Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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02-10-24 | 76ers v. Wizards +4.5 | 119-113 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 60 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The 76ers are juggling new pieces into their rotation after making several deals at the trade deadline. Coupling that with the slew of injuries that the team has and things are a little murkier for Philadelphia. The hope at the moment is that Embiid will return for a playoff run but even that is cloudy at this point. |
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02-10-24 | Spurs v. Nets -5.5 | 103-123 | Win | 100 | 9 h 56 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Brooklyn dealt away several pieces ahead of the trade deadline but they are still hanging around the fringes of the play-in tournament field in the Eastern Conference standings. The Nets hope that they can find a way to make up ground but it could be tough sledding. Fortunately, they get a soft team here in the Spurs, who have dropped six straight contests and who are just 5-21 on the road this season. San Antonio has struggled defensively, even with the addition of Wembanyama to their rotation. This is the kind of game that the Nets need to win if they have any hopes of making a push for the postseason. Look for Brooklyn to claw out a victory in this one to get back in the win column. |
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02-09-24 | Hawks v. 76ers +3 | Top | 127-121 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 46 m | Show |
NBA Play of the Day Rating: 4 Units The primary difference between these two squads has been their performance in conference play this season where Philly stands 19-11 SU and 18-10 ATS overall, while the southbound and down birds are 13-20 SU and 7-26 ATS (more below). The 76ers were 5-0 SUATS in this series until Atlanta pulled the rug out on them in a 139-132 loss a month ago. Inside this series, Philadelphia is 4-0 SUATS with same-season revenge from a loss of 4 or more points. With the Hawks arriving off a get even rematch at Boston and a puny 3-15 ATS in Celtics follow ups versus avenging opposition. Finally, Atlanta is 0-8 ATS this season versus .400 or greater foes with same-season revenge |
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02-07-24 | Pistons v. Kings -12.5 | 133-120 | Loss | -115 | 13 h 15 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Pistons have done a great job covering the spread lately, but I expect them to slow down at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. The Kings’ offense will be too much for Detroit. Sacramento is third in the league in 3-pointers per 100 possessions (14.8) and seventh in effective field goal percentage (56.3%). Back on January 9, the Kings cruised past the Pistons 131-110, covering an 11-point spread on the road. Sacramento made 57.4% of its field goals, and Domantas Sabonis went off for 37 points, 13 assists, and ten rebounds. I expect more of the same when the Kings host the Pistons. |
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02-07-24 | Pelicans +7.5 v. Clippers | 117-106 | Win | 100 | 13 h 55 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Pelicans arrive at Los Angeles on a three-game winning streak and will provide a stern test for that Clippers defense while coming off a 138-100 home victory over the Toronto Raptors on Monday. It was New Orleans' fifth-highest scoring game of the season, just two weeks removed from a 153-point game against the Utah Jazz. Brandon Ingram scored a season-high 41 points to go along with nine assists for New Orleans on Monday, while CJ McCollum had 20 points. The Pelicans shot 51 percent from the floor. Ingram's dominant performance included 8-of-11 shooting from 3-point range and no turnovers in 30 minutes. Ingram made five of his 3-pointers during a short burst of the third quarter, when the team went 10 of 14 from distance. While Ingram has averaged 21.8 points in 46 games this season, Zion Williamson leads the team with an average of 22.1 points across 40 games. McCollum posts 19.2 points per contest and has played in 36 games. |
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02-07-24 | Spurs +8.5 v. Heat | 104-116 | Loss | -115 | 11 h 3 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units What a difference a year makes. The new-look Spurs, led by 7’4” rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama, got out of the gates like a turtle stuck in molasses at 5-27 SU and 12-20 ATS in games before the New Year rolled in. They’ve picked up the pace since, though, riding a 5-11 SU and 10-5-1 ATS mark over their next sixteen games. They invade South Beach tonight, where Miami’s fall from grace has been dramatic as they’ve gone from Miami Nice to Miami Vice in the blink of an eye after encountering a 1-7 SU and 0-8 ATS slide in mid-January. The Heat checks in off a revenge contest here against Orlando last night, with another same-season revenge battle on tap with Boston. |
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02-07-24 | Hawks v. Celtics -11.5 | 117-125 | Loss | -115 | 11 h 48 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Atlanta Hawks are poor on the road. They only have 10 wins in 24 road games on the season. The Boston Celtics are incredible at home, going 23-3. The Hawks’ defense won’t hold up against this Celtics squad. The Hawks continue to give up a ton of points. They are conceding 120 points per 100 possessions compared to only 110 points per 100 by the Celtics. Also, Boston will shine in the offensive end. They are shooting 37.9% from beyond the arc and the Hawks are pegged 28th in the NBA in three-point defense. Defensively the Celtics remain difficult to solve, allowing an average of only 111 points in their last five games. |
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02-06-24 | Grizzlies v. Knicks -14.5 | 113-123 | Loss | -109 | 10 h 50 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The New York Knicks are on the rise and a loss to the Lakers on Sunday will not derail them against this Grizzlies team. The Grizzlies are without their two best players coming into the season as well as Marcus Smart and potentially Jackson on Tuesday night as well. The Knicks have tightened up their rotation since picking up Anunoby and their defense has shown vast improvement as well, particularly in the halfcourt offense. The defense won't be taxed on Tuesday night against a Grizzlies team that is last in the NBA in scoring and field goal percentage. The Knicks' offense isn't as potent as the Celtics', who pup up 131 points against the Grizzlies on Sunday, but the Knicks will easily outpace the Grizzlies at home tonight. |
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02-05-24 | Raptors +11.5 v. Pelicans | 100-138 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 7 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The New Orleans Pelicans (28-21; 24-21-1 ATS) snapped a three-game skid last Wednesday, outlasting the Houston Rockets 110-99. Two days later, the Pels wrapped up a four-game road trip with a 114-113 victory at the San Antonio Spurs. The Pelicans barely edged the lowly Spurs as firm 8.5-point favorites. |
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02-04-24 | Bucks v. Jazz | 108-123 | Loss | -107 | 11 h 23 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Milwaukee checks in after playing in Dallas last night. It’s also a series in which the Jazz have dominated, winning 132-116 as an 8-point dog in Milwaukee. Meanwhile, the Bucks went into the Big D last night with a sorry 8-14 ATS road ledger this season, including 0-4 SUATS in non-conference clashes. Finally, Utah is 19-2 SU and 17-4 ATS at home against Milwaukee, including 3-0 SUATS when the Bucks arrive without rest. |
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02-04-24 | Raptors v. Thunder -8.5 | 127-135 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 5 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Thunder have won two straight games and nine of their last 10 home games. They have played well offensively at home, scoring more than 122 points per game while making over 50 percent of their shots. They’ve also done a good job at the charity stripe, making over 83 percent of their free throws. They rebound the ball well and they’re aggressive on the offensive glass, which will give them more scoring chances. The Raptors have struggled defensively and they play worse on the road, giving up more than 120 points per game, and will have a hard time slowing down the Thunder in this game. The Raptors have lost six of their last seven games and six of their last seven road games. They have played well offensively, scoring more than 116 points per game on the road. They don’t rebound the ball as well as the Thunder and won’t get a lot of extra-scoring chances against them. They’ve also been careless with the ball, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Thunder, who average more than eight steals per game. The Thunder have done a great job defensively in recent games and held their last three opponents under 105 points per game, so expect them to keep Toronto’s offense in check. Go with Oklahoma City to cover the spread. |
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02-03-24 | Lakers +4.5 v. Knicks | Top | 113-105 | Win | 100 | 12 h 15 m | Show |
NBA Game of the Week Rating: 5 Units The Lakers will be looking to even the score against New York from a five point home loss as five-point home chalk back in December, knowing they are riding an 8-1 ATS streak as non-conference dogs in same-season revenge. The Knicks are 0-8 ATS as a home favorite coming off a same-season revenge win over the Pacers. Finally, playing on LeBron James when his team’s win-loss is .500 is 8-1 ATS. |
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02-02-24 | Hornets v. Thunder -15.5 | 106-126 | Win | 100 | 10 h 55 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units OKC's most glaring flaw on both ends of the floor is rebounding. The defense also tends to send opponents to the free throw line. The Hornets are a subpar rebounding team and the worst team at getting to the free throw line. They aren't equipped to take advantage of the Thunder's weaknesses. That is why this game should be a blowout, especially since it's in Paycom Center where OKC is a much better squad. The Thunder are 18-6 (16-8-0 ATS) at home. That, paired with all of the other clear edges, won't make for a competitive game. Take OKC to cover the spread. |
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01-28-24 | Suns v. Magic +1.5 | 98-113 | Win | 100 | 9 h 43 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Suns are 16-27-2 against the spread as they come into this game. Likewise, they are 9-10-1 against the spread on the road. The Suns are just 8-16-1 against the spread when they have equal rest. Moreover, they are 3-9-2 against the spread against nonconference teams. While The Magic are 28-17 against the spread. Additionally, they are 13-7 against the spread at Amway Arena. The Magic are 17-4 against the spread when they have had equal rest. Also, they are 9-6 against the spread against nonconference teams. The Magic are almost finally healthy again with Wagner back. Therefore, they can play to their full potential. Banchero is their best player. Currently, he is averaging 22.5 points per game while shooting 45 percent from the field. Wagner is averaging 20.7 points per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the field. Thus, he will be a focal part of the team. |
