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Small NBA slate before a full one on New Year’s Eve. Here’s how to best navigate Thursday’s action via DraftKings Sportsbook.
Follow along on Twitter (@Nick_Friar) for updates.
Editor’s Note: Tonight’s game between the Denver Nuggets and the Golden State Warriors has been postponed, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
Milwaukee Bucks at Orlando Magic
Magic (+12.5) -110
The Bucks are back at full strength, and Orlando remains without Cole Anthony. Tough spot for the Magic, but they were in the same spot on Tuesday. Of course, they lost that one by 17, but familiarity is only going to help Orlando. Plus, while the Magic aren’t great ATS (15-20), the Bucks are only a slight tick better (16-20).
Now, both of these teams are an even .500 ATS in games played after one day of rest, which is the case on Thursday. However, the Bucks are only 7-10 ATS when they and their opponent have the same amount of rest. Conversely, Orlando is 12-9 ATS in the same situation — the situation these two teams are in on Thursday.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Washington Wizards
Evan Mobley over 1.5 blocks +115
Mobley didn’t block a shot in his final appearance before his recent four-game absence, and he didn’t block one in his return to the floor on Tuesday. That is only the second time he’s failed to block a shot in consecutive games this season, and there’s only been one other instance in Mobley’s 26 games played when he didn’t block a single shot. He’s blocked multiple shots in a game 12 times this season, once coming vs. the Wizards when these two teams last squared off on Dec. 3.
Now, the Wizards get their shots blocked a little over four times per game. That bodes well for Mobley. Moreover, Washington is averaging the third-most points in the paint per game (49.9), which means the Cleveland big will have a busy night on the defensive end. And with Jarrett Allen (doubtful) unlikely to play on Thursday, rim-protection duties fall even more heavily on Mobley’s shoulders.
Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets
Warriors (-3.5) -110
The Warriors didn’t come through vs. Denver on Tuesday, but it’s hard to imagine Steph Curry leaves any room for doubt on Thursday. Coming off a loss this season — which hasn’t happened often in 2021-21 — the Warriors have covered five times. Thursday will mark the seventh time this season Golden State is playing a game following a loss; so yeah, the Warriors take care of business after they lose. Furthermore, the Warriors are 12-7-1 ATS when they’ve had one day of rest between games.
Denver is solid ATS in games played after one day of rest (9-8). But, they’re only 7-9 ATS after a win. And while the Nuggets are a so-so 6-6 ATS when they and their opponent have the same amount of rest between games, the Warriors have covered a league-best 76.9% of the time in that same scenario (10-3).
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