Spurs at Rockets: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets (+1, 213)
Tony Parker excelled in his first game back and the San Antonio Spurs attempt to complete a four-game sweep of Houston when they visit the Rockets on Sunday. Parker had 22 points in Friday’s overtime victory over the Utah Jazz after missing the previous eight with an ankle injury. The victory allowed the Spurs to maintain their 2 1/2-game lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the battle for the top spot in the Western Conference.
Houston is 4-1 on a seven-game homestand and entering a stretch in which it plays the Spurs, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers to complete the month. “These next four are going to really test us,” point guard Jeremy Lin said after Friday’s rout of the Cleveland Cavaliers. “We’re going to play really, really good teams. This is going to be it. This could make or break it for us so we realize that.” The Rockets can improve to a season-high eight games above .500 by beating the Spurs. San Antonio enters with a four-game winning streak and has averaged 123.3 points in winning the first three meetings with Houston.
ABOUT THE SPURS (53-16): Parker played nearly 37 minutes in his first outing since March 1. He was tentative early but was at the top of his game in overtime when he scored six of San Antonio’s 14 points. “Tony was a little bit shy in the first half,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said afterward. “He was just trying to feel his way a little bit. The game got tight at the end in regulation and then in overtime, and he was Tony Parker. Like I said, up until the time he got hurt, there wasn’t a point guard in the league playing better than Tony Parker.” Forward Tim Duncan had 19 points and 16 rebounds against Utah and moved into 13th-place on the all-time rebounding list with 13,113, surpassing Shaquille O’Neal (13,099). Duncan is averaging 25.5 points and 15 rebounds over the last four games.
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (38-31): Guard James Harden scored 20 points against Cleveland and has tallied 20 or more in 24 of his last 26 outings. Harden is averaging 31 points in two games against the Spurs this season. He missed one of the matchups with an ankle injury. Lin matched his career high with 38 points in the game Harden was sidelined. Lin scored a season-low four points against the Cavaliers after averaging 23 over his previous three outings. Center Omer Asik has grabbed 10 or more rebounds in 22 of the last 24 games. He had 13 points and 11 boards against Cleveland.
TRENDS:
* Spurs are 6-0 ATS in their last six Sunday games.
* Rockets are 1-6 ATS in their last seven Sunday games.
* Under is 5-0 in Rockets’ last five overall.
* Spurs are 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. San Antonio has won the last four meetings.
2. Houston is 18-3 when scoring 115 or more points this season.
3. Duncan has recorded 38 double-doubles in 59 career regular-season games against the Rockets.
Sunday's NBA Betting Notes
By Covers.com
Atlanta Hawks at Milwaukee Bucks (-3, 203.5)
Atlanta fell at home to the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday and dropped two of three on its just-completed homestand. The lone win in that span came against the Bucks 98-90 on Wednesday. Milwaukee had its worst offensive performance of the season in a 120-78 loss at the Pacers on Friday and is hoping to return to the form that posted 108.5 points in its last two home games - both wins. The Bucks are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games overall.
Charlotte Bobcats at Miami Heat (-16.5, 199.5)
No lead - or opponent - has been too much to overcome for the Miami Heat, who will go for their 26th consecutive victory when they host the league-worst Charlotte Bobcats. LeBron James and the Heat erased a double-digit deficit for the third time in as many games in beating the Detroit Pistons 103-89 on Friday, moving them within eight victories of tying the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers for the longest winning streak in NBA history. Miami has also won 16 straight home games and own 10 consecutive victories over Charlotte, including a pair this season. The Bobcats are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 road games.
San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets (+1.5, 213.5)
The San Antonio Spurs attempt to complete a four-game sweep of Houston Sunday. San Antonio enters with a four-game winning streak and has averaged 123.3 points in winning the first three meetings with Houston. The Spurs have taken the last four meetings and are 6-0 ATS in their last six Sunday contests.
Portland Trail Blazers at Oklahoma City Thunder (-11.5, 205.5)
Oklahoma City has had a difficult time scoring over the last two games but turned to its defense to avoid a three-game slide on Friday. The Thunder have been held under 100 points in two straight games and needed a big fourth quarter from Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to pull out Friday’s 97-89 win at the lowly Magic. Oklahoma City has taken five straight and eight of the last 10 in the series. The favorite is 4-0-1 in the last five meetings.
Chicago Bulls at Minnesota Timberwolves (+1, 185.5)
The Chicago Bulls likely will play without star center Joakim Noah once again when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night. If they play the way they did Saturday night at home, it might not be an issue. Without Noah in the lineup due to plantar fasciitis, Chicago topped Indiana 87-84 to keep their slim Central Division crown hopes alive. The win pulled the Bulls within five games of the Pacers with 14 to play. Chicago is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings.
Utah Jazz at Dallas Mavericks (-6, 200.5)
The visiting Jazz will look to halt a three-game losing streak when they visit Dallas on Sunday. Utah is sitting in ninth place in the Western Conference, 1 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the final playoff slot and one game in front of the Mavericks. Dallas had won four straight earlier in the month to move into playoff contention but has been unable to build on that momentum, failing to win two straight and going 3-3 in its last six games. The Mavs have lost three straight to the Jazz, including two in Utah this season, but have won the last four matchups at home. The over is 5-0 in the last five meetings in Dallas.
Brooklyn Nets at Phoenix Suns (+1.5, 188.5)
The Suns have lost six of seven games and suffered a humiliating 117-86 home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Phoenix has lost by 30 or more points in two of their last six games. Brooklyn is 2-1 on an eight-game road excursion after falling 101-95 to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday. The Nets routed the Suns 99-79 in Brooklyn on Jan. 11 for only their third win in the last 12 meetings. Brooklyn has played over the total in its last six games overall.
Philadelphia 76ers at Sacramento Kings (-2.5, 205)
Philadelphia has lost 15 straight on the road, last winning on New Year's Day. The road losing streak is its longest since a franchise-record 20-game skid in 1987-88. However, the Sixers have won eight of the last nine meetings (8-1 ATS), including an 89-80 victory in Philadelphia on Feb. 1.