NBA Knowledge
Hot teams
-- Cleveland won its last five games (7-6HF).
-- Knicks won four of last five games (8-4AU).
-- Rockets won five of last seven games (2-4AU).
-- Orlando won four of its last five games (3-3HF).
-- Memphis won last two games, by 14-12 points (5-5AU).
-- Wizards also won their last two, by 14-8 (3-5HF).
-- Kings won four of their last six games (6-6AU).
-- Indiana won its last four home games (6-1 last seven HF).
-- Spurs won/covered their last six games.
-- Pistons won five of their last six games (5-4AU).
-- Atlanta won its last four games (4-2 last six HF).
-- Utah won its last two games, by 21-9 (6-3AU). 26-1
-- Warriors are 4-4-1 vs spread in last nine games (7-5HF).
-- Thunder won eight of its last nine games (3-5AF); they beat the Lakers by 40 at home Saturday.
Cold teams
-- Charlotte lost four of its last five games (4-4HF).
-- Celtics lost three of their last four games (5-2AU).
-- Dallas lost four of their last six games (7-5AU).
-- Nets lost five of their last six games (1-2HF).
-- Minnesota lost five of its last seven games (2-6-1HU).
-- Portland lost its last four games (0-4 last four AU).
-- Pelicans lost three of their last five games (2-4HF).
-- 1-29 Sixers are 0-9 vs spread in their last nine games.
-- Bucks lost five of their last seven games (2-3HF).
-- Nuggets lost their last three games (7-5AU).
-- Suns lost three of last four games (2-5 last seven HF).
-- Lakers lost eight of their last ten games (3-4HU).
Series records
-- Knicks lost last four games with Cleveland.
-- Celtics won last three games with Charlotte.
-- Rockets won six of last seven games with Orlando.
-- Grizzlies won six of last nine games with Washington.
-- Kings won last two games with Indiana by total of six points.
-- Nets won four of their last five games with Dallas.
-- Spurs won six of last seven games with Minnesota.
-- Pelicans lost their last seven games with Portland.
-- Bucks won their last seven games with Philly.
-- Pistons won last two games with Atlanta by 10-12 points.
-- Suns won/covered eight of last nine games with Denver.
-- Warriors won eight of last nine games with Utah.
-- Lakers lost eight of last nine games with Oklahoma City.
Totals
-- Last five New York-Cleveland games stayed under.
-- Five of last seven Boston games went over total.
-- Last four Houston games stayed under the total.
-- Seven of last nine Wizard games went over total.
-- Eight of last ten Sacramento games stayed under.
-- Five of last seven Brooklyn games stayed under.
-- Six of last eight San Antonio-Minnesota games went over.
-- Last six Portland-New Orleans games stayed under total.
-- Four of last five Philly games went over the total.
-- Five of last six Detroit games went over the total.
-- Seven of last ten Denver-Phoenix games went over total.
-- Last four Utah-Golden State games went over total.
-- Over is 7-2 in last nine Thunder-Laker games.
Back/backs
-- Memphis is 6-1 vs spread if it played the night before.
-- Mavericks are 5-1 vs spread if they played night before.
-- 76ers are 2-4 vs spread if they played night before.
-- Detroit is 0-3 vs spread on road if it played night before.
-- Nuggets are 3-3 vs spread if they played night before.
-- Lakers are 4-2 vs spread if they played night before.
Armadillosports.com
Wednesday's Tip Sheet
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Celtics at Hornets (-2, 202)
For the second time in less than two weeks, these two Eastern Conference foes are meeting up at Time Warner Cable Arena. In the first matchup, the Celtics (15-13 SU, 15-12-1 ATS) rallied past the Hornets, 98-93 to cash as three-point underdogs on December 12. The backcourt of Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley combined to score 44 points, as Boston enters Wednesday’s action at 6-6 away from TD Garden. The Celtics snapped a three-game losing streak in Monday’s 113-99 rout of the Timberwolves to cover as 7½-point favorites as Brad Stevens’ team won at home for the first time since December 9.
