Sports Picks & Predictions

ASA top play on 10* Philadelphia 76ers +5.5 @ Milwaukee Bucks, 8:30 PM ET - Yeah, we know…how can you bet against the Bucks who have won 16 straight games? Philly has a lineup that can compete with Milwaukee and Joel Embiid will put forth extra effort in a marquee matchup with Giannis. The Sixers are coming off a loss in Dallas and they’ve been good in this situation with a 6-2 record in their last eight games when coming off a loss. Overall, the 76ers are 12-9 ATS when off a loss and they have an average +/- in those games of +5.5PPG. Philly is 14-14 ATS on the road this season, but they do own a positive differential at +1.9PPG. Granted the Bucks are 27-5 SU at home this season with a +/- of +8.4PPG, but the underdog has covered and won outright in 3 of the last four meetings. Grab the points with the Sixers.

ASA top play on 10* OVER 227 Brooklyn Nets @ Boston Celtics, 7:40 PM ET - The average NBA game finishes with 227.8 total points per game. This game is NOT going to be ‘average’ according to our Math Model. The 3-point line will have a huge impact on this game. The Celtics attempt the 2nd most 3-pointers in the league at 41.9 per game. They also make 37.9% of those attempts which is 5th best in the NBA. Brooklyn has a very tough time defending the 3-point line as they allow opponents to make 37.6% of their attempts which is 29th or second to last in the NBA. Boston is coming off a game against the Cavs who own the 3rd best defensive efficiency rating in the NBA and that game finished with 230 total points with Boston scoring 117. Now they face a Nets team that is 20th in DEFF allowing 1.149PPP. The Nets have also struggled on the defensive end of the court recently, allowing an average of 125PPG over their last five games. We will need the Nets to score in this game too and they should. Brooklyn owns the 12th best offensive efficiency rating in the league at 1.152-points per possession. The Nets are also playing faster with their recent roster change as they average 100.8 possessions per game in their last five games which is up from their season average of 98.6. These two teams met on Feb 1st and Boston came away with a 139-96 win. The Over has cashed in 6 of the last seven meetings in Beantown. We predict an easy Over in this one.

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 225.5 Orlando Magic vs. Charlotte Hornets, 7:10 PM ET - The Hornets are two different teams when they have PG LaMello Ball in the lineup and when they don’t. Ball like to push tempo and play in the open court so possessions naturally go up. Charlotte is the 7th fastest paced team on the season overall but without Ball expect a more deliberate attack moving forward. While we are on the subject of pace, the Magic are the 17th slowest paced team in the NBA at 98.8 possessions per game. These two teams are both bottom 6 in the league when it comes to offensive efficiency with the Magic averaging 1.115-points per possession (25th) and Charlotte averaging 1.011PPP which is 29th. Both teams struggle to score with poor shooting at 20th or worse in the league in FG% and 3PT%. Both teams have seen their scoring numbers dip in their last five games compared to their season averages. These teams met in early February and produced 232 total points, but the Hornets had both Ball and Washington in the lineup, who are out tonight. That game didn’t have a ton of possessions at 174 which is around league average. In the other two meetings this season they produced total points of 217 and 206. With both teams limited offensively we expect a low total in this outcome.

ASA top play on 10* Indiana Pacers -4.5 vs San Antonio Spurs, 8:30 PM ET - The Spurs had lost 16 straight games prior to a win in Utah in their last game out. We expect them to return to their losing ways again tonight versus a surging Pacers team vying for a Playoff spot. Not only did San Antonio go on a straight up losing streak they also have just 3 covers in their last seventeen games. Indiana has won 3 of four including an impressive win over the Mavericks last time out as a +8.5 point underdog. The Spurs are bad on both ends of the court ranking last in defensive efficiency, last in points allowed per game, last in overall FG% defense and 3PT% D. It’s not much better for them on the offensive end of the court where they rank 29th in offensive efficiency and 20th or worse in PPG allowed, FG% D and 3PT% defense. The Pacers should take advantage of the Spurs defense with their 11th ranked 3PT shooting offense that hit’s 36.4% of their attempts. San Antonio has failed to cover in 4 straight home games and the Pacers are on a 4-0 spread streak on the road against sub .400 teams. The Pacers have also covered 4 straight in San Antonio.

ASA top play on UNDER 222 Brooklyn Nets @ NY Knicks, 7:40 PM ET - The Knicks are turning up the heat on the defensive end of the court as they have allowed 110 or less in 7 of their last nine games. In three of those games, they allowed 98 or less points. For the season they own the 13th best defensive efficiency rating allowing 1.140-points per possession. In their last five games they are giving up 1.057PPP which is 2nd in the league. The other big factor here is pace. The Knicks are the 4th slowest paced team in the NBA at 96.7 possessions per game. Brooklyn prefers a slower tempo too ranking 11th in pace, and they are coming off a game last night so they shouldn’t be anxious to turn this game into a track meet. The Nets obviously had a big change in their lineup with the trades of KD and Kyrie and chemistry is an issue for them on the offensive end of the court. The Nets are averaging just 106.8PPG in their last five games which is down from their season average of 113.8PPG. These two teams recently met in mid-February and produced 230 total points but the possessions were lower than league average with just 160 FG attempts. The Under has cashed 22 of the last 30 meetings in the Garden and we predict another low scoring game here.

ASA top play on 10* Chicago Bulls +5 over Toronto Raptors, 7:40 PM ET - These two teams are both in the playoff mix with the Bulls looking up at the Raptors in the standings. After losing 6 straight games going into the All-Star break the Bulls have won 2 straight over the Nets and Wizards. Toronto had won 7 of eight games prior to a loss last time out in Cleveland. In that winning stretch though, the Raptors really had just one quality win over the Memphis Grizzlies as none of the other “W’s” came against a team with a winning record. The Bulls defense is solid and will be better with the addition of Patrick Beverly who was recently added to the roster. Chicago allows the 10th fewest points in the league, own the 9th best FG% defense and 10th best 3PT% D. Toronto will struggle to score here with an offense that ranks 27th in team FG% and 3PT%. Offensively the Bulls own the 6th best shooting percentage in the league and rank 16th in 3PT%. The Raptors are 27th in FG% defense and 3PT% defense. Chicago has an average Margin of Victory on the road at -2.9PPG. Toronto has a +/- of +2.5PPG at home. Both of those averages clearly favor Chicago in this matchup. In what shapes up to be a lower scoring game we will gladly grab the points with the Bulls.

ASA top play on 10* Philadelphia 76ers -6 vs Miami Heat, 7:10 PM ET - Something is going on in Miami that can’t be figured out right now as this team just isn’t competitive. The Heat have lost 4 straight games and 6 of their last ten overall. On the season they have struggled on the road with a 13-19 SU record with an average +/- of -2.3PPG. Miami is just 1-5 SU and ATS their last six away from home with the lone win coming in OT against the Magic. This will be the first meeting of the season between these two teams after the Heat eliminated the 76ers from the Playoffs a year ago. Philly is 5-1 SU and ATS their last six games but are coming off a tough loss to the Celtics on Saturday. The Celtics had a great shooting night which is surprising considering the Sixers own the 13th best FG% defense and 3rd best 3-point percentage D. Philly is 7-3 SU at home when coming off a loss this season and 24-9 SU overall at home. They win their home games by an average of +5.7PPG. and own a top 10 offensive and defensive efficiency rating on their own court. Whatever has happened behind the scenes with Miami is a mystery right now but we don’t see things changing in this scenario. Lay the points.

ASA top play on 10* Brooklyn Nets +5.5 @ Atlanta Hawks, 3:10 PM ET - These two teams are coming off very different results as the Nets were just destroyed in Chicago by the Bulls 87-131, while the Hawks beat Cleveland at home 136-119. So off those results why would we back the Nets? Let’s not forget these guys are professionals and some of the most competitive players on the planet. That humiliating loss should have them focused and motivated here. Meanwhile the Hawks could be a little “fat” coming off that blowout win which has support from their 11-18 ATS mark when coming off a win this season. The Hawks are 16-12 SU at home this season with an average +/- of plus +1.8PPG. As a home favorite this season the Hawks are 10-13 ATS. Brooklyn is solid as a Dog this season with a 14-10 ATS record overall. They are 13-11 ATS when coming off a loss overall, 5-1 their last six. The Nets have an overall winning record on the road this season at 16-14 with an average +/- of -2.4PPG. The Hawks rank 21st in opponents FG% allowed and the Nets are the 2nd best shooting team in the NBA. This Nets roster still has plenty of talented players and they’ll keep this game close throughout.

ASA top play 10* UNDER 232.5 Indiana Pacers vs Orlando Magic, 7:10 PM ET - We love the betting indicators here with more money and tickets coming in on the Over, yet the line has dipped from the opening number. These teams are two of the least efficient offenses in the NBA with the Pacers averaging 1.137-points per possession (21st) and the Magic at 1.116PPP (25th). Orlando shoots just 47% as a team which is 18th in the NBA. In their last five games overall, the Magic are even shooting slightly worse at 45.9% while scoring just 107.8PPG. Indiana struggles with their shooting too as they hit just 46% from the field which ranks 25th. Indiana puts up 117.4PPG at home this season but on the road that number drops to 112PPG. Orlando is coming off two recent games against similar teams to the Pacers and those games produced 214 and 191 total points. Indiana is coming off a very high scoring game against the Celtics but Boston is one of the highest scoring and most efficient offenses in the NBA. In fact, the Pacers-Celtics O/U was 233.5 and the Magic don’t compare with Boston when it comes to offense. These two teams met in late January and put up 246 total points, but the pace of play was very slow, but they shot uncharacteristically very well from beyond the arc. Don’t expect that here and we like a low scoring UNDER!

ASA top play on 10* Sacramento Kings +6.5 vs LA Clippers, 10:40 PM ET - This is an inflated number for several reasons including the Russell Westbrook signing by the Clippers and the fact the Kings are coming off a game last night. But, while Westbrook is an incredible talent, he may also be a disruptive force early on with the Clippers as he tries to fit in. Secondly, the Kings played last night but it was a blowout win and they kept their minutes down for the starters, plus they are coming off the extended break from the All-Star game. The Kings own the 7th best average point differential on the road this season at -0.7PPG and have a winning straight up record at 15-13. The Clippers on the other hand are 15-13 SU at home but have the 22nd worst average MOV at +1.3PPG. This will be the 3rd meeting of the season for these two teams and the Kings have covered both prior to this game. In fact, Sacramento has covered 5 of the last seven meetings and we like that trend to continue here.

ASA top play on 10* Miami Heat ML +110 over Milwaukee Bucks, 7:40 PM ET - No Giannis for the Bucks against a Heat team at nearly full strength. This has turned into a great rivalry stemming from the Playoffs a few years ago and the Heat have been the team to back as far as the spread is concerned. Miami is 4-1 ATS their last five meetings and have beaten the Bucks twice already this season. Milwaukee is on an impressive 12-game winning streak but that was with Giannis and his 31.8PPG, 12.2RPG and 5.4APG in the lineup. In the most recent meeting between these two teams, he scored 35-points, grabbed 15 rebounds and dished out 11 assists. Miami is coming off a 2-game losing streak in which they didn’t have Milwaukee native Tyler Herro. Prior to those two games they had won 3 straight with him in the lineup. Historically, the Heat have been solid with coming off a loss with a 55-41 SU record dating back to 2020. Going back to the start of the 2021 season, Miami is one of 9 NBA teams to have a winning overall road record at 40-38 SU. As an away underdog the Heat are 22-16 ATS their last 38 in that role. Granted, the Bucks are 24-5 SU at home this season, but given the circumstances we like the Heat to get this road victory.

