Sports Picks & Predictions

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.

The Clippers are rounding into playoff form and they have been playing some of the best defense in the NBA lately. We think there is a possibility this game is a blowout, which would fare well for the under. The Clippers have gone under in three straight and in six of their last eight, and we don’t think the oddsmakers have adjusted yet to how strong this team has been on the defensive end. Five of the last eight for GSW have gone under as well, and we think this is another inflated total.

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.

These are two Top 10 defensive teams and we think this total is a tad too high. We had this one handicapped at 217, so we think there is some nice value here. The Bucks are trending to the under lately with a 6-1 mark in their last seven games. They are on a back-to-back here, and the under is 5-0 in their last five on the second leg of a B2B. We think both teams will be amped up for this game and there should be a lot of intensity on the defensive end.

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.

Utah comes in on a back-to-back and this is their fourth road game of the current trip. We don’t see them putting up too many points tonight. Their point total has decreased in each of the last four games, and it hit under the century mark last night in a win at Boston with 99 points scored. This team expended a lot of energy in that game and we don’t think they will have much left here in Detroit. The Pistons aren’t a very good team, but they are much better defensively than on the offensive end.

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.

The Clippers are paying great basketball and are big favorites here. While we are not too excited about laying this big number, we think this will be a blowout and that will bode well for the under. LA is fully healthy right now and they are rounding into playoff form. They have played three straight excellent defensive games, and the Sixers will be without their two main playmakers tonight.

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.

The under has been a strong trend in this rare series, but over many years it is 15-7 in the last 22 meetings. The Jazz have lost four straight and really need to stop the bleeding. They are big favorites tonight and this is a good game for them to get back on the winning track. We think they really focus on lock-down defense tonight and we think they will get the job done on the defensive end. They have to put in the effort tonight as a loss here would be really bad.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Rockets have been trending to the under with their last four before the break all going under the posted number. We think these teams could start off rusty with the shooting, and there is a good chance the Warriors won’t get too hot for the entire game. Both teams are athletic and should be fresh for some strong defense. The under is 11-5-1 in the last 17 meetings and 4-1 in the last five meetings in the Bay Area. We think there’s a good chance this one goes decently under this posted total.

We think the under will trend in a lot of these first games after the all-star break. The players are rested and want to start off the second half of the season with a solid effort on the defensive end. The offenses will probably start off rusty and with these very high totals we are seeing in the NBA, even a couple minutes of a gametime cold spell for shooting by one or both teams can bode very well for the under. Five of six for the Nets went under before the break, and we have a feeling the Sixers defense could lock them down again tonight.

The Pistons are one of the worst offensive teams in the league. They have been particularly bad recently. They scored 92 or fewer points in five of their last eight games. In today’s NBA, that’s really bad. Both teams should be rusty to start off this game on offense. Detroit may never get hot. We think the Bucks can put up a big total and this one will still go under. Both teams should have a lot of energy on defense. The under is 5-1 in the Bucks last six road games.

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.

Toronto has been trending to the over, but the bookies have posted a too high number here for this Wednesday game. Toronto is a Top 5 defensive team, and there’s a great chance that they hold the Nets to a low total here tonight. The Nets have actually been playing some decent defense lately and as a result, four of their last five games have played under the total. We had this game handicapper at 219 so we think there is some good value here as we leaned to the under even at our handicapped number.

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.

OKC is trending to the under and it is 5-1 in their last six. We think these teams will play some good defense in the Sunday matinee. These are two Top 10 defenses. Both teams have been playing particularly well in defending the rim lately, and we just don’t see either team breaking out for a big points total today. We handicapped this total before we saw the number and came out with 213, so we think there is nice value on the under here.

Toronto has been trending to the over, but the oddsmakers have inflated this total too much as a result. We see this one going well under the posted number tonight. Toronto has a Top 3 defense, and we don’t see the Nets doing anything crazy in this one offensively. The Raptors are coming in on a back-to-back, and we think we could see a flat game from them offensively and this might be a bad spot for them overall after a hard-fought win over Indiana on Friday.

