Rickenbach NBA *6* Cleveland Cavaliers +4 vs Golden State @ 9:00 ET - It's quite amazing that the Warriors are 3-2 both straight-up and ATS in this series. They had no business covering the spread in game one (it went to overtime) in a match-up where Cleveland plus the big points looked like the right side all the way. And now again in Game 5, the Warriors covered a game in which it looked like they were a dead ticket all the way. Golden State was an 8.5 to 9.5 point favorite on Sunday and the game was back and forth most of the way with teams trading buckets until in the final minutes everything went the Warriors way. Give credit to Golden State for getting these wins and being able to come up big in critical moments of these games. But this is also giving solid line value to a home dog Cleveland team that has LeBron James fired up to make sure his team does not lose this series on their home floor. LeBron has been an absolute beast in this series and the Cavaliers are a perfect 3-0 in this post-season when they are trailing in a series. Cleveland was on a fantastic 9-1 run before dropping the past two games to the Warriors. The Cavs know they let the game slip away from them in the final minutes in Game 5 and they won't let the same thing happen on their home floor. Lets not forget the Warriors had lost 3 of their last 6 road games before coming up with the big road win at Cleveland in Game 4 of this series. As for the Cavaliers, don't overlook the fact that, before the Game 4 loss on their home floor, they had won 9 of their last 10 home games including a stellar 7-1 mark at home in this post-season. The Warriors are simply over-valued here and the home dog is the way to go. Play Cleveland +4 as a *6* selection Tuesday.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Cleveland Cavaliers +8.5 @ Golden State @ 8 ET - It is common knowledge that Cleveland is the short handed team in this series. That said, the extra rest is a huge benefit to the Cavaliers. LeBron James is trying to put the Cavs on his shoulders and carry this team to an NBA Championship and the extra day of rest is a big deal for LeBron and Co. This season the Cavaliers are a PERFECT 15-0 when playing with 2 days of rest. The beauty of that angle in this spot is that the Cavs don't have to win this game for a successful result in this Game 5 match-up. The Cavs are a full +8.5 points in this Sunday match-up and those are big points considering how tight this series has been much of the way thusfar. In the past two months Cleveland has not lost back to back games and that includes this entire post-season. As for Golden State, the Warriors have failed to cover 10 of the last 14 times they have been a home favorite of 6.5 points or more. Golden State is facing a Cavs team with a huge "underdog mentality" that has them fighting hard in this series. That's why for the third time in four games the Cavaliers attempted more shots from the field than did the Warriors. In fact, the Cavs have averaged 8 more shot attempts than Golden State in those 3 games. The one game where Golden State did get more shot attempts from the field was Game 3 and Cleveland won that game any way. The point is that Cleveland's effort throughout this entire series has been very impressive. They should have covered the first game of the series too (remember that was a crazy ATS loss in overtime). With that said, there is huge value with a Cavs team that simply came out flat in Game 4 after the huge Game 3 home win. Now, on the road and off of their worst effort of the series, you can expect an A+ effort from a Cavaliers team that easily could have been 3-0 ATS in this series heading into Game 4. The points are a huge value here with a Cavs team that is 15-0 straight-up in this situation (2 days rest) this season AND that has huge motivation after getting embarrassed on their home floor. The Cavs once again overcome the absence of Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving with a huge effort. Play Cleveland plus the big points as a *10* Top Play Sunday.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Golden State Warriors -2.5 @ Cleveland @ 9:00 ET - Golden State ended up with another loss in the ledger in Tuesday night's Game 3 but if a moral victory counts for anything, the Warriors certainly garnered some confidence from the 4th quarter of that game. Golden State came all the way back from what looked like a sure blowout defeat the way the 3rd quarter went. That said, look for the Warriors to carry that momentum, confidence and much better shooting right into this critical Game 4 match-up Thursday. Golden State has gone 6-1 straight-up and ATS the last 3 seasons combined when they are trailing in a playoff series. Also, the Warriors are 22-3 straight-up and 15-8-2 ATS this season when playing with revenge. With the low number posted on this game look for the Warriors to continue that straight-up dominance in this situation while also adding another ATS victory to that ledger. The Cavaliers are 8-14 straight-up and ATS as an underdog this season. Perhaps the most impressive stat of all though is this: the Warriors have not lost three straight games this entire season! That includes regular season and post-season action. Fired up coach Steve Kerr has his troops ready to go in this one. Play Golden State minus the short number as an *8* selection Thursday.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Top Play Golden State Warriors -1 @ Cleveland @ 9:00 ET - As I correctly predicted right here in my Game 2 write-up, the Cavaliers would be hungry after letting Game 1 get away from them. They also were fired up after losing Kyrie Irving to injury and, as typically happens, all of the supporting cast brings their "A game" in terms of hustle and hard work. That is why the Cavaliers were able to win Sunday despite shooting just 32% from the field! The Cavs dominated the glass with a 75 to 54 edge in rebounds. That won't happen again tonight. Now you will see that the aggressive and hungrier team will be the Warriors. After losing in OT on their home floor the Warriors will be fired up to go on the road and regain the home court edge. Conversely, Cleveland can't help but have a bit of a letdown here. The Cavs are happy they earned that all-important split on the road in the first two games and they now return home so there is a little bit of a relaxed feeling that takes over the team. That is not good when facing a team as talented as these Warriors. Golden State is 22-2 this season when playing with revenge including 6-1 when playing with home loss revenge. These are straight-up records I am stating here since this line is basically a pick'em. Over the last 3 seasons, Golden State has gone 34-10 when off of an upset loss as a favorite. The Cavaliers are an ugly 7-14 ATS as an underdog this season. The Warriors have lost two straight games just once this entire post-season. They know it's time for them to "get back to work" tonight and be the aggressors and that will be evident in tonight's Game 3. Play Golden State -1 as a *10* Top Play Tuesday.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Top Play Cleveland Cavaliers +8 @ Golden State @ 8 ET - Already without Kevin Love, the Cavaliers now lost Kyrie Irving. Cleveland must be finished now, right? Hardly! That is why the value is with the Cavaliers here. They had a chance to rest up with the extra rest before this series plus the fact that where two off days between the Game 1 Thurday and this Game 2 on Sunday. Of course the Warriors got rest too. But the point being that it is easier to recover and compensate for injuries when you afforded the time to do so. LeBron James and Company will be ready tonight. You can bet on that. Also, after getting burned in Game 1 with Cleveland because of overtime - the Cavs covered the entire game in regulation - I won't hesitate to back them here. The Warriors have proven they are quite beatable (ATS) at home in these playoffs. In fact, prior to Golden State's ridiculously fortunate cover in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the Warriors had covered just 3 of their prior 8 home playoff games. Bettors are likely to pile up on Golden State in Game 2 due to the injury to Irving but that is typically the wrong thing to do and simply gives Cavs backers even more value here. Teams rally in the first game after a star goes down. Couple that with the determination of LeBron James and the anger they bring to this game after letting Game 1 getting away in overtime, and you have the perfect set up for a dangerous dog to hang tough in this one Sunday night. The Cavs are a perfect 14-0 straight-up and 10-4 ATS this season when playing with two days rest! Even if the Cavaliers don't take that record to 15-0 by getting the road upset here, they will absolutely hang tough in this critical Game 2 match-up. Play Cleveland plus the big points as a *10* Top Play Sunday.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Cleveland Cavaliers +6 @ Golden State @ 9 ET - I see a huge edge with grabbing the available points in this one. First off, neither team is likely to come out super sharp and firing on all cylinders because the long layoff definitely will take a toll in that regard. You can practice all you want but game time action is the only way that players and teams truly stay in top form. That said, there could be some sloppiness in this game and that is particularly true early. That means the Cavs are absolutely going to hang around in this one and getting a half dozen points with LeBron and Company is a huge value. James is one of the key benefactors of the extra time off. His aching body needed the extra rest and the long layoff has benefitted the Cavs much more than the Warriors because Kyrie Irving and LeBron James both were in need of healing. The Warriors will struggle to pull away in this game and an outright win for the road dog would not surprise at all. The Warriors are currently on a 5-9 ATS run in games where they are favored by 5 points or more. In other words, Golden State has shown many times over that they struggle to put teams away. As for the Cavaliers, they have gone 3-1 ATS and SU as a dog in these playoffs and the lone loss they had was on a banked in 3 pointer at the buzzer in a game where they were a 2.5 point underdog! The Cavs could easily have a perfect 4-0 record as a dog in this post-season. The Cavaliers are 14-2 SU in their last 16 games and only one of those losses came by more than 3 points. They're in this one all the way and an upset certainly would not be a shock. Too much value is being given to the East/West dichotomy. The Warriors are facing the best of the East now and this one is a battle! Play Cleveland +6 as an *8* selection Thursday.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Top Play Houston Rockets +10.5 @ Golden State @ 9 ET - The Warriors had won and covered each of their two prior potential close out games in these playoffs. However, they had the Rockets down 3 games to 0 in Houston and couldn't get the job done on Sunday. In fact, the Rockets dominated Golden State for much of that game. The reason I am again backing Houston tonight is because the points are generous and this team just will not quit. They were stung badly in Game 3 of this series but this is the same team that battled hard with the Warriors in Golden State in the first two games in this series and fell just short in each game. Also, the Rockets came all the way back from their 3-1 series deficit against the Clippers in the last round. That included two road wins in their 3 game rally. Even though the Warriors did win each of their close out opportunties in the first two rounds of the playoffs (against New Orleans and Memphis) they shot 50.6% in each of those two wins. Against the Rockets they have been held below 46.8% in 3 of the 4 games. Even in the game in which the Warriors shot 53% from the field, they still only won the game by 1 point. The Rockets proved in Game 4 they didn't want to be embarrassed and blown right out of the post-season after their dreadful Game 3 performance. With the heart and fight and fire they showed early in this series and in Game 4 as well as in the series comeback with the Clippers, I don't expect to see any quit in the Rockets tonight either. Houston is 25-10 ATS this season when off of a win by 10 points or more in their prior game. Also, the Rockets are on a long-term 25-12 ATS run as a road dog of 9.5 to 12 points. Look for the Warriors to drop to 3-6 ATS in this post-season when leading in a playoff series. Play Houston +10.5 as a *10* Top Play Wednesday.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Atlanta Hawks +8 @ Cleveland @ 8:30 ET - The Hawks showed a lot of fight in battling the Cavaliers all the way to the finish in Game 3 in Cleveland. Though they fell short in overtime, no one should expect Atlanta to stop fighting tonight. Especially with the "dirty play" they feel they have seen from the Cavs Matthew Dellavedova. Whether the Hawks feelings are justified or not, the fact is they have plenty of motivation to give a huge effort in Game 4 and try to send this series back to Atlanta. Though the Hawks lost Kyle Korver to an ankle injury for the rest of the season, he was not shooting well in this series. Atlanta showed a lot of heart and determination in Game 3 and one should not expect them to go away quietly in Game 4 either. The Cavaliers LeBron James appears to be wearing down some as he's having to do so much, especially because of the Kyrie Irving knee injury situation. The Cavs are only 2-4 ATS in home games in the post-season and with their Game 3 non-covering win, Cleveland has failed to cover 4 of their last 5 playoff home games. They once again are overvalued here. The Hawks have covered 4 of their last 5 playoff road games and are an overall 14-8 ATS as an underdog this season. Play Atlanta +8 as an *8* selection Tuesday.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Houston Rockets +5 vs Golden State @ 9 ET - The Rockets were thoroughly embarrassed in their Game 3 loss on their home floor. After battling hard against the Warriors and coming up just short in the first two games of the series on the road, Houston had the false impression that they could just come home and the Toyota Center would insure a victory. They found out that was certainly not the case at all. Although down 3-0 in this series, even if only playing for pride, one thing is for certain, the Rockets are going to give a huge effort in this game. They do have some added confidence from the fact they won 3 straight against the Clippers after being down 3 games to 1. Kudos to Curry for being a phenomenal player and he's certainly well deserving of everything that comes his way but I don't see him shooting the ridiculous efficiency with which he shot in Game 3 on Saturday. The Rockets were on a 5-0 ATS run before losing Game 3. The Warriors were on a 6-12 ATS run before the blowout win Saturday. Maybe they do end the series today but I see this game being tight all the way and I see the Rockets being in this one all the way to the end and possibly springing the upset and sending it back to California for Game 5. The Rockets are 12-2 ATS off of an upset loss as a favorite this season. Houston is also 14-4 ATS this season off of a loss by 10 points or more. The Rockets will be physical, intense, and are ready to leave it all on the floor Monday night. Play Houston +5 as an *8* selection Monday.