Brad Diamond
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Boston Celtics
Play: Los Angeles Clippers -5½
Having seen the Clippers throttle the Sixers the other night, and enjoying it, you can understand my current point of view. The Clippers have won 6 straight, covering 4-of-6 on the docket. Boston is coming off a close win over New York(?), while missing out in Vegas. LA has covered 5-of-6 in Boston seem to be the more effective choice Sunday.
Jimmy Boyd
Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs
Play: Memphis Grizzlies +8
The Spurs have really turned it on down the stretch, but this is too many points for them to be laying against the Grizzlies. Memphis is 2-1 against San Antonio this season, with the lone loss coming by just 6-points. The Grizzlies are in a huge bounce back spot here after two ugly losses at home to the Cavaliers (89-111) and Warriors (84-107), while San Antonio could be in for a bit of a letdown after a big revenge win over the Mavs on Friday.
Spurs are just 5-15 ATS in their last 20 games against division opponents, while the Grizzlies are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games against a team with a winning pct above 60%, 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 after allowing 100+ points, 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games against a team with a winning record and 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games played on Sunday. These trends combine to form a strong 76% (41-13) system in favor of the Grizzlies.
Ari Atari
Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs
Play: San Antonio Spurs -8
Here they go again...the Spurs are peaking at the right time as usual with 5 wins out of 6 and all of them being double digit blowouts. Memphis is struggling with 2 fat losses by 23 and 22 points to the Cavs and Warriors. This is a tough string of games and they don't get any rest once this game is done with a much more winnable opportunity tomorrow at home versus the Kings. The Spurs are an absolute beast at home and they wreak havoc on anyone who dares challenge them on their court. This is the second best play to make in the NBA.
Wunderdog
Houston @ Washington
Pick: Houston -2.5
Houston is on a roll, winning six of seven after a 120-110 victory over Minnesota on Friday. James Harden had 33 points, eight assists, and five steals while Josh Smith scored 16, to go with nine rebounds, and 11 assists. Houston is seventh in the NBA in scoring and 10th in field goal shooting defense. Houston center Dwight Howard had 18 points on 8-for-9 shooting Friday in his second game back. Houston is 5-0 ATS against the Eastern Conference and 22-8 ATS following a spread loss. Washington has been shaky, on a 1-4 SU/ATS run surrendering over 100 points in every game. The Wizards are 4-10 ATS against the Western Conference and 3-22-1 ATS after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game. And the Rockets are 7-2 ATS at Washington.
Jack Jones
Phoenix Suns -1
There's no question that this is a must-win situation for the Phoenix Suns, who cannot afford to fall any further behind the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference. They trail the Thunder by three games for the 8th and final playoff spot.
Now, the Suns get a chance to pick up a game on the Thunder as they'll be playing head-to-head tonight in Phoenix. I like the way the Suns are playing here of late having won four of their last six games overall, which includes wins over playoff contenders such as Houston, Dallas and New Orleans.
The Thunder remain banged up right now without Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka. It has cost them in back-to-back poor performances with a 91-130 loss at San Antonio and an 89-94 loss at Utah. Now, the Thunder will be playing the second of a back-to-back after losing to the Jazz last night. The Suns check in on one day of rest.
Home-court advantage has been huge in this series in recent meetings. In fact, the home team is a perfect 6-0 SU in the last six meetings. Phoenix is 16-5 ATS after failing to cover the spread in two consecutive games over the last two seasons. The Thunder are 6-16 ATS in their last 22 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Will Rogers
San Jose Sharks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Play: Pittsburgh Penguins -160
Both clubs were in action yesterday as the San Jose Sharks won 3-2 in a shootout at Philadelphia to record a second consecutive win, while the Pittsburgh Penguins snapped a two game skid winning 3-2 against Arizona here in Pennsylvania. The Sharks have been on the road for quite some time now, and I like the price we get on the home team to equalize the season series tonight. Here are my keys to the game:
1. Motivational/Situational - The Sharks won the first meeting of the season 2-1 in a shootout on home-ice earlier this month. Now they're playing the last game of a seven game road trek and one must wonder how much power do they have left, especially considering they're all but out of contention of making the playoffs already. Pittsburgh's motivation on the other hand is unquestionable as its coming in with revenge on its mind and is jostling with the Islanders and the Caps for second place in the Metropolitan Division behind the outstanding Rangers.
2. Injuries - The Penguins top scorer Evegni Malkin and Patric Hornqvist, third on the team for goals, were both back in the line-up yesterday as the duo has recovered from injuries. The Sharks are not quite as fortunate and are struggling particularly on the blue line with Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Mirco Mueller definitely out and Scott Hannan's participation in jeopardy after he left Saturday's game with a bloodied face.
