Game of the Day: Spurs at Clippers
By Covers.com
San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Clippers (-5, 211)
The Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs have yet to play a close contest against one another this season entering their final matchup of the regular season in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The Clippers routed the Spurs 115-92 at home on Dec. 16 and it was San Antonio’s time to cruise to an easy victory when it produced a 116-92 home win on Jan. 4. The Spurs have the second-best record in the Western Conference while the Clippers possess the fourth-best mark.
Los Angeles point guard Chris Paul returned from a shoulder injury to play in the final two games before the break and he displayed that he’s back in form by scoring 20 points on 10-of-15 shooting and notching 12 assists in last Wednesday’s victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. The Clippers have received terrific play from All-Star power forward Blake Griffin and have won their last three games. San Antonio has persevered through a slew of injuries and stands 4-2 on the nine-game rodeo trip that runs through Feb. 21.
LINE HISTORY: Books opened Los Angeles as low as -4.5 which was bet up to -5. The total opened 210, climbed quickly to 211.5, then came back down to 211.
COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Spurs (-13.0) - Clippers (12.5) + Home Court (-3.0) = Clippers -2.5
INJURY WATCH: Spurs - Manu Ginobili (Probable, hamstring), Tony Parker (Ques, hand), Tiago Splitter (Ques, calf), Kawhi Leonard (Out, hand). Clippers - Willie Green (Ques, hip), J.J. Redick (Out, back)
WHAT SHARPS SAY: "With Oklahoma City having emerged as the clear number one team in the West, this matchup will go a long way in determining just who is number two." - Covers Expert Bryan Power.
ABOUT THE SPURS (38-15 SU, 25-28-0 ATS, 31-21-1 O/U): Point guard Tony Parker is batting back and hand issues and he is expected to play after making a brief cameo in Sunday’s All-Star Game. Parker missed the final game prior to the break and the Spurs also figure to be without center Tiago Splitter (shin) for the fourth straight game. Guard Manu Ginobili (hamstring) and forward Kawhi Leonard (broken finger) remain sidelined as players like Nando de Colo, Cory Joseph and Patty Mills receive more minutes.
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (37-18 SU, 31-24-0 ATS, 31-24-0 O/U): Griffin scored 38 points on 19-of-23 shooting in the All-Star Game and scored 20 or more points in 13 consecutive games prior to the break. Griffin stepped up his scoring when Paul was sidelined and he is averaging a career-best 24.2 points. “I’ve really just tried to expand my game every year,” said Griffin, “and tried to add things and improve upon things that I need to improve on and even improve upon the things that I do well.” Griffin is averaging 23 points in the two games against San Antonio this season.
TRENDS:
* Over is 4-0 in the last four meetings.
* Under is 20-6-1 in the last 27 meetings in Los Angeles.
* Spurs are 11-5 ATS in the last 16 meetings in Los Angeles.
* Spurs are 2-5 ATS in the last seven meetings.
* Underdog is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings.
COVERS CONSENSUS: 56 percent of bets are on Spurs +5 while 58 percent are on Over 211.
NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
San Antonio at Los Angeles
Spurs ejected from the AT&T Center by the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo continue their grueling 19 day, 9 game road swing in Los Angeles where they'll square off against Clippers. Spurs netting 103.8 PPG while allowing 97.5 on the defensive end, Clippers scoring at 107.0 with a middle of the road 100.6 defense the two teams are pretty well matched. Spurs have been consistent during these rodeo road treks going 4-2 (3-3 ATS) this season 39-18 SU the past 57 during the excursions cashing 33 tickets (33-22-2 ATS). However, they could hit a road bump against a Clipper team extremely tough on home court this campaign (23-4, 14-13 ATS) and one looking at pay-back having lost the last meeting in Alamo City. The 'Rodeo Boys' pegged 4.5 point underdogs by the betting market are tempting but they have too many negative betting number to overcome. Spurs are 1-3 ATS when taking points on the road this season, 0-5 ATS last five games against a team with a winning record, 1-6 ATS last 7 against a conference opponent. Consider Clippers sporting a 4-2 ATS streak in the series, 16-9 ATS stretch revenging a previous loss, 12-3 ATS following a non-cover the previous game.
Inside the Paint - Tuesday
By Chris David
VegasInsider.com
After taking off four days for the All-Star break, the Association returns to the hardwood on Tuesday with nine games on tap and seven of those matchups will be conference clashes, five in the Eastern Conference.
Even though the East is inferior to the West as a whole, the oddsmakers at Sportsbook.ag still have Miami (2/1) and Indiana (11/5) listed as the top two choices to win this year’s NBA Finals.
It’s hard to see anybody unseating the top pair in the East but it will be interesting to see who they’ll end up playing in the first and second-round of the upcoming playoffs.
For this installment, let’s handicap the five matchups in the East.
Cleveland (20-33 SU, 20-33 ATS) at Philadelphia (15-39 SU, 21-33 ATS)
It’s hard to make a case for either team here and the best play might be a pass. The Cavaliers have been installed as road favorites and you might ask why when you realize that they’ve gone 7-20 SU and 9-18 ATS as visitors this season. However, Philadelphia has lost eight straight and 11 of its last 12 and the lone win came on a buzzer beater at Boston (95-94) in a game they shouldn’t have won.
