NBA Knowledge
Saturday's hot teams
-- Indiana won six of its last nine games (4-2 last 6AF).
-- Hawks won seven of their last eight games (5-1 last 6AU).
-- BDetroit won its last five games (16-5-1 lst 21HF).
-- Cavaliers won seven of their last ten games (0-4 last 4AF).
-- Knicks won their last two games, by 8-12 points (2-6 last 8HU).
-- Utah won six of its last eight games (5-2 last 7AF).
-- Minnesota won its last two games, but needed double OT to win last night (5-2 last 7HU).
-- Spurs won eight of last nine games, may be resting several guys here.
-- Thunder won their last six games.
-- Charlotte won seven of its last ten games (4-1 last 5AF).
-- Celtics won their last three games (7-3 last 10AF).
-- Portland won its last three home games (11-3 last 14HF).
Cold teams
-- Nets lost seven of their last nine games (5-2 last 7HU).
-- Toronto lost last two games by 12-3 points (2-5 last 7AF).
--BPelicans lost seven of their last nine games (6-4 last 10HU).
-- Chicago lost three of its last four road games.
--BOrlando lost its last six games overall.
-- Bucks lost five of their last six games (1-4 last 5HU).
-- Suns lost six of their last nine games (2-6 last 8HU).
-- 76ers lost their last seven games (4-3 last 7AU).
Series records
-- Pacers won seven of their last nine games with Brooklyn.
-- Raptors won seven of last nine games with New Orleans.
-- Bulls are 5-3 in their last eight games with Orlando.
-- Hawks won five of last seven games with Detroit.
-- Knicks lost their last five games with Cleveland.
-- Jazz won five of last seven games with Minnesota.
-- Spurs won five of last seven games with Oklahoma City.
-- Hornets won eight of last ten games with Milwaukee.
-- Celtics won last two games with Phoenix by 5-14 points.
-- 76ers lost six of their last nine games with Portland.
Totals
-- Six of last seven Indiana-Brooklyn games went over.
-- Five of last six Toronto games stayed under total.
-- Last six Orlando games stayed under if it played night before.
-- Five of last six Atlanta-Detroit games went over total.
-- Four of last five Cleveland games went over total.
-- Six of last seven Utah games stayed under the total.
-- Four of last six Oklahoma City games went over total.
-- Last four Charlotte-Milwaukee games stayed under.
-- Five of last seven Boston games stayed under total.
-- Four of last five Philly games stayed under the total.
Back/backs
-- Toronto covered five of its last seven if it played night before.
-- Orlando is 4-7 in its last 11 games if it played night before.
-- Hawks covered last three games if they played night before.
-- Detroit covered its last seven games if it played night before.
-- Minnesota is 3-7 in last ten games if it played night before.
-- Spurs are 9-5 vs spread (14-0SU) if they played night before.
-- Charlotte covered four of last six if it played night before.
--BMilwaukee is 12-6 vs spread if it played night before.
-- Phoenix is 4-9 in last 13 games if it played the night before.
Armadillosports.com
Inside the Paint - Saturday
By Chris David
VegasInsider.com
Saturday’s NBA card offers up 10 games on tap and this slate has a little something for everybody, especially those sick of watching the favorites cash at a ridiculous pace in the NCAA Tournament.
Since the league started stacking up the Friday and Saturday slates, fatigue will play a major factor again with nine of the 20 teams in action playing on no rest.
Listed below are straight up and against the spread marks for the teams facing back-to-back spots tonight, plus we noted overall total results and some streaks heading into Saturday’s games as well.
Magic: 4-12 SU, 8-8 ATS, 8-8 O/U (Streaks - 0-4 SU, 1-3 ATS last 4)
Raptors: 8-5 SU, 7-5-1 ATS, 8-5 O/U (5-0 SU, 4-1 ATS L6)
Hawks: 11-7 SU, 9-9 ATS, 19-8-1 O/U (3-0 SU, 3-0 ATS L3)
Pistons: 9-7 SU, 10-5-1 ATS (6-0 SU, 6-0 ATS L6)
Spurs: 13-0 SU, 8-5 ATS, 7-6 O/U (2-5 ATS L7)
Timberwolves: 2-11 SU, 5-8 ATS, 9-2-1 O/U (Over 3-0 L3)
Hornets: 9-4 SU, 5-8 ATS, 6-7 O/U (6-0 SU, 4-2 ATS L6)
Bucks: 7-10 SU, 11-6 ATS, 8-8-1 O/U
Suns: 4-9 SU, 5-8 ATS, 4-9 O/U (2-1 SU, 2-1 ATS L3, 6-0 UNDER L6)
I believe situational handicapping is key in the Association and the above numbers help provide a more informative outlook when applicable.
Here’s my quick handicap on the entire slate.
Indiana at Brooklyn: No overnight line posted due to the status of Paul George (leg) for this game. The Nets are coming off an impressive 104-95 win over the Cavs on Thursday and it’s only won back-to-back victories three times all season. The Pacers have already dropped them twice this season and they’ve been a great investment as road favorites recently, going 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS in their last eight.
