BRAD DIAMOND SPORTS
Houston over Sacramento
Sacramento always puts up a good fight against visiting Houston. However, the line appears, somewhat, questionable considering this is double revenge. Still, the Rockets are 5-0 ATS on Monday's and 4-1 ATS as a road chalk. Sacramento is 18-37 ATS in this underdog price range.
SPORTS WAGERS
St. Mary’s +108 over Gonzaga
This one is very likely to be close and it’ll very likely come down to the final three minutes or less but in no way does the Zags have an edge and it’s for that reason we’ll play the Gaels. These two met twice this season and split, but both games were decided by a combined six points. Now they’ll play the title game on a neutral floor and while the Zags are the warmer team at the moment they had all sorts of trouble with San Francisco yesterday while St. Mary’s put away Santa Clara. The Gaels were in a bit of a funk with three straight losses but seem to have their swagger back with two consecutive wins, both in impressive fashion. Man for man, St. Mary’s is simply the better team and nobody can deny they have the best player on the floor and one of the best in the country in Mickey McConnell. The Gaels are wickedly good shooters and one could argue that their chances of running away with this game far outweighs the Zags chances. We get the better team plus a tag in a huge game and it’s not like the Gaels haven’t been in this position before. Play: St. Mary’s +108 (Risking 2 units).
Jack Jones
Portland Trail Blazers +1.5
Dwight Howard will serve his 1-game suspension tonight when the Orlando Magic host the Portland Trail Blazers. NBA rules mandate an automatic one-game suspension when a player accumulates 16 technical fouls in a season. The Blazers are very strong inside with LaMarcus Aldridge, Marcus Camby and Gerald Wallace. Portland will dominate the paint tonight and will have a huge rebounding edge which will lead to a nice road victory for them. Orlando lost at Portland 97-83 on Dec. 9 despite 39 points and 15 rebounds from Howard. The rest of the Magic scored 44 points and shot 17 of 51 (33.3 percent).
The Blazers are finally getting healthy with Brandon Roy and Camby recently returning to the line-up. They put together one of their most complete performances of the season with a 93-69 home victory over the Charlotte Bobcats last time out. This will only be Portland's 2nd game in 5 days so they will be fresh and ready to go. The Trail Blazers are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 road games. The Magic are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record. Bet the Blazers Monday.
Info Plays
3* Mavericks -7
Reasons why Dallas will cover:
1) Dallas will be more than ready to go after losing on a buzzer beater on Sunday against the Grizzlies. The Mavericks haven't lost two straight since the middle of January, and we don't think they will have any problem keeping that streak alive, plus winning by at least 8-points.
2) Mavericks are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400, and are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 0 days rest.
3) Timberwolves are just 8-23 ATS in their last 31 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600, and only 4-15 ATS in home games versus poor foul drawing teams - attempting <=24 free throws/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
Frank Jordan
North Texas vs. Western Kentucky
Play: Western Kentucky
North Texas was better overall in the season as they went 21-10 where as Western Kentucky went 16-15, but each went just 8-8 in conference play. These two teams played less then a month ago granted in Western Kentucky, but Western Kentucky won big by 11. The one positive for North Texas coming is is they have won each of their last four games three of which were by double figures. Western Kentucky has won six of their last eight heading in so they too are playing well. In this one look for Western Kentucky to advance as they once again have North Texas' number. Play Western Kentucky
Black Widow
1* on Los Angeles Clippers -1
The Los Angeles Clippers will roll right over the depleted, helpless Charlotte Bobcats tonight. The Bobcats are without Stephen Jackson and Tyrus Thomas, and they traded away Gerald Wallace to Portland before the deadline. Charlotte just hasn't been the same team since. This is a team with a starting line-up of Dominic McGuire, Boris Diaw, Kwame Brown, Gerald Henderson and D.J. Augustin. All five of these players likely wouldn't start on more than half of the teams in the league. The Bobcats are 0-4 in their last 4 games, losing by 14, 40, 8 and 24 points. So not only are they losing, they haven't even been competitive. The Clippers are 4-1-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Charlotte, and the road team is 9-3-1 ATS in the last 13 meetings. Without Jackson tonight, the Bobcats don't stand any chance of even keeping this one close. Take the Clippers and lay the points.
Ray Monohan
Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Play: Dallas Mavericks -7
We all know all the attention in the NBA this year is focused on the problems of the presumed finalists, Miami and the Lakers, and others have marveled at the Spurs’ consistency, but I want you to all sit up and take notice of what the Mavs and operation under the radar have been doing this year. Mavericks backers this season have been able to make a tidy profit – Dallas is 34-25-2 against the number, and have covered 7 of the last 9. Bettors should not be afraid of the Mavs playing the second straight night. Dallas won the first meeting 100-86 on Dec. 1. The Mavericks have won 16 of the last 17 games with the Timberwolves, including 19 of the last 21. Minnesota last won at home 91-78 on Jan. 4, 2006. Some trends I like for this one include, Mavericks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 0 days rest and are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game. Timberwolves are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600, and are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record, and are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Jeff Alexander
1 Unit on Utah Jazz +7
The Knicks are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games as a favorite of 5.0-10.5 points and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a SU win of more than 10 points. In addition, the Underdog is an impressive 14-2 ATS in the last 16 meetings. The Knicks haven't won back-to-back games since Melo came aboard, and they'll have a difficult time putting an end to this trend against a fresher Utah squad. Take the points.
Dave Price
1 Unit on Sacramento Kings +4.5
Motivated by back-to-back defeats and two earlier season losses to Houston, expect the Kings to show up on their home floor in this highly motivated spot. I have uncovered a couple matchup-specific trends that bolster this situational play: the Rockets are 4-9 ATS in the last 13 meetings in this series and the underdog is 10-3 ATS in the last 13 meetings. Take the Kings in the underdog role.