6* NBA Western Conference *CA$H COW* on Dallas Mavericks -6.5

The Key: The Dallas Mavericks are coming off a character-building 122-116 overtime victory over the underrated Denver Nuggets.  They trailed by 25 points in the first half, fought back and took the lead in the 4th quarter, only to fall back behind by 14 points.  But they fought back again to tie it and force overtime, only to eventually win in the extra session.  This team will be full of confidence now coming into this game against Minnesota.  This is a tough spot for the Timberwolves, who are coming off a road win at New Orleans last night, so they'll be playing 2nd of a back-to-back.  The Mavs own the Timberwolves, going 5-0 SU & 4-1 TS in the last 5 meetings, winning by an average of 12.2 points per game in the process.  The Timberwolves are 6-15-1 ATS in their last 22 Sunday games.  The Mavericks are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 Sunday games.  Take Dallas.

7* NBA GAME OF THE MONTH on Atlanta Hawks -4

The Key: After losing 3 straight, the Hawks got back on track with a 103-88 home victory over the Bulls last time out. Now they get to face the red-hot Hornets, who are getting too much respect from oddsmakers here due to winning 6 of their last 7 games overall.  But the Hornets are set up for failure here as this will be their 6th consecutive road games, and they are certainly tired with all that travel.  The home team is 6-1 SU in the last 7 meetings and 6-1-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings.  Atlanta has won 3 straight home meetings with Charlotte by an average of 19 points per game.  Take Atlanta.

6* Spurs/Rockets Western Conference *CA$H COW* on Houston +6

The Key: The Houston Rockets have come out of the All-Star break guns-a-blazing and trying to prove their naysayers wrong.  They have gone 2-1 SU & 3-0 ATS with their only loss coming in overtime at Utah.  They won in Phoenix by 16 and put a halt to the red-hot Blazers with 14-point road win as 4-point dogs last time out.  Now they get to play their first home game since the break.  Home-court advantage has been huge between the Rockets and Spurs as the home team is 8-1 SU in the last 9 meetings with the only loss coming by 1 point.  Take Houston.

7* NBA TOTAL OF THE MONTH on Hornets/Pacers OVER 204

The Key: These teams recently played on February 10 with the Hornets winning 117-95 for 212 combined points.  I look for another shootout tonight between the Pacers and Hornets that easily exceeds this 204-point total.  The Pacers have topped 100 points in 8 of their last 12 games overall.  The Hornets have topped 100 points in 7 of their last 9 games overall.  Indiana is 9-1 OVER revenging a home loss vs opponent of 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.  Charlotte is 17-7 OVER as a road underdog of 6 points or less over the last 2 seasons.  The OVER is 6-1 in Pacers last 7 home games.  The OVER is 8-2 in Pacers last 10 vs Eastern Conference.  Take the OVER.

7* NBA Non-Conference GAME OF THE YEAR on Orlando Magic +8.5

The Key: The Golden State Warriors aren't going to have much left in the tank tonight.  They played in a hard-fought 118-112 win at Miami last night that took a lot out of them.  This will now be their 5th road games in 7 days.  The Magic are going to bring more energy to this game.  They are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall and fighting to try and get into playoff contention.  They have gone 4-2 SU in their last 6 games with their two losses coming to San Antonio and Indiana by a combined 5 points.  They only lost by 1 to Golden State as 14.5-point road dogs in their last meeting.  The Magic are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  Take Orlando.

6* NBA Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Indiana Pacers -7.5

The Key: The Indiana Pacers are 17-9 at home this season.  They have played three straight road games coming out of the break, winning at Oklahoma City and Orlando, and losing in overtime at Miami.  New York is 2-12 in its last 14 games, and with an 11-point road loss to Brooklyn and a 27-point home loss to Toronto out of the break, it's clear that the Knicks aren't playing with any fire right now.  Now they have to take on an Pacers team that has won 7 of the last 8 meetings, including the last four by an average of 16.5 points per game.  They have won their last two home meetings with the Knicks by 23 and 21 points, respectively.  The Pacers are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 home meetings with New York.  Take Indiana.

7* NBA Situational GAME OF THE MONTH on Denver Nuggets -1

The Key: The Denver Nuggets want revenge from a 110-116 loss at Sacramento on February 19, which was their first game back from the break.  I expect them to get it tonight at home against the Kings this time around, and as only 1-point favorites, so they essentially just have to win the game to cover.  Bets on home teams with a line of +3 to -3 who have failed to cover the spread in 2 of their last 3 and are playing 5 or less games in 14 days are 26-7 ATS over the last 5 seasons.  Take Denver.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Detroit Pistons +9

The Key: I really like this situation for the Pistons.  We are buying low on the Pistons, who have lost 5 straight games while failing to cover the spread in 5 straight as well.  We are selling high on the Cavaliers, who are coming off five straight victories, including a 23-point win at Oklahoma City yesterday.  That win over the Thunder on National TV sets the Cavs up for a letdown here today.  After all, the Cavs are 6-15-2 ATS in their last 23 vs. a team with a losing record.  Detroit is 17-6 ATS in its last 23 off an upset loss as a favorite.  Take Detroit.

6* NBA Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Memphis Grizzlies +7.5

The Key: Everyone is writing the Grizzlies off now that Mark Gasol may be out for the season, but this team is having none of it.  The Grizzlies came out of the All-Star Break with a win over the Timberwolves, and now I look for them to give the Raptors a run for their money tonight as 7.5-point dogs.  The Grizzlies are 8-0 ATS in their last 8 vs. Eastern Conference.  The Grizzlies are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.  Take this combined 15-0 angle backing the Grizzlies straight to the bank.  Take Memphis.

7* Pacers/Thunder ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Indiana +8.5

The Key: The Indiana Pacers won 5 of their final 8 games heading into the All-Star Break with two of their losses coming by 5 points to Cleveland and 6 points at Atlanta.  I believe they are catching too many points tonight on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have been overvalued all season.  The Thunder are just 21-32 ATS in all games this season.  Oklahoma City is 1-9 ATS in its last 10 games after outrebounding its last opponent by 15 or more.  Indiana is 8-1 ATS versus teams who average 56 or more rebounds per game this season.  The Pacers are 18-6 ATS vs. teams with winning records this season.  The Pacers are 19-7-2 ATS in their last 28 games playing on 3 or more days rest.  The Thunder are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games following a ATS win.  Take Indiana.

6* NBA Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Milwaukee Bucks +1.5

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks won their final two games before the All-Star Break and need more where that came from if they want to make a run at the playoffs and get back like last year.  They have the talent to do so, and it starts with tonight's home game against the Charlotte Hornets.  The Hornets made a move to acquire Courtney Lee from the Grizzlies, but he won't be playing tonight, and they'll be short-handed after trading away starter PJ Hairston.  Milwaukee has won 15 of its last 19 home meetings with Charlotte.  The Bucks are 10-1 ATS in home games after having lost 4 or 5 of their last 6 games this season.  Milwaukee is 13-2 ATS versus teams who average 83 or more shots per game this season.  Take Milwaukee.

7* NBA TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Jazz/Wizards UNDER 198

The Key: The Utah Jazz play at the league's slowest pace by a wide margin, averaging just 92.9 possessions per game.  They win their games with defense as they rank 14th in defensive efficiency and only yielding 96.4 points per game on the season.  Washington and Utah are used to low-scoring games.  IN their two meetings last season, they combined for 172 points in Utah and 177 points in Washington.  As you can see, those two outputs were 26 and 21 points less than this 198-point total.  The UNDER is 11-3 in Jazz last 14 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.  The UNDER is 11-4 in Wizards last 15 home games.  The UNDER is 6-1 in the last seven meetings in Washington.  Take the UNDER.

6* Wizards/Bucks Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Milwaukee -1

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks have been a sneaky good home team this season.  They've gone 14-8 SU & 13-9 ATS at home, but unfortunately they've played a road-heavy schedule up to this point.  They are going to be a great team to back going forward.  The Bucks come in well-rested and ready to go as this will be just their 2nd game in 6 days, and knowing that the All-Star Break starts tomorrow, I look for them to put their best foot forward tonight.  That's especially the case considering they want revenge on the Wizards after losing each of their first 3 meetings this season, including two by exactly 5 points.  They don't want to get swept.  Washington is 0-7 ATS off a road win where it scored at least 110 points this season.  Milwaukee is 9-1 ATS in home games after having lost 4 or 5 of its last 6 games this season.  Take Milwaukee.

