Friday's Best NBA Bet
New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers (-3.5, 209)
Sixers point guard Jrue Holiday must be salivating with the Knicks coming to town. Holiday had his first career triple-double in a win over the Nets earlier this week, finishing with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
"I guess it just kind of came to me," Holiday said of the triple-double. "Every loose ball, every rebound, it just kind of came to me. You saw Andre (Iguodala) and Spencer (Hawes), you saw them running. If they're running, I'm going to pass it to them."
With up-tempo New York visiting, he should have plenty of teammates running down the floor to feed for open looks, and lots of rebounds to grab off the rim. And it’s not like Knicks lead guard Raymond Felton will slow him down. The past 10 games, Felton has failed to reach his scoring average eight times and his assist average six times as he continues to battle a sore hand. No surprise, the team is a mere 3-7 SU and just 4-5-1 ATS during that span.
"His hand is still bothering him, swollen up pretty good," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said. "But I just don't think it makes a difference. Obviously, it would be nice to hit all his shots, but we have to be a little bit more aggressive on the defensive end and get into people and want it a little bit more than them."
Right now, Holiday wants it most.
The Knicks should get a boost from the return of forward Wilson Chandler (16.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg), but it remains to be seen how effective he'll be after missing three games with calf and ankle ailments.
Pick: Philadelphia
NBA Betting Preview: Boston Celtics host Mavericks
By: Stephen Nover
There’s a lot of age on the Boston Celtics.
Just don’t tell that to 38-year-old Shaquille O’Neal, 35-year-old Ray Allen, 34-year-old Kevin Garnett and 33-year-old Paul Pierce.
They’ve helped Boston put together the second-best record in the NBA at 37-11 aided greatly by Rajon Rondo, who leads the league in assists at 12.5 per game and is No. 2 in steals.
O’Neal is shooting a career-best 66.2 percent from the floor. Pierce is leading the team in scoring at 19.1 points per game. Allen, a streak shooter, is averaging 17.3 points and has made 17 of 27 shots from the field in his last two games. Garnett is averaging 16 points and 9.6 rebounds in his last three games.
The Celtics face a difficult challenge, though, hosting resurgent Dallas Friday at 5:05 p.m. PT on ESPN.
The Mavericks opened the season winning 24 of their first 29, playing as well as any team. But then Dirk Nowitzki suffered a knee injury. He missed the next nine games and the Mavericks went 2-7 straight-up and ATS.
Taking a while to regain his rhythm, Nowitzki shot just 39.1 percent from the floor in his next seven games.
But Nowitzki, who averages 23.2 points and shoots 52.5 percent from floor, is back playing at his normal high All-Star level. He is 25-for-38 from the field in his last three games.
Dallas has won its last six games, going 4-2 ATS. The Mavericks have covered 12 of the 14 times they’ve been an underdog this season with Nowitzki in the lineup, winning straight-up in 11 of the games.
The Mavericks nipped Boston, 89-87, as 3 ½-point home favorites on Nov. 8 in their lone meeting this season. The combined 176 points went ‘under’ the 188-point total. Nowitzki led the way with 25 points.
Rondo had 11 points, 15 assists, six rebounds and five steals for Boston in the loss. The Celtics were playing for the fifth time in seven days.
This time around the Celtics will be more rested. They last played this past Tuesday when they concluded a 3-1 West Coast trip with a 95-90 victory against Sacramento failing to cover as 6½-point road favorites. The combined 185 points dipped ‘under’ the 191-point total.
In their previous game, the Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 109-96, as three-point road ‘dogs in one their most satisfying victories.
Boston ranks first in shooting percentage making 49.9 percent from the floor. The next closest is Phoenix at 47.3 percent. Pierce, Allen, Garnett, O’Neal and Rondo are all shooting above 50 percent from the floor.
The Celtics also rate No. 1 defensively giving up 91.5 points per contest. Dallas ranks sixth allowing 94.5 points a game.
Boston, however, is only 10-13-2 ATS at home.
