Sports Picks & Predictions

This is what the Clippers played the season for. All the load management, different rotations and team building was intended to be in a good place for the postseason. And we think the Clippers are in a very good place. This team didn’t care about regular season records. All they care about is winning a championship. And this team looks much better than the one we saw flame out of the playoffs last season. Paul George was having some mental issues last season in the bubble but he has been great this season, and this team is pretty much fully healthy here for Game 1. A healthy and motivated Clippers team is on a different level than this Mavs squad, and we think this line is short on Saturday.

Home teams have been dominant in this play in tournament, and we expect that trend to continue on Friday in the final play in game. The postseason is when stars shine the brightest, and although Ja Morant is a rising star, the Warriors have two established stars, including one of the best to ever play the game. We have seen time and time again that Steph Curry elevates his game to a different level when things matter the most, and the stakes couldn’t be higher here. He also makes everyone around him better when he brings his A Game, and we expect to see his best tonight. The Grizzlies wouldn’t have made the postseason in a normal format. This team is on the rise for sure, but we think they are a season away from being a true threat. With Curry, the Warriors can beat any team in the postseason if he elevates his game. Golden State has been a great bet lately as they are 6-0 ATS in their last six games. They are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games against Memphis when playing in the Bay Area. The Warriors scored a double digit win in this same arena against the Grizzlies on May 16. We think there is a great chance they score a comfortable win tonight by 7+ points.

This game features two of the most clutch players of all time facing off in an unprecedented game of two recent championship teams playing for the right to make the playoffs. But Steph Curry has been in fine form for a long time, while LeBron has been oft injured and is just getting back into rhythm for the postseason. This team just doesn’t have a lot of chemistry right now. They won five straight to end the regular season, but they covered only two of those games and they faces teams with questionable motivation while LA had all the motivation. But they will face an extremely motivated Golden State team tonight, and the Warriors are playing well and have covered six straight games. We had the Warriors as slight favorites here and we think it’s their game to lose.

Memphis won the last two meetings in blowout fashion. This seems like a team on the way up, while the Spurs seem to be on the way to irrelevance after being one of the best teams in the NBA for the last couple decades. Memphis has won five of six entering the play-in tourney. They are in good form. The playoffs are all about stars, and Ja Morant is the best player on the court here. The Grizzlies were one of the best ATS teams in the NBA this season, and we think they are undervalued here once again. They are a bit better on both sides of the ball and they have all the momentum heading into this matchup.

Just think this season is a wash for the Celtics. Jaylen Brown went down for the season. That seemed to take the air out of this Celtics team that looked off anyways. They have dealt with many injuries all season and never got to develop the necessary chemistry needed for a championship run. They lost five of six games to close out the season, and they didn’t reach the century mark on offense in three of those games. They are banged up heading into this game with key players nursing a variety of injuries. The Wizards got off to a slow start this season, but they have been playing as well as anyone in the NBA lately. They have been a covering machine as they have covered the majority of their games over the last month or so. They are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 road games. They are 4-1-1 ATS in the last six meetings. The last five meetings have all gone under the posted number.

We think this line is short. We were expecting a bigger number and think there’s decent value here tonight. The Hornets are backing into the play-in tournament and they have lost five straight. This play-in is new and we don’t have many trends to rely on, but this tournament seems built for teams that are in good form, and the Hornets don’t seem to be that team. The Pacers have been playing a lot better and have won three of five, and they have been a hot ATS team as they are 6-0-1 ATS in their last seven games. Indiana has all the postseason experience here and this is a new ballgame for the Hornets. We think the Pacers will win comfortably here.

Maybe both teams want the Blazers to win here? The Clippers sure looked like they tanked their last game to avoid the Lakers potentially in the first round or closer down the road. Now the Blazers are in that position. They have a chance to knock LA into the play in tourney. Denver doesn’t have any incentive to win and let the Lakers into the top 6 seeds. We see Portland going all out here and the Nuggets focusing on their first-round opponent, which could possibly be these Blazers, so why would they want to give too much away?

The Celtics have lost four straight. This team will not have many starters in the game today because of injuries or rest. This looks like a team that just wants to focus on the play in tourney next week. Minnesota got off to a real bad start to the season and a lot of that had to do with injuries. But this team has played a lot better down the stretch and has the look of a team that wants to end the season on a positive note. We don’t think Boston cares much about this game as they have their sights set on next week.

Despite a 20-50 record, the Pistons are 35-33-2 against the spread. They get too many points on a regular basis. This team is building something good, and the players play hard and play until the final buzzer. Do they get blown out from time to time? Sure. There is a lot of developing talent on this team. But they get an A most nights for hustle, and this has the look of a team that wants to finish the season on a positive note. This team is 26-16-1 ATS when getting five or more points this season, so they are a pretty safe bet as a big underdog. Denver has been overrated by the oddsmakers as they are 1-4 ATS in their last five. This team is pretty secure in their postseason positioning and we just think they have their eyes towards the playoffs now and they aren’t going all out here in Detroit. The Pistons have covered in five of seven meetings. We expect a close game here, and a SU win by the home team wouldn’t be shocking.

Portland is one of the main teams that need a win tonight. There are three teams trying to stay out of the play-in tournament – Portland, LA Lakers and Dallas – and right now the Blazers are on the right side of the standings. A win here would go a long way to securing their spot. They have been road warriors lately, covering in six of their last seven road games. The Suns are pretty secure in their playoff seeding and this game has no real importance to them compared to Portland. We think the road team will pull out all the stops to win this one.

We were really impressed by the Clippers last win over Toronto. This has the look of a team that is getting healthy at the right time and wants to build some momentum heading into the playoffs. Ibaka is the only main player that will be out tonight. The Clippers have had a real light schedule down the stretch, so they should have plenty of energy here. And they have covered in four of the last five meetings.

