This is a 10* play on the Portland Blazers.

After watching Russell Westbrook shoot 3-for-20 from the field, and still celebrate by doing an "air guitar solo" for Lance Stephenson in a win over the Lakers, I can't help but think the Thunder are due for a let down. They will play at Portland tonight, where the Blazers are 14-6. Portland has owned the Thunder, winning the last six head to head meetings and covering the spread in all six of those games. Coming off a possible night out in LA after the win over the Lakers, you might expect Russ and PG to be a little hung over (maybe a metaphor, maybe not). The Thunder are 7-21 ATS in their last 28 versus the NBA Northwest, and they are 0-6 ATS in their last six visits to Portland. I'll take the home team as a pickem all day long.

Take POR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on UTAH@TOR to go Under the total.

The Utah Jazz are still one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, ranking 5th overall in opponent's scoring average. They face a Raptors team that has really struggled offensively without PG Kyle Lowry. Toronto has averaged just over 97 points per game while going 2-2 in their last four games. They shot just 37 percent from the field against the Bulls, and just over 34 percent from the field in a loss to Orlando. The Jazz have gone under in seven straight when coming off a win, and the under is 8-1 in their last nine overall. The Raptors have failed to reach the total in five of their last six home games. I think this number is far higher than it should be.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the LA Clippers.

The Spurs were blown out in the first half in Denver last night, and while they rallied to make it close in the fourth quarter, they ultimately came up short. That is nothing new for San Antonio, a team that has been terrible on the road this season. The Spurs are 8-18-1 ATS in their last 27 road games, and they are 5-11-1 ATS in their last 17 games playing the second game of a back to back. While both teams played last night, the Clippers don't have to travel after beating the Lakers at the Staples Center. LA is one of the hottest teams in the league, winning four of their last five overall and ranking 3rd in the NBA in points scored. The Clippers are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 home games, and they are 6-2 ATS in their last eight when playing on back to back nights.

Take LAC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the LAC.

The Lakers were shorthanded last night when they lost a heartbreaker on the road at Sacramento. Not only is LeBron out with a groin injury, veteran PG Rajon Rondo is sidelined with a finger injury. The young Lakers play their second game in as many nights at the Staples Center against the Clippers. LA's other team has won 24 of the last 28 meetings versus the Lakers, and they have covered the spread in three of the last four meetings. The Clippers are 4-0 ATS in their last four games overall, and this looks like a good spot for the Clippers to take advantage of a young Lakers team without their veterans. Patrick Beverly owned his matchup versus Lonzo Ball last year, and that will be an interesting matchup here tonight.

Take LAC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Toronto Raptors.

The Heat have won five of six games since Goran Dragic last played. The veteran PG had a right knee scope last week, and there is no initial timetable for a return. While the Heat have played well at times, they have a losing record at home. They host the Toronto Raptors tonight, and the Raptors have the best record in the NBA. Toronto comes in with a 12-6 road record. While Kyle Lowry might not play tonight, the Raptors are expected to have Kahwi Leonard and Serge Ibaka back. Neither player was in the lineup when the Raptors lost at Philly before Christmas. Fred Van Fleet has been solid filling in for Kyle Lowry, in his last start he scored 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting with five rebounds and eight assists in a win at Cleveland. The road team has covered the spread in five of the last six head to head meetings, and I'll take the visitors as a small favorite.

Take TOR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Philadelphia 76ers.

This looks like a let down spot for the Raptors, who have already missed Kyle Lowry and Danny Green due to injuries. Playing on the road on the second leg of a back to back in Philly, Nick Nurse says he plans to rest Kawhi Leonard tonight. The Sixers are 15-3 at home, and Jimmy Butler is back from a groin injury. The home team has won four straight in this series, and I don't like the Raptors chances of breaking that trend here tonight as they appear to be severely shorthanded.

Take PHI.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on MEM@GSW to go Over.

The Warriors are back at full strength, with Draymond and Steph back from injuries. While they have won five of their last six, they haven't exactly looked that sharp. They lost a revenge game to the Raptors at home by a score of 113-93, and they needed to rally from behind to beat Sacramento. Their defense hasn't been very good, allowing and average of 110 points per game in their last six. The trends suggest that these teams have gone under more often than over, but the last two meetings both went way over the total. The Warriors scored 117, and 141 points in those games. I expect to see a high scoring first half here in Oakland.

Take Over,

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Detroit Pistons.

