Tuesday's NBA Preview
By Josh Jacobs
Are you still trying to shake off the cobwebs after partying (or sobbing over lost wagers) in support of the “big game” on Sunday night? Even if you’re all freshened up for the week ahead there’s no denying the obvious void at the books now that another NFL season is all said and done.
But there’s no sense in pouting as college and professional basketball is only beginning to come to a boil. So you now know what’s coming. That’s right, another installment of an NBA preview.
And before we begin breaking down the matchups for Tuesday’s tipoff, make a note that the ‘over' was a sizzling 11-3 during the weekend (8-2 on Saturday and 3-1 on Sunday).
Toronto at Cleveland – 7:00 p.m. EST
At the bottom of the barrel in the Atlantic Division, the Raptors (19-30 straight up, 19-28-2 against the spread) have been able to pull off just three wins in the last 10 games. Toronto shot just 41 percent in its last loss against Orlando (113-90) and missed the mark for 43 percent from the field in a Friday defeat against Milwaukee (96-85). But what we’re really looking at here is the Raptors dropping three straight in the ATS department and seven of the last 12 games ATS. Toronto has also suffered on the road versus teams playing above .500, going 5-8 ATS this season.
As dominant as Cleveland (37-9 SU, 31-15 ATS) has been, backers can’t ask much more then a 6-1 ATS record at home versus teams playing above .500 and a 9-4 ATS stint versus teams with a losing record. The Cavaliers are 22-6 ATS in their last 28 home games. Cleveland will be returning home after playing 14 of the last 23 contests on the road. Through this stint the Cavs have gone 17-6 SU and 12-11 ATS. In a December outing against the Raptors, Cleveland won and covered (114-94) as a hefty, 12 ½-point favorite while the 196.5 total went ‘over’ the mark. Four of the last six home games for the Cavaliers have cracked ‘over’ the total (averaging 107.8 PPG in the last six home games).
Cleveland will be looking to remain perfect at home this season at 23-0.
Sportsbetting.com has installed the Cavaliers as 10 ½-point favorites. A total of 193 ½ has been set. Cleveland is 3-1 ATS when books have applied a spread between 10 and 10 ½-points in the club’s favor.
Boston at Philadelphia – 7:00 p.m. EST
The pendulum swings back in Boston’s (40-9 SU, 28-21 ATS) favor as the No. 1 team in the NBA heading into the new week. This is a club responsible for putting together 11 straight wins and awarding bettors duffle bags of cash with eight ATS wins in the last nine. The Celtics’ latest run can be attributed to a defense hunkering down for 90.6 PPG allowed (91.4 PPG allowed on the season). But what could be more important is Boston’s effort to outscore its opponents 94.6 to a low 82.8 PPG in the last five road games. Even more intriguing for gamblers is the Celtics’ 24-1 SU and 19-6 ATS stretch this season when holding opponents to under 90 points this season.
Philadelphia is a far cry from the 2-5 start to begin the season. Ripping off seven straight at the beginning of January, the 76ers have parlayed that success into grabbing a 9-4-1 ATS record in their last 14. Philly is coming off a tough, 85-83 loss against New Jersey on Saturday (set as eight-point chalk) but the low scoring contest has improved the ‘under’ to 6-3 in the last nine. In the last 11, the ‘Sixers have scored 99.5 PPG versus defending for 92.9 PPG allowed. A total of 192.4 PPG has been a result of the last 11, in contrast to books setting an average total of 198.1 PPG. And when betting spots have set a total of 200-plus points, Philly is 6-2 on the ‘under’.
The Celtics are 2-0 SU and ATS this season against the 76ers. In their last meeting on Dec. 23, Boston rolled to a 110-91 victory at home as 13-point favorites. The road team is 7-3-1 ATS in the last 11 head-to-head meetings.