ASA top play on 10* New Orleans Pelicans +6 vs Toronto Raptors, 7:40 PM ET - The Raptors are on an impressive 5-1 SU run in their last six games but take a look at who they’ve beaten. Those wins have come against 24-35 Magic, 15-44 Pistons, 14-45 Spurs, 13-45 Rockets and one quality win against the Grizzlies. The Pelicans have won 4 of their last six games and are playing better with Brandon Ingram back in the lineup. The two losses in that stretch came against the Cavaliers and new look Lakers. Toronto I 18-13 SU at home this season with a +/- of +2.4PPG. New Orleans is 10-19 SU away this season with a negative differential of minus -2.6PPG. Clearly neither of those average point differential differences are enough for the Raptors to cover this number. The Raptors are one of the worst overall shooting and 3-point shooting teams in the NBA and will have a tough time scoring against this Pelicans defense that is 7th best in the league in defensive efficiency ratings. The Pelicans have had great success in this series with 5 straight covers overall and a 5-1 ATS record their last six visits to Toronto.

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 224.5 LA Clippers vs Phoenix Suns, 10 PM ET - These are two of the slower paced teams in the NBA as the Clippers average 97.3 possession per game which is 5th slowest. The Suns rank 9th slowest at 98 possessions per game. These are also two of the best defenses in the NBA ranking top 10 in defensive efficiency. These two teams have already met twice this season and produced 207 and 206 total points. The O/U’s on those two games were 219.5 and 218.5. Now we get an inflated number of 224 to work with and will bet Under again. Both teams have favored Unders this entire season and historically they’ve stayed below the number in 6 straight and 8 of the last ten meetings. Bet Under

ASA top play on 10* Memphis Grizzlies -7.5 vs Utah Jazz, 8:10 PM ET - The Grizzlies are coming off a loss in Boston on the 12th and will look to rebound against the Jazz back at home. Utah is off a road win in Indianapolis on the 13th but are just 3-6 SU their last nine games. Memphis is 23-5 SU at home with the 2nd best average Margin of Victory on their home court at +10.5PPG. When coming off a loss and playing at home the Grizz are 6-3 SU and ATS. Utah is 11-18 SU for the season on the road with a negative differential of -2.4PPG. The last time these two teams met on this court was back on Jan 8th with the Grizzlies winning 123-118 as a -5.5-point favorite. Memphis played that game without Ja Morant or Steven Adams and Utah had Mike Conley. The home team has won 5 straight in this series and with the Grizzlies +/- at home we like them to win and do so by their average MOV. Lay it!

ASA Top Play on 10* LA Clippers -8 vs Golden State Warriors, 10 PM ET - The Clippers catch a break here having been off since Feb 10th, a home game and loss to Milwaukee. The Warriors on the other hand are coming off a game last night and playing their 3rd game in 4 nights. That typically means “load management” for a few Warrior starters. Golden State is the worst spread record team in the NBA on the road this season with an 8-19 ATS record and own a negative average point differential of -7.8PPG. As we mentioned the Clippers are rested which means Leonard and George will be in the lineup. When playing with 3 days rest the Clippers are 26-7-1 ATS their last 34. Los Angeles is playing with same season revenge here too as they lost in Golden State by 17-points earlier this season. Scheduling is a key factor here so we’ll lay the points with the Clippers.

ASA top play on 10* MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES +8 vs. Dallas Mavericks, 8:30 PM ET - This line is clearly inflated with the hype surrounding Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic joining forces in Dallas. I find it very interesting Kyrie has played with some of the biggest names in the game (LeBron, KD, Tatum, Harden) and yet is never happy? I think in the end this will be another failed experiment in Dallas as you have two ball-dominant point guards and sharing the rock isn’t a priority for either. In any case, the Mavericks will take time to adjust and solidify rotations and it’s not like they were a great favorite this season. The Mavs are 12-25-2 ATS as a chalk this season with a +/- in those games of +3.6PPG (not enough to cover here). Minnesota has a winning spread record as a dog at 16-14 ATS with an average differential of minus -2.2PPG. The Wolves brought in vet point guard Michael Conley which should pay immediate dividends as his pick and roll skills are much better than since departed Russell. Minnesota is 6-4 SU their last ten games with some impressive wins over some of the better teams in the West. Minnesota won earlier this season at home by 10-points, then played the Mavs tough in Dallas in a 5-point loss. We expect another close game here.

ASA top play on 10* Memphis Grizzlies +4.5 vs. Boston Celtics, 1 PM ET - We like the Grizzlies plus the points in this NBA showdown. Boston is obviously one of the best teams in the NBA but Memphis is a team that can certainly come out of the West. The Grizzlies have had some ups and downs with players missing with injuries but have put together two strong games in a row beating Chicago and Minnesota. Going into the trade deadline there were rumors the Grizzlies were active, but now that everyone knows they are staying in Memphis they can relax and play. The Celtics are dealing with a few key injuries to starters Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, which is significant when you’re trying to stop Ja Morant. Memphis and Boston rank 2nd and 5th in defensive efficiency so they are essentially even. Boston has a much better overall offensive efficiency but Memphis can get some easy opportunities with their transition game which is the 3rd best in the league. Boston is also reliant on their 3-points shooting but the Grizzlies are solid in defending the arc. The line on this game is set this low for a reason and looks like a trap. Bet Memphis plus the points.

ASA top play on 10* Indiana Pacers +5 at Washington Wizards, 7:10 PM ET - One negative here is scheduling as the Pacers just played last night at home versus the Suns and lost. But, Indiana is 7-4 SU this season when playing without rest this season and they kept all of the starters minutes to under 30. Washington beat Charlotte at home as a -3.5-point favorite on Wednesday. If the Wizards were just favored by -3.5 versus Charlotte, why are they -5 versus a better Indiana team? Washington is 13-12 SU at home this season with an average point differential of -0.7PPG which is 26th in the NBA. As a home favorite, Washington is 5-8-1 ATS, minus -0.4PPG. Indiana is a respectable 17-14 ATS when coming off a loss this season, 3-1 in their last four. Our model has Washington favored by -2.5 points here so let’s grab the value with Indiana

ASA top play on 10* Memphis Grizzlies -6.5 vs Minnesota Timberwolves, 8:10PM ET - These two teams don’t like each other after a very intense playoff series a year ago. This will be the 4th and final meeting of the regular season with the home team having won and covered the three previous clashes. The last confrontation was recently in late January in Minnesota with the Wolves winning by 11-points. Memphis made a quiet move at the trade deadline but did bring in shooter Luke Kennard. Minnesota dumped De’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt and brought in vet Mike Connelly and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. For our purposes we doubt any of these players will be in the lineups tonight. Memphis had lost 3 straight games prior to beating Chicago by 15-points at home in their most recent game. Minnesota is coming off a 143-118 win at Utah, but prior to that game gave up 146 in a loss to the Nuggets. The Grizzlies have the 2nd best +/- at home this season of +10.1PPG and an overall record of 22-5 SU. Dating back to the start of last season the Grizz are 47-26-1 ATS at home (best record in the NBA) with an average Margin of Victory of +9.6PPG. As a road dog the Wolves are an mediocre 37-35 ATS since the start of the 2021 season. Playing with quick revenge we like the Grizzlies big at home tonight.

ASA top play on 10* OVER 234 Golden State Warriors @ Portland Trailblazers, 10 PM ET - This is an interesting O/U number considering the Blazers just face Milwaukee at home and that was 241. Golden State plays faster than Milwaukee, in fact they lead the league in possessions per game, they are more efficient offensively and worse defensively. Portland has scored 121 or more points in 4 of their last five games and now face a Warriors team that ranks 16th in defensive efficiency allowing 1.144 points per possession. Portland has the 5th best average points scored per possession in the NBA at 1.167PPP. The Blazers do play slower but they are also one of the worst teams in the league in defensive efficiency. Portland allows 1.165PPP which ranks them 27th in the NBA. Golden State averages 113.5PPG on the season, but in their last ten games that number has risen to 117.1PPG. The Over has cashed 16 of the last 22 meetings in Portland and we expect that trend to continue here.

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 227 NY Knicks @ Orlando Magic, 7 PM ET - Our model is projecting a low scoring game here between two teams that rank in the bottom half of the league in pace of play. The Magic are the 17th slowest team in the league, the Knicks are 28th slowest. That is one big part of the equation here as possessions will be limited. The Knicks own the 6th most efficient offense in the NBA at 1.162-points per possession but with the slower pace that translates to 114PPG. The Magic own the 25th worst OEFF rating in the NBA at 1.120PPP and average 111.4PPG. Defensively the Knicks hold the advantage with the 16th ranked efficiency unit, the Magic rank 22nd. These teams have met just once this season and they combined for 217 total points. If we go back 10 games that 217 is the highest combined total points scored in this series. The league average for a game this season is 228 total points scored and this does not set up to be an ‘average’ game. The Knicks rank 24th in overall team FG% and 23rd in 3PT%. Orlando isn’t much better, ranking 17th in FG% and 21st in 3PT%. Easy call with the UNDER in this one!

ASA top play on 10* Portland Trailblazers +4.5 vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 10:10 PM ET - The Bucks are playing well right now having won 9 of their last ten games but 7 of those were at home. Now they go on the road where they are 10-12-3 ATS with a negative differential of minus -3.2PPG. Portland is returning home after going 2-1 on their road trip with the most recent game being a loss. The Blazers are a profitable 14-11 ATS at home this season with a +4.5PPG average Margin of Victory. In the lone meeting earlier this season the Blazers lost by 8-points in Milwaukee but were without Dame Lilliard. We get a good team, off a loss and as a home underdog. Back the Blazers!

ASA top play on 10* Minnesota Timberwolves +1.5 vs Denver Nuggets, 7:10 PM ET - This is a quick revenger game for the Timberwolves as they recently lost in Denver by 4-points as a +9-point underdog. Earlier in January they did beat the Nuggets at home by 13-points. Minnesota has had decent success in this series with 5 straight covers and a 4-1 SU mark. The Wolves are coming off a home loss to the Magic and have been solid this season when off an “L” with a 9-4 SU record. Denver is in a much tougher scheduling situation here having just played last night versus the Hawks. This will also be the Nuggets 3rd game in four days and 4th in six. Minnesota is in a great spot to get even with the Nuggets after a recent loss in Denver.

ASA Top Play on 10* UNDER 232.5 Portland Trailblazers @ Chicago Bulls, 8:10 pm et - The Blazers are coming off a big road win last night in Washington. Chicago got a ‘W’ the previous night against the Hornets. When Portland has played without rest this season those games have finished with or averaged 227.8 total points. When playing on the road the Blazers score 109PPG and allow 112.2PPG. Chicago at home averages 114.6PPG and gives up 112.3PPG. The Blazers prefer a slower tempo ranking as the 7th slowest paced team in the league, the Bulls are 16th, slightly below average. Chicago has stayed Under this total in 5 of their last six games. In recent games against other similar Eastern Conference teams the Blazers have totaled 228 against Toronto and 200 versus Philly. With trade rumors swirling around the Bulls roster we aren’t sure how invested they’ll be in today’s game. Both have favored the Under this season with a combined 55-45-2 record. The play here is UNDER!

