NBA
Hot Lines
Pick 'n' roll: Sunday's best NBA bets
Los Angeles Lakers at New York Knicks (+5, 205)
Kobe Bryant loves Broadway.
Bryant accumulated 31 points and seven assists in his only tilt with the Knicks last season. He managed an uncharacteristic 21 points in Monday's marquee matchup with Cleveland, but should bounce back with a strong performance in the Big Apple. He also ranks second in the league in scoring, averaging 26 points.
New York has lost five of its last seven at Madison Square Garden, while the Lakers are 6-2 both SU and ATS in their last eight outings.
Pick: Lakers
Houston Rockets at Detroit Pistons (off)
The Pistons have won eight of their last 10, including four straight at the Palace.
Detroit outscored its last four home opponents by an average of 19 points. The club is 4-1 ATS in its last five in the Motor City.
The Rockets will have Tracy McGrady, who returned Saturday after missing last Thursday's setback against Denver with a bruised knee. McGrady is averaging a mere 11 points in his last three contests.
Pick: Pistons
Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers (pick, 209)
How important is Stephen Jackson to Golden State?
Without their captain, the Warriors started the campaign 1-7 SU and 2-5 ATS. Since Jackson returned, they have compiled a remarkable 15-4 record, with Jackson averaging 20 points and four rebounds.
Golden State is also 2-1 ATS in its last three road encounters.
Pick: Warriors
Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics (-9 1/2, 192 1/2)
The Celtics are 14-1 SU at home, tied for the league's best home record. Their lone blemish occurred last Wednesday against a Detroit team that owns the second best record in the Eastern Conference.
Boston trounced the Bulls on Friday, 107-82, thanks to six players scoring in double figures. That included a game-high 22 points from Paul Pierce.
Boston is also 5-1 ATS in its last six outings versus the Eastern Conference.
Pick: Celtics
Denver Nuggets at Sacramento Kings (off)
No team looks forward to facing the Sacramento Kings at Arco Arena. Not even the surging Nuggets.
Sacramento is an impressive 9-3 ATS and 8-4 SU at home, which includes victories over the Rockets, Spurs and Bucks.
The Kings lost but covered the spread in their last meeting with Denver on Dec. 8.
Pick: Kings
Hot Lines
Pick 'n' roll: Sunday's best NBA bets
Los Angeles Lakers at New York Knicks (+5, 205)
Kobe Bryant loves Broadway.
Bryant accumulated 31 points and seven assists in his only tilt with the Knicks last season. He managed an uncharacteristic 21 points in Monday's marquee matchup with Cleveland, but should bounce back with a strong performance in the Big Apple. He also ranks second in the league in scoring, averaging 26 points.
New York has lost five of its last seven at Madison Square Garden, while the Lakers are 6-2 both SU and ATS in their last eight outings.
Pick: Lakers
Houston Rockets at Detroit Pistons (off)
The Pistons have won eight of their last 10, including four straight at the Palace.
Detroit outscored its last four home opponents by an average of 19 points. The club is 4-1 ATS in its last five in the Motor City.
The Rockets will have Tracy McGrady, who returned Saturday after missing last Thursday's setback against Denver with a bruised knee. McGrady is averaging a mere 11 points in his last three contests.
Pick: Pistons
Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers (pick, 209)
How important is Stephen Jackson to Golden State?
Without their captain, the Warriors started the campaign 1-7 SU and 2-5 ATS. Since Jackson returned, they have compiled a remarkable 15-4 record, with Jackson averaging 20 points and four rebounds.
Golden State is also 2-1 ATS in its last three road encounters.
Pick: Warriors
Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics (-9 1/2, 192 1/2)
The Celtics are 14-1 SU at home, tied for the league's best home record. Their lone blemish occurred last Wednesday against a Detroit team that owns the second best record in the Eastern Conference.
Boston trounced the Bulls on Friday, 107-82, thanks to six players scoring in double figures. That included a game-high 22 points from Paul Pierce.
Boston is also 5-1 ATS in its last six outings versus the Eastern Conference.
Pick: Celtics
Denver Nuggets at Sacramento Kings (off)
No team looks forward to facing the Sacramento Kings at Arco Arena. Not even the surging Nuggets.
Sacramento is an impressive 9-3 ATS and 8-4 SU at home, which includes victories over the Rockets, Spurs and Bucks.
The Kings lost but covered the spread in their last meeting with Denver on Dec. 8.
Pick: Kings
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