Boston has lost three straight, but that has been against much tougher competition then they will see tonight. This has all the signs of a Get Right game against the Cavs, and we think Boston will be primed for a big win. They probably can’t avoid the play-in tourney, but they can at least build some momentum for the postseason, and that is much needed right now. Cleveland is 0-6-1 ATS in their last seven home games despite some generous lines from the oddsmakers, and we think the road team has a great chance for a double digit win.

These teams played in Washington on Monday and the Hawks won by one point. It’s tough to beat the same team twice in a row, and we think the Wizards have a great chance to win this one. The points are an added bonus. Beal should play here. Washington has been playing as well as any team in the East since a slow start. They are one of the best ATS teams in the NBA this season. And we think they are getting too many points once again.

The Magic have suffered two 30+-point losses in their last three games. This team is so wracked with injuries they are fielding a G League-level team right now. And this team stunk before all the injuries. Those big losses were to Minnesota and Boston, one team that stinks and one that is not playing well. The Bucks are in on a back-to-back, and they suffered one of their worst losses of the season last night in San Antonio. They lost by 20+ in what was obviously an off game. We like to back a good team after an embarrassing loss like that as they normally give a lot better effort in their next game. Even on a B2B they should have enough energy to beat this Magic team without breaking too much of a sweat. The Magic haven’t covered in the last six games in this series, and we think they run into a buzzsaw tonight against a Bucks team that will want to remove the bad taste their loss from last night left them.

As bad as the Magic have been playing, the Wolves are not in a position of power to be laying more than seven on the road to anyone. This is the biggest favorite they have been all season. The Wolves have lost three straight and didn’t cover in any of those games. The Magic have won and covered in three of their last six games, so they aren’t playing that bad right now overall. There is more talent on the Wolves side for sure, but we think this is an inflated number.

Popovich has the Spurs playing well down the stretch. They haven’t had much to show for it in the W/L column as they lost two crucial games in OT. They are coming off a blowout loss vs. Utah and we always like to back a solid team after an embarrassing loss. The Spurs are barely clinging on to the No. 10 spot in the West and the last spot in the play-in tournament. Sacramento is still alive, but barely. Sacramento has seen some mild success lately. But we just don’t believe in this team in a must-win game against a more talented Spurs squad and one that is better coached.

Both teams are dealing with injuries but we think the Jazz are the better team and they have better weathered their injury status. We are very impressed with their last two games as they swept a desperate Spurs team that is fighting for their playoff lives. We expected this number to come out closer to 6, and with a lean to Utah at that number, so we are going with the value here tonight.

Boston is rested. They had the night off Thursday, and before their 36-point domination of Orlando last time out, they had two days off before that. The Bulls are coming in on a back-to-back. They won last night but had dropped four straight before that, so they aren’t in great form right now. The Bulls are the more desperate team. They are four games out of the last spot in the playoff play-in, with six games left. They are done. And they have been playing like it. They are here in the spot out of the playoffs because they aren’t a very good team. Boston has a lot to play for as they are on the bubble of the play in tourney, but they are currently No. 6. They control their own destiny to avoid the play in. And most importantly, they have been a great bet in this series as they are 4-1 ATS in their last five in Chicago and 12-3 ATS overall in the last 15 meetings. The Bulls got a rare win in this series last month, but we don’t see it happening twice in a row.

The Clippers have been one of the best ATS teams in the league all season and the Lakers one of the worst. The Clippers haven’t been covering lately but they are as healthy right now as they have been in a long time, and they face their biggest rival tonight. The Lakers don’t really think of this as a big rivalry for them, but the Clippers do. That’s why the Clippers are 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings. The Clippers didn’t play well last time out vs. the Raptors but still won. We think they were looking ahead to this game a bit. We expect their best performance tonight in what should have a playoff atmosphere. But the Clippers are healthy and the Lakers aren’t, with LeBron and several key players out tonight.

The Spurs lost to the Jazz on Monday here in Utah. They were down big in the first half but played much better in the second and kept the score respectable even though they missed the cover. But this game becomes a lot more important for San Antonio. They are two games in front of New Orleans for the last spot in the play in tourney. They need to get a win. They have lost four straight against a very tough schedule but they went to OT at Boston and vs Philly even though they couldn’t pull out the win in either of those games. The Jazz have covered in only two of their last six. They already beat the Spurs on Monday and they don’t have a lot of motivation for seeding as they seem locked into a Top 2 spot. Have to thing that Popovich, one of the best coaches in the history of the game, will have his team motivated here in this rematch. The Jazz have covered in only one of their last six home games, so they have been overrated by the oddsmakers and are missing some of their Top Guns again for this matchup.

The Wizards are the last team in for the play in tourney in the East so it’s imperative that they keep winning. They have been playing like a legit playoff team after a slow start to the season, and the oddsmakers continue to undervalue this squad. They have won seven of 10 so they are in good form. They have covered in 14 of their last 17 games, so they are not being lined correctly. The Bucks come in on a back-to-back and playing their third game in four nights. They just had a doubleheader against Brooklyn, a team they will likely cross paths with in the playoffs. They probably won’t take this game as seriously. And the Bucks haven’t been blowing teams out of the water lately. We think the Wizards will be hyped to compete here and expect them to cover.

The Clippers are the healthiest they have been in awhile, and their two stars are expected to play tonight. They have lost three straight and they are desperate for a win right now. They have had two nights off to regroup and should be ready here. As of right now they are set to play the Lakers in the first round. They won’t say it, but they don’t want it. They will probably do their best to move up in the seeding, and they don’t have many chances to do it left. We think they give their best effort tonight and win this one by double digits.