Dallas played this past Wednesday and easily beat New York, 113-97, as two-point road ‘dogs. The combined 210 points went ‘over’ the 208 ½-point total. Nowitzki had another big performance with 29 points and 11 rebounds.
“I think when 41 (Nowitzki) is out on the floor, just his presence, no matter if he’s 50 percent or a 100 percent, he draws so much attention,” Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd was quoted as saying following his team’s win against the Knicks. “… We’ve got guys who are shooting the ball extremely well from behind the arc and it just opens up the whole court.”
Tyson Chandler had 15 points and 11 rebounds against the Knicks. Chandler is averaging 14 points, 10 rebounds and one block during his past 15 games.
The Mavericks signed veteran forward Peja Stojakovic on Jan. 24 to replace injured Caron Butler. Stojakovic, though, isn’t expected to see his first action with Dallas until next week.
Suns heating as Thunder arrive for NBA bout
By: Brad Young
Oklahoma City (31-17 straight up, 24-24 against the spread) begins a stretch of playing four of its next five games on the road with Friday’s matchup at Phoenix (23-24 SU, 20-25-2 ATS). The Thunder currently reside atop the Northwest Division standings, and would be the fourth seed in the Western Conference if the regular season concluded today.
Don Best's Real-Time Odds show Oklahoma City as a slight one-point road favorite over Phoenix, with the total set at 216½. Friday’s contest is scheduled to start at 6:05 p.m. PT from the Suns’ US Airways Center.
Oklahoma City improved to 3-1 SU its last four games after dumping New Orleans Wednesday as seven-point home ‘chalk,’ 104-93. The combined 197 points slithered ‘under’ the 198-point closing total, ending a string of three straight ‘over’ outings. The Thunder were 1-6 ATS their last seven matchups before facing the Hornets.
Oklahoma City took control of the contest by outscoring New Orleans in the third quarter, 32-17. The Thunder finished the contest with advantages in rebounding (44-32) and assists (22-18) while shooting a robust 53 percent (36-of-68) from the field and 42 percent (10-of-24) from behind the arc.
Small forward Kevin Durant unleashed his league-best fifth 40-point performance of the season with 43 points and 10 rebounds. That marked the third time the University of Texas product scored 40 points or more the previous four games. Forward Jeff Green provided 12 points and seven board in the victory, while point guard Russell Westbrook added 10 points and eight assists.
Phoenix sits in second place in the Pacific Division, but the team would miss the playoffs if the regular season ended today. The Suns enter this matchup riding a three-game SU and ATS winning streak after throttling Milwaukee Wednesday as a six-point home favorite, 92-77. The combined 169 points failed to eclipse the 200-point closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve to 6-2 the last eight outings.
Phoenix finished the game with advantages in rebounding (54-39) and assists (20-13). The Suns shot a solid 50 percent (36-of-72) from the field, while limiting the Bucks to a dismal 31 percent (28-of-90).
Center Marcin Gortat paced the Phoenix offense with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while small forward Grant Hill had 16. Center Channing Frye posted 14 and 13 in the triumph, while forward Jared Dudley added 15 and seven.
The Suns are 8-2 SU and 4-5-1 ATS the previous 10 meetings with Oklahoma City after winning the lone encounter this season Dec. 19 as a 9½-point home favorite, 113-110. The combined 223 points toppled the 214 ½-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ improve to 5-2 the last seven meetings. The underdog is 8-3-1 ATS the past 12 games in this series.
Oklahoma City guard Thabo Sefolosha is ‘questionable’ against the Suns due to a knee injury. The Thunder follow this contest with Saturday’s road effort versus Utah before returning home to face Memphis. Oklahoma City has seen the ‘under’ go 9-4 the previous 13 road games.
Phoenix guard Goran Dragic (foot) and forward Gani Lawal (knee) are ‘out’ indefinitely. The Suns begin a home-and-home series with Golden State following this contest. Phoenix has seen the ‘under’ go 6-2 its last eight outings overall.
