NBA Betting News and Notes
By Covers.com
Each week, we look back on the NBA betting scene and give you the best –and worst – basketball bets, as well as some spots to keep an eye on with the upcoming schedule.
Stats and records as of Feb. 3.
Hottest ATS
Dallas Mavericks (2-2 SU, 4-0 ATS)
The Mavs made some serious coin this week, covering in four straight including three on the road. Dallas was an underdog in all three of those games, improving to 16-10 ATS away from home. The Mavericks will be road dogs again in Oklahoma City Monday, especially if Dirk Nowitzki misses another game.
Coldest ATS
Orlando Magic (0-5 SU, 1-4 ATS)
Tough week for the Magic, playing five games in seven nights. Orlando took four of those five losses away from home, but did manage to salvage a cover in Saturday’s 107-98 loss at Milwaukee. The Magic, who are actually 13-9-1 ATS as guests, close out a five-game road swing in Philadelphia Monday.
Best over
New Orleans Hornets (1-4 SU, 4-1 over/under)
The soon-to-be Pelicans suffered away from New Orleans last week. The Hornets dropped four of five on the road, allowing an average of over 105 points per game in that stretch. New Orleans had a hard time keeping up with star guard Eric Gordon slowed by a nagging knee injury. He’s questionable versus the Suns at home Wednesday.
Best under
Washington Wizards (0-4, 0-4 over/under)
The Wizards have a hard enough time scoring on their own, let alone matching up with some of the NBA’s better defensive squads. Washington played under the number in all four games last week, visiting San Antonio, Memphis and Philadelphia. It also stayed below the total versus Sacramento, which posted an identical 0-4 over/under mark last week.
Scouting the schedule
Both the Lakers and Clippers are on extended road trips thanks to the Grammy Awards taking over the Staples Center. The Lakers wrap up a seven-game swing at Detroit, Brooklyn,
Boston and Miami while the Clippers visit Washington, Orlando, Miami and New York. The Los Angeles teams are a combined 18-26-1 ATS on the road as of Sunday.