NBA Weekend Free Picks & Predictions: Jan 17 - Jan 19

There are a number of great games over the weekend, including the NBA free pick of the weekend between the Lakers and the Rockets. Western Conference Playoff contenders in the form of the Nuggets and Mavericks are also in action.

There are lots to play for in the West, who will tally up the wins this weekend?

Portland Trail Blazers (2.92) @ Dallas Mavericks (1.43)

The Portland Trail Blazers were comfortably beaten last weekend when they hosted the Eastern Conference leaders the Bucks.

They’ll face a real test again in this one on the road to Dallas. But they’ll go there with the wind in their sails having to tally up wins against the Rockets and Hornets in their last two. NBA vets Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum have been red-hot in the last couple.

The Blazers are 18-24 for the season outright. They’ll travel to the American Airlines Center to face an in-form Mavericks team, who sit sixth in the Western Conference with a record of 26-15 for the 2019/20 campaign.

The Mavericks enter this game looking to record a fourth straight win. The return of “Luka Magic” has certainly had an influence on the team, as well as performances.

It seems Luka is refraining more from shooting for those big step-back threes, instead choosing to become the provider of offensive plays and opportunities for his team. He may have only gotten 25 points against the Kings, but he put up 15 boards and a staggering 17 assists.

Expect the Mavericks to take the win here.

Dallas Mavericks To beat Portland Trail Blazers

1.43

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Los Angeles Lakers @ Houston Rockets

The Lakers go into the weekend 2nd in the NBA power rankings, though they’ll be frustrated by Thursday's loss to the Orlando Magic. The Magic took the game 119-118 only narrowly missing out on the win.

The Rockets are experiencing a bit of a rough patch at the moment. They host the Lakers and look to snap a 2-game losing skid, conceding games to the high-flying Grizzlies and the Trail Blazers.

James Harden (37.2 ppg) and Russell Westbrook (24.8 ppg) are still managing to put up points for Houston. While the two-star men are finding the net, they are allowing the third-highest points per game average in the NBA, on 114.0.

The Lakers are 33-8 overall. They lead the Western Conference while it’s been business as usual on the court, even though they’ve been without Anthony Davis for a while. He won’t feature in this game either.

Take the Houston Rockets to win.

Houston Rockets To beat Los Angeles Lakers

TBA

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Indiana Pacers @ Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets have been consistent throughout the 2019/20 season, including a few standout performances against the stronger teams. Recently, taking points off the Mavericks and Clippers.

Denver is 29-12 for the season outright and looking to record a third consecutive win in this one. The Indiana Pacers are also in-form at the moment, tallying wins up against the Pacers, 76ers and Timberwolves in their last three.

Indiana will face the Timberwolves again for the second game in their head-to-head series before travelling to Denver. Domantas Sabonis continues to lead the line for the Pacers, putting up an average of 18.1 points per game.

The Nuggets, who are 29-12 overall, sit second in the Western Conference and are just 4 wins off the top of the table. Nikola Jokic (19.2 points per game) had excellent games against the Mavs and Rockets, while he continues to lead the scoring for the Nuggets.

Though the NBA betting odds are yet to be released, we expect the home side to be favoured in the bookmakers' eyes.

Expect the Nuggets to cruise to victory.

Denver Nuggets To beat Indiana Pacers

TBA

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