NBA Betting News and Notes
Covers.com
Despite record, Jazz strong ATS play against Pelicans
The Utah Jazz are dead last in the West, but bettors have to look their way against the Pelicans.
The Jazz are 10-3-1 against the spread when New Orleans travels to Utah and the Pelicans have not covered in their last four against the Jazz. The Pelicans have also failed to cover once in the teams three meetings this year, going 0-2-1.
As added incentive, the underdog also has a stellar mark in the series going 10-2-1 ATS in the past 13 meetings.
Don't expect a shootout between the Kings and Warriors
Under is the unquestionable trend when the Kings and Warriors meet, so don't be expecting a lot of offense.
Sacramento has gone under in 10 of there past 14 overall and have also failed to top the total in eight of their past nine road games. Golden State has also been the top under play all season in the NBA, coming in at an O/U record of 29-44-2.
The past six meetings between these teams in Oracle Arena, have seen them go under five times.
NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Washington Wizards at New York Knicks
New York Knicks making it 12-3 (10-5 ATS) last fifteen on the hardwood after picking up a massive 110-81 win over Brooklyn Nets took another step closer to qualifying for post season. Meanwhile, Washington Wizards with it's 118-92 destruction of Celtics have already punched their ticket into second season. This game meaning a lot more to New York expect Knicks to take care of business Friday night on MSG hardwood. Backing a team that has been a bad bet at home this season posting a 15-23 ATS record has it's challenges. However, New York has thrived in this spot. Knicks have posted a profitable 6-2 mark at the betting window as a home favorite following a game in which they netted =>110 points and have a smart 6-3 ATS record following a game in which they allowed =<90 points. One final betting nuggets our number crunching machine spews out. Knicks have done well of late vs a team with a winning record cashing 4-of-6 tickets.
Friday's NBA Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Pacers at Raptors
Indiana: 53-23 SU, 35-40-1 ATS
Toronto: 43-32 SU, 44-29-2 ATS
The Pacers started the second half of the season as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, vying for the best record in the NBA. Now, Indiana is just trying to cover games on a consistent basis, following Wednesday’s ATS loss in a 101-94 win over Detroit as 10-point favorites. Frank Vogel’s team owns a dreadful 2-18 ATS record the last 20 games, while posting a 1-13 ATS mark in the past 14 road contests. The Pacers will be playing with revenge on Friday after getting smoked in the second half of a New Year’s night loss at Toronto, 95-82 as 5½-point favorites.
The Raptors own a 2½ game lead over the Nets for the top spot in the Atlantic Division, as Toronto outlasted Houston on Wednesday, 107-103. Dwane Casey’s club has won four of their last five games, while going 7-2 SU/ATS the past nine contests at the Air Canada Center. The Raps are coming off an ‘over’ against the Rockets, as Toronto is 6-1 to the ‘under’ the last seven games following a home ‘over.’
Cavaliers at Hawks
Cleveland: 31-45 SU, 38-38 ATS
Atlanta: 32-42 SU, 31-42-1 ATS
The Hawks have completely fallen apart over the last two months, as this team is in danger of missing the playoffs. On the flip side, the Cavaliers have woken up from a slumber to get right in the thick of the Eastern playoff race for the final spot along with the Knicks. Cleveland won its first game with Kyrie Irving back in the lineup in Wednesday’s rout of Orlando, improving to 5-1 SU the last six contests and 8-1 ATS in the last nine games overall. Mike Brown’s club has cashed in five of its past seven on the highway, which includes outright wins at New York, Golden State, and Phoenix.
The meltdown is nearly complete for Atlanta, going 1-7 since a five-game winning streak, capped off by a 105-92 home defeat to the Bulls on Wednesday as two-point ‘dogs. How bad has it been since February 4 for the Hawks? Atlanta has lost 21 of its past 28 games, while going 5-22-1 ATS, which includes a 1-7 ATS mark in the favorite role. The only good news for the Hawks heading into Friday is the 2-0 record against the Cavs this season, which includes a buzzer-beating victory in two overtimes at Cleveland in late December.
Wizards at Knicks
Washington: 39-36 SU, 38-36-1 ATS
New York: 33-43 SU, 34-42 ATS
The Wizards clinched their first playoff berth since 2008 in Wednesday’s blowout of the Celtics, as Washington goes for its third victory over New York this season on Friday. From mid-January through March 1, the Wizards put together an unbelievable 10-1 ATS record away from the Verizon Center. However, Washington has stumbled to a 1-7 ATS mark in the past eight contests on the highway, while posting an 0-4 SU/ATS record in the role of a road underdog.
