Friday's Tip Sheet
April 24, 2015
Rockets at Mavericks – 7:05 PM EST
Game 3 – Houston leads 2-0
The Mavericks are not only running out of time in their season, but they are starting to run out of healthy bodies. Houston goes for a commanding 3-0 series lead as things shift to the American Airlines Center for the next two games following a 111-99 home victory in Tuesday’s Game 2. The Rockets covered for the second straight game, this time as six-point favorites to beat Dallas for the fifth time in six tries this season.
Rajon Rondo will sit for the remainder of the series as the Mavericks’ point guard suffered a back injury in the Game 2 loss. It’s not like Rondo was dominating, as the former Celtics’ standout scored four points in less than 10 minutes of action, while Dallas shot 37% from the floor. Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis combined to shoot 11-of-37 from the field, as the Mavs played without swingman Chandler Parsons, who will miss the rest of the series with a right knee injury.
Houston’s one-two punch of James Harden and Dwight Howard dominated Dallas in Game 2 with a total of 52 points, while Harden has converted 28-of-30 free throw attempts in the first two wins. The Rockets led by one point heading into the fourth quarter, but outscored the Mavs, 30-19 in the final 12 minutes to grab their first 2-0 series advantage since the opening round of 2007 against Utah.
VegasInsider.com NBA analyst Chris David provides his thoughts on Game 3, “Houston overmatched Dallas in each of the first two games and I wasn’t surprised by the results because the Mavs are the weakest defensive team in the playoffs. I don’t believe you’re going to get a double-digit victory by either team in Game 3 just based on their recent tendencies. In last year’s playoffs, Dallas went 2-1 SU and 3-0 ATS against the Spurs and all three games were decided by a combined seven points. Coincidentally, the Rockets also played three tight first round matchups to the Trail Blazers and they went 1-2 SU and 3-0 ATS while winning the one game by five and losing the two by a total of four points.”
From a totals standpoint, David says tonight’s matchup is tricky to handicap, “Game 1 went ‘over’ and even though Game 2 went ‘under’ the number, we were real close to seeing the Rockets-Over combo connect again but the Mavericks went cold in the fourth quarter. The total still seems a tad inflated and while it’s dangerous to go ‘under’ with Houston’s pace and ability to get free throws, I’m a little hesitant of this spot. I believe the early start (6:00 p.m. CT) will affect both teams and you can already look at how it’s factored into other series (Washington-Toronto, New Orleans-Golden State).”
Raptors at Wizards – 8:05 PM EST
Game 3 – Washington leads 2-0
Six home teams captured a 2-0 series edge through the first eight series, while the Wizards were the only road squad to win each of the first two games. For the second straight postseason, Washington heads home with a 2-0 lead after beating Toronto at the Air Canada Center in Game 2 by a 117-106 count as five-point underdogs. The Wizards opened things up with a 34-18 second quarter, while the backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal combined to score 54 points (Wall added 17 assists).
The only positive for the Raptors coming out of Game 2 was the production of their bench, which scored 56 points, led by 20 from Lou Williams. The major negative is the lack of production from Kyle Lowry, who shot 3-of-10 from the floor for six points, as the Toronto point guard has put up just 13 points through two games. Lowry suffered a shin contusion in Game 2, but is expected to play tonight. With the loss, the Raptors fell to 2-7 ATS the past nine games overall, which includes a 1-5 ATS mark as a favorite.
Washington improved to an incredible 7-1 SU and 8-0 ATS the past two postseasons in the underdog role, but as a favorite has been a different story. Randy Wittman’s club owns a dreadful 1-4 SU/ATS record when laying points in the playoffs since 2014, while losing Game 3 to the Bulls in last season’s first round after taking a 2-0 series lead. In all five games as a favorite, the Wizards failed to bust the 100-point mark, while scoring in triple-digits in five of eight tries as an underdog.
The Raptors have won three straight visits to the Verizon Center, including a 120-116 overtime triumph as five-point underdogs on January 31, as Toronto picked up the victory in spite of blowing a 21-point lead. Since that win in D.C., Toronto owns a 4-7 ATS record as a road ‘dog with the only straight-up victories coming at Atlanta, Indiana, and Miami.
