Chicago Bulls at Charlotte Hornets Basketball Gambling preview
Place: Spectrum Center
Time: 7:10 PM
NBA online betting odds:
Bulls +7 (-110) 199½ (-110) +255
Hornets -7 (-110) 199½ (-110) -310
The Bulls have lost five games in a row, in spite of which they remain in playoff contention as 10th place in the Eastern Conference 1½ games behind the Bucks. Four of those losses have been by double figures, but the 100-80 debacle against the Celtics on Sunday was something else. Never since the days of Manolete have Bulls been slaughtered with such gusto. These Bulls are more like bullocks, though. In Boston, Chicago scored nine points in the first quarter, missed their first 12 shots and 19 of their first 22 attempts. The Bulls trailed by as many as 29 points. Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade combined for 13 points on 6 of 22 shooting and a minus-49. The Hornets have lost three – or won three if one sees the glass half full – of their last six and 11th in the East right behind the Bulls.
Dallas Mavericks at Toronto Raptors Basketball Gambling preview
Place: Air Canada Centre
Time: 7:40 PM
NBA online betting odds:
Mavericks +4 (-110) 195½ (-110) +160
Raptors -4 (-110) 195½ (-110) -185
The Mavs had a four-game winning streak snapped by the Suns on Saturday. Nerlens Noel missed his second consecutive game with sore knees. The former Sixer has paid off for the Mavericks, but he is listed as questionable for tonight. Dallas is 2½ games behind the Nuggets for the final playoff berth in the Western Conference. On the other hand, the Raps are 4th in the East and second in the Atlantic division, but they two straight and four of their last six games. DeMarre Carroll missed the Raptors’ win against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, and his status for tonight is unknown. Additionally, Kyle Lowry is recovering from wrist surgery. Cory Joseph – the Canadian team’s lone Canadian player – has started in Lowry’s stead. According to Toronto Star sportsball writer Doug Smith, “the Toronto Raptors are in survival mode, hanging in until they can get their starting point guard back.” Hey, just like their namesake from the Cretaceous. All things considered, Toronto needs to be more vicious and cunning, like the inaccurately portrayed velociraptors in Jurassic Park.
Atlanta Hawks at San Antonio Spurs Basketball Gambling preview
Place: AT&T Center
Time: 8:05 PM
NBA online betting odds:
Hawks +6½ (-110) 200½ (-110) +220
Spurs -6½ (-110) 200½ (-110) -260
The Hawks have won their last three straight games after losing as many in a row. The Spurs bounced back from a nine-game winning streak-snapping loss to the Thunder on Thursday with a 107-85 win over also-rans Golden State Warriors on Saturday. San Antonio was without Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, and guard Tony Parker – who is the only one of the three expected to return to activity tonight. Leonard remains on concussion protocol but is progressing well, but there is no timetable on Aldridge’s return.