Sunday's Best NBA Bet
Miami Heat at Oklahoma City Thunder
If the Thunder goes as Kevin Durant goes, then Oklahoma City had better hope its star player and MVP candidate keeps crashing the boards.
In the six games this season where Durant has collected double-digit rebounds, he has cracked the 30-point margin in four of those outings. It might not sound like much, but that is about two points per game more than his season average.
And every bit matters for the Thunder.
In a 118-117 overtime win over the Timberwolves earlier this week, the “Durantula” snagged a career-high 18 rebounds. Not surprisingly, this aggressive mentality carried over to his scoring, where he dropped a career-high tying 47.
“I’m just running in there trying to get them,” Durant said. “In college, I was a good rebounder and I wanted to bring that to the league. I think my first two seasons I got away from it. Last year, I did better, and this year I’m trying to do a little better as well.”
And he should get plenty of chances to grab rebounds against the Heat. Miami has been outrebounded in five of their past eight games as an opponent also has finished as the game-high rebounder five times over that span.
Pick: Oklahoma City
NBA Betting Preview: Celtics at LA Lakers
By: Stephen Nover
The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers are showing a lot of age, but they still are dominant teams.
The two clash Sunday at 12:30 p.m. PT on ABC at Staples Center. It’s the first meeting since the Lakers beat the Celtics in Game 7 at home in June to win their second consecutive world title.
The 33-14 Lakers have the second-best record in the Western Conference, while only San Antonio has a better mark than Boston’s 35-11 record.
Los Angeles won Game 6 at Staples Center beating Boston, 89-67 as six-point favorites, and held off the Celtics, 83-79, as seven-point home favorites to win the title last season.
Each of the last five games in the Celtics-Lakers playoff series went ‘under.’ The teams meet again Feb. 10 in Boston.
Perhaps in anticipation of their Sunday showdown, both the Celtics and Lakers were terrible in their last game.
The Celtics fell to Phoenix, 88-71, as 4½-point road favorites on Friday. It was Boston’s lowest-scoring game of the season and it came to the Suns, who rank second-from-the-bottom defensively giving up 107 points per game.
Boston entered the game as the top shooting team in the NBA, but made just 34 percent of its field goals, including 2-of-18 from beyond the arc.
Center Kendrick Perkins is back for Boston having played in the last three games after being out all season following knee surgery. Shaquille O’Neal played 15 minutes against the Suns after missing the past three games due to a sore right hip. It was his first time playing alongside Perkins.
But Boston’s front-line depth is down with Jermaine O’Neal out with a knee injury. Glen Davis, averaging 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in a reserve role, missed the second half of the Phoenix game with a strained right hamstring.
The Lakers were equally putrid on Friday night falling to Sacramento, 100-95, as 12-point home favorites. It was just the third time in their last 13 games that the Lakers have given up 100 or more points.
Kobe Bryant, the leading All-Star vote getter, scored 38 points in the loss making 13 of 27 shots from the floor.
Bryant entered the Kings matchup averaging 23.4 points, 6.4 assists and shooting 55.3 percent from the field during his past eight games. Bryant ranks sixth in scoring averaging 25.1 points per contest.
However, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom combined for only 13 points against the Kings on four-of-18 shooting from the floor.
The loss was just the Lakers’ third in their last 13 games and snapped a seven-game home winning streak. Los Angeles is 5-3 ATS in its last eight home matchups, but 7-10-1 ATS the last 18 times it has been ‘chalk.’
This marks the third road in four days for Boston. The Celtics close their four-game West Coast swing at Sacramento on Tuesday.
Despite their inept performance at Phoenix, the Celtics still are No. 1 in field goal percentage at 49.9. The Celtics rate No. 2 defensively surrendering 91.5 points a game.
Rajon Rondo leads the NBA in assists averaging 12.5 a game. The Celtics have covered 20 of the last 28 times following a defeat.
The ‘under’ has cashed in Boston’s last five road contests. The Celtics are 20-7-1 ‘under’ during their past 28 games versus Pacific Division foes and 13-6 ‘under’ in their last 19 games against Western Conference opponents.
