Monday's Best Basketball Bets
Los Angeles Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies (-6, 203)
The Clippers finish off a successful road trip Monday in Memphis and they’re hoping to build upon a great effort on Saturday.
Los Angeles ripped the Washington Wizards 122-101 as a 2.5-point favorite, covering for the fifth time in six games. Blake Griffin led the way with all 26 of his points in the opening 24 minutes and Mo Williams chipped in 22.
"Blake is a phenomenal player," Wizards coach Flip Saunders told the media postgame. "He puts so much pressure on you. He has great strength. He is phenomenal in the open floor."
It was an impressive showing from the Clippers after they looked flat in a loss to New Jersey, a game that Griffin had a chance to win at the charity stripe. But it was encouraging to see Los Angeles rebound by pushing the pace all night against Washington.
They’ll hope to do the same against the Grizzlies, who have lost consecutive games, including a blowout defeat against the Heat.
Pick: Clippers
Golden State Warriors at Sacramento Kings (-1, 217)
The Sacramento Kings have lost six consecutive games and are desperately missing injured guard Tyreke Evans, who averages better than 18 points a night.
Evans has missed the last 13 games with plantar fasciitis and while the team would love to have him back, there is talk that he may not get back on the court this season. It’s not like the Kings have a whole lot to play for at this point to rush him back.
To make matters worse, starting point guard Beno Udrih also sat out Saturday’s 115-103 loss to New Orleans as he battled the flu. His status is still in question for Monday’s game.
Golden State has a quick turnaround after hosting Minnesota on Sunday, but the Warriors have covered in each of their last five meetings with the Kings and should be able to get it done on the road here.
Pick: Warriors
What Bettors Need to Know: NBA doubleheader on ESPN
By Ricky Dimon
San Antonio Spurs at Miami Heat (-4, 199)
The Heat will be looking to avenge one (of many) of their most embarrassing losses this season when they visit the Spurs on Monday night for the second of two meetings between the two NBA Finals contenders. Part III of Miami’s recent and well-publicized five-game losing streak came in San Antonio on March 4. The home team—a 2.5-point favorite—humiliated the reeling visitors 125-95 in a contest that was over after one period (the Spurs led 36-12).
Miami’s “Big 3” shot the ball well and combined for 62 points, but the Heat hardly even attempted to play an ounce of defense. The Spurs showcased their typical team basketball and dished out 29 assists while shooting 46 for 82 from the floor, including a ridiculous 17 for 28 from downtown. An amazing eight guys in San Antonio uniforms scored in double-figures, led by Manu Ginobili’s 20 and Matt Bonner’s 18.
Turn up the Heat
Are Miami’s woes a thing of the past? You never know the way this team has been up and down the entire year, but the five-game slide certainly is in the rearview mirror.
The Heat have won two straight (2-0) ATS, both at home and both in impressive fashion. They toppled the Lakers 94-88 on Thursday then absolutely destroyed Memphis 118-85 on Saturday.
"They have been in a hole and they are trying to turn it around," Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins told the Miami Sun Sentinel. "They knew they had to back up the Thursday night game with this game.”
Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh led the way in both contests. Bosh scored 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting against L.A. and Wade did it all with 28 points, nine assists, three steals, and five blocks against Memphis.
Off-the-court items
Wade also scored a big victory in the courtroom over the weekend; he was awarded custody of his two sons.
“My life changed in a huge way," Wade told the Associated Press. "Mentally, I've been preparing for it for over a year now. To me, it's bigger than that. For me, it shows a lot of people that you need to fight to be in your kids' lives sometimes. You fight until you can't fight any more.”
Teammate Zydrunas Ilgauskas, meanwhile, was released from the hospital on Sunday after getting treated for a foot infection. However, he is not expected to suit up for Monday’s showdown.
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The Spurs are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 road games, but 3-8 ATS in their last 11 overall.
The Heat are 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games and 2-7 ATS in their last nine overall.
The over is 4-0 in San Antonio’s last four road games and 6-1 in their last seven overall. The over is 10-2 in Miami’s last 12 against the Western Conference.
Head-to-head, the Spurs are 4-0 ATS in the last four encounters. The under is 4-0 in the last four at Miami and 18-3 in the last 21 overall.
Orlando Magic at Los Angeles Lakers (N/A)
This is also a case of the home team gunning for serious revenge on Sunday. In the only previous meeting between the Magic and Lakers this season, Orlando—as a one-point favorite—hammered visiting L.A. 89-75.
Dwight Howard positively overtook the game, going for 31 points and 13 rebounds while missing only four total shots (13 of 16 from the floor, five of six from the line). Jason Richardson was the only other Magic player in double-figures, but the home team dominated the boards 46 to 34. Orlando, though, will want to cut down its turnovers; it coughed up the ball 16 time to the Lakers’ eight.
