3 NBA Bets to Make Wednesday
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The NBA’s Wednesday slate is packed with action with quality game bets and player props to consider.
Here are three NBA bets to make Wednesday.
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Los Angeles Clippers spread against Detroit Pistons
The first bet of the night is on the LA Clippers to cover the spread against the Detroit Pistons. Even on the road and without Kawhi Leonard, this Clippers team is significantly stronger than the Pistons.
For starters, the Clippers are one of the best teams in the NBA, currently 37-18 and third in a strong Western Conference. The Pistons are the polar opposite, in the last place in the weaker Eastern Conference at 16-38.
When looking at points scored and field goal percentage, LA sports the second-best offense in the entire NBA. They won’t reach much resistance on Wednesday night against Detroit’s 20th-ranked defense. On the other side of the ball, the Clippers rank seventh defensively while the Pistons offense is 24th in the league. This is simply a game between two teams at opposite ends of the spectrum, and it’s a strong bet to start your Wednesday NBA betting.
LA is one of just four teams to be ranked inside the top-ten in both categories, and the Pistons are one of seven teams to be ranked in the bottom ten for both offense and defense.
I would also expect a big game from the Clippers three-point shooters. Los Angeles ranks fifth in three-pointers made, while Detroit is the seventh-worst team stopping the long-range shot. Paul George is my favorite to have a big game considering the wing shoots over seven threes a game, most on the Clippers.
Take George’s over in points, along with the Clippers to cover the spread. This season, LA is 32-23 against the spread and Detroit is 29-24-1.
Sacramento Kings-Washington Wizards OVER 240 points
This Kings-Wizards game is a tremendous opportunity to bet on points. When considering a bet on an over, I tend to focus on the quality of the defense. In this game, there is none.
When averaging out the league ranks in points allowed, effective field goal percentage, and efficiency, the Wizards come in ranked 26th in the NBA.
Sacramento is dead-last, allowing more points per game than any other team. That alone suggests there should be plenty of points to be had. The bet goes beyond just poor defense, though. The Kings are a top-ten offense and should be able to take advantage of this porous Washington defense.
De’Aaron Fox in particular, should be able to score in bunches. The slashing guard averages 25.0 points per game and is fresh off a 43-point outing on Monday night.
The Kings are third in the NBA in points in the paint while the Wizards’ interior defense is ranked 16th. That’s an exploitable matchup; consider taking Fox’s points if your sportsbook offers player props. The Wizards defense is a bit more susceptible to the outside shot, allowing the fifth-most threes in the NBA. If he suits up, Buddy Hield, who shoots 10.5 threes per game, should also hit his over. Take Hield’s points.
We haven’t yet touched on Washington’s offense. Their efficiency ranks in the bottom ten, but they do play a fast brand of basketball. Only three teams play faster than the Wizards, and that up-tempo attack is the perfect recipe for an over.
Sacramento is also in the top-ten of pace, further solidifying this game pick. The Wizards should be able to score inside. They rank inside the top-ten of points in the paint, while no team allows more scoring down low than Sacramento. Both Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook seem poised for big games, with the majority of their work near the rim. Beal averages over 30 points per game and chucks up 22 shots per game. Westbrook averages 21.7 points per game and lives near the rim.
Take Beal and Westbrook’s points over.
On the season, the Kings are 30-24 against over/under and the Wizards are 27-26.
Indiana Pacers spread against Houston Rockets
We have one more spread pick for Wednesday night. The expectation here is that Indiana should cover the spread against a weak Houston Rockets team. Similar to our logic between the Clippers and Pistons, this bet is built around how these teams rank amongst others in the league. Indiana is 15th on both sides of the ball. Houston’s offense comes in ranked 26th, and their defense ranked 25th.
These teams are in different tiers, and Indiana should win easily. The spread is reasonable, given the Pacers are only 25-27 in the East. The Rockets are one of the league’s absolute worst teams, with a record of 14-40. Further aiding the bet is the advantage Indiana has in the paint. The Pacers prefer to drive the ball, led by Malcolm Brogdon, Domantas Sabonis, and Caris Levert, all averaging over 17 points per game. The Pacers are fourth in inside-scoring, and the Rockets are 20th defending just such an offense.
All signs point to an easy win for Indiana, bet them to cover, and consider targeting all three of the above Pacers for prop picks or daily fantasy.
Indiana is 21-31 against the spread this season, and Houston is 18-36.
Derek Hudson
Derek is a long time sports bettor who grew up in Providence, RI. Derek is data driven and believes the key to betting the sportsbooks is finding an edge in analytics. Derek is happily married and has two young boys. Derek will bet on anything if you let him.
