After last night’s slate of NBA games, which produced a couple of nail-biters, tonight’s lineup has a lot to live up to.  However, the matchups on the schedule are going to give basketball fans a lot of thrills, and sports gamblers a lot to think about.  After the Toronto Raptors almost beat the Portland Trail Blazers last night, losing by just a point, gamblers might want to take a closer look before making their picks tonight.

Heat Meet The Sixers

The Miami Heat are going to take on the Philadelphia 76ers tonight.  The 76ers are coming off a crushing defeat at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks and are out for revenge.  However, being the back end of a double-header might cause a little bit of an issue.

However, that will be nothing compared to what the Heat are going through.  They are expected to play without Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic, three of the team’s biggest assets.  The Sixers are going to get Ben Simmons back from a knee injury (even if NBA Commissioner Adam Silver isn’t buying that story), and Unibet is giving Philadelphia a lot of support for the game.  They’re at -278 and a 7-point spread, with an Over/Under of 209.  Despite Miami’s weaker bench, this one will go over.

The Denver Nuggets face the Brooklyn Nets tonight, hoping to keep a winning streak alive.  The Nuggets won two nights ago and look to improve on their 5-5 record, while the Nets have taken an additional loss as they struggle to gain ground.  Brooklyn is playing without Spencer Dinwiddie and Kyrie Irving, who is still listed as questionable tonight.  As the Nets have taken two losses and only one win when Irving’s out, they would love to see him on the court.  Unibet thinks they can survive without him and are giving the Nets -121 and just 1.5 points in what will undoubtedly be a close game.  The Over/Under of 230 seems to be a little over the top on this one.

The Lakers Repeat Against The Rockets

The LA Lakers met the Houston Rockets two nights ago in a game that turned into a slugfest.  Markieff Morris and DeMarcus Cousins were thrown out for different offenses and will be back on the court tonight trying to make amends.  Ironically, Cousins was given up by the Lakers a year ago, finding a new home with the Rockets.

Morris was given a double technical in the first quarter of the last game that sent him to the lockers before Cousins followed in the second quarter for a flagrant foul after hitting LeBron James in the head.  Tonight will determine if they have calmed down enough to stay in for the entire game, and Unibet is giving props to LA in this one.  They sit at -190 with a 4.5-point spread and an Over/Under of 222.5.  It’s hard to believe the game won’t easily go over.

Spurs Expected To Edge Out The Thunder

The San Antonio Spurs are going to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in an away game tonight that means a lot to them.  The Thunder have just taken three straight road wins and the Spurs want to bring that streak to an end.  At the same time, the Spurs won three in a row before losing last Sunday and they don’t want to add another loss tonight.

It’s not going to be easy, though, as the Spurs are down DeMar DeRozan, Quinndary Weatherspoon, Drew Eubanks and Derrick White, while Devin Vassell is questionable.  The Thunder is only expected to play without Trevor Ariza, with Ty Jerome’s participation to be announced before the game begins.  Despite allowing their opponents to take – and make – almost 41% of their shots from beyond the paint, the Spurs are getting the edge, looking at odds of -130 and 2.5 points.  The Over/Under of 218.5 shouldn’t be an issue, with both teams ready to attack with solid offenses.