STATSYSTEMS SPORTS STAT/SHEETS, 1/15/14
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
INFORMATION WORTH BETTING ON EACH DAY
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***** Wednesday, 1/15/14 NBA Information *****
(ALL RESULTS ATS) - Against The Spread - and most recent, unless noted otherwise. Each and every day during the 2013-14 National Basketball Association season we will analyze all of your daily basketball action, featuring all our Highly-Rated (Situational & Match-up) Power Trends, along with some of our Situational Analysis (Betting Systems) that pertain to some of that days match-ups.
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•Hot Teams
-- Bulls won five of their last six games.
-- Raptors won eight of their last ten games.
-- Memphis won four of last five games, covered last seven.
-- Kings won three of their last four games (6-7-1 AU).
-- Rockets won seven of last ten games, covered three of last four.
-- Spurs won five in row, eight of last nine games (4-1 last five HF).
-- Portland won three of last four home games. Cavaliers won three of their last four games (5-3 last eight AU).
-- Nuggets won five of their last six games (5-4 AU). Warriors won 11 of last 12 games (4-7 last 11 HF).
-- Mavericks won four of their last five games. Clippers won five of last six games.
•Cold Teams
-- Magic lost their last eight games (0-8 vs. spread).
-- Bobcats lost eight of their last ten games; 76ers lost last four (0-4 vs. spread).
-- Heat lost their last two games (1-5 last six AF). Washington lost its last four home games (3-3 AU).
-- Celtics lost last nine games, covered three of last four.
-- Bucks lost last six games (0-6 vs. spread).
-- Minnesota lost three of last five home games (4-6 last ten HF).
-- Pelicans lost last six games, covered two of last eight.
-- Jazz lost last three road games, by 11-8-10 points (9-6 last 15 AU).
-- Lakers lost nine of last ten games, covered one of last five. Phoenix lost four of its last five games.
•Totals
-- Four of last five Chicago road games stayed under total.
-- Nine of last ten Charlotte road games went over total.
-- Four of last five Miami road games went over the total.
-- Eight of last ten Toronto road games stayed under total.
-- Under is 9-4 in Milwaukee's last thirteen home games.
-- Last six Sacramento road games went over the total.
-- Seven of last nine Houston road games stayed under.
-- Over is 12-4-1 in last seventeen San Antonio home games.
-- Five of last seven Lakers road games stayed under total.
-- Ten of last twelve Portland home games went over total.
-- Six of last seven Denver games went over; four of last five Golden State home games stayed under.
-- Last five Dallas road games stayed under the total.
•Series Records
-- Bulls won nine of last ten games with Orlando.
-- Bobcats won last two games with Philly, after losing previous five.
-- Miami won four in row vs. Washington, but lost two of last three here.
-- Home side won ten of last eleven Toronto-Boston games; Raptors lost last ten visits to Beantown.
-- Grizzlies won their last five games with Milwaukee.
-- Kings lost last three visits to Minnesota, by 13-2-12 points.
-- Rockets won five of last six games with New Orleans.
-- Spurs won eight of last nine games with Utah.
-- Lakers lost four of last five games with Phoenix.
-- Cavaliers lost five of last six games with Portland.
-- Nuggets lost three of last four visits to Oakland.
-- Clippers won four of last five games with Dallas.
•Situational Trends of The Day
-- CHARLOTTE is 14-35 ATS (-24.5 Units) after having lost 8 or more of their last 10 games over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was CHARLOTTE 92.3, OPPONENT 102.9.
-- SAN ANTONIO is 12-1 UNDER (+10.9 Units) after 4 straight games where they made 47% of their shots or better over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was SAN ANTONIO 100.3, OPPONENT 93.3.
-- LA LAKERS are 1-14 (-14.4 Units) against the 1rst half line in road games revenging a loss where opponent scored 100 or more points over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was LA LAKERS 52.1, OPPONENT 59.1.
-- UTAH is 32-7 UNDER (+24.3 Units) the 1rst half total after a combined score of 215 points or more 2 straight games since 1996.
The average score was UTAH 47.8, OPPONENT 47.6.
-- TERRY STOTTS is 12-1 OVER (+10.9 Units) after playing 4 consecutive games as favorite in all games he has coached since 1996.
The average score was STOTTS 109.7, OPPONENT 106.2.
•Matchup Trends of The Day
-- PHILADELPHIA is 1-11 ATS (-11.1 Units) versus good ball handling teams - committing <=14 turnovers/game this season.
The average score was PHILADELPHIA 96.5, OPPONENT 116.4.
-- WASHINGTON is 12-2 OVER (+9.8 Units) in home games versus good teams - outscoring their opponents by 3+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was WASHINGTON 101.6, OPPONENT 102.4.
-- PHOENIX is 14-2 (+11.8 Units) against the 1rst half line versus good 3 point shooting teams - making >=36% of their attempts this season.
The average score was PHOENIX 52.7, OPPONENT 50.4.
-- WASHINGTON is 14-0 OVER (+14.0 Units) the 1rst half total in home games versus good teams - outscoring their opponents by 3+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was WASHINGTON 52.1, OPPONENT 55.1.
-- RICK CARLISLE is 25-9 ATS (+15.1 Units) in road games versus good passing teams, averaging >=23 assists/game as the coach of DALLAS.
The average score was CARLISLE 99.5, OPPONENT 100.1.
•Situation Analysis of The Day
-- Play Against - Underdogs of +145 to +350 versus the money line (NEW ORLEANS) - revenging a loss versus opponent, off 2 covers where the team lost the game straight up as an underdog.
(64-7 over the last 5 seasons.) (90.1%, +49.7 units. Rating = 5*)
The average money line posted in these games was: Team favored with a money line of: -204.3
The average score in these games was: Team 103.1, Opponent 91.5 (Average point differential = +11.6)
The situation's record this season is: (6-0, +6 units).
Over the last 3 seasons the situation's record is: (28-6, +16.4 units).
Since 1996 the situation's record is: (206-54, +42.5 units).
-- Play Against - Road teams (DENVER) - off a double digit loss as a favorite of 6 points or more, a marginal winning team (51% to 60%) playing a winning team.
(27-6 since 1996.) (81.8%, +20.4 units. Rating = 3*)
The straight up record of the team this system pertains to is : (30-3)
The average line posted in these games was: Team favored by 4.5
The average score in these games was: Team 101.2, Opponent 90.3 (Average point differential = +10.9)
The number of games in which this system covered the spread by 7 or more points was 17 (51.5% of all games.)
The situation's record this season is: (1-0).
Over the last 3 seasons the situation's record is: (4-1).
Over the last 5 seasons the situation's record is: (7-1).
-- Play Under - Home teams where the total is greater than or equal to 210 (GOLDEN STATE) - after failing to cover 2 of their last 3 against the spread, with a winning record on the season playing another winning team.
(36-9 over the last 5 seasons.) (80.0%, +26.1 units. Rating = 4*)
The average total posted in these games was: 215
The average score in these games was: Team 104.8, Opponent 100.4 (Total points scored = 205.3)
The number of games in which this system covered the total by 7 or more points was 28 (63.6% of all games.)
