NBA 10* Top Play New Orleans Pelicans +2.5 - It is the Pelicans turn here. No team has won B2B games yet in this see-saw series and New Orleans is a home dog and will take advantage of Booker still being out for the Suns and I look for the home team to get it done here. I know there is speculation he might return tonight but I doubt he will. Even if he does, I like the fact that the Pelicans have been the much stronger rebounding team in this series and I expect them to shoot better from long-distance after a 5 for 25 at Phoenix in Game 5. The home dog gets it done here and extends the series. 10* NEW ORLEANS +2.5

NBA Double Perfect Play Wednesday 10* Top Play Chicago Bulls +12.5 @ Milwaukee Bucks @ 7:30 ET - The road team is a perfect 4-0 ATS in this series and on a 5-0 ATS run dating back to the regular season. Once this one is in the books, I am predicting that streak to reach 6 in a row. I do expect Milwaukee to close this series out with a home win tonight but look for Chicago to rally the troops, with Zach Lavine out, and battle hard all the way in this one to lose by just a single digit margin and get us the all-important ATS cover. By the way, the Bucks are on an 0-5 ATS run in home games dating back to the regular season as well. Hence, the double perfect situation here and I understand the line move but love fading line moves too and this is the perfect spot (literally) - filled with high value in my opinion. 10* CHICAGO +12.5

NBA Earliest Cash Tuesday 10* Top Play Atlanta Hawks +7.5 @ Miami Heat @ 7 ET - The Hawks just got embarrassed on their home floor in a 24 point loss on Sunday. This is now their season right here. I am not saying they will win this game outright but I do like the odds of at least a cover here. Since mid-February, Atlanta has gone 10-1 SU when entering a game off a non-OT loss! The only time they lost back to back was in Games 1 and 2 of that series and in that one that Game 2 loss they were down by just 3 points with 2 and 1/2 minutes to go and missed a game-tying 3 at that juncture in the game. The point is that the eventual 10 point loss was a closer finish than you think and that game was here in Miami too. Big value with the big points here given the situation and the 10-1 / 91% angle. 10* ATLANTA HAWKS +7.5

NBA Eastern Conference Game of the Month Monday 10* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers -7.5 vs Toronto Raptors @ 8 ET - Look for the Sixers to respond off the Game 4 loss at Toronto. Even though the 76ers are still very much in control of this series they last thing they want to do is let this series go back to Toronto for Game 6. That is for two key reasons. Not only would that then give the Raptors a chance to tie the series up on their home floor and force an "anything can happen" Game 7, it also would lead to more tired legs for Philly if they do advance. Philadelphia wants this series to end right here right now and to let guys like Joel Embiid get some rest for the next round. Similar to the huge energy and motivation we saw from the Sixers in the opening game of the series, I am expecting a similar effort here. Philadelphia in a big home rout is my expectation here. The 76ers are on a 5-0 run in home games and the average margin of victory was 18 points in those 5 games. More of the same expected here. 10* PHILADELPHIA -7.5

NBA Money Line Dominator Sunday 10* Top Play Denver Nuggets +170 vs Golden State Warriors @ 3:30 ET - Sweeps are not easy to come by. There are 8 series going and only 2 of them still have a shot at being a sweep and this is one of them. I do not see an angry Denver team being denied here on their home floor. They have outrebounded the Warriors heavily in each of the last two games plus shot much better from the free throw line. Golden State has simply shot lights out from the field, including downtown, so far in this series but that can not go on forever. This is the game the Nuggets bring their absolute best game of this series as they will be relentless in refusing to let GS take this series on their home court. 10* DENVER +170

NBA Total of the Week Saturday 10* Top Play OVER 212.5 in Toronto Raptors vs Philadelphia 76ers @ 2 PM ET - The Raptors will do anything to extend this series as they are down 3-0 and do not want to get eliminated on their home floor. To extend their series they are likely going to have to extend this game. What I mean by that is even if they are down 7 to 10 points late they will be fouling plenty and looking to send Philly to the line and climb back into the game. I love the fact that after B2B unders, even if an game that went to OT in Game 3, most will be looking under here. Keep in mind, Game 1 of this series flew over the total. I am expecting much better shooting like we saw in the first game and I look for Toronto to put up a valiant effort here. However, as has been a problem all series long, the Raptors will struggle to stop all the weapons the Sixers have. I am not confident of who will win this game but I am confident of plenty of points being scored! 10* OVER 212.5 in Toronto

NBA Payback Special Friday 10* Top Play Atlanta Hawks +1.5 vs Miami Heat @ 7 ET - After 3 straight games for us all slipping away in the 4th quarter in the NBA after cashing 8 in a row in NBA - most all of them easy no doubt winners without drama - I have no doubt we are getting back on track starting today. One thing is for sure, if a break is involved it most certainly should go our way here! The home team has won 6 of the last 7 meetings between these teams and the Heat won each of the first two games of this series at home. The home team dominance in this series continues here. The Hawks have won 28 of 42 home games this season and the Heat are 21-16 SU last 37 road games. You can see why, given those numbers, we have some line value here with the desperate and hungrier team available as a home underdog. 10* ATLANTA +1.5

NBA Game of the Month Thursday 10* Top Play Minnesota Timberwolves +2 vs Memphis Grizzlies @ 7:30 ET - The Wolves had turnover problems in the two games at Memphis but look for them to clean that up now that the series has shifted home to Minneapolis for them. As disappointing as the 124-96 annihilation was for the T-wolves in Game 2, they are still feeling very good about their situation in this series as they earned the all-important split at Memphis. Ja Morant suffered a quad injury in Game 2 and though it is not serious at all could it get sore on him as Game 3 marches on into the later stages and effect him a little bit? Certainly is not impossible but either way I love the Wolves here in a key game for them to respond after a 28-point drubbing. Keep in mind, before that big win, Memphis had lost 4 of 5 games and Minnesota had won 5 of 7 games before the blowout defeat. Hungry home team will get it done here in my opinion as they are buoyed by the confidence they gained by getting the big Game 1 win at Memphis and they draw on that here to take a 2-1 lead in this series. We'll grab the bucket being offered in case this one ends up decided by the slimmest of margins but I do sense a big home team win here! 10* MINNESOTA +2

NBA Earliest Cash Wednesday 10* Top Play Brooklyn Nets +3.5 @ Boston Celtics @ 7 ET - The Nets fell just short on a last second buzzer beater in Game 1. I actually expect a bounce back win here for Brooklyn after falling just short but I am still going to grab the points here just in case the visitors again fall just short. We can get 3.5 points with the road dog here and I will take it as the Nets showed me a lot in Game 1 and the fact they fell short on a last second shot only serves to give us even more line value here in Game 2. You know Brooklyn is going to be extremely hungry here in Game 2. The Nets have great shot at outright win which also means superb extra value with getting more than a 3-pointer's worth as the dog in this one again in Game 2. I'll take it as the impact of Boston not having Robert Williams available showed up already as they Celtics barely survived Game 1 and I feel they will not be so fortunate here. 10* BROOKLYN +3.5

NBA TNT Annihilation Tuesday 10* Top Play Atlanta Hawks +7.5 @ Miami Heat @ 7:30 ET - The Hawks and Heat nearly the exact same number of 3-point attempts in Game 1 of this series. The difference in Sunday's game? Miami made 8 more of theirs than Atlanta did. The Heat won the game by exactly a 24 point margin. You see my point? Even with Trae Young having the horrible game he did that was the difference in the final margin of the game was just 3-pointers. Of course Miami's Duncan Robinson is not going 8 of 9 again from downtown just like Young is not going 0 for 7 from beyond the arc. In fact, now that I mentioned that, note that this is your 24 point margin right there! The fact is Atlanta got to the line for 50% more free throw attempts in the game. Essentially the Heat won the game from the outside not the inside. Possible impact to that inside game is the fact that Bam Adebayo is dealing with a quad injury entering this one. I know the Hawks struggled on the road in the regular season but they were 5-2 SU last 7 road games that were NOT the second game of a B2B before that loss at Miami Sunday. They get back on track here as Young and Company are out for payback. The visitors may fall short of the outright upset but they will do enough for the all-important cover here. 10* ATLANTA +7.5

NBA TNT Annihilation Monday 10* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers -7 vs Toronto Raptors @ 7:30 ET - The Raptors lost by 20 in the first game and Tyrese Maxey had a ridiculous game for the Sixers scoring 38 points. So now everyone is saying Toronto will bounce back because no way Maxey plays like that again. This might be true about Maxey but it is not necessarily true about the Raptors bouncing back. The 76ers have a pair of stars you might have heard about before...guys by the names of Joel Embiid and James Harden. Those two guys combined for 11 of 32 shooting in the game Saturday and yet Philly still won the game by 20 points! Now you understand why Toronto is absolutely in trouble here. They may get a boost when the series shifts to north of the border and the Sixers Matisse Thybulle can not travel with the team due to his covid status. However, until then Raptors still in trouble and this is particularly true with injuries piling up for them. Scottie Barnes, Gary Trent Jr. and Thaddeus Young all listed as doubtful for this game! 76ers roll again in this one! 10* PHILADELPHIA -7

NBA TNT Annihilation Sunday 10* Top Play Chicago Bulls +11 @ Milwaukee Bucks @ 6:30 ET - With the Bulls late season fade, we are getting extra line value here. Chicago is fully capable of turning things up a notch now that the post-season has arrived. Of course, the same can be said for the Bucks and that would absolutely be a true statement. However, lets not forget that Milwaukee is the defending NBA champion. Everyone is gunning for them in this post-season and this is particularly true of a nearby rival (Chicago only about 90 miles away). Additionally, the hunger factor is a question. Sure the Bucks want to win but will they be as hungry as other teams in this post-season? Honestly I doubt that. I am not saying the Bucks will not win this series nor am I saying that will not win Game 1. However, I am quite confident this Game 1 match-up will be decided by only a single digit margin. That said, big value with the big points here! Milwaukee won all 4 regular season meetings but the Bulls had at least 10 more field goal attempts in each of the last two defeats even though they were blowout losses. The problem was that the Bucks shot lights out. We are getting line value because of this here. The Grayson Allen with Alex Caruso further adds spice to this match-up and you are going to see a hungry underdog giving its strongest effort in a long time in this one and I just do not see them getting blown out here and an outright upset in Game 1 would not surprise me but a loss by a range of 5 to 9 points is the more likely result and that gets us the cash here! 10* CHICAGO +11

