NBA betting trends, odds and predictions for Friday, December 16th, 2016 from various handicappers and websites
NBA Knowledge
Home side won six of last seven Detroit-Washington games; Pistons lost last four visits here, by 43-12-4-4 points (2-2 vs spread). Four of last five series games stayed under the total. Detroit won five of its last six road games, is 1-2 as a road favorite- five of his last six games stayed under the total. Washington won three of its last four games, is 1-2 as a home underdog. Over is 7-1 in Wizards’ last eight games.
Magic won their last four games with Brooklyn, winning by 7-34 points in last two series games played here. Four of last five series games stayed under. Nets lost five of last seven games, are 4-5-1 as road underdogs; four of last five Brooklyn games went over total. Orlando lost four of last five games, is 2-3-2 as a home favorite. Five of last six Magic games went over the total.
Celtics won five of last six games with Charlotte; road team won last five series games. Teams split last four series games played here. Over is 5-2 in last seven series games. Hornets lost their last three games, are 3-2-1 as road underdogs. Over is 3-1 in their last four road games. Boston lost its last three games, is 4-4 as a home favorite (0-3 in last three). Under is 5-2 in their last seven home games.
Raptors won eight of last ten games with Atlanta; home side won last four series games. Hawks lost last three visits to Canada by 8-8-44 points. Under is 5-2 in last seven series games. Atlanta lost five of last six road games; they’re 3-6 as road underdogs. Last three Hawk road games went over total. Toronto won nine of its last ten games; they’re 8-3 as home favorites. Five of last six Raptor games went over total.
Bucks beat Chicago by 11 at home last nite, their first win in last four games; Milwaukee is 1-6 as a road underdog. Four of Bucks’ last five games went over total. Chicago won four of last six games with Milwaukee; Bucks lost four of last five visits to Milwaukee. Under is 6-2 in last eight series games. Bulls lost five of their last seven games; they’re 3-5 as home favorites. Under is 4-1 in last five series games.
Grizzlies won nine of last ten games with Sacramento (7-3 vs spread); Memphis won last five series games played here, covered last three. Under is 8-2 in last ten series games. Kings lost six of last eight games, are 3-9 as road underdogs. Under is 6-2 in Kings’ last eight games. Memphis won seven of last eight games; they won last five home games (4-1 vs spread). Last five series games stayed under the total.
New Orleans lost six of last eight games, is 4-6-1 as a road underdog. Under is 8-4 in Pelican road games. Houston won its last eight games (6-2 vs spread); they’re 5-5 as home favorites. Over is 8-3 in their last eleven games. Rockets won five of last six games with New Orleans; Pelicans lost last three visits here, by 7-7-5 points. Six of last nine series games stayed under the total.
Lakers won four of last five games with Philly; they won three of last four visits here. Under is 5-1 in last six series games. Los Angeles lost its last eight games, is 1-7 in last eight games as a road underdog. Under is 5-1-1 in Lakers’ last seven road games. 76ers are 0-1 as a favorite this year; they’ve lost last seven home games, are 4-11SU at home, 4-2 vs spread in last six games overall. Four of last five Philly games stayed under the total.
Clippers won three of last four games with Miami; LA won by 17-7 points in last two visits here. Last three series games stayed under the total. Clippers won last three games by 28-1-5 points; they’re 1-5 vs spread in last six games as a road favorite. Five of LA’s last six games went over the total. Heat won last two games by 11-6 points; they’re 3-4 as home underdogs. Four of last five Miami home games went over the total.
Mavericks won seven of last ten games with Utah; Dallas won four of last six games in this building. Over is 5-5 in last ten series games. Dallas is 1-12 on road, 4-9 as a road underdog. Four of last six Dallas games went over the total. Jazz won eight of last ten games, is 5-6 as a home favorite. Last three Utah games stayed under the total.
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NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
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Atlanta Hawks at Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors will host the Atlanta Hawks in a Eastern Conference clash Friday night at the Air Canada Centre. Atlantic division leading Raptors enter 18-7 on the campaign and are one of the top ATS teams in the league at 18-6-1 against the betting line. Raptors one of the better team in offensive efficiency metrics (115.3 ppg) carry a sparkling 10-1 SU/ATS stretch into the game on a whopping 122.5 points per 100 possesions. As for Atlanta, the Hawks hitting a rough patch are 3-11 SU/ATS the past 14 games netting just 96.5 per 100 possesions with a horrible 107.0 defensive efficiency rating over the skid.
That huge discrepancy in scoring prowess along with the fact Raptors have dominated the series in Toronto winning and covering eight of the last ten including 6-1 SU/ATS at this venue sportsbooks have opened Raptors 8.5 point home favorites.
