6* Clippers/Mavs ESPN *BAILOUT* on UNDER 227

The Key: The situation favors the UNDER in this game between the Mavs and Clippers tonight.  They will be playing for the 2nd time in 3 days after the Clippers won 109-99 on Monday.  Both teams shot better than 49% from the field and better than 41% from 3-point range in that game and it still only saw 208 combined points.  And the previous 2 matchups in this series saw 198 and 197 combined points.  So the books have really missed their mark with this 227-point total.  Take the UNDER.

6* Saturday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Kings/Hawks OVER 239

The Key: The OVER is 11-2 in Kings last 13 games overall with the only unders coming against 2 terrible offensive teams in Houston and Detroit.  They have combined for 242 or more points with their opponents in 7 of their last 8 games overall.  And the Hawks will have no problem getting up and down the floor with Trae Young and company.  The OVER is 9-1 in Kings last 10 games against a team with a losing record.  The OVER is 48-23 in Kings last 71 games overall.  The OVER is 5-0 in Hawks last 5 home games.  The OVER is 17-4 in Hawks last 21 games against a team with a losing record.  The OVER is 19-7 in the last 26 matchups.  Take the OVER.

6* Thursday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Warriors/Suns UNDER 225

The Key: Both the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors rank in the Top 6 of the league in defensive efficiency.  Both teams were good OVER bets in the past, but that is the case no longer as both are built for defense now.  And the Suns play at the 2nd-slowest pace in the entire NBA this season.  It's no wonder the UNDER is 7-0 in the last 7 matchups in this series with 218 or fewer combined points in each of the last 4 matchups.  Take the UNDER.

7* Heat/Pelicans TNT *HEAVY HITTER* on OVER 227

The Key: The Pelicans have been the best OVER team in the NBA this season.  They have gone OVER the total in 26 of their last 30 games overall, including 13 of their last 14 games coming into tonight.  They are 16-2 OVER in their 18 home games as well.  Take the OVER.

6* Wednesday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Bulls/Pelicans OVER 236.5

The Key: The Pelicans have been the best OVER team in the NBA this season.  They have gone OVER the total in 25 of their last 29 games overall, including 12 of their last 13 games coming into tonight.  They are 15-2 OVER in their 17 home games as well.  And the OVER has been a good bet in this series between the Bulls and Pelicans going 4-0 in the last 4 matchups.  That includes the 129-116 victory by the Bulls in February that had 245 combined points.  Take the OVER.

6* Jazz/Pelicans NBA TV *CA$H COW* on OVER 235.5

The Key: The New Orleans Pelicans have been the best OVER bet in the NBA this season.  They have gone OVER the total in 24 of their last 28 games overall, including 11 of their last 12 games.  They have gone OVER the total in 14 of their 16 home games.  Now they face off against a Jazz team that they just combined for 247 points with in their most recent matchup.  The OVER is 20-7 in the last 27 matchups, including 12-2 in the last 14 matchups in New Orleans.  Take the OVER.

7* Warriors/Pacers ESPN *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 231

The Key: The Warriors just got their 2 big men in Wiseman and Looney back in the lineup last night after being out for a couple weeks.  They will have to go to bigger lineups and that will make them better defensively moving forward.  They beat the Knicks 114-106 last night behind a strong defensive effort.  And now they will be tired playing for a 2nd consecutive night and their offense will struggle because of it.  The Pacers will likely be rusty after having the last 6 days off.  It all adds up to a great situation to back the UNDER.  The UNDER is 4-1 in Warriors last 5 road games.  Bets on the UNDER on home games where the total is 230 or higher in non-conference games who are coming off a road win are 36-9 since 1996.  Take the UNDER.

6* Monday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Blazers/Suns OVER 227

The Key: The Blazers have scored 111 or more points in 6 straight games and have combined for 229 or more points with their opponents in 5 of those 6.  They don't play much defense, but their offense has been clicking.  The Suns have also been playing their best on offense all season here recently since getting Devin Booker back.  The Suns have scored 119 or more points in 6 of their last 7 games overall.  The OVER is 6-1 in those 7 games.  The Suns and Blazers have combined for 226 or more points in 5 of their last 6 head-to-head matchups.  The OVER is 7-0 in Blazers last 7 games as underdogs.  Take the OVER.

6* Sunday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Thunder/Cavs OVER 216

The Key: Two non-playoff teams here in the Thunder (11-18) and Cavaliers (10-20) who I expect to have defense be option today.  Defense has really been optional for the Cavaliers since Andre Drummond decided to sit out.  The Cavaliers have yielded 119 or more points in 9 straight games now.  The OVER is 7-0 in Thunder's last 7 road games against a team with a losing home record.  The OVER is 21-7 in OKC's last 28 games as a road favorite.  The OVER is 10-4-1 in Cavaliers last 15 games as an underdog.  Take the OVER.

6* Celtics/Pelicans ABC *CA$H COW* on OVER 232

The Key: The Pelicans are 8-0 OVER in their last 8 games overall with their last 6 games all getting to 235 or more points.  They are 21-3 OVER in their last 24 games dating back further.  The OVER is 12-1 in Pelicans last 13 home games.  The last 4 matchups in this series have seen 231 or more points scored 3 times.  The Celtics and Pelicans will take part in yet another shootout today.  Take the OVER.

6* Friday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Thunder/Bucks UNDER 231.5

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks will be playing for a 2nd consecutive night after scoring just 96 points against the Toronto Raptors last night.  They are 9-2 UNDER in their last 11 games when playing for a 2nd consecutive day.  They are tired right now and that will affect their legs and shooting on offense.  These teams just played 5 days ago with the Thunder winning 114-109.  The UNDER is now 8-2 in the last 10 matchups, including 6-1 in the last 7 matchups in Milwaukee.  The Thunder and their opponents have combined for 223 or fewer points at the end of regulation in 5 of their last 6 games coming in.  Take the UNDER.

6* Monday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Bulls/Pacers OVER 226

The Key: The Chicago Bulls have gone OVER the total in their last 2 games coming in with averages of 238 combined points per game.  The Pacers just finished with 238 combined points with the Hawks.  The OVER is 4-0 in the last 4 matchups in this series, including the 231 points they combined for in their first matchup this season.  The Bulls are 8-0 OVER in their last 8 home games when avenging a home loss.  Take the OVER.

6* Bucks/Suns ESPN *BAILOUT* on OVER 226.5

The Key: The OVER is 5-1-1 in Bucks last 7 games overall with none of those games going to overtime.  They have averaged 237.9 PPG combined with their opponents and 6 of the 7 games have seen 228 or more combined points.  So a total of 226.5 here against the Suns is too low.  And 3 of the last 4 matchups in this series have gone for 230 or more combined points with an average of 239.3 PPG combined.  Take the OVER.

7* Hawks/Mavericks ESPN *Total* Annihilator on OVER 232

The Key: The OVER is 4-0 in Mavericks last 4 games overall.  They have averaged 254 PPG combined with their opponents in these 4 games and none of them went to overtime.  So a total of 232 here against a Hawks team they just combined for 238 points with a couple games back is too low.  Enjoy rooting for points here because there will be plenty of them to cash this ticket.  Take the OVER.

