JACK JONES
Raptors/Heat OVER 205.5
These two teams played about a month ago in Toronto and the final score was 120-113 and the Heat were playing better defense back then. Now Miami has given up 100 or more points in six straight games so I have a hard time seeing that streak ending tonight against a Raptors team that is putting up 104 points per game on the season. Toronto is also having troubles stopping anyone, allowing 112 ppg on the road to teams that only score 99.6.
SPORTS WAGERS
New York +5 over CHARLOTTE
The Knicks are on a four-game winning streak and it’s no fluke. They’re getting better and more confident with each passing week and for the first time since Isiah Thomas ruined them they have some direction. In the Knicks last game in New Orleans they trailed by nine points and came back and once they got the lead down the stretch they buried the Hornets in very impressive fashion. That is a great sign of a team coming together and what’s most impressive about the Knicks is that they battle hard for 48 minutes every game. They started off the win streak by going into Atlanta and beating a highly quality team and followed that up with wins over New Jersey and Portland. The Knicks also have a recent win over the Suns by 27 points. The Bobcats are really not capable of blowing out anyone and they’re just so much more appealing taking back points than they are laying them. Every game you can count on the Bobcats going on a prolonged scoring drought and that’s one of the reasons they’re a very risky favorite. Hell, they were the first team to lose to the Nets and that’s significant. Fact is, they can lose to anyone and a well-rested Knicks team playing with a ton of confidence can absolutely come in here and leave with a win. Play: NY Knicks +5 (Risking 2.06 units to win 2).
PHOENIX –2 over San Antonio
The Suns remain undefeated at home and that alone makes them worthy of a look here. We get a decent lay on them here because they’re laboring a bit with just two wins in its last seven games. However, five of those games were on the road and the two home games were both wins including one over Denver. They had a tough road schedule, losing in New York, Cleveland, Lakers, Dallas and Denver. The latter four are four of the leagues best. Steve Nash is so good it’s sick and when you have him on your side you always have a great chance to win. Anyway, the Spurs are warming up a bit with three straight wins. However, the three wins came against the Clip Joint, Charlotte and Sacramento and all I can say to that is big deal. They lost its previous three games to Utah, Denver and Boston and it looks like the Spurs can beat up on weaklings but can’t so much against the stronger clubs. The Spurs have just two road wins in seven tries, one over the aforementioned Clippers and one in Houston. Its five road losses were to Chicago, Utah twice, Portland and Dallas. In fact, of the Spurs 12 total wins, just two of them have come against teams over .500 and one of those teams, the Rockets, is barely above .500. The other one was over Dallas over a month ago. So, yeah, the Spurs have won three in a row and they’re 12-9 on the year. However, they have perhaps one good win on the year and after this one, they’ll likely still have one good win on the year. Spurs getting way too much credit in this one. Play: Phoenix –2 (Risking 2.06 units to win 2).
WUNDERDOG
New York Knicks at Charlotte
Pick: UNDER 198.5
The Charlotte Bobcats are an improved team and have played tough at home all season, where they are 8-3. One of the reasons is that this is a team not afraid to play defense and is never in a hurry on the offensive end. They are allowing just 91.5 points per game, and favored here, so the Knicks will have to score to push this one over the total. This one looks about right based on the 102-100 game they played here early in the season, but what goes unnoticed is that the game went to OT and was tied at 82 in regulation, just 164 points scored. The Knicks are 17-8 to the UNDER after a game in which they scored 100 or more. I like this one to go UNDER the total.
Dave Price
1 Unit on Portland State +14
This is a very tough spot for St. Mary's tonight as it is on a 1-13 ATS slide after playing 3 consecutive road games. It is also just 2-9 ATS as a favorite of 10 or more points over the last 2 seasons. Portland State is playing well, having won 4 in a row, and it should be able to keep this one within the number tonight.
Ron Raymond
COL / WAS Over 6
When ANY NHL Team played as a Road team - Last 2 years - Coming off 2 overs - Coming off a 3 goal loss - Allowed 6 or more goals AGAINST in their last game; the OVER is 11-5-1 for the Road Team (WAS) in this role.
Lenny Del Genio
CHI +9.5 vs LAL
Okay, we admit that at least on the surface, this looks like a scary play. The Bulls have been a terrible spread team thus far, covering just five of 20 games. They are just 1-10 ATS this season coming off a SU loss. They have lost five straight to the Lakers. However, after playing such a soft schedule to start the season, we're not convinced Los Angeles can cover this high a number on the road. This is just road game #6 of the year. Only one time this season have the Lakers won a road game by more than three points. Kobe Bryant is not 100%. They have failed to cover four of six. Look for the young and hungry Bulls to give LA their best shot. Take Chicago.