Both Miami and Indiana are off to average starts this season and both have been involved in some very low scoring games this season. I think that changes tonight as we are bucking that trend and going with the value play in what looks to be a high scoring game. The Heat opened the season with an over against Charlotte but since then, they have stayed under the total in four straight games with none of those really coming close to going over. The Pacers meanwhile are off to a similar start where they went over in their first two games but have stayed under the total in their last three games and like Miami, none have been close to surpassing the number. The contrarian approach tonight is to see both streaks broken. From a pace standpoint, both teams are averaging more possessions per game than they did last season so we should see an uptempo style in this matchup. Indiana is 50-32 to the over in its last 82 games when the total is between 190 and 199.5 and 8-3 to the over in its last 11 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game. Meanwhile, the over is 5-2 in Miami's last seven road games against teams with a losing home record. 10* Over (511) Miami Heat/(512) Indiana Pacers

After making a playoff run last season, expectations were high in New Orleans but so far, not so good. The Pelicans are off to a 0-4 start to the season and they have failed to cover any game, losing each by a minimum of nine points. Along with the Lakers, they are the only winless team in the Western Conference and that is a distinction they need to avoid. The Hawks meanwhile opened the season with a loss to Detroit but have bounced back with five consecutive wins. All of those have been against average to below average Eastern Conference teams however as the schedule is ranked 26th in the NBA while New Orleans has played the toughest schedule thus far. Going back, the Pelicans are 0-8 in their last eight games but six of those losses have come against Golden St. New Orleans is 12-3 ATS in its last 15 home games against teams outscoring opponents by three or more ppg while going 19-7 ATS in its last 26 home games against teams with a winning road record. Meanwhile, Atlanta is 18-39 ATS in its last 57 games against teams shooting 41 percent or worse. The streak ends tonight for New Orleans. 10* (514) New Orleans Pelicans

Washington is coming off a last second upset victory at home over San Antonio on Wednesday which was its first home win of the season after getting upset by New York. The Wizards are 2-0 on the road but are facing a desperate team tonight and are not in an ideal situation. Boston opened the season with a victory against Philadelphia, which of course is not saying much, but has since lost three straight games including a two-point loss at Indiana on Wednesday. The Celtics have failed to cover any of those games but that changes tonight. They fall into a solid situation where we play against teams where the line is +3 to -3 that are coming off a win as an underdog going up against an opponent off a loss as a favorite. This situation is 59-28 ATS (67.8 percent) over the last five seasons. Additionally, the Celtics are 4-0 ATS in their last four home games against teams with a road winning percentage of greater than .600. Meanwhile, the Wizards are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games against teams with a losing home record and 3-15 ATS in their last 18 games after a win by six points or less. 10* (506) Boston Celtics

After a 0-3 start, the Hornets won their first game of the season in blowout fashion as they rolled over the Bulls on Tuesday by 25 points in a game in which they led by as many as 35 points and also never trailed in. Two losses came against Atlanta while the other was at Miami so the schedule has not been in their favor but Charlotte comes into a tough one here. Dallas opened the season with three straight road games with the lone loss coming against the Clippers and in its home opener, the Raptors pulled away in the fourth quarter with an 11-point win. The Mavericks were good, but not great, at home last season but they still have a big edge here and we are getting a solid line to deal with. I know times change but the gap between these two teams has not narrowed as much as this line is telling us as since 2012, the Mavericks have been favored by 14, 10, 8 and 9.5 in the four home meetings and they won all of those games by more than they are favored by tonight. They have owned this series as the Mavericks have won 23 of the last 24 meetings including every one at home, 14 in a row. Look for Dallas to pull away here before a home-and-home series with New Orleans. 10* (706) Dallas Mavericks

Orlando and Houston are coming off their first wins of the season after 0-3 starts as the Magic won last night in New Orleans while the Rockets took care of Oklahoma City on Monday. The offense finally came to life for Houston against the Thunder as it went over the century mark for the first time this season but the defense remains a concern, as it is allowing 107.8 ppg. Despite this, all four of the Rockets games have stayed under the total and we are getting value now because of that. The Magic have now covered all four games this season and while it is tempting to go against that tonight, laying that number with the Houston defense does not seem logical. Orlando has gone under the total in three of four games including the last two games so it also fits into the contrarian situation here as well. The lone game that went over comes against a similar style team as the game with Oklahoma City easily eclipsed the total even before overtime came into play. Orlando is 31-13 to the over in its last 44 games against teams shooting 41 percent or worse while Houston is 7-3 to the over in its last 10 games against teams with a winning percentage below .400. 10* Over (511) Orlando Magic/(512) Houston Rockets

Looking at the records of Indiana and Detroit, you would think they should be reversed as the Pacers had higher expectations but they are sitting 0-3 while the Pistons are the undefeated team at 3-0. This is the best start for Detroit since 2008-09 and new head coach Stan Van Gundy certainly has a lot to do with that. Now after being underdogs in the first three games, the Pistons are now overpriced as favorites because of the records and what has happened inside the games. The Pacers have struggled no doubt but Detroit has been getting outplayed despite the wins as it has been outshot by 5.3 percent from the floor. Indiana is still trying to get used to a new system as it looks to bounce back from its worst loss thus far on Saturday against Utah. The Pacers haven't started 0-4 since losing their first nine games in 1988-89 and I do not see the losing streak lasting much longer. With Paul George being back as healthy as ever and the additions of Monta Ellis and Myles Turner gives Indiana a very positive outlook going into the season. Going back to last season, the Pacers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following a double-digit loss at home and they fall into a great contrarian situation where we play on road teams that are coming off a loss as a favorite going up against an opponent coming off a win as a home underdog. This situation is 34-10 ATS (77.3 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (705) Indiana Pacers

The Bucks were a pleasant surprise last season as they improved by 26 games from 2013-14 and made the playoffs as the sixth seed. While we won't see a similar improvement, Milwaukee has the ability to be better once again. The return of Jabari Parker from injury and the addition of Greg Monroe will improve the offense considerably which we have already seen the first tow game despite losses in both. The Bucks had the second-best defense in the entire NBA last year so the fact they have allowed 122 points and 118 points is shocking. It won't get easier tonight but we will definitely see an improvement. Toronto has won its first two games thanks to a pair of come-from-behind efforts. The Raptors are favored to win the Atlantic Division but that won't take much in the weakest division in the NBA. While the offense is solid, the defense remains a weakness and that could be a problem matchup here. There is not a huge difference or gap in power ratings here yet the line is telling us different and that is due to the records from both sides early in the season. Milwaukee is 10-1 ATS in its last 11 road game where the total is between 200 and 209.5 while Toronto is 2-11 ATS in its last 13 games coming off a road win by 10 points or more. 10* (705) Milwaukee Bucks

We lost by playing against Golden St. on Tuesday as it was able to pull away from New Orleans in its season opener. 13 more shot attempts and a 21-8 edge in offensive rebounding was the difference but that will not happen tonight and we will go against the reigning champion angle again here, especially as a road favorite against a team that will contend for the Western Conference championship. Houston is coming off a disappointing season opener where it was hammered at home by 20 points against the Nuggets in an awful shooting performance. The Rockets were eliminated in the Western Conference Finals last season by Golden St. in five games so they will be out for some payback. The Rockets are 13-2 ATS in their last 15 games coming off a loss as a favorite and we will see a big bounceback effort tonight. 10* (720) Houston Rockets

Milwaukee got embarrassed at home in its season opener against one of the worst teams in the NBA which makes them a focused bunch tonight as it takes the home floor again. The big thing from Wednesday was the fact that the Bucks allowed 122 points and this was from the second best defense in the NBA a season ago. Giannis Antetokounmpo returns to the lineup after a one-game suspension which also helps. Washington won in Orlando by a point and comes in as a road favorite once again. This is a very public team and with overadjusted lines, Washington went 33-46-3 ATS last season. Going back, the Wizards are 5-22-1 ATS in their last 28 games following an ATS loss and here, we play on teams coming off a loss by 10 points or more as a home favorite, that had a winning percentage between .401 and .499 last season. This situation is 22-4 ATS (84.6 percent) since 1996. 10* (712) Milwaukee Bucks

Oklahoma City is coming off a quality win over San Antonio in its season opener but now comes in as an overpriced road favorite tonight. This is an odd scheduling spot as the Thunder have Denver and Houston on deck over the weekend and this can be a lookahead situation. Orlando dropped a tough one in its opener as it fell by a point against Washington. The Magic covered as a home underdog and we should see that a lot this season. Despite just 25 wins last season, the Magic finished above .500 at the betting window and they have been so bad for so long, expectations are low once again which can lead to many good betting opportunities. Expect a full effort tonight from Orlando which head out on the road for three straight games as well as five of its next six. 10* (706) Orlando Magic

The Lakers are one of the teams in the Western Conference that we don't know much about because of their youth and the health of Kobe Bryant. One thing is for certain though and that is the talent is far superior than the opposition tonight and the fact the Lakers are the first to play at the Staples Center (over the Clippers) is a big deal. Bryant will set a league record for most seasons played with one franchise, surpassing John Stockton, who played for the Jazz from the 1984-85 season until his retirement after 2002-03. Julius Randle and D'Angelo Russell are the future of the franchise which adds to the added excitement of this home opener. The Timberwolves are expected to struggle again this season after finishing with the worst record in the NBA last season, a miserable 50 games under .500. While preseason games typically do not factor into regular season betting analysis, it is hard to ignore the fact that Minnesota struggled immensely as three of five losses were by 22 or more points and that is a big problem. The Timberwolves won only seven games on the road last season and while the Lakers were not a lot better at home, they were banged up all season. This is a much different team and one that is healthy which is certainly huge in the beginning of the season. 10* (728) Los Angeles Lakers

This is one of the best scenarios to go against on opening day. It is banner day in Golden St. and we know what that means. The Warriors will be lowering their 2014-15 NBA Championship banner on Tuesday night and playing a basketball game is not at the forefront for the players right now. This is a huge event and with that comes a lot of distractions. Players have been saying that once the banner is lowered and the game starts, they will be focused but that is easier said than done. Now let's go back to the NBA Champion angle. Prior NBA Champions are usually slow starting out of the gate the following season since their lines are over-adjusted to start the season. The last 14 NBA Champions (San Antonio, Dallas, Boston, San Antonio four times, Miami three times, Detroit and LA Lakers three times) have combined for a 42-71 ATS mark (37.2 percent) through their first two weeks of the following year. Distractions and overvaluation are definitely keys to this. We have seen it in the season opening game for the reigning NBA Champions for seven of the last nine seasons including last season when the Spurs failed to cover. Golden St. took care of Cleveland to win its first NBA Championship since 1975 and there will be a bullseye on their backs all season. That surely starts tonight for New Orleans which will be out for revenge after getting swept in the Conference Quarterfinals in four games. The Pelicans finished 45-37 last season to finish eighth in the Western Conference and they should only get better. They have covered 28 of their last 42 games as underdogs and will keep this one tight. 10* (505) New Orleans Pelicans

While many are calling for this series to be over already, we are not quite there yet. The Warriors won pivotal Game Five at home and teams that take a 3-2 series lead in the NBA Finals have gone on to win the NBA Championship 35 out of 43 times. But that includes series that have gone the distance as only 25 of those 43 had it ended in six games. The Cavaliers had chances in Game Five but blew a significant lead and were outscored by 11 points in the second half. They have now lost two straight games by double-digits and that is a wake up call heading home in this elimination game. It is unfortunate for Cleveland that injuries have played such a vital role and it has basically turned into a one man show. One player that needs to pick up the slack is J.R. Smith who has gone a dreadful 4-22 from long range the last two games and I believe that he gets the job done tonight. The Warriors are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game while the Cavaliers are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game. 10* (712) Cleveland Cavaliers

