Tuesday's Best NBA Bets
Orlando Magic at Sacramento Kings (+2.5, 204)
The Orlando Magic acquired Vince Carter in the offseason after Hedo Turkoglu bolted for Toronto. While Vince is averaging 17.2 points per game for the Magic, it has been the consistently strong play of Duke alum J.J. Redick that coach Stan Van Gundy has come to trust.
On Saturday night, Redick showed what he can do as a starter. With Carter sitting out the game due to a sprained shoulder, Redick moved into the first unit and put up 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor.
Redick has made his name as a shooter, knocking down 43 percent of his shots from beyond the arc this season, but it has been his effort on the defensive end that has made him a fan favorite at Amway Arena.
In Saturday night’s victory over the Atlanta Hawks, Redick helped limit Joe Johnson to seven points on 2-of-9 shooting from the floor. He also had to guard potential sixth man of the year Jamal Crawford for long stretches, limiting him to 10 points.
Redick is certainly not the NBA’s quickest or most athletic player but he has learned to anticipate plays.
''Now, he's not a half a count behind,'' Van Gundy said. ''He's a tough guy. He's gonna compete hard.''
The Magic have won five of 10 games with Carter, Howard, Lewis and Nelson starting together this season while they’re 20-7 when one of the big four is out. Van Gundy is considering making Carter the team’s sixth man and Redick would likely replace him in the starting five. Look for Redick to see increased minutes and look for the Magic to pull plenty more rabbits out of their hats.
Pick: Magic
Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs (-2.5, 195)
How much do the Lakers miss Pau Gasol? Everything is that much more difficult for the Lakers without their All-Star forward. It’s apparent in Kobe Bryant’s increased shot totals and decreased accuracy.
Bryant, who plays naturally through Gasol, reverts to the Kobe of old when there's no Pau. Ball rotation is stagnant and teammates tend to have bad nights.
When the Lakers lost to the Clippers and Trail Blazers prior to their win over the Bucks Sunday night, Kobe went 10-30 and 14-37 from the floor. In their victory over Milwaukee, Kobe threw up 21 shots while missing 17, which is still plenty in only 28 minutes of action.
With that said, Kobe is not only playing with a fractured finger, but his middle knuckle on that finger is now also very sore.
“The second knuckle is probably even more painful than the broken tip, so there is a whole thing going on with that index finger,” said Lakers coach Phil Jackson.
On top of Pau’s strained left hamstring and Kobe’s fractured finger, Ron Artest hasn’t been the same since falling down a set of stairs and suffering a concussion. Artest felt some dizziness when he was fouled by Milwaukee’s Michael Redd in Sunday night’s victory. Ron Ron asked twice to be removed from the game, prompting another possible examination in the near future.
With so many injuries and questionable team chemistry, San Antonio will be licking its chops to get a shot at these banged-up Lakers.
Pick: Spurs
Game Of The Day: L.A. Lakers at San Antonio Spurs
By Marc Lawrence
The feature game on Tuesday’s NBA card tips off in San Antonio when the Spurs host the defending world champion Los Angeles Lakers at the AT&T Center.
Tonight marks the first meeting between these two squads this season. The Lakers have won seven of the last nine games in this series, but have dropped seven of the last 14 meetings in San Antonio.
Front and center
After allowing 42 points in the fourth quarter in a 112-103 home loss to Dallas Friday night, the Spurs bounced back to beat the Nets, 97-85.
Little used center Ian Mahinmi scored 15 points on 6-of-6 shooting with nine rebounds. Both were career highs. Mahinimi is a former first-round selection four years ago who's had multiple ankle problems.
Tim Duncan is leading the Spurs in scoring (20.0 ppg) for the first time in three seasons. Opponents no longer fear Duncan as they used to, having a greater respect for the scoring ability of his supporting cast. As a result Duncan is no longer constantly double-teamed and his statistics are reflecting that.
The Spurs are also averaging 101.9 points per game, the most ever under coach Gregg Popovich.
