Hoops fans are in for a treat later tonight as the NBA has lined up two pivotal ballgames that will definitely keep you on the edge of your seats. Opening festivities tonight is the blockbuster showdown between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the injury-plagued Chicago Bulls at United Center.
Following shortly thereafter is the heavyweight collision between the Dallas Mavericks and the Portland Trail Blazers. Read on below for a quick breakdown of these two crucial games and while you’re at it, you can check out our odds update for the upcoming NCAA basketball tournament as March Madness draws ever closer.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Chicago Bulls (8:00 PM ET)
Line: Oklahoma City Thunder (-4) at Chicago Bulls (+4); total: 200.5 – view all NBA lines
The Oklahoma City Thunder extended their winning streak to two games with an incredible 123-118 come-from-behind win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night. Russell Westbrook was simply unstoppable for the Thunder, putting up 49 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists to record his fourth consecutive triple-double.
He became the first player to pull off such a feat since the great Michael Jordan did it back in 1989 . He will look to make it five in a row when the Thunder square off with Jordan’s old team Chicago tonight at United Center. The injury-depleted Bulls are fresh off a morale-boosting 97-92 win over the Washington Wizards Tuesday to remain in a virtual tie with the surging Cleveland Cavaliers in the Central Division.
The Thunder are 5-0 in their last five meetings with the Bulls.
You can check out a complete preview of the game here.
Writer’s Prediction
Oklahoma City wins, 122-105.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland Trail Blazers (10:30 PM ET)
Line: Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers – view all NBA lines
The Portland Trail Blazers stretched their unbeaten run to four games with a thrilling 98-93 overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum combined for 49 points for the Blazers who moved to within 2 ½ games of the Memphis Grizzlies for the second spot in the Western Conference.
Extending that streak to five games won’t be that easy for the Blazers, though, as standing in their way tonight are the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs finally snapped their two-game losing skid Monday with a tough 102-93 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Monta Ellis scored 20 points for the Mavericks who are now locked in a tie with the Clippers for fifth place in the West with a 40-22 slate.
The Mavericks are 7-3 SU and ATS in their last 10 games with the Blazers.
You can read a complete preview of the game here.
Writer’s Prediction
Portland wins, 105-94. Create a betting account now and bet on the best games for tonight.
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