NBA RoundUp for 2/4
by Dan Bebe
New York Knicks @ Philadelphia 76ers (-3.5) with a total of 209
This is the first half of a home-and-home between the Knicks and Sixers, and you cats know how I love to handle these situations: watch the first game, go a little big on the second. And, frankly, I don't see any reason to change my approach here. Philadelphia is playing excellent basketball, and with Andre Iguodala back at full strength, the team is able to play him at a point forward position, an awfully tough defensive assignment for most opposing small forwards. The Knicks can deploy a handful of athletic wing players, so we might see the Sixers go to a more traditional offense. I rather think Elton Brand is a decent defensive challenge for Amar'e Stoudemire, too. The Knicks are on revenge from a home loss to Philadelphia back near the beginning of the season, which makes me think they might actually win this one. What does all that garbage mean? PLAY THE NEXT ONE on the side, and slight totals lean to the OVER.
Orlando Magic (-6) @ Washington Wizards with a total of 199
I really, really want to find a way to back the Wizards in this game, with Orlando coming off a huge showdown, at home, on TNT, with the Miami Heat, but I'm struggling to do so. Washington is playing its first home game off a 4-game road trip that, not surprisingly, went poorly. I suppose you could argue a letdown for Orlando; I suppose you could argue a sluggish spot for Washington; I also suppose you could say Washington is on revenge, though a 1-point loss to the Magic at home was almost a revenge win. Tiny lean to WASHINGTON, though ultimately, I will likely pass, and lean to UNDER.
Miami Heat (-6) @ Charlotte Bobcats with a total of 188
Much like with Orlando, the Miami letdown argument is going to be at the forefront, but much like with the Wizards, Charlotte is playing its first home game in a long, long time. The Bobcats were on the road for 6 games in 9 days, and this home game absolutely falls into that sluggish category. And, wouldn't you know it, we have competing situational/scheduling angles, yet again. Charlotte is on double revenge, so they have that going for them, but I don't think I can ever find a good enough reason to take a team returning home off a 6-game road trip, especially not a club that traveled as far as Charlotte. The Bobcats' trip was rather poorly planned, it seems, jetting from Sacramento to Phoenix, back to Northern California, LA, Utah, and Detroit. That's too much. This line is coming down because of the potential for a Miami letdown and the Charlotte double-revenge, but I don't buy it. Slight lean to MIAMI and the UNDER.
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Toronto Raptors (-3.5) with a total of 215
This is a pretty prominent revenge game for the Raptors, considering they only see Minnesota twice a year, and they just happened to have played the Wolves within the last week. Yes, Toronto had some travel issues, and they might be a hair tired, but I happen to think they'll be quite pleased to get back home, where they play 5 of the next 6. This line is a pretty strong indicator that Toronto brings a solid game, too. I admit, I can't stand the Raptors these days - they're weak on the boards, they rely far too much on jumpshots, play zero defense, and seem to have at least one quarter every game where they tank, but for any team that has lost 13 in a row to be laying 3.5, I can't argue with the line. Lean to the revenge-minded RAPTORS and the OVER.
Portland Trailblazers @ Indiana Pacers (-3) with a total of 194
This line surprises the hell out of me - I know the Pacers won a couple, but those wins came against, arguably, the two worst teams in the NBA. I'm not convinced the "new" Pacers are any different. We've been told they're going to run the offense through the point guard quite a bit more, which is great for Darren Collison's fantasy stats, but it remains to be seen if it's going to change the Pacers fortune much. The Blazers are coming in off an ugly loss to Denver, but they never play well at the Pepsi Center. Portland is going to try to slow the game down and make it a defensive struggle, and frankly, I don't see much of a reason to think the Pacers really are as good as this line indicates. Small lean to PORTLAND and the OVER.
