I'm backing the NY Knicks on Tuesday. Orlando has been a disaster on the road winning just seven of 38 games SU and while they're actually a game above .500 ATS on the road, they don't normally cover a spread like tonight's.  The Magic are 2-8 ATS when getting no more than five points and just 1-5 ATS when the line is four or less.  The Knicks are actually one win away from a 19-19 SU mark at home and they've covered four of their last five at MSG.  Enes Kanter is doubtful tonight for the Knicks and Michael Beasley is questionable, but the line takes care of those issues. Finally, the Magic are on a 0-6 ATS slide when playing with one day off between games.  I'm backing the NY Knicks on Tuesday.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm backing the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.  The Nets whipped the struggling Hornets, 125-111 on March 8, a night when Allen Crabbe scored 29 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.  I mention Crabbe because after missing a couple of games, he returned to the court on Monday and made 7 of 10 shots, scoring 22 points and Charlotte had no answer for him in the most recent meeting.  The Hornets are in a world of hurt on the defensive end allowing an average of more than 118 points per game in their last 10 outings.  This is music to Brooklyn's ears.  The Nets have been trying different lineups and they've found a good one on the offensive end. The Nets have scored 116, 114, and 118 points in their last three games and topped 110 points in seven of their last 10 contests.  The Nets are 8-3 ATS off a SU win, which is the situation tonight. Charlotte enters on a 2-9 ATS slide off a loss and they're 1-5 ATS in their last six when playing on one day rest.  The Hornets are 3-14 ATS in their last 17 against teams that force at least 14 turnovers per game.  I'm backing the Nets as they look to extend their head-to-head spread run to 8-1!  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm backing the Houston Rockets on Friday night.  Tough to go against Houston until they give us a reason to do so.  There have been four winning streaks of at least 12 games in the NBA this season and two of them belong to the Rockets, including their current 17-game win streak.  Ten of the 17 wins have come on the road where they're 9-1 ATS.  Even more amazing, the Rockets are a 2-point loss to New Orleans from winning 22 in a row.  It's been a while, but Houston will remember having a 6-game win streak snapped by Toronto in November.  The Rockets were missing a couple players that night, including Chris Paul.  And according to Basketball Reference when Paul and James Harden both play in the same game, Houston has a ridiculously strong offensive efficiency rating close to 116, nearly 10 percentage points ahead of league average, which puts them in rarefied air in the NBA history.  Toss in their play on the defensive end and we believe they'll gain their revenge.  Besides the 9-1 ATS spot mentioned above, the Rockets are on a 14-3 ATS run against teams with a winning record.  Meanwhile, the Raptors have covered just 3 of their last 10 against teams with a winning record.  I'm backing the Houston Rockets on Friday night.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with the Orlando Magic on Monday.  Not a lot to say about this one other than the fact Orlando continues to be undervalued on the road and Utah continues to be overvalued in general.  The Magic are playing better basketball right now than they were a few weeks ago, winners of two straight. But they're a profitable 9-1 ATS in their last 10 road games.  Utah is the better team, no doubt about it.  But the Jazz began landing in the win column on a regular basis on January 24 and you're now paying a premium if/when you wish to back them.  The Jazz enter Monday on a 1-6 ATS slide and the lone cover came by just one point.  The Jazz are also 0-5 ATS off a SU win.  This one is all about line value and that key factor lies with Orlando.  We're taking the points with the Magic on Monday.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with Toronto on Friday night.  We give the Wizards all the credit in the world for actually advancing their situation since John Wall has been sidelined.  But the schedule has been a tough one and it gets even tougher tonight.  Washington is playing its third game in four nights and their sixth in nine, but it's mainly the level of competition over that time frame that makes this a difficult spot. The Wizards are off a home game with Golden State two nights ago and have also faced hard-charging Charlotte, the 76ers, and the Cavaliers, along with a road game at Milwaukee before the game against the Warriors.  We actually had the Wizards in the win over the Bucks. We have the Raptors power rated as the best team in the east, even ahead of the Cavaliers.  Toronto has covered eight of their last 10 games and they're a momentum team, having covered eight of their last nine on the road after scoring at least 105 points in three straight games.  I'm laying the points with the Raptors on Friday night. Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Nets & Hornets on Thursday.  Games involving two losing teams have meant less intensity on the defensive end when coming right out of the break.  Guys aren't quite set to get back into the swing of things and if they've nothing much to play for, the lack of defensive intensity has been magnified.  As is, the Hornets are already on a 6-1 Over run at home, while the Nets are on a 5-1 Over run when playing with at least three days rest.  The posted total between these two teams has been 219.5 and 222 in their previous two meetings.  We feel Thursday's total is too low. I'm playing the Over between the Nets & Hornets on Thursday.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with the Orlando Magic on Monday night.  It's been a tale of three seasons for the Chicago Bulls.  There were the first six weeks of the season when Nikola Mirotic was sidelined due to injury and the Bulls won just 3 of 22 games.  Mirotic finally got on the floor on December 8 and Chicago won out of the blocks, including a 20-7 ATS run. However, "season-3" started as Mirotic trade rumors began to take hold.  Since Mirotic became obvious trade-bait, combined with his eventual trade to New Orleans, Chicago has lost 8 of 9 SU and ATS.  His absence not only takes 16.5 points & 6.7 rebounds per game off the floor, but Lauri Markkanen is taken from his natural position making him less effective.  The Magic have been playing better basketball, winning 4 of 6 outright, while covering 11 of their last 14 games, even with injuries to key players.  And when the Magic lace them up on Monday, they'll be aiming for their 8th straight road cover.  I believe they'll get it and I'm taking the points with the Orlando Magic on Monday.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.  This isn't the first time we've played against the Cavaliers during their bankroll burning season.  The Cavs are team-dysfunction right now and despite still leading the Central Division, Indiana is now just two games back.  The Pacers are on a 13-4-1 ATS run against Cleveland, including a 4-0 ATS run the last four times at tonight's venue.  The Cavs have dropped all the way to 29th in defensive efficiency and we expect Indiana and their 7th best offensive efficiency to take full advantage.  The Pacers are virtually equal to the Cavs on the offensive end at this point, but are much better on the defensive end.  While Cleveland continues to point the finger at the wrong guy (Kevin Love) and tear apart at the seams, we'll continue to play against them until they give us a reason not to.  The Cavs head into Friday on a 3-24 ATS slide at home against teams with a losing road record, meaning Cleveland continues to be overvalued.  I'm taking the points with the Pacers, our Friday Knockout. Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Wizards on Wednesday night.  Washington saw their four-game win streak get snapped in a 110-103 home loss to Minnesota in their most recent game.  But in case a home loss wasn't enough to get the competitive juices flowing, the fact they're facing the team that beat them by 47 points in December ought to do the trick.  Washington shot 28.7 percent, including 4 of 20, 20 percent from the 3-point line in a 116-69 loss in Salt Lake.  It was so bad that the Wizards had a +5 scoring margin at the free throw line but still couldn't come close on the scoreboard.  The Jazz outrebounded Washington 52-31 and had a +26 scoring margin in the paint, while making 56.6 percent of their shots. Rudy Gobert had a big night for Utah in the contest, but we note Gobert has been out since December 16 and remains sidelined indefinitely with an ankle injury.  Utah enters just 3-17 SU on the road and they're on a 0-5 ATS slide on the road against teams playing better than .600 basketball at home.  Meanwhile, Washington is on a 51-34 ATS run in revenge of a loss where the other team topped 100 points.  I'm laying the points with the Wizards on Wednesday.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Cavaliers on Friday night.  Not only are the Cavs playing a much better brand of basketball than when these teams met on November 1, but they also have revenge on their mind.  Indiana used a 62-46 second half to beat Cleveland 124-107 that particular night.  The Pacers nailed 16 of 26 3-pointers, the equivalent of making 24 of 26 2-point shots, while Cleveland made just 7 of 31 treys, themselves.  Indiana has played well themselves, but had to come from 16 down in the fourth quarter to beat Chicago last time out.  The Cavs have not been good ATS as chalk this season, overall, however, they're on a 6-0 ATS run when laying 4 or less, or as a dog. The road team in this series has covered six in a row and NBA teams are 46-20 ATS if they are in revenge of a SU loss as home chalk, provided their opponent is off a SU win / non-cover, when laying points.  I'm laying the points with the Cavaliers on Friday.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the LA Clippers on Wednesday night.  Dallas comes to town the perfect foil for a big time LAC bounce back.  The Clippers will be chomping at the bit to get back on the floor after dropping two in a row to Detroit and Golden State, the second a 141-113 crushing.  Both the Pistons and Warriors controlled the flow of the game against the Clips, but that changes tonight in our betting opinion.  We were on Dallas and cashed when they beat Memphis on October 25, still the Mavs' only win of the season.  Dallas is second to last in the NBA in offensive and defensive FG percentage and they allow 107 ppg, while barely cracking 98, themselves.  The Mavs are on a 3-10-1 ATS slide going back to last season and they have covered just one of their last nine on one day of rest.  We'll back the LA Clippers minus the points.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.  While Dallas struggles through more rebuilding, the Memphis Grizzlies have made a few changes, including their style of play, looking to shoot earlier in the shot clock than the teams we have grown used to over the last few years.  Memphis is off to a great start, including a 98-90 win over Houston.  They have three in a row to start the season, including two straight outright wins as an underdog. Memphis is just 8-19 ATS on the road after at least two straight wins and they're on a 1-5 ATS slide after winning at least two straight as an underdog. Dallas is not only winless in four games, but got crushed 133-103 by Golden State last time out.  Over the last three seasons, the Mavs are 13-4 ATS following a loss by 20 or more and 4-0 ATS after losing by 30.  And we also know that NBA teams are 6-25 ATS if they have won at least three straight games, had a winning season last year, and are facing a team that finished below .500 the previous season.  We like these situations early in the season and we'll follow it here.  I'm grabbing the points with the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Over between the Cavaliers & Warriors on Thursday night. I do believe the Warriors will look to set the tone in Game 1 after blowing the 3-1 series lead last year.  Because of this I expect the Warriors to play their typical fast-paced game against a Cavaliers' team that will oblige, something both the Jazz and Spurs tried to avoid without success.  The Cavs haven't played in a week and in the situation of playing a playoff game 7 days apart or more with LeBron on the roster, the Cavs have been at their offensive best, or at least, at their freshest.  The Cavs have averaged over 110 ppg the last five times in this spot, including scoring 117 and 116 points this postseason.  And let's not forget the Cavs ranked 21st in defensive efficiency this season.  The Over is on a 15-6 run in Cavaliers' games and has cashed in five straight Warriors' games.  And finally, Cavaliers games are on a 35-19 Over run against teams that attempt at least 18 treys per game. Golden State certainly fits the bill.  We're playing the Over between the Cavaliers & Warriors in Thursday's Game 1 tilt.  Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Celtics, our Monday Slam Dunk.  Boston let one slip away as John Wall nailed a trey in the closing seconds for the win on Friday.  But I like the way Al Horford played again, and I feel the same way about Avery Bradley.  Boston is tossing two game plans at Washington in the same game on the offensive end as we explained in our Friday write-up.  The Wizards have no answer for Horford when he sets up on the perimeter.  And if they come off Isaiah Thomas, the Celtic guard drives or finds openings from the outside.  Washington survived on Friday.  But they're 0-6 ATS on the road against teams playing at last .600 basketball at home. Boston has covered four straight home games and they're on an 8-0, 100% ATS run playing host to Washington.  I expect Boston to win and cover again on Monday. I'm laying the points with the Celtics my Slam Dunk. Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Spurs in game-5 on Tuesday night.  Everything points to a powerful and stingy defensive performance by San Antonio in tonight's contest.  The #1 team in defensive efficiency this past regular season got shredded in game-4 after dominating games-2 & 3.  We note under Gregg Popovich the Spurs are 32-13 ATS when tied in a playoff series, holding the 45 opponents to 91.6 ppg.  They're 21-9 ATS at home off a loss by 20 or more points, holding those 30 teams to an average of 92 ppg, while winning by 12 ppg.  In fact, the Spurs are on a 6-2-1 ATS run off a SU loss in general. Houston couldn't miss last game making 19 3-point shots and fast-breaking their way past the sluggish Spurs. But as Manu Ginobili stated, they'll be treating game-5 like it was game-7. We also note the Rockets have covered just five of their last 18 games and they're on a 0-5 ATS slide off a win of 11 points or more.  No Nene is a big deal here.  And so is the fact the Spurs are off an ugly loss.  We'll lay the points with San Antonio on Tuesday. Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Cavaliers as they aim for the series sweep.  As we mentioned when this series began, the changes the Raptors made to their lineup to turn around their series against Milwaukee would have no impact on the Cavaliers. Cleveland is hitting on all cylinders and will look to put the series to bed as soon as possible.  The Raptors may keep it close throughout the first half picking up the slack if Lowry doesn't play, but if they do, we believe the Cavs will pull away over the final 12 minutes just as they did in game-3. We note that LeBron James' teams are 41-22 ATS in the second round of the playoffs.  And they're outstanding as playoff favorites in general. The Cavs are on a 5-0 ATS run and they have covered four in a row in Toronto.  I'm laying the points with the Cavaliers, my Sunday Knockout.  Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Spurs & Rockets on Friday.  The Under is 4-0 the last four times these teams have met in Houston and we believe the Spurs fully understand their game-2 blowout win, scoring 121 points is not going to be the norm if they're going to have a true chance of winning this series. They can't get into a shootout.  Tony Parker may be long in the tooth, but he was the Spurs' second best player this postseason.  And with his loss the Spurs will use Patty Mills, Manu Ginobili, and maybe even rookie Dejounte Murray at the point.  We expect none of the three to deliver what Parker could when on his game on the offensive end, directing traffic and getting the ball to open shooters.  The Rockets enter on a 10-1 Under run (average of 204 ppg) at home against teams playing better than .700 basketball.  We expect a lower scoring affair tonight and we'll play the Under between the Spurs & Rockets on Friday. Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the LA Clippers on Sunday.  An important change in the Clippers' rotation changed the outcome of game-6 and likely in this series.  The return of Austin Rivers, finally able to play at full health after shaking off the rust in game-5, provided the Clips with big dividends at both ends of the floor. Rivers not only adds to Doc Rivers' arsenal on the offensive end, but his ability to provide one more effective defender on Gordon Hayward at the other end, allowed the Clippers to defend Joe Johnson with Luc Mbah Moute.  And as far as the offensive end was concerned, the Clippers were even more effective in their Paul to Jordan pick-and-rolls.  I don't believe the Jazz will be able to adjust quick enough to capture game-7, SU or ATS.  And while Rudy Gobert is expected to play, his ankle is said to be less than 100% healthy and we've noticed Gobert settling for looks at the basket he didn't normally take during the regular season.  Other members of the Jazz are having trouble making shots, including Joe Ingles and Rodney Hood. Finally, NBA game-7 home teams are on a 62% winning ATS run the last 29 times and we'll stick with the home team here.  I'm laying the points with the Clippers, our Sunday Beatdown.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm backing the Milwaukee Bucks minus the points on Thursday night.  Dwayne Casey pulled all the right strings with the adjustments he made in his starting lineup and amount of minutes given to certain players.  Toronto has started Norman Powell the last two games and he has come through with flying colors. Casey moved Serge Ibaka to center and Jonas Valanciunas has been coming off the bench rather than in the starting five.  But the Bucks have now had two games to adjust and I believe Jason Kidd (43-23 ATS off at least two straight losses as Bucks coach) and his staff will be ready for the Raptors "new" look tonight.  Milwaukee is still 4-0 ATS when playing on two days rest and they're on an 8-0 ATS run at home after two straight double digit losses, with an average win margin of 10 ppg in the eight outings.  I believe there will be a game-7 in Toronto and I'm backing the Bucks minus the short number, our Beatdown on Thursday. Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.  Boston HC Brad Stevens made a wise choice when he inserted Gerald Green into the starting lineup in games three and four. Green's presence really paid off in game four when he made 7 of 13 shots, including 4 of 9 3-pointers when the rest of the Celtics made just 6 of 28 treys.  It's now time for Fred Hoiberg to make the adjustment and we like what he's doing. The Bulls are expected to start Isaiah Canaan for the first time in this series on Wednesday night.  Canaan scored 13 points in game four and brings an added dimension at both ends of the floor.  We also may see Rajon Rondo tonight (questionable) but we don't need Rondo to make this a play. We also saw Jimmy Butler start to get back on track with 33 points last time out, to go along with 9 assists.  I didn't like the inconsistent play of Isaiah Thomas in game four, including his hot-and-cold shooting and decision making, especially when you now have to win by more than four baskets if you're a Boston backer. Boston heads into this one on a 1-8 ATS slide at home, while the Bulls are on a 7-0 ATS road run against teams with a winning home record, and the visitor in this series has covered four straight.  I believe this game will go right to the wire, giving us plenty of value with the underdog.  I'm taking the points with the Bulls, my Wednesday Knockout.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Warriors on Monday.  Portland posted an outstanding effort in game three yet fell short in the end, losing 119-113. The Blazers led by 13 at the break, but once Golden State started clicking in the second half, they were unstoppable. I expect Portland to get after it again at the opening tip tonight, but I also expect GSW to pull away by an even greater margin down the stretch.  The Warriors fell well short of their season-long shooting percentages last time out and I don't believe they'll fall victim to poor shooting for a second straight game.  The Warriors are on a 6-0 ATS run on the road and they're on a 14-3-1 ATS run in their last 18 games, overall.  They will be without HC Steve Kerr tonight and potentially for the rest of the playoffs, but they're used to taking the court without him after his back problems a season ago.  Portland is expected to be missing Jusuf Nurkic, who gave the Blazers a boost in game three.  They were not the same when Nurkic was sidelined earlier in the series.  Even if he plays tonight, it's not expected to be for long or anywhere near 100%.  I expect the Warriors to wrap-up the series and I'm laying the points with Golden State, our Monday Knockout.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Bucks & Raptors on Monday.  Late releases don't include analysis with time being of the essence.  Thanks & GL!  Scott.

I'm backing the Houston Rockets plus the short points on Sunday afternoon.  Houston had a horrible night from the deep perimeter in their game-3 loss, making just 10 of 35 3-pointers, while OKC shot 55.4% overall and over 47% from behind the arc.  All that yet OKC only won by a bucket.  Houston still drove the paint and drew more fouls and we expect more of the same tonight. However, OKC shouldn't expect another bad shooting night from the Rockets. Houston finished 2nd in the NBA in offensive efficiency this season.  And while the Thunder are on a 1-5 ATS slide against teams playing better than .600 basketball on the season, the Rockets will aim for their 7th straight cover at OKC.  Houston is a perfect 7-0 ATS on the road in revenge, provided the opponent scored at least 110 points in the previous meeting.  They're also 13-4 ATS on the road this season when the line is in the +3/-3 range.  I'm backing the Rockets plus the short points, my Beatdown on Sunday.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Spurs on Saturday.  The Spurs' starters will certainly be fresh for game-4 after none of them played more than 30 minutes in the 105-94 loss in game-3. Gregg Popovich expressed his distaste for their play by sitting the starting five late in the third quarter. Tony Parker didn't make a single FGA after averaging over 16 ppg in their first two games.  Bottom line:  San Antonio didn't bring their A-game.  I suspect they will tonight.  They normally do in this spot, going 36-19 ATS under Pop off a double digit loss as a road favorite, winning by an average score of 101-92.  Memphis made 51% of their FGA in the win as the Spurs failed on the defensive end after leading the entire league in defensive efficiency this regular season.  They normally get it done at both ends, while the Grizzlies rarely play as well on the offensive end as they did last time out.  The Spurs are 5-1 ATS after allowing at least 100 points in a game and despite the win, the Grizzlies enter on 4-11 SU slide.  Spurs bounce back.  I'm laying the points with San Antonio on Saturday, our KO release. Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Raptors on Tuesday night.  Toronto looked on their way to capturing game-1, holding a 51-46 lead at the break.  But without taking too much away from Milwaukee, the fact is, the Raptors missed a lot of open looks over the final two quarters and HC Casey stated that his squad played without rhythm in the second half.  Toronto is also known for digging themselves a hole, having dropped nine straight opening round game-1 matchups.  Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan certainly must shoot better and we believe they will when you consider the number of open looks that went awry.  The chalk is on a 6-1 ATS run between these teams and Toronto has covered four straight off a SU loss.  These teams met twice in Toronto during the regular season and the Raptors won by 16 points and 22 points, covering both.  And while Jason Kidd is teaching his team toughness and defense, the fact is, his team has covered just 6 of 24 following a game where they held an opponent to no more than 85 points.  I do expect a bounce back from the Raptors.  They have been here before, including last year when they lost game-1 at home, 100-90 to Indiana as a 7-point favorite, then winning and covering game-2 as 8-point chalk.  I expect more of the same.  I'm laying the points with the Raptors, my Slam Dunk.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Cavaliers in Saturday's game-1 matchup.  The last time the Cavs took a full four quarters seriously, they crushed the Celtics in Boston and it wasn't even close.  The Cavs took the final three games in the regular season series with the Pacers after losing the initial tilt in November, piling up 127 ppg on 51% shooting.  Even when you exclude the two OT periods in the final meeting, the Cavs still averaged over 116 ppg during the three straight wins. I expect Cleveland to continue their offensive success against Indiana in game-1, and I don't believe the Pacers will keep up.  And while Indiana fought tooth-and-nail down the stretch just to be here, the Cavaliers were able to rest bodies.  Indeed, Cleveland is as healthy as they have been in a long time and we expect it to show on the defensive end.  The Pacers have covered just 4 of 17 on the road off a home win and they're on a 1-6 ATS slide on the road against teams with a winning home record.  Meanwhile, the Cavs have covered 17 of their last 25 in this round.  I'm laying the points with the Cavaliers, my NBA Knockout.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm grabbing the points with the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night.  The Hornets have won four straight and thanks to a few losses by the teams in front of them, Charlotte is just one game out of the 8th & final spot in the Eastern Conference playoff standings.  Offense has been a main key in their recent surge, scoring an average of 111.5 ppg during their current 6-2 SU/ATS run. Washington will look to play an uptempo, high scoring game, but the Wizards play little defense, allowing 108 ppg on the season on 47% shooting.  They rank 20th in the league in defensive efficiency.  The Wizards are also off a tough road trip with just a day off between games and we note they're on a 5-15-1 ATS slide when playing with just one day off.  They're also on a 0-7 ATS slide off a SU loss and have been a go-against of late, dropping nine of their last 12 ATS.  We'll grab the points with Charlotte, our DogPound release on Tuesday.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with the Indiana Pacers, my DogPound release.  The Cavaliers broke through with a nice effort and win over Philadelphia last time out.  But the Cavs' issues remain their play on the defensive end, where they have been horrible since the all-star break.  In fact, Cleveland ranks 23rd in the league in defensive efficiency on the season.  That's a far cry from last year's 10th best ranking. I do expect better results from the Cavs once the postseason begins, but right now this is a team more concerned with their health than with overtaking Boston for top spot in the East. Remember, LeBron teams have been the second seed four times in the East and those teams went to the NBA Finals all four times.  