Wednesday NBA Tips
The Wednesday NBA card is filled to the brim with 11 games, including intriguing matchups in the later tip-offs. The Lakers play the second end of a back-to-back in Dallas, while the Magic continues a four-game road trip in Denver against the Nuggets.
Lakers at Mavs - 8:35 PM EST
Los Angeles and Dallas meet up for the third time this season after the two teams split the first two meetings at Staples Center. The Lakers will be playing with no rest after Tuesday's 20-point setback at San Antonio, while the Mavs have been off since Saturday's 18-point loss to the Jazz.
Dallas has struggled mightily at home against the number recently, going 1-12 ATS the last 13 at American Airlines Center. The Mavs blew out the Lakers, 94-80, in late October, easily cashing as 7 ?-point road underdogs. L.A. got revenge on Dallas on January 3, destroying the Mavs, 131-96 as 6 ?-point 'chalk.'
The Lakers have played each of the last five games without power forward Pau Gasol, who is nursing a hamstring injury. His status for Wednesday is 'questionable,' as the Lakers are 3-7 ATS the last ten on the road. Los Angeles is 0-7 ATS this season on the road against teams above .500, while going 2-5 SU. Both Josh Howard and Drew Gooden missed Saturday's defeat to Utah, as each player will be a game-time decision for Dallas.
Magic at Nuggets - 9:05 PM EST
Orlando will have a tough stretch upcoming on its four-game trip, battling the Nuggets, Blazers, and Lakers over the next few nights. Denver is slowly returning to health after Carmelo Anthony came back to the lineup for Monday's victory over Minnesota. Anthony missed the previous five games with a knee ailment (2-2-1 ATS), as the Nuggets won and covered both times as an underdog against the Jazz and Cavs.
The Magic has struggled away from Amway Arena lately, going 1-6 SU/ATS the last seven on the road, including losses to the Pacers, Bulls, Wizards, and Heat in this stretch. Orlando is 2-1 ATS as a road 'dog, and 13-4 ATS in the regular season when getting points on the road since November 2008.
The Nuggets are just 4-12-1 ATS over the last 17 games, including a 2-11 ATS mark as a favorite. Denver is 3-6 ATS at the Pepsi Center after starting the season 7-3 ATS at home. George Karl's team has covered four of the last five home meetings with the Magic, but Orlando drubbed Denver last January, 106-88.
What else to watch for:
-- The Spurs and Thunder get together at the Ford Center for an intriguing battle between two teams separated by one victory. Oklahoma City has been solid at home this season, but is just 2-4 ATS as a home 'dog. The Thunder upended the Spurs in San Antonio, 101-98 as 8 ?-point 'dogs in mid-November, the fourth cover in the last five meetings for OKC. The Spurs are 2-4 SU/ATS with no rest this season, while going 'under' the total all six times.
-- Two of the hotter teams outside the Western Conference playoff picture meet up in New Orleans when the Hornets host the Clippers. Chris Paul and the Hornets have won six of seven, while going 5-2 ATS in this stretch. However, New Orleans is 14-3 SU at home with all 14 wins by nine points or less. The Clippers, meanwhile, have covered seven straight games following Tuesday's two-point loss as six-point 'dogs at Memphis.
-- The Bucks and Blazers take the court for a 10:00 EST tip at the Rose Garden, as Milwaukee goes for its first win on a six-game road trip. The Bucks dropped the first two games at the Lakers and Suns, as the team lost sharpshooter Michael Redd for the season with a torn ACL and MCL in his knee. Milwaukee has hit the 'under' in four straight games, while Portland is riding a four-game 'over' streak. The Blazers are 3-4 SU and 2-5 ATS over the last seven games, as Portland tries to avenge an overtime loss at the Bradley Center in mid-December.
-- The Heat tries to bounce back after dropping consecutive games to the Clippers and Jazz when Miami travels to the Bay Area to battle the Warriors. Golden State couldn't buy a cover leading up to Christmas, but the Warriors have been money in the bank recently, cashing eight of their last nine games. Don Nelson's team is protecting its home court, going 4-0 ATS the last four at Oracle Arena, with covers against the Celtics, Suns, and Cavs. The Heat is 2-6 ATS the last eight, while failing to break 100 points six times in this stretch.