While the 76ers have been slumping, the Cavaliers have won and covered four straight games, two of them on the road as well. Cleveland has definitely underachieved this season but the recent winning streak started once the team fired general manager Chris Grant on Feb. 6.
This will be the fourth meeting between the two teams this season. The Cavaliers have won two of the first three encounters against the 76ers this season, both victories coming at home. Philadelphia defeated Cleveland 94-79 on Nov. 8 at home. The ‘under’ has gone 2-1 in the three games.
Toronto (28-24 SU, 31-20 ATS) at Washington (25-27 SU, 28-23 ATS)
If the playoffs started today, these two teams would be meeting in the first-round. Toronto has gone 2-0 both SU and ATS against Washington this season, which includes a 101-88 road win on Jan. 13. For the third go ‘round, the Wizards opened as three-point favorites and the line has held steady overnight.
The Wizards closed the first-half with a 1-4 record but the four losses were by a combined 13 points and one of those came in overtime. Prior to the skid, Washington earned solid home victories against Western Conference contenders in Oklahoma City and Portland.
Even though Washington has shown it can play with anybody, its home record (13-13 SU, 10-15-1 ATS) is less than desirable. Meanwhile, Toronto has been very profitable (14-14 SU, 19-9 ATS) on the road.
The total on this matchup is hovering around 195. The ‘under’ has gone 2-0 in both meetings this season and is 5-1 in the last six matchups between the pair.
Atlanta (25-26 SU, 26-25 ATS) at Indiana (40-12 SU, 32-20 ATS)
The Pacers have lived up to expectations this season on the court and more importantly for bettors. Indiana has been a beast at home (25-3 SU, 18-10 ATS) and what’s more impressive is that club has gone 13-2 SU and 9-6 ATS when laying double digits.
Indiana is in that role again tonight, laying 10½-points to Atlanta. These teams met a couple weeks ago in Atlanta and Indiana captured an 89-85 road win as a 3½-point favorite.
The Hawks have been a middle of the road team in the East this season but most of their damage has come at home. On the road Atlanta has struggled to a 9-17 SU and 11-15 ATS record and it ended the first-half with a pair of double-digit blowout losses at Chicago (85-100) and Toronto (83-104).
Atlanta’s offense has gone missing lately, averaging 85.8 PPG in its last five games. The team is 0-5 both SU and ATS during this span while the ‘under’ has gone 4-1.
Tonight’s total has jumped from 191 to 192. The ‘under’ has gone 2-0 in the two encounters between the Pacers and Hawks this season.
Charlotte (23-30 SU, 29-23 ATS) at Detroit (22-30 SU, 24-28 ATS)
On Monday afternoon, one offshore outfit opened the Pistons as 6 ½-point favorites and that was quickly hit down. Detroit has settled as a 4½-point favorite at most books for this matchup and it finished up the first-half with a 3-1 run both SU and ATS, which includes a 1-1 record for interim coach John Loyer.
Loyer replaced Maurice Cheeks, who was abruptly fired by the team on Sunday Feb. 10. The Pistons have been a major disappointment on the court and at the betting counter. Detroit has gone 12-16 both SU and ATS at home this season. However, the club has won and covered five of its last six from The Palace of Auburn Hills.
These teams have already met once this season and it’s a game that Detroit wants to forget. The Bobcats rallied past the Pistons 116-106 on Dec. 20 as six-point road underdogs by outscoring them 41-17 in the fourth quarter.
Detroit has been the best ‘over’ team (35-16-1) in the NBA this season and tonight’s total has already jumped from 201 ½ to 204. Make a note that the ‘over’ is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings between the Pistons and Bobcats and that includes a 5-0 ‘over’ run in the last five played at The Palace.
Orlando (16-38 SU, 23-30 ATS) at Milwaukee (9-43 SU, 23-30 ATS)
I shouldn’t even bother writing about this matchup but if you do decide to bet the side on this game, don’t pat yourself on the back if you win and you better not bitch if you lose.
The Magic opened as two-point road favorites and that seems a little strange when you realize they’ve gone 0-12 both SU and ATS in their last 12 road games. During this span, the ‘under’ has gone 11-1. Think about that! If you’ve faded Orlando blindly and bet the ‘under’ in a two-team parlay in their last 12 road games, you would be up $2,660 based on one-unit plays ($100).
Fading Milwaukee has been just as golden for bettors this season, especially at home where the Bucks have gone 5-21 SU and 9-17 ATS. The Bucks aren’t a talented club and they’ve also been hampered by injuries. Veteran Caron Butler (ankle) is expected to be back tonight and that should help, plus a few other key parts are ‘questionable.’
Orlando has gone 5-5 SU and 4-6 ATS as a favorite this season, all of those results occurring at home. Against the Bucks, the Magic have gone 2-0 SU and 1-1 ATS this season, both wins coming at home.