Wednesday's Tip Sheet
November 18, 2014
Mavericks (-2, 200 ½) at Wizards – 7:05 PM EST
Dallas wraps up a mini two-game road trip in the Nation’s Capital looking for its fifth straight win. The Mavericks dominated the Hornets on Monday, 107-80, allowing less than 82 points for the third time this season, while easily cashing as four-point road favorites. Dallas has cashed the ‘under’ in six of the past seven games, while Rick Carlisle’s team is 6-2 ATS this season in the favorite role.
Washington tries to keep its winning streak alive as well, coming off three straight victories over Indiana, Detroit, and Orlando. The Wizards have beaten just one team this season that currently owns a record of .500 or better (Milwaukee), while their two losses are by double-digits to the Heat and Raptors. Randy Wittman’s club is just 1-3 ATS at the Verizon Center this season, but is listed as a home underdog for the first time (7-7 SU and 8-6 ATS last season). The Wizards will get a boost in their backcourt as Bradley Beal makes his season debut after missing the first nine games with a wrist injury.
Spurs at Cavaliers (-2 ½, 203) – 7:05 PM EST
A potential NBA Finals preview takes place at Quicken Loans Arena, as the Cavaliers attempt to put a flat effort against the Nuggets behind them. Cleveland lost for the second time this season as a double-digit home favorite, getting tripped up by Denver, 106-97 as 11 ½-point favorites on Monday. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Cleveland, while scoring less than 100 points for the first time in six games.
San Antonio failed to cover its first five games of the season, but is 4-1 ATS the past five contests, including outright ‘dog wins against the Clippers and Warriors. The Spurs haven’t allowed more than 100 points in any of their 10 games, while cashing the ‘under’ in five of six road contests. In the four seasons LeBron James spent in Miami, the Spurs put together a perfect 8-0 SU and 6-2 ATS record against the Cavaliers from 2010-14.
Bucks at Nets (-6 ½, 194 ½) – 7:35 PM EST
It’s Jason Kidd’s much anticipated return to Brooklyn after spending just one season running the Nets. Kidd is now the head man in Milwaukee, as the Bucks have made major strides since winning just 15 games last season, going 5-5 through the first 10 games this season. Milwaukee held off New York last night, 117-113 as 1 ½-point home favorites, while scoring at least 100 points for just the second time this season. The high-scoring affair against the Knicks snapped a seven-game ‘under’ streak, while the Bucks improved to 5-1 ATS the past six trips to the court.
Brooklyn has hit the skids of late, dropping four straight games since a promising 4-2 start. The Nets were tripped up by the short-handed Heat on Monday as eight-point favorites, 95-83, the second consecutive game scoring less than 87 points. Brooklyn owned Milwaukee last season, winning all three meetings by at least eight points.
Grizzlies at Raptors (-2 ½, 194) – 7:35 PM EST
The two teams with the best record in their respective conferences meet up in Toronto, as the Grizzlies go for their 11th win in 12 tries. Memphis dominated Houston on Monday, leading by as many as 36 points in a 119-93 blowout of the Rockets to cover for the first time in six games. The Grizzlies have been a terrific defensive team on the road, limiting all five opponents to 93 points or less, but the ‘under’ has hit only three times.
The Raptors continue a seven-game homestand, as Toronto is 4-1 so far with the lone loss coming to Chicago last Thursday night. Dwane Casey’s team hasn’t been tested much this season, playing a heavy home slate while the only two defeats are to the Bulls and Heat. The Raptors are pushing the pace, scoring at least 100 points in nine of 10 games, resulting in seven ‘overs.’
Lakers at Rockets (-12 ½, 210) – 9:35 PM EST
Los Angeles finally broke through on the road by holding off Atlanta on Tuesday, 119-114 as 8 ½-point underdogs to improve to 2-9 on the season. The Lakers shot a blistering 54% from the field, led by Kobe Bryant’s 28 points and Nick Young putting up 17 off the bench in his first game of the season. Byron Scott’s team has drilled the ‘over’ in all five road games, while giving up at least 107 points each time.
The Rockets return home following Monday’s embarrassing 26-point defeat at Memphis, as Houston is 0-3 ATS the past three games. When the Rockets and Lakers met up to open the season at Staples Center, Houston came away with a 108-90 victory, the fourth straight win in the series by at least 14 points. The Rockets are attempting an average of 32 three-pointers a game, but Houston has been an excellent ‘under’ team, cashing in nine of 11 games and all four at Toyota Center.
