Wednesday Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
The NBA will take Thanksgiving off, but fans and bettors have plenty to feast on with Wednesday's 13-game card. There are several key matchups less than a month into the season, including the Clippers and Thunder hooking up in Oklahoma City. Late night, the Nets conclude their three-game California trip with a visit to Oakland against the surprising Warriors. We'll start in South Florida with two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference meeting up for the first time this season.
Bucks at Heat
Out of the two division leaders matching wits in Miami, it is no shock the Heat is ruling the Southeast Division at 8-3. However, Milwaukee was expected to be a middle of the road team in the Central behind Chicago and Indiana, but the Bucks are rolling with a 6-3 record. In spite of Monday's slip-up at Charlotte, Scott Skiles' team has put together a 3-1 SU/ATS mark away from Milwaukee this season.
The Bucks have found a way to be a thorn in Miami's side over the years, winning four of the last five meetings at American Airlines Arena, including a 91-82 triumph this past January as nine-point underdogs. Milwaukee has been below average against the number (4-5), but the Bucks own outright road 'dog victories at Boston and Philadelphia.
The Heat returns home following a 4-2 road trip, capped off by Saturday's nine-point win at Phoenix. Dwyane Wade sat out two games on the trip, but is expected to be in the lineup on Wednesday. In seven games with Wade active, Miami has hit the 'over' five times, including three times at home. Erik Spoelstra's club has compiled a 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS record at the AAA, as the Heat hits the highway only twice before Christmas with 12 of the next 14 games in South Florida.
Spurs at Celtics
San Antonio has lost three games this season, but two of those defeats are to the Clippers, as the Spurs visit Boston on Wednesday. Gregg Popovich's club followed up a 126-point effort against Denver on Saturday with an 87-point output in Monday's five-point loss to Los Angeles. The Spurs go for their fourth road win in five tries against a Celtics' squad coming off a humiliating 103-83 setback at Detroit on Sunday.
After failing to cover its first four games, Boston owns a 3-1-2 ATS ledger the last six contests, including home victories over Utah and Toronto. The Celtics dropped an 87-86 decision to the Spurs in the lone meeting last season, as the road team has claimed seven of the previous eight matchups. Boston has lost consecutive games just once this season, as the C's scored just 58 points in the final three quarters of Sunday's defeat to the Pistons.
Two of San Antonio's three road victories have come by three points or less against the Lakers and Blazers, as both wins were in a short favorite role. In Monday's loss to the Clippers, the Spurs were held to 35% shooting from the floor, while squandering an early 10-point advantage. San Antonio has drilled the 'under' in three of four away games, as the lone 'over' came with Tony Parker out of the lineup at Portland.
Clippers at Thunder
A pair of eight victory squads meets up in Oklahoma City as the Clippers attempt to win their seventh straight contest. Los Angeles improved to 3-0 SU/ATS on the road following Monday's 92-87 triumph at San Antonio, the fifth opponent in the last six games the Clippers have limited to less than 100 points. The task will not be easy for Vinny Del Negro's team, which faces a Thunder squad that has won seven of their past eight contests, capped off by a 119-109 home victory over the Warriors on Sunday.
Oklahoma City has topped the 105-point mark on six occasions this season, but the 'over' has cashed only three times. The Thunder owns a mediocre 3-3 ATS record as a home favorite, as two of those ATS losses came when laying at least nine points. OKC dropped three of four meetings with Los Angeles last season, as three of the games finished 'over' the total.
The Clippers continue a four-game road trip, as Los Angeles has covered in all eight wins this season. The two losses were suffered as heavy home favorites to the Warriors and Cavaliers, but four of their last six victories during this hot streak came by double-digits. After hitting the 'over' in the first four games, Los Angeles is riding a 5-1 stretch to the 'under,' including 'unders' in each of the last two road contests.
Nets at Warriors
Brooklyn finishes up a three-game swing through the Golden State, taking on the Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Nets play with no rest following Tuesday's contest against the Lakers, as Brooklyn hasn't been in this role yet this season. The Warriors return to Oakland after a 2-1 SU/ATS road trip, capped off by an overtime triumph at Dallas on Monday.
