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NUGGETS -1

Denver is dealing with some injuries but they have a few factors working in their favor here. The Nuggets had Wednesday off, so they have the rest advantage. Utah is playing their third game in four nights and their second game of a back to back here. Playing in the Mile-High City is a big enough challenge normally, much less when you’re the visiting team coming in with fatigue leaning on you. The Nuggets tend to have success as the home team against a team playing the second game of a back to back as the crowd and the altitude play a factor. Utah is rolling but Denver gets the edge thanks to the rest advantage and the altitude.

Nuggets by 4 points or more

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WARRIORS +11

The Bookmakers have this total so wrong. This game is going to be close, and I have the Rockets winning 117-115. Take the points here.

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RAPTORS +3.5

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WIZARDS +1.5

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PACERS +4.5

The LA Lakers are 5-10 SU in their last 15 games against Indiana, and  0-6 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against Indiana.

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HORNETS +5

The Hornets are 5-1 SU against the Kings. The 5 points at home is generous. Take the Hornets here.

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WARRIORS +12.5

This game is going to be a shootout. I have the Jazz winning within 4 points.

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WARRIORS +2.5

The Warriors have been a disaster at home. I have the Warriors pulling a nice win by 7 points or more.

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BLAZERS +5.5

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HEAT +1

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WARRIORS +16

I have the Rockets winning 115-114. Take the points here.

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GRIZZLIES +3.5

The Grizzlies had 3 overtime games in their last 5 games played. The Grizzlies play good at home, and held opponents to just 106 ppg. The Suns give up 120 ppg, and this game will be close. I like the Grizzlies by 4 points or more.

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HAWKS +7

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GRIZZLIES +12

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HAWKS +8

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BULLS -1

With the Knicks undergoing a full rebuild, expectations are very low in the Big Apple. The team has played as expected but they have also been competitive in two of their first three games. Even though the Knicks have won the last two games in this rivalry, the Bulls have the advantage in this game because they have played well against the spread on the road and also have a favorable matchup against the Knicks. The battle between the frontcourt of the two teams should even out with R.J. Barrett and Julius Randle going up against Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. However, the Bulls are better on the perimeter with Zach LaVine and Coby White going up against Elfrid Payton and Allonzo Trier, which will help the Bulls get the win.

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PISTONS +2

This one is going to be a rematch of the season opener for both teams last Wednesday in Indiana when the Pistons came up with the victory. The Pacers are having some problems getting things going on the defensive end in the first two games as they’ve given up at least 110 points in both games. Detroit has been decent on the offensive end and the punch they’ve gotten from Rose is a nice addition for their bench group. The Pistons are at home and already own a win over the Pacers: look for them to beat Indiana for the second time in a week as Drummond and Rose lead the way.

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HAWKS +2.5

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MAVS +2

The Pelicans are dealing with Zions injury and they have no davis on the roster. I like the Mavs to win by 4 points or more.

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BUCKS +2

Milwaukee kept swingman Khris Middleton with a five-year, $178 million contract and returns four of the five starters from last season with point guard Eric Bledsoe and center Brook Lopez also sticking around. "We brought back a big part of the group; we believe in continuity," Bucks general manager Jon Horst told reporters. "... This group looks like they're growing, looks like they're getting better, looks like they fit, and they make sense and that we can compete and sustain success for a long period of time with this group and that's been the goal." Milwaukee's new pieces include Lopez's brother, Robin, and veteran guards Kyle Korver and Wesley Matthews, who give the team a pair of perimeter shooting threats.

Bucks by 4 points or more.

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KINGS -1.5

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CELTICS +5

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WOLVES +3.5

The Wolves have beaten the Nets by 7 and 12 points straight up in the last 2 games. The Nets are 1-8 SU in their last 9 games against an opponent in the Northwest division.

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PACERS -5

The Pistons are 5-10 ATS and 5-13 straight up against the Pacers. I have the Pacers by 10 points. Blake Griffin is injured.. 

