The Bum's National Basketball League January Picks/Trends/News !!

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NBA

Tuesday, January 12

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Trend Report
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7:00 PM
PHOENIX vs. INDIANA
Phoenix is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Phoenix's last 5 games
Indiana is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Phoenix
Indiana is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Phoenix

7:30 PM
SAN ANTONIO vs. DETROIT
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Antonio's last 5 games on the road
San Antonio is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Detroit is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit's last 6 games when playing at home against San Antonio

7:30 PM
BOSTON vs. NEW YORK
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Boston's last 18 games when playing New York
Boston is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of New York's last 18 games when playing Boston
New York is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Boston

8:00 PM
HOUSTON vs. MEMPHIS
Houston is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Houston's last 7 games
Memphis is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Memphis is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing Houston

8:00 PM
CHICAGO vs. MILWAUKEE
Chicago is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
Chicago is 11-3 SU in its last 14 games when playing Milwaukee
Milwaukee is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Milwaukee is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games

8:00 PM
OKLAHOMA CITY vs. MINNESOTA
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oklahoma City's last 6 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
Oklahoma City is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Minnesota
Minnesota is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
Minnesota is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Oklahoma City

8:30 PM
CLEVELAND vs. DALLAS
Cleveland is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Dallas
Cleveland is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Dallas
Dallas is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
Dallas is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games

10:30 PM
NEW ORLEANS vs. LA LAKERS
New Orleans is 8-16 SU in their last 24 games when playing LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 5 of New Orleans's last 6 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the LA Lakers last 6 games
LA Lakers are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games

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NBA
Long Sheet

Tuesday, January 12

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PHOENIX (13 - 26) at INDIANA (21 - 16) - 1/12/2016, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
INDIANA is 149-111 ATS (+26.9 Units) in home games in non-conference games since 1996.
INDIANA is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game this season.
PHOENIX is 58-40 ATS (+14.0 Units) in road games over the last 3 seasons.
PHOENIX is 65-42 ATS (+18.8 Units) in a road game where where the total is between 200 and 204.5 points since 1996.
PHOENIX is 30-16 ATS (+12.4 Units) in road games after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.
PHOENIX is 25-10 ATS (+14.0 Units) in road games in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 4-0 against the spread versus INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 4-0 straight up against INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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BOSTON (19 - 18) at NEW YORK (19 - 20) - 1/12/2016, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NEW YORK is 24-15 ATS (+7.5 Units) in all games this season.
NEW YORK is 19-8 ATS (+10.2 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent this season.
BOSTON is 68-53 ATS (+9.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 39-25 ATS (+11.5 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 39-22 ATS (+14.8 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 40-27 ATS (+10.3 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 5-4 against the spread versus NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 6-3 straight up against NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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SAN ANTONIO (33 - 6) at DETROIT (21 - 16) - 1/12/2016, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) in home games this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 27-12 ATS (+13.8 Units) in all games this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 27-11 ATS (+14.9 Units) as a favorite this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 139-97 ATS (+32.3 Units) on Tuesday nights since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) when playing on back-to-back days over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 14-3 ATS (+10.7 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 51-32 ATS (+15.8 Units) in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 275-218 ATS (+35.2 Units) after scoring 105 points or more since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 49-35 ATS (+10.5 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 3-1 against the spread versus SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 2-2 straight up against SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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HOUSTON (19 - 19) at MEMPHIS (21 - 18) - 1/12/2016, 8:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
MEMPHIS is 6-4 against the spread versus HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
MEMPHIS is 6-4 straight up against HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
6 of 10 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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CHICAGO (22 - 14) at MILWAUKEE (15 - 24) - 1/12/2016, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 24-36 ATS (-15.6 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 78-45 ATS (+28.5 Units) in road games in January games since 1996.
MILWAUKEE is 45-69 ATS (-30.9 Units) in a home game where where the total is between 200 and 204.5 points since 1996.
MILWAUKEE is 17-35 ATS (-21.5 Units) in home games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 10-5 against the spread versus MILWAUKEE over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 11-4 straight up against MILWAUKEE over the last 3 seasons
10 of 15 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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OKLAHOMA CITY (26 - 12) at MINNESOTA (12 - 26) - 1/12/2016, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 14-23 ATS (-11.3 Units) in all games this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 21-34 ATS (-16.4 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 4-13 ATS (-10.3 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 69-44 ATS (+20.6 Units) off a upset loss as a favorite since 1996.
MINNESOTA is 14-23 ATS (-11.3 Units) in all games this season.
MINNESOTA is 6-19 ATS (-14.9 Units) as a home underdog of 9.5 to 12 points since 1996.
MINNESOTA is 3-17 ATS (-15.7 Units) in home games this season.
MINNESOTA is 42-62 ATS (-26.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 7-18 ATS (-12.8 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game this season.
MINNESOTA is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) in home games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
OKLAHOMA CITY is 5-3 against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
OKLAHOMA CITY is 7-1 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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CLEVELAND (26 - 9) at DALLAS (22 - 16) - 1/12/2016, 8:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DALLAS is 333-266 ATS (+40.4 Units) as an underdog since 1996.
DALLAS is 8-21 ATS (-15.1 Units) after 3 or more consecutive unders over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
DALLAS is 3-1 against the spread versus CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
DALLAS is 3-1 straight up against CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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NEW ORLEANS (11 - 25) at LA LAKERS (8 - 31) - 1/12/2016, 10:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
NEW ORLEANS is 5-2 against the spread versus LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
NEW ORLEANS is 6-1 straight up against LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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NBA
Short Sheet

