Tuesday's Best NBA Bets
By Covers.com
Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat (N/A)
The last time LeBron James faced his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers went on a 18-5 run to finish the game in a 102-90 victory.
King James did his part by posting a triple-double, but it wasn’t nearly enough to help Heat backers cover as 13.5-point favorites.
“He’s like a brother to me,” Cavs rookie Tristan Thompson told of James. “But at the same time, it’s a business. We’re trying to go to Miami and win the game. That whole friendship feeling is out the window when we get on the court, and I think he has the same mindset, too.”
James probably won’t have Dwyane Wade to lean on Tuesday as his partner in crime continues to battle an ankle injury. He has missed the last four games and is listed as questionable again.
Pick: Under
New York Knicks at Charlotte Bobcats (4.5, 191)
The Knicks are basically grasping at straws for answers as they head into Tuesday’s game having lost six in a row both straight up and against the spread.
Their latest setback was a 119-114 double overtime loss to Denver as 2-point favorites. Carmelo Anthony finished with 25 points, but some are speculating he is taking too many shots. ‘Melo had 30 attempts in 45 minutes against the Nuggets.
"There is a bunch of stuff that goes through my mind: what am I doing? What am I not doing?" Anthony told reporters. "I have been in this situation before when shots don't go in. Should I pass it more? Bunch of stuff coming in my mind. I am sitting here thinking, maybe I should take the blame for the games we are losing, our offensive struggles. I will take it."
New York needs to get Amar’e Stoudemire more involved in the offense. He had 12 points against Denver and has topped the 20-point plateau just once during the team’s losing skid.
This may be the game the Knicks get back on track. Charlotte will be without point guard D.J. Augustine and the Bobcats allow more than 101 points per game.
Pick: Over
Hot Teams
-- Orlando won six of last eight games but scored 20 points in second half of hideous loss in Boston last night. Indiana won all five games at home, covering four of them.
-- Miami covered four of its last five home games.
-- Portland covered six of its last seven home games. Grizzlies won last seven games; they were down 17 in fourth quarter in Oakland last night, rallied to win.
Cold Teams
-- Charlotte lost six of last seven home games; they're 3-3 as home dog. Knicks lost last six games; they're 3-4 on road, 2-2 as road favorite.
-- Cavaliers lost their last three games, by 10-39-27 points.
-- Toronto lost last eight games, covered two of last six on the road. Suns lost six of their last eight games- they're 2-3 as a home favorite.
Totals
-- Six of seven New York road games stayed under.
-- Last four Orlando games stayed under the total.
-- Four of last five Cleveland road games went over total.
-- Under is 7-2-1 in Toronto road games this season.
-- Seven of eight Memphis road games stayed under total.
Wear and Tear
-- Knicks: Had last two nights off. Bobcats: 3rd game/4 nites.
-- Magic: 6th game/9 nites. Pacers: 3rd game/5 nites.
-- Cavaliers: Had last two nites off. Heat: 4th game/6 nites.
-- Raptors: 3rd game/5 nites. Suns: 5th game/8 nites.
-- Grizzlies: 5th game/7 nites. Blazers: 5th game/7 nites.
NEW YORK (6 - 10) at CHARLOTTE (3 - 14)
Top Trends for this game.
NEW YORK is 3-13 ATS (-11.3 Units) in all games this season.
NEW YORK is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) in January games this season.
NEW YORK is 17-6 ATS (+10.4 Units) on Tuesday nights over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
CHARLOTTE is 6-3 against the spread versus NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
NEW YORK is 5-4 straight up against CHARLOTTE over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
ORLANDO (11 - 5) at INDIANA (11 - 4)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
INDIANA is 4-3 against the spread versus ORLANDO over the last 3 seasons
ORLANDO is 6-1 straight up against INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
5 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
CLEVELAND (6 - 9) at MIAMI (11 - 5)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
CLEVELAND is 5-2 against the spread versus MIAMI over the last 3 seasons
CLEVELAND is 4-3 straight up against MIAMI over the last 3 seasons
4 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO (4 - 13) at PHOENIX (6 - 10)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 3-1 against the spread versus TORONTO over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 4-0 straight up against TORONTO over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
MEMPHIS (10 - 6) at PORTLAND (10 - 7)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
PORTLAND is 3-3 against the spread versus MEMPHIS over the last 3 seasons
PORTLAND is 4-3 straight up against MEMPHIS over the last 3 seasons
5 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
NEW YORK vs. CHARLOTTE
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New York's last 6 games when playing on the road against Charlotte
New York is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Charlotte
Charlotte is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games at home
Charlotte is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games at home
ORLANDO vs. INDIANA
Orlando is 3-6-2 ATS in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Indiana
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Orlando's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Indiana's last 8 games when playing Orlando
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Indiana's last 5 games at home
CLEVELAND vs. MIAMI
Cleveland is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 5 games on the road
Miami is 12-4 SU in its last 16 games when playing at home against Cleveland
Miami is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Cleveland
TORONTO vs. PHOENIX
Toronto is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Toronto is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Phoenix
Phoenix is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Toronto
Phoenix is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
MEMPHIS vs. PORTLAND
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Memphis's last 6 games
Memphis is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Portland is 11-3 SU in its last 14 games when playing Memphis
Portland is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Memphis
NEW YORK at CHARLOTTE
NEW YORK: 17-6 ATS on Tuesday nights
CHARLOTTE: 11-25 ATS in home games after playing 2 consecutive games as an underdog
ORLANDO at INDIANA
ORLANDO: 11-25 ATS after playing a game as a road favorite
INDIANA: 32-19 ATS after playing a road game
CLEVELAND at MIAMI
CLEVELAND: 18-3 UNDER after 5 or more consecutive overs
MIAMI: 4-15 ATS in home games after 1 or more consecutive losses
TORONTO at PHOENIX
TORONTO: 14-26 ATS as an underdog of 3.5 to 9.5 points
PHOENIX: 46-30 ATS after having won 2 of their last 3 games
MEMPHIS at PORTLAND
MEMPHIS: 16-5 ATS after a win by 6 points or less
PORTLAND: 50-82 ATS as a home favorite of 3.5 to 6 points