SPORTS ADVISORS
Miami (39-35, 34-38-2 ATS) at Dallas (44-30, 36-38 ATS)
The Mavericks, looking to hold onto the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, play host to the Heat, who visit American Airlines Center trying to wrap up their own postseason berth.
Dallas rebounded from Sunday’s ugly 102-74 loss in Cleveland as an 8½-point road underdog with Tuesday’s 108-88 drubbing of Minnesota, cashing as an eight-point favorite to end a brief two-game road trip. The Mavericks, who lead Phoenix by four games for the last playoff spot in the West, return to the comforts of home, where they’re 26-9 SU this season, averaging 105.6 points per game and allowing 100.2. However, the last time it was at American Airlines Center, Dallas suffered a heartbreaking 103-101 loss to Denver as a 3½-point chalk, ending a nine-game home winning streak (7-2 ATS).
Miami fell to Orlando 101-95 as a 2½-point pup Monday night to drop to 1-3 SU and ATS in its last four starts. The Heat have really struggled on the road lately, losing six of their last seven and going 2-6 ATS in their last eight. For the season, Miami is 13-23 as a visitor (16-19-1 ATS) while averaging just 95.6 ppg and allowing 100 ppg.
Dallas has won five straight in this rivalry (2-2-1 ATS), including a 111-96 rout as a two-point road chalk in January, the only previous meeting this season. The Mavs are 11-4-1 ATS in the last 16 clashes, but the underdog is on a 6-2-1 ATS run, and the road team is 6-0-1 ATS in the last seven clashes.
The Mavericks have gone 0-4 ATS in their last four starts against winning teams, but they are otherwise on positive ATS streaks of 7-3 at home, 21-8-1 on Wednesday, 7-1 at home against teams with a losing road record and 4-1 against Southeast Division foes. The Heat have covered in five of their last seven Wednesday starts, but they are on ATS skids of 1-5 against the Southwest Division, 2-5 on the highway and 2-6 on the road against teams with a winning home record.
The under for the Heat is on runs of 4-1 overall, 9-2 against the Southwest Division and 5-2 on the road, and the under for Dallas is on stretches of 5-1 overall, 4-0 playing on no rest and 6-2 against Southeast Division foes. Finally, in this rivalry, the total has stayed low in five of the last six meetings in Dallas.
ATS ADVANTAGE: DALLAS and UNDER
Houston (48-26, 36-37-1 ATS) at Phoenix (40-34, 30-42-2 ATS)
The Suns, currently on the outside looking in when it comes to the Western Conference playoff chase, aim to keep their dwindling postseason hopes alive when they take on the surging Rockets at U.S. Airways Center.
Phoenix tumbled to Sacramento, the league’s worst team, 126-118 as a six-point road chalk Sunday and has now followed a 6-0 SU and 5-1 ATS run by losing its last three games (1-2 ATS), all on the road. For the season, the Suns are averaging 109 ppg, but they give up just a shade less at 107.2, ranking 27th out of 30 teams in the league in scoring defense. At home, though, Phoenix is slightly better, putting up 111.6 ppg and allowing 105.9.
Houston trounced the Clippers 110-93 Saturday, narrowly covering as an overwhelming 15½-point home favorite to move to 5-1 SU (4-2 ATS) in its last six games. During that stretch, the Rockets have outscored their opponents by an average of nearly seven points per game, putting up 98.5 ppg while yielding 91.7, including road wins over New Orleans and San Antonio.
Houston has won the last three meetings between these two squads (2-1 ATS), though Phoenix cashed as a 5½-point ‘dog in a 116-112 road loss on March 6, giving the visitor an impressive 13-5 ATS mark in the last 18 clashes. The Suns are on a 10-3 ATS run in this rivalry, and the pup has gone 4-1 ATS in the last five contests, including the Rockets’ 94-82 win as a 3½-point ‘dog in their first trip to Phoenix this season on Nov. 12.
The Suns are on ATS slides of 3-9 against Southwest Division opponents and 5-11 against winning teams, but they’ve also gone 4-1 ATS in their last five home starts and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a pointspread setback. The Rockets, meanwhile, are on ATS upticks of 6-1 on the highway, 4-1 against the West and 6-2 going on three or more days of rest, but they carry negative ATS streaks of 2-6 against the Pacific Division and 7-20-1 after a spread-cover.