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Top Play Atlanta Hawks -1 vs Cleveland @ 8:30 ET - The Cavaliers are such a public team because of being led by LeBron James. It helps to add more value to fading Cleveland then what should truly be there. We firmly believe that is the case today. Atlanta is a very small home favorite here even though the Hawks are 40-7 in home games this season. Note that the Cavs are an ugly 4-13 ATS as an underdog this season. As a road dog of 3 points or less, Cleveland has gone 1-4 ATS this season. The Hawks are 3-1 ATS this season, and 11-6 ATS the last 3 seasons combined, as a home favorite of 3 points or less. Although one may hesitate to back them off of an upset win on the road in their victory at Washington on Friday, note that the Hawks are 8-3 ATS this season when off of an upset win as an underdog. The Hawks came back from down 2 games to 1 to beat Washington by winning 3 straight games. Atlanta has gone 23-11-2 ATS (and 29-7 straight-up) this season when they enter a game on a winning streak of 3 games or more. In other words, when Atlanta gets hot, they get really hot, and they are only laying 1 point in this game as of early Wednesday morning. So nearly any straight-up win will equate to a win at the betting counter too. With Kevin Love out for the season, and Kyrie Irving dealing with a knee injury in this one, the Hawks have huge personnel edges and will be fired up on their home floor. They've taken 3 straight games against LeBron and Company since being embarrassed in Cleveland in their first match-up early this season. The Hawks dominate for a 4th straight time against the Cavaliers tonight. Play Atlanta -1 as a *10* Top Play Wednesday.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Houston Rockets +10.5 @ Golden State @ 9 ET - The "knee-jerk reaction" here would be to grab the Warriors since the Rockets are off of a grueling 7 game series with the Clippers while Golden State has had a little to recover after knocking off Memphis 4 games to 2. However, the fact is that the Rockets are playing with so much confidence right now, showing the ability to also bounce back from adversity and come back from any deficit, remember Game 5 at Los Angeles? With that said, no lead is safe and certainly the double digit pointspread here is showing that this line is a little inflated to say the least. Yes, the Warriors did sweep Houston in the regular season but the Rockets did not have Dwight Howard in two of those games. I am not big on the "night of the week" trends but it is interesting that Houston is a perfect 8-0 ATS this season (and 20-5 ATS the last 3 seasons) on Tuesday nights. The Rockets are also a long-term 23-12 ATS as a road dog of 9.5 to 12 points. Also, while one might expect Houston to be flat after such a big win, note that the Rockets are 24-10 ATS this season when off of a win by a double digit margin. In fact, Houston has now won 3 straight games - all by double digits - and they simply look like a freight train that has a full head of steam at this point. I am not saying they will win this game outright but I am saying they will stay within this very large number. The Warriors are simply over-priced here. Golden State is now facing a much more potent offense than what they saw in the first two rounds with New Orleans and Memphis. Play Houston +10.5 as an *8* selection Tuesday.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Houston Rockets +2.5 vs LA Clippers @ 3:30 ET - The Rockets have proven they have a "never say die" attitude and, after their incredible Game 6 victory on the road in LA on Thursday, Houston has the added benefit of extra time off heading into Game 7. That helps insure they are off the unbelievable high of their huge 4th quarter performance in Game 6 and they are ready to "take care of business" in Game 7. Had this game been a quick turnaround it likely would have hurt the Rockets. But the added benefit of additional time off to get the proper mental focus back as well as to allow James Harden even more recovery time from his recent illness is a big plus for the Rockets. There seems to be a lot of support for the Clippers in this one. They are laying points even though they are on the road and the line is also climbing. A lot of this has to do with "zig zag theory" that is so popular with many bettors. That theory is popular come playoff time as a bettor backs the team who lost the prior game and needs to respond in the next game. That is often a decent theory to follow but there is a flaw in it when situational edges are as big as they are here. The Clippers were up 3-1 in this series and then failed to close out the series in Game 5 in Houston. But, in the back of their minds they knew they still had the Game 6 opportunity on their home floor. However, now that they blew that, they now head to the road again and it's tough to win on the road in a situation like this. Having blown a 3-1 series lead, having blown a huge 4th quarter lead on their home floor in Game 6, and now having to take to the road for a "win or go home for the summer" game. This is a lot of pressure for a team that was "supposed to win" and "had this series won". There is a huge mental aspect to this game and, as much as I respect the talent level of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, they let this series slip away. Look for James Harden and Dwight Howard to rule the day in Game 7 and let's not forget what the Rockets supporting cast managed in that huge Game 6 win on the road. The Rockets are loaded with confidence right now and the Clips have the added pressure of knowing that no lead is safe with this team. Look for the home team to get the outright win here but I'll gladly grab the points being offered "just in case". Play Houston +2.5 as an *8* selection Sunday.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Memphis Grizzlies +5.5 (or +5) vs Golden State @ 9:35 ET - After playing very little in Game 4 and then sitting out Game 5, defensive stopper Tony Allen is expected to be back on the floor for this "win or go home" Game 6 against the Warriors. Yes, the Warriors have won huge in each of the last two games in this series, but the presence of Allen as well as a raucous crowd have this Game 6 shaping up to be a much different result. Let's not forget that the Warriors were 4-11 ATS from April 1st onward before covering these last two games in big victories over the Grizzlies. The Warriors, with Allen back on defense for the Grizzlies, won't be shooting "lights out" like they have in the past two games. Golden State is 1-3 ATS when leading in a playoff series this year. This is still a team learning how to handle success properly and they are walking into a "hornets' nest" tonight in Memphis. The Grizzlies are 21-10 straight-up and 18-11 ATS this season when revenging a loss. Also, over the last three seasons combined, Memphis is a stellar 7-2 ATS when trailing in a playoff series. Look for the Grizzlies to come up huge on their home floor tonight. This is the same floor where they were 35-10 on the season before that embarrassing Game 4 home loss. They respond in a huge way tonight and the points are a great value here. Play Memphis plus the points as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Houston Rockets +8.5 @ LA Clippers @ 10:35 ET - The Clippers lost Game 5 on the road at Houston as the Rockets avoided elimination. Now, in Game 6, everyone is backing the Clippers strong and driving this line upward. Once again, it's in a higher range than it should be in my opinion. The Clippers did win huge in their two home games against the Rockets in this series but they shot an insanely high percentage in those two games while Houston struggled from the field. Coach McHale tinkered with the starting lineup in Game 5 and it paid off and the Rockets improved their ball movement and had a strong shooting night. Look for more of the same tonight. Houston has won the battle of the boards in 3 of the last 4 games and the Clippers only beat the Spurs by a bucket in their series-clinching win in the first round. This will be another tough battle for the Clips tonight. If you're expecting the Rockets to fall flat because they are off such a big win, think again. Houston is 22-10 ATS this season when off of a win by a margin of 10 points or more. As for the Clippers, their loss in Game 5 dropped them to 2-8 ATS in playoff games the L3 years when they have the series lead. They are still up 3-2 in this series and they face another tough battle tonight. Close-out games always tend to be the toughest and this line is excessive. Look for the Rockets to be in this one all the way. Play Houston +8.5 as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Memphis Grizzlies +9.5 @ Golden State @ 10:35 ET - The Warriors blew out the Grizzlies at Memphis in Game 4 but that was just the 4th cover Golden State has managed in their last 14 games and you can bet that the Grizz will come to play tonight. Memphis is 6-2 SU and 7-1 ATS this season when playing with home loss revenge. It may be tough to get the outright win at Golden State (although Memphis has already done that once in this series) but the fact is the Grizzlies are going to keep this one a lot closer than many expect. The fact is that Memphis simply couldn't find the bottom of the next in Game 4. They had shot quite well overall in the first three games of the series but then shot a paltry 37.5% from the floor in Game 4. They will respond tonight. Since the end of March, Memphis has only lost two straight games once and when that did happen the second loss came by a margin of just 4 points. The Grizzlies, although not having the same talent level as the Warriors, have shown what tough defense, aggressive rebounding and hard work can do in "evening the playing field" in a series. Though the Warriors have home court advantage again by virtue of their Game 4 win, the Grizzlies aren't going to go away quietly. Look for that record noted above to improve to 8-1 ATS on the season as Memphis responds after being embarrassed on their home floor. When tied in a playoff series the last 3 seasons the Grizzlies have compiled a 5-1 SU and 5-1 ATS mark. Too many points here for over-valued Golden State. Play Memphis +9.5 as a *10* Top Play Wednesday.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Washington Wizards +8 @ Atlanta @ 8:05 ET - The Hawks battled back in Game 4 to regain home court advantage in this series but the Wizards continue to show tremendous effort as they very nearly came back from a huge deficit to tie the game late in Game 4. Paul Pierce missed a 3 that would have tied the game late and this was after Washington had battled back from a large deficit in the game. The point is that the Wizards simply can't ever be counted out in this series on in a game. That's why this this series is tied at 2 games apiece and that's why Washington is the play again tonight. The Wizards are 6-2 in the playoffs with only one loss by more than 5 points. The Hawks are 6-4 in the playoffs and 3 of those 6 wins have been by 7 points or less. There is great value with the big number tonight as, even with the John Wall injury, the Wizards continue to step up and battle hard each game. Remember that in the only ugly loss that Washington has in this series they were down by just 5 points heading into the fourth quarter. The fact is that this line on a critical Game 5 match-up is simply over-inflated due to the Hawks being back on their home floor. Note that Atlanta is an ugly 6-20 ATS in 2nd round playoff games. The Wizards are 13-6 ATS in all playoff games the last 3 years. Play Washington +8 as an *8* selection Wednesday.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Houston Rockets +3 vs Los Angeles Clippers @ 9:35 ET - Credit is certainly due to the Clippers for their strong performance so far in this post-season. The Clips knocked off the defending champion Spurs in the first round and now, in the second round, they have the Rockets on the brink of elimination. I don't see Houston falling short on their home floor though and I am certainly going to back them at a full +3 points when you considered they were favored by 8 points in each of the first two games of this series! Are the Clippers really now showing that the odds makers were OFF by 11 points in the first two games of this series when making the lines? I don't think so! The fact is that this line has been driven by public perception and it's out of alignment! The Clips are a a solid 3-2 on the road in the playoffs which is strong but certainly not invincible. As for the Rockets, they are 4-1 at home in the playoffs and the 4 wins came by an average margin of victory of 9 points per game. Now they are a 3 point dog? I don't see the Rockets going away quietly in this series. This will be a dogfight tonight. Houston has twice been on their home floor off of a loss in these playoffs. They responded with a win each time and they won the rebounding battle by an average of 15 boards in those two games. The Rockets Dwight Howard will have a much bigger game tonight and Houston won't get themselves in foul trouble like they did on the road in Game 4. Note that the Rockets are 8-1 SU and ATS as a home dog of 3 points or less the last 3 seasons. They are 7-0 ATS on Tuesdays this season. The Rockets are also 13-4 SU and ATS when off of a loss by a double digit margin. The Clips are 1-5 ATS on Tuesdays this season. They are 2-7 ATS the L3 seasons when leading in a playoff series. The Clippers are also 10-21 ATS the L3 seasons when they are a road favorite of 3 points or less. Huge response from the home team tonight. They got embarrassed in LA the past two games. They don't want to "go out" like that if the Rockets do indeed fail to get past the Clippers in this second round. That said, huge effort tonight and it's quite likely this series is headed back to LA. Play Houston +3 as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Chicago Bulls +5.5 @ Cleveland @ 7 ET - The Bulls have won two games already in this series and in the other two games - their two defeats - one came on a last second jumper by LeBron James. In my opinion, the way this tightly contested series has played out thusfar, the Cavaliers have no business being favored by nearly half-dozen points. Take advantage here in Game 5 and grab the big points. The Bulls have shot better (45%) in Cleveland than the Cavs have so far in this series. Chicago is fired up after the tight home loss in Game Four and they've outrebounded the Cavaliers in 3 of the 4 games in this series. The Bulls are 15-3 this season (and 13-5 ATS) when revening a home loss. After the tight defeat in Game 4, Chicago will respond tonight in what has been a back and forth series thusfar. The Cavaliers have officially covered just one game in this series and even if they manage to get the straight-up win tonight and I would expect it to come down to another one-possession game at the very end. That said, there is huge value with the points in this one. Play Chicago +5.