THE SPORTS ADVISORS
San Antonio (18-10, 13-14-1 ATS) at Phoenix (16-11, 11-16 ATS)
The streaking Spurs go for their fourth consecutive win when they travel to the Valley of the Sun for a Christmas Day battle with longtime nemesis Phoenix at US Airways Arena.
San Antonio capped a perfect three-game homestand with Tuesday’s 99-93 victory over the Timberwolves, falling way short as a 12-point favorite. Not only have the Spurs won three in a row, but they’ve won 16 of their last 21 games (12-8-1 ATS) since starting the season 2-5. However, Gregg Popovich’s squad has followed up a 5-1 SU and ATS run on the road by losing its last two on the highway both SU and ATS.
The Spurs have scored at least 94 points in their last 13 wins, but they’re averaging just 80.6 ppg in their last eight defeats.
Phoenix has been idle since Saturday’s 108-101 home win over the Nuggets, covering as a 5½-point home favorite. The Suns are 5-2 SU in their last seven games, with all five wins coming at home, but they’re just 3-8 ATS in their last 11 overall. Phoenix has had its offense clicking during its 5-2 stretch, averaging 113 ppg.
San Antonio eliminated the Suns in six games in an opening-round playoff series last fall, but the Suns got a measure of revenge back in the first week of this season, winning 103-98 on the road in a pick-em contest. The underdog is 6-2-1 ATS in the last nine series battles, Phoenix is 5-2-1 ATS in the last eight and the SU winner is 8-1-1 ATS in the past 10 clashes.
The Spurs are on ATS streaks of 11-5 against the Western Conference, 7-1-1 when playing on one day of rest and 4-0 against the Pacific Division. On the flip side, in addition to its current 3-8 ATS rut, the Suns are mired in pointspread funks of 2-5 at home, 4-9 against the Western Conference, 0-5 when facing Southwest Division foes and 1-6-1 when coming off three days or more of rest.
San Antonio is on “under” streaks of 26-10-1 overall, 12-5 on the road, 19-9-1 against the Western Conference, 11-1 versus the Pacific Division, 13-6 on Thursdays and 15-6 when playing on one day of rest. Conversely, Phoenix carries “over” trends of 10-2 overall, 5-2 at home, 5-1 against the Southwest Division, 5-1 on Thursdays and 5-2 when playing on three or more days’ rest. Lastly, the under is 5-1 in the last six head-to-head clashes in Phoenix.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
New Orleans (16-8, 10-12-2 ATS) at Orlando (22-6, 18-9-1 ATS)
The Magic look to keep pace with red-hot Boston and Cleveland in the Eastern Conference race when they host the Hornets at Amway Arena.
Orlando carries a five-game SU and an eight-game ATS winning streak into this contest, most recently knocking off the Warriors 113-81 as a 12-point chalk Monday night. Orlando is 22-4 since beginning the season with consecutive losses, it is 12-2 ATS in its last 14 overall, and Stan Van Gundy’s squad has scored at least 103 points in six of its last seven games.
Orlando has won seven straight home games (5-2 ATS) and is 12-3 (9-6 ATS) for the season at Amway Arena. Meanwhile the Hornets are 7-4 SU and 5-5-1 ATS on the highway.
Like the Magic, New Orleans is also rolling, having won four of its last five, seven of nine and 11 of its last 14, while going 8-5-1 ATS during this stretch. However, on Tuesday, the Hornets completed a three-game homestand with a 100-87 loss to the Lakers as a 2½-point chalk. New Orleans has gone six straight games without scoring 100 points (averaging 91.3 ppg), but Byron Scott’s team had held eight straight opponents under triple digits before the loss to Los Angeles, and they’re still giving up just 89.9 ppg during this nine-game stretch.
These squads have split their two-game season series each of the last three years, with the visitor pulling off mild upsets in each clash in 2007-08. In fact, the ‘dog is on an 8-0-1 ATS roll in this rivalry and the visitor is 19-7-1 ATS in the last 27 meetings, with the Hornets going 5-0-1 ATS in their last six trips to Orlando.
