NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Toronto Raptors at Golden State Warriors
Classic something has to give matchup as both Warriors (33-27, 30-29-1 ATS) and Raptors (23-37, 30-29-1 ATS) hit the hardwood looking to halt four-game slides. The Warriors have certainly struggled of late but their home record is far superior to Raptors' road record. With Warriors 18-7 (15-10 ATS) at home, Raptors 8-21 (14-14-1 ATS) traveling look for the host Warriors to move to 8-2 ATS at home vs non-conference foes, 8-1 ATS vs Raptors including a perfect 4-0 ATS on their own hardwood.
Monday's NBA Betting News and Notes
Covers.com
New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers (+2.5, 202)
The Cavaliers expect to have All-Star guard Kyrie Irving (knee) back Monday. The Cavaliers have been without Irving for three straight, but rookie Dion Waiters has picked up the slack and has developed into a reliable perimeter scoring threat to pair with Irving. Cleveland dropped a 105-89 decision to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday but has won four of its last six games overall. The home team has taken each of the last six meetings in the series and the Knicks are 0-5 ATS in their last five trips to Cleveland.
Utah Jazz at Milwaukee Bucks (-4.5, 201.5)
The Utah Jazz hope to have big men Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap back from sprained ankles for this one. Jefferson and Millsap were not needed in Friday's 96-68 rout of Charlotte, as Enes Kanter stepped in for Jefferson at center and produced career highs with 23 points and 22 rebounds. The win snapped a three-game slide and set the Jazz off on a four-game road trip clinging to seventh place in the Western Conference. The Bucks are getting rather used to playing close games. Their last seven have been decided by single digits, including two in overtime. They needed five extra minutes to get past Toronto 122-114 on Saturday. The Jazz have won 13 of the last 15 meetings, including a 100-86 triumph at home on Feb. 6.
Orlando Magic at New Orleans Hornets (-9, 196)
The losses keep piling up for the Orlando Magic, who attempt to snap a three-game losing skid when they visit the Hornets. The Hornets will have top overall pick Anthony Davis (shoulder) back in the lineup and took the first meeting of the season between the two clubs, 97-94, on Dec. 26. New Orleans has won the last five overall meetings and also has a four-game home winning streak against the Magic. The over is 5-0 in the Hornets’ last five home games.
Miami Heat at Minnesota Timberwolves (+9.5, 196.5)
The Miami Heat are attempting to break the franchise’s record for longest winning streak with their 15th straight triumph on Monday. LeBron James suffered a minor leg injury on Sunday but stayed in the game and came through with big shots and a key steal down the stretch in a 99-93 win over the New York Knicks. LeBron is hoping to play Monday. The Timberwolves have dropped five straight games overall and Miami has taken five straight in the series and four in a row at Minnesota. The over is 7-0 in the Heat’s last seven games vs. Western Conference foes.
Atlanta Hawks at Denver Nuggets (-10, 212)
The Denver Nuggets will try to extend their home winning streak to 11 games when they host the Hawks. Atlanta is in the process of playing six games in the first nine days of March and Denver is 43-8 since the start of the 2009-10 season when hosting an opponent playing the second half of a back-to-back. The Nuggets are 6-1 ATS in their last seven home games.
Charlotte Bobcats at Portland Trail Blazers (-13, 198)
The Portland Trail Blazers are competing to remain in the Western Conference playoff race and seek their third win in four games when they host Charlotte. The Bobcats are 6-24 on the road as they play the finale of a four-game trip. Portland is 19-10 at home and beat Charlotte 118-112 in overtime on Dec. 3, overcoming an 18-point deficit over the final five minutes of regulation. Charlotte has lost its last three games by an average of 29.3 points, but is 5-0-1 ATS in its last six Monday contests.
Toronto Raptors at Golden State Warriors (-6.5, 203.5)
The Raptors have dropped four in a row to fall 7 1/2 games out of the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference. Rudy Gay (back spasms) is day-to-day and will be a game-time decision. Golden State has taken six of the last seven in the series, including a 138-100 triumph in the last meeting at Oracle Arena. The Raptors are 0-7 ATS in their last seven trips to Golden State.
Miami Heat open as double-digit favorites in Minnesota on second night of back-to-back
By: The Linemakers
Sportingnews.com
The Miami Heat have won 14 straight games, going 9-5 ATS over the stretch, but tonight face the unenviable task of playing on the road for the second-straight day. After an emotional, 99-93, win against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden Sunday afternoon, the Heat make the long trip to Minnesota, where they’re sizable favorites vs. the banged-up Timberwolves.
Heat-T’Wolves is one of seven games on tonight’s pro basketball card.
The Heat have been a good — but certainly not great — investment this season, posting a 30-27 record against the number. They’re 15-13 ATS on the road.
More applicable to Monday’s game in Minnesota, Miami has held up well in the second night of back-to-backs, as it’s 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS in these situations. The three covers have all come against quality competition — the Bulls, Lakers (ahem) and Nuggets (one of Denver’s three home losses came against the Heat). Miami won but failed to cover in Houston, and lost outright as a 4.5-point favorite in Milwaukee.
The T’Wolves, meanwhile, haven’t exactly been a confidence-inspiring bunch at the betting window. Playing without key pieces (Kevin Love, Chase Budinger, Brandon Roy, Ricky Rubio) for large chunks of the season, Minnesota is 20-36 SU and 24-30-2 ATS on the season. Things haven't been much better for the T’Wolves when they’re on their home floor, where they’re 13-14 SU and 12-14-1 ATS.
Miami has won five in a row in this series, covering four of those games. The Heat covered as an 8.5-point favorite at home vs. the T'Wolves in a 103-92 win on Dec. 18 earlier this season. Laying the same 8.5 points in Minnesota on Dec. 30, 2011, they squeaked out a two-point win, 103-101.
Here are some more key trends for your pro basketball handicapping. The lines below are from the LVH SuperBook as of about 8:30 a.m. PT.
Trends:
* The Knicks have covered only once in their last 10 games and failed to cover their last five in Cleveland. The Cavs have covered six of their last seven games. New York is -2.5 tonight, with a total of 202.
* The Magic have covered only once in their last 12 games against teams with a win percentage below .400 and have also failed to cover their past four visits to New Orleans. The Hornets have covered their past seven games played on Monday. The Hornets have gone OVER the total in their last five home games. New Orleans is -9, the total is 196.5
* The Heat have covered their past six road games. The T'Wolves have failed to cover their last eight games against a team with a win percentage above .600. Miami is -10, the total is 196.5
* The Jazz have covered only one of their past five road games. The Bucks have covered only once in their last eight home games. The home team has covered in 10 of the last 11 meetings between the Bucks and Jazz. Milwaukee lays 4.5 tonight, with the total set at 201.5
* The Hawks have covered six of their last seven road games. The Nuggets have covered six of their last seven home games. The Nuggets have gone OVER the total in 11 of their last 13 home games. Denver is a 10-point favorite tonight, and the total is 212.
* The Bobcats have failed to cover their last five road games against teams with a winning home record. The Blazers have covered their last four home games against the Bobcats. Portland is -13, with a total of 198.
* The Raptors have failed to cover their past four games, as well as their last seven visits to Oakland. The Warriors have covered five of their last seven home games. Golden State is -6, the total is 203.5.
Injuries
*Cavaliers G Kyrie Irving (knee) is expected to play, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
*Cavaliers C Tyler Zeller (illness) is questionable
*Knicks F Carmelo Anthony (arm) is probable
*Knicks C Marcus Camby (foot) is questionable
*Magic G Jameer Nelson (knee) is questionable
*Hornets F Anthony Davis (shoulder) is out indefinitely
*Heat F LeBron James (knee) is expected to play
*Heat G Mike Miller (ear infection) is questionable
*T’Wolves F Andrei Kirilenko (calf) is doubtful
*T’Wolves C Nikola Pekovic (abdominal) is doubtful
*Jazz F Paul Millsap (ankle) is questionable
*Jazz C Al Jefferson (ankle) is questionable
*Blazers G Sasha Pavlovic (quadriceps) is doubtful
*Blazers F Nicolas Batum (wrist) is questionable
*Raptors F Rudy Gay (back) is questionable
*Warriors C Andrew Bogut (back) is questionable