NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Indiana Pacers at Milwaukee Bucks
Indiana Pacers have imploded. Indiana coming off a 19 point loss to Atlanta have just two straight-up wins the past nine games. Speaking of funks, against-the-spread bettors were 0-9 over the span. Going all the way back to the second week in February the Pacers are a dismal 3-23-1 against the betting line. Taking on Milwaukee, by far the worst team in the Association at 14-63 SU surely Pacers can squeak out a victory. However, even with the expected small number (-6.5) you bet Indiana at your own risk. Pacers have not been good bets as a road fave of 9.5 or less posting a 9-15 ATS mark overall and are 1-8 ATS the past nine situations. If that were not enough to have you thinking fade, Pacers hit the hardwood 5-10 ATS following a double digit loss, 8-12 ATS as road favorite running the hardwood against a team with a losing record, 2-5 ATS away vs a division opponent.
Game of the Day: Thunder at Clippers
Covers.com
Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Clippers (-3.5, 213)
The Los Angeles Clippers are trying to catch Oklahoma City for the second spot in the Western Conference playoff race and need a home win over the Thunder on Wednesday to have any chance of accomplishing that. Oklahoma City possesses a 1.5-game lead over the Clippers with Los Angeles having just four games remaining, so a Thunder victory will all but assure the pecking order. Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant had his string of consecutive 25-point outings end at 41 on Tuesday against Sacramento.
Durant had 23 points before sitting out the entire fourth quarter of the Thunder’s 107-92 victory over the Kings. The Thunder committed a season-low six turnovers and Caron Butler had a field day, making all six of his 3-point attempts and scoring 23 points. Point guard Russell Westbrook was held out to rest on the first end of the back-to-back to keep him fresh per the matchup against Clippers star Chris Paul. Los Angeles forward Blake Griffin is averaging 23.7 points over the last three games since returning from a back injury.
LINE HISTORY: Los Angeles opened as a 3.5-point home favorite and was bet up to -4 before money on OKC trimmed the spread back to -3.5. The total opened at 213 points.
POWER RANKINGS: Thunder (-13.7) - Clippers (-13.9) + Home Court (-3.0) = Clippers -3.2
INJURY REPORT: Thunder - Russell Westbrook (Ques. - Knee). Clippers - Matt Barnes (Ques. - Illness), Danny Granger (Out - Hamstring), Jamal Crawford (Out - Achilles)
ABOUT THE THUNDER (56-21): Durant was relieved that his streak was over when quizzed by reporters after Tuesday’s victory. “I was getting so many texts after every game,” Durant said. “I’m glad that’s over with and we can just focus on the team. If we played well and I had 25 points, that took away from how well the team was playing so I didn’t like that. If we lost, it was all about me scoring 25 points and I didn’t like that either. I’m glad we can just talk about the team now.” Durant’s streak is third-longest in NBA history behind Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain (80 in 1961-62) and Oscar Robertson (46 in 1963-64).
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (55-23): Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers reiterated Tuesday that he doesn’t expect to see guard Jamal Crawford (Achilles) or forward Danny Granger (hamstring) back on the court prior to the postseason. Crawford is holding out hope he can return before the end of the regular season while Granger may still be healing even when the playoffs start. “Not ready,” Rivers told reporters in reference to the duo after Tuesday’s practice. “They won’t play Wednesday. I don’t see Saturday for either one. If there’s a change, I’ll let you know but I don’t see them getting healthy enough to play.”
TRENDS:
* Over is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings in Los Angeles.
* Thunder are 2-5 ATS in the last seven meetings in Los Angeles.
CONSENSUS: 53 percent of bets are on the Clippers while 71 percent of wagers are on the Over.