Sports Picks & Predictions

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Dallas is quietly starting to play really well and they have won six of their last eight games overall. They are doing this pretty quietly as other stories dominate the news wire. But they are coming off a very impressive win over the Clippers on Wednesday. They also have wins over Denver and Brooklyn during this stretch, so they haven’t been playing only scrubs. Portland is coming off their rematch with New Orleans and will be playing their fifth game in seven nights. We think this is a real bad spot for Portland.

The Wiz Kids haven’t been playing well lately, but we still think this is too many points. The Jazz are just not playing their best basketball overall right now and are not just destroying teams like they were earlier in the season on a nightly basis. They have covered only one of their last five games. The Wizards have been a solid underdog play as they are 13-6 ATS when getting five of more points. We think this will be a competitive game and that the home team will stay within double digits.

These teams played earlier this month and the game was very high scoring with the total eclipsing 250. But that is very rare for teams to score that many points, and the oddsmakers made a major adjustment to this line as the last total was around 235. That was the only meeting in the last six meetings that went over the posted total. Both of these defenses are terrible. But this is just too many points as a cold shooting spell here or there will cut into this total. Since these teams played recently they will probably make some adjustments on the defensive end. We think the Wizards will pull this out as they had been playing better until they hit a real tough part of the schedule, but this is one of their most winnable games in awhile.

Minnesota has covered in three straight games and they are playing possibly their best basketball of the season right now. Those three covers include SU wins over Portland and New Orleans. The Lakers are banged up right now and coming off a big win over the Warriors, so they probably won’t be giving 100 percent here in this matchup. Minnesota will give LA their best shot tonight while the Lakers will probably rest on their laurels a bit and we think this will be a close game.

The Pelicans are a real inconsistent team. They can look like a championship contender one night and then lose to a basement dweller the next. We expect a letdown after their win over the Clippers last time out that was one of their biggest of the season. The Blazers are coming off a loss to the Timberwolves and they will be focused here in a very winnable game. Home court will make the difference here tonight.

Wow we have come a long way to see the Celtics posted as decent sized underdogs at home. We will take it. The Celtics are finally getting healthy and cohesive. They have won five of their last six games. Utah has lost three of four and they aren’t playing like the dominant force that we saw earlier in the season. That’s not a knock on Utah – it’s tough to keep that level of performance up all season long and even the best teams go through down points of the season. We had this line handicapped at PK so we think there is real nice value in the home dog as we think this game is a coin flip as to who wins SU.

We were on the Clippers last night in an absolute duck of a game as they got blown out by the Pelicans. They probably had their eye on this game, since the Mavs gave them one of the worst defeats in franchise history early in the season. That was a revenge game for Dallas last time but now the revenge angle goes to the Clippers. LA has been known to take games off this season, and they didn’t give full effort last night. But this team normally comes out with a lot better effort after one of those bad games, and we expect them to bring their A Game tonight.

The Bucks have been overrated on the road as they are 0-6 ATS in their last six road games. We think that is the case again tonight as we had this line closer to 6. Washington has been playing better overall after a real slow start to the season. They have been hit and miss lately but they played pretty well when these teams matched up Saturday as they easily covered the double-digit spread. This team is on a 4-1 ATS run as a home underdog and we expect another close game tonight.

The Kings have been horrible in the underdog role as they are 1-7 ATS in their last eight as a lined underdog. This team is really hampered by their lousy defense, which is easily the worst in the NBA. The Hornets are playing well lately and have won three straight and four of five. They don’t get a lot of respect from the oddsmakers as they don’t have many big names on the roster. This team definitely has the capability to put up some points on this Kings defense, and their defense should get enough stops late for them to cover the number, which they have done in the last four meetings in this series.

The Clippers had one of the most dominant performances of the second half of the season in their blowout of Golden State. We see this is a team that wants to start the second half with a lot of momentum after losing their last three before the break. The Pelicans are 2-5 in their last seven games and they are not in top form right now. This team is very inconsistent. The Clips are healthy besides Pat Bev, who is not on this road trip, but they have a lot of depth and they should be motivated tonight.

Just don’t think the Celtics should be favored by this many on the road. This is the biggest favorite they have been all season. They are 0-3 ATS when laying seven or more points this season. This game is sandwiched between matchups vs. Brooklyn and Utah, possibly the two best teams from each conference. They aren’t going to get super excited for this matchup and Houston will be desperate to end their losing streak. We see this as being a lower scoring game and think the Rockets can keep it within double digits.