7* NBA Situational GAME OF THE MONTH on New Orleans Pelicans -2.5

The Key: This is an excellent opportunity to fade the Utah Jazz.  They will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after their 121-119 (OT) win at Dallas last night.  Since the Jazz were forced to go an extra five minutes with OT, they will be even more tired than they normally would in a back-to-back situation.  Look for the New Orleans Pelicans to run them out of the gym tonight.  The Pelicans are 13-12 at home this season, while the Jazz are 9-15 on the road.  The home team is 8-3 SU in the last 11 meetings.  The Jazz are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  The Pelicans are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Northwest opponents.  Take New Orleans.

6* NBA Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Indiana Pacers -3

The Key: The Indiana Pacers have been a tremendous home team this season.  They are 17-8 at home and have won 5 of their last 7 games overall coming in.  The Charlotte Hornets are just 7-17 on the road, yet they are only 3.5-point underdogs in this game.  Furthermore, the Pacers are 12-0 in their last 12 home meetings with the Hornets, including a 93-74 win in their last home meeting.  They are holding the Hornets to an average of 87.4 points per game during this 12-0 run.  Take Indiana.

7* NBA Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Dallas Mavericks -1.5

The Key: The Utah Jazz are simply getting too much respect from oddsmakers right now due to their 6-game winning streak.  However, you have to consider that five of those wins have come at home against suspect opponents, and the only road win came at Phoenix, which is playing worse than anyone in the NBA right now.  Now the Jazz must go up against a Mavericks team that has had their number to say the least.  The Mavs have won 9 of their last 10 meetings with the Jazz.  They are 10-0 in their last 10 home meetings, and 22-2 in their last 24 home meetings dating back further.  Take Dallas.

6* NBA *Total* Annihilator on Thunder/Suns UNDER 215.5

The Key: The Phoenix Suns are a mess right now, having lost 13 of their last 14 games overall.  Their biggest problem is that they are getting no offensive production due to injuries to three of their best scorers.  Eric Bledson, Brandon Knight and TJ Warren are all out.  The Suns have scored 98 or fewer points in 11 of their last 14 games.  Knowing that fact alone, it's easy to see why there is value with the UNDER 215.5 points in this game against the Thunder Monday night.  The Suns are 9-1 UNDER off 2 or more consecutive home losses over the last 2 seasons.  Take the UNDER.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Houston Rockets -5

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers are overvalued right now because they have won five of their last six games overall.  But they are coming off a 7-game homestand, which was the biggest reason for their success.  Now the Blazers have to hit the road, where there are just 9-16 away from home this season.  They should be much heavier than only 5-point road dogs to the Houston Rockets here.  Houston is 14-4 ATS in its last 18 home games off a road win.  The 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  The Rockets are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.  Take Houston.

6* NBA *Total* Annihilator on Bucks/Jazz UNDER 189.5

The Key: The Utah Jazz and Milwaukee Bucks really prefer to play at a slow tempo.  The Jazz rank dead last in the NBA in pace at 93.0 possessions per game.  The Bucks rank 25th in pace at 96.1 possessions per game.  We saw this on display when these teams last got together.  The Jazz beat the Bucks 82-75 at home for 157 combined points.  While I don't expect this game to be that low scoring, I do see it easily going under this 189.5-point total.  The UNDER is 6-1 in Bucks last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  The UNDER is 7-2 in Bucks last 9 road games overall.  The UNDER is 25-11-1 in Jazz last 37 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.  The UNDER is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Utah.  Take the UNDER.

7* NBA Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland Cavaliers -7

The Key: The Cleveland Cavaliers had won 5 straight games with 4 of those wins coming by at least 8 points prior to their loss at Charlotte on Wednesday.  That was only a small blip on the radar, and I look for them to get back on track with a win going away tonight at home against the Boston Celtics.  The Cavaliers are 19-3 at home this season and have one of the best home-court advantages in the NBA.  They also create matchup problems for the Celtics, which has been evident in recent meetings.  The Cavs are 5-0 SU & 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings with the Celtics. In fact, all 5 victories have come by at least 8 points.  Cleveland is 10-3-1 ATS in its last 14 vs. a team with a winning record.  Boston is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  Take Cleveland.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on New York Knicks +4.5

The Key: This is a bad spot for the Detroit Pistons.  They are coming off a hard-fought 95-102 road loss at the Boston Celtics last night.  So not only will they be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back, they'll also be playing their 5th game in 7 days.  They are simply running on fumes right now and won't have much left to give against the Knicks, who had yesterday off and will be playing just their 2nd game in 4 days.  New York is 9-1 ATS vs. teams who outrebound their opponents by 3-plus boards per game this season.  The Knicks are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games playing on 1 days rest.  The Knicks are 21-8 ATS in their last 29 meetings with the Pistons.  Take New York.

7* NBA Western Conference GAME OF THE MONTH on New Orleans Pelicans +13.5

The Key: The New Orleans Pelicans haven't been 13.5-point underdogs or more the entire season.  That fact alone shows that there's value with the Pelicans tonight, especially with the way they have been playing.  They are 7-3 in their last 10 games overall and have been competitive in 12 of their last 13 games, only once losing by more than 5 points during that stretch.  Adding to my love for the Pelicans tonight is the fact that they are 4-1 SU & 5-0 ATS in their last 5 meetings with the San Antonio Spurs.  They may not pull off the upset tonight, but they certainly aren't going to lose by more than 13.5 points.  Take New Orleans.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Dallas Mavericks -3.5

The Key: The Miami Heat are in a tough spot tonight.  They will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 days after losing 102-115 at Houston last night.  They will also be playing their 13th road game in their past 15 games, so they have been on the road a ton here of late.  The Dallas Mavericks check in on one days' rest and will be motivated for a victory following their 97-112 loss at Atlanta on Monday.  The Mavs are 15-8 SU & 16-7 ATS at home this season, while the Heat are just 11-13 on the road.  Miami is 3-15 ATS after covering 3 of its last 4 against the spread over the last 2 seasons.  Dallas is 7-0 ATS in home games when playing 8 or more games in 14 days this season.  The Heat are 7-18 ATS in their last 25 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  The Mavericks are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.  Dallas is 16-5 ATS in its last 21 home games.  Take Dallas.

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Phoenix Suns +9.5

The Key: The Toronto Raptors are in a tough spot here tonight.  They will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 days after losing 93-112 at Denver last night.  That loss snapped an 11-game winning streak which has had them overvalued for a few games now.  The Raptors are 0-3 ATS in their last 3 games overall and they are once again laying too many points to the Phoenix Suns here.  Yes, the Suns are struggling and injured, but they have played tough at home.  They only lost by 3 to Indiana as 5.5-point dogs and upset Atlanta by 3 as 10-point dogs in two of their last three home games.  They have only lost one of their last 11 home games by double-digits, which was against the Spurs.  That's a 10-1 angle supporting the Suns.  Take Phoenix.

7* NBA Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Washington Wizards +9.5

The Key: The Washington Wizards are one of those rare teams that plays better on the road than at home.  They are 10-15 at home compared to 11-9 on the road this season.  They just upset the Houston Rockets on the road in their last game on Saturday night, and I look for them to give the Oklahoma City Thunder a run for their money tonight.  The Thunder have been overvalued quite a bit recently.  They are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games overall.  They won 4 of the 5, but all 4 wins came by 8 points or less over Dallas (by 3), New York (by 6), Minnesota (by 3) and Houston (by 8).  I look for the Wizards to stay within double-digits tonight as well.  Washington is 12-4 ATS as an underdog if 3.5 to 9.5 points this season.  Oklahoma City is 0-7 ATS vs. good 3-point shooting teams who make 36% or more of their shots this season.  The Thunder are 1-11 ATS vs. teams who allow 46% or better shooting to their opponents this season.  Take Washington.

7* Warriors/Knicks Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on New York +10.5

The Key: I'll gladly fade the Golden State Warriors tonight.  They are overvalued due to having the best record in the NBA.  They needed a last-second 3-pointer to beat the lowly 76ers on the road 108-105 last night.  Now, they'll be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back, putting them in a tough rest situation.  The New York Knicks have been undervalued all season and continue to be as double-digit dogs here.  They are 29-20 ATS in all lined games this season and on the verge of making the playoffs in the East.  New York is 7-0 ATS when playing against a team with a winning percentage of greater than 70% this season.  Golden State is 3-13 ATS when playing against a losing team in the 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.  Take New York.