The situation's record this season is: (4-1).
Over the last 3 seasons the situation's record is: (14-2).
Since 1996 the situation's record is: (86-65).
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Wednesday's Match-ups
#701 CHICAGO @ #702 ORLANDO
(TV: 7:00 PM EST, CSN Chicago, FSN Florida Orlando - Line: Bulls -5.5, Total: 181.5) - After seeing their five-game winning streak end, the Chicago Bulls look to move forward again when they pay a visit to the struggling Orlando Magic on Wednesday. The Bulls have won eight of 11 overall and were unbeaten in three since the trade of leading scorer Luol Deng before losing to Washington 102-88 at home Monday. Chicago is second in the league in average points allowed and will face an injury-depleted Orlando squad that has dropped eight straight overall after a 0-5 road trip.
The Magic will likely be without leading rebounder Nikola Vucevic (concussion) and top scorer Arron Afflalo is questionable after missing the last two games with a strained right foot. The Bulls won’t feel sorry for Orlando with Derrick Rose out for the season with a knee injury, but still have six players averaging in double figures scoring. The Magic edged Chicago 83-82 on Dec. 16 to end a five-game losing streak against the Bulls.
•ABOUT THE BULLS (17-19 SU, 16-20-0 ATS): Guard Kirk Hinrich is one of the most important players on the team despite not being among the top scorers as the Bulls went only 1-4 when he was out injured, including the Orlando loss. Hinrich averages 4.9 assists while Carlos Boozer leads the team in scoring (14.9) and Joakim Noah is one of fewer than 10 players in the league averaging a double-double (11.1 points, 10.6 rebounds). Jimmy Butler scored 12 versus Washington after missing one game with a sore thigh.
•ABOUT THE MAGIC (10-28 SU, 15-23-0 ATS): Glen Davis has picked up some of the scoring slack with Afflalo out, averaging 19.5 points the last two games, and scored in double figures 14 of his last 15 contests. Rookie Victor Oladipo has also raised his game after a rough stretch, scoring 15.2 per game in his last six outings, while Tobias Harris is averaging 16 points over the last three. Veteran guard Jameer Nelson fought through a sore index finger to match his season high with 21 points in the 107-88 loss at Dallas on Monday.
•PREGAME NOTES: Orlando is 7-11 at home after a 3-0 start and Chicago is 6-11 on the road with three straight wins.... Boozer has 11 double-doubles and is averaging 16.7 points and 10 rebounds the last three contests.... Davis expects to play his 400th career game and Nelson has played 618 for the Magic, three behind Dwight Howard for second in franchise history.
StatSystems Sports has searched its database for all past games where the posted line or total were similar to this game's and where the final game statistics were comparable to the estimator's projections. (Points/Per Possession, Turnovers, along with Free-Throw Shooting Percentages). The number of simulations in which each team covered the current spread, won the game straight up, and number of simulations which went over or under the current total are listed below. Edges are indicated where one side enjoyed a significant advantage against the line or total.
--In 1000 simulated games, ORLANDO covered the spread 682 times, while CHICAGO covered the spread 318 times. *EDGE against the spread =ORLANDO. In 1000 simulated games, ORLANDO won the game straight up 526 times, while CHICAGO won 452 times. In 1000 simulated games, 546 games went under the total, while 454 games went over the total. *No EDGE.
--In 1000 simulated games, ORLANDO covered the first half line 618 times, while CHICAGO covered the first half line 344 times. *EDGE against first half line =ORLANDO. In 1000 simulated games, 527 games went under first half total, while 473 games went over first half total. *No EDGE.
•HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY
--CHICAGO is 31-30 against the spread versus ORLANDO since 1996.
--ORLANDO is 33-29 straight up against CHICAGO since 1996.
--33 of 61 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL since 1996.
--ORLANDO is 32-27 versus the first half line when playing against CHICAGO since 1996.
--30 of 60 games in this series have gone OVER THE FIRST HALF TOTAL since 1996.
--Bulls are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
--Under is 10-2 in the last 12 meetings in Orlando.
--Road team is 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
--Underdog is 21-8 ATS in the last 29 meetings.
•RECENT TRENDS
--Bulls are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games.
--Bulls are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a S.U. loss.
--Bulls are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
--Magic are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
--Under is 4-0 in Magic last 4 Wednesday games.
--Under is 4-0 in Magic last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
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#703 MIAMI @ #704 WASHINGTON
(TV: 7:00 PM EST, SunSports Miami, CSN Washington - Line: Heat -5, Total: 197) - The Miami Heat haven't lost three straight regular-season games since Jan. 10-13, 2011, a streak they'll try to preserve when they travel to Washington to face the Wizards on Wednesday. The Heat have won 22 straight games against Southeast Division opponents and can tie the NBA record set by Boston in 1961 with a win over Washington. The Wizards have scuffled a bit since the start of the new year but are coming off an impressive 102-88 win at Chicago on Monday.
The Heat have stumbled into their six-game road trip with losses at New York (102-92) and Brooklyn (104-95 in double overtime), and they're a bit short-handed with three starters battling injuries. Forward Shane Battier (quad) and star guard Dwyane Wade (knees) are considered probable against Washington, but guard Mario Chalmers (Achilles) is not expected to play. "We're a no-excuse team, but right now we have three starters that didn't play," Heat star LeBron James told reporters after the loss to the Nets. "Even though we've got a lot of depth, it's hard to make up for three starters being out." Miami has won four straight meetings with Washington, including a 103-93 home victory in the first contest this season.
•ABOUT THE HEAT (27-10 SU, 16-21-0 ATS): Miami has the second-best record in the Eastern Conference but has been vulnerable away from home with an 11-7 road record — including a 7-6 mark against conference foes. The Heat's brief losing streak has come in spite of James topping 30 points in four consecutive games, three shy of his own franchise record set last February. Miami certainly needs Wade in the lineup not only for his offense, but also to help defend Washington's strong backcourt duo of John Wall and Bradley Beal.
•ABOUT THE WIZARDS (17-19 SU, 20-16-0 ATS): Washington actually has been better on the road (10-10) than at home (7-9) and has dropped its last four games — and seven of its last eight — on its home court. Still, the Wizards are tied for fifth in the weak Eastern Conference, and they have enough talent to stick as a playoff team. Wall is averaging career highs in points (19.6) and assists (8.6), and Beal (17.3 points) and Trevor Ariza (14.4 points, 6.1 rebounds) are having solid campaigns.
•PREGAME NOTES: James has scored in double figures in 531 consecutive games, the fourth-longest streak in National Basketball Association history.... Wizards F Trevor Booker needs two rebounds to reach 1,000 in his career, and Battier's next rebound will be No. 4,000 of his career.... Miami has won 49 of its last 51 games when hitting 10 or more 3-pointers, but the two losses came this season.
StatSystems Sports has searched its database for all past games where the posted line or total were similar to this game's and where the final game statistics were comparable to the estimator's projections. (Points/Per Possession, Turnovers, along with Free-Throw Shooting Percentages). The number of simulations in which each team covered the current spread, won the game straight up, and number of simulations which went over or under the current total are listed below. Edges are indicated where one side enjoyed a significant advantage against the line or total.
