NBA 3-PACK - KNICKS @ HAWKS TOTAL

The Hawks are 20-12 ATS in all home games on the season and 5-2 SU and ATS as home favorites, including a 140-135 win over the Knicks on Feb 9. They've had a day off since defeating Charlotte in double overtime on Monday while the New York Knicks were in action last night when they took a 122-115 loss at Washington. The Knicks are 2-7 ATS when playing on back-to-back nights this season and 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight games as a road underdog. I don't think the visitors will stand much of a chance in this one. 

Additionally, I also like the over as:

Over is 6-2 in Knicks last 8 overall. Over is 18-8 in Hawks last 26 overall. Over is 15-7 in the last 22 meetings. Over is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings in Atlanta.

8* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NBA) - TOP RATED TOTAL *MAJOR WAGER*

The Boston Celtics have allowed just 102 points per game over their last two contests, but they still lost both averaging 95 ppg. Bad time to run into an Indiana Pacers team that boasts a top 5 scoring defense while holding opponents to 105.4 ppg home at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. One of the few teams playing better D than the Pacers are the Celtics, limiting opponents to 106.8 ppg overall on the season. 

The Celtics are 21-13 to the under in games with a total of fewer than 118 points. 

10* play on UNDER. 

NBA 3-PACK - KINGS @ BLAZERS

The Sacramento Kings have split their last two games despite giving up 125 and 126 points respectively. Here they'll face a Portland team that took a 127-117 loss at Phoenix last time out and it is 3-1 to the over in its last four games. We saw a total of 243 points scored when these two teams clashed back in December, and I expect another run-and-gun type of game tonight. 

8* play on OVER. 

NBA 3-PACK - 76ERS @ WARRIORS

The Golden State Warriors took a 121-113 loss to Toronto last time out, but it's not all doom-and-gloom in the Warriors camp at the moment. Steph Curry was back in action for the first time since suffering a broken hand on Oct. 30, and he contributed a team-high 23 points in 27 minutes. Here they'll host a Philadelphia team that is without star players Joel Embiid (shoulder) and Ben Simmons (back), but it still managed to defeat Sacramento 125-108 last time out. Each of the Sixers last four games has gone over the total, and I think this will be another relatively high-scoring affair. 

8* play on OVER. 

NBA 3-PACK - ROCKETS @ HORNETS

The Houston Rockets have allowed 120+ points in back-to-back games, both losses to NY Knicks and the LA Clippers. Over is 8-0 in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400, and the 21-41 Charlotte Hornets fit that bill. Charlotte has dropped three in a row but, it put up a decent performance offensively with 49 percent shooting from the field in a 114-112 loss to Denver last time out. It did allow Denver to shoot 51 percent though, and I expect both teams to put up plenty of points in this one. 

8* play on OVER. 

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This looks like a good spot to back the Toronto Raptors who will be looking to build on the momentum of a 123-114 win at Phoenix. The triumph put an end to a three-game losing streak for the Raptors, and they need to go on a run to keep the other contenders at bay at the top of the division. 

As for the Golden State Warriors, while they've won two of their last three, the team they put on the floor those days lacks talent. Big letdown spot for the Warriors in this one following a 16-point win over Denver, and we can note that Golden State is just 4-8 ATS off an upset win as an underdog and 11-19 ATS in all home games this season. 

Additionally, note that over is 10-4 in the last 14 meetings.

8* play on OVER. 

NBA 3-PACK

The energy levels in the Brooklyn Nets camp can't be all the high following a 129-120 OT win at Boston last night. I think the Memphis Grizzlies will make sure to drive up the tempo, forcing the Nets to run up and down the floor with them.

Both teams rank in the top 10 for tempo (possessions per game) so playing slow is not the preference of either team anyhow. 

Over is 6-1 in Grizzlies last 7 vs. a team with a losing straight up record and 4-1 in Nets last 5 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.

8* play on OVER. 

NBA 3-PACK

Both the Utah Jazz and the New York Knicks are playing at a tempo that ranks in the bottom third of the league. Additionally, while the Knicks are coming off back-to-back 125 point games, note that they're 28th on the season at just 105.4 ppg on average. Utah has been involved in several high-scoring affairs of late, most recently a 126-113 triumph at Cleveland, but I think this contest will stay under the posted total. 

8* play on UNDER. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Milwaukee Bucks have been held to fewer than 94 points in back-to-back games, but I think they'll break out of the scoring funk in this matchup with Indiana. The over is 6-2 in Pacers last 8 games as an underdog and 15-6 in their last 21 games playing on 1 days rest, which they will be at here following a 116-11 triumph at San Antonio Monday night. 