The ‘under’ has cashed in 26 of the Lakers’ last 36 games.
Boston is 13-5-1 ATS during its past 19 games versus the Lakers and have covered in seven of its last 10 road games against the Lakers.
NBA on ABC: What Bettors Need to Know
By Ricky Dimon
Miami Heat at Oklahoma City Thunder
Feeling the Heat
The Heat have won two straight and three of four following a four-game losing skid earlier this month, but they are still significantly banged up. In fact, LeBron James could be the only one of the “Big 3” to suit up at Oklahoma City Sunday.
Chris Bosh has missed four consecutive games with an ankle injury and Dwyane Wade was a late scratch from Friday’s one-point win over Detroit due to a sprained wrist. Wade’s status was announced just 15 minutes before tipoff and his availability for Sunday could also come down to the wire.
“No one feels sorry for us,” LeBron James said after Friday’s victory. “No matter who's in uniform, guys have to step up.”
James did just that, torching the Pistons for 39 points while adding eight rebounds and nine assists. Mike Miller had a double-double (12 points, 10 boards) and Eddie House chipped in 15 points.
Still, the Heat are extremely short-handed without Wade and Bosh and although coach Erik Spoelstra has not ruled out a Bosh return Sunday, the forward is not expected to make an appearance until February 3.
The Big 2
Miami's Big 3 may be reduced to just one, but the Thunder has a "Big 2" and it’s still going strong.
Kevin Durant is averaging 28.6 points per game and has reached the 40-point mark in two straight outings. He exploded for 47 points and 18 rebounds in a Wednesday win over Minnesota and he poured in 40 against the Wizards Friday.
Russell Westbrook is averaging 22.4 points and 8.4 assists. He has scored at least 15 points in 11 straight games and he produced a triple-double with 35 points, 13 assists, and 13 boards Friday.
“I feel I’m playing well,” said Westbrook, who is the only player in the league averaging 22 points, eight points, and five rebounds per contest. “But I always can do better. I definitely think it’s an improved season from my second year. It’s been another step for me.”
A day off Saturday is good news for the Thunder, but Durant, Westbrook and company could be hard-pressed to keep it up. Will they be feeling the effects of going to overtime against Minnesota and double overtime against Washington?
Trending topics
The Heat are 1-5-1 ATS in their last six overall. The over is 7-3 in their last 10 overall.
Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers
Boston Massacre
Friday's visit to Phoenix was disastrous in pretty much every way for the Celtics. Not only did they lose 88-71, but both Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers were ejected. Garnett got into an altercation with Channing Frye late in the fourth quarter and Rivers was not around that long, getting tossed in the second quarter for arguing.
Even Rajon Rondo had an off night, and he took the blame for the loss after turning the ball over seven times. "It starts with me," Rondo noted. "I've had back-to-back six and seven turnovers."
To add insult to injury, Kendrick Perkins missed the second half of the game with a strained hamstring. The Celtics have been rotating guys on and off the injury report all season long, and it continues. Just when Shaquille O'Neal (hip) returned from a three-game absence, now Perkins (who has been out for most of the year recovering from an ACL tear) looks sure to miss more time.
Caught looking ahead
For the Lakers, this showdown apparently started at least two days in advance. Hosting the lowly Sacramento Kings Friday night, L.A. somehow managed to lose 100-95 and admitted it had a different contest than the one at hand on its mind.
"We didn't even come out and defend the way we should have, myself in particular," explained Andrew Bynum, who saw DeMarcus Cousins go off for 27 points. "In the first half, I kind of disrespected Cousins and he got off to a blazing start. You can't do that in the NBA. Can't take a night off defensively."
The Lakers hope Friday night was a wakeup call, but that was not the case when they got hammered by Milwaukee ahead of a Christmas Day clash with Miami. Instead, they laid another egg and got blown out by the Heat 96-80.
“Some teams play better than you on some nights and are better prepared,” head coach Phil Jackson lamented Friday. “I can't even explain it. I'm not even going to try…. Sometimes it serves a purpose, not damage. Guys get back and get back to their game and aggressiveness.”
