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NBA Archive
Date	Match Up	Rating	Score	Result	Profit	Lead Time	Analysis
05-21-17	Celtics v. Cavs OVER 213	Top	111-108	Win	100	24 h 60 m	Show
This is an 8* play on BOS@CLE to go OVER the total. The Cavs scored 130 points in Game 2 of this series, and with Isaiah Thomas out for the rest of the playoffs, Boston isn't likely to play any better defensively in Cleveland. The Cavs might suffer a bit of a let down, but if the do it's likely going to be on defense. They held the Celtics to just 31 points in the first half of Game 2, and it might be a tough ask to bring that kind of defensive intensity again here in Game 3. Boston scored 55 points in the second half of Game 2, and that was with Isaiah Thomas in the locker room. The Cavs have gone over in all four home games in these playoffs, and the over is 7-3 in Cavaliers last 10 games playing on 1 days rest. The total for the last game was roughly seven points higher, but with Boston's leading scorer out, the bookmakers have adjusted with a much lower number here. I think it looks like an over-correction. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
05-20-17	Warriors -6.5 v. Spurs		120-108	Win	100	9 h 22 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Golden State Warriors. The Cleveland Cavaliers have put the Warriors on notice, and now the ball is in Golden State's court. Sure the Cavs are playing the Celtics, and the Warriors are playing the Spurs, but he reality is that these two teams are focused on a rematch of last year's Finals. Lebron James said that his team could play better after winning Game 1 in Boston by double-digits, and he wasn't kidding. Cleveland won Game 2 by a 44-point margin. With the Cavs well on their way to sweeping the Celtics, the pressure is on for Golden State to close out the Spurs as quickly as possible. Kawhi Leonard is not going to be healthy for Game 3, and he might not play at all. The Spurs have had no answer for Golden State without him, and I don't think that will change just because they are playing on their home court. They trailed at the half in their last home game in these playoffs, a 110-107 OT win over Houston. They trailed at the half in two of three home games during that series. The Warriors won their last game in San Antonio by a score of 110-98, and Kevin Durant didn't even play in that game. Take GS. GL, Jesse Schule
05-19-17	Cavs v. Celtics UNDER 220	Top	130-86	Win	100	23 h 47 m	Show
This is a 10* play on CLE@BOS to go UNDER the total. 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. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
05-17-17	Cavs v. Celtics +4.5	Top	117-104	Loss	-110	23 h 0 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Boston Celtics. The Cavs are a big favorite here in the Eastern Conference Finals, but they might be a little slow out of the gates coming off a long layoff. Boston is full of confidence coming off a big Game 7 win over the Wizards, and I expect the Celtics to come out like gangbusters at home in Game 1. In the first round versus Indiana, the Cavs won Game 1 by just a single point. The Celtics have been strong at home, and they have covered the spread in five straight during this post-season run. Cleveland only covered the spread once in four regular season meetings versus Boston, and they lost outright by a score of 103-99 at the Garden in March. We saw how bad the Warriors looked in the first half of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, and I think Cleveland might be at risk of a similar performance as they shake off the rust. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
05-16-17	Spurs v. Warriors OVER 209.5		100-136	Win	100	9 h 15 m	Show
This is an 8* play on SA@GS to go OVER the total. The Warriors were held to just 42 points in the first half of Game 1, and they trailed by 20 points heading into the third quarter. They went on an 18-0 run following the injury to Kawhi Leonard, and outscored San Antonio 71-49 in the second half. The Spurs couldn't stop Steph Curry and Kevin Durant without Leonard, and that might be a preview of how this series is going to go if Leonard is unable to play after suffering another ankle sprain. Golden State also scored 24 points at the free throw line, and that's one more reason to expect a lot of scoring here in Game 2. These two teams have gone over in three of the last four meetings, and the over is 8-2 in Spurs last 10 road games. The Warriors have gone over in five of their last seven overall. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
05-15-17	Wizards v. Celtics -4.5		105-115	Win	100	23 h 41 m	Show
This is a 7* play on the Boston Celtics. The home team has won each and every game in this series, but Boston came very close to winning Game 6 in Washington. Bradley Beal led all scorers with 33 points in the last game, but he hasn't been the same player in Boston. He's totaled just 30 points on 11-of-31 shooting in the last two games at The Garden. History has certainly favored home teams in previous Game 7s. The home team has won 101 of a total of 126 Game 7s all time. The Celtics as a franchise have been the most successful in Game 7s, winning 21-of-29 all time. They are 18-4 all time at home in Game 7s. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
05-15-17	Wizards v. Celtics UNDER 211	Top	105-115	Loss	-110	67 h 14 m	Show
This is a 10* play on WAS@BOS to go UNDER the total. The Wizards avoided elimination in Game 6 when John Wall hit a three-point shot with just three seconds on the clock to put Washington up by one. It was a clutch shot on a night when neither team shot the ball well, and every bucket was hard earned. Washington shot just 5-of-24 from beyond the arc, and they were just 13-of-21 from the free throw line. I expect to see another tightly contested defensive battle in a winner takes all contest at the Garden on Monday night. Washington really struggled in Game 5 in Boston, shooting just 38.5 percent from the field, and 24.1 percent from beyond the arc. Bradley Beal scored 33 points in Game 6 at home, three more than his combined points in the last two games in Boston. Over the last two seasons, we've seen six NBA playoff series go to a seventh and deciding game, and every one of those games saw fewer than 211 points. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
05-12-17	Celtics v. Wizards -5		91-92	Loss	-108	24 h 25 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Washington Wizards. The home team has won every game in this series so far, and the home team won and covered in every meeting during the regular season as well. I bet on Washington in Game 4, and here is what I said prior to the game: "Washington has led at halftime in all three games in this series, and finally in Game 3 at home they were able to hold a lead. They will try to even the series at 2-2 in Game 4 on Sunday, and I like their chances of doing just that. Isaiah Thomas struggled in Game 3, playing just 29 minutes, scoring 13 points on 3-of-8 shooting. He missed the beginning of the second half after having a tooth knocked out earlier in the game. He needed surgery to repair the damage, and while he's expected to play, he's going to be hurting, especially if he takes any more shots to the jaw area. Washington was one of the best home teams in the league during the regular season, and they've won by double digits in each of their last three home games against the Celtics. The Wizards owned the boards in the last game, out-rebounding Boston 50-38. I expect to see this series go seven games, with the home team winning each and every game."Take WAS. GL, Jesse Schule
05-11-17	Spurs v. Rockets OVER 213		114-75	Loss	-110	10 h 34 m	Show
