Sunday's Tip Sheet
By Josh Jacobs
There’s only four games taking place in the NBA on Sunday, but two of those tip-offs should provide gamblers an exciting atmosphere to earn some hard earned cash.
Let’s dive right into the action, examining a marquee matchup in the state of California.
At 9:30 p.m. EDT, Golden State (42-26 straight up, 29-39 against the spread) will visit Los Angeles for a bout with the Lakers (48-21 SU, 42-25-1 ATS). The Warriors continue to hold onto the fragile, No. 8 seed and with a 29-39 against the spread record So what can bettors expect?
It was in December when these two clubs last met. In a 108-106 nail biter, Golden State escaped with the home win. L.A. was able to cover the spread as a six-point underdog and the ‘under’ saw love at 226 ½.
Overall, the Lakers hold a 9-1 straight up edge over the Warriors in their last 10 meetings, and a 7-3 ATS run has been good reason to financially invest in the Lake Show.
Games played in the Staples Center have been a tough hurdle for Golden State to clear.
In the last five head-to-head games played inside their own arena, L.A. has shot an effective 46 percent from the field (coincidently .3 points lower then the Warriors field goal percentage this season). The Lakers are ranked No. 3 in the Association with a 47.9 field goal percentage.
L.A. has scored 105.6 PPG in its last five, and holding opponents to a high but manageable 102.4 PPG leaves a scoring difference of plus-3.2. That has translated into a 3-2 SU and ATS performance in the same five-game stretch.
For Golden State, giving up 108 PPG on the season (and 112.2 PPG in the last five) has been a solid contributor to the teams 38 ‘over’ plays. However, five ‘unders’ in the last seven have gone against the grain, especially with totals sitting at or hovering over the 220 mark.
The Warriors are 20-8-1 on the ‘over’ in their last 29 overall games.
With some sources indicating the Lakers’ Pau Gasol could return to the Lakers lineup next week, backers haven’t complained about his absence. L.A. has registered a 3-1 ATS return since Gasol left the court with a sprained ankle.
Coming off one-day of rest the Lakers are a money hungry 22-16-1 ATS this season.
Back-to-back games with L.A. should prove interesting in the playoff race. Dropping its last contest to Houston 109-106, the Warriors will need to bounce back if they hope to keep Denver at bay for the No. 8 spot.
Golden State has exceeded 215 total points 53 percent of the time this season, while 38 percent of games have attained the ‘over’ 225-point benchmark.
Most books have opened the Lakers as a 6 1/2-point home favorite, with a total sitting at 231.
Bonus Coverage
At 1:00 p.m. EDT the not so hot Spurs (46-23 SU, 30-37-2 ATS) will meet the Mavericks (44-25 SU, 30-35-4 ATS) for the fourth and final time this season.
Rewind back to Feb. 28 and the second win of the season against intrastate rival, Dallas gave San Antonio reason to celebrate (97-94). Backers behind the Spurs used their tickets as tinder that day and the ‘over’ 182 1/2 became the total play.
Heading into Saturday, San Antonio is looking at a 4-6 SU and 2-8 ATS (all eight where ATS losses in a row) slide in its last 10. Shooting a middle of the road 45.3 percent from the field and allowing 95.2 PPG (4.1 PPG allowed more then its seasonal average) could be viewed as a contributing factor for the team’s recent downfall.
Total wise, the Spurs have gone ‘under’ 15 times in the last 20 versus NBA Southwest squads.
After coming off a less then labor intensive five-game winning streak, the Mavs have since dropped two in a row. With Dallas dropping an “L” to the Lakers (102-100), followed by a defeat against Boston (94-90), eyebrows are being raised.
In their last 12 games versus teams with a winning record, the Mavs are 2-10 SU and 3-9 ATS. To be blunt, Dallas has taken wins from teams with losing records, while meetings against contending squads have been a problem.
Coming off two days of rest, the Mavericks are 3-5 ATS.
In head-to-head matchups, the road team is 11-4 ATS in its last 15, while the underdog is 19-7 ATS in the last 26.
Dallas and San Antonio have both split the last 10 meetings together. In the financial department, the Mavs have been the bread winner, taking a 7-3 ATS edge in the same stretch. In the last six, back-to-back wins have been the norm.
Bodog.com has installed Dallas as a 3 1/2-point favorite, with a total set at 184 1/2.
vegasinsider.com.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks
- If familiarity breeds contempt, there should be animosity aplenty on Sunday when the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks meet at American Airlines Center.
Oddsmakers currently have the Mavericks listed as 3½-point favorites versus the Spurs, while the game's total has not yet been posted.
Tim Duncan picked up 21 points on Friday night as the Spurs got past the Sacramento Kings by a final score of 102-89.
The Spurs managed to cover the 12-point spread in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (194).
The Mavericks lost 94-90 to the Celtics on Thursday, as 2.5-point favorites at home. The 184 points fell UNDER the posted total of 189.
Dirk Nowitzki had a double-double in the loss, netting 22 points with 19 rebounds.
Current streak:
San Antonio has won 2 straight games.
