Top NBA teams face tough weekend tests
By: StatFox
As we head into the third weekend of the NBA season, we take a closer look at the top teams in the league so far and what they have done against the spread.
The Hornets is off to a seamless 7-0 SU and ATS record and the only undefeated team remaining. Despite being picked as the underdog in four of these games, New Orleans has the fourth-best scoring margin with +7.9 points per game. With three days to rest after a 19-point win against the Clippers, the Hornets are likely to remain undefeated after they take on Portland at home this Saturday.
The Lakers’ perfect start came to an end in Denver Thursday night and they will head back to Los Angeles 8-1 SU overall. L.A. holds the top scoring margin in the league (+10.4 PPG), but bettors have been unable to capitalize on the point differential going 5-4 ATS. The Lakers will be favored for the 10th straight game this year when they host the high-scoring Suns this Sunday. They are 6-0 SU, but 3-3 ATS in the Staples Center.
The Spurs are a near-perfect 6-1 SU on the season and remain undefeated (5-0) for the month of November. San Antonio has been favored to win all seven of its games, but has gone a mediocre 3-3-1 ATS. Playing two games in two days, the Spurs look favorable to win in the AT&T Center against Philadelphia Saturday, but are likely to fall short in Oklahoma City against the younger Thunder on Sunday. However, San Antonio is 2-0-1 ATS on the road this season.
The top-ranked Eastern Conference Celtics are 7-2 SU on the season, but they are a pedestrian 5-4 ATS. Boston will finish its four-game road trip Saturday at Memphis. The Celtics have thrived on the road going 4-1 ATS outside of Beantown. With a day to rest after winning in Miami, expect favored Boston to win one against the Grizzlies this Saturday.
The Mavericks return to Big D with a 5-2 SU record and have gone a respectable 4-3 ATS. Despite ranking fourth in scoring defense (91.7 PPG), Dallas is only averaging a 1.3-point margin of victory in its four home games. Although the Mavs will likely be heavily favored over Philadelphia in Friday’s game, they have only gone 1-3 ATS at home (3-0 ATS on the road).
The Magic head into back-to-back games this weekend with a 5-2 SU record on the season. Orlando has gone a dismal 2-5 ATS, including four straight ATS losses, in spite of holding the league’s top rebound margin (+7.4 RPG). The Magic are 14-point favorites over the lowly Raptors in Friday’s game at home where they are 2-3 ATS. Orlando then heads to the Meadowlands Saturday and is likely get a win against the Nets. The Magic are 0-2 ATS on the road, but won 62% of the time (21-13-1) as a road favorite last season.
The Trail Blazers are 6-3 SU for the season and 5-3-1 ATS. This weekend will be tough for Portland, who is dealing with some injuries. Brandon Roy should play through his knee injury, but two top big men -- Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla -- will miss this weekend’s action with knee injuries of their own. Portland hits the road to face the Thunder Friday and take on the undefeated Hornets in New Orleans the following day. Portland is 2-2-1 ATS on the road. The Blazers are expected to fall short in the Big Easy to the unbeaten Hornets, but they have a chance to win in Oklahoma City, which is also dealing with some key-player injuries. Nick Collison is out with a leg injury and Jeff Green will not play Friday due to an ankle injury.