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01-27-24 | Lakers +1.5 v. Warriors | 145-144 | Win | 100 | 11 h 41 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Lakers have won four of their last six games. They have been on a roll offensively in recent games, scoring more than 130 points per game in their last three games while making over 54 percent of their shots and 46 percent of their three-pointers. They’ve done a good job rebounding the ball and they’re aggressive on the offensive glass, which will give them more scoring chances. The Warriors have struggled defensively this season and they gave up more than 120 points per game in their last three games, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Lakers in this game. The Warriors have lost three of their last four games and four of their last six home games. They have played well offensively at home, scoring more than 117 points per game at home. Their rebounding has been good and it will keep them in this game, but they’ve been careless with the ball, which will give the Lakers, who averaged more than nine steals per game in their last three games, easy-scoring opportunities. The Lakers aren’t great defensively, but they’ve done a better job in recent games and will keep Golden State’s offense in check. Go with Los Angeles to cover the spread. |
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01-27-24 | 76ers +5.5 v. Nuggets | 105-111 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 49 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units The fact that the Nuggets struggle mightily in this series is an influencer, too, given their naughty 6-20-1 ATS mark. And yes, the gold-diggers return home off their worst loss of the season in a 122-84 beatdown at the Knicks, yet they are a paltry 2-5 ATS as home chalk of more than 4 points when coming off a 5-plus road trip. On the other side of the court, Philly has won six of its last seven games and is 8-2 ATS against greater than .600 foes this season, as well as a stellar 15-5 SU and 4-6-1 ATS this campaign when coming off a win and facing a foe coming off a loss. Finally, Denver is 0-10 ATS in this series with revenge from a single-digit same-season loss. |
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01-26-24 | Magic -5 v. Grizzlies | 106-107 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 2 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units One weird thing about Memphis this season is that they're worse at home. The Grizzlies have a 4-15 record (5-14-0 ATS) in FedEx Forum. Although their recent road wins were nice, fading them on their home court is the smart play. Especially since Orlando does everything that the Grizzlies do better. The Magic rely on their defense, which is stronger, and have a struggling offense that outperforms Memphis'. Orlando will earn a much-needed win, covering the spread in the process. |
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01-26-24 | Clippers v. Raptors +7.5 | 127-107 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 39 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Raptors catch the Clippers in an ideal scheduling spot tonight, and they’ll be happy to oblige. For openers, the Clips arrive off a monster double revenge showdown at home against the Lakers on Tuesday, with yet another same-reason avenger on tap at Boston tomorrow from a 37-point home loss they suffered against the Celtics two days prior to Christmas. Hence, it’s no surprise to learn they are 1-4 SU and 0-5 ATS in post-Laker operatives, while just 18-26 SU and 18-24 ATS away before Beantown bashes. With the Dinosaurs 16-8-1 ATS as a host in this series, including 5-1 ATS when taking points, we’re all over this. |
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01-25-24 | Nuggets v. Knicks +2.5 | 84-122 | Win | 100 | 11 h 37 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Knicks are now 10-2 since acquiring Anunoby from Toronto. They hope to keep the wins coming on Thursday against the Nuggets. The Knicks are 16th in the NBA in scoring offense this season. They are 20th in field goal percentage and 11th in 3-point shooting. The Knicks do rely heavily on the 3-point shot, ranked 10th in the NBA in 3-point field goals made per game. New York is third in the NBA in scoring defense this season. They are 15th in field goal defense and 15th in 3-point defense. Despite not having a dominant center, the Knicks are second in the NBA in rebounds per game. They are just 18th in the NBA in turnovers per game. |
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01-25-24 | 76ers -5.5 v. Pacers | 122-134 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 11 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Sixers will take the court with a 21-7 ATS mark as a favorite this season. With the Pacers in the middle of a brutal stretch in their schedule – off Denver and Phoenix with Phoenix and Memphis coming up, don’t be surprised to see them ‘rode hard an put away wet’ during this span. |
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01-24-24 | Hawks v. Warriors -6.5 | 112-134 | Win | 100 | 13 h 44 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units I expect the struggling Warriors to play this game for their late assistant coach. They are not a great defensive team by any stretch of the imagination, but the Hawks are arguably even worse, so I like the Warriors in this spot. The Hawks struggle to defend the 3-point line, so keep your eyes on Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. When it comes to covering the spread, Atlanta has been a complete disaster so far this season, and I expect to see more of the same when the Hawks take on the Warriors. The Hawks are 4-12 ATS in their past 16 games overall. |
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01-24-24 | Thunder v. Spurs +7.5 | 140-114 | Loss | -115 | 12 h 27 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units San Antonio is averaging 112.8 points per game. They scored 133 points in their last game, making 46.2 percent of their field goals and 31.7 percent of their three-pointers. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 33 points and seven rebounds. Devin Vassell finished with 22 points, four rebounds, and nine assists, while Jeremy Sochan added 14 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. |
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01-24-24 | Cavs +6.5 v. Bucks | 116-126 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 48 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Cleveland is one of the hottest teams in the league as they come in on an eight game win streak. The streak is impressive, but they were listed as the favorite in every game in the stretch, including wins over the Spurs, Nets, Hawks, Magic and two games against the Wizards. Included in the stretch was a win over Milwaukee, they were two point favorites but ended up winning the game by 40. In their most recent game, the Cavs were led by Sam Merrill who knocked down eight threes off the bench and finished with 26 points in the win over Orlando. |
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01-24-24 | Wolves -10.5 v. Wizards | 118-107 | Win | 100 | 10 h 55 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units The Minnesota Timberwolves are not happy after a home loss against the Hornets and will rebound here. The Washington Wizards continue to stumble. They have just one victory this month. They have lost to the Pistons and Spurs within the last week. Minnesota is the best defensive squad in the entire NBA while the Wizards are the worst. Minnesota is only conceding 109 points per 100 possessions, ranking them 1st in defensive rating while the Wizards are squandering 120.8 points per 100, pegging them 29th. Minnesota has conceded 105 or fewer points in three of their last five games. Three of the Timberwolves' last five wins have occurred by at least 15 points. |
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01-23-24 | Lakers v. Clippers -8.5 | Top | 116-127 | Win | 100 | 13 h 11 m | Show |
NBA Game of the Week Rating: 5 Units When James Harden joined the Clippers in November, Erik Spoelstra said he didn’t know exactly how Harden would fit alongside Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Russell Westbrook, but had faith Lue would find a way. And he has. As a result, they are now the T-Lue Clippers, currently resting a game behind the Denver Nuggets for the third sport in the Western Conference playoff chase. Despite dropping the last two games in the series to King James and company, the Clips bring an 11-3 SUATS overall mark in Lakers showdowns the past four seasons. Finally, the Clippers are 9-0 ATS at home in this series when taking the court with same-season double revenge. |
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01-23-24 | Nuggets v. Pacers +5 | 114-109 | Push | 0 | 10 h 57 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Pacers raced out to a strong start this season thanks to outstanding point guard play from All-Star Tyrese Halliburton. Halliburton leads the team in points per game and assists but has been sidelined in six of the past seven games with a hamstring injury. The Pacers are just 2-4 with Halliburton out but he appears to be returning tonight. For the season, the Pacers rank first in the NBA in scoring offense. They are second in field goal percentage and fifth in 3-point field goal percentage. The Pacers are also sixth in the league in 3-point field goals made per game. |
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01-22-24 | Spurs v. 76ers -14.5 | 123-133 | Loss | -107 | 10 h 20 m | Show | |
Rating: 3 Units San Antonio is a team that is going nowhere this season as they continue on their rebuilding project. The Spurs are well outside the playoff picture and are the worst team in the Western Conference. San Antonio is just 5-18 on the road and they stand 23rd in field goal percentage defense (48.7%), 28th in threes allowed per game (14.1) and 28th in three-point defense (38.8%) this season. Embiid has run his streak of 30-point games to 20 after hitting that mark against Charlotte Saturday night. The 76ers are always tough at home and they should have enough firepower to take down the Spurs in this contest. |
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01-19-24 | Hawks v. Heat -6.5 | 109-108 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 13 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Atlanta Hawks have not been reliable on the road where they have lost four of their last five games. The Miami Heat are clicking, winning three of their last four games. The Hawks rely heavily on the scoring to win games but are up against a remarkable Heat defense. The Hawks are allowing 119.3 points per 100 possessions, pegging them 26th in the NBA in defensive rating compared to only 113 points per 100 conceded by the Heat defense. Miami has shined against Atlanta this season, going 2-0, and winning the meetings by eight and nine points respectively. Also, each of the Hawks' last five defeats have occurred by at least seven points. |