The Cavs enter on a 2-6-1 ATS slide in their last nine games and they're on a 7-19 ATS slide against teams that control the ball, turning it over no more than 14 times per game. Meanwhile, the Pacers are 6-2 ATS off a double digit loss and they're 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 against Cleveland. We'll grab the points with the Pacers, our DogPound on Sunday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.  We had the Bucks last night and while Boston was idle, we do note that Milwaukee is on a 6-1 ATS run when playing without rest, while Boston has covered just five of their last 21 with two nights off between games.  The Bucks also didn't have to work too hard, going up by 11 points at the end of the first quarter and never looking back in a 118-108 win.  The Bucks have won 12 of their last 16 games and I mentioned in last night's preview, it's not just about the team buying into Kidd's defensive style of coaching. The Bucks are also tough to defend, ranked 2nd in the NBA in FG percentage and last night they nailed 62% of their shots.  Boston has won four in a row and seven of their last eight, but they have been overvalued at the books where they're just 2-4 ATS in their last six.  While Boston will work hard to attempt to remain in front of the Cavs in the Eastern Conference standings, the Bucks won't take a night off either.  Milwaukee remains in a fight with Atlanta & Indiana for 5th through 7th and with just a two-game lead over the 8-seed.  Slip-up and the Bucks could have to face the Celtics or Cavaliers in the opening round.  These teams went to OT before Boston won 112-108 in their last meeting.  I expect another close one here.  I'm grabbing the points with the Bucks, my DogPound release.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Spurs on Monday night, our Slam Dunk.  If you're looking for the Cavaliers to turn things around and atone for their 127-115 loss to Washington last time out, it might not be so automatic.  The Cavs are on a 1-8-1 ATS slide off a double digit home loss.  Their defense has been the second worst in the NBA since the all-star break and they've allowed 120 or more points five times in March. The struggles on defense have come to the forefront in road games against the Western Conference, where they have covered just 3 of 14, while giving up 112 ppg.  The Spurs, meanwhile, own the league's most efficient defense since January 31.  They have dominated high scoring teams, covering 18 of 24 against those that average at least 106 ppg. Most impressive is the fact they have held those 24 teams to less than 99 ppg.  In reality, as ESPN reported, the Cavaliers would rather be healthy than the EC 1-seed when the postseason begins. After all, LeBron has been a 2-seed four times and made it to the finals in all four of those instances. I'm laying the points with the Spurs, our Monday Slam Dunk.  Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Grizzlies on Monday, my KO release.  Memphis enters on a 0-5 SU/ATS slide, while the Bucks are on a 6-0 SU/ATS run.  We don't always play struggling teams laying points against positive streaking teams, but we do look for this situation more often than not. The Grizzlies are laying a couple of baskets and for good reason.  Despite being on the wrong side of an opposite streak, Memphis is still power rated seven points better at home in this matchup.  We believe Memphis hit rock-bottom against Atlanta last time out and will be ready to snap the skid. We note that teams off a double digit home loss are on a 57-27 ATS run against teams with two straight covers as chalk.  Meanwhile, the Bucks have covered just six of 19 on the road against teams with a winning record and they're 8-17 ATS on the road against teams that make at least six 3-pointers per contest.  Strong spot tonight and we're backing the Memphis Grizzlies, our KO release.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, my KO release.  Tough spot for the T-Wolves after last night's hard-fought win over Golden State.  We do believe the Bucks, who also played last night, but had an easier time in the second half against the Pacers, outscoring Indiana 54-35, will be the fresher squad.  The Bucks are making a run at the postseason, sitting 8th in the East.  They're on a 4-0 ATS run in the second of back-to-back nights and on a 5-0 ATS run, overall.  Milwaukee is also on a 5-1 ATS series run.  I'm laying the points with the Bucks, my KO on Saturday. Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Cavaliers on Thursday night.  Not a good performance by the Pistons last night, especially when the opponent was in a tough NBA situation.  We expect another rough outing for the Pistons, who're on a 0-6 ATS slide when playing in the second of back-to-back nights. The Cavaliers have dropped two straight and three of four games, outright, and are in revenge for a 106-90 loss to Detroit earlier this season.  LeBron James had that night off, but we expect a fired-up effort here.  Before the most recent loss, the Cavs had beaten Detroit in five straight meetings by an average of more than 11 ppg and scored in triple digits in all five.  I believe we're in for another spread-covering Cavs' win tonight.  I'm laying the points with the Cavaliers, my NBA Main Event.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, my Knockout release.  These two teams wrap-up the pre-all star portion of the season tonight and ATL looks for a little revenge. The Clippers pulled-off an upset in Atlanta last month without Blake Griffin or Chris Paul.  ATL obviously wasn't engaged and lost.  But the Clippers are in a tough spot, back home following a five game, nine day road trip.  In fact, LAC have played 10 of their last 11 on the road.  The Hawks have been terrific in this spot, currently on a 7-1 SU & ATS run as a road underdog.  They'll throw a hot Dennis Schroder at the Clips along with Tim Hardaway, Jr., who has really taken to being in the starting lineup.  We believe ATL will end the night with a SU win, but we're taking the points for insurance as they attempt to extend the road team run to 5-0 ATS in this series.  I'm grabbing the points with the Hawks, my KO on Wednesday.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Atlanta Hawks, my Wednesday Wipeout.  Ugly home loss for the Hawks last time out, but we expect a bounce back here.  Atlanta is 18-5 ATS off a double digit loss at home and they've also covered nine of the last 12 home meetings with the Nuggets.  Speaking of Denver, they slammed Dallas last time out, but the Nuggets have not been able to figure things out away from home.  Denver is 1-6 ATS on the road against teams with a winning home record and they've allowed over 110 ppg on the road this season.  In fact, the Nuggets have allowed an average of 119 ppg in their last nine road games on 50% shooting, including 39% from behind the arc. Spread those numbers over the course of the season and Denver would easily own the worst defense in the NBA.  Look for the Hawks to bounce back with the win and cover.  I'm laying the points with Atlanta, my Wednesday Wipeout.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Cavaliers on Monday night, my Slam Dunk.  Yes, the Cavs are ironing things out a bit for the postseason.  At the same time, there are occasions when I believe we'll find spots to jump-in and lay the points and this is one of those spots.  Cleveland is also off an OT home loss to the Spurs, a game where LeBron and company made just 12 of 22 free throws.  The team wasn't too happy with their performance and we expect a focused bounce back effort here against a New Orleans' squad that will likely have Anthony Davis on the floor, but one that's lost six of their last nine games, including a 29-point loss to lowly Brooklyn last time out.  Both teams will be looking to atone, but only one has the ability to do so. We'll lay the points with the Cavaliers, my Monday Slam Dunk.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Warriors. As we have seen this week (twice) when the Warriors are facing a top notch foe, they usually play with complete focus and intensity.  We expect GSW to be fully focused for Houston after the Rockets handed them one of their six losses on the season, a 132-127 OT defeat in Oakland in December.  Klay Thompson and Steph Curry combined to make just 13 of 42 shots in the loss.  We note NBA road teams favored by 3 1/2 to 9 1/2 points are on a 30-10 ATS run if they're off back-to-back double digit home wins, provided they're playing .750 basketball on the season. We'll look for GSW to remain hot. I'm laying the points with the Warriors, my Slam Dunk.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Utah Jazz, my Mismatch release.  The Jazz have won three straight and eight of their last 11, playing outstanding defense more often then not.  Utah has held seven of their last 10 opponents to 92 points or less.  Tonight, they catch a Phoenix Suns squad that might be feeling a little happy with themselves after beating the Spurs last time out as a double digit underdog. The Suns are one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA and allowed San Antonio to make over 50% of their FGA, but came away with the 3-point win.  However, I expect the poor work on the defensive end to cost them tonight.  The Suns are on a 4-13-1 ATS slide against fellow Western Conference teams, while the Jazz are on an 11-4 ATS run on the road against teams with a losing home record.  Utah is also on a 4-1-1 ATS run in the series.  I'm laying the points with the Jazz, my Mismatch.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Warriors, my Sunday Knockout.  We had Golden State on Friday night and watched them give away a 24-point second half lead, falling apart in the fourth quarter, getting out-scored 64-31 to finish the game in an outright loss to Memphis.  When it became apparent the Warriors were not going to cover, I was happy to see them lose outright, so we could come back with them here.  Even Draymond Green said he was happy they lost after blowing the big lead.  He said the team needs to make adjustments and change things up if they wish to compete for an NBA title.  I do expect a fired-up effort in this one and even if they have a big lead I think finishing up strong in the final 12 minutes is going to be important to the team in this game. GSW is on a 26-12-1 ATS run after allowing more than 125 points.  They're on a 9-1 ATS run against the Kings (dominating the series SU), and Sacto has dropped four straight ATS at home.  I'm laying the points with the Warriors, my Sunday Knockout.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.  Nice win for the Knicks last night, outscoring Milwaukee 33-15 in the fourth quarter after trailing by 13 points through the first three. Carmelo Anthony, Courtney Lee, and Derrick Rose all saw a lot of minutes last night and will now have to lace them up against an improved Indiana team.  The Pacers have won and covered four straight and the offense has been clicking on all cylinders since tweaking the backcourt a bit. Indiana has averaged 117.5 ppg during the four game run.  Besides the 4-0 SU/ATS run, the Pacers have covered eight of their last nine home games against the Knicks.  I'm laying the points with the Pacers on Saturday. Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Chicago Bulls, my NBA Wipeout.  We backed the Bulls two nights ago and cashed when they crushed Detroit by 31 points. The Bulls were fired-up after playing some sluggish and mistake-filled basketball prior to Monday.  Now that they have bounced back and gained that turn-around win, we expect more of the same for at least one more game...tonight's contest with Washington.  The Wizards have covered four straight, but I don't like their play on the defensive end and I believe it'll be a difference maker tonight.  I'm laying the points with the Bulls, my Wednesday Wipeout. Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with OKC, my Beatdown GOW on Sunday.  The Thunder had won and covered six straight games before losing 102-99 at home to Houston on Friday night.  We expect an immediate bounce back in the win column and by spread covering margin.  We backed Boston when they whipped Orlando by 30 points earlier this week.  Isaiah Thomas missed the game and we stated in the write-up that the Celtics could skate by short term without him, but not long term. Thomas missed the next game, a SU/ATS loss to Toronto and he's expected to miss this one, also. Even if he happens to play, he's not a good defensive matchup for Boston against Russell Westbrook.  Others will have to take turns defending the Thunder star whether Thomas plays or not and that's a big advantage for the home team.  The Celtics have covered just four of their last 16 against Western Conference teams and we don't like their current inconsistent form.  Meanwhile, the Thunder have covered six of their last seven and they're on a 4-0 ATS run against Eastern Conference teams.  I'm laying the points with the Thunder, my Beatdown on Sunday.  Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Pacers, my Wednesday Wipeout.  The Suns are in a tough spot having played last night in Salt Lake, a game that may have taken a lot out of them.  Phoenix trailed Utah by 19 points after three quarters, but fought hard in the fourth, pulling even at 103 with 2 minutes to go before eventually losing 112-105.  They simply ran out of gas down the stretch and I expect the big fourth quarter run to weaken the legs a bit tonight.  Indiana comes to town looking to bounce back from a 142-106 loss to Golden State on Monday.  The Pacers have reacted well in this situation, on a 10-1 ATS run the last three seasons off a road loss by at least 15 points.  They'll also look to avenge a 20-point home loss to Phoenix just a few weeks ago.  