15* Kings/Clippers ESPN Late-Night BAILOUT on OVER 239

The Sacramento Kings are a dead nuts OVER team.  The Kings are 7-1-1 OVER in their last 10 games overall with 238 or more combined points in eight of those nine games.  The OVER is 3-1 in their last four meetings with the Clippers with 248, 255 and 351 combined points in the three OVERS.  Bet the OVER in this game Sunday.

15* NBA Non-Conference KNOCKOUT on Charlotte Hornets +3.5

The Charlotte Hornets are 4-1 SU & 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall.  Their only non-cover came on the 2nd of a back-to-back on the road to the Warriors by 13 as 12.5-point dogs.  The Warriors got a layup in the final seconds to cover when they could have ran out the shot clock.

The point is the Hornets are a team that keeps fighting.  They have won all four of those games outright as underdogs beating Memphis 115-106 as 5-point dogs, Indiana 111-102 as 10-point dogs, Atlanta 122-109 as 7-point dogs and Utah 115-107 as 10-point dogs.

Now the Hornets take on a hapless Portland Trail Blazers that has no business being favored over them in their current state.  The Blazers are 0-7 SU in their last seven games overall losing all seven games by 6 points or more, and six by 9 points or more.  They are without Malcolm Brogdon, Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe right now and struggling to score without these guys.  They have scored 112 or fewer points in six of their last seven games with the lone exception being 122 against the Pistons in OT.

Portland is 1-9 ATS in home games when playing 6 or fewer games in 14 days this season.  Charlotte is 12-2 ATS in its last 14 road games after allowing 105 points or less.  The Hornets are only allowing 102.2 points per game in their last five games and are getting after it defensively.  Bet the Hornets Sunday.

20* NBA TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Spurs/Jazz OVER 241

The Utah Jazz are a dead nuts OVER team.  They rank 10th in pace and 25th in defensive rating.  The Jazz have allowed at least 129 points in four of their last five games overall.  They face another dead nuts OVER team tonight in the San Antonio Spurs, who rank 4th in pace and 24th in defensive rating.

The Jazz and Spurs met once earlier this season with the Jazz winning 130-118 for 248 combined points.  They also combined for 245 points in their final meeting last season.  This total of 241 is too short for this game tonight.

Plays on the OVER on home teams where the total is 200 or higher (Utah) - after getting beating by the spread by 54 or more points total in their last 10 games, a marginal losing team (40-49%) playing a losing team are 26-8 (76.5%) over the last five seasons.  Bet the OVER in this game Sunday.

25* NBA Western Conference GAME OF THE YEAR on Golden State Warriors +1

The Golden State Warriors are motivated to make the playoffs.  They are playing as well as anyone in the NBA right now.  They have gone 8-1 SU & 8-1 ATS in their last nine games overall with their only loss coming to the Clippers.  The Clippers rallied from a double-digit deficit in the 4th quarter after Tyron Lue was ejected and they couldn't miss from 3 down the stretch.

The Warriors also want some revenge on the defending champion Denver Nuggets.  They are 0-3 SU against the Nuggets this season losing by 3, 3 and 6 points.  They have been close, but they haven't been able to get over the hump.  Now I fully expect them to get over the hump and avoid the season sweep.

The Nuggets have two starters questionable to play in this one in Jamaal Murray and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.  This isn't a very deep team as it is, so missing one or both would be big.  But I like the Warriors to get the job done either way.

Golden State is 14-2 ATS in its last 16 home games off two consecutive covers as a favorite.  Plays against favorites (Denver) - after scoring 120 points or more against an opponent that is coming off a game with a combined score of 185 points or less are 29-9 (76.3%) ATS over the last five seasons.  Bet the Warriors Sunday.

15* NBA Sunday Total DOMINATOR on Cavs/Wizards OVER 232.5

The Washington Wizards are a dead nuts OVER team.  They rank 1st in pace and 28th in defensive rating.  They have allowed 147, 130 and 133 points in their last three games overall coming into this one.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have played their first two games out of the break without MVP candidate Donovan Mitchell due to illness.  But they get back Mitchell tonight and should hang a big number on the Wizards.  They have scored 114 points or more in six of their previous seven games with Mitchell in the lineup.  He has scored 27 or more points in six of his last seven games as well.

Washington is 10-1 OVER in its last 11 games off four or more consecutive road games.  Bet the OVER in this game Sunday.

20* Celtics/Knicks ABC No-Brainer on New York +6.5

It's a great time to 'buy low' on the New York Knicks and 'sell high' on the Boston Celtics.  The Knicks went into the All-Star Break going 1-5 SU & 0-6 ATS in their final six games.  But their struggles were largely due to injuries to Brunson, DiVincenzo and Hartenstein.  All three came back from the break healthy.

I successfully backed the Knicks on the ML as underdogs in a 110-96 win at Philadelphia in their first game back from the break.  And now I'm back on them as 6.5-point home dogs to the Celtics as they still look undervalued in the market place.

Boston is the consensus best team in the NBA.  But with that consensus comes expectations that are hard to live up to.  You're paying a tax on the Celtics right now due to having the best record in the NBA and being on a 7-game winning streak.  But Boston is just 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games overall, and if they manage to win this game, it will go down to the wire against the feisty Knicks.

New York is 12-2 ATS in home games with a total of 220 to 229.5 this season.  Boston is 12-25 ATS in its last 37 games off two consecutive covers as favorites.  The Knicks are 13-2 ATS in their last 15 games vs. good teams that outscore their opponents by 3-plus points per game in the 2nd half of the season.  Bet the Knicks Saturday.

15* NBA Non-Conference KNOCKOUT on Charlotte Hornets +13

One key to winning in the NBA is finding undervalued teams out of the playoff hunt that continue to play hard every night.  One of those teams is the Charlotte Hornets.  The Hornets have quietly gone 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall.  

That includes 4-0 SU & 4-0 ATS in their last four games overall with outright upset victories over Memphis by 9 as 5-point dogs, over Indiana by 9 as 10-point dogs, by 23 over Atlanta as 7-point dogs and by 8 over Utah as 10-point dogs.  This is a young team that has not quit, and the players they traded for are making an immediate impact and playing with a chip on their shoulder.

Golden State is overvalued off a 128-110 home win over the Los Angeles Lakers last night.  They wanted revenge on the Lakers after losing 145-144 (OT) at home to them in their previous meeting and they got it.  But keep in mind it was without LeBron James.  Plus, this is now a huge sandwich spot for them with defending champion Denver on deck at home on Sunday that they could be looking ahead to.  I don't think we get a max effort from the Warriors, which is going to make it very difficult for them to cover this inflated 13-point spread.  Bet the Hornets Friday.

15* NBA Friday Total DOMINATOR on Wizards/Thunder OVER 241.5

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 6-0-1 OVER in their last seven games overall.  They are a dead nuts OVER team ranking 10th in pace and 4th in offensive rating.  Now they face another dead nuts OVER team in the Washington Wizards, who rank 1st in pace and 27th in defensive rating.

The OVER is 4-0 in the last four meetings between the Wizards and Thunder with 237 or more combined points in all four.  That includes a 136-128 win by the Thunder in their first meeting this season for 264 combined points.  It should be more of the same in the rematch tonight.

The Thunder are 21-6 OVER in their last 27 games off a home win by 10 points or more.  Washington is 9-1 OVER in its last 10 games vs. good teams that outscore their opponents by 6-plus points per game.  Bet the OVER in this game Friday.

20* NBA DOG OF THE WEEK on Memphis Grizzlies +9.5

One key to winning in the NBA is finding undervalued teams out of the playoff hunt that continue to play hard every night.  One of those teams is the Memphis Grizzlies.  They went into the All-Star Break covering three straight including outright upsets over Houston 121-113 as 3-point home dogs and Milwaukee 113-110 as 12-point home dogs the very next night on the 2nd of a back-to-back.

Everyone is talking about the Los Angeles Clippers winning the NBA title right now.  As a result, the Clippers are overvalued.  They are 2-3 SU & 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall.  They are playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after a 107-129 loss in Oklahoma City last night.  Asking them to win by double-digits on the road to beat us here is asking too much.

The Clippers are 6-19 ATS in their last 25 games off a road loss by 10 points or more.  Los Angeles is 9-18 ATS after playing a road game this season.  The Grizzlies are 29-14 ATS in their last 43 games when playing with double revenge.  Bet the Grizzlies Friday.

20* NBA BLOWOUT GAME OF THE WEEK on Cleveland Cavaliers -3.5

I love the spot for the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight.  They are coming off an upset home loss to the Orlando Magic last night, who have been the best covering team in the NBA and are grossly undervalued.  But the Cavaliers also didn't have their best player in Donovan Mitchell due to illness in that loss.

My best guess is Mitchell returns tonight, but I like the Cavaliers either way.  I'll gladly fade the 76ers again like I did with the Knicks easily cashing on the Knicks ML +100 in a 110-96 victory over the 76ers in a game that wasn't even that close.

The Philadelphia 76ers remain without Joel Embiid and the difference between being with or without him has been drastic for this team.  The 76ers are 26-8 with Embiid in the lineup but just 6-15 without him.  They should not be getting this much respect tonight without him.

Cleveland is 12-4 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points this season.  The Cavaliers are 17-3 SU & 12-8 ATS in their last 20 games overall.  Philadelphia is 0-7 ATS in its last seven home games vs. good passing teams that average 23 or more assists per game.  Bet the Cavaliers Friday.

15* NBA Thursday Undervalued Underdog on Washington Wizards +15.5

The Washington Wizards have been a great bet on the road this season.  They have gone 19-8-1 ATS in their 28 road games as one of the best covering teams on the highway in the NBA this season.  They are consistently catching too many points away from home, and that's the case again tonight as 15.5-point dogs at Denver.

The Nuggets have been kind of bored just waiting for the playoffs to get here.  The defending champs are having that dreaded title hangover.  They are 0-3 SU & 0-3 ATS in their last three games overall losing by 29 at Sacramento, by 17 at Milwaukee and by 4 at home to Sacramento in the rematch in a game you would have expected them to fire back in.  The Nuggets are now just 8-16-1 ATS in their last 25 games overall.

Washington is 7-0 ATS in non-conference road games this season.  The Wizards are 18-4 ATS in their last 22 road games off a non-conference game.  Washington is 7-0 ATS in road games off five or more consecutive losses this season.  Denver is 1-10 ATS in its last 11 home games vs. poor teams that are outscoring by 3-plus points per game in the 2nd half of the season.  Bet the Wizards Thursday.

20* NBA Non-Conference GAME OF THE WEEK on Charlotte Hornets +10

The Charlotte Hornets quietly went 5-1 ATS in their final six games going into the All-Star Break.  That includes 3-0 SU & 3-0 ATS in their final three games with outright upset victories over Memphis by 9 as 5-point dogs, over Indiana by 9 as 10-point dogs and by 23 over Atlanta as 7-point dogs.  This is a young team that has not quit, and the players they traded for are making an immediate impact.

The Utah Jazz went 0-4 SU & 0-4 ATS in their final four games going into the break to all but play themselves out of playoff contention.  Three of the four losses came by 14 points or more.  I question their motivation the rest of the way, and they are so poor defensively that they cannot be laying double-digits to Charlotte tonight.  They have allowed 129 or more points in four consecutive games.

Charlotte is 11-2 ATS in its last 13 games after allowing 105 points or less.  Utah is 3-13 ATS in its last 16 games when playing 5 or fewer games in 14 days.  Plays on underdogs of 3.5 to 10 points (Charlotte) - a poor team that is outscored by 3-plus points per game, after allowing 105 points or fewer in two consecutive games are 43-13 (76.8%) ATS over the last five seasons.  Bet the Hornets Thursday.

15* NBA Thursday Night BLOWOUT on Oklahoma City Thunder ML -114

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31.1 PPG, 6.5 APG) is the 2nd favorite to win the NBA MVP award currently.  He holds a grudge with the Los Angeles Clippers for trading him away, so he has his best stuff every time he faces his former team.  The Thunder are a legit title contender with Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way and tremendous depth.  I expect the Thunder to make easy work of the Clippers tonight.