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LAKERS

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WARRIORS -4.5

Golden State will undoubtedly benefit from the return of the battle-tested Thompson to provide a much-needed second scoring option alongside Stephen Curry. On the bright side in Game 3, Curry had his best performance in an NBA Finals game and his teammates helped keep the game competitive until the waning moments.

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WARRIORS -5.5

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WARRIORS +2

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WARRIORS +1

The Warriors will be fine without Durant. The Inside money is on the Warriors. I like the refs to favor the Warriors, since the NBA Commissioner has favorited his Warriors team. I have the Warriors by 4 points or more.

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BLAZERS +8

The Blazers will give the Warriors a run for the money with Durant not in the game. I like the Blazers for the possible upset.

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PACERS +7

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MAGIC +8.5

In their four previous meetings in the regular season both teams were tied 2-2 wins and were 1-1 in Toronto (Raptors won by 12 points and Magic by 15). Raptors have a 32-9 home record, while the Magic are 17-24 on the road. Raptors are better offensively, scoring 114.4 ppg to Magic’s 107.3, while Magic are better defensively, allowing 106.6 ppg to Raptors’ 108.4. Raptors have better percentages both in field goals (47.4% to 45.4%) and in 3-pointers (36.6% to 35.6%). Both teams are almost equal in boards grabbed (45.4 to 45.2) and in dimes made (25.5 to 25.4), while Magic are better in turnovers committed (12.6 to 13.3). 

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RAPTORS +4.5

The Raptors are still fighting for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, but playoff positioning isn’t worth risking the long-term health of a player like Lowry. While he isn’t likely to miss much time on the floor, it would make sense for the Raptors to rest him in this game and see how his ankle responds to treatment later in the week.

His absence will put the Raptors in a bind on the road against a Thunder team that is trying to keep from slipping all the way to the bottom of the Western Conference playoff rankings. The return of Westbrook will be a huge lift for the struggling Thunder, and I expect him to respond emphatically after being suspended and turning in a seven-point scoring performance against the Warriors.

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PACERS +4.5

After having their three-game win streak snapped, the Portland Trail Blazers will be on a mission for a bounce-back performance on Monday against the Indiana Pacers. A two-point loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday followed back-to-back wins over the Oklahoma City Thunder and New York Knicks for the Pacers. The Trail Blazers, on the other hand, fell on the road to the San Antonio Spurs after winning consecutive games against the New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns.

The Pacers have the better defense, holding opponents to 103 ppg. This is a revenge game for the Pacers, and CJ is out for the Blazers.

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ROCKETS -3.5

Rockets have won all three previous meetings against the Warriors this season, winning the only home game by 107-86 score. Rockets have a 24-9 home record, while the Warriors are 21-11 on the road. Warriors have the best offense in the league with 118.2 ppg to Rockets’ 113, while Rockets are better defensively, allowing 110.2 ppg to Warriors’ 112.3. Warriors have better percentages both in field goals (48.8% to 44.6%) and in 3-pointers (37.8% to 34.9%). They are also better in dimes made (29.2 to 21) and in boards grabbed (46.2 to 41.7), while Rockets are only better in turnovers committed (13 to 13.7). Rockets have been as hot as it gets and Vegas odds give them a -3.5 spread and expect them to beat the odds for the home victory.

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KINGS +2

The Kings have played well against the spread, winning four of their last five games against teams with winning records and 11 of their last 14 home games. The Celtics have struggled against the spread, losing their last four games against Western Conference opponents and their last six games against Pacific Division teams.

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CLIPPERS +4

The Lakers have struggled against the spread, losing four of their last five games and their last four home games against teams with winning road records. The Clippers have played well against the spread, winning their last four games against teams with losing records and five of their last six games.

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NETS -5

Both teams are struggling right now but there is a distinct difference between the teams in the standings. The Mavericks are on the outside looking in at the playoff picture as they stand 13th in the West. On the flip side, the Nets are sixth in the East despite losing 10 of their last 15 contests. Brooklyn is at home in this one and that’s to the detriment of the Mavericks, who are just 6-24 on the road this season. Dallas’s disappointing performance against the Grizzlies leaves little reason to have faith in them here: look for the Nets to get back to the .500 mark with a win here.

