Sports Picks & Predictions

Just like the Clippers series, the Nuggets are playing carefree and loose, while the Lakers have all the pressure on them. This series has looked pretty even to us for the most part, at least in the last two games. And the Nuggets could easily be up 2-1 in this series. The Lakers are always shaded by the oddsmakers and this Game 4 is a perfect example as by what we have seen on the court the Nugs should be catching around three points. Some good value on this line as we expect another close game.

Boston got right back into this series in Game 3 with a big win, and it’s easy to think they can keep the momentum going tonight. They had a rare three nights off because of the strange scheduling in the bubble, and as a result they got some much needed R and R. This definitely benefits the Celtics more since the Heat had them kind of on the ropes after that 2-0 lead but now Boston recaptured the momentum and they got some time to get Hayward some more rest, and he should be a major factor tonight in this likely win. Boston is the better defensive team, and with the extra rest we should see that unit flourish tonight. And their offense really woke up in Game 3 with 117 points, and we see that continuing tonight, especially with Hayward more fully in the mix. Miami is playing some very good basketball right now, but they have had an easy path and haven’t faced a lot of adversity. Boston is more battle tested, and ready for this crucial Game 4. And not to mention that Boston has been one of the best betting teams in the NBA for the last several years, and they normally exceed the expectations of the oddsmakers. We think that will be the case again tonight.

Just like in Game 2, we are going with the Nuggets here. Sometimes NBA hoops comes down to mental attitude. Every team in the league has ballers, but some have more talent than others. But the Nuggets are playing with house money and this team looks like they are just having fun. They are super confident and know that no lead or deficit is insurmountable. Just like the Clippers series, that makes them dangerous here and we expect another close game. Denver won’t be fazed, and we think they put forth their best effort tonight in this crucial Game 3.

Going to take a shot on the underdog here. Denver has been nothing but resilient in this playoffs, and they are playing loose with nothing to lose. That is a dangerous team. And this is a talented one, too. We had the Lakers last time out, and we think the Nuggets will bounce back well tonight. We just don’t see another blowout here. Denver is settled in and will play better tonight, and we are getting a better spread than Game 1.

Taking another shot at the Celtics here in Game 3. This is the most crucial game of a 7-Game series, and Boston is in a must-win situation here. They had a big blowup after blowing a big lead and losing Game 2, and we think that might be healthy for this team as they needed a wakeup call. If they lose tonight this series is essentially over for them, but if they win then they are right back in it. We think they bring their A Game tonight and think there’s a great chance they can win this one by 7+.

We are just not believers in the Nuggets. Kudos for beating the Clippers, but LA beat themselves more than Denver won the series. The Lakers have had extra time off here, and it will benefit them big time. The Lakers should send a card to the Clippers since they got a cakewalk to the Finals. LA will be locked in tonight and we expect a very strong defensive effort from the favorite while the Nuggets didn’t really get a chance to catch their breath and we have a great feeling that this will be a double-digit win by Los Angeles. We think this will be a low scoring game.

We are going the same way we went in Game 1 even though we missed the mark. We love Boston for this series, and we don’t see them going down 0-2. When Boston has lost recently it has been some last-minute stuff or OT, and that was the case in Game 1 once again. We expect the Celtics to really lock down on defense here in Game 2 to give themselves the best chance to wind up on top at the final buzzer. These are two of the better defensive teams in the NBA, and that should be on full force tonight. It’s telling that the bookies didn’t really adjust the numbers here for Game 2, and that tells us we are on the right track here.

Maybe there is something to this Clippers curse after all. Denver has all the momentum in this series, and they have been playing with nothing to lose. They have been playing well, but the Clippers are in this situation more of their own doing with mental lapses and multiple cold shooting stretches. The Clippers have a ton of pressure here, and they haven’t shown they handle it well. We think this will be a close game and think the Clippers could very well lose outright.

These are two Top 10 defenses. We think that this series will be another defensive battle much like Boston/Toronto, Where six of seven games went under the posted total. Miami has had a long time off. They will probably be rusty on offense and have a lot of energy on defense. Boston has really dialed in the defense lately, and they have had an extra day off from the normal schedule, and that should bring some energy and tenacity on the defensive end. These teams should be feeling each other out here in Game 1 as well, and we just don’t see an offensive explosion here. The bookies seem afraid to post a total too much under 210 these days, but we had this one handicapped at 204, so we think there is some nice value here. And we like the Celtics for Game 1. Miami making the ECF as a No. 5 is a great story. But they beat a pretty weak Indiana team and then a Bucks team that didn’t have their head in the game. Boston is the better team and much more battle tested at this point.

The Clippers blew a big lead in Game 5 and ended up losing the game. They took their foot off the gas too early, and it was tough for this team to get back into the zone again. But you have to remember that the main core of this team hasn’t played together all that much this season and they are still learning. We think that lesson from the Game 5 loss will help them put together a more complete game here on Sunday. They have done very well during the restart after a loss and we think they will bounce back successfully as they have a bunch of times before in this spot.

We probably make plays on the Lakers less than any team in the NBA. They are a very public team, and their odds and normally shaded by the oddsmakers. But they do have value late in this series. The Rockets are a popular team also, and we expected this line to be around 8.5 with the way this series has gone the last couple games. The Lakers were shook out of their funk with the Game 1 loss, and they have rebounded nicely. They won and covered Games 2, 3 and 4, and the oddsmakers haven’t made a huge adjustment to this number. Houston is quite the dysfunctional team this season. They have looked disjointed since Game 1 and have some off court drama that is a distraction as well. We think the Lakers are in their heads big time, and the body language tells us this team doesn’t have much of a chance. We don’t think the Lakers take their foot off the gas tonight and expect them to roll in this likely final game of the series.