The Thunder are 4-2 SU & 4-2 ATS in their last six meetings with the Clippers.  They won 134-115 in their lone home meeting this season.  The Thunder are 21-6 SU & 18-9 ATS at home this season with one of the best home-court advantages in the NBA.

Oklahoma City is 13-1 ATS in its last 14 games off a road win by 10 points or more.  Bet the Thunder on the Money Line Thursday.

20* NBA Thursday UPSET SHOCKER on New York Knicks ML +100

This is a great time to 'buy low' on the New York Knicks coming out of the All-Star Break.  They went into the break going 1-5 SU & 0-6 ATS in their final six games.  But the struggles were mostly due to injuries as they were playing without Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Isaiah Hartenstein and Bojan Bogdanovic at various times.  All four are healthy and expected to play coming out of the break.

The Philadelphia 76ers remain without Joel Embiid and the difference between being with or without him has been drastic for this team.  The 76ers are 26-8 with Embiid in the lineup but just 6-14 without him.  They should not be favored over the Knicks tonight without him.

Plays on any team (New York) - after losing five or six of its last seven games, a good team (60-75%) playing a team with a winning record are 46-15 (75.4%) ATS over the last five seasons.  Bet the Knicks on the Money Line Thursday.

20* NBA Thursday Late-Night BAILOUT on Portland Trail Blazers +9.5

I like the spot for the Portland Trail Blazers tonight.  They will want revenge from a 121-109 home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.  Now they get their shot at revenge at home again, and they go from 7.5-point dogs to 9.5-point dogs in the rematch, which is too big of an adjusment.

The Timberwolves are looking ahead to the All-Star Break and want nothing to do with this game tonight.  They won't be motivated at all to beat the Blazers again, which will make it difficult for them to win by double-digits, which is what it is going to take to beat us tonight.

We saw the Blazers in a similar spot less than a week ago.  They lost by 12 in Denver as 12.5-point dogs and only lost by 9 to the Nuggets in the rematch as 14.5-point dogs.  Minnesota is 3-13 ATS in its last 16 games after covering 5 or 6 of its last seven games.  Bet the Blazers Thursday.

15* NBA Thursday Total DOMINATOR on Warriors/Jazz OVER 239.5

The Golden State Warriors are really clicking offensively right now.  They have scored 119 or more points in 10 of their last 12 games overall.  I expect them to top that number tonight to lead the way in us cashing this OVER 239.5 bet.

The Utah Jazz have scored at least 120 points in 15 of their last 19 games overall.  I expect them to top that number as well.  The Jazz have been atrocious defensively, allowing 138, 129 and 129 points in their last three games overall.  They have simply quit playing defense heading into the All-Star Break.

Both teams will be tired playing the 2nd of a back-to-back in altitude tonight.  I think it will affect their defensive effort more than anything.  Bet the OVER in this game Thursday.

15* NBA Wednesday Late-Night BAILOUT on Clippers/Warriors OVER 234

The Golden State Warriors are really clicking offensively right now.  They have scored 119 or more points in nine of their last 11 games overall.  I expect them to top that number tonight to lead the way in us cashing this OVER 234 bet.

The Clippers will be without Kawhi Leonard, but his loss is felt more defensively than anything as he is one of their best defenders.  This isn't a very good defensive team without him with guys like James Harden, Paul George and Russell Westbrook playing more minutes.  The Clippers will get their points as they are loaded offensively, scoring 118.0 points per game overall and 118.8 points per game on the road.

The OVER is 3-1 in the last four meetings with 234 or more combined points in three of those four meetings.  Bet the OVER in this game Wednesday.

20* Clippers/Warriors ESPN No-Brainer on Golden State -2.5

The Golden State Warriors are playing their best basketball of the season right now.  They are 7-1 SU & 7-1 ATS in their last eight games overall with their lone loss coming on the 2nd of a back-to-back on the road in OT at Atlanta.  They have home wins over the Suns and 76ers, as well as road wins over the Grizzlies by 20, the Nets by 11, the 76ers by 24, the Pacers by 22 and the Jazz by 22.  These games haven't even been close.

The Los Angeles Clippers are limping into the All-Star Break having gone 1-2 SU & 0-3 ATS in their last three games overall.  They were upset by the Pelicans at home by 11 as 6-point favorites, only beat the Pistons by 6 as 17-point home favorites and lost by 21 at home to the Timberwolves as 4.5-point favorites.

Now the Clippers will be without their best player in Kawhi Leonard (24.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.7 APG) tonight.  This team goes as Leonard goes, and I don't expect them to put up much of a fight without him tonight.

Home-court advantage has meant everything in this series.  Indeed, the home team is 9-0 SU & 8-1 ATS in the last nine meetings.  Bet the Warriors Wednesday.

15* NBA Wednesday Total DOMINATOR on Rockets/Grizzlies UNDER 219.5

The Memphis Grizzlies are a dead nuts UNDER team without all of their top scorers right now due to injury.  Memphis is 18-7 UNDER in its 25 home games which have seen an average of just 215.3 combined points per game.  The Grizzlies have been held to 113 or fewer points in 14 consecutive games now.

The Rockets are also missing two key players in Fred VanVleet (16.5 PPG, 8.2 APG) and Cam Whitmore (11.9 PPG).  They have been held to 105 or fewer points in five of their last nine games overall.  The Grizzlies rank dead last (30th) in offensive rating while the Rockets rank 23rd.

Memphis is 10-2 UNDER in home games off two or more consecutive losses this season.  Houston is 13-5 UNDER off a home win this season.  The Rockets are 30-14 UNDER in their last 44 games following a win overall.  The Grizzlies are 8-1 UNDER in home games against teams that force 13 or fewer turnovers per game this season.  Bet the UNDER in this game Wednesday.

20* NBA DOG OF THE WEEK on Brooklyn Nets +13.5

I like the spot for the Brooklyn Nets tonight.  They will be out for revenge from a 118-110 home loss to the Boston Celtics last night.  Now they come back as 13.5-point dogs on the road in the rematch tonight.  The Celtics won't be very motivated to beat this team again, which will make it difficult for them to cover this inflated number.

All five starters for the Celtics played at least 35 minutes last night.  They aren't as deep as the Nets, who will have an advantage in this 2nd of a back-to-back situation with four of their five starters playing 34 minutes or fewer, and three playing 28 or fewer last night.

Boston is 2-11 ATS in its last 13 games following a win where it didn't cover the spread.  The Celtics are 5-13 ATS following three or more consecutive wins this season.  Boston is 1-8 ATS in its last nine games overall and grossly overvalued over the last couple weeks.  The Celtics are 0-7 ATS in their last seven home games vs. good shooting teams that make 46% of their shots or better.  Bet the Nets Wednesday.

20* NBA Western Conference GAME OF THE WEEK on Portland Trail Blazers +8.5

The Minnesota Timberwolves are in a letdown spot coming off two consecutive upset road wins over the Bucks and Clippers.  They beat the Clippers 121-100 last night and will now be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back.  I can't see them being all that motivated to beat the Blazers tonight after upsetting the Clippers, and they are definitely the more tired team.

The Blazers have had the last two days off and will be playing just their 3rd game in 9 days.  They are expected to get Anfernee Simons (23.4 PPG, 5.3 APG) back from injury, and he means everything to their success.  They also have Jerami Grant (21.9 PPG) and De'Andre Ayton (13.9 PPG, 10.4 RPG) healthy and could get back Scoot Henderson (12.8 PPG, 4.6 APG), who is questionable.

The Blazers have been competitive in seven consecutive games not once losing by more than 12 points and with only one loss by double-digits.  This despite battling through injuries to several of their key players.  I love the spot for the Blazers with the rest advantage, and they are 42-12 SU in their last 54 home meetings with the Timberwolves to boot.

Minnesota is 2-13 ATS in its last 15 games after covering five or six of their last seven games.  Plays against favorites (Minnesota) - after scoring 120 points or more against an opponent after a combined score of 185 points or less are 29-8 (78.4%) ATS over the last five seasons.  It's a great time to 'sell high' on the Timberwolves.  Bet the Blazers Tuesday.

15* NBA Tuesday Total DOMINATOR on Thunder/Magic OVER 223

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a dead nuts OVER team.  They rank 10th in pace and 5th in offensive rating.  The OVER is 4-0-1 in Thunder last five games overall with 232 or more combined points in all five games.  This 223-point total is very low for a game involving the Thunder right now.

The Magic are more of an under team, but they have gone OVER in three consecutive games and are fully healthy right now.  They have gone 7-3 OVER in their last 10 games overall as well.  The books continue to set their totals too low.  They won't mind getting up and down with the Thunder in this one.

The first meeting between the Thunder and Magic this season the total was set at 232, so this total is 9 points less and there's value as a result.  Both teams shot terribly in that first meeting which is why it stayed under.  The Thunder shot 7-of-35 (20%) from 3-point range while the Magic shot 8-of-36 (22.2%).  Both teams are due for some positive shooting regression in the rematch.

Orlando is 10-1 OVER in its last 11 games after winning four of its last five games.  Bet the OVER in this game Tuesday.

15* NBA Monday UPSET SHOCKER on Utah Jazz ML +105

The Utah Jazz have been the best covering team at home in the NBA this season.  They are 17-7 SU & 18-5-1 ATS at home and have knocked off many of the top contenders in the league.  They should not be home underdogs to the Golden State Warriors tonight.

I love the spot for the Jazz coming in on three days' rest, so they will be fresh and ready to go.  I hate the spot for the Warriors coming off a 113-112 home win over the Suns where Steph Curry won it with a 3-pointers just before the buzzer.  This is now a letdown spot for the Warriors, who will also be playing in their 7th different city in 11 days and in altitude to boot.  This is a tired team right now ripe for the upset.

Utah is 9-1 ATS in home games after losing four or five of its last six games this season.  Golden State is 9-19 ATS in its last 28 road games with a line of +3 to -3.  The home team is 6-0 SU & 4-1-1 ATS in the last six meetings.  Bet the Jazz Monday.

15* NBA Monday Total DOMINATOR on Wizards/Mavs OVER 247

The Dallas Mavericks are a dead nuts OVER team when they have Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic on the court at the same time.  They are two of the best scorers in the NBA, but they are also two of the worst defenders.  The Mavericks rank 7th in offensive rating and 22nd in defensive rating this season while playing at the 8th-fastest tempo.

They face another dead nuts OVER team here in the Washington Wizards, who rank 1st in pace and 27th in defensive rating.  But the Wizards are a pretty good offensive team with all of their young guards.  They lost a 129-133 shootout in Boston in their last road game for 262 combined points.  The Mavericks are coming off a 146-111 home win over the Thunder for 257 combined points.

Washington is 32-12 OVER in its last 44 games vs. teams that attempt 39 or more 3-pointers per game, including 13-2 OVER in their last 15 in the 2nd half of the season.  Dallas is 16-6 OVER against teams with losing records this season.  These teams have combined for 247 and 253 points in their last two meetings, and the OVER is 6-0 in the last six meetings.  Bet the OVER in this game Monday.

20* Nuggets/Bucks NBA TV No-Brainer on Milwaukee +2

It's a great time to 'buy low' on the Milwaukee Bucks.  They went 1-5 SU & 1-5 ATS in their first six games with Doc Rivers.  But it was largely due to a brutal schedule and some injuries.  They played five straight road games and came home and lost to Minnesota.

But the Bucks bounced back with a 120-84 home win over the Hornets on the 2nd of a back-to-back in Damian Lillard's return from injury.  Now they have had the last two days off to rest and recover, and now they want revenge from a 107-113 road loss at Denver on January 29th in Rivers' first game.

The Bucks go from 4-point road dogs at Denver in that meeting to 2-point home dogs in the rematch.  They should be at least 2-point home favorites when adjusting for home-court advantage and the spot.

Denver is 2-11 ATS after playing two consecutive road games this season.  Plays on any team (Milwaukee) - after losing five or six of its last seven games, a good team (60-75%) playing a winning team are 45-15 (75%) ATS over the last five seasons.  Plays on all teams with a line of +3 to -3 (Milwaukee) - off a blowout home win by 20 points or more, a good team winning 60-75% of their games on the season are 41-14 (74.5%) ATS over the last five seasons.  Bet the Bucks Monday.