ASA top play on 10* Orlando Magic +5.5 vs Minnesota Timberwolves, 8 PM ET - The Magic continue to be one of the best spread record teams in the NBA at 29-22-1 ATS. They have covered 7 of their last ten games and have a 27-18-1 ATS record as a dog. As an Underdog they have a negative differential of minus -3.3PPG and cover those games by +3.7PPG. Minnesota is 11-16 ATS as a favorite this season with an average +/- of +1.6PPG. As a home chalk the Wolves are 6-10 ATS +1.1PPG. When Orlando has faced a Western Conference team this season, they have covered 68.4% of the time with a 13-6-1 ATS record. When it comes to facing the East the Wolves are 7-11 ATS or 38.9%. The Magic have owned the Timberwolves with a 12-3 ATS record in the last 15 meetings in Minnesota. Grab the points.

ASA top play on 10* Milwaukee Bucks -4.5 vs LA Clippers, 10 PM ET- The Bucks are in a groove right now with five straight wins and 7 victories in their last eight games. Milwaukee has won 5 straight at home also with the closest win coming by 8-points to the Nuggets and Raptors. The Bucks were just favored by -12.5 points against the Nuggets and are now laying marginal number against the Clippers. Milwaukee has the 5th best average MOV at home this season at +7.7PPG. The Clippers are also playing well with a 6-1 SU record their last seven games. They are coming off a win in Chicago as a -2.5-point favorite. Recently the Clippers were a +2-point dog at Dallas when both Leonard and George were in the lineup. That tells us the Bucks should be a bigger chalk here. LA is 15-14 SU on the road this season but they do have a negative differential of minus -1.4PPG. Both teams are getting healthy and playing well right now but at this price we have to back the home team.

ASA Top Play on 10* Brooklyn Nets +8.5 @ Boston Celtics, 7:40 PM ET - The Celtics just faced the Lakers and Knicks at home and were favored by the same number as they are tonight versus a better Nets team. Even without Kevin Durant the Nets rate higher than both of those teams in our power rankings. Boston split with those teams, losing to the Knicks in OT and beating the Lakers in OT. Brooklyn beat both the Lakers and Knicks by 17 and 7-points. *Note the Lakers did rest LeBron and AD against the Nets. Back on Jan 12th the Celtics beat the Nets by 11-points in Brooklyn. The big difference was the Celtics advantage on the boards +17 rebounds. The Celtics own the 3rd best average MOV at home of +8.6PPG, are 4th in offensive efficiency averaging 1.201PPP and 11th in DEFF at 1.116PPP. Brooklyn has the 4th best average point differential on the road at +1.2PPG, 27th in OEFF, but 11th in DEFF. Overall the Nets offensive efficiency has been much better in their last five games at 1.269PPP. When we analyze most recent statistical data from Jan 1st on, the Nets and Celtics have the exact same DEFF at 1.120PPP, but offensively the Nets have a slight edge in OEFF at 1.160 to 1.140. In each teams last ten games the Nets have a better +/- at +4.3PPG compared to Boston’s -4.2PPG. Nets a dog of 5 or more points just 5 times all season 5-0 ATS. Brooklyn on 5-1 ATS streak their last six, Celtics 0-6 ATS streak.

ASA top play on 10* OVER 239 Charlotte Hornets @ Milwaukee Bucks, 8:10 PM ET - The Bucks offense is starting to click. Milwaukee has scored 130 or more points in 5 of their last seven games. In one of those games the Bucks put up 150 points against a Pistons team that allows 1.193-points per possession. Charlotte is nearly as bad defensively allowing 1.163PPP. The Hornets are better offensively when they have point guard LaMelo Ball on the court but they’re also worse defensively. Ball returned for the Hornets two games ago and Charlotte promptly won two straight against a pair of quality teams in the Bulls and Heat. Charlotte is the 10th fastest paced team in the NBA, Milwaukee is 12th so we can bet on a higher paced game. Milwaukee is scoring 127PPG over their last five games but also allowing 117PPG. When these two teams met earlier this month they combined for 247 total points and an easy Over. Our computers are calling for roughly the same result.

ASA Top Play on: Phoenix Suns -125 vs Toronto Raptors, 9:10 PM ET - We like the Suns in this match up as they have found a rhythm in their last six games going 5-1 SU and ATS. Four of those recent wins have come at home, two of them came against quality teams in Memphis and Brooklyn. Toronto has won 3 of their last four games but haven’t been great on the road overall this season at 8-16 SU. With this line being as low as it is we essentially just need the Suns to win outright. In fact, instead of laying the 1.5 points here you can take the money line -125 which is what we suggest here. Is worth just a little extra juice. Phoenix is 18-8 SU at home this season with an average Margin of Victory of +5.6PPG which is 9th best in the NBA. Toronto ranks 28th in overall field goal percentage defense allowing foes to hit 49% from the field. Their 3-point percentage D is worse yet as they rank 29th. Phoenix can take advantage of that weakness, especially from beyond the arc where they shoot 38.8% which is 3rd in the NBA. Defensively the Suns hold a big advantage when it comes to shooting as they allow 46.9% which is 11th best in the league. The Raptors shoot just 45.3% overall which ranks 28th. This is a great spot to buy low with Phoenix at home minus a short number.You can lay the 1.5 if you must but consider money line -125 if you can.

ASA top play on 10* Under 226.5 NY Knicks @ Brooklyn Nets – 5:40 PM ET - This one should be a tight defensive battle with both teams struggling to score. New York is coming off a game against a similar team to the Nets in the Celtics. That game had 220 total points at the end of regulation. Brooklyn had been playing fantastic defense up until allowing Philly and Detroit to each score 130+ against them. Prior to the two games against the 76ers and Pistons the Nets had allowed an average of 108.6PPG to their previous 8 opponents. Both teams are average in scoring with the Nets averaging 114.3PPG, the Knicks are at 114.2. But both teams rank 6th and 11th in points allowed per game defensively. These two rivals have totaled 226 or less points in 6 straight meetings and 9 of the last ten. Bet the Under in this one.

ASA Top Play On 10* ORLANDO MAGIC +7.5 vs. Miami Heat – 8:10 PM ET - The Magic continue to reward their backers with a 14-7 ATS record when getting more than +7.5-points this season. Miami has struggled in the role of a favorite with a 5-10 ATS mark when laying -5 or more points. Overall, the Heat are 9-15-1 ATS at home with a negative differential of minus -1.4PPG. Orlando is on a perfect 6-0 ATS run when playing on the road against teams with a winning home record greater than .600. Miami could let down here as they are coming off a huge home win over a big rival in the Boston Celtics. Orlando has won 3 of their last four games and 2 straight. Orlando has covered 6 of the last eight in the Florida rivalry and is a live dog here.

ASA TOP PLAY ON 10* PHOENIX SUNS -120 vs Dallas Mavericks, 10 PM ET - Current early line is -1.5 but the money line is available at -120 so that is the recommended value option here. We like the hot Suns here at home as they have won 4 straight games and are figuring out rotations around their injured players. Dallas is struggling right now with just 2 wins in their last eight games and have lost 2 in a row. The Mavs have not been good on the road this season with a 8-15 SU record and a negative differential of minus -4.5PPG. Even with their injuries the Suns are still 18-7 SU at home this season and plus +6PPG. The Mavs have the more efficient offense on the season ranking 5th compared to the Phoenix who ranks 14th. Defensively though it’s not as close with the Suns ranking 10th in DEFF compared to the Mavs who rank 26th or near the bottom of the league. In their last five games the Suns defense is allowing just 1.084-points per possession which is best in the NBA over that span of games. The home team has won both meetings this season and 8 of the last nine between these two teams. We like Phoenix at home in this one.

ASA top play on 10* Sacramento Kings -3 vs Toronto Raptors, 10 PM ET - The Kings are quietly sitting 3rd in the Western Conference at 27-19 and continue to fly under the radar. Sacramento is 16-10 SU at home with a +/- of +6.6PPG which is the 6th best average in the NBA. Toronto is 6-15 SU away from home this season with an average Margin of Victory of minus -2.2PPG. The Raptors are 1-3 ATS their last four on the road. You’ll also be surprised to know the Kings have been solid ATS as a favorite this season. When laying less than double-digits the Kings have rewarded backers with a 14-8 ATS record. Sacramento is the #1 rated offensive efficiency team at home this season at 1.227-points per possession, whereas the Raptors rank 15th on the road in OEFF. The Raptors do hold an edge defensively but it’s not as great a difference as the offensive numbers that favor the Kings. Sacramento is 5-1 SU their last six at home and the five wins came by 21.6PPG. We like them here minus the short number.

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 245.5 Memphis Grizzlies @ Golden State Warriors, 10 PM ET - The Warriors have put up some big scores in recent games, but they came against bad defensive teams. Today they face the #1 rated defensive efficiency team in the Grizzlies who allow just 1.099-points per possession. The Warriors have faced some similar defensive teams in recent games (Cavs, Celtics, Bulls and Suns) and failed to top 120 points in any of those games. Golden State has scored more than 124 points against the Grizzlies just 1 time in their last 10 meetings. Memphis is coming off a horrible defensive showing against the Kings who scored 133-points versus them so expect a much better effort here. Memphis doesn’t have great overall offensive efficiency numbers on the season and in their last five games they have dipped dramatically in OEFF top 1.127PPP which is 22nd in the NBA. When these same two teams met on Dec 25th the O/U for that game was 233 and they scored 232 total points. These two teams have a strong dislike for each other stemming from the playoffs last season, so we expect both to ratchet up their defenses tonight.

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 227 Charlotte Hornets @ Phoenix Suns, 9:10 PM ET - This line has already dropped from the opening number of 231 but there is still enough value to be on the Under. Charlotte played last night in Utah and lost 102-120. When playing without rest this season their games have averaged 219 total points. Charlotte is one of the worst offensive teams in the NBA this season averaging 1.102-points per possession. In fact, only the Rockets are worse in that category. The Bugs struggle to score with an offense that is 28th in overall FG% at 45.2% and worse yet when shooting from deep, ranking 30th in 3PT%. You may be surprised to know the Suns aren’t great offensively either. Phoenix is 20th in scoring at 112.6PPG and 22nd in overall FG%. They rank 14th in OEFF at 1.140PPP. This line is higher than it should be as a result of the Suns playing 5 straight games against either fast paced or high scoring teams. Charlotte is 10th in pace of play on the season but in their last five games they are playing much slower at 98.8 possessions per game. Both teams have multiple key injuries and will struggle offensively tonight. The Suns recently played Indiana at home, who is similar to the Hornets, and that game finished with 219 total points. We like the Suns to set a slow tempo tonight and a tired Charlotte team will oblige and play at their pace which leads to a low scoring game.

ASA top play on 10* HOUSTON ROCKETS +5.5 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 1/23 8:10 PM ET - These same two teams just squared off in Minnesota on Saturday with the Wolves winning by 9-points. Minnesota was favored by 8-points at home and are now laying -5.5 on the road which doesn’t equate. Houston played well the other night but 21-turnovers and 14 missed free throws turned out to be the difference. We expect them to play much better at home and also feel it’s highly unlikely Anthony Edwards can produce another 44-point outing as he did Saturday. On the season the Rockets have an average +- at home of minus -4.5PPG while the Wolves road differential is -2.7PPG. As a home dog this season the Rockets have a 9-8-2 ATS record but more importantly their average loss margin is just -3.6PPG which is obviously within tonight’s number. We like the home dog in this situation and will grab whatever points are available.