7* NBA Total of the Month on Warriors/Spurs OVER 233.5

The Key: These are two OVER teams right now, especially the Warriors.  Golden State is coming off 2 straight games that didn't go to OT against Dallas in which they combined for 263 and 266 points.  A big reason for these high-scoring games is the losses of 2 post players for the Warriors in Wiseman and Looney.  They have been forced to go small ball even more than they usually do.  The Spurs will oblige as they like the small ball route as well and have to do the same now that LaMarcus Aldridge is out with a hip injury.  These teams played a couple weeks ago with the Warriors winning 121-99.  But the Spurs shot 4-of-33 (12.1%) from 3-point range in that game.  It was a fast-paced game with the Spurs getting 94 shots and the Warriors 91.  Betting shooting from the Spurs and an even faster-paced game in the rematch will have this one sailing OVER the total.  Take the OVER.

6* Monday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Rockets/Hornets UNDER 223.5

The Key: The Houston Rockets won't have one of their best offensive weapons tonight in Christian Wood, who remains out with an ankle injury.  That will certainly help this UNDER.  The Rockets are the 2nd-ranked team in the NBA in defensive efficiency this season.  They have yielded 112 points or fewer in 10 straight contests.  The Hornets won't be lighting up the scoreboard given the tough situation for them.  They will be playing for a 2nd consecutive day here and it will also be their 10th game in 18 days.  The Hornets just held the Wizards to 97 points in their win on Sunday.  This looks to be a defensive struggle.  The UNDER is 9-1 in Houston's last 10 games against teams that average 88 or more shots per game.  The UNDER is 19-7 in the last 26 matchups.  The UNDER is 8-2 in the last 10 matchups in Charlotte.  Take the UNDER.

7* NBA Total of the Month on Suns/Mavs UNDER 217.5

The Key: The Suns already play at one of the slowest paces in the NBA due to having the aging Chris Paul at point guard.  And now they are without their best player in Devin Booker and have been for the past 3 games.  Let's take a look at those 3 games.  They were tied 98-98 at the end of regulation with the Nuggets for 196 combined points.  They lost to the Thunder 97-102 for 199 combined points.  And they beat the Warriors 114-93 for 207 combined points.  Now they will be without Booker again tonight and this total with the Mavs is set at 217.5.  The Mavs are a tired team playing for a second consecutive night after falling 101-120 in the altitude in Salt Lake City last night.  They won't be looking to push the tempo today give the situation.  The UNDER is 7-2 in Suns last 9 road games.  The UNDER is 7-2 in Mavs last 9 games off a loss.  The UNDER is 14-6 in the last 20 matchups in Dallas.  Take the UNDER.

7* Warriors/Suns TNT *BAILOUT* on UNDER 220.5

The Key: Phoenix has been without Devin Booker in each of its last 2 games and is likely to be without him tonight.  The Suns and Nuggets combined for 196 points at the end of regulation in their first game without him.  Then last night they combined for 199 points with the Thunder in their 2nd game without him.  Now the Suns are a tired team and will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back.  The Warriors are also a tired team playing the 2nd of a back-to-back.  That fatigue will affect shooting and will favor defense in this game tonight.  The UNDER is 6-0 in the last 6 matchups in this series with each of the last 3 seeing 218 or fewer combined points.  Take the UNDER.

6* Wednesday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Thunder/Suns UNDER 216.5

The Key: The Phoenix Suns will be without leading scorer Devin Booker tonight.  We saw how that went last game against the Denver Nuggets in a game that was tied 98-98 at the end of regulation for 196 combined points.  Obviously their offense takes a hit without Booker, so they have to rely more on their defense.  And that will be the case again here against the Oklahoma City Thunder.  The UNDER is 42-18-1 in Thunder last 61 games as a road underdog.  The UNDER is 15-4 in Thunder last 19 road games after a combined score of 245 points or more.  The UNDER is 6-0 in Suns last 6 games when playing on 3 or more days' rest.  The UNDER is 5-2 in the last 7 matchups in Phoenix.  Take the UNDER.

6* Sunday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Hawks/Bucks UNDER 232

The Key: The Atlanta Hawks have quietly been a great UNDER bet this season.  Bettors think offense with Trae Young, but the Hawks are playing tremendous defense this season.  The UNDER is 10-1 in Hawks last 11 games overall.  The only exception was the overtime game against the Pistons a few games back in which it was tied 106-106 at the end of regulation and would have went UNDER the 220.5-point total if not for OT.  The UNDER is 5-1 in Bucks last 6 games overall.  The only exception was against the Nets, who don't play any defense.  The last 2 matchups between the Bucks and Hawks have seen 198 and 213 combined points.  Take the UNDER.

7* Celtics/76ers ESPN *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 222.5

The Key: The UNDER is 5-2 in the last 7 matchups in this series with 216 or fewer points scored in all 5 unders.  Wednesday was the exception when the game went over with 226 points scored.  But the 76ers attempted a ridiculous 45 free throw attempts as the refs were whistle-happy.  I look for this matchup to be much more lower scoring.  And keep in mind even with all those free throw attempts it still just went over this 222.5-point total by 3.5 points.  There's a lot of room for error with this UNDER.  These back-to-back rematches always seem to favor defense, too.  Take the UNDER.

6* Sunday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Pelicans/Kings OVER 226

The Key: Sacramento has been an OVER bettors' dream.  The Kings are 6-1 OVER in their last 7 games overall.  They have combined with their opponents for 243, 252, 267, 224, 249, 258 and 238 points in those 7 games, respectively.  That's an average of 247.3 PPG and amazingly none of those games went to OT.  This 226-point total is 21.3 points less than they are averaging over their last 7 games.  The Kings are an offensive juggernaut as they have shot 51.6% or better in 4 of their last 6 games.  And they have the worst defense in the NBA in giving up 118.2 PPG per 100 possessions, a full 4.8 PPG worse than the next worst-team.  The Pelicans have yielded 111 points or more in 6 consecutive games coming in.  The OVER is 5-1 in Pelicans last 6 games.  The OVER is 6-1 in the last 7 matchups in this series with 232 or more combined points scored in 6 of those 7 matchups.  Take the OVER.

6* Pacers/Warriors NBA TV *BAILOUT* on UNDER 228.5

The Key: The Indiana Pacers are a tired team right now after losing 122-127 in Sacramento last night.  They aren't going to be looking to run tonight, and they are going to be without both Victor Oladipo and TJ Warren, who combine to average 35.5 PPG.  Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis both played nearly 40 minutes last night and will be tired as well.  I expect this pace to be slower than oddsmakers expect.  And the Warriors have been a great UNDER bet recently because they lack offensive firepower outside of Steph Curry.  They have been having to win with defense.  The UNDER is 7-3 in all Warriors games this season, including 3-0 in the last 3 with combined scores of 209, 220 and 211 points against the Clippers (twice) and Raptors.  Those are 2 really good offensive teams like Indiana who they held in check.  Indiana is 21-8 UNDER in its last 29 games after a combined score of 245 points or more.  Bets on the UNDER on all teams where the total is 210 or higher (Indiana) an excellent shooting team making 47.5% or better against an average shooting team (43.5-45.5%) after 3 straight games where they allowed 47% shooting or higher are 31-8  since 1996.  The UNDER is 7-2 in Pacers last 9 games as underdogs.  The UNDER is 6-1 in Warriors last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their last game.  Take the UNDER.

6* Sunday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Spurs/Timberwolves UNDER 233

The Key: I cashed in the OVER 232.5 yesterday between the Spurs and Timberwolves and got lucky.  It was tied 113-113 at the end of regulation for 226 combined points before getting OVER in overtime.  And both teams shot lights out from 3-point range with the Timberwolves going 15-for-30 (50%) and the Spurs going 13-for-32 (40.6%).  Neither are likely to shoot that well again today, and familiarity favors defense and the UNDER.  Take the UNDER.