Despite getting generous points from the oddsmakers nightly, Minnesota is still one of the worst ATS teams in the NBA. That’s hard to do and a sign of a truly terrible team that doesn’t give effort on a nightly basis and can’t string four quarters of solid play together. The Blazers are coming off a loss that followed a three-game winning streak. But we think they are playing well and the Wolves are a far cry from the Suns team that beat them last time out. A motivated Portland team should win by 10+.

This will be the Wizards third game in four nights. This team is razor thin as it is, and they have been overworked and just haven’t looked good recently. They have to be running on fumes here and they looked tired already last night in getting manhandled at home against Philly. The Bucks looked great in their return after the break and put up 134 on the best defense in the league. This looks like a team that wants to start the second half with momentum, and we could see another blowout here.

These are two of the worst offensive teams in the NBA. Neither team has the potential of a breakout night on offense. And both teams are pretty good defensively, with the Knicks at No. 1 for points allowed and the Thunder in the top half of the league defensively. The Knicks played one of their worst defensive games of the season last time out against the Bucks, and we think they will try hard in that area today and make the necessary adjustments. New York normally locks down defensively against lousy teams. We think they cover a low-scoring game.

We think this is a great spot for the home team getting points tonight. The Sixers are a very average road team at 9-9 on the season. They are missing two of their top players tonight. The Wizards got off to a real slow start to the season and they lost confidence from a lot of bettors. But they have turned a corner and have been playing much better of late. They have won six of their last 10 despite a slip up last night. They normally play well in this series and have covered in five of the last six meetings. We had the Sixers laying a single point here so nice value tonight.

Both teams lost three straight entering the break. But the Clippers just had a bad string of games and they don’t have a lot to worry about for that losing streak. They should bounce back well here against a traditional rival. The Warriors are more of a team that is still trying to figure things out. After the All-Star Break we try to look for teams in their first game out that are very motivated, and we see the Clippers falling into that category tonight. When this team brings its A Game they can beat any team in the NBA by double digits.

The Knicks are an under machine this season at 23-14 on the year so far. This team has the No. 1 defense in the NBA and they bring it on that end of the court on a nightly basis. They are a true old-school defensive team as the offense leaves a lot to be desired and is one of the least productive in the league. This team regularly goes under the century mark on offense, which is very rare in today’s NBA. Luckily for us, the Knicks went on a bit of an over streak before the break. But they are rested and they have probably been looking forward to this game against one of the best teams in the East and this matchup will be a measuring stick to where they are at right now as a team. We expect them to lock down on the defensive end and for this to be a close game. Just don’t see the Knicks engaging in a shootout tonight. And there’s a good chance that after the break that these teams could start the game rusty on offense, especially New York. The under is 7-1 in the Knicks last eight road games.

Both of these teams can score. Only one can play defense, though, and that’s Memphis. And we believe that will be the difference in the game as we expect a rested Grizzlies team to make some stops down the stretch. Both teams are rested and that should help the defense instead of the offense, which could be out of rhythm early and rusty. Memphis is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings in this series. We think they are the better team at this point and expect the defense to step up and lead them to the win tonight.

The Blazers scored a blowout in their last game against Charlotte. That followed a losing streak against tough competition. This is a team we were high on to start the season, but they have dealt with a lot of injuries. But we think this is a very winnable game for them. They are 4-1 ATS in their last five games. They will be motivated because of the recent losing streak and they need to stay afloat in the playoff race until their soldiers are all back in the lineup.

The Hawks have not been good on the favorite role as they are 0-4 in their last four as a lined favorite. They failed to top the Century Mark in their last two games against Miami, and now they face another good defensive team in the Magic tonight. Orlando has lost four straight after a three-game winning streak. This team is not as bad as they have looked at times this season, and this is a very winnable game for them as their problem is scoring and the Hawks aren’t in very good form offensively right now and we think they are ripe for an upset here.

The Jazz have lost two of their last three and they aren’t in top form right now. Even the best teams in the NBA go through down turns, and Utah is not immune. Philly has won five of seven and they didn’t embarrass themselves in their two losses. We think this line is a bit of a public one and we had this game as a pickem, so we like the value here. Utah is 3-7 ATS in their last 10 meetings here in Philly and we don’t see them bringing their A Game as this road trip wears on.

It’s very rare we take the Lakers. We mostly look to fade them as they are often overvalued by the oddsmakers and bet blindly by public bettors. But this line tonight seems fair. The Lakers played well last two games in dominant wins. They have Schroeder back, and he is a big difference maker on this team. This squad went through a rough patch recently, and they want to keep this winning streak intact and they should be more focused. Seeding will be important in the West playoffs this season. The Lakers are 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings.

