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Pick 'n' roll: Wednesday's best bets
Utah Jazz at Toronto Raptors (+1, 204 1/2)
The Jazz have found their groove.
The Jazz registered back-to-back 24-point wins over the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings last week. They have also won four straight since losing to the Lakers on Nov. 4.
Utah is the most potent offensive team in the NBA, averaging a league-best 100 points per game this season. Power forward Carlos Boozer is unstoppable down low at the moment, averaging a double-double (26 points and 12 rebounds). Deron Williams has been equally effective, tallying 19 points and 10 assists per contest this season.
Utah has also limited its last two opponents to fewer than 95 points respectively, seven points below its season average.
Home court hasn't been kind to the Raptors. They are 1-2 straight-up (SU) and 1-2 against the spread (ATS) at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto is also averaging less than 93 points per contest in its last three home games, seven points below their season average.
Raptors star forward Chris Bosh is accumulating less than 16 points and seven rebounds per contest this season. He's also shooting a meager 42 percent from the field.
Pick: Jazz -1
Sacramento Kings at Minnesota Timberwolves (-3, 194)
Minnesota should get the winless monkey off its back Wednesday against the lowly Kings.
The Timberwolves lost to the Kings 100-93 on Saturday in Sacramento despite five Minnesota players scoring in double figures. Al Jefferson, who is averaging 19 points and 12 rebounds per game, paced Minnesota with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Veteran center Theo Ratliff also had a strong performance Saturday, registering 14 points and six blocks in a losing effort.
The Kings are struggling defensively, allowing more than 100 points per contest this season. They are also averaging less than 95 points per game. Kevin Martin is a bright light, leading Sacramento in scoring with more than 27 points per outing. He?s also averaging two steals per contest.
Ron Artest should be in the Sacramento lineup for the first time this season on Wednesday. Artest averaged less than 17 points on 38 percent shooting last season. He could actually impede the Kings' already sputtering offense by taking scoring opportunities away from Martin.
Pick: Timberwolves -3
Indiana Pacers at Washington Wizards (-6, 202)
Don't expect high-caliber basketball at the Verizon Center on Wednesday.
It's not going to happen, on either side of the ball.
The Wizards are averaging less than 92 points per game on 37 percent shooting this season. Potent scorer Gilbert Arenas is also struggling, tallying less than 21 points per contest on uncharacteristic 35 percent shooting.
The Wizards won their first contest on Sunday when they toppled the Atlanta Hawks 101-90. Washington had three players in double figures, among them Caron Butler (24) and Antwan Jamison (23). Jamison and Brendan Haywood also registered double-doubles in points and rebounds on Sunday.
The Wizards shot 43 percent against the Hawks. They also limited Atlanta to 39 percent shooting, including 3-for-20 shooting from behind the arc.
Things should get easier for the Wizards against the struggling Pacers. Indiana is conceding more than 100 points per contest. They are also allowing opponents to shoot above 40 percent from the three-point stripe.
The Pacers have lost three straight contests since a road win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 3.
Pick: Wizards -6
Hot Lines
Pick 'n' roll: Wednesday's best bets
Utah Jazz at Toronto Raptors (+1, 204 1/2)
The Jazz have found their groove.
The Jazz registered back-to-back 24-point wins over the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings last week. They have also won four straight since losing to the Lakers on Nov. 4.
Utah is the most potent offensive team in the NBA, averaging a league-best 100 points per game this season. Power forward Carlos Boozer is unstoppable down low at the moment, averaging a double-double (26 points and 12 rebounds). Deron Williams has been equally effective, tallying 19 points and 10 assists per contest this season.
Utah has also limited its last two opponents to fewer than 95 points respectively, seven points below its season average.
Home court hasn't been kind to the Raptors. They are 1-2 straight-up (SU) and 1-2 against the spread (ATS) at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto is also averaging less than 93 points per contest in its last three home games, seven points below their season average.
Raptors star forward Chris Bosh is accumulating less than 16 points and seven rebounds per contest this season. He's also shooting a meager 42 percent from the field.
Pick: Jazz -1
Sacramento Kings at Minnesota Timberwolves (-3, 194)
Minnesota should get the winless monkey off its back Wednesday against the lowly Kings.
The Timberwolves lost to the Kings 100-93 on Saturday in Sacramento despite five Minnesota players scoring in double figures. Al Jefferson, who is averaging 19 points and 12 rebounds per game, paced Minnesota with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Veteran center Theo Ratliff also had a strong performance Saturday, registering 14 points and six blocks in a losing effort.
The Kings are struggling defensively, allowing more than 100 points per contest this season. They are also averaging less than 95 points per game. Kevin Martin is a bright light, leading Sacramento in scoring with more than 27 points per outing. He?s also averaging two steals per contest.
Ron Artest should be in the Sacramento lineup for the first time this season on Wednesday. Artest averaged less than 17 points on 38 percent shooting last season. He could actually impede the Kings' already sputtering offense by taking scoring opportunities away from Martin.
Pick: Timberwolves -3
Indiana Pacers at Washington Wizards (-6, 202)
Don't expect high-caliber basketball at the Verizon Center on Wednesday.
It's not going to happen, on either side of the ball.
The Wizards are averaging less than 92 points per game on 37 percent shooting this season. Potent scorer Gilbert Arenas is also struggling, tallying less than 21 points per contest on uncharacteristic 35 percent shooting.
The Wizards won their first contest on Sunday when they toppled the Atlanta Hawks 101-90. Washington had three players in double figures, among them Caron Butler (24) and Antwan Jamison (23). Jamison and Brendan Haywood also registered double-doubles in points and rebounds on Sunday.
The Wizards shot 43 percent against the Hawks. They also limited Atlanta to 39 percent shooting, including 3-for-20 shooting from behind the arc.
Things should get easier for the Wizards against the struggling Pacers. Indiana is conceding more than 100 points per contest. They are also allowing opponents to shoot above 40 percent from the three-point stripe.
The Pacers have lost three straight contests since a road win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 3.
Pick: Wizards -6
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