The total has been killing us in this series but now is not the time to lay off as we will come back with the over in Game Five. Golden St. was able to regain home court advantage with a commanding win in Cleveland in Game Four. Now that the Warriors are back home, they can carry the momentum from that game as the offense got back on track. They managed 103 points on 46.8 percent shooting including 40 percent from long range, huge improvements from the previous two games. Cleveland was the problem in Game Four as it shot just 33 percent including a horrid 14.8 percent from long range, missing 23 of 27 attempts. Scoring only 12 points in the fourth quarter was the difference in that one staying under and even though the Cavaliers are now on the road, we will see a better performance offensively. The rest factor should come into play as well as the extra day will benefit both sides, especially Cleveland as fatigue has been a big issue. Going back, the Cavaliers are 38-16 to the over in their last 54 games playing with two days rest and that includes a 60 percent clip this season. 10* Over (709) Cleveland Cavaliers/(710) Golden St. Warriors

After getting destroyed in Game Four at home, many are writing the Cavaliers off in this series and the home court advantage they gained has been lost. The series is even at two games apiece which makes Game Five absolutely pivotal for both sides and while the argument will be it is more important for the Warriors because the next game is in Cleveland, I think it is more important for the victors as a loss forced the Cavaliers to win the final two games including another on this floor. The Warriors have lost only four times at home all season but two of those have been in the postseason including one against Cleveland already. The line is taking the dominant home floor into consideration as Golden St. is favored by the most it has been in this series so far. While an outright win may be farfetched to some, consider the fact that the Cavaliers are coming off a horrible game so a bounce back is imminent and the added time off is a big factor. Cleveland is a perfect 15-0 this season when playing with two days rest and that included the win here last Sunday. Don't count Cleveland out just yet. 10* (709) Cleveland Cavaliers

The zig didn't zag in Game Three for the total as even a 60-point fourth quarter could not keep the game from staying under the total. We will go against the grain again and look for the bounce theory to hold true for Game Four to send this game over the total. The first two games of this series went into overtime and despite that, Game Two stayed well below the total. In Game One, the under would have come in if not for the extra time as it snuck over by a few points. Because of those regulation results, we have seen the over/under go from 203.5 to 199 to 194 to 193 so we are getting over a 10-point swing in a matter of just four games. That is some incredible value and while it was roughly the same last game and did not come through, I expect a different story on Thursday. For one, this Golden St. offense has now been held in check in two straight games and Tuesday represented only the second time all season that the Warriors are under 60 points after three quarters and the first time it happened it was in Game Two. Give Cleveland credit for great defense and Matt Dellavedova has been the key. The problem is he is not 100 perfect and head coach David Blatt said he will limit his minutes because of the cramps and fatigue. Now it's time to see some points. 10* Over (707) Golden St. Warriors/(708) Cleveland Cavaliers

The NBA Finals shifts back to Cleveland where the Cavaliers have obtained home court advantage as they were able to split in Golden St. they come in as a short home underdog but we will be looking at the total tonight where we are getting a very strong number to work with. The first two games of this series have gone into overtime and despite that, the last games stayed well below the total. In Game One, the under would have come in if not for the extra time as it snuck over by a few points. Because of those regulation results, we have seen the over/under go from 203.5 to 199 to 194 so we are getting close to a 10-point swing in a matter of just three games. Both teams have gone under the total in the majority of their games this season but those have come with some high totals as they are a combined 11-7 to the over when the over/under is less than 195. While defense has been the story so far, I expect the shooting to improve tonight and namely, that comes from Stephen Curry where he was just 5-23 from the floor including just 2-15 from long range. The Warriors have scored fewer than 100 points 19 other times this season and they have eclipsed the century mark all but three times in the next game. Meanwhile, the over is 4-0 in Cavaliers last four home games against teams with a winning road record. 10* Over (705) Golden St. Warriors/(706) Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers and Warriors had no problems reaching the NBA Finals and the matchup that everyone was hoping for. We waited on this line after it came out, anticipating a move toward Cleveland and that is exactly what happened so now is the time to back Golden St. as it would not be at all surprising to see this number go back up by game time next Thursday. The time off was good for both sides to rest and take care of some nagging injuries and when we finally get to playing, the Warriors have a decisive edge on their home floor. They have lost only three times at home all season and there was a very common trait in all three games which was Stephen Curry struggling. He scored just 16, 19 and 21 points in those three defeats while going a combined 4-27 (14.8 percent) from long range and those clearly on not normal number. Neither was 18-point performance in Cleveland in the last meeting where he was just 3-9 from downtown. We talk about statement games for teams but this is a statement game for Curry and expect the best to come out. Cleveland rolled through the Eastern Conference playoffs but the Western Conference is a different beat and the Cavaliers were a pedestrian 18-12 against the west during the regular season. The Warriors get off to the start they need in Game One. 10* (702) Golden St. Warriors

The under came through in the first three games of this series before Game Four easily went over the number by 29 points. Because of that result, we are seeing the total rise back up slightly for Game Five which goes back to Golden St. where the Warriors look to finish off Houston. Like Cleveland last night, they want to end it here to avoid another game and get as much rest as possible. The Cavaliers did it with defense to close out Atlanta and I expect Golden St. to turn up the defense after allowing 128 points on Monday which was the most amount of points they have given up all season. The Warriors have allowed 100 or more points in the playoffs only three times and the first two times they clamped down in the next game. While many take Golden St. as an explosive team that often plays high-scoring games, that couldn't be further from the truth as 42 of their 95 games have stayed below the total. The under is 6-0-1 in the Warriors last seven home games while the under is 9-4 in the Rockets last 13 games against winning teams. Look for Golden St. to regroup on defense which will be the key for a low scoring game tonight. 10* Under (517) Houston Rockets/(518) Golden St. Warriors

We saw the Rockets avoid getting swept by the Warriors last night and Atlanta will try and do the same tonight but the difference is big being on the road as opposed to home. The Hawks are a very respectable 28-20 on the highway but losing a tough game in overtime that could have changed the look of the series will be tough to overcome. Cleveland has won 25 of its last 27 home games and while one of those has come in the postseason against the Bulls, the Hawks have not looked like the same Hawks team during the regular season. They are just 8-7 in the playoffs with half of those wins coming by five points or less against much weaker competition. The Cavaliers played their second consecutive game without point guard Kyrie Irving, who again sat out due to left knee tendinitis. Irving averaged 21.7 points and 5.2 assists during the regular season and is averaging 18.9 points and 3.5 assists in the playoffs. Matthew Dellavedova has filled in and while he is no Irving, he has played very well on both ends of the floor. If there is one team that could use some rest, it is the Cavaliers as they don't want to go back to Atlanta on Thursday and would love nine days off before the NBA Finals start June 4th. 10* (516) Cleveland Cavaliers

While the Rockets may be down 2-0 in this series, they have shown they can hang with the best team in the NBA as two close losses have been the difference. Houston lost all four games during the regular season but those were all blowouts so the Rockets have adjusted to keep things close and returning home is the chance to get back into this series. Falling behind 3-0 simply cannot happen if they want to have any chance and they are in a solid spot tonight based on the fact they are a home underdog. Houston has been a home dog nine times during the season and has won six of those outright while covering seven of those. This including winning both of these situation against the Clippers in the postseason. Winning these close games is certainly a positive for Golden St. as that is what the elite teams do in the postseason. But those were at home where the Warriors have lost just three times all season and now they hit the road where they are still very good but very vulnerable. Golden St. is just 4-10 ATS in its last 14 games following a win while the Rockets are 24-9 ATS in their last 33 games following a loss. 10* (510) Houston Rockets

We lost with the Hawks in Game One but will come back with them here in what is a must win spot to stay in the series. Atlanta looked particularly good in the first half against the Cavaliers but a poor start to the second half put them behind by double-digits and they could not recover. The difference in that first game was simple. The overall shooting was very even but Cleveland was 10-26 from long range while the Hawks went just 4-23 from beyond the arc and that was the obvious difference. The majority came from J.R. Smith who was an unconscious 8-12 from three-point land from off the bench. Do not expect a repeat from him and we can expect a better showing from Atlanta as well. That was just the eighth home loss of the season for Atlanta compared to 40 wins and the Hawks have not lost consecutive home games all season, going a perfect 7-0 in their next home game after losing their previous home game. Additionally, Atlanta has covered its last four playoff games coming off a non-cover and while it has already lost home court advantage in this series, Atlanta knows it has to get the job done tonight. 10* (508) Atlanta Hawks

The under came in for Game One of this series and it was pretty fortunate for under bettors as a 113-point first half was followed up by a 103-point second half. We are not seeing a huge move going into Game Two and after neither teams shot lights out, I think we are going to see a shootout tonight. When you think Golden St., you think offense and while that is the case, the Warriors have been on a huge under run. They have stayed below the total in seven of their last eight games but a lot of that is due to the opposition and the pace involved. Golden St. is coming off two series against the third slowest and sixth slowest teams in the league in term of pace and in this series, they are facing the only team faster than them. Only six teams have averaged 170 or more shot attempts per game combined on offense and defense and these two teams are part of that group. Obviously the ball has to go in the hole for this to be high scoring but I expect much better shooting tonight than we saw on Tuesday. While the Warriors under trends have been dominating, the Rockets offset that as they are 5-1 to the over in their last six road games and 11-5 to the over after scoring 100 or more points last time out. 10* Over (505) Houston Rockets/(506) Golden St. Warriors

Cleveland and Atlanta had identical series in the Eastern Conference semis as both lost the opener, won Game Two, lost Game Three on the road and went on the win the final three games, two of which were on the highway. Those finishes do not give us a clear indicator of which team is better equipped to start this series strong but I give the edge to Atlanta for being home as well as the line value aspect. The Cavaliers were getting two and half points in Game Six in Chicago and are now getting just one point against the best team in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta took three of four against Cleveland during the regular season and while LeBron James did miss one of those games that the Hawks won, they outplayed the Cavaliers in the other two wins and this is no doubt a statement game for Atlanta as they are still being considered the underdog in this series. The Hawks want to and probably need to come out strong as a Game One loss really puts the pressure on them in Game Two which they do not need. Atlanta ha lost at home only seven times all season and going back, they are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 home games against teams with a winning road record while the Cavaliers are 0-5 ATS in their last five games following a win of more than 10 points. 10* (504) Atlanta Hawks

The top two seeds from each conference made the conference finals but it certainly was not a given, especially for the Rockets. They trailed the Clippers in their conference semi three games to one but rolled at home in Game Five, had a miraculous comeback in Game Six and never trailed in Game Seven to take the series. Those last three victories were all as underdogs which shows a lot of character but now the challenge is even greater. Facing top seed Golden St. will have an added element as Houston will try and rebound from losing all four meeting during the regular season, all of which were decided by double digits. That is a big reason the Rockets are catching double-digits here and I simply think it is too many points in this spot even more so considering they have not been a double-digit underdog all season long. The Warriors are a great team there is no doubt but asking any team to win by double-digits in a conference final against an elite team is asking too much. Houston has covered five straight games following a double-digit win and the confidence that came from that series comeback will still be there thanks to having only one day off heading into Game One. 10* (501) Houston Rockets

The Rockets are coming off an incredible comeback in Game Six to force the decisive Game Seven on their home floor Sunday. The Clippers meltdown was shocking as they blew a 19-point lead only to go on to lose by 12 points and the sting of that defeat is going to be hard to recover from. Even more surprising is the fact that Houston got it done without James Harden for the most part who didn't even play in the fourth quarter which shows how dangerous this team is from top to bottom. Houston has won the last two games played here including a 21-point romp in Game Five to keep the series alive and yet are still getting points and in this case, I believe the wrong team is favored once again. The Rockets are a very impressive 35-12 at home and while they have been one of the best teams in the league this season coming off a double-digit loss, they are 4-0 ATS in their last four games coming off a double-digit win. The improbable series comeback is culminated on Sunday. 10* (752) Houston Rockets

