Rating: 2 Units

The Texas Longhorns have a chance to avenge last season's opening loss in Gonzaga, 86-74. The Longhorns were welcoming a new coach, Chris Beard, and a new scheme against the #1 ranked team in the country at that time. This season, Texas returns three starters from last season's 22-win team and have a better understanding of Beard's offensive and defensive philosophy. More importantly, Texas will be playing this one in front of a raucous home crowd. The Longhorns have started this season off on the right foot with two-straight home wins. The Texas backcourt has been the story with Marcus Carr and Tyrese Hunter combining for 51 points through the first two games. Texas is coming off of a 50-point win over Houston Christian in which the defense held them to just 31 points.

Rating: 2 Units

Beal should be ready to go after missing over a week in health and safety protocols. His return should help the Wizards both on the perimeter and to nullify some of the offensive firepower of Gilgeous-Alexander. Beal's presence should also allow Porzingas more room in the paint as the Thunder will have to respect his shooting on the perimeter. The Wizards also are catching the Thunder on the next to last game of an Eastern Conference swing. Look for the Wizards to expose the Thunder in the paint and do just enough on the perimeter to bother the hot shooting Thunder.

Rating: 2 Units

I cannot justify a wager on the Grizzlies in this spot, as they could be without most of their key scoring production. They need everyone healthy in this type of game, as New Orleans has a ton of offensive firepower. Neither team has been great on the defensive end, and the Pelicans are the much healthier team. They have covered the spread in five of their last six home games against Memphis.

Rating: 2 Units

Even though the Bulldogs played well defensively in their first game, they were facing an overmatched team and will have a hard time slowing down the hot-shooting Nittany Lions. The Bulldogs also played well offensively in their first game, but they didn’t shoot the ball well, especially from three-point range where they made less than 20 percent of their shots. They also struggled from the free throw line, making less than 70 percent of their free throws. They rebounded the ball well and will get extra scoring opportunities that will help them keep the score close. They were very careless with the ball and they’re facing a defense that has done a good job forcing turnovers, which will lead to easy scoring opportunities for them. With the Nittany Lions holding their first two opponents under 70 points per game, the Bulldogs will have a hard time keeping up, so go with Penn State to cover the spread.

Rating: 2 Units

Hornets will be without Hayward while Dennis Smith Jr. is questionable. They are stumbling offensively, netting 100 or fewer points in five out of their last seven games. The Magic are playing stifling defense, conceding only 87 and 97 points respectively in their last two games against the Suns and Mavs. The Magic were able to hold Charlotte to only 38% shooting in the first meeting. 

Rating: 2 Units

Nuggets have continued to struggle to defend on the road. They are currently allowing the 23rd most points per game and the fourth-highest shooting percentage. They will struggle to slow down the Bulls, as I see DeRozan having a big game in this one. Chicago has also shown that they can consistently knock down shots from deep, as they have the 12th-highest team shooting percentage from behind the arc. The Nuggets will leave their perimeter shooters open and continue to give up points throughout this game. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Cavaliers look to pull out of their funk against an opponent experiencing a more pronounced dip. Minnesota's losing streak equals Cleveland at three games, but the Timberwolves have dropped six of their last seven with Friday's 114-103 defeat against Memphis. Each of the last three Minnesota losses have been by double-digit-point margins, and none of the six in this slide have been any closer than nine points. A 46-33 Grizzlies rebounding advantage turned into a 32-9 edge in second-chance points Friday. Minnesota also yielded a 62-46 disparity for points in the paint.

Rating: 2 Units

Oklahoma City is coming off one of the most impressive performances of any team this season, as eight players scored in double figures in its blowout win over Toronto. The Thunder are going to bring that confidence into this game, and they have already put together a four-game winning streak once this year. They also have one of the most dynamic point guards in the NBA leading the way, so they have multiple ways to win games. New York has not met Vegas expectations so far, covering the spread just twice in its last nine games. The Knicks are also 1-6 in their last seven home games against Oklahoma City.

Rating: 2 Units

Despite their record, the Rockets have played extremely hard for Silas both last year and to start this season. That is indicated in key statistical areas like rebounding and personal fouls, due to their aggression. Houston is 7-5 ATS this season despite sitting at just 2-10. They will be tested here by another young, aggressive team in the Pelicans. The Pelicans have shown their youth this season through their inconsistency. While they sit at 6-6 overall, they are just 5-7 ATS. After starting the season with two double-digit wins, the Pelicans have only one win by over 10 points since that time. The Rockets, meanwhile, have only lost three of their ten losses by more than 10 points.

Rating: 2 Units

While Atlanta is off to its best start (8-4) since the 2016-17 season, Philadelphia sits near the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 5-7 record. The underachieving Sixers were hoping to build on Monday's encouraging 100-88 win over the Phoenix Suns, but instead turned in a dismal effort versus Atlanta. Philadelphia shot 38.6 percent from the field in the loss, including 6 of 30 (20 percent) from 3-point range. The Sixers have struggled to find a rhythm without star James Harden, who missed the last three games and will be out for approximately one month with a right foot tendon strain.

Rating: 2 Units

Golden State is having trouble slowing anyone down on the defensive end, which does not bode well against a Cleveland offense that is in the top 10 in the NBA. The Cavaliers have completely changed their trajectory as a franchise by adding Mitchell, and they have covered the spread in eight of their last 10 games. Golden State has been vastly overvalued, covering once in its last six games. I want no part of the Warriors right now, while Cleveland is an undervalued team that I am happy to back.

Rating: 2 Units

The Zags have the advantage of more continuity than the Spartans in this early-season matchup between two of college basketball's top programs. The Spartans will have difficulty containing the Zags highly potent offense even in this game playing in the unusual confines of the USS Abraham Lincoln. The first half against North Florida gave a good indication of how dangerous Gonzaga's offense can be, as the Bulldogs shot 67% from the field overall. Overall, the Zags had 66 points in the paint and Timme should dominate the interior in this matchup as well. Typically, MSU gradually gets better as the year goes along. This is a tough matchup for them in the early going.

Rating: 2 Units

Towson played just seven players in their opener and got outrebounded, which is a rare thing for that team under Pat Skerry. UMass has a much bigger team and they are much deeper. This should be a pretty close game early on because I don't expect Timberlake and Holden to go 2-for-17 again. However, UMass offers much more size and Fernandes will have a big game against the Tigers' backcourt, which lacks quickness. Ultimately, the Minutemen will wear down the Tigers in the paint with their size and own the boards. Martin should have UMass contending in the Atlantic 10 very quickly.

