This is a 10* play on ATL@WAS 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 MEM@LAL 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 MIL@DET 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 UTAH@MIL 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 GS@SA 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 PHX@UTAH 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 CLE@UTAH 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 UTAH@SAC 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 UTAH@GS 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 DET@SA 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 UTAH@JAZZ 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 PHI@WAS 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 MIA@NYK 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 BKN@UTAH 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 WAS@PHI 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 UTAH@WAS 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 UTAH@NO 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 UTAH@DAL 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 NO@CLE 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 SA@DAL 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 MEM@NYK 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 PHI@WAS 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 NYK@DET 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 DEN@UTAH 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 MIA@HOU 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 CHI@UTAH 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 BOS@ORL 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 SA@CLE 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 MEM@SAC 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 DET@TOR 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 MIN@UTAH 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 MIL@MEM 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 WAS@TOR 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 SA@GA 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 MIN@CLE 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 CHI@CLE 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 GS@CLE 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 CLE@HOU 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 SAC@UTAH 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 CLE@SAS 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 CHI@MIL 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 SA@DET 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 UTAH@LAL 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 BOS@MEM 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 TOR@PHI 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 CLE@MIN 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 MEM@OKC 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 CLE@WAS 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 MEM@POR 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 TOR@CLE 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 MIA@WAS 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 PHI@LAC 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 MEM@UTAH 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 PHI@LAL 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 PHO@SA 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 CLE@DEN 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 SAC@GS 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 CLE@PHO 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 TOR@CHI 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 BKN@MIA 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 LAL@CHA 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

This is a 10* play on LAL@MEM to go UNDER the total. 

The Grizzlies finished last season ranked second in the NBA with an opponent's scoring average of 95.1 points per game. They haven't been quite the defensive powerhouse this season, but after a terrible start they show signs of turning it around. Memphis has held five of it's last six opponents below 100 points, however it still managed to lose four of those games. The Grizz should be able to get back on track against the Lakers, who have lost four of their last five, scoring an average of just 88 points during that span. The Lakers were scoring more than their share of points at the beginning of the year, but have since struggled, now ranking 28th in the NBA scoring just over 96 points per game. Six of the last nine meetings between the two teams have gone under, and the Grizzlies have failed to reach the total in 35 of their last 51 home games. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on CLE@POR to go UNDER the total. 

The Cavs came up short, losing 89-83 at Golden State on Christmas Day, but they will have an excellent chance to bounce back tonight in Portland. The Blazers have lost five straight, failing to score 100 points in four of those five games. The Cavs are the best defensive team in the Eastern Conference, holding opponents to just 94.9 points per game. They looked impressive last night, holding the NBA's best team, and highest scoring offense to just 89 points on 41 percent shooting. They Blazers are hoping Damian Lillard can return after missing the last two games with plantar fasciitis. These teams have a history of playing low scoring games, and they've failed to reach the total in each of the last five meetings in Portland. The Cavs have gone under in five straight on the road. All five Christmas day games went under, and it wouldn't be much of a surprise to see a slow pace here just 24 hours later. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on LAC@UTAH to go UNDER the total. 

The Utah Jazz have really missed Rudy Gobert, but they look like they've rediscovered their defensive prowess in back to back home wins over Phoenix and Denver. They allowed less than 90 points in each of those games, and they've host the Clippers tonight, with LA coming off a 94-84 win over the Lakers last night. These teams have a history of playing lose scoring games, with six of the last eight meetings failing to reach the total. The Clippers have gone under in each of their last five games when playing the second game of a back to back. The Jazz have gone under in four of their last five home games, and 11 of their last 15 versus Western Conference teams. All five Christmas day games went under, and it wouldn't be much of a surprise to see a slow pace here just 24 hours later. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TOR@MIL to go UNDER the total. 

The Raptors are in Milwaukee on Saturday, and they will be a slight favorite versus the Bucks. Toronto ranks 4th in the NBA in opponent's scoring average, allowing just 96 points per game. The Bucks rank 26th in the NBA in scoring, averaging just over 96 points per game. We've seen a trend of low scoring games in previous meetings between these two teams, as they've gone under in four straight, and six of the last eight meetings in Milwaukee. The Raptors have gone under in six of their last eight road game, while Milwaukee has failed to reach the total in four straight versus teams with a winning record. All five Christmas day games went under, and it wouldn't be much of a surprise to see a slow pace here just 24 hours later. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule 

This is a 10* play on CLE@GS to go UNDER the total. 