The over for Phoenix is on runs of 4-1 against the Southwest Division and 20-6 on Wednesday. On the flip side, the under for Houston is on tears of 8-3 overall, 7-0 on the highway, 7-2 after a SU win and 7-2 against the West. Furthermore, the total has stayed below the posted price in six of the Rockets’ last seven trips to Phoenix.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
COLLEGE BASKETBALL INVITATIONAL
Oregon State (17-17, 15-14 ATS) at UTEP (22-13, 19-12-1 ATS)
Oregon State claimed the opener of the best-of-3 championship round of the second annual College Basketball Invitational, winning 75-69 as a one-point home underdog Monday night, and the series now moves to El Paso for Game 2 and, if necessary, Game 3. The Beavers have won and cashed in all four of their CBI starts to finally get their record to .500, but all four games were on their home court, two of which went to overtime. In fact, Monday’s seven-point win was their largest margin of victory in this event.
Prior to Monday’s setback at Oregon State, UTEP had gone 3-0 SU and ATS in the CBI and was on a 5-1 SU and ATS run overall. The Miners also had scored at least 70 points in seven consecutive games before the loss at Oregon State, averaging 78.3 points per game during this stretch.
The SU winner is now 8-0 ATS in UTEP’s last eight games and 12-0 ATS in Oregon State’s last 12 starts.
UTEP is averaging 75.9 ppg this season at home, while allowing 69.4 ppg in going 12-4 SU (7-6 ATS in lined contests). Oregon State has put up just 57.5 ppg on the highway, nearly nine points less than its opponents (66.2 ppg), going 4-9 SU (5-7 ATS in lined games).
Along with their current 4-0 ATS run, the Beavers are on pointspread upswings of 4-0 in non-conference action, 6-1 after a SU win and 5-1 after a spread-cover. But they are also 1-4 ATS in their last five road starts, 3-12 ATS in their last 15 Wednesday outings and 4-9 ATS in their last 13 roadies against teams with a winning home record.
The Miners are on ATS rolls of 5-2 overall, 7-1-1 in non-conference contests and 7-3 after a non-cover.
Monday’s contest easily cleared the posted price of 130, and UTEP is on “over” stretches of 6-0 overall and 36-15-1 in non-conference play. The over is also 5-2 in Oregon State’s last seven road games. However, the under is 9-4 in Oregon State’s last 13 games following a SU win, and the total has stayed low in five of the Miners’ last seven home games.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UTEP
Cajun Sports
Toronto Raptors vs. Orlando Magic
Play: Orlando Magic -10
The Toronto Raptors head south of the border to face the Orlando Magic in Amway Arena on Wednesday evening with the tipoff set for 7:05PM Eastern Time. The Magic are in the midst of a playoff battle, not to make the playoffs that’s a foregone conclusion but for home court advantage in a possible second round meeting with the Big Three from Boston so wins for them at this point in the season take on a different meaning. Orlando has been at the top of our NBA ATS Countdown article (best ATS team in the league) for the better part of the season and they have won their last five straight up at Amway covering the last four of those against the number. The Magic are 29-7 SU and 21-15 ATS at home this year averaging 101.8 points per game while holding visitors to Amway to only 91.8 points per game. For the Magic success breeds success, they are 24-7 ATS after having won 15 or more of their last 20 games this season and 18-8 ATS after 3 or more consecutive wins this season. The same cannot be said of the Raptors even though they have covered their last four against the spread those have all come at home. In fact Toronto has lost ten of eleven road games since late January and lost all six since the NBA All-Star break, losing those games by an average of 18 points per game. They are 11-25 SU and 13-22 ATS when playing away from Air Canada Centre this season. The Raptors are 2-12 ATS in road games off 2 or more consecutive home wins and 1-10 ATS in road games after 2 consecutive covers as a favorite the last 3 seasons. Toronto is also 12-22 ATS after playing a home game this season, 9-23 ATS in road games after playing 2 consecutive home games the last 3 seasons and 8-21 ATS after 2 or more consecutive wins the last 2 seasons. The last time these two met was back on February 1st in Toronto with Orlando winning easily 113 to 90 as a 6 point road favorite. Revenge is not a strong suit of this Raptors team as they are only 16-27 ATS revenging a loss versus an opponent this season and 6-15 ATS revenging a loss versus an opponent of 10 points or more this season. Toronto faces the same problems most teams have what to do about Dwight Howard; they certainly do not have an answer for him or the Magic’s perimeter game. Even if the Raptors could find some motivation for this game it will not be enough as the Magic are on a playoff drive and know that each game is now preparation for the upcoming postseason battles. Not worried about laying double-digits with the host as they are 62 percent in this role this season and can put DD’s on this Raptors team in any location much less at home. Lay the chalk as the Magic turn the Raptors to dust and get the SU and ATS win on Wednesday night in the big “O”.
Graded Selection: 2* Orlando Magic 112 Toronto Raptors 93
James Patrick Sports
Lakers vs. Bucks
The Lake Show comes to the Brew Capitol to take on Milwaukee in Wednesday NBA action. The Bucks are Over the Total in 7 of 10 Wednesday games and 4-1 ATS Over the Total against the Pacific Division. LA is Over the Total in 5 of 6 in Wednesday action and 7 of 9 when playing without rest. James Patrick Sports complimentary selection in Wednesday NBA action is Lakers - Bucks Over the Total.
