A 113-93 road loss to the previously winless Magic on Friday certainly looks bad for the Hornets. So it's easy to understand why the defending world champion Warriors are double-digit road favorites against Charlotte.

But beating the NBA is about going against the grain. The Hornets are a feisty, underrated group. Steve Clifford should have a motivated bunch here after Friday's embarrassment. It's just the Hornets' second home game of the season. Charlotte is capable of hanging in. The Hornets own blowout road victories against the Hawks and Spurs. They also nearly upset the Knicks on the road before losing in overtime. All three of those teams are above .500.

The Warriors just played games against the Suns and Heat. They play again Sunday against the Pistons. Steve Kerr is experimenting with his rotation. This game is more festive with Stephen Curry returning to Charlotte than it is intense for Golden State.

Here's an interesting quote from Kerr, ''We always have to have the big picture in mind and pace our guys through the regular season,'' he said.

Look for the Hornets to keep this one in the single-digit range.

Not only are the Bucks the No. 1 defensive team in the NBA, but right now they are the best team in the league with the premier player in Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The 3-0 Bucks, the league's lone unbeaten team, ranks first in scoring defense and defensive shooting percentage. Antetokounmpo entered Thursday leading the NBA in scoring at 36 points per game.

The Knicks are 3-1. However, their victories were against the 1-4 Pistons, the 0-5 Magic and against the shorthanded Hornets in overtime when Charlotte was minus injured LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier and Cody Martin.

Now the Knicks are stepping way up in class and they're on the road. New York has lost its last three games to the Bucks by an average of 14 points. The Bucks are 9-3 ATS in their last dozen meetings versus the Knicks.

The Grizzlies have a strong track record when taking on sub .500 teams covering 19 of the last 26 times in that role for 73 percent.

Sacramento is 0-3 under new coach Mike Brown. The Kings went 0-3 against Memphis last season with their average loss being by 23.7 points. The Grizzlies are riding a six-game win streak against the Kings.

The Grizzlies are several rungs higher than the Kings, but don't generate much respect in the marketplace. They have an emerging star in Desmond Bane to go with Ja Morant, who is No. 2 in the NBA in scoring at 35.3 points.

The Bucks are serious championship contenders with Giannis Antetokounmpo arguably the best player in the league. The Nets are not a good team right now. They rank last in 3-point defense and 28th in defensive scoring and defensive field goal percentage. Ben Simmons has yet to fit in.

Given all this plus the Bucks being rested and ready having last played on Saturday, I am confident laying this shorter-than-expected number with Milwaukee.

Antetokounmpo has a strong history against the Nets with a career average of nearly 25 points per game.

The 1-2 Nets haven't looked good. They lost at home by 22 points to the Pelicans, beat the Raptors by four at home and then lost by 10 to the Grizzlies on the road despite strong performances from Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, who combined to make 28 of 44 shots (64 percent) from the floor. Brooklyn is 1-6 ATS following a loss going back to last season.

Portland is sitting fat and happy at 3-0 after coming from seven points down with under two minutes to play to defeat the Lakers, 106-104, on the road Sunday.

Now the Trail Blazers return to Portland where they'll find the Nuggets waiting for them.

Denver was stunned by the surprising 3-0 Jazz in its opener. Since then, the Nuggets have gotten straight upsetting the Warriors on the road and dispatching the Thunder at home this past Saturday.

Damian Lillard is off to a great start, but the Nuggets have more star power than Portland with Nikola Jokic, a healthy Jamal Murray and emerging Michael Porter.

Denver is the superior team and has matched up well to Portland beating the Trail Blazers in seven of the past nine meetings, including going 3-1 last season. The Nuggets have covered five of the past six in the series.

The Celtics survived a near-miss 3-pointer by Jimmy Butler to beat the Heat in Miami during Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Now it's a new season. The Celtics remain very good. They aren't as worn down either as when they played Miami during the Eastern finals. 

Miami isn't so good, beginning this new season. The Heat lost to the Bulls, 116-108, at home in their season-opener this past Wednesday. Chicago won despite not having its starting backcourt with both Lonzo Ball and Zach LaVine out. 

The Celtics opened with an impressive, 126-117, home win against the 76ers. Led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Boston shot 56.1 percent from the floor against the 76ers while committing only 11 turnovers. Miami isn't at Boston's level right now.

The Celtics finished last season 20-6-1 ATS (77 percent) on the road. They have covered in five of their last six visits to Miami. 

The Pistons often are undervalued. That was the case last season when they finished with the eighth-best ATS mark in the NBA. It's the case again in their game today against the Knicks.

New York finished eight games below .500 last season, missing the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years.

The Knicks have failed to cover in 11 of their last 14 home games, while the Pistons are a sparkling 11-1 ATS during their past dozen road games.

The Knicks shouldn't be laying this many points.

The class difference between these two teams is much wider than this point spread.

The Nuggets are serious championship contenders. They also are healthy, something they rarely were last season.

The Jazz are serious contenders, too, - for the first overall draft pick. Gone is coach Quin Snyder. Also departed are Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and Bojan Bogdanovic. The Jazz are in full rebuild mode.

Utah didn't look good during preseason. The team has huge holes. The Nuggets want to start fast so they'll be out for a lopsided victory here.

Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet are nice players, but Toronto doesn't have the star power it did when it won the NBA championship in 2019 behind Kawhi Leonard. Still, the Raptors are a solid, well-coached team under Nick Nurse. 

I like them at home against the Cavaliers. 

Cleveland made a huge off-season acquisition getting Donovan Mitchell. The Cavaliers are not the bottom-feeder they once were. They are a borderline playoff team who are a work-in-progress right now. 

The Raptors have covered five of the last six times they've hosted the Cavaliers. 

The market is down on the Celtics because of the season suspension of coach Ime Udoka and injuries to Robert Williams III and Danilo Gallinari.

What's being overlooked is the Celtics still have their All-Star wings in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, a shored-up backcourt with the addition of underrated all-around player Malcolm Brogdon and upper-tier role players Grant Williams, Derrick White, Al Horford and Marcus Smart. 

Joe Mazzulla, Boston's new head coach, has minimal head coaching experience but will be helped and guided by Brad Stevens. 

The Celtics finished 28-7 last season. They outscored their opponents by 14.8 points per 100 possessions during their last 32 games. 

The 76ers finished last season 3-12-1 ATS on the road. Short price to lay with the superior team especially at home. 

