Friday Tips
January 21, 2010
The Friday night card in the NBA gives bettors a plethora of games to choose from, including several teams that have made plenty of noise recently. We'll take a look at five contests on the 13-game slate, including the big Southeast showdown in Atlanta.
Bobcats (21-19 SU, 25-15 ATS) at Hawks (27-14 SU, 27-14 ATS)
Charlotte looks like it is finally turning the corner, winning nine of its last ten, heading to Philips Arena to battle Atlanta. The Hawks haven't been too shabby lately, capturing six of their last eight games, while improving to 17-5 at home after Wednesday's win over the Kings.
Most of Charlotte's damage has come at Time Warner Arena, completing a 6-0 homestand, while covering four times. The Bobcats have found ways to cash on the road despite a 3-15 mark on the highway. Charlotte is 11-6 ATS away from home, including outright victories at Cleveland and Miami.
The Hawks have been up and down covering numbers at home as of late, going 4-4 ATS the last eight at Philips Arena. Atlanta is looking to avenge a 103-83 loss at Charlotte on November 6 as two-point road favorites.
The home team has won nine of the previous ten meetings, but the Bobcats managed to cover both matchups in Atlanta last season as eight-point underdogs.
Blazers (26-17 SU, 22-20-1 ATS) at Celtics (27-13 SU, 17-23 ATS)
The Celtics look to snap a three-game skid, as Boston will get Kevin Garnett back in the lineup following a ten-game absence with a knee injury. The Blazers, meanwhile, continue a four-game East Coast swing and will likely be without leading scorer Brandon Roy, who aggravated a hamstring injury in Wednesday's win at Philadelphia.
Boston has dropped three straight at TD Banknorth Garden, falling to the Hawks, Bulls, and Mavericks over the last ten days. The C's didn't help themselves with a come-from-ahead loss at Detroit on Wednesday as six-point favorites.
The Blazers dropped the opener of their road trip at Washington on Monday without Roy, but managed a 98-90 victory at Philadelphia. Roy returned and scored 10 points in 18 minutes against the Sixers, but tweaked his hamstring, putting his availability in doubt on Friday.
The Celtics are 4-9 ATS when laying between 5 and 9 ? points, while owning a 3-10 ATS mark the last 13 games at home. After starting the season 1-4 ATS as a road 'dog, the Blazers are 3-2 ATS their last five when receiving points away from the Rose Garden.
Thunder (24-18 SU, 25-17 ATS) at Grizzlies (22-19 SU, 24-16-1 ATS)
Two of the league's more exciting, up-and-coming teams hook up in Memphis when the Grizzlies host the Thunder. Both these clubs are right in the mix of the Western Conference playoff race, while each team employs dynamic scoring threats.
Oklahoma City is riding a three-game winning streak, coming off two close victories at Atlanta and Minnesota. The Thunder has turned into a tough out on the road, going 12-9 SU away from the Ford Center. Playing as a road 'dog has benefited OKC backers, with the Thunder compiling an 8-2 ATS mark the last ten in that spot.
The Grizzlies are coming off a disappointing loss at New Orleans on Wednesday, 113-111, but managed to cover as 3 ?-point 'dogs. Memphis has been money in the bank at FedEx Forum, winning nine straight at home, while going 6-2-1 ATS. Lionel Hollins' club tries to avenge a 102-94 loss to Oklahoma City on December 11, as that loss came following consecutive underdog home victories over Dallas and Cleveland.
Memphis is 10-1-1 ATS the last 12 after a game in which it scored at least 100 points, while seven of its last eight contests have been decided by seven points or less.
Lakers (32-9 SU, 18-22-1 ATS) at Knicks (17-24 SU, 20-21 ATS)
New York returns to the court following three days off to begin a four-game homestand hosting the Lakers. The Knicks are coming off a home-and-home split against the Pistons, but New York is riding a 2-4 SU/ATS cold streak.
The Purple and Gold looks for a victory to conclude a back-to-back following Thursday's loss in Cleveland. The Lakers possess a 4-7 ATS mark as a road favorite, but are 0-3 ATS the last three when laying points away from home. All four of L.A.'s covers as road 'chalk' have come against teams below .500.
The Knicks have shown plenty of inconsistency, especially at MSG, going 5-5 ATS as a home underdog this season. New York owns wins over Portland, Phoenix, and New Orleans at home, but four of the losses have come by at least seven points.
The Lakers are 5-0 SU the last five meetings against the Knicks, including a 100-90 victory at Staples Center in late November. New York cashed as 14-point 'dogs, improving to 3-2 ATS the previous five versus Los Angeles.
Rockets (23-18 SU, 21-20 ATS) at Spurs (25-16 SU, 21-19-1 ATS)
The battle of the Lone Star State takes place at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, with the Spurs trying to bounce back from a 105-98 loss to the Jazz on Wednesday. The Rockets have been off since a Monday overtime win over the Bucks, but Houston failed to cover as 6 ?-point favorites.
The Spurs continue a six-game homestand, trying to break out of a 1-3 SU/ATS slump following the loss to Utah. San Antonio knocked off Houston, 92-84 at Toyota Center on November 27 as one-point 'dogs. The road team has won each of the last three meetings in this series, while eight of the previous ten matchups between these Southwest division rivals have finished 'under' the total.
The Rockets have turned into the ultimate 'fade' as road underdogs lately, crawling to an 0-6 ATS mark the last six in this spot. Rick Adelman's team hasn't kept these games close either, dropping five of those games by at least eight points. It's unfortunate for this slump since Houston began the season 7-3 ATS when getting points on the road.
