The Bum's NBA Playoffs Previews and Best Bets !

[StarDust Bum]

Tuesday's Playoff Tips

April 25, 2011


Two teams can shut the door on Tuesday night and move forward to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Both the Bulls and Hawks own 3-1 series leads, while the surprising Hornets head back to Staples Center tied at two games apiece with the defending champion Lakers. We'll start in central Florida with the cold-shooting Magic on the brink elimination at home against the surging Hawks.

Hawks at Magic - 7:30 PM EST

What a difference a season makes as Orlando wiped out Atlanta in a four-game sweep in last year's second round. The tables have turned as the Hawks are now one win away from eliminating their Southeast Division nemesis, but the job will need to be done on the highway.

The Hawks held off the Magic, 88-85 as 1 ½-point underdogs to take a 3-1 series lead on Sunday night. Orlando played without shooting guard Jason Richardson, who was suspended following his incident at the end of Game 3 with Atlanta center Zaza Pachulia. The loss of Richardson hurt the already struggling perimeter game of the Magic, who shot 2 of 23 from three-point range in the Game 4 defeat. Orlando rallied from 16 points down to tie the game in the second half, but Hedo Turkoglu's three-point attempt at the buzzer went long as the Magic sit on the brink.

Atlanta has cashed as an underdog in all four games of this series, while going 8-0 ATS in the season series. Joe Johnson was shut down in last season's sweep against the Magic, but the swingman is averaging 20 ppg in this series, including several big shots down the stretch in Game 4. Jamal Crawford has lifted the Hawks with 24 ppg off the bench, while scoring at least 23 points in each game of this series.

VegasInsider.com's Chris David says the sharp play is to keep riding the Hawks, "It's hard to see anybody making a case for Orlando in Game 5, unless you're going to play the desperation angle and that's never a smart move. What some bettors might not realize is that the Magic have been a solid go-against for the entire second half. At home, Orlando is 9-5 SU and 4-10 ATS since the All-Star break." If we isolate just games in which Orlando is favored, the Magic own a 4-18 ATS mark since March, including a 1-9 ATS record at home.

The 'under' has easily hit in each of the last three games since the 'over' in Game 1, while the winning team has tallied exactly 88 points from Game 2 through Game 4. In seven of eight meetings this season, the 'under' is 7-1, as most of those 'under' have cashed rather easily. The Magic are listed as 7 ½-point favorites in Game 5, while the total is set at 178.

Pacers at Bulls - 8:05 PM EST

Chicago may be leading this series, 3-1, but the Bulls have scratched and clawed their way to every victory in this series. The Pacers stayed alive with Saturday's, 89-84 triumph in Game 4 to stretch this series back to the United Center. Indiana is helping backers with a 3-1 ATS mark in the series, including the outright win as 4 ½-point home underdogs at Conseco Fieldhouse.

The Bulls dug themselves a 17-point hole in the fourth quarter, but managed to cut the deficit to one with 15 seconds remaining. Danny Granger knocked down four free throws to close out the victory for the Pacers, the franchise's first playoff victory since 2006. Chicago returns home to finish off the series, but Derrick Rose will not be at 100%.

The All-Star point guard and MVP candidate sprained his left ankle early on in the Game 4 loss, but came back to score 15 points on 6 of 22 shooting from the floor. Rose will likely play on Tuesday, while his counterpart is still dealing with an ankle injury of his own. Indiana's Darren Collison shot 2 of 11 from the field and scored just six points, while reaching double-figures in points only once through the first four games.

The Pacers have made serious adjustments under Frank Vogel by covering four of the last five meetings with the Bulls since Chicago blew out Indiana in the first three matchups when Jim O'Brien roamed the Pacers' sidelines. Points are coming at a premium with these two teams as the 'under' is 3-0 the last three games since an 'over' back in Game 1.

David believes the 'under' will cash once again on Tuesday night, "The total for Game 5 between Chicago and Indiana has dipped to 187, which is the lowest 'over/under' so far in this series. Since the Pacers shot lights out in the first installment, the team has been stifled to 90 points or less in the last three games and we expect more of that tonight. Helping the 'under' cause has been Chicago's offense, which has been tempered in the last three games. On the season, Chicago has watched the 'under' go 50-36 and that includes a 26-17 mark from United Center."

Hornets at Lakers - 10:35 PM EST

For the second straight postseason, the Lakers head home for Game 5 in the first round tied at two games apiece. Last season, it was the Thunder that pushed the Lakers to six games; this time, the Hornets are fighting tooth-and-nail with the two-time defending champs.

New Orleans bounced back from a Game 3 blowout loss with Sunday's 93-88 victory to even up the series. Chris Paul shined despite a left thumb injury with 27 points and 15 assists, while Trevor Ariza and Carl Landry combined to score 35 points. The Lakers fell behind at the half, while Kobe Bryant is nursing a left ankle injury suffered in the fourth quarter. Bryant is expected to play in Game 5, as the Lakers look to sure up their long-range game after hitting just 4 of 18 three-pointers.

The Hornets have been big contributors to the success of underdogs in the postseason with a 3-1 ATS mark, including a pair of covers as double-digit 'dogs at Staples Center. The Lakers are a dreadful 0-6 ATS the last six home games, while Phil Jackson's club is 0-4 ATS in this span when laying at least 10 points. Los Angeles owns a 5-0 SU and 3-2 ATS ledger since 2008 at home in best-of-seven series tied at two games apiece, including a 1-1 SU/ATS record last postseason.

The Lakers are listed as 10 ½-point favorites, while the total is set at 183. The game will be televised nationally on TNT.

[StarDust Bum]

Sportsbooks having record month

April 25, 2011

When the accounting department at casinos all over Las Vegas close out the month of April this week, most sportsbooks are going to show a sizeable jump in revenue and win percentage. Not only will the win percentage come close to doubling what they did last April, but it may be the most successful April in nearly a decade.
That’s what happens when NBA underdogs go 21-8 against the spread through the first two weekends of play with 10 ‘dogs winning outright. It also helps that the start to baseball has been exceptional for the books with no real pattern to follow nightly. There have been a lot of one-run games and a solid mix of favorites and ‘dogs winning.

The public usually loves to play the favorites, especially in basketball. That passion for the favorite is taken up a few notches when the NBA playoffs start because the favorites generally take care of business. But this year has been quite different. We may be witnessing the most amazing NBA playoffs ever where just about every team has a chance to win nightly. It’s a playoff of parity almost to the extreme of what we see yearly in the NHL.

When March Madness ends each year, so does the rabid cross-over sports betting crowd. The masses don’t come back to the books until football season starts which is why most sportsbook directors are hoping to quickly skate through these next few months with minimal damage.

