Tuesday's NBA Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Nets at Spurs
Brooklyn: 10-20 SU, 12-18 ATS
San Antonio: 24-7 SU, 16-15 ATS
The Nets continue a three-game road trip on Wednesday, as Brooklyn goes for its first away victory since December 7 at Milwaukee. Brooklyn has gone through a disastrous season, while losing seven of the past 10 games at Barclays Center, including Saturday's defeat at Indiana as 13½-point underdogs. Since winning three straight games earlier this month, Brooklyn has seen the 'over' hit in six of the last eight contests, as the Nets have won just twice since that mini hot streak.
The Spurs go for their third straight victory after knocking off the Mavericks and Kings. San Antonio failed to cover in Sunday's 112-104 triumph over Sacramento as 12-point favorites, falling to 4-5 ATS when laying double-digits this season. The Spurs are riding a 7-1 stretch to the 'over,' all games with the total closing at 200 or above. Gregg Popovich's team has won five straight meetings against Brooklyn, all by at least 10 points.
Raptors at Bulls
Toronto: 13-15 SU, 14-14 ATS
Chicago: 12-17 SU, 11-18 ATS
Somehow, the Raptors lead the Atlantic Division in spite of sitting two games below the .500 mark. Since the trade of Rudy Gay to Sacramento, Toronto has won seven of 10 games, including outright road underdog victories over the Lakers, Mavericks, and Thunder. The Raptors dominated the Bulls at the United Center on December 14 as 3½-point underdogs, 99-77, while limiting Chicago to just 11 points in the final quarter.
The Bulls return home with no rest after knocking off the Grizzlies last night for their third win four games. Since starting the season 5-0 at the United Center, Chicago has won just two of its previous eight home contests, while putting up a 1-6 ATS record in the last seven as a home favorite. The Bulls haven't fared well on the second game of a back-to-back, losing each of the last five times in this rest situation.
Blazers at Thunder
Portland: 24-7 SU, 18-13 ATS
Oklahoma City: 25-5 SU, 17-13 ATS
The Blazers have cooled off since a hot start, especially from an ATS standpoint. Following last night's loss at New Orleans, Portland has failed to cover in seven consecutive games, including four in a row away from the Pacific Northwest. The defense has evaporated in this stretch as Portland has yielded at least 100 points in nine straight trips to the court, resulting in nine consecutive 'overs.'
The Thunder is playing with revenge after losing at Portland earlier this month, 111-104 as 2 ½-point underdogs, snapping a seven-game winning streak against the Blazers. Oklahoma City dominated Houston in its first game without Russell Westbrook on Sunday night, a 117-86 rout to improve to 14-1 at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Thunder has alternated ATS wins and losses in each of the last nine games, while posting a 6-3 ATS record as a home favorite of nine points or less.
Bucks at Lakers
Milwaukee: 6-24 SU, 11-19 ATS
Los Angeles: 13-18 SU, 17-13-1 ATS
The Bucks have turned into one of the biggest disappointments in the league through 30 games, even though Milwaukee has suffered a myriad of injuries so far. Larry Drew's team begins a West Coast swing as the Bucks have lost eight of their last nine games, including each of the past three. Milwaukee has finished 'over' the total in eight consecutive contests, while allowing at least 104 points in seven straight games.
The Lakers were tripped by the 76ers on Sunday night as seven-point favorites, 111-104 to lose their fifth consecutive game. Los Angeles is 1-5 SU and 3-3 ATS since Kobe Bryant injured his knee on December 17, but the Lakers will get Pau Gasol back in the lineup on Wednesday after missing two games with a respiratory infection. In spite of giving up at least 100 points in five of the last seven games, the 'under' has cashed six times in this span for the Lakers.