Chicago at Orlando: This matchup looks like a pass due to the uncertain health and current form of both teams. The Bulls were just embarrassed in not one but two games to the Knicks and they’ve been horrible on the road. Chicago has gone 1-9 SU and 3-7 ATS in its last 10 as a visitor and the defense hasn’t held an opponent under 100 during this span. Meanwhile, Orlando has dropped six straight games and it’s allowing 108 points per game during this losing streak.
Toronto at New Orleans: The Raptors are clearly the more talented and deeper team in this matchup but laying nine points on the road could be dicey. Toronto has dropped two straight albeit to a pair of playoff teams in the Celtics and Rockets. New Orleans isn’t going dancing in this year’s postseason and the Raptors have been a decent bet (11-6 SU, 9-8 ATS) as road favorites this season. Plus, they’ve been a solid bet on zero days rest lately (see above).
Atlanta at Detroit: This is one of two games on Saturday where we have two teams playing on no rest and both of these clubs have been golden for gamblers recently in these spots. Heading into Saturday, Detroit has won five straight games (3-1-1 ATS) but they haven’t beaten a playoff team during this span. Coincidentally, the last team to beat them was Atlanta, who notched a 118-114 win on Mar. 16 from the Palace as one-point road favorites. The Pistons opened as one-point favorites for the rematch and the number seems fair but this is definitely a step up in class. Atlanta is the third seed in the East and playing great, going 9-2 SU and 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games. The ‘over’ has cashed in the last five encounters between this pair yet the total on this game is hovering around 204 points. Detroit exploded for 72 first-half points in last night’s 112-105 win over Charlotte but only managed 14 in the fourth quarter. Offensive letdown tonight?
Cleveland at New York: It’s hard to make a case for the Cavaliers, who are 1-6 ATS (4-3 SU) in their last seven games and listed as healthy road favorites (-8). Plus, New York is playing with confidence after sweeping a home-and-home against Chicago this week. The Knicks haven’t been great home underdogs (5-15 SU, 6-13-1 ATS) but the Cavaliers have been inconsistent as road favorites (19-11 SU, 9-19-2 ATS), especially versus the number. Cleveland has won four straight at MSG but only one victory came by double digits.
San Antonio at Oklahoma City: This was expected to be the game of the night but reports have San Antonio resting its old “Big Three” plus Kawhi Leonard (quad) is ‘out’ as well. San Antonio beat the Thunder 93-85 a couple weeks ago at home, which avenged a 112-106 loss at OKC on opening night. Since that loss to the Spurs on Mar. 12, Oklahoma City has won six straight (4-2 ATS) heading into this game and the offense is on fire right now, averaging 118 PPG. Until you know the status of who’s in and out, this game looks like a pass with a possible lean to the ‘over’ based on the Thunder’s form.
Utah at Minnesota: It’s rare to see the Jazz listed as a road favorite but they’ve lived up to those expectations. Utah has gone 7-3 both SU and ATS when laying points on the road and the ‘under’ has connected in eight of those games. The Timberwolves (+6) are coming off a quality double-overtime win at Washington on Friday. The club has won two straight and has been great for bettors (6-1 ATS) over the last two weeks. Despite that run, this is a tough spot. Minnesota is playing on no rest, in overtime and this will also be their third game in four nights too. Not to mention, they’ve only won three straight games once this season.
Charlotte at Milwaukee: Both clubs enter this game on no rest and that angle points to the Hornets, who have captured six straight games when facing back-to-back spots. Despite losing at Detroit last night, Charlotte has gone 17-5 in its last 22 games and that includes an 8-3 record on the road. Milwaukee has struggled down the stretch, dropping four straight and five of its last six games. Charlotte has won two of the first three meetings between the pair and the ‘under’ has cashed in all of those results.
Boston at Phoenix: On paper, this is a mismatch and the oddsmakers agree. Boston has been installed as an eight-point road favorite as it begins a five-game swing on the West Coast. The sledding gets difficult after tonight but Boston should win this game against a Suns team that could be without Brandon Knight tonight as well. The Celtics have been shaky on the road recently (1-4 SU, 1-4 ATS) but they enter this game on a three-game winning streak and have posted 117, 115 and 114 in their last three encounters against Phoenix, which has resulted in a 2-1 record.
Philadelphia at Portland: This is likely going to be the chase game on Saturday and I’d expect most bettors will be riding the Trail Blazers as double digit home favorites. Make a note that Philadelphia thumped, yes thumped Portland 114-89 on Jan. 16 as a six-point home underdog. The 76ers have dropped seven straight heading into this game and Wednesday’s 104-103 buzzer beater loss to the Nuggets was gut-wrenching. Portland lost at the buzzer on Thursday to the Clippers (96-94) from the Staples Center. While the Blazers (22-12 SU, 19-15 ATS) have been solid at home, I think the 76ers might come to play tonight knowing they have a game at Golden State on Sunday looming.