The Bum's 2018 NBA Trends/Stats/Best Bets Thru The Playoffs !

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Long Sheet

Wednesday, January 23

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TORONTO (36 - 13) at INDIANA (31 - 15) - 1/23/2019, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TORONTO is 201-253 ATS (-77.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season since 1996.
INDIANA is 76-57 ATS (+13.3 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 41-27 ATS (+11.3 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 32-20 ATS (+10.0 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 49-32 ATS (+13.8 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 21-10 ATS (+10.0 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 43-29 ATS (+11.1 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 5-4 against the spread versus INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 7-2 straight up against INDIANA 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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CLEVELAND (9 - 39) at BOSTON (29 - 18) - 1/23/2019, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CLEVELAND is 61-88 ATS (-35.8 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 5-19 ATS (-15.9 Units) in January games over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 21-33 ATS (-15.3 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 34-49 ATS (-19.9 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 84-60 ATS (+18.0 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 58-44 ATS (+9.6 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 45-26 ATS (+16.4 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 27-15 ATS (+10.5 Units) after 3 or more consecutive wins over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 52-38 ATS (+10.2 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 10-9 against the spread versus CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
CLEVELAND is 13-7 straight up against BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
11 of 20 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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ORLANDO (20 - 27) at BROOKLYN (25 - 23) - 1/23/2019, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ORLANDO is 91-114 ATS (-34.4 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
ORLANDO is 33-53 ATS (-25.3 Units) in road games after 3 or more consecutive overs since 1996.
BROOKLYN is 73-56 ATS (+11.4 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
BROOKLYN is 18-7 ATS (+10.3 Units) in January games over the last 2 seasons.
BROOKLYN is 21-7 ATS (+13.3 Units) against Southeast division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
ORLANDO is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) against Atlantic division opponents this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
BROOKLYN is 6-2 against the spread versus ORLANDO over the last 3 seasons
BROOKLYN is 5-3 straight up against ORLANDO over the last 3 seasons
6 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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HOUSTON (26 - 20) at NEW YORK (10 - 35) - 1/23/2019, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 4-12 ATS (-9.2 Units) after allowing 115 points or more this season.
HOUSTON is 12-21 ATS (-11.1 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
HOUSTON is 91-65 ATS (+19.5 Units) in road games after a loss by 10 points or more since 1996.
NEW YORK is 6-14 ATS (-9.4 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
NEW YORK is 2-2 against the spread versus HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
HOUSTON is 4-0 straight up against NEW YORK 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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LA CLIPPERS (25 - 22) at MIAMI (22 - 23) - 1/23/2019, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MIAMI is 26-12 ATS (+12.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
MIAMI is 3-2 against the spread versus LA CLIPPERS over the last 3 seasons
MIAMI is 3-2 straight up against LA CLIPPERS over the last 3 seasons
3 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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SAN ANTONIO (27 - 21) at PHILADELPHIA (31 - 17) - 1/23/2019, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SAN ANTONIO is 15-26 ATS (-13.6 Units) in road games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 125-96 ATS (+19.4 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 44-26 ATS (+15.4 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 16-3 ATS (+12.7 Units) in home games in January games over the last 3 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 29-15 ATS (+12.5 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 47-28 ATS (+16.2 Units) in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 20-9 ATS (+10.1 Units) in home games revenging a loss vs opponent over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 18-7 ATS (+10.3 Units) in home games after a win by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 25-12 ATS (+11.8 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 27-14 ATS (+11.6 Units) in home games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 19-8 ATS (+10.2 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 26-14 ATS (+10.6 Units) in home games versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 31-9 ATS (+21.1 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 28-19 ATS (+7.1 Units) in all games this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 355-292 ATS (+33.8 Units) in non-conference games since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 223-154 ATS (+53.6 Units) off a upset loss as a favorite since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 20-11 ATS (+7.9 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 4-1 against the spread versus SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 3-2 straight up against PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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DETROIT (20 - 26) at NEW ORLEANS (22 - 25) - 1/23/2019, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 33-53 ATS (-25.3 Units) in road games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game since 1996.
NEW ORLEANS is 14-23 ATS (-11.3 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game this season.

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

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ATLANTA (14 - 32) at CHICAGO (11 - 36) - 1/23/2019, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 19-7 ATS (+11.3 Units) against Southeast division opponents over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 4-4 against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 5-3 straight up against ATLANTA 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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CHARLOTTE (22 - 24) at MEMPHIS (19 - 28) - 1/23/2019, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHARLOTTE is 20-34 ATS (-17.4 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
CHARLOTTE is 52-82 ATS (-38.2 Units) against Southwest division opponents since 1996.
CHARLOTTE is 183-230 ATS (-70.0 Units) in non-conference games since 1996.
CHARLOTTE is 14-25 ATS (-13.5 Units) after allowing 115 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
CHARLOTTE is 9-23 ATS (-16.3 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
MEMPHIS is 19-28 ATS (-11.8 Units) in all games this season.
MEMPHIS is 7-18 ATS (-12.8 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
MEMPHIS is 16-31 ATS (-18.1 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
MEMPHIS is 11-23 ATS (-14.3 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
MEMPHIS is 15-27 ATS (-14.7 Units) after 3 or more consecutive losses over the last 2 seasons.
MEMPHIS is 18-30 ATS (-15.0 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
MEMPHIS is 15-24 ATS (-11.4 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHARLOTTE is 3-1 against the spread versus MEMPHIS over the last 3 seasons
CHARLOTTE is 3-1 straight up against MEMPHIS 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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DENVER (31 - 14) at UTAH (26 - 22) - 1/23/2019, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DENVER is 7-18 ATS (-12.8 Units) in road games after scoring 115 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
UTAH is 43-29 ATS (+11.1 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.

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

[StarDust Bum]

NBA

Wednesday, January 23

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Trend Report
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Toronto Raptors
Toronto is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Toronto is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Toronto's last 10 games
Toronto is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
Toronto is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Toronto's last 7 games on the road
Toronto is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Indiana
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Toronto's last 7 games when playing Indiana
Toronto is 10-5 ATS in its last 15 games when playing on the road against Indiana
Toronto is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Indiana
Toronto is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Indiana
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Toronto's last 5 games when playing on the road against Indiana
Indiana Pacers
Indiana is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Indiana is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Indiana's last 12 games
Indiana is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Indiana's last 7 games when playing Toronto
Indiana is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Toronto
Indiana is 5-10 ATS in its last 15 games when playing at home against Toronto
Indiana is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Indiana's last 5 games when playing at home against Toronto

Orlando Magic
Orlando is 3-6-1 ATS in its last 10 games
Orlando is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Orlando's last 5 games
Orlando is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Orlando is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Orlando's last 12 games on the road
Orlando is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Brooklyn
Orlando is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Brooklyn
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Orlando's last 9 games when playing Brooklyn
Orlando is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Brooklyn
Orlando is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Brooklyn
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Orlando's last 11 games when playing on the road against Brooklyn
Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Brooklyn is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Brooklyn is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Brooklyn is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Brooklyn's last 6 games at home
Brooklyn is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Orlando
Brooklyn is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Orlando
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Brooklyn's last 9 games when playing Orlando
Brooklyn is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Orlando
Brooklyn is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Orlando
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Brooklyn's last 11 games when playing at home against Orlando

Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland is 1-5-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Cleveland is 1-16 SU in its last 17 games
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Cleveland's last 11 games
Cleveland is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Cleveland is 1-10 SU in its last 11 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 6 games on the road
Cleveland is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Boston
Cleveland is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games when playing Boston
Cleveland is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Boston
Cleveland is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cleveland's last 5 games when playing on the road against Boston
Boston Celtics
Boston is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 14 of Boston's last 21 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 6 games
Boston is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games at home
Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Boston's last 10 games at home
Boston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Cleveland
Boston is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games when playing Cleveland
Boston is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Cleveland
Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games when playing at home against Cleveland


