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A lean schedule awaits basketball fans as the NBA’s 2018-19 season continues on Tuesday, February 12, 2019. With three more playing dates before the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend, teams try to pick up wins and build momentum heading to the midseason break.
Los Angeles Lakers at Atlanta Hawks
The Los Angeles Lakers will try to salvage a split from their current six-game road trip as they make the final stop at the State Farm Arena to take on the Atlanta Hawks.
The Lakers’ playoff hopes continue to fade away as they keep stumbling in the team standings. The Purple and Gold are just 3-7 SU in their last 10 games and are coming off a 23-point blowout loss to the Sixers in Philadelphia. Los Angeles isn’t only in danger of falling below the .500 mark this season at 28-28 but they have moved down to #10 in the Western Conference standings at 2.5 games behind their cross-town rival Clippers who currently occupy the 8th spot.
The Lakers are 14th in the league in scoring at 112.2 points per game and they are also ranked 12th in assists at 24.9 per game. Los Angeles is the 4th best rebounding team in the NBA at 47.1 boards grabbed per contest and they have the 8th worst scoring defense with 113.4 points per game allowed.
Unlike the Lakers, the Atlanta Hawks aren’t playing with the same pressure to make the playoffs. The Hawks are in rebuilding mode and have one of the league’s worst records at 18-38. Atlanta is among the Top 5 teams at the bottom of the NBA standings and instead of the playoffs, they may be in a race to bag Duke freshman Zion Williamson in the upcoming NBA draft.
Lakers vs. Hawks Odds
Lakers
-195
Hawks
+170
Lakers
-5 (-110)
Hawks
+5 (-110)
Lakers
O 236 -110
Hawks
U 236 -110
Odds from betonline.ag as of 2/12/19
John Collins leads the young Atlanta team with 19.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Rookie Trae Young leads the team in assists with 7.4 per contest while also scoring 16.8 points per game. Taurean Prince is back from injury and is averaging 13.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game. Veteran Kent Bazemore is contributing 13.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and a team-high 1.6 steals per game.
Los Angeles is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games played and 2-4 SU in their last six games played on the road. The Lakers are 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games played and 4-2 ATS in their last six road games. The total has gone over in six out of the last 10 games played by Los Angeles and the over is 5-1 in their last six games played. Atlanta is 4-6 SU in their last 10 games played and 0-3 SU in three home games during that period. The Hawks are 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games played and 0-3 ATS in three home games during that stretch. Atlanta has seen the total go over in seven out of their last 10 games. The over is 2-1 in the Hawks last three games played at home.
Los Angeles hoped that LeBron James’ return would bring them back to the form that made them a Top-4 team in the West early this season. Los Angeles is a mediocre 2-3 since James returned with the King playing in just four of those games. Magic Johnson says that his players know that it’s just business but it’s obvious that they are affected after being involved in last week’s trade rumors.
The Lakers barely beat the Hawks 107-106 in their first meeting of the season in Los Angeles and they needed a game-winning dunk by LeBron James and a game-saving block by Tyson Chandler to pull it off. That loss was part of a 10-game losing streak for the Hawks. They’ve not lost more than four in a row since. Los Angeles is just 12-16 SU on the road but Atlanta is a mere 8-16 SU at home this season. There is a sense of urgency now in Los Angeles and with “easy’ games like this, I think LeBron James is taking over to try and get his team back in the playoff hunt.
I’m picking the Los Angeles Lakers to beat the Atlanta Hawks on 2/12/19.
Los Angeles is 5-2-1 ATS in their last eight games when playing on one day rest, 1-4-1 ATS in their last six Tuesday games and 5-2 ATS in their last seven games played on the road. Atlanta is 13-3-1 ATS in its last 17 Tuesday games, 9-23 ATS in their last 32 home games played and 2-5 ATS in their last seven games played. Head to head, the Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last six games against the Hawks. Atlanta’s playing better these days than they were at the start of the season. But at 8-16 SU and 7-17 ATS at home this season, the Lakers, with LeBron James back, should take this road win and cover the spread.
I’m picking the Lakers to cover the spread at -5.
The over is 4-1 in the last five games between these two teams in Atlanta, 4-1 in the Lakers’ last five games and 7-2 in the Hawks’ last nine games. Both teams don’t play good defense as the Hawks are giving up 122.6 points per game in their last five games while the Lakers are giving up 128.4 points per game in their own last five games.