After losing this total the last two games, we are jumping on again party to the law of averages but also because we are now really seeing some value and a lot of the same jargon goes along with it. We have now seen the first five games of this series all stay under the number which sets up a great opportunity tonight to see the highest scoring game through the first six contests. The over/under has now moved 4-4.5 points from the last game due the low scoring games that have stayed below the number by close to double-digits each time. Tonight is the lowest of the bunch by over a bucket and the linesmakers are well aware that if they move this number too much, the over could get hammered which would set up a big liability for them. This is only the second time all season that Golden St. has had a total of less than 195 and that game ended up going over the number. While the Memphis defense can be considered a key reason, the Grizzlies are allowing opponents to shooting over 44.1 percent on the season including 45.9 percent at home, both of which are higher than what Golden St. allows. The Warriors offense just has not been in synch this series due to the pace but this is certainly the game to get it going and while the trends for the under are numerous, we will go against all of those and cash in a high scoring ticket. 10* Over (747) Golden St. Warriors/(748) Memphis Grizzlies

This game sets up very similar to the Cleveland game last night and I expect a similar result where the much better team is coming off a pair of wins to take control of the series and is getting points in a must win situation for the opposition. Like the Cavaliers, Atlanta wants to end it here even though the final game would be at home where it was dominant all season long. Game Five was obviously a crucial one and the Hawks came away with the last second victory which will provide some serious momentum heading into Game Six. The Wizards were in control of the last game as they held an 11-point lead late in the fourth quarter only to let it go and even though they are back home, that is a tough game to recover from. For as good as John Wall's return was needed in Game Five, how long both he and the Wizards last in these playoffs will hinge on the durability of his hand. Everything seems to be fine but he is not 100 percent and you could see some issues, namely poor shooting and a team high six turnovers. Washington is just 5-10 ATS this season as a short-priced favorite of less than four points and have been pretty poor coming off a loss, going just 14-23-2 ATS. The Hawks meanwhile are 26-14 ATS against winning teams and like Cleveland, they avoid a seventh game and get some much needed rest before facing the Cavaliers. 10* (745) Atlanta Hawks

Despite winning two of the last three games, the Cavaliers have been unable to cover any of those but that changes tonight as they look to close out this series to avoid going back home for a Game Seven where anything can happen. Cleveland fell behind 2-1 through the first three games but has been able to sneak out two close wins over the last two games to regain control and put itself into good position to make a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. LeBron James is coming off his best game of the series with 35 points and 12 rebounds and most importantly, not a single turnover. This is the time he can literally take over a series and Chicago knows it. The Bulls probably have seen too much of James, who has a 15-5 playoff record against Chicago since 2010 and most of the time, James was the difference. Chicago is ailing with Pau Gasol retaking the court tonight but not close to full health while Derrick Rose is once again dragging, this time with a wrist injury. Going back further, the Bulls have covered six of the last seven meetings this season but that helps us in getting a better line. Additionally, the Cavaliers are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game. 10* (741) Cleveland Cavaliers

We lost with this total Monday but will come back with it tonight with the change of venue probably playing a big role. We have seen the first four games of this series all stay under the number which sets up a great opportunity tonight to see the highest scoring game through the first five contests. The over/under has not moved much despite the low scoring games that have stayed below the number by close to double-digits each time. Tonight is the lowest of the bunch and even though not by much, the linesmakers are well aware that if they move this number too much, the over could get hammered which would set up a big liability for them. The Warriors offense played their best game since the opener and while the Memphis defense will likely try and slow it down, this Golden St. offense is due to bust out at home where it has averaged 112 ppg on 49.3 percent shooting. Obviously, the under is on a role and the trends favor those once again but we will again go contrarian and look for the first shootout in this series. 10* Over (739) Memphis Grizzlies/(740) Golden St. Warriors

It is obviously must win time for Houston as it trails the Clippers three games to one in this series after getting blown out in consecutive games in Los Angeles. We were on the wrong side in both of those unfortunately but a return home will get the Rockets back in gear and to be able to extend the series at least one more game. Obviously, the Chris Paul injury affected the line in the first two games in Houston but we are seeing a minimum 10-point line swing from then to now and that is absolutely way too much of a variance. The Rockets plan on Sunday completely backfired as Houston's fouling strategy did little to improve its chances as Los Angeles ended up with a playoff-high point total after averaging 116.7 ppg over the first three games. The home crowd will be a much needed edge for the Rockets as they look to improve upon their 34-12 record at home and while they did fair to cover the last game, they are still a solid 12-3 ATS over their last 15 games coming off a double-digit loss. 10* (736) Houston Rockets

The top seeds from each conference are down 2-1 in their series and both need to win on the road tonight to avoid a 3-1 deficit which will makes things extremely tough going forward. Memphis has taken the last two games in this series and to no surprise, it is again a home underdog in what is pretty much a must win for the Warriors. We are concentrating on the total tonight however as we have seen the first three games of this series all stay under the number which sets up a great opportunity tonight to see the highest scoring game through the first four. The over/under has not moved much despite the low scoring games that have stayed below the number by close to double-digits each time. While the Memphis defense can be considered a key reason, the Grizzlies are allowing opponents to shooting over 44 percent on the season including 45.8 percent at home, both of which are higher than what Golden St. allows. The Warriors offense just has not been in synch the last two games but this is certainly the game to get it going and while the trends for the under are numerous, we will go against all of those and cash in a high scoring ticket. 10* Over (731) Golden St. Warriors/(732) Memphis Grizzlies

We lost with the Rockets on Friday as they trailed by as many as 32 points in what resulted in a 25-point defeat. Houston has yet to cover in this series and the line is portraying that with the Rockets getting a huge number today. Losing consecutive games has been a rarity all season for Houston as it is 21-7 on the season following a defeat while covering 20 of those games. Additionally, the Rockets are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games following a double-digit loss. The Clippers covered for just the second time in their last 10 home games and while their 33-13 record at home is impressive, the 26-17 road record for the Rockets is just as impressive so they have the confidence knowing that they can tie this series up on the highway before heading back home. Houston knows full well it cane rebound after all, the Clippers lost by 27 points in Game Three to the Spurs in the first round, falling behind 2-1 in the series only to come back and beat the Spurs in San Antonio in Game Four to even the series. 10* (727) Houston Rockets

Despite outshooting Chicago and holding the biggest lead of the game at one point, the Cavaliers dropped Game Three of this series and will be in a must win situation to avoid going into a big hole heading back home. The difference last game was from the free throw line as Cleveland wax outscored 25-18 from the charity stripe which was the ultimate difference. LeBron James had an awful shooting game as did Kyrie Irving and like they did in Game Two after Game One struggles, I expect both to pick it up today. The Bulls still have big concerns, with Pau Gasol iffy with a strained hamstring that rendered him unable to play in much of the second half of the Game Three win on Friday night. He is questionable today which further improves Cleveland's dominance down low. The Cavaliers are 4-0 ATS in their last four games following an ATS loss. The line shift from the last game is skewed toward a Cleveland win which is more than expected Sunday. 10* (725) Cleveland Cavaliers

After dropping the opener of this series, Atlanta bounced back on Tuesday to even the series and has a chance tonight to regain home court advantage. The Hawks took advantage of a 22-8 edge at the free throw line in Game Two and while they cannot count on that again, they do have the big edge down low. Atlanta's starting front court of DeMarre Carroll, Paul Millsap and Al Horford combined to outscore the Washington starting frontcourt of Paul Pierce, Nene, and Marcin Gortat 58-27. While the backcourt did not play particularly well, I see that getting better here. The loss of John Wall is huge for Washington and while Ramon Sessions played excellent in his absence, he cannot be consistently counted on the way Wall can be. The line has not shifted in our favor but I do not expect to make a difference as the Hawks are 23-9-1 ATS in their last 33 games against teams with a winning record while the Wizards are 5-23-2 ATS in their last 30 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game. 10* (721) Atlanta Hawks

We often talk about line value and this is a great example of it. Houston lost the home court edge in this series after dropping Game One but it can regain it with a victory tonight and the Rockets are getting an outstanding line on top of it. They were favored by 7.5 points in the first two home games, the second game line was not adjusted due to the Chris Paul injury, which should make them close to a pick or a one-point dog but instead they are getting 4.5 points in some cases. That makes this a ridiculous line swing. Going back to the San Antonio series, the venue switch line swing were all between seven and nine points which is a typical move. Obviously, Los Angeles has a strong home floor where it is 32-13 but the status of Paul is still up in the air as he is questionable. His absence is huge as in Game One, the Clippers turned the ball over 23 times and in Game Two, the Clippers offense moved away from team ball, settling for one-on-one plays and in both instances, Paul would have helped. Even if he does go, he will be far from 100 percent. The Clippers are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 home games against teams with a road winning percentage of greater than .600 while the Rockets are 24-7 ATS in their last 31 games following an ATS loss. 10* (719) Houston Rockets

The Rockets opened up a big early lead against the Clippers in Game One as they led by as many as 13 points but costly turnovers and too many missed free throws have put Houston in a whole. Like Cleveland, the Rockets can ill afford to hit the road down 2-0 in the series so they have to take advantage of how important the home floor is and how good it has been to them particularly. They are 33-12 on their home floor and will come out with hopefully the same energy as they did in Game One and be able to sustain it. Give credit to the Clippers as they easily could have folded early in Game One but they hung tough and mounted a big comeback to win comfortably. A lot of that was handed to them however with the Houston miscues and Los Angeles had not better be looking forward to such good fortunes again tonight. Chris Paul sat out the first game with a hamstring injury and he has been downgraded to doubtful for tonight. While some say it may be a gametime decision, it is likely the Clippers will not force it to make it worse especially that they already have a game in hand. The Rockets are 12-1 ATS in their last 13 games following a double-digit loss. 10* (716) Houston Rockets

The Bulls cashed a ticket for us Monday as they led wire-to-wire and took advantage of a Cleveland team that was without two key contributors and was on an eight-day layoff. The Cavaliers will still be without Kevin Love, who is gone for the season, and J.R. Smith, who is serving the second game of a two-game suspension but I expect the home team to bounce back here. The Cavaliers had won 22 of their previous 23 home games but shockingly never even led in Game One as it was an offensive clinic for the Bulls for the better part of three quarters, despite the score not reaching triple digits. They shot 50 percent from the field and 56 percent from three-point range, turning the ball over just 10 times and totaling 23 assists. That type of efficiency will be nearly impossible to duplicate tonight. On the other side, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving combined for 49 points, but it was on 19-for-45 shooting. It was the first time in James' storied career that his team never led in a home playoff game, a span of 85 games so I expect him to take over tonight in what he even called a horrible game played by himself. The Cavaliers have already lost home court advantage so going down 2-0 in the series would be detrimental. 10* (714) Cleveland Cavaliers

Memphis led very early against Golden St. on Sunday but fell behind shortly thereafter and could not recover. The Grizzlies didn't play bad overall as many of the numbers were equivalent to those of Golden St. but the difference of the game was from behind the arc as the Warriors nailed 13 three-pointers while Memphis was just 3-12 from long range, and that will have to improve even though the Grizzlies are not known to be a big three-point shooting team. We are playing the bounce angle here with Golden St. covering Game One as Memphis is getting a little bit of added value and even though the Grizzlies did not cover the first game, this is just the second game they have been double-digit underdogs all season. Memphis was without Mike Conley in Game One but he is expected to be back tonight and his presence is big on both sides of the floor. He's a great backcourt defender and the defensive communication system involves Conley relaying play-calls not to mention the fact he led the team with 107 three-pointers on the season. The Grizzlies are 4-0-1 ATS in their last five games following a loss while the Warriors are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games following a win. 10* (711) Memphis Grizzlies