Simply the best
Los Angeles leads the league with a 29-8 record this season, one game better than the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Lakers rank fifth in total offense, averaging 103.6 ppg.
Star guard Kobe Bryant averages 29.6 ppg, second only to Denver’s Carmelo Anthony (30.0) and just ahead of Cleveland’s Lebron James (29.2).
San Antonio ranks fifth in total team defense, surrendering 95.6 ppg. The Spurs are third in rebounding margin.
Rumor mill
Lakers C Andrew Bynum is being dangled as possible trade bait for Toronto's Chris Bosh, according to the New York Post.
Of course, both teams are denying the rumor. “For the record, I am not actively seeking a deal or discussing Bosh with any team, much less the Lakers,” said Raptors’ G.M. Bryan Colangelo. “I haven’t traded him yet and our position has been the same. We will not make a deal just to make a deal. Our intention is to keep him here long term.”
Bed check
After missing 13 of 14 shots in the first half Sunday versus Milwaukee, Bryant will put the protective splint back on his fractured right index finger.
Other Lakers with nicks and bruises include Ron Artest (concussion), Pau Gasol (hamstring) and Luke Walton (back). All are questionable for Tuesday’s tilt.
Meanwhile, San Antonio’s Matt Bonner is out (hand) and Michael Finley (ankle) remains day-to-day.
Whew!
Thanks to Sunday’s 95-77 win over Milwaukee, the Lakers still haven’t lost three consecutive games since acquiring Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies on Feb. 1, 2008.
After losses to the Clippers and Trail Blazers, they bounced back to rout Milwaukee on Sunday night and avoid a third straight setback. The 77 points tied a season-low for the Bucks this season. It was the fewest points ever scored by Milwaukee against the Lakers.
Did you know
Since last season, the Lakers are 10-6 straight up and 12-4 against the spread in games they weren’t favored.
Since the 2005 season, the Spurs are 7-18 SU and 6-19 ATS against teams with.750 or greater winning percentages.
L.A. Lakers (29-8, 16-21 ATS) at San Antonio (22-13, 18-16-1 ATS)
The Lakers and Spurs hook up for the first time this season, with L.A. making the trek to the AT&T Center looking to halt a three-game road losing streak.
Los Angeles is coming off Sunday’s 95-77 rout of the Bucks as a 9½-point home favorite, but that followed a pair of losses at Portland (107-98 as a four-point favorite) and to the Clippers (102-91 as a five-point ‘dog in a game where the Clippers were the designated home team). Throw in a 118-103 loss at Phoenix, and the Lakers are 0-3 SU and ATS in their last three as a visitor.
The Lakers have followed up a five-game stretch in which they averaged 115.8 ppg by scoring just 93 ppg in the last four. Los Angeles was held under 100 points in all four contests after doing so just eight times through the first 33 games.
The Spurs, who cap a four-game home stand tonight before embarking on a four-game road trip, knocked off New Jersey 97-85 on Sunday but came up just short as a 14-point home chalk. San Antonio has followed up a five-game SU and ATS winning streak by splitting its last four contests (1-3 ATS).
The Spurs have scored more than 100 points in five of their last eight, but they’ve really turned things up defensively, holding 12 of 13 opponents under 100 points, including yielding 92 or less in four of the last five games.
The Lakers took two of three from the Spurs last year, cashing in all three games, including twice while visiting San Antonio. Going back to the 2007-08 season and including a playoff series, Los Angeles is on a 7-2 SU and ATS run against the Spurs, cashing in each of the last five games overall and each of the last three trips to the AT&T Center.
Los Angeles, which has been a big money-burner this season, is in ATS ruts of 3-5 overall, 4-9 on the road, 3-8 against Western Conference opponents, 1-5 on Tuesday and 2-5 after a SU victory. San Antonio sports several negative ATS trends as well, including 2-5 on Tuesday, 1-6 against winning teams and 1-10 when hosting a foe that has a winning road record. However, the Spurs are also 6-1-1 ATS in their last eight against the Pacific Division and 4-1-1 ATS in their last six after a non-cover.
