NBA Week 24: Thursday Betting Tips

We have enjoyed 2 weeks of NBA action in the bubble and we can all agree that it has been interesting so far. This third week promises to be better with an awesome lineup, making it another perfect week to place your bets.

Interesting fact, the playoffs have started and we have our eight favourite teams in each conference playing for a championship spot. By Thursday, we would be in Game 2 of the playoffs and we would be looking at some betting tips for games of the day.

The first match for the night is Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers. Heat has been quite a force in the bubble, winning many of their games, which shows they came meaning business. Pacers have also been quite there, securing wins in most of their games. Heat and Pacers met twice in the bubble, and Heat won the first match 114-92, while Pacers came back to win the second 109-92.

They would also meet again on Tuesday, August 18 for Game 1 of the playoffs. Heat and Pacers have played a total of 25 playoff games, with Heat winning 14 of those games. The last time they met was in 2014 and a lot has changed since then. Heat won their last meeting and also won 4 out of their last 5 meetings. Chances that the final score would total 200 points is very likely, based on their regular-season record but their playoff matches do not always enjoy such an abundance of points.

Right after that, Oklahoma City Thunder takes on the Houston Rockets. OKC has sustained only a couple of losses, winning the majority of their games in the past weeks. Rockets entered the bubble on a high note and sustained it, not without some lost games. The two teams have managed to avoid themselves in the bubble but they would meet the first time in Game 1 of the playoffs.

They have both played 42 playoff games and OKC won 25 of them, although Rockets have won 4 out of their past 5 playoff meetings. The last time they met was in 2017 and a few things are no longer the same, like the fact that Russell Westbrook is no longer in OKC but now a Rockets player. One can also expect the scoreline to reach a total of 200 points or more.

Next, we see Orlando Magic take on Milwaukee Bucks. Magic has enjoyed a good spell in the bubble, keeping their head above water by all means, earning them a spot at the playoffs. Bucks still continue to dominate and it is expected that they play the finals and even win the championship because of the record they have maintained, entering the playoffs as the number 1 seed.

Magic and Bucks have met 4 times at the playoffs, the last and only time was back in 2001, and the Bucks won 3 of their 4 meetings then. Though they have not met since entering the bubble, they have played 4 times this season and Magic lost all fixtures. Bucks have always played a better game so they have finished with 100+ points more than often.

The last game for the night is between Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Lakers. Both teams have played very well at the bubble and we can already tell how interesting the playoff games would be, even though they have not played against each other since January. The last time the two faced themselves at the playoffs was in April 2002 and the Trail Blazers lost their last 5 playoff meetings against Lakers. But that was years ago and both teams have improved, but Lakers has a better chance, having won 3 of their recent 5 regular-season meetings, from 2018 to 2020.