NBA Picks Monday 01/21
Welcome to Sam's NBA picks where I'll be reguarly giving you my picks for the day's hoop action. I recommend backing these individually but you're welcome to parlay them too. Each pick is staked at one unit.
It's a national holiday which thankfully means a whole day of great NBA action on our screens. Here's our picks for today.
Trail Blazers @ Jazz
The Jazz are on a formidable run of six straight wins but with the Cavs, Magic and Bulls amongst the teams that they've beaten, you can see it has been a bit of a softer run for them.
That will change today when they face a Trail Blazers side who are starting to even out and deliver consistent performances. They had an 8-7 record in December but this month has seen them find better form, having gone 7-3 thus far.
It's a divisional game, so it'll be close but I'd expect Portland to cover here.
Trail Blazers +5
Warriors @ Lakers
The Lakers got the W last time the two teams met on Christmas Day but this is a different Lakers team, who are notably missing three of their best ball-handlers. This forces Lance Stephenson to Point Guard which is something that the Warriors will relish.
The Warriors have now welcomed Boogie Cousins to their rotation after his injury problems which is a fearsome propositon for any opposition, let alone one hit with as many injuries as the Lakers.
I can't see the Warriors not covering here, they're now fully healthy and starting to play at the level that we've been expecting from them all season.
Warriors -11