NBA Knowledge
Hot teams
-- Knicks won four of their last five games (6-3HF).
-- Spurs won last eight games, covering five of last six.
-- Detroit won its last three games (2-2HU).
-- Rockets won their last three games (2-6AU).
-- Memphis won five of its last seven games (4-0 last four HF).
-- Thunder won six of their last eight games (5-7AF).
-- Cavaliers won their last seven games (4-10-1AF).
-- Dallas won three of its last four games (2-2HU).
Cold teams
-- Indiana is 3-4 in its last seven games (8-5HF).
-- Suns lost nine of their last ten games (1-6 last seven AU).
-- Celtics lost five of their last six games (11-3 last 14AU).
-- Bulls lost last two games after winning previous six (3-2AF).
-- Bucks lost three of last four games (1-3 last four HU).
-- Minnesota lost its last six games (0-6 vs spread).
-- Lakers lost their last four games (6-2 vs spread in last eight).
-- New Orleans lost five of its last six games (2-4 vs spread).
Series records
-- Suns won their last four games with Indiana.
-- Knicks lost their last four games with Boston.
-- Spurs won six of last nine games with Detroit.
-- Grizzlies won six of last eight games with Houston.
-- Bulls won seven of last ten games with Milwaukee.
-- Thunder won their last seven games with Minnesota.
-- Mavericks won five of last six games with Cleveland.
-- Lakers lost their last five games with New Orleans.
Totals
-- Four of last five Phoenix games went over total.
-- Seven of last nine Phoenix games stayed under.
-- Five of Spurs' last seven games went over total.
-- Six of last seven Houston games went over total.
-- Under is 7-3 in last ten Chicago-Milwaukee games.
-- Seven of last eight Thunder games went over total.
-- Seven of last eight Dallas games stayed under total.
-- Over is 7-3 in last ten Pelican-Laker games.
Back/backs
-- San Antonio is 6-0 vs spread if it played night before.
-- Chicago is 3-2 vs spread if it played night before.
Armadillosports.com
NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Cleveland at Dallas
King James and his Cavaliers could see a rough road ahead when they head into the Texas Triangle. In the first of these three games the Cavaliers will vist Dallas followed by a game in San Antonio then they'll complete the swing in Houston. In Lebron's two stints with Cleveland the Cavaliers have struggled in all three cities going 3-6 in Dallas (5-4 ATS), 4-6 in San Antonio (5-5 ATS) and just 1-7 in Houston (1-7 ATS).
Tuesday's Tip Sheet
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Celtics at Knicks (-2, 200)
These two Atlantic Division rivals are going in opposite directions at the moment. Boston (19-18 SU, 19-17-1 ATS) has lost five of its past six games after blowing an 18-point lead in Sunday’s 101-98 setback at Memphis as three-point favorites. The Celtics have failed to bust the 100-point mark during their current three-game losing streak, in spite of guard Isaiah Thomas putting up a 35-point effort against the Grizzlies. Boston took care of New York in its previous matchup at TD Garden on December 27, a 100-91 victory for the C’s to cash as 8½-point favorites.
The Knicks (19-20 SU, 24-15 ATS) finished last season with only 17 victories, but are one win away from 20. Derek Fisher’s club has won four of the past five games, capped off by a 100-88 home victory over the Bucks on Sunday as 5½-point favorites. New York has covered in each of the past five contests, while posting a 5-1 SU/ATS record in its last six games at Madison Square Garden. Carmelo Anthony has filled up the stat sheet in the past two trips to the court by posting consecutive double-doubles against San Antonio and Milwaukee.
Spurs (-7½, 194) at Pistons
Since the start of December, San Antonio (33-6 SU, 27-12 ATS) has compiled an amazing 19-2 record while covering 16 times during this stretch. The Spurs crushed the struggling Nets last night, 106-79 to pick up their 14th cover this season as a double-digit favorite. Three of San Antonio’s six losses have come on the road against Eastern Conference foes (Washington, Chicago, and Toronto), as the Spurs won at the Palace of Auburn Hills last season, 104-87 as 6½-point favorites.
The Pistons (21-16 SU, 21-15-1 ATS) begin a tough five-game stretch that continues with the Grizzlies, Warriors, Bulls, and Rockets over the next eight days. Stan Van Gundy’s team has won four consecutive games only once this season, as the Pistons look to match that hot streak after coming off victories against the Magic, Celtics, and Nets. Detroit’s defense has tightened up of late by allowing less than 100 points in five straight contests, while going ‘under’ the total in three of the past four games. The Pistons have performed well in the home underdog role, going 3-2 SU and 3-1-1 ATS this season.
Rockets at Grizzlies (-1½)
Two perennial playoff teams in the Western Conference meet up in Memphis looking to turn the corner following a slow start. Memphis (21-18 SU, 18-20-1 ATS) has won and covered six straight games at FedEx Forum, as the next four games for the Grizzlies will be on their home court. Dave Joerger’s club has given up under 100 points in seven of the last eight games, while yielding less than 100 points in six consecutive home contests. The Grizzlies have won each of the first two meetings with the Rockets this season, as each matchup finished 'under’ the total. Point guard Mike Conley is listed as questionable after missing the last three games with an Achilles injury.
