Sunday's Best NBA Bets
By Covers.com
Cleveland Cavaliers at New Jersey Nets (-7, 193.5)
Even though the Nets don’t have much to play for these days, they’re putting together a nice run down the stretch.
New Jersey has won four of its last six, covering five times over that span as they get set to host the struggling Cavaliers.
As usual, point guard Deron Willams has been a major catalyst. He put up 19 points and 13 assists in New Jersey’s 100-84 blowout of the Wizards. The Nets shot a season-best 56 percent from the floor.
"We didn't finish up strongly on the road trip (losing the last two games to the Lakers and Trailblazers), so we wanted to get back on our winning track," Williams told reporters. "We started off better than usual and that was the key. We just played solid all throughout the game. We all played well."
The Cavs just snapped a nine-game losing streak with a win over Toronto, but they’re going to struggle against New Jersey without Kyrie Irving and Anthony Parker.
Pick: Nets
Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs (-10, 209.5)
The condensed schedule is starting to catch up to the Utah Jazz.
Paul Millsap (stomach virus) and C.J. Miles (nausea) have been battling through illness, and Devin Harris (sprained left ankle) and Al Jefferson (strained abdomen) are banged up.
"This time of year, especially, most guys are aching in some kind of way. If you want an excuse not to play, you can find it easy," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "If you love what you're doing and you're willing to be responsible to your teammates and the character of you as a person, you fight through those things."
The Jazz downed the Warriors to snap a two-game losing skid, but they’ve covered only once in the last six contests.
Pick: Spurs
NBA on ABC: Chicago Bullls at New York Knicks
By Covers.com
Chicago Bulls at New York Knicks (+2.5, 185)
THE STORY: Derrick Rose is expected to return to the lineup for the first time in nearly a month when the Chicago Bulls visit the New York Knicks on Sunday in the front end of a home-and-home matchup. The reigning league MVP has been sidelined for 12 games with a groin injury and last played in Chicago’s 104-99 win over the Knicks on March 12. New York leads Milwaukee by only a half-game for the final playoff spot in the East.
ABOUT THE BULLS (43-13, 32-23-1 ATS): Rose went through a full practice Saturday and pronounced himself “more than likely” to play Sunday, although coach Tom Thibodeau termed him a game-time decision. “My spirits are up. I felt good out there,” Rose said. The Bulls got a season-high 26 points from Luol Deng in snapping a two-game losing streak with a 95-86 win over Boston on Thursday. It was the fourth 20-point outing in five games for Deng, who was hurt the last time the teams met.
ABOUT THE KNICKS (28-27, 28-27 ATS): New York took advantage of the sideshow in Orlando to whack the Magic 96-80 on Thursday. Carmelo Anthony scored 19 points to lead six players in double figures for the Knicks, who buried 13 of 25 3-pointers. In the six games since losing forward Amar’e Stoudemire to a back injury and point guard Jeremy Lin to knee surgery, Anthony has picked up the scoring slack by averaging 27.7 points. He’s also averaging 8.0 rebounds during that stretch.
TRENDS:
* Under is 7-2 in the last nine meetings in New York.
* Over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings.
* Bulls are 1-4 ATS in the last five meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Winners of three of the last four at Madison Square Garden, the Bulls are a league-best 21-7 away from home.
2. Knicks forward Steve Novak leads the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage (47.9).
3. Rose scored 32 points in each of Chicago’s wins over New York this season.
PREDICTION: Bulls 98, Knicks 94
Sunday Night Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
The Sunday night NBA card involves six contests, including several key Eastern Conference matchups. The Heat looks to get on track after Friday's ugly loss to Memphis as Miami heads to Detroit, while the 76ers and Celtics meet up in Boston. We'll start in New Jersey as the Nets try to keep up their ATS hot streak against a struggling Cleveland squad.
Cavaliers at Nets
This game isn't going to get many toes tingling, but New Jersey has cashed in five of the past six games. The Nets cruised past a tired and injury-riddled Wizards' club on Friday, 110-98 as eight-point favorites in the first contest back from a four-game West Coast swing. Cleveland invades New Jersey without its top scorer in Kyrie Irving, as the point guard is sitting out with a shoulder injury. The Cavs also without swingman Anthony Parker (sternum) and Daniel Gibson (ankle), but Cleveland upset Toronto on Friday, 84-80 as seven-point road underdogs. The Nets go for the season split with the Cavs after Cleveland held off New Jersey, 105-100 on March 19.
