Wednesday's NBA action>>>

1/15 NBA:

Phoenix @ Houston 8:35 PM EST

Phoenix +7 over Houston (4.5 Units)

The Phoenix Suns come into this game against the Houston Rockets off an eight-point loss that is deceptive in its final margin, as the Suns took the heavily-favored Spurs into overtime before falling for just their fifth loss in their last nineteen games... amazingly, last night's OT loss was was just the third time where Phoenix has lost by more than six points in a contest since December 9th of last year, a run of 19 games where the Suns have compiled an impressive 14-4-1 ATS record, including a 9-1-1 ATS mark on the road (8-1-1 ATS as a dog)...

Now the Suns get to face a Houston team that has provided some terrific battles over the past several seasons... in fact, in the last nine meetings between these two squads, there hasn't been a single game that has been decided by more than tonight's spread of seven points, displaying two teams that match up pretty evenly against one another... obviously, with such taut matchups between the two, anytime one of those squads is getting a touchdown's worth of points is a gift, especially when it's a Phoenix team that is now 3-0 SU and ATS in their last three contests in Houston...

Surprisingly enough, it's the road team that has been the money-maker in this series, going a perfect 7-0 ATS in the last seven head-to-head matchups, including five straight up wins, and two losses by a combined three points (both times Phoenix winning at home)... all in all, the road team has won six of the last ten matchups straight up between these two, but even when the home team has emerged victorious, it has never been by more than five points... in fact, the last four home wins in this series have come by a combined 13 points - laying seven points with a Houston team that has lost their last three home contests straight up against the Suns is obviously very dangerous business, and we recommend against it this evening...

While the Rockets have been a pretty solid home favorite, their success as such has all come against Eastern Conference squads, as they have gone 9-1 ATS when favored against the East... against their conference rivals from the West, it's been a totally different story, as the Rockets are a shocking 1-5-1 ATS when favored at home against the Western Conference this season, continuing a horrid 2-9-1 ATS mark as such since the tail-end of last season... things get worse when the line has Houston as a solid favorite against the West, as the Rockets are a horrendous 1-9 ATS (including 0-6 ATS) in their last ten games as a home fav of more than six against their own conference... The fact that Houston is slightly banged up as well (with Glen Rice out and Maurice Taylor day-to-day with an Achilles injusry) is just icing on the cake... take the Suns and the points, as all signs point to no worse than a five point loss, with a more than solid chance at the SU dog win...

FINAL PREDICTION: PHOENIX 95, HOUSTON 91

New Jersey @ Philadelphia 7:05 PM EST

Philadelphia/New Jersey Over 189.5 (3.5 Units)

While we were tempted to take the Nets in this one against the struggling 76ers, there is a much stronger play in this contest, and that happens to be the Over... you see, while Philly has been struggling immensely overall, the one constant in their play at home has been close contests, as each of their last four games have been decided by two points or less either way in regulation... with the Sixers being given a couple of points here at home, going against them is incredibly difficult, as Philly could lose by a single point yet again, and still cover the spread...

However, along with the heartbreaking losses that have taken place with the Sixers, the common denominator in those contests was an overall lack of defense, as the Sixers have now allowed at least 102 points in their last five games overall, and also in their last five games at home... meanwhile, Philly has done their part on offense by sinking an average of 104.4 ppg in their last five at home, while going just 1-4 SU in the process... the end result of all of this matador defense has been an Over that has cashed in 15 of Philly's last 19 home games, including each of the last six contests...

New Jersey has also had their share of high-scoring contests on the road as of late, with six of their last eight road contests going Over the posted total, with the only exceptions coming against Toronto and Orlando teams who were both without at least one star player... outside of those two contests, New Jersey has scored over 100 ppg on average in their last eight road games, and have seen the Over cash in seven of those contests... An added bonus of Philadelphia's propensity for close games is the possibility of overtime - considering that each of Philly's last five games have been decided in regulation by just one possession, not only is overtime a possibility, but plenty of fouls in the final minute will help add to the overall total if the Over hasn't already been achieved by then... All in all, we see plenty of reasons to take the Over, and plenty of help on the way if it looks to be a close call late in the game...