Rating: 2 Units

The Clippers won’t blow the Lakers away, but I cannot back Purple-and-Gold to cover because of all their injury problems. The Lakers have arguably been awful so far this season, especially on the offensive side of the ball. They are scoring 104.2 points per 100 possessions (30th in the NBA) on 44.4% shooting from the field (26th) and 29.1% from downtown (30th). The Clippers are 8-0 straight up and 7-1 ATS in their last eight meetings with the Lakers, and six of those eight victories have come by six or more points. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Bulls are 5-3 with LaVine in the lineup and 4-1 at home with him available. The Pelicans played like a team that just wants to head home in their last game and will have to find a way to ratchet up their intensity in this game as well. The Pelicans, meanwhile, are just 4-6 ATS this year thus far while the Bulls are a more formidable 7-4-1 ATS this season. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Denver Nuggets have been mediocre on the road this season where they are only 2-3. The Pacers have been outstanding on their home court where they are 3-0 in their last three clashes including wins against good foes in the Heat and Pelicans within the last week.

Rating: 2 Units

 Mavericks have not been good against the spread this season. They are 0-4-1 against the spread in their last 5 games overall, with the 1 being the push versus Orlando. Orlando, meanwhile, has been excellent against the spread, especially at home, where they are 6-1 against the spread in their last 7 home games. They have played opponents tough, but they just haven't been able to convert them to Ws. Also, the Mavericks are 2-5 against the spread in the last 7 meetings in Orlando.

Rating: 2 Units

Handicapping a game early in the season is a completely different process than later in the season. Returning experience is much more important in November, as cohesiveness is a huge part of a basketball game. Rider has plenty of that coming into the year, as four of its five starters are back from last year’s team. The Broncs were on fire down the stretch, making a run to the MAAC Tournament semifinals for the first time in a decade. They covered the spread in 13 of their last 18 games, including seven of their final nine road games. Providence is replacing all five of its starters from last year, so Rider is the obvious choice as a large underdog.

Rating; 2 units

The Nuggets have looked strong in their last couple of outings and very good so far this season. I expect them to extend their win streak to three and their series against the Spurs to 2-0. In their matchup on Saturday, the Nuggets were sinking a lot of their shots and giving themselves more scoring opportunities by dominating the boards. I expect the Nuggets to do the same on the road Monday. Hyland had a strong outing coming off the bench, scoring 24 points on the night with 17 points and five 2-pointers coming in the second half to help lift the lead for Denver. Jokic has always been a solid player for the Nuggets and has shown his dominance all over the court showing his ability to pull down boards while attacking the basket and shooting points. Based on the last outing and the dominant defensive and offensive outings, take the Nuggets.

Rating: 2 Units

While Toronto plays at a slow, but efficient pace, Chicago tends to play a bit faster. Therefore, it will be interesting to see who controls the tempo of the game. I believe Toronto can cover the spread at the least, and Toronto is 4-0 ATS in their last four road games and 6-1 in their last seven. Meanwhile, Chicago is 2-6 ATS playing on zero days of rest and 3-8 ATS in their previous eleven contests while playing at home.

Rating: 2 Units

George Mason is undoubtedly improved from last year and has upset some high-quality teams in the past but not teams that play at this fast of a pace. This game will be a true test of English's self-professed commitment to utilize his bench to save his starters. Auburn has more depth, much more size and has already shown that they will once again be among the country's top teams in forcing turnovers after giving even teams with pro players fits. Auburn, under Pearl, isn't in a position to rebuild but simply retool. George Mason will be a better team later in the season but it will take them time to get the new pieces to earn English's trust. This one should be a one-sided Auburn affair.

Rating: 2 Units

The Clippers have won three straight games by eight or fewer points, outlasting the lowly Houston Rockets twice in the process. Hereof, I’m expecting to see another close battle when the Jazz come to town. Utah just found a way to drop 130 points on the Lakers, and the Jazz should have enough firepower to deal with the Clippers’ D. I’ve mentioned Utah’s selfless approach, so give me the visitors and points.  Utah is 4-1 ATS in its last five games overall and 7-3 ATS in its last ten encounters with the Western Conference. The Clippers are 2-6 ATS in their previous eight contests overall, though they’ve covered in five straight home games against the Jazz. 

Rating; 2 units

Minnesota has high expectations this season and need a win. After losing three straight games, I expect the Timberwolves to see red and be ready to dominant the young Rockets. The Timberwolves will be playing for the second night in a row, but they did not have to worry about travel. Houston is 0-6 straight up on the road this season with five of the losses coming by at least eight points or more. I have to back Minnesota here against a Houston team that still has a lot to learn about road life in the NBA, and how to win.

Rating: 2 Units

The Raptors have covered the spread in five of their last six games, including four of their last five road games. They have also won nine of their last 10 games against Western Conference opponents. Doncic is going to put up big numbers, but Toronto’s balance and defense will be too much to handle in the end.

Rating: 2 Units

Given the troubles the Nets are dealing with right now concerning Kyrie and a new coach, I just don't see the Nets being able to put together four quarters of basketball to win on the road against a good team. The Nets are not a good defensive team, nor do they have any size, and this will be a problem against a team like the Wizards, which has multiple scorers and a decided-size advantage. The Nets are too distracted right now and it seems like things will continue to go sideways until some major shakeup happens.

Rating: 2 Units

If Anthony Davis sits out Wednesday’s game, the Pelicans will dominate in the paint. New Orleans ranks seventh in the league in offensive rebounds (12.5 per 100 possessions) and third in assists (27.8), so I’m expecting the Pelicans to control the game and cover a 3.5-point spread. Without Davis, the Lakers’ frontcourt is thin and will struggle to contain Zion Williamson and Jonas Valanciunas. If Davis suits up, we should see a tight battle for all 48 minutes. Last season, the Pels went 3-0 SU and ATS against the Lakers. New Orleans is 3-1 SU and ATS on the road this time around, and the Pelicans have gone 6-0 SU and 5-1 ATS in their previous six showings as favorites away from home.

Rating: 2 Units

The Atlanta Hawks are at the end of a challenging five-game road trip. They have struggled in their last two games, losing by eight points to the Bucks, and were clobbered 139-109 against the Raptors on Monday night. The Knicks are home after a road trek and have yet to lose at MSG where they are a perfect 3-0. Furthermore, the Hawks are going to have trouble against an outstanding defense. The Knicks are limiting foes to only 107.7 points per 100 possessions, ranking them 6th while the Hawks are conceding 109.8. I expect the Knicks to out-rebound the Hawks as well. Atlanta has a negative rebounding margin and has been out-rebounded by a large margin in two straight games. The Knicks rank 2nd in NBA in rebounds per game. 

