Wednesday's NBA Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Bulls at Raptors
Chicago: 27-25 SU, 25-27 ATS
Toronto: 29-24 SU, 32-20-1 ATS
These two clubs meet for the final time in the regular season as the road team has won and covered each of the first three matchups. Toronto heads home with no rest following Tuesday's victory at Washington, as the Raptors have lost three consecutive times on the second of a back-to-backs. The Raps beat the Bulls in each of the previous two meetings at the United Center, while limiting Chicago to less than 79 points in each of those victories.
The Bulls closed the first half with three consecutive wins, including back-to-back home blowouts of the Hawks and Nets. Chicago has won five of its past eight road contests, while posting an impressive 7-3 ATS record in the past 10 away underdog opportunities. Tom Thibodeau's team is back to their stifling defensive ways by allowing less than 100 points in nine of the past 10 games, while cashing the 'under' nine times in this span.
Pacers at Wolves
Indiana: 41-12 SU, 32-20-1 ATS
Minnesota: 25-28 SU, 27-26 ATS
The Pacers have been nearly unbeatable at home this season, but have also held their own on the highway with a 15-9 SU record. Indiana travels to the Target Center with no rest on Wednesday, looking for the season sweep of Minnesota. The previous meeting between these teams went to the Pacers in a 98-84 home triumph in late November as seven-point favorites. The Pacers have won four of the last five matchups with Minnesota, but Frank Vogel's club is 4-6 SU and 3-7 ATS on the road with no rest this season.
Minnesota snapped a four-game skid prior to the break by routing a reeling Denver squad, 117-90 as 6½-point home favorites. The Wolves have turned into pointspread poison of late, covering just twice in the last eight games, including home underdog defeats to Memphis, Portland, and Houston in this span. Kevin Martin (thumb) and Nikola Pekovic (Achilles) remain out indefinitely, as the Wolves have lost six of nine games since Pekovic was injured in late January.
Nets at Jazz
Brooklyn: 24-27 SU, 25-26 ATS
Utah: 19-33 SU, 23-26-3 ATS
The Nets embark on a six-game road trip, with the first five contests coming against Western Conference foes. Deron Williams returns to his old stomping grounds for the third time since getting traded by the Jazz to the Nets in 2011, as Brooklyn has lost each of the last four visits to Salt Lake City. Since starting the season at 1-5 SU/ATS in the road favorite role, the Nets have won and covered three of their past four in this situation, while limiting three teams to 82 points or less.
The Jazz isn't headed to the playoffs, but Utah has played much better since a dreadful 1-14 start to the season. Tyrone Corbin's squad has won four of the past six home contests, while closing out the first half of the season with three straight victories overall. Utah has been limited to 97 points or less in each of its last four opportunities as a home underdog, while cashing the 'under' in six of the past seven games overall. The Jazz will be playing with revenge after getting wiped out at Barclays Center back in November, 104-88 as 7½-point underdogs.
Spurs at Blazers
San Antonio: 38-15 SU, 25-28 ATS
Portland: 36-17 SU, 29-24 ATS
The Spurs are nearing the final leg of their annual Rodeo Road Trip, playing at Portland on Wednesday and Phoenix on Friday before returning home next week. San Antonio heads to the Pacific Northwest with no rest following Tuesday's contest against the Clippers, as the Spurs own an impressive 5-1 SU and 4-2 ATS record the last six road games on the second of a back-to-back. Gregg Popovich's club has struggled against the Blazers this season, losing both meetings, including a 115-105 defeat at the Moda Center in early November.
The Blazers enter Wednesday's contest off consecutive losses to the Thunder and Clippers, while covering just one of their last five home contests. Since a 31-9 start, Portland has put together a 5-8 SU/ATS record the past 13 games, including double-digit setbacks to the Rockets, Grizzlies, and Wizards. Portland has taken advantage of teams on the second of a back-to-back set, winning 15 of 17 times against these tired squads, including a 5-1-1 mark to the 'over' the last seven at home in this situation. However, the Blazers will be without All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who is out for at least a week with a groin strain.
NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Detroit at Charlotte
Bobcats and Pistons complete a home-home series in Charlotte Wednesday night. Tuesday night at 'The Palace of Auburn Hills' it was Bobcats clawing Pistons 108-96 cashing as 4.5 point underdog with the total slipping past 201.5 marking 21 'Over' 8 'Under' the past 29 meetings. Bobcats winning a respectable five of its last 8 games (6-2 ATS) have been pegged -2.5 point favorites to sweep the home-home series. Spot bets are a classic handicapping practice that can prove profitable. Our trusted NBA betting database tells us two such spots could play out in this contest. (1) Bobcats have not responded well playing without rest posting a 4-11 ATS mark on the season with a deeper dive showing Al Jefferson and company losing nine straight on the back end of back-2-back games. (2) Pistons have responded as underdogs revenging a previous loss going 5-0 against-the-number.
Howard, Rockets visit Lakers
By Sportsbook.ag
Houston Rockets (36-17 SU, 27-24 ATS) at Los Angeles Lakers (18-35 SU, 28-24 ATS)
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Houston -8.5, 213
Having not lost a game in nearly a month, the Rockets hope to remain hot when they open the second half of the season with five-game road trip that begins Wednesday with a visit to the Lakers.
Since an 18-point blowout loss to Memphis on Jan. 25, Houston has reeled off seven straight victories (5-2 ATS), thanks to an offense scoring a whopping 109.0 PPG on 50.6% FG (39.4% threes) during this win streak. This includes three away victories, which makes the Rockets 14-10 SU (12-12 ATS) on the road this season.