This is an 8* play on SA@HOU to go OVER the total. These teams have gone over in four of the five games so far in this series, and I bet the over in the last two games. Here is what I said prior to Game 4: "The Spurs suffered their worst lost in history in Game 1 of this series versus Houston, but they have responded with back to back wins to take a 2-1 lead heading into Game 4. LaMarcus Aldridge struggled in the series opener, but he was great in Game 3, scoring 26 points with seven rebounds and four blocked shots. These teams played close gamed during the regular season, with three of the four decided by just a two point margin. The bookmakers have made the Rockets a six point favorite on Sunday, and the total is hovering around 212. San Antonio has seized the momentum, and their defense was impressive holding Houston to just 36.4 percent shooting in the last game. The Rockets are likely to be a lot better in tonight's must win game, and that should push the total higher than Game 3. The Spurs have gone over in six of their last seven road games, while Houston has gone over in six of their last eight following a double-digit home loss." I was a little lucky in Game 5, needing the overtime to go over. With Leonard injured, Houston should have little trouble scoring. I expect to see plenty of scoring here in Game 6. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
05-10-17	Wizards v. Celtics OVER 215		101-123	Win	100	11 h 46 m	Show
This is an 8* play on WAS@BOS to go OVER the total. The Wizards shot 52.4 percent from the field, and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc in Game 4, beating the Celtics by a score of 121-102. It was the third time in four games that these two teams went over the total in this series. Both games in Boston went over, and the Wizards led at halftime in each of those contests. The Celtics needed overtime to get past Washington in Game 2, however the two teams had already scored enough points in regulation to push the total over. John Wall went off for 40 points on 16-of-32 shooting in that game, but it wasn't enough as the Celtics won 129-119. Isaiah Thomas struggled in the second half of the last game, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him get his swagger back here at home in Game 5. He was 10-of-23 from beyond the arc in the previous two games in Boston. The over is 5-0-1 in Boston's last six home games, and these two teams have gone over in eight of the last 11 meetings in Boston. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
05-09-17	Rockets v. Spurs OVER 214.5		107-110	Win	100	7 h 17 m	Show
This is a 10* play on HOU@SA to go OVER the total. The Rockets made an incredible 22 three-point shots in a blowout victory in Game 1 at San Antonio, but the Spurs bounced back with a 121-96 win in Game 2. Both of those games went over the total, and I expect another high scoring game here in Game 5. Here is what I had to say prior to the last game in this series: "The Spurs suffered their worst lost in history in Game 1 of this series versus Houston, but they have responded with back to back wins to take a 2-1 lead heading into Game 4. LaMarcus Aldridge struggled in the series opener, but he was great in Game 3, scoring 26 points with seven rebounds and four blocked shots. These teams played close gamed during the regular season, with three of the four decided by just a two point margin. The bookmakers have made the Rockets a six point favorite on Sunday, and the total is hovering around 212. San Antonio has seized the momentum, and their defense was impressive holding Houston to just 36.4 percent shooting in the last game. The Rockets are likely to be a lot better in tonight's must win game, and that should push the total higher than Game 3. The Spurs have gone over in six of their last seven road games, while Houston has gone over in six of their last eight following a double-digit home loss" Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
05-08-17	Warriors v. Jazz OVER 206	Top	121-95	Win	100	30 h 19 m	Show
This is a 10* play on GS@UTAH to go OVER the total. The Warriors swept the Blazers in the first round, and they have a chance to sweep the Jazz here in Game 4 in Salt Lake City. They scored more points in Game 4 against Portland than they did in any of the previous three games in that series, and I expect to see a high scoring game here in Utah tonight as well. Both these teams have played hard on defense so far, but with the Jazz trailing 0-3, we could see both teams ease up a little. I bet the over in Game 2, and here is what I said prior to that game: "The Warriors scored an average of 119 points per game in a four game sweep in their first round series versus Portland. That's well above the 115.9 points per game they averaged while leading the league in scoring during the regular season. The Jazz were the league's top defensive team this year, but they gave up an average of 97.7 points per game in a seven game series versus the Clippers in the first round, slightly more than their regular season average of 96.8 points per game. So much for the traditional logic that scoring goes down in the playoffs. Both these teams have a history of playing high scoring games in the playoffs. The Warriors have gone over in five of their last six Conference Semifinal games, while the over is 6-0-1 in Utah's last seven in the second round of the playoffs. The oddsmakers have set a low number here, and I think the value is on a play on the over." Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
05-07-17	Spurs v. Rockets OVER 212	Top	104-125	Win	100	10 h 18 m	Show
10*
05-07-17	Celtics v. Wizards -175	Top	102-121	Win	100	48 h 38 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Washington Wizards. Washington has led at halftime in all three games in this series, and finally in Game 3 at home they were able to hold a lead. They will try to even the series at 2-2 in Game 4 on Sunday, and I like their chances of doing just that. Isaiah Thomas struggled in Game 3, playing just 29 minutes, scoring 13 points on 3-of-8 shooting. He missed the beginning of the second half after having a tooth knocked out earlier in the game. He needed surgery to repair the damage, and while he's expected to play, he's going to be hurting, especially if he takes any more shots to the jaw area. Washington was one of the best home teams in the league during the regular season, and they've won by double digits in each of their last three home games against the Celtics. The Wizards owned the boards in the last game, out-rebounding Boston 50-38. I expect to see this series go seven games, with the home team winning each and every game. Take WAS. GL, Jesse Schule
05-04-17	Jazz v. Warriors OVER 204.5	Top	104-115	Win	100	12 h 48 m	Show
This is a 10* play on UTAH@GS to go OVER the total. The Warriors shot just 24.1 percent from three-point range in Game 1, and the total fell short of the number (206.5). We see an even lower number here in Game 2, and I expect the sharp shooting Warriors to be just a bit more accurate from long range in tonight's game. Here is what I said before the series started: "The Warriors scored an average of 119 points per game in a four game sweep in their first round series versus Portland. That's well above the 115.9 points per game they averaged while leading the league in scoring during the regular season. The Jazz were the league's top defensive team this year, but they gave up an average of 97.7 points per game in a seven game series versus the Clippers in the first round, slightly more than their regular season average of 96.8 points per game. So much for the traditional logic that scoring goes down in the playoffs. Both these teams have a history of playing high scoring games in the playoffs. The Warriors have gone over in five of their last six Conference Semifinal games, while the over is 6-0-1 in Utah's last seven in the second round of the playoffs. The oddsmakers have set a low number here, and I think the value is on a play on the over." Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
05-03-17	Rockets v. Spurs UNDER 216	Top	96-121	Loss	-102	10 h 17 m	Show
This is a 10* play on HOU@SA to go UNDER the total. The Rockets destroyed the Spurs in Game 1 of this series, winning by a score of 126-99 at San Antonio. They hit a whopping 22 three-point shots, and held the Spurs to 36.9 percent shooting. It's gut check time for the Spurs, and I expect Popovich to have his team ready to fight here in Game 2. The Spurs should step up their defensive intensity, and this game should be a lot closer than the series opener. During the regular season these teams went under in all four meetings, and all of those games were decided by six points or less. Houston has played low scoring games when in the role of underdog on the road. The under is 10-2-1 in the Rockets last 13 road games versus a team with a winning home record. The Spurs are probably the best coached team in the league, and that's one reason why they almost always respond after a double-digit home loss. The Rockets can expect this game to be a lot tougher than Game 1. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