6* Spurs/Cavs ABC National TV *Annihilator* on Cleveland +2

The Key: A lot has been made of the Cavs' poor record against the elite teams in the Western Conference this season.  They are 0-3 against the Spurs and Warriors, and they certainly want to help their reputation with a win Saturday.  They already nearly beat the Spurs in a 95-99 road loss at 6-point dogs on January 14.  Now they get their chance at revenge just two weeks later, but the difference is that they'll be at home this time around.  The Cavs are 18-3 at home this season, while all seven of the Spurs' losses this year have come on the road.  The Spurs were torched 90-120 at Golden State in their last road game.  They're still expected to be without Tim Duncan Saturday, which is a big blow.  The Cavaliers are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  Take Cleveland.

7* NBA Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Dallas Mavericks -8.5

The Key: The Dallas Mavericks are in need of a win after losing 3 of their last 4.  Their 3 losses during this stretch have come against the Thunder, Rockets and Warriors.  Now the schedule softens up as they host the Nets and look to improve upon their 14-7 ATS record in home games this year.  I expect the Mavs to roll by double-digits against a Nets team that is just 2-11 SU & 2-10-1 ATS in its last 13 games overall.  The Nets have lost 7 of their last 9 games by at least 12 points, so they have been blown out on the regular.  The Mavs are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games after scoring 105 points or more.  Take Dallas.

7* Knicks/Raptors TNT National TV *Annihilator* on New York +10

The Key: The Toronto Raptors have won 9 straight games coming into this showdown with the New York Knicks.  As a result, they are more overvalued than they've been at any other point this season.  They have no business laying 10 points to the New York Knicks tonight.  The Knicks are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games playing on 1 days' rest and 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games vs. teams who win at least 60% of their games.  The Raptors are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 Thursday games.  The Knicks are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings with the Raptors.  Take New York.

7* Rockets/Spurs ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Houston +10

The Key: The San Antonio Spurs are coming off a deflating 90-120 loss at Golden State on Monday.  I fully expect them to suffer a hangover from that defeat as it was their biggest game of the season.  They are still expected to be without Tim Duncan, which is a huge blow.  Now they have to take on a Rockets team that is playing its best ball of the season coming in.  The Rockets should not be 10-point dogs in this game considering they have gone 9-3 in their last 12 games overall.  Houston always plays San Antonio tough, going 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings.  The Rockets are 40-20 ATS in their last 60 games off a road win by 3 points or less.  Take Houston.

7* NBA Non-Conference GAME OF THE MONTH on Indiana Pacers +1.5

The Key: It's safe to say that the Indiana Pacers won't be lacking any motivation tonight when they host the Los Angeles Clippers.  That's because they have lost 5 of their last 6 games overall, which isn't surprising considering 5 of their last 6 games were on the road.  Now they have had 2 days off since a loss to the Kings on Saturday.  That's important because the Pacers are 14-2 ATS in their last 16 games playing on 2 days' rest.  The Pacers are 13-6 at home this season and 13-5 in their last 18 home meetings with the Los Angeles Clippers.  I really like getting them as home underdogs tonight in a game I have them winning outright with ease.  Take Indiana.

7* Spurs/Warriors Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Golden State -5

The Key: The Golden State Warriors are already the best team in the NBA at 40-4.  They are also healthy coming into this huge showdown with the San Antonio Spurs tonight.  The same cannot be said for the Spurs, who are expected to be without Tim Duncan due to a knee injury.  LaMarcus Aldridge is also battling a back injury that kept him out last game, though he's expected to play tonight.  I just don't give the Spurs much of a chance at all in this game without Duncan.  The Warriors are 20-0 at home this season, outscoring opponents by 15.8 points per game.  All six of the Spurs' losses have come on the road this year.  Golden State is 20-7 ATS when playing on two days' rest over the last three seasons.  Bets against road underdogs who score 99+ points/game on the season against opponent after leading their last 2 games by 10+ points at the half are 54-14 ATS over the last 5 years.  Take Golden State.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Sacramento Kings -3

The Key: The Sacramento Kings have won a season-high four straight games while going a perfect 4-0 ATS in the process to grab ahold of the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.  They have gone on the road and beaten the Jazz, Clippers and Lakers, while also topping the Hawks at home during this stretch.  Look for them to get their 5th straight win tonight as only 3-point home favorites over the Indiana Pacers.  The Pacers will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after a 110-122 loss at Golden State last night.  After playing the defending champs, they won't be able to get up for the Kings one night later.  The Pacers are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 games playing on 0 days rest.  Indiana is 1-8 ATS revenging a home loss against an opponent this season.  The Kings have won three straight meetings with the Pacers.  Take Sacramento.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on New York Knicks +2

The Key: This is a very tough spot for the Los Angeles Clippers.  They will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers 102-115 on the road last night.  Now they have to travel out for New York.  After facing the top team in the Eastern Conference in the Cavs, the Clippers will have a very hard time getting motivated to face the Knicks.  But these Knicks have been playing about as well as anyone in the Eastern Conference over the last few weeks.  They are 7-3 SU & 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall.  All three losses came on the road to the Spurs by 1, the Nets by 6 and the Grizzlies by 8.  The Knicks are 6-0 SU & 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.  New York is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 vs. a team that wins more than 60% of his games.  Take New York.

7* NBA Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Orlando Magic -4

The Key: The Orlando Magic are desperate for a victory tonight after losing 8 of their last 9 games overall to fall below .500 at 20-21 on the season.  It's safe to say that they'll be extremely hungry for a win tonight given the situation.  They should be able to get it against a Charlotte Hornets team that has struggled just as much, going 2-10 in their last 12 games overall.  The Hornets have a plethora of injuries as they are missing three starters in Al Jefferson, Nicolas Batum and Cody Zeller, so it's understandable that they are struggling right now.  They may also be without Jeremy Lamb, who is questionable after missing the last five games.  The Hornets are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games.  The Magic are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 Friday games.  Take Orlando.

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on New Orleans Pelicans -2

The Key: The New Orleans Pelicans have won 3 of their last 4 games coming into this one.  Now that they're healthy, they have been playing better and will be motivated to make a push for that final playoff spot in the Western Conference.  I love getting them as only 2-point home favorites here against the Detroit Pistons.  The Pistons will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after a draining 123-114 win at Houston last night.  They won't have much left in the tank here, while the Pelicans had yesterday off and will be the fresher team.  The Pelicans are 6-0 SU & 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings with the Pistons, and 6-0 SU in their last 6 home meetings with Detroit as well.  This has simply been a bad matchup for the Pistons in recent years.  Take New Orleans.

7* Warriors/Bulls ESPN *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 215

The Key: The oddsmakers have set a very big total for this game between the Warriors and Bulls tonight.  I believe the value to be on the UNDER at 215 points in this one.  For starters, this game will be played on National TV, so the defensive intensity will be higher than normal.  Both teams are coming off high-scoring games that have inflated this total with the Warriors scoring 132 against Cleveland and the Bulls scoring 111 against Detroit.  But the real key here is that the Bulls and Warriors have combined for 214 or fewer points at the end of regulation in 13 straight meetings. That's a 13-0 system backing the UNDER when factoring in this total set of 215.  Take the UNDER.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Charlotte Hornets +10

The Key: This is an awful spot for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who will be playing the second of a back-to-back after beating Denver 110-104 on the road last night.  They will also be playing their 6th game in 9 days tonight.  The Hornets are getting healthier and playing better of late as a result.  They've gone 3-1 ATS in their last three games overall with a 23-point win over Atlanta and a 5-point win over Utah highlighted.  Bets on road underdogs after allowing 105 points or more in 3 straight games against opponent off a win by 6 points or less are 26-5 ATS over the last 5 seasons.  The Thunder are 5-15 ATS vs. teams with losing records this season.  Take Charlotte.

7* NBA Eastern Conference GAME OF THE WEEK on Milwaukee Bucks +5

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks have really picked up their play here of late.  They have gone 4-2 SU & 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.  They have beaten the likes of Dallas, Chicago and Atlanta during this stretch, while also winning on the road in Charlotte by 13 points.  This is a team to be reckoned with going forward.  The Miami Heat are not playing well at all as they've lost 4 of their last 5 games.  Yes, they are coming off a 6-game road trip, so that has a lot to do with it.  But that first home game back from a long road trip is always a difficult spot.  Players are more concerned about family obligations when they get back from the trip rather than playing basketball.  The Heat are 7-22 ATS in their last 29 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.  Milwaukee has Miami's number, going 4-0 SU & 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.  The Bucks are 17-4 ATS after playing a game as a road underdog this season.  Take Milwaukee.