This game also includes the sideshow of C Dwight Howard's first visit against his former team. Los Angeles is in quite a rut, losing 10 of its past 12 games (6-6 ATS) and three in a row (1-2 ATS). The club hasn't won a home contest since Jan. 3, going 0-7 SU (2-5 ATS) at Staples Center since that win. Since Dec. 1, the Lakers are a pathetic 2-13 SU (5-10 ATS) in front of their fans, making them 8-16 SU (12-11-1 ATS) at home for the season.
These clubs have split the first two games of their season series, which both occurred in Houston. L.A. won 99-98 as a 13.5-point underdog on Nov. 7, but the Rockets got their revenge with an easy 113-99 victory on Jan. 8. That gives these teams an even 6-6 SU split in the past dozen meetings overall, with Houston holding the 8-4 ATS advantage.
However, the Rockets are just 3-11 SU (5-9 ATS) in their past 14 trips to Los Angeles. Houston has been a strong wager with at least two days of rest this season, going 6-3-2 ATS, but the Lakers have been even better in this scenario with an 8-2 ATS mark, including 5-0 ATS with at least three days of rest.
The Rockets will still be missing PF Greg Smith (knee), but PG Patrick Beverley (abdominal) is expected to play. The Lakers continue to be ravaged with injuries, but PF Pau Gasol, who has missed the past six games with a groin injury, has been upgraded from doubtful to questionable for this matchup. PG Steve Nash (leg) is also questionable for Wednesday, while SG Kobe Bryant (knee), SG Nick Young (knee), SG Jodie Meeks (ankle), PG Jordan Farmar (calf) and SG Xavier Henry (knee) all remain out indefinitely.
Houston's offense has been outstanding all season, scoring 105.5 PPG (3rd in NBA) on 47.4% FG (4th in league) and 9.0 made three-pointers per game (5th in NBA) despite a subpar 35.0% clip from behind the arc. However, the team has had its problems with ball-handling, dishing out just 20.4 APG (6th-worst in league) and 15.4 turnovers per game (3rd-worst in NBA). This club rebounds pretty well with 44.9 RPG (8th in league) and a +2.9 RPG margin (7th in NBA), and although it allows a mediocre 101.4 PPG (19th in league), the Rockets hold opponents to 43.7% FG (5th in NBA) and 34.6% threes (7th in league) thanks in large part to their 5.8 BPG (3rd in NBA).
C Dwight Howard (18.8 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 1.8 BPG) has played well in this series so far with 17.5 PPG, 13.5 RPG and 2.0 SPG in two meetings, but he will be hearing a chorus of boos throughout Wednesday night's game after a tumultuous campaign with Los Angeles last season. However, he could have a field day in the paint if Pau Gasol cannot suit up, and Howard is playing great basketball right now, averaging 25.8 PPG (62% FG), 14.5 RPG and 2.5 BPG during a four-game streak of double-doubles.
SG James Harden (23.9 PPG, 5.3 APG, 4.7 RPG) should also be able to take advantage of the depleted Lakers roster. He has exploded for 36.5 PPG (49% FG), 6.5 RPG, 4.5 APG and 4.5 SPG in the two meetings this season. Harden has also played very well this month with 25.4 PPG (46% FG, 38% threes, 96% FT), 3.8 APG, 3.6 RPG and 1.6 SPG in five contests.
SF Chandler Parsons (17.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.1 SPG) has been wildly inconsistent during the win streak with his offense, scoring 6, 26, 7, 19, 8, 20 and 18 points in the seven victories, but he entered the All-Star break with a monster performance of 18 points, 12 boards and six assists in a narrow 113-112 win over the Wizards. Parsons has faced the Lakers once this season, scoring 16 points on 6-of-11 FG in the Nov. 7 defeat.
PG Jeremy Lin (13.3 PPG, 4.5 APG) is a big reason his team keeps winning, averaging 14.0 PPG (49% FG, 39% threes), 6.1 APG and 4.0 RPG in the past seven games. However, he needs to take better care of the ball versus the Lakers, as he has seven assists and seven turnovers in the two meetings to go along with 14.5 PPG and 2.0 SPG.
Los Angeles is an average offensive team with 100.5 PPG (15th in NBA) on 44.2% FG (20th in league), but the club shoots an impressive 37.1% from three-point range, good for eighth-best in the NBA. However, rebounding has been a huge problem all season, as its minus-6.3 RPG margin ranks last in the league. This has led to a ton of easy baskets for the opponent, as the Lakers allow the second-most points in the NBA (105.6 PPG) despite holding teams to a respectable 45.3% FG (16th in league) and an excellent 34.2% threes (6th in NBA).
The slew of injuries to the team has allowed C Chris Kaman (10.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG) and PG Kendall Marshall (10.3 PPG, 9.5 APG) to really shine lately. Kaman is averaging 23.7 PPG (52% FG), 11.3 RPG, 4.3 APG and 2.0 BPG in 33.2 MPG over his past three contests, while Marshall is coming off a monster game last Thursday against the Thunder when he had 14 points, 17 assists, seven rebounds and just three turnovers in 44 minutes of action.
PG Steve Blake (9.5 PPG, 7.6 APG, 3.8 RPG, 1.3 SPG) has made only 31% FG in six games since returning from a thigh injury, but he has drained 39% of his threes and averaged a strong 8.5 PPG, 7.2 APG and 5.7 RPG during this timeframe.
If PF Pau Gasol (17.0 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.5 BPG) is unable to play on Wednesday, the Lakers will continue to ask forwards Wesley Johnson (9.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG), Ryan Kelly (7.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG) and Shawne Williams (5.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG) to help Kaman provide the points in the paint. Johnson has responded to increased playing time with 15.3 PPG (47% threes) and 5.2 RPG in 38.5 MPG over the past six games, while Williams has started the past two contests where he has averaged 13.0 PPG (42% threes), 7.5 RPG and 2.0 BPG.