We think the extra time off benefited Boston more, especially since they start this series at home. Boston has been one of the best betting teams for several years as they normally cover when they win, and we love that we are getting them for Game 1 on the other side of the key NBA betting number of 7. We think the offenses will be ahead of the defenses to start this series off, and that also benefits Boston.

First of all, we think this is too many points for Dallas in a series where they have had the upper hand and where most of the games have been close. This is not only a must-win for the Timberwolves but also nearly a must win for Dallas as they will let Minnesota fully back into this series with a loss. We think both defenses will lock down here in this crucial matchup and we think we saw our fair share of circus shots in Game 4 and this game will be more straightforward.

If the roles were reversed here we think there would be a ton of pressure on the team down 0-3, but we don’t think that applies to the Pacers here. They weren’t supposed to be here and this was an overachieving season. They should be proud of what they accomplished and we don’t think they will come into this game feeling tons of pressure and we think they will leave everything on the court tonight to in order to win at least one game in this series. Not sure if it will happen, but we think this will be a close game regardless.

4-Unit Play Take Indiana +7.5 over Boston (8:30 p.m. EST, Saturday May 25)

Even with Haliburton questionable for the Pacers, this line is just too large. Boston had their way with the Pacers in Game 2, but this series could easily be tied at 1-1 as the Pacers played well enough to win in Game 1. We like the depth of the Pacers even if Haliburton doesn't play, and we had this game handicapped at 4 so we think there is nice value here on the other side of the key NBA betting number of 7.

Best of Luck - Doc's Sports

The Timberwolves slipped up in Game 1 but this series will go back and forth but when the dust settles we think the Wolves will wind out on top. They played pretty well in Game 1 but Dallas just went crazy late in that game and we don’t see that happening again tonight. Minnesota is the more well-rounded team and Dallas relies too much on two players. It has worked out for them so far but against more flawed teams than the Wolves. We think both teams put up some points tonight but that Minnesota pulls away for a comfortable win.

We loved the Pacers in Game 1 and they let that one slip away at the end of the game but we like them even more in Game 2. Indiana has played free and loose this entire postseason and we just feel like they aren’t going to dwell on that missed opportunity and that they will just come out and play their game here in Game 2. We don’t think it was a fluke at all that Indiana almost won Game 1 and this game should be close, too. The oddsmakers made only a small adjustment on this game from the last one, and we still think there is excellent value. We are going to sprinkle a little on the moneyline here, because, remember, the Celtics lost Game 2 to both Miami and Cleveland, and the Pacers are a much better squad than those two clubs.

This spread is ridiculous for Game 1. The Pacers are battle tested in this postseason and they have a real chance in this series. A double digit spread for Game 1? We will bite! We think they match up well with Boston and this is not going to be an easy series for the Celtics. We think Indiana keeps it close in a high scoring Game 1. We think this is a very public line tonight and the Pacers should bring their A Game tonight.

Dallas has taken control of this series and we think this one ends at Game 6 in Dallas. They have won and covered three of the last four games in this series, and they seemed to have figured the Thunder out, as the only loss was by four points. The Thunder started the playoffs great, but their inexperience is starting to show, and teams need several seasons of trials and tribulations in the postseason to be able to excel in a high-pressure situation like this. We think Dallas rolls tonight.

The Cavs have covered two of the three double digit spreads they have faced in this series. It’s obvious this squad is not championship caliber, but they fight hard and we think they will go down swinging tonight. They could be missing some key players but they will play strong defense and we think they have a great chance to keep this one within double digits.

New York didn’t get their share of the total in Games 3 and 4, but the number has been adjusted downward and also the Knicks will probably have better luck on offense in Game 5, at home and after a cold shooting night in Game 4 that wasn’t all a result of Indiana defense but rather some shots that just didn’t fall. The Pacers can probably still be counted on to score their share. But we think New York will play better and this should be a competitive game as this is them most pivotal game in the series.

We think this game can go one of two ways. Either it is a blowout from Boston or the Cavs go all out on defense and keep it close in a low scoring game. We think both outcomes bode well for the under. Cleveland can’t just let Boston run rampant on offense and they have to buckle down or they don’t stand a chance. Mitchell is questionable here and if he is limited or can’t play at all then that will hurt the Cavs offensively. We also think the Cavs understand that they can’t get in a hole early as this is not the type of team that can come back from a big deficit against the top dogs in the league. We do think the Cavs will make some adjustments from Game 3 and expect this to be one of the lowest scoring games of the series.

The Pacers had every chance to win Game 1 but the refs gave them some bad calls down the stretch. The Knicks have a short rotation and we think that will start to hurt them as this series goes on as the Pacers have more depth. Indiana should come into this one with a chip on their shoulder and we think they will be very focused after getting robbed of the win in Game 1. Nice price on the moneyline here and we think this one goes back to Indiana tied 1-1.

Cleveland got blown out of the water in their first two games in Orlando and we can’t imagine what a rested Celtics team will do to them, especially after coming off a 7-game series with Orlando. Boston got a great matchup here as they avoided the Pacers and Knicks, both who would have presented more of a challenge in the second round. The Cavs are probably not mentally over their last series and this team has looked mentally weak at times in this playoffs, especially those two games in Orlando in which they didn’t even show up. We have to think Boston will want to make a statement here.

These teams always find a way to Game 7 and we think the Clippers will leave everything on the floor tonight. There are big issues for LA as a franchise if they bow out in six games in the first round and this team is built to withstand an injury to one of their two stars. They have won two of three in Dallas and we think they won’t be intimidated here. Dallas can be streaky and we don’t see them dominating two straight games. And the Clippers know if they can somehow win this series that Kawhi could be back at some point in Round 2 and then they would have a serious chance at a championship run. We see a close, high-scoring game here and LA has a legit chance to win in our opinion.

