Game of the Day: Spurs at Rockets
By Covers.com
San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets (-1.5, 211)
The Houston Rockets had a rough weekend against the Memphis Grizzlies and things don’t get any easier when they host the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday. The Rockets are one of the highest scoring teams in the league but were held to an average of 84 points in back-to-back losses to the Grizzlies. The Spurs are battling through injuries and dropped to 1-1 on their three-game road trip with a loss at Miami on Sunday.
San Antonio is down three starters with Kawhi Leonard (hand), Tiago Splitter (shoulder) and Danny Green out (hand) but has enough depth to cover the gaps against weaker clubs. The Spurs have a tendency to get in trouble against teams with legitimate championship aspirations and have suffered their last three losses against Portland, Oklahoma City and Miami. The Rockets want to be one of those teams with championship aspirations but are still working on consistency. “It’s just so frustrating,” Chandler Parsons told reporters. “We can be so good one night and bad the next. That is something that we have to figure out collectively.”
LINE HISTORY: The Rockets opened as 1.5-point home favorites while the total was posted at 211 points.
COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Spurs (-14.0) - Rockets (-11.0) + Home Court (-3.0) = Pick
KEY INJURIES: Spurs: Kawhi Leonard (Out - shoulder), Danny Green (Out - hand), Tiago Splitter (Out - shoulder). Rockets: Francisco Garcia (Questionable - knee), Ronnie Brewer (Doubtful - calf), Omer Asik - (Out - thigh)
WHAT BOOKS SAY: "Seeing a bit more money on the short home favorite in this game. Spurs are off a very disappointing effort in a revenge spot versus the Heat on Sunday - the first time they’ve played the Heat since their seven-game championship series lost back in June. I believe our bettors will be inclined to fade the Spurs after seeing that lackluster performance in a game the Spurs most assuredly wanted to win and came with max effort." - Peter Childs, Sportsbook.ag.
WHAT SHARPS SAY: "The Spurs might have a slight motivation edge as this is a double-revenge game for San Antonio as it has lost both meetings so far this season straight up as a favorite both times. Meanwhile, Houston actually has a double-revenge motive in their next game at Dallas the very next night (Wednesday)." - Covers Expert Steve Merril.
WHY BET THE SPURS (33-11 SU, 22-22 ATS, 26-17-1 O/U): San Antonio blew out Atlanta 105-79 to start its road trip but could not muster the same effort on the defensive end in an NBA Finals rematch against the Heat on Sunday. “The first and third quarter were basically the same,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters. “We didn’t do a very good job of starting out defensively. It’s a bad combination if we’re not disciplined enough defensively.” San Antonio ranks fifth in points allowed, at 96.9 points against per game.
WHY BET THE ROCKETS (29-17 SU, 22-22-2 ATS, 21-23-2 O/U): Houston’s starters all scored at least 13 points in the Dec. 25 meeting and James Harden and Chandler Parsons combined to go 8-for-12 from 8-point range. Parsons set an NBA record with 10 3-pointers in a half on Friday against Memphis but the Rockets still suffered an 88-87 home loss, and things got even worse when he cooled off the next night and Houston fell 99-81 on the road. Houston has taken each of the first two meetings this season while scoring an average of 111.5 points.
TRENDS:
* Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Houston.
* Road team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
* Spurs are 0-4 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
* Underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
CONSENSUS PICK: 55 percent of bets are on the Spurs (+1.5) while 60 percent of bets are on the Over.
Tuesday Late Night Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Spurs at Rockets
San Antonio: 33-11 SU, 22-22 ATS
Houston: 29-17 SU, 22-22-2 ATS
The Spurs were embarrassed at Miami in an NBA Finals rematch on Sunday, 113-102, as San Antonio trailed by as many as 29 points. Just one season removed from winning the Western Conference, the Spurs have struggled against the top teams in the league, putting together a 1-10 record against the Heat, Pacers, Blazers, Clippers, Thunder, and Rockets. Two of those losses came at home to Houston, including a 111-98 defeat on Christmas night as 7½-point favorites, as the Rockets dropped at least 111 points in each win against their cross-state rival.