8* play on OVER. 

LATE NIGHT WIZARDS @ KINGS TOTAL

The Washington Wizards are 14-2 to the over in road games where the total is greater than or equal to 230 points this season. This is the final stop of a three-game road trip, with the first two games both going over the total (129-119 loss at Utah, 124-110 win at Golden State). The Sacramento Kings are coming off a low-scoring 106-100 win over Detroit, but note that over still is 7-3 in Kings last 10 home games. 

8* play on OVER.

WARRIORS @ NUGGETS TOTAL

The depleted Golden State Warriors have struggled with their points production all season, and that has certainly also been the case during their current 1-9 stretch. They're 7-3 to the under in those games and here they'll run into an elite Denver team that sure knows how to play defense and will be looking for a more complete performance after giving up 118 to Toronto last time out. While the Nuggets have been involved in mostly high-scoring games lately, I expect this one to stay under the posted total. 

8* play on UNDER. 

TOP RATED NBA TOTAL PLAY OF THE DAY *MAJOR WAGER*

The Utah Jazz have struggled on the defensive end lately and they were forced to put up a ton of points in order to snap a four-game skid with a 129-119 win over Washington last time out. 

Facing the Cleveland Cavaliers could be just what the doctor ordered to get back on track, considering the Cavs average just 106.5 ppg (26th) and have been held to 104 points in back-to-back losses. 

Both teams rank in the bottom-third for pace (the number of possessions a team uses per game) and while this will be the first meeting of the season, note that the under is 6-0-1 in the last 7 meetings.

10* play on UNDER. 

PISTONS @ KINGS NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The Detroit Pistons have struggled to put points on the board lately and they had averaged just 98.4 ppg through a seven-game slide prior to a 113-11 win at Phoenix last time out. As for the Sacramento Kings, they defeated Memphis 104-101 last time out and they've held three of their last five opponents to 103 points or fewer. 

Under is 8-3 in Kings last 11 vs. a team with a losing straight up record. Under is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings. Under is 13-3-1 in the last 17 meetings in Sacramento.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NBA): TOP RATED NUGGETS @ CLIPPERS TOTAL

The Denver Nuggets and the LA Clippers are involved in a battle for the second seed in the Western Conference and I expect a playoff-like and low-scoring affair when they clash at Staples Center Friday night. Additionally, both teams are more than capable of playing lockdown defense. The Clippers have allowed an average of just 94.5 ppg over their last two games while Denver held Detroit to 98 points last time out. 

Under is 4-1 in Clippers last 5 games as a home favorite and 7-1 in Nuggets last 8 games as a road underdog.

10* play on UNDER. 

BLAZERS @ PACERS THURSDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL

The Portland Trail Blazers are struggling without injured All-Star point guard Damian Lillard (groin). They've dropped four of their last five games, and here they'll face an elite defensive team in the Indiana Pacers that held Charlotte to 80 points last time out. Indiana is 4-1 to the under in its last five overall and 2-0 to the under after allowing 85 points or fewer on the season. 

8* play on UNDER. 

MONDAY NIGHT MAGIC @ NETS TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The Orlando Magic are 29-24-1 to the under overall this season, no surprise considering their top-ranked scoring defense in combination with one of the worst scoring averages in the league. 

Additionally, they play at a very slow tempo (only 100.1 possessions/game) and I think they'll be allowed to dictate a slow pace for this contest. 

Note that the under is 22-7-2 in Magic's last 31 vs. a team with a losing straight up record and 11-5 in their last 16 games playing on two days rest. 

The Nets are coming off a 115-86 triumph at Charlotte; under is 7-2 in their last nine games following a straight up win of more than 10 points and 7-1 to the under in their last eight overall.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED SUNDAY NIGHT TOTAL

The Indiana Pacers won 106-98 at New York in their first game back from the All-Star break while the Toronto Raptors defeated Phoenix 118-101. Two relatively low-scoring affairs, and I think the same will hold true for this one. 

The Raptors own the fourth-best scoring defense in the league allowing just 106.5 ppg, and Indiana is also in the top 10 holding opponents to 107.4 ppg. 

Under is 30-12-1 in Pacers last 43 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED MIDWEEK TOTAL

The Washington Wizards are one of the worst teams in the NBA on the defensive end, giving up 120.3 points per game on average. 

