Sports Wagers NBA
Boston @ PHOENIX
Boston +7 -106 over PHOENIX
Many teams look rejuvenated last night after the All-Star break and we expect to see something similar out of the Celtics. Remember, Boston is a young and enthusiastic bunch that came out of the gate very hot and needed that break as much as anyone. Rajon Rondo has notched double-digit assists in each of his last three games, including 12 in a season-high 37 minutes in a recent loss to Dallas. Since the return of Rondo, the C’s have won five of seven with only losses occurring against Dallas and San Antonio. The Celtics are a well-coached team that is not going to be an easy out in the second half.
Phoenix played last night in Denver and won in OT by five. For whatever reason that game last night was as intense as any we’ve seen this year. Every shot was contested, every rebound was fought for and every possession mattered. Both clubs played their hearts out and it ended up being a back and forth game with big runs from both teams. The Suns have San Antonio on deck on Friday night, making this an extremely vulnerable spot. Eric Bledsoe is still out for the Suns and when he doesn’t play, Phoenix is a .500 team. Whether Phoenix can hang on to its playoff spot will be intriguing because this team was supposed to lose 50 games this season according to the experts. Give the Suns a ton of credit but in terms of situational betting, this looks like an extremely vulnerable spot for the host. Upset possibility.
Our Pick
Boston +7 -106 (Risking 2.12 units - To Win: 2.00)
New York @ NEW ORLEANS
NEW ORLEANS -3½ -105 over New York
The Knicks played hard last night in a five-point loss to the Grizzlies in Memphis but they are just 3-7 this season in the second game of back-to-backs. Furthermore, the Knicks often follow up a good effort, win or lose, with a poor one and that could certainly come into play here. New York has one win in its last seven games and that lone victory came against a depleted Nuggets squad. From a psychological standpoint one has to question how the Knicks will rebound tonight after rallying from 18 down last night to take a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter. In true Knicks’ fashion, they were outscored 21-9 in the final 5½ minutes. For the Knicks, it was another loss that sucks the life out of a team. The Knicks are now 8-15 on the road.
New Orleans has played well over the last four weeks, winning eight of 13 while holding opponents to 95 points per game. Anthony Davis is playing at an elite level on both ends of the floor. This guy is a true All-Star that brings it every night and his determination and his refuse to lose attitude is contagious. The Pelicans hold a significant edge on the boards, they’re above .500 at home, they defeated the Knicks back in New York in December and there’s nothing suggesting they won’t repeat that here. On paper, this is a very evenly matched contest but the intangibles heavily favor the Pelicans and games are not played on paper.
Our Pick
NEW ORLEANS -3½ -105 (Risking 2.1 units - To Win: 2.00)
Brooklyn @ UTAH
UTAH +144 over Brooklyn
An effective small-ball lineup isn't the only silver lining from Brook Lopez's season-ending foot injury. Rookie Mason Plumlee has been a pleasant surprise for Brooklyn, providing a spark off the bench all season and a career-high 22 points and 13 rebounds in a recent win over New Orleans. However, after that big run in January, the Nets have gone back to playing like the ordinary team that they are with just four wins in their past nine games. Brooklyn has just seven wins in 24 road games but remain one of the Associations most overvalued teams.
The Jazz won three straight before the break, improving to 16-9 when starting Trey Burke, Gordon Hayward, Richard Jefferson, Marvin Williams and Derrick Favors. That will be Utah’s starting lineup again tonight. The Jazz have not only won three straight but one of those victories occurred against Miami in which the Jazz held LeBron James to a season-low-tying 13 points. Utah’s defense has stepped it up tremendously and is playing at a high level right now. In a game in which the Jazz have at least a 50% chance of winning and probably more, they offer up all the value here.
