NBA Regular Season - Denver Nuggets vs Miami Heat (Saturday Midday AEDT)
The Denver Nuggets were glad to return home last Thursday when they defeated Toronto Raptors, and they are $1.50 favourites to register consecutive victories at the Pepsi Centre when they host the Miami Heat ($2.60).
That 129-111 triumph over the Raptors followed a four-game road trip, on which the Nuggets went 2-2. Point guard Jamal Murray, in his second season with the Nuggets, top-scored with 24 points and his big game was beneficial for big man Nikola Jokic, who grabbed 16 rebounds and dished out 10 assists. Jokic -- who rose to prominence in the second half of last season - is in good form with four double-doubles in Denver's past five games, and he leads the team in points (16.1 per game), rebounds (11.9 per game) and assists (5 a game).
Miami halted a three-game losing streak with a 97-91 home victory against Chicago Bulls, rivals who represented a welcome drop in class for the Heat after games against likely playoff teams Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs.
Hassan Whiteside posted 13 points and 14 rebounds in 26 minutes when he returned to face the Bulls after missing five games with a bone bruise in his left knee, and his battle with Jokic will be key to this match-up. He can only get better but the Heat have stumbled against likely playoff teams early this season, whereas the Nuggets showed in their victory over the Raptors -- a quality Eastern Conference side --that they are an improving team in the Western Conference with Jokic at the helm.
The Nuggets' form over Toronto, plus the advantage of playing at home, should see them record a comfortable win with Miami still adjusting to Whiteside's return to the line-up.
Tip: Denver to beat Miami by 6 points or more at $1.90
NBA- Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Boston Celtics (Saturday 12:30pm AEDT)
Boston Celtics have recovered after losing Gordon Hayward to an horrific leg injury on opening night, and losing their first two matches, to win six consecutive games, including victories against likely playoff teams such as Milwaukee Bucks and San Antonio Spurs, and they appear to be value at $2.75 to beat Oklahoma City Thunder ($1.45 favourites) at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Kyrie Irving is showing why the Celtics traded him from the Cavaliers in the off-season: He has been the leading scorer in four of the six Boston wins and he is averaging almost 22 points per game eight matches into his Celtics career; he is also leading the Celtics in assists (5.6 per game) and steals (2.6 per game). During this streak, Boston has defeated).
Russell Westbrook, last season's MVP, received help during the off-season with Paul George and Carmelo Anthony acquired via trades. Oklahoma City enter this clash with a 4-3 record, with two of the three defeats against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but they have posted only one notable win - their 110-91 results on the road against Milwaukee Bucks, in which George posted 20 points and Anthony chipped in with 17. Westbrook scored only 12 points but grabbed 10 rebounds and nine assists in a well-rounded performance.
The Celtics have been good on the road, with their only loss in four games coming against the Cleveland Cavaliers on the night of Hayward's injury, and the disparity in prices between Oklahoma City and Boston appears too great, so the Celtics appeal.