Los Angeles Clippers
LA Clippers is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games
LA Clippers is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of LA Clippers's last 7 games
LA Clippers is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Clippers's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of LA Clippers's last 8 games when playing Miami
LA Clippers is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Miami
LA Clippers is 7-15 SU in its last 22 games when playing on the road against Miami
The total has gone OVER in 16 of LA Clippers's last 23 games when playing on the road against Miami
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Clippers's last 5 games when playing on the road against Miami
Miami Heat
Miami is 15-7 ATS in its last 22 games
Miami is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games at home
Miami is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Miami's last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Miami's last 8 games when playing LA Clippers
Miami is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against LA Clippers
Miami is 15-7 SU in its last 22 games when playing at home against LA Clippers
The total has gone OVER in 16 of Miami's last 23 games when playing at home against LA Clippers
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Miami's last 5 games when playing at home against LA Clippers

Houston Rockets
Houston is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Houston is 15-6 SU in its last 21 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games
Houston is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 games on the road
Houston is 4-10 SU in its last 14 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Houston's last 10 games on the road
Houston is 16-6 ATS in its last 22 games when playing New York
Houston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing New York
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Houston's last 7 games when playing New York
Houston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against New York
Houston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against New York
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games when playing on the road against New York
New York Knicks
New York is 7-14 ATS in its last 21 games
New York is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New York's last 6 games
New York is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games at home
New York is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games at home
New York is 6-16 ATS in its last 22 games when playing Houston
New York is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Houston
The total has gone OVER in 6 of New York's last 7 games when playing Houston
New York is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Houston
New York is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Houston
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New York's last 5 games when playing at home against Houston

Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Atlanta is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games
Atlanta is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
Atlanta is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Atlanta is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Chicago
Atlanta is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone UNDER in 16 of Atlanta's last 24 games when playing Chicago
Atlanta is 4-10 SU in its last 14 games when playing on the road against Chicago
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Atlanta's last 14 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Chicago Bulls
Chicago is 2-5-1 ATS in its last 8 games
Chicago is 1-10 SU in its last 11 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Chicago's last 9 games
Chicago is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Chicago is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago's last 5 games at home
Chicago is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Atlanta
Chicago is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 16 of Chicago's last 24 games when playing Atlanta
Chicago is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games when playing at home against Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Chicago's last 14 games when playing at home against Atlanta

Charlotte Hornets
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Charlotte's last 5 games
Charlotte is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Charlotte is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Charlotte's last 13 games on the road
Charlotte is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Memphis
Charlotte is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Memphis
Charlotte is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Memphis
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Charlotte's last 5 games when playing on the road against Memphis
Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis is 2-12 ATS in its last 14 games
Memphis is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Memphis's last 5 games
Memphis is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games at home
Memphis is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Memphis's last 5 games at home
Memphis is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Charlotte
Memphis is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Charlotte
Memphis is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Charlotte
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Memphis's last 5 games when playing at home against Charlotte

Detroit Pistons
Detroit is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Detroit is 7-18 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Detroit's last 8 games
Detroit is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games on the road
Detroit is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Detroit's last 5 games on the road
Detroit is 3-10 ATS in its last 13 games when playing New Orleans
Detroit is 1-12 SU in its last 13 games when playing New Orleans
Detroit is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games when playing on the road against New Orleans
Detroit is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against New Orleans
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 6 games when playing on the road against New Orleans
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Detroit's last 15 games when playing on the road against New Orleans
New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of New Orleans's last 8 games at home
New Orleans is 10-3 ATS in its last 13 games when playing Detroit
New Orleans is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games when playing Detroit
New Orleans is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games when playing at home against Detroit
New Orleans is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Detroit
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Orleans's last 6 games when playing at home against Detroit
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of New Orleans's last 15 games when playing at home against Detroit

San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio is 17-6 ATS in its last 23 games
San Antonio is 16-7 SU in its last 23 games
San Antonio is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
San Antonio is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 12 of San Antonio's last 17 games on the road
San Antonio is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Philadelphia
San Antonio is 13-2 SU in its last 15 games when playing Philadelphia
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of San Antonio's last 14 games when playing Philadelphia
San Antonio is 5-14 ATS in its last 19 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
San Antonio is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
The total has gone OVER in 16 of San Antonio's last 23 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 5 games
Philadelphia is 20-5 SU in its last 25 games at home
Philadelphia is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing San Antonio
Philadelphia is 2-13 SU in its last 15 games when playing San Antonio
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Philadelphia's last 14 games when playing San Antonio
Philadelphia is 14-5 ATS in its last 19 games when playing at home against San Antonio
Philadelphia is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against San Antonio
The total has gone OVER in 16 of Philadelphia's last 23 games when playing at home against San Antonio

Denver Nuggets
Denver is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Denver's last 5 games
Denver is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
Denver is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games on the road
Denver is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Utah
Denver is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Utah
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Denver's last 5 games when playing Utah
Denver is 1-7-1 ATS in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Utah
Denver is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Utah
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Denver's last 8 games when playing on the road against Utah
Utah Jazz
Utah is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Utah is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Utah's last 8 games
Utah is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Utah is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Utah's last 13 games at home
Utah is 2-4-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Denver
Utah is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Denver
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Utah's last 5 games when playing Denver
Utah is 7-1-1 ATS in its last 9 games when playing at home against Denver
Utah is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Denver
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Utah's last 8 games when playing at home against Denver

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday's Essentials
Tony Mejia

Game of the Night - Denver at Utah (-3.5, 216.5), 10:35 ET, ESPN

The Jazz welcomed point guard Ricky Rubio back on Monday night but saw their seven-game winning streak end in a disappointing home loss to Portland. With the Nuggets in town, an opportunity presents itself to rebound immediately with a victory they can use as a rallying point with over 30 games left.

Dropping Denver to pull within five games of the Northwest Division leaders sounds a lot better when you’re in fourth place than falling seven behind. The Jazz lost their first four home games but haven’t lost back-to-back games at Vivint Smart Arena since November, so It’s no surprise to see them in a favorite’s role despite the Nuggets coming in just one game behind Golden State for the Western Conference’s top record.

Denver rebounded from being thrown over the Warriors’ knee at home for a 142-111 spanking last Tuesday by crushing the visiting Bulls and Cavs by a combined margin of 52 points. Neither team came into town equipped to deal with the altitude or fight off the onslaught that awaited as Denver healed its wounded ego by pulling no punches in playing rude host. Nikola Jokic notched one triple-double and flirted with another while not playing less than 28 minutes in either game. Only guard Malik Beasley has played more than 30 minutes, so a team that welcomed back Paul Millsap, Gary Harris and Will Barton from extended absences will be fresh and incredibly deep.

Millsap came back on Dec. 29 and looks to have worked off all of the rust, scoring in double-figures in five straight and shooting 17-for-25 over his last three. Harris has mostly been out of the lineup since just after Thanksgiving due to a hip injury and then a hamstring issue while Barton missed over a month due to hip surgery, so both have to regain their legs. That should keep Beasley, Torrey Craig and Juancho Hernangomez in the rotation and gives them a similar look than the Jazz saw in their lone meeting this season, a 103-88 loss on Nov. 3.