05-02-17	Jazz v. Warriors OVER 206.5		94-106	Loss	-105	23 h 38 m	Show
This is an 8* play on UTA@GS to go OVER the total. The Warriors scored an average of 119 points per game in a four game sweep in their first round series versus Portland. That's well above the 115.9 points per game they averaged while leading the league in scoring during the regular season. The Jazz were the league's top defensive team this year, but they gave up an average of 97.7 points per game in a seven game series versus the Clippers in the first round, slightly more than their regular season average of 96.8 points per game. So much for the traditional logic that scoring goes down in the playoffs. Both these teams have a history of playing high scoring games in the playoffs. The Warriors have gone over in five of their last six Conference Semifinal games, while the over is 6-0-1 in Utah's last seven in the second round of the playoffs. The oddsmakers have set a low number here, and I think the value is on a play on the over. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
05-01-17	Rockets +6 v. Spurs		126-99	Win	100	13 h 54 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Houston Rockets. The Rockets will be getting six points in Game 1 of this second round series versus San Antonio, and during the regular season these teams played four close games. Not one of those games was decided by more than six points, and in fact three of the four were decided by just two points. Houston beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in just five games in the first round, winning Game 4 at Oklahoma City. The one loss in Game 3 came by just a two point margin. The Spurs dominated the Grizzlies at home, but lost two of three games at Memphis allowing the Grizzlies to extend that series to six games. The road team has covered the spread in each of the last five meetings between these two teams, and the Spurs have not had much post-season success the last two seasons. In 2015 they were ousted by the Clippers in the first round, and they lost two of three home games in that series. Last year they lost to Oklahoma City in the second round, again losing two of three at home. I'll take the points with Houston here in Game 1. Take HOU. GL, Jesse Schule
05-01-17	Raptors +7 v. Cavs	Top	105-116	Loss	-107	56 h 44 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Toronto Raptors. While the Cavs swept Indiana in the first round, they didn't really look sharp in those four games. Cleveland is asked to cover a seven point spread here in Game 1 versus the Raptors, despite the fact that all four games against the Pacers were decided by six points or less. LeBron James is still the best player in the NBA, but Kyrie Irving has looked pretty average lately. He shot over 40 percent from beyond the arc during the regular season, but is hitting just over 20 percent from three-point range in the playoffs. He averaged 5.8 assists per game during the season, but is averaging just 3 APG in the post-season. Cleveland won three of four versus the Raptors during the regular season, but all three of those wins came in gamed decided by less than five points. Toronto is 5-1 ATS in it's last six road games, while the Cavs are 0-4 ATS in their last five at home. The road team is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings between the two teams. Take TOR. GL, Jesse Schule
04-30-17	Wizards +4.5 v. Celtics		111-123	Loss	-105	14 h 40 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Washington Wizards. The Celtics came into the playoffs as the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, but they have the lowest point differential (+2.7 points) than any number one seed since the 78-79 Seattle Supersonics. They didn't look great against the Bulls, losing both Games 1 & 2 at home. If it wasn't for an injury to Rajon Rondo, the Bulls would have likely won the series. They host Washington in the second round, and the Wizards closed out Atlanta in six games, clinching the series on the road with a 115-99 win in Atlanta in Game 6. The Celtics leading scorer Isaiah Thomas averaged 28.9 points per game this season, but is averaging roughly five points less than that here in the post-season. He has really struggled with his three-point shooting, going 3-of-26 in his last three games. It's going to be tough for Thomas to keep up with John Wall, who went off for 42 points in Game 6 at Atlanta. The Celtics are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 home games, and I'll take the Wizards plus the points in Game 1. Take WAS. GL, Jesse Schule
04-28-17	Celtics -135 v. Bulls	Top	105-83	Win	100	10 h 9 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Boston Celtics. The Celtics can close out this first round series versus Chicago tonight, but they'll have to win again on the road. After losing both Games 1 & 2 at home, they have now won three straight, with two of those wins coming here at the United Center. Here is what I said prior to Game 4: "The Chicago Bulls shocked the Celtics by winning back to back games in Boston, but they lost Game 3 of this series at home by a whopping 17 points. The Celtics can even the series at 2-2 with a win in Chicago tonight, and the Bulls might be in big trouble without PG Rajon Rondo. Without him they had more turnovers (17) than assists (14) in Game 3. Backup point-guards Michael Carter-Williams and Jerian Grant score a combined eight points on 3-of-10 shooting. The Celtics defense completely shut down Jimmy Butler in the last game, holding him to 14 points on 7-of-21 shooting. The Celtics didn't have any trouble winning on the road during the regular season, and the Bulls are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games versus a team with a winning road record. The Bulls appeared to be well on their way to recording the biggest upset of the first round, but the injury to Rondo may have derailed their playoff hopes." It would be a miracle if Rondo was able to play in Game 6, and even if he does, he won't be 100 percent. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
04-27-17	Raptors v. Bucks UNDER 196	Top	92-89	Win	100	58 h 11 m	Show
This is a 10* play on TOR@MIL to go UNDER the total. We've seen some low scoring games between the Bucks and the Raptors in this Eastern Conference quarterfinals series, but Game 5 in Toronto was a bit of a shootout. The Raptors hit 57.7 percent from the field and went 12-of-27 from beyond the arc in a 118-83 victory. The previous two games in Milwaukee were low scoring, and I expect to see another defensive battle here tonight. The Bucks held Toronto to just 77 points on 33.8 percent shooting in Game 3, and the Raptors held Milwaukee to just 76 points 37 percent shooting in Game 4. These two teams have failed to reach the total in seven of the last 10 meetings, and the under is 8-1 in Raptors last nine road games versus a team with a winning home record. Toronto has trended toward lower scoring games on the road, going under in 19 of their last 26 away from Air Canada Center. The Bucks on the other hand play lower scoring games at home, going under in eight of their last 11 at the Bradley Center. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
04-25-17	Jazz +3.5 v. Clippers	Top	96-92	Win	100	13 h 27 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Utah Jazz. The LA Clippers are in a tough spot here, playing at home without Blake Griffin against the Jazz in Game 5. This pivotal game will likely decide the series, and I like Utah's chances of recording another upset at the Staples Center. Griffin is the Clippers leading scorer, and they lost exactly half of the 22 games he missed this season. The Jazz won Game 4 despite Gordon Hayward missing most of the game due to food poisoning. Hayward played just nine minutes and scored a total of three points. The return of Rudy Gobert helped make up for it, the Jazz leading rebounder scored 15 points and pulled in 13 rebounds. Hayward is expected to be ready to go for tonight's game, and he led all scorers with 40 points in Game 3. The Jazz have covered the spread in five of their last seven trips to LA, and I just don't think the Clippers should be asked to cover points against the league's #1 defense without their leading scorer. Take UTAH. GL, Jesse Schule
