Friday Night NBA

By Divol

Charlotte Bobcats v Washington Wizards

26th March 23:05 GMT

I can't understand such a total to be honest. The teams played 53 minutes, just three nights ago to reach that number, so I doubt they will do it in 48 minutes. To see a drop of only 0.5 points after that game really surprised me. Wizards on a 6 games Under streak and they are just having trouble scoring on the road while Cats will look to stop Wizards below 80 points and should succeed. The refs also all for the Under here. The three first games between the teams resulted in Under as well. 93 - 79 is my projected score here.



Pick: Under 181.5, 1.94 - 3.5 units play - Pinnacle


Oklahoma City Thunder v Los Angeles Lakers



27th March 00:05 GMT

I will take Lakers again today, but not high units. First of all, just like against the Spurs they face a possible first or second round rival. Second and more important, I really loved the way Lakers handled Spurs. Kobe danced on the floor and I haven't seen him do that for more than two months. Add to that the fact that Odom that had a shoulder injury looked pretty comfortable shooting and we get Lakers in pretty good condition (minus Bynum and Walton). They knew they would win in San Antonio. They played with such confidence and I know that this is exactly what Kobe and Phil expect from the Lakers.

Thunder are young and they need the W (they don't want to end up 8th and get Lakers without HCA in the first round and still have hopes for 4th place even) and they just want to beat the good teams. Still, they met four times this season and Lakers found a way to win in every game. It's hard to play Lakers without dominant presence in the paint. Still, I can see Thunder winning this one, but as I said before the Spurs game, I'm going to take Lakers against Western teams on this trip.



Pick: Lakers to win, 1.89 - 2.5 units play - Pinnacle


Indiana Pacers v Utah Jazz



26th March 23:05 GMT

I think this total is wrong. Despite being high, it should have been 4 - 5 points higher. First of all, Pacers found their game at home. In the last 30 days, Pacers have scored at home 100+ points in all games but one and even then they scored 99 points against Charlotte, one of the best defensive teams in the league. The last two games they scored 121 points against a good team the Thunder and before that scored 106 against the Pistons. Add 110 points against good defensive team like the Bucks and I just can't see Utah stopping them below 105 points and I can even see Pacers scoring 110+ points. Utah on the other hand, are too good and too capable to produce points in the paint (Pacers soft spot) not to score 105+ points as well. 117 - 112 in favour of one of the teams makes sense to me.



Pick: Over 210.5 - 2.5 units play - 1.9 - Expekt


Boston Celtics v Sacramento Kings



26th March 23:35 GMT

Kings without Tyreke show even bigger margins between 1st and 2nd halves in totals. All three games without him resulted in Over 1st half and Under in the game. 292 points were scored in those three games in the first half and only 258 points in the second half! In the first game between Celtics and Kings, the game finished with only 187 points and Under, but first half resulted in 109 points and an easy Over. Can't help myself but try the Over in 1st half again.



Pick: Over 100 points 1st half, 1.91 - 2.5 units play - Bet365


Toronto Raptors v Denver Nuggets



26th March 23:05 GMT

Just can't help myself from taking a small bet again on the Raptors as well. Denver are the type of team that can lose to any team on any given night. Toronto will fall below 50% if they lose tonight and they play Heat and Cats on the road next and will want to go to those crucial games off a win. Don't know who wins it, but for such odds I can take my chances with the Raptors, but really small.



Pick: Raptors to win, 1.25 units, 3.1 odds - Bet365

Divol