With the All Star weekend a week away, teams are trying to finish the first half of the season on a positive note, which should give them some momentum going into the second half. There are some very intriguing games this weekend, and these are some of the games you shouldn't miss.
Find the best basketball betting odds and NBA matchups information right here at Skybook. Register now to enjoy the most exciting NBA betting action on the web.
Brooklyn Nets (18-28) vs. Washington Wizards (31-18), Saturday, February 7, PM. ET.
The Nets have struggled a lot lately, and are fortunate to be in the Eastern Conference, because they are only 1.5 games out of the playoff picture. They split their first two games with the Wizards, and won the last time they played at Washington. They are coming off a big road win against the Toronto Raptors, and will be trying to get another big win against one of the top Eastern Conference teams.
Washington won their last meeting against the Nets, but they have struggled since, losing six of their last nine games. They will be trying to snap a four game losing streak when they play the Nets on Saturday night, so they can keep up with the Hawks and Raptors.
My Pick: The Wizards will defeat the Nets convincingly.
Portland Trailblazers (33-16) vs. Dallas Mavericks (33-17), Saturday, February 7, 8:30 PM. ET.
Portland started the season as one of the best teams in the Western Conference, but have cooled off considerably since the start of the season. They have lost eight of their last 11 games, dropping them to 4th in the Western Conference, and will need to start winning some games if they intend to get home court advantage in the playoffs.
The Dallas Mavericks also went through a little slump, but have bounced back with three straight wins, and have an opportunity to move into 4th place in the Western Conference with a win against Portland. They lost their first meeting to the Blazers, but have since added Rajon Rondo to the team, and feel very confident about their chances in this game.
My Pick: The Mavericks have been playing better than the Blazers, and will get the win at home.
San Antonio Spurs (30-18) vs. Toronto Raptors (33-16), Sunday, February 8, 7 PM. ET.
The Spurs have won eight of their last 10 games, and are starting to look more like the defending NBA Champions, which is a scary thought for the rest of the NBA, because they are very difficult to beat when they are clicking on all cylinders. They are still having difficulty on the road, and this game will provide a good test for them.
The Raptors have followed up a six game winning streak with two straight losses, but are still holding on to the 2nd spot in the Eastern Conference. They lost both meetings against the Spurs last season, but they are a better team this year, and a win against San Antonio will give them a confidence boost.
My Pick: Despite their struggles on the road, the Spurs will win this game.
Los Angeles Clippers (33-16) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (24-24), Sunday, February 8, 1 PM. ET. ABC.
The Clippers got eliminated by the Thunder in the playoffs last season, and will be trying to bet a little payback by giving the Thunder another loss, and decreasing their chances of making the playoffs. They will be playing their seventh straight game on the road, and would love to finish off their eight game road trip with a winning record.
The Thunder are 2.5 games out of the 8th spot in the Western Conference, and can't afford to lose too much ground. They went through a rough stretch, losing four out of five games last week, but they have won two straight games, and would love to keep the streak going.
My Pick: The Thunder will win a close game against the Clippers.