PICK 'N' ROLL
Monday's Best NBA Bets
New Orleans Hornets at Miami Heat (-10.5, 184.5)
The Miami Heat went on a bit of a run on their first extended road trip of the season, reeling off four straight wins while covering in all four. They closed out the successful trip by hammering Sacramento 104-83 as a 9-point favorite with Dwyane Wade scoring 36 points and LeBron James adding 25 and 10 rebounds.
Now they return home looking to take that momentum with them. For Miami, it’s all about defense - at least until they come up with the rock. The Heat has more than enough offensive weapons, but this club is only going to go as far as its commitment to defense allows. They held the Kings, Warriors and Bucks to 84 or fewer points during the trip and sit second in the league allowing only 91.3 points per game.
"I like to see the guys having fun defending and rebounding because they understand what comes after that," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "They're enjoying it, but more important, they are understand the correlation. You can't get out and run unless you get those stops.
"It is an easy way to try and win the game offensively and can be perceived as the fun way to do it. Our guys are buying into defending."
Pick: Under
Milwaukee Bucks at Dallas Mavericks (-8.5, 186)
At some point, the Dallas Mavericks’ winning streak is going to come to an end. But you have to think they’ll be able to take care of a Milwaukee club that has lost five straight on the road and has covered only two of its last 13 games.
"I don't think the team really cares about the win streak," coach Rick Carlisle told the Mavericks' official website. "Our core guys that have been here a long time, they've been on streaks a lot longer than this. These guys won 17 in a row one year. That part of it isn't a novelty to our team. We're a veteran team and we're trying to become a great team."
And part of that process is avoiding letdowns that can spring up over the long season. The Mavericks blew a 25-point lead in the first half only to have Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry come up big down the stretch. The Mavs will be out to put that game behind them.
Pick: Dallas Mavericks
Monday's Best NBA Bets
New Orleans Hornets at Miami Heat (-10.5, 184.5)
The Miami Heat went on a bit of a run on their first extended road trip of the season, reeling off four straight wins while covering in all four. They closed out the successful trip by hammering Sacramento 104-83 as a 9-point favorite with Dwyane Wade scoring 36 points and LeBron James adding 25 and 10 rebounds.
Now they return home looking to take that momentum with them. For Miami, it’s all about defense - at least until they come up with the rock. The Heat has more than enough offensive weapons, but this club is only going to go as far as its commitment to defense allows. They held the Kings, Warriors and Bucks to 84 or fewer points during the trip and sit second in the league allowing only 91.3 points per game.
"I like to see the guys having fun defending and rebounding because they understand what comes after that," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "They're enjoying it, but more important, they are understand the correlation. You can't get out and run unless you get those stops.
"It is an easy way to try and win the game offensively and can be perceived as the fun way to do it. Our guys are buying into defending."
Pick: Under
Milwaukee Bucks at Dallas Mavericks (-8.5, 186)
At some point, the Dallas Mavericks’ winning streak is going to come to an end. But you have to think they’ll be able to take care of a Milwaukee club that has lost five straight on the road and has covered only two of its last 13 games.
"I don't think the team really cares about the win streak," coach Rick Carlisle told the Mavericks' official website. "Our core guys that have been here a long time, they've been on streaks a lot longer than this. These guys won 17 in a row one year. That part of it isn't a novelty to our team. We're a veteran team and we're trying to become a great team."
And part of that process is avoiding letdowns that can spring up over the long season. The Mavericks blew a 25-point lead in the first half only to have Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry come up big down the stretch. The Mavs will be out to put that game behind them.
Pick: Dallas Mavericks