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NUGGETS -12.5

The Pelicans are trying to make the best out of a clearly dysfunctional situation right now, which puts them in a vulnerable position going on the road against the No. 2-ranked team in the Western Conference. Davis is being given playing time, but he is also being used sparingly by the Pelicans as a precaution for a future trade.

The Pelicans are no longer a team that’s all-in for playoff contention. They’re basically a team that’s trying to make it through the rest of the season quickly and with the least amount of drama possible. As for the Nuggets, they have proven to be more than a flash in the pan team. They’ll be motivated for a bounce-back win after losing to the Jazz on Thursday.

It’s hard to envision the Nuggets dropping back-to-back games at the Pepsi Center when they’ve only lost five games at home all season. Davis won’t be available to help out down the stretch, as the Nuggets run up the score on a Pelicans team that has the fifth-worst scoring defense in the league. Guarding Jokic is a full-time job, and if Davis isn’t all-in, the Pelicans won’t win this game. Take the Nuggets in this one.

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NETS+3.5

The Heat are dealing with a lot of injuries. The Nets are averaging 108 ppg in there last 5 games. The Nets pulled a victory in November against the Heat with no problem.

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CLIPPERS +3.5

The Kings are 0-6 ATS when playing the Clippers. The Clippers gave the Kings a whipping in the last matchup. The Clippers have to injuries coming in this game, but they still have strong depth. The Kings are nursing a injury as well, so I like the Clippers for the upset here.

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BLAZERS +5

This one is going to be a heavyweight tilt between a pair of teams that have momentum. The Trail Blazers have picked up wins over Golden State at home, then dispatched Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Boston on the road. That four-game run on the road is impressive as they were 10-15 on the road before that stretch. Toronto is 26-6 at home but we did see them lose to Orlando Sunday. Portland has the momentum and their two-headed monster of Nurkic and Kanter in the low block will make it tough for Toronto on the glass. Look for Portland’s depth in the rotation to give them the edge in this contest.

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NETS -3

Charlotte is only holding a playoff spot thanks to the weak Eastern Conference as a whole and the Southeast Division in particular. The Hornets have their work cut out for them as they continue to struggle closing out games. Brooklyn is still in the playoff picture and they have taken two of three this season against Charlotte, including the win on the road six days ago. The Nets are at home and we’ve seen the Hornets struggle to an 8-21 road mark this season. Give the edge to Brooklyn in this one.

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LAKERS -5

LeBron is clearly trying to get the young Lakers to focus on making the postseason and you have to think that they are going to respond with a solid performance after James’ most recent comments. The Lakers are fresh off of an ugly blowout loss to the Pelicans, so this is a chance to buy low here. The Grizzlies have struggled to remain competitive without Marc Gasol and their last three losses came versus the Bulls, Clippers and Cavs. Take LeBron and the Lakers to cover the number on the road in this spot on Monday night.

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76ERS

Philadelphia has played well on offense, averaging 115.7 points per game. The team is shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range.

Joel Embiid leads the way for the 76ers with 27.3 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. He has missed the last two games with a knee injury and has been ruled out for this game as well.

The 76ers have the better talent, and they are the play here.

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HEAT -8.5

Miami has struggled out of the All-Star break with back to back losses. The Heat has work to do if they want to climb back into a playoff spot at this point and that starts with beating teams below you in the standings. There is no better opportunity to get a win than facing a Phoenix team that has lost 17 straight games. The Suns are struggling and they suffered back to back road defeats to Cleveland and Atlanta. Phoenix is just 4-28 on the road this season: while the Heat stands six games under .500 at home, they’re still better than the Suns. Look for Miami to get a win here.

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NUGGETS -4

Dallas stumbled into the All-Star break and they’re facing one of the elite teams in the league here. Denver got a shot in the arm with the return of Thomas, who made his debut against the Kings. Getting Millsap back was a boost and the team hopes to have Harris back for this one as well. The Nuggets have a deep rotation and they are capable of hanging with any team in the league. Dallas is good at home but they don’t have the talent to keep up with Denver. Give the points and take the Nuggets in this one.