The Celtics have rolled in three of the four games of this series but this is an elimination game and the Heat will leave it all on the court. They have the better coach at the end of their bench and we think he will cook up a game plan to keep them competitive with the limited players they have on the court. Boston is probably due for a letdown game, especially after losing Porzingis for a good chunk of the second round. We consider a double-digit win a blowout, and we can het blown out here and still cover. But we think the Heat will play hard and with pride here and keep this within double digits.

The Thunder look every bit the No. 1 seed and they have made it look easy in this series so far. They got off to a slow start in Game 1 but then they have turned it on and dominated. The Pelicans are an incomplete team without their best player, and they can’t have a lot of team morale going on the court tonight. OKC will pull ahead in the fourth quarter and win this one comfortably.

We liked the Bucks to flame out in the playoffs even before the Freak went down with injury. Now we think it will likely be in the first round. The Lillard acquisition was a bad one for Milwaukee, and it has hurt their defense, while the offense hasn’t been consistent. The Pacers don’t play much defense either, but that isn’t their focus. And their offense is consistent. They match up really well with the Bucks and have won five of the last seven meetings, including a high stakes in season tourney game. We think they win this comfortably.

Both Games 1 and 2 went over this total, and we expect Game 3 to do the same. We expect another close game and expect both teams to get their points. With the way Game 2 ended, overtime would not be out of the realm of possibility. But we don’t think we will need OT here to cash this ticket. The Knicks are no longer anemic on offense and this team can put up some points. They have scored over 110 in 7 of their last 9 games. They scored 120 or more in four of those. Jalen Brunson is a threat to have a big scoring night at ant time, and he seems like the type of player that will step up in a game like this. We don’t think the Sixers can rely on defense to get the win here. So they will need to execute on offense. We expect both teams to get their share of the total tonight, and both teams should surpass the century mark just as they did in the first two games of this series.

Just don’t see the Heat getting blown out by Boston in consecutive games. This total is crazy low at 203.5 at the time of this writing. With such a low total, every point for the underdog is more valuable. We agree this will be a low scoring game and we think the Heat will keep this competitive on the strength of their defense. This Miami team is banged up right now but they play with a lot of heart and are well coached. They will have a plan coming into this game and they aren’t going to just roll over tonight. And we have to remember that it is the Heat who have played in two Finals in recent years while this super team from Boston has been to only one. It’s telling that the bookies have not adjusted the line since the Celtics covered in Game 1 and we think the public is all over Boston here and we will side with the sportsbooks and count on the Miami defense to pull some tricks out of their sleeve and keep this one competitive.

The Pacers were off on their shooting in Game 1 but that was one of their worst offensive games in forever and we just think they are more competitive tonight. We lean towards them to win the series still as the Bucks have seemed like a team that will flame out in the postseason – mainly because of their defense. They played a strong defensive game last time out but without their best player on the court we think it will be tough for them to go up 2-0, and the Pacers should be able to score the ball a lot better tonight. We think they have a great chance to steal this one.

Some say that Dallas will dominate this series and it will be an early end for the Clippers and another disappointing season. But we see this series being long and drawn out, like these teams always tend to do when they meet in the playoffs, The Mavs normally get the early jump on LA, then the Clippers rally late in the series. With word Kawhi Leonard may be able to come back later in the series, this script could play out again. But here for Game 1 we see the Mavs dominating. They are incredibly hot heading into the postseason and they have the upper hand here. The Clippers sputtered down the stretch. We think they will figure some things out later in the series, but Game 1 will be all Dallas.

We have had the opinion all season that the Timberwolves are a regular season club but they will flame out in the playoffs. On the other end of the spectrum, the Suns had a disappointing regulars season, but this team is built for the postseason. Phoenix has covered in nine straight meetings. They have won eight of those outright. We think this is a bad matchup for the Wolves in the first round. Seeding is thrown out the window if you can win the first game on the road, and we think there’s a great chance that happens in Game 1.

Sacramento is playing really well at the moment and we think they deserve a playoff spot. They ended the Warriors dynasty in their first playoff game and they looked confident and were extremely effective on both ends of the court. The Pelicans can’t have a lot of confidence right now after their best player went down. They have lost five straight home games and their prospects aren’t looking good here. We had the Kings handicapped at -4.5 here, so we think there is excellent value and we think there is a great chance they win by a lot more than that.

This is a very important game for the Pacers. They need to win here to stake their claim to a playoff spot and avoid the play in tournament. If they make the playoffs, they will have plenty of time off before their first round matchup. So they have to go all out here. Atlanta plays mid week in their play in game and all their focus is on that matchup. They don’t want to expend too much energy here or risk injury. And Indiana is a team that can really pour on the points, so we don’t think they will have any trouble getting the cover here.

It’s fade city for Utah tonight. We sometimes mention a team being Fat and Happy. That is when a poor team gets a big win that wasn’t expected and they usually rest on their laurels and come out flat in the next couple contests. This is the case for Utah tonight as they are on a back-to-back after winning in Houston last night as a double-digit underdog. Utah has a very thin roster with injured starters and this is a very tough back-to-back, no matter who plays for the Clippers. LA has a very deep roster and they have something to play for as seeing is still a factor for the first round. This win for Utah last night was their first in 14 games, and they have covered only four games during this stretch despite very generous odds from the bookies. These teams played here earlier this month, without Kawhi, and the win and cover were never in question for LA. We think this will be a one-sided game from the opening tip.