Rating: 2 Units

Minnesota has plenty of talent, including their twin tower look of Gobert and Towns in the low block. The problem is that they have sputtered shooting from the perimeter, which was a strength for them a season ago. Trying to make the adjustment with guys like Malik Beasley missing from last season’s team takes time. Phoenix has played well, even without Crowder in the mix, as the nucleus of the team is still intact. The Suns have been a dangerous team the last couple of seasons and are a two-point overtime loss at Portland away from having a perfect record on the season. Playing at home against a Minnesota team that is still putting all the pieces together works in their favor. Back the Suns at home in this contest.

Rating; 2 units

Houston Rockets vs LA Clippers. The NBA pick for this game is the LA Clippers. The Rockets struggled to start the season 1-5 but are 4-2 ATS.  Expect the trend to spill over in this contest as they fall to the Clippers but will cover the nut in the process. LA has failed to cover the number in each of its last four.  LA has a strong defense which is sixth in points allowed, but the Clippers are next to last or 29th in scoring at 102.6 points per game.

Rating: 2 Units

76ers haven't been as impressive to start this season. They are now (3-4), as they have continued to struggle on the defensive end of the court. According to dunksandthrees.com, the 76ers have the 19th-highest adjusted defensive rating in the NBA. They are also allowing their opponents to shoot 46.4% from the floor, which is the 14th-highest percentage allowed. The Wizards are currently shooting better than anyone in the league, as they have the highest shooting percentage from the floor. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Lakers own the lowest-scoring offense in the NBA, averaging 97.0 points per 100 possessions. They are dead last in the NBA in both field goal percentage (41.6%) and 3-point percentage (23.7%), too. On the other side of the ball, the Lakers are surrendering 104.9 points per 100 possessions (2nd in the league) on 44.5% shooting from the field (7th) and 32.6% from downtown (also 7th). 

Rating: 2 Units

This is a good scheduling spot for Detroit, as it has had several days off and is playing at home. Golden State is on the backend of a road back-to-back, making this a difficult situation for the Warriors to put together a complete performance. Some of their stars are starting to age, which makes the second game of a back-to-back even tougher. They have not been good enough defensively to be worth wagering on as a large favorite in this spot.

Rating: 2 Units

The short-handed Pelicans are playing the middle game of a three-game road trip that began with a 124-111 loss at Phoenix on Friday.  New Orleans was missing three injured starters -- Brandon Ingram (concussion), Zion Williamson (hip) and Herbert Jones (knee). Ingram did not make the three-game trip, which concludes against the Lakers on Wednesday. Williamson and Jones are questionable for Sunday.  Rookie Dyson Daniels, who helped the Pelicans defeat visiting Dallas 113-111 on Tuesday despite the injured starters, also is questionable because of an ankle injury against the Mavericks. He did not play against the Suns.

Rating: 2 Units

It is a new season in the NBA but it appears to be the same old Sacramento Kings. The Kings are off to an 0-4 start and they will look to get their first win of the season Saturday night against the Miami Heat. The Heat are not off to a great start either at 2-4.

Rating: 2 Units

The problem for Brooklyn is that they have struggled to stop teams in the early going as both the Pelicans and Grizzlies hung at least 130 points against them. That’s dangerous when you’re facing a Milwaukee team that just dropped 125 on the Rockets without Middleton in the mix. Now, he won’t be back for this contest but the fact remains that Antetokounmpo is a force all by himself, as the Rockets found out Saturday. The Bucks feed off the home crowd and they find the cracks in the Nets’ half-court defense to deliver a victory to the hosts.

Rating: 2 Units

Orlando is trying to cobble together a team that is playing a lot of young guys in an effort to find a cohesive group to build around going forward but it’s safe to say that they aren’t expecting to contend. Cleveland has that young nucleus and made the big move to acquire Mitchell from Utah before the season started to give them a premiere scoring option in crunch time. The Cavaliers have a good group of pieces around him and will only get better once Garland is back to full speed after his eye injury. Cleveland has won two straight and seeing how Orlando has yet to get in the win column this season, you have to fade them accordingly.

Rating: 2 Units

The Trail Blazers lack weapons to compete with Nikola Jokic, who averaged 18.7 points, 11.7 boards, and 9.0 assists in just 27.5 minutes on the floor against Portland in 2021-22. The Nuggets are 7-2 SU and ATS in their last nine meetings with the Trail Blazers, and their previous three victories over Portland have come by 29 or more points.

Rating: 2 Units

The Suns have won six of their last seven contests against the Trail Blazers and are 9-3 ATS in their previous 12 meetings with Portland. The Trail Blazers have only covered twice in their last nine showings at Moda Center. 

Rating: 2 Units

This contest will be interesting as the Nets looked lackadaisical for long stretches of the game against the Pelicans. Sure, New Orleans got a boost from the return of Zion Williamson but the fact remains that the Nets were hammered right out of the gate. Toronto had their struggles against a Cleveland squad that added Donovan Mitchell in an offseason trade but came up with the clutch plays down the stretch to earn the victory. The Nets still have Durant and Irving to lead the way though their showing against the Pelicans is cause for concern. Given what we saw from Brooklyn on both ends of the floor, it’s tough to like them here, even at home. Take the points and the Raptors here as they claw out a win on the road.

Rating: 2 Units

The Knicks lost their opener, but there is a lot to like there. They came back, on the road, and sent it to overtime against a good team. Now, they play their home opener and I would be shocked if they did not win it in front of a pumped up home crowd at Madison Square Garden. Detroit is going to be a team to be reckoned with, this season, with loads of top young talent. But this scene at MSG will be a lot to handle for a young team not used to winning on the road. Barrett was awful in game 1 and I expect a bounce back, and look for Brunson to put on a show in his home opener in front of the new fans.

Rating: 2 Units

Boston hasn’t lost back-to-back games at home this postseason, and they are 3-0 in elimination games. The key for Boston will be taking care of the basketball, as the Celtics are 1-7 in the playoffs when they have 15 or more turnovers. Boston’s home fans will be chomping at the bit to make today’s atmosphere an electric one, the Celtics have what it takes to force a Game 7.

Rating: 2 Units

The Celtics have been "Road Warriors" in the postseason. Boston is 8-2 away from home, including three wins at Miami in the Eastern Conference finals and a Game 6 victory at defending-champion Milwaukee that kept the Celtics alive in the conference semifinals. The trend continued with the stellar fourth-quarter rally. While Jaylen Brown (24 points) and Derrick White (21 points, five 3-pointers) combined with Horford for 71 points, star Jayson Tatum was just 3-of-17 shooting for 12 points. He did deliver 13 assists, the most in his career.

Rating: 2 Units

Consider that the Celtics are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as a road favorite, 20-6-1 ATS in their last 27 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, and 22-8 ATS in their last 30 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game. While the Heat are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 playoff games as an underdog. Additionally the Celtics are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Miami.