The Wednesday NBA card is filled to the brim with 11 games, including intriguing matchups in the later tip-offs. The Lakers play the second end of a back-to-back in Dallas, while the Magic continues a four-game road trip in Denver against the Nuggets.
Lakers at Mavs - 8:35 PM EST
Los Angeles and Dallas meet up for the third time this season after the two teams split the first two meetings at Staples Center. The Lakers will be playing with no rest after Tuesday's 20-point setback at San Antonio, while the Mavs have been off since Saturday's 18-point loss to the Jazz.
Dallas has struggled mightily at home against the number recently, going 1-12 ATS the last 13 at American Airlines Center. The Mavs blew out the Lakers, 94-80, in late October, easily cashing as 7 ?-point road underdogs. L.A. got revenge on Dallas on January 3, destroying the Mavs, 131-96 as 6 ?-point 'chalk.'
The Lakers have played each of the last five games without power forward Pau Gasol, who is nursing a hamstring injury. His status for Wednesday is 'questionable,' as the Lakers are 3-7 ATS the last ten on the road. Los Angeles is 0-7 ATS this season on the road against teams above .500, while going 2-5 SU. Both Josh Howard and Drew Gooden missed Saturday's defeat to Utah, as each player will be a game-time decision for Dallas.
Magic at Nuggets - 9:05 PM EST
Orlando will have a tough stretch upcoming on its four-game trip, battling the Nuggets, Blazers, and Lakers over the next few nights. Denver is slowly returning to health after Carmelo Anthony came back to the lineup for Monday's victory over Minnesota. Anthony missed the previous five games with a knee ailment (2-2-1 ATS), as the Nuggets won and covered both times as an underdog against the Jazz and Cavs.
The Magic has struggled away from Amway Arena lately, going 1-6 SU/ATS the last seven on the road, including losses to the Pacers, Bulls, Wizards, and Heat in this stretch. Orlando is 2-1 ATS as a road 'dog, and 13-4 ATS in the regular season when getting points on the road since November 2008.
The Nuggets are just 4-12-1 ATS over the last 17 games, including a 2-11 ATS mark as a favorite. Denver is 3-6 ATS at the Pepsi Center after starting the season 7-3 ATS at home. George Karl's team has covered four of the last five home meetings with the Magic, but Orlando drubbed Denver last January, 106-88.
What else to watch for:
-- The Spurs and Thunder get together at the Ford Center for an intriguing battle between two teams separated by one victory. Oklahoma City has been solid at home this season, but is just 2-4 ATS as a home 'dog. The Thunder upended the Spurs in San Antonio, 101-98 as 8 ?-point 'dogs in mid-November, the fourth cover in the last five meetings for OKC. The Spurs are 2-4 SU/ATS with no rest this season, while going 'under' the total all six times.
-- Two of the hotter teams outside the Western Conference playoff picture meet up in New Orleans when the Hornets host the Clippers. Chris Paul and the Hornets have won six of seven, while going 5-2 ATS in this stretch. However, New Orleans is 14-3 SU at home with all 14 wins by nine points or less. The Clippers, meanwhile, have covered seven straight games following Tuesday's two-point loss as six-point 'dogs at Memphis.
-- The Bucks and Blazers take the court for a 10:00 EST tip at the Rose Garden, as Milwaukee goes for its first win on a six-game road trip. The Bucks dropped the first two games at the Lakers and Suns, as the team lost sharpshooter Michael Redd for the season with a torn ACL and MCL in his knee. Milwaukee has hit the 'under' in four straight games, while Portland is riding a four-game 'over' streak. The Blazers are 3-4 SU and 2-5 ATS over the last seven games, as Portland tries to avenge an overtime loss at the Bradley Center in mid-December.
-- The Heat tries to bounce back after dropping consecutive games to the Clippers and Jazz when Miami travels to the Bay Area to battle the Warriors. Golden State couldn't buy a cover leading up to Christmas, but the Warriors have been money in the bank recently, cashing eight of their last nine games. Don Nelson's team is protecting its home court, going 4-0 ATS the last four at Oracle Arena, with covers against the Celtics, Suns, and Cavs. The Heat is 2-6 ATS the last eight, while failing to break 100 points six times in this stretch.
