It looks like the Golden State Warriors will be without star Stephen Curry for at least a few weeks after he suffered a left shoulder subluxation on Wednesday in a loss to the Pacers. At that point in the game (2:04 left in the third), he had 38 points – almost half of the 80 that the Warriors had scored up to that point. He is averaging 30.0 points and 6.8 assists per game, shooting 50% from the field – and 43.4% from three-point land. While he’s gone, the Warriors will obviously miss a lot of their offensive capacity. How will they deal in Philadelphia on Friday night? That’s one of our two NBA betting previews for this weekend’s action.
NBA News: Top Bets for the Weekend
→ Friday, December 16
Golden State Warriors (+9.5) at Philadelphia 76ers (O/U 220.5) (7:30 pm ET)
Golden State (14-15) looked terrific in their home game against Boston in a rematch of last year’s NBA Finals, but then they hit the road and have been routed twice, by Milwaukee and Indiana. Away from home, Golden State is a woeful 2-12. Obviously, the offense is what drives the Warriors, as they are third in scoring offense, fifth in three-point shooting percentage and eighth in overall field goal percentage. On defense, they are just 20th, so with Curry out, the Warriors could give up a lot of points. Andrew Wiggins (groin) is also going to be on the shelf for Golden State.
Philadelphia (15-12) has won three in a row, moving back up to fifth in the Eastern Conference. Joel Embiid is playing at MVP level, averaging 40.7 points per game during the team’s last three home games, all wins. He has shot 67% from the floor and averaged double digits in rebounds over that stretch. The team last played Sacramento and won in a 123-103 laugher, as Embiid had 31 points, and James Harden added 21 points and 15 assists. Tobias Harris also had 21 points to go along with nine assists. When the 76ers are on a roll, especially at home, the only ones who cn stop them are themselves. Philadelphia to win and cover.
Denver Nuggets (-1.5) at L.A. Lakers (O/U 237.5) (10:00 pm ET)
Denver (17-10) rides a three-game winning streak into Los Angeles, with victories over Portland, Utah and Washington. The win over the Wizards came on Wednesday in 141-128 fashion, covering an 11 ½-point spread. The Nuggets could not miss in that game – at least not inside the arc. They shot 65.1% from the floor – despite clanking 12 of their 16 three-balls. They had 98 points in the paint, just dominating the lane. Nikola Jokic went 17 of 20 for 43 points, and Bones Hyland chipped in 23 off the bench. The defense was a little iffy, though, as Washington shot 52.7% from the floor and 48.7% from behind the arc. The offense is the key for Denver, as they rank second in offensive rating (117.2 points per 100 possessions), and they lead the league in field goal percentage (50.8%) and are tied for first with Boston for three-point percentage (39.1%). The defense has been porous, though, giving up 115.6 points per 100 possessions (28th overall).
The Lakers (11-16) brought a three-game losing streak to an end in Detroit on Sunday, prevailing, 124-117, but then they went to Boston, where they lost, 122-118, in overtime on Tuesday. The Lakers roared back from a 15-point halftime deficit and even led by 13 with 4:25 remaining in regulation, but the Celtics posted a comeback of their own to push the game to overtime. The Lakers dominated inside, outscoring the Celtics by 22 in the paint. However, they only made eight three-pointers and missed eight of 30 free-throw attempts. Anthony Davis had 37 points and 12 rebounds, and LeBron James added 33 points, but letting Boston pull ahead in the second quarter and roar back in the fourth were what doomed the Lakers. Lakers to cover.
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