The clientele visiting the sportsbooks now are the hard core regulars that visit daily who consider themselves pretty sharp in both knowledge of the games and betting strategy. These are the players who generally do well in these down months, but right now, these are players who have been helping the books come close to setting a record month.

The directors will all be quick to deflect congratulatory remarks for their success in the month because they know the ensuing month could be the month where these regular die-hard bettors get some of their money back. All it takes is one big day of favorites winning by two-runs in baseball and an NBA night where all the favorites cover the spread. It can ruin the month and make it an uphill climb getting back into black.

With the bar being raised so high for April 2011, the casino executives won’t consider the month an anomaly, now it becomes the standard. This is why the sportsbook director has to keep strong notes for each month of what happened, to prove that it was just one of those freak months and why 2012‘s numbers aren‘t as good when that time comes next year.

These should be good times of happiness for the director, but it’s almost a burden of pressure where excuses have to be made to the suits upstairs so they understand the success of the month was somewhat of a fluke.

Most casino executives don’t understand how the sportsbook works, but they know numbers very well and like the consistency of daily slot win and holding 18% on table games. The up and down numbers of the book drive them crazy, so when a month like April spikes to new heights, their excitement has to be tempered by the director with an alert to the possible rough news that lies ahead just to get them prepared.

Kevin Durant – All-American Superstar

It came to me in one quick moment after Kevin Durant had just helped his Oklahoma City Thunder win Game 3 at Denver, he is my favorite player in the NBA. There are several reasons to like Durant. He’s won two straight scoring titles. He’s leading his team into championship contention. He plays the game with heart and passion, yet isn’t overly demonstrative, almost the perfect blend of competitor you’d like to see kids emulate.

Nothing against tattoos, but it says something about his personality that he is one of a handful in the NBA who hasn’t painted his entire upper body.

All those are great points that could attract any fan to make Durant their favorite, but the one moment that made me like him the most was when he walked off the floor after his road win in game three. As he walked through the tunnel towards the locker room, dozens of kids in Nuggets gear lined each side with their hands out for high fives and Durant obliged them all with both his hands stretched out. It was cool moment, almost Mean Joe Green-ish, and it says a lot about his character.

With the way the Thunder are playing right now, and the way so many of the top seeds look vulnerable, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him giving David Stern a high five after winning the NBA Finals.

Royal Wedding

English bookmaker William Hill has posted dozens of propositions for Friday’s Royal Wedding ranging from what the main course will be at dinner, the Queen’s hat color, time that the bride will arrive to the Abbey and song to be played on the first dance. Unfortunately, we can’t bet on these types of things in Nevada, because I had a real strong system play on the Queen’s hat.

I may be in the minority, in fact I know I am, but I’m actually kind of excited to see the wedding. There's something about all the reverence and status of royalty that appeals to me. I’m not fanatical about the royal gossip, but the spectacle of seeing the many factions of royal guards and horse drawn carriages going down the Pall **** gives a glimpse to how things were in the past for the mighty British empire.

Even though I still can’t find anyone willing to go with, especially my Irish friends, I will be taking it all in early Friday morning at the Crown and Anchor Pub where they have a party assembled for those wishing to view the wedding. Proper dress is requested.

[StarDust Bum]

Rose tries to lead Chicago to series win over Pacers

INDIANA PACERS

at CHICAGO BULLS


Eastern Conference Playoffs – First Round
Game 5 – Chicago leads series 3-1
Tip-off: Tuesday, 8:05 p.m. EDT
Line: Chicago -9.5, Total: 187

A sprained ankle is not going to keep Derrick Rose out of Game 5, but the Pacers would love to take him out of the game themselves as they did Saturday with smothering defense.

The Indiana Pacers have been tough all series and were finally rewarded Saturday with an 89-84 win over the Bulls. Danny Granger (22.0 PPG, 49% FG in series) led the way with 24 points and had four big free throws in the final 14.1 seconds. Paul George played terrific defense and held Derrick Rose to 15 points on 6-of-22 shooting. Roy Hibbert (10.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG in series) also stepped up big with 16 points and 10 rebounds to give the Pacers a solid inside presence. Ex-UConn guard A.J. Price (8.8 PPG, 6-of-13 threes in series) provided a nice spark off the bench scoring 10 points to spell a banged-up Darren Collison. Indiana has not been good on the road this year (13-30 SU) but hope to take advantage of a hobbled Rose and steal a game at the United Center.

The Bulls are up 3-1 in the series but have won those three games by a combined 15 points. Derrick Rose (28.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 6.3 APG in series) has had a rough past two games, averaging 19.0 PPG, but shooting 25% from the field. Rose and Chicago need to get back to driving the ball to the hoop and not settling for long-range jump shots. In the Saturday 89-84 loss, the Bulls went 3-for-20 from three-point land and had zero fast-break points. Joakim Noah (11.5 PPG, 11.3 RPG in series) played well on Saturday, scoring 21 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. If the game comes down to the wire again Tuesday, the Bulls will be hoping for a better shot than they got from Carlos Boozer on Saturday, who on a broken play was forced to take a long-range three and missed.

Indiana is 3-1 ATS in the series but just 21-25 ATS as an underdog this season. The Pacers are 1-12 SU and 4-9 ATS in their past 13 games at the United Center. With that said, Chicago is 1-7 ATS in its past eight home games. One thing Chicago has done very well is bounce back after upset losses, going 10-3 ATS. I expect a hard-fought game that Chicago eventually wins, but I like Indiana to cover the spread getting a bundle of points. The FoxSheets show two more trends supporting the Pacers:

INDIANA is 23-8 ATS (74.2%, +14.2 Units) vs. dominant rebounding teams - outrebounding opponents by 5+ per game - 2nd half of the season since 1996. The average score was INDIANA 94.0, OPPONENT 95.5 - (Rating = 1*).

CHICAGO is 6-18 ATS (25.0%, -13.8 Units) in home games as a No. 1 seed in the playoffs since 1996. The average score was CHICAGO 93.2, OPPONENT 85.5.

[StarDust Bum]

Magic try to stave off elimination at home in Game 5


ATLANTA HAWKS
at ORLANDO MAGIC


Eastern Conference Playoffs – First Round
Game 5 – Atlanta leads series 3-1
Tip-off: Tuesday, 7:05 p.m. EDT
Line: Orlando -7.5, Total: 178

Sometimes a playoff series can be analyzed by intricate strategies, X’s and O’s, and exhaustive minutiae. Orlando versus Atlanta is not one of those series, if you were to listen to Stan Van Gundy characterize it. While responding to the dazzling series that Hawks reserve guard Jamal Crawford is having through four games (24.0 PPG, the second-highest average by a reserve in the playoffs since 1976) the coach said: "Jamal is playing with unbelievable confidence. Everything he throws up, he knows it's going in," Van Gundy said. "We're at the opposite end of the spectrum. We have a lot of guys throwing it up, and they have no idea if it's going in." Orlando is shooting 40.3% from the floor and was below this mark in its Game 4 loss (39.2% FG), which included a dreadful 2-of-23 on three-point attempts (8.7%). With four games in the books, and facing a 3-1 deficit approaching Tuesday’s Game 5 in the Amway Center, the task before the Orlando Magic is as simple as elementary school math. Deposit the ball in the basket and win the game, or summer recess begins Wednesday morning.