Love the Knicks in this spot. The Celtics have nothing but pride to play for, while the Knicks need this game for seeding, With the new NBA playoff format with the play in tourney, there is no momentum for teams already set in the bracket, so we don’t think Boston cares at all about this game or if they lose out for the regular season as long as they are healthy for the playoffs. The Knicks are legit championship contenders this year and we think they bring their A Game here tonight.

This is a quick revenge spot as the Knicks lost to the Bulls by 8 here on Friday. The Bulls don’t have much chance to rise above the play in tourney, while the Knicks can definitely drop into the play in. So they have the motivational edge tonight along with revenge. They have won and covered in four of the last six meetings, and we will give them a mulligan for the poor performance on Friday and expect them to bounce back strong here. They are also fairly healthy tonight, while the Bulls have a long injury list and could be missing key players tonight.

Detroit is not a deep team by any means and not only are they on a back-to-back, but they are playing their third game in four nights. The Nets have had two nights off. Brooklyn has been eliminated as well but they will want to finish the season strong and should take this game seriously and this is one they should win by double digits.

The Suns have been one of the worst ATS teams this season but they seem to be making a playoff push and are playing some of their most inspired basketball of the season. They have covered in five of their last seven, and they catch the Cavs on a B2B and Mitchell is questionable after missing their game against Utah last night. We think Phoenix is just in better form right now, and these back-to-backs, especially on the road, really start to take their toll here at this point of the season.

The Jazz stink and are missing some key players here, but this is simply too many points. The Jazz still have some players that can compete, and they have one of the better home court advantages in the NBA. Despite players in and out of the lineup, they have played well enough at home recently to keep games close and haven’t lost by more than 10 in four straight, including games against the Mavs and Timberwolves. Cleveland has covered in only one of their last seven games, so the oddsmakers have them a bit overvalued recently. We think the home team keeps this one within double digits.

Whenever we see a line this high, we always try and figure out a reason to take the underdog. And we like the Blazers to keep this somewhat close tonight. Even if this one is a blowout, we can cash the ticket with this many points, and a backdoor cover is always in the mix. The reason we like the Blazers here is because of the very low total. In a low-scoring game, every point becomes all the more valuable. Portland had one of their worst games of the season last time out but have had a couple days off and we think we see a more focused effort here tonight.

The Nets have won two straight in this series, and we think they will challenge for the win today. The Lakers are banged up and we don’t yet know who will suit up. Even with the Lakers at full strength, we think Brooklyn will play well at home. The Nets are still alive but their season is on life support and this is essentially a must win game. They have won three straight and are playing well at the moment. And the Lakers have been a lousy team all season on the road, where they are 14-21 on the season.

The over has hit in seven straight meetings, and we expect another high scoring affair here. Milwaukee has been playing well offensively and has scored 114 or more in six straight games. Just like the oddsmakers, we expect a very close game here and we think both teams will get their points, and overtime is not out of the realm of possibility. We see a similar type of result to the Pelicans last game against OKC here at home that easily went over the total.

Dallas has been racking up wins lately, but they have played some bad teams on the road and their toughest matchups at home. We feel they are a bit overvalued in this spot as we had the Kings laying a couple more points in our handicapping. The Kings have been playing well also (also against an easy schedule), and they scored a very impressive win at Orlando two games ago. We think they will be up for this game as these teams have identical records so this is am important game for playoff position. Sacramento has won two straight meetings, and three of four, and has covered in four straight meetings.

Toronto should play hard in this winnable game and they will want to end their long winning streak. But this is more a bet against the Nets than for the Raptors, as there is no situation where Brooklyn should be favored by this many on the road against any team. This team is 10-26 on the road this season. They have lost five straight on the road. Nice value on the Raptors tonight.

Four of the last five meetings have gone under the posted number, and we expect a low scoring game here as well. The last meeting totaled 205, and we would not be surprised to see a similar score. Minnesota has one of the best defenses in the league, and we think they will set the tempo at home.

Memphis has a long history of success in this series but the tide is turning and the Spurs are the better team now. Memphis is wrought with injuries this season and they are fielding a glorified G-League squad right now. The Grizzlies are a team likely to reset in the offseason, so this team is a fade the rest of the way out, while the Spurs are building something special here with their phenomenal rookie and some nice supporting players. We think, with both squads eliminated, that there will be not a lot of defense played here but when all is said and done, the Spurs should win this one by double digits.

Minnesota is banged up (Towns is out and Gobert is now questionable for tonight), and they are on a back-to-back and playing their third game in four nights. We don’t see them doing well against the defending champs, who are playing championship-caliber basketball right now and playing as well as any team in the NBA. They are rested since they had Monday off, and Minnesota has to be running on fumes after a hard-fought game at Utah last night. Minnesota has looked good lately but this line being so large for Denver on the road is very telling, and we think the Wolves run into a buzzsaw tonight and the Nuggets get a comfortable win on the road. These teams also have identical records, so this game will be important for playoff seeding. Another reason for Denver to bring their A Game.

The Spurs aren’t favored often, but they are a rightful favorite tonight. Brooklyn is at the tail of a long road trip that has seen them go 1-4, with losses to Detroit and Charlotte. They needed a strong showing on this road trip for any hopes of the postseason, but they fell flat on their faces. They probably just want to get home, and we don’t see them suddenly giving an inspired performance here in San Antonio against an improving Spurs team. Brooklyn is also on a back-to-back, and they were run ragged by the Pacers on Saturday in a 20+-point loss. The Spurs were off on Saturday and they will enjoy home court advantage tonight. The Spurs have been underrated by the oddsmakers and they have covered six of nine. This team has been quietly improving all season long and they have some nice players that have been developing. We see them notching a comfortable win tonight.

