Daily tips for December 23

What’s on today

There’s a mouth-watering line-up of NFL games today with several one-sided match-ups balanced against a handful of games with playoff implications; EPL tips are posted here as Spurs head to Southampton while Swansea host Everton; there are small cards for both the NHL and NBA today but there’s a cracking A-League fixture tonight featuring Western Sydney and Central Coast, GL punters!

NBA for December 23

Minnesota Timberwolves (13-14, 5-10 away) @ Los Angeles Clippers (19-9, 11-2 home), STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA, Monday, December 23, 1.40pm

Points won’t be in short supply here as the Los Angeles Clippers host the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Clippers will look to build on another impressive performance from long range as they attempt to beat the Timberwolves for the eighth straight time. Los Angeles (19-9) is shooting 33.7 per cent from three-point range on the season, but has made 41.5 per cent while averaging 112.0 points during a season high-tying four-game winning streak. The Clippers, who face Golden State on Christmas Day, have connected on at least 11 three-pointers in each of the past three contests, including 13 while cruising to Saturday’s 112-91 win over Denver. They’re 21-2 since the start of last season when they make at least 11 from long range and are 8-0 in such games in 2013-14. They hit 12 in a 102-98 win at Minnesota on November 20. Jamal Crawford (pictured) came up big from long range on Saturday, making 6 of 12 while scoring 27 points. Matt Barnes is also looking to do his part after missing 16 games while recovering from a torn retina.

Blake Griffin is averaging 24.0 points and 11.7 rebounds over the past three games. The forward has tallied 45 points and 20 rebounds in the two wins over the Timberwolves (13-14) this season. He led the Clippers with 25 points in a 109-107 victory at home on November 11, winning against Minnesota there for the seventh time in nine tries and third in a row. The Timberwolves have dropped nine of 12 on the road, but they’ve alternated wins and losses over their last six. They’ll look for that to continue after falling 104-91 on the road to the Lakers on Friday. Minnesota will likely need to also show some improvement from the field after shooting 34.7 per cent (5 for 22 from beyond the arc) against the Lakers. Kevin Love continues to do his part, averaging 30.6 points and 13.0 rebounds while hitting 47.6 per cent from long range over the past five games. Kevin Martin had 28 points and 10 boards in that meeting after scoring 30 at Staples Center on November 11.

Confirmed bets

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Clippers +208.5 $1.91 WIN (116-120)

Boston Celtics @ Indiana Pacers -12.5 $1.91 WIN (79-106)

Leans

Boston Celtics @ Indiana Pacers -190.5 $1.91 WIN (79-106)

Toronto Raptors @ Oklahoma City Thunder +204.5 $1.91 LOSE (104-98)

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Clippers -5 $1.91 LOSE (116-120)


NHL for December 23

Minnesota Wild (20-12-5, 45 pts) @ New York Rangers (16-18-2, 34 pts), Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, Monday, December 23, 11.40pm

There are just two games on the slate for today in the NHL ahead of tomorrow’s 14-game line-up and the Christmas break. We head to New York for today’s only bet where the longest homestand in New York Rangers history is turning into a nightmarish stretch for a club that in recent years has been solid at Madison Square Garden. New York looks to get on track when it hosts the Minnesota Wild, who have dropped six of their last seven on the road. The Rangers (16-18-2) were second in the Eastern Conference with 27 home wins in 2011-12 and went 16-6-2 at MSG in last season's lockout-shortened campaign, but that success hasn't carried over. They've lost 10 of their last 12 at MSG and dropped to 1-4-2 on their nine-game homestand after Friday’s 5-3 loss to the New York Islanders. Benoit Pouliot, Derek Dorsett and Derek Stepan scored, but Henrik Lundqvist stopped only 15 of 19 shots. He is 1-7-2 with a 3.23 goals-against average in his last 10 starts at the Garden. They went 2 for 7 on the power play but also gave up two short-handed goals in the first period.

Minnesota needs some improvement during a stretch in which seven of eight games are coming on the road. It began a four-game trip with Thursday’s 5-2 loss to Pittsburgh, falling to 1-5-1 in its last six away from home. Jason Pominville and Dany Heatley scored for the Wild (20-12-5). Minnesota must continue to move forward without goaltender Josh Harding, who was placed on injured reserve Wednesday in order to evaluate his medication for multiple sclerosis. He is 18-5-3 with a league-best 1.51 GAA. Niklas Backstrom (pictured) made 31 saves Thursday and has lost five straight starts while posting a 3.23 GAA. Backstrom is 1-2-0 with a 3.04 GAA in three career starts against the Rangers, but he hasn’t faced them since 2010. He could be in net opposite Cam Talbot, who will get the start for the Rangers. The rookie is 6-2-0 with a 1.74 GAA in eight starts. Both sides are averaging fewer than 2.3 goals per game but defensive issues should ensure the total drifts above the line of 5 on offer here.