7* Warriors/Cavs TNT *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 209

The Key: Oddsmakers have set the bar too high tonight in this NBA Finals rematch between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers.  It's clear that the intensity level will be very high in this game, and that will favor the defenses.  These teams are obviously familiar with one another after playing in the NBA Finals last season and once already this year, so that also favors the defenses.  The first meeting between these teams on Christmas Day was very low-scoring as well.  The Warriors beat the Cavs 89-83 for 172 combined points.  They have combined for 208 or fewer points in all 7 meetings since Game 1 of the NBA Finals, and 195 or fewer points in five of those.  Cleveland is 12-0 UNDER off a non-conference game this season.  Take the UNDER.

7* NBA Non-Conference GAME OF THE MONTH on Oklahoma City Thunder -9.5

The Key: The Oklahoma City Thunder are absolutely rolling right now and should continue their solid play Sunday with a double-digit victory over the Miami Heat.  They are 5-1 in their last six games overall with three wins by 18, 19 and 20 points.  Those three blowout wins all came at home.  Now they get to face a Heat team that is banged up right now.  The Heat are without starting PG Goran Dragic, and they could be without Dwyane Wade, who is listed as questionable.  The Thunder won their last home meeting with the Heat 93-75 as 4-point favorites.  Miami is 4-17 ATS in its last 21 games off a road win.  The Heat are 14-38-2 ATS in their last 54 games following a straight up win.  Take Oklahoma City.

6* NBA *Total* Annihilator on Nets/Hawks UNDER 205.5

The Key: Based on the recent history between the Nets and Hawks, it's clear that oddsmakers have inflated this total tonight.  Both teams are coming off high-scoring games last night, but the Hawks only went over the total against the Bucks due to overtime.  Those two high scoring games have forced oddsmakers to inflate this total as well.  The UNDER is 3-0 in the last 3 meetings with combined scores of 178, 188 and 198 points.  That's an average of 188.0 combined points per game, which is 17.5 points less than this 205.5-point total.  Take the UNDER.

7* NBA Situational GAME OF THE YEAR on Dallas Mavericks -1.5

The Key: The Chicago Bulls could not be in a worse spot tonight.  They will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 4th game in 5 days.  They went to overtime against the 76ers last night before pulling out a 115-111 victory.  I don't see them having much left to give tonight against the Dallas Mavericks.  The Mavs will be the more energized team in this one considering they've had essentially two days' rest in between games.  Rick Carlisle rested his starters against the Thunder on Wednesday, and now those starters should respond by out-hussling the Bulls for four quarters.  The Mavs are 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games after trailing their previous game by 15 points or more at the half.  The Bulls are 8-24 ATS in their last 32 games following a road win.  Take Dallas.

6* Cavs/Spurs TNT National TV *Annihilator* on San Antonio -5.5

The Key: The San Antonio Spurs are the best home team in the NBA.  They are 22-0 SU & 16-6 ATS at home this season, outscoring opponents by a ridiculous 16.1 points per game.  I look for them to continue to roll tonight as reasonable 5.5-point home favorites over the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Cleveland will be playing its 5th road games on a 6-game trip, making this a very tough spot.  The Spurs are 16-3 ATS in their last 19 home games after playing a game as a road favorite.  Cleveland is 4-16 ATS in its last 16 road games vs. good rebounding teams who outrebound their opponents by 3 or more boards per game.  The Spurs are 10-1 ATS versus teams who make 36% or more of their 3-point attempts this season.  The Cavs are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 road games.  The Spurs are 44-19 ATS in their last 63 games overall, including 25-9 ATS in their last 34 home games.  Take San Antonio.

7* NBA Western Conference TOTAL OF THE MONTH on T'Wolves/Rockets OVER 204.5

The Key: When the Timberwolves and Rockets get together, it usually results in a high-scoring affair.  In fact, the OVER is 6-0 in the last six meetings between these teams with six straight combined scores of 214 or more points.  They have combined for 230, 215, 226, 214, 222 and 235 points in their last 6 meetings, respectively.  That's an average of 223.7 combined points per game, which is 19.2 points more than this posted total of 204.5.  Take the OVER.

7* NBA Non-Conference TOTAL OF THE MONTH on Cavs/Mavs OVER 198

The Key: With Kyrie Irving back in the lineup, the Cleveland Cavaliers are hitting on all cylinders offensively.  They have scored 104, 122, 121, 125 and 95 points in their last 5 games overall.  That 95-point effort was the result of a poor shooting night in which they shot just 38.9% against the 76ers, but that's not likely to happen again.  The Mavs have scored at least 100 points in 6 of their last 10 games coming in.  Recent meetings between these teams indicate that this total has been set too low.  The Mavs and Cavs have combined for at least 199 points in 4 straight meetings.  They are averaging 212.5 combined points/game over their last 4 meetings.  That's 14.5 points more than this 198-point total.  Take the OVER.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Boston Celtics -1

The Key: The Boston Celtics have lost 5 of their last 6 games.  They clearly want a win to end this skid, especially after blowing a 20-point lead in a loss at Memphis on Sunday.  They now get to take on a hot Knicks team that has gone 4-1 in its last 5 games, but one that is getting too much respect from the books now.  The Celtics are 4-0 in their last four meetings with the Knicks with an average victory of 11.3 points per game.  Boston is 13-1 ATS in its last 14 road games after two straight games where it allowed at least 100 points.  Take Boston.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Washington Wizards +8

The Key: One of these teams has struggled of late while the other is rolling.  That has forced the oddsmakers to shade the line toward the team that is rolling, creating some value on the team that is struggling.  The Wizards have lost 5 of their last 7 games, while the Bulls have won 6 of their last 7.  The Bulls may win again tonight, but asking them to do so by 8-plus points is asking too much.  The Wizards have actually played their best basketball on the road this season as they are 8-8 SU & 9-7 ATS.  They just won 105-99 at Orlando, and I like them to stay with the Bulls tonight, possibly pulling off the upset.  After all, the Wizards are 6-3 SU & 6-3 ATS in their last 9 meetings with the Bulls, so they clearly match up well with them.  The Wizards are 41-23 ATS as an underdog of 3.5 to 9.5 points over the last 3 seasons.  The Bulls are 3-11 ATS after having won 2 of their last 3 games this season.  The Wizards are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 vs. Eastern Conference teams and 7-2 ATS in their last 9 road games.  The Wizards are also 8-1 ATS in their last 9 trips to Chicago.  Take Washington.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Atlanta Hawks -2

The Key: The Atlanta Hawks are coming off a stretch in which they lost 3 of 4 games, but they rebounded with a 126-98 win at Philadelphia.  This recent stretch has them undervalued right now.  Conversely, the Bulls are 6-0 in their last 6 games overall, which has them overvalued.  I think we are getting the Hawks at a discount tonight as a result.  Chicago is 4-16 ATS in its last 20 Saturday games.   The Bulls are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 games following a ATS win.  The favorite is 35-16 ATS in the last 51 meetings.  Take Atlanta.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Phoenix Suns +5

The Key: The betting public wants nothing to do with the Phoenix Suns right now because they have lost 9 of their last 10 games overall.  The oddsmakers have been forced to tack on a few extra points for the Suns tonight.  Asking the Heat to go on the road and beat the Suns by 6 or more points to cover this spread tonight is asking a little too much.  The Suns will be motivated to end a 10-game losing streak to the Heat, and they'll also be motivated to beat their former teammate, Goran Dragic.  The Heat are just 6-6 on the road this season, where they're scoring only 93.0 points per game.  Miami is 1-14 ATS after covering 3 of its last 4 games against the spread over the last two seasons.  Take Phoenix.

7* NBA TOTAL OF THE WEEK on Nuggets/Grizzlies UNDER 192.5

The Key: The Grizzlies have been playing in some very low-scoring games over the past month-plus.  They have scored fewer than 100 points in 15 of their last 18, and they've allowed 100 or fewer in 12 of their last 13.  The Grizzlies are still a great defensive team, but they are now offensively-challenged because both PG Mike Conley and SG Courtney Lee are nursing injuries that will likely keep them out tonight.  The Nuggets and Grizzlies have played in very low scoring affairs in their last two meetings with combined scores of 173 and 168 points.  The UNDER is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.  The Nuggets are 10-1 to the UNDER in their last 11 vs. a team with a winning record.  Take the UNDER.

