Tuesday's Best NBA Bets
Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Lakers (-9, 203)
With the Lakers rolling along again early this year, the Chicago Bulls were likely to have their hands full anyway on Tuesday. To make matters worse, Chicago power forward Taj Gibson is hurting with a pinched nerve in his right foot and could leave the Bulls shorthanded against Los Angeles’ bigs.
Gibson sat out Monday’s practice and will be evaluated again Tuesday before the game. He was a huge part in Chicago’s 88-83 win at Dallas, contributing 17 points and 18 rebounds.
"It's real sore," Gibson told the Chicago Tribune. "I don't know if I'll be able to play Tuesday (against the Lakers), but at least we have two more days to let it heal."
If he can’t go, the Bulls are really going to have a tough time with Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom inside against a Lakers club that has won and covered four straight. They just pounded Golden State 117-89, allowing Phil Jackson to give his starters a lot of time on the bench during the second half.
Pick: Lakers
Detroit Pistons at Dallas Mavericks (-10, 191.5)
It’s pretty obvious this season that Rip Hamilton isn’t the prolific, slashing scorer that he once was. He has lost a step or two and isn’t the go-to guy on offense anymore. But that doesn’t mean he still can’t turn it on.
Hamilton buried 12 consecutive points to begin overtime in Sunday’s 115-110 victory over the Washington Wizards and finished with 27 points on the night.
"He started doing some things, and you can tell that a number of players had a difficult time guarding him," coach John Kuester told reporters after the game. "He started coming off, and he had the juice and he had it flowing. Rip Hamilton is in a category with Reggie Miller coming off screens. He had it going tonight."
Which is great, but the Pistons had better not get used to big games like that from Rip. He’s averaging 13.5 points per game this season, down from the 18.1 points he averaged last year. Meanwhile, Dallas just upset the Atlanta Hawks and should be a nice bet here as the Mavs head back home.
Pick: Mavericks
Wizards, Sixers on Tuesday NBA odds board
By: Barry Daniels
Some NBA teams have enough depth to overcome injuries to their star players, at least in the short term. However, Washington and Philadelphia are not among those squads.
The Wizards and 76ers will meet Tuesday in Washington for the second time this season, with Washington hoping to get John Wall back in the lineup and Philly eager for the return of Andre Iguodala. Both players are listed as “questionable” in the Don Best injury report.
The visiting Sixers haven’t played since last Friday when they snapped a five-game losing skid by mauling Milwaukee as 4 ½-point home underdogs, 90-79. The win raised Philadelphia’s ledger to 3-10 straight up and 6-6-1 against the NBA spread.
The combined 169 points dipped well below the 188 ½-point closing total. That left the ‘under’ 8-5 in Philadelphia’s first 13 outings, including the last three in a row.
The Sixers have not scored more than 93 points in any of their last five games, which isn’t surprising with Iguodala’s 12.8 PGF and 5 APG missing in action. The star 6-foot-6 small forward, who averaged 17.1 PPG last season, has played in just eight of the club’s first 13 games because of a nagging Achilles heel injury.
Thaddeus Young scored a season-high 23 points in Iguodala’s absence to lead the Sixers past Milwaukee. Lou Williams added 19 markers and Andres Nocioni contributed 12 points to give the Sixers just their second home win of the season.
Elton Brand, who leads the team in scoring this season with a 15.9 PPG average, scored just four points. Brand also leads the team in rebounds, hauling down 7.8 boards per contest.
Though Philadelphia is just 1-6 SU in its first seven road dates, the club is 3-3-1 ATS. Doug Collins has his troops averaging 97.5 PPG (21st), and allowing 100.6 PPG (15th).
Washington is off Sunday’s 115-110 overtime loss at Detroit as 4 ½-point road underdogs. It was the Wizards’ fourth straight game without point guard John Wall, and lowered their record to 4-8 SU and 5-7 ATS.
Despite the combined 225 points soaring ‘over’ the 195-point closing total, the ‘under’ is still 7-5 in Washington’s first 12 encounters.
Wall, the first overall selection in last year’s draft, missed his fourth consecutive game because of a sprained left foot. The former Kentucky All-America point guard is averaging 18.1 points per game and 9.8 assists per contest in his first eight games as a pro.
