Thunder at Nuggets: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Oklahoma City Thunder at Denver Nuggets (+2.5, 207)
The Oklahoma City Thunder are streaking and look for their seventh consecutive victory when they visit the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. Oklahoma City has won 14 of its past 15 games and the 19-4 start ties for second-best in franchise history, topped only by the 1993-94 Seattle SuperSonics’ 20-3 run. Denver has won 10 of its last 13 games and has also been victorious in seven of its last eight home games.
Oklahoma City posted a 115-113 home victory over the Nuggets on Nov. 18 in a contest that still frustrated Denver coach Brian Shaw. The Nuggets missed 18 free throws and allowed the Thunder to collect 19 rebounds. “To a team of that caliber, there’s no way you can do that and expect to come close to winning a game,” Shaw told reporters after Monday’s practice. “We made that evident to our guys.” Thunder forward Kevin Durant scored 38 points in that contest and running mate Russell Westbrook added 30.
LINE: The Thunder opened as 2-point faves and have been bet to -2.5. The total currently sits at 207.
COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Oklahoma City (-13) - Denver (-8.8) + home court (-3) = Oklahoma City -1.2
ABOUT THE THUNDER (19-4, 13-10 ATS): Durant was 11-of-18 shooting for 28 points in Sunday’s victory over Orlando but his high standards – and even loftier expectations – didn’t allow him to feel satisfied. “I’m one of those guys who wants to make every shot,” Durant said afterward. “I feel I can go back and watch and see the shots I missed and try to correct and look at my footwork and see how I can make those shots.” Durant has made over 60 percent of his shots in four of the last six games – shooting a torrid 58.7 during the stretch – and has scored below 20 points just three times in 23 games.
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (14-9, 12-11 ATS): Denver is five games above. 500 in the tough Western Conference but there are still a lot of people unsure how to measure the club. A four-game stretch that starts with the Thunder might provide some answers as the Nuggets follow by hosting the Phoenix Suns on Friday, visiting the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday and returning to host the Golden State Warriors on Monday. “It’s going to be a tough week,” power forward Kenneth Faried told reporters on Monday. “It should test us, test our team.”
TRENDS:
* Under is 5-1-1 in the last seven meetings in Denver.
* Thunder are 0-4 ATS in the last four meetings.
* Underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.
* Road team is 7-3-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Denver has won nine of the last 11 home games in the series.
2. Nuggets PG Ty Lawson had 29 points and eight assists in last month’s loss to the Nuggets.
3. Thunder PF Serge Ibaka had just four points and two rebounds against Orlando after posting double-doubles in seven of the previous 11 games.
NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Los Angeles at Memphis
Lakers spanked 114-100 last night in Atlanta head into Memphis Tuesday to take on Grizzlies. Lakers losing an earlier meeting between the teams at the Staples Center will have pay-back in mind. Lakers 13-10-1 against the spread and a profitable 5-2 ATS last seven road games are worth a second look. Sports bettors doing the research will find betting numbers are aligned in L.A's favor. Lakers are 2-0 ATS this season revenging a home loss, 3-1 ATS on the road after an ATS loss, 6-1-1 ATS after giving up 110 or more points the previous game. Those who dig deeper will also know this Memphis team is one of the leagues worst bets at 7-15-1 ATS and has developed a nasty habit of dropping the cash when running the hardwood at FedExForum posting a 3-11 ATS mark. Final few betting nuggets in Lakers favor. Fuzzy Bears have an 0-5 ATS skid going vs. Western Conference opponents, 2-6 ATS slide as a favorite running the hardwood against a team with a losing record.
Tuesday NBA Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Blazers at Cavaliers
Portland: 21-4 SU, 18-7 ATS
Cleveland: 9-14 SU, 9-14 ATS
The Blazers continue their hot start after rallying past the Pistons in overtime on Sunday night, 111-109. Damian Lillard's jumper with one-tenth of a second left gave Portland its 11th road win in 13 tries, but the Blazers failed to cover as 3½-point favorites. Rip City has torn apart the Eastern Conference this season, posting a 10-0 SU and 8-2 ATS record, including six wins on the highway.
