Thursday's Best NBA Bets
By Covers.com
Boston Celtics at Chicago Bulls (N/A)
The Chicago Bulls are expected to be without Derrick Rose for a fourth straight game Thursday, but so far at least, his teammates are sticking together in the MVP’s absence.
Chicago came away with a 121-115 win over the Sacramento Kings Tuesday, but couldn’t cash in as an 11-point favorite even though the Bulls had a 19-point lead in the fourth quarter.
“Missing Derrick, even though we’re winning games, it’s huge,” Luol Deng told reporters after scoring 23 points and dishing a career-high 11 assists. “He makes the game so much easier. When he’s not there, you’ve got to work extra.”
Bulls supports know all about it. They have watched their club go 1-2 against the number with Rose on the shelf and it doesn’t look like the superstar is about to return to the club anytime soon as he deals with back spasms.
Boston will likely be dealing with some injury concerns as well with Kevin Garnett banged up, but after the Celtics were pumped by Detroit Wednesday night, we’re looking at the home team here.
Pick: Bulls
New Jersey Nets at Indiana Pacers (N/A)
The Indiana Pacers hoped Danny Granger would be able to play Wednesday against Cleveland. He took the pregame warmup but sat out with a sprained ankle and Pacers missed him in a big way.
Indiana was held to just 38 points in the first half and shot only 36.8 percent from the floor as Cleveland ran away with a 98-87 victory when all was said and done.
The Pacers have now dropped seven straight against the number and you have to figure Granger, who leads the team scoring 18 points per game, will at least give it a go Thursday.
Meanwhile, New Jersey has lost eight in a row after Wednesday’s loss at home to Memphis. Outside of Deron Williams, there just isn’t too much to get excited about with this Nets team.
Pick: Pacers
Thursday's NBA Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
The Thursday NBA card is a light one with just three games, including the standard TNT doubleheader. The night begins with the Bulls and Celtics meeting for the second time in five days at the United Center, while the Blazers play their third game in three nights against the Clippers in Southern California.
Celtics at Bulls
The venue shifts to the Windy City for Thursday's contest after Boston knocked off Chicago as short road 'dogs on Sunday, 95-91. However, the Bulls were without their MVP point guard Derrick Rose, who has been sitting out with back spasms. Chicago hopes to get Rose back in the lineup against Boston, as the former Memphis standout has missed the previous three games (2-1 SU and 1-2 ATS).
The Celtics own a 10-4 SU and 7-7 ATS record the last 14 contests following a five-game skid in mid-January. In Sunday's home victory over the Bulls, Boston held the lead the entire game, while shooting a stout 49% from the floor against one of the league's top defenses. Rajon Rondo took advantage of Rose sitting out by putting up a triple-double, including season-highs in points (32) and assists (15). Boston picked up its fourth straight victory in the role of an underdog, which also includes wins over Orlando (twice) and Indiana.
The Bulls continue a six-game homestand following a nine-game road swing in which they finished 6-3 SU/ATS. In Chicago's first game back at the United Center, the Bulls held off the Kings, 121-115 on Tuesday as 11-point favorites. Sacramento managed the road cover in spite of trailing Chicago by 19 points with nine minutes remaining, as the Kings blew up for 30 points in the final eight minutes. The 115 points allowed by the Bulls was the most given up all season by Tom Thibodeau's team, while snapping a five-game streak of limiting foes to less than 100 points.
Chicago won both meetings at the United Center last season, each by double-digits. Rose burned the Celtics for 36 points in a 90-79 triumph as two-point favorites last January, while the Bulls held the C's to less than 38% shooting from the floor in each home win. Each of the previous four matchups in the Windy City has finished 'under' the total, while six of the nine last nine contests between these teams have cashed the 'under.'
Blazers at Clippers
These two teams are playing with no rest, while the Blazers are taking the court for the third time in three nights. Los Angeles hits the road for the seventh time in eight games after Wednesday’s home contest against Washington, while the Blazers return home following last night’s game at Golden State.
Nate McMillan’s team will definitely be gassed heading into tonight’s action, while All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge is nursing an ankle injury suffered in Tuesday’s loss to the Wizards. Aldridge is likely going to be out once again after sitting out last night at Golden State, as this Portland team is falling fast after a quick start. The Blazers began the season at 7-2, but eventually went backwards with an 8-13 mark the last 21 games.