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WOLVES -5

It’s tough seeing an organization with so much history as the Knicks continue to struggle every season. Basketball enthusiasts aren’t getting pleasure out of watching any NBA team lose 18 consecutive games. So it was a bit of a relief to see the Knicks finally get a win and put that painfully long losing streak in the rearview.

However, it won’t remain there for long.

The Timberwolves have shown more fight than expected after trading away Jimmy Butler this season, and they are coming off a pair of quality wins over the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers. Karl-Anthony Towns is also on a hot streak right now, netting 24-plus points in his last six consecutive games. He has also registered a double-double in nine of his last 12 outings.

The daunting task of slowing down Jeff Teague, Derrick Rose and Andrew Wiggins will be too big of a challenge for the Knicks’ backcourt. They are finally putting the right pieces together, but they are still a long ways off from being a good basketball team. I’ll take the Timberwolves in this game.

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LAKERS +2.5

The final stretch of the season will be critical for the Lakers if they have any shot of climbing back into the playoff picture. There is a real possibility that even a James-led team could be left out in the cold this year in the deep and talented Western Conference. These aren’t the good, old days when he could simply drag a bad team to playoff contention.

That isn’t to say his talent is diminishing. He is still considered the best basketball player on the planet for good reason, but if the Lakers are going to make a late run in the season, he’s going to need help from some of the other young stars on the roster like Ingram, Kuzma, Josh Hart and Lonzo Ball.

The return of Ball and Hart, who have both been sidelined with injuries, will be a huge boost for the Lakers on Thursday against the Rockets. That will ultimately aid in their offensive firepower, which the team will desperately need facing reigning MVP James Harden. There is simply too much on the line for the Lakers at this point to expect James and company to drop a third consecutive loss. This is their first game back from the All-Star break at home, and for the first time in a while, they’ll have all of their pieces available.

Another monstrous scoring effort by Harden will lead to a thrilling game, but it will be no match for the must-win hunger from the Lakers. Give me Los Angeles in this game.

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Team LeBron -6.5

This line doesn't make sense when you look at the talent. Lebron has the money team, plus the bench is strong. Team Giannis has a good team with some stars, but they are not a powerhouse team like Team LeBron! I have Team LeBron by 15 points or more.

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CELTICS +7.5

The 76ers are on a 3 day run, and today they face a tough defense. The Celtics can hold opponents to 106 points, while the 76ers hold opponents to 112 ppg. Take the Celtics here.

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MAVS +8

The bookmakers have this game all wrong. The MAVS can put 108 points on the board today. The Bucks Defense is the issue since it can hold opponents to just 109 ppg. This line is over priced, and I like this game within 4 points.

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BLAZERS -7

Heat shooting guard Dion Waiters went 7-of-32 from the floor over the last four games. Other than center Hassan, the rest of the starters were a combined 7-of-22 against Indiana. Miami is 1-4 ATS in its last five against winning opponents, 0-4 ATS in its last four following a loss, and 0-4 ATS in its last four trips to Portland. The Trail Blazers are 4-0 ATS in their last four against losing opponents, 9-0 ATS in their last nine playing on at least three days of rest, and 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings between the two teams. It is also worth noting that the home team is 7-2 ATS in the last nine head-to-head matchups and the favorite is 5-2 ATS in the last seven.

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RAPTORS +3

The Raptors have great defense and can hold opponents to just 108 points. The Sixers have been stunning at home, but they are going against great talent with a strong bench. The Raptors for the upset here.

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TIMBERWOLVES -1

The Grizzlies have struggled against the spread, losing eight of their last nine home games against teams with losing road records and eight of their last 10 games against teams with losing records. The Timberwolves have played well against the spread, winning four of their last five road games and six of their last seven road games against teams with losing home records.

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ROCKETS -8

There is legitimate concern with the Rockets putting so much of the weight on Harden’s shoulders. His ability to average 30-plus point performances is a spectacular feat, and it might even win him a second consecutive league MVP nod. However, that kind of strategy isn’t conducive for a championship run. Fortunately for the Rockets, Paul is expected to be back in the lineup on Monday, and they are playing against a Suns team that has the second-worst record in the league.

