This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

After a low scoring battle in Game 1, the Cavs came out and set an NBA record with 25 made three-pointers in Game 2. You might as well just completely disregard what happened in the last game in Cleveland, and I think it's far more likely that Game 3 will be a lot more like Game 1. 

Three of Cleveland's last four games at Atlanta have failed to reach the total, and the only exception was a 110-108 overtime win for Cleveland. The first half of that game only saw a combined 96 points, and I don't expect any more scoring here in Game 3 in Atlanta. 

The Hawks were the best defensive team in the NBA after the All Star break, and they've gone under in seven of their last eight when coming off a loss. The under is 5-1 in Atlanta's last six home games, and 8-2 in the Hawks last 10 overall. 

Both of Cleveland's road games in these playoffs have gone under, and LeBron struggled in Detroit, scoring a total of 42 points on 17-of-43 shooting. He was just 2-of-12 from beyond the arc in those games.  

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Raptors finally got the monkey off their backs, ending a 15 year run of playoff disappointment by escaping their first round series versus the Pacers. They overcame adversity, with stars Kyle Lowry and DeMar Derozan struggling with their shot through the entire series. It was strong defense and key contributions off the bench that powered the Raptors past Indiana. Only one of the seven games in that series went over the total, and we are likely to see more defensive battles in this series versus the Heat. 

Miami is coming off a blowout win in Game 7 over Charlotte, and they held the Hornets to just 74 points on 32.1 percent shooting in the series finale. The final four games of that series went under the total, and the Heat have failed to reach the total in five straight on the road. We've seen roughly 65% of the games in these playoffs go under, and the bookmakers have not been able to adjust quick enough. In fact, in games with a total of 195 or less, the under is 12-2-1. The total for tonight's Game 1 is still higher than it has been in two of the last three meetings between these two teams. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

I took the under in Game 1, and here is what I said pregame: 

"The Oklahoma City Thunder had little trouble getting past the Mavs in the first round, winning the series in five games. The final three games in that series all went over, and the Thunder averaged 122 points in those games. They can't expect to enjoy that same success in San Antonio, where they lost both meetings during the regular season. Three of the four games in the season series went under, and the Spurs won 102-98 in overtime in the last meeting. San Antonio is by far the best defensive team in the NBA, allowing opponents to average just 92.9 points per game. They only allowed the Grizzlies to average 71 points in their two home games in the first round. The Thunder played well defensively in the first round, holding the Mavs to 93.8 points per game." 

While the Spurs defense was as good as I expected it to be, the Thunder just couldn't stop San Antonio from scoring. Oklahoma City will need to tighten things up here in Game 2, and I expect a much slower pace after the Thunder make adjustments. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Cavs have won seven straight against Atlanta, and they've held the Hawks to fewer than 100 points in regulation in all seven of those games. Both teams were impressive on defense in their respective first round matchups. The Hawks allowed Boston to average just 93.8 points per game, while the Cavs held Detroit to an average of 95 points per game. Atlanta has failed to reach the total in eight of it's last 10 overall, while the Cavs have gone under in five of their last six when coming off at least three days rest. The under is 23-11 in Cavaliers last 34 Conference Semifinals games. These teams played a low scoring contest in Game 1 of the East Finals last year, with Cleveland winning by a score of 97-89. I expect a similar looking score in Game 1 of this series. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. This series has seen more than it's fair share of low scoring games, with five of the six games going under the total. We saw just 184 points scored in Game 6, and I really don't think we can expect more than that tonight in Game 7. Toronto did a decent job defending Paul George, holding him to 21 points on 5-of-14 shooting in Game 6. Indiana scored just nine points in the fourth quarter in Toronto in Game 5, but the total did go over for the first time in the series. Despite a heavy trend of low scoring games in these playoffs, and five of six games going under in this series, we still saw a higher total in Game 6 than we saw in Game 5. DeMar DeRozan is averaging just 15.8 points per game on 32.8 percent shooting in this series, while Kyle Lowry has shot just 27 percent from the field in three home games against the Pacers. Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder had little trouble getting past the Mavs in the first round, winning the series in five games. The final three games in that series all went over, and the Thunder averaged 122 points in those games. They can't expect to enjoy that same success in San Antonio, where they lost both meetings during the regular season. Three of the four games in the season series went under, and the Spurs won 102-98 in overtime in the last meeting. San Antonio is by far the best defensive team in the NBA, allowing opponents to average just 92.9 points per game. They only allowed the Grizzlies to average 71 points in their two home games in the first round. The Thunder played well defensively in the first round, holding the Mavs to 93.8 points per game. 

Take UNDER GL, Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Raptors head back to Indiana with a chance to close out the Pacers in Game 6. So far home court hasn't been much of an advantage in this series, with both teams winning once on the road. The Pacers came very close in Game 5, but blew a 13 point lead in the fourth quarter. I think that such a demoralizing loss sets up Indiana for an emotional let down here tonight. The Raptors haven't had any trouble winning at Indiana, and they've covered the spread in nine of their last 11 at Bankers Field House. 

Indiana scored just nine points in the fourth quarter in Toronto in Game 5, but the total did go over for the first time in the series. Despite a heavy trend of low scoring games in these playoffs, and four of five games going under in this series, we still see a higher total in Game 6 than we saw in Game 5. DeMar DeRozan scored 34 points on 10-of-22 shooting in the last game, after struggling earlier in the series. This is a good sign moving forward for the Raptors, but still they've failed to reach the total in five straight road games. Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total. 

The last time I watched the Clippers play without Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, they won at Utah by a score of 102-99. That was a road win against one of the best defensive teams in the league, in a game that Utah needed to win in order to make the playoffs. Jamal Crawford led the way with 30 points on 9-of-20 shooting. It appeared that the Clippers strategy without their stars was to play a fast paced, high energy game, shooting a ton of threes. They were quite successful going 13-of-29 (44%) from beyond the arc.

Paul Pierce scored 18 points in 33 minutes in that game, and he was 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. The veteran has seen limited action so far this post-season, but expect to see more of "The Truth" tonight. These teams have failed to reach the total in five straight meetings, and seven of the last eight overall. The number in all of those games was well over 200, and tonight's total is roughly 10 points lower than it would be in normal circumstances. That may prove to be a case of the bookmakers over-compensating. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Hawks took a 2-0 series lead to Boston, and after failing to reach the total in each of the first two games, the number in Game 3 was still over 200. The under is trending huge in these playoffs, and while the bookmakers have made some slight adjustments, I still think this number is way too high, especially when you consider that they only combined to score 161 points in the last game. 

The Hawks had by far the best defense in the NBA since the All Star break, and the Celtics have proven to be more than capable of playing defense as well. These teams have failed to score 200 points in three of the four games so far, and those were all regular season games. With an increased emphasis on defense in the post-season, they are even less likely to reach that number. 

Boston is missing second leading scorer Avery Bradley, and leading scorer Isaiah Thomas was held to just 16 points on 4-of-15 shooting in Game 2. The Under is 9-3 in Hawks last 12 Conference Quarterfinals games. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Warriors looked unstoppable of Game 1 of this series, beating Houston 104-78. They followed that up with another double-digit win at home in Game 2, despite the absence of MVP Steph Curry. It was a different story back in Houston for for Game 3, and the Rockets pulled off the upset winning 97-96. With Curry set to return for Game 4, the bookmakers have Golden State heavily favored this afternoon. 

I think it's important to remember that Curry played every game when these two teams met in last year's playoffs, and that series was a lot closer than most expected. Those games were for the most part quite close, and the scores were much lower than anticipated as well. The Warriors were held to 43 percent shooting in Game 3 without Curry, but they shot an even lower 42.9 percent in Game 1, and Curry scored 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting in that game. Coming off an injury, he may not be at 100 percent, and it could be a tough ask for him do any better than that here in Houston in Game 4. 

The Warriors have failed to reach the total in six straight road games, and they've gone under in 11 of their last 16 in Houston. They've also gone under in six of their last eight when coming off a loss. This is a huge game for both teams, and we should expect a solid defensive effort all the way around.

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

After two low scoring games in Toronto, we saw these teams combine to score just 186 points in Game 3 in Indiana. The bookmakers adjusted with a lower opening total for Game 4, but public money has caused some late line movement, pushing the number right back up to where it was in Games 1 & 2. The trend throughout the playoffs so far has been low scoring games, and I see no reason for either of these two teams to open things up here tonight. With the Raptors up 2-1 and the series heading to Toronto for Game 5, a loss here would likely be the end for the Pacers. We should expect this to be another gritty defensive battle. The way DeMarre Carroll has played defense against Paul George, the Pacers might struggle on offense. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan continue to struggle with their shooting, and I just don't see anybody picking up any easy buckets here in a pivotal Game 4. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule 

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total. 

The Spurs are in complete control of this series heading into Game 3 in Memphis, and I am not convinced that will change simply because Memphis is at home. That being said, they scored an average of just 71 points in the two games in San Antonio, and I expect them to show at the very least a modest improvement on offense. The under has been really trending in these playoffs, as 14 of 19 games so far have failed to reach the number. This has prompted the bookmakers to adjust, and we see a total in Game 3 that is 10 points lower than it was in Game 1. 

The over has been a good bet after the Grizzlies have suffered a double-digit loss, trending at a rate of 7-1-2. They've also played higher scoring games in Memphis, going over at a rate of 20-8-2 in their last 30 home games. The Spurs are still scoring their fair share of points, averaging 100 per game in the post-season. They are smoking hot from beyond the arc, hitting 19-of-39 three-pointers in Games 1-2. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Hawks take a 2-0 series lead to Boston, and after failing to reach the total in each of the first two games, the number in Game 3 is still over 200. The under is trending huge in these playoffs, with 14 of the first 19 games failing to hit the total. While the bookmakers have made some slight adjustments, I still think this number is way too high, especially when you consider that they only combined to score 161 points in the last game. 