6* Celtics/Bulls NBA on TNT *CA$H COW* on Boston +6

The Key: The Boston Celtics have clearly been road warriors this season.  They have gone 10-6 on the road this season, which includes an 11-5 ATS mark.  They have been even better on the road here of late, going 7-2 SU in their last nine road games with two 3-point losses to San Antonio and Detroit.  I look for them to stay within 6 points of the Bulls on the road tonight, possibly pulling off the upset.  The Bulls are getting a lot of respect from oddsmakers right now due to their 5-game winning streak coming in.  It's time to fade them as a result.  Boston has gone 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games as a road underdog of 3.5 to 6 points.  The Celtics are 39-19 ATS in their last 58 road games overall.  Take Boston.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on New Orleans Pelicans -5.5

The Key: The Dallas Mavericks are in an awful spot tonight.  They are coming off a double-overtime game against Sacramento last night in which they won on a buzzer-beater by Deron Williams, 117-116.  Now they are in a huge letdown spot here, and they are also fatigued as this will be the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 4th game in 6 days.  New Orleans has had 3 days off in between games since a 105-98 road win over these same Mavericks on Saturday. The home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.  New Orleans is 29-14 ATS in its last 43 games after failing to cover the spread in 2 of its last 3 games coming in.  Take New Orleans.

7* Warriors/Lakers Western Conference *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles +13

The Key: The Golden State Warriors are clearly overvalued right now due to their 32-2 start to the season.  They have failed to cover the spread in back-to-back games with a 3-point home win over the Nuggets and a 10-point home win over the Hornets.  Now they will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after beating Charlotte at home last night.  The Lakers are undervalued due to their 8-27 start, but they have been playing much better of late.  They have won three straight with an 8-point win at Boston, a 9-point home win over Philadelphia, and a 20-point home win over Phoenix.  They have gone 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.  The Warriors are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.  Take Los Angeles.

7* Monday Night NBA *HEAVY HITTER* on Boston Celtics -7.5

The Key: The Boston Celtics want revenge from two straight losses to the Nets this season, including a 3-point loss on Saturday night.  Brooklyn PG Jarrett Jack suffered a torn ACL in that game and will miss the rest of the season, which is a big blow to this team.  Boston is 16-4 ATS in road games when playing with double revenge over the last two seasons.  The Celtics are 41-15 ATS in road games revenging a loss with Brad Stevens as their head coach.  Boston is 12-1 ATS in its last 13 road games after giving up 100-plus points in two straight games.  Take Boston.

6* Rockets/Spurs Western Conference *CA$H COW* on Houston +12

The Key: The San Antonio Spurs are clearly overvalued right now.  The betting public is all over this team because they have gone 28-6 SU & 23-11 ATS on the season.  The Houston Rockets are 16-18 SU & 13-21 ATS, so the betting public wants nothing to do with them.  But the Rockets match up well with the Spurs as they've had the upper-hand in this series of late.  They have gone 7-3 SU in the last 10 meetings with their three losses coming by 1, 12 and 4 points.  The Rockets haven't lost by more than 12 to the Spurs in any of the last 12 meetings.  Take Houston.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on New Orleans Pelicans -3

The Key: This is strictly a fade of the Los Angeles Clippers tonight.  They are worn down as this will be their 5th game in 7 days, all of which have come on the road.  They played a high-scoring affair in a 122-117 win at Charlotte last night, so they will also be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back.  The Pelicans have played better of late with 3 wins in their last 5 games and one of their losses coming in overtime on the road to the Miami Heat.  The home team has gone 6-0 straight up in the last 6 meetings between these teams.  Take New Orleans.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Dallas Mavericks +4

The Key: This is a great spot to fade the Golden State Warriors considering how banged up their are right now.  They are likely to be without MVP Steph Curry, who had an MRI today on his leg and should be given the night off.  Harrison Barnes and Leandro Barbose remain out, Festus Ezeli is questionable, and Draymond Green is expected to play through an ankle injury.  The Warriors are ripe for the picking tonight, and I look for the Mavericks to knock them off.  The Mavs are playing their best basketball of the season right now as they are 4-1 SU & 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall with their only loss coming by 4 points at Toronto.  The Mavs are 4-0 in their last four home games, and they haven't lost any of their last 12 home games by more than 4 points, making for a perfect 12-0 angle backing them tonight.  Take Dallas.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Memphis Grizzlies -4.5

The Key: I'll gladly fade the Miami Heat tonight given this awful spot for them.  The Heat will be playing their 4th game in 5 days off their 105-111 loss to the Brooklyn Nets last night.  They'll have nothing left to give against Memphis, which will be playing just its 3rd game in 7 days.  The Grizzlies want revenge from a 97-100 loss at Miami on December 13 in which they blew a 16-point 3rd quarter lead and watched the Heat score the final 11 points of the game.  They have won four straight home meetings with the Heat.  Miami is 0-7 ATS vs. teams who force 16 or more turnovers per game this season.  Memphis is 19-9 ATS as a home favorite of 6 points or less over the last 2 seasons.  Take Memphis.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Brooklyn Nets +8.5

The Key: The Nets have lost 7 of their last 8 games and are catching too many points tonight as a result.  The Heat have covered the spread in each of their last 2 games and are laying too many points now.  I like the Nets here as 8.5-point dogs.  This team has been getting too many points on the road all season, as they are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games.  The last 4 meetings between the Nets and Heat have all been decided by 6 points or less.  There's a good chance this one will be as well.  Take Brooklyn.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Orlando Magic -4

The Key:  The Miami Heat will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after needing overtime to beat the New Orleans Pelicans on Christmas Day.  They won't have a lot left in the tank for the Orlando Magic, who come in playing as well as anyone in the Eastern Conference.  The Magic have won five of their last six games overall with their only loss coming by 3 points to Atlanta.  Four of their five wins came by 8 points or more.  They have had two days off as they last played on Wednesday, so they will be the fresher team.  The Magic are 20-8 ATS in all games this season as they've been undervalued all year.  They're 10-5 SU & 10-5 ATS in all home games.  The Heat are just 4-5 SU & 4-5 ATS on the road.  The Heat are 13-36-2 ATS in their last 51 games following a straight up win.  The Magic are 19-6-1 ATS in their last 26 games following a ATS win.  Take Orlando.

7* Cavs/Warriors XMas Day *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland +7

The Key: The Cleveland Cavaliers are fully healthy for the first time this season.  That's a far cry from what they were when they lost to the Warriors 4-2 in the NBA Finals.  They somehow managed to make a series out of it despite playing without Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving.  But both players are healthy coming into this rematch, and the Cavs are simply going to want this one more than the Warriors.  The Cavs are also playing well coming in, winning 6 straight with a pair of double-digit road wins over the Magic and Celtics in their two road games during this stretch.  The Cavaliers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.  Take Cleveland.

6* NBA Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Orlando Magic +1

The Key: The Orlando Magic are playing their best basketball of the season entering this home game against the Houston Rockets.  They have won 10 of their last 14 games overall with three of their four losses coming by 3 points or less.  They have also gone a sensational 11-2-1 ATS in their last 14 contests.  With how well they are playing right now, they should not be home underdogs to the Houston Rockets, who clearly have something wrong as they are just 15-14 and fired their head coach early on.  The Magic are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 meetings with the Rockets.  That includes a 5-1 ATS record in their last six home meetings.  Take Orlando.

6* NBA Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Dallas Mavericks +4

The Key: I really like backing the Dallas Mavericks as road underdogs.  Year after year, they always seem to play their best basketball on the road, while consistently being overvalued as home favorites.  That has been the case again this season as they are 8-7 SU & 9-6 ATS on the road.  The Mavs have had three days of rest to get ready for the Raptors, and they certainly want to avenge a 91-102 home loss to them in their first meeting this season.  Bets on underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points like the Mavericks, revenging a loss where opponent scored 100 or more points, playing with 3 or more days rest are 49-23 ATS over the last 5 seasons.  The Mavericks are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games playing on 3 or more days rest.  The Raptors are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.  Take Dallas.