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01-19-24 | Nuggets v. Celtics -6 | 102-100 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 47 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Nuggets have not played as well away from Ball Arena this season (7-14 ATS), failing to cover in three of their four games as road underdogs. One reason for their below-average play away has been their three-point shooting, which drops three percentage points on the road. Given the state of today's NBA, it's tough to cover when you're off the mark from beyond the arc. The Celtics are primed to win this game, riding their hot offensive attack to the finish line. The most efficient offense in the league uses the three-ball like a chainsaw in a horror movie, cutting down its opponents one by one. The C's rank first in three-pointers attempted and sixth in shooting percentage, per Dunks and Threes, an area of the court the Nuggets do not defend well enough (15th in opponent 3PT%). The visitors are stout at the rim (6th in rim defense), but the Celtics rank 29th in rim shot attempts. With Porzingis and White expected to suit up for the Celtics and Gordon likely to play for the Nuggets, basketball fans should expect a competitive game on Friday night in Boston. The trends and analytics point to a Celtics win and cover, which is how I'll be wagering on this potential NBA Finals matchup. |
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01-19-24 | 76ers -5 v. Magic | 124-109 | Win | 100 | 4 h 19 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Embiid is on a war path, and Orlando is on a cold streak, I expect both trends to continue as Philadelphia easily takes this one. I am not an NBA coach, but I am beginning to question Coach Mosley's rotations in Orlando. Franz Wagner is injured, but he still is not playing his best players in his starting lineup, and its not just at one position. The Magic have been starting Chuma Okeke, Houstan, and Goga Bitadze, these players only combine to score exactly 16.0 points per game. That is not enough production for three starters. The Magic have talent they are giving less minutes, players who arguably deserve to start over those three include: Cole Anthony, Moritz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr., Markelle Fultz, and Jonathan Isaac. You could even make a case for Joe Ingles or Anthony Black. All of those players are healthy, but the Magic continue to start players who produce less. The 76ers are not going to bring Maxey and Harris off the bench, and they will always have a stronger lineup on the court. Orlando does not have a post defender that can stop Embiid here, the big man could very realistically go for 50 again. Even if he doesn't, the 76ers will still roll. |
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01-16-24 | Kings +4.5 v. Suns | 117-119 | Win | 100 | 12 h 57 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Kings come into this game with one of the more dynamic offenses in the NBA. They rank ninth in the league in scoring offense. The Kings are 15th field goal shooting and 14th in 3-point shooting. The Kings rely heavily on the 3-point game, ranking third in the league in 3-point field goals per game. Defensively, the Kings are ranked 20th in scoring defense. They are 22nd in field goal defense and just 27th in 3-point defense. The Kings, led by Sabonis, are 11th in the NBA in total rebounds this season. They are 16th in turnovers per game. |
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01-15-24 | Rockets v. 76ers -7.5 | 115-124 | Win | 100 | 3 h 10 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units It's usually wise to fade the Rockets on the road. They don't win, their scoring dips, and their defensive performance gets dramatically worse. None of that bodes well against a team they've already lost to that may also be getting an MVP back onto the court. Houston's defense struggles to keep opponents off the free throw line, which is where the 76ers excel. In the first meeting, Philadelphia ended the game 29-33 at the free throw line. The Rockets' defense does not match up well with the 76ers, and that's the team's strength. Expect a decisive Philadelphia victory. |
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01-14-24 | Kings v. Bucks -4.5 | 142-143 | Loss | -115 | 10 h 50 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Milwaukee Bucks took a while to get going early in the season, then settled in and had a seven game winning streak. The Bucks are back to their losing ways, as they have now lost four of their last six, and look to rebound against this Kings team. The Bucks lost two games to the Pacers, and dropped games with the Jazz and Rockets in their recent stretch. They showed their capability in their recent matchup with the Celtics, winning by 33 as they were led by Bobby Portis with 28 points and 12 rebounds off the bench. |
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01-13-24 | Lakers v. Jazz +1.5 | 125-132 | Win | 100 | 12 h 15 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Jazz have been terrific lately, winning nine of their last 11 games prior to Friday’s clash against the Raptors. On the other side, the Lakers have dropped ten of their previous 14 contests. They are without Rui Hachimura (calf) and Gabe Vincent (knee). |
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01-13-24 | Rockets v. Celtics -15.5 | 113-145 | Win | 100 | 10 h 49 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Celtics have won three of their last five games and 18 straight home games. They are playing well offensively, scoring more than 123 points per game at home. They’ve also done well at the charity stripe, making over 84 percent of their free throws at home. They rebound the ball well and they’re aggressive on the offensive glass, which will give them more scoring chances. They also did a great job of protecting the ball in recent games, turning it over less than 10 times per game in their last three games, do don’t expect them to give the Rockets a lot of easy-scoring opportunities. The Rockets have struggled defensively on the road this season and they are also playing on consecutive nights against a team that has been dominant at home, so expect the Celtics to keep their offense in check. The Rockets have lost two straight road games. They are playing well offensively, scoring more than 114 points per game in their last three games. They don’t rebound the ball as well as the Celtics and won’t get a lot of extra-scoring chances against them. They’ve also been careless with the ball on the road, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Celtics, who average more than six steals per game. The Celtics have been very good defensively at home, holding opponents under 110 points per game, and will keep Houston’s offense in check. Go with Boston to cover the spread. |
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01-12-24 | Blazers v. Wolves -15 | 93-116 | Win | 100 | 11 h 58 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units There are blowouts every night in the NBA. On Wednesday the Pelicans beat the Warrior by 36. On Tuesday, the Knicks beat these Blazers by 28. On Monday, the Clippers beat the Suns by 27. That is the last three days of NBA action, and every day had a landslide victory. This game is next in the progression. Gobert and Conley both sat out last game, neither has a serious injury and will likely play here after another day of rest. Edwards and Towns have played in almost every game this season, the Wolves will be at full strength. Portland on the other hand, will be playing on the tail end of a back-to-back after chasing around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the road on Thursday. Portland has to travel in between, and fatigue will be an issue when the Blazers get to Minnesota. Minnesota is strong inside with Towns, Reid and Gobert, which will be bad news for the Blazers as Ayton is likely out again. The T-Wolves are clinging onto first in the West, and are coming off a loss, they will not take any chances in this game and will blow the tired Blazers out of the water. |
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01-12-24 | Pacers v. Hawks -5.5 | 126-108 | Loss | -109 | 11 h 33 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Haliburton's injury could be costly for Indiana. It managed to get past Washington in its first game without him, but that isn't saying much. The Pacers went 8-21 straight up (10-18-1 ATS) without Haliburton the last two seasons, which isn't surprising considering that he's the catalyst to their top-ranked offense. His absence is likely worth five or six points to the spread, as he's worth +8.2 points per 100 possessions to Indy's offense, schedule-adjusted, per Dunks and Threes. |
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01-11-24 | Blazers v. Thunder -12.5 | 77-139 | Win | 100 | 5 h 42 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The most recent time the Oklahoma City Thunder played the Portland Trail Blazers, the Thunder did something no other NBA team had done in at least 25 years with their hot shooting. In Oklahoma City's 134-91 win in Portland on Nov. 19, the Thunder shot 60.5 percent from the floor, 61.1 percent from beyond the 3-point line and 100 percent from the free-throw line to reach the rare single-game 60/60/100 mark. The Thunder's 77 percent true shooting percentage also set a franchise record. Tonight, the Thunder and Blazers will meet again, this time in Oklahoma City, with the Thunder on another shooting hot streak. The Thunder have shot 50 percent or better in each of their last nine games, their longest such streak in the 15 seasons since they moved to Oklahoma City. During the nine-game stretch, Thunder standout Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is shooting 60.2 percent from the floor. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.4 points per game, which matches his career high, as do his 5.9 rebounds a game. He also has career-high averages in assists (6.4) and steals (2.4) per game. |
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01-07-24 | Spurs v. Cavs -10.5 | 115-117 | Loss | -110 | 5 h 41 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units San Antonio continues to flounder with only two wins in their last 29 games after a 3-2 start to the season. The Spurs have a ton of youth and one has to wonder if Popovich is the right fit as a head coach for this team at this point. He is the league’s all-time winningest coach but this isn’t a team with the veteran leadership that they had in previous seasons during a reloading period. Cleveland is minus a pair of starters in Mobley and Garland yet they have won four of six heading into this contest. The Cavaliers have had success against the Spurs, taking six of the last eight in the series, and San Antonio is only 3-14 on the road this year. Take Cleveland to pick up the home win here to make it three straight victories. |
