Sunday's Best NBA Bet
Los Angeles Clippers at Miami Heat (-11.5, 203)
The Clipper Bandwagon has a dark secret. The team not only is in the midst of a brutal stretch of road games, but also is tied for the second-fewest road wins in the NBA at three.
“We have so many young guys, and they’re just learning about how tough it is on the road,” guard Baron Davis said. “They’ve never played in Milwaukee, never played in Chicago or Portland or Denver. So everything is new to them.”
The biggest problem for the Clippers has been playing defense away from Staples Center. The Clips are allowing a horrid 101.5 points per game on the road. Overall, opponents have topped the century mark three times in the team’s past four away tilts as the over is 8-1-1 in the team’s past 10 road contests.
And the Heat love putting on a show at home. Miami has seen the over go 6-2-1 in the team’s past nine home games. The team also has a day of rest coming after a comfortable, double-digit win over the Bobcats on Friday.
It seems to be a different star every night now for the Heat. On Thursday, LeBron James went for 51 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in a 104-100 win over the Magic. Against Charlotte, Dwyane Wade blew up for 22 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
“We’re playing great basketball right now,” James said. “To feel whole, finally, it’s good for our team. Everyone is feeling confident that they can make a contribution to our team.”
Pick: Over
Sunday's NBA Betting Preview
By Ricky Dimon
Los Angeles Clippers at Miami Heat
Sunday’s showdown between LeBron James and Blake Griffin gives the Heat not only a chance to extend their winning streak to five games, but also to avenge a recent loss to the Clippers.
At the Staples Center on January 11, Los Angeles needed none of its seven points to cover the spread, upsetting Miami 111-105. The Clippers did their best impersonation of their opponent’s “Big 3,” as Eric Gordon poured in 26 points, Griffin went for 24 and Baron Davis added 20. Griffin also hauled in 14 rebounds while Davis dished out nine assists.
The real “Big 3” was not too shabby, itself. Dwyane Wade had 31 points, seven rebounds and five assists, LeBron put up 27, eight and six and Chris Bosh contributed 26 and 13. But the trio did not get much help. Mario Chalmers chipped in 12 points, but no other Miami player scored more than four. The Heat also allowed Los Angeles to shoot 50 percent (42 of 84) from the floor.
If Miami is out to redeem itself for last month’s performance against the Clippers, Griffin probably has redemption of his own in mind. In a 101-100 loss at Atlanta Friday, the rookie All-Star scored 19 and had 11 rebounds, but he made only eight of 18 shots and turned the ball over a game-high four times. His foul with 0.6 seconds left in the game led to a pair of game-winning free throws by Al Horford.
“It's one of those games where you just feel bad,” Griffin said afterward. “The way I played, I didn't really help my teammates tonight. I've got to do a better job.”
Player(s) of the Month
Griffin, however, is coming off a strong January that garnered him a nomination for Western Conference Player of the Month (won by Memphis’ Zach Randolph). Leading the Clippers to nine wins in 14 games, Griffin averaged 26 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. He erupted for 47 points in a Jan. 17 win over Indiana, posted double-figures in all 14 outings, and scored fewer than 18 points only once.
LeBron, though, was even better for the Heat. He won Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors, averaging 30.6 ppg (best in the NBA), 8.4 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. Showing no signs of slowing down in February, LeBron torched Orlando with 51 points in a 104-100 road win Thursday.
Trending topics
The Clippers are 5-1 ATS in their last six against the Eastern Conference, but they are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six road games.
The Heat are 4-0 ATS in their last four overall.
The over is 8-2 in L.A.’s last 10 overall and 8-1-1 in its last 10 games. The over is 4-0 in Miami’s last four overall and 6-0 in its last six against the Western Conference.
In the head-to-head series between the two teams, the over is 12-2 in the last 14 and 7-0 in the last seven in Miami. The home team is 6-0 ATS in the last six.
Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics
The 2010 Eastern Conference finalists will contest the rubber match of their regular-season series at the TD Garden Sunday afternoon.
Both teams have taken care of business at home this season. On Christmas Day, the Magic outscored Boston 29-15 in the fourth quarter to win 86-78 and cover the 2.5-point spread. Dwight Howard scored just six points, but five Orlando players reached double figures, led by Brandon Bass’ 21. Among the Celtics’ woes were 2-of-15 shooting by Nate Robinson and 3-of-13 shooting by Ray Allen.
Allen (and Howard, for that matter) picked it up in the next go-around on Jan. 17 in Boston. The savvy sharp shooter went for a team-high 26 points to lead six Celtics in double-figures. It was just enough to overcome Howard’s 33 points and the spread was pushed in a 109-106 Boston win.
No O’Neals, no problem?
Both of Boston’s O’Neals are out - Jermaine much longer than Shaq. Jermaine O’Neal, who had already missed 32 games this season, opted for arthroscopic knee surgery Friday and will be sidelined for another six to eight weeks.
Shaquille O’Neal also sat out Friday night’s 101-97 loss to the streaking Dallas Mavericks with a sore Achilles. That allowed Kendrick Perkins, recently back from his own physical problems (ACL), to make his first start of the season. Perkins, who averaged 22 minutes in five games as a reserve and played 32 minutes Friday, tallied season-highs in points (13) and rebounds (12).
“I’m happy with where I’m at right now,’’ noted Perkin, who is in line for another start with Shaq expected to miss Sunday’s clash. “I’m just trying to get out there and do my best for the team. Obviously I’d have liked to get the win more than anything.’’
Head coach Doc Rivers, though, is going to be cautious with Perkins. “We don’t want to just throw him in there,” Rivers explained. “We want him to ease his way back. We’ll just have to play someone else. Baby (Glen Davis) will play some five at times and so will Semih (Erden), and we’ll just do it that way.’’
Trending topics
The Magic are 1-4 ATS in their last five overall and 0-4-1 ATS in their last five against teams with winning SU records.
The Celtics are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six against the Eastern Conference.
The over is 5-1 in Orlando’s last six road games and 9-1 in Boston’s last 10 home games.
The home team is 3-0-1 ATS in the last four meetings between the two teams and the Magic are 3-1-1 ATS in their last five trips to Boston.