Miami Heat at Boston Celtics
The Heat make the trip to Boston in a massive Eastern Conference clash on NBA Thursday (all times AEST).
Miami have won eight of their last 10 games to sit third in the East at 14-5 overall, but must keep up their good form with the likes of Boston, Philadelphia and Indiana narrowly trailing them. They will be coming off a back-to-back from Toronto.
Jimmy Butler has brought a hard-defensive edge to this side, with the Heat’s 103.5 defensive rating ranking seventh in the NBA. The gun forward has averaged 18.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists and a career-high 2.5 steals per game.
A win for the Celtics here could push them past the Heat, with Brad Stevens’ side undefeated at home this season at 7-0. Boston have won three of their last four, with those victories coming over Sacramento, Brooklyn and New York.
Gordon Hayward (broken hand) will remain sidelined for another few weeks but has recently returned to non-contact and contact training drills.
It will be a battle of two of the league’s best defences, with the Celtics’ 103.4 defensive rating ranking sixth in the league.
Tip: Boston to win @ $1.44.
LA Lakers at Utah Jazz (ESPN)
The Lakers and Jazz face off in a huge battle out Wes in ESPN’s standalone game.
LA finally had their 10-game win streak ended at the hands of Dallas at home on Tuesday behind Luka Doncic’s 27 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists. Frank Vogel’s team still hold the best record in the league at 17-3.
The Lakers’ 103.3 defensive rating ranks fifth in the league, while Anthony Davis (averaging 26.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 2.8 blocks) and LeBron James (25.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, league-high 10.9 assists) continue to have MVP-calibre seasons.
Davis has been battling a shoulder issue all season yet remains the frontrunner for the Defensive Player of the Year award. The Lakers will be coming off a back-to-back from Denver.
The Jazz have fallen into a minor slump during their current road trip, dropping four of their last five, including two blowouts in Toronto and Philadelphia.
Utah’s defence has been particularly poor over that stretch but they will look to regroup at home where they are 8-1 this season. Mike Conley will sit this one out after suffering left hamstring tightness against the Sixers on Tuesday.
The Lakers won this matchup 95-86 earlier in the season in LA.
Tip: Utah to win @ $1.71.
Sacramento Kings at Portland Trail Blazers
Sacramento and Portland close out the Thursday card at the Moda Centre.
The Kings have been one of the most inconsistent teams this season, hampered by the losses of De’Aaron Fox (ankle) and Marvin Bagley to injuries. Fox will miss another two to three weeks, while Bagley (broken thumb) is expected to return early next week.
Sacramento’s up and down form was on full show in their two games, knocking off the second-placed Nuggets before falling to the Bulls, both at home. They sit ninth in the West at 8-11 but are just 3-7 on the road this season.
Portland are starting to turn around their early-season slump, winning three in a row behind the resurgence of Carmelo Anthony. Melo was named Western Conference Player of the Week behind averages of 22.3 points on 57.4% shooting to go with 7.7 rebounds.
The Blazers are now 8-12 on the season to remain in the playoff hunt and you can’t write this team off so long as Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum are leading them. They will be coming off a back-to-back trip from LA.
Portland won this matchup 122-112 earlier in the season in Sacramento.
Tip: Portland to win @ $1.68.