Ever since Dwight Howard exploded for 46 points and 19 rebounds in a Game 1 loss, the chorus of experts saying that the Magic needed to give its All-Star center more help to win this series has been deafening. Game 4 proved that the Magic are still in search of that support. While Howard scored 29 points to go with 17 rebounds, the second leading scorer Sunday night, Gilbert Arenas with 20, was a DNP-CD in Game 3. Arenas only played in Game 4 because Jason Richardson was suspended by the league for a physical altercation late in Game 3. After Arenas’ points off the bench, the only other Magic player in double figures was Brandon Bass with 11. Jameer Nelson (13.1 PPG, 6.0 APG) has seen his output decline steadily throughout the series, from 27 in Game 1, to 13 in Games 2 and 3, to just six points on 3-for-12 shooting in Game 4. Nelson, a 40% shooter beyond the arc in the regular season, has made just one three-point FG in the past three games, going 1-for-14. If he cannot find the stroke soon, he may start perfecting that stroke with extra practice time a lot sooner than he anticipated.

While Orlando has been lopsided offensively and strong defensively, the Hawks have been balanced offensively and stronger defensively. Atlanta had four players hit double figures in its Game 4 88-85 victory, with Crawford scoring 25, Joe Johnson chipping in 20, and Kirk Hinrich and Al Horford adding 14 apiece. While Orlando holds an overall +34 rebounding advantage over the first four games, the Magic have done nothing with the extra possessions, as Atlanta’s defensive effort has stymied Orlando’s perimeter game. After a series-opening 45.3% FG allowed, the Hawks defense has forced the Magic into shooting 34.6%, 42.5% and 39.2% in the past three contests. As a team, Atlanta’s perimeter efforts defensively have been even more impressive, as they are forcing the Magic (36.6% three-point FG in the regular season) into shooting a dreadful 21.9% (21-for-96) from beyond the arc this series. "They're playing good defense. I'm not taking anything away from them. But we're getting good enough looks," Van Gundy said. "I don't know what to tell you about the shooting. I really don't."

Returning home down 3-1 and facing a must-win situation, the Magic will undoubtedly turn to their top gun, Howard, for another clutch effort. Sunday after the game, he turned to them first, asking for the same. "I just told them," Howard said, "if they don't believe we can still win, stay in Atlanta."

The pick here is for Orlando to win, cover and get this series back to Atlanta for a Game 6, which is backed up by these three FoxSheets trends:

Play On - Home favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points (ORLANDO) - double revenge - 2 straight losses vs. opponent against opponent off an upset win over a division rival as an underdog. (39-16 since 1996.) (70.9%, +21.4 units. Rating = 2*).

Play Against - Road underdogs (ATLANTA) - off a home win against a division rival, winning between 51% and 60% of their games on the season. (146-93 since 1996.) (61.1%, +43.7 units. Rating = 2*).

ATLANTA is 7-20 ATS (25.9%, -15.0 Units) in road games in all playoff games since 1996. The average score was ATLANTA 83.9, OPPONENT 96.5 - (Rating = 1*).

[StarDust Bum]

Hornets-Lakers play pivotal Game 5 Tuesday


NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

at LOS ANGELES LAKERS


Western Conference Playoffs – First Round
Game 5 – Series tied 2-2
Tip-off: Tuesday, 10:35 p.m. EDT
Line: Los Angeles -10.5, Total: 183

Kobe Bryant and the two-time defending champion Lakers enter Game 5 at home in the First Round of their playoff series tied at two games apiece for the second straight season. Last year the Lakers won Games 5 and 6 to eliminate the Thunder, and despite being bothered with a foot injury suffered in Game 4, Bryant is counting on his team to repeat history this season with two straight wins over New Orleans.

Bryant had one of his worst playoff performances in his career in Game 4, not registering a point in the first half, and finishing with just 17 total. Pau Gasol scored 16 points, but still is performing well below his regular-season production (18.8 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 52.9% FG). He is averaging just 12.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG and 39.5% FG in the series. After winning the Sixth Man of the Year Award during the regular season, Lamar Odom has also underperformed in this series, averaging just 11.3 PPG on 48.5% FG (14.4 PPG, 53.0% FG in regular season).

Chris Paul has clearly been the MVP of this series, dominating play in the Hornets two victories. Paul recorded a triple-double in Game 4, scoring 27 points, grabbing 13 boards and dishing out 15 assists. Paul became the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1964, to score at least 25 points with at least 10 rebounds and at least 15 assists. New Orleans played excellent defense in Game 4, holding the Lakers to 4-of-18 shooting from behind the arc.

On paper it’s just very hard to understand how the Hornets can consistently compete with the Lakers, but thanks to two super-human performances from Paul, New Orleans finds itself a road win away from having a chance to clinch the series at home. However, the Lakers and Bryant always seem to raise their game when they smell trouble, and I like this team to rise to the occasion again. Even though Bryant is supposedly a game-time decision with his foot injury, nothing will keep him from taking the court and most likely turning in a dominating performance. I also like Odom and Gasol to wake up and provide more assistance for Los Angeles. Despite all that, the Lakers just don’t cover at home (15-28 ATS this season), so while I like the Lakers to win, I’m taking New Orleans to cover the huge spread.

The FoxSheets provide two more reasons to side with the Hornets:

Phil Jackson is 19-44 ATS (30.2%, -29.4 Units) in home games after a loss by 6 points or less as the coach of L.A. LAKERS. The average score was L.A. LAKERS 102.5, OPPONENT 97.2 - (Rating = 2*).

NEW ORLEANS is 48-27 ATS (64.0%, +18.3 Units) after 5 straight games forcing opponent to commit 14 or less turnovers since 1996. The average score was NEW ORLEANS 95.3, OPPONENT 93.1 - (Rating = 1*).

And this highly-rated FoxSheets trend also expects a low-scoring game coming in Under the total.

L.A. LAKERS are 27-11 UNDER (71.1%, +14.9 Units) after playing a game as a road favorite this season. The average score was L.A. LAKERS 99.7, OPPONENT 93.7 - (Rating = 3*).

