Warriors at Heat: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Golden State Warriors at Miami Heat (-9.5, 204)
The Golden State Warriors have had no problems so far on their seven-game road trip. Things will get a little more difficult at the next stop. The Warriors will put their four-game winning streak on the line when they visit the defending champion Miami Heat on Wednesday. The Heat have taken back-to-back games and are 10-1 at home while leading the Eastern Conference in scoring. After a brief stumble last week, Miami has been strong of late.
Golden State’s duo of Stephen Curry and David Lee continues to power the team forward. The two combined for 52 points in Monday’s win at Charlotte and have each gone over 20 in all four games of the road trip. The Warriors have taken 11 of the last 14 overall to put pressure on the Los Angeles Clippers atop the Pacific Division. The Heat have their own dynamic duo in LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, along with Chris Bosh on the inside to battle with Lee.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (14-7, 13-7-1 ATS): The road finally looked like it was getting to Golden State in the fourth quarter at Charlotte, when the Warriors managed just three field goals. Luckily, they entered that frame with a 19-point lead and held on for the win. Curry and Lee have been so consistent that Golden State is now just looking around for other people to step up and shoulder some of the load. Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry combined for 28 off the bench in that regard on Monday. The Warriors have gone over 100 points in each of the first four games of the road trip but things get more difficult on the back end. After Miami, Golden State heads to Orlando to face the Magic, who earned a 102-94 win in Oakland on Dec. 3, before finishing up with another playoff contender in the Atlanta Hawks.
ABOUT THE HEAT (14-5, 9-10 ATS): Miami is enjoying a stretch of 10 of 11 games at home and has tightened things up on the defensive end in the last two games. After allowing 108.5 points in back-to-back losses, the Heat have held New Orleans and Atlanta to 91. Wade has also picked up his efficiency. The star guard has struggled with his shot off and on this season but is a combined 20 of 25 from the field in the last two. The Heat dropped the lone meeting with the Warriors last season, 111-106 in overtime at Golden State. Wade went for 34 points and James had 26 but Miami allowed four scorers to reach 20 points for the Warriors, including Lee’s 20 and 14 rebounds.
TRENDS:
* Warriors are 3-0-1 ATS in the last four meetings in Miami.
* Over is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.
* Over is 7-2 in the last nine meetings in Miami.
* Warriors are 5-2-1 ATS in the last eight meetings.
* Road team is 4-1-1 ATS in the last six meetings.
* Underdog is 5-1-1 ATS in the last seven meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Curry has reached 20 points in a career-high eight straight games. He is averaging 14 points on 43.6 percent shooting in three career games against the Heat.
2. Heat F Udonis Haslem (illness) missed Monday’s game and is day-to-day.
3. Lee has recorded a double-double in four straight and 13 of the last 17 games.
Wednesday Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Wednesday's NBA card is filled with action as 13 games take place. Two of those contests are playoff rematches from last season (Bulls/76ers and Spurs/Jazz), while the Mavericks try to stay hot with a trip to Boston. We'll start with the Warriors looking to stay golden on their road swing heading to South Florida against the defending champs.
Warriors at Heat
Golden State is rolling so far on its East Coast trek with four consecutive victories, while putting up at least 100 points in each win. Mark Jackson's club makes the fifth stop on this eight-game trip to Miami against a Heat squad that is coming off back-to-back home victories over New Orleans and Atlanta. The big question for Golden State on Wednesday is if they can keep up their hot scoring ways.
In one of the more quirky turnouts from a totals perspective this season, the Warriors scored 38 and 35 points in two separate quarters, but combined for 31 points in two other quarters in Monday's triumph at Charlotte. Golden State managed a cover as 4 ½-point favorites, while improving to 8-4 SU and 7-4-1 ATS away from Oracle Arena. The Warriors have won seven of eight games overall, as Golden State's offense has helped contribute to five 'overs' in this span.
The Heat rebounded from an embarrassing loss to the Knicks last Thursday to beat the Hornets and Hawks, while covering the number each time. After allowing at least 100 points in five of the previous six contests, Erik Spoelstra's team gave up just 90 to New Orleans and 92 to Atlanta, while owning an 8-3 record to the 'over' at American Airlines Arena. Three of the last four meetings between these teams in South Florida have finished 'over' the total, but Golden State has compiled a 3-0-1 ATS record in this stretch.
Bulls at 76ers
Philadelphia knocked Chicago out of the first round of the playoffs in May, but the Bulls didn't have star point guard Derrick Rose for the final five games with an ACL tear. The Bulls picked up a modicum of revenge on December 1 with a 93-88 victory over the 76ers at the United Center, as Philadelphia managed a cover as 6 ½-point underdogs.
The Sixers have won just two of their last five contests following a three-game winning streak to close out November. Philadelphia used a late run to escape past Detroit on Monday, 104-97 to cash as 5½-point home 'chalk,' while avenging an early blowout loss to the Pistons. The offense finally got in gear after four consecutive games being held to less than 100 points, as Doug Collins' team has hit the 'over' in seven straight home contests.
The Bulls enter this game with no rest following Tuesday's home battle with the Clippers, as Chicago has split four contests when playing on the second of a back-to-back. Tom Thibodeau's club continues to be a dominating defense presence by cashing the 'under' in eight of the last nine games, while posting a 4-2 record to the 'under' in games with totals of 184 or less. Since blowing a 27-point lead in a home loss to Milwaukee, the Bulls have won five of their past six contests.
