NBA News and Notes Friday 3/12

What Bettors Need To Know: Lakers at Suns
By LEE KOSTROSKI

Healing time

Phoenix has won 14 of its last 18 games after a 3-8 stretch in mid January. The Suns vaulted themselves back into fifth place in the Western Conference and had a nice rest heading into Friday’s meeting with the Lakers.

The Suns have had five days off, having not played since last Saturday’s home win over Indiana. That extra time has given key players some needed rest.

Guard Leandro Barbosa is expected to make his return from wrist surgery against the Lakers Friday after missing 21 straight games.

Barbosa said his right arm is still "a little weak" and there is some swelling.

"I'm very hungry to come back and help my teammates," he told reporters. "We'll see what happens."

Steve Nash and Goran Dragic also used this time to rehab their nagging injuries. Nash was dealing with back and abdominal injuries while Dragic was dealing with an ankle injury.

The NBA suspended Suns center Channing Frye one game without pay for his part in an altercation that took place last Saturday. They will be without their spark-plug off the bench and his 11.6 PPG and 5.2 RPG and his ability to stretch the defense (leads team in 3-pointers made).

Tough days for L.A.

The Lakers hadn’t lost three straight games since acquiring Pau Gasol from Memphis in February of 2008, at least until a three-game road trip through Miami, Charlotte and Orlando ended that streak. They nearly made it four straight in a home game against the Toronto Raptors Tuesday.

But, of course, Kobe Bryant had the answer, nailing a game-winning baseline jumper with 1.9 seconds on the clock – his seventh game-winning shot this season. Although the Lakers won the game in exciting fashion, there was a somber mood in the locker room afterwards.

When asked if this team had the same consistent urgency of last season, coach Phil Jackson told the media, "I don't think so. We don't have that. Not that we can't reclaim it at some point. That's what we're trying to do."

"The urgency of playing well has not struck us yet,” Jackson added.

Other contenders now believe they can beat the Lakers, which is the first big step toward doing so.

"What's crazy about it is that these teams are getting confidence they can beat us," forward Lamar Odom told the press. "You can see it in their body language. There's a lot more talking. There's extra animation, even when they come here."

They are just 3-5 in their last eight games and just 8-9 overall this season against potential contenders (teams currently in the top four spots of Eastern and Western conference standing).

The Lakers, losers of four straight away from home, have three straight Western Conference road games on the upcoming schedule, starting with Phoenix Friday.

Head to head

The last meeting between these two was in Phoenix on December 28. The Suns held a lead nearly the entire game (led by 22 points at one point) and shot 48.9 percent to beat the Lakers by 15 points.

The Lakers have won four of the last six meetings (all at home) by an average margin of 17.5 PPG. Phoenix has won two straight home games over the Lakers but has dropped seven of the last 10 vs. Los Angeles.

The home team is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings but the Lakers are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings in Phoenix.

Trends

Los Angeles is just 1-5 ATS in its last six Pacific division games and 2-8-1 ATS in its last 11 games overall.

Phoenix is 6-1 ATS in its last seven vs. the Western Conference and 4-0 ATS in its last four division games (NBA Pacific). The added rest may not be a good thing for the Suns, who are just 3-11-1 ATS in their last 15 games playing on three or more days rest.

L.A. Lakers (47-18, 27-35-3 ATS) at Phoenix (40-25, 37-28 ATS)

The well-rested Suns return to the court looking to knock off the Lakers for the second straight time as these Pacific Division rivals clash at the US Airways Center.

Los Angeles held off the Raptors 109-107 on Tuesday, with Kobe Bryant hitting the game-winning shot in the waning seconds as the Lakers snapped their first three-game losing skid in more than two seasons. However, L.A. fell way short as an 11½-point home favorite, dropping to 2-8-1 ATS since returning from the All-Star break (1-8-1 ATS as a favorite). The Lakers have also dropped four straight road games (1-3 ATS), as their only road win since the break was a last-second, one-point victory at Memphis.