NBA ESPN Blowout Saturday 10* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers -4.5 vs Toronto Raptors @ 6 ET - The 76ers are undervalued here because of past playoff disappointments. In my opinion the Sixers will keep things up a notch now that the post-season is here and they have a guy by the name of James Harden to help lift them rather than a guy named Ben Simmons that was weighing them down. I know that the Raptors won the regular season series between these teams but this is playoff time and the Wells Fargo Center will be rocking for this one. Each of the last 7 meetings between these teams was decided by at least 5 points and I expect that that trend to continue here. Philly get gets it done on their home floor and opens the series with a big win and cover as Raptors drop to 1-3 SU/ATS last 4 road games (only win was against bad Magic team at Orlando). The hosts roll here. 10* PHILADELPHIA -4.5

NBA Playoff Perfection Saturday 10* Top Play OVER 236 in Memphis Grizzlies vs Minnesota Timberwolves @ 3:30 ET - Two teams that like to play fast and I am expecting plenty of points in the opener of this series as a result. The over is 5-1 last 6 Timberwolves games. The over is 4-1 last 5 Grizzlies games. In Minnesota road games this season the over went 30-11. Memphis has seen the over go 7-2 in last 9 home games. The tempo and situation is perfect. The Grizzlies have fresh legs here from being off since Sunday and the Timberwolves allowed only 104 points to the Clippers in the Wolves play-in game Tuesday but allowed 128 points per game in their final 7 games of the regular season. 10* OVER 236 in Memphis

NBA Money Line Rout Friday 10* Top Play Atlanta Hawks -130 @ Cleveland Cavaliers @ 7:35 ET - Just do not want to get burned if the Hawks win this game by only a point or two so, in this case, happy to lay a little bit of an extra price to have the money line in this match-up. The Hawks are the much hotter team with wins in 13 of last 18 games. Conversely, not only did the Cavaliers lose at Brooklyn, they were getting dominated for long stretches in that game. Also, over the last four weeks entering the post-season, Cleveland had a standalone loss only one time but had a pair of 3-game losing streaks and a pair of 2-game losing streaks and here is the next 2-gamer which also will mark the end of their season. Hawks loaded with confidence while Cavs have lost 9 of 12 games and, going further back, 12 of 18 games. 10* ATLANTA -130

NBA Earliest Dominator Wednesday 10* Top Play Atlanta Hawks -5 vs Charlotte Hornets @ 7 ET - The home team went 52-30 SU in Hawks games this season. Atlanta was 27-14 at home this season. Of all the teams that either made the post-season or play-in tournament, the Hawks are the team with the worst road record. That said, home court carried them. It is the reason they are here today and it is the reason they will advance to play Cleveland. Note that Charlotte lost 2 of its last 3 road games this season and the two defeats were each by at least 29 points. The Hawks have won 19 of last 22 home games and only 2 of those 19 wins were by less than a 6 point margin. You can see why I am backing the hosts for the win and cover in this one! 10* ATLANTA -5

NBA Earliest Dominator Tuesday 10* Top Play Cleveland Cavaliers +8.5 @ Brooklyn Nets @ 7 ET - The Cavaliers are expected to again be without Allen but that is keeping this line higher than it should be. Mobley has returned from a recent 5-game absence and is coming off a double-double performance. Look for Mobley to continue to fill the shoes of Allen and look for he and Love to carry the load in this match-up. The Cavs might fall short on the scoreboard but only by a bucket or two in my opinion. In the 118-107 loss at Brooklyn last week, the Cavaliers actually led that game by 5 heading to the 4th quarter after trailing by 15 after 1 quarter of play. Now it is payback time when it matters most after the Cavs were done in by a poor 4th quarter last week against the Nets. 10* CLEVELAND +8.5

NBA PA Dominator Sunday 10* Top Play Detroit Pistons +12.5 @ Philadelphia 76ers @ 7:10 ET - We had a tough loss with Philly yesterday when they dribbled out the shot clock late for a 24 second violation intentionally because they led the game by 16 points at the time and then the Pacers subsequently jacked up a 3 and hit it with just few seconds left on clock. Indiana then only lost by 13 and Philly was a 13.5 or 14 point favorite when we released that selection. Tough beat but now the situation Sunday is much different and favors the big dog strongly in my opinion. The Sixers need to stay healthy going into post-season. Yes their big guns are likely to see plenty of floor time here but not into the latter portion of the game if 76ers have a big lead. Also, the Pistons are off B2B ugly losses but had been one of the best ATS teams around for many weeks before those two big defeats. Dating back to March 1st, Pistons were on a 13-3 ATS run before the losses to Mavericks and Bucks. The Sixers know Boston is likely to also win Sunday and that means Philly is likely locked into the #4 seed and facing Toronto in first round. That said, giving too much effort here and ending up getting somebody hurt would be the worst thing the 76ers could do heading into the playoffs. Grab all the points you can and look for the Pistons to hang around throughout this contest! 10* DETROIT +12.5

NBA Earliest Dominator Saturday 10* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers -13.5 vs Indiana Pacers @ 1:10 ET - Normally I do not lay big points but this is a rare exception. I love this spot for the Sixers. I successfully played against the 76ers with the Raptors on Thursday. But that situation was different as Philly was on the road and Toronto wanted that game just as bad as they did. Now the Sixers are back home where they won their most recent game by 30 points over a Charlotte team that is certainly better than this short-handed Pacers team. Indiana has been dealing with a myriad of injuries and they have lost 8 straight games! They are simply playing out the string on a disappointing season and here they run into a motivated Philly team that had won 3 straight before the loss at Toronto. The Pacers last 7 losses by an average margin of 15 points and I expect this one to be by 20+ as an angry 76ers team at home will show no mercy here. 10* PHILADELPHIA -13.5

NBA Earliest Dominator Friday 10* Top Play OVER 222.5 in Washington Wizards vs New York Knicks @ 7:10 ET - The Wizards home finale and this is a team that has played with a lot of energy at home for quite some time now. It is still a bad team defensively but, without a doubt, Washington can put up big points! The O/U is 8-1 in the 9 home games the Wiz have had since March 1st. The Knicks are more of a defensive-minded slow-paced team but lets take this game for what it is. This is clearly a late-season match-up between two teams just playing out the string on the season and the Knicks will simply run right along with the Wizards. I simply do not expect a lot of defense to be played here. The Knicks have averaged 113 points the last 3 times they were off a game in which they were held under 105 and they just were held to 98 by Brooklyn - a playoff team. Last game against a non-playoff team, New York exploded for 118 points. Couple that with the fact Wizards have been scoring like crazy at home and you can see where I am going with this one. 10* OVER 222.5 in Washington

NBA Early Dominator Thursday 10* Top Play Toronto Raptors +1.5 vs Philadelphia 76ers @ 7:30 ET - Long-time followers know I love fading line moves and this one has moved a full 5 points as yesterday it opened up with the Raptors at -3.5 and now the 76ers are at -1.5 this morning. This game has importance for both teams in the playoff picture so lets dive into some other factors I like a lot here. The 76ers have won 3 straight games but are on a 1-7-1 ATS run against the closing number last 9 road games. The Raptors are off a win and are  fantastic 12-3 SU last 15 games. Toronto is 5-1 SU L6 home games. The Raptors have covered 4 of last 5 games as a host to the Sixers. For all the hype Philly has had because of the big move for Harden, this is a team that has covered only 5 of its last 18 games. I know the spread here is very small but even SU Philadelphia was on a 7-7 SU run before this little 3-game winning streak they are currently on. These teams could meet in the playoffs and I look for the Raptors to make a statement about that on their home floor tonight. 10* TORONTO +1.5

NBA Earliest Cash Wednesday 10* Top Play Detroit Pistons +8.5 vs Dallas Mavericks @ 7:10 ET - The Mavericks need to win for playoff reasons. But just like we used the Wizards over the Timberwolves last night for another easy outright underdog win, we roll with the Pistons here. It is practically the same situation except even better because Detroit is at home for this one. But, just like Washington, the Pistons currently are playing some of their best basketball of the season because they are fully relaxed and any pressure to make the playoffs is long gone for them. Detroit enters this game having won 3 in a row SU and also 5 in a row ATS and, in fact, the Pistons are on an incredible 17-3 ATS run last 20 games. So you have a Mavs team that is certainly high-quality but on the road and playing with all the pressure to try and move up to the #3 seed or at least make sure they hang onto the #4 seed and Dallas has B2B home games coming up to close the season. If there was a spot for the Mavericks to get tripped up late this season, this is it. The Pistons confidence is very high right now with 3 straight wins, 2 on the road, and they also have home wins over Sixers and Hawks recently so it is not like these victories were only over chumps. The hosts will not necessarily win this game outright but I absolutely expect them to be in it all the way to the final buzzer and that means they lose this by a half dozen points or less if they even do fall short! 10* DETROIT +8.5

NBA Dominator Game of the Week Tuesday 10* Top Play Washington Wizards +12.5 @ Minnesota Timberwolves @ 8:10 ET - The Wizards just got their doors blown off at Boston Sunday. However, these Wolves are not those Celtics! It is the perfect time to back a Washington team that entered Sunday having won 4 of 5 both SU and ATS. By the way, the Wizards also have won 3 in a row over Minnesota. All the pressure here is on the Timberwolves. With the Wiz eliminated from the post-season they have been playing without pressure and really were playing well before running into a Boston team that was determined to put on a killing display in their final regular season home game. The Wolves are coming off a 4-game road trip and have 2 more home games after this one to close out the regular season. All these factors make this the perfect spot to fade them. Yes I see Minny finding a way to win this game but I absolutely see this one being decided by single digits. That said, I also love the fact that the line has gone from 10.5 to 12.5 as of early Tuesday morning. Grab the extra value! 10* WASHINGTON +12.5

NBA Earliest Cash Tuesday 8* OVER 233 in Indiana Pacers vs Philadelphia 76ers @ 7:10 ET - In their home finale, the Pacers will put up a fight here. However, defensively Indiana has been one of the worst teams in the league for weeks now. Also, Philadelphia is a double digit favorite with good reason here as they need to win for playoff seeding purposes and having been off yesterday and off again tomorrow I expect the Sixers to have their full complement of personnel on the floor and ready to go in this one! I also like the fact that the 76ers are off an under and Philly is 5-1 to the over last 6 times when off an under. Indiana is 4-0 to the over last 4 games. 8* OVER 233 in Indiana