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.

OKC has really ramped up the defense lately, and we don’t see the Pistons having much offensive success tonight. The Pistons have scored 100 or less in three of their last six games. With Drummond being shipped out of town, that will hurt this team not only on the court but also in the morale department. We expect a real flat performance tonight from the road team. The oddsmakers tab this one as a blowout, and we agree, and we think the Pistons will struggle to score their share of points to get this one over the posted number.

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.

We were on the Grizzlies last time out against Detroit in what was one of the easiest wins of the year with only 178 points scored in that game. This one won’t be that low scoring. But Memphis has struggled on offense recently against good defensive teams. And Dallas has been playing very solid defense lately. They held their last two opponents to 103 or fewer points. We don’t see the pace here in this game being super fast, and we had this game total handicapped at 218, so we think there is some really nice value here. Several trends involving Memphis here point to the under as well. The under is 5-1 in the last six for Memphis following a 10+-point win. The under is 8-3 in their last 11 games, and the oddsmakers haven’t adjusted properly yet. Because of some massive scores in the NBA this season, bookies are scared to post too low totals, but there is value created as a result on the under leaguewide right now, and we think this game definitely falls into that category tonight.

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.

The Pistons are not only coming in on a back-to-back, but this is a super back-to-back for them after a rare win in OT yesterday against the Nuggets. We don’t think they have anything left in the tank here, and we just don’t see how they will put many points on the board tonight. Detroit has performed real poorly in back-to-backs this season at 1-7, 2-6 ATS and they have averaged only 104 PPG in these situations this season. We don’t see them having any offensive success today. The under is 6-0 in the Grizzlies last six home games, and that is the way we see this one going down on Monday night.

Both offenses have been really good lately, but we have to take a shot at the under here in what is one of the highest posted totals in the NBA this season. With a total this high, if there is a cold shooting streak by either team than this one will likely go under. If a crucial player goes cold, that’s good news for us. With a total this high there has to be fluid scoring and fast pace all throughout the game. The players could be distracted because of the Super Bowl. Also, the under is 31-15-1 in the last 47 meetings.

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.

When a couple lousy teams hook up in a Friday game like this, and they are teams that play inconsistent defense, you can have a good idea the game will be a barnburner. And we think that’s the case here. The Bulls have the better defense, but they have been pourous in that area lately, and that has led to the over hitting in four of their last five. The Nets have gone over in four of five as well.  We just see the pace here as being fluid and we expect both teams to get their points in a likely close game.

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.

Despite identical records, we think the Jazz are the much better team in this matchup. Remember, they got off to a super slow start this season and since have turned it on and are playing as well as anyone in the league right now. And this is a very important game and should have a playoff-like atmosphere, and we just think the cream will rise to the top tonight. We like to back a good team after a bad loss, and the Jazz certainly fit the bill here as they had the floor wiped with them against the Rockets last time out and Houston was without Westbrook and Harden. Utah was a double-digit favorite and lost by 9. But they have had two nights off since then (Denver has had only one), and this game is more important, so win here and that loss is officially in the rearview mirror. After playing horrible defense last time out we are sure the focus for Utah has been strong defense, and we think the Jazz will lock down on that end tonight. The Jazz are 16-7 ATS in the last 23 meetings, and we feel this is their game to take tonight.

Despite identical records, we think the Jazz are the much better team in this matchup. Remember, they got off to a super slow start this season and since have turned it on and are playing as well as anyone in the league right now. And this is a very important game and should have a playoff-like atmosphere, and we just think the cream will rise to the top tonight. We like to back a good team after a bad loss, and the Jazz certainly fit the bill here as they had the floor wiped with them against the Rockets last time out and Houston was without Westbrook and Harden. Utah was a double-digit favorite and lost by 9. But they have had two nights off since then (Denver has had only one), and this game is more important, so win here and that loss is officially in the rearview mirror. After playing horrible defense last time out we are sure the focus for Utah has been strong defense, and we think the Jazz will lock down on that end tonight. The Jazz are 16-7 ATS in the last 23 meetings, and we feel this is their game to take tonight.

