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Inside the Paint - Friday
With Super Bowl XLIV just two days away, gamblers still have the opportunity to build their bankrolls for the big game. Fortunately, Friday’s pro basketball cards offers up 10 games on tap, including a televised double-header on ESPN. Let’s take a closer look at the pair and then touch on some Bonus Hits below as well.
Chicago (23-24 SU, 22-23 ATS) at Atlanta (31-17 SU, 29-18 ATS)
The Bulls and Hawks square off for the third time this season, with tonight’s contest taking place from Philips Arena. The first two encounters were split, as the home squad captured each game. Chicago stopped Atlanta 101-98 on Dec. 19 in overtime, which helped the Bulls avenge a 35-point loss (118-83) 10 days earlier in Georgia. The two teams will meet one more time on Mar. 1 from the Windy City.
Total players should make a note that two head-to-head battles this year went ‘over’ this year and it’s on a 6-0 run in this series. Before you run to the counter and expect a high-scoring affair, ****** these numbers. The Bulls have watched the ‘under’ go 27-19 this season and that includes a 14-10 mark on the road. Plus, seven of Chicago’s last 10 on the road have gone ‘under’ the total.
The ‘over/under’ on this game has been listed at 197 and that’s largely due to Atlanta’s ability to explode at home. The Hawks have averaged 107 points per game in their building, which has helped the ‘over’ go 16-8.
Oddsmakers have installed Atlanta as a seven-point favorite and it seems fair considering it owns a 20-5 SU and 17-8 ATS. Chicago recently posted a 5-2 mar on a seven-game road trip, but it will enter tonight’s game with back-to-back losses.
Denver (33-16 SU, 22-26 ATS) at L.A. Lakers (38-12 SU, 23-25 ATS)
The L.A. Lakers stopped Charlotte 99-97 on Wednesday from Staples Center but they failed to cover as 9 ½-point home favorites. Los Angeles returned from an eight-game road trip that saw the team post a 5-3 record.
Los Angeles has been a beast at home this year, going 24-3 SU and 13-12 ATS. The losses came against the Mavericks, Rockets and Cavaliers. Denver will try to be the fourth team to knock off the Purple and Gold at home on Friday when they visit Los Angeles. George Karl’s team has gone 11-12 SU and 9-14 ATS on the road this year.
The Nuggets have been hampered by health issues this year but the team has found ways to move forward. The recent casualty has been forward Carmelo Anthony (ankle), who has missed the last six games. Anthony is listed as ‘doubtful’ for Friday and possibly Saturday too. Even without the All-Star, Denver has managed to post a 4-2 SU and 3-3 ATS record. The offense (99.5 PPG) has tempered a bit, which has helped the ‘under’ go 4-2.
Last year in the Western Conference finals, Los Angeles defeated Denver in six games. The Lakers covered three of the four games and the ‘under’ went 4-2.
Quickly after this game, the Lakers will head to Portland on Saturday. Denver will also be in a back-to-back spot tomorrow when it visits a red-hot Utah team. Keep in mind that the Jazz have been producing sick profits against teams on zero days rest this year. Jerry Sloan’s team is 11-2 ATS in this spot, and that includes an 8-0 ATS mark from Salt Lake City.
CD’s Bonus Hits
-- After a rough stretch, the Suns have found their groove again. Phoenix has won and covered four straight and three of them have come on the road, and this comes after a 2-7 run. Tonight they go to Sacramento and the Suns have won nine of the last 10 against the Kings. The team has gone 6-4 during this stretch.
-- Those of you following Dallas may or may not be aware of this eye opening trend at home for the club. The Mavericks have gone 15-8 SU at home this season, but they’re just 5-18 ATS. What’s more amazing is that Dallas is on a 0-17 ATS skid as a home favorites in its last 17 spots. With Minnesota coming to the Lone Star State tonight, it makes you wonder if the Mavs will ever bust this ATS skid. Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs are laying 11 points tonight.
-- New Jersey has been awful this season and most wouldn’t expect the team to turn the corner tonight at Boston. The Celtics have won 11 straight (8-3 ATS) against the Nets, which includes two victories (1-1 ATS) this year by double digits.
-- The Pistons finally earned themselves a win on Tuesday after barely getting past the hapless Nets. Unfortunately, Detroit heads to Indiana and it hasn’t fared well against the Pacers. The Pistons are 1-6 ATS in their last seven meetings against Indiana, and that includes a 0-3 mark from Conseco Fieldhouse.
-- Are you ready for another ‘under’ ticket from Madison Square Garden on Friday? New York has been an ‘under’ team all season (29-19) long and it enters tonight battle against Milwaukee with a 4-0 ‘under’ run. The Bucks also enter this showdown with a 4-0 ‘under’ streak.
-- Sticking with the ‘under’ theme, the 76ers and Hornets have seen their last six head-to-head battles go ‘under’ the number. Again, be careful here. Chris Paul is hurt but his backup Darren Collison has proven to be a decent fill in, especially as a provider. The former UCLA standout has 41 assists his last three games.