76ers at Celtics
Philadelphia enters Sunday's action two games behind Boston in the Atlantic Division, as the Sixers go for their third win in three tries against the Celtics this season. Boston returns home following Saturday's victory at Indiana, as the C's own a 5-0 SU and 3-2 ATS record at TD Garden with no rest. The Sixers lost their third straight game to the struggling Magic last night, 88-82 as six-point favorites. Philadelphia has put together a 4-9 ATS mark the previous 13 games, while cashing just two of its last nine contests in the 'dog role. In each of the first two meetings at the Wells Fargo Center, the Sixers picked up a pair of double-digit victories, as the Celtics played without rest in each of those two losses.
Pistons at Heat
Miami will look to build a new home winning streak after having its 17-game hot streak halted by Memphis on Friday. The Heat plays the fourth of a five-game homestand against the Pistons, as Detroit has quietly won five of its past seven contests. The first two matchups this season were claimed by the Heat at the Palace of Auburn Hills, including an 88-73 blowout as nine-point 'chalk' on March 23. Detroit cashed in the first of a four-game road swing at Atlanta as nine-point underdogs in a 101-96 loss on Friday. Erik Spoelstra's team is 11-3 to the 'under' the last 14 games at the American Airlines Arena, while Detroit is riding a four-game 'over' streak overall.
Raptors at Thunder
Oklahoma City attempts to snap a season-high three-game losing streak as the Thunder returns home to host the Raptors. Toronto stubbed its toe in Friday's home defeat to the undermanned Cavaliers, halting a three-game winning streak. The Thunder's offense has scored less than 100 points in each of the last four contests, the longest such stretch of the season. Oklahoma City owns a 4-7 ATS record this season as a double-digit favorite, but is a strong 10-4 ATS off a straight-up defeat. The Raptors look to improve on a 7-2 ATS record when receiving at least 10 points, including covers in overtime games at Chicago and Memphis the last three weeks.
Jazz at Spurs
San Antonio is the hottest team in basketball by winning each of its last 10 games, while taking 13 of its past 14 contests. The Spurs are 8-1-1 ATS in this stretch, as the Jazz invades the AT&T Center on Sunday. Since Utah's six-game winning streak was snapped in a four-overtime loss at Atlanta, Tyrone Corbin's squad is 3-5 SU and 2-6 ATS the past eight contests. In two prior meetings this season, the Spurs have beaten the Jazz, including a four-point victory in Salt Lake City on February 20. The Spurs have dominated as large favorites this season by compiling an 8-1 ATS mark as nine-point 'chalk' or more.
Rockets at Kings
Houston is rolling through its four-game road trip by already picking up underdog victories over the Bulls and Lakers. The swing continues in Sacramento against an unrested Kings' team that played last night in Los Angeles. The Kings have dropped seven of the past nine contests since a three-game winning streak, while leading scorer Marcus Thornton has missed each of the last three games with a bruised thigh. The Rockets have cashed in six of the previous nine contests, as Houston looks to maintain the sixth seed in the Western Conference with a win.
CHICAGO (43 - 13) at NEW YORK (28 - 27) - 4/8/2012, 1:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NEW YORK is 40-23 ATS (+14.7 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
NEW YORK is 21-12 ATS (+7.8 Units) second half of the season this season.
NEW YORK is 39-26 ATS (+10.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 33-23 ATS (+7.7 Units) in all games this season.
CHICAGO is 19-9 ATS (+9.1 Units) in road games this season.
CHICAGO is 9-1 ATS (+7.9 Units) in a road game where where the total is between 180 and 184.5 points this season.
CHICAGO is 43-30 ATS (+10.0 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 39-26 ATS (+10.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
NEW YORK is 5-4 against the spread versus CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 6-3 straight up against NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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CLEVELAND (18 - 35) at NEW JERSEY (20 - 37) - 4/8/2012, 6:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CLEVELAND is 120-157 ATS (-52.7 Units) after scoring 85 points or less since 1996.
NEW JERSEY is 95-123 ATS (-40.3 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 44-62 ATS (-24.2 Units) in home games over the last 3 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 11-23 ATS (-14.3 Units) in home games second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 3-14 ATS (-12.4 Units) in home games against Central division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 23-37 ATS (-17.7 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
NEW JERSEY is 6-5 against the spread versus CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
CLEVELAND is 7-4 straight up against NEW JERSEY over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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PHILADELPHIA (29 - 26) at BOSTON (31 - 24) - 4/8/2012, 6:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 9-19 ATS (-11.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
BOSTON is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) on Sunday games over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 76-98 ATS (-31.8 Units) as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.