The Hawks had by far the best defense in the NBA since the All Star break, and the Celtics have proven to be more than capable of playing defense as well. These teams have failed to score 200 points in three of the last four meetings in Boston, and those were all regular season games. With an increased emphasis on defense in the post-season, they are even less likely to reach that number. 

Boston is missing second leading scorer Avery Bradley, and leading scorer Isaiah Thomas was held to just 16 points on 4-of-15 shooting in Game 2. The Under is 8-2 in Hawks last 10 Conference Quarterfinals games. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. Here is what I said prior to Game 2: "The Pistons made 15 three-pointers in Game 1, shooting a staggering 51.7 percent from beyond the arc. They shot better than 50% from the field, hanging around in a close game decided by just five points. I don't like their chances of scoring 100 here in Game 2, or for the rest of the series for that matter. The Cavs were one of the best defensive teams in the NBA this season, holding opponents to well below 100 points per game. The trend so far in these playoffs has been that points have been hard to come by. The under is 9-4 through the first 13 post-season games, and only one of five Game 2s has gone over. In fact, we've seen fewer points scored in Game 2 than in Game 1 in all five series that have played twice so far. The Pistons led by seven points early in the fourth quarter of Game 1, and that should be enough to convince the Cavs that they need to be a lot better defensively here in Game 2. The Pistons still think they can win this series: "We don't care who you put in front of us," Reggie Jackson said. "We fear nobody and experience is going to be our best teacher. We're going to learn on the fly. We think we have a chance." I expect a battle here in Game 2, with both teams grinding it out for every possession." The Pistons three-point shooting cooled off significantly in Game 2, hitting just 4-of-17 from beyond the arc. They were held to just 37 points in the second half, and I expect another defensive battle in the Motor City tonight. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Pistons made 15 three-pointers in Game 1, shooting a staggering 51.7 percent from beyond the arc. They shot better than 50% from the field, hanging around in a close game decided by just five points. I don't like their chances of scoring 100 here in Game 2, or for the rest of the series for that matter. The Cavs were one of the best defensive teams in the NBA this season, holding opponents to well below 100 points per game. The trend so far in these playoffs has been that points have been hard to come by. The under is 9-4 through the first 13 post-season games, and only one of five Game 2s has gone over. In fact, we've seen fewer points scored in Game 2 than in Game 1 in all five series that have played twice so far. The Pistons led by seven points early in the fourth quarter of Game 1, and that should be enough to convince the Cavs that they need to be a lot better defensively here in Game 2. The Pistons still think they can win this series: "We don't care who you put in front of us," Reggie Jackson said. "We fear nobody and experience is going to be our best teacher. We're going to learn on the fly. We think we have a chance." I expect a battle here in Game 2, with both teams grinding it out for every possession.

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Hawks did everything I expected them to do in Game 1, until they nearly collapsed in the fourth quarter allowing Boston to get back into the game. Boston only managed to score 34 points in the first half, and the Celtics might struggle again in Game 2 without Avery Bradley, who is second in the team in scoring behind Isaiah Thomas. Bradley scored 18 points before getting injured in Game 1. 

So far in these playoffs seven of 11 games have failed to reach the total, including Atlanta's win in Game 1 of this series. These are two of the best defensive teams in the playoffs, and I expect to see an even lower score than what we saw in Game 1 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a big favorite in their first round series versus Detroit, and they will be asked to cover a double-digit spread in Game 1. The Pistons aren't going to lay down though, and I expect this to be a battle, with both teams playing tough defense from the opening tip off. 

The Pistons beat the Cavs in overtime in a meaningless game in the season finale, with both teams resting their starters. Prior to that, the Pistons won in Cleveland by a score of 96-88 in February. The Cavs were the 4th best defensive team in the league this season, and they've been particularly strong defensively when coming off a few days of rest. The under is 5-0 in Cavaliers last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest.

It wasn't that surprising that all four playoff games on Saturday failed to reach the total, as history tells us that scoring does down in the post-season. The defenses tighten up, and you just don't see that many easy buckets. I don't think the bookmakers have properly adjusted here with a number higher than 200 for Game 1. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The playoffs haven't started yet, but the atmosphere at the Garden should resemble a playoff game tonight when the Celtics host the Heat in the final game of the season. Home court advantage is up for grabs, and we should see both teams play with an added intensity tonight.  These teams have a history of playing defensive games, with five of the last six meetings going under. Only once in the last 10 meetings have we seen a total over 200, and they came up well short in that game with Boston winning 101-89 at home. Miami comes in as winners of four of it's last five, holding opponents well below 100 points in all four of those wins. The Celtics have failed to reach the total in nine of their last 12 when playing on one day's rest, and the Heat have gone under in four of their last five when playing on back to back nights. Miami has gone under in seven of it's last 10 overall. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the totaL.

The Indiana Pacers have nothing to prove in their final game of the season, as they already know where they will play in the first round of the playoffs. We should expect the Pacers to rest their starters here in Milwaukee, but don't expect the Bucks to treat this like a meaningless game. After a frustrating season, finishing at home on a positive note would be big for the Bucks. They have a solid 23-17 home record, and should be more than capable of beating the Indiana bench players. Even at full strength, the Pacers aren't a great road team with a record of 18-22 outside Indiana. They've failed to cover the spread in four of their last five road games, and they have gone under in six straight when playing on back to back nights. The Bucks have gone under in seven of their last nine in Milwaukee. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

Coming off three straight losses, you have to think Spurs coach Greg Popovich wants to give his team something to be positive about heading into the playoffs. They host Oklahoma City tonight, and the Thunder are expected to rest their starts. The last time Oklahoma City played at San Antonio, the Spurs won by a score of 92-85. 

The Thunder shot just 38.3 percent from the field in that game, and were just 2-of-18 from beyond the arc. I don't expect their backups to have any more success at the AT&T Center tonight. The Spurs have won three of their last four home meetings with Oklahoma City, and they held the Thunder to an average of just 88 points in those wins. 

The Spurs #1 ranked defense held Golden State to just 92 points on Sunday, but they couldn't stop the Warriors from winning their 72nd game of the season. I expect a similar effort on defense tonight, which should result in a convincing win over a short-handed opponent. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Celtics will play in Atlanta in the second game of a back to back, after beating up on Milwaukee at home last night. This is a huge game for both teams, with home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs up for grabs. The Celtics will have their work cut out for them, as Atlanta has really been on a roll. The Hawks have won 14 of their last 18 overall, and they held opponents under 100 points in 11 of those 14 wins. They rank 6th in the NBA with an opponent's scoring average of just 98.9 points per game, and they've held Boston below 100 points in three of their last four home meetings with the Celtics. These two teams have failed to reach the total in nine of the last 13 meetings in Atlanta. The Celtics have failed to reach the total in seven of their last nine overall, while the Hawks have gone under in nine of their last 12 home games. With such high stakes in tonight's game, we should expect to see both teams fighting hard on defense.

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Mavs winning streak is now at five games heading into tonight's home game against Memphis. They have been dominant on defense during that span, holding opponents to just 86 points per game. The bookmakers have been slow to adjust to the fact that teams playing for playoff spots tend to tighten up the defense, and the total was over 200 in each game during the Mavs run. It appears that they've spotted the under trend, and have adjusted by shaving a few points off the number. I don't think they've adjusted enough though, as not one of the Mavs last five games has reached tonight's number. 

Their opponent tonight is down three key starters, including their PG Mike Conley. Memphis is not a great offensive team at the best of times, as one of just half a dozen NBA teams that fail to average 100 points per game. The Mavs are also down a starting PG, although J.J. Barea has been brilliant filling in for D-Will. Dirk Nowitzki is really struggling offensively, shooting just 23-of-84 over his last five games. Backup center Salah Mejri has been a defensive dynamo, with seven blocks in his last three games, despite averaging less than 20 minutes. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* (GOW) play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

Last week's big bet in the NBA was on the under in a game between the Bulls and the Pistons, and that Bulls lost that game at home by a score of 94-90. They now sit 2.5 games back of the eighth and final playoff spot in the East, and whatever slim hopes they have will end tonight if they lose in Miami. The Heat are in a battle for one of the top four spots, trailing Boston by just half a game. Miami is coming off a 107-89 home win over the Pistons, putting on another defensive clinic. The Heat rank 4th in the NBA in opponent's scoring average, surrendering just 98.3 points per game. These teams have a history of playing low scoring games, failing to reach the total in six of the last eight. Nine of those 10 games saw a total below 200, and tonight's total is far higher than it was in any of those previous games. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Rockets and the Mavericks will play a Titanic game in Dallas tonight, with the eighth and Final playoff spot in the West up for grabs. The Mavs have won four straight, putting them in seventh in the West, one game ahead of Houston. During that span they've put on a defensive clinic, holding opponents to an average of just 86 points. The Rockets are on the outside looking in, sitting in ninth. Houston is one of the league's highest scoring teams, but as they've been battling for a playoff spot, they've trended toward lower scoring games, failing to reach the total in six of their last eight. They don't score quite as much on the road, and they've gone under in four straight away from Houston. We should see a cautious approach from two teams fighting for their lives, and tonight's total appears to be a little inflated. As I have said several times this week: "I think the bookmakers have failed to take this into consideration when they come out with such a high total. Teams battling for survival tend to play a lot tougher defense, and both these teams have been playing low scoring games of late." 