The Clippers are coming off a loss to Milwaukee. They played well in that game but sputtered down the stretch. They did have a chance to win at the end but could not make the shots. But LA normally plays really well after a loss. The last time they lost before the Bucks, an embarrassing loss to Memphis last week, they came back the next night and dominated them. We think they will bring their A Game tonight, and Boston is a team that is just not playing well that almost lost to a Washington team that was in a very bad spot with severe lack of rest.

We are going against the Wizards here just because they have had a brutal schedule lately. They are on a back to back while the Celtics are rested. They are playing their third game in four nights. They are coming off a tough road trip where they had success. But they also had a brutal back-to-back last week on Monday and Tuesday with the Lakers and Clippers. They got blown out of the building by LAC on the second end of that back-to-back, and we could see the same thing happening here tonight. The Wizards are 3-12-1 in the last 16 meetings here in Boston. Maybe the Celtics turned the corner in this season as they gutted out a win last time vs. Indiana that could be a springboard for this team to start playing better consistently. We just don’t see the Wizards having much gas in the tank for this one, and the Celtics should be extra motivated as they are coming off a bad recent losing streak.

The Clippers always play well in this series and are 4-1-1 ATS in the last six meetings. We think they will be primed for a great performance today, especially after their blowout loss against the Grizzlies the other night. Even though they bounced back and got revenge the next night, that loss still had to sting. And there wouldn’t be any better remedy then a big win over one of the biggest powers in the East. We had the Clippers laying a couple points as we think they are the better all around team, and we expect them to win here on the road.

The Timberwolves are a dumpster fire right now and they haven’t covered in six straight games despite some very generous odds from the linesmakers. These teams both got off to a slow start. The Wizards are a developing team that took awhile to gel, but they seem to have gotten there and lately have been playing playoff-worthy basketball though they have a lot of ground to make up, But they have covered in six of their last seven games. They are coming off a road trip that included wins over the Lakers, Nuggets and Blazers. Impressive. We had this line handicapped at 8, so there is really great value here as the home team is being lined according to record and not recent form. Not to mention the Wizards are 11-4 ATS in the last 15 meetings in Washington and 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings overall.

The Blazers over the Lakers is always one of our favorite bets to make. LA is normally overrated by the oddsmakers. The Blazers consider the Lakers one of their main rivals but the feeling is not mutual. But Portland brings their A Game almost every time these teams play. And they have covered more often than not in this series for years. They are 22-8 ATS in the last 30 meetings. Portland is 6-1 ATS in their last seven games as an underdog, and the Lakers just aren’t playing well right now. We expect a very close game here and either team could win this one.

We like to go with a good team that was embarrassed in their last game. We also like to go with the losing team when teams go against each other back-to-back this season. We have both scenarios tonight as these teams rematch from last night, where Memphis scored a near 30-point win. This Clippers team sometimes plays a bad game. This is the team that has looked like one of the best in the NBA many nights but yet lost to the Mavs earlier in the season by almost 50. It’s just one game. And the Clippers have shown the ability to bounce back after a bad game. This team has great depth and they are normally competitive when their stars are out or resting. The Grizzlies don’t have the same kind of depth. There are no indications that the Clippers won’t suit up their A Team tonight, and they should bring their A Game. The Clippers have been great in back-to-backs and are 5-0 ATS in their last five games playing on zero rest. Great chance for a dominating effort by the road team tonight.

The Wizards are playing real well lately. They are coming off a blowout loss to the Clippers. But LA is the second best team in the NBA right now and they were on a back-to-back and playing their third game in four nights and they were competitive to a point then just ran out of gas. But they are rested with Wednesday off and we think they will get back to the stellar basketball they have been playing, winning five of their last six, with some impressive wins on that resume. It has taken some time for this team to come together, but they are playing to their potential lately and we see them being competitive here in this road matchup as well.

The Magic have been trending to the under with four of their last five games going under the posted total. This team is strong defensively but poor offensively. We think they can slow down the Nets explosive offense a bit, and that’s the only way they can be competitive here as they are very unlikely to match Brooklyn on the offensive end. This team finishes under the century mark on offense in way too many games. The Nets have had some big games recently and we don’t think this matchup will move the needle for them to bring their A Game. Orlando is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings, and we think their defense keeps it close enough to be competitive.