Two straight Under games have the oddsmaker setting the lowest total of this NBA championship series. The Warriors have played 21 playoff games this season. This is their lowest total. Golden State has reached triple digit scoring in 20 of its 21 postseason games. 

Through four games of this NBA championship series we have learned several things. The Zig Zag has been in full effect with each team alternating wins and losses and the Celtics are the better team when each team plays well.

The key question is will the Celtics play well in this Game 5?

There's strong evidence they will. Boston has gone 8-3 in road playoff games compared to being 6-5 at home. The Celtics also are 13-1 SU and ATS following a loss. They are 7-0 in the postseason after losing their previous game. This includes winning their final road game against the Bucks and Heat during their two previous series.

The Celtics just seem to play smarter and with more urgency in these crucial road spots.

Stephen Curry had a game for the ages in Game 4 scoring 43 points in a 107-97 Golden State win this past Friday. Golden State scored more than 30 percent of its points in that game off turnovers and second chance points.

I don't see the Celtics making so many silly mistakes in Game 5.

Doubtful, too, that Curry can produce another epic performance to match his Game 4 heroics. Curry has been carrying the Warriors. Jayson Tatum and Boston's main backcourt rotation of Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White are all capable of playing much better than they did in Game 4 when the four combined to shoot just 28-of-72 (39 percent) from the field.

Golden State knows how to win, adjust strategy and stay aggressive when it has to. The Warriors have proven that during the past seven years in the postseason. The Celtics aren't at that stage in the biggest games. I trust the Warriors' experience, their superstars and role players. I don't have as much faith in the Celtics' two superstars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, along with the rest of their team.

The Celtics also have a major weakness. They commit too many turnovers. The Warriors have excellent defenders to take advantage if and when the Celtics get careless, reckless and sloppy with the basketball. Getting back ace defender Gary Payton II is a big plus for Golden State. The Warriors scored 33 points directly off Boston's 18 turnovers in Game 2.

The Warriors are due to get better performances from Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole. They are a combined 18-of-54 shooting from the floor for 33 percent.

If the Celtics aren't hitting their 3-pointers they are in trouble. The Warriors are the more versatile team.

Boston is far from invincible at home. The Celtics lost not one but TWO home games each to the Bucks and Heat in the playoffs.

Even now it seems unreal the Warriors lost to the Celtics in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Golden State hadn't lost an opening series home game in the playoffs in six years. The Warriors entered the fourth quarter beating Boston, 92-80. Until then, the Warriors had outscored their playoff opponents by an average of 25.4 points per 100 possessions during the final period.

The Warriors took their foot off the gas and the Celtics got hot in epic fashion. The result was an improbable, 120-108, Boston victory. Neither is likely to occur in this Game 2.

The Celtics shot 51 percent from the floor in Game 1. They also shot 51 percent from 3-point range making 21 of 41 shots from beyond the arc. Al Horford, Derrick White and Marcus Smart combined to make 15 3-point shots. Yes, Jayson Tatum is due to shoot better than he did in Game 1. But Horford, White and Smart are not going to keep up their way over the top offensive production.

Golden State shot 44 percent from the field in the opening game and 42 percent from 3-point range making 19 of 45 shots from past the arc. The Warriors - the home team - even shot one fewer free throw than the Celtics.

The Warriors are sure to make adjustments. Steve Kerr isn't above trying to go box-and-one and triangle-and-two to keep the Celtics off balance. He has the versatile defenders to do this with Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and Andre Iguodala. There's a good chance, too, the Warriors get back from injury, ace defender Gary Payton II.

After Games 4 and 5 of this Eastern Conference Finals both went Under by a combined 52 1/2 points, the Heat and Celtics went Over the total in Game 6 this past Friday with the Heat winning, 111-103. 

Jimmy Butler had a game for the ages scoring 47 points and the teams combined to make 52 of 56 free throws for 93 percent.

Neither is likely to occur in this winner-take-all Game 7. 

Boston is the No. 1 defensive team in the NBA. Butler is banged up. He willed himself to hit 16 of 29 shots from the floor and make all 11 of his free throws. Butler was averaging a meager nine points during the previous three games. 

The Heat haven't had Tyler Herro, their No. 2 scorer, during the past three games. He's been out with a groin injury. Even if Herro plays, he figures to be rusty. Miami's backcourt scoring and shooting has been well below average during the series. 

The Celtics held the Bucks to 81 points in their Game 7 victory during their previous series. That Game 7 went Under by 15 points. 

Miami has the fourth-best defense in the NBA and ranked No. 2 in defensive 3-point percentage. The Celtics lack consistent scorers outside of Jayson Tatum. 
This is a Game 7 so the defensive intensity will be on full blast. 

No team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 playoff deficit. Don't expect the Mavericks to become the first. 

Dallas staved off elimination by holding off the Warriors, 119-109, at home two days ago. The Mavericks accomplished this by sinking 20 3-point shots on their way to making 46.5 percent of their 3-pointers. 

I can't see Dallas coming close to repeating that hot long-range shooting, which is its key to upsetting Golden State. 

The Mavericks were a below average 3-point shooting team finishing 19th during the regular season. The Warriors rank No. 3 in 3-point defense holding foes to 34.8 percent from beyond the arc. That percentage shrinks to 32.8 percent when the Warriors are playing at home. 

The Warriors are 8-0 at home in the playoffs. They haven't lost two in a row during the postseason in facing the Nuggets, Grizzlies and Mavericks. 

Dallas has failed to cover in five of its last six road games. Luka Doncic doesn't have enough reliable support for the Mavericks to stay close in this one.

The veteran Warriors know how to finish off opponents. Steve Kerr will be focused, something it was tough for him to do after the tragic school shooting in Texas on Tuesday. Doncic is outnumbered by Golden State's many stars and role players. 

This Eastern Conference Final is tied 2-2, but it's my clear belief the Celtics are the superior team. That's especially the case with the Heat dealing with so many injuries.

Boston has outscored Miami by 28 points in the series. The Celtics have outrebounded the Heat the past two games by an average of 15 1/2 boards. The Celtics are the top defensive team in the league. The Heat are not effective when they are being outrebounded and not hitting from beyond the arc. I don't see that pattern changing here. 

Being on the road shouldn't make a difference for the Celtics. Boston is 19-6-1 (76 percent) ATS in its last 26 away contests, including 5-1-1 ATS during the playoffs. 
Then there are the Miami injuries. Jimmy Butler is dealing with a sore knee. Tyler Herro has a sore quad. It's bothered his long-range shooting as he's made only one of 14 3-point shots during the series. Kyle Lowery is back playing, but he isn't right. He scored three points in the last game while having a negative 27 during his court time. 