The Pistons are coming off a home win over the Celtics, snapping a six game losing streak. Detroit is still a solid 10-6 at home while Milwaukee is just .500 (6-6) on the road. The home team has won six straigh meetings straight up, and Detroit is 5-1 ATS in their last six versus Milwaukee. "We haven't done anything," Pistons coach Dwane Casey said during his postgame press conference. "We've got some momentum now but we still have a tough team coming in Monday night. It doesn't get any easier. I told the guys to enjoy it until midnight and think about the things we can do better." The Bucks are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 road games, and they are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.

Take DET.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the GS Warriors.

The Raptors needed overtime and 37 points from Kawhi Leonard to beat a banged up Warriors team at home at the end of November, and the media went nuts. All the talk in Toronto was that this was almost certainly a preview of the NBA Finals. Not so fast my friend! Steph Curry is back, and the Warriors have won four straight by double digits. That includes a 105-95 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in a very similar "Revenge Spot". This is the second game of a back to back for a Toronto team that hasn't played it's best basketball over the past few weeks. I like the Warriors to win big.

Take GS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Memphis Grizz.

The Grizz are still one of the NBA's best defensive teams, ranking 3rd in the league in opponent's scoring average. Coming off back to back losses, they should be focused on getting back on track at home against a Blazers team on the back end of a back to back. Portland came up just short in a 111-104 loss at Houston last night, and might not have the same energy here in Memphis tonight. Portland isn't great on the road at the best of times, failing to cover in six straight road games. The Grizzlies are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 home games.

Take MEM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics are banged up, but they look to extend a six game winning streak in Washington tonight against a struggling Wizards team that might be without John Wall and Otto Porter Jr. The Celtics are 5-2 ATS in their last seven versus Washington, and the road team has won three of the last four in this series. Kyrie Irving didn't play in Boston's win over New Orleans on Monday, but he is expected to return tonight. Marcus Morris scored 31 against the Pelicans, and Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum combined for 40 points. Superior depth should bode well for Boston here given the injuries to both teams.

Take BOS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Memphis Grizz.

The Grizzlies are coming off a huge upset win on the road at New Orleans, and they held Anthony Davis to just 25 points. That's well below his season average of 29 points per game at home. The Grizz are still one of the NBA's best defensive teams, ranking second in the league in opponent's scoring average. They host the Lakers tonight, and LA is coming off a loss at San Antonio. LeBron scored 35 points in 37 minutes, and he continues to pile up the milage on his 33 year old body. Tonight's game figures to be a good spot to limit his minutes (if possible). In two games against Memphis last year LeBron averaged 26 points, and in one game versus Memphis two seasons ago he scored just 23 points. The Grizz have covered in seven of their last 8 home games versus teams with a losing road record, and they are 4-1 ATS in their las five home games versus LA. 

Take MEM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the GS Warriors.

Without Draymond Green and Steph Curry, the Warriors have had more than their share of losses this season. One of those losses came against the Bucks, and that sets up a revenge spot here in Milwaukee tonight. This time around it's the Bucks that may be shorthanded, potentially missing second leading scorer Kris Middleton (personal issues) and Ersan Ilyasova. While Draymond remains out with a toe injury, Curry is back and he cooked up 42 points in a win over the Cavs on Wednesday. Home court hasn't been much of an advantage in this series, with the road team covering in 20 of the last 27 meetings. The Warriors have won three of their last four at Milwaukee.

Take GSW.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Pelicans are 8-2 at home, and one of those two losses came in a game that Anthony Davis sat out. The haven't had a lot of success against the Wizards though, losing seven straight and 13 of the last 14 meetings. This isn't the same Wizards team though, as Washington is close to completely blowing things up and starting a rebuild. The Wizards are 2-7 on the road, and ranked 29th in the NBA in opponent's scoring average. The Wizards are 2-12 ATS in their last 14 road games versus teams with a winning record. I like the home team in a revenge game, and I expect a big first half from the Pelicans.

Take N.O.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Blazers.

Portland and the Clippers are each sitting on 12 wins, but the Blazers are 7-2 at home while the Clippers are 4-5 on the road. This looks like a good sport for the Blazers to get back on track after a tough loss to the Warriors in Oakland on Friday. Portland has won all four meetings with the Clippers in 2018, two at home and two on the road. They covered the spread in all four games, and the average margin over victory in the two home games was in double digits. I'll take the home favorite to pick up the "W".

Take POR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

8*

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Memphis Grizz.