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01-03-24 | Thunder v. Hawks | 138-141 | Loss | -110 | 6 h 31 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Thunder is playing the second game of a back-to-back situation and their third game in four nights here. Those sorts of situations haven’t seemed to bother Oklahoma City though as they have dropped the hammer on opposing teams in the second game of back-to-backs this season. Atlanta has been awful against the number this season, going 7-25 ATS on the year, including failing to cover in five straight contests and seven of their last eight. The Hawks have a rest advantage and they are at home here but their porous defense is too much to overlook. Look for Oklahoma City to take care of business again here as they deliver a road victory. |
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01-02-24 | Bulls v. 76ers -10.5 | 97-110 | Win | 100 | 8 h 50 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Chicago has beaten Philadelphia in the first two meetings this season but this one could turn out differently. The 76ers have the same two days of rest between games as opposed to playing the second game of a back-to-back situation Saturday night while the Bulls had a rest edge. Embiid has been bumped up to questionable for this contest, which would be a nice boost to the 76ers given how well he’s played this season. The Bulls are still minus Vucevic and LaVine from their starting five, while Craig takes a valuable second-unit player out of the mix. Playing on the road hurts the Bulls as they are 4-10 away from the United Center. Look for the 76ers to take advantage here and put this one in the win column. |
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12-29-23 | Bucks v. Cavs +6.5 | 119-111 | Loss | -115 | 9 h 15 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Cleveland delivered during a hard-fought battle Wednesday, taking down the Dallas Mavericks on the road 113-110 after needing to come-back from a 20-point deficit. Caris LeVert led the way for the Cavaliers with 29 points and seven assists off the bench. Jarrett Allen put up a 24-point, 23-rebound performance down low and Isaac Okoro added 22 points. The Cavaliers have been one of the few teams in the East to give Milwaukee problems in the regular season the past two years. They won three of the four games in the 2021-22 season and split the four-game series last season, winning the two most recent matchups. |
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12-29-23 | Nets v. Wizards +6.5 | 104-110 | Win | 100 | 9 h 48 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units As the Nets embark on a four-game trip, coach Jacque Vaughn hopes his club can rediscover the defensive magic that has been missing in recent outings. Brooklyn has lost six of eight, allowing at least 121 points in each defeat. With defensive ace Ben Simmons slow to return from lower-back pain, Vaughn has called upon Dennis Smith Jr. to be a leader on that end of the court. Smith was promoted to the starting lineup Wednesday in a 144-122 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, chipping in with 14 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. In his previous five outings off the bench, his contribution was better represented in five straight non-negative plus/minus figures (a total of plus-35) than his 8.4 points per game. |
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12-28-23 | Jazz +8.5 v. Pelicans | 105-112 | Win | 100 | 6 h 50 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units New Orleans has struggled with three losses in their last four games coming into this contest with each of those coming at home. The Pelicans simply don’t have that closing instinct that they need in order to be considered a serious threat in the Western Conference. Now, Utah isn’t a great team by any stretch as they have a ton of youth to work with in their rotation after dealing away veterans last season at the trade deadline. However, the Jazz have strung together three straight wins on the road. While one can say they came over doormats in Detroit, Toronto and San Antonio, the fact remains that they were just 2-13 on the road before that. The Jazz have had the Pelicans’ number, winning five straight meetings, and they aren’t intimidated by the city the franchise once called home. Take Utah here as they steal one on the road. |
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12-27-23 | Suns v. Rockets +3 | 129-113 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 14 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Suns took a 128-114 home loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas, Phoenix's ninth loss in 12 games following a seven-game winning streak that left the team a season-high five games over .500. An inability to cultivate any semblance of consistency continues to stall the Suns, whose injury concerns remain at the heart of their ongoing woes. Phoenix remains without Bradley Beal (ankle), who has logged only six games this season, and was also missing Jusuf Nurkic (personal) against the Mavericks. Beyond Beal, the injury issues haven't been overly debilitating but rather a constant nuisance, with the Suns laboring to construct a set rotation that can compete with the heavyweights in the Western Conference. The early-season struggles have yielded a fair share of think pieces contemplating what ails Phoenix. For their part, the Suns have yet to display any signs of panic despite everything that's gone awry. |
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12-26-23 | Hornets v. Clippers -11.5 | 104-113 | Loss | -115 | 14 h 42 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Clippers shouldn’t have any problems beating the Hornets even if Kawhi Leonard remains on the sidelines. Charlotte has injury worries, too. The Hornets are without LaMelo Ball (ankle) and Mark Williams (back), while Terry Rozier (knee) and Brandon Miller (ankle) are both listed as questionable. Charlotte is a bad defensive unit, and LA will be scoring at will in this matchup. Hereof, I’m backing the Clippers to cover a double-digit spread in front of the home audience and make amends for an embarrassing loss to the Celtics. The Clippers are 8-2 ATS in their last ten contests against the Hornets. LA is 5-2 ATS in its last seven games overall and 13-5 ATS in its previous 18 tilts versus the Southeast Division teams. On the other side, Charlotte is 2-4 ATS in its last six contests overall and 1-7 ATS in its last eight outings on the road. |
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12-26-23 | Kings -8 v. Blazers | 113-130 | Loss | -105 | 13 h 16 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Kings have won four of their last six games and two of their last three road games. They are playing well offensively, scoring more than 111 points per game on the road. They do a good job of finding the open man and they’re very aggressive on the offensive glass, which will give them more scoring chances. They also cut back on their turnovers in their last three games and won’t give the Blazers a lot of easy-scoring opportunities. The Trailblazers aren’t very good defensively and they play worse at home, giving up more than 115 points per game, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Kings in this game. The Trailblazers have lost two straight games and five of their last six home games. They have struggled offensively, scoring less than 110 points per game. They don’t rebound the ball as well as the Kings and won’t get a lot of extra-scoring chances against them. They’ve also been careless with the ball, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Kings, who average more than seven steals per game. The Kings aren’t great defensively, but they play better on the road and won’t be tested by the cold-shooting Blazers, so go with Sacramento to cover the spread. |
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12-23-23 | Wolves +2.5 v. Kings | 110-98 | Win | 100 | 13 h 15 m | Show | |
Rating; 2 Units Sacramento played on Friday against Phoenix. The Suns (14-13) are no joke and should push Sacramento. That will make for a slightly fatigued Kings team facing a Minnesota club who is one of the hottest teams in the NBA. Minnesota knocked off Los Angeles on Thursday and will be riding high, especially as winners of 10 of their last 12 games. The fact that Towns is out will hurt them, making this a close contest. |
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12-23-23 | Blazers +9 v. Warriors | 106-126 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 43 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Trail Blazers take on the Warriors for the third time this month, and Portland has covered the spread in its previous two dates with Golden State. The Warriors have been playing a ton of close games of late, so I’m backing the Blazers to grab their third consecutive ATS victory over Golden State. On paper, Golden State is a better team than Portland, but the Warriors will have to deal with fatigue in this game. The Warriors have gone 3-4 ATS over their previous seven games, and each of those seven contests have been decided by eight or fewer points. The Blazers will look to slow things down once more and force the Warriors into half-court basketball, so I’m expecting Portland to hang around down the stretch. |
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12-23-23 | Grizzlies v. Hawks | 125-119 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 39 m | Show | |
Rating; 2 Units The Hawks played well over the past week and they’ve won three of their last four games. They will try to keep the momentum going with a win over the Grizzlies, which will give them their fourth win in their last five games. Atlanta is averaging 123.1 points per game. They scored 134 points in their last game, making 51.6 percent of their field goals and 42.5 percent of their three-pointers. Trae Young led the Hawks with 30 points, four rebounds, and 14 assists. Bogdan Bogdanovic finished with 22 points, four rebounds, and five assists, while Dejounte Murray added 21 points, three rebounds, and five assists. |
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12-22-23 | Suns +3.5 v. Kings | 105-120 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 30 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Phoenix is arguably a better defensive team than Sacramento, but I’m not sure the Suns will be able to take full advantage of the Kings’ defensive flaws. The Suns have scored more than 112 points just twice in their last seven outings overall, and it looks like Phoenix rely on Kevin Durant and Devin Booker way too much. On the other side, the Kings might be vulnerable following that thrashing at the hands of the Celtics. It’s hard to trust Sacramento’s defense, so I’m backing the Suns to keep it close and hopefully upset the Kings. Phoenix should be able to slow the pace down and force Sacramento into half-court basketball which is crucial for the Suns in this matchup. |