This is an easy call for Game 7 tonight. Boston is the better team, with the better coach. They will find a way to get the job done tonight. When Toronto has won in this series, they have needed some heroics. But when Boston has won, it has been by domination for the most part. They have had some mental lapses and should have put this one away awhile ago, but the cream will rise to the top tonight. Boston is on a 5-2 ATS run in this series, and they have been one of the most trustworthy ATS teams in the NBA for several years now. We think that there is a great chance they win this one by double digits tonight.

We thought Houston would make some noise in this series, but after that Game 1 win, the Lakers have been dominating. We see the same tonight, and this is more than a fair spread, something you rarely get when betting on the Lakers. Houston just looks disjointed in the Bubble and they can’t often get a team effort on offense as someone gets cold at the wrong time seemingly too much. We think the Lakers will play lock down defense in this one, and we think there’s a great possibility that this is a blowout, which would bode well for the under.

The Clippers haven’t played well the last couple games. We expect them to get it together tonight. They see the Lakers doing well now in their series against the Rockets, so there is some emphasis now to get this series over with pronto. In the fourth quarter the Clippers turned the switch last time out and we think that momentum will carry over to tonight, where we are getting the best line in the series with the Clippers.

Every game in this series has gone under by 10 points or more, yet the bookies have not made that big of an adjustment on the total. Just don’t see this game being a breakout game on offense. Probably because of no travel and extra rest, these playoffs have trended to the under, and the bookies have done a lousy job on adjustments. Not matter, since we have been able to take advantage. We think the Celtics will play lockdown defense here and close this series out tonight and get ready for the Heat in an unlikely ECF matchup.

The Lakers played great in Game 2, but this team just hasn’t shown the ability to consistently play like this in the Bubble. We think this will be a close game tonight, and the points look real attractive. We have stated it before, but we think the Lakers are a tad overrated this season and the bookies always shade the lines for their games. We think around 3 would be a more suitable line, so the extra couple points gives some nice value to what looks like a close game to us.

Toronto played a real strong game on Saturday, but we are still very confident in Boston for this series and we think the cream will rise to the top tonight. Boston has been mostly excellent for the most part of three games in this four-game series, and they should have won Game 3 also if not for that Toronto buzzer beater. This is the most crucial game in the series thus far and we see the Boston defense really stepping up here to shit the Raptors down.

The oddsmakers finally adjusted this number, but it doesn’t seem like it was enough. The Bucks are cooked here in this series, and we think they will go out with a whimper today. Miami is playing some of their best basketball of the season right now in the Bubble. Giannis Antetokounmpo looks like he is playing through an injury, and the rest of the team has failed to step up. Milwaukee blew it in the playoff last season too, and it looks like we are going to see a repeat this year. It seems the Bucks have mentally left the building before this series.

After a grind-it out Game 7 win against Utah on Tuesday, it had to be demoralizing for the Nuggets to get spanked like they did in Game 1 Thursday against the Clippers. It showed us that Denver doesn’t have much of a chance in this series. And Denver probably knows that, too. Not sure what adjustments they can make here when the Clippers barely broke a sweat in Game 1 and the starters were able to hit the bench early. That is now three straight meetings the Clippers won by double digits. This is what LA has been working towards all season. They are completely healthy now and playing great team basketball. The bench is devastating when the starters need a break. They are much more fresh and rested than Denver. The Clippers have always had trouble in this round but this is by far the best squad in team history and we think they really want to make quick work of this series. With max effort, which we think they will provide, we think a double-digit win is a certainty.

Toronto needed a miracle buzzerbeater in Game 3 just to have a chance in this series now. Toronto failed to cover Game 3 and they are now 0-4 ATS in the last four meetings, all which took place in the Bubble. Two of those were double-digit wins. Toronto has a better regular-season record, but Boston is the better team in our opinion and they are playing some of their best basketball of the season at the right time. We think they will be determined here in Game 4 and will play one of their best games of the series after blowing a chance to put Toronto at the edge of elimination at the end of Game 3. Boston has been one of the best ATS teams for years, and that is a sign of great coaching. We expect them to shine on Saturday.

Really like Houston to make some noise in this series. They had a real tough series against the Thunder, but this is a veteran team and a hungry one. Plus, the Lakers are a tad bit overrated. And they haven’t often played to their potential in the Bubble. Not to mention they are often overrated by the oddsmakers. Houston has Westbrook back now, and he is getting back into the mix and should have a good series. And Harden won’t stay cold long. Houston is s veteran team, so we don’t see them having a hard time getting up for this matchup even though they just played in a real tough Game 7.

Denver gutted out a Game 7 win vs. Utah and they were literally inches from being sent home. They were already tired coming into this game (they managed only 80 points in Game 7) and they really laid it all on the line in that one. The Clippers dominated in their last two games in Dallas and they should have their full roster tonight as Pat Bev is expected to return. This team is rested and hungry. The Clips have won the last two meetings by double digits, and in this unique Bubble restart the Nugs got only one night off after their grueling Game 7 and we think they are in real trouble tonight in what should be a blowout by the favorite.

Denver seemingly took all the momentum in this series, but you can throw all that out the window as the season comes down to one game here. Despite the season records, we think Utah is a tad bit better as a team. Remember, like always this team got off to a slow start but started playing better as the season went on. We think they will come out focused and determined tonight and will advance to play the Clippers in Round 2. We really think their defense will step up and play one of the best games of the series on the defensive end.

Throw the regular season results out the window in this series. We think in this current climate that Boston is the better team and we had them favored in our handicapping in this series and we think they have a great chance to go up 2-0 tonight. Boston is playing some of their best basketball of the season in the bubble and they have won and covered in four of the last five meetings between these teams. We think they have the upper hand again here as they match up well with Toronto. Boston is the more confident team now and we think it shows on the court today.