With Super Bowl XLIV just two days away, gamblers still have the opportunity to build their bankrolls for the big game. Fortunately, Friday’s pro basketball cards offers up 10 games on tap, including a televised double-header on ESPN. Let’s take a closer look at the pair and then touch on some Bonus Hits below as well.
Chicago (23-24 SU, 22-23 ATS) at Atlanta (31-17 SU, 29-18 ATS)
The Bulls and Hawks square off for the third time this season, with tonight’s contest taking place from Philips Arena. The first two encounters were split, as the home squad captured each game. Chicago stopped Atlanta 101-98 on Dec. 19 in overtime, which helped the Bulls avenge a 35-point loss (118-83) 10 days earlier in Georgia. The two teams will meet one more time on Mar. 1 from the Windy City.
Total players should make a note that two head-to-head battles this year went ‘over’ this year and it’s on a 6-0 run in this series. Before you run to the counter and expect a high-scoring affair, ****** these numbers. The Bulls have watched the ‘under’ go 27-19 this season and that includes a 14-10 mark on the road. Plus, seven of Chicago’s last 10 on the road have gone ‘under’ the total.
The ‘over/under’ on this game has been listed at 197 and that’s largely due to Atlanta’s ability to explode at home. The Hawks have averaged 107 points per game in their building, which has helped the ‘over’ go 16-8.
Oddsmakers have installed Atlanta as a seven-point favorite and it seems fair considering it owns a 20-5 SU and 17-8 ATS. Chicago recently posted a 5-2 mar on a seven-game road trip, but it will enter tonight’s game with back-to-back losses.
Denver (33-16 SU, 22-26 ATS) at L.A. Lakers (38-12 SU, 23-25 ATS)
The L.A. Lakers stopped Charlotte 99-97 on Wednesday from Staples Center but they failed to cover as 9 ½-point home favorites. Los Angeles returned from an eight-game road trip that saw the team post a 5-3 record.
Los Angeles has been a beast at home this year, going 24-3 SU and 13-12 ATS. The losses came against the Mavericks, Rockets and Cavaliers. Denver will try to be the fourth team to knock off the Purple and Gold at home on Friday when they visit Los Angeles. George Karl’s team has gone 11-12 SU and 9-14 ATS on the road this year.
The Nuggets have been hampered by health issues this year but the team has found ways to move forward. The recent casualty has been forward Carmelo Anthony (ankle), who has missed the last six games. Anthony is listed as ‘doubtful’ for Friday and possibly Saturday too. Even without the All-Star, Denver has managed to post a 4-2 SU and 3-3 ATS record. The offense (99.5 PPG) has tempered a bit, which has helped the ‘under’ go 4-2.
Last year in the Western Conference finals, Los Angeles defeated Denver in six games. The Lakers covered three of the four games and the ‘under’ went 4-2.
Quickly after this game, the Lakers will head to Portland on Saturday. Denver will also be in a back-to-back spot tomorrow when it visits a red-hot Utah team. Keep in mind that the Jazz have been producing sick profits against teams on zero days rest this year. Jerry Sloan’s team is 11-2 ATS in this spot, and that includes an 8-0 ATS mark from Salt Lake City.
CD’s Bonus Hits
-- After a rough stretch, the Suns have found their groove again. Phoenix has won and covered four straight and three of them have come on the road, and this comes after a 2-7 run. Tonight they go to Sacramento and the Suns have won nine of the last 10 against the Kings. The team has gone 6-4 during this stretch.
-- Those of you following Dallas may or may not be aware of this eye opening trend at home for the club. The Mavericks have gone 15-8 SU at home this season, but they’re just 5-18 ATS. What’s more amazing is that Dallas is on a 0-17 ATS skid as a home favorites in its last 17 spots. With Minnesota coming to the Lone Star State tonight, it makes you wonder if the Mavs will ever bust this ATS skid. Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs are laying 11 points tonight.
-- New Jersey has been awful this season and most wouldn’t expect the team to turn the corner tonight at Boston. The Celtics have won 11 straight (8-3 ATS) against the Nets, which includes two victories (1-1 ATS) this year by double digits.
-- The Pistons finally earned themselves a win on Tuesday after barely getting past the hapless Nets. Unfortunately, Detroit heads to Indiana and it hasn’t fared well against the Pacers. The Pistons are 1-6 ATS in their last seven meetings against Indiana, and that includes a 0-3 mark from Conseco Fieldhouse.
-- Are you ready for another ‘under’ ticket from Madison Square Garden on Friday? New York has been an ‘under’ team all season (29-19) long and it enters tonight battle against Milwaukee with a 4-0 ‘under’ run. The Bucks also enter this showdown with a 4-0 ‘under’ streak.
-- Sticking with the ‘under’ theme, the 76ers and Hornets have seen their last six head-to-head battles go ‘under’ the number. Again, be careful here. Chris Paul is hurt but his backup Darren Collison has proven to be a decent fill in, especially as a provider. The former UCLA standout has 41 assists his last three games.
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