NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors
Cruising past Milwaukee 107-94 on Friday recording it's 21st straight victory the Miami Heat head north of the border to where the streak began. The incredible Miami Heat (50-14, 34-30 ATS) run started with a 100-85 win over Toronto Raptors (26-40, 33-32-1 ATS) at the Air Canada Center. No secret the entire league is focused on their streak and each opponent is going to get amped up to play them. Still, it's hard to imagine 'The Three Amigos' losing this one. Wade, James, Bosh averaging a combined 77.1 points/game in the series with Toronto since they teamed up in South Beach two seasons ago have tormented Raptors to the tune of 9-0 (5-4 ATS) including 4-0 (3-1 ATS) running the hardwood in Raptors back yard. Betting shops have installed Heat 7 to 7.5 point favorite with a 196 total.
New York Knicks at Los Angeles Clippers
The up-down Clippers (45-21, 37-29 ATS) alternating wins and losses in all six games in March including a loss to Grizzlies last time out look set for a win Sunday when they host reeling Knicks (38-25, 30-31-2 ATS). Clippers among the best in offense (100.9) and defense (94.4) along with a strong 25-8 (20-13 ATS) mark at the Staples Center should cruise against injury plagued Knicks 0-3 SU/ATS outscored 104.7 to 82.3 on this road trip. Consider the home boys knowing Clippers are on a 5-0 ATS streak following a loss the previous game and that Knicks are 1-5-1 ATS vs Pacific foes, 0-5 ATS following a loss by 10 or more points.
Sunday's NBA Betting Notes
By Covers.com
Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors (+7.5, 195.5)
The Heat will be trying to match the 2007-08 Houston Rockets for the second-longest winning streak in history at 22 straight games when they visit the Toronto Raptors. The Heat have won 10 straight in the series, including two meetings in 2012-13. Miami is 8-1 ATS in its last nine road games.
Orlando Magic at Milwaukee Bucks (-8.5, 207)
Four straight opponents and seven of the last eight have scored at least 100 points on the Bucks. During their current three-game slide, Milwaukee has allowed an average of 109.3 points. The Magic are losers of 35 of their last 41 games, but are 5-0 ATS in their last five road games.
New York Knicks at Los Angeles Clippers (-11.5, 195.5)
The Knicks are hoping to have Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler in the lineup when they attempt to snap a three-game slide. New York was having some trouble generating points even with its stars on the floor over the past few weeks, averaging 93.7 points over its last 15 games. The Clippers are 7-0 ATS in their last seven games against East foes.
Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets (-7.5, 216.5)
The Rockets put on a historic display the last time the Warriors visited, matching an NBA record with 23 3-pointers in a 140-109 drubbing on Feb. 5. Houston has taken five straight and eight of the last nine in the series. The Warriors are 1-8 ATS in the last nine meetings in Houston.
New Orleans Hornets at Minnesota Timberwolves (-2.5, 188.5)
This is the last of four meetings this season, and the Hornets are trying to salvage a split after taking two of three from the Timberwolves last season. The Hornets have lost two straight and 10 of 13 after a 96-87 defeat at Washington on Friday. The Timberwolves have lost two straight and 10 of 12, but one of their five wins over the past six weeks was a 115-86 home victory over New Orleans on Feb. 2. The Hornets are 0-5 ATS in their last five road games.
Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks (+4.5, 209.5)
Dallas is playing solidly with five wins in its last six outings. But Oklahoma City is looking to finish off a four-game season sweep of the Mavericks. Two of this season’s three meetings have been decided in overtime; Oklahoma City won the other by 21 points. The Mavericks are 18-4 ATS in their last 22 games against Western Conference opponents.
Atlanta Hawks at Brooklyn Nets (-4.5, 188)
The Hawks have won two straight following three consecutive losses. After missing Wednesday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers with a sprained left knee, Josh Smith had 17 points and 11 rebounds in a 107-94 win over Phoenix on Friday. Brooklyn has won nine of its last 14 to move within one game of third-place New York. After playing Atlanta, the Nets head out for an eight-game, 17-day road trip beginning Monday in Detroit. The under is 5-1 in the Hawks’ last six road games.
Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers (-12.5, 212.5)
The Los Angeles Lakers figure to be without Kobe Bryant when they host the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. Bryant left after one quarter in Friday’s victory over the Indiana Pacers, two days after suffering an ankle injury against the Atlanta Hawks. Los Angeles has won eight of its last nine home games against the Kings, who have played over in seven of their last eight road games.
Sunday Night Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
With all the tournament buzz surrounding the sports world tonight, there is a chance to cash in with a handful of NBA games on the board. Actually, these contests have major playoff implications as seeding can be changed with potential tiebreakers be broken. We'll take a look at three of these night contests, starting with a battle of two Western Conference foes that aren't very fond of each other in Texas.
Warriors at Rockets
Houston goes for the four-game sweep of Golden State tonight, as the Rockets enter action at the Toyota Center one half-game behind the Warriors for sixth in the West. Obviously, the Rockets hold the season tiebreaker, but a victory tonight would definitely hurt Golden State's already shaken momentum with only three weeks left in the season.
The Warriors hit the road after getting blown out by the Bulls on Friday night, 113-95, as Golden State once trailed by as many as 36 points. Mark Jackson's squad owns a dreadful 2-7 ATS record the last nine games, but eight times the Warriors were listed in the favorite role. The Warriors have dropped nine of their last 10 games away from Oracle Arena, including a 1-7 ATS record when receiving points.
The Rockets look for a better effort tonight after squeezing by the lowly Timberwolves on Friday, 108-100 as 14½-point favorites. Houston has won five of its past seven, while trying to avoid the dreaded seven or eight seed in the West. In three wins over the Warriors this season, the Rockets dropped 140 and 116 points, while putting together a solid defensive effort in the last meeting in Oakland by holding off Golden State, 94-88 as two-point underdogs.
Thunder at Mavericks
Dallas is staying alive in the Western Conference playoff race after running away from Cleveland in the second half of Friday's 10-point home victory. The Mavs have won five of their previous six, with the lone loss coming by one point at San Antonio on Thursday. However, Dallas has not figured out how to beat Oklahoma City, losing nine straight times in the series, including three times this season.
Granted, two of those setbacks this season have gone to overtime, but the Thunder has Dallas' number, while winning four consecutive visits to the American Airlines Center. Oklahoma City has a pair of huge battles on deck against Denver (Tuesday) and at Memphis (Wednesday), as the Thunder owns a 4-6 SU and 3-7 ATS record the last 10 games on the highway. In the role of a road favorite, Scott Brooks' club is just 4-9 ATS the previous 13 times out, including a non-cover in an overtime triumph at Dallas in mid-January.
The Mavs are just three games behind the Lakers for the eighth spot in the West playoff race, but Dallas is 0-9 this season against the top three teams in the conference (Spurs, Thunder, and Clippers). Since January 9, Rick Carlisle's team has cashed in 11 of 13 opportunities in the underdog role, including covers against Oklahoma City and Memphis at home. Dallas has won seven of its past 10 games at home, while hitting the 'under' four straight times.
Hawks at Nets
A pair of second-place teams hooks up at the Barclays Center tonight, but Brooklyn has a more realistic shot of finishing atop its division than Atlanta. The Nets are just one game behind the Knicks in the Atlantic Division entering today's action, while the Hawks are battling it out with the Bulls and Celtics for the fifth seed in the East.
Brooklyn dominated Atlanta, 93-80 on March 9 at Philips Arena to cash outright as three-point 'dogs. Joe Johnson scored just eight points in his return to Atlanta, but Brook Lopez and Andray Blatche torched the Hawks with 18 points apiece. The Nets have taken two of three meetings from the Hawks this season, including a 94-89 home triumph in mid-January, but Atlanta cashed as 6 ½-point 'dogs.
The Hawks are fresh off consecutive home victories over the Suns and Lakers, as Atlanta seeks its first road win in six tries. Larry Drew's club owns a 1-4 ATS record in the last five games away from Philips Arena, while posting a 4-9 SU mark in the past 13 road contests against Eastern Conference foes. The Nets have won four of their last five games, while going 4-1 to the 'under' in the past five at the Barclays Center.