The time off did not affect Golden St. as we thought it might but it was the Memphis lack of production from long range that was the big difference Sunday. Cleveland is going through a similar situation as it has not played a game in eight days and it will have to take the floor tonight without two key players as Kevin Love is done for the season while J.R. Smith is suspended for the first two games of this series. That will leave the Cavaliers in a tough spot to try and find somewhere to make up for that lost production and the fact they have to been able to do anything but practice is a detriment. Chicago had a 3-0 lead on Milwaukee but could not close it out early and actually got taken to six games where the Bulls won the series thanks to a 54-point Game Six drubbing. They have had three days off which is a good break as it allows rest but not too much to have the rust settle in. Chicago has to take advantage of its solid defense that has been a lot better since all of the regular starters have been back in place and will have to take advantage of its big advantage in the frontcourt. Chicago is 5-1 ATS in its last six games after a win . 10* (703) Chicago Bulls

Memphis and Golden St. had pretty similar paths to this Western Conference semifinal series as they were both able to coast without much trouble. The Grizzlies took care of Portland in five games while the Warriors swept the Pelicans in what was a tougher than expect series despite being able to win all four games. Golden St. ended its series on April 25th, right when Memphis was still only playing Game Three and that is a big factor in my opinion. The Grizzlies have had three days off which is sufficient rest this time of season while the Warriors have been off for a week and that is a detriment as rust can certainly settle in. These teams played here back in mid-April and Golden St. did win the game but it came by just four points as an eight-point favorite. So while we are not only getting an added basket here, this is the most amount of points the Grizzlies have gotten this season. The Warriors are right at .500 against the number as double-digit favorite and I think is way to much to be laying against a quality opponent. Additionally, they are just 1-7 ATS in their last eight games following a victory. 10* (701) Memphis Grizzlies

Home court has not been an advantage in this series as the road team has won four of the first six games including the last three following a Clippers win in San Antonio to send the series back here for a decisive Game Seven. I think the home floor will be a big edge tonight however and the Clippers take the series with bookend victories. Despite two straight wins here by San Antonio by identical 111-107 scores, Los Angeles is still 31-13 at home on the season while the Spurs are just four games over .500 on the highway. This is the second straight year that the Spurs have had to play a first round Game Seven. The Spurs went on to win their fifth championship last season after defeating the Mavericks at home, but San Antonio is just 1-3 in Game Seven's on the road in their history. Going back, they are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 road games against teams with a home winning percentage of greater than .600. The game should be an entertaining one and we will see the Clippers advance into the second round. 10* (552) Los Angeles Clippers

This is the final series that is still going on in the Eastern Conference and that is a surprise for sure as the Hawks entered as the No. 1 seed but are on the brink of a possible Game Seven on Sunday. You have to give credit where credit is due and Atlanta had an outstanding regular season but the Hawks are arguably one of the weakest top seeds in the NBA playoffs that we have seen in quite some time. Their run in January has to be commended but ever since a loss at Philadelphia in early March, they have been average at best, going 14-12 over their last 26 games. Atlanta failed to cover the first four games of this series but cashed in Game Five by a single point as a nine-point favorite and come in overpriced once again. The Nets are hanging tough and their 15-9 over their last 24 games is solid. They were close to putting Atlanta in a tough hole but were on the wrong side of a 10-2 run to end the game on Wednesday and while the home floor has not been great this season, the Nets are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games against teams with a winning road record. Atlanta has not covered a road game since April 8th which coincidentally came here when it won by three points as a 4.5-point underdog, showing how far this line id off once again. 10* (538) Brooklyn Nets

We have seen the last two games of this series fly over the total but with a lot at stake tonight, I see a much lower scoring game and we are getting value on top of it. Game Four closed with a 202.5 total and Game Five closed only slightly higher at 203 but now we are seeing a three-point shift from Tuesday to now and a lot of that is based upon the results of the last two games. We talk about the bounce angle in the playoffs and while it is typically used for the pointspread, the shifts in the over/unders make it a valuable totals tool as well. The most recent example came in the Atlanta/Brooklyn series where the first three games all stayed under the total but Game Four easily eclipsed the number and even though there were three straight games that went under, the likelihood of three straight games going over here is a lot less. While both Los Angeles and San Antonio are considered high scoring teams, and that is a fact, the linesmakers know what they are doing which is a reason that both teams have seen the under cash at a high clip this season. The under is 7-2 in the Clippers last nine games coming off a loss and 11-5 in their last 16 games against teams with a winning percentage above .600. Meanwhile, the Spurs have been a higher scoring team when playing poor opposition and they are 9-17 to the under this season when favored by fewer than six points. 10* Under (535) Los Angeles Clippers/(536) San Antonio Spurs

This game sets up strikingly similar to the Dallas/Houston game last night and I think the result will be just the same. The Blazers played with some pride on Monday as they made a late push in the fourth quarter to win and cover and avoid the four-game sweep to the Grizzlies. Additionally, they also snapped their seven-game losing streak to Memphis. Now they head back out on the road where things have not been good recently as they have dropped six straight, both straight up and against the number and this has been a bad situation all year as Portland is 2-9 ATS this season as an underdog of five or more points. Going back further, the Blazers are 0-7 ATS in their last seven road games against teams with a home winning percentage of greater than .600. The Grizzlies would like to wrap it up at home and avoid another trip to Portland which would also take time away for additional rest. The Grizzlies have won and covered their last four home games and they have also covered their last four games following a loss. In Game Four, the Blazers outrebounded Memphis 50-40, had a 22-9 edge in second-chance points and a 40-38 advantage in points in the paint, three statistical categories the Grizzlies excel in so we will see a reversal at home. The Grizzlies will still be without Mike Conley who is coming off surgery for fractured bones in his face and while he will be missed again, Memphis has the depth to take care of this. 10* (528) Memphis Grizzlies

The Mavericks avoided playoff elimination and getting swept by the Rockets with a 12-point win on Sunday and they look to keep the momentum rolling on Tuesday but I just do not see it happening. Last night, Milwaukee was able to parlay its Game Four win in a Game Five road win which shows it can be done by teams backed up against a wall but this has been a very unfavorable spot for Dallas all season and the worst in the entire NBA by a longshot. They are 0-12 ATS this season when getting four or more points so not only have they not been winning, they haven't been competitive against teams that are given a sizable edge. Those 12 losses have come by an average of 14.7 ppg and only one defeat was by less than what Dallas is getting tonight. On top of that, injuries are never an excuse for losing, and the Mavericks certainly aren't making excuses, but there comes a time when a team suffers so many injuries that it becomes compromised and that is the case here. The Rockets want to close this one out at home and avoid going back to Dallas because anything can happen with two games left and the Rockets want some time off before starting the second round. Houston is 32-11 at home and has dominated in the favorite role. Additionally, the Rockets are 11-1 ATS in their last 12 games following a double-digit loss. 10* (518) Houston Rockets

Three series are in the books as Golden St., Cleveland and Washington have all advanced following 4-0 sweeps in their series. Dallas was the only team to avoid a sweep thus far as it beat Houston yesterday and now it is up to Portland to avoid an early exit. The Blazers played tow absolutely horrible games in Memphis and we backed them to get it done in Game Three at home but came out slow and never even had a lead. The Blazers are now 32-10 at home which is the fourth best home record in the NBA and now it is all about pride and then hope for some magic going forward. Motivation will be no issue as Portland will try to solve the Memphis dominance over them as they have lost all seven meetings this season to the Grizzlies while not even covering one of those. Overall, Portland has lost seven straight games while not covering any of those and the Grizzlies have six straight covers. Their issue is that Mike Conley is out tonight and will likely be out for a while following bad facial injuries. The Grizzlies are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game. We go contrarian once again here as the Blazers are able to extend the series for at least one more game. 10* (514) Portland Trailblazers

After dropping the over in this one Saturday, we are coming back with it again for all of the same reasons and we are seeing even greater value now. We have seen the first three games of this series go under the total but I expect that to change tonight. While the over was never even in jeopardy during the first three games, we are seeing a shift in the total which we can take advantage of. Game One closed at 205, Game Two closed at 202.5 and Game Three closed at 199 and we are seeing a similar shift into Game Four. It is also interesting to note that these two teams played in April during the regular season and those totals were also higher that what we are seeing tonight and those gamers resulted in easy overs, posting 230 and 225 points. Atlanta has a combined offensive and defensive shooting percentage of 90.2 percent while Brooklyn has a combined shooting percentage of 90.3 percent with offense and defense and anytime you can get two teams that are both over 90 percent, as long as the pace is in our favor, we have a great chance to surpass the total. Going back, the over is 7-3 in the Hawks last 10 road games while the over is 12-4 in the Nets last 16 games following a win. 10* Over (509) Atlanta Hawks/(510) Brooklyn Nets

This has been a horrible first round of the NBA postseason as far as entertaining value and betting on our part as the public is absolutely cleaning up right now. Four playoff series are sitting at 3-0 with another already in the book with Golden St. sweeping the Pelicans. This is one of the two series that are still interesting at 2-1 and with Atlanta/Brooklyn being the other, this one has the ability to be the best of the first round. After winning the opening game, the Clippers lost at home against San Antonio in Game Two in overtime and then they put up their worst offensive performance of the season by far in Game Three but that should be a huge motivator today. From a value standpoint, we are on the right side as this line is a point and a half higher than it was on Friday based on the lopsided 27-point victory for San Antonio. The Clippers have lost two straight games for just the third time since early February and even after Friday, they are 7-1-1 ATS in their last nine road games. This line has entered a good range for them as well as they have covered three of four games this season as underdogs of six or more points and the underdog is still a potent 11-5 ATS the last 15 meetings in this series. 10* (503) Los Angeles Clippers

It has been an unprecedented postseason thus far and teams covering the spread and been continuing to do so. In the eight playoff series, the team that covered Game One has an incredible 11-3 ATS record going forward throughout the series so playing the team off a cover has been very lucrative thus far. Followers know that I am not one of those we are more contrarian than anything and there is a very good chance this evens out before it is all said and done so we will keep riding the bounce angle. Two series can be closed out tonight and we will avoid those as it is hard to gauge how those teams down 3-0 will respond but we will be backing the Blazers which are down 2-0 to Memphis and coming off two horrible games on the road. The Blazers fell to 19-24 on the highway but they head home with a 32-9 record which is the fourth best home record in the NBA and they can get right back in this series. Motivation will be no issue as Portland will try to solve the Memphis dominance over them as they have lost all six meetings this season to the Grizzlies while not even covering one of those., This is as contrarian as it can get and we see the Blazers responding in a big way tonight in front of their home crowd. 10* (752) Portland Trailblazers

We have seen the first two games of this series go under the total but I expect that to change this afternoon and we are getting value on top of it. While the over was never even in jeopardy during the first two games, we are seeing a shift in the total which we can take advantage of. Game One closed at 205 and Game Two closed at 202.5 and we are seeing a similar shift into Game Three. It is also interesting to note that these two teams played in April during the regular season and those totals were also higher that what we are seeing tonight and those gamers resulted in easy overs, posting 230 and 225 points. Atlanta has a combined offensive and defensive shooting percentage of 90.4 percent while Brooklyn has a combined shooting percentage of 90.6 percent with offense and defense and anytime you can get two teams that are both over 90 percent, as long as the pace is in our favor, we have a great chance to surpass the total. Going back, the over is 4-1 in the Hawks last five road games against teams with a losing home record while the over is 5-1 in the Nets last six home games against teams with a road winning percentage of greater than .600. 10* Over (745) Atlanta Hawks/(746) Brooklyn Nets