Javale McGee and Andray Blatche each collected 20 points in the overtime loss at Detroit, while Gilbert Arenas chipped in with 19 points and a game-high 16 assists. Arenas, who averaged 22.6 points in just 32 games for the Wizards last season, is averaging 15.9 points in nine games this year.
These two Eastern Conference foes have already met once this season (Nov.2), with the Wizards edging the Sixers in overtime, 116-115. Washington did not cover the spread as a three-point home favorite, allowing the Sixers to improve to 5-2-1 ATS in the last eight series meetings.
The combined 231 points sailed above the 192-point closing total, enabling the ‘over’ to improve to 13-3 in the last 16 series meetings.
However, that game was not going at an ‘over’ pace until the teams combined for 74 points in the fourth quarter. The game was tied at 106 in regulation.
Louis Williams came off the bench to lead the Sixers with a game-high 30 points, while Iguodala added 12 points and nine assists.
Philadelphia lost the game despite shooting a sizzling 55 percent from the field, collecting 10 more assists than the Wizards and outscoring the home team in the paint, 50-36.
However, Washington used its home court advantage to go 36-of-43 from the charity stripe compared to 23-of-29 for the visiting Sixers. The Wizards also out-rebounded the 76ers, 47-43.
Wall was an integral part of the victory, leading the Wizards with 29 points, 13 assists and a dazzling nine steals. Blatche added 23 points and eight rebounds, while Nick Young stepped off the bench to add 20 points.
The Wizards are averaging just 96.4 points per game, which ranks 26th. They aren’t any better defensively, allowing 103.4 PPG (24th).
Washington hits the road for a Thanksgiving Day contest at Atlanta to play the Hawks. The Sixers play the second half of a back-to-back road trip Wednesday at Toronto against the Raptors.
Tips and Trends
Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Lakers
BULLS: Chicago has had a few extra days to prepare for this showdown tonight. The Bulls are 7-4 SU this season, including 2-3 SU away from home. After a poor start to their season, the Bulls have won 5 of their last 6 games. In all 6 of those games, Chicago has played to the under. For the Bulls to be their most successful, it's critical that they play rugged defense. Chicago is allowing opponents to average 98.3 PPG this year, but that average is coming down. 5 different Bulls are averaging at least 9 PPG this season, led by G Derrick Rose. Rose is averaging 25.2 PPG and a team high 8.5 APG this season. The Bulls lost both games to the Lakers last year, so they'd love to beat the Lakers on their home floor tonight. The Bulls are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games against a team with a winning percentage above .600%. Chicago is 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games against the Western Conference. The Bulls are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 road games overall. The Bulls are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games following an ATS win.
Bulls are 9-2 ATS last 11 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Under is 6-2 last 8 road games against a team with a home winning percentage greater than .600%.
Key Injuries - F Carlos Boozer (hand) is out.
Projected Score: 103
LAKERS: (-9, O/U 203) Los Angeles is well on their way to yet another NBA Championship, thanks to a 12-2 SU record. The Lakers have the 2nd best record in the NBA, and stand 7-1 SU at home. Los Angeles has won each of their past 4 games ATS heading into tonight. For the season, the Lakers are 6-4-1 ATS. The biggest reason for their success this season is their offensive prowess. The Lakers are averaging 112.5 PPG this season, nearly 5 PPG more than the next closest team. G Kobe Bryant is leading the team with 25.6 PPG this season. F Pau Gasol is averaging 22.8 PPG and a team high 12.1 PPG this year. Bench players Matt Barnes and Steve Blake have played critical roles for the Lakers this season. Defensively, Los Angeles has held each of their past 3 opponents to 95 PTS or fewer. The Lakers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games against a team with a winning percentage above .600%. Los Angeles is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games against the NBA Central. The Lakers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game. The Lakers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following an ATS win.
Lakers are 5-2 ATS last 7 games following a SU win of more than 10 points.
Under is 5-0 last 5 games following an ATS win.
Key Injuries - C Andrew Bynum (knee) is out.
Projected Score: 109 (OVER-Total of the Day)
NBA Preview: Chicago Bulls at LA Lakers
By Jeff Mattingly
Chicago continues its circus road trip with a games against the two-time defending champions at the Staples Center on Tuesday night. The Bulls are a solid 5-2 versus Western Conference opponents, including a 2-2 mark on the road. In its last game, the team overcome a double-digit third quarter deficit, tallying an 88-83 win over the Mavericks. Chicago out-rebounded Dallas by a decisive 59-34 margin, with forward Taj Gibson and center Joakim Noah grabbing 18 and 17 rebounds respectively. The squad is 3-2 ATS on the road this season.
