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NBA Archive
Date	Match Up	Rating	Score	Result	Profit	Lead Time	Analysis
01-26-18	Lakers v. Bulls -4		108-103	Loss	-101	11 h 54 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls have won two of their last three home games, and the one loss was a close game against the defending champion Golden State Warriors. They host the LA Lakers tonight, and the Lakers have lost two of their last three road games. Lonzo Ball has missed the last five games, and the Lakers are just 3-8 in the 11 games he has missed this season. LA is just 2-5 ATS in it's last seven visits to the Windy City, while Chicago is 5-0-1 ATS in it's last six versus teams with a losing record. The Bulls are bringing bettors the big bucks at home, covering the spread in 10 of their last 13 at the United Center. Zack Lavine has only played six games for the Bulls this season, but he appears to be at full strength, scoring 40 points combined in his last two starts. Chicago is 20-6 ATS in it's last 26 games overall. Take CHI. GL, Jesse Schule
01-26-18	Rockets -3 v. Pelicans		113-115	Loss	-122	11 h 53 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Houston Rockets. The Rockets have won four straight since the return of James Harden, and the MVP favorite is back to playing full minutes. They will be on the road at New Orleans tonight, and the Pelicans have won six of their last seven. New Orleans appears to be due for a let down, and fatigue could be an issue here tonight: "There's a little bit of fatigue," Holiday said. "Obviously, as the season goes along, it gets harder and harder."But it's the same thing for them. You can really see some fatigue in both teams. But it's really about grinding it out and making stops at the end of games, and we've been able to do that." The Rockets have won six of the last seven meetings between these two teams, and they have covered the spread in two of three games at New Orleans during that span. The Pelicans aren't making bettors any money at home, failing to cover in five of their last six at the Smoothie King Center. They have also covered the spread just twice in their last seven versus Western Conference teams. Take HOU. GL, Jesse Schule
01-25-18	Wizards v. Thunder -5.5	Top	112-121	Win	100	15 h 23 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Washington Wizards and Oklahoma City Thunder look similar in some ways. They are both sitting in fifth place in their respective conferences, and the Thunder have 27 wins, just one more than Washington. The big difference between the two teams is that while Washington is playing in the kiddie pool (Eastern Conference), the Thunder are keeping their heads above water in the deep end (Western Conference). Oklahoma City has won 14 straight games when all their starters play, and they are all healthy for tonight's game. The Wizards have lost three of their last four, and they scored just 75 points in a loss at Dallas on Monday. John Wall and Bradley Beal will represent Washington in the All Star Game, while Paule George is one of the biggest snubs. This just ads fuel to the fire, and more motivation for Russ and Paul to prove they are the better duo. Washington has a losing record on the road, and they have failed to cover in four of their last five visits to Oklahoma City. They are also 2-6 ATS in their last eight versus teams from the Western Conference. Take OKC. GL, Jesse Schule
01-24-18	Celtics v. Clippers UNDER 218		113-102	Win	100	9 h 20 m	Show
This is an 8* play on BOS@LAC to go UNDER the total. The Celtics are playing their second game of a back to back in LA after losing to the Lakers last night. The bookmakers are expecting tonight's game against the Clippers to be a high scoring affair. The total seems a little too high considering Boston boasts the leagues top defense. The last time these two teams played the total was set at 218, and it ended up a push with the Clippers winning 116-102 at home last March. A lot has changed since then, and this Boston team rarely plays such high scoring games these days. Boston has failed to reach the total in four of it's last five when playing the second game of a back to back. These two teams have failed to reach the total in nine of the last 11 meetings at the Staples Center, and the under in 19-9 in the last 28 meetings overall. This number looks to be a bit inflated. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
01-24-18	Suns +7.5 v. Pacers		101-116	Loss	-105	11 h 11 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Phoenix Suns. The Suns come into Indiana off a four point loss at Milwaukee. They have covered the spread in three straight, and won outright at Denver. The Pacers have just returned from a five game road trip, winning three of those five games. This looks like a potential let down spot for Indiana, coming off an upset win over the Spurs in San Antonio. The Suns actually have more win on the road (9) than they do at home (8) this season. They have also been a good bet when getting points on the road, going 9-4T ATS in their last 13 road games. They have also been a good bet when losing their last game, they are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up loss. Devin Booker had an off night in Milwaukee, after scoring 30+ in his previous two games at Denver and Portland. The Pacers crushed the Suns in Phoenix last week, which could add a bit of a revenge factor here for tonight's game. I expect a much better effort from the Suns, and I like their chances of keeping it close. Take PHX. GL, Jesse Schule
01-23-18	Cavs v. Spurs UNDER 208.5		102-114	Loss	-108	10 h 56 m	Show
This is an 8* play on CLE@SA to go UNDER the total. The Cavs are reeling, coming into San Antonio as losers of five of their last six. Their coach is on the hot seat, LeBron is on his way out of town, and Kevin Love is being questioned for his work ethic. This is a team that is badly in need of a win, and they should be ready to fight hard for one tonight. They have failed to score 100 points in three straight road games, but there's no doubt that it's the defense that needs the most improvement. They face a Spurs team that has scored 100 points or fewer in four straight games. I bet on the under in the Spurs last game, and here is what I said prior to the loss to the Pacers: "The Spurs rank #1 in the league in opponent's scoring average, and they are 19-2 at home. These two teams have failed to reach the total in five of the last six head to head meetings, and they have each failed to reach the total in their last five overall. The Spurs are coming off an ugly 86-83 loss at Toronto, and here is what their veteran PG had to say: "We couldn't score," said Spurs point guard Tony Parker, who didn't play in the second half at Toronto. "We did a good job defensively. We just couldn't make a basket. You just have to keep pushing, keep being aggressive. And stop thinking too much. Myself, I was thinking too much tonight. You have to fight through it." The Pacers have gone under in seven straight versus Western Conference teams, while the Spurs have failed to reach the total in five of their last six versus the East." The last time these two teams met, the Spurs won at home by a score of 103-74. I expect a similar result here tonight. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
01-22-18	Bulls v. Pelicans OVER 225		128-132	Win	100	18 h 59 m	Show
This is an 8* play on CHI@NO to go OVER the total. The Bulls are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, coming into New Orleans as winners of four of their last five. They scored an average of 115 points in those games, and they rank 4th in the NBA in scoring since the New Year. They will play at New Orleans tonight, and both these teams are more interested in scoring than they are about playing defense. The Pelicans have won four of their last five, and have scored over 112 points per game during that span. History tells us that these two teams have scored a ton of points in previous meetings, especially in New Orleans. The over is 11-3-1 in Chicago's last 15 visits to The Big Easy. Chicago has gone over in eight of it's last 10 road games, and 15 of it's last 20 overall. The Pelicans have gone over in 20 of their last 28 home games, and 12 of their last 16 when coming off an ATS loss. Another high scoring game at the Smoothie King Arena seems inevitable tonight. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
01-21-18	Pacers v. Spurs UNDER 199	Top	94-86	Win	100	12 h 21 m	Show
This is a 10* play on IND@SA to go UNDER the total. The Indiana Pacers are really struggling, coming off back to back losses at LA and Portland. They shot just 2-for-25 from beyond the arc on Friday, and they were 9-for-51 in the two games combined. They play at San Antonio tonight, and this is no place to try to break out of an offensive slump. The Spurs rank #1 in the league in opponent's scoring average, and they are 19-2 at home. These two teams have failed to reach the total in five of the last six head to head meetings, and they have each failed to reach the total in their last five overall. The Spurs are coming off an ugly 86-83 loss at Toronto, and here is what their veteran PG had to say: "We couldn't score," said Spurs point guard Tony Parker, who didn't play in the second half at Toronto. "We did a good job defensively. We just couldn't make a basket. You just have to keep pushing, keep being aggressive. And stop thinking too much. Myself, I was thinking too much tonight. You have to fight through it." The Pacers have gone under in seven straight versus Western Conference teams, while the Spurs have failed to reach the total in five of their last six versus the East. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
01-20-18	Warriors -4.5 v. Rockets		108-116	Loss	-115	31 h 51 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Golden State Warriors. Here is what I said about the Rockets prior to their last game: "The Houston Rockets have lost eight of their last 13 games, and they have played their last seven games without leading scorer James Harden. They are hoping Harden can return to action for tonight's home game against Minnesota, but the news isn't all good for Houston. Trevor Ariza and Gerald Green will not play, serving suspensions stemming from a brawl in the Clippers locker room after a 113-102 loss at LA on Monday. Even if Harden plays, we should not expect him to be at full speed. He's going to be on a strict cap of 25 minutes per game until he gets back to full strength." While Harden scored just 10 points on 3-of-15 shooting, Houston beat the T-Wolves by a score of 116-98. That probably won't cut it against the Warriors in a game between the first and second place teams in the West. With Ariza and Green still serving suspensions, and Harden on a minutes cap, I'll take the Warriors as small favorites. Take GS. GL, Jesse Schule
01-19-18	Suns v. Nuggets OVER 218		108-100	Loss	-106	17 h 16 m	Show
8*
01-18-18	Wolves +5.5 v. Rockets		98-116	Loss	-108	10 h 40 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Minnesota T-Wolves. The Houston Rockets have lost eight of their last 13 games, and they have played their last seven games without leading scorer James Harden. They are hoping Harden can return to action for tonight's home game against Minnesota, but the news isn't all good for Houston. Trevor Ariza and Gerald Green will not play, serving suspensions stemming from a brawl in the Clippers locker room after a 113-102 loss at LA on Monday. Even if Harden plays, we should not expect him to be at full speed. He's going to be on a strict cap of 25 minutes per game until he gets back to full strength. The Rockets have been a bad bet in previous meetings with Minnesota, failing to cover in four straight and eight of the last 10. The Wolves come in playing their best basketball, winning five straight prior to suffering a bit of a let down in Orlando Tuesday. Minnesota has covered the spread in five straight visits to Houston. Take MINNY. GL, Jesse Schule
01-18-18	76ers v. Celtics UNDER 211	Top	89-80	Win	100	9 h 8 m	Show
This is a 10* play on PHI@BOS to go UNDER the total. The Sixers and the Celtics played in London a week ago, and Boston won that game by a score of 114-103. It was a relatively high scoring game, especially for Boston, the NBA's #1 ranked team in scoring defense. These teams had played twice before the game in London, and both those games went under. Both teams have injury concerns, with the Sixers losing J.J. Redick to a broken leg, and the Celtics potentially could be without Kyrie Irving. Boston's leading scorer missed practice because of a sore shoulder, and his status is still in question. He missed three games previously this season, and all three of those games saw the total fall short of 200 points. Redick scored 22 points in the loss in London, and he is second on the team in scoring averaging over 17 points per game. The last time he sat out, Philly lost by a score of 102-86 at Toronto. I expect similar score here at The Garden tonight. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
