Sunday's Best NBA Bet
Philadelphia 76ers at Cleveland Cavaliers
The 76ers are playing with something not seen in Philadelphia in a long time: swagger.
The Sixers are 7-3 SU and 6-4 ATS over their past 10, playing their way into the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference. Not bad for a team viewed as a collection of stiff forwards and poor-shooting wings entering the season.
Coach Doug Collins has preached defense first, shots second and the result has been wins – and high scores. Because Collins uses a deep bench, the team has no true superstar but a relentless energy that leads to scores of fast-break points and inflated totals.
In two games since the All-Star break, Philadelphia has had 12 players crack double figures. During a 110-94 victory over Detroit on Friday, the team racked up 31 fast-break points as Elton Brand, Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young each broke the 20-point barrier.
The over is 7-1 in the Sixers’ last eight road games, 4-0 in their past four contests overall.
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers have been scoring a ton lately, too, with the over going 6-0 in their past six. Over that span, the team has topped the century mark five times. Veteran Antawn Jamison has been the catalyst. He's averaged 25.2 points over that span – more than seven points above his season average.
Pick: Over
Sunday's NBA Betting Preview
By David Chan
Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder (-1, 201)
The Thunder will get a chance to avenge a loss earlier in the season when they host the Lakers in a nationally-televised showdown Sunday afternoon.
At the Staples Center on January 17, Los Angeles handled Kevin Durant and Co. for a 101-94 victory and covered the 4.5-point spread. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol led five Lakers in double figures with 21 points apiece.
Pau Gasol headlines a towering Lakers frontcourt.
For Oklahoma City, Durant went for 24 on just 8-for-24 shooting while Russell Westbrook carried the visitors with 32 points. The Thunder turned it over just nine times to their opponents’ 15 turnovers, but they were doomed by dismal 2-for-22 shooting from long range.
Thunder rolled
Oklahoma City is one of many NBA teams in a transition state following this week’s trade deadline.
Jeff Green headed to Boston while the Thunder acquired Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson from the Celtics. The shorthanded squad did not fare well in its first post-deadline game at Orlando Friday night. Oklahoma City, a 6-point underdog, got blown out by the Magic 111-88.
Robinson will be available for Sunday’s contest, but Perkins will not make his debut with the Thunder for one more week because of a sprained knee. Orlando center Dwight Howard, however, said after the game that he expects big things from OKC.
“They're up there now,” he told NewsOK.com. “They have a legitimate chance of winning a title. I think the one thing that Oklahoma (City) needed was a guy in the paint on the defensive end. They have (Serge) Ibaka. But then you add somebody like Kendrick, it's going to make it very tough with all the length.”
With Perkins out and the team’s new core yet to gel, such optimism probably doesn’t apply to a tough game against the Lakers, who have won three straight since the All-Star break. The Thunder could really use Perkins, too, because L.A. has one of the most imposing frontcourts in the league with a healthy Andrew Bynum now teaming up with Gasol and Lamar Odom.
Trending topics
The Lakers are 4-0 ATS in their last four against the Western Conference and 6-1 ATS in their last seven road games against teams with winning home records.
The over is 4-1 in L.A.’s last five overall. Head-to-head, the home team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings. The Thunder are 4-1 ATS in their last five at home against the Lakers.
New York Knicks at Miami Heat (-8.5, 215.5)
The fourth and final regular season meeting between New York and Miami will feature a new-look Knicks team.
That’s not necessarily good news for the Knicks, though, because they were 3.5-point underdogs at home with their “old” team on January 27 and upset the Heat 93-88. Plenty of now-former New York players did the damage, although Amare Stoudemire scored 24 points.
Miami was without Chris Bosh due to an ankle injury. The Heat, however, won the first two meetings between the two teams, 113-91 at Madison Square Garden on December 17 (easily covering the 5-point spread) and 106-98 at home on December 28 (the Knicks covered by half a point).
When all three members of the “Big 3” have been in action for the Heat, it has been trouble for New York. The trio combined for 84 points in the first encounter (led by LeBron James’ 32 and triple-double) and it scored 76 points in the second win (led by Dwyane Wade’s 40 points).
Amare Stoudemire has dropped two straight to Miami.
When stars align
Five bona fide stars will be on the court for this one. The Heat have three and the Knicks have two, but head-to-head history still sides with the Knicks in the superstar department.
