Game of the day: Miami Heat at Detroit Pistons
By Ben Burns
Late Saturday night, as lines for today's NBA games began popping up on sportsbooks, the Miami-Detroit game was nowhere to be found.
The Pistons' laundry list of injuries had oddsmakers taking their sweet time posting a line for the 1 p.m. tipoff.
Detroit is expected to be without Allen Iverson, Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace today.
Those three combined for 41 points in a 93-90 Pistons home win over the Heat on Feb. 4.
Miami was 4.5-point underdog in that game, which will make for an interesting comparison with today's line.
Ask yourself how much Iverson, Hamilton and Wallace are worth to Detroit. Does the line reflect that amount? If not, you may have your play.
The Pistons were without Iverson, Hamilton, Wallace and point guard Rodney Stuckey Friday night. But they still managed to dispose of the lowly Clippers by 18 points, with a starting lineup of Will Bynum, Arron Afflalo, Antonio McDyess, Tayshaun Prince and Kwame Brown.
However, Miami is a much better team than the Clippers.
Stuckey is expected to return to the starting lineup today and should help take some of the scoring load off of McDyess and Prince.
Before being hit by the rash of injuries, Detroit had been playing better basketball and was able to raise its game against better competition. The Pistons are 7-1 against the spreads in their last eight games against teams with winning records.
The Heat (36-32) qualifies, but has struggled in recent games.
Miami stumbles into Detroit having lost four straight games on its current road trip.
Dwyane Wade returned in Friday night's loss to the Nets, after missing a game with a hip injury.
The Pistons are a dismal 11-24 against the spread at home.
HOUSTON (46 - 25) at SAN ANTONIO (45 - 23)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN ANTONIO is 308-257 ATS (+25.3 Units) in home games since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 203-162 ATS (+24.8 Units) after a non-conference game since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 53-33 ATS (+16.7 Units) in home games after 3 or more consecutive unders since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 124-93 ATS (+21.7 Units) off a upset loss as a favorite since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 139-103 ATS (+25.7 Units) after scoring 85 points or less since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 26-13 ATS (+11.7 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
HOUSTON is 282-230 ATS (+29.0 Units) in road games since 1996.
HOUSTON is 39-22 ATS (+14.8 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 44-31 ATS (+9.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
HOUSTON is 6-5 against the spread versus SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 6-5 straight up against HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
9 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
MIAMI (36 - 32) at DETROIT (34 - 34)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
MIAMI is 7-2 against the spread versus DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 7-2 straight up against MIAMI over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
OKLAHOMA CITY (19 - 50) at MINNESOTA (20 - 49)
Top Trends for this game.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 39-28 ATS (+8.2 Units) in all games this season.
MINNESOTA is 101-127 ATS (-38.7 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 10-24 ATS (-16.4 Units) in home games this season.
MINNESOTA is 35-59 ATS (-29.9 Units) second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) in home games after 3 or more consecutive losses this season.
MINNESOTA is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
OKLAHOMA CITY is 7-3 against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
OKLAHOMA CITY is 7-4 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
LA CLIPPERS (17 - 52) at TORONTO (24 - 45)
Top Trends for this game.
LA CLIPPERS are 28-41 ATS (-17.1 Units) in all games this season.
LA CLIPPERS are 24-34 ATS (-13.4 Units) as an underdog this season.
LA CLIPPERS are 22-39 ATS (-20.9 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
LA CLIPPERS are 8-18 ATS (-11.8 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
LA CLIPPERS are 22-34 ATS (-15.4 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
LA CLIPPERS are 21-31 ATS (-13.1 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent this season.
LA CLIPPERS are 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) in road games after allowing 105 points or more this season.
LA CLIPPERS are 10-21 ATS (-13.1 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more this season.
TORONTO is 24-42 ATS (-22.2 Units) in all games this season.
TORONTO is 11-20 ATS (-11.0 Units) in home games this season.
TORONTO is 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) second half of the season this season.
TORONTO is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) in March games this season.