The under is on streaks of 6-2 for the Lakers against teams with a winning record, 13-5-1 for the Lakers after an ATS triumph, 6-2 for the Spurs against winning teams, 6-2 in this rivalry and 9-3 when these teams meet in San Antonio. On the flip side, the over is on runs of 7-2 for both teams against Western Conference competition, 5-2 for San Antonio versus the Pacific Division and 13-3-1 for San Antonio on Tuesday.
ATS ADVANTAGE: L.A. LAKERS and UNDER
NBA RoundUp For 1/12
By Dan Bebe
Pistons @ Wizards - Washington by 5 with a total of 197. I mean, man. What can you say about the Pistons? They've lost 13 in a row, Ben Gordon limped off the floor AGAIN, Charlie Villanueva is clearly playing hurt, and they let the Bulls shoot over 60% until garbage time dropped that final number down. This team has hit rock bottom. If it weren't so terribly nauseating, playing Detroit again in this game might be a great value, but at this point, it just doesn't seem like any number of points are enough, and with the public on a little bit of a strong NBA run, taking the Pistons here feels like a disaster. I think it may be time to look for the games with what I like to call "fair" line movement, where the line is moving with the money; nothing fishy, nothing crazy, let's just revamp things a tiny bit, and when sharp money starts dominating again like it did from mid-November to the end of the year, we can rework things again. That's one of the true beauties of handicapping and also one of the most frustrating parts. Things are not the same, ever. You can do what works, and with a long term approach, you will make money, but I believe you can make money faster and shorten losing streaks by being proactive. Right now, comparing your handicapping to sharp money is not the best way to handicap, though long term that will lead to the most success. Still, there is nothing written in the handicapping code of laws that one cannot, if the situation presents itself, grab a play that does not strictly follow those notes. This is one of those games. The Wizards SHOULD, by all accounts, win this game big. They are a distressed franchise, but they have significantly more talent than the Pistons, and they aren't playing on a back-to-back. Unless this line drops precipitously, the Wizards should be able to cover, and I realize that is square beyond square, but right now, squares are cashing, and we should be, too. Everything in moderation, though. Plenty of teams won last night that weren't public favorites, so it's all about being judicious and not getting trapped by factors you didn't handicap. You also have to like the Under here, after Detroit let Chicago put up 120, I can't imagine Washington getting quite that high, and Detroit will continue to score in the 80's, and at most, mid-90's.
Rockets @ Bobcats - Charlotte by 3 with a total of 191. This could actually be a fun one, with the defensive-minded Bobcats going up against the offensive execution-minded Rockets. Houston, after opening the season very strong, have slowed a bit on the road, losing their last 4 games away from home and failing to cover 6 straight. It makes this team an extremely dangerous play on the road. The side also seems to indicate that the Rockets and Bobcats are evenly matched, and I'm not sure I agree with that, as Houston is a robust 21-16, playing mostly in the Western Conference, and the Bobcats are 16-19. I believe we're seeing a larger than average home court advantage here, potentially as high as 4.5 points, given Charlotte's strong play in their home building (13-4 SU, 10-7 ATS), and the aforementioned road struggles of the Rockets, who continue to try to unload Tracy McGrady. Houston is coming off a nice home win over the Knicks, and the issue in this game, to me, is deciding whether that win is a jumping point for the Rockets to get some confidence heading on the road, or simply the product of playing one home game between a couple road contests. I'm inclined to believe Houston plays well in Charlotte, but not well enough. The Bobcats are in their second game of a long homestand, a spot where you generally see teams excel. Charlotte escaped a game with Memphis where they just looked lost in the first half a few days back, but I think we'll get a better full-game effort from the Bobcats here in this one, and I think they have something to prove, having lost 4 straight to the Rockets over the last couple seasons. Houston is hugely a road Under team, and Charlotte is basically 50/50 at home in terms of the total, so I have to lean to the Under early, as well.