Harris and Murray led the way by outperforming Donovan Mitchell and Rubio, outscoring them 39-27 in shooting over 50 percent while the Jazz backcourt shot 10-for-32 (31 percent). Mitchell has been at his best since being forced into the role of primary ballhandler with Rubio sidelined, averaging 27 points and 4.8 assists over the past eight games. Rubio came off the bench in his return from a hamstring injury, so Joe Ingles, Royce O’Neale and Jae Crowder remained in the starting lineup and should continue as key cogs next to center Rudy Gobert and fellow big Derrick Favors. Gobert is averaging 14.7 points and 16.6 rebounds over Utah’s last nine games.

He’s been playing his best basketball of late and held Jokic to just seven points on 3-for-9 shooting in the first meeting, so Gobert’s ability to avoid foul trouble and stay on the floor is going to be key to holding serve in Salt Lake City. The Jazz are 13-9 at home, while the Nuggets are just 11-10 in road arenas this season and come off a loss in Phoenix last time they hit the road on Jan. 12.

The ‘over’ has connected in nine of the last 12 Denver games, including four in a row. The ‘under’ has hit in six of eight games involving the Jazz. The Nuggets have won three straight meetings in the series and the ‘under’ has cashed consistently throughout the matchups played since Quin Snyder took over as Jazz head coach back in 2014. This is the longest losing streak his team has suffered through against Denver since he took over, but he’s won seven straight meetings at home. The Nuggets’ last win came on Dec. 1, 2014, back in Snyder’s first season. Only Harris remains on the roster, so the majority of Denver’s key contributors outside of Millsap, who suited up for the Jazz from ’06-’13, has ever won in Utah.

Best of the Rest

Toronto at Indiana, 7:05 p.m. ET: “Load management” will again sideline Kawhi Leonard, who will be rested until Friday night. The Raptors didn’t miss him against Sacramento on Tuesday night, pulling away in the second half behind Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet dishing out 16 of the team’s 25 assists. Each scored 19 points a piece to lead the way as six got into double-figures, so expect to see a similar community approach employed in Indy against the stingy Pacers. While Toronto and Milwaukee lead the East, Indiana is running third and followed up getting blown out by the 76ers with double-digit wins over Dallas and Charlotte. Darren Collison appears to be over his leg soreness and Myles Turner is also healthier than he’s been in a few weeks. This is the last regular-season meeting and the only one scheduled for Bankers Life Fieldhouse, so Indiana will badly want this one after dropping both games in Toronto already. The Pacers have dropped four straight against the East’s top teams, so with Leonard out, it would be a major disappointment if they’re upset here. Of course, he was absent in the most recent matchup on Jan. 6, a 121-105 win where Norman Powell led a 3-point barrage with 23 points.

L.A. Clippers at Miami, 7:35 p.m. ET: The Heat’s grip on their Southeast Division lead is tenuous following a 1-3 road trip that ended with Monday’s loss in Boston. Miami heads right back on the road for games at Cleveland and New York this weekend, so picking up a win here to get back to .500 could help it get back on track since its next three opponents are all among the East’s worst teams. The Clippers come off a disappointing loss in Dallas on Tuesday where they fell apart late to drop their sixth game in seven outings. L.A. has lost on the second night of a back-to-back three consecutive times and may not be able to count on Danilo Gallinari, who is being bothered by back spasms that have kept him out of two straight games. Tobias Harris shot 1-for-9 from the field against the Mavs and will look to bounce back against the Miami’s multiple wing defenders. The Heat won the first meeting between the teams 121-98 on Dec. 8 despite missing two starters, center Hassan Whiteside and guard Josh Richardson. The Heat swept the season series against the Clippers in ’17-‘18.

San Antonio at Philadelphia, 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN: The 76ers were sharp in crushing Houston depite James Harden extending his 30-point steak to 20 games in just three quarters. He didn’t bother to play in the fourth because the outcome had already been decided despite Jimmy Butler sitting the game out with a wrist injury. Philly didn’t miss him on defense, blocking 14 shots and allowing 13 third-quarter points. Butler’s wrist, Embiid’s back and an upper respiratory infection Ben Simmons is dealing with loom as concerns tonight, so make no moves until you hear what their potential availability looks like post-shootaround. The Spurs are just 9-14 on the road and lack the athleticism that the 76ers employ when at full strength. It won’t help matters if DeMar DeRozan remains affected by an ankle injury that contributed to a 4-for-16 shooting game that produced just eight points in a loss to the Clippers last time out. The Spurs won the first meeting between these teams 123-96 on Dec. 17 by shooting 56 percent from the field, so Philadelphia should be ready to compete here if it gets its key guys on the floor.

Detroit at New Orleans, 8:05 p.m. ET: The Pelicans passed their first test without Anthony Davis with flying colors, dropping the Grizzlies at home. Jahlil Okafor started in the middle, Nikola Mirotic remained the anchor off the bench and New Orleans picked up its second win in six tries. Davis is out with a sprained finger, while Pistons center Andre Drummond is looking to clear one final hurdle in the concussion protocol to get back in action. He’d surely be an asset with fresh legs and Zaza Pauchila, coming off an extended absence, would anchor a second unit against a Pels squad that’s down its top big man. The Pelicans have overwhelmed the Pistons in their recent meetings, winning 12 of 13 since 2013. The ‘under’ has prevailed in seven of eight Pistons games.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Dunkel

Wednesday, January 23


Toronto @ Indiana

Game 537-538
January 23, 2019 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Toronto
119.027
Indiana
127.227
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Indiana
by 8
222
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Indiana
by 5
218
Dunkel Pick:
Indiana
(-5); Over

Cleveland @ Boston

Game 539-540
January 23, 2019 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Cleveland
107.644
Boston
122.725
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Boston
by 15
218
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boston
by 17 1/2
216 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Cleveland
(+17 1/2); Over

Orlando @ Brooklyn

Game 541-542
January 23, 2019 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Orlando
113.550
Brooklyn
122.673
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Brooklyn
by 9
225
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Brooklyn
by 6
219
Dunkel Pick:
Brooklyn
(-6); Over

Houston @ New York

Game 543-544
January 23, 2019 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Houston
119.750
New York
109.485
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Houston
by 10 1/2
229
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Houston
by 7
226
Dunkel Pick:
Houston
(-7); Over

LA Clippers @ Miami

Game 545-546
January 23, 2019 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
LA Clippers
112.846
Miami
120.218
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Miami
by 7 1/2
216
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Miami
by 5 1/2
215 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Miami
(-5 1/2); Over

San Antonio @ Philadelphia

Game 547-548
January 23, 2019 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
San Antonio
125.068
Philadelphia
125.151
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
San Antonio
Even
227
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Philadelphia
by 3 1/2
226
Dunkel Pick:
San Antonio
(+3 1/2); Over

Detroit @ New Orleans

Game 549-550
January 23, 2019 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Detroit
113.044
New Orleans
119.193
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
New Orleans
by 6
217
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
New Orleans
by 4
221
Dunkel Pick:
New Orleans
(-4); Under

Atlanta @ Chicago

Game 551-552
January 23, 2019 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Atlanta
115.241
Chicago
112.571
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Atlanta
by 2 1/2
223
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Chicago
by 2
221 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Atlanta
(+2); Over

Charlotte @ Memphis

Game 553-554
January 23, 2019 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Charlotte
117.497
Memphis
110.097
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Charlotte
by 7 1/2
207
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Memphis
by 1
210
Dunkel Pick:
Charlotte
(+1); Under

Denver @ Utah

Game 555-556
January 23, 2019 @ 10:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Denver
119.824
Utah
120.708
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Utah
by 1
213
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Utah
by 3 1/2
216
Dunkel Pick:
Denver
(+3 1/2); Under

[Udog]

Hoop Trends - Wednesday
Vince Akins

ATS Play ON Trend of the Day:

-- The Rockets are 14-0 ATS (+10.86 ppg) as a favorite off a road game in which they scored at least 25 fewer than the game before and it is before the All-Star break.