New Orleans is 15-7-2 ATS in its last 24 games against Southeast Division foes, but the Hornets have failed to cash in 11 of their last 14 Thursday contests. Meanwhile, in addition to ATS runs of 12-2 overall and 5-1 at home, Orlando is on pointspread streaks of 8-0 against the Western Conference, 5-0 versus winning teams and 5-0-1 when playing on two days’ rest.
For the Magic, the under is on streaks of 4-1 overall, 4-1 at home, 4-1 against the Western Conference, 4-0 against winning teams, 6-0 on Thursdays and 8-1 when playing on two days’ rest. New Orleans has topped the total in eight of its last 10 on Thursday, but otherwise the Hornets are on “under” stretches of 6-0 overall, 4-0 on the road, 5-1 against the Southeast Division and 16-5 when playing on one day of rest.
Finally, the under is 8-1 in the last nine meetings between these squads (4-0 last four).
ATS ADVANTAGE: ORLANDO and UNDER
Boston (27-2, 17-12 ATS) at L.A. Lakers (24-5, 12-17 ATS)
The highlight of the NBA’s Christmas Day schedule is this rematch of last year’s NBA Finals, with the Lakers looking to halt the Celtics’ club-record 19-game winning streak in the first of two regular-season meetings between these storied rivals.
Boston rolled to its 19th consecutive victory Tuesday, blasting the 76ers 110-91 as a 13-point home favorite to cap a perfect three-game homestand. The Celtics, who are off to the best start in NBA history for a team with just two losses, have scored in triple digits 13 times during the winning streak, and they’re 13-5 ATS in their last 18 games.
Los Angeles concluded a tough four-game, five-day road trip with Tuesday’s 100-87 upset victory at New Orleans as a 2½-point underdog. That snapped a 10-game ATS slide for the Lakers, who are just 2-2 SU (1-3 ATS) in their last four after starting the season 22-3.
The Celtics knocked off the Lakers in six games back in June en route to their 17th NBA championship. Boston covered in all six games, and also went 2-0 SU and ATS versus L.A. in the regular season, including a 110-91 rout as a three-point road underdog at the Staples Center.
Since suffering a 95-79 loss at Indiana in its first road game back on Nov. 1, Boston has won 10 in a row on the highway (6-4 ATS). Today, the Celtics face a Lakers team that’s 14-1 on its home floor, but only 6-9 ATS, including five straight non-covers at home, all as a favorite.
In addition to its ATS slumps of 1-10 overall and 0-5 at home, Los Angeles is stuck in pointspread slumps of 4-17 against the Eastern Conference, 3-8 versus the Atlantic Division and 0-8 when playing on one day of rest.
Boston is riding a host of positive ATS streaks, including 13-5 overall, 35-17 against the Western Conference, 8-1 versus the Pacific Division, 4-0 on Thursdays, 9-2 when playing on one day of rest and 15-5 against teams with a winning record.
The under is on runs of 13-6 for Boston on the road, 6-2 for Boston on Thursdays, 5-1-1 for Boston against the Western Conference and 13-3 for Los Angeles on Thursdays. Otherwise, though, the Lakers are on “over” stretches of 11-6 overall, 11-3 at home, 10-3 against the Eastern Conference and 6-0 when facing the Atlantic Division. Also, the over is 3-1 in the last four regular-season battles between these teams (2-0 at Staples Center).
ATS ADVANTAGE: BOSTON
San Antonio (18-10, 13-14-1 ATS) at Phoenix (16-11, 11-16 ATS)
The streaking Spurs go for their fourth consecutive win when they travel to the Valley of the Sun for a Christmas Day battle with longtime nemesis Phoenix at US Airways Arena.
San Antonio capped a perfect three-game homestand with Tuesday’s 99-93 victory over the Timberwolves, falling way short as a 12-point favorite. Not only have the Spurs won three in a row, but they’ve won 16 of their last 21 games (12-8-1 ATS) since starting the season 2-5. However, Gregg Popovich’s squad has followed up a 5-1 SU and ATS run on the road by losing its last two on the highway both SU and ATS.