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Golden State Warriors -5 @ Memphis @ 9:35 ET - Golden State has not lost three straight games this entire season! I don't see them starting an ugly trend like that now. The Grizzlies have now taken two straight from the Warriors but they now must contend with an angry, fired up Golden State team that will absolutely bring their "A game" tonight. The Warriors have lost two straight games four other times this season. Each time they responded with a big win to end the losing "streak" at two games. The average margin of victory in those 4 games was 13.3 points and it's a great value to have the Warriors laying just 5 points here since they are on the road in this one. If they were at home they would be a double digit favorite of course. I like the line value of a strong road team playing with motivation. Golden State is 5-1 ATS when trailing in a playoff series. The Warriors are a solid 25-14 ATS when off of a loss by a double digit margin. The Grizzlies have held Golden State to 23% shooting from 3 point range in each of the last two games but that won't continue here. You can only hold a strong shooting team down for 'so long' before a huge big game eruption comes and this will the Warriors "A game" tonight as I noted above. Golden State lost the turnover battle in each of the last two games. The Warriors also lost the rebounding battle in Game 3 after winning it in each of the first two games. You can bet all these things have been emphasized by the Warriors coaching staff heading into Game 4. Look for a stellar game from the HIGHLY motivated road team in this one. Play Golden State minus the points as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Atlanta Hawks -4 @ Washington @ 7 ET - The Hawks lost Game One of this series on their home floor and then responded in a huge way with a Game Two win. Now, after losing Game Three as a favorite, you can expect another huge reponse from Atlanta in Game Four. The Hawks, after that big Game Two "response victory" are 10-3 ATS this season when off of an upset loss as a favorite. Atlanta is also 21-7 straight-up this season when playing with revenge. They will be ready to go tonight on the road in Washington where the Wizards John Wall continues to struggle with his injury. Washington impressed in their first round sweep of Toronto but they are no longer playing a team the caliber of the Raptors. Washington is stepping up and facing one of the toughest teams from their division. Note that the Wizards are an ugly 6-12 ATS against divisional opponents this season. The Hawks have taken more shots from the field than the Wizards in each game. Those shots will start to fall with more frequency and Atlanta will be the hungrier team tonight. They must even this series back up because they know they can't afford to go down 3 games to 1 and the Hawks know they must take advantage of the injury situation with Wall now before it's too late. Play Atlanta minus the points as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Houston Rockets +7.5 @ LA Clippers @ 8:30 ET - Just because the Clippers won Game 3 by a big margin does not mean they are going to again dominate the Rockets and shoot 55% from the floor in Game 4. The fact is this line has gotten out of hand and I'll gladly take advantage of it with a big play on Houston tonight. The Rockets are fired up and ready to tighten up defensively and dominate the boards like they did in Game 2 after losing Game 1 of this series. Remember that the Rockets outrebounded the Clippers by a 73 to 49 margin in Game 2 after dropping Game 1 in Houston. They will be ready to respond tonight as they are going to give a huge effort to avoid falling into a dreaded 3-1 hole in this 2nd round series. While it is true the Rockets got crushed in Game 3 a lot of that had to do with insanely hot shooting from the Clippers and it is certainly noteworthy that Houston is 13-3 ATS this season when they are off of a loss by a margin of 10 points or more. Trust me, the Rockets will be fired up and ready to go tonight. As for the Clippers, they are 1-7 ATS the last 3 seasons when they are leading in a playoff series. Additionally, LA is only 18-28 ATS in home games this season. They are simply over-valued in this spot and I'll grab the value and up this play to my highest rating in backing the under-valued dog. Play Houston +7.5 as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Cleveland Cavaliers -1.5 @ Chicago @ 3:30 ET - While the Cavaliers have already adjusted to playing without Kevin Love - and have also gotten a boost by the return of outside sharp shooter JR Smith - the Bulls are going to struggle with the Pau Gasol injury situation. The Bulls snuck out the tight win in Game 3 but now face an angry LeBron James and Co. that is 30-12 straight-up this season when playing with revenge. With a low line on this game, that impressive 30-12 straight-up mark is nearly as good as an ATS trend and I'll gladly back a situation with an ATS mark that is 71% on the season! You know the Cavs will give a huge effort this afternoon as they can't afford to go down 3 games to 1 in this series. The Bulls are 6-11 ATS as a home dog of 3 points or less the last 3 seasons combined. The Cavaliers bounced back from the Game 1 loss in this series by rolling the Bulls by double digits in Game 2. They can do the same today in Game 4 and notch a big road win. Play Cleveland -1.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Memphis Grizzlies +5 vs Golden State @ 8:05 ET - The Grizzlies won Game 2 outright on the road thanks to solid defense, hard work, determination, and effort. Now that this series shifts to Memphis, suddenly everyone is backing the Warriors just because they are off of a loss. It doesn't make sense and I'll grab the value on the other side. Memphis is going to play even harder at home than they did on the road. They are a strong defensive team and they are highly motivated about stopping league MVP Stephen Curry. They did a good job of shutting down the Warriors in Game Two and they are certainly capable of holding them in check in Game 3 now that the series moves to Memphis. Note that the Warriors are just 2-4 ATS in these playoffs and they are only 3-5 ATS when off of an upset loss as a favorite this season. The Grizzlies are 6-1 ATS in 2nd round playoff games over the last 3 seasons combined. Memphis is 34-10 straight-up on their home floor this season. Also, looking for them to fall flat? The Grizzlies are actually 21-13 ATS the last 3 seasons combined when they are off of an upset win as an underdog. Memphis 8-3 straight-up this season when off of an upset win as an underdog. The Grizzlies have won 7 of their last 8 home games and the crowd will be rocking tonight. Play Memphis plus the points as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Washington Wizards +4 vs Atlanta @ 5:05 ET - The Wizards game two loss at Atlanta was much closer than the final score would lead you to believe. Washington was without John Wall in that game and the expectation that he will miss today's game too has driven his line higher than it should be. Without Wall, the Wizards hung very tough against the Hawks in game two and that game was in Atlanta. Now the Wizards are back home and let's not forget that this is a team that had won five straight playoff games before that defeat. Washington is 12-5 ATS in their last 17 playoff games. The Hawks are on a long-term 5-19 ATS run in 2nd round playoff games. Washington saw a number of players step up in Wall's absence on Tuesday and that will be the case again on Saturday as the Wizards certainly aren't going to lay down at home. The Hawks pulling away late in game two is helping to drive this line away from where it should be. Look for the Wizards to grab the outright victory but I am certainly grabbing the generous points being offered. Dating back to the regular season, the Hawks have lost 8 of their last 11 road games. That trend continues here as Washington improves to 32-12 in home games this season. Play Washington plus the points as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Chicago Bulls -1.5 vs Cleveland @ 8:05 ET - In Game One of this series the Bulls shot lights out from three point land and won outright on the road. In Game Two of this series the Cavs got a big game from downtown and got a much needed home win to even the series up. The Cavaliers are unlikely to have such another hot shooting night in this game as they are now on the road and will be facing an amped up defense. In their three playoff games on their home floor the Bulls have allowed a combined field goal shooting percentage of just 39%. The Cavaliers have been held under 40% from the floor in 2 of their last 3 road games. The Bulls are known for their stingy defense and they've gone 11-5 this season when they are off of a loss by a double digit margin. After getting drilled by 15 points in Game 3, Chicago responds tonight. This season the Bulls have gone 30-7 straight-up when playing with revenge. As for ATS records, Chicago is a rock solid 13-7 ATS as a home favorite of 3 points or less over the last 3 seasons. Cleveland is 3-12 ATS as an underdog this season and the Kevin Love injury has impacted the Cavs. They battled hard at home to manage to split the first two games without Love, but going on the road makes things much tougher tonight. Play Chicago -1.5 as a *10* Top Play. 

Rickenbach NBA *10* Cleveland Cavaliers -5.5 vs Chicago @ 7:00 ET - The Bulls hit 10 of 18 three pointers in Game One to steal the victory on the road on Monday. While the focus was on the Kevin Love injury and the JR Smith suspension, it was Chicago's hot shooting from three point land that allowed them to get the upset in Game One. I don't expect a repeat in Game Two. Look for the Cavaliers to shoot much better from three point land while the Bulls return from the stratosphere after that unusual performance on Monday. Additionally, Chicago is 16-29 ATS the last three seasons combined when they are off of an upset win as an underdog. Cleveland is 13-7 ATS when trailing in a playoff series. Additionally, the Cavaliers are 19-11 ATS in second round playoff games. The Cavs were 33-10 at home this season before falling short in Game One. I look for a huge response in Game Two and the short number here means the Cavaliers get the straight up win and the ATS cover. Play Cleveland -5.5 as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *6* Atlanta Hawks -6 vs Washington @ 8 ET - What happened to the Hawks in Sunday's series opener? They simply ran out of gas. Atlanta jumped out to a huge lead after one quarter and looked like they were going to get the job done without question but then weary legs doomed them in the fourth quarter. Shots just wouldn't fall even though Atlanta was hustling and playing hard. Their strong efforts will be rewarded in Game 2. Note that the Hawks were 32-0 this season when leading going to the 4th quarter before Sunday's loss. Atlanta went 29-0 in the regular season and was 3-0 in the playoffs when they led a game going to the 4th quarter. In other words, look for a fired up Hawks team to take the floor tonight and that will help turn this one into a rout making the half-dozen points here a very manageable amount to lay on the stronger team on their home floor. Atlanta is 9-2 SU and 8-2-1 ATS when revenging a home loss this season. Off an upset loss as a favorite the Hawks are 9-3 ATS. Atlanta was 38-6 straight-up on their home floor this season before Sunday's loss. The Wizards were just 19-24 straight-up on the road this season before their upset win Sunday. In the Hawks prior two games hosting the Wizards they won those games by an average margin of 20 points per victory. They will respond in a huge way on their home floor tonight and, unlike Game 1, the shots will fall. Play Atlanta -6 as a *6* Play.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Cleveland Cavaliers -4.5 vs Chicago @ 7:05 ET - Of course this line has been impacted by the Kevin Love injury and, in my opinion, it's been dropped too low. The Cavaliers won 3 of 4 meetings with the Bulls this season and the victories each came by at least five points. What you often will see in the first game without an injured star player is that many other players step in to fill to the role. It's an "A+ effort" type game as others attempt, and most often successfully, to compensate for the absence of a star player. With LeBron James and Kyrie Irving leading the way with huge games tonight it's going to be tough for the Bulls to stay close. Yes, Chicago did win their first series 4 games to 2 but they faced an overmatched Milwaukee team. The Cavaliers buried their overmatched foe, Boston, in a four game sweep. While the Cavaliers have been off for a week and one might be worried about "rust" in such a situation, this has actually been ideal for Cleveland as it has given them time to adjust to playing without Kevin Love. The Cavs will be ready to roll tonight from the opening tip on their home floor. The Cavaliers went 5-1 straight-up and 4-2 ATS this season as a home favorite of 3.5 to 6 points. The Bulls went 1-3 straight-up and 1-3 ATS as a road dog of 3.5 to 6 points. Chicago won their final game of their series with the Bucks in blowout fashion and the Bulls are 12-18 ATS this season when they are off of a game wher they scored 105 points or more. Play Cleveland -4.5 as an *8* selection Monday.

Rickenbach NBA *10* LA Clippers -2 vs San Antonio @ 8:05 ET - I talked about this in my Clippers write-up in Game 6 on Thursday. They are the better team in this series. The Spurs are fortunate to even still be alive in this series. San Antonio has ONE solid win in this ENTIRE series. Count it. ONE! The Clippers have 3 wins where they were the stronger team all the way through and kept a lead for much of the game and showed they were in control and that they were the better team. Yes, the Spurs rallied back late in Game 6 but it was evident throughout the game that the Clippers were able to build sizable leads while the Spurs had to rally just to make the ending interesting. The key point is this. There were two games in this series that could have gone either way. The overtime game and the "goaltending" game. Those two games both were won by the Spurs. As I said before, the Spurs could have already lost this series 4 games to 1 were it not for those two games. So the fact this series is 3-3 is really related to some good fortune for the Spurs in this series. The Clippers 3 wins were by an average margin of 10 points per victory. Had the Clips won just one of those other close games this series would already be over. The fact this series is tied at 3 games is honestly a bit of a fluke and now we get the better team at home in a Game 7 laying just a bucket? That makes this one a top play all day, any day! Father time has caught up to the Spurs. The Clippers are younger, hungrier, and they are the play here. Play the LA Clippers -2 as a *10* Top Play!

