Game of the day: Celtics at Rockets
By Covers.com
Boston Celtics at Houston Rockets (-2.5, 205.5)
The road has not been very kind to the Boston Celtics so far. A three-game trip starting at the Houston Rockets on Friday is going to make it tough to change their fortunes. The Celtics have won four straight at home after surviving the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday but have dropped four of their last five away from TD Garden. The Rockets have been much better at home and appear to be getting their defense under control.
Houston had surrendered an average of 113.6 points in its previous eight games before settling down in a 99-93 win over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday. The Celtics will provide a stiffer offensive test, with point guard Rajon Rondo playing well and Paul Pierce coming off his highest scoring total of the season. It’s likely that both Rondo and Pierce and perhaps a few others will take turns guarding Houston leading scorer James Harden, who scored 31 points in his return to the lineup Wednesday after missing a game.
ABOUT THE CELTICS (12-9, 8-11-2 ATS): Boston has been getting better on the defensive end the last two weeks, having held six straight opponents below 100 points before a 117-115 double overtime win over the Mavericks on Wednesday. The Celtics forced 28 turnovers in that game, including three in the final 1:07 of the second overtime. Boston’s improvement on the defensive end has given the offense a chance to gel. Pierce is leading the team in scoring at 19.9 points but had been held below 20 in five of the previous six before exploding for 34 against Dallas. The one consistent threat on offense has been Rondo, who has reached double figures in assists in all but one of his starts and has pulled down 10.3 rebounds in the last three contests.
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (10-11, 9-11-1 ATS): Houston has had its own problems on defense and ranks last in the NBA in points allowed, surrendering an average of 104.8. The offense, which puts up 104.2, has been able to bail the team out at times but could not keep up during the recent losing streak. Wednesday was a switch in the other direction, as the Rockets held the Wizards to 39.3 percent shooting. Harden, who sat out Tuesday’s 134-126 overtime loss to San Antonio with a sprained ankle, returned to the lineup with 31 points in the win over Washington. Harden has pulled out of a lengthy shooting slump by connecting on 50 percent or better from the field in each of the last three games.
TRENDS:
* Under is 6-1 in the last seven meetings in Houston.
* Celtics are 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings in Houston.
* Underdog is 7-2 ATS in the last nine meetings.
* Road team is 9-2 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Rockets PG Jeremy Lin, who exploded for a season-high 38 points without Harden on Tuesday but was back down to 10 on 4-of-8 shooting Wednesday. Lin has been held to 10 points or less in four of the last five contests.
2. Pierce has averaged 21.6 points in 24 career games against Houston.
3. Boston had taken three straight in Houston before dropping its last trip, 93-77, on Mar. 18, 2011.
Friday Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
With the college basketball providing very limited selection during mid-to-late December, the NBA is taking center-stage with hardwood bettors. The Friday card showcases teams looking to make a push above the .500 mark (Indiana and Dallas), while others try to keep up their winning ways (Golden State). We'll start in Indianapolis with a pair of Eastern Conference clubs attempting to make their mark in the playoff discussion.
76ers at Pacers
Indiana is seeking some consistency following a subpar start, as the Pacers have won and cashed in seven of their last 11 games. Frank Vogel's defense stepped up in Wednesday's victory over the Cavs, limiting Cleveland to just 23 points in the second half after allowing 58 in the first 24 minutes. Indiana cashed the 'under' of 189, while improving to 4-1 ATS the last five opportunities as a home favorite.
The 76ers head into the heartland off Wednesday's home defeat to the Bulls as two-point 'chalk,' a 96-89 setback. Philadelphia has now alternated wins and losses in each of its last five games, while posting a 6-2 ledger to the 'under' the previous eight road contests. Doug Collins' team continues to be an automatic 'over' bet at home by cashing eight straight in Philadelphia, but the highway is a different story as the Sixers have busted the 100-point mark twice in eight away games.
The Pacers continue to own one of the league's top defenses by allowing 91.3 points per game and 41% shooting from the floor. In six of nine home games, Indiana has held opponents to 90 points or fewer, but the 'under' is just 5-4 in this stretch. However, the Pacers have struggled to capitalize off a home victory by putting up an 0-5 SU/ATS following a win at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Warriors at Magic
Golden State is living up its to name right now by being golden to backers with a 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS record on its current eight-game road trip. The biggest triumph came on Wednesday as the Warriors knocked off the defending champion Heat, 97-95 to cash as 8½-point underdogs. The Warriors' next stop is a revenge contest in central Florida against the Magic, who fell short in their first game back from a long road swing.
Since beating the Nuggets on opening night, the Magic has failed to cover in six straight opportunities as a home underdog, including Wednesday's setback to the Hawks. Orlando overcame several double-digit deficits, but couldn't cash as five-point 'dogs in an 86-80 loss, as Jacque Vaughn's club has drilled the 'under' in five straight games. The Magic actually handed Golden State its last defeat prior to this five-game hot streak, as Orlando went into Oracle Arena on December 5 and stunned the Warriors, 102-94 as 9½-point 'dogs.
Mark Jackson's squad continues to be the surprise of the league at 15-7, including seven of those wins away from the Bay Area. From an ATS standpoint, the Warriors own a splendid 7-2 ATS record as a favorite, while allowing less than 100 points in eight times in this situation. Golden State has cashed the 'over' in eight of the previous 10 contests with the total set at below 200, which is the case on Friday night.