Tuesday, January 12

Phoenix at Indiana, 7:05 ET
Phoenix: 25-10 ATS in road games in non-conference games
Indiana: 18-8 OVER after a loss by 6 points or less

Boston at New York, 7:35 ET
Boston: 30-13 ATS as a road underdog
New York: 37-21 OVER after playing a game as favorite

San Antonio at Detroit, 7:35 ET
San Antonio: 14-3 ATS after a non-conference game
Detroit: 18-8 OVER after 2 or more consecutive unders

Houston at Memphis, 8:05 ET
Houston: 5-15 ATS after playing a home game
Memphis: 24-11 ATS in January games

Chicago at Milwaukee, 8:05 ET
Chicago: 23-11 UNDER after having won 6 or 7 of their last 8
Milwaukee: 12-4 ATS off a road loss

Oklahoma City at Minnesota, 8:05 ET
Oklahoma City: 33-15 ATS in road games after playing 2 consecutive road games
Minnesota: 0-8 ATS in home games off a home loss

Cleveland at Dallas, 8:35 ET
Cleveland: 2-11 ATS in road games after 2 straight wins by 10 points or more
Dallas: 8-1 ATS as an underdog of 3.5 to 9.5 points

New Orleans at LA Lakers, 10:35 ET
New Orleans: 26-13 ATS after having lost 5 or 6 of their last 7
Los Angeles: 2-10 ATS after playing a game as a home underdog

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 12

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


PHO at IND 07:00 PM

PHO +10.0

O 206.5


BOS at NY 07:30 PM

NY +1.0 BEST BET

O 201.0 BEST BET


SA at DET 07:30 PM

SA -7.0 BEST BET

O 195.5


HOU at MEM 08:00 PM

MEM -1.5


CHI at MIL 08:00 PM

U 204.0 BEST BET


OKC at MIN 08:00 PM

OKC -11.0


CLE at DAL 08:30 PM

DAL +5.5 BEST BET

U 198.0 BEST BET


NO at LAL 10:30 PM

NO -3.5 BEST BET

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B]Preview: Hawks (23-15) at Hornets (17-20)[/B]
Date: January 13, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The Atlanta Hawks excel in scoring in the paint and the Charlotte Hornets do not - a fact that has been decisive in two meetings this season.

The visiting Hawks can improve to 3-0 against their Southeast Division rivals by handing the Hornets an eighth straight defeat Wednesday night.

Atlanta (23-15) is averaging 45.0 points in the paint while Charlotte (17-20) is at 38.2. The Hawks outscored the Hornets by an average of 43-31 there in winning 97-94 on Oct. 30 and 94-92 two days later.

Al Horford was a big reason for that advantage as he totaled 34 points and 16 rebounds. Things should be easier for the big man this time since he won't have to contend with the injured Al Jefferson.

Horford figures to be confident after he scored a season-high 33 points with 10 rebounds in Saturday's 120-105 victory that ended Chicago's six-game win streak. The Hawks finished with 66 points in the paint - two off their season high.

"We understood this was a good measuring stick game for us," Horford said. "They're a really good team, they just won six straight so we know the effort had to be there more than ever."

The Hawks have scored 246 points with 69 assists while shooting 52.7 percent in their last two games with 48 fast-break points.

'We got up and down, guys were running the floor, we rolled to the basket, got easy lobs and things like that,' point guard Jeff Teague said. 'That's how we have to play for us to be a good team."

Teague will match up with Kemba Walker, the Hornets' leading scorer at 19.0 points per game. Teague has outscored Walker 32-30 in the first two meetings.

Walker has been held to consecutive 11-point efforts in which he is shooting 25.0 percent.

The Hornets are more concerned about the other end of the court in their longest losing streak since a 10-game slide last season. They are allowing an average of 107.0 points in this skid compared to 98.9 prior to the slide.

"It's the defense, obviously," coach Steve Clifford said. "We've got to get back to, in the games 12 through 23, we were the second-best defensive team in the league against a good schedule so we're capable of much better."

Second leading scorer Nicolas Batum, who averages 16.0 points, returned with a nine-point effort in Sunday's 95-92 loss at Denver after missing four games with a sprained right toe.

Hawks forward Thabo Sefolosha is uncertain after he sat out Saturday with a right wrist injury. Coach Mike Budenholzer described the injury as 'a little bit of a problem' and hopes Sefolosha won't miss much time.

The Hornets, back home after a four-game trip, know they will have their hands full with the Southeast leaders, who have won 15 of 18 in the series since the beginning of the 2011-12 season.

"Everybody knows how good Atlanta is and of course they beat us twice early on in the season," Walker said. "We just want to go out and play hard and execute our game plan and try our best to come out with a big win."