Clippers at Spurs – 9:35 PM EST
Game 3 – Series tied 1-1
The only series that has seen both teams pick up a win so far is the one that most expected to be the most intriguing. The Clippers wiped out the Spurs in Game 1 at Staples Center, but San Antonio held off Los Angeles in overtime of Game 2 to even up the series. The Spurs held a 10-point lead with under seven minutes remaining in regulation, but the Clippers erased that deficit to take a 94-92 advantage with 50 seconds left. Patty Mills knocked down a pair of free throws for the Spurs to force overtime, much to the chagrin of ‘under’ backers.
The total closed at 206 ½, but the two teams combined for 31 points in overtime as the Spurs captured a 111-107 triumph to avoid an 0-2 hole. Tim Duncan paced San Antonio with 28 points and 11 rebounds, while overcoming just one point from Tony Parker in 30 minutes, as the Spurs’ All-Star guard will play tonight in spite of an ankle injury. The Clippers misfired on 20 three-point attempts, while missing 17 free throw attempts, including 11 misses from center DeAndre Jordan.
David isn’t buying into the defending champs at home, “Game 3 is a very tough to game to handicap and while most believe the Spurs won the series after capturing Game 2 on Wednesday, I wouldn’t dismiss the Clippers just yet and I believe the oddsmakers agree with that statement. To put things in perspective, San Antonio has won 17 of its last 20 at home against the Clippers yet they opened the Spurs as 3 ½-point favorites for Game 3 and I believe that number is a tad short. When these teams met in the 2012 playoffs, San Antonio was giving double digits at home to the Clippers, which tells you how much closer these clubs are this season.”
The two matchups in San Antonio between these teams this season were dramatically different as the Spurs outlasted the Clippers, 125-118 in late December, while L.A. blasted San Antonio, 105-85 one month later. In the first meeting at the AT&T Center, San Antonio shot lights out at a 63% clip, as Gregg Popovich’s club drilled 13 three-pointers, while Boris Diaw put up 23 points off the bench. In the second matchup, the Clippers limited the Spurs to just 37% from the floor, as Duncan and Parker combined for nine points.
April 24, 2015
Rockets at Mavericks – 7:05 PM EST
Game 3 – Houston leads 2-0
The Mavericks are not only running out of time in their season, but they are starting to run out of healthy bodies. Houston goes for a commanding 3-0 series lead as things shift to the American Airlines Center for the next two games following a 111-99 home victory in Tuesday’s Game 2. The Rockets covered for the second straight game, this time as six-point favorites to beat Dallas for the fifth time in six tries this season.
Rajon Rondo will sit for the remainder of the series as the Mavericks’ point guard suffered a back injury in the Game 2 loss. It’s not like Rondo was dominating, as the former Celtics’ standout scored four points in less than 10 minutes of action, while Dallas shot 37% from the floor. Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis combined to shoot 11-of-37 from the field, as the Mavs played without swingman Chandler Parsons, who will miss the rest of the series with a right knee injury.
Houston’s one-two punch of James Harden and Dwight Howard dominated Dallas in Game 2 with a total of 52 points, while Harden has converted 28-of-30 free throw attempts in the first two wins. The Rockets led by one point heading into the fourth quarter, but outscored the Mavs, 30-19 in the final 12 minutes to grab their first 2-0 series advantage since the opening round of 2007 against Utah.
VegasInsider.com NBA analyst Chris David provides his thoughts on Game 3, “Houston overmatched Dallas in each of the first two games and I wasn’t surprised by the results because the Mavs are the weakest defensive team in the playoffs. I don’t believe you’re going to get a double-digit victory by either team in Game 3 just based on their recent tendencies. In last year’s playoffs, Dallas went 2-1 SU and 3-0 ATS against the Spurs and all three games were decided by a combined seven points. Coincidentally, the Rockets also played three tight first round matchups to the Trail Blazers and they went 1-2 SU and 3-0 ATS while winning the one game by five and losing the two by a total of four points.”