01-17-18	Nuggets v. Clippers -145		104-109	Win	100	12 h 52 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the LAC. The fact that the Clippers have battled so many injuries, and still they are 13-9 at home speaks volumes about how competitive this team is. The Nuggets have not been very competitive away from home, losing 16 of 23 games. They play their second game of a back to back after just barely hanging on to beat Dallas last night. DeAndre Jordan has missed the Clippers last two games, but that didn't stop them from beating the Kings and Rockets. In fact LA is riding a five game winning streak, powered by Blake Griffin and Lou Williams. The duo combined for 60 points in the win over Houston. The home team has covered the spread in each of the last five head to head meetings in this series, a trend that seems likely to be extended tonight. Take LAC. GL, Jesse Schule
01-17-18	Knicks v. Grizzlies -125		99-105	Win	100	15 h 2 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Memphis Grizzlies. The Knicks are coming off a 119-104 win over Brooklyn, but they had lost nine of their previous 11. They have been brutal on the road all year, with a record of 5-15, and they have lost six straight visits to the Music City. The Grizzlies have faced plenty of adversity this season, dealing with more than their fair share of injuries. They come into tonight's game as winners of three of their last four home games, and they are 5-5 in their last 10 overall. This Memphis team is still one of the top defensive teams in the league, ranking seventh in scoring defense. The Grizzlies lost 99-88 at New York earlier this season, setting up a revenge spot here at home tonight. The Knicks haven't won at Memphis since 2011, and the average margin of defeat in those six games has been 11.5 points. Take MEM. GL, Jesse Schule
01-16-18	Mavs v. Nuggets -5.5		102-105	Loss	-108	11 h 28 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Denver Nuggets. Playing on the road in the NBA is a tough task at the best of times, but it's even more challenging at altitude in Denver. Only the San Antonio Spurs have a better home record than Denver in the Western Conference. Here is what I said about Denver before they played the Jazz last week: "Both the Jazz and the Nuggets are missing key players due to injury, but Denver has proven it has the depth to overcome adversity. The Nuggets have enjoyed a significant advantage at home in Denver. They are 11-3 straight up at home, and they have covered the spread in six of their last eight in Denver. The home team has won six straight in this series, and has covered the spread in all six of those games as well. Utah is just 3-13 on the road this season, only the Mavericks have lost more road games in the Western Conference. They are coming off a 103-89 home loss to Oklahoma City, and Rodney Hood struggled, hitting just 3-of-14 shots and scoring just nine points. The Jazz have lost six of their last seven road games, and they are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points. Nikola Jokic has averaged over 22 points per game in his last three starts." Denver has won three of the last four meetings with Dallas, and all three of those wins came by a double digit margin. Take DEN. GL, Jesse Schule
01-16-18	Pelicans v. Celtics -178		116-113	Loss	-178	10 h 58 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Boston Celtics. I bet on Boston in their win over Philly at O2 Arena. Here is what I said prior to the game: "The Celtics bring a six game winning streak into today's NBA International game versus the Sixers in London. Philly has won four straight, but the Sixers have been inconsistent all year. They had lost 10 of 12 prior to this recent win streak. The Celtics have owned this series in recent seasons, winning nine of the last 10 meetings. These teams have played twice this season, and Boston has won both meetings by double-digits, including a 102-92 win at Philly. Both teams will have to adjust to playing at O2 Arena, which isn't designed to host NBA games. The Celtics bring the NBA's best defense, and the old saying goes "defense travels well". Boston doesn't mind playing away from their home arena, the Celtics are 16-7 ATS in their last 23 road games. It wouldn't be too hard to imagine young stars like Simmons and Embiid getting distracted on a trip to London, and Embiid's comments seem to indicate that: "Just walking around, it was beautiful," he told NBC Sports Philadelphia. "Beautiful women ... so I had a great time. I'm just excited to be going there. Obviously want to get a win, and if I get a chance to catch a soccer game, I'm going to do that, too." Kyrie Irving on the other hand spoke more about the task at hand: "For us we just have to play with our own unique intensity on the defensive end, make it uncomfortable." They host the New Orleans Pelicans tonight, a team that they have owned (won 4 of last 5). Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
01-15-18	Warriors v. Cavs OVER 229	Top	118-108	Loss	-105	31 h 30 m	Show
This is a 10* play on GS@CLE to go OVER the total. The defending champion Golden State Warriors are the highest scoring team in the NBA, averaging over 115 points per game. They have scored 120+ points in seven of their last 10 overall, and they have scored 120+ points in seven straight with Steph Curry in the lineup. The Cavs are also one of the highest scoring teams in the NBA, however they rank near the bottom of the league in points allowed. They have given up 120+ points in three of their last four overall, and they have lost three straight. The Warriors have dominated this series, winning six of the last seven meetings. While the most recent meeting was a low scoring game with the Warriors winning 99-92, Steph Curry did not play in that game. The previous four games in this series all went over the total, and Curry played in all of those games. The Warriors have gone over in seven of their last eight overall, and six of their last eight at Cleveland. The Cavs have gone over in four of their last five home games, and the over is 9-0 in their last nine home games following a road trip of seven or more days. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
01-15-18	Heat v. Bulls -112		111-119	Win	100	13 h 60 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Chicago Bulls. I have been keeping my eye on the Bulls since Nikola Mirotic returned from injury, and I bet on Chicago several times over the last few weeks. Here is what I had to say prior to a home win over Indiana: "The Bulls won 115-106 at Milwaukee last night, and it was their eighth win in their last 10 games. They have averaged over 111 points per game in those wins. Nikola Mirotic is a big reason for the turnaround in Chicago, and he scored 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting in Milwaukee last night. The Pacers have lost back-to-back games, and leading scorer Victor Oladipo has been suffering from a knee injury during that span. He scored just 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting in 26 minutes in a 107-83 loss at Detroit on Tuesday, and he didn't play in Wednesday's home loss to Dallas. The Pacers aren't expecting him to play here in Chicago. The Bulls have covered the spread in six straight home games, and they are 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 games overall" The Heat are playing their second game of a back to back after blowing out the Bucks at home yesterday. As well as Miami is playing, this Chicago team just welcomed back Zach Lavine who looked great in his season debut. The 22 year old scored 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting in 19 minutes Saturday. He's expected to be capped at 20 minutes per game until he works himself into shape. The Bulls are 11-1 ATS in their last 12 versus teams from the Southeast, and the Heat have failed to cover in four of their last five when coming off a double digit win. Take CHI. GL, Jesse Schule
01-15-18	Bucks v. Wizards -190		104-95	Loss	-190	12 h 32 m	Show
This is a 6* play on the Washington Wizards. The Wizards are coming off back to back home wins, and they host the Milwaukee Bucks on MLK Day. The Bucks are playing their second game of a back to back, coming off a blowout loss at Miami yesterday. The Bucks are just 8-12 on the road this season, and they come into Washington as losers of three of their last four overall. They have lost eight of the last 10 meetings in this series, and four of their last five visits to Washington. The Wizards are 15-8 at home, and the favorite has covered in 10 of the last 14 meetings between these two teams. Washington has been brutal ATS of late, but I like their chances getting an outright win here at home versus an inconsistent Bucks team. This is a revenge game for the Wizards, as they lost to the Bucks just over a week ago. If there was any doubt about how serious they are treating this game, listen to what Bradley Beal has to say: "It's going to be a physical game," Beal said of the rematch with Milwaukee. "It's going to be a playoff-type game, it's pretty plain and simple. They're a team that plays hard. They are playing well right now too. We need to take advantage of it, take advantage of our home court, treat it as it is a playoff game." Take WAS. GL, Jesse Schule
01-15-18	Hornets v. Pistons -145		118-107	Loss	-145	10 h 7 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons have been great at home this season (13-5), and they host the struggling Charlotte Hornets in an early game on Martin Luther King Day. The Hornets are coming off a home loss to Oklahoma City by a score of 101-91. They have lost five of their last six against the Pistons, and they are just 5-13 on the road this season. Detroit beat the Hornets by a score of 102-90 in the most recent meeting at the Palace in their season opener back in October. The Pistons have won five straight home games, and they have beaten some of the league's top teams during that stretch (Spurs and Rockets). They rank 4th in the league in opponent's scoring average, allowing just 101.5 points per game. The Hornets have failed to reach the total in six of their last eight overall, while the Pistons have gone under in six of their last eight at home. The under is is 12-5-1 in the Pistons last 18 versus teams from the Eastern Conference. The home team is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings in this series. I like the Pistons to win a low scoring game here at the Palace. Take DET. GL, Jesse Schule
01-15-18	Hornets v. Pistons UNDER 205		118-107	Loss	-105	10 h 6 m	Show
This is an 8* play on CHA@DET to go UNDER. The Pistons have been great at home this season (13-5), and they host the struggling Charlotte Hornets in an early game on Martin Luther King Day. The Hornets are coming off a home loss to Oklahoma City by a score of 101-91. They have lost five of their last six against the Pistons, and they are just 5-13 on the road this season. Detroit beat the Hornets by a score of 102-90 in the most recent meeting at the Palace in their season opener back in October. The Pistons have won five straight home games, and they have beaten some of the league's top teams during that stretch (Spurs and Rockets). They rank 4th in the league in opponent's scoring average, allowing just 101.5 points per game. The Hornets have failed to reach the total in six of their last eight overall, while the Pistons have gone under in six of their last eight at home. The under is is 12-5-1 in the Pistons last 18 versus teams from the Eastern Conference. The home team is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings in this series. I like the Pistons to win a low scoring game here at the Palace. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
01-14-18	Pacers v. Suns +4		120-97	Loss	-105	18 h 60 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Phoenix Suns 1st Half. The Indiana Pacers trailed Cleveland by 22 points in the first half on Friday, but they rallied to beat the Cavs by a score of 97-95. I am not sure whether to be impressed with the comeback, or concerned about why they trailed to 22 points at home in the first place. Regardless, I believe this sets them up for a let down on the road two days later at Phoenix. Here is what I had to say about the Suns before their loss to Houston: "The Suns leading scorer Devin Booker is back, and since his return Phoenix has a winning record, and has won three straight home games. Phoenix is a solid 5-2-1 in it's last eight home games, and is coming off an impressive home win over Oklahoma City. Booker, Bender and Warren all scored over 20 points in the victory. I think the Rockets should be content to run and gun with Phoenix, and without Harden they might find it difficult to pull away." The Pacers have failed to cover in five of their last six visits to Arizona, and they are just 2-11 ATS in the last 13 meetings overall in this series. I'll take the points. Take PHX. GL, Jesse Schule.