The Clippers aren’t in an easy travel spot here by playing in their eighth different city since February 4, while going 6-2 SU and 5-3 ATS in their previous eight road contests. Los Angeles fell in its last trip to the Rose Garden on January 10, a 105-97 setback as 5 ½-point underdogs. All five Portland starters scored in double-figures, led by Gerald Wallace’s 20 points, while Aldridge and Wesley Matthews each put in 18 points apiece.
Through 21 instances this season, teams playing their third game in three nights own a 12-9 ATS record. However, after a 6-0 ATS start, this trend is hitting at 40% the last 15 games, including a home loss by Phoenix last night. Home clubs have profited the most in the situation with a 10-5 SU/ATS record, while the Blazers have won each of the last five meetings in this series at the Rose Garden.
Hot Teams
-- Bulls won six of last seven games, covered one of last five at home.
-- Clippers won five of their last seven games.
Cold Teams
-- Nets lost their last seven games (0-6 vs spread in last six). Pacers lost six of their last seven games.
-- Celtics lost three of last four games, are 6-2 vs spread as a dog.
-- Blazers lost last three home games, allowing 112.7 ppg.
Wear and Tear
-- Nets: 2nd nite in row after three off. Pacers: 3rd nite in a row.
-- Celtics: 2nd nite in row after two off. Bulls: 3rd game/5 nites.
-- Clippers: 5th game/7 nites. Trailblazers: 3rd nite in row, 5th/7 nites.
Totals
-- Seven of last nine New Jersey games went over the total.
-- Six of last eight Chicago games went over the total.
-- Six of last seven Portland games went over the total.
Armadillosports.com
NEW JERSEY (8 - 22) at INDIANA (17 - 12) - 2/16/2012, 7:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
INDIANA is 8-1 against the spread versus NEW JERSEY over the last 3 seasons
INDIANA is 9-0 straight up against NEW JERSEY over the last 3 seasons
6 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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BOSTON (15 - 13) at CHICAGO (24 - 7) - 2/16/2012, 8:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 6-4 against the spread versus BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 5-5 straight up against BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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LA CLIPPERS (18 - 9) at PORTLAND (16 - 14) - 2/16/2012, 10:35 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
PORTLAND is 5-4 against the spread versus LA CLIPPERS over the last 3 seasons
PORTLAND is 7-2 straight up against LA CLIPPERS over the last 3 seasons
5 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
NEW JERSEY vs. INDIANA
New Jersey is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Indiana
New Jersey is 5-18 SU in its last 23 games on the road
Indiana is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Indiana is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing New Jersey
BOSTON vs. CHICAGO
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston's last 6 games
Boston is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games
Chicago is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Boston
Chicago is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games at home
LA CLIPPERS vs. PORTLAND
LA Clippers are 9-3 SU in their last 12 games
LA Clippers are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Portland's last 5 games when playing at home against LA Clippers
Portland is 19-6 SU in its last 25 games at home
NEW JERSEY at INDIANA
NEW JERSEY: 11-3 Over off BB losses
INDIANA: 9-21 ATS playing on back to back days
BOSTON at CHICAGO
BOSTON: 8-18 ATS playing on back to back days
CHICAGO: 9-1 Under at home if total is 179.5 or less
LA CLIPPERS at PORTLAND
LA CLIPPERS: 8-0 ATS Away after allowing 85 pts or less
PORTLAND: 0-7 ATS when the line is +3 to -3
Hoops Trends - Thursday
By Vince Akins
VegasInsider.com
SU TREND OF THE DAY:
The Bulls are 10-0 ATS (9.4 ppg) since April 11, 2010 when their DPA was at least plus 15 points in their previous game.
OU TREND OF THE DAY:
The Trailblazers are 0-17 OU (-11.1 ppg) since December 13, 2000 at home after playing on the road against the Warriors.
PLAYER TREND OF THE DAY:
The Nets are 10-0 OU (14.8 ppg) since March 30, 2011 after losing the previous matchup in which Kris Humphries took fewer than 10 shots.
CHOICE TREND:
The League is 11-0 OU (11.3 ppg) in database history as between a 9 point favorite and 12 point dog when playing their third game in three days if they’ve lost each of the last two by 5+ points.
TODAY’S TRENDS:
The Pacers are 0-9 ATS (-10.2 ppg) since December 20, 2010 with no rest after a loss in which Roy Hibbert was not the Pacers’ high scorer.