Clippers @ Grizzlies - Memphis by 6 with a total of 199. What's it going to take for the Clippers to get some respect, I wonder? This line definitely deserves some attention. This is the 4th meeting between these two teams this year, and the home teams have won every game so far. The Clippers barely nibbed the Grizz in LA in the first game, lost by 15 in Memphis, won by 10 in LA, and now they're back, with the Grizzlies clearly shooting for a split. Still, I don't know if I'd call this a typical revenge spot, because I feel like the strong recent play of the Clippers might give them the gusto to try to take the season series. I believe both teams play equally hard when comparing motivation. The Clippers have been playing very well of late, and that's what makes this line a bit confusing. They've won 5 of 6 games, covering the spread in all 6. Admittedly, the recent surge has come at home, where the Clippers have improved to 12-8, and their road record of 5-10 remains fairly disgraceful, and I think that's what oddsmakers are counting on. The Grizzlies have been surging, just like the Clippers, but they've been doing it both at home and on the road, but they do remain a much tougher nut in their building. The Clippers are an awful 1-9 ATS against the Southwest conference, so this isn't their best spot, and I have to lean Grizzlies, if only because this line looks outrageously high. I can be swayed on this one. The total is interesting to me, as well, since we've seen some line-bouncing. The first game had a posted total of 201, and it went Over, the second game went Under 199, the third game went Under 197.5, and now this one seems to have crept back up. I lean Over.
Lakers @ Spurs - This line is OFF. A showdown! This should be a fun one, and I'm just glad I'm still in Los Angeles, so I get to watch it on some sort of standard cable channel. Believe it or not, these teams haven't played yet this year, so we don't have any revenge angles to work on. The Spurs haven't played the Lakers all that tough over the last year or two, but something about this meeting feels different. The Lakers are so banged up right now, with Kobe's finger only getting worse, Pau Gasol likely out another week or two, Ron Artest now has 2 sore feet and a memory issue, Lamar Odom is getting over gastritis, and on and on. Andrew Bynum is playing better in Gasol's absence, but other than that, and other than the Lakers dismantling the weak, pathetic Bucks, the Lakers look awfully worse for their wear. So it goes with the Spurs, though, that as Manu Ginobili plays, the team plays. He is coming off a nice game against the Nets, but Manu will have his hands full going against the likes of Kobe Bryant and Ron Artest, and dealing with Odom and Bynum when he tries to go to the rim. I'm extremely curious where this line opens up, and I have to think that the Spurs open as tiny favorites. This might be one of those games where the value is barely on San Antonio, but almost anything can happen. I have to like the home team, though, since they remain a very tough club in San Antonio (16-6 SU, 12-9 ATS), and the Lakers, one of the League's best road teams last year, are 8-5 SU away from home, but only 4-9 ATS, so they're just not covering. I lean Spurs, but let's get a look at the line. I also expect a defensive game - the Lakers are clamping down, and I just don't see either team really wanting to get into a track meet.
Magic @ Kings - This line is OFF. I have to think it's Vince Carter-related, though who the hell knows these days with all the injuries piling up for every team. In any case, the Magic may have gotten their act together in the last game, absolutely leveling the Hawks to snap a 4-game losing skid. This game in Sacramento kicks off a 4-game Western Conference road trip that heads to Denver, Portland and LA (Lakers), so this is one of those times that Orlando better get it together, or they might be looking at another 4-game losing skid. Obviously, the Denver game is going to be a rough one, heading east into the altitude extremely late, then having to deal with the mostly-healthy Nuggets on zero rest. And honestly, I'm inclined to just wait and take the value in that game. This first game of the road trip we're likely to see a strong effort from the Magic because they know just how brutal tomorrow will be when they have to deal with a rested Denver team (I thought about making a mile high club joke here, but felt it was in poor taste once the sentence was done). Anyway, back to the game at hand. The Magic have decent value right now, though the 32-point win over Atlanta helped chop some of that off. The Kings continue to tease bettors with tough losses, though they did finally pull off an intense comeback over the Nuggets in their last home game. I'll be quite curious to see where this line opens. I have to believe Orlando will be a small favorite, and we'll all be tempted to jump back on Sacramento, but if Orlando is getting a run going, I'm not really all that excited to step in front of a freight train. I do think there may be some value in the total, though, since Orlando stepped up their defense, they haven't been shooting well, and the Kings have been dealing with some outrageously inflated lines.
