Tuesday's NBA Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Hawks at Bulls
Atlanta: 25-24 SU, 26-23 ATS
Chicago: 25-25 SU, 23-27 ATS
The Bulls return home following a 3-3 SU/ATS road trip, capped off by a 92-86 victory over the Lakers as three-point favorites on Sunday. Chicago has failed to capitalize off a win of late, losing four straight games off a victory, while dropping each of its past two contests at the United Center. Carlos Boozer missed the last two games with a calf injury, as the Bulls forward is listed as questionable for Tuesday's contest.
The Hawks are riding a three-game losing streak, which includes a 79-76 home defeat to the Grizzlies on Saturday. Atlanta outscored Memphis in three of the four quarters, but the Hawks were limited to below 14 points in two of those quarters, resulting in its third home loss in the last four tries. The previous meeting between the Hawks and Bulls in early January went to Chicago, 91-84 as five-point favorites. Atlanta has lost six straight visits to the United Center with all six games finishing 'under' the total.
Wizards at Grizzlies
Washington: 25-25 SU, 27-23 ATS
Memphis: 27-23 SU, 23-26-1 ATS
The Wizards hit the road for a pair of games against Southwest Division opponents prior to the All-Star break, as Washington has split its last 10 contests overall. Randy Wittman's club is coming off a 93-84 victory over the Kings to conclude a 3-2 SU/ATS homestand. Washington has dropped eight consecutive trips to FedEx Forum with the last victory in Memphis coming in 2004.
The Grizzlies have lost three of their last four following a six-game winning streak, including Sunday's 91-83 overtime setback at Cleveland as three-point road favorites. The 'under' is still cashing at a steady clip for the Grizzlies, hitting in 12 of the past 14 games, but the two 'overs' have come in each of the last two home contests. Memphis has compiled a 5-3 SU and 2-6 ATS record against Eastern Conference foes at home, while going 0-3 ATS the last three games overall in the favorite role.
Heat at Suns
Miami: 35-14 SU, 21-28 ATS
Phoenix: 30-20 SU, 33-16-1 ATS
The Heat continues its four-game West Coast swing, coming off a shocking loss at Utah as 9 ½-point favorites on Saturday, 94-89. Miami travels to Phoenix on Tuesday, as the Heat has won six of their last eight games coming off a road defeat. Erik Spoelstra's club owns a 4-8 ATS record on the highway since Christmas, including outright favorite losses to Sacramento, New York, Washington, and Brooklyn.
The Suns are heating up of late with wins in eight of their last 11 games, including Saturday's convincing home victory over the Warriors. Phoenix is playing with revenge on Tuesday after getting blasted at Miami in late November, 107-92, but the Suns own a 5-3 ATS record as a home underdog this season. The Suns have lost seven straight meetings with the Heat, while dropping five consecutive home matchups since 2007.
Thunder at Blazers
Oklahoma City: 41-12 SU, 31-22 ATS
Portland: 36-15 SU, 28-23 ATS
The Thunder is on fire of late with victories in 13 of their last 15 games, but the two losses came on the road at Washington and Orlando. OKC tries to get on track on the highway, while looking to split the season series with Portland after losing two of the first three meetings. The last time these teams hooked up in Oklahoma City, the Thunder rallied for a 105-97 victory to barely cash as 6½-point favorites, as Kevin Durant torched Portland for 46 points.
The Blazers are in an interesting scheduling situation, coming off a 2-2 SU and 3-1 ATS road trip, but then heading to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers on Wednesday night. Portland ended its away swing with a 117-110 triumph against a banged-up Minnesota squad, improving to 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS against Northwest Division foes. The Blazers have won all three games returning home from a road trip of at least three games, but Portland failed to cover each time (all as a favorite of at least four points).
Game of the Day: Thunder at Trail Blazers
Covers.com
Oklahoma City Thunder at Portland Trail Blazers (-1.5, 212)
Two of the league's best will square off in Portland Tuesday when the Oklahoma City Thunder come to town for a tilt with the Trail Blazers. Oklahoma City wraps up the first half with two road games and though NBA leading scorer Kevin Durant will be the Thunder's lone representative at All-Star Weekend, the team is right where it wants to be heading into the break. "My team is still winning," All-Star snub Serge Ibaka told The Oklahoman, adding, "Every time we win, it's making me dream big."
Portland is just 3-3 in its last six games following a 7-2 stretch in January but the Blazers remain in the mix for the top spot in the Western Conference, currently seeded third and trailing Oklahoma City by four games entering play. By getting by a lift from its bench - led by a career best 19 points from rookie C.J. McCollum, against a Minnesota squad without its top weapons in Kevin Love and Kevin Martin on Saturday, Portland coach Terry Stotts has his squad fresh for a pair of tests this week against the Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers to close out the first half. "We were really counting on our bench tonight because I really wanted to rest the starters," Stotts told The Oregonian.
LINE HISTORY: Oddsmakers sent out a suggested line of Portland -2 and the Blazers are now at -1.5. The total is currently 211.5.
POWER RANKINGS: Thunder (-14.5) - Trail Blazers (-10.0) - Home Court (-3.0) = Thunder -1.5
INJURY WATCH: Thunder - Russel Westbrook (Out - Knee). Trail Blazers - Mo Williams (Ques - Personal)
WHY BET OKLAHOMA CITY (41-12 SU, 31-22 ATS, 27-26 O/U): Durant's monster season continued against the Knicks Sunday, as he fell just a single assist shy of his third-triple double of the season, finishing with a game-high 41 points, 10 rebounds and nine helpers. "It would have been cool to stay in," Durant told reporters of coach Scott Brooks' decision to pull him with 1:24 to play. "But whatever. We won the basketball game. That's all that matters," he added.
WHY BET PORTLAND (36-15 SU, 28-23 ATS, 32-18-1 O/U): Led by LaMarcus Aldridge's 24.1 points per game, all five starters for Portland average double figures, so a show like the one McCollum put on Saturday serves as an encouraging sign in terms of depth. "I feel more comfortable and confident every game," said the rookie, who also totaled a career-high 28 minutes. "(Against Minnesota), we showed that, when necessary, (Portland's reserves) can score and do some different things. It's just a product of opportunity," he added. Portland is 8-2 in its last 10 meetings with Oklahoma City, including a 2-1 mark this season.
TRENDS:
* Under is 6-1 in the last seven meetings.
* Thunder are 7-2-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
* Favorite is 16-5-1 ATS in the last 22 meetings.
* Thunder are 3-1-1 ATS in the last five meetings in Portland.
CONSENSUS: 53 percent of the wagers are on Oklahoma City at +1.5 .
NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Oklahoma City at Portland
Two of the league's best teams square off in Portland on Tuesday when the 36-15 Blazers host the 41-12 Thunder. A recent trend has developed with high-octane Portland Blazers (108.0). The team has failed to break the century mark in scoring in four of the past seven on the hardwood. Oklahoma City playing solid stingy defense on the season (97.5) and allowing 99.7 PPG when facing a team with a winning record there is a good chance Thunder slow down Blazers and keep them under the century mark in scoring. With six of the past seven meetings staying 'Under' posted totals the Thunder riding a 6-17 O/U mark allowing foes =< 100 points/game, Blazers an 'Under' Whelming 1-8 O/U when scoring =< 100 points no need bucking trends. Play 'Under'.