December hasn’t been a beautiful month for the likes of Detroit, Indiana, Portland and Atlanta. However, come the new year, they all looked ready to leave those ugly memories of horrible games in 2016.
They might be considered ‘underachievers’ at this point of the NBA season, but with a strong start to 2017, sports betting pundits and online gambling fans are expecting them to provide a better live betting experience from here on out.
Detroit Pistons 107-98 Miami Heat
Miami scored 66 points in the first half, but they lost steam come the second, recording only 32 points in the last 24 minutes of regulation. Their meltdown, however, could be attributed to the absence of what could have been their starters – Goran Dragic, Dion Waiters, Justise Winslow, Josh McRoberts and Hassan Whiteside.
Detroit’s starting unit, on the other hand, had a great shooting night with five players scoring in double figures.
Orlando Magic 104-117 Indiana Pacers
Both Paul George and Myles Turner impressed in this contest, and it was their ability to get to the foul line that powered the Pacers past the Magic. The two combined for 14 of Indiana’s 22 made freebies – a number far from Orlando’s 10.
It also helped the Pacers that they shot better from the field (50 percent) than the Magic (43.3 percent).
San Antonio Spurs 112-114 Atlanta Hawks
Tim Hardaway Jr. sent the match to overtime with a game-tying three and scored nine points in the extra five minutes, including the go-ahead free throw, to catapult the Hawks over LaMarcus Aldridge and the Spurs.
Hardaway finished with 29 points and five rebounds while Paul Millsap grabbed a double-double of 32 points and 13 boards.
Portland Trail Blazers 95-89 Minnesota Timberwolves
With Damian Lillard still out, the Trail Blazers got a much-needed boost from guard C.J. McCollum who scored a career-high 43 points.
Trailing by 14 at the end of the second quarter, McCollum put up 16 points in Portland’s 32-15 third quarter run to turn the game around and lead by five points entering the final period.
Andrew Wiggins came up big for the Wolves, but Karl-Anthony Towns was silent throughout, missing all of his six three-pointers.
Toronto Raptors 123-114 Los Angeles Lakers
Toronto showed their depth and quality as they survived a spirited Los Angeles side. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry shoot the lights out for the Raptors as they combined for 72 points, cancelling Nick Young and D’Angelo Russell’s 54-point collective effort.
Lowry, specifically, was sensational as he hit six of his seven threes to finish the game on a 75 percent shooting clip.
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