SPORTS WAGERS
SACRAMENTO +1.29 over Phoenix
The courts are the same size everywhere, the baskets are the same height, the basketballs are the same weight and size, yet almost every team struggles on the road and some, like the Kings, are two completely different teams home and away. The Kings are 13-11 at home and that record could easily be about 18-6 after OT losses at home to Cleveland and the Lakers, and a two-point loss to the Spurs among others. On the road the Kings are 3-21 and overall they’ve dropped four in a row and 11 of 12. Meanwhile, the Suns, after a prolonged funk appear to be back on track. They’ve won four straight with the last three coming on the road. As a result of all this the Suns stock is once again on the rise while the Kings stock has plummeted and that’s about the best time to step in. Phoenix will wrap up its four-game trip here and will be off for four full days before playing again on February 10. This is certainly a spot where they’re vulnerable and besides that, this Suns team is not one to be trusted laying road points anywhere. At home the Kings are energetic, sharp and play 1000 times better than they do on the road and absolutely have a great shot to get back on the winning track here against this extremely soft defense. Play: Sacramento +1.29 (Risking 2 units).
Detroit +3/+1.31 over INDIANA
This scenario has played out too often to ignore, whereas a team opens up as a small favorite, the public starts hammering that favorite, yet the line comes down. The Pacers opened as a four-point choice and have taken a ton of money but this line has since dropped and that’s a strong sign that the Pistons are very live. It’s not easy to make a case for the Pistons, as their record is horrible and they’ve dropped five of six with only win over that span being a four-point victory over the putrid Nets. Meanwhile, the Pacers are coming off a 15-point win over the red-hot Raps in a game that lots of folks watched and subsequently ripped up their tickets when it was over. After seeing them lead from start to finish and putting away the Raps, how can they not hammer these Pistons? The NBA is loaded with games that look easy and those games seldom turn out well and this one has all the signs of falling into that trap. Play: Detroit +1.31 (Risking 1 unit) Play Detroit +3 (Risking 1.04 units to win 1).