[StarDust Bum]

Playoff Results - First Round

April 26, 2011

First Round Results

Favorites are 22-13-1 straight up
Underdogs are 24-11-1 against the spread
The 'under' stands at 25-11
Home teams are 26-10 straight up

Visitor Home Final Score ATS OVER/UNDER

Saturday Apr. 16
Indiana Chicago (-12.5) 104-99 UNDERDOG OVER 189
Philadelphia Miami (-10.5) 97-89 UNDERDOG UNDER 190
Atlanta (+9) Orlando 103-93 UNDERDOG OVER 181
Portland Dallas (-5) 89-81 FAVORITE UNDER 186

Sunday, Apr. 17
Memphis (+6.5) San Antonio 101-98 UNDERDOG OVER 195.5
New Orleans (+11) L.A. Lakers 109-100 UNDERDOG OVER 184.5
New York Boston (-6) 87-85 UNDERDOG UNDER 197.5
Denver Oklahoma City (-6) 107-103 UNDERDOG OVER 206

Monday, Apr. 18
Philadelphia Miami (-9) 94-73 FAVORITE UNDER 190
Indiana Chicago (-11) 96-90 UNDERDOG UNDER 192

Tuesday, Apr. 19
New York Boston (-6.5) 96-93 UNDERDOG UNDER 192.5
Atlanta Orlando (-9.5) 88-82 UNDERDOG UNDER 182.5
Portland Dallas (-4) 101-89 FAVORITE OVER 184.5

Wednesday, Apr. 20
Denver Oklahoma City (-4.5) 106-89 FAVORITE UNDER 206.5
Memphis San Antonio (-8) 93-87 UNDERDOG UNDER 193.5
New Orleans L.A. Lakers (-11.5) 87-79 UNDERDOG UNDER 185.5

Thursday, Apr. 21
Chicago (-3.5) Indiana 88-84 FAVORITE UNDER 189.5
Miami (-4.5) Philadelphia 100-94 FAVORITE OVER 185
Dallas Portland (-5.5) 97-92 UNDERDOG OVER 187.5

Friday, Apr. 22
Boston (+3) New York 113-96 UNDERDOG OVER 191
Orlando Atlanta (+1.5) 88-84 UNDERDOG UNDER 180
L.A. Lakers (-5) New Orleans 100-86 FAVORITE OVER 180

Saturday, Apr. 23
Chicago Indiana (+4.5) 89-84 UNDERDOG UNDER 190
Dallas Portland (-4) 84-82 UNDERDOG UNDER 187
San Antonio Memphis (-2) 91-88 FAVORITE UNDER 191
Oklahoma City (+5) Denver 97-94 UNDERDOG UNDER 208

Sunday, Apr. 24
Miami Philadelphia (+5.5) 86-82 UNDERDOG UNDER 188.5
Boston (-3.5) New York 101-89 FAVORITE UNDER 194
Orlando Atlanta (+2) 88-85 UNDERDOG UNDER 178.5
L.A. Lakers New Orleans (+6) 93-88 UNDERDOG UNDER 183.5

Monday, Apr. 25
San Antonio Memphis (+1.5) 104-86 UNDERDOG OVER 189
Portland Dallas (-5) 93-82 FAVORITE UNDER 184
Oklahoma City Denver (-3) 104-101 PUSH UNDER 205.5

Tuesday, Apr. 26
Indiana Chicago
Atlanta Orlando
New Orleans L.A. Lakers

Wednesday, Apr. 27
Philadelphia Miami
Memphis San Antonio
Denver Oklahoma City

Thursday, Apr. 28
Chicago Indiana
Orlando Atlanta
L.A. Lakers New Orleans
Dallas Portland

Friday, Apr. 29
Miami Philadelphia
San Antonio Memphis
Oklahoma City Denver

Saturday, Apr. 30
Indiana Chicago
Atlanta Orlando
New Orleans L.A. Lakers
Portland Dallas

Sunday, May 1
Philadelphia Miami
Memphis San Antonio
Denver Oklahoma City




Winners in BOLD

[StarDust Bum]

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record

04/25/11 3-*1-*2 75.00% +*950 Detail
04/24/11 5-*3-*0 62.50% +*850 Detail
04/23/11 6-*2-*0 75.00% +*1900 Detail
04/22/11 2-*4-*0 33.33% -*1200 Detail
04/21/11 4-*1-*1 80.00% +*1450 Detail
04/20/11 4-*2-*0 66.67% +*900 Detail
04/19/11 2-*4-*0 33.33% -*1200 Detail
04/18/11 2-*2-*0 50.00% -*100 Detail
04/17/11 4-*4-*0 50.00% -*200 Detail
04/16/11 2-*6-*0 25.00% -*2300 Detail

Totals 34-*29-*3 53.97% +1050

Tuesday, April 26

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Atlanta - 7:30 PM ET Atlanta +7 500
Orlando - Under 178 500

Indiana - 8:00 PM ET Chicago -8.5 500
Chicago - Over 186.5 500

New Orleans - 10:30 PM ET New Orleans +10 500
L.A. Lakers - Over 183 500

[StarDust Bum]

NBA odds favor Spurs at home vs Memphis Grizzlies in Game 5

‘Chalk’ tends to prevail in the NBA Playoffs, but there are a couple of interesting developments in the Western Conference where top-seed San Antonio has its back against the wall against eighth-seed Memphis.

The surprising Grizzlies have taken a 3-1 series advantage in this first-round series, and have covered all four contests. In fact, Memphis (49-37 straight up, 56-29-1 against the spread) has now covered the previous nine encounters with the Spurs. The ‘over’ is 7-2 the last nine meetings in San Antonio.

The Spurs are 0-5 during the Tim Duncan era when trailing 3-1 in a playoff series. Postseason NBA teams with a 3-1 advantage have ended up winning the series a robust 95.9 percent of the time.

San Antonio (62-24 SU, 44-40-2 ATS) is hoping to avoid becoming the third top-seeded team in the Western Conference to get eliminated in the first round. Dallas was knocked out in the opening round of the 2006-07 postseason, while Seattle was eliminated in a five-game series back in 1993-94.

Don Best's Real-Time Odds opened the Spurs as a 6 ½-point home favorite over the Grizzlies, while the total is listed at 188 ½. NBA-TV will provide coverage of Wednesday’s Game 5 beginning at 5:30 p.m. PT from AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Memphis throttled San Antonio in Monday’s Game 4 as a 1 ½-point home underdog, 104-86, while the combined 200 points went ‘over’ the 188 ½-point closing total. The ‘under’ had cashed the previous two outings in this series.