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Preview: Pacers (21-16) at Celtics (19-18)
Date: January 13, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The Boston Celtics are searching for answers during their longest losing streak of the season. They may not find them against an opponent that's had their number.

The Celtics limp home looking to end a frustrating four-game skid in Wednesday night's matchup with the Indiana Pacers.

An inability to win close games has Boston (19-19) at .500 for the first time since it was 7-7 on Nov. 24. The Celtics have lost four times by six points or less during a 1-6 stretch that began with home defeats to two of the league's worst teams, the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn.

'Very frustrating, especially when they're winnable games,' guard Isaiah Thomas said. 'We're just not doing enough of the little things to win these games."

Offensive woes have been the biggest contributor to the tailspin, though the Celtics were let down by their usually reliable defense in Tuesday's 120-114 loss at New York. The Knicks were 13 of 18 from the field during a 35-point fourth quarter and shot 53.1 percent overall, the second-highest mark by a Boston opponent this season.

"It's hard not to think that basket's bigger than it is because of the way we defended them," coach Brad Stevens said.

The Celtics shot 38.3 percent and averaged 94.7 points over their previous three losses, and they've been woeful from the 3-point line throughout their seven-game slump, making 25.5 percent.

Those numbers don't match up well against Indiana (22-16), among the NBA's top defensive teams. The Pacers have been especially stingy during the new calendar year, limiting opponents to 93.5 points per game and 39.2 percent shooting while winning four of six.

They improved to 19-3 when allowing less than 100 points with Tuesday's 116-97 victory over depleted Phoenix. The Pacers showed some offensive skill as well, particularly during a fourth quarter in which they outscored the Suns 36-21 while hitting 14 of 21 shots.

"We have a lot of guys that can score the ball," said George Hill, who had 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting. "It's on us. When we have those bad shooting nights, it's because we're forcing, not making the extra pass and playing the right way."

Hill is 18 of 31 from 3-point range while averaging 15.6 points over a seven-game span.

Boston has received plenty of production from Thomas, who followed up a 35-point effort in Sunday's 101-98 loss at Memphis with 34 against the Knicks. Marcus Smart is shooting 21.6 percent over his last four, however, and Evan Turner was 7 of 24 while averaging 5.7 points over the team's 0-3 trip.

Turner had 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting in Indiana's Nov. 11 visit to TD Garden, but the Pacers held Thomas to 14 in earning a 102-91 win. Paul George finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds that night and had the same line in Indiana's 100-98 home victory over Boston a week earlier.

Boston, which has lost three straight and six of eight at home, has dropped seven of 10 in the series.

Indiana's Rodney Stuckey is questionable for the game after exiting Tuesday's contest with a right foot injury.

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Preview: Warriors (36-2) at Nuggets (14-24)
Date: January 13, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

On pace to shatter the NBA's season wins record, the Golden State Warriors are starting to look ahead to the bigger prize.

With Draymond Green not expected to play, the Warriors vie for an eighth consecutive victory Wednesday night against the Denver Nuggets.

Golden State will play its fourth game in six days when it visits Denver and hosts the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, a grueling stretch that has interim coach Luke Walton contemplating resting some key players. Among those is Green, averaging a team-high 34.9 minutes while playing in all 38 games.

Walton also mentioned giving breaks to veterans Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston during the back-to-back sequence.

"They always want to play but they also understand the big picture," Walton said during Tuesday's practice. "I think earlier in the season it was tough to have them included in the conversation, but this is a hard part of the season. Guys are worn down and I think they understand now if we come to them with the training staff, if they think it's a smart idea to give them a night or two off here or there, then they'll be more receptive to that."

Green was forced into heavier minutes with Harrison Barnes sidelined 16 games by a sprained ankle and Stephen Curry missing two with a shin injury. Both have since returned to give Walton the option of reducing the versatile forward's court time.

"Now that we have Harrison back (Green's) definitely a guy we can look into giving a little bit of time off to," Walton said.

Depth has been a prime reason why Golden State (36-2) is halfway to the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls' league mark of 72 wins three games prior to the season's midpoint. It was again a factor in Monday's 111-103 victory over Miami, with the bench sparking a pivotal 12-4 run to begin the fourth quarter after the Heat pulled within 80-77 after three.

'They came in and took control of the game and got us to the finish line," said Curry, who combined with backcourt mate Klay Thompson for a 17-of-42 shooting effort.

Barnes contributed 12 points in his fifth game back and totaled 38 in two of the Warriors' three wins over Denver (14-24) this season. He sat out a 111-108 overtime victory in Oakland on Jan. 2 in which Curry was limited to 14 minutes and Green compiled 29 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists.

That loss was part of a seven-game skid for the Nuggets, but they've since won two of three as they've gotten healthier. Leading scorer Danilo Gallinari is averaging 25.8 points in five games since returning from a sprained ankle, while rookie Emmanuel Mudiay (ankle) had 11 and six assists in his first game back from a month-long absence during Sunday's 95-92 win over slumping Charlotte.

Gallinari recorded 27 points and the Nuggets held on despite going scoreless over the final 4:17.

'It was kind of an ugly win at the end,' he said. 'I'll take it. We needed one.'

