Saturday's Best NBA Bets
By Covers.com
Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs (-8, 202.5)
The San Antonio Spurs were supposed to be too old and too slow to keep up this season, especially with the condensed schedule.
Right now, it seems like they’re only getting stronger as the grueling season wears on.
Five Spurs scored in double figures in Wednesday’s 117-112 win over Sacramento, marking the club’s sixth straight win – five of which have come over the last six days.
"This is as deep as I've had a team here," Tim Duncan told reporters after chipping in with 18 points and eight rebounds to help the Spurs improve to 5-1 against the spread during the winning streak. "We're using everybody possible and it's been great, especially with this condensed season. Different kind of format and obviously some of the marquee guys are a bit older.”
San Antonio has finally had a couple days to recover, while Indianapolis has dropped four of its last six against the number.
Pick: Spurs
New Orleans Hornets at Los Angeles Lakers (N/A)
Considering the Hornets are having a tough time getting five healthy bodies on the floor right now, they’ve been a great bet lately.
Starting point guard Jarrett Jack (ankle) joined Trevor Ariza, Chris Kaman, Emeka Okafor, Gustavo Ayon and Eric Gordon on the shelf in Thursday’s 99-93 loss to Portland, but the Hornets still covered the number as 8.5-point underdogs.
Marco Belinelli had a huge night, pouring in 27 points while hitting seven of his 11 attempts from distance.
"Our guys fought the whole night, and that's all you can ask," coach Monty Williams told reporters. "We had a chance to win but couldn't pull it out when we needed to. Maybe it was fatigue."
New Orleans plays it fourth contest of its five-game road swing against the Lakers, who should be able to exploit the Hornets’ short bench.
Pick: Lakers
NEW ORLEANS (13 - 38) at LA LAKERS (31 - 20) - 3/31/2012, 3:35 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
LA LAKERS is 8-6 against the spread versus NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons
LA LAKERS is 11-3 straight up against NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons
9 of 14 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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CLEVELAND (17 - 32) at NEW YORK (26 - 26) - 3/31/2012, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CLEVELAND is 120-155 ATS (-50.5 Units) after scoring 85 points or less since 1996.
NEW YORK is 13-3 ATS (+9.7 Units) in home games second half of the season this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
CLEVELAND is 6-3 against the spread versus NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
CLEVELAND is 7-2 straight up against NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
7 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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ATLANTA (31 - 22) at PHILADELPHIA (28 - 23) - 3/31/2012, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 35-58 ATS (-28.8 Units) in road games on Saturday games since 1996.
ATLANTA is 145-183 ATS (-56.3 Units) in road games revenging a loss vs opponent since 1996.
ATLANTA is 137-175 ATS (-55.5 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1996.
ATLANTA is 41-67 ATS (-32.7 Units) in road games versus good defensive teams - allowing <=91 points/game since 1996.
ATLANTA is 15-30 ATS (-18.0 Units) in road games versus good defensive teams - allowing <=91 points/game - 2nd half of the season since 1996.
PHILADELPHIA is 76-61 ATS (+8.9 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 23-14 ATS (+7.6 Units) as a favorite this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 8-20 ATS (-14.0 Units) as a home favorite of 3.5 to 6 points over the last 3 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 8-17 ATS (-10.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 6-3 against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
PHILADELPHIA is 5-4 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
6 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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CHARLOTTE (7 - 42) at DETROIT (18 - 33) - 3/31/2012, 7:35 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 7-2 against the spread versus CHARLOTTE over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 5-4 straight up against CHARLOTTE over the last 3 seasons
6 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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MEMPHIS (27 - 22) at MILWAUKEE (24 - 27) - 3/31/2012, 8:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MILWAUKEE is 120-97 ATS (+13.3 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 30-13 ATS (+15.7 Units) after scoring 105 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
MEMPHIS is 82-60 ATS (+16.0 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
MEMPHIS is 39-25 ATS (+11.5 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
MEMPHIS is 26-6 ATS (+19.4 Units) when playing on back-to-back days over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 16-29 ATS (-15.9 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) after allowing 85 points or less over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
MILWAUKEE is 3-1 against the spread versus MEMPHIS over the last 3 seasons
MILWAUKEE is 2-2 straight up against MEMPHIS over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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INDIANA (30 - 20) at SAN ANTONIO (35 - 14) - 3/31/2012, 8:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
INDIANA is 9-25 ATS (-18.5 Units) as a road underdog of 6.5 to 9 points over the last 3 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 30-18 ATS (+10.2 Units) in all games this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 572-493 ATS (+29.7 Units) as a favorite since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 17-7 ATS (+9.3 Units) in home games this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 19-7 ATS (+11.3 Units) second half of the season this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 144-106 ATS (+27.4 Units) in March games since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 125-93 ATS (+22.7 Units) in home games in non-conference games since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 17-8 ATS (+8.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
INDIANA is 3-1 against the spread versus SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 4-0 straight up against INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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NEW JERSEY (18 - 35) at SACRAMENTO (18 - 33) - 3/31/2012, 10:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NEW JERSEY is 59-74 ATS (-22.4 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 81-102 ATS (-31.2 Units) as an underdog over the last 3 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 24-38 ATS (-17.8 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 21-36 ATS (-18.6 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 35-52 ATS (-22.2 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.