The Raptors have put themselves into a big hole, losing both games at home to open the series and are now forced to win one road game to stay within reach and forced to win two road games to claim home court back. This is one of seven of the eight playoff series where one team has at least a 2-0 edge which has made for some of the worst postseason basketball we have seen in years. Making it even worse it the bounce angle has fallen flat this season with San Antonio being the first team to cover following a cover loss the previous game. That Spurs cover could signal a turnaround after the angle opened the playoffs a dismal 0-8 ATS. The big issue for Toronto in the first two games was the play, or lack thereof, from Kyle Lowry. He scored just seven points in Game One and then put up only six points in Game Two prior to leaving the game with a shin injury. Even though he did not return, the injury is not considered serious and he will be back tonight but it is imperative for him to produce like he did during the regular season, averaging 17.8 ppg. Despite the cover last time out, the Wizards are 4-23-2 ATS in their last 29 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game. A change of atmosphere could help the Raptors which have covered five of their last six trips here. 10* (741) Toronto Raptors

We are 0-2 on the Bucks in this series and we will back them tonight at home as they look to get back into this series. One of my arguments for Milwaukee has been its defensive presence during the regular season as it was fourth in the NBA in defensive efficiency and led the league in forcing turnovers. Game One was not a good one for the defense but the Bucks improved immensely in Game Two sans for not being able to contain Jimmy Butler. Take away his numbers and the rest of the Bulls shot 33.9 percent and with the series shifting to Milwaukee, this is a game it can steal. Chicago has won and covered six straight games and that is playing with this line as based on the venue change, this game should be around a pickem based on the lines from the first two games in Chicago. Instead, we are seeing only a 4.5-point swing which given even more value to the Bucks tonight. The Bulls have now won nine straight home games but are just 4-9 in their last 13 road games while the Bucks are 27-16 ATS this season following a loss. The Bucks ended a nine-game home losing streak to the Bulls with a 95-91 victory April 1st so the confidence from that knows they can get back into the series tonight. 10* (736) Milwaukee Bucks

Portland has picked the wrong time to match it longest losing streak of the season as it has reach five games and extending that means a 2-0 deficit in the series before heading home. The Blazers played terrible in the first game of this series as they never led, trailed by as many 29 points and were killed down low, getting outscored 52-38 in the paint. Portland has not had a lead in three straight games now as its last lead came in the fourth quarter against Utah back on April 11th. This is a much better team than what was on display Sunday and the extra day off between games helps them more than it benefits the Grizzlies. Memphis has won two in a row while covering four straight games and after closing as a 5.5-point favorite in Game One, the Grizzlies are being asked to lay a little bit more tonight but this fit perfectly into the bounce angle for this second game. Memphis has owned this series on the season, winning and covering all four regular season meetings and while I don't promote road revenge, the value is clearly on the road side desperate for a bounce back victory. The Grizzlies are just 6-13 ATS in their last 19 games following a win while going 2-7 after scoring 100 or more points in their last game. Portland has won eight of 10 games this season when playing with two days rest and I look for that to continue here as an outright win if far from out of the question. 10* (729) Portland Trailblazers

We lost a tough one with Toronto in the opener of this series as the Raptors rallied from a 15-point deficit to force overtime only to lose by seven points as they were outscored 11-4 in the extra frame. It was an odd game where neither offense could get any consistency going, long range shooting was dismal on both sides and there were very few free throws throughout. I expect the Raptors to hold serve on their home floor and while the home court advantage in the series is lost for now, they at least will not be completely out of the series before hitting the road to Washington. The Wizards captured a rare quality road win and they have not been great in these spots. As mentioned prior to Saturday, going back to late-January when they went to Portland, the Wizards have played 23 road games, 11 of which were against current playoff teams. Washington is 2-9 in those games and while some were close, the average loss in those nine games was 12.2 ppg. Overall, they are six games under .500 on the highway. This plays right into the bounce angle playoff theory and while the Bucks came up a point short and Golden St. came up three points short last night, those were based on Game One cover losses and this is based on an outright defeat. Look for the Raptors to take control tonight and even up this series. 10* (724) Toronto Raptors

We lost with the Bucks on Saturday night in Chicago but we are coming back with them here for pretty much the same reasoning as then. . The Bucks aren't going to be on many people's radars in the Eastern Conference that will likely come down to Cleveland and Atlanta but this team is capable of putting a scare into some. Milwaukee has the traits that can make them dangerous come playoff time as it is fourth in the NBA in defensive efficiency and led the league in forcing turnovers. The difference in Game One was from long range as Milwaukee managed to go just 4-16 from behind the arc while Chicago nailed 12 three-pointers. The defense just wasn't in tune with the exception of the fourth quarter but I expect a much better effort tonight overall. Chicago has won five in a row which sets up a good contrarian play against and going back, the Bulls are 8-17 ATS in their last 25 games following an ATS win. Meanwhile, the Bucks have covered four of their last five games following a double-digit loss and on the season, they are 27-15 ATS following a defeat of any kind. Additionally, Chicago is just 6-15 ATS this season as a favorite of eight or more points and while an outright Milwaukee win is not out of the question, we will grab the points again in what will be a much more competitive game than we saw on Saturday. 10* (717) Milwaukee Bucks

The Spurs loss in the last game of the regular season against New Orleans was the most costly defeat on that last day of any other team making the postseason as it dropped them from the No. 2 seed all the way down to the No. 6 seed. There is only a one game separation between those seedings so while the matchups are even, having the home court advantage is enormous, especially for the Clippers in this matchup. These teams have not met since February and both teams have changed quite a bit since then with Los Angeles riding some serious momentum. The Clippers have won seven straight games as well as 14 of their last 15 with the only loss coming against overall No. 1 seed Golden St. by just four points so they come in as the hottest team in the league. San Antonio had that claim until Wednesday as it was riding an 11-game winning streak prior to losing against the Pelicans and it was also on a 14-1 run going back further. With similar streaks from both sides, we would expect the number to be a pickem on a neutral floor which would make the Clippers about a four-point favorite at home but we are not seeing that here so not only are we riding the Clippers momentum but we are riding the great home value. They haven't covered at home in five straight games but looking at the lines will tell you why. The Spurs are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 road games against teams with a home winning percentage of greater than .600. 10* (716) Los Angeles Clippers

The hottest team entering the playoffs in the Eastern Conference isn't one of the top teams but it is No. 7 seed Boston, winning of six straight games to make it into the playoffs. The Celtics run looks impressive with five of those wins coming against playoff teams but it is definitely skewed with two of those coming against a Cleveland team not at full strength including one game where all starters sat and then another game against Milwaukee where benches were emptied after playoff seeding were determined from other games being played. Now comes the second season and while it was a great story, Boston does not have the talent or the physicality to match up here in the postseason with the Cavaliers. Cleveland will be out to make a statement in this opener as it not only want to avenge the two late season losses against the Celtics but also wants to send a message to the rest of the conference in this Sunday opener. The Cavaliers started slow due to the chemistry not being there but they finished the season with the best record in the league since mid-January, going 34-9 over their last 43 games. Only 12 of those wins were by single digits and they all came by an average of 14.3 ppg. This is a big number to be laying against a team that has won six straight games but I think it will prove to not be enough. 10* (710) Cleveland Cavaliers

One team that others need to be weary of in the postseason is Milwaukee. The Bucks aren't going to be on many people's radars in the Eastern Conference that will likely come down to Cleveland and Atlanta but this team is capable of putting a scare into some. Milwaukee has the traits that can make them dangerous come playoff time as it is fourth in the NBA in defensive efficiency and led the league in forcing turnovers. Not many saw this coming after the Bucks finished with the worst record in the NBA last season but the personnel changes along with the hiring of head coach Jason Kidd did wonders. Chicago won its final four games of the regular season to hold off Toronto for the third seed in the Eastern Conference and with the return of Derrick Rose, some are picking the Bulls as a sleeper team to make a run at the NBA Finals. I' not one of them. While talent is there, injuries have really hurt the Bulls and not just because of missed games but because of continuity. The preferred starting five of Mike Dunleavy, Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah has made just 21 appearances together. The Bucks have the length and grit to rein in Gasol and Noah as well as the lateral quickness to contend with Butler and Rose on the perimeter. This is a vital game for both sides but I think the Bulls are getting a little too much credit with this line and Milwaukee keeps it closer than most expect. 10* (705) Milwaukee Bucks

A year of expereience can go a long way for Toronto. The Raptors came into the postseason last year as a very inexperienced team, lost a late lead in Game One allowing Paul Pierce and the Nets steal that one and then eventually lose the series in seven games. Look for a very focused effort Saturday afternoon as grabbing the first game is at the forefront to avoid a repeat of last season. Speaking of Pierce, he has been running his mouth and has given Toronto additional motivation and on Wednesday night after the Raptors beat the Hornets, DeMar DeRozan told Toronto reporters that Pierce might not want to see the Raptors in the playoffs before the matchups were made official later that night. Washington dropped a pair of overtime games on the road to close out the regular season and fall to 17-24 on the highway. Two of those losses came at the Air Canada Centre where Toronto has covered seven of the last 10 meetings. It gets even worse than that though as going back to late-January went they went to Portland, the Wizards have played 22 road games, 10 of which were against current playoff teams. Washington went 1-9 in those games and while some were close, the average loss in those nine games was 12.2 ppg. The Wizards are a dreadful 3-23-2 ATS in their last 28 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game while going 3-13-1 ATS in their last 17 games playing on two days rest. 10* (702) Toronto Raptors

All but two teams are in action tonight and with 14 games going on, there would seem to be a lot of opportunities out there but there actually aren't. Numerous teams will be resting starters, teams that need to win that are playing non-playoff teams have seen their lines skyrocket and then there are the non-payoff matchups where anything can happen. We are playing on a game that is meaningful for both sides and we are getting great value on the home team based on recent runs. Memphis has lost two straight and Indiana has won seven straight and we are getting a short price because of it. Memphis can now only be the five or six seed in the Western Conference. If the Spurs and Rockets win it doesn't matter what the Grizzlies do, they are the sixth seed. The Grizzlies can climb to the five seed if they beat Indiana while Houston loses to the Jazz. If the Rockets and Grizzlies win but the Spurs lose then Memphis climbs to the five seed also. The good thing is that all of these teams play at the same time so they won't know their fate until their game is completed. Being No. 5 or No. 6 doesn't seem like a huge difference but in fact it is. The No. 5 seed gets to host Portland in the first round even though the Blazers are the higher seed so this is a huge game for the Grizzlies. This is big for the Pacers to make it into the playoffs but coming off that game last night will be tough as they are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 games when their starting five players combine for more than 160 minutes of the previous day. 10* (522) Memphis Grizzlies

With Chicago winning last night, Toronto is now a half-game behind the Bulls for third place in the Eastern Conference. The difference between third and fourth place is who the possible second round playoff opponent will be, either Atlanta or Cleveland, so there really is not a lot to win or lose either way. On top of the seedings ramifications with this game, this is a pretty big game for Toronto as a victory here gives the Raptors the most regular season wins in franchise history. The Celtics clinched a playoff spot last night even though it was idle as the Nets loss gave them the spot thanks to tiebreakers scenarios. Boston can still finish seventh or eighth which means a tossup between playing Cleveland or Atlanta in the first round. The Celtics are the second hottest team in the Eastern Conference following a pair of wins over Cleveland but they were fortunate to catch the Cavaliers resting starters in the second matchup. The Raptors, who are trying to complete a 4-0 roadtrip for the first time in franchise history, have won six of their last eight games but one of those defeats came at home to the Celtics so they will be out for some payback. The road team has covered four of the last five games in this series and that run continues tonight. 10* (701) Toronto Raptors

