Tuesday Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
The Tuesday NBA card showcases several Western Conference teams that are looking to make moves heading into the quarter-season mark. The Lakers hit the road for their first substantial trip of the season starting in Houston, while the Grizzlies return home following Saturday's overtime setback at San Antonio. We'll start in Brooklyn with the Thunder attempting to stay on fire at Barclays Center.
Thunder at Nets
The defending Western Conference champions are rolling right now with wins in eight of the last nine games, while covering eight times. Oklahoma City's offense can't be stopped by eclipsing the 100-point mark in nine consecutive contests, as the 'over' has been cashed six times. The Thunder wraps up a two-game road trip against a Nets' club that is returning to Brooklyn after a successful 2-1 SU/ATS mark on the highway.
The Nets beat the Celtics and Magic by double-digits, but came up lame in the finale at Miami, 102-89. Brooklyn backers felt pretty good as eight-point underdogs with a 14-point advantage in the first half. However, the Heat limited the Nets to just 30 points in the second half to grab the home cover. Brook Lopez missed his second straight game with a lingering foot injury, as the Brooklyn center is likely 'out' again on Tuesday.
Oklahoma City owns the second best ATS record in the league (12-5-1) behind Memphis, while leading Denver by five games in the Northwest Division. The Thunder faces a Nets' squad that has compiled a 7-1 SU and 5-1-2 ATS at Barclays Center, as OKC is 5-2 SU and 4-2-1 ATS on the highway. Scott Brooks' team has won six consecutive meetings with the Nets, including each of the last three at New Jersey.
Suns at Grizzlies
Memphis picked up another ATS win on Saturday, but blew a 15-point lead in an overtime setback at San Antonio as six-point underdogs. The Grizzlies return to FedEx Forum seeking their ninth home victory in 10 tries, while holding all nine opponents to less than 100 points ('under' is 6-3). Phoenix concludes a six-game trip, as the Suns have won just once in their first five on this voyage.
The most recent defeat for Alvin Gentry's club came in a Sunday matinee at New York, 106-99, but the Suns cashed as 11½-point underdogs. The loss dropped Phoenix to 2-8 away from the Valley, while the Suns have put together one of the worst ATS records by covering just six of 18 times. Phoenix did have success against Memphis last season, taking two of three meetings, both as a home 'dog.
The Grizzlies have won and covered in both games following a loss, while hitting the 'under' in six of the last seven contests overall. In three games as a double-digit favorite, Memphis has cashed two of three times, as the Grizzlies were bailed out by a late three-pointer to receive a front-door cover against the Pistons last Friday.
Lakers at Rockets
Los Angeles has no doubt been the biggest disappointment through the first month of the season at 8-9, as the Lakers begin their first extended road trip of the season. The Purple and Gold ended a three-game homestand with a humiliating loss to Dwight Howard's old squad as the Magic upset the Lakers as 13-point underdogs.
The first time the Lakers faced the Rockets, L.A. grabbed a 119-108 victory at Staples Center as seven-point favorites. The Lakers ran all over Houston in the first half, putting up 68 points in the first 24 minutes, while easily clinching the 'over' of 205. The Rockets allowed 54% shooting from the floor, as Howard torched Houston for 28 points and 13 rebounds.
Houston has played extremely well at the Toyota Center recently by winning five consecutive home contests. The Rockets have covered against several of the top teams in the East at home by picking up ATS wins over the Knicks, Bulls, and Heat. The key to Houston's success is their outside shooting, as James Harden and Chandler Parsons have helped lead the Rockets to 'overs' in eight of the last 10 games overall.
Thunder at Nets: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Oklahoma City Thunder at Brooklyn Nets (+3.5, 191)
The Brooklyn Nets had a chance to make a statement in Saturday's game at Miami, but they wilted in the second half in falling by 13 points to the reigning NBA champions. The Nets get another chance at a statement game when they host Kevin Durant and the red-hot Oklahoma Thunder on Tuesday. Brooklyn is 7-1 at the Barclays Center and has won six straight on its home court since blowing a 22-point lead against Minnesota in its second game of the season.
Oklahoma City has ripped off five consecutive victories and is coming off a rout at New Orleans in which it led by 27 points after three quarters. The league's highest-scoring team, the Thunder have won their last four by an average of 25 points. Durant is shooting 61.8 percent from the floor in that span as he bids for a fourth consecutive league scoring title. Oklahoma City has won the past six meetings with the Nets.