We were on the Rockets yesterday because we thought they benefited more from the boycott than did the Thunder. We think the same way about the Mavs today. The Clippers were at the center of a lot of the activity during the boycott. Coach Doc Rivers was center stage, and the Clippers reportedly were one of the teams, along with the Lakers, that wanted to end the season. They had the Mavs on the ropes after their big 40+-point win, and they looked primed to end this series. But now Dallas had a chance to reset. Luka Doncic had extra time to rest his ankle. Dallas will be without Porzingis likely for the rest of this series. But they have become used to playing without him, and Doncic is the type of player, like Curry for Golden State, who elevates the play of the guys around him. We think this game will be similar to the Lakers game last night where a Damian Lillard-less Portland stayed within 10 and covered the number. The Lakers were the other team that reportedly wanted to end the season, and its stars were front and center during the boycott. But in this Clippers game we have the biggest spread of the series, and we think it’s an overreaction to that Game 5 result.

The extra days off for the boycott really helped the Rockets. OKC had them on the ropes with two straight wins, but the time off gave Houston a chance to reset and stifled the momentum for the Thunder. And now the Rockets get Russell Westbrook back for this Saturday game and they have the best chance to take control of this series. Westbrook has been lighting it up in practice and he should be a game changer for the rest of this series. OKC has been a nice story this year and they have come together to have a very nice season above expectations. But the Rockets are the much better team and we expect them to play a well-rounded game tonight in what should be a comfortable win.

This series is tied now after an incredible performance from Dallas in Game 4. But if you look at the Clippers results in The Bubble, they have suffered four losses since the restart, and every time they came back and played to their capabilities, covering in all those games. All but one win came by double digits. In Game 4 Dallas saw one of the best performances in playoff history by Luka Doncic. Not only was he going off, but some of the role players had excellent games as well. But even with the Mavs playing out of their minds, they still needed OT and an amazing buzzer-beater just to win the game on a night the Clippers just didn’t play well for most of the game. As recent history has show, LA knows how to follow up a lousy performance with a great one. Paul George has been the blame for a lot of the Clippers problems with his shooting slump. He will get out of this slump before too long. And it will probably be tonight. We expect to see an incredibly focused Clippers group tonight, and we think they will play to their potential. It’s doubtful that Doncic will have anywhere near the game he had last time out, and the role players are due for regression.

Before the series we thought the Blazers might make more noise in this series. But the Game 1 loss was a wakeup call for the Lakers, and we think they have all the momentum here in this series. The Bubble is an interesting place. In a normal NBA playoff series, the change in venue means a lot and can get the underdog back into the series. But there is no homecoming for the Blazers, and they are in a real tough spot here now. They are on the ropes. They started the playoffs early with the seeding games and then the play in game, and this team just looks tired and defeated. With no home-court to go back to, we think morale is low. The Lakers losing the first game was the best thing for them. That made them focus, and now we think they want to end this series ASAP as some of the other Western Conference teams are now in a dogfight in their series. We rarely bet on the Lakers as they are normally shaded by the oddsmakers and there is rarely value. But we think this line is more than fair tonight. We think this one has a great chance to be a double-digit win for the Lakers.

We have to hold back on the bet size on this one because of the uncertain status of Dallas star Luka Doncic. He is the engine that makes this team run, and he is a game-time decision today. But if anyone saw Game 3, it would be a stretch to think he could be a factor even if he plays. It looks like that ankle was bothering him pretty badly. With or without Doncic, the Clippers are the call here. They have dominated the Mavs this season. They haven’t played their best in this series and are still in the driver’s seat. We think they want a good showing here and to be in a position to end this series early. The Mavs spirit may be broken after Game 3.

We are confident this series is not over, and although we think the Rockets will advance, we think the Thunder will make some noise, and this is a must win game for them tonight. The Rockets are a pretty inconsistent team and we just don’t see them playing in top form again here tonight, and the Thunder have been one of the safest ATS bets all season. This team doesn’t give up, and they will be confident going into this game and they have the belief they can win the series. We expect to see the best game we have seen thus far from them tonight in this series and expect them to score the straight up win.

Since the restart, the Clippers have bounce back well after every loss. In fact, they came back every time with a double-digit win. They are 8-1 ATS after getting beat by double digits. That is the sign of a very good team, and we think they will bounce back well here. That Game 2 win by Dallas was their first of the year against the Clippers. Los Angeles didn’t play well, and Dallas played a great game. But we expect a more well rounded effort tonight. The Clippers are in real trouble if they lose here, as Game 3 is one of the most crucial in a seven-game series. The Clippers don’t often play two bad games in a row, and Doc Rivers will make the needed adjustments for a big win tonight.

We think this line looks pretty fishy like the bookies are begging for Rockets money here. The Thunder got thrashed in Game 1, and yet the odds stayed the same for Game 2 when you would normally expect an adjustment. We like to be on the side of the bookies, and we think the Thunder are the clear play here today. They are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 after a beatdown of double-digits, and we think they will bounce back well once again here and even this series up today. Houston is shorthanded without Westbrook and the Thunder have been a great bet all season as one of the best ATS teams in the NBA. Houston has been erratic this season; they can look great one game and lousy the next. They rely too much on certain players, and with Westbrook out, that hurts if a couple other guys go cold. The Thunder just seem like a steady team that plays strong team basketball and we think they will bounce back well once again today.

We think this is a pretty evenly matches series. Looks like Oladipo is good to go for the Pacers today, so that really helps them. The Pacers didn’t play well at all in Game 1, but we expect them to give a much better effort here today. These teams are very familiar with each other lately, and that will only help the Pacers today in the underdog role. We thought the bookies should have adjusted this line since the Pacers backs will be against the wall with a loss here, and we would lean to Indiana at 2, which we think is the more appropriate line. We expect a close game and we think the Pacers have a great shot at the win.

The Clippers need to play better if they want to cover this number as they were lucky to get the cover in Game 1. We think the Mavs come into this game angry and feel like they were wronged with KP getting ejected in Game 1. They should come in with a chip on their shoulders and play a more complete game in Game 2. After LAC covered in Game 1, they haven’t adjusted the line here for Game 2, and that tells us the bookies are looking for Clippers money tonight. We will go the other way on this one!