I believe they'll win by a spread covering margin and I'm laying the points with the Pacers, my Wednesday Wipeout.  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Pelicans on Tuesday, my Slam Dunk.  Coach Alvin Gentry was not happy with his team after a lackluster effort against a 2-13 Dallas team on Sunday night as New Orleans led by six points early in the fourth quarter and then was outscored 29-13 for a 91-81 loss. Anthony Davis did his part, as usual, scoring 36 points with 13 rebounds, however, Jrue Holiday was the only other player in double figures with 17 points coming off the bench.  Fortunately for the Pelicans, they return home where they have won and covered four in a row.   The Lakers are playing without point guard D'Angelo Russell (knee) and Julius Randle has missed the last three games with a hip pointer and is questionable for this game.  New Orleans is in a revenge situation after losing 126-99 in the first meeting on Nov. 12 when the Lakers shot 55.3 percent from the field and Russell scored 22 points. The Lakers are averaging 46.0 percent shooting on the season and are last in the NBA is defensive field goal percentage (.484). I'm laying the points with the Pelicans, my Slam Dunk.  Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Thunder on Tuesday, my Slam Dunk.  Oklahoma City has beaten the Lakers nine times in a row, (6-1 L7 ATS), including 113-96 on Oct. 30 when Russell Westbrook finished with 33 points, 11 rebounds and 16 assists.  The Thunder comes off a tough overtime loss to Indiana as Westbrook had a similar performance with 31 points, 11 boards and 15 assists.  The Lakers have lost three of their last four games as their defense has been ineffective allowing an average of 119.3 points during that span.  Chicago shot 51.7 percent and Jimmy Butler exploded for 40 points as the Bulls beat the Lakers 118-110 on Sunday and winning the rebounding battle 56-37.  Lakers point guard D'Angelo Russell is questionable with a knee injury.  The Thunder is #16 in the league with a .445 defensive field goal percentage while the Lakers are dead last at .475.  We'll lay the points with the Thunder, my Slam Dunk GOW. Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the LA Clippers on Friday, my NBA Main Event. The Los Angeles Clippers had a wake-up call on Wednesday when their seven-game winning streak was snapped in a 111-107 loss to Memphis, which was a 12.5-point underdog.  The Grizzlies took a 61-46 hafltime lead and never looked back as they made 15 of 26 from three-point range. J.J. Redick led the Clippers with 29 points and Blake Griffin added 25 points but they fell to 9-3 ATS this season.  The Clippers have won six of the last seven meetings and they're 5-1 ATS their last six games in Sacramento. The Kings lost their third in a row 110-105 to San Antonio in a game that wasn't as close as the score indicates as the Kings went on a 16-3 run to end the game.  DeMarcus Cousins finished with 26 points and 17 rebounds but, unfortunately, he just doesn't have enough talent surrounding him to make the Kings a playoff contender.  The visitor in this series is on a 5-0 ATS run and we expect more of the same. Look for Los Angeles to bounce back from Wednesday's loss with the win and cover.  I'm laying the points with the Clippers, my Main Event.  Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Cavaliers on Tuesday, my Slam Dunk. Cleveland got a scare at Philadelphia on Saturday as it blew an 18-point lead and then went down by five before winning 102-101.  LeBron James had 25 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds and the Cavaliers still managed to win even though they shot just 40.7 percent and Kyrie Irving was three of 17 from the field.  Atlanta snapped a two-game losing streak with a 112-97 win over Houston as Paul Millsap led the Hawks with 23 points and Dwight Howard added 20 points and 14 rebounds against his former teammates.  It was the fourth win for the Hawks this season but their other three wins came against opponents who have a combined record of 4-14. Atlanta is 0-5 ATS its last eight games in Cleveland and they're on a 1-8 ATS slide on the road against teams with a winning record. Cleveland swept the Hawks in last season's playoffs and I don't expect revenge here.  Look for the defending champions to be more focused after their close call in Philly.  I'm laying the points with the Cavaliers, my Slam Dunk.  Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Celtics on Sunday, my Slam Dunk!  Denver won at Minnesota on Thursday but then the second-worst shooting team in the league reverted to form in a 103-86 loss at Detroit last night while making just 31 of 94 shots for a .330 field goal percentage (we had the Pistons). The guard tandem of Jamal Murray and Emmanuel Mudiay are a combined 8-for-43 from the field the last two games, which is 18.6 percent. The Nuggets are playing a back-to-back (1-4 ATS last 5 in this spot) and their fourth road game in seven days.  Boston has been off since Thursday when it lost at Cleveland 128-122 but covered the 10.5-point spread.  Isaiah Thomas scored 30 points and Avery Bradley added 26 points and 10 rebounds.  The Celtics are the top shooting team in the NBA at nearly 50 percent and they're averaging 110.8 points per game, which is third behind the Cavaliers and Golden State. Boston has won the last four meetings (3-1 ATS) and the Nuggets are 1-5 ATS their last six games in Boston.  I'm laying the points with the Celtics, my Slam Dunk!  Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Pistons, my Saturday Knockout.  Detroit was playing its third game in four nights on Wednesday and paid for it with a lackluster effort at Brooklyn and losing 109-101.  The Nets shot 53.9 percent for the game and scored 38 points in the first quarter on the way to a 71-55 halftime lead. Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris led the Pistons with 23 points each, but Andre Drummond had no energy scoring six points with six rebounds.  Fortunately for the Pistons, they're back home where they are 3-0 straight up and ATS and they have two days of rest.  And they're on a 10-1 ATS run off an upset loss on the road. Denver won at Minnesota 102-99 on Thursday as the Timberwolves shot only 39.8 percent after shooting the lights out in a 116-80 win over Memphis two days before.  The Nuggets managed to win despite the fact their starting guards, Emmanuel Mudiay and Jamal Murray, were a combined four of 26 (15.4 percent) from the field. And Denver is 2-12 ATS the last 14 times off a SU road win.  Detroit bounced back from its other loss this season with a 26-point win over Orlando.  I'm laying the points with the Pistons, my KO on Saturday. Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Chicago Bulls on Friday night, my KO release. It didn't take long for New York to be in disarray as the team is having trouble adapting to its offensive game plan and has lost its last two games by an average of 16 points to Detroit and Houston.  The Knicks are 27th in the NBA averaging 96.8 points per game and the defense hasn't been any better giving up 110.2 to rank 24th.  Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points against the Rockets, but the Knicks had no answer for James Harden, who scored 30 points and dished out 15 assists.  Chicago won its first three games before losing at Boston 107-100 on Wednesday and the Bulls have adapted quickly to its new guard combo of Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo.  It was Jimmy Butler though who led the Bulls with 23 points against the Celtics.  Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah will make their returns to Chicago but the Bulls are in much better form than the Knicks.  The Bulls are on a 6-1 ATS run, overall, and they've covered five straight against teams with a losing record.  I'm laying the points with the Bulls, my Friday Knockout. Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Warriors on Thursday night.  Golden State has won its last three games which were all on the road and now the Warriors have a chance to make up for their disastrous home opener when they lost to San Antonio by 29 points.  The Warriors blew out Portland 127-104 on Tuesday while shooting 56.2 percent from the field and with Stephen Curry leading his team with 28 points and Ian Clark came off the bench to score 22 points. Oklahoma City is at a scheduling disadvantage as it won a tough 85-83 decision over the Clippers in Los Angeles last night.  OKC is 4-0 but three of the wins were against Philadelphia, the Suns and Lakers.  The Thunder shot just 40.5 percent against the Clippers and Russell Westbrook was the only player in double digits with 35 points.  Oklahoma City is 1-7 ATS its last eight games at Golden State, while the Warriors are 33-16 ATS under Kerr when laying 6 1/2. to 12 points at home.  I'm laying the points with the Warriors, my NBA Slam Dunk on Thursday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Heat on Tuesday night, my Slam Dunk.  Sacramento is playing its third game in four nights and lost 106-95 at Atlanta on Monday and it could have been worse as the Hawks missed 18 free-throw attempts out of 47 overall.  DeMarcus Cousins finished with only 14 points while Rudy Gay led the Kings with 22 points.  The Kings finally held an opponent to a low field goal percentage, however, they were done in by 34 personal fouls.  Miami came back from a 16-point deficit before losing to San Antonio 106-99 on Sunday.  Hassan Whiteside scored 27 points and grabbed 15 boards and Goran Dragic added 25 points.  Whiteside has been dealing with some cramping and plans to stay extra hydrated for this matchup. The Kings are 3-11 ATS their last 14 games in Miami, while the Heat are on an 11-4 ATS run at home going back to last season.  Miami is home and with the scheduling advantage.  I'm laying the points with the Heat, my Slam Dunk. Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Rockets on Wednesday, my Wipeout release!  Mike D'Antoni and his high-powered offense is back and the Houston Rockets averaged 118.6 points in the preseason to easily lead the league.  Houston added Ryan Anderson, Eric Gordon, Nene and Pablo Prigioni while Dwight Howard and Terrance Jones are gone.  James Harden averaged 29.0 points last season and may have a field day playing in D'Antoni's offense.  Luke Walton takes over the coaching duties with the Lakers and while he seldom lost while filling in for Steve Kerr at Golden State, he's in for a rude awakening with the rebuilding Lakers, who went 2-6 in preseason.  Los Angeles has some young talent in D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle and it added Timofey Mozgoz, Luol Deng and Jose Calderon, but it will take awhile to put the pieces together.  The Lakers finished last season 5-12 ATS and Houston is 6-0 ATS  the last six games in Los Angeles. I'm laying the points with the Rockets, my Wednesday Wipeout.  Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with the Warriors on Thursday. We played the Cavaliers last time out, due in part to the fact the Warriors rotations would be hamstrung with Draymond Green sidelined by a suspension. As Steve Kerr said, the team was lacking in communication on the defensive end. But Green is back and I expect the Warriors to play much better. Before the suspension, with Green on the floor, the Warriors had forced LeBron James into committing an average of nearly 6 turnovers per game. We felt he would flourish in Green's absence and James and Kyrie Irving both did so in historic proportions. Obviously, losing Andrew Bogut early in the third quarter magnified the loss of Green. Before Bogut was injured, we saw a dead-even first half, ending the second quarter in a 61-61 tie. I believe the Warriors can win without Bogut (out for the rest of the Finals) as long as Green is on the floor, keeping the Warriors cohesive on the defensive end. Offensively, GSW went cold from the outside in the second half, making just 3 of their final 22 3-pointers. I don't expect those kind of struggles two games in a row. Golden State enters on a 9-1-1 ATS run off a double-digit home loss and they're 12-3 ATS this season when playing with revenge, outscoring those 15 opponents by an average of 117-106. The last time on this floor, Golden State won 108-97. Draymond Green scored 9 points, while pulling down 12 rebounds, with 4 assists, and 3 blocks. Bogut played just 10 minutes and didn't attempt a single shot, while grabbing just 1 rebound. You see where I'm going. I'm taking the points with the Warriors. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with the Cavaliers on Monday night. Draymond Green has been ruled out for tonight's tilt in the Bay Area. While there's always the thought that someone else will pick up the slack for a missing piece, at least for one game, I'm of the thought that it's going to be tough for GSW to get used to not having him on the floor. Green, as reported, has been on the floor for all 88 Golden State wins this season. His harassing and hounding defensive play has forced LeBron into several miscues during this series. James has averaged nearly six turnovers per game. I don't believe anyone on the Warriors roster will be able to come close to duplicating what Green gives them. Obviously, if things open up on the offensive end for the Cavaliers, we could very well see a game six, or at least have a close, hard fought tilt with an underdog cover tonight. We note that road dogs playing .600 to .750 basketball are on a 30-9 ATS run against home teams leading a series and playing at least .750 basketball on the season. I'm grabbing the points with the Cleveland Cavaliers, my Monday night Slam Dunk. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night. The Cavs led game one, 68-67 with 1:26 to go in the third quarter and looked like they were making the move, certainly with momentum on their side. But over the final 90 seconds of the third quarter, the Warriors closed with a 7-0 run. While one could feel the momentum switching back to GSW, Tyronn Lue apparently could not see it, and didn't realize how much of a difference it would mean to the outcome of the game. In all, the Cavaliers scored just eight points over eight minutes of game time and trailed by 20 points with 5:30 to go in the fourth. The Warriors received a great night from their bench, outscoring Cleveland's reserves, 45-10. Starting guard J.R. Smith, on the roster for offense, took a grand total of three more shots than I did and I didn't suit-up. I expect a different approach in game two on Sunday. I expect a more focused effort early-on and throughout the game. LeBron James and Kevin Love played well for most of the game. I expect others to step up and fill their roles next time out. The Cavs defended Steph Curry and Klay Thompson well, but couldn't overcome Shaun Livingston and Leandro Barbosa combining for 31 points on 13 of 15 shooting, including 4 of 4 from behind the arc. I don't believe we'll see such bench dominance in game two. I'm grabbing the points with the Cavaliers on Sunday, my Knockout GOM. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with Cleveland on Thursday night. A lot is made of the job Andre Igoudala did in last year's Finals, and rightly so. Igoudala was a thorn in LeBron's side and then some. But the Cavaliers' are a different looking team a year later and will present a different challenge. With all hands on deck this year, a jump-shooting team will win the NBA championship, whether it's Cleveland or Golden State. When the Cavs traded for the services of Channing Frye, we were on-air, doing a radio show, and said it was a key factor that would get the Cavs back to the Finals. Yes, having LeBron on the team made that a bit easier to predict. But the reason we felt Frye would be a difference maker is the fact the Cavaliers can now space the floor like never before, thanks to the Frye/Love duo. The huge spacing, something the Warriors didn't face in this year's regular season meetings, has allowed the Cavs' screen-and-rolls to be of the elite variety when it involves James & Love. And let's not fail to mention, Frye's ability to take "bigs" outside gives Cleveland yet another dimension. The Cavs will need help from the bench when GSW goes small, and Frye is not a dominant rebounder, but that's something we believe could effect the series more than it will game one. All this and I haven't even mentioned Kyrie Irving being healthy this time around. The Cavs enter on a 12-2 ATS run when playing just their second game in seven days, outscoring the opposition by an average score of 105-91. They're also on an 11-3 ATS run when facing teams that make at least 46% of their FGA. We expect the situations to continue trending in a winning direction, at least in game one. I'm grabbing the points with the Cavaliers, my Thursday Slam Dunk. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Thunder on Saturday night. We had the Warriors last time out, and while we covered and cashed the ticket, I didn't expect the contest to be as close as it was. OKC, despite being in a pretty tough playoff spot, had their chances down the stretch even though Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook got very little help from their teammates. The two took too many shots. 59 to be exact. I expect the Thunder to return to what they did in games three and four. Look for others to get involved early in this one, including Roberson and Waiters, who shot a combined nine FGA, scoring just six total points in the game five loss. The two combined for 27 points and Roberson grabbed 12 boards in game four, after combining for 26 points in game three. Golden State had to hold on for dear life, despite finishing +18 in points in the paint, +13 in fast break points, and dead-even in rebounding. I don't believe they'll duplicate those numbers tonight. We should also note that the lineup that gave GSW a boost early in the fourth quarter didn't include a single starter for part of the surge and just one starter (Harrison Barnes) for a couple more trips up-and-down the floor. We also expect Steven Adams to have a bigger presence early-on, after suffering early foul trouble on Thursday. OKC enters on a 12-3-1 ATS run following a SU loss. They're 4-0 ATS in their last four home games, and 5-0-1 in their last six at home against GSW. Meanwhile, the Warriors are on a 0-4 ATS slide following their last four SU wins. I'm backing Oklahoma City minus the points, my Knockout release. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with the Raptors on Friday night. We had Cleveland in game five and obviously didn't expect a 38 point win. Toronto was historically bad, but they're back home and the host has dominated play between these teams. It's more than home court advantage though. We like the fact that Jonas Valanciunas returned in game five, "shaking off some rust" and scoring nine points in 18 minutes. With a game under his belt, he might not be in full game shape yet, but he is expected to see more time. His return means more looks in the paint on the offensive end, which can calm things down for the Raptors, who were all over the place last time out. This also should open things up a little more for the Toronto backcourt, which played horribly after very good performances at home. The Cavs did a terrific job getting Kevin Love involved early and often on the offensive end in the game five win. But I expect a couple of adjustments to deny, or at least offer some resistance on screen-and-rolls tonight. The Raptors have covered four straight home games against the Cavaliers and they're on an 8-1 ATS run at home against strong teams, those that outscore their opponents by at least three ppg. I'm taking the points with the Raptors, my Slam Dunk on Friday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with Golden State on Thursday night. We had the Cavaliers last night, off a pair of games on the road where they looked quite beatable. The Cavs responded with a 38-point blowout win. No, I don't expect the Warriors to win by 38, but I do expect to see the heart of a champion, putting forth their best possible performance with their season on the line, ending in a spread covering game five win. Make shots and all will be forgiven. They've also had two games and a day off to adjust to the lineup that has given them their most trouble. That's the OKC group of Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka, Andre Roberson, Rusell Westbrook, and Dion Waiters. That group, when on the floor together, has given the Warriors fits. But I expect adjustments to be made on the same floor where the Warriors have gone 46-3 SU. I'm also not buying a reporter's quote that Steph Curry is playing at 70% health. We do know that the last time on this floor, GSW crushed OKC, 118-91. We do know that the Warriors are on a 21-8 ATS run in revenge of a loss where the opponent scored at least 100 points. And GSW fits a 42-17 NBA league wide ATS spot, backing teams in revenge of a loss by 20 or more points, if they're also off a SU loss by at least 15 points as a favorite. GSW closed a short fave and lost by 24 in game four, fitting all required steps. I'm laying the points with Golden State, my NBA GOY. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with Golden State on Tuesday night. The Warriors are off an embarrassing blowout loss in game three and we believe they'll bounce back here. We had OKC last time out and expected big games from Durant & Westbrook and we got exactly that. The game was actually tied at 40 in the second quarter before OKC finished the half on a 32-7 run. Golden State looked to pack it in after that, looking forward to the rest of the "war," understanding the "battle" had been lost. GSW made just 2 of 23 shots in that late first half OKC run and Draymond Green was a disaster throughout the game. But GSW is a perfect 12-0 SU (9-3 ATS) off a SU loss this season and we also don't expect 33 "free" points given to OKC at the FT line (37 attempts). I expect a much more aggressive Golden State squad in game four. The Warriors are 10-2 ATS this season in revenge, outscoring the 12 opponents by an average of 120-105. We'll look for another cover in this one. I'm laying the points with the Warriors, my Main Event. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Cavaliers on Monday night. Tough outing for the Cavs last time out after cruising passed the Raptors in games one and two. Cleveland had an off night shooting wise, especially Kyrie Irving (probable) and Kevin Love, who combined to make just four of 28 FGA. Bismack Biyombo set the tone for game three and the Cavs took one to the chops. But I expect Cleveland to bounce back in spread covering fashion and I also expect LeBron James to set the tone on Monday. His Cavs are in a strong NBA-wide situation. NBA favorites of 3 1/2 to 9 1/2 points are 27-6 ATS if they're off a double-digit loss as a road favorite, provided they scored less than 85 points. And road teams in general are 44-18 ATS if they're off a loss as a favorite and their opponent is off a win as a home dog. I'm laying the points with the Cavaliers, my Situational Slam. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Cavaliers & Raptors on Saturday night. This series is 21-5-1 to the Under in the last 27 meetings in Toronto. I bring it up because Toronto's only real chance of making a series out of this is to deny the Cavaliers on the offensive end. At least offer a little more resistance and slow the tempo down a bit. The good news is that the Cavs are not making their treys like they did against the Hawks. Cleveland has made just 14 of 41, 34% of their 3-pointers through the first two games of the series. They have more than made up for it with their hot shooting inside the arc, including a lot of open lanes, allowing them to drive to the basket, along with a ton of FTA. Toronto was weary on the defensive end in game one and they looked like they packed it in after a 46-46 second quarter tie went to the wayside with a big Cavaliers' run. The Raptors have turned to defense in a couple of situations they're in today. Toronto has allowed just 92 ppg in their last seven playoff home games. And they're on a 33-18 Under run in revenge of a double-digit road loss. They held those 51 teams to an average of less than 94 ppg, combining for an average of less than 190 total ppg. And finally, we should mention that NBA teams are 27-10 to the Under when the total is in a 190 to 199.5 range, provided that team has won at least eight of their last 10, and are playing no more than their third game in the last 10 days. I'm playing the Under between the Cavs & Raptors, my Eastern Finals Total. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with the Raptors on Thursday. We had the Cavaliers last time out and I mentioned in the analysis that Cleveland's experience advantage would show-up in game-one. We also had Toronto fresh off a hard-fought seven game series with Miami and playing with short rest. That made it tough to adjust to the quicker paced game they'd see against Cleveland and the Raptors were never in the contest. Now they've had a game to adjust, to get their legs under them, and to make the adjustments with Jonas Valanciunas sidelined. Toronto has been here before this postseason, suffering double digit losses to Indiana and Miami, bouncing back with SU wins all four times, by an average margin of 11.5 ppg. We don't need them to win outright in this one. In fact, with the big point-spread, we only need the Raptors to hang the number and we believe they will. Cleveland went inside in game-one, surprising the Raptors a bit after the Cavs had crushed the Atlanta Hawks from behind the arc. Look for Toronto to make the defensive adjustments, including not allowing James & Love much room to begin their screen-and-rolls. The Cavs are excellent when those two are the key ingredients, but as reported, their points per chance drops to the likes of Sacramento & Utah when anyone else is involved in Cavalier screen-and-rolls. I also expect a better game from the Raptor backcourt, including Kyle Lowry, who looked overwhelmed by it all in game-one. Again, this was no surprise to us. The Raptors enter on a 13-5 ATS run against teams playing better than .600 basketball. Dwane Casey's teams are 42-24 ATS off a double digit road loss, and NBA road dogs are 75-46 ATS off a loss by 20 or more, provided the home team is off a win. I'm grabbing the points with the Raptors, my Knockout release. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with the Thunder on Wednesday. We backed the Thunder on these pages in game one and collected the win. I mentioned in my game one write-up that it would be interesting to see if the new-look lineup for OKC, the "big" lineup with Steven Adams and Enes Kanter would inflict as much damage on Golden State that it did on San Antonio. We found out, at least in game one, that it did. Brilliant coaching by Billy Donovan when he kept his big lineup on the floor when Golden State attempted to dictate lineup changes, going small at times in the second half. Donovan didn't budge and OKC won outright. OKC is 1-3 SU this season against the Warriors, but could have won all four games. The Thunder trailed by one point with 2 1/2 minutes to go in the first meeting at Golden State. They led after three quarters and trailed by just two baskets with 4 1/2 minutes to go in the most recent regular season meeting at Oracle Arena. And the Thunder led by four points with 11-seconds to go in regulation in the lone meeting in OKC, before losing by three in OT. Also, after Monday's game, OKC has out-rebounded GSW in all four games. It appears the Thunder have learned to win games late, rather than letting leads slip away this postseason. The Warriors couldn't handle Russell Westbrook at either end of the floor in the second half in game one. He scored 24 points over the final two quarters, to go with 12 assists and six rebounds. The Adams/Kanter combo opens up big time space on screen-and-rolls and the Warriors had no answer. Having said that, Kevin Durant was off-kilter in game one, making just 10 of 30 shots, but I'd expect a concerted effort to get his shot back in game two. If Durant improves even just a little, GSW is going to continue to have trouble on the defensive end. We should note the Thunder enter on a 10-2 ATS run on the road against teams playing better than .600 home basketball. They're also on a 4-0 ATS run, overall. And let's not forget how well they play against quality 3-point shooting teams, currently on a 15-5 ATS run against those who make at least 36% of their treys. I believe the number is too high and I'm taking the points with the Thunder, my Slam Dunk. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Cavaliers on Tuesday night. Cleveland has yet to be challenged, sweeping each of their two playoff series thus far. Kevin Love was lost in the first round of last year's playoffs, but this time, he's healthy and adding yet another dimension to the Cavaliers' attack. Cleveland made 77 3-pointers in the sweep of the Hawks and Toronto will have to pay attention to the deep perimeter, while making sure they aren't taken advantage of inside. It's a tough spot, made even tougher with the injury to Jonas Valanciunas, who is out indefinitely. And obviously, the Cavaliers own a big advantage in experience. I do believe that edge will show in game one. The Raptors enter on a 1-5 ATS slide off a SU win, while the Cavaliers are on a 12-3 ATS run against teams playing better than .600 basketball. I'm laying the points with the Cavaliers, my Knockout release. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with the Thunder on Monday. After getting crushed by San Antonio in game one of their previous series, Billy Donovan and OKC made the adjustments, going big with a nice mix of Adams, Kanter, and Ibaka, and with step-up play from Dion Waiters at times throughout the series. Not all of the adjustments will work against Golden State the way they did against the Spurs. But OKC, despite losing all three meetings with the Warriors this season, had their chances to win all three. The Thunder trailed by one point with 2 1/2 minutes to go in the first meeting at Golden State. Enes Kanter finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds in 19 minutes of action. The Thunder led after three quarters in the most recent meeting at Oracle Arena, and trailed by just two baskets in the final 4 1/2 minutes. And the Thunder led by four points with 11-seconds to go in regulation in the lone meeting in OKC, before losing by three in OT. OKC out-rebounded GSW in all three games, but couldn't overcome 20 of 68, 29% shooting from behind the arc. Oklahoma City knows they can play with Golden State and they believe they can win, coming close in all three regular season meetings. They also know they can beat elite NBA teams on the road, taking two of three from a Spurs' team that lost just one home game all season. The Warriors have topped 105 points in seven straight games, but this is not a good thing for certain NBA favorites of 3 1/2 to 9 1/2 points. Home faves in that range have covered just 18 of 68 after scoring 105 or more points in at least five straight games. And let's not forget the Warriors struggled at times with Portland's backcourt and allowed 120, 125, and 121 points in their last three games against the Blazers. OKC enters on a 6-1 ATS run on the road against teams with a winning home mark and I'm backing the dog here. I'm taking the points with the Thunder, my Slam Dunk on Monday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Spurs & Thunder on Thursday. These teams have played to the Under in nine of their last 12 in OKC, and the Spurs get defensive off a loss. San Antonio has played to the Under following each of their last four SU losses, cashing the "low" by an average margin of more than 15 ppg. We've also seen them allow just 92 ppg in 37 outings as road chalk this season. As far as what's taking place on the floor, Manu Ginobili and Patty Mills are not making shots, so we may see others getting some of their minutes; others who can play defense and not worry about what's happening as much on the offensive end. Manu & Patty aren't making shots anyway, so the Spurs might as well get more defensive. I expect to see this in an elimination game on Thursday. Then there's the lack of ball movement from the Spurs over big chunks of gametime, which has been rather eye opening. Part of that is the athletic advantage of OKC on the defensive end. Besides the situations already mentioned, the Spurs are 14-3 to the Under on the road against teams with a winning home record, and they're 15-5 to the Under against teams averaging at least 103 ppg. I'm playing the Under, my Total Knockout on Thursday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Spurs on Tuesday night. Some questioned whether or not Billy Donovan could coach at the NBA level. The answer is a definite - yes. Donovan's Thunder trailed going into the fourth quarter of game four and the Thunder looked like the second best team on the floor. The former Florida Gators coach then gambled...and won. As seen, but lightly reported, Donovan went to a lineup consisting of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Steven Adams, Dion Waiters, and Enes Kanter. The lineup gave OKC scorers at every position. The lineup worked and the Spurs looked off kilter down the stretch. But the chess match continues and there's no reason to think Gregg Popovich won't make the correct adjustments on Tuesday. Don't be surprised to see more minutes for the "Big 3." San Antonio heads into this one on a 30-12 ATS run when tied in a playoff series. They're 18-5 ATS in revenge of a double digit road loss, outscoring the 23 opponents by an average of 108-96. I expect a quick adjustment by the Spurs and I'm laying the points, my Tuesday Slam Dunk. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Warriors on Monday night. Steph Curry is listed as doubtful for this one, but after a poor performance last time out, I expect his teammates to bounce back strong even if he doesn't suit-up. Golden State jumped out to a 28-22 lead after one quarter of play on Saturday and all things looked well. But Klay Thompson and Draymond Green took a break and spent the opening minutes of the second quarter on the bench and the team never got back on track, getting outscored 36 to 18 in the second and that was that, for all intents and purposes. Thompson stated his team began shooting the ball too quickly, rather than working the ball for better shots. I believe they'll go a bit deeper into the shot-clock on Monday. The Warriors were simply off kilter, even making just 58.8% of their FTA. The last time Golden State lost with Curry sidelined, they came back and crushed the Rockets 121-94 in Houston to take a 3-1 series lead. They're 18-6 ATS off a double digit loss as road chalk, outscoring the 24 opponents by an average of 115-103. And we note that NBA road teams are on a 43-18 ATS run if they're off a loss as a favorite, provided their opponent is off a home win as an underdog. I'm laying the points with the Warriors, my Knockout release. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm backing the Thunder on Sunday night. We passed game one of the series, but have played and cashed the last two games, winning with OKC in game two and the Spurs last time out. We got what we thought we would in the Thunder's game two victory, but we felt fortunate to cover with San Antonio two nights ago. Even that particular win showed us the Spurs are having some trouble with OKC's athleticism. LaMarcus Aldridge was terrific again and he had plenty of help from Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker, yet the Thunder had their chances before losing by four. Russell Westbrook couldn't shoot straight, making just 10 of 31 shots and committed five turnovers, or we might be looking at a 2-1 series lead for the Thunder. Durant took just 18 FGA in the loss and I expect KD to be much busier on the offensive end in this one. Toss in Steven Adams dominant work on the glass and OKC is going to be a tough out. San Antone has struggled when playing with just one day off between games, covering just five of their last 17 in this spot. NBA underdogs, playing .600 to .750 basketball on the season, are on a 42-15 ATS run if they're trailing in a playoff series, provided their opponent is an elite one, playing at least .750 basketball. Finally, OKC is on an 11-3 ATS run at home against the Spurs. I'm backing the Thunder, my Knockout on Sunday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm backing the Spurs minus the points on Friday. We passed game one and cashed with the Thunder in game two. A quick recap - the Spurs were outplayed virtually start to finish in the loss. There were also some odd player combos throughout the contest by Gregg Popovich, which if you didn't watch the game, you can read about on a couple of the Spurs' newsworthy websites. Having said that, I expect Pop and the Spurs to get back to their normal pick-and-rolls (like they executed in game one), and back on track in game three. After all, it's what they do. The Spurs are 29-12 ATS when tied in a playoff series. They're also on a 9-1 ATS run in revenge of a SU loss as a favorite of seven or more, outscoring the 10 opponents by an average of 103-88. We also have a different situation for San Antonio's older veterans in this one, coming in with three days rest after playing game two with just one day off between games. NBA teams are on a 42-20 ATS run when the line is in the +3/-3 range, provided they're off a loss as home chalk and have played no more than three games in 10 days. And finally, OKC has covered just nine of their last 29, allowing 106 ppg, when the line is in tonight's range of +3/-3. I'm laying the short points with the Spurs, my Friday Knockout. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Raptors on Thursday. As poorly as the Toronto starting backcourt shot in game one, the Raptors still managed to take the Heat to OT, before losing the contest. But Miami suffered some bumps and bruises, including nagging injuries suffered by Hassan Whiteside and Dwyane Wade. While both are expected to play tonight, they're also expected to be less than 100% healthy. And let's not forget that before the loss, Toronto had won the last three meetings at home by nearly 13 ppg, with the closest margin coming in a 112-104 victory. Toronto has alternated wins and losses since April 21 and I expect the trend to continue in a spread covering manner. Toronto has played well against solid shooting teams, going 11-3 ATS against opponents who make 46% of their FGA on the season. Meanwhile, the Heat have not helped bankrolls in tonight's situation, covering just 11 of their last 35 off a road win. I'm laying the points with the Raptors, my Slam Dunk on Thursday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Raptors on Sunday. The road team has taken two of the games in this series, but I believe that stops here. The Pacers whipped the Raptors last time out, but Dwane Casey has gotten the most out of his teams off bad losses, going 41-23 ATS off a double digit road loss. The Raptors not only won 56 games, but because of players like DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, Toronto has been called the greatest threat to the Cavaliers' attempt to win their second straight conference title. Toronto has yet to play their best game on the offensive end, yet can still win the series. And we do have history on our side. Only five 7-seeds have knocked 2-seeds from the postseason in 32 years. I do like the matchups and believe DeRozan will come through on the offensive end, leading his team to a spread covering win. I'm laying the points with the Raptors, my Knockout on Sunday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.  The home team is 4-0 SU/ATS in this series and we expect the home team to win and cover again.  Miami came very close to taking a 3-1 series lead before losing game four, 89-85.  The Heat made just 39% of their FGA, got out-shot 30-21 at the FT line, outscored 25-14, and finished with a minus-seven turnover margin.  The Heat simply played poorly, yet had a chance, down by just two points over the final minute of the game.  Now back home I expect Dwyane Wade and company to regain their shooting prowess. Wade made 19 of 38, 50% of his shots in game's one and two.  The Heat are on a 7-0 ATS run at home against teams with a losing road record and 13-3 ATS in their last 16 home games, overall. They're also 9-1 ATS at home off a loss by six points or less, winning by an average of 104-92. The Hornets will want to take shots early in the clock again and they will fire it up from behind the arc, but that plays into Miami's hands at home where the Heat are on a 13-5 ATS run against teams that take at least 18 3-pointers per game.  Miami outscored those 18 opponents by an average of 111-101. We'll back the home team to make it five straight...I'm laying the points with Miami, my Eastern Conf Knockout. Thanks & GL!  Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night. The Hawks couldn't have shot much worse last time out, yet still had a chance to capture game four on a team that doesn't give up much on their home floor. Atlanta made just 12 of 43 3-pointers and connected on only nine FTs, but still took the Celtics to OT. The Hawks held a decent sized lead with 9:16 to go in the fourth quarter, then scored just four points over the next 7 1/2 minutes of game time. But we're talking about a team that closed the regular season extremely well, winning 15 of 20, and finished 27-14 at home on the season. Boston was another team that played well at home, but they finished a game under .500 on the road, where they're just 3-13 ATS in their last 16 against teams playing better than .600 basketball at home. Atlanta has lost the last two games in this series, but they're on a 15-5 ATS run in revenge of two losses, provided the opponent scored at least 100 points in each game. And the Hawks have owned Boston in three of their last four home wins against them, winning by scores of 118-107, 121-97, and 89-72. Even game-one's close call in this series was a bit misleading as the Hawks led by 18 points in the third quarter before seemingly taking their foot off the gas. They stayed focused throughout in game two and I expect more of the same in this one. I'm laying the points with the Hawks, my Knockout release. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Heat & Hornets on Monday night. The Heat made nearly 58% of their FGA in each of the first two games in this series, both coming in Miami, but the adjustments made by Charlotte in game three made a huge difference in the contest. After scoring 123 & 115 points to begin the series, Miami was held to 80 points in a 16-point loss. I do believe the tone has been set, at least for one more lower scoring contest. We've seen that often between these two teams with 20 of their last 26 meetings in Charlotte staying under the total. The Hornets have been tremendous against quality shooting teams, those making at least 46% of their FGA, which has produced a 9-1 Under run at home. And opening round game-four tilts are on a 25-9 Under run, provided the total is in the 190 to 199.5 range. That's the case here and we'll look for a second straight "low" between these teams. I'm playing the Under between the Heat & Hornets, my Total Beatdown on Monday night. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Golden State Warriors on Sunday afternoon. The Warriors not only could have won game three without Steph Curry (ankle), but apparently, they should have. According to the NBA, James Harden should have been called for a personal foul on his game winning shot. But we're happy with the situation. Curry is expected to return and we believe the Warriors will win by a wide, spread covering margin. Golden State, the league's top shooting team and 3-point shooting squad, came within a point of the road win last time out despite making just 6 of 25 3-pointers and finishing with a minus-15 rebound margin. NBA road teams are 42-17 ATS if they're off a road loss as chalk and the opponent is off a home win as an underdog. And Golden State is on an 18-7 ATS run in revenge of a road loss over the last two seasons, averaging 112 ppg in the 25 outings. One final note: We will lay the points whether Curry plays or not. But again, he's been upgraded to probable for Sunday's contest. The Warriors minus the points are my Knockout GOM. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with OKC on Thursday night. The postseason has been pretty ugly with blowout after blowout. It seems as though only half of the 16 teams actually belong in the playoffs. OKC crushed Dallas in the series opener, but unlike several other series, the Thunder slipped-up in game two and actually lost outright at home laying roughly 14 points. The Thunder are 39-20 ATS off a home loss by no more than three points, and Dallas has been horrible against teams that make at least 46% of their FGA, covering six of 24 in the second half of the last two seasons. The Mavs are also on a 0-5 ATS slide at home. We also expect better results from the best player on the floor, Kevin Durant. The Thunder star missed 26 of his 33 FGA in game two. Add in Russell Westbrook's poor outing and the two combined for a 15 of 55, 27% shooting night. Obviously, if they were to repeat those numbers, OKC would be in trouble. But I expect Durant & Westbrook to come out of the locker room like men possessed. Dallas is a walking "MASH" unit right now and even Dirk Nowitzki will be less than 100% healthy after suffering a bone bruise to his knee in game two. There's even been swelling, but the Dallas star says he'll give it a go. Whether he plays or not, we expect a game that resembles game one more than game two. I'm laying the points with the Thunder, my Main Event on Thursday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with the Pistons on Wednesday. Detroit had their chances in game one, which included a seven-point lead early in the fourth quarter and a small, three-point deficit with just over two minutes to go before falling 106-101. The Cavs were a virtual three-man team with LeBron, Irving, and Love, scoring a combined 81 of the team's 106 points. The rest of the team made a grand total of just 11 FGs. Six Piston players scored between 21 and 9 points and Andre Drummond & Tobias Harris were strong on the glass. And of course, Reggie Jackson did a fine job directing traffic. The one change Detroit has mentioned is to give Stanley Johnson more playing time. Johnson was outstanding in game one, but played just 16 1/2 minutes. He can be a difference maker down the stretch. The Pistons enter on a 9-2 ATS run in Cleveland and the road team in this series has covered four straight. The Cavaliers have covered just four of their last 14 home games against teams with a losing road record. I'm grabbing the points with the Pistons, my DogPound release. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with the Indiana Pacers on Monday night. The Pacers clocked the Raptors, 100-90 as a 7-point dog in Toronto in game one. I'm not one to zig-zag in the NBA. The common zig-zag theory in the NBA playoffs has not worked well for a while, and in fact, the oddsmaker grew used to it and began baking likely public reaction into the line. Toronto has truly struggled in the postseason under Dwayne Casey and it's more than a coincidence. They run a ton of isolation plays, relying too much on getting to the FT line. It hasn't worked. The Raptors are 3-9 SU in postseason play under Casey, losing seven straight SU and eight in a row ATS. And if that's not enough, the Raptors are are just 1-5-1 ATS as playoff chalk, winning just two of those games, outright. We could make the argument that the Pacers entered the playoffs a little better than their 45-37 record would indicate. Let's not forget that 20 of their losses came in games where they held a fourth quarter lead. Toronto may find the "sweet elixir" and snap their seven-game outright playoff skid, but I believe it'll go down to the wire. Remember last year's playoffs when Washington upset the Raptors in game one in Toronto then followed it up with a 117-106 upset win in game two, en route to a first round sweep. The pressure will certainly be on the shoulders of the Raptors in this one. There are a few techs worthy of mentioning. The Pacers enter on a 15-0 ATS run off a win by at least 10 points as an underdog of at least six points. Meanwhile, Toronto is on a 5-17 ATS slide in revenge of a SU loss as home chalk over the last two seasons. Combined with the 0-8 ATS slide mentioned above, we have three situations that add up to a 40-5 mark. I'm taking the points with the Pacers, my Monday night Knockout. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. Boston is a "sexy" underdog to win this series, and even to open up the series with a game-1 win. But we'll buck the general feeling in the opener and side with the team that made it to the Eastern Conf Finals just one year ago. ATL was just 14-12 SU through their first 26 games this season, but went 15-3 SU when it mattered most before dropping the final two games of the season. The Hawks are able to match Boston's style of play and have fared quite well against uptempo teams, those who take at least 83 shots per game. ATL has outscored opponents 107-97 the last 27 times against teams of that ilk. They're 44-23 ATS at home under Mike Budenholzer when facing uptempo teams, outscoring those 67 opponents by an average of 104-96. Meanwhile, the Celtics could have used home floor advantage. While ATL went 27-14 at home this season, Boston finished a game below .500 on the road. They're just 3-14 ATS on the road against teams with a winning home record. Boston won the first meeting of the season, back on November 13. But Atlanta won convincingly in the final three meetings, including an 8-point win in Beantown and two wins in ATL by scores of 118-107 and 121-97. We'll back the Hawks to win and cover game-1. I'm laying the points with the Atlanta Hawks, my Knockout release. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with the Miami Heat on Tuesday night. Both teams have something to play for with Detroit looking to potentially overtake Indiana for the 7th seed in the east, while Miami is looking to wrap-up home court in the first round of the playoffs. I don't believe Detroit sees a lot of difference between opening at Cleveland or opening at Toronto, but playing with home court advantage would be a big deal for Miami. The Heat enter on a 20-9 ATS run against teams that average at least 83 shots per game. Those teams are considered uptempo teams (Detroit being one of them) and the Heat outscored those 29 teams by an average score of 107-101. They're also on an 8-1 ATS run against teams that don't get after the basketball, averaging no more than seven steals per game. Miami is the better team and have more to play for in our opinion. While that doesn't equate to an automatic win, we believe we're getting the best of it with the Heat getting points. I'm playing Miami plus the points, my Slam Dunk on Tuesday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Rockets on Monday night. Minnesota has played better of late, but they have also been all over the west in April. Now back home after a 3-game sweep on the road, the T-Wolves will attempt to play spoiler. Houston has done themselves no favors and they need help to gain a playoff berth. They do catch a potential break tonight with Utah & Dallas matched against each other. If Houston takes care of business and the Mavs beat the Jazz, the Rockets and Utah will each own a 40-41 record with one game to go. James Harden has been playing like a man possessed of late and I expect him to lead his team to a spread covering win. The Rockets have owned this series, winning six straight and 10 of 11, while covering 11 of the last 15 at Minnesota. The Timberwolves have lost four straight ATS on their home floor and they're in a tough NBA spot tonight. NBA teams are on a 52-18 ATS run if the line is in the range it is tonight and they're facing an opponent allowing 103 ppg or more, provided they're off a win by no more than three points. Both teams fit the bill. Must win doesn't mean will win. But in this case, we'll back the Rockets minus the points on Monday, our Mismatch release. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Knicks & 76ers on Friday night.  New York has slowed down their pace and it has certainly shown in their Over/Under results.  The Knicks and their opponents have played to the Under in 17 of their last 20 games.  We expect more of the same tonight.  And while the Sixers normally play with a higher posted total, they have gone Under in nine of their last 11 games.  Philly has made just 395 of 986 attempts, shooting 40% in the 11 games. Shooting 40% over the course of the entire season would have them dead last in FG percentage, dropping them below the L.A. Lakers.  With the way the Knicks are playing, the tempo they're employing, we doubt Philly will pick up the pace. The Knicks are 12-4 to the Under in their last 16 against teams with a losing record and they're 18-7 to the Under since Kurt Rambis took over as HC.  We're playing the Under between the Knicks & Sixers, my Total Dominator on Friday night.  Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the short points with the Rockets on Wednesday night. Houston is fighting for their playoff lives, trailing Utah by half a game for the 8th and final spot, and currently one full game behind the 7th-seeded Dallas Mavericks. We backed Houston last time out and cashed when they knocked off OKC, 118-110. The Rockets have stepped up their game against the better teams on their schedule, beating Toronto and Cleveland, along with the win over OKC in three of their last five games. They'll take on a banged-up Dallas squad that has paid much more attention to defense rather than the offensive end of late, turning a three-game losing streak and a 2-10 SU slide, into a current four-game winning streak. But three of the four wins came against Denver, New York, and Minnesota, while just one win came against a team playing winning basketball (Detroit). They happened to catch the Pistons in Detroit's first game after a big win over the Thunder. I don't believe the new defensive focus will work against the Rockets, who have averaged 110 ppg in their last nine meetings, winning and covering seven times. Dallas has covered just eight of their last 30 at home off a double digit road win, while Houston is at their best playing with two days off between games, going 17-4 ATS in this scenario. We backed Houston on Sunday and we'll do so again here. I'm laying the points with the Rockets, my Wednesday Knockout. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Trail Blazers on Tuesday night. Portland has taken five straight in this series and nine of the last 11. And while we have a Blazers' team, looking to win every game and catch Memphis for 5th in the Western Conference standings, the Kings have questionable motivation. Any wins in their remaining games would jeopardize Sacramento's top-10 draft pick. I'm not saying they don't want to win, but there is that situation hanging over their head. Portland coach Terry Stotts indicated his starters will play right to the very end. He mentioned on the team's website, "The goal is to win every game." A win tonight and Portland could move three full games ahead of 9th place Houston, further solidifying a playoff spot. I believe the team will be focused and play with big-time intensity after losing by 25 points to an angry Golden State team last time out. We should note that certain NBA road teams (including Portland in this instance) are on a 60-26 ATS run if they lost their previous game by at least 20 points. Also, road teams off a SU road loss are on a 63-26 ATS run if the line is in a +3/-3 range, and their opponent is off an outright win as an underdog. Both teams fit the bill in this one. Finally, we like the way Damian Lillard is playing over the last couple of games and we are betting he'll lead his team to an important win and also a cover tonight. I'm laying the points with the Trail Blazers, my Mismatch release. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm taking the points with the Houston Rockets on Sunday afternoon. Huge game for the home team today as they continue to fight for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. If the regular season ended last night, Houston would be on the outside looking in. But they have a shot, trailing Dallas and Utah by one game with six to be played. OKC, meanwhile, is all but set with their seeding and we won't be shocked if a few Thunder stars don't see their usual minutes. We also know that Houston has had OKC's number, covering five straight meetings. They've won three straight meetings at home, outright, with the last two coming as an underdog, just like today's situation. We like the spot for the home dog and I'm taking the points with the Rockets, my Daytime Shocker. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Heat on Friday night. Miami blew one against the Lakers in their most recent game and while that one stings, the unexpected loss should keep them focused on the task at hand tonight. DeMarcus Cousins is suspended for tonight's game after accumulating too many technical fouls, and under normal circumstances, it would be easy for the Heat to lose their intensity and focus with the Kings' star on the bench. That's not likely after the loss to the hapless Lakers. Sacramento has split their last 10 games SU, but they're 5-3 SU (6-1-1 ATS) when Cousins plays and 0-2 SU when he sits. In fact, Sacto has won three of four outright. The lone loss came with Cousins on the bench, while he averaged 26 ppg & 11 rpg in the three wins. Miami has enjoyed games against uptempo teams, currently on a 17-6 ATS run against teams that average at least 83 FGA per game and Sacto fits the bill. And finally, with the Kings off a 120-111 home win over Washington as a 1 1/2 point underdog, we have a strong NBA situation that comes into play. NBA road teams are on a 42-16 ATS run if they lost outright when laying points, provided their opponent won outright as a home dog. We have a nice combination of matchup advantages and situations pointing towards Miami. I'm laying the points with the Heat, my Beatdown on Friday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Blazers on Thursday. The Celtics are having their problems in road action against teams with a winning record. They haven't beaten a .500 or better team on the road since February 5, currently on a 0-5 SU/ATS slide against winning teams and losing by an average score of 111-95. All but one of the losses came by at least 14 points and the Celtics will enter this one on a 1-10 ATS slide on the road against teams playing .600 or better home basketball. Portland is not a team that rolls over on their home floor. The Blazers have won five straight home games and 14 of their last 16, and they own home wins over Golden State, Oklahoma City, and Cleveland. They'll look to gain a measure of revenge for an earlier loss to Boston, while also fighting for a Western Conference playoff spot. Portland is currently in 6th in the west, but they're only two games from being on the outside looking in. We should also note that the 116-93 loss at Boston came in a very tough spot for Portland. They were playing their second game in as many nights and their fourth road game in five nights. Besides Boston's 0-5 & 1-10 ATS slides, Portland enters on a 9-2 ATS run when playing with two days rest, the situation they're in tonight. Look for Portland to win by a spread covering margin. I'm laying the points with the Blazers, my Slam Dunk on Thursday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm backing the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night. The Mavs have certainly taken a few beatings on the defensive end of late, but I'm betting they reached rock-bottom in last night's 133-111 loss at Sacramento. They're not at full health, but they have an elite coach and still have a HOF player leading the way. A couple of players questioned their desire last night and mentioned it's time to act like they want to play after the regular season comes to an end. I believe we'll get a top-shelf effort out of Dallas, at least for one night. Denver has been traveling all over the place of late, playing seven of their last eight games on the road, including last night's 105-90 loss to the Clippers in Los Angeles. They're returning home tonight, but I believe they're catching the Mavericks at the wrong time. Dallas enters on an 11-4 ATS run following a loss by 10 points or more, and they have covered five of their last seven, despite facing a tough schedule of late, including two games each against Golden State and Portland, and one each against the Cavaliers, Hornets, Pacers, and Pistons. Dallas has covered seven of the last 10 in Denver. I'm backing the Dallas Mavericks plus the points, my Monday Shocker. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Cavaliers on Saturday. Cleveland has won five straight against the Knicks, but New York has been the way to go ATS, covering three of those games. However, this one has a little more meaning to it. The Cavs lost at Brooklyn last time out, allowing 104 points to the hapless Nets. Lebron was none too happy, both on the floor and in the clubhouse. I expect the Cavs to bounce back with a highly focused and intense effort. The Cavs held NY to 84.8 ppg during the five game head-to-head win streak, so this one should be "just what the doctor ordered," to satisfy James and the gang on the defensive end. The Knicks are just 3-9 ATS in their last 12 home games and Kurt Rambis-coached teams have covered just four of 22 at home against teams that average at least 103 ppg. Finally, NBA road teams are 41-16 ATS if they're off a SU loss as a favorite, when facing a team off a SU win as a home underdog. Both teams fit the bill in this one and we'll back the Cavaliers. Cleveland minus the points, a rare Situational Slam Dunk on Saturday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm backing the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night. No Mike Conley (achilles), but Zach Randolph returned on Saturday night and had a huge game, scoring 28 points, to go along with 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, in a 113-102 win over the Clippers. I do believe the win and Randolph's play are a signal for a play again tonight. The Grizzlies lost both of this season's previous meetings, including a 109-100 loss to the Suns in Memphis just a couple of weeks ago. Phoenix, ranked 29th in the league in shooting, (43.4% FGA), nailed 52% of their FGA in the win. I don't expect that to be the case tonight, while I do expect Randolph to find success at the other end. Phoenix is off a 95-90 win at the Lakers on Saturday as a 4-point underdog. We should note that NBA teams off a double digit home win are on a 31-12 ATS run if the line is in the +3/-3 range and the opponent is off a SU road win as an underdog. Meanwhile, the Suns have covered just five of their last 21. Payback time with Randolph back on the floor. I'm backing the Grizzlies, my Mismatch release. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm backing the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. The Knicks are in a very tough situation. It's not just that they played last night, but it's the fact they're playing their first home game following a 6-game road trip that ended last night. The game in DC wasn't too far from home, but it did follow a west coast road trip and New York is fragile enough as it is. The team is just 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games and Kurt Rambis teams have covered just four of 21 at home against teams that score at least 103 ppg. Sacramento will feature Rajon Rondo and his league-leading assist average and DeMarcus Cousins, facing a Knicks' team that's banged-up on the interior and the backcourt. Sacramento has won and covered three straight in the series and I'm backing them here. I'm backing the Kings, my Slam Dunk on Sunday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Cavaliers on Monday. Cleveland is scoring more points with Channing Frye getting more comfortable in his new digs. He's made 17 of 36 3-pointers since the trade that brought him to Cleveland. I had mentioned on radio at the time of the trade that this would prove to be a shrewd move, giving the Cavs a "big" who forces an opponents' "big" out to the perimeter, and truly unclogging things in the middle. Tonight, Frye and his teammates will take on a short-handed Utah squad, playing without Gordon Hayward, in all likelihood. The Jazz are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games, overall, and 0-7 ATS against teams playing better than .600 basketball. Meanwhile, the Cavs are 8-2 ATS against the Western Conference. Cleveland's offensive surge is the real deal and we expect it to continue tonight. I'm laying the points with the Cavs, my KO release. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm backing the Bucks on Sunday. Brooklyn is back home, but in a tough spot, having just completed a 9-game, 17-day road trip, the longest road trip in the NBA so far this season. They did have Saturday off, but it's a team that lost five of their last six and ranks 30th in the league in FG percentage defense and 24th defending the trey. Milwaukee beat Indiana last night as they continue to look more cohesive on the offensive end with Giannis Antetokounmpo in charge. All five starters score at least 15 points last night and Greg Monroe had a solid double-double, back in the lineup. The Bucks enter this one on a 6-1 ATS run on the road against teams with a losing home record, and they're on a 10-1-1 ATS run on the road against the Nets. They have won and covered three straight meetings with Brooklyn and I'm betting they'll win and cover another tonight. I'm laying the short points with the Milwaukee Bucks, my Knockout release. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Spurs on Monday. LaMarcus Aldridge, Danny Green, and Tim Duncan all sat out of Saturday's contest, but at least two of the three are expected back tonight, and Aldridge is likely to return, also. The Spurs will face a Pacers' squad that's won and covered just three of their last eight games. They're struggling on the offensive end and enter on a 0-5 ATS slide. Indiana misses David West's scoring ability. At the same time, Indiana has allowed over 100 ppg on the season and in 47 games against teams that allow at least 99 ppg, the Spurs have averaged 105 ppg, while allowing just 91 ppg. Paul George has led the Pacers, of course, scoring a combined 73 points with 13 rebounds in his last two games, but the Spurs have the "sweet elixir" that most teams don't, a matchup with Kawhi Leonard. Indiana has covered just seven of their last 26 against the Western Conference and the Spurs have won eight straight, overall. I'm laying the points with the Spurs, my Monday Mismatch. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Celtics on Monday night. A quick chance to exact some revenge after Boston watched Utah nail nearly 55% of their FGA in a 111-93 loss to the Jazz just 10 days ago. And while Boston is back on track, Utah has dropped three of four since that 18-point win. The Celtics have also won 10 straight home games, covering eight of those in the process. Boston has averaged 113.6 ppg during the winning streak, while winning by an average margin of nearly 10 ppg. Utah has lost four straight ATS and they've seen their play on the offensive end drop off over the last two games. The Jazz are on a 1-8 ATS slide on the road against teams with a winning record. I'm laying the points with the Celtics, my Monday Night Mismatch. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm playing the Under between the Grizzlies & Lakers on Friday night. Memphis has been playing at a faster pace, especially since Marc Gasol was lost for the season with a foot injury. But the books have caught up to the fact, posting the highest total of the season for a Memphis game. It also doesn't hurt that these teams piled-up a combined 247 points when they met just two days ago. I expect a lower scoring game tonight. Memphis is on an 80% Under run after topping 125 points in a game. They scored 128 last time out. The Lakers tallied 119 points in the loss and they're on a 14-5 Under run after scoring at least 100 points in a game. And we note that despite the quicker pace, six of the last eight Memphis games would have finished below this posted total if you remove a pair of OT contests. I believe the value is on the "low." I'm playing the Under between the Grizzlies & Lakers, my Total Knockout on Friday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

I'm laying the points with the Blazers on Friday. Portland suddenly is in line for a playoff spot after winning six of its last eight games, including a 112-97 win over Sacramento on Tuesday. The Trail Blazers had seven players score in double figures led by C.J. McCollum with 18 points as his team shot 48.9 percent from the field. The Blazers were fortunate to catch the Kings coming off a double overtime loss the night before. Portland knows who it has to contain tonight as it tries to avenge a 106-94 loss to the Hornets on Nov. 15 when Nicolas Batum poured in 33 points. The Hornets shot just 36.8 percent in Wednesday's 102-73 loss at Utah as they were decidedly tired after beating Sacramento in double overtime on Monday and shot just 36.8 percent from the field. The Hornets are playing their third road game in five days and they're 1-6 ATS their last seven games in Portland. Cody Zeller is out indefinitely for the Hornets and Jeremy Lin and Jeremy Lamb are questionable for this game with injuries. Charlotte is 4-9 ATS its last 13 games on the road. I'm laying the points with the Blazers, my Friday night Knockout. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.