These teams played last night and the Warriors blew out the Pelicans. But it’s very hard to beat a team twice in two nights, especially on their home court. New Orleans is out of the playoff picture as things stand now. Every game is a playoff game for them if they wish to compete in the play-in tourney. Last night the Warriors jumped out to a big lead but New Orleans played with them all the rest of the game, and we expect a more complete performance from them tonight.

This is a battle of two Top 10 defenses and we expect a low-scoring game. But we think Denver will have the stronger motivation tonight when it comes to the ATS angle. These are possible first-round opponents in the postseason. The Lakers right now are trying to get AD and LeBron back into playing shape. All they care about is to be healthy and in a good headspace come playoffs. They don’t care much about this game. The Nuggets will want to prove something, we expect, and they should bring a lot of energy here. Denver is one of the hottest teams in the league right now and they are coming off a win against the Clippers that was very impressive.

Orlando won last time out and they have won two of three. We just think they are satisfied and the Pistons, losers of two straight, will be the more motivated team here, especially at home. Both of these teams are dealing with long injury lists. But the Magic don’t handle success well and they are 0-5 ATS in their last five after an ATS win. The Pistons are also 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings. We think the home team will show some motivation here in an easily winnable game.  

The Celtics have had players in and out of the lineup all season, so it has been hard to get a read on this team. They should be pretty healthy tonight with the exception of Walker. We think this team is ready to make a move approaching the playoffs. We had this line at 6.5 with a lean to the Celtics at that number, and we think they are a bit undervalued tonight. We expect a comfortable 7+-point win.

The Nets have been a bad bet all season. But they seem to be coming together as we head towards the postseason. They have won and covered three straight. That includes wins over Boston and Phoenix, so they haven’t played creampuffs. The Pacers are banged up and they are coming off a home blowout to Portland. They face a big step up in competition here against one of the NBA title favorites. We think the Nets have a great chance for a double digit win.

The Jazz are coming off two straight losses to the Timberwolves. We could forgive one loss. But two straight tells us this team is not playing well right now. Sacramento has won two of three and they are playing well right now. They have covered their last four games as a listed underdog. We just expect a close game here and we think this spread is inflated a bit since the Jazz are a much more popular team with bettors.

Boston could have all their best players back here and the Hornets will be missing top players tonight. Boston has not been playing great as they have lost three straight, including a blowout to these Hornets. That sets up a solid revenge scenario and we think a healthy Boston team is in a good shape to get it tonight. Boston is 7-1-0 ATS in the last eight meetings at home. Both teams are on a back-to-back but Boston is at home for both games, so that’s a distinct advantage.

Boston is coming in off two straight losses, so this is a “get right” game for them. And they are playing just the right team to get back on track against. The Thunder have a rag tag group of players competing right now. They have been just god awful on defense as they have given up 119 or more in four straight games. We think Boston will put up a monster number on offense here and they should have no problem covering this big number. The Celtics are resting a couple key players, but that is why we are getting a value number here on Tuesday.

The Clippers have shown this season that they can put the players they have available to them on the court and have great success. They have been one of the best ATS bets in the NBA because of their depth and they have great chemistry together. They have missing players tonight, like always, but this team seems very dialed in right now and they seem intent on getting a high seed for the postseason. They are well rested and going up against a Pelicans team that hasn’t been playing their best lately.

When you are one of the best teams in the NBA and you lose to the Wolves, you know you had an off game. That’s what happened to the Jazz on Saturday as they played very poorly at home and lost straight up. Now this is a quick turnaround rematch, and we just don’t see anything other than the Jazz brining their A Game. Utah is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings here in Minnesota. This is a team that can beat bad opponents by double digits without breaking a sweat. We think that loss on Saturday is a wake up call for Utah and they will put their best foot forward tonight.

It’s tough to take a flyer on the Magic with the way they have been playing recently, but we don’t think the Lakers should be heavy favorites like this on the road against anyone. This team has lost four of five and covered in only one of those games. They are dealing with injuries and they are working Anthony Davis back into the mix with limited minutes. They take the best shot from opponents on a nightly basis. Orlando needs a competitive game and they should be hyped up for this one. They have covered in six of the last seven meetings with the Lakers.

These teams played Friday and the Grizzlies won a close one. When teams play in consecutive games like this you have to take a serious look at the team that lost the last matchup. The Blazers were playing their third game in four nights during that matchup and we think they will be more fresh after being off Saturday.

Portland has won three of the last four meetings. They have lost three straight but they have had a really tough schedule. We think they are the better team here and we expect them to bring their A Game to stop the losing streak. This line seems more than fair for the home team as we had this one handicapped at 5, with a lean to Portland at that number. We think the Blazers pull away in the fourth for a comfortable win.

The Pistons are 25-10-1 ATS when getting five or more points this season. They covered last night as a big underdog (barely) and we don’t think a back-to-back will affect this team all too much as they are young. They play hard every night, and last night was an indication they play to the final buzzer. The Spurs aren’t a very good team this season and we just don’t think the big spread is justified here. The Pistons hung with the Mavs last night and now they take a big step down in talent level.  

The Pelicans have lost four straight and haven’t covered in any of those games. They have been horrible on the road this season and have one less win on the road than the sorry Magic have at home. We just think this is a very public number for what should be a close game and a winnable one for the home team. The Pelicans are 10-20 ATS when laying points this season and 1-6 ATS when laying 7.5 or more. This has been one of the worst bets in the NBA this season. New Orleans hasn’t covered in any of the last five meetings.