6* Saturday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Spurs/Timberwolves OVER 232.5

The Key: The Spurs and Timberwolves both like to run and gun and chuck up 3's with defense seeming to be optional.  The Timberwolves yield 121.9 PPG and 50.6% shooting while the Spurs yeild 114.1 PPG and 48.1% shooting this year.  The OVER is 4-0 in Timberwolves last 4 games with combined scores of 233 or more in all 4.  The OVER is 6-1 in the last 7 matchups.  Take the OVER.

6* Pelicans/Suns TNT *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 223

The Key: Stan Van Gundy has turned the Pelicans into a defensive juggernaut this season.  The UNDER is 3-0 in their first 3 games this season as they are allowing just 101.7 PPG and 45.1% shooting.  They are also scoring just 103.0 PPG on 43.3% shooting.  Van Gundy has been known for coaching defense throughout the years, and this team needed him.  The Suns have also been great defensively, allowing 102.7 PPG on 44.9% shooting this year.  The UNDER is 3-0 in Suns games as well.  With Chris Paul at PG, they are taking their time to set up the offense, and they have some great defenders down low like Ayton who is an eraser.  This total has been set too high tonight at 223 points given what we've seen so far.  The UNDER is 6-1 in Pelicans last 7 games.  The UNDER is 8-1 in Pelicans last 9 games playing on one days' rest.  The UNDER is 9-3 in Suns last 12 games as home favorites.  Take the UNDER.

6* Saturday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Pacers/Bulls OVER 221.5

The Key: Indiana has made an emphasis on shooting more 3-pointers and pushing the tempo under new head coach Nate Bjorkgren.  They showed that throughout the preseason and again in their opener against the Knicks, a 121-107 victory in which they attempted 34 3-pointers but only made 8 of them at a 23.5% clip.  That's impressive they still scored 121 points.  And now they will shoot much better here against the Bulls.  Chicago lost 104-124 to Atlanta in their opener and gave up 53.7% to the Hawks.  And the Hawks only scored 13 points in the 4th after calling off the dogs in a blowout.  This game should be a little more competitive and it will lead to both teams maximizing their scoring opportunities for 4 quarters.  The Bulls attempted 35 3-pointers against the Hawks and made just 8 of them for a 22.9% clip.  You have to expect both teams to shoot better from 3-point range than they did in their openers, which will help get this OVER the total.  Take the OVER.

6* Warriors/Nets NBA *Total* Annihilator on OVER 232

The Key: This game has shootout written all over it tonight.  The Warriors will have to go small as they will likely be without Draymond Green, their best defender who is doubtful with a foot injury.  The Nets like to play small anyway and are going to be an offensive juggernaut with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving leading the way.  Expect a fast-paced game with a barrage of 3-pointers from both side.  Stephon Curry being back for the Warriors makes them way better offensively but worse defensively.  Take the OVER.

6* Nuggets/Lakers Game 2 *Total* Annihilator on OVER 213.5

The Key: The OVER is 21-7-2 in the last 30 matchups in this series.  The OVER is 4-0 in the last 4 matchups with combined scores of 240, 245, 236 and 232 points.  This is about as easy as it gets after they combined for 240 in Game 1.  They might not score that many points, but they will score enough to top this very low 213.5-point total.  Take the OVER.

7* Nuggets/Clippers Game 7 *HEAVY HITTER* on UNDER 208.5

The Key: Game 7 UNDERS are one of the best bets in the NBA.  The pressure is huge for these Game 7’s, and they tend to be played at a snail’s pace because of it.  The Denver Nuggets have played 3 Game 7’s the past 2 seasons and we saw them combine for 176 points with the Spurs, 196 with the Blazers and 158 with the Jazz.  The UNDER is 5-0-2 in Nuggets last 7 games overall.  The UNDER is 5-0-2 in Clippers last 7 games overall.  Take the UNDER.

6* Clippers/Nuggets Game 6 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 215

The Key: The Clippers and Nuggets combined for 181 points in Game 4 and 216 points in Game 5.  I expect this total to fall somewhere in the middle close to 200 combined points.  The Nuggets scored 38 points in the 4th quarter of their Game 5 comeback win that pushed that up to 216.  They just went off from the 3-point line.  That’s unlikely to happen again, and this will be a half court game.  Take the UNDER.

7* NBA 2nd Round Total of the Year on Lakers/Rockets UNDER 219.5

The Key: We’ve seen all these playoff series get lower and lower scoring as they progress.  And this Lakers/Rockets series should be no different.  After combining for 226 points in Game 2, the Lakers and Rockets only combined for 214 points in Game 3.  And I see more of the same here in Game 4.  Houston is 21-11 UNDER off a loss this season.  Houston is 17-4 UNDER revenging a home loss over the last 2 years.  Take the UNDER.

7* NBA 1st Round Total of the Year on Magic/Bucks UNDER 225.5

The Key: The last 2 games in this series have seen 228 and 227 combined points after a 207-point output in Game 2.  The reason is simple.  Both the Magic and Bucks have shot lights out from 3-point range.  They have both shot at least 40% in each of the last 2 games with the Bucks 34-of-78 (43.6%) and the Magic 37-of-85 (43.5%).  I just cannot see this continuing, and as a result I love the UNDER 225.5 points in Game 5 today.  We just need a slight dip in 3-point shooting from one or both of these teams to cash this UNDER.  Take the UNDER.

6* Bucks/Magic Game 4 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 225.5

The Key: The Bucks shot 56.1% in Game 3 and that game still only saw 228 combined points.  The Bucks won’t shoot that well again, and this game will stay UNDER the posted total of 225.5 as a result.  This is the pivotal game of the series where the Magic will either get back in it, or the Bucks will take control.  So expect the defensive intensity to be very high in this one on both sides.  The UNDER is 5-2-1 in the last 8 matchups.  Take the UNDER.

7* Blazers/Grizzlies *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 232

The Key: There’s always more defense played in playoff games.  And given what’s at stake here for these teams with win or go home for Memphis, defense will be played at a high level.  The 1st meeting between these teams this season saw just 215 combined points.  The 2nd meeting did have 275 combined points, but that was in overtime.  I think we see a similar result to the first meeting given the situation.  Memphis is 18-5 UNDER vs. teams who score 110+ PPG in the 2nd half of the season this season.  Memphis is 12-1 UNDER in road games when playing 8 or more games in 14 days over the last 2 years.  Take the UNDER.

6* Tuesday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Cavs/Bulls OVER 215.5 

The Key: Now that Coby White is running the show the Bulls have been a much better offensive team.  White is has scored at least 19 points in 8 straight games while averaging 26.9 PPG.  And the Bulls just got back 3 of their top 5 scorers in Lauri Markkanen (14.7 PPG), Wendell Carter Jr. (11.1 PPG) & Otto Porter Jr. (11.7 PPG).  The Bulls are averaging 112.7 PPG in their last 7 contests.  But they have allowed 103 or more points in 17 straight games with the OVER going 12-5 in those games.  The OVER is 4-1 in Cleveland’s last 5 games and they have combined for 217 or more points in 5 of their last 6.  Bets on the OVER on road teams with a total of 210 or more off a close home win by 3 points or less, a tired team playing their 3rd game in 4 days are 24-7 over the last 5 years.  Take the OVER. 

