Friday's NBA Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Raptors at Wizards
Toronto: 15-15 SU, 16-14 ATS
Washington: 14-15 SU, 17-12 ATS
Previous result: The Raptors rallied past the Pacers on Wednesday, 95-82 as 5½-point home underdogs to win their fourth straight game. The Wizards saw their modest two-game winning streak end in Wednesday's 87-78 home defeat as two-point favorites.
Last meeting: Toronto outlasted Washington, 96-88 in last November as 4 ½-point home favorites. The Raps built a 16-point lead, but trailed heading into the fourth quarter prior to a 30-18 outburst in the final 12 minutes.
Current betting streaks: The Raptors have covered six of their last seven games, while the Wizards have compiled a 7-3 ATS record the past 10 contests.
Pelicans at Celtics
New Orleans: 14-16 SU, 13-15-2 ATS
Boston: 13-18 SU, 15-15-1 ATS
Previous result: The Pelicans began a four-game road trip with a 124-112 defeat at Minnesota on Wednesday, allowing a season-high in points in a regulation contest. The Celtics' offense struggled again in last night's 94-82 setback at Chicago, their third consecutive road defeat.
Last meeting: These teams hook up for the first time this season, as the Celtics were swept by New Orleans last season, while the 'under' cashed each time.
Current betting streaks: Since sweeping a three-game away swing in early December, New Orleans has lost six of its past seven contests on the highway. The Celtics have failed to cover in each of their last six games, while cashing the 'under' in seven of the past eight away contests.
Warriors at Hawks
Golden State: 21-13 SU, 16-16-2 ATS
Atlanta: 18-14 SU, 18-14 ATS
Previous result: The Hawks rallied from an 18-point deficit in Tuesday's 92-91 victory at Boston, the sixth win in the last eight trips to the court. The Warriors shot lights out in last night's 123-114 triumph at Miami, the seventh straight victory for Mark Jackson's team.
Last meeting: Golden State grabbed both matchups with Atlanta last season, including a 115-93 blowout of the Hawks at Philips Arena as a 6½-point underdogs last December.
Current betting streaks: Atlanta has hit the 'over' in nine of the past 10 games, including five straight at home. Golden State owns a 1-4 SU and 2-3 ATS record with no rest as all five of those games came away from Oracle Arena.
Knicks at Rockets
New York: 10-21 SU, 11-20 ATS
Houston: 21-13 SU, 17-15-2 ATS
Previous result: The Rockets couldn't figure out the Kings for the second time in two weeks as Houston fell at home to Sacramento, 116-110 as 10-point favorites on New Year's Eve. The Knicks snapped a three-game skid in Thursday's 105-101 victory at San Antonio to cash as 11 ½-point road underdogs.
Last meeting: Houston outlasted New York at Madison Square Garden, 109-106 in mid-November as 1½-point road favorites. The Rockets have won eight consecutive matchups with the Knicks since 2010.
Current betting streaks: The Knicks have hit the 'over' in four straight road contests, while the Rockets have cashed the 'under' in four of the past five games.
Clippers at Mavericks
Los Angeles: 22-12 SU, 20-14 ATS
Dallas: 19-13 SU, 18-14 ATS
Previous result: The Clippers blew out the Bobcats, 112-85 to close out a three-game homestand, while covering as 10 ½-point 'chalk.' The Mavericks finished off a perfect 3-0 SU/ATS road trip by knocking off the Wizards, 87-78 to cash outright as two-point 'dogs.
Last meeting: These Western Conference rivals are hooking up for the first time this season, but the Clippers won two of three matchups last season. The lone game played in Dallas went to the Mavs in a 109-102 overtime triumph as short 'dogs.
Current betting streaks: Los Angeles has covered five of its last six road contests, while hitting the 'under' in three straight games away from Staples Center. Dallas has drilled the 'over' in four consecutive home contests, while winning four of its past five overall.
Grizzlies at Nuggets
Memphis: 13-17 SU, 10-19-1 ATS
Denver: 14-17 SU, 13-18 ATS
Previous result: The Grizzlies held off the Suns, 99-91 to cash as five-point road underdogs last night in a game that saw plenty of swings in the second half. The Nuggets have been a disaster recently, losing eight consecutive contests after getting trampled by the lowly 76ers, 114-106 as nine-point favorites.
Last meeting: Memphis destroyed Denver at FedEx Forum last Saturday, 120-99 to easily cover as three-point home favorites. Each of the last three meetings at the Pepsi Center has finished 'under' the total.
Current betting streaks: The Grizzlies have alternated wins and losses in each of their last five games, while hitting the 'under' in three straight road contests. Denver has covered just once during this eight-game skid, coming as a home 'dog to Miami earlier this week.