San Antonio at Denver – 9:00 p.m. EST
And so we wind down Tuesday’s NBA action discussing a solid matchup between San Antonio (32-14 SU, 22-23-1 ATS) and Denver (31-16 SU, 27-19-1 ATS). Most books have already opened this tip-off favoring the Nuggets at four points with a total set at 199. As a four to 4 ½-point favorite this season, Denver is a mortal 3-3 ATS. January was a good month for the Northeast leader as the Nuggets cashed out with a 10-4 SU and 9-5 ATS record. On top of that the ‘under’ has been just as formidable, racking up to 7-3 in the last 10. These low scoring totals have been the result of books installing figures from as high as 220 ½ (games installed at 205 or above seven times in the last 14 games).
The Spurs are three games ahead of New Orleans in the Southwest. We’re looking at a team that was 12-3 in January, scoring 98.3 PPG, shooting close to 47 percent from the parquet while hitting a near 80 percent from the charity stripe. It might seem elementary at best but in its 15 defeats this season, San Antonio has garnered a shooting trend of hitting just 42.6 percent from the wood (only three defeats had the team hitting 50 percent or more of its shots). The Spurs are 17-12 ATS in the conference (5-2 ATS in the last seven conference games) and are 6-4 ATS versus winning teams on the road.
Both teams have split one win apiece leading up to Tuesday. San Antonio is coming off a 108-91 beating over Denver on Jan. 4. Most books had closed that contest at plus-four points in favor of the Nuggets.
vegasinsider.com.
BOSTON vs. PHILADELPHIA
Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Philadelphia is 0-4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Boston
Philadelphia is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Boston
MINNESOTA vs. INDIANA
Minnesota is 5-12 ATS in its last 17 games when playing Indiana
Minnesota is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Indiana
Indiana is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Indiana is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home
TORONTO vs. CLEVELAND
Toronto is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Cleveland
Toronto is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing Cleveland
Cleveland is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
Cleveland is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home
MILWAUKEE vs. NEW JERSEY
Milwaukee is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against New Jersey
Milwaukee is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against New Jersey
New Jersey is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Milwaukee
New Jersey is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games when playing Milwaukee
CHICAGO vs. HOUSTON
Chicago is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Chicago is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Houston is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Chicago
Houston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Chicago
SAN ANTONIO vs. DENVER
San Antonio is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Denver
San Antonio is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing Denver
Denver is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Denver is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
Hot Teams
-- Cavaliers won six of their last seven games.
-- Pacers won seven of their last eight home games.
-- Celtics won their last eleven games (9-2 vs spread).
-- Bulls won last three games, covered their last four.
-- Nuggets won six of last eight games (7-1 vs spread). Spurs won four in a row, eight of last nine games.
Cold Teams
-- Raptors lost nine of their last twelve games.
-- Minnesota lost last three games, but they're still 16-5 vs spread in its last 21 games.
-- 76ers are 1-4-1 vs spread in their last six games.
-- Nets lost eight of their last ten games. Bucks lost four of their last five road games.
-- Rockets are 2-8 vs spread in game after their last ten wins.
Totals
-- Over is 3-1-1 in last five Toronto games.
-- Three of last four Indiana games went over the total.
-- Five of last six 76er games stayed under the total.
-- Four of last five Milwaukee games stayed under the total.
-- Last three Houston games stayed under the total.
-- Last four San Antonio games went over the total.
Back-to Back
-- Cavaliers are 3-2 vs spread at home if they play on road next night.
-- Timberwolves are 6-4 vs spread if they play again the next night.
-- Nets are 7-5 vs spread if they play again the next night.
-- Bulls are 3-8 vs spread on road if they play again the next night.
-- Denver is 7-3-1 vs spread if they play again the next night.
Boston (40-9, 28-21 ATS) at Philadelphia (23-23, 22-23-1 ATS)
The Celtics take their 11-game winning streak to Philadelphia for an Atlantic Division clash with the 76ers.
Playing without an ill Kevin Garnett, Boston still had little trouble putting away the Timberwolves 109-101 on Sunday. However, the Celtics came up short as a 12-point home chalk, snapping an 8-0 ATS run. During its winning streak, Doc Rivers’ club is 5-0 SU and ATS on the road, with an average margin of victory of 11.8 points per game.
