Weekend Preview
By Bovada.lv
NBA Basketball Betting Weekend Look-Ahead at Bovada
Before the book looks at the live betting options at Bovada for the rest of the weekend, the Jeremy Lin phenomenon must be addressed first.
Lin, the NBA's first Asian-American and who was a benchwarmer less than two weeks ago, led the New York Knicks to their seventh straight win on Wednesday night (6-1 ATS), as New York clobbered the visiting Sacramento Kings 100-85. Lin, who had the most points in his first five career starts than any player since the ABA-NBA merger, was held to 10 points against Sacramento (his first start under 20 points scored) but the point guard had a career-high 13 assists. With the victory, the Knicks (15-15) climbed back to .500 for the first time since Jan. 14.
Of course Lin hit the game-winning shot in Toronto on Tuesday night. With all the media attention surrounding Lin, Bovada released a few props on the former Harvard and D-League player. Could Lin win the NBA MVP award? That's a yes-only +3000 prop. Will he hit a game-winning buzzer-beater the rest of the regular season? That's a yes-only +300 prop.
The Knicks, meanwhile, are now just five games behind the 76ers in the Atlantic Division and currently hold down the final playoff spot in the East. Will the Knicks reach the playoffs? That seemed unlikely seven games ago, but yes on that prop is -500 at Bovada, with no at +300. And the over/under win total for the Knicks is now 36.5. Of course at its current .500 pace, New York would finish with 33 wins in the lockout-shortened 66-game schedule. But these aren't the same early-season Knicks.
Lin and the Knicks will be big favorites in their next game, Friday at home against the Hornets, one of the NBA's worst teams. And Carmelo Anthony could return for New York in that one. Anthony hasn't played since Lin's first start last Monday and Carmelo made it only six minutes in that one before suffering a groin injury.
Previewing Thursday-Sunday
Bovada's live play-by-play betting options continue on Thursday night with the usual TNT doubleheader, this week featuring Boston at Chicago in the opener and the Los Angeles Clippers at Portland. Neither game opened with a line because three of the four played Wednesday night - Boston, the Clippers and Portland - and because both the Blazers and Bulls are dealing with injuries to their best players.
For Chicago, reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose has missed the past three games with back spasms. But an MRI on Monday revealed nothing structural and he likely will be a game-time decision against the Celtics. One of those games he missed was Sunday at Boston, when the Celtics won 95-91 behind arguably Rajon Rondo's best game ever: season-highs with 32 points and 15 assists to go along with 10 rebounds. That line moved a few points toward Boston and closed at Chicago -1 after Rose was officially ruled out. Certainly the line Thursday will fluctuate a few points as well depending on Rose but the Bulls will again be favored.
As for the Blazers, they didn't have franchise player LaMarcus Aldridge on Wednesday in Golden State after Aldridge sprained his ankle in Tuesday's easy win over Washington. Aldridge didn't travel with the team to Oakland for Wednesday's game even though X-rays came back negative. The Blazers may play it cautious on Thursday with Aldridge and the team finishing a back-to-back-to-back. Aldridge is averaging a career-high 22.6 points per game this season.
On Friday night, Bovada has live betting schedule for both games of the ESPN doubleheader: Mavericks at 76ers and Suns at Lakers. Philadelphia had been one of the NBA's toughest teams to beat at home, including wins over the Bulls and Lakers there earlier this month, but enter on a two-game skid at Wells Fargo Center. In fairness, those losses came against Western Conference powers San Antonio and the Clippers. The Lakers, meanwhile, will be huge favorites as they are 12-2 at home and already beat the Suns by 16 at Staples Center.
There will be no live betting action in the NBA on Saturday as college basketball takes over, but there are three live games on Sunday: Mavericks at Knicks, Magic at Heat and Nuggets at Thunder.
It will be the NBA champions Mavs' first look at the Lin sensation and continues a brutal schedule run for Dallas as it then faces the Celtics and Lakers in Big D early next week. Orlando, meanwhile, recently thumped Miami 102-89 - the last time Miami lost. Sunday could be the final time Dwight Howard faces the Heat in a Magic uniform as the final two meetings between the Florida teams are after the NBA trading deadline. Meanwhile, Denver and Oklahoma City face off for the first time - somehow the Northwest Division foes have avoided each other on the schedule thus far.