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12-18-23 | Nets v. Jazz +4 | 108-125 | Win | 100 | 12 h 57 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Even if the Jazz don't win, there's little chance that this game won't come down to the wire. Utah only has two home games that ended with a loss by at least five points and one of those was opening night. At the very least, the Jazz +4 is the best way to bet this game. Turnovers kill Utah's offense, but Brooklyn is the worst defense at forcing them. The Jazz's dominant offensive rebounding will also give them ample opportunity against a team allowing 122.8 points during their current road trip. Bet on a tight game, if not another Utah home win. |
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12-17-23 | Warriors -5.5 v. Blazers | 118-114 | Loss | -105 | 12 h 26 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Both teams are playing poorly and each has gone 1-2 ATS in the last three. The difference is that Golden State is 7-3-0 ATS in the last 10, and has been playing better overall. The Warriors have already beaten the Trail Blazers once this season and have taken eight of the last 10 meetings, going 6-3-1 ATS. The Trail Blazers are just a mess right now, the kind of team who can help Golden State right the ship. |
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12-17-23 | Magic v. Celtics -8.5 | 97-114 | Win | 100 | 6 h 29 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Orlando is atop the Southeast Division but they have done most of their damage at home, going 11-2 at the Amway Center compared to a 5-6 road mark on the year. We saw the Magic struggle in their matchup against the Celtics Friday night in a game where Boston didn’t have Horford or Porzingis in the mix, yet they still won by 17. Boston is a perfect 13-0 at home this season with only two of those games decided by six points or less. The Celtics are a dangerous team on the offensive end and they get the job done making life tough for opposing squads defensively. Look for this game to go in favor of Boston as Tatum, Brown and company do their part once again. |
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12-16-23 | Knicks v. Clippers -5.5 | 122-144 | Win | 100 | 12 h 28 m | Show | |
Rating; 2 Units Because New York plays on Friday, a line and total were not set for this game at the time this preview was written. That is irrelevant because Los Angeles should dominate this game. Not only will the Knicks be fatigued after playing on Friday. New York is not only struggling, but they have given up at least 133 in three of the last four games. The Clippers are rolling. They have won their last five games by at least eight points. Look for the Clippers to win this game by at least 11. |
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12-16-23 | Mavs -5 v. Blazers | 131-120 | Win | 100 | 11 h 2 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The day off on Friday night will surely do this Mavericks team wonders, particularly superstar Doncic. Doncic has certainly been carrying the load for his team in Irving's absence. They have won four out of five games heading into Portland and Doncic is putting up MVP numbers. While the Mavs are susceptible to teams that can run an efficient offense, the Blazers are not that team. Additionally, the Blazers are not likely to slow down the Mavericks' high-octane offense. I expect another big night from Doncic and the superstar guard will find a teammate to play off of as he has throughout this current run. The Blazers give away too many possessions with turnovers and are last in the league in shooting. This one will be a big win for the Mavs. |
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12-15-23 | Magic v. Celtics -4 | 111-128 | Win | 100 | 5 h 59 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Despite a dominant first quarter (30-19), the Celtics lost by 17 points to the Magic in their previous matchup this season. Orlando scored 94 points in the final three quarters, shooting 50.6 percent overall with a 60-40 scoring advantage in the paint and a +17 rebounding margin. The Magic put the C's on the free-throw line too much (37 FT attempts) and turned the ball over 18 times, but Boston struggled to find its stroke from three-point range (7-for-29). In Friday's rematch, I expect the Celtics to play a more complete game, knocking down more threes and holding their own inside. The Magic are unlikely to replicate their performance, as they rarely shoot the basketball that efficiently and won't dominate the Celtics again at the rim, as the C's boast the third-lowest opponent rim% in the league (57.2%). Porzingis, who only played 22 minutes in the first meeting, will do his duty as the team's rim protector, keeping Mo Wagner (27 points on 9-of-13 shooting) in check this time around. |
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12-15-23 | Pacers -8.5 v. Wizards | 123-137 | Loss | -110 | 4 h 26 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Indiana Pacers are solid on the road, winning four of their last six road bouts including a win against the Hawks and Heat. The Washington Wizards continue to struggle and only have one home win all season. They have lost 15 of their last 16 games. This is an ideal matchup for Indiana who leads the NBA in scoring. The Wizards are the worst defensive team in the NBA. They are last in points allowed and points conceded per 100 possessions. Indiana is sporting a dazzling 50.7% field goal percentage and opponents are shooting a stunning 50% against the Wizards. They have lost by at least 20 points in three consecutive games. |
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12-14-23 | Nets +9.5 v. Nuggets | 101-124 | Loss | -110 | 3 h 21 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units |
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12-11-23 | Blazers v. Clippers -12 | 127-132 | Loss | -113 | 15 h 38 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Monday night's NBA lineup features four games with double-digit spreads, hinting at potential blowouts, and the Trail Blazers vs. Clippers game is no exception. The matchup looks particularly challenging for Portland, prompting me to side with the Clippers, who are favored by a significant margin. Portland's situation is tough, with key players Jerami Grant, Malcolm Brogdon, and Deandre Ayton all questionable due to injuries. Given that they're already struggling offensively, ranking last in the league, the potential absence or limited capacity of these scorers could severely hamper their performance. The Clippers, in contrast, are in good health and riding a three-game winning streak. Statistically, Los Angeles has a 6-5 record against the spread and a 7-4 overall record when scoring above 112.4 points. Additionally, they have an ATS record of 6-4 and an 8-2 overall record when holding opponents below 105.5 points. Considering these factors, I expect the Clippers to have a strong showing and comfortably handle Portland on their home court. |
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12-11-23 | Nets +5.5 v. Kings | 118-131 | Loss | -110 | 37 h 30 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units |
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12-09-23 | Pacers +4.5 v. Lakers | 109-123 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 40 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Los Angeles has played solid basketball but they have yet to run into a team like the Pacers. Indiana can slice and dice teams offensively, as we’ve seen throughout the in-season tournament, led by the explosive Haliburton. Taking down a pair of division leaders in the Celtics and Bucks is no easy feat, much less under the pressure of a knockout stage situation like Indiana has faced. The Pacers seem unflappable and the Lakers, even with their pedigree and the duo of James plus Davis, isn’t going to rattle this Indiana squad. In a game that ends up being decided late, the Pacers’ youth and depth proves critical as they earn the NBA Cup crown. Take the points here to be safe but don’t be surprised if the Pacers win outright. |
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12-08-23 | Mavs -8 v. Blazers | 125-112 | Win | 100 | 11 h 58 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Malcolm Brogdon exited the Warriors game because of right knee soreness. Jerami Grant (concussion) didn’t play last Wednesday, and he could easily miss the Mavericks game. Anfernee Simmons’ return is a huge boost for the Trail Blazers’ offense, but I cannot go against the Mavs, who just beat Utah by 50 points. The Blazers defend the 3-point line very well, but the Mavs have enough weapons to attack the rim. Dallas will push the ball in transition a lot, and the Trail Blazers will struggle to contain the Mavs in transition. |
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12-08-23 | Pistons v. Magic -10.5 | 91-123 | Win | 100 | 8 h 4 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Pistons are a train wreck wrapped in a dumpster fire with a nice coating of Three Mile Island mixed in at this point. Eighteen straight losses have piled up as the Pistons’ last victory came back on October 28 against the Bulls. Going on the road against the Magic here isn’t a good matchup for them as their lone road win came against Charlotte back on October 26. Orlando has dropped two straight after a nine-game win streak but they are taking on a team that has had issues all season long. The Magic is 9-2 at home this season while the Pistons are only 1-9 on the road entering this game. Orlando should take care of business here and get back in the win column. |
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12-06-23 | Nets +4 v. Hawks | 114-113 | Win | 100 | 7 h 46 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units This game should be another tight one, although overtime is unlikely to strike again. Dating back to last December, the Nets have taken three trips to Atlanta. They're 1-2 in those contests, with each loss coming by exactly two points. On the court (again) this season, Brooklyn should have the edge in overall shooting (especially from deep) and a slight rebounding edge. Atlanta should win at the free throw line and have a slight advantage with turnovers. This game should be tight, with the Nets potentially pulling out the win. Taking them to cover is the best bet. |
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12-05-23 | Suns +1.5 v. Lakers | 103-106 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 12 m | Show | |
Rating; 2 Units The Lakers have had Phoenix’s number of late but one has to wonder if they can maintain that momentum here. Los Angeles hasn’t faced the Durant/Booker combination in either meeting this season. In the first matchup, Booker and Beal both missed the contest while in the second meeting, Beal played one of his three games to date while Booker was out. We just saw Booker have a big game against Memphis Saturday night and Durant has been solid as well. The Lakers have their 1-2 punch of Davis and James though you always have to be concerned with the injury bug with those guys. Phoenix is motivated to earn a win here against a team that has beaten them four straight times and they want a shot at the NBA Cup crown. Give the edge to the Suns here as they earn the win. |
