NBA Top 5: League's best home bets
By VICTOR RYAN
With six weeks remaining in the NBA regular season these are the league’s five best teams vs. the spread at home to this point.
Cleveland Cavaliers (21-6 ATS at home)
LeBron James and the Cavs own the league’s best overall ATS record and have been favored in every game played at the Quicken Loans Center. They have been favored by double digits 16 times at home this season and failed to cover in only four. Their lone straight-up loss at home came to the Lakers as 5.5-point favorites in early February.
Portland Trail Blazers (18-10 ATS at home)
The Blazers have quietly put together a nice season and it’s mainly because of their stellar work at home. Only the Lakers have a better SU home record than the Blazers in the West and 13 of their final 25 games will be at home. It’s also worth noting that just 10 of those will be against teams currently with .500 or better records. They are 15-9 ATS as home favorites and 3-1 ATS as home dogs. Their lone loss as a home underdog came vs. New Orleans back in January.
Utah Jazz (20-12 ATS at home)
The Jazz enjoy one of the league’s biggest home-court advantages thanks to the noisy EnergySolutions Arena. They are currently riding an eight-game winning streak and playing their best basketball of the season. The Jazz did suffer a rare home loss vs. the number against Sacramento last week as a huge 17.5-point favorite. The Jazz have nine games remaining in Salt Lake and, with the return of Carlos Boozer, could be poised for a big run to the playoffs.
Indiana Pacers (18-11-1 ATS at home)
The Pacers have been a disappointment with just a 26-36 straight-up record. But they are among the league’s best when it comes to covering the number at home. They have been especially effective as a home underdog. The Pacers have filled that roll 12 times this season and covered nine times. They have 11 home games remaining.
Oklahoma City Thunder (18-12 ATS at home)
This one comes as a bit of a surprise given the Thunder’s dismal 14-45 straight-up record. They have been favored just five times at home and are 3-2 in those games. They have lost two of their last three home vs. the number, but prior to that the Thunder reeled off 12 straight covers as a home underdog. Injuries have taken a toll of late as now leading scorer Kevin Durant is expected to miss some time along with forward Jeff Green. They have 11 home games remaining.
Other teams with good home records ATS include the Orlando Magic (17-12), Charlotte Bobcats (18-13), Milwaukee Bucks (17-12), and Golden State Warriors (17-11-1).