Knicks at Nuggets: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
New York Knicks at Denver Nuggets (-9, 208)
Carmelo Anthony might not be picking the best time to return to the city where he played the first 7 1/2 seasons of his career. Anthony will make his first appearance in Denver in more than two years when the New York Knicks visit the red-hot Nuggets on Wednesday. Denver, which traded Anthony to New York in a blockbuster deal in February 2011 that reshaped both rosters, is seeking its 10th consecutive victory.
The Nuggets have won 13 straight games at home and are 27-3 at the Pepsi Center - tied with Miami for the fewest home losses. They will provide an imposing obstacle against a Knicks' squad that was pounded by the Golden State Warriors 92-63 on Monday in the opener of a five-game road trip. Anthony, back in the lineup after sitting out the previous three games with an ailing right knee, scored 14 points as New York was held to a season-low total.
ABOUT THE KNICKS (38-23, 30-29-2 ATS): Anthony is bothered by fluid in the back of his knee that is causing stiffness and soreness and he didn't look like the player who is second in the league in scoring in Monday's loss. Returning to the Mile High City will test him physically and mentally. "For me to go back my first time not wearing a Denver Nuggets jersey, it’s going to be some mixed emotions ... knowing the run that we had back there in Denver," Anthony said. "It was kind of a new beginning that started when I got there. So it’s a lot of emotions.”
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (43-22, 40-24-1 ATS): Points have not been an issue for high-scoring Denver, but it displayed another facet of its offense in Monday's 108-93 win in Phoenix. Center Kosta Koufos, who wound up with the Nuggets as part of the Anthony deal, scored a career-high 22 points on 10-of-11 shooting and also pulled down 10 rebounds. "He's ready to get a pass and he hustles and gets hustle rebounds," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "He's gaining confidence by doing the little things of playing basketball and I really enjoy it."
TRENDS:
* Over is 4-0 in the last four meetings.
* Knicks are 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings.
* Knicks are 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings in Denver.
* Favorite is 17-7 ATS in the last 24 meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Anthony has averaged 29.5 points as the Knicks split a pair of meetings with Denver in New York.
2. The Nuggets have scored at least 100 points in 23 of the last 24 games.
3. Denver has won the past four meetings at home against the Knicks.
NBA: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Utah at Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz meet Thursday for the third time this season with each having won once on home court. Thunder an amazing 28-4 (23-9 ATS) in Oklahoma City won/covered the first meeting while Jazz a smart 23-8 (19-12 ATS) in Salt Lake City won/covered the second encountered. Thunder handed a 10 point defeat in San Antonio Monday are going to have Jazz singing the blues when all said-done. Thunder one of the highest scoring teams in the league (106.5) with the likes of Kevin Durant (28.4), Russell Westbrook (23.3) leading the way are on a sparkling 8-1 (7-2 ATS) stretch at home following a loss. Look for Thunder to improve it's 5-0 SU/ATS mark hosting a division opponent this season with a winning margin of 16.8 points/game while Jazz on a 10-23 (12-20-1 ATS) road slide netting 96.2 PPG fall to 1-5 SU/ATS away vs the division.
Inside the Paint - Wednesday
By Chris David
VegasInsider.com
Even though we’re in the middle of Championship Week, gamblers can still get down on 11 games in the NBA on Wednesday. A lot of the attention will be on the Miami Heat, who will be looking to win their 20th straight win when they visit Philadelphia tonight. The Heat and a handful of other clubs will be facing dreadful back-to-back spots, which is the key factors will touch on tonight.
Let’s break down the action.
Zero Days Rest
Milwaukee at Washington: These two clubs both played last night and they both came up short with Milwaukee losing to Dallas (108-115) at home and Washington falling to Cleveland (90-95) on the road. The Bucks are 7-9 straight up and 5-11 against the spread on zero days rest but they have won their last two, both victories coming on the road to the Kings and Rockets. Washington is just 4-11 SU in back-to-back spots but a profitable 13-2 ATS and that includes eight straight covers. Some of the outright wins have come against quality teams like the Rockets, Spurs, Bulls and Thunder.
Miami at Philadelphia: Hard to fade Miami these days and certainly tough to see them lose this game tonight considering they are 9-1 SU and 5-5 ATS when playing on no rest. The Heat are laying nine at most betting shops and during their current 19-game winning streak, Miami has gone 12-7 ATS. Miami just beat Philadelphia 102-93 last Friday at home in mid-February at Philadelphia, 114-90. The 76ers are coming off a 106-97 win at home over the Nets on Monday but this team hasn’t won back-to-back games since early February. Total players should not that the ‘under’ has gone 7-3 when Miami plays with no rest this season.
Minnesota at Indiana: The Timberwolves stunned the short-handed Spurs by 34 points (107-83) last night as nine-point home underdogs and now they’re catching 14 points at Indiana tonight. Minnesota is 5-9 SU on zero days rest and they haven’t won back-to-back games since they won four in a row in mid-December. The Pacers should cruise to an easy win here but by how many points will be up to them. Indiana is also coming off a humbling setback at Miami (91-105) on Sunday so the Wolves could be the perfect medicine.
L.A. Lakers at Atlanta: Dwight Howard stepped up in his return to Orlando last night with 39 points as the Lakers beat the Magic 106-97 in wire-to-wire fashion for their fourth straight win. Tonight, Howard heads to his hometown of Atlanta and the Lakers are listed as short favorites (-1). Los Angeles has struggled on no rest this season, going 5-7 both SU and ATS. To be fair, the Lakers have played all 12 of these games on the road. In the last seven instances when facing back-to-back situations, the Lakers have gone 2-5 SU and 3-4 ATS and the two wins came against the Bobcats and Hornets. Also, those following the “Purple and Gold” are well aware that those wins and covers were very, very lucky. Even though Atlanta got run by Miami (81-98) last night on the road but it’s been very productive in back-to-back spots (9-7 SU, 9-7 ATS). The Hawks recently lost to the Lakers 99-98 on Mar. 3 but they covered as six-point road underdogs. That outcome went ‘under’ the closing number of 206 and tonight’s total is hovering around 203. Atlanta has watched the ‘under’ go 11-4 on no rest.
Toronto at Boston: The Celtics played without Paul Pierce last night at Charlotte and they got blasted by the Bobcats 100-74 as 10 ½-point road favorites. Pierce is expected to return tonight after getting some rest but Kevin Garnett could sit out. The Celtics are 8-8 SU and 7-7 ATS with no rest this season but make a note that Boston has only played three games at TD Garden on no rest and they’ve gone 3-0 both SU and ATS, with all three wins by double digits. The Celtics have won and covered their two encounters against the Raptors this season.
Memphis at L.A. Clippers: The Grizzlies don’t garner much attention in the Western Conference but they’re one of the hottest teams. Memphis has won five straight and 13 of 14. More importantly, the Grizzlies have gone 10-4 ATS during this span. Tonight, the Grizzlies face a talented Clippers team on the road with no rest but Memphis has gone 8-5 SU and 9-4 ATS in the second game of back-to-back battles. The Clippers opened as 5 ½-point home favorites and that line seems high considering the hot run by the Grizzlies. Memphis is 0-2 both SU and ATS versus L.A. this season.