01-13-18	Pistons v. Bulls	Top	105-107	Win	100	10 h 19 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Chicago Bulls. I have been keeping my eye on the Bulls since Nikola Mirotic returned from injury, and I bet on Chicago several times over the last few weeks. Here is what I had to say prior to a home win over Indiana: "The Bulls won 115-106 at Milwaukee last night, and it was their eighth win in their last 10 games. They have averaged over 111 points per game in those wins. Nikola Mirotic is a big reason for the turnaround in Chicago, and he scored 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting in Milwaukee last night. The Pacers have lost back-to-back games, and leading scorer Victor Oladipo has been suffering from a knee injury during that span. He scored just 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting in 26 minutes in a 107-83 loss at Detroit on Tuesday, and he didn't play in Wednesday's home loss to Dallas. The Pacers aren't expecting him to play here in Chicago. The Bulls have covered the spread in six straight home games, and they are 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 games overall" The Bulls will welcome Zack Lavine back from injury in tonight's home game against the Pistons. Chicago is now 15-5 ATS in it's last 20 overall, and the Bulls have covered the spread in seven of their last 10 at home. Take CHI. GL, Jesse Schule
01-12-18	Rockets v. Suns +7.5		112-95	Loss	-103	16 h 15 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Phoenix Suns. The Suns leading scorer Devin Booker is back, and since his return Phoenix has a winning record, and has won three straight home games. The Rockets leading scorer remains out, and Houston has lost four of it's last six on the road. Both these teams can light up the scoreboard, and tonight's game should be a fast paced, high scoring affair. These two teams have gone over in seven straight, and nine of the last 10 meetings. The Rockets have failed to cover in five of their last seven on the road, and eight of their last 11 overall. Phoenix is a solid 5-2-1 in it's last eight home games, and is coming off an impressive home win over Oklahoma City. Booker, Bender and Warren all scored over 20 points in the victory. I think the Rockets should be content to run and gun with Phoenix, and without Harden they might find it difficult to pull away. Take PHX. GL, Jesse Schule
01-12-18	Rockets v. Suns OVER 226.5		112-95	Loss	-105	16 h 12 m	Show
This is an 8* play on HOU@PHX to go OVER the total. The Suns leading scorer Devin Booker is back, and since his return Phoenix has a winning record, and has won three straight home games. The Rockets leading scorer remains out, and Houston has lost four of it's last six on the road. Both these teams can light up the scoreboard, and tonight's game should be a fast paced, high scoring affair. These two teams have gone over in seven straight, and nine of the last 10 meetings. The Rockets have failed to cover in five of their last seven on the road, and eight of their last 11 overall. Phoenix is a solid 5-2-1 in it's last eight home games, and is coming off an impressive home win over Oklahoma City. Booker, Bender and Warren all scored over 20 points in the victory. I think the Rockets should be content to run and gun with Phoenix, and without Harden they might find it difficult to pull away. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
01-12-18	Jazz v. Hornets OVER 206.5		88-99	Loss	-110	13 h 36 m	Show
This is an 8* play on UTAH@CHA to go OVER the total. The Utah Jazz are one of the NBA's best defensive teams, ranking 5th in opponent's scoring average. They have struggled without star center Rudy Gobert though,, losing nine of 12. They have allowed at least 100 points in seven of their last eight games, and they have allowed well over 100 points in each of their last three visits to Charlotte. These two teams have gone over the total in three of four meetings dating back to 2015. The Hornets have scored 100+ points in eight of their last 10 overall, and they have allowed 100+ points in eight of their last nine overall. Rookie Donovan Mitchell leads the Jazz in scoring, and he is averaging 22.2 points per game over his last five starts. He's attempted at least 10 three-pointers in three of the last four games. The Jazz have gone over in five of their last seven versus Eastern Conference teams, and I think their defensive intensity could be lacking here in Charlotte where they are just 4-10-2 ATS in their last 16. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
01-11-18	Celtics -130 v. 76ers	Top	114-103	Win	100	17 h 53 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Boston Celtics. The Celtics bring a six game winning streak into today's NBA International game versus the Sixers in London. Philly has won four straight, but the Sixers have been inconsistent all year. They had lost 10 of 12 prior to this recent win streak. The Celtics have owned this series in recent seasons, winning nine of the last 10 meetings. These teams have played twice this season, and Boston has won both meetings by double-digits, including a 102-92 win at Philly. Both teams will have to adjust to playing at O2 Arena, which isn't designed to host NBA games. The Celtics bring the NBA's best defense, and the old saying goes "defense travels well". Boston doesn't mind playing away from their home arena, the Celtics are 16-7 ATS in their last 23 road games. It wouldn't be too hard to imagine young stars like Simmons and Embiid getting distracted on a trip to London, and Embiid's comments seem to indicate that: "Just walking around, it was beautiful," he told NBC Sports Philadelphia. "Beautiful women ... so I had a great time. I'm just excited to be going there. Obviously want to get a win, and if I get a chance to catch a soccer game, I'm going to do that, too." Kyrie Irving on the other hand spoke more about the task at hand: "For us we just have to play with our own unique intensity on the defensive end, make it uncomfortable." Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
01-10-18	Thunder v. Wolves -175		88-104	Win	100	10 h 38 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Minnesota T-Wolves. Minnesota is coming off a blowout win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, and I think rather than suffer a let down, they will build on that positive momentum. They host Oklahoma City tonight, and the Thunder are still struggling to meet expectations. They have lost back to back games to Portland and Phoenix, and both of those losses came by a double digit margin. Minnesota has improved on defense, ranking 5th in defensive rating over the past 10 games. They held LeBron James to a total of just 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting on Monday. The Thunder have failed to cover in four of their last five versus Minnesota, and they are 1-4 ATS in their last five at Minnesota. The T-Wolves are 5-1 ATS in their last six versus Western Conference teams, while the Thunder are 8-17 ATS in their last 25 versus teams from the West. Oklahoma City is also 2-10 ATS in it's last 12 versus teams from the NorthWest. Take MINNY. GL, Jesse Schule
01-07-18	Knicks v. Mavs OVER 207		100-96	Loss	-107	14 h 34 m	Show
This is an 8* play on NYK@DAL to go OVER the total. The Mavs are one of the worst teams in the Western Conference, but they are on a bit of a roll, winning four of their last six overall. They have scored an average of 122 points in their last four games. The Knicks are really struggling, they have lost seven of their last eight overall. They allowed an average of 107 points in those losses, and the over is 9-3 in their last 12 road games. The total for tonight's game appears to be a bit low, as the Knicks have gone over the number in four of their last five, while Dallas has gone over in four straight. The Mavs have gone over in five of their last six versus Eastern Conference teams, and with not a lot at stake here between a couple of teams in the midst of a rebuild, don't expect to see a defensive battle. The Mavs are coming off a 127-124 loss to the Bulls, and Chicago shot over 56 percent from the field in the game. I expect to see a similar flow to tonight's game. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
01-05-18	Jazz v. Nuggets -7.5		91-99	Win	100	32 h 30 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Denver Nuggets. Playing on the road in the NBA is a tough task at the best of times, but it's even more challenging at altitude in Denver. Only the San Antonio Spurs have a better home record than Denver in the Western Conference. The Utah Jazz on the other hand have really struggled on the road, winning just three games of 18. Utah comes into Denver off a double digit home loss to the Pelicans, and the Jazz have lost seven of their last nine overall. Six of those seven losses came by a double digit margin, with the one exception being a 109-100 loss to Cleveland. One of those losses was a 107-83 loss at Denver. Here is what I said prior to that game: "Both the Jazz and the Nuggets are missing key players due to injury, but Denver has proven it has the depth to overcome adversity. The Nuggets have enjoyed a significant advantage at home in Denver. They are 11-3 straight up at home, and they have covered the spread in six of their last eight in Denver. The home team has won six straight in this series, and has covered the spread in all six of those games as well. Utah is just 3-13 on the road this season, only the Mavericks have lost more road games in the Western Conference. They are coming off a 103-89 home loss to Oklahoma City, and Rodney Hood struggled, hitting just 3-of-14 shots and scoring just nine points. The Jazz have lost six of their last seven road games, and they are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points. Nikola Jokic has averaged over 22 points per game in his last three starts, and he won't have to worry about Rudy Gobert tonight." I see no reason why we should see a dramatically different result here tonight. Take DEN. GL, Jesse Schule
01-05-18	Knicks v. Heat -5		103-107	Loss	-110	31 h 30 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Miami Heat. Miami sits just 1.5 games back of Washington, second in the Southeast. They have faced plenty of adversity with Hassan Whiteside missing 15 games due to injury, but since his return they have won three of four. They are hosting the New York Knicks tonight, hoping to improve on just a .500 home record. The Knicks have been dreadful on the road, winning just three of 16 games. They come into Miami as losers of six of their last seven overall, and they are just 4-10 ATS in the last 14 meetings with the Heat. I bet against the Knicks in their last home game, a home loss to the Spurs. Here is what I said before the game: "New York's last home game was a 105-98 loss to the Sixers, and Jarrett Jack scored zero points on 0-5 shooting in the loss. The veteran is filling in for the injured Tim Hardaway Jr, and he's shot just 35 percent from the field in his last five starts." After losing to the Spurs, they lost 121-103 at Washington. Here is what Kristaps Porzingis said after the loss: "I'm tired. I'm tired. I'm so tired right now. I have one day now to rest my legs and then get back and play better and have more energy and also try and bring the team's energy up. Also we're in a tough stretch. The mental part doesn't help at all. When it's mentally tough you just don't have it in you. It's normal. It's normal. It's up and down. Get some rest, enjoy nice Miami weather and go try and win the Miami game." I like Miami to win big here. Take MIA. GL, Jesse Schule
01-03-18	Raptors v. Bulls +5		124-115	Loss	-105	21 h 11 m	Show
8*
01-03-18	Pacers v. Bucks -7.5	Top	101-122	Win	100	23 h 2 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Milwaukee Bucks. I bet against the Pacers in their loss at Chicago, and here is what I said prior to that game: "The Pacers have lost back-to-back games, and leading scorer Victor Oladipo has been suffering from a knee injury during that span. He scored just 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting in 26 minutes in a 107-83 loss at Detroit on Tuesday, and he didn't play in Wednesday's home loss to Dallas. The Pacers aren't expecting him to play here in Chicago." The Pacers aren't expecting Oladipo back for Wednesday's game against Milwaukee, and they have lost all three games since his injury. The average margin of defeat in those games is well over 10 points. The Pacers have failed to cover in five straight overall, and they have lost their last two games at Milwaukee by a combined 31 points. The Bucks are a solid 12-6 on their home floor, and this looks like a good spot for them to open up a good old fashioned can of whup-ass on an inferior opponent. Take MIL. GL, Jesse Schule
01-02-18	Spurs -5 v. Knicks		100-91	Win	100	29 h 17 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the San Antonio Spurs. The Knicks have a respectable .500 record overall, and they are an impressive 15-6 at home. They haven't played well of late though, losing four of their last five overall. The majority of their wins have come against mediocre Eastern Conference teams, not comparable to tonight's opponent. The Spurs are still one of the top teams in the West, despite dealing with injuries all year. Kawhi Leonard will be playing his seventh game since returning from injury, and he's looked like he's getting close to 100 percent. He's totaled 39 points in his last two starts. The Spurs have beaten up on Eastern Conference teams, covering the spread in four of their last five. New York's last home game was a 105-98 loss to the Sixers, and Jarrett Jack scored zero points on 0-5 shooting in the loss. The veteran is filling in for the injured Tim Hardaway Jr, and he's shot just 35 percent from the field in his last five starts. The Knicks lost at San Antonio by a score of 119-107 last week, and Kawhi Leonard didn't play in that game. I like the Spurs to take down the Knicks at The Garden tonight. Take SA. GL, Jesse Schule
12-31-17	Wolves -3.5 v. Pacers		107-90	Win	100	30 h 12 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Minnesota Timberwolves. I bet against the Pacers in their loss at Chicago, and here is what I said prior to that game: "The Pacers have lost back-to-back games, and leading scorer Victor Oladipo has been suffering from a knee injury during that span. He scored just 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting in 26 minutes in a 107-83 loss at Detroit on Tuesday, and he didn't play in Wednesday's home loss to Dallas. The Pacers aren't expecting him to play here in Chicago." The Pacers aren't expecting Oladipo back for Sunday's game against Minnesota, and they have failed to cover in four straight. The Minnesota Timberwolves had won five straight before blowing a 20 point lead at Milwaukee. Three of those five wins came on the road, and they have covered the spread in four of their last five road games. They are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games versus a team with a winning home record, and they have covered the spread in three straight visits to Indianapolis. Jimmy Butler comes in feeling the hot hand, he scored 39 points in a home win over Denver on Wednesday, and he's averaged over 27 points in his last five games. Take MINNY. GL, Jesse Schule
12-29-17	Pacers v. Bulls -2	Top	107-119	Win	100	30 h 22 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, coming into Friday's home games against Indiana as winners of nine of their last 11. I have bet on them several times during that span, and here is what I had to say prior to their win over the Knicks: "The Bulls won 115-106 at Milwaukee last night, and it was their eight win in their last 10 games. They have averaged over 111 points per game in those wins. Nikola Mirotic is a big reason for the turnaround in Chicago, and he scored 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting in Milwaukee last night." The Pacers have lost back-to-back games, and leading scorer Victor Oladipo has been suffering from a knee injury during that span. He scored just 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting in 26 minutes in a 107-83 loss at Detroit on Tuesday, and he didn't play in Wednesday's home loss to Dallas. The Pacers aren't expecting him to play here in Chicago. The Bulls have covered the spread in six straight home games, and they are 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 games overall. Take CHI. GL, Jesse Schule