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. 

The Warriors also showed some defensive prowess, holding the Jazz to just 85 points in their last game. They've been a good bet to go under at home. The under is 15-7-2 in Warriors last 24 home games.

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on PHI@MIL to go UNDER the total. 

The Sixers are 0-17 on the road so far, and they a double-digit dog at Milwaukee tonight. They have lost 11 straight since beating the Lakers at the beginning of the month, and they scored less than 100 points in nine of those 11 losses. They rank dead last in the league in scoring, averaging just over 90 points per game. The total for tonight's game looks a little high, as the Bucks aren't exactly an offensive juggernaut either. Milwaukee is ranked 28th in the NBA in scoring, averaging just 96 points per game. These teams have gone under in nine of the last 13 meetings in Milwaukee, and the total for tonight's game is higher than it was in any of those previous contests. The Sixers have gone under in eight of their last 11 road games, and the Bucks have failed to reach the total in eight of their last 10 versus Eastern Conference opponents. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on MEM@PHI to go UNDER the total.

The Grizzlies are in Philly tonight, coming off a 95-87 home win over Indiana. They've been playing strong defense, holding opponents below 100 points in each of their last four games. Philly ranks dead last in the NBA in scoring, averaging just over 90 points per game. They scored just 86 points on 34.9 percent shooting in a loss at Cleveland in their most recent game. Both previous meetings between these two teams in 2015 failed to reach the total, and the number in tonight's game is higher than it was in either of those games. The Grizzlies have gone under in 13 of their last 18 road games, while Philly has gone under in eight of it's last 10 versus Western Conference teams. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on PHO@UTAH to go UNDER the total. 

The Utah Jazz put an end to a four game losing streak with a 97-88 home win over a hot Denver Nuggets team. The Jazz are one of the NBA's best defensive teams, ranking 5th in the NBA allowing 97.3 points per game. They haven't been quite as stingy since the injury to Rudy Gobert, but I like their chances tonight, hosting the struggling Phoenix suns who lost at home last night to Milwaukee 101-95. The Suns have lost 10 of 14 on the road so far, and they've failed to reach the total in seven of their last 10 at Utah. The Jazz have trended under at a rate of 21-7 in Jazz last 28 home games versus a team with a losing road record. The incredibly high total for tonight's game flies in the face of the trends, and I expect the Jazz to play their fifth consecutive under at home tonight against Phoenix. 

Take UTAH. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on CHI@NYK to go UNDER the total. 

The Knicks have won three straight, and they host the Bulls on Saturday. The Knicks have been involved in some high scoring games lately, but with both teams playing their second game in as many nights, I expect a lower scoring contest tonight. Both Chicago and New York are ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in opponent's scoring average, allowing less than 100 points per game. The Bulls have gone under in four of their last five road games, and they might not have a lot left in the tank after playing multiple overtimes last night. The total for tonight's game is far higher than it was in any of the last 10 meetings, and I think the value lies with a play on UNDER. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on MEM@DAL to go OVER the total. 

The Memphis Grizzlies will be in Dallas taking on the Mavs tonight, and I think the total for this game looks a little low. Perhaps people still think of Memphis as one of the best defensive teams in the NBA? Last year they ranked second in the league in opponent's scoring, allowing only 95.1 points per game. Things have changed since then, and they rank below average so far this year, allowing 100.9 points per contest. The Mavs were one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA last year, and have improved just slightly. The over is 8-1-1 in the last 10 meetings between the two teams, and 4-0-2 in the Grizzlies last six trips to Dallas. Tony Allen is considered by many to be the best defender in the NBA, and he hasn't played since last Friday, sitting out the last three games with a knee injury. The Mavs have gone over in six of their last seven versus teams with a winning record. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on NYK@PHI to go UNDER the total. 

The Knicks are coming off back to back wins over Portland and Minnesota, and each of those games were high scoring. I'm expecting a slower pace here on the road at Philly, as the Sixers are ranked dead last in the NBA in scoring, and New York has been pretty good defensively. These teams certainly have a history of playing low scoring games, with five of the last six failing to reach the total, and 10 of the last 11 meetings in Philadelphia going under the number. Kristaps Porzingis had seven blocks in the win over Minnesota, and the rookie they call #PorzinGOD scored 17 points with 10 rebounds and four blocks in a 99-87 home win over Philly earlier this season. I expect tonight's game to look very much like the previous matchup at the Garden. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on NO@UTAH to go UNDER the total. 