The Sixers road woes are well documented as they are 9-15 on the road this season. They are 7-15-2 ATS on the road and on a 1-7-1 ATS plunge in their last nine games. The Hawks have been playing hard despite a lack of talent, and they have covered in five of their last eight games. The Sixers haven’t covered in the last four meetings in Atlanta. We think the Hawks will put up a fight and play to win here tonight.

The Thunder are 32-16 ATS on the season and this team continues to hold value while some of the other teams in the NBA are grabbing all the headlines and respect from the oddsmakers. But Oklahoma City is quietly having one of the most surprising seasons in the NBA this season. They had a five-game winning streaked snapped last time with a double-digit loss to the Mavs, and we think they will come out in this one focused and hungry against a Sacramento team that has lost six of eight, with only wins over Minnesota and Chicago to their credit.

We think this is too many points. We think the Hawks match up well with Toronto. And the Raptors lines are starting to grow too big. These teams played a little more than a week ago in Atlanta, and the Hawks hung tough with the Raps all game long. It was a one-point game entering the fourth quarter and Toronto won by 5. Atlanta has been a good bet lately, covering in five of their last seven games. They are also 6-2 ATS when catching double digit points. We expect them to keep this one within double digits tonight.

The Rockets will be shorthanded tonight. We don’t see how they will be able to put up enough points to eclipse this total. They are coming in on a back-to-back and playing their third game in four nights. We hate to bring tragedy into handicapping but we think some players and teams experienced an adrenaline rush when the news hit on Sunday but tonight might be the hangover from that rush, and we think the road team out here could come out real flat while shorthanded. Not to mention Utah is getting back to their defensive ways and is playing perhaps some of the best defense in the NBA right now. We think this total might be as many as 8 points too high tonight.

The Clippers will for sure be without Paul George and we don’t know the status of Pat Beverly as of this writing, but even if he plays he probably won’t be anywhere near 100%. The Clippers are coming off their big win over Miami and then play the Lakers next, so this is a big sandwich game for them, and they don’t have their full complement of players. This game reminds us of the recent Hawks game, where we were also on the underdog, and they won outright. Just doesn’t seem like a spot for a full effort from the road team.

We always look for situations where the Cavs are favored against other lousy teams. This has been one of the best bets in the NBA this season as the Cavs are a perfect 0-5 ATS when favored. The Bulls are quite a bit better than Cleveland and they have been able to take care of business against bad teams. We expect more of the same tonight.

Dallas has been playing very well and they are a legit team. But they are just not on the same level as the Jazz. Utah is a true championship contender, and they have been playing like it lately, while the Mavs are a year or two away from being a true contender. There is probably no team in the NBA playing as well as the Jazz right now, and they are not only winning but covering on a regular basis. This line has moved early with sharp action, but we still don’t think it moved enough as we had this game handicapped at -7.5 for the Jazz so we think there is some real good value here. Utah is 7-0 ATS in their last seven home games and we think they cover easy again tonight.

NBA handicapping can be very streaky. The Houston Rockets had lost four straight and people were wondering what was wrong with the team. Then they flexed their collective muscle in an extremely impressive home win over the Nuggets last time out. We think they will build on that positive momentum tonight against a very lousy Minnesota team. The Wolves have lost seven straight. They have covered in only one of those games despite some very generous lines courtesy of the oddsmakers. Houston is 10-4 ATS in the last 14 meetings between these teams. We don’t think there is any chance of a letdown tonight since that losing streak is still fresh on the Rockets minds, and they need to take care of business, hopefully with an exclamation point, against a sub-par opponent.

The Grizzlies have three more wins on the season than do the Pistons. But Memphis was putting together a whole new roster this season and it took them awhile to get it together. But they have been playing their best basketball of the season lately and this team is solid. Detroit just can’t put anything together consistently. We think the disparity in these teams is greater than those three extra wins on Memphis’ record and we think the better team will take this one tonight.

