LA Clippers at Toronto Raptors (ESPN)
The Clippers head to Toronto to open ESPN’s Thursday double-header (all times AEST).
It marks Kawhi Leonard’s return to the North and it will be interesting to see how he is received by the fans at Scotiabank Arena. Leonard (rest) sat out the Clippers’ win over Indiana on Tuesday so will be fit and firing against his old side.
Doc Rivers’ team is really starting to come into their own, winning four of their last five to move into the second seed in the West at 18-7. Paul George had the floor to himself against the Pacers and didn’t disappoint, dropping 36 points and seven threes with nine rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block.
Montrezl Harrell (26 points, eight rebounds) and Pat Beverley (11 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, three steals) also impressed in Leonard’s absence.
The Raptors have been in a micro slump, dropping three in a row to the Heat, Rockets and Sixers before getting things back on track with a narrow 93-92 win over Chicago on Tuesday.
Fred VanVleet missed the Bulls win and remain questionable to face the Clippers with a right knee issue.
Nick Nurse’s side has slid down to the East’s fifth seed with a 16-7 record but are 9-2 at home.
Tip: Clippers to win $1.82
Boston Celtics at Indiana Pacers
The Celtics are in Indiana in a blockbuster Eastern Conference showdown.
Boston are currently one of the form teams in the league, winning four straight to sit second in the East at 17-5, blowing out the Heat and Nuggets during that span.
The Celtics’ backbone is their defence, boasting a 102.6 defensive rating (ranked third in the league), while the likes of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have taken their games to new heights this season.
Gordon Hayward returned from a fractured hand in their win over Cleveland on Tuesday, tallying 14 points, five rebounds and four assists. Marcus Smart (eye) missed that one and remains questionable to face Indiana.
The Pacers have dropped two of their last three but have otherwise had a strong season with Victor Oladipo waiting on the wings.
Indiana sit sixth in the East at 15-9 with a 104.1 defensive rating (ranked eighth in the league). Malcolm Brogdon has been a revelation after crossing from Milwaukee, averaging 19.1 points and 7.5 assists.
Domantas Sabonis has also been huge, averaging 18.4 points and 13.5 rebounds, however, Myles Turner has struggled to adapt to playing next to him offensively. Turner is averaging just 10.9 points and 5.6 rebounds, his lowest return since his rookie season, and a career-low 42% from the field.
Tip: Boston to win @ $2.00.
New Orleans Pelicans at Milwaukee Bucks (ESPN)
The Pelicans head to Milwaukee to face the red-hot Bucks to close out the ESPN double-header.
New Orleans have dropped nine in a row to slide to second-last in the West at 6-18 overall. Derrick Favours’ absence has really hurt them defensively and on the glass, but is expected to return here. Zion Williamson remains a few weeks away.
Brandon Ingram is having an outstanding season and if not for a guy called Luka Doncic, would be a clear frontrunner for Most Improved Player of the Year. Ingram is averaging 24.9 points on 49.4% shooting, seven rebounds, four assists.
The Bucks are on another level to any other team right now, riding a league-best 15-game win streak. All the hype has been around the Lakers and Clippers, but this is a team that was thereabouts last year and has all the tools to go even further this season.
Milwaukee leads the league in scoring at 120.5 points per game and hold the best defensive rating in the NBA at 100.9. A lot of this can be credited to the phenomenal play of Giannis Antetokounmpo, averaging 30.9 points, 13.2, 5.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks and is the MVP favourite as it stands.
The Bucks are 11-1 at home this season and showing no signs of slowing down.
Tip: Milwaukee -8.5 @ $1.44.