I don't see Boston losing a second straight game at home to Miami following its 109-103 loss to the Heat this past Saturday. A Celtics loss would not fit what has been established as a strong pattern. 

The Celtics are 5-0 SU and ATS following a loss with a winning margin of 19.6 points in those games. All of those victories have been by eight or more points. Jayson Tatum had a poor game against Miami on Saturday missing 11 of 14 shots from the floor and committing six turnovers. Tatum has a strong history of coming back strong, too, following an off-game. 

Miami lost a road game following a victory in both of its playoff series against the Hawks and 76ers. The Heat have not strung together two consecutive road victories in the postseason. Miami has lost by seven or more points in 10 of its last 11 defeats. 

Both teams are banged up. Obviously it's a huge bonus for the Celtics if Robert Williams can play and if Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowery P.J. Tucker and Tyler Herro can't go for Miami. But I'm anticipating the Heat will have all of their injured players on the court. It doesn't change my mind that Boston is the right side here. 

The Mavericks have proven resilient all season both on the court and on the sidelines where Jason Kidd has made necessary adjustments. 

So I see the Mavericks bouncing back in this Game 2 after being embarrassed, 112-87, by the Warriors in Game 1 this past Wednesday.

The Mavericks still might not have come down from their great upset Game 7 road win against the Suns this past Sunday. They will now after their deflating opening game blowout loss.

Dallas missed 20 of 28 uncontested 3-point shots. Luka Doncic was held in check, scoring a postseason-low 20 points on only 6-of-18 shooting from the floor. 
The Mavericks were the No. 2 defensive team in the NBA. They bounced back from opening game losses to the Jazz and Sun to win those respective series. Kidd has made crucial right adjustments and tweaks all season. My respect for Kidd's coaching has gone way up this season. 

Even with that Game 1 blowout loss, the Mavericks still have covered 11 of the last 15 times against the Warriors. They are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games in Golden State.

There's no secrets or surprises at this late Game 7 stage. The Suns are the better team. The key question, though, is are they good enough to cover this mid-range number?

The answer is yes because their home court makes a huge difference.

The Suns are 3-0 SU and ATS at Footprint Center against the Mavericks in this series winning by an average of 19 points. Dallas has failed to cover in 10 of its past 13 visits to Phoenix.

Home teams in Game 7 NBA playoff history have won 79.1 percent of the time. This is a 134-game sampling.

The Suns have a scoring and rebounding edge in the paint. They also own an edge in free throw percentage. Luka Doncic is the best player on the court, but the Suns have the next three best players in Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum are true superstars. But this Game 7 is going to be about defense, incredible intensity and a slow, deliberate pace. 

Those ingredients spell Under. 

The Celtics were the No. 1 defensive team during the regular season. They've held the Bucks under their season average in five of the six games during the series. Milwaukee really misses its second-best offensive player, injured Kris Middleton. 

The Bucks are no slouches on the defensive end either. 

There have been fewer than 205 combined points scored in four of the six games in the series. So it doesn't figure that all of a sudden there is going to be a major scoring outburst in Game 7. 

The Suns' defense showed up in Game 5 - a 110-80 home victory against the Mavericks this past Tuesday. I don't see Phoenix's defense going away in this Game 6 with the series shifting back to Dallas.

The spread is short because the Mavericks defeated the Suns in Games 3 and 4 in Dallas. But the Suns' defense is back to their elite level and Devin Booker is hot, averaging nearly 27 points in the series while making 16 of 32 shots from beyond the arc.

Luka Doncic is the only Dallas player who can be relied upon. Doncic, though, is not getting enough help. The Suns are holding a huge front-court edge and have the stronger bench.

Phoenix is the superior team. It's not asking too much of the Suns to just win this game - after a 30-point crushing victory in the game - before so they can move on to the Western Conference finals.

The last time the Bucks received this many points was against the Celtics on the road in Game 1 of this series. Milwaukee won that game, 101-89. 

There's a certain yin/yang to this series with the teams alternating victories during the first four games. 

The Bucks are 7-2 ATS in their last nine road games. I see Milwaukee keeping this one closer than the point spread indicates. 

Jayson Tatum is a great player. But Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player on the court. 

The Bucks lost Game 4 by eight points because they shot horrible, especially Jrue Holiday, who was 5-of-22 from the floor. The Bucks also were an uncharacteristic 4-of-21 from inside the paint. The Celtics made 50 percent of their field goal attempts in Game 4. The Buck shot only 41 percent from the field. 

I don't see Holiday and Milwaukee's big men shooting nearly as poorly as they did in Game 4. 

Zig and Zag. Ebb and flow. Whatever you want to call it, the pattern often fits during NBA playoff series. I don't see this series being any different.

The Heat took advantage of home-court and Joel Embiid being out to win the first two games of the series. The 76ers returned home, got Embiid back and won the next two games to tie the series at 2-2.

Now it's Miami's turn to hold serve returning home. I have confidence in Heat coach Erik Spoelstra making the right adjustments and for Miami to turn things around at home in this Game 5.

The 76ers are 7-15 ATS following a victory. They have covered only two of their last 10 away games and are 1-6-1 ATS during their past eight games in Miami.

The Heat have covered seven of the last eight times they've been home.

Even if it's just one point, I'm going to back an underdog that is superior. That's the case with the Celtics in Game 4 of their series with the Bucks.

Boston buried Milwaukee by 23 points in Game 2 and should have won Game 3 this past Saturday on the road. The Bucks got a break on a bad call by the official late in the game to hold off the Celtics, 103-101.

The Celtics only lost by two points - and could have easily won - despite Jayson Tatum missing 15 of 19 shots from the floor, while Giannis Antetokounmpo and a number of his teammates had huge games for Milwaukee. Boston is capable of playing much better. The Bucks aren't without Khris Middleton, who is out with an MCL sprain.

The Celtics are 16-5-1 ATS in their last 22 road games while the Bucks are 1-7-1 ATS in their past nine home games when taking on a foe with a winning road mark. Note, too, that since the calendar turned 2022 the Celtics are 8-1 SU and 7-2 ATS off a loss.

So the track record is there for the Celtics to bounce back with a victory.

The combination of Joel Embiid back in the lineup and the 76ers being at home makes a huge difference. That was evident in Game 3 this past Friday night when the 76ers buried the Heat, 99-79.

