Wednesday Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Clippers at Hawks
Los Angeles: 12-6 SU, 10-8 ATS
Atlanta: 9-10 SU, 11-8 ATS
The Clippers are back on the road, starting a seven-game road trip tonight at Philips Arena. Los Angeles saw its four-game winning streak snapped in Sunday's home defeat to Indiana as short underdogs, but the Clippers still sit atop the Pacific Division ahead of the Warriors. The Clips have split eight away games this season, while posting a 2-2 SU/ATS record when laying points on the road. Doc Rivers' team has done a solid job of rebounding off a loss this season, going 4-1 SU/ATS.
The Hawks limp home after dropping four of their past five games, including a pair of defeats at Washington and San Antonio. Atlanta hung around and managed a cover as double-digit underdogs at San Antonio, despite falling, 102-100 on Monday. The Hawks host a Western Conference team for only the second time this season, as Atlanta rallied past Dallas, 88-87 as 1½-point home underdogs last Friday. Atlanta has won each of the last four home meetings with Los Angeles, as each of those games went 'over' the total.
Mavericks at Pelicans
Dallas: 11-8 SU, 9-10 ATS
New Orleans: 9-8 SU, 7-9-1 ATS
Since winning four straight in mid-November, the Mavericks have lost four of their last six games. Dallas rallied past Charlotte last night, 89-82, but failed to cash as eight-point home favorites, the fifth consecutive contest the Mavs haven't covered the number. The offense has slowed down recently for Rick Carlisle's club, who has finished 'under' the total in six of the past seven games, including five times 'under' a total of at least 200 points.
The Pelicans are coming off the most exciting game of the short NBA season by holding off the Bulls in three overtimes, 131-128 on Monday. What makes that feat even more impressive for New Orleans is that victory completed a three-game road sweep, while finishing off a back-to-back set after beating New York the previous night. New Orleans has hit the 'over' in nine of the last 10 games, as the Pelicans have eclipsed the 100-point mark eight times in this stretch.
Spurs vs. Wolves (at Mexico City)
San Antonio: 15-3 SU, 9-9 ATS
Minnesota: 9-10 SU, 10-9 ATS
These two squads meet south of the border in Mexico City tonight, as the NBA heads to Mexico for a regular season contest for the first time since 1997. One key note to keep an eye tonight is the altitude in Mexico City, which is 7,350 feet above sea level, over 2,000 feet higher than Denver. The Wolves don't need anything to slow them down after losing four of their past five games, including defeats to the Thunder, Rockets, and Nuggets in this stretch. Minnesota's defense has been exposed of late by allowing at least 106 points in four of the last five trips to the court, while allowing 35 points in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss at Oklahoma City.
The Spurs have alternated wins and losses in their last five games, as San Antonio held off Atlanta in Monday's 102-100 victory as heavy home favorites. The offense is clicking at the moment for Gregg Popovich's club, who has finished 'over' the total in seven of the past eight games, while scoring at least 100 points seven times. The Spurs and Wolves split four meetings last season, as Minnesota won a pair of games as nine-point underdogs.
Thunder at Blazers
Oklahoma City: 13-3 SU, 8-8 ATS
Portland: 15-3 SU, 13-5 ATS
It's no surprise the Thunder sits the near the top of the Western Conference, but the Blazers continue to impress through the first 18 games. Portland handed Indiana only its second loss of the season on Monday, while improving to 7-1 at the Moda Center. The Blazers have beaten three of four conference foes that have invaded Portland this season, including a 10-point triumph over the Spurs in the home opener. Portland is riding a nice 'over' stretch of late with 'overs' in eight of the past 10 games, including three straight.
The Thunder squandered a 17-point lead in last night's game at Sacramento, but Oklahoma City managed a 97-95 win as 8½-point road favorites. OKC has won eight consecutive games since losing at the buzzer to Golden State on November 14, while covering five times in this span. The Thunder has won seven straight meetings with the Blazers, including a four-game sweep last season. This is the first time that Oklahoma City is a road underdog at Portland since April 2011, when the Blazers barely cashed in a 98-91 victory.
NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Indiana at Utah
Despite a 43-point performance from Paul George along with four additional double-digit scorers the Indiana Pacers suffered it's second defeat of this season last time out. Surrendering 106 points in the loss expect Pacers with the leagues stingiest 'D's (87.6) to tighten defensive screws when the visit Utah Jazz on Wednesday. Sports bettors who following Indiana closely will be aware Pacers respond well in this situation as they're 10-1 against-the-number following an ATS loss, 5-1 ATS after allowing 100 or more points the previous game. Those digging deeper will also be aware Pacers are 16-3 ATS as road favorite allowing =<100 points/game the Jazz 3-6-1 ATS as an underdog scoring =<100 points. Those numbers in hand Pacers are worth a second look.
NBA Odds and Picks
By: The Linemakers
Sportingnews.com
LAS VEGAS -- The Portland Trail Blazers have gotten much of the well-deserved, early-season notoriety around the NBA, as their incredible start (15-3) has them tied atop the Western Conference with heavyweights like San Antonio and Oklahoma City. But a team that is slowly starting to get some recognition for its outstanding play in the West has been the Denver Nuggets (11-6), who ride a seven-game winning streak as they head into Cleveland Wednesday night.
When the Nuggets started the season with 40-to-1 odds to win the NBA title, they still had lots of respect from Las Vegas based on last season, even though they lost head coach George Karl and key players like Andre Iguodala and Corey Brewer. It took some time for the team to get used to new coach Brian Shaw’s system, and new players like J.J. Hickson, Randy Foye and Nate Robinson were searching for where they fit in.
The Nuggets lost their first three games of the season and four of their first five, which had us believing it was going to be a long year in Denver, and their odds to win the championship sunk all the way down to 100-to-1, right down there with the other also-rans. But then they gained a little momentum by winning three straight, before losing two in a row at Houston and Oklahoma City. Their season odds were still at 100-to-1 after the tough 115-113 road loss at Oklahoma City on Nov. 18, but their solid play on the road was a good sign of things to come.
The Nuggets have now won seven games straight, covering five of them, and their odds to win the title have dropped to 75-to-1. Chances are the Nuggets won’t win the championship this season, but the adjusted odds in Las Vegas are a good indication of how the team is gaining some respect. Their team rating has also increased significantly over the seven-game streak. Last night they were 4-point favorites at Brooklyn, and tonight they’re -4.5 at Cleveland. While both of those teams look to be disasters right now, the Nuggets rating wasn’t too far from them a few weeks ago.
Beyond the Nuggets getting comfortable with Shaw’s system, other key reasons for their success have been the play of point guard Ty Lawson and contributions from their bench. Good luck keeping Lawson out of the All-Star game this season with his 20 points and eight assist per game. And most teams see a dropoff when their reserves check in, but the Nuggets have been increasing leads with a bench that is second in the league scoring at 45.2 ppg.
Denver is on the third of a six-game east coast trip, and while we usually don’t like to play teams on back-to-back nights traveling, the Nuggets bench appears to give them a fresher look. Three nights ago in Toronto, they won 112-98 as 2.5-point underdogs with their bench supplying 72 of the points. Last night in the 111-87 win at Brooklyn, they poured in 57 points.
Overall on the season, betting the road team in the NBA has been the way to go, as they have covered 55.1 percent of all games, with away favorites coming in at 53.6 percent.
The Linemakers’ lean: The Cavaliers are coming off their best game of the season, Saturday night at home, beating the Bulls 97-93 as 5-point dogs. The win ended a five-game losing streak and also marked the best game of the season by Andrew Bynum, who had 20 points, 10 boards and five blocks. The Cavs will be looking to win two straight for the first time this season, but the Nuggets’ momentum is far more attractive with the groove they‘re in, even when laying points on the second of back-to-back nights. Denver has covered five-straight on the road – winning the last four straight up – and we think they'll keep it going strong again tonight.