FINAL PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA 102, NEW JERSEY 101

Miami @ Indiana 7:05 PM EST

Indiana -14 over Miami (3.5 Units)

Laying double-digits is always a tough proposition, but in this matchup between the Indiana Pacers and the Miami Heat, we feel that the action is justified, as Eddie Jones is still out of the lineup for the Heat and their performance on the road minus their top player has been nothing short of abysmal... in five road contests without EJ in the lineup, the Heat have been outscored by a 95.8 to 77.6 point margin, losing by double-digits each time, including a ten-point loss to the Denver Nuggets, a team that sometimes struggles to score ten points in a quarter...

Overall, the Heat have played seven games without Jones, and their ppg average during those contests has been a gaunt 79.4 per game... and while Miami was able to capture an 88-85 home win against the Pistons in their last contest, there's a huge difference between shutting down Detroit's offense at home, and coming into Conseco Fieldhouse and slowing down the high-octane Indiana lineup...

The Pacers have been back on a scoring tear as of late which should certainly help their chances tonight, as Indiana has scored 101+ points in four of their last five games overall, and are coming off a double-digit home win where they tallied a whopping 116 points against the Golden State Warriors... and when the Pacers are coming off a game where they scored 110 points or more, Indiana has compiled an exceptional 6-1 ATS mark in their subsequent contest... with three days rest behind them (Indiana is 3-1 ATS this season in this situation), and the home crowd supporting them (Indiana is 8-1 ATS in their last nine at home), even a double-digit spread looks manageable in this contest against an undermanned Miami team...

Twice this season, the Pacers have been installed as a double-digit favorite, and on both occasions, they emerged victorious by 22 points or more... all in all, Indiana has thrived when favored heavily, going a sparkling 11-3 ATS when favored by more than six points... and despite the pointspread supposedly being a great equalizer in the world of sports betting, the Pacers are an incredible 23-4 ATS this season in their 27 straight up wins...

Miami has already had their fair share of struggles in Indiana, even prior to Eddie Jones' injury, as the Heat have averaged just 80.3 ppg in their last three trips to Indiana... and in much the same way that Indiana has covered the spread in their SU wins, the Heat have rarely covered a contest where they have lost straight up as of late, going just 2-11 ATS in their last 13 losses, including 0-6 ATS in their last six... as a road dog of more than six points, the Heat have gone just 1-6 ATS in their last seven contests... and when installed as an underdog of 11 points or more, Miami is a perfect 0-3 SU and ATS...

We understand that two touchdowns is a lot of points to be giving up in any contest, but when the line is this large, there is often a good reason... Don't be afraid of the points here. as Indiana should have more than enough ability to distance themselves from the Heat, and maintain that lead all the way until the final buzzer, emerging victorious with a win of at least twenty...

FINAL PREDICTION: INDIANA 104, MIAMI 81

1/15 NBA (no analysis):

Milwaukee @ Toronto 7:05 PM EST

Toronto +6.5 over Milwaukee (2 Units)
Toronto/Milwaukee Under 185.5 (3 Units)

Memphis @ Portland 10:05 PM EST

Memphis +10 over Portland (3 Units)

Utah @ Denver 9:05 PM EST

Denver +7 over Utah (2.5 Units)

LA Lakers @ New Orleans 8:35 PM EST

New Orleans +3.5 over LA Lakers (2 Units)

Minnesota @ LA Clippers 10:35 PM EST

LA Clippers/Minnesota Over 190 (2 Units)

Atlanta @ Boston 7:05 PM EST

Boston/Atlanta Under 187 (1.5 Units)

Dallas @ Sacramento 9:05 PM EST

Dallas +4 over Sacramento (1.5 Units)