ASA top play on 10* Golden State Warriors -7.5 vs Brooklyn Nets, 8:40 PM ET - Most times ‘revenge’ doesn’t work in the NBA but it’s certainly a factor in this high-profile showdown. In late December the Warriors visited the Nets in Brooklyn and were drilled 143-113. Golden State sat Curry, Wiggins, Thompson and Green in that game who are all available today. At first glance, this looks like a high number but considering the Nets were just plus +5 at Utah, it makes sense a healthy GST team is -7.5. Golden State has been really good at home this year with a 17-5 SU record and an average plus/minus of +6.7PPG. Brooklyn can boast some solid road numbers, but a big portion of those wins came with Kevin Durant on the floor who is out tonight. We will lay the points with Golden State.

ASA top play on 10* OVER 229.5 Indiana Pacers @ Phoenix Suns, 9:10 PM ET - The Pacers are coming off a game in altitude in Denver last night and also playing their 3rd game in four nights. The Pacers don’t play any defense as they give up 1.151-points per possession which is the 23rd worst number in the NBA. Indiana has allowed over 130 points in 3 of their last four games and 126+ in all four. The Suns are one of the slower paced teams in the league ranking 8th slowest but they are better than average or 14th in offensive efficiency (1.144PPP). Phoenix has slipped defensively themselves this season. Last year the Suns owned the 3rd best defensive efficiency rating allowing 1.074 points per possession. This season they currently sit 14th in the league allowing 1.139PPP. Phoenix just faced the Nets and the two teams combined for 229 total points. Brooklyn doesn’t play near as fast as the Pacers who average 101.3 possessions per game which is 5th fastest. This O/U number is barely higher than the league average and we expect it to get there with ease tonight.

ASA top play on 10* LA CLIPPERS -7 vs San Antonio Spurs, 8:10 PM ET - The most important aspect of handicapping the Spurs is knowing who’s playing and who isn’t. Considering they sat Paul George and Kawhi Leonard last game for load management it’s safe to assume both will play tonight. Neither are on the injury report and the line reflects they’ll be in the lineup. The Clippers are off a bad loss to the Jazz and look to rebound here against a Spurs team off a rare win over the Nets. San Antonio is 2-9 SU their last eleven games and 9-16 SU for the year at home. The Spurs have the 2nd worst home point differential in the NBA at minus -7.2PPG. San Antonio is 2nd to last in the league in home defensive efficiency allowing 1.194-points per possession. They aren’t much better offensively, ranking 27th in OEFF when at home. Despite having a very depleted roster for most of the season the Clippers still boast the 9th best defensive efficiency allowing just 1.124PPP. The Spurs were recently +6.5 at home versus the Kings and lost by 13. They were +9 on a neutral court versus the Warriors and lost by 31. The betting action on this game clearly shows sharp money on the Clippers and we’ll follow the money!

ASA top play on 10* ATLANTA HAWKS +3.5 vs Dallas Mavericks, 7:40 PM ET - Health is a big part of the equation tonight as the Hawks are healthy and the Mavericks are not. Atlanta has been hit hard with injuries for most of the season but now have everyone back including center Clint Capela. The Mavericks are really banged up right now with 3 key role players all out with Kleber, Finney-Smith and Josh Green all sidelined. To make matters worse, several players are playing through nagging injuries and are not 100%. The Hawks have won 3 straight and 4 of their last five games with the lone loss coming against the Bucks. Dallas on the other hand has lost 2 straight and 4 of their last five games. With a healthy roster this Hawks team looks like a play on team in the near future and we will grab the points with them here.

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 238.5 Portland Trailblazers @ Denver Nuggets, 9 PM ET - We can’t help but grab the extra value and the Under in this game as the line opened 233 on this game but now sits at the current bloated number. Scoring overall is up this season in the NBA at 228 total points per contest so you can see for yourself this number is much higher than that. These teams can score as they are the 2nd and 9th most efficient offenses in terms of points per possession. But both are also very slow paced ranking 21st and 23rd in possessions per game. When it comes to defensive efficiency they both are slightly lower than league average. Denver though has been significantly better on the defensive end of the court in their last five games allowing just 1.103-points per possession which ranks 3rd best. The Blazers road games this season have averaged 220.1 total points, while the Nuggets have games have averaged 228.4 total points. The Nuggets will do everything possible to slow down Damian Lillard who has scored 36 and 40 in his last two games. The Blazers have a physical center of their own in Nurkic who matches up well with Jokic for the Nuggets. We will bet the value here and play UNDER!

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 219 Toronto Raptors @ NY Knicks, 3 PM ET - These two teams have met twice this season with both games staying below the number with 220 and 219 total points being scored. The O/U numbers set by the oddsmakers on those two games were 216.5 so you can see for yourself the value in today’s number. Historically, if we look back at the last nine meetings the most combined points scored by these two teams is 225. All other meetings have been less than that. We are expecting both defenses to dominate in this game as the Raptors allow the 8th fewest points in the NBA, the Knicks allow the 7th fewest. Both teams are also slower paced so we know it won’t be a high possession game. The Raptors are the 4th slowest team in the NBA at 97.2 possessions per game, the Knicks are 8th slowest at 97.8 possessions per game. The Knicks are coming off a road game yesterday and their games average 218.7PPG when they play without rest. Unless both teams shoot well above their season averages, we can’t see this game going Over the Total.

ASA top play on 10* Brooklyn Nets -5 vs Oklahoma City Thunder, 6:10 PM ET - The Thunder have put together a really impressive stretch of games recently with wins over the Celtics, Mavs, 76ers and Bulls. That success means they’ll have the Nets full attention on Sunday in Brooklyn. The Nets meanwhile are coming off a bad home loss to the Celtics and will be fully focused on today’s opponent. Brooklyn is 9-4 SU, 5-2 SU at home when coming off a loss this season. The Thunder have a negative point differential on the road this season of -2.8PPG while the Nets have a +/- at home of plus +6.1PPG. Brooklyn is the best shooting team in the NBA overall and the 2nd best 3-point shooting team. Even without KD we like the Nets to get a double-digit home win here.

ASA top play on 10* Philadelphia 76ers -4 @ Utah Jazz, 9:10 PM ET - The Jazz are coming off a satisfying home win on Friday over the Orlando Magic. The 76ers on the other hand were off last night and are coming off a very disappointing home loss to the Thunder. Utah has won 2 straight games but had lost 7 of their previous eight. Philly is finally getting healthy and we expect a positive trend moving forward with a roster capable of winning the East. The Jazz have a slight advantage offensively when it comes to efficiency ratings but are far worse defensively, ranking 26th in the NBA in DEFF. Philly on the other hand owns the 4th best defensive efficiency ranking in the league. The Sixers should get plenty of easy scoring opportunities as the Jazz are the worst team in the NBA when it comes to points allowed in the paint at 55.5 per game. Embiid who is averaging 33.5PPG should feast on the Jazz in the interior. Scheduling and previous game results make the 76ers the play on team here.

ASA top play on 10* ORLANDO MAGIC +6 @ Utah Jazz, 9 PM ET - With a win tonight Orlando can guarantee themselves a winning road trip on this 5-game West Coast jaunt. They already have impressive wins at Golden State and Portland as underdogs. The Jazz have cooled off since their hot start and are on a 2-7 streak in their last nine games. Utah is 13-7 SU on the season at home with a +4.7-point differential. As a favorite though the Jazz are just 8-11 SU, 6-13 ATS with a +/- of +2.1PPG. The Magic have been a profitable "play on" team as a pooch this season with a 21-15-1 ATS record and their net differential is -3.4PPG. Orlando has done well against the West this season with a 10-6-1 ATS record. Against the East, the Jazz are 5-9 ATS. We will back Orlando here and wouldn’t be shocked if they won this game outright.

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 223.5 Cleveland Cavaliers @ Portland Trailblazers, 10:10 PM ET - These are two of the slowest paced teams in the league and getting to this number will be a tall task. In fact, the Cavaliers are THE slowest team in the NBA at 95.6 possessions per game. Portland isn’t much faster ranking 24th slowest. The Cavaliers have the 2nd best defensive efficiency rating in the league as they allow just 1.098-points per possession. Portland ranks 17th in that category and give up 112PPG. Neither team is high scoring either as the Blazers average 112.1PPG (22nd) while the Cavs score 111.5PPG (26th). Portland has stayed Under in 4 straight games and 8 of their last nine. They recently played two similar teams to the Cavs in the Magic and Raptors and those games finished with 215 and 222 total points. Cleveland has played a stretch of games against either fast paced or higher scoring teams so this number is set higher than it should be. The Cavs are on a 6-0 Under streak when facing a team with a losing record. We will be on the UNDER here!

ASA top play on 10* OVER 229 New Orleans Pelicans @ Boston Celtics, 7:40 PM ET - This line is lower than it should be according to our computers and we will bet accordingly. The Celtics are the 8th best 3-point shooting team in the NBA this season yet are coming off a game in which they went 11 of 41 from Deep or 27%. We expect them to have a better shooting night here, even against a Pelicans defense that defends the Arc well. The Pels may be without one of their best wing defenders in this game with Herb Jones questionable. New Orleans is coming off a 132-point game against the Wizards on Monday. Boston is 2nd in the league in scoring at 118.5PPG while the Pelicans are 4th at 117.4. Both defenses are slightly better than average in terms of points allowed per game. Boston is 16th in the league in pace of play, New Orleans is 12th so we know we’ll get plenty of possessions from each team. These are essentially two top 10 teams in terms of team field goal percentage shooting so they don’t need a high possession game to put up points. This has been an Under series of late, but that changes tonight. Bet OVER!

ASA top play on 10* Charlotte Hornets +8 vs Toronto Raptors, 7:40 PM ET - We like the Hornets here as this number is higher than it should be. The Hornets just played a hot Pacers team that has won 8 of their last ten games and were +5.5-points there. The game before that they were a +10-point dog in Milwaukee and won outright. Charlotte has bad overall numbers on the road this season but recently they lost to Indiana by 5, beat the Bucks, lost to the Warriors by 5, -11 at Portland and beat the Lakers. Historically, the Raptors have enjoyed a tremendous home court advantage but this season they have been slightly above average at 12-10 SU. They have a +1.7PPG +/- at home which is 20th in the NBA. They are hovering around league average in offensive efficiency at home and near the bottom of the NBA in defensive efficiency. Both teams have struggled with their shooting for the season but in their last five games the Raptors are hitting below season numbers in both overall FG% and 3PT%. In fact, those percentages are brutally bad as Toronto is shooting 42% from the field and 30.9% from beyond the Arc in their last five games. Charlotte has covered 18 of the last 26 as the visitor in this series. Grab the inflated points.

ASA top play on 10* Sacramento Kings -6 vs Orlando Magic, 10 PM ET - These two teams are coming off opposite results which makes the Kings the play on team here and the Magic the play against. Orlando is off a big road win over the Warriors as a +6.5-point underdog. They face a hungry Kings team that is off a bitter 2-point loss to the Lakers. Sacramento has a +/- at home of +3.3PPG and stand 11-9 SU on the season on their home court. Orlando has the 25th worst road differential in the NBA at minus -5.4PPG and is 5-13 away from home. The Kings have lost 2 straight at home and will be up for this game against a young Magic team. Orlando is an exciting team in the league but playing at a consistent level is always difficult for a young roster. Bet the Kings here.