Rating: 2 Units

At home, the Warriors have been unbeatable during the playoffs. They won three home games in a row by an average of 13.3 points over the Denver Nuggets in Round 1 and crushed the Grizzlies 142-112 in San Francisco in Game 3 of this series as the visitors watched Morant go down with a knee injury. But Memphis, as it has done all season, has responded well to seeing its star in street clothes on the sidelines. The Grizzlies were without Morant for 25 games in the regular season, winning 20 of them. And in Game 4 they led for almost 46 of the 48 minutes despite shooting poorly (41.7 percent overall, 25.7 percent on 3-pointers) but the Warriors escaped with a 101-98 decision. Then in Game 5, the Grizzlies' shots fell at a rate of 47.5 percent, including 43.9 percent on 3-point shots, and they buried the Warriors early. Memphis led by 10 after the first, 27 after the second, and 52 points after the third quarter. The lead topped out at 55. Consider that the Grizzlies are 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings.

Rating: 2 Units

Monday's game on the defending NBA champions' home floor is now essentially a must-win for the Celtics, who will host Game 5 on Wednesday night. While no loss is easy to swallow, especially in the playoffs, Boston mounted a late-game surge that could give it some momentum heading into Game 4. After trailing by 13 with 9:48 left to play in the fourth quarter, the Celtics stormed all the way back and eventually went ahead 100-99 after a pair of free throws from Jaylen Brown. Following buckets from Antetokounmpo and Holiday that put the Bucks up by three, Boston's Marcus Smart sank the first of two free throws before intentionally missing the second. Robert Williams and Al Horford each missed put back layups. Consider that the Celtics are 8-1-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings including 4-0-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Milwaukee.

Rating: 2 Units

Boston can now take its first advantage of the series and will have the chance to do so with its best defender returning to the lineup. Marcus Smart, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, is expected to be back for Game 3. Smart was out Tuesday with a thigh contusion after finishing with 10 points and six assists in a 101-89 Game 1 loss. Derrick White started for Smart in Game 2 but was held scoreless through 28 minutes. Despite the 6-foot-4 guard's scoring woes, the Celtics were 22 points better than the Bucks when White was on the floor. While Boston is looking to ride its momentum, the Bucks are looking to find the cracks in a defense that held them to their season low in points during Game 2. Milwaukee shot just 16.7 percent from 3-point range (3 of 18) and committed 16 turnovers, which translated to 24 Boston points. Giannis Antetokounmpo got off to a slow start with just five points on 2-of-12 shooting in the first half. Antetokounmpo said that the level of physicality the Celtics have brought in the series is something he is used to, but it has made it harder to distribute.

Rating: 2 Units

The 76ers are back home and desperate for a turnaround in Philadelphia. Any rally from a 2-0 series deficit must happen without MVP candidate Joel Embiid. With the Miami Heat in control of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals, Philadelphia officially ruled out Embiid with myriad battle wounds from the 76ers' first-round series win over Toronto. The Sixers practiced on Thursday before the verdict came later in the night: Embiid is a no-go. "They're coming home. Obviously, they are in an 0-2 hole, so I do expect him to play," Heat forward Bam Adebayo said before the injury report was released. Sixers coach Doc Rivers had "no update" to Embiid's status on Thursday and had only seen his franchise centerpiece via FaceTime in recent days. Rivers said Embiid is still in concussion protocol, but has "hurdles to clear" with his other injuries as well. Embiid has an orbital fracture and a torn ligament in his thumb. His return, even at less than full strength, might put a spring in Philly's step. But that bounce will not come until at least Game 4, putting the onus on the rest of the usual supporting cast to play starring role without the All-Star in the middle.

Rating: 2 Units

The Golden State Warriors are looking to re-create their postseason magic, which included five consecutive NBA Finals appearances from 2015 to 2019. The Memphis Grizzlies are new to the scene, coming off their first playoff series win in seven years. The second-seeded Grizzlies and third-seeded Warriors will showcase youthful energy versus veteran experience when the teams tip off in Game 1 of their best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series Sunday in Memphis. Golden State is coming off a 4-1 series win over the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. The Warriors won all three games on their home court and split a pair of games on the road. Stephen Curry is averaging 28.0 points in five games during the postseason. He is shooting 50 percent (46 of 92) from the field and 40.4 percent (19 of 47) from beyond the arc. The series will pit Warriors head coach Steve Kerr against Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins. Kerr has an 81-29 career record in the playoffs with three NBA championships, while Jenkins is 5-6 in the postseason.

Rating: 2 Units

After securing the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, the Phoenix Suns are headed home in an unexpected situation with the No. 8 seed New Orleans Pelicans in their first-round playoff series: tied 2-2 entering Game 5. The best-of-seven series has turned into a best-of-three series starting tonight in Phoenix. The Pelicans tied the series with a 118-103 home victory against the Suns on Sunday night. New Orleans held star guard Chris Paul to four points on 2-of-8 shooting. He had 11 assists, but didn't attempt a free throw. Paul was without his backcourt mate, All-Star Devin Booker, who strained his right hamstring in Game 2 and averaged 26.8 points per game on the regular season. He is not expected to return this series. Additionally, consider that the Pelicans are 14-6 ATS in their last 20 road games.

Rating: 2 Units

Luka Doncic was just 40 seconds away from having a storybook ending to his first game of the 2022 playoffs. The Dallas Mavericks' superstar had scored 30 points, including a step-back 3-pointer with 39.6 seconds left, and hauled in 10 rebounds with four assists after missing the three previous first-round games against the Utah Jazz due to a strained left calf. Consider that the Jazz are 1-8 ATS in the last 9 meetings, including 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Dallas.

Rating: 2 Units

The Phoenix Suns have regained homecourt advantage in their series against the New Orleans Pelicans. They can  take a commanding lead in the series if they can win again tonight in New Orleans. The top-seeded Suns bounced back from a series-tying loss at home in Game 2 to beat the host Pelicans 114-111 and take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series Friday night. They overcame the absence of leading scorer Devin Booker, who is expected to miss at least Sunday's game because of a hamstring injury. Deandre Ayton dominated the first half and Chris Paul dominated the fourth quarter in Game 3. Consider that the Suns are 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings, including 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings in New Orleans.