Orlando is one of the best ATS teams in the league and they keep quietly getting the job done. They have son six of eight and have covered in every win. Toronto has all sorts of problems and they are not only banged up now but have a major non-hoops related absence tonight. They have lost seven of eight and covered in only two of those games despite some very generous lines from the oddsmakers. The Magic blew the Raptors out in the last meeting and we think there is a very good chance this is another double-digit win as the Magic are healthy and well rested.

Embiid is really an MVP type player and the way the Sixers have fallen apart really shows how much he means to the team. They put up 79 points last time out in a loss to the Knicks, and this will be another tough game for them. No doubt Doc Rivers will want to lay the beat down on his former team. We don’t see the Bucks letting down for this matchup and we expect them to keep hooping until the final buzzer sounds.

Boston has won two of the last three and three of the last four visits to Portland by double digits. We just don’t see a letdown here for the best team in the NBA, in our opinion. The Celtics are rolling right now and they just won in Phoenix by 10, so we think they can do even better here. They have covered in seven of their last nine games, and when they win, they usually win big and big enough to cover the large number.

Orlando is by far the strongest ATS team in the league this season and they are being underestimated by the oddsmakers once again. This is a young team and they will have a dud every now and then. That was surely the case last time out as they played one of their worst games of the season, a 98-74 loss at New York. We will give them a mulligan on that one, however, and expect they come out strong here in this one. Indiana has lost three of four and this team has been inconsistent lately. Orlando has held four of six opponents under the century mark and we think that defense wins this matchup on Sunday.

The Nets are coming off an embarrassing loss at Detroit and they should give much better effort here against a team that is probably worse than the Pistons. Brooklyn should be getting some injured players back tonight, and this team needs a win badly for the play in tournament. They have covered in three of the last four meetings, and they are the much better team here. A motivated Brooklyn squad should get the comfortable win.

This spread is short, in our opinion, as we had the Knicks as 4.5-point dogs here with a lean to Orlando at that number. Orlando is healthy, while the Knicks are banged up and a shell of the team that looked like a true championship contender earlier in the season. New York has dropped eight of 11, and this team might not even make the play in. Orlando is playing amazing defense, and we don’t see the Knicks cracking the century mark tonight and they will have to lean on defense to keep this competitive. We don’t see them keeping this  one close, and there is nice value here with the road team.

The Clippers have won eight straight meetings and covered in five of those. We love to take a good team off a bad or embarrassing loss, and that is the case with the Clippers tonight. Last time they were on a back-to-back against a banged up Bucks squad and really fell apart late in that game after relinquishing a big lead. So we think they will be a lot more focused tonight. Houston is a solid team but they are a couple rungs below the Clips, who are a true championship contender and probably the second best team in the league behind Boston. We think a determined Clippers team wins this one comfortably.

Miami has been playing great basketball but we think the oddsmakers have overinflated this number so we have to plug our nose and take the Pistons here. The Pistons had a horrible start to the season and injuries were a major issue. Some felt heading into the season that this team could make the play in. But they ended up setting the NBA record for longest losing streak. But this team has gotten healthy and has been very competitive lately. They are 15-7 ATS in their last 22 games. There were a couple of those ATS losses that were close, also. They didn’t play well last time out vs. Orlando so we think we will see a better effort here. And Miami goes on the road after this one to play at Dallas and at OKC on back-to-back nights starting Thursday.  They probably won’t give full effort here and that should play to our advantage. Detroit has covered in seven of the last eight meetings, so they normally get up for this opponent.

The Clippers have been overrated by the oddsmakers lately compared to their effort on the court and they are just 3-7 ATS in their last 10. They come in on a back-to-back after a hard-fought win at Minnesota in a game that probably meant more to the team than tonight’s matchup at Milwaukee from the Eastern Conference. This Clippers squad isn’t the youngest team, so back-to-backs can really take their toll at this point in the season. It doesn’t get any easier with this matchup at the Bucks, who have won and covered five straight and are rounding into postseason form. We think Doc Rivers will do all he can to beat his old team, and the Clippers are definitely looking vulnerable tonight as they have been inconsistent since the all start break and we just think this is a real bad spot for them tonight.

Houston has covered in four of five meetings, and we think they will keep this one close tonight. There was a point where the Rockets started to be overvalued by the oddsmakers, but that time has passed. We really like them coming off a loss, yet a hard-fought one that included an ATS cover, against these Suns here on Thursday. It’s very difficult to beat a team twice in a row, and we have also seen some reverse line movement on this game that would favor the Rockets to cover.

The Cavs haven’t covered in their last seven games. They have been winning quite a bit, but they haven’t been dominating. Detroit has been the opposite as they have been losing but covering as they are exceeding the oddsmaker expectations recently. They have covered in three straight and six out of nine. They have also covered in three straight meetings (all losses), and we think they will play well enough to keep this one close.  

Four straight meetings have resulted in OKC double-digit wins. They have covered in six straight meetings. This is a regional rivalry, and we think that the road team will bring their A Game tonight. They have won and covered in six straight and the Spurs are back home after a long road trip, which is usually a bad spot for the home team.

The Lakers are banged up as LeBron and AD are suffering from various ailments and won’t be 100 percent, although both are expected to play. They better bring their A Game, because the Clippers always do in this matchup. If you have followed our service for a long time, you would know that we always think of this as a one-sided rivalry. The Lakers are the Clippers biggest rival, so they always bring their best. The Lakers have more traditional rivals, so this is just another game to them. In fact, they often like to make it seem like they don’t care at all about the Clippers, and that often shows on the court, as the Clippers have won 12 of 14 meetings, and they have had a lot of success in this series since the early Lob City days. Both squads have been sluggish out of the break, but we are confident the deep Clippers, without George, will bring their best performance to the court tonight.