The Grizz are undefeated at home so far this season, and they host the Sixers on Saturday night. Philly was expected to be one of the top teams in the East this season, but so far they haven't lived up to expectations. While they are just a half game back of Boston in the Atlantic Division, they have lost five of six road games so far. The 76ers are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 road games, and they are 1-9 straight up in their last 10 versus Memphis. The Grizzlies are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 home games, and 13-6 ATS in their last 19 games overall. I don't like the Sixers chances on the road in the second game of a back to back versus the #1 scoring defense in the NBA.

Take MEM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Boston Celtics.

Boston really is the BEAST of the EAST, and I expect them to prove it here in Indiana tonight. The Pacers are returning home after a taxing win at Chicago last night. Victor Oladipo appeared to be drained after the game: "I'm not feeling well, but I don't care, it's time to win," Oladipo told Fox Sports Indiana. "The game ball should go to the bench because we did a terrible job coming out strong. The bench lifted us and we finally got our groove late." The Celtics have won five of the last seven meetings in this series, and four straight at Indianapolis. Boston ranks 1st in the NBA in opponent's scoring average, and they are the only team allowing less than 100 points per game this season. This looks like a tough spot to play a back to back for the home team, and my money is on the visitors.

Take BOS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Portland Trailblazers.

The Pelicans are coming off a 131-121 loss at Golden State last night, and Anthony Davis logged 41 minutes in the game. They play on back to back nights, in their third game in four nights on the road at Portland tonight, and this looks like a lay down spot for the visitors. Portland has a little extra motivation for this game, as they still remember being knocked out of the playoffs in the first round by these Pelicans last year. "We have this game circled," Portland point guard Damian Lillard told reporters. "We'll have (last season's playoff series) in our minds when we play against them. But it's only going to be the eighth game of the season, and we can't get last year back." The Blazers are coming off back to back wins, and they look good to blow out the Pelicans here in this REVENGE game.

Take POR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Indiana Pacers.

The Pacers return home from a three game road trip in which they took two of three, winning in San Antonio and Cleveland. They are 2-0 at home, and they were a solid 24-17 at home last year. They host the Blazers tonight, and Portland comes in off a 120-111 loss at Miami.  The Blazers are 1-1 on the road and they were 21-20 on the road last season. The Pacers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games and 5-1 ATS in their last six versus Western Conference teams. The Blazers are 1-5 ATS in their last six road games, and they have failed to cover in four straight road games against a team with a winning home record. I'll take the home favorite here.

Take IND.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the LA Lakers.

LeBron's Lakers debut hasn't gone as well as some might hope, and the Lakers come into Phoenix looking to snap a three game losing skid. They will have to do it without Rajon Rondo and Brandon Ingram, but I still like LeBron and company to edge out a young Suns team. The Suns are coming off back to back double digit losses to Golden State and Denver, and I think they are going to be a bit star stuck here against the Lakers. Trevor Ariza really struggled in Golden State, shooting just 2-of-12 from the field. The Suns are just 4-10 ATS in their last 14 home games, and they have failed to cover in four of their last five versus LA.

Take LAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Houston Rockets.

Houston is coming off a 115-112 loss to the Clippers in LA, and that game got ugly. An incident involving Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul and Brandon Ingram resulted in all three players being suspended, and there is no doubt the Rockets will miss Chris Paul tonight. That being said, they pushed the Warriors to the brink in a 7-game series in the Western Conference Finals last year, despite CP3 playing hurt and missing two games. James Harden looked sharp in the game at LA, scoring 31 points on 11-of-26 shooting. The Jazz come into Houston tonight struggling offensively. They shot just 35.4 percent from the field and 25 percent from beyond the arc in their last game, a home loss to Memphis. I'll take Clutch City as a small home favorite here.

Take HOU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Houston Rockets.

Houston is coming off a 115-112 loss to the Clippers in LA, and that game got ugly. An incident involving Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul and Brandon Ingram resulted in all three players being suspended, and there is no doubt the Rockets will miss Chris Paul tonight. That being said, they pushed the Warriors to the brink in a 7-game series in the Western Conference Finals last year, despite CP3 playing hurt and missing two games. James Harden looked sharp in the game at LA, scoring 31 points on 11-of-26 shooting. The Jazz come into Houston tonight struggling offensively. They shot just 35.4 percent from the field and 25 percent from beyond the arc in their last game, a home loss to Memphis. I'll take Clutch City as a small home favorite here.

Take HOU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the San Antonio Spurs.