Even if Paul couldn’t play, the Rockets should still be able to take care of business in this game. The Suns nearly have more consecutive losses than they have total wins.

Despite all of the defensive issues with the Rockets, the Suns won’t be the team to take advantage considering they rank in the bottom-half of the league in total scoring offense. They are actually averaging less points scoring under their own roof than they are on the road. That average of 105.7 points per game isn’t going to cut it with Harden on the floor. Paul should also continue trending upwards after his improved performance against the Nuggets.

Rockets by 12 points or more

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WIZARDS -7

Washington has been hanging in despite missing three starters but they’ve stumbled a bit of late with three losses in their last four games. The Wizards do catch a bit of a break here facing a division rival below them in the standings. Atlanta is at the tail end of a seven-game road trip and they’re logging their third game in four nights here after playing in Utah Friday and Phoenix Saturday. 

Wizards by 9 points or more.

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WIZARDS +1

The Wizards have played well against the spread, winning five of their last six games and seven of their last eight home games. The Pacers have struggled against the spread, losing five of their last six road games and seven of their last nine games against Eastern Conference teams.

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PELICANS +9

The Pelicans have played well against the spread, winning three of their last four games against teams with winning records. The Nuggets have struggled against the spread, losing five of their last six games against Western Conference opponents and nine of their last 11 road games.

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BULLS +10.5

The Bulls Defense can hold opponents to just 110 ppg, while The Heat's offense is averaging 111 ppg. Taking the points is key here.

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KNICKS +7

This line doesn't make any sense when you read between the numbers. The Knicks are averaging 106 ppg while the Mavericks are averaging 109 ppg. Take the Knicks and the 7 points.

The over looks good here.

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PELICANS +11.5

The New Orleans Pelicans will carry their baggage of drama on the road with them on Tuesday when they face the Houston Rockets. Since losing to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Rockets have won their last three consecutive games against the Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks. The Pelicans, on the other hand, have lost five of their last six games, including Saturday’s home game against the San Antonio Spurs.

I like the Pelicans to get back on board again. This game will be close.

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WIZARDS -7.5

Cleveland cracked the double-digit mark for wins on the year by beating Chicago on Sunday afternoon. You can’t expect the Cavaliers to put together sustained success though given their struggles all season long. Washington is trying to claw back into the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference and that means that they need to beat the teams below them in the standings right now. The Wizards, despite their road struggles this season, get the nod in this contest.

Wizards by 9 and the over here.

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PISTONS +8

The Piston defense is pretty good. They are holding opponents to just 108 ppg. The Bucks will struggle, and you have to take the points here, since the Bucks Hold opponents to just 107 points per game.

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JAZZ -3.5

Utah center Rudy Gobert has recorded eight straight double-doubles and has 39 on the season. The Jazz simply seem to have the Nuggets’ number these days–especially inside Vivint Smart. Denver is 2-6 ATS in its last eight against winning opponents, 2-5 ATS in its last seven playing on at least three days of rest, and 0-4 ATS in its last four trips to Utah. The Jazz are 5-0 ATS in their last five on Wednesdays. It is also worth noting that the home team is 9-0 ATS in the last nine head-to-head matchups.

Jazz by 6

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CAVS +15.5

The Cavs are averaging 102 ppg while the Celtics are averaging 112 ppg. This line doesn't make any sense. This game will be within 10 points.

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ROCKETS -7.5

Houston is struggling with injuries but with Harden on the floor, it’s hard to go against the Rockets on any given night. The Knicks have dropped six straight games coming into this contest. New York is dealing with a ton of trade rumors surrounding their veterans and it will interesting to see who might be gone by the time the trade deadline rolls around on February 7. The Rockets have Gordon back and they’ll hope Faried can be a contributor. In this one, Harden continues his torrid stretch and Houston gets the win.

