Action has heated up a month into the NBA season. Some teams are surprising in the early part of the season, while others expected to do well have struggled. I will look at four games for Tuesday, November 18, with the Portland Trail Blazers hosting the Phoenix Suns in the headlined matchup.
Phoenix Suns versus Portland Trail Blazers
Phoenix is 7th in the Western Conference, and Portland is 9th. The teams are heading in opposite directions, with the Suns “burning hot” and the Trail Blazers “ice cold down” on the Team Strength Oscillator. Portland is 3-2 at home, but Phoenix is only 2-4 on the road. The Suns have a considerably better point differential of +4.9 to -0.2. The teams are trending in games on opposite sides of the “over/under” line. Be aware that Phoenix is one of the most stable teams in the league at +6 on the Team Volatility Oscillator. I like Portland to turn things around and continue the Suns’ road woes, but pass on the “over/under” bet.
Golden State Warriors versus Orlando Magic
Both teams come into play “burning hot” on the Team Strength Oscillator, and the Warriors have a +17 to +14 edge on the Power Ranks Indicator. Golden State is 3-6 on the road, while Orlando is 4-3 at home. The Magic also has an average point differential edge of +1.9 to +0.5. The teams are trending in games on opposite sides of the “over/under” line, and Golden State has been more consistent regarding their favorite/underdog status. This is the first game between the teams this season. I like the Magic in this one, given the road struggles of the Warriors, but pass on the “over/under” bet.
Detroit Pistons versus Atlanta Hawks
Detroit sits on top of the Eastern Conference, while Atlanta is 4th and three games back. The teams are trending in games “over” the line, with Detroit having a +6.0 to +3.9 scoring differential edge. The score prediction is 115-110 in favor of the Hawks, with nearly 79% confidence. Atlanta has struggled to a 2-3 record at home and has been the more unstable team at -2 to +6 on the Team Volatility Oscillator. This is the first meeting between the teams this season, and I like the Pistons by at least two possessions in a game “over” the line.
Utah Jazz versus Los Angeles Lakers
The Jazz have struggled to a 1-3 record over the last four games and “ice cold down”, while the Lakers are 7-3 over the last ten and “average up” on the Team Strength Oscillator. Los Angeles is +20 to +8 on the Power Ranks Indicator and has a scoring differential advantage of +0.2 to -5.5. Utah is only 1-5 on the road, which doesn’t bode well for this contest. The teams are trending in games “over” the line with a predicted point total of 233 with 59 percent confidence. Both teams have been consistent regarding their favorite/underdog status. I like the Lakers at home to continue their hot play in a win “over” the line.
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