Both of these teams are out of the playoff picture. Both have played lousy defense lately. We just don’t see any way either team will lock down on defense tonight and both teams should put up a high total on offense. The Bulls have been trending to the under and the Wolves have been trending to the over. But we just think this number is too low tonight as we think both squads have a chance to get over 110 in points tonight.

We think this is a throwaway game for the Clippers tonight. They had their big game against the Mavs last night and won. And that game will be crucial for tiebreakers. But now they go out of conference for a game that doesn’t mean much. They got in to Atlanta super late last night. Pat Bev was hurt in the game last night and probably won’t play here. This will be a back-to-back so Kawhi is unlikely. And Paul George probably isn’t ready to come back. Atlanta has covered in three of their last four and we think they have a great chance for the outright win.

The Sixers road woes are highly publicized this season. They have won two straight road games, but they didn’t impress us with those wins. They were against both New York teams. Now they take a big step up in competition against one of the better ATS teams in the NBA this season. Toronto has covered in seven of the last nine meetings at home in this series. We just think the Sixers will fall on their faces again here and we don’t see them being too competitive here.

We will plug our nose and go with the Knicks here as we just don’t think the Cavs should be laying points to anyone in the NBA at this point. Cleveland has been a favorite only four times this season. And the result? 0-4 ATS. We just think the Knicks have been playing a bit better overall and this is the perfect chance for them to get a rare road win. (As we were compiling the writeup the Knicks moved to slight favorites and that is OK because we see them winning this one clearly.).

Brooklyn’s defense has been lousy lately and they have given up 117 or more in three straight games and we feel as if the Sixers will do even better than that today. Philly has been offensively challenged lately but this is a game where the pace will work in favor of their offense and we expect a breakout game in matinee action here on Monday. Both teams will get their points here as this one sails over the posted number.

Detroit has won two straight but that just means we are getting a better line here for the home team. Sharp bettors took the Wizards on the opening line and moved this number ½ point but there is still value here. Despite the records these teams are pretty much even and Detroit has been inconsistent and we just don’t see them going on the road and winning this one for this Monday matinee.

We think the Thunder are the much better team here. They have lost two straight coming into this one, both against Eastern Conference opponents. Now they are back against a familiar divisional foe, and we think they will be very focused here. A two-game losing streak isn’t the end of the world, but a three-game slide starts to become concerning, and this team is going all out for a playoff bid after everyone wrote them off. This is a down year for Portland, one of the worst ATS teams in the NBA this season.

Utah is almost an automatic play lately. This team started off slow like last season but is coming on strong now and one of the hottest teams in the NBA despite the loss last time out. That loss will keep them focused here, and they have a big time talent advantage over the Kings. The Jazz have not only been winning lately but when they win they have been covering as well, and we think this will be a double-digit win tonight as the Jazz stay hot.

Orlando is the top defensive team in the NBA for scoring, but they haven’t been great recently in that area, allowing 112 or more in three straight. We think the Warriors have a chance to put up some points on them tonight, and we have a pretty low total here for a game involving the Warriors. Golden State has allowed 122 or more in their last three. Neither team is playing strong defense right now, and we think the pace here will be fluid on Saturday night.

The Sixers have been horrible on the road this season. But this is a good team and they will figure out their road woes at some point, and there is no better time than tonight against this horrible Knicks team. The Sixers are 10-4 ATS in the last 14 meetings. They are being punished by the oddsmakers because of their road record and the fact they are on a back-to-back, but they are 5-2 in back-to-backs this season and this is a good spot for them laying a short number tonight.

The Celtics come in off two straight losses, so they will be primed to get back on the winning track. And this is a great opportunity to do just that against a team they will have a talent advantage over. Over the last several years the Celtics have been one of the most trustworthy betting teams. They have covered in three of their last four despite the two straight losses, and we feel this line is short as well. Phoenix has covered in just one of their last six games. We think this is a great opportunity for a double-digit win for the Celtics.