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SUNS +4.5

The Suns are 25th in the league in scoring with an average of 106.3 points per game. The Suns are 29th on the glass by collecting 40.2 boards per game. Phoenix stands 17thin the league in assists with 23.9 per contest. Phoenix is 25th in the league in scoring defense as they allow 115 points a night.

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THUNDER -4

There’s no rest benefit for either team as they’re both playing the second game of a back to back. Both teams have to fly in for this one as the Thunder was in New York Monday afternoon while the Trail Blazers were in Salt Lake City. Oklahoma City plays decent basketball at home, going 14-7, while Portland is 8-12 as the visiting team. With the Trail Blazers having a later start and then having to fly in, they may be a little weary come game time. The Thunder, playing at home and having their game early in the afternoon Monday, gets the upper hand here.

The over is a good play here as well

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ROCKETS +4.5

I am taking the points with the Rockets in this one. The Rockets have drilled a combined 48 three-pointers in their last two games, and James Harden has single-handedly won his teams games. Harden is averaging a remarkable 44.4 points on the month, and I am confident he can keep his team in the game.

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CLIPPERS +9.5

Clippers are better offensively, scoring 116.6 ppg to Spurs’ 107.7 ppg, while Spurs are better defensively, allowing 108.2 ppg to Clippers’ 112. Clippers have better percentages both in field goals (47.3% to 44.6%) and in 3-pointers (38.7% to 37.8%). Spurs on the other hand are better both in turnovers committed (12.6 to 14.6) and in dimes made (23.2 to 22.4), while Clippers are better in boards grabbed (46.8 to 45.3). Spurs are struggling, and taking the 9.5 points is good.

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SUNS +13

The Suns are 25th in the league in scoring with an average of 106 points per game. The Suns are 29th on the glass by collecting 40.6 boards per game. Phoenix stands 17th in the league in assists with 24 per contest. Phoenix is 24th in the league in scoring defense as they allow 114.5 points a night.

Minnesota dropped their second straight and third in their last four games as they were upended by the Spurs at home Friday night. The Timberwolves entered Saturday’s action 11th in the Western Conference, 3.5 games behind the Lakers for the final playoff spot. 

I like the Suns within 6 points.

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HORNETS +8

The Hornets are an above average team offensively, ranking 11th in the league with 112.1 points per game. Charlotte is tied for 19th in rebounding with 44.6 boards per game and 18th by dishing out 23.8 assists per contest. The Hornets come in ranked 17thin scoring defense by allowing 111.4 points per game. 

The Pacers are playing good ball, but they average just 108 points. Take the Hornets here.

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PELICANS +7

The Pelicans are 3rd in the league in scoring offense with 117 points per game. The Pelicans are 8th in rebounding with 46.9 boards per game while ranking 4th with 26.9 assists per contest. New Orleans is 26th in scoring defense as they give up 114.8 points per contest.

Today the face the Warriors who are a different team from last year. The Warriors average 120 points per game, but give up 117 ppg. The Pelicans are hot, and money here.

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ROCKETS -5.5

Orlando is playing the second game of a back to back situation here and they’re facing a Houston team that is a high-octane unit. The Rockets have reeled off 13 wins in their last 16 games coming into this one despite missing guys like Paul and Gordon. Harden has been electric of late and they should take advantage of the Magic being tired. Orlando has struggled of late and that’s going to hurt them here. The Rockets get the upper hand in this contest.

Rockets by 7 or more

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PELICANS -1

The Pelicans are 2nd in the league in scoring offense with 117.2 points per game. The Pelicans are 7th in rebounding with 46.8 boards per game while ranking 4th with 27 assists per contest. New Orleans is 26th in scoring defense as they give up 114.8 points per contest. Nikola Mirotic is fourth on the team with 17.3 points plus nine rebounds per contest this season.

The Pelicans have to much firepower. Pelicans by 4 points or more.

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KINGS -4.5

I am taking the Kings in this contest. The Magic have lost five out of their last six road games, and they also did not cover in five of those six games. Also, Orlando has not been nearly as productive on the road where they are only averaging 101.3 points on the season.

Furthermore, while the Kings haven’t been winning recently, they have endured a challenging schedule. They are still producing offensively, averaging 116.4 points in their last seven games. The Magic are a low-scoring team, so I am not concerned with the Kings shaky defense.

