Wednesday's Tip Sheet
January 11, 2017
Favorites fared well on Tuesday night in the NBA by winning seven of nine times, but turned in a 4-5 ATS mark. The biggest underdog to win outright was Milwaukee, who knocked off San Antonio as 10-point road ‘dogs, 109-107, while Miami and Chicago each cashed in losses as double-digit underdogs. The UNDER hit in six of nine contests, including in both games with a closing total of 226 or higher between the Hornets and Rockets, while the Blazers crushed the Lakers, 108-87 on a 228 ½ total.
Game of the Night – Grizzlies at Thunder (-4 ½, 205) – 8:05 PM EST – ESPN
Each of these Western Conference squads head into tonight’s matchup riding modest two-game winning streaks. The Grizzlies (24-16 SU, 21-19 ATS) are coming off a pair of impressive victories over the Warriors and Jazz, as Memphis erased a 24-point deficit in a 128-119 overtime triumph at Golden State on Friday. Memphis avoided a letdown in its next game back at home by cruising past Utah on Sunday, 88-79 as 2 ½-point favorites to win its third straight contest at FedEx Forum.
Oklahoma City (23-16 SU, 21-17-1 ATS) looks to improve on a 14-6 home mark before hitting the road for a six-game trip on Friday at Minnesota. The Thunder ripped the Bulls on Monday in Chicago, 109-94 as Russell Westbrook finished one assist shy of his 18th triple-double of the season. The big man duo of Steven Adams and Enes Kanter combined to shoot 20-of-25 from the field for 42 points, while OKC hit 57% of its shots from the floor.
The Grizzlies shot lights out against the Thunder in their last meeting on December 29 in Memphis in a 114-80 rout. Memphis led the whole way, while outscoring OKC in the fourth quarter, 36-19, as the Thunder connected on only 4-of-22 shots from three-point range. Mike Conley missed the game due to injury for Memphis, but the Grizzlies hit 13-of-22 attempts from downtown, including six three-pointers from Troy Daniels off the bench.
The Thunder has captured six of the last nine meetings at Chesapeake Energy Arena since 2014, including a 112-94 blowout as 8 ½-point favorites last January. Memphis is riding a six-game OVER streak on the road, while topping the 100-point mark in each of those games. The Thunder has posted an impressive 7-1-1 ATS record in its last nine opportunities in the home favorite role with the only straight-up loss in this span coming to the Hawks on December 19.
Missing Magic
Orlando didn’t have high expectations this season, as the Magic is in the midst of a 1-5 SU/ATS run the last six games. The Magic continue a six-game road trip in Los Angeles against the Clippers tonight after getting run by the Lakers on Sunday, 111-95 as two-point underdogs. The offense is non-existent recently by scoring 95 points or fewer in each of their past three losses, while easily cashing the UNDER in each of those defeats.
The Clippers closed out December with six consecutive losses, but 2017 has been bright for Doc Rivers’ club by winning four straight games. Three of those victories came at Staples Center, including Sunday’s 98-86 triumph over Miami as nine-point favorites. Los Angeles has won seven of its past nine home contests, while looking for the sweep of Orlando after beating the Magic last month, 113-108 as eight-point road favorites.
Welcome Back, Derrick
The Knicks were blown out by the Pelicans, 110-96 on Monday night as New York suffered its eighth loss in the last nine games. Derrick Rose didn’t suit up for New York as the point guard was in Chicago tending to a family matter, which came to a surprise to many in the Knicks’ organization. Rose is back for tonight’s contest in Philadelphia as the Knicks try to improve on a 6-13 road record, while facing the 76ers for the first time this season.
Last season, New York pulled off a four-game sweep of Philadelphia, including a pair of road favorite victories at Wells Fargo Center. The 76ers may own a 10-25 record, but Philadelphia has heated up of late by winning three of their last four games, while compiling a 5-1 ATS mark in the past six contests.
We’re Not Tired
The Rockets have jumped out of the gate with an impressive 31-9 mark, coming off Tuesday’s 121-114 home victory over the Hornets for their ninth straight win. Houston travels to Minnesota tonight as the Rockets go for their 10th win in 10 tries this season with no rest, while owning a 7-2 ATS mark in this situation.
The last time the Rockets faced Minnesota back on December 17, Houston played with no rest and were in danger of suffering its first loss in this rest situation, trailing by 12 points with two minutes remaining. Houston posted a furious rally to force overtime and ultimately stun Minnesota at Target Center, 111-109, but couldn’t cash as 2 ½-point favorites. The Wolves held off the Mavericks on Monday night, but Minnesota owns a dreadful 1-10 SU and 4-7 ATS mark off a victory this season.
Not Too Late
The Wizards started the season at 3-10 under new head coach Scott Brooks, but Washington has rebounded to win 16 of its last 24 games to forge above the .500 mark. Washington rallied past an undermanned Chicago squad in Tuesday’s 101-99 victory for its third straight win. The Wizards head to Boston tonight as Washington has compiled a 1-6 SU and 3-4 ATS mark with no rest, while sailing OVER the total six times in this situation.
The Celtics had their four-game winning streak snapped at Toronto last night after getting outscored in the fourth quarter, 34-22 in a 114-106 setback. Boston is riding a five-game home winning streak, as the Celtics try to avenge a 118-93 blowout loss at Verizon Center in early November. Last season, the Celtics routed the Wizards twice at TD Garden with the two victories coming by 20 and 30 points.
Oregon Trail
The Cavaliers continue their six-game road swing tonight in Portland, looking to rebound from last night’s 100-92 setback at Utah. Cleveland failed to cover in its fifth straight game, while scoring 94 points or less for the third time in the last five contests. Heading to Portland may be a fix to Cleveland’s offensive issues, as the Cavaliers posted a season-high 137 points against the Blazers in late November, led by Kevin Love’s incredible 34-point first quarter.
Portland returns home after a 108-87 rout of the Lakers in Los Angeles last night as the Blazers shoot for consecutive victories for the first time in over a month. The Blazers are riding a 6-2 ATS run in the last eight games, including a 3-1 ATS record in the past four opportunities as an underdog. Portland has struggled with no rest this season at 2-6 SU/ATS, as the Blazers were on the second of a back-to-back the last time they faced Cleveland in that 137-125 setback on November 23.