We’ll find out if the Lakers can spit it into some kind of positive Sunday.
Finals rematch
This will be the season’s first installment of one of the best rivalries in all of sports. While the Celtics and Lakers have not yet faced each other this season, they obviously have plenty of recent history with one another.
Two of the last three NBA Finals have featured these two powerhouses, with the Celtics prevailing in six games three seasons ago before the Lakers exacted revenge in seven games last summer.
Bryant averaged 28.6 points per game during the 2010 NBA Finals and the Celtics will also have to do a better job of putting a body on Gasol, who pulled in more than 11 rebounds per contest. Rondo led Boston in rebounds, assists and steals over the seven-game slate and he also delivered a triple-double in a Game 2 win at the Staples Center.
Trending topics
The under is 5-0 in the Celtics last five road games.
The Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games against teams with winning SU records. The under is 5-1 in their last six home games.
The under is 5-0 in the last five meetings between Boston and Los Angeles.
Tips and Trends
Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers
CELTICS: Boston is coming off a rare loss, as they lost both the battle and the war against Portland. F Kevin Garnett was ejected due to a poke to the groin. The Celtics played a physical game, and it ended up costing them a win in the end. Boston has been playing at an elite level all year long, as they have the best record in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics are 35-11 SU and 22-2-2 ATS overall this season. Boston has revenge on their minds, as the last time they faced the Lakers they lost in the NBA Finals. Boston is 13-8 SU and 12-9 ATS on the road this year. The Celtics are 5-2 ATS this season as the listed underdog. The Celtics are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 Sunday games. Boston is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games after scoring less than 75 points in their previous game. The Celtics are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following a SU loss of more than 10 points. Boston is 20-8 ATS in their last 28 games following a SU loss. The Celtics are 6-14-1 ATS in their last 21 games against the NBA Pacific.
Celtics are 5-2 ATS last 7 games as a road underdog.
Over is 7-0 last 7 games following an ATS loss.
Key Injuries - F Glen Davis (hamstring) is questionable.
Projected Score: 89
LAKERS: (-3, O/U 185) Los Angeles is starting to have a critical flaw, as they continue to play to the level of their competition. That could be a good thing today, as the Lakers tackle the elite Boston Celtics. The Lakers lost at home inexplicably to Sacramento in their last game. Los Angeles is 33-14 SU and 21-25-1 ATS overall this season. The Lakers are currently in 2nd place in the Western Conference, 7 games behind San Antonio. The Lakers are 18-6 SU and 10-14 ATS in home games this year. The Lakers are 21-25 ATS as the listed favorite this season. Los Angeles is 5-7 ATS after a SU loss as the listed favorite. The Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against a team with a winning SU record. Los Angeles is 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite up to 4.5 points. The Lakers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games against a team with a winning road record.
Lakers are 4-0 ATS last 4 games following a SU loss.
Under is 8-0 last 8 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Key Injuries - C Theo Ratliff (knee) is out.
Projected Score: 98 (SIDE of the Day)
Inside the Paint - Sunday
By Chris David
Sunday’s televised card features two non-conference battles, highlighted by the Lakers-Celtics rivalry from the Staples Center. Before those contenders square off, the first matchup pits Miami and Oklahoma City. It’s fair to say that the Heat and Thunder both have a legitimate chance to reach the NBA Finals and the two clubs will be expected to achieve that level of play for seasons to come.
Unfortunately on Friday, bettors backing these teams watched the above quartet go 2-2 straight up and 0-4 against the spread. Looking ahead? Going through the motions? Whatever you want to call it, it was evident. Let’s hope gamblers pick the right squad on Sunday.