Charlotte (15-12 SU, 14-12-1 ATS) begins a four-game homestand as it looks to improve on an 11-4 record at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Hornets have dropped four of their last five games, including back-to-back losses at Washington and Houston. Steve Clifford’s squad owns a 1-4 ATS record in their previous five opportunities in the favorite role, which includes three consecutive straight-up losses. The Hornets have allowed less than 100 points in seven of their past eight home contests, while cashing the ‘under’ six times in this stretch.
Rockets at Magic (-1½, 206½)
Last June, Houston (15-14 SU, 12-17 ATS) came within a few victories of knocking off Golden State in the Western Conference Finals. The Rockets got off to slow start this season but are trying to stay above the .500 mark heading into Christmas. Houston is riding a three-game winning streak following back-to-back home victories over the Clippers and Hornets, while posting a solid 8-3 SU/ATS record in December. The Rockets seek the season sweep of the Magic after holding off Orlando in overtime, 119-114 in early November, but Orlando cashed as nine-point underdogs.
The top ATS team in the Eastern Conference resides in central Florida, as the Magic (16-12 SU, 19-8-1 ATS) have won and covered four of their last five contests. Orlando is coming off its seventh road victory of the season in Monday’s 107-99 triumph at New York to cash as three-point underdogs, led by Nikola Vucevic’s season-high 26 points. Scott Skiles’ team has won five of six games as a home favorite, but has compiled a 3-3 ATS record in this role. Orlando owns a 4-2 SU and 3-3 ATS mark at home against Western Conference foes, as the Magic are favored at home against the Rockets for the first time since December 2011.
Pistons at Hawks (-5½, 203)
When these two clubs met to tip off the season in late October, Detroit (17-12 SU, 17-11-1 ATS) dominated Atlanta, 106-94 to cash as seven-point underdogs. The Pistons head to Philips Arena with no rest following Tuesday’s 93-92 triumph at Miami as Stan Van Gundy’s squad erased an early 16-point deficit to pick up their third straight win. Detroit has played four straight games decided by three points or less, while compiling a 9-2-1 ATS record in the past 12 contests overall. However, the Pistons have struggled on the road with no rest this season, putting together an 0-3 SU/ATS mark, with all three losses coming by double-digits.
All of the sudden the Hawks (18-12 SU, 14-15-1 ATS) have won four straight games to pull into tie for first place in the Southeast with the Heat. Atlanta’s latest victory came on Monday night against a short-handed Portland squad, 106-97, but the Hawks failed to cover as 10½-point favorites. The offense has woken up following a four-game stretch scoring 98 points or less earlier this month, as Mike Budenholtzer’s team has eclipsed the 100-point mark during all four wins of this current hot streak, while the ‘over’ has hit in four straight games.
Jazz at Warriors (-14, 208)
Utah (12-14 SU, 15-11 ATS) has responded following a four-game losing streak to win each of its past two contests at home against Denver and Phoenix. Quin Snyder’s defense stepped up in those two victories, allowing 88 and 89 points, which is in stark contrast to giving up at least 100 points in the three previous contests. The Jazz have lost eight of the last nine matchups with the Warriors since the start of the 2013 season, including a 106-103 home setback on November 30, although Utah covered as 7½-point underdogs.
The Warriors (26-1 SU, 17-9-1 ATS) continues their five-game homestand after knocking off the Suns and Bucks at Oracle Arena to improve to 12-0 at home. Golden State has been off since Friday’s 121-112 comeback victory over Milwaukee, erasing a 12-point halftime deficit by holding the Bucks to 42 second half points. The Warriors have cashed the ‘over’ in 10 of the past 11 games, while scoring at least 100 points in all 26 victories this season.
Thunder (-13, 207) at Lakers
Oklahoma City (19-9 SU, 12-16 ATS) remains in Los Angeles after knocking off the Clippers in the final seconds in Monday’s 100-99 triumph. Kevin Durant knocked down the game-winning jumper to give the Thunder their eighth win in the last nine games, but OKC failed to cover as two-point favorites to drop to 3-5 ATS as a road favorite this season. The Thunder has stepped up defensively of late by cashing the ‘under’ in six of the last seven games, while holding six of those opponents to below 100 points.