Detroit Pistons vs. Washington Wizards
The fans at Verizon Center will be treated to a game between the Detroit Pistons and the Washington Wizards when they take their seats on Tuesday.
Richard Hamilton dropped 17 points for Detroit in its 120-87 loss to Chicago on Monday night.
Chicago covered as 6-point home favorites, while the game played OVER the 194-point total set by oddsmakers.
The Wizards lost to New Orleans 115-110 as a 1.5-point favorite on Sunday. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (197.5).
Antawn Jamison led Washington with 32 points and Randy Foye had 23 points and eight assists.
Current streak:
Detroit has lost 13 straight games.
Team records:
Detroit: 11-25 SU, 15-20-1 ATS
Washington: 12-23 SU, 13-22 ATS
Detroit most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 7-3
Before playing New Orleans are 4-6
After playing Chicago are 4-6
After a loss are 0-10
Washington most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 5-5
Before playing Atlanta are 3-7
After playing New Orleans are 0-10
After a loss are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
Detroit is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Washington
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit's last 6 games when playing Washington
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 6 games when playing Detroit
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games when playing at home against Detroit
Washington is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Detroit
Washington is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Next up:
Detroit home to New Orleans, Friday, January 15
Washington at Atlanta, Wednesday, January 13
Houston Rockets vs. Charlotte Bobcats
The Houston Rockets and the Charlotte Bobcats will both be trying to pick up a win on Tuesday when they battle at Time Warner Cable Arena.
The Rockets started out slowly but poured it on in the second half in their 105-96 win over the Knicks on Saturday night.
The Rockets managed to cover the 6-point spread in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (202.5).
The Bobcats came back from a halftime deficit on Saturday night to grab an 89-87 win over the Grizzlies.
The Bobcats failed to cover the 6-point spread in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (198).
Team records:
Houston: 21-16 SU, 21-16 ATS
Charlotte: 16-19 SU, 21-14 ATS
Houston most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 6-4
Before playing Minnesota are 6-4
After playing New York are 8-2
After a win are 4-6
Charlotte most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 4-6
Before playing San Antonio are 6-4
After playing Memphis are 6-4
After a win are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
Houston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Charlotte
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Houston's last 7 games when playing Charlotte
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games
Charlotte is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Charlotte's last 7 games when playing Houston
Charlotte is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Charlotte's last 10 games
Next up:
Houston home to Minnesota, Wednesday, January 13
Charlotte home to San Antonio, Friday, January 15
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Memphis Grizzlies
The Los Angeles Clippers and the Memphis Grizzlies will both be trying to pick up a win on Tuesday when they battle at FedExForum.
The Clippers defeated Miami 94-84 as a 1.5-point favorite on Sunday. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (192).
Chris Kaman scored 22 points and had 14 rebounds for the Clippers and Eric Gordon added 17 points in the win.
The Bobcats came back from a halftime deficit on Saturday night to grab an 89-87 win over the Grizzlies.
The Bobcats failed to cover the 6-point spread in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (198).
Current streak:
Los Angeles has won 4 straight games.
Team records:
Los Angeles: 17-18 SU, 16-19 ATS
Memphis: 18-18 SU, 20-16 ATS
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 3-7
Before playing New Orleans are 5-5
After playing Miami are 3-7
After a win are 5-5
Memphis most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 3-7
Before playing Minnesota are 4-6
After playing Charlotte are 3-7
After a loss are 8-2
A few trends to consider:
LA Clippers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games
LA Clippers are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the LA Clippers last 5 games on the road
LA Clippers are 9-4 SU in their last 13 games when playing Memphis
Memphis is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Memphis's last 9 games
Memphis is 18-6 SU in their last 24 games when playing at home against LA Clippers
Memphis is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games
Next up:
LA Clippers at New Orleans, Wednesday, January 13
Memphis home to Minnesota, Friday, January 15
Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs
The Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs will both be gunning for a victory on Tuesday when they meet at AT&T Center.
