Cleveland (5-3, 4-4 ATS) at Miami (6-1 SU and ATS)
Two of the league’s biggest stars go head to head for the first time this season, as LeBron James and the Cavaliers wrap up a three-game road trip against Dwyane Wade and the Heat at American Airlines Arena.
Cleveland is coming off Wednesday’s 102-93 victory at Orlando as a one-point road underdog, with James scoring a game-high 36 points and Mo Williams chipping in 28 points. Since dropping their first two games of the season to Boston (at home) and Toronto (on the road), the Cavaliers have won five of six (4-2 ATS). They’ve now won and cashed in three straight on the road.
Miami extended its winning streak three in a row (SU and ATS) with Tuesday’s 90-76 rout of Washington as a nine-point home favorite, as Wade poured in a game-high 41 points. Since a season-opening 115-93 rout of New York, the Heat have scored between 90 and 96 points in six straight games, and they’ve held five of their last six opponents to less than 90 points.
Cleveland took three of four from the Heat last year (2-2 ATS) and is 6-1 SU in the last seven meetings, but just 4-3 ATS (all as a favorite).
Going back to last season, Cleveland is riding ATS streaks of 14-6 when playing on back-to-back nights, 7-2-1 as a road favorite and 13-4 when laying less than five points, but 5-9-1 overall, 3-7 on Thursday and 3-6-1 against the Southeast Division. Miami has covered in five of its last six home games (4-1 ATS this year), five straight against the East and four straight against the Central Division, but the Heat are just 3-9 ATS in their last 12 on Tuesday.
Both teams went over the total in their season-openers but followed that up with six straight “unders” before Cleveland barely eked over the total last night in Orlando. The Cavaliers were involved in their highest-scoring contest last night (195 points), while four of the Heat’s six games have featured 184 combined points or fewer.
In this rivalry, the under is on runs of 13-6 overall and 10-4 in Miami. Additionally, the under is on streaks of 8-3 for Cleveland on the road, 7-1 for Cleveland as a road favorite, 4-0 for Miami at home, 5-1 for Miami against teams from the Central Division, 6-0 for Miami when playing on one day of rest and 21-18 for Miami on Thursday.
ATS ADVANTAGE: MIAMI and UNDER
Phoenix (8-1, 6-3 ATS) at L.A. Lakers (6-1, 2-5 ATS)
Following a brief stop at home last night, the scorching Suns return to the road once again as they pay their first visit of the season to the Staples Center for a Pacific Division clash with the well-rested Lakers.
Phoenix enjoyed a successful 4-1 SU and ATS Eastern Conference road trip, then came home Wednesday and throttled the Hornets 124-104 as a 6½-point favorite, the team’s fourth consecutive win and cover. The Suns spread the wealth in the win, as seven players – including all five starters – scored in double figures. Phoenix has now hit triple digits in every game this year, and dating to last season, it has reached the century mark in 12 straight games and 44 of 50 contests, tallying 109 or more 33 times.
Los Angeles has been off since Sunday’s 104-88 dismantling of New Orleans, easily covering as a 6½-point home favorite. It was the Lakers’ second straight spread-cover after starting the season 0-6 ATS. Phil Jackson’s crew has won five in a row, including consecutive double-digit home wins in their last two, and they’re averaging 108 ppg during the winning streak (48.7 percent shooting) while allowing 99.2 ppg (43.1 percent). Going back to last year’s playoffs, only twice in their last nine games have the Lakers allowed an opponent to score more than 98 points.
The Suns upset the Lakers 118-111 as a 4½-point home underdog in last year’s final meeting, ending L.A.’s four-game win streak (3-1 ATS) in this rivalry. The Lakers are still 6-3 ATS in the last nine series battles, but 2-3 ATS at home. In fact, the visitor is 7-3 ATS in the last 10.
While Phoenix is 5-1 SU and ATS on the road this year and has covered in four straight overall, it is still in ATS slumps of 5-16 on Thursday and 4-10-1 as an underdog of five to 10½ points (all on the highway). Los Angeles, which has been favored in every game this season, went 1-4 ATS in its final five games against divisional foes last year, but it is 12-5 ATS in its last 17 when playing after three or more days of rest and 15-6 ATS in its last 21 in the Thursday night marquee spotlight.
