NBA Picks & Predictions for Monday, January 24, 2011
By Anthony Rome
(The Spread) - The San Antonio Spurs remain one of the league’s top NBA teams this year but they’re coming off their most lopsided loss of the season. Can they rebound when they take on the Golden State Warriors on Monday night?
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made the Spurs 5.5-point favorites over the Warriors on Monday. The over/under total for this game is currently sitting at 210.5 points.
The Spurs enter Monday’s game with a 37-7 overall record and are 25-17-2 against the spread according to latest NBA trends. On the road this season, they’re 13-5 overall and 11-6-1 against the number.
The Warriors are 19-24 overall but are 24-18-1 against the spread this season. They’re 13-7 at home and 12-8 against the number, while the over has hit in 13 of their 20 games at Oracle Arena.
Monday NBA Free Pick:
The Spurs have a veteran team led by one of the best in the business in coach Gregg Popovich. They will be prepared following their ugly loss to the Hornets on Saturday and they should come out with more focus and energy. While the Spurs had no answer for New Orleans’ defense, Tony Parker still reached double figures and Manu Ginobili remains hot at the free throw line. The Spurs have won 10 in a row overall in this matchup, including the last four on the road. They beat the Warriors 111-94 at home in December and also won the first game of the series this season, 118-98 in Golden State. In that game, Tim Duncan had a triple-double with 15 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists. San Antonio is 6-0 against the spread in the last six meetings between these two teams, while the favorite is 20-7-1 ATS in the last 28 meetings overall. Our pick is the Spurs –5.5.
MONDAY NBA FREE PICK: SAN ANTONIO SPURS –5.5