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 226 Portland Trailblazers @ Toronto Raptors, 3:40 PM ET - The Blazers are coming off several games against some of the league's fastest paced teams and 3 of the four games ended Under the total. In their two most recent games versus the Timberwolves and Pacers (6th and 7th in pace) they combined for 219 and 207 total points. Now they face a Toronto team that is the 5th slowest in the NBA at 97.1 possessions per game. The Raptors have played in two low scoring games in their last two with total points being scored of 220 and 205. Portland also prefers a lower possession game as they rank 7th slowest in pace of play at 97.7 possessions per game. Both teams are near average in both offensive and defensive efficiency ratings so with the lower pace we shouldn’t see this game being near the league average of 227.6 total points. The Blazers are on a 5-0 Under streak on the road, Toronto Under in 3 of the last four at home.

ASA top play on 10* Golden State Warriors -6 vs Orlando Magic, 8:30 PM ET - We like how this young Magic team is starting to come together but this isn’t a great spot for them and the price is right to play against them. Consider this: The Magic were just +6.5-points at home against Memphis and are not catching that same number in Golden State. Let’s face it, the Warriors aren’t the team they were a year ago with injuries taking a toll, but they are still 17-3 SU at home with a +/- of +8.7PPG. That differential is the 4th best average in the NBA. Orlando is 4-13 SU away from home with a negative differential of minus -6.5PPG which is 25th worst. Golden State lost at home to Detroit which makes them a ‘play on’ here. The Warriors are 10-0 SU, 8-2 ATS this season at home when off a loss. Orlando doesn’t bounce back like the Warriors do, the Magic are 2-9 SU, 3-8 ATS when on the road coming off a beat. Orlando beat Golden State by 1-point at home earlier in the season which makes this a payback game for Golden State. Lay the points

ASA top play on 10* OVER 233.5 Charlotte Hornets @ Milwaukee Bucks, 8:10 PM ET - This will be a game where both teams get plenty of possessions and scoring opportunities. On the season the Hornets are the 8th fastest paced team in the NBA at 101 possessions per game. The bucks are 14th at 99.7. In their last five games though the Hornets are averaging 105.7 possessions per game (1st), the Bucks are at 102.7 (3rd most). Charlotte is one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA as they give up over 118PPG. They have allowed 121 or more points in 6 of their last eight and 130+ twice. The Bucks defensive numbers are some of the best in the league but they’ve had a few hiccups lately allowing 118 or more in 5 of their last nine games. The Hornets get a large portion of their scoring on fast break opportunities and points in the paint. Surprisingly, the Bucks are average defensively in stopping fast break points and points in the paint. Milwaukee is coming off a horrible shooting night in Toronto and will find their stroke back at home where they shoot 47.6% on the season. Scoring has been trending up in the NBA and this number is within reach of an average NBA game which is 227.6 total points.

ASA top play on 10* Boston Celtics -2.5 vs Dallas Mavericks, 7:30 PM ET - We were hoping this line would be lower than it is given the circumstances but the oddsmakers know what they’re doing and aren’t fooled by the Mavs current 7-game winning streak. Don’t get me wrong, winning 7 in a row in the NBA is difficult, but the Mavs have faced a soft stretch of teams and only one of those foes has a current winning record. In fact, those 7-teams have a combined record of 98-170 on the season. We like playing elite teams off a loss and the Celtics were embarrassed last time out against the Thunder in a 117-150 beat-down. Not one of the 23 or more win teams in the NBA have a losing straight up record this season when coming off a loss. There are 7 teams in the league right now that have 23+ wins and they are a combined 59-40 SU when coming off a loss. Boston holds advantages in both offensive and defensive efficiency stats for the season and have better overall point differentials. Boston will get back on track tonight with a solid road victory in Dallas.

ASA TOP PLAY ON 10* Orlando Magic -2 over Oklahoma City Thunder, 7 PM ET - Both teams will have adjusted rosters here as OKC is missing All-Star guard Gilgeous-Alexander, while the Magic have several suspensions including both Wagners and Bol Bol. We don’t mind the Magic having a shorter rotation tonight as they’ve been off since last Friday so fatigue shouldn’t be a factor. Orlando had won 8 of nine games before losing their three most recent, the last coming at home. That helps set up tonight’s play on a rested, focused Orlando team. OKC is coming off one of their biggest wins of the season as they put up 150 on the Celtics last night. The Thunder shot well above season averages as they hit 59% overall and made 20 of 40 3-pointers or 50%. Oklahoma City is 1-3 SU this season when playing without rest with a negative differential of minus -5.2PPG. The Magic are 5-2 SU their last seven home games and will get a much-needed home victory here.

ASA TOP PLAY ON 10* OVER 228 Washington Wizards @ Milwaukee Bucks, 8:10 PM ET - These two teams just squared off the other day in Milwaukee and produced 213 total points and stayed Under the number of 221.5. They had plenty of possessions though as the Wizards attempted 94 field goals, the Bucks hoisted 96. Milwaukee shot just 35% from the field overall and 27% from Deep which are both well below season averages of 45.6% and 34.2%. Washington scored 118-points without Bradley Beal (23.5PPG) who may be back in the lineup tonight. The Bucks were missing their two leading scorers as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday were both out. Giannis and his 32PPG is expected back tonight along with Holiday’s 19PPG. Washington is averaging 121PPG in their last five contests and the Bucks defense is giving up that same amount in their last five games. Both of these teams will get to 115 or more points here. Bet Over

ASA top play on 10* Minnesota Timberwolves +2 vs Denver Nuggets, 8:10 PM ET - This is a plug your nose type bet as we are going against a Nuggets team on a 10-2 run and playing on a Wolves team that has lost 6 straight. But ask yourself this, why are the Nuggets this low of a favorite? Minnesota is coming off a demoralizing home loss to the Pistons on Saturday which prompted a player only meeting. This team was considered a strong playoff team this season but the injury to Karl Anthony Towns has hurt more than expected. Denver is red hot, but they are also coming off a big home win yesterday against the Celtics which makes this the 2nd of a back-to-back for them. This is also Denver’s 5th game in seven days so fatigue will be a major factor here. Denver hasn’t been a trustworthy road favorite with a 15-18 ATS record in that role since the start of the 2021 season. Minnesota is a respectable 37-26 SU at home since 2021. We like the Wolves to get this much needed home win over a spent Nuggets team.

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 226 Miami Heat @ Utah Jazz, 9:10 PM ET - We were on the Under in the Heat/Nuggets last night which unfortunately lost but we had the pace of play we needed to win that bet but couldn’t predict an insanely hot shooting night by the Nuggets. Denver shot 61% from Deep and 59% overall. Miami too outperformed season shooting expectations by making 40% of their 3-point attempts (34% on the year). Both teams are coming off games last night as the Jazz just totaled 251 total points with the Kings in Sacramento (both teams shot over 55% from the field, well above season averages). The Jazz have played three straight games against three of the faster paced teams in the NBA. Now they get a Miami team that is the 5th slowest. Those three teams the Jazz faced are also bad defensively, whereas the Heat rank 8th in defensive efficiency allowing 1.11-points per possession. Miami has faced three teams that have similar metrics to the Jazz in the Lakers, Wolves and Pacers and those three games finished with 210, 223 and 219 total points. When playing the 2nd night of a back-to-back the Jazz average less points than their season average. With both teams coming off games last night, our computers suggest a slower paced game here and an ‘average’ shooting night for both.

ASA TOP PLAY ON 10* UNDER 224.5 Miami Heat @ Denver Nuggets, 9:10 PM ET - The Heat are the 4th slowest paced team in the NBA at 97.3 possessions per game. The Nuggets are the 13th slowest at 98.7 possessions per game. That means there is a high probability of a very low possession game here and a slower pace. Denver is very efficient offensively ranking 3rd best in the league. Miami is not as they are the 3rd least efficient offense in the NBA. Defensively the Heat hld the advantage with the 7th best defensive efficiency rating while the Nuggets rank 25th. Denver has been much better defensively in their last 5 games though with the 6th best efficiency number allowed at 1.116-points per possession. The Heat are on a 6-2 Under streak, Denver has played Under in 6 of their last nine games. We expect those trends to continue for both teams here.

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 225.5 Houston Rockets @ Dallas Mavericks, 8:30 PM ET - We love the value in this number as these same two teams just met last week and the O/U posted by Vegas was 219.5. They combined for 218 total points on 161 field goal attempts. An average NBA game finishes with 227 total points scored on 176 field goal attempts. Neither are great shooting teams as the Mavs rank 18th in overall FG%, while the Rockets are 29th. These two teams also prefer to play slower as the Rockets rank 17th in pace of play at 99.1 possessions per game. The Mavericks are slower yet ranking as the second slowest team in the league ahead of only the Cavaliers. In the other meeting this season between these two teams they combined for 193 points on this court. The Under is 6-1 the last seven times these two teams have met, including 4 straight. Based on our calculations this game will finish with 219 total points.

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 231.5 Milwaukee Bucks @ Chicago Bulls, 8 PM ET - We are betting the value of the number in this game and that’s Under the total. These two teams met in late November and the O/U on that game was 224. They scored 231 points in that game but both teams shot above their season averages. In fact, the last ten meetings have all finished with 231 or less points with the Under cashing 8 of ten times. Milwaukee holds the 6th best defensive efficiency rating at 1.104-points per possession. They are coming off a horrible defensive showing last time out when they allowed 139 points to the Celtics. Expect a very focused effort here off that embarrassing outing. The Bulls are in a similar situation as they just gave up 133 to the Rockets. Chicago is slightly below the league average in DEFF but they are slightly better defensively at home. When the Bucks have played on the road this season those games have averaged 219 total points. The Bulls games at home are averaging 226.1PPG. Combined these two teams have road/home records of 10-20-1 to the Under. This one stays Under the number.

ASA play on: Atlanta Hawks -1.5 vs. Indiana Pacers, 7:40PM ET

The Pacers were essentially blown out in New Orleans last night as they trailed big early on and were never competitive. Tonight they return home to face a Hawks team that is finally getting healthy. The Hawks had their starting five back for their game against the Pistons on Dec 23rd and won 130-105. Atlanta comes into this game fresh and with a huge match up advantage over the Pacers. Last season the Hawks won (and covered) all 4 meetings with the Pacers including a pair of wins on this court. Atlanta should get plenty of second-chance opportunities in this game with their 10th best offensive rebounding unit going up against the Pacers 28th ranked defensive rebounding. Indiana also relies heavily on their 3-points shooting (11th) but the Hawks hold opponents to the 4th lowest 3-point percentage in the NBA. In their last five games the Hawks have a +/- of +6.4PPG. The Pacers have a negative differential of minus -4.2PPG in that same stretch. Take the visiting Hawks in this one.

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 225 Milwaukee Bucks @ Boston Celtics, Sunday 5:00 pm ET - This is a rematch of last year's playoff series which the Celtics won in 7 games. All seven of those games finished with 224 or less points. The four games in that series where the Celtics were the host averaged 198 total points. Neither team plays fast as they both average around 99 possessions per game which is about league average. The Bucks are the 3rd best defensive efficiency team in the NBA allowing 1.095-points per possession. The Celtics own the 8th best defensive efficiency rating at 1.111PPP. The Under has cashed in 5 of the last seven meetings between these two rivals.