6* Thursday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Kings/Grizzlies OVER 229 

The Key: This will be the 3rd matchup between the Kings and Grizzlies this season.  The first resulted in 234 combined points and the most recent in Sacramento resulted in 251 combined points.  These are both ‘OVER’ teams and this total of 229 has been set too low.  The Kings are 18-5 OVER when the total is 220 to 229.5 this year.  The OVER is 5-1 in Grizzlies last 6 road games.  The OVER is 11-3 in Kings last 14 games as an underdog.  The OVER is 20-8 in Kings last 28 games overall.  The OVER is 12-3 in Kings last 15 games after scoring 100 points or more in their last game.  Take the OVER. 

7* NBA Total of the Week on Heat/Thunder OVER 216 

The Key: With Stephen Adams knocked out of their last game with a knee injury in the first quarter, the Oklahoma City Thunder went on to lose to the Toronto Raptors 121-130 in a game that saw 251 combined points.  They have to go small ball without Adams, which favors the OVER.  The Heat are 8-0 OVER off a win by 6 points or less this year.  The OVER is 2-0 in the last 2 meetings with combined scores of 223 and 220 points.  Take the OVER. 

6* Rockets/Clippers TNT *BAILOUT* on UNDER 236 

The Key: This will be the 3rd meeting already between the Rockets and Clippers this year, so they are familiar with one another.  The first meeting saw Houston win 102-93 for 195 combined points.  The 2nd meeting saw the Clippers win 122-119 for 241 combined points.  But that game was on pace to go well UNDDER the total before a huge 77-point 4th quarter.  That total was set at 227, and now this total is set at 236, a 9-point adjustment.  I think the price is right to pull the trigger on the UNDER here.  The Rockets are 14-4 UNDER in road games with a total of 230 or higher over the last 2 years.  The Rockets are 27-12 UNDER as an underdog over the last 3 years.  The Rockets are 22-6 UNDER when playing against a team that wins more than 70% of their games over the last 3 years.  The UNDER is 9-4 in Clippers last 13 games as a home favorite.  Take the UNDER. 

6* Wednesday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Celtics/Pacers UNDER 210 

The Key: The Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics are familiar with one another because they played in the playoffs last year.  The Celtics swept the Pacers in 4 games.  I think that familiarity will lead to a lower scoring game tonight.  The Celtics are 3rd in defensive efficiency this year while the Pacers are 8th.  Both teams prefer to play at a slower pace as the Pacers are 22nd in pace while the Celtics are 23rd.  The UNDER is 9-3 in Celtics last 12 games overall.  The UNDER is 4-0 in Pacers last 4 games overall.  The UNDER is 22-7 in Pacers last 29 games against a team that wins more than 60% of their games.  Take the UNDER. 

6* Clippers/Bucks NBA *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 233 

The Key: When two elite teams like the Clippers and Bucks get together I usually like taking the UNDER.  Both teams are almost up for these games emotionally, which means their effort will be there on the defensive end.  And these are two of the better teams in the NBA in defensive efficiency due to their great length.  Nothing will come easy for either of these teams tonight.  Bets on the UNDER when the total is 220 or more after a blowout win by 15 points or more against an opponent that’s off a blowout win by 20 points or more are 43-13 since 1996.  The Clippers are 18-5 UNDER in road games against a team with a winning record over the last 2 years.  The Clippers are 16-5 UNDER when revenging a road loss over the last 2 years.  Take the UNDER. 

6* Thursday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Suns/Pelicans OVER 234.5 

The Key: Two terrible defensive teams square off tonight when the Phoenix Suns visit the New Orleans Pelicans.  The Pelicans are yielding 118.8 PPG this season and play at one of the fastest paces in the NBA.  The Suns are yielding 121.6 PPG in their last 5 games and just allowed 128 points to a bad Orlando offense last night.  The OVER is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings with combined scores of 245, 259, 254 and 246 points.  The OVER is 6-0 in Suns last 6 games off a loss by more than 10 points.  The OVER is 11-1 in Pelicans last 12 Thursday games.  Take the OVER. 

6* Wednesday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Bucks/Pistons UNDER 225 

The Key: The Pistons are tired right now playing for a second consecutive day and their 3rd game in 4 days.  The Pistons are 15-3 UNDER in their last 18 games when playing their 3rd game in 4 days.  These teams just played on November 23rd with the Bucks winning 104-90 for 194 points.  This 225-point total is too high and these teams won’t come close to touching it.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Mavs/Pelicans TNT *Total* Annihilator on OVER 232 

The Key: These teams combined for 239 points in their first meeting this season and it will be more of the season tonight.  The Mavericks rank 1st in the NBA in offensive efficiency at 116.0 points per 100 possessions.  The Pelicans play at the 5th-fastest pace in the NBA and are 26th in the NBA in defensive efficiency.  These teams have combined for at least 238 points in 4 of their last 5 meetings.  The OVER is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings.  Take the OVER. 

6* Monday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Suns/Hornets OVER 223.5 

The Key: When the Phoenix Suns and Charlotte Hornets get together it usually leads to a high-scoring game. And with the way the Hornets are playing this season with a ton of 3-pointers and little defense, it should be more of the same.  The Suns are giving up over 119 PPG in their last 5 and have not been playing very good defense as well.  The Hornets are 28th in defensive efficiency this year.  The OVER is 9-0 in the last 9 meetings with 225-plus combined points in 5 straight matchups.  Take the OVER. 

6* Friday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Lakers/Thunder UNDER 211 

The Key: This is my favorite spot to bet an UNDER in the NBA.  The Lakers and Thunder are playing a home-and-home situation.  They just played in Los Angeles on Tuesday with the Lakers winning 112-107 for 219 combined points.  The 2nd meeting in these home-and-home situations is almost always more low scoring than the first because teams are familiar with each other and it favors the defenses.  The Lakers are 2nd in the NBA in defensive efficiency this year while the Thunder are 12th.  The UNDER is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings in Oklahoma City.  Take the UNDER. 

6* Thursday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Blazers/Bucks UNDER 227.5 

The Key: The Blazers and Bucks will both be playing their 3rd game in 4 days today.  Neither team will be looking to push the tempo simply because they’ll both be too tired to do so.  And with the Blazers not having Damian Lillard, they’re going to have to slow it down and try and make this an ugly, grind it out game if they want any chance to compete with the Bucks.  Seven of the last 10 meetings in this series have gone UNDER the total.  Take the UNDER. 

7* NBA Total of the Week on Jazz/Timberwolves UNDER 222 

The Key: This is one of my favorite situations to bet an UNDER.  The Jazz and Timberwolves are playing a home-and-home here after the Minnesota beat Utah 112-102 on the road Monday night.  That game saw 214 combined points, and now the total is 222 in the rematch in Minnesota.  I think it’s too high, and now that these teams are familiar with one another, points will be hard to come by tonight.  Utah is 25-8 UNDER off a double-digit loss as a favorite of 6 points or more and 20-5 UNDER off a double-digit loss as a home favorite of 6 points or more.  The UNDER is 13-3 in Jazz last 16 games overall, 6-1 in Jazz last 7 road games, and 8-0 in Jazz last 8 games playing on one days rest.  Take the UNDER. 