We think this will be one of the more competitive series in the NBA bubble. The Nuggets won Game 1. Utah didn’t play well, except for one guy, and we think the entire team will rise up and play better to avoid going down 0-2 in this series. We also expect the Jazz to lock down on defense. When they assert themselves, they can be as good of a defense as any team in the NBA, and we think this total has been overadjusted today. Utah has a great chance to win this one outright, but the points give us a little more wiggle room in case of a close game.

We love the way the Nets have played in the bubble. This team came in with no expectations but they beat the Bucks and Clippers and were one of the better betting teams in the bubble. This team has played like they have nothing to lose, and after getting embarrassed in Game 1, we expect a much better effort here. The Nets have always been a good bet when getting double digits as an underdog, and we think they play a much better game in Game 2 and keep this one within the double digit line.

In this strange year of 2020, it wouldn’t shock me to see a No. 8 beat a No. 1 in the bubble. Not just for one game; we are talking series here. There is no home-court advantage. We think the Lakers are a bit overrated. If the Clippers cared more about the regular season (health was an issue, also), they probably could have grabbed the No. 1 seed. Portland barely made the postseason, but they had health problems too and are in much better shape now and playing well. They also have played well against the Lakers for years. They are 46-22 ATS against them stretching back many years. We have followed that trend for years, too, and we think the Blazers are in a good position to compete for the win here in Game 1 in what we expect to be a close game.

The Clippers, more than almost any team in the league, didn’t care about the regular season. They had injuries, and they didn’t get too much time with a full roster to do their thing on the court. They didn’t care about wins and losses, but they wanted to be healthy and have chemistry by the time the postseason arrived. Well, now is that time. While they aren’t 100% heathy, they will start the postseason with a very strong roster, and we think they will raise their game to another level here in the postseason. For our money, this is the best team in the Western Conference. And we expect to see the best version of this team show up in the playoffs. Dallas is putting together something special, bur they are still a year or two and a couple players away from being a true championship contender. We think they are in deep in this series. They have lost four straight meetings, and they failed to cover in any of those games. The Clippers have great chemistry and talent, and we think they will want to make a statement here in Game 1.

This is a very unique situation with the play-in game. If Portland wins today, they will advance to play the Lakers in the first round. If they lose, these teams will square off again, with the winner advancing. The Blazers played better than the Grizzlies during the restart. But none of that matters now, as it just comes down to this weekend. The Blazers have been getting a lot of hype lately, but we think these teams are pretty even, so the points here are very attractive. These teams met in the first game of the restart, and Portland won in OT. Portland covered that game, but Memphis had covered five of the previous seven meetings. And remember, Portland almost didn’t even make it here as they needed a last-second missed shot by Brooklyn on Thursday or they would be on their way home now. Not only do we think these teams are evenly matched, but Memphis has the motivation in this one. One loss and they are out. They will have to bring their A Game, while the Blazers have a mulligan if they lose here. We think the Grizzlies have a great chance to win outright here, but we will take the points as we expect a close game regardless.

This is a meaningless game and a playoff tuneup for the role players on both teams. The LA Clippers stars might see a little playing time but not much. These teams kind of had a clear identity this season that we think we can apply to handicapping this meaningless game. The Clippers never really cared about the regular season. It was just to get them ready for the postseason. But OKC played hard and with determination and team basketball all the way through and wound up as one of the best ATS betting teams in the league this season. We think OKC is the team more likely to want to finish out this thing on a positive note, while the Clippers are most likely 100% focused on their matchup against Dallas on Monday.

Sometimes you have to go against the grain in NBA handicapping. And that is what we are doing here tonight. Portland is the ultimate public play here. They are locked in a big fight for the playoffs and they have been getting lots of positive press for Damian Lillard’s otherworldly performances on the court. However, the bookies know that zero public bettors will be taking a chance on Brooklyn here. They have inflated this line quite a bit as a result. First off, depending on the earlier games, the Blazers might not even need this game. They could know their fate by tip off already, and that wouldn’t give them much incentive to play key players, especially with the injury woes this team has faced this season. Brooklyn has shown they are no pushover. They have gone 5-2 in the Bubble when most thought they wouldn’t win a game. They beat the Clippers and Bucks. This team has seemed to relish in the role of spoiler, and they have no motivation to relax here in this game as they need to keep the momentum going into the postseason. We think they will keep things close if Portland plays at full strength, and they have a chance to win if Portland rests main players. There is also reverse line movement on this one as the number has dropped despite a big percentage of bettors on the favorite. That’s always a good sign for the underdog!

Both teams will be missing some key players. We really like the Clippers to bounce back here, however, after their loss last time out to Brooklyn, one of the worst rosters that was brought into the bubble during this NBA restart. This was the third loss during the restart for the Clips, and both times they rebounded for double-digit wins against their next opponent. We expect them to be motivated tonight. The Denver defense has given up 124 or more in their last four games (one OT contest). We just think a motivated Clippers club will be able to achieve their offensive goals here tonight in the bubble. The Clippers won by nearly 30 when these teams last met up. And we think they match up extremely well here tonight.

Pretty much year after year Boston is Top 10 in ATS results. That’s a sign of good coaching. And they are 40-26-4 ATS this season. They are a safe bet more times than not. And we think they are getting shorted by the oddsmakers again tonight. Memphis was a team a lot of people had high hopes for in the Bubble, but they have been a major disappointment up until now. They are 1-5 both SU and ATS. They haven’t been able to get any continuity going on offense. And Boston has scored 120+ in four of their last five games. We just don’t think the Grizzlies can keep up tonight on the scoreboard.

The Suns have been the big story of the restart, and this team is getting a lot of press lately. We think that has caused an inflated line here. The Thunder always find a way to keep the game close. They are one of the best ATS teams in the NBA this season. They are a little shorthanded and come in on a back-to-back, but we don’t think those factors warrant this big of a number. Like we stated, OKC always seems to find a way to get the job done. Not to mention that they have covered five in a row in this series.

