Sunday's best NBA bets
Cleveland Cavaliers at Milwaukee Bucks (+7, 196)
King James appears to have his court back in order.
After a 3-3 start to the season, Cleveland has gone 11-2 since. The Cavs recently rolled through a three-game homestand, winning against Dallas, Phoenix and Chicago by a combined margin of 15.3 ppg and covering the spread in all three contests.
"There is a long way to go; it's just December," said James. "It is good to play well now, but at the same time we do not want to reach our peak right now. We want to continue to get better and closer to playoff time is when we really want to start dominating."
After a torrid start, Bucks rookie Brandon Jennings has come back to earth. Over the last seven games, Jennings hasn?t scored more than 18 points while averaging 14.7 ppg and shooting a porous 30.4 percent from the field.
Head coach Scott Skiles returns to the Bucks bench after serving a one-game suspension for not leaving the court after being ejected in a game on Wednesday. Michael Redd is still nursing a sore right knee and won?t be in the lineup.
Cleveland has won three straight in this series, including two in Milwaukee, and has gone 3-0 ATS during that span. Expect to see more of the same domination against the slumping Bucks who have lost five of their last seven.
Pick: Cavaliers
Washington Wizards at Detroit Pistons (-3, 189)
Two integral pieces of the Pistons puzzle have been sitting on the sidelines in suits for most of the season and it has taken a toll.
Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince have been absent from the Detroit lineup since early November. The Pistons have dropped eight of their last 10 and are 7-12 on the season.
"They're getting close," Kuester said. "Unfortunately right now, we don't have a lot of time to practice. They're starting to get involved in some of it, Tayshaun especially."
Not only have the Pistons been dealing with injuries to their two biggest stars, but role players Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva have been banged up as well.
Villanueva returned to action Friday wearing a protective facemask after breaking his nose, and Ben Gordon has fought through an ankle injury and played the last two games.
"It's still sprained, so I'm just trying to do what I can out there," Gordon said.
Oddsmakers continue to be confused when setting the total when these two teams meet. The total has been set as low as 179 and as high as 200 during the last five games of this series. The books have undervalued the offensive output in these matchups with the over going 4-1 during that timeframe.
Detroit holds a 10-4-1 over/under record without Hamilton in the lineup. Young replacement players because of injuries usually equate to turnovers and a frenetic pace of play.
Pick: Over
Cleveland Cavaliers at Milwaukee Bucks (+7, 196)
King James appears to have his court back in order.
After a 3-3 start to the season, Cleveland has gone 11-2 since. The Cavs recently rolled through a three-game homestand, winning against Dallas, Phoenix and Chicago by a combined margin of 15.3 ppg and covering the spread in all three contests.
"There is a long way to go; it's just December," said James. "It is good to play well now, but at the same time we do not want to reach our peak right now. We want to continue to get better and closer to playoff time is when we really want to start dominating."
After a torrid start, Bucks rookie Brandon Jennings has come back to earth. Over the last seven games, Jennings hasn?t scored more than 18 points while averaging 14.7 ppg and shooting a porous 30.4 percent from the field.
Head coach Scott Skiles returns to the Bucks bench after serving a one-game suspension for not leaving the court after being ejected in a game on Wednesday. Michael Redd is still nursing a sore right knee and won?t be in the lineup.
Cleveland has won three straight in this series, including two in Milwaukee, and has gone 3-0 ATS during that span. Expect to see more of the same domination against the slumping Bucks who have lost five of their last seven.
Pick: Cavaliers
Washington Wizards at Detroit Pistons (-3, 189)
Two integral pieces of the Pistons puzzle have been sitting on the sidelines in suits for most of the season and it has taken a toll.
Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince have been absent from the Detroit lineup since early November. The Pistons have dropped eight of their last 10 and are 7-12 on the season.
"They're getting close," Kuester said. "Unfortunately right now, we don't have a lot of time to practice. They're starting to get involved in some of it, Tayshaun especially."
Not only have the Pistons been dealing with injuries to their two biggest stars, but role players Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva have been banged up as well.
Villanueva returned to action Friday wearing a protective facemask after breaking his nose, and Ben Gordon has fought through an ankle injury and played the last two games.
"It's still sprained, so I'm just trying to do what I can out there," Gordon said.
Oddsmakers continue to be confused when setting the total when these two teams meet. The total has been set as low as 179 and as high as 200 during the last five games of this series. The books have undervalued the offensive output in these matchups with the over going 4-1 during that timeframe.
Detroit holds a 10-4-1 over/under record without Hamilton in the lineup. Young replacement players because of injuries usually equate to turnovers and a frenetic pace of play.
Pick: Over
