NBA Betting. Stats, Trends and more. 12/17

[TheGame]

Thunder at Nuggets: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com

Oklahoma City Thunder at Denver Nuggets (+2.5, 207)

The Oklahoma City Thunder are streaking and look for their seventh consecutive victory when they visit the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. Oklahoma City has won 14 of its past 15 games and the 19-4 start ties for second-best in franchise history, topped only by the 1993-94 Seattle SuperSonics’ 20-3 run. Denver has won 10 of its last 13 games and has also been victorious in seven of its last eight home games.

Oklahoma City posted a 115-113 home victory over the Nuggets on Nov. 18 in a contest that still frustrated Denver coach Brian Shaw. The Nuggets missed 18 free throws and allowed the Thunder to collect 19 rebounds. “To a team of that caliber, there’s no way you can do that and expect to come close to winning a game,” Shaw told reporters after Monday’s practice. “We made that evident to our guys.” Thunder forward Kevin Durant scored 38 points in that contest and running mate Russell Westbrook added 30.

LINE: The Thunder opened as 2-point faves and have been bet to -2.5. The total currently sits at 207.

COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Oklahoma City (-13) - Denver (-8.8) + home court (-3) = Oklahoma City -1.2

ABOUT THE THUNDER (19-4, 13-10 ATS): Durant was 11-of-18 shooting for 28 points in Sunday’s victory over Orlando but his high standards – and even loftier expectations – didn’t allow him to feel satisfied. “I’m one of those guys who wants to make every shot,” Durant said afterward. “I feel I can go back and watch and see the shots I missed and try to correct and look at my footwork and see how I can make those shots.” Durant has made over 60 percent of his shots in four of the last six games – shooting a torrid 58.7 during the stretch – and has scored below 20 points just three times in 23 games.

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (14-9, 12-11 ATS): Denver is five games above. 500 in the tough Western Conference but there are still a lot of people unsure how to measure the club. A four-game stretch that starts with the Thunder might provide some answers as the Nuggets follow by hosting the Phoenix Suns on Friday, visiting the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday and returning to host the Golden State Warriors on Monday. “It’s going to be a tough week,” power forward Kenneth Faried told reporters on Monday. “It should test us, test our team.”

TRENDS:

* Under is 5-1-1 in the last seven meetings in Denver.
* Thunder are 0-4 ATS in the last four meetings.
* Underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.
* Road team is 7-3-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings.

BUZZER BEATERS:

1. Denver has won nine of the last 11 home games in the series.

2. Nuggets PG Ty Lawson had 29 points and eight assists in last month’s loss to the Nuggets.

3. Thunder PF Serge Ibaka had just four points and two rebounds against Orlando after posting double-doubles in seven of the previous 11 games.

[TheGame]

Tuesday NBA Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com

Blazers at Cavaliers

Portland: 21-4 SU, 18-7 ATS
Cleveland: 9-14 SU, 9-14 ATS

The Blazers continue their hot start after rallying past the Pistons in overtime on Sunday night, 111-109. Damian Lillard's jumper with one-tenth of a second left gave Portland its 11th road win in 13 tries, but the Blazers failed to cover as 3½-point favorites. Rip City has torn apart the Eastern Conference this season, posting a 10-0 SU and 8-2 ATS record, including six wins on the highway.

The Cavaliers are one of the hotter teams against the number recently by covering five of the past six games. Cleveland split a pair of games in the Sunshine State over the weekend, while cashing as 12½-point underdogs in a 114-107 defeat at Miami. The Cavs have fared well in the role of a home 'dog of late, beating the Bulls, Nuggets, and Clippers, while holding each of those teams to 93 points or less.

Kings at Bobcats

Sacramento: 7-15 SU, 8-13-1 ATS
Charlotte: 10-14 SU, 14-9-1 ATS

The Kings begin their first major road trip of the season with the next four games coming against Southeast Division opponents. Sacramento plays its third contest since Rudy Gay was inserted in the lineup, coming off a home underdog victory over Houston on Sunday, 106-91. The Kings snapped a five-game 'over' streak with the 'under' against the Rockets on a high total of 214. Interestingly enough, Sacramento is playing its first road game against an Eastern Conference team this season, while going 1-2 SU/ATS versus the East at home.