I’m picking the total to go over 236 points.
Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers
The Boston Celtics try to avoid losing three game in a row for the first time in a month as they travel to the City of Brotherly Love to take on the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center.
It appeared as if the Celtics had rediscovered the form that took them all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals last season. The Celtics won 14 out of 18 games before Rajon Rondo beat his former team with a buzzer beater last Thursday night at the TD Garden. Then Boston blew a 28 point lead at home and were beaten by the Clippers on Saturday night. Now the Celtics face a red hot Sixers team on the road as they try to avoid losing three consecutive games.
Kyrie Irving leads the Celtics with 23.6 points and 6.9 assists per game. Second-year man Jayson Tatum is averaging 16.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game. Marcus Morris is contributing 14.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while Jaylen Brown is helping out with 12.7 points and 4.3 rebounds. Meanwhile, Al Horford leads Boston with 6.6 rebounds per game while also scoring 12.4 points per game.
Boston is 12th in the NBA in team scoring at 112.9 points per game. The Men in Green are ranked 6th in passing at 26.4 assists per game and they are also 16th off the glass with 45.1 rebounds hauled down per contest. The Celtics have the 5th best scoring defense in the league, allowing only 106.5 points per game this season.
Celtics vs. 76ers Odds
Celtics
+200
76ers
-240
Celtics
+5.5 (-105)
76ers
-5.5 (-115)
Celtics
O 226 -110
76ers
U 226 -110
Odds from betonline.ag as of 2/12/19
The Philadelphia 76ers have established themselves as the new favorites in the Eastern Conference after acquiring Tobias Harris and Boban Marjanovic from the Los Angeles Clippers. Harris was the Clippers’ scoring leader when he was traded while Marjanovic provides Philly with additional size in the paint. With their new acquisitions, the Sixers are 2-0 SU with wins over the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Philadelphia is the 3rd best scoring team in the NBA at 115.9 points per game scored. The Sixers are also ranked 3rd in assists at 27.4 dimes per contest. They are also the 6th best rebounding team in the league at 47.0 boards grabbed per contest but Philly is just 21st in scoring defense at 112.2 points per game allowed.
The Celtics are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games played and are 2-0 SU on the road during that period. Boston is 3-6-1 ATS over their last 10 games played and are 0-1-1 ATS in their last two road games played. The over is 4-2 in Boston’s last six games played but the total has gone under in their last two games on the road. The Sixers are 6-4 SU in their last 10 games played. Philadelphia is 4-2 SU in their last six games at their home floor. Philly is 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games played including 3-3 ATS at home during that stretch. The total has gone under in seven out of the last 10 games played by the Sixers and the total has gone under in four out of their last six home games played. Head to head, the Celtics are 8-2 SU and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games against the Sixers. The over is 2-1 in the last three meetings between these two teams.
No doubt, Boston has played better basketball over the past month as the Celtics have won 10 out of their last 13 games played. But the Celtics are coming off back to back losses where they lost at the buzzer to the Lakers and then squandered a 28-point lead to the Clippers. Kyrie Irving finished the Clippers game on the bench with a knee injury and he won’t be playing against the Sixers.
Boston is a pedestrian 13-13 SU on the road this season while the Sixers are a solid 23-6 SU at the Wells Fargo Center this season. Not only that, Boston will be without their top scorer while the Sixers head to this game with a new offensive weapon in Tobias Harris.
I’m picking the Philadelphia 76ers to beat the Boston Celtics on 2/12/19.
The Celtics are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games against the Sixers. Boston however is 1-5-1 ATS in its last seven road games against Atlantic Division teams. Meanwhile, the Sixers are 4-2 ATS in their last six games against their Atlantic Division rivals and 3-4 ATS in their last seven meetings against Eastern Conference teams. Although you can argue that it will take time for the Sixers’ new pieces to jell with the team, that is a better problem to have than not having your top scorer. Kyrie Irving has been ruled out of this game and while we saw the Celtics play well without him in last season’s playoffs, they have struggled for form this season even with Irving around.
I’m giving away 5.5 points and picking the Sixers to cover the reasonable spread.