The Bulls have dropped six straight games to the Lakers, with their last win coming on December 19, 2006 in the Windy City. Chicago is 24-44 on the road against Los Angeles, including a 2-9 mark in the last 11 meetings at the Staples Center. The defense will need to continue its great play, giving up just 92.7 points a contest over the past six games, going against the NBA’s best offense that scored 112.5 a night. None of it may matter, as the Lakers have averaged 107.7 points in the last six meetings.
Los Angeles has won four straight games in dominating fashion by an average of 17.3 points and absolutely destroyed the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night by a score of 117-89. Center Pau Gasol became the fifth Laker in franchise history to not miss from the field with a minimum of 10 attempts, totaling a team-high 28 points and pulled down nine rebounds. “Matt told me, ‘Welcome to the club,” Gasol said. “I said, ‘Happy to be in there’.” He joined Barnes and Charles Barkley as the only players to have at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists without missing at least five shots from the field and free-throw line. The team is 9-5 ATS this season.
The Lakers have won four straight meetings in Los Angeles and six in a row in the series, averaging 107.7 points in those contests. The team’s 12-2 record equals the third-best 14-game start to a season in franchise history. Head coach Phil Jackson led teams have now won at least 12 games before their third loss on six occasions. Also, Los Angeles is 15-5 all-time against the Bulls while on the bench in Hollywood, posting an 8-2 record in Los Angeles and 7-3 mark in the Windy City.
Bettors will be interested in backing the Bulls due to their 9-2 ATS mark when playing on three or more days of rest, while the Lakers are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games as a favorite of 5 to 10.5 points.
NBA RoundUp for 11/23
by Dan Bebe
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Indiana Pacers (-5.5) with a total of 201
If any game has letdown written on it on today's card, you'd have to think it's this one. The Pacers play the Heat in Miami on Monday night (which will be starting about 3 hours from the time I compose this paragraph), and, barring the Pacers getting completely blown out, coming home to host the "restructured" Cavaliers just doesn't have that same ring as heading on the road to tackle LeBron and his gang of kingly sorts. The Pacers are a team on the rise, there's zero question about that, and last night's game was serving as something of a proving ground -- how will they play against some of the best? And now, to go from playing LeBron's new team to his old, it has all the makings of a game where the Pacers are lackadaisical on defense and just try to outshoot their opponent. This, of course, plays right into Byron Scott's offensive-minded team. And when teams just trade buckets for 48 minutes, the one catching 5.5 points usually covers. Add to that the notes that the Cavs are coming off 2 days of rest and the Pacers could be rather tuckered and that Indiana walloped the Cavs in Cleveland a week ago, by 14 points, and you've got yourself a nice little blend of scheduling, situational, and energy angles. Lean to CAVALIERS and OVER.
Atlanta Hawks (-2.5) @ New Jersey Nets with a total of a 191.5
Some might look at this game with the same sentiment as the game above, but I'm not so sure the angles in this one don't balance a tad more. Yes, the Hawks have a big game with Boston on their Monday night schedule, but Atlanta's real "beef" is with Orlando. Boston is a solid opponent, but Atlanta has shown that they can out-athletic the Celtics when they have had to. Heck, the Hawks actually swept the 4-game series from Boston last year. The Celtics were significantly more banged up then than they are this year, though here we are again, Boston without Rajon Rondo (most likely)...in any case, we'll see how that game turns out, but my main point is that I don't believe Atlanta is "getting up" for Boston like they have in the past. Atlanta is confident they can beat the Celtics, and when you approach a game like any other, it minimizes that potential letdown. On the Jersey side, they return home off a marginally successful road trip, marked by being competitive in most games and nabbing a win against the worst team in the NBA (Clippers). So, first game home against arguable letdown - which side do we prefer? To be perfectly honest, New Jersey's slow tempo and all pick-and-roll offense might not work that well against the Hawks. Atlanta can switch just about everything because of sheer athleticism, and the Hawks are a good rebounding team. It happens from time to time, but I like the square HAWKS and the UNDER.