20* Kings/Thunder NBA No-Brainer on OVER 239

The Sacramento Kings and Oklahoma City Thunder are both two dead nuts OVER teams.  The Thunder rank 10th in pace while the Kings rank 11th.  The Thunder rank 5th in offensive rating while the Kings rank 14th.

The OVER is 5-0 in Kings last five games overall with 238 or more combined points in all five games and 241 or more in four of them.  The OVER is 4-0 in Thunder last four games overall with 241 or more combined points in three consecutive games.  These teams combined for 251 points in their most recent meeting this season.

Oklahoma City is 16-1 OVER vs. teams that attempt 39 or more 3-pointers per game over the last two seasons.  The Thunder are 10-1 OVER vs. good offensive teams scoring 116 or more points per game this season.  Bet the OVER in this game Sunday.

20* Suns/Warriors ABC No-Brainer on OVER 239.5

Both the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors are as healthy as they have been basically all season.  They are both elite offensive teams when that is the case, and that has been on display in recent games.

Indeed, the Suns have scored at least 114 points in 14 of their last 15 games overall.  The Warriors have scored at least 119 points in eight of their last nine games overall.  I think both teams get to 120 in this one and it sails OVER the total.

Golden State is 8-1 OVER in Saturday games this season.  Phoenix is 8-1 OVER vs. good rebounding teams that outrebound their opponents by 3-plus boards per game.  Bet the OVER in this game Saturday.

15* Thunder/Mavs NBA TV Early ANNIHILATOR on OVER 240

The Dallas Mavericks are a dead nuts OVER team when Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic are on the court at the same time.  Both are elite scorers and terrible defenders.  The Mavericks are 12th in offensive rating and 22nd in defensive rating this season while ranking 9th in pace.

The Thunder rank 10th in pace and 5th in offensive rating and can match the Mavericks score for score in this one.  They will be looking to get up and down in this one especially coming into this game on three days' rest and fully healthy now.

OKC beat Dallas 126-120 for 246 combined points in their lone meeting this season.  That was a very up-tempo game that got OVER the total despite the Thunder shooting just 44% and the Mavericks 44.8% for the game.  I expect the shooting to improve in the rematch.

Oklahoma City is 15-1 OVER vs. teams that attempt 39 or more 3-pointers per game over the last two seasons.  The Thunder are 9-1 OVER vs. good offensive teams scoring 116 or more points per game this season.  Bet the OVER in this game Saturday.

15* NBA Friday Total DOMINATOR on Rockets/Raptors OVER 233

The Houston Rockets have changed the way they play with more tempo over the last month.  They have gone for 239 or more combined points with their opponents in eight of their last 13 games overall.

The Toronto Raptors are a dead nuts OVER team since trading for Emmanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett for one of their best defenders in OG Anunoby.  They also traded for Bruce Brown, and those three guards make them an OVER team.

The OVER is 4-0 in Raptors last four games overall with 238 or more combined points in all four games.  That includes their 135-106 loss in Houston on February 2nd earlier this month for 241 combined points.  It should be more of the same here, except I expect the Raptors to shoot much better than they did in that first meeting.

Houston is 12-1 OVER in its last 13 games vs. terrible defensive teams that allow 48% shooting or higher in the 2nd half of the season.  The OVER is 5-0 in the last five meetings between the Raptors and Rockets.  Bet the OVER in this game Friday.

20* NBA Eastern Conference GAME OF THE WEEK on Atlanta Hawks -2

The Atlanta Hawks didn't lose any important players at the trade deadline despite Dejounte Murray's name coming up a ton.  I think he sat out the last couple games because of the rumors, and now there's a decent chance he returns tonight.

That would be a bonus, but I like how the Hawks played even without him in their last two games.  They took both the Clippers at home and Celtics on the road to the wire.  Now I expect them to get rewarded for their efforts tonight by taking down a short-handed Philadelphia 76ers team.

The 76ers are 26-8 SU with Joel Embiid and 4-12 SU without him.  Tyrese Maxey isn't good enough to carry this team.  They lost Patrick Beverly in a trade and added Buddy Hield and Cameron Payne, but neither are expected to play tonight.  They are also without Melton, Batum and Covington.  The last three games without Embiid have been a disaster with the 76ers going 0-3 SU & 0-3 ATS while getting blown out in all 3, losing by 15 at home to the Nets, by 16 at home to the Mavericks and by 23 at home to the Warriors.

Plays on road teams (Atlanta) - after allowing 115 points or more in five consecutive games against an opponent that allowed 125 points or more last game are 32-9 (78%) ATS over the last five seasons.  Bet the Hawks Friday.

20* NBA Thursday Late-Night BAILOUT on Pistons/Blazers OVER 227.5

The OVER is 3-1 in Pistons last four games overall combining for 249 points with the Cavs, 251 points with the Clippers and 253 points with the Kings.  They are a dead nuts OVER team with the way they are playing right now.  And they didn't even have both Bogdanovic and Cunningham against the Kings last night, and both could return tonight which would make them an even better OVER bet.

Injuries for the Blazers have hampered them all season, but they have been a very good offensive team when they've had Grant (21.3 PPG), Brogdon (15.7 PPG, 5.5 APG) and Simons (23.2 PPG, 5.3 APG) on the court at the same time.  These three are all probable, plus they could have Scoot Henderson (12.8 PPG) and DeAndre Ayton (13.8 PPG) on the court tonight, who are both questionable.

Detroit is 17-6 OVER as a road underdog this season.  The Pistons are 30-15 OVER as underdogs this season.  Detroit ranks 7th in pace and 29th in defensive rating this season, making them a dead nuts OVER team.  This total of 227.5 is very low for a game involving the Pistons and with the current positive health of the Blazers.  Bet the OVER in this game Thursday.

20* NBA Western Conference TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Jazz/Suns OVER 243

The Utah Jazz are a dead nuts OVER team.  They rank 9th in pace and 25th in defensive rating, but they can fill it up on offense.  The Jazz have scored 123 or more points in 13 of their last 15 games overall.  If they get to 123 tonight, this thing is sailing OVER.

The Suns are fully healthy right now with Booker, Durant, Beal and Nurkic all on the court at the same time.  They are an elite offensive team when that's the case, plus they have sharp shooters in Grayson Allen and Eric Gordon surrounding them.  The Suns have scored at least 114 points in 13 of their last 14 games overall.

These teams have met twice this season with the Suns winning 131-128 for 259 combined points in the first meeting and 140-137 in the 2nd meeting in OT for 277 combined points just two days later.  Bet the OVER in this game Thursday.

15* Pelicans/Clippers ESPN Late-Night BAILOUT on New Orleans +7.5

This is a terrible spot for the Los Angeles Clippers and a great time to 'sell high' on them.  They just completed a 6-1 road trip and have been on the road since January 26th.  I always like fading teams in their first home game back from an extended road trip because there are a lot of distractions for them to deal with back home.

Now the Clippers will be playing in their 8th different city in 13 days and their 3rd game in 4 days.  They just played in a 149-144 shootout in Atlanta on Monday and won't have much left in the tank for the New Orleans Pelicans tonight.

Meanwhile, the Pelicans will be playing just their 2nd game in 5 days with a 138-100 blowout home win over the Raptors on Monday.  They will be the much fresher team in this one, and the Pelicans have actually played some of their best basketball on the road this season.  They are 11-4 SU in their last 15 road games with only two losses by more than 6 points.

Plays on road underdogs (New Orleans) - after a combined score of 235 points or more against an opponent after a combined score of 265 points or more are 28-7 (80%) ATS over the last five seasons.  The Pelicans own the Clippers, going 5-1 SU & 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings.  Bet the Pelicans Wednesday.

20* NBA TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Hawks/Celtics OVER 244

The Atlanta Hawks are a dead nuts OVER team.  They rank 4th in pace, 10th in offensive rating and 27th in defensive rating.  Their defense gets even worse without C Clint Capela in their lineup as he is the only player that offers any resistance to the opposition at the rim.

The OVER is 6-1 in Hawks last seven games overall with 246 or more combined points at the end of regulation in all seven games.  They are averaging 262.3 combined points at the end of regulation in those seven games.  This total of 244 is too low for a game involving Atlanta right now.

The Celtics are fully healthy right now and a dangerous offensive team when that is the case.  They rank 2nd in offensive rating this season.  They can name their number here against the Hawks, which I think is 130-plus and the Hawks will do enough to keep pace to get this up and OVER the total.

The OVER is 4-1 in the last five meetings with 248 or more combined points in three of those.  Atlanta is 8-1 OVER when revenging a loss by 10 points or more this season.  Bet the OVER in this game Wednesday.

15* NBA Wednesday Total DOMINATOR on Cavs/Wizards OVER 234

The Cleveland Cavaliers are fully healthy right now and playing well offensively.  They have scored at least 116 points in eight of their last 10 games overall.  They are shooting a lot more 3-pointers this season which is a big reason for their uptick on offense.

Now they face a dead nuts OVER team in the Washington Wizards who rank 1st in pace and 28th in defensive rating.  The Wizards allow 125.8 points per game on 50.3% shooting at home this season.  But they score 114.6 points per game on 48.3% shooting at home and should be able to put up enough to get this one up and OVER the total with the Cavaliers naming their number offensively.

Washington is 16-3 OVER in its last 19 home games when playing only its 2nd game in 5 days.  Bet the OVER in this game Wednesday.

20* NBA DOG OF THE WEEK on Utah Jazz +3

The Utah Jazz want revenge from a 129-134 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 18th.  They are fully healthy and the fresher team right now playing just their 2nd game in 5 days.  They are coming off a 123-108 home win over the Bucks to improve to 16-7 SU & 17-5-1 ATS at home this season the best ATS record at home in the entire NBA.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will be playing their 9th game in 15 days.  This rough stretch has injuries piling up with Isaiah Joe out and Jalen Williams, Jaylin Williams and Cason Wallace all questionable.  One of the Thunder's biggest strengths is their depth, and that is really getting tested right now.

The Thunder needed double-OT to dispatch of the lowly Toronto Raptors as 8.5-point favorites last time out.  I don't believe they should be favored on the road tonight given how tired they are and the fact that they now have to go into altitude in Salt Lake City and play an elite home team in the Jazz.

Utah is 9-1 ATS in home games when playing with double revenge this season.  The Jazz are 12-2 ATS in home games when revenging a loss this season.  Plays on underdogs (Utah) - after scoring 115 points or more in two consecutive games against an opponent that scored 135 points or more last game are 46-14 (76.7%) ATS since 1996.  Bet the Jazz Tuesday.

20* NBA Non-Conference GAME OF THE WEEK on Cleveland Cavaliers -4

The Cleveland Cavaliers have gone 13-1 SU & 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games overall.  They have done a lot of this damage without key players in Evan Mobley and Darius Garland.  But both are back healthy now and the Cavaliers are as close to full strength as they have been all season.

I like them to cover this short number at home against a Sacramento Kings team that is in a tough spot tonight.  The Kings have to be fatigued playing their 7th consecutive road game tonight.  They will also be playing their 3rd road game in 4 days.  I don't expect them to have much left in the tank for the Cavaliers tonight.

Sacramento is 4-14 ATS in its last 18 games off two or more consecutive road wins.  Cleveland is 12-4 ATS against good offensive teams that score 116 or more points per game this season.  Plays against road underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points (Sacramento) - after covering four of its last five against the spread, in a game involving two good teams (60% to 75%) are 27-7 (79.4%) ATS over the last five seasons.  Bet the Cavaliers Monday.

20* NBA Western Conference GAME OF THE WEEK on Portland Trail Blazers +14

I love the spot for the Portland Trail Blazers tonight.  They will be out for revenge from a 120-108 road loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday.  Now they get to play the Nuggets again here just two days later on Sunday.  They will be the more motivated team in this rematch.

The Portland Trail Blazers are a dangerous team when healthy, which is the case for them right now.  These are the types of teams you can make money on in the NBA because they have a poor 15-34 SU record and the betting public wants nothing to do with them.

