Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week – December 19th, 2022
It might be time to fade the Los Angeles Lakers for the next month or so and bet over the total in their games because Anthony Davis, playing arguably the best basketball of his career and easily the anchor of the LA defense, will miss about a month with a right foot injury. No surprise, really, as 11-year veteran missed more than half of the Lakers’ regular-season games over the past two seasons because of various injuries. Here’s a look at two intriguing NBA matchups early this week. Check back for NBA odds.
Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week (December 19th, 2022)
There's a new No. 1 on the NBA App Power Rankings ????
— NBA (@NBA) December 19, 2022
The Grizzlies rise to the top after a hot start to December!
???? https://t.co/MKjKRujC85 pic.twitter.com/uxaitSeSbo
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Denver Nuggets
- When: Tuesday, December 20, 2022, 10:00 PM ET
- Where: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
- TV: TNT
- Radio: WMFS-AM 680 (Grizzlies) // Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM (Nuggets)
- Live Stream: NBA League Pass
- NBA Betting Odds: Grizzlies (-1.5) // Nuggets (+1.5)
TNT has this broadcast that will feature MVP candidates Ja Morant of the Grizzlies and Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets – he has won the MVP the past two seasons. Jokic’s odds to threepeat shortened after an epic game Sunday in a 119-115 win over Charlotte.
He had 40 points and a career-high 27 rebounds with 10 assists for his fifth triple-double of the season and 81st overall. He is the third player in NBA history to record at least 40 points, 25 rebounds and 10 assists in a game, joining Wilt Chamberlain, who did it four times, and Elgin Baylor.
Other than Jokic, Chamberlain is the only other player to put up a stat line of at least 40-27-10, which he also did four times, the last was when he had 53 points, 32 rebounds and 14 assists for Philadelphia on March 18, 1968. Jokic is nearly averaging a triple-double at 25.2 points, 10.9 rebounds and nine assists in 26 games so far this season.
Denver might not be at full strength Tuesday as guard Jamal Murray is questionable and forward Michael Porter doubtful. Murray was on the injury report ahead of Sunday’s game against the Hornets due to the sprained left ankle he suffered two days prior but did play. The doubtful status is an upgrade for Porter, who has not appeared in a game since Nov. 22 due to a heel injury.
Memphis had a seven-game winning streak snapped in a 115-109 upset at Oklahoma City on Saturday. It didn’t help that Morant was ejected with 43 seconds left in the first half when he was called for his second technical foul after apparently making remarks to courtside Memphis fans that were derogatory about the officiating. He didn’t say specifically what he said to the fans, but did confirm the conversation and said he wasn’t speaking to the official before either technical foul.
This is the first meeting of the season between Denver and Memphis.
NBA Betting Pick: Grizzlies
READ MORE: Bulls vs. Heat 2022 NBA Odds and Preview – December 20th
Golden State Warriors vs. Brooklyn Nets
- When: Wednesday, December 21, 2022, 7:30 PM ET
- Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
- TV: YES, NBCSBA
- Radio: 95.7 The Game (Warriors) // 97.5 The Fanatic (Nets)
- Live Stream: NBA League Pass
- NBA Betting Odds: TBA
TNT has this possible NBA Finals preview as Kevin Durant faces his former team for the first time this season. Alas, he won’t get to square off with another former MVP in Steph Curry, who will miss at least a few more weeks with a left shoulder subluxation. That it’s also the second of a back-to-back for the Warriors, who have been terrible on the road, means they could rest guys like Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
The Nets will be well rested as they won a sixth in a row Sunday, 124-121 in Detroit. Durant scored 26 points in the third, a career high for most points he’s ever had in any quarter, and finished the game with 43 as he helped Brooklyn rally from a 19-point deficit. He was 14-for-22 from the field, 12-for-13 from the foul line, grab six rebounds and dish out two assists in 36 minutes.
Durant also passed John Havlicek and Paul Pierce on the NBA’s all-time scoring list after scoring his first six points of the night. He now sits in 16th place all-time. Coach Jacque Vaughn believes the 34-year-old is playing the best of his career. Durant is averaging 30.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 0.7 assists in 36.7 minutes this season.
“The teams throw everything at him, so that piece of it, I think it warrants that conversation,” Vaughn said. “Just because at the end of the night — you look at the stat sheet and it’s an extremely efficient night … You just see it in a variety of ways, which means his game is getting better still, which is pretty difficult to say but some truth behind it.”
Golden State swept Brooklyn last season and has won 10 of 13 overall in the series.
NBA Betting Pick: Nets
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This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more 2022-23 NBA season previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest basketball betting odds on our online BTC sportsbook.
*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.READ MORE: Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week – December 26th, 2022