ATS Play AGAINST Trend of the Day:

-- The Cavaliers are 0-15 ATS (-9.00 ppg) on the road with rest off a double-digit loss as a dog in which they scored fewer than ten fast break points.

OU Play OVER Trend of the Day:

-- The Celtics are 13-0 OU (+8.15 ppg) as a home favorite with rest after a game in which they had more than 12 steals.

OU Play UNDER Trend of the Day:

-- The Pacers are 0-15 OU (-14.23 ppg) when the line is within three of pick off a win in which they has at least twice as many assists as turnovers.

[Udog]

By: Monique Vág



A History of Defense

The Raptors are playing on the tail end of a back-to-back as they take on the Pacers who have won four of their last five games. Toronto will be without Kawhi Leonard and Jonas Valanciunas once again.

The Under has been a good play when these two teams meet up as it has hit in five of the last seven in the head-to-head, and five straight when playing at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The average score has been 104-97 over their most recent ten meetings. With Indiana ranking first and Toronto ninth in opponent points per game, take the Under (currently set at 213.5) in this game as well.


Brooklyn’s Finest

The Nets have won four straight games and eight of their last ten as they host a Magic team potentially without Aaron Gordon for today's contest. Brooklyn has won four of the last five in the head-to-head and has posted a 9-2 record at home over their most recent 11 games versus the Magic.

With the Nets scoring the second highest points per game in the league over their last three contests averaging 128.3 points, look for the Nets to continue their hot shooting and back them to cover as 5.5-point home favorites.


Trying to get by without their franchise player

The Pelicans host the Pistons today without Anthony Davis but have owned the head-to-head versus Detroit, winning nine of the last ten games averaging 49.2 percent shooting from the field.

The Pelicans have played their best at home averaging 119.8 points per game on 48.7 percent shooting and should be able to take care of business today versus a Pistons team who have been held under 100 points in three of their last five games. Take New Orleans to cover as 4-point home favorites.


DD due for a big performance

Despite a slow month of January, DeMar DeRozan is still averaging 21.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game. Today he is in an excellent spot as the Spurs take on the 76ers who have surrendered 24.1 points per game to opposing shooting guards.

In their earlier meeting this season, DeRozan shot 9 of 16 from the floor while contributing with 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Look for similar numbers today and back Over his points, rebounds, assists total.

[StarDust Bum]

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

TOR at IND 07:00 PM
IND -6.0
U 216.5

LAC at MIA 07:30 PM
LAC +5.5
U 215.5

ORL at BK 07:30 PM
BK -5.5
O 217.5

HOU at NY 07:30 PM
NY +8.0
O 226.5

CLE at BOS 07:30 PM
CLE +15.0
U 213.0

ATL at CHI 08:00 PM
CHI -1.5
O 224.5

SA at PHI 08:00 PM
PHI -2.0
U 225.0

DET at NO 08:00 PM
NO -4.0
U 222.0

CHA at MEM 08:00 PM
CHA +1.5
U 208.5

DEN at UTA 10:30 PM
UTA -4.0
U 215.5

[StarDust Bum]

Harden ties Kobe's MSG opponent mark, scores career-best 61
January 24, 2019
By The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) James Harden scored a career-high 61 points, tying Kobe Bryant's record for a visiting opponent at the current Madison Square Garden, and the Houston Rockets edged the New York Knicks 114-110 on Wednesday night.

Harden made the clinching layup with 3.8 seconds remaining after the Knicks turned it over, capping his fifth 50-point game this season and a wild stretch of back-and-forth basketball across the final minutes.

Eric Gordon made the go-ahead 3-pointer with 9.8 seconds left when Houston couldn't get the ball to Harden, the NBA's leading scorer who earlier had passed Wilt Chamberlain into fourth place in NBA history with his 21st consecutive 30-point game. Harden finished 17 of 38 from the floor. He was only 5 of 20 on 3-pointers, but was 22 of 25 from the line and grabbed 15 rebounds.

Carmelo Anthony holds the overall record at the current MSG with 62 points.

Rookie Allonzo Trier scored a season-high 31 points for the Knicks, who lost their seventh straight.

PACERS 110, RAPTORS 106

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Victor Oladipo suffered a serious right knee injury that could alter the season for the Indiana Pacers, who beat the Toronto Raptors.

The All-Star guard crumpled to the ground with 4:05 left in the second quarter as he tried to defend an outlet pass to Toronto's Pascal Siakam. The magnitude of the injury was apparent almost immediately. Trainers draped a towel over the leg, and players from both teams surrounded Oladipo as he remained down. No replays were shown on the video screen that stretches from free-throw line to free-throw line.

Fans began chanting his name and gave him a standing ovation as he was carted off on a stretcher. Team officials later said Oladipo was scheduled to have an MRI on Thursday.

Thaddeus Young had 23 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Pacers, who won their third straight and snapped a five-game losing streak to the Raptors.

Toronto was led by Serge Ibaka with 23 points and 11 rebounds and Kyle Lowry with 20 points.

NETS 114, MAGIC 110

D'Angelo Russell had a double-double with 25 points and 10 rebounds, Spencer Dinwiddie scored 29 points, and the Brooklyn Nets edged the Orlando Magic for their fifth straight victory.

Orlando had a chance to tie it at 112 with 3.1 seconds left in regulation, but Nikola Vucevic's basket was waved off after replay review confirmed that the Magic center had actually tipped in the ball while it was still on the rim after Evan Fournier had beaten Brooklyn's Jarrett Allen to the hoop.

Russell, who also had seven assists, hit a pair of free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining to seal it for the Nets, who have won seven consecutive games at the Barclays Center. DeMarre Carroll added 19 points for Brooklyn.

Vucevic had a double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Magic, who have lost eight of their last 11. D.J. Augustin added 19 points and Jonathan Isaac scored 16.

CELTICS 123, CAVALIERS 103

BOSTON (AP) - Terry Rozier scored 22 of his 26 points in the first half and the Celtics coasted to their fifth straight victory with a win over the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers.

Jaylen Brown scored 23 points, Gordon Hayward 18 and Jayson Tatum 15 for Boston, which won its 10th straight at home. Rozier, who added eight rebounds and six assists, started in place of the ill Kyrie Irving and shot 6 for 6 and scored 16 points in the opening quarter.

The final score was changed after the game to 123-103 from 125-103, with a basket taken away after originally being credited to Tatum due to a computer glitch. The NBA reviewed the tape and said the basket never occurred in the fourth quarter.

Cedi Osman led the Cavaliers with 25 points and eight rebounds. Cleveland has lost five in a row and 17 of its last 18.

CLIPPERS 111, HEAT 99

MIAMI (AP) - Tobias Harris scored 22 of his 31 points in the first half, and the Los Angeles Clippers clamped down on defense after intermission to beat the Heat.

Montrezl Harrell scored 14 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter for the Clippers, who outscored Miami 44-26 in the first 20 minutes of the second half. Lou Williams added 13 points and Avery Bradley scored 12.

Harris also had seven rebounds and six assists for the Clippers.

Hassan Whiteside finished with 22 points and 16 rebounds for Miami. Josh Richardson scored 17, Tyler Johnson added 15 and Dwyane Wade scored 13 for the Heat.

HAWKS 121, BULLS 101

CHICAGO (AP) - John Collins scored a career-high 35 points, Trae Young had 12 assists and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Bulls.