SACRAMENTO is 15-30 ATS (-18.0 Units) in home games on Saturday games since 1996.
SACRAMENTO is 12-26 ATS (-16.6 Units) in home games in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
SACRAMENTO is 2-2 against the spread versus NEW JERSEY over the last 3 seasons
SACRAMENTO is 2-2 straight up against NEW JERSEY over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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UTAH (27 - 25) at LA CLIPPERS (30 - 21) - 3/31/2012, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LA CLIPPERS are 40-60 ATS (-26.0 Units) second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
LA CLIPPERS are 0-9 ATS (-9.9 Units) after playing 3 consecutive home games this season.
LA CLIPPERS are 25-48 ATS (-27.8 Units) after 3 or more consecutive wins since 1996.
LA CLIPPERS are 128-180 ATS (-70.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
UTAH is 6-2 against the spread versus LA CLIPPERS over the last 3 seasons
UTAH is 7-2 straight up against LA CLIPPERS over the last 3 seasons
7 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
NEW ORLEANS vs. LA LAKERS
The total has gone OVER in 11 of New Orleans's last 15 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 9 of New Orleans's last 13 games when playing LA Lakers
LA Lakers are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing New Orleans
The total has gone OVER in 9 of the LA Lakers last 13 games when playing New Orleans
CHARLOTTE vs. DETROIT
Charlotte is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games on the road
Charlotte is 2-20 SU in its last 22 games on the road
Detroit is 17-7 SU in its last 24 games when playing Charlotte
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 5 games when playing at home against Charlotte
CLEVELAND vs. NEW YORK
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 5 games on the road
Cleveland is 12-2 SU in its last 14 games when playing New York
The total has gone OVER in 7 of New York's last 8 games when playing Cleveland
New York is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Cleveland
ATLANTA vs. PHILADELPHIA
Atlanta is 6-17 SU in its last 23 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
Atlanta is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Philadelphia's last 8 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Philadelphia's last 21 games at home
INDIANA vs. SAN ANTONIO
Indiana is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Indiana's last 6 games when playing San Antonio
The total has gone OVER in 6 of San Antonio's last 9 games when playing at home against Indiana
San Antonio is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Indiana
MEMPHIS vs. MILWAUKEE
Memphis is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Memphis is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee
The total has gone OVER in 14 of Milwaukee's last 19 games
Milwaukee is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games when playing at home against Memphis
NEW JERSEY vs. SACRAMENTO
New Jersey is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
New Jersey is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Sacramento's last 9 games when playing New Jersey
Sacramento is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing New Jersey
UTAH vs. LA CLIPPERS
Utah is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Utah's last 7 games
LA Clippers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games when playing at home against Utah
LA Clippers are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against Utah
NEW ORLEANS at LA LAKERS
NEW ORLEANS: 17-7 ATS as road underdog
LA LAKERS: 0-4 ATS on Saturday
CLEVELAND at NEW YORK
CLEVELAND: 5-13 ATS revenging double digit loss
NEW YORK: 13-4 Under playing on back to back days
ATLANTA at PHILADELPHIA
ATLANTA: 13-4 Under as road underdog
PHILADELPHIA: 17-5 Under off a loss
CHARLOTTE at DETROIT
CHARLOTTE: 4-14 ATS w/ same season revenge
DETROIT: 1-6 ATS off division loss
MEMPHIS at MILWAUKEE
MEMPHIS: 26-6 ATS playing on back to back days
MILWAUKEE: 5-15 ATS after allowing 85 pts or less
INDIANA at SAN ANTONIO
INDIANA: 9-25 ATS as a road underdog of 6.5 to 9 points
SAN ANTONIO: 12-1 Over if favored L4 games
NEW JERSEY at SACRAMENTO
NEW JERSEY: 4-12 ATS off SU win
SACRAMENTO: 8-0 Over off a road win by 3 points or less
UTAH at LA CLIPPERS
UTAH: 47-29 ATS playing their 3rd game in 4 days
LA CLIPPERS: 13-3 Under playing at home on back to back days