With the NBA pushing past Christmas and nearing the halfway point of the season, certain trends are starting to emerge. The Milwaukee Bucks now have the best record in the NBA, but the Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder aren't too far behind. There's also a bunching of teams near the bottom of the totem pole, with three teams that have failed to reach 10 wins at this point in the season.
We've gotten a better sense of what each of the 30 teams in the NBA have to offer across the board, though trades and injuries continue to shift the balance of power on a regular basis. We're more focused here on the day-to-day variance that can help you win a few bucks. With a big slate of games every Wednesday, we've asked a few of our NBA experts -- Doug Kezirian, Jordan Schultz and Andre Snellings -- to give their best bets for the night.
Lines displayed are from Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook on Wednesday morning. As always, shop around for the best price. Atlanta Hawks at Washington Wizards (-6)
Total: 230 Snellings: The Hawks began the season as one of the worst teams in the NBA, losing 16 of their first 19 games with an average scoring margin of -11.5 PPG. They have been a different team since John Collins returned to full speed, though, going 8-9 over their last 17 games and 5-2 over their last seven (with both of those losses coming against the surging Indiana Pacers).
The Wizards have had a terrible season to date, but the expectation was always that they would figure things out eventually. With John Wall done for the season, though, they no longer have the same upside. They've split the two games since Wall went down, losing to the Chicago Bulls and narrowly edging out the Charlotte Hornets, both at home. With the way the Hawks have played of late and the uncertainty of the Wizards, Washington should not be giving six points.
Total: 228 Kezirian: This pick is about one person, and he's the most valuable player to the point spread. LeBron James will not play due to a groin injury. Oddsmakers have difficulty setting the market during his absence.
The Lakers are coming off a win, but it's worth noting that victory snapped a streak of 13 straight losses for a James team (Lakers and Cavaliers) when he did not play. Those teams are now 3-11 ATS in those last 14 instances. Pick: OKC -5.5 Schultz: If you like drama -- and I do -- then this is your game. Luckily for us, there is real value in the Lakers as well, even without the injured LeBron James, who will miss his fourth consecutive game with a strained groin. But fear not, Lakers backers -- the resurgent play of enigmatic third-year forward Brandon Ingram is a huge plus. Since returning from a seven-game hiatus with an ankle issue, the more aggressive Ingram -- minus his first game back in a limited role -- has averaged nearly 19 PPG on a healthy 51 percent from the floor. On the other end, he will be tasked with slowing down Thunder superstar Paul George, who is enjoying the best season of his career, and that's just fine. No, really!
I like a confident Ingram to neutralize PG13, and in turn, I like the short-handed Lakers to cover the spread.
Total: 222 Snellings: The Mavericks have the worst road record in the NBA this season at 2-16 and have lost nine straight road contests by a combined 88 points. The Hornets are a solid 14-7 at home this season and have won their last four home games by a combined 61 points. The Hornets should be giving more than 1.5 points in this one.
Total: 203 Kezirian: Cleveland owns the NBA's worst record and just lost by 24 points in Miami on Friday. I do not believe a rematch on Cleveland's home court will drastically change the results. The Cavs recently traded Kyle Korver and lost starters Rodney Hood and Tristan Thompson to injury. They've been unable to replace that production. Cleveland has lost six straight overall and also failed to cover its last three home games. Meanwhile, Miami has covered eight of its last nine road games and covered three straight as a road favorite.
Total: 230 Snellings: The Nets have been extremely streaky this season. They followed an eight-game losing streak with a seven-game winning streak and have since lost three of their last five games (including the last two). They are thus difficult to predict on a game-by-game basis.
However, the Pelicans have played very well in the seven contests that Elfrid Payton has played in this season. They have gone 6-1 in those games, including a nine-point victory in his return from an extended injury absence on Sunday against the Timberwolves. Payton's style of play roughly mimics Rajon Rondo, the team's starting point guard when they finished last season on a 20-5 run with him in the lineup. The Pelicans seem to need this type of point guard to maximize, and Payton's presence bodes well for their chances on Tuesday.
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