Houston (19-19 SU, 15-23 ATS) has not gone more than one game above the .500 mark this season, as the Rockets attempt to extend their winning streak to four. After sweeping a home-and-home set with the Jazz, the Rockets erased a 13-point fourth quarter deficit on Sunday to stun the Pacers in overtime, 107-103. Houston needs to pick things up on the highway, owning a 2-5 SU and 1-6 ATS record in the past seven games away from the Toyota Center with the lone win coming against the Lakers on December 17.
Bulls (-3½, 204) at Bucks
Chicago (22-14 SU, 15-21 ATS) closed out 2015 with a pair of wins, prior to four straight victories to start 2016. However, the Bulls’ defense has taken plenty of hits the last two games, allowing 120 points to Atlanta and 114 points in Monday’s home loss to Washington. Fred Hoiberg’s team is playing an uptempo style and their totals are reflecting that by finishing ‘over’ the total in seven of the last nine games. Chicago is favored on the road for the first time since November 24 at Portland, a span of eight games, as the Bulls are 3-2 SU/ATS when laying points away from the United Center.
The only notch on Milwaukee’s (15-24 SU, 18-20-1 ATS) belt this season is handing Golden State its first loss back in December. The Bucks have lost three of their last four games, including a 117-106 defeat in Chicago last Tuesday as 8½-point underdogs. Milwaukee hasn’t performed well as a home ‘dog recently by posting a 1-3 SU/ATS mark in this role with all three losses to San Antonio, Toronto, and the Clippers coming by double-digits. The most recent time the Bulls visited BMO Harris Center last April was an ugly showing by the home team as Chicago routed Milwaukee, 120-66 to eliminate the Bucks from the playoffs.
Cavaliers (-6, 198½) at Mavericks
Following a pair of poor offensive performances in losses at Golden State and Portland, the Cavaliers (26-9 SU, 15-19-1 ATS) have rebounded nicely by ripping off seven consecutive victories. Cleveland continues to struggle in the role of a road favorite after failing to cash in Sunday’s 95-85 victory at Philadelphia as 16-point favorites, falling to 1-4-1 ATS in the past six games when laying points on the highway. David Blatt’s team has won 13 of the previous 15 games, while cashing the ‘under’ 10 times during this stretch.
Tonight presents a tough scheduling spot for Dallas (22-16 SU, 22-15-1 ATS), who returns home from a 2-1 road swing before hitting the highway again for three games starting Wednesday at Oklahoma City. The Mavs faced three below .500 opponents on their recent trip, winning at New Orleans and Minnesota, while losing a one-point decision at Milwaukee. Rick Carlisle’s club owns a 1-2 SU/ATS record as a home underdog this season, while getting wiped out at home by Cleveland last season in a 127-94 defeat as four-point ‘dogs.
Tuesday's Top Action
By Sportsbook.ag
CHICAGO BULLS (22-14) at MILWAUKEE BUCKS (15-24)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Chicago -3.0
The Bulls will be looking to get back on track with a victory over the Bucks in Milwaukee Tuesday.
Chicago hosted Washington on Monday night and lost 114-100 as a nine-point favorite. The Bulls have now lost two straight games after a six-game winning streak. They seemingly had momentum and will now need to pick up a much-needed victory in Milwaukee on Tuesday. This Bucks team has been lousy in the past few weeks, losing three of its past four and 12 of its past 17 as well. Milwaukee has allowed five of its past 10 opponents to shoot 50% or better from the field and must be better defensively moving forward.
These two teams met in Chicago on Jan. 5 and the Bulls won that game 117-106 as 8.5-point home favorites. Chicago is now 11-4 SU and 10-5 ATS over Milwaukee over the past three seasons and that includes a 5-2 SU (4-3 ATS) record at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Five of the seven games played in Milwaukee have gone Under the total. One thing working in Chicago’s favor in this game is the fact that the team has gone 19-9 ATS in road games after playing as a home favorite over the past two seasons. That won’t intimidate Milwaukee, though, as the Bucks are 15-4 ATS after playing a game as a road underdog this season.
SF Mike Dunleavy (Back) is expected to miss another month for the Bulls and the Bucks could be without PG Jerryd Bayless (Ankle) and SG O.J. Mayo (Hamstring), who are both listed as questionable.
The Bulls have lost two straight games and will be looking to turn things around against a Bucks team that is extremely beatable. SG Jimmy Butler (22.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.8 SPG) is going to have to come through for his team on the road in this game. Butler lit Milwaukee up the last time these teams met, finishing with 32 points and 10 assists in 39 minutes of action. He was an efficient 11-for-21 from the field and was making all of the right reads in that game. If he can do more of the same on Tuesday then his team should be able to come away with a road win.
C Pau Gasol (16.4 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.2 BPG) is also going to need to play well for Chicago. Gasol has struggled over the past two games, averaging just 12.5 PPG and 8.5 RPG. It is no coincidence that the Bulls lost those contests and the team will need to do a better job of getting him the ball in the right spots. Like Butler, Gasol dominated the last time he faced the Bucks. He had 26 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three blocks in that one and should be able to find some success on Tuesday.