Denver was without Kenneth Faried (personal) for a second straight game and Jameer Nelson sat out with a hip injury, though both are expected to play Wednesday.

The Nuggets, playing the second of a season-high eight-game homestand, have lost four straight and six of seven in the series. Golden State earned a 118-103 win at Denver on Nov. 22.

The Warriors have 40, 35 and 34 assists in the season series, three of their top seven totals in 2015-16.

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Preview: Jazz (17-20) at Trail Blazers (16-24)
Date: January 13, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

The Utah Jazz are after their longest win streak of the season with Rudy Gobert back patrolling the middle. It'll be no easy task against Portland's high-scoring backcourt.

With Derrick Favors likely a game-time decision, the visiting Jazz will try to win three straight for the first time Wednesday night with their second victory in three meetings against the Trail Blazers.

Utah (17-20) certainly seemed to miss Gobert while he was sidelined 18 games due to a sprained left MCL. The club allowed an average of 100.8 points on 46.3 percent shooting while going 7-11 without the 7-foot-1 center, who leads the team with 9.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.

The Jazz, however, are 2-0 since he returned to the starting lineup. Gobert had seven blocks while helping Utah limit Miami and the Los Angeles Lakers to an average of 78.5 points and a 36.8 field-goal percentage. The Jazz are 10-6 while holding foes to 91.7 points per game on 43.4 percent shooting when he starts.

Favors, the team's second-leading scorer at 16.8 per game, could return after missing 10 games because of a back injury. Alec Burks, though, isn't expected to return before the All-Star break following ankle surgery, and Dante Exum hasn't played after suffering an ACL tear in August.

"We've been going through adversity. But this group, we never quit. We're just going to keep fighting," Gobert said. "The good thing (about) the coaches is that they don't give up on us."

Gordon Hayward has carried the load offensively, totaling 59 points in the past two games. He scored 25 on Sunday when Utah snapped a seven-game road skid with an 86-74 win over the Lakers at Staples Center.

Coach Quin Snyder's club is bracing for a more difficult challenge as it seeks its first three-game win streak since March 28-April 1. Portland star Damian Lillard enters the third meeting on a tear after totaling 71 points, 14 3-pointers and 19 assists over his last two games.

The point guard finished with 31 points, a career high-tying eight 3s - including five in the last 3:07 - nine assists and seven rebounds, while backcourt mate C.J. McCollum scored 22 in Sunday's 115-110 home win over Oklahoma City that snapped a three-game losing streak.

"You just keep competing," coach Terry Stotts said after his team made a season-high 19 3s on a franchise-record 44 attempts. "It was a rough week, no question, and we knew it was going to be a rough week. To come out and get a win against one of the top teams... I'm happy for our guys."

Portland (16-24) has allowed an average of 108.8 points in its last six games, though Stotts said he did like some of the things the team did defensively Sunday. The Blazers didn't make things difficult enough on the Jazz in a 109-96 loss in Salt Lake City in the most recent meeting Dec. 31.

Utah's Trey Burke had 27 points, Hayward added 23 and Hood scored 18. McCollum finished with 32 points and six 3-pointers for Portland, which did not have Lillard due to plantar fasciitis.

Lillard led the way with 35 points and McCollum had 27 in a 108-92 road win Nov. 4. Hayward scored 19 for the Jazz, while Burke contributed 17 off the bench.

Utah snapped a three-game losing streak at Portland with a 111-105 victory April 11.

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Preview: Heat (22-16) at Clippers (25-13)
Date: January 13, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

Chris Paul feels the Los Angeles Clippers' surge without Blake Griffin is just a bonus until their leading scorer returns from injury.

After all, it's not as if the Clippers are beating up on the best teams in the league during their nine-game winning streak.

Los Angeles faces its first .500 team of the run when the Miami Heat visit Staples Center looking to win for the fifth time in six meetings Wednesday night.

Griffin has missed the last eight with a partially torn quadriceps tendon that likely will keep him out at least another week, but the Clippers (25-13) have gotten by just fine without him so far.

Paul has increased his scoring average from 16.8 through his first 23 to 21.1 over his last 10 and finished with 25 for the second straight game in Sunday's 114-111 overtime win over a New Orleans team missing Anthony Davis.

Paul also added 11 assists to help Los Angeles earn its fourth winning streak of at least nine games over the last four seasons. The Clippers are 20-8 when Griffin sits out in his career, not counting when he missed the entire first season because of injury after being drafted No. 1 overall in 2009.

That doesn't mean they aren't missing him this time around, though. The Clippers have won four times by six points or fewer during their streak despite every opponent currently sitting below the .500 mark.

'We're happy that we're winning games, and we want to continue to try to keep winning and build up the team as much as possible. But this is not our team until 32 gets back,' Paul said.

'When you lose somebody as important as Blake, everybody knew they had to step up. A lot of times we just throw it to him and watch him go to work, and now we're having to do a lot more. But our defense has come together, and we just keep trying to hold it down until he gets back.'

The Heat (22-16) didn't have much trouble beating the Clippers with Griffin in the last meeting, getting 34 points from Chris Bosh and 17 and 10 assists from Dwyane Wade in a 104-90 road win Jan. 11, 2015.