Phoenix has been off since Saturday, when it knocked off the Pacers 113-105, but came up short as a 13-point home favorite. The Suns have won 14 of their last 18 games (both SU and ATS), but they’ve followed up an eight-game spread-covering winning streak with consecutive ATS setbacks. Phoenix, which leads the NBA in scoring (109.5 ppg) has scored in triple digits in 57 of 65 games this year, including the last nine in a row.

The home team has won the last six meetings in this rivalry, and both of this year’s contests were routs as L.A. won 108-88 as a 9½-point chalk on Dec. 6 and the Suns returned the favor with a 118-103 triumph as a one-point underdog on Dec. 28. The Lakers are 6-2 in the last eight meetings (5-3 ATS), and they’ve cashed in seven of their last 10 trips to Phoenix.

Los Angeles has been a pointspread disaster across the board, as it is in ATS funks of 2-8-1 overall, 1-4 on the road, 0-3-1 against Western Conference foes, 1-5 versus division rivals, 1-4-1 against winning teams, 1-5-1 after a non-cover, 3-9 on Friday and 0-3-1 following two days off.

On the flip side, in addition to going 14-4 ATS in their last 18 overall, the Suns are on pointspread surges of 5-2 at home, 6-1 in Western Conference contests, 4-0 versus Pacific Division foes, 6-1 after a SU victory and 13-3-1 on Friday. The only negative: A 3-11-1 ATS mark when the Suns are coming off three or more days of rest.

The Lakers sport “under” streaks of 10-4 overall, 8-2 on the road, 6-1 in the Western Conference, 19-7 after two days off. Similarly, Phoenix is on “under” runs of 11-5 overall, 6-2 at home, 4-1 after three or more days off, 19-9-1 after a non-cover and 5-1 on Friday. However, the over is 9-4 in L.A.’s last 13 against winning teams, 5-1 in the Suns’ last six against the Western Conference and 4-0 in the Suns’ last four after a SU victory.

Finally, the over has cashed in nine of the last 13 Suns-Lakers battles, including five of the last seven played in the desert.

ATS ADVANTAGE: PHOENIX

NBA RoundUp For 3/12
By Dan Bebe

Clippers @ Bobcats - This line is OFF. Sorry guys, Clippers have decided it's time to make a run at a top draft pick. They've lost 5 straight games, and all 5 have been miserable losses, dropping the games by 26, 17, 22, 26, and 11. I mean, come on, five straight double-digit losses? That is just sad. Does this team have any pride left at all? Mike Dunleavy is no longer a part of this mess, probably the only good decision the Clippers have made all year, so maybe there's hope for the future, but you can see in the body language that half this team just doesn't want to be playing any more, and the offseason plans are starting to creep up strong. The Bobcats, on the other side, have won 4 straight games, including, in my humble opinion, an impressive follow-up to their emotional victory over the Heat with a 15-point road win over the spiraling Sixers. This is a team on the bubble in the Eastern Conference, and we're at that time of year where the teams with motivation are the teams to back. I realize that lightning can strike, but we do need to start to apply a few new "filters" to our handicapping. Looking at the big road dog is no longer an automatic like it was 2 months ago, and instead, if you have a road team like the Clippers where 50% of the players wish they were with their kids playing video games, I would suggest starting with a look at the motivated home club that knows a "free win" is one of the most important games of the week. Charlotte knows they need to beat teams like the Clippers, and do so soundly, since their game with Orlando on Sunday won't be so easy. I lean to the Bobcats, and I lean to the Under, as I just don't see LA cracking 90 points.