From a totals standpoint, David says tonight’s matchup is tricky to handicap, “Game 1 went ‘over’ and even though Game 2 went ‘under’ the number, we were real close to seeing the Rockets-Over combo connect again but the Mavericks went cold in the fourth quarter. The total still seems a tad inflated and while it’s dangerous to go ‘under’ with Houston’s pace and ability to get free throws, I’m a little hesitant of this spot. I believe the early start (6:00 p.m. CT) will affect both teams and you can already look at how it’s factored into other series (Washington-Toronto, New Orleans-Golden State).”
Raptors at Wizards – 8:05 PM EST
Game 3 – Washington leads 2-0
Six home teams captured a 2-0 series edge through the first eight series, while the Wizards were the only road squad to win each of the first two games. For the second straight postseason, Washington heads home with a 2-0 lead after beating Toronto at the Air Canada Center in Game 2 by a 117-106 count as five-point underdogs. The Wizards opened things up with a 34-18 second quarter, while the backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal combined to score 54 points (Wall added 17 assists).
The only positive for the Raptors coming out of Game 2 was the production of their bench, which scored 56 points, led by 20 from Lou Williams. The major negative is the lack of production from Kyle Lowry, who shot 3-of-10 from the floor for six points, as the Toronto point guard has put up just 13 points through two games. Lowry suffered a shin contusion in Game 2, but is expected to play tonight. With the loss, the Raptors fell to 2-7 ATS the past nine games overall, which includes a 1-5 ATS mark as a favorite.
Washington improved to an incredible 7-1 SU and 8-0 ATS the past two postseasons in the underdog role, but as a favorite has been a different story. Randy Wittman’s club owns a dreadful 1-4 SU/ATS record when laying points in the playoffs since 2014, while losing Game 3 to the Bulls in last season’s first round after taking a 2-0 series lead. In all five games as a favorite, the Wizards failed to bust the 100-point mark, while scoring in triple-digits in five of eight tries as an underdog.
The Raptors have won three straight visits to the Verizon Center, including a 120-116 overtime triumph as five-point underdogs on January 31, as Toronto picked up the victory in spite of blowing a 21-point lead. Since that win in D.C., Toronto owns a 4-7 ATS record as a road ‘dog with the only straight-up victories coming at Atlanta, Indiana, and Miami.
Clippers at Spurs – 9:35 PM EST
Game 3 – Series tied 1-1
The only series that has seen both teams pick up a win so far is the one that most expected to be the most intriguing. The Clippers wiped out the Spurs in Game 1 at Staples Center, but San Antonio held off Los Angeles in overtime of Game 2 to even up the series. The Spurs held a 10-point lead with under seven minutes remaining in regulation, but the Clippers erased that deficit to take a 94-92 advantage with 50 seconds left. Patty Mills knocked down a pair of free throws for the Spurs to force overtime, much to the chagrin of ‘under’ backers.
The total closed at 206 ½, but the two teams combined for 31 points in overtime as the Spurs captured a 111-107 triumph to avoid an 0-2 hole. Tim Duncan paced San Antonio with 28 points and 11 rebounds, while overcoming just one point from Tony Parker in 30 minutes, as the Spurs’ All-Star guard will play tonight in spite of an ankle injury. The Clippers misfired on 20 three-point attempts, while missing 17 free throw attempts, including 11 misses from center DeAndre Jordan.
David isn’t buying into the defending champs at home, “Game 3 is a very tough to game to handicap and while most believe the Spurs won the series after capturing Game 2 on Wednesday, I wouldn’t dismiss the Clippers just yet and I believe the oddsmakers agree with that statement. To put things in perspective, San Antonio has won 17 of its last 20 at home against the Clippers yet they opened the Spurs as 3 ½-point favorites for Game 3 and I believe that number is a tad short. When these teams met in the 2012 playoffs, San Antonio was giving double digits at home to the Clippers, which tells you how much closer these clubs are this season.”
The two matchups in San Antonio between these teams this season were dramatically different as the Spurs outlasted the Clippers, 125-118 in late December, while L.A. blasted San Antonio, 105-85 one month later. In the first meeting at the AT&T Center, San Antonio shot lights out at a 63% clip, as Gregg Popovich’s club drilled 13 three-pointers, while Boris Diaw put up 23 points off the bench. In the second matchup, the Clippers limited the Spurs to just 37% from the floor, as Duncan and Parker combined for nine points.