I don't see the 76ers going from 20-point winners just two days ago to losing to Miami in this next game.

Embiid's return after missing the first two games of the series lifted the 76ers. Philadelphia now has the needed confidence and spark to even this series. It's this belief that has me taking the 76ers here.

While I certainly expect the Warriors to shoot better than they did in their last game, I don't believe the Grizzlies are getting enough respect on the betting line.

Since an opening playoff loss to the Timberwolves, the Grizzlies are 5-2 SU and ATS in the postseason with the two losses each coming by one point.

The Warriors have some outstanding players, but no one is playing at a higher level right now than Ja Morant. He could be in line for another huge performance with the Warriors minus a pair of their defensive standouts in injured Gary Payton II and Andre Iguodala.

The Grizzlies will be without suspended Dillon Brooks, but are expected to get back big man Steven Adams. Memphis has a size advantage on Golden State.

Both teams should be fresh having not played since Tuesday. All the pressure is on the Warriors returning home. Golden State has failed to cover the last four times when favored.

The Grizzlies are 13-3 ATS when going against an opponent with a winning percentage above .600. Memphis is 16-6-1 ATS the past 23 times in an underdog role.

The Suns have been shooting out of their minds. The result is Phoenix is 2-0 SU and ATS in this series and the combined final scores have added up 235 and 238 points. 

But now the series shifts to Dallas. The Zig/Zag can work on totals, too. I see that happening here in this Game 3 where the oddsmaker has now set the highest total of the series. 

I don't see the Suns continuing to make 57 percent of their field goals, which is their shooting percentage for the series so far. Dallas is no defensive slouch. The Mavericks ranked second in the league defensively holding foes to 104.7 points. Dallas held the Jazz to only 99 points per game in winning that first-round series. 

The Under has cashed 71 percent of the time during the Mavericks' last 69 home games. 

The Suns are strong defensively, too, ranking third in the league in defensive field goal percentage. Aside from Luka Doncic, none of the Mavericks are having a good scoring series. Besides Doncic, none of the other Dallas players can be trusted to produce strong offensive performances as the Mavericks last Phoenix's star power.  

Credit to the Bucks for upsetting the Celtics in Game, 101-89, this past Sunday. 

Dallas has a tremendous track record in these situations. The Mavericks are the No. 2 defensive team in the NBA. Discounting a 126-118 victory, the Mavericks held the Jazz to 95.2 points in five games while winning their series in six games against Utah. The Jazz averaged only one point fewer per game than the Suns did during the regular season.

So I believe the Mavericks can hang within two possessions of Phoenix.

Both teams have been idle since Thursday. They each are at full strength, too.

This isn't a fade on Phoenix, but a bet-on Dallas.

The Mavericks are 42-16-1 ATS during their last 59 road games against a home team with a winning percentage better than .600. Dallas has covered 10 of its last 14 road games when getting points and also is 21-8 ATS the past 29 times when playing an above .500 opponent.

The Grizzlies tangled with the Timberwolves for six games before eliminating them. Minnesota blew leads of 13 or more points in all but one of those games.

The Warriors have deep playoff experience. They aren't blowing any late leads like Minnesota. The Warriors also know how to win and put away opponents, unlike the Timberwolves.

The Grizzlies are still on Cloud 9 after winning their first playoff series in seven years. The Warriors didn't toy with the Nuggets putting them away in five games.

Stephen Curry is back to his pre-injury superstar form averaging 28 points against the Nuggets. Klay Thompson also is back to pre-injury form averaging 22 points. But it's Jordan Poole and his 21-point playoff average that makes Golden State special.

Both teams are young and talented. The Timberwolves are down 3-2 in the series, but certainly have not been outclassed. Minnesota actually should be leading the series instead of Memphis having blown leads of 13 points or more in four of the five games.

This includes a last second two-point road loss to the Grizzlies this past Tuesday in Game 5.

The Timberwolves are 15-7-1 ATS in their last 23 games following a defeat. They've learned enough lessons and have enough confidence to bounce back at home and defeat the Grizzlies to set up a Game 7.

Karl-Anthony Towns is the best big man on the floor. The Grizzlies will be down one fewer defender against Towns with Steven Adams ruled out because of safety/health protocols.

Slowly but surely the Raptors' coaching edge of Nick Nurse against Doc Rivers is exerting itself negating the 76ers' superior talent.

This is a toss-up game. I believe the safest play is Under the total. 

The Raptors won Game 5, 103-88. Toronto has successfully slowed down both James Harden and Tyrese Maxey. Meanwhile, Joel Embiid is dealing with torn ligaments in his right thumb. 

Toronto has frustrated the 76ers by slowing pace. That's not going to change here. The 76ers know they have to gut out a victory. So their intensity and defensive concentration is going to be way up, too. 

The Nuggets gained a measure of respect by beating the Warriors, 126-121, at home this past Sunday. That kept the Warriors from sweeping Denver. 

Maybe this total seems right since there were 237 points scored in the last game when the Timberwolves edged the Grizzlies, 119-118, this past Saturday. 

But two statistical anomalies stand out from that game. The two teams combined to shoot nearly 49 percent from 3-point range making 33 of 68 from beyond the arc while also combining to make 50 of 65 (77 percent) free throw attempts.  

The series is tied 2-2. This is pivotal Game 5. I'm not expecting either team to be so hot from 3-point range, nor to get to the free throw nearly as often as they did in Game 4. 

This is playoff basketball. There is going to be defensive intensity even from these two teams. The pace isn't going to be as fast it was during the regular season. There were only 199 points scored in Game 3. 

Ja Morant has been struggling because of lingering soreness from that knee injury that kept him out for 12 games toward the end of the regular season. 

Considering that Joel Embiid may not play, or will be limited if he does, this is getting a lot of points in a do-or-die spot for the Raptors.

Toronto isn't ready to roll over after staving off playoff elimination by defeating the 76ers, 110-102, in Game 4 this past Saturday. If the Raptors wouldn't have lost in overtime in Game 3 this series would be tied 2-2 instead of the 76ers leading 3-1. The Raptors never trailed in Game 3 until overtime. 

Embiid is dealing with a torn ligament in his right thumb. 

The Raptors have covered 69 percent of the time during the past 39 times they've played an above .500 opponent. The 76ers were a better road team than home team during the regular season. 

Once again a team played great in the first game after losing a star player. That pattern fit the Suns in Game 3 of their series against the Pelicans when they won, 114-111, on the road minus superstar Devin Booker this past Friday. 

