Friday's Tips NBA
By Kevin Rogers
The Friday night card in the NBA is loaded with 11 games, including four teams searching for their fifth win on the season (Bulls, Wizards, Raptors, and Kings). Memphis tries to stay unbeaten with a trip to struggling Oklahoma City, but we’ll start with a Southeast Division matchup with two struggling teams trying to get on track.
Hawks at Hornets – 7:05 PM EST
Charlotte snapped a three-game skid on Wednesday by beating Miami for the first time in 21 tries, 96-89 as one-point favorites. The Hornets limited the Heat to 39% shooting from the floor, while picking up their first combined win and cover of the season to improve to 2-3 SU/ATS. Al Jefferson eclipsed the 20-point mark for the third straight game, while Kemba Walker put together his most efficient shooting game from the floor by going 5-of-6 for 18 points against Miami.
The Hawks have played just three games, losing twice, including a two-point setback at San Antonio on Wednesday. Atlanta erased a 17-point deficit in the 94-92 loss to cover as eight-point underdogs, but the lone victory for the Hawks has come against the injury-ravaged Pacers. Last season, Atlanta won three of four matchups against Charlotte, while the Hawks have taken 11 of the past 12 meetings since 2012.
Timberwolves at Magic – 7:05 PM EST
Minnesota owns a perfect 4-0 ATS record through four games, one of only two teams remaining in the league that has covered every game (Golden State the other). The Wolves continue their road trip in Orlando after holding off the Nets on Wednesday, 98-91 as five-point underdogs. All five starters scored in double-figures for the Wolves, who have moved on from the Kevin Love era as Kevin Martin is averaging a team-high 23.7 points per game.
Orlando finally picked up its first win of the season on Wednesday, beating Philadelphia at the buzzer, 91-89. The Magic closed as 2 ½-point favorites, as Orlando backers certainly would have preferred overtime for five more minutes to grab cover. Jacque Vaughn’s team has covered just once in five games, while losing both games as a home underdog to the Raptors and Wizards.
Bulls at 76ers – 7:05 PM EST
Since blowing a late lead in an overtime loss to the Cavaliers, the Bulls have stormed back with three consecutive wins to improve to 4-1. Chicago pulled away from Milwaukee in Wednesday’s 95-86 road victory as five-point favorites, as the front-court duo of Taj Gibson and Pau Gasol combined for 45 points and 24 rebounds. Joakim Noah is expected to return to the Chicago lineup after missing the last two games with the flu.
The 76ers are expected to have another long season, as Philadelphia is winless through its first five games. Philadelphia wraps up a four-game homestand coming off narrow ATS covers in losses to Houston and Orlando. The Sixers cashed in three of four meetings with the Bulls last season, including a shocking 107-104 victory as nine-point home ‘dogs last November.
Pacers at Celtics – 7:05 PM EST
Indiana won its opener against Philadelphia, but the Pacers have stumbled to four consecutive losses. Frank Vogel’s team managed a cover as 9 ½-point road underdogs at Washington on Wednesday in a 96-94 setback, as David West has not played a game yet this season due to an ankle injury. In spite of Indiana scoring 94 points or less in four of five contests this season, the Pacers have hit the ‘over’ four times.
The Celtics squandered an early 16-point lead in Wednesday’s 107-104 home loss to the Raptors, the fourth time this season Boston has allowed at least 104 points. Since blasting Brooklyn in the season opener, the Celtics have dropped three straight games, while converting just 22-of-82 three-point attempts during this skid (including a 1-for-25 effort at Houston).
Knicks at Nets – 7:35 PM EST
The first battle of New York City takes place on Friday at Barclays Center. The Knicks are 2-3 through their first five games, as their fourth quarter rally at Detroit on Wednesday came up short in a 98-95 defeat as four-point underdogs. Derek Fisher’s team hasn’t broken the 96-point mark yet this season, but has allowed at least 100 points just once. New York owned Brooklyn last season, winning three of four meetings, including a 2-0 mark at Barclays Center.
The Nets failed to capitalize off Monday’s blowout of the Thunder, as Brooklyn fell short in a 98-91 home loss to Minnesota as five-point favorites. Brooklyn didn’t reach the 100-point mark for the first time in four games in the defeat to the Wolves, while the ‘under’ hit in by far the highest total of the young season at 208. Friday’s total is adjusted back down to 192 ½, as Brooklyn is 2-1 to the ‘over’ in totals below 200.
