NBA BETTING FOR SUNDAY: SPURS (39-12) VS. NETS (29-21)

by LUCAS COMBS

Last Meeting: 12/31 – The Spurs crushed the Nets in San Antonio, 104-73.

When: Sunday, February 10^th at 5PM PT

Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York

The Match-Up

The San Antonio Spurs head to Brooklyn to face the Nets Sunday and Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli could be sitting out for the second straight game. Duncan and Ginobli sat out Friday’s game versus the Pistons, and subsequently, the Spurs fell 119-109, snapping an 11 game winning streak. It’s questionable if either Duncan or Ginobli will be able to go versus the Nets.

The Brooklyn Nets have had a rough schedule recently and are just 2-3 straight up in their last 5 contests. Brooke Lopez struggled in Friday’s road loss to the Wizards, tallying 13 points on just 3/11 shooting from the field.

Betting Information

The Nets have also struggled against the spread lately, going 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games. Brooklyn is a meager 22-26 ATS overall this season (11-14 ATS at home) and just 8-15 ATS against teams with winning records.

The Spurs have won 11 out of their last 12 games straight up and are 6-5-1 ATS during that stretch. San Antonio is 28-21 ATS this season (15-12 ATS on the road). The Spurs are also an impressive 15-6 ATS versus non-conference opponents.

Concerning the total, Brooklyn is 28-22 Under (14-13 Under at home) and San Antonio is 28-23 Under (15-12 Over in road games). The Nets are 5-1 Under in Sunday games this season and 13-4 Under versus teams that score 99 points or more per game (which San Antonio does).

Subway Two-Way

ESPN published an article (OK, “blogged”) about play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico calling two games in the same day. Tirico will call the Knicks-Clippers game at 1PM and then hop on a subway to Brooklyn and call the Nets-Spurs game at 8PM (Eastern times). Poor Tirico. You mean, he’s actually going to have to work more than a few hours in a single day? Oh no, that’s not the issue.

The issue is over whether or not he gets seen on the subway. What is Tirico? Some secret agent for the President? Tirico is calling NBA games, but what he’s really doing is delivering sophisticated codes in his play-by-play diction to keep the country safe from those terrorist 5 year old floor wipers. Really!? He’s a play-by-play announcer. No one is going to attack him on the subway or crowd around for his autograph. Lets pray, however, Tirico doesn’t get curb stomped because then ESPN might have to call on… Bill Walton. Oh dear god.

Injury Report

Source: ESPN, NBC SPORTS

NBA: CLIPPERS (35-16) AT MIAMI (32-14)

by LUCAS COMBS

Last Meeting: 11/14 – The Clippers defeated the Heat in LA, 107-100.

Line Movement

When: Friday, February 8^th at 5PM PT

Where: American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida

The Match-Up

Lebron James and Dwayne Wade combined for 63 points Wednesday as the Heat held off a streaking Houston Rockets squad 114-106. Chris Paul (knee bruise), Chauncey Billups (ACL), Jamal Crawford (sore shoulder) and Blake Griffin (hamstring) are all listed as questionable for the Clippers Friday. That means the “other” LA basketball team could be without (what looks like) their four best players against arguably the best team in the league. The Clippers snapped a 3 game losing skid Wednesday in Orlando, winning 86-76.

Betting Information

Against the spread, Miami is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games and has only lost two games in nearly a month. The Heat are 5-2 ATS against Pacific division opponents, but 22-24 ATS overall (12-11 ATS at home). The LA Clippers are 12-7 ATS versus teams with winning records but 12-14 ATS on the road (28-23 ATS overall). LA is 1-3 ATS in their last 4 games.

Concerning the total, Miami is 24-22 Under (12-11 Over at home) and the Clippers are 26-24 Over (14-12 Under on the road). LA is 10-3 Over versus teams that score 99 points or more.

“We’ve got to get healthy”

Chris Paul expects this year’s Clippers squad to win a championship. But the Clippers won’t sniff a championship, unless the Clippers get healthy.

Injury Report

Source: Sports Illustrated

NBA BETTING: THE NUGGETS HOST THE BULLS

by ODDSFATHER STAFF

The Nuggets try to extend their long win streak when the banged-up Bulls pay a visit on Thursday night.

