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Saturday features a nine-game NBA slate. The action gets underway at 8 p.m. ET, and the final games of the night tip-off at 10 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of my favorite wagers on DraftKings Sportsbook for Saturday’s NBA slate.
Place your NBA bets at DraftKings Sportsbook and bet online by downloading the DraftKings Sportsbook app.
New York Knicks @ Milwaukee Bucks (-9):
Knicks +9
The Bucks have been playing some of their best basketball of the season recently. They’ve won 13 of their past 15 games, and they’ve outscored their opponents by an average of 7.4 points per 100 possessions over that time frame.
That said, this is a lot of points to give a team like the Knicks.
For starters, the Knicks play at the slowest pace in the league. That gives the Bucks minimal chances to maximize their edge from a talent perspective. The Knicks are also one of the better defensive teams in the league, ranking fourth in defensive efficiency.
That combination should keep the scoring down a bit, which is going to make it tough for the Bucks to win by double-digits.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Bucks PF/C Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee), PG/SG Jrue Holiday (knee) and PG/SG Donte DiVincenzo (foot) are listed as doubtful tonight vs. the Knicks. SF/PF PJ Tucker (calf) and Khris Middleton (hip) are listed as out. Knicks PF/C Julius Randle (thigh) is listed as questionable.
Chicago Bulls @ San Antonio Spurs (-2):
Bulls +2
This will be the Bulls' first game since the trade deadline, which means it will be our first chance to Nikola Vucevic in a Bulls’ uniform. Head coach Billy Donovan previously stated that Daniel Theis would not be available to make his team debut, but Vucevic and the rest of the new additions are expected to suit up.
The big news to monitor in this contest is the status of Zach LaVine, as he was added to the injury report on Friday. He’s currently listed as questionable, and his absence would have a huge impact on this game. He has had a phenomenal season, averaging 28.1 points per game while shooting a hyper-efficient 52.0% from the field and 43.7% from 3-point range.
As long as he’s able to suit up, the Bulls don’t deserve to be underdogs in this matchup. Their new lineup is simply far more talented than the Spurs’.
Boston Celtics (-8) @ Oklahoma City Thunder:
Thunder +8
The Celtics are coming off a massive win last night vs. the Bucks, which makes this a potential let-down spot. Kemba Walker will also sit on the second leg of a back-to-back, which is going to leave the team a bit shorthanded. They played a tight rotation yesterday with Tristan Thompson out and Theis traded, so they won’t have a ton of bodies available if Evan Fournier isn’t available to make his team debut.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Evan Fournier (health protocols) has been ruled out for tonight’s game vs. the Thunder.
The Thunder aren’t a great team, but I think they can keep this game closer than expected.
Place your NBA bets at DraftKings Sportsbook and bet online by downloading the DraftKings Sportsbook app.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is mlamarca) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
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