--In 1000 simulated games, MIAMI covered the spread 580 times, while WASHINGTON covered the spread 403 times. *EDGE against the spread =MIAMI. In 1000 simulated games, MIAMI won the game straight up 697 times, while WASHINGTON won 282 times. In 1000 simulated games, 640 games went over the total, while 338 games went under the total. *EDGE against the total =OVER.
--In 1000 simulated games, MIAMI covered the first half line 583 times, while WASHINGTON covered the first half line 417 times. *EDGE against first half line =MIAMI. In 1000 simulated games, 592 games went over first half total, while 408 games went under first half total. *EDGE against first half total =OVER.
•HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY
--MIAMI is 39-30 against the spread versus WASHINGTON since 1996.
--MIAMI is 54-17 straight up against WASHINGTON since 1996.
--41 of 70 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL since 1996.
--WASHINGTON is 37-31 versus the first half line when playing against MIAMI since 1996.
--40 of 70 games in this series have gone UNDER THE FIRST HALF TOTAL since 1996.
--Heat are 19-6-1 ATS in the last 26 meetings in Washington.
--Under is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.
--Road team is 25-9-1 ATS in the last 35 meetings.
•RECENT TRENDS
--Heat are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a losing S.U. record.
--Over is 4-0 in Heat last 4 games following a S.U. loss.
--Over is 6-1 in Heat last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
--Wizards are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games.
--Wizards are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
--Over is 6-0 in Wizards last 6 games following a SU win of more than 10 points.
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#705 CHARLOTTE @ #706 PHILADELPHIA
(TV: 7:00 PM EST, SportSouth Charlotte, CSN Philadelphia - Line: Bobcats -1, Total: 205.5) - With the Charlotte Bobcats having ended a three-game losing streak with a win over New York on Tuesday, they'll set their sights on extending Philadelphia's skid as they visit the reeling 76ers on Wednesday. Al Jefferson's season-high 35 points were the difference in the Bobcats' 108-98 triumph over the Knicks, while Philadelphia has dropped four games in a row, most recently a 102-92 decision to visiting New York on Saturday.
Things have become dire for the 76ers following a strong start to the season — and the porous defense is squarely to blame. Philadelphia ranks dead last in the NBA in points allowed at 110.9 per game and has held just two of its last 25 opponents below 100 points. That bodes well for a Charlotte team that continues to rank among the league leaders in fewest points against but has one of the worst scoring averages in the NBA.
•ABOUT THE BOBCATS (16-23 SU, 21-16-2 ATS): Charlotte went into a road-heavy stretch of games hoping to remain within shouting distance of the .500 mark — and what happened instead was a series of defensive collapses that dropped the team a few rungs down the ladder in the points-allowed department. And it gets worse: despite having played seven of its previous nine games on the road heading into Wednesday's tilt in Philadelphia, the Bobcats aren't getting a home-friendly schedule anytime soon — they'll play seven of their next 11 games away from Charlotte.
•ABOUT THE 76ERS (12-25 SU, 15-22-0 ATS): Philadelphia rookie Michael Carter-Williams entered the league with a bang — nearly recording a triple-double in his pro debut — but has fallen on hard times of late. Things became so bad earlier this month, head coach Brett Brown opted to keep his prized freshman on the bench during a pivotal late stretch in a game the 76ers won 113-104. Brown defended his decision, telling the Philadelphia Inquirer: "If you want to play in June and late May, then there is an incredible quality of resiliency. I know what it takes, and it's beyond hard."
•PREGAME NOTES: The teams have split their previous four meetings, with the home side prevailing each time.... Carter-Williams leads all first-year players in points per game (17.5), rebounding (5.8), assists (7) and steals (2.7).... Jefferson averages 14 points in 21 career games against Philadelphia.
StatSystems Sports has searched its database for all past games where the posted line or total were similar to this game's and where the final game statistics were comparable to the estimator's projections. (Points/Per Possession, Turnovers, along with Free-Throw Shooting Percentages). The number of simulations in which each team covered the current spread, won the game straight up, and number of simulations which went over or under the current total are listed below. Edges are indicated where one side enjoyed a significant advantage against the line or total.
--In 1000 simulated games, PHILADELPHIA covered the spread 524 times, while CHARLOTTE covered the spread 443 times. *No EDGE. In 1000 simulated games, PHILADELPHIA won the game straight up 506 times, while CHARLOTTE won 476 times. In 1000 simulated games, 700 games went under the total, while 300 games went over the total. *EDGE against the total =UNDER.
--In 1000 simulated games, PHILADELPHIA covered the first half line 535 times, while CHARLOTTE covered the first half line 465 times. *No EDGE. In 1000 simulated games, 643 games went under first half total, while 357 games went over first half total. *EDGE against first half total =UNDER.
•HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY
--CHARLOTTE is 19-14 against the spread versus PHILADELPHIA since 1996.
--PHILADELPHIA is 18-15 straight up against CHARLOTTE since 1996.
--16 of 31 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL since 1996.
--CHARLOTTE is 19-14 versus the first half line when playing against PHILADELPHIA since 1996.
--18 of 33 games in this series have gone OVER THE FIRST HALF TOTAL since 1996.
--Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
--Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Philadelphia.
•RECENT TRENDS
--Bobcats are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
--Bobcats are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
--Under is 4-0 in Bobcats last 4 vs. a team with a losing S.U. record.
--76ers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
--Under is 4-0 in 76ers last 4 vs. a team with a losing S.U. record.
--Over is 5-0-1 in 76ers last 6 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
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#707 TORONTO @ #708 BOSTON
(TV: 7:30 PM EST, SNET Toronto, CSN New England Boston - Line: Raptors -4, Total: 196) - Basketball fans were waiting to see if any of the slow-starting teams in the Eastern Conference would rise to prominence. It appears the Toronto Raptors are doing just that as they look to extend their lead atop the Atlantic Division against the host Boston Celtics on Wednesday night. Toronto has won 13 of its last 18 games - the best mark in the conference over that span - and will be looking to improve that record against a woeful Celtics team that has dropped nine straight.
Toronto's turnaround has been fashioned on the strength of an incredible stretch from shooting guard DeMar DeRozan, who is gaining some support in his quest to make the All-Star Game. DeRozan has been sensational this month, averaging 23.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists over seven January games. The Celtics will need to be at their best to corral DeRozan - and that's something they haven't been in a while, having registered just one victory since Dec. 16.
•ABOUT THE RAPTORS (19-17 SU, 22-14-0 ATS): Toronto encountered its first "trap game" since catching fire, hosting the league-worst Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. Following a slow start that had head coach Dwayne Casey yelling on the sidelines, the Raptors surged in the third quarter en route to a 116-94 rout. Casey is concerned about his players keeping their perspective, saying after the game: "We don't have any right, yet, to overlook anyone in this league. This is a tough league, we're still building, we're still getting there."