The Wizards are off their big OT win over the Lakers last night but this team can’t afford to take the night off as their bad start to the season has put them in a precarious position where they need to stack wins in order to get back in the playoff race. This team has won five straight and they are playing with the confidence that was lacking early in the season, and we think they will bring some solid energy despite their long game last night. This line looks about three points too high as we think the Wizards stay within double digits.

We are starting to see some more consistent play from the Celtics. Both of these teams had slow starts to the season, but we think all things being equal that Boston is the much better team. Dallas hasn’t been good in the underdog role and have failed to cover in their last four games when a lined dog. We just feel like this will be a close game throughout but the better team will pull away in the fourth.

We feel like the oddsmakers are begging bettors to take the Nets here and this line just seems fishy. But there are some reasons to like the Kings here. This team has not been playing well and they are in desperate need of a win. A win here would right the ship for now. Brooklyn is off a long road trip and in that traditional first game back home where sometimes players are distracted by family or personal matters. The Nets are coming off massive games (both wins) over the Lakers and Clippers, so it’s hard to get hyped up for a game of this caliber.

Orlando is finally playing up to their potential as they have won three straight and four of five. These teams met last time out and the Magic got a very comfortable win. They were never really challenged and it was a very steady performance. We normally like to back the losing team in situations like this, but we are not big fans of this Detroit team and we liked what we saw from Orlando in the first matchup and think they match up well again tonight.

The Wizards are playing well right now. They are 4-0 ATS in their last four games. They won all those games SU, including matchups against Denver, Portland and Boston. No pushovers there. This is probably a game they have been looking forward to as almost all teams have their visit to the defending champs circled. The Lakers haven’t been playing up to oddsmaker expectations as they are 2-6 ATS in their last eight games. They aren’t in top form with losses in three of their last four. We think the Wizards come to play tonight and expect a close game.

Just think this is too many points. We had this game handicapped at 3.5, so we think there is real nice value here in what looks like a close game to us. Portland is one of the most underrated teams in the NBA right now as they have been a covering machine lately. They have been especially good as an underdog, where they have cashed five straight ATS. For some reason they play better on the road this season where they have a 10-5 record that is identical to the Suns home record. Just no reason for a spread this big as either team can win this game.

Orlando is trending upwards in our opinion. This team has dealt with a lot of injuries and their offense has suffered but this team is a lot better than Detroit. They are playing well lately as they have won three of four and they have covered in four of their last five. This is another very winnable game for them, and the line is short tonight. Both teams are poor offensively but the Magic have a pretty good defense, and that and home court will make the difference tonight.

The Blazers are quietly playing out of their minds lately as they have won and covered in eight of their last nine games. We think this line is short once again on Saturday. This team had a lot of promise to start the season but they had a mediocre start as they dealt with injuries. But this team is learning how to play together and the results have shown on the court. The Wizards have won three in a row, but we’re not sure if this team is just hot or decent. They have been underwhelming this season and the Westbrook addition doesn’t seem to be working out. We think Portland will cool them off tonight.

After a four-game winning streak that included wins over the Clippers and Denver, the Kings have lost five straight. But they have had a very tough schedule. We think they will stop the bleeding tonight in a very winnable game. Chicago is in tough here on a back-to-back and playing their third game in four nights. They played a much bigger game against a conference rival last night in a loss to Philly and they probably won’t come with the same energy tonight.

We like to back a good team after an embarrassing loss. While the Lakers last game wasn’t embarrassing for most teams, losing to the Nets by 11, the Lakers aren’t used to losing big and they will want to bounce back here, especially against LeBron’s old team. He has a lot of pride and always seems to step it up a level when he has to. We don’t take the Lakers often as they normally don’t have betting value as a public team. But the oddsmakers have overcompensated for the loss of Davis and we think the Lakers will roll here to a comfortable win.

OKC is 9-5 ATS as a dog of 7.5 or more points. We think they are in a good spot to be competitive tonight. They had the night off while the Bucks will be playing a back-to-back and their third game in four nights. And they just finished a series against the Raptors, one of their main rivals. So it’s kind of a comedown to them face a Thunder team from the Western Conference. The Thunder have been getting up for big opponents on the road like when they hung with the Lakers tough. We think this will be another close game.

Cleveland started off the season playing well, but to say the wheels have fallen off would be an understatement. This team is 0-7 ATS in their last seven against winning teams. They are 0-4 ATS in their last four home games. They are 1-10 in their last 11 games as an underdog, and this is despite some very generous lines from the oddsmakers. Denver is coming off a couple losses and this will be an easy get right game for them and we doubt they overlook this opponent.