Another KD KO at San Antonio? Wednesday's NBA Betting Picks!

Hoop Hopes – Ricky Rothstein makes his picks for tonight’s NBA action!

Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs
When you’re the big dog, you’re inclined to pick and choose your games. You don’t bust yourself against Charlotte; if you play your usual game you’ll take them and if, by some fluke, Charlotte wins, not to worry. There are 81 other games to get you to the playoffs.

But that said, when you’re playing other big dogs, you need to show them who’s king of the kennels. That’s something that San Antonio hasn’t always done this year, and it’s something they won’t find all that easy tonight either. It is not true to say that the Thunder show no ill-effects from the loss of Russell Westbrook, but Kevin Durant is playing like a man inspired in Westbrook’s absence. The Thunder point guard hasn’t hit less than 30 points a game in eight games, and Oklahoma City is one of few teams to have the Spurs’ number over the years.

With Tony Parker’s status questionable, it’s a risky play to call a winner but Westbrook’s hot streak has to cool sometime, and the Spurs D being excellent is one of the NBA’s constants through the years. Under 207 points is the bet.
Hoop Hope 1 | Under 207

Indiana Pacers at Phoenix Suns
Indiana is the best team in the NBA right now. The Pacers’ suffocating defense blots out the opposition while point guard Paul George is there to provide the va-va-voom, as exemplified by his windmill dunk last week.

Tonight, the Pacers are at Phoenix, where they meet a team with the opposite philosophy. The Suns like to shoot on sight and it’s working for them, as they challenge the Clippers and Golden State for the Pacific Division title. The total is set at 196 out of respect for that menacing Pacer D, but the Pacers are no slouches when it comes to taking their own shots either. Over 196.5 points is the bet at the US Airways Center.
Hoop Hope 2 | Over 196.5

Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks
And after the fine wines of the Spurs, Thunder, Pacers and Suns, it’s time for the T-bird and brake fluid of an Atlantic Division showdown. The 76ers are at the Knicks tonight, a 13-28 team taking on a 15-26 one. But this a good game to bet on because there is no way the Knicks are going to lose to the Sixers in the Garden. They won’t get home alive if they do.
Hoop Hope 3 | New York Knicks -7.5

Follow Ricky Rothstein’s Hoop Hopes every night – he’s 34-29, .540, for the season so far!