Cavaliers @ Sixers - This line is OFF. Once again, one of the few unlined games that I don't mind, though word on the street is that Lebron is most likely going to give it a go in this one. Problem is, Mo Williams is probable and Antawn Jamison is doubtful, so this Cavs team is in all kinds of injury-plagued disarray. Make no mistake, they are still tough as nails, but these young guys are always going to play WAY better at home than on the road, and you can be damn sure the reason the Cavs are so good on the road is NOT because of guys like Booby Gibson. In any case, this game is extremely tough to handicap without knowing who's going to play. It's also impossible to really get a feel for where this line is going to open. I mean, you want to talk about weird - the Cavs were a 2-point home dog to the Spurs, though that line showed signs of opening with the Cavs as a 5-point home favorite. That is a positively nutty swing just from injury issues. I happen to think that if indeed Lebron returns, he's going to want to make a statement that nothing stops the Manchild. Plus, the Sixers are one of the worst home ATS wagers in the NBA, posting an 8-22 ATS mark in their own building. Cleveland has covered the last 4 games in Philadelphia in a row, and the Sixers have lost 7 of their last 8 games as they get closer and closer to being officially eliminated from postseason contention. This is another spot where you have a strong, marquee team with greater motivation, and with some backups that are looking to make an impact. I lean square to Cleveland. I lean to the Under, too, as the Cavs, without their true scorers, are going to try to out-execute opponents, and Lebron is going to keep the game at a nice pace until late, when he can take over.

Pacers @ Celtics - Boston by 9.5 with a total of 201. Alright, Boston, it's time for a little test. Are you truly as bad as you've looked? After winning 4 games in a row (against Detroit, Charlotte, Philly and Washington), the Celtics have lost back-to-back games to Milwaukee and Memphis, and looked worse with every passing moment in those games. They started strong against the Bucks, and continued to slow through that game, losing late, then came back the next night and stunk it up right from the get-go. So, the question here is, how will the public respond, and what sort of value is available? I believe many folks will have the initial thought that a proud team like the Celts is going to bounce back with a triple-digit winner. I'm not sure it's quite so cut-and-dry. The Pacers are coming off a rare VICTORY (yeah, I know, weird) at home against the Sixers, one of the few teams in the NBA playing worse than Indiana, and quietly the Pacers have rattled off 3 straight covers. They have also had 2 days to rest since that win, Danny Granger is returning from a 1-game suspension, and they've actually played fairly well against Boston this year. The Pacers actually beat Boston in Indiana, and are 2-0 ATS against the Celtics this season, despite really playing a poor game when they last met out East. The Pacers have nothing to play for, but there's an air of enjoyment with this team. I'm not really sure why they're still playing like it matters, but for whatever reason, this Pacers team seems to enjoy basketball, unless they fall way behind. With Granger back, and the match-up problems Indiana seems to pose, I think they keep this thing closer than most. Also, Boston has a date with the Cavaliers on Sunday, on the road, and this game has the makings of a potential look-ahead. I lean Indy. That total of 201 looks pretty reachable, but the Pacers don't run as well on the road as they do at home, and I lean Under.

Bulls @ Heat - This line is OFF. And it's going to stay that way with Derrick Rose now nursing a sprained wrist. He knows, and the Bulls know, that without a serious run, they're cooked, and with Luol Deng and Joakim Noah both hurt as well, this is going to be a very, very tough spot for Chicago. Miami has been playing better basketball of late, as Dwyane Wade can smell the playoffs, and realizes that without a good run down the stretch, the Heat's spot isn't secure. They've won 4 straight home games, though that loss in Charlotte was mixed in there, as well. Now, off an easy win over the Clippers, Miami is set to host the half-speed Bulls in the second game of a 6-game homestand. Miami knows this is a huge opportunity to get 4 or 5 wins at home and really put the pressure on other teams to climb over them to get into the playoffs, so you can bet that a "cake" game like this one isn't going to be overlooked. Unfortunately, courtesy of Chicago getting 100% embarrassed by Orlando, this line is going to open up higher than it would have yesterday (or two days ago), and no one in their right mind is going to want to bet Chicago unless they're getting a ton of points. Obviously, I'd love to find a way to back the Heat, but can Miami put the defensive clamps on an undermanned Bulls club? Miami lost in Chicago, so I suppose revenge might be in the air, but the motivation for playoffs is way bigger than all of that. Teeny, tiny lean to Miami, though this spread is going to be chalky. I like the Under, though - there's no way Miami lets the Chicago scrap-heapers get out and run and have a chance. Slow it down, force the Bulls to try to score in the half-court, and Miami could potentially hold Chicago to 75.

