Mavericks at Heat: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat (-8.5, 207.5)
Reigning MVP LeBron James called his inconsistent team “unmotivated” early in the week, but it won’t be hard for the Miami Heat to get up for the visiting Dallas Mavericks on Friday. The Heat responded with a 118-95 victory over Milwaukee on Tuesday and it will get much more difficult against the Mavericks, who join Miami among the top five offensive teams in the league. Monta Ellis and Dirk Nowitzki lead a Dallas squad that looks to extend its win streak to three.
The Mavericks, who beat the Heat in the 2011 finals, have won all four contests at home while losing three of four on the road. Miami averages 106.8 points to match Dallas, but James said the Heat are struggling on the defensive end. “We know when we’re on the top of our game defensively we’re one of the best defensive teams in the league, but you’ve got to do it,” James told the Miami Herald. “You can’t talk about it.”
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (5-3): Ellis, in his first season with Dallas, has not scored below 18 points in the first eight games and reached the 30s twice while averaging a team-high 22.5. Nowitzki passed Jerry West for 16th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list in the 105-95 victory over Washington on Tuesday and is scoring 18.3 per contest. Rookie guard Shane Larkin is close to a return from a broken right ankle, but won’t be able to make his debut in Miami where he led the Hurricanes to the ACC championship last season.
ABOUT THE HEAT (5-3): With all the struggles in the early season, Miami would have a five-game winning streak if not for Jeff Green’s long buzzer-beating 3-pointer that gave Boston a win last Saturday. James averages 25.5 points, Dwyane Wade 18.4 and Chris Bosh 17.3 while the Heat has allowed 100.1 per contest to stand in the middle of the pack after finishing fifth (95) last season. Michael Beasley played back-to-back games for the first time, contributing a season-high 19 points in 20 minutes against Milwaukee on Tuesday.
TRENDS:
* Over is 6-0 in the last six meetings.
* Mavericks are 4-0 ATS in their last four vs. NBA Southeast.
* Heat are 0-8 ATS in their last eight games following a ATS win.
* Over is 4-0 in Heat last four Friday games.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Miami F Udonis Haslem missed the last two games with back spasms and G Ray Allen sat out the Milwaukee contest with an illness.
2. Dallas G Jose Calderon needs one assist to become the 99th player in NBA history to reach 4,000 in his career.
3. The Heat have scored 100 points or more in the first eight games, a franchise record to start a season.
Friday NBA Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Blazers at Celtics
Portland: 6-2 SU, 5-3 ATS
Boston: 4-5 SU, 6-3 ATS
The Northwest Division is loaded right now with Oklahoma City and Minnesota coming up out of the gate strong. Portland shouldn't be discounted in this discussion, as the Blazers travel east looking for their fifth consecutive win. The Blazers finished up a two-game homestand with victories over the Pistons and Suns, while edging Phoenix, 90-89 on Wednesday as seven-point favorites. Portland's defense has stepped up of late, allowing 91 points or less three times during this hot streak.
The Celtics began the season with an 0-4 start, but Boston has heated up of late with a 4-1 mark the last five games. In fact, Boston saw its four-game winning streak halted by Charlotte on Wednesday night, while the C's failed to cover for the first time in six games. At home, the Celtics have scored at least 100 points just once in four tries, while wrapping up a three-game homestand before hitting the road for three starting Saturday in Minnesota.
Mavericks at Heat
Dallas: 5-3 SU, 5-3 ATS
Miami: 5-3 SU, 3-5 ATS
The rematch of both the 2006 and 2011 NBA Finals takes place in Miami as each of these squads have jumped out to a fast start. The Mavericks have dominated in the favorite role (5-0 SU/ATS), but own an 0-3 SU/ATS record as an underdog, with all three losses coming by at least eight points. In all three road defeats as a 'dog, Dallas has given up at least 107 points each time, while winning just once in four tries on the highway (at Milwaukee as a favorite).
The Heat's offense has busted the 100-point mark in all eight games this season, resulting in six 'overs.' Miami bounced back from a shocking home loss to Boston, as the Heat blew out the Bucks, 118-95 on Tuesday night as 13 ½-point favorites. The Heat hasn't covered consecutive games this season, posting a 1-3 ATS record off a victory. Since losing in the 2011 NBA Finals, Miami has beaten Dallas four consecutive times, as each meeting has eclipsed the 'over.'
Wolves at Nuggets
Minnesota: 6-3 SU, 7-2 ATS
Denver: 3-4 SU, 3-4 ATS
The Wolves are one of the most profitable teams in the league by covering seven of their first nine contests, including Wednesday's home blowout of the Cavaliers. Minnesota is a perfect 4-0 ATS away from the Target Center this season, as the two road losses came by a combined three points. Last season, the Wolves were just one of three teams to win in the regular season at the Pepsi Center, but Minnesota has put together a 2-11 SU and 10-3 ATS record the last 13 visits to Denver.
The Nuggets stumbled to an 0-3 start, but Brian Shaw's team has won three of their last four to pull within one game of the .500 mark. The latest victory came over the Lakers on Wednesday, a 111-99 triumph as 9 ½-point favorites, the first cover at the Pepsi Center in four attempts this season. After the offense struggled to put up points early in the season, the Nuggets have eclipsed the 100-point mark in four straight contests.
Nets at Suns
Brooklyn: 2-5 SU, 2-5 ATS
Phoenix: 5-3 SU, 7-0-1 ATS
These two teams are going in opposite directions from a pointspread standpoint, as Brooklyn continues its Western road swing in Phoenix. The Nets have been dreadful on the highway this season, posting an 0-4 SU/ATS record, with all four losses in the favorite role. The latest setback came at struggling Sacramento on Wednesday, as the Kings chased out the Nets, 107-86, the second 21-point road loss for Brooklyn.
The Suns have covered all but one game, including as seven-point 'dogs at Portland in a 90-89 defeat on Wednesday. Phoenix owns a perfect 4-0 record at home this season, while going 3-1 to the 'under.' The Suns have shined in the underdog role with a perfect 6-0 ATS mark, but four of those covers have come as a 'dog of seven points or more. The Nets swept the season series from the Suns last season, but Phoenix cashed as six-point 'dogs in a two-point home defeat.
Grizzlies at Lakers
Memphis: 3-5 SU, 1-7 ATS
Los Angeles: 4-6 SU, 5-5 ATS
The Grizzlies played in the Western Conference Finals last season, but Memphis has struggled to find its footing through the first two weeks. In eight games, Memphis has covered just once, while losing all three games away from FedEx Forum. The last three losses for the Grizzlies have come by 15 points or more, including a home defeat to the Raptors on Wednesday. Memphis begins a four-game road trip through California, which includes a back-to-back set with the Kings and Clippers starting Sunday.
The Lakers haven't won consecutive games this season, while three of their four victories have come at Staples Center. As a home 'dog, the Lakers are profiting nicely at 3-1 ATS, including outright wins over the Clippers and Hornets. Los Angeles is coming off consecutive 'overs,' as this is the third time the Lakers have hit back-to-back 'overs' this season. However, the Lakers finished 'under' the total in the following game the first two times around by at least 20 points.