NBA Trends April 26

NBA SHORT SHEET
Saturday, April 26th

Eastern Conference
Opening Round
Game Four
Orlando Leads, 2-1
Orlando at Toronto, 3:05 ET

Orlando
17-2 ATS revenging a same season loss
7-0 ATS DD road loss

Toronto
3-11 ATS after scoring 100+ points in 3 straight games
19-33 ATS in BB home games

Western Conference
Opening Round
Game Three
LA Lakers Lead, 2-0
LA Lakers at Denver, 5:30 ET

LA Lakers
10-1 ATS playing 3 or less games in 10 days
13-1 ATS on the road when total 210+

Denver
6-14 ATS against Pacific division
1-6 ATS when trailing in a playoff series

Eastern Conference
Opening Round
Game Three
Boston Leads, 2-0
Boston at Atlanta, 8:00 ET

Boston
11-2 ATS after DD cover
18-4 ATS on Saturday games

Atlanta
17-27 ATS as an underdog
27-43 ATS after consecutive games as an underdog

Western Conference
Opening Round
Game Four
Utah Leads, 2-1
Houston at Utah, 10:35 ET

Houston
1-6 ATS in the 4th game of a playoff series
26-10 Under after 1+ consecutive overs

Utah
14-6 ATS against Southwest division
15-4 ATS revenging a same season loss

NBA Trend Sheet

3:00 PM ORLANDO vs. TORONTO
Orlando is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Orlando is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Toronto is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games when playing at home against Orlando
Toronto is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Orlando

5:30 PM LA LAKERS vs. DENVER
LA Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games when playing on the road against Denver
LA Lakers are 2-5 SU in their last 7 games when playing on the road against Denver
Denver is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Denver's last 7 games

8:00 PM BOSTON vs. ATLANTA
Boston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
Boston is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
Atlanta is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Atlanta is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games at home

10:30 PM HOUSTON vs. UTAH
Houston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Houston is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Utah is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games when playing at home against Houston
Utah is 21-4 SU in its last 25 games when playing at home against Houston

1:00 PM CLEVELAND vs. WASHINGTON
Cleveland is 5-10 ATS in its last 15 games
Cleveland is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Washington is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Cleveland
Washington is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games when playing at home against Cleveland

Tips and Trends

Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors

Magic: Orlando was the only team in the NBA to win more games on the road (27) than at home (25) during the regular season. That's why it would be no surprise if the Magic won at Toronto on Saturday, which would allow them to close out the series at home on Monday. One thing that must change in Game 4 is that Orlando must control the tempo, according to Dwight Howard. "We let them set the way the game was going to be played," Howard said following Game 3. "And it cost us."

Magic are 1-8 ATS in the last 9 meetings at Toronto.
The UNDER is 7-1 in Orlando's last 8 road games.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 100

Raptors (-3, O/U 203.5): Toronto head coach Sam Mitchell went with a smaller lineup in Game 3, and it paid off as the team earned its first win of the series. Jamario Moon started for Rasho Nesterovic and responded with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. Orlando head coach Stan Van Gundy admitted the lineup switch made it tougher on his team defensively. "It?s a different game with this lineup," Van Gundy said. "You can?t put people in the paint like you can when they start their bigger guys (and) it?s much more difficult to defend."

Raptors are 10-3 ATS in the last 13 meetings.
The UNDER is 7-2-1 in Toronto's last 10 games overall.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 103

Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets

Lakers: LA head coach Phil Jackson has never lost a playoff series when up 2-0, going 17-0 during his career under this scenario. In fact, NBA teams are 191-13 (94%) all-time when up 2-0, something Jackson joked about when reporters suggested the series was already over. ?Isn?t that great?? Jackson said. ?I hope that works magic. Can I go to the bank with that??

Lakers are 6-0 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
Lakers are 19-7-1 ATS in their last 27 road games.
The OVER is 8-2 in LA's last 10 Saturday games.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 114

Nuggets (-1, O/U 230): Denver is very capable of winning at least 1 home game after going 33-8 at the Pepsi Center during the regular season. The Nuggets went 10-1 there in March and April, and 13 of their home wins were decided by 15 points or more. However, the Lakers were the best road team in the Western Conference at 27-14 and won at Denver back on December 5th, 111-107.

Nuggets are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 home games.
The OVER is 15-6 in Denver's last 21 home games.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 115

Boston Celtics at Atlanta Hawks

Celtics (-8.5, O/U 187): Boston forward Kevin Garnett was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year, but he credited his teammates and believes the Celtics have the best defense in the league. "James Posey is one of the best one-on-one defenders I?ve seen in a long time," Garnett said. "Him and Tony Allen. (Rajon) Rondo is just great at setting the tone up the top. I?m just the one who happens to speak louder than the other guys." You certainly can't argue with the numbers, as Atlanta has averaged just 79 points in the first 2 games and has not scored more than 89 in the last 5 meetings.

Celtics are 21-5 ATS in their last 26 games overall.
Celtics are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 98

Hawks: Atlanta is happy to be out of Boston after point guard Mike Bibby's comments only hurt the team by firing up the Celtics. Teammate Joe Johnson came to Bibby's defense while head coach Mike Woodson noted his team will still have to win at least once at Boston in order to advance. "You still have to win a game here (Boston) if you?re going to get out of this series," Woodson said. "I don?t care how you cut it, you?ve got to win four games to go to the next round." The Hawks won't even get that opportunity if they don't win at least once at home.

Hawks are 0-5 SU & ATS in their last 5 games overall.
The UNDER is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 90

Houston Rockets at Utah Jazz

Rockets: Houston star Tracy McGrady took a lot of heat after scoring only 1 point in the fourth quarter of the first 2 games combined, and then he went the first 8 minutes of Game 3 without scoring. But McGrady stepped up to help secure a victory in the final minutes and brought the Rockets back from the dead. "I was trying to be passive during the fourth quarter," he said. "I waited for the right time to really insert myself on the offense end. I got to the free-throw line. It was one-on-one coverage and I got some shots." Another thing that helped was the return of point guard Rafer Alston, who scored a career-playoff high 20 points for Houston in his first game of the series following a groin injury.

Rockets are 2-6 ATS in the last 8 meetings at Utah but have won 2 of 3 there SU.
Rockets are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 Saturday games.
The UNDER is 6-2 in Houston's last 8 games overall.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 89

Jazz (-8.5, O/U 185.5): Utah is surprisingly in a must-win situation knowing that a loss here in Game 4 would give home-court advantage back to the Rockets heading back to Houston for Game 5. "It?s definitely dangerous because they feel they can win against us," Jazz point guard Deron Williams said. "I think if they feel they can beat us in our gym, they can beat us anywhere. We definitely put ourselves in a pressure situation and I think the next game for us is a must-win."

Jazz are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
Jazz are 9-2 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
The UNDER is 7-2 in Utah's last 9 Saturday games.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 97