Thunder at Spurs: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs (-2.5, 208)
The battle for the top spot in the Western Conference takes center stage Monday night when streaking Oklahoma City invades San Antonio. The Thunder ran their winning streak to five with a 91-79 win over Boston on Sunday, pulling to within one game of the idle Spurs. Kevin Durant had 23 points and 11 rebounds as Oklahoma City improved to 28-4 at home. The Thunder won despite producing their lowest scoring output in nearly two months.
The Spurs were streaking as well as this much-anticipated matchup approached, but they laid an egg Friday against Portland. The 136-106 setback was the second-worst ever for San Antonio at home and the 136 points were the most all-time by a Spurs opponent at the AT&T Center. It was San Antonio's first loss in three games since losing All-Star point guard Tony Parker to an ankle injury. Five players scored in double figures but the Trail Blazers, unlike the Celtics against Oklahoma City, had no problem putting the ball in the basket, shooting 61.6 percent from the floor.
ABOUT THE THUNDER (47-16): The league's top offense was limited Sunday but more than made up for it by clamping down on the other end. Oklahoma City held Boston to 25 percent shooting in the second half and without a field goal for nearly six minutes at one point down the stretch. The Thunder also forced 19 turnovers, which led to 19 points. Russell Westbrook chipped in 15 points but had a season-low two assists in the win. Serge Ibaka, who had seven points and seven rebounds, recorded 25 points and a season high-tying 17 rebounds in a 107-93 victory over the Spurs at home on Dec. 17.
ABOUT THE SPURS (48-15): San Antonio is 3-1 thus far on its five-game homestand. They won the first three by an average of 31.7 points before suffering the 30-point loss to Portland. Overall, the Spurs are 4-3 after a 16-1 stretch that had vaulted them past the Thunder. The embarrassing setback on Friday may serve as a wake-up call. "Obviously, we'll try and learn from it. There will be a bunch of film session involved with this one," said PF Tim Duncan, who led San Antonio with 18 points and eight boards.
TRENDS:
* Thunder are 5-1 ATS in their last six Monday games.
* Spurs are 5-1 ATS in their last six games vs. a team with a winning record.
* Thunder are 5-0-1 ATS in the last six meetings.
* Under is 9-1 in Spurs’ last 10 games playing on two days of rest.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Parker hit a buzzer-beater to give San Antonio an 86-84 win in the first meeting between the teams Nov. 1.
2. The Spurs have won the last five matchups with the Thunder at home.
3. The finale of the four-game season series is April 4 in Oklahoma City.
NBA Betting Preview
Sportspic.com
Denver Nuggets @ Phoenix Suns
When you scour several betting websites in an attempt to find good value, you might have to tread carefully here, but you'll probably want to stick with the team that's playing a better brand of basketball. You don't have to be a legal online sports betting genius in order to realize that the Nuggets are a poor road team, going 14-19 away from the Mile High City while loading up on home-court wins (27-3 entering Friday, March 8). Denver just doesn't establish the same pace it does at home, and the other thing to keep in mind is that the Nuggets - who are accustomed to playing at altitude - cannot benefit from playing in conditions that suit them. Phoenix - a team that beat the San Antonio Spurs on the road in late February - is certainly capable of pulling off what would be a slight (not substantial) upset. Yet, Denver is performing at a high level right now. The Nuggets have won seven straight games and have shaken off the doldrums that briefly affected them near the All-Star break. Yes, Denver is a different team on the road, but is Phoenix likely to take advantage of this fact? No. Pick the Nuggets here. Pick: Denver
New York Knicks @ Golden State Warriors
When you examine an online sports book, it's prudent to assess a fuller contextual situation as you ponder your next betting move. Yes, Golden State has wobbled over the past few weeks, but one must point out that New York had to play without Carmelo Anthony this past Thursday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Surely, the Knicks would have played Anthony in such a high-profile game if it was at all possible, so as New York begins an extended road trip - due to the fact that Madison Square Garden will be reserved for the 2013 Big East Conference Basketball Tournament - the Knicks find themselves far less healthy than they'd like. Golden State should be able to get out in transition and run New York ragged. These teams played an even-steven game in New York a few weeks ago; the Warriors should get the edge in Oakland. Pick: Golden State
Monday's NBA Betting News and Notes
By Covers.com
Check out our betting notes on all five games in the NBA Monday:
Brooklyn Nets at Philadelphia 76ers (+5.5, 184.5)
The Sixers have seen their postseason hopes vanish after losing five straight and 12 of their last 13 games. Coach Doug Collins has experimented with his lineup over the last two games and given rare starts to guards Charles Jenkins and Damien Wilkins. The Nets have won three straight to move 2 1/2 games out of second place in the East. Brooklyn has held its last seven opponents under 100 points and limited the Hawks to just 14 second-quarter points on Saturday. The road team is 6-0 ATS in the last six meetings.
Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs (-2.5, 208.5)
The Thunder ran their winning streak to five with a 91-79 win over Boston on Sunday, pulling to within one game of the idle Spurs. The Spurs were streaking as well as this much-anticipated matchup approached, but they laid an egg Friday against Portland. The 136-106 setback was the second-worst ever for San Antonio at home and the 136 points were the most all-time by a Spurs opponent at the AT&T Center. The Spurs have won the last five matchups with the Thunder at home, but Oklahoma City is 5-0-1 ATS in the last six meetings overall.
Detroit Pistons at Utah Jazz (-9.5, 196)
Utah went 0-4 on its road trip to fall a half-game behind the surging Los Angeles Lakers for eighth place in the West. Utah's first three losses on the road trip were by a combined five points before it was blown out in New York on Saturday to fall to 1-7 in its last eight games. The Jazz have won 13 of the last 14 meetings with the Pistons and beaten them nine consecutive times in Salt Lake City. Detroit has dropped 14 straight road games to Western Conference opponents and is 1-5 ATS in its last six vs. Western foes.
Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns (+8.5, 209.5)
The Nuggets have ripped off eight straight victories to inch closer to the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies in the battle for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. Denver, which won nine straight from Jan. 20-Feb. 9, had taken six consecutive meetings against the Suns before falling 110-100 in Phoenix on Nov. 12. The Nuggets have averaged 116.9 points in the last seven meetings with Phoenix and the over is 10-2 in their last 12 vs. Pacific opponents.
New York Knicks at Golden State Warriors (-3, 202.5)
The Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks could be without their two biggest stars when they meet in Oakland on Monday. Carmelo Anthony has missed the Knicks’ past three games with a sore and stiff right knee, and he’s listed as questionable as New York opens a five-game road trip against Western Conference opponents. All-Star forward David Lee missed the Warriors’ 103-93 loss to Milwaukee on Saturday, but he hopes to return against the Knicks. Golden State has won 15 of the last 20 meetings with New York and nine of the last 10 meetings in Oakland. The Knicks are 4-0 ATS in their last four games overall.