Marc Lawrence
Play On: Miami Heat
A pivotal game between two teams each jockeying for playoff position tips off at American Airlines Arena in Dallas where the Mavericks host the Heat. Miami has played well under first year head coach Erik Spoelstra as dogs off a loss, going 9-6 SU and 10-5 ATS. Meanwhile Dallas is just 1-6 ATS in games off a win of 20 or more points this season. With the Heat 7-0 ATS as dogs of 6 or more points on this floor, we'll grab the points with Miami here this evening.
Tom Freese
Phoenix at Colorado
Colorado is 6-2-1 UNDER their last 9 home games and they are 6-2 UNDER after scoring 2 or less goals in their last game. The Avalanche are 4-0 UNDER off a loss by 3 or more goals and they are 7-3 UNDER their last 10 games overall. Phoenix is 5-0 UNDER after allowing 5 or more goals in their last game and they are 7-2 UNDER vs. a team with a losing record. The Coyotes are 7-3 UNDER after scoring 5 or more goals in their last game and they are 7-3 UNDER when playing with one day of rest. PLAY ON 'UNDER'
Big Al Mcmordie
Charlotte Bobcats at Boston Celtics
Prediction: Charlotte Bobcats
At 7:35 pm, our member selection is on the Charlotte Bobcats plus the points over Boston. Charlotte comes into tonight's game off three straight wins (and covers) including an impressive double-digit victory over Kobe Bryant & the Lakers last night. That moved Charlotte's record as an underdog this season to 29-20 ATS, and its overall pointspread mark to 44-29-1 ATS. Boston will play tonight's game without Kevin Garnett, and his absence has contributed to make the Bobcats a single-digit dog tonight. Charlotte upset Boston 114-106 as a 9.5-point home dog in January, and Charlotte is 11-2 ATS its last 13 vs. the Celtics since November 2005. Take the points.
Jimmy The Moose
New York Islanders at Washington Capitals
Prediction: Over
New York has played over the total in 5 of their last 6 games. The over is 6-2 in the Islanders last 8 games played with 3 or more days of rest. The over is 7-1-1 in Washington's last 9 home games. In their last 12 home games vs. a team with a road winning % below .400 the over is 9-2-1. The over is 10-4-1 in their last 15 games following a win. The over is 7-2 in New York' last 9 trips to Washington. Play the over.
Nick Parsons
Phoenix Coyotes @ Colorado Avalanche
Play: Colorado
Colorado is coming off a 4-1 loss by the hands of the Ducks, but I expect them to turn it around this evening against the visiting Coyotes. This is a prime 'let down' spot for the Coyotes who are hitting the road after a big OT win at home over the Stars 6-5. Phoenix is a poor 5-11 (-5.8 units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season; play on COLORADO!
Matt Rivers
For Wednesday take the Nets at home.
This is far, very far, from being the Lock of my Life as we are backing the pretty poor and inferior New Jersey Nets and not gettting anything back for it but there are some factors on our side and enough to make a tiny play on the boys from the Meadowlands.
For one, the Pistons have not exactly been very good of late. Ever since acquiring Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups things have been fairly dreadful. Yes there is still a lot of talent there with Hamilton, Prince, Wallace, Stuckey and a few others but it's not like these guys are brimming with confidence right now.
Detroit also is playing on a back-to-back tonight after tangling with LeBron and the Cavs in Cleveland last night. Certainly fresh as a daisy will not really describe tonight's visitors. Also the road is never the greatest or easiest place to play and the Nets at least were off yesterday giving Devin Harris another day of rest from the recent injury and old man Vince Carter some spring in his legs as well.
Motivation is always a huge factor in any sport and after New Jersey getting thoroughly embarassed on Sunday night at home against Richard Jefferson and the Bucks a rebound effort more than likely is on the docket. That was an absolutely pathetic display and more times than not professional athletes will be focused and come out with some fight the next time out.
New Jersey is more than likely all done in terms of the playoffs but they are not fully eliminated and all in all I will take my chances with Lawrence Frank's squad tonight.
Bobby Maxwell
Houston at PHOENIX -1
On the pro hardwood tonight with a FREE play on the Suns as they welcome the Rockets to the desert.
There has got to be desperation setting in with the Suns. Every game for them from here on out has to be a must-wini situation as they trail Dallas by four games in the race for the final Western Conference playoff spot. So we'll give them a chance tonight and play them against the Rockets.
Phoenix averages 111.6 points a game at home and gives up 105.9. They have followed up a very nice 6-0 (5-1 ATS) streak by losing their last three games, including an ugly 126-118 loss at Sacramento on Sunday.
