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NBA Handicapping. News, notes and trends. 2/28
Friday's NBA Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Grizzlies at Thunder
Memphis: 32-24 SU, 25-30-1 ATS
Oklahoma City: 43-15 SU, 32-26 ATS
Since Russell Westbrook has returned to the Thunder lineup, OKC hasn’t won a game in three tries. All three losses have had a similar theme: a lack of defense. Oklahoma City has allowed at least 103 points in each defeat, while giving up 114 points to Cleveland in Wednesday’s shocking home loss to the Cavs as 15-point favorites. Since the start of February, the Thunder has compiled a dreadful 3-7 ATS record, including a 1-4 ATS mark at Chesapeake Energy Arena in this span.
The Grizzlies have won five of their past six games, including Wednesday’s 108-103 victory over the Lakers. However, Memphis has failed to cover seven consecutive home contests as a favorite, but the Grizzlies are a scorching 9-1 ATS the last 10 games in the underdog role. The lone ATS loss for Memphis in this stretch came at Oklahoma City on February 3 in an 86-77 defeat as eight-point underdogs, but point guard Mike Conley sat out with an ankle injury.
Warriors at Knicks
Golden State: 35-23 SU, 27-28-3 ATS
New York: 21-36 SU, 24-33 ATS
The Warriors continue their six-game road swing in New York following an embarrassing effort on Wednesday. Golden State was blown out at Chicago, 103-83 as 3½-point favorites to snap a four-game winning streak, while cashing the ‘under’ for the fifth consecutive contest. Mark Jackson’s team split a pair of contests against the Knicks last season, including a 54-point effort from Stephen Curry in a 109-105 defeat at Madison Square Garden as 7½-point underdogs.
The Knicks return home with no rest following Thursday’s contest at Miami, as New York owns a 4-8 SU and 6-6 ATS record on the second of a back-to-back. Mike Woodson’s club has struggled in the role of a home underdog, posting a 2-9 ATS record when receiving points at the Garden, with one of those covers coming in Monday’s buzzer-beating loss to Dallas. New York has cashed the ‘over’ in seven of the last 10 home contests, while each of the last four home meetings with Golden State has sailed ‘over’ the total.
Bulls at Mavericks
Chicago: 31-26 SU, 29-28 ATS
Dallas: 36-23 SU, 33-26 ATS
All of the sudden, the Bulls are looking like the third-best team in the Eastern Conference after winning seven of their past eight games. Following a rout of Golden State on Wednesday, the Bulls improved to 8-2 ATS the last 10 contests, while topping the 100-point mark for the third time in four games. The Bulls are playing with revenge on Friday after getting blown out by the Mavericks in December, 105-83, as Dallas put up 61 points in the first half.
The Mavericks are rolling right now, riding a four-game winning streak following Wednesday’s 108-89 home triumph over the Pelicans. The strong defensive effort for Dallas against New Orleans actually ended a five-game 'over' run for the Mavs, as Rick Carlisle's team has won five of their past seven at the American Airlines Arena. Dallas has taken care of Eastern Conference opponents of late, going 7-2 SU and 5-4 ATS, as the last loss to an Eastern team came against Miami in the first game after the All-Star break.
Pelicans at Suns
New Orleans: 23-34 SU, 24-29-4 ATS
Phoenix: 33-24 SU, 36-20-1 ATS
The Pelicans haven’t won a game since the All-Star break, losing each of their last five games, while scoring 93 points or less four times in this stretch. New Orleans will likely be without All-Star center Anthony Davis on Friday night after the former top pick suffered a shoulder injury in Wednesday’s defeat at Dallas. The Pelicans are playing with double-revenge after losing each of the first two meetings with the Suns, including a 101-94 defeat in Phoenix as two-point road favorites on November 10.
The Suns are mired in a three-game skid, which includes a pair of home losses to the Rockets and Wolves. The most recent defeat came at Utah on Wednesday night as a short underdog, while Phoenix played without starting point guard Goran Dragic, who is a game-time decision on Friday with a sprained ankle. Four of the last five games for the Suns have finished ‘under’ the total, but Phoenix has given up at least 109 points in each of its past three contests.