The Knicks took all they could handle from the Pistons last night and now this very thin roster finds itself on a back-to-back against a much better squad. We don’t think the slumping Knicks have a chance here. The Knicks have covered in only one of the last five meetings. They have dropped six of their last nine overall and those three wins were not against quality opponents (the Sixers are banged up now also). The Pels get it done tonight with a comfortable win.

We think this game will go one of two ways: either Knicks blowout or close, low-scoring game. We just don’t envision a shootout here. The Knicks are just a mess right now with all the injuries that have piled up and this team hasn’t been playing well on offense. They have the defensive system in place, however, to plug in players that can perform, and we don’t see either team breaking out for a big offensive game. We had this one handicapped around 218 so nice value tonight.

The Clippers got embarrassed last night at OKC and they had an off night; it happens to the best teams in the NBA at some point in the season. We think this team will bounce back nicely tonight as they take a big step down in competition. The Clippers have won and covered two straight in this series, and injuries have derailed the Grizzlies season in a big way. This team is just a shell of the squad we expected to be competing for a playoff spot by this point of the season.

The Clippers are healthy coming out of the break and entered the break with an epic win at Golden State without their best player. Kawhi is back here and rested, and we think the Clippers will be pumped for this game. We had them as a 2-point favorite here, so there is nice value in the spread tonight. OKC is a very good team and they rarely lose at home, but the Clippers may be the best team in the league and they certainly have the soldiers to come in and get a win here. The Clippers haven’t won here in awhile, but they didn’t have their full squad, either, and we expect a strong showing tonight.

These teams played Tuesday and the Timberwolves scored a comfortable win. The game wasn’t as one-sided as the final scored might indicate as the Blazers entered the fourth quarter down only one before falling apart late. But it’s very tough to win two games in a row on the opponent’s floor in the span of two consecutive games. Revenge is an overrated factor in handicapping as it is in college ball because these guys are professionals and they let losses slip away after the game and move on to the next matchup. But when teams play in consecutive games like this, it is definitely a factor and we think Portland will give an extra push to play a more complete game here. The Blazers are a bad team. But they are on a level above the real dregs like Washington, San Antonio and Charlotte. This team is competitive, can score some big wins over strong opponents, and they have covered in close to half their games. So we don’t think the Wolves will just come in and dominate here. Portland has covered in four of their last seven. One of those ATS losses was by a half point, so we think they have been playing slightly above the oddsmakers expectations lately and we think they will give it all they have tonight in the rematch as rest is coming during the all0star break.

The Clippers will be without Kawhi Leonard tonight but we think the defense will step up in his absence. He hasn’t been out much this season and we don’t think his absence means the Clippers won’t be competitive here but they will need to play defense. Golden State has really stepped up the defense lately and they have gone under in five straight games and seven of eight as a result. We think both teams want this game and when there is a contentious matchup like this, both teams really normally bring a lot of energy on defense.

Orlando is a fine team and they have been solid this season at covering the spread and winning games. But we think they are out of their depth here tonight. The Thunder are a true championship contender and we think if they come and play their game in Orlando that they will win comfortably here at the Kia Center. OKC has covered in five of the last six meetings. They have lost two of three, but those were at Dallas and Utah, so they will be motivated to play well here. Orlando has been playing well but they have had a somewhat easy schedule and they have been a bit inconsistent compared to the start of the season. They are also not getting as much value in their lines as they were early in the season as the bookies have caught on to the talent and capabilities of this team. But we think a motivated Thunder team wins this one going away, and there looks to be plenty of value in this line.

The Timberwolves match up well with the Clippers and they have had a lot of success against them. They have won and covered five of the last six meetings, including two of three in Los Angeles. Minnesota comes into this one very well rested and they have tons of confidence after going into Milwaukee and laying a beatdown on the Bucks last time out. They also have recent wins against OKC and Dallas, so they have been raising their game against the best competition. We feel this will be a very close game and think the Wolves have a great chance for the outright win, and they are getting great value on the spread here.

Despite the Rockets poor play on the road, we had them favored in this matchup. Toronto after the Trade Deadline looks like one of the worst teams in the NBA and they will likely be tanking the rest of the season. The Raptors will miss VanVleet for sure as he is out for likely a few games but we think that Houston has a good enough roster, plus the motivation, to win here. They looked pretty good in their first game with VanVleet sidelined as they went toe to toe with the Pacers on the road and lost by three, easily covering the 8-point spread. The Rockets aren’t going to win a lot of games on the road this season, but this looks like a very winnable game for them. They need every win they can get for the postseason so we think they will be focused here. Toronto is playing their first home game after a long road trip, and those are often tricky since players have obligations in their personal lives, and for Toronto with no hope, those probably outweigh the game tonight. The Raptors haven’t been just losing but they haven’t been covering, either, despite some generous lines from the oddsmakers.

We think this is a real nice spot for the Spurs to play a competitive game. They catch the Heat not only on a back-to-back but playing their third game in four nights. Those came against the Clippers and in-state rival Orlando, so this game really isn’t going to move the needle for them as far as motivation goes. The Spurs have been up and down lately but are getting generous lines from the oddsmakers and they have covered more games recently than they haven’t, and they also have a better ATS record than the Heat. We think they have a great chance to keep this close.

We were on the Thunder last meeting between these two. The line was similar, and we had a massive play on OKC and honestly we were lucky to win that one as everything went right for us in the last 30 seconds. Utah is rested and healthy, and they have revenge here for the earlier meeting. They had a real chance to win that one outright. OKC has three nights off after this game then a trip to Dallas, and as a result they may not be full focused here. Even if they are, the Jazz are strong enough at home to beat any team, any night.