Philadelphia 76ers @ Washington Wizards with a total of N/A
On John Wall, we wait. In the meantime, Gilbert Arenas is destroying. Unfortunately, the Wizards still don't play any defense, so they count on knocking down more shots than their opponent to win, and that's a tough way to take games against anyone better than you. Lucky for Washington, Philadelphia stinks. The Sixers do have reason for optimism, though, in that Andre Iguodala is slated to return from his Achilles injury in this one, and they have desperately needed their playmaker. We've seen nice things from Evan Turner so far this year, and Jrue Holiday is slowly improving, but Spencer Hawes has been terrible. Though, really, when I look at this team, they should win a few games. Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young make for a rather potent scoring duo off the bench, and Elton Brand is playing his best basketball in years. At some point, something is going to click, and Philly is going to rattle off a few wins, but it's tough to pinpoint precisely when that's going to be. Playing some defense might help. But I digress - without John Wall - or, even with him - Washington is going to be frightfully inconsistent this year, and are going to be a tough, tough team to 'cap outside of the obvious scheduling or situational spots. NO LEAN on the side, UNDER lean on total.
Charlotte Bobcats @ New York Knicks (-3) with a total of 205.5
It's home-and-home time, which means we're in line for at least one bet. These are some of the best value spots of the entire season, so let's just keep our microscopes at the ready. And, with this one, it's on back-to-back days, as well, so that should only make our jobs a tiny bit easier. As far as betting the opener, you guys know my normally conservative stance on the first game of the two - watch and learn. However, if you're feeling spicy, there are a few angles that might point to the road teams doing damage in this home-and-home. First, the Bobcats are coming off a nice respite, not having played since Saturday, and I'm not sure that game should even count as playing. Charlotte clubbed the defenseless Suns, and this team is quietly starting to play better. I'm tempted to just start backing them indiscriminately, so we don't miss the value. It's there, and it's going to start dwindling at some point. New York, additionally, is coming off a wildly successful swing out west, picking up a hard-fought loss in Denver before punching the Kings, Warriors and Clippers in their respective guts. But, coming home off a bonding road trip is even harder than coming home off a poor trip. This is a cross-country travel lag-game, with a team they know they're going to be playing again tomorrow, and I rather doubt the Knicks get to shoot 50+ free throws again. Look at passing on this one, but if you must, CHARLOTTE and UNDER.
Detroit Pistons @ Dallas Mavericks (-10) with a total of 192
What more can I say? Dallas just continues to find ways to lose ATS at home and win on the road. It just gets sillier with every few games. The last time we talked about Dallas, they were about to host the Chicago Bulls, and promptly lost that game outright. Then, over the weekend, the Mavericks rolled into Atlanta and picked up another tough road win. So, now, back home and laying big points to a slightly-better-than-people-think Pistons team, what could possibly move us off the underdog? The Mavericks play tomorrow in Oklahoma City, a much more compelling game than this one. The Pistons don't really have look-aheads or letdowns, since they're not at odds with any particular team since they, well, got bad. Detroit does play again tomorrow, too, but in Memphis, and the results of this game will play a nice roll in preparing us for that one. Look for Detroit to continue to do just enough, and look for Dallas to continue taking their foot off the gas at just the right times. Lean to DETROIT and the UNDER.
Chicago Bulls @ Los Angeles Lakers (-9) with a total of 203.5
I know I should be excited about this game, but I'm not, really. Fact is, no one can stop the Lakers offense. They score over 100 almost without fail, and they do it without having to run all that much. It's pretty amazing. So, as a Laker fan, I have no issues. As a man who is hunting for value, I'd like to point to the rather large line and say that Chicago is in business, but the Lakers are on one of those ATS rolls right now, and I'd be a little cautious, even with the line at this extremely large number. The Lakers have covered 4 straight, including demolishing the Warriors on Sunday night, and when LA gets going (and plays defense), they can beat any team in the League by 15 on any night. So, it is with some reticence that I offer the alternative - just watch the Lakers, and as soon as it looks like they're going back to just "playing B+ basketball," fade away. It tends to happen in waves with LA, too. They failed to cover opening night due a clear lack of focus, then rattled off 4 straight covers. Then, they started to relax and went 1-4 ATS. Since Phoenix dropped 22 treys on LA, they've pounded 4 teams. So, just keep an eye on LA, and when they start letting teams creep back into games, that's when we pounce. This could very well be that night, so don't let me completely talk you out of betting Chicago, but I've watched this Lakers team long enough to know that it's best to ride streaks and not try to jump in front of them. NO LEAN on side, total lean OVER.