January 21, 2010
The Friday night card in the NBA gives bettors a plethora of games to choose from, including several teams that have made plenty of noise recently. We'll take a look at five contests on the 13-game slate, including the big Southeast showdown in Atlanta.
Bobcats (21-19 SU, 25-15 ATS) at Hawks (27-14 SU, 27-14 ATS)
Charlotte looks like it is finally turning the corner, winning nine of its last ten, heading to Philips Arena to battle Atlanta. The Hawks haven't been too shabby lately, capturing six of their last eight games, while improving to 17-5 at home after Wednesday's win over the Kings.
Most of Charlotte's damage has come at Time Warner Arena, completing a 6-0 homestand, while covering four times. The Bobcats have found ways to cash on the road despite a 3-15 mark on the highway. Charlotte is 11-6 ATS away from home, including outright victories at Cleveland and Miami.
The Hawks have been up and down covering numbers at home as of late, going 4-4 ATS the last eight at Philips Arena. Atlanta is looking to avenge a 103-83 loss at Charlotte on November 6 as two-point road favorites.
The home team has won nine of the previous ten meetings, but the Bobcats managed to cover both matchups in Atlanta last season as eight-point underdogs.
Blazers (26-17 SU, 22-20-1 ATS) at Celtics (27-13 SU, 17-23 ATS)
The Celtics look to snap a three-game skid, as Boston will get Kevin Garnett back in the lineup following a ten-game absence with a knee injury. The Blazers, meanwhile, continue a four-game East Coast swing and will likely be without leading scorer Brandon Roy, who aggravated a hamstring injury in Wednesday's win at Philadelphia.
Boston has dropped three straight at TD Banknorth Garden, falling to the Hawks, Bulls, and Mavericks over the last ten days. The C's didn't help themselves with a come-from-ahead loss at Detroit on Wednesday as six-point favorites.
The Blazers dropped the opener of their road trip at Washington on Monday without Roy, but managed a 98-90 victory at Philadelphia. Roy returned and scored 10 points in 18 minutes against the Sixers, but tweaked his hamstring, putting his availability in doubt on Friday.
The Celtics are 4-9 ATS when laying between 5 and 9 ? points, while owning a 3-10 ATS mark the last 13 games at home. After starting the season 1-4 ATS as a road 'dog, the Blazers are 3-2 ATS their last five when receiving points away from the Rose Garden.
Thunder (24-18 SU, 25-17 ATS) at Grizzlies (22-19 SU, 24-16-1 ATS)
Two of the league's more exciting, up-and-coming teams hook up in Memphis when the Grizzlies host the Thunder. Both these clubs are right in the mix of the Western Conference playoff race, while each team employs dynamic scoring threats.
Oklahoma City is riding a three-game winning streak, coming off two close victories at Atlanta and Minnesota. The Thunder has turned into a tough out on the road, going 12-9 SU away from the Ford Center. Playing as a road 'dog has benefited OKC backers, with the Thunder compiling an 8-2 ATS mark the last ten in that spot.
The Grizzlies are coming off a disappointing loss at New Orleans on Wednesday, 113-111, but managed to cover as 3 ?-point 'dogs. Memphis has been money in the bank at FedEx Forum, winning nine straight at home, while going 6-2-1 ATS. Lionel Hollins' club tries to avenge a 102-94 loss to Oklahoma City on December 11, as that loss came following consecutive underdog home victories over Dallas and Cleveland.
Memphis is 10-1-1 ATS the last 12 after a game in which it scored at least 100 points, while seven of its last eight contests have been decided by seven points or less.
Lakers (32-9 SU, 18-22-1 ATS) at Knicks (17-24 SU, 20-21 ATS)
New York returns to the court following three days off to begin a four-game homestand hosting the Lakers. The Knicks are coming off a home-and-home split against the Pistons, but New York is riding a 2-4 SU/ATS cold streak.
The Purple and Gold looks for a victory to conclude a back-to-back following Thursday's loss in Cleveland. The Lakers possess a 4-7 ATS mark as a road favorite, but are 0-3 ATS the last three when laying points away from home. All four of L.A.'s covers as road 'chalk' have come against teams below .500.
The Knicks have shown plenty of inconsistency, especially at MSG, going 5-5 ATS as a home underdog this season. New York owns wins over Portland, Phoenix, and New Orleans at home, but four of the losses have come by at least seven points.
The Lakers are 5-0 SU the last five meetings against the Knicks, including a 100-90 victory at Staples Center in late November. New York cashed as 14-point 'dogs, improving to 3-2 ATS the previous five versus Los Angeles.
Rockets (23-18 SU, 21-20 ATS) at Spurs (25-16 SU, 21-19-1 ATS)
The battle of the Lone Star State takes place at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, with the Spurs trying to bounce back from a 105-98 loss to the Jazz on Wednesday. The Rockets have been off since a Monday overtime win over the Bucks, but Houston failed to cover as 6 ?-point favorites.
The Spurs continue a six-game homestand, trying to break out of a 1-3 SU/ATS slump following the loss to Utah. San Antonio knocked off Houston, 92-84 at Toyota Center on November 27 as one-point 'dogs. The road team has won each of the last three meetings in this series, while eight of the previous ten matchups between these Southwest division rivals have finished 'under' the total.
The Rockets have turned into the ultimate 'fade' as road underdogs lately, crawling to an 0-6 ATS mark the last six in this spot. Rick Adelman's team hasn't kept these games close either, dropping five of those games by at least eight points. It's unfortunate for this slump since Houston began the season 7-3 ATS when getting points on the road.