Brooklyn has won three of four and are playing well at the moment. They have enjoyed a light playing schedule lately and should be primed to defend the home court tonight. The same can’t be said for Golden State. While not on a back-to-back, they will be playing their third road game in four nights, and it’s not like this is the youngest bunch… so fatigue will be a factor. The Warriors are just 8-11 on the road this season. These teams played last month in the Bay Area, and Brooklyn held their own in a four-point loss. We think they match up well and will be able to get their revenge here. Golden State covered that one by just the hook, and that was their first cover in four games in this series. The Nets have actually covered in six of the last eight.

Love the Clippers in this spot. Miami has been underachieving lately and they have been overvalued by the oddsmakers. They have covered two straight but that followed a seven-game non cover streak. The Clippers play tomorrow also, but this team has been taking things one game at a time this season more than season’s past, and we think they will be extra focused on this very winnable game. Oh, and they have also covered in eight of the last 10 meetings.

The Rockets have been a bit back and forth lately but we think this is a good spot for them, and the line is more than fair. They seem to be locked into winning every other game lately, and good for us they lost last time out. That was against a better team, and this is a good spot for a bounce back. Toronto has been a very poor road team and have just seven wins away from home. They have covered in two straight but haven’t been good in general at covering despite some generous lines from the oddsmakers. Houston has covered in three of their last four, so they are playing a bit better than expectations. They have also covered in seven of the last nine meetings in this series.

The Knicks are just rolling right now and we think they have the defense to slow down the Pacers. They play at one of the slowest paces in the league and they can throw Indiana off their game tonight. The Knicks are banged up right now but they have one of the best home records in the league, while the Pacers are less than a .500 team on the road. New York has covered sin six straight and they continue to be underappreciated by the oddsmakers.

The Spurs are vastly improving throughout the season right in front of our eyes, and this is a team that should have great betting value down the stretch run of the season. They have covered in five of the last seven and have been underrated by the oddsmakers. Orlando started off the season great, but it looks like they may not be as good as advertised as they have fallen off quite a bit recently. San Antonio has covered in seven of the last nine meetings, so they have a strong history here.

The Celtics expended a lot of energy last night in a rally vs the Pelicans and they honestly haven’t looked great the last couple games. Indiana has covered in six of the last nine meetings and they normally come to play when visiting Boston. Every team goes through ups and downs at points in the season and that big loss to the Clippers, who were on a tough back-to-back, has to be concerning. Indiana might get some players back tonight as well and we think this will be a close game regardless.

They haven’t been winning a lot of games so it may not be evident to the casual eye, but the Spurs are improving a lot as the season goes on. They have had a very tough schedule recently but they have hung with some of the big boys and they have been covering more frequently. They had a real bad outing last time out in a home blowout to OKC, and that was a very good team and the first home game after a long road trip can be tricky. But now they drop down a couple levels in talent and they are settled at home and they should be primed for a comfortable win over the Blazers.

Even though the Celtics already got a comfortable win over Miami at the start of the season, we are confident revenge is still on their mind from the playoff series loss. And they are in a great spot for a big win tonight. They are healthy and have had two nights off, while the Heat come in on a back-to-back. They lost last night at home to the banged-up Grizzlies in another ugly performance that marked their fourth straight loss. All those opponents were much worse teams than the Celtics. Boston should be extra motivated tonight and they won’t take it easy on the Heat just because they are struggling. We think they bring their A Game tonight and score a double digit win.

We think the sky is the limit for this total and think it can easily fly over 250 here tonight. The Spurs just don’t play much defense at all. OKC is coming in on a back-to-back after getting pushed to the limit by Portland last night, and we don’t see them with much energy on the defensive end. We lean heavily to the Spurs here in this matchup as they have been very competitive lately, and we definitely expect them to get their share of the total in this one. They have scored 120 or more in their last three games, so their offense is playing great at the moment. Both teams are solidly over teams for their season records, and we just don’t see much defensive effort on either side tonight and both offenses should run up a big score in the Alamo City.

This one is a road game for the Knicks but one of the easiest road games in the NBA. These teams are going in opposite directions and we don’t see the Nets being too competitive here. They have been getting some pretty generous lines from the oddsmakers and still haven’t been covering. The Knicks are playing some of the best defense in the NBA since their big trade, and we think they will shut down the Nets inconsistent offense. The Knicks have won and covered in three straight meetings, and we expect a comfortable win tonight.

We are likely going to be a buyer for the Spurs in the second half of the season – in good sports of course. This team is improving and they are well coached. They are going to be much more competitive and one we will be looking at when getting a big number like this. San Antonio is 8-2 ATS in their last 10. We think there is a great chance they keep this one within single digits as this matchup doesn’t really move the needle for the Sixers.

Utah has been playing great basketball, and OKC is coming off a pair of losses. But it is very telling that the Thunder are laying some points here on the road. Sharp bettors pounded OKC when the line was released, but there is still plenty of value at this number. Even though OKC is playing their third game in four nights, they are coming in off a night off, and this team is young, athletic, and conditioned, and we don’t see fatigue being an issue. Props to the Jazz as they have been playing great, but they are a hot team that will likely flame out in the postseason very quickly, while the Thunder are a legit championship contender. And OKC has been one of the most reliable betting teams for the last few years. The Thunder will take this game very seriously after a pair of losses to the Lakers and Clippers. Utah was supposed to play Golden State last night, but the game was postponed due to the tragedy with the Warriors coach. This blip might have thrown the Jazz off their momentum. OKC always plays well against the Jazz. They have won and covered in four straight meetings. Utah has covered in only one of the last eight meetings (one push).

