Three games from Saturday's NBA fiesta present plenty of opportunities for punters to make a handy profit.
First up, the T-Wolves will be looking to break their duck egg on the road against the Nets.
Then, the NBA's newest big three will take to the court in Philadelphia against the crumbling Cavaliers.
An absolute cracker rounds it off, as Kemba Walker's Hornets try to spring an upset against the Thunder.
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Brooklyn Nets
NBA Odds: Timberwolves $1.73 (-2.5) / Nets $2.17 (+2.5)
Saturday's bonanza of basketball action tips off in Brooklyn, where the visiting Timberwolves will hope to bounce back after a narrow 2-point loss to Denver.
The Wolves started the season off in a very mediocre fashion.
The doubts surrounding Jimmy Butler and his desire to leave the club had a negative impact on the court, where the Wolves often looked laboured.
However, since the recent trade of Butler to the 76ers in exchange for Robert Covington and Dario Saric, the team from Minnesota are starting to play near their best.
Three straight wins after this trade signalled just what the Timberwolves can do when they're focused.
With Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns in their side- the number one draft picks from 2014 and 2015 respectively- the Wolves will always have more than enough talent in their roster.
Add former MVP Derrick Rose (who was also a number one pick at the NBA draft), and you have a very formidable line up.
Rose is starting to return somewhere near his peak this campaign. Against the Jazz in early November, Rose turned back the clock and put a career-high 50 points on the board.
Despite having a massive superiority in class, the Wolves will have to end their road drought if they want to beat the Nets.
The team from Minnesota have been shocking away from home this season, losing all eight of their road games.
Brooklyn meanwhile have had a passable season so far, neither exceeding nor falling short of what was expected of them.
However, in a huge blow, star player Caris LeVert recently sustained a horror foot injury and will now miss a large chunk of the season.
That leaves the Nets a little light on scoring, with more of the burden falling to young guard D'Angelo Russell and backcourt partner Spencer Dinwiddie.
Against a rejuvenated T-Wolves, this will be a tough task.
Key NBA Stat
When these teams last met less than two weeks ago, the Timberwolves triumphed by 7 points: Minnesota to cover the -2.5 point line @ $1.92
Free NBA Pick: Minnesota to cover the -2.5 point line @ $1.92
Reasoning: This game presents the perfect opportunity for the Timberwolves to record their first road win of the campaign. Expect them to do it in style.
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Philadelphia 76ers
NBA Odds: Cavs $9 (+14.5) / 76ers $1.08 (-14.5)
Cleveland better be ready to play basketball when they step on the court in Philadelphia, or they'll simply be blown away.
The 76ers are looking as fearsome as ever in the "Trust the Process" era, after their recent acquisition of Jimmy Butler from Minnesota.
Now, the Sixers boast a "big three" of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Butler in their starting line up.
This is a trio that any team in the league would now be scared to come up against, let alone the lowly Cavaliers.
While this big three didn't click from day dot, they have been steadily improving in each game since Butler's trade.
Simmons in particular has really picked up his game in recent outings.
He was one assist shy of a triple-double against the Suns, before having another impressive performance against the Pelicans last time out.
In this game Philly just held on by a single point over Anthony Davis's Pels, in what was a narrow but deserved victory.
Sixers coach Brett Brown will be looking for his team to put in a commanding performance against Cleveland, and not let the opposition back into the game like they did against New Orleans.
While the 76ers are looking just about as good as they ever have in the past decade, the opposite is the case for the Cavaliers.
Between LeBron James' recent departure and Kevin Love's expected lengthy injury, there hasn't been much to cheer in Cleveland this season.
However, in LeBron's recent return to the Quicken Loans Arena with the Lakers, the Cavs put up a decent fight, only going down by 4 points.
Jordan Clarkson shapes up as Cleveland's best hope against the Sixers. He'll need to explode to give his team any chance of pulling off the upset.
But unless the 76ers rest some of their star names, this match should be over in the third quarter.
Key NBA Stat
The Cavs have lost all 8 of their away games in 2018/19: Philadelphia to win @ $1.08
Free NBA Pick: Philadelphia to cover the -14.5 point line @ $1.92
Reasoning: The Cavaliers have only won 2 games all season. After a big effort against the Lakers, they could throw up a stinker here and go down by 30.
Charlotte Hornets @ Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA Odds: Hornets $3.02 (+5.5) / Thunder $1.41 (-5.5)
One of the most interesting games on Saturday sees Kemba Walker's Hornets travel west to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder.
Walker has been a man possessed this season, and part of why the Hornets are sitting pretty at 6th spot on the Eastern Conference table.
Considering most didn't expect Charlotte to contend for a playoffs spot, this represents a great start to the season.
Kemba has scored more points than any other player this campaign, averaging a whopping 29.6 points each game.
Add an average 6.1 assists in 2018/19, and Kemba has been at the heart of all of Charlotte's point scoring.
Against the 76ers on Sunday, Kemba scored a career-high 60 points in one of the best individual shooting displays you'll ever see.
However, this wasn't enough for the win, with Charlotte going down by 3 points.
As good as Kemba has been, he still needs the support around him to chip in when they can. An issue here has been the injury to other star Hornet Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
In good news for fans of the club, Kidd-Gilchrist is expected to return from injury in this fixture, which would provide a massive boost.
It would be a welcome return considering how difficult the Thunder are to play on their home court.
When the "OKC" chant starts up, it can be a very hostile atmosphere for visiting teams.
The Thunder have won their previous six home games, most of them by a handsome margin.
When both Russell Westbrook and Paul George are on, there is no more fearsome combination in the NBA.
The pair combined for 56 points in their last outing (at the time of writing) against the Kings.
This provides an indication of just how good Kemba Walker's 60-point display was.
And also why, in the form that he's in, Walker and his Hornets are great value here.
Key NBA Stat
The Hornets have covered the line in 4 of their 5 matches as an away underdog this season: Charlotte to cover the +5.5 point line @ $1.92
Free NBA Pick: Charlotte to win @ $3.02
Reasoning: Not only is Walker in career best form, but the his teammates are starting to pick up the slack.
If Kidd-Gilchrist returns from injury, the Hornets are specials.
Nov 22, 2018 07:01 PM
AAP
Key NBA Stat
Free NBA Pick: Minnesota to cover the -2.5 point line @ $1.92