Hassan Whiteside finished with 23 points and 16 rebounds, but his availability for this contest is unclear. Whiteside sat out Monday's 111-103 loss to Golden State with a right knee injury after being listed as a game-time decision, and as of now has that same status for this matchup.

Justise Winslow made the first start of his career in Whiteside's place and finished with seven points, but he wasn't a match for Whiteside's inside presence.

Wade had 20 points and 11 assists, while Bosh finished with 15 and 12 rebounds.

Miami has dropped three of four overall and is 1-2 on a six-game trip that ends Sunday against Oklahoma City. Wade played through a strained left shoulder that he suffered in Friday's loss to Utah and had it wrapped in ice after the game.

"You've just got to fight and give your team whatever you have," said Wade, who is 9 for 37 from the field over the last two and shooting what would be a career-low 45.2 percent on the season. "Everyone in this locker room is going through something. I just try to battle, get some rest and go on to the next one."

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Preview: Bucks (16-24) at Wizards (17-19)
Date: January 13, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

A pair of road wins have the injury-riddled Washington Wizards building momentum as they try to avoid their longest home losing streak in two years.

A matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks could be just what they need.

The Wizards attempt to snap their four-game home losing streak by continuing their success against the Bucks on Wednesday night.

Washington (17-19) is without Bradley Beal (right leg) and Kris Humphries (right knee), while Marcin Gortat's sore left knee could sideline him a second straight game.

Scoring depth was key to overcoming those absences Monday, with seven Wizards reaching double figures in a 114-100 win at Chicago.

"I believe in these guys," said guard John Wall, who had 17 points and 10 assists. "I see these guys put in work every day, and I put in the work every day also, and if these guys get open, I believe they're going to make shots."

Washington could get a lift if Gortat returns. The center averages 13.4 points and 9.7 rebounds but was scratched Monday after getting 12 and 10 in Saturday's 105-99 win at Orlando.

"I don't know if it's a staph infection. Just a small cut on his knee from diving on the floor, and something got in there," coach Randy Wittman said, "and it swelled up and he had a high temperature. So we know it's an infection of some kind, we just got to do the treatment."

If Gortat is out, Nene would start at center again after scoring 14 points while making 7 of 11 from the field against the Bulls.

The Wizards, though, are averaging 92.7 points while losing three straight games at home, and they last dropped four straight there from Jan. 1-11, 2014.

But Washington has won nine of its last 11 matchups with Milwaukee (16-24), including a 115-86 rout in the nation's capital Nov. 17. Six Wizards scored in double digits, with Wall and Otto Porter leading the way with 19 points apiece.

Washington has won three straight at home over the Bucks by an average of 17.7 points.

Milwaukee is trying to build on its own win over the Bulls, a 106-101 victory Tuesday thanks in large part to Giannis Antetokounmpo. The forward had 29 points, 10 rebounds and five assists after totaling 13, 15 and six over the two previous games.

"That's what we need from him," said Greg Monroe, who added 17 points and 12 boards. "He's at his best when he's attacking the rim and getting into the lane."

Antetokounmpo had no trouble doing that against the Wizards on Oct. 30, scoring 27 points with nine rebounds in a 118-113 home loss. He struggled in the defeat at Washington, scoring nine points on 3-for-13 shooting.

Monroe also had a tough time at Verizon Center, finishing with a season-low four points while missing 5 of 6 from the floor. He had 22 against the Wizards at home in October, and enters this meeting averaging 20.8 points over the last four road games.

Khris Middleton leads the Bucks with 16.9 points per game, but he's putting up 23.8 while connecting on 49.6 percent from the floor - 47.7 from 3-point range - over the past eight contests.

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Preview: Knicks (20-20) at Nets (10-28)
Date: January 13, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

The New York Knicks haven't owned a winning record in almost two months. Getting there might require overcoming Carmelo Anthony's absence.

While Anthony's status is unknown, the Knicks look to continue their surge and send the Brooklyn Nets to an 11th straight home loss Wednesday night.

New York (20-20) has followed a four-game slide by winning six of eight. The Knicks have a chance to move above .500 for the first time since they were 8-7 following a loss at Miami on Nov. 23.

They may have to do it without Anthony, who suffered a sprained right ankle when he ran into a referee heading up the floor before halftime of Tuesday's 120-114 win over Boston. He left 19 seconds into the third quarter and X-rays were negative.

New York also won despite Kristaps Porzingis, who finished with 26 points, fouling out in the fourth quarter.

"There's turning points in seasons, and I think this is a good turning point for us," said forward Derrick Williams, who had 15 points and a season-high 10 rebounds. "When KP fouls out and Melo got injured, things like that happen. It's a team effort, and it gives those guys confidence in us that we can pull out games even when they're not on the court."

That confidence will be vital if Anthony is out. He leads the team with 21.6 points per game and had 28 in a 108-91 home win over the Nets on Dec. 4 after the Knicks lost all four matchups last season.

Porzingis contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds. The rookie forward is averaging 23.0 points on 52.0 percent from the floor - 8 for 21 from beyond the arc - over the last three games.