Take UNDER. 

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] 

After a lopsided loss at Miami last night, the Pistons have slid all the way to eighth in the Eastern Conference, clinging to the final playoff spot. They have a two game lead on the ninth place Bulls, but they can't afford to keep losing or they could miss the playoffs all together. A win in Orlando tonight would give them plenty of breathing room, and I expect to see a solid effort. Detroit has failed to score 100 points in five straight games, and it has only surrendered an average of 97.8 points during that span. These two teams have a history of playing high scoring games, going over the total in six of the last seven meetings. Tonight's total is significantly higher than it was in any of those games, and there's a lot more at stake for the Pistons here tonight. The Pistons have gone under in nine of their last 11 road games, and five straight overall. They have won three straight in this series, holding the Magic to an average of 96 points in those games. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Heat host the Piston tonight in a game with massive playoff implications. The Heat are fighting for home court advantage in the first round, while Detroit still needs to clinch one of the last spots in the East. The Pistons have won each of the previous two meetings this season, and both those games went under the total. I bet on the under in Detroit's last game, a 94-90 win over the Bulls in Chicago. 

Here is what I said prior to tip off: "I think the bookmakers have failed to take this into consideration when they come out with such a high total. Teams battling for survival tend to play a lot tougher defense, and both these teams have been playing low scoring games of late. The Pistons lost at home to Dallas last night, three days after beating the Thunder 88-82. Detroit has failed to reach the total in seven of it's last nine on the road, while the Bulls have gone under in five straight. The total for tonight's game is significantly higher than it was in any of the previous 10 meetings" 

It's a similar situation here tonight, and we see another inflated total in a game that appears to feature two teams trending toward low scoring games. The under is 18-7-1 in the last 26 meetings in Miami. The Heat have failed to reach the total in four of their last five, while Detroit has gone under in eight of it's last 10 road games. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Celtics come into LA as winners of five of their last seven, but given the magnitude of their upset win at Golden State, we could see Boston suffer a let down here. The Lakers won their last game 102-100 in overtime versus Miami, but it would be a mistake to think that this team is anything other than a steaming hot mess. They lost four straight prior to the win over the Heat, and they've scored an average of just 95.4 points per game over their last five. Both teams could suffer a let down here tonight, and the Celtics have failed to reach the total in seven straight coming off an ATS win. They've also gone under in eight of their last nine when playing on one day's rest, and five of their last six overall. The Lakers have also been trending toward the under, failing to reach the total in 10 of their last 13 home games. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Mavs have won three straight, putting them back in the hunt for one of the final playoff spots in the West. The recipe for their success has been strong defensive play, as they've allowed opponents to average just 88.7 points per game during this winning streak. I think the bookmakers have failed to take this into consideration when they come out with such a high total. Teams battling for survival tend to play a lot tougher defense, and both these teams have been playing low scoring games of late.

Minnesota has lost three of four, and they were held to an average of just 82.6 points in those losses. These teams have failed to reach the total in four of the last five head to head meetings, and four of the last five at Minnesota have gone under. With so much at stake for the Mavs, expect to see a battle for each possesion, with no easy buckets conceded. Dallas has been great on the road against inferior opposition, and the under is 9-3 in their last 12 road games versus teams with a losing record. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* (GOY) play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

Down but not out, the Chicago Bulls have shown a lot of character winning back-to-back road games to keep their playoff hopes alive. They host the Detroit Pistons tonight, and the Pistons are one of the teams they are trying to catch. They trail eighth place Indiana by one game, and they are 1.5 games back of Detroit. That means that tonight's game might as well be a playoff game, because the stakes don't get any higher.

I think the bookmakers have failed to take this into consideration when they come out with such a high total. Teams battling for survival tend to play a lot tougher defense, and both these teams have been playing low scoring games of late. The Pistons lost at home to Dallas last night, three days after beating the Thunder 88-82. Detroit has failed to reach the total in seven of it's last nine on the road, while the Bulls have gone under in five straight. The total for tonight's game is significantly higher than it was in any of the previous 10 meetings.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

This is an absolute do or die game for the Jazz, and I expect them to put on a defensive clinic against a Minnesota team that is just going through the motions. The Timberwolves are coming off a 99-79 home loss to the Clippers, and they lost at home to Utah by a score of 93-84 last Saturday. These teams have gone over the total in three of the last seven meetings, but only one of those games saw enough points to reach tonight's total. That game was a 106-104 overtime win for Minnesota last March. The Jazz have failed to reach the total in eight of their last 10 overall, and six of their last eight at home. They held the defending champions Golden State to 89 points in regulation in their last game, and they've held five of their last seven opponents to fewer than 90 points. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule 

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Houston Rockets have a reputation for playing high scoring games, but we normally see teams tighten up come playoff time, and that's certainly been the case for Houston. The Rockets are currently in a three way tie with Utah and Dallas, with all three teams battling for the final two spots in the Western Conference. The Rockets have struggled, winning just twice in their last six games. They failed to reach the total in all but one of those games. 

They host the Chicago Bulls, who are also fighting for their lives. Chicago is still two games back of Indiana for the last spot in the East, but they kept their hopes alive with a 98-86 win at Indiana on Tuesday. The Bulls have gone under in six of their last seven overall. Chicago has won three of the last four in this series, and Houston has scored an average of just 98 points in those games. 

This is essentially a do or die game for both teams, which should mean no easy points. Expect both teams to play intense defense on every possession, and with a sky high total, I expect them to come up well short of the number. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

After a string of uncharacteristically high scoring games, the Miami Heat got back to business on Friday, defeating the Orlando Magic by a score of 108-97. They followed that up with another under in a home win over Brooklyn three days later. I cashed in with the winning total in both those games, and I still think bookmakers are offering an inflated total in tonight's game at LA. These teams have a history of playing low scoring games, failing to reach the total in four of the last five meetings, and nine of the last 11. Most of those games saw a total below 200, and only once did we see a number as high as we see tonight. They've failed to reach the total in four straight meetings at the Staples Center, and the Lakers failed to score 100 points in all of those games. The Heat only broke the century mark once during that span, and that was a 101-95 win on Christmas Day 2013. Miami's defense is ranked 4th in the NBA, allowing opponents to average just over 98 points per game. The Lakers offense is ranked 29th, and they scored just 70 points on 30.6 percent shooting in a home loss to the Wizards on Monday. Rumors of a divided locker room have surfaced, and a rookie PG DeAngelo Russell is at the center of the controversy. The 19 year old appears to be responsible for secretly recording a private conversation with a teammate, and the embarrassing contents of that conversation have since become public. This is a complete disaster for the Lakers, and a situation that isn't going to go away any time soon. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Rockets head to Cleveland in a desperate situation, currently in an eighth place tie with the Dallas Mavericks for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The good news is, they've actually owned the Cavs in recent years, winning six of the last seven meetings. More good news is that the Cavs have decided to rest LeBron James tonight. They recently rested James in a home game against Dallas, and just barely beat the Mavs by a score of 99-98. Cleveland hasn't done well at all when James doesn't play, failing to cover in 14 of 15 games since 2014. They failed to reach the total in 12 of those 15 games. Despite that, tonight's total is sky high, in fact higher than any of the previous 10 meetings between the two teams. Houston has been playing low scoring games lately, failing to reach the total in four of it's last five overall, and four of it's last five on the road. The Cavs have gone under in five of their last six when playing one two day's rest. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a Free #NBA play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Bulls are coming off a heartbreaking 102-100 home loss to Atlanta last night, which puts them 2.5 games back of the Pistons, who currently hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. They have nine games left two play, but six of those will be played on the road.  Tonight's game at Indiana looks like a let down spot for the banged up Bulls, and the Pacers are one of the teams they are trying to catch. The Pacers have won three straight home games, limiting opponents to an average of just 86 points in those victories. 

These two teams have a history of playing low scoring games, as five of the last six meetings have failed to reach the total. The one exception was a home win for the Bulls, winning by a score of 102-100 in overtime. They've failed to cover in five straight at Indianapolis, and all five of those games went under the total. The Bulls are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 road games, and they've failed to cover in four of their last five when playing in a back to back situation. The Pacers have failed to reach the total in six of their last seven home games, while the Bulls have gone under in seven of their last 10 road games. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Jazz are coming off a commanding 93-84 win at Minnesota, and they'll need to keep the ball rolling tonight as they are just one game ahead of the 9th place Dallas Mavericks, and half a game up on Houston. They will host the struggling LA Lakers, who have lost seven of their last eight. The Lakers are playing on back to back nights, coming off a 101-88 home loss to the Wizards last night. Both Kobe Bryant and DeAngelo Russell are playing through injuries, and playing on no rest isn't going to be easy, especially against one of the top defenses in the league. Utah is the second lowest scoring team in the NBA, but it makes up for it with stellar defense. The Jazz have held opponents to an average of just 89.7 points and 7.0 makes from 3-point range over it's last nine games. The Jazz have failed to reach the total in six of their last seven overall, and five of their last six at home. Utah has trended under at a rate of 28-13-1 in it's last 42 home games versus teams with a losing road record.

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

After a string of uncharacteristically high scoring games, the Miami Heat got back to business on Friday, defeating the Orlando Magic by a score of 108-97. I bet on the under in that game, and here is what I had to say prior to tip off: "The Heat rank 4th in the NBA with an opponent's scoring average of just 98.2 points per game. They are particularly strong at home, boasting a record of 23-13. These two teams have gone over the total in six of the last 10 meetings, but the total for tonight's game is about 10 points higher than it was in any of those previous contests."