Golden State owns a 2-2 SU/ATS record at home, as both wins came in the favorite role over Cleveland and Atlanta. Mark Jackson's team hit the 'over' in the past three games, while cashing the 'over' seven times in the last 10 contests overall. The Warriors have fared well this season against upper-tier competition by compiling a 4-1 SU/ATS record versus teams that own records of .500 or better.
The Nets are listed as an underdog for just the third time this season, while Avery Johnson's club is a perfect 3-0 to the 'under' on the highway. Last season, the Nets rallied from a 19-point deficit to stun the Warriors in Oakland, 102-100, as Golden State played without leading scorer Stephen Curry.
Clippers at Thunder: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Los Angeles Clippers at Oklahoma City Thunder (-4.5, 198.5)
The Los Angeles Clippers are the current owners of the longest winning streak in the Western Conference and have already built up a 2 1/2-game lead in the Pacific Division. The Clippers will put their six-game winning streak on the line on Wednesday, when they visit the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder have won seven of their last eight and have put up 229 points in back-to-back victories, placing them one spot above Los Angeles in scoring average.
The Clippers began their winning streak with a dominating 106-84 home win over the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 7 and knocked off three straight playoff teams from the East - including defending champion Miami - before becoming the rare team to win at San Antonio on Monday. That marked the beginning of a four-game swing that will take them to Brooklyn and Atlanta after Oklahoma City. The Thunder have done most of their damage against the bottom of the NBA, with only one of their eight victories coming against a 2011-12 playoff team.
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (8-2, 8-2 ATS): Los Angeles played eight of its first nine games at Staples Center but certainly appeared ready for the road on Monday, when Chris Paul knocked down a jumper to ice the game in the final minute. Paul is averaging 16.3 points and 10.0 assists and has been helped by a much-improved bench that has allowed the All-Star to be sharp at the end of games. Jamal Crawford is leading the team in scoring at 19.7 points off the bench and third-year guard Eric Bledsoe continues to play his way into greater minutes.
ABOUT THE THUNDER (8-3, 6-4-1 ATS): Oklahoma City ranks second in the NBA in scoring offense but has had trouble on the other end, allowing an average of 103.7 points over its last three games. One of those was a 107-97 home loss to Memphis on Nov. 14, during which the Thunder struggled to find a rhythm offensively. That problem has certainly been fixed. Kevin Durant recorded a triple-double in Sunday’s 119-109 win over Golden State while Russell Westbrook scored 30 points. Westbrook had shot 30 percent (9 of 30) in the two previous games before going 12-for-22 against the Warriors.
TRENDS:
* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings in Oklahoma City.
* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
* Clippers are 12-3 ATS in the last 15 meetings in Oklahoma City.
* Home team is 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings.
* Clippers are 21-8 ATS in the last 29 meetings.
* Underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Clippers F Caron Butler suffered a shoulder strain against the Spurs and will be a game-time decision on Wednesday.
2. Los Angeles took three of the four meetings last season, including a 100-98 victory in Oklahoma City on Apr. 11. Paul led the way with 31 points in that contest.
3. Westbrook is a career 33.8-percent shooter in 15 games against the Clippers.
NBA: Streaks, Trends, Notes
Sportspic.com
Los Angeles Clippers at Oklahoma City Thunder
Toppling Spurs 92-87 on Monday night for the second time this season the Clippers (7-2 SU/ATS) put a 6-0 SU/ATS streak on the line when they visit Oklahoma City (8-3, 6-4-1 ATS) on Wednesday. Shooting 49.2% from the field while scoring 101.5 points/game the Clippers face a stiff test against Durant and company. Thunder off 119-109 spanking of Warriors are now 8-3 (6-4-1 ATS) netting a league second-best 101.7 points/game on 48.2 shooting including a league-best 43.5% from long range. Clips have had success vs Oklahoma winning 9-of-15 encounters including 4-of-7 (5-2 ATS) in Oklahoma City since Thunder relocated from Seattle but this is a really tough spot. Thunder will be looking to make a statement having dropped 3-of-4 vs Clips last year. Thunder 11-1 (8-4 ATS) hosting a Pacific division opponent scoring 108.2 PPG along with a stifling defense allowing just 93.9 PPG over the span look primed to get the job done. Thunder are a perfect 9-0 (6-3 ATS) at home following a game in which they scored =>115 points, Clips enter 11-30 ATS away vs a team that tightens defense screws on them (=<95).