The Grizzlies had lost the first four games of the restart, but we think they figured out some things recently, and their huge blowout win vs. OKC was big for this team last time out. Toronto is on the other side of the fence as they had won every game before getting blown out last time vs. Boston. We think this line is a product of how these teams have played so far over how they match up, and we see this one as being a very competitive game. Sharp bettors sapped some of the early value out of this one as it opened at 8, but we still think this number is a tad inflated.

Denver has won and covered in the last two meetings, and we think they make in three in a row today. Utah is 2-3 in the bubble and they have not been able to string together a full game of solid play too often. They are on a back-to-back here after losing to a Spurs team that isn’t in the same tier as these Nuggets. Denver was off, and we think that gives them a big edge here as these players still aren’t conditioned as they would normally be at this point of the season with all the time off. We thought this line was a bit short and think there is nice value here with the small favorite.

We had the Celtics as a slight favorite in this one and despite the records we think they are a bit better team than the Raptors. Boston has been one of the best betting teams in the league for the last few years. They have some of the best coaching in the league and a lot of talent. They normally get up for the big games, and we think they will be focused and take control here Friday night. Their offense exploded last time out with a huge performance, and we think that carries over in this marquee matchup.

Both teams have struggled in the restart. But Washington has been on a whole other level of struggle. This team actually lost ground in the standings to a team that wasn’t even invited to the bubble! We just feel that this is a “get right” game for New Orleans. They should dominate here with the superior talent on the court. Washington has lost all their games by 8 or more points in the restart, and we think they are in tough again against a Pelicans squad that is desperate for a win.

Not many teams better than the Clippers from a betting perspective after a loss, and that is where we see them tonight. They are 21-6 ATS after a loss, and they were nipped by the Suns last time out. Both of these teams have been playing mediocre basketball, and both need a win. When both teams are motivated, the Clippers are the far and away better team. These are likely opponents in the postseason, and we think the better team will put their best foot forward tonight.

The Suns are 3-0 in the restart, with wins over the Clippers and Mavs, but we just think the Pacers are a much better ballclub here in this matchup and this is definitely a short line. The Pacers are 3-0 also against an easier schedule, but two of their three wins have been by double digits, and they are playing really good team basketball right now. Both teams will get their points, but Indiana’s defense will be the difference in this one against a short line.

The Celtics have only one win since the restart, and we think they will be motivated tonight as a result. The Nets had us scratching our head yesterday with one of the most surprising wins of the season as they beat the Bucks as one of the biggest underdogs of the season. We just think they will be content with that result, and they won’t give full effort as a result. This is already one of the most shorthanded teams in the restart. Boston will be shorthanded also, but this team has more talent and better coaching, and we think there’s a great chance for a double digit win.

Not many teams in the restart with less motivation than the Lakers for wins before the playoffs start. They are pretty secure with the No. 1 seed out west. They just want to get their ship in order by the time the postseason starts, and avoid any injuries. The Thunder have been one of the best betting teams all season, and they are again getting too many points here. The Lakers normally have their lines shaded by the oddsmakers, and we think OKC will challenge for the win tonight.

We are going against the public with this one. Memphis hasn’t played up to expectations in the restart, but we think this line is inflated, and the Grizzlies really need a win here, so we think they will go all out. They have generally been more competitive than the Jazz, who are also struggling but who are more secure in their playoff seeding. The motivation all lies with Memphis, and we had this line handicapped at 3, with a lean to Memphis in this one.

The Celtics have been playing well during the restart, but we have yet to see a breakout game from them. We think we will see that tonight. Miami has won and covered in the last three meetings this season, and we expect to see a motivated Boston club after a mediocre performance to start the NBA back up again. We think there’s a great chance they win this one by 7+.

Both teams are in strong form, but we think the Pacers are the better ballclub, and we had them favored in this game by 2+ in our handicapping. So there is nice value here getting points with the team we expect to win. Both clubs have faced pretty easy opponents, but at least Indiana showed us a lot in beating the Sixers as underdogs, while the Magic have wins over Brooklyn and Sacramento, two of the worst clubs in The Bubble. The Pacers have won each of the last two meetings, and we expect them to make it three in a row today.

Dallas hasn’t played well to begin the restart and they have had some bad luck, but this feels like a “get right” game to us. The Kings defense has been one of the worst in the restart, and the Dallas offense should have a big day today. The Kings are giving up around 130+ per game during the restart. Dallas will be focused here and we think this one could be a total blowout.

We are getting used to these slow starts from Utah. They are winless in the restart thus far and haven’t played to near their potential. But we think they will be ultra motivated to get that win tonight. Their place in the postseason is secure, but they need some momentum heading into the postseason, and a win here would erase the two losses that proceeded it on a mental level. The Lakers are all but guaranteed the No. 1 seed and this finish to the regular season is meant only as practice time for the playoffs. We just don’t see them being that motivated for wins now, while Utah really needs this game more. And the Lakers are always a public team that gets shaded odds from the bookies, and that is even more so with the restart as bettors have been starved for action and are very active (the Lakers/Clippers game on opening night of restart was by far the biggest bet NBA game of the season). We expect a close game here and will gladly take the points on this inflated number.

We just think this one is a mismatch and we are surprised the line here is not 7 or more. It might move to that as the bettors seem to also like Dallas here, so don’t wait to place your bet. This is another situation where a very good team doesn’t want to start 0-2 in the Bubble. Dallas did just about everything right in their first game and had control of that one against Houston before faltering late and losing in OT. The Mavs are built to win now, while the Suns are at least a year and a couple players away. We think Dallas will take out their frustrations from the Houston loss on the Suns here.

