Are the Brooklyn Nets going to start playing defense?
Did you know the New York Knicks own the best defense in the NBA?
Are the Phoenix Suns and red-hot Sacramento Kings legitimate playoff contenders out west?
With the 2020-21 NBA regular season heating up as we move further into Week 8, it’s time to find out which teams are consistently playing over and under the NBA sportsbook betting odds total.
Over
Brooklyn (18-7 O/U)
It’s not difficult to see why the Nets (14-11 SU) sit atop the online betting Over/Under standings. Brooklyn has an elite offense that leads the NBA in scoring (121.5 ppg) and a lackluster defense that ranks 29th in points allowed (118.2 ppg). The Nets went 1-2 over the last week while topping the O/U total in two of those contests.
KD, Kyrie, and The Beard might be able to get buckets whenever they want at the offensive end of the floor, but if Brooklyn doesn’t start playing defense at some point, I think their championship hopes could get cut short well before the 2021 NBA Finals.
Denver (17-6 O/U)
The Nuggets (12-11 SU) will look to get back in the win column at home on Wednesday night against Cleveland after going 0-3 last week. Denver suffered losses against the Lakers, surging Sacramento Kings and Bucks while topping the OU total in two straight.
While the Nuggets rank a stellar third in scoring (115.3 ppg), Denver’s defense has been mediocre at best. The Nuggets are allowing 1112.7 points per contest to rank a modest 20th in points allowed. Denver has topped its O/U total in two straight and eight of its last 10 games heading further into Tuesday night’s slate.
LA Clippers (14-11 O/U)
The Clippers (17-8 SU) might have the third-best record in the Western Conference but there are still some ongoing issues in LA. The Clippers went 1-2 last week and head into Tuesday night riding a two-game losing streak that includes losses against the Celtics and Kings.
While LA ranks an identical fifth in scoring (114.8 ppg) and points allowed (107.8 ppg), the Clippers are just 4-4 over their last eight games and are lacking production from its bench unit. Three-time Sixth Man of the Year winner Lou Williams is averaging a paltry 10.3 points per game. Free agent addition Luke Kennard has underwhelmed (8.2 ppg) and veterans Patrick Beverly, Ivica Zubac and Reggie Jackson are all averaging right around eight points per game. The Over is 4-1 in LA’s last five games.
Sacramento (14-9 O/U)
Sacramento (12-11 SU) is surging NBA betting enthusiasts. The Kings have won four straight and seven of its last eight games while going 3-0 last week. Sacramento took out a trio of legitimate NBA Finals contenders by beating Boston, Denver and the LA Clippers. Sacramento ranks 11th in scoring (113.7 ppg), but an awful 28th in points allowed (118.2 ppg). The Kings went 2-1 O/U last week but are 5-5 O/U over their last 10 games overall.
Let’s take a look at the odds to win the 2021 NBA Conference Championships!
Milwaukee (14-9-1 O/U)
The Bucks (16-8 SU) have won five straight including a 125-112 smackdown of Denver on Monday night. The Over is 5-1-1 in Milwaukee’s last seven games. The Bucks rank second in scoring (121.3 ppg) and 15th in points allowed (111.4 ppg). Milwaukee has scored at least 123 points in five straight games while scoring 130 points or more in two of those contests.
Here is a look at the complete odds to win the 2021 NBA Championship!
Under
Atlanta (7-16 O/U)
The Hawks (11-12 SU) went 1-2 last week but managed to get past Toronto 132-121 on Saturday. Atlanta ranks 15th in scoring (112.6 ppg) and 13th in points allowed (111.1 ppg). Trae Young and company might have more under outcomes than any team in the league heading into Tuesday night, but the Hawks have topped its total in two of their last three games.
Houston (7-15-1 O/U)
The Rockets (11-12 SU) have lost two straight and three of four including a humbling 19-94 road loss against Charlotte on Monday night. Houston is averaging 110.3 points per game (21st) while allowing 109.3 points per game defensively (7th). More importantly, the Rockets have played Under the total in four straight games heading into Tuesday night’s road date at New Orleans.
New York (8-17 O/U)
New York (11-14 SU) might rank an awful 30th in scoring (102.7 ppg), but the Knicks are playing lockdown defense by limiting the opposition to just 104.1 points per game to rank first in fewest points allowed.Under defensive taskmaster Tom Thibodeau, New York also ranks first in defensive field goal percentage (43.7%) and first in three-point field goal defense (31.8%). The Knicks topped their O/U total against Miami in Sunday’s 109-103 home loss against Miami, but have gone 1-3 O/U over their last four games.
LA Lakers (8-17 O/U)
Los Angeles (19-6) ranks a modest 14th in scoring (113.1 ppg), but a phenomenal second in points allowed (104.9 ppg). The Lakers rank seventh in defensive field goal percentage (44.8%) and third in three-point field goal defense (34.2%).LeBron James and company have won five straight while topping the O/U total in two straight after playing Under the total in their previous five games.
Phoenix (7-12 O/U)
The Suns are ranked an uninspiring 23rd in scoring (109.8 ppg) but have improved dramatically on the defensive end of the floor this season. Phoenix ranks a stellar fourth in points allowed (107.0 ppg), 10th in defensive field goal percentage (45.4%) and fifth in three-point field goal defense (35.0%).
The addition of future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul has completely altered the way Phoenix plays. The Suns have a plethora of talented young players like Devin Booker (23.5 ppg), Mikal Bridges (14.4 ppg) DeAndre Ayton (14.0 ppg, 12.8 rpg) and Cameron Johnson (11.4 ppg).
All of that youth, combined with CP3 and other veterans like Jae Crowder (10.3 ppg) and Dario Saric (10.6 ppg) have the Suns looking like a legitimate threat in the Western Conference.
If you want to learn more about how to bet on sports online, we’ve got you covered. In addition to that, you can read our latest sportsbook reviews before making all of your NBA bets in our bettor-friendly online sportsbook.