Los Angeles Clippers @ Atlanta Hawks (-7.5) with a total of 196
The Clippers may have gotten a little ahead of themselves, and after a red-hot stretch, have now lost 3 of 5. The Clips are still a terrible road team, but this is a rather unique situation, because, basically, LA is playing a quarter of its road games all at once. This game marks the start of an epic 11-game road trip for the Clippers, and if history has taught us anything, it's that teams tend to give their best efforts on long road trips near the beginning. In fact, even recent history seems to suggest the same - the Bobcats won 3 straight to open their recent 6-gamer, then lost 2; the Nuggets won 3, then lost 2; the Bulls covered 6 of 7 games on their Circus trip back in November, etc. The Hawks shouldn't be laying more than a handful to almost anyone - the team defense is suffering, as Atlanta seems content to rely on offensive firepower to win, and the Clippers strike me as a team that's going to give max effort for 48 minutes, and it's a revenge game, to boot. Lean to the CLIPSHOW and the OVER.
New Jersey Nets @ Detroit Pistons (-5) with a total of 187
Double road revenge for the Pistons would seem to be the one key angle at play in this game, as Detroit has had to play the first 2 meetings of the year in Jersey, and has dropped them both. Now, the Nets have to fly to Motown and try to solve their road issues against a team that may very well be out for blood. Interestingly, Detroit remains not-that-far out of a Playoff spot, and while it would seem to be a bit of a stretch (given Charlotte and Philadelphia playing better), it's not out of the question, and beating teams like Jersey could go a long way toward getting that win count up. The Nets are an horrid 3-23 road team, so put that together with Detroit's slightly improved offense, and you've got yourself a lean. Look at DETROIT and no real lean on the total, but if I must, I'd lean OVER.
Dallas Mavericks @ Boston Celtics (-6.5) with a total of 190
This is one of those games where the only thing I want to know is how the public is going to bet it, because I just don't know for sure. Boston is definitely the more public club, though Dallas's throttling of the Knicks at MSG brought them back into the spotlight. Dallas had lost enough of its public love during a cold stretch, that I think, and I could be wrong, that this line should get relatively split action. And that's fine, because I like Dallas here. I'm not sold that they win the game, but I get the feeling they keep it close. Boston is playing its first home game off a 4-game West coast swing through Portland, Phoenix, LA and Sacramento. They went 3-1 SU, 2-2 ATS, but that sort of success should be enough to get Boston to relax for a quarter tonight. Dallas is ramping its game back up, and I might even consider the moneyline, but Boston is on revenge from a 2-point loss in Dallas. This could very easily be a 2-point game the other way. Lean to the MAVERICKS and the UNDER.
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Memphis Grizzlies (-13.5) with a total of 202.5
Cleveland is finding ways to cover games lately, due to some absurdly inflated spreads, but a blowout loss is always just a few turnovers away. There aren't any especially evident angles, though I suppose Memphis did lose to Cleveland back in November, but I'm not sure how a team "gets up" to play the Cavs, even if there's a smattering of revenge involved. PASS ALL AROUND.
Oklahoma City Thunder (-1) @ Phoenix Suns with a total 216
Here we have home revenge for the Thunder, and something tells me they remember that loss. The Suns were shorthanded, but rolled into Oklahoma City and shot nearly 58% in a narrow 3-point win over the Thunder, and if Oklahoma plays even a shred of defense, they win that game going away. Now, Phoenix is playing pretty well right now, largely because of my new NBA hero, Marcin Gortat, but the Thunder are simply too talented. No one on the Suns is going to be able to handle Westbrook or Durant, and as Phoenix generally relies on outscoring teams, the Thunder have no shortage of offense with which to combat that tactic. I like the energy of the Suns lately, but the Nash-to-Lopez/Gortat combo isn't going to be enough. Lean to the THUNDER and the OVER.
San Antonio Spurs (-5.5) @ Sacramento Kings with a total of 198
Unlike the Magic and Heat games we discussed earlier, in this one, the Spurs are in a potential letdown, but the home team isn't returning from a long road trip. Instead, the Kings are playing their best basketball of the season, are covering games (winning some, even), and are well rested. This is the first meeting of the season between these two teams, and I'll admit, from a matchup perspective, Tim Duncan might be the biggest challenge a suddenly surging Demarcus Cousins will face, but I can't help but think the Kings have the confidence to keep it close. Beno Udrih will be facing his old team, the Spurs have had a tendency to get off to slow starts, and if San Antonio is fighting back all night, they might win by 2-3 and no one would leave the arena surprised. Lean to SACRAMENTO and the UNDER.