Our Pick
UTAH +144 (Risking 2 units - To Win: 2.88)
Boston @ PHOENIX
Boston +7 -106 over PHOENIX
Many teams look rejuvenated last night after the All-Star break and we expect to see something similar out of the Celtics. Remember, Boston is a young and enthusiastic bunch that came out of the gate very hot and needed that break as much as anyone. Rajon Rondo has notched double-digit assists in each of his last three games, including 12 in a season-high 37 minutes in a recent loss to Dallas. Since the return of Rondo, the C’s have won five of seven with only losses occurring against Dallas and San Antonio. The Celtics are a well-coached team that is not going to be an easy out in the second half.
Phoenix played last night in Denver and won in OT by five. For whatever reason that game last night was as intense as any we’ve seen this year. Every shot was contested, every rebound was fought for and every possession mattered. Both clubs played their hearts out and it ended up being a back and forth game with big runs from both teams. The Suns have San Antonio on deck on Friday night, making this an extremely vulnerable spot. Eric Bledsoe is still out for the Suns and when he doesn’t play, Phoenix is a .500 team. Whether Phoenix can hang on to its playoff spot will be intriguing because this team was supposed to lose 50 games this season according to the experts. Give the Suns a ton of credit but in terms of situational betting, this looks like an extremely vulnerable spot for the host. Upset possibility.
Our Pick
Boston +7 -106 (Risking 2.12 units - To Win: 2.00)
New York @ NEW ORLEANS
NEW ORLEANS -3½ -105 over New York
The Knicks played hard last night in a five-point loss to the Grizzlies in Memphis but they are just 3-7 this season in the second game of back-to-backs. Furthermore, the Knicks often follow up a good effort, win or lose, with a poor one and that could certainly come into play here. New York has one win in its last seven games and that lone victory came against a depleted Nuggets squad. From a psychological standpoint one has to question how the Knicks will rebound tonight after rallying from 18 down last night to take a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter. In true Knicks’ fashion, they were outscored 21-9 in the final 5½ minutes. For the Knicks, it was another loss that sucks the life out of a team. The Knicks are now 8-15 on the road.
New Orleans has played well over the last four weeks, winning eight of 13 while holding opponents to 95 points per game. Anthony Davis is playing at an elite level on both ends of the floor. This guy is a true All-Star that brings it every night and his determination and his refuse to lose attitude is contagious. The Pelicans hold a significant edge on the boards, they’re above .500 at home, they defeated the Knicks back in New York in December and there’s nothing suggesting they won’t repeat that here. On paper, this is a very evenly matched contest but the intangibles heavily favor the Pelicans and games are not played on paper.
Our Pick
NEW ORLEANS -3½ -105 (Risking 2.1 units - To Win: 2.00)
Brooklyn @ UTAH
UTAH +144 over Brooklyn
An effective small-ball lineup isn't the only silver lining from Brook Lopez's season-ending foot injury. Rookie Mason Plumlee has been a pleasant surprise for Brooklyn, providing a spark off the bench all season and a career-high 22 points and 13 rebounds in a recent win over New Orleans. However, after that big run in January, the Nets have gone back to playing like the ordinary team that they are with just four wins in their past nine games. Brooklyn has just seven wins in 24 road games but remain one of the Associations most overvalued teams.
The Jazz won three straight before the break, improving to 16-9 when starting Trey Burke, Gordon Hayward, Richard Jefferson, Marvin Williams and Derrick Favors. That will be Utah’s starting lineup again tonight. The Jazz have not only won three straight but one of those victories occurred against Miami in which the Jazz held LeBron James to a season-low-tying 13 points. Utah’s defense has stepped it up tremendously and is playing at a high level right now. In a game in which the Jazz have at least a 50% chance of winning and probably more, they offer up all the value here.
Our Pick
UTAH +144 (Risking 2 units - To Win: 2.88)
| Yesterday | 1 | 2 | 0.00 | -1.50 |
| Last 30 Days | 11 | 12 | 0.00 | -1.24 |
| Season to Date | 40 | 41 | 0.00 | +2.82 |