The Lakers defeated Milwaukee 95-77 as a 9.5-point favorite on Sunday. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (196.5).
Shannon Brown scored a game-high 19 points for the Lakers and Andrew Bynum added 17 points and 18 rebounds in the win.
The Spurs lost to New Jersey 97-85 as a 14-point favorite on Sunday. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (196).
Manu Ginobili scored 21 points for San Antonio and Ian Mahinmi added 15 points in the win.
Team records:
Los Angeles: 29-8 SU, 16-21 ATS
San Antonio: 22-13 SU, 18-16-1 ATS
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 7-3
Before playing Dallas are 6-4
After playing Milwaukee are 6-4
After a win are 7-3
San Antonio most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 7-3
Before playing Oklahoma City are 5-5
After playing New Jersey are 5-5
After a win are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
LA Lakers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games when playing San Antonio
LA Lakers are 20-5 SU in their last 25 games
LA Lakers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing San Antonio
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of the LA Lakers last 12 games when playing on the road against San Antonio
San Antonio is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
San Antonio is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of San Antonio's last 12 games when playing at home against LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Antonio's last 6 games at home
Next up:
LA Lakers at Dallas, Wednesday, January 13
San Antonio at Oklahoma City, Wednesday, January 13
Orlando Magic vs. Sacramento Kings
The fans at ARCO Arena will be treated to a game between the Orlando Magic and the Sacramento Kings when they take their seats on Tuesday.
The Magic had no trouble with the Hawks on Saturday night, cruising to a 113-81 win at home.
The Magic easily covered the 3.5-point spread in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (196.5).
Tyreke Evans had 27 points on Saturday night as the Kings got past the Nuggets by a final score of 102-100.
The Kings managed to cover the 1.5-point spread in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (214).
Team records:
Orlando: 25-12 SU, 18-17-2 ATS
Sacramento: 15-21 SU, 19-15-2 ATS
Orlando most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 3-7
Before playing Denver are 6-4
After playing Atlanta are 6-4
After a win are 6-4
Sacramento most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 3-7
Before playing Philadelphia are 5-5
After playing Denver are 4-6
After a win are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Orlando's last 6 games on the road
Orlando is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Sacramento
Orlando is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Sacramento
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Orlando's last 6 games
Sacramento is 12-2 SU in its last 14 games when playing at home against Orlando
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Sacramento's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Sacramento's last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Sacramento's last 6 games when playing at home against Orlando
Next up:
Orlando at Denver, Wednesday, January 13
Sacramento at Philadelphia, Friday, January 15
Tips and Trends
Houston Rockets at Charlotte Bobcats
Rockets: If Houston is going to make the playoffs in the grueling Western Conference this year, their play on the road needs to improve. Houston is 10-12 both SU and ATS away from home this season. They've lost 4 consecutive road contests entering today, and 6 straight road games ATS as well. Houston is struggling to score on the road of late, averaging less than 92 PPG over their past 4 contests. Since December 5th, nearly half of their games have ended with them scoring 95 PTS or fewer. After starting the season as one of the highest scoring teams in the NBA, the Rockets are 16th in the NBA in scoring. Houston is 11-8 ATS as the listed underdog this season. 4 Rockets average double digits in PTS, with PG Aaron Brooks leading the way with 18.4 PPG. F Carl Landry and C Luis Scola combine to average more than 31 PPG, with each shooting better than 50% from the field this season.
Rockets are 0-5 ATS last 5 games as a road underdog.
Under is 5-1 last 6 games as an underdog.
Key Injuries - G Tracy McGrady (rest) is out.