Utah Jazz @ Denver Nuggets with a total of N/A
I think I saw everything I needed to when the Jazz went into Oakland and got completely shut down by a crummy defensive Warriors team. Without Deron Williams and without Andrei Kirilenko, the Jazz become one-dimensional. They feed the ball to Millsap and Jefferson in the post, and hope for the best. And yes, against a weaker Rockets team, it was almost (and probably should have been) enough. Against the bigger, faster Nuggets at the mean, nasty old Pepsi Center, I can't see Utah keeping this thing within striking distance. That is, of course, assuming Deron misses another game or two. Last I heard, he couldn't shoot outside of 11 feet, so even if he does play, what sort of level of effectiveness will he have? Utah is on revenge from opening night, but it just doesn't have that normal sting. We can back the Jazz when they're healthy and hosting Denver, but here, I can't help but lean to the NUGGETS to win relatively large, and the Jazz's offensive woes point to an UNDER.
Inside the Paint - Friday
By Chris David
Televised Tilts - ESPN
Dallas (33-15 SU, 25-21 ATS) at Boston (37-11 SU, 22-24 ATS): After dealing with some key injuries and bad breaks, it appears that the Mavericks have hit their stride again. Dallas has ripped off six straight (3-2-1 ATS) wins, the last three coming by double digits. Tonight’s test at Boston will be a better barometer for the club, since four of the six wind during their streak came against teams with losing records. Fortunately for the Mavs, they catch the Celtics in a possible flat spot. Boston returns home after a four-game West Coast trip that watched the team go 3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS. Despite the tough test on tap after the long roadie, most sportsbooks listed the Celtics as six-point home favorites over the Mavs. Doc Rivers’ troops have dominated at home (22-3) but their record against the number (9-14 ATS) isn’t profitable. And if you look at Boston’s three losses at home, they were against Oklahoma City (101-102), New Orleans (81-83) and Houston (102-108). The trio resides in the Western Conference and so does Dallas. If you need another reason to back the Mavs, then look at their road record (14-7 SU, 13-8 ATS). Make a note that four of those setbacks came without the duties of All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki.
Utah (29-21 SU, 22-28 ATS) at Denver (29-20 SU, 22-25 ATS): Tough contest to handicap due to the status of Utah point guard Deron Williams (wrist), who missed the last four games. He’s ‘questionable’ for Friday. The Jazz have gone 2-2 both SU and ATS without his duties, and the ‘under’ has cashed in all four. It would be tough to expect another win tonight without Williams, especially when you look at the opponent in Denver. The Nuggets have gone 21-5 SU and 12-12 ATS at home, and that includes a 6-1 run both SU and ATS from the Pepsi Center. Gamblers might want to note that Utah has lost six straight on the road, both SU and ATS. The host has won and covered the last five in this series, including Denver’s 110-88 win over Utah on Oct. 27 as a four-point home favorite.
Trouble in Toronto
It’s safe to say that Minnesota (11-37 SU, 22-26 ATS) and Toronto (13-37 SU, 21-27 ATS) won’t be making the playoffs. On paper, they appear to be equal but the more consistent team lately has been the Raptors and that’s not a good thing. Toronto has dropped 13 straight (5-8 ATS) and a lot of the problems are on offense. The team has been held under 100 in 10 of their 13 losses, but they should get a boost tonight when backup point guard Leandro Barbosa (hamstring) returns to the lineup. Total players have watched the ‘under’ produced a 10-3 mark during this run. During this losing skid, Toronto has been an underdog in 12 of the contests. Tonight, the Raptors are laying four points and that alone tells you that the streak could come to an end. Taking the favorite might not be a bad idea, considering Minnesota has gone 2-22 SU and 11-13 ATS on the road. However, the Timberwolves beat the Raptors 103-87 last Saturday as five-point home favorites.
