NY Knicks and 76ers top NBA betting charts
By: Joe Freda
The New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers have been the hottest clubs at the NBA betting windows, each cashing with spread records of 17-7-1 in their first 25 games. Both squads have been underrated by sports books in the season’s first two months, taking different paths en route to pointspread success.
New York presently ranks second in the league for scoring, putting up 108.8 PPG. The Knicks’ addition of Amare Stoudemire has paid instant dividends for the team and its bettors with the power forward notching 26.7 PPG and 9.1 RPG.
Stoudemire and Co. finish December's schedule with a challenging stretch, facing the Miami Heat twice along with the Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder. Chicago follows the Knicks and 76ers, cashing the third most tickets in the Eastern Conference with an ATS mark of 15-9 in its first 24 games.
Philadelphia has been covering pointspreads thanks to its defense, ranking fourth in the league for field goal shooting allowed at 43.4 percent. Power forward Elton Brand has led the 76ers in scoring (15.5 PPG), rebounds (8.1 RPG), steals (1.4 SPG) and blocks (1.2 BPG).
The 76ers will be tested with an eight-game road trip taking place from Dec. 18 to Jan. 3. Doug Collins’ crew begins the journey against Eastern Conference rivals before heading west to face some higher-octane offense, including dates against the Phoenix Suns (109 PPG) and Los Angeles Lakers (106.4 PPG).
Kings, Magic remain league’s coldest clubs
The Sacramento Kings and Orlando Magic have been the biggest NBA odds disappointments this year, collecting ATS at 7-16 and 9-16, respectively. Sacramento could be best off tanking for the draft’s ping pong balls with its 5-18 SU record, while Orlando still has a chance to contend with its defense allowing a stingy 92.7 PPG.
The Kings finish December in a five-game homestand, with all five foes bringing losing records into Arco Arena. Sacramento’s quintet of opposition includes the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets, who each presently sit in last place of their respective divisions with a combined 15-36 SU record.
Kings guard Tyreke Evans missed a Dec. 14 battle against Houston thanks to a foot injury, resulting in a 118-105 loss for his squad as a 9 ½-point road dog. Sacramento’s leader for scoring (16.7 PPG) and assists (5.3 APG) returned the next night, piling in 22 points in a 94-91 defeat for the Kings as 10-point road dogs against the New Orleans Hornets.
Orlando has started December going 3-5 ATS in its first eight contests, with seven matchups occurring on the road.
Stan Van Gundy’s crew had a breakout game in a Dec. 12 duel against the Clippers, winning 94-85 as a 7 ½-point road favorite. The Magic enjoyed as much as a 26-point lead, even with center Dwight Howard in foul trouble throughout the game.
Howard leads his squad in scoring (21.5 PPG) and rebounds (12.1 RPG), but has struggled from the foul line, sinking only 55.1 percent.
The latest ATS standings for all clubs can be found at DonBest.com’s NBA standings page.