NBA Thursday, January 19 betting tips and multi selections

WHO is excited for another NBA re-match between Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant and his former teammate Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder?

We most certainly are and that huge match from Oracle Arena headlines a jam packed Thursday schedule of NBA action that we are going to try and parlay into some serious cash for punters.

Tip off is 11am AEDT, with the first whistle on three matches: the on fire Philadelphia 76ers copping a visit from the Toronto Raptors, the Memphis Grizzlies headed to the Washington Wizards and the Portland Trailblazers up against the Charlotte Hornets.

Half an hour later, the old firm renew acquaintances when the New York Knicks take on the Boston Cetics.

Another three games tip off at noon, with the Orlando Magic at the New Orleans Pelicans, the Atlanta Hawks visiting the Detroit Pistons and a clash between two of the game’s brightest stars in James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo, with the Houston Rockets hosting the Milwaukee Bucks.

The mouth watering Thunder Warriors game gets matinee billing at 2.30pm, along with the Indiana Pacers’ visit to the Sacramento Kings.

It is a day of NBA action packed with interest and intrigue.

Here are our picks.

Suggested multi tips for NBA Thursday:

Charlotte Hornets to beat the Portland Trailblazers at $1.56

Boston Celtics to beat the New York Knicks at $1.22

Houston Rockets to beat the Milwaukee Bucks at $1.33

Golden State Warriors to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder at $1.10

Four leg multi pays $2.80 with Sportsbet.com.au

Charlotte Hornets to beat the Portland Trailblazers

Fun fact: The Portland Trailblazers are currently the eighth seed in the West, but they are only 3.5 games ahead of last place. Translation is the power has shifted to the East and one of those teams on the improve is the Charlotte Hornets. Like the Blazers, the Hornets are in eighth place in the east, yeah they are only one game out of fifth place and 2.5 back from a top four berth. Despite their bombastic back court featuring Damien Lillard and CJ McCollum, the Blazers are a basket case, trotting out a cast of no names that can surprise on any given night, but have mostly disappointed. By contrast, the 20-20 Hornets had really improved, until a nightmare road trip brought them back down to earth. Five straight road losses have taken the sting out of their tail, but Kemba Walker and company will be buoyed a by a return home and that should be enough for them to get past the Blazers.

Boston Celtics to beat the New York Knicks

The green machine just keeps on rolling on the back of remarkable midget Isaiah Thomas. The little point guard is the smallest man in the league, but he might just possess the biggest heart. At just 5’9”, Thomas has been owning the fourth quarter this season, averaging more points per game when the result is on the line than any other player in the league. He’s averaging 9.9 points per game in the fourth quarter and that is the most by any NBA player since the stat was first counted in 1996. Only Russell Westbrook (9.5 this season) and Kobe Bryant (the same in 2005) come close. The Celtics are sitting pretty in third in the East and have really been clobbering teams, thanks to a collective commitment to team defence, the assimilation of Al Horford and, of course, Thomas’ sublime play. By contrast, the New York Knicks have become experts in losing the unloseable… or just losing. And, with the trade winds rumbling for Carmelo Anthony and the unpredictability of Derrick Rose, you just can’t back this side on the road against such a well oiled machine.

Houston Rockets to beat the Milwaukee Bucks

Could this entree actually be better than the main course? If Durant vs. Westbrook is not your thing, then maybe a dose of the Greek Freak up against The Beard could be more to your liking. The Rockets and the Bucks are two of the most exciting teams in the league. While every one is on the Westbrook bandwagon, James Harden just might be the NBA’s Most Valuable Player, when it is all said and done. Harden has 12 triple doubles this season – eight behind Westbrook’s league leading 20, but the difference is his gaudy numbers have lead the Rockets to the third best record in the Western Conference. The Bucks have been up and down this season, despite the Greek Freak’s remarkable all court game, but they have struggled against the best sides in the league. They have lost two in a row against two teams – Philadelphia and Atlanta – who are far inferior to the run and gun Rockets and this one, in Texas, looks a bridge too far.

Golden State Warriors to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder

Round one between Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook ended as expected with the high powered Golden State Warriors torching the Oklahoma City Thunder by 26 points, 122-96, in November. And it is hard to see round two going any differently. Despite Westbrook’s ridiculous season – he’s averaging a triple double with 30.9 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.5 assists – the Thunder are only just keeping touch in the west, while the Warriors are still on top of the perch as the best team in the NBA. Durant sent a message to his haters in OKC, creaming his former team with 39 points and seven three pointers in their first meeting this season and the likes of Andre Roberson will again have their work cut out stopping him. And hey, if they do m manage to curtail their former MVP, the Warriors have guys like Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green to throw at the Thunder. The Warriors have reeled off another seven wins in their last eight games and you would imagine this one is not going to end well for the Thunder, especially at The Oracle.