Confirmed bet

Minnesota Wild @ New York Rangers +5 (one unit @ $1.95) PUSH (1-4)

Leans

Minnesota Wild WIN $1.91 @ New York Rangers LOSE (1-4)

Winnipeg Jets +1.5 $1.50 WIN @ Vancouver Canucks +5 $1.77 LOSE (1-2)

NFL (week 16) for December 23

Denver Broncos (11-3, 4-2 away) @ Houston Texans (2-12, 1-6 home), Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX, Monday, December 23, 5am

There are several reasons why Denver is my best of the week in the NFL. As was the case last week, the Texans have no interest in winning and putting the No. 1 draft pick in peril. Peyton Manning returns to a warm environment after four cold weather games in a row, the Broncos are on the rebound after a shock loss to the Chargers last week and can possibly clinch a division title and the No. 1 seed in the conference when they try to extend the Houston’s team-worst losing streak. Denver (11-3) entered last Thursday’s home game with San Diego averaging league highs of 39.6 points and 465.6 yards, but was held to a season-low 295 while scoring its fewest points of 2013 in a 27-20 loss. Fortunately for the Broncos, New England couldn’t overtake them for the top spot in the AFC as it lost to Miami on Sunday. Tied with KC atop the West Division, Denver owns the tiebreaker after sweeping that series and can clinch the division with victory and a Chiefs’ loss to Indianapolis.

The Broncos' top priority will be improving a defence that ranks 23rd with 371.5 yards allowed per contest. Denver yielded its first 100-yard rusher of the season when Ryan Mathews gained 127 last week. The Broncos were held to a season-low 18 rushing yards last week after averaging 188.7 in the previous three games.  Denver, though, appears to have a good shot to bounce back in a big way. Three shy of Tom Brady’s single-season NFL record of 50 TD passes, Manning is 16-3 against the Texans. He threw for 330 yards and two touchdowns versus Houston on September 23, though the Broncos lost 31-25 at home. Mired in a 12-game skid that is the league's longest single-season slide since the Colts started 0-13 in 2011, Houston ranks fourth in the NFL with 304.2 yards allowed per game but 25th with 26.8 points given up. Quarterback Case Keenum won't play due to a sprained right thumb, with Matt Schaub (pictured) getting the nod. The last time the beleaguered veteran played, the home crowd booed Schaub so loudly when he entered the game that the offence was forced to use a silent count.

Confirmed bets

Denver Broncos -10 @ Houston Texans (two units @ $1.91) WIN (37-13)

Arizona Cardinals +10.5 @ Seattle Seahawks (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (17-10)

New York Giants @ Detroit Lions -49 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (23-20)

Oakland Raiders @ San Diego Chargers +50.5 (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (13-26)

Chicago Bears +3 @ Philadelphia Eagles (one unit @ $1.87) WIN (11-54)

Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Redskins +3 (one unit @ $1.83) WIN (24-23)

Cleveland Browns @ New York Jets WIN (one unit @ $1.83) WIN (13-24)

Leans

Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills +2.5 $1.91 WIN (0-19)

New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers -2.5 $1.65 WIN (13-17)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ St Louis Rams -43 $1.91 WIN (13-23)

Indianapolis Colts @ Kansas City Chiefs -7 $1.87 LOSE (23-7)

Minnesota Vikings @ Cincinnati Bengals -9.5 $1.91 WIN (14-42)

Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars -44 $1.91 WIN (20-16)

New York Giants @ Detroit Lions -10 $1.87 LOSE (23-20)

Pittsburgh Steelers WIN $1.95 @ Green Bay Packers WIN (38-31)

New England Patriots @ Baltimore Ravens WIN $1.83 LOSE (41-7)

Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles +55.5 $1.91 WIN (11-54)

EPL for December 23

Southampton (6-6-4, 24 points) v Tottenham Hotspur (8-3-5, 27 points), St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton, England, Monday, December 23, 12.30am

A chaotic week of defeat and upheaval at Tottenham isn’t about to get any easier with this trip to the south coast to face Southampton. It all started with that 5-0 drubbing at home to Liverpool last Sunday with half of their regular defence out through injury. Manager Andre Villas-Boas was dismissed after that result, with former captain Tim Sherwood (pictured) minding the shop in the interim. Villas-Boas won 29 of 54 league matches in charge of Spurs (D12, L13). West Ham then scored twice in the last 10 minutes of Wednesday’s League Cup quarter-final to compound Tottenham’s week of woe. Tottenham’s Andros Townsend is out with a hamstring injury, while Younes Kaboul and Jan Vertonghen are also sidelined. Midfielder Paulinho serves the second game of a three-match ban, but skipper Michael Dawson is available after serving a suspension in midweek. Spurs have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six Premier League matches, conceding a total of 16 goals. They have claimed 16 points from their eight away games this season. Prior to this weekend, that was the joint best record in the top flight (with Arsenal).

Lying in wait will be a Southampton team who've impressed many this season, but have hit a bump in the road lately and are without a win in their last five league games. Failure to beat Spurs will equal their longest run without a victory under Mauricio Pochettino. But in recent years this has been a fruitful fixture for them, with Saints winning five of the six encounters between the clubs at St Mary’s. However, it was Tottenham who came out on top last season, winning this corresponding game 2-1. Southampton have only conceded six goals at home all season and three of those came in one match against Aston Villa, who inflicted their only home defeat of the season so far. Southampton full-back Nathaniel Clyne has returned to training following a hamstring injury and will be assessed while captain Adam Lallana began on the bench last weekend because of a minor injury, but could reclaim a starting spot. The Saints kept six clean sheets in their first nine league games, but have failed to keep a shut-out in their subsequent seven matches.

Confirmed bets

Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur BTS (one unit @ $1.75) WIN (2-3)

Swansea City v Everton WIN (one unit @ $2.35) WIN (1-2)

Leans

Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur +2.5 $2.05 WIN (2-3)

Swansea City v Everton -2.5 $1.80 LOSE (1-2)

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