The Grizzlies took control of the contest by outscoring the Spurs in the third quarter, 30-15, turning a two-point halftime deficit into a blowout victory. Memphis finished the game with advantages in rebounding, 39-37, and assists, 22-16. The Grizzlies connected at a 51-percent clip (41-of-81) from the field, and 42 percent (5-of-12) from behind the arc.

Point guard Mike Conley paced a balanced attack with 15 points and seven assists, while forward Darrell Arthur added 14. Power forward Zach Randolph stepped up with 11 and nine rebounds in the triumph, while center Marc Gasol had nine and nine.

San Antonio shot 47 percent (35-of-75) from the field, and 28 percent (5-of-18) from 3-point land in the setback. Point guard Tony Parker led all scorers with 23 points, but he also had seven turnovers. Shooting guard Manu Ginobili accounted for 14 and four assists, while center Tim Duncan had just six and seven boards.

Memphis led the league in turnovers forced during the regular season with 16.5 per game and steals with 9.40. The Grizzlies converted the Spurs’ 17 turnovers into 20 points in the blowout victory, while also recording eight steals.

Memphis opened the series with a Game 1 triumph as a 6 ½-point road underdog, 101-98, while the combined 199 points toppled the 196 ½-point closing total. The Grizzlies also took Saturday’s Game 3 as a two-point home ‘chalk,’ 91-88, while the combined 179 points went ‘under’ the 191 ½-point closing total. The Grizzlies are now 47-19 ATS their last 66 games overall.

San Antonio recorded its lone victory in this series last Wednesday in Game 2 as an eight-point home favorite, 93-87. The combined 180 points failed to eclipse the 194 ½-point closing total. The Spurs have seen the ‘over’ go 12-4 their past 16 outings overall.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA Betting: Miami Heat try to finish off 76ers

The Miami Heat don’t have time on their side as they to eliminate the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 5 of their series on Wednesday night.

The Don Best odds screen has Miami as big 10 ½-point home favorites with a total of 186 points. TNT will have the tip-off from AmericanAirlines Arena at 4 p.m. (PT).

The Heat lead this series 3-1 and already know their next opponent if they advance, the Boston Celtics. The Celtics swept the New York Knicks in four games and their rested veterans become more dangerous the longer this series goes.

Miami (61-25 straight-up, 42-43-1 against the spread) could have had its own sweep against the 76ers, but lost 86-82 as 5 ½-point favorites in Philadelphia on Sunday. The Heat blew a six-point lead with 1:30 remaining, with a Lou Williams three-pointer the go-ahead bucket with eight ticks left.

The 168 combined points scored went way ‘under’ the 188 ½-point total. The ‘under’ is 3-1 this series with Miami scoring just 93.5 PPG and allowing 85.5 PPG. Scoring has been low in these NBA playoffs and the ‘under’ is 22-11 overall pending Tuesday’s results.

Coach Erik Spoelstra hopes the Game 4 loss doesn’t conjure up bad memories. Miami lost some close contests earlier in the season, but were 18-3 SU (13-8 ATS) in its prior 21 games before Sunday. That includes close wins in Games 1 and 3.

LeBron James leads the team in playoff scoring (26.3 PPG), but Dwyane Wade (21.3 PPG) averaged 27 PPG in the two Philly games after being bothered by migraines the first two. Wade is the guy Spoelstra wants with the ball in the final few minutes.

The Heat are dealing with depth issues this series just like all season. After James, Wade and Chris Bosh (19.3 PPG), no other scorer is averaging over 7.3 PPG. Recently acquired point guard Mike Bibby has been particularly disappointing at 4.0 PPG and 22.2 percent shooting. These depth problems will likely become more acute in the later rounds.

Miami is happy to be at home tonight. It won Game 1 there, 97-89 as 10 ½-point favorites. That was a one-point game (88-87) with just over two minutes left. Game 2 was a box-to-wire blowout, 94-73 as nine-point ‘chalk.’ Both games went ‘under’ the identical 190-point total.

Both teams are 2-2 ATS this series, 1-1 in each locale.

The young 76ers (42-44 SU, 48-37-1 ATS) need to figure out if they’re happy with just one win, or if they’re mature enough to give another maximum effort and possibly force a Game 6.

Coach Doug Collins has done a great job in his first year, especially with an unorthodox team. There are no stars in the lineup with point guard Jrue Holiday the leading scorer at 15.3 PPG in the playoffs.

Veteran Elton Brand (14 PPG) has been a good inside scorer except in Game 2 (three points). The big advantage over Miami is the bench where Williams (12.5 PPG). Thaddeus Young (11 PPG), and Evan Turner (9.9 PPG) can all score. Turner is finally showing glimpses of why he was the No. 2 pick in the entire draft last year.

Neither team is reporting any significant injuries. Andre Iguodala has been dealing with knee tendonitis and is only averaging 8.8 PPG. However, he’s been doing fine as a facilitator (7.5 APG) and his offense is likely suffering from trying to lock down James or Wade on the other end.

The ‘under’ is 9-1 in Philadelphia’s last 10 games and 6-1 in Miami’s last seven.

Both teams have struggled on two days rest. Miami is 4-13 in the last 17 and Philadelphia 4-9 in the last 13.

Game 6 will go back to the City of Brotherly Love on Friday if necessary. Boston is certainly hoping that it does.

[StarDust Bum]

Heat try to close out series vs. Philly


PHILADELPHIA 76ers

at MIAMI HEAT


Eastern Conference Playoffs – First Round
Game 5 – Miami leads series 3-1
Tip-off: Wednesday, 7:05 p.m. EDT
Line: Miami -10.5, Total: 185.5

The 2010-11 season has been a progression for Doug Collins’ 76ers team. The campaign was about improving on the 27-55 record from the previous season. Mission accomplished, as the young team finished 41-41, and made the playoffs as the seventh seed. Facing off against Miami’s big three as a decided underdog would be both a learning experience and a measuring stick. Through the first three games of the series the Heat schooled Philly in the fine art of dominating at home and on the road, winning close games and other. In Game 3, the Sixers showed they had the fortitude to defend their own home court in an elimination game, when a loss could have meant the start of summer vacation. Wednesday they get to take another test, as they learn how much fight they have left in themselves facing another elimination game, this time on the road against the Heat.