One positive for Chicago in the loss to Washington was that PG Derrick Rose (14.9 PPG, 4.9 APG, 3.3 RPG) got it going offensively. Rose finished with 23 points on 8-for-13 shooting and is now averaging 18.5 PPG since returning from a hamstring injury. If he can play a solid all-around game on Tuesday then it would really help his team.
The Bucks are coming off of a 100-88 loss against the Knicks in New York and PG Michael Carter-Williams (12.1 PPG, 5.8 APG, 4.8 RPG, 1.5 SPG) really struggled in that contest. Carter-Williams went just 1-for-8 from the field and finished with four points and six assists in 22 minutes. He had been playing very well in the weeks before and must play well against Chicago in this one. That shouldn’t be a problem for him, as he put up 20 points and dished out 12 assists in the first meeting between these teams this season. Carter-Williams will need to be locked in on defense as well, as Derrick Rose has looked a lot better as of late.
C Greg Monroe (15.6 PPG, 9.6 RPG) will also need to play a complete game for this Bucks team. Monroe was a monster against New York on Sunday, finishing with 28 points, 10 rebounds and a block in 33 minutes of action. He’ll need to be a force in the paint on offense against Chicago, but he also needs to play some tough defense as well. The Bulls have one of the best frontcourts in basketball and Monroe can’t allow the team to score at will around the rim.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (11-25) at LOS ANGELES LAKERS (8-31)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Pelicans -2.5, 202
A pair of struggling teams meets on Tuesday when the Pelicans face the Lakers in Los Angeles.
The Pelicans have been extremely disappointing this season and they enter Tuesday night’s game after having lost 114-111 against the Clippers in Los Angeles. They’ll now play their second straight game at Staples Center and will be looking to avoid a four-game losing streak in this one. The Lakers haven’t been any better, losing 86-74 at home against the Jazz on Sunday. It was Los Angeles’ fourth straight loss and the team will need to shoot better than the 32.6% from the field it posted on Sunday.
The Lakers and Pelicans have not yet met this season, but the Pelicans have gotten the best of this head-to-head series in recent years. New Orleans has won five straight against Los Angeles SU and the team has covered in four of those five games. The Pelicans are, however, a lousy road team and have gone 4-18 in its past 22 games away from home SU. They are also just 8-12 ATS when playing on the road this season.
There are some key injuries to note in this one for both teams, as SF Quincy Pondexter (Knee) and PF Anthony Davis (Back) are questionable for New Orleans and PG D’Angelo Russell (Ankle), PF Brandon Bass (Eye), SG Kobe Bryant (Achilles) and PF Julius Randle (Foot) are all questionable for Los Angeles.
The Pelicans have struggled heading into this game and the fact that PF Anthony Davis (22.8 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 2.5 BPG) may be out does not help things. With Davis either injured or inactive, guys like SF Tyreke Evans (16.4 PPG, 7.1 APG, 6.1 RPG, 1.5 SPG), PG Jrue Holiday (13.5 PPG, 4.5 APG, 1.1 SPG) and PF Ryan Anderson (16.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG) will need to step it up.
Evans has played well the past two games, averaging 26.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG and 6.0 APG. He has also been locked in defensively, averaging 2.5 SPG over the past five contests. Evans has a size and strength advantage over everybody the Lakers will throw at him on Tuesday and he will need to be aggressive and attack the rim often. Holiday will have a ton of confidence coming into this one, as he poured in 29 points and added 11 rebounds and four assists in his matchup with Chris Paul on Sunday. Holiday is finally looking healthy for New Orleans and his ability to knock down shots and find his teammates should make the team a bit better moving forward.
PF Ryan Anderson (16.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG) is the x-factor for the Pelicans, though. He is playing Davis’ position with the star injured and will need to continue to be a force offensively. Over the past two games, Anderson is averaging 18.5 PPG and his 36.7% shooting from the outside this season helps space the floor. He must be better defensively, though, or the team will struggle to win games until Davis comes back.
The Lakers have lost four straight games and will be hoping to earn a victory against yet another struggling team on Tuesday. One guy who has been consistently producing for this Lakers team recently is SG Lou Williams (15.1 PPG). Over the past five contests, Williams is averaging 24.4 PPG and 1.4 SPG. He followed up a 44-point performance against the Thunder on Friday with 18 points, eight boards and six assists against the Jazz on Sunday. He could be in for an expanded role again with the Lakers dealing with a few injuries in the backcourt.
SG Jordan Clarkson (15.1 PPG, 1.2 SPG) is another guy the Lakers can count on every night. Clarkson is shooting just 40.8% from the field over the past five games, but he always brings a ton of energy on both ends of the floor. He will attack the basket on Monday night and will need to be solid defensively against guys like Holiday and Evans when needed. PF Julius Randle (10.7 PPG, 9.4 RPG) is a bit banged up, but he will likely give it a go on Tuesday. Randle could potentially dominate this game, as he’ll be matched up against Ryan Anderson. Anderson is a lousy defender and Randle has the speed and strength to really have a special night offensively.