04-24-17	Warriors v. Blazers +7.5	Top	128-103	Loss	-110	28 h 38 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Portland Trail Blazers. The Warriors head into Game 4 looking to clinch this series in four straight games. They needed to come from behind in Game 3, trailing by 13 points at halftime. Normally a team down 0-3 in a series would only be playing for pride, but there might be a small glimpse of hope for the Blazers. Golden State is in a bit of trouble, with head coach Steve Kerr sidelined by an illness, and superstar Kevin Durant nursing a calf injury. Role players Matt Barnes and Shaun Livingston are also likely to miss Game 4. These teams met last year in the second round of the playoffs, and even when the Warriors had Portland on the ropes, the Blazers never stopped fighting. They were facing elimination in Game 5 in Oakland, and lost by a score of 125-121. They won Game 3 at home by double-digits, and lost in overtime in Game 4. The Blazers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games, and 9-1 ATS in their last 10 playing on one day's rest. I'll take the points here with the home dog. Take POR. GL, Jesse Schule
04-23-17	Celtics -120 v. Bulls		104-95	Win	100	6 h 18 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Boston Celtics. The Chicago Bulls shocked the Celtics by winning back to back games in Boston, but they lost Game 3 of this series at home by a whopping 17 points. The Celtics can even the series at 2-2 with a win in Chicago tonight, and the Bulls might be in big trouble without PG Rajon Rondo. Without him they had more turnovers (17) than assists (14) in Game 3. Backup point-guards Michael Carter-Williams and Jerian Grant score a combined eight points on 3-of-10 shooting. The Celtics defense completely shut down Jimmy Butler in the last game, holding him to 14 points on 7-of-21 shooting. The Celtics didn't have any trouble winning on the road during the regular season, and the Bulls are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games versus a team with a winning road record. The Bulls appeared to be well on their way to recording the biggest upset of the first round, but the injury to Rondo may have derailed their playoff hopes. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
04-23-17	Rockets +1 v. Thunder		113-109	Win	100	5 h 24 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Houston Rockets. The Thunder came out like gangbusters in Game 3, taking a double digit lead to the locker room at halftime. Houston out-scored them 30-22 in the fourth quarter, coming up just short in a 113-11 loss. I like the Rockets chances of getting off to a better start here in Game 4, and taking a commanding 3-1 series lead. Here is what I said prior to Game 2: "James Harden played like an MVP in Game 1, scoring 37 points on 13-of-28 shooting, with nine assists and seven rebounds. Russell Westbrook really struggled, shooting just 6-of-23 from the field and 3-of-11 from beyond the arc. The Rockets crushed the Thunder on the boards, out-rebounding them 56-41. The final score was 118-87, and that shouldn't be much of a surprise considering the history between the two teams. The Rockets won three of four in the regular season series, and the last game at Houston (in the regular season) was a 137-125 win for the Rockets. Houston was one of the league's best home teams, while Oklahoma City had a losing record on the road. Oklahoma City has covered the spread just once in the last 11 meetings between the two teams, failing to cover in six of their last seven in Houston. Westbrook's "one man show" might play well for the fans during the regular season (in Oklahoma City), but it's not going to fly here in the playoffs." Take HOU. GL, Jesse Schule
04-22-17	Warriors v. Blazers OVER 217	Top	119-113	Win	100	12 h 14 m	Show
This is a 10* play on GS@POR to go OVER the total. The Warriors won Game 1 of this series by a score of 121-109, easily going over the total of 220. Game 2 was a lower scoring battle with the Warriors winning 110-81. The series shifts to Portland, and I am expecting a shootout in Game 3. These two teams met in the second round of last year's playoffs, and after a high scoring opener, they went under in Game 2. The Blazers won Game 3 by a score of 120-108, and I'm expecting tonight's game to follow that same script. The Blazers have gone over in six of their last seven home meetings with Golden State, and the one game that went under was a 113-11 Warriors win, falling shot of the total of 224.5. Tonight's total is far lower than it was in any of the last six meetings in this series. The Blazers averaged 109.9 points per game at home this season, while the Warriors averaged 213 points per game on the road. Both teams like to play a similar style, and we should see plenty of scoring here in tonight's pivotal Game 3. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
04-21-17	Clippers v. Jazz UNDER 197	Top	111-106	Loss	-108	32 h 51 m	Show
This is a 10* play on LAC@UTAH to go UNDER the total. After back to back unders in the first two games in this series, I don't think there's any reason to expect a different result when the series shifts to Utah. Here is what I said prior to Game 2: "The Jazz upset the Clippers in Game 1, holding LA to 95 points on 44.4 percent shooting. Utah led the NBA in opponent's scoring average during the regular season, allowing just 96.8 points per game. Game 1 of this series fell well short of the total, and it was the fourth time in Utah's last five games at LA that the total landed below the number. Utah has also gone under in four of it's last five road games. The Clippers are an above average defensive team, and here in a "must win", they should step up the intensity. DeAndre Jordan ranks third in the NBA averaging three blocks per game, and he blocked three shots in Game 1. Playoff basketball is often a lot more defensive than the style of play seen during the regular season. That is evidenced by the fact that the Jazz have gone under in five straight Conference Quarterfinals games, and LA has failed to reach the total in five of their last seven in the first round of the playoffs." Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
04-20-17	Raptors v. Bucks UNDER 197	Top	77-104	Win	100	29 h 48 m	Show
This is a 10* play on TOR@MIL to go UNDER the total. I hit the under in Game 1 of this series, and then I didn't have a bet on Game 2, when the total went way over. Both teams shot close to 50 percent from three-point range in Game 2, well above their season averages. That's unlikely to happen again here in Milwaukee in Game 3. I expect tonight's game to be similar to Game 1, and here is what I had to say before this series started: "The Milwaukee Bucks will face the Raptors in Toronto tonight, and the Bucks lost three of four games in the season series. Three of those four games went under the total, and the Bucks scored an average of just 96.5 points in those games. Milwaukee had a strong second half, and finished ranked top 10 in the NBA in opponent's scoring average. The Bucks have failed to reach the total in eight of their last 10 versus the Raptors, and four of their last five at Toronto. Scoring normally goes down in the playoffs, and the under is 9-2-2 in Milwaukee's last 13 Conference Quarterfinals games. The Raptors have gone under in six of their last seven Conference Quarterfinals games. Last year in their first round series versus the Pacers, six of seven games failed to reach a total of 200 points" Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