Boston had about the toughest first game back that any team in the Eastern Conference could face as they lost to Milwaukee. They played pretty well in that matchup, however, and we just don’t see them losing their first two games to open this restart. In a very unique situation like this, coaching can make a big difference, and for our money, Boston has some of the best coaching in the league. And we think Boston will be motivated in this one after playing well in Game 1 yet getting the loss.

We faded the Nets in their first game back, and we will continue that trend until their play shows us otherwise. This just seems like the one NBA team that doesn’t really want to be here in the NBA bubble. The Wizards are WAY behind the Nets in the standings, as Brooklyn currently holds down the No. 8 seed. But they have a real chance to make up some ground here on the team with the best chance to totally falter in the bubble. Washington has issues of their own. But they should be more motivated. And we had this game handicapped at PK, so there is some nice value in getting points here. Washington has also won and covered in three straight meetings.

This looks like a very public line to us. Philly is the more popular team here, but these teams have identical records. But bettors like Philly more, hence the big line here. Oladipo was active in the shootaround this morning and there are indications he could play tonight. He’s Indiana’s best player and would give the team a huge boost. But the main reason we like this pick is because the Sixers have been so bad away from home this season. In the friendly confines of their home arena they are 29-2. On the road they are 10-24 this season. These are some strange circumstances, but we just can’t trust the Sixers to be laying this many points against a comparable team when we haven’t seen if they can shake their funk of playing away from home. The Pacers are 13-6 ATS in the last 19 meetings, and we think they could challenge for the outright win here.

Of just about any team in the Bubble, Brooklyn seems like one that really doesn’t want to be there. They have tons of defections and injuries, and this team is a skeleton crew in Orlando. They are currently the No. 7 team, and Orlando is No. 8, so this is a great chance for the Magic to jump the Nets and avoid a first-round matchup with Milwaukee. That is plenty of motivation in this game. This isn’t a standard home game for the Magic with the Pandemic, but they should be more comfortable here in their home city. Orlando was playing well before the hiatus, and this team has a much more stable roster. We think the oddsmakers will adjust on Brooklyn and they will be almost double-digit favorites in most of the games they play. We thought this line should be double digits, and there is some nice value here.

All the motivation lies with the Pelicans here as they need to win to punch their playoff ticket. This team has a lot of talent and they are a good bet to make the postseason. But they have no time to wait to ease into this bizarre bubble situation. They have to win. Utah is in and they can spend their 8 games left in the regular season getting prepared for the postseason. Zion is a gametime call today. The odds will change whether he plays or not. But lock in at this number as this is a solid one even without the rookie.

This is a real sandwich game for the Lakers. They are coming off their big win over the Clippers on Saturday in probably their biggest win of the season. They beat the best team from the East before that in a win over the Bucks. Now they got out of conference again for the Nets, who have no hope this season. This isn’t a big game for LA. However, their next three games are against teams they could see in the postseason: Houston, Denver and Utah. Just don’t think the focus will be there for them tonight and this is an inflated line to begin with.

We think that revenge is overrated in the NBA as a handicapping angle, but we do think it comes into play when the teams have met recently. That’s the case here as the Blazers lost by 10 on Friday in the desert. The Blazers are in hot pursuit of a playoff spot and losing to a team like the Suns twice in a week would be a disaster. We think they come to play tonight, and we think they are the better team.

We can’t underscore the fact of what positive results Steph Curry brings to this team. He is one of the all-time greats and makes everyone around him better. His minutes will be restricted, but the time he is on the court will make a big difference for this team. And just being on the bench when he is rested will pump up his teammates. The Sixers have been better on the road lately, but we aren’t convinced they have their road woes figured out yet. We think Curry will lift his team to victory tonight.

Both teams are coming in on a back-to-back, but Memphis is the better team and at home, and they are the more motivated club as well. And we like to back a good team off a bad loss and that is certainly the case here with Memphis getting embarrassed in a 25+-point blowout in Dallas. But they take a big step down in competition here. The Hawks have won only six road games all season. We like that this line is under the NBA key number of 7, and we think the home team cruises to victory tonight.

Just think the Bucks are the superior team here and they will be motivated tonight, so we think it’s great to get points here. We actually had them handicapped as a slight favorite, so we think there is nice value here tonight. The Bucks are 5-1 ATS in their last six against teams with a winning percentage above .600, and we think they bring their A Game here in the marquee game of the night.

The Suns showed some promise at points in the season, but this team looks to be playing out the string now, as they have lost four straight, all at home. Phoenix didn’t cover in one of those contests. Portland has won and covered two straight, and they have Damian Lillard back in the fold, and he gives the Blazers a chance to win every game. This team has a lot more motivation tonight as they make a push for the playoffs. They are in the No. 9 spot currently so should take every game from here on out as a must win.

Miami is a pretty good team this season, but they have been pretty bad overall on the road (13-18 on the season). Miami comes in on a four-game winning streak, but those games were all at home, and we think as a result they are overvalued here on the road Friday night. New Orleans has lost three straight and four of five, but they have had a very tough schedule recently. We think this is a good chance for them to bounce back tonight. Miami has not been good lately on the road against teams with a losing record (1-6 ATS).

Both teams are playing well but the Clippers are healthy and they are the superior team when both teams are at full strength. They have had some problems with the Rockets this season, so they will want to put their best foot forward tonight. The Clippers are streaking right now and the Rockets just lost to the Knicks, so even though that came after a nice winning streak we think LA is in better form right now. We don’t see how Houston will be able to defend the Clippers with this small ball lineup tonight.

We went against the Thunder last night and the Clippers dominated that game. Now after a five game winning streak the Thunder have dropped two straight in blowout fashion. Those games were to the Bucks and Clippers, however, two of the favorites to win their respective conference this season. But now they take a big step down in class in what is a game they really need. With two straight embarrassing losses they won’t take this one for granted. The Pistons have lost their two stars and this team is just playing out the string and looking towards next season. This one should be a blowout with a motivated OKC team. The Thunder are 5-0 ATS after a double-digit loss at home and 5-0 ATS against an opponent with a home winning percentage less than .400. We think those trends continue tonight.