NBA Dominator Game of the Week Sunday 10* Top Play Denver Nuggets -2 @ Los Angeles Lakers @ 3:40 ET - The Lakers are still a public team when it comes to betting and they also are a team desperate for wins right now to keep playoff hopes alive. Also, the Lakers are at home here and have revenge against a Nuggets team that blasted them by 37 points in first meeting this season. However, in spite of all that both James and Davis are banged up right now and the fact is the confidence of LA is shaken as their hopes of earning a play-in spot for the post-season are fading. The Nuggets fully capable of blasting this Lakers team and we get line value because Denver is on the road! That is keeping this line low and yet Denver actually has won 9 of last 10 road games! Each of last 7 road wins by 4 or more points and I expect this one will fall into that category as well! The Lakers have lost 27 of 37 games. Incredible value here in fading LA! Adding to the value is the fact the Nuggets are off a tight, high-scoring home loss to Minnesota Friday. 10* DENVER -2

NBA Earliest Cash Sunday 8* Washington Wizards +13 @ Boston Celtics @ 1:10 ET - Wizards playing loose and relaxed basketball as they are eliminated from the post-season. That is the reason they have won 4 of 5 both SU and ATS and just crushed the Mavericks by 32 as an 8-point underdog! Indeed, Boston should win this game but I just don't see the Celtics covering this large spread against the Wizards. Back when these teams met in Washington in January, the Wizards got blasted at home but they have won the first two meetings this season and now it is time for payback for the January loss. They may fall short of the outright win but they at least get the cover here. I don't see them losing by anything more than single digits here. All the pressure is on the Celtics here. Boston has covered only 2 of last 7 home games! 8* WASHINGTON +13

NBA Earliest Dominator Saturday 10* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers -5 vs Charlotte Hornets @ 12:30 ET - The 76ers have lost 3 straight and the Hornets have been playing well so is it any surprise that a line that opened up as high as an 8 is down to a 5? Not really, no! But, in typical contrarian fashion I am going against the line move and grabbing the extra value here! The Sixers are very hungry and at home and they also have revenge here! After a long winning streak against Charlotte, Philadelphia got beat in mid-January by the Hornets in a rare double-digit home loss. Philly is out for revenge here and remember they were on a 30-11 run since Christmas before this current 3-game losing streak. Time for the 76ers to get back on track here and they will not be at home again until they wrap up the season here in Philly next weekend. So this game is ultra important for them and they catch the Hornets off a road win at New York. The set up is ideal for the hungry home team to do what the odds makers said they would do and yet what the betting markets are doubting here. Look for the Sixers to roll big at home. 10* PHILADELPHIA -5

NBA Earliest Dominator Friday 10* Top Play Washington Wizards +8.5 vs Dallas Mavericks @ 7:10 ET - Interesting late-season match-up here because one has to wonder...does Dallas even know what it wants here? In actuality, the West is a jumbled mess from spots 3 through 6 in the playoff picture. So yes Dallas will want to win but it is not even as critical as you think just yet because there is so much uncertainty who will finish in the 5 and 6 spots and then of course that impacts the match-ups for the 3 and 4 spots. Conversely, the Wizards are eliminated from the playoff picture and playing loose, relaxed basketball as a result. That makes for a dangerous underdog the way I see it and note that Washington is 20-19 SU at home this season and in terms of current trending, the Wizards have covered 5 of last 7 games at home. In terms of all games, home and away, Washington is on a 3-1 SU/ATS run. Look for the Wizards to hang around in this game on their home floor. 10* WASHINGTON +8.5

NBA Earliest Dominator Thursday 10* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers -9.5 @ Detroit Pistons @ 7:10 ET - Long-time followers know I love fading line moves and this one was as high as an 11 but has dropped to a 9.5 and the 76ers offer strong value here off B2B losses. Philly has lost B2B games for just the 2nd time since mid-December. The only other time it happened since then the Sixers went into Chicago and won by double digits! The Bulls are 2nd place in the Central Division behind only the defending champion Bucks! As for the Pistons, no team in the entire league has fewer wins than the paltry 20 victories that Detroit has on the season. The Pistons have been more competitive of late but they are hosting the Sixers at the wrong time. Philly will show no mercy given the situation and that means when they are up by 20+ points as this game goes on they will still keep their foot on the gas. I see no way they do not win this game by at least 10 points. Lay it! 10* PHILADELPHIA -9.5

NBA Earliest Dominator Wednesday 10* Top Play OVER 233 in Indiana Pacers vs Denver Nuggets @ 7:10 ET - Nuggets averaged 121 points per game last 4 games. The Pacers allowing 132 points per game last 3 games. Indiana scoring an average of 119 points last 6 home games. Could easily see this one getting into the 240s given the above. Pacers have been slumping and are officially eliminated  from post-season contention but that means they can play loose and relaxed here at home. Look for very little resistance on the defensive end from an Indiana team that has clearly been struggling in that regard of late. However, the Pacers certainly should be able to put up a lot of points here and the Nuggets are off B2B unders but this was preceded by 5 straight overs. Given all of the above, that strong over trending likely to quickly resume here. 10* OVER 233 in Indiana

NBA Money Line Game of the Year Tuesday 10* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers Money Line -115 vs Milwaukee Bucks @ 7:10 ET - With this line opening up at -2.5 and dropping now to as low as -1 on the 76ers as of Tuesday morning, we are seeing money lines as low as -115. I like the value here with taking Philly on their home floor just to win the game. Yes, I know both teams off losses so Bucks will be hungry here too. However, Philadelphia is 12-1 SU last 13 times when off a loss! Conversely, Milwaukee has already had 9 losing streaks of at least 2 games this season. When the Bucks lose one, they certainly are not automatic to bounce right back! That said, great value here with a home team that should bounce back and get right back into the win column. 10* PHILADELPHIA -115

NBA Contrarian Crusher Monday 10* Top Play Charlotte Hornets +3 vs Denver Nuggets @ 7:10 ET - This is a contrarian play because most will be looking the way of the road team in this one because of the scheduling situation but I am grabbing the home dog! The Hornets are off a big win at Brooklyn yesterday and that was an upset win on the road which also followed an upset win at home versus Utah Friday. Will Charlotte run out of gas here? Absolutely not! The fact they are at home and in a battle for playoff position and are playing so well means they will not come up short here! The Hornets are red hot with wins in 7 of last 8 games. The Nuggets are off a win Saturday but it was a non-covering win versus a bad Thunder team. Denver's ATS slide has now reached 3-8 last 11 games. Also, prior to the SU win over OKC, the Nuggets had lost 5 of 8 SU. Based on all of the above, you can see why I am grabbing the red hot home dog that is playing with a lot of confidence right now. 10* CHARLOTTE +3

NBA Game of the Month Sunday 10* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers +4 @ Phoenix Suns @ 6:10 ET - The Suns are a great team of course but missing a couple solid contributors here with Cameron Johnson and JaVale McGee both expected to miss this game. Against a lesser team that would be no big deal but the Sixers are going to give Phoenix all they can handle here. Keep in mind, Philadelphia wants to prove that, with James Harden now on board too, they belong with the elite of the NBA. Phoenix, on the other hand, has certainly proven in recent seasons that they are among the elite of the NBA. That said, I also expect the 76ers to be the hungrier team in this one. They will want it a little more and I feel we have excellent line value with Philly as an underdog. The Suns have dominated this series in recent seasons and that includes winning at Philly early last month. Payback time here as Sixers hungry to end the dominance of Phoenix in this series by coming up big today. Suns off big win at Denver and have big game at Golden State on deck. Will they be totally focused on this non-conference match-up? Perhaps not and this is a Sixers team that won 12 of 16 games and going for 4 in a row here. 10* PHILADELPHIA +4

NBA Contrarian Crusher Saturday 10* Top Play OVER 221 in Orlando Magic vs Sacramento Kings @ 7:10 ET - Total dropped from mid-220s range to closer to 220 range and I love fading the line move here. Both teams have fresh legs here as they were off each of the last two days entering this one. Also, both teams are off unders so I look for the offensive production to take over in this non-conference match. The Kings, prior to the under, were on a 5-3 run to the over including each of last 2 road games. The Magic are off 3 straight unders including 2 in a row at home but this is helping to give us line value. Orlando, before those B2B unders in home games, allowed an average of 120 points per game the preceding 9 home games! Think Sacramento loses this game? The Kings have allowed 124 points last 11 losses. Think Orlando loses this game? The Magic have allowed 124 points last 9 losses! Given those facts you can see why I like the over in this match-up! 10* OVER 221 in Orlando

NBA Contrarian Crusher Thursday 10* Top Play Cleveland Cavaliers +5.5 @ Toronto Raptors @ 7:40 ET - Toronto opened up at a -3 and has jumped up to as high as a -5.5 already. In typical contrarian fashion I am fading the line move. As per usual, the fade is not without reason! The Cavaliers are off a loss and the last 3 times they were off a loss by a margin less than a dozen points, Cleveland has gone a perfect 3-0 SU. Also, the Raptors are off a road loss (SU and ATS) at Chicago but, prior to this, the road team was on an 11-1 ATS run in Toronto games. Look for that strong road trend to resume here. The Cavs already won all 3 meetings with Raptors this season and average margin of 18 points per victory. Look for another road win here. 10* CLEVELAND +5.5

NBA Contrarian Crusher Wednesday 10* Top Play New York Knicks +7.5 @ Charlotte Hornets @ 7:10 ET - This line has jumped from Charlotte as a very small home favorite all the way up to as high as 7.5 points. In typical contrarian fashion, I am fading the line move and going with the big underdog. The Knicks are in 2nd game of a B2B but the last time they were in this situation they won by 16 points in the 2nd game of the B2B. New York is off B2B losses but last night's defeat was by just 6 points after Sunday's loss was by a double digit margin. Also, note all this was preceded by a 5-2 stretch SU and an 8 game run in which the only 3 SU losses were each by 4 or less points! Tremendous big dog value here when you consider that, althought the Hornets are on a 5-game winning streak, this was preceded by a 3-7 SU run. Also, Charlotte is playing 3rd game in 5 days so their scheduling situation truly not that much better than that of the Knicks. 10* NEW YORK +7.5