Houston has won the last three meetings between these two, but look at the spreads and you'll see the Suns are 10-3 ATS in the last 13 meetings.
Phoenix is also on ATS streaks of 4-1 at home and 7-3 after a non-cover. The Rockets are on ATS slides of 2-6 against the Pacific Division and 7-20-1 after a spread-cover.
Houston is in the playoffs while the Suns are likely out. But still with a fighting chance, I'll take my chances with Steve Nash, Shaq, Jason Richardson and a host of young players that can hang in this league. Play the Suns at home!
2♦ PHOENIX
JIM FEIST
TORONTO RAPTORS / ORLANDO MAGIC
Take TORONTO RAPTORS
Toronto has turned things around, on a 4-0 SU/ATS run after the Raptors turned back the Chicago Bulls 134-129 in overtime. "It's the most fun we've had," said Chris Bosh, whose 31-point, 15-rebound gem. Jose Calderon was brilliant, scoring 21 points and dishing out 19 assists, while Shawn Marion's defense on Derrick Rose down the stretch was key. Orlando likes to run, as well, though oddsmakers have caught up with this strong team, on a 2-3 ATS run. Toronto has enough offense to keep the hot run going and give the home team a game. Play the Raptors.
DAVE COKIN
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS / BOSTON CELTICS
Take BOSTON CELTICS
The Celtics will be without Kevin Garnett for the next few games, and that's big as they're in a fight with Orlando for the second seed in the East. But even without Garnett, they should win tonight. Charlotte is off the great win at home over the Lakers. Last time they beat LA, the Bobcats were blown out in the next game at Portland. I can see a similar result here, as the Celts need the game and won't just assume a win minus Garnett. A focused Boston squad has a good chance for a lopsided win tonight.
Red Dog Sports
New Jersey and Pittsburgh Under 5.5
The Devils are in a slump and just lost 3-0 at the New York Rangers. New Jersey has 10 unders and 4 overs in their last 14 vs. Eastern Conference teams and 32 overs/41 unders this season. Both teams have good goalies in Brodeur and Fleury. Look for a 3-2 score and under the total.
VEGAS EXPERTS
Toronto Raptors at Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are neck and neck with the Boston Celtics for the number two seed in the Eastern Conference with just nine games to go. Tonight they face a Toronto team that has won just 28 games and are second to last in the Eastern Conference. Two months ago Orlando traveled to Toronto and won by 23 as a 6-point road favorite. Orlando brings in a system in which when they go over the total for two or more consecutive times this season they have covered 11 of 13 times. Toronto has not played well on the road in the second half of the season going just 1-10 ATS. Make a play with Orlando.
Play on: Orlando
Matt Fargo
Houston Rockets vs. Phoenix Suns
Play: Houston Rockets +1
Phoenix has been a great play at home and a great play against on the road recently but I am switching it up here and fading the Suns once again. I played against the Suns in all three of those recent road games and they were fortunate to come away with one cover in those games thanks to an overtime loss by five points in Utah. The first thought here is bounce back since they are back in the US Airways Center but I am not thinking along those lines. That recent three-game skid has put Phoenix four games behind Dallas for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and while it is not mathematically eliminated, it might as well be. Five of the final seven games are against scrubs so putting together a string to end the year is more than possible. The problem is, the Suns have to bank on Dallas tanking but with the Mavericks playing six of their final eight games at home, including a game against Phoenix, that isn’t likely to happen. So even though it is a big game for Phoenix, I think it is actually bigger for the Rockets. Houston got a shot of momentum last night and it didn’t even play. The Rockets were moved up to first place in the Southwest Division thanks to San Antonio losing to Oklahoma City, at home no less. This is the start of a huge stretch for Houston who plays the Lakers, Blazers and Magic in its next three games so this game is extremely big. The Rockets are well rested as they have played just one game, Saturday’s 110-93 victory over the Clippers, in a week. They considered the break, and its four practice days, useful, but long enough and they are more than ready to get back to playing games. The time off will definitely help more than hurt as rest this time of year is huge. Plus, the Rockets are 4-0 this season when playing with three or more days rest with those wins coming by an average of 16.7 ppg. Phoenix has no doubt been better at home than on the road but a lot of that success has come against bad teams. The Suns are only 12-25 ATS this season against teams with a winning record and that includes a 7-13 ATS mark at home. They are just 9-20 straight up against teams ranked within the top ten, going 9-20 ATS as well. This includes a 5-10 record against the number in home games so there is no advantage at all for Phoenix to be playing this game at home. The Rockets are 14-5 ATS in their last 19 games as an underdog of fewer than five points and considering their last three road wins have come against San Antonio, Denver and New Orleans, playing in Phoenix, where they have won the last two meetings, is far from intimidating. 3* Houston Rockets