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12-02-23 | Rockets v. Lakers -4.5 | 97-107 | Win | 100 | 15 h 54 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Houston Rockets are currently facing a challenging phase, having lost their last two games and conceding at least 121 points in each. This streak of losses has brought them down to a .500 record. In a recent matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers in L.A., the Rockets narrowly lost by just one point but managed to cover the spread. The Lakers, on the other hand, have a record of 6-4 against the spread and 7-3 overall when they score more than 107.3 points. Additionally, they are 5-5 against the spread and 8-2 overall when allowing fewer than 110.9 points. Despite LeBron James being listed as questionable, the Lakers are expected to perform strongly in their return home after a four-game road trip. The Rockets, who have not secured a road win this season, are likely to face another setback in this game. It's anticipated that the Lakers will excel on both ends of the floor, securing a win, covering the spread, and handing the Rockets their third consecutive loss. |
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11-30-23 | Hawks -7.5 v. Spurs | 137-135 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 52 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units San Antonio has lost 12 straight games and haven’t won since downing the Suns in back-to-back road games October 31 and November 2. The Spurs are a dismal 1-8 at home this season and they are trying to get their young players up to speed, which of course, leads to a lot of growing pains. Atlanta has been up and down this season but they have a variety of guys that can pile up points in a hurry. San Antonio has a generational talent in Wembenyama but he’s still adapting to the NBA style. Meanwhile, Atlanta is a team full of guys that have been around and contributed at this level for a while. Young and Murray lead the way as the Hawks cruise to a victory to get back to the .500 mark on the season. |
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11-29-23 | Rockets v. Nuggets -7.5 | 124-134 | Win | 100 | 7 h 56 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Facing a degree of uncertainty, the Denver Nuggets are dealing with the potential absence of key players Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, and Jamal Murray, all listed as questionable for the upcoming game. Despite these concerns, the Nuggets are still favored by 6 points in their home game, a confidence likely bolstered by the Houston Rockets' challenging schedule, as they enter this game without any days of rest. Denver's performance against the spread stands at 7-8, but they have an impressive 12-3 overall record when they score more than 105.5 points in a game. The Rockets, on the other hand, showed a strong effort in their last game against the Mavericks. However, their struggle on the road is evident, having lost all six away games this season. This pattern is expected to continue in their upcoming matchup. The Nuggets, coming off a solid win, are anticipated to maintain their momentum and secure another victory in this encounter. |
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11-29-23 | Lakers -7 v. Pistons | 133-107 | Win | 100 | 5 h 3 m | Show | |
Rating; 2 Units The Lakers come into Detroit with a chip on their collective shoulders following a 44-point loss to the Sixers on Monday night. James' cryptic response about the team needing changes quickly should put fear in the hearts of any Laker who doesn't have a firm spot on the roster. In the short term, the Lakers should be able to dominate a Pistons' team that has lost 14 straight games. The Lakers have struggled recently as well, mainly due to injuries to several key bench players such as Vanderbilt, Hachimura, and Vincent. Luckily, the Pistons are also banged up with two key shooters out in Brogdonovich and Harris. The loss of both players has hampered the team's shooting from outside and forced them to be a team that relies on points in the paint. The presence of Davis in the paint should hamper some of those plans on Wednesday night. The Lakers are 3rd in the NBA in field goal percentage and sixth in defensive field goal percentage. I expect them to dominate the game on both ends on Wednesday and pick up an easy win. |
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11-28-23 | Warriors +1.5 v. Kings | 123-124 | Win | 100 | 10 h 16 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units In their first matchup, the Golden State Warriors triumphed over the Sacramento Kings 122-114 without Draymond Green. In their second encounter, the Warriors narrowly won 102-101, but the Kings were missing key player De'Aaron Fox. Draymond Green's absence in the last five games has been felt by the Warriors, particularly in their defense, but his return is expected to bolster the team's offensive opportunities for players like Curry, Thompson, and Wiggins. In the previous games, Domantas Sabonis had a significant impact against the Warriors, and De'Aaron Fox scored 41 points in their first meeting. Both teams have been strong offensively, with the Warriors ranked 12th and the Kings 10th in offensive rating. However, the game's outcome may hinge on the Warriors' defense, currently 12th in the NBA, and the inconsistent performance of the Kings' role players. The return of Draymond Green could elevate the Warriors' defense. The Kings' bench struggled in both meetings, and they may be without starter Keegan Murray due to a back injury. Additionally, the Kings' defensive rating is only 21st in the league. The Warriors, aiming for a three-way tie for first place in In-Season Tournament Group C, will rely on Curry for another strong performance and plan to challenge the Kings by focusing on players other than Sabonis or Fox. |
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11-28-23 | Thunder +3.5 v. Wolves | 103-106 | Win | 100 | 8 h 18 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Thunder come in just a game behind Minnesota in this one and will not only cover the spread but will come out with the win too. The Thunder have been able to put it all together on both ends of the court and have the length to match the Timberwolves, which is something many others have struggled with. The Thunder have the best player in this game in SGA and with Holmgren coming along nicely too, especially from the perimeter, it gives this team quite a few more options to lean on. The key advantage for Oklahoma City is on the offensive end, where they are one of the league's most efficient teams, which translates well to success on the road. They have confidence and momentum, and their youngsters won't be daunted being on the road, while covering the spread in all but one of their last seven games, shows a trend building. |
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11-28-23 | Bucks v. Heat +3 | 131-124 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 41 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Milwaukee Bucks have had their difficulties with the Heat, going 2-2 last season during the regular season but losing in five games in the opening round of the playoffs to the Heat. In fact, the Bucks are now 0-3 in their last four games in Miami. The Heat have not just won the four games, they've done so handily in each case. The four home wins against the Bucks have come by an average of just over 12.5 points per contest. While Lillard's presence changes the dynamic somewhat, the Bucks lose a key defender like Jrue Holiday in the process. Holiday was capable of guarding both the point guard and Jimmy Butler at times but the Bucks won't have that luxury with Lillard, an inferior defender to Holiday. I like the Heat to exploit their matchup advantages in this game and pull out a win over the Bucks. If you are feeling aggressive, forego the points and take this game on the money line. |
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11-26-23 | Blazers v. Bucks -12.5 | 102-108 | Loss | -110 | 6 h 28 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Bucks have won six of their last seven games and six straight home games. They have played well offensively, scoring more than 121 points per game while making over 49 percent of their shots. They are one of the best rebounding teams in the league, and they’re very aggressive on the offensive glass, which will give them more scoring chances. They have also protected the ball well and won’t give the Trailblazers a lot of easy-scoring opportunities. The Trailblazers aren’t very good defensively and they play worse on the road where they are giving up more than 114 points per game, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Bucks in this game. The Trailblazers have lost eight of their last nine games and four straight road games. They have struggled offensively on the road, scoring less than 110 points per game. They don’t rebound the ball as well as the Bucks and won’t get a lot of extra-scoring chances against them. They’ve also been careless with the ball, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Bucks, who average more than seven steals per game. The Bucks aren’t great defensively, but they play better at home, so expect them to keep Portland’s offense in check. Go with Milwaukee to cover the spread. |
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11-22-23 | Clippers -8 v. Spurs | 109-102 | Loss | -115 | 5 h 0 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Clippers have won two straight games. They are playing well offensively, averaging more than 112 points per game. They are very good at rebounding the ball and very aggressive on the offensive glass, which will give them more scoring chances. They also do a good job protecting the ball and won’t give the Spurs a lot of easy-scoring opportunities. The Spurs have struggled offensively this season and they've given up at least 120 points in four straight games, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Clippers in this game. The Spurs have lost nine straight games and six straight home games. They have struggled offensively and scored less than 110 points in three of their last four games. They don’t rebound the ball as well as the Clippers and won’t get a lot of extra-scoring chances. They have also been very careless with the ball, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Clippers, who averaged more than 11 steals per game in their last three games. The Clippers have played well defensively, giving up less than 105 points per game in their last three games, so expect them to keep San Antonio’s offense in check. Go with Los Angeles to cover the spread. |
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11-20-23 | Clippers v. Spurs +8.5 | 124-99 | Loss | -115 | 10 h 50 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Los Angeles Clippers, despite being the superior team on paper, have faced their own set of challenges, losing 6 out of their last 7 games. Their sole victory in this stretch was clinched by a last-second three-pointer from James Harden. Adding to their woes, the Clippers haven't secured a single road win this season. While backing the San Antonio Spurs isn't particularly appealing, the prospect of favoring the Clippers with a significant point spread on the road (-9) is equally unenticing. In this scenario, opting for the Spurs with the points seems like the more prudent choice. It's noteworthy that when the Clippers score over 124.2 points, their record against the spread is 0-2, mirroring their overall record in such high-scoring games. |
