Saturday's Best NBA Bets
Philadelphia 76ers at Orlando Magic
Just two weeks ago the Orlando Magic looked like one of the East’s elite squads, sitting at 15-4 and in the midst of a 10-1 stretch, but since then the Magic have fallen apart.
A flu bug swept through the locker room, causing starters Jameer Nelson, Dwight Howard and key reserves Mickael Pietrus and J.J. Redick to all miss some time. The absence of those players coincided with the start of Orlando’s skid, in which it has lost five out of six games, topped the 100-point mark only once and allowed at least 96 points in four of the losses.
The Magic’s tumble came predominantly on the road, so playing back in the Amway Center should help Orlando get back on track. It also helps to play Philadelphia, a team that is just 2-10 on the road.
The young 76ers have been playing their best basketball of the season however, winning seven of nine with the losses only coming to the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics.
Second-year point guard Jrue Holiday is epitomizing Philadelphia’s turnaround. He has scored double figures in sixth straight, most recently a 24-point, five-assist effort on Wednesday against the Clippers.
The problem with the 76ers’ chances of winning in Orlando is that they are one of the weaker rebounding teams in the league, while Orlando is No. 2 in the Association. Philadelphia wins on tight defense but if they give the Magic multiple second and third-chance opportunities, their road woes should continue.
Pick: Magic
Utah Jazz at Milwaukee Bucks
The Utah Jazz were red-hot entering December, having won seven-straight contests. Since the calendar has flipped, the Jazz have been alternating wins and losses.
Offense hasn’t been the issue in Salt Lake City, as Utah has logged at least 94 points in all but one of its last 13 games.
Point guard Deron Williams has led the charge, averaging 25.7 points his last ten games, including three straight 30-point outbursts. Paul Millsap is continuing his breakout campaign, while Al Jefferson looks to finally be settling in with his new team, reaching double figures in nine of his last 10 contests.
The Jazz offense will be tested Saturday by a Milwaukee defense that allows the fifth-fewest points against per game and is one of the better rebounding teams in the league. The Bucks finally have Drew Gooden back and Andrew Bogut looks to be back in top form, so Milwaukee has a formidable post presence and should own the boards against Utah, one of the league’s worst on the glass.
Milwaukee has the league’s worst offense but look for the Bucks to keep the Jazz out of the paint and make them settle for jump shots, as Utah is not a good three-point shooting team. That should allow the Bucks to limit Utah’s second-chance points. Without the ability to pull away, Utah will likely let Milwaukee hang around in the game and the Bucks’ defense should be able to pull them out an upset win at home.
Pick: Bucks