Game 4 was highlighted by a classic comeback rarely seen in the postseason. Trailing 82-76 with 1:35 to play, Philly staged a furious comeback, fueled by three of its youngest players. Rookie guard Evan Turner cut the lead to four with a jumper. Second-year guard Jrue Holiday nailed a three-pointer to cut the lead to one point with 46 seconds to go. Then with the game clock running down, the old man of the group, reserve guard Lou Williams (age 24) hit a three-ball over Dwyane Wade with 0:08 remaining to put his team up for good, 84-82. "D-Wade gave me a little room and I was able to knock it down," Williams said. "We've always been a team that fought, all the way until the end. I just wanted to give us an opportunity to win the basketball game." After Elton Brand deflected a LeBron James shot in the closing seconds that would have tied the game, Turner hit two more free throws to seal the deal. Williams and Turner finished with a team-high 17 points each, while Holiday added 10. The guards helped to pick up the slack for Andre Iguodola, who despite 16 points, was limited to 33 minutes due to foul trouble. In addition to Brand’s key deflection of James’ late shot, he also pulled down a game-high 11 boards.

Despite the dramatic nature of Williams’ shot, Wade put the moment in perspective after the game: "That shot right there didn't beat us." What did in Miami was an effort that fell way short of 48 minutes of winning basketball, keyed by the Sixers defense and the Heat inability to finish a game. Philly outrebounded them and forced them into 39% shooting from the floor, and an even worse 22% from beyond the arc. Contributions from the bench were minimal, as the Heat reserves could only manage 16 points. If that wasn’t enough, Miami trailed by 16 in the first half before battling back to take a one-point halftime lead. Unfortunately for Miami the horsepower the Heat showed at the end of the first half was nowhere to be found at the end of the game, as the 76ers scored the final 10 points of Game 4. "We've proven all year long that we were able to close those types of games out," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We were not able to tonight."

Missed opportunities behind them, Game 5 has been about waiting. As in waiting two days to get another chance to close out the series (a wait James described as “horrible“), at a time when the Heat know that the Boston Celtics, who closed out their series with New York in a 4-0 sweep Sunday afternoon, are waiting for them. Still hot over not closing out the Sixers, the Heat get hotter when the topic of the Celts and looking ahead comes up. "We're talking about Philly right now," Wade sternly said. The 76ers are happy to be in a Game 5, the Heat are ready to move on to a Game 1, in the next round. Wednesday night we find out who has the will to keep their respective postseason dreams on schedule.

The pick here is for anxious Miami to impose its will on the Sixers in Game 5 and to close out this series, covering the good-sized spread. The FoxSheets show another coaching trend which supports the Heat pick.

Doug Collins is 16-34 ATS (32.0%, -21.4 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season in all games he has coached since 1996. The average score was Collins 89.1, OPPONENT 97.4 - (Rating = 1*).

[StarDust Bum]

Thunder go for first playoff series win since move to OKC


DENVER NUGGETS

at OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER


Western Conference Playoffs – First Round
Game 5 – Oklahoma City leads series 3-1
Tip-off: Wednesday, 9:35 p.m. EDT
Line: Oklahoma City -7, Total: 204.5

Oklahoma City enters Game 5 with a second chance to win a playoff series for the first time since the franchise moved. The Thunder were denied the series win in Game 4, when the Nuggets won 104-101 to stay alive.

Despite shooting only 38.6 percent from the field, the Nuggets were able to stave off elimination in Game 4 thanks to committing just eight turnovers. Ty Lawson led Denver with 27 points to record his second 20-point game of the postseason. Danilo Gallinari added 18 for Denver, which shot much better from behind the arc (9-of-19) then it did from two-point range (23-of-64, 35.9%).

Kevin Durant has been wonderful this series for the Thunder, averaging 30.3 PPG and shooting 14-of-27 from behind the arc. Russell Westbrook missed two chances to tie Game 4 in the final 10 seconds by missing three-pointers, but he recorded his second 30-point effort in Game 4 and is averaging 26.3 PPG, 6.8 APG and 6.3 RPG in the series. Oklahoma City has also shot well from the free throw line, connecting on 79.2 percent of its chances this series.

Denver has put up a good fight, but the Thunder are the more talented team and they will end this series on Wednesday. However, I like the Nuggets to stay in the game and lose by less than the point spread. I’m taking Denver plus the points, and the FoxSheets supports my pick with this trend:

DENVER is 52-33 ATS (61.2%, +15.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season over the last 3 seasons. The average score was DENVER 103.9, OPPONENT 101.5 - (Rating = 1*).

[StarDust Bum]

Spurs on the brink of playoff elimination


MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

at SAN ANTONIO SPURS


Western Conference Playoffs – First Round
Game 5 – Memphis leads series 3-1
Tip-off: Wednesday, 8:35 p.m. EDT
Line: San Antonio -6.5, Total: 189

Not many would have thought that going into Game 5 at San Antonio would mean the Spurs defending their season down 3-1 to eighth-seeded Memphis. Like they always say, this is why they play the games.

The Grizzlies looked like the No. 1 seed in Monday’s Game 4, beating the Spurs 104-86 behind an energetic FedEx Forum crowd. Memphis pummeled the Spurs 30-15 in the third quarter and never looked back. The Grizz had a very balanced attack Monday with not one player scoring over 15 points. Mike Conley (14.3 PPG in series) led the way with 15 points and seven assists. Darrell Arthur (9.0 PPG in series) was a sparkplug off the bench, scoring 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting which included a high-rising alley-oop dunk following a huge block by Arthur. Memphis led the league in forced turnovers with 16.5 per game and did just that in Game 4 by forcing 17 turnovers which resulted in 20 points. Zach Randolph (18.0 PPG in series) and Marc Gasol (15.5 PPG in series) need to keep up their relentless play down low to keep the pressure on the aging frontcourt of the Spurs.

The Spurs know that they are the team that is “supposed” to win with a Western Conference-best 61 regular-season victories. Tim Duncan (12.8 PPG in series) didn’t have one of his most enjoyable birthdays by only scoring six points which ended in the 18-point defeat. A more depressing note may be that it was Duncan’s 35th birthday and the end is nearing on the Hall-of-Fame forward’s career. Tony Parker (17.8 PPG in series) had a nice game Monday, scoring 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting, but the rest of the big three did not play as well. Manu Ginobili (18.0 PPG in series) only had 14 points alongside Duncan’s six. The Spurs will need their stars to play like they are capable of in order to turn this series around.

Memphis has been terrific against the spread all year with a 56-29 ATS record (66%) and has been almost unstoppable against division opponents (16-4 ATS). The Grizzlies love being the underdog (29-11 ATS, 73%) and are also 14-2 ATS coming off an upset win as an underdog. Memphis also has won nine in a row against the spread versus the Spurs. San Antonio hasn’t been that great defending its home court with a 19-23 ATS record. The Spurs are 4-14 ATS in the playoffs over the last three years and 7-13 ATS versus division opponents this year. All the trends and momentum are pointing towards Memphis who I think will battle closely with the Spurs and cover getting the 6.5 points. The FoxSheets show three more trends siding with the Grizzlies on Wednesday.