That gave the Suns a 2-1 series lead. Booker remains out with a hamstring injury. The Pelicans won't be feeling sorry for the Suns. This is the season for New Orleans. 
The Pelicans have the two best scorers on the court with Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum now that Booker is out. The Suns beat the Pelicans in the paint during Game 3 outscoring them, 64-40. 

New Orleans center Jonas Valanciunas had an off-game and underrated forward Jaxson Hayes was ejected in the second quarter. Larry Nance Jr. also didn't play well. I expect those three to at least hold their own in this pivotal Game 4. A loss here at home by the Pelicans puts them down 3-1 in the series with the next game in Phoenix. 

I believe the Pelicans will make this a tough series on the Suns - and that requires a victory here. Phoenix has failed to cover six of the last eight times it has been favored. The Suns were far less effective during the regular season when they were missing Booker. This time it catches up to them. 

After losing by a combined 36 points in the first two games of this series, the Nuggets came out hard at home in Game 3. Denver stepped up and Golden State regressed. Yet the Warriors still won, 118-113.

The Nuggets remain without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter, their second and third-best players. The Warriors are peaking.

I rode the Warriors in Game 3 and I'm sticking with them to close out the series here. The Nuggets comprehend that no team in NBA playoff history has come back from a 3-0 deficit and they certainly aren't going to be the first.

Stephen Curry, Jordan Poole and Klay Thompson have been unstoppable. They're averaging a combined 76 points a game in the series. Draymond Green is an elite defender and he's been a bother to Nikola Jokic, who doesn't have enough help around him with Murray and Porter unable to play.

The Grizzlies have rallied to go up 2-1 in this series. But I don't see a significant talent gap between these two teams. The Timberwolves, in fact, have three of the four best players on the court in Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards and D'Angelo Russell.

The strength of Memphis is its depth. But that's not such a factor here early in the postseason.

This series has a certain Zig-Zag feel to it. The Timberwolves should be the more fired-up team after letting a 26-point lead slip away in Game 3 and trying to protect home-court. That was Minnesota's playoff inexperience showing in blowing that lead. The Timberwolves should learn from that to maintain their intensity.

Towns had a monster Game 1. He's been quiet the past two games. He's the best big man on the court by far and is due for another huge performance.

This line would be quite different if the Raptors didn't blow a 17-point lead and lose, 104-101, in overtime to the 76ers at home this past Wednesday. That put Toronto down 3-0 in the series.

So obviously the Raptors are in must-win mode being on the verge of elimination. The 76ers never led in regulation during Game 3. It was a tough beat for those taking plus two like myself because the 76ers won by three when Joel Embiid made a 3-pointer with less than a second left.

I have confidence in Nick Nurse, though. I trust his Raptors will come out and play hard while the 76ers have to be feeling very fat after stealing Game 3.

There's a good chance the Raptors get star rookie Scottie Barnes back for this matchup. He's missed the last two games with an ankle injury.

Embiid, meanwhile, is dealing with a sore right thumb. He's expected to play, but he was wearing a brace on his right hand and thumb during Friday's practice. He might have a torn ligament in his thumb.

There's two ways of looking at Devin Booker's hamstring injury, an injury that will keep out of this game.

The Suns lose their top scorer and emerging superstar, who was at the top of his game.

But with that injury, the pressure now falls completely on the Pelicans to win this home game. I don't believe the Pelicans are ready for that against this elite foe that had the best record in the NBA. The Pelicans have failed to cover six of the last eight times they've played an above .500 opponent.

The Suns have excellent backcourt depth to fill-in for Booker. Phoenix's intensity is sure to be sky-high after being upset in Game 2 and losing Booker. I don't see the youthful Pelicans matching that especially with their lack of big-game, playoff basketball experience.

Chris Paul is going to control the tempo. The Suns will tighten ranks in this first game without Booker to pull out the victory.

The Bucks lost more than a game when they were upset at home by the Bulls, 114-110, this past Wednesday. Khris Middleton suffered a sprained knee injury and is out.

But the Bucks know how to survive and win without key players. They did it last season when Giannis Antetokounmpo was hurt. Milwaukee is a deep team with various interchangeable parts. The Bulls got the Bucks' full attention with that victory.

The Bucks will win here. Jrue Holiday is overdue for a better performance in this series and Milwaukee has a much deeper bench than Chicago.

Milwaukee has covered nine of the last 11 times it has been road chalk. The Bucks almost always cover in Chicago, too, going 11-1 ATS in their last 12 road games against the Bulls.

Bad energy, low morale and injuries to their second and third-best players. That's what the out-gunned Nuggets are going through.

The Warriors, on the other hand, are peaking at just the right time with Jordan Poole looking like a superstar alongside fellow superstar Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

The results have been Golden State blowout victories by 16 and 20 points in the first two games of this series.

Yeah, this Game 3 figures to be closer with the Nuggets coming home. But asking the Nuggets to end their six-game playoff losing streak, which began last season, is asking too much.

Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. aren't suddenly going to appear and change the Nuggets' fortunates. Nikola Jokic is great, but he can't do it alone. And now the Warriors figure to have ace defender Andre Iguodala back for this matchup after he missed Game 2.

The Warriors are rolling. I don't expect them to lose here so laying a short money line price makes sense.

Even though they are down 2-0 in their series against the 76ers, I see no panic from the Raptors and their coach, Nick Nurse.

I like Nurse a lot. Enough to feel confident backing the Raptors to beat the 76ers in Game 3 now that they are back in Toronto after losing the first two games in Philadelphia. 

Even though the Raptors are more banged-up than the 76ers, I don't see a talent gap between the two teams. 

Toronto actually outscored the 76ers by nine points during the fourth quarter of Game 2. Nurse is known for making shrewd adjustments and the Raptors should be super intense while the 76ers can't help but subconsciously let up. 

The 76ers failed to cover in their last five regular season road games. They also are 1-5 ATS during their last six visits to Toronto. 

Still fresh from their play-in game victory against the Clippers, the Timberwolves ambushed the rusty Grizzlies in Game 1. Memphis hadn't played in six days before losing, 130-117, this past Saturday to Minnesota.

I don't expect the Grizzlies to go down 0-2 in the series losing both games at home.

The Timberwolves are much improved. But the Grizzlies did win the second-most games in the NBA. They are 17-5 ATS in their last 22 home games even with that first game loss. Minnesota was 2-8 ATS the past 10 times as a road 'dog before surprising Memphis.