Rating: 2 Units

The Minnesota Timberwolves hope to finish what they started this time around and draw even with the visiting Memphis Grizzlies in their best-of-seven playoff series when the Western Conference teams meet in Game 4 on tonight at Minneapolis. The second-seeded Grizzlies rebounded from a 130-117 shellacking at home in Game 1 to ride a stingy defense to 124-96 and 104-95 victories in Games 2 and 3 to take a 2-1 lead in a matchup with the seventh-seeded Timberwolves. Minnesota seemed to be on a path toward duplicating its opening success when it put up 39 points in the first quarter and then 32 in the third, while leading by as many as 26 points in Game 3 at home Thursday. The Timberwolves shot 52.2 percent (4 of 7 on 3-pointers) and 50.0 percent (5 of 8 on threes) in their dominant quarters respectively, running up a combined 71-44 advantage in those two periods alone. But Memphis made up for it and more in the second and fourth periods, limiting Minnesota to 12 points in each while first getting back into the game, and then rallying late for the critical win. The Timberwolves shot 27.8 percent (2 of 9 on threes) and 15.8 percent (1 of 11 on threes) in the two quarters that spelled their downfall. They were swamped 60-24 over those decisive 24 minutes. Consider that the Grizzlies are 19-7 ATS in the last 26 meetings, including 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings in Minnesota.

Rating: 2 Units

Every time Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant changed direction on the court on Wednesday, he encountered a Boston Celtics defender closely monitoring his every move. It resulted in Durant missing all 10 of his field-goal attempts in the second half of Game 2, while Boston built a 2-0 series lead following a 114-107 victory. The Celtics look to produce a similar defensive showing tonight when the first-round series reconvenes for Game 3 at Brooklyn. The Celtics won the series opener 115-114 on Jayson Tatum's buzzer-beater, held Durant to 9-of-24 shooting in that one and forced him into six turnovers. On Wednesday, Boston erased a 17-point deficit and held Durant to 4-of-17 shooting with another six turnovers. In both games, the Celtics were able to harass Durant into a bad half. In Game 1, they held him to 2 of 12 in the first half, while on Wednesday, Durant was 0 of 10 after halftime and wound up with his fourth-lowest field goal percentage (23.5) in his 153 postseason games. Consider that the Celtics are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Rating: 2 Units

The Grizzlies outscored Minnesota by a 60-34 margin in the paint and held a 48-40 edge in rebounds, including 14-4 on the offensive end. Anthony Edwards followed up his 36-point performance in the seventh-seeded Timberwolves' 130-117 victory in Game 1 with 20 points on Tuesday. Karl-Anthony Towns had 15 points and D'Angelo Russell finished with 11, each well below their season averages for the regular season. Additionally the Grizzlies are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Minnesota and 16-5 ATS in the last 21 meetings overall.

Rating: 2 Units

The Celtics aim to win the first two games of a first-round playoff series for the fourth time in five seasons. Last year, they were overmatched against Brooklyn's star trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving and lost the first-round series in five games. This time, the Celtics own better cohesion, especially in the past two-plus months. The togetherness emerged in a frenetic final few possessions of Sunday's dramatic 115-114 win. While the Nets performed well enough offensively at times after shooting 42.5 percent in the regular-season against Boston, they allowed 14 offensive rebounds and 18 second-chance points. Brooklyn also was outscored 56-32 in the paint.

Rating: 2 Units

After a dominant Game 1 performance, the Eastern Conference's top-seeded Miami Heat will look to maintain their home-court advantage and take a 2-0 lead today in their first-round playoff series against the visiting Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta earned its way into the playoffs despite finishing the regular season ninth in the East, winning play-in games against Charlotte and Cleveland. The Hawks could not parlay that momentum into a Game 1 upset, however, with the Heat winning a never-in-doubt 115-91 decision on Sunday. Miami led almost the entire way and grew its advantage to as many as 32 points behind a game-high 27 points from Duncan Robinson, who hit 8 of 9 attempts from 3-point range off the bench. The Heat finished the regular season with the NBA's fourth-best scoring defense at 105.6 points allowed per game. On Sunday, Miami held Atlanta to 38.7 percent shooting and forced 18 turnovers.

Rating: 2 Units

Third-seeded Golden State (53-29) could be in trouble against the sixth-seeded Nuggets (48-34), who won three of the four regular-season meetings. Denver features four-time All-Star Nikola Jokic, who has an excellent chance to repeat as league MVP after becoming the first player in NBA history to top 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in a single season. Jokic averaged 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds and 7.9 assists this season despite not having star guard Jamal Murray (ACL) for all of the season and Michael Porter Jr. (back) for most of it. Consider that the Warriors are 6-13-1 ATS in their last 20 games as a favorite.

Rating: 2 Units

The Pelicans have won nine of their past 11 with both CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram healthy, but we have to go Clippers at home. It is an advantage that they have an extra day of rest as well. The teams last played on April 3 in LA and the Clippers rolled by 19. Paul George and Robert Covington are very good defenders who can slow down Ingram (3-for-11 from the field in April 3 loss). George has been here/done that and will take over down the stretch offensively. The Clippers were 25-16 at home this season and New Orleans 17-24 on the road.

Rating: 2 Units

If this game were in Atlanta or even the Orlando bubble, I'd take the Hawks without a doubt. However, they were 16-25 on the road and haven't beaten a Top 10 team in either conference on the road since Jan. 23 (0-9). I'd still probably like Atlanta tonight ... but the Cavs are simply a MUCH better team, especially defensively, with Jarrett Allen and all signs point to the All-Star center returning from injury. (Note: I would take Hawks ML if for some reason Allen doesn't play.) Bogdan Bogdanovic (left ankle sprain) will be a game-time decision for the Hawks. I'm sure he plays but if even limited a little that's another edge for Cleveland, which has covered seven of its past nine as a home dog. Atlanta is 6-15 ATS in its past 21 away.

Rating: 2 Units

If this spread ticked up even a point higher, I'd probably take the points. I do think Minnesota wins at home, though. There might be an injury concern for LA with Luke Kennard (11.8 ppg) as well. Since the New Year, the Timberwolves boast the best offensive rating in the NBA. Their starting lineup of D'Angelo Russell, Patrick Beverley, Anthony Edwards, Jarred Vanderbilt and Karl-Anthony Towns has a net rating of 12.8, the second-best net rating in the league. The Clippers are seven games under .500 on the road. Minnesota is 11 over at home.

Rating: 2 Units

The teams have split their first two meetings, with the Clippers winning 99-94 on Nov. 1 in Los Angeles and the Thunder winning 104-103 on Dec. 18 in Oklahoma City. No one has benefitted from the Thunder's late-season roster makeover as much as Jaylen Hoard, who was signed to a 10-day contract at the start of the month and has started four of Oklahoma City's five games since. In his first 33 NBA games over the last three seasons before this most recent stretch, Hoard averaged 4.7 points and 1.9 rebounds. But after spending the majority of the season with the Oklahoma City's G League team, Hoard has averaged 17.8 points and 13.4 rebounds since joining the Thunder. Consider that the Thunder are 35-17-2 ATS in their last 54 games following a straight up loss and 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.