ASA top play on 10* Miami Heat -6 vs. Indiana Pacers, 8:10 PM ET - There is some value in this number as the Pacers were just +9.5 points at Boston and +8 at Cleveland. In fact, these two teams played on Dec. 12th in Indy and the Heat were favored by -3.5-points there which means this line should be higher than it is. We also like the situation with the Pacers off a big upset win in Boston, while the Heat are off an upset home loss to the Bulls. Miami had won 4 straight games and seemed to be finding their groove which has been missing for much of the season early on. Both teams are 16-16 SU on the season, but we feel the Heat can contend in the East, but the Pacers cannot. Miami has a clear advantage defensively with the 6th best defensive efficiency rating in the NBA compared to the Pacers 19th rank. Indiana is better overall in offensive efficiency this season but in their last five games the Pacers OEFF is 1.096 which ranks 26th in the NBA. Indiana is just 1-5 ATS their last six when coming off a win. Since the start of last season, the Heat are 29-20 ATS when coming off a loss. We will acknowledge the Heat have been horrible ATS at home this season with a 3-12-1 record but that means a correction is in order.

ASA top play on 10* Philadelphia 76ers -3 vs LA Clippers, 7:10 PM ET - The Sixers are playing at another level right now with 6 straight wins to improve to 18-12 on the season. At home they are 13-5 SU with an average +/- of plus +6.8PPG which ranks 9th best. The Clippers are also playing well and are starting to get healthy but this will be their first road game since Dec 10th. LA is 8-7 SU on the road with a negative differential of minus -0.6PPG. The Clippers have a +9PPG average Margin of Victory in their last five games (all at home) but the 76ers are better yet at +14.6PPG in their last five. Philly has the 9th best offensive efficiency rating in the league's last 5-game span compared to the Clippers who rank 28th. Los Angeles has the best overall DEFF ratings in the last five games but the 76ers are 2nd. Philadelphia has covered 10 of the last thirteen and will get another win and cover here.

ASA NBA top play on 10* New Orleans Pelicans -7.5 vs San Antonio Spurs, 8:10 PM ET - The Pelicans have hit a rough patch of games with 4 straight losses but let’s consider who those L’s came against. They lost a pair of games to a hot Jazz team, lost in Phoenix and home to the Bucks. Off that home loss we like them to explode with a big win today against the Spurs. San Antonio got a road win last time out against the Rockets but now steps up in class to face the Pelicans. New Orleans has the 8th best scoring differential at home this season of +7.8PPG and a 12-4 SU record. The Spurs have a respectable 5-8 SU road record but they are getting beat by an average of -8.9PPG which is the 3rd highest average in the NBA. San Antonio is one of, if not the worst defense team in the NBA ranking 30th in points allowed per game, FG% defense and 3-point percentage D. They are also mid-20’s in most offensive categories. The Pelicans are 7th in DEFF and 5th in OEFF and the far superior team in this setting and playing with a chip on their shoulders. New Orleans has faced the Spurs twice this season in San Antonio and was favored by -5.5 and -7.5 points in those two games. Even without Zion Williamson this is a bargain.

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 224 Orlando Magic at Houston Rockets, 8:10 PM ET - According to our computer this is a very generous number by the oddsmakers. Our simulators are projecting 218 total points being scored here. When it comes to pace of play these two teams prefer a slower tempo. The Magic are the 9th slowest paced team in the NBA, the Rockets are the 12th slowest. Neither is efficient in their scoring either as the Magic average 1.108 points per every possession (25th in OEFF) while the Rockets average 1.094PPP (26th OEFF). Neither team shoots it well as the Magic rank 17th in FG% and 21st in 3-point shooting. The Rockets offense is worse shooting 44.2% as a team (30th) and 32.7% from beyond the arc which ranks 28th. Both defenses are average or slightly below. Houston has scored or allowed 108 or less points in eight straight games. Orlando has allowed 109 or less in 7 of their last ten regulations. We like this game UNDER the total

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 223.5 Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat, 7:40 PM ET - The Bulls should step up defensively tonight after allowing an embarrassing 150-points in their last game to the Timberwolves. Minnesota shot a ridiculous 66% overall, 53% from Deep which are clearly both aberrations. Miami is coming off a few games against teams that like to play fast or are high scoring yet they’ve stayed below 219 total points in 4 straight. The Heat are one of the slowest paced teams in the NBA at 25th in possessions per game. The Bulls try to play faster, ranking 10th. The Bulls rank 22nd in offensive efficiency at 1.143-points per possession, the Heat are 27th at 1.093PPP. Defensively both rank in the top half of the league in efficiency with the Heat checking in at 6th. The Bulls are 15th. This is the highest number posted on this series in the last 10 meetings. In the only other meeting this season the Over-Under number was 217. We expect the defenses to dominate tonight and a game in the 216 range.

ASA top play on 10* Boston Celtics -9.5 vs Orlando Magic, 3 PM ET - The Celtics were not in a good situation on Friday night when they hosted the Magic and lost outright as a 13-point favorite. They had just come off a big 6-game road trip and a tough OT win over the Lakers. Now we get a much better line with the Celtics in immediate revenge. Boston has the best overall point differential in the NBA and 3rd best average scoring margin when at home of +10.2PPG. They are 11-3 SU at home and 4-1 SU home off a loss. Overall the Celtics are 7-5-1 ATS when coming off a loss. Orlando is just 2-11 SU away from home this season with a negative differential of minus -7.6PPG which is the 5th worst average in the NBA. Boston will settle in at home today and get a blowout win.

ASA top play on 10* Cleveland Cavaliers -4.5 vs. Dallas Mavericks, 8 PM ET - These two teams just met in Dallas on the 14th with the Cavs winning 105-90 as a +2.5-point Dog. We don’t see anything changing here and expect another double-digit win by Cleveland. In the game the other night the Cavs double-teamed Doncic in the first half and held him to a 9 of 23 shooting night. Overall, the Maverick shot just 39% for the game and were outrebounded by 10. The Cavs shot 53% for the game and dominated in the paint with 52 points compared to 26 for Dallas. Both teams are off games Friday night, but the Cavs are at home while the Mavs have to travel. The venue has a lot to do with this selection as the Mavs are 3-9 SU on the road this season with a negative differential of minus -4.5PPG (9th worst). Cleveland is polar opposite with a 12-2 SU record at home and a +10.4PPG differential which is 3rd best in the NBA. Dallas owns the 27th worst road defensive efficiency and 26th worst OEFF. Dallas is 1-7 ATS their last eight games on the road versus a team with a winning home record. The Cavaliers are 13-2-1 ATS their last 16 at home. Don’t worry about the revenge factor here, bet the home team Cavs.

ASA top play on 10* OVER 222 Golden State Warriors at Philadelphia 76ers, 7:40 PM ET - An average NBA game is 226.4 total points per game. Clearly this number is below that and we don’t see this game being ‘average’. On the season the 76ers are one of the slowest paced teams in the NBA, Golden State is the fastest. Philly though has seen an uptick in their overall tempo with the return of James Harden. In their last five games the Sixers are 15th in pace of play. Not surprisingly, also with the return of Harden the defense of the 76ers has regressed. Golden State is without Curry here but do get Klay Thompson back to anchor the 5th highest scoring offense in the NBA. The Warriors road games this season have averaged 238.1PPG. Philly at home has averaged 218. Golden State has gone Over in 5 straight road games, Philadelphia is on a 4-1 Over streak themselves. It’s not too much to ask both teams to score more than 111-points each.

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 218.5 Phoenix Suns @ LA Clippers, 10:40 PM ET - We successfully played Under last night in the Timberwolves vs. Clippers game and will stay with another Under on the Clippers again tonight. Let’s consider this. Last night the Wolves/Clippers Over-Under number was 221 and the Wolves are the 4th fastest paced team in the NBA with the 17th worst defensive efficiency. The line on tonight’s game is just 3-points higher and the Suns are the 9th slowest paced team in the league and rank 10th in DEFF. The Clippers have the 4th best defensive efficiency rating in the NBA allowing just 1.098PPP. Los Angeles also prefers a slow tempo ranking 8th lowest in possessions per game. This series has seen 5 straight Unders cash, 4 last season and 1 this year with the five meetings averaging just 204.8PPG. Since the start of last season, the Suns are 41-44 Under against other Western Conference teams, the Clippers are 28-46-1 or 62.2% Under. If it’s not broken, why fix it. Bet Under again tonight.

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 223 Minnesota Timberwolves @ LA Clippers – 10:10PM ET - The Clippers just faced the #1 offensive team in the NBA in the Celtics and the O/U number on that game was 225.5. It finished with just 206 total points. LA has the 5th best defensive efficiency rating in the NBA allowing just 1.104-points per possession. Minnesota ranks 20th in DEFF but do limit foes to just 46.2% shooting which is 9th best overall in the league. The Timberwolves defense doesn’t have to be great though as the Clippers offense is 29th in scoring at 107.9PPG and have the 4th worst offensive efficiency rating in the NBA. The Wolves aren’t a whole lot better offensively ranking 18th in OEFF. Minnesota doesn’t shoot the 3-ball well at 33.4% which is 25th. Minnesota will want to play fast but the Clippers will dictate the tempo they want as the home team and they prefer to play slow (23rd pace). We don’t see this game getting above 216.

ASA Top Play on 10* OVER 233.5 Boston Celtics @ LA Lakers, 10 PM ET - The Celtics are the #1 offensive team in the NBA in terms of scoring at 120PPG and efficiency at 1.194PPP. Boston is the best 3-point shooting team in the NBA at 39.7% and rank 8th in 3PT attempts per game. The Lakers are 26th in the NBA in points allowed per game at 116.3PPG. The Lakers are 19th in defensive efficiency giving up 1.127PPP. In the Lakers most recent 5-game stretch they have allowed 122.2PPG which is the highest in the NBA. But, in that same stretch of 5-games they are 6th in scoring at 118.2PPG. Pace of play is important here as the Lakers are the 2nd fastest paced team in the NBA. The Celtics are 15th. Boston has the best Over record in the NBA when playing without rest at 15-4-1 since the start of last season and those games have gone Over by an average of +12.2PPG.

ASA top play on 10* Cleveland Cavaliers -5.5 vs San Antonio Spurs, 8:40 PM ET - Even if Donovan Mitchell can’t go Monday we still like the Cavs minus the points. The Spurs are coming off a big road upset win in Miami and now return home where they haven’t had much success this season. San Antonio is 4-10 SU at home with the worst average point differential in the NBA at minus -9.6PPG. Prior to a recent home win over the Rockets, the Spurs had lost five straight at home, all by 5 or more points. The Cavs haven’t been great on the road this season but they are stepping way down in class against the Spurs here. Cleveland is 12th in offensive efficiency this season, the Spurs rank 29th. Defensively things get much worse for San Antonio as the Cavs hold the #1 rating in defensive efficiency while the Spurs are last. There is enough of a supporting cast in Cleveland with Allen, Mobley, LeVert and Garland to make up for the loss of Mitchell here. The Cavs 4-0 ATS streak in San Antonio continues tonight.

ASA top play on 10* Chicago Bulls Money Line -120 vs Dallas Mavericks, 8:10 PM ET - Dallas is coming off a huge showdown at home against the Bucks and will have a tough time in the 2nd night of a back-to-back. Chicago meanwhile has been off since Dec 7th. The Bulls recently played a very tough stretch of road games going 2-4 SU. They then returned home and got a solid home win against the Wizards. Dallas is just 3-8 SU away from home this season with a negative differential of minus -2.3PPG. Chicago is 6-5 SU at home with a +1.7PPG average margin of victory. The Mavs are 7-9-1 ATS their last 17 games when playing without rest. Since the start of last season the Mavericks have the 4th worst ATS record in the NBA when it comes to playing out of Conference at 15-24-2. This is a great spot for Chicago and we like them here in a double-digit win.