We think this ECF possible preview will have some defensive and playoff intensity. It could also be a blowout, which would bode well for the under in our opinion. The Sixers are coming in on a back-to-back after a grueling game against the Suns last night. This will be their third game in four nights. The Bucks have been off for two nights. At this point in the season rest is so crucial, and the better team has the huge rest advantage here. We see the Sixers really struggling on offense here tonight.

We like to go with the losing team when these teams play back-to-back matchups. It’s hard to beat the same team twice on consecutive nights, and especially when the losing team is at home. Minnesota hasn’t won back-to-back games since way back at the beginning of the season in December. The Kings were kind of embarrassed last night as it was a close game and then the Wolves dominated late. We think they will play better here tonight in the rematch.

The Pistons have been a great underdog play this season. They are 24-10-1 ATS when getting five or more points. This is a bad team but a young one that plays hard every night. The average bettors isn’t going to go anywhere near them, but they have shown value all season long in the underdog role, and Dallas is just 6-10 ATS when laying more than five points, so they haven’t been a profitable favorite. Also, should Dallas be laying this many points when they have lost four of five, and the one win was that miracle shot at the buzzer vs. Memphis?

These teams have similar records, but the Bulls are a way better ATS team. They are coming off a big win over Boston that should really help with the confidence of this young team. This team can be streaky, and we think that win may springboard them to some short-term success. The Bulls are 5-1 ATS in their last six games as a road favorite. They are 15-6 ATS in the last 21 meetings in this series. The Bulls seem like the more motivated and confident team here tonight.

The Clippers are getting healthy and should have their best two players back for this matchup, LA is one of the best ATS teams in the league. They win and cover games like this. Portland is once again banged up, and we think they could face a buzzsaw tonight. LA is 4-0-1 ATS in their last five road games and they have been getting the job done away from home. LA has covered in all of the last five meetings.

The Kings have not been good lately, but they are still better than the Wolves. They are coming off a big win at Dallas, and this is a chance to start a rare winning streak. We think they will be up to the task. The Kings have been a disappointment, but they have had a much better season than Minnesota. The Wolves don’t play well on the road against bad teams as they are 0-4 ATS in their last four in this situation. This is also a revenge game as the Kings lost in Minnesota earlier this month.

Have to go with the hot Knicks here. New York has won six straight and they have covered in nine straight games. The number here has not been adjusted enough, in our opinion, as this team is seemingly flying under the radar right now. Charlotte is coming off a big win against Portland, but this team has been inconsistent and has lost four of five overall. We will go with the momentum here against what we feel is a short line.

Boston has some players questionable for Monday and this line could move if some of those players were given the green light. We won’t be scared off by the line movement in that event. We think Boston has a great chance to win this one by double digits. This team has never been about individual players. They play great team basketball, and when they are playing well the system works even with some parts missing. The Bulls will be without LaVine again, and that hurts as he is one of their best players and this team isn’t deep. They snapped a five-game losing streak last time out with a win over Cleveland, but that’s nothing to write home about. That was their only cover in the last six games. Boston is playing their best basketball of the season and they have done it against a really difficult schedule. We don’t think they will overlook this opponent since every win matters after their slow start. When this team is playing well they have been one of the best ATS teams the past several years. This boils down to great coaching. Boston is 12-2 ATS in the last 14 meetings and we expect them to get a very easy win tonight. And don’t forget, even though the Bulls were off last night, this is their third game in four nights as they had a B2B in that Cleveland game.

The Celtics are back! They have won five straight and the slow start to the season is seemingly in the rearview mirror. This line to us says that the bookies don’t believe in Boston, but we do. Golden State has won four straight. But they aren’t “back,” they are just hot right now. When playing well the Celtics are one of the best teams in the NBA. Can’t say that about the Warriors with the current lineup. And they have had a very easy schedule lately while the Celtics have won three difficult road games in a row. Boston always plays well in this series (9-3-1 ATS in last 13), and we expect them to get a comfortable win here tonight.

These teams have a similar record, but the Wizards are a much better team. Detroit has been overachieving, while the Wizards got off to a real slow start because of injuries and team chemistry. Detroit is probably a bit fresher tonight with both teams coming in on a B2B. They rested a few players on the first end of a B2B. But because they rested those players, we think management sent a clear message of tanking, and we don’t think the Pistons will be too motivated here. Washington has been playing very well lately, and we don’t think they will pass up the opportunity for what should be an easy win.

The Lakers are a bit of “fool’s gold” here as they have won four of seven but those wins were over Charlotte, Toronto, Sacramento and Brooklyn. Only one real quality win among those teams, and Brooklyn is a “work in progress” right now as this team is tinkering with a lot trying to have chemistry and stability once the playoffs start next month. And even the Lakers called that game the best win of the season. The Celtics have won six of seven. They DO have some quality wins there as they won in Portland and Denver in their last two. They also beat the Knicks, who are playing well now. This team is pretty healthy and has shrugged of their slow start. And this team has been one of the safest bets in the NBA the last few years as they normally have a great ATS mark. We think they hold the Lakers to a real low point total tonight.

The Pacers have been playing well. They lost a tough one to the Clippers last night and enter on a back-to-back. They had won their previous three games. They actually played really well last night but the Clippers brought their A Game. But they drop way down in talent tonight against the Rockets, and this should be an easy win for the road team. The Pacers have been really good on offense lately and we think they will be able to put up enough points to win this comfortably tonight.

We think revenge is an overrated handicapping angle, but we do think it applies in certain instances. When the previous game was a blowout (embarrassing) or if the game was recent. The game against the Clippers at Staples Center was the last game for Detroit. They hung with LA and easily covered the spread. They were in position for the win most of the game. Now they are at home and facing a Clippers team on a back-to-back and missing a couple key players. The Pistons are 8-1 ATS in their last nine against teams with a winning percentage above .600. They get up for big games, and we expect a close game tonight.