Philadelphia has sputtered since a season-high seven-game winning streak, splitting its last six games while going 1-4-1 ATS. That includes Saturday’s 85-83 home loss to the Nets as an eight-point home favorite. Despite that setback, the 76ers are 6-2 SU in their last eight at home, but 0-3-1 ATS in the last four. The SU winner is 40-5-1 ATS in Philadelphia’s games this season.
Boston has taken the first two meetings between these teams this season, both at home – a 102-78 rout as an 8½-point favorite and a 110-91 destruction as a 13-point chalk. Since the start of last season, the Celtics are 5-1 SU and 4-1-1 ATS in this rivalry, and the visitor is 7-3-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
In addition to its ATS hot streaks of 8-1 overall and 5-0 at home, Boston is on positive pointspread streaks of 39-16-2 in divisional games, 5-0 against the Eastern Conference, 5-1 when playing on one day of rest and 7-2 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game. Philly is 4-1 ATS in its last five after an outright loss, but 1-5 ATS in its last six against Atlantic Division rivals.
The under is on streaks of 24-7 for Boston on the road, 9-3 for Boston when playing on one day of rest, 4-0 for Boston in Eastern Conference clashes, 5-2 for the Sixers overall, 19-8-1 for the 76ers at home and 9-4 for the Sixers against the Atlantic Division. However, the over is on runs of 4-1 for the Celtics on Tuesday, 8-1 for Philadelphia on Tuesday, 7-1 for Philadelphia after a SU loss and 6-1 for Philadelphia when going on two days’ rest.
ATS ADVANTAGE: BOSTON
San Antonio (33-14, 22-24-1 ATS) at Denver (31-16, 27-19-1 ATS)
Two Western Conference foes playing great basketball hook up at the Pepsi Center, where the Nuggets host the Spurs.
Denver has been idle since Friday’s 110-99 rout of Charlotte, barely cashing as a 10-point home favorite. The Nuggets are 4-1 SU in their last five and 11-4 SU in their last 15, and they’ve cashed in nine of their last 13 overall, going 4-1 ATS in the last five. George Karl’s club has averaged 106.5 ppg in its last six, including an 81-point effort in a loss at New Orleans on Wednesday, and the defense has held five straight opponents under 100 points (94.8 ppg).
San Antonio ran its winning streak to four in a row with last night’s 110-105 overtime win at Golden State, but it came up just short as a 5½-point road chalk to end a 3-0 ATS run. The Spurs are 8-1 SU in their last nine, but just 5-4 ATS. After going six straight games without scoring 100 points and averaging just 90.5 ppg, the Spurs have scored 106, 114, 106 and 110 in their last four (109 ppg) while holding six of their last nine foes under triple digits.
The visitor got it done in this season’s first two meetings between these teams, with Denver rolling 91-81 as a one-point underdog Nov. 19 and the Spurs cruising 108-91 at the Pepsi Center as a four-point road underdog Dec. 4. Prior to this year, the host had won five straight in this rivalry (4-1 ATS). Also in this series, Denver is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings, and the underdog has cashed in each of the last three after a 7-0 ATS run by the favorite.
Denver is 19-6 at home (15-9-1 ATS), including 10-2 in the last 12 (8-4 ATS). Meanwhile, the Spurs are 14-7 on the highway (12-9 ATS), including 7-2 in the last nine (6-3 ATS).
San Antonio is in ATS funks of 8-18 as an underdog of less than five points and 8-21 when playing on back-to-back nights. The Nuggets have failed to cash in five of their last seven when getting three or more days off, but otherwise they’re on pointspread runs of 5-1 overall, 4-0 as a favorite, 4-1 at home and 14-6 against teams from the stout Southwest Division.