•ABOUT THE CELTICS (13-26 SU, 19-19-1 ATS): Boston may not go overlooked by Toronto on Wednesday, but it hasn't done much to deserve better treatment. The Celtics are firmly entrenched in rebuilding mode, though head coach Brad Stevens is doing his best to remain optimistic. "There's all kinds of positives, but they don't make you feel any better at night, and that's the reality of it," he told the Boston Herald. "I mean, this is hard to go through - this is unenjoyable to go through - but it doesn't mean there's not growth."
•PREGAME NOTES: The teams have split the previous eight meetings, with the home team prevailing seven times in that span.... DeRozan averages 13.7 points in 17 career games versus Boston.... Celtics PG Rajon Rondo, who has missed nearly a calendar year after undergoing knee surgery, cryptically tweeted on Monday that he may make his long-awaited return Friday against the visiting Los Angeles Lakers.
StatSystems Sports has searched its database for all past games where the posted line or total were similar to this game's and where the final game statistics were comparable to the estimator's projections. (Points/Per Possession, Turnovers, along with Free-Throw Shooting Percentages). The number of simulations in which each team covered the current spread, won the game straight up, and number of simulations which went over or under the current total are listed below. Edges are indicated where one side enjoyed a significant advantage against the line or total.
--In 1000 simulated games, TORONTO covered the spread 504 times, while BOSTON covered the spread 472 times. *No EDGE. In 1000 simulated games, TORONTO won the game straight up 618 times, while BOSTON won 361 times. In 1000 simulated games, 493 games went over the total, while 487 games went under the total. *No EDGE.
--In 1000 simulated games, TORONTO covered the first half line 520 times, while BOSTON covered the first half line 444 times. *No EDGE. In 1000 simulated games, 496 games went over first half total, while 474 games went under first half total. *No EDGE.
•HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY
--BOSTON is 34-29 against the spread versus TORONTO since 1996.
--BOSTON is 42-24 straight up against TORONTO since 1996.
--32 of 64 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL since 1996.
--BOSTON is 34-32 versus the first half line when playing against TORONTO since 1996.
--31 of 61 games in this series have gone OVER THE FIRST HALF TOTAL since 1996.
--Raptors are 7-19-1 ATS in the last 27 meetings.
--Raptors are 0-7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings in Boston.
--Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
--Over is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings in Boston.
--Home team is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
--Favorite is 11-5-1 ATS in the last 17 meetings.
•RECENT TRENDS
--Raptors are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games following a S.U. win.
--Raptors are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
--Raptors are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a SU win of more than 10 points.
--Celtics are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
--Celtics are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
--Over is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
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#709 HOUSTON @ #710 NEW ORLEANS
(TV: 8:00 PM EST, CSN Houston, FSN New Orleans - Line: Rockets -4.5, Total: 205) - The New Orleans Pelicans are getting closer and closer to a win but still lack the manpower to compete on a consistent basis. The Pelicans will try to snap a six-game skid when they host the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. New Orleans’ slide began when Ryan Anderson went down with a herniated disc in his neck and the team has since lost Jrue Holiday (stress fracture) and Tyreke Evans (ankle) for various lengths of time.
The Pelicans fell just short against the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs in the last two games and hope to break through against the last Texas team they’ll meet this week. The Rockets are winners of two straight and four of five and will be looking to close out a four-game road trip with a 3-1 record. Chandler Parsons returned to the lineup in Monday’s 104-92 win at Boston after a three-game absence and scored 14 points in 39 minutes to help strengthen the rotation.
•ABOUT THE ROCKETS (25-14 SU, 20-17-2 ATS): Houston is starting to get more consistent minutes from Terrence Jones, who posted his second straight double-double and third in the last four games with 12 points and 12 rebounds against the Celtics. The second-year forward combines with Dwight Howard to form an athletic frontline, allowing Chandler, James Harden and Jeremy Lin to stay on the perimeter. The Rockets used that formula to perfection in a dominant third quarter on Monday, scoring 18 points in the paint and 12 from 3-point range in a 32-point quarter, with the other two coming at the free-throw line.
•ABOUT THE PELICANS (15-22 SU, 15-20-2 ATS): Anthony Davis is doing his best to keep the shorthanded lineup competitive and has scored 21 or more points in each of the last five games with four double-doubles in that span. Brian Roberts moved into Holiday’s vacated starting point guard spot and put up his best effort in the 102-95 loss to San Antonio on Monday with 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting after failing to score in double figures in either of his first two starts. The injuries are also opening the door for players like Austin Rivers and Darius Miller, each of whom played over 20 minutes off the bench on Monday.
•PREGAME NOTES: Houston took the first meeting 107-98 at home on Dec. 28 and has won five of the last six in the series.... New Orleans F Al-Farouq Aminu has totaled 24 rebounds in the last two games.... Harden had a five-game streak of at least 25 points come to an end with 16 on 6-of-18 shooting on Monday.
StatSystems Sports has searched its database for all past games where the posted line or total were similar to this game's and where the final game statistics were comparable to the estimator's projections. (Points/Per Possession, Turnovers, along with Free-Throw Shooting Percentages). The number of simulations in which each team covered the current spread, won the game straight up, and number of simulations which went over or under the current total are listed below. Edges are indicated where one side enjoyed a significant advantage against the line or total.
--In 1000 simulated games, NEW ORLEANS covered the spread 536 times, while HOUSTON covered the spread 464 times. *No EDGE. In 1000 simulated games, HOUSTON won the game straight up 589 times, while NEW ORLEANS won 382 times. In 1000 simulated games, 571 games went over the total, while 403 games went under the total. *EDGE against the total =OVER.
--In 1000 simulated games, NEW ORLEANS covered the first half line 537 times, while HOUSTON covered the first half line 463 times. *No EDGE. In 1000 simulated games, 559 games went over first half total, while 441 games went under first half total. *No EDGE.
•HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY
--NEW ORLEANS is 24-23 against the spread versus HOUSTON since 1996.
--NEW ORLEANS is 25-25 straight up against HOUSTON since 1996.
--30 of 49 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL since 1996.
--HOUSTON is 26-22 versus the first half line when playing against NEW ORLEANS since 1996.
--32 of 48 games in this series have gone UNDER THE FIRST HALF TOTAL since 1996.
--Rockets are 4-10-1 ATS in the last 15 meetings.
--Rockets are 2-5 ATS in the last 7 meetings in New Orleans.
--Under is 25-10 in the last 35 meetings.
--Under is 10-1 in the last 11 meetings in New Orleans.
--Underdog is 9-3-1 ATS in the last 13 meetings.
•RECENT TRENDS
--Under is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 games following a ATS win.
--Under is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 vs. a team with a losing S.U. record.
--Under is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
--Pelicans are 3-14 ATS in their last 17 Wednesday games.
--Pelicans are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
--Pelicans are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
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#711 SACRAMENTO @ #712 MINNESOTA
(TV: 8:00 PM EST, CSN California Sacramento, FSN North Minnesota - Line: Timberwolves -9.5, Total: 216.5) - The up-and-down Minnesota Timberwolves will try to get back to .500 when they host the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night in the first of four meetings between the teams. Minnesota has reached the even mark over and over during the past two months but continuously finds a way to fall back below, doing so again with a 104-86 loss at San Antonio on Sunday. That was the ninth straight time that the Timberwolves — who are 7-14 against the West — have failed when given the chance to get over .500.