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11-19-23 | Rockets v. Lakers -5 | 104-105 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 6 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Rockets dismantled the Lakers last week, but Los Angeles missed Anthony Davis. Houston outscored the Lakers 68-42 in the paint while going 14-for-33 from downtown, whereas Los Angeles made just seven of its 25 shots from deep. Since then, the Lakers have gone 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS, though two of those four wins have come against Portland. The Lakers should have learned the lesson, so I’m backing them to beat the Rockets and cover a 5.5-point spread. Davis has struggled a bit of late, but his presence should help the Lakers to outlast Houston this time around. This is not the same Rockets team that lost 60 games last season. But they are still young and inexperienced, and the Rockets have gone 0-3 SU and 1-2 ATS over their three road contests in 2023-24. |
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11-17-23 | Lakers -8.5 v. Blazers | 107-95 | Win | 100 | 10 h 4 m | Show | |
Rating; 2 Units The Lakers are 2-0 in an inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament, looking to make another step toward the knock-out round. The Trail Blazers have gone 1-1 thus far and will have a mountain to climb in this matchup given their injury woes. Portland has dropped five straight games by an average margin of 10.2 points. If Malcolm Brogdon misses his fourth straight game, the Lakers will have a nice chance to cover an 8.5-point spread. Los Angeles is 6-0 ATS in its last six games played on Friday, and I’m expecting the Lakers to extend this streak. |
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11-16-23 | Nets +3.5 v. Heat | 115-122 | Loss | -110 | 7 h 56 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units In a game that should be low-scoring, the Brooklyn Nets have an excellent chance of pulling off a road upset. Their offense is much better, especially when it comes to hitting threes. Brooklyn attempts a high volume of threes and is the league's third-most accurate team. The Heat have allowed opponents to hit 38.6% of their triples. Unless Miami takes fewer midrange shots, they won't shoot well in this one. The Nets are top 10 at forcing midrange misses and three-point misses. Both defenses are solid, so it'll come down to making shots. Brooklyn has that advantage, and it should lead them to a sixth straight win over the Heat. |
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11-15-23 | Wolves v. Suns -6 | 115-133 | Win | 100 | 8 h 25 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units I like the Suns to pull away in this game thanks to the return of Booker to the starting lineup and Gordon off of the bench. The duo should allow the Suns to spread the floor against a Timberwolves team playing the second game of a back-to-back and coming off a highly emotional game with the Warriors. Durant should get more minutes of rest in this one with his all-star teammate back and Beal should continue to improve as he gets his wind up after missing the entire season prior to last week. Minnesota has been red-hot but I think it will be too hard for them to muster up the emotions needed in this one. |
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11-14-23 | Clippers v. Nuggets -4.5 | 108-111 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 31 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Nuggets will be making do without point guard Jamal Murray for the rest of the month of November as he recovers from a hamstring strain. So far so good for the champs with Reggie Jackson filling in nicely at point guard, primarily as a scorer with Jokic handling the passing duties. The Clippers still look like a team trying to figure things out with just one ball for several aging stars. Tyronne Lue must determine the best rotations to get his four veterans on the floor in the right situations. Malone's job for Denver is much easier with everything going through Jokic. Jokic has two triple-doubles in the three games that Murray has missed thus far as he takes a more prominent role in distributing the ball. Denver's defense has also been excellent this season and they should be looking forward to defending a Clippers team that looks disjointed right now. The Clippers have also been sloppy with the basketball and that should also feed into the Nuggets' offense. The most disheartening thing for the Clippers thus far has been their feeble record despite having one of the easiest schedules to start the season, ranking 28th in the league. Go with the Nuggets who will have more possessions, ranking 6th in turnovers, and knock down more shots with the league's top field goal percentage. |
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11-13-23 | Bulls v. Bucks -9 | 109-118 | Push | 0 | 10 h 50 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units This is a great spot to back Milwaukee. The Bucks just lost two gams on the road, and return home hungry for a win. You cannot keep Giannis and the Bucks down for long, and Giannis has proven he only needs a little help to get things done. The Bulls do not have an answer for Antetokounmpo, Lavine and DeRozan are too small, and Vucevic is not quick enough to stay with him. That leaves Patrick Williams, who was benched for his poor play, or Torrey Craig to matchup with the former MVP. Add on top of this, Chicago is on the tail end of a back to back. The Bulls play a home game on Sunday night, then must travel to Milwaukee for this game the next night. Teams rarely play well on the second night of back-to-backs, and Chicago has not been playing well this season to begin with. Bucks return to home, will face a tired Chicago team, and get back in the win column after a couple losses. |
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11-12-23 | Blazers v. Lakers -9.5 | 110-116 | Loss | -115 | 13 h 32 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The injury-depleted Trail Blazers will have a mountain to climb at Crypto.com Arena. I’ve mentioned their offensive struggles and if Malcolm Brogdon doesn’t suit up, the Lakers will come out on top with ease. Frankly, the Lakers have struggled so far this season, allowing 114.2 points per 100 possessions (tied-19th in the NBA). The Trail Blazers surrender 109.8 points per 100 possessions (9th) mostly because they defend the 3-point line well (33.7%, 7th), but the Lakers don’t lean on 3-point shooting and will attack the rim all night long in this matchup. |
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11-06-23 | Kings v. Rockets +2 | 97-122 | Win | 100 | 7 h 1 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 units Sacramento was a force last season as they won the Pacific Division title while their run and gun offense was a force. This season, they have had their struggles shooting the ball, entering Sunday fourth-worst in the league in field goal percentage as a team. Without Fox, it puts a lot of pressure on Mitchell to try and step up to be a facilitator. Houston has looked good in their last two games, wins over Charlotte and Sacramento, and look to make it three straight wins at home. This Rockets team won’t be the same pushover they have been in recent seasons. If Fox was playing, the Kings would be the easy call here but without him, Sacramento muddles their way through. Take the Rockets at home in this one. |
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11-05-23 | Grizzlies v. Blazers +2.5 | 112-100 | Loss | -108 | 12 h 56 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Trailblazers have won three straight games. They don’t have a high-scoring offense, but they played better offensively during their winning streak, averaging 108 points per game. They’ve taken advantage of their chances at the charity stripe, making over 80 percent of their free throws. Their rebounding has been good and they’re aggressive on the offensive glass, which will give them more scoring chances. The Grizzlies were one of the best defensive teams in the league last season, but they haven’t looked good so far, and they’re giving up more than 120 points per game on the road, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Trailblazers in this game. The Grizzlies have lost six straight games and three straight road games. They have struggled offensively on the road where they are scoring less than 110 points per game. They also struggled at the charity stripe and barely made over 70 percent of their free throws in their last three games. They don’t rebound the ball as well as the Trailblazers and they’ve been careless with the ball, turning it over more than 15 times per game, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Trailblazers, who are averaging more than nine steals per game in their last three games. With the Blazers holding opponents under 105 points per game in their last three games, expect them to keep Memphis’ offense in check. Go with Portland to win outright. |
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11-04-23 | Bulls v. Nuggets -8.5 | 101-123 | Win | 100 | 12 h 8 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Both teams are playing the second game of a back-to-back situation here and their third game in four nights so fatigue could be a factor. Obviously, you’ll have to keep an eye out to see if any of the star players on either side sit out, which would obviously change the dynamic. With that said, the Nuggets are the defending champions and they have one of, if not the, top player in the league with Jokic. Denver is stingy defensively, extremely efficient on the offensive end of the floor and they have the better talent to work with compared to Chicago. We’ve seen the Bulls struggle to shoot the ball with any consistency this season. Look for the Nuggets to prevail at home for this contest. |
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11-03-23 | Mavs +7 v. Nuggets | 114-125 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 4 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units I'll gladly take Dallas to cover, with Denver coming off a blowout loss and dealing with injuries to stars Murray and Jokic! The Mavs have the third-highest schedule-adjusted offensive rating, including the fourth-highest effective field goal percentage (58.2%). They have been especially dominant in the paint (67.7 rim FG%) and from three-point range (41.0%). I expect Doncic (33.8 PPG, 10.5 RPG, and 9.8 APG) to have another monster game, leading the Mavs to an easy cover against the Nuggets. |
