NBA Monday’s Tip Sheet
By Kevin Rogers
Spurs at Pacers – 7:05 PM EST
San Antonio’s offense struggled down the stretch in Sunday’s 87-82 setback at Toronto to begin its annual “Rodeo” road trip. The Spurs missed 15 of their final 16 shots in the third quarter, while scoring three points in the last 8:45 of that period. Gregg Popovich’s team shot 33% from the field, as the Spurs dropped to 1-6-1 ATS in the past eight contests. Since mid-December, San Antonio have lost seven of its past 10 on the highway, while scoring 98 points or less eight times in this stretch.
The Pacers erased a 21-point deficit in last night’s 103-102 triumph at Charlotte to extend their winning streak to three, but Indiana failed to cover as two-point road favorites. Frank Vogel’s team is currently on a three-game ‘over’ run, seeking four consecutive ‘overs’ for the first time this season. After starting the season posting an 0-5 ATS record as a home underdog, the Pacers have covered two of their last three when receiving points at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, including Friday’s upset of Cleveland. The Pacers have lost nine of the past 10 meetings with the Spurs, but covered as 13-point underdogs at San Antonio in a 106-100 in late November.
Nets at Bucks – 8:05 PM EST
Two teams in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference playoff race meet in the Jason Kidd bowl. Brooklyn’s three-game winning streak came to a halt in Saturday’s 114-77 blowout loss, as the Nets were held to just 38 points in the first half. The Nets suffered their first ATS loss as an underdog in five tries, but Lionel Hollins’ team has covered eight of their last 11 in the road ‘dog role. Brooklyn looks to avenge a wild triple-overtime loss at the Barclays Center to Milwaukee in mid-November, falling 122-118 as 6 ½-point favorites.
The Bucks are trying to solidify themselves as the sixth-seed in the East, winning six of their last seven games. Milwaukee couldn’t finish off a cover in Saturday’s 96-93 home victory over Boston as 6 ½-point favorites, even though the Bucks shot 49% from the floor. The Fighting Kidds wrapped up January with five straight covers, but the Bucks are just 1-3 ATS in four February contests. Milwaukee has struggled of late cashing tickets as a home favorite, failing to cover in four straight in this role at BMO Harris Center.
Clippers at Mavericks – 8:35 PM EST
The road trip from hell wraps up tonight for Los Angeles, who is coming off consecutive four straight losses and the last three by double-digits. The Clippers were run out early by the Thunder on Sunday, 131-108 as 7 ½-point underdogs, as Blake Griffin was sidelined due to an elbow injury that will keep him out until after the All-Star break. The 131 points allowed were the most given up by Doc Rivers’ squad this season, while the Clippers are now 1-6 ATS on their Grammys road swing.
The Mavericks are getting back on track with victories in five of their last six games, coming off an overtime win over the Blazers on Saturday, 111-101. Dallas rallied from a 16-point deficit for the victory, as both teams shot just 41% from the floor. Rick Carlisle’s team will try to take advantage of this down and out Clippers’ squad as Dallas looks to avenge a 120-100 loss at Staples Center last month. Griffin shot 11-of-15 from the floor in that win, while J.J. Redick scored 16 points, as both players are out, but the Clippers have won each of the past two visits to the American Airlines Center.
Thunder at Nuggets – 9:05 PM EST
Denver has fallen on rocky times of late, dropping 12 of its past 13 games. The Nuggets are riding a five-game SU/ATS skid, while coming off a winless road trip at Philadelphia, Boston, and Detroit. The home-court advantage is gone for the Nuggets, who have lost five consecutive games at the Pepsi Center, while covering just once as 3 ½-point underdogs in an overtime setback to Washington. The Nuggets split a pair of games with the Thunder back in November, as Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant missed both those contests with injuries.
The Thunder has a quick turnaround following Sunday’s 23-point blowout of the Clippers, as OKC received plenty of help off the bench thanks to 50 points from Dion Waiters, Reggie Jackson, and Mitch McGary. Oklahoma City has had some recent issues on the road lately, losing four of its past five on the highway and eight of 13 since knocking off San Antonio on Christmas Day. From an ATS standpoint, the Thunder owns a 2-7 ATS record the past nine games, while going 3-8-1 ATS in the last 12 in the favorite role. In spite of no rest, the Thunder have played very well on the second of a back-to-back with a 7-3 SU and 6-3-1 ATS record in this situation.