04-19-17	Thunder v. Rockets -8	Top	111-115	Loss	-102	8 h 39 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Houston Rockets. James Harden played like an MVP in Game 1, scoring 37 points on 13-of-28 shooting, with nine assists and seven rebounds. Russell Westbrook really struggled, shooting just 6-of-23 from the field and 3-of-11 from beyond the arc. The Rockets crushed the Thunder on the boards, out-rebounding them 56-41. The final score was 118-87, and that shouldn't be much of a surprise considering the history between the two teams. The Rockets won three of four in the regular season series, and the last game at Houston (in the regular season) was a 137-125 win for the Rockets. Houston was one of the league's best home teams, while Oklahoma City had a losing record on the road. Oklahoma City has covered the spread just once in the last 11 meetings between the two teams, failing to cover in six of their last seven in Houston. Westbrook's "one man show" might play well for the fans during the regular season (in Oklahoma City), but it's not going to fly here in the playoffs. Take HOU. GL, Jesse Schule
04-18-17	Jazz v. Clippers UNDER 197.5	Top	91-99	Win	100	12 h 16 m	Show
This is a 10* play on UTA@LAC to go UNDER the total. The Jazz upset the Clippers in Game 1, holding LA to 95 points on 44.4 percent shooting. Utah led the NBA in opponent's scoring average during the regular season, allowing just 96.8 points per game. Game 1 of this series fell well short of the total, and it was the fourth time in Utah's last five games at LA that the total landed below the number. Utah has also gone under in four of it's last five road games. The Clippers are an above average defensive team, and here in a "must win", they should step up the intensity. DeAndre Jordan ranks third in the NBA averaging three blocks per game, and he blocked three shots in Game 1. Playoff basketball is often a lot more defensive than the style of play seen during the regular season. That is evidenced by the fact that the Jazz have gone under in five straight Conference Quarterfinals games, and LA has failed to reach the total in five of their last seven in the first round of the playoffs. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
04-17-17	Grizzlies v. Spurs OVER 188.5	Top	82-96	Loss	-105	11 h 1 m	Show
This is a 10* play on MEM@SA to go OVER the total. The Spurs put on a defensive clinic in Game 1 of this first round series versus Memphis, holding the Grizzlies to just 39.2 percent shooting in a 111-82 home win. That game still went over the total of 190, and the total for tonight's game is even lower than it was in Game 1. I expect Memphis to battle back here in Game 2, and they should be a little better offensively. The Grizzlies trailed by just three points at the half in Game 1 (52-49). They only managed to score 33 points in the second half, but the Spurs didn't slow down at all. San Antonio hit 10-of-19 three-point attempts, and shot 53.2 percent from the field. While these are two of the top defensive teams in the NBA, the bookmakers may be overcompensating for that with a total that is far lower than it was in any of the five meetings in this series this season. The Spurs have gone over in four of their last five overall, while the Grizzlies have gone under just once in their last five games. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
04-16-17	Blazers v. Warriors OVER 219.5	Top	109-121	Win	100	6 h 46 m	Show
This is a 10* play on POR@GS to go OVER the total. The Warriors won 15 of their final 16 games this season, and during that span they scored at least 110 points 11 times. Golden State swept the season series, and they scored an average of 125 points in the four regular season meetings versus Portland. Both these teams love to shoot the ball from long range, and that normally translates into plenty of scoring. The Blazers have seen the total go over in nine of their last 12 visits to Golden State, and the over is 18-6 in the last 24 meetings overall in this series. The total for today's game is lower than it was in all four of the regular season games between the two teams. Kevin Durant sure looked healthy in the regular season finale, scoring 29 points, hitting 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. Both teams averaged over 12 made three-pointers per game in April, so expect to see a shooting clinic here in Game 1. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
04-15-17	Bucks v. Raptors UNDER 203.5	Top	97-83	Win	100	52 h 40 m	Show
This is a 10* play on MIL@TOR to go UNDER the total. The Milwaukee Bucks will face the Raptors in Toronto tonight, and the Bucks lost three of four games in the season series. Three of those four games went under the total, and the Bucks scored an average of just 96.5 points in those games. Milwaukee had a strong second half, and finished ranked top 10 in the NBA in opponent's scoring average. The Bucks have failed to reach the total in eight of their last 10 versus the Raptors, and four of their last five at Toronto. Scoring normally goes down in he playoffs, and the under is 9-2-2 in Milwaukee's last 13 Conference Quarterfinals games. The Raptors have gone under in six of their last seven Conference Quarterfinals games. Last year in their first round series versus the Pacers, six of seven games failed to reach a total of 200 points. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
04-15-17	Pacers v. Cavs UNDER 213	Top	108-109	Loss	-110	49 h 36 m	Show
This is a 10* play on IND@CLE to go UNDER the total. The Pacers will be a nine point underdog on the road in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series versus Cleveland tonight. Indiana finished the season with five straight wins, and they played some strong defense in those games. Both these teams did more than their fair share of scoring during the regular season, and because of that we see a high total in Game 1 here in the playoffs. History tells us that playoff basketball is a different animal, with more focus on defense. That is evidenced by the fact that Indiana has gone under in eight of it's last nine Conference Quarterfinals games, while the Cavs have gone under in five of their last seven first round games. Last year Cleveland swept the Pistons in the first round, and three of those four games saw fewer than 200 points. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
04-06-17	Bucks v. Pacers UNDER 205	Top	89-104	Win	100	6 h 35 m	Show
This is a 10* play on MIL@IND to go UNDER the total. It's common knowledge that scoring goes down in the NBA Playoffs, due to an increased emphasis on defense in meaningful games. We will see two teams battling to make the playoffs in Indiana tonight when the Pacers host the Bucks. Milwaukee is sitting in fifth place, but is just two games up on the ninth place Pacers. Indiana is tied with Miami for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East, and that makes this game a must win for the Pacers. They are coming off a huge win over Toronto on Tuesday, holding the Raptors to just 39 points in the second half of a 108-90 victory. I expect to see a similar effort here at home tonight. The Bucks have gone under in six of their last eight road games, and 15 of their last 22 overall. Indiana has failed to reach the total in 10 of it's last 14 when coming off a win. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
04-04-17	Bulls -155 v. Knicks	Top	91-100	Loss	-155	15 h 5 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls are one of the league's hottest teams, coming into New York as winners of four straight. Jimmy butler is the Player of the Week, scoring an average of over 30 points in his last five games. The Knicks have won just twice in their last nine games, and veteran stars Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah have all been sidelined by injuries. Anthony is hoping to play in the Knicks final five games, but has only played in two of New York's last five. Chicago has adjusted well without Dwyane Wade, winning six of nine since he last played. Rajon Rondo has stepped up, averaging 11.6 points, 8.4 assists and 6.1 rebounds in the last nine games. The Knicks have had Chicago's number in recent meetings, but the Knicks don't have a lot to play for here, and Chicago can still clinch a playoff spot. Take CHI. GL, Jesse Schule