The Jazz have lost three straight, but two of those three losses came on the road. The other was a 94-90 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, but they should have an excellent chance to put an end to this skid tonight. They host the New Orleans Pelicans, a team with a 1-12 road record. The Pelicans blew a 14-point lead in a 98-94 loss to the Bulls on Friday, and the under is 7-3 in Pelicans last 10 games playing on 1 days rest. The Jazz are one of the top defensive teams in the league, holding opponents to an average of 97.4 points per game. We've seen 10 of their last 14 games versus teams below .500 fail to reach the total, and I think tonight's number is way higher than it should be. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on PHI@ATL to go UNDER the total. 

The Atlanta Hawks are struggling, coming into tonight's home game against the Sixers as losers of three straight. They've been ice cold offensively during that span, averaging just 86 points in those games. The good news is that they are facing a Philly team that is 1-25 overall, and 0-15 on the road. The Sixers are averaging an NBA low 90.6 points per game, and they might struggle to reach their average here on the road tonight. The Hawks aren't bad defensively, allowing opponents to average less than 100 points per game. They've gone under in five straight versus Philly, and eight of their last nine games versus teams below .500 have failed to reach the total. The Hawks were the top three-point shooting team in the East last year, but rank 18th overall in the NBA this year. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on DEN@MIN to go OVER the total 

The Minnesota Timberwolves will host the Denver Nuggets tonight, and Denver comes in red hot as winners of four of their last five. They beat the Rockets at home last night by a score of 114-108, and there's every reason to expect another high scoring affair in Minnesota. These are two of the worst defensive teams in the league, ranking 22nd and 24th in opponent's scoring average. The T-Pups have lost six of seven, and seven of their last eight have seen over 200 points scored. These two teams have gone over in six of the last eight meetings in Minnesota, and the Timberwolves have gone over in 10 of their last 13 versus a team with a losing record. Danilo Gallinari has been red hot, and he scored 23 points in a 111-108 win over Minnesota on Friday. We should see history repeat itself here in Minnesota tonight. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on WAS@MEM to go OVER the total. 

The Grizzlies lost a heart-breaker in Miami last night, and now they are back home playing their second game in a back to back against Washington. The Wizards are one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA, ranking 26th in the league allowing opponents to average 105.3 points per game. They won 114-111 at Dallas on Saturday, and they've seen at least 200 points scored in each of their last seven overall. The Grizzlies were one of the stingiest teams in the league last year, but they are below average so far this season, allowing 101.2 points per game. Memphis has gone over in five of it's last seven overall, and Washington has gone over at rate of 5-2-1 in it's last eight versus Western Conference teams. This total looks a little low considering. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on SAS@ATL to go OVER the total. 

The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Hawks 108-88 home in San Antonio on Nov.28 and I expect a similar total for the scoreline tonight.

The Spurs put up impressive offensive numbers in last night's 109-87 win against the Lakers as they shot 53.7% from the field despite resting Tony Parker completely and Tim Duncan logging just 20 minutes. I think it's fair to assume that the Spurs will be lively on the ball tonight as well with a fresh Parker in the starting lineup again. Backup point guard Patty Mills scored 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting in Parker's absence last night, and that's a great testament to the depth of the offensive talent the Spurs have at their disposal.

The Hawks have been inconsistent in recent weeks and allowed the Thunder to shoot 48.8% from the field and 52.9% from 3-point range in Thursday's 107-94 defeat. They're usually putting up strong offensive displays at Philips Arena though where they average 102.6 points per game this season, and that should be the case tonight as well. 

The over is 4-1 in the Spurs last five overall and 5-1 in their last six when visiting a team with a winning home record.

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on DET@PHI to go UNDER the total. 

The Sixers rank dead last in the NBA in scoring, averaging just over 90 points per game. They scored 91 points in a loss last night to one of the worst teams in the East, and they face the Pistons in their second game of a back to back at home tonight. Detroit is coming off a brutal home loss to Memphis, as the Grizzlies won by one point on a half-court buzzer-93-92 beater by a score of 93-92. The Pistons rank 5th in the NBA allowing opponents to average just 97.6 points per game. The bad news is that they rank near the bottom in scoring, averaging roughly the same. Detroit has failed to reach the total in five of it's last six road games, while the Sixers have gone under in 11 of their last 15 home games. These teams also have a history of playing low scoring games, with 11 of the last 15 meetings in Philadelphia failing to reach the total. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on PHI@BKN to go UNDER the total. 