The Knicks have split six visits to Brooklyn, losing the last two after falling 92-88 on Feb. 6. However, they should like their chances this time since the Nets (10-28) have lost 10 straight for their longest slide at Barclays Center.

It's also the second-longest in franchise history. They dropped 14 in a row in New Jersey from Jan. 29-March 22, 2010.

The current losing streak was in no danger of ending Monday when the Nets were thumped 106-79 by San Antonio, one day after the firings of general manager Billy King and coach Lionel Hollins.

"We ran into a sledgehammer of a team," interim coach Tony Brown said. "They definitely know how to play together and that's something we're going to strive and try to do here."

Brook Lopez was again a bright spot, averaging a team-high 19.7 points and 8.5 rebounds. He led the way with 18 points against the Spurs, while the rest of the starters combined for 35.

The center has averaged 23.0 points on 55.4 percent shooting over his last five home meetings with New York. He scored 22 while adding nine rebounds and six blocks off the bench Feb. 6.

Brown may opt to start Wayne Ellington and Donald Sloan in the back court again, but they combined for 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting Monday. Sloan got the nod ahead of Shane Larkin, who started the previous four games after Jarrett Jack was lost for the season with a torn ACL.

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Preview: Mavericks (22-17) at Thunder (27-12)
Date: January 13, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

After succumbing to a long night against LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, now the Dallas Mavericks must face Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

The visiting Mavericks figure to be the more tired team after an overtime loss although the Oklahoma City Thunder are also playing the second half of a back-to-back set Wednesday night.

Dallas (22-17) fell 110-107 at home to Cleveland on Tuesday. James had three points and an assist on Irving's 3-pointer in a 6-2 run over the final minute of the extra session, and they combined for 49 points.

"We can't hang our heads," forward Chandler Parsons told the Mavericks' official website. "We've got the same type of monster tomorrow night in OKC, dealing with similar personnel with Westbrook and Durant. It's not going to get easier going forward, so we've got to lock in get back at it tomorrow."

Three Mavericks logged at least 40 minutes, including the starting backcourt of Deron Williams and Wesley Matthews. Dallas built an early 16-point lead.

'We knew we weren't going to blow them out. We knew that the lead at some point was going to get chipped away,' Matthews said. 'But this was our game. We should have won it and we didn't.'

Fatigue will be a factor versus the Thunder, who won 101-96 at Minnesota on Tuesday. Durant scored Oklahoma City's final 12 points over the last 2:54 in a 30-point effort.

'It felt like I need to get it going in the first three quarters,' he said. 'I can't just come out and try to save the game and make shots in the fourth. I've got to get it going earlier. I've got to make shots, man. That's what it's about.'

Westbrook added 22 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds as Oklahoma City (27-12) won for the seventh time in nine games.

The Mavericks will face Durant for the first time since he was out when the Thunder won 117-114 on Nov. 22. Westbrook had 31 points and 11 assists, scoring Oklahoma City's final six points as it held on down the stretch.

Williams and Matthews combined for 38 points that night.

Dallas is 6-3 in the second half of back-to-backs and Oklahoma City is 2-4. It's not clear who will even play for the Mavericks after Tuesday's grueling loss.

Last Tuesday, Dallas won in two overtimes at home over Sacramento. The next night, coach Rick Carlisle rested Williams, Matthews, Dirk Nowitzki and Zaza Pachulia in a 100-91 win at New Orleans. Parsons was the only regular starter who remained in the lineup.

Parsons led Dallas with a season-high 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting Tuesday. Nowitzki had 17 points and 11 boards.

Nowitzki entered Tuesday averaging 8.0 points on catch-and-shoot attempts to rank third in the NBA. Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka was seventh at 7.1 per game.

The Thunder have won nine of their last 11 at home over the Mavs, including two playoff wins. Tuesday's victory completed their longest trip of the season to this point at 2-1.

"It was a good trip for us, we won more than we lost," Durant said. "We're looking forward to coming home and playing in front of our great fans."

Dallas is opening a three-game trip that includes matchups with Chicago and San Antonio.

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Preview: Timberwolves (12-27) at Rockets (20-19)
Date: January 13, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The Houston Rockets have their swagger back, and it's showing during a four-game winning streak.

They'll have a chance for another confidence-building result when the floundering Minnesota Timberwolves visit Toyota Center on Wednesday night.

After failing to meet expectations over the season's first two months, Houston (20-19) has begun to resemble the free-wheeling team that reached the 2015 Western Conference finals in matching its longest unbeaten run of this campaign. Improved efficiency on both ends has triggered the turnaround, with the Rockets having regained their touch from the 3-point arc and shored up a defense that was often non-existent during their sluggish start.

Those strides were evident in Tuesday's 107-91 win at rival Memphis, where Houston was 18 of 35 on 3s and outscored the Grizzlies 24-8 over the final 7:13.

"I think our guys are in a great spot right now," interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "There's confidence, there's belief, there's togetherness, there's poise, all those things that we talked about in October are starting to come to fruition. When things kept coming, times got hard, we didn't fracture, we stayed together."