12-27-17	Knicks v. Bulls -120		87-92	Win	100	19 h 41 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls won 115-106 at Milwaukee last night, and it was their eight win in their last 10 games. They have averaged over 111 points per game in those wins. Nikola Mirotic is a big reason for the turnaround in Chicago, and he scored 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting in Milwaukee last night. The Knicks are horrible on the road, losing 10 of 12 so far. They are coming off a 105-98 home loss to the Sixers on Christmas, and Kristaps Porzingis shot just 6-of-19 from the field in the loss. Tim Hardaway Jr. remained sidelined for the Knicks, and they missed him on Christmas Day. Jarrett Jack started at PG against Philly, scoring zero points on 0-of-5 shooting with seven assists and three turnovers in 21 minutes. The Bulls have covered the spread in five straight home games, and playing on back to back nights shouldn't be a huge issue for a young team that is just getting a taste of what it feels like to win. This is further evidenced by the fact that the Bulls are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 games playing on back to back nights.The Knicks have covered the spread just four times in their last 13 road games, and they are going to be hard pressed to win here at Chicago. Take CHI. GL, Jesse Schule
12-26-17	Jazz v. Nuggets -6		83-107	Win	100	18 h 48 m	Show
This is a 9* play on the Denver Nuggets. Both the Jazz and the Nuggets are missing key players due to injury, but Denver has proven it has the depth to overcome adversity. The Nuggets have enjoyed a significant advantage at home in Denver. They are 11-3 straight up at home, and they have covered the spread in six of their last eight in Denver. The home team has won six straight in this series, and has covered the spread in all six of those games as well. Utah is just 3-13 on the road this season, only the Mavericks have lost more road games in the Western Conference. They are coming off a 103-89 home loss to Oklahoma City, and Rodney Hood struggled, hitting just 3-of-14 shots and scoring just nine points. The Jazz have lost six of their last seven road games, and they are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points. Nikola Jokic has averaged over 22 points per game in his last three starts, and he won't have to worry about Rudy Gobert tonight. Take DEN. GL, Jesse Schule
12-26-17	Bulls v. Bucks OVER 211		115-106	Win	100	16 h 38 m	Show
This is a 9* play on CHI@MIL to go OVER the total. The Bulls are coming off a 117-92 loss at Boston, failing to score 100 points for the first time in nine games. They won seven straight before dropping back to back games at Cleveland and Boston. They could catch a break here in Milwaukee, as the Greek Freak may not be 100 percent. The Bucks still managed to score their share of points in a 111-106 loss at Charlotte, despite the absence of Antetokounmpo. He's expected to return to the lineup here at home versus Chicago. The Bulls beat the Bucks by a score of 115-109 at home a few weeks ago, and they have gone over the total in three straight head to head meetings. The Bulls have gone over in four straight road games, and five of their last six overall. The Bucks have also been playing a lot off high scoring games, going over in seven straight at home. The over is 13-2-1 in Bucks last 16 overall. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
12-26-17	Pacers v. Pistons -130		83-107	Win	100	18 h 5 m	Show
This is a 9* play on the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons are one of the top defensive teams in the NBA, allowing opponents to average 102.2 points per game. They have won four of their last five overall, and they have failed to reach the total in seven of their last 10 overall. One of those games was a 104-98 win at Indiana last week. The Pistons have won two of the the last three in this series, and two of those three games went under the total. The home team has covered the spread in four of the last five, and the Pacers have failed to reach the total in four of their last five road games. The last time the Pacers played in Detroit, they were out-rebounded 42-31, and they shot just 7-of-24 from beyond the arc. They scored just 97 points in the loss, and I am expecting a similar result here in today's game. Take DET. GL, Jesse Schule
12-26-17	Pacers v. Pistons UNDER 208		83-107	Win	100	15 h 43 m	Show
This is a 9* play on IND@DET to go UNDER. The Pistons are one of the top defensive teams in the NBA, allowing opponents to average 102.2 points per game. They have won four of their last five overall, and they have failed to reach the total in seven of their last 10 overall. One of those games was a 104-98 win at Indiana last week. The Pistons have won two of the the last three in this series, and two of those three games went under the total. The home team has covered the spread in four of the last five, and the Pacers have failed to reach the total in four of their last five road games. The last time the Pacers played in Detroit, they were out-rebounded 42-31, and they shot just 7-of-24 from beyond the arc. They scored just 97 points in the loss, and I am expecting a similar result here in today's game. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
12-26-17	Raptors v. Mavs UNDER 209		93-98	Win	100	13 h 24 m	Show
This is a 9* play on TOR@DAL to go UNDER the total. The Mavs have won two of their last three home games, and they held opponents to less than 100 points in all three of those contests. They will be a significant underdog here on Boxing Day, hosting the Toronto Raptors. Toronto has taken over first place in the Eastern Conference, and they come into Dallas as winners of 12 of their last 13. Toronto ranks third in the league in scoring, but points have been hard to come by in previous games against Dallas. The under is 6-1 in the last seven meetings between the two teams, and they have gone under in five of the last seven in Dallas. The total for this game is far higher than it was in any of the previous five meetings. The Mavs have failed to reach the total in six straight when playing on two days rest, and the under is 6-1 in their last seven versus a team with a winning record. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
12-25-17	Wizards v. Celtics -4.5	Top	111-103	Loss	-110	161 h 2 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Boston Celtics. The Celtics are still in first place overall (as of Dec 19). The Cavs are hot on their heels, and both teams will be in action on Christmas Day. These games are a showcase for the stars, and players like Kyrie and LeBron can make a statement to the rest of the league with a strong performance on the big stage. Both delivered last Christmas in a 109-108 win over Golden State. Lebron scored 31, but Kyrie had 25 points, 10 assists, seven steals and six rebounds. It was Irving that drained the game winning three-point shot with three seconds on the clock. I expect another big game from Kyrie here at home against the Wizards. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
12-25-17	Cavs +5 v. Warriors		92-99	Loss	-115	13 h 23 m	Show
This is a 9* play on the Cleveland Cavs. The Celtics are still in first place overall (as of Dec 19). The Cavs are hot on their heels, and both teams will be in action on Christmas Day. These games are a showcase for the stars, and players like Kyrie and LeBron can make a statement to the rest of the league with a strong performance on the big stage. Both delivered last Christmas in a 109-108 win over Golden State. Lebron scored 31, but Kyrie had 25 points, 10 assists, seven steals and six rebounds. The Warriors are banged up with Curry out and Draymond nursing a sore elbow. The defending champs aren't going to make or break their season here in a Christmas Day game against the Cavs, but this game likely means the world to LeBron and company. Take CLE. GL, Jesse Schule
12-23-17	Bulls v. Celtics UNDER 206	Top	92-117	Loss	-110	20 h 45 m	Show
This is a 10* play on CHI@BOS to go UNDER the total. The Bulls had been the league's worst team just a few weeks ago, but they come into Boston Saturday as winners of seven of their last eight. The one loss came by just three points on the road at Cleveland. I bet on the over in that game, but I am expecting tonight's game to be much lower scoring. Seven of the Bulls last eight games have seen at least 200 points, with the only exception being a 108-85 win over the Celtics. Boston is coming off back to back losses to the Heat and the Knicks, and the Celtics have struggled offensively during a rough stretch. They still rank 2nd in the NBA on defense, allowing opponents to average just over 98 points per game. These two teams have failed to reach the total in four of the last five head to head meetings, and tonight's total is higher than it was in all five of those games. The under is 38-18 in the Bulls last 56 games playing on a days rest. The Celtics have gone under in eight of their last 11 when facing a team with a losing record. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
12-20-17	Heat v. Celtics -8		90-89	Loss	-105	13 h 32 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Boston Celtics. The Celtics have only covered the spread in three of their last 10 games. Of course with the best record in the NBA, it's understandable that they could become overvalued. They will be an 8-point favorite in tonight's home game against the undermanned Miami Heat. That seems just about right, considering that Boston is 13-3 at home, and 9.5 games ahead of Miami in the standings. When you look a little closer at Miami's injury woes however, it seems like a bargain to get Boston as a favorite in single digits. Goran Drajic is hoping to return to the lineup after missing the last game with an elbow injury, but he may not be 100 percent. He scored just 29 points on 10-of-33 shooting, and was just 1-of-7 from behind the arc in his last three starts. Dion Waiters is also questionable with an illness, but Hassan Whiteside, Justise Winslow and James Johnson will not play. The Heat are 6-15 ATS in the last 21 meetings in Boston, and they are 5-13-1 ATS in their last 19 versus teams from the Eastern Conference. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
12-14-17	Knicks v. Nets -120		111-104	Loss	-120	16 h 37 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Brooklyn Nets. The Knicks have won 13 of 18 at home, but have lost eight of nine road games this season. They are coming off an overtime win over the Lakers at MSG, and could be in for a let down here in Brooklyn. The Nets have won three of their last four overall, and two of their last three versus the Knicks. Brooklyn recently acquired Jahlil Okafor in a trade with Philly, but the 6 "11 center has yet to make his debut for Brooklyn. He should be ready to go here for tonight's game against the Knicks. "We're just very excited to get on the court together," Okafor said of injured teammate D'Angelo Russell. "You never would've thought the No. 2 and No. 3 picks would be playing on the same team a few years after, but like I said, everything happens for a reason and I'm really excited." In the mean time it's Spencer Dinwiddie running the point for the Nets, and he's played reasonably well. The Nets are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 overall, and 5-2 ATS in their last seven home games. The Knicks have failed to cover in four straight following a win, and five of their last six road games. Take BKN. GL, Jesse Schule
12-13-17	Raptors v. Suns UNDER 217		115-109	Loss	-115	11 h 25 m	Show
This is an 8* play on TOR@PHX to go UNDER the total. The Suns have lost four straight, and leading scorer Devin Booker has missed the last three games. Booker (averaging 24.3 points per game) is expected to miss the next 2-3 weeks with a groin strain. Without him the Suns have averaged just 97 points per game in their last three overall, and all three of those games went under the total. The Raptors come to town as winners of six of their last seven, but they scored just 91 points in a loss to the Clippers on Monday. Toronto has failed to reach the total in five of it's last six road games, and six of it's last seven road games against teams with a losing record. The Suns are a team that is normally associated with high scoring basketball games, but that doesn't seem applicable when Devin Booker is out of the lineup. Toronto has allowed fewer than 100 points in three of it's last four road games. I expect this game to be a blowout, and if that's the case it's going to be hard to see enough scoring to reach a high total. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
12-12-17	Nuggets v. Pistons UNDER 210.5		103-84	Win	100	11 h 29 m	Show
This is an 8* play on DEN@DET to go UNDER the total. The Pistons have lost six straight, and they scored more than 100 points in just one of those games. They host the struggling Denver Nuggets tonight, and this should be a favorable matchup for the home team. These teams played twice last November, and the Pistons won both those games. The Nuggets were held under 100 points in both of those losses, and these two teams have failed to reach the total in each of the last six meetings. The total for tonight's game is significantly higher than it was in any of those previous six meetings. Despite the Pistons struggles, they remain one of the top defensive teams in the NBA, especially at home where they have won eight of 12. The Nuggets have failed to reach the total in four straight versus teams with a winning record, and the under is 7-2 in their last nine road games versus winning teams. Denver has balanced scoring with four players averaging over 15 points per game. Two of those players have been sidelined with injuries though. Nikola Jokic is out with a sprained ankle, while Paul Millsap is out for 2-3 months with a serious wrist injury. The Pistons have failed to reach the total in six straight overall, and 15 of 22 at home. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
12-10-17	Celtics -118 v. Pistons		91-81	Win	100	5 h 28 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Boston Celtics. The Celtics are coming off a loss on the road at San Antonio, but they looked pretty good forcing the Spurs to hit a buzzer beater in a 105-102 win. They will play at Detroit this afternoon, with a chance to avenge a rare home loss to the Pistons earlier this year. The Pistons have really struggled of late, losing five straight. Kyrie Irving has scored an average of 28.9 points over his last 10 games, but he's taking off the protective mask here this afternoon. He scored 36 of 13-of-21 shooting in the loss to the Spurs, and he hit six three-point shots in that game. While the Pistons won the last meeting in this series, Boston had won four of the previous five. They have won four straight at The Palace, covering the spread in all four of those games. The Celtics haven't lost back to back games since their second game of the season, coming after Gordon Hayward was lost for the season in the season opener. They have covered the spread in six of their last seven when coming off a loss, and I expect them to be all fired up for a revenge game against the slumping Pistons. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
12-07-17	Lakers v. 76ers UNDER 221.5		107-104	Win	100	11 h 30 m	Show
This is an 8* play on LAL@PHI to go UNDER the total. The Sixers beat the Lakers by a score of 115-109 in LA in November, and the Bookmakers are expecting another high scoring game here in Philly. These two teams have failed to reach the total in three of the last four games at Philly, and the one exception was a 113-111 Lakers win in overtime back in 2015. The Lakers have gone under in six straight road games against teams with a winning record. The Sixers have gone under in five of their last seven home games, and four of their last five overall. Lonzo Ball scored just 2 points on 1-of-9 shooting in 21 minutes in the last meeting. The Lakers have scored an average of 103.8 points per game in their last 10 losses. The total for tonight's game is higher than it was in nine of the last 10 meetings between the two teams. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule.