But the Blazers have shown what they are capable of in their last three games when healthy.  They upset the 76ers 130-104 as 9-point home dogs and upset the Bucks 119-116 as 10.5-point home dogs.  They only lost by 12 as 14-point road dogs to the Nuggets and Jerami Grant was a late scratch with back tightness.  There's a chance they get Grant back today, but having Simons, Brogdon, Ayton and Henderson healthy and playing is enough.

Being the defending champs comes with a tax for the Nuggets.  This team is struggling to get margin largely because they get everyone's best shot.  In fact, the Nuggets haven't won any of their last 12 games by more than 12 points, making for a 12-0 system backing the Blazers pertaining to this 14-point spread.  The Nuggets aren't going to be all that motivated to beat Portland again, which is going to make it tough to get margin.  Bet the Blazers Sunday.

20* Lakers/Knicks ABC No-Brainer on UNDER 226.5

The New York Knicks are a dead nuts UNDER team.  They have gone 15-2 UNDER in their last 17 games overall with 226 or fewer combined points in 15 of those 17 games.  It will be more of the same tonight as they host the Los Angeles Lakers on ABC.

The Knicks are missing Julius Randle and Quentin Grimes right now and OG Anunoby is questionable after missing the past couple games.  The Knicks have had to rely on defense more than ever of late without these guys.  They struggle to get easy baskets on offense with only Jalen Brunson and DiVincenzo doing the heavy lifting without them.

The Lakers have a bunch of injuries of their own that are hampering them offensively and forcing them to rely more on defense.  LeBron James and Anthony Davis are both questionable after missing the last game, and Jared Vanderbilt and Cam Reddish are both out.  The Lakers went for just 219 combined points with the Celtics last time out.

The Lakers and Knicks have combined for 223 or fewer points in seven of their last nine meetings.  Bet the UNDER in this game Saturday.

20* NBA DOG OF THE WEEK on Portland Trail Blazers +12.5

The Portland Trail Blazers are a dangerous team when healthy, which is the case for them right now.  These are the types of teams you can make money on in the NBA because they have a poor 15-33 SU record and the betting public wants nothing to do with them.

But the Blazers have shown what they are capable of in their last two games when healthy.  They upset the 76ers 130-104 as 9-point home dogs and upset the Bucks 119-116 as 10.5-point home dogs.  Now they are catching 12.5 points to the Denver Nuggets, and they won't have a letdown tonight with this opportunity to take down the defending champs.

Being the defending champs comes with a tax for the Nuggets.  This team is struggling to get margin largely because they are not healthy.  In fact, the Nuggets haven't won any of their last 11 games by more than 12 points, making for a 12-0 system backing the Blazers pertaining to this 12.5-point spread.  Nikola Jokic is questionable to play tonight with a back injury after missing their last game as well.  Bet the Blazers Friday.

20* NBA Non-Conference GAME OF THE WEEK on Detroit Pistons +12

The Detroit Pistons have quietly gone 8-1 ATS in their last nine games overall.  These are the types of teams you can really make money on in the NBA.  They have a poor 6-41 SU record so the betting public wants nothing to do with them.  But they keep showing up every night.

The Pistons pulled the outright upset 120-104 as 12.5-point dogs in their last home game over the Oklahoma City Thunder.  They also took the Cavaliers to the wire on the road last time out in a 128-121 loss as 12.5-point dogs.  Now they are once again catching too many points tonight at home to the Los Angeles Clippers.

It's a great time to 'sell high' on the Clippers after going 6-1 SU & 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall.  But they did lose by 10 at Cleveland as 2.5-point favorites two games back to give these teams a common opponent.  And they won't be all that motivated to beat Detroit tonight.  This will be their 5th road game in 8 days as well and they are starting to run out of gas.  Detroit will be playing its 2nd game in 5 days and will be the fresher team.

Plays against road favorites of 10 points or more (LA Clippers) - a hot team winning 12 or more of their last 15 games, a tired team playing their 3rd road game in 5 days are 34-12 (73.9%) ATS since 1996.  Bet the Pistons Friday.

20* 76ers/Jazz TNT Late-Night BAILOUT on Utah -4.5

The Utah Jazz return home highly motivated for a victory off two blowout road losses at Brooklyn and at New York on back-to-back days.  They get exactly the team they need to get back on track in the injury-ravaged Philadelphia 76ers.

The 76ers are without Joel Embiid (35.3 PPG, 11.3 RPG) and De'Anthony Melton (11.8 PPG) and could be without Tyrese Maxey (25.7 PPG, 6.6 APG), who has missed the last three games with injury.  The 76ers are a tired team as well playing their 5th road game in eight days and in altitude in Salt Lake City to boot.  They won't have much left in the tank for the Jazz tonight.

Utah is 15-6 SU & 16-4-1 ATS at home this season with one of the best home-court advantages in the NBA.  They are fully healthy right now to boot.  Utah is 9-1 ATS in home games vs. a team with a winning record this season.  The Jazz are 8-0 ATS in their last eight home games after losing four or five of their last six games coming in.  Bet the Jazz Thursday.

15* Bucks/Blazers ESPN Late-Night BAILOUT on Portland +10.5

The Portland Trail Blazers are the team you want to back when they are fully healthy and fade when they are not.  It makes as big a difference to them as any team in the NBA.  Right now they are fully healthy with Grant, Brogdon, Simons, Ayton and Henderson all playing.

We saw what they were capable of when that's the case last time out upsetting the 76ers 130-104 as 9-point home dogs.  They are 5-3 ATS in their last eight games with outright upsets at home against Brooklyn as 7-point dogs, at home against Indiana as 8-point dogs, at Houston as 10-point dogs and a 2-point loss at OKC as 14-point dogs.  Most of their losses were when they weren't fully healthy.

Now the Blazers are once again catching too many points at home tonight as 10.5-point dogs to the Milwaukee Bucks.  The Bucks are in transition right now with the switch at head coach in Doc Rivers.  They are fade material in the immediate future.  He isn't going to fix their defense as the Bucks rank 19th in defensive rating, which is why they struggle to get margin on teams.  Despite being 32-15 SU, the Bucks have just 11 wins by more than 11 points.

The Blazers will be giving their best effort tonight with this game on National TV on ESPN, and that effort should be good enough to stay within this inflated number.  Milwaukee is 4-15 ATS in its last 19 games vs. a team with a losing record.  The Bucks are 3-12 ATS in their last 15 games overall.  Bet the Blazers Wednesday.

20* NBA TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Clippers/Wizards OVER 236.5

The Washington Wizards are a dead nuts OVER team.  They rank 1st in pace and 28th in defensive rating.  But because they have gone under the total in five consecutive games coming into this one, we are getting a discount on this over.  That leaves us with a great opportunity to 'buy low' on this OVER.

The Clippers are an offensive juggernaut right now that they are fully healthy.  They have scored 125 or more points in seven of their last 10 games overall.  The three exceptions were against Cleveland, Boston and Minnesota, which are three of the best defensive teams in the NBA.  They will get 125-plus tonight which will pave the way to us cashing this OVER ticket.

The Wizards are 23-8 OVER in their last 31 home games off an ATS win.  Washington home games are averaging 241.5 combined points per game this season.  Washington is 8-0 OVER in its last eight games vs. good teams that outscore their opponents by 6-plus points pre game.  Bet the OVER in this game Wednesday.

20* NBA BLOWOUT GAME OF THE WEEK on Chicago Bulls -5.5

The Toronto Raptors traded away two of their best players in Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby.  Both are already making major impacts on their new teams in the Pacers and Knicks, respectively.  The two players they got back in the Anunoby trade in Emmanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett are currently hurt and out tonight.

What's left of this Toronto team outside of Scottie Barnes just isn't very good.  They are one of the worst teams in the NBA in their current state.  That has shown of late as the Raptors are now 1-9 SU in their last 10 games overall.  They are also 1-4 ATS in their last five games with four of those five losses coming by 6 points or more.

The Bulls are quietly playing some of their best basketball of the season.  They have gone 7-4 SU in their last 11 games and are 4-1 ATS in their last five games.  The two losses during this stretch came on the road at Phoenix by 2 at the buzzer and at the Lakers by 9.  The Bulls are 4-1 SU & 4-1 ATS in their last five home games beating Memphis by 29, Houston by 5, Charlotte by 13 and Philadelphia by 13.

Chicago is 27-13 ATS in its last 40 home games vs. a team with a losing record.  The Bulls are 11-3 ATS vs. terrible defensive teams that allow 48% shooting or higher this season.  Bet the Bulls Tuesday.

15* NBA Monday UPSET SHOCKER on Houston Rockets +1

The Los Angeles Lakers are in a massive letdown spot off their epic 145-144 (2 OT) win at Golden State Saturday night.  They are already 2-0 SU against the Houston Rockets this season winning both meetings at home, so they won't be all that motivated to beat this team again.

The Houston Rockets will be motivated playing with double-revenge.  The Rockets are 16-8 SU & 16-8 ATS at home this season and finally get the Lakers at home this time around.  Houston is 3-1 SU & 3-1 ATS in its last four home meetings with Los Angeles with three outright upsets.  The Lakers are 9-15 SU on the road this season.

The Lakers are 3-12 ATS in their last 15 games off an upset win as a road underdog.  Los Angeles is 16-30 ATS in its last 46 games off two or more consecutive wins.  Darwin Ham is 6-20 ATS off a road win as the coach of the Lakers.  Wrong team favored here.  Bet the Rockets Monday.

15* NBA Monday Non-Conference KNOCKOUT on Wizards/Spurs OVER 240

Two dead nuts OVER teams square off tonight when the Washington Wizards visit the San Antonio Spurs.  The Wizards rank 1st in pace and 29th in defensive rating while the Spurs rank 4th in pace and 25th in defensive rating.

The OVER is 2-0 in the last two meetings between the Wizards and Spurs and they both sailed OVER the total.  The Wizards won 136-124 for 260 combined points in their final meeting last season.  But more importantly, the Spurs won 131-127 for 258 combined points on January 20th just over a week ago today.  

The OVER is now 5-1 in the last six meetings and 10-2 in the last 12 meetings.  The Spurs and Wizards have combined for at least 241 points in eight of their last 11 meetings.  Bet the OVER in this game Monday.

20* NBA Western Conference TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Lakers/Rockets UNDER 231

This total has been inflated due to the Lakers going over the total in five consecutive games coming in.  That includes their epic 145-144 (2 OT) win over the Warriors on Saturday in a game that was tied 118-118 at the end of regulation for 236 combined points.

After playing a bunch of over teams during this stretch, now the Lakers take on a Houston Rockets team that is a dead nuts UNDER team with the way they play.  Houston ranks 20th in pace, 21st in offensive rating and 8th in defensive rating.  The Lakers rank just 20th in offensive rating and a respectable 14th in defensive rating.

The UNDER is 3-0 in the last three meetings between the Lakers and Rockets.  In their two meetings this season, they combined for just 204 and 209 points.  Houston is 11-1 UNDER in its last 12 games after outrebounding its last two opponents by 15 boards or more.  Bet the UNDER in this game Monday.

20* NBA Monday No-Doubt Rout on New York Knicks -8

The New York Knicks are 12-2 SU & 11-3 ATS in their last 14 games overall since trading for OG Anunoby.  That includes home wins over the Nuggets by 38 and the Heat by 16 in their last two games coming in.  Now I fully expect them to make easy work of the hapless Charlotte Hornets tonight.

The Hornets just traded away Terry Rozier and now their best player in LaMelo Ball is questionable tonight and likely won't go.  They were already without Mark Williams and Gordon Hayward.  This is one of the least talented teams in the NBA in their current state.

The Hornets are 3-21 SU in their last 24 games overall.  Charlotte is 2-10 ATS in its last 12 games overall and has rarely been competitive.  The Hornets are coming off a pair of blowout home losses to the Jazz by 12 and the Rockets by 34.

The Knicks own the Hornets going 3-0 SU & 3-0 ATS in three meetings with them this season winning by 22 and 24 at home as well as by 14 on the road.  New York is 16-4 ATS vs. a team with a losing record this season.  It will be more of the same tonight with the Knicks winning by double-digits.  Bet the Knicks Monday.

