Sports Odds and Preview Capsules: April 13
Atssportsline.com
It's a light day in the NBA with four games and just one really has a meaning. The NBA regular season is nearing the end and a week from today, the playoffs tip-off. There will be no NBA games next Thursday and Friday. We'll also add a very interesting MLB game with a great pitching matchup. Take a look at some of the betting tips below. Looking for winners for the NBA regular season, playoffs and baseball? Go to ATS Sportsline. We have all your basketball betting statistics, matchups and odds.
*-records are before Friday night's results
Los Angeles Clippers (52-26 SU, 43-35 ATS, 44-34 O/U) at Memphis Grizzlies (53-25 SU, 43-33-2 ATS, 30-47-1 O/U)
Intangibles:
Memphis guard Mike Conley is averaging 20.6 points and 5.8 assists in his last 13 games.
The Clippers average 101.2 points per game and shoot 48 percent from the floor
Memphis leads the NBA in scoring defense at 89.5 points per game.
Last game: (3/13/13) Memphis (+6) over LA Clippers, 96-85
Keys to Success: The Los Angeles Clippers have clinched the Pacific Division, which guarantees them homecourt advantage in the first round. The Grizzlies are hoping to catch Denver and get into the top four of the West. Memphis will try and use their power and size against the Clippers quickness and athletic ability. Memphis averages just 93.6 points per game (26th), but they allow only 89.5 points per game (first in the NBA). Their defense drives them as they allow teams to shoot just 43.8 percent from the field (first) and 33.7 percent from beyond the arc (third). Clippers' center DeAndre Jordan (6-11, 265) is an athletic specimen but still raw offensively. Conley scored 17 points and dished out 11 assists in their last meeting against the Clippers. He averages 14.8 points and 6.1 assists this season.
The Clippers have won three of last four in this series. Memphis brings a 31-8 straight up home record. LA Clippers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Saturday games. NBA Odds: Memphis is a 3.5-point betting odds favorite. Total: 182.5
Tampa Bay Rays (4-5, 4-4 O/U) at Boston Red Sox (5-4, 5-4 O/U)
Intangibles:
David Price has a 8.18 ERA in his first two starts.
Jon Lester is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his first two starts.
Boston has lost two of their last three at home.
Last game: (9/26/12) Tampa Bay (-126) over Boston, 4-2.
Pitching Matchups: David Price won the Cy Young last year and had just 31 walks last year. He already has five this year in two starts. Last year, Price went 20-5 with a 2.56 ERA with 205 strikeouts in 211 innings pitched. Lester has pitched great for Boston this year, but struggled in 2012. He posted a 9-14 record with a 4.82 ERA with 166 strikeouts in 205.1 innings pitched. But the year before, he went 15-9 with a 3.47 ERA with 182 strikeouts in 191.2 IP. The Rays' issue starts with their lineup and if they aren't getting quality pitching, they aren't going to win many games. Boston is 8-21 last 29 home games. Baseball Odds: Boston is a -110-point betting odds favorite. Total: 8.0.