Daily Picks 12/16: Rockets Ready To Bounce Back
In Sunday’s NBA games, LeBron James finished with 32 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks for the Los Angeles Lakers in a 101-96 win over the Atlanta Hawks.
For the Brooklyn Nets, Spencer Dinwiddie had 24 points and six assists in a 109-89 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Here are Today’s NBA Picks:
Dallas Mavericks @ Milwaukee Bucks
· The Dallas Mavericks have a 96-63-2 record against the spread as an away team coming off one day rest since the 2012-13 season (Stat courtesy of Statschecker).
The Milwaukee Bucks are on an absolute tear.
The Bucks will try to win a 19th consecutive game, which would match their franchise-record winning streak.
They will have the opportunity to do it against a Mavericks team that will be without their All-Star point guard Luka Doncic, who is averaging 29.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.9 assists per contest this season.
Despite no Doncic, I believe the Mavericks will be competitive in this one.
They will rely heavily on Kristaps Porzingis, who had his first double-double this month with 22 points and 14 rebounds against the Miami Heat on Saturday.
Roll with the Mavericks getting the 11 points in this one.
2u – Mavericks (+11) @ -105
San Antonio Spurs @ Houston Rockets
· Since the 2016-17 NBA season, the San Antonio Spurs have a 7-10-1 against the spread in night games against the Houston Rockets (Stat courtesy of Statschecker).
Here’s another key statistic, the Spurs have been below the .500 mark for more days this season (32) than they have been in the previous 10 seasons combined (28), which is absolutely ludicrous.
These two teams squared off back on Dec. 4 and it was the Spurs who stole a 135-133 double overtime victory in San Antonio.
Lonnie Walker IV had a career-high 28 points in the victory despite James Harden’s 50-point performance.
Look for the Rockets to have a bounce-back performance at home.
Take James Harden, Russell Westbrook and the Rockets minus the 10 points in this one.
1u – Rockets (-10) @ -105
Portland Trail Blazers @ Phoenix Suns
· The Portland Trail Blazers have a 20-12 record against the Phoenix Suns since the 2010-11 NBA season (Stat courtesy of Statschecker).
The Suns’ youth is showing as of late.
Phoenix has lost two games in a row, including seven of its last 10 games. In their last game against the Spurs, Ricky Rubio finished with a team-high 25 points to go along with 13 assists in a 121-119 loss.
Portland will look to rebound after a big loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Hassan Whiteside had 33 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for the Blazers in the 114-99 defeat. Carmelo Anthony added 20 points and nine rebounds.
They also had a 23-point loss to the Lakers and a 12-point reverse to Oklahoma City.
Look for the veteran leadership of Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Anthony to lead the Blazers over an inexperienced Suns team.
Take Portland minus the 1 point in this matchup.
1u – Trail Blazers (-1) @ -110