15* NBA Sunday PLAY OF THE DAY on Chicago Bulls -6.5

I love the spot for the Chicago Bulls tonight.  They are coming off a pair of single-digit road losses to Phoenix and the LA Lakers.  Now they have had the last two days off to rest and recover and now take a big step down in class against the Portland Trail Blazers.  This one has blowout written all over it.

Portland is 4-10 in its last 14 games overall and just cannot stay healthy.  They lost both Jerami Grant and Scoot Henderson to injury in the 1H of their 116-100 road loss to the Spurs on Friday.  Now they will be playing in their 5th different city in 8 days and returning home from a four-game road trip.  I always like fading teams in their first game back home from an extended road trip.

Grant, Henderson, Malcolm Brodgon, Anfernee Simons and Jabari Walker are all questionable to play tonight.  Sheadon Sharpe is out.  Depending how this injury news breaks, the Bulls could close as double-digit favorites.  There's just not much talent for the Blazers outside of these guys that are questionable or out.

Portland is 0-9 ATS in its last nine home games after covering four or five of its last six ATS.  Chicago is 8-1 ATS vs. poor teams that are outscored by 3-plus points per game this season.  Bet the Bulls Sunday.

15* NBA Saturday Undervalued Underdog on Los Angeles Clippers +7.5

This line has been adjusted up too much for the fact that the Clippers will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back.  But the Clippers had two days off before their 127-107 win in Toronto last night.  They made such easy work of the Raptors that they didn't have to play their starters big minutes.

The Clippers will still be plenty fresh and motivated to try and knock off the Boston Celtics tonight.  The Clippers are 12-2 SU in their last 14 games overall with the two losses coming by 3 points to the Lakers and by 4 to the Timberwolves.  So the Clippers would be 14-0 ATS with a line of +7.5 in their last 14 games.  They are playing too well right now to be catching 7.5 points.

The Celtics will be without Kristaps Porzingis and they are much less efficient without him.  They should not be favored by 7.5 without Porzingis, who would have been a matchup nightmare for the Clippers in their current state.  Bet the Clippers Saturday.

15* NBA Saturday Night BLOWOUT on Utah Jazz -9.5

This is a terrible spot for the short-handed Charlotte Hornets.  They will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 6th game in 9 days.  They just lost 138-104 at home to the Houston Rockets last night, and their effort won't be any better tonight.  They traded away Terry Rozier and now they are even more short-handed without Gordon Hayward and Mark Williams already.

The Utah Jazz will be playing just their 3rd game in 7 days.  They blew out the Wizards 123-108 on the road last time out and will win this game by double-digits as well to get us the win and cover.  The Jazz are 13-6 SU & 15-4 ATS in their last 19 games overall and playing their best basketball of the season now that they are fully healthy.

Charlotte is 4-15 ATS in its last 19 games when playing 6 or more games in 10 days.  Utah is 14-3 ATS in its last 17 games when playing its 3rd road game in 5 days.  Bet the Jazz Saturday.

20* NBA TOTAL OF THE MONTH on Heat/Knicks UNDER 217

The New York Knicks are a dead nuts UNDER team since trading for OG Anunoby of the Toronto Raptors.  They have become an elite defensive team since the trade holding 11 of their last 13 opponents to 106 points or fewer, including eight of them to 100 or fewer.  That's remarkable in today's NBA.

The UNDER is 12-1 in Knicks last 13 games overall with 222 or fewer combined points in10 of those 13 games.  The Knicks rank 27th in pace and 7th in defensive rating this season, which makes them a dead nuts UNDER team.

Now they take on another dead nuts UNDER team in the Miami Heat.  The Heat rank 11th in defensive rating, 22nd in offensive rating and 28th in pace.  So this is a matchup between two of the four slowest teams in the NBA from a pace perspective.

Each of the last eight meetings between New York and Miami have seen 216 or fewer combined points.  That makes for a perfect 8-0 system backing the UNDER pertaining to this 217-point total.  Bet the UNDER in this game Saturday.

20* NBA Western Conference TOTAL OF THE MONTH on Blazers/Spurs OVER 230.5

The Blazers and their opponents have combined for 233 or more points in three of their last four games overall.  That includes a 137-131 win at Houston that saw 268 combined points last time out.

The OVER is 4-0 in Spurs last four games overall with 244 or more combined points in all four games.  The Blazers and Spurs are 4-1 OVER in their last five games overall with 240 or more combined points in four of those five.  That includes 262 combined points in their most recent meeting on December 29th.

The OVER is 15-5 in San Antonio's 20 home games this season.  Bet the OVER in this game Friday.

15* NBA Friday Non-Conference KNOCKOUT on Magic/Grizzlies UNDER 213

The Orlando Magic are a dead nuts UNDER team going 7-2 UNDER in its last nine games overall.  Orlando and its opponents have combined for 212 or fewer points in six of its last eight games.  This is a very high total for a game involving the Magic tonight.

That's especially the case when you consider their opponent in the Memphis Grizzlies, who are also a dead nuts UNDER team right now due to all their injuries.  They are without Morant, Smart, Bane and several others and having to rely on defense to be competitive.

The UNDER is 9-5 in Grizzlies last 14 games overall.  The Grizzlies have scored 108 or fewer points in four consecutive games.  The Magic rank 5th in defensive rating while the Grizzlies rank 10th.  The Grizzlies rank dead last (30th) in offensive rating while the Magic rank 24th.

Memphis is 14-5 UNDER at home this season.  The Grizzlies are 14-4 UNDER after scoring 105 points or fewer this season.  Orlando is 10-1 UNDER in its last 11 games following a blowout loss by 20 points or more.  The Magic are 12-1 UNDER in their last 13 road games following a home loss.  Bet the UNDER in this game Friday.

15* Thunder/Pelicans NBA ANNIHILATOR on OVER 240.5

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a dead nuts OVER rank ranking 4th in pace and 7th in offensive rating.  The Pelicans are 8th in offensive rating and both teams are really scoring at a high level right now.

The Thunder are scoring 121.9 points per game this season.  The Pelicans are scoring 117.5 points per game and that number would be even higher if they were healthy all season.  Well, they are healthy right now and we're seeing what they are capable of scoring 127.4 points per game in their last eight games.

Oklahoma City is a perfect 8-0 OVER vs. good offensive teams scoring 116-plus points per game this season.  We are seeing an average of 252.9 combined points per game in these games.  Bet the OVER in this game Friday.

15* NBA Thursday Total DOMINATOR on Nuggets/Knicks UNDER 222.5

The New York Knicks are a dead nuts UNDER team since trading for OG Anunoby of the Toronto Raptors.  They have become an elite defensive team since the trade holding 10 of their last 12 opponents to 106 points or fewer, including seven of them to 100 or fewer.  That's remarkable in today's NBA.

The UNDER is 11-1 in Knicks last 12 games overall with 222 or fewer combined points in nine of those 12 games.  The Knicks rank 27th in pace and 7th in defensive rating this season, which makes them a dead nuts UNDER team.

Now they take on another dead nuts UNDER team in the Denver Nuggets.  The Nuggets rank 28th in pace and 12th in adjusted defense.  The UNDER is 3-0 in Nuggets last three games overall combining for 202 points with the Celtics, 217 with the Wizards and 223 with the Pacers.  The Wizards and Pacers are dead nuts over teams playing at the two fastest paces in the entire NBA as well.

Denver is 15-1 UNDER in its last 16 games after playing three consecutive non-conference games this season.  The Nuggets are 14-6 UNDER when the total is 220 to 229.5 this season.  Bet the UNDER in this game Thursday.

20* NBA Thursday UPSET SHOCKER on New York Knicks +2.5

The New York Knicks are 9-2 SU & 8-3 ATS since trading for OG Anunoby of the Toronto Raptors.  They have become an elite defensive team since the trade holding 10 of their last 12 opponents to 106 points or fewer, including seven of them to 100 or fewer.  That's remarkable in today's NBA.

Now I fully expect the Knicks to upset the defending champion Denver Nuggets at home tonight.  The Nuggets are 14-10 SU but 8-15-1 ATS on the road this season and have been vulnerable on the highway.  The Knicks are 14-5 SU & 11-7-1 ATS at home this season.

New York is a perfect 10-0 ATS in home games with a total of 220 to 229.5 this season.  Bet the Knicks Thursday.

15* Celtics/Heat TNT ANNIHILATOR on UNDER 224.5

The Miami Heat are 7-0 UNDER in their last seven games and 12-2 UNDER in their last 14 games overall.  They have been held to 108 or fewer points in seven consecutive games, and 99 or fewer in five of those seven.  They could be without Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kevin Love tonight, and they are having chemistry issues trying to incorporate Terry Rozier Jr.

Miami ranks 29th in pace, 22nd in offensive rating and 9th in defensive rating.  The Heat have been getting after it defensively holding their last seven opponents to an average of just 102.6 points per game.  They can hold the Boston Celtics in check tonight.

The Celtics are 5-0 UNDER in their last five games overall with 223 or fewer combined points in four of those five games.  The lone exception was the 229 against a dead nuts over team in the Mavericks when the total was 240.  The Celtics rank 2nd in the NBA in defensive rating and 17th in pace.

The UNDER is 4-1 in the last five meetings between Miami and Boston with 215 combined points or fewer in four of those five games.  Bet the UNDER in this game Thursday.

20* NBA TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Hornets/Pistons OVER 234

La'Melo Ball recently returned from injury and makes the Hornets a dead nuts OVER team when he's on the court.  They play with more pace and are a much more efficient offensive team with him than without him.

We have seen that play out since he returned.  They have gone for 234 or more combined points with their opponents in four of the five games since he returned with the lone exception being a game against the Miami Heat, who are a dead nuts under team.  They went for 253 with Minnesota, 244 with San Antonio and 244 with New Orleans in his last three games.

The Detroit Pistons are a dead nuts OVER team.  The Pistons have gone for 235 or more combined points with their opponents in seven of their last eight games overall and 11 of their last 13 games as well.  This total of 234 is too short tonight given all these facts.

Detroit is 8-1 OVER off two or more consecutive ATS wins this season.  Bet the OVER in this game Wednesday.

15* NBA Tuesday Total DOMINATOR on Blazers/Thunder OVER 234

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a dead nuts OVER team.  They rank 7th in pace and 5th in offensive rating.  They are scoring 121.7 points per game this season.  They put up 134 and 139 points in their two meetings with the Blazers this season.

The Blazers have been much more productive offensively here of late due to getting much healthier.  They are coming off a game that saw 244 combined points with the Lakers.  I think they can do enough offensively to push this one up and OVER the total.

Oklahoma City is 11-3 OVER when playing just its 2nd game in 5 days this season.  The Thunder will be fresh and ready to run up and down the court tonight.  Bet the OVER in this game Tuesday.

20* Knicks/Nets TNT No-Brainer on New York -4

The New York Knicks are 8-2 SU & 7-3 ATS since trading for OG Anunoby of the Raptors.  They are in a great spot tonight rested coming off two days' rest and I expect them to make easy work of the Brooklyn Nets as a result.

The Nets are 4-15 SU & 3-15-1 ATS in their last 19 games overall and dealing with a bunch of trade rumors right now.  This is a terrible spot for the Nets returning home from a 3-game road trip that included two games in Los Angeles against the Lakers and Clippers to close out the trip.  They will be flat tonight in their first game back home.

The Knicks have owned the Nets going 3-0 SU & 3-0 ATS in the last three meetings winning by 18 and 24 at home and by 19 on the road, which was their lone meeting this season.  New York is 15-4 ATS in its last 19 games vs. a team with a losing record.  Bet the Knicks Tuesday.

20* NBA Non-Conference GAME OF THE WEEK on San Antonio Spurs +14.5

The San Antonio Spurs have quietly gone 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall and have been a lot more competitive than they are getting credit for.  That includes a 4-point loss to Milwaukee, a 2-point loss to Cleveland and a 6-point loss to Chicago.  I expect them to hang with the Philadelphia 76ers tonight.

This looks like a potential sleepy spot for the 76ers, who have won five consecutive games and have a five-game road trip coming up next.  They kind of sleep walked through their 97-89 win as 11-point favorites at Charlotte on Saturday.  They will now be playing in their 3rd different city in 4 days.