The Cavaliers are one of the hotter teams against the number recently by covering five of the past six games. Cleveland split a pair of games in the Sunshine State over the weekend, while cashing as 12½-point underdogs in a 114-107 defeat at Miami. The Cavs have fared well in the role of a home 'dog of late, beating the Bulls, Nuggets, and Clippers, while holding each of those teams to 93 points or less.
Kings at Bobcats
Sacramento: 7-15 SU, 8-13-1 ATS
Charlotte: 10-14 SU, 14-9-1 ATS
The Kings begin their first major road trip of the season with the next four games coming against Southeast Division opponents. Sacramento plays its third contest since Rudy Gay was inserted in the lineup, coming off a home underdog victory over Houston on Sunday, 106-91. The Kings snapped a five-game 'over' streak with the 'under' against the Rockets on a high total of 214. Interestingly enough, Sacramento is playing its first road game against an Eastern Conference team this season, while going 1-2 SU/ATS versus the East at home.
The Bobcats have dropped three straight games since an impressive home victory over the Warriors last week. Charlotte has allowed less than 100 points in 16 of the past 17 contests, while the 'under' is 7-1 in the last eight games at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Bobcats own a 1-5 record against Western Conference foes, while losing outright as home favorites to the Lakers and Suns.
Lakers at Grizzlies
Los Angeles: 11-13 SU, 13-10-1 ATS
Memphis: 10-13 SU, 7-15-1 ATS
The Lakers built an early 10-point lead last night at Atlanta, but the Hawks steamrolled Los Angeles in the second half of a 114-100 victory at Philips Arena. Kobe Bryant was limited to eight points on 4-of-14 shooting, as the Lakers fell to 1-4 SU/ATS with the superstar back in the lineup after offseason surgery on his Achilles tendon. The Lakers have struggled within the Western Conference on the road, posting a 2-5 SU/ATS record, with all five losses coming by double-digits.
The Grizzlies have been a major disappointment at FedEx Forum this season, putting up a 5-9 SU and 3-11 ATS record at home. Memphis hasn't won or covered a game in the home underdog role, going 0-5 SU/ATS, including a defeat to Minnesota on Sunday, 101-93. Mike Conley suffered a thigh contusion in the loss to the Wolves, as the Grizzlies' point guard is questionable for tonight's game. The Grizzlies defeated the Lakers at Staples Center during a 4-0 road trip last month in an 89-86 triumph.
Thunder at Nuggets
Oklahoma City: 19-4 SU, 13-10 ATS
Denver: 14-9 SU, 12-11 ATS
The Thunder staved off the Magic on Sunday to pick up their 12th home win in 12 tries, but failed to cash as 13-point favorites in a 101-98 victory. The ATS loss snapped a five-game cover streak for OKC, as the Thunder heads to the Pepsi Center tonight for a division showdown with the Nuggets. Oklahoma City held off Denver in the first meeting this season, 115-113 in mid-November, but the Nuggets grabbed the money as nine-point road underdogs.
The Nuggets continue a four-game homestand after holding off the Pelicans on Sunday, 102-93 as 7½-point favorites. Six of Denver's last seven games have finished 'under' the total, as the Nuggets haven't eclipsed the 103-point mark in the past six contests. The Nuggets slipped past the Thunder twice last season at the Pepsi Center, winning each matchup by a combined five points in the role of an underdog.
Pelicans at Warriors
New Orleans: 11-11 SU, 9-12-1 ATS
Golden State: 13-12 SU, 10-13-2 ATS
The Pelicans have definitely experienced a roller-coaster ride this season, as New Orleans looks to forge above .500 tonight with a win at Golden State. The last time these teams met in the Big Easy, the Warriors left town with a 102-101 triumph in late November, in spite of six Pelicans finishing in double-figures. New Orleans fell to 5-3 ATS the last eight games after Sunday's setback at Denver, as the Pelicans have swept a three-game road trip this season, while also losing all three games on an away swing earlier this season, proving the coin-toss theory with this club.
The Warriors have stumbled of late, coming off consecutive losses to the Rockets and Suns. Golden State has failed to cash in each of the last four games overall, with the lone straight-up win in this stretch coming against Dallas in which the Warriors rallied from a late 10-point deficit. Mark Jackson's club isn't play its best basketball at home with a 2-3 SU and 1-4 ATS ledger the last five games at Oracle Arena, but the Warriors have beaten New Orleans five straight times.