The Magic have been playing like dog poop lately, to be blunt. But there’s no way the Bulls should be laying this many points to any team. This is the most points the Bulls have given up all season. They have lost three straight games. They are back at home after a long road trip and have been on the road mostly for several weeks. This first game home is often tricky for the home team as the players have personal business to attend to and their minds might not be in the game. Orlando is 4-1 ATS in their last five as a road underdog. They are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 road games against a team with a winning percentage less than .400.

The Thunder are coming off a string of blowout losses and playing with a rag-tag group of young players. But we think this is a good spot for them to be competitive. The Jazz are coming in on a back-to-back. They lost to the Wizards at home last night and didn’t look great in doing so. The Thunder have had two nights off so they have a huge rest advantage. The Thunder have covered in all of their last five games in Utah. With this big of a spread, even with a blowout we can still cash this ticket.

The Pacers have won three straight. They are playing really good basketball right now and shooting the ball extremely well. They have shot the ball better than 50% in two of their last three games. The Pacers got off to a slow start to the season and they are in No. 9 place in the Eastern Conference playoff race. They need to keep winning to avoid dropping out of play-in contention. The Clippers have been playing well. This seems like the type of game where they may slip up, however. They have been at home for a long time. This is their first road game since March 25. They are without three key players tonight in Kawhi, Pat Bev and Ibaka. The public is all over the Clippers in this one and we think the bookies have set the number to make LA appealing. We expect a high scoring game here and we think the Pacers have a great chance to win outright.

The Warriors have not done well in the underdog role as they have covered only one of their last eight games as a listed underdog. We think they are in over their heads in this one also. Denver is coming in on a back-to-back, and they lost in embarrassing fashion on Sunday to the Celtics. That game was early, so we think there is significant time for rest. They completely fell apart late in that game and they will want to rebound here. We think they bring their A Game in a very winnable game. The Nuggets have rebounded well after recent losses as they have covered in all four games after a straight up loss.

New York has been a covering machine lately as they have covered four straight. They were off yesterday while the Raptors played. Toronto got the cover on Saturday, but that was just their second cover in nine games. They are one of the worst ATS teams in the NBA this season and the Knicks one of the best. New York is getting it done on the strength of their No. 1 defense. The Knicks have thrived in this situation as a home favorite as they are 8-1 ATS in their last nine in this role.

The Bulls are quietly playing well. They have covered in five of their last six games. Both these teams aren’t very good. But Chicago seems to have a bright future while the Wolves seem to be going nowhere fast. Despite some very favorable lines, the Wolves have one of the worst ATS marks in the NBA. This line looks short to us. The Bulls are around .500 on the road this season so they play well away from home. They are 6-1 ATS in their last seven road games against a team with a losing home record, so they play well against the teams they should.

The Cavs are on a back-to-back here. They didn’t look good yesterday in getting spanked by Toronto by 20 points. The Raptors had been struggling before that game. The Pelicans have been inconsistent but this looks like an easy win for them. They were off Saturday, so they have the rest advantage. They are coming off a confidence-inspiring win against Philly. They have also covered in four of the last five meetings in this series. We think the rested team takes advantage of the situation for a comfortable win.

Seven of the last nine games for Washington have gone under the posted total. They are playing better defense, and their offense hasn’t been consistent. They face a Top 5 defense tonight in the Suns. We think this could be a letdown spot for Phoenix here as they are coming off huge games with WC playoff implications against the Jazz and Clippers. We don’t see them playing with their usual gusto here. And we think the Wizards will be competitive as they have covered every game on this road trip.

The Lakers have covered in three of four and this team is underrated by the oddsmakers right now. They are highly motivated as their playoff hopes are slipping as they lose and fall down the standings. They need to compete until their stars are back. And this team assembled a roster with more depth than last season. The Nets are 7-21 ATS as a favorite of five or more this season, so they normally play down to the level of their competition.

This is a bad spot for the Clippers, who are coming in on a back-to-back after facing the Suns on Thursday. They have faced a who’s who of teams that will be in the WCF in recent games: Phoenix, Portland, LA Lakers and Denver. Throw in a recent game against potential Finals opponent Milwaukee, and we don’t think this Houston team is going to move the meter for the Clippers. They probably won’t have the energy to give 100% here even if they were inclined to, which we don’t think they will be. And who know who will take the court for LA as they often have a scratch in back-to-backs. Houston was off on Thursday. They have been playing much better lately and are coming off a win over Dallas and an easy cover against Phoenix. They are 3-0 ATS when getting this range of points as an underdog and 5-0 ATS on the road against above-.500 opponents.

Boston has been playing well lately and they have won three of four overall. They have been particularly good when a big favorite as they are 3-0 ATS in their last three when laying six or more points. That means they are taking care of business when they need to, and they are facing an overmatched opponent here tonight. Boston can’t afford to take any “lesser” teams for granted because of their average record this season, so we think they bring their A Game for a very winnable game. Minnesota hasn’t covered in Boston in seven years.

We are going to fade the Suns here, who played an amazing game against Utah last night that they won in OT. They played very hard in that game and left everything on the court. Don’t know how much they will have left in the tank here for the Clippers, who are playing as well as any team in the NBA right now and are relatively healthy. The Suns rarely play to expectations in this series as they are 1-8 ATS in the last 9 meetings away from home and 3-10 ATS overall in the last 13 meetings.