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ROCKETS -1

The Rockets beat the Nuggets this past Nov. I like the Rockets at home again.

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SUNS +1

This is a Syndicate Move, and we are making a big move here.

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PACERS -1

This is a Syndicate Move, and we are big on this game.

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WARRIORS -7.5

Playing the Golden State Warriors any given night is a daunting proposition. Playing them when you’re lacking confidence on a three-game losing streak and the Warriors are angry at themselves for losing makes it all the more difficult.

Golden State is 8-5 this season when coming off a loss, and one of those wins was its 130-125 victory at Sacramento on Dec. 14. The Warriors have also scored 110 or more points in eight of those games. They are averaging 121.1 points against division rivals and reached 130 or more in their last two road games.

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BUCKS -5

The Bucks are playing the second game of a back to back here but both games came at home. Milwaukee has handled Toronto twice already this season and they have the depth to make life tough for any team. With Lowry doubtful at best and Valanciunas still out for the Raptors, that’s going to make life a little tougher for Toronto here. After seeing the Raptors get blitzed by the Spurs on the road Thursday night, you have to give Milwaukee the upper hand in this contest.

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KNICKS +7.5

This game should be will be in range. I like the Knicks for the upset here.

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THUNDER -5.James not practicing in full likely means he isn’t quite ready to return for the Lakers. So there won’t be any king around to fend off Westbrook and George.

The young Lakers were fortunate enough to pull out a tough win over the Kings, but they’ll be biting off more than they can chew when they step onto the floor against the Thunder.

You can throw the majority of the stats out the window for the Lakers given how much is swayed by the mere presence of James. His absence cripples the team offensively and defensively. Granted, the Lakers are still an improved team with some of the other offseason acquisitions they’ve made, but there isn’t nearly enough firepower to stop Westbrook and company.

Defense was already an issue for the Lakers with James on the court. Opponents are averaging 111.4 points per game against them, which currently ranks 20th in the NBA. They’re also still missing veteran guard Rajon Rondo at the point.

Look for the Thunder to take advantage of the young Lakers and roll to another victory.

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NETS +1

This one mainly comes down to the fact that the Pelicans have been awful on the road this season. New Orleans is just 4-15 on the year away from the Smoothie King Center and gives up 116.5 points per game in those contests. That is a major reason that the Pelicans have a -3.4 point per game differential on the road. Brooklyn has lost two straight games coming into this one but with Mirotic likely sidelined and Davis a question mark, you have to lean toward the Nets here.

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HORNETS -1.5

Charlotte is trying to climb above the .500 mark and they couldn’t have picked a better scenario to pull that off. The Hornets are at home in this contest, where they are 14-7 this season. Dallas has been atrocious on the road this season, losing 16 of their 18 contests away from the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks are logging their third game in four nights here and combined with their road struggles, you have to back Charlotte in this contest.

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BUCKS -10

This is a Syndicate Move

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RAPTORS -2.5

This is a Syndicare Move. 

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MAVS +7.5

Dallas won Sunday’s contest at home, where they are now 15-3 on the season The Mavericks have actually dominated this series as of late, covering the spread in each of the last four meetings and 22 of the last 33 meetings in Oklahoma City. With the way Westbrook is shooting the ball right now, you have to like your chances of the Mavericks covering the number on the road in this spot. Take Dallas to cover despite their ugly 2-15 record on the road this year.

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KINGS +5.5

Sacramento Kings have an 18-15 record (21-12 against the spread) so far this season and currently sit in the 7th place of the West. They have back-to-back wins and in their last game they won at home against the Pelicans with a 122-117 score, beating the odds. They are led in scoring by Buddy Hield with 20.4 ppg, adding 5.2 boards per game. He is followed by De’Aaron Fox with 18.1 ppg, 3.4 boards and a team high 7.5 dimes per game, while Bogdan Bogdanovic adds 15.1 ppg and 3.9 dimes per game.