Consider laying the points. The Raptors can tap into home court advantage. In the past 38 regular season games in front of the home audience, Purple Dinos' have won 31 contest with just 7 losses. Add the great equalizer (point spread), Raptors are 24-13-1 against the spread. Another positive for Toronto supporters is the fact Hawks have not been a peg to hang your hopes on recently when travelling. The Hawks are just 2-7 SU, 3-6 against the betting line in their last nine road games. Hawks off a loss vs Magic is also good news for Toronto backers. That's because Hawks have not been able to picked themselves up after a loss. In the last seven following a defeat the Hawks are 1-6 SU/ATS.
Friday's Tip Sheet
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Home teams took care of business on Thursday night by winning four of five games in the NBA, while the Pelicans and Nuggets both won and covered as home favorites. The Spurs cruised past the Suns as eight-point road favorites, 107-92 to improve to 21-5 overall and 14-1 on the road. The Warriors returned from their long road trip and beat the undermanned Knicks, 103-90, but failed to cash as 17½-point favorites.
Game of the Night – Bucks at Bulls (-4½, 206)
These two Central division rivals meet for the second time in as many days after Milwaukee held off Chicago last night, 108-97 to snap a three-game losing streak. The Bucks jumped out to a 19-point halftime lead while owning as large as a 27-point advantage before Chicago cut the deficit to eight points with eight minutes remaining. Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 30 points and 14 rebounds, while Jabari Parker added 28 points for the Bucks, who improved to 9-6 at home.
Milwaukee has struggled with no rest this season by compiling an 0-4 SU/ATS record in this situation, as Jason Kidd’s squad has been limited to 83 points or fewer in three of those defeats. Chicago hasn’t fared much better on the second of a back-to-back by going 2-3 SU/ATS, while the Bulls are playing at home with no rest for the first time this season.
Chicago has dropped five of its past seven games since knocking off Cleveland two weeks ago, as the Bulls have posted a 1-6 ATS mark in this stretch. Fred Hoiberg’s team has failed to cash in its last four opportunities as a home favorite, but the Bulls beat the Bucks twice at the United Center last season with both victories coming by double-digits.
All that Jazz
Following an up and down first month of the season, Utah has rebounded back nicely by winning nine of its last 11 games. The Jazz sit atop the Northwest division with a 16-10 record following a 109-89 blowout of the Thunder on Wednesday to cash as 7½-point favorites. Utah is getting back to full health after forward Derrick Favors returned to the lineup on Wednesday following a 13-game absence due to a knee injury.
The Jazz go for their eighth home win in 10 tries tonight against a Mavericks’ squad that owns a dreadful 6-19 record. Dallas has lost 11 of 12 road contests this season, as the Mavs’ offense has scored 91 points or less in seven consecutive away games. The Mavs are making their second trip to Salt Lake City this season as Dallas lost at Utah on November 2 as 3½-point underdogs, 97-81. Tonight, the Jazz are listed as 12-point home favorites at Sportsbook.ag, as Dallas owns a 2-4 ATS record as a double-digit underdog.
Revenge of the Hawks
The last time Atlanta traveled north of the border, the Hawks were destroyed by the Raptors, 128-84 in early December as 8½-point underdogs. The Hawks are 7½-point ‘dogs tonight in their return to Air Canada Center as Atlanta has lost 11 of its past 14 games since a 9-2 start. The Raptors remain in first place of the Atlantic division at 18-7, including a 10-4 record at home. Toronto is the hottest ATS team currently in the league at 11-1 ATS the last 12 games, including a 7-0 ATS mark as a favorite of seven points or more in this stretch.
Shooting for 20
The Clippers continue their Sunshine State tour tonight after holding off the Magic on Wednesday, 113-108 to improve to 19-7. Los Angeles travels south to Miami tonight to face a Heat squad that is coming off back-to-back wins over the Wizards and Pacers. The Clippers are riding a 6-2 mark to the OVER the last eight games, while busting the 113-point mark six times in this stretch. Los Angeles has slumped from an ATS perspective recently by failing to cash in four of the past five games, but the Clippers won and covered in both meetings last season with the Heat.
Without Walker
Hornets’ leading scorer Kemba Walker will miss his first game of the season tonight at Boston to tend to a personal matter. The Celtics are expected to have their leading scorer back this evening as Isaiah Thomas will return following a four-game absence with a groin injury. Since beating Orlando on December 7, the Celtics have lost three straight games, including Wednesday’s setback at San Antonio.
Charlotte searches for its first road win on its current five-game trip after losing at Cleveland, Indiana, and Washington, while falling at home to Boston in late October, 104-98. The Hornets have won two of the last three visits to TD Garden, including a 114-100 triumph in Boston last season.
Head-to-head stats
The Wizards captured three of four meetings from the Pistons last season as the two teams meet tonight in Washington. The Pistons were limited to 95 points or less in the three losses, while Washington is 4-0 in the past four home meetings with Detroit.
Orlando swept the four-game set from Brooklyn last season, including the Magic dropping 139 points on the Nets in their final matchup. Three of the four games finished UNDER the total, as the Nets were limited to 93 points or fewer three times.