Jazz at Lakers
Utah: 11-24 SU, 15-18-2 ATS
Los Angeles: 13-19 SU, 17-14-1 ATS
Previous result: The Jazz won their second straight game, knocking off the woeful Bucks last night, 96-87 as 5½-point home favorites. The Lakers continue to struggle without Kobe Bryant as Los Angeles lost its sixth consecutive game in Tuesday's 94-79 home defeat to Milwaukee.
Last meeting: Utah held off Los Angeles last Friday at home, 105-103, but the Lakers took the money as 3 ½-point underdogs. The Jazz has won two of their past three visits to Staples Center, including a 117-110 triumph last December.
Current betting streaks: After a slow start, the Jazz have been extremely competitive on the road by splitting their last eight away contests (5-3 ATS). The Lakers' offense is struggling right now as evidenced by a 7-1 run to the 'under,' while scoring 95 points or less in four of the past six games.
Raptors on road for three
Sportspic.com
Toronto Raptors have jelled since the seven-player deal that shipped Rudy Gay to Sacramento posting a 9-3 SU/ATS mark while netting 101.7 points/game. The latest victim, a stunning 95-82 victory over Eastern Conference leading Indiana Pacers. Retooled Purple Dinos off the huge effort take the show on the road for three games starting Friday in Washington, then it's off to Miami on Sunday followed by a rematch in Indiana on Tuesday. Raptors are playing some terrific basketball right now and they've been solid bets away from the Air Canada Center (11-5 ATS) but backers face a bumpy road ahead.
Raptors are playing into same season revenge in Washington and Wiz are 3-1 ATS this season revenging a loss to an opponent and if you dress them up as a revenging dog they're a smart 22-13 ATS last two years including 11-3 ATS on home court. South Beach is a stiff challenge. The 'Three Amigos' haven't loss to the Raptors since they got together back in 2010 (12-0) and have cashed 8 of the 12 tickets running the hardwood with Raptors. The road finale in Indiana becomes an another challenge. Indiana will be pay-back mode and Pacers do have a profitable 14-4 ATS stretch revenging a loss to go along with a smart 11-5 ATS stretch on home court. One final betting nugget. Playing Miami takes its toll on Toronto as Raptors are on a 1-4 ATS skid following a game against Heat. (All stats as of January 2)
Clippers at Mavericks: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Los Angeles Clippers at Dallas Mavericks (+1.5, 203)
After shaking off a run of three losses in four games with a thrashing over Charlotte on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Clippers travel to Dallas on Friday for a tilt with the Mavericks. Los Angeles snuck in a win over lowly Utah on Saturday but hadn't been clicking in nearly two weeks before dominating the Bobcats. Coach Doc Rivers told reporters it was refreshing to see the Clippers returning to form, saying, "The ball was flying around the floor (against Charlotte) and that makes us really good."
Dallas is enjoying a three-game winning streak, but Wednesday's victory at Washington left the Mavericks less than satisfied. "We set the NBA back a couple years," forward Dirk Nowitzki told the Dallas Morning News of the 87-78 win, in which Dallas equaled its season low in points. Monta Ellis led the Mavericks with 23 points against the Wizards in what coach Rick Carlisle called the guard's best game since coming to Dallas as a free agent last summer.
LINE: The Mavericks opened as 1.5-point home dogs. The total opened at 204.5 and has moved down to 203.
COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Los Angeles (-12.5) - Dallas (-8.2) + home court (-3) = Dallas -1.3
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (22-12, 20-14 ATS): Forward Jared Dudley, who had been shooting at less than 39 percent from the field in a six-game stretch prior to Wednesday's win, knocked down 7-of-10, including 6-of-9 3-pointers, for 20 points against Charlotte. The jolt in production should provide a major lift in morale for the seventh-year pro, who told reporters after the game, "For me, to see the ball go in once or twice breeds confidence." Los Angeles dished out a season-high 36 assists against the Bobcats, led by 14 from Chris Paul, whose 11.3 assists per game leads the NBA.
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (19-13, 18-14 ATS): Dallas overcame an eight-point third quarter deficit against Washington, limiting the Wizards to 17 points in the fourth quarter to win an ugly one. "It ain't always going to be perfect," forward Shawn Marion said, "but a win is a win." Ellis knocked down six free throws in the waning seconds Wednesday, prompting Carlisle to sing his praises for a well-rounded effort, saying, "He had such great command of the game. He made big plays and his string of free throws at the end of the game was the decisive factor."
TRENDS:
* Home team is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.
* Favorite is 9-4 ATS in the last 13 meetings.
* Clippers are 3-10 ATS in the last 13 meetings.
* Clippers are 1-5 ATS in the last six meetings in Dallas.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Los Angeles (104.7 points per game) and Dallas (103.3) each rank among the NBA's top 10 in scoring.
2. Nowitzki and PG Jose Calderon combined to shoot 6-of-28 from the field Wednesday and Calderon is shooting less than 35 percent in his last four games.
3. Clippers SG J.J. Redick had a cast removed from his right hand but is still at least three weeks away from returning to the lineup, recovering from a broken wrist.