The Spurs have scored at least 94 points in their last 13 wins, but they’re averaging just 80.6 ppg in their last eight defeats.
Phoenix has been idle since Saturday’s 108-101 home win over the Nuggets, covering as a 5½-point home favorite. The Suns are 5-2 SU in their last seven games, with all five wins coming at home, but they’re just 3-8 ATS in their last 11 overall. Phoenix has had its offense clicking during its 5-2 stretch, averaging 113 ppg.
San Antonio eliminated the Suns in six games in an opening-round playoff series last fall, but the Suns got a measure of revenge back in the first week of this season, winning 103-98 on the road in a pick-em contest. The underdog is 6-2-1 ATS in the last nine series battles, Phoenix is 5-2-1 ATS in the last eight and the SU winner is 8-1-1 ATS in the past 10 clashes.
The Spurs are on ATS streaks of 11-5 against the Western Conference, 7-1-1 when playing on one day of rest and 4-0 against the Pacific Division. On the flip side, in addition to its current 3-8 ATS rut, the Suns are mired in pointspread funks of 2-5 at home, 4-9 against the Western Conference, 0-5 when facing Southwest Division foes and 1-6-1 when coming off three days or more of rest.
San Antonio is on “under” streaks of 26-10-1 overall, 12-5 on the road, 19-9-1 against the Western Conference, 11-1 versus the Pacific Division, 13-6 on Thursdays and 15-6 when playing on one day of rest. Conversely, Phoenix carries “over” trends of 10-2 overall, 5-2 at home, 5-1 against the Southwest Division, 5-1 on Thursdays and 5-2 when playing on three or more days’ rest. Lastly, the under is 5-1 in the last six head-to-head clashes in Phoenix.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
New Orleans (16-8, 10-12-2 ATS) at Orlando (22-6, 18-9-1 ATS)
The Magic look to keep pace with red-hot Boston and Cleveland in the Eastern Conference race when they host the Hornets at Amway Arena.
Orlando carries a five-game SU and an eight-game ATS winning streak into this contest, most recently knocking off the Warriors 113-81 as a 12-point chalk Monday night. Orlando is 22-4 since beginning the season with consecutive losses, it is 12-2 ATS in its last 14 overall, and Stan Van Gundy’s squad has scored at least 103 points in six of its last seven games.
Orlando has won seven straight home games (5-2 ATS) and is 12-3 (9-6 ATS) for the season at Amway Arena. Meanwhile the Hornets are 7-4 SU and 5-5-1 ATS on the highway.
Like the Magic, New Orleans is also rolling, having won four of its last five, seven of nine and 11 of its last 14, while going 8-5-1 ATS during this stretch. However, on Tuesday, the Hornets completed a three-game homestand with a 100-87 loss to the Lakers as a 2½-point chalk. New Orleans has gone six straight games without scoring 100 points (averaging 91.3 ppg), but Byron Scott’s team had held eight straight opponents under triple digits before the loss to Los Angeles, and they’re still giving up just 89.9 ppg during this nine-game stretch.
These squads have split their two-game season series each of the last three years, with the visitor pulling off mild upsets in each clash in 2007-08. In fact, the ‘dog is on an 8-0-1 ATS roll in this rivalry and the visitor is 19-7-1 ATS in the last 27 meetings, with the Hornets going 5-0-1 ATS in their last six trips to Orlando.
New Orleans is 15-7-2 ATS in its last 24 games against Southeast Division foes, but the Hornets have failed to cash in 11 of their last 14 Thursday contests. Meanwhile, in addition to ATS runs of 12-2 overall and 5-1 at home, Orlando is on pointspread streaks of 8-0 against the Western Conference, 5-0 versus winning teams and 5-0-1 when playing on two days’ rest.
For the Magic, the under is on streaks of 4-1 overall, 4-1 at home, 4-1 against the Western Conference, 4-0 against winning teams, 6-0 on Thursdays and 8-1 when playing on two days’ rest. New Orleans has topped the total in eight of its last 10 on Thursday, but otherwise the Hornets are on “under” stretches of 6-0 overall, 4-0 on the road, 5-1 against the Southeast Division and 16-5 when playing on one day of rest.