BOSTON is 10-25 ATS (-17.5 Units) when playing on back-to-back days over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 149-191 ATS (-61.1 Units) in home games revenging a loss vs opponent since 1996.
BOSTON is 38-63 ATS (-31.3 Units) in home games off an upset win as an underdog since 1996.
BOSTON is 14-32 ATS (-21.2 Units) after a win by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 42-71 ATS (-36.1 Units) in home games versus good defensive teams - allowing <=91 points/game since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 7-3 against the spread versus BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 6-4 straight up against PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
6 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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DETROIT (21 - 34) at MIAMI (39 - 15) - 4/8/2012, 6:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 21-11 ATS (+8.9 Units) second half of the season this season.
DETROIT is 32-16 ATS (+14.4 Units) against Southeast division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
MIAMI is 36-59 ATS (-28.9 Units) in home games in April games since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
MIAMI is 5-4 against the spread versus DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
MIAMI is 8-1 straight up against DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
6 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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TORONTO (20 - 36) at OKLAHOMA CITY (40 - 15) - 4/8/2012, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 132-107 ATS (+14.3 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 48-28 ATS (+17.2 Units) in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 20-9 ATS (+10.1 Units) off a upset loss as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 32-15 ATS (+15.5 Units) as a road underdog of 12.5 to 18 points since 1996.
TORONTO is 32-15 ATS (+15.5 Units) as a road underdog of 12.5 or more points since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
OKLAHOMA CITY is 2-2 against the spread versus TORONTO over the last 3 seasons
OKLAHOMA CITY is 2-2 straight up against TORONTO 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 (29 - 27) at SAN ANTONIO (39 - 14) - 4/8/2012, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SAN ANTONIO is 34-18 ATS (+14.2 Units) in all games this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 25-14 ATS (+9.6 Units) as a favorite this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 19-7 ATS (+11.3 Units) in home games this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 23-7 ATS (+15.3 Units) second half of the season this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) after a division game this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 53-35 ATS (+14.5 Units) after a win by 10 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) after 3 or more consecutive wins this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 19-8 ATS (+10.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 33-20 ATS (+11.0 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
UTAH is 5-4 against the spread versus SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 5-4 straight up against UTAH 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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HOUSTON (30 - 25) at SACRAMENTO (19 - 37) - 4/8/2012, 9:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
HOUSTON is 6-4 against the spread versus SACRAMENTO over the last 3 seasons
HOUSTON is 7-3 straight up against SACRAMENTO over the last 3 seasons
6 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO vs. NEW YORK
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 7 games when playing New York
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Chicago's last 9 games when playing on the road against New York
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of New York's last 11 games
New York is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games
PHILADELPHIA vs. BOSTON
Philadelphia is 5-13 SU in its last 18 games when playing Boston
Philadelphia is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Boston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
Boston is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Philadelphia
DETROIT vs. MIAMI
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Detroit's last 5 games on the road
Detroit is 5-17 SU in its last 22 games on the road
Miami is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Detroit
Miami is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Detroit
CLEVELAND vs. NEW JERSEY
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cleveland's last 7 games when playing on the road against New Jersey
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Cleveland's last 22 games when playing New Jersey
New Jersey is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Cleveland
New Jersey is 4-11 SU in its last 15 games when playing Cleveland
UTAH vs. SAN ANTONIO
Utah is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Utah is 3-11 ATS in its last 14 games when playing on the road against San Antonio
San Antonio is 6-0-1 ATS in its last 7 games
San Antonio is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
TORONTO vs. OKLAHOMA CITY
Toronto is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Oklahoma City
Toronto is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Oklahoma City's last 9 games at home
HOUSTON vs. SACRAMENTO
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Sacramento
Houston is 8-15 SU in its last 23 games when playing on the road against Sacramento
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Sacramento's last 15 games at home
Sacramento is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games at home
Chicago at New York
Chicago: 15-3 ATS off ATS losses in 2 of their last 3 games
New York: 9-0 Under off a road win
Cleveland at New Jersey
Cleveland: 25-8 Under after losing 4 of their last 5 games
New Jersey: 0-10 ATS at home off an ATS win
Philadelphia at Boston
Philadelphia: Philadelphia 19-9 ATS off a combined score of 175 or less points
Boston: Boston 3-12 ATS off a road win by 10+ points
Detroit at Miami
Detroit: 32-16 ATS vs. Southeast Division opponents
Miami: 6-17 ATS at home off a loss
Toronto at Oklahoma City
Toronto: 11-3 Under after scoring 85 points or less
Oklahoma City: 20-9 ATS off a SU loss as a favorite
Utah at San Antonio
Utah: 13-3 Over away after playing BB games as a favorite
San Antonio: 11-3 ATS off a division game
Houston at Sacramento
Houston: 3-13 ATS after winning 4 or 5 of their last 6 games
Sacramento: 11-3 ATS off 3+ losses
Hoop Trends - Sunday
By Vince Akins
VegasInsider.com
SU TREND OF THE DAY:
The Heat are 0-11 ATS (-9.3 ppg) since November 14, 2006 as a home favorite when their DPS was minus 15 points or less in their previous game.