PROJECTED SCORE: 91
Bobcats (-3, O/U 191): The Bobcats have won 4 of their past 5 games SU to stand at 16-19 SU on the season. Of the 16 wins the Bobcats have this year, 13 of them have come at home. Charlotte is 13-4 SU at home, including an ATS record of 10-7. The Bobcats are 7-4 ATS as a single digit home favorite this year. Charlotte can tie a franchise record of 5 consecutive home wins with a victory tonight, with defense playing a prominent role. The Bobcats have held 3 of their past 4 opponents to 87 PTS or fewer at home. Of the 17 total home games, the Bobcats are only allowing 90 PPG. F Stephen Jackson leads the Bobcats in scoring with 20 PPG. F Gerald Wallace is having an impressive season, averaging more than 18 PPG with a team high 11.7 RPG. Wallace is 3rd in the NBA in rebounding, but has been held under 10 rebounds in 4 of his past 5 games. Charlotte has lost 7 consecutive games SU to the Rockets.
Bobcats are 15-7 ATS last 22 games as a home favorite.
Over is 7-1 last 8 games playing on 2 days rest.
Key Injuries - C Tyson Chandler (foot) is out.
PROJECTED SCORE: 94 (UNDER - Total of the Day)
Trend Report - Tuesday
By Ed Meyer
Rockets at Bobcats – The Rockets are 8-0 ATS (15.8 ppg) since December 15, 1999 on the road after playing at home against the Knicks. The Rockets are 0-8 ATS (-12.7 ppg) since February 27, 1996 with two or more days of rest after a home win in which they allowed at least 50% from the field. The Rockets are 7-0 ATS (14.9 ppg) since November 29, 1996 off a win as a home favorite in which they trailed by double digits at the end of the first quarter. The Bobcats are 11-0-1 ATS (13.6 ppg) since March 04, 2008 off a win in which they trailed by 10+ points.
Clippers at Grizzlies – The Clippers are 0-7 ATS (-4.4 ppg) since February 05, 2006 on the road with at most one day of rest after a double digit win in which they allowed less than 40% from the field. The Clippers are 0-6 ATS (-7.3 ppg) since November 05, 2004 on the road after a double digit home win in which more than 70% of their baskets were assisted. The Clippers are 0-6 ATS (-13.2 ppg) since November 23, 2007 with at most one day of rest after a win in which they made fewer baskets than their opponent. The Grizzlies are 0-7 ATS (-7.9 ppg) since November 28, 2003 at home with two or more days of rest off a loss as a dog in which they led by 10+ points. The Grizzlies are 6-0 ATS (9.6 ppg) since January 06, 2006 at home when seeking revenge for a loss in which they were out-rebounded by at least fifteen rebounds.
Magic at Kings – The Magic are 7-0 ATS (7.4 ppg) since November 28, 2005 on the road after a home win in which their DPA was minus 15 points or less. The Magic are 0-7 ATS (-12.8 ppg) since February 10, 2007 off a win that broke at least a three-game losing streak. The Kings are 0-8 ATS (-8.8 ppg) since November 26, 2002 with at least one day of rest off a win in which they trailed at the end of each of the first three quarters. The Kings are 7-0 ATS (10.4 ppg) since November 10, 2007 at home after a game at home in which the percentage of their baskets that were assisted was at least ten percentage points lower than their season-to-date average.
Lakers at Spurs – The Lakers are 5-0 ATS (4.9 ppg) since May 27, 2008 versus the Spurs. The Spurs are 0-7 ATS (-5.4 ppg) since March 27, 1996 at home after a win against the Nets.
Pistons at Wizards – The League is 0-12-1 ATS (-14.5 ppg) since February 18, 2009 as a dog with no rest after a loss in which their DPA was at least plus 15 points. The Pistons are 7-0-1 ATS (5.5 ppg) since March 31, 1998 on the road with at most one day of rest after a double digit loss in which their DPA was at least plus 15 points. The Wizards are 0-8 ATS (-2.3 ppg) since February 08, 2008 with at most one day of rest off a home loss in which they led at the end of the third quarter. The Wizards are 0-7 ATS (-11.4 ppg) since April 18, 2000 at home after a game at home after a loss in which they made more baskets than their opponent. The Wizards are 0-7 ATS (-13.1 ppg) since March 04, 2005 at home after a game at home in which their opponent shot at least ten three-pointers and made at least half of them.