12-06-17	Kings v. Cavs OVER 210.5		95-101	Loss	-110	9 h 18 m	Show
This is an 8* play on SAC@CLE to go OVER the total. The Cavs can tie a franchise record with their 13th consecutive win when they host the Sacramento Kings tonight. As easy as that may sound, the Kings have actually won two of their last three on the road, averaging 107 points in those games. One of those games was a 110-106 win at Golden State. The Cavs have scored more than 110 points in four of their last five games, and they've allowed over 100 points in 17 of their last 22 overall. These two teams have a history of playing high scoring games, going over in each of the last four head to head meetings. The total in all four of those games was much higher than it is tonight. The Kings have gone over in 18 of their last 24 games versus Eastern Conference teams. The over is 8-1 in Cleveland's last nine games against the Western Conference. Take Over. GL, Jesse Schule
12-05-17	Wizards v. Blazers -5.5	Top	106-92	Loss	-109	13 h 27 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Portland Blazers. The Blazers are badly in need of a solid performance after suffering a 123-116 home loss to an undermanned New Orleans Pelicans team over the weekend. Their problems pale in comparison to those of the visiting Washington Wizards. Without John Wall the Wizards were held to just 69 points in a historic loss at Utah last night. Playing on the road in the second game of a back to back without their best player, a similar result could be expected here tonight. The home team is 15-7 ATS in the last 22 meetings between the two teams, and this looks like a particularly favorable spot for the Blazers. While Portland is healthy, poor play in recent games is cause for concern. Tonight's game presents a golden opportunity for them to snap out of a funk, and they should be primed to take advantage of a hurting Wizards team. "I play against whoever's out there," said Damian Lillard. "I'm always up for a challenge. Everybody knows that. But I ain't crazy. If John Wall's not playing, I'm not going to be like, 'Man, I'm mad. I wish he was playing." The Blazers are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four versus the NBA Southeast. Take Portland. GL, Jesse Schule
12-02-17	Pelicans v. Blazers -3.5	Top	123-116	Loss	-110	17 h 3 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Portland Blazers. The Blazers are coming off a home loss to Milwaukee, and they are now 7-3 in their last 10 overall. They have a home record of 7-5, and they sit in fourth place in the Western Conference. Portland will host the Pelicans tonight, and New Orleans has lost three straight. Anthony Davis left last night's game in Utah with a groin injury, and the Pelicans blew a lead in the fourth quarter losing by a score of 114-108. They have lost five of their last six visits to Portland, and the average margin of victory in those games was greater than 10 points. The prognosis for Davis is bleak, here is a quote from ESPN in the game recap of last night's game: "They eventually carried the All-Star off because he couldn't put any pressure on one of his legs. He was immediately placed in a wheelchair and taken to the training room." The home team is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings between these two teams, and New Orleans has failed to cover in five of their last six at Portland. The Pelicans are 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 games playing on back to back nights. Take POR. GL, Jesse Schule
12-01-17	Spurs -175 v. Grizzlies		95-79	Win	100	8 h 11 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the San Antonio Spurs. The Memphis Grizzlies have lost eight in a row, and they have fired head coach David Fizdale. It isn't uncommon for teams to turn things around after a coaching change, but the Grizzlies have more than their fair share of problems. Starting PG Mike Conley has missed the last six games with an Achilles injury, and he won't be back anytime soon. Backup PG Mario Chalmers is banged up, listed as day to day. Chandler Parsons left the last game with a sore knee, and Brandon Wright has missed four games with a groin injury. The Grizzlies have lost five straight at San Antonio, and four of those give losses came by double digits. Despite the injury to Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs are 9-2 at home, and just three games back of first place Houston in the West. They welcomed back Tony Parker on Monday, and they are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games versus teams with a losing record. Memphis has failed to cover in four of it's last five road games, and is 3-13 ATS in it's last 16 overall. Take SA. GL, Jesse Schule
11-29-17	Grizzlies v. Spurs -8	Top	95-104	Win	100	31 h 44 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the San Antonio Spurs. The Memphis Grizzlies have lost eight in a row, and they have fired head coach David Fizdale. It isn't uncommon for teams to turn things around after a coaching change, but the Grizzlies have more than their fair share of problems. Starting PG Mike Conley has missed the last six games with an Achilles injury, and he won't be back anytime soon. Backup PG Mario Chalmers is banged up, listed as day to day. Chandler Parsons left the last game with a sore knee, and Brandon Wright has missed four games with a groin injury. The Grizzlies have lost five straight at San Antonio, and four of those give losses came by double digits. Despite the injury to Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs are 9-2 at home, and just three games back of first place Houston in the West. They welcomed back Tony Parker on Monday, and they are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games versus teams with a losing record. Memphis has failed to cover in four of it's last five road games, and is 3-13 ATS in it's last 16 overall. Take SA. GL, Jesse Schule
11-28-17	Nuggets v. Jazz -120		77-106	Win	100	22 h 15 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Utah Jazz. The Jazz are coming off back to back home wins over Milwaukee and Chicago, and I like their chances of making it three straight here tonight when they host Denver. The Nuggets are not a great road team, winning only three of nine road games so far. Their depth will be tested, with Paul Millsap out and Mason Plumlee and Wilson Chandler both listed as day to day. They have lost six straight at Utah dating back to 2015, and they have failed to cover in seven of their last eight at Salt Lake City. The Jazz are a great home team, and even with all the adversity they have faced this season they have won eight of 12 at home. Utah shot 58.6 percent from the field and made 18 three-pointers in a 121-108 win over the Bucks on Saturday. Denver has only covered the spread once in it's last five road games, and is 1-6 ATS when coming off a win. The Nuggets made just 57 percent of their free throws in a win over the Grizzlies on Friday, and they were out-scored in the second half of that game. Take UTAH. GL, Jesse Schule
11-24-17	Grizzlies v. Nuggets -5.5	Top	92-104	Win	100	19 h 50 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Denver Nuggets. Both the Nuggets and the Grizzlies are dealing with injuries to star players, as Paul Millsap and Mike Conley are each expected to be sidelined for several weeks. The Nuggets are still in fairly good shape, with plenty of depth at PF with players like Kenneth Faried, Trey Lyles and Juan Hernangomez. The same can't be said for the Grizzlies, who have lost six straight, four of those games without their starting PG. Backup Mario Chalmers struggled in a home loss to Dallas on Wednesday, shooting just 2-of-11 from the field. He's shooting just .358 percent from the field this season, and a woeful .208 percent from beyond the arc. The Grizzlies haven't covered the spread in any of their six losses during this losing skid, and this looks like a tough spot playing at altitude in Denver. The Nuggets are 7-2 at home, and are coming off a loss at Houston. They are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 games following a straight up loss. Take DEN. GL, Jesse Schule
11-22-17	Bulls v. Jazz -8.5	Top	80-110	Win	100	22 h 48 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Utah Jazz. The Jazz have struggled since the injury to Rudy Gobert, losing eight of their last 10 overall. They are in a good spot here tonight though, hosting the bottom feeders of the NBA (Chicago). The Bulls are playing on back to back nights, and also their third game in four nights. This looks like a throw away game for a team that is angling itself for a high lottery pick in the draft, rather than competing for a playoff spot. Rodney Hood scored 31 points on 12-of-21 shooting in a win over the Magic on Saturday, and he should prove to be a handful for a Bulls team that ranks 27th in the league in three-point defense. Some might expect the loss of shot blocking specialist Gobert to result in a more high scoring game, but according to the data that doesn't seem to be the case. Gobert only missed one game last season, but was sidelined for Utah's first three games in their first round playoff series versus the Clippers. Two of those three games saw less than 200 combined points. The previous season saw a stretch where Gobert missed 18 consecutive games, and in 13 of those games the combined score was less than 200 points. The Jazz are ranked 5th in the NBA in opponent's scoring average, holding opponents to an average of 101.1 points per game. I expect them to hold the Bulls to fewer than 90 points here in a double-digit home win. Take UTAH. GL, Jesse Schule
11-17-17	Thunder v. Spurs UNDER 199		101-104	Loss	-110	13 h 52 m	Show
This is an 8* play on OKC@SA to go UNDER the total. The Spurs have been one of the best defensive teams in the NBA for decades under head coach Greg Popovich, and nothing has changed this season. San Antonio ranks 4th in the league in opponent's scoring average, allowing just 98.9 points per game. They host Oklahoma City tonight, and the Thunder have become one of the league's top defensive teams in 2017. They rank 2nd in the NBA allowing just 97.1 points per game. These two teams have a history of playing low scoring games, going under in seven of the last 10 meetings dating back to April of 2016. The under is 4-1 in the last five meetings in San Antonio, and the Thunder failed to score 100 points in all five of those games. Oklahoma City has failed to reach the total in 13 of it's last 16 road games, while the Spurs have gone under in four of their last five versus Western Conference teams. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
11-17-17	Heat v. Wizards -4.5		91-88	Loss	-110	10 h 42 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Washington Wizards. The Wizards have won four straight, and they sit in first place in the Southeast Division. They are coming off a 102-93 win at Miami on Wednesday, and they play the second game of this home and home series tonight at Capital One Arena. Washington's last three home games have been double-digit wins, and I expect another comfortable home win tonight. John Wall and Bradley Beal scored a combined 53 points in Wednesday's win, and Washington scored a whopping 29 points at the free throw line. "We have had success keeping teams under 100 points and getting wins," Beal said. "When we continue to have a defensive mindset, we're a really good team. We showed a glimpse of it (Wednesday)." The Heat have failed to cover in 12 of their last 16 overall, and in nine straight versus Eastern Conference teams. The Wizards have covered the spread in four straight when playing on one day's rest. Take WAS. GL, Jesse Schule
11-13-17	Wolves v. Jazz UNDER 208	Top	109-98	Win	100	17 h 40 m	Show
10*
11-10-17	Nets v. Blazers -8.5		101-97	Loss	-105	18 h 34 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Portland Blazers. After winning the first two games of this home stand, the Blazers fell 98-97 to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. They have had two days to rest ahead of tonight's game versus Brooklyn, and this looks like a perfect opponent for the Blazers to lay a beating on. The Nets have lost two of three on this road trip, with the average margin of defeat in those games being 10 points. They are dealing with some injuries to key players, and with the second game of a back to back in Utah tomorrow, this figures to be a tough spot. The Nets are 1-5 straight up on the road, and they are 1-7 ATS in their last eight versus teams from the Northwest. The Blazers have won four straight versus Brooklyn, covering the spread in three of those four wins. Portland has had a challenging schedule, but when they have faced inferior opponents they have been a good bet. The Blazers are 9-3-1 in their last 13 versus teams with a sub .500 record. Take POR. GL, Jesse Schule
11-10-17	Heat v. Jazz UNDER 196.5		84-74	Win	100	17 h 38 m	Show
This is an 8* play on MIA@UTAH to go UNDER the total. The Heat are playing their fifth game of a five game road trip, coming off a 126-115 win over the Suns. They are 2-2 on the trip so far, failing to score 100 points both losses. They scored just 80 points in a 97-80 loss to Golden State on Monday. The Jazz have lost three straight, and they should be ready to battle for every possession tonight, in an effort to end this losing skid. Their last game was a 104-97 loss to Philly, in a game that saw just combined 90 points scored in the first half. I won with a play on the under in that game, and even though we have a lower number here tonight, I am coming back with another play on the under. These two teams have gone over in four of the last seven meetings, but tonight's total is higher than it was in any of those games. In fact six of those seven games saw a total of 190 or lower. The Heat have failed to reach the total in 12 of their last 16 road games, while the under is 5-1 in Utah's last six when playing on two day's rest. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
