Fresh from an embarrassing blowout loss against the Thunder, it won’t get any easier for the Celtics as they’ll take on the Mavericks – owners of the longest current winning streak in the NBA.
Elsewhere, the top two teams in the Western Conference – the Nuggets and the Grizzlies – aim to get positive NBA 2023 results against the Clippers and the Magic, respectively, while the Jazz and the Rockets are looking to put an end to their losing streak.
We may only have four games tomorrow, but it’s still going to be a busy day in the Association. So, read on below for more of our SBOTOP preview.
Memphis Grizzlies @ Orlando Magic
It’s also getting tight in the Western Conference, so the Grizzlies need to get as many wins as possible.
They have won four straight games after defeating Charlotte 131-107, with five different Grizzlies scoring in double figures. As usual, star guard Ja Morant led the way with 23 points and eight assists.
If they win tomorrow, not only would their win streak extend to five games, but they’ll also improve to a 10-10 record on the road this season.
But the Magic have gained some momentum as they beat the Thunder to break their three-game skid. Paolo Banchero, the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for December 2022, paced them with 25 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.
Following their recent brawl with Detroit, though, Orlando will remain undermanned.
Boston Celtics @ Dallas Mavericks
How the Celtics respond to their defeats against the Nuggets and the Thunder will help determine whether they’ll be able to hold on to the top spot of the East standings, especially with the Bucks, Nets, Cavaliers, and Sixers lurking.
Against OKC, Boston gave up 150+ points for only the third time in franchise history and the first since 1979. After the loss, they admitted that they were complacent when they learned that star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was unavailable.
Boston did win their first season matchup against Dallas on November 24th, 125–112, as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 68 points while four other Celtics also scored double-digit points. They need to have a similar type of effort tomorrow.
As for the Mavericks, Luka Doncic continues to put up absurd numbers, but the main reason for their seven-game winning streak is his teammates chipping in consistently.
Betting Tip: Boston Celtics Asian Handicap -2.00 @ 1.87
Utah Jazz @ Houston Rockets
The Jazz and the Rockets have not started 2023 right, as both teams have now lost five consecutive games. Utah were recently defeated by Sacramento in heartbreaking fashion, while Houston were upended by the Zion Williamson-less New Orleans team.
Utah have defied the NBA 2023 odds with their hot start to this season. For a while, they were on top of the West standings, but now they’ve regressed to 10th place.
In his sixth season, Lauri Markkanen has been taking his game to another level with averages of 23.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, and he just might get his first All-Star nod should he continue this type of production.
Other than Markkanen, Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Kelly Olynyk, Malik Beasley, and Collin Sexton have been doing great under new head coach Will Hardy.
The Rockets, on the other hand, are a youth-laden team with the likes of Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green, and Alperen Sengun leading the way. They’re the second-worst team in the NBA, record-wise, at 10-28.
Los Angeles Clippers @ Denver Nuggets
Denver are hoping to solidify their top spot in the Western Conference when they host Los Angeles on Thursday. The Nuggets have been terrific at home this season with a 14-3 record, while the Clippers are 10-10 on the road.
The Clippers have lost three straight, and they’re hoping that stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are available. Leonard missed their last game with a non-COVID illness, while George is questionable due to a tweaked hamstring.
Injuries are the main reason why the Clippers couldn’t find a rhythm this year, which is the same situation the Nuggets were in last season.
Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. sat out all of 2021-22, but both are now healthy and ready to help their two-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
Nikola Jokic’s case for a third consecutive MVP continues to grow stronger with each win, especially since they are 7-3 in their last 10. The Joker is averaging 25.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game on 61-per cent shooting from the field this season.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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