04-01-17	Magic v. Nets -155	Top	111-121	Win	100	15 h 32 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets don't need to worry about tanking to improve their draft position, as they have the worst record all but locked up with just a few games left to play. They've actually been far more competitive recently, winning three of their last six overall, and two of their last three home games. They host Orlando tonight, and the Magic are playing on back to back nights coming off a heartbreaking one-point loss at Boston. Orlando has lost eight of it's last 10 overall, and has failed to cover in four of it's last five road games. Jeremy Lin has struggled with injuries this year, but he's looking pretty healthy in the month of March. He's played in 16 games, averaging 14.4 points and 4.5 assists per game. Despite the Nets poor overall record, they have performed well against the spread. They have covered the spread in six of their last eight games versus teams with a losing record. This looks like a good spot for Brooklyn to show off in front of the home crowd. Take BKN. GL, Jesse Schule
03-31-17	Rockets v. Warriors -8	Top	98-107	Win	100	14 h 25 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors will host Houston tonight, looking to make it 10 straight wins since they lost at San Antonio on March 11. Houston is playing on back to back nights, and their third game in four nights. The first of those four games was a 113-106 home loss to the Warriors. James Harden has struggled, playing through the pain of a lingering wrist injury. He had a season low four assists in last night's loss at Portland, and he could see limited minutes here tonight. "It will get better, but if I keep banging on it and keep falling on it, then it's going to keep going back to Square 1," Harden noted to reporters before Thursday's game. "I try to limit banging on it and keeping it away from contact, (but) it's kinda hard because it's my left hand. I do a lot with my left hand." Despite expectations of high scoring games, these two teams have failed to reach the total in five of the last six head to head meetings. The Warriors have gone under in 10 straight overall, and have held opponents to under 100 points in six of their last eight. Take GS. GL, Jesse Schule
03-29-17	Wizards v. Clippers -5		124-133	Win	100	20 h 14 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the LA Clippers. The Washington Wizards have struggled on the road all season long, and playing the Clippers in LA on back to back nights looks like a particularly tough spot. The Clippers have been playing well, winning three of their last four home games. They should have made it four straight wins at home but blew a 15 point lead in the final five minutes in a shocking 98-97 loss to the Kings Sunday. They've had a couple days off to regroup, and I expect them to come out focused here, looking to put that loss behind them. The Clippers have won seven of 10 meetings with Washington since 2012, and they won all five home games during that span. Washington trailed by 16 with two minutes to play in the 3rd quarter in last night's win over the Lakers. With the victory they clinched first place in the Southeast Division, setting them up for a massive let down here tonight. Take LAC. GL, Jesse Schule
03-29-17	Hornets v. Raptors -6		110-106	Loss	-110	20 h 3 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Toronto Raptors. The Charlotte Hornets are coming off a 118-108 home loss to Milwaukee, and they play on back to back nights north of the border Wednesday. The Raptors are coming off a blowout win at home over Orlando (131-112). Toronto has won six of the last eight head to head meetings, and four straight home meetings in this series. Toronto is coming in riding a six game winning streak, and it's going to be hard for the Hornets to halt that while playing on no rest. The Hornets are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 0 days rest, and 9-19-2 ATS in their last 30 road games versus a team with a winning home record. DeMar Derozan is lighting it up lately, averaging over 31 points per game over his last five. Toronto shot an incredible 59 percent from the field in Monday's win over Orlando. Take TOR. GL, Jesse Schule
03-29-17	Hawks v. 76ers UNDER 208		99-92	Win	100	20 h 34 m	Show
This is an 8* play on ATL@PHI to go UNDER the total. The Atlanta Hawks finally snapped a seven game losing streak with a 95-91 home win over Phoenix. It was their eighth consecutive game failing to score over 100 points, but they turned up the heat defensively. The Hawks are banged up, missing leading scorer Paul Millsap and forwards Kent Bazemore and Thabo Sefolosha. While they still sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings, eighth place Miami is just two games back. Atlanta can't afford to keep on losing, and I expect them to play inspired basketball coming off last night's win. The total for tonight's game looks a little high, especially considering the last time these two teams met the number was under 200. In fact they have only gone over tonight's number twice in the last 10 meetings. Atlanta has gone under in 15 of it's last 20 overall, and that's a trend that should continue tonight. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
03-28-17	Nuggets v. Blazers -140	Top	113-122	Win	100	24 h 55 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Portland Blazers. The Blazers have won six of their last seven games, putting them in a tie with Denver for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. It's Deja Vu All Over Again for Portland, as they won seven of their last nine games of the regular season last year, and went on to upset the LA Clippers in the first round of the playoffs. They will host Denver tonight, and the Nuggets are coming off a terrible home loss to New Orleans (115-90). The Nuggets beat the Blazers at home in the last meeting between the two teams, but Portland won the previous five in the series. Denver is 0-4 in four visits to Portland since 2014. The Blazers are not known for their defense, but they've held opponents to 100 points on less in five of their last six overall. Denver ranks 27th in the NBA allowing over 111 points per game, and has allowed over 110 points in four straight games. Take POR. GL, Jesse Schule
03-26-17	Grizzlies +10 v. Warriors	Top	94-106	Loss	-110	14 h 38 m	Show
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03-26-17	Grizzlies v. Warriors OVER 208	Top	94-106	Loss	-110	14 h 37 m	Show
This is a 10* play on MEM@GS to go Over the total. The Warriors have their mojo back, coming into tonight's home game against the Grizzlies as winners of six straight. They've scored over 110 points in their last five games, but they haven't reached the total in any of their last nine games. Bookmakers have noticed, and the total for tonight's game is much lower than it was in any of the last five meetings in this series. Three of those games went over the total, but both these teams are riding under trends at the moment. Steph Curry has been heating up, hitting 53.2 percent from the field and 48.9 percent from beyond the arc over his last five games. These teams have met twice this season, and both of those games went way over. I expect both teams to go over 100 points here tonight, and it looks like the value lies with a play on over. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
03-25-17	Wolves v. Blazers -7	Top	100-112	Win	100	14 h 33 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Portland Blazers. Portland is one of the hottest teams in the league right now, and this is starting to look like another late season push for the playoffs like we saw last year. The Blazers have won nine of their last 12, and their last three wins have been in games decided by double-digits. The Minnesota Timberwolves are in town tonight, playing their second game of a back to back and coming in as losers of five straight. Four of those five losses were by 10 or more points, and that includes last night's 130-119 loss at the Lakers. That loss was particularly disturbing, blowing an eight point lead in the final 2 and a half minutes. The Wolves are likely to lay down here in a tough spot against a hungry Blazers team, and I expect a blowout. Take POR. GL, Jesse Schule
