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Pick 'n' roll: Sunday's best NBA bets
Chicago Bulls at Toronto Raptors (-5, 186)
The Bulls were considered top contenders in the Eastern Conference before the season, but a disastrous circus trip has derailed their year. They have lost four of five on the road since the big top moved in, a streak that has dropped their record to 2-7.
Chicago is averaging only 87.3 points per game and is shooting a NBA-worst 38.6 percent from the field. The Bulls faced the struggling Knicks in New York last night, but shot just 34.5 percent from the floor in an 85-78 loss.
The Bulls’ struggles are likely to continue tonight when they close out their road trip in Toronto. The Raptors have won three straight against Chicago, covering the spread in each of those wins.
Pick: Raptors -5
Utah Jazz at Detroit Pistons (+1, 186)
The Pistons could be without Rasheed Wallace for Utah’s visit tonight as he tries to recover from a knee injury. They will also be sweating the fitness of guard Richard Hamilton, who has been struggling with flu-like symptoms since a lackluster performance in Friday’s win over the 76ers.
The Jazz have no such injury problems ahead of tonight’s game. Carlos Boozer continues to impress, producing 19 points and 16 rebounds in Friday’s 99-71 win over New Orleans. Utah’s defense, which struggled early in the season, has held its last two opponents to 75 points or less.
Utah is 6-1 against the spread (ATS) in its last seven against the Pistons.
Pick: Jazz -1
Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers (-2, 207 1/2)
LeBron James is hitting his stride and, not surprisingly, the Cavaliers are starting to win. The 22-year-old posted his third triple-double of the season in a 111-108 win over the Raptors on Saturday. James ended the night with 37 points.
James is leading the NBA in scoring with 31.4 points per game and has averaged 39 points in his last five contests. Tonight, Cleveland is chasing its first three-game winning streak of the season.
The Cavs have won six of seven against the Pacers, covering in three straight. James is averaging 24.8 points against them overall, including 27.3 points against them last season.
Pick: Cavaliers +2
San Antonio Spurs at Seattle SuperSonics (+9, 198 1/2)
The Spurs travel to Seattle looking for a season-high fifth-straight victory. They are also chasing a sixth consecutive win over the Sonics and a third straight in Seattle.
San Antonio is coming off an impressive 101-88 win over Memphis on Friday, in which Tim Duncan had 28 points and nine rebounds. Tony Parker added 21 points and eight assists for the Spurs, who are averaging 99.8 points this season.
The Sonics, meanwhile, are the only remaining NBA team without a home win. They are one of the league’s worst defensive teams (allowing 108 points per game) and are 0-4 ATS in their last four against the Spurs.
Pick: Spurs -9
New Jersey Nets at L.A. Lakers (-7, 197)
The Nets’ reliance on Vince Carter is plain for all to see. They lost all five games that he missed with an ankle injury, and have won two straight contests since his return to the lineup.
Carter had 15 points in 35 minutes off the bench in Friday's 98-93 win over Seattle and he also seems to be bringing the best out of Richard Jefferson. He’s tallied two straight 30-point games since Carter’s return.
In two games against the Lakers last season, Carter averaged 27 points and Jefferson averaged 16. If they produce similar performances tonight, the Nets should at least cover against a Los Angeles team that has lost two straight.
Pick: Nets +7
Hot Lines
Pick 'n' roll: Sunday's best NBA bets
Chicago Bulls at Toronto Raptors (-5, 186)
The Bulls were considered top contenders in the Eastern Conference before the season, but a disastrous circus trip has derailed their year. They have lost four of five on the road since the big top moved in, a streak that has dropped their record to 2-7.
Chicago is averaging only 87.3 points per game and is shooting a NBA-worst 38.6 percent from the field. The Bulls faced the struggling Knicks in New York last night, but shot just 34.5 percent from the floor in an 85-78 loss.
The Bulls’ struggles are likely to continue tonight when they close out their road trip in Toronto. The Raptors have won three straight against Chicago, covering the spread in each of those wins.
Pick: Raptors -5
Utah Jazz at Detroit Pistons (+1, 186)
The Pistons could be without Rasheed Wallace for Utah’s visit tonight as he tries to recover from a knee injury. They will also be sweating the fitness of guard Richard Hamilton, who has been struggling with flu-like symptoms since a lackluster performance in Friday’s win over the 76ers.
The Jazz have no such injury problems ahead of tonight’s game. Carlos Boozer continues to impress, producing 19 points and 16 rebounds in Friday’s 99-71 win over New Orleans. Utah’s defense, which struggled early in the season, has held its last two opponents to 75 points or less.
Utah is 6-1 against the spread (ATS) in its last seven against the Pistons.
Pick: Jazz -1
Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers (-2, 207 1/2)
LeBron James is hitting his stride and, not surprisingly, the Cavaliers are starting to win. The 22-year-old posted his third triple-double of the season in a 111-108 win over the Raptors on Saturday. James ended the night with 37 points.
James is leading the NBA in scoring with 31.4 points per game and has averaged 39 points in his last five contests. Tonight, Cleveland is chasing its first three-game winning streak of the season.
The Cavs have won six of seven against the Pacers, covering in three straight. James is averaging 24.8 points against them overall, including 27.3 points against them last season.
Pick: Cavaliers +2
San Antonio Spurs at Seattle SuperSonics (+9, 198 1/2)
The Spurs travel to Seattle looking for a season-high fifth-straight victory. They are also chasing a sixth consecutive win over the Sonics and a third straight in Seattle.
San Antonio is coming off an impressive 101-88 win over Memphis on Friday, in which Tim Duncan had 28 points and nine rebounds. Tony Parker added 21 points and eight assists for the Spurs, who are averaging 99.8 points this season.
The Sonics, meanwhile, are the only remaining NBA team without a home win. They are one of the league’s worst defensive teams (allowing 108 points per game) and are 0-4 ATS in their last four against the Spurs.
Pick: Spurs -9
New Jersey Nets at L.A. Lakers (-7, 197)
The Nets’ reliance on Vince Carter is plain for all to see. They lost all five games that he missed with an ankle injury, and have won two straight contests since his return to the lineup.
Carter had 15 points in 35 minutes off the bench in Friday's 98-93 win over Seattle and he also seems to be bringing the best out of Richard Jefferson. He’s tallied two straight 30-point games since Carter’s return.
In two games against the Lakers last season, Carter averaged 27 points and Jefferson averaged 16. If they produce similar performances tonight, the Nets should at least cover against a Los Angeles team that has lost two straight.
Pick: Nets +7
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