23 Straight?
I’m not sure why we even touch on the woeful Cleveland franchise but the team is bordering on history. The Cavaliers have been installed as heavy road ‘dogs to a Memphis squad this is playing great basketball. The Grizzlies are 7-2 both SU and ATS in their last nine and have ripped off four straight wins and covers. Taking the points (13.5) is risky but total players following Byron Scott’s team have noticed a lack of defense lately. The club has surrendered an average of 111.5 PPG in their last six, which has produced a 5-1 ‘over’ record. The ‘over/under’ is sitting at 204 1/2.
Back-to-Back Spots
The Heat and Spurs both notched impressive road victories last night against the Magic and Lakers respectively. Unfortunately for the pair, they won’t have time to celebrate with games on tap tonight.
Miami at Charlotte: The Heat has gone 9-3 SU and 6-6 ATS on zero days rest with all three of those losses coming on the road. Despite that fact, Miami is 17-9 SU and 15-11 ATS away from home. The Heat have won and covered both meetings against the Bobcats this season, including a 96-82 road win on Jan. 3. The ‘under’ cashed in each game and is on a 5-0 run in this series. Charlotte is 12-11 SU and 11-11 ATS at home, but it could be gassed for this outing after returning from a rough six-game road trip. Fortunately for Paul Silas, his team went 4-2 both SU and ATS. To make matters worse for the ‘Cats, Dallas visits Saturday and Boston on Monday.
San Antonio at Sacramento: The Spurs own a 4-4 SU and 5-3 ATS ledger on zero days rest. This will be the third game of their nine-game road trip, which has seen them go 1-1 both SU and ATS. Since half of the team’s losses have come in this situation, it’s certainly a good spot to back the home squad. Sacramento opened as a 5 ½-point ‘dog and the number dipped quickly to 4 ½ points. Even though the Kings are 4-9 over their last 13, they do own a 9-4 ATS ledger and eight of the losses were by seven points or less. These two clubs haven’t met this season, which is a good thing for Sacramento. Last year, San Antonio won all four battles against the Kings, including two meeting in Northern California.
Total Notes
# Raptors on a 10-3 ‘under’ run
# The ‘under’ is 5-0 in Portland’s last five
# Orlando and Washington have watched their last four meetings go ‘over’
# Despite high totals, the Knicks and 76ers have seen the ‘under’ go 7-2 in their last nine encounters, including four in a row
# The Clippers and Hawks have gone ‘over’ in their last four head-to-head battles
All-Star Reserve Rant
Normally, I could care less about these games but I do take a vested interest in these exhibitions on occasion, usually just an ‘over’ wager. The voting system is done by the coaches and I respect their opinion but the All-Star Game is supposed to feature the “Best” players, despite their record. The biggest snub was Golden State’s Monta Ellis, who can score with anybody in the NBA. Also, Portland forward LaMarcus Aldridge should’ve gotten the nod over the Lakers’ Pau Gasol and San Antonio’s Tim Duncan, despite their great records. I don’t have any issues with the Celtics getting four reserves but the Nets' Brook Lopez is having a better season than Shaquille O’Neal. And, it would’ve been nice to see the Knicks’ Raymond Felton get noticed.
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Telly
In the NBA I'm going with the Suns +2.
Tips and Trends
Dallas Mavericks at Boston Celtics
MAVERICKS: Dallas is streaking yet again, as they've won their past 6 games SU. The Mavericks are rolling partly due to the fact that they are getting healthy. There are also rumors out there that Mark Cuban is interested in acquiring Carmelo Anthony. The Mavericks are 33-15 SU and 25-21-2 overall this season. Dallas is 14-7 SU and 13-8 ATS on the road this year. The Mavericks are 11-7 ATS as the listed underdog this season. F Dirk Nowitzki is averaging a team high 23.2 PPG this season. Nowitzki is having an MVP caliber season as he's also averaging 7 RPG while shooting 52.5% from the field. PG Jason Kidd is averaging 8.1 PPG and a team high 8.4 APG this year. The Mavericks are playing great defense in their own right, as they are allowing just 94.5 PPG this season. The Mavericks are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a SU win of more than 10 points. Dallas is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a SU win. The Mavericks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall. Dallas is 14-6-1 ATS in their last 21 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game. The Mavericks are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games against a team with a winning SU record.
