It’s the day all NBA fans have been waiting for; the debut of Zion Williamson.
There hasn’t been this much type since LeBron James made his debut. Williamson, a #1 draft pick out of Duke, could transform the NBA and it has been a long wait for punters.
The Pelicans play the Spurs on Thursday afternoon and we preview the game. We also look at the 76ers vs. Raptors, and Nuggets vs. Rockets. Here are our NBA betting tips!
All odds are with Sportsbet – our No. 1 rated bookmaker. You can join Sportsbet by clicking HERE.
NBA Betting Tips
San Antonio Spurs vs. New Orleans Pelicans @ Smoothie King Centre
The Pelicans have done well to sit at 17-27 this season. It means they have a chance of making the playoffs as Zion Williamson returns.
He’s a dynamic player, who will have an immediate impact in the NBA, and all eyes will be on the big man.
Playing in the NBA is vastly different than playing in college. However, he’s built like a tank and has the ball skills of a point guard.
We have no doubt that Williamson will have a huge impact on the Pelicans, and he could deliver this Thursday against the Spurs.
San Antonio have been disappointing this season, with a record of 18-23. They have all the pieces to be a better team and we could see improved form towards the end of the season.
Spurs enter this game having beaten Miami 107-102, and that will give them plenty of confidence going forward.
The Pelicans lost to the Clippers but that was only by three points. They’re close to breaking out and having Zion could be the factor.
Tip: New Orleans Pelicans to win – Bet Now
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Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors @ Scotiabank Arena
Philadelphia’s woes on the road have seemingly ended with back-to-back wins coming over the Knicks and Nets.
Ben Simmons scored his career-high points total against the Nets, in leading the 76ers back from the brink of defeat.
It was an interesting game from the 76ers, and it was very reminiscent of their win over the Brooklyn Nets last week.
They played poorly for the first three quarters but played incredible defense in the fourth. They forced the Nets into a lot of turnovers, and we’re expecting similar tactics against Toronto.
The Raptors are backing up their first NBA title with another tidy season. Sitting at 29-14, the Raptors are exceeding expectations and it’s good to see.
They bounced back from a defeat at the hands of the Spurs with three consecutive victories. Wins came over the Thunder, Wizards, and Timberwolves.
Toronto looks like a team that could make a deep run in the playoffs, and Pascal Siakam is proving to be a terrific two-way player.
Bookmakers will have a tough time framing this market, but we’re expecting the Raptors to be slight favourites at home.
Toronto is playing well enough to handle the 76ers, especially if they continue to sit Joel Embiid, who has missed the last few games.
Tip: Toronto Raptors to win – Bet Now
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Denver Nuggets vs. Houston Rockets @ Toyota Centre
Houston… we have a problem. We said in our Tuesday NBA preview that if Houston lose to the Oklahoma City Thunder, we could see an implosion.
That remains to be seen, however, bouncing back against the Denver Nuggets could prove difficult.
It’s important for the Rockets to show that they’re still a force in the Western Conference. Losing four consecutive games in this division is not good and they’re simply not scoring enough points.
After scoring 107 on Tuesday, the Rockets have been held to under 115 points in their last four games. That’s well below their average and James Harden’s average is also slipping.
They now play Denver, which is known for their tough defense. Denver gives up only 105.7 points per game, which is nine points less than the Rockets.
We haven’t yet seen Nikola Jokic play at his best, which is a scary proposition for this 29-13 outfit.
If Denver turns up and plays well on both sides of the ball, they could hand Houston their fifth consecutive loss. That could spark a trade, or even the coach could be on the chopping block.
There’s so much at stake this Thursday and the Nuggets could get it done.
Tip: Denver Nuggets to win – Bet Now
All odds are with Sportsbet – our No. 1 rated bookmaker. You can join Sportsbet by clicking HERE.