03-24-17	Hawks v. Bucks UNDER 203.5	Top	97-100	Win	100	19 h 6 m	Show
This is a 10* play on ATL@MIL to go UNDER the total. The surging Milwaukee Bucks have won 10 of their last 12 overall, climbing all the way to sixth in the Eastern Conference standings. They have been playing great defense during that stretch, holding opponents under 100 points in eight of those 10 wins. They host the 5th place Atlanta Hawks tonight, and they only trail the Hawks by one game. This game is key for both teams, and with massive playoff implications, expect both teams to bring it on defense. The Hawks have lost five straight, and haven't scored more than 100 points in any of those games. Leading scorer Paul Millsap has missed the last three games with a knee injury, and will not play in Milwaukee. Atlanta has failed to reach the total in seven of it's last eight road games, while the Bucks have gone under in four straight at home. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
03-24-17	Nuggets v. Pacers UNDER 220.5	Top	125-117	Loss	-110	18 h 9 m	Show
This is a 10* play on DEN@IND to go UNDER the total. The Denver Nuggets are one of the league's highest scoring teams, ranking 3rd in the NBA in scoring. Their scoring average is significantly higher at home though, and they face a tough road game tonight in Indiana. The Pacers are a solid 25-10 at home, and they haven't allowed an opponent to score more than 100 points in five straight home games. They sit seventh in the Eastern Conference Standings, and with only 2.5 games separating them from the 8th, 9th and 10th place teams, they need to keep winning games. The Pacers improved defense has caused them to cash in lately for under bettors. They've failed to reach the total in 12 of their last 16 overall, and the under is 6-2 in Pacers last 8 games playing on 1 days rest. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
03-24-17	Pistons v. Magic UNDER 207	Top	87-115	Win	100	18 h 5 m	Show
This is a 10* play on DET@ORL to go UNDER the total. The Pistons are tied with Chicago, and both teams trail the eighth place Heat for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They play on the road at Orlando tonight, and we should see a hard fought battle. Detroit lost to the Bulls by a score of 117-95 on Wednesday, but they had held opponents under 100 points in four straight games prior to that. The Magic really struggle offensively, ranking 29th in the NBA in scoring. The Pistons are one of the league's top defensive teams, and given the high stakes here I expect them to make life very difficult for the home team. The Magic rank dead last in the NBA in three-point shooting, and the Pistons are just slightly better ranking 27th. Only the Miami Heat shoot the ball for a lower percentage from the free throw line than the Pistons, and the Magic aren't much better ranking 27th. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
03-23-17	Clippers -4 v. Mavs		95-97	Loss	-110	20 h 22 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the LAC. The Clippers are just a game back of Utah for fourth place in the Western Conference, and they come into Dallas as winners of three straight. The Mavs have lost four of their last six overall, putting their playoff hopes in serious doubt. The Clippers have won three of the last four meetings in this series, with two of those wins coming in Dallas. LA has won 20 games on the road this season, which is even more impressive than it looks. Both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin have been out of the lineup for extended stretches, but the team is getting healthy in time for the playoffs. At full strength, I think the Clippers will be too much for the Mavs to handle. Chris Paul scored 27 points on 9-of-15 shooting in a blowout win over the Lakers on Tuesday. Take LAC. GL, Jesse Schule
03-23-17	Grizzlies v. Spurs UNDER 199	Top	90-97	Win	100	20 h 23 m	Show
This is a 10* play on MEM@SA to go UNDER the total. The Spurs host the Grizzlies in a "Grudge Match" in San Antonio tonight, looking to avenge a pair of losses in this series earlier this season. Memphis won at home by a score of 104-96 on Saturday, and the Grizzlies held the Spurs to a season low points total in an 89-74 win at San Antonio in February. These two teams rank 2nd and 3rd in the NBA in opponent's scoring average, and only one of the last seven meetings in this series has seen more than 200 points combined. The total for this game is far higher than it was in nine of the last 10 meetings between the two teams. This game has massive playoff implications, with a possible first round playoff matchup looking likely. The total has gone under in four of the Grizzlies last five visits to San Antonio, and history should repeat itself here tonight. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
03-23-17	Suns v. Nets -4	Top	98-126	Win	100	19 h 21 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets have been quite competitive lately, coming into tonight's home game against Phoenix as winners of three of their last six. The Suns have lost five straight and seven of their last eight overall. Injuries have taken their toll on Phoenix, with Eric Bledsoe, Tyson Chandler and Brandon Knight done for the remainder of the season. Jeremy Lin has been in and out of the lineup for the Nets, but he's expected to play in tonight's game. The Suns have not performed well in previous meetings with Brooklyn, failing to cover in eight of the last 11 meetings, and losing four of their last five at Brooklyn. The Nets won the last meeting by a score of 122-104 in Phoenix back in November. Nets center Brook Lopez is lighting it up lately, averaging 26 points per game over his last five. He scored 29 points in Tuesday's win over the Pistons, and he should fill the stat sheet here against a defensively challenged Phoenix team. Take BKN. GL, Jesse Schule
03-22-17	Pistons -125 v. Bulls	Top	95-117	Loss	-125	20 h 35 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Detroit Pistons. Both the Bulls and the Pistons are coming off tough losses last night, and the two teams will play the second game of a back to back in Chicago tonight. The Bulls loss in Toronto was particularly tough, blowing a big lead and losing in overtime. They are also likely to lose big man Robin Lopez, after he was ejected for exchanging punches with Serge Ibaka. The league is likely to issue a suspension of some sort prior to tonight's game. Losing their leading rebounder is likely to hurt the Bulls against a Detroit team that is among the leagues best when it comes to rebounding. The Pistons are just one game back of Miami for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East, and I believe they are far more motivated to make the playoffs than are the Bulls. Chicago has already lost veteran Dywane Wade for the season, and there is a toxic atmosphere in the locker room. The issues are often magnified when coming off a tough loss, blowing a late lead. Everybody is going to be pointing fingers. The Pistons are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 versus Chicago, and they've won and covered in three of the last four meetings in this series. Take DET. GL, Jesse Schule
03-21-17	Bulls v. Raptors -6.5		120-122	Loss	-110	16 h 27 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Toronto Raptors. The Bulls have lost seven of their last nine overall, and they have dropped all the way to 10th place in the Eastern Conference. It's looking less likely by the day that the Bulls will be playing in the post-season, but as I said a few weeks ago, I don't think they are all that interested in getting their butts kicked by Cleveland in the first round. Dywane Wade is done for the year, and the looker room remains divided between players and coaching staff. The Raptors are starting to look like the playoff contender they were supposed to be, coming in as winners of three of their last four. They've lost 11 straight to the Bulls, and that's something that hasn't been lost on Dwane Casey: "Set the tone defensively from start to finish from the jump ball. That's the way we have to play and continue. Whatever we have to do to get this (monkey) off our back against Chicago, they beat us 11 in a row and that has to stop. Collectively, whatever we have to do defensively and offensively to set the tone, we have to do that." I expect a motivated Raptors teams to win big here at home in a game with massive playoff implications. Take TOR. GL, Jesse Schule