The Bobcats have dropped three straight games since an impressive home victory over the Warriors last week. Charlotte has allowed less than 100 points in 16 of the past 17 contests, while the 'under' is 7-1 in the last eight games at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Bobcats own a 1-5 record against Western Conference foes, while losing outright as home favorites to the Lakers and Suns.

Lakers at Grizzlies

Los Angeles: 11-13 SU, 13-10-1 ATS
Memphis: 10-13 SU, 7-15-1 ATS

The Lakers built an early 10-point lead last night at Atlanta, but the Hawks steamrolled Los Angeles in the second half of a 114-100 victory at Philips Arena. Kobe Bryant was limited to eight points on 4-of-14 shooting, as the Lakers fell to 1-4 SU/ATS with the superstar back in the lineup after offseason surgery on his Achilles tendon. The Lakers have struggled within the Western Conference on the road, posting a 2-5 SU/ATS record, with all five losses coming by double-digits.

The Grizzlies have been a major disappointment at FedEx Forum this season, putting up a 5-9 SU and 3-11 ATS record at home. Memphis hasn't won or covered a game in the home underdog role, going 0-5 SU/ATS, including a defeat to Minnesota on Sunday, 101-93. Mike Conley suffered a thigh contusion in the loss to the Wolves, as the Grizzlies' point guard is questionable for tonight's game. The Grizzlies defeated the Lakers at Staples Center during a 4-0 road trip last month in an 89-86 triumph.

Thunder at Nuggets

Oklahoma City: 19-4 SU, 13-10 ATS
Denver: 14-9 SU, 12-11 ATS

The Thunder staved off the Magic on Sunday to pick up their 12th home win in 12 tries, but failed to cash as 13-point favorites in a 101-98 victory. The ATS loss snapped a five-game cover streak for OKC, as the Thunder heads to the Pepsi Center tonight for a division showdown with the Nuggets. Oklahoma City held off Denver in the first meeting this season, 115-113 in mid-November, but the Nuggets grabbed the money as nine-point road underdogs.

The Nuggets continue a four-game homestand after holding off the Pelicans on Sunday, 102-93 as 7½-point favorites. Six of Denver's last seven games have finished 'under' the total, as the Nuggets haven't eclipsed the 103-point mark in the past six contests. The Nuggets slipped past the Thunder twice last season at the Pepsi Center, winning each matchup by a combined five points in the role of an underdog.

Pelicans at Warriors

New Orleans: 11-11 SU, 9-12-1 ATS
Golden State: 13-12 SU, 10-13-2 ATS

The Pelicans have definitely experienced a roller-coaster ride this season, as New Orleans looks to forge above .500 tonight with a win at Golden State. The last time these teams met in the Big Easy, the Warriors left town with a 102-101 triumph in late November, in spite of six Pelicans finishing in double-figures. New Orleans fell to 5-3 ATS the last eight games after Sunday's setback at Denver, as the Pelicans have swept a three-game road trip this season, while also losing all three games on an away swing earlier this season, proving the coin-toss theory with this club.

The Warriors have stumbled of late, coming off consecutive losses to the Rockets and Suns. Golden State has failed to cash in each of the last four games overall, with the lone straight-up win in this stretch coming against Dallas in which the Warriors rallied from a late 10-point deficit. Mark Jackson's club isn't play its best basketball at home with a 2-3 SU and 1-4 ATS ledger the last five games at Oracle Arena, but the Warriors have beaten New Orleans five straight times.

[TheGame]

Hot teams
-- Portland won eight of its last nine games (4-2 as AF).
-- Cavaliers won four of their last five games.
-- Denver won three of its last four games.
-- Thunder won its last six games (5-1 vs spread, 5-1 last six AF).
-- Pelicans won three of their last four road games.

Cold Teams
-- Charlotte lost its last three games by 9-5-3 points.
-- Kings lost eight of their last eleven games (3-3-1 as AU).
-- Memphis lost five of its last six games.
-- Lakers are 1-4 since Kobe Bryant started playing again.
-- Golden State lost three of its last four games.