The Timberwolves pulled down 11 more rebounds and were more physical than the Grizzlies in Game 1. Memphis isn't going to be intimidated at home. Grizzlies big man Steven Adams is a much better defender than he showed in Game 1.

I see a physical, intense all-out effort from the Grizzlies to even this series while the Timberwolves, in the playoffs for only the second time in the last 18 years, are fat and happy having accomplished getting a split in Memphis.

These teams have gone the opposite way. Atlanta is 26-14 in its last 40 games. The Cavaliers are 9-18 in their last 27 games, including 3-9 SU and ATS in their last dozen games.

I don't expect a sudden reversal of fortunes. The Hawks have covered seven of their last nine. They are 6-0 ATS the past six times as favorites.

Atlanta blew out Charlotte by 29 points in its opening postseason game this past Wednesday. The Cavaliers lost to the Nets by seven points in its opening play-in game.

The Hawks were strong as a playoff road team last season winning and covering 60 percent of their away matchups, including winning and covering their road opener in each of their series against the Knicks, 76ers and Bucks.

Atlanta and Cleveland have played four times this season. The Hawks have won and covered during the past three meetings with their average victory margin being 11.6 points.

We saw with last night's play-in game that the defensive intensity is increased during the postseason when the Clippers and Timberwolves went Under by 18 points.

 I like the way the Clippers are playing. LA has won five in a row beating the Bucks and Suns during this span. 

I'm expecting a loose game devoid of defense with the Kings playing the string out and the Clippers locked into the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

The Clippers are averaging 127.2 points per game during their last five games. Paul George is rounding into shape averaging 22.5 points in four games since returning from an elbow injury.

The Kings ranked 29th defensively giving up 115.8 points a game. They've been even worse during their past 10 games allowing 119.7 points during this span.

The Clippers have surrendered at least 115 points in six of their last eight games.

Both teams are in the postseason. But the Bulls should be playing with intensity as this is a get right game for them in their regular season home finale.

Chicago has dropped three in a row. Those losses, however, occurred to three Eastern Conference powers - the Heat, Bucks and Celtics. Now the Bulls are dropping way down in class.

Chicago has covered in its past five meetings against Charlotte, including both times this season.

Playoff seedings are at stake here. So the Cavaliers are going to be up for this game. That's enough reason for me to stay on the fade-the-Nets-as-chalk bandwagon.  How bad have the Nets been against the spread whey laying points at home? They are 1-20 ATS the last 21 as home favorites!  If taking more than eight points, the Cavaliers would have covered 73 percent of their last 22 games. 

The Nets have been far better on the road this season and they'll be taking the Knicks seriously in this matchup.

The Bucks dominate the Bulls when playing in Chicago covering 10 of the last 11 times. Look for that trend to hold up in this meeting.

Milwaukee is in circle-the-wagons mode having lost two in a row, both at home. The Bucks are at full strength and are at their best laying points on the road covering seven of the past nine times as road chalk. The Bulls are struggling defensively and are only 1-10 ATS the past 11 times when taking on foes with a winning percentage above .600. 

The Bulls have allowed an average of 128.5 points during their last two games. 

Milwaukee has beaten the Bulls in all three games this season, including 126-98 on March 22 during the past meeting. 

Not even against the Rockets can the Nets get away with trying to cover this large of a spread.

Brooklyn just isn't playing well right now. The Nets are 11-22 in their last 33 games. This includes going just 8-7 since superstar Kevin Durant returned from a knee injury.

The Nets are 17-21 at home. They are a dreadful 4-23 ATS as a home favorite. Kyrie Irving can play in home games now, but he's in a shooting slump making just 26.6 percent of his last 105 shots from the floor during the past five games.

The Rockets have been competitive lately going 2-4. Their four losses during this span have come by a combined 18 points for an average loss of six points.

Realistically, the Cavaliers really don't have much to play for as they just about are locked in as one of the play-in tournament teams in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland isn't playing well with six losses in its last eight games. The Cavaliers continue to be missing their two best big men and keys to their defense with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley both out.

So taking this many points with the home 'dog Magic makes sense. Orlando is on a six-game losing skid, but is a more respectable 9-10 ATS in its last 19 games.

The Magic should be counted on to provide an all-out effort after being embarrassed by 30 points by the Knicks this past Sunday. The Magic are coached by Jamahl Mosley, who is a former Cavaliers assistant.

Cleveland has failed to cover the past four times when favored and is 1-6 ATS in its last seven games against Orlando.

After clinching a playoff spot, the Mavericks met the Wizards this past Friday. It wasn't pretty. The Wizards buried the Mavericks, 135-103.

Expect a much more focused and far stronger defensive effort from the Mavericks, who give up the second-fewest points in the NBA at 104.7 and rank fourth in 3-point defense.

This is what Dallas coach Jason Kidd said after the embarrassing loss to the Wizards: ''We have to get back to the details of our defense, and that's what we're built on. When you clinch, there's a time to relax, and I think we relaxed. We didn't play very well. Luka (Doncic) scored the ball, but again defensively, we got to get back to the way things were.''

The Bucks sat out four of their top defenders in their last game. That was this past Friday. The Bucks paid the price losing, 153-119, to the Clippers. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez are all expected to return for this matchup. The Bucks should be playing with a huge chip on their shoulder after their humiliating 34-point loss to the Clippers.

Two things to note, too. The Mavericks have been playing at the second-slowest pace during the last 10 games. This also is an early start time, another plus for the Under.

The Nets have proven much stronger on the road than at home this season. I see the Nets bouncing back after a tough, 120-119, overtime home loss to the Bucks this past Thursday. 

Toronto needs to be careful here. The Raptors are fat and happy having just concluded a 4-0 homestand with the last two games being a blowout of the Timberwolves and a huge overtime win against the Celtics.

Now the Raptors take to the road to face the lowly Magic. The last time the Raptors were on the road they lost by 14 points to the Bulls on March 21.

Orlando has covered six of the last eight times it has been a 'dog. Toronto is 4-10 ATS the past 14 times playing below .400 opponents.

Both meetings this season have been close. The Raptors edged the Magic, 110-109, back in late October and Orlando defeated the Raptors, 103-97, on March 4.

Paul George played for the first time in three-plus months against the Jazz this past Tuesday helping the Clippers defeat Utah. LA rallied from 25 points to win, 121-115. George looked great in scoring 34 points in 31 minutes.

Three things about that, though.

The game was played in LA. The Clippers had lost five in a row before that victory and George still may not have his full conditioning.