Miami (32-14 SU, 20-25 ATS) at Oklahoma City (30-16 SU, 23-23 ATS): After losing to the Knicks (88-93) on Thursday, the Heat bounced back with an 88-87 win over the Pistons on Friday but it wasn’t easy. Miami was without All-Stars Chris Bosh (ankle) and Dwyane Wade (wrist) and trailed by four points heading into the final quarter. The Heat squeaked out the win on some clutch free throws from Eddie House but never came close to covering as nine-point home favorites. In their last seven, the club is 2-5 SU and 1-6 ATS, plus both wins came at home. The ‘over’ has gone 4-3 during this span.
Miami will be playing its third game in four days when it visits Oklahoma City this afternoon and it’s got to be furious with the league over this travel. After this one-day trip to the Midwest, the team faces Cleveland at home tomorrow.
The Thunder is off a double-overtime win against Washington (124-117) on Friday but they didn’t turn it on until late and they still failed to cover as a 10½-point ‘chalk.’ Head coach Scott Brooks and his troops have gone 7-3 SU and 5-5 ATS over their last 10 but all of those outcomes have been decided by single digits. During this span, three of the contests were at home and Oklahoma City did come out on top in those games by nine, three and the aforementioned seven-point win over the Wizards.
No early line on the contest due to Wade’s status, which is currently day-to-day. Also, Bosh made the road trip but he’s still tabbed ‘out’ for this afternoon.
Last year, Oklahoma City won and covered both contests against Miami in double-digit fashion. The total went 1-1. Miami owns a 15-9 SU and 13-11 ATS mark on the road, while Oklahoma City has produced a 17-6 SU and 12-11 ATS ledger at the Ford Center.
Oklahoma City has gone 14-4 versus the Eastern Conference and the three of the setbacks were against playoff caliber teams in the Celtics, Bulls and Knicks. Miami hasn’t been as fortunate, going 11-7 in non-conference affairs with four of those losses on the road.
Boston (35-11 SU, 21-23 ATS) at L.A. Lakers (33-14 SU, 21-25 ATS): In case you’ve forgotten, Los Angeles stopped Boston in seven games of the NBA Finals last year. The Lakers trailed 3-2 before winning Game 6 and 7 on their homecourt, giving the club back-to-back championships. Prior to this two-year run, Boston hoisted the hardware by defeating the Lakers in the finals during the 2007 season. Will we see the pair battling against one another this June? It’s very arguable, but along with the two teams mentioned above, there are some serious threats that could knock either squad off in the playoffs.
Even though the Lakers and Celtics both possess the all-important combination of talent, experience and most importantly size, the duo seems to go through the motions. And you really can’t blame them, considering they both own 11-game leads in their divisions and we haven’t reached the All-Star break yet it. However, it’s frustrating as a gambler when you’re trying to handicap a team’s desire to bring it.
On Friday, Boston was handed its worst loss of the season at Phoenix (71-88) and Los Angeles was embarrassed at home to Sacramento (95-100). Will give the Celtics a little bit of a pass because they beat Portland (88-78) one night earlier and they’re on the road. We’re not as forgiving to the Lakers. Not covering the 12½-point number is one thing but losing to the Kings is unacceptable. It’s understood that Sacramento is playing much better lately but the Lakers’ home record (18-6 SU, 10-14 ATS) is confusing. Four of those losses came to teams under .500 (Suns, Kings, Bucks, Pacers) and the other two were against the Grizzlies (24-24) and the Heat on Christmas Day. And prior to this setback, L.A. went 3-1 both SU and ATS against the Thunder, Mavs, Nuggets and Jazz.
The Lakers were healthy favorites in five of the six losses and a short price in the other against Miami (-3.5). Today, Los Angeles is laying a similar number (3) and the role of the underdog has been good for Boston backers this season. Doc Rivers and company are 4-3 SU and 5-2 ATS when catching points. The Celtics have gone 13-8 SU and 12-9 ATS on the road this season.
Total players watched the number drop from an opener of 186 to 185 and 184½ at some offshore outfits. Six of the seven games in last year’s finals went ‘under’ the number, rather easily too. Boston (13-8) has been ‘under’ team on the road and L.A. (16-8) has seem the same total trend occur at Staples Center.
Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. EST and ABC will provide coverage of this affair after the Heat and Thunder wrap up the first part of the double-header.
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