Rickenbach NBA *10* Brooklyn Nets +4.5 vs Atlanta @ 8:05 ET - The line on Brooklyn is in the +4 range as of early morning on game day and I'll gladly grab the home dog here in a series where the road team has lost every game. Adding value here is knowing I am fading an Atlanta team that is known for it's struggles in it's playoff history. It's not like the Hawks have the kiler instinct and confidence of teams that just close other teams out and put their foot on their throat when they have them down in a series. In fact, take note of these stats about the Hawks! They are 1-5 straight-up and 0-6 ATS the last three years when leading in a playoff series. Going further back, Atlanta is 5-16 straight-up and ATS when leading in a series. The Hawks don't have a reputation of being a "close-out" team and they are facing a Nets team that is proving they have plenty of fight left. Even though Brooklyn lost Game 5 by 10 points (just minssing the cover as a big dog), the Nets bench outplayed the Hawks bench by a huge margin. Couple that with the home court edge here and a fired up crowd and there is a good chance of an "upset" tonight as the home team once again is the straight-up winner for the 6th straight time  in this series. Grab the points as the Nets improve their 3-year run to 9-3 ATS when trailing in a playoff series! Play Brooklyn plus the points as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Los Angeles Clippers +5.5 @ San Antonio @ 9:35 ET - The Clippers lost a heartbreaker on Tuesday night but they are confident they can bounce back here and they know they would then have Game 7 on their home floor. That's a lot to be fired up about and to be motivated by. Yes the Clippers are down 3-2 in this series but their two wins both came by double digit margins. As for the Spurs, 2 of their 3 wins in this series were absolute nailbiters that could have gone either way. In other words, had the basketball gods been with the Clippers they could have easily already won this series 4 games to 1. The same could not be said for the Spurs who have only dominated one game in this series and who were fortunate to get the other two wins they have in this series. Certainly credit is due San Antonio for gutting out a pair of tough wins to be up 3-2 in this series instead of already eliminated. But the point is that the Spurs should not be a favorite by nearly a half-dozen points in this game. Grab the value with the road dog here who already has notched one very impressive win at San Antonio in this series. Note that the Clippers are 21-11 straight-up the last 3 seasons when they are playing with home loss revenge. Grab the points with the team that arguably is the better team in the series and has even proven that on the floor. Spurs are lucky to be up in this series and that luck runs out tonight against a fired up Clippers team motivated highly by coach Doc Rivers after Game 5 slipped away. Play the Los Angeles Clippers +5.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Brooklyn Nets +9 @ Atlanta @ 7:05 ET - Brooklyn got back into this series by taking both games on their home floor. The Nets have covered all 4 games in this series and there is no reason to expect that to change now. In fact, Brooklyn is an impressive 6-1, 86% this season as a road dog of 6.5 to 9 points. The Nets are also an impressive 12-5, 71% in first round playoff games the last 3 years combined. Conversely, Atlanta is 5-12, 29% in first round playoff games the last 3 years combined. The Hawks appear destined to continue to live up to their underachieving ways while the Nets are filled with confidence after taking the last two games in Brooklyn. Going back to that 6-1 ATS stat above, also note that the Nets won 4 of those 7 games outright. Don't be surprised if they get the big road upset tonight. Brooklyn's two losses in Atlanta came by an average margin of just 6 points per game. The Nets shot the ball well from beyond the arc in Game 4 while the Hawks have not shot the ball well at home in this series. That catches up with Atlanta again tonight and while Hawks backers have pushed this line higher looking for a big response on their home floor, I'll grab the extra line value with a scrappy Nets team that is a perfect 4-0 ATS in this series. Play Brooklyn +9 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Los Angeles Clippers -2 vs San Antonio @ 10:35 ET - Father Time is catching up to the Spurs. Though Tim Duncan still plays at a high level his 39 year old body is being tested in this series. The rest of what used to be the Spurs Big Three is also "on the fade" as Manu Ginobli is but a shadown of his former self and Tony Parker continues to deal with aches and pains. It is so difficult to repeat as champions in any of the professional leagues and without a doubt the Spurs have a target on their back in this post-season. The Clippers could easily be up 3-1 in this series as they nearly took both games in LA - lost Game 2 in OT. That said, the Clips have plenty of confidence after going into San Antonio and getting not just a win, but a truly solid win where they led nearly the entire game. The Clippers got great production off of the bench in Game 4 and I expect more of the same tonight on their home floor. Though one might expect a letdown off a big win like that this has not been the case for the Clippers. Over the last 3 seasons the Clippers are 16-7 straight-up (and 14-8-1 ATS) when off of an upset win as an underdog. As for the Spurs they are 11-17 ATS in road games with a posted total between 205 and 209.5 points. With another high-scoring affair expected tonight, look for the young guns from LA to carry the load late in the game as the aging Spurs fall short once again. Play the Los Angeles Clippers -2 as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *10* LA Clippers +6.5 @ San Antonio @ 3:30 ET - The final score in Game 3 is somewhat misleading and is helping to give great line value to the Clippers in this one. The Clips won Game 1 in this series and then lost Game 2 in overtime. Just because the final score of Game 3 ended up being lopsided, the markets have now over-adjusted on the Spurs. Note that the Clippers had 85 shots from the floor in Game 3 compared to just 76 for San Antonio. That stat is not what you would expect to see in a game where the Clips lost by 27 points. Again, the value is here for the taking because of this. It's highly unlikely the Clippers will again shoot just 34.1% from the field while the Spurs shoot 52.6%. With that said, the Clips also have done a good job on the glass in this series and they've limited turnovers. In other words, this Game 4 should be a dogfight that will be anyone's game. An outright upset would not suprise and getting a half dozen points in what should be an "even" match-up on the floor has me going to my top play rating. San Antonio is 18-25 ATS the last 3 seasons when they are off of a game where they held their opponent to 85 points or less. The Clippers respond in a huge way this afternoon after being held to 73 points Friday night. Play the LA Clippers +6.5 as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Toronto Raptors +5 @ Washington @ 8:05 ET - There seems to be no home court edge when these teams match up! The road team is 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings and 6 of those 7 wins have been outright upsets. Don't be surprised if you see another one tonight! The Raptors are fired up after losing the first two games of this series on their home floor and they are ready to respond. The Wizards are an ugly 8-20 ATS the last 3 years as a home favorite of 3.5 to 6 points. Also, when off of a game where they allowed 105 points or more, Washington has gone 5-15 ATS this season. There has been a lot of "talk" so far in this series and undoubtedly the Wizards now have the attention of Toronto. That said, the Raptors crash the boards hard tonight to shore up that area (rebounding) which has been a weakness for them so far in this series. The end result is likely to be a huge road win in this one tonight! Play Toronto plus the points as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA Game #725 - *10* Dallas Mavericks +6 at Houston @ 9:35 pm ET – The Houston Rockets host the Dallas Mavericks for Game 2 of their Western Conference playoff series. The Rockets took Game 1 with a 118-108 victory with a pace that suited Houston’s high-energy offense. We expect that tempo to plummet in Game 2 with both sides grinding out a more defensive-minded contests. This matchups up with what the Mavericks can do best. Dallas plays a much more control pace with Rajon Rondo at point guard, something they haven’t had at time this season. Turnovers also led to many of those buckets in Game 1 and we expect both sides to be a lot stingier with the basketball, limiting the amount of uncontested layups in transition. Books are giving Houston a lot of credit following Game 1’s win and we see value on the other side. Play Dallas +6 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #717- *10* Milwaukee Bucks +8 at Chicago @ 8:05 pm ET – The Milwaukee Bucks visit the Chicago Bulls for Game 2 of this first round Eastern Conference playoff series. The Bucks got caught in an up-tempo game in Game 1 and just couldn’t match the Bulls firepower. Now that the feeling out process is over, we expect a much tighter, defensive battle between these teams in Game 2 – playing into the Bucks strength. Milwaukee is one of the best defensive teams in the NBA and play a slowed-down pace to help protect their offensive shortcomings. This Bucks teams doesn’t have much in the way of postseason experience, so the nerves were present in Game 1. Milwaukee shot just 39 percent from the field in that opener, but should look much more settled with the postseason surrounding tonight and keep this closer than oddsmakers are expecting. Play Milwaukee +8 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #716- *10* Los Angeles Clippers -1 vs. San Antonio @ 10:35 pm ET – The Los Angeles Clippers host the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of their first round series Sunday. San Antonio was fighting hard for the No. 2 seed in the West at the end of the season, looking to avoid this particular matchup. However, the Spurs fell short and no face a Clippers team that has had their numbers as of late. Los Angeles won the final two meetings with San Antonio, covering in both of those matchups. The Clippers’ athletic forwards are a handful for the Spurs frontcourt and L.A.’s ability to go down the bench is on par with San Antonio, which often edges opponents thanks to their talent reserves. The Spurs may have peaked too soon, losing a very important season finale with New Orleans to fall from second to sixth in the conference. The energy will be high in the Staples Center and the Clippers will look to send a statement to the defending champs – and the rest of the West. Play LA Clippers -1 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #713- *8* Portland Trail Blazers +5.5 at Memphis @ 8:05 pm ET – The Memphis Grizzlies host the Portland Trail Blazers Sunday. Memphis swept the Blazers in their four meetings this season and covered in each of those games but oddsmakers are getting carried away with this spread for Game 1 Sunday. The Blazers are a very dangerous team, especially with their ability to stretch the defense with their perimeter shooting. Portland is one of the most active teams from beyond the arc and can suck the Grizzlies bigger defenders away from the hoop, opening up the offense for the guards to cut and slash to the basket. On top of that, Memphis limps into the postseason with Mike Conley and Tony Allen – perhaps the two most important players on the team – nursing injuries. We like the way Portland matches up and we’re jumping on this error in the odds Sunday. Play Portland +5.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #708 - *10* Houston Rockets -5 vs. Dallas @ 9:35 pm ET – The Houston Rockets host the Dallas Mavericks in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs Saturday. The Rockets battled their way to the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference with a 7-3 SU run to finish the regular season, covering the spread in six of those games. That streak included a 108-101 victory over the Mavericks in Dallas, in which Houston covered as a 2.5-point road underdog. The Rockets have become a much more versatile teams since Dwight Howard returned in the middle. He should give Dallas plenty to handle inside and draw in the defense, which opens up space for Houston’s lethal outside shooting. The Rockets won three of the four meetings with Dallas this season and are 4-1 ATS in their last five head-to-head clashes. Play Houston -5 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #512 - *10* New Orleans Pelicans +5 vs. San Antonio @ 8:05 pm ET – The New Orleans Pelicans host the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday. New Orleans can get into the postseason with a win over the red-hot Spurs, sneaking past the Oklahoma City Thunder and into the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference. The Pelicans have alternated wins and losses in their last six games, coming off a -win against Minnesota, but are 7-3 in their last 10 games with a perfect 4-0 SU and ATS record at home in that span. New Orleans has played San Antonio tough, taking two of the past three meetings and own an 8-3 ATS mark in their last 11 head-to-head meetings. The Pelicans have also covered in seven of their last eight games against San Antonio inside the Smoothie King Center. The Spurs could be thin up front with center Tiago Splitter out with a calf injury. That is a big loss considering New Orleans big man Anthony Davis has been dominant against San Antonio this season, averaging 23 points and almost 12 rebounds in those three previous meetings with the Spurs. Play New Orleans +5 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #511 - *8* Chicago Bulls -1 at Brooklyn @ 7:35 pm ET – The Brooklyn Nets host the Chicago Bulls Monday. Brooklyn is playing the second of back-to-back nights, coming off a beating in Milwaukee Sunday. The Nets may have hit their peak as they push toward the postseason and could be ready for a fall at the worst time. Chicago, on the other hand, is in the middle of a positioning battle for the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls are locked with the Toronto Raptors for No. 3 but are edged in the tie breaker so Chicago must win its remaining games to jump up the standings. The Bulls bounced back from two straight losses with wins against Philadelphia and Miami. They’ve gone 5-2 ATS in their last seven head-to-head meetings with Brooklyn, and have covered in eight of their past 11 road games against the Nets. Play on Chicago -1 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #701 - *6* Brooklyn Nets -1 at Milwaukee @ 3:05 pm ET – The Milwaukee Bucks host the Brooklyn Nets Sunday. Brooklyn has played itself into the Eastern Conference playoff picture with eight wins in its last 10 outing and continues to charger up the standings, with the No. 6 spot in the conference in its sights. Milwaukee is just two games ahead of the Nets in that sixth spot. The Bucks are overwhelmed on offense in this matchup, with their scoring attack stumbling down the stretch the Brooklyn catching fire at just the right time. The Nets have far too much firepower clicking at once, with Brook Lopez dominating inside, Deron William running the playbook and the bench stepping up with major contributions during this run. The road team has been the sharp side when these two teams collide, with the visitor going 5-2-1 ATS in the last eight clashes between the Nets and Bucks. Play Brooklyn -1 as a *6* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #718 - *6* Houston Rockets +3 vs. San Antonio @ 8:05 pm ET – The Houston Rockets host the San Antonio Spurs Friday. Houston has plenty of motivation going into this showdown with San Antonio. The Spurs rolled the Rockets earlier this week, winning 110-98 at home, and snapped Houston’s three game winning streak. On top of that revenge angle, the Rockets battling the Memphis Grizzlies for the No. 2 spot in the conference and currently sit in third heading into this contest, and San Antonio and Los Angeles are just a half game back of those two. Houston hopes some home cooking can give the some breathing room in the tightly-contested conference. The Rockets have covered in 15 of their last 22 games inside the Toyota Center, where they’ve covered four straight versus the Spurs. They are lethal from beyond the arc at home, hitting an average of 11.8 3-pointers per game which should help counter the Spurs’ red-hot shooting, knocking down 52.1 percent from the field the last three games. While dropping the last two games to San Antonio, Houston is 7-2 in their last nine head-to-head meetings. Play Houston +3 as a *6* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #717 - *8* Houston Rockets +5.5 at San Antonio @ 8:35 pm ET – The San Antonio Spurs host the Houston Rockets Wednesday night. Houston can make a huge statement before the playoffs with a win in San Antonio and continue to put distance between them and the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference standings. Houston is No. 2 in the West just a game ahead of the Grizzlies and two games up on the Portland Trail Blazers, so there is plenty of motivation to keep the team’s current three-game winning streak going. The Rockets have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA, with eight wins in their last 10 contests. Houston can get some revenge against the Spurs for a 110-106 road loss to San Antonio back in late December and this time around, the Rockets have star center Dwight Howard in the middle. Howard looked great in his last performance, scoring 22 points and grabbing eight rebounds in just over 22 minutes of action against the Thunder Sunday. Houston is wel rested and prepared coming into this game while the Spurs are playing their second night of back-to-backs, having defeated OKC Tuesday night. Houston has covered in six of its last seven road games and has dominate San Antonio when it comes to covering the spread, with a 7-1 ATS record in their last eight head-to-head meetings. Play Houston +5.