NBA Non-Conf Total of the Month Tuesday 10* Top Play OVER 215.5 in Orlando Magic vs Golden State Warriors @ 7:10 ET - After a low-scoring grinding 90-85 win for the Magic Sunday over the Thunder, look for a high-scoring game here. Orlando games were on a 3-0 run to the over before that crazy low-scoring game over the weekend. The Warriors are allowing an average of 114.6 points per game last 10 games. Golden State had one ugly game offensively in that 10-game stretch but scored an average of 116.4 points per game in the other 9 games. Given all of the above, and the non-conference element to this match-up as well, we should see plenty of points as this one gets into the 220s. 10* OVER 215.5 in Orlando

NBA Earliest Cash Monday 10* Top Play OVER 222 in Detroit Pistons vs Portland Trail Blazers @ 7:10 ET - The Blazers off a ridiculous under, as I know all too well, as they scored just 16 points in the 4th quarter last night of a game that looked like a sure over. This followed 4 straight overs involving Portland and I expect to get my money back on a Trail Blazers over tonight! We will come right back with Blazers game over the total here. Keep in mind, Portland has allowed 125 points per game last dozen games. The Pistons will score well here as they have gone on a 13-1 ATS tear thanks to playing better of late. Detroit can lean on a huge offensive performance here as they catch the Trail Blazers in the 2nd game of a back to back. 10* OVER 222 in Detroit

NBA Daytime Dominator Sunday 10* Top Play OVER 233 in Indiana Pacers vs Portland Trail Blazers @ 3:40 ET - The over is 4-0 in last 4 Blazers games and they have allowed 125.4 points per game last 10 games! The Pacers are off an under but the game did total 239 points and Indiana has not had B2B unders in a very long time. I do not expect that fact to change here as this one flies over the total! The over is 24-11 in Pacers home games this season. 10* OVER 233 in Indiana

NBA Earliest Dominator Saturday 10* Top Play Minnesota Timberwolves +3 vs Milwaukee Bucks @ 5:10 ET - Both teams playing well but the Wolves are not getting enough respect on their home floor here and I am happy to grab them as a home dog in this one. Minnesota has won 9 of last 10 games and also already beat the Bucks earlier this season in Milwaukee. The Bucks are off B2B road covers but this was preceded by a 5-7 ATS stretch overall. The Timberwolves are 23-12 at home while the Bucks are 20-14 on the road this season. But due to long-term reputation of these teams this game is priced this way. We'll take advantage. Give me the points! 10* MINNESOTA

NBA Total Blowout Friday 10* Top Play OVER 217.5 in Philadelphia 76ers vs Dallas Mavericks @ 7:10 ET - With Joel Embiid listed as questionable for this game, the posted total has dropped from low 220s to mid 210s and we have excellent value with the over. If Embiid plays we will certainly welcome his offense. If Embiid does not play, the 76ers will still find their points but absolutely will be missing his defense against a dangerous Mavs team. Since Kristaps Porzingis was traded they have seen Spencer Dinwiddie really become a key on offense. The Mavs have won 10 of last 12 with him on the court and he is really playing well. Dallas had two duds offensively last 12 games but averaged 113 points in the other 10 games! The Sixers have won 8 of 11 games and have scored an average of 123 games in the 8 victories. Watch this game fly over the total! 10* OVER 217.5 in Philadelphia

NBA TV Total of the Week Thursday 10* Top Play OVER 218.5 in Orlando Magic vs Detroit Pistons @ 7:10 ET - The Magic and Pistons are two of the worst teams in the league. Orlando and Detroit each allowing 112 points per game on the season. The Magic off back to back losses and the Pistons off 4 straight losses so each team going to bring some extra effort here in a game they definitely each view as a winnable game. That said, I do look for this to lead to plenty of points. 3 of the last 4 meetings between these teams have gone over the total. Detroit has averaged 109 points scored per game during their current 11-1 ATS run entering this game. Magic have averaged 112.5 points scored per game last 8 home games. This one should get well into the 220s given the situation. 10* OVER 218.5 in Orlando

NBA PA Dominator Wednesday 10* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers -4.5 @ Cleveland Cavaliers @ 7:10 ET - Yes, Cleveland is a solid team playing with revenge here and they are on their home floor. However, the flip side of that is the fact that Philly being on the road gets a small number for the point spread and I love the fact that the Sixers enter this game off a loss. Philadelphia is a rock solid 10-1 SU last 11 times when off a SU loss. Also, the 76ers have won each of last 3 meetings with the Cavaliers and they won each of the games by at least 6 points and that includes a 20-point win in their last visit to Cleveland. Look for another big win for the Sixers in this one as they face a Cavs team that is off a win but this was after losses in 8 of last 11 games! Look for the road team to get back on track after they blew their game Monday at home against Denver and they will make it 4 in a row over the Cavaliers! 10* PHILADELPHIA -4.5

NBA Situational Slaughter Tuesday 10* Top Play Orlando Magic (+) vs Brooklyn Nets @ 7:10 ET - The Magic have been competitive with covers in 7 of last 9 games! Also, one of those two non-covers was an 8 point loss and, with this spread in the 10-point range, that would be enough for an ATS cover in this case! Certainly I am expecting a game decided by single digits as the Magic have been tough on the Nets with covers in 3 of last 4. Also, 2 of the 3 ATS wins were SU wins and the lone loss by just 2 points. I know Brooklyn should have Kyrie Irving for this one since it is a road game but also note that the Nets are off B2B divisional games including that huge win at Philly and a tight win over the city rival Knicks. Also, Brooklyn has a tougher match-up on deck tomorrow night as they are hosting a solid Mavericks team then. All that said, this is an ideal flat spot for the Nets. Great spot to fade Brooklyn. 10* ORLANDO

NBA Situational Slaughter 10* Top Play Denver Nuggets (+) @ Philadelphia 76ers @ 7:40 ET - The 76ers are in the 2nd game of a B2B and it was a hard-fought OT win yesterday and it was on the road at Orlando. That said, this is a tough spot for Philadelphia and the situation is made even tougher because they are now hosting a Nuggets team that is angry off B2B losses. Denver, dating back to late November, is 4-1 SU when they enter a game off B2B SU losses. Also, prior to the B2B defeats, the Nuggets had won 12 of 14 games. Consider that plus the fact Philly could have some key star players resting or on minutes restrictions here and this is a great spot for a road dog! Strong upset possibility but will grab the points (currently 2.5) here as additional insurance. 10* DENVER +

NBA Situational Slaughter Sunday 10* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers (-) @ Orlando Magic @ 6:10 ET - This play all about the situational value as Philadelphia has had two days off since a blowout home loss to the Nets as a favorite. The 76ers also had two days offs heading into that one. That said, it has been almost a week since Philly tasted victory and they can't wait to erase the bitter taste of an ugly home loss to Brooklyn Thursday. As for the Magic, they are actually off 3 straight covers, and 2 straight outright upsets, as underdogs! As a result, they are a little over-valued here. The Sixers don't just want to win this game, they want to come out with a vengeance...a huge blowout win. Look for a no-doubt blowout rout for the road team in this one. The 76ers want to do to the Magic in Orlando what just happened to them in Philly versus the Nets. 10* PHILADELPHIA -

NBA Earliest Cash Saturday 10* Top Play OVER in Miami Heat vs Minnesota Timberwolves @ 8:10 ET - This total in the 226.5 range. Last night the Timberwolves were at Orlando and the game had 190 points through 3 quarters. Then a horrific 4th quarter doomed my play on the over right here. After a strong candidate for bad beat of the year, I will come right back with the over involving Minnesota in this 2nd game of a back to back. The Wolves are still 26-8 to the over this season. The T-wolves also are 4-1 to the over the last 5 times when playing 2nd game of a back to back. The Heat are off a strong scoring effort at home versus Cleveland last night and Miami has now scored well in 11 of last 14 games. In those 11 games, the Heat have averaged 117.4 points per game. Minny loves to play an uptempo game and after their horrific 4th quarter last night led the way to ending their 6-game winning streak (averaged scoring 131 points in the 6 victories), there will be no quit in the road dog in this one Saturday! 10* OVER the total in Miami 

NBA Earliest Cash Friday 10* Top Play OVER in Orlando Magic vs Minnesota Timberwolves @ 7:10 ET - This total in the 235 range but it is a deserved big number and I am expecting this one to fly over the total. The Timberwolves have won 6 straight games and scored an average of 131 points per game during this streak. Also, Minnesota has trended over in road games all season long with a 26-7 record to the over away from home. The Magic are not known for being a high-scoring team but they do tend to score better at home. Orlando's most recent home game was a tough match-up with a strong Suns team but, prior to that loss, the Magic had won 5 of last 10 home games and, other than one ugly game last 8 games as a host, scored an average of 115 points per game in the other 7 home games. Considering that plus the fact Minnesota likes to play so fast and you have the ideal set-up for a high-scoring non-conference game in this match-up. 10* OVER in Orlando

NBA Atlantic Div Game of the Year Thursday 10* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers (-) vs Brooklyn Nets @ 7:30 ET - The 76ers have won 8 of 10 games and still have not lost a game with James Harden on the floor. Now he faces his former team as the Nets are in Philly and this line is very manageable in the -4 range. Brooklyn unlike the Sixers, has been trending the wrong direction. The Nets are off a win, albeit versus a slumping Charlotte team, and this followed losses in 6 of 7 for Brooklyn. Yes they have Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant but this 76ers team is loaded with weapons and plus the absence of LaMarcus Aldridge tonight gives them one less big body to try and stop Joel Embiid. Look for huge games from Harden, Embiid, Tobias Harris, and Tyrese Maxey to lead the way for the home team tonight. Thybulle and Niang also have been contributing well for this surging Philly team. The Nets, even with win over Hornets, are just just 3-10 SU last 13 road games. This is a very fair line on the 76ers to roll big at home and they have added motivation of blowing a 7-point halftime lead and losing to Nets in the only other game in which they hosted Brooklyn this season. Payback time and the Wells Fargo Center will be jumping tonight! 10* PHILADELPHIA

