Best NBA Picks Against the Spread season 1/18

Covid-19 is still ravaging the league. Be sure to check injury reports before the game because these picks might be subject to change!

Milwaukee Bucks at Brooklyn Nets

Despite being at home, the Nets come in this game the underdog with their new lineup after acquiring James Harden.

The tandem of Harden and Durant has been extremely deadly. Two of the best pure scorers make this team difficult to stop as both players can drop 40+ points on any given night. Harden dropped a triple doubled on 32 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists in his first game with the Nets. He looked like a new man and seemed delighted to be in Brooklyn postgame. Durant also had a monster performance going for 42 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. The excited energy this team is exercising since the trade should provide momentum going against a disciplined Bucks squad.

The Bucks have finally figured themselves out this season since their slow start and are now on a four game winning streak. The main factors leading to their success as of late can be attributed to their defense, work on the boards, and taking effective shots. This team can be difficult to beat if they are sticking to their game plan and play together.

Middletons improvement from the start of the season is making a huge difference, he is currently averaging 21.8 PPG, 5.7 APG, and 6.8 RPG. The assists and rebounds shows he is out hustling the other teams shooting guard. A must if they want to continue their regular season success from last year. The other individual who is having another successful season, which shouldn’t be a surprise, is back to back MVP Giannis. He is definitely in contention for the MVP this year, so a prop bet for him to repeat MVP might be worth it.

The Bucks have the personal to match up against the Nets, the only question is how many points can they limit Harden and Durant too. Irving is once again out for this game. Despite Irving being out and Harden revitalized, the Nets cover the +2.5 and a Bucks ML wager is the way to go.

Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers are defending their home court on a 5 game winning streak. The Lakers are also 9-1 in their last 10 games and are first in the Western Conference. They are a difficult team to take down due to their all star talent that can matchup and shutdown anyone.

The duo of James and Davis is deadly with just those two alone, but this duo also elevates the play of those around them. Schroder in particular has seen a large increase in production from last years crowded point guard Thunder team. In Atlanta, Schroder was a star point guard in this league and has returned to that form. He is the third highest scorer on the team.

The Lakers are seeing a lot of action on the injury report this game. The injury report shows James, Davis, Caldwell-Pope, and Matthews as a game time decision that’s not Covid-19 related.

The Warriors come into this matchup on a two game losing streak playing through a tough part of the schedule. Their last two losses they played the Pacers and Nuggets. The lack of a strong down low game was a contributing factor to these losses. They face the Lakers who also have a strong post game, maybe the best in the league.

In order to cover as +9.0 underdogs, they will need an excellent defensive outing from Draymond Green and for Curry to have a night. The California rivalry should increase the chance of this happening due to their competitive nature as they look to not only cover but to win.

Curry is having a terrific season after being plagued by injuries last year. So far, he is averaging 28.4 PPG, 6.2 APG, and 5.6 RPG without his fellow splash brother Klay Thompson.

The play of Wiggins, Wiseman, and Oubre Jr have increased dramatically since the start of the season. Allowing them to once again become competitive after what looked like another disappointing Warriors team like last year.

If James and Davis are both a go along with the others, the Warriors do not have the talent to match up. However, if the Lakers are missing players, they should cover the +9.0 as the Lakers bring out the best in every team they play looking to take their shot at the defending Champs.

Orlando Magic at New York Knicks

The Knicks come into this season much more competitive than last season, despite their lack of offseason acquisitions. The catalyst to their season is head coach Thibodeau. He is getting the absolute best out of the squad he has.

The only star this team boasts is Randle who is having a fantastic season. He is taking charge and setting the tone for the rest of the team averaging a double-double. So far, he is averaging 22.9 PPG, 6.5 APG, and 10.2 RPG. Randle is showing the league that he is a force on the court and has the capability of finding his teammates.

The Knicks are 4-6 in their last 10 games and just came off a decisive win against the Boston Celtics last night winning 105-75. The Knicks are either boom or bust. They currently are sitting last in the league when it comes to pace.

The Orlando Magic have hit a wall after a decent start to the season. Players are dropping like flies as this team remains plagued by injuries which has hampered their play in the past.

The Magic come into New York on a 5 game losing streak getting blown out in all five games and are 3-7 in their last 10 games. They can’t seem to figure it out. On the injury report for this game Aminu, Fournier, Carter-Williams, and Bamba. Losing a couple starters and bench players can have a serious affect on the team as it pressures individuals to elevate their play and forces mistakes.

The Magic are -2.0 favorites on the road despite their terrible play. They will need to rely heavily on Ross, Gordon and Vucevic. The Magic do have a slight edge talent wise, but can still easily lose this game if Randle limits Vucevic to under 20 points. The play here is Knicks +2.0 on what will be a close game.

Nets +2.5

Warriors +9.0

Knicks +2.0

Parley of the Day

Hawks ML

Lakers ML

Suns ML

Odds: +161

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