The Rockets have shot 43.0 percent from 3 over the last nine games after a 33.5 percent rate over the first 30. They're allowing 95.8 points per game during the win streak after permitting 116.5 in losing their previous four.

Houston is 16-12 since Bickerstaff replaced Kevin McHale on Nov. 18 and can move two games over .500 for the first time this season by extending the Timberwolves' losing streak to eight games.

Minnesota (12-27) has dropped 11 of 12 overall and eight of nine on the road, though there were a few encouraging signs in Tuesday's 101-96 home loss to Northwest Division-leading Oklahoma City. With second-year pros Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine leading the way, the Timberwolves cut an 18-point third-quarter deficit down to three in the final minute.

"OKC's a really good team and got off to a really quick start on us, but everyone played well tonight,' said forward Shabazz Muhammad. "We have to carry that on to tomorrow night."

Wiggins scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half and is averaging 26.0 over his last three games. Muhammad is averaging 19.3 during that stretch after recording 20 on Tuesday.

LaVine added 21 points to break out of a horrendous seven-game slump in which the 20-year-old managed 21 total while shooting 20.5 percent.

"He slowed down, he was patient, he found his rhythm shooting the ball," coach Sam Mitchell said. "The thing we've been telling Zach is just focus on running a basketball team, playing defense and everything else will come. I thought he played his best game."

The Timberwolves still failed to score 100 points for a 12th consecutive game and could have trouble keeping up with the high-powered Rockets, fourth in the league at 104.0 points per game. Minnesota hasn't had a longer stretch of games without reaching the century mark since going 16 in a row in 2004.

The Timberwolves also have to defend the perimeter better after allowing opponents to shoot 40.4 percent on 3-pointers over their last four. Houston's Patrick Beverley is 17 of 27 from 3 over his last eight and Trevor Ariza 7 of 14 in the last two.

Minnesota wasn't able to stop James Harden last season, as the 2015 MVP runner-up averaged 31.3 points in leading Houston to a four-game sweep. The Rockets have won eight of nine in the series and five straight at home.

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Preview: Pelicans (11-26) at Kings (15-22)
Date: January 13, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

It's not too early for the Sacramento Kings to think that this week represents a crucial stretch in their bid to earn a playoff spot for the first time in 10 seasons.

They start an important back-to-back set Wednesday night when they host a struggling New Orleans Pelicans team that may be without star forward Anthony Davis.

Sacramento (15-22) is in ninth place in the Western Conference standings, two games behind Utah. Both teams play Wednesday before they meet Thursday in Salt Lake City.

Coach George Karl emphasized Monday how important sweeping this set would be.

"I told the team today that every season comes down to a tiebreaker, every season comes down to a one game situation," Karl told the Kings' official website. "We can put a foot forward in that situation if we take care of business starting Wednesday."

The Kings' chances of winning will be greater if Davis misses a third straight game because of a bruised back. Davis, who leads the club with averages of 22.8 points and 10.8 rebounds, was injured when he dove over the first row of seats chasing a loose ball early in a 91-86 home loss to Indiana on Friday.

Coach Alvin Gentry said the club is being cautious and decided not to play him in Tuesday's 95-91 road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. New Orleans (11-26) has now lost four straight and fell to 0-5 without Davis after getting outscored 10-2 in the final 2:14.

The coach didn't want to use the superstar's absence as an excuse.

"It's about playing hard and competing, that's what it's about," Gentry said. "If we play hard and compete and then we don't have enough talent, then we'll talk about that."

The absence of Davis would make Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins clearly the best player on the floor. Cousins leads all NBA players with an average of 32.4 points in 2016, shooting 51.4 percent in that five-game stretch in which he is also averaging 13.0 rebounds.

The sixth-year power forward is eager for his first taste of the postseason.

"It's been a better feeling, a better vibe," Cousins said. "It's the best vibe I've seen since I've been in Sacramento."

He had 33 points and 10 rebounds in Saturday's 128-116 home defeat to Golden State. Rudy Gay added 23 points and Rajon Rondo handed out 12 assists.

The Kings may get a major weapon back in Omri Casspi, who has returned to practice after missing the last four games with a sore upper back. Casspi is fourth in the league in 3-point shooting at 47.7 percent.

Former Sacramento guard Tyreke Evans is averaging 22.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists as a visitor to Sleep Train Arena, with the Pelicans going 3-1.

Evans scored 21 on Tuesday for New Orleans, which is shooting 39.1 percent in this losing streak. The Pelicans are 1-7 in the second of back-to-back games.

'You just have to decide if you are going to play hard every night and if we want to have a good team,' Gentry said. 'That's the bottom line. It doesn't involve soul-searching. It involves looking in the mirror and being able to say, `I gave the best effort that I could tonight.' That's not what we are getting.'

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Wednesday's Tip Sheet
January 13, 2016

Hawks at Hornets – 7:05 PM EST

The coldest team in the Eastern Conference returns home from an 0-4 road trip as Charlotte (17-20 SU, 16-20-1 ATS) looks to snap a seven-game losing streak. The Hornets shot 36% from the floor in Sunday’s 95-92 loss at Denver, including an 0-for-8 effort from guard Jeremy Lin off the bench. Steve Clifford’s club has been miserable against the number recently by posting a 1-7 ATS record, while scoring less than 94 points or less four times during this current seven-game skid. Charlotte is playing with double-revenge after losing to Atlanta twice during the opening week of the season in a pair of games decided by a total of five points.

The Hawks (23-15 SU, 19-18-1 ATS) have pulled back into first place of the Southeast thanks to consecutive double-digit wins over the 76ers and Bulls. Atlanta is riding a 11-1 streak to the ‘over,’ while Mike Budenholtzer’s team has put up at least 100 points ten times during this stretch. The Hawks have won four of their last six games away from Philips Arena, while winning and covering three of their past four in the road favorite role. Each of the first two matchups with the Hornets finished ‘under’ the total, as Atlanta held Charlotte to less than 94 points in both wins.

Pacers at Celtics – 8:05 PM EST

When the calendar flipped to 2016, big things were expected for Boston. However, the Celtics (19-19 SU, 19-18-1 ATS) have fallen apart of late by losing four straight games and six of the past seven. The latest defeat came last night in a 120-114 setback at New York, as the Celtics allowed its most points in regulation this season. Brad Stevens’ club has been pointspread poison of late, compiling a 1-6 ATS record in the past seven contests, including an 0-3 SU/ATS mark in the last three games at TD Garden.

Indiana (22-16 SU, 22-16 ATS) travels to Boston with no rest after pulling away from Phoenix on Tuesday at home, 116-97 to cash as 12-point favorites. Frank Vogel’s team has lost five straight games in the role of a road underdog, while covering only once in this stretch. The Pacers have seen success against the Celtics this season with a 2-0 mark, including a 102-91 triumph at TD Garden in mid-November as 3 ½-point underdogs. Since Christmas, the Pacers have cashed seven of the last 10 games, but their three road wins came at New Orleans, Orlando, and Minnesota.

Mavericks at Thunder – 8:05 PM EST

There’s no rest for Dallas (22-17 SU, 23-15-1 ATS) after falling in overtime at home to Cleveland on Tuesday, 110-97. The Mavericks managed a cover as six-point underdogs, but allowed the Cavaliers to knock down 17 three-pointers in the loss. Rick Carlisle’s squad has performed well on the second of a back-to-back set this season, especially on the road by posting a 5-2 SU and 6-1 ATS record in this situation. The Mavs will be looking to avenge a 117-114 setback at Oklahoma City in late November, but the Thunder played without leading scorer Kevin Durant.

Oklahoma City (27-12 SU, 15-24 ATS) also plays with no rest after holding off Minnesota on Tuesday, 101-96. The Thunder failed to cover as 10 ½-point road favorites to fall to 2-8 ATS since Christmas Day, which includes a 1-5 ATS mark at home. Billy Donovan’s team has eclipsed the 100-point mark in nine straight games, as the Thunder own a 7-2 mark to the ‘over’ in this stretch. Since the start of last season, the Thunder and Mavericks have played several high-scoring affairs, resulting in four ‘overs’ in the past five matchups.

Jazz at Blazers – 10:05 PM EST

The Thunder is running away with the Northwest division less than three months into the season as the two teams trailing OKC hook up in Portland. Utah (17-20 SU, 20-17 ATS) has won consecutive games seven times this season, but Quin Snyder’s club has yet to string together three straight victories. The Jazz are coming off a pair of low-scoring wins over the Heat and Lakers, as Utah has yet to bust the 100-point mark in 2016, a span of six games.

The Blazers (16-24 SU, 20-20 ATS) used a late flurry of three-pointers by Damian Lillard to stun the Thunder on Sunday, 115-110 to cash as seven-point home underdogs. Portland attempted 100 field goals in that win, including 44 shots from three-point range, as the Blazers sailed ‘over’ the total for the sixth time in seven games. The Blazers and Jazz have split a pair of meetings this season, both in Salt Lake City with Portland losing the previous meeting on New Year’s Eve, 109-96 as three-point underdogs.

Heat at Clippers – 10:35 PM EST

Miami (22-16 SU, 19-18-1 ATS) continues a six-game road trip after losing at Utah and Golden State the last two times out. The Heat picked up a cover at Oracle Arena as 14-point underdogs in Monday’s 111-103 defeat, as center Hassan Whiteside sat out with a knee injury. Whiteside is listed as questionable for tonight’s contest, as Miami is trying to avoid its second three-game losing streak of the season. The Heat have been up and down in the road underdog role by compiling a 3-4 SU and 4-3 ATS record, but Erik Spoelstra’s team has won five of its past eight games away from South Florida.

For as well as the Warriors and Spurs have played this season, many people are forgetting about the Clippers. Los Angeles (25-13 SU, 17-18-3 ATS) continues to play without Blake Griffin, but the Clips have run off nine straight victories, including each of the past eight with their All-Star forward sidelined due to a quad injury. The Clippers continue a five-game homestand after holding off the Pelicans on Sunday in overtime, 114-111 as 9 ½-point favorites, snapping a seven-game ATS hot streak. Los Angeles has lost its last two home matchups with Miami, including a 104-90 setback last season as 10-point favorites.