NBA Central Division Game of the Year Wednesday 10* Top Play Chicago Bulls -5 @ Detroit Pistons @ 7:10 ET - The Pistons enter this game on an 8-0 ATS run but the Bulls are 8-0 ATS last 8 meetings with Detroit. So which trend stays alive here? The latter as Chicago rolls in this one. Love the fact that the line came down already from 6.5 to a 5 and we have good value here with the road favorite. The Bulls have lost 5 straight games (and 0-5 ATS) but have faced a truly brutal schedule during this time. The Pistons have won 6 of 8 games SU (and 8-0 ATS) but faced more favorable scheduling and match-ups in this stretch. Now, coming off a hard-fought OT win versus Atlanta, the Pistons host an angry Bulls team ready to get back on track. Chicago just lost at Philadelphia but the 76ers, when James Harden is on the floor, have looked like the best team in the NBA in recent weeks. This also was the 2nd game of a B2B for the Bulls and they also have recently had to face the Bucks and Grizzlies plus they visited the Heat. I expect Nikola Vucevic to play tonight (questionable with hamstring injury) but even if he did not, this is ideal spot for the Bulls to get back on track. They have gone 8-0 ATS last 8 versus Pistons and each of last 5 wins by 6 or more points with an average margin of victory of 18.6 points per game during this stretch. Road rout by double digits here. 10* CHICAGO -5

NBA Eastern Conf Game of the Month Tuesday 10* Top Play Brooklyn Nets -2.5 @ Charlotte Hornets @ 7:10 ET - This line keeps coming down and yet I feel strongly that Brooklyn was made a sizable road favorite here by the odds makers with good reason. Look for the Nets to roll in this one. Brooklyn has lost 4 straight and 6 of 7 but now comes in as a road favorite over a team that has won back to back games. Fishy, right? Well we are not going fishing today, we are winning sports bets! Lets get this one as the Nets get revenge for a home loss to Charlotte much earlier this season. The Hornets are off home win versus Spurs but his followed losses in 8 of last 9 games on their home floor. More of the same expected here! 10* BROOKLYN -2.5

NBA Situational Slaughter Monday 10* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers -7 vs Chicago Bulls @ 7:10 ET - The Bulls Nikola Vucevic is likely to play here but is also unlikely to be 100% as he missed practice yesterday due to hamstring tightness. This could hurt the Bulls some and Chicago enters this game off 4 straight losses. Now they take on an angry Philly team that just lost at Miami in a game James Harden missed. He should be back here and I am expecting huge games from Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Harden as the Sixers get right back on track here. Philadelphia has dominated the series with the Bulls in recent years and I see no reason for that to change here. Most recent win for the 76ers against them came in Chicago recently and was by 11 points and the average margin of the last 6 wins is 11 points also! Look for another win by double digits here as the Sixers get right back on track here. 10* PHILADELPHIA -7

NBA Eastern Conf Total of the Year Sunday 10* Top Play OVER 228.5 in Washington Wizards vs Indiana Pacers @ 6:10 ET - The most recent game between these teams stayed just under the total but the pacing was there. The problem was that the Wizards made just 22 of 54 from INSIDE the arc and the Pacers made just 4 of 20 from OUTSIDE the arc. Prior to this one, 6 of last 8 games between these teams flew over the total and this one will resume that trend. Indiana is on a 13-4 run to the over and yet is coming off a rare under. The over is on a 6-1 run in Wizards home games and these teams have had many crazy high-scoring games in recent meetings. More of the same expected here. 10* OVER 228.5 in Washington

NBA PA Dominator Saturday 10* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers +1.5 @ Miami Heat @ 8:10 ET - The road team is a perfect 2-0 in this series this season. The 76ers have not lost since James Harden has this the floor in a Sixers uniform. Yes, this is a back to back for Philadelphia but it is also a great value spot for them because you don't have to lay any points to back a team that looks absolutely like an NBA title contender. The Heat are certainly a strong team in their own right but they are also a banged up team right now and the healthier and hungrier team right now is the roadie in this one. Also, both teams are playing 3rd game in 4 days so is really not a huge rest edge one way or other. The travelers get it done and remain perfect with Harden on the floor. 10* PHILADELPHIA +1.5

NBA Central Division Total of the Month Friday 10* Top Play OVER 227.5 in Detroit Pistons @ 7:10 ET - A lot of value here in my opinion. The Pistons are off a road loss in which they had scored 91 points through 3 quarters but then fell apart and scored just 17 points in the 4th quarter. That will not happen again here on their home floor. Also, Detroit is hosting a Pacers team that has been an over machine of late! Indiana is on a 14-3 run to the over. The last time these teams met they combined for 235 points. Look for a similar result here. The Pistons are off that under last night but it was due to a fluke 4th quarter and followed a 7-1 run to the over in their last 8 games. The over trending resumes in this one. 10* OVER 227.5 in Detroit

NBA TNT Game of the Week Thursday 10* Top Play Memphis Grizzlies -2.5 @ Boston Celtics @ 7:40 ET - The Celtics Jaylen Brown is out for this game with a sprained ankle. The Grizzlies are currently riding a very special run from a very special player Ja Morant! Memphis has won 11 of 14 games and 6 of last 7 on the road. Boston is off a major comeback win versus the Hawks but will not be able to do the same against a streaking Grizzlies team playing with a ton of confidence right now. Before rallying from a double digit halftime deficit to defeat Atlanta, the Celtics were on a 1-3 ATS run. The road team pulls away as this one goes on as Morant and Company prove to be too much against a Celtics team that will really miss Brown in this game. 10* MEMPHIS -2.5

NBA ESPN Smash Pass Wednesday 10* Top Play OVER 221.5 in Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks @ 7:30 ET - The 76ers have been piling up points since James Harden hit the floor with Joel Embiid and now it will be his debut in front of the home fans for the first time. It will be a raucous atmosphere and I am expecting a fast-paced contest with a ton of scoring in this rematch with the Knicks after these teams met in New York Sunday. The over is on a 10-3 run in Knicks games. The over is on a 4-0 run in 76ers games. More of the same here. 10* OVER 221.5 in Philadelphia

NBA TNT Annihilation Tuesday 8* Atlanta Hawks +7.5 @ Boston Celtics @ 7:30 ET - The Hawks lost at Boston by 10 points two weeks ago but Atlanta actually led that game by 10 points at the half. I am expecting payback here for the road dog. Yes, John Collins and Lou Williams are out but Colins was out for the most recent meeting too and Williams does not play big minutes. Also, Atlanta actually had 8 more shots for the field in the 10-point loss as they simply were done in by poor shooting. Boston is off a loss at Indiana and has failed to cover 3 of 4. The Hawks are off a huge win versus Toronto and have won 3 of 4 games with the only loss by just 4 points. Huge value here with the big points in my opinion. 8* ATLANTA +7.5

NBA Earliest Cash Monday 8* Minnesota Timberwolves -2.5 @ Cleveland Cavaliers @ 7:10 ET - This a great spot to back a small road favorite. The Timberwolves are off an embarrassing 31 point home loss to Philly and have had back to back days off heading into this one. Minnesota will be ready here and is a much healthier team than Cleveland is. The Cavaliers are still expected to be without Darius Garland, Caris LeVert, and now Rajon Rondo out as well. The Cavs are off a low-scoring win but it was a non-covering victory and they have now gone 0-4 ATS last 4 games. The Timberwolves were on an 8-3 SU/ATS run before getting their doors blown off on their home floor against a 76ers team rejuvenated by the addition of James Harden to the lineup. This is a fantastic set-up. 8* MINNESOTA -2.5

NBA ESPN Smash Pass Sunday 10* Top Play Dallas Mavericks +4 @ Golden State Warriors @ 7:30 ET - The Mavericks are off a loss by 5 points at Utah in a game in which the Mavericks had 14 more field goal attempts! Yes, it was a bit of a phony final as the Jazz shot 54% from the field. Now the Mavs are only getting about 4 points against Warriors team that is 26-6 at home while Dallas is only about a .500 team on the road. If you look up the definition of "trap line" in a bettors dictionary they could use this game as an example. Looks so easy to lay a short number with the Warriors on their home floor, especially off a huge win. However, that big win came against a very short-handed Blazers team and note Golden State had lost 4 of 5 heading into that game. Dallas is a fantastic 6-1 the last 7 times they were off a loss. Also, the Mavs lone loss in those 7 games came in OT. The Mavericks have shown a propensity for responding off losses and I expect that to continue here. Adding fuel to the fire for Dallas here is the fact that Golden State destroyed the Mavericks by 38 points last month. Payback time is here and now. 10* DALLAS +4

NBA Total of the Month Saturday 10* OVER 224 in Atlanta Hawks vs Toronto Raptors @ 7:40 ET - The Raptors in 2nd game of a back to back and scored only 93 points at Charlotte last night. Toronto is on a 3-0 run to the over when playing 2nd game of back to back this month. The Hawks are off a low-scoring loss at Chicago Thursday and should bounce back big here. The over is on a 4-0 run in Atlanta's last 4 home games. All 4 of those Hawks total at least 239 points and the average points scored was 245. In other words, we have excellent line value with this total posted in the mid-220s. Yes the Raptors have not scored well of late but Hawks will force an up-tempo game here and Toronto did score 125 when these teams met 3 weeks ago. More of the same expected here and we take advantage of the extra line value here with both teams coming off low-scoring losses heading into this one. 10* OVER 224 in Atlanta

NBA Situational Slaughter Friday 8* OVER 228.5 in Minnesota Timberwolves vs Philadelphia 76ers @ 8:10 ET - James Harden set to make his debut with the 76ers and Joel Embiid. Look for plenty of points in this one. Philly allowed 127.5 ppg in last two games before the break. The over is on a 4-2 run in Sixers games. Looking just at road games, the over is on a 3-1 run in 76ers games. Minnesota has been a big-time over team and they are coming off B2B unders as last night's game versus Memphis stayed just under the total. Prior to B2B unders, the Timberwolves were on a 17-3 run to the over and scored an average of 123.4 ppg in those 20 games. With Philly assimilating Harden into the rotation on the defensive end (which won't be pretty I imagine!), and the T-wolves being one of the highest-scoring teams in the league and on their home floor, this one should fly over the total. 8* OVER 228.5 in Minnesota

