Steve Merril
NBA
(3% play) NEW ORLEANS -2 (vs. Atlanta) - 8:05 pm ET #710
Atlanta is off back-to-back big performances. The Hawks beat San Antonio 114-112 in overtime last Sunday night, and then they won in Orlando 111-92 last night. Atlanta’s offense was terrific in both of those games as they shot 49.7% (86-173) from the field and 51.1% (24-47) from three-point land against the Spurs and Magic. The 225 total points scored by the Hawks in those two games was their third best 2-game performance of the season. After coming off back-to-back strong offensive games, Atlanta’s offense has regressed this season as they’ve scored less than 100 points in two qualifying games.
New Orleans is finally playing with a healthy roster. The Pelicans struggled mightily early on, but their play as of late has been fantastic. New Orleans comes into tonight’s game off a 90-82 loss in Cleveland on Monday night. The Pelicans are still 5-2 SU over their last seven games, including 4-1 SU on their home court during that stretch. New Orleans’ offense has been much better at home this season. The Pelicans are averaging 106.1 points per game on 45% shooting from the field at home. New Orleans has scored 100 points or more in eleven of their last thirteen games overall. This is a flat spot for Atlanta, so we’ll back New Orleans in this game on Thursday night.
Play PELICANS (-) as a 3% play.
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NCAA Basketball
(3% play) NORTHWESTERN -3.5 (vs. Minnesota) - 9:00 pm ET (ESPN-U) #752
Minnesota comes into this game off back-to-back draining overtime games. The Gophers came up short in a 75-74 home loss to Michigan State before bouncing back with a 91-82 win at Purdue as 13.5-point underdogs. Minnesota will now play back-to-back road games for the first time this season, and off their last two big efforts, we expect regression tonight. Minnesota is a team that needs to play at a fast pace to be at their best. The Gophers tend to struggle mightily with their half court offense in slow-paced games, so this is not a good match-up for them at all. Northwestern routinely plays in games that have less than 60 total possessions, so Minnesota will be put out of their comfort zone.
Northwestern is having a terrific season, and they’ll be on the verge of getting their elusive ticket to the Big Dance in March. This is an important conference game for the Wildcats, especially since they are back home off a 61-52 loss at Michigan State. Northwestern’s other two losses this season have come against Butler by 2 points and to Notre Dame by 4 points. Northwestern plays at an extremely slow pace while playing suffocating defense. The Wildcats only give up 62.7 points per game on 38% shooting from the field and 30.1% shooting from three-point land at home this season. Northwestern is simply the better team, and since they are off a loss, we’ll lay the points with the Wildcats on Thursday night.
Play NORTHWESTERN (-) as a 3% play.
NBA
(3% play) NEW ORLEANS -2 (vs. Atlanta) - 8:05 pm ET #710
Atlanta is off back-to-back big performances. The Hawks beat San Antonio 114-112 in overtime last Sunday night, and then they won in Orlando 111-92 last night. Atlanta’s offense was terrific in both of those games as they shot 49.7% (86-173) from the field and 51.1% (24-47) from three-point land against the Spurs and Magic. The 225 total points scored by the Hawks in those two games was their third best 2-game performance of the season. After coming off back-to-back strong offensive games, Atlanta’s offense has regressed this season as they’ve scored less than 100 points in two qualifying games.
New Orleans is finally playing with a healthy roster. The Pelicans struggled mightily early on, but their play as of late has been fantastic. New Orleans comes into tonight’s game off a 90-82 loss in Cleveland on Monday night. The Pelicans are still 5-2 SU over their last seven games, including 4-1 SU on their home court during that stretch. New Orleans’ offense has been much better at home this season. The Pelicans are averaging 106.1 points per game on 45% shooting from the field at home. New Orleans has scored 100 points or more in eleven of their last thirteen games overall. This is a flat spot for Atlanta, so we’ll back New Orleans in this game on Thursday night.
Play PELICANS (-) as a 3% play.
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NCAA Basketball
(3% play) NORTHWESTERN -3.5 (vs. Minnesota) - 9:00 pm ET (ESPN-U) #752
Minnesota comes into this game off back-to-back draining overtime games. The Gophers came up short in a 75-74 home loss to Michigan State before bouncing back with a 91-82 win at Purdue as 13.5-point underdogs. Minnesota will now play back-to-back road games for the first time this season, and off their last two big efforts, we expect regression tonight. Minnesota is a team that needs to play at a fast pace to be at their best. The Gophers tend to struggle mightily with their half court offense in slow-paced games, so this is not a good match-up for them at all. Northwestern routinely plays in games that have less than 60 total possessions, so Minnesota will be put out of their comfort zone.
Northwestern is having a terrific season, and they’ll be on the verge of getting their elusive ticket to the Big Dance in March. This is an important conference game for the Wildcats, especially since they are back home off a 61-52 loss at Michigan State. Northwestern’s other two losses this season have come against Butler by 2 points and to Notre Dame by 4 points. Northwestern plays at an extremely slow pace while playing suffocating defense. The Wildcats only give up 62.7 points per game on 38% shooting from the field and 30.1% shooting from three-point land at home this season. Northwestern is simply the better team, and since they are off a loss, we’ll lay the points with the Wildcats on Thursday night.
Play NORTHWESTERN (-) as a 3% play.