We see a similar situation tonight, as the Heat will host bottom feeders Brooklyn. Seven of the last 10 meetings have gone over, but the total in those games was at least 10 points lower than tonight's number. Only one of those 10 games saw enough points to reach tonight's total, and that game was a home win for Brooklyn. The Nets are coming off back to back home wins, setting them up for a let down here in Miami. The Under is 7-3 in Heat last 10 home games versus teams with a losing road record. Sitting just half a game behind Boston, and a half game ahead of the surging Hornets, this is a key game for Miami in the playoff race. We should expect the Heat to put on a defensive clinic here tonight. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a Free #NBA play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

Ladies and gentlemen.. it's DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN this March. If anyone thinks for even a second that The Iceman's recent success is the product of "luck", "chance" or "coincidence"... THINK AGAIN!

- March 2013: 89-60 +$10,549
- March 2014: 72-48 +$6,058
- March 2015: 97-58 +$13,219
- March 2016: 56-32 +$12,939

The Milwaukee Bucks will return home after three straight losses on the road, and they host the red hot Charlotte Hornets. While the Hornets came up just short in Detroit last night, they've won 17 of their last 22 overall. One reason for Charlotte's success in it's top 10 ranked defense, that allows opponents to average just 101 points per game. The Bucks don't often reach the century mark, and they come in averaging just 92.5 points per game while losing five of their last six overall. 

These teams have failed to reach the total in each of the last four meetings, and despite that the number in tonight's game is actually higher than it was in any of those previous contests. The Hornets have gone under in five of their last seven overall, and Milwaukee has failed to reach the total in six of it's last seven. The under is 6-0 in Bucks last 6 versus teams with a winning straight up record. One contributing factor to Milwaukee's trend of low scoring games is that it ranks dead last in the NBA in made three-pointers. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Magic come into Miami as losers of five in a row, and they'll have a tough time here against one of the top defensive teams in the league. The Heat rank 4th in the NBA with an opponent's scoring average of just 98.2 points per game. They are particularly strong at home, boasting a record of 23-13. These two teams have gone over the total in six of the last 10 meetings, but the total for tonight's game is about 10 points higher than it was in any of those previous contests. They've scored fewer points in Miami, as the under is 7-3 in Orlando's last 10 trips to American Airlines Arena. The Magic have also been riding an under trend on the road, failing to reach the total in six of their last seven away from Orlando. The Heat managed just 88 points in a loss at San Antonio in their last game, their lowest points total in 27 games. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total. 

Because the Jazz are one of the top defensive teams in the NBA, we often see the bookmakers adjust with a lower number, even in games against teams like Houston that tend to play a lot of high scoring games. I don't think they have paid enough attention to Utah's home/away splits though, as clearly their road record of 12-23 would indicate that their defense isn't that strong away from Salt Lake City.

The Rockets are coming off back to back losses on the road, but they've won four of their last five home games. Houston ranks 4th in the league in scoring, but they are one of the league's worst defensive teams in the NBA, allowing opponents to average 107 points per game. Four of the last five meetings in this series have gone over the total, and the Rockets have gone over the total in 13 of their last 16 when playing on back to back nights. 

Take OVER. 

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Wizards are hot, coming into tonight's home game versus the Hawks as winners of four straight. They've surrendered an average of just 95 points per game during that span, and their last win came on the road at Atlanta. The Hawks are looking to avenge that loss in the second game of this home and home set tonight, and Atlanta is one of the league's best defensive teams. Atlanta ranks 6th in the NBA limiting opponents to an average of just 99.1 points per game. Prior to being upset by the Wizards, they had won five straight, and allowed less than 100 points in four of those five wins. These teams have actually gone over in seven of the last 10 meetings, but that stat is a little misleading. Seven of those 10 games saw a total below 200, and not one of those 10 games saw a number as high as tonight's total. Only twice in the last 10 meetings did they score enough points to reach this inflated total. The Hawks have failed to reach the total in eight of their last 10 when playing on one day's rest, and four straight when coming off a loss. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Grizzlies are coming off back to back wins over the Clippers and Suns, and they play their second game in as many nights here at the Staples Center tonight. Much like last night's game, they face a struggling team that actually benefits more with every loss, as it improves their draft position. The Lakers have lost four straight home games, scoring an average of just 96 points during that span. They've been trending toward the under, failing to reach the total in eight of their last 10 overall. Memphis is still one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, and they need to be in order to compensate for their offense that ranks 24th in the league averaging just 99.2 points per game. These two teams have a history of playing low scoring games, with five of the last six meetings in LA. The is under 19-7 in Lakers last 26 home games, and 12-3-1 in the Lakers last 16 games following an ATS loss.

 Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Bucks lost 94-85 at home to Utah last night, and they'll be hard pressed to earn a better result on the road in the second leg of a back to back. They struggle to score at the best of times, as one of just a handful of teams that average less than 100 points per game. The total for tonight's game looks a little inflated, as the two teams haven't scored a combined 200 points in any of the last seven head to head meetings. The Pistons are on a roll, coming into tonight's game off back to back home wins. They rank among the top defensive teams in the Eastern Conference, allowing opponents to average just over 100 points per game. The Bucks have failed to reach the total in eight of their last 11 road games against teams with a winning record. The Bucks average just 5.4 made three-pointers per game, only Minnesota is worse with 5.2 per game. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Jazz are back on track, coming into tonight's game versus the Bucks in Milwaukee as winners of four of their last five. They've played stellar defense, allowing an average of 87.6 points per game during that span. The Jazz own the league's 2nd ranked defense, allowing an average of 96.7 points per game. They face a Milwaukee team that averages under 100 points per game, ranking 23rd in the NBA in scoring. The Bucks are much better defensively than they are on offense, and they have failed to reach the total in four of their last five home games. Utah's leading scorer Gordon Hayward has missed two of the last three games with plantar fasciitis. He played 37 minutes against the Bulls last night, scoring just nine points on 4-of-13 shooting. These teams have failed to reach the total in six of the last nine head to head meetings, and the Bucks lost 84-81 at Salt Lake City in the most recent meeting.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

his is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Spurs are the NBA's best defensive team, holding opponents to an average of just 92.5 points per game. They are still undefeated at home, and they host the League's top team in a marquee matchup on Saturday night. This is a revenge spot for the Spurs, who lost 120-90 at Golden State earlier this year. Note that even that high scoreline wasn't enough to reach the total for tonight's game. In fact, not one of the last 10 meetings between the two teams has seen enough points to reach this inflated number

The Warriors are gunning for a record, but this might be one game that they are willing to concede. If things get out of hand early, I think it would be wise for Steve Kerr to rest his starters here in the second game of a back-to-back. If the roles were reversed, you can bet that's would Greg Popovich would do.

The under is s 9-3 in Spurs last 12 overall, and four of the Warriors last five visits to San Antonio have failed to reach the total. The Warriors have failed to reach the total in five straight versus teams with a winning record.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Jazz are back on track, coming into tonight's home game versus Phoenix off three consecutive wins. They've played stellar defense, allowing an average of 92 points per game during that span. The Jazz own the league's 2nd ranked defense, allowing an average of 97 points per game.

The Suns aren't exactly a prolific scoring team, ranking 22nd in the NBA in scoring. Three of the last four meetings between these two teams have failed to reach the total, and the under is 15-6 in the last 21 meetings. The Jazz may need to be even better defensively tonight, missing their leading scorer Gordon Hayward. The under is 27-13-1 in Jazz last 41 home games versus teams with a losing road record.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schue

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

I bet on last night's Jazz game to go over in Sacramento, and here is what I had to say prior to tip off:

"Because the Jazz are one of the top defensive teams in the NBA, we often see the bookmakers adjust with a lower number, even in games against teams like Sacramento that tend to play a lot of high scoring games. I don't think they have paid enough attention to Utah's home/away splits though, as clearly their road record of 10-22 would indicate that their defense isn't that strong away from Salt Lake City."

The Jazz return home to play their second game of a back to back against the surging Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs have won six of their last seven overall, scoring an average of 114 points in those victories. They've won five of their last six versus the Jazz, and they've scored an average of 108 points in those five wins.

These two teams have gone over the total in eight of the last 10 overall meetings, and eight of the last 10 at Salt Lake City.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

Because the Jazz are one of the top defensive teams in the NBA, we often see the bookmakers adjust with a lower number, even in games against teams like Sacramento that tend to play a lot of high scoring games. I don't think they have paid enough attention to Utah's home/away splits though, as clearly their road record of 10-22 would indicate that their defense isn't that strong away from Salt Lake City.

They catch the Kings in a slump, coming in as losers of eight of their last nine overall. During that span they played a tough schedule though, facing the Spurs twice, the Thunder, Grizzlies, Cavs, Clippers and Pelicans in New Orleans. Even in those losses they still averaged well over 100 points per game. Defense is the problem for Sacramento, ranking dead last in the NBA allowing opponents to average almost 110 points per game.

The Jazz have lost seven of their last eight road games, and they allowed opponents to average well over 100 points in those games. The over is 4-0 in the last four meetings between the two teams, and 5-1 in the last six meetings in Sacramento.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total. 