6* NBA Eastern Conference *TOTAL* Annihilator on Magic/Knicks UNDER 196.5

The Key: When you look at recent meetings between the Knicks and Magic, it's easy to see why I like the UNDER here.  They have combined for 191, 159 and 172 points in their last three meetings.  That's an average of 174.0 points per game and 22.5 points less than this 196.5-point total.  Both teams prefer to slow down the tempo as the Magic rank 19th in pace while the Knicks are 23rd.  Both teams struggle offensively as the Magic are 19th in offensive efficiency while the Knicks are 21st.  Both teams are improved defensively this season as the Magic rank 8th in defensive efficiency while the Knicks rank 16th.  Orlando is 8-0 UNDER in road games off a close loss by 3 points or less over the last 2 seasons.  The Magic are 8-0 UNDER in road games off a home loss to a division opponent over the last 3 years.  Take the UNDER.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Minnesota Timberwolves +1.5

The Key: The Timberwolves had lost eight of nine games before finally snapping out of it with a 99-95 home win over the Kings on Friday.  This stretch has them undervalued right now as they should not be underdogs to the Brooklyn Nets.  But all 8 of those losses came by 12 points or less, including 7 by 8 points or fewer.  They were competitive in every game, but just had some bad fortune in close games.  The Nets are 7-19 on the season and have lost four straight coming in.  They have all kinds of injury issues right now as Shane Larkin, Rondae-Hollis Jefferson and Sergey Karasev are all out.  The Timberwolves have played their best ball on the road this season as they are 6-6 SU & 9-3 ATS in road games.  They are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 road games overall.  The Timberwolves are 16-6-1 ATS in their last 23 meetings with the Nets.  Minnesota is 8-1 ATS in road games after playing a game as an underdog this season.  Take Minnesota.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Houston Rockets -1

The Key: The Los Angeles Clippers are coming off a draining 8-point loss at San Antonio last night.  They will now be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 7th game in 11 days.  The Houston Rockets had yesterday off following a 107-87 road win over the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday.  The Rockets are playing much better now as they've won 8 of their last 12 games overall and were competitive in all four of their losses.  The Rockets have won four straight meetings with the Clippers heading in, including home wins by 13 and 21 points.  The Rockets are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 games off a road win by 10 points or more.  Houston is 12-3 ATS in its last 15 home games off a road win.  Take Houston.

7* NBA Western Conference GAME OF THE MONTH on Utah Jazz -5

The Key: The Utah Jazz have lost four straight coming in and desperately need a win.  But two of those losses came to Oklahoma City and another to San Antonio, which are two of the best teams in the NBA.  Now they get to a cupcake in Denver.  The Nuggets have played better of late, winning five of their last six, but four of those wins have come against Minnesota (twice), Philadelphia and Houston.  Four of them have also come by 6 points or less, so they've been fortunate in close games.  The Jazz have won each of their last two meetings with the Nuggets in blowout fashion with a 12-point road win this season and a 14-point home win in their final meeting last year.  Utah is 8-1 ATS after playing a game as a home favorite this season.  The Nuggets are 4-15 ATS in their last 19 games playing on 2 days rest.  The Jazz are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games playing on 1 days rest.  The Jazz are 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings.  Take Utah.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Minnesota Timberwolves +2.5

The Key: The Minnesota Timberwolves have lost 8 of their last 9 games coming in an are in desperate need of a victory.  But it's not like they haven't been competitive as they could have won all nine of those games.  The eight losses have come by 8, 3, 6, 4, 3, 7, 12 and 5 points, so they have been in every game, but they just haven't been able to finish the deal.  The Kings are road favorites here because they come in having won 3 straight.  HOwever, all three wins came at home over Utah, New York and Houston.  The Kings are a great home team, but they are a terrible road game.  The Kings are just 2-8 on the road this season, giving up 112.5 points per game away from home.  The Kings are 21-47-2 ATS in their last 70 games playing on 2 days rest.  Sacramento is 7-20 ATS in its last 27 games following an ATS win.  Take Minnesota.

6* Rockets/Lakers TNT *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles +6

The Key: After a brutal 8-game road trip in which the Lakers played 8 games in 12 days, they finally had some rest before returning home to face the Bucks two nights ago.  They had two days off prior to that game, and then promptly put together their best performance of the season in a 113-95 home win as 3.5-point underdogs.  They had seven different players score in double-digits and had 26 assists on their 41 made field goals.  Look for them to build off of that win and play well tonight as 6-point home dogs against the Rockets.  The Lakers want revenge from an ugly loss at Houston on December 12 less than a week ago.  That was the 8th game on that 8-game road trip, and they were playing the 2nd of a back-to-back after playing in San Antonio the previous night.  They had nothing left in the tank, but now they are rejuvenated and will put forth a much better effort tonight.  The Lakers are only getting outscored by 2.7 points per game at home this year, while the Rockets are getting outscored by 4.0 points per game on the road.  The Rockets are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up loss.  Take Los Angeles.

7* Bucks/Clippers Non-Conference *BAILOUT* on Milwaukee +11

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks are playing the 2nd game of a back-to-back tonight.  However, they won't have to travel at all as they will be playing inside the Staples Center again.  After being 4-point favorites over the Lakers yesterday, now they're 11-point underdogs to the Clippers tonight, which is a massive 15-point adjustment.  As a result, I believe there is some nice value here with the Bucks catching double-digits.  I also like the fact that the Bucks are a perfect 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games when playing on 0 days rest.  Take Milwaukee.

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Sacramento Kings -1.5

The Key: The Houston Rockets will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 5th game in 8 days after their draining 108-114 road loss to the Denver Nuggets last night.  This is a good spot to fade them and back the Sacramento Kings, who have had four days off in between games having last played on December 10th.  The Kings are a respectable 7-7 at home this season as they have one of the more underrated home-court advantages in the NBA.  The Rockets are giving up 107.0 points per game on 48.4% shooting en route to a 5-6 road record this year.  The Kings have already lost to the Rockets twice this year, and they've lost each of their last four meetings with the Rockets all by 7 points or less, so they will be wanting some revenge here.  The Kings are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games following a ATS loss.  The Rockets are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up loss.  Take Sacramento.

6* NBA Eastern Conference *TOTAL* Annihilator on Magic/Nets UNDER 199

The Key: Two poor offensive teams square off tonight when the Magic meet the Nets in an Eastern Conference showdown.  The Magic rank 23rd in offensive efficiency while the Nets rank 27th.  These are two teams who also play at below-average league paces as the Nets are 16th in pace while the Magic are tied for 17th.  Each of the last four meetings between these teams have seen 200 or fewer combined points.  Orlando is 15-4 UNDER in its last 19 road games when playing just its 2nd game in 5 days.  The Magic are 34-13 UNDER in road games off two or more consecutive losses over the last 3 years.  The Nets are 14-3 UNDER off a loss by 6 points or less over the last 2 years.  The UNDER is 12-1 in Magic last 13 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.  The UNDER is 21-7-2 in the last 30 meetings.  Take the UNDER.

6* NBA Non-Conference *Total* Annihilator on Grizzlies/Heat UNDER 189.5

The Key: The Miami Heat have been the best UNDER bet in the NBA.  They are 17-4 to the UNDER this season and oddsmakers just can't set their totals low enough.  They certainly haven't set this one low enough as this is a battle between two defense-first teams who play at slow paces.  Miami ranks 2nd in the NBA in defensive efficiency, giving up 96.4 points per 100 possessions.  While the Grizzlies have slipped defensively this year, this is still a good defensive team.  Miami ranks 25th in pace at 96.1 possessions per game, while Memphis ranks 24th in pace at 96.9 possessions per game.  Miami is 20th in offensive efficiency while Memphis is 25th in offensive efficiency.  The Heat are 9-1 UNDER vs. teams with winning records this year.  Take the UNDER.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Milwaukee Bucks +8.5

The Key: Both of these teams will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back, but it's a much worse spot for the Warriors.  They will be playing their 7th straight road game.  No team in NBA history has ever swept a 7-game road trip.  Plus, the Warriors went to double-overtime last night against the Celtics.  They won't have anything left in the tank.  The Bucks will be energized to try and end this unbeaten streak by the Warriors.  The Bucks have held their own at home this year, posting a 7-5 record there compared to a 2-10 mark on the road.  Milwaukee is 20-8 ATS following 2 or more consecutive losses over the last 2 seasons.  The Bucks are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 0 days rest.  The Bucks are 7-2-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings with the Warriors.  The Warriors are already without Harrison Barnes and could be without Klay Thompson again tonight.  Take Milwaukee.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Milwaukee Bucks +8

The Key: The Toronto Raptors are coming off a huge 97-94 home win over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.  That win sets them up for a massive letdown spot here as they host the Milwaukee Bucks two nights later.  The Raptors shouldn't be 8-point favorites considering they are missing two starters right now in Jonas Valanciunas and DeMarre Carroll.  Betting against home teams off an upset win as a home underdog against an opponent off a home loss has produced a 37-12 ATS record over the last 5 seasons.  Toronto is 8-21 ATS in its last 29 home games off a close home win by 3 points or less.  The Raptors are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.  Take Milwaukee.