The Knicks have failed to duplicate last season’s run to an Atlantic Division championship, but New York is saving its best for last by winning 12 of its past 15 contests. Mike Woodson’s squad destroyed the rival Nets on Wednesday, 110-81 to easily cash as 2½-point favorites, while holding its third straight opponent to below 84 points. In the last meeting at Madison Square Garden in mid-December, the Wizards edged the Knicks, 102-101 as 1 ½-point underdogs to snap a 10-game road losing streak at New York since 2008.
Thunder at Rockets
Oklahoma City: 55-19 SU, 40-32-2 ATS
Houston: 49-25 SU, 37-35-2 ATS
The Thunder looks to pull off the four-game season sweep of the Rockets on Friday night, as Russell Westbrook is expected to sit out on the second of a back-to-back after they snapped San Antonio's 19-game winning streak. OKC has stepped up its defense in all three wins over Houston, limiting the Rockets to 98 points in each victory, while cashing the ‘under’ each time. Since the start of February, the Thunder has played with no rest just four times, but OKC owns a 2-2 SU and 1-3 ATS record in this situation.
The Rockets return to the Toyota Center following three consecutive losses, as Dwight Howard remains sidelined due to an ankle injury. Kevin McHale’s club had won 11 straight home games until falling to the Clippers on March 29 by a 118-107 count. In the last nine home contests against teams in the playoff hunt, the Rockets have managed to win seven times, which includes victories over Miami, San Antonio, Indiana, and Portland.
Game of the Day: Thunder at Rockets
Covers.com
Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets
The Oklahoma City Thunder made a statement and kept themselves in the race for the top spot in the Western Conference by knocking off the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. The Thunder will attempt to carry that momentum into the second night of a back-to-back when they visit the Houston Rockets on Friday. Oklahoma City has been keeping Russell Westbrook (knee) out of back-to-backs and does not expect to play him on Friday.
The Thunder will still have Kevin Durant, who is aiming to tie Michael Jordan with his 40th straight outing of 25 or more points. Jordan is the only person in the last 50 years with at least that many consecutive 25-point outings, accomplishing the feat in the 1986-87 season. The Rockets, who have dropped three straight, have a few players of their own that are capable of putting up gaudy point totals and might perform better in this meeting with Westbrook and frequent antagonizer Patrick Beverley (knee) both due to watch from the bench.
LINE HISTORY: Suggested odds out of Vegas have the Rockets as 1-point faves with a total of 212.
INJURY REPORT: Thunder: N/A. Rockets: C Dwight Howard (Doubtful, ankle), G Patrick Beverley (Mid April, knee)
WHAT THE SHARPS SAY: "Dwight Howard's absence has the Rockets reeling off three consecutive losses, so they'll obviously be highly-motivated for this showdown with the Thunder, who will be playing the second of back-to-back nights after facing the Spurs on Thursday. This will also mark Oklahoma City's second-straight game in front of a national TV audience. My clients and I won with the Thunder here in Houston earlier this season, but this is a trickier spot, regardless who the Rockets have on the floor. We can expect the line to be shaded in the Thunder's favor here, leaving little value in my opinion." Covers Expert Sean Murphy.
WHAT THE BOOKS SAY: "Houston been struggling recently, losers of three in a row, while OKC has won six of seven heading into the Spurs game Thursday, so we will be aware that more people will be likely to back OKC in this matchup regardless if Howard plays or not." Mike Perry, SportsBook.com
WHY BET THE THUNDER (55-19 SU, 40-32-2 ATS, 37-37 O/U): Oklahoma City came alive in the second half against San Antonio on Thursday. Durant scored 16 of his 28 after the break in the 106-94 win but did have one streak come to an end when he went 0-for-4 from 3-point range — the first time since March 2 he failed to connect from beyond the arc. The Thunder swept a three-game homestand but will play the next four and six of the final eight on the road as they attempt to close the gap on San Antonio, which leads the West by three games.
WHY BET THE ROCKETS (49-25 SU, 37-35-2 ATS, 38-34-3 O/U): Beverley is dealing with a torn meniscus — a similar injury to the one Westbrook suffered after being hit by Beverley in the playoffs last spring. The two were not shy about playing a physical game the last time the teams met, a 106-98 Thunder victory on March 11. Houston is also dealing with a nagging ankle injury to Dwight Howard as they try to hold off the Portland Trail Blazers for the No. 4 spot in the West. “All good teams have had their struggles,” James Harden told reporters after a 107-103 loss in Toronto on Wednesday. “Ours is coming late in the season and we’ve got to figure it out. All the top teams have been through a struggle like this.”