Collins was 14 for 16 from the field as Atlanta kicked off a season-high, seven-game road trip with its first victory against Chicago in two years, stopping a five-game slide against the Bulls. Jeremy Lin, Young's backup, had 15 points, and Dewayne Dedmon finished with 14.

Chicago lost for the 11th time in its last 12 games. Zach LaVine scored 23 points, and Lauri Markkanen had 22 in the opener of a three-game homestand.

The Bulls trimmed a 20-point deficit all the way down to six when Markkanen made a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer. But the Hawks pulled away with an 11-2 run at the end of the third quarter.

HORNETS 118, GRIZZLIES 107

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Kemba Walker had 22 points and seven assists, Nicolas Batum scored 18 points, and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Memphis Grizzlies for their fourth win in five games.

Jeremy Lamb and Tony Parker had 17 points each for Charlotte.

The game was the first since Grizzlies owner Robert Pera informed cornerstones Mike Conley and Marc Gasol they may be traded. The two Memphis stars did their jobs - Gasol with a triple-double on 22 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists, and Conley adding 31 points - but the Grizzlies couldn't get closer than eight points in the fourth quarter.

The loss was the seventh straight for the Grizzlies and 13th in the past 14.

PISTONS 98, PELICANS 94

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Blake Griffin scored 20 of his game-high 37 points in the first quarter, and Reggie Bullock grabbed a loose ball and slammed home a dunk with 14.5 seconds left to lift the Detroit Pistons over the Pelicans.

Reggie Jackson added 17 points for the Pistons, who withstood a late rally by New Orleans to stop a two-game skid.

Jrue Holiday scored 29 points and Jahlil Okafor added 17 for the Pelicans, who have lost four of six and were playing without star forward Anthony Davis. Davis missed his second straight game with a fracture of his left index finger.

The Pistons led 95-87 with 1:32 remaining, but New Orleans cut the deficit to 95-92 on a drive by Jrue Holiday and a 3-pointer by Darius Miller with 52.5 seconds left. Frank Jackson missed a 3-point attempt to tie it, and Holiday tapped the ball out front, where Bullock picked it up and dribbled the length of the floor for the game-sealing dunk.

76ERS 122, SPURS 120

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Joel Embiid had 33 points and 19 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers used a pair of four-point plays in the fourth quarter to beat the San Antonio Spurs.

With a Sixers crowd chanting ''MVP!'' each time Embiid touched the ball, the All-Star center delivered a sensational performance. He even scored 16 straight points that kept the Sixers in the game. Landry Shamet ended Embiid's personal run with a four-point play that pulled the Sixers within one.

After the Spurs nudged ahead, Shamet hit a 3 to make it a three-point game and JJ Redick gave the Sixers a 121-120 lead with 1 minute left after he converted Philadelphia's second four-point play of the fourth. The Spurs blew their chances to win: Philadelphia had a shot-clock violation but DeMar DeRozan had his shot blocked by Wilson Chandler. Corey Brewer went 1 of 2 from the free-throw line for a 122-120 lead with 1.1 seconds left. San Antonio's final shot at sending the game into overtime was denied when Ben Simmons broke up an inbound pass headed for Marco Belinelli.

DeRozan, who sat out the final possession, led the Spurs with 26 points.

JAZZ 114, NUGGETS 108

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Donovan Mitchell scored 35 points while making a season-high six 3-pointers to lead the Utah Jazz past the Denver Nuggets.

Ricky Rubio added 17 points and six assists, Rudy Gobert had 15 points and 11 rebounds, Joe Ingles added 14 points and eight assists and Jae Crowder had 15 points for Utah, which won for the ninth time in 11 games after hitting 19 3-pointers.

Nikola Jokic scored 28 points and had 21 rebounds and six assists to lead the Nuggets, whose two-game winning streak ended despite shooting 42 of 88 - 48 percent - from the field. Will Barton added 22 points and a season-high nine rebounds.

The game got a bit heated early when Utah's Derrick Favors and Denver's Mason Plumlee were both ejected with 2:46 left in the first quarter. The two shoved each either under the Nuggets basket, leading to more shoving from multiple players on both teams. Favors and Plumlee each received a technical foul, as did Utah's Royce O'Neale and Denver's Will Barton for pushing and shoving in the scrum.

[StarDust Bum]

JANUARY'S OPINION AND BEST BETS !

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

01/23/2019 8-11-1 42.11% -20.50
01/22/2019 5-3-0 62.50% +8.50
01/21/2019 10-8-1 55.56% +6.00
01/20/2019 1-4-1 20.00% -17.00
01/19/2019 10-6-0 62.50% +17.00
01/18/2019 10-3-0 76.92% +33.50
01/17/2019 5-3-0 62.50% +8.50
01/16/2019 5-8-1 38.46% -19.00
01/15/2019 8-3-1 72.73% +23.50
01/14/2019 4-4-0 50.00% -2.00
01/13/2019...... 4-10-0 .....28.57%... -35.00
01/12/2019 2-11-0 15.38% -50.50
01/11/2019 12-6-0 66.67% +27.00
01/10/2019 3-4-0 42.85% -7.00
01/09/2019 10-8-1 55.56% +6.00
01/08/2019 8-8-0 50.00% -4.00
01/07/2019 7-9-0 43.75% -14.50
01/06/2019 4-7-0 36.36% -18.50
01/05/2019 9-7-0 56.25% +6.50
01/04/2019 10-7-0 58.82% +11.50
01/03/2019 4-2-0 66.67% +9.00
01/02/2019 13-5-0 72.22% +37.50
01/01/2019 3-7-0 30.00% -23.50


Totals..........155-142-0......52.18%.....-16.70


NBA BEST BETS:

DATE......................ATS...................UN ITS...................O/U...................UNITS..............TOTAL

01/23/2019...........2 - 2..................-1.00.....................3 - 4.................-7.00..............-8.00
01/22/2019...........3 - 0..................+15.00..................2 - 2.................-1.00..............+14.00
01/21/2019...........3 - 3..................-1.50.....................5 - 3.................+8.50.............+7.00
01/20/2019...........1 - 2..................-6.00.....................0 - 3.................-16.50.............-22.50
01/19/2019...........2 - 2..................-1.00.....................7 - 2.................+24.00...........+23.00
01/18/2019...........5 - 0..................+25.00..................3 - 3.................-1.50..............+23.50
01/17/2019...........2 - 1..................+4.50....................2 - 1.................+4.50.............+9.00
01/16/2019...........0 - 3..................-16.50...................4 - 4.................-2.00..............-18.50
01/15/2019...........0 - 3..................-16.50...................5 - 0.................+25.00...........+8.50
01/14/2019...........2 - 2..................-1.00.....................2 - 2..................-1.00.............-2.00
01/13/2019 ..........1 - 4..................-17.00...................1 - 4..................-17.00...........-34.00
01/12/2019...........0 - 4..................-22.00...................2 - 5..................-17.50............-39.50
01/11/2019...........3 - 1..................+9.50....................6 - 3.................+13.50...........+23.00
01/10/2019...........2 - 1..................+4.50....................1 - 3.................-11.50.............-7.00
01/09/2019...........1 - 2...................-6.00....................5 - 3.................+8.50..............+2.50
01/08/2019...........2 - 2...................-1.00....................3 - 3..................-1.50...............-2.50
01/07/2019...........4 - 2..................+9.00....................3 - 3..................-1.50...............+7.50
01/06/2019...........2 - 1..................+4.50....................2 - 3.................-6.50................-2.00
01/05/2019...........2 - 1..................+4.50....................3 - 8.................-12.50...............-8.00
01/04/2019...........0 - 3..................-16.50....................6 - 2.................+19.00............+2.50
01/03/2019...........3 - 0..................+15.00...................1 - 2.................-6.00...............+9.00
01/02/2019...........4 - 1..................+14.50...................6 - 2.................+19.00............+33.50
01/01/2019...........1 - 2...................-6.00.....................1 - 2..................-6.00...............-12.00

Totals.................45 - 44.................-6.00....................73 - 67..............+13.00.............+7.00

[StarDust Bum]

Thursday’s 6-pack

Odds for the Farmers’ Insurance golf tournament this weekend:

10-1: Jon Rahm

14-1: Day-McIlroy-Rose-Woods

18-1: Xander Schauffele

20-1: Finau-Leishman

22-1: Cantlay-Fowler

28-1: Howell-Woodland

Tweet of the Day
“Of course I want them to get in, because that would mean that I have an opportunity to get in one day.”
Alex Rodriguez, talking about Roger Clemens/Barry Bonds and the Hall of Fame

Thursday’s quiz
Where was the first Super Bowl played?