This is the final game of a 5-game road trip for the Spurs and I always feel like teams are more motivated in that final game on a road trip to end it with a win.  San Antonio will give Philadelphia a run for its money tonight.  Bet the Spurs Monday.

20* NBA Eastern Conference TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Cavs/Magic UNDER 216.5

The Orlando Magic are a dead nuts UNDER team going 7-1 UNDER in its last eight games overall.  Orlando and its opponents have combined for 212 or fewer points in six of its last seven games.  This is a very high total for a game involving the Magic tonight.

The Cleveland Cavaliers remain without two of their best scorers in Evan Mobley and Darius Garland.  One of their top bench scorers in Caris LeVert is questionable as well.  The Cavaliers have had to rely a lot on defense without these guys, and they have done a great job of it.  Indeed, Cleveland has allowed 102 or fewer points in six of its last seven games overall while going 5-1-1 UNDER during this stretch.

This will be the 3rd meeting of the season between these teams already.  Familiarity favors defense and low scoring games.  The Cavs and Magic combined for just 198 points in their most recent meeting on December 11th.  In fact, the Cavs and Magic have combined for 214 or fewer points in 16 of their last 20 meetings.  Bet the UNDER in this game Monday.

15* NBA Sunday Total DOMINATOR on Heat/Magic UNDER 215.5

Miami is a dead nuts UNDER team.  The UNDER is 10-2 in Heat last 12 games overall and 5-0 in their last five.  They have gone for 218 or fewer combined points in five consecutive games and played two dead nuts over teams in that stretch in Toronto and Atlanta, the only two games that would have gone over this total.

One of those five games was against Orlando on January 12th.  The Heat won that game 99-96 for just 195 combined points.  Familiarity favors defense and low scoring games, and it should be more of the same here in the rematch.

Orlando is also a dead nuts UNDER team going 6-1 UNDER in its last seven games overall.  Orlando and its opponents have combined for 212 or fewer points in five of its last six games.  Simply put, this total has been set too high tonight.  Bet the UNDER in this game Sunday.

15* NBA Saturday PLAY OF THE DAY on 76ers/Hornets OVER 229

The Charlotte Hornets have been a dead nuts under team without La'Melo Ball this season.  But he recently returned from injury, giving us the opportunity to 'buy low' on a Hornets OVER.  They are a much better offensive team with Ball in the lineup and they play with a lot more pace with him as well.

We have seen that play out in their last two games. The Hornets lost 132-112 at New Orleans for 244 combined points and beat the Spurs 124-120 for 244 combined points.  This total of 229 has been set too low against the Philadelphia 76ers tonight.

The 76ers are 3-0 OVER in their last three games overall and just got Joel Embiid back from injury.  They combined for 239 points with Houston, 247 points with Denver and 233 points with Orlando.

Philadelphia is 41-20 OVER in its last 61 games as a road favorite.  The 76ers are 21-11 OVER as a favorite this season.  Philadelphia is 21-8 OVER in its last 29 games vs. terrible defensive teams that allow 48% shooting or higher.

Plays on the OVER on all teams where the total is 220 to 229.5 (Philadelphia) - after covering the spread in four or more consecutive games when playing their 2nd road game in 2 days are 28-6 (82.4%) over the last five seasons.  Bet the OVER in this game Saturday.

15* Nuggets/Celtics ESPN ANNIHILATOR on OVER 233

Both the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics are fully healthy right now and elite offensive teams when that's the case.  The Nuggets have scored at least 117 points in six of their last seven games overall.  The Celtics have scored at least 117 points in 14 of their last 16 games overall.  Both teams will get 117-plus in this one as we easily cash this OVER 233 ticket.

The OVER is 3-0 in the last three meetings as the Celtics and Nuggets have combined for 234 and 243 points in their last two meetings.  Boston is 18-5 OVER in its last 23 games vs. Northwest Division opponents.  Bet the OVER In this game Friday.

20* NBA TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Spurs/Hornets OVER 235.5

The Charlotte Hornets have been a dead nuts under team without La'Melo Ball this season.  But he recently returned from injury, giving us the opportunity to 'buy low' on a Hornets OVER.  They are a much better offensive team with Ball in the lineup and they play with a lot more pace with him as well.

We saw that play out last game with the Hornets losing 132-112 at New Orleans for 244 combined points.  This total of 235.5 has been set too low against the San Antonio Spurs tonight.

Victor Wembenyama is sitting tonight for the Spurs.  They have been a dead nuts under team with him in the lineup, and much more of an over team without him because he is their best defender.  In fact, they have gone 7-0-2 UNDER in their last nine games with Wembenyama.

In their last four games without Wembenyama, the OVER is 4-0 as they combined for 238 points with the Bulls, 262 points with the Blazers, 263 points with the Mavericks and 251 points with the Bucks.  Bet the OVER in this game Friday.

20* NBA Western Conference GAME OF THE MONTH on Utah Jazz +4

The Utah Jazz have been fully healthy for a few weeks now and are showing what they are capable of when that's the case.  The Jazz are 12-2 SU & 12-2 ATS in their last 14 games overall with seven outright wins as underdogs.  What more does this team have to do to get some respect?

They beat the Pacers by 27, the Lakers by 7 on the 2nd of a back-to-back, the Raptors by 32, the Nuggets by 13, the Bucks outright by 16 as 8-point road dogs and the 76ers outright by 11 as 8.5-point road dogs in their last six games coming in.  They should not be 4-point home underdogs to the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight.

The Jazz have a big rest advantage over the Thunder, who will be playing their 3rd road game in 4 days and in altitude tonight to boot.  The Thunder will also be playing their 6th game in 9 days tonight and started to show signs of wearing down with a 7-point loss to the Lakers and an 11-point loss to the Clippers in their last two games coming in.  Meanwhile, the Jazz will be playing on two days' rest after having last night's game against the Warriors canceled.

The Jazz are 15-5 SU & 16-3-1 ATS at home this season.  Utah is 9-1 ATS as a home dog of 6 points or less this season.  The Jazz are 11-1 ATS when playing 8 or more games in 14 days this season.  Utah is 10-1 ATS in home games when revenging a road loss this season.  Utah is 9-0 ATS in home games vs. a team with a winning record this season.  Bet the Jazz Thursday.

20* NBA Non-Conference TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Hornets/Pelicans OVER 229

The Charlotte Hornets have been a dead nuts under team without La'Melo Ball this season.  But he recently returned from injury, giving us the opportunity to 'buy low' on a Hornets OVER.  They are a much better offensive team with Ball in the lineup and they play with a lot more pace with him as well.

The Pelicans are fully healthy right now and an elite offensive team when that's the case.  They have scored an average of 125.0 points per game in their last five games.  I think they get to 125-plus tonight, and the Hornets do enough to push this one OVER the total.

Plays on the OVER on all teams where the total is 220 or higher (New Orleans) - off a road loss, a marginal winning team (51% to 60%) playing a terrible team that wins 25% or less are 28-5 (84.8%) since 1996.  Bet the OVER in this game Wednesday.

15* NBA Wednesday Undervalued Underdog on San Antonio Spurs +16

The San Antonio Spurs are 2-5 SU but 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall playing their most competitive basketball of the season.  They only lost at Memphis by 8, to the Bucks by 4, to the Cavs by 2, to the Bulls by 6 and at the Hawks by 10 in their five defeats during this stretch.  Now they are catching too many points once again to the Boston Celtics tonight.

Boston is overvalued due to its 19-0 home record this season.  But they needed OT recently at home to beat both the Pistons and the Timberwolves.  With this perfect home record comes expectations that are difficult to live up to, and it's time to 'sell high' on the Celtics as a result.

Three starters in Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White are all questionable to play tonight for the Celtics.  Jaylen Brown is banged up as well.  The Spurs are as healthy as they have been all season, which has been the key to them being so competitive of late and covering a bunch of spreads.  They'll cover another tonight.  Bet the Spurs Wednesday.

20* NBA Western Conference GAME OF THE WEEK on Phoenix Suns -4

The Phoenix Suns finally heave the Big 3 of Durant, Booker and Beal healthy and playing at the same time.  They are showing what they are capable of when that's the case in recent weeks.  The Suns are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games overall including a 127-109 road win over the Lakers two games ago.

The Suns have the next two days off so they will be 'all in' to get a win over the Sacramento Kings tonight.  I question how much the Kings have left in the tank as they will be playing their 5th consecutive road game and coming off an OT loss at Milwaukee at the buzzer on Sunday.  They will be playing their 5th road game in 8 days as well as their 9th game in 15 days overall.

Sacramento is 12-25 ATS in its last 37 games after playing two consecutive road games.  The Kings are 18-34 ATS in their last 52 road games off a close road loss by 3 points or less.  Plays against road underdogs (Sacramento) - off two or more consecutive road losses against an opponent that is off a road win by 10 points or more are 25-7 (78.1%) ATS over the last five seasons.  Bet the Suns Tuesday.

15* Thunder/Lakers NBA TV Late-Night BAILOUT on OVER 236.5

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a dead nuts OVER team. They rank 6th in pace and 4th in offensive rating. They have scored at least 119 points in 11 of their last 13 games overall, and 112 points or more in all 13.

The Los Angeles Lakers have allowed 132, 127 and 131 points in their last three games coming in. They are not playing defense since the In-Season Tournament. They can get their points on offense to hang with the Thunder in a shootout though.

That has been the case in recent meetings as the OVER is 4-1 in the last five meetings with 249, 243, 227, 240 and 263 combined points with none of those games going to OT. Those 249 and 243-point totals came in their first two meetings this season. It should be more of the same tonight.

Plays on the OVER on any team (LA Lakers) - after being beaten by the spread by 30 or more points total in their last five games against an opponent that went under the total by more than 18 points in two consecutive games are 23-6 (79.3%) over the last five seasons. Bet the OVER in this game Monday.

20* NBA Monday No-Doubt Rout on Utah Jazz -7.5

The Utah Jazz have been fully healthy for a few weeks now and are showing what they are capable of when that's the case.  The Jazz are 11-2 SU & 11-2 ATS in their last 13 games overall with seven outright wins as underdogs.  What more does this team have to do to get some respect?

They beat the Lakers by 7 on the 2nd of a back-to-back, the Raptors by 32, the Nuggets by 13, the Bucks outright by 16 as 8-point road dogs and the 76ers outright by 11 as 8.5-point road dogs in their last five games coming in. They should be more than 7.5-point favorites over the Indiana Pacers tonight.

This is a terrible spot for the Pacers. They are without their best player in Tyrese Haliburton. They are coming off a 109-117 road loss at Denver on Sunday. Now they will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back in altitude. They will also be playing their 7th game in 11 days and their 3rd consecutive road game. This is a tired team to say the least.

Utah is 11-1 ATS in home games when revenging a road loss this season. The Jazz are 14-5 SU & 15-3-1 ATS at home this season. Bet the Jazz Monday.

20* NBA Eastern Conference TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Celtics/Raptors OVER 241

The Toronto Raptors are a dead nuts OVER team since trading for RJ Barrett and Emmanuel Quickley of the Knicks.  They are also going more small ball now with the loss of center Jakob Poeltl, which is beneficial to the OVER after adding those two scorers from the Knicks to boot.

The OVER is 8-1 in Raptors last nine games overall with 238 or more combined points in eight of those nine games.  They combined for 258 points with the Jazz, 246 with the Clippers, 263 with the Lakers, 251 with the Warriors and 265 with the Kings in their last five games coming in.  It will be more of the same against the Celtics tonight.

Boston just hung 145 points on the Rockets last game and has now scored at least 118 points in 13 of its last 14 games overall. The Celtics rank 3rd in offensive rating this season and will be able to name their number on the Raptors, who have allowed 118 or more points in eight of their last nine games overall. But I think Toronto can keep pace in a shootout.

Toronto is 16-4 OVER after playing a road game this season. The OVER is 10-4 in Celtics last 14 games overall. Bet the OVER in this game Monday.

15* NBA Monday Undervalued Underdog on San Antonio Spurs +7.5

The Atlanta Hawks are the most overvalued team in the NBA this season. They are 15-23 SU & 9-29 ATS this season, including 6-11 SU & 3-14 ATS at home. They don't play defense ranking 27th in defensive rating, and their chemistry is terrible right now.

