We’re about one-seventh through the 2017-18 NBA regular season, and so far the Boston Celtics look like they got the better of the Kyrie-for-Isaiah trade. The Celtics lost their first two games but now have a 12-game winning streak going. The surprising Detroit Pistons are right ont heir heels, though, sitting at 10-3, and the young Magic are still in third in the East.
The Cavaliers, however, are stuck at 6-7, although they won their last matchup at Dallas on Saturday night. Out west, the super team in Houston with Chris Paul and James Harden running the offense is off to a terrific 11-3 start, a half-game ahead of Golden State. Dennis Smith Jr. did get kudos from LeBron James after the Cavs’ win over the Mavericks, but that hasn’t stopped Dallas from an awful 2-12 start.
The Thunder are still waiting for Carmelo to find his place on their own superteam. They are stuck at 6-7. Let’s look at your online NBA betting options for this week. Home teams are in all caps.
The Spurs come in with an 8-5 record, and despite their injury issues (with Rudy Gay the latest casualty, with an iffy back) they still beat Chicago by 39 on Saturday night. Unless Gregg Popovich decides to rest half his starters, expect the Spurs to pick up an easy win over a Dallas team still figuring out its identity.
Top NBA Betting Matchups of the Week – November 13th Edition
The Pistons (yes, the Pistons) crack the top five in this week’s NBA Power Rankings https://t.co/2mgeXXgpcW pic.twitter.com/ajCwwWnTea
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 13, 2017
Monday, November 13
NEW ORLEANS over Atlanta (8:00pm ET)
The Atlanta Hawks are the Eastern Conference’s basement dwellers right now, and they’re having a hard time even getting to the point of shooting. Against the Wizards, Atlanta committed 24 turnovers, the most they’ve given up so far this season, against a Washington team that is not one of the elite defensive units in the East. Dennis Schroder is showing growing pains as he moves into his sophomore season on the point. Meanwhile, New Orleans shows that the experiment mixing DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis may be what helps the Pelicans get to the next level. Against the Clippers on Saturday night, Cousins put up 35 points and 15 boards, while Davis posted 25 points and 10 boards. That dominant combination inside led to the Pelicans’ eight-point win. If this “Dynamic Duo” can figure out how to bottle that combination and keep running with it, the Pelicans will be tough for teams to beat — particularly at home in the Crescent City. So, don’t take them for granted as an NBA betting pick.Tuesday, November 14
San Antonio over DALLAS (8:30pm ET)
Dennis Smith Jr. is the best point guard that the Mavericks have had since Jason Kidd, and he might be the most dynamic one they’ve had since Derek Harper — or perhaps in their entire franchise history. Harrison Barnes is showing that he earned that max deal and is pouring in points from the outside and from crashing the rim. Samaje Mejri is emerging as a dominant force inside, swatting shots and grabbing rebounds. However, Dirk Nowitzki is definitely showing his age on both offense and defense, and Nerlens Noel has gone from receiving a $70 million contract offer to the coach’s doghouse because of a lack of activity on both ends of the floor. The Mavericks are rebuilding, and it’s not pretty.
The Spurs come in with an 8-5 record, and despite their injury issues (with Rudy Gay the latest casualty, with an iffy back) they still beat Chicago by 39 on Saturday night. Unless Gregg Popovich decides to rest half his starters, expect the Spurs to pick up an easy win over a Dallas team still figuring out its identity.
