After a thrilling all-star weekend that should reinvigorate both fans’ and players’ enthusiasm for the sport, the NBA is back in action. For the last stretch of the 2022-2023 season, the 32 clubs involved will need to shift into higher gear. The regular season is quickly coming to an end, with only a few games left.
Several of these guys may not have much longer to play if they don’t make the playoffs. This is their chance to reveal their team’s true character. At this point in the season, elite players are beginning to get back into game shape in preparation for the postseason.
Believe it or not, the league title is still up for grabs, and no team has officially established itself as the undisputed frontrunner. Fans can cash in on the action by playing at Bet999. Register a user account and get free bets to win real money. First, let’s talk about some of the top picks for next week.
Match Betting Previews
Denver Nuggets versus Cleveland Cavaliers – Thursday, February 23rd
On Thursday, the Denver Nuggets will make their long-awaited return to the court, much to the delight of the team’s devoted fan base. The Nuggets have the Western Conference’s top seed all to themselves and will look to keep it that way in the second half.
The Nuggets have been frightening even without top performances from Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray thus far this season. Denver has a very deep roster full of experienced players who all know what they’re supposed to be doing.
After only three years of outstanding play, Nikola Jokic is a major contender for the prestigious MVP award. The top seed in the playoffs would make his road to the championship much simpler, so that is where his attention will be focused.
The game against the Cavs will be a wonderful indication of where Nikola and his club are and how successful they have been so far. Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers were on the same page in regard to his all-star performance on Sunday.
The Cavaliers’ leading scorer has done just that, and now he believes he has a championship-caliber supporting cast. Several factors have combined to make Cleveland seem better than it has since the days of King James.
Consider Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. These athletes have been blossoming before our eyes, and they have the potential to become household names very soon. This should be a thrilling game to see, so go over the total and pick the Cleveland Cavaliers at home.
Sacramento Kings versus Los Angeles Clippers – Friday, February 24th
On Friday, the Kings and the Clippers meet up for a crucial Pacific Division matchup. Sacramento, which has been one of the season’s biggest surprises so far, says it will keep everything the same.
The Kings’ consistent performance and tireless effort have put them in a position to make the postseason for the first time in nearly a decade. The Sacramento Kings are feeling refreshed, so they’re looking forward to playing the Los Angeles Clippers on the road.
Russell Westbrook has claimed Los Angeles as his territory. Some Clippers fans will have different feelings about the team’s choice to sign the experienced ex-Laker for the rest of this season.
The second half of the season will be crucial for Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, who have a lot of support at this moment. Most observers consider this squad a favorite to make a run at the NBA Finals, and they’ll need to deliver to prove their critics wrong.
Miami Heat versus Philadelphia 76ers – Monday, February 27th
The 76ers will travel to Miami, Florida on Monday to try and recover from their devastating loss to the Celtics’ on Saturday. The Sixers have an overall record of 39-20 compared to the Heat’s 32-29. Although they haven’t yet faced off this season, the Heat eliminated the Sixers in the playoffs in May of last year following a six-game thriller.
The Miami Heat have struggled recently, dropping to eighth place in the Eastern Conference after four consecutive defeats. They are 11 games and 1.5 games behind the Celtics, who are currently in the first place, and have a record of 32-29.
The squad recently lost to Charlotte in a keenly contested match which ended in a 108-103 loss. They had a 40% field goal percentage and were outrebounded 48-42.
The Philadelphia 76ers are still having trouble, especially after their humiliating home loss on Saturday night during the prime-time show. The Celtics, the Sixers’ biggest rival, defeated them by a score of 110-107.
Halfway through the third quarter, the 76ers led by 15 points but they let it slide away. With 1.3 seconds left, Jayson Tatum made a contested three-pointer from the top of the key to give the Celtics a 110-107 lead.
Orlando Magic versus New Orleans Pelicans – Monday, February 27th
On Monday, February 27, 2023, the NBA’s Orlando Magic will travel to New Orleans to take on the Pelicans in an important cross-conference matchup. The only confrontation between these two teams this NBA season took place on the 20th of January. Magic won the encounter 123-110.
On Saturday, the Orlando Magic were trounced 121-108 by the Indiana Pacers. The team’s record has fluctuated between victories and defeats in the previous eight games. The first of three games away from home begins Monday in New Orleans, where the team has a 10-20 record this year.
The Magic’s poor shooting (38.1%) ultimately lost them the game, as they made only 6 of 29 (31.7%) three-point attempts. The Magic currently in the 13th position in the Eastern Conference log, four games behind the eighth and final playoff spot held by the Wizards.
Orlando has improved from their season average of 102.7 PPP to 104.6 PPP in their previous three games. They are 28th in the NBA rankings in terms of points scored per game with an average score of 110.8. They are also ranked 16th in terms of points allowed per game, with an average of 113.7 points allowed.
With a scoreline of 128-106, the New York Knicks recorded a victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday. The Pelicans currently sit at 30–31 overall and 28–33–0 against the spread. The squad went 1-3 on their road trip and will play only one home game before leaving again for three more road games.