Knicks @ Grizzlies - Memphis by 8 with a total of 210.5. This game is a weird balance of revenge versus motivation. The Grizzlies rolled into New York and stomped the Knicks in a high-scoring affair, 120-109, and that game was just about 2 weeks ago, when Memphis was starting their current torrid road run. The Grizzlies snapped a rather extended home losing skid (8 games, I believe) with a win (and failed cover) against the Nets back on the 8th. Their most recent game was a dominant road performance in Boston, as Memphis clobbered the Celtics by 20, and we were able to cash with that one. Alright, so here's the pickle. New York is in their 2nd game of a 5-game road trip through the South, then back up through the Northeast, but the Knicks haven't looked competent for more than 1-2 games since the very early parts of 2010. They're coming off a 10-point road loss in San Antonio, and there's very little to indicate that they'll keep this game within 10. Memphis has so, so much more to play for right now, and as we talked about at great length on Wednesday, they're a great motivational play. However, New York is on revenge from that home loss, AND Memphis plays host to the Denver Nuggets tomorrow. Will the Grizzlies be able to truly focus on this lower-tier opponent, when they likely believe they can dispatch of the Knicks just like they did in New York, then redouble their efforts tomorrow against a tougher team? I wish I could say I believe they will, but I happen to think the Knicks slip just within this spread and lose by 6-7. I lean New York, but barely! On the total, New York is having all kinds of offensive issues, and 210.5 looks wildly inflated - I lean Under strongly, as this is also an "oddsmaker hint" lean.

Nets @ Thunder - Oklahoma by 11.5 with a total of 195. Still mind-boggling that we're seeing the Thunder laying almost a dozen points; what strides they've taken! I should apologize to our good buddy Denmarkok when I say that while I know the Thunder are rolling, I just feel like this game is sandwiched between two opponents that the Thunder would take much more seriously. Two days ago, Oklahoma played host to their brief lover, the Hornets, a team in a free-fall at the moment, and the Thunder beat them mercilessly. Then, on Sunday, the Thunder host the Utah Jazz, a Northwest Division rival, and a late-season proving ground type game. This game, to me, has all the makings of a 10-point Thunder win. Jersey is just finally starting to play with a little purpose, most likely trying to avoid that dubious single-digit win season that would truly immortalize these players as one of the worst collections of talent and effort, well, ever. Jersey has actually gone 3-9 in their last 12 games, which, amazingly, is far, far better than their season record, percentage-wise, and they're rolling on a 4-game ATS win streak. Only one of those 4 games was "pretty," the 20-point road win over the Knicks, but the value is still there with this team, since the other 3 covers came by a combined 4 points. Yep, 3 winners by 4 points, the ultimate sign that oddsmakers' lines on Nets games are sharp as a tack, and that by playing the value side, you're putting yourself in the driver's seat. I lean Jersey, situationally, and I lean Over, since I think the Thunder go 85% on defense in this one.

Wizards @ Pistons - Detroit by 5 with a total of 191.5. When I see this line, I think of two things. One, this line is telling me that books believe the Pistons and Wizards are equals, and two, oddsmakers think the public is going to give enough love to the Wizards to warrant a line with no clear-at-first-glance line value. Detroit has shown this season that they have what it takes to beat the Wizards, and when they're rested, as we've seen, they can actually compete. Obviously, the Rodney Stuckey situation limits Detroit's ability to get into the paint, and he was really playing well before the passing out incident. Still, the veterans left on this team are playing like they care, and though Utah came into Detroit and beat them by 11, the Jazz are a team on a mission, and I don't think we can really learn much about Detroit's level of commitment from that loss. On the other side, I happen to believe the Wizards are running out of gas. They lost to the Hawks last night by 8, at home, and that makes 5 straight losses, and 1-4 ATS mark in that same stretch. It seems like they muster the strength to really compete once every few games now, the bigger ones, then go at 90% in the others. The offseason is near, and guys like Andray Blatche have more or less locked up a starting spot going forward, so what's left? It's tanking time. The Wizards are just 5-8 ATS in back-to-back games, so they have not been strong when fatigued, though they've only played 1 back-to-back game since the All Star Break, and they covered, barely. I think Detroit's veterans show the young guys how it's done, and I lean Pistons. I've also been surprised at how Detroit's tempo has picked up lately, and that makes this total tough to read - I think we see Detroit try to win against a young team with defense, and I lean just slightly to the Under.