Mavericks at Celtics
Dallas has quietly won three consecutive games since a 22-point beatdown by the Clippers to start its most recent road trip. The Mavs hit the highway again for three games in four nights, starting in Boston against a Celtics' club that has alternated wins and losses in each of their last seven contests. The C's dismantled the 76ers in the second of a home-and-home set on Saturday, 92-79, the sixth straight game that Boston has yielded less than 100 points.
Dirk Nowitzki remains out for Dallas, but O.J. Mayo has taken the role of leading scorer in his first season with the Mavs by averaging 20.8 points per game. The former Grizzlies' guard put up a career-best 40 points in Saturday's comeback victory at Houston, while scoring 19 points in Monday's home triumph over Sacramento, 119-96. The Mavs began the season eclipsing the 'over' in their first five games, but have hit the 'over' in just seven of their last 16 contests.
The Celtics have won four of their last five trips to the new parquet, including three victories by double-digits. Boston owns a solid 4-1 SU and 3-1-1 ATS record against the Western Conference at home this season, as the lone loss came to San Antonio in a 12-point setback. The C's have covered back-to-back games only twice this season, while putting together a 2-4-1 ATS record off an ATS win.
Spurs at Jazz
San Antonio continues to score points at a frantic pace as the defending Southwest Division champs have scored at least 110 points in seven of the last nine games. The Spurs are rolling with five straight victories, including Monday's frontdoor overtime triumph at Houston as seven-point favorites, 134-126.
The Jazz haven't had the best of luck when facing the Spurs recently, losing nine of the last 10 meetings, including all four in the first round of last season's playoffs. Utah dropped the first matchup with San Antonio this season, a 110-100 defeat at the AT&T Center as 7½-point underdogs in early November. Tyrone Corbin's club continues to be dominant at home with an 8-1 record, as the lone loss came by one point to the Clippers last Monday.
There aren't many negatives when analyzing Gregg Popovich's team, as the Spurs have put together a 13-4 ATS record the past 17 games. After starting 0-2 ATS the first two road contests, San Antonio owns a sterling 10-1 ATS mark the last 11 games on the highway. In the previous eight away games, the Spurs have nailed the 'over' each time, including each of the last three with the total set at 200 or above.
NBA Point Spreads and Trends
By: The Linemakers
Sportingnews.com
There are 13 games on Wednesday night’s NBA schedule, the Mavericks trip to Boston to play their former teammate, Jason Terry, among the highlights. The lines below are from the LVH SuperBook, as of about 10:15 a.m. PT Wednesday morning.
NBA trends:
* The Nets have gone 6-1-1 ATS in their last eight games against teams with losing records. The Nets have stayed UNDER the total in six of their past seven games when playing on the back end of back-to-back nights. Brooklyn is -7.5 tonight in Toronto, and the total is 187.5.
* The Magic have covered four of their past five games. The Hawks have gone OVER the total in their past five games when allowing 100 points or more in their previous game. The Hawks have covered 12 of their past 14 meetings against the Magic. Atlanta is a 4.5-point road favorite, with a total of 188, tonight.
* The Pacers have covered their past four games when coming off a loss of 10 points or more. They have gone UNDER the total in eight of their last nine games against Eastern Conference teams. The Cavs have covered five of the last six meetings against the Pacers. Indiana is -8.5 at home, and the total is 189.
* The Bulls have covered five of their past six road games against teams with a winning home record. The 76ers have gone OVER the total in their past seven home games. Philly is laying 2.5 at home, with a total of 181.5.
* The Clippers have covered their past four games coming off a win. The Bobcats have gone OVER the total in seven of their last eight home games. L.A. is an 8.5-point favorite in Charlotte, and the total is 200.
* The Warriors have covered their past five Wednesday games. The Heat have covered 12 of their past 15 games on one-day’s rest. The Warriors have gone 3-0-1 ATS in their last four visits to Miami. Golden State is getting 8.5 tonight, and the total is 205.
* The Nuggets have covered seven of their last eight games on the second leg of back-to-back nights. The T’Wolves have covered five of their past six games overall. The Nuggets and T’Wolves have gone OVER the total in their past four meetings. Minnesota is -3.5 at home, and the total is 199.5.
* The Kings have gone OVER the total in their last five games following a loss. The Bucks have gone OVER the total in their past four games against Pacific Division teams. The Kings have covered their last four games against the Bucks in Milwaukee. Milwaukee is laying 6.5 at home tonight.
* The road team has covered the past five meetings between the Thunder and Hornets. The Thunder have covered seven of their past eight games overall. OKC is laying 14.5 in New Orleans; the total is 195.5
* The Mavericks have covered four of their past five games. The Celtics have covered four of their past five home games. The Celtics and Mavericks have gone UNDER the total is six of their past seven meetings. Boston is -6 at home tonight, with the total at 196.
* The Wizards have covered their past six Wednesday games. The Rockets have covered their last seven games against Eastern Conference teams. The Wizards and Rockets have gone UNDER the total in their last six meetings in Houston. Houston is an 11-point favorite, and tonight’s total is 206.
* The Grizzlies have covered five of their past six road games. Memphis is laying 6 in Phoenix.
* The Spurs have covered 10 of their past 11 road games, and four of their past five meetings with the Jazz. The Jazz have covered eight of their last nine home games against teams with a winning road record. San Antonio is -3.5, with a total of 209, in Utah tonight.
NBA injuries
* Nets center Brook Lopez (foot) is OUT tonight.
* Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (tricep) is doubtful.
* Raptors forward Andrea Bargnani (elbow) is doubtful.
* Cavs guard Dion Waiters (ankle) is doubtful.
* Kings guard Tyreke Evans (knee) is probable.
* Rockets guard James Harden (ankle) is probable.
* Suns guard Goran Dragic (flu) is questionable tonight.