Brooklyn Nets at L.A. Lakers: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Brooklyn Nets at Los Angeles Lakers (-6.5, 208.5)
The Brooklyn Nets are getting accustomed to playing on a bigger stage following the franchise's offseason move from New Jersey. The lights will be even brighter when they arrive in Hollywood for a matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday in what is expected to be Mike D'Antoni's coaching debut with Kobe Bryant and company. D'Antoni, who is recuperating from knee-replacement surgery, had planned to be on the bench for Sunday's home win against Houston, but opted to watch his second straight game from the locker room amid concerns of a lack of mobility in the event players crashed into the bench.
While Los Angeles has won four of five since coach Mike Brown was fired on Nov. 9, Brooklyn has been even hotter. The Nets ran their winning streak to five games with a 99-90 victory at Sacramento on Sunday in the first of a three-game California road trip. Brooklyn will get its first glance at center Dwight Howard in a Lakers uniform. The Nets were rebuffed in numerous attempts to acquire the former Orlando Magic superstar before opting to trade for All-Star shooting guard Joe Johnson in the offseason.
ABOUT THE NETS (6-2, 4-2-2 ATS): Brooklyn had been playing shorthanded with injuries to forward Gerald Wallace and MarShon Brooks, but both finally returned to the lineup and the added depth led to a 52-point effort from the bench against the Kings, led by Andray Blatche with 22. Center Brook Lopez had been mentioned as the main bargaining chip in last year's trade talks for Howard, but he suffered a broken foot just before the start of last season. Lopez had a string of three straight 20-point efforts snapped in Sacramento but is averaging 22.8 points lifetime against the Lakers.
ABOUT THE LAKERS (5-5, 5-5 ATS): It may not exactly rival the "Showtime" days of Magic Johnson and the Laker teams of the 1980s, but Los Angeles clearly has embraced the up-tempo style instituted by D'Antoni since he started running practices late last week. Kobe Bryant collected his first triple-double since November 2010 with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists against the Rockets. "He just lets us go out there and play," Bryant said of D'Antoni. "We're just picking apart the defense. We're putting the defense in predicaments where they have to choose and we're making them pay."
TRENDS:
* Under is 5-0-1 in the last six meetings.
* Over is 5-2-1 in the last eight meetings in Los Angeles.
* Road team is 12-4-2 ATS in the last 18 meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Los Angeles has won the last eight meetings against the Nets.
2. The Nets are seeking their first six-game winning streak since running off 14 straight toward the end of the 2006 season.
3. The Lakers averaged 116.5 points in the last two games despite the absences of starting point guard Steve Nash (leg) and backup Steve Blake (abdominal).
Tuesday Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
It's a light NBA card on Tuesday with three games to wager on, but the two Empire teams are on center-stage. The Knicks look to stay hot in New Orleans, while the Nets continue their road trip against the Lakers. We'll begin in Philadelphia with a pair of division rivals hooking up.
Raptors at 76ers
Philadelphia is attempting to finish off its five-game homestand at 3-2 after beating Utah and Cleveland the last two contests. The Sixers welcome in the Raptors, who are trying to win consecutive games for the first time this season, coming off Sunday's matinee triumph over the Magic.
Doug Collins' squad hasn't scored many points this season, busting the 100-point mark only once in their first 10 contests. However, Philadelphia's defense put together another solid defensive effort on Sunday by limiting Cleveland to 79 points in a seven-point victory. The Sixers own a 4-1 mark to the 'over' following an 'under' this season, while going for their third division win. Philadelphia topped Toronto on November 10, a 93-83 road triumph as three-point underdogs.
The Raptors continue to play with starting point guard Kyle Lowry, who missed the last six games with a foot injury. Toronto held off Orlando on Sunday, 97-86 to cash four-point 'chalk,' as five Raptors finished in double-figures. Dwane Casey's team has only one road win in five tries, while allowing at least 100 points four times.
Knicks at Hornets
New York continues to roll along following Sunday's blowout of Indiana to improve to 7-1 SU/ATS. The Knicks head back to the road for three games against Southwest Division foes. Mike Woodson's club split a pair of contests at San Antonio and Memphis, while suffering their first loss of the season against the Grizzlies last Friday. The task won't be easy heading to New Orleans, taking on a Hornets' squad that continues to cash for bettors.
The Hornets are just 3-5 on the season, but Monty Williams' team has covered six times, including Saturday's four-point defeat at Milwaukee as eight-point 'dogs. The two non-covers both came at home in blowout losses to Philadelphia and Oklahoma City, as the Thunder drubbed the Hornets on Friday, 110-95. New Orleans continues to put up high-scoring games of late, cashing the 'over' in four straight contests.
The Knicks boast the league's best defense through the first three weeks, allowing just 90 points per game. New York gave up 100 points in consecutive games at San Antonio and Memphis, but the defense tightened up by yielding a season-low 76 points to the Pacers. This is just the second time the Knicks have listed as a road favorite this season, while beating the Magic last Tuesday, 99-89 as seven-point 'chalk.' New York looks for its fourth consecutive win in New Orleans, as the Knicks have cashed seven of the last eight meetings with the Hornets.
