NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Charlotte Bobcats at Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers (19-3, 16-6 ATS) showing their clearly the class of the league Tuesday night knocking off Heat and 'The Three Amigos' take a step down in class when they host Charlotte Bobcats (10 12, 13-8-1 ATS). Pacers a perfect 10-0 (7-3 ATS) on home court winning by a margin of 14.0 PPG aren't about to drop this one. But, covering the expected 12.5 points could be dicey. Bobcats the leagues second best in scoring defense (92.4) and one of the best underdogs in the league (11-5-1 ATS) can give Pacers a run for the money. Bobcats have a few other compelling betting numbers in their favor - Bobcats are on a cash grabbing 5-1 ATS stretch last six on the hardwood and own a profitable 7-1-1 ATS mark on the road including 2-0-1 ATS as DD road underdogs. Bobcats also 4-1 ATS as an underdog vs the Central while Pacers hit the hardwood a vig losing 2-2 ATS as DD home favorite.
Lakers at Thunder: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder (-13, 207.5)
The Los Angeles Lakers are winless in two games since Kobe Bryant's return, and they'll be hard-pressed to change that when they travel to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder on Friday. The Lakers are trying to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season, even as their star eases back into action after a torn Achilles tendon. Oklahoma City has won four straight and 12 of 13 and owns a 10-0 home mark.
Bryant has faced mixed results in his return, scoring only nine points on 2-of-9 shooting in his debut against Toronto but scoring a team-high 20 in a 114-108 loss to Phoenix on Tuesday. "It's a process," Bryant told reporters. "You just continue to figure out what you can and can't do. Every game you try to step up and do a little bit more and just go from there." The Thunder have done just about everything right lately - they've lost only once since Nov. 14.
LINE: Oklahoma City opened -10.5 and have been bet up to -13. The total dropped from 208.5 to 207.5.
COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Lakers (-4.8) - Thunder (-13.0) + Home Court (-3.0) = Thunder -11.2
ABOUT THE LAKERS (10-11, 12-8-1 ATS): Los Angeles will need Bryant's role to shift with the news that point guard Steve Blake will miss at least six weeks with a torn elbow ligament. The Lakers lean heavily on their outside shooting - they lead the NBA with 10.3 3-pointers - but lost one of their best bombers in Blake. Perhaps of greater concern is shoring up the defense, as the Lakers have allowed an average of 108.5 points over their past four games and have to face a red-hot offensive team in Oklahoma City.
ABOUT THE THUNDER (17-4, 12-9 ATS): Oklahoma City loves to get out in transition, ranking third in the league with 17.3 fast-break points, and should have success against a Lakers team that allows 17.7 fast-break points per contest - second-most in the NBA. Kevin Durant (28.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists) and Russell Westbrook (21.2 points, 6.4 assists, 4.9 rebounds) are the catalysts at both ends, but the Thunder are getting more from their role players this year. Serge Ibaka (14.8 points, 9.8 rebounds) continues to improve in the post, and guards Reggie Jackson (12 points) and Jeremy Lamb (9.4 points) have provided a spark off the bench.
TRENDS:
* Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Oklahoma City.
* Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
* Lakers are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
* Thunder are 5-1 ATS in their last six home games.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Oklahoma City is 13-1 when outrebounding its opponent.
2. The Lakers average 47.8 bench points and their reserves have outscored their counterparts in 18 of 21 games.
3. Durant has scored 35 points or more in four of his last five regular-season games against the Lakers.
Friday NBA Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Wizards at Hawks
Washington: 9-11 SU, 11-9 ATS
Atlanta: 11-11 SU, 13-9 ATS
The Wizards hit the road following close consecutive home losses to the Bucks and Nuggets, as Washington travels to Atlanta for a division matchup. In spite of the back-to-back defeats, the Wizards have won seven of their past 11 games, including a 108-101 home victory over the Hawks in late November to cash as 4½-point favorites. Washington has stumbled on the highway with a 3-7 SU and 5-5 ATS record, with all three wins coming against Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Milwaukee.
The Hawks fell short against the surging Thunder in Wednesday's 101-92 defeat, as Atlanta concludes a four-game homestand on Friday. Atlanta's four-game 'over' streak ended in the loss to OKC, while the Hawks' run of four consecutive contests scoring at least 100 points was snapped. The Hawks have owned the Wizards at Philips Arena recently, beating Washington 10 straight times, while posting a 6-3-1 ATS record.