TRENDS:
* Thunder are 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.
* Under is 5-0 in the last five meetings.
* Under is 5-0 in Rockets last five Friday games.
* Rockets are 0-4 ATS in their last four games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
NBA Betting Guide and Picks
By: Michael Robinson
Sportingnews.com
The Houston Rockets look to avoid a season sweep (straight-up and ATS) at the hands of the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night (9:30 p.m. ET).
Both teams are dealing with major injuries as they fight for playoff positioning. This is the second half of the ESPN twin-bill, following Nuggets at Grizzlies (7 p.m. ET), with 14 games on the NBA docket overall.
Line: Houston -2.5, Total 211
The Rockets (49-25 SU, 37-34-3 ATS) have hit the skids in losing three straight games, both SU and ATS. The streak has coincided with injuries to both center Dwight Howard and point guard Patrick Beverley, with the defense surrendering 110 points per game over the stretch.
Beverley (knee) is likely gone until the playoffs, while Howard is doubtful for Friday after getting his ankle drained on Tuesday. Each has a decent replacement in Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik, but team depth has really taken a hit.
The Thunder (55-19 SU, 40-32-2 ATS) are coming off a 106-94 win over San Antonio, as 4-point home favorites, which ended the Spurs’ 19-game win streak. Reggie Jackson (back) returned after missing two games, and center Kendrick Perkins (groin) played for the first time since February.
Point guard Russell Westbrook scored 27 points against the Spurs, but he’s likely to sit out tonight’s game to rest his knees. That would be a big break for Houston – Lin has a lot of trouble guarding him.
The Thunder are 7-5 SU and ATS in the second game of a back-to-back this season. They are 1-6 ATS in their last seven road games.
Oklahoma City won and covered the season’s first three games against Houston by an average score of 109-92. All stayed UNDER the total, and UNDER is 8-1 in the last nine meetings overall.
Denver Nuggets at Memphis Grizzlies (-9, 200)
The Grizzlies (44-31 SU, 32-41-2 ATS) just completed a five-game road trip at 2-3 SU and 0-5 ATS. One of them was in Denver last Monday, a 94-92 win as 5-point road favorites. The home team is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings between the teams.
Memphis is in a three-way battle with Dallas and Phoenix for the final two playoff spots in the West. The sight of the FedExForum can’t come fast enough, as the team has won its last 10 games there, going 5-1 ATS in the last six.
The Nuggets (33-42 SU, 34-40-1 ATS) are out of the playoff race, but have been covering spreads (9-3 ATS in last 12) despite dealing with a lot of injuries. The schedule has been tough lately, and an explosive 137-107 home win over New Orleans on Wednesday broke a four-game losing streak.
Indiana Pacers at Toronto Raptors (-1, 186)
Indiana (53-23 SU, 35-40-1 ATS) snapped a three-game losing streak on Wednesday with a 101-94 home win over Detroit. The game went OVER the 190.5-point total after the UNDER was 9-0 in Indiana’s previous nine. The Pacers failed to cover as 10.5-point favorites and are a woeful 0-7 ATS in their last seven and 3-21-1 ATS in their last 25.
The Raptors (43-32 SU, 45-29-1 ATS) are fighting Chicago for the third seed in the Eastern Conference. Taking care of business at home is key, and they’re 7-2 SU and ATS in their last nine there after beating Houston (107-103 as 2-point favorites) on Wednesday. Point guard Kyle Lowry (knee) is doubtful after missing the Rockets game.
Toronto is 3-0 ATS against Indiana this year with the home team winning all three outright. All stayed UNDER the total with an average total points scored of just 172.3.
The Linemakers lean: The Pacers have been tumbling down our power ratings, now No. 7 on the list, and we can’t recommend a team that has covered just three spreads since the middle of February. But with Lowry sidelined, our money won’t be on Toronto, either.
Instead, we’re looking at the total. Defense hasn’t been the issue for Indiana, and Wednesday’s win vs. Detroit snapped a steak of nine straight UNDERs for the Pacers. This is a big game for both teams, which typically means a lot of defense. We’re on UNDER 186 tonight.