Philly is coming off an ugly home loss to the Spurs, scoring just 68 point on 34 percent shooting. They rank dead last in the NBA in scoring, averaging just over 90 points per game. While they were completely out-classed in the loss to San Antonio, they had been very competitive in nine straight games before that. Tonight's game in Brooklyn is as good a chance as any for the Sixers to pick up a win, playing the second worst team in the Eastern Conference. These teams have a history of playing low scoring games, failing to reach the total in each of the last six head to head meetings. The Sixers have failed to reach the total in five of their last six road games, while the Nets have gone under in six straight versus teams with a losing record. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on NYK@UTAH to go UNDER the total. 

The Utah Jazz have struggled losing three of their last four, but they have an excellent opportunity to bounce back at home tonight hosting the Knicks. New York has dropped six of it's last eight overall, and three straight on the road. The Jazz are still one of the NBA's best defensive teams, ranking 3rd in the league allowing opponents to average just 96.8 points per game. The Knicks are also among the top defensive teams, holding the opposition to just over 98 points per game. Four of the last five meetings between these teams have failed to reach the total, and four of the last five in Utah have also gone under. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on SA@TOR to go OVER the total. 

The Raptors will host the Spurs in Toronto tonight, and these are two of the NBA's top defensive teams. Both teams also do their fair share of scoring though, and I think the total here looks a little too low. Both teams could be without their best defensive players, as DeMarre Carroll will not play for the Raptors, and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Kwahi Leonard is questionable for the Spurs. The Raptors are expected to give more minutes to youngster Terrence Ross, and to say that he's not known for his defense might be understating it. The Raptors have seen the total go over in four of their last five home games, and four of their last five home meetings versus San Antonio. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on DET@CHA to go UNDER the total. 

The Pistons come into Charlotte as winners of four straight, but all four of those wins came at home. Last night they beat the Lakers by a score of 111-91, but I expect them to have a tougher time on the road playing their second game in as many nights. Detroit is just 4-7 on the road this season, and they've lost their last three. They scored an average of just 86 points in those three losses. 

Both these teams rank near the top of the league in opponent's scoring average, each holding the opposition to fewer than 100 points per game. Detroit has gone under in four of it's last five on the road, and four of it's last five when playing on back to back nights. The Hornets have held opponents below 100 points in four of their last five, with the only exception being a loss to the 20-0 Warriors. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on BOS@SAC to go UNDER the total. 

The Celtics and the Kings are two teams not known to play particularly good defense, but I still think they will come up short of an inflated total tonight. This game will be played in Mexico City, in an arena that isn't going to be familiar to either team. Boston has actually been playing pretty well defensively of late, winning three of their last four, and holding opponents under 100 points in all three of those wins. The Kings have seen the total go under in seven straight games when playing on two days rest, and the Celtics have gone under in four in a row after two days off. The Kings have failed to reach the total in 10 of their last 13 when playing a team with a winning record. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on SA@MEM to go OVER the total. 

The Spurs come into Memphis as winners of 11 of their last 13, but they've lost two of their last three road games. They might have a tough time playing a hot Memphis team on the back end of a back to back. The Grizzlies have won four of their last five, and they've scored an average of over 103 points per game during that span. Memphis still has a reputation for being a strong defensive team, but the numbers don't support that. They rank 13th overall in the league allowing just under 100 points per game. These teams have a history of playing high scoring games, with the total going over the number in nine of the last 13 meetings. The number for tonight's game is lower than it was in any of those previous contests. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on BKN@CHA to go UNDER the total. 

The Charlotte Hornets host the 2-9 Nets in Charlotte tonight, and the Nets are coming off just their second win of the season. I don't like Brooklyn's chances of following up with another win here, playing on back to back nights. Charlotte is 3-1 at home so far, and three of those game failed to reach the total. The Hornets have played well defensively, allowing opponents to average just 99.5 points per game. The Nets rank 29th in the NBA averaging just 94.3 points per game, and they have trended under in six of their last seven road games. The Hornets on the other hand have trended under at a rate of 7-1 in their last eight home games. Tonight's number doesn't look right, a little too high given the trends, and the style that both these teams play. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on MIL@WAS to go OVER the total. 

