NBA Thursday Slate Preview: Odds, Trends for Top Games

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Three matchups between projected playoff teams highlight tonight’s six-game slate in the NBA, including one superstar’s expected return after a nine-week absence.

At 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on TNT, two of the top-3 teams in the Eastern Conference square off. The 76ers, owners of the best record in the Eastern Conference at 39-19, head to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks (35-22).

The Bucks (-350 moneyline) are 8-point favorites over the current No. 1 seed in the East. Philadelphia is +290 to win the game outright, which would snap a two-game losing skid. The total currently sits at 225.5, the highest on the board for tonight’s slate.

The majority of William Hill bettors are backing the underdog to cover the number. The 76ers are generating 71% of the total number of tickets and 61% of the total dollars wagered among all spread bets against the spread. The over is also getting 69% of the total number of tickets and 55% of the total dollars wagered.

Two surging teams collide in Boston at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, as the Suns (42-16) and Celtics (31-27) have each emerged victorious in eight of their past 10 contests. Phoenix narrowly escaped with a 3-point win in Philadelphia last night, and the Suns (-125 ML) are now 1.5-point road favorites over the Celtics (+105 ML). Meanwhile, the total is at 220.5.

With such a tight line, there’s division at William Hill regarding which team will cover the spread. While the Suns have gathered 55% of the total number of tickets, the Celtics have drawn 54% of the total dollars wagered. There’s alignment on the total, though, as the over has snagged 75% of the total number of tickets and 85% of the total dollars wagered.

Later in the night at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT on TNT, Anthony Davis is slated to play for the Lakers for the first time since Feb. 14 after suffering a calf sprain and tendinosis in his right leg. The Lakers (35-23) are fifth in the Western Conference standings, 3.5 games ahead of their foe tonight, the seventh-place Mavericks (31-26).

Los Angeles (+125 ML) is a 2.5-point road underdog to Dallas (-145 ML), and the total is at 216. William Hill bettors are split as of now for this showdown. The Mavericks have collected 58% of the total number of tickets among all spread bets in this affair, while the Lakers have attracted 57% of the total dollars wagered. For the total, the over has the advantage with 76% of the total number of tickets and the under has the edge with 54% of the total dollars wagered.

Check out William Hill’s latest odds for every NBA game tonight below.

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