Philly is one of the top scoring teams in the league but the under has hit in six out of their last nine games. Although they have the firepower to engage in a shootout, Boston has been a better defensive team this season than they have been an offensive squad. With Kyrie out of this contest, I don’t like the 226 chalk in this game. These teams combined for 192 in their first outing, totalled 216 at the end of regulation in their second meeting. Unless this goes to overtime, I don’t see it going over the total.
I’m picking the total to go under 226 points.
San Antonio Spurs at Memphis Grizzlies
The San Antonio Spurs look to end a four-game slide as they continue their rodeo trip against the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedEXForum.
The Spurs are currently on an eight-game away schedule as their home court is currently hosting a 17-day stock show and rodeo. So far, San Antonio’s trip has gone south as they have dropped four straight games to fall to 2nd place in the Southwest Division and 7th in the Western Conference team standings with a 32-26 record.
San Antonio scores an average of 112.4 points per game which is 13th best in the league. The Spurs are ranked 13th in passing with 24.7 assists per game and they are also 22nd in rebounding at 44.1 boards per contest. San Antonio has the 16th best scoring defense in the NBA, allowing just 111.4 points per game.
Spurs vs. Grizzlies Odds
Spurs
-170
Grizzlies
+150
Spurs
-3.5 (-115)
Grizzlies
+3.5 (-105)
Spurs
O 209 -110
Grizzlies
U 209 -110
Odds from betonline.ag as of 2/12/19
The Memphis Grizzlies parted ways with former All-Star center Marc Gasol at last week’s trade deadline. And while the Grizzlies still aren’t playing with their top pick-up from the Gasol trade with Jonas Valanciunas still on the mend, Memphis’ new look gave the team a boost as they beat the New Orleans Pelicans in their last game. The Grizzlies have now won three out of their last four games and improved their record to 23-34 on the season.
The Grizzlies are the second-best scoring defense team at only 103.4 points per game allowed. Memphis is 21st in assists at 23.4 dimes per contest and is 29th in rebounding at 40.5 boards per outing. They are the lowest scoring team in the league at only 100.3 points per game.
San Antonio is 5-5 SU in its last 10 games played and are 1-5 SU in six road games during that period. The Spurs are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games played and only 2-4 ATS in their last six road games. San Antonio has seen the total go over in nine out of their last 10 games played. The total has gone over in each of their last six road games played. The Grizzlies are 4-6 SU in their last 10 games played and 3-3 SU in their last six home games. Memphis is 6-3-1 ATS in their last 10 games played and 4-2 ATS in their last six home games. The total has gone under in seven out of the last 10 games played by the Grizzlies. Head to head, the Spurs are 7-3 SU and 5-4-1 ATS in their last 10 games against the Grizzlies. The over is also 6-4 in the last 10 meetings between these two teams.
The Spurs are falling in the team standings as they have lost the first four games of their rodeo trip. They still have four road games left including this one against the Memphis Grizzlies who along with the Knicks are the only sub .500 opponent in this rodeo trip. The Spurs need to win this game badly to remain afloat in the Top 8.
The Spurs are having a great season considering they lost Kawhi but this team is a powerhouse at home and a sub .500 squad on the road. San Antonio is 10-19 SU on the road and the Grizzlies are an even 14-14 SU at home. Despite that, I think the Spurs are going to go all out here knowing this is one of two very winnable games in this rodeo trip. San Antonio is the better team afterall and Memphis is still without Valanciunas.
I’m picking the San Antonio Spurs to beat the Memphis Grizzlies on 2/12/19.
The Spurs have struggled as of late, going 0-4 ATS in their last four road games and 0-7 ATS in their last seven games overall. However, San Antonio is 5-0 ATS in their last five games when playing on two days rest and 3-1 ATS in their last four road games in Memphis. The Grizzlies are 4-1 ATS in their last five games against teams from the West, 4-0 ATS in their last four road games and 6-2 ATS in their last eight games overall. Head to head though, the road team is 5-2-1 ATS in their last eight meetings. San Antonio is a funk but you know it’s going to end soon. The Spurs are going to figure it out. With an opportunity to do so in Memphis, I think they bounce back here. It doesn’t help that the Grizzlies are 5-9 ATS this season when they are underdogs off ive points or less.
I’m picking the San Antonio Spurs to cover the 3.5 spread.