A lot of people are overlooking the Spurs again this year, but this is a team that has managed to stay among the league's elite for decades. Last year they 33-8 at home, the best home record in the Western Conference. That was with Kawhi Leonard riding the pine all year. Leonard has been dealt to Toronto, and the Spurs get DeMar DeRozan back the other way. They host the Minnesota T-Pups tonight, and this team is dealing with a circus surrounding the Jimmy Butler trade request. The Spurs are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 versus Minnesota, and I like Pop and company to win their home opener.

Take SA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Warriors.

It's hard to see the Cavs having any fight left in this series. I don't think they want any part of going back to Oakland for a Game 5. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson couldn't hit a shot to save their lives in Game 3, and it just didn't matter. You can't count on Curry missing 10 of 11 three-point shot here in Game 4. The Warriors appear to be motivated to end this series in a sweep, and I think they put the Cavs to bed tonight.

Take GSW.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Golden State Warriors.

The Cavs weren't supposed to be here, but LeBron James has added to his legacy by willing his team to another Finals. Now they face the mighty Golden State Warriors, and this looks like a huge let down spot for LeBron and the Cavs. Keep in mind that the Warriors won last year's Finals in five games. They won Game 1 at home by 22 points, and won Game 2 by 19 points. This time around there is no Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love is banged up. The Warriors have won their last two series openers at home by 20+ points, and in the Western Conference Final in Houston they won Game 1 by 13 points. This series is going to be a massacre, and the only way the Cavs win a game and avoid a sweep, is if the Warriors "allow" it.

Take GSW.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Here is what I said prior to Game 1: "Despite the fact that the Warriors are almost a 2-1 favorite to win the series, they are an underdog in Game 1 at Houston. While the Rockets won the season series, regular season success doesn't always translate into post-season wins. MVP front-runner James Harden comes in ice cold, going just 4-for-22 from beyond the arc in his last three games. He scored just 18 points on 7-of-22 shooting in his last game at home versus Utah. The Rockets will need more from Harden if they hope to upset the Warriors. Steph Curry comes in hot, scoring 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting in Game 5 versus the Pelicans. He's 7-of-15 from beyond the arc in his last two games. The Warriors are 6-1 ATS in their last seven Conference Finals games, and 4-1 ATS in their last five at Houston."

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the GSW. I bet on the Warriors in Game 1, and I have several pending bets on the Warriors to win the series. Heading back to Golden State, I feel confident that Curry will find his shot, and the Rockets won't have any answer for KD. Here is what I said prior to Game 1: "Despite the fact that the Warriors are almost a 2-1 favorite to win the series, they are an underdog in Game 1 at Houston. While the Rockets won the season series, regular season success doesn't always translate into post-season wins. MVP front-runner James Harden comes in ice cold, going just 4-for-22 from beyond the arc in his last three games. He scored just 18 points on 7-of-22 shooting in his last game at home versus Utah. The Rockets will need more from Harden if they hope to upset the Warriors. Steph Curry comes in hot, scoring 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting in Game 5 versus the Pelicans. He's 7-of-15 from beyond the arc in his last two games. The Warriors are 6-1 ATS in their last seven Conference Finals games, and 4-1 ATS in their last five at Houston." Take the Champs. GL, Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Raptors showed a lot of heart battling back to tie Game 3 in Cleveland in the final seconds, but once again LeBron James crushed their souls. That's the type of loss you just don't expect a team to come back from, especially on the road, facing elimination. We saw this same scenario last year, and the Raptors lost Game 4 at home. They trailed by a dozen at halftime in that game. DeMar DeRozan was benched for the entire fourth quarter of Game 3, after scoring just eight points on 3-of-12 shooting. Who know's where his head is at, but I am guessing that going back to "LEBRONTO" for a Game 5 is not all that appealing right now.

Take CLE.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Golden State Warriors.

The Pelicans return home down 0-2 in the Western Conference Semifinals, but perhaps they can take some positives away from an improved performance in Game 2. They were an 11 point underdog, and easily covered losing by just five. The final score is a little misleading though, as the Warriors went up by 13 points on a Steph Curry three-pointer with 1:47 left. It was very much a "back door" cover, with the Pelicans scoring 10 of the final 12 points in garbage time. We got a glimpse of vintage Steph Curry in his first game back, he scored 28 points on 8-of-15 shooting in just 27 minutes off the bench. He should have no limitations here in Game 3. These two teams played in the first round back in 2015, and the Warriors won that series in a four game sweep. This Pelicans team may be vastly improved, but perhaps not enough to account for the Warriors adding Kevin Durant.