NBA Point Spreads, Picks and Trends: Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012
By: The Linemakers
Sportingnews.com
We have a monster schedule in the NBA tonight, with 28 teams in action, highlighted by the red-hot Clippers (8-2) playing at Oklahoma City (8-3). The Clippers have won six games in a row, and got their best win of the season two nights ago at San Antonio. The Thunder are 4-point favorites vs. the Clippers, and the total is 198.5.
Something will have to give tonight regarding the total. The Clippers have been playing great team defense and have controlled the tempo in their past six games, keeping five of them UNDER the posted number. Meanwhile, the Thunder have gone 5-0-1 to the OVER in their past six games. Four of the past five meetings between the teams have gone OVER four times. The underdog has covered five of the past six meetings.
NBA trends:
The Raptors have covered their past five instances on the second leg of back-to-back games. The underdog has covered the past four meetings between the Raptors and Bobcats. Charlotte is a 2.5 point favorite tonight.
The Pistons have covered six of their past seven games when playing on two-days’ rest. Despite going UNDER the total in four of their past five games, the Pistons have gone OVER the number in their past eight stances following a straight-up win. Detroit is a 1-point dog in Orlando, and the total is 186.5
The 76ers have covered their last five games when scoring 100 points or more in their previous game. They have won and covered their past four meetings against the Cavs. Philly is laying 4 in Cleveland, with the total posted at 183.5.
The Hornets have covered their past eight games when coming off a loss off more than 10 points. They have also covered five of their past six meetings against the Pacers. New Orleans is getting 8 in Indiana tonight.
The Spurs have gone 13-3-2 ATS in their last 18 games against the Eastern Conference. The Spurs have gone 3-0-1 ATS in their past four meetings in Boston. San Antonio is a 1.5-point favorite on the road tonight.
The Hawks and Wizards have gone UNDER the total in their past five meetings. The total on tonight’s game in Atlanta is 183.5
When the Heat are well rested, they do very well against the number. They have covered their last eight games when playing on three or more days rest. However, the Bucks have covered four of their past five meetings against Miami. Milwaukee is a 9.5-point road dog.
The Rockets have covered their past four meetings against Eastern Conference teams. The Rockets and Bulls have gone OVER the total in 12 of their past 15 meetings. Tonight’s game in Chicago is a pick, and the total is 192.5.
The Nuggets have gone 7-1-1 ATS in their past nine meetings at Minnesota. Denver is laying 3 tonight.
The Knicks have covered nine of their past 10 games on the back end of back-to-back games. The home team has covered in the past four meetings between the Mavericks and Knicks. New York is a 3-point favorite in Dallas.
The home team has covered the past four meetings between the Blazers and Suns. Phoenix is a 1.5-point home favorite.
The Lakers have gone OVER the total in 17 of their past 21 games when facing a team with a losing record. The OVER is 15-5-1 in the last 21 meetings between the Lakers and Kings at Sacramento. Tonight’s total is 204.5.
The Warriors are 6-1-1 ATS in their last eight games against teams with a winning record. Golden State is 1.5-point chalk hosting Brooklyn.
NBA injuries:
Bobcats guard Ben Gordon (knee) is questionable tonight against the Raptors.
Cavs guard Kyrie Irving (finger) is OUT indefinitely.
Hornets center Anthony Davis (ankle) missed his last game and is OUT tonight at Indiana.
Heat guard Dwyane Wade (foot) has missed his last two games and is probable tonight.
Rockets guard James Harden (illness) is questionable tonight at Chicago.