The Washington Wizards will host Milwaukee tonight, and they are expected to be without Bradley Beal, who has missed the last two games. They didn't need him on Saturday when they beat the Orlando Magic 108-99. They lost their previous game by a score of 125-101 to Oklahoma City. Defense hasn't been a strong point for the Wizards this season, ranking 29th overall allowing opponents to average more than 109 points per game. The Bucks are below average defensively as well, allowing over 101 points per game so far. 

This will be the second meeting between the two teams this season, and Washington won the first game by a score of 118-113 at Milwaukee. Seven of the last nine meetings between the two teams has gone over the total, and the Over is 5-1-1 in the last 7 meetings in Washington. This Wizards team has been trending over at home at a rate of 19-7-1 in their last 27 home games.

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on IND@CHI to go UNDER the total. 

The Pacers will take on the Bulls at the United Center tonight, coming off three straight wins. I like what I have seen from Indiana during a three game winning streak, and I'll ride them while they are hot. The Bulls are asked to cover a handful of points at home tonight, and they've been far from impressive so far this season. Chicago is 3-2 in it's last five, but one of those wins was against the Sixers. 

Derrick Rose continues to struggle, still suffering from the effects of a broken orbital bone. The injury has affected his vision:"I'm playing with both of them open now," Rose said. "But [my vision] is still blurry when I look certain ways. But that's part of [the recovery], I guess." He scored just 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting in the win over Charlotte on Friday. 

The Pacers superstar forward Paul George seems to have put his injury woes behind him, averaging 30 points over his last five games. He's averaged 22.2 points in his last five visits to Chicago.

The Pacers have also impressed with their defense, ranking 5th in the NBA allowing opponents to average just over 96 points per game. These teams have a history of playing tight, low scoring games, and they have failed to reach the total in seven of the last nine meetings. Tonight's total is much higher that it was in any of those previous contests. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on CHA@CHI to go UNDER the total. 

The Bulls were embarrassed in a 130-105 loss at Charlotte last week, and they will have a chance to execute revenge at home here tonight. Chicago followed up that loss with an impressive home win over the Thunder, before losing their next game at home to Minnesota. That was their first home loss, as they had won their previous four home games, holding each opponent under 100 points. 

It would appear likely that this rematch in Chicago will be a much lower scoring games. The Hornets have failed to reach the total in nine of their last 11 road games versus a team with a winning record, and the under in 5-1 in their last six trips to the Windy City. The total for tonight's game is far higher than it was in any of those previous six games, and Chicago has gone under in each of it's last six at home. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on CLE@NYK to go OVER the total. 

The Knicks are coming off a heart-breaking loss on the road at Charlotte, as rookie Kristaps Porzingis appeared to hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer. The replay showed that the shot came just a fraction of a second after time expired, and New York lost 95-93. They are back home tonight hosting Cleveland, who have won seven straight since an Opening Night loss in Chicago. 

The Knicks played the Cavs hard last week in Cleveland, trailing by just a single point heading into the fourth quarter of a 96-86 loss. They are getting a bunch of points here as a home dog, and I think they'll give LeBron and the Cavs a run for their money. They've been a good bet in recent meetings, covering the spread in seven of the last 10. These teams have scored their share of points when playing at MSG, as the total has gone over in 11 of the last 15 meetings in New York 

Carmelo Anthony is coming off his best game of the season, scoring 29 points on 12-of-25 shooting against the Hornets. He'll have a little more help with the addition of Arron Afflalo who made his debut against the Hornets. Afllalo scored a dozen points on 6-of-13 shooting in 28 minutes. He was the leading scorer for the Magic in his two seasons in Orlando, but has since bounced around playing for Denver and Portland the last two seasons. 

The Cavs have scored 100+ points in six of their last seven, and they have surrendered 100 or more in three of their last five. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on MIN@IND to go UNDER the total.

The Indiana Pacers appear to be getting their swagger back, coming into tonight's home game against Minnesota as winners of five of their last six. They held all five opponents under 100 points in those victories, and they rank 4th in the NBA in opponent's scoring average allowing just over 95 points per game. The Wolves come in playing their second game in a back to back, and third game in four nights. They have won all four of their road games so far, but it's going to be tough to keep that streak going in Indianapolis where they have failed to cover in five of their last six. Each of the Pacers last four home games has failed to reach the total, and I think they'll stay well below an inflated number here tonight.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on UTAH@MIA to go OVER the total. 