Take GS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on CLE@TOR Under.

I had a halftime bet on the Raptors in Game 1 (winner), and here is what I had to say prior to the game: "The Cavs lost two of three road games in their first round series versus Indiana, and if it wasn't for a controversial missed goaltending call in Game 5, they might have lost the series. They have just one off day ahead of Game 1 in Toronto, and I think the Raptors should be able to jump all over them in the first half. Toronto had the best home record in the NBA, and they beat the Cavs by a whopping 34 points at home during the regular season. Kevin Love has been playing through the pain of a thumb injury, and his numbers reflect that. LeBron had to dig deep, giving everything had to in order to will his team to victory in Game 7 versus the Pacers. Don't be surprised if the Cavs are running on empty here in Game 1 in Toronto." LeBron didn't shoot well in Game 1, and it took a comedy of errors by the Raptors to allow Cleveland to come away with a rather fortunate overtime win. I don't like their chances of going back to Cleveland up 2-0. The nder is 15-7 in Raptors last 22 games playing on 1 day's rest.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on NO@GS to go Under the total

The total for Game 1 was bet up as high as 227, but came up short landing on 224 after a low scoring second half. I bet on the under, and here is what I said prior to the game: "The Pelicans and the Warriors were both ranked near the top of the NBA in scoring during the regular season, and not surprisingly, they have a history of playing high scoring games. They have gone over in eight of the last 10 head to head meetings, but all 10 of those games were in the regular season. The Pelicans are not the same team here in the playoffs that they were when they ranked 29th in the NBA allowing over 110 points per game. The Warriors held the Spurs to an average of less than 97 points per game in their first round series, and they have gone under in five of their last six home games versus a team with a winning record. The Pelicans have failed to reach the total in seven of their last nine road games, and the under is 4-0 in their last four Conference Semi Final games. The Warriors have won nine of the last 10 meetings between the two teams." I am not reading much into the return of Steph Curry, as I don't expect him to log full minutes. I think Kerr will be happy to get Curry some playing time, but I expect Kevin Durant to continue to carry the load. The number still looks a little inflated, and I'll take the under.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on NO@GS to go Under the total.

The Pelicans and the Warriors were both ranked near the top of the NBA in scoring during the regular season, and not surprisingly, they have a history of playing high scoring games. They have gone over in eight of the last 10 head to head meetings, but all 10 of those games were in the regular season. The Pelicans are not the same team here in the playoffs that they were when they ranked 29th in the NBA allowing over 110 points per game. The Warriors held the Spurs to an average of less than 97 points per game in their first round series, and they have gone under in five of their last six home games versus a team with a winning record. The Pelicans have failed to reach the total in seven of their last nine road games, and the under is 4-0 in their last four Conference Semi Final games. The Warriors have won nine of the last 10 meetings between the two teams.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Warriors.

The Pelicans and the Warriors were both ranked near the top of the NBA in scoring during the regular season, and not surprisingly, they have a history of playing high scoring games. They have gone over in eight of the last 10 head to head meetings, but all 10 of those games were in the regular season. The Pelicans are not the same team here in the playoffs that they were when they ranked 29th in the NBA allowing over 110 points per game. The Warriors held the Spurs to an average of less than 97 points per game in their first round series, and they have gone under in five of their last six home games versus a team with a winning record. The Pelicans have failed to reach the total in seven of their last nine road games, and the under is 4-0 in their last four Conference Semi Final games. The Warriors have won nine of the last 10 meetings between the two teams.

Take GS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

I bet on Boston in both the first two games of this series, and here is what I said prior to Game 1: "The Celtics are just a slight favorite at home, despite being a #2 seed versus a #7 seed. Sure they would like to have Kyrie Irving in these playoffs, but lets not kid ourselves about how good they were without him. Keep in mind, last year this team gave Cleveland fits, and Kyrie was playing for the Cavs. This season they played more than their fair share of games without not only Irving, but several other key players. They won 13 of their last 19 without Kyrie, and four of those six losses came on the road. Boston is still the best defensive team in the Eastern Conference, and they are 4-1 ATS in their last five versus Milwaukee. Boston is 5-1 ATS in it's last six at The Garden, and the under is 24-9 in the Celtics last 33 Conference Quarterfinals games." Boston is 7-2 ATS in the last nine meetings between the two teams, including a two point loss in Game 4 in Milwaukee. I'll take the home team.