Memphis has dominated Sacramento over the years by winning nine of the last 10 meetings since November 2013, including a three-game sweep last season. The Grizzlies won both home matchups last season as 3½-point favorites, winning by four and six points.
Houston and New Orleans meet for the first time this season at Toyota Center as the Rockets went 3-1 last season against the Pelicans. In both meetings in Houston, each game finished UNDER the total as tonight’s total is listed at 220.
The Lakers and 76ers hook up in Philadelphia as the home team won each matchup last season. Los Angeles has won three of the past four meetings in Philadelphia, as the Lakers look to snap an 0-8 SU/ATS stretch the last eight games overall.
Jazz host Mavericks on Friday night
By: Sam Chase
StatFox.com
A banged up Mavericks frontcourt faces a challenge against Rudy Gobert and the Jazz.
The Mavericks lost their 19th game of the season on Wednesday night, losing 95-85 at home to the Pistons (DET -5.5) to fall to 6-19 on the year (10-15 ATS). Unsurprisingly, they are last place in the Southwest Division and in the Western Conference, and they are tied with Philadelphia for having the worst record in the NBA. They shot 41% from the field to the Pistons’ 50%; it was their fourth time in their last six games shooting under 42%. They also were outdone on the boards, as Detroit grabbed 54 rebounds and the Mavs only had 34. Dallas now takes to the road for a game against the Jazz that is between two teams headed in opposite directions. The Jazz won their most recent game, a 109-89 blowout win at home over the Thunder (UTA -7), to improve to 16-10 this year (14-10-2 ATS). The win gave Utah a one-game lead over OKC in the Northwest Division and put them in the No. 6 seed in the West. They were far more efficient than the Thunder, shooting 58.3% from the floor and holding Oklahoma City to 36.6% shooting. Over the last five seasons, teams coming off of two consecutive covers as a favorite (UTA) are 25-53 ATS against opponents coming off a home loss of 10 points or more. In the same time frame, teams that are road underdogs of 10 points or more, have played at least eight games in the last 14 days and are revenging a loss in which they scored 85 points or fewer—Dallas lost to Utah 97-81 on Nov. 3—are 28-8 ATS. The Mavericks have been (and remain) without several injured players, including PG JJ Barea, PF Dirk Nowitzki and C Andrew Bogut. Utah is missing SG Alec Burks and, most likely, PG George Hill, too.
Scoring 101 points per 100 possessions, the Mavericks have the second worst offensive efficiency rating in the NBA, just behind Philadelphia. Allowing 108.7 points per 100 possessions, they are ranked 23rd in defensive efficiency rating. And with a pace of 91.5 possessions per 48 minutes, they play the second slowest basketball in the league. Their leader in scoring, SF Harrison Barnes (20.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG) has proven himself capable of being the primary scoring option the Mavs were hoping to acquire in the offseason. It was hard to see the ceiling of Barnes’ talents on a loaded Warriors teams in the past few seasons, and now those evaluating his abilities face the opposite problem: Dallas is so bad that his production is usually a moot point in defeats. Other than the injured Nowitzki (12.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG in five games), the biggest name on the team’s aging core is probably PG Deron Williams (12.5 PPG, 6.5 APG). He spent the best years of his career on the Jazz, and he is averaging 16.2 points and 7.2 assists in 11 career games against his former squad. SG Wes Matthews (16.0 PPG, 1.3 SPG) had only four points against the Pistons, but he had scored at least 25 points in each of the three games prior to it. Without Bogut (3.8 PPG, 10.4 RPG) the Mavericks are particularly vulnerable in their interior defense. They may be without another center on Friday night in Salah Mejri (2.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG in TK MPG), who suffered a minor ankle injury against Detroit. He had seen an increase in playing time recently.
The only team that plays at a slower pace than the Mavericks is the Jazz, who average 91.4 possessions per 48 minutes. They use those possessions much more effectively, however, scoring 110.2 points per 100 possessions, which is the eighth best mark in the league. They’re also one of the league’s best defensive teams in allowing 104.1 points per 100 possessions (t-3rd in NBA). SF Gordon Hayward (22.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.1 SPG) continues to improve every season, so much so this year that he appears to be a legitimate No. 1 offensive option on a Western Conference playoff team. He’s been on fire in the month of December, averaging 26.3 points per game on 49.5% shooting (44.8% for the entire season). He’s tied for ninth among NBA power forwards in rebounds per game, too. SG Rodney Hood (16.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG) is another one of the Jazz’s rising stars, one who is slightly younger than Hayward. He got a little banged up and sat in two consecutive games recently, but returned with a vengeance against the Thunder, scoring 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting. C Rudy Gobert (11.8 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 2.8 BPG) is one of the few truly game-changing inside presences in the league today, and expect him to feast against the depleted Mavericks interior. He is second in the league in blocks per game and sixth in the league in rebounding. PF Derrick Favors (9.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG in 12 games) scored four points in 13 minutes against the Thunder in his first action in exactly a month.