Nets at Lakers
Brooklyn has overcome a 1-2 start to capture five straight victories, as the Nets travel to Tinseltown on Tuesday to battle the streaking Lakers. Los Angeles is moving forward from the Mike Brown era by scoring over 100 points in four of the last five games, while winning four times to improve to 5-5. The Lakers close out a six-game homestand, seeking a 5-1 SU/ATS record.
The uptempo Lakers held off the Rockets, 119-108 on Sunday, cashing as seven-point favorites to move to 5-0 ATS the last five games in the favorite role. The 208½ total posted on Tuesday is the highest for Los Angeles this season, but the Purple and Gold managed to eclipse the 'over' in each of the last two games listed at 200 or above.
The Nets held off the Kings on Sunday to kick off their three-game California road trip, 99-90 as 3½-point 'chalk.' Gerald Wallace returned to the Brooklyn lineup after missing the previous six games with ankle injury, but scored just four points at Sacramento in 24 minutes. After allowing 100 points or more in the first three games, the Nets have given up triple-digits just once during this five-game hot streak.
NBA: Streaks, Trends, Notes
Sportspic.com
New York Knicks at New Orleans Hornets
In one of only three scheduled for the NBA Tuesday the Hornets will host the New York Knicks. New Orleans coming off a 117-113 loss to the Bucks are 3-5 on the season netting 93.1 points/game while allowing 96.2 per contest. Bugs however have covered the number in six of eight including Saturday's four-point defeat at Milwaukee as 8-point underdog. Knicks are off an 88-76 victory over Pacers improving to 7-1 both SU/ATS. Knicks scoring 100.5 points/game sport the leagues second best defense at 90.0 per contest. New York winning six of the past seven meetings (6-1 ATS) will be looking to notch a fourth consecutive win/cover on Bugs hardwood. The betting market has Knicks 6.0 point favorites a dangerous spot as they're on a 3-8 ATS road skid vs non-conference opponents, 0-4 ATS road skid after allowing = 110 points.
NBA Odds, Picks and Trends: Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2013
By: The Linemakers s
Sportingnews.com
LAS VEGAS -- How many points will the L.A. Lakers score tonight? Lakers fans are having fun once again as their new-and-improved version of the team has a little “Showtime” in them, bringing back memories of the 1980s when their games were routinely played at a fast pace.
New Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni may make his first appearance on the sideline against the Nets tonight, but it’s apparent that his influence has already rubbed off on the team and that the players are loving the style of play. D'Antoni has been watching the games from the clubhouse as he recovers from knee surgery, but he's been running the practices since late last week.
In their last two games since D’Antoni came aboard, the Lakers scored 114 points against the Suns and 119 against the Rockets, both wins and covers, and both games flying OVER the total
The player who has perhaps most embraced the change of pace is Kobe Bryant, who leads the league in scoring at 26.4 points a game. With Steve Nash still a week out from returning to run the system he knows well – he won two MVPs under D’Antoni at Phoenix – and Steve Blake out with an abdominal injury, Bryant has taken over the distribution role, too. In L.A.’s last game, he recorded his first triple-double since 2010.
The Nets come in on a five-game winning streak and will be looking to win six straight for the first time since 2006. Theyve won most of those games playing short-handed, with Gerald Wallace and MarShon Brooks out, but both returned for the Nets’ last game and will play tonight.
The Nets, who are averaging 97 points per game, are led by Deron Williams (18.0), Brook Lopez (17.8) and Joe Johnson (15.3). Williams has also dished out eight assist per game.
The Lakers are 5.5-point favorites tonight with a rising total that began at 207.5 and has been bet up to 209 at some books, which still may not be enough. D’Antoni’s influence and the true effect of the system can’t be completely gauged after two games, so there is going to major adjustment period going on with bookmakers regarding the new-look Lakers.
Look for another high-scoring game tonight, well above the posted total of 209.
NBA trends:
Home underdogs are strong in pro football, but not so much in the NBA, with a mark of 18-27 ATS this season. Tonight, the Hornets are 6-point home underdogs as they welcome the Knicks.
If you blindly bet the favorites this season, you’d be 79-67-6 ATS.
The Knicks have covered nine of their past 10 games against teams with a losing record. They’ve also covered their past four games against the Hornets.
The Hornets are 12-2 ATS in their past 14 home games and have covered their past seven games after two-days rest.
The 76ers have covered four of their past five home games when playing a team with a losing road record. Philly is a 5.5-point favorite at home tonight vs. Toronto.
The Raptors have gone UNDER the total in their past eight Tuesday games. The total tonight is 182.
The Raptors and 76ers have gone UNDER the total in their past five meetings.
NBA injuries:
Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (foot) is OUT indefinitely.
Lakers guard Steve Blake (abdominal) is questionable.