San Antonio (54-25, 36-41-2 ATS) at L.A. Lakers (55-25, 45-34-1 ATS)
The Lakers pulled into a tie for the top spot in the Western Conference playoff race Saturday without even playing and now try to take a half-game lead when the Spurs visit the Staples Center.
Los Angeles is in a deadlock with New Orleans after the Hornets lost to Sacramento 94-91 Saturday, while San Antonio sits a half game behind the Hornets and Lakers. Los Angeles, which scored a huge 107-104 home win over New Orleans on Friday night, holds the tiebreaker over the Hornets should they end up with identical records.
Although the Lakers are on a 6-1 SU run, they’re just 2-5 ATS during this stretch, including failing to cover as a five-point home chalk on Friday against the Hornets.
With two games left, both at home, the Lakers carry a 28-11 home record into this contest, but they’re just 18-21 ATS, including failing to get the cash in each of their last seven in the Staples Center. Los Angeles is also in ATS funks of 1-8-1 against Southwest Division foes, 1-5 on Sundays and 0-4 against teams with a winning road record.
San Antonio has won 10 of its last 12 games (8-4 ATS) including Friday’s 95-74 home rout of the Sonics, cashing as a 15½-point favorite. The Spurs trail the Hornets by a game in the race for the Western Conference top spot and the Southwest Division title. After today San Antonio travels to Sacramento on Monday and hosts Utah in Wednesday’s regular-season finale.
The Spurs are just 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games against teams with a winning home record and 4-9 ATS in their last 13 against teams with a winning overall mark. But Gregg Popovich’s team is 6-1 ATS in its last seven when playing on a day of rest and 10-4 ATS in its last 14 on Sundays.
The home team is 3-0 in this series this season, with the Spurs up 2-1 (3-0 ATS). San Antonio won the most recent meeting 103-91 as an eight-point favorite on Jan. 23,and the Spurs are 5-2 ATS in their last seven against the Lakers in Los Angeles. Finally, the straight-up winner is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 series clashes.
The under is 4-1 in the last five head-to-head meetings overall, but the over is 11-5 the last 16 series clashes in the Staples Center. The under is also on current runs of 4-0 for the Spurs and 3-1 for the Lakers.
ATS ADVANTAGE: SAN ANTONIO
Houston (54-25, 46-31-2 ATS) at Denver (48-32, 43-37 ATS)
The scenario is clear for the Nuggets as they host the Rockets inside the Pepsi Center: They must win their final two games to secure the eighth spot in the Western Conference and earn a ticket to the playoffs.
After closing a five-game road trip with Saturday’s 124-97 loss at Utah as six-point ‘dogs, Denver has two games left to clinch a postseason berth, both at home, where the Nuggets are 31-8 (24-15 ATS) this season, including 7-2 ATS in the last nine. After today’s contest against the Rockets, the Nuggets, who are tied with the Warriors for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff berth, host the Grizzlies on Wednesday.
Denver has followed up a five-game winning streak by going 3-5 in its last eight. The Nuggets are also 3-6 ATS in their last nine after going 9-1 ATS in their previous 10. The key win for George Karl’s club came Thursday at Golden State when it prevailed 114-105 as a four-point road pup to take a one-game lead over the Warriors – a lead it game back when lost on Saturday and Golden State beat the Clippers. Denver holds the tiebreaker after winning the season series against Golden State.
Houston comes into this one having won five in a row both SU and ATS, including Friday’s 101-90 upset home win over the Suns as a three-point underdog. The Rockets are essentially locked into the fifth seed in the Western Conference playoffs, which would mean a first-round matchup with Utah for the second straight year.
The home team has won all three games in this series this season with Houston taking the March 2 matchup 103-89 as a five-point favorite. The lone game in Denver saw the Nuggets get a 112-111 overtime victory but fail as an eight-point favorite. Houston is 7-1 ATS in the last eight series clashes and 4-0 ATS its last four trips to the Mile High City.
Rick Adelman’s team is on ATS runs of 37-16-1 overall, 6-0-1 against Northwest Division teams, 16-6 on the road and 10-4 as a road ‘dog. Meanwhile, the Nuggets are on ATS streaks of 5-0 against Southwest Division squads, 10-3 as a favoriteand 5-2 on Sundays.
The over is 6-2 in the last eight series clashes in Denver, 5-2 in the last seven for the Rockets on the road, 4-1 for the Rockets as an underdog, 24-11 for the Nuggets overall, 5-1 for the Nuggets on the second night of a back-to-back, 5-1 at the Pepsi Center and 22-8 when Denver is a favorite.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
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