NBA Earliest Cash Thursday 8* OVER 208.5 in Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers @ 7:10 ET - This total was in the 211 range but has dropped to 208.5 this morning because of the Cavs being without a couple starters. Oftentimes what happens when starters are out is that a team can play a little less structured. That lack to structure can lead to a bit of a wild game as teams have defensive breakdowns and then quick easy buckets in transition and it becomes a bit of a faster paced game as young guns usually come in to replace the missing starters. We saw this with Indiana as an example as they went on a wild tear of high-scoring games thanks to young guys replacing missing starters. In this case the Cavaliers with be without Garland and LeVert tonight but Detroit is so bad defensively that I still expect a good pace here and plenty of scoring. The over is on an 8-1 run in games between these teams. Also, the Pistons enter this game on a run in which they have allowed 120 points last 6 games. Cleveland has allowed 113 points last 4 games. This game should get to the 220 range in my estimation. Plenty of value but will play it safe with a non-Top play here as the first games after the All Star break have more of a tendency toward unusual outcomes. 8* OVER 208.5 in Detroit

Rickenbach NBA Situational Slaughter Thursday 10* Top Play OVER 214.5 in Brooklyn Nets vs Washington Wizards @ 7:40 ET - I don't expect much defense here. Brooklyn expended a lot of energy last night as they held the Knicks to 41 second half points in rallying back from a 21 point half-time deficit for a big comeback road win. As for Washington, they fell just short at Indiana last night and will be pushing hard to get the road win tonight. The Wizards have allowed 112 points or more in 4 of last 5 and 8 of last 11. Neither team has been that impressive on the defensive end in recent weeks until Brooklyn came up stronger last two games. Here they run out of gas in that regard and this one turns into a bit of a run and gun high-scoring affair for that reason. I also love the fact the total has dropped from the 220 range to the 215 range and will take advantage of the added line value here. 10* OVER 214.5 in Brooklyn

Rickenbach NBA Earliest Cash Thursday 8* Charlotte Hornets +4.5 vs Miami Heat @ 7:10 ET - Yes the Hornets have been struggling but I expect them to get payback here after losing to Miami by 18 points in an ugly home loss two weeks ago. The Heat have beaten Charlotte 3 straight times and this one has been circled in red for the Hornets as a result. Note that Herro is out for Miami tonight and Butler might miss this game too as he is dealing with a shoulder injury. 8* CHARLOTTE +4.5

NBA Earliest Cash Wednesday 10* Top Play OVER 225.5 in Indiana Pacers vs Washington Wizards @ 7:40 ET - The last time Washington played they burned us with the over courtesy of a 4th quarter in which the Wizards and their opponent each totaled only 16 points. Here we get payback! Washington is visiting Indiana and the Wizards had gone over in 3 straight before Monday's ridiculous finish. As for the Pacers they have gone over in 11 of last 12 games. Also, Indiana's last 6 games against the Wizards have ALL been overs. Here is number 7 in a row. 10* OVER 225.5 in Indiana

NBA Total of the Week Tuesday 10* Top Play OVER 219.5 in Atlanta Hawks vs Cleveland Cavaliers @ 7:40 ET - This total has been dropping this morning and it makes sense because each team is off an ugly, low-scoring loss. However, I love coming back with overs when teams are off duds. This is particularly true when a team has shown a knack in terms of bouncing back with strong efforts when off a low-scoring clunker. The last 3 times the Hawks were off a game in which they were held to 100 points or less, they have scored an average of 125 points in their next game. The Cavs have averaged a respectable 108 points the last 3 times they were off a game in which they were held to 95 or less points. The Hawks will dictate the tempo here on their home floor and the over was on a 4-1 run in Atlanta's games prior to the ugly loss at Boston. All 4 of those Hawks games totaled at least 239 points. While we won't see that many points here, we should see this one at least get into the 220s and the 230s would not be a big surprise to me either. 10* OVER 219.5 in Atlanta

NBA Contrarian Crusher Monday 10* Top Play Chicago Bulls -4.5 vs San Antonio Spurs @ 8:10 ET - Can you imagine how high this line would be if Zach LaVine was not out for the Bulls? Exactly! The point is we are getting a ton of line value here on a very good Chicago team that also is playing this game with triple revenge! Indeed the Bulls lost both games versus Spurs last season plus lost at San Antonio earlier this season. In that match-up however, SA shot a ridiculous percentage from 3-point land and outscored the Bulls by 24 points from beyond the arc. Of course this was the difference in the game and the Spurs aren't going to be hitting a ridiculous 16 threes in the rematch on the road. Also, Chicago is off a non-covering SU win versus OKC Saturday and the Bulls are 4-0 ATS the last 4 times they have entered a game off an ATS loss. The Spurs are off B2B wins and have not won 3 straight games since right around Christmas. From a situational standpoint, I love the value with the home team as a small favorite in this one. 10* CHICAGO -4.5

NBA Earliest Cash Monday 9* Top Play OVER 218 in Washington Wizards vs Detroit Pistons @ 7:10 ET - The Wizards have gone over the total in 3 straight games and allowed 119 points on average in these 3. The Pistons have gone over the total in 2 straight games and allowed 122 points on average in last 4 games. Each of last two meetings between these teams totaled more than this total. This one flies over the total as both these teams continue to pay little attention on the defensive end! 9* OVER 218 in Washington

NBA Game of the Week Sunday 10* Top Play Atlanta Hawks +7 @ Boston Celtics @ 2:10 ET - Trae Young is probable for the Hawks in this one. Atlanta has won 4 of the last 5 meetings with Boston SU and is on an overall 6-2 ATS run last 8 meetings. I know the Celtics have won 7 straight games overall but their two most recent home wins each by 6 points and I love the value with the Hawks here off a loss. Atlanta had won 9 of 12 games before losing at home versus San Antonio Friday. Also, the Hawks are 3-1 SU last 4 times when off a loss. I would not be surprised at all to see an upset here but am grabbing the points for added insurance in this one and, yes, I am aware of the John Collins injury. 10* ATLANTA +7

NBA PA Dominator Saturday 10* Top Play Cleveland Cavaliers +3.5 @ Philadelphia 76ers @ 7:40 ET - Both teams off wins and both teams in 2nd game of back to back but I feel it will be much tougher on the 76ers than the Cavaliers. Keep in mind the Sixers lost Curry in the trade for Harden and they still don't have Harden available yet. Also, this is the 2nd game of a back to back and Embiid might be limited or possibly even miss the contest. You never know for sure these days but he could end up being in street clothes with it being 2nd game of a B2B and he is so injury-prone. In any event I like Cleveland taking on a team that is without a key outside shooter and they did struggle overall with the 3-ball yesterday and the Cavs are not the Thunder! OKC was missing a ton of personnel for yesterday's game but the red hot Cavaliers will present a much stiffer challenge. The Cavs have won 13 of 16 games! 10* CLEVELAND +3.5

NBA Earliest Cash Saturday 9* Top Play OVER 216.5 in Portland Trailblazers vs New York Knicks @ 5 ET - The Knicks are 6-2 to over last 8 games. They have allowed 118 points last 5 games. New York has scored average of 111 points last 7 games. Neither of those numbers include any OT points. I know the Blazers have been trending under but Portland has allowed 114 per game last 7 home games and is off a SU win and ATS cover and is 3-1 to the over the last 4 times off an ATS win. 9* OVER 216.5 in Portland

NBA PA Dominator Friday 9* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers -12.5 vs Oklahoma City Thunder @ 7 ET - Even if James Harden does not play tonight, Philly is bolstered by the huge trade that got rid of the toxic Ben Simmons and brought in a superstar. The Sixers will be bolstered by this trade no matter who is on the floor tonight and Philadelphia is hungry to bounce back after the home loss to Phoenix Tuesday. With two days off between games, the 76ers will have fresh legs here and they can run and gun their way to victory past a Thunder team that just does not have the horses to keep up. Oklahoma City is already one of the league's worst teams even when healthy but right now the Thunder are extremely short-handed. Yes this is a big number to lay but OKC is off B2B home losses by an average margin of 15.5 points and its last 4 road losses have also come by an average margin of 15.5 points. Lay it! 9* PHILADELPHIA -12.5

NBA Contrarian Crusher Friday 10* Top Play OVER 216.5 in Indiana Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers @ 7 ET - With all the personnel changes for the Pacers following the trade, one might be reluctant to invest in the over here. However, I feel this could lead to a rather fast-paced disorganized game where players on defense miss switches and/or are out of position. Things like this happen when a team has a new influx of players like Indiana does now. I also love the fact that these two teams just met and the game totaled only 183 points. Keep in mind, that is the only under the Pacers have had in their last 9 games. The Cavaliers have allowed 115 points or more in 3 of last 4 road games. Cleveland has a tendency to not score well but they now take on a Pacers team that, other than the one clunker against the Cavs, allowed 123.7 points per game in other 10 games dating back to January 20th. Look for plenty of points in this one. 10* OVER 216.5 in Indiana

NBA Contrarian Crusher Thursday 8* OVER 217.5 in Washington Wizards vs Brooklyn Nets @ 7:30 ET - Kevin Durant was already out but now James Harden is out too for the Nets in this one. Additionally Bradley Beal is, of course, out for the Wizards. So this totals has dropped from low 220s to as low as 216.5 as of mid-morning. In typical contrarian fashion, I'll fade the line move here and take the over. Brooklyn will still have Kyrie Irving for this one and the Wizards are off a game in which they allowed 121 points. At the other end of the floor, Washington will take advantage of hosting a Nets team which has allowed more than 120 points in 3 straight games and 6 of last 9 games. 8* OVER 217.5 in Washington

NBA Earliest Dominator Wednesday 10* Top Play OVER 216 in Cleveland Cavaliers vs San Antonio Spurs @ 7:10 ET - The Cavaliers could have Curtis Levert (acquired from Indiana) on the floor for this one tonight. Also, Darius Garland could be back after missing 4 straight games. Even if those guys don't play, although odds favor both coming back and at least one of them for sure, I like the over in this match-up. The Spurs have been so poor on the defensive end and they like to play an uptempo style and Cleveland, in an Indiana sandwich, could just "play along" here in a rather meaningless non-conference match-up. The Cavaliers just beat the Pacers and now have a game at Indiana on deck. So this is a classic flat spot for the Cavs in terms of defensive intensity. Also, the over is on a perfect 5-0 run in meetings between these teams. The Spurs have trended under on the road and the Cavaliers have trended under at home this season but that is what has resulted in downward line movement here. The result is exceptional value on the over in this match-up. 10* OVER 216 in Cleveland