The Suns carry “over” trends of 4-1 overall, 5-0 on Thursday, 8-1 when playing on back-to-back nights and 23-10 as a road pup. Meanwhile, although they’ve topped the total in four of their last five overall, the Lakers are still on a bevy of “under” runs, including 20-7 at home, 11-5 against the Western Conference, 4-1 versus the Pacific Division and 35-16-1 as a favorite.
Finally, the over is 7-3 in the last 10 Suns-Lakers battles, including 4-1 at the Staples Center.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Miami Heat
The fans at American Airlines Arena will be treated to a game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat when they take their seats on Thursday.
LeBron James poured in a game-high 36 points with eight rebounds to lead the Cavaliers past the Magic 102-93 on Wednesday. The Cavaliers won that game as a 1.5-point underdog, and the combined score made it OVER the posted total of 190.5.
Dwyane Wade poured in 41 points to lead the Heat past the Wizards 90-76 on Tuesday night.
Miami covered as 8-point home favorites, while the game played UNDER the 184.5-point total listed by oddsmakers.
Current streak:
Cleveland has won 2 straight games.
Miami has won 3 straight games.
Team records:
Cleveland: 5-3 SU, 4-4 ATS
Miami: 6-1 SU, 6-1 ATS
Cleveland most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 5-5
Before playing Utah are 7-3
After playing Orlando are 7-3
After a win are 6-4
Miami most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 5-5
Before playing New Jersey are 3-7
After playing Washington are 2-8
After a win are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
Cleveland is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Miami
Cleveland is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Cleveland's last 14 games when playing on the road against Miami
Cleveland is 16-7 SU in its last 23 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Miami's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Miami's last 8 games at home
Miami is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
Miami is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Next up:
Cleveland home to Utah, Saturday, November 14
Miami home to New Jersey, Saturday, November 14
Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers
The Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers will both be trying to pick up a win on Thursday when they battle at STAPLES Center.
Eight players reached double figures as the Suns ran over the Hornets 124-104 on Wednesday. The Suns covered the 6.5-point spread, and the combined score made it OVER the posted total of 218.
Amare Stoudemire led the Suns with 21 points, while Channing Frye added 13 points and six rebounds.
The Lakers defeated New Orleans 104-88 as a 6.5-point favorite on Sunday. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (197.5).
Kobe Bryant netted a game-high 28 points for the Lakers and Shannon Brown added 15 points in the win.
Current streak:
Phoenix has won 4 straight games.
Los Angeles has won 5 straight games.
Team records:
Phoenix: 8-1 SU, 7-2 ATS
Los Angeles: 6-1 SU, 2-5 ATS
Phoenix most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 6-4
Before playing Toronto are 6-4
After playing New Orleans are 7-3
After a win are 8-2
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 8-2
Before playing Denver are 8-2
After playing New Orleans are 8-2
After a win are 8-2
A few trends to consider:
Phoenix is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games
Phoenix is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Phoenix is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Phoenix's last 5 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
LA Lakers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games
LA Lakers are 7-1 SU in their last 8 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of the LA Lakers last 12 games at home
LA Lakers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing Phoenix
Next up:
Phoenix home to Toronto, Sunday, November 15
LA Lakers at Denver, Friday, November 13
Cavaliers Vs Heat Preview
By Vernon Croy
This Thursday night, two of the most exciting teams in the NBA will square off when the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Miami Heat. Anytime you combine as many big NBA stars as you will have in this game, it will be very exciting. The Cavs are hoping to get things going, while the Heat have been on a roll and hope to continue that in the early part of the season. This should be a very fun game to watch.
Cleveland Cavaliers: The Cavs come into the game at 5-3 on the year. They are off to a much worse start than they were at this point last season. Part of the reason is because they haven't had "glue guy" Delonte West for a few games and part is because of the Shaq transition period. Whatever the reason is, they need to get it together if they are going to compete in the talented Eastern Conference. They have to contend with teams like Boston, Miami, and Orlando if they are going to make a run for the championship this year.
