NBA Betting: Bucks Clash With Heat As Eastern Conference Playoff Pursuit Continues |
| Written by Gaby Varji | |||
| Saturday, 29 December 2012 06:18 | |||
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Cleveland Cavaliers @ Brooklyn Nets (-2.5) A sportsbook loss to the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day left the Nets with just three wins in their past 10 games, and fighting to hang on to one of the final Eastern Conference playoff spots. The Cavaliers have already had to endure a lot this season with reigning Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving and rookie Dion Waiters each missing time. Cleveland has shown flashes of its ability when healthy, but has still been far too inconsistent overall. Brooklyn has been marginally better at home than on the road and will need to defend their house the remainder of the year in order to get in, and that includes beating the Cavaliers this Saturday.
NBA Betting Pick: Brooklyn Nets – 2.5 Miami Heat (-4.5) @ Milwaukee Bucks Milwaukee is right there with the Nets and Celtics as one of the teams holding on to one of the final playoff spots in the East, and showed some fight in their first meeting against Miami before forcing overtime in a 113-106 loss. The Bucks won’t have it any easier at home this time around, especially considering their inconsistent play following a strong online sportsbook season. The Heat are warming up and after struggling around the .500 mark on the road through the first half of the season, look for them to pick it up as the visiting team. NBA Betting Pick: Miami Heat – 4.5 Boston Celtics @ Golden State Warriors (-2.5) The Celtics are another sports betting team that has struggled on the road, and they won’t have it easy on the road out west for three important games. Boston knocked off the Nets on Christmas Day before hitting the west coast for games at the Clippers, Warriors, and Kings in the state of California, and while Sacramento won’t scare many opponents, Los Angeles and Golden State have been among the toughest teams in the West this season. The Warriors have climbed in to playoff contention with wins in eight of their 12 home games so far, but will need to start the second-half strong with reminders that the NBA season is a marathon and not a sprint, especially with so many other teams looking to knock them off. For all of the latest NBA news and betting odds, be sure to check out the best sports betting sites. NBA Betting Pick: Golden State Warriors – 2.5
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It didn’t take long for the Miami Heat to reclaim their throne on top of the NBA Eastern Conference, and while the defending champions look to finish with a strong second-half and lock up the top seed and home advantage through the postseason, the rest of the conference will fight just to clinch a spot in the elite eight. That battle will continue this Saturday with some key 
