After finishing the 2021-22 NBA season as league champions, the Golden State Warriors have found finishing individual games to be difficult. Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves looked like it might be the latest example when Anthony Lamb made a lazy pass to turn the ball over with just 26 seconds left in regulation and the Warriors up five. The Timberwolves scored a quick basket to get within three, and then Klay Thompson coughed the ball up six seconds later. However, the Warriors amped up the defense and ended up winning, 109-04. Thompson now has 18 three-pointers in his last two games, and the Warriors have needed him to step up on offense in the absence of Draymond Green (right knee contusion) and Stephen Curry (left lower leg). Andrew Wiggins (personal matter), Gary Payton II and Andre Iguodala are also on the shelf. Looking to the week ahead, we have some NBA betting picks for you to add to your list.
NBA News: Top NBA Bets for Week 20
Milwaukee Bucks at Brooklyn Nets
When: Tuesday 28th
Where: Barclays Center, NY
Time: 7:30 pm ET
TV: NBA League Pass
Milwaukee (43-17) has not lost since a 114-102 setback in Cleveland on January 21. They routed the Pistons in Detroit two nights later, 150-130, and have not lost since. Their most recent win came at home over Phoenix, 104-101, on Sunday. In that game, Jrue Holiday stepped up in the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo to put up 33 points, and Brook Lopez authored the last of 14 lead changes, making a layup to break the tie with 24.8 seconds remaining. Lopez had 22 points and a dozen rebounds, and Khris Middleton chipped in 11 points and 10 boards. The Suns got the ball in the hands of Devin Booker as the last seconds ticked off the game clock, but Holiday got a key steal to seal the victory.
The next challenge for the Bucks will come in Brooklyn (34-26). The Nets have dropped two in a row and three of four, including a 129-127 loss in Atlanta on Sunday. In the loss, the Nets came back from an 18-point deficit, but Trae Young hit the game-winner at the buzzer. Four different Nets had at least 20 points, including Cam Johnson (27), Mikal Bridges (24), Cam Thomas (22) and Spencer Dinwiddie (20), but the team is still in flux after trading away Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. A visit from the Bucks promises to bring still more challenges for this new-look roster. Milwaukee to win.
Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors
When: Tuesday 28th
Where: Chase Center, CA
Time: 10:00 pm ET
TV: NBA League Pass
Portland (29-31) had dropped three of four before Damian Lillard’s historic 71-point performance in Sunday’s 131-114 win over Houston. Lillard had 41 points and eight three-pointers at halftime, and he had 50 going into the fourth quarter. He went 22 of 38 from the floor, including 13 of 22 from behind the arc, and he was a perfect 14 of 14 from the charity stripe. The Trail Blazers’ next-highest scorer was Jerami Grant, with 13 points.
Next up is a trip to San Francisco to face the Warriors (31-30), who have won two in a row, including that 109-104 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Donte DiVincenzo had the three-ball that put the Warriors ahead to stay with 3:02 left, and he finished the game with 21 points, eight boards and five assists – and a key win on a jump ball int he game’s last minute. Kevon Looney pulled down 17 rebounds for Golden State to go along with a dozen points. He has grabbed at least 13 boards in six straight games, a career high for games in a row with double figures on the boards. Golden State to win.
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