Finally, the under is 8-1 in the last nine meetings between these squads (4-0 last four).
ATS ADVANTAGE: ORLANDO and UNDER
Boston (27-2, 17-12 ATS) at L.A. Lakers (24-5, 12-17 ATS)
The highlight of the NBA’s Christmas Day schedule is this rematch of last year’s NBA Finals, with the Lakers looking to halt the Celtics’ club-record 19-game winning streak in the first of two regular-season meetings between these storied rivals.
Boston rolled to its 19th consecutive victory Tuesday, blasting the 76ers 110-91 as a 13-point home favorite to cap a perfect three-game homestand. The Celtics, who are off to the best start in NBA history for a team with just two losses, have scored in triple digits 13 times during the winning streak, and they’re 13-5 ATS in their last 18 games.
Los Angeles concluded a tough four-game, five-day road trip with Tuesday’s 100-87 upset victory at New Orleans as a 2½-point underdog. That snapped a 10-game ATS slide for the Lakers, who are just 2-2 SU (1-3 ATS) in their last four after starting the season 22-3.
The Celtics knocked off the Lakers in six games back in June en route to their 17th NBA championship. Boston covered in all six games, and also went 2-0 SU and ATS versus L.A. in the regular season, including a 110-91 rout as a three-point road underdog at the Staples Center.
Since suffering a 95-79 loss at Indiana in its first road game back on Nov. 1, Boston has won 10 in a row on the highway (6-4 ATS). Today, the Celtics face a Lakers team that’s 14-1 on its home floor, but only 6-9 ATS, including five straight non-covers at home, all as a favorite.
In addition to its ATS slumps of 1-10 overall and 0-5 at home, Los Angeles is stuck in pointspread slumps of 4-17 against the Eastern Conference, 3-8 versus the Atlantic Division and 0-8 when playing on one day of rest.
Boston is riding a host of positive ATS streaks, including 13-5 overall, 35-17 against the Western Conference, 8-1 versus the Pacific Division, 4-0 on Thursdays, 9-2 when playing on one day of rest and 15-5 against teams with a winning record.
The under is on runs of 13-6 for Boston on the road, 6-2 for Boston on Thursdays, 5-1-1 for Boston against the Western Conference and 13-3 for Los Angeles on Thursdays. Otherwise, though, the Lakers are on “over” stretches of 11-6 overall, 11-3 at home, 10-3 against the Eastern Conference and 6-0 when facing the Atlantic Division. Also, the over is 3-1 in the last four regular-season battles between these teams (2-0 at Staples Center).
ATS ADVANTAGE: BOSTON
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<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td valign="top">Computer Crushers</td> <td valign="top" align="right">Guaranteed Selections</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr> <td valign="top">Date: Thursday, December 25, 2008
$25.00 Guaranteed: We are 56-28 the past two plus years in the NBA and tonight we have another HUGE 9000* NBA CHRISTMAS CRUSHER that you can get for just $25 and you are guaranteed to win this game or you will not be charged! We are by far the strongest NBA service in the nation, so join us for another EASY CRUSHER again tonight! We are currently on a 100-53 run with all of our guaranteed selections!</td> <td valign="top" align="right" nowrap="nowrap">12/25/2008</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">HUGE 9000* NBA CHRISTMAS CRUSHER
708 Cleveland -15 8:05 EST</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"> </td></tr></tbody></table>
$25.00 Guaranteed: We are 56-28 the past two plus years in the NBA and tonight we have another HUGE 9000* NBA CHRISTMAS CRUSHER that you can get for just $25 and you are guaranteed to win this game or you will not be charged! We are by far the strongest NBA service in the nation, so join us for another EASY CRUSHER again tonight! We are currently on a 100-53 run with all of our guaranteed selections!</td> <td valign="top" align="right" nowrap="nowrap">12/25/2008</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">HUGE 9000* NBA CHRISTMAS CRUSHER
708 Cleveland -15 8:05 EST</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"> </td></tr></tbody></table>