The Bulls have been saddled with a whole host of injuries, and while PG Kirk Hinrich (arm) is out and SG Marco Belinelli (ankle) is doubtful for Thursday’s game, PF Carlos Boozer (hamstring) and C Joakim Noah (foot) are both expected to start. Despite the injuries, Chicago has had a decent road trip so far (3-1 ATS, 2-2 SU) and is now 14-8 SU and 13-8-1 ATS (62%) on the road this season. Denver has ripped off seven straight SU victories, going 6-1 ATS during this stretch. The Nuggets have scored at least 102 points in all seven wins, averaging a hefty 113.1 PPG on 49% FG and 37% threes. They have also dominated the Bulls in recent years, winning four of the past five meetings SU and going 7-1 SU (6-2 ATS) in the past eight home games versus the Bulls. Chicago is getting healthier, and is a strong 9-6 ATS (60%) as a road underdog this season. Denver is 6-10 ATS (38%) against the more defensive-minded Eastern Conference this season. And although the Bulls lost on Monday at Indiana, they are 40-22 ATS (65%) after an SU defeat in the past three seasons, outscoring these teams by 8.2 PPG.

Chicago boasts the third-best scoring defense in the NBA (91.0 PPG) and ranks second in FG Pct. defense (42.8% FG), but allowed the Pacers to score 111 points on 53% FG in Monday’s loss. The Bulls have allowed their opponents to shoot 49% FG (39% threes) in the past three games, which coincides with their best interior defender, C Joakim Noah (12.1 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 2.1 BPG), not being in the lineup. In the past five meetings with Denver, Noah has 10.8 PPG, 13.8 RPG and 2.0 BPG. PF Carlos Boozer (15.7 PPG, 9.6 RPG) returned to action Monday after a three-game absence, and was able to tally 10 points and five rebounds in 23 minutes of action. He’s averaged a double-double in his career versus Denver with 16.3 PPG and 10.8 RPG in 25 meetings. Chicago’s most important player continues to be leading scorer SF Luol Deng (17.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG). Deng has been slow to recover from a hamstring injury though, shooting just 34.9% FG over his past five games (16.0 PPG, 8.6 RPG). He was 4-for-18 from the floor in Monday’s loss to the Pacers, but is scoring 19.2 PPG in his past six meetings with Denver. With SG Marco Belinelli (9.7 PPG; 24 points on Monday) unlikely to play, the backcourt scoring will have to come from PG Nate Robinson (11.8 PPG, 4.0 APG) and SG Richard Hamilton (11.1 PPG). Robinson has flourished in the starting role, averaging 17.0 PPG (7-of-16 threes) and 9.3 APG in the past three games, logging 40+ minutes in each contest. But Hamilton has not surpassed 10 points in any of his past seven games, averaging a paltry 7.3 PPG on 37.7% FG.

The Nuggets come into this one having won seven straight and 14 of 17 since the start of the new calendar year. Denver is averaging 26.4 fast-break PPG during its win streak and is a stellar 21-3 SU (16-8 ATS) at home this season, scoring 108.4 PPG on 47.5% FG at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets have six players averaging double-figures this season led by SF Danilo Gallinari (17.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG). He has been on fire during the seven-game win streak with 20.6 PPG (50% FG) and 5.1 RPG. He’s scored at least 22 points in three of his past four games, but shot horribly against the Bulls last season when he was with New York, making 29% FG (17-for-58) and 28% threes. PG Ty Lawson (15.2 PPG, 6.9 APG) has been the team’s most valuable player and his numbers during the win streak are even more impressive than his overall numbers: 19.3 PPG (47.4% FG, 43.5% threes), 7.6 APG, 2.4 SPG. In the past two games, Lawson has 20 assists and just two turnovers. SG Andre Iguodala (13.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 4.6 APG) is shooting a career-low 44.0% FG, but he’s made half his shots (31-of-62) in the past five games, averaging 16.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG and 5.8 APG. SF Kenneth Faried (12.0 PPG, 9.7 RPG) is coming off a double-double (13 pts, 10 reb), while fellow SF Corey Brewer (11.5 PPG, 3.2 RPG) poured in 20 points in Tuesday’s win over the Bucks. C JaVale McGee (10.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.0 BPG) had missed three straight games with a lower leg injury, but returned on Tuesday with eight points, five rebounds and four blocks in just 18 minutes of action. He could see significantly more time as the Nuggets try to combat the size of Chicago’s big men. PG Andre Miller (8.9 PPG, 5.7 APG) has done an outstanding job of distributing the basketball over the past three games, totaling 20 assists and just two turnovers during this stretch.

Source: Statfox

COLLEGE HOOPS: NOTRE DAME VS. SYRACUSE

by JEFF ALLEN

#6 Syracuse looks to end their two game loosing skid as the Orange face Notre Dame in front of their home crowd in New York.