 The Warriors are by far the highest scoring team in the NBA, averaging over 115 points per game. They've scored significantly more points at home, while remaining undefeated at 27-0. They scored 119 points in a win over Orlando in their last game, and have averaged 117.6 points in their last five at Oracle Arena. They host the Jazz tonight, and Utah has lost six of it's last seven on the road. The Jazz will be playing a quick turnaround in a back to back after a home loss to the Hawks last night, a tough spot to face Steph Curry and The Warriors. Curry dropped 41 points (seven three-pointers) in the win over Orlando. These two teams have gone over in four of the last five meetings, and the Jazz have gone over in nine of their last 11 road games against teams with a winning record. The Warriors have gone over in six of their last eight when playing on one day's rest.  Take OVER.  GL,  Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Spurs are by far the best defensive team in the NBA, and they host a Detroit Pistons team tonight that is quite content to play a defensive style. The Pistons have held their last five opponents to an average of just 95 points. They've failed to reach the total in six of their last eight overall, and four of their last five road games.

The Spurs are 28-0 at home, and they've been dominant defensively in the majority of those games. They tend to step up the defensive intensity against better teams, failing to reach the total in eight of their last 10 against teams with a winning record. They have just come back from a long road trip, and the under is 16-7-1 in their last 24 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

The Utah Jazz are a prime example of a Jekyll and Hyde team, playing great defense at home, but really struggling on the road. They've lost six of their last eight overall, and four straight on the road. They have not been a good bet in previous meetings with the Raptors, failing to cover in five straight versus Toronto.

The Raptors scored an average of 106.4 points in those games, and they averaged 113 points in their home games during that span. The Jazz have surrendered 100 points or more in each of their last five road games. The Raptors have won 11 straight at home, covering the spread in eight of those games. Six of the last eight in this series have gone over the number.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Washington Wizards have won five of seven since the All Star break, much because of an improved defense. They've held their opponents to fewer than 100 points in each of the wins in that span, and odds are we'll see a low-scoring contest when they host the woeful Philadelphia 76ers Monday night. 

Philly has lost eight straight since a 103-98 win against the Nets on Feb. 6. It lost 130-116 at Orlando yesterday when it scored a season high while shooting 53.2% from the field. We're unlikely to see as many points tonight though as the the under is 4-1 in its last five games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points and meetings with the Wizards generally have been low-scoring affairs.

The Wizards defeated the 76ers 106-94 on Feb. 5 and 103-94 last Friday. Six of the last eight meetings in this series have stayed under the total with both teams playing on a back-to-back we're unlikely to see either team looking to drive up the tempo.

The Wizards defeated a Cleveland team without the rested Lebron James 113-99 last night, allowing the talented Cavaliers to shoot just 40.0% from the field. The 76ers are the league's lowest-scoring team at 96.2 points per game and should pose little offensive threat. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

Only the San Antonio Spurs have allowed fewer points than Miami. The Heat's 2nd ranked defense has allowed just 96.9 points per game, and they come into New York without their leading scorer. These two teams have failed to reach the total in seven of the last 10 meetings, and tonight's total is far higher than it was in any of those contests. The Knicks are hardly an offensive powerhouse, ranking 23rd in the NBA in scoring averaging just 99.4 points per game. The Knicks have gone under in 11 of their last 12 home meetings with Miami, and six of their last eight home games overall. The Heat have gone under in eight of their last 11 against teams with a losing record, and nine of their last 13 versus Eastern Conference teams. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

After averaging 113 points while winning two of three games, the Jazz managed just 78 points in a home loss to the Spurs Thursday. They host the lowly Brooklyn Nets tonight, and I expect a low scoring affair against a Nets team that averages just 97 points per game. Brooklyn has lost three straight versus the Jazz, scoring an average of just 82 points in those games. Two of those games went under the total, and the other was a 108-86 Utah win, which still didn't see enough points to reach tonight's total. 

Utah is far better defensively at home, and they are particularly tough when coming off a double digit home loss. They've gone under in eight straight when coming off such a one-sided defeat. The Jazz have gone under the total in 22 of their last 32 versus the Eastern Conference, and nine of their last 12 versus teams with a winning percentage less than .400. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Wizards have been playing a little better defensively lately, holding four of five opponents under 100 points before their loss at Chicago on Wednesday. They've had little trouble shutting down the Sixers, holding Philly to an average of just 88 points in the last five meetings in this series. The most recent meeting was a 106-94 home win just a few weeks ago.

The Under is 13-5 in Wizards last 18 games playing on 1 days rest, and the total for tonight's game looks particularly high when you consider how poor the Sixers are offensively. Philly ranks dead last in the league averaging just over 95 points per game. They scored just 91 points on 39.8 percent shooting in a loss to Detroit in their last game.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Jazz won seven of eight heading into the All Star break, and they allowed opponents to average just 91 points per game during that span. The Jazz are one of the league's top defensive teams, while the Wizards are one of the worst. That being said, they haven't had much trouble playing defense in recent meetings with Utah. Five of the last six meetings between these two teams have failed to reach the total, and six of Utah's last seven trips to Washington have gone under the total. 

The Jazz have played most of the season shorthanded, without center Rudy Gobert and the 23 year old has 37 rebounds and seven blocks in his last three games. Derrick Favors has also missed time, but he's scored 29 points in a 100-96 loss to New Orleans in the final game before the break. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total. 

I took a bit of a bad beat least night when the Jazz tied the game with a buzzer beater and went on to win in overtime in Dallas. Here is what I said prior to the game: "The Utah Jazz come into Dallas riding a six game win streak, but five of those six wins came at home. The exception was a 98-89 win at Phoenix on Saturday. The Jazz are dominant on defense, ranking second in the NBA allowing just 95.9 points per game. They aren’t nearly as successful on the road though, where they have an 8-15 record. Even Saturday’s win over the Suns saw a total of 187 points, enough to go over the number here tonight. The Jazz are a woeful 3-8 ATS in their last 11 road games, and they’ve allowed 99.7 points per game in their last seven on the road."

The Pelicans on the other hand have played quite well at home lately, and the total has gone over in each of their last four home games against the Jazz. Seven of the last nine meetings between these teams have gone over, and the Pelicans have gone over in 20 of their last 28 home games. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule.

This is a Free #NBA play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

The Utah Jazz come into Dallas riding a six game win streak, but five of those six wins came at home. The exception was a 98-89 win at Phoenix on Saturday. The Jazz are dominant on defense, ranking second in the NBA allowing just 95.9 points per game. They aren't nearly as successful on the road though, where they have an 8-15 record. Even Saturday's win over the Suns saw a total of 187 points, enough to go over the number here tonight. 

The bookmakers may have over adjusted here, as this line has dropped from 190 all the way down to 183. The Mavericks have won six straight home games against Utah, scoring 100+ points in five of those games. The Jazz are a woeful 3-8 ATS in their last 11 road games, and they've allowed 99.7 points per game in their last seven on the road. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go over the total. 

The Cavs have lost back to back games to Boston and Charlotte, and they host New Orleans on Saturday night. The Pelicans are coming off three straight losses, and they are are a significant underdog tonight. New Orleans failed to reach the total in their last game, but each of their previous nine games had gone over. Cleveland’s first game in the Tyronn Lue era was nothing short of a disaster, losing by double digits at home to the Bulls. After the game Lue questioned his team’s conditioning: “I think we have to play faster,” Lue told the team’s official website. “I think we have to utilize Kyrie and LeBron’s one-on-one ability in transition to open the floor more and run in more drags. We just haven’t been accustomed to playing that way …” They went on to score 110+ points in five straight games, and I think they'll have no problem scoring on an inferior opponent tonight. 

Take OVER.

GL 

Jesse Schule

This is a Free #NBA play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Spurs are still the top defensive team in the NBA, allowing opponents to average just over 90 points per game. They've been involved in plenty of high scoring games lately, but I am expecting a more defensive battle in Texas tonight. These state rivals have failed to reach the total in each of the last six meetings, and the Mavs have failed to reach the total in four of their last five home games. 

Dallas has really struggled offensively, failing to score 100 points in four straight. Their last game was a 93-90 home loss to Miami, and they shot just 39.1 percent in that defeat. With their top two point guards battling injury, they are likely to struggle tonight against the Spurs. The under is 20-7-1 in Mavericks last 28 games playing on 1 days rest. 

Dirk Nowitzki scored just four points on 2-of-10 shooting in his last game against San Antonio. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Knicks are coming off a loss at Detroit last night, and they really got off to a horrible start, scoring just 36 first half points. They've now lost seven of their last eight overall, and they failed to score 100 points in five of those games. They will play their second game in as many nights at home against Memphis, and the Grizzlies are coming in as winners of eight of their last nine overall. 

Memphis is scoring just 97.7 points per game this season, ranking 25th in the NBA. They are ranked 6th defensively though, surrendering just 99 points per game. The Grizzlies have won four straight against the Knicks, and seven of the last eight. Five of those eight games went over the total, but the number for tonight's game is far higher than it was in any of those previous eight. The Grizzlies have covered the spread in six straight against Eastern Conference teams, and they've failed to reach the total in nine straight when coming off three or more days of rest. Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Philadelphia 76ers have dropped four of their last five and the Washington Wizards have managed only one win over their last six. Odds are we'll see a low-scoring encounter when the two struggling teams match up at Verizon Center Friday night. 

Five of the last seven meetings in Washington have gone under the total and the 76ers were held to 87.0 points through four meetings overall last season. They've struggled on the ball all season and managed just 86 points in a home loss to the Hawks Wednesday. 

The Wizards are off a real high-scoring affair as they fell 134-121 to the Warriors two days ago. The under is interestingly enough 8-1-1 in their last 10 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game though and 10-4 in their last 14 at home.