The Pelicans have a 20-10 record at home this season, with three wins in their previous four contests. New York’s 51.1% shooting accuracy for the game proved decisive in their victory over New Orleans.
Currently, the 10th-place Saints are clinging to the West’s final playoff spot. They are a game ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder and half a game behind both Utah and the Golden State Warriors.
San Antonio Spurs versus Utah Jazz – Tuesday, February 28th
San Antonio’s 16-game losing streak continued on Saturday night as the Jazz swept the first game of a two-game series. The Spurs are now 14-47 on the year and are 23 games behind the Grizzlies for the Southwest Division lead. They were 14th in the Western Conference, 28.5 games behind first-place Denver, and 17.5 games behind eighth-place Dallas for a playoff berth.
This season, the Spurs rank 25th in the NBA with 112.3 points per game. For some perspective, San Antonio ranks 16th in the NBA in rebounding with 43 boards per game, and they are sixth in assists with 26.9 per game. The Spurs allow 122.9 points per game on the average, which ranks them 30th in the NBA.
The Jazz are now 31-31 on the season, tied for second place in the Northwest Division behind the Nuggets by 12 games. In the Western Conference, they were in eighth place, 12 games behind the first-place Denver Nuggets, and one game behind the sixth-place Dallas Mavericks.
At an average of 117.6 points per game this season, the Jazz are fifth in scoring offense. Utah is ranked eighth in both assists per game (25.8) and rebounds per game (45), thanks to their strong teamwork. The Jazz allow 117 points on average per game, which ranks them 22nd in the NBA.
Memphis Grizzlies versus Houston Rockets – Wednesday, March 1st
Memphis had two hot streaks earlier this season, winning seven in a row in December and eleven in a row in January. Even though the Grizzlies were 18 games ahead of the breakeven point then, they lost eight of their next nine contests.
Since then, they’ve been on a roll, winning five of their previous seven games. After starting their season with a loss to Philadelphia, the Grizzlies went on to defeat the Nuggets and the Lakers by double digits. The Grizzlies’ four-game road swing begins tonight and concludes early next week in Los Angeles.
Memphis is second in the Western Conference, 5.5 games behind Denver and two games ahead of Sacramento, so this stretch is crucial. Memphis currently leads Dallas by six games in the Southwest Division. They have been rated ninth in the NBA in scoring this season, and their offense has been outstanding (115.9).
Even now, Houston remains one of the weakest teams in the NBA. The Rockets are the poorest team in the NBA at 13-48. They have only won once this month, on February 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Since then, they’ve dropped 10 straight games, each time allowing at least 116 points. The Rockets’ five-game road trip ended with a 21-point loss to the Nuggets on Tuesday. Take the Rockets’ recent streak of five consecutive double-digit losses into account before making your wager on Wednesday.
LA Clippers versus Golden State Warriors – Thursday, March 2nd
With their 108-101 home defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Clippers are in poor shape. The Clippers, coming off two devastating overtime losses to the Sacramento Kings and the Denver Nuggets, dropped an egg against the T-Wolves as 6.5-point favorites.
This past Tuesday, LA made a staggering 25 turnovers. The Clippers scored just 42 points on 60.2% shooting and 38 points in the paint against the 60 points scored against them. Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out five assists, while Paul George racked up 25 points, six boards, three dimes, and three steals.
The Golden State Warriors have won three straight games after their 123-105 thumping of the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. The Warriors overcame a 17-point deficit at halftime against Portland in order to cover a 5-point spread in front of their home fans. This victory came after they had secured victories at home against the Houston Rockets and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Warriors shut down Damian Lillard and the Trail Blazers’ offense, limiting Portland’s field goal percentage to 43. The Warriors shot 53.8% from the field, with Jordan Poole leading the way with 29 points and 6 assists.
Atlanta Hawks versus Miami Heat – Saturday, March 4th
The Atlanta Hawks are currently away from home for four consecutive games. The Hawks began their road trip with a 117-109 defeat in Miami, following a commanding 129-111 victory against Portland at home on Friday.
With a 5-5 result over their past 10 games, Atlanta has recently been a tough opponent. The Hawks are currently 1.5 games behind the Heat for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Trae Young still averages in the double figures despite what seems to be a poor outing. He scored 23 and 31 points in his most recent two contests. The point guard, who is 24 years old, is now averaging 26.7 PPG and 10.1 APG.
The Miami Heat will kick off their six-game homestand on Monday. Given that they’ve already dropped six of their previous eight games, the Hurricanes’ inconsistent play hasn’t improved in recent years.
The Heat have won 4 and lost 6 in their last ten matches. They’re now 7th in the league, two games off of a playoff spot.
The Heat’s home record over their previous five games is 2-3, with those defeats coming to the 76ers and the Knicks. Even though Miami is ranked 30th in scoring at 108.1 points per game, they are on the uptick and have scored 120 and 117 in their last two games.