Houston is probably thrilled to see San Antonio after getting shut down in consecutive losses to Memphis, as the Rockets try to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season. Kevin McHale's club has won five of seven home contests this month, while posting a 6-3 SU and 3-6 ATS record at the Toyota Center off a loss. The Rockets are favored against the Spurs for the first time in eight meetings, as Houston failed to cover as 4½-point favorites in a 105-102 victory on January 21, 2012.
Grizzlies at Blazers
Memphis: 22-20 SU, 19-22-1 ATS
Portland: 33-12 SU, 25-20 ATS
The Grizzlies have clawed back into the Western Conference playoff race after winning seven of their last eight games. Memphis pulled off a home-and-home sweep of Houston, while limiting the Rockets to 87 and 81 points in the two victories. It's no coincidence that the return of Marc Gasol has bolstered the Grizzlies' defense, posting 'unders' in six consecutive games. In all six contests, Memphis has failed to score 100 points, but the Grizzlies have also limited each opponent to 95 points or less.
The Blazers fell short on the second of a back-to-back at Golden State on Sunday night, 103-88 as 5 ½-point underdogs. Since losing at home to Philadelphia earlier this month, Portland has won five straight games at the Moda Center, including consecutive victories over Denver and Minnesota in which the Blazers scored at least 110 points. The oddsmakers are catching up with Portland's totals of late, as the Blazers have seen totals of at least 215 in each of the last five games (3-1-1 to the 'over').
Wizards at Warriors
Washington: 21-22 SU, 22-21 ATS
Golden State: 27-18 SU, 20-23-2 ATS
The Wizards continue their West Coast swing as Washington plays with revenge on Tuesday night at Oracle Arena. Washington has lost six consecutive meetings with Golden State dating back to 2011, including a 112-96 defeat at the Verizon Center earlier this month as three-point underdogs. The game was tied at the half before the Warriors outscored the Wizards, 34-15 in the third quarter to open things up. The Wizards have split the first two games on their current four-game trip, beating the Suns followed by a three-point setback at Utah.
Golden State is playing the third of a five-game homestand, as the Warriors snapped a two-game skid with Sunday's blowout of the Blazers. Since winning 10 consecutive contests, Mark Jackson's club owns a 3-5 SU and 2-4 ATS record, while failing to win back-to-back games in this stretch. The Warriors are just 4-8 ATS the past 12 home contests, as Golden State is playing just its fifth game at Oracle Arena against an Eastern Conference foe (3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS).
Pacers at Lakers
Indiana: 34-9 SU, 28-15 ATS
Los Angeles: 16-29 SU, 24-20-1 ATS
The Pacers suffered only their ninth loss of the season (sixth on a back-to-back), as Indiana concludes a five-game Western Conference road swing at Staples Center. Frank Vogel's squad put together a terrific performance to start the trip at Golden State, but has lost two of three, while erasing a double-digit deficit in an overtime triumph at Sacramento. Indiana has failed to cover in three straight games, while allowing at least 100 points in the last three contests following 16 consecutive games yielding double-digits.
The Lakers dropped five of seven games on their recent away swing, which ended with four consecutive defeats. Los Angeles managed covers as underdogs of seven points or more at Phoenix, Boston, Chicago, Miami, and Toronto, but slipped up as short 'dogs at Orlando and New York. Mike D'Antoni's team has eclipsed the 'over' in eight consecutive games, while giving up at least 100 points in 12 straight trips to the court.
NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Memphis Grizzlies at Portland Trail Blazers
Trail Blazers high-octane all-out offensive basketball netting 109.0 points/game hits a speed bump when they host a suddenly hot Memphis team. The Grizzlies playing stifling defense (92.8) have reeled off a smart 9-3 SU/ATS record in the new year including a 7-1 (5-3 ATS) streak the past eight on the hardwood holding opponents to a miniscule 89.6 points/game. Grizzlies 7-2 SU/ATS vs a good offensive team (=>100 pts) since January allowing an average 93.4 PPG could very well upset the apple cart here. Might want to consider Memphis knowing Grizzlies are 5-1 ATS on the road when holding host teams to =<95 points, Blazers are 0-3 ATS as home favorite scoring =< 100 pts and on a 1-10 ATS skid in Tuesday games, 4-10 ATS slide against the Southwest.