Wednesday’s quiz
Don Larsen and Roy Halladay have thrown the only two postseason no-hitters.

Tuesday’s quiz
Tennessee is #1 in country in basketball for the second time; Bruce Pearl was the Volunteers’ coach the first time they were #1 in the country.

********************

Thursday’s List of 13: Nobody asked me, but……

13) Tennessee 88, Vanderbilt 83 OT— Eleven years ago, Tennessee became #1 in the country for the first time ever, then 48 hours later went to Vanderbilt and got upset.

Monday, Tennessee became #1 in the country for the second time ever; 48 hours later, they went to Vanderbilt, were down 6 with 1:25 left, but rallied to force OT, where the Vols survived to win an excellent game. Vandy is 0-6 in the SEC, but they fought like hell in this rivalry game.

Tennessee’s Grant Williams was 23-23 on the foul line.

12) LSU 92, Georgia 82— LSU (-11.5) is up 12 with the ball in the last 0:20; they have a 3-1 break for a layup, but the dribbler throws a lob pass off the backboard, trying for a dunk, which fails badly, and Georgia goes down and nails to a 3-pointer for the backdoor cover.

This is the kind of shenanigans which makes you not want to pick games; LSU is a winner here, but the kid was a jackass so if you laid 11 points with LSU, thats a losing ticket.

11) Unfortunately, Indiana Pacers’ star Victor Oladipo messed up his knee Wednesday night and is likely out of the season. Oladipo was scoring 19 ppg for the Pacers.

10) Rockets 114, Knicks 110— James Harden scored 61 points, and he was only 5-20 on the arc; he took 38 shots from floor, was 22-25 on foul line. Houston was +19 with Harden on the floor, -15 when he was off the floor, and he was only off for 8:00.

Harden is first player in NBA history to take 20 3-pointers and 20 foul shots in same game.

9) How are totals affected when NBA teams are playing for a second consecutive night?
— Road team that was at home the night before: over 22-20
— Road team that was on road the night before: over 41-36
— Home team that was at home the night before: over 17-12
— Home team that was on road the night before: under 23-19

8) Good news for Arizona Cardinals and their young QB Josh Rosen; WR Larry Fitzgerald is coming back for his 16th season next year. There had been lot of thought last month that this season might have been the future Hall of Famer’s last one.

7) NHL’s Edmonton Oilers fired their GM Peter Chiarelli Tuesday night in between periods of a home game, so that he could leave the Oilers’ arena quietly. Chiarelli was Edmonton’s GM for the last 3.5 years.

6) Oklahoma 70, Oklahoma State 61— Sooners’ 6-4 freshman Jamal Bienemy is the nephew of Chiefs’ OC Eric Bienemy; he scored a career-high 17 points in this game. OSU didn’t score for the last 5:00; Sooners ended the game on a 10-0 run.

5) Virginia Tech QB Josh Jackson is leaving the program, the 4th Hokie to announce that he is transferring this week. Jackson was hurt in the third game this past season and missed the rest of the year. He will be eligible immediately as a graduate transfer.

4) Alabama has a basketball player named Kira Lewis who basically skipped his senior year in high school to get a head start on playing college ball. It is January 24, and Lewis is still only 17 years old, and to me, that is too young. Kid is a good ballplayer, not saying that, just saying that in other ways, being a 17-year old college student might not be the best idea.

Marquette’s Markus Howard did the same thing and is playing really well, but he has injury problems. There is only so much pounding a body can take, and the less mature that body is, the harder it is for that person to bounce back from them.

3) ESPN’s Rece Davis probably annoyed some people Tuesday night when he said that Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, KS is the best place in the country to watch a college basketball game. People get territorial about stuff like that.

2) Saturday’s big thing in college basketball will be the SEC-Big X challenge, with ten games in a made-for-TV event. Lot of interesting games between two of the best leagues in the country.

Kentucky-Kansas is the marquee matchup; Jayhawks are 6-3 in their last nine games with Kentucky.

1) One thing for sure, I’m not flying anywhere until the air traffic controllers have all their money back. These people are stressed out on a good day- it is a very difficult job.

Not paying them while they’re still having to work their stressful job is an invitation to a horrific accident that will cost lives, and whose fault will that be?

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Long Sheet

Thursday, January 24

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GOLDEN STATE (33 - 14) at WASHINGTON (20 - 26) - 1/24/2019, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
GOLDEN STATE is 66-80 ATS (-22.0 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) in home games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
WASHINGTON is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) in home games versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 73-43 ATS (+25.7 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season since 1996.
WASHINGTON is 57-74 ATS (-24.4 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) when playing with 2 days rest over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 2-2 against the spread versus GOLDEN STATE over the last 3 seasons
GOLDEN STATE is 4-1 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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NEW ORLEANS (22 - 26) at OKLAHOMA CITY (29 - 18) - 1/24/2019, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NEW ORLEANS is 13-22 ATS (-11.2 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
NEW ORLEANS is 14-24 ATS (-12.4 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game this season.
NEW ORLEANS is 75-46 ATS (+24.4 Units) in road games in January games since 1996.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 45-61 ATS (-22.1 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
OKLAHOMA CITY is 6-3 against the spread versus NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons
OKLAHOMA CITY is 6-3 straight up against NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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PORTLAND (29 - 20) at PHOENIX (11 - 38) - 1/24/2019, 9:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 5-4 against the spread versus PORTLAND over the last 3 seasons
PORTLAND is 8-1 straight up against PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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MINNESOTA (23 - 24) at LA LAKERS (25 - 23) - 1/24/2019, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 20-36 ATS (-19.6 Units) after scoring 115 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 140-99 ATS (+31.1 Units) after 3 or more consecutive overs since 1996.
LA LAKERS are 7-16 ATS (-10.6 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 8-3 against the spread versus LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
MINNESOTA is 8-3 straight up against LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Thursday, January 24

Warriors won their last eight games (6-2 vs spread), are 5-2 vs spread in last seven road games. Eight of their last ten games went over. Wizards won four of their last five games; they covered their last five home games. Three of their last four games stayed under. Golden State won eight of last nine games with Washington, but Wizards covered four of last six; Warriors are 2-2 vs spread in last four visits here. Three of last four series games went over.

Davis-less New Orleans lost four of its last six games; they covered their last four home games. Four of their last six games stayed under. Oklahoma City won/covered its last three games; they are 3-4 vs spread in last seven home games. Seven of their last eight games went over. Thunder won six of last nine games with the Pelicans; three of last four series games stayed under. New Orleans is 1-3 vs spread in its last four visits to Oklahoma.

