Tuesday's Best NBA Bet
Golden State Warriors at Oklahoma State Thunder (-10.5, 215)
Oklahoma City locked up a playoff spot with Sunday’s win over Portland to move to 9-1 straight up over its last 10 games. It was an impressive win with a playoff atmosphere and you can see how much this team has matured over the last couple of seasons.
It feels good," Kevin Durant told reporters. "A couple of years ago, we were the worst team ever. Two years later, we have clinched consecutive playoff appearances, so it feels good. We have to keep pushing."
That’s what is a little worrisome about this spot. This is the last date on the Thunder’s current six-game home stand before they head out on the road for their next four.
The Thunder have had no trouble covering run-of-the-mill spreads at home, but they have had trouble lately when set as big favorites.
Pick: Warriors
LeBron James, Miami Heat back in Cleveland
By: Michael Robinson
LeBron James returns to Cleveland for the second time since his unceremonious departure as the Miami Heat visit the Cavaliers on Tuesday night.
NBA-TV will have the 4 p.m. (PT) broadcast from Quicken Loans Arena.
Miami is 3-0 straight up and 2-1 against the spread against the Cavs this year. That includes the first meeting back in Cleveland on Dec. 2. James brushed off the jeers of his former fans to explode for 38 points, winning 118-90 in a blowout as 5½-point favorites.
The Heat won the two home meetings since then (1-1 ATS), 101-95 as 16½-point favorites on Dec. 15 and 117-90 as 17½-point ‘chalk’ on Jan. 31. James was far more mortal in those contests with 45 total points, while his buddy Dwyane Wade poured in 62.
The ‘over’ is 3-0 in the three meetings between the teams.
As good as those wins made James feel, especially given the vitriol Cavs’ owner Dan Gilbert has shown him, the Heat (51-22 SU, 34-38-1 ATS) have more important things to worry about. They trail Chicago by 2.5 games for first place in the Eastern Conference and Boston by a half-game for second.
Miami has won five straight and is 8-1 since an awful five-game losing streak. The last game was a 125-119 home win over Houston on Sunday. James, Wade and Chris Bosh each hit the 30-point plateau, combining for 94. The game stayed close as Miami’s ‘D’ made the trio of Kyle Lowry, Kevin Martin and Luis Scola look like All-Stars (82 combined points).
The 244 combined points scored made a mockery of the 208½-point total. The ‘over’ is 2-0 in Miami’s last two games after the ‘under’ was 4-1 in the previous five.
Miami failed to ‘cover’ as eight favorites against Houston and is just 2-3 ATS during this current winning streak.
Starting point guard Mike Bibby had 14 points last game. He scored just eight total points in the first two games as a starter after Mario Chalmers’ injury (knee). Either Bibby or bench sharpshooter Mike Miller (questionable Tuesday, knee injury) need to develop into a consistent scorer behind the ‘Big 3.’
Miami is 1-4 ATS in its last five road games, 23-12 SU and 19-15-1 ATS this year. The team has played just three road tilts in its last 15 games.
The Cavaliers (14-58 SU, 29-41-2 ATS) have the NBA’s worst record and should get the top draft pick. They also own an unprotected selection from the L.A. Clippers (currently eighth) for the recent Baron Davis and Mo Williams swap.
Cleveland did get a 97-91 home win over Detroit last Friday, but then lost to Atlanta at home on Sunday (99-83). The offense is scoring just 86.4 PPG the last 11 games (2-9 SU, 4-7 ATS). The ‘under’ is 8-0 in Cleveland’s last eight and 10-1 in the last 11.
Coach Byron Scott has a roster that resembles the NBA Development League. Alonzo Gee and Ryan Hollins are starters for a team that was a perennial title contender before James went to South Beach. More recognizable names like Anderson Varejao and Antawn Jamison are likely both out for the year.
Scott is relying on starters J.J Hickson (13 PPG) and Ramon Sessions (12.7 PPG) for offense. Davis is averaging 15.3 PPG in six games coming off the bench. Samardo Samuels can also be effective off the pine, but he’s out Tuesday (wrist).
Cleveland is 2-6 ATS in its last eight home games, 9-28 SU and 14-22-1 ATS on the year. The crowd won’t be nearly as vocal as the first James’ meeting and will be happy to see the Cavs just make it competitive.
Miami continues its four-game trip Wednesday in Washington, while Cleveland starts a three-game road trip the same night in Charlotte.