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Top NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (12/14)

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For a Thursday night in the National Basketball Association, traditionally a slow day, we have seven basketball games on tap, including a pair of games that can be viewed on NBA TV. We do have just three games with an 8:30 p.m. ET tip-off or earlier, with one 9 p.m. ET game and three contests slated for 10 p.m. ET or later.

Let’s get started with today’s NBA best bets.

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Thursday’s Best NBA Bets

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | All wagers are for 1 unit

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics

The Cavaliers (13-11) and Celtics (17-5) play the second game in a back-to-back set at TD Garden. The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET and can be viewed on NBA TV.

These teams met Wednesday night, with the Celtics coming away with a 120-113 victory. The Cavaliers hung on for the cover at +11, and the Over (227) cashed in the final minutes of regulation.

While the Cavaliers have been spinning their collective wheels at just 3-3 straight up (SU) in the past six games and 5-5 SU across the past 10 outings, Cleveland has covered three of the past four outings. In addition, Cleveland has just one stretch this season where they faced the same opponent in consecutive games. After losing to the New York Knicks on Halloween night in The Land, the Cavs bounced back with a 95-89 road win as 5.5-point underdogs back on Nov. 1. So, familiarity with an opponent is good news for the wine and gold.

The Celtics haven’t played the same team in consecutive games this season. Last season, though, Boston went 2-2 SU/ATS in the second end of a back-to-back against the same opponent. Do with that whatever you will.

The Cavaliers have posted 110 or more points in four of the past five games, and the Over is 2-2 in the past four outings, including Wednesday’s tilt in Beantown. The Cleveland defense has been solid lately, allowing 105 or fewer points in six of the past eight games. However, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum each dropped 25 on them on Wednesday. The C’s totaled 120 points, the most allowed by Cleveland since Nov. 25 at home against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

The C’s have scored 120 or more points in four of the past five games, and it’s no surprise the Over is 4-1 in the stretch, too. We’ve seen the Over cash in five consecutive meetings between these teams, including the past three matchups in Boston. That’s the way to go here, too.

Bets: Over 226 (-110)

Chicago Bulls @ Miami Heat

The Bulls (9-16) and Heat (14-10) meet at Kaseya Center in Miami on Thursday, and this will be the third meeting of the season. These teams met in a back-to-back set in Chitown on Nov. 18-20. Chicago won the first matchup 102-97, and the Under (212.5) cashed. The Heat won the rematch 118-110, and the Over (210) connected.

The Heat have allowed 114 or fewer points in four straight outings and nine of the past 12 games. As long as Miami isn’t facing the Indiana Pacers or Milwaukee Bucks, they seemingly play sound defense.

The Bulls were on the short end of a 114-106 loss at home against the defending champ Denver Nuggets, as the total pushed. We’ve seen the Over go 8-1-1 in the past 10 games for Chicago, mostly due to a lack of defense. When the Bulls have scored plenty of points, it’s usually against the league’s dregs, like Charlotte, San Antonio, etc. However, the Bulls are still producing just 109.1 PPG to rank 27th in the league. Chicago also ranks 28th in the NBA with a 44.6% field-goal percentage.

The Heat rank 22nd with 112.7 PPG and is 18th in the NBA at 47.1% from the field. Miami is a solid 3-point shooting team, cashing in at a 39.0% clip to rank second. Erik Spoelstra’s squad also doesn’t leave a lot of points on the floor at the free-throw line, either. The Heat hit at an 84.0% pace from the charity stripe, third in the NBA. Defensively, Miami limits the opposition to 111.3 PPG, which ranks ninth overall.

While Chicago has been ticking off plenty of Over results lately, let’s go low in South Beach on Thursday night. And if you’re a little more conservative, you can buy points on the alternative total points line, going as high as Under 220.5 (-174), which is still a pretty fair price and value.

Bet: Under 217 (-110)

Golden State Warriors @ Los Angeles Clippers

The Warriors (10-12) travel to meet the Clippers (13-10) in the final game of the evening. Golden State made plenty of headlines this week after Draymond Green socked Jusuf Nurkic of the Phoenix Suns in a game on Wednesday. He has since been suspended indefinitely by the NBA.

Even with Green, the Warriors had been skidding, posting just two wins across the past six outings and four wins across the previous 15 contests. Golden State is just 1-2 ATS in the past three games and 5-9 ATS in the past 14 outings. However, They did cover a pair of games in a home-and-home set with the Clippers on Nov. 30-Dec. 2.

Still, the Clippers are playing terrific basketball lately, winners of five in a row, and they’re 3-1 ATS in the past four games. While it’s hard to ignore that 0-2 ATS mark against Golden State this season, do it. Roll with the home side in the late-night game and feel confident doing so.

Bet: Clippers -5.5 (-112)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Thursday:

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Cameron Lynch is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Cameron, check out his archive and follow him @captron26.

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