Multi tips, bookie bonuses and NBA multi of the week

IT’S time to turn the Wednesday NBA action into some serious punting dollars with a six game slate of matches offering the opportunity for juicy multi dividends.

While they might not be near the top of the standings, there is a juicy eastern conference rivalry building between the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards, who tip off the day at 11am AEDT in the capital.

The New Orleans Pelicans cross the border into Canada for a clash with the Toronto Raptors at the same time.

The Sacramento Kings visit the Houston Rockets at noon in what just might be the most entertaining match up of the day.

Half an hour later at 12.30, two western conference playoff teams in the Oklahoma City Thunder and dominant San Antonio Spurs have a shindig in Texas.

It’s the Charlotte Hornets visiting the Portland Trailblazers at 2pm and then the Denver Nuggets land at the Staples Centre for a date with the Los Angeles Lakers in the late game at 2.30pm, with both teams already looking to next year and beyond.

So there it is, six games, one chance to win – if we can pick our multi correctly.

Here’s what we have come up with.

Suggested tips for the NBA Wednesday multi:

Washington Wizards to defeat the New York Knicks at $1.26

Toronto Raptors to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans at $1.27

Houston Rockets to defeat the Sacramento Kings at $1.10

San Antonio Spurs to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder at $1.20

Portland Trailblazers to defeat the Charlotte Hornets at $1.61

Five leg multi pays $3.40 with Crownbet.com.au

Washington Wizards to defeat the New York Knicks

The Washington Wizards are fast becoming a team that is not well well liked in the NBA. A burgeoning rivalry with the Boston Celtics is brewing, but there is also no love lost between fellow eastern conference battlers the New York Knicks. John Wall and his mob have spent years struggling to be respected and, they are having a red hot crack at it this season and cold conceivably pinch home court advantage for at least the first week of the playoffs. Bradley Beal is absolutely cooking, Otto Porter Jr is a legit NBA talent and big man Marcin Gortat just gets the job done. Bench depth is a bit of a problem, but the Wiz have won seven of their past eight games to leap into fifth spot in the east. The complete opposite is the case in New York. Dogged by trade rumours for star Carmelo Anthony and issues with point guard Derrick Rose, the listless Knicks are headed for yet another finish outside the playoffs. They are remarkably only two wins outside the playoff picture but, when you watch them play those two wins look a long, long way away.

Toronto Raptors to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans

We’d say this would normally be the easiest pick of the day, but that would be discounting the fact that the New Orleans Pelicans, somehow, some way, beat the San Antonio Spurs only a couple of days ago and the Raptors have now lost six of their past seven after an agonising one point home loss to the Orlando Magic. Even with the two team’s differing fortunes, a trip across the border to Canada to take on the second best team in the eastern conference looks a bridge too far for Anthony Davis and company – just.

Houston Rockets to defeat the Sacramento Kings

We love Boogie Cousins and the Sacramento Kings as much as the next bloke, but James Harden is on another level. Who would have thought the Houston Rockets – blown to bits at the end of last season, would be challenging the San Antonio Spurs for second best team in the Western Conference? Not many. This is a team that has been served up to Harden and he is doing as he pleases, dominating with 50 point triple doubles and leading it to a 35-15 record, thanks to the likes of a supporting cast featuring a rejuvenated Eric Gordon, three point maestro Ryan Anderson and the dogged defensive guard Pat Beverley. Boogie went ham on the Charlotte Hornets on the weekend, dropping 35 points to go with 18 rebounds, but it would take all that and more for the Kings to get a W here.

San Antonio Spurs to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder

Probably the game everyone wants to watch, the San Antonio Spurs would probably be the title favourites, were it not for the electric Golden State Warriors. Kawhi Leonard has taken his game to another level and Gregg Popovic continues to make scrubs look like all stars as the team sits pretty in second place in the west. Russell Westbrook continues put up gaudy, yet highly inefficient numbers and the Thunder are beating middle of the road teams but, when it comes to the big guns, they just don’t stack up – even if the Spurs have inexplicably dropped two in a row.

Portland Trailblazers to defeat the Charlotte Hornets

Things are not looking pretty for the Hornets. They are in serious danger of falling out of the playoff picture after sandwiching a three game winning streak with five and four game slides either side.

That’s nine losses in their past 12. And it doesn’t get any easier against a Portland side that is playing with a chip on its shoulder. The Blazers are just one game outside the playoffs, chasing the Denver Nuggets in a weakened east. They are on a three game tear, although had to deal with the Golden State Warriors at the time of writing. A 50 point belting would be no hit to the confidence – the Warriors have been doing that to everyone, so look for Damien Lillard and CJ McCollum to heat up for the Blazers and dispose of Kemba Walker and his sliding Hornets.