A new week in the NBA begins with changes in both conferences and new leaders, plus some of the favorites are running out of the postseason and they have to get their act together if they want to fight for the title.
In the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks rose to the top thanks to the upset defeat of the Boston Celtics who had a very bad week, losing 4 of 5 games.
For their part, in the West, the Memphis Grizzlies snatched first place from the New Orleans Pelicans, who also have a losing streak of 3 falls in a row.
On the other hand, teams like the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and Chicago Bulls are out of the postseason positions and will have to recover in the midseason to not suffer later.
NBA Weekly Preview 10: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Milwaukee Bucks
When:
Monday, December 19 at 7:00 pm ET
Moneyline odds:
New Orleans Pelicans +103
Milwaukee Bucks -120
Where Can I Watch it?
It’s not the best time for the New Orleans Pelicans. They have lost their last 3 games, all away from home. There were 2 losses with the Utah Jazz (121 – 100 and 132 – 129) and 1 with the Phoenix Suns (118 – 114), causing them to be surpassed by the Memphis Grizzlies and fall to second place in the Western Conference. However, the Louisiana quintet has a good record at the Smoothie King Center, where they have 7 wins in a row and 12 victories and 3 losses this season. Brandon Ingram will be absent through injury.
The situation with the Milwaukee Bucks is the opposite: they took advantage of the Boston Celtics’ losses and climbed to first place in the East. Although in their last two outings they have lost (Memphis Grizzlies by 142-101 and Houston Rockets by 97-92), they are the best team in the NBA with a record of 21-8. In the deer quintet, their star is doubtless, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who did not play Saturday, but is believed to have been a precaution. It will be a very even game.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Milwaukee Bucks Betting Pick: New Orleans Pelicans
NBA Weekly Preview 10: New York Knicks vs. Golden State Warriors
When:
Tuesday, December 20 at 7:30 pm ET
Moneyline odds:
New York Knicks -227
Golden State Warriors +179
Where Can I Watch it?
The moment of the New York Knicks is great. Tom Thibodeau’s quintet has 7 wins in a row and has managed to get into direct playoff spots, leading the Miami Heat by 1.5 games. It is the team’s best streak since April when they achieved 9 wins. Julius Randle has been the figure at this stage, recording double-doubles in his last 3 games and being the team leader in points (22.5) and rebounds (9.1).
The current champions are making a very poor defense of the title. The Golden State Warriors are having a season to forget with a record of 15 wins and 16 losses. Last week they had a great win against the Boston Celtics, but then lost 3 in a row. This Sunday they beat the Toronto Raptors to be able to lift their wings a bit and stay half a game behind the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are in tenth place. This season playing away they have done very badly with 3 wins and 14 losses. Stephen Curry is still injured and will not be on Tuesday.
New York Knicks vs. Golden State Warriors Betting Pick: New York Knicks
NBA Weekly Preview 10: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Milwaukee Bucks
When:
Wednesday, December 21 at 7:00 pm ET
Moneyline odds:
Cleveland Cavaliers
Milwaukee Bucks
Where Can I Watch it?
Big game on Wednesday night. Two teams that are fighting for the Eastern Conference and with a difference of 2 games between them. In all the games this year (4), the local team has always won, while this season they already met 2 times and the Milwaukee Bucks won both.
Cleveland Cavaliers come with 3 wins in a row and at home, they have only lost 2 games in all season, while the Bucks have lost in their last 2 outings and 5 of their 8 losses in the tournament have been away from home.
Donovan Mitchell comes with a great scoring average in the Cavs and we also find a team that distributes its duties and does not focus on a single player, unlike the Bucks which sometimes depend too much on what Giannis Antetokounmpo can do.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Milwaukee Bucks Betting Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers
NBA Weekly Preview 10: Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers
When:
Wednesday, December 21 at 7:30 pm ET
Moneyline odds:
Boston Celtics
Indiana Pacers
Where Can I Watch it?
The Boston Celtics return to the court after a very bad week, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, and twice to the Orlando Magic. They could only beat the Los Angeles Lakers in overtime and that caused the Milwaukee Bucks to beat them in the Eastern Conference. Now they were able to rest for two full days, so they come out in better shape to try to reverse this bad moment. Jayson Tatum was not in the last game, apparently with permission from the club so that he could celebrate his son’s birthday, so he would play this Wednesday.
Like the Celtics, the Indiana Pacers also suffered 4 losses and only 1 win in their last 5 games, which has dropped them to 9th place in the Eastern Conference, 7 games away from Boston, although they still have a good advantage over the Chicago Bulls who are 11th and out of the postseason. Guard Tyrese Haliburton has double-doubled in his last two games, but he needs to score more points to help his team win, just like he did against the Warriors, where he scored 29 and they won.
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