Rating: 2 Units

The Spurs played without four starters -- Dejounte Murray (upper respiratory illness), Devin Vassell (left heel soreness), Keldon Johnson (right knee soreness) and Jakob Poeltl (lower back soreness). San Antonio still found a way to cut a 17-point Golden State third-quarter lead to two points in the final seconds before succumbing. San Antonio has shown that it can compete with any team, even with a sometimes rag-tag lineup. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will use the final game to keep his players sharp. Consider that the Spurs are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.

Rating: 2 Units

The Suns (64-17), who have clinched the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs, will be playing for the last time before hosting the eighth seed following the play-in tournament. Meanwhile, the Kings (29-52) will be wrapping up their season on the second night of a back-to-back on the road. They dropped a 117-98 decision to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday. Phoenix enters the finale having already won two more games than any previous team in franchise history. The 1992-93 and 2004-05 Suns shared the old mark with 62-20 seasons. With the exception of backup guard Cameron Payne (knee), the Suns enter the finale in great health, which Chris Paul said is crucial going forward. Consider that the Suns are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win.

Rating: 2 Units

Orlando (21-60) finishes at the bottom of the East, although the Magic showed improvement late in the campaign under first-year head coach Jamahl Mosley. Orlando is 8-13 since the All-Star break. The majority of NBA teams dealt with injuries and COVID-19 issues this season, but the Magic were hit particularly hard. On Dec. 17, Miami won 115-105 in Orlando as the Magic signed four players to 10-day contracts that day after losing five players to health and safety protocols. Overall, the Magic had 25 different starting lineups in 81 games. The most promising group -- big men Wendell Carter Jr. and Mo Bamba, guard Cole Anthony and rookies Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs -- made 34 starts with Orlando going 13-21 (.382) in those games. Consider that the Heat are 2-5 ATS in the last 7 meetings.

Rating: 2 Units

When the Philadelphia 76ers host the Detroit Pistons in the regular-season finale for both today, it will be a contest between one team with incentive to win, and another with a slight incentive to lose. The 76ers enter with a chance to improve their playoff seeding in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia enters at 50-31, tied with Boston for the third-best record in the East, but Boston holds the tiebreaker for the No. 3 seed owing to a better record within the Atlantic Division. But while Boston has to play its regular-season finale at Memphis, the second-best team in the Western Conference, Philadelphia gets to host Detroit (23-58), the second-worst team in the East. Opportunity could definitely be knocking for the 76ers to move up into the No. 3 spot in the East playoffs, which would mean a first-round matchup against slumping Chicago instead of red-hot Toronto.

Rating: 2 Units

The Spurs head back to San Antonio for their final home game of the season after a 127-121 loss at Minnesota on Thursday that snapped their five-game road winning streak. Despite the loss, San Antonio (34-46) is still in the running for the ninth spot and a home game in the play-in tourney, but the Spurs will have to win their final two games and have New Orleans lose both of its final two. The Spurs own the tiebreaker with the Pelicans via a 3-1 edge in head-to-head play. Consider that the Warriors are 5-12-1 ATS in their last 18 games as a favorite.

Rating: 2 Units

In Tuesday's matchup with the Sixers, Malcolm Brogdon sat (rest) and Goga Bitadze was sidelined with a foot injury. Chris Duarte last played on March 15, shut down for the season due to a toe injury. Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield, additions in a February trade from the Sacramento Kings for Domantas Sabonis, have emerged as two of Indiana's primary offensive weapons at 17.4 and 18.3 points, respectively, per game. Haliburton scored 21 and Hield had 25 points in Tuesday's loss to the Sixers. Consider that the Pacers are 7-2 ATS in the last 9 meetings.

Rating: 2 Units

The NBA-leading Suns, who have the most wins in franchise history, already have clinched the top seed and home-court advantage in the playoffs, so small victories in a harmless loss can be worthwhile. Cameron Payne was the only starter in double figures for the Suns, with 13 points. Ish Wainright scored a career-best 20, Bismack Biyombo contributed 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Aaron Holiday scored 16. Consider the Suns are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall while the Jazz are 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.

Rating: 2 Units

The Miami Heat can clinch the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference on tonight when they host the Atlanta Hawks. Miami (52-28) enters its 2021-22 regular-season home finale fresh off its highest-scoring performance of the season in a 144-115 rout of the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday. Highlighting the blowout win -- the Heat's fifth straight victory -- was Tyler Herro scoring a career-high 35 points off the bench. Herro paced four Miami scorers who had at least 21 points, a quartet that also comprised Jimmy Butler with 27, Bam Adebayo with 22 and Duncan Robinson with 21 off the bench (all on 3-pointers). In addition, the Hawks are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

Rating: 2 Units

The Nets entered Thursday with a 1 1/2-game lead over the Hornets, who hosted the Orlando Magic - the same team that beat the Cavaliers on Tuesday as Cleveland continued to falter without Jarrett Allen and rookie Evan Mobley. The Cavaliers are 6-10 since Allen fractured his finger in a 104-96 win over the Toronto Raptors on March 6. Mobley has missed the past five games with an ankle injury, and Cleveland's only win during that stretch was Saturday's 119-101 victory at New York. The Cavs lost 120-115 in Orlando on Tuesday when they allowed 16 3-pointers and the Magic to shoot 50.5 percent from the field. Consider that the Cavaliers are 19-51-2 ATS in their last 72 games following a ATS loss.

Rating: 2 Units

Washington moved to as many as seven games over .500 (at 10-3 on Nov. 15) before enduring a gradual descent. The Wizards have won back-to-back games just three times since Jan. 1 and fell under the break-even mark for good with a 116-87 loss to the Boston Celtics on Jan. 23. The loss Wednesday to the Hawks -- who are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference -- was the 24th in the past 36 games for the Wizards, who are using the final week of the season to experiment with a tall lineup. Consider that the Knicks are 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games as a road underdog.

Rating: 2 Units

This game is meaningless because the Suns and Clippers are locked into their playoff seeding, but I will be stunned if Phoenix plays any key guys in the second of a back-to-back and having set the franchise record for wins in Tuesday's victory over the Lakers. There's simply nothing else to accomplish in the regular season.

Rating: 2 Units

The Grizzlies are on an insane heater right now. They have won seven straight, going 6-1 ATS during that stretch. They rested just about all of their key players in their last game against the Suns, and still won by eight points. Meanwhile, the Jazz have lost six of their last seven games and went 0-7 ATS during that stretch. I like the Grizzlies to keep this close, if not win outright.

Rating: 10 Unit Tournament Game of the Year

Jayhawks' focus on shot quality more than volume. They're making 40.6 percent of their 3-pointers in the tournament, and on Saturday they matched Villanova's 13 treys while attempting seven fewer (24 to Villanova's 31). The Tar Heels are shooting 36 percent on 3-pointers. Consider that the Jayhawks are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up win, and 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games as a favorite.