We think the Blazers are catching the Jazz at the right time here, off their epic game against the Suns on Wednesday. Utah lost in OT and both clubs gave it everything they had. The Blazers were off last night and they had a two-day rest before their last game, so they should be very well rested tonight compared to the home team. The Jazz have covered only one of their last five games, so they aren’t in top form right now. We expect a close game here and we think the Blazers have a great chance for the outright win in a clear letdown spot for Utah.

Just not a believer in the Heat as this big of a favorite. The Lakers have seemingly figured out a way to play together recently as they have won two of three as they wait for their stars to come back. The Heat have won four of five but those were against a lousy bunch of teams. The Lakers are in danger of dropping down the standings and out of the playoff race if they aren’t competitive. They need to play hard in games like this and give themselves a chance to win. We had this game handicapped on the other side of the key NBA betting number of 7, so we think there’s nice value here.

The Nets are 6-21 ATS this season when laying five or more points. This is one of the most overrated teams by the oddsmakers this season and this team is definitely a work in progress and we won’t see their true celling until the postseason. The Nets are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games overall, and we think this will be another close one. The Pelicans are inconsistent but can play with anyone when they are on, and they will probably be highly motivated tonight for this matchup.

The Clippers have been somewhat streaky and they followed up a big win streak with a couple losses. But they had their big blowout win over the Lakers last time out and now we think they will continue the streak with a comfortable win here. Portland has been playing well but it could be Fool’s Gold as they have had a very easy schedule lately. They will take a big step up in competition here. The Clippers have covered in all four of the last four meetings and we think they are the much stronger team in this matchup.

Looks like the Celtics could be making a move. They had two easy opponents, but their last two games were blowout wins and covers. Boston usually brings their A Game against top opponents, and especially against Philly at home where they are 8-1 ATS in the last nine meetings. Boston has had a strange and underachieving season so far, but this team looks to turn it on as we head towards the playoffs, and we had them handicapped as a slight favorite here.

We like what we have seen from Toronto lately. They had that monster win over the Warriors a couple games ago and then they came back with a big rally to beat Washington last night. They come in on a back-to-back here, but they have had a lot of success over the Lakers in the past and are 4-0 in the last four meetings at home and 19-7-1 in the last 27 meetings overall. The Lakers are just a poor team with their stars out and we expect the Raptors to win this one comfortably as they need every win they can get now.

We have been patiently waiting for the Raptors to turn the corner. This team has a solid roster and there is no reason this team shouldn’t be making a playoff push. Well, with that game last time out, the dominating win over Golden State that was one of the biggest wins of the season in the NBA, maybe now is the time they start to turn it on. Sometimes all you are missing in the NBA is confidence, and they should have plenty of that after dismantling the Warriors. The Wizards are going nowhere fast, and who know which games they choose to give max effort in. We get the feeling Toronto will be the more motivated team tonight.

4 Unit Play. Take #803 UCLA over Gonzaga (8:34p.m., Saturday, April 3 CBS) Just cannot justify laying this many points in a Final Four game. Gonzaga is loaded on offense but USC had numerous chances to cover tonight’s posted number in the Elite 8 and UCLA plays at a much slower pace. Gonzaga may jump out early but UCLA has came back in numerous tournament games this year. UCLA is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games. The Bruins find a way to keep this deficit around 8-10 points and we collect with the underdog.

10 Unit Play. Take #802 Baylor over Houston (5:14p.m., Saturday, April 3 CBS) Baylor cleared a major hurdle by getting to the Final Four and expect them to play a more relaxed game against Houston. The Cougars are an outstanding defensive team, but I just do not believe that they will be able to match Baylor’s high-powered offense to keep the deficit in single digits. Baylor is 9-3 ATS in their last 12 neutral site games when they are the favorite. Houston got all that they could handle from Rutgers in the round of 32 and I see do not believe they can keep up in scoring with the Bears.

The Magic are playing well. They are coming off a confidence-boosting win in LA against the Clippers and they have covered in seven of their last nine games overall. This young team plays solid defense and lately they have been able to put together enough offense to stay competitive. The Pelicans have Zion and Ball on the injury report tonight. If one or both can’t go that will help us a lot. We think Orlando can keep this close regardless of the status of those players. The Pelicans have not been good as a big favorite this season. They are 1-5 ATS when laying 7.5 or more points. They could be in a letdown spot after one of their biggest wins of the season against Boston. They are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games against a team with a winning percentage below .400. Orlando has also covered in all of the last four meetings. We expect a close game here.

4 Unit Play. Take #658 Gonzaga over Southern Cal (7:15p.m., Tuesday, March 30 TBS) We saw last night that the better team jumped out big early in both games and expect Gonzaga to do that on Tuesday as well. The Bulldogs are the best team in the country, and they have the tools to combat the Trojans on defense and I just do not believe USC can keep up in scoring. USC has covered every NCAA Tournament games under Andy Enfield and that streak will end tonight.

Best of Luck – Doc’s Sports

The Clippers are playing some of their best basketball of the season right now and they are winners of five straight. All but one of those games was a double-digit win. And the Bucks aren’t playing their best basketball at the moment as they are in a mid-season funk and have lost two straight. They have failed to cover their last six games when a posted underdog. We thought this line should be at least 4.5 at Staples and think this line is short. We would have leaned to LA at the bigger number but we think there is nice value here with this short line.

4 Unit Play. Take #653 Arkansas over Baylor (9:57p.m., Monday, March 28 CBS) This game has been Baylor’s nemesis under Scott Drew, as they have yet to advance to a Final Four. Now they are a big favorite and expected to do so and I just do not see a blowout in this game. Arkansas has been down big in every tournament game they have played and sooner or later they will put it all together and play a complete 40-minute game. I expect them to take this game down to the wire and we will collect with whoever comes out on top.