OU TREND OF THE DAY:
The Jazz are 13-0 OU (16.5 ppg) since March 28, 2007 with at least one day of rest off a win as a home favorite in which they trailed at the end of the third quarter.
PLAYER TREND OF THE DAY:
The 76ers are 0-14-1 OU (-13.2 ppg) since October 30, 2010 after a loss in which Andre Iguodala played more than 40 minutes.
CHOICE TREND:
The Raptors are 12-0 ATS (8.3 ppg) since March 25, 2005 on the road after a loss in which they had fewer than fifteen assists.
TODAY’S TRENDS:
The Spurs are 9-0 ATS (8.7 ppg) since March 05, 2010 at home after a win in which Manu Ginobili took fewer than 10 shots.
The Nets are 0-9 OU (-9.6 ppg) since March 13, 2006 as a favorite off a win in which they never trailed.
NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Utah at San Antonio
The San Antonio Spurs have gone from a stifling defensive team to one that wins with it's offense. Heading into it's home-home series against Utah, no team has been hotter than the Spurs who have won ten straight (8-1-1 ATS) netting 107.8 points/game and 13-of-14 (11-2-1 ATS) scoring 108.9 per contest. Plenty of reason to back San Antonio Sunday. Spurs have been solid at the AT&T Center in San Antonio posting a 22-4 (20-6 ATS) mark on the season and they'll be putting a 7-0 SU/ATS streak on the line a span that has seen them score a whopping 112.4 per contest. Spurs on a 14-6 ATS stretch at home vs Utah should improve the record as Jazz have not done well on the road (9-19, 11-17 ATS) and enter just 2-15 (5-12 ATS) away giving up =>100 points/game.
Hot Teams
-- New York won/covered all seven home games under Woodson. Bulls won 12 of their last 14 road games.
-- Nets won/covered three of their last four home games.
-- Celtics won eight of their last nine at home (7-1-1 vs spread).
-- Detroit covered five of its last seven road games.
-- Spurs won their last ten games (7-2-1 vs spread).
-- Rockets won six of their last nine games.
Cold Teams
-- Cavaliers lost nine of their last ten games, but covered last two.
-- 76ers lost four of their last five games.
-- Miami is 8-11 vs spread in its last 19 home games.
-- Raptors lost three of their last four road games. Oklahoma City lost last three games, by 6-5-5 points.
-- Jazz lost five of their last six games (0-6 vs spread).
-- Kings lost five of their last five home games.
Wear-and-Tear
-- Bulls: Had last 2 nites off. Knicks: Had last two nites off.
-- Cavaliers: 4th game/6 nites. Nets: 4th game/6 nites.
-- 76ers: 2nd nite in row, after 2 off. Celtics: 4th game/5 nites.
-- Pistons: 3rd game/4 nites. Heat: 4th game/6 nites.
-- Raptors: 4th game/6 nites. Thunder: 3rd game/5 nites.
-- Jazz: 3rd game/5 nites. Spurs: 4th game/6 nites.
-- Rockets: 2nd game/5 nites. Kings: 7th game/10 nites.
Totals
-- Last four Chicago road games stayed under the total.
-- Under is 3-1-1 in last five Cleveland road games.
-- Last four Boston home games stayed under the total.
-- Last four Detroit games went over the total.
-- Four of last five Thunder games stayed under total.
-- Over is 9-3 in Utah's last twelve away games.
-- Over is 7-3 in Houston's last ten road games.
Back-to-Back
-- 76ers are 3-5 vs spread if they lost nite before. Celtics are 5-10-1 vs spread if they played nite before, but 3-2 at home.
-- Kings are 6-4 vs spread if they lost the nite before.
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