The Spurs have played to the over laterly, with the total going over in each of their last four games. But against Memphis which plays with the slowest pace in the league and who are the lowest scoring team in the league, I don’t think these teams can breach the 209 total set for this game. The Grizzlies are averaging just 98 points per game in their last five games played. Anytime you have the Grizzlies you have to take the under.
I’m picking the total to go under 209 points.
Orlando Magic at New Orleans Pelicans
The Orlando Magic take their winning run to the Big Easy as they take on the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center.
Nikola Vucevic leads the Magic in scoring and rebounding at 20.5 and 12.0, respectively. Aaron Gordon is Orlando’s second leading scorer at 15.8 points and he is also grabbing 7.3 rebounds per game. D.J. Augustin is contributing 11.6 points and leading the Magic in assists at 4.8 dimes per contest. Evan Fournier and Terrence Ross are scoring 14.9 and 14.7 points per game respectively.
The Magic rank 26th in scoring at 105.2 points per game and are 14th in the passing department at 24.7 assists per game. Orlando’s 44.1 rebounds per game is 23rd among 30 NBA teams while its scoring defense of 107.5 points per game allowed is ranked 8th overall in the league.
Magic vs. Pelicans Odds
Magic
+165
Pelicans
-190
Magic
+4.5 (-110)
Pelicans
-4.5 (-110)
Magic
O 225.5 -110
Pelicans
U 225.5 -110
Odds from betonline.ag as of 2/12/19
The New Orleans Pelicans are trying to play through the Anthony Davis situation. Davis returned to action last Friday after missing three weeks of action due to injury and the Pelicans defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 122-117. One night later, they dropped a 90-99 contest to the Memphis Grizzlies to fall to 25-32 on the season.
New Orleans is the 4th highest scoring team in the league at 115.8 points per game. They are ranked 4th in assists at 26.7 dimes per contest and are also 5th in rebounding at 47.0 boards per outing. However, the Pelicans give up the 4th most opponent points per game at 114.6 points per game allowed.
Orlando is 5-5 SU in its last ten games played and 2-3 SU in its last five games played on the road. The Magic are 7-3 ATS in their last ten games played and are 4-1 ATS in their last five road games. The total has gone over in three out of the last four games of Orlando. The Magic have seen the total go over in three out of their last five games played. The Pelicans are 3-7 SU in their last 10 games played and are 1-4 SU in their last five games at home. New Orleans is 6-4 ATS in its last 10 games played and 2-3 ATS in their last five home games. The under is 4-2 in the Pelicans’ last six games played and the total has gone under in three out of their last five home games played. Head to head, the Magic are 6-4 SU and 5-4-1 ATS in their last 10 meetings versus the Pelicans.The total has gone under in eight out of the last 10 games played by these two teams.
A month or so ago, it appeared that the Orlando Magic were about to join the lottery but despite their struggles, they have kept fighting back. The Magic have won five out of their last six games and three in a row to bring themselves back in playoff contention. Now every game is meaningful and the Magic have found a motive to win games again.
I’m really boggled at how to handicap the Pelicans’ games, especially at home because while the team is playing Davis, you know the fans don’t love him as much as they did before or no longer anymore. The Brow got jeered last Friday and although he played big in that win, I just don’t know what to expect of AD right now. Meanwhile, the Magic have been awful on the road at 10-17 SU but they’ve won back to back road games including a blowout win over the Bucks. The Pelicans are also just 1-4 SU in their last five home games.
I’m picking the Orlando Magic to beat the New Orleans Pelicans on 2/12/19.
Orlando is 4-1 ATS in its last five games after a win, 5-1 ATS in their last six games in their last six road games and 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall. New Orleans is 4-0 ATS in its last four games following a loss, 7-15 ATS in their last 22 games against teams with a losing record and 5-2 ATS in their last seven games overall. The Pelicans have been solid at home but given their current situation and the way Orlando has played in their last six games, I am confident that the Magic can pull off the upset here. Don’t forget that the underdog is 20-7-1 in the last 28 games between these two teams.
I’m picking the Orlando Magic at +4.5 points.
The under is 12-3 in their last 15 meetings in New Orleans. The Pelicans are a Top 5 scoring team in the NBA but have played to the under lately due to the Anthony Davis issue and the trades which modified their roster. The Magic are a low scoring team with a Top 10 defense and have allowed just 104.8 points per game in their last five games. I think these teams will play to Orlando’s slow pace.
I’m picking the total to go under 225.5 points.
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