Inside the Paint
By Chris David
Break up the Knicks!
Has New York (6-8 straight up, 7-7 against the spread) finally found its groove? After dropping five in a row, the Knicks departed for a four-game road trip on the West Coast. The club lost a close decision to Denver (118-120) but managed to cover as 7 ½-point ‘dogs. Despite losing to the Nuggets, New York rebounded with three straight wins albeit against the Kings (113-106), Warriors (125-119) and Clippers (124-115). The ‘over’ cashed in all four outings.
New York returns home on Tuesday and playing at Madison Square Garden hasn’t been good to the team this season. The Knicks have gone 1-4 both SU and ATS at home, plus the ‘under’ is 1-4 as well.
Tuesday’s opponent for N.Y. will be Charlotte, who is starting to come around after a 1-6 start to the season. Since then, the Bobcats have gone 4-2 SU and 5-1 ATS in their last six, which include two wins on the road. Larry Brown’s team is 3-4 SU and 4-3 ATS on the road this year.
This will be the first meeting between the two teams this year and the first game of a home-and-home, with the two squaring off in Charlotte on Wednesday. Last season, the home team won all four of the meetings and every contest was decided by seven points or less. The ‘under’ cashed in three of the four affairs.
Most books have New York listed as a three-point home favorite, while the total is hovering around 205 points.
Fading in Dallas
Last year, the Mavericks were horrendous as home favorites and the same tendency is showing up again this season. Since beating Charlotte (101-86) and covering the number (-7) on opening night, Dallas hasn’t cashed a ticket at home (0-4-2). The team has produced a 4-3 SU ledger but tonight’s matchup against Detroit has the Mavericks laying double digits (-10).
And it should be known that even though the Pistons are 5-8 SU, the club owns a 9-4 mark ATS. On the road, Detroit has gone 2-5 SU and 5-2 ATS and that includes a recent four-game swing on the West Coast that watched the club go 2-2 SU and 3-1 ATS. Against the Western Conference this season, Detroit has produced a 3-4 SU and 5-2 ATS record.
Over the last four seasons, Dallas has gone 6-2 SU in eight meetings against Detroit which includes an active four-game winning streak. However, the Pistons have covered five of those eight. The last two encounters played in the Lone Star State, both wins by Dallas, only were decided by five and two points.
During this stretch between the two teams, the ‘over’ has cashed in the last four, but the ‘under’ was on a 4-0 run prior to this. Tonight’s total is listed at 191 and Dallas has watched the ‘under’ go 8-4 this year.
Purple and GOLD
Anybody expecting a letdown for the two-time defending champions Los Angeles Lakers this season better rethink their thoughts. Phil Jackson’s troops stand at 12-2 SU and 9-5 ATS, but what’s more impressive is the team’s ability to run people out of the building. After dropping back-to-back losses to the Nuggets (112-118) and Suns (116-121), the Lakers responded with four straight wins by double digits, three coming on the road. None of the teams were powerhouses, but they covered the number in all four and held three of the opponents under 100.
Los Angeles will get a stiffer test Tuesday when Chicago visits the Staples Center. The Bulls are on their annual “Circus Trip” and this year’s stretch has started out well. The team produced a 2-1 both SU and ATS ledger, with wins coming against the Rockets (95-92) and the Mavericks (88-83). The loss came on zero days rest to San Antonio (94-103).
Chicago has gone 2-3 SU and 3-2 ATS on the road but this is a different team lately and head coach Tom Thibodeau’s defensive philosophy is taking shape. The Bulls have held seven of its 11 opponents under 100 and only given up 92 points per game during the last six. Total players following the team saw the ‘over’ start the season 4-1, but the ‘under’ has cashed in six straight. The Lakers lead the NBA with 112.5 PPG so this will be a tough number to handicap. Currently, the ‘over/under’ is listed between 203 and 204 at most books.
Not surprisingly, the Lakers have been installed as healthy favorites (-8.5) on Tuesday. L.A. has gone 7-1 SU and 4-4 ATS at home this year, plus they’ve owned Chicago. The Bulls have lost four consecutive at Staples Center and six in a row in the series.
Tip-off is slated for 10:35 p.m. EST, with NBATV providing national coverage.
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