NBA Betting Preview – 13th February 2020
Tonight’s games will be the last NBA regular season games we see for almost a week as the league comes to a halt for the All-Star break.
The four teams in action tonight are the New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics.
Los Angeles Clippers @ Boston Celtics
When: Thursday 13th February @ 8:05PM
Where: TD Garden
Odds: LA Clippers (+1.5) -107 Boston Celtics (-1.5) -109
The Clippers close out their road trip with a visit to TD Garden to face the Boston Celtics.
Our Pick: Boston Celtics (-1.5) -109
We’re in for an exciting clash on Thursday night as 3rd in the East faces 3rd in the West. The Celtics have been on a good run lately, winning eight of their last ten. The Clippers remain one of the favourites to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy at +310 with VIP Sports.
This is the fourth and last game of the Clippers’ tour. So far, they have beaten the Cavs but lost to the new-look Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers.
Last year’s Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points in that defeat to the 76ers. His fellow off-season acquisition, Paul George, failed to fire, scoring only 11 points on Tuesday night. However, he has reasons to be confident coming in to this one. He put the Celtics to the sword in 110-107 OT win in November scoring 25 points.
The Celtics have been on a great run of form of late – winning eight of their last ten. Their worst performance of that run came in their last run-out. They lost to the Rockets on an off-colour night for their star players Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker.
They will be eager to put another mark in their win column and we can see them winning by five or more on Thursday night. Back them against the spread with VIP.
Oklahoma City Thunder @ New Orleans Pelicans
When: Thursday 13th February @ 8:05PM
Where: Smoothie King Center
Odds: Oklahoma City Thunder (+2) -103 New Orleans Pelicans (-2) -113
Chris Paul and the Thunder head to New Orleans to face the Pelicans in this important Western Conference playoffs. Paul was drafted by the Pelicans in 2005 but played his first season in Oklahoma due to Hurricane Katrina.
Our Pick: New Orleans Pelicans (-2) -113
In theory, the other game tipping off tonight at the same time should draw the most eyeballs. 7th versus 11th in the Western Conference usually doesn’t create much of a buzz. However, Zion Williamson is a one-man wrecking ball and he’s creating plenty of buzz around the league – don’t doubt that the national attention will be on the Smoothie King Center.
The No. 1 draft pick had his first 30-point game in a big win over the Trail Blazers on Tuesday night. The Pelicans are keeping themselves in the playoff race on a game-by-game basis. They’re five games back from the Grizzlies in 8th although their schedule does look favourable.
The Thunder have built up enough credit with 10 wins in their last 15 outings and they are comfortable in 7th seed. Billy Donovan’s team have performed way above expectations this season and his guard trio of Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dennis Schroder have been a revelation.
Looking ahead to this one, the Thunder look to already have one eye on the break in their loss to the Spurs on Tuesday night. There’ll be no worries of the Pelicans taking this lightly with a playoff position in their sights.
Back the Pelicans (-2) with VIP Sports.