11-10-17	Heat v. Jazz -160		84-74	Loss	-160	17 h 37 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Utah Jazz. The Heat are playing their fifth game of a five game road trip, coming off a 126-115 win over the Suns. They are 2-2 on the trip so far, failing to score 100 points both losses. They scored just 80 points in a 97-80 loss to Golden State on Monday. The Jazz have lost three straight, and they should be ready to battle for every possession tonight, in an effort to end this losing skid. Their last game was a 104-97 loss to Philly, in a game that saw just combined 90 points scored in the first half. I won with a play on the under in that game, and I expect another low scoring game here tonight. I do expect a solid effort from the home team, and I think there is great value getting the Jazz as just a slight favorite. The Heat are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six games following a straight up win, while the Jazz are 5-2 ATS in their last seven home games. Take UTAH. GL, Jesse Schule
11-10-17	Bucks v. Spurs -4.5		94-87	Loss	-110	17 h 36 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the San Antonio Spurs. Over the years we've seen coach Popovich get the most of his team, even when he doesn't have all his stars available. That has been the case here again in 2017, as the Spurs are just 1.5 games out of first place in the Western Conference. They are 5-1 at home, and are just a small favorite against an Eastern Conference team that comes in with a losing record. Sure the Milwaukee Bucks have an emerging superstar, and some would say they have underachieved, but I still think they are in over their heads playing here in San Antonio. Since 2012, the Spurs are 9-1 straight up against Milwaukee, and 4-1 at home. They are 7-2 ATS overall in the nine wins. They have won three straight by a combined 37 point margin. LaMarcus Aldridge has scored over 20 points in three of his last four games, and he's doing a fine job of carrying the load in the absence of Kawhi Leonard. The Bucks might be welcoming a new player to the lineup, as Eric Bledsoe is expected to be ready to make his debut for the team. It takes time to develop chemistry, and it's unlikely that Bledsoe will make a positive impact immediately. The Bucks have failed to cover in four straight versus teams with a winning record, and they are 0-4 ATS in their last four versus Western Conference teams. Take SA. GL, Jesse Schule
11-10-17	Hawks v. Pistons UNDER 208		104-111	Loss	-110	15 h 35 m	Show
This is an 8* play on ATL@DET to go UNDER the total. The Hawks have lost nine of their last 10 overall, and they've averaged just 100 points per game in those losses. They are playing at the Palace in Detroit tonight, and I don't like their chances of scoring 100 here. The Pistons are sitting in first place in the Central Division, and it's no thanks to their 16th ranked offense. Detroit has been taking care of business on the defensive side of the ball, allowing opponents to average just over 100 points per game. They rank 8th overall in scoring defense, and they are 5-1 at home. They've held their opponents under 100 points in five of their six home games so far. These two teams have gone over the total in seven of the last eight head to head meetings. That results in a much higher number here for tonight's game. The last three times these teams faced each other, the boomakers set the total below 200. The under 15-7-2 in Hawks last 24 road games, and they have several key players nursing injuries heading into tonight's game. The Pistons have failed to reach the total in 12 of their last 16 home games. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
11-09-17	Cavs v. Rockets -5		113-117	Loss	-115	16 h 43 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Houston Rockets. The Rockets scored 122 points in an upset win over the Warriors in their season opener, but then went on to score less than 100 points in each of their next seven games. They come into tonight's home game against the Cavs off a season high 137 point performance against the Jazz (one of the top defensive teams in the league). James Harden scored a career high 56 points, and was 7-of-8 from three-point range. The Rockets lead the league in three-point attempts, as well as made three-point shots. This could spell trouble for a Cleveland team that ranks dead last in the NBA in three-point defense. They have allowed opponents to average almost 42 percent from beyond the arc. The Rockets average over 44 attempted three-point shots per game. Cleveland has been just brutal on defense, even in the games they have recently won. Opponents have scored 110 points or more in each of the Cavs last nineH games. That includes the Bulls, Nets, and Hawks (the three bottom teams in the Eastern Conference). Cleveland is 2-10 ATS in the last 12 meetings at Houston, including a 117-112 loss in Texas last year. They have failed to cover in nine of their last 11 versus Western Conference teams. Take HOU. GL, Jesse Schule
11-09-17	Cavs v. Rockets OVER 228		113-117	Win	100	16 h 43 m	Show
This is an 8* play on CLE@HOU to go Over the total. The Rockets scored 122 points in an upset win over the Warriors in their season opener, but then went on to score less than 110 points in each of their next seven games. They come into tonight's home game against the Cavs off a season high 137 point performance against the Jazz (one of the top defensive teams in the league). James Harden scored a career high 56 points, and was 7-of-8 from three-point range. The Rockets lead the league in three-point attempts, as well as made three-point shots. This could spell trouble for a Cleveland team that ranks dead last in the NBA in three-point defense. They have allowed opponents to average almost 42 percent from beyond the arc. The Rockets average over 44 attempted three-point shots per game. Cleveland has been just brutal on defense, even in the games they have recently won. Opponents have scored 110 points or more in each of the Cavs last nine games. That includes the Bulls, Nets, and Hawks (the three bottom teams in the Eastern Conference). Cleveland is 2-10 ATS in the last 12 meetings at Houston, including a 117-112 loss in Texas last year. They have gone over in each of their last five games versus Western Conference teams. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
11-08-17	Wolves v. Warriors UNDER 229		101-125	Win	100	17 h 42 m	Show
This is an 8* play on MIN@GS to go Under the total. The Warriors are the highest scoring team in the NBA, scoring over 118 points per game. They are coming off a 97-80 win over the Miami Heat, marking the first time they won a game without reaching 100 points since April of 2016. It was a dominant performance defensively, blocking 10 shots and holding the heat to 36.1 percent shooting. Tonight's game against Minnesota will feature two of the league's premier shot blockers, as both Kevin Durant and Karl Anthony Towns are ranked in the Top 5 in blocks per game. Minnesota is coming off five straight wins, holding opponents to less than 100 points in each of their last three. They have proven to be a tough matchup for the Warriors, who have only covered in one of their last 10 versus the Wolves. The total for tonight's game is higher than it was in any of the previous 10 meetings between the two teams, and seven of those 10 games went under. I expect both these teams to continue a trend of strong defensive play, in what should be a competitive game. Take Under. GL, Jesse Schule
11-08-17	Lakers v. Celtics UNDER 210		96-107	Win	100	14 h 54 m	Show
This is an 8* play on LAL@BOS to go UNDER the total. The Lakers are 5-5, and the hype continues to build. They say showtime is back, but is it really? LA will play it's next four games on the road, after playing seven of 10 at home. Rook PG Lonzo Ball is getting mixed reviews, but one thing is for sure, his shot still needs plenty of work. The #2 overall pick is just 6-of-28 from the field in his last two games, hitting just one of 11 three-point attempts. The young Lakers will face the NBA's #1 ranked scoring defense, as the Celtics are holding opponents to just over 94 points per game. Boston has won nine straight since opening the season with back to back losses, and I don't expect a let down here at home in such a high profile game. These two teams have failed to reach the total in five of the last seven head to head meetings, and Boston has gone under in four of it's last five versus Western Conference teams. I think the total here looks a bit too high. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
11-07-17	76ers v. Jazz UNDER 205		104-97	Win	100	14 h 22 m	Show
This is a 5* play on PHI@UTAH to go Under the total. The Jazz defeated Portland by a score of 112-103 last week. That game was tied 94-94 at the end of the fourth quarter, but overtime pushed the total over the number. Here is what I said prior to the game: "The Jazz are still the best defensive team in the NBA, and they are 4-0 at home so far. Their last home game was a 104-89 win over the Dallas Mavericks. They trailed Dallas 53-44 at halftime, but they took over in the third quarter, allowing the Mavs to score just 15 points. They might have let their guard down early in that game, but they likely know they need to concentrate for a full four quarters here against the Blazers." They have since lost to Houston and Toronto, going over the total now in three straight. The result is a higher total for tonight's home game against Philly. The under is 6-1 in the last seven meetings between these two teams, and the listed total was under 200 in each of the last six of those games. Take Under. GL, Jesse Schule
11-03-17	Raptors v. Jazz -120		109-100	Loss	-120	21 h 1 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Utah Jazz. The Jazz have won three straight, and they are 5-0 at home. They rank 2nd in the NBA in scoring defense, allowing under 95 points per game. They haven't allowed 95 points (in regulation) in any of their last three games. The Jazz host Toronto tonight, and the Raptors are in a tough spot, playing their final game of a six game road trip to the West Coast. They had won back to back games in LA and Portland, before getting blown out in Denver. They gave up less than 100 points in wins over the Lakers and Blazers, but allowed over 100 points in three quarters against the Nuggets. The Jazz are 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 games playing on 1 days rest, and the under is 7-2-1 in Jazz last 10 games following a straight up win. The Raptors have failed to reach the total in 23 of their last 31 road games. I predict the Jazz win a defensive battle here at home. Take UTAH. GL, Jesse Schule
11-03-17	Raptors v. Jazz UNDER 196		109-100	Loss	-110	21 h 1 m	Show
This is an 8* play on TOR@UTAH to go UNDER the total. The Jazz have won three straight, and they are 5-0 at home. They rank 2nd in the NBA in scoring defense, allowing under 95 points per game. They haven't allowed 95 points (in regulation) in any of their last three games. The Jazz host Toronto tonight, and the Raptors are in a tough spot, playing their final game of a six game road trip to the West Coast. They had won back to back games in LA and Portland, before getting blown out in Denver. They gave up less than 100 points in wins over the Lakers and Blazers, but allowed over 100 points in three quarters against the Nuggets. The Jazz are 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 games playing on 1 days rest, and the under is 7-2-1 in Jazz last 10 games following a straight up win. The Raptors have failed to reach the total in 23 of their last 31 road games. I predict the Jazz win a defensive battle here at home. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
11-03-17	Heat v. Nuggets -5	Top	94-95	Loss	-110	21 h 2 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets are coming off a 129-111 home win over the Raptors, and they have won three of their last four overall. They are 2-1 at home, and they host the Miami Heat tonight, a team that is winless on the road. The Heat have played six of their seven games so far at home, winning just three of those games. Denver is a notoriously difficult place to play, especially when coming from the East Coast. The Heat are just 3-8 ATS in their last 11 at Denver, and 6-16 ATS in the last 22 meetings overall. Hassan Whiteside missed five games due to a knee injury, but returned to score 13 points and pull in 14 rebounds in 26 minutes in a 97-91 win over Chicago. The Heat still failed to cover, beating the worst team in the NBA by just six points at home. Miami is burying bettors, failing to cover in any of their games so far this season. Normally that would result in better value that a 5-point spread on the road against a team that is considered a playoff contender in the superior Western Conference. Take DEN. GL, Jesse Schule
11-01-17	Blazers v. Jazz UNDER 196.5		103-112	Loss	-110	22 h 40 m	Show