Lebron and Shaq on paper form one of the most dynamic duos in the NBA. However, it hasn't yet worked out like they planned. They have shown glimpses of dominance with both of them on the same court with seven footer Ilgauskas. They hope that they can get the rotation figured out and prove just how good they can be together.
Miami Heat: The Heat bring to the table a very young team where superstar Dwayne Wade is the focus. He has been an MVP-caliber talent for several years now and this season is no different. With point guard Mario Chalmers and forward Michael Beasley, they have some talented youngsters that can help D. Wade out this year. This one should be a classic early season matchup.
NBA Preview for 11/12
by Dan Bebe
What did we learn from yesterday?
We learned that if basketball games were only 24 minutes long, the Knicks might be better than 1-8; we learned that the Phoenix Suns have somehow molded back-up point guard Goran Dragic into a serviceable minutes-eater; we learned that (kudos to me21deion, forum poster at Pregame.com) the Milwaukee Bucks should crack 26 wins with a month or two to go in the season; we learned definitively that the Utah Jazz have big, big problems; we learned that the Bobcats need some overzealous fans to sneak into opposing buildings and paint the Charlotte logo at center court for them to stand a chance on the road; and we learned that the second-worst team in the League, just barely being "out-sucked" by the Knicks, is the Minnesota Timberwolves. I mean, they are just horrid. If the Timberwolves play the Knicks any time soon, I suggest we all take precautions for the coming apocalypse.
Sports Wagering
Heat/Cavaliers - This line has been hovering between Heat +1 and Heat +2 since late last night, bouncing back and forth as money continues to trickle in on both sides. These are two well-respected clubs, with the public favoring the Cavs off their win last night in Orlando, and basketball buffs favoring the Heat due to their consistent play, solid defense, and reliable scoring option named Dwyane. The line movement has been pretty fair so far, so at least at first glance, this is going to be a game we can cap on matchups, which in my opinion, is to our advantage. I like the fact that the Cavs are going on the second night of a back-to-back. Yes, the win over Orlando was pretty easy, but Lebron was in that game for 39 minutes, and Mo Williams for over 40, so the important guys are coming off pretty big minutes. I also like the fact that the Heat have had a chance to gameplan for a couple days after smacking around the Wizards. Miami has shown they are not going to back down from anyone this season, and at both 6-1 ATS and SU, you can tell the Heat are not only playing competitively, they're winning. The Cavs, on the other hand, are 4-4 ATS, which to me indicates they're still finding themselves. Both teams have played to the Under quite a bit this year, but at 180.5, we're looking at some miniscule wiggle room. Still, leans to Miami and the Under in this one.
Lakers/Suns - Lakers by 7.5 at home with a total bouncing between 217.5 and 219. Right off the bat, this side feels decidedly too high for the Lakers. The public feels the same way. The last time Phoenix was an underdog of roughly 8 points, they got run right out of the building in their only loss of the season. Phoenix should be a bit tired, after playing one game at home after a long road trip, then heading right back out on the road, but at the same time, they absolutely destroyed the Hornets, and their leader, Steve Nash, played only 24 minutes in what was basically an exhibition. Initial lean to the Suns. For the total, I would expect it to squeeze under, as I just don't see Phoenix putting up 125 on the second night of a back-to-back, AND the 4th game in 5 nights. That right there explains why this spread is so high, and why I think the total will go Under. Phoenix is a great team, but this is the classic spot of too many wind-sprints catching up with a club. I'm not sure I have the gusto to bet against the Suns to cover again, since they've put up monster second halves twice to really give us hell, but in terms of posting a 130-point game on 55% shooting, that seems like asking a bit much.
Fantasy Advice
Charlie Villanueva - Believe it or not, he was dropped in a great many leagues because of a poor start to his season. What people failed to note was that he was playing with the flu and with a couple of nagging injuries. Charlie isn't going to get you many steals, blocks or assists, but he can PILE on the points, and for a Pistons team desperately needing scoring, Charlie seems ripe to average near 20/game.