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We’re on to another week in the NBA and there are some great games up and down the card. I’ve picked out a couple of bets I’m really into and will relay them to you now.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks (+5) Total: 232
The Hawks simply refuse to play defense. They allowed more than 123 points per 100 possessions last time out in a loss to the Knicks, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. They have the worst defense in the league judging by the efficiency stats since Trae Young returned from injury on Dec. 27. In that span, they’ve had their three worst defensive performances of the season.
The Hawks have now lost five straight and nine of their last 11. It’s very hard for me to get behind this team right now, even at home.
The Bucks enter this one primed for a bounce back. They fell to Toronto last time out, but it’s a rather palatable loss when you consider Toronto has the 11th-ranked defense in the past two weeks and has really improved in all facets. Milwaukee is also relatively healthy now; it won’t have Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez again but some key backcourt players have returned in recent games.
Atlanta is still without Clint Capela, which will be a nightmare when you consider the Bucks have serious interior scoring ability with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis. The loss of Bogdan Bogdanovic just makes life even worse.
Edge: Bucks -5
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Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers (+4.5) Total: 230.5
There was a time to fade the Jazz, and that time is now over. Rudy Gobert is back in the lineup, and it seems the fire is now lit under Utah once again after the bigman said the Jazz don’t have “winning habits.”
Gobert came back last game to lead Utah to a huge win, and it wasn’t a moment too soon. This Utah team looked absolutely lost without him on defense, losing four games before his return.
The Lakers have looked like a halfway decent team over the last couple of weeks, but that’s mainly because LeBron James has worked so well as the small-ball five. With Gobert back to slow him, the Lakers’ offense should tank.
L.A. has lost three straight and hasn’t covered in any of those games. The streak should live on.
Edge: Jazz -4.5
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