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11-02-23 | Magic v. Jazz +1.5 | 115-113 | Loss | -107 | 6 h 5 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Jazz will be rested and ready to go despite playing the second game of a back-to-back tonight. They will also challenge the Magic's preference for a slower-paced game won in the paint by spacing the floor and forcing Orlando to defend well outside the paint. Orlando is playing the fourth and final game of this trip and is 1-2 thus far, losing each of the last two contests. Orlando's defense has progressively gotten worse on the trip highlighted by the 118 points allowed against the Clippers. The Jazz were able to defeat the Clippers earlier this season because of their ability to match the scoring of LA from long range. Expect the Jazz to stretch the floor and keep the Magic off balance on Thursday night to pick up the home win. |
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10-30-23 | Jazz v. Nuggets -8 | 102-110 | Push | 0 | 13 h 32 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Even playing for the second straight day, whereas the Jazz are rested, home-court advantage should neutralize that aspect. Then, it's simply a question of whether or not the Jazz defense can stop Denver's offense. The answer based on what has transpired this season is an emphatic no. The Nuggets offense, currently the best in adjusted offensive rating, won't struggle to score at all against Utah. Scoring won't come as easy for the Jazz, who won't get many good looks from deep against Denver. A 4-0 start comes easily for the Nuggets. |
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10-29-23 | Spurs v. Clippers -8.5 | 83-123 | Win | 100 | 11 h 35 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Spurs have been turning the ball over a lot thus far. Also, their defense has struggled a lot, so I’m backing the Clippers to bounce back from a tough loss in Salt Lake City. Los Angeles should play better defense in front of the home audience and take full advantage of the Spurs’ D. San Antonio has allowed a staggering 132 points in the paint through its first two outings in 2023-24, and the Spurs will struggle to contain the Clippers’ drives to the hoop. The Clippers went 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS against the Spurs last regular season. San Antonio has only covered once in its last four road games against the Clippers, who trounced the Spurs 138-100 in their previous encounter at Crypto.com Arena. |
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10-28-23 | Jazz +5.5 v. Suns | 104-126 | Loss | -105 | 9 h 30 m | Show | |
I'm going to assume that Booker misses this game, because there's no reason to play him with an injury that could linger and needs rest. In that case, Durant will have to score 40 in this one and while he might, his supporting cast is very weak without Booker and Beal. Markkanen, in a lot of ways, is a poor man's Durant, in the way he can score at that size and Collins gives them another capable big man scorer. That sizeable frontcourt will be difficult to defend for the smaller Suns. |
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10-27-23 | Nets v. Mavs -6 | 120-125 | Loss | -108 | 12 h 45 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Dallas has more weapons and has their identity figured out early in the season, while Brooklyn doesn't. The Maverick's backcourt of Doncic and Irving can be relied upon to score at least 40 points per night. Both guards have the ability to penetrate and draw the defense in, and that is why the front office surrounded the team with shooters. Williams, Kleber, Hardaway Jr. and Green all hit multiple threes in the opener. This creates more spacing and synergy in the offense. The Nets cannot rely on Cam Thomas to score 36 every night. Clearly, that is not the plan, but what is Brooklyn's identity? Ben Simmons no longer plays like an All-Star, and it has yet to be seen if Mikal Bridges can truly carry an NBA team as the top player on the squad. Dallas outrebounded the taller San Antonio in the opener, and can dominate inside here as well. Take the Mavericks as the better team in this early-season matchup. |
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10-26-23 | Suns +6 v. Lakers | 95-100 | Win | 100 | 10 h 28 m | Show | |
The Suns came out and took down the Warriors in game one on the road despite not having Beal available. While Beal's availability is still in question, the Suns should have enough fire to take down the Lakers. The Lakers will be a work in progress over the first part of the season. They have to adjust to James' playing time limitations and a roster full of new players. The loss of Jarred Vanderbilt to start the season is important to the Lakers' rotation. With Vanderbilt out, Prince has been put in a starting spot which weakens what could be a deep Lakers' bench. The Suns showed their own depth in the opener with 16 points off the bench from Gordon. Gordon will be a stalwart for the Suns' second unit and allow the team to thrive when either Durant or Booker is off the floor. The Suns also showed more toughness in the opener with Nurkic now at center. He earned a double-double on Tuesday night and helped to create space for Durant in the post. Word to the wise, jump on this line quickly. If Beal is cleared, this line will drop closer to one or two points. |
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06-12-23 | Heat v. Nuggets -8.5 | 89-94 | Loss | -115 | 10 h 29 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The spread is pretty wide here, but after the last two games, where the Nuggets won by double digits on the road, I think it is warranted. The Nuggets came into this series as a heavy favorite and just a flat out better team. Miami has been overachieving all season and Erik Spoelstra h as been making the right adjustments, outcoaching everyone is his wake. But he met his match with Malone, who has been one step ahead of the Heat. First he used the Nugget's size to his advantage, and then when Miami adjusted, they went outside and punished them from three. The Nuggets also shut down the role players that killed the Celtics and let Butler and Adebayo do their thing. A championship is so close they can taste it, and they will take care of business in front of the home crowd. Take the Nuggets to cover. |
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06-04-23 | Heat +8.5 v. Nuggets | 111-108 | Win | 100 | 11 h 42 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units Expect Erik Spoelstra to go back to the zone he used in most of the Boston series and that will help slow down the Nuggets. That defensive gimmick will help a lot more in Game 2 when the Heat have their legs back since they have Friday and Saturday off. There's no doubt that going seven games against Boston had an effect on their performance on Thursday along with the altitude. Strus, Caleb Martin and Robinson combined for 2-for-23 in Game 1 and all three will bounce back in Game 2. Martin has been terrific in the postseason, averaging 13.5 points and shooting 44% from beyond the arc. But the biggest factor is Butler getting a couple of days off to rest his ankle and he will be looking to get to the line a lot more in this game. The Heat will push the Nuggets to the limit in Game 2 and will shoot a lot more than two free throws. |
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05-29-23 | Heat v. Celtics -7 | 103-84 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 27 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units I'm usually not about chalk and big numbers in this situation, but Miami just had one of the most heartbreaking losses in the history of the NBA playoffs. Not to mention that they nearly won a game where Butler and Adebayo's jump shots were M.I.A. Butler's performance has regressed in the last two games where he's starting to show some fatigue. He's getting no lift on his jumpers and drives and it shows where Boston had blocked his shot 10 times in this series. Boston has also found a way to slow down Adebayo with the length of Robert Williams and the experience of Al Horford. Martin, Max Strus, Vincent and Duncan Robinson are not enough to defeat a more athletic Boston team even without Malcolm Brogdon. Tatum will go bonkers at home in Game 7. |
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05-21-23 | Celtics v. Heat +3.5 | 102-128 | Win | 100 | 11 h 19 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Celtics are inexplicably three-point favorites in this one. What does Miami have to do to get some respect? I just don't see how you can favor the Celtics in this one, given that the Heat have not lost at home so far in the playoffs. The Celtics are the higher seed and the more talented team, but I have no confidence in their ability to close out a game in crunch time, especially against this Heat team, which has come up big time after time. The Celtics are 0-4 against the spread in their last 4 meetings versus the Heat. The Celtics could possibly win this but it would be only by a bucket late. Take the Heat getting the points. |
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05-19-23 | Heat +9 v. Celtics | 111-105 | Win | 100 | 23 h 60 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units I picked the Heat to cover in game 1 but I honestly did not expect them to actually win the game. Now they are 9 point underdogs and again, that feels like a lot. While I fully expect the Celtics to win in this game -- they have to or they are pretty much done. But Miami is not the type of team you blow out -- and 9 points is a lot. I just can't see the Celtics winning by double digits here. Miami won't shoot 52% from three again but they will play good enough defense and make enough big shots to keep this game close down the stretch. The Celtics will survive, but the Heat will cover. Take Miami getting the points. |
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05-17-23 | Heat +8 v. Celtics | 123-116 | Win | 100 | 14 h 41 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units For the third time in four years, the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics are squaring off in the Eastern Conference finals. Miami won the first go around in 2020 while the Celtics took care of business last year. Boston has had a tendency to play loose at home in the playoffs, and coming off that historic game 7 win, I see them having a letdown here. Miami will be rested and ready to go, looking to steal one here. In the four meeting between the two this year, three were decided by less than the spread for this game. This spread seems too big, so take the Heat here getting the points. |
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05-10-23 | Heat +3.5 v. Knicks | 103-112 | Loss | -110 | 4 h 48 m | Show | |
Rating: 2 Units The Heat have been beasts against the spread, going 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games overall. That includes all four games of this series. Also, the Heat are 13-5 ATS in the last 18 meetings in New York. Likewise, the Knicks are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 1 days rest and 0-4 against the spread in their last 4 games overall. I have to stick with the battle-tested Heat in this one to continue their streak of ATS wins. They have been here before and know how to win on the road. Now, I actually think the Knicks find a way to pull this game out, but it will be a slim margin and the Heat will cover. Take Miami here. |