JEFF BENTON
Toronto is in a horrible spot here, playing its fifth road game in seven nights after Sunday's tough 106-100 loss in Sacramento as a 4?-point road underdog. The results of the other four games on this trip: 117-108 loss at the Lakers, 117-106 loss at Golden State and 137-105 loss at Denver, with the only spread-cover coming in Los Angeles. As you can clearly see, the Raptors have been a mess defensively on this trip, and in fact have given up 100 plus in nine of their last 10 games all played without injured All-Star center Chris Bosh. Toronto's record in those 10 games without Bosh 2-8 straight-up and against the spread, with the two wins coming against Miami and Seattle, the two worst teams in the NBA!
As for the Jazz, simply put, they own their home court. They're 28-3 in Salt Lake, and dating back to last season, they're on a 29-11-1 ATS run at home, including 29-9-1 ATS as a favorite. They've beaten the Raptors five straight times (4-1 ATS), and that was when they had to contend with Bosh (who once again will sit out tonight) Throw in the fact that the straight-up winner has cashed in 38 of Toronto?s last 40 games, and I'm willing to pay the tax in the form of a slightly inflated number. Jazz roll big in this contest.
(Based on a 1* to 10* rating system)
3* UTAH JAZZ
MATT RIVERS
For Monday take the points with the Grizz.
Charlotte is no question the hotter and better team right now and especially so with Gerald Wallace back in the fold but for the Bobcats to be laying anything on the road anywhere is still a bit wrong. No doubt Memphis has thrown in the towel as they have dropped four straight and 13 of their last 14 and looking towards the future but Rudy Gay is really becoming a stud and if they are ever going to win it will be tonight against the Bobcats.
Yes Charlotte has been very solid with Jason Richardson lighting it up but it's still laying points on the road with a bad team. They have covered seven of eight but are also coming back down to Earth a bit after losing their second straight game in Houston against the insanely red hot Rockets. I obviously can't say they should have won that game because T-Mac and the fellas are smoking but after a few losses in a row the confidence could be lacking a bit.
The Bobcats are still somewhat hanging around for that eighth spot in the Eastern Conference but they are also in the middle of this six game road trip and with fatigue possibly playing a factor after running around in Cleveland on Sunday I'll take my chances on this dog with fleas home dog.
Small slates sometimes leave little to choose from and today is the bottom of the barrel. But in the end you can really never go wrong with points in your own gym as in the long run that is a non-losing proposition and that's my deal right here.
Paul Leiner
10* Bobcats -2
Delaney
20* MINNESOTA - The Clippers have lost three straight, and though we’re dealing with a pair of terrible teams in this one – two of the league’s worst – we have plenty of value when laying the chalk with the T’Wolves here. Tonight marks the end of a five-game road trip for Los Angeles, spanning the last eight days.
The Clippers have been to Florida for meetings with Miami and Orlando, then to Atlanta, where they were knocked around by 24, and finally Washington on Saturday for a 10-point, overtime loss in D.C. The straight-up winner is on a 9-0 ATS run in this series, while the Wolves have won and covered two straight – both in 2008. Lay the chalk here, as Minnesota rolls to the easy win and cover
Brandon Lang
5 Dime – Cavaliers
5 Dime – Pacers
5 Dime – Hawks
Free Pick - CHARLOTTE
ATS Basketball Lock Club
4units Washington
3units Orlando
4units over Phoenix-Vancouver
Wolkosky Milan
10* ATLANTA +7
10* CHARLOTTE -2
10* SAN ANTONIO -3½
10* ATL/WAS UNDER 204
10* LAC/MIN UNDER 196
Josh Dean
300* Bulls +6
Free Pick: MINN (NHL)
Philly-Connection Premium Play
3* Chicago+5
Ben Burns
Cleveland vs. Orlando
Today's Pick: ORLANDO MAGIC
The Cavs managed a home victory over the Bobcats yesterday. However, tonight's game comes on the road and against a significantly tougher opponent. Indeed, the Magic are 44-24 for the season and they've won four in a row with each victory coming by a minimum of nine points. The Cavs are 0-3 SU the last three times that they played the second of back to back games and just 6-10 in that situation for the season. Looking back further and we find them at 26-33 SU the past three seasons when playing the second of back to back games, going a money-burning 23-34-2 against the number. During that stretch, they were also just 9-14 ATS (4-19 SU) when listed as road underdogs in the +6.5 to +9 range. Note that the Cavs have also lost five of their last six road games and that none of those teams, with the exception of Boston, were as tough as Orlando.
The Magic, who are 7-3 ATS the last 10 times that they were listed as home favorites in the -6.5 to -9 range, torched the Pacers for 122 points in their last game, which was here on Saturday. They've now reached triple-digits in scoring in four straight games and seven of their past eight. Additionally, its worth noting that they're 21-11 ATS on the season after scoring 105 or more points in their previous game and a highly profitable 44-22-1 ATS after having done so the past three seasons. The Cavs scored the upset here in the most recent series meeting. That should provide plenty of motivation for the Magic, who are 19-8 ATS on the season when playing with "revenge." Look for them to return the favor with another convincing victory in front of the home fans. Take the Magic.
Rocky Atkinson
Boston vs. San Antonio
Today's Pick: SAN ANTONIO SPURS
San Antonio is 27-5 SU at home this year. San Antonio is allowing only 88.8 points per game at home this season. San Antonio is 18-3 SU overall vs Boston since 1996 including 9-1 SU at home since 1996. Celtics are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning SU record. Celtics are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game. Celtics are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Favorite is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings. Celtics are 3-7 ATS in the last 10 meetings. We'll recommend a small play on San Antonio tonight!
GINA
New York Knicks (19-47) at Indiana Pacers (25-41)
Both, New York and Indiana are struggling. The Pacers have dropped five of their last six games, while the Knicks have lost eight of its last nine. Indiana has won and covered the spread in five of the last six meetings against New York and has taken 10 of the last 13 meetings at home. Go with the Pacers. Indiana is playing poorly, but should be able to beat the sorry Knicks tonight. New York is 7-25 on the road this season, just 4-15 in its last 19 against Indiana at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Play Indiana Pacers - 7½
Mr. A's
Hornets - 5
Raptors + 13½
Johnny Guild
Atlanta Hawks (28-38) at Washington Wizards (33-32)
The Hawks are a nasty 6-14 in its last 20 games and have dropped 13 of its last 15 on the road. Atlanta has not been successful against Washington, losing 13 of the last 16 clashes and seven of its last 8 at Washington. However, the Wizards have not been lucrative, just 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home and 2-5 ATS in the last seven meetings versus the Hawks at the Verizon Center. Take the points. The dog has been the best bet in this series, covering the spread in seven of the last 8 meetings. The last time these teams met, Washington won 102-98 in overtime at Philips Arena.
Atlanta Hawks + 5.5
EZ Winners
5 STAR: (554) WASHINGTON (-5.5) over Atlanta
(Risking $550 to win $500)
2 STAR: (551) NEW YORK (+7.5) over Indiana
(Risking $220 to win $200)
2 STAR: (556) ORLANDO (-6) over Cleveland
(Risking $220 to win $200)