Warriors at Heat: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Golden State Warriors at Miami Heat (-4, 204.5)
The Golden State Warriors will put their six-game winning streak on the line with their toughest test of a lengthy road trip at the Miami Heat on Thursday. The Warriors took the first two of a seven-game trip and are enjoying their longest winning streak in six years while thriving at the defensive end. Golden State will need to be at its best at that end against the Heat, who have won eight of nine and are returning home after a four-game trip.
The Warriors do not get a lot of credit for their defense but are one of the best in the league at limiting opponents. “We’ve had moments where we weren’t as effective as we’d like to be,” coach Mark Jackson said. “But, when you look at the numbers, holding a team under 40 (percent shooting), that’s the 14th time all year. Only Indiana has done it 15 times. So, we’ve got to get some recognition as far as the way that these guys defend on a high level.” Miami will test that defense with a healthy LeBron James, who returned from a one-game absence due to a groin injury and put up 26 points and 10 assists in 40 minutes at Denver on Monday.
LINE: The Heat opened as 4-point faves. The total opened at 204.5.
COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Golden State (-9.5) - Miami (-14.5) + home court (-3) = Miami -8
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (20-13, 15-16-2 ATS): Golden State has gotten some strong performances from Stephen Curry during its winning streak and leaned on the interior and the bench in a 94-81 victory in Orlando on Tuesday. Andrew Bogut and David Lee provide a matchup issue for the Heat, and the Warriors figure to use their advantage on the inside. “We need to bring the same intensity (against Miami),” Curry said. “We feel like if we play the way we are supposed to play, we can beat everybody in this league. That is the mindset that we have and it is nice to have everybody healthy and ready to go to finish out this road trip and keep the momentum that we have.”
ABOUT THE HEAT (24-7, 14-17 ATS): James returned but Dwyane Wade went down with back spasms against the Nuggets and is considered day-to-day. Miami has been cautious with Wade all season and the team is used to playing without the All-Star, especially if Chris Bosh can maintain his current level of play. The veteran forward was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday after putting up 22.3 points and eight rebounds in four games, and followed it up with 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting in Monday’s 97-94 triumph that closed out a 3-1 trip.
TRENDS:
* Warriors are 4-0-1 ATS in the last five meetings in Miami.
* Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings in Miami.
* Underdog is 6-2-1 ATS in the last nine meetings.
* Road team is 12-3-2 ATS in the last 17 meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Warriors won their lone trip to the Heat last season 97-95 behind 27 points from Klay Thompson.
2. Miami G Norris Cole (face) took a hard fall and left Monday’s game but is expected to play Thursday.
3. Lee has gone three straight without a double-double after posting 10 in a row.
NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Brooklyn Nets at Oklahoma Thunder
Oklahoma Thunder (25-6, 17-14 ATS) suffering a 98-94 home loss to the Blazers New Years Eve marking just their second loss at Chesapeake Energy Arena will be taking out their frustration on visiting Brooklyn Nets (10-21, 12-19 ATS) Thursday night. Western Conference favorites do not take well to losing. The theory is confirmed by the number crunching machine that tells us WC teams off a loss as favorite are 44-28 the following game with a sparkling 41-29-2 mark at the betting window. Western Conference teams owning the Eastern Conference this season posting a 103-49 record and profitable 84-66-2 mark at the betting window no need over thinking this one. Lay the points knowing Thunder are 15-3 ATS the past two years as home favorites following a loss as a favorite.
Thursday's Tip Sheet
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Warriors at Heat
Golden State: 20-13 SU, 15-16-2 ATS
Miami: 24-7 SU, 14-17 ATS
The Warriors continue their road trip on the East Coast as Golden State heads to South Florida on Thursday. Mark Jackson's club is 2-0 on its current seven-game away swing, including victories over Cleveland and Orlando. The Warriors ran out the Magic early in Sunday's 94-81 triumph has six-point favorites to win their sixth consecutive contest. Golden State is listed as an underdog for the first time since December 6, as the Warriors have covered four of the last six times when receiving points.
The Heat returns home following a 3-1 road swing win which Miami pulled out a narrow victory at Denver to close the trip. Miami has failed to cash in its last four opportunities as a favorite, including three times out west during the Christmas break. Erik Spoelstra's club has several streaks on the line heading into Thursday as the Heat has won five consecutive games at the American Airlines Arena, while cashing the 'over' in seven straight home contests.
Celtics at Bulls
Boston: 13-18 SU, 15-15-1 ATS
Chicago: 12-18 SU, 11-19 ATS
The Celtics weren't expected to do much this season, but were leading the weak Atlantic Division in December. However, Boston has lost four of its last five games, including three home defeats has knocked the C's off the right track. The Celtics built 18-point leads against the Hawks and Wizards, and even a 21-point advantage against the Pistons recently, but threw away all three games at home. Boston is hitting the highway for just the fifth time since Thanksgiving, posting a 1-3 SU/ATS record, while cashing the 'under' three times.
The Bulls lost their sixth consecutive game when playing with no rest in Tuesday's home defeat to the Raptors, an 85-79 setback as a one-point favorite. Chicago continues to struggle at the United Center, dropping six of its past seven home games, while scoring 83 points or less in all six losses. Since blowing out the Pacers in mid-November, the Bulls are a dreadful 1-11 ATS the last 12 games in the favorite role, including 1-9 ATS without Derrick Rose in this stretch.
Grizzlies at Suns
Memphis: 13-17 SU, 10-19-1 ATS
Phoenix: 19-11 SU, 22-7-1 ATS
The Grizzlies hit the road for three games, as Memphis goes for its second victory over Phoenix this season. In the previous matchup at FedEx Forum on December 3, Memphis overcame an eight-point halftime deficit by outscoring Phoenix, 64-37 in the second half of a 110-91 blowout. The Grizzlies limited Suns' guard Eric Bledsoe to just nine points, while Memphis had seven players score in double-figures. Memphis has played well on the road recently with wins in six of its past eight away contests, but the Grizzlies are just 2-4 ATS this season as a road underdog of six points or less.
The Suns began the season with a posted win total of 21½, but Jeff Hornacek's club is two victories shy of busting that number with 52 games remaining. Phoenix has won 11 of 15 contests at U.S. Airways Center, including six of the past seven. The Suns pulled off one of their most solid efforts in Monday's 107-88 rout of the Clippers as eight-point road 'dogs, while putting together a 10-2 ATS run since the loss at Memphis last month.
Bobcats at Blazers
Charlotte: 14-18 SU, 19-11-2 ATS
Portland: 25-7 SU, 19-13 ATS
The Bobcats have been impressive against the number as a road underdog this season, covering 11 of 14 times, including four games when receiving at least nine points. Charlotte plays the third of a five-game Western Conference road swing, while covering each of its past three contests on the highway with no rest, coming off Wednesday's game against the Clippers. The Bobcats have lost each of their last five visits to the Moda Center, as Charlotte's most recent victory at Portland came in March 2008.
Portland beat division rival Oklahoma City for the second time this season in Tuesday's 98-94 triumph as six-point road underdogs. The Blazers erased a 16-point deficit and won in spite of shooting 39% from the floor. Probably the biggest positive drawn from that victory was limiting an opponent to below 100 points for the first time in 10 games, while Portland snapped a seven-game ATS skid. The Blazers will try to get on track from an ATS standpoint at home, covering just one of their last five games at the Moda Center.