Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week – January 15th Edition

Don’t look now, but the Boston Celtics are on another big winning streak, having picked up seven victories in a row. Miami is the biggest surprise in the East right now, though, riding a seven-game streak of their own to vault up to fourth in the conference standings and become a solid NBA Betting Odds favorite. Washington is also hot in the East, winners of seven of their last ten. In the Western Conference, Houston is still foundering (winning just five of their last ten) while Golden State is back to their red-hot ways, winning 8 of 10 and in first place in the conference. Minnesota has won five in a row and seven of ten to climb to fourth, and the Clippers have won 8 of 10 to climb to ninth in the conference standings. Let’s take a look at some primo sports betting picks from the Association for this week.

Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week – January 15th Edition

Dragić led the HEAT to a perfect 3-0 record for the week, averaging 23 points, 6 rebounds & 5 assists while shooting 50 percent from the field, including 46.2 percent from Downtown. 🐲 pic.twitter.com/rByr4KunIY

— Miami HEATTTTTTT (@MiamiHEAT) 15 de enero de 2018

Miami at Milwaukee (Wednesday, January 17, 8:00 pm ET, SUN / FSWI)

Miami just wiped out the Bucks at home on Sunday night, riding 25 points from Goran Dragic (including 11 in the fourth quarter) to a 97-79 win. The Heat defense was stifling, holding Milwaukee to their worst shooting performance since the 2012-13 season. Josh Richardson put up 16 points in the win, and Hassan Whiteside posted 15 points and 10 boards. The Bucks did have a two-point lead at the half, but the Heat opened the third quarter with a 41-21 run that lasted until the 8-minute mark of the fourth period. For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Malcolm Brogdon went just 13 for 24 for the Bucks on the night. That was a lot better than the rest of the team, though, who went just 12 for 55, including 3 for 16 from Khris Middleton. Giannis is emerging as a star for the Bucks, but he still has some growing to do before he will be on the same list of names as Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and the like. But can the Bucks turn the tables on the Heat at home? NBA Betting Pick: Miami 99 – Milwaukee 96

Philadelphia at Boston (Thursday, January 18, 7:00 pm ET, TNT)

The Philadelphia 76ers had undergone a bit of a tailspin, losing five in a row and six of seven, but then they won four in a row, knocking off Denver, Phoenix, San Antonio and Detroit — but then they faced the Celtics in London four days ago, falling by 11 points. They face Toronto on Monday before heading to Boston for a Thursday night tilt. The Sixers had built a 22-point lead in London over the Celtics, but then the Celtics started a run in the second quarter that would lead them to that 11-point win. Kyrie Irving had 20 points, seven assists, and six boards, Jaylen Brown put up 21 points, and Marcus Morris posted 19 points and eight boards. The Sixers did get big numbers from their stars as they got off to a fast start, but their defense was not enough to hold Boston at bay. J.J. Redick nailed five three-balls and had 22 points on the night, Ben Simmons had 15 points, and Joel Embiid added 16. The difference between the Boston defense and the Philadelphia defense was the reason behind the Celtics’ comeback and win. Can the Sixers turn the tide in Boston? NBA Betting Pick: Boston 108 – Philadelphia 104

Oklahoma City at Cleveland (Saturday, January 20, 3:30 pm ET, ABC)

Two self-styled contenders who are struggling right now meet on Saturday afternoon on national television when the Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Thunder had dropped games in Phoenix, at home to Portland and in Minnesota, before winning in Charlotte, 101-91, on Saturday. Russell Westbrook took charge once again as he put up 25 points, 10 boards and seven assists in the win. The balance between the offensive force that the addition of Carmelo Anthony can represent and the defensive vulnerability that his presence brings has been difficult for the Thunder to figure out this season. They visit a Cleveland team that has dropped three in a row, dropping a game in Minnesota by 28, a game in Toronto by 34 and then a nailbiter in Indiana by two that saw the Cavaliers surrender a 22-point lead. LeBron James missed all of his last three shots in the fourth period, stepped on the baseline to turn the ball over and took a technical for shoving Lance Stephenson, but it was a team effort to fall into that hole early. The Cavs face the Warriors this week — will they have enough in the tank for the Thunder? NBA Betting Pick: Cleveland 102 – Oklahoma City 97