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #657 - *10* Golden State Warriors -3.5 at New Orleans @ 8:05 pm ET – The Warriors are coming off a loss to the San Antonio Spurs and don’t want to lose any momentum before the postseason. New Orleans is currently sitting in ninth in the Western Conference and isn’t a team Golden State would want to meet in Round 1. The Warriors may have taken care of the Pelicans in each of the three previous meetings this season – two without Anthony Davis - but New Orleans is a physical team that rebounds well, which plays into the Warriors’ weaknesses. Golden State isn’t taking any chances. The Warriors are 22-8-2 ATS in their last 32 games with the New Orleans franchise, including a 7-1-1 ATS mark in the Big Easy. Play Golden State -3.5 as an *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #501 - *8* Houston Rockets +2 at Oklahoma City @ 1:00 pm ET – The Houston Rockets visit the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday afternoon. Houston is making a late-season charge up the Western Conference standings, winning eight of its last 10 contests and going 6-4 ATS in that span. The Rockets sit in second place in the conference and are fighting off Memphis, Portland, Los Angeles and San Antonio, so there is little room for error in these remaining games. Houston is enjoying life with center Dwight Howard in the middle. The all-star big man returned to action last time out playing limited minutes but is expected to work in more time as the season closes. Howard faces a soft OKC frontcourt that is allowing opponents to dominate the paint, giving up an average of 59.3 points in the key over the past three games. The Rockets will look to exploit that weakness, then kick it out for big gains from beyond the arc when the Thunder collapse on defense. Houston is knocking down an NBA-high 12.3 3-pointers per game in its last three games. The Rockets have covered in five of their last six road games while OKC is just 1-4 ATS in its last five games overall. Play Houston +2 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #807 - *8* Brooklyn Nets +9 at Atlanta @ 7:35 pm ET – The Brooklyn Nets visit the Atlanta Hawks Saturday. Brooklyn has a ton of momentum heading into this huge matchup with the East-leading Hawks. The Nets have won six straight games – 4-1-1 ATS - to climb to seventh in the Eastern Conference standings and are just 2.5 games behind the Milwaukee Bucks for sixth. Picking up a win over Atlanta would be a major boost to the team’s confidence heading toward the postseason. Brooklyn’s stars are peaking at the perfect time with names like Brook Lopez and Deron Williams stepping up their games. The Hawks have already secured the No. 1 seed in the East, so they could start resting players over the home stretch of the schedule. Atlanta has dropped two of its last three games, most recently losing to Detroit last time out. The underdog has been the wise play when these two team meeting, with the team getting the points posting a 6-2 ATS record in their last eight head-to-head clashes. Play Brooklyn +9 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #806 - *10* Toronto Raptors -3 vs. Boston @ 7:35 pm ET – The Toronto Raptors host the Boston Celtics Saturday. The Raptors are fighting for the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference standings and after losing to Brooklyn Friday night, they’re running out of chances to make a move. This team has shown an ability to bounce back with a 4-1 ATS mark in their last five games coming off a loss. There is desperation with this Toronto team, which is back home and present tremendous value as the host Saturday. The Raptors play host to a Boston team that is falling off the pace in the East after challenging for a postseason spot last month. The Celtics have run out of steam, losing six of their last 10 games and playing on the second night of back-to-back games in this road spot. Boston has had much luck against the Raptors this season and we expect them to fall flat in this game. Play Toronto -3 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #737 - *6* Milwaukee Bucks +7.5 at Atlanta @ 7:35 pm ET – The Atlanta Hawks host the Milwaukee Bucks Monday. Milwaukee has been running a gauntlet of top and playoff-bound teams recently, splitting wins and losses in their last four. The Bucks are trying to hang on to sixth in the Eastern Conference while also chasing down Washington for fifth place. Milwaukee can make a statement in the conference with a victory over Atlanta Monday. The Hawks may be vulnerable as their wheels are wobbling down the home stretch, losing to Charlotte Saturday and having dropped four of their last six overall. Atlanta has allowed 116.5 points per game in those four losses, most recently 115 point in a loss to the Hornets with most starters sitting out. The Bucks have been solid on the road with a 3-1-1 ATS mark in their last five and a 24-12-1 ATS record away from home. With desperation setting in, the Bucks offer solid value in Atlanta Monday. Play Milwaukee +7.5 as a *6* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #718 - *10* Phoenix Suns +1 vs. Oklahoma City @ 9:00 pm ET – The Phoenix Suns are fighting to stay in the postseason hunt in the Western Conference and are in panic mode after dropping back-to-back game before this home stand with Oklahoma City. The Suns were on a four-game winning run before that skid and are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games overall. Phoenix catches the Thunder in a tough spot coming off a loss in Utah Saturday night and having to fly from the high-altitude of Salt Lake City to Phoenix overnight for this Sunday tilt. Oklahoma City has also dropped back-to-back contests and looks like its wheels are wobbling as the home stretch of the season approaches. The Thunder aren’t getting much help behind Russell Westbrook and has scored just 89 and 91 points in their last two outings. This series has leaned toward the host team, with the home side going 4-1 ATS in the last five head-to-head meetings between OKC and Phoenix. Play Phoenix +1 as an *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #761 - *6* Miami Heat +5.5 at Boston @ 7:35 ET – The Miami Heat are anxious to get back on the court after letting a win against the Milwaukee Bucks slip away late in the fourth quarter Tuesday. Miami is fighting to stay in the playoffs picture and faces the Boston Celtics, who are hot on their heels for the No. 7 spot in the East. The Celtics snapped a three-game slide with a victory over Brooklyn but haven’t been playing their best basketball down the stretch. Boston has given up big scores to opponents and face a hungry Miami squad that is also out for revenge after losing a very heated battle earlier this month. This series has been dominated by the visitor with the road side covering in five of the last seven matchups between Miami and Boston. Play Miami +5.5 as a *6* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #655 - *7* Miami Heat -1 at Milwaukee @ 8 pm ET – The Milwaukee Bucks host the Miami Heat Tuesday night. Miami had a three-game winning streak snapped by Portland this weekend but the Heat continue to push forward trying to improve their postseason positioning. The Heat are in seventh – just 1.5 games back of Milwaukee for sixth, which would avoid Atlanta and Cleveland in the first round of the playoffs. Milwaukee has been terrible as of late, stuck in a six-game skid. The Bucks defense is crumbling, allowing opponents to score 117 points per game over the last three outings. Milwaukee has watched foes shoot 47.2 percent from the field in that span. This is also a big revenge spot for Miami, which has lost the previous three meetings with Milwaukee this season. It’s tough to sweep a team for the schedule, especially when these clubs are headed in very different directions. Miami, which is 4-1 ATS in its last five games in Milwaukee, is playing with motivation and wins and covers easily Tuesday. Play Miami -1 as a *7* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #606 - *6* Brooklyn Nets -4 vs. Boston @ 7:30 pm ET – The Brooklyn Nets host the Boston Celtics at the Barclays Center Monday. The Nets and Celtics are battling for one of the final playoff sports in the Eastern Conference, however, these teams are going in different directions. Boston looked like it was pushing for the postseason but has dropped three straight games, including a 105-97 overtime game against Detroit Sunday. The Celtics now travel overnight to Brooklyn on short rest to face a Nets team that has won won back-to-back contests and four of their last five. Brooklyn has found its touch on offense, scoring 129 points on Milwaukee in overtime and 123 points on Indiana in regulation in the last two games – two of the top defensive teams in the East. Brooklyn has five players averaging double figures in points during that five-game span. Boston will have a tough time matching that fire power, especially with guard Isaiah Thomas on the sideline with a back injury. Brooklyn has been taking care of backers when facing Atlantic Division rivals this season, posting an 11-5 ATS record in its last 16 contests with divisional foes. Play Brooklyn -4 as an *6* selection.

Rickenbach NBA #701 - *8* Miami Heat +4 at Oklahoma City @ 3:05 ET – The Miami Heat roll into Sunday having won three straight games, kicked off with a victory over LeBron James and the Cavaliers. Miami rode that momentum and can improve their place in the Eastern Conference standings with a win over the Thunder Sunday. The Heat have found their offensive swagger, scoring an average of 107.3 points per game and shooting almost 54 percent from the floor in that span – an NBA three-game best. Mid-season addition Goran Dragic has sparked this attack since returning from a back injury and the bench has helped out with solid contributions. The Thunder are ripe for a letdown after a big win over Eastern Conference leader Atlanta. Oklahoma City hasn’t been sharp defensively, giving up more than 110 points per game this month and holding only one opponent below the century mark. Miami has covered in four of its last five and are 7-2 ATS in their last nine encounters with OKC. Play Miami +4 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #505 - *10* Portland Trail Blazers +4 at Memphis @ 8:05 ET – The Trail Blazers wrap their current road trip in Memphis Saturday, looking to rebound from a poor showing in Orlando Friday night. Portland was upended by the Magic, losing 111-104 and has suffered three straight losses coming into the weekend. The Grizzlies are also coming off a game last night, having knocked off the Mavericks in Dallas. We see great value going with Portland in this spot, knowing the Blazers are desperate for a victory. Portland has had trouble on the road this season but always plays tough in Memphis, going 11-4-1 ATS in its last 16 trips to the FedExForum. Blazers big man LaMarcus Aldridge is a tough matchup for the Grizzlies frontcourt, with his mid-range game pulling the big men away from the hoop and unclogging the paint for Portland’s guards to get to the rim. Aldridge scored 32 points in his last trip to Memphis. Play Portland +4 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #628 - *8* Portland Trail Blazers -2.5 at Miami @ 7:30 pm ET – The Portland Trail Blazers visit the Miami Heat Wednesday, continuing their Eastern Conference road trip. Portland is ready to rebound after a bad loss in Washington having a day off to refocus on the tail end of this trek. The Blazers can catch Miami in a big letdown spot after the Heat upset former star LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in their last contest. It will be tough for Miami to play with that same emotion against this non-conference foe and we expect a flat performance from a team that has alternated wins and losses in its last seven outings. The Blazers were just 8 for 28 from outside in the loss to the Wizards but have had one of the hottest shooting touches in the league, lifting them to eight wins in their last 10 contests. Miami doesn’t have the scoring depth or firepower to keep pace with the Blazers if they get hot from outside, and the Heat have managed to cover just once in Portland’s last six trips to South Beach. Play Portland -2.