Sunday's Best NBA Bets
By Covers.com
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder
San Antonio probably isn't looking forward to its annual "rodeo road trip" next month when it has to vacate the AT&T Center next month for rodeo shenanigans.
After all, the Spurs have been dreadful on the road dating back to last season. They are 0-7 ATS in their last seven away from home, including 0-2 (0-2 ATS) this season. San Antonio has lost at Houston 105-85 and at Minnesota 106-96.
The Spurs will be coming off a home date with Denver on Saturday night. So far they are 1-1 in the second of back-to-back games this season (a blowout loss at Houston on December 29 and a home rout of Dallas on January 5).
It cannot be overlooked that Manu Ginobili will be out until late February with a hand injury. San Antonio is 1-1 so far without the star guard.
The Thunder will be coming off a road game at Houston on Saturday. So far they are 2-1 in the second of back-to-back games this season (a road win over Minnesota, a home victory over Dallas, and a home loss vs. Portland). However, in those contests Oklahoma City is 0-3 ATS.
Pick: Thunder
Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers played their fifth game in seven days when they faced Golden State on Friday. Although looking weary, they took care of business for 97-90 victory. Kobe Bryant scored a season-high, including 26 in the second half.
"The important thing was for us to try to pick up our energy on both ends of the floor and play with a little bit more life," Bryant said before adding, "I shot 28 times. I shot too much."
Even with sprained ligaments in his right wrist, though, Bryant may have to continue forking up the rock. He is carrying L.A. having scored 30+ in his last three outings (two wins, one loss) after failing to reach that mark in any of the six previous contests.
The Grizzlies, meanwhile, are without Zach Randolph (knee) until late February. This is not a game that Memphis will enjoy without Randolph, as it is going up against a strong front line that features Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol.
Pick: Lakers
MINNESOTA (2 - 5) at WASHINGTON (0 - 7)
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 8-24 ATS (-18.4 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 41-23 ATS (+15.7 Units) in road games on Sunday games since 1996.
WASHINGTON is 34-55 ATS (-26.5 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 27-47 ATS (-24.7 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 37-63 ATS (-32.3 Units) as a home underdog of 3 points or less since 1996.
WASHINGTON is 267-331 ATS (-97.1 Units) in home games since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 2-2 against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON is 2-2 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
ORLANDO (5 - 3) at SACRAMENTO (3 - 5)
Top Trends for this game.
ORLANDO is 40-55 ATS (-20.5 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ORLANDO is 17-29 ATS (-14.9 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
SACRAMENTO is 24-44 ATS (-24.4 Units) against Southeast division opponents since 1996.
SACRAMENTO is 10-23 ATS (-15.3 Units) in home games in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
SACRAMENTO is 15-32 ATS (-20.2 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
SACRAMENTO is 2-2 against the spread versus ORLANDO over the last 3 seasons
ORLANDO is 3-1 straight up against SACRAMENTO over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO (6 - 2) at OKLAHOMA CITY (7 - 2)
Top Trends for this game.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 10-25 ATS (-17.5 Units) on Sunday games over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
SAN ANTONIO is 5-2 against the spread versus OKLAHOMA CITY over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 6-1 straight up against OKLAHOMA CITY over the last 3 seasons
4 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
MILWAUKEE (2 - 5) at PHOENIX (3 - 4)
Top Trends for this game.
MILWAUKEE is 11-24 ATS (-15.4 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 31-15 ATS (+14.5 Units) when playing on back-to-back days over the last 3 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 102-71 ATS (+23.9 Units) after 3 or more consecutive losses since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 2-2 against the spread versus MILWAUKEE over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 3-1 straight up against MILWAUKEE over the last 3 seasons
3 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
CLEVELAND (4 - 3) at PORTLAND (5 - 2)
Top Trends for this game.
CLEVELAND is 1-9 ATS (-8.9 Units) against Northwest division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
PORTLAND is 2-1 against the spread versus CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
PORTLAND is 2-2 straight up against CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
MEMPHIS (3 - 4) at LA LAKERS (5 - 4)
Top Trends for this game.
LA LAKERS are 101-64 ATS (+30.6 Units) after 3 or more consecutive overs since 1996.