TORONTO is 21-34 ATS (-16.4 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 3-2 against the spread versus LA CLIPPERS over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 4-1 straight up against LA CLIPPERS over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
CLEVELAND (56 - 13) at NEW JERSEY (30 - 39)
Top Trends for this game.
NEW JERSEY is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) in home games second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 19-8 ATS (+10.2 Units) in home games against Central division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 41-28 ATS (+10.2 Units) in all games this season.
CLEVELAND is 36-23 ATS (+10.7 Units) as a favorite this season.
CLEVELAND is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) when playing on back-to-back days this season.
CLEVELAND is 38-23 ATS (+12.7 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 24-43 ATS (-23.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 25-37 ATS (-15.7 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
NEW JERSEY is 8-6 against the spread versus CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
CLEVELAND is 8-6 straight up against NEW JERSEY over the last 3 seasons
9 of 14 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
GOLDEN STATE (25 - 44) at NEW ORLEANS (43 - 25)
Top Trends for this game.
GOLDEN STATE is 47-75 ATS (-35.5 Units) as a road underdog of 6.5 to 9 points since 1996.
GOLDEN STATE is 12-21 ATS (-11.1 Units) in road games this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) in a road game where the total is greater than or equal to 210 this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 93-126 ATS (-45.6 Units) in road games after a non-conference game since 1996.
GOLDEN STATE is 3-13 ATS (-11.3 Units) in road games after scoring 105 points or more this season.
NEW ORLEANS is 134-106 ATS (+17.4 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
NEW ORLEANS is 66-49 ATS (+12.1 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
NEW ORLEANS is 48-35 ATS (+9.5 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
NEW ORLEANS is 26-13 ATS (+11.7 Units) revenging a home loss vs opponent over the last 3 seasons.
NEW ORLEANS is 61-40 ATS (+17.0 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent over the last 3 seasons.
GOLDEN STATE is 27-14 ATS (+11.6 Units) in March games over the last 3 seasons.
NEW ORLEANS is 57-83 ATS (-34.3 Units) after a division game since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
GOLDEN STATE is 7-2 against the spread versus NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons
GOLDEN STATE is 5-4 straight up against NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons
5 of 8 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
PHILADELPHIA (34 - 33) at SACRAMENTO (15 - 54)
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 8-18 ATS (-11.8 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game this season.
SACRAMENTO is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) against Atlantic division opponents this season.
SACRAMENTO is 9-20 ATS (-13.0 Units) in non-conference games this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 3-2 against the spread versus SACRAMENTO over the last 3 seasons
PHILADELPHIA is 3-2 straight up against SACRAMENTO over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
MIAMI vs. DETROIT
Miami is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Detroit
Miami is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Detroit
Detroit is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Detroit is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
HOUSTON vs. SAN ANTONIO
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Houston's last 8 games
San Antonio is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games when playing Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of San Antonio's last 11 games when playing Houston
LA CLIPPERS vs. TORONTO
LA Clippers are 8-17 ATS in their last 25 games
LA Clippers are 2-9 SU in their last 11 games
Toronto is 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games when playing at home against LA Clippers
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games when playing at home against LA Clippers
OKLAHOMA CITY vs. MINNESOTA
Oklahoma City is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games when playing Minnesota
Oklahoma City is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing Minnesota
Minnesota is 3-12 ATS in its last 15 games at home
Minnesota is 2-12 SU in its last 14 games at home
CLEVELAND vs. NEW JERSEY
Cleveland is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Cleveland is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games on the road
New Jersey is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 games when playing at home against Cleveland
New Jersey is 12-4 SU in its last 16 games when playing at home against Cleveland
GOLDEN STATE vs. NEW ORLEANS
Golden State is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against New Orleans
Golden State is 3-12 SU in its last 15 games when playing on the road against New Orleans
New Orleans is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of New Orleans's last 7 games at home
PHILADELPHIA vs. SACRAMENTO
Philadelphia is 5-12 ATS in its last 17 games
Philadelphia is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Sacramento is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Philadelphia
Sacramento is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games when playing Philadelphia