The Nuggets went 10-4 (8-5-1 ATS) against the Cavs while Carmelo Anthony played in Denver and before James took his talents from Cleveland to South Beach. With respect to individual bragging rights, though, it should be noted that Anthony missed two of those 14 games. Interestingly, both resulted in wins and covers by the Nuggets.
For their careers, in games in which they both played, Anthony has averaged 20.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists. James is averaging 26.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 8.0 assists.
In addition to his 8-4 SU record at LeBron’s expense, Carmelo is 10-3 SU lifetime against Wade. Furthermore, Stoudemire is 7-3 SU against Bosh.
Injury update
Injury was added to insult when Anthony played his first road game with the Knicks Friday. Not only did they lose, 115-109, to lowly Cleveland, but Carmelo also departed with a sore elbow when he fouled out late in the fourth quarter.
He should be good to go for Sunday’s clash. For Miami, Mike Miller took an elbow to the face last week and has missed four games due to ear and eye trouble. Miller is expected to return on Sunday.
Trending topics
The Knicks are 6-1-1 ATS in their last eight games following a SU loss The Heat are 4-1 ATS in their last five games following an ATS loss, but they are 1-4 ATS in their last five against the Eastern Conference.
The under is 8-3 in New York’s last 11 road games, but the over is 4-1 in Miami’s last five home games. Head-to-head, the road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings and the over is 3-0-1 in the last four in South Beach.
Miami Heat host New York Knicks
By: Brad Young
Two Eastern Conference teams that are dramatically different from this time last season collide Sunday when New York (29-27 straight up, 33-21-2 against the spread) visits Miami (43-16 SU, 29-29-1 ATS). Both teams are trying to improve their playoff positioning, with the Knicks currently in sixth place and the Heat battling Boston for the top spot.
New York retooled itself in the offseason with the acquisition of Amare Stoudemire. But the Knicks really made headlines with the recent arrival Carmelo Anthony, giving them a powerful frontcourt duo.
Miami improved its roster dramatically with the addition of LeBron James and Chris Bosh this past offseason. The Heat were a 25/1 selection to win the NBA Finals before the moves, but they are currently 2/1 to win the championship.
New York was riding a three-game SU winning streak until Friday’s unexpected loss to lowly Cleveland as eight-point road ‘chalk,’ 115-109. The combined 224 points eclipsed the 221-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash the second consecutive contest. The Knicks have now failed to cover their past two performances.
New York was dominated on the boards, 62-42, but the team did deliver more assists, 22-18. The Knicks finished the game by shooting 42 percent (39-of-93) from the field, and 41 percent (9-of-22) from behind the arc.
Stoudemire paced the offense with 31 points and 11 rebounds, while Anthony had 27 and eight. Point guard Chauncey Billups accounted for 26 and eight assists in the setback.
Anthony slightly injured his elbow in the loss, and is listed as ‘probable’ versus the Heat.
Miami improved to 4-1 SU its last five games after dispatching Washington Friday as a 15 ½-point home favorite, 121-113. The combined 234 points soared past the 203 ½-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ improve to 5-3 the past eight outings. The Heat are now just 1-3 ATS their last four matchups.
Miami cruised after outscoring the Wizards in the second quarter, 43-36. The Heat were on the short end of rebounding, 45-34, and assists, 21-14, but shot a blistering 53 percent (41-of-78) from the field along with 39 percent (5-of-13) from 3-point land.
Shooting guard Dwyane Wade led all scorers with 41 points along with five rebounds, while James provided 25, nine and seven assists. Bosh accounted for 15 and eight, while point guard Mario Chalmers added 14.
Miami had won seven games in a row against New York SU (5-2 ATS) before falling to the Knicks Jan. 27 as 3½-point road ‘chalk,’ 93-88. The combined 181 points never seriously threatened the 213-point closing total. The ‘under’ is 3-1-1 the past five games in this series.
New York concludes a three-game road trip with Tuesday’s matchup at Orlando. The Knicks are 16-6-1 ATS their last 23 road games, while the ‘under’ is 8-3 the previous 11 outings away from home.
Miami guard Mike Miller (ear) is ‘probable’ against the Knicks, while center Dexter Pittman (knee) is ‘out.’ The Heat wrap up a three-game homestand with Thursday’s tilt versus the Magic. Miami is just 2-8 ATS the past 10 games versus Atlantic Division opponents. The ‘over’ is 16-7 the last 23 games overall for the Heat.
ESPN will provide coverage of Sunday’s contest beginning at 5:00 p.m. PT from Miami’s American Airlines Arena.