Sunday's Best NBA Bets
Boston Celtics at Oklahoma City Thunder (-1.5, 197)
Boston center Shaquille O’Neal has missed three straight games due to a knee injury and he is doubtful for Sunday’s showdown at Oklahoma City. In fact, O’Neal could sit out an entire four-game road trip this week.
The good news for the Celtics is that they have Glen Davis and Jermaine O’Neal to pick up the slack down low. O’Neal (Jermaine version) scored 12 points in two of the three games without Shaq and Davis is averaging 13.7 ppg and 14.7 rpg this season.
The Celtics are 3-0 in the three games without Shaq and they have won their past two in overtime; on Wednesday against Milwaukee and on Friday against Chicago. In a clash with the up-and-coming Thunder (3-2), knowing how to win close games will likely be a factor.
“This is going to be big for us,” Kevin Garnett said of the road trip. “I think (the win over the Bulls) was important from a momentum standpoint of trying to carry the momentum over to this road trip. You don’t ever want to start a road trip with a loss. It’s a huge road trip for us.”
Pick: Celtics
Phoenix Suns at Atlanta Hawks (-6, 207.5)
After a humiliating four-game playoff drubbing at the hands of Orlando last season, the Hawks could not have been expected to be the Eastern Conference’s last undefeated team one season later. But that is exactly the case for 6-0 Atlanta.
Marvin Williams and Mo Evans are still out for the Hawks, but they also missed Friday’s game at Minnesota and the visitors still prevailed. That’s what happens when you have a bench that can contribute 47 points a night, as Atlanta’s reserves did on Friday.
Jamal Crawford, who won last season’s Sixth Man Award, scored 22. “He gives us exactly what we need,” head coach Larry Drew said of Crawford. “He plays his role coming off the bench better than anybody I’ve seen.”
The Hawks’ schedule has not been daunting so far, but neither is a home matchup with Phoenix. “Last year we gave up games like this to teams that didn’t make the playoffs,” Al Horford noted after beating the Timberwolves. “We are heading in the right direction, and it’s good to see.”
Pick: Hawks
NBA Betting odds: Boston Celtics hit road at Oklahoma City Thunder
By: Michael Robinson | Saturday, November 6, 2010
The Boston Celtics have their toughest road test of the season when they visit Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night.
This starts a difficult four-game trip that continues with Dallas and Miami, and finishes with Memphis next Saturday.
The Celtics are 5-1 straight-up, but just 2-4 against the spread. They needed overtime to win their last two games, both at home. The latest was Friday over Chicago, 110-105 as 7 ½-point favorites.
The 215 combined points went ‘over' the 194 ½-point total. The ‘over' is 4-0 in Boston's last four games, although the last two would've gone ‘under' if not for overtime. Boston has allowed only one opponent (New York Knicks, 101) to break 100 points in regulation.
The Celtics have played just two road games (1-1 SU and ATS). They lost at Cleveland 95-87 on Oct. 27, the night after an emotional home win over Miami. They did cruise (109-86) last Tuesday over a bad Detroit team.
Boston was favored in those two road games, but should be a small ‘dog on Sunday. The team went 8-7-1 ATS as a road ‘dog last year.
One of Boston's improved aspects is depth. Center Kendrick Perkins (knee) is out until at least February, so big men Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal were both signed as free agents.
The 38-year-old Shaq has missed the last three games (knee) and is questionable for Sunday. Jermaine O'Neal has filled in decently as the starter, playing about 20 minutes per game. Glen ‘Big Baby' Davis (13.7 PPG) is also seeing extensive minutes off the bench.
Davis, Marquis Daniels and Nate Robinson need to keep the starters fresh on this road trip. League assist leader Rajon Rondo (15.5 per game) is the only starter under 32.
The Thunder (3-2 SU, 2-3 ATS) are the opposite of Boston as they're very young (oldest starter 27) and are ascending towards the NBA elite. They won 50 games last year and took the Lakers to six games in the opening playoff round.
This season has been uneven after an opening home win and 'cover' over Chicago (106-95 as seven-point favorites). They went 0-3 ATS, including a surprising 120-99 home loss to Utah. The Jazz won the assist battle 32-10.
The Thunder did get a big overtime win and ‘cover' at Portland on Thursday night. The final was 107-106 as 5 ½-point ‘dogs and they hope it gives them momentum on their four game homestand.
Oklahoma City is scoring 101.8 PPG (14th in the league). That's about the same as last year (101.5 PPG). Superstar Durant (26.4 PPG) is actually down almost four points (30.1 PPG last season), but that's not a bad thing.
Point guard Russell Westbrook (22.2 PPG) and forward Jeff Green (19.4 PPG) have both substantially increased their output, making for a dangerous trio. However, there's a depth issue with backup power forward Serge Ibaka (11 PPG) the only other player over 6.2 PPG.
The defense for Scott Brooks' team has been troubling at 106.4 PPG (ranked 24th). That's helped the ‘over' go 5-0. The defensive effort needs to be a lot better against Boston.
Oklahoma City has just one injury to report with reserve forward Nick Collison (knee) out until at least mid November.
Boston won in Oklahoma City 105-87 last December, with the Thunder turning trick up north in March (109-104). Durant scored 37 points each game, with the ‘over' going 2-0.
The Thunder are just 6-18 ATS in their last 24 Sunday games. The Celtics are 4-0 ATS in their last four Sunday contests.
Tip-off from the Ford Center is 4:00 p.m. (PT). NBA TV will have the coverage.