Basketball 
/ Nick Shiambouros / 28 January 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Kevin Durrant is playing his heart out for the Thunder
"The Oklahoma City Thunder can take care of the Heat in this one and should be priced at around [1.8] in the match odds market."
Nick Shiambouros selects the best bets from an exciting weekend NBA programme as Miami aim to get back on track in Oklahoma and Cleveland try to avoid a 19th straight defeat.
The New York Knicks beat the Miami Heat 93-88 in a pulsating encounter at Madison Square Garden on Thursday evening. The Heat led 73-64 at the beginning of the fourth quarter and looked in complete control but the Knicks had other ideas.
New York staged a rally late in the game and sealed the victory with consecutive three point shots from Danilo Gallinari and Landry Fields with just over a minute left. The celebrity filled crowd that included Donald Trump and Howard Stern gave the Knicks a standing ovation at the buzzer.
This is the best New York team we have seen in the past ten years and they look certain to make their presence felt in the post-season.
The Boston Celtics began a four game road trip with an emphatic 88-78 victory over Portland late on Thursday. The Celtics were in control of this game from the opening tip and were never threatened in this one sided affair. Boston are now three games ahead of Miami at the top of the Eastern Conference.
There are a couple of fascinating games taking place this weekend as the season continues.
On Sunday the Oklahoma City Thunder play host to the Miami Heat in a nationally televised game. The Thunder are having another solid year and are in fourth place in the Western Conference with a record of 28-16. Forward Kevin Durant is averaging over 28 points per game for Oklahoma and is one of the most explosive players in the game.
Russell Westbrook is another player who is having a good year for Oklahoma. This talented guard is averaging over 22 points per game and has developed a good understanding with Kevin Durant.
The Miami Heat have been hit with a spate of injuries lately and will probably be without Chris Bosh who is nursing a sprained ankle. Superstar Dwyane Wade has been fighting migraine headaches that have forced him to wear tinted covered goggles on the floor. Wade missed seven straight shots in the fourth quarter against New York on Thursday and was clearly in some discomfort.
Oklahoma City Thunder can take care of the Heat in this one and should be priced at around [1.8] in the match odds market.
The Orlando Magic are also in action on Sunday when they play the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Amway Center. The Cavs have the worst record in basketball and have only won eight games in the entire season. This franchise is in a world of trouble and has lost 18 games in a row.
The departure of LeBron James last summer has had a devastating effect on the team and the city of Cleveland. Forward Antawn Jamison is playing his heart out for Cleveland and is averaging just over 17 points per game. He is the one shining light in this disappointing rotation.
The Magic have recovered from a poor start to the season and are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 29-16. Team leader Dwight Howard is having a superb year and is averaging a career best 22 points per game. Howard has just been voted starting center for the 2011 All-Star Game which takes place in California next month.
I expect the Orlando Magic will destroy Cleveland in this game. They are playing at a pretty high level and should run up the score against a demoralised Cavalier rotation. The Magic should trade around [1.8] with the handicap.
Recommended bets:
Sunday back Oklahoma City in the match odds market at [1.8]
Sunday back Orlando with advertised handicap at [1.8]
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