NBA PA Money Line NBA 10* Philadelphia 76ers Money Line -105 vs Phoenix Suns @ 7:10 ET - The 76ers opened up as a 2.5 point favorite and now this line is down near a pick'em. Long-time followers know I love to fade line moves. Of course Phoenix is a great team but they are on the road here in the 2nd game of a back to back and playing their 4th game in 6 nights and the travel hasn't been particularly easy. The Suns have gone from the Southeast to the Northeast to the Midwest and now back to the Northeast again. Philly is at home and is rested and also has not had a back to back since mid-January. The Sixers have two off days on deck after this too as they do not play again until Friday. Philadelphia wants to make up for their most recent home game as it was a disappointing home loss to the Wizards. The 76ers had won 8 of 10 home games heading into that one. They get right back on track here. 10* PHILADELPHIA Money Line -105

NBA Total of the Week Monday 10* Top Play OVER 224 in Charlotte Hornets vs Toronto Raptors @ 7:10 ET - The Hornets have been trending under but this is the right match-up to get them going again. On the season, Charlotte has been a high-scoring team. Now, after an ugly low-scoring home loss to the Heat, the Hornets will bounce back against a team that has been playing plenty of run and gun basketball of late. The Raptors are on a run of 3 straight overs and overs in 6 of last 8 games overall. Speaking of trending to overs, when Toronto and Charlotte have squared off the over is 5-2 in last 7 games. The average points scored in the first half of the last 4 meetings is 130! That is a pace for 260 in each game. Though they did not get to that lofty total, they did get to overs in all but 1 of those 4 games and the fact is these teams are rested (each was off yesterday) and I expect a fast-paced game all the way through which will fly over the very manageable total posted on this game. 10* OVER 224 in Charlotte

NBA Total Dominator Sunday 10* Top Play OVER 216.5 in Cleveland Cavaliers vs Indiana Pacers @ 6 ET - The Cavaliers could get Darius Garland back today. The Pacers could get both Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis back today. Either way I like the over. Indiana has been given a lot of time to younger players recently and this has strengthened their bench when guys like Brogdon and Sabonis are back. The fast-paced style that the Pacers have been playing with has led to a perfect 7-0 run to the over. I know Cleveland likes to play slower and the Cavaliers have been trending under. However, the last 4 meetings between these teams have averaged 217 points per game and the way the Pacers have been playing of late this game should have a much stronger pace than even those 4 match-ups did. That said, this one gets well into the 220s. Indiana, not including OT, allowing 121 points last 11 games! The Pacers, not including OT, scoring an average of 114 points per game last 11 games! 10* OVER 216.5 in Cleveland

NBA PA Money Line Sunday 8* Philadelphia 76ers Money Line -120 @ Chicago Bulls @ 3:30 ET - This line is in the -1.5 to -2 range for Philly which is why I prefer a little extra juice (-120 to -125) to have the money line with the 76ers and turn any Sixers win into also cashing a ticket. No point spread to worry about by playing them on the money line. I like grabbing Philly off B2B losses and with the Bulls Zach LaVine still dealing with back spasm issues. Even if he plays, LaVine could exit early or be ineffective plus Chicago has another game on deck tomorrow as they are in the midst of a tough 4 games in 5 days situation. The scheduling situation definitely favors a Philadelphia team which has not had to play back to back games in 3 weeks! Joel Embiid has been dominating and he leads the road team to victory here as 76ers have been the better team on defense of late in comparison with Chicago. 8* PHILADELPHIA -120

NBA Non-Conf Total of the Month Saturday 10* Top Play OVER 219.5 in Washington Wizards vs Phoenix Suns @ 7:10 ET - This total opened up at 223 and has now fallen to as low as 219.5 this morning. The Wizards are without Bradley Beal and he is a big scorer. However, Washington is still battling hard and just scored 106 points in a win at Philly Wednesday in a game that easily could have been higher-scoring as the Wizards had 59 points at the half. Washington is known for scoring better when at home and has only had one "dud" in their last dozen home games. In the other 11 games at home during this hot stretch of scoring, the Wizards have averaged 115 points per game! The Suns come into this one having averaged 112.4 points per game on the road this season. The over is 5-0 in last 5 meetings between these teams. With Phoenix off a loss at Atlanta, the Suns will come out fired up for a big road win and they are going to push the tempo here and also keep their foot on the gas throughout this game. Phoenix responds off a loss, Wizards fight hard at home (only once in last dozen home games have they had a loss by more than a 5-point margin) and the result is a high-scoring shootout here. 10* OVER 219.5 in Washington 

NBA Central Division Total of the Month Friday 10* Top Play OVER 231 in Indiana Pacers vs Chicago Bulls @ 7:10 ET - A lot of injury/covid issues/concerns in this one. It will not matter. No matter who has been on the floor lately, both these teams have been trending over. Yes, the Bulls game last night went to OT but it was over the total by the end of regulation. Also, Chicago is on a perfect 5-0 run to the over in the 2nd game of a B2B. Indiana enters this game on an overall 6-0 run to the over and the Bulls have gone over the total in 4 straight games overall. The Pacers have been forced to play a bunch of younger guys recently and give more minutes than usual to role players as well. The result has been a lack of defensive efficiency but fantastic offensive efficiency. The Pacers, not including OT, have allowed an average of 122 last 7 games and scored an average of 114 last 6 games! The Bulls, not including OT points, have allowed 110 points or more in 6 of last 7 games and have scored 111 points or more in 6 straight games. Chicago averaging 119 per game in those 6 games and tonight's game could go either way in terms of the side in my opinion and that means a 120-119 type game given the above numbers. Look for this one to sneak into the 240s and the line is near the 230 mark. 10* OVER 231 in Indiana

NBA Situational Slaughter Thursday 10* Top Play OVER 224 in Toronto Raptors vs Chicago Bulls @ 7:40 ET - Only 3 of Bulls last 13 games have resulted in an under. Chicago allowing 115 points per game last 6 games but also scoring an average of 120 points per game last 5 games. Toronto has been trending toward lower-scoring numbers than that. However, the Raptors have allowed an average of 111 points per game last 6 games and have scored an average of 114 points per game last 5 games. Zach LaVine is probable for the Bulls here and that is good news in terms of Chicago's point production. The Bulls are an underdog here but playing extremely well and will help push the pace in this one as we continue to see the high-scoring trending in Chicago's games. 10* OVER 224 in Toronto

NBA Earliest Cash Thursday 9* Top Play Detroit Pistons +7.5 vs Minnesota Timberwolves @ 7:10 ET - Yes, Detroit has an ugly SU record on the season. However, Minnesota has been a road-adverse team. Looking at the last 11 Timberwolves games, the home team is a perfect 11-0 ATS in those games! Wolves at home, they get the cash. Minny on the road, their opponent gets the cash. This pattern going for 3 weeks now and I look for it to continue here. Pistons off a home loss to New Orleans but were on a 5-1 ATS run heading into that one. Detroit also is on a 6-2 ATS run in home games. Pistons lost Cade Cunningham to injury in that game and he only played 21 points. He could come back for this game and is listed as questionable. Either way, I do like the home dog here catching big points. 9* DETROIT +7.5

NBA Eastern Conf Total of the Month Wednesday 10* Top Play OVER 213 in Philadelphia 76ers vs Washington Wizards @ 7:10 ET - This total has dropped from the 218 range to the 213 range and this is offering great line value on the over. I understand the Wizards will again be without Bradley Beal and he is a big-time scorer. However, the odds makers knew this when they posted the total. The line coming down is because Washington has scored so poorly recently but the odds makers knew that as well. The keys to this game are that Joel Embiid is back for this one after resting against Memphis and I look for he and the Sixers to have a huge game on the offensive end. Philly lost at Washington last month and will be out for revenge here. Though that game stayed under the total it did reach the 215 mark and note that the under ended a streak of 4 straight overs in match-ups between these teams. The 76ers will take advantage of a team allowing 114.5 points per game last 6 games. This line is right around a 10. If Philly gets at least 115 - and I feel strongly they will do even better than that - it puts this game in the 115-105 range which is 220 points. This game gets well into the 220s the way I see it and I am taking advantage of the drop on this total. 10* OVER 213 in Philadelphia 

NBA Western Conf Game of the Month Tuesday 10* Top Play San Antonio Spurs +3.5 vs Golden State Warriors @ 8:40 ET - The Warriors are off 5 straight wins but are in the 2nd game of a B2B and Klay Thompson will sit. Conversely, the news is much better on the Spurs front as they were able to rest up yesterday plus get Dejounte Murray back tonight for this one. Also listed as probable are Poeltl and White. San Antonio as a home dog is the play here as they are 4-1 SU the last 5 times off a loss. The Spurs did win at Golden State earlier this season and it was no fluke. San Antonio played a strong game in Oakland and they can do it again here with a refreshed Murray ready to go and he is having a great season. The Warriors barely covered at Houston against a bad Rockets team and, keep in mind, Golden State was on a 1-5 ATS run in road games heading into that one. I don't think we'll need the points here but I will grab them for added insurance. 10* SAN ANTONIO +3.5

NBA Game of the Week Monday 10* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers -2.5 vs Memphis Grizzlies @ 7:10 ET - The 76ers did not just lose at Memphis last month, they got embarrassed by 35 points. Philly played that at game without Embiid and Curry but both those guys will be playing in the rematch in Philadelphia. On that ugly night in Memphis last month, the undermanned Sixers simply shot very poorly while the Grizzlies were on fire. That will not be the case in the rematch. I like the fact that Philly is off an ATS loss versus Sacramento, we had the Kings as a big dog that night and was a solid winner. Note that the Sixers have not had back to back ATS losses since that tough mid-December stretch that included the ugly loss at Memphis. So it has been about 7 weeks since the Sixers have had B2B ATS losses. Coming off the non-covering win versus the Kings, look for Philly to not only win this game but also cover as it is a much shorter number to cover. Yes Memphis is a very strong team but Philly is tough at home and especially when they are motivated. The 76ers will be ready to go here and their 2-point win versus Sacramento ended a streak that saw each of the Sixers last 17 wins come by a margin of 3 or more points. Look for this win to get the job done and get the hosts right back into the ATS win column. Lay the short number! 10* PHILADELPHIA -2.5