This is an 8* play on POR@UTAH to go UNDER the total. The Jazz are still the best defensive team in the NBA, and they are 4-0 at home so far. Their last home game was a 104-89 win over the Dallas Mavericks. They trailed Dallas 53-44 at halftime, but they took over in the third quarter, allowing the Mavs to score just 15 points. They might have let their guard down early in that game, but they likely know they need to concentrate for a full four quarters here against the Blazers. Portland has won two of three road games, holding opponents to under 100 points in both those victories. The Blazers have been solid defensively so far, holding opponents to 98.3 points per game, the 6th best in the league. These two teams have played three times in 2017, going under in all three of those games. The Blazers failed to reach 90 points in each of their two games at Salt Lake City during that span. The under is 5-2 in Utah's last seven home games, and Portland has failed to reach the total in seven of their last nine when coming off a double-digit loss. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
10-31-17	Thunder v. Bucks UNDER 213.5	Top	110-91	Win	100	22 h 11 m	Show
This is a 10* play on OKC@MIL to go UNDER the total. The Oklahoma City Thunder are not the same team they were a year ago. So far this season they've been far better defensively, holding opponents to just 96.5 points per game. They play a tough road game at Milwaukee tonight, and the Bucks have won three of their last four. These teams played twice last year, and both games went under the total. In fact, neither of those two games saw a combined 200 points. The under trend goes back several seasons, with seven of the last nine head to head meetings going under the total. Russell Westbrook scored just 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting in a 101-69 win at Chicago on Saturday. He's really been shooting poorly from the free throw line this season, hitting just over 60 percent. In fact both these teams are below league average in free throw percentage, and the Thunder rank 25th overall in that category. The Bucks have gone under in six of their last eight home games, and they've failed to reach the total in four straight home meetings versus Oklahoma City. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
10-30-17	Mavs v. Jazz UNDER 192		89-104	Loss	-105	18 h 56 m	Show
This is an 8* play on DAL@UTAH to go UNDER the total. The Jazz are missing Gordon Hayward, and coming into tonight's home game against Dallas they rank 29th in the league in scoring averaging just 94.5 points per game. The good news is, they are 3-0 at home, and they are still one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. The Jazz rank 2nd overall in opponent's scoring average, allowing just 93.8 points per game. They have allowed just 87.6 points per game at home. The Mavericks are winless on the road, and they rank 25 in the NBA in scoring, averaging just over 99 points per game. The Jazz have failed to reach the total in five of their last six home games, and the under is 5-0-1 in Utah's last six overall. These two teams have gone over the total in five of the last six head to head meetings, but two of those games went to overtime. The total for tonight's game is also higher than it was in five of the last six meetings. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
10-30-17	76ers v. Rockets UNDER 216.5		115-107	Loss	-110	22 h 34 m	Show
This is an 8* play on PHI@HOU to go UNDER the total. The Rockets beat the Sixers by a score of 105-104 last week, and I bet the under in that game. Here is what I said prior to tip off: "The Rockets scored 122 points in a shocking upset win over the Warriors in their season opener, but they have averaged less than 100 points in three games since. It's likely no coincidence that PG Chris Paul has not played since injuring his knee in the win over the Warriors. His replacement Eric Gordon scored a team high 27 points in a loss to the Grizzlies on Monday, but the offense looked out of sync. Houston attempted a whopping 38 three point shots, hitting just nine (23.7%). The Sixers are coming off a 97-86 win over the Pistons in Detroit. Philly has lost three of four games so far, and has scored an average of less than 100 points per game. These teams have gone over the total in seven of the last 10 head to head meetings, but the total for tonight's game is higher than it was in any of those previous meetings. The Rockets have gone under in four straight versus Eastern Conference teams." The Rockets have continued to trend under, but the total for tonight's home game remains the same as the last meeting between these two teams. I expect a similar result. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
10-30-17	Spurs v. Celtics -165		94-108	Win	100	16 h 27 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Boston Celtics. The Spurs are really hurting, playing without their MVP Kawhi Leonard, and veteran PG Tony Parker. They are coming off back to back road losses, and tonight's game in Boston will be their second of a back to back, and third game in four nights. These have traditionally been spots where coach Popovich has opted to rest key players, something that is no longer an option according to NBA rules. Veteran forward Pau Gasol logged 30 minutes last night, and he's likely to be used sparingly here in Boston. The Celtics have won four straight, and they've allowed opponents to average just 90 points in those games. The Spurs haven't lost in Boston since 2011, and San Antonio has won 11 straight versus the Celtics. This could provide additional motivation for the home team, and they appear to have a golden opportunity to snap that streak. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
10-29-17	Magic v. Hornets UNDER 212		113-120	Loss	-105	12 h 57 m	Show
This is an 8* play on ORL@CHA to go Under the total. The Orlando Magic are off to a surprising start, and they come into tonight's game at Charlotte looking for their fourth consecutive win. They could be due to suffer a bit of a let down, coming off a huge 114-87 win over the Spurs. They shot 57.1 percent from the field, and 47.8 percent from beyond the arc in the victory. Those numbers are obviously not sustainable, and Charlotte ranks among the top teams in the NBA, holding opponents to just 99.6 points per game so far. Dwight Howard leads the NBA in rebounds, and ranks among the league leaders in blocked shots. The Magic are 0-4 in their last four visits to Charlotte, and they failed to score 100 points in three of those games. The total for tonight's game is higher than it was in all four of those games, and Charlotte has gone under in seven straight. The Hornets have played more than their fair share of low scoring games, failing to reach the total in 16 of their last 22 when playing teams in their own division. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
10-28-17	Pistons v. Clippers UNDER 208		95-87	Win	100	22 h 4 m	Show
This is an 8* play on DET@LAC to go UNDER the total. I bet the under in the Clippers last game, a 104-103 win at Portland. Blake Griffin hit a buzzer beater three-pointer for the win. Here is what I had to say prior to the game: "The new look Clippers are off to a decent start, and most impressive has been their defense. They've allowed an NBA best 88 points per game so far. While we have seen the Clippers play their fair share of high scoring games in previous seasons, this year's squad appears to be designed to play a different brand of basketball. With Patrick Beverly at PG instead of Chris Paul, and J.J. Reddick and Jamal Crawford no longer coming off the bench, we shouldn't expect to see the same "Lob City" offense." The Clippers host the Detroit Pistons, another solid defensive team. This game will feature two of the league's worst free-throw shooters in DeAndre Jordan and Andre Drummond. These two teams have gone over the total in four of the last six meetings, but the total in those games was much lower than the total for tonight's contest. The Clippers have failed to reach the total in five of their last six at Staples Center. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
10-26-17	Clippers v. Blazers UNDER 216	Top	104-103	Win	100	33 h 15 m	Show
10*
10-25-17	Rockets v. 76ers UNDER 221		105-104	Win	100	12 h 30 m	Show
This is a 5* play on HOU@PHI to go UNDER the total. The Rockets scored 122 points in a shocking upset win over the Warriors in their season opener, but they have averaged less than 100 points in three games since. It's likely no coincidence that PG Chris Paul has not played since injuring his knee in the win over the Warriors. His replacement Eric Gordon scored a team high 27 points in a loss to the Grizzlies on Monday, but the offense looked out of sync. Houston attempted a whopping 38 three point shots, hitting just nine (23.7%). The Sixers are coming off a 97-86 win over the Pistons in Detroit. Philly has lost three of four games so far, and has scored an average of less than 100 points per game. These teams have gone over the total in seven of the last 10 head to head meetings, but the total for tonight's game is higher than it was in any of those previous meetings. The Rockets have gone under in four straight versus Eastern Conference teams. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
10-24-17	Pelicans v. Blazers -4.5		93-103	Win	100	15 h 39 m	Show
This is a 5* play on the Portland TrailBlazers. The Blazers are off to a solid start, winning two of three on the road to open the season. They are coming off a 113-110 loss at Milwaukee, in a game decided by a buzzer beater. They play their home opener against the New Orleans Pelicans, who have won just one of three games, and nearly blew a big lead in LA on Sunday. Everyone knows that Portland is a strong home team, but their streak of 16 consecutive wins in their home opener is an NBA record. The Pelicans were just 13-28 on the road last season, and they've failed to cover the spread in six of their last seven at Portland. The Blazers aren't known for their defense, but currently they rank in the Top 5 in the league allowing just 95 points per game. The Pelicans have allowed over 114 points per game so far, ranking near the bottom of the league in most defensive categories. Damian Lillard has owned the Pelicans, averaging over 27 points in his last five games against them. I expect the Blazers to make it 17 straight wins in their home opener. Take POR. GL, Jesse Schule
10-23-17	76ers v. Pistons UNDER 214.5	Top	97-86	Win	100	20 h 55 m	Show
This is a 10* play on PHI@DET to go UNDER the total. The Pistons are off to a solid 2-1 start, and they've been strong on defense allowing just over 104 points per game. They host the Sixers tonight, and despite so much optimism in Philly, this team is still a long way away from being competitive. The 0-3 Sixers have failed to score 100 points in back to back double digit losses. They hit just 39 percent from the field in a loss at Toronto on Saturday, and they could struggle against this gritty Detroit defense. Both these teams rank in the Top 10 in the league in defending the three-point shot, and the Sixers rank 26th overall in field goal percentage. These teams played three times last season, failing to reach the total in two of those three contests. The total for tonight's game is actually higher than it was in any of those three previous meetings. The Pistons have gone under in six straight home games against teams below .500. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
10-21-17	Suns v. Clippers UNDER 217.5	Top	88-130	Loss	-110	14 h 0 m	Show
This is a 10* play on PHO@LAC to go UNDER the total. The Suns played a high scoring game at home last night, coming up just short in a heart-breaking two point (132-130) loss to the Lakers. They will play at the Staples Center against the other team from Los Angeles tonight, and this looks like a let down spot for the Suns. They have failed to cover in three of their last four against the Clippers in LA, and they failed to score 100 points in all four of those games. The Clippers are a different team without Chris Paul, but so far the most important thing about his replacement (Patrick Beverly) has been his defense. After shutting down Lavar Ball in the Clippers season opener, some media personalities were calling him "the best defensive PG in the NBA". The Suns have failed to reach the total in nine of their last 12 when coming off a loss, and I expect this game to be decided midway through the third quarter. The backups might get some minutes in garbage time here, and it's going to be tough for these teams to reach such a high total in a lopsided game. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
10-20-17	Blazers v. Pacers OVER 221.5	Top	114-96	Loss	-110	29 h 60 m	Show
This is a 10* play on POR@IND to go OVER the total. The Indiana Pacers scored 140 points in their season opener, despite shooting just 9-of-34 from beyond the arc. They had eight players score in double figures, and the played at an incredible fast pace. They host the Portland Trailblazers on Friday night, and Portland is a team that is happy to run with the likes of Indiana. The total for this game is a little higher than it has been in previous meetings, but these teams combined to score over 225 points in three of the last four meetings. The Blazers scored 124 points, and shot 14-of-24 from three point range in their season opener versus Phoenix. CJ McCollum sat out the season opener due to a suspension, but he should be ready to go here in Indiana. The Pacers beat the Blazers 118-111 at home last December (the most recent meeting), and four of the Blazers last five at Indiana have gone over the total. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
10-18-17	Nuggets v. Jazz -130		96-106	Win	100	19 h 1 m	Show
8*