6* NBA Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Bulls/Bucks UNDER 230.5 

The Key: This is one of my favorite situations to bet an UNDER.  It worked yesterday with the 76ers/Cavs UNDER, and it will work tonight with the Bulls/Bucks UNDER.  The Bulls and Bucks will be playing in a rematch from a 124-115 home win by Milwaukee on November 14th less than a week ago.  The Bulls made 18 3-pointers in that game, and the Bucks shot 47 free throws.  Those are things that are unlikely to happen again, and the rematch will be more lower scoring because these teams are familiar with one another.  The UNDER is 26-11-1 in the Bulls last 38 home games against a team with a winning road record.  Take the UNDER. 

6* Sunday NBA *Total* Annihilator on 76ers/Cavs UNDER 216 

The Key: This is one of my favorite situations to bet an UNDER.  The 76ers and Cavaliers will be playing in a rematch from Philly’s 98-97 home win on November 12th.  Now they are playing again just 5 days later and will be familiar with one another obviously.  And that first meeting only saw 195 combined points, so this 216-point total is too high.  The UNDER is 4-0 in Cavs last 4 games overall.  The UNDER is 18-8 in the last 26 meetings.  The UNDER is 15-6 in the last 21 meetings in Cleveland.  Take the UNDER. 

6* Mavs/Knicks TNT *CA$H COW* on UNDER 215.5 

The Key: The Mavericks and Knicks just played 6 days ago with the Knicks pulling the 106-102 upset in Dallas for 208 combined points.  I think we see another defensive struggle in the rematch here tonight.  The Knicks are scoring just 99.5 PPG on the season and 94.7 PPG at home, so I don’t think they’ll be able to hold up their end of the bargain offensively.  Dallas is 21-11 UNDER when revenging a same season loss over the last 2 years.  New York is 13-3 UNDER in home games after going over the total in their previous game over the last 2 years.  The UNDER is 34-16-1 in Knicks last 51 games overall.  Take the UNDER. 

7* NBA Total of the Week on Pistons/Pacers UNDER 211 

The Key: The Pistons and Pacers square off for a 3rd time already this season.  They only combined for 190 points in their last meeting on October 28th.  Points will be hard to come by again in this rematch because both teams have the injury bug right now to almost all of their key scorers.  The Pistons are without Griffin, Jackson and Rose.  The Pacers are without Oladipo and Lamb and Turner is questionable.  Indiana is 8-0 UNDER when revenging a loss as a road favorite over the last 3 years.  Indiana is 20-4 UNDER at home with a total of 210 to 219.5 over the last 2 years.  Take the UNDER. 

6* Heat/Hawks NBA *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 215 

The Key: I really like betting the UNDER in Game 2 of these home-and-home situations.  The Heat and Hawks played on Tuesday with the Heat winning 112-97 at home in a game that saw 209 combined points.  And now Trae Young won’t be available for this game, yet the total is 215.  The Hawks are lost offensively without Young and it showed in that game Tuesday when he went out with the Heat leading 33-31.  The Heat went on a big run after that and put away the Hawks, who shot just 42.2% from eh field.  The UNDER is 25-12 in Heat last 37 Thursday games.  The UNDER is 4-0 in Hawks last 4 games overall.  The UNDER is 35-17 in the last 52 meetings.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Suns/Warriors NBA *BAILOUT* on OVER 229 

The Key: The Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors both like to get up and down the floor as both teams rank in the top half of the league in pace.  Both teams also rank in the top half of the league in offensive efficiency, and the Warriors are dead last in defensive efficiency.  The Suns rank well on defense right now, but that’s not going to last.  The Suns are scoring 114 PPG, the Warriors are scoring 116 PPG, and the Warriors are giving up 128 PPG.  Teams are shooting 54.2% on this soft Warriors defense.  These teams have combined for at least 224 points in 6 of their last 7 meetings.  The OVER is 7-1 in Suns last 8 games off a loss.  The OVER is 17-8 in the last 25 meetings at Golden State.  Take the OVER. 

6* Bucks/Rockets NBA *Total* Annihilator on OVER 229 

The Key: This is a great opener for both teams that fans should love.  The Bucks ranked 2nd in the NBA in pace in the preseason with 111 possessions per game and will play at one of the fastest paces in the league during the regular season as well.  The Rockets ranked 6th in pace in the preseason.  So this is a matchup of 2 of the top 6 teams in pace, which screams OVER.  The OVER is 8-2 in Bucks last 10 road games.  The OVER is 9-3 in Bucks last 12 against Western Conference teams.  Take the OVER. 

7* Raptors/Warriors Game 6 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 211.5 

The Key: Points are harder to come by the longer a series goes on simply because of teams getting more familiar with one another.  It always favors the defenses.  These teams combined for 197 points in Game 4 and 211 points in Game 5.  And now Kevin Durant is out for the remainder of the series and we still have a total higher than those two results at 211.5 tonight.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Warriors/Raptors Game 5 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 214.5 

The Key: The longer a series goes on, the harder it is to score points.  Familiarity makes it easy for the defenses to have the advantage as a series goes on.  We saw that in Game 4 in a 105-92 Raptors win for 197 combined points with a total of 215.  Now we have a near identical total of 214.5 for Game 5 and I think the price is right to pull the trigger on the UNDER.  The UNDER is 33-16-2 in Warriors last 51 games off a loss.  The UNDER is 6-2 in Raptors last 8 games on 2 days’ rest.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Warriors/Raptors Game 2 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 213.5 

The Key: I think we see a much lower scoring contest in Game 2 than we saw in Game 1.  The Warriors and Raptors combined for 227 points in Game 1 led by a great shooting game by Toronto, hitting over 50% of their field goal attempts.  I think after both teams had a couple days to prepare for each other having last played on Thursday it will favor the defenses.  The UNDER is 6-0 in Raptors last 6 games playing on 2 days’ rest.  The UNDER is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 Sunday games.  The UNDER is 33-16-2 in Warriors last 51 games off a loss.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Bucks/Raptors Game 4 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 217.5 

The Key: Milwaukee and Toronto were tied 96-96 at the end of regulation in Game 3 for 192 combined points. That’s 25.5 less than tonight’s posted total of 217.5.  I believe we are getting a great price with the under in what should be another low-scoring affair.  The UNDER is 13-5 in Bucks last 18 games off a loss.  The UNDER is 11-5 in Raptors last 16 games overall.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Raptors/Bucks Game 1 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 218 

The Key: This series certainly has the makings of a defensive battle.  Both the Bucks and Raptors rely so much on their superstars on the offensive end that they have to slow it down and run it through both Giannis and Kawhi, especially the Raptors.  I think nerves will be a factor big-time in Game 1 of this series tonight, which will affect the offenses.  Both teams will be laying it all on the line defensively.  The UNDER is 6-1-1 in Raptors last 8 road games.  The UNDER is 5-0 in Raptors last 5 games playing on 2 days rest.  The UNDER is 5-0 in Bucks last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Blazers/Warriors Game 1 *Total* Annihilator on OVER 220.5 

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors have come close to or gone over this total in all four meetings this season.  They have combined for 236, 220, 219 and 222 points in their 4 meetings this season.  And dating back further, they have combined for at least 219 points in 8 of their last 9 meetings.  The Warriors scored 118 points against the Rockets in their first game without Durant and moved the ball nicely, getting back to their old ways.  The OVER is 25-8-2 in Blazers last 35 games on one days’ rest.  The OVER is 19-7 in the last 26 meetings.  Take the OVER. 