Nuggets @ Hornets - Denver by 4.5 with a total of 210.5. Sorry guys, it's time for the Hornets to pack it in. There are very few teams in a bigger free-fall than the Hornets right now, though certainly an argument could be made for the Clippers here, too. The question is, are we still getting any value by going against New Orleans, or have the books and public caught up with the collapse? The key, as I noted on the podcast, is that this team has realized that their season goal, of getting into the playoffs and competing in the postseason, is dead. The losses are mounting, Chris Paul didn't return to lead the way, and the guys that stepped up for a month have nothing left in the tank. Other teams are gameplanning for the up-tempo style of offense, and the Hornets aren't getting the kinds of easy shots they were when Chris Paul first went down and they decided to alter their style of play. And the worst part is that the defense has been bad, too. I happen to think this line is pretty fair, given how these teams have been handicapped against common opponents, so I don't know that a bettor would be giving up all that much by playing the Nuggets. Denver isn't really in a look-ahead spot, and they're certainly not in a letdown spot, and they've been consistently winning by 8-10 points of late. I suppose the concern is that Kenyon Martin, the player that really makes Denver "nasty", might be the key cog in making sure they stomp on lesser teams on the road late in the season. These teams have played surprisingly close games this year, but I have to believe Chris Paul was a big reason in those. And this is that time of year where making a square play might not actually be so square - I lean Nuggets. On the total, 210.5 seems very, very high, especially with the Hornets slowing offensive rhythm and the Nuggets lower scoring on the road. I lean Under.

Spurs @ Wolves - San Antonio by 5 with a total of 203. If there was a list of five teams that I just haven't had a great read on this season, the Spurs would definitely be among those 5. They were fairly predictable for the first month or two, winning at home and scoring a ton of points, then losing on the road and looking awful, but then the inconsistency set in. There is just no way to know what the heck this Spurs club is going to do from one game to the next. I'll give credit where credit's due, though - they've been playing better over the last two weeks. They've won 5 of 6 games, losing just their match with the Lebron-less Cavs, and to a bunch of backups that played way over their heads. But, to the Spurs credit, they bounced back with a home win over the Knicks. They take on the Wolves tonight and the Clippers tomorrow, so they have a couple winnable games, and two contests they desperately need to help lock up one of the lower Western Conference playoff seeds. I suppose the question isn't truly whether they win, but whether they cover, and when I don't feel that the underdog has a good chance to win the game, I have a tough time backing them. The Wolves look like they've about given up on the season, as well, and I'm not sure they deserve the 6-point swing for home court edge. San Antonio killed the Wolves when they played in Texas, which makes me think the Spurs match up pretty well with Minny, and once again guys, I lean to the square side - the Spurs just need this one more. I think San Antonio comes to play defense here, too; I like the Under.