The Clippers are healthy and are making their push for the playoffs. They have won four straight and this team is really starting to gel. OKC has been playing well, but they played a real stinker last time out in a 40+-point loss at Milwaukee. That has to be concerning for OKC backers. We think this is a really tough spot for them to bounce back and with LA at full strength they are clearly the superior team here.

Both teams are playing well right now but we think Boston is the better and more well rounded team right now. Boston is one of the best bets in the NBA year after year, and that’s true once again this season with one of the best ATS marks in the league. They continue to be underestimated by the oddsmakers and they play great team basketball and strong defense. They have covered in their last five games and we see another cover at home here tonight.

2-Unit Play #518 Take Utah over Boston (10 p.m. EST, Wednesday Fab 26) We think the Jazz are in a good spot here to get back on the winning track. They are catching the Celtics on a back-to-back while the Jazz are badly in need of a win. They were embarrassed last time out in a blowout to the Suns, and they have no choice but to put their best foot forward here. We expect them to do just that. We think they will get a comfortable win here in front of the home fans. It should not matter if Walker is in the lineup for Boston or not.

--Best of Luck, Doc's Sports

Both teams are missing star players here, but the loss of Walker hurts less than the loss of Lillard because the Celtics have a much deeper and more talented team. Boston has been one of the better bets in the NBA the last few years, and that is because of the great team basketball and solid defense they play. Boston has been trending to the over, but we don’t see the Blazers doing anything special on offense tonight and we think this is an inflated total tonight.

The Bulls have a ton of injuries right now and this team wasn’t very good even when more healthy. This team isn’t going anywhere this season and they are playing for pride here, while the Thunder need every win. OKC has been one of the best bets in the NBA on the road, where they have covered in 22 of their last 27 road games. We feel this line is short once again as we see this is a probable double-digit win for the road team. The Bulls got a rare cover last time out but this team is 1-7 ATS after covering their last game. So when they play above expectations they normally follow that up with a stinker.

The Jazz have been very streaky and they are trending in the wrong direction right now. We think this is just too many points for them to be laying right now to a Suns team that has won two of three. We think Phoenix will come in with confidence tonight and we expect a close game.

We think the Bulls are a team to fade down the stretch. The Suns aren’t a very good team but they have nice potential for the future and we think they are the better team in this matchup. They are being punished too much by the oddsmakers for a back-to-back but these teams are rested after the break and the B2B shouldn’t be a big deal. The Bulls played some of the worst defense in the NBA leading into the All-Star Break, and we think the Suns will put up a massive point total tonight. We think this game has a great chance for a blowout, and we could see the Suns scoring 120+ tonight.

Maybe no Kyrie could be a good thing for this team? Sometimes certain players don’t fit in, and Kyrie has had his problems in other locations. Now he is out for the season, and the Nets played pretty good in an OT loss to Philly right out of the break. Now they take a big step down in competition. The Nets have been good at bounce backs lately with a 4-0 ATS mark after a loss. They are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 meetings in Charlotte. We think they are the much better squad here tonight.

The Blazers are a walking infirmary right now and we don’t see them having any success tonight against the surging Pelicans. New Orleans is really gelling as a team right now and they have been winning games and covering lines. We think we are getting a good line here since the Pels are on the road. But the injury issues for Portland will be too much tonight, and there’s a great chance the road team could win this one by double digits.

Just too many points here tonight. After a slowish start the Grizzlies have been one of the better bets in the NBA. This squad plays team basketball, and they found a real leader and start in Ja Morant. The Lakers are going to get a lot of love from the oddsmakers and betting public as they are the biggest public betting team in the NBA. But we had this game handicapped at 8, so we think there is some very nice value in this double digit line.

The Jazz have been hot and cold this season, but they entered the All-Star Break hot with four straight wins and we think they carry the momentum over tonight in their first game out of the break. The Spurs finished strong out of the break but before that lost five straight. This is just a down year for the Spurs, and we think this line is short. When playing their best, the Jazz can blow teams like this out by 10+, and coming out of the break we see no reason why they won’t put their best foot forward.

Boston has been one of the most reliable bets in the NBA the last few years. They are 32-20-2 ATS this season so they are getting it done at the window once again. This Minnesota team is a mess, and we think with the extra rest after the All-Star Break that Boston has an even bigger advantage in this one. Every team wants to get off to a strong start after the break, and we think Boston brings their A Game here against a very vulnerable opponent. We see them locking down defensively tonight in a blowout win.

The second part of the season is here for the Pacers after the All-Star Break and we think they will be a team to watch down the stretch. This team is healthy and dangerous in the east. This Indiana club plays team basketball and solid defense. That is the recipe for success. Teams always want to play well out of the break but New York had their little hot streak before the break, winning four straight, but then they lost their last two and we just see more motivation and a much better team coming from the visitors locker room tonight.

We will go with recent form in this one as the Thunder have lost two straight, while the Pelicans have won three straight entering tonight’s game. New Orleans has covered in all of their last five games when favored, and we think this spread is too small tonight. With the All-Star Break looming, you have to like the home teams to finish the first half of the season with some extra momentum while the road teams just want to enter the break, especially if they haven’t been playing well coming into this last game before the break.

This Clippers team looks like they are ready for the All-Star Break. Maybe no team in the NBA cares less about the regular season than these Clippers. This is the fourth game on their current road trip and they are probably over it and ready for the break. They have not been playing too well lately and were blown out in Minnesota and also lost by 7 at Philly. This team is still figuring things out and Paul George hasn’t been playing up to the level we expect. And Pat Bev is out tonight also. This looks like a good spot for a comfortable Boston win.