Despite a big NBA card Monday, they are not many good spots on the board as this is the time of year which makes it hard to get a read on some teams and what their plans are if they haven't been made public. One we do not have to worry about is with Brooklyn as it is still fighting for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. This line was delayed in coming out in most spots for no apparent reason. The Nets are tied with Indiana for the eighth slot, one game behind Boston and while the term must win is thrown around a lot in these situations, it fits tonight. Brooklyn controls its own destiny as if it wins out, it gets into the playoffs as it holds the tiebreaker over the Pacers which close the season against Washington and Memphis so it is not an easy finish. The Nets close the season Wednesday at home against Orlando so they definitely have the better road. They have been playing well as they have won eight of their last 11 games and 12 of their last 17 to make a move up in the standings and going back, they are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games against teams with a winning percentage above .600. Chicago has won two straight games but it is looking for consecutive road wins for the first time since Feb. 7-8. Since then, the Bulls are 3-9 in their last 12 road games and they are 1-6 ATS in their last seven road games against teams with a losing home record. 10* (512) Brooklyn Nets

With the home-and-home loss to San Antonio, the Rockets are now a half-game behind Memphis and San Antonio which has dropped them all the way down to sixth place in the Western Conference. They have three games left, all of which are winnable and they have the easier road in the regular season than their divisional counterparts despite them having only two games left. Houston lost a tough one at home last time out which was only its 11th home loss of the season and it has backed up the last six home losses with a win next time out. This is no doubt a big game for New Orleans as well as it is tied for Oklahoma City for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Pelicans won at home against Phoenix on Friday but their road issues are the reason that they are still fighting for the postseason as they are 16-23 away from home and going back, they have dropped six straight road games against Western Conference teams currently locked into a playoff spot. This is a team poised for a solid future but still isn't there and it is catching Houston at the wrong time which is a perfect 5-0 this season coming off consecutive losses, winning those games by an average of 13.6 ppg. 10* (714) Houston Rockets

There is a lot on the line tonight in Los Angeles as one game separates second and sixth place in the Western Conference and both of these teams are right in the mix. Memphis is coming a pretty unimpressive win last night in Utah but a win is a win and coupled with the Rockets loss against San Antonio, the Grizzlies regained the lead in the Southwest Division where three teams are within a game of each other. Memphis has won four of five games following a three-game losing streak and with a game at Golden St. on deck, this one is suddenly pretty huge to keep a hold on second place in the Western Conference. The Clippers are in fifth place but a win here can put them into a tie for second place so while the motivation is on their side as well, they are being asked to lay a bigger than expected number against a quality team. Los Angeles 28-11 at home which is only four games better than the Grizzlies record on the road and while it has won 27 of 37 games as a home favorite, it has covered just 15 of those games. Memphis has already won once here this season and it surely has not forgotten the last meeting in Memphis where the Clippers won by 18 points. The Grizzlies are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 games against teams with a winning percentage above .600 while the Clippers are 4-12 ATS in their last 16 home games against teams with a road winning percentage of greater than .600. 10* (507) Memphis Grizzlies

This total continues to drop with a reason due to the fact that Memphis has stayed under the total in six straight games. The last game against New Orleans stayed below the total by just a half point as the defense once again came to the forefront by holding the Pelicans to 74 points on 35 percent shooting. It was the fourth straight games that the Grizzlies have held their opponent to 92 points or less but the challenge will be more difficult tonight. Utah has won two straight games with the offense putting up 101 and 103 points and while those games were both against Sacramento, the Jazz have been shooting the ball very well over the short-term. This number has dipped to the point of it being a very rare low number as this is just the second time this season Utah has had a total of less than 180 points and this is the first time it has occurred in a game for Memphis. The over is 4-1 in the Grizzlies last five road games while the over is 7-3 in Utah's last 10 home games against teams with a winning road record. Look for a higher scoring game than anticipated tonight. 10* Over (721) Memphis Grizzlies/(722) Utah Jazz

The Rockets get a chance for some quick revenge as they look to remain in the top half of the Southwest Division. This is the tightest division in the league right now as the top three teams are separated by just a half-game and as far as playoff seedings, those three spots can finish anywhere from No. 2 all the way down to No. 6 which shows how tight the conference is as a whole. San Antonio has made it very interesting with wins in nine straight games including a win over Houston on Wednesday by 12 points. In addition to those nine straight up wins, the Spurs have been able to cover every one of those games as well which is giving us great value tonight. They were favored by 6.5 points at home two days ago which should make them an underdog here based on venue change but instead they are favored by over a bucket. Houston is 28-10 at home this season including a 19-5 record over its last 24 home games. Three of the final four games of the season are here with the line roadie being at Charlotte. The Rockets are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a loss of more than 10 points. 10* (718) Houston Rockets

The Pacers remain in the playoff mix in the Eastern Conference and because of that, they are seeing their lines get inflated as we head into the stretch run of the season. Indiana has won and covered three straight games to move a game back from seventh and eighth place in the conference but the schedule is not on their side. Their final three games are against teams either fighting for playoff spots or working on seedings and two of those against the Western Conference. Two of the three recent wins were at home and the only road win was at New York and going back, Indiana is just 3-6 in its last nine road games with two of those coming against the Knicks. Detroit has nothing to play for expect to be a spoiler at this point and this is one team the Pistons would love to knock out of the postseason. They are a healthy home underdog here and in comparison, they were getting a points and a half against Boston last time out and are now getting at least three points more against a team that has a worse record than the Celtics. Detroit is 5-1 in its last six home games and going back, it is 14-3 ATS in its last 17 games following an ATS loss. 10* (704) Detroit Pistons

Golden St. closed out its road portion of the regular season not the way it had hoped to as it dropped its final two games at San Antonio and at New Orleans. It is just the fourth time this season that Golden St. has lost consecutive games and in the previous three instances, it avoided a three-game losing streak. The Warriors play their final four games at home where they are a league-best 35-2 including wins in 14 straight. A win by the Warriors Thursday would assure Golden St. finishes with the best record in the NBA for the first time since 1975-76 and would give it home court advantage in the NBA Finals. Portland rolled over Minnesota last night and is currently 1.5 games back of the Clippers and Spurs in the race for home-court advantage in the playoffs so this is obviously a big game but a horrible spot to be put in. The Blazers are 4-6 on the road this season against the Western Conference's top eight teams. The Warriors are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games against teams with a winning percentage above .600 while the Blazers are 4-14 ATS in the last 18 meetings in Golden St. 10* (504) Golden St. Warriors

We won with Miami in its last game as it snapped a four-game losing streak and kept it just a game back for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Heat could be in the drivers seat with their remaining schedule which includes three home games and the lone road game being at lowly Philadelphia. But the first two home games are not easy with Chicago tonight and Toronto on Saturday both of which are still fighting for seeding in the conference. Overall the Heat are eight games under .500 and are just 19-19 at home so there is not an edge here at all. The Bulls lost last night in Orlando which was their second straight loss and they are now just a game ahead of Washington for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference so this is now a very big game. The return of Derrick Rose last night didn't do a whole lot as he managed just nine points and two assists in 19 minutes while committing four turnovers. Defense will have to step up tonight and should not be a problem as the Heat have shot 18.2 percent from three-point range in the past three games. The Bulls are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games following an ATS loss. 10* (501) Chicago Bulls

This total came out late due to the uncertain status of Zach Randolph for the Grizzlies. Whether he plays or not, while it will certainly effect Memphis as a whole, it will not be a big factor in the total as his offense and defense would be a wash. New Orleans is coming off a win last night against Golden St. and coupled with the Oklahoma City loss, the Pelicans moved into eighth place in the Western Conference. They held Golden St. to 100 points which was just the third time in the last 23 games that the Warriors have been held to 100 or fewer points so that was an impressive defensive performance last night. They have picked up the defense of late but overall, they are still allowing 45.5 percent shooting and that jumps even higher on the road. New Orleans has gone under in three straight games and the low total is reflecting that. The Pelicans have not seen an over/under of less than 190 in 13 games. Memphis has gone under in five straight games and it has been a mix of offense and defense along the way. The Grizzlies have been off since Saturday and going back, they are 13-6 to the over in their last 19 games playing on three or more days rest. Meanwhile, the over is 5-2 in the Pelicans last seven games following an ATS win. 10* Over (715) New Orleans Pelicans/(716) Memphis Grizzlies

This is another late release and while it was due to the Hawks Paul Millsap, who was already out so the delay in the line makes no sense, there are more issues for the Hawks. There was a stabbing last night in New York that involved the Pacers Chris Copeland but Hawks players Pero Antic and Thabo Sefolosha were also on hand and booked for trying to prevent police from setting up a crime scene. Whether they play tonight is still unknown but hearing things like this can really hurt a team. Atlanta blew away Phoenix at home last night but traveled to New York after the game which in hindsight was a bad idea. Atlanta set a franchise record for wins last night so that could provide a letdown for tonight. It was the second straight win for the Hawks and the first victory is what is keying this play for Brooklyn. The Nets were the victims of that win as they were blown out by 32 points in Atlanta on Saturday night, the third double-digit loss against Atlanta this season. Besides that though, the Nets have been playing well as they have won seven of their last eight games and 11 of their last 14 to move into seventh place in the Eastern Conference. This includes five straight home wins which is big after a horrendous start at home. The Nets are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 games against teams with a winning percentage above .600. 10* (710) Brooklyn Nets

The Lakers and Clippers just met on Sunday and it resulted in a Clippers blowout victory by 28 points. The fourth and final meeting takes place tonight and while the Lakers will be out to avoid a four-game season series sweep, their defense cannot be trusted to think about victory and even coming within this big number. We are concentrating on the total here and based on that recent game, we are getting a great deal of value as this over/under is currently five points less than what it was just two nights ago. While the Lakers offense has stumbled of late, we can bank on the defense not showing any resistance as the stop unit has allowed 106.7 ppg on the road this season and 108.8 ppg over their last five games. I do expect the offense to improve as well as scoring fewer than 80 points in three straight games is a rarity in this league. The Clippers offense is perforating on a very high level right now as they have averaged 113 ppg over their last 10 games and don't expect it to slow down here. Both teams have stayed under in two straight games which both came after some runs on the over. The over is 6-2 in the Clippers last eight games following a double-digit win while the over is 9-3-1 in the Lakers last 13 games against the NBA Pacific. 10* Over (661) Los Angeles Lakers/(662)/Los Angeles Clippers

Oklahoma City has lost three straight games and is just a half-game ahead of New Orleans for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Going back, the Thunder have dropped five of their last six games but they have been fortunate that the Pelicans have not been able to gain more ground. Three of their final five games are at home where they are 27-11 on the season despite the recent loss against Houston on Sunday and against Dallas prior to that. While playoff motivation is typically good enough, Oklahoma city has not forgotten the 39-point loss suffered in San Antonio less than two weeks ago. The Spurs have won seven straight games and snapped the Warriors 12-game winning streak on Sunday at home and they were out to prove something, expending their home winning streak against Golden St. to 32 games and showing the championship still runs through San Antonio. The Spurs are two games behind Houston in the Southwest Division which comes with homecourt in the first round of the playoffs and with a back-to-back set against the Rockets on deck, the lookahead is there. The Spurs are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games against teams with a home winning percentage of greater than .600 while going 1-9 ATS in the last 10 meetings in Oklahoma City. 10* (656) Oklahoma City Thunder

It is a four-team race between Boston, Indiana, Miami and Charlotte for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and two of those teams square off tonight. Miami is tied with Indiana at one game back and a win over Charlotte tonight puts the Hornets in a tough spot and likely out of the race. While the Heat are not in the lead, they are in the drivers seat in my opinion as they have by far the easiest remaining schedule as they have four straight home games starting tonight and while two of those arte against Chicago and Toronto the home finale is against Orlando and the lone road game is at Philadelphia. They have to take care of business tonight. Charlotte is coming off a win last time out against Philadelphia which was far from impressive and it has struggled on the road of late, going 1-6 in its last seven games on the highway with the lone victory coming at 16-60 Minnesota. Overall, they are nine games under .500 on the road and the absence of center al Jefferson is a big loss for tonight. Going back, Hornets are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a win while the Heat are 12-4-1 ATS in their last 17 games following a loss of more than 10 points. 10* (652) Miami Heat