John Wall scored a season-high 41 points against Golden State, but Philly managed to contain him pretty well last season holding the point guard to only 15.0 points per game. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Knicks head into Detroit coming off back to back losses, and they've won just one of their last seven overall. During that span they've failed to score 100 points in five of the seven games. Both these teams rank better on the defensive side of the ball than they do on offense, and I think tonight's total looks a little inflated. Four of the last five meetings between these two teams has gone over, but the total in each of those games was significantly lower than tonight's number. The total has gone under in six of New York's last eight trips to Detroit. The Knicks have failed to reach the total in each of their last four games, and they shot just 37.8 percent from the field in a 97-89 loss to Boston their last time out. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Nuggets have been quite competitive recently, winning six of their last 12 overall. During that span they've only suffered one double digit loss, and they've covered the spread in five of their last six road games. They haven't had a lot of success against the Jazz in recent seasons, losing four of the last five in this series, with the total going under in four of five as well. Denver is getting a bigger cushion in tonight's game than in any of those previous five, and they could be catching Utah at a good time. 

The Jazz have won three straight, and could be due for a let down after knocking off Chicago by a score of 105-96. Utah owns the league's 4th best defense, holding opponents to just 96.7 points per game. They rank among the worst in the NBA in scoring though, averaging just 97.9 points per game. Six of the last seven meetings between these two teams have failed to reach the total, and I expect a tight, low scoring affair here tonight. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total. 

The Heat have won four straight, and they've averaged over 100 points per game during that span. They will have their work cut out for them when they visit Houston tonight, facing a hungry Rockets team that has lost three straight. The Rockets score plenty of points, but they are one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA, allowing opponents to score an average of 106.6 points per game. They have a history of of playing well against Miami, especially at home. Houston is 5-2 ATS in it's last seven versus the Heat, and it's covered the spread in six of it's last eight at home versus Miami. Dwight Howard won't have to contend with Hassan Whiteside, as Miami's leading rebounder is sidelined by a back injury. Miami has a losing record on the road, and is 7-17 ATS in it's last 24 road games versus a team with a winning home record.  They've gone over the total in four of their last five visits to Houston

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Jazz will host the Chicago Bulls in Salt Lake City tonight, and I expect to see another defensive battle. Each of Utah's last four games have gone under the total, and here is what I said prior to their last game against Minnesota: 

"The Jazz will host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, coming off a dominant 102-73 win over Charlotte. They held the Hornets to 31 points in the first half, and Charlotte shot just 36.8 percent from the field. The Jazz have allowed opponent's to average just 84.6 points while winning two of their last three games. They own the league's 5th ranked defense, allowing opponents to average just 96.8 points per game for the season. They've been even better with a healthy Rudy Gobert, and the 7"1 center ranks among the league leaders averaging 2.6 blocks per game. Three of the last four meetings between these two teams have seen 190 points or less, and the one exception was a 106-14 overtime win for Minnesota. The under 5-1-1 in Jazz last seven home games, and tonight's total is higher than it was the last three times these teams met."

With Chicago playing on back to back nights, the Bulls might have a tough time solving this Jazz defense. These teams have gone under in each of the last six head to head meetings. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total. 

The Orlando Magic and the Boston Celtics will take each other on for the back end of a home-and-home series Sunday night. 

The surging Celtics are riding a five-game winning streak and defeated Orlando 113-94 home at Boston Friday. They've averaged 113.0 points per game in that span and reached triple digits in each of their last 11 contests. The Magic have lost eight consecutive games while surrendering an average of 112.0 points per game in their last four. 

The Magic are far more effective on offense home at Amway Center than on the road, averaging close to 2.5 points more per contest in front of the home town crowd than their overall season average. Orlando's Tobias Harris was held to 10 points Friday but he is averaging 19.0 points in his last five home matchups against the Celtics. 

The over is 4-0 in Orlando's last four overall and 4-0 in Boston's last four when visiting a team with a winning home record.

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Spurs own the NBA's best defense, allowing opponents to average just 90 points per game. They've won 14 of their last 15 overall, including a 99-95 win over the Cavs. Cleveland owns the best defense in the Eastern Conference, so it seems reasonable to expect a low scoring game here between these two powerhouse teams. The Cavs have been focused on playing a different style under new head coach Tyronn Lue, and they've played some high scoring games as a result. This will be Cleveland's second game of a back to back though, and Lue has recently acknowledged that his team is in terrible shape: "I just don't think we're in good enough shape right now to play in the style that we want to play," he said. These teams have faced each other three times over the last two seasons, and two of those games failed to reach the total. The exception was a game that the Cavs won at home in overtime. The Cavs have failed to reach the total in five of their last six when playing on no rest. 

Take UNDER. GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

Only three teams in the NBA have more home wins than the Grizzlies, and the Cleveland Cavaliers aren't one of them. That's right, the Grizzlies are money at home, but they still get no respect from bookmakers. Even though they have covered the spread in 10 of their last 12 home games, they are just a slight favorite at home to the Kings on Saturday. The Kings are 8-14 on the road, and they've lost nine of their last 10 against the Grizzlies, and they scored an average of just 92 points per game in those losses. Eight of those 10 games went under the total, and tonight's number is higher than it was in any of those 10 contests.

They've lost four straight at Memphis, and they've failed to score more than 90 points in seven of their last 10 games against the Grizzlies. The Kings come in as losers of three straight, and another road loss looms large here in Memphis. Rudy Gay has missed the last two games with an eye injury, and he's likely to sit out again tonight. The Grizzlies have won six of their last seven overall, and five straight at home. They've gone under in six straight against teams with a sub .500 record. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Raptors will host the Pistons on Saturday, and Detroit was roughed up at home by Cleveland last night. Toronto has won a record 10 straight, and they are favored to extend that streak at home tonight. One of the reason's for the Raptors success is their defense, ranking 4th in the NBA allowing opponents to average just 96.5 points per game. They've held opponents to an average of just 89 points while going under in each of their last four games. The Pistons are also above average defensively, and we should see a gritty hard fought battle between two Eastern Conference rivals. The Pistons have lost five straight when playing on the road in the second game of a back to back, and tonight's game looks like a particularly tough spot. I expect Toronto to grind out a win in a low scoring affair. 

Take UNDER .

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Jazz will host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, coming off a dominant 102-73 win over Charlotte. They held the Hornets to 31 points in the first half, and Charlotte shot just 36.8 percent from the field. The Jazz have allowed opponent's to average just 84.6 points while winning two of their last three games. They own the league's 5th ranked defense, allowing opponents to average just 96.8 points per game for the season. They've been even better with a healthy Rudy Gobert, and the 7"1 center ranks among the league leaders averaging 2.6 blocks per game. Three of the last four meetings between these two teams have seen 190 points or less, and the one exception was a 106-14 overtime win for Minnesota. The under 5-1-1 in Jazz last seven home games, and tonight's total is higher than it was the last three times these teams met. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Milwaukee Bucks ended a two-game skid with a 107-100 win against the Magic two days ago. They'll visit the Memphis Grizzlies Thursday night in what should shape up to be a low-scoring contest. 

Five of the Bucks last six away from home have failed to go over the total and they're averaging two points fewer per game on the road than home in Milwaukee. They'll be put to the test here by a Grizzlies side that has been very efficient on defense in recent games. 

Good news for the Bucks is that Jason Kidd is back on the bench again as he's now recovered since undergoing hip surgery. He led the team for the first time in 17 games Tuesday when the Bucks held Orlando to 41.3% shooting from the field in a 107-100 win. 

Eight of the last nine meetings in the series have gone under the total.

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER.

The Toronto Raptors are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, coming off eight straight wins. They host a Washington team tonight that has lost three of four at home. So should we chalk up an easy win for the Dinosaurs? I wouldn't be so quick to lay a bunch of points with a complacent home favorite facing a division rival. There's been plenty of bad blood between these two teams in recent years, and while Toronto has won all three meetings this season, the Wizards are 7-1 ATS in the last eight, and they've covered the spread in four straight at Toronto.

Neither team has managed to score 100 points in any of the previous three games this season, and eight of the last 10 meetings north of the border have come short of the total. The Raptors won their last home game against Washington by a score of 94-91, and Bradley Beal sat out that game with an injury. Beal is questionable to play tonight, after leaving last night's game due to suffering a blow to the head. He just returned after being sidelined for 16 games. The Wizards were 8-8 during that 16 game span.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Golden State Warriors get all the headlines, but the Spurs aren't far behind. The Spurs are just two games back in the standings heading into tonight's showdown in Oakland. We'll see if the league's highest scoring team can light up the scoreboard against the NBA's best defense. 

The Spurs took two of three meetings last year, and one of those wins came at Oracle Arena. Four of the last five meetings between these two teams have fallen short of the total, and the Spurs are 5-1 ATS in their last six versus Golden State. 

San Antonio comes in as winners of 13 straight, and they've held opponents under 100 points in nine straight. The Spurs are allowing an NBA low 89.8 points per game. The last time these two teams met, the Warriors were held to just 92 points on 42.9 percent shooting in a 107-92 loss. 

The Spurs have really locked it down when facing top tier opposition, as evidenced by their 99-85 win over the Cavs. The Warriors also played a tight game against the Cavs at home on Christmas Day, winning 89-83. Chances are, this will be yet another tight, low scoring affair.

Take UNDER

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a Free #NBA play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

The Cavs are the top team in the Eastern Conference, and under David Blatt they had one of the NBA’s best defenses. Blatt was 83-40 overall during his tenure in Cleveland, and still he was given his marching orders. LeBron denies having anything to do with the decision, but a source close to Cavs has said: “Ty wanted the job from the beginning, and LeBron wanted him to have it,’’ “There was a division within the players, but J.R. [Smith], [Iman] Shumpert, even [Kevin] Love sided with LeBron. Kyrie [Irving] was supportive of Dave, but there were a group the last two weeks trying to get him fired.’’

