The NBA this season got off to a rather dubious start, coming just weeks after the NBA Finals, the season started oddly enough on December 22, and few NBA teams then look like they do now.  Wheeling and dealing and player trades were made until NBA fans needed a score card just to keep up with who was playing where.  But now, now we have some very serious contenders emerging for this year’s NBA Finals and some great matchups on the menu in upcoming weeks.

Cavaliers Try To Rebound Tonight

Tonight, the Brooklyn Nets get a rest while the 16-6 LA Clippers (-375) will be visiting the 10-11 Cleveland Cavaliers (+295) at the Rocket Mortgage Field House.  The game will take place in snowy Cleveland with the Clippers as 8.5-point favorites on Unibet, with the Over/Under set at 218 for the matchup. The Clippers are coming off a tough loss to Brooklyn last night, while the Cavaliers are clawing to get to .500 after their win over Minnesota earlier this week.

The 12-9 Indiana Pacers (+295) will travel up to Milwaukee to take on the 12-8 Bucks (-375) as 8.5-point underdogs with the Over/Under set at 232.5.  The Pacers are coming off an impressive Tuesday evening win over the Memphis Grizzlies, putting an end to the hot winning streak Memphis had enjoyed.  They made it through a 7-game run, but couldn’t go any further.

76ers Continue Strong On The Road

The 15-6 Philadelphia 76ers (-305) have been enjoying great success winning on the road this season and tonight will put that on the line.  They travel down to Charlotte to take on the 10-11 Hornets (+245)  as 7.5 point favorites with the Over/Under set at 221.5. Doc Richards has taken his 76ers team to the top of the NBA East rankings this season and hopes to stay there with a 3-game road sweep by defeating the Hornets tonight.

The Washington Wizards do not look like, or play like, a 4-13 team, but there they are.  Even with Bradly Beal scoring an average of 35 points per game and Russell Westbrook on the floor, they still sit at the bottom of the NBA East.  Tonight, the Wizards (+270) travel down to Miami to take on the 7-13 Heat (-335) at the American Airlines Arena in Miami as 8-point underdogs with the Over/Under set at 230.  Washington is looking to avenge a 128-124 loss to the Heat back in January.  However, they will have to find some magic if they want that to happen.

Mavs In A Slump

The 8-13 Dallas Mavericks (-129) have lost six games in a row and are looking to get back on track when they travel to Atlanta tonight to take on the 10-10 Hawks (+107) at State Farm Arena.  The Hawks are coming off a tough loss to the LA Lakers on Monday night and would like to get a nice winning streak going themselves.  Atlanta will host the Mavericks as 2-point underdogs, with the Over/Under set at 223.5.

Get ready Oklahoma City, because the 10-9 Houston Rockets (-250) are still in town with a new gleam in their eyes.  This comes after scoring a franchise high 28 three point shots to defeat the 8-11 Thunder (+205) on Monday night by a final score of 136-106.  Now they get to try it all again, as the Rockets are now 6.5-point favorites in OKC tonight with the Over/Under set at 220.5.

Full Lineup Means More Choices

Elsewhere in the NBA, the New York Knicks are in Chicago to take on the Bulls and the Timberwolves will be in San Antonio to play the Spurs.  The Phoenix Suns will be in New Orleans to take on the Pelicans and the Celtics will travel out to Sacramento to play the Kings.  There’s plenty of basketball action tonight, which means plenty of choices when it comes to placing bets.