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #502 - *8* Indiana Pacers -5 vs. Toronto @ 7:05 ET – The Indiana Pacers play hosts to the Toronto Raptors Monday. The Pacers are on a roll, winning seven of their last nine outings, and have pulled themselves into seventh in the Eastern Conference. Indiana has dominated team with their smothering defense in this span, giving up an average of just 88 points in regulation in that nine-game span. The Pacers are especially stingy inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse where they’ve allowed opponents to shoot just 42.1 percent from the field – second lowest in the NBA – and have covered the spread in nine of their last 11 home stands. Toronto comes into a new week having lost 10 of its last 12. The Raptors couldn’t build on the momentum of a win over the Miami Heat and fell in a one-sided loss to Portland at home Sunday. Now, Toronto, which has struggled mightily to keep opponents off the scoreboard, take the court after traveling overnight for the second of back-to-back games. Indiana will be out for revenge in this third meeting with Toronto, after dropping the first two. However, these teams are going in different directions than they were back in January. Play Indiana -5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #503 - *10* Portland Trail Blazers +2 at Washington @ 7:05 ET – The Portland Trail Blazers continues their Eastern Conference road trip with a stop in the nation’s capital to play the Washington Wizards Monday. The Blazers are coming off a huge win against Toronto Sunday, covering the spread by 17.5 points. Portland is one of the hottest teams in the NBA, winning three in a row and eight of their last nine – going 7-2 ATS in that stretch. The Blazers buried the Raptors under a barrage of 3-pointers Sunday, knocking down 13 shots from beyond the arc. They’ve been red hot from distance during this winning run, shooting 41 percent from outside and recording a total of 34 triples in that three-game winning streak. Washington also comes into Monday on a three-game tear but will be missing a key defensive component down low, with center Nene out of action. The Wizards get very small without Nene, leaving a lot of room for Portland star LaMarcus Aldridge to work around the key. With Aldridge one of the best scorers in the key, Washington will have to collapse on him inside and leave the Blazers shooters open on the perimeter – leading to more 3-point buckets. Play Portland +2 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #879- *10* Portland Trail Blazers +2 vs. Toronto @ 7 pm ET – The Portland Trail Blazers are north of the border trying to improve their place in the Western Conference playoff picture. Portland has dropped just one of their last seven games. Portland has been especially explosive over its last three games, averaging 112 points on 50.4 percent shooting. The Blazers have also been lights out from beyond the arc, knocking down an average of almost 12 3-pointers on 43.2 percent shooting in that three-game span. The Raptors come into this game with just two wins in their previous 11 contests. Toronto has issues closing out games since the All-Star break and gives up 25.5 points per fourth quarter on the year, including 29 points in the final frame against the Miami Heat in their last outing. Portland, on the other hand, is great at spring to the finish line. The Blazers have piled on an average of 28 points in the fourth quarter in the last three games while limiting opponents to just 23.6 average points per fourth on the season – fourth lowest in the league. Portland has covered in nine of its last 11 clashes with the Raptors and has covered in four of its last five trips to the Air Canada Centre. Play Portland +2 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #510 - *10* Utah Jazz -8 vs. Detroit @ 9:00 ET – The Utah Jazz host the Detroit Pistons Saturday night. The Jazz are quickly becoming one of the hottest bets in the NBA, winning eight of their last 10 games and going 6-3-1 ATS in that span. But, because we’re talking about Utah here, the betting market has yet to correct to their turnaround and there is still value with the Jazz in this home stand. Utah has been the top defense in the NBA since the All-Star break and is currently allowing only 95.7 points per game this month. The Jazz play a methodical pace and use their physicality to bully teams on the board, pulling down 52.7 rebounds a night including 11.9 offensive boards per outing. Detroit had offensive trouble before running into Utah. The Pistons have scored more than 100 points just twice on their current nine-game losing streak and face the Jazz on the second night of back-to-back outings, coming off a 118-98 road loss in Portland. Now, Detroit travels overnight to the altitude of Salt Lake City, which can quickly drain a visitors batteries thanks to the thin air. Play Utah -8 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #808 - *10* Toronto Raptors -5.5 vs. Miami @ 7:35 ET – The Toronto Raptors host the Miami Heat Friday. Toronto is back home desperate to stop an extended losing skid, dropping four straight games and picking up only one win in their last 10 outings. The Raptors have plummeted to fourth in the Eastern Conference playoff picture and can’t afford too many more losses if they want to fight for Top 3 seed. To Toronto’s defense, those previous four games have comes against Cleveland, Charlotte, Oklahoma City and San Antonio – all but the Hornets are sitting in a postseason spot. Miami comes in with six victories in its last 10 games but a closer look at that schedule reveals some very soft opponents. The Heat have beaten the likes of Philadelphia, Orlando, LA Lakers, Sacramento and Brooklyn in that span, unable to get over the hump against elite competition. Miami has struggled away from South Beach in recent outings and we also catch the Heat in a tough lookahead spot, with LeBron James and Cleveland up next on the schedule. Play Toronto -5.5 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #711 - *10* LA Clippers +7 at Oklahoma City @ 8:05 ET – The Clippers have some revenge in mind when they visit the Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday. Los Angeles took a 131-108 beating on the chin the last time it visited the Chesapeake Energy Arena, and hasn’t been able to score wins against the elite teams in the Western Conference recently. The Clippers know how important this game is with San Antonio, Dallas, and OKC breathing down their necks for the No. 5 spot in the conference standings. The Thunder have been trying to simply outgun teams since Kevin Durant went down again, allowing 110.5 points per game in their last six contests, splitting those matchups 3-3 SU and 2-4 ATS. We expect this game to take on a playoff feel and for the Clippers to reinforce their spot in the West with a statement performance. Play LA Clippers +7 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #654 - *10* Brooklyn Nets -3 vs. New Orleans @ 7:35 ET – The Brooklyn Nets welcome the New Orleans Pelicans to the Barclays Center Tuesday. The Pelicans are coming off a win over Milwaukee Monday and have had to travel to New York overnight for this second stop of back-to-back games. Not only does this set up a tough spot for New Orleans on short rest but it is also open to a massive letdown spot after star center Anthony Davis poured in 43 points against the Bucks Monday. After putting the team on his back, there is bound to be a letdown and we’re capitalizing on this spot bet situation. New Orleans will also likely be without point guard Tyreke Evans, who suffered an ankle injury in Monday’s game. Evans averages almost 17 points and 6.5 assists per game. Brooklyn is desperate for a win after dropping three in a row at home. The Nets have suffered a bit of a hangover since beating Golden State but get a good situation to end that skid Tuesday. The home team has dominated the previous meetings between these clubs, covering the spread in each of the last four contests. The Nets are also 5-1-1 ATS versus the Pelicans at home. Play Brooklyn -3 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #709 - *10* New Orleans Pelicans +2 at Milwaukee @ 8 ET – The New Orleans Pelicans continue their surge for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, winning seven of their last nine outings to climb to ninth in the standings – just one game back of the No. 8 spot in the West. The Pelicans have maintained their defensive prowess during this run and in those seven win they’ve limited opponents to just over 93 points per game. They look to continue that stingy play against a Bucks team that is mired in a terrible offensive skid. Milwaukee has just two wins in its last eight games, averaging only 88.5 points in that span. The Bucks have struggled versus Western Conference foes, covering just once in their last eight non-conference games. Milwaukee also has just one cover to its name in the last seven meetings with New Orleans. Play New Orleans +2 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #701 - *8* Washington Wizards +2.5 at Charlotte @ 7 ET – The Washington Wizards visit a streak Charlotte Hornets team that has won five straight heading into Monday contests. The Hornets are in a tough situational spot, coming off a win in Detroit Sunday and playing the second night of back-to-back games – and their third game in four days – versus a Wizards team desperate to find their early-season form. Washington, which has just two wins in its last 10 games has slide back in the Eastern Conference playoff picture and will look to pick up the pace against a fatigued Charlotte squad Monday. Bradley Beal is expected to return to the lineup for the Wizards, who have shown flashes of their offensive brilliance in recent games, scoring 99 points in each of their two wins – going 2-2 SU over their last four overall. The Wizards do a good job of defending the key, allowing just 38.1 points in the paint per game – second lowest in the NBA – and will put the locks on Hornets post presence Al Jefferson, who has fueled his team’s winning streak. Play Washington +2.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #811 - *8* Toronto Raptors +7 at Oklahoma City @ 7 ET – The Raptors hit the road looking to snap their current funk, with just one win in their last eight games. Toronto broke a five-game skid with a win over Philadelphia last week but have since dropped their last two games to Cleveland and Charlotte. Oklahoma City has gone 4-3 in its last seven games, however, a closer look at that schedule reveals the only quality victory came against the Indiana Pacers, with the other wins coming via Denver, LA Lakers and Philadelphia (in overtime). Russell Westbrook is garnering a lot of attention for his recent play but that’s only overvalued OKC during this span and oddsmakers are giving far too many points to a Raptors team that is still among the NBA’s elite. Toronto All-Star PG Kyle Lowry is working his way back into form after missing a handful of games and will be assigned to slowing down Westbrook. Lowry is a strong defender and will test OKC’s star on both ends of the floor. If Toronto can slow Westbrook, the rest of the Thunder won’t have the firepower to carry the team. Play Toronto +7 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Portland Trail Blazers -4 @ Minnesota @ 8:05 ET - We are getting some excellent line value here thanks to the Wesley Matthews injury for the Blazers. Note that Portland will have other players stepping up in this game as that is what so often happens in the first game after a key player is injured. Also, you don't have to worry about Portland overlooking the Timberwolves because the Blazers did lose in Minnesota in their most recent meeting back in mid-December. That road loss insures the full focus of Portland in this one. That said, the floundering T-wolves are in trouble. Minnesota has lost 4 straight games and has quickly returned to their losing ways after a slight uptick gave them some rare wins. Note that Minnesota is 6-12 ATS as a home dog of 3.5 to 6 points the last 3 seasons combined. Also, the Timberwolves are 16-25 ATS in divisional games the last 3 seasons. As for the Trail Blazers, they are 14-5 straight-up and 12-7 ATS when they enter a game on a winning streak of 3 games or more. Also, the Blazers are 23-16 ATS in divisional games the last 3 seasons combined. Play Portland -4 as a *10* Top Play Saturday.

Rickenbach NBA Game #812 - *8* Atlanta Hawks +2 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers @ 7:35 ET – Only against a public-driven team like Cleveland could you get the best team in the Eastern Conference as a home underdog. And here we find the Atlanta Hawks getting the points as a host Friday night. The Hawks stumbled a bit out of the blocks following the All-Star break but have found their form in the past five games, winning all five – most recently an impressive win over Houston. Atlanta has toughened up on defense during this span, limiting opponents to just under 90 points per game. The Hawks have depth on offense as well, something Cleveland doesn’t possess. Atlanta is getting almost 31 points per game from its reserves, complementing a deep starting five that can spread the scoring load around. The Cavs lack a scoring punch when they go to the bench, ranked last in the league in production from their reserves and averaging only 23.5 points off the bench per game. Atlanta has won the past two meeting with Cleveland, covering in both, and have come away with the cash in 13 of their last 19 head-to-head encounters. Play Atlanta Hawks +2 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #706 - *8* Brooklyn Nets +6.5 vs. Golden State Warriors @ 7:35 ET – The Brooklyn Nets welcome the Golden State Warriors to the Barclays Center for the Warriors’ final stop on a six-game road trip. Golden State will be looking ahead to getting back to the Western Coast, especially after a close call against the Boston Celtics Sunday (which we cashed in on) in which the Warriors had to battle back from a 26-point hole. Golden State could be a little worse for wear in this matchup, having played the night before and we see great value on the home side. Brooklyn just wrapped its respective road trip and is back home for the first time February 6. The Nets are coming off an impressive 104-94 road victory over the Dallas Mavericks and come into this home stand well rested and prepared for the Warriors. Brooklyn is making a push for the final playoff spot in the East and every win counts at this point in the season. The Nets have done well in non-conference games, covering in five of their last six versus Western Conference opponents and they are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games versus Golden State at home, going back to the New Jersey days. Play Brooklyn +6.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA Game #808 - *6* Boston Celtics +9 vs. Golden State Warriors @ 6 ET – The Celtics are hoping to catch a Golden State squad coming off two big games – a loss to Cleveland and a big win over Toronto – opening up value for a letdown spot when the Warriors come to Boston Sunday. The Celtics, despite their space between Golden State in the overall NBA picture, matchup up well with the league’s top team. Boston is one of the few teams that can matchup the Warriors’ frantic up-and-down pace, ranked fourth overall with an average of 98.8 possessions per game. The Celtics have turned up the tempo even more with an average of 101.7 possessions in their last three games, producing an average of 112 points per game in that span. The Celtics are the hottest bet in the NBA right now thanks to that offensive firepower, covering the spread in eight of their last 10 games. Boston has held its own against the Western Conference this season, going 12-4 ATS in its last 16 non-conference matchups. Play Boston +9 as a *6* selection.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Phoenix Suns -1 vs San Antonio @ 9:05 ET - Fantastic scheduling edge for Phoenix here. While the Suns were off last night the Spurs went toe to toe with the Kings in Sacramento. The Spurs have some aging stars whose knees don't like back to back situations. Though San Antonio got that win over the Kings last night that doesn't mean they are ready for what the Suns bring to the court! The Spurs have gone 1-6 straight-up and 0-7 ATS in their last 7 games against teams with a winning record! They now face a rested and fired up Phoenix team. The Suns lost by 5 points at San Antonio back in early January and it's now payback time. Note that the home team has taken each of the last four meetings between these teams and the Spurs have only swept one back to back situation since December 7th. It will be tough for the aging team to notch a back to back sweep here for sure. The Suns are 15-5 ATS the last 3 seasons in home games with a posted total between 205 and 209.5 points. They will roll again here in that same situation as the scheduling edge here is a massive difference-maker. Play Phoenix -1 as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA - *8* Los Angeles Clippers +5.0 @ Memphis Grizzlies @ 8 ET – The Clippers know that if they’re going to make it through the Western Conference, they’ll have to go through the Memphis Grizzlies. Los Angeles hasn’t had great success with Memphis, most recently losing a 90-87 grinder Monday, but this matchup offers a great motivational revenge spot for the Clippers, who are desperate for a victory after dropping their last two games. Los Angeles will look to turn up the tempo with a smaller lineup and get the Grizzlies lumbering frontcourt on its heels. Memphis had a tough time slowing down the Sacramento Kings in their last outing, losing 102-90. The Kings sucked the Grizzlies into their pace, forcing them to commit 17 turnovers – a noticeable jump from their season average of 12.9 turnovers per game. The Clippers will use that game as a blueprint Friday night. With a loss in that most recent meeting, the market is overacting to that result and we’re getting terrific line value with the visitor. Play LA Clippers +5.0 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA - *10* Minnesota Timberwolves +6.5 @ Chicago Bulls @ 8 ET – The Timberwolves have been one of the best sleeper teams in recent weeks, going 5-2 ATS in their last seven games. Injuries plagued this team earlier in the year, stalling any chemistry. But now that Ricky Rubio is back, as well as forward Shabazz Muhammad, Minnesota is playing some of its best basketball. The T-Wolves got an injection of veteran leadership and intensity with Kevin Garnett coming back to Minnesota at the trade deadline. He’ll want to pick up a win with the team heading to his home town of Chicago Friday. While the Timberwolves improve, the Bulls are once again looking to fill the massive hole left by Derrick Rose’s knee injury. Chicago’s offense was out of whack in a 98-86 loss to Charlotte Wednesday, with Rose’s replacement Aaron Brook going 4-12 from the field. Without Rose, the Bulls don’t have a natural point guard and will continue to struggle when it comes to scoring in transition and running the offense. These two teams are heading in different directions and we’re getting tremendous value with the visitor, which has covered the spread in six of the last seven meetings between the Bulls and T-Wolves. Play Minnesota +6.5 as a *10* selection.