Cleveland’s first game in the Tyronn Lue era was nothing short of a disaster, losing by double digits at home to the Bulls. After the game Lue questioned his team’s conditioning: “I think we have to play faster,” Lue told the team’s official website. “I think we have to utilize Kyrie and LeBron’s one-on-one ability in transition to open the floor more and run in more drags. We just haven’t been accustomed to playing that way …”

They shouldn’t have any trouble picking up the pace against Minnesota, a team that is among the league’s worst defensively. The Wolves have allowed over 100 points in six of their last seven overall. These teams have scored plenty of points in recent meetings, with three of the last four going over the total. Only one of those games was played in Cleveland, and the Cavs that contest by a score of 125-104. They scored an average of 113 points in those games. The over is 6-1-1 in Timberwolves last 8 road games.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total. 

The Cavs are sitting in first place in the Eastern Conference, but seemingly out of nowhere they've fired head coach David Blatt. They have named Tyronn Lue as the interim coach, and he'll take over when the Cavs host Chicago as a double digit favorite on Saturday. 

The news has sent shockwaves throughout the league, and not everyone is happy to hear it: "I'm embarrassed for our league that something like this can happen like this," Rick Carlisle said. "It's just bizarre. ... It just leaves you with a bit of an empty feeling, because Blatt's a great guy, and he did a great job there."

Ironically, the writing was on the wall since last year's playoffs, and perhaps Blatt's lowest point came in a win over the Bulls in Game 4 of the East Semifinals versus the Bulls. LeBron hit the game winner at the buzzer, and then later told the media that he completely ignored Blatt's designed play for the final possession: "I was supposed to take the ball out," James said. "I told Coach there was no way I'm taking the ball out unless I could shoot it over the backboard and go in. So I told him, 'Have somebody else take the ball out.' The play that was drawn up, I scratched it. I just told Coach, 'Just give me the ball. We're either going to go into overtime or I'm going to win it for us.'"

There's no doubt who calls the shots in Cleveland, and it isn't Tyronn Lue. Under David Blatt the Cavs showed plenty of discipline, with the best scoring defense in the Eastern Conference. We could see a change of philosophy under Lue, with more emphasis on the offense. 

The Cavs offense was well below average in 2015, but they've been one of the league's highest scoring teams since January 1st. It's no coincidence that Kyrie Irving returned on January 2nd. 

The Bulls have gone over in each of their last six road games, and I expect to see plenty of scoring in Cleveland tonight. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Cavs came up just short in an 89-83 loss at Golden State on Christmas Day, and I bet the under in that game. Here is what I said before tip off: 

"The Warriors look unstoppable, coming into this Christmas Day game against Cleveland with a 27-1 record. They lead the NBA in scoring, averaging over 115 points per game. Of course this is a rematch of last year's NBA Finals, and we saw some close hard fought games in that series, with four of the six games falling short of the total. Even the two games that did go over, didn't see enough points to reach the inflated total we see in this game, even with overtime in Games 1 and 2. 

As good as the Warriors look on offense, Cleveland has been locking it down on defense. The Cavs rank third in the NBA allowing opponents to average just 95.2 points per game. They've won six straight, and have surrendered just 87 points per game during that span. They've gone under in seven of their last 10, and only one of those games saw enough points to go over this game's total"

Cleveland is coming off a 91-77 win at Houston on Friday, and it lost by a score of 99-95 at San Antonio on Thursday. The Cavs have failed to reach the total in six of their last eight versus Western Conference teams, and the number in tonight's game looks a little inflated. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10 play on [email protected] to go OVER the total. 

 This looks like a let down spot for the Cavs, who saw their eight game winning streak snapped last night in San Antonio. Last night's game was a low scoring affair, but I don't expect to see Cleveland play with the same defensive intensity here in their second game of a back to back, against a Houston team that likes to run. Since the return of Kyrie Irving, the Cavs have been scoring a ton of points. During their eight game win streak, they averaged 109 points per game. They should get their fair share of points tonight, as Houston is one of the league's worst defensive teams. Previous meetings between the two teams have trended over, with six of the last nine meetings exceeding the total. The Rockets have also gone over in each of their last five home games.  Take OVER.  GL,  Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Jazz are coming off another road loss at Portland last night, falling to just 6-13 away from home. They are back in Utah tonight though, hosting the struggling Sacramento Kings. The Kings are coming off back to back home losses to Golden State and New Orleans, and they are just 5-12 on the road. They've lost three straight visits to Salt Lake City, and they've failed to score 100 points in all three of those games. Don't expect them to score 100 points while playing their second game in as many nights here against a Jazz team that ranks 5th in the league in points allowed. They should be even better defensively with Rudy Gobert back in the lineup. He's made an immediate impact, with 10 blocks in his last three games. The Jazz have won four straight at home, and they've gone under in four of their last five in Utah. The Jazz have failed to reach the total in 22 of their last 30 home games versus teams with a losing record. They should be able to shut down the Kings tonight.  Take UNDER.  GL,  Jesse Schule 

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The San Antonio Spurs are the league's top defensive team, with an opponent's scoring average of just 89.7 points per game. They will host the league's second best defensive team tonight, and Cleveland is coming in riding an eight game winning streak. You can bet both these teams are going to bring their A-game tonight, and I expect to see a gritty game with both teams playing tough defense. 

The last time we saw Cleveland play such a high profile game was on Christmas Day, when they lost at Golden State by a score of 89-83. I bet the under in that game, for my NBA Total of the Year. I expect to see a similar pace here in a game that should have a "playoff" atmosphere. 

The Cavs have gone under in eight of their last 11 road games, and they've failed to reach the total in six of their last seven versus teams with a winning record. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total 

The Bulls are coming off a home loss to Washington, and they will play their second game of this back to back in Milwaukee. The Bucks are one of the worst teams in the league, but they have been pretty competitive at home, with a record of 10-7. Their last home game was a 96-95 win over Dallas, and I think we'll see another low scoring game here against the Bulls. These teams have a history of playing low scoring games, with seven of the last 10 failing to reach the total. The number here in tonight's game is higher than it was in any of those previous contests. Five of the last six meetings in Milwaukee have gone under the total. Former defensive Player of the Year returned from a nine game absence last night, and he was 0-for-7 failing to score a single point. He did pull in nine rebounds in just 19 minutes though. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Spurs are coming into Detroit as winners of eight straight, and during that time they have allowed opponents to average just 92.1 points per game. San Antonio ranks first in the NBA in points allowed, holding opponents to just 89.4 points this season. The Pistons have also locked it down defensively in recent games, holding opponents to an average of just 90.4 points over their last seven games. They've won four of their last five outright, and they are 20-5-1 ATS in their last 26 home games. This will be the second game in as many nights for San Antonio, and we all know that coach Popovich is known to rest players in such situations. The Spurs have failed to reach the total in 13 of their last 19 when playing on no rest. The total here looks a little too high all things considered. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Utah Jazz are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, in fact prior to the injury to Rudy Gobert, they lead the league in opponent's scoring average. Rudy is back, and he had four blocked shots while playing 28 minutes last night in a 98-83 win over the Heat. The Lakers have played pretty well lately, but have still lost three straight. LA is averaging just 97.3 points per game, ranking 25th in the NBA. The last time the Jazz played at the Staples Center, they beat the Lakers 80-73. The under is 14-6 in Lakers last 20 games playing on 1 days rest. The under is 10-4 in Jazz last 14 road games versus a team with a losing home record.

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Grizzlies will host Boston tonight, and Memphis has really turned up the heat defensively. The Grizz are 4-2 in their last six overall, and they allowed an average of just 87 points in those victories. They are coming off a 91-84 win over the Nuggets, and they are now 12-6 at home this season. The Celtics come in off back to back losses, and they've dropped four of their last five overall. They shot just over 35 percent from the field in their last game, a 101-92 loss at Chicago. Boston will try to snap out of an offensive slump here in Memphis, which isn't an ideal spot to do so. The Grizz are only allowing opponents to average 98.6 points per game, ranking 7th in the league. They've covered the spread in five straight at home, and the under is 35-15-1 in their last 51 home games. I like the home team to grind out a win in a low scoring battle tonight. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Raptors are locking it down on defense lately, coming off a pair of impressive road wins. They allowed an average of 81 points in wins over Washington and Brooklyn. They face the league's worst offensive team tonight in Philly, and we should expect points to be hard to come by for the home team. The Sixers have managed to to win two of their last six, which is actually pretty food for them. They failed to score 100 points in all four of those losses though, and they are unlikely to avoid another defeat here against the Raptors. Toronto has failed to reach the total in four straight road games versus teams with a losing record. The total for tonight's game is higher than it was in the last four meetings between these two teams, and I'm not convinced that Philly can score enough points to reach this inflated number. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers are winners of five straight and they've averaged 121.5 over their last two games. Lebron James scored 34 points in a 121-115 win against Washington Wednesday and Kyrie Irving was not far behind with a season-high 32 points on 14-of-22 shooting. Cleveland is third best in the league in three points made with 10.1 per game and should be able to take advantage of a Minnesota team that is allowing 8.7 three point shots per game on average. The Minnesota Timberwolves are off an extremely low-scoring affair when they lost 78-74 to the Nuggets two days ago, but Cleveland has hardly impressed on defense of late giving up an average of 107.5 points in its last two games. The Cavs have seem more intent on outscoring opponents lately rather than beating them with a solid defense, and that's a gameplan they're more than likely to take into this contest as well.   