6* 76ers/Raptors Game 7 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 209.5 

The Key: After the last two games barely went over the total by 1.5 and 1 point, I think we see a really low scoring game in Game 7 tonight.  With so much at stake with a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals on the line, this game will be played close to the vest.  Both teams will be playing nervously, which will affect their offense more than their defense.  They will be laying it all on the line defensively.  Philadelphia is 21-5 UNDER when playing 4 or less games in 10 days this season.  Toronto is 12-4 UNDER In home games off a loss this season.  The UNDER is 5-0 in 76ers last 5 games off a win.  The UNDER is 4-0 in Raptors last 4 games on 2 days rest.  The UNDER is 9-3 in Raptors last 12 games overall.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Nuggets/Blazers Game 6 *BAILOUT* on OVER 215 

The Key: The OVER is 8-1 in the 9 meetings between the Nuggets and Blazers this season.  They have combined for 222 or more points in 8 of those 9 meetings.  This is the gift that keeps on giving, and we’ll continue to ride it until it bucks us.  Take the OVER. 

7* Nuggets/Blazers Game 4 *Total* Annihilator on OVER 210.5 

The Key: I like the price we are getting with the OVER in this game considering the first three totals in this series were 215 or higher, and Game 4’s total is only 210.5.  Oddsmakers are over adjusting for these teams being tired off a 4 OT game.  Well, that could just as easily affect their defensive effort as their offense.  The OVER is now 6-1 in the 7 meetings between these teams this season with combined scores of 223 or more points in 6 of the 7 meetings.  Take the OVER. 

7* Raptors/76ers Game 3 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 217 

The Key: After combining for 203 points in Game 1, the Raptors and 76ers combined for just 183 points in Game 2.  And now we’re seeing yet another total set that is too high here at 217 points.  The Raptors are 19-3 UNDER when playing 4 or less games in 10 days this season.  Take the UNDER. 

7* 76ers/Raptors Game 2 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 220.5 

The Key: These teams combined for just 203 total points in Game 1 despite 45 points from Kawhi Leonard.  The Raptors’ suffocating defense continued as they held the 76ers to 95 points and 39.3% shooting.  Toronto is holding its opponents to just 92.5 PPG and 38.9% from the field through their first 6 postseason games.  The 76ers are 18-3 UNDER when playing 4 or less games in 10 days this season.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Jazz/Rockets Game 5 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 213 

The Key: The Rockets and Jazz have combined for 212 or fewer points in eight of their last 11 meetings, including three of four meetings in this series.  The longer the series goes on, the more familiar they become with one another, making points harder to come by.  These are two of the best defensive teams in the playoffs and it’s showing in this series.  The UNDER is 6-0-1 in Rockets’ last 7 games off a loss.  The UNDER is 7-2-1 in Rockets last 10 home games.  The UNDER is 20-8-1 in Rockets last 29 games overall.  Take the UNDER. 

7* NBA Total of the Week on Magic/Raptors UNDER 206 

The Key: The UNDER is 4-0 in the first 4 games in this series.  The Raptors and Magic haven’t once topped 205 combined points, and we have a 206-point total for Game 5 here.  They’ve combined for 205, 193, 191 and 192 points in the first 4 games, respectively.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Pacers/Celtics Game 2 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 207 

The Key: After combining for just 158 points in an 84-74 victory by the Celtics in Game 1, it’s going to take a lot for these teams to make up 49 points, which is what they’ll have to do to reach this 207-point total.  I think there’s value with the UNDER in Game 2 as well.  Indiana is 34-13 UNDER when playing against a team with a winning record in the 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.  The UNDER is 26-8-1 in Pacers last 35 road games against at team that wins more than 60% of its home games.  The UNDER is 21-10 in the last 31 meetings in Boston.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Thunder/Blazers Game 2 *BAILOUT* on OVER 223 

The Key: The Blazers have to go smaller without Jusuf Nurkic.  This has been an OVER series during the regular season.  The Thunder and Blazers combined for 250, 231, 237 and 220 pints in their 4 meetings.  That’s an average of 234.5 PPG.  After a low-scoring affair in Game 1, I look for both offenses to get unleashed tonight.  The Thunder shot just 39.8% overall and 15.2% from 3-point range in Game 1.  The Blazers weren’t much better at 41.9% overall.  I can’t foresee both teams being shut down like that again.  I think it was just playoff nerves in Game 1, and both teams will relax and there will be a lot more offensive flow in Game 2 tonight.  Portland is 12-1 OVER in home games against teams that allow 106 or more PPG in the 2nd half of the season this season.  Take the OVER. 

6* Thunder/Blazers *Total* Annihilator on OVER 225 

The Key: The Blazers have to go small ball now without Jusuf Nurkic.  That will lend itself to more higher-scoring games in this series with the Thunder, who already like small ball and playing at a fast pace.  And this has been an OVER series this season.  The Thunder and Blazers have combined for 250, 231, 237 and 220 points in their last 4 meetings this season, respectively.  That’s an average of 234.5 PPG.  And we have a 225-point total for Game 1, so I like the price we are getting with the OVER.  Portland is 9-0 OVER in its last 9 home games against teams that average 88 or more shots per game.  The Blazers are 12-1 OVER in their last 13 home games against good offensive teams that score 106 or more PPG.  Take the OVER. 

7* NBA Total of the Month on Jazz/Pelicans UNDER 230 

The Key: The Jazz and Pelicans just squared off two nights ago in Utah with the Pelicans pulling the 115-112 upset.  That game saw 227 combined points.  Now we have a total of 230 in the rematch, and I think it’s too high.  The 2nd meeting in these home-and-home situations is almost always lower scoring than the 1st because of the familiarity of the teams.  The same thing happens in the NBA playoffs, and it applies in the regular season as well.  Bets on the UNDER on road teams where the total is 200 or more revenging a loss as a home favorite of 7 points or more against an opponent that’s off an upset win as an underdog are 34-9 over the last 5 seasons.  Take the UNDER. 

7* NBA Total of the Month on Spurs/Grizzlies UNDER 210 

The Key: The Spurs and Grizzlies are notorious for playing in low-scoring games.  In fact, each of their last 8 meetings have seen 207 or fewer combined points and an average of just 193.5 PPG.  That’s about 17 points less than this 210-point total.  The Grizzlies play at the slowest pace in the entire NBA and will control the tempo at home today, just as they did in their 96-86 home win over the Spurs in their last meeting.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Thunder/Blazers ESPN *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 223.5 

The Key: The Thunder are the top defensive team in the NBA this season.  And the Blazers play at a slow pace compared to most teams and they’ll control the pace playing at home.  This number is too high tonight, especially when you factor in what these teams have done in recent meetings.  They have combined for fewer than 223.5 points in 7 of their last 8 meetings.  The UNDER is 10-1 in Thunder games where the line is between +3 and -3 this season.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Rockets/Warriors TNT *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 225 

The Key: When you look at the recent history in this series it’s easy to see that the books have set this number too high tonight.  The Rockets and Warriors have gone UNDER the total in 20 of their last 28 meetings.  And more recently, they have combined for 211 or fewer points in 6 consecutive meetings.  The Rockets are 28th in pace, no longer the run and gun team they used to be.  They really have to play this style now because they don’t have Chris Paul and Eric Gordon due to injury.  Take the UNDER. 