Things are getting a little too close for comfort in the Western Conference for Oklahoma City which is just one game ahead of New Orleans for the eighth and final playoff spot. The Thunder have dropped two straight and four of their last five games but they have been fortunate that the Pelicans have not been able to gain more ground. Four of their final six games are at home but with Houston and San Antonio back-to-back, they cannot afford to continue their losing streak. The Rockets won 108-101 at Dallas on Thursday, their sixth victory in seven games to remain a game ahead of Memphis in the Southwest Division and for second place in the Western Conference. That certainly makes this a big game as well for the Rockets and while they won the first meeting here this season, the Thunder were without both Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. Houston has covered just three of the last 12 meetings here and despite all of the injuries that have impacted Oklahoma City's season, being 27-10 at home is still very respectable. Additionally, this is the time they tend to step up as the Thunder are 21-4-1 ATS in their last 26 home games against teams with a road winning percentage of greater than .600. 10* (502) Oklahoma City Thunder

Dallas lost at home against Houston in its last game and it has now dropped three of its last four games and five of its last seven going back to mid-March. While a playoff spot is imminent, it has not yet been clinched by the Mavericks which are sitting in seventh place in the Western Conference, four games behind the Spurs but also four games ahead of the Thunder and with six games left, the Mavericks know they're not in a position to start preparing for one particular opponent in the playoffs. And that is a good thing as they try to restore from confidence heading into the postseason. With its victory on Thursday against Phoenix, Golden St. already has exceeded its franchise record for wins in a season, clinched the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs, and has won 11 games in a row. The Warriors are road favorites for those reasons as well as the fact Dallas has yet to cover this season inside this number as the Mavericks are 0-8 ATS as underdogs of four or more points. Most of those roles were on the road though as they have been a home underdog only twice and the last time resulted in a win over San Antonio. Additionally, Dallas will be out to avoid the season sweep against the Warriors so there is plenty of motivation there. 10* (814) Dallas Mavericks

The Spurs are picking up the pace at the right time but it may be too little, too late when looking at the big picture. San Antonio is on the verge of extending its NBA record of 15 consecutive 50-win seasons after clinching an 18th straight trip to the playoffs with a win over Orlando Wednesday but the chances of moving up into a home court playoff advantage is very slim. San Antonio has won five straight games but coming off a roadtrip and with its next four games coming against Western Conference playoff teams including top ranked Golden St., this is not the spot to back the Spurs. Denver has dropped two straight games and while the Nuggets are just playing put the string in waiting for this disappointing season to end, they have shown signs of improvement and would like nothing more than to snap their six-game losing streak in this series. Denver is a respectable 8-8 under interim head coach Melvin Hunt and it has covered in 10 of its last 12 trips to San Antonio. Additionally, the Nuggets have covered eight straight games when playing with a day of rest while going 6-1 ATS this season as double-digit underdogs including wins in three straight games when getting that amount of points. 10* (515) Denver Nuggets

The bad news for Toronto is that it is playing only one NBA bottom feeder in its remaining seven games but the good news is that of those games, none are against teams with a winning record. The Raptors are tied with the Bulls for third place in the Eastern Conference with Washington not far behind so everything from here on out is important for seeding. Toronto has won its last three games including a victory at Minnesota to move to two games over .500 on the road. The Nets have been even better with five straight wins but the fact they are favored here is an overaggressive move. Brooklyn narrowly defeated the Knicks in their last game on the road and in their most recent home game, they were getting s point against 32-43 Indiana but are now favored by three points in most places against a team that is 13 games better than the Pacers. Toronto will be out to avenge a 16-point home loss against the Nets and the Raptors are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games against teams with a losing record. Meanwhile the Nets are just 2-5-2 ATS in their last nine home games while going only 7-14-1 ATS this season as a home favorite. 10* (505) Toronto Raptors

Golden St. defeated the Clippers on Tuesday, its 10th straight victory and eighth straight cover. The Warriors have locked everything up from winning the division and grabbing the number one seed in the Western Conference and is close to wrapping up the best record in the NBA. The win over the Clippers may not seem anything special but that was a game the Warriors wanted badly as they fell behind by as many as 17 points in the first half, cranked up the defense in the fourth quarter, holding Los Angeles to 23.1 percent shooting and forcing seven turnovers. It was the first win at Los Angeles since January 2013 so there is the letdown effect coming into tonight and getting some starters a little extra rest is always a possibility. Phoenix is hoping to keep its slight playoff hopes alive following four straight losses as it is now four games back in the Western Conference standings. The Suns have been an underdog by this much only once this season and they were able to cover at Cleveland. They are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 games following a double-digit loss while the Warriors are 5-13 ATS in their last 18 games playing on one day of rest. 10* (705) Phoenix Suns

We are going with the value in this one based on recent history on both sides as well as the season series to date. The Suns offense has been poor during their four-game winning streak as they have scored no more than 99 points while averaging a mere 90.8 ppg which is considerably below their 103.5 ppg on the season. To no surprise, all four of those games have stayed below the total and the under has come in five straight games for Phoenix. While the Suns are 24-15 to the under at home, they are 20-16 to the over on the road. The Warriors meanwhile are on a similar run as they have stayed under the total in three straight games as the defense has led the charge by allowing just 95 ppg. While the defense has been good all season, this is below the season average 99 ppg and they will be facing an opponent that will run with them. These are the two fastest teams in the NBA as Golden St. averages 101.6 possessions per game while the Suns average 101 possessions per game. Additionally, the Warriors lead in possessions at home while Phoenix leads in possessions on the road. Golden St. is home after a four-game road trip and the over is 5-1 in the Warriors last six home games. 10* Over (705) Phoenix Suns/(706) Golden St. Warriors

The Bucks won four straight games in late February but then went on a 3-13 skid before finally putting together a winning streak for the first time since that run. However, they have since dropped their last two games and are just two games ahead of Miami for the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference which is a big spot because falling back one more slot means facing Cleveland in the first round of the playoffs. As of right now, Milwaukee would face Chicago in the first round and while it has had little success against the Bulls this season, this is a big game to get some confidence prior to the postseason. Chicago has won the first three meetings this season and has won six straight against Milwaukee going back to last year but is getting a little too much respect here. The Bulls have won their last three games and five of their last six with all of those victories coming by double digits which is a big reason for the big road chalk. The lone defeat came at Detroit and Chicago has a rematch with the Pistons on Friday meaning a lookahead is imminent followed by a game against the Cavaliers on Sunday. The Bucks are 11-5-2 ATS in their last 18 games following a double-digit loss while the Bulls are 2-7 ATS in their last nine road games. 10* (512) Milwaukee Bucks

The Knicks have lost seven straight games while covering just one of those but it was a meaningful cover as it came against the rival Celtics and as far as any more rivalry games go, this is the final one of the season. With two weeks left, New York aims to not only put an end to its recent skid but to avoid a four-game sweep against the Nets this season after dropping the first three. With nothing to play for, why not try and play spoiler at this point? "We don't have a chance of making the playoffs. We know that. We want to make sure that other teams don't really get that chance either, especially Brooklyn, our hometown rival," Cleanthony Smith said. Brooklyn is currently in the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference thanks to a four-game winning streak so while winning is at the forefront, winning on the road by this many points is a challenge. The Nets have been favored by eight or more points three times this season and have failed to cover any of those games and despite playing the worst team in the NBA, they have no business laying this number on the road against a rival. The Nets are 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game. 10* (510) New York Knicks

San Antonio won last night in Miami by 14 points to make it four straight wins, all coming by double-digits and tonight marks the 20th game of the season when playing with no rest. The Spurs can clinch a playoff berth with a victory tonight and while the linesmakers are saying this is likely, this is one of those games that San Antonio could falter. The Spurs are 48-26, good for sixth in the conference and until recently, they have danced between the fifth and seventh spots in the Western Conference. However, they are now three games up on the Mavericks at No. 7, so it's becoming increasingly unlikely that the Spurs will draw a top-two team in the first round. Rest is now becoming a big factor which works in our favor in the second of a back-to-back. Orlando is riding a three-game losing streak, all coming at home and all coming by double-digits so we are seeing the exact opposite of what the Spurs have done but the linesmakers are certainly aware. That is not keeping the public away though as the Spurs are the biggest consensus of the night in the NBA despite laying the biog road number. Orlando has not played since Friday and it has covered four of its last five when playing with this much rest while also covering seven of its last 10 games against the Western Conference. 10* (506) Orlando Magic

Both Indiana and Brooklyn are going after the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference as the Pacers are a half-game out while the Nets are now tied with Boston after the Celtics win last night. While there is no real edge either way as both teams come in with some momentum, we are looking at a great spot for a low scoring game based on recent play and series games. Indiana has gone over the total in five straight games thanks to an offense that has averaged 105 ppg and a defense that has allowed close to 109 ppg. These averages are a complete aberration of the numbers from the entire season and I think we see things get back to normal tonight. The same goes for Brooklyn. While it has not been as consistent in scoring and allowing a big number of points of late, the Nets have scored 106 and 107 points the last two games, well above their season average. These teams played just over a week ago and they put on an offensive show with 234 points scored which made it two overs in two meetings this season and four straight going back to last season. Because of that last result, it is no surprise that this total is four points higher and it is also shaded higher because of the recent run for the Pacers. The under is 7-3 in the Pacers last 10 games following a win while the under is 5-2 in the Nets last seven home games against teams with a road winning percentage of less than .400. 10* Under (763) Indiana Pacers/(764) Brooklyn Nets

We lost with Memphis yesterday as it went to San Antonio in a game it never led yet had chances late but were outscored by 10 points in the fourth quarter and lost by 14 points. It was the third straight loss for the Grizzlies which have fallen into second place in the Southwest Division and third place in the Western Conference so they need to right the ship. Those losses came by 22, 21 and 14 points and while the three losses aren't the worst losing skid of the season as they lost four straight in late December, it is easily the worst three-game stretch of the season. They catch a good opponent to turn things around against as Sacramento continues its roadtrip after splitting the first two games. The Kings are a dismal 10-25 on the highway, one of just six teams in the NBA with 10 or fewer road wins. They lost at New Orleans Friday by 14 points and now they are getting a line that is just a point higher against a team 10.5 games better than the Pelicans so clearly the linesmakers have no faith in the Grizzlies. Memphis is out to avenge a 12-point loss in Sacramento last month which was the start of its recent 9-10 stretch. The Kings are 0-8 ATS in their last eight road games against teams with a home winning percentage of greater than .600. 10* (742) Memphis Grizzlies

Houston is coming off a win on Sunday against Washington which was its fifth straight victory and coupled with three straight losses for Memphis, the Rockets have jumped ahead of the Grizzlies in the Southwest Division and into second place in the Western Conference. They end their short two-game roadtrip tonight but this is not an easy spot as this is their fifth game in eight days and they are 4-4 on the season playing back-to-back road games. Houston has been outstanding of late against the Eastern conference while Toronto has been struggling to cover much of anything for a while but we are getting a very good number because of it. The Raptors defeated the Lakers on Friday so they have had a couple valuable days of rest to continue the playoff push. They remain in fourth place in the Eastern Conference and while catching the Bulls would be good, staying ahead of Washington is most important since home court advantage is involved. Houston was favored by just a bucket at home last month in its win over Toronto and the line has shifted only four points since then. The Raptors lost that game by 22 points which was their second worse loss of the season aside from a 24-point loss against Golden St. so revenge will be big tonight as well. 10* (736) Toronto Raptors