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total. 

The Grizzlies have played well defensively lately, but they face a tough test on the road at Oklahoma City tonight. The Thunder have scored an average of more than 115 points while winning four of their last five. These teams have faced each other twice already this season, and both of those games went way over the total. The most recent meeting was a 125-88 Oklahoma City victory at Memphis. They've gone over in 17 of the last 25 meetings in Oklahoma City. The Thunder have not looked all that impressive on defense lately, surrendering more than 100 points in six of their last seven overall, and losing their last game 116-104 at home to Sacramento. The total in tonight's game is significantly lower than it has been in the Thunder's previous 10 games. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Cavs are rolling, coming into Washington as winners of four straight. During that span they've held opponents to an average of 90.75 points per game during that span. That's not much of a surprise considering that Cleveland is ranked 3rd overall in the NBA with an opponent's scoring average of just 94.7 points per game. Washington hasn't been very good defensively this season, but it's shown some signs of improvement in recent games. The Wizards have held the opposition to fewer than 100 points in three straight games, but have just one win to show for it. These teams have a history of playing low scoring games, with 12 of the last 16 meetings failing to reach the total. The Wizards have also gone under in each of their last five home games. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total. 

The Grizzlies lost at Utah on Saturday by a score of 92-87, and they are on the road at Portland tonight. The bookmakers are expecting another low scoring game here tonight, but I don't think the Blazers are going to be able to match the defensive intensity that the Grizzlies faced in Utah. The total for this game is incredibly low, perhaps due to the fact that the Grizz carry a reputation from past seasons. They continue to cash in at a high rate for under bettors, but a close examination of this number reveals that the bookmakers may be overcompensating. The under in 6-4-1 in the Grizzlies last 11 overall, but not one of those games saw a total listed below 190. Two of those “unders” saw more than 190 points scored. The Blazers have gone over in five of their last six when playing on back to back nights, and four of their last five versus Memphis.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a  10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total. 

The Toronto Raptors took a 12-point lead to the locker room at halftime in their home game versus Chicago on Sunday, but the Bulls rallied, scoring 67 second half points to come back and win 115-113. Toronto will be on the road tonight in Cleveland, and I think the total for this game looks a little low. The Raptors were one of the best defensive teams in the league early on in the season, but since the injury to DeMarre Carroll, the defense has suffered. Four of the last six meetings between these teams have gone over the total, and tonight's total is lower than it was in all six of those games. In fact these teams have seen at least 192 points scored in each of the last seven meetings. The Raptors have gone over in four straight on the road, while Cleveland has gone over in eight of it's last 11 when playing on one day's rest. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

Recent head-to-head meetings between the Miami Heat and the Washington Wizards have been high-scoring affairs with six straight going over the total. Both teams seem pretty zoned in on defense at the moment though, and I don't see this game climbing over the set total. The under is 5-1 in the Wizards last six overall and they held Orlando to 5-of-20 shooting from behind the arc in a 103-91 win on New Years Day. The Heat meanwhile held Dallas to 36.4% shooting from the field in a 106-82 win on the same day, and the under is 21-9-1 in the Heat's last 31 overall. They have the second-ranked defense in the league giving up just 95.1 points per game on average, and an injury-ridden Washington team is likely to struggle to put up points on the board tonight. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Sixers came into LA as winners of two of their previous three, which is pretty huge when you consider they've won just three games total all year. They lost to the Lakers last night though, scoring just 84 points on 36.9 percent shooting. I can't see how anyone could expect them to do any better tonight, playing the Clippers in their second game in as many nights. The bookmakers seem pretty optimistic though, listing a grossly inflated total for this game. The Clippers have won five straight, and they've held opponents to an average of 97 points during that span. The Sixers are the lowest scoring team in the NBA by far, and aren't likely to contribute much offense here. The Clippers have gone under in four of their last five home games, and the under is 23-8-2 in their last 33 home games versus a team with a losing record. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a Free #NBA play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

The Grizzlies will be in Utah tonight, and this game features the NBA's top two defensive teams.. or does it? Not quite! Last year the Jazz led the league in opponent's scoring average (94.9), and Memphis was a close second (95.1). This year has been a little more challenging for both teams. The Jazz have missed Rudy Gobert, and the Grizzlies are playing a more up tempo style.

The total for this game is incredibly low, perhaps due to the fact that these teams carry a reputation from past seasons. Both teams continue to cash in at a high rate for under bettors, but a close examination of this number reveals that the bookmakers may be overcompensating. The under in 5-4-1 in the Grizzlies last 10 overall, but not one of those games saw a total listed below 190. Two of those "unders" saw more than 190 points scored. The Jazz have failed to reach the total in six of their last 10 overall, but three of those "unders" saw at least 190 points.

Take OVER.

GL,
Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.  

The Philadelphia 76ers have recorded two of their three wins this season within their last three games, and they must like their chances when travelling to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers Friday night as well.  

The Lakers ended a four-game skid with a 112-104 win at Boston Wednesday though, and this looks like it will be a low-scoring contest between two teams both eyeing their first back-to-back win this season.  

The 76ers came out ahead with a 103-91 victory when the teams met at Philadelphia on Dec. 1, and low-scoring games have been the norm in recent meetings. The Under is 4-1-1 in both the last six meetings overall and the last six meetings at Staples Center.  

Philadelphia is the worst offensive team in the league averaging just 92.5 points per game and Los Angeles the third worst at 96.8 points per game, and while neither team is particularly stingy on defense the pure lack of offensive talent should be enough to see this game stay under the total.  

Take UNDER.  

GL,  

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Phoenix Suns are coming into San Antonio as losers of five straight, and they will be a double digit dog in this contest. Their leading scorer Eric Bledsoe suffered a knee injury on the day after Christmas, and will miss the rest of the season. Scoring points won't be easy here against the Spurs, who are by far the best defensive team in the NBA, allowing opponents to average just 88 points per game. Previous meetings between these two teams have been low scoring, with each of the last five failing to reach the total. The Suns have scored an average of just 87.6 points over that span. Phoenix has also seen four of it's last five trips to San Antonio fall short of the number. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers had lost back to back games before winning in Phoenix last night by a score of 101-97. They play their second game in as many nights on the road at Denver tonight, and I think we'll see a high scoring battle. Cleveland is one of the best defensive teams in the league, but they might not be quite as motivated to lock it down here in the high altitude of Denver in the second game of a back to back. They also might not need to, as Denver ranks near the bottom of the league in opponent's scoring average, allowing 103.9 points per game. The Nuggets have lost five of their last six, allowing over 100 points in four of those five losses. Only one of the last seven meetings between these teams has gone over, but the total in each of those games was higher than 200. Tonight's number is much lower, and four of the last five meetings saw at least 200 points scored. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Warriors are the NBA's highest scoring team, averaging a whopping 114 points per game. They host the Sacramento Kings tonight, and everyone is expecting this one to be a high scoring battle. I think the bookmakers were perhaps a little too optimistic when they listed the opening total at 223. Sharp money has since pushed the number down a few points, but I think any number over 220 is just too inflated. Golden State has played back to back low scoring games against Cleveland and Utah, and they played phenomenal defense allowing an average of 84 points in those games. The Kings aren't known for their defense, but they haven't seen more than 220 points scored in any of their last nine games. The Kings have gone under in five straight on the road. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers are struggling on offense, coming off back to back losses at Golden State and Portland. They are facing another Western Conference team tonight in Phoenix, and the Suns are really struggling, losers of 15 of their last 20 overall. They've scored and average of just 96 points while losing their last four, and head coach Jeff Hornacek is rumored to be on the hot seat. Making matters worse, their leading scorer Eric Bledsoe suffered a serious knee injury in the loss to Philly on Saturday, and will be out indefinitely. Cleveland ranks third in the NBA allowing opponents to average just over 95 points per game, and they've gone under in 11 of their last 12 meetings with Phoenix. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total. 

The Raptors are coming off back to back wins over Milwaukee and Dallas, and they scored an average of 107 points in those games. Toronto actually ranks higher defensively than it does offensively, but their best defender (DeMarre Carroll) remains sidelined with an injury. The Bulls used to be one of the top defensive teams in the NBA, but that isn't the case this season. Chicago has allowed opponents to average more than 100 points per game this season, and they are missing their best defender, former Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah. These teams have gone over the total in four of the last five meetings, and the Bulls have gone over in six straight versus Eastern Conference teams.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Brooklyn Nets are 2-12 on the road, and they are in Miami to face the Heat on Monday. The Heat won back to back games on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and they have won their last seven meetings with Brooklyn. The majority of those games were low scoring, and seven of Brooklyn's last 10 visits to Miami have failed to reach the total. Miami ranks 2nd in the NBA allowing opponents to average just 94.8 points per game. The under is 7-3 in Nets last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, while Miami has gone under in 20 of it's last 28 overall. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Lakers will play their second game in as many nights on the road in Charlotte, and they will be a double-digit dog to the Hornets. Charlotte is 12-5 at home, but has failed to score 100 points in six of it's last seven overall. The Hornets rank among the best in the NBA on defense, holding opponents under 100 points per game. They've failed to reach the total in six of their last eight versus the Lakers. LA has failed to score 100 points in five of it's last six overall, and the Lakers are averaging just 96.2 points per game (29th in the NBA). The Hornets have gone under in five of their last six home games, and five straight at home versus teams with a losing record. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule