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Friday's Tip Sheet
January 4, 2018
Game of the Night: Wolves at Celtics – 7:30 PM EST
Boston (31-10 SU, 25-14-2 ATS) picked up a modicum of revenge by knocking off Cleveland on Wednesday, 102-88 as three-point home favorites. Six Celtics scored in double-figures, led by Terry Rozier’s 20 points of the bench, while Kyrie Irving posted 11 points on 5-of-14 shooting in his second matchup against his former team. Boston looks to complete its four-game homestand following victories over Houston and Brooklyn, as the Celtics have allowed 98 points or less in four of the past six games at TD Garden.
Minnesota (24-15 SU, 17-20-2 ATS) was tripped up in the final seconds on Wednesday as 6 ½-point favorites in a 98-97 setback at Brooklyn. The Wolves held their third straight opponent to 98 points or fewer, but allowed Brooklyn to shoot 51% from the floor, including hitting 14 three-pointers. Jimmy Butler paced the Wolves with 30 points as 16 of those came from the free-throw line, but the team shot 1-of-11 from long distance.
The Celtics swept the Wolves last season, including a 13-point triumph by Boston at home in mid-March. Minnesota has dropped 10 consecutive matchups at TD Garden since 2006, while looking to improve on a 2-4 record on the road against Eastern Conference foes this season.
Good to See You Again
The Bucks and Raptors are hooking up for the second time in five days after Toronto pulled out a 131-127 overtime victory at the Air Canada Center. DeMar DeRozan lit up the Bucks for a career-high 52 points on 17-of-29 shooting from the floor, but Milwaukee managed to pick up the cover as six-point underdogs.
Toronto (26-10 SU, 21-15 ATS) rallied from an early double-digit deficit to knock off Chicago on Wednesday, 124-115 to cash as 4 ½-point favorites. The Raptors began the fourth quarter on a 16-4 run after being tied following three quarters, as Dwane Casey’s team improved to 5-1 this season against teams from the Central division.
Toronto is making its first trip to Milwaukee since knocking out the Bucks in the opening round of the playoffs last season, as the Raptors captured two of three games at BMO Harris Bradley Center.
Milwaukee (20-16 SU, 16-15-5 ATS) has won 13 of 19 home contests this season, coming off Wednesday’s 122-101 blowout of Indiana as 7 ½-point favorites. Jason Kidd’s squad has covered in four straight games, while moving to 8-1-1 to the OVER in the last 10 home contests.
Overcoming Slow Starts
Although Chicago and Dallas are each over 12 games below .500, these two have turned a profit recently for backers. The Bulls (13-25 SU, 22-15-1 ATS) couldn’t hold on to an early lead over the Raptors in Wednesday’s nine-point home setback. Chicago failed to cover for the second straight game, but the Bulls still own a solid 13-3 ATS record in the last 16 contests, while putting together a 7-1 ATS mark in their past eight on the highway.
The Mavericks (13-26 SU, 20-18-1 ATS) had their four-game winning streak snapped by Stephen Curry and the Warriors in a 125-122 home setback on Wednesday. Dallas picked up a cover as eight-point underdogs, the fifth consecutive ATS win for Rick Carlisle’s club. The Mavs have won five of their past seven games at American Airlines Center, while beating the Bulls four straight times.
Final Stanza
The Jazz and Nuggets hook up for the final time in the regular season on Friday as Denver looks to even the season series at 2-2 with a win. Utah (16-22 SU, 19-19 ATS) sits in last place of the Northwest division after losing at home to New Orleans on Wednesday, 108-98 as one-point favorites. It’s been a rough stretch for Quin Snyder’s team, who owns a 3-11 SU and 5-9 ATS record the past 14 contests, including a 1-8 record away from Salt Lake City.
One of those eight defeats came at Denver on December 26, a 107-83 blowout loss to the Nuggets as 5 ½-point underdogs. The Nuggets (20-17 SU, 18-18-1 ATS) snapped a two-game skid in Wednesday’s 134-111 melting of the Suns as 12-point favorites, as Denver scorched Phoenix for 62% shooting from the floor. Each of the first three meetings between the Jazz and Nuggets have finished UNDER the total, while the UNDER is on a 9-1 run in the last 10 matchups.
Winning Wizards
Washington (22-16 SU, 19-19 ATS) swept a three-game homestand against Houston, Chicago, and New York, as the Wizards have won five of their past six games. In Wednesday’s 121-103 blowout of the Knicks, the backcourt duo of John Wall and Bradley Beal combined for 52 points on 20-of-32 shooting, while the Wizards knocked down 59% of their shots.
The Wizards travel to Memphis (22-16 SU, 19-19 ATS), looking for a season sweep of the Grizzlies after winning at home in mid-December, 93-87. The Grizzlies finished off a five-game western swing at 2-3 SU and 3-2 ATS, capped off by a 113-105 setback to the Clippers on Tuesday. Following a 1-11 stretch at home, the Grizzlies have won two of their last three at FedEx Forum, while beating the Wizards in their previous two home matchups.
Starting to Heat Up
Since consecutive losses earlier this month to the Warriors and Spurs, the Heat (20-17 SU, 16-19-2 ATS) have won nine of their last 13 games to reach the 20-win mark. The latest victory came in Wednesday’s 111-104 triumph over the Pistons as 4 ½-point favorites. Goran Dragic paced Miami with 24 points and 13 assists, while Kelly Olynyk continues his solid season with the Heat by scoring 25 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.
Miami will try to avenge a 29-point setback at New York in late November as the Knicks venture to south Florida. New York (18-20 SU, 20-18 ATS) dropped to 3-13 away from Madison Square Garden following Wednesday’s 18-point loss at Washington, while falling to 1-6 in the past seven games overall. The Knicks have fared well at the American Airlines Arena recently by capturing the last three matchups, while seven of the past eight meetings between New York and Miami have finished UNDER the total.
Fast Break
-- The 76ers seek their third victory over the Pistons this season as the two teams hook up in Philadelphia. The Pistons have dropped three consecutive games away from Little Caesars Arena, while the Sixers are riding a three-game winning streak following a 112-106 home win over the Spurs.
-- San Antonio returns home after losing two of three games on its three-game swing as the Spurs welcome in the Suns. Phoenix owns an 0-2 record this season against San Antonio, but the Suns have won four consecutive games off a loss following a 23-point defeat at Denver.
-- The Hawks look to rebound after blowing a late eight-point lead in the final 90 seconds in Tuesday’s setback at Phoenix. Atlanta remains out west to face Portland, attempting to beat the Blazers for the second time in less than a week. The Blazers are back home after a 1-2 road swing as Portland tries to improve on a 1-6 record in its last seven games at the Moda Center.
-- The Lakers have fallen apart at the seams by losing eight consecutive games, including a 133-96 setback to Oklahoma City on Wednesday. Los Angeles hosts Charlotte, as the Hornets seek consecutive road wins for the first time this season after blowing out Sacramento. Charlotte had defeated L.A. in five straight meetings before getting tripped up at home by the Lakers in early December, 110-99.
January 4, 2018
Game of the Night: Wolves at Celtics – 7:30 PM EST
Boston (31-10 SU, 25-14-2 ATS) picked up a modicum of revenge by knocking off Cleveland on Wednesday, 102-88 as three-point home favorites. Six Celtics scored in double-figures, led by Terry Rozier’s 20 points of the bench, while Kyrie Irving posted 11 points on 5-of-14 shooting in his second matchup against his former team. Boston looks to complete its four-game homestand following victories over Houston and Brooklyn, as the Celtics have allowed 98 points or less in four of the past six games at TD Garden.
Minnesota (24-15 SU, 17-20-2 ATS) was tripped up in the final seconds on Wednesday as 6 ½-point favorites in a 98-97 setback at Brooklyn. The Wolves held their third straight opponent to 98 points or fewer, but allowed Brooklyn to shoot 51% from the floor, including hitting 14 three-pointers. Jimmy Butler paced the Wolves with 30 points as 16 of those came from the free-throw line, but the team shot 1-of-11 from long distance.
The Celtics swept the Wolves last season, including a 13-point triumph by Boston at home in mid-March. Minnesota has dropped 10 consecutive matchups at TD Garden since 2006, while looking to improve on a 2-4 record on the road against Eastern Conference foes this season.
Good to See You Again
The Bucks and Raptors are hooking up for the second time in five days after Toronto pulled out a 131-127 overtime victory at the Air Canada Center. DeMar DeRozan lit up the Bucks for a career-high 52 points on 17-of-29 shooting from the floor, but Milwaukee managed to pick up the cover as six-point underdogs.
Toronto (26-10 SU, 21-15 ATS) rallied from an early double-digit deficit to knock off Chicago on Wednesday, 124-115 to cash as 4 ½-point favorites. The Raptors began the fourth quarter on a 16-4 run after being tied following three quarters, as Dwane Casey’s team improved to 5-1 this season against teams from the Central division.
Toronto is making its first trip to Milwaukee since knocking out the Bucks in the opening round of the playoffs last season, as the Raptors captured two of three games at BMO Harris Bradley Center.
Milwaukee (20-16 SU, 16-15-5 ATS) has won 13 of 19 home contests this season, coming off Wednesday’s 122-101 blowout of Indiana as 7 ½-point favorites. Jason Kidd’s squad has covered in four straight games, while moving to 8-1-1 to the OVER in the last 10 home contests.
Overcoming Slow Starts
Although Chicago and Dallas are each over 12 games below .500, these two have turned a profit recently for backers. The Bulls (13-25 SU, 22-15-1 ATS) couldn’t hold on to an early lead over the Raptors in Wednesday’s nine-point home setback. Chicago failed to cover for the second straight game, but the Bulls still own a solid 13-3 ATS record in the last 16 contests, while putting together a 7-1 ATS mark in their past eight on the highway.
The Mavericks (13-26 SU, 20-18-1 ATS) had their four-game winning streak snapped by Stephen Curry and the Warriors in a 125-122 home setback on Wednesday. Dallas picked up a cover as eight-point underdogs, the fifth consecutive ATS win for Rick Carlisle’s club. The Mavs have won five of their past seven games at American Airlines Center, while beating the Bulls four straight times.
Final Stanza
The Jazz and Nuggets hook up for the final time in the regular season on Friday as Denver looks to even the season series at 2-2 with a win. Utah (16-22 SU, 19-19 ATS) sits in last place of the Northwest division after losing at home to New Orleans on Wednesday, 108-98 as one-point favorites. It’s been a rough stretch for Quin Snyder’s team, who owns a 3-11 SU and 5-9 ATS record the past 14 contests, including a 1-8 record away from Salt Lake City.
One of those eight defeats came at Denver on December 26, a 107-83 blowout loss to the Nuggets as 5 ½-point underdogs. The Nuggets (20-17 SU, 18-18-1 ATS) snapped a two-game skid in Wednesday’s 134-111 melting of the Suns as 12-point favorites, as Denver scorched Phoenix for 62% shooting from the floor. Each of the first three meetings between the Jazz and Nuggets have finished UNDER the total, while the UNDER is on a 9-1 run in the last 10 matchups.
Winning Wizards
Washington (22-16 SU, 19-19 ATS) swept a three-game homestand against Houston, Chicago, and New York, as the Wizards have won five of their past six games. In Wednesday’s 121-103 blowout of the Knicks, the backcourt duo of John Wall and Bradley Beal combined for 52 points on 20-of-32 shooting, while the Wizards knocked down 59% of their shots.
The Wizards travel to Memphis (22-16 SU, 19-19 ATS), looking for a season sweep of the Grizzlies after winning at home in mid-December, 93-87. The Grizzlies finished off a five-game western swing at 2-3 SU and 3-2 ATS, capped off by a 113-105 setback to the Clippers on Tuesday. Following a 1-11 stretch at home, the Grizzlies have won two of their last three at FedEx Forum, while beating the Wizards in their previous two home matchups.
Starting to Heat Up
Since consecutive losses earlier this month to the Warriors and Spurs, the Heat (20-17 SU, 16-19-2 ATS) have won nine of their last 13 games to reach the 20-win mark. The latest victory came in Wednesday’s 111-104 triumph over the Pistons as 4 ½-point favorites. Goran Dragic paced Miami with 24 points and 13 assists, while Kelly Olynyk continues his solid season with the Heat by scoring 25 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.
Miami will try to avenge a 29-point setback at New York in late November as the Knicks venture to south Florida. New York (18-20 SU, 20-18 ATS) dropped to 3-13 away from Madison Square Garden following Wednesday’s 18-point loss at Washington, while falling to 1-6 in the past seven games overall. The Knicks have fared well at the American Airlines Arena recently by capturing the last three matchups, while seven of the past eight meetings between New York and Miami have finished UNDER the total.
Fast Break
-- The 76ers seek their third victory over the Pistons this season as the two teams hook up in Philadelphia. The Pistons have dropped three consecutive games away from Little Caesars Arena, while the Sixers are riding a three-game winning streak following a 112-106 home win over the Spurs.
-- San Antonio returns home after losing two of three games on its three-game swing as the Spurs welcome in the Suns. Phoenix owns an 0-2 record this season against San Antonio, but the Suns have won four consecutive games off a loss following a 23-point defeat at Denver.
-- The Hawks look to rebound after blowing a late eight-point lead in the final 90 seconds in Tuesday’s setback at Phoenix. Atlanta remains out west to face Portland, attempting to beat the Blazers for the second time in less than a week. The Blazers are back home after a 1-2 road swing as Portland tries to improve on a 1-6 record in its last seven games at the Moda Center.
-- The Lakers have fallen apart at the seams by losing eight consecutive games, including a 133-96 setback to Oklahoma City on Wednesday. Los Angeles hosts Charlotte, as the Hornets seek consecutive road wins for the first time this season after blowing out Sacramento. Charlotte had defeated L.A. in five straight meetings before getting tripped up at home by the Lakers in early December, 110-99.
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