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Grizzlies at Thunder
Memphis: 32-24 SU, 25-30-1 ATS
Oklahoma City: 43-15 SU, 32-26 ATS
Since Russell Westbrook has returned to the Thunder lineup, OKC hasn’t won a game in three tries. All three losses have had a similar theme: a lack of defense. Oklahoma City has allowed at least 103 points in each defeat, while giving up 114 points to Cleveland in Wednesday’s shocking home loss to the Cavs as 15-point favorites. Since the start of February, the Thunder has compiled a dreadful 3-7 ATS record, including a 1-4 ATS mark at Chesapeake Energy Arena in this span.
The Grizzlies have won five of their past six games, including Wednesday’s 108-103 victory over the Lakers. However, Memphis has failed to cover seven consecutive home contests as a favorite, but the Grizzlies are a scorching 9-1 ATS the last 10 games in the underdog role. The lone ATS loss for Memphis in this stretch came at Oklahoma City on February 3 in an 86-77 defeat as eight-point underdogs, but point guard Mike Conley sat out with an ankle injury.
Warriors at Knicks
Golden State: 35-23 SU, 27-28-3 ATS
New York: 21-36 SU, 24-33 ATS
The Warriors continue their six-game road swing in New York following an embarrassing effort on Wednesday. Golden State was blown out at Chicago, 103-83 as 3½-point favorites to snap a four-game winning streak, while cashing the ‘under’ for the fifth consecutive contest. Mark Jackson’s team split a pair of contests against the Knicks last season, including a 54-point effort from Stephen Curry in a 109-105 defeat at Madison Square Garden as 7½-point underdogs.
The Knicks return home with no rest following Thursday’s contest at Miami, as New York owns a 4-8 SU and 6-6 ATS record on the second of a back-to-back. Mike Woodson’s club has struggled in the role of a home underdog, posting a 2-9 ATS record when receiving points at the Garden, with one of those covers coming in Monday’s buzzer-beating loss to Dallas. New York has cashed the ‘over’ in seven of the last 10 home contests, while each of the last four home meetings with Golden State has sailed ‘over’ the total.
Bulls at Mavericks
Chicago: 31-26 SU, 29-28 ATS
Dallas: 36-23 SU, 33-26 ATS
All of the sudden, the Bulls are looking like the third-best team in the Eastern Conference after winning seven of their past eight games. Following a rout of Golden State on Wednesday, the Bulls improved to 8-2 ATS the last 10 contests, while topping the 100-point mark for the third time in four games. The Bulls are playing with revenge on Friday after getting blown out by the Mavericks in December, 105-83, as Dallas put up 61 points in the first half.
The Mavericks are rolling right now, riding a four-game winning streak following Wednesday’s 108-89 home triumph over the Pelicans. The strong defensive effort for Dallas against New Orleans actually ended a five-game 'over' run for the Mavs, as Rick Carlisle's team has won five of their past seven at the American Airlines Arena. Dallas has taken care of Eastern Conference opponents of late, going 7-2 SU and 5-4 ATS, as the last loss to an Eastern team came against Miami in the first game after the All-Star break.
Pelicans at Suns
New Orleans: 23-34 SU, 24-29-4 ATS
Phoenix: 33-24 SU, 36-20-1 ATS
The Pelicans haven’t won a game since the All-Star break, losing each of their last five games, while scoring 93 points or less four times in this stretch. New Orleans will likely be without All-Star center Anthony Davis on Friday night after the former top pick suffered a shoulder injury in Wednesday’s defeat at Dallas. The Pelicans are playing with double-revenge after losing each of the first two meetings with the Suns, including a 101-94 defeat in Phoenix as two-point road favorites on November 10.
The Suns are mired in a three-game skid, which includes a pair of home losses to the Rockets and Wolves. The most recent defeat came at Utah on Wednesday night as a short underdog, while Phoenix played without starting point guard Goran Dragic, who is a game-time decision on Friday with a sprained ankle. Four of the last five games for the Suns have finished ‘under’ the total, but Phoenix has given up at least 109 points in each of its past three contests.
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