Totals
-- Five of last six Sacramento games went over the total.
-- Nine of last ten Portland games went over the total.
-- Six of last eight Laker games went over the total.
-- Over is 3-1-1 in last five Thunder-Nugget games.
-- Seven of ten New Orleans road games stayed under.

Series records
-- Kings won last three games with Charlotte by 26-4-36 points.
-- Cavaliers lost four of their last five games with Portland.
-- Lakers lost four of their last five games with Memphis.
-- Nuggets won three of last four games with Oklahoma City.
-- Pelicans lost their last five games with Golden State, losing last couple visits to Oakland by 7-10 points.

[TheGame]

7:00 PM
SACRAMENTO vs. CHARLOTTE
Sacramento is 2-8 SU in its last 10 games on the road
Sacramento is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Charlotte
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Charlotte's last 17 games
Charlotte is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games

7:00 PM
PORTLAND vs. CLEVELAND
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Portland's last 9 games when playing Cleveland
Portland is 3-5-1 ATS in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Cleveland
Cleveland is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Portland
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Cleveland's last 8 games when playing at home against Portland

8:00 PM
LA LAKERS vs. MEMPHIS
LA Lakers are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games on the road
LA Lakers are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing Memphis
Memphis is 0-4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Memphis is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games

9:00 PM
OKLAHOMA CITY vs. DENVER
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oklahoma City's last 6 games on the road
Oklahoma City is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Denver
Denver is 5-10 SU in its last 15 games when playing Oklahoma City
Denver is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Oklahoma City

10:30 PM
NEW ORLEANS vs. GOLDEN STATE
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New Orleans's last 5 games when playing on the road against Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 11 of New Orleans's last 15 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Golden State's last 5 games when playing at home against New Orleans
Golden State is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games

[TheGame]

StatFox Super Situations

PORTLAND at CLEVELAND
Play Against - Home underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points (CLEVELAND) off a cover where the team lost the game straight up as an underdog 92-47 over the last 5 seasons. ( 66.2% | 40.3 units ) 5-2 this year. ( 71.4% | 2.8 units )

SACRAMENTO at CHARLOTTE
Play On - Favorites vs. the money line (CHARLOTTE) after a loss by 6 points or less against opponent after scoring 105 points or more 2 straight games 54-16 over the last 5 seasons. ( 77.1% | 30.7 units ) 3-2 this year. ( 60.0% | 0.1 units )

PORTLAND at CLEVELAND
Play Against - Road favorites vs. the 1rst half line (PORTLAND) after beating the spread by 48 or more points total in their last seven games, top level team, winning 75% or more of their games on the season 70-33 since 1997. ( 68.0% | 33.7 units ) 2-0 this year. ( 100.0% | 2.0 units )

[TheGame]

Hoop Trends - Tuesday
By Vince Akins
VegasInsider.com

ATS TREND OF THE DAY:

The Cavaliers are 10-0 ATS (9.2 ppg) since Jan 13, 2004 after a loss on the road when their opponent is off an overtime game that they did not lose by 7+ points.

OU TREND OF THE DAY:

The Cavaliers are 0-12 OU (-10.25 ppg) since Apr 17, 2010 at home when the total is less than 216 with two or more days of rest after a loss in which they allowed at least 50% from the field.

PLAYER TREND OF THE DAY:

The Cavaliers are 0-10 ATS (-9.55 ppg) since Mar 18, 2012 at home after Kyrie Irving was the Cavaliers’ high scorer on the road.

CHOICE TREND:

The Grizzlies are 0-9 OU (-8.17 ppg) since Dec 13, 2000 at home with at most one day of rest after a loss at home in which their field goal attempt per turnover ratio was at least eight.

ACTIVE TRENDS:

The Trail Blazers are 9-0 OU (10.94 ppg) since Nov 01, 2010 on the road after Lamarcus Aldridge had a double double the last two after playing in a road win.

The Grizzlies are 0-8 ATS (-7.94 ppg) since Dec 21, 2012 at home after Zach Randolph had a double double the last two.