Monday NBA Tips
December 9, 2013
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Warriors at Bobcats
Golden State: 12-9 SU, 10-9-2 ATS
Charlotte: 9-11 SU, 12-7-1 ATS
The Warriors wrap up a three-game road trip tonight after splitting the first two contests at Houston and Memphis. Golden State has played six of its last seven games away from the Bay Area, but put together its most complete performance of this span with a blowout of the Grizzlies on Saturday, 108-82 to snap an 11-game skid against Memphis. The Warriors have drilled the 'under' in six of the past eight road contests, while playing only their second Eastern Conference squad on the highway.
In spite of a below .500 record, the Bobcats have turned into one of the more competitive teams in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte is 10-5-1 ATS as an underdog this season, but owns a 1-4 SU/ATS the last five opportunities in the home 'dog role. The Bobcats' defense has stepped up all season, while posting a 6-0-1 mark to the 'under' the last seven games at Time Warner Cable Arena.
Clippers at 76ers
Los Angeles: 13-8 SU, 11-10 ATS
Philadelphia: 7-14 SU, 9-12 ATS
The Clippers continue a seven-game road swing as L.A. tries to rebound off an 88-82 defeat at Cleveland on Saturday as six-point favorites. Los Angeles was limited to 32% shooting from the floor at Cleveland, while scoring a season-low 82 points. The Clips have done a solid job of bouncing back off a loss this season by going 5-2 SU/ATS, including a 2-1 SU and 3-0 ATS mark on the road.
The 76ers have lost eight of their past 10 games, with the only two wins in this span coming in overtime. Philadelphia was trounced by Denver on Saturday, 103-92, as star rookie Michael Carter-Williams missed his sixth game of the season due to injury (1-5 SU and 2-4 ATS). The Sixers have failed to cover in each of their last six games, while giving up at least 100 points in nine consecutive contests.
Nuggets at Wizards
Denver: 12-8 SU, 11-9 ATS
Washington: 9-10 SU, 10-9 ATS
The Nuggets finish off their six-game highway swing in the Nation's Capital tonight after snapping a two-game skid in Saturday's triumph at Philadelphia. Denver has posted a 3-2 SU/ATS record on this trip, while the previous five teams all own records below .500 on the season. Brian Shaw's team has won 11 of its past 15 games following a 1-4 start, while limiting five of their last six opponents to fewer than 100 points.
The Wizards have won seven of their past 10 contests, despite coming off an overtime loss to Milwaukee on Friday night. Washington has captured both games in the role of a home underdog this season, beating Brooklyn and Minnesota, while winning five of its previous six games at the Verizon Center. The Wizards surprisingly pulled off a season sweep of the Nuggets last season, while putting up 112 and 119 points in the two wins.
Magic at Grizzlies
Orlando: 6-14 SU, 10-10 ATS
Memphis: 9-10 SU, 6-12-1 ATS
Orlando has turned into a disappearing act on the road this season, losing nine of 10 games away from central Florida, including last night's 98-88 defeat at Houston. The Magic managed a cover as 13-point underdogs, but Orlando is riding a five-game losing streak, while scoring 91 points or less four times in this span.
The Grizzlies are coming off back-to-back home blowout losses to the Warriors and Clippers, while averaging 81.5 points in those defeats. Home has not been kind to Memphis recently, as the Grizzlies have lost six of their past seven games at FedEx Forum, while scoring 88 points or less in each setback. The good news for Memphis is this team has not lost three straight games this season, snapping a pair of two-game skids with the wins over the Lakers and Celtics last month.
Blazers at Jazz
Portland: 17-4 SU, 15-6 ATS
Utah: 4-18 SU, 9-12-1 ATS
The Blazers are coming off their fourth loss of the season after losing at the buzzer to Dallas on Saturday night. Portland hasn't dropped consecutive games this season, as the Blazers routed the Jazz on Friday, 130-98, while drilling 17 three-pointers in the blowout. The Blazers have finished 'over' the total in six of the last seven road contests, while going 8-0 on the highway against any team not named Phoenix (0-2 vs. Suns).
Utah blew a late lead in Saturday's overtime home defeat to Sacramento, but the Jazz has fared better as a home 'dog this season. Although Utah is 5-5 ATS when receiving points at home, the Jazz has beaten the Bulls, Rockets, and Pelicans in the home 'dog role. Tyrone Corbin's team is riding a 5-1 run to the 'over' the last six games, while allowing at least 103 points five times in this span.
Mavericks at Kings
Dallas: 13-8 SU, 11-10 ATS
Sacramento: 5-13 SU, 6-11-1 ATS
The Mavericks are starting to pick things up of late by winning three in a row, including road triumphs at New Orleans and Portland. Dallas has won and covered two of three games in the away favorite role, but the Mavs have failed to cash in their last five 'chalk' opportunities. Rick Carlisle's squad is just 2-5 SU and 3-4 ATS on the road off a win, as the Mavs have been listed as a favorite once in this situation, a one-point loss at Atlanta.
The Kings made waves on Sunday by pulling off a major trade which sends Rudy Gay from Toronto to Sacramento in a seven-player deal. Gay will not suit up for the Kings tonight, as Sacramento has lost four consecutive games at Sleep Train Arena. Sacramento did snap its six-game skid on Saturday with an overtime triumph at Utah, but the Kings have won back-to-back contests only once this season.