Memphis is clinging to a half-game lead in the Southwest Division over Houston and those spots could flip by the time the night is done but I expect the Grizzlies to hold their own here in a pretty good spot. They are coming off back-to-back blowout losses at home against Cleveland and Golden St. and now they hit the road to face another hot team but they are definitely getting value in the line because of it. This is the second biggest line the Grizzlies have seen this season and the first one came at Washington when Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph sat out so this marks the biggest number of the season with a healthy and full lineup. Memphis has the third best road record in the NBA and the Grizzlies are 5-2 ATS in their last seven road games against teams with a home winning percentage of greater than .600. San Antonio is rolling along with a 12-3 record over its last 15 games following a blowout against Dallas on Friday but that game was a revenge game from just three days prior and now the Spurs are favored by just a point less against a team that is five games better than the Mavericks. And as another example, they are favored by just one point less than they were favored by against the 32-40 Celtics in their most recent home game before that. 10* (715) Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis was the lone team in the NBA that Golden St. had not defeated but that changed last night as the Warriors got some revenge from a December loss and have now defeated every team in the league while tying a franchise record for wins. They have been unbeatable over the last two weeks, going 8-0 while covering seven of those including their last six. They are the biggest consensus play on the NBA card today and while the public isn't always wrong, I think they are here as the letdown effect could be big. Additionally, Golden St. closes the four-game roadtrip at the Clippers and even though it is three days away, there is always the chance of a lookahead. WE have backed Milwaukee the last two games and will do so again here is it has bounced back from a brutal six-game stretch to get back to .500 on the season. As mentioned before, Milwaukee had dropped six straight games but two of the losses came in overtime, three other ones came against three of the better teams in the NBA in Cleveland, Memphis and San Antonio while the sixth came to a solid New Orleans team by just one point on the road. Granted, Golden St. is the best team in the NBA but it has not done well in this spot as while it is 11-4-2 when playing with no rest, it is just 3-3-1 ATS in those games when playing the second of back-to-back road games. 10* (506) Milwaukee Bucks

We have two teams playing the complete opposite right now so it may be surprising to some to see the team on the downturn is laying a big number. New Orleans has lost four straight games and while it can be tough to justify losing, all four losses came against teams that are either in the playoffs or just on the outside looking in. Three of those were on the road while the one loss at home came by just two points against the Rockets. Despite that loss to Houston, the Pelicans are still 10 games over .500 at home and are 11 games better overall than their opponent. Sacramento has won four straight games which is one victory short of a season high which took place early in the season when it opened 5-1. As a matter of fact this is the first time the Kings have won consecutive games of any kind since late November as was on a horrid 0-14 run following a victory prior to this recent winning streak. Three of these wins have come at home and while the win in Phoenix seems impressive, the Suns has won four straight going into that game including back-to-back wins over Dallas and Houston. The Kings are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games against teams with a winning home record. 10* (866) New Orleans Pelicans

On Tuesday, Milwaukee snapped its six-game losing streak on a last second three-pointer for an absolute must win victory. The Bucks needed something good to go their way after a brutal stretch where two of the losses came in overtime, three other ones came against three of the better teams in the NBA in Cleveland, Memphis and San Antonio while the sixth came to a solid New Orleans team by just one point on the road. Now Milwaukee can carry that momentum into another big game to create some more separation in locking down the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference. Indiana snapped its own six-game losing streak with a win over Washington last night as it came back from a 13-point deficit to win in the final seconds. The Pacers are in a similar spot where they can carry their momentum into tonight but playing back-to-back road games goes against them here where they are just 13-22 on the highway this season and just 1-4 ATS in their last five games playing with no rest. Milwaukee is 7-3 ATS as a favorite of fewer than five points and will be playing with double revenge including an overtime loss at Indiana just over two weeks ago. 10* (802) Milwaukee Bucks

Atlanta has lost three straight games for the first time this season and while the offense has been erratic, the defense can take full responsibility. The Hawks have allowed 114, 123 and 114 points in those losses which followed up giving away 103 points which marks the first time this season they have allowed 100 or more points in four straight games. Prior to this recent stretch, Atlanta had allowed 110 or more points only seven times and followed those games up by allowing just 95.2 ppg. Orlando meanwhile has scored 100 or more points in three straight games for only the second time all season and after the first instance, the Magic put up 86 points which happened to be just a couple weeks ago. To no surprise, the last three games have gone over the total and we are catching a good number here with Atlanta having gone over the total in four straight games. Also, this is the highest total in this series on the season by five points. The under is 7-0 in the Hawks last seven games against Eastern Conference teams while the under is 4-1 in their last five road games against teams with a home winning percentage of less than .400. Meanwhile, Orlando is 24-4 to the under in its last 28 games against winning teams. 10* Under (757) Atlanta Hawks/(758) Orlando Magic

This line came out late due to the injury status of Raptors guard Kyle Lowry who was questionable to play last night, but did, and that could have been a mistake as he will be out for an extended time now. The Raptors have more than capable backups with a deep bench and with the loss last night, this has really turned into a big game. They are now a half-game behind Chicago for third place in the Eastern Conference which is a big position as third place gets Milwaukee and fourth place gets the dangerous Wizards in the first round of the playoffs. Additionally, Toronto needs to take some frustrations out to avoid a four-game series sweep against the Bulls this season. Chicago won on Monday at home against Charlotte but ever since a 6-1 run in late February, the Bulls have had trouble stringing wins together as they are 2-5 in their last seven games following a victory. Playing on the highway has been even worse as Chicago is 1-6 in its last seven road games, the lone victory coming at lowly Philadelphia and that took overtime. Toronto is 10-4 ATS in its last 14 games playing with no rest and is a perfect 2-0 ATS this season when playing at home following a road game, winning by 13 and 17 points. 10* (760) Toronto Raptors

It has been another long season for the Kings but they are not giving up as they have won two straight games and both of those were done by the defense, allowing 91 and 86 points. Whether it was actually solid defense or plain bad offense on the other side or a mixture of the two, it provides us with a great opportunity for a high scoring game here. This is the first time the Kings have allowed fewer than 100 points in consecutive games since the first three games of the season but don't expect it again. Sacramento has allowed 90 points or less just eight times all season long and in the previous seven instances, it has allowed 100 or more points in all of those follow up games, allowing an average of 107.4 ppg. The Sixers have gone under the total in three straight games which is the biggest under run since late January. Since then Philadelphia is 5-1 to the over following consecutive unders and while its offense has been hit or miss, it scored 114 points against the Kings which was its last time it surpassed the century mark. The over is 6-2 in the 76ers last eight road games while the over is 4-1 in the Kings last five home games against teams with a road winning percentage of less than .400. 10* Over (659) Philadelphia 76ers/(660) Sacramento Kings

It has been a bad run for the Bucks as they have dropped six straight games which is their longest losing streak of the season and while these skids can rarely be justified, the schedule has certainly played a role along with some tough luck. Two of the losses came in overtime, three other ones came against three of the better teams in the NBA in Cleveland, Memphis and San Antonio while the sixth came to a solid New Orleans team by just one point on the road. Milwaukee is now just a game and a half ahead of Miami for sixth place in the Eastern Conference which is the spot to be in to avoid playing the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs. Granted, that makes this a big game for Miami as well to try and inch closer to that sixth spot but winning on the road has been a challenge of late as the Heat are 2-8 over their last 10 road games Miami will be out to avoid the season sweep but with Milwaukee winning the first three games, that can only help the Bucks confidence tonight. The Bucks are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a double-digit loss at home while the Heat are 1-5 ATS in their last six road games against teams with a winning home record. 10* (656) Milwaukee Bucks

A 10-2 run has put San Antonio into sixth p[lace in the Western Conference as it was able to jump over Dallas in the standings. The Spurs two losses over that stretch came in overtime so this is a great run, its second best of the season after going on a 13-2 run back on November and December. They have spend the majority of time at home in March in follow up to their lengthy roadtrip and this is just the second of back-to-back road games since February. The Mavericks have done nothing to let San Antonio leapfrog them as they have dropped two straight games which came after a three-game winning streak so it hasn't been all that bad. Because of the Spurs run, Dallas comes in as a home underdog which is extremely surprising as the only other time this season was against Cleveland. In their last home game, the Mavericks were a three-point favorite over Memphis which is five games better than the Spurs. In this series, the underdog is 10-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings with Dallas being the underdog eight times, going 7-1 ATS. Despite the cover at Atlanta Sunday, the Spurs are 2-7 ATS in their last nine road games against teams with a home winning percentage of greater than .600. 10* (658) Dallas Mavericks

Memphis is coming off a big win over Portland on Saturday as it defeated the Blazers by 11 points to make it two straight wins to stretch its lead over Houston to 3.5 games for second place in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies now hit the road again and what looks like an easy task tonight but it is what looms ahead that makes this a tough sandwich spot. They head back home to face Cleveland on Wednesday and will be out for retribution following a 14-point loss in Cleveland earlier this season. They have failed to cover five of their last six games as road favorites. New York is coming off a loss at Toronto yesterday by 17 points and while it has obviously been a brutal season, the linesmakers aren't stupid as the numbers have been serious adjusted. New York is 6-1 ATS in its last seven home games when getting 7.5 pr more points including outright wins over Oklahoma City, Toronto and San Antonio. Memphis meanwhile is 1-7 ATS this season as a double-digit favorite and an even worse 1-10 ATS in its last 11 games against teams with a losing record. 10* (604) New York Knicks

Atlanta is back home following a six-game west coast roadtrip where it ended up splitting but lost the last two games against the Warriors and Thunder. While today's task is far from easy, the return home is a big advantage. While the recent two-game skid is motivation enough, the Hawks will have something to try and prove as they have gone eight straight games without defeating San Antonio. Atlanta is 30-4 at home this season which includes a 25-2 record over its last 27 games. San Antonio looks to be shaping back into form as it has moved into sixth place in the Western Conference thanks to two straight wins as well as victories in nine of its last 11 games. The Spurs have been a much better home team than road team as they are right at .500 away from home and have struggled against some of the top teams of late, going 1-7 ATS in their last eight road games against teams with a home winning percentage of greater than .600. Meanwhile the Hawks are 21-6 ATS in their last 27 games against teams with a winning record and they get their revenge on Sunday. 10* (704) Atlanta Hawks

A horrible call on the over in the Phoenix/New Orleans game on Thursday sets us up for a bounceback here and the total is in our favor. The last two meetings in this series had back ends of 220.5 and 217.5 and both went over without a problem and now we are catching a number that is 10 points less than that second one. Phoenix is in the midst of its second significant run of unders as after going eight straight games in January of staying under the total, it has now gone under in its last seven games. With the exception of Thursday, it has not been anything consistent however which is the key as one game of bad offense has been followed by one game of good defense and neither have intertwined. The Suns matched a franchise low for points in a victory in that game against New Orleans. It was their third-worst shooting performance of the season for a team that had scored at least 70 in a half twice this season. Houston has won three straight games and went over the number in the last one on Thursday and I expect that to continue here with this favorable number. The over is 5-2 in the Suns last seven games after allowing less than 75 points in their previous game while the over is 4-1 in the Rockets last games against teams with a winning record. 10* Over (507) Phoenix Suns/(508) Houston Rockets

Injuries are the story here as neither team is at full strength which of course caused a delay in the release of the line at most places and the total everywhere. The Hawks defense which has been very solid this season, did not perform well against Golden St. in their last game and will look to bounce back against a Thunder offense that has been on high octane despite the absence of Kevin Durant. Atlanta allowed 114 points on 52.4 percent shooting against the Warriors and that was just the eighth time they have allowed 110 or more points. In the previous seven times, the defense allowed fewer than 100 points six times whole allowing an average of 95.3 ppg. The Thunder have gone over the total in their last three games and the last two were not even close with 234 and 240 points being scored. Those were against two of the faster teams in the NBA however as they were both up and down games and the Hawks are not that team and do not want to get involved in a shootout knowing defense is the best cure for a bounce back. The under is 7-3 in the Hawks last 10 games following a loss while the under is 17-7 in the Thunder's last 24 home games against teams with a road winning percentage of greater than .600. 10* Under (811) Atlanta Hawks/(812) Oklahoma City Thunder