MEMPHIS is 10-0 ATS (+10.0 Units) when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 70%) - 2nd half of the season this season. The average score was MEMPHIS 98.1, OPPONENT 94.6 - (Rating = 4*).

Play Against - Favorites (SAN ANTONIO) - after failing to cover the spread in 3 or more consecutive games against opponent after successfully covering the spread in 4 or more consecutive games. (44-21 over the last 5 seasons.) (67.7%, +20.9 units. Rating = 1*).

MEMPHIS is 19-8 ATS (+10.2 Units) versus teams who attempt 18 or more 3 point shots/game - 2nd half of the season this season. The average score was MEMPHIS 100.5, OPPONENT 98.1 - (Rating = 1*).

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday's Playoff Notes

April 27, 2011

After two weeks of playoff action, only two opening round series have been completed with Boston finishing off New York in four games on Sunday and Chicago knocking out Indiana in five contests last night. Atlanta had an opportunity to join the Celtics and Bulls yesterday, but the Magic staved off elimination at home and forced a Game 6 with a wire-to-wire victory.
For Wednesday, three more clubs have the opportunity to put the final nail in the coffin. Miami, Memphis and Oklahoma City all hold 3-1 leads in their opening round battles, plus the Heat and Thunder also had 3-0 edges prior to losing Game 4’s on the road.

Most hoop enthusiasts are aware that no team in the NBA has ever won a best-of-seven series when facing a 3-0 deficit and clubs facing 3-1 deficits haven't had much success either. Let’s take a closer look at what’s on top. Make a note that if any of the below series stay alive, Game 6’s are scheduled for Friday and if necessary, Game 7’s slated for Sunday.

Philadelphia at Miami – Game 5

Miami missed out on a golden chance to dish out broom treatment on Sunday but it came up short at Philadelphia (82-86) in Game 4. Leading 82-78 late in the game, the Heat was outscored 8-0 in the final minute. The Heat’s LeBron James missed an opportunity to tie when Elton Brand blocked his shot at the rim. The 76ers’ win kept their playoff hopes alive and it also snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Heat.

Can the 76ers avoid elimination again on Wednesday or was Sunday’s home victory against a much better team an achievement in itself for Doug Collins’ troops? VegasInsider.com handicapper Kevin Rogers has gained some respect for the 76ers in this series.

He explained, “The 76ers have played admirably in this opening round in spite of being totally outclassed by the Heat. For the exception of the Game 2 blowout, Philadelphia has had its opportunities, even if that means winning one more game and splitting this series at two games apiece going into Game 5.”

In the first two installments from American Airlines Arena, Miami was favored by 10 ½ and 9 ½ points. For Game 5, the line is hovering between 10 and 11 points. The Heat won the first two affairs by eight (97-89) and 21 points (94-73), but the team wasn’t invincible at home (30-11 straight up, 15-25 against the spread) during the regular season.

Philadelphia has shown some life in this series but numbers don’t lie and you can’t ignore the fact that the 76ers are 2-8 ATS in their last 10. On the other side of the spectrum, Miami is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 and the talented club from South Florida is used to laying heavy digits during this run. Keep in mind that Collins team is just 15-28 SU on the road this season, which includes the two losses in this round.

Three of the four games in this series have gone ‘under’ the number and bettors should be aware that Philly is on a 9-1 run to the ‘under’ as well. Game 5 has a number of 186, which is a few points lower (188.5) than Sunday’s Game 4.

TNT will provide national coverage of Game 5 at 7:05 p.m. EST.

Memphis at San Antonio – Game 5

When the opening series prices came out for the first round battles, some gamblers may’ve been scratching their head to see San Antonio listed as a short favorite (-350) over Memphis, especially when you looked at other numbers on the Bulls (-3500), Heat (-2000) and Lakers (-2100).

The Spurs did own the second-best record in the league and they were the top seed in the Western Conference, right? Despite those facts, one glaring stat was Memphis’ record (2-2 SU, 4-0 ATS) against San Antonio during the regular season. Apparently the oddsmakers took notice of those numbers and after watching the first four games in this series, the Grizzlies are one win away from knocking out San Antonio.

Will the Spurs become the fourth No. 1 seed to lose to an eighth seed in the NBA playoffs? Eight teams have come back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA with the last instance occurring in 2006 (Phoenix over the L.A. Lakers).

For Game 5, San Antonio has been made a 6 ½-point favorite and minus-300 on the money-line (Bet $300 to win $100). Rogers makes his point for the road underdogs. “The Spurs performed well in the regular season, but this team is running out of gas against a young and energetic Grizzlies squad. Memphis has covered all eight meetings this season against San Antonio, including all four at the AT&T Center. The Spurs aren’t a good ATS play as a home favorite off a loss this season, covering just two of nine opportunities in this situation.”

Total players have watched the ‘over/under’ go 2-2 in this series and the Game 4 finish definitely could’ve gone either way. The combined 190 points slipped ‘over’ the closing number of 189 thanks to 14 points in the final 90 seconds. The total for Game 5 opened at 189.

Gamblers believing the Spurs can win out and pull off three straight wins should take a look at the current series price, which has some nice value on San Antonio (+240). Plus it could set up hedge opportunities for the sixth and seventh installments.

NBATV will provide national coverage of this affair at 8:35 p.m. EST.

Denver at Oklahoma City – Game 5

Finally, the Nuggets answered the bell on Monday en route to their Game 4 win (104-101) over the Thunder. Denver still trails 3-1 in the series and it should have some confidence heading back to Oklahoma City. Looking at the box score, the Nuggets only shot 38 percent from the field and they missed 13 free throws (31-of-44). George Karl’s club did hit nine triples and they received 30 points off the bench. Despite those statistics, Denver only won by three and that’s exactly what the point-spread was.

Oklahoma City has been a tough out at home (32-11 SU, 21-21 ATS) this season and it displayed that in the first two games of this series, putting up 107 and 106 points. Oddsmakers have the Thunder listed as 6 ½-point favorites for Game 5, which is higher than the first two battles played at Oklahoma City Arena.

Expecting Denver to earn the outright win (17-26 SU) could be a bit of a reach but covering the points (24-18 ATS) outside of Colorado has been a sound investment.

Rogers offers up some solid trends on the Nuggets in this spot. “Denver is an incredible 7-2 ATS as a road underdog off a win since the trade of Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks at the All-Star break. However, the Thunder takes care of their business when returning home as a favorite off a loss, compiling a 12-0 SU and 7-4-1 ATS ledger.”

Depending where you shopped in Game 4, you may’ve earned a push on the total (205). The ‘over’ cashed in Game 1 but the ‘under’ rebounded in the second and third affairs. At home, Oklahoma City has watched the ‘over’ go 26-17 but Denver (24-18) has been a solid ‘under’ look.