Kobe or not Kobe, that is the question
Kobe Bryant went down with what he called “the scariest” sprained ankle of his career during the third quarter of a 96-91 win at Dallas on Saturday. Bryant, though, returned in the fourth.
"I thought I was done; like done," he told the Los Angeles Times. "I was just praying that when I stood up, my foot was lined up straight. I thought I dislocated it.
"I had to stop being a chump and just suck it up and go out there and play…. Even though it looks horrible, I can still push off on it."
Bryant is listed as questionable, but he is expected to be good to go for Monday’s clash with Orlando.
This would not be a good time for Bryant to be sidelined, as the Lakers have won nine of their last 10 games (8-2 ATS). Orlando, on the other hand, had lost three of four (0-4 ATS) heading into a Sunday visit to Phoenix.
The Magic are 9-7 (6-10 ATS) in the second of back-to-back games this season.
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The Magic are 0-4 ATS in their last four overall and 1-4 ATS in their last five against the Western Conference.
The Lakers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 overall.
The under is 12-4 in Orlando’s last 16 overall.
Head-to-head, the Magic are 4-1-1 ATS in the last six at the Staples Center, but the Lakers are 4-1-1 ATS in the last six overall. The under is 5-0 in the last five in L.A. and 5-0 in the last five overall.
Miami Heat host Spurs on NBA betting slate
By: Stephen Nover
Maybe, just maybe, the Miami Heat are rolling once again.
There hasn’t been any crying in South Florida the past four days as the Heat have posted consecutive impressive home wins against the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies.
These victories came following five consecutive losses, a streak some thought impossible from a team featuring LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
But now another major test comes for the Heat courtesy of the San Antonio Spurs, owners of the best record in the NBA at 54-12. No other team has fewer than 17 losses and more than 47 victories.
The Heat host San Antonio Monday night at 5:05 PT with ESPN televising.
Miami’s mental toughness came into question, not to mention its status as an elite team, during the five-game losing streak that included a blown 24-point home lead to Orlando, a 30-point road loss to the Spurs and a one-point home loss to Chicago that left some players in tears.
During this five-game skid, Miami averaged 91.8 points. That’s 10 points down from their 101.6 season average per game.
Then, in perhaps their most crucial game of the season, the Heat defeated the Lakers, 94-88, this past Thursday as one-point home ‘dogs. The Lakers brought an eight-game winning streak into the matchup.
Now the Heat appear back on track following their most impressive showing of the year, destroying Memphis, 118-85, on Saturday night as 7½-point home favorites. The combined 203 points went ‘over’ the 197-point total.
Wade and James enjoyed huge games in the blowout. James scored 27 points despite sitting out the fourth quarter. Wade had a dazzling line of 28 points, nine assists, five rebounds and five blocked shots. The last guard to have statistics like that in a game was Michael Jordan in 1988.
Perhaps lost in the glare of Wade and James was recently acquired veteran point guard Mike Bibby. He produced 17 points and four assists in 25 minutes while connecting on all five of his shots from beyond the arc.
Bibby’s presence has aided starting point guard Mario Chalmers, who is shooting 47 percent from the field and 53 percent from three-point territory during the last five games.
As criticized as the Heat have been this season, they still were within 2½ games of Boston for the top spot in the Eastern Conference going into Sunday’s action.
Miami also clinched a postseason berth with 17 games remaining, the earliest it has accomplished that feat in franchise history.
San Antonio keeps winning but hasn’t been highly motivated. The Spurs are 8-3 in their last 11 games, but just 3-8 ATS.
The Spurs did cover in their last game, defeating Houston this past Saturday, 115-107, as one-point road underdogs. The combined 222 points went ‘over’ the 211-point total.
The Rockets had won seven of their first nine games following the All-Star break going into their matchup against San Antonio. Tony Parker led the Spurs with 21 points. Manu Ginobili chipped in 19 points while Antonio McDyess had 12 points and 12 rebounds.
San Antonio has covered in eight of its last 11 road contests. The Spurs conclude a three-game road trip at Dallas on Friday giving them three days off following this matchup.
The Spurs buried the Heat, 125-95, when they hosted them on March 4. San Antonio was 2½-point favorites and the combined 220 points went ‘over’ the 195½-point total.
The Spurs hit a record 17 3-pointers in the victory. The Heat may still have been in a funk losing to Orlando the night before after blowing a 24-point lead.
The ‘under’ has cashed in six of the past seven times Miami has met a team with a winning record. The ‘over’ has cashed in six of San Antonio’s last seven games.