The Hawks are 3-8 SU & 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games overall. They haven't won a game by more than 7 points since December 15th, which was 15 games ago, so they'd be 0-14 ATS in their last 14 games with a line of -7.5. They were just upset by 28 at home by the Wizards as 7-point favorites. They should not be 7.5-point favorites over the Spurs today.

The Spurs are playing some of their best basketball of the season right now. They are 6-0 ATS in their last six games overall taking the Grizzlies, Bucks, Cavs and Bulls to the wire in four losses by 8 points or less. They also crushed the Pistons by 22 and the Hornets by 36. They will have Victor Wembanyama for this game, and they are a pretty good team with him in the lineup.

Atlanta is 0-9 ATS as a home favorite this season. The Hawks are 2-16 ATS as favorites this season. Atlanta is 1-11 ATS vs. teams that allow 116 or more points per game this season. Bet the Spurs Monday.

15* NBA Sunday PLAY OF THE DAY on Phoenix Suns -10.5

The Portland Trail Blazers are playing as poorly as any team in the NBA right now. They are 1-6 SU & 1-6 ATS in their last seven games overall with all six losses coming by 21 points or more. That's why I'm willing to lay the -10.5 with the Phoenix Suns tonight.

The Blazers are also in a terrible spot returning home from a 7-game road trip. There is a lot of distractions they will have to deal with back at home, not the least of which is the embarrassment of how poorly they performed on that road trip. The Blazers are also banged up right now which is a big reason for their struggles.

The Phoenix Suns are fully healthy and showing what they are capable of when they have Durant, Booker and Beal on the court at the same time. They are coming off an 18-point road win over the Los Angeles Lakers. They are rested and ready to go as they have had the last two days off and will be playing just their 2nd game in 6 days tonight.

Portland is 1-11 ATS in its last 12 games after scoring 95 points or less in two consecutive games. The Blazers have been held to 93, 77 and 84 points in their last three games, which is absolutely terrible in today's NBA. Bet the Suns Sunday.

15* Lakers/Jazz NBA Late-Night BAILOUT on Utah ML +105

The Utah Jazz have been fully healthy for a few weeks now and are showing what they are capable of when that's the case.  The Jazz are 10-2 SU & 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games overall with seven outright wins as underdogs.  What more does this team have to do to get some respect?

I know the Jazz will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back, but not all back-to-backs are created equal. They blew out the Raptors 145-113 last night so they were able to rest their starters in the 4th quarter. They will be plenty fresh and motivated when they host the Los Angeles Lakers tonight. They sit at 20-20 this season with a chance to get back above .500.

The Lakers have been grossly overvalued since winning the In-Season Tournament. They are 5-11 SU & 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games overall. They have six players on the injury report including questionable tags for LeBron, D'Angelo Russell and Cam Reddish heading into this one. They should not be favored on the road over a Jazz team playing as well as anyone right now.

Utah is 10-1 ATS in home games off an ATS win this season.  The Jazz are 10-1 ATS in home games vs. poor defensive teams that allow 46% shooting or worse this season.  Utah is 10-1 ATS in home games when revenging a loss this season. Bet the Jazz Saturday.

20* NBA BLOWOUT GAME OF THE WEEK on New York Knicks -7

The Memphis Grizzlies cannot catch a break. They were playing well when JA Morant and Marcus Smart were back. But now Morant is out for the season, and Smart is out at least six weeks. They were already without Steven Adams, Brandon Clarke and Derrick Rose.

Now the Grizzlies have Santi Aldama questionable and Desmond Bane just left last night's game with an ankle injury and did not return. I can't imagine Bane will be back for this 2nd of a back-to-back. The Grizzlies are just so short-handed right now.

The Knicks are 5-1 SU & 5-1 ATS since trading for OG Anunoby from the Raptors. That includes a 128-92 road win at Philadelphia as 5.5-point dogs as four of those five wins have come by 16 points or more. I expect them to crush the short-handed Grizzlies tonight.

New York is 16-6 ATS in its last 22 games as a road favorite. Memphis is 4-13 ATS in home games this season. The Knicks are 12-3 ATS vs. a team with a losing record this season. The Grizzlies are 1-9 ATS vs. good teams outscoring their opponents by 3-plus points per game this season. Bet the Knicks Saturday.

20* NBA DOG OF THE WEEK on Washington Wizards +8

The Atlanta Hawks have been grossly overvalued all season. They are 15-22 SU & 9-28 ATS in their 37 games and consistently getting too much respect from oddsmakers. That is the case again tonight as 8-point favorites over Washington.

This is as terrible spot for the Hawks. They will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after a 126-108 home loss to the Pacers last night. It will also be the 3rd game in 4 days for the Hawks after going to OT against the 76ers the game prior. They won't have much left in the tank for the Wizards tonight.

The Wizards have played their best basketball on the road this season going 12-8-1 ATS in their 21 road games. They are rested and ready to go tonight after having the last two days off. They are also fully healthy.

Atlanta is 0-8 ATS as a home favorite this season. Washington is 28-11 ATS in its last 39 road games following six or more consecutive losses. The Wizards are 7-0 ATS in road games vs. poor defensive teams that allow 116 or more points per game this season. Bet the Wizards Saturday.

15* NBA Friday Night BLOWOUT on Utah Jazz -3

The Utah Jazz have been fully healthy for a few weeks now and are showing what they are capable of when that's the case.  The Jazz are 9-2 SU & 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games overall with seven outright wins as underdogs.  What more does this team have to do to get some respect?

We'll gladly take advantage again tonight and back the Jazz as short home favorites over the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors are without starting C Jacob Poeltl and their best player in Pascal Siakam is questionable. The Raptors are playing well also, but this is a tough spot for them.

The Raptors will be playing their 6th road game in 10 days here. They just played the Lakers and Clippers in Los Angeles in back-to-back days. They won't have much left in the tank for the Jazz, and they will also be playing in altitude in Salt Lake City tonight to make matters worse.

Utah is 9-1 ATS in home games off an ATS win this season. The Jazz are 9-1 ATS in home games vs. poor defensive teams that allow 46% shooting or worse this season. Bet the Jazz Friday.

20* NBA Friday Late-Night BAILOUT on Raptors/Jazz OVER 235.5

The Toronto Raptors are a dead nuts OVER team since trading for RJ Barrett and Emmanuel Quickley of the Knicks.  They are also going more small ball now with the loss of center Jakob Poeltl, which is beneficial to the OVER after adding those two scorers from the Knicks to boot.

The OVER is 7-1 in Raptors last eight games overall with 238 or more combined points in seven of those eight games.  They combined for 246 points with the Clippers, 263 with the Lakers, 251 with the Warriors and 265 with the Kings in their last four games coming in.  It will be more of the same against the Jazz tonight.

The Jazz are fully healthy right now and are an elite offensive team when that's the case. They have scored 120 or more points in five of their last six games overall. The Raptors have allowed 118 or more points in seven of their last eight games overall.

Utah is 10-1 OVER in its last 11 home games after three straight games outrebounding opponents by 5 boards or more. Toronto is 8-1 OVER off a loss by 6 points or less this season. The Raptors are 15-4 OVER after playing a road game this season. The OVER is 5-0 in the last five meetings between the Raptors and Jazz with 238 or more combined points in each of the last three. Bet the OVER in this game Friday.

15* NBA Friday Non-Conference KNOCKOUT on Chicago Bulls -3

The Chicago Bulls are fully healthy and playing well right now. They have won three consecutive games coming in and I expect them to take down the short-handed Golden State Warriors tonight.

The Warriors are without four key players right now in Draymond Green, Gary Payton II, Chris Paul and Moses Moody. They are 2-6 SU & 3-5 ATS in their last eight games overall. Their last two games were particularly concerning as they were upset by the Raptors by 15 at home and blasted by the Pelicans by 36 at home.

Golden State is 2-11 ATS after losing two of its last three games this season. Chicago is 42-25 ATS in its last 67 games as home favorites. Bet the Bulls Friday.

15* NBA Thursday Night BLOWOUT on New York Knicks -4.5

The Dallas Mavericks are without Luka Doncic, Dante Exum and Derrick Lively II tonight. Grant Williams is questionable as well. I don't give them much of a shot of even keeping this game competitive against the New York Knicks tonight without Doncic.

The Knicks are 5-0 SU & 5-0 ATS since trading for OG Anunoby of the Raptors. They have won all five games by 6 points or more with four of those wins coming by 16 points or more. They have been absolutely dominant, and they are allowing just 97.4 points per game during this winning streak, which is unheard of in today's NBA. Bet the Knicks Thursday.

20* NBA TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Blazers/Thunder OVER 233

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a dead nuts OVER team.  They are 9-2 OVER in their last 11 games overall with 232 or more combined points in 10 of those 11 games, 235 or more nine times and 248 or more seven of those.  This total of 233 is too short for a game involving the Thunder right now.

The Portland Trail Blazers are more of an OVER team when Anfernee Simons is healthy. He is one of the best young guards in the game. But the Blazers have allowed 126 or more points in four of their last six games and are one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA. Bet the OVER in this game Thursday.

20* Raptors/Clippers NBA Late-Night BAILOUT on OVER 235.5

The Toronto Raptors are a dead nuts OVER team since trading for RJ Barrett and Emmanuel Quickley of the Knicks.  They are also going more small ball now with the loss of center Jakob Poeltl, which is beneficial to the OVER after adding those two scorers from the Knicks to boot.

The OVER is 6-1 in Raptors last seven games overall with 238 or more combined points in six of those seven games.  They combined for 263 points with the Lakers, 251 with the Warriors and 265 with the Kings in their last three games coming in.  It will be more of the same against the Clippers tonight.

The Clippers have scored 117 or more points in four of their last six games overall.  They put up 117 on Memphis, 121 on Miami, 131 on Phoenix and 138 on Phoenix.  They will hang a big number on the Raptors to lead the way to us cashing this OVER ticket.  But the Raptors have scored at least 116 points in nine consecutive games and will get theirs as well.  They have scored 124-plus in five of their last six.

Toronto is 14-4 OVER off a road game this season.  The Clippers are 16-5 OVER in their last 21 games off a home win by 10 points or more.  Bet the OVER in this game Wednesday.

20* Nuggets/Jazz ESPN No-Brainer on Utah +7

The Utah Jazz have been fully healthy for a few weeks now and are showing what they are capable of when that's the case.  The Jazz are 8-2 SU & 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall with six outright wins as underdogs.  What more does this team have to do to get some respect?

We'll gladly take advantage again tonight and back the Jazz catching 7 points at home to the Denver Nuggets.  The highlights during this run include an upset home win over the Heat by 8, an upset home win over the Mavericks by 27, an upset road win at Philadelphia by 11 and an upset road win at Milwaukee by 16.  The Jazz will have no problem getting motivated to face the defending champs tonight.

The Nuggets have benefited from a home-heavy, soft schedule here of late with six of their last even games at home.  Their lone road game during this stretch was a 3-point win at Golden State at the buzzer.  The road games prior were all single-digit wins over the Hornets, Nets, Raptors, Bulls and Hawks.  The Nuggets have just one road win all season by double-digits.  They are 11-8 SU but 7-12 ATS on the highway this season.

Utah is 11-5 SU & 12-3-1 ATS at home this season.  The Jazz are 51-26 ATS in their last 77 games as underdogs, including 21-5 ATS in their last 26 games as home underdogs.  Utah is 11-1 ATS after playing two consecutive road games this season.  The Jazz are 9-1 ATS in home games when revenging a loss this season.  Utah is 7-0 ATS in home games vs. a team with a winning record this season.  Bet the Jazz Wednesday.

15* NBA Wednesday Total DOMINATOR on Pelicans/Warriors OVER 233.5

The Golden State Warriors are a dead nuts OVER team in their current state.  They are without their two best defenders in Draymond Green and Gary Payton II.  They are also without Chris Paul, who slows down the tempo on offense when he's in there.  So him being out benefits the OVER.

