Tuesday Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Six games take place on the Tuesday NBA card with plenty of intriguing matchups in the Western Conference. The Lakers go for their second straight victory as the Bucks venture out to Southern California, while the Blazers and Nuggets hook up in a Northwest Division battle. We'll start in the Lone Star State as the Rockets attempt to get on track against the Clippers.
Clippers at Rockets
Los Angeles is playing with no rest after Monday's rout of Memphis, as Chris Paul missed his first game of the season with a contusion in his right kneecap. The All-Star guard suffered the injury late in Saturday's setback to Orlando, as the Clippers posted a 3-3 SU/ATS record in the six games Paul missed last season.
The Rockets return to the Toyota Center off a dreadful road trip, losing all three games on the highway. Houston's dynamic offense broke the 100-point plateau just once, coming in Saturday's 107-100 defeat at Philadelphia as one-point underdogs. Kevin McHale's team has suffered through three of losing skids of three games this season, but has never dropped four straight.
The Clippers are in a stretch playing 14 of 17 games away from Staples Center, while compiling a 1-4 ATS record on the road without rest. Los Angeles is in the middle of a nice 'over' run, hitting the 'over in six of the last eight games. The Clippers and Rockets are meeting for the first time this season, as Los Angeles captured all three matchups last season, including an overtime triumph in Houston.
Blazers at Nuggets
Denver concludes a four-game homestand, as the Nuggets seek their sixth consecutive victory. George Karl's team rallied from a 10-point deficit to knock off the Warriors on Sunday as six-point 'chalk,' 116-105. The Nuggets play with revenge on Tuesday after the Blazers upended Denver at the Rose Garden, 101-93 as six-point 'dogs on December 20.
The Blazers pulled off that home triumph without LaMarcus Aldridge, who missed the game with an ankle injury. Portland hasn't had much luck at the Pepsi Center over the years, losing six straight meetings at Denver, while putting together a 1-9 SU/ATS the last 10 visits to Colorado dating back to 2007.
The Nuggets are known for their uptempo style of play, but Denver has cashed the 'under' in four of the last six home contests. Since covering five straight games in mid-December, the Nuggets have been inconsistent by compiling a 2-5 ATS record off an ATS win. Portland is suddenly becoming a solid play on the highway, covering three of the last four road contests.
Bucks at Lakers
Los Angeles snapped a six-game skid on Sunday by routing Cleveland, 113-93, while limiting an opponent to less than 100 points for the first time since December 28. Dwight Howard returned to the Lakers' lineup after missing three games with a labrum issue, as the All-Star center put up 22 points and 14 rebounds in L.A.'s first win of 2013.
The Bucks rallied from a 20-point deficit to stun the Raptors on Sunday afternoon, 107-96 as 2½-point road 'dogs. Milwaukee improved to 3-1 SU/ATS since Scott Skiles was removed as head coach, while the Bucks broke the 100-point mark in each victory during this stretch. The next three games for the Bucks take place against Western Conference foes, as Milwaukee owns a dreadful 2-9 ATS record versus interconference competition.
The Lakers are riding a three-game 'under' streak, as each total ranged between 209 and 217½ (Tuesday's total opened at 212). Mike D'Antoni's club has broken the 100-point mark in 20 of the last 22 games, while Los Angeles has covered just four of its last 11 home contests. The Bucks grabbed the only meeting last season at the Bradley Center, 100-89 as 4½-point 'dogs, as Kobe Bryant and Metta World Peace were the only two regulars in the Lakers' lineup that night who are still on the team.
Clippers at Rockets: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Los Angeles Clippers at Houston Rockets (+1, 208)
The Los Angeles Clippers turned in perhaps their most impressive performance of the season on Monday, kicking off a three-game road trip by crushing the Memphis Grizzlies without All-Star point guard Chris Paul in the lineup. Paul sat out the 99-73 rout of the Grizzlies due to a bruised right kneecap and he will be a game-time decision for Tuesday's matchup with the Houston Rockets. It was the lowest point total allowed by Los Angeles and started a stretch in which it plays 14 of 17 games away from home.
The Rockets will be happy to be back home - even if it's for only one game - after going winless on a three-game road trip to New Orleans, Boston and Philadelphia. The Rockets had won five straight prior to the recent skid and will be facing a four-game road trip following the matchup with the Clippers. The Rockets averaged 115.8 points during their five-game run but saw that total dip to 90 points in the third-game skid. In all, Houston will play 12 of 17 games away from home in January.
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (29-9, 23-15-0 ATS): Eric Bledsoe made his first start of the season in place of Paul and scored 14 points to go along with four assists and two steals. Reserves Jamal Crawford and Matt Barnes scored 16 points apiece and Grant Hill had eight points in his second appearance of the season as Los Angeles' bench outscored the starters 54-45. Hill played 17 minutes and went 3-of-5 from the field while collecting four rebounds and four assists. Barnes is averaging 14 points in his last four games.