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NUGGETS +4.5

Denver was pasted by the Clippers in their last game on Saturday as they had their four-game win streak halted. The Nuggets now try to get back in the win column and maintain their lead in the Northwest Division, which stood at one game coming into this contest. Denver trailed by eight after the opening quarter and by nine at the half: they got no closer than seven the rest of the way. The Nuggets were held to 42.3 percent shooting while the Clippers hit 57.6 percent from the floor. Denver was nine of 31 from three point range and was beaten 56-37 on the glass in the loss. Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 19 points in the loss. Denver is 7-8 ATS on the road this season while the under is 9-5-1 in those games.

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BULLS +4.5

In their previous meeting earlier this season the Timberwolves won at home with a 111-96 score. Bulls have a 5-12 home record, while the Wolves are 3-13 on the road. Timberwolves are better offensively, scoring 110.9 ppg to Bulls’ 100.9 ppg, while Bulls are better defensively, allowing 110 ppg to Wolves’ 111.6. Wolves have better percentages both in field goals (44.9% to 44.4%) and in 3-pointers (36.1% to 34.4%). They are also better in boards grabbed (44 to 41.5), in dimes made (24.3 to 21.7) and in turnovers committed (13 to 15). Wolves have been very weak on the road 

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NETS -1.5

This is a Syndicate Move. Lay the money on the Nets.

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THUNDER +1

The Jazz have the 24th offense in the NBA that averages 106.5 points per contest, while their defense is in top 10 as it allows 106.4 points per game (6th). Utah’s rebounding is below average as they are recording 43.7 boards per game (23rd), while they are better when it comes to assists per contest with 24.4 dishes a night (14th). Utah is 14th in field goal percentage as they have 45.8 percent from the floor and 26th from downtown with 33.5 percentage, while they are 18th in the NBA with 10.8 three-pointers made per game.

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MAVS -5.5

The Kings have actually dominated this series as of late, covering the spread in five of the last six meetings in Dallas and eight of the last 11 matchups between these two teams overall. They are fresh off of a disappointing loss against the Warriors, while the Mavericks failed to show up on the road against the Suns in their last game. Of the two losses, the Kings’ defeat was much more devastating, which has me leaning towards Dallas covering the spread in this matchup at home on Sunday.

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WIZARDS +2.5

Washington lost their fourth straight game as they were unable to contain the Nets on the road. Rather than deal with the status quo, the Wizards dealt Kelly Oubre Jr. and Austin Rivers to the Suns in exchange for Trevor Ariza in an effort to help their leaky defense. Friday night, Washington led by four after the opening quarter before getting outscored 43-28 in the second quarter. The Wizards were down 16 after three quarters and could get no closer than four in the final stanza. Washington shot 54.4 percent from the field, including 11 of 29 from three point range, in the loss. The Wizards were just nine of 16 from the charity stripe and were pounded 46-25 on the glass. Bradley Beal led the team with 31 points and nine assists in the loss. Washington is 7-6 ATS at home this season and the over is 9-4 in those games.

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BULLS +11

In their previous meeting earlier this season the Spurs won on the road with a 107-108 score. Spurs have a 11-4 home record, while the Bulls are 2-11 on the road. Spurs are better both offensively, scoring 110.8 ppg to Bulls’ 101.4 and defensively, allowing 111.5 ppg to Bulls’ 112.3 ppg.

This game will be close

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GRIZZLIES +3.5

In their four meetings last season both teams were tied 2-2 wins and were 1-1 in Memphis (Grizzlies won by 14 points and Rockets by 22). Grizzlies have a 9-5 home record, while the Rockets are 6-9 on the road. Rockets are better offensively, scoring 109 ppg to Grizzlies’ third-worse of 102.7, while Grizzlies are better defensively, allowing a second-best of 102 ppg to Rockets’ 109.6. Grizzlies have better percentages both in field goals (45.3% to 45%) and in 3-pointers (35.3% to 34%). They are also better both in dimes made (23.2 to 21.2) and in turnovers committed (12.7 to 13.9), while Rockets are only in boards grabbed (41 to 39.7). Grizzlies might be struggling lately but they have been strong at home.