NBA Betting News and Notes Tuesday, December 22

NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com

Dallas Mavericks at Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors off an uninspired 104-94 loss to Sacramento Kings as 5.5 home chalk shooting a lowly 37.2% from the field look to get back into the win column when they host Dallas Mavericks at the Air Canada Center north of the border.

The best thing a Toronto Raptor bettor can do after the horrible loss Sunday against Kings, is to 'Forget-About-It'.

That's because, Purple Dino's have a habit of bouncing back against the betting line following a loss (7-2 ATS), have been money in the bank following an effort in which they allowed 100 or more points (8-2 ATS), have enjoyed success at the betting window facing a team with a winning record (10-5 ATS). Additionally, the Raptors have reaped profits recently running the hardwood against the Mavericks (5-2 ATS).

Inside the Paint - Tuesday
By Chris David
VegasInsider.com

After the betting public crushed the NFL books on Sunday with a slew of favorites, I’m guessing some players may’ve tried their hand in the Association last night.

If that was the case, I’m assuming they did fairly well as the favorites posted a 7-2 straight up and 6-3 record against the spread on Monday.

The Nets did upset the Bulls as 10½-point road favorites last night but I don’t think many takers would’ve jumped on Chicago based on its recent play plus Jimmy Butler called out head coach Fred Hoiberg on Monday.

Chicago remains the second betting choice in the Eastern Conference at 10/1 odds but after watching a quarter of the season, it’s hard to make a case for anybody to unseat Cleveland, who is now an overwhelming 1/4 favorite (Bet $100 to win $25) to repeat as conference champions.

Tuesday’s card only has four games on tap and here’s my quick handicap.

Memphis at Philadelphia: The Grizzlies have been very inconsistent this season but they still own a winning record (15-14) and are listed as 9½-point road favorites over the 76ers. Memphis dropped Indiana 96-84 on Saturday but is just 2-4 in its last six and it enters this game with three straight losses on the road.

After opening December with a 103-91 home win over the L.A Lakers, the 76ers have dropped 10 straight and they’ve looked worse during this skid than they did when they started 0-18.

In the current losing skid, eight of the losses have come by double digits and they’ve only managed to score 100-plus points in two of the setbacks. The defense is a mess and right after this game, Philadelphia goes on a six-game road trip around the holidays. Merry Christmas!

It’s hard to back Memphis on the road (6-8 SU, 7-6-1 ATS) but even harder to make a case for the 76ers at home (1-11 SU, 3-8 ATS). The Grizzlies have won nine of their last 10 meetings (6-3-1 ATS) against the 76ers, which includes a 92-84 win this season on Nov. 29 as 13-point home favorites.

Including Saturday’s win, Memphis has gone 6-4 SU versus the Eastern Conference this season which includes a 2-2 mark on the road. The last time the 76ers faced a team from the Western Conference, they were blasted by 51 points (119-68) to the Spurs. Including that setback, Philadelphia is 1-9 SU and 6-3-1 ATS in non-conference games. The ‘under’ has gone 8-2 in these games.

Dallas at Toronto: The Raptors are starting to lose the battle of attrition, which was something they rarely faced last season. Center Jonas Valanciunas (finger) is ‘questionable’ for tonight’s game and a bigger loss to the team is forward DeMarre Carroll, who is ‘out indefinitely with a knee bruise.

The Raptors opened as four-point home favorites over the Mavericks and they’ve dropped three of their last four games including a 104-94 decision to the Kings at home on Sunday. Toronto has gone 8-5 SU and 7-6 ATS at the Air Canada Centre this season.

The club should have confidence tonight as the Raptors knocked off the Mavericks 102-91 on Nov. 3 as two-point road favorites. Dallas did capture the two encounters last season and total bettors should make a note that the ‘under’ is on a 4-0 run in this series and has gone 5-1 the last six meetings.

Dallas continues to be a formidable opponent this season and head coach Rick Carlisle hasn’t seen his team fall into many slumps. They’ve only lost back-to-back games three times yet their longest winning streak is six games. The Mavs have been a solid wager on the road, going 8-7 SU and 9-6 ATS, while shooting 101.5 points per game compared to just 99 PPG at home. That production has helped the ‘over’ go 8-6-1 in away games.

The Mavericks have struggled against the East this season with a 4-5 record (3-6 ATS) but make a note that three of those wins came on the road. Toronto has already played 14 games versus the West this season and its gone 7-7 SU and 8-5-1 ATS. Delving into those numbers further, the Raptors are 3-4 both SU and ATS at home and they allowed 107.3 PPG in the four losses.

This game tips at 7:35 p.m. ET and will be shown nationally on NBATV.

Detroit at Miami: Miami is listed as a 3½-point favorite and the number seems a tad short but the Heat haven’t been world beaters (12-5 SU, 8-8-1 ATS) at home this season.

Miami has been in better form of late and has win four of its last five games (3-1-1 ATS), which includes Sunday’s 116-109 home win over Portland. The offense has started to take shape and the team has scored 100-plus in the last four wins. If you’re backing the Heat, you’re hoping they bust the century mark because they’ve gone 8-1 when doing so this season.

Stan Van Gundy and the Pistons have hit a couple speed bumps but they enter this game with wins in four of their last five as well and three of the victories (Pacers, Celtics, Bulls) were very impressive while the loss only came by two points to the Clippers (105-103).

Detroit has produced a 6-8 record both SU and ATS on the road this season but they have won two in a row and that includes Saturday’s quadruple overtime 147-144 win at Chicago. Fortunately for the Pistons, they’ve had three days to rest for this game.

The Pistons embarrassed the Heat 104-81 on Nov. 25 as 1½-point home favorites and are now 2-1 in their last three matchups against Miami. However, Detroit has dropped two straight and five of their last six games played in South Florida.

The Heat have seen the ‘under’ go 18-8 this season but the ‘over’ has cashed in four of the last five games and tonight’s total has been pushed up to 194 and higher at most shops. The Pistons have seen a stalemate with their ‘over/under’ results (14-14) this season.

L.A. Lakers at Denver: This game has pass written all over it, especially when you look at the form for both clubs. After snapping a six-game slide last Tuesday with a 113-95 home win over Milwaukee, Byron Scott’s team was embarrassed not once but twice on the road by 20 and 40 points to the Rockets and Thunder respectively.

Denver enters Tuesday’s game off back-to-back losses and while they’ve been more competitive than the Lakers, the defense has been weak. On Monday, the Nuggets were run at home in a 130-125 loss to the Pelicans.

Denver is 5-8 SU and 4-9 ATS at the Pepsi Center this season and that includes a 2-2 SU and 1-3 ATS mark when favored. In those two victories, the Nuggets won by a combined four points. While that could have you leaning Lakers, be aware that the “Purple and Gold” are 2-16 SU and 6-12 ATS on the road

This matchup has been one-sided recently with Denver winning 10 of its last 11 games against Los Angeles and seven of those wins were by nine-plus points. In early November, the Nuggets blasted the Lakers 120-109 as 2½-point road underdogs.

The early opener was Nuggets -4½ but their dealing with injuries, with Danilo Gallinari (ankle) listed as ‘questionable’ and rookie point guard Emmanuel Mudiay (ankle) expected to miss another game.