ABOUT THE THUNDER (14-4, 12-5-1 ATS): Center Kendrick Perkins is coming off his best two games of the season, scoring 12 points against Utah and 10 against New Orleans while shooting a combined 11-for-15 from the floor. It marked only the second and third times that Perkins has scored in double figures. The 6-10 Perkins underwent surgery on his groin and wrist in July and had been questionable to be ready for the start of the season.
ABOUT THE NETS (11-5, 10-4-2 ATS): Brooklyn scored only 30 points in the second half and 11 in the fourth quarter against Miami. Andray Blatche scored 20 points in his second start for ailing center and leading scorer Brook Lopez (foot), who will sit out his third straight game. However, the elevation of Blatche to the starting lineup has had a ripple effect on Brooklyn's bench, which has produced 23 and 20 points, respectively, in the last two games.
TRENDS:
* Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings at Nets.
* Favorite is 12-4 ATS in the last 16 meetings.
* Thunder are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
* Under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Oklahoma City leads the league in free-throw percentage (83.4). The Nets rank 27th (71.9).
2. Lopez underwent a precautionary MRI exam that came back negative. He missed practice Monday and is listed as day-to-day.
3. Thunder PG Russell Westbrook has been disruptive at both ends of the floor in the last three games, averaging nine assists, 4.3 steals and six turnovers.
NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Los Angeles Lakers at Houston Rockets
When Houston and Los Angeles collide Tuesday the Rockets will do so under poor conditions. Rockets lead by Patrick Patterson (20.0) and six other double-digit scorers fought off visiting Utah 124-116 Saturday to post a fifth straight win at the Toyota Center. Rockets shooting 55.4% from the field as a team in that victory sets up a solid 'Play-Against' situation. It's rare for teams to shoot above 50.0% in today's NBA. When teams shoot 55.0% from the field or better, the law of averages catches up to them the next time out. Teams are 44-59-3 against-the-spread the past two seasons in the situation. Have the sharp shooting team on home court the following game they become a cash draining 18-32-1 against-the-oddsmaker. Look for Rockets to fall to 1-6 ATS at home following a game in which they shoot 55.0% or more.
NBA Point Spreads and Trends
By: The Linemakers
Sportingnews.com
LAS VEGAS -- There are six games on Tuesday’s NBA schedule, highlighted by the Oklahoma City Thunder (14-4) at the Brooklyn Nets (11-5), and the L.A. Lakers looking to get back to .500 against the Houston Rockets.
The odds below are from the LVH SuperBook, as of about 10:00 a.m. PT.
NBA trends:
* The Heat have covered only once in their past five games against a team with a winning percentage less than .400, and only two of their last seven meetings with the Wizards. The Heat are -10 with a total of 194.5 tonight in Washington.
* The Timberwolves have covered six of their past seven games when coming off a game in which they covered the spread. They have also covered five of their last six against Eastern Conference teams. But the home team has covered four of the last five meetings between the 76ers and T’Wolves. The 76ers are -3.5, with a total of 188, at home tonight.
* The Thunder have covered the spread in their last five games coming into tonight, and in five of their past seven meetings against the Nets. The Nets are 5-0-1 ATS in their last six home games against a team with a winning road record. The Nets have gone UNDER the total in five of their last six games. The Thunder are -4, and the total is 193, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
* The Bulls have not covered the spread in their past six games following a win. The Bulls and Pacers have gone UNDER the total in six of their past seven meetings. The Bulls are -3.5, with a total of 180.5, in Chicago.
* The Grizzlies have covered 12 of their past 14 games. The Suns and Grizzlies have gone UNDER the total in four of their past five meetings. The home team has also covered four of the last five. The Grizzlies are -10.5 at home tonight, and the total is 194.5.
* The Lakers have covered five of their last six games following a loss, but only once in their past 12 Tuesday games. The Lakers and Rockets have gone OVER the total in their last four meetings in Houston, and OVER in their last eight games overall. The Rockets have covered five of their last six meetings with the Lakers in Houston. The Lakers are -2 with a total of 214.
NBA injuries:
* T’Wolves forward Andrei Kirilenko (back) will be OUT the next two games.
* Nets center Brook Lopez (foot) has missed Brooklyn’s last two games and is OUT tonight.
* Nets forward Reggie Evans (flu) is OUT tonight.
* Bulls guard Richard Hamilton (ankle) is OUT indefinitely.
* Lakers forward Pau Gasol (knees) is OUT tonight.
* Lakers guard Steve Blake (abdominal) is OUT indefinitely.