Take BOS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

I bet on Boston in both the first two games of this series, and here is what I said prior to Game 1: "The Celtics are just a slight favorite at home, despite being a #2 seed versus a #7 seed. Sure they would like to have Kyrie Irving in these playoffs, but lets not kid ourselves about how good they were without him. Keep in mind, last year this team gave Cleveland fits, and Kyrie was playing for the Cavs. This season they played more than their fair share of games without not only Irving, but several other key players. They won 13 of their last 19 without Kyrie, and four of those six losses came on the road. Boston is still the best defensive team in the Eastern Conference, and they are 4-1 ATS in their last five versus Milwaukee. Boston is 5-1 ATS in it's last six at The Garden, and the under is 24-9 in the Celtics last 33 Conference Quarterfinals games." Boston is 7-1 ATS in the last eight meetings between the two teams, including a two point loss in Game 4 in Milwaukee. I'll take the points.

Take BOS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the OKC Thunder ML.

Here is what I said before this series started: "The Utah Jazz were one of the hottest teams in the league in the second half of the season, but they ran into a brick wall in Portland in their final game. They play Game 2 on the road at Oklahoma City, and they appear to be catching the Thunder at a bad time. Oklahoma City won four of their final five games, including a win on the road at Houston. Russell Westbrook is playing out of his ******** mind. Paul George averaged almost 28 points per game in his last five, and the Thunder are starting to look like the team everyone expected them to be when they signed George in the off-season. Utah has lost seven of their last eight versus the Thunder, and they are 0-7 in their last seven trips to OKC. " The Thunder return home for Game 5 down 3-1 in the series, and the are on the ropes. I expect the to extend the series at least forcing a Game 6 back at Utah.

Take OKC.

Jesse Schule

8*

This is a 10* play on OKC@UTAH to go Under the total.

Game 3 in Utah went over the total, and Ricky Rubio scored more points than Russell Westbrook. I don't think either of those two things are happening in Game 4. Utah boasts the NBA's #1 defense, holding opponents under 100 points per game. Both of these teams have played well defensively in this series, and I expect that trend to continue here in Game 4. Recent meetings between these teams have trended under, as they have failed to reach the total in five of the last seven overall. The Thunder have gone under in five of their last six on the road, and eight of their last nine at Utah. These trends go back a lot further, the under is 22-9 in the last 31 meetings. The total for tonight's game is higher than it was in nine of the previous 10 head to head meetings.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

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

The Jazz return home with the series tied 1-1 after a 102-95 win in Game 2 in Oklahoma City. Utah boasts the NBA's #1 defense, holding opponents under 100 points per game. Both of these teams have played well defensively in this series, and I expect that trend to continue here in Game 3. Recent meetings between these teams have trended under, as they have failed to reach the total in five of the last six overall. The Thunder have gone under in five straight on the road, and eight straight at Utah. These trends go back a lot further, the under is 22-8 in the last 30 meetings. The total for tonight's game is higher than it was in nine of the previous 10 head to head meetings.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Sixers are getting a lot of press right now, and I have to admit it's hard not to buy into the hype. They come into Game 4 in Miami with a 2-1 series lead, and leading scorer Joel Embiid is back after sitting out the first two games. Both of Philly's wins in this series have come in blowouts by 20+ points, and there can't be a lot of optimism among players and coaches in Miami that they can compete with this team. Dwyane Wade looked like a 36 year old in Game 3, scoring just eight points on 2-of-10 shooting in 25 minutes. I bet on the Heat in the first half of the last game, and they just barely covered. The Heat have failed to cover in five of their last six home games, and I think it's going to be particularly difficult to put such a brutal loss (in Game 3) behind them.

Take PHI.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

The Warriors head to San Antonio in complete command of this series, and they will be a favorite to win Game 3. The Spurs aren't good enough to compete with the Warriors in this series, but they are sure as hell good enough to steal a game at home. Their Game 2 loss at Golden State was their 10th straight loss on the road, but they have won 11 in a row at home. In fact the Spurs won 33 games on their home court during the regular season, one of those wins coming versus Golden State. The Spurs won that game by a score of 89-75, and they lead 49-41 at halftime. They have covered the spread in nine of their last 10 home games, and they lead the NBA in opponent's scoring average. I expect the home team to come out playing with plenty of emotion here in Game 3, especially in the first half. The Spurs led by a score of 53-47 at the half in Game 2, but went on to lose by 15 points. These two teams have failed to reach the total in eight of the last 11 meetings in San Antonio.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the New Orleans Pelicans.