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 224.5 Milwaukee Bucks at Dallas Mavericks, 10:10 PM ET - These two teams just met recently in Milwaukee with a total of 216.5. They went over that number with 239 total points. With the adjustment of the O/U we like the value and an Under bet here. In the game the other day both teams shot well above their season averages as the Bucks hit 56% from the field (46.1% season ave), while the Mavs shot 51% (47.2% season average). The two teams attempted 166 total field goals which is significantly lower than the league average of 176.2. On the season the Bucks road games have averaged 213.3 total points per game. Dallas at home has averaged 216.2PPG. Milwaukee owns the #1 ranked FG% defense in the NBA and are 11th in 3PT% D. Milwaukee is average in pace of play and the Mavericks are the 2nd slowest in terms of tempo. Both teams are in the top half of the NBA in defensive efficiency rating too. It all adds up to a less than average NBA score. Bet UNDER.

ASA top play on 10* Minnesota Timberwolves -3.5 vs. Indiana Pacers, 8:10 PM ET - The Pacers are exhausted at this point of the season as they are playing their 7th straight road game and are off a satisfying win over the World Champs Warriors. Minnesota is off a different result as they lost at home to the Thunder on Dec 3rd. They were off a huge game against the Grizzlies who knocked them out of the playoffs last year. Now with 3 days rest and off that loss they’ll rebound with a big effort here. Indiana has a negative differential on the road of minus -4.7PPG and are 2-4 SU on this current trip. Minnesota has a losing home record this season which is a big reason why this line is as low as it is. The Wolves do have a winning record since the start of last season when coming off a loss. They also have a 19-19-2 ATS record at home as a favorite but their average Margin of Victory is +6.9PPG which gets us a cover here.

ASA top play on 10* DENVER NUGGETS -4.5 vs Dallas Mavericks, 10PM ET - We love the spot to fade the Mavericks here as they are coming off a huge game on Monday night at home against the Suns. Denver meanwhile was off yesterday and is coming off a back-to-back losses on the road in New Orleans and Atlanta. These two teams met in late November in Dallas and split with each team winning a game. The Nuggets played without Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic or 50.1-points per game, 13.8 rebounds per game and 13.8- assists per game and still split with the Mavs. Dallas is just 2-8 SU on the road this season with a negative differential of minus -2.7PPG. Denver is 6-2 SU at home with the 5th best average Margin of Victory of +11PPG. Dallas is 6-9-1 ATS their last sixteen games when playing without rest and the home team has covered 4 of the last five meetings. Lay the points with Denver here.

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 221.5 Phoenix Suns @ Dallas Mavericks, 8:40 PM ET - We get two of the slowest paced teams in the league squaring off here is what shapes up to be a low scoring game. The Phoenix Suns rank 24th in pace at 97.9 possessions per game. The Dallas Mavericks are slower yet ranking 29th at 95.6 possessions per game. Both teams are top 10 in offensive efficiency but also both top 10 in defensive efficiency. This series has seen the Under cash in 5 of the last six meetings and all six of those games finished with less than 213 total points. This is going to be a half-court game and unless both teams shoot remarkably well it stays under by 10+ points.

ASA top play on 10* Portland Trailblazers +4.5 vs. Utah Jazz, 9:10 PM ET - Scheduling clearly favors the Blazers in this matchup as the Jazz are coming off a game last night, plus playing their 6th game in a nine day span. The Jazz are coming off a 20-point win over the Pacers last night but are just 3-3 SU their last six at home. The Blazers last played on Nov 30th, a loss to the Lakers who are clearly playing much better right now. Portland is 7-6 SU on the road this season with a +/- of minus -3.6PPG. Utah is 8-3 SU at home this season, but again they are in a very tough scheduling situation here. Dating back to the start of last season, the Jazz are just 9-9-1 ATS when playing without rest with a +/- of +2.9PPG. Utah is not a trustworthy favorite with a 35-50-2 ATS record since the start of the 2021 season, 3-6 ATS this season with a +/- of +2.8PPG. Portland as a dog is 11-5 ATS with a +/- of -3.4PPG. Grab whatever points are available and don’t be shocked if the Blazers win outright.

ASA TOP PLAY ON 10* OVER 232 Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets – 8:40 PM ET - The Rockets are in a tough situation here as are the Warriors. Houston is coming off an improbable upset of the Suns last night in Phoenix as a +11.5-point dog. Prior to that game the Rockets had played 2 straight in the higher altitude of Denver making this their 4th game in six days. Golden State played last night too and will probably rest Klay Thompson and maybe even Draymond Green here. This is the Warriors 3rd game in five days. These same two teams just met in Houston and produced a combined 247 total points. The Rockets defense has been especially bad allowing 119 or more in 7 of their last ten games. Even without Thompson in the lineup for GST the Warriors can still score with Poole and DiVincenzo off the bench. Poole just poured in 30-points last night. Golden State historically has been a great defense under Steve Kerr but that hasn’t been the case this season as they rank 17th in defensive efficiency and give up 117PPG. The young Rockets are starting to figure things out offensively as they have scored 118 or more points in 4 of their last six. Two tired teams won’t play much defense tonight and this goes Over rather easily.

ASA top play on 10* Chicago Bulls +7.5 vs Golden State Warriors, 10 PM ET - The Bulls just played at Phoenix and were plus +5.5-points. Earlier in the same road trip they were plus +7.5-points at Milwaukee. Those two teams are in the top 3 or four teams in the NBA along with Boston. Tonight, Chicago is catching 7-points at the 11-11 Warriors. Granted, the Warriors have been very good at home this season with a 9-1 record and a +11PPG differential, but those numbers are padded with big wins over bad teams. Chicago has the 9th best offensive efficiency ratings on the road this season with a +/- of -2.9PPG. Overall, the Bulls have the 12th best defensive efficiency rating in the league while the Warriors rank 21st and give up 1.137PPP. Off a humiliating loss in Phoenix we like the Bulls to rebound here and keep this game within the spread.

ASA Top Play on 10* OVER 216.5 Philadelphia 76ers vs Memphis Grizzlies, 8 PM ET - Both teams are coming off disappointing losses which can largely be attributed to poor offensive play. The 76ers managed just 85-points against the Cavaliers, shooting just 42% overall and 23% from Deep. The Grizzlies turned the ball over 27-times and missed 12-free throws in a loss at Minnesota. We expect both offenses to get back on track here. For the season the Grizzlies have a top 10 offensive efficiency rating overall and when playing at home. The 76ers rank 19th overall in OEFF but have a higher efficiency rating when playing on the road. The 76ers also tend to play faster when away from Philly and give up more points per possession. Memphis has played much faster in their last five games and will want to dictate tempo in this one, forcing the Sixers to also play fast. When Philly is the road team this season those games have averaged 217.2PPG. When the Grizzlies have played at home those contests have averaged 226.9PPG. Let’s not forget that an average NBA game this season has finished with 226 total points which means we need an ‘average’ performance from both teams to cash this ticket.

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 221.5 Dallas Mavericks @ Detroit Pistons, 7 PM ET - The Pistons just allowed 140-points to the Knicks which has forced the oddsmakers to adjust this line higher than it should be. The Mavericks are the slowest paced team in the league and score just 109.4PPG. They will slow things down and keep them from being a high scoring game. Detroit is 15th or basically average in pace. It’s not like the Mavs are great when it comes to offensive efficiency either as they rank 11th in points per possession. Detroit ranks 23rd in points per possession at 1.099PPP. The Mavs are 9th in defensive efficiency and will limit the Pistons scoring opportunities here. Granted Detroit is 2nd to last in DEFF but you can expect Dallas to do their best to manage load minutes for Luka Doncic and the rest of the starters. Detroit recently played a Cavaliers team that is similar to Dallas in many regards and the game finished with 196 total points. Dallas has allowed point to a few good offenses in recent games (Warriors, Bucks, Celtics) but if you remove those teams they have allowed 105 or less in 5 straight games. The Under is the play here.

ASA top play on 10* Sacramento Kings -4.5 vs. Indiana Pacers, 10:10 PM ET - The Kings opened the season 0-4 with three of those L’s coming at home and it looked like we were going to see another year of the same ole Kings. They’ve rebounded nicely from that slow start to win 10 of their last fifteen games. Included in that streak is a 7-1 SU home record with some impressive wins over the Heat, Cavs, Warriors and Nets. The lone loss in that stretch was at home last time out against the Suns 117-122. Sacramento has the 11th best average point differential at home this season of +4.9PPG. They have the 2nd best offensive efficiency at home behind the Celtics. Indiana is off a big road win over the Lakers and will likely let down here. The Pacers have a negative differential on the road of minus -1.1PPG which is 20th in the NBA. They have a 5-4 SU road record but only one of those victories came against a team with a current winning record and that is the 11-10 Wizards. I’m buying the Kings here and will lay the points.

ASA TOP PLAY ON 10* OVER 225 Charlotte Hornets vs Boston Celtics, 7:40 PM ET - The Celtics are shooting 40% from deep which ranks 1st in the NBA. They shoot 49% overall which is 4th and they average the most points per game at 120.4PPG. Defensively the Celtics aren’t as good as they’ve been in the past ranking 14th in PPG allowed at 113.3. They also allow opponents to shoot 46.8% (16th) overall and 34.9% from beyond the arc (12th). The Hornets are averaging 109.4PPG which is one of the lower numbers in the league and allowing 114.2PPG which is roughly league average. Charlotte is playing at a faster pace in recent games as they are the 8th fastest team in their last five games. Boston is on a 9-0 Over streak at home when facing a team with a losing road record. Charlotte is on a 6-0 Over run when playing on the road versus a team with a home winning percentage greater than .600. Boston has scored 122 or more points themselves in 7 of their last ten games. This one gets Over the number rather easily.

ASA NBA TOP PLAY ON 10* Milwaukee Bucks -6.5 vs. Dallas Mavericks, 8:10 PM ET - We are not as high on the Mavericks and most prognosticators and like this spot to fade them. Dallas is off a game last night in Toronto, a 5-point loss as a -2.5 point favorite. The game before that they lost at Boston +5.5 points. In the game against the Celtics the Mavs trailed big for most of the game before making it respectable late. Last night Luka Doncic played 42 minutes so don’t be surprised if they manage his workload here. Dallas is 1-6 SU away from home with a negative differential of -4.7PPG. Milwaukee is 10-2 SU at home with a +/- of +9PPG. The Mavs 26th ranked scoring offense at 108.7PPG will have a tough time putting up points against a Bucks team that allows the 4th fewest points per game at 107.2PPG.

ASA NBA TOP PLAY ON 10* Houston Rockets +2 vs Oklahoma City Thunder, 8:10 PM ET - Scheduling is the main factor for this wager as the Thunder are in a tough spot here. OKC is playing the 2nd night of a back-to-back and two straight overtime games. This is also their 3rd game in four days and 4th game in six days. Meanwhile Houston is also off a game last night but had 4 days off prior to last night. The Rockets beat Atlanta yesterday and have been competitive in recent games against Golden State, Indianapolis and have a win over Dallas. Houston has a huge edge on the glass as the 9th best defensive rebounding team in the NBA and 3rd best offensive rebounding. In comparison the Thunder rank 11th in O-rebounding but 30th in defensive rebounding. Houston won 3 of four meetings last year and will continue that trend tonight.