The under is 24-8-1 in the last 33 clashes in this rivalry, including 11-4 in the last 15 battles in the Mile High City. Also, for the Spurs, the under is on streaks of 9-4 on the highway, 24-9-1 as a pup, 12-3 as a road underdog, 21-6 against winning teams, 4-1-1 when playing on back-to-back nights and 7-3-1 on Tuesday. Finally, Denver is on “under” stretches of 4-1 overall, 5-2 at home, 4-0 against the Western Conference and 4-0 on Tuesday.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
Gametimepicks.com
Tuesday Research
By Indiancowboy
Toronto vs. Cleveland
Early consensus reports show a 70% + love for Cleveland here at home against the Raptors. Cleveland is a league best 31-15 ATS thus far. These two teams did hook up in December at Cleveland with the Cavs winning 114-94 covering the -12.5 spread. Interesting to note that the spread this time is a bit lower at -11 and it has steadily been coming down. Is Toronto going to bounce-back and get some revenge here is what the question begs. This Raptor team who was playing well comes off back to back losses to a Michael "Reddless" Milwaukee team at home and then loses to Orlando at home by 13 as well. Cleveland comes off a nice cover over the Clippers at home and a big win over the Pistons by 10 in their last win. Tough to call here, but a small lean on the over here if anything, but no thanks.
Minnesota vs. Indiana
One of the worst things about Weekday NBA Basketball is the fact that the lines do not come out promptly the night before or in the morning at times. Hence, while people wait on injury reports, these lines are yet to be made. These two teams have yet to meet this year. Minnesota is a hard working team that has been on a consistent ATS run over the past few weeks and even covered against Boston in Boston in their last game to their credit. Indiana is 7-3 ATS over their last 10, and they come off an Outright loss at home to NY who had revenge against them for defeating them at MSG. I'd love to see a line here as I'm curious to see how many points that Minnesota is getting as I have this game at a coin flip for a SU win.
Boston vs. Philadelphia
Once again, no line here, but I'm sure that more than 65% of the public will be on Boston regardless of what the line is as they are likely to be a favorite of -6.5 as the road chalk here or less. Boston has beat this team by 24 and 19 this year already in November and December and Philly will be waiting for them in this game. Note, though that Boston had covered 8 in a row before the non-cover against the Twolves at home. After a couple of losses, Boston has reeled of at least 10 straight wins and Philly comes off a loss to New Jersey at home possibly looking ahead to this game. I'm staying away regardless as I have a rule not to bet against Boston similar to the same rule to not to bet against the Lakers despite a 100% of the public being on them - these are two teams that don't follow the typical public consensus trends - the Cavs can also be tacked on to the list as well.
Milwaukee vs. New Jersey
Note that Jersey has revenge in this game as they lost by a bucket to Milwaukee To New Jersey's credit they did defeat Philly on the road as an 8 point underdog, and Milwaukee comes off huge wins over Atlanta at home and Toronto on the road despite not having Michael Redd. Of course, I do lean on NJ with revenge, but the Nets are an unpredictable and fickle team as after all, they are 4-6 ATS over their last 10 and that's a roller coaster I don't want to get on.
Chicago vs. Houston
Once again, no line this morning, but do note that these two teams have not met this year. It is always tough to cap Houston Rockets game simply b/c Tracy McGrady - also known as "Mr. Eternally questionable and game time decision guy" - and his status are rarely known prior to game time. But, note that Chicago is healthy, they are playin well, they have covered 4 in a row including 3 straight wins on the highway at L.A. Clippers, at Sacramento and at Phoenix. What's nice about those wins for the Bulls is that they covered each of those games by double-digits winning by 17 over L.A. Clippers, 21 over the Kings and 11 over the Suns as 9 point dogs. Houston bounced-back nicely over the Warriors after a couple losses - not sure what the line is, but Chicago is back and will be competitive. If the line is +6.5 or better, a lean on the Bulls otherwise, maybe a dabble on the ML, but no thanks.
Injury Notes:
Indiana: Granger is Questionable.
Boston: Garnett is Doubtful.
Milwaukee: Bogut is Out
New Jersey: Carter is Probable.
Chicago: Rose is Probable.
Houston: McGrady is Questionable (as he has been his entire NBA career)