Bucks at Pistons – 7:35 PM EST
Detroit broke through the win column after three losses by holding off New York, 98-95. The Pistons haven’t covered a game yet through four outings, as the offense reached their highest output following three losses in which they didn’t bust the 91-point mark. Detroit grabbed three of four matchups from Milwaukee last season, as all four games finished ‘over’ the total.
The Bucks are definitely off to a better start this season than last year’s disaster, winning two of their first five games. Milwaukee’s offense sputtered in the second half of Wednesday’s 95-86 home defeat to Chicago, as this team has alternated wins and losses through five games.
Wizards at Raptors – 7:35 PM EST
A battle of two 4-1 clubs north of the border, as Washington is listed as an underdog for just the second time this season. The Wizards have won four straight since a season-opening loss at Miami, but Washington hasn’t really faced great competition of late (Orlando, Milwaukee, New York, and Indiana). If the Wizards can knock off the Raptors, Randy Wittman’s club is staring at a possible 8-1 start as the next three games are against the Pacers, Pistons, and Magic.
The Raptors rallied past the Celtics on Wednesday to improve to 4-1 with their lone defeat coming at Miami. Toronto’s offense has looked sharp so far by eclipsing the 100-point mark in all five games, while the dynamic backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan are combining to score 41 points per game. The Raptors beat the Wizards three times last season in four tries with all three victories coming by eight points or more.
Grizzlies at Thunder – 8:05 PM EST
Memphis barely qualified for the playoffs last season, but the Grizzlies have stormed out of the gate with a 5-0 record. The Grizzlies face the Thunder for the first time since getting eliminated by the Thunder in the first round of the postseason, but this OKC team isn’t close to what we saw in April. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook remain out for the Thunder, as OKC has scored 90 points or less in each of its four losses.
The Grizzlies have covered four straight since a four-point victory over the Wolves to open the season, as Memphis is fresh off a 102-91 triumph at Phoenix as a short ‘dog. OKC returns home for two games after playing four of its first five contests on the road. The only good news for the Thunder is their lone victory came at Chesapeake Energy Arena over the Nuggets, 102-91.
Kings at Suns – 9:05 PM EST
Sacramento put up a clunker to begin the season in a home loss to Golden State, but the Kings have rebounded nicely with four straight wins. The duo of Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins is averaging 24 points per game each, while each player is shooting at least 51% from the floor. The Kings swept a home-and-home series from the Nuggets, while converting 79-of-97 free throws in those two victories alone.
The Suns held off the Lakers as a six-point road favorite on Tuesday, but followed up that win with a home loss to the unbeaten Grizzlies the next night. Phoenix has hit the ‘over’ in four of five games, as former King Isaiah Thomas is averaging 18.6 points per game and faces Sacramento for the first time since getting traded this past summer.
Mavericks at Jazz – 9:05 PM EST
Dallas plays with no rest following Thursday’s game at Portland, as the Mavs face the Jazz for the second time this season. Rick Carlisle’s team ran out the Jazz at home last Thursday, 120-102 to cash as 10 ½-point favorites, the sixth straight win in the series. The Mavs have broken the 100-point mark in each of the first four games, but have also allowed at least 100 points in each contest this season.
Utah stunned Cleveland with a buzzer-beater on Wednesday, 102-100 as 5 ½-point underdogs, the third straight cover following the 18-point loss at Dallas. The Jazz hits the road for five games following Friday’s contest, as Utah is 3-6-1 ATS in the past 10 home contests in the underdog role since last March.
Cavaliers at Nuggets – 10:35 PM EST
The LeBron James era in Cleveland (Part II) has gotten off to a slower start than expected, as the Cavs are just 1-3. The Cavs escaped Chicago with an overtime win, but stubbed their toe in losses at Portland and Utah as a road favorite. The road trip concludes in Denver as the Cavs have allowed at least 100 points in each of their three losses, while James has been up and down so far, scoring 31 points in the buzzer-beating loss at Utah.
The Nuggets don’t exactly have the same home-court advantage at Pepsi Center that they had in previous seasons. Denver went 22-19 last season at home, one year after losing just three games in the high altitude. The Nuggets held off the Pistons in the season opener, but is riding a three-game losing streak, while allowing at least 100 points in each defeat.