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (21-17, 21-16-1 ATS): While James Harden has scored at least 20 points in 20 consecutive games, backcourt mate Jeremy Lin has struggled with his outside shooting during the three-game losing streak. Lin averaged 9.3 points on the road trip while shooting 10-of-34 overall and 2-of-10 from 3-point range. Lin had hit more than one 3-pointer only twice in his last 24 games. The offensive struggles haven't affected Lin's defense - he has at least three steals in four consecutive games.
TRENDS:
* Under is 6-2 in the last eight meetings.
* Over is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings in Houston.
* Clippers are 7-2 ATS in their last nine vs. NBA Southwest.
* Rockets are 6-1 ATS in their last seven home games.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Clippers won all three meetings last season, including a two-point overtime victory in Houston.
2. The Rockets are shooting 26.1 percent (24-of-92) from behind the arc in the last three games.
3. Paul sat out his first game of the season. He had 16 assists in each of his two previous games.
NBA Point Spreads and Betting Guide
By: The Linemakers
Sportingnews.com
We've got six games on the NBA schedule tonight highlighted by a couple of hot teams. P.J. Carlesimo's Nets have won six straight and welcome the surprisingly active Raptors, who have covered 19 of their 37 games this season despite only recording 14 wins.
The Rockets failed to win or cover on their recent three game road trip, but are back home with a big test tonight against the Clippers, who come off an impressive 99-73 win last night at Memphis. The Clippers look like they'll have to go without Chris Paul.
The Nuggets are a team that no one seems to be talking about, but they have quietly won five games in a row and are tied with the Clippers, Thunder and Spurs for the most covers (23) this season. They'll face a scrappy Blazers squad that has lost two in a row, but covered in those losses against two of the best teams in the west -- the Warriors and Thunder.
To top it off, we get the Bucks -- the second best road cover team (11-5 ATS) in the league -- at the Staples Center to face the Lakers, who are coming off an impressive blowout win Sunday night against the Cavs. The fact that we're using the Cavs as some kind of barometer for success is telling to how the Lakers season has gone, but they were at least playing hard in that game and they did stop a six-game losing streak.
A big key to the win was coach Mike D'Antoni putting Kobe Bryant on the Cavs' best offensive perimeter player, Kyrie Irving. Bryant held Irving to 15 points. D'Antoni will continue to employ the strategy of matching Kobe with the opponents' best. It may cost the league's leading scorer on the offensive end, but as of now, that's the plan. And for Lakers fans, it's encouraging, because at least there is a plan.
So look out Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis, the Black Mamba is going to try and show you both a version of his Revis Island.
NBA Trends:
* The Pacers have covered their past four games following a loss. The Bobcats have covered only 13 games all season, but are 2-0 ATS on Tuesday's this season and have covered four of their last five on Tuesday's dating back to last season. The Bobcats have gone OVER the total in their last six home games against teams with a losing road record. The Pacers are 7.5-point road favorites with a total of 185.5.
* The Hornets have covered six of their last eight games playing on one day of rest. The 76ers have covered only once in their past six games. The 76ers have gone OVER the total in their last eight home games playing a team with a losing road record. The Pacers are 7.5-point road favorites with a total of 185.5. The 76ers are -3 with a total of 183.
* The Raptors have covered four of their past five games following a loss. The Nets have covered their last four games. They have also gone OVER the total in their last four games against Eastern Conference teams. The Nets are -6.5 with a total of 190.5.
* The Clippers have covered 18 of their past 26 games following a win. The Rockets have covered eight of their last nine games against teams with a winning record. The Rockets have gone OVER the total in their last seven home games when playing a team with a winning road record. The Rockets are -2.5 with a total of 207.
* The Blazers have covered eight of their last nine games against teams with a winning record. The Nuggets have covered 12 of their last 17 home games. The favorite has covered 13 of the past 16 meetings between the Blazers and Nuggets. The Nuggets are -9 with a total of 204.5.
* The Bucks have covered their last four Tuesday night games and also have covered four of their past five road games. The Lakers have covered only two of their past seven home games. The Bucks have covered six of the last eight meetings with the Lakers in Los Angeles. The Lakers are -6 with a total of 211.5.
NBA Injuries:
* Raptors forward Andrea Bargnani (elbow) is OUT indefinitely.
* Nets forward Andre Blatche (illness) is questionable tonight.
* Clippers guard Chris Paul (knee) is doubtful tonight.
* Rockets guard Jeremy Lin (ankle) is questionable tonight.
* Lakers forward Pau Gasol (concussion) is OUT tonight.