Line: Syracuse -8, Total: 133

Pretty unbelievable, but Syracuse has beaten Notre Dame at home 35 straight times. After losing in their past two games to Villanova and Pitt, having the Irish come to town should help the Orange get back on track. The Pitt loss knocked them out of the #1 seed in the Big East – they’re now a half game behind Marquette. Meanwhile, Notre Dame is involved in a 3 way tie for third place in the conference.

Syracuse should have revenge in their eyes as they haven’t forgotten the last time they faced Notre Dame – a game in South Bend where Notre Dame won 67-58, providing the Orange their first loss of the 2011-2012 season.

Import injury information for this game involves Syracuse’s starting center DaJuan Coleman, who is out for his second game after having knee surgery.

Notre Dame could have some tired legs after going into overtime in their win against DePaul on Saturday. They’re going to have their hands full against a Syracuse team that is 13-0 straight up at home and has won 10 of those games by 20 points or more.

The Irish are 2-5 against the spread versus Big East competition. This doesn’t bode well for them as they are about to play against the cream of the Big East competition in the Syracuse Orange. After running this game by the crew of handicappers at Jeff Allen Sports, I like the Under.

Sources: SB Nation, Covers

NBA ON SUPER BOWL SUNDAY: CLIPPERS (34-14) VS. CELTICS (23-23)

y LUCAS COMBS

When: Sunday, February 3^rd at 10AM PT

Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts

Line: -1 Celtics

Total: 184

Line Movement

Last Meeting: December 27th – The Clippers routed the Celtics in LA 106-77.

The Match-Up

The LA Clippers may be one of the best teams in the league, but on Friday night they were pummeled and humiliated by one of the league’s bottom dwellers, the Toronto Raptors. Clippers players cited lack of energy as the reason for their worst loss of the season. Chris Paul has yet to resume practicing since re-injuring his knee on January 12^th versus the Orlando Magic.

Betting Information

After losing 6 in a row straight up and going 0-6 against the spread, the Boston Celtics have won 3 in a row straight up, going 3-0 ATS. On the year, the Celtics are a porous 18-25-3 ATS (11-12-1 ATS at home). Boston has a slight tendency to play in lower scoring games than expected – the Celtics are 24-21-1 Under (13-11-1 Under at home). The total has gone Under in 3 out of the last 4 home games for Boston.

The LA Clippers have struggled some lately, losing 5 out of their last 7 games straight up and going 2-5 ATS. The Clippers are 27-21 ATS on the year (11-12 ATS on the road). LA is 25-23 Over on the season (13-10 Under on the road). The total has gone Under in the last 3 games and in 3 out of the last 4 road games for the Clippers.

Outlook

Clippers’ Jamal Crawford suffered a broken nose in the loss Friday versus the Raptors and will be a game time decision Sunday versus the Celtics. If Crawford can’t go, the prospects of a Clippers road win will dwindle significantly versus a Boston team looking for its fourth straight win.

Injury Report

Source: SBNation

DAILY FREE PICK: SUNS VS. WARRIORS

by ODDSFATHER STAFF

The Warriors have won 3 in a row (covering in 2 out of those 3 games) and have covered in 6 out of their last 9 games. They’ve been a team rewarding bettors this year, going 26-19 ATS.

The Suns have been on the opposite end of the spectrum going 21-25-1 ATS on the year. The Suns have lost 3 out of their last 4 games straight up (going 1-2-1 ATS during this stretch).

Even with the Warriors’ best player, Stephen Curry, not in action – the Warriors should still roll over the Suns. Curry’s replacement Klay Thompson played amazing during their last game, going 11-18 from the floor, 3-7 from the 3-point land, putting up 27 points.

Injury Report

Free Pick: ...click here to find out!

A FROZEN LAKE: LAKERS (20-26) VS. TIMBERWOLVES (17-25)

by LUCAS COMBS

When: Thursday, January 31^st at 630PM PT

Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Line: Lakers -2, Total: 197

Match-Up

Those Lakers. You think they’ve turned the corner and then they go and lose to the lackluster Phoenix Suns. Yeah, yeah, yeah, poor little Dwight Howard re-aggravated his shoulder. Boo. Hoo.

Friday, the Lakers will face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second of a seven game road trip for LA and it’s uncertain if Dwight Howard’s boo-boo will keep him on the bench. This is the first meeting of the season between the two teams. The Lakers have won the last 10 games straight up versus the Timberwolves.

Betting Information

To finish reading this article please visit Oddsfather.com

Injury Report

Source: USA Today