Trailblazers won nine of their last 13 games; they’re 4-2 vs spread in last six road games. Over is 5-2-1 in their last eight games. Phoenix lost its last five games; they’re 2-6-1 vs spread in last nine home games. Under is 5-3 in their last eight games. Portland won its last eight games with the Suns; they’re 3-2 vs spread in last five visits to the desert (under 4-1).

Minnesota is 4-3 since the coaching change; they’re 5-3 vs spread in last eight road games. Over is 14-4 in their last 18 games. Lakers are 4-6 in their last ten games, 2-4 vs spread in last six home games. LA’s last three games went over. Home side won eight of last ten Timberwolves-Laker games; Minnesota covered six of last seven series games, with three of last four staying under the total.




NBA

Thursday, January 24

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Trend Report
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Golden State Warriors
Golden State is 5-1-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Golden State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Golden State's last 6 games
Golden State is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Golden State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Golden State's last 6 games on the road
Golden State is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Washington
Golden State is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing Washington
Golden State is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Golden State's last 7 games when playing on the road against Washington
Washington Wizards
Washington is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Washington is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Washington is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Washington is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games at home
Washington is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Golden State
Washington is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games when playing Golden State
Washington is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 7 games when playing at home against Golden State

New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games
New Orleans is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New Orleans's last 6 games
New Orleans is 3-6-1 ATS in its last 10 games on the road
New Orleans is 6-19 SU in its last 25 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of New Orleans's last 9 games on the road
New Orleans is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Oklahoma City
New Orleans is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games when playing Oklahoma City
New Orleans is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Oklahoma City
New Orleans is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Oklahoma City is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Oklahoma City's last 8 games
Oklahoma City is 15-5 SU in its last 20 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Oklahoma City's last 5 games at home
Oklahoma City is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games when playing New Orleans
Oklahoma City is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games when playing New Orleans
Oklahoma City is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against New Orleans
Oklahoma City is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against New Orleans

Portland Trail Blazers
Portland is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games
Portland is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Portland's last 6 games
Portland is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Portland is 5-10 ATS in its last 15 games on the road
Portland is 4-10 SU in its last 14 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Portland's last 11 games on the road
Portland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Phoenix
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Portland's last 15 games when playing Phoenix
Portland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
Portland is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Portland's last 7 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
Phoenix Suns
Phoenix is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
Phoenix is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Phoenix is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Phoenix's last 5 games at home
Phoenix is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Portland
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Phoenix's last 15 games when playing Portland
Phoenix is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games when playing at home against Portland
Phoenix is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Portland
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Phoenix's last 7 games when playing at home against Portland

Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Minnesota is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 15 of Minnesota's last 18 games
Minnesota is 7-18 SU in its last 25 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Minnesota's last 9 games on the road
Minnesota is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing LA Lakers
Minnesota is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Minnesota's last 15 games when playing LA Lakers
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota's last 6 games when playing LA Lakers
Minnesota is 5-19 SU in its last 24 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Minnesota's last 9 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
LA Lakers is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games
LA Lakers is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of LA Lakers's last 9 games
LA Lakers is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home
LA Lakers is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games at home
LA Lakers is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 17 of LA Lakers's last 22 games at home
LA Lakers is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Minnesota
LA Lakers is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 10 of LA Lakers's last 15 games when playing Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Lakers's last 6 games when playing Minnesota
LA Lakers is 19-5 SU in its last 24 games when playing at home against Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 6 of LA Lakers's last 9 games when playing at home against Minnesota

[StarDust Bum]

Inside the Paint - Thursday
Chris David

The point-spread is in place for a reason and last night it played a major factor in the Association as underdogs went 8-2 against the spread. Of those eight covers, only four of those pups managed to win outright on Wednesday as the favorites produced a 6-4 straight up record. The spread was single digits in nine of the 10 games with Boston (-15) being the lone exception and it ran past Cleveland 123-103 at home. Total players saw a stalemate (5-5) in the 10-game card and bettors had to put in a full 48-minute workout for a couple of those tickets.

Thursday’s card has four games on tap, including a nationally televised double-header on TNT.

Golden State (33-14 SU, 21-25-1 ATS) at Washington (20-26 SU, 20-26 ATS)

The Warriors will be looking to win their ninth straight game on Thursday against Washington when they pay a visit to the nation’s capital and the opener of Golden State -9 seems a little short to me.

During its current eight-game winning streak, Golden State has gone 5-2-1 ATS while averaging 130.6 points per game. Six of the wins came by 10-plus points and they’ve covered three times as double-digit favorites. If the Warriors role out a full squad and don’t rest anybody, I would expect this line to close at -10 or higher and while some bettors might be shy to lay the wood with the Warriors, they’ve been unreal as double-digit favorites (17-0 SU,13-4 ATS) this season. One of those wins for Golden State came at home on Oct. 24 versus Washington, a 144-122 decision as a 10-point favorite.

Another reason to back Golden State, the club has gone 12-4 SU and 10-6 ATS against the Eastern Conference this season. Sticking with the possible double-digit favorite angle, the Warriors are 8-0 SU and 7-1 ATS while averaging 128.8 points per game versus teams from the East and the ‘over’ has gone 6-2 in those games.

Lastly, the team is 2-0 both SU and ATS since DeMarcus Cousins joined the Warriors lineup and one site noted that the Golden State “Death Lineup” of all five All-Stars has a point differential of +35 in just 18 minutes per game with Cousins.

All those facts give you plenty of reason to run to the window and bet the ‘chalk’ but we all know it’s never that easy. Especially since Washington (15-8 SU, 14-9 ATS) hasn’t been a pushover at home and the team has gone 7-4 since point guard John Wall (heel) went down with a season-ending injury. Also, the Wizards have won four of their last five at home, which includes quality wins over the 76ers and Bucks. Plus, the lone loss came to the Raptors and that was only a two-point setback (140-138). Golden State is certainly on a different level but with the postseason likely not in the cards for Washington, the fans should be amped for this game tonight.

Including the aforementioned win in October, the Warriors have won four straight and eight of their last nine games against the Wizards. They’ve gone 5-4 ATS during this span.

TNT will provide national coverage of this game at 8:05 p.m. ET.

New Orleans (22-25 SU, 21-25-1 ATS) at Oklahoma City (29-18 SU, 26-21 ATS)

After suffering through a 1-4 skid a couple weeks ago, the Thunder have rallied to win and cover three straight games which includes a 123-114 win over Portland on Tuesday as four-point favorite. OKC has been solid at home this season (15-7 SU, 12-0 ATS) but it hasn’t won back-to-back games at Chesapeake Energy Arena since mid-December. The Thunder opened as an 11 ½-point favorite for this game and they’ve dropped their last two in this role at home, most recently to the LeBron-less L.A. Lakers (138-128) on Jan. 17. Overall, the team is 4-3 SU and 3-4 ATS as double-double digit favorites at home while the ‘over’ has gone 5-2 in those games.

The Pelicans will be playing on no rest tonight after losing 98-94 to Detroit on Wednesday as a five-point home favorite. New Orleans was playing without All-Star Anthony Davis for the second straight game and it won without him on Monday albeit it came against a struggling Memphis squad (105-85). Including last night’s loss, the Pelicans are now 2-5 without Davis in the line up this season.

New Orleans has gone 1-6 both SU and ATS in back-to-back spots this season and the defense has been grinded for 121.8 PPG, which has led to a 5-2 ‘over’ mark. The pair have played twice already this season and they’ve gone 1-1 versus one another with the home team winning each game. The total went 1-1 despite the pair combining for 232 and 238 points. Oddsmakers are expecting another shootout tonight with the opening total hovering between 237 and 238 points.