Last night they defeated Chicago 126-114, and I predict another high-scoring affair when they visit the NY Knicks Wednesday night. 

The Knicks have one of the worst offenses in the league, but even they should be able to put up points against a drained Wizards team that has seen 47 of its last 68 games when playing on no rest go over the total. 

You never have to worry about Washington putting points on the board (5th in the NBA) and note that the over is 17-5-1 in the Wizards last 23 games as a road underdog and 3-1 in Knicks games with a total of 227 points or higher on the season.

10* play on OVER. 

BULLS @ WIZARDS NBA TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The Chicago Bulls are 7-0 to the over in their last seven games and the total for this matchup with the Washington Wizards look a bit light to me. 

The Wizards have one of the absolute worst defenses in the league, but they're top 5 for points scored with 115.5 ppg. Last time out they took a 106-99 loss to Memphis but they're still 7-2 to the over in their last nine games. Chicago has allowed an average of 124.6 ppg through a five-game skid so I'm not concerned about the Wizards bouncing back putting points on the board, and even though the Bulls are among the lowest-scoring teams in the league I think they'll get plenty of open looks in this one. 

The Wizards are 17-9 to the over when the total is greater than or equal to 230 this season. 

10* play on OVER. 

KINGS @ BUCKS MONDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL

The Sacramento Kings are coming off a 122-102 win over San Antonio. The over/under is 16-8 in Kings' games when the total is greater than or equal to 220 on the season and 11-3 in their last 14 overall. Here they'll face a Milwaukee side that is averaging more points per game than any other team in the league and the over is 16-5 in the Bucks' last 21 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.

Over is 20-7 in the last 27 meetings. Over is 6-0 in the last 6 meetings in Milwaukee.

8* play on OVER. 

JAZZ @ ROCKETS SUNDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL

The Houston Rockets had averaged 122.8 ppg through a four-game winning streak before coming out flat in a 127-91 loss at Phoenix last time out. Here they'll face a Utah Jazz team that just snapped a four-game skid with a 117-114 triumph over Portland and will be looking to keep the momentum going. 

Over is 7-1 in Jazz last 8 road games and 18-6 in their last 24 Sunday games.

Over is 15-6 in Jazz games when the total is greater than or equal to 220 points and 2-0 when the total is greater than or equal to 230. 

8* play on OVER. 

LATE NIGHT SPURS @ KINGS TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

The San Antonio Spurs are coming off three straight defeats, and they've allowed 125+ points in each of the last two. The bookmakers expect the Spurs to end the skid as a small favorite at Sacramento Saturday night, and we can note that the Over is 7-3 in Spurs last 10 games as a favorite and  6-1 in their last seven games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. As for the Kings, they're 8-2 to the over in their last 10 games as an underdog and 10-2 to the over in their last 12 overall.

Over is 12-6-1 in Kings' games with a total closing at 223 points or more this season while the Spurs are 16-8 to the over in such games. 

10* play on OVER. 

BLAZERS @ JAZZ LATE NIGHT TOTAL

The Portland Trail Blazers have played four straight overs following a 125-117 win over San Antonio Thursday night. Facing a defensively challenged Portland side with heavy legs just might be what Utah needs to break out of its five-game slump. Last time out, the Jazz were held to 95 points by Denver, but note that over is 9-3 in their last 12 home games vs. a team with a losing road record and 6-1 in Trail Blazers last seven games as an underdog.

8* play on OVER. 

TOP RATED TGIF NBA PLAY OF THE DAY

Both the Indiana Pacers and the Toronto Raptors are very accomplished on the defensive end, but note that they're both 27-23-1 to the over on the season. 

The Raptors defeated Indiana 119-118 in Toronto just a couple of days ago (total closed at 216) to push their winning streak to 12 games, and I expect this to fly over as well. 

Over is 7-2 in Raptors last 9 road games. Over is 5-2 in Pacers last 7 home games and 6-1 in their last 7 games as an underdog.

10* play on OVER. 

PELICANS @ BULLS THURSDAY NIGHT TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

While the Chicago Bulls are on the lower end for offensive efficiency, I think they should be able to put up a fair amount of points against a New Orleans Pelicans side that is allowing 117.2 ppg on the season and took a 120-108 loss to Milwaukee last time out. The Pels are 14-5 to the over in their last 19 overall and 7-2 to the over in their last nine games as a favorite. As for the Bulls, they've allowed an average of 131 points through their last two games and each of their last five has gone over the total. 

10* play on OVER.