The Clippers are 1-5 in their last six road games, 2-4 ATS, with their lone victory during this span coming against the lowly Pistons by four points. The Clippers lost by 12 points to the Nuggets and by 29 to the Jazz during their past two away contests.

If George isn't at peak efficiency - and it's hard to imagine he would be playing in just his second game back - the Bulls would have the three best players on the court in DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.

Chicago is 26-10 at home. The Bulls are 23-7 ATS the past 30 times as a home favorite. They beat the Raptors by 14 points and Cavaliers by 10 during their last two home contests.

The Clippers are 16-23 on the road. They are 1-6 ATS the past seven times when facing an above .500 team.

This is the third meeting between the two teams this season. There were 179 points scored the first time and 189 points scored during the second matchup.

I don't expect many points either this time around with each team devoid of their best scorers.

Oklahoma City has been missing its leading scorer, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He could be shut down for the season due to an ankle injury.

Portland is down its top three scorers with Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons and Jusef Nurikic all out. The Trail Blazers just lost forward Trendon Watford to a knee injury this past Friday. Watford had been averaging 15.4 points this month.

The Trail Blazers are averaging only 100 points during their last three games.

This handicap is simple. The Hornets are playing well and have been huge money-makers on the road.

The Nets are off a big Saturday night road victory against the Heat. They are at their point spread worst as a home favorite.

Charlotte is 6-1 SU, 5-2 ATS in its last seven games. Among the Hornets' victories during this span are wins against the Jazz, Mavericks and Hawks. Charlotte is 12-3-1 ATS in its last 16 road contests.

Brooklyn has performed much better away from home. The Nets are 16-19 at home. The Hornets have a better road mark at 18-18 than Brooklyn does at home. 
The Nets are dreadful as home favorites failing to cover 22 of the past 27 times (18 percent). 

I don't usually back the Magic in a favorite's role, but this spot and situation set up well for Orlando.

The Kings are off a dramatic road victory against the Pacers, 110-109, on a last-second put-back basket. 

Despite that win, Sacramento is 4-12 in its last 16 games. The Kings are without their two best players as both De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis are injured. 

The Magic had been playing well with consecutive home victories against the Thunder and Warriors before getting crushed, 118-102, on the road against Oklahoma City three days ago. Orlando was minus its leading rebounder and third-leading scorer, Wendell Carter Jr., in that game. There's a good chance Carter plays here. But even if he doesn't I like Orlando to defeat Sacramento.  

This is my NBA March Game of the Month.

The 31-42 Knicks are back to being a bottom-feeder this season. The only way they can win is to catch an opponent in a letdown spot. That's what the Knicks did on Wednesday upsetting the Hornets. 

You can't blame the Grizzlies for being fat and happy. They've won six of their last seven and just defeated the Nets, 132-120, without their best player, Ja Morant, last night.

You can't blame the Grizzlies either if they are overconfident for this game against the 25-48 Pacers. The teams just met nine days ago and the Grizzlies buried the Pacers, 135-102, shooting 51 percent from the floor.

Memphis was a 6 1/2-point road favorite in that game. Now the line is nearly doubled. I don't believe that is justified.

The Pacers not only have short revenge, but they should be fired up after having their two-game win streak end in heartbreaking fashion with a one-point home loss to the Kings last night. The Kings pulled the game out on a tip-in with less than one second left.

Indiana is 15-5 ATS the past 20 times when playing on zero rest. The Grizzlies are 1-5 ATS following a double-digit victory and probably will be missing Morant again. Memphis also has a far bigger matchup on deck hosting the Bucks Saturday.

Revenge and a great situation line up well for Oklahoma City.

Just three days ago, Orlando beat the Thunder, 90-85, at home. The Thunder hung in despite shooting just 33 percent from the floor, getting six fewer free throws than Orlando while missing star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Now the Thunder get the Magic at home in this short revenge spot. The Magic are in a rare and monster letdown spot having upset the Warriors, 94-90, Tuesday night at home.

Orlando has lost 27 of its 37 road games this season. The Magic are 1-6 ATS the last seven times facing Oklahoma City.

The Thunder are 28-14-4 ATS (67%) in their last 46 games all as an underdog. The Thunder also is 22-9-1 (71%) the past 32 times when going against a sub .500 opponent.

The won/lost record shows the Pistons losing six of their last seven games. A betting reality, though, is the Pistons have been one of the hottest point spread teams covering 13 of their last 16 games, including going 5-1 ATS as a home 'dog.

One of Detroit's rare non-covers during this time frame occurred in its last game, an embarrassing, 119-115, loss to the Trail Blazers two days ago to open their homestand. Star rookie Cade Cunningham committed a season-high nine turnovers in that loss. Cunningham and his young teammates should be motivated following that bad performance against Portland. They draw the Hawks at an opportune time.

Atlanta is off a highly-satisfying, emotional, 117-111, win against the Knicks last night. This was at Madison Square Garden. The setting and mood was playoff-like.

Here's the reality about the Hawks, though. They are 1-7 ATS the past eight times as favorites. They were 1-5 SU, 0-6 ATS during their last six road contests prior to defeating the Knicks.

Oh, yes, Atlanta is 1-11 ATS following a victory. The Hawks also carry a fatigue factor in action for the fourth time in six days.

It's not a fluke the Timberwolves are 42-30. They are a much improved team with a lot of young talent.

But I want the Mavericks going for me in this matchup.

Dallas is trying to prevent its first three-game losing streak in more than three months following consecutive losses to the 76ers and Hornets. The Mavericks are 13-3 ATS following a loss. 

Minnesota is off a huge 138-119 home victory against the defending world champion Bucks. 

The Timberwolves defeated the Mavericks in the first meeting this season, 111-105, at home on Dec. 19. The Mavericks beat the Timberwolves, 114-102, in Dallas two days later. It was the eighth time in their last 11 visits to Dallas that the Timberwolves failed to cover.

Dallas is 23-12 at home this season. The Timberwolves are 18-18 on the road. The Timberwolves are 1-5 ATS the past six times they've been a road 'dog. 

The Timberwolves will host the Mavericks on Friday. Dallas has the history, motivation and situation to hold court today by covering this small number. 

The Rockets are 3-22 in their last 25 games and showing no interest in playing defense. Houston has allowed an average of 120.3 points in regulation during its last 10 games. Washington is the sixth-most accurate field goal shooting team in the NBA. The Rockets rank last in scoring defense and defensive field goal percentage.