Love the Clippers in this spot. They are coming off a rare loss at Minnesota that wasn’t as close as the final score indicated, so they will want to get back on track here. OKC comes in on a back-to-back after a really tough game against the Lakers last night. They expended lots of energy in that one, so facing a better team in the second leg will be difficult.  We love that this number is on the good side of the key NBA betting number of 7, as that is the point where the losing team stops fouling at the end of the game and concedes the loss.

The Hawks are 9-29 ATS on the season, so you have to take notice when they are laying a number like this. We really like the way the Spurs have been improving. They are coached by one of the best to ever do it, and he is getting the most out of his club at the moment. They are no longer an easy blowout for their opponent. They have covered six straight games. This Spurs team is starting to show the recipe for a team we really like to bet on. They are underappreciated by the oddsmakers and betting public, yet they are competing on a nightly basis and covering but not winning a lot of games. So if they stay under the radar, they can produce a lot of betting profits. They have also covered two straight and three of four against the Hawks.

This line is just ridiculous that the Jazz are the underdog. This just shows the power of the Lakers as the public team in the NBA. They have dropped five of seven and they aren’t looking like a championship contender at the moment. The Jazz are on a B2B but they have won seven of eight and are playing as well as any team in the NBA right now. We had the Jazz handicapped at -3, so there is great value here tonight.

The road trip languishes on for this Raptors club and they face a Utah team that has been dominant lately but doesn’t get the notice of the oddsmakers or public bettors because of the lack of big names on the team. But we think they show up tonight with their great home court advantage and a team that seems to be brimming with confidence right now. The oddsmakers have been too slow to adjust to how this team is playing right now.

We think the Lakers are overrated and there is normally value in going against them regardless of how well they play as they are one of the biggest public plays in sports. The Suns haven’t been playing great, but we think this game is more important to them than the Lakers and we think they bring their A Game after a couple losses.

These teams played a week ago, in Sacramento, and the Hornets not only covered by won outright by seven points. We think they match up well here. Forget about the revenge factor. Enough time has passed since that game, and the Kings have bigger aspirations than holding a grudge over the lowly Hornets. The biggest factor here is that the Kings are on a back-to-back and playing their third game in four nights. This isn’t the deepest team, and they have had a handful of B2Bs this season and haven’t covered a single one. The Hornets have won and covered in eight of the last ten meetings, and normally bring their A Game against the Kings. We believe that will happen again tonight and expect a close game.

Damian Lillard will be out here for the Bucks, but that absence is already cooked into the line. The Bucks are off a tough road trip where they lost two of three, and they have lost three of four overall. So we think here, back at home against an inferior opponent, that we are going to see a very focused and determined Bucks team. If they had been playing better they might overlook this game, but they need a big performance tonight and to get far enough ahead where they won’t leave anything to chance at the end of the game. The Bucks are 16-3 at home, and Utah is one of the worst road teams in the NBA at 6-15. Utah is coming off a rare road win at Philly and they are probably Fat and Happy right now and won’t give full effort here. The Bucks have won and covered three in a row in this series, and the last two were blowouts. We see the same result happening here tonight.

Now this is what we like to see: Houston back in the underdog role. We went against them last night and they were blown out by Minnesota. There’s a good chance they were looking ahead to this game. Even though the Timberwolves have the best record in the Western Conference, they don’t move the meter for excitement like Milwaukee does. Houston is a solid team and they are one of the best teams in the NBA ATS. We just don’t see them getting blown out two nights in a row. And the Bucks aren’t in top form right now as they have lost three of six and covered in only two of those games. In fact, the Bucks have been overrated by the oddsmakers and they are just 15-9-1 ATS on the season. Houston played the Bucks tough in Milwaukee last month but lost and didn’t cover. We think they will do better here at home. They didn’t mount any comeback last night, so they should be more fresh than normal with the lack of energy expended. And a B2B at home is much more easy to navigate than on the road.

Nothing against Houston here. We think they are a solid team and often a value bet. Heck, we took them for our 8-Unit season win total pick on the over. They have covered a lot of games this season since they were a surprise competitive team and also they were getting some generous lines from the oddsmakers. The oddsmakers have caught up with them a bit, and they aren’t surprising teams any more. Also, they are going to face the ups and downs that come with a young team coming out of its rebuild. They have lost six of their last 10 and haven’t covered in any of the losses. We think this team will make the play in tourney for sure, but across the court from them will be a team that is championship ready. Only the Celtics have a better record in the NBA. The Wolves will take this game very seriously as they are off a couple tough losses. They don’t want a three-game losing streak. They have won seven of the last eight meetings and covered in six of those. We expect them to bring their A Game tonight.

The Spurs have covered in eight of the last ten meetings and we think they put their best foot forward on national TV tonight. Milwaukee is on a back-to-back after playing a budding rival in Indiana twice, losing both games, and this is a letdown spot as a result. We think this is a close game and this is too many points as this will be one of the bigger games of the season for the Spurs on TNT.

These have been two of the best ATS teams in the league this season. But we think Houston is the better team, and they have been great at home this season, while the Nets have been bad on the road. Both teams have been struggling a bit, but Houston got a massive blowout win over the Pistons last time out, and that is the perfect thing for a confidence boost to get things back on track. They have had an incredibly tough schedule lately, and that is one of the reasons they haven’t been racking up wins. Brooklyn has been really struggling lately and has only a pair of wins over the Pistons to show for recent efforts, and they haven’t been covering lines like they did at the start of the season.

We always take notice when a team is getting this many points. They can lose in a blowout and you can still cover the spread. And you know the players are aware of the spread. That might give them extra motivation or help with a backdoor cover late in the game. Charlotte has won seven of the last nine meetings, and we think the Kings will overlook this one and the underdog will keep it within double digits.