7* NBA TOTAL OF THE MONTH on Pistons/76ers UNDER 192.5

The Key: The 76ers and Pistons played in some ugly defensive battles in their final two meetings last year.  THey combined for 158 and 177 points, both of which came in Philadelphia.  The 76ers are awful offensively once again this season as they are 30th in the NBA in offensive efficiency.  The Pistons have also struggled on that end as they're 24th in offensive efficiency.  But the Pistons do lock it down defensively, ranking 8th in the NBA in efficiency on that end.  The UNDER is 5-1 in Pistons last 6 games, while the UNDER is 5-1 in 76ers last 6 games as well.  Take the UNDER.

6* Heat/Pacers ESPN National TV Annihilator on Indiana -4.5

The Key: The Indiana Pacers will be motivated to put to end a 3-game losing streak.  They lost road games against the Blazers and Jazz before coming home to lose to the unbeaten Warriors.  But the Pacers should have no problem getting back on track against a team they've owned at home.  They haven't lost at home in the regular season to the Heat since February of 2012.  The home team has won eight of the last nine meetings.  Indiana is 35-13 in its last 48 home meetings with Miami.  The Heat are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 road games.  The Pacers are 11-1 ATS in their last 12 games playing on 2 days rest.  Indiana is 14-3 ATS in its last 17 vs. Eastern Conference foes.  The home team is 7-2 ATS in the last 9 meetings.  Take Indiana.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Philadelphia 76ers +7

The Key: The Philadelphia 76ers are coming off an embarrassing 51-point loss to the Spurs last time out.  They have had two days in between games since that ugly loss.  Look for them to come back re-energized and to show a lot of fight tonight against the Brooklyn Nets.  This will be just the 2nd time all season that the Nets have actually been favored.  They lost at home to the Lakers 98-104 as 3-point favorites in the first instance.  The road team has won each of the last two meetings between these teams, and four of the last five meetings overall.  The 76ers are 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.  The Nets are 2-9-1 ATS in their last 12 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.  Take Philadelphia.

6* Bulls/Celtics ESPN National TV Annihilator on Boston -2.5

The Key: The Boston Celtics are one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference this season.  They get after it defensively, ranking 3rd in the NBA in defensive efficiency.  They are outscoring the opposition by 5.3 points per game overall and 7.9 points per game at home.  Their last four games have been mighty impressive as they've gone 4-0 ATS.  They have posted double-digit road wins over Miami (by 10), Sacramento (by 17) and New Orleans (by 18) with their only loss coming at San Antonio (by 3) as 8.5-point underdogs.  The Bulls are 6-12 ATS this season and 3-8 ATS in their last 11 vs. teams with winning records.  The Celtics have gone 25-11 ATS in their last 36 games following a win.  Take Boston.

7* NBA Non-Conference Game of the Week on Indiana Pacers +6

The Key: The Golden State Warriors are ripe for the upset tonight.  They will be playing their 5th straight road games here and their 3rd game in 4 days.  They nearly lost to Utah in a 3-point win and Toronto in a 3-point win.  I believe Indiana is better than both of those teams and is good enough to hand the Warriors their first defeat of the season tonight.  Indiana has won six straight home games by nearly 12 points per game on average.  The Pacers are coming in on 2 days' rest, which is important considering their are 11-0 ATS in their last 11 games when playing on 2 days of rest.  Take Indiana.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Chicago Bulls -5.5

The Key: The Phoenix Suns are in an awful situation tonight.  This is the finale of a 6-game road trip for them.  They have lost four straight on this road trip, and now they'll be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 5th game in 7 days.  The Suns are simply running on fumes right now.  The Bulls will be playing only their 2nd game in 5 days, so look for them to win all of the hustle plays tonight.  The Bulls have won 11 of their last 14 meetings with the Suns.  The Suns are 3-8 on the road, while the Bulls are 7-2 at home.  Chicago is coming off a loss to Charlotte, and it is 4-0 ATS in its last four games following a defeat.  In fact, the Bulls haven't lost two straight games all season.  Take Chicago.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Brooklyn Nets +10.5

The Key: The Golden State Warriors are coming off a hard-fought 112-109 win at Toronto last night.  Now they have to come back a day later and are being asked to lay double-digit points to the Brooklyn Nets, who had yesterday off.  I see no way the Warriors find a way to win by double-digits today.  The Nets are 4-0 in their last four home games overall.  The home team is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings between these teams, and the Nets took the Warriors to overtime on the road in their first meeting this season.  Also, the Warriors haven't beaten the Nets by more than 9 points in any of the last 11 meetings in this series.  Take Brooklyn.

6* NBA Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Milwaukee Bucks +2

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks both played last night.  The Knicks won their second straight game 108-91 over the Nets, while the Bucks lost on the road 95-102 to the Pistons.  The Bucks have a shorter flight back to Milwaukee and will be the more motivated team heading into this game considering they are coming off consecutive losses.  They really need a win to turn their season around, and I look for them to get it here.  Milwaukee is 19-8 ATS following two or more consecutive losses over the last two seasons.  Plays against road teams where the line is +3 to -3 revenging a loss to an opponent against an opponent off a road loss to a division foe are 27-7 ATS over the last 5 seasons.  Take Milwaukee.

7* NBA Eastern Conference GAME OF THE MONTH on New York Knicks -2.5

The Key: The New York Knicks are 9-10 this season and things are looking up in the Big Apple for the first time in a long time.  Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets are 5-13 this season and clearly one of the worst teams in the NBA.  Last year, the Nets beat the Knicks 4-0 in the season series, but that was an awful Knicks team.  Plus, the last three games were all decided by 5 points or less.  The Knicks will want revenge from that season sweep.  The Nets are getting way too much respect from oddsmakers tonight as only 2.5-point dogs.  They have gone 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games overall, but most of those came as big underdogs.  This line has now been over-adjusted because the Nets have actually won two straight games for the first time this season coming in.  But that works against them considering the Nets are 4-16 ATS in their last 20 games following 2 or more consecutive wins.  Take New York.

6* Spurs/Grizzlies TNT National TV Annihilator on Memphis +3.5

The Key: This is an awful spot for the aging San Antonio Spurs.  They will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 5th game in 7 days.  Don't be surprised if Greg Popovich rests some of his aging players in this one.  Either way, I like this spot for the Grizzlies, who had Wednesday off and will be the fresher team.  I also like the way the Grizzlies are playing right now.  They have won eight of their last 10 games overall.  One of the two losses came 82-92 at San Antonio on November 21, so they'll also be out for revenge from that loss two weeks later.  Memphis is 70-42 ATS in its last 112 vs. good defensive teams that allow 91 or fewer points per game.  The Grizzlies are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. Western Conference opponents.  San Antonio is 0-6 ATS in its last 6 Thursday games.  Take Memphis.

6* NBA Eastern Conference *TOTAL* Annihilator on 76ers/Knicks UNDER 192.5

The Key: These are two of the worst offensive teams in the NBA.  The 76ers rank last in offensive efficiency at 91.7 points per 100 possessions, while the Knicks are 23rd at 99.6 points per 100 possessions.  These teams are used to playing in ugly, low-scoring games when they meet.  The UNDER is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings with all five games seeing 192 or fewer combined points.  They have combined to average 183.6 points in those 5 meetings.  The UNDER is 25-12 in 76ers last 37 games on 0 days of rest.  The UNDER is 5-1 in 76ers last 6 games overall.  The UNDER is 6-1-1 in Knicks last 8 home games.  The UNDER is 11-3-1 in Knicks last 15 games overall.  Take the UNDER.

7* NBA Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Charlotte Hornets +9.5

The Key: The Golden State Warriors are 19-0 this season.  The betting public has been backing them in stride too, and they've been rewarded with a 13-6 ATS record.  But the Warriors have now set some expectations for the betting public that they cannot live up to.  They are 9.5-point road favorites over the Hornets here when they shouldn't be.  After all, Charlotte is better than it gets credit for.  It is 10-7 on the season with five of its seven losses coming by 8 points or fewer.  The Hornets rank 5th in offensive efficiency and 10th in defensive efficiency.  The Hornets also check in on two days of rest, and they are 7-2 ATS in their last nine games in this situation.  They'll give the Warriors their best shot tonight, and that will be good enough to stay within 9.5 points.  Take Charlotte.