Celtics at Rockets
Boston embarks on a three-game road trip, including a back-to-back set in the Lone Star State. The C's travel to Houston looking for their third winning streak of three games this season following consecutive home triumphs over the 76ers and Mavericks. Wednesday's victory over Dallas came in two overtimes, but the Celtics failed to cash as six-point favorites, falling to 2-5-1 ATS off an ATS cover this season.
The Rockets snapped a three-game skid with a 99-93 win over the Wizards on Wednesday, but Houston couldn't cover as 10 ½-point favorites. Kevin McHale's club is sliding from a pointspread perspective with an 0-4 ATS run, including a pair of home losses to the Mavericks and Spurs. Houston has compiled an impressive record against the Eastern Conference this season by going 7-1 SU and 8-0 ATS, as the lone loss came to the Heat on November 12.
The Celtics haven't been great away from TD Garden, posting a 3-5-1 ATS and 4-5 SU mark in nine road contests. Boston has won five of six games against the Western Conference, but the Celtics are hitting the highway versus the West for the first time this season. Looking ahead to Saturday at San Antonio, the C's are just 2-3 SU and 1-3-1 ATS with no rest, while this is the second time Boston is playing the front-end of a back-to-back on the road.
Grizzlies at Nuggets
Memphis continues its away swing through the Mountain Time Zone, looking to bounce back after suffering a two-point defeat at Phoenix on Wednesday. The Grizzlies head to the thin air of the Pepsi Center, taking on a Nuggets' squad that returns home following a 2-3 SU and 3-2 ATS road trip. This is just a one-game homestand for George Karl's team, who heads to Sacramento on Sunday.
The Nuggets have compiled a 4-2 ATS record at the Pepsi Center, while winning five times. Denver hasn't exactly beaten the best competition at home, as the only two above .500 teams it has a victory over is Golden State and Utah (Jazz is 4-9 SU on road). With the uptempo style Karl employs, the Nuggets have hit the 'over' in just two of six home contests.
The Grizzlies started the season at 12-3 ATS, but Memphis has stumbled in the pointspread department by going 0-3-1 ATS the last four games. Lionel Hollins' team still hasn't allowed over 100 points since an opening night loss to the Clippers, a stretch of 18 contests. Memphis is 5-3 ATS on the highway, but has failed to cover in its last two chances as road 'chalk' at New Orleans and Phoenix.
NBA Point Spreads and Trends: Friday, Dec. 14
By: The Linemakers
Sportingnews.com
There are 11 games on Friday night’s NBA schedule. Among the highlights: the Rockets host the Celtics, the Grizzlies visit Denver, and — this is getting repetitive — the Lakers desperately need a win.
The lines below are from the LVH SuperBook as of about 10:45 a.m. PT.
NBA trends
* The Lakers have covered four of their last five games on Friday nights, but they have covered only twice in their last seven games. The Wizards have covered their last four games coming off a loss. L.A. is laying 5.5 in Washington tonight.
* The Mavericks have covered their past four games, and five of their last six following a loss. The Raptors have covered their past four home games. The UNDER is 4-1-1 in the Raptors and Mavericks last six meetings in Toronto. Dallas is -5, and the total is 193.5.
* The 76ers have covered their last six Friday night games. The Pacers and 76ers have gone OVER the total in five of their last six meetings. Philly is a 5.5-point dog, with a total of 180.5.
* The Cavs have not covered their last four games against Eastern Conference teams. The Cavs and Bucks have gone OVER the total in seven of their past eight meetings. Cleveland is a 2-point home dog, and the total is 194.5.
* The Pistons have covered nine of their last 12 games when playing with two-days’ rest. The Nets have gone 7-1-2 ATS in their last 10 games coming off a win. Brooklyn is an 8-point favorite at home tonight.
* The Celtics have covered their past four games coming off a loss. The Rockets have covered seven of their last eight games against Eastern Conference teams. The Celtics and Rockets have gone UNDER the total in six of their last seven meetings in Houston. Houston is laying 2.5, and the total is 206.
* The T'Wolves have covered five of their last seven games. The Hornets have gone UNDER the total in six of their last seven home games. Minnesota is a 4-point favorite on the road, with a total of 184.
* The Thunder have covered their past four games coming off a one-day’s rest. They have also gone OVER the total in those same games. OKC is a 13-point favorite, and the total is 205.5 tonight.
* The Warriors have covered their past four games on one day of rest. The Magic and Warriors have gone UNDER the total in their past four meetings in Orlando. Golden State is a 4-point favorite tonight, and the total is 194.5.
* The Jazz have covered four of their past five games. The Jazz and Suns have played UNDER the total in seven of their last nine meetings. Utah is a 1.5-point favorite, with a total of 200 tonight.
* The Grizzlies have gone 4-0-1 ATS in their past five road games against teams with a winning record. The Nuggets have covered their last five home games following a road trip of more than seven days. The underdog has covered the last four meetings between the Grizzlies and Nuggets. The Nuggets are a 1-poin t home dog tonight.
NBA injuries:
* Nets center Brook Lopez (foot) is probable tonight.
* Cavs guard Dion Waiters (ankle) is questionable t.
* Lakers forward Pau Gasol (knee) is questionable.
* 76ers guard Jrue Holiday (foot) is questionable.
* Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (tricep) is doubtful.