We just love the way the Grizzlies are playing now. This isn’t a fluke, and they are playing playoff quality basketball right now and have a budding superstar in Ja Morant. They have won and covered in six straight games. And those games weren’t against all scrubs. They won at the Clippers and at home against Houston and San Antonio. They have scored 119 or more in all of these games, and with Cleveland allowing 128 in each of their last two games, we just don’t see them slowing Memphis down tonight. The Grizzlies aren’t really on bettors radars right now and they should be laying double digits here.

We just love the way the Grizzlies are playing now. This isn’t a fluke, and they are playing playoff quality basketball right now and have a budding superstar in Ja Morant. They have won and covered in six straight games. And those games weren’t against all scrubs. They won at the Clippers and at home against Houston and San Antonio. They have scored 119 or more in all of these games, and with Cleveland allowing 128 in each of their last two games, we just don’t see them slowing Memphis down tonight. The Grizzlies aren’t really on bettors radars right now and they should be laying double digits here.

The Magic scored the win last night in LA against the Lakers. This is a back-to-back but they will be playing in the same building so no travel worries. And this is not some scrub team that will be happy with their win and not show up for this game. This team made the playoffs last season and has aspirations of getting back there this season. The Clippers are working out a lot of kinks right now and Paul George is out of the lineup again tonight. We think this will be a close game.

The Celtics haven’t been playing well and enter this one on a back-to-back, but we just think this is too many points to give one of the top teams in the east. They were blown out in Detroit last night but were probably looking ahead to this one, and we think they will put in a much better effort. This team isn’t an underdog often, but they are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games when catching points.

The Suns have been inconsistent lately, but this is a game where they have a clear edge in talent and they should win this one going away. They already scored a win and cover over the Knicks at home earlier this month. They are coming off what we would consider an embarrassing loss to Atlanta last time out and they will need to put their best foot forward here tonight. The Suns are 7-2 ATS in their last nine meetings in New York.

Both of these teams are under teams this season. The Magic are one of the top defensive teams in the league, but they can’t score. We don’t see them having any success on offense tonight and they should finish well under the Century Mark yet again. There are a lot of trends for the Magic going under tonight, and even though the Lakers have been putting up lots of points lately this strong Orlando defense will slow them down to a respectable total.

The Wizards went through a little scoring drought and an under run, but the last couple of games scoring is up again and this one looks like a probable barnburner. Washington is the worst defensive team in the league by many metrics and the Bulls have their moments of competence defensively but they also give up 115+ on a regular basis, and we think that will be the case tonight. We see both teams getting close to 120 tonight. The over is 6-1 in the Wizards last seven road games, and we just don’t see either team getting stops tonight and scoring should be fluid for all four quarters.

Miami is one of the better ATS teams in the NBA this season, and they still aren’t getting proper respect from the oddsmakers as they should be laying more points tonight in our opinion. The Spurs just can’t be trusted this season as almost no team in the NBA has been more inconsistent. Could they win this by 20? Anything is possible in the NBA on any given night. But the Spurs are 6-12 on the road and the Heat have been dominant at home, and we expect them to take care of business tonight.

Boston is one of the better under teams in the NBA this season on the strength of their No. 2 scoring defense. They have been very good defensively lately, and we don’t see the Pistons doing anything on offense tonight. The under is 5-1 when the Pistons play on the road with a team with a winning percentage over .600, meaning they normally struggle to get points in this situation. Their offense has not been good lately, and the only way they will be able to compete here is to lock down defensively.

Whenever we see a line this high we have to look for a way to back the underdog. And that’s what we will do here on Tuesday. The Clippers aren’t playing their best basketball of the season right now. They seem to be complacent in the dog days of the season, and Paul George is out for the foreseeable future. They have failed to cover in four straight games. The Cavs have covered in three of four. They were ran off the court last night and come into this one on a back-to-back, but they won’t want to lose bad to both LA teams and they have no real pressure here and should play freely. They have been playing hard for the most part lately. We think they can keep this one within double digits.