We think the Spurs might make this competitive and we think they will at least get their share of the total. Boston should be able to achieve their offensive goals tonight. They put up 137 the last meeting and we think they could see that type of output here. The Spurs have one of the worst defenses in the NBA. They have given up 130 or more in three of their last four games. They are 21-10 to the over this season.

We said it before with our sharp ATS winner on Detroit over Boston last time out that now that the pressure of the longest losing streak in NBA history is off the Pistons, they are free to play better. And they have. They played one of their best games of the season last time out against Boston and even sent the game to OT before losing. They showed some grit in getting the game to OT in the final minutes. Now they take a big step down in competition against a Raptors team that is horrible on the road and also on a back-to-back. We thought the Pistons had the talent to possibly reach the play in before the season started so it’s not like this team doesn’t have the talent to win games. They have had major chemistry issues and injuries. We think this is a winnable game for them tonight.

Great value here as Philly has a long history of success over the Magic. Yes, Embiid is out tonight and the Sixers are banged up. But this is a very deep team and we think they have the roster to win this one outright. Orlando is also coming in on the second end of a back-to-back. The word is out on the Magic and they are not going to surprise teams anymore, and Philly will want to put their best foot forward here.

The Clippers were on a nine-game winning streak but since have lost two straight. This team was banged up and overworked, and they lost by double-digits at OKC and last time out at home to Boston. But LA didn’t play on Xmas and they are at home here the day after, which is a big advantage as we are confident they will be in a better place mentally than the Hornets, on the road after the holiday. We always like to take a good team after a bad game, and the Clippers were embarrassed last time out here vs. Boston. Good teams normally up the effort after a game like that, and Charlotte is certainly a team that can be susceptible to a blowout. They have lost four straight road games by double digits. The Clippers have won and covered in four of the last five meetings.

The Wizards are a bad team. But they are not bad on the level of the Pistons or Spurs. They have a couple players that can make a difference, and they have been a decent bet in spots. And we think one of those spots is tonight. And we think one of those players that can make a difference is Jordan Poole, the former Warrior who was punched by Draymond Greene in practice, but he was kind of disrespected in the trade that brought Chris Paul to the Warriors. We think he will raise his game up tonight. Washington actually has covered more games than Golden State. They are on a B2B but have covered four straight after winning in Portland last night. They have three nights off after this game, so they don’t need to hold back for energy. The Warriors play on Saturday then also on Christmas at Denver, so we don’t know how focused they will be here. They have been double digit favorites twice this season and didn’t cover in either game.

It’s tough sometimes to go against a team like the Clippers who have won nine straight and are playing as well as anyone in the league. But we think this is a real bad spot for the Clippers. They are coming in on a back-to-back. This is their third road game in four nights. This is a veteran Clippers team that has seen it all and done it all, and we don’t think they care about the streak nearly as much as the fans do. This seems like a game they might not give full effort in. Some members of the team have been sick. Kawhi Leonard has played unprecedented minutes to start the season, and he got really banged around last night. The Thunder have had two nights off and are completely healthy. They have won four of five, including a road game against the defending champs. They are one of the best ATS teams in the NBA at 17-8 on the season.

Ja Morant should return to the court on Tuesday, but we think this will hurt an already struggling team in the short term. This team already has chemistry issues and now will insert a new puzzle into the mix. Morant will get his numbers but we doubt he will make the team competitive right away. Plus, the Grizzlies are massively banged up right now. This roster is paper thin. The Grizzlies have lost five straight and have failed to cover in any of those games despite generous lines from the oddsmakers. New Orleans has won seven of nine (6-3 ATS), and they are playing playoff-quality basketball right now.

The Clippers are finally clicking and they are playing as well as any team in the NBA right now. After their slow start to the season they are taking every game seriously. We think with both teams playing their best that the Clippers win comfortably on the road at Indiana. After their tourney championship loss, the Pacers have not been good and have only a win and cover over Detroit as their only success in the last four games.

The Knicks have been playing in a lot of high scoring games lately, but we feel they are in a letdown spot tonight. The Clippers are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA and they are one of the strongest under teams as well. The Knicks scored 139 last night and Brunson went off for 50 of those. We doubt he will stay hot on a back-to-back and against tougher defenders. These teams met already in New York and the total didn’t even cross the 210 mark. We see a similar game tonight.

The Clippers are very quietly playing as well as any team in the Western Conference right now. While other teams – including the Clippers opponent right now – have tons of drama surrounding them, Kawhi and co. have put their heads down and gotten to work. This team always had the talent, but they had chemistry issues. But they seemed to have worked those out, and this is a real championship contender now that they are playing well. There is a current circus going on in Golden State and they have not been playing well overall. We think they are in for a tough night tonight as LA should be clicking on all cylinders and they will want to put their best foot forward as they are currently tied for the season series.

The Knicks’ defense has been their calling card but they are faltering in that aspect and they have given up 130+ in three straight games. They aren’t going to win a lot until they fix the defensive issues. The Jazz are getting healthy and could see Markkanen return tonight. The Knicks have covered just one of the last five meetings (one push) and we don’t see their road trip getting off to a good start tonight.

These teams met a few weeks ago, and the total finished 40 points under the posted total. That was the fourth straight meeting that went under and their seventh out of the last nine matchups. The Lakers have also played four straight unders. There might be a letdown factor here after LA winning the inaugural Play In Tourney, and we feel they could be flat on offense. We expect both teams to step up the defense here.

Sacramento has won and covered two straight and three out of four. Both teams have been great ATS, but this number is more than fair for the home team that is well rested. Brooklyn has had a fairly easy schedule lately that has inflated their worth in the eyes of the oddsmakers. We expect a comfortable win for the home team tonight.