The Magic are suddenly the most in-form team in the NBA after the Cavaliers saw their impressive win streak end at the hands of the Celtics after 15 games.
Jamahl Mosley and his men continue their three-game West Coast trip when they fly to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers tomorrow with the plan of extending their unbeaten run to seven consecutive games.
Speaking of the Cavaliers, they’re aiming to return to winning ways when they host the injury-ravaged Pelicans.
On the other hand, the Bulls, Pacers, Sixers, Blazers, Knicks, and Hawks will also visit the Bucks, Rockets, Grizzlies, Thunder, Suns, and Warriors to round out Wednesday’s eight-game slate.
Today, SBOTOP is here to preview some of the best matchups that basketball fans should look forward to.
Chicago Bulls @ Milwaukee Bucks
The Bulls recently ended their two-game slide with a 122-112 win over the Pistons, as Coby White, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic caught fire, becoming the first trio in franchise history to record at least 25 points and five three-pointers in the same game.
Zach LaVine came alive in the final period, as he sparked a 13-2 run to put the Bulls up by double digits for good. He has been the team’s leading scorer this season, averaging 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game on 50.5-per cent shooting from the field and 42.0-per cent from three-point line.
Damian Lillard made his return for the Bucks after a three-game absence due to a concussion. The eight-time NBA All-Star notched 18 points, four rebounds, and 10 assists, including the game-winning layup to guide his team to a 101-100 win over the Rockets on Monday.
Lillard will continue to lead Milwaukee alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo since Khris Middleton is still out with an ankle injury. The Bucks are 12th in the Eastern Conference table with a 5-9 record.
Betting tip – Milwaukee Bucks Asian Handicap -7.00 @ 1.78
Portland Trail Blazers @ Oklahoma City Thunder
The Blazers are on a three-game winning streak, and the Thunder have lost their last two, but the NBA 2024 odds are in favour of the latter tomorrow.
Portland notched three consecutive home wins against Minnesota (twice) and Atlanta. Shaedon Sharpe is balling lately, averaging 22.3 points per game since being promoted to the starting lineup.
Anfernee Simons got the questionable tag after missing the last two games for being ill. Deandre Ayton might sit out for the fourth consecutive match due to a finger injury.
The Thunder are no longer the top seed in the Western Conference after losing to the Mavericks and Spurs.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams continue to shoulder the heavy load for Oklahoma City, but they’ll need support from the others since Chet Holmgren remains sidelined with a serious hip injury.
New York Knicks @ Phoenix Suns
Following last week’s 124-123 loss against the Bulls, the Knicks secured three consecutive home wins against the Nets (twice) and the Wizards, and Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns clicked during this stretch.
Brunson scored a season-high 37 points in the first game of their back-to-back set against Brooklyn before notching double-doubles in their next two games. Towns also had double-doubles in the last two games after missing the first Nets game due to a back problem.
The Suns have fallen to sixth in the Western Conference table because of their poor run of NBA 2024 results.
Bradley Beal is recovering from a calf injury, and Kevin Durant remains out indefinitely, so Devin Booker continues to shoulder the heavy load.
To his credit, Booker dropped a season-high 44 points against the Timberwolves, but he cooled off against the Magic with only 17 points.
Betting tip – New York Knicks Asian Handicap -6.00 @ 2.00
Orlando Magic @ LA Clippers
After losing five in a row in the wake of Paolo Banchero’s absence, Orlando turned it around by winning six in a row because of Franz Wagner’s resurgence.
Over the last two weeks, Wagner has averaged 28.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game on 46.5-per cent shooting from the field. He was recently named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for his efforts.
The Clippers are also on an unbeaten run after defeating the Jazz and the Warriors this week.
James Harden recently passed Ray Allen for the no. 2 spot on the NBA’s all-time three-points list, and he’ll be tasked with leading the way since Norman Powell (hamstring) is out.
Betting tip – Orlando Magic Asian Handicap -3.00 @ 2.04
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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