The last game on Wednesday’s board tips at 9:35 p.m. EST and TNT will offer coverage.

[StarDust Bum]

Betting at Halftime

April 26, 2011


There are several advantages to second half wagering. One is that you get a chance to see the action and can make judgments on what you see in the first half that might affect second half play. Injuries are one example, and that is especially true in this particular NBA playoffs, with nagging injuries to star players like Manu Ginobili, Shaq, Chauncey Billups and Amare Stoudamire.

Another is that you can hedge for the second half and perhaps hit a middle, if you have a wager on the side or total for the entire game. Another edge is that you can sometimes find spots where the second half might be lower scoring than the first half. Defense often becomes greater in the playoffs as there’s far more at stake than any regular season game. Sometimes teams can play a wide-open first half, but as players tire out more in the third and fourth quarters, truly strong defensive teams can “turn up the heat.” For instance, in Game 1 of the Nuggets/Thunder series, Denver scored 60 first half points at Oklahoma City, a team that has been very good defensively ever since Kendrick Perkins joined the team. However, the second half was a completely different story as Denver totaled just 42 points, a huge different from the first half. Yes, the first half went over the total, but the defenses shined (as they often do in the postseason) in the second half. So far in the 2011 first round, there have been twice as many unders as overs.

A few years ago in Game 1 of the Pistons/76ers series, Detroit failed to cover the first half number, leading by only two, but then blew the doors off Philly in the second half, 58-39, with a terrific defensive second half. That defense wasn’t there as much in the first half when Philly scored 46 points.

That same season the Nuggets and Spurs met up, two good defensive teams at the time, but you wouldn’t have noticed it in the first half of Game 1 with a 53-52 halftime score. However, both teams turned up the defense in the second half with the game sailing under the second half total easily, with a combined 76 points. This was also evident with another strong defensive team, Chicago. The Bulls were No. 1 in the NBA that season, allowing opponents just .422% shooting. After combining for 105 points in the first half of Game 1, Chicago allowed just 42 second half points (92 overall in the second half) against their opponent.

You don’t have to have a microphone in the halftime locker rooms to guess what is going on. You know many NBA coaches that preach and understand the value of defense (Doc Rivers, Gregg Popovich, George Karl, Rick Carlisle, Phil Jackson) are bringing up the subject of better defense and making adjustments in an effort to shut down the other team. A good bettor can use this knowledge and the availability of second half numbers to make smart wagers to turn a profit or even strike gold by hitting the middle!

[StarDust Bum]

Playoff Results - First Round

April 27, 2011

First Round Results

Favorites are 25-13-1 straight up
Underdogs are 24-14-1 against the spread
The 'under' stands at 26-13
Home teams are 29-10 straight up

Visitor Home Final Score ATS OVER/UNDER

Saturday Apr. 16
Indiana Chicago (-12.5) 104-99 UNDERDOG OVER 189
Philadelphia Miami (-10.5) 97-89 UNDERDOG UNDER 190
Atlanta (+9) Orlando 103-93 UNDERDOG OVER 181
Portland Dallas (-5) 89-81 FAVORITE UNDER 186

Sunday, Apr. 17
Memphis (+6.5) San Antonio 101-98 UNDERDOG OVER 195.5
New Orleans (+11) L.A. Lakers 109-100 UNDERDOG OVER 184.5
New York Boston (-6) 87-85 UNDERDOG UNDER 197.5
Denver Oklahoma City (-6) 107-103 UNDERDOG OVER 206

Monday, Apr. 18
Philadelphia Miami (-9) 94-73 FAVORITE UNDER 190
Indiana Chicago (-11) 96-90 UNDERDOG UNDER 192

Tuesday, Apr. 19
New York Boston (-6.5) 96-93 UNDERDOG UNDER 192.5
Atlanta Orlando (-9.5) 88-82 UNDERDOG UNDER 182.5
Portland Dallas (-4) 101-89 FAVORITE OVER 184.5

Wednesday, Apr. 20
Denver Oklahoma City (-4.5) 106-89 FAVORITE UNDER 206.5
Memphis San Antonio (-8) 93-87 UNDERDOG UNDER 193.5
New Orleans L.A. Lakers (-11.5) 87-79 UNDERDOG UNDER 185.5

Thursday, Apr. 21
Chicago (-3.5) Indiana 88-84 FAVORITE UNDER 189.5
Miami (-4.5) Philadelphia 100-94 FAVORITE OVER 185
Dallas Portland (-5.5) 97-92 UNDERDOG OVER 187.5

Friday, Apr. 22
Boston (+3) New York 113-96 UNDERDOG OVER 191
Orlando Atlanta (+1.5) 88-84 UNDERDOG UNDER 180
L.A. Lakers (-5) New Orleans 100-86 FAVORITE OVER 180

Saturday, Apr. 23
Chicago Indiana (+4.5) 89-84 UNDERDOG UNDER 190
Dallas Portland (-4) 84-82 UNDERDOG UNDER 187
San Antonio Memphis (-2) 91-88 FAVORITE UNDER 191
Oklahoma City (+5) Denver 97-94 UNDERDOG UNDER 208

Sunday, Apr. 24
Miami Philadelphia (+5.5) 86-82 UNDERDOG UNDER 188.5
Boston (-3.5) New York 101-89 FAVORITE UNDER 194
Orlando Atlanta (+2) 88-85 UNDERDOG UNDER 178.5
L.A. Lakers New Orleans (+6) 93-88 UNDERDOG UNDER 183.5

Monday, Apr. 25
San Antonio Memphis (+1.5) 104-86 UNDERDOG OVER 189
Portland Dallas (-5) 93-82 FAVORITE UNDER 184
Oklahoma City Denver (-3) 104-101 PUSH UNDER 205.5

Tuesday, Apr. 26
Indiana Chicago (-9) 116-89 FAVORITE OVER 186.5
Atlanta Orlando (-7) 101-76 FAVORITE UNDER 178.5
New Orleans L.A. Lakers (-9.5) 106-90 FAVORITE OVER 183

Wednesday, Apr. 27
Philadelphia Miami
Memphis San Antonio
Denver Oklahoma City

Thursday, Apr. 28
Chicago Indiana
Orlando Atlanta
L.A. Lakers New Orleans
Dallas Portland

Friday, Apr. 29
Miami Philadelphia
San Antonio Memphis
Oklahoma City Denver

Saturday, Apr. 30
Indiana Chicago
Atlanta Orlando
New Orleans L.A. Lakers
Portland Dallas

Sunday, May 1
Philadelphia Miami
Memphis San Antonio
Denver Oklahoma City




Winners in BOLD