Spurs at Grizzlies: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
San Antonio Spurs at Memphis Grizzlies (+5.5, 196.5)
The San Antonio Spurs' frontcourt depth is about to be tested - a notion that's all too familiar for their next opponent. The Spurs will be without center Tiago Splitter when they travel to Memphis on Tuesday to face the Grizzlies, who are still without big man Marc Gasol. Memphis has gone 8-12 since losing Gasol to a sprained knee to slip 3 1/2 games behind eighth-place Dallas in the Western Conference.
The Spurs whipped the Clippers 116-92 on Saturday, but their fourth win in five games came at a price as Splitter was lost for three-to-five weeks with a sprained right shoulder. "Very, very tough," veteran forward Tim Duncan told the San Antonio Express-News. "It's going to be a big loss for us. He's been playing great for us all year." If the Grizzlies can start winning at home - they're 7-11 at FedEx Forum - they might be able to make a charge with six of their next seven games on their own floor.
LINE: The Grizzlies opened as 5.5-point home dogs. The total opened at 196.5.
COVERS POWER RANKINGS: San Antonio (-13.8) - Memphis (-5) + home court (-3) = San Antonio -5.8
ABOUT THE SPURS (26-8, 18-16 ATS): San Antonio boasts one of the most productive benches in the league but it's getting thin in the post with Splitter out. Second-year center Aron Baynes likely will need to pick up extra minutes to spell Boris Diaw (9.4 points, 3.5 rebounds), who is expected to be back after missing Saturday's game with strep throat. Fortunately for the Spurs, they don't count on much offensive output from the center position thanks to five other players averaging double digits in scoring with Tony Parker (17.7 points, 6.2 assists) and Tim Duncan (14.2 points, 9.5 rebounds) leading the way.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (15-18, 13-19-1 ATS): Memphis dominated the second half of a 112-84 win at Detroit on Sunday and has won five of its last eight following a five-game skid. The Grizzlies certainly miss Gasol, especially at the defensive end, but they still have a strong inside-outside duo with point guard Mike Conley (17.2 points, 6.3 assists) and bruiser Zach Randolph (17.1 points, 10.5 rebounds). Jon Leuer has shown signs of becoming a bigger contributor at the offensive end - the third-year forward matched his career high with 23 points against the Pistons.
TRENDS:
* Spurs are 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.
* Spurs are 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings in Memphis.
* Over is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
* Road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Grizzlies reportedly have reached a deal to send G Jerryd Bayless to Boston in exchange for G Courtney Lee.
2. Spurs G Danny Green, a 39.4 percent shooter from 3-point range, is 3-for-19 from beyond the arc over the last four games.
3. Memphis G Tony Allen (hand) sat out against Detroit and is day-to-day.
Raptors at Pacers What Bettors Need to Know
Covers.com
Toronto Raptors at Indiana Pacers (-7.5, 187)
The Indiana Pacers have lost only once in their last eight games, but that defeat came at the hands of the Toronto Raptors, who visit for a rematch Tuesday. Indiana boasts the best overall (27-6) and home (16-1) records in the NBA and has won two straight since a 95-82 loss at Toronto on New Year's Day. The Raptors have won nine of their last 12 to surge to the top of the Atlantic Division, and they've claimed seven of their last nine on the road.
The Pacers weren't themselves in the last meeting, committing a season-high 23 turnovers en route to their lowest point total of the campaign. "We're going to go out there and battle with the best of them," Raptors leading scorer DeMar DeRozan told reporters after the game. "We don't care who is out there in front of us. We understand that they are going to throw a punch and we're going to throw punches back." Toronto was unable to land another big blow Sunday, losing 102-97 at Miami to snap a five-game winning streak and drop back to .500.
LINE: The Pacers opened as 7.5-point faves. The total opened at 187.
COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Toronto (-6) - Indiana (-14.3) + home court (-3) = Indiana -11.3
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (16-16, 18-14 ATS): Toronto has been a vastly different team since trading Rudy Gay to Sacramento, playing more cohesively at both ends of the floor. DeRozan (21.1 points) has taken over as the primary scorer, but point guard Kyle Lowry (15.7 points, 7.6 assists) continues to enjoy a breakout season. The one element the Raptors lack is a dominant big man, though second-year center Jonas Valanciunas (10.7 points, 8.3 rebounds) and veteran forward Amir Johnson (11.6 points, 7.1 rebounds) have played well since Gay's departure.
ABOUT THE PACERS (27-6, 23-10 ATS): Indiana likely can't get away with the sort of sluggish effort it gave in an 82-78 win over a Cleveland team without star Kyrie Irving on Sunday. The Pacers can survive rough nights at the offensive end, though, because of the league's best team defense - they allow an NBA-low 88.6 points per game and lead the league in opponents' field-goal percentage (41.1) and opponents' 3-point field-goal percentage (32.3). Paul George (23.2 points, 6.1 rebounds) leads a balanced attack with all five starters averaging double-digit scoring and reserve Danny Granger (8.9 points) getting stronger each game as he works his way back from a string of injuries.
TRENDS:
* Raptors are 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings in Indiana.
* Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
* Underdogs are 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Road team is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Lowry has recorded six or more assists in a career-best 24 consecutive games, the longest streak in the NBA this season and three shy of Jose Calderon's franchise record.
2. Pacers C Roy Hibbert is averaging 18 points in two meetings with Toronto this season, 5.5 above his season average.
3. Raptors F Tyler Hansbrough (ankle) sat out against Miami and is not expected to play against Indiana.
NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Golden State Warriors at Milwaukee Bucks
Golden State Warriors (23-13, 17-17-2 ATS) are one of the hottest teams in the NBA reeling off nine straight victories cashing six tickets in the process (6-3 ATS). Warriors with five players chipping in double digits lead by Stephen Curry (23.0) are netting 103.6 points/game on 46.5% shooting. On the defensive end Warriors are holding opponents to 43% from the field allowing 98.8 per/contest. Golden State 12-9 (11-9-1 ATS) on the road scoring 102.2 PPG look primed to extend the streak to eleven as Warriors have two of the leagues worst teams coming up next, Milwaukee (7-26, 12-21 ATS), Brooklyn (13-21, 15-19 ATS). Golden State will be asked to cover a significant spread but with Bucks 3-9 ATS playing a team with a winning record, 2-10 ATS vs a good offensive team (=>100 PPG), 3-10 ATS as home underdog and Nets 6-9 ATS playing a team with a winning record, 5-9 ATS vs good offensive team the Warriors stand a good chance at improving it's 6-3 ATS mark vs non-conference opponents.