Lakers at Thunder
Los Angeles: 10-11 SU, 12-8-1 ATS
Oklahoma City: 17-4 SU, 12-9 ATS
Kobe Bryant hits the road for the first time this season after the Lakers dropped home contests to the Raptors and Suns as home favorites. Los Angeles has performed well against the number away from Staples Center recently, cashing in four straight road games, while winning three times outright as an underdog. The Lakers have allowed at least 100 points in five consecutive contests, including an average of 110 points per game in each of the two games since Bryant has returned to the lineup.
The Thunder remains one of two teams in the league that has not lost at home yet this season (Indiana the other) by posting a 10-0 SU and 6-4 ATS record at Chesapeake Energy Arena. OKC has eclipsed the 100-point mark in six of the last seven games, while picking up home victories over San Antonio, Indiana, and Golden State this season. The Lakers have lost six straight visits to Oklahoma City since 2012, but the Thunder covered just three times in that span.
Wolves at Spurs
Minnesota: 11-11 SU, 11-11 ATS
San Antonio: 17-4 SU, 11-10 ATS
These two teams are meeting for the first time this season after getting smoked out in their last matchup. Minnesota and San Antonio were set to face off in Mexico City on December 4, but a generator malfunction in the arena caused smoke and ultimately postponed the contest. The Spurs have been on fire of late, scoring 116 points at Toronto and 109 points at Milwaukee in double-digit road victories this week. San Antonio has failed to cover each of its last three home games, which includes outright defeats to Houston and Indiana.
The Wolves erased a 19-point deficit in Wednesday's 106-99 home victory over Philadelphia, but failed to cash as heavy 13-point favorites. Minnesota is making its third trip to Texas this season, losing to the Rockets by 11, while knocking off Dallas as short favorites in late November. Each of Minnesota's last three road games have clearly sailed 'over' the total, as the Wolves have scored at least 103 points in all three away contests since Thanksgiving. These two clubs split four matchups last season, including Minnesota going 1-1 SU and 2-0 ATS in San Antonio.
Jazz at Nuggets
Utah: 5-19 SU, 10-13-1 ATS
Denver: 13-8 SU, 11-10 ATS
The Jazz snapped a four-game skid in Wednesday's resounding 122-101 rout at Sacramento, as Utah put up a season-high in points, while cashing outright as 6½-point underdogs. Utah tries to avoid its league-high 20th defeat on Friday, as the Jazz own a dreadful 0-5 SU and 1-4 ATS record against Northwest Division opponents. Tyrone Corbin's club has finished 'over' the total in each of the last three road games, while looking to avenge a 100-81 defeat in Salt Lake City to the Nuggets in mid-November.
The Nuggets return home off a 4-2 SU and 3-3 ATS road swing, as Denver hopes to get point guard Ty Lawson back in the lineup. Lawson sat out the wins at Philadelphia and Washington with a hamstring injury as his status is up in the air for Friday night. Denver is playing just its fourth game at the Pepsi Center since November 16, as the Nuggets have won six consecutive home contests since losing the first two to Portland and San Antonio.
Rockets at Warriors
Houston: 15-8 SU, 12-10-1 ATS
Golden State: 13-10 SU, 10-11-2 ATS
The Rockets continue a three-game West Coast swing in Oakland, as Houston plays with no rest at Golden State after last night's loss at Portland. The last time these teams hooked up at the Toyota Center last Friday, the Rockets dominated the Warriors, 105-83 to easily cash as five-point favorites. Houston jumped out to a 61-36 halftime lead and never looked back, as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were held to 7-of-24 shooting from the floor. The Rockets have excelled on the second of a back-to-back this season by posting an impressive 4-1 SU/ATS record.
The Warriors rallied past the Mavericks in Wednesday's wild home victory, but failed to cover as six-point favorites. Since the starting the season 5-0 at Oracle Arena, Golden State has split each of its last four home contests, while cashing just once in a monster comeback triumph over Toronto. Golden State looks to overcome this Houston jinx, as the Rockets have beaten the Warriors eight of the last 10 meetings, including two losses in Oakland last season.