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Houston Rockets -3.5 vs LA Clippers @ 8:05 ET - The effect of the absence of Blake Griffin will truly be felt by the Clippers in this tough road test. The Clips are playing right into the teeth of revenge here as LA has beaten Houston in each of their last six meetings. Now the Rockets will take advantage of the injury situation of the Clippers. Houston has won 6 of their last 7 home games and every single victory came by a margin of at least five points. Not surprisingly, the Rockets went 6-1 ATS in those games. The Clippers are just 13-22 ATS this season when facing teams that average 99+ points per game. Overall, the Clips are just 10-16 ATS in road games. The Rockets are a solid 23-14 ATS as a favorite this season and the short line tonight is a great value considering the Rockets home court edge and the fact that Griffin is out. Yes, the Clippers recently beat the Rockets when LA was without Griffin but that game took place out west...tonight's game is in Houston. The Rockets will get their revenge in a big way here. Play Houston -3.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA *10* San Antonio Spurs -5 @ Utah @ 9 ET - The Spurs are fired up as Coach Popovich has laid into them hard after back to back losses. San Antonio has had two straight off days to simmer about their poor return from the All Star break. Now the rested legs of the Spurs are in Utah and ready to take on a Jazz team whom they have dominated in recent seasons. Over the last 3 seasons the Spurs have won 7 of their last 9 meeting with the Jazz. San Antonio also has taken 2 of the last 3 meetings in Utah. The Jazz are off of a big divisional win over Portland and note that Utah is an ugly 0-7 straight-up and 0-7 ATS this season when off of a game against a divisional foe. In home games with a posted total between 185 and 189.5 points the Jazz are 4-8 ATS the L3 seasons. The Spurs are 86-16 straight-up the L3 seasons in games against teams with a losing record and that's certainly strong enough for me to lay the relatively small number with the Spurs in this one. 9 of the Spurs last 10 wins have come by at least 6 points. Looking at the last 10 losses the Jazz have there have been a number of blowout defeats and the average margin of defeat in this span has been 9.7 points. The Spurs will also win this one going away. Play San Antonio -5 as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Minnesota Timberwolves +9.5 @ Houston @ 8 ET - The Timberwolves have one of the worst records in the NBA so, at times, one can find great value in backing Minnesota. Tonight features one of these nice spots to back a Minny team that is currently on an 8-4 ATS run. The Timberwolves enter this game with revenge for a tough 2-point home loss to the Rockets in early December. Note that Minnesota is 12-4 ATS this season when playing a game with home loss revenge. Additionally, this is a nice scheduling advantage for the Timberwolves as they are playing just their 2nd game since the All Star break and they've been off since Friday. Conversely, the Rockets are playing their 3rd game in 4 nights plus they are in a lookahead situation as they have a big game with the Clippers on deck. Note that the Rockets are off of a home win against the Raptors but had failed to cover 5 of their prior 8 games. Additionally, Houston held Toronto to just 76 points but the Rockets are an ugly 1-4 ATS this season when off of a game where they held their opponent to 85 points or less. In fact, the Rockets are also 1-4 straight-up in this situation. That said, and with the big game against the Clips on deck, don't be surprised if the T-wolves pull of the shocking upset tonight but I'll certainly grab the big points being offered. Play Minnesota +9.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Atlanta Hawks -4.5 @ Milwaukee @ 3:35 ET - The Hawks were embarrassed on Friday night as they lost by 25 points to the Raptors even though the game was in Atlanta! Needless to say this is a bounce back situation for the Hawks and there are technical edges to support that a bounce back will happen. The Hawks shot just 33% from the field on Friday. That was the worst shooting performance they have had this season and note that Atlanta is 4-1 straight-up and 3-1-1 ATS this season when they are off of an upset loss as a favorite. The Hawks are a stellar 20-5 ATS this season against teams with a winning record. Atlanta also is a fantastic 18-7 ATS in road games this season. Against Central Division opponents the Hawks are 11-2 straight-up and 9-3-1 ATS this season. The Bucks are currently on a hot streak but note that Milwaukee is just 1-5 ATS this season (and 2-10 ATS the last 3 seasons) when they enter a game on a winning streak of 3 games or more. Milwaukee held Denver to just 81 points on Friday but the Bucks are an ugly 2-9 ATS this season when they held their prior opponent to 85 points or less. All signs point to the Hawks in a huge bounce back effort in this one! Play Atlanta -4.5 as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Toronto Raptors +4.5 @ Atlanta @ 7:35 ET - It's revenge time for Toronto as they suffered an embarrassing home loss by a 21 point margin at the hands of the Hawks just 5 weeks ago. The Raptors had previously won 4 of their last 5 match-ups with Atlanta and note that the Hawks certainly have cooled off in comparison with the red hot run they were still in the midst of back in mid-January. Atlanta has failed to cover 6 of their last 10 games. As for Toronto, they are being given a handful of points here and they have won 9 of their last 11 games. The Raptors come out of the All Star Break with plenty of confidence and Toronto is 13-9 ATS on the road this season and a solid 60-45 ATS on the road the past 3 seasons combined. Atlanta has some unbelievably impressive ATS stats on the season but, as you can see from their recent 4-6 ATS run, they are starting to come back down to earth after their "other-worldly" ATS run! The Raptors get their revenge tonight. Play Toronto plus the points as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Dallas Mavericks +6 @ Oklahoma City @ 8:05 ET - This year featured an extended All Star Break. That said, teams are not likely to come out of the break hitting on all cylinders. This gives some strong value to solid teams that are sizable underdogs. Dallas certainly falls into that category. Dallas is 36-19 on the season and catching about a half dozen points at Oklahoma City. The Mavericks went into the All Star Break having won 6 of their last 8 games. Even though the Thunder are better than their season record would indicate (due to key injuries early in the season), note that Oklahoma City lost 5 of their last 11 games heading into the All Star Break. They also face a Mavericks team likely to be bolstered by having Chandler, Stoudemire, and Rondo all available tonight as they are each listed as probable in the injury report. The Mavs have won each of their last 3 meetings with the Thunder and that includes a win in Oklahoma City. The Thunder are just 5-7 ATS the last 3 seasons when playing with 3 or more days of rest. Under the same parameters, the Mavericks have gone 6-3 ATS. Also over the last 3 seasons, the Mavs are 72-41 ATS in road games and I expect these "road warriors" to again get the cash Thursday. Play Dallas +6 as an *8* selection.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 10* (Top Play) on Memphis +6 at Oklahoma City @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday. The Grizzlies are one of the hottest team heading into the break and look to finish the first half of the season with a bang, picking up their 10th win in the last 11 games. We’re getting great value with Memphis on the road against an OKC team that hasn’t played up to its standards of the past few seasons and is being overvalued in this spot. Some of that has to do with the fact the Grizzlies are playing the second night of a back-to-back set, coming off a win against the Nets Tuesday. However, this Memphis team is built for that schedule spot, running a slowed tempo than most teams and leaning on their big men when it comes to running the offense. The Thunder were beat up inside during their high-scoring 124-114 win over Denver, giving up 52 points in the paint. Oklahoma City has allowed average of 46.7 points in the paint over its last three games and now faces perhaps the best front court in the league. The Grizzlies have multiple options at forward and top the league in inside scoring.
Play on Memphis as a 10* Top Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Rickenbach NBA 6* Los Angeles Clippers +4 @ Oklahoma City @ 1:05 ET - regular write-ups resume tomorrow

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Friday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia at Boston @ 7:35 p.m. ET
The Boston Celtics host the Philadelphia 76ers Friday. The Sixers have been on an ATS tear, covering the spread five straight games, and “The Bulldog” and his clients have been right there to enjoy that windfall with two huge winners on the 76ers. Philadelphia has actually won three of those five game straight up with a big improvement on defense in that span, allowing an average of just 89.8 points per game. The Sixers take on a Celtics team that likes to pick up the tempo, ranked among the fastest teams in the NBA. However, Philadelphia, while it doesn’t score at a rapid rate, is used to playing that up-tempo style of basketball. Boston has won back-to-back games over sub-par teams Denver and New York and that’s inflated this spread even more and giving us great value with the Sixers Friday night.
Play on Philadelphia as a 10* Top Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Friday 8* (Regular Play) on Indiana vs. Cleveland @ 7:05 p.m. ET
The Indiana Pacers host the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday. Cleveland is coming off an impressive win over the Los Angeles Clippers Thursday night, extending their winning streak to 12 straight games. The market was already inflating Cleveland’s day-to-day odds ever since LeBron James returned to the Cavs, but with this winning run, the spreads will be padded to absorb that public push. We’re getting great value with the Pacers in this tough spot for Cleveland. Not only are the Cavaliers vulnerable to the letdown spot off such a marquee win, but they’re playing the second game of back-to-back outings on the road. Cleveland is just 9-14 ATS away from home this season and take on an Indiana squad that is always tough at home. The host team has covered the spread in each of the past five meetings between the Cavs and Pacers.
Play on Indiana as an 8* Regular Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Thursday 10* (Top Play) on LA Clippers at Cleveland @ 8:05 p.m. ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Los Angeles Clippers Thursday. The Cavaliers put their 11-game winning streak on the line against L.A., which already fell victim to Cleveland during this stretch, falling 126-121 at home on January 16. The market is buzzing with public money on the Cavs, which has inflated their spread for this showdown, presenting terrific value on a Clippers team looking for a little revenge Thursday night. Los Angeles is fighting through this current road trip, alternating wins and losses, most recently getting upset by the Brooklyn Nets Monday. The Clippers have had some down time to work out the kinks and knows some weight is carried with this East versus West matchup – a possible NBA Finals preview. The Clippers will look down low to exploit a soft Cleveland interior defense. Kevin Love is struggling to find his place and isn’t known for his defensive intensity. Los Angeles will try to overwhelm Cleveland inside with DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin, eventually opening up the wings for easy kickouts and open shots. These are the game in which the Cavs miss injured big man Anderson Varejao the most. Cleveland is giving up 43 points in the paint per game.
Play on LA Clippers as a 10* Top Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia vs. Denver @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia 76ers host the Denver Nuggets Tuesday. The Sixers are coming off a hard-fought loss against the Cavaliers, covering the 17-point spread in a 97-84 defeat. It was Philadelphia’s fourth straight ATS win and they continue to get good value, even at home to a team like Denver. The Nuggets have just one win in their last 10 games, managing to cover in just three of those contests. Denver is dismal 9-13-1 ATS away from the Mile High City this season and has covered just twice in its last six meeting with the Sixers. The Nuggets are a mess defensively, giving up 105.7 points per game in their last nine contests. Offensively, Denver is scoring enough to counter those points. The team is scoring just under 83 points and shooting 38.3 percent in its last three outings – both NBA lows for that span.
Play on Philadelphia as a 10* Top Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia at Cleveland @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Philadelphia 76ers Monday. The Cavs are heating up again and the market is handing over a pile of points in a knee-jerk reaction to Cleveland’s success. However, a deeper look at the Cavs schedule reveals that plenty of weaker opponents have led to that 10-game run. Cleveland has faced basement dwellers like the LA Lakers, Utah, Charlotte, Detroit, Sacramento and most recently Minnesota – wins that should be taken with a grain of salt. Sure, the Sixers fit that mold as well, but have been playing competitive basketball in recent outings. Philadelphia won back-to-back tilts with the T-Wolves and Pistons and gave Atlanta, the Eastern Conference’s other red-hot team, a good fight in a six-point road loss to the Hawks, covering the 16-point spread. The 76ers are getting more than that in Cleveland and have covered in nine of their last 11 games versus the Cavs.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Friday 8* (Regular Play) on Portland at Atlanta @ 7:35 p.m. ET
The Atlanta Hawks host the Portland Trail Blazers Friday. The markets continues to react to the Hawks’ hot play, and is giving plenty of points to a very good Blazers team Friday night. Atlanta, which has won 17 in a row SU and ATS, is now seeing its lines padded against the public opinion and this could be the game where it all comes crashing down. Portland presents a tough challenge for Atlanta. Not only is star forward LaMarcus Aldridge a mismatch nightmare for the Hawks, but Blazers guard Damian Lillard is playing with added purpose after being left off the NBA Western Conference All-Star roster. Lillard is the type of explosive player that can single handedly break open a game. On defense, no team in the league guards against the 3-pointer better than the Blazers, who have limited opponents to just 30.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Hawks have been heavily dependent on their perimeter prowess during this streak. Atlanta gets 28.4 percent of its offensive production from 3-point buckets and won’t have those looks against a tough Portland perimeter defense.