10 Unit Play. Take #628 Michigan over Florida State (5p.m., Sunday, March 28 CBS) This is not as strong of Seminole team as they have been in the last couple of years. Michigan has had good recent success against FSU and expect that to carry over into this game as well. Florida State has some shaky losses this season to UNC, Notre Dame, and Georgia Tech (twice) and if Michigan can shoot it well from the arc they will take care of business. Florida State is 1-3 ATS (1 push) in their last 5 neutral site games. Michigan is 17-7 ATS in their last 24 games. This team has adjusted to life without Isaiah Livers and will make a deep run this weekend with a good chance to make the Final Four.

The Hornets have been playing some solid ball, but they have been playing above their heads a bit and they have had a pretty easy schedule. We think this is a real tough test for them on Sunday. The Suns have been playing very well, and they tend to have a down game every now and then but we think they got that out of their systems two games ago in a loss to the Magic. Phoenix can hang with anyone offensively but they have an elite defense and that should be the difference in this Sunday matinee.

The Clippers are on a 4-0 ATS run and playing very well. They have some players questionable tonight but the team is really coming together and we think they will have success tonight no matter who takes the court, and the Sixers are without their best player also. The Sixers have been racking up wins but it has come against a pretty easy schedule. We think they are in for a reality check tonight. The Clippers should be hyped to beat their former coach, who didn’t seem extremely popular with the team.

10 Unit Play. Take #647 Syracuse over Houston (9:55p.m., Saturday, March 27 TBS) Syracuse is playing outstanding now and the same cannot be said for Houston. The Cougars needed a late run to put away Rutgers on Sunday and I do not see them blowing out the Orange in this game. The Cuse have won 5 of their last 6 games and playing against a 2-3 zone is something Coach Sampson has struggled with in the past. Syracuse is 18-7 ATS (1 push) in their last 26 neutral site games when they are an underdog.

We were on the Rockets last night when these teams met, in the same venue, and Houston was in command the most of the game until the fourth quarter when they went cold. And we mean COLD. They didn’t score a single point in the last seven minutes of the fourth quarter and barely still missed the cover. It’s tough to beat any team twice in a row on consecutive nights. Even harder when that team is as bad as Minnesota. The Rockets are probably embarrassed they let that game slip away and we expect a more complete effort from them tonight.

4 Unit Play. Take #631 Mississippi State (pk) over Louisiana Tech (3p.m., Saturday, March 27 ESPN) The Mississippi Bulldogs survived by the skin of their teeth on Thursday and now I expect them to advance to the NIT Finals tomorrow in North Texas. Miss State is young but they have great size and that will pose a problem for La Tech in this game. State is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS loss in their previous game.

This Dallas team seems to be rounding into form after a real slow start to the season. They have had a real relaxed schedule lately so they should have a lot of energy for this game. They have wins over the Blazers, Clippers and Nuggets in their last six games, so they are battle tested. Indiana has covered only three of their last 10 games and this team just isn’t in top form right now while Dallas is playing their best ball of the season. Not to mention they have covered in six of the last eight meetings.

These teams played Wednesday, here at the same venue, and the Bucks eeked out a two-point win. Boston got the cover but not the win, and they will be motivated to play better here tonight. The Celtics have been playing well but they lost their last two, that game to Milwaukee and before in OT at Memphis (on a back-to-back). This team will go all out to win tonight as they need this game more than Milwaukee, and it’s very tough to beat a good team twice in a row.

These teams played last night and the Clippers blew the Spurs out. It’s very difficult to dominate a team like that for two nights in a row, on their home court no less. And the Spurs have one of the best coaches to ever do it, so we have to imagine that Popovich will have a plan in place to have his team more competitive. The Spurs are 4-0 ATS in their last four after a blowout loss, so we think they will bounce back strong tonight.

10 Unit Play. Take #611 Mississippi State over Richmond (6p.m., Thursday, March 24 ESPN2) Richmond had know business winning their first-round match-up against Toledo but they did and now find themselves up against a better team in Mississippi State. Richmond still has injury issues and that will not go away in this game. The Bulldogs are coming off an impressive win against Saint Louis last time out (a No. 1 seed) and they are better at 4 of the 5 positions on the court with Richmond’s current roster. The Bulldogs are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games. The Spiders did not perform well down the stretch losing their final 3 games before the NIT began and that included a loss to Saint Louis, a team Mississippi State just beat.

The Rockets finally ended their losing streak last time out. This team is getting healthy and with their main players this team isn’t that bad. They got the monkey off their back of that losing streak and now they can just play without that burden. The Hornets have lost three of four and aren’t in top form right now. They lost their tremendous rookie, Ball, for the season, and that has to hurt team morale. The Hornets never play well here in Houston as they are 3-14-2 in the last 19 meetings.

Have really been impressed with the way the Celtics have played the last couple games since their team meeting. They lost last time out but they staged a furious rally in Memphis when they just weren’t hitting shots and they lost in OT and were on a back-to-back. They showed a lot of heart in that loss. And they should have Tatum and Walker back for this game. This is a real important game for Boston and we see them bringing their A Game tonight. Milwaukee has been winning but not covering a lot of spreads.

The Lakers aren’t a playoff team without LeBron and AD. They improved the roster this season around their two main guys, but this team goes as their stars do. They will play strong defense, but their offense won’t be able to get the job done. The Pelicans seem to be coming together as they have covered in four of five and have SU wins vs the Clippers (blowout) and at Denver. This team has been inconsistent but they will no doubt bring their A Game against the defending champs.