I don't expect the Rockets to suddenly get intense on defense after giving up 122 points to the Grizzlies in a 24-point loss on Sunday. The Over is 16-5 the past 21 times the Rockets have played on zero rest.

The Wizards are 1-6 in their last seven games. They aren't playing defense either. Washington has given up an average of 122 points in its last eight games discounting a 100-97 loss to the Knicks. The Over has cashed in nine of the Wizards' last 10 games. 

The Celtics are playing well. But so has Denver, which has won 14 of its last 19 games. The Nuggets are 5-0 ATS the past five times they've been underdogs. I don't believe they should be a home 'dog here.

The Nuggets have the best player on the court, Nikola Jokic, and should be the hungrier team following an overtime road loss to the Cavaliers two days ago. Denver also has revenge for a 108-102 road loss to the Celtics on Feb. 11. The Nuggets shot 11 of 44 (25 percent) from 3-point range in that loss.

Denver has bolstered its rotation with DeMarcus Cousins and Bryn Forbes.

Boston is a bit fat and happy with consecutive road victories against the Warriors and Kings. 

This is a rarity - laying points with the Magic. But I see Orlando having some intensity at home after giving up 150 points at home in a 42-point loss to the Nets at home two days ago. They couldn't handle Kyrie Irving. 

Kudos to the Raptors on their four-game win streak, all of which have come on the road against the Spurs, Suns, Nuggets and Lakers. It's extremely tough to win five consecutive away games in the NBA. The Raptors are going to draw an aroused Clippers team tonight. Toronto is dealing with a fatigue factor, too, playing for the fourth time in six days.

The Clippers are off a 120-111 overtime road loss to the Cavaliers. LA came back from a nine-point deficit with 6:14 left in that game before falling in overtime. Neither Reggie Jackson nor Marcus Morris played in Monday's loss to the Cavaliers. They were rested in anticipation of this matchup.

This is the Clippers' lone home game in a six-game span. They are 13-6 ATS the past 19 times as a home underdog.

Don't get dazzled by superstars Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and James Harden. Defense is going to dominate this matchup.

Both teams rank in the top 12 defensively and each team is half-court oriented rather than fast-paced.

The Under has cashed in five of the past six meetings between the Nuggets and 76ers.

The Nuggets are averaging 107.6 points in their last three games. This is their first East Coast game in more than a month so the time difference could throw off their shooting.

If you discount a 121-point game against the Bulls, a below average defensive team, the 76ers are averaging 95.3 points in regulation during their last three games.

An early start and no Kyrie Irving make the Under an attractive play here.

The Nets are averaging 103.2 points in their last four home games, all of which came without Irving. The Knicks' defense is down this season, but it still ranks in the top 10.

The teams have met twice this season and both games went Under this total with the latest being the Nets' 111-106 road win against the Knicks on Feb. 16.

Can you say letdown? That's what the Spurs have to avoid after they upset the Jazz at home last night, 104-102. As an added bonus, the victory gave Gregg Popovich the most regular season coaching wins in NBA history. All in all, a tremendous night in San Antonio basketball history.

Simply put, the Lakers can't be laying a mid-range number like this.

LA is 2-9 SU, 3-7-1 ATS in its last 11 games. The Lakers have been favored four times during this span - and lost each game straight-up.

Even LeBron James admitted the Lakers, ''...don't have a lot of room for error.''

The retooled Wizards, with newcomer Kristaps Porzingis upgrading their frontcourt, have been a competitive 3-4 SU, 4-3 ATS record in their last seven games. One of those point spread losses occurring in double overtime to the Spurs.

I want the Mavericks in this spot and am willing to lay double-digits to back them here.

Dallas had its five-game win streak come to a rough end with a 107-77 loss at home to the Knicks two days ago. The Rockets, on the other hand, are off a highly-satisfying 139-130 overtime home win against the Lakers from Wednesday.

The Mavericks are 23-9 ATS following a defeat. They are 2-0 versus the Rockets this season and 4-1 ATS during their past five visits to Houston.

The Rockets not only have the second-worst record in the NBA, but they also have a terrible point spread mark just 11-27 the past 38 times as an underdog.

Boston playing well. But so is Detroit except the Pistons don't get nearly the attention the Celtics do.

The Celtics are looking for their sixth consecutive victory. The Pistons are looking for their 10th straight point spread cover.

Cade Cunningham is making a spirited bid to earn Rookie of the Year honors scoring 20 or more points in his last five games.

The Pistons upset the Celtics, 112-111, at Boston on Feb. 16 as 12-point 'dogs. Now the line is even higher. That was the seventh straight time Detroit has covered against Boston.

The Celtics host the Mavericks on Sunday in a much more challenging game. So a Boston letdown/look ahead situation could exist. Even if the Celtics take this matchup seriously, the Pistons are playing well enough and the line is inflated enough to back Detroit.

Joel Embiid and James Harden trump Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. That's especially so in this emotional home game for the 76ers.

Philadelphia is 5-0 in games Harden and Embiid have played together. The 76ers have won four of those five games by 15 or more points with the latest being a 121-106 home victory against the Bulls this past Monday.

Harden opens up the 76ers' offense. Embiid is now the favorite to win MVP honors with Harden on board.

Brooklyn hasn't been playing well with six losses in its last eight games. Perhaps the Nets will get it together and make a move with Durant back. But it hasn't happened yet. Right now the 76ers are the clear superior team. So I find this point spread short.

The Bucks are due for a letdown after pulling out three narrow victories the past six days edging the Heat by one point at home, defeating the Bulls by six on the road and beating the Suns at home this past Sunday in a game that was much more intense and closer than the final score indicated.

After this game, the Bucks go back home to meet the Hawks on Wednesday. So the backdoor should swing open for Oklahoma City if the Bucks were to build a big lead.

The Thunder are capable of pulling upsets. Just three games ago they knocked off the Nuggets in Denver by 12 points as a 15 1/2-point 'dog.

Oklahoma City has the second-best ATS mark in the NBA at 38-22-4 (63 percent).

Now that Kevin Duran is back, I'm expecting the Nets to make a move. This is especially so when they are on the road when Kyrie Irving can play. The Hornets can't match that 1-2 superstar punch.

The Nets have a winning road record. They have either covered or pushed in five of their last six away contests.

The Hornets are a below .500 team that ranks 28th defensively. They are 2-8 SU, 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 home games.

Brooklyn has covered during 10 of its last 13 visits to Charlotte.