With the end of the online NBA betting season in sight, it’s become abundantly clear to some franchises that they will be missing out of this year’s postseason. Nevertheless, while those teams cannot strive to compete for the NBA title, they can still pose a problem to some potential contenders. Causing teams to sink in the NBA rankings weeks before the start of the postseason will ultimately affect their playoff seeding. And as sportsbook fans know, the lower the seeding you clinch, the tougher your opponent will be come elimination time. So even though bottom-ranking teams cannot be motivated by the possibility of competing for the title, they can still be impelled to pose a problem for playoff contenders.
That’s exactly the situation the Phoenix Suns find themselves ahead of their Tuesday night matchup. Later on this evening, the Suns will be hosting the Washington Wizards at the Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns, who rank penultimate in the Western Conference, are in no way, shape, or form a playoff contender, but as aforementioned, they could try and ruin the Wizards postseason seeding. Let’s see what kind of action most basketball betting sites are predicting for Tuesday night’s matchup.
ONLINE NBA BETTING ODDS – REGULAR SEASON – Tuesday, March 7th
Washington Wizards -4 (-110) 226 ½ (-110) -185
Phoenix Suns +4 (-110) 226 ½ (-110) +160
Understandably, the Wizards have been pegged as the sportsbook favorites. Washington enters this contest with a 37-24 record that ranks the franchise third in the Eastern Conference, as well as 1st in the Southeast Division. Coming off a season in which they failed to qualify for the postseason, the Wizards are itching to get to the playoffs and prove themselves.
In the last 4 games, Washington has posted a 3-1 record, and that should improve against the meager Suns. Right now the Wizards are three games behind No. 2 Boston, and are just one game ahead of No. 4 Toronto. The Raptors will stay off the court until tomorrow night, but if the Suns hand Washington a loss, you can bet Toronto will enter Wednesday’s game with added motivation.
The online NBA betting favorites will turn to leading point-scorer Bradley Beal to lead them in Tuesday’s contest. Beal is putting up 22.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Second in points for Washington is John Wall who is netting 22.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 10.8 assists per game.
The Suns slide into this matchup sporting a 21-42 record that ranks the franchise 4th in the Pacific Division. The Suns have been absent from the postseason for the last 6 years straight and 2017 will be no different.
The sportsbook underdogs are hoping that Eric Bledsoe can lead them to an upset victory. Bledsoe is leading Phoenix in points with his average of 21.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per matchup. Second in points for the Suns is Devin Booker, who is currently draining 20.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per pairing.