Rating: 5 Units

Duke and Carolina take the court in the Superdome tonight following the first national semifinal between Villanova and Kansas. This is the first time the rivals have met in the Final Four. It's the 258th game between the college basketball behemoths. Krzyzewski has five national titles on his resume. To get a sixth, the Blue Devils need to solve what ailed them in the 13-point home loss on March 5.  However, consider that the Tar Heels are 8-18-1 ATS in their last 27 neutral site games as an underdog.

Rating: 5 Units

The Wildcats will be missing a key component when the squads battle on Saturday in New Orleans for a spot in the national championship game. Villanova standout Justin Moore tore his right Achilles in the final minute of the Wildcats' 50-44 win over Houston in the Elite Eight on March 26. Moore underwent surgery, and the Wildcats are dissecting how to best fill his minutes and responsibilities. Backup Caleb Daniels is expected to slide into the starting lineup for the second-seeded Wildcats (30-7). Kansas has received stunningly good play in the NCAA Tournament from Remy Martin. Not once did Martin reach the 20-point mark in the regular season, but he has done so twice during March Madness and was named Most Outstanding Player of the Midwest Region after Kansas routed Miami 76-50 in the Elite Eight. Consider that the Wildcats are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing less than 50 points in their previous game.

Rating: 2 Units

This feels a bit like a trap game for Toronto, which comes off a four-game homestand that featured three games against playoff teams. It's a weird one-game road trip to Orlando and then back to Toronto for four games, including a potential playoff preview vs. Miami on Sunday. It wouldn't stun me if the Raptors rested a starter tonight, either. I'm not expecting the Magic to win or anything, but they should be able to stay within 10. Orlando is 5-1 ATS in its past six vs. teams with a winning record and 6-2 ATS in its past eight as a dog.

Rating: 2 Units

Let's grab this dominant Texas A&M squad to advance to the NIT final. They've been playing very strong basketball, winning 10 of their last 11 games and only taking a loss to Tennessee in the SEC tournament. They've also kept opponents under 66 points in all of their last 6 games. I think they will again be able to lean on their defense and keep this Washington State team at bay.

Rating: 2 Units

The Bucks and 76ers are tied with a 46-28 record and both could finish anywhere from first to fourth in the Eastern Conference, so this is an important game. The Bucks haven’t been at full strength for a while, with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday all missing time recently. However, they should all play in this game, and Brook Lopez is back starting at center. I think the Bucks want to make a statement here that they are still the team to beat in the East, so look for them to pull out the victory.

Rating: 2 Units

While the Musketeers are familiar with Madison Square Garden -- they lost in the first round of the Big East Tournament there -- the experienced Bonnies will have a decided crowd edge in the NIT semifinals. St. Bonaventure should make it hard for Xavier to score inside; that's where Osun Osunniyi (11.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.9 bpg) contests everything. It will be up to Xavier's Nate Johnson and Adam Kunkel, who are 9 of 38 from 3-point range in the NIT, to carry the load offensively. The Musketeers did an admirable job of getting to the Garden without senior guard Paul Scruggs (torn ACL). But this is a bad matchup for them. Look for Xavier to fall to 1-7 ATS in its last eight games at neutral sites.

Rating: 2 Units

This has the makings of an ugly matchup between two tanking teams. They will be extremely shorthanded, but they have both been playing that way for a while. One new noteworthy injury for the Trail Blazers is Trendon Watford (leg), who will miss his first game after starting nine straight. He might not be a big name, but he averaged 15.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists during that stretch, so his loss could be significant. Look for Tre Mann and Aleksej Pokusevski to help lead the Thunder to victory.

Rating: 2 Units

The Bulls haven’t been a great team on the road this season, but they got a much-needed win there Saturday when they defeated the Cavaliers in Cleveland. They are mostly healthy heading into this matchup against the Knicks, with Lonzo Ball (knee) being their only noteworthy absence. The Knicks are all but eliminated from the playoffs, and are 3-9 ATS as a home underdog, so look for the Bulls to cover on their way to a second straight road victory.

Rating: 5 Units

After Holloway guided tiny Saint Peter's to a championship in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, he became a shooting star in the coaching ranks as the 15th-seeded Peacocks felled Kentucky, Murray State and Purdue in the NCAA Tournament. He is widely expected to be offered the vacant coaching job at his alma mater, Seton Hall, but will not address what he calls "rumors." Saint Peter's defeated Purdue 67-64 Friday in the Sweet 16, using its signature relentless defense to bottle up NBA prospect Jaden Ivey, who finished with just nine points on 4-of-12 shooting with six turnovers. Purdue was rated the most efficient offense in the country by KenPom.com entering the game.

Rating: 5 Units

Kansas (31-6) hounded fourth-seeded Providence into 33.8 percent shooting en route to Friday's 66-61 semifinal victory, including a 4-for-23 effort from 3-point range. Although the Jayhawks shot just 39.3 percent from the floor, they prevailed behind disciplined defense and were plus-five in the rebounding column. Offensively, resurgent point guard Remy Martin had a game-high 23 points to lead the Jayhawks in scoring for the third time in as many NCAA Tournament games while Jalen Wilson contributed 16 points and 11 rebounds. Ochai Agbaji, a Naismith Player of the Year finalist, had five points on 2-for-8 shooting, by far his lowest output of the tournament, but Jayhawks coach Bill Self indicated the team isn't panicking. Agbaji had four blocks, four boards and two steals while helping to steady the defense.

Rating: 5 Units

Arkansas has won 18 of its last 21 games and has been successful by pushing the pace, helping seven of its last nine get Over the total. The Razorbacks covered the spread in 21 games and also went Over the total in 21 games this season. They also have covered their last five games as an underdog. Duke likes to play fast as well and has gone Over the number in eight of its last nine. I’m betting that this will be the last game of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski's amazing career, but I don't like the price on the Arkansas money line so I just took the points with the Razorbacks (+4). In addition playing on any NCAA tournament team in the Elite 8 round if they upset a #1 seed as an underdog in the Sweet 16 round is a perfect 14-0 ATS since 1996.

Rating: 5 Units

The greatness of Houston has been undervalued all season by oddsmakers. The spreads have been too low, which helped the Cougars go 25-12 against-the-spread. The selection committee also looked down on them, making them a No. 5 seed. The Houston defense posted better numbers this season than last year and again led the country in field goal percentage defense (37.4). It’s that defensive intensity that has carried the Cougars to wins and covers in all six of their postseason games. Houston is still cheap and should get the cover, but laying only -134 on the moneyline is better value than the spread. I also have a small lean on Under 128 total points.