Jazz @ Bucks - A Pick with a total of 195.5. How about this one? This actually has the makings to be one of the most interesting games on the card. The red hot Jazz and red hot Bucks going head to head to see which is hotter. Of course, it makes for an awful game to bet, but a great game to watch. This is why living rooms should have multiple TV's. Situationally, neither of these teams is in a particularly bad spot, and neither particularly good. The Bucks are coming off a wildly emotional win over the Celtics, so this is a trademark letdown spot for Milwaukee. The Jazz have a Divisional showdown coming with the Thunder in their next game, so this is something of a potential look-ahead, though with the way the Bucks have been playing, you know Utah is going to come out ready. Utah also crushed the Bucks in Salt Lake City back in late January, so I suppose there's a little revenge on the side of the Bucks. But here we go, bouncing back and forth between these two blindingly hot teams, and basically, when this situation presents itself, the best bet on this one is no bet. I happen to think the Jazz are a little too strong for Milwaukee, but the Bucks have impressed me before. I am making this game an official PASS on the side. On the total, we know Utah wants to get into an offensive game, and Milwaukee likely wants to play some strong defense, but I'm just not sure who ends up dictating how this one gets played. I'm inclined to think Utah gets this thing up around 100 apiece, and I lean Over.

Lakers @ Suns - Lakers by 1.5 with a total of 213.5. This is a series dominated by the home team, with the Lakers creaming the Suns twice in LA before the Suns came back with a strong showing in Phoenix. But wait, all of those games occurred in 2009. Could these two teams really be facing off for the first time in 2010? Yep. This is roughly the same spread we saw the last time the Lakers came to Phoenix, so you have to wonder if we'll see the same result. The Lakers are scuffling a bit, and needed a last-second jumper from Kobe just to clear the Raptors at home, and the problem has clearly been at the defensive end. The Lakers have given up at least 96 points in all 4 of these rather ugly games, including over 100 in regulation to the offensively challenged Heat, and 107 to the Raptors, who, for what it's worth, do push the pace a tad. Now, if you thought Toronto wanted to score, how about the Suns. Phoenix knows they're not going to win a battle of the bigs, since Robin Lopez and Channing Frye just simply can't compete with Bynum and Gasol. However, if the Lakers don't start defending, Phoenix is going to get whatever they want. Am I confident enough to say that the Suns win this game outright, and the Lakers lose another on the road? Boy, that is really putting the pressure on Phoenix, but I happen to think they play a solid game. The monster concern is that Phoenix hasn't played in almost a week! Are they rusty or smooth? Very tough game to handicap, though on long rest, the Suns have been pretty good, and 6 days to prepare for the Lakers is a long, long time. Lean to Phoenix, and lean to the Over, courtesy of the Lakers matador defense.

Blazers @ Kings - Portland by 2 with a total of 194. I don't like fading the Blazers on back-to-backs, since those 2 points they get in the line is basically 2 free points. They are a ridiculous 12-3 ATS in back-to-back games this year, far and away their strongest record of any "rest" situation. It's almost like they not only get 2 points in line value, but also double their team-wide focus, wreaking havoc on unsuspecting teams that expect them to come out sluggish. And it hasn't really mattered the situation, either. Coming off an overtime loss in Chicago, they crushed the Wolves; coming off a big home loss to the Thunder right before the All Star Break, they rolled into Phoenix and shot 70% for a half. It's borderline incredible, at times. For Sacramento, they're clearly playing better basketball as Jason Thompson gets healthy, and Carl Landry gets worked into the offense. He is a much, much better fit for this team than Kevin Martin, who didn't seem to be confident in the offense, and ultimately needs to take 15-20 shots a game to feel useful. Now, the Kings can play Donte Greene, Omri Casspi and Cisco Garcia at the 2 and 3 spots, and get nice defense and some offense from all three. Bottom line, Sacramento is building around Tyreke Evans, so to have complementary pieces, and some skilled big men who can do a few different things (Thompson rebounding, Hawes shooting from perimeter and blocking shots, Landry the undersized scorer) is a nice little bonus. Still, Portland is surging from that 4th quarter - they're feeling good, and I think the Blazers get it done on the back-to-back again, and they'll do it with defense, so I like the Under.