7* NBA Total of the Week on Knicks/Bucks UNDER 228 

The Key: This will already be the 4th and final meeting between the Bucks and Knicks this season.  Not to mention, they just played two days ago on Christmas Day with the Bucks winning 109-95 for 204 combined points.  And now this total is 228 just 2 days later?  Give me a break.  The UNDER has tremendous value in this matchup.  Familiarity breeds low-scoring games and favors the defenses over the offenses.  The UNDER is 6-0 in Bucks last 6 games following a win by more than 10 points.  The UNDER is 8-1 in Bucks last 9 vs. Eastern Conference teams.  The UNDER is 9-2 in Bucks last 11 games overall.  Take the UNDER. 

7* NBA Total of the Month on Knicks/Hornets UNDER 224.5 

The Key: The Hornets and Knicks just played 6 days ago on December 9th.  The Hornets won that game 119-107 for 226 combined points.  I like looking to the UNDER in the 2nd meeting between teams who have just recently played.  And I think it’s safe to take the UNDER here as they just need to combine for 2 fewer points to get the UNDER.  The Knicks have a ton of injuries right now and are without three key players in Trey Burke, Alonzo Trier and Lance Thomas.  Trier and Burke are big losses because they create offense.  The Knicks just don’t have many playmakers left.  Take the UNDER. 

6* Monday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Clippers/Pelicans UNDER 236.5 

The Key: Both the Pelicans and Clippers will be gassed tonight.  Both are playing for a second consecutive night after playing on the road last night.  They will have tired legs, and that will affect their shooting more than anything.  These teams played earlier this season on October 23rd and combined for 225 points.  I think this 236.5-point total is too high given that result and the situation.  The UNDER is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings, and 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in New Orleans.  Take the UNDER. 

6* Wizards/Kings NBA TV *BAILOUT* on OVER 235 

The Key: The Wizards have been forced to go to a small lineup these last two games with Markieff Morris playing center.  That’s because both Dwight Howard and Ian Mahinmi are out with injuries.  And it’s no surprise that they have gone OVER the total in all 4 games this season, and the last 2 were the highest-scoring.  They combined for 249 points with the Blazers two games back and 266 points with the Warriors last time out.  And they should sail OVER this 235-point total with the Kings as well.  The Kings are 4-1 to the OVER this season and trying to play at a faster place to utilize De’Aron Fox’s skill set.  They have combined for 240, 278, 251 and 238 points in their 4 OVERS.  All four of those numbers were higher than this 235-point total.  Get ready for a shootout in Sacramento tonight.  Take the OVER. 

7* Wizards/Warriors NBA *Total* Annihilator on OVER 234 

The Key: The Wizards have to go small ball tonight because Dwight Howard didn’t make the trip West, and Ian Mahinmi left their last game with a back injury.  The Wizards went with Markieff Morris at center in their small ball lineup against the Blazers after Mahinmi’s departure and it worked well.  They eventually won 125-124 in overtime.  The Warriors love going small themselves, so this should be a track meet tonight.  The Warriors beat the Wizards 120-117 in their last meeting at Golden State.  I think both teams top 120 points tonight.  Washington head coach Scott Brooks even said prior to this game if you don’t score 120 it’s tough to win in today’s NBA.  And all his players complimented the small ball approach.  Take the OVER. 

6* 76ers/Celtics *Total* Annihilator on OVER 210 

The Key: The 76ers were one of the best offensive teams in the Eastern Conference last season in averaging 110 PPG.  They are loaded again and don’t put nearly as much emphasis on the defensive end. The Celtics had to play more defense last year because they were without their best 2 scores for much of the season in Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, especially in the playoffs.  But with Irving and Hayward back this should be one of the best offensive teams in the East.  And Irving doesn’t play much defense.  The OVER is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings in Boston.  The OVER is 6-1 in 76ers last 7 road games.  Take the OVER. 

7* Warriors/Cavs Game 4 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 216 

The Key: As a series goes on, games tend to be lower and lower scoring.  That has been the case in this series as well as each game has been lower scoring than the next.  The Cavs and Warriors combined for 212 points in Game 3 and now we’re seeing a total of 216, so I think there’s value with the UNDER.  Both teams know what each other is trying to do, which makes scoring at a premium.  The UNDER is 10-3 in Warriors last 13 games overall.  The UNDER is 7-1 in Warriors last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  The UNDER is 11-5 in Cavaliers last 16 home games.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Warriors/Rockets Game 5 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 219.5 

The Key: I’m surprised the books keep setting the number too high in this series.  The UNDER is 3-1 and we’ve seen lower scoring games as the series has gone on.  Houston beat Golden State 95-92 for only 187 combined points in Game 4.  Now this total is 219.5 for Game 5, which is 32.5 points more than their Game 4 result.  They will likely score more points than in Game 4, but they won’t reach 220 or more.  These teams are very familiar with each other now and defense is winning out.  It has become an isolation series as neither team is able to move the ball on offense.  That results in longer possessions and contested shots at the end of the shot clock frequently.  Houston is 13-2 UNDER when the line is +3 to -3 this season.  The UNDER is 6-1 in Warriors last 7 games overall.  The UNDER is 38-18 in Rockets last 56 games overall.  The UNDER is 5-0 in Rockets last 5 Thursday games.  The UNDER is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Cavs/Celtics Game 5 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 206.5 

The Key: Boston will control the tempo playing at home tonight just as they did in Games 2 and 3.  The Celtics and Cavs combined for just 191 points in Game 1 and 201 points in Game 2.  Now we’re seeing a total of 206.5 in Game 5, which I believe to be too high here.  The UNDER is 5-0 in Celtics last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.  The UNDER is 14-6 in Cavs last 20 games following an ATS win.  The UNDER is 10-3 in the last 13 meetings in Boston.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Rockets/Warriors Game 3 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 226 

The Key: Points will be harder to come by as this series goes along and the Rockets and Warriors learn offensive tendencies.  These teams are both better defensively than they get credit for.  Houston is 9-1 UNDER off a combined score of 215 points ormolu in two straight games this season.  The Rockets are 7-0 UNDER in road games off three consecutive home games this season.  The UNDER is 11-1 in Rockets last 12 vs. NBA Pacific division.  The UNDER is 21-10 in Rockets last 31 overall.  The UNDER is 4-1 in Warriors last five games overall.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Pelicans/Warriors Game 5 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 228.5 

The Key: The Pelicans and Warriors have combined for 224, 237, 219 and 210 points in games 1-4, respectively.  They have been lower scoring games than oddsmakers have anticipated, and I think there’s a good chance Game 5 stays well UNDER 228.5 points as well.  Bets on the UNDER on road teams where the total is 200 or more, an extremely well rested team playing 5 or less games in 14 days, a marginal winning team (51% to 60%) playing a winning team are 67-34 since 1996.  Take the UNDER. 

7* 76ers/Celtics Game 1 *Total* Annihilator on OVER 205 

The Key: The 76ers have become an offensive juggernaut.  They have scored 103 or more points in 21 consecutive games now.  They will look to blitz the Celtics in Game 1 of this series to try and take the upper-hand.  They haven’t played in 6 days and will be looking to push the tempo every possession possible.  The Celtics have still managed to be efficient offensively despite their injuries.  They have scored 101 or more points in eight of their last 11 games overall.  The OVER is 11-2 in Boston’s last 13 playoff home games.  The OVER is 7-1 in Celtics last 8 home games overall.  The OVER is 5-1 in 76ers last 6 games when playing on 3 or more days rest.  Take the OVER. 