3. X-Factor - Sidney Crosby is leading the NHL for points with his 78 on the season. He has 20 points over his last 14 games and was involved in each of the Pens goals last night tallying one goal and assisting two.
Brandon Lee
Michigan State vs. Louisville
Play: Michigan State -2½
I believe we are getting some exceptional value here with Michigan State as just a 2.5-point favorite. While Louisville is playing well, they have had a fortunate run here to get to the Elite 8, as the highest seed they have faced is No. 4 UNI. Michigan State on the other hand is playing their best basketball of the season and have backed it up with wins over No. 2 Virginia and No. 3 Oklahoma. Michigan State is 9-2 ATS in their last 11 road games after committing 8 or fewer turnovers in their last game and a perfect 6-0 ATS in their last 6 away from home after covering 4 or 5 of their last 6.
Tony George
Michigan St vs. Louisville
Play: Under 128
SMALL LEAN here on Michigan State on the side play but the UNDER 128.5 might be a better bet. Pitino and Izzo going at it with 2 great teams, a chess match no doubt.. Really a coin flip game here and just like Zona / Wisconsin last night, the team hotter team from the floor will win it. These two are dead even, have great coaches, and solid ball clubs. Three Advantages for Michigan State. Izzo has them peaking at the right time and their depth, guard play and ability to score consistently gives them a slight edge in this game. That said, defense has been the buzzword for both teams, neither lights up the scoreboard, both teams good in transition, and this should be a battle to the wire and points will be tough to come by.
Harry Bondi
INDIANA (-1) over Dallas
A winner in the NBA last night runs our free pick record to 15-4 the last 19 days! Dallas has been in a pointspread tail spin for about five weeks, covering just three of its last 14 games. We have picked our spots going against the Mavs and cashing tickets and here's another opportunity. Not only is Dallas struggling, but this is a very difficult spot as tonight is the second of a three-game road trip that is sandwiched between games against Western Conference rivals San Antonio and Oklahoma City. The Pacers, meanwhile, have had two full days of rest and have covered 10 of the last 16 meetings between these two teams on this floor. The price is right! Take the Pacers.
Teddy Covers
Brooklyn -6.5
This is a particularly bad spot for the LA Lakers, playing their fourth game of a ‘five games in seven days’ stretch on the East Coast. It’s an early start afternoon game for a West Coast team. The Lakers have lost by double digits twice in their last three games on this trip. Head coach Byron Scott is in full-on tank mode, getting ‘projects’ Ryan Kelly and Tarik Black into the starting lineup at the expense of Jordan Hill and Carlos Boozer, both of whom got ‘DNP – coaches decision’ in each of the first three games on this trip.
And while the betting markets have upgraded the Lakers in recent weeks thanks to a 12-5 ATS run, the majority of that success came at the Staples Center and their only SU win on the road in the last seven tries came in OT at equally hapless Minnesota. LA isn’t any better now than they were a month ago, and the betting markets are giving them a good notch or two too much respect.
The Nets have fought their way back into the playoff picture with six wins in their last eight games; now trailing Boston by just a half game for the final spot in the East. That includes wins over fellow playoff contenders Milwaukee, Indiana, Charlotte and a huge upset over Cleveland in their last five games alone. And the quotes coming out of Brooklyn these days are nearly universally positive.
Center Brook Lopez: “We haven’t given up. As bad as it got in the lowest points, we still were in the race. It was just baffling to us, crazy. We knew we could always make a push and we had an opportunity and we’re taking advantage of it. We’re focused on going one at a time, but we all feel like we’re in a really good place. In the playoffs, we’d get a fresh light to kind of start over and the way we’re playing now, I’d definitely take that. … The confidence continues to grow every day.”
Head coach Lionel Hollins: “I’ve felt good about the way we played since the All-Star break. We have a renewed spirit. We’ve played hard, together. We’ve overcome adversity. We had some tough losses, we’ve bounced back from them, and we’ve had some big wins. I’ve been proud of the way the group has been playing….We’ve come together as a team and we’re playing better. We’ve learned what our strengths are, what our weaknesses are, and we try to play to them every game and good things are happening.
We’re getting a pointspread bargain because the Nets have not played well at the Barclays Center for extended stretches this season, while the Lakers have been cashing underdog tickets since the All Star break. I’m not convinced in the slightest that either one of those recent trends will continue unabated this afternoon.
Bill Marzano
Duke vs. Gonzaga
Play: Gonzaga
I really like Gonzaga in this game vs Duke...so far Gonzaga has been the most impressive team in this tourney in my opinion and I like them to pull off the upset here...Duke is really good and the public loves them but I think they are going to have a hard time matching up in this game...Gonzaga has a lot of size and can shoot the rock from anywhere on the floor just like Duke...should be a very entertaining game and a close one.