Play on Portland as an 8* Regular Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 10* (Top Play) on Sacramento vs. Toronto @ 7:35 p.m. ET
The Toronto Raptors host the Sacramento Kings Wednesday. The Kings have enjoyed an extended hiatus from the court thanks to poor weather in New York cancelling their scheduled matchup with the Knicks Monday. Sacramento has actually been out East with its feet up since Sunday, giving it extra time to game plan for the Raptors. Toronto, on the other hand, is coming off a tough game in Indiana Tuesday and had to fly home overnight to be ready for the well-rested Kings Wednesday. The Raptors haven’t covered in each of their last five road games and are giving up big points to Sacramento in this tough situational spot. The Kings are hungry for a win after suffering a six-game slide heading into this road matchup and have covered in five of their last seven head-to-head encounters with Toronto.
Play on Sacramento as a 10* Top Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 8* (Regular Play) on Portland at Cleveland @ 7:05 p.m. ET The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday. The Blazers have had some extra time off after a very busy schedule in recent weeks. Portland was supposed to play in Brooklyn Monday, however, winter weather force the NBA to postpone the game, giving the Blazers a three-day break. It comes at a good time for Portland, which had been back and forth between road and home a lot in recent games, and it also allows them to focus on shutting down Cleveland Wednesday night. Blazers big man LaMarcus Aldrdige didn’t seem phased playing through a thumb injury, netting 26 points in the win over Washington last time out. Aldridge is key in keeping the Cavs frontcourt busy and opening up the paint with his ability to step outside and knock down mid-range looks. Cleveland is coming of a physical matchup with Detroit Tuesday, having to fly home immediately following that win. This will be the Cavaliers’ third game in four nights, so expect some tired legs on the Cleveland sideline. The Cavs rely on their starters to play big minutes and produce big numbers, rolling with a shallow talent pool in reserve. Cleveland’s bench averages just 15.4 points per game – lowest in the NBA – and may be called upon in this tight schedule spot Wednesday. Play on Portland as an 8* Regular Selection Wednesday. Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 6* (Regular Play) on Dallas vs. Memphis @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Dallas Mavericks host the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday. The Mavericks catch their Western Conference rivals coming off a game in Orlando Monday and having to travel overnight to the Lone Star State. Dallas is a tough matchup for the Grizzlies, with shot-blocking defender Tyson Chandler in the paint making life tough on Memphis’ big men and Dirk Nowitzki stretching the Grizzlies on defense with his perimeter play. On top of that, the Mavs high-energy backcourt combo of Rajon Rondo and Monta Ellis is snapping out of its slump. The pair combined for a 53 points in the loss to New Orleans Sunday and should test the Grizzlies road-weary legs. Dallas has covered in five of its last six matchups with Memphis and has going 4-1 ATS in its last five home games against the Grizz. It took a 103-95 win in Memphis as 3.5-point road underdogs on Jan. 19, overwhelming the Grizzlies with its outside shooting.
Play on Dallas as a 6* Regular Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia at New Orleans @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia 76ers catch the New Orleans Pelicans coming off a big win over the Dallas Mavericks Sunday night, and we’re taking advantage of not only a proper letdown spot but also a rough slate of schedule that has the Pelicans playing back-to-back nights and three games in four days. Oddsmakers are asking a lot of New Orleans with this spread and giving a rested Sixers side some added value, especially since Philly has gone 4-0-1 ATS in its last five matchups with Southwest Division foes. Philadelphia’s offense remains a bit of a mess but this club has shown some toughness when it comes to the defensive end. After watching teams run up the score in the first half of the year, the 76ers have clamped down on defense in 2015 and turned in plenty of respectable efforts, limiting their last three opponents to under 97 points on just 42.8 percent shooting. Not only can Philadelphia make foes work on the offensive end but the Sixers run a quick pace that can pull slower teams – like the Pelicans – out of their game plan. The 76ers are tied for the fifth fastest pace in the NBA while New Orleans drags its feet at 25th. That increase in tempo will be a lot for a fatigued Pelicans side to handle and we could see their tank hit empty well before the fourth quarter rolls around.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Dallas Mavericks (-) @ New Orleans @ 6 ET - The Pelicans have survived so far without Jrue Holiday but that had a lot to do with facing a number of weak teams since Holiday got hurt. Now the Pelicans step up big in talent level and, worse yet, the Mavericks are angry coming off of a home loss as they enter this game. Dallas had won 10 of their last 13 before losing to the Bulls at home on Friday. Now, someone has to pay for that. Welcome to the "revenge rout" New Orleans. The Mavs have won 9 of their last 10 meetings with the Pelicans and they certainly won't have any sympathy for New Orleans sans Holiday. New Orleans is 5-13 ATS the last 3 seasons as a home dog of 3 points or less. The Mavericks are 13-1 straight-up and 11-2-1 ATS the last 3 seasons as a road favorite of 3 points or less! Play Dallas minus the short number as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Phoenix Suns (+) vs LA Clippers @ 6 ET - Phoenix can't wait to get back on the floor after a tough two-point home loss to the Rockets on Friday. They are hosting another strong offense tonight as the Clippers come to town but the Suns are 15-8 ATS this season against teams averaging 99 points or more per game on the season. Unlike Phoenix, the Clips have performed poorly with the same parameters as they are 7-16 ATS this season against teams averaging 99 points or more per game on the season. Phoenix lost by a single point at Los Angeles back on December 8th and it's certainly revenge time here as the Suns came so close and yet they have now lost five straight games to the Clippers. The Clips are off of a blowout win and cover over Brooklyn but the Clippers had failed to get the cash in each of their previous three games. Note that as a road favorite of 3 points or less the Clippers are 8-20 ATS the last 3 seasons combined. Also, the Clips are 0-3 straight-up and ATS in Sunday games this season. The Suns are 6-2 ATS in divisional games this season and they have plenty of motivation as they host the team that is just above them in the Pacific Division standings. Play Phoenix plus the points as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Top Play Oklahoma City Thunder (+) @ Atlanta @ 7:35 ET - Certainly much respect must be given to the Hawks and their amazing run. But if ever there was a perfect spot to play against that, this is it. Atlanta is at home so line value is available and they are facing a Western Conference foe. There still remains a huge disparity in the NBA in terms of the overall talent level between the Eastern and Western conference. That said, the Thunder also are able to "sneak up" on the Hawks because of their unimpressive 22-20 mark on the season. Of course now that the Thunder are healthy, they are much more dangerous as a dog than their record would indicate. Note that Oklahoma City has won and covered four straight games. Also, the Thunder are a respectable 9-4 their last 13 games. Of course, no one will see that in this match-up because everyone is looking the way of the Hawks and their ridiculous string of 14 straight wins and covers. You can bet that Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Company want to be the team to put an end to Atlanta's insane run. The Hawks are playing their 7th game in 11 nights. While the Thunder have also seen their schedule intensity pick up over the last week do note that they had nearly a full week off just prior to this stretch as they were off between games on the 9th and the 15th. Oklahoma City's straight-up record is 55-21 in non-conference games the last 3 seasons. Atlanta's record over that same stretch is 35-37. The only reason we are getting points here is the Hawks current insane winning streak. The last time here the Thunder were a 3.5 point favorite and won by 9 points. Are the Hawks really 8 points better than the Thunder comparing this match-up to the last match-up in Atlanta? Of course not! Grab the value with the road team here as the Hawks face a highly motivated Thunder team tonight that has the talent level to knock them off. Talent and motivation = dangerous NBA underdog! Play Oklahoma City plus the points as a *10* Top Play selection.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Top Play Chicago Bulls (+) vs San Antonio @ 8:05 ET - Yes the Spurs are hot but this is still a team that was 2-5 in their last 7 road games prior to winning at Denver on Tuesday night. San Antonio, with it's aging veterans still being key cogs in the rotation, has a home game on deck with the Lakers. That will mark the Spurs 7th game in 11 nights. That said, this is certainly not an easy point in the schedule for San Antonio. The line has been on the rise for this one because the Spurs have been hot and Chicago has struggled recently. This is giving nice line value to a Bulls team that has gone 6-3 ATS the L3 seasons as a home dog of 3.5 to 6 points. Chicago is fired up after losing by 14 points at Cleveland on Monday. Unlike the Spurs, the Bulls schedule situation is favorable here. Chicago is playing just their 2nd game in 5 nights. Though the Bulls do have a game on deck it is a non-conference match-up as Dallas is up next for Chicago. San Antonio is 1-5 ATS this season in road games with a posted total between 195 and 199.5 points. The Bulls have won 6 of their 8 games this season when playing with rest of 2 days. The fresh legs of the Bulls will get the job done again here. Even without Joakim Noah, the Bulls are the play here. Play Chicago plus the points as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Toronto Raptors (+) @ Memphis @ 8 ET - At first glance this looks like a great spot to play the Grizzlies because they lost at Toronto earlier this season and will be seeking revenge. However, Memphis has only gone 5-4 ATS in that situation so far this season so it certainly has not been a strong factor for the Grizzlies this season. Another big concern for Memphis is they out-rebounded the Raptors by a ridiculous 61-38 count in the match-up earlier this season but they still lost the game. Toronto is actually a solid team on the glass so don't look for a repeat of that crazy rebounding stat in the rematch tonight. Both teams, ironically, have Philadelphia on deck. That said, there is certainly no look-ahead for either team. The Raptors have played respectable defense in 3 of their last 4 games. This has helped result in 4 straight unders. This is noteworthy because Toronto is 10-3 ATS the last 3 seasons when they enter a game on a under streak of 3 games or more. Memphis comes into this game off of an upset loss as a favorite as they lost at home to the Mavericks. While one might expect the Grizzlies to respond well off of a loss, note that Memphis is just 2-4 ATS this season when they are off of a loss in a game where they were favored. The Raptors have won 3 straight over the Grizzlies and another upset tonight would not surprise at all. That said, taking the points is a great value. Play Toronto plus the points as a *10* Top Play.

Rickenbach NBA *8* Detroit Pistons (+) @ Atlanta @ 2:35 ET - Because the Hawks have won and covered 12 straight some extra line value is being offered here. Atlanta's amazing ATS run is masking the fact that the Pistons are on an 11-2 run and have covered 10 of those 13 games. That means we are getting exceptional value here with a Pistons team catching about 8 points here even though they've only had one loss by more than five points in the past month! Detroit will be fired up for this game as they have lost both prior match-ups with the Hawks this season. The last defeat came by just 3 points on the Pistons home floor earlier this month and Detroit has revenge on their minds this afternoon. The Pistons are 5-1 ATS this season as a road dog of 6.5 to 9 points. Detroit is also 5-1 ATS this season when they are off of a game they won by a margin of 10 points or more. The Pistons, over the last 3 seasons, are 35-18 ATS when they are off of a game where they scored 105 points or more. They catch Atlanta here off of a long road trip that was wrapped up with key wins at Toronto and at Chicago. Now watch the Hawks struggle as they take on a team that is perceived as a weaker foe (because of 16-25 season record) but that is actually playing rock solid basketball for a full month now. Play Detroit plus the points as an *8* selection.

Rickenbach NBA *10* Washington Wizards (-) @ Brooklyn @ 8:05 ET - Having won 18 of their prior 25 games, the Wizards did not expect to get embarrassed on their home floor last night by Brooklyn. But indeed it happened as the Nets won by 22. That sets up the perfect spot for "right back revenge" as Washington can "give it right back" to the Nets in Brooklyn tonight. After last night's embarrassment on their home floor, that is exactly what should be expected from the Wizards tonight. Washington is 31-18 ATS the L3 years when they are revenging a home loss. Also, the Wizards are a perfect 2-0 ATS this season when they are off of a game where they scored 85 points or less. Washington won those two games by an average margin of 14 points and a similar margin tonight should be expected. Brooklyn had lost 7 straight before notching the win over the Wizards last night. Washington simply overlooked them. Note that the Nets are 1-5 ATS this season when they are off of an upset win as an underdog. Also, prior to last night's upset victory, Brooklyn was just 4-12 ATS this season in their games against teams with a winning record. It's a return to reality for the Nets tonight and that means a huge Washington win as they will take the court with motivation in this one. Play Washington minus the points as a *10* Top Play!

Rickenbach NBA *6* Oklahoma City Thunder (+) vs Golden State @ 8:05 ET - The Thunder embarrassed themselves (and me) with their performance at Houston last night. After a horrible first quarter (perhaps flat instead of refreshed off of the long layoff), Oklahoma City did respond and cut the big lead down playing much better the rest of the way. However, the fact is that the hole they dug was too deep and the Thunder will look to come out of the starting blocks firing on all cylinders tonight. They are hosting a Warriors team that has had a fantastic season thusfar but do note that Golden State had lost each of their four previous trips to Oklahoma City prior to winning here in November. The Thunder have not forgotten that home court defeat which occurred back when they were short-handed. Now that Oklahoma City is healthy, and fired up off of last night's poor effort, it's payback time tonight. The Thunder are a small dog tonight at home and this is a team that is 23-5 straight-up in home games the last 3 seasons with a posted total of 210 or greater. Overall the Thunder are 88-28 straight-up in home games the last 3 seasons combined and they host a Warriors team tonight that is playing their 3rd game in 4 nights and note that Golden State is just 7-10 straight-up in road games the last 3 seasons with a posted total of 210 or greater. Thunder get back on track tonight after having their mettle tested in Houston last night. Play Oklahoma City as a *6* selection.