Rating: 5 Units

Miami, making its first NCAA appearance in four years, has never advanced beyond the Sweet 16, and like the Cyclones, the Hurricanes thrive behind their guards. Kameron McGusty (17.5 points a game), Isaiah Wong (15.5), Charlie Moore (12.8) and Jordan Miller (10.1) average double-figure scoring for Miami, playing at least 30 minutes per game. Miami (25-10) coughed up a late lead Friday in its first-round game against seventh-seeded USC before winning by a basket. Two days later, the Hurricanes trounced No. 2 seed Auburn 79-61, using their quickness and experience to overcome a minus-8 rebounding margin. Wong scored 21 points and McGusty, a sixth-year senior, added 20 while helping Miami force 13 turnovers and hound the Tigers into 30.4 percent shooting, including 19.2 percent from long range.

Rating: 5 Units

The Tar Heels broke out and won their final five regular-season games, including their long-discussed upset of Duke in Mike Krzyzewski's last home game before retirement. Still, perhaps because ACC basketball had a down year by its standards, North Carolina flew under the radar and entered the NCAA Tournament as an No. 8 seed. First-year Carolina coach Hubert Davis has a theory. North Carolina owns a 10-3 all-time record against UCLA, including the past five meetings.

Rating; 5 Units

Kansas (30-6) gets fourth-seeded Providence (27-5), which has won 16 games by single digits, including 11 by five or fewer points. Kansas ultimately pulled away from ninth-seeded Creighton, 79-72, to reach the 32nd Sweet 16 in program history. Credit the latest resurgent performance by point guard Remy Martin. A transfer from Arizona State, Martin worked through knee soreness and inconsistency during the regular season before sparkling down the stretch. He scored 20 points against Creighton after a 15-point effort in the Jayhawks' tournament-opening rout of Texas Southern, the first two times Martin led the team in scoring this season.

Rating: 5 Units

No matter where you are on the court, beware: KC Ndefo is coming to block your shot. The Saint Peter's forward tallied six blocks in the No. 15 seed's second-round NCAA Tournament win over Murray State. The highlight came in the second half, when he chased down Trae Hannibal and swatted away his fast-break dunk attempt. Ndefo embodies the defensive intensity Saint Peter's (21-11) has used to pull off two stunners and advance in the East Region to the Sweet 16, where they'll play No. 3 seed Purdue Friday in Philadelphia, Pa.

Rating: 5 Units

The Cougars (31-5), perhaps still a little peeved about being given just a 5 seed by the NCAA selection committee, look to take their next step to a repeat spot in the Final Four. Houston did almost everything correctly Sunday in a 68-53 win over fourth-seeded Illinois as Taze Moore scored 21, Jamal Shead 18, and Kyler Edwards 15 points. Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson was so pumped up after the win that he pulled off his shirt during the team's locker room celebration. Houston has won five straight games and 11 of its past 12, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the third straight season. Arizona is making its first Sweet 16 appearance in six years.

Rating: 5 Units

After allowing an average of 57.5 points in its two NCAA wins, Texas Tech will need another stellar showing against Duke, which defeated Cal State Fullerton and Michigan State to reach this stage. Freshman star Paolo Banchero had 19 points and seven rebounds in the win over Michigan State. Mark Williams added 15 points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots. illiams, who has 104 blocks on the season, is the first player in Duke history to have five rejections in back-to-back NCAA tourney games. He also had five against Cal State Fullerton. The Blue Devils average 80.3 points per game on the season. Duke won the lone previous meeting, 69-58 on Dec. 20, 2018, at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Rating: 2 Units

Indiana lost in the final seconds at home on Wednesday vs. Sacramento, which crushed me betting-wise, and would have no shot normally in Memphis ... but the Grizzlies are semi-punting with Ja Morant, Dillon Brooks and Brandon Clarke all taking a seat in the second of a B2B for the Grizz as well. Probably a trap game anyways for Memphis off the big win over Brooklyn. The Pacers will have Malcolm Brogdon tonight after he sat Wednesday. UPDATE: Indiana is now sitting guys left and right so I'd just steer clear of this game completely at this point.

Rating: 2 Units

The Wizards stink, but we'll take nearly two TDs with the Bucks ruling out both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. Sounds like a punt game for Milwaukee -- which probably still wins by about 10. This spread will drop.

Rating: 2 Units

This is starting to rise at some books, so I'm just going to grab it now and risk someone key being ruled out for Toronto -- I'm presuming oddsmakers know something. Both Gary Trent and OG Anunoby are questionable for the Raptors, but it sounds as if at least Trent will play. This is hugely important for both in potentially avoiding the East play-in tournament. Cleveland hasn't played on the road since March 12 and has lost six of its past seven away.

Rating: 5 Units

Michigan was in dire straits toward the end of the Big Ten campaign, losing four of its final eight regular-season games and then bowing out to Indiana in the first round of the conference tournament. The Wolverines also had a stretch of games that were affected by COVID-19, played multiple games without Dickinson, and were without suspended coach Juwan Howard for five contests. But when it has counted the most, Michigan has come together.

Rating: 5 Units

Top-seeded Gonzaga was tested more than expected in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament while reaching the Sweet 16 for the seventh straight time. Now the Bulldogs will attempt to play two strong halves when they face fourth-seeded Arkansas on Thursday night in the West Regional semifinals at San Francisco. The Razorbacks (27-8) will run a slew of athletic players against the Bulldogs (28-3) as they attempt to reach the Elite Eight for the second straight season. Arkansas lost to eventual national champion Baylor last season.

Rating: 2 Units

Hawks are just 4-9 vs. the points this season when unrested and a rather shocking 12-22 vs. the number in the next game after a SU victory. Detroit 12-6-1 vs. the points in the last 19 games at Little Caesars Arena and the Pistons have been playing a bit better defense than the Hawks over the past 15 games during which period Dwane Casey’s Mo-Town side is 13-1-1 against the point spread.

Rating: 2 Units

Consider that the Blue Raiders are 16-4-1 ATS in their last 21 games as a favorite, 23-6-2 ATS in their last 31 games overall, 20-6 ATS in their last 26 games following a straight up win, and 19-6-1 ATS in their last 26 games following a ATS win.

Rating: 2 Units

Lloyd also knew before Friday that despite losses in 7 of 11 entering the Dance, TCU could rise to the occasion, having knocked off both Kansas and Texas Tech late in the season, and that Jamie Dixon's troops will crash the offensive glass after ranking ninth in offensive rebounds, and controlling the boards overall by a 39-26 count against the Hall. While this is recently uncharted territory for the Frogs, who haven't reached the second round since 1987 in Jim Killlingsworth's final year before retiring, they have covered 12 of their last 16 as a dog, and can likely stay within earshot as long as they produce an effort something like Friday when hitting better than 50% from the floor, and G Mike Miles looking in charge of proceedings with 21 points, This might not be easy for the Cats!