Dr. Bob
Opinion – Orlando (+8) over BOSTON
04:30 PM Pacific, Rotation: 855
The Magic are just 1-11 straight up and 2-10 ATS but they haven’t really played that poorly in their last 3 games since Oladipo returned to the lineup, as the blew a big lead in a 4 point loss to Charlotte, lost by 6 as a 5 ½ point dog in overtime at Memphis and were neck and neck at Milwaukee on Tuesday (up by 1 with 1:10 left in the game) before losing by 7. Orlando’s 6 game losing streak actually sets up the Magic in a 133-75 ATS situation that plays on decent teams as road underdogs on a long losing streak. My ratings favor Boston by 7 ½ points, so the line is fair, and I’ll lean with Orlando plus the points.
*UTAH (-8) over Minnesota
06:00 PM Pacific, Rotation: 864
Utah is a good team with defensive star Rudy Gobert playing, as the Jazz are 6-13 straight up without Gobert playing and 14-12 straight up with him in the lineup. Utah is only 5-6 ATS since Gobert returned to the lineup but they’d be 7-4 ATS if not for losing 2 bets as underdogs in overtime. Minnesota, meanwhile, is not as good without Kevin Garnett (he’s out tonight), who leads the Timberwolves with a +56 plus-minus, which is very good for a team that is -180 points overall this season. Garnett is valuable because he’s still a defensive presence in the paint and the Timberwolves have only allowed 93.4 points per 48 minutes with Garnett on the court and they allow 105.3 points per 48 minutes with Garnett on the bench. My ratings favor Utah by 10 ½ points with current lineups and Utah tends to play better against lesser teams, as evidenced by their 12-4 ATS mark as a favorite of more than 2 points. I’ll take Utah in a 1-Star Best Bet at -8 points or less.
Note: The line has moved up a bit since I released this play to my subscribers but I still lean with Utah at -8 1/2 or -9.
Opinion – OVER (192.5) – Minnesota at UTAH
As mentioned above Minnesota’s defense is much worse without Garnett and the Timberwolves also play at a faster pace without Garnett, which is why the T’Wolves are 7-1-1 OVER this season in the games Garnett has not played (7-0-1 OVER if Rubio plays). I get a projected total of 200 ½ points with Garnett out (and Gobert playing for Utah) and I’ll lean OVER 194 points or less
Opinion – Orlando (+8) over BOSTON
04:30 PM Pacific, Rotation: 855
The Magic are just 1-11 straight up and 2-10 ATS but they haven’t really played that poorly in their last 3 games since Oladipo returned to the lineup, as the blew a big lead in a 4 point loss to Charlotte, lost by 6 as a 5 ½ point dog in overtime at Memphis and were neck and neck at Milwaukee on Tuesday (up by 1 with 1:10 left in the game) before losing by 7. Orlando’s 6 game losing streak actually sets up the Magic in a 133-75 ATS situation that plays on decent teams as road underdogs on a long losing streak. My ratings favor Boston by 7 ½ points, so the line is fair, and I’ll lean with Orlando plus the points.
*UTAH (-8) over Minnesota
06:00 PM Pacific, Rotation: 864
Utah is a good team with defensive star Rudy Gobert playing, as the Jazz are 6-13 straight up without Gobert playing and 14-12 straight up with him in the lineup. Utah is only 5-6 ATS since Gobert returned to the lineup but they’d be 7-4 ATS if not for losing 2 bets as underdogs in overtime. Minnesota, meanwhile, is not as good without Kevin Garnett (he’s out tonight), who leads the Timberwolves with a +56 plus-minus, which is very good for a team that is -180 points overall this season. Garnett is valuable because he’s still a defensive presence in the paint and the Timberwolves have only allowed 93.4 points per 48 minutes with Garnett on the court and they allow 105.3 points per 48 minutes with Garnett on the bench. My ratings favor Utah by 10 ½ points with current lineups and Utah tends to play better against lesser teams, as evidenced by their 12-4 ATS mark as a favorite of more than 2 points. I’ll take Utah in a 1-Star Best Bet at -8 points or less.
Note: The line has moved up a bit since I released this play to my subscribers but I still lean with Utah at -8 1/2 or -9.
Opinion – OVER (192.5) – Minnesota at UTAH
As mentioned above Minnesota’s defense is much worse without Garnett and the Timberwolves also play at a faster pace without Garnett, which is why the T’Wolves are 7-1-1 OVER this season in the games Garnett has not played (7-0-1 OVER if Rubio plays). I get a projected total of 200 ½ points with Garnett out (and Gobert playing for Utah) and I’ll lean OVER 194 points or less
