Saturday's Best NBA Bets
By Covers.com
New Orleans Hornets at New Jersey Nets (NA)
Two of the NBA’s worst teams meet when the Nets host the Hornets. The squads have just 25 combined wins and both are well out of the playoff chase.
New Jersey has lost three of four games as it opens a three-game homestand; the Nets are just 5-15 at home. New Orleans has lost seven of its last eight and is 6-15 on the road.
Nets star Deron Williams has missed four straight games with a calf injury and New Jersey was woefully shorthanded during Friday’s loss to the Orlando Magic. The Nets had just 10 players in uniform as guard Jordan Farmer (groin) and new acquisition Gerald Wallace were among the missing. The five players who started combined for only 27 points with DeShawn Stevenson the only starter to reach double figures with 11 points.
“A tough one for us,” New Jersey coach Avery Johnson said. “Seven points (for the starters) at the half, I don’t think I’ve seen that in a long time, if ever.”
Even if Williams plays, he likely won't be 100 percent.
The Hornets are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games.
Pick: Hornets
Boston Celtics at Denver Nuggets (-6, 196.5)
JaVale McGee is expected to make his Nuggets’ debut Saturday. McGee, 24, a 7-foot center who was acquired from Washington for Nene at the trade deadline, will add speed to a deep Denver lineup which already loves to run. McGee is averaging 11.9 points and 8.8 rebounds, and figures to improve in a winning environment.
The Celtics are 2-2 on their season-long eight-game road trip following their 120-95 loss at Sacramento on Friday.
Boston allowed 41 points in the third quarter and was outrebounded 45-28. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen played 35 and 33 minutes, respectively, so stamina could be an issue in the thin air of Denver.
The teams have split the last four meetings, with the home team winning – and covering – each time.
Pick: Nuggets
HOUSTON vs. LA CLIPPERS
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 5 games
Houston is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games
LA Clippers are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games at home
LA Clippers are 15-8 SU in their last 23 games at home
TORONTO vs. CHARLOTTE
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 6 games
Toronto is 8-15 SU in its last 23 games
Charlotte is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Charlotte's last 5 games when playing at home against Toronto
NEW YORK vs. INDIANA
New York is 7-18 SU in its last 25 games when playing on the road against Indiana
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New York's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Indiana's last 21 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Indiana's last 6 games when playing New York
NEW ORLEANS vs. NEW JERSEY
New Orleans is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
New Orleans is 5-11 SU in its last 16 games when playing on the road against New Jersey
New Jersey is 4-1-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against New Orleans
New Jersey is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games when playing at home against New Orleans
PHILADELPHIA vs. CHICAGO
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 7 games when playing on the road against Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Philadelphia's last 16 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago's last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 7 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
GOLDEN STATE vs. UTAH
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Golden State's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Golden State's last 7 games
Utah is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Utah's last 9 games when playing Golden State
BOSTON vs. DENVER
Boston is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Denver
Boston is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Denver's last 23 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Denver's last 6 games when playing at home against Boston
SAN ANTONIO vs. DALLAS
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of San Antonio's last 11 games when playing Dallas
San Antonio is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Dallas
Dallas is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against San Antonio
Dallas is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games
HOUSTON at LA CLIPPERS
HOUSTON: N/A
LA CLIPPERS: N/A
TORONTO at CHARLOTTE
TORONTO: 21-40 ATS after allowing 110 points or more
CHARLOTTE: 70-46 ATS in March games
NEW YORK at INDIANA
NEW YORK: 20-8 ATS as a road underdog of 6 points or less
INDIANA: 17-32 ATS when playing 8 or more games in 14 days
PHILADELPHIA at CHICAGO
PHILADELPHIA: 7-0 UNDER revenging a home loss vs opponent
CHICAGO: 21-10 UNDER in home games after 1 or more consecutive unders
NEW ORLEANS at NEW JERSEY
NEW ORLEANS: 7-17 ATS against Atlantic division opponents
NEW JERSEY: 5-1 ATS after scoring 80 points or less
SAN ANTONIO at DALLAS
SAN ANTONIO: 8-1 ATS as a road underdog of 6 points or less
DALLAS: 4-14 ATS in home games in March games
BOSTON at DENVER
BOSTON: 35-17 ATS in road games when playing their 5th game in 7 days
DENVER: 2-10 ATS in home games when playing 8 or more games in 14 days
GOLDEN STATE at UTAH
GOLDEN STATE: 49-26 ATS after allowing 105 points or more 2 straight games
UTAH: 21-37 ATS after playing a game as favorite