Saturday's NBA Betting Notes
Covers.com
Chicago Bulls at Dallas Mavericks (-5.5, 190.5)
Dallas is 1 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the No. 8 spot in the West and had a three-game winning streak snapped on Thursday. Bulls F Joakim Noah (plantar fasciitis) and G Marco Belinelli (abdominal strain) will both be game-time decisions. Chicago is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings.
Orlando Magic at Atlanta Hawks (-11.5, 197.5)
The Magic snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 97-92 home victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday. But point guard Jameer Nelson suffered a sprained ankle in the first quarter and did not return. His status is unclear for Saturday, putting more pressure on a lineup featuring three rookies and a second-year player. The Hawks have won all three meetings this season, limiting Orlando to an average of 76 points. The over is 7-0 in the Magic’s last seven Saturday games.
Charlotte Bobcats at Philadelphia 76ers (-10.5, 195)
The Sixers have won two of three away from home after halting a 15-game road drought. Although Charlotte has won three of its last six, two of the losses were hard to watch. The Bobcats were steamrolled by 32 points in Miami last Sunday and fell behind by 30 points in the second quarter of Friday's 111-102 home defeat to the New York Knicks. Philadelphia has won the past five meetings and held Charlotte under 90 points in four of them. The Sixers are 4-0-1 ATS in their last five home games.
Los Angeles Clippers at Houston Rockets (-1.5, 206)
The Los Angeles Clippers' bid for a franchise-record 50th victory was delayed for at least a night, meaning the Clippers will try for the historic win when they travel to Houston on Saturday in search of their sixth consecutive win against the Rockets. Houston has been held under 100 points in three consecutive games for the first time since a four-game stretch from Nov. 3-10. The under is 7-0 in the Rockets’ last seven home games.
Memphis Grizzlies at Minnesota Timberwolves (+4.5, 186.5)
The Grizzlies have dropped five straight road games and will be playing the second night of a back-to-back after securing a home win over the Houston Rockets on Friday. The Timberwolves beat the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday and have taken three of five. Memphis has won 10 straight against Minnesota but will be making its first trip of the season to the Target Center. The home team is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.
Oklahoma City Thunder at Milwaukee Bucks (+5.5, 207.5)
This is the first of two meetings this season. Oklahoma City won the only meeting last season, and the teams have split their past 10 contests. The Bucks have won seven of their last nine against Western Conference teams, but are only 3-12 ATS in their last 15 home games.
Brooklyn Nets at Utah Jazz (-3.5, 189.5)
The Utah Jazz have caught the Los Angeles Lakers for the eighth and final playoff position in the Western Conference and are set up nicely in their bid to land the postseason spot. Saturday’s game against the visiting Brooklyn Nets starts a stretch in which Utah plays six of seven at home and the Jazz are 26-9 in their friendly environment. Brooklyn G Joe Johnson (quadriceps) will likely miss his fourth straight game. The over is 8-1 in the Nets’ last nine overall.
Indiana Pacers at Phoenix Suns (+7.5, 186.5)
The Suns have lost five straight games and nine of their last 10. Indiana has won three straight, including an impressive 103-78 victory at Dallas on Thursday. The win came hours after the Pacers learned that former All-Star Danny Granger will have season-ending left knee surgery. The underdog is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings.
Los Angeles Lakers at Sacramento Kings (+4.5, 215.5)
Kobe Bryant is expected to be in the lineup when the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Kings. Bryant is hobbling with a foot injury and is considered probable. Point guard Steve Nash is suffering from a hip injury and is questionable. Sacramento has scored 100 or more points in 20 of its last 23 contests and the over is 7-0 in Los Angeles’ last seven games following a loss.
Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors (-7.5, 202.5)
Portland will be playing the second of a back-to-back set after falling to Utah at home on Friday. The Trail Blazers are still alive in the playoff race in the West but are running out of time to make up ground with each passing game. Portland is also dealing with an ankle injury to All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge that kept the forward out of the lineup on Friday and will force him to sit again on Saturday. The under is 8-1 in the Warriors’ last nine vs. Western Conference foes.
NBA Weekend Lean Sheet
By David Banks
Chicago at Dallas
This is a tough spot for the Bulls, who are in an obvious letdown spot after halting the Heat's 27-game winning streak and must now travel to take on a Western Conference foe, a situation where they have struggled this year. Chicago is 9-20 ATS vs. West teams overall this season including 5-9 on the road, and four of their five non-conference road wins came over sub-.500 teams with the only exception being Golden State. The Mavericks are still in the playoff picture and they got a much needed win over an elite team when they beat the Clippers Tuesday. They trail the Lakers by 1 for the last playoff spot entering Thursday and cannot let winnable games like this one slip away. Chicago is 10-24 ATS in its last 34 non-conference games. LEAN: DALLAS
Orlando at Atlanta
Atlanta will be on the second of a back-to-back after playing at Boston on Friday and the 'under' has gone 12-6-1 when the Hawks have played with no rest this season with those games averaging just a combined 190.2 points. Also all three meetings with the Magic have been very low scoring this year, mainly because Orlando failed to exceed 80 points in any of the three meetings! The Magic rank 22nd in the NBA is scoring at 94.4 points per game and they are practically putting a D-League team on the court right now with their two leading scorers Glen Davis and Arron Afflalo both out for the season and their leading rebounder Nikola Vucevic, who is averaging a double-double, battling concussion issues. The 'under' is 29-8 in the last 37 head-to-head meetings. LEAN: UNDER
L.A. Clippers at Houston
The Rockets lost here at home to the Pacers while scoring only 91 points on Wednesday, but they are still 24-8 straight up in their last 32 home games while averaging a whopping 111.1 points and winning by an average of +8.1 points. This is a double revenge spot for the Rockets as they are 0-2 vs. the Clippers this season, although they did cover the spread at Los Angeles in the last meeting. The Clippers are wrapping up a four-game road trip and will be coming off of a huge game vs. the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, so the Rockets are probably the last team they want to be facing in this spot as they play at the fastest pace in the NBA. The Clippers are 6-15-1 ATS in their last 22 games when playing their fourth straight road game vs. a conference opponent. LEAN: HOUSTON