Trend Report - Friday
By Ed Meyer

Clippers at Bobcats – The Clippers are 0-8 ATS (-11.4 ppg) since December 27, 2007 with at least one day of rest after a game on the road after a loss in which they made more baskets than their opponent. The Bobcats are 6-0 ATS (8.2 ppg) since November 05, 2008 after a game in which they had at least 15 fewer shot attempts than their opponent. The Bobcats are 6-0-1 ATS (8.0 ppg) since March 28, 2009 after a game on the road in which they shot at least 50% from the field.

Jazz at Bucks – The Jazz are 7-0 ATS (6.1 ppg) since December 21, 2009 with at least one day of rest after a game in which more than 75% of their baskets were assisted. The Bucks are 13-0-1 ATS (8.5 ppg) since January 05, 2010 before playing at home. The Bucks are 9-0 ATS (6.0 ppg) since December 02, 2009 after a game at home in which they scored less than 15% of their points from the free throw line.

Pacers at Celtics – The Pacers are 7-0 ATS (6.0 ppg) since January 07, 2009 on the road when they had at least ten more assists in their previous game than in the game before. The Celtics are 0-10 ATS (-8.9 ppg) since November 03, 2006 when playing the second game of a two game homestand after losing the first. The Celtics are 0-9 ATS (-9.3 ppg) since April 04, 1997 at home with at most one day of rest after a game in which they controlled 40% or less of the available rebounds.

Knicks at Grizzlies – The Knicks are 11-0 ATS (11.4 ppg) since April 02, 1998 after a double digit loss against the Spurs. The Knicks are 7-0-1 ATS (5.6 ppg) since February 23, 2003 on the road with at least one day of rest after a road loss in which their field goal attempt per turnover ratio was at least eight. The Grizzlies are 10-0-1 ATS (10.8 ppg) since February 21, 2000 with at least one day of rest after a double digit road win in which their DPS was at least plus 15 points.

Bulls at Heat – The Heat are 0-8 ATS (-10.9 ppg) since April 06, 2006 at home after a home win in which they shot at least ten three-pointers and made at least half of them. The Heat are 0-7 ATS (-12.3 ppg) since November 12, 2008 after a game at home in which they scored more than 25% of their points from the free throw line.

Nuggets at Hornets – The Hornets are 8-0 ATS (9.2 ppg) since December 19, 2007 after a game on the road in which they scored at least 25 fewer points than in the game before. The Nuggets are 0-6-1 ATS (-10.6 ppg) since March 18, 2009 with at most one day of rest after a win in which they committed fewer than ten turnovers.

Trailblazers at Kings – The Trailblazers are 8-0 ATS (10.1 ppg) since March 11, 2008 and when facing a team they beat in their first two match-ups of the season. The Kings are 8-0 ATS (6.5 ppg) since December 28, 2001 with at least one day of rest after a double digit home win in which they were whistled for fewer than 15 personal fouls.

Wizards at Pistons – The Pistons are 0-14 ATS (-7.7 ppg) since March 22, 2009 after a game in which they committed fewer than ten turnovers. The Pistons are 0-9 ATS (-7.9 ppg) since January 13, 2009 at home after a double digit loss in which they allowed at least 50% from the field.

Cavaliers at 76ers – The Cavaliers are 8-0 ATS (7.2 ppg) since January 15, 2008 on the road with 3+ days rest.

Lakers at Suns – The Lakers are 6-0 ATS (6.9 ppg) since April 20, 1999 on the road off a home win that broke at least a three-game losing streak. The Suns are 0-8 ATS (-9.2 ppg) since December 19, 2000 with two or more days of rest after a game in which they had at least 10 shots blocked.

Nets at Thunder – The Nets are 7-0 ATS (5.4 ppg) since February 03, 2010 on the road when facing a team they lost to in their previous same-season match-up. The Thunder are 7-0 ATS (10.4 ppg) since November 17, 2009 after a game in which they scored less than 10% of their points from the three-point line.

Spurs at Timberwolves – The Timberwolves are 0-9 ATS (-7.7 ppg) since February 24, 2008 at home after a game at home in which the percentage of their baskets that were assisted was at least ten percentage points higher than their season-to-date average.