MEMPHIS is 63-38 ATS (+21.2 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
MEMPHIS is 31-17 ATS (+12.3 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
MEMPHIS is 36-21 ATS (+12.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 91-113 ATS (-33.3 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 20-32 ATS (-15.2 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 157-197 ATS (-59.7 Units) after a division game since 1996.
LA LAKERS are 13-24 ATS (-13.4 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
MEMPHIS is 4-3 against the spread versus LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
LA LAKERS is 4-3 straight up against MEMPHIS over the last 3 seasons
5 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
MINNESOTA vs. WASHINGTON
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 6 games on the road
Minnesota is 2-20 SU in its last 22 games
Washington is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Minnesota
Washington is 7-15 SU in its last 22 games at home
ORLANDO vs. SACRAMENTO
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Orlando's last 13 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Orlando's last 5 games on the road
Sacramento is 7-15 SU in its last 22 games at home
Sacramento is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Orlando
SAN ANTONIO vs. OKLAHOMA CITY
The total has gone OVER in 6 of San Antonio's last 9 games when playing Oklahoma City
San Antonio is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing San Antonio
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Oklahoma City's last 12 games when playing at home against San Antonio
MILWAUKEE vs. PHOENIX
Milwaukee is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Milwaukee's last 5 games
Phoenix is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Milwaukee
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Phoenix's last 8 games when playing at home against Milwaukee
CLEVELAND vs. PORTLAND
Cleveland is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Portland
Cleveland is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing Portland
Portland is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games when playing at home against Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Portland's last 6 games when playing at home against Cleveland
MEMPHIS vs. LA LAKERS
Memphis is 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
Memphis is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 7 games at home
LA Lakers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games at home
MINNESOTA at WASHINGTON
MINNESOTA: 8-24 ATS after a non-conference game
WASHINGTON: 38-19 ATS after 6 or more consecutive losses
ORLANDO at SACRAMENTO
ORLANDO: 42-27 UNDER as a road favorite
SACRAMENTO: 10-23 ATS in home games in non-conference games
SAN ANTONIO at OKLAHOMA CITY
SAN ANTONIO: 15-5 OVER as a road underdog
OKLAHOMA CITY: 10-25 ATS on Sunday games
MILWAUKEE at PHOENIX
MILWAUKEE: 31-15 ATS when playing on back-to-back days
PHOENIX: 11-2 UNDER in home games after covering 2 of their last 3 against the spread
CLEVELAND at PORTLAND
CLEVELAND: 1-9 ATS against Northwest division opponents
PORTLAND: 26-10 ATS after playing a game as a road favorite
MEMPHIS at LA LAKERS
MEMPHIS: 27-15 ATS as a road underdog
LA LAKERS: 19-31 ATS after playing a game as a home favorite
Hot Teams
-- Kings are 3-2 at home; home side covered six of their eight games.
-- Spurs won last three games, by 6-22-4 points; home side won all eight of their games. Spurs lost both road games, by 20-10 points.
-- Phoenix won its last two home games, by 11-25 points.
-- Portland is 4-0 at home, 3-1 as home favorite, winning by 4-22-9-11 points. Cavaliers won three of last four games; they're 3-1 as a road dog.
-- Lakers won their last five home games (3-2 as home favorite).
Cold Teams
-- Wizards are 0-7, 2-5 vs spread, losing home games by 6-8-3 points. Minnesota lost five of its first seven games.
-- Orlando lost two of its last three road games.
-- Milwaukee is 0-5 on road, 1-4 vs spread.
-- Grizzlies lost three of four road games (1-3 as road dog).
Totals
-- Four of last five Minnesota games stayed under total.
-- Under is 6-1-1 in Orlando games this season.
-- Last four Thunder games stayed under total. Three of last four San Antonio games went over the total.
-- Three of last four Milwaukee games stayed under total.
-- Three of last four Cleveland games stayed under total.
-- All four Memphis road games stayed under the total.
Wear and Tear
-- Wolves: 3rd game/5 nites. Wizards: 3rd game/5 nites.
-- Magic: 3rd game/5 nites. Kings: Had last two days off.
-- Spurs: 5th game/7 nites. Thunder: 3rd game/3 nites.
-- Bucks: 5th game/7 nites. Suns: 3rd game/5 nites.
-- Cavaliers: 4th game/6 nites. Blazers: 3rd game/4 nites.
-- Grizzlies: 4th game/6 nites. Lakers: 6th game/9 nites.