The Jazz got off to a good start, winning four of their first six games, and they are still 1st in the league in opponent's scoring average allowing under 90 points per game. They failed to slow down the Cavs in Cleveland on Tuesday though, losing by a score of 118-114. That came as little surprise to me, as I had said just a few days earlier: "The Utah Jazz have won two of three, and rank first overall in the NBA in opponent's scoring average allowing just 79.7 points per game so far. Before you get too excited, consider that they have played three Eastern Conference teams that all finished near the bottom of the standings a year ago." 

They face another Eastern Conference team that missed the playoffs last year, but the Miami Heat are coming off back to back home wins, and they look like a contender so far this year. Chris Bosh is back and looking very healthy, he scored a season high 30 points in the win over the Lakers on Tuesday. The Jazz could be without one of their best defenders as Rudy Gobert left the last game in the fourth quarter with a sprained ankle. 

As good as both these teams are defensively, they can also both score with the best of them. They each scored over 100 points in their last game, and the total has trended over at a rate of 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings between the two teams. Tonight's total is at least five points lower than it was in any of those previous 10 meetings. 

Take Over. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on DET@SAC to go OVER the total. 

The Kings are hosting the surprising Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night, and I think the total looks a little low here. Sacramento is one of the league's highest scoring teams, averaging over 106 points per game, but the Kings rank near last in opponent's scoring average allowing a ridiculous 110.6 points per game. The Pistons prefer to play a more defensive style, but they've proved that they can score with the best oft them, averaging over 105 points per game while winning three of their four road games so far. They scored 114 points in a home win over the Kings in the last meetings between these two teams. The Kings have really struggled against quality opponents, and they've seen the total go over at a rate of 8-3-2 in their last 13 vs. a team with a winning S.U. record. They've also gone over in 11 of their last 13 versus Eastern Conference teams. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on DAL@NO to go UNDER the total.

The Pelicans have had a few days off since losing by a score of 107-98 at Dallas on Saturday. They'll host the Mavs in the second leg of this home and home series on Tuesday night, still in search of their first win. I believe that the Pelicans are a much better team than their 0-6 record, and they should have a golden opportunity to notch their first win at home tonight. 

This is a particularly tough spot for Dallas, who play at home tomorrow night against DeAndre Jordan and the Clippers. This will be the first time Jordan will travel to Dallas since backing out of his agreement to sign with the team in the off-season. 

While the Pelicans are off to a terrible start, their superstar PF Anthony Davis has been really heating up. He scored 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting in the loss to Dallas, and in the previous game he went off for 43 points on 14-of-23 shooting. He's averaged 26.7 points and 12.7 boards in his last three at home against the Mavericks.

The Pelicans rank at the bottom of the NBA in opponent's scoring average, allowing over 114 points per game. That number though is skewed by the fact that two of their first six games came against the league's best teams (Golden State).

They will need to play a lot better on defense if they hope to beat the Mavericks tonight, and I am sure that's something they have worked on over the last few days. They did a good job through three quarters in Dallas on Saturday, holding the Mavs to 72 points, but were out-scored 35-28 in the final frame. I expect them to grind it out for a full 48 minutes tonight, en route to their first "W" of the season. These teams failed to reach an inflated total in the last meeting, and I expect an even lower scoring game here tonight.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on LAL@MIA to go UNDER the total. 

The Lakers won their first game of the season on the road in Brooklyn on Friday, but went on to lose 99--95 to the Knicks on Sunday. They are in Miami tonight, facing a Heat team that six straight and nine of 10 in the last 10 meetings in this series. Most of those games were quite low scoring, with eight of 10 failing to reach the total. These teams have gone under in eight of the last 11 meetings in Miami, and the Heat have gone under in each of their last six overall. Miami ranks first in the Eastern Conference in opponent's scoring average, allowing just over 90 points per game. They've held six of their seven opponents under 100 points, and have only scored 100+ twice themselves. The Lakers of course have trended in the opposite direction, scoring plenty of points and giving up even more. This is Miami, and I expect the Heat to dictate the tempo in their house. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* pay on POR@DEN to go UNDER the total. 