The Kings have a long way to go before they obtain such an opportunity, and Tuesday's 116-92 loss at Indiana will not help. The setback, which saw DeMarcus Cousins dominate but get almost no support, ended Sacramento's winning streak at a season-high three. Cousins finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds to record his 11th straight double-double, but only one other King (Rudy Gay, 12 points) scored in double digits.
•ABOUT THE KINGS (13-23 SU, 15-20-1 ATS): The 92-point effort against Indiana was a departure from the norm, as Sacramento had scored at least 100 points in 18 of the previous 19 games. The Pacers are an exceptional defensive unit, but it was notable how limited the production was for the Kings' backcourt. Fresh off a 26-point performance, point guard Isaiah Thomas produced just seven points and a season low-tying one assist, while Sacramento had only four 3-pointers and 13 assists as a team.
•ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (18-19 SU, 20-17-0 ATS): The 86 points produced at San Antonio represented the fewest for Minnesota in nearly two months, as the club was limited to only 37 points after halftime and shot 35.5 percent overall. The Spurs were able to stifle the Timberwolves by shutting down star forward Kevin Love, who was 3-for-14 en route to 14 points. It did not help that fellow scorers Kevin Martin and Corey Brewer combined to go 3-for-17 from the floor in an all-around difficult night for Minnesota.
•PREGAME NOTES: Timberwolves C Nikola Pekovic is averaging 24 points on 69 percent shooting in 28 minutes over his last two games.... Each of Sacramento's last three games have been decided by at least 20 points.... Minnesota recalled F Shabazz Muhammad from Iowa of the D-League on Monday.
StatSystems Sports has searched its database for all past games where the posted line or total were similar to this game's and where the final game statistics were comparable to the estimator's projections. (Points/Per Possession, Turnovers, along with Free-Throw Shooting Percentages). The number of simulations in which each team covered the current spread, won the game straight up, and number of simulations which went over or under the current total are listed below. Edges are indicated where one side enjoyed a significant advantage against the line or total.
--In 1000 simulated games, SACRAMENTO covered the spread 504 times, while MINNESOTA covered the spread 496 times. *No EDGE. In 1000 simulated games, MINNESOTA won the game straight up 712 times, while SACRAMENTO won 265 times. In 1000 simulated games, 552 games went under the total, while 448 games went over the total. *No EDGE.
--In 1000 simulated games, SACRAMENTO covered the first half line 505 times, while MINNESOTA covered the first half line 495 times. *No EDGE. In 1000 simulated games, 507 games went under first half total, while 445 games went over first half total. *No EDGE.
•HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY
--MINNESOTA is 36-32 against the spread versus SACRAMENTO since 1996.
--MINNESOTA is 38-33 straight up against SACRAMENTO since 1996.
--35 of 66 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL since 1996.
--MINNESOTA is 36-30 versus the first half line when playing against SACRAMENTO since 1996.
--45 of 68 games in this series have gone UNDER THE FIRST HALF TOTAL since 1996.
--Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
--Under is 6-2-1 in the last 9 meetings in Minnesota.
--Underdog is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
•RECENT TRENDS
--Over is 5-0 in Kings last 5 road games.
--Over is 5-0 in Kings last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
--Over is 5-0 in Kings last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
--Timberwolves are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a losing S.U. record.
--Timberwolves are 13-5-1 ATS in their last 19 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
--Under is 4-1-1 in Timberwolves last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
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#713 MEMPHIS @ #714 MILWAUKEE
(TV: 8:00 PM EST, SportSouth Memphis, FSN Wisconsin Milwaukee - Line: Grizzlies -5, Total: 186) - Marc Gasol is back in action and the Memphis Grizzlies have a chance to get back to .500 when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. Gasol missed 22 games with a knee injury before returning for Tuesday’s victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year contributed 12 points in 24 minutes. It’s unclear how many minutes he’ll receive in the second contest of a back-to-back.
The Grizzlies, who are attempting to defeat the Bucks for the sixth consecutive time, received a season-high 24 points from recently acquired guard Courtney Lee in the win over Oklahoma City. Milwaukee has lost six straight games and owns the worst record in the NBA at 7-30. The Bucks have lost by 16 or more points four times in their latest skid, including Monday’s 116-94 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Milwaukee is just 3-14 at home with its last victorious outing before the home fans coming Dec. 21 against the lowly Philadelphia 76ers.
•ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (18-19 SU, 17-19-1 ATS): Gasol’s return was kept quiet until shortly before game time Tuesday, perhaps to keep the Thunder from knowing he was going to play. He wore a brace on the left knee and said afterward that the brace bothered him much more than his knee. His Memphis teammates were happy to see him back on the court. “Everybody is excited, especially for him,” point guard Mike Conley said. “He’s been itching to get out there forever and I thought he did great. It gave us a good boost.”
•ABOUT THE BUCKS (7-30 SU, 12-25-0 ATS): Forward Ersan Ilyasova had his best outing of the season with a season-high 29 points to go with nine rebounds against the Raptors. Ilyasova was 11-of-16 from the field and has scored 20 or more points twice in four games after topping 20 just once before the stretch. Forward John Henson is also back from an ankle injury that sidelined him for six games, so Milwaukee is no longer thin in the frontcourt. Henson had eight points, five rebounds and four blocked shots in 17 minutes against Toronto.
•PREGAME NOTES: The Bucks last defeated the Grizzlies on March 28, 2010, in overtime.... Memphis G Tony Allen (wrist) has missed five consecutive games.... Milwaukee F Khris Middleton is bothered by an ankle ailment and is just 5-of-29 from the field over the last three games.
StatSystems Sports has searched its database for all past games where the posted line or total were similar to this game's and where the final game statistics were comparable to the estimator's projections. (Points/Per Possession, Turnovers, along with Free-Throw Shooting Percentages). The number of simulations in which each team covered the current spread, won the game straight up, and number of simulations which went over or under the current total are listed below. Edges are indicated where one side enjoyed a significant advantage against the line or total.
--In 1000 simulated games, MILWAUKEE covered the spread 525 times, while MEMPHIS covered the spread 447 times. *No EDGE. In 1000 simulated games, MEMPHIS won the game straight up 582 times, while MILWAUKEE won 393 times. In 1000 simulated games, 563 games went over the total, while 423 games went under the total. *EDGE against the total =OVER.
--In 1000 simulated games, MILWAUKEE covered the first half line 523 times, while MEMPHIS covered the first half line 477 times. *No EDGE. In 1000 simulated games, 521 games went over first half total, while 479 games went under first half total. *No EDGE.
•HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY
--MEMPHIS is 17-14 against the spread versus MILWAUKEE since 1996.
--MILWAUKEE is 16-15 straight up against MEMPHIS since 1996.
--17 of 31 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL since 1996.
--MEMPHIS is 18-12 versus the first half line when playing against MILWAUKEE since 1996.
--20 of 30 games in this series have gone UNDER THE FIRST HALF TOTAL since 1996.
--Grizzlies are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
--Grizzlies are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Milwaukee.
--Under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.
--Underdog is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings.
--Road team is 10-2 ATS in the last 12 meetings.
•RECENT TRENDS
--Grizzlies are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a losing S.U. record.
--Grizzlies are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
--Grizzlies are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
--Bucks are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 Wednesday games.
--Over is 4-0 in Bucks last 4 vs. a team with a losing S.U. record.
--Under is 4-0-1 in Bucks last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
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#715 UTAH @ #716 SAN ANTONIO
(TV: 8:00 PM EST, ESPN, ROOT Sports Utah, FSN Southwest San Antonio - Line: Spurs -13, Total: 200) - The San Antonio Spurs have rolled off five straight wins and look to stay hot as they open a four-game homestand with a visit from the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. San Antonio edged the Pelicans in New Orleans Monday without injured regulars Danny Green and Tiago Splitter and even survived a rare disqualification of Tim Duncan, who fouled out for the 16th time in his career with 6:02 left. "(New Orleans) made it hard on us," guard Tony Parker told reporters, "It was hard to get that win."
Utah is 7-5 in its last 12 games and is looking to establish some consistency but has had to endure the loss of its leading scorer of late as Gordon Hayward nurses a hip flexor injury. Hayward has missed the Jazz's last two games and is considered day-to-day. Starting in his place, Alec Burks torched Denver for a career-high 34 points on Monday and coach Ty Corbin expressed confidence in the third-year guard, telling the Salt Lake Tribune, "He's a talented young man."
•ABOUT THE JAZZ (13-26 SU, 17-20-2 ATS): Hayward's injury came at the tail end of last week's 112-101 win against Oklahoma City in which he set a personal best with 37 points. Without Hayward, Corbin is quick to note that his team needs every bit of a collective effort. "Look at our roster," he said. "It's not difficult for me to see when you miss a guy, why we tend to have trouble."
•ABOUT THE SPURS (30-8 SU, 20-18-0 ATS): Green is expected to be out for as long as four weeks after suffering a broken left hand Sunday against Minnesota, while Splitter, who suffered a sprain shoulder against the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 4, is still 2-to-4 weeks away from returning. On the bright side of the injury ledger, San Antonio got Manu Ginobili back against New Orleans after he sat the previous two games with a hamstring strain. Ginobili's return gives the Spurs their third-leading scorer back, as his 12.5 points per game complements Tony Parker (17.9) and Duncan (14.7).
•PREGAME NOTES: The win over the Pelicans on Monday made San Antonio the NBA's first 30-win team this season.... Burks is averaging 25 points on 18-of-31 shooting in his two spot starts for Hayward.... The Spurs are tied for third in the NBA with Toronto, allowing opponents an average of 96.4 points.
StatSystems Sports has searched its database for all past games where the posted line or total were similar to this game's and where the final game statistics were comparable to the estimator's projections. (Points/Per Possession, Turnovers, along with Free-Throw Shooting Percentages). The number of simulations in which each team covered the current spread, won the game straight up, and number of simulations which went over or under the current total are listed below. Edges are indicated where one side enjoyed a significant advantage against the line or total.
--In 1000 simulated games, SAN ANTONIO covered the spread 542 times, while UTAH covered the spread 442 times. *No EDGE. In 1000 simulated games, SAN ANTONIO won the game straight up 821 times, while UTAH won 162 times. In 1000 simulated games, 593 games went over the total, while 376 games went under the total. *EDGE against the total =OVER.
--In 1000 simulated games, SAN ANTONIO covered the first half line 505 times, while UTAH covered the first half line 495 times. *No EDGE. In 1000 simulated games, 554 games went over first half total, while 412 games went under first half total. *EDGE against first half total =OVER.
•HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY
--SAN ANTONIO is 46-30 against the spread versus UTAH since 1996.
--SAN ANTONIO is 53-26 straight up against UTAH since 1996.
--39 of 77 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL since 1996.
--SAN ANTONIO is 48-29 versus the first half line when playing against UTAH since 1996.
--46 of 78 games in this series have gone UNDER THE FIRST HALF TOTAL since 1996.
--Jazz are 8-20-1 ATS in the last 29 meetings in San Antonio.
--Under is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.
--Over is 16-5 in the last 21 meetings in San Antonio.
--Favorite is 22-9-1 ATS in the last 32 meetings.
--Home team is 7-3-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
•RECENT TRENDS
--Jazz are 0-5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win.
--Jazz are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
--Over is 4-0 in Jazz last 4 overall.
--Over is 9-1-1 in Spurs last 11 games playing on 1 days rest.
--Under is 4-0 in Spurs last 4 vs. a team with a losing S.U. record.
--Over is 6-1-1 in Spurs last 8 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
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#717 LA LAKERS @ #718 PHOENIX
(TV: 9:00 PM EST, TWC SportsNet Los Angeles, FSN Arizona Phoenix - Line: Suns -10, Total: 212) - The sinking Los Angeles Lakers have lost 11 of their last 12 games and things could get worse as they play their next seven games on the road. Los Angeles begins the excursion with Wednesday’s visit to the Phoenix Suns, and the Lakers need to shore up a defense that has allowed an average of 120.6 points while losing their last five games. Phoenix has lost three consecutive outings but has beaten the Lakers twice this season, including a 117-90 home win on Dec. 23.
The Suns are just 2-5 since guard Eric Bledsoe was lost with a knee injury. The double point-guard experiment of Bledsoe and Goran Dragic was a huge success in Phoenix’s strong season and now the Suns are attempting to adjust to a more traditional offense. Los Angeles was dominated on the boards 62-39 in the 27-point loss to the Suns and Phoenix’s rebounding total is still the highest in the NBA this season. The Lakers lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-118 on Tuesday.
•ABOUT THE LAKERS (14-24 SU, 19-18-1 ATS): Los Angeles keeps fading down the Western Conference standings and is now ahead of only the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz. Nick Young (28 points) and Jodie Meeks (26) both recorded season-best point totals against the Cavaliers but the thin roster continues to get outplayed. The injury list includes guards Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Steve Blake and Jordan Farmar as well as swingman Xavier Henry, who is about a week away from returning from a knee injury. “It’s frustrating but we’ve still got to get up and play basketball,” Young said after the Cleveland loss. “Nobody wants to get embarrassed. You’ve got to still take pride in that Lakers uniform.”
•ABOUT THE SUNS (21-16 SU, 25-11-1 ATS): Bledsoe will be sidelined at least another month and Dragic touched on the challenge of playing without him after Monday’s overtime loss to the New York Knicks. “It’s a little bit harder now with Eric out,” Dragic said. “It’s much easier when you’re playing together and you have two ballhandlers. But it is what it is and I have to keep my head up.” Dragic had 28 points against the Knicks and has topped 20 points in seven of the last nine games. He is averaging a career-best 19.3 points to go with an assists output of six per game and figures to draw consideration for a Western Conference All-Star roster spot.
•PREGAME NOTES: Phoenix has won five straight home games against the Lakers.... Los Angeles PG Kendall Marshall is averaging 12 assists over the last six games as he goes up against the organization that drafted him in 2012 and later gave up on him.... The Suns are 18-5 when scoring 100 or more points.
StatSystems Sports has searched its database for all past games where the posted line or total were similar to this game's and where the final game statistics were comparable to the estimator's projections. (Points/Per Possession, Turnovers, along with Free-Throw Shooting Percentages). The number of simulations in which each team covered the current spread, won the game straight up, and number of simulations which went over or under the current total are listed below. Edges are indicated where one side enjoyed a significant advantage against the line or total.
--In 1000 simulated games, PHOENIX covered the spread 529 times, while LA LAKERS covered the spread 439 times. *No EDGE. In 1000 simulated games, PHOENIX won the game straight up 752 times, while LA LAKERS won 228 times. In 1000 simulated games, 722 games went under the total, while 259 games went over the total. *EDGE against the total =UNDER.
--In 1000 simulated games, LA LAKERS covered the first half line 486 times, while PHOENIX covered the first half line 484 times. *No EDGE. In 1000 simulated games, 691 games went under first half total, while 285 games went over first half total. *EDGE against first half total =UNDER.
•HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY
--PHOENIX is 48-45 against the spread versus LA LAKERS since 1996.
--LA LAKERS is 54-39 straight up against PHOENIX since 1996.
--49 of 91 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL since 1996.
--PHOENIX is 45-45 versus the first half line when playing against LA LAKERS since 1996.
--48 of 91 games in this series have gone UNDER THE FIRST HALF TOTAL since 1996.
--Lakers are 0-5 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
--Lakers are 0-5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Phoenix.
--Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
--Underdog is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
--Home team is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
•RECENT TRENDS
--Lakers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games.
--Lakers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
--Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
--Suns are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
--Suns are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
--Suns are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
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#719 CLEVELAND @ #720 PORTLAND
(TV: 10:00 PM EST, FSN Ohio Cleveland, KGW Portland - Line: Trailblazers -11, Total: 208.5) - The Portland Trail Blazers haven’t been as crisp lately and part of the reason is the team’s penchants for slow starts. Portland strives for a better early showing when it hosts the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. “I think with our success, we kind of relax a little at the start of games because we feel like we can make it a game if we get down,” guard Damian Lillard said. “We just have to get back to playing 48 minutes.”
Cleveland is just 4-16 on the road but one of those wins came Tuesday when the Cavaliers recorded a 120-118 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Luol Deng was 5-of-5 from 3-point range and scored 27 points in his third game for the club after being acquired from the Chicago Bulls. Cleveland was an impressive 13-of-17 from behind the arc while winning for the third time in four games. The Trail Blazers are just 4-4 since beginning the season with wins in 24 of 29 games.
•ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (14-24 SU, 17-21-0 ATS): Deng had his first big game since joining Cleveland, and his presence is having a big effect on and off the court. He has quickly emerged as a leader, and his on-court play is taking pressure off young guard Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters. “There’s a lot more optimism and a lot more talent now that Luol has been added to the mix,” Irving said after the win over the Lakers. “He’s a great addition and to get him on this road trip was big for us.”
•ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (28-9 SU, 21-16-0 ATS): First-round pick C.J. McCollum had 10 points in 14 minutes in his second NBA game and is bordering on joining the rotation. McCollum missed the beginning of the season with a foot injury, and he can provide backcourt scoring off the bench when Lillard needs a breather, as he displayed in Saturday’s victory against Boston. “He was terrific. He kept us afloat in the first half,” Portland coach Terry Stotts said afterward. “He came in aggressive and he looked for his shots.”
•PREGAME NOTES: The Trail Blazers have won five of the past six meetings, including a 119-116 victory in Cleveland on Dec. 17.... Cavaliers C Anderson Varejao had 18 points and 18 rebounds against the Lakers for his eighth double-digit outing on the boards over the last nine games.... Portland C Robin Lopez had 15 points and 13 rebounds against Boston for his 14th double-double of the campaign.
StatSystems Sports has searched its database for all past games where the posted line or total were similar to this game's and where the final game statistics were comparable to the estimator's projections. (Points/Per Possession, Turnovers, along with Free-Throw Shooting Percentages). The number of simulations in which each team covered the current spread, won the game straight up, and number of simulations which went over or under the current total are listed below. Edges are indicated where one side enjoyed a significant advantage against the line or total.
--In 1000 simulated games, PORTLAND covered the spread 608 times, while CLEVELAND covered the spread 372 times. *EDGE against the spread =PORTLAND. In 1000 simulated games, PORTLAND won the game straight up 833 times, while CLEVELAND won 136 times. In 1000 simulated games, 529 games went under the total, while 471 games went over the total. *No EDGE.
--In 1000 simulated games, PORTLAND covered the first half line 565 times, while CLEVELAND covered the first half line 435 times. *EDGE against first half line =PORTLAND. In 1000 simulated games, 504 games went under first half total, while 463 games went over first half total. *No EDGE.
•HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY
--PORTLAND is 16-15 against the spread versus CLEVELAND since 1996.
--PORTLAND is 16-16 straight up against CLEVELAND since 1996.
--17 of 32 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL since 1996.
--PORTLAND is 17-14 versus the first half line when playing against CLEVELAND since 1996.
--16 of 31 games in this series have gone UNDER THE FIRST HALF TOTAL since 1996.
--Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
--Under is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Portland.
•RECENT TRENDS
--Cavaliers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
--Under is 6-1 in Cavaliers last 7 overall.
--Over is 5-1 in Cavaliers last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
--Trail Blazers are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 games overall.
--Trail Blazers are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
--Trail Blazers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
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#721 DENVER @ #722 GOLDEN STATE
(TV: 10:30 PM EST, ESPN, Altitude Denver, CSN Bay Area Golden State - Line: Warriors -7, Total: 213) - The Golden State Warriors got a well-deserved four-day break after a seven-game road trip and a tough win in their return home on Friday. The Warriors will pick things back up and go for their 12th win in 13 games when they host the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. Golden State earned an 89-81 win in Denver as part of a 10-game winning streak that bridged December and January but will be taking on a much different Nuggets squad this time around.
Denver had a five--game winning streak come to an end with a 118-103 loss at Utah on Monday but still managed to put points up and has hit the century mark in each of its seven games in the new year after failing to reach the mark in seven straight ending 2013. The Nuggets, who lost to the Warriors in the opening round of the playoffs last spring, opened things up offensively after a series of meetings between coach Brian Shaw and the players at the beginning of the month and the team averaged 119.6 points during its five-game streak. Golden State can score with any team in the league and held Denver to 38.3 percent shooting in the Dec. 23 meeting.
•ABOUT THE NUGGETS (19-18 SU, 17-20-0 ATS): Denver’s fast pace was evident on both ends during the winning streak, and it had allowed under 100 points in three straight before losing the edge on defense in Utah. The Nuggets got Wilson Chandler (hip) back from a two-game absence against the Jazz but he and the rest of the team could not keep Utah’s guards out of the paint, something that will need to be tightened up against Stephen Curry and Golden State. Ty Lawson went for 23 points and 11 assists on Monday - his sixth double-double in seven games this month - and his strong play is a big reason for the Nuggets’ recent success.
