Wednesday Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Wednesday's NBA card takes center-stage in the betting community with 11 games on tap. Three of the more intriguing matchups involves interconference foes hooking up, while the Mavericks and Clippers close the night at Staples Center. We'll begin in Atlanta with the rested Hawks battling a road-weary Denver squad.
Nuggets at Hawks
Denver is playing in its fifth city and third different time zone since last Monday, as the Nuggets embark on a five-game road trip. George Karl's club slid by the Raptors two days ago at the Pepsi Center as 10½-point favorites in a 113-110 victory. The Nuggets have allowed at least 100 points in four straight games, all resulting in the 'over.' A lower-scoring contest may be on tap in Atlanta, facing a Hawks' team that is giving up 93.5 points per game.
Atlanta's six-game winning streak came to a screeching halt last Friday in a 113-111 home defeat to Cleveland as 8½-point 'chalk. The Hawks squandered an 11-point halftime lead, while giving up at least 100 points in regulation for just the second time this season. Larry Drew's club owns a dreadful 0-6 ATS mark as a favorite at Philips Arena, but the Hawks won four of those games straight-up.
The Nuggets are just 4-8 SU and 6-6 ATS on the highway, as two of those covers came as an underdog of at least seven points at Memphis and Miami. The 'over' is profiting for Denver on the road, posting an 8-2 mark the last 10 games away from the Pepsi Center. Denver has claimed five of the last six meetings with Atlanta, including an overtime thriller at home last season, 118-117.
Bucks at Spurs
Milwaukee continues its road swing through the Southwest Division with a matchup against a San Antonio squad that has been off four three days. The Spurs returned home from their 5-1 SU/ATS away trip to rally past the Grizzlies on Saturday night in overtime, while improving to 14-4 on the season. The Bucks head to the Alamo coming off a disappointing setback on Monday at New Orleans.
Scott Skiles' club has struggled in the role of a favorite this season, posting a 3-5 ATS record when laying points. The most recent loss came to a struggling Hornets' squad in a 102-81 loss, the sixth straight game Milwaukee has been limited to 93 points or less. The Bucks are currently riding a six-game 'under' streak, but three of the last four trips to the AT&T Center have resulted in an 'over.'
San Antonio has burned cash recently at home by failing to cover in three of the last four, while losing outright to the Clippers and Knicks in this stretch. The Spurs are going in an opposite direction of the Bucks in the totals department by eclipsing the 'over' in six of the previous seven games, as the overtime win over Memphis amazingly stayed 'under.'
Magic at Jazz
Orlando has caught fire on its West Coast swing with outright victories as large 'dogs against the Lakers and Warriors. The Magic is riding an impressive 4-1 ATS run away from central Florida, as the trip continues in Salt Lake City against a banged-up Jazz squad. Utah is without several key members of its frontcourt as Marvin Williams (concussion) and Derrick Favors (foot) remain sidelined, while the Jazz try to get on track following Monday's meltdown.
The Clippers stunned the Jazz, 105-104, but failed to cover as two-point road favorites. However, Utah threw away a 14-point lead in spite of shooting 57% from the floor. The loss was the first in seven home contests for Tyrone Corbin's squad, while the Jazz have now dropped three consecutive games for the first time this season. Utah takes care of business as home favorite with a 4-2 ATS mark, as the two ATS losses came in two-point victories over Denver and Sacramento.
The Magic broke a 69-69 tie by outscoring the Warriors, 33-25 in the final quarter of Monday's 102-94 triumph as 9½-point road 'dogs. Arron Afflalo, Glen Davis, and J.J. Redick each scored at least 22 points at Golden State, one night after Orlando shot 50% and put up 40 points in the final quarter in an upset of Los Angeles. Even though many of the faces have changed, the Magic looks to snap a three-game skid at Utah, which was capped off by an unbelievable front-door cover by the Jazz in overtime as 9½-point favorites this past April.
Mavericks at Clippers
Los Angeles is getting hot at the moment with three consecutive victories, fresh off the massive rally at Utah on Monday. The Clips are in the midst of five straight 'overs,' taking on a Mavs' squad that has been held to less than 100 points in four consecutive contests. Dallas plays six of its next seven games away from American Airlines Center, as the Mavs own a dreadful 2-6 record on the highway.
Rick Carlisle's club lost each of the last two games on a mini road swing through Philadelphia and Chicago, while allowing at least 100 points in all six road defeats. The Mavs snapped a three-game skid with an impressive second half effort in a 92-77 home rout of the Pistons, giving up just 29 points to an unrested Detroit team.
All three meetings between Dallas and Los Angeles last season were relatively low-scoring contests, each finishing 'under' the total. The Clippers have struggled in the role of a heavy favorite, putting together a 1-4 ATS record when laying at least seven points. The lone victory came on Saturday in a blowout of Sacramento, 116-81 as 12½-point 'chalk.' Vinny Del Negro's team is struggling against the number of late by cashing just once in the last six games.
NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Toronto Raptors at Sacramento Kings
Two teams looking to find traction square off Wednesday when the Sacramento Kings host Toronto Raptors. Kings spanked 116-81 by Clippers last time out have lost three straight and hit the hardwood 4-12 (4-11-1 ATS) on the year netting 93.6 PPG while allowing foes 100.5 per contest. Raptors scoring 97.0 per/game surrendering 101.9 PPG opened it's five game road swing with a 113-110 loss at Denver moving to 4-14 (9-9 ATS) including 1-10 (5-6 ATS) away from the Air Canada Centre. Toronto backers will certainly be glittery as Raps are ridding an 0-7 (3-4 ATS) road skid and are on a 1-12 (3-10 ATS) slide last eleven trips into Sacramento. But, there is a sliver of hope, the Kings unable to put it through the hoop the past three (87.3 PPG) are 0-4 ATS as a favorite off a loss by 25 or more points, 1-5 ATS at home off a DD division loss, 1-3 ATS as a home favorite vs the Atlantic Division.
NBA Point Spreads and Trends
By: The Linemakers
Spportingnews.com
LAS VEGAS -- There are 11 games on Wednesday night’s NBA schedule. Among the highlights: the Knicks visit the surprising Bobcats; Kevin Love and the Timberwolves are in Boston; the Lakers try to get back on the winning track at the Hornets (soon to be the Pelicans); and the Clippers host the Mavericks.
The lines below are from the LVH SuperBook as of early Wednesday morning.
NBA trends:
* The Blazers have covered only two of their last seven road games, and just two of the past nine meetings in Indiana. The Pacers have covered their past four games against teams with a losing record. The Pacers are -4, with a total of 186.5, tonight.
* The Knicks are 8-1 ATS in their last nine games vs. Eastern Conference teams. The Bobcats come in to tonight’s game having covered only two of their past seven games. The Bobcats have gone OVER the total in their past five home games, while the Knicks have gone UNDER the total in four of their last five in Charlotte. The road team has covered the past four meetings between the Knicks and Bobcats. The Knicks are a 7.5-point road favorite, with a total of 198.5.
* The Timberwolves have covered their past four games,as well as six of their last eight road games. The Celtics haven’t covered the number in their past four Wednesday night games. The T’Wolves and Celtics have gone UNDER the total in four of their past five meetings. The Celtics are -6 at home tonight, and the total is 190.5.
* The Warriors have covered their past five games when allowing 100 points or more in their previous game. They have also covered the number in their past four Wednesday games. The Pistons have covered only once in their last six games coming off a win. The Warriors and Pistons have gone UNDER the total in five of their past six meetings. The Pistons are pick ‘em, with a total of 192.5, in Detroit tonight.
* The Nuggets have covered their past four games following a win. The Hawks have covered just once in their past 10 home games. The Nuggets come in on a streak of four straight OVERs, and when playing the Hawks, they have gone OVER the total in six of their last eight meetings. The Hawks are -1.5, with a total of 199.
* The Lakers have covered five of their past seven games coming off a loss. The Hornets have covered eight of their past 10 home games against teams with a losing record. The Hornets have gone UNDER the total in their past four home games. The Lakers have covered five of their past seven at New Orleans. L.A. is laying 4.5 tonight.
* The Bulls have covered the number in six of their last eight road games against teams with a losing record. They have also covered their past five meetings against the Cavs. Chicago is a 3-point favorite in Cleveland.
* The Bucks have covered six of their past eight games coming off a loss. The Spurs have covered their last five games against Central Division teams. The Bucks have gone UNDER the total in their last six games, but have gone OVER in four of their past five games in San Antonio. The Spurs are -8.5, with a total of 198.
* The Magic have gone 4-1-1 ATS in their past six road games, including outright wins as double-digit underdogs at the Lakers and at Golden State in their last two. The Jazz have covered six of their past eight home games. The Magic and Jazz have gone OVER the total in their past five meetings. The Jazz are -8, with a total of 196.5.
* The Raptors have covered their past five games against teams with a winning percentage less than .400. The Kings have covered only twice in their past nine games against a team with a winning percentage less than .400. The favorite has covered eight of the last 11 meetings between these teams. The Kings are -2.5 at home tonight.
* The Mavericks have covered only twice in their past seven road games, but five of their past six at the Clippers. The Clippers have covered five of their past seven home games. The Clips have also gone OVER the total in their last five games overall. The Clippers are -8.5, and the total is 197.5.
NBA note:
* Favorites have gone 132-117-7 ATS (53 percent) this season. Away favorites have been the best bet thus far, going 45-34 ATS (56.9 percent). The OVER is 130-120 this season.
NBA injuries:
* Knicks guard Raymond Felton (hand) was injured in New York’s last game and is probable tonight.
* T’Wolves forward Andrei Kirilenko (back) missed the last three games and is questionable tonight.
* Lakers forward Pau Gasol (knee) missed L.A’s game in Houston Tuesday night and is expected to be OUT for next two games.
* Hornets center Anthony Davis (ankle) is OUT indefinitely.
* Cavs guard Dion Waiters (ankle) missed Cleveland’s last game and is questionable tonight.
* Spurs guard Danny Green (hamstring) is questionable tonight.
* Jazz forward Derrick Favors (foot) has missed two straight games and is doubtful tonight.
* Kings guard Tyreke Evans (knee) missed Sacramento’s last two games and is probable tonight.