The OVER is 4-1 in Warriors last five games overall with 236 or more combined points in four of those five games.  This total is too short considering the opponent in the Pelicans, who have scored 117 or more points in seven of their last eight road games, including 133 against the Kings last time out.

New Orleans is 13-5 OVER in its last 18 games following an UNDER.  The Warriors are 26-13 OVER in their last 39 games with a line of +3 to -3.  Golden State is 16-4 OVER following an ATS loss this season.  The Warriors are 9-1 OVER vs. a marginal winning team (51-60%) this season.  Bet the OVER in this game Wednesday.

15* Pelicans/Warriors ABC ANNIHILATOR on New Orleans +1

The Golden State Warriors are broken right now without Draymond Green, Gary Payton II and Chris Paul.  There is just too much on Steph Curry's shoulders.  The Warriors are 2-5 SU in their last seven games overall with their two wins both coming at home over the Magic by 6 and the Pistons by 4.  They are coming off a 15-point home loss to the Raptors, and also lost by 12 at home to Miami and by 10 at home to Dallas.

The Pelicans are 7-0 SU & 6-1 ATS in their last seven road games.  They beat the Kings by 33, the Timberwolves by 11, the Cavaliers by 19, the Spurs by 36, the Hornets by 5, the Wizards by 20 and the Kings by 10 with six of those seven wins by double-digits.  They are rolling on the road right now and should not be underdogs to the Warriors tonight.

Golden State is 6-14 ATS in home games this season.  Bet the Pelicans Wednesday.

15* NBA Non-Conference KNOCKOUT on Thunder/Heat OVER 233

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a dead nuts OVER team.  They are 8-2 OVER in their last 10 games overall with 232 or more combined points in nine of those 10 games, 235 or more eight times and 249 or more six of those.  This total of 233 is too short for a game involving the Thunder right now.

The Miami Heat have been more of an under team of late but a lot of that has to do with who they have played against.  They did just combine for 233 points with the Rockets with a 220-point total in their last game.  The Thunder will speed them up and make them play faster, and the Heat lose a lot defensively with the injuries they have right now.

The OVER is 5-1 in Heat last six home games.  Oklahoma City is 14-6 OVER with a total of 230 or higher this season.  The OVER is 15-4 in Thunder last 19 games after failing to cover the spread in two or more consecutive games.  Bet the OVER in this game Wednesday.

15* NBA Wednesday Night BLOWOUT on San Antonio Spurs -3.5

The San Antonio Spurs are 3-0 ATS in their last three games overall playing Memphis (lost by 8), Milwaukee (lost by 4) and Cleveland (lost by 2) all tough and down to the wire.  They haven't been rewarded with victories for their solid play, but they will be rewarded tonight with a blowout victory over the lowly Detroit Pistons.

The spot really favors the Spurs tonight.  They come in on two days' rest and will be playing just their 2nd game in 6 days.  Meanwhile, the Pistons will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 6th game in 10 days.  The blew a 22-point home lead to the Kings last night and wound up losing by 21 points.

The Pistons were playing more competitive basketball of late but then lost their best player in Cade Cunningham to injury.  They were blown out in the 2nd half by the Nuggets in a 17-point loss after losing Cunningham in the 1H the game prior.  They just don't stand much of a chance of being competitive without him.

Detroit is 3-11 ATS in non-conference games this season.  The Pistons are 4-12 ATS after playing a home game this season.  Bet the Spurs Wednesday.

15* NBA Wednesday Undervalued Underdog on Washington Wizards +7.5

The Indiana Pacers are in a terrible spot tonight.  They just played two consecutive games against the Boston Celtics at home.  After losing the first meeting, they got their revenge in the rematch with a 133-131 victory.  Now they are primed for a big letdown here against the Washington Wizards.

The cost of that victory was a big one, too.  They lost their best player in Tyrese Haliburton to a hamstring injury that is going to sideline him for at least two weeks.  Haliburton was having a MVP-caliber season averaging 23.6 points per game and 12.5 assists per game while shooting 40% from 3, 50% from the floor and 87% from the FT line.  The Pacers go as Haliburton goes.

They should not be 7.5-point favorites over the Wizards tonight without him.  The Wizards have played their best basketball on the road this season going 12-8 ATS on the highway.  They just beat the Pacers 137-123 as 8.5-point home dogs in their last meeting even with Haliburton.  They will hang tough tonight and possibly pull off the upset again.

Washington is 16-4 ATS in its last 20 road games off a non-conference game.  The Wizards are 91-58 ATS in their last 159 games off five or more consecutive losses.  Washington is 7-0 ATS n road games vs. poor defensive teams that allow 116 or more points per game this season.  This is a great spot to 'buy low' on the Wizards.  Bet the Wizards Wednesday.

20* Raptors/Lakers NBA Late-Night BAILOUT on Toronto +5

The Toronto Raptors have been playing very well since trading for RJ Barrett and Emmanuel Quickley.  They have gone 3-1 SU & 3-1 ATS in their four games since the trade with their only loss coming at Sacramento by 5 as 4.5-point dogs after the Kings made two free throws with almost no time left.

They beat the Cavaliers at home, upset the Grizzlies on the road and upset the Warriors by 15 on the road.  The Raptors have now scored 124 or more points in four of their last five games as their offensive efficiency is through the roof.

This is a great spot to fade the Lakers.  They are coming off an upset home win over the Clippers last time out, and now they have another huge game against the Phoenix Suns on deck Thursday.  That makes this the ultimate sandwich spot for them and they won't be nearly as motivated to beat the Raptors as they were to beat the Clippers, or as they will be to beat the Suns.

The Lakers have been grossly overvalued for a month now.  They are 4-10 SU & 5-9 ATS in their last 14 games overall.  They should not be 5-point favorites over the Raptors tonight with the way these teams are trending.  Bet the Raptors Tuesday.

20* NBA Non-Conference GAME OF THE WEEK on Utah Jazz +10

The Utah Jazz are 7-2 SU & 7-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall.  They are as healthy as they have been all season, which is a big reason they are playing so well right now.  They should not be catching double-digits on the road to the Milwaukee Bucks tonight.

The Bucks will be without Damian Lillard and Cameron Payne tonight, so they will be short-handed.  The Jazz can shift their focus to just trying to stop Giannis now.  The Bucks are a dangerous team when both of those guys are healthy, but they are closer to an average team without one of Lillard or Giannis.  Milwaukee is 1-3 SU & 0-4 ATS in its last four games overall.

Utah is 50-26 ATS in its last 76 games as an underdog.  The Jazz are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games after playing two consecutive road games.  They are coming off a 120-109 upset win at Philadelphia as 8.5-point dogs, and I wouldn't be surprised at all to see them upset the Bucks tonight.  Bet the Jazz Monday.

15* NBA Monday Total DOMINATOR on Thunder/Wizards OVER 244.5

The OVER is 7-2 in Thunder last nine games overall.  They have combined for 249 or more points with their opponents in five of those nine games, so getting over 244.5 tonight isn't asking too much when you consider their opponent.

The Wizards are a dead nuts OVER team.  They rank 2nd in pace and dead last (30th) in defensive rating.  They face a Thunder team that ranks 6th in pace and 4th in offensive rating.  The Thunder have scored at least 115 points in 14 consecutive games now.  The Wizards allow 126.1 points per game this season.

Washington is 14-4 OVER in its last 18 non-conference home games.  The Wizards are 12-4 OVER vs. good offensive teams that score 116-plus points per game this season.  Bet the OVER in this game Monday.

15* NBA Sunday Total DOMINATOR on Raptors/Warriors OVER 236.5

The Toronto Raptors have become a dead nuts OVER team since trading away their best defender in OG Anunoby to the Knicks and bringing in two scorers and poor defenders in RJ Barrett and Emmanuel Quickley.  The OVER is 4-1 in Raptors last five games overall with 238 or more combined points in four of those five games.  They have now gone for at least 232 combined points in seven of their last eight games overall as well.

The Golden State Warriors are without their two best defenders right now in Draymond Green and Gary Payton II.  They also just lost Chris Paul to injury, and it's actually a good thing for Golden State OVERS to be without Paul because he doesn't push the tempo as much as they will without him.  The OVER is 3-1 in Warriors last four games overall with 252, 236 and 257 combined points in the three OVERS.

The OVER is 4-0 in the last four meetings between the Raptors and Warriors with 246 and 236 combined points in their last two meetings.  Toronto is 12-4 OVER after playing a road game this season.  Golden State is 15-4 OVER following an ATS loss this season.  The Warriors are 25-13 OVER in their last 38 games with a line of +3 to -3.  Bet the OVER in this game Sunday.

15* NBA Non-Conference KNOCKOUT on Pistons/Nuggets OVER 235

The Detroit Pistons have gotten healthy and are playing much more competitive basketball of late because of it.  The improvements have come on offense with the addition of sharp shooter Bojan Bogdanovic to the lineup.  The Pistons have scored at least 109 points in 10 consecutive games.  But they still rank 27th in defensive rating.

The Nuggets rank 7th in offensive rating and will get theirs.  But they have been soft defensively of late allowing 127 points to the Warriors and 122 to the Magic in their last two games, which went well OVER the total with 257 and 242 combined points, respectively.

The Pistons and their opponents have combined for at least 249 points in four of their last five games.  The OVER is 6-1 in Pistons last seven games overall.  Detroit is 13-3 OVER vs. good 3-point shooting teams that make 36% of their shots or better this season.  Bet the OVER in this game Sunday.

20* NBA DOG OF THE WEEK on Detroit Pistons +16.5

The Detroit Pistons have gotten healthy and have been much more competitive of late as a result.  Their 28-game losing streak has had them undervalued for a few weeks now.  The Pistons are 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall.  They only lost by 4 at Golden State, by 6 at Utah in OT, by 6 in Boston in OT and upset the Raptors. during this stretch.

Now I expect the Pistons to give the defending champion Nuggets a run for their money tonight.  The Nuggets have been overvalued due to winning the title last year.  They are kind of just going through the motions right now and won't be motivated at all to get margin on the Pistons.

The Nuggets are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games overall.  They lost outright to the Thunder by 26 as 1.5-point favorites at home and outright to the Magic as 9.5-point home favorites during this stretch.

Plays against home favorites of 10 or more points (Denver) - after going over the total by 18 or more points total in their last three games against an opponent that went over the total by 36 or more points total in their last five games are 27-3 (90%) over the last five seasons.  Bet the Pistons Sunday.

15* NBA Eastern Conference PLAY OF THE DAY on Hawks/Magic OVER 238

The Atlanta Hawks are a dead nuts OVER team.  They rank 5th in pace, 6th in offensive rating and 28th in defensive rating.  The OVER is 20-12 in all Atlanta games this season.  The OVER is 3-0 in their last three games combining for 256 points with Washington, 279 with Oklahoma City and 266 with Indiana.

The OVER is 3-0 in Magic last three games overall combining for 236 points with Golden State, 273 with Sacramento and 242 with Denver.  The OVER is 4-0 in the last four meetings between the Hawks and Magic with 239, 251, 259 and 233 combined points.

Orlando is 9-1 OVER after covering five or six of its last seven games this season.  Atlanta is 8-1 OVER after losing five or six of its last seven games this season.  The Magic are 17-5 OVER in their last 22 home games vs. a team with a losing record.  Bet the OVER in this game Sunday.

20* NBA Western Conference TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Pelicans/Kings OVER 235.5

The Sacramento Kings are a dead nuts OVER team when playing at home.  They are 13-6 OVER in all home games this season where they are scoring 122.4 points per game and allowing 120.7 points per game.  They control the tempo when playing at home and like to push the pace.

Sacramento's last two home games saw 265 combined points with the Raptors and 273 combined points with the Magic.  Now they host a New Orleans Pelicans team that won't mind getting up and down with them at all.  This total is suppressed because the Pelicans shot terrible against the Clippers last game at 35.9%, keeping  this total lower than it should be.

The OVER is 6-1 in Pelicans last seven road games where they have scored at least 117 points in six of those seven games.  That includes their 127-117 win in Sacramento on December 4th that saw 244 combined points.  It should be more of the same here in this rematch.

Sacramento is 15-4 OVER in its last 19 home games following two or more consecutive wins.  Bet the OVER in this game Sunday.