Pick 'n' Roll: Today's best NBA bets
Indiana Pacers at Miami Heat (-8, 193.5)
The holidays are supposed to be all about giving. Well, the Miami Heat missed that memo.
The Heat have been as stingy as Scrooge, holding their last five opponents to an average of 88 points per game. Miami leaned on its defense to hold off the pesky New York Knicks on Christmas Day, defeating New York 93-87 and limiting the Knicks to 41 percent shooting from the field.
"We're not a team that can come out and spar and see the pace of the game and then get going," coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters after the win. "That's just not our personality. We have to be on edge however we get there, Ray Lewis-style. We have to dictate the energy and tempo of the game from the beginning."
The Heat forced 18 turnovers against New York and pressured the Utah Jazz to cough up the ball 21 times in an 80-70 win for the Heat Wednesday. Both those games fell below the total, improving Miami to 1-3 over/under in the last four games.
The Heat and Pacers meet earlier this season, with Miami taking a 96-83 win that played under the 213-point total in October.
Pick: Under 193.5
Dallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets (-6.5, 207)
Chauncey Billups isn’t going to dive head-first back into action after missing time with a groin injury. However, facing a talented backcourt like Dallas, the veteran point guard might not have a choice.
Billups was back in the starting lineup in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers Christmas Day, but played just the first half. He finished with 10 points and five assists, leaving the majority of time to backups Ty Lawson and Anthony Carter.
"He's our motor," coach George Karl told the Denver Post. "The best way to get him into the game is from the starting position. He's had a couple of good days. It's one of these situations where if he's healthy, he'll get back into it pretty quickly."
Denver has struggled without Billups at 100 percent. They finished 1-2 SU and ATS in the three games he sat out. The Nuggets lost as 1-point underdog Friday, dropping the team to 5-5 ATS in their last 10 contest.
Versus the Mavericks, Billups has been a stud. He helped led the team over Dallas in a 4-1 series victory in the playoffs last season, scoring 28 points in the deciding game. But a less-than-healthy Billups will have a tough time keeping up with Jason Terry, Jason Kidd and Jose Barea Sunday.
Pick: Dallas +6.5
hno:
