Wednesday's Tip Sheet
November 30, 2016
Underdogs dominated on Tuesday night in the NBA by winning and covering in five of six games. The only favorite to cover was the Pelicans, who routed the Lakers as 5 ½-point chalk, 105-88. The Magic cashed the biggest ticket of the night as 12 ½-point underdogs in a 95-83 triumph at San Antonio, while hitting at +700 on the money-line. Not far behind Orlando was Brooklyn, who shocked the Clippers in double-overtime as 11-point home underdogs, 127-122.
Game of the Night – Pistons at Celtics (-8, 197 ½) – 7:35 PM EST – NBA TV
Detroit (9-10 SU, 9-10 ATS) picked up only its second road victory of the season on Tuesday by dominating Charlotte, 112-89 as 3 ½-point underdogs. The Pistons topped the 107-point mark for the third time in the last four games, as Detroit knocked down 12 three-pointers in last night’s victory. Stan Van Gundy’s squad has struggled with no rest this season by going 1-3 SU/ATS, including a 106-88 road defeat at Oklahoma City last Saturday.
The Celtics (10-7 SU, 10-7 ATS) return home following a 112-104 road victory at Miami on Monday to cash as four-point favorites. Boston limited Miami to 31 first half points, but somehow allowed 42 points to the Heat in the third quarter as the game eventually finished OVER the total of 201. Forward Al Horford sat out the game due to personal reasons but he is expected to start tonight. The Celtics have won each of their past four road games, but have lost their previous two games at TD Center, falling to the top two teams in the West, Golden State and San Antonio over the past 12 days.
In their previous meeting on November 19 at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Horford’s putback in the final seconds broke a 92-92 tie and gave Boston a 94-92 victory as two-point underdogs. The Celtics drilled 11 three-pointers in that win, while Isaiah Thomas burned the Pistons for 24 points and eight assists. Boston has captured three of the past five meetings since the start of the 2015-16 season as the two teams split a pair of matchups at TD Garden last season.
Chill Out
The Heat (5-12 SU, 7-10 ATS) are a beat-up squad and weren’t performing well when healthy as Miami travels to Denver to begin a three-game road swing. Forward Justice Winslow and guard Dion Waiters are both sidelined, while guard Tyler Johnson is questionable, who recently underwent a procedure on his teeth. Miami has lost four of its past five games since winning two in a row, including recent home losses to Memphis and Boston. The Heat have actually covered three of their last four games in the road underdog role, including outright victories at Memphis and Washington.
Denver (7-10 SU, 11-6 ATS) has turned into a solid bet recently by cashing in six of the previous eight contests, including four of the past five games at Pepsi Center. The only home ATS loss in this stretch came against Oklahoma City in two overtimes last Friday as 2 ½-point underdogs, 132-129. The Nuggets have lost three of the last four home matchups with the Heat, as three of those games finished UNDER the total.
Back at Home
The Bulls (10-6 SU, 11-5 ATS) return to the United Center following a 10-day road trip in which Chicago posted a 4-2 SU and 5-1 ATS mark. The Lakers (9-10 SU, 10-8-1 ATS) head to the Windy City tonight with no rest following last night’s drubbing at New Orleans as Los Angeles looks to avenge a home loss to Chicago on November 20. The Bulls outlasted the Lakers at Staples Center, 118-110 as 2 ½-point underdogs as Jimmy Butler lit up Los Angeles for 40 points, while Dwyane Wade sat out for Chicago. Los Angeles has seen the OVER cash in all three games with no rest this season, allowing 149, 125, and 116 points, winning only one of those contests.
Life Without Mikey
The Grizzlies (11-7 SU, 9-9 ATS) not only suffered a 19-point home loss to the Hornets on Monday, but also lost starting point guard Mike Conley for six weeks with a back injury. Memphis hits the road tonight heading north of the border to face Toronto (11-6 SU, 11-5-1 ATS), who is riding a three-game winning streak. The Raptors ripped the 76ers as 15-point favorites on Monday, 122-95 to improve to 5-3 at Air Canada Center this season. How important is Conley to Memphis’ success? The Grizzlies have lost 15 of the last 16 games he has missed since last March, while posting a 5-11 ATS mark.
Pacing West
Indiana (9-9 SU, 7-11 ATS) heads to the west coast to begin a five-game road swing, including four rematches from the first month of the season. The only team Indiana faces on this trip for the first time this season is Portland (9-10 SU, 6-13 ATS), as the two squads meet tonight at the Moda Center. Paul George remains sidelined for Indiana with a left ankle sprain and will miss tonight’s contest, but the Pacers pulled enough together to upset the Clippers on Saturday as 11 ½-point home underdogs, 91-70. The Blazers have dropped six of their past eight games, while posting an ugly 2-10 ATS mark the previous 12 contests.
Head-to-Head Stats
-- The Kings and 76ers have split their season series in each of the past three seasons, but Philadelphia has covered eight of the previous nine matchups since 2012. Sacramento is listed as a five-point road favorite as Philadelphia has posted an impressive 9-3 ATS mark as a home underdog this season.
-- The Knicks swept the Timberwolves last season, including an eight-point victory at Target Center. However, New York has struggled on the road this season by losing six of its first seven games away from Madison Square Garden. These teams begin a home-and-home set that concludes on Friday in New York.
-- Oklahoma City has captured the last four matchups with Washington as these two teams meet at Chesapeake Energy Center. The Thunder has won all seven home meetings with the Wizards since OKC moved from Seattle in 2008.
-- The best and worst of Texas meet tonight in Dallas as the Spurs battle the downtrodden Mavericks. San Antonio is riding a six-game winning streak against Dallas since 2015, including a 96-91 home victory on November 21. However, Dallas cashed as 13 ½-point road underdogs, just the second cover during this six-game skid.
-- Atlanta and Phoenix each won at home last season in their two matchups, as the Suns cashed each time as double-digit underdogs. This time around, the Suns are only a 5 ½-point home underdog, while each of the last five matchups between these squads have finished UNDER the total.