NBA Daytime Dominator Sunday 10* Top Play OVER 229.5 in Chicago Bulls vs Portland Trail Blazers @ 3:30 ET - Yes the total looks big but don't let the number scare you. It is fully justified in this one as the Trail Blazers on a 6-2 run to the over in road games and the Bulls on a 5-1 run to the over in home games. Portland averaging 113.4 points last 5 games but allowing 117 points last 3 games. The Bulls have averaged 117.6 points in those 5 overs at home but also allowed 121 points per game last 4 home games. This is a non-conference battle that will feature a lack of defense and plenty of run and gun. The last time these teams met here the game totaled 245 points. More of the same here! 10* OVER 229.5 in Chicago

NBA Game of the Month NBA 10* Top Play Sacramento Kings +10.5 @ Philadelphia 76ers @ 7:40 ET - The Kings are off B2B ugly losses but have been off for two days since that B2B situation. Also, there is a chance that BOTH Fox and Metu will be back for this game. Even if only one returns or neither returns, Sacramento has a great shot at a solid cover in this one in my opinion. Prior to the B2B ugly losses, the Kings last 7 losses featured only one by more than ten points! Here we are working with a line of 10.5 and a rested and angry Sacramento team is going to put up a helluva fight in this one. Philly is 4-2 SU last 6 games but only 2 of the wins by more than 10 points and the Sixers just beat a Lakers team without LeBron James. The road team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings between the Kings and 76ers. Philadelphia is 0-3 ATS the last 3 times they were at home and coming off an ATS cover in their prior game. That is the situation here and a hungry and motivated and rested Kings team that should be healthier here too is going to be a handful for Philly to deal with. This one decided by single digits. 10* SACRAMENTO +10.5

NBA Total of the Month Friday 10* Top Play OVER 212.5 in Orlando Magic vs Detroit Pistons @ 7:10 ET - Quick...who are the two worst teams in the NBA and why are they are so bad? Here they are folks! The teams with the worst records in the NBA are the Magic and the Pistons and each allowing 110+ points per game on average. I just do not expect to see a whole lot of defense in this one. Detroit has allowed 118 points per game last 6 games! Orlando has allowed 108 points or more in 6 of last 8 games. In those 6 games the Magic allowed an average of 113 points per game. Orlando has gotten healthier and gotten most of their guys back now and this has helped lead the way to the Magic averaging 110.5 points per game their last 4 games. After struggling with the 3-ball against the Clippers in a loss Wednesday, look for things to open up much more on that end of the floor against Detroit and the open shots will be falling for the Magic at home but they also can not stop the Pistons here! The result? Plenty of points! 10* OVER 212.5 in Orlando

NBA Earliest Cash Thursday 10* Top Play Los Angeles Lakers +3 @ Philadelphia 76ers @ 7:30 ET - Right away this morning this line jumped out at me. This line opened nearly at a pick'em even though Philly is at home and has won 12 of 15 games and they are hosting a Lakers team that had lost 11 of last 18 games before the win at Brooklyn. Also, LA is only 9-12 in road games this season. Sure, Anthony Davis is back now for the Lakers but essentially a "pick" on the road against a 76ers team that has been hot and has the better record this season. Looks funny, right? Sure enough the betting masses have hammered the Sixers here and the line has gone as high as a +3. As long time followers know, I love being a contrarian and I am all over the small road dog here. This game was priced this way for a reason and I feel the Lakers have a chip on their shoulder and are out to prove some things now that they are getting healthy. Keep in mind, Sixers still dealing with some injury issues too. 10* LOS ANGELES LAKERS +3

NBA Total of the Week Wednesday 10* Top Play OVER 221.5 in Brooklyn Nets vs Denver Nuggets @ 8:10 ET - If you had the under last night in the Nuggets game I want to express my sincerest condolences. Trust me, I have had plenty of bad beats like that throughout my two decades in the business. Denver's game was on pace for 243 points entering the 4th quarter. Then, in the 4th quarter, a ridiculous total of 35 points were scored and the game stayed under the total. This is helping to give us line value here. Ironically, Brooklyn had a similar result last night versus the Lakers. Entering 4th quarter the game was on pace for 227 points but then the teams combined for only a ridiculous 32 points in the 4th quarter. All of this is combining to give us great line value here. What is also helping in terms of value is this total has dropped from the upper 220s to down near 220 and I will not pass up on this phenomenal line value. I feel quite certain of the kinda style we will see in this non-conference battle tonight with some tired legs in a back to back deciding to skip out on playing much defense from time to time. The over is 2-0 in last 2 meetings and we see another one here. 10* OVER 221.5 in Brooklyn

NBA Situational Slaughter Wednesday 9* Top Play Orlando Magic Pick vs Los Angeles Clippers @ 7:10 ET - The Clippers are off a hard-fought win last night at Washington where they rallied for the win after being down by 30 points at the half! Look for this to have taken a lot out of LA and now they face a rested Orlando team. While the Clips are 2nd night of a back to back and playing 5th road game in 8 days, the Magic playing just 2nd game in 5 days and have been off the past two days. Also, Mo Bamba has been back in starting lineup and is expected to be there again for Orlando tonight. The Magic going to be too much for a tired Los Angeles team in this one. 9* ORLANDO Pick

NBA Philly Special Tuesday 9* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers -8 vs New Orleans Pelicans @ 7:05 ET - The Sixers are off a 6-point win at San Antonio but each of their last 7 wins heading into that game had been by a double digit margin. In fact, those 7 Philly wins came by an average margin of 15 ppg. Now catching New Orleans off a hard-fought win last night and in the 2nd night of a back to back and with Brandon Ingram hurting (if he even does play) this looks like another rout. 9* PHILADELPHIA -8

NBA Total Annihilation Monday 10* Top Play UNDER 220 in Washington Wizards vs Los Angeles Clippers @ 7:10 ET - We should see some good defensive intensity here. Both teams are off a loss and the Wizards loss was one in which they got blasted by 29 points. That is the type of defeat off a which a team usually responds with a much better effort. Washington had allowed an average of only 109 point last 7 games before that. The Wizards have scored an average of only 96 points last two games. The Clippers have scored only 102 points in each of their last two games. Los Angeles did have a high-scoring OT loss at Denver in the game that preceded those two but note that their 3 preceding road games before the Nuggets loss saw the Clippers average only 92 points per game! Considering the above as well as the line move from 215 to 220 we have excellent line value with the under in this one in my opinion. 10* UNDER 220 in Washington

NBA Contrarian Crusher Monday 10* Top Play OVER 215.5 in Oklahoma City Thunder vs Chicago Bulls @ 8:10 ET - The Thunder have scored 94 ppg L3 games and the Bulls have scored 92.5 ppg L2 games. This total is a 215.5 and you would think the odds makers do not know what they are doing? Trust me...they do! In typical contrarian fashion what looks like a dead under has me going STRONG on the over in this one! This non-conference match-up will feature a lack of defense and a good pace and plenty of scoring. 10* OVER 215.5 in Oklahoma City

NBA Earliest Cash Monday 9* Top Play OVER 202 in Cleveland Cavaliers vs New York Knicks @ 7:10 ET - This total has plummeted from 207.5 to a 202 and this has gone too far in my opinion. Cavs off low-scoring win versus OKC but have gone 3-1 to the over before that with those 4 games averaging 218.5 ppg. NY has scored 108 points or more in 5 of 7 games. The Knicks have allowed 102 points or more in 4 of last 5 games. 9* OVER 202 in Cleveland

NBA Earliest Dominator Sunday 10* Top Play OVER 205 in New York Knicks vs Los Angeles Clippers @ 1:10 ET - I know this is a contrarian play because these are two of the lower scoring teams in the league. However, just look at how low this total has gotten. It is in the 205 range as of about 3 hours before tip-off and I feel that will prove to be too low. The Clippers are off a tight 102-101 win over the Sixers in Philly Friday. That was the 5th straight time that Los Angeles has allowed more than 100 points and they have allowed, not including OT, an average of 113 during this stretch. The Clippers, not including OT, have scored an average of 118 points last 3 games. So the point is that they can, and have been recently, putting up some bigger points. As for the Knicks, they have scored better in a number of recent games as New York had scored 108 or more points in 4 of last 5 games before poor effort in loss to New Orleans Thursday. With extra rest too, and off an ugly loss, I expect the Knicks to bounce back big here on their home floor. New York has allowed 105 points per game in their last 4 games. That is their season average for points allowed too and they are a 4 point favorite here so that would make the final 109-105 if odds makers are correct on the spread and that puts this total in the 214 range. You can see why I feel we have some value here. 10* OVER 205 in New York

NBA Earliest Dominator Saturday 10* Top Play OVER 230.5 in Milwaukee Bucks vs Sacramento Kings @ 7:10 ET - Love grabbing the over on a huge number like this in Milwaukee after last night's Bucks game with the Bulls totaled just 184 points! Milwaukee AND Chicago each had their worst 3-point shooting performances of the SEASON in last night's game. Now, after that hard-fought defensive battle in a divisional battle between two of the top teams, the Bucks are hosting a non-conference foe tonight. I like to look at overs in non-conference games when the situation is right and that is certainly the case here. Milwaukee has beaten Sacramento 10 straight times but you know the Kings are going to push the tempo here and try to catch the Bucks a little tired in the 2nd game of a B2B. The over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these teams! Sacramento on a 3-1 run to the over and these 4 games have seen the Kings average 123.5 ppg but allow 120.3 ppg. The Bucks last two games, before the grinder versus the Bulls, averaged 237.5 total points. Look for this one to get into that range as well. 10* OVER 230.5 in Milwaukee

NBA Philly Special Friday 10* Top Play OVER 212.5 in Philadelphia 76ers vs Los Angeles Clippers @ 7:10 ET - The Clippers have had back to back high-scoring games and even though the last one went into OT, the teams did combine for 228 in regulation. Prior to that game, Los Angeles had a game versus Indiana total 272 points. I like overs in non-conference match-ups when the situation is right and the 76ers have been scoring well too as they have scored 109 points or more in 10 of last 12 games. In fact, in those 10 games, Philly has averaged 116.3 points per game. Those were all wins and they are supposed to win this game too as you can tell by the line sitting in the -8.5 range. So if we estimate an "average" win for the Sixers and this game landing close to the number you are talking about a 116 to 108 type game which is double digits above the posted number on this total! I'll take it as I do not expect a lot of defensive intensity in a non-conference match-up like this. 10* OVER 212.5 in Philadelphia