7* Jazz/Rockets Game 1 *Total* Annihilator on OVER 206 

The Key: The OVER is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings between the Jazz and Rockets.  They have averaged 216.7 combined points per game in those 7 meetings.  They have combined for at least 213 points in 6 of those 7 meetings.  I think the price is right to back the OVER in Game 1 of this series based on those recent head-to-head results.  Take the OVER. 

7* NBA 1st Round Total of the Year on Raptors/Wizards UNDER 218.5 

The Key: The price is right to back the UNDER in this game between the Raptors and Wizards.  The over is 3-0 through the first 3 games, which has forced oddsmakers to set a total higher than it should be for Game 4 knowing that the public will be betting the over again.  The total was only 213.5 exactly for the first two games in this series, and now it’s 218.5 for Game 4, a 5-point adjustment.  As a series goes on teams get more familiar with one another and that favors defense.  Both teams have shot lights out thus far, but the points won’t be as easy to come by in Game 4.  Washington is 10-2 UNDER after scoring 105 points or more in 3 straight games this season.  Bets on the UNDER on road teams where the total is 210 to 219.5 a good team that outscores their opponents by 3 or more points per game, after 4 straight games where both teams scored 100 points or more are 40-13 since 1996.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Celtics/Bucks Game 3 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 205.5 

The Key: The Bucks shot 59.7% while the Celtics shot 53.3% in Game 2.  That’s not going to happen again.  It was a high scoring game and it made the oddsmakers go from setting totals of 199 in Games 1 and 2 to 205.5 in Game 3.  That’s a 6.5-point adjustment and the reason that the price is right now to back the UNDER in Game 3.  The UNDER is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings in Milwaukee.  Boston is 11-2 UNDER in Friday road games over the last 2 seasons.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Heat/76ers NBA *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 216 

The Key: Both teams really shot lights out from the 3-point line in Game 1, which led to a shootout and 233 combined points.  But that is unlikely to happen again.  The 76ers made 18 3-pointers and shot 64.3% from beyond the arc, while the Heat made 12 and shot 46.2%.  It was a rare high scoring game in this series.  The previous 4 meetings between the Heat and 76ers saw 207 or fewer combined points.  Miami is 23-12 to the UNDER in road games when revenging a loss over the last 2 seasons.  Philadelphia is 32-12 UNDER in its last 44 home games off 2 consecutive covers as a favorite.  Take the UNDER.

7* Spurs/Clippers TNT *BAILOUT* on UNDER 207.5 

The Key: With both the Spurs and Clippers having so much to play for tonight, the defensive intensity will be high.  The Spurs are trying to hold off several teams for the 4th seed in the West and a home court in the first round.  The Clippers are 2 games out of the 8th spot and just fighting to get into the playoffs.  The UNDER is 27-10 in Spurs games when the total is 200 to 209.5 this season.  The UNDER is 5-1 in Clippers last 6 games overall.  The UNDER is 10-4 in Spurs last 14 games overall.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Bucks/Lakers NBA *BAILOUT* on UNDER 220.5 

The Key: The Los Angeles Lakers will be without their top two point guards for this game against Milwaukee.  Both Isaiah Thomas and Lonzo Ball are out.  That leaves the underwhelming Alex Caruso to run the point.  They won’t be looking to push the tempo, and neither will the Bucks, who will still be tired in this back-to-back situation after winning in Golden State last night.  The UNDER is 7-1 in Bucks last 8 games when playing on 0 days’ rest.  The UNDER is 5-1 in Lakers last 6 home games.  The UNDER is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Los Angeles.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Bucks/Warriors TNT *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 215.5 

The Key: The injuries to Steph Curry and Klay Thompson have forced the Warriors to play a different brand of basketball, one that relies more on defense.  The Warriors have been held to 93 or fewer points in 4 of their last 6 games overall.  But their defense has been solid as they have held 3 of their last 4 opponents to 94 points or fewer.  The Bucks and Warriors played back in January with the Warriors winning 108-94 for just 202 combined points with a total set of 221.5.  And that was back when the Warriors were healthy. This game will be more of a defensive battle than the oddsmakers are anticipating.  The Warriors are 22-5 UNDER In March games over the last 2 seasons.  The UNDER is 10-1 in Bucks last 11 Thursday games.  The UNDER is 7-1 in Warriors last 8 home games.  Take the UNDER. 

6* Saturday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Nuggets/Grizzlies UNDER 215 

The Key: The UNDER is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between the Grizzlies and Nuggets.  They have combined for 210, 165, 196 and 203 points in their last 4 meetings.  That’s an average of just 193.5 points per game.  As you can see, we are getting a ton of value on the UNDER 215 tonight.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Heat/Blazers ESPN *Total* Annihilator on OVER 209 

The Key: The Heat will be playing without Hassan Whiteside tonight.  He is their best defender and one of the top defenders in the league.  They’ll now have to go to a smaller lineup to deal with the Blazers tonight.  I think that will lead to a shootout similar to the last time the Heat played in a 129-102 victory over the Wizards.  The Heat have scored 102-plus points in 11 consecutive games.  The Blazers have scored 106 or or points in 7 consecutive games.  The OVER is 5-0 in Heat last 5 road games.  Take the OVER. 

6* Thursday NBA *Total* Annihilator on 76ers/Heat UNDER 209.5 

The Key: This will be the 4th and final meeting of the season between Philadelphia and Miami.  These teams are obviously familiar with one another, which favors defense.  And they have a knack for playing in low scoring games in their first 3 meetings, which have seen 203, 206 and 200 combined points.  Now we’re getting a total of 209.5 tonight and I think the price is right to bet the UNDER.  The UNDER is 10-3 in 76ers last 13 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  The UNDER is 20-8 in Heat last 28 Thursday games.  Take the UNDER. 

7* NBA Total of the Month on Heat/Pelicans UNDER 216 

The Key: The Miami Heat are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA.  They should be able to contain the New Orleans Pelicans, who won’t be nearly as efficient the rest of the way offensively without DeMarcus Cousins.  The Pelicans and Heat have combined for 212 or fewer points in 65 of their last 66 meetings dating back to 1998.  That’s a 65-1 angle backing the under when factoring in this 216-point total.  Take the UNDER. 

7* Cavs/Celtics ABC *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 213.5 

The Key: The Boston Celtics are the best defensive team in the NBA.  They should shut down what will be a Cleveland team that is lost out on the floor today.  The Cavs are going to implement their new players from the trade deadline.  I think they will slow down the offense to try and get everyone touches.  This game will be played at a snail’s pace.  It will also be played with a high intensity defensively as these teams do not like each other.  The UNDER is 2-0 in their two meetings this season with Cleveland winning 102-99 for 201 combined points and Boston winning 102-88 for 190 combined points.  Cleveland is 21-8 UNDER as a dog of 3.5 to 9.5 points over the last 3 seasons.  The UNDER is 5-1 in Celtics last 6 home games.  The UNDER is 5-1 in Celtics last 6 Sunday games.  The UNDER is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings in Boston.  Take the UNDER. 

7* NBA Total of the Week on Pacers/Hornets UNDER 211 

The Key: The Pacers and Hornets just played a few days ago on January 29th.  The Pacers won 105-96 at home for 201 combined points, and the Pacers shot 54.2% in the win.  There’s little chance they top this 211-point total in the rematch, especially considering the Pacers aren’t going to shoot any better than they did.  That game was played as a slow pace as both teams attempted 83 shots in the game.  I think we see more of the same here.  The UNDER is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings with combined scores of 201, 175, 188 and 204 points.  Take the UNDER.