ASA NBA TOP PLAY ON 10* Boston Celtics -4.5 vs Dallas Mavericks, 7:40 PM ET - Dating back to the start of last season these are two of the three best teams in the NBA when coming off a loss with Dallas going 31-13 SU, Boston 29-14 SU. Boston though is 15-6 ATS their last 21 when coming off a loss and considering how poorly they played against the Bulls last time out they should be highly focused here. The Celtics are coming off Monday's 121-107 loss to the Chicago Bulls which snapped a nine-game winning streak. In those 9 wins the Celtics average Margin of Victory was +11.4PPG. The Bulls loss was frustrating considering the Celtics committed 15 turnovers and shot just 43.7% as a team. Dallas is coming off a loss to Denver and a 5-game home stretch which saw them go 2-3 SU. The Mavericks are just 1-4 SU away from home and have played a soft schedule to date. When the Mavs have faced an above .500 team they are just 2-7 ATS. Dallas has some misleading defensive numbers as they allow just 105.3PPG on the season (1st) but teams shoot 47.1% from the field versus them, 35.8% from deep (15th). The biggest reason the Mavs don’t allow a ton of points is the slow pace they play at (slowest in the NBA). Boston is the 2nd most efficient offense in the league at 1.190-points per possession and the 5th best overall shooting percentage (48.4%) and 3rd best 3PT%. Boston also owns a +/- at home of +8.7PPG.

ASA NBA TOP PLAY ON 10* Over 213 Points - Portland Trailblazers vs Cleveland Cavaliers, 7:10 PM ET - We are betting value here as this number has been set to low, AGAIN. We successfully played Under in the Blazers/Bucks game on Monday night and this is nearly the exact same setup as that game. The Cavaliers are similar to the Bucks in defensive efficiency but much better in OEFF as they average 1.162-poins per possession. Granted the Cavs play slower than the Bucks but again, they make up for it by being highly efficient. Proof is in the numbers as the Cavs average 115PPG, compared to the Bucks 111PPG. The Blazers defense has allowed their last five opponents to average over 50% shooting and the Cavs have averaged better than 50% in their last five games. Portland games this season have averaged 218.3PPG, Cavs games have averaged 223.85PPG. This is one of the lowest O/U numbers posted on a Portland game this season and the 2nd lowest on a Cavs game. This game is going to be closer to a league average game of 225.2-points, not 214. Both teams are trending in the right direction for an Over here as both teams games are averaging 226+ in their last five.

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 227 LA Lakers @ Phoenix Suns, 10 PM ET - The Suns are one of the slowest paced teams in the NBA this season at 97 possessions per game but they are 9th in PPG averaged at 115.1PPG. A big reason the Suns put up points is their overall shooting as they rank 10th in overall FG% and 6th in 3PT%. The Lakers though have the 12th best FG% defense in the league, 4th in defending the 3-point line. The Lakers are going to have their own problems scoring against this Suns defense that ranks 8th in defensive efficiency at 1.105PPP allowed per possession. Los Angeles is 19th in scoring at 111.1PPG are 21st in team FG% and 30th in 3-point shooting. The Under has cashed 7 of the last ten meetings and we predict a lower scoring game here.

ASA top play on 10* OVER 214 Portland Trailblazers at Milwaukee Bucks, 8:10 PM ET - We are betting value here as this number has been set to low as a result of Damian Lillard’s injury tonight. As soon as Lillard was ruled out with a calf injury this number dipped by 3-full points. Portland games this season have averaged 218.3PPG, Bucks games have averaged 217.5PPG. This is the lowest O/U number posted on a Portland game this season and the 2nd lowest on a Bucks game. Milwaukee just played a game against the 76ers and the O/U was 212.5 and the 76ers are worse defensively and offensively than the Blazers and play at a similar pace. This game is going to be closer to a league average game of 225.2-points, not 214. Both teams are trending in the right direction for an Over here as both teams games are averaging 220+ in their last five.

ASA TOP PLAY ON 10* Portland Trailblazers -4 vs Utah Jazz, 10 PM ET - This is a great situation to fade the Jazz and support the Blazers. Utah is off a hard fought 134-133 win over the Western Conference favorites the Phoenix Suns. The Jazz got a huge game from their Center Markkanen who scored 38 points. I doubt he can duplicate those numbers tonight considering the Suns are one of the worst defensive teams in the league against Centers. Utah is just 7-9-1 ATS their last 17 games when playing without rest. Portland had last night off but lost Thursday night at home to the Nets 107-109. A poor shooting night of 39% was the main reason for their loss to the Nets but we expect them to revert back to their season average of 46.6% here, especially against a Jazz defense that allows 47.3%. The surprise Blazers have gotten off to a 10-5 start and a big reason why has been their defense which is 6th best in the NBA in efficiency ratings. Portland is 5-0 SU off a loss this season, 4-1 ATS.

ASA TOP PLAY ON 10* New Orleans Pelicans +3 vs. Boston Celtics, Friday at 8:30 PM ET - The Celtics may be short-handed tonight with Brogdon and Smart both sidelined, but even if they do play, we like the Pelicans at home. Boston is coming off a big win in Atlanta and now stands 6-2 SU away. The Celtics show 55% from the field and 46% from deep. Boston has at +/- of +5.7PPG on the road but their resume isn’t as impressive as you might think. Three of the Celtics road wins are over Detroit, New York and Orlando. New Orleans has an average Margin of Victory at home of +5.2PPG with impressive recent wins over the Bulls by 14 and Memphis by 11. Boston relies heavily on their 3-points shooting but they don’t have that advantage in this game as the Pelicans rank 5th in 3PT%, a few spots behind Boston. An equalizer here is the Pelicans 3-point defense which is 2nd in the NBA, holding opponents to 32.5%. New Orleans should get plenty of second chance opportunities in this game with the 7th best offensive & defensive rebounding team in the NBA going up against the Celtics who rank 22nd in defensive rebounding and 21st in O-boards. There is a chance Zion Williamson is back in the lineup for this game, but even if he isn’t we like the home team Pelicans.

ASA top play on 10* SAN ANTONIO SPURS +7.5 at Sacramento Kings, 8:10 PM ET - This is more of a play against the Kings than necessarily a play on the Spurs. Sacramento has covered four straight games and is coming off a 153 outburst against the Nets. Those recent results have forced the oddsmakers hand which has this line inflated with the value on the Spurs. The Kings have not been a favorite of this size all season long with their largest spread as a chalk being -4.5. The Spurs were just +8.5-points at Portland who is 10-4 on the season and leading the Western Conference. San Antonio has some quality games against some of the elite teams in the NBA with a 7-point loss at Portland, a win at Milwaukee, a 2-point OT loss versus Memphis and a 6-point loss vs. Denver. The Spurs have covered 19 of their last 26 games overall and are on a 4-0 ATS run when coming off a loss. Sacramento is 14-14-1 ATS as a favorite since the start of the 2021 season with a +/- of +2.2PPG. The Spurs defense is bad this season but the Kings aren’t much better. We like the points here with San Antonio.

ASA top play on 10* Houston Rockets +9.5 at Dallas Mavericks, 8:40PM ET - After winning with our play on the Clippers last night against the Mavs we will come right back with a bet against Dallas tonight. The Mavs are 6-7-1 AST their last 14 when playing without rest and their +/- in those games is just +1.6PPG which clearly isn’t enough for a cover tonight. Dallas is off to a 8-5 SU start to the season with a 7-1 record at home. The Mavs +7.1PPG average margin of victory at home though is very misleading as they have a 41-point win over the Grizzlies. If we remove that one blowout their average +/- at home is just 2.1PPG. In their last five home games they have won by a combined 13-points. The Rockets have the 4th worst road differential in the NBA at minus -9.4PPG but they’ve also faced a brutal road schedule, with 8 of ten opponents having an above .500 record. Houston has covered 7 of the last ten meetings in Dallas and get another ATS ‘W’ here.

ASA top play on 10* LA CLIPPERS +7.5 at Dallas Mavericks, 8:40 PM ET - We don’t have a problem backing the Clippers on the second night of a back-to-back for several reasons. Going back to the start of last season the Clippers are 8-9 SU when playing without rest with a +/- of -1.1PPG. In their win last night, they spread their minutes out with no starter playing more than 30 minutes. In fact, 10 players played 18+ minutes. LA has been better on the road than at home this season with a 5-2 SU record and an average differential of +2.5PPG which is 5th best in the NBA. The key for the Clippers has been their defense on the road as they allow just 1.068-points per possession which is 2nd best in the league. Dallas is off to a 7-5 SU start to the season with a 6-1 record at home. The Mavs +7.8PPG average margin of victory at home though is very misleading as they have a 41-point win over the Grizzlies. If we remove that one blowout their average +/- at home is just 2.3PPG. In their last four home games they have won by a combined 11-points. Too many points, grab the Clippers.

ASA top play on 10* Phoenix Suns +2 @ Miami Heat, 7:40 PM ET - This offers a perfect opportunity to back an elite NBA team off a loss as the Suns just suffered a road defeat in Orlando. The Suns are 4-0 SU off a loss this season and an impressive 39-15 SU dating back to the start of the 2020 season in this situation. The record back to 2020 is the best in the NBA and they’ve won those games by an average of +7.3PPG. Not only that, the Suns have the best straight up road record since 2020 at 66-33 SU with a +/- of +3.1PPG. Typically, when you talk about the Miami Heat the first thing that comes to mind is defense, but that hasn’t been a strong point this season. In fact, Phoenix I 1st in points allowed per game, 6th in FG% defense and 2nd in overall defensive efficiency. The Heat are 11th in PPG given up per game, 24th in FG% defense and 24th in defending the 3-point line. The Suns also hold a big advantage offensively with the 4th best efficiency rating in the league compared to the Heat’s 17th ranking. Both teams have key injuries with the Suns potentially without Chris Paul the Heat may miss Tyler Herro for this contest. Miami is 0-6 ATS off a win, Phoenix is 8-3 ATS their last eleven off a loss.

ASA top play on 10* Charlotte Hornets +1.5 at Orlando Magic, 7:10 PM ET - Statistical support is somewhat difficult for this analysis as the Hornets numbers are misleading based on the injured players to date. Charlotte has been without starting PG Ball who came back in their most recent game and logged 28-minutes with 15-points and 6 assists. He paid immediate dividends on the offensive end of the floor as the Hornets shot 51% for the game which was well above their season average of 44.6% which is 26th in the league. Orlando is in an unfamiliar role here as a favorite which has happened just one other time this season, a game in which they lost by 7 to the Rockets. The Hornets are playing with same season revenge here as they lost on this court a few weeks back by 20-points. Charlotte was without two starters in Rozier and Ball, while the Magic had rookie sensation Banchero in the lineup. Banchero is questionable tonight and not 100% even if he does play. Orlando has played the weaker schedule and is also off a big upset win over the Suns. Charlotte gets a much-needed road win here.

ASA top play on 10* UNDER 218.5 Brooklyn Nets @ LA Lakers, 9:40 PM ET - With it being NFL Sunday this is going to be an abbreviated analysis. Since Irvings suspension the Nets defense has been outstanding. Brooklyn has allowed 86, 94, 96, 85 and 95-points in five games. Their defensive efficiency on the season is 8th best at 1.105-points allowed per possession but in their last five games that number improves to .967PPP. Brooklyn is the 6th slowest paced team in the league and 12th in offensive efficiency. The Lakers are bad! LA is LAST in the NBA in offensive efficiency at 1.054PPP (slightly behind the Clippers who Brooklyn just held to 95Pts). The Lakers don’t have a clear identity right now when it comes to pace of play as they tend to play fast with other fast teams, then slow with grinding teams. LA is 29th in PPG scored, 25th in FG% and 30th in 3PT%. Even after the line move in this game we still like UNDER.