Thursday NBA Odds
(The Spread) – The NBA has a full slate of action on Thursday night when 12 games tip off for January 12. Continue reading for odds, trends and more on some of the top basketball games.
In a shock to many people, the Miami Heat had their full speed ahead train come to a crashing halt Wednesday night at the hands of an unlikely source in the Los Angeles Clippers by a count of 111-105. For whatever reason, Miami’s defense was slow to arrive to the game as it gave up 44 points in the first quarter and the Heat could not quite battle back after that.
No stranger to the national spotlight, the Heat will look to rebound tonight at 10:30PM EST as they play at Denver with a national television audience watching. According to online sports book Sportsbook.com, Miami is currently a 4-point favorite with the line set at 205.
Miami had won 21 of its previous 22 games and was riding a nine-game winning streak entering the game against the Clippers, but fell flat in its third road game in a row. In addition, LeBron James (25.4 ppg, 7.2 apg, 7.0 rpg) sprained his ankle in the second half and is questionable for Thursday night’s game.
Despite the loss, the Heat are now 30-10 and are battling with the Boston Celtics for Eastern Conference supremacy.
Denver (21-16) appeared for several games to be distracted by the ongoing trade rumors involving Carmelo Anthony (23.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg) as it lost three in a row, but ended that with a dominating 132-98 victory Tuesday over the reeling Phoenix Suns. The Nuggets are 16-4 at home this season, while Miami is 15-6 on the road.
The earlier game on the national TV schedule will pit the Orlando Magic at the Oklahoma City Thunder beginning at 8 p.m. Orlando is a 1-point favorite and the over-under is at 205 right now.
For a full list of odds for Thursday’s NBA games, see below.
501 Orlando Magic -1 (205)
502 Oklahoma City Thunder +1
505 Miami Heat -4 (205)
506 Denver Nuggets +4
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