Mavericks are 1-6 ATS last 7 road games.
Under is 4-0 last 4 road games against a team with a home winning percentage greater than .600%.
Key Injuries - F Peja Stojakovic (knee) is out.
Projected Score: 89
CELTICS: (-6.5, O/U 190) Boston keeps rolling along, as they've won 8 of their last 10 games SU, and are 37-11 SU this season. The Celtics have the best record in the Eastern Conference, as they lead Miami and Chicago by 3 games. The Celtics are dominant at home, as they are 22-3 SU and 9-13 ATS at home this year. Boston is 16-21 ATS as the listed favorite this year. The Celtics have revenge on their minds tonight, as they lost by 2 PTS in Dallas at the beginning of this season. Boston is allowing just 91.5 PPG this year, the fewest in the NBA. F Paul Pierce is against leading the Celtics in scoring this year, as he's averaging 19.1 PPG. G Ray Allen is averaging 17.3 PPG, which includes 2.3 made three pointers per game. F Kevin Garnett is averaging 15 PPG and a team high 9 RPG this season. The Celtics are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games against a team with a winning SU record. Boston is 11-2-1 ATS in their last 14 games playing on 2 days rest. The Celtics are 24-9-2 ATS in their last 35 games following an ATS loss. Boston is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games against the NBA Southwest.
Celtics are 3-11-1 ATS last 15 games following a SU win.
Over is 8-0 last 8 games following an ATS loss.
Key Injuries - C Jermaine O'Neal (knee) is out.
Projected Score: 95 (UNDER-Total of the Day)
Utah Jazz at Denver Nuggets
JAZZ: Utah is struggling mightily right now, as they are dealing with a plethora of issues. From injuries to their dynamic team leader to an overall lack of confidence, the Jazz are as mediocre as they've been in years. The Jazz are 29-21 SU and 22-27-1 ATS overall this season. However, Utah isn't a good team currently, as they've lost 8 of their last 10 games SU. Utah is 12-12 SU and 11-13 ATS on the road this season. Utah is averaging 99.4 PPG this season, thanks to the play of PG Deron Williams. While WIlliams is out with an injury, the Jazz have tried to play inside out. F Paul Millsap is averaging 16.9 PPG and 7.8 RPG this year. F Al Jefferson is averaging 16.7 PPG and a team high 9.1 RPG this season. The Jazz are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a SU loss. Utah is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS loss. The Jazz are 5-16 ATS in their last 21 games overall. Utah is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games against the Western Conference. The Jazz are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games playing on 1 days rest. Utah is 0-5 ATS in their last 5 road games against a team with a winning home record.
Jazz are 1-11 ATS last 12 games against a team with a winning SU record.
Over is 16-6 last 22 road games against a team with a winning home record.
Key Injuries - G Deron Williams (wrist) is questionable.
Projected Score: 100
NUGGETS: Credit is deserved for the Denver Nuggets, as they keep winning despite massive distractions regarding the trade rumors for F Carmelo Anthony. Denver is 29-20 SU and 21-25-3 ATS overall this season. Denver is currently in 6th place in very difficult Western Conference. The Nuggets are 21-5 SU and 12-12 ATS in home games this year. The Nuggets are averaging an NBA high 107.6 PPG this season. Anthony leads the Nuggets in scoring yet again this year, as he's averaging 23.8 PPG. PG Chauncey Billups is also dealing with trade rumors, despite averaging 16.4 PPG and a team high 5.2 APG this year. The Nuggets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games against the NBA Northwest. Denver is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest. The Nuggets are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall. Denver is 7-19 ATS in their last 26 Friday games. The Nuggets are 6-17-4 ATS in their last 27 games following a SU win of more than 10 points.
Nuggets are 6-1 ATS last 7 home games.
Over is 7-2 last 9 games against a team with a winning SU record.
Key Injuries - F Kenyon Martin (knee) is probable.
Projected Score: 108