The Hawks have covered in five of the last seven meetings here in Cleveland. We think this is a great chance for Atlanta to get a rare road win tonight. Cleveland has lost six straight games and things are not good right now with this team. We just don’t see them playing well here and this team looks like it is ready for the all-star break. Atlanta is one of those bad NBA teams that is playing for momentum for next season while the Cavs are a no hope team right now that is trying to figure out what to do. The Hawks are better poised for success here, and we expect them to win this one comfortably.

The Bulls weren’t a good team to begin with, but they are super banged up right now and have an injury report as long as your grocery list. Washington is very healthy in comparison. The Wizards have won three of their last five and this team has been playing well recently. They are on a 6-4 ATS run and the oddsmakers are a bit behind on this team right now. They are coming off a loss but are 4-1 ATS in bounce-back situations and they are also 4-1 ATS in their last five against teams with a record below .400, meaning they are getting the job done against lousy teams. Because of the Bulls injury situation we had this game handicapped at 7, so there is nice value there tonight.

Utah seems to be over their funk and they have scored two very impressive wins, vs. a very hot Portland team and also at the Rockets last night. Yes, they come in on a back-to-back tonight, but Dallas had a back-to-back Saturday so they are playing their third game in four nights as well. Utah is really healthy right now also, which is a plus for this bet. When both teams are at full strength the Jazz are the much better squad, but they have better health here with Doncic out for the Mavs. Utah is 3-1-1 ATS in the last five meetings. Dallas has been very inconsistent lately and we think that Utah keeps their positive momentum going with a big win tonight. When this team has issues it seems to be in their heads and when they win it builds a lot of team confidence and that confidence normally keeps them playing to their ability.

The Hornets are 0-4 ATS in their last four despite some very generous lines from the oddsmakers. They have one win in their last seven games and all of their losses were by double-digits. The Mavs enter on a back-to-back but they have a winning record both SU and ATS in these situations this year. The Mavs aren’t playing their best recently and are dealing with some injury issues, but this should be an easy win for them and they can’t afford a letdown here after losing two straight to much better teams than this Hornets club.

The Knicks have won three straight and are flat out playing harder than the Pistons right now. They have the same wins at 8 on the road as they do at home, so this New York team doesn’t have a real home court advantage. They can get the job done here tonight. The Knicks are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games, and the oddsmakers are behind on this team right now. The Pistons come in on a back-to-back and this is not a good spot for them tonight.

Utah has reverted back to their early-season ways and they are playing very poor basketball right now. They faced the same spread pretty much last time out vs. Denver and got spanked on their home court. Portland has won and covered in five of their last six games and they are in great form right now and playing some of their best basketball of the season. We just think this spread is way overinflated. Could Utah play their game and blow the Blazers out? Of course. But we have to go with recent form here and this line just looks way off to us.

We like to take a good team after an embarrassing loss and that is the case tonight as the Heat ran into a buzzsaw last time out at Staples against the Clippers. But they are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 after a blowout loss, and we expect them to get back to their winning ways tonight. Miami was playing well before that Clippers have and have covered in three of their last five. They are the much better team in this matchup and we think they bounce back well tonight.

Memphis is one of the better ATS teams this season, and Philly is one of the worst. We think this line is out of whack once again on Friday. The Grizzlies are playing much better right now. They have won six of seven games and are playing their best basketball of the season. They have covered in all the wins. They seem to be playing with a chip on their collective shoulders, and that is the kind of team you want to back with your betting dollars. Philly has lost four straight and have covered only one in their last seven. The Sixers are good at home, but they are vulnerable tonight.

Westbrook is questionable in this one but we think the Rockets will play it close whether he plays or not tonight. Houston is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 games in Los Angeles against the Lakers, and we think they will cover this inflated line tonight. Houston has won three straight and they are playing well right now. We think the Rockets could challenge for the win but we like the points here in what we think will be a close game.

The Blazers suddenly are playing their best basketball of the season right now. They have won four straight and covered in all those games. And it wasn’t any easy schedule, either. We think they come to play again tonight and we will ride the hot hand here on Tuesday. Portland has better rest coming into this game and we think they are primed for another solid performance. We expect a close game here, and the visitor definitely has a chance to score the upset.

Utah has lost three straight, but it’s not time to panic. They had an off game against Houston at home where they didn’t play good. And then they lost at San Antonio, a very tough place for a visitor to get a win. Then on a back-to-back they had a strong game at Denver but faded in the second half on the backend of a back-to-back. They really have to choice but to play with a sense of purpose here. And now Portland is the team on a back-to-back. And they just played in an unprecedented emotional game in LA. They played with the Mamba Mentality and left everything on the floor. They won as 13-point underdogs last night. We were on Portland in this game. But we just think they will be spent and have nothing more to give tonight. Portland isn’t a deep team and they are 2-4-1 ATS on the second end of a back to back. And they spent so much effort last night. Against a very good team tonight, and a legit title contender desperate to end a losing streak. Also, Utah is 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 games on Saturday. This just looks like a great spot for a dominating win tonight.

Since the game against the Lakers and Clippers was cancelled, bettors have been looking to this game as the first game after the Kobe Bryant tragedy where the Lakers will win one for Kobe. But as a result we knew this line would be inflated and it has come out even a couple more points than we expected. And it's not like Kobe didn’t have friends on the Blazers that will want to play hard in his honor. The Blazers aren’t going to roll over and let the Lakers win. We think they give everything they have tonight against a Lakers team that is still grieving. The Blazers have a strong history in this series (10-2 ATS in the last 12 meetings in LA and 45-22 ATS as a long-term trend). If the Lakers just play their game they will probably have success but we feel like they might try to hard or do something different than normal. We think there’s a great chance for a close game here.

Toronto is coming in on a back-to-back, but they barely broke a sweat last night against the Cavs. That was their ninth straight win. We don’t see them letting up here. Detroit has lost four straight and this team just has not been playing with any enthusiasm lately. Injuries have staked up and everyone is on the trade block, so it’s no wonder why this team hasn’t played with a sense of purpose lately. We think this could be a double-digit win for the road team.