10-18-17	Pelicans v. Grizzlies -135		91-103	Win	100	18 h 12 m	Show
8*
10-18-17	Bucks v. Celtics -147		108-100	Loss	-147	7 h 14 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Boston Celtics. The Celtics showed plenty of character coming back from a 16-point deficit at halftime to out-score the Cavs 33-18 in the third quarter. The loss of Gordon Hayward will be tough, but I think they can overcome it. They face a tough test here tonight, playing the second game of a back to back at home versus Milwaukee. The Bucks were one of the best defensive teams in the East last year, and that's a big reason why the under is 8-2-1 in Milwaukee's last 11 overall. While the Celtics are without Hayward, Milwaukee is going to miss PF Jabari Parker, who averaged over 20 points per game last year. The Bucks lost three of four pre-season games, averaging less than 100 points per game. I expect a tight defensive battle here in Boston. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
10-17-17	Rockets v. Warriors UNDER 232		122-121	Loss	-110	35 h 45 m	Show
This is an 8* play on HOU@GS to go UNDER the total. The Warriors will host Houston in their season opener, and the total for this game is sky high. These teams have gone under in six of the last seven meetings, and I don't expect that the offense will be firing on all cylinders this early in the year. That is especially true for James Harden, who finished the pre-season going 1-for-18 from beyond the arc in his last two games. He failed to score 20 points in four of the Rockets last five pre-season games, despite playing starters minutes. Keep in mind the last meaningful game he played was a 114-75 home loss to the Spurs in the Western Conference Semi Finals. He scored 10 points on 2-of-11 shooting, leading many to speculate that he threw the game. Then there is the NBA's change to the "James Harden Rule", which will prevent him from getting as many unearned points as he has in past seasons. The Rockets have lost five of their last six visits to Oracle Arena, and they have averaged under 95 points per game in those losses. While the over is 5-1 in the Warriors last six home games, the number here is higher than it was for any of those six contests. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
10-17-17	Celtics +3.5 v. Cavs		99-102	Win	100	17 h 17 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Boston Celtics. Kyrie Irving and his Celtics would appear to have a lot more to prove than Cleveland here on Opening Night. The Celtics are the defending Eastern Conference champs, and Cleveland has already proven that regular season success is not a high priority. It was Kyrie Irving that was the better player in the NBA Finals when Cleveland won the title, and he was better in last year's Finals as well. Isaiah Thomas finished 5th in MVP voting with the Celtics last year, and now Irving steps in to fill his role as "The Man" in Boston. It's worth noting that in Boston's loss to Cleveland in the NBA Finals, they were far more competitive without Thomas in the lineup. They covered the spread in both Games 3 & 4 in Cleveland, and they led by double-digits at halftime in Game 4. The Celtics are 7-2 ATS in their last nine road games, and 3-0-1 ATS in their last four at Cleveland. I'll take the points. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
06-09-17	Warriors -5.5 v. Cavs		116-137	Loss	-110	9 h 33 m	Show
This is a 5* play on the Warriors. The Cavs played about as well as they possibly can in Game 3, but in the end the Warriors won and covered, taking a commanding 3-0 lead. This sets up Cleveland for a let down (maybe even a lay down) spot at home in Game 4. It's hard to imagine that the Cavs are too motivated to force a 5th game, which would have them travel to Oakland, where they could watch the Warriors celebrate in front of a home crowd. LeBron James scored 39 points and came one assist away from a triple-double in Game 3, but he's traditionally struggled when facing elimination in the Finals. When the Warriors won in Cleveland in 2015, he scored 32 points, but shot just 13-of-33 from the field in the final game of the series. The Previous season, LeBron's Miami Heat lost to the Spurs in five games. LeBron scored 31 points in Game 5, shooting for a lower percentage than any of the previous four games in the series. The Cavs have no answer for Kevin Durant, who leads all scorers averaging 34 points per game in the Finals. I expect Durant to have a big night, helping the Warriors close out a 16-0 post-season with a win tonight. I also like the following props: 4TH quarter total UNDER 55.5 -110 @ Bet365 LeBron James no triple double -215 @ 5Dimes Warriors first to score 30 points -150 @ 5Dimes Kevin Durant to score more points than Curry, James, Irving +220 @ Bet365 LeBron James under 55.5 points + rebounds + assists -135 @ 5Dimes GL, Jesse Schule
06-09-17	Warriors v. Cavs UNDER 229		116-137	Loss	-110	9 h 33 m	Show
This is a 5* play on GS@CLE to go UNDER. The Cavs played about as well as they possibly can in Game 3, but in the end the Warriors won and covered, taking a commanding 3-0 lead. This sets up Cleveland for a let down (maybe even a lay down) spot at home in Game 4. It's hard to imagine that the Cavs are too motivated to force a 5th game, which would have them travel to Oakland, where they could watch the Warriors celebrate in front of a home crowd. LeBron James scored 39 points and came one assist away from a triple-double in Game 3, but he's traditionally struggled when facing elimination in the Finals. When the Warriors won in Cleveland in 2015, he scored 32 points, but shot just 13-of-33 from the field in the final game of the series. The Previous season, LeBron's Miami Heat lost to the Spurs in five games. LeBron scored 31 points in Game 5, shooting for a lower percentage than any of the previous four games in the series. The Cavs have no answer for Kevin Durant, who leads all scorers averaging 34 points per game in the Finals. I expect Durant to have a big night, helping the Warriors close out a 16-0 post-season with a win tonight. I also like the following props: 4TH quarter total UNDER 55.5 -110 @ Bet365 LeBron James no triple double -215 @ 5Dimes Warriors first to score 30 points -150 @ 5Dimes Kevin Durant to score more points than Curry, James, Irving +220 @ Bet365 LeBron James under 55.5 points + rebounds + assists -135 @ 5Dimes GL, Jesse Schule
06-07-17	Warriors v. Cavs UNDER 221	Top	118-113	Loss	-110	77 h 43 m	Show
This is a 10* play on GS@CLE to go Under the total. Game 1 of the NBA Finals fell well short of an inflated total, and the bookmakers adjusted with a much lower number for Game 2. We saw an offensive outburst in the second game of the series, but the end result was the same (a blowout win for the Warriors). Here is what I said prior to Game 1: "The Cavs will play the Warriors in a rematch of last year's NBA Finals. In fact this is the third straight season that Cleveland will face the Warriors in the Finals, and over the past two seasons they have played 13 NBA Finals matches. Not one of those games saw more than 216 combined points. During the regular season these teams played three times, and went under in all three games. Despite these trends, a matchup between two teams that each ranked in the top five in scoring has the bookmakers opening with another enormous total for Game 1. Both these teams have put up impressive points totals in these playoffs, but they've also been dominant on defense. The Warriors have gone over in six straight, but the total for this game in far higher than it was in any of those previous contests. So far in these playoffs neither the Warriors or the Cavs have truly been in a position where they need to battle for a full 48 minutes. This is the Finals, and the stakes are high. Don't expect to see easy buckets and mental lapses on the defensive side of the ball. LeBron's legacy is at stake here, and while he just passed MJ to become the all time playoff scoring leader, I've been more impressed with his defense so far in this post-season." After a combined 245 points were scored in Game 2, the total for tonight's game is significantly higher than it was on Sunday. I think this is another over-correction by the bookmakers. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
06-01-17	Cavs v. Warriors UNDER 226.5	Top	91-113	Win	100	149 h 50 m	Show
This is a 10* play on CLE@GS to go UNDER the total. The Cavs will play the Warriors in a rematch of last year's NBA Finals. In fact this is the third straight season that Cleveland will face the Warriors in the Finals, and over the past two seasons they have played 13 NBA Finals matches. Not one of those games saw more than 216 combined points. During the regular season these teams played three times, and went under in all three games. Despite these trends, a matchup between two teams that each ranked in the top five in scoring has the bookmakers opening with another enormous total for Game 1. Both these teams have put up impressive points totals in these playoffs, but they've also been dominant on defense. The Warriors have gone over in six straight, but the total for this game in far higher than it was in any of those previous contests. So far in these playoffs neither the Warriors or the Cavs have truly been in a position where they need to battle for a full 48 minutes. This is the Finals, and the stakes are high. Don't expect to see easy buckets and mental lapses on the defensive side of the ball. LeBron's legacy is at stake here, and while he just passed MJ to become the all time playoff scoring leader, I've been more impressed with his defense so far in this post-season. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
05-25-17	Cavs v. Celtics UNDER 216	Top	135-102	Loss	-110	19 h 54 m	Show
This is a 10* play on CLE@BOS to go UNDER the total . The last time these two teams played in Boston, the total fell short of an inflated number. I cashed in on that game, and here is what I said before tip off: "The Celtics only scored 39 points in the first half of Game 1, and the game ended up going over the total by just one bucket. The bookmakers have set a higher total for Game 2, and I am expecting a more competitive game from Boston. These two teams had gone under in six straight meetings in Boston prior to Game 1. The Cavs aren't expecting much of a challenge here from the Celtics, but their performance in the series opener appeared to be a statement directed toward the Warriors. We could see them take their foot off the gas here in Game 2. Cleveland won Game 1 by a 13 point margin, and the difference was made up at the free throw line. The Cavs attempted a whopping 35 free throws, scoring 28 points. The Celtics attempted just 18 free throws, scoring just 10 points. I would think those numbers would even out a little here in Game 2. There were plenty of "easy buckets" in the last game, and I expect to see Boston play a little harder on defense down the stretch in this game." The situation is a little different here in Game 5, as the Celtics are now facing elimination. The Cavs previously closed out Toronto and Indiana, and both of those elimination games saw fewer than 212 points. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
05-23-17	Celtics v. Cavs UNDER 216	Top	99-112	Win	100	26 h 18 m	Show
This is a 10* play on BOS@CLE to go UNDER the total. After suffering the worst loss in NBA Playoff History in Game 2 at home, the Celtics stunned the Cavs in Cleveland winning Game 3 by a score of 111-108. The Cavs led by 21 points in the third quarter of that game, and it looked like it was going to be another blowout. The Cavs obviously took their foot off the gas, allowing Boston to get back in the game. I seriously doubt we'll see that happen here in Game 4 tonight. We saw how dominant the Cavs can be when they held the Celtics to just 31 points in the first half of Game 2. I expect to see that same defensive intensity here in tonight's game. The Celtics upset victory in Game 3 was a feel good story, and they deserve full credit for showing up to play under tough circumstances. Don't be surprised if they suffer a let down here in tonight's game, as it's doubtful that they continue to shoot the ball so well from beyond the arc. Scoring has been up in these playoffs, and that has bookmakers setting the totals higher and higher. I think the value here in Cleveland tonight is a play on the under. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
05-22-17	Warriors v. Spurs OVER 216		129-115	Win	100	19 h 5 m	Show
This is an 8* play on GS@SA to go OVER the total. Last night we saw the Celtics pull off a stunning upset for the ages in Cleveland. They pushed the tempo, playing fast and making a whopping 18 three-pointers. The pressure is off for both the Spurs and the Warriors now, and I expect to see both teams come out pretty loose in Game 4. The Spurs scored 108 points in Game 3, despite going just 5-of-21 from beyond the arc. They also shot just 60 percent from the free-throw line. I expect improvements in both those categories tonight, and that will help push the total higher. These teams have played a total of six games this season (regular season and playoffs), and five of those went over the total. The Warriors have gone over in six of their last seven road games, while the Spurs have gone over in five straight home games. The Warriors scored 128 points in their series clinching win at Portland, and 121 points in their series clinching win against the Jazz. I expect to see them score 120+ again, closing out the Spurs tonight. Take GS. GL, Jesse Schule

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