For only the fifth time this season, the Lakers (5-23 SU, 10-18 ATS) scored more points than their opponent and ended in the win column. Los Angeles rallied past Denver on Tuesday, 111-107 to cover as five-point road underdogs, led by Kobe Bryant’s 31 points. The Lakers face the Thunder for the second time in five days after Oklahoma City wiped out Los Angeles, 118-78 as 16 ½-point favorites. Bryant sat out for the Lakers, as L.A. shot just 35% from the floor. The Lakers have struggled as double-digit underdogs this season, posting a 2-6 ATS mark in this role with only one straight-up win, coming at Washington earlier this month.
Grizzlies, Wizards clash on Wednesday
By: Zach Cohen
StatFox.com
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (16-14) at WASHINGTON WIZARDS (12-14)
Line: Washington -1.0
Both the Grizzlies and Wizards will be going for their third straight victories when they meet in Washington on Wednesday.
Memphis was a one-point home underdog against Indiana on Saturday and came away with a 96-84 victory. The Grizzlies then went into Philadelphia on Tuesday night and defeated an inferior Sixers team 104-90 as 10-point favorites. Prior to these two wins, the Grizzlies had lost four of their previous five. They have, however, turned things around and are defending at a much higher level over the course of this mini streak. The Wizards, meanwhile, have been winning games differently, as they averaged 111.0 PPG in home wins over the Hornets and Kings. Washington could desperately use another win, as the team had gone 4-10 before winning its past two contests. The Wizards will likely not be feeling great about who they are up against in this one, though. Memphis dominated Washington in a 112-95 home victory on Nov. 14 and will be hoping for a similar result in this one. Over the past three seasons, the Grizzlies are 3-2 SU in this series but the Wizards are 3-2 ATS in those contests. Both of the games played in Washington in that span have gone Over the total. SG Tony Allen (Knee) is questionable for Memphis, which is without PF Brandan Wright (Knee) and SG Jordan Adams (Knee) indefinitely. PG John Wall (Ribs/Foot) is probable for Washington, which is already without SG Bradley Beal (Leg), PF Drew Gooden (Calf), PF Nene (Calf) and SG Alan Anderson (Ankle). The Wizards could also be without SG Gary Neal (Back) and SF Otto Porter (Thigh), who are questionable for Wednesday’s contest.
The Grizzlies are coming off of a victory over the Sixers on Tuesday night and C Marc Gasol (16.3 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.1 BPG) is doing a good job of scoring the basketball. Over the past two contests, Gasol is averaging 19.0 PPG on 16-for-33 shooting from the field. He should be able to dominate the Wizards inside, as he put up 24 points with 12 boards, six assists and three blocks in their most recent meeting. Another guy who was good in that victory was SF Matt Barnes (9.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.2 SPG), who has seen a major increase in minutes with Dave Joerger turning to small-ball for this Memphis team. Barnes has turned in back-to-back double-doubles over the past two games, scoring 15 points with 10 rebounds against the Pacers on Saturday and following it up with 12 points and 10 rebounds against the Sixers on Tuesday. He is 5-for-10 from the outside in those games and is really helping the team as a floor spacer and someone who can guard multiple positions.
The Wizards have won two straight games and PG John Wall (19.6 PPG, 9.4 APG, 4.0 RPG, 2.2 SPG) has been carrying his team despite dealing with a number of injuries. In the win over the Kings on Monday, Wall dished out 19 assists in 39 minutes of action. He was struggling with his shot (4-for-15 FG, 1-for-3 3PT), but was able to help his team win in another way. Wall will, however, need to be a lot better against Memphis this time around. He had just six points and nine assists in 28 minutes of play in their meeting on Dec. 14. Washington will not win the game if he plays like that again on Wednesday. C Marcin Gortat (13.4 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.3 BPG) will also need to play well for the Wizards in this game. He is coming off of one of his best games of the season, finishing with 27 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks against the Kings. He should be feeling confident coming into this one, but he did have just 10 points and nine boards against the Grizzlies last meeting. If he can’t come close to matching the production of Marc Gasol then it’ll be even tougher on Wall to lead his team to a victory.