•ABOUT THE WARRIORS (25-14 SU, 18-19-2 ATS): Curry knocked down the go-ahead jumper with 2.1 seconds left to give a tired Golden State squad a 99-97 win over the Boston Celtics on Friday, giving the team a 20-4 record when Curry, Andre Iguodala, Klay Thompson, David Lee and Andrew Bogut start the game together. “I think most importantly we’re playing the kind of consistent ball that we’ve been looking for,” Lee told reporters. “All you can do each game is come out and try to play to your identity.” Part of that identity includes the defensive presence of Iguodala, who signed as a free agent after spending last season in Denver and has solidified the perimeter for the Warriors.
•PREGAME NOTES: Nuggets F Anthony Randolph (ankle) is questionable for Wednesday while F Darrell Arthur (groin) has been ruled out.... Curry is just 9-for-41 from 3-point range over the last five games.... Denver C J.J. Hickson is looking for a third straight double-double.
StatSystems Sports has searched its database for all past games where the posted line or total were similar to this game's and where the final game statistics were comparable to the estimator's projections. (Points/Per Possession, Turnovers, along with Free-Throw Shooting Percentages). The number of simulations in which each team covered the current spread, won the game straight up, and number of simulations which went over or under the current total are listed below. Edges are indicated where one side enjoyed a significant advantage against the line or total.
--In 1000 simulated games, GOLDEN STATE covered the spread 496 times, while DENVER covered the spread 484 times. *No EDGE. In 1000 simulated games, GOLDEN STATE won the game straight up 684 times, while DENVER won 282 times. In 1000 simulated games, 855 games went under the total, while 126 games went over the total. *EDGE against the total =UNDER.
--In 1000 simulated games, GOLDEN STATE covered the first half line 512 times, while DENVER covered the first half line 488 times. *No EDGE. In 1000 simulated games, 779 games went under first half total, while 221 games went over first half total. *EDGE against first half total =UNDER.
•HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY
--GOLDEN STATE is 36-35 against the spread versus DENVER since 1996.
--DENVER is 37-34 straight up against GOLDEN STATE since 1996.
--38 of 70 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL since 1996.
--DENVER is 36-34 versus the first half line when playing against GOLDEN STATE since 1996.
--39 of 69 games in this series have gone OVER THE FIRST HALF TOTAL since 1996.
--Nuggets are 0-7 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
--Nuggets are 0-4 ATS in the last 4 meetings in Golden State.
--Over is 20-7 in the last 27 meetings in Golden State.
--Underdog is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
•RECENT TRENDS
--Nuggets are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games following a S.U. loss.
--Under is 7-0 in Nuggets last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
--Under is 5-0 in Nuggets last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
--Warriors are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.
--Under is 6-1 in Warriors last 7 games following a ATS loss.
--Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
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#723 DALLAS @ #724 LA CLIPPERS
(TV: 10:30 PM EST, FSN Southwest Dallas, Prime Ticket Los Angeles - Line: Clippers -5, Total: 206) - Both the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers have gained some momentum with three-game win streaks over lesser opponents of late. Now, the two teams will provide a more formidable test for one another when they clash in Los Angeles on Wednesday. After dusting a hobbled Orlando squad Monday, Dallas coach Rick Carlisle downplayed just who the opponent is on any given night, telling the Dallas Morning News, "We need wins. They're not just going to give you the game, so you got to play."
Prior to the win over the Magic, the Mavericks swept a home-and-home against another also-ran in New Orleans and their last four wins have come against teams not currently in playoff position. The Clippers are coming off a 36-point thrashing over the Lakers - their biggest ever against their fellow Staples Center residents - following wins against Orlando and Boston last week. A win over Dallas would give Los Angeles a perfect four-game homestand and six wins in its last seven games overall.
•ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (23-16 SU, 21-18-0 ATS): Dallas is seven games over .500 for the first time since April 21, 2012. Forward Dirk Nowitzki prefers the team's current state to where it was much of last season, saying, "It's better than seven games under, which last year, definitely happened." Nowitzki's average of 21.2 points paces the Mavericks' offense and is among the league's top 15, while Monta Ellis' 20.2 points per game gives Dallas two players in the league's top 20 in scoring.
•ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (26-13 SU, 23-16-0 ATS): Like Carlisle, Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers is keeping the focus on his team and not the opponent on a nightly basis. "We just are focused on being a better team," Rivers told the Los Angeles Times. "Our job is to improve each day." Blake Griffin, who ranks 10th in the NBA, averaging 22.3 points, led the onslaught against the Lakers with 33 points on 12-of-15 shooting and has averaged 31 points his last two games.
•PREGAME NOTES: The Clippers have won four of the last five meetings with the Mavericks, including a 119-112 decision in Dallas Jan. 3, in which DeAndre Jordan notched a career-high 25 points to go with 18 rebounds.... Los Angeles (105.3 points per game) and Dallas (103.1) each rank among the NBA's top 10 scoring teams.... Dallas SG Wayne Ellington returned from missing two games due to illness to score a season-high 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting against Orlando on Monday.
StatSystems Sports has searched its database for all past games where the posted line or total were similar to this game's and where the final game statistics were comparable to the estimator's projections. (Points/Per Possession, Turnovers, along with Free-Throw Shooting Percentages). The number of simulations in which each team covered the current spread, won the game straight up, and number of simulations which went over or under the current total are listed below. Edges are indicated where one side enjoyed a significant advantage against the line or total.
--In 1000 simulated games, LA CLIPPERS covered the spread 543 times, while DALLAS covered the spread 440 times. *No EDGE. In 1000 simulated games, LA CLIPPERS won the game straight up 660 times, while DALLAS won 320 times. In 1000 simulated games, 684 games went under the total, while 294 games went over the total. *EDGE against the total =UNDER.
--In 1000 simulated games, LA CLIPPERS covered the first half line 527 times, while DALLAS covered the first half line 473 times. *No EDGE. In 1000 simulated games, 653 games went under first half total, while 322 games went over first half total. *EDGE against first half total =UNDER.
•HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY
--DALLAS is 31-28 against the spread versus LA CLIPPERS since 1996.
--DALLAS is 44-19 straight up against LA CLIPPERS since 1996.
--32 of 61 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL since 1996.
--DALLAS is 31-29 versus the first half line when playing against LA CLIPPERS since 1996.
--34 of 57 games in this series have gone OVER THE FIRST HALF TOTAL since 1996.
--Mavericks are 10-4 ATS in the last 14 meetings.
--Mavericks are 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings in Los Angeles.
--Under is 13-5 in the last 18 meetings in Los Angeles.
--Favorite is 10-4 ATS in the last 14 meetings.
•RECENT TRENDS
--Under is 5-0 in Mavericks last 5 road games.
--Under is 4-0 in Mavericks last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
--Under is 5-0 in Mavericks last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
--Clippers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Wednesday games.
--Clippers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
--Over is 5-1 in Clippers last 6 games following a ATS win.
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