Portland (29-20 SU, 26-23 ATS) at Phoenix (11-38 SU, 22-27 ATS)

No overnight line was posted on this game due to the ‘questionable’ injury status of Portland point guard Damian Lillard (hand), plus the Suns won’t have center DeAndre Ayton (ankle) available. The Trail Blazers will be road favorites for this matchup and they’ve won eight straight games against the Suns but have only covered four of those wins. The pair met on Dec. 6 from the Moda Center and Portland captured a 108-86 win as a 12 ½-point home favorite.

As a road favorite this season, Portland has gone 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS. The Blazers have brought their offense in those situations (119.2 PPG) and that’s helped produce a 4-1 ‘over’ mark.

Phoenix has been more successful at home (7-18 SU, 11-14 ATS) but that’s not saying much considering it only has 11 wins on the season. They’re coming off a 118-91 blowout loss to Minnesota in the desert on Tuesday as a four-point underdog and that dropped them to 2-6 SU and 3-5 ATS in their last eight games from Talking Stick Resort Arena.

Minnesota (23-24 SU, 24-23 ATS) at L.A. Lakers (25-23 SU, 20-26-2 ATS)

The Timberwolves and Lakers will meet for the fourth and final time on Thursday and TNT will provide national coverage at 10:35 p.m. ET. Minnesota captured two of the first three encounters, both wins coming at home and while they lost 114-110 at the Staples Center on Nov. 7 they did manage to cover as a 5 ½-point underdog. LeBron James played in that game for the Lakers but he missed the most recent meeting on Jan. 6 from the Target Center when the T-Wolves ran the Purple and Gold by 20 points (106-86).

Since LeBron went down, the club has gone 5-9 in his absence and that includes a 2-5 mark at the Staples Center. On Monday, the club was blasted 130-111 by Golden State and that outcome came after they put up a solid effort in a 138-134 road loss to Houston last Saturday. James (groin) has been ruled ‘out’ for Thursday and his return to the team remains uncertain. Lonzo Ball (ankle) recently joined the injury list for Los Angeles and now the club has no true point guard, since Rajon Rondo (hand) hasn’t played since Christmas.

Minnesota has had a drama-filled season but the club has moved on from trading Jimmy Butler and firing head coach Tom Thibodeau. Since they shipped Butler to Philadelphia, the T-Wolves have gone 19-15 and they own a 4-3 record since ‘Tibs’ was replaced by Ryan Saunders. Coincidentally, Thibodeau was canned after the T-Wolves beat the Lakers at home on Jan. 6.

The Timberwolves remain 2 ½ games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. They enter this game off back-to-back wins, both coming against the cellar dweller Suns. This line opened short (-1 ½) and Minnesota has gone 4-3 both SU and ATS this season when listed as a road favorite. The ‘under’ has gone 5-2 in those games and outside of two poor outings to Sacramento (121, 141), the defense (97.8 PPG) has stepped up.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Dunkel

Thursday, January 24


Golden State @ Washington

Game 557-558
January 24, 2019 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Golden State
127.195
Washington
115.597
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Golden State
by 11 1/2
231
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Golden State
by 9 1/2
235
Dunkel Pick:
Golden State
(-9 1/2); Under

New Orleans @ Oklahoma City

Game 559-560
January 24, 2019 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
New Orleans
109.704
Oklahoma City
118.469
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Oklahoma City
by 9
232
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Oklahoma City
by 12
234
Dunkel Pick:
New Orleans
(+12); Under

Portland @ Phoenix

Game 561-562
January 24, 2019 @ 9:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Portland
118.093
Phoenix
102.536
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Portland
by 15 1/2
225
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Portland
by 7 1/2
220 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Portland
(-7 1/2); Over

Minnesota @ LA Lakers

Game 563-564
January 24, 2019 @ 10:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Minnesota
122.497
LA Lakers
114,051
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Minnesota
by 8 1/2
228
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Minnesota
by 1 1/2
228 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Minnesota
(-1 1/2); Under

[StarDust Bum]

Thursday's Top Action
Tom Wilkinson

The Los Angeles Lakers have been dealing with injuries for much of this season, but Rajon Rondo is set to return on Thursday. It does appear they will have to wait at least one more game for the return of LeBron James and Los Angeles will be without Lonzo Ball for at least the next 4-6 weeks.

The Lakers have not played well without LeBron and have actually fallen out of a playoff spot. They are only two games in front of the Minnesota Timberwolves who are in 11th place in the Western Conference. Let’s look at Thursday’s game on TNT and NBA picks.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Date and Time: Thursday, January 24, 2019, 10:30 p.m. ET
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
NBA Odds: Timberwolves -1.5, O/U 229
Timberwolves vs. Lakers TV Coverage: TNT

The Lakers are coming off a blowout loss to Golden State on Monday, but they will be getting some players back. Rondo is expected to play on Thursday. "I think Rondo will play Thursday as long as he continues to move with no setbacks until then, but that will be something that we'll keep pushing him and we'll re-evaluate each morning," Lakers coach Luke Walton said to the media.

Rondo has been out for the past 14 games and his loss, especially combined with the loss of LeBron, has made it difficult for Los Angeles to win games. Rondo has only played in 14 of 48 games this season for the Lakers. The Lakers need Rondo back in the lineup, especially since Ball will miss at least the next month with a sprained ankle.

James has missed the past 14 games, but he has been practicing and is close to returning. Walton said James probably won’t play on Thursday. "I haven't seen him do contact yet, so I don't feel as confident," Walton said recently to the media, "But I know you know how serious he is about his rehab. So he's doing everything possible and we've talked. I know he's dying to get back on the basketball court, but he also knows that getting healthy is the top priority. So whenever that day comes, he'll be back out there, but I would say right now I feel more confident about Rondo being ready for Thursday." The Lakers are 5-9 without LeBron in the lineup.

Players are ready for both Rondo and James to return. "It gives us a leader, a leader on the basketball floor," Brandon Ingram said about Rondo. "Puts us in our spots on the offensive end. Pushes the pace, he can score the basketball. And it just makes our team better."

Matchup Numbers

The Timberwolves are coming off a good win at Phoenix on Tuesday night. The Timberwolves are 10-13 ATS on the road this season, with 11 games going over and 12 going under. They are averaging just over 111 points per game and giving up just over 111 per contest.

The Lakers are just 9-14-2 ATS at home, with seven games going over, 17 games going under, with one push. They are averaging about 112 points per game and giving up about 112 per contest.

The Timberwolves are 2-1 against the Lakers this season.

Key Stats

The Timberwolves are 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings against the Lakers. The Timberwolves are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games following an ATS win. The Lakers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points. The Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. the Northwest.

Looking at the total, the Over is 8-1 in the Timberwolves last 9 road games. The Under is 8-3 in the Timberwolves last 11 vs. the Pacific. The Under is 5-1 in the Lakers last 6 vs. the Northwest. The Under is 18-7-1 in the Lakers last 26 home games.

[StarDust Bum]

Hoop Trends - Thursday
Vince Akins

ATS Play ON Trend of the Day:

-- The Thunder are 11-0 ATS (+11.23 ppg) with less than two days rest off a home game in which they had more than 12 steals.

ATS Play AGAINST Trend of the Day:

-- The Wizards are 0-10 ATS (-8.85 ppg) as a 8+ dog when they won as a favorite in each of their last two games.

OU Play OVER Trend of the Day:

-- The Wizards are 11-0 OU (+15.77 ppg) as a home dog when they lost at least three straight vs their opponent and it is before the All-Star break.

OU Play UNDER Trend of the Day:

-- The Lakers are 0-13 OU (-12.23 ppg) with more than one day of rest off a home loss in which they allowed 50-plus points in the paint.