Dallas has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
San Antonio: 46-23 SU, 31-38 ATS
Dallas: 44-25 SU, 30-35-4 ATS
San Antonio most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 9-1
Before playing Orlando are 9-1
After playing Sacramento are 8-2
After a win are 8-2
Dallas most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 7-3
Before playing LA Clippers are 9-1
After playing Boston are 6-4
After a loss are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Antonio's last 5 games on the road
San Antonio is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Antonio's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Antonio's last 6 games when playing Dallas
Dallas is 16-3 SU in its last 19 games at home
Dallas is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing San Antonio
Dallas is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
Dallas is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
Next up:
San Antonio at Orlando, Tuesday, March 25
Dallas home to LA Clippers, Tuesday, March 25
Denver Nuggets vs. Toronto Raptors
- The Denver Nuggets and the Toronto Raptors will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at Air Canada Centre.
Oddsmakers currently have the Raptors listed as 3-point favorites versus the Nuggets, while the game's total has not yet been posted.
Allen Iverson was good for 26 points on Friday as the Nuggets rolled to a 125-114 win over the New Jersey Nets.
The Nuggets managed to cover the 5-point spread on the road in that contest, while the combined score went OVER the posted total (225.5).
Chris Bosh netted 24 points for Toronto in their 90-83 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.
The Cavs managed to cover the 5-point spread at home in that contest, while the combined score fell well UNDER the posted total (191).
Team records:
Denver: 41-28 SU, 37-32 ATS
Toronto: 35-34 SU, 36-33 ATS
Denver most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Memphis are 7-3
After playing New Jersey are 2-8
After a win are 5-5
Toronto most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 4-6
Before playing Detroit are 7-3
After playing Cleveland are 3-7
After a loss are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Denver's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Denver's last 5 games
Denver is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Denver is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Toronto's last 8 games at home
Toronto is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games at home
Toronto is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Denver
Next up:
Denver at Memphis, Monday, March 24
Toronto home to Detroit, Wednesday, March 26
Detroit Pistons vs. Washington Wizards
- The Detroit Pistons and the Washington Wizards will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at Verizon Center.
Oddsmakers currently have the Pistons listed as 3½-point favorites versus the Wizards, while the game's total has not yet been posted.
The Pistons lost 89-73 to the Cavaliers on Wednesday, as 1.5-point underdogs on the road. The 162 points fell UNDER the posted total of 184.5.
Richard Hamilton scored 14 points and shot 7-for-11 from the field in the loss.
Caron Butler tossed in 25 points on Friday as the Wizards easily topped the Miami Heat by a final score of 103-86.
The Wizards managed to cover the 14-point spread on the road in that contest, while the combined score went OVER the posted total (188).
Current streak:
Washington has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Detroit: 49-19 SU, 37-30-1 ATS
Washington: 35-33 SU, 39-28-1 ATS
Detroit most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 8-2
Before playing Phoenix are 8-2
After playing Cleveland are 6-4
After a loss are 7-3
Washington most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 4-6
Before playing Portland are 5-5
After playing Miami are 7-3
After a win are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit's last 6 games when playing on the road against Washington
Detroit is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Washington
Detroit is 19-6 SU in its last 25 games
Detroit is 17-6 SU in its last 23 games when playing Washington
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 5 games at home
Washington is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 6 games when playing at home against Detroit
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Washington's last 9 games
Next up:
Detroit home to Phoenix, Monday, March 24
Washington at Portland, Tuesday, March 25
Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers
- The Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at STAPLES Center.
Oddsmakers currently have the Lakers listed as 6½-point favorites versus the Warriors, while the game's total has not yet been posted.
Baron Davis had a team-high 27 points in Golden State's 109-106 loss to the Houston Rockets on Friday night.
The Warriors had been listed as 4.5-point home favorites in that contest, while the combined score went OVER the night's posted total (207).
Kobe Bryant had a game-high 23 points on Friday as the Lakers got past the Seattle SuperSonics by a final score of 130-105.
The Lakers managed to cover the 17.5-point spread in that contest, while the combined score went OVER the night's posted total (220.5).
Current streak:
Los Angeles has won 3 straight games.
Team records:
Golden State: 42-26 SU, 29-39 ATS
Los Angeles: 48-21 SU, 42-26-1 ATS
Golden State most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing LA Lakers are 4-6
After playing Houston are 5-5
After a loss are 10-0
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 7-3
Before playing Golden State are 8-2
After playing Seattle are 5-5
After a win are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Golden State's last 6 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Golden State's last 13 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Golden State's last 13 games when playing LA Lakers
Golden State is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games
LA Lakers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against Golden State
LA Lakers are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games when playing Golden State
LA Lakers are 8-1 SU in their last 9 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 6 games when playing at home against Golden State
Next up:
Golden State home to LA Lakers, Monday, March 24
LA Lakers at Golden State, Monday, March 24
Today's NBA analysis
Hot Teams
-- Spurs won last two games, after losing six of previous seven.
-- Nuggets covered seven of their last ten games.
-- Wizards won five of their last six games. Pistons won seven of their last ten games.
-- Lakers won last three games, by 2-11-25 points.
Cold Teams
-- Mavericks lost last two games, after winning previous five.
-- Raptors lost six of their last seven games.
-- Golden State covered one of its last five games (2-3 SU).
Previous meetings this season
-- Home side is 3-0 in Dallas-San Antonio games this season.
-- Raptors (+9.5) lost 137-105 in Denver nine days ago.
-- Pistons won 103-96 in Washington back on Jan 2.
-- Home side won both Laker-Warrior games this season.
Totals
-- Last four San Antonio road games stayed under total.
-- Nine of last ten Denver games went over the total; last four Toronto games stayed under total.
-- Over is 6-2-1 in last nine Washington games.
-- Five of last seven Warrior games stayed under the total.