They say that the playoffs are a whole different monster than regular season basketball, and no team personifies that better than New Orleans. The Pelicans were one of the league's worst defensive teams during the regular season, but they've completely shut down the Blazers in the first two games in Portland. Coming back home, I expect them to be all fired up for Game 3. Down 0-2, the news goes from bad to worse for Portland as starting center Jusuf Nurkic left Game 2 with an injury and did not return. The Pelicans are on a roll, covering the spread in seven straight overall, and four of their last five against Portland. The Trail Blazers are 7-22-2 ATS in their last 31 Conference Quarterfinals games.

Take NO.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the OKC Thunder.

The Utah Jazz were one of the hottest teams in the league in the second half of the season, but they ran into a brick wall in Portland in their final game. They play Game 2 on the road at Oklahoma City, and they appear to be catching the Thunder at a bad time. Oklahoma City won four of their final five games, including a win on the road at Houston. Russell Westbrook is playing out of his ******** mind. Paul George averaged almost 28 points per game in his last five, and the Thunder are starting to look like the team everyone expected them to be when they signed George in the off-season. Utah has lost seven of their last eight versus the Thunder, and they are 0-7 in their last seven trips to OKC.

Take OKC.

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the OKC Thunder.

The Utah Jazz were one of the hottest teams in the league in the second half of the season, but they ran into a brick wall in Portland in their final game. They play Game 1 on the road at Oklahoma City, and they appear to be catching the Thunder at a bad time. Oklahoma City won four of their final five games, including a win on the road at Houston. Russell Westbrook is playing out of his ******** mind. Paul George averaged almost 28 points per game in his last five, and the Thunder are starting to look like the team everyone expected them to be when they signed George in the off-season. Utah has lost six of their last seven versus the Thunder, and they are 0-6 in their last six trips to OKC.

Take OKC.

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Miami Heat.

The Sixers come into the playoffs riding a 16 game winning streak, and it seems that everyone is now ready to #TrustTheProcess. Of course bettors are lining up to back Philly in Game 1 of their first round series versus the Heat, and because of that they are asked to cover a spread a few points higher than it was the last time they played Miami at home. The Sixers split the season series versus the Heat, but only covered the spread in one of the four games. Both the Sixers wins came in games decided by fewer than six points. "They played us hard; they were really physical with us, especially down in Miami," Sixers guard J.J. Redick said. "They run multiple actions on offense so you really have to defend for the whole shot clock. They have a deep roster with a bunch of guys who play hard and play together. It's a big challenge for us." Simply put, I am not ready to buy into the hype here with a young team that has little to no playoff experience. Regular season wins don't count for #### all in the post-season. The Heat are 18-8-2 ATS in their last 28 road games, and 14-6 ATS in their last 20 Conference Quarterfinals games.

Take MIA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Denver Nuggets.

The Nuggets wrap up the regular season on the road at Minnesota, and the winner of this game will advance to the playoffs. Denver has been one of the league's hottest teams heading into the playoffs, winning six straight and eight of their last 10. The same can not be said for the Timberwolves, who are just 6-6 in their last 12 overall. More concerning for Minnesota is the fact that all six of those wins came against non playoff teams. History is certainly on the side of the visitors, who won the last meeting by a score of 100-96. The Nuggets are 20-5-1 ATS in the last 26 meetings in Minnesota. The Nuggets have also covered the spread in five of their last six road games. The underdog has covered the spread in 20 of the last 27 meetings in this series.

Take DEN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on SA@NO to go Under the total.

It's not unusual to see teams step up their defensive intensity at this time of year. The Spurs are the league's best defensive team, and they are coming off a 98-85 win over Sacramento. The Pelicans aren't known for their defense, but they have improved here at the end of the regular season. They rank 29th in the NBA, allowing over 110 points per game overall this season. They've allowed less than that in six of their last seven overall however. These two teams have a history of playing low scoring games, failing to reach the total in seven of the last 10 head to head meetings. The under is 10-4-1 in Pelicans last 15 versus teams with a winning straight up record, while the Spurs have gone under in four of their last five at New Orleans.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on SAC@SA to go UNDER the total.

