NBA Friday Matchups Predictions: Featuring Recent Champions
Five of Previous Seven NBA Champs Playing This Friday
Former NBA Champs Favored on NBA Lines
Welcoming the weekend is a five-game NBA slate that features some of the most recent champions. The Golden State Warriors face the Toronto Raptors in a 2019 NBA Finals rematch while the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Miami Heat are also in action. In fact, the NBA odds favor the champions. They, along with other contenders, look to deliver these NBA Friday matchups predictions.
Bucks, Heat, and Warriors Favored Comfortably
For the second straight road game, the Bucks will be chalk. Milwaukee is 5-5-2 against the NBA point spread (ATS) as a road favorite this season as they visit the Indiana Pacers with a spread of -8.0. They are the evening’s biggest favorites. The Pacers have been hit with injuries with star guard Tyrese Haliburton (elbow) and starting center Myles Turner (ankle) on the NBA injury report today. The Pacers have lost seven of their last eight games without Haliburton.
Miami (-7), on the other hand, is the biggest home favorite. It takes on its state rival, Orlando. The Magic are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games and are covering 61 percent of their games as an underdog (25-16-1). The Heat has several players on the injury report but the likes of Jimmy Butler (back) and Max Strus (shoulder) are likely to play. Miami has won five straight home games against Orlando.
Golden State will host Toronto as six-point favorites to round out the trio of former champs playing as chalk. The Warriors are 18-6 at home but have failed to cover for five straight games and are just 10-9-1 ATS. The Raptors have struggled this season but are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games. The total here is listed at just 229.5 thanks to Golden State’s fourth-ranked defense (108.5). But five of these teams’ last seven meetings have gone over it.
Thunder Defend Against Cavaliers
The NBA’s hottest team on the spread looks to get back to winning as they host the Cavaliers. The Thunder saw its nine-game winning streak on the spread snapped against the Hawks. But the Thunder have covered 62.5 percent of their home games (15-9-0) while Cleveland struggles on the road: 8-14-2 ATS.
These teams have been evenly matched in recent history with both winning five games apiece in their last 10 meetings. Cleveland last beat and covered against Oklahoma City while at home. But the Thunder have gone 8-5 since and have 6.0 net rating. That’s even better than Cleveland’s 4.8. Cavs star Donovan Mitchell (groin) is listed as questionable. Based on his status, look for the line and the total to shift. The Thunder may just deliver in these NBA Friday matchups predictions.
Slumping Grizzlies Rekindle Rivalry With Wolves
Memphis and Minnesota meet for the third time this season with both teams having one win apiece. The Timberwolves are underdogs (+3.5) in their own court despite the Grizzlies‘ losing skid. Memphis has dropped four straight and is just 1-4 ATS in its last five games. That’s the opposite of Minnesota, which is 5-1 ATS.
This could be a favorite to end in an upset on the NBA Friday matchups predictions. However, Memphis is 12-6 ATS in its last 18 games against Minnesota. Both teams will be without their starting bigs as Steven Adams (knee) and Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) are out indefinitely. Grizzlies star Ja Morant has put up stats against Minnesota with 26 points, seven assists, and 7.5 boards albeit at just 42.2 percent shooting.
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