Portland is coming off an epic collapse at home to Detroit last night. They led 92-79 heading into the fourth quarter, but were out-scored 41-11 in the final frame, losing 120-103 to the Pistons. They might have just run out of gas, and that doesn't bode well as they pay their second game of a back to back on the road in Denver tonight. Denver has lost four of six to start the season, and they failed to reach 100 points in all but one of those losses. The Nuggets rank 24th overall in the NBA averaging just over 97 points per game, and they have failed to reach the total in four of their six games so far. The Blazers have gone over in four straight after going under in their first three games of the season. The total in tonight's game is much higher than it was in any of Portland's previous games this season. I think the total for tonight's game looks a little inflated, especially with the Blazers coming in with no rest following an tough loss. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on TOR@MIA to go OVER the total. 

The Toronto Raptors will be eager to get back on the court after suffering their first loss of the season at home to Orlando on Friday. It was also the first time this season they've failed to score 100+ points. I like their chances of getting back on track with both of those trends on the road at Miami tonight. Toronto won two of three meetings with Miami last season, and two of those three games went over the total. Tonight's game features a much lower number than we've seen in previous meetings, and I think we'll see enough scoring to push it over. Toronto's leading scorer DeMar DeRozan has scored an average of 24 points on 51.4 percent shooting in his last four trips to Miami. Toronto may have been caught by surprise against Orlando, but the Raptors have gone over the total in six of their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on LAL@NYK to go UNDER the total. 

The Knicks have lost three straight, averaging just 87 points in those games. They host the struggling Lakers tonight, and LA is coming off it's first win of the season. The Lakers defeated the Brooklyn Nets by a score of 104-98, and it was the first time this season they held an opponent under 100 points. The last time these teams met, the Knicks won in LA by a score of 101-94. The total in today's game looks way to high all things considered, and I think these two teams will struggle to score enough points to reach this inflated number. The under is 13-6 in Knicks last 19 vs. Western Conference, and the Lakers have failed to reach the total in 11 of their last 15 road games versus a team with a losing record. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on GS@SAC to go UNDER the total. 

The Warriors are coming off another outrageous offense display last night, beating the Denver Nuggets by a score of 119-104. They led 77-44 at halftime, and were in cruise control the rest of the way. They play their second game of a back to back on the road in Sacramento tonight, and the bookmakers have listed an enormously high number for this game. History suggests that we might not see quite as much scoring tonight, as the Warriors have seen the total go under in five of their last seven trips to Sacramento. In fact seven of the last 10 meetings has gone under the total, and the number wasn't as high as it is tonight in any of those previous games. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on MEM@UTAH to go OVER the total. 

The Jazz are off to a great start, and they still rank 1st overall in the NBA in opponent's scoring average. I bet on the "over" in their last home game versus Portland, and one of the reasons for making that play was that I felt that Utah's defense is a little overrated due to a soft schedule. Here is what I had to say prior to tipoff: "The Utah Jazz have won two of three, and rank first overall in the NBA in opponent's scoring average allowing just 79.7 points per game so far. Before you get too excited, consider that they have played three Eastern Conference teams that all finished near the bottom of the standings a year ago." The Blazers ended up winning that game by a score of 108-92, and that has Utah trending over at a rate of 6-1 in their last seven home games, and they've gone over in six of their last seven versus the Western Conference. They played another low scoring game against Denver last night, but now they host a hungry Grizzlies team on the back end of a back to back tonight. The Grizzlies aren't looking like the defensive powerhouse they were in previous seasons, ranking 23rd in the league with an opponent's scoring average of 103.8. Tonight's number is ridiculously low, and I think the bookmakers have made a mistake here. 

Take OVER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on NO@DAL to go UNDER the total.

The New Orleans Pelicans are struggling, still in search of their first win of the season. They are going to have to play much better defense though if they want to put an end to this losing skid. The Pelicans are in Dallas tonight, and the bookmakers are expecting a shootout in Texas. I think this number looks a little inflated, and I can't resist a value bet on the under. The last time these teams met, the Mavs won by a score of 102-93 in Dallas, with the total falling well short of the number. The under is just 5-5 in the last 10 meetings in this series, but tonight's number is much higher than it was in any of those previous meetings. New Orleans hasn't gone over in any of it's last five road games, and the under is is 11-5-1 in Pelicans last 17 overall.

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule