Steve Merril
Monday, Feb. 22
NBA
(3% play) DETROIT +9 (at Cleveland) - 7:05 pm ET #501
Detroit and Cleveland both played yesterday, but the results were much different. The Pistons lost at home to the Pelicans while the Cavaliers blew out the Thunder in Oklahoma City. Now the teams will meet tonight in Cleveland, and Detroit gets a good setup to play a competitive game. The Pistons have lost both of their games since the All-Star break, and they were just 6-11 SU during their final 17 games of the first half of the season. Detroit acquired Tobias Harris at the All-Star break, and he will play with the starting five tonight. In his two games with the Pistons, Harris has scored 37 points off the bench. With more playing time tonight, we expect Harris to have an impact on this game from the opening tip. In two games against Cleveland this season, Detroit is 1-1 SU with their loss coming by just 8 points. The Pistons have played the Cavaliers close, and tonight’s game will be more of the same.
Cleveland has won both of their games since the All-Star break; they beat the Bulls in their first game of the second half. Yesterday’s big win over the Thunder sets the Cavaliers up in a major flat spot for tonight’s game against Detroit. Cleveland won by 23 points (115-92) in Oklahoma City after shooting 51.2% (41-80) from the field, 43.5% (10-23), and 85.2% (23-27) from the free throw line. Cleveland played a perfect game, but four guys played 35 minutes or more with three of those guys playing 37 minutes or more. Cleveland also had two players off their bench play 25 minutes or more. Those extended minutes will have an impact on tonight’s game, especially since the Cavaliers are off a spotlight win. Cleveland might also be short-handed as both point guards Kyrie Irving (flu) and Mo Williams (knee) are questionable tonight, while shooting guard Iman Shumpert (shoulder) is doubtful. Detroit is playing Cleveland at the perfect time, so we’ll take the Pistons plus the points in this game on Monday night.
Play PISTONS (+) as a 3% play.
Monday, Feb. 22
NBA
(3% play) DETROIT +9 (at Cleveland) - 7:05 pm ET #501
Detroit and Cleveland both played yesterday, but the results were much different. The Pistons lost at home to the Pelicans while the Cavaliers blew out the Thunder in Oklahoma City. Now the teams will meet tonight in Cleveland, and Detroit gets a good setup to play a competitive game. The Pistons have lost both of their games since the All-Star break, and they were just 6-11 SU during their final 17 games of the first half of the season. Detroit acquired Tobias Harris at the All-Star break, and he will play with the starting five tonight. In his two games with the Pistons, Harris has scored 37 points off the bench. With more playing time tonight, we expect Harris to have an impact on this game from the opening tip. In two games against Cleveland this season, Detroit is 1-1 SU with their loss coming by just 8 points. The Pistons have played the Cavaliers close, and tonight’s game will be more of the same.
Cleveland has won both of their games since the All-Star break; they beat the Bulls in their first game of the second half. Yesterday’s big win over the Thunder sets the Cavaliers up in a major flat spot for tonight’s game against Detroit. Cleveland won by 23 points (115-92) in Oklahoma City after shooting 51.2% (41-80) from the field, 43.5% (10-23), and 85.2% (23-27) from the free throw line. Cleveland played a perfect game, but four guys played 35 minutes or more with three of those guys playing 37 minutes or more. Cleveland also had two players off their bench play 25 minutes or more. Those extended minutes will have an impact on tonight’s game, especially since the Cavaliers are off a spotlight win. Cleveland might also be short-handed as both point guards Kyrie Irving (flu) and Mo Williams (knee) are questionable tonight, while shooting guard Iman Shumpert (shoulder) is doubtful. Detroit is playing Cleveland at the perfect time, so we’ll take the Pistons plus the points in this game on Monday night.
Play PISTONS (+) as a 3% play.
SportsPicksWeekly
NBA:
4* Toronto Raptors -3.5
4* Indiana Pacers at Miami Heat UNDER -204
3* Golden State Warriors -7
3* Boston Celtics -4.5
2* Toronto Raptors at New York Knicks OVER +203.5
NCAAB:
5* Virginia Cavaliers +1.5
4* Wisconsin Green Bay Phoenix -12.5
3* Youngstown State Penguins +16.5
3* North Carolina A&T Aggies at Morgan State Bears OVER +139.5
2* Cleveland State Vikings at Wisconsin Green Bay Phoenix UNDER -149.5
1* Virginia Cavaliers at Miami FL Hurricanes OVER +128.5
NHL:
3* Boston Bruins ML (-160)
3* San Jose Sharks at St. Louis Blues OVER +5 (-120)
2* Columbus Blue Jackets at Boston Bruins UNDER -5.5
NBA:
4* Toronto Raptors -3.5
4* Indiana Pacers at Miami Heat UNDER -204
3* Golden State Warriors -7
3* Boston Celtics -4.5
2* Toronto Raptors at New York Knicks OVER +203.5
NCAAB:
5* Virginia Cavaliers +1.5
4* Wisconsin Green Bay Phoenix -12.5
3* Youngstown State Penguins +16.5
3* North Carolina A&T Aggies at Morgan State Bears OVER +139.5
2* Cleveland State Vikings at Wisconsin Green Bay Phoenix UNDER -149.5
1* Virginia Cavaliers at Miami FL Hurricanes OVER +128.5
NHL:
3* Boston Bruins ML (-160)
3* San Jose Sharks at St. Louis Blues OVER +5 (-120)
2* Columbus Blue Jackets at Boston Bruins UNDER -5.5