I cashed in a winner in the Spurs most recent home game, a win over Portland. Here is what I said prior to the game: "Only the Toronto Raptors and Houston Rockets have more home wins than San Antonio this season, and the Spurs come into tonight's home game against Portland as winners of nine straight in San Antonio. The Spurs have allowed an average of just 99.7 points per game, and they rank 1st overall in the NBA in opponent's scoring average. The Blazers are in a comfortable position in the Standings, and with Damien Lillard nursing an ankle injury, we should see Portland dial it back a little. History certainly favors the Spurs, as Portland has failed to cover in seven of it's last 10 in San Antonio, and the Spurs are 8-0 ATS in their last eight home games." The Kings have played really solid defense lately, holding opponents under 100 points in three straight. They won two of those three games outright. The Kings have failed to reach the total in eight of their last nine overall.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Denver Nuggets.

The Clippers are set to suffer a let down here against the Nuggets, after losing three of their last four overall. Their home loss to Utah by a whopping 22 points was likely the final nail in the coffin, killing any hope of making a playoff run. The Nuggets are one of the hottest teams in the league right now, and only after winning six of their last eight are they even in position to think about the playoffs. You can't really blame the Clippers, who have four PGs sidelined by injury. They simply didn't have enough healthy bodies to throw out there. I like Denver to win a desperation game here in LA.

Take DEN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

8*

This is an 8* play on the Denver Nuggets.

The Milwaukee Bucks are going to make the playoffs, the only question is who they face in the first round. With Cleveland likely to finish third in the East, moving up in the standings might only increase their chances of facing the Cavs in the first round. Playing on the road at the end of a three game Western Conference swing, I don't see a lot of reason for the Bucks to go all out. The Nuggets on the other hand absolutely need to win to keep their playoff hopes alive. They are two and half games back of 5th place Minnesota, but they have played one fewer game. They also face the Timberwolves twice, and they have a home game against the Clippers remaining. They are 27-10 in Denver, giving them one of the best home records in the league. The Bucks have a losing record on the road, and they are 4-13-1 ATS in the last 18 meetings in Denver.

Take DEN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on MIA@IND to go Under the total.

The Pacers are just a game and a half back of the first place Cavs in the Central Division, and they come into tonight's home game versus Miami as winners of 12 of their last 17. During that span they've allowed fewer points than any team in the league, and they now rank in the top 10 in the league in opponent's scoring average this season. Miami ranks 4th overall in the NBA allowing just 103 points per game. All three meetings between these teams went over, but all those games were played before the All Star break when Indiana was struggling defensively. Prior to this season, they have gone under in six of seven games dating back to November of 2015. The Pacers have gone under in nine of their last 10 overall, and they have failed to reach the total in seven straight home teams. I expect another low scoring battle here in Indianapolis Sunday.

Take UNDER.

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the San Antonio Spurs.

Only the Toronto Raptors have more home wins than San Antonio this season, and the Spurs come into tonight's home game against Washington as winners of four straight. San Antonio has allowed an average of just 85 points during their current home stand, and they rank 1st overall in the NBA in opponent's scoring average. The Wizards have won back to back games, including a 125-124 road win at Boston. That win at the Garden might sound impressive, but keep in mind that the Celtics were playing without four starters in that game. The Spurs are as healthy as they have been all year, and they have a history of beating up on the Wizards. The Spurs are 20-7 in the last 27 meetings in this series, and Washington is just 3-13-1 in their last 17 visits to San Antonio.

Take SA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

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

The Pacers and the Pelicans are two teams that jockeying for playoff position, and they have a history of playing low scoring games. Eight of the last 10 meetings have fallen short of the listed total. Both teams have stepped up their intensity on defense in recent weeks, and the result has been lower scores across the board. That being said, tonight's total is higher than it was in any of the previous 10 meetings in this series. It's also higher than it was in any of Indiana's last 10 games overall, and nine of those games went under. The Pelicans haven seen a combined 220 points just once in their last eight games overall. The under is 15-5-1 in the Pacers last 21 road games, and I expect that trend to continue here in New Orleans.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

10*

8*

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

The Warriors rallied to beat the Spurs 110-107 at home last night, winning their seventh consecutive game. They play on the road in their second game in as many nights at Portland tonight, and Steph Curry is expected to be sidelined with an ankle injury. The total for this game looks a bit inflated, considering that five of their last six overall have seen less than a combined 225 points. Portland ranks 5th in the NBA in scoring defense, and the Blazers have won eight straight. They have allowed opponents to average just under 99 points per game during that winning streak. Curry has missed 15 games this season, and 12 of those games saw the total fall short of 225 combined points. The Warriors have failed to reach the total in seven of their last 10 road games, while Portland has gone under in eight of their last 10 when playing on two day's rest.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule