rockets should still be playing without Paul. NBA Betting Prediction: Boston 109, Houston 101

Friday, December 29

L.A. Clippers at L.A. Lakers (10:30pm ET, FSW2, TWC SN)

The fact that Blake Griffin is missing — and the Clippers have had to replace Chris Paul with Austin Rivers at the point — hasn’t gotten the Clippers down right now. They have won two of three (although they did follow up a ten-point win over Houston with a loss in Memphis). In that win over Houston, though, Rivers drained six shots from downtown and put up a career-best 36 points. That sort of grit will carry them well against a Lakers team that may still be missing Lonzo Ball (shoulder). The Lakers have dropped six of seven, with a clutch win in Houston the only highlight among losses to New York, Cleveland, Golden State (twice), Portland and Minnesota). They play Memphis at home on Wednesday before welcoming the Clippers on Friday. One bright spot for the Lakers in their Christmas loss to Minnesota was 31 points from Kyle Kuzma, the first rookie to hit 30+ points on Christmas since LeBron did it in 2003. Even so, the Clippers look like the better pick here. NBA Betting Prediction: L.A. Clippers 110, L.A. Lakers 101