The Magic have been good as a home underdog lately with a 3-0-1 ATS record. We don’t see any reason this one won’t be a close game, and the Magic are getting the hook off the key NBA betting number of 7, which always has more value than 7 or 6.5. Teams down by seven (three possessions) don’t normally foul at the end of games. Orlando had a bad game last time out but they have been more competitive and they have covered in four of their last six. The Nuggets have covered in only two of their last six and are overvalued a bit here on Tuesday.

4 Unit Play. Take #821 USC over Kansas (9:40p.m., Monday, March 22 CBS) USC has great talent and they can do damage to Kansas inside the paint. The oddsmakers know this and have installed USC as the favorite in this game despite being the lower seeded team. USC has won 3 of their last 4 games and if they make shots from the arc, they will win this game by double digits. Kansas struggled for most of their game against Eastern Washington on Saturday and this is a must more talented team than the Eagles are. USC is 17-8 ATS in their last 25 neutral site games. Kansas is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games.

We had the Celtics as a slight favorite in this game so we think there is good value. Boston had a team meeting the other day and then came out and dominated an Orlando team that had been playing well on Sunday. They played earlier in the day, so the back-to-back here was not so brutal. Memphis had the day off Sunday but they are playing their third game in four nights just like the Celtics, so we think the rest factor is pretty even here. Memphis has lost four of their last six games, so they aren’t in top form right now. The game yesterday against Orlando for Boston might be a turning point as this team seems determined to save their season after a slow start. And you have to remember this is one of the best coached teams in the NBA and they have been one of the best betting clubs in the NBA for years. We could see them going on a run after a real slow start to the second half of the season. Boston has a strong history in this series as they are 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings.

4 Unit Play. Take #820 Creighton over Ohio (6:10p.m., Monday, March 22 TNT) Much of the public is on Ohio in this game yet the line is going up. Villanova pounded a mid-major last night in North Texas and it will not surprise me if another Big East team does this same tonight. Ohio is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games played on Monday. Creighton is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games played on Monday. If the Bluejays can make shots, they should be able to jump on early in this game and cruise to a victory.

4 Unit Play. Take #829 Abilene Cristian over UCLA (5:15p.m., Monday, March 22 TBS) The PAC-12 is having a remarkable run, but this is the game that has tripped up Mick Cronin in the past. UCLA is a little banged up and did not have a strong finish during the regular season and conference tournament. ACU is coming off a big win over Texas on Saturday and they are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games. UCLA struggles in the role of a favorite going 2-8 ATS the last 10 times they have been expected to win. Just expect this game to go down to the wire and underdogs have been hitting a high rate thus far in the Round of 32.

While it hasn’t made a difference in their W/L record, the Magic are playing well right now. They just haven’t been able to close out games. But they are 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven games. They are coming off one of their best games of the season as they beat Brooklyn last time out. The Celtics have been one of the best ATS teams in the NBA for years as they normally get the job done. However, not this season as they have one of the worst ATS records in the league and they are 1-5 ATS in their last six. We expect a close game here.

10 Unit Play. Take #801 Wisconsin over Baylor (2:40p.m., Sunday, March 20 CBS) Wisconsin finally put together a complete game on Friday and expect that to carryover into Sunday against the No. 1 seed Baylor Bears. Baylor just has not been the same team since coming off a long pause and I do not see them blowing out this experienced Wisconsin team. The Badgers are getting better contributions from their guards and if they can make shots from the arc, they can win this game straight-up. Wisconsin is 15-5 ATS (2 pushes) in their last 22 NCAA Tournament games when they are an underdog. Baylor is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tournament games when they are the favorite.

Really like the Sixers here. They are coming off a tough OT loss to the Bucks and they will want to put their best foot forward here against a much weaker opponent. The Kings have been playing well but are on a back-to-back and playing their third game in four nights. They are ending a long road trip. If Philly is motivated, and we think they will be, the Kings might just be content as they beat Boston last time and have a much easier game coming up to close out the road trip. Philly is well rested here with two days off.

4 Unit Play. Take #765 Missouri over Oklahoma (7:25p.m., Saturday, March 20 TNT) Oklahoma will be without De’Vion Harmon for this game and that is a major void for them. The Sooners have been struggling down the stretch having lost 5 of their last 6 games including a loss to Kansas State, one of the worst teams in the country. Missouri has struggled down the stretch as well, but they are healthy and should be able to take down Oklahoma. The Sooner are 8-20 ATS in their last 28 games as a favorite. The Tigers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games played on Saturdays.

4 Unit Play. Take #792 UCONN over Maryland (7:10p.m., Saturday, March 20 CBS) Just feel that Connecticut has the best player on the floor and a tradition of making runs in the NCAA tournament. Maryland has a fan base that does not embrace their current head coach. The Terrapins just made the NCAA Tournament based on the stretch of the Big 10, since a 16013 overall record and a 9-11 conference record is not that impressive. Maryland is 2-7 ATS in their last 9 NCAA Tournament games. UCONN is 16-5 ATS in their last 21 NCAA Tournament games.

4 Unit Play. Take #793 Iona over Alabama (4p.m., Saturday, March 20 TBS) Iona was able to keep the scoring down during the MAAC Conference Tournament and thus we will grab the points in this game. Alabama struggled to put away teams over the weekend they were much better than and you can bet Coach Pitino is going to defend the arc in this game. Iona is 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games as an underdog. Alabama is 0-4 ATS in their last 4 NCAA Tournament games when they are the favorite.

The Hawks have been playing great basketball lately and they have won seven straight games even though they don’t get the press as more popular teams around the league. They have really stepped things up on the defensive end and they are playing as a cohesive unit during this stretch. Sometimes coaching can make all the difference. The Lakers have been playing well also, but they are always overvalued by the oddsmakers and we think that is the difference here as the value lies with the visitors. We expect a low-scoring, close game here.