NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Golden State Warriors at Philadelphia 76ers
Sixers look to keep rolling when they host high-octane Golden State Warriors Monday. Philadelphia, which many picked to finish with the worst record in NBA, have three quality wins to start the season knocking off Heat then took care of business vs. Wizards and most recently upended Bulls. It's only three games into a long season but with five players in double digits including rookie Michael Carter-Williams with 20.7 per/game the Sixers should give Warriors a run for the money. Sixers on an 8-3-1 ATS stretch on home court, a profitable 6-2 SU/ATS streak vs Golden State and a perfect 6-0 ATS mark hosting Warriors are worth a second look. Sixers are 7 point underdogs vs Warriors ridding a 5-12 SU/ATS skid on the road.
Rockets at Clippers: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Clippers (-5, 207.5)
Dwight Howard is back in the Staples Center, only it will be the Clippers he faces in his first visit back to Los Angeles since leaving the Los Angeles Lakers for Houston. Howard leads the Rockets into Monday’s game against the Clippers and he is averaging 15 points and 17 rebounds as Houston won its first three games. Point guard Chris Paul recorded three consecutive double-doubles while helping Los Angeles to a 2-1 start.
With Howard teamed with 7-footer Omer Asik in the Rockets’ starting lineup, the Clippers duo of center DeAndre Jordan and power forward Blake Griffin will have their work cut out for them. “They’re really big and there’s nothing much more than that,” Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers said. “They’re big and dominant. They dominate on the glass right now.” Griffin has put together consecutive 20-point, 10-rebound games and Jordan typically gets up for the battle with Howard, a close friend of his. Rockets guard James Harden tweaked his ankle in Saturday’s victory over Utah but says he will play.
LINE: Los Angeles opened as a 5-point home favorite and is as big as -5.5. The total jumped from 206.5 to 207.5.
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (3-0, 2-0-1 ATS): Two significant things happened in the 104-93 victory over Utah – Houston rallied from a 16-point halftime deficit to win by double digits in the second game of a back-to-back and forward Chandler Parsons displayed last season’s form. Parsons averaged 9.5 points on 7-of-19 shooting over the first two games before contributing 24 points, 12 rebounds and six assists against the Jazz. “I was struggling the first two games, especially with my shot,” said Parsons, who was 8-of-14 against Utah. “And then in his one, the other guys were struggling and I finally had it going.”
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (2-1, 2-1 ATS): Los Angeles played away from the Staples Center for the first time on Saturday when it defeated the Sacramento Kings. Rivers was pleased with the poise the team displayed in the rabid atmosphere in Sacramento. “We’re going to get them all year. I went through this once,” Rivers said afterwards. “I’m telling you, when people think you’ve got a shot at (a title), everybody wants to knock you off. That’s just the way it’s going to be. At the end of the day, that will be good for us.”
TRENDS:
* Under is 7-1 in the last eight meetings in Los Angeles.
* Rockets are 15-4 ATS in the last 19 meetings in Los Angeles.
* Under is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings.
* Underdog is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Houston won last season’s third and final meeting to snap a five-game skid against the Clippers.
2. Clippers G Jamal Crawford (1,544) is three 3-pointers away from passing Eddie Jones (1,546 from 1994-2008) and moving into 15th on the all-time list.
3. F Omri Casspi (ankle) sat out against Utah but is expected to play against the Clippers.
Monday's NBA Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Warriors at 76ers
Golden State: 2-1 SU, 1-1-1 ATS
Philadelphia: 3-0 SU, 3-0 ATS
The Sixers are probably the biggest surprise in the league through the first week by shocking the Heat and Bulls as substantial home underdogs. Philadelphia has scored at least 107 points in all three wins, but has also yielded at least 102 points each game, resulting in three 'overs.' The Sixers have won each of the last five home meetings with the Warriors, including a 104-97 triumph as two-point 'dogs at the Wells Fargo Center last season.
The Warriors begin a four-game road trip tonight after knocking off the Kings at home on Saturday night. Golden State has won two games by double-digits, but its only loss came on the highway against the Clippers, 126-115. Last season, the Warriors posted a 6-6 ATS record as a road favorite, but won eight of those games straight-up.
Wolves at Cavaliers
Minnesota: 3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS
Cleveland: 1-2 SU, 1-2 ATS
Minnesota picked up another impressive victory on Sunday night by winning at Madison Square Garden, 109-100 over the Knicks. The Wolves stormed out of the gate by scoring 40 first quarter points, one game after putting up 34 opening quarter points on Oklahoma City. Minnesota has topped the 100-point mark in three consecutive games, a feat accomplished only twice last season.
The Cavs tipped off the season with an impressive home underdog victory over the Nets, but Cleveland has followed that up with consecutive losses at Charlotte and Indiana. Cleveland's offense has scored 84 points or less in each of the last two games, while cashing the 'under' in all three games this season. The Cavs have dropped each of their last two home meetings with the Wolves, including a 100-92 defeat back in February.
Celtics at Grizzlies
Boston: 0-3 SU, 1-2 ATS
Memphis: 1-2 SU, 0-3 ATS
Two struggling teams meet at FedEx Forum, as the new-look Celtics have managed to fall apart in the fourth quarter of all three losses. Boston rallied from a 15-point deficit to trail by two points with two minutes left in regulation last night at Detroit, but the Pistons finished the game on an 8-0 run to cash as 9 ½-point favorites. The Celtics scored just 35 second half points in Friday's home loss to the Bucks in which Boston threw away a 22-point advantage.
The Grizzlies are 0-2 against the state of Texas with losses to division rivals San Antonio and Dallas so far. The lone victory for Memphis came in overtime in a non-cover against Detroit, 111-108 as 7 ½-point favorites. The normally-reliable Grizzlies' defense has allowed at least 100 points in all three games, resulting in three 'overs.' Memphis swept the season series from Boston last season, including a 110-106 win at FedEx Forum.
Rockets at Clippers
Houston: 3-0 SU, 2-0-1 ATS
Los Angeles: 2-1 SU, 2-1 ATS
Two Western Conference clubs looking to make that next move in the playoffs hook up at Staples Center, as the Rockets continue their road trip tonight. Houston rallied from a 19-point deficit to stun Utah, 104-93 on Saturday night, while managing to cover as six-point road favorites. The Rockets outscored the Jazz, 64-37 in the second half, while taking advantage of a Utah team that played the night before in Phoenix. The defensive impact of Dwight Howard is showing already, as the Rockets have limited two of their opponents to fewer than 93 points.
The Clippers haven't left the state of California yet, coming off two games at Staples Center and a road victory at Sacramento. After a stunning loss to the Lakers in the season opener, the Clippers have put together two impressive offensive efforts in victories over the Warriors and Kings, while scoring at least 110 points in each win. The Clippers won two of three meetings from the Rockets last season, but James Harden missed one of the losses at Staples Center with an injury.