7* Wizards/Cavs Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Washington +9

The Key: The Washington Wizards have been one of the most disappointing teams in the NBA this season.  But with this slow start comes some line value that is tough to pass up.  After losing four straight coming in, and facing the defending Eastern Conference champion Cavaliers, the Wizards won't be lacking any motivation tonight.  They have had two days off in between games to get ready for Cleveland, too.  Turnovers have been a problem for the Wizards, but the Cavs are 0-8 ATS against teams who commit 16 or more turnovers per game over the last two seasons.  Washington is 44-23 ATS in its last 67 road games off a close loss by 3 point or less.  Cleveland is 1-8 ATS off two or more consecutive wins this season.  Take Washington.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Portland Trail Blazers +8

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers are well-rested and ready to go as this will be just their 2nd game in 6 days.  The same cannot be said for the Clippers, who played the Timberwolves yesterday.  Not only will this be a 2nd of a back-to-back for the Clippers, it will also be their 5th game in 7 days and 8th game in 12 days.  They have nothing left in the tank for this game against the Blazers tonight.  Portland has not lost by more than 6 points to Los Angeles in any of the last 8 meetings in this series.  I think we're getting great value with the Blazers here given the rest situation.  Take Portland.

6* NBA Western Conference *CA$H COW* on Minnesota Timberwolves +9.5

The Key: The Minnesota Timberwolves have been the most profitable road team to back this season.  They are 6-2 SU & 8-0 ATS in their eight road games this year, outscoring opponents by 6.5 points per game away from home.  I look for this trend to continue today as they are once again catching too many points against the Los Angeles Clippers.  The Timberwolves have won three in a row coming in, including a 101-91 road win at Sacramento on Friday.  The Clippers aren't playing well enough to be 9.5-point favorites here.  They are 4-7 SU & 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games overall.  The Timberwolves improve to 9-0 ATS on the road in 2015.  Take Minnesota.

6* NBA Western Conference *TOTAL* Annihilator on UNDER 197

The Key: The Utah Jazz are a slow-it-down team that plays some of the best defense in the NBA.  The Jazz rank 7th in defensive efficiency, allowing 99.2 points per 100 possessions.  They actually rank last in the NBA in pace, averaging 94.7 possessions per game.  They are 19th in offensive efficiency at 100.1 points per 100 possessions.  New Orleans is expected to be without leading scorer Anthony Davis, which is going to make life real difficult for them offensively.  Utah is 15-4 UNDER as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points over the last 2 seasons.  The UNDER is 6-1 in Pelicans last 7 games playing on 0 days rest.  The UNDER is 12-3-1 in Pelicans last 16 road games.  The UNDER is 4-0 in Jazz last 4 games overall.  Take the UNDER.

6* Pelicans/Clippers Western Conference *BAILOUT* on New Orleans +6.5

The Key: The Pelicans have won three straight coming in thanks to finally getting healthy.  Anthony Davis has been a big reason why, scoring at least 20 points and grabbing at least 17 rebounds in all three games.  The Pelicans are averaging 115.3 points during this win streak.  Sixth man Ryan Anderson has averaged 26.6 points over his last five games.  Backup point guard Ish Smith is contributing 18.0 points and 9.5 assists per game over his last four.  The Clippers have lost 8 of their last 11 and should not be this heavily favored here.  That includes an 11-point home loss to Utah, an 11-point home loss to Toronto, and an 11-point road loss to Portland in three of their last four games overall.  Los Angeles is 20-34 ATS in its last 54 games as a home favorite, and 2-11 ATS in its last 13 November home games.  The Pelicans are 22-8 ATS in the last 30 meetings.  Take New Orleans.

7* NBA Western Conference *TOTAL* Annihilator on Mavs/Spurs UNDER 196

The Key: The San Antonio Spurs are playing tremendous defense this season.  They rank 2nd in the NBA in defensive efficiency, giving up just 94.1 points per 100 possessions.  But their offense has really been lacking recently.  They've averaged 93.3 points in their last three games and have turned the ball over 39 times in their last two.  This has typically been a low-scoring series of late as the UNDER is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.  They have combined for 180, 195 and 192 points in their last three meetings dating back to last season.  Dallas is 10-1 UNDER off a game with 5 or less offensive rebounds over the last 2 seasons.  The UNDER is 8-3 in Mavericks last 11 games playing on 0 days rest.   The UNDER is 5-1 in Spurs last 6 games overall.  Take the UNDER.

6* NBA Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Washington Wizards -2.5

The Key: The Washington Wizards come in playing well having won three straight games over Orlando, Milwaukee and Detroit by a combined 40 points.  They have now had two days off in between games, and this will actually be just their 2nd game in 7 days.  They'll be full of energy in this one to say the least.  The Pacers are also playing well, but they are now overvalued here as only 2.5-point road underdogs in this game.  The Wizards are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games when playing on 2 days' rest.  Washington is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 vs. NBA Central division opponents.  Take Washington.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Philadelphia 76ers +8

The Key: The Philadelphia 76ers aren't going to go 0-82.  This 0-14 start is ugly, but with that start comes some betting value here in the very near future, and I believe there's a lot of it tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves.  The Timberwolves are improved this season, but they shouldn't be 8-point favorites against anyone.  That's especially the case when you consider how poorly they have played at home.  The Timberwolves are 0-6 SU & 0-6 ATS in home games this year, getting outscored by 9.5 points per game in the process.  The 76ers have gone a profitable 4-3 ATS on the road this year.  The Timberwolves are now 2-14 ATS in their last 16 home games overall.  Minnesota is 1-11 ATS in its last 12 home games vs. teams who are outscored by 3-plus points per game.  Take Philadelphia.

6* NBA Non-Conference *TOTAL* Annihilator on Knicks/Thunder UNDER 207

The Key: The New York Knicks got a lot better defensively this season when they signed defensive anchor Robin Lopez in the offseason.  They are playing great on the defensive end, holding eight of their last nine opponents to less than 100 points.  But they haven't been a whole lot better offensively this year, scoring 99 or fewer points in seven of their last nine games.  The UNDER is 7-2 in their last 9 games as a result.  Their job defensively tonight got a whole lot easier when it was announced that Kevin Durant was going to miss this game as well as he continues to recover from injury.  The Thunder just aren't as explosive offensively without him.  These teams played in a couple low-scoring affairs last season.  They combined for 192 and 183 points in their two meetings.  I don't expect that a year later its' going to be any different, especially without Durant and with the way the Knicks are getting after it defensively.  OKC is 10-1 UNDER (+8.9 Units) in home games after scoring 110 points or more 2 straight games over the last 3 seasons.  Take the UNDER.

6* Bucks/Cavaliers TNT *TOTAL* Annihilator on UNDER 195.5

The Key: These teams just played a few days ago on November 14 in a double-overtime thriller in which the Bucks won 108-105 at home.  But this game was tied 88-88 at the end of regulation, which is 176 combined points, nearly 20 points below this 195.5-point total.  These teams are obviously very familiar with each other after having just played, and I look for the defenses to be at an advantage because of it.  The UNDER is 17-4 in Bucks last 21 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.  Take the UNDER.

7* NBA Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Boston Celtics -4.5

The Key: The Boston Celtics are rolling right now.  They have gone 5-1 straight up and 5-1 against the spread in their last six games overall.  They are not only winning, they are dominating as all five wins have come by 13 points or more.  That includes road wins over Houston and Oklahoma City, as well as home wins over Washington and Atlanta, so it's not like they are beating up on bad teams.  The Mavericks are a tired bunch right now as this will be their 7th game in 11 days.  Dallas is 0-8 ATS in its last 8 vs. Eastern Conference foes.  Boston is 6-0 ATS in its last 6 home games vs. teams who win 60% or more of their road games.  Take this 14-0 angle backing the Celtics straight to the bank.  Take Boston.

6* NBA Western Conference *CA$H COW* on New Orleans Pelicans -5.5

The Key: At 1-9 on the season, the Pelicans are in desperate need of a win to right the ship.  The good news is that Anthony Davis recently returned to the lineup in an 87-95 loss at New York last time out and scored 36 points, so he appears healthy.  Look for Davis to lead the Pelicans to a blowout win tonight over the Denver Nuggets, who lost 81-105 in Phoenix last time out.  The Nuggets' best player in Kenneth Faried had to sit out the second half of that game, and he's questionable to return tonight with a back injury.  Denver is 1-12 ATS when playing on two days' rest over the last two seasons, losing by 8.2 points per game in this spot.  The Nuggets are 1-9 ATS off a blowout loss by 20 points or more over the last two years, losing by 10.8 points per game.  Denver is 0-8 ATS after scoring 35 or fewer points in the first half last game over the last three seasons, losing by 11.3 points per game.  The Pelicans are 24-8 ATS after failing to cover 2 of their last 3 against the spread over the last two seasons.  Take New Orleans.