03-19-17	Kings v. Spurs UNDER 202.5	Top	102-118	Loss	-103	7 h 24 m	Show
This is a 10* play on SAC@SA to go UNDER the total. The Spurs are coming off back to back losses, and they return home to play bottom feeders Sacramento tonight. The Kings have been a good bet when visiting San Antonio in recent seasons, going 6-1 ATS in their last seven. They are going to have their work cut out for them tonight though, with an injury depleted lineup facing the NBA's #2 ranked defense. The Spurs are normally very stingy when coming off a loss, and they've gone under in seven of their last 10 versus losing teams. These teams have failed to reach the total in five of the last seven meetings in this series, and the Kings have gone under in six of their last seven road games. The under is 11-4 in Sacramento's last 15 overall. I expect this game to be a blowout, with the reserves coming off the bench in the fourth quarter. It's going to be difficult for the Kings to contribute enough points to push the total over. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
03-19-17	Pacers v. Raptors UNDER 201.5	Top	91-116	Loss	-110	18 h 49 m	Show
This is a 10* play on IND@TOR to go UNDER the total. It's difficult not to notice that teams heading toward the post-season are starting to tighten up defensively. Both the Raptors are the Pacers are jockeying for playoff position in the Eastern Conference, and tonight's game will be meaningful for both teams. Indiana has failed to reach the total in nine of it's last 10 overall. During that span the Pacers have held opponents under 100 points eight times. The Raptors have gone under in seven of their last 10, and their offense has suffered with PG Kyle Lowry out of the lineup. These two teams have a history of playing low scoring games. They've gone under in eight of the last 10 meetings, and tonight's total is higher than it was in any of the previous eight meetings between the two teams. The Pacers have gone under in 13 of their last 16 road games. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
03-17-17	Raptors v. Pistons UNDER 200.5	Top	87-75	Win	100	11 h 52 m	Show
This is a 10* play on TOR@DET to go UNDER the total. The Raptors offense has struggled in the absence of starting PG Kyle Lowry, and they've averaged just 96 points per game over their last six. Four of those games were losses, including a 104-89 loss at Miami on Saturday. That was the last time they played on back to back nights, a situation that has seen them fail to reach the total in four straight. They've also gone under in eight of their last nine when coming off a loss. They will visit Detroit, a team that is battling for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons are level on points with ninth place Miami, and only occupy the eighth spot by virtue of the tie breaker. Chicago is only a game back in 10th place, meaning that this is very much a must win for Detroit. The Pistons have gone under in four straight home games, and they are one of the top defensive teams in the Eastern Conference. I expect a defensive battle here at the Palace tonight. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
03-15-17	Wolves v. Celtics UNDER 211	Top	104-117	Loss	-110	17 h 32 m	Show
This is a 10* play on MIN@BOS to go UNDER the total. As the playoffs get closer, competitive teams tend to step it up defensively. That's been the case for both the Celtics and the Timberwolves of late. Boston is trying to catch the Cavs for first place in the East, while the Wolves are still 3.5 games back of the eighth place Nuggets in the West. Boston has not gone over the total for 10 straight games, while Minnesota has failed to reach the total in eight of it's last 10. This will be the second meeting between these teams this season. Boston won the first meeting 99-93 at Minnesota. The Celtics last home game was a 100-80 win over the Bulls, holding Chicago to 37.9 percent shooting. The Bulls scored just 26 points in the first half (not quarter) of that game. The under is 13-3-3 in Celtics last 19 overall. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
03-13-17	Bucks v. Grizzlies UNDER 204	Top	93-113	Loss	-110	31 h 21 m	Show
This is a 10* play on MIL@MEM to go UNDER the total. The Bucks come into Memphis riding a six game winning streak, and they now occupy the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. During this win streak, they've played phenomenal defense, holding opponents under 100 points in five straight games. They don't have much margin for error, with Miami sitting just a game back in the standings. The Grizzlies are likely to play with a ton of desperation here as they look to end a five game losing streak. Even though they've been brutal defensively during their losing streak, Memphis is still the 4th best defensive team in the NBA allowing just over 100 points per game. These teams have a history of playing low scoring games, failing to reach the total in nine of the last 10. The one game that went over, was a 99-90 home win for Memphis. The under is 22-8-1 in Grizzlies last 31 home games. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
03-12-17	Cavs v. Rockets -5	Top	112-117	Push	0	14 h 53 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Houston Rockets. The Cavs ended a three game losing streak with a 116-104 win over the Magic in Orlando Saturday, and they will travel West to play the Rockets in Houston Sunday. The Cavs have been careful with LeBron James in these back to back situations this season, and that's one reason why they are 1-5 ATS in their last six in the second game in as many nights. While LeBron is likely to play tonight, his minutes could be limited, and if the game gets out of hand the starters could get yanked early. Kyle Korver is out with a foot injury, and Kevin Love is still recovering from surgery. Cleveland hasn't had a lot of success in previous trips to Houston, failing to cover in 10 of their last 11. The Rockets have 45 wins this season, two more than the Cavs. This looks like a tough spot for a Cleveland team with not a lot to prove at this point. Take HOU. GL, Jesse Schule
03-11-17	Wolves v. Bucks UNDER 202.5	Top	95-102	Win	100	11 h 16 m	Show
This is a 10* play on MIN@MIL to go UNDER the total. Both the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Milwaukee Bucks are making a push for the post-season. The Bucks have won five straight, and they've held the opposition to an average of 94 points in those games. Minnesota has won four of five, and has held opponents to an average of 91.6 points during that span. They come off a 103-102 home win over the Warriors last night, but they are still 2.5 games back of Denver for the final playoff spot in the West. These two teams have a history of playing low scoring games, going under in nine of the last 12. The stakes are higher here than they were in any of those previous meetings, and I expect to see both teams play solid defense. The Bucks have failed to reach the total in six of their last seven overall, and four of their last five at home. They trailed Indiana by five points at halftime last night, but only gave up 35 points to the Pacers in the second half. I expect a similar result here in tonight's game. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
03-10-17	Pacers v. Bucks -140		85-99	Win	100	16 h 9 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks have won four straight, and they now sit just a half game back of the Bulls who own the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. They will host the Pacers tonight, and Indiana has a terrible record on the road (11-20). The Pacers have lost five of their last seven road games, most recently a 100-88 loss at Charlotte on Monday. The Bucks have won both previous meetings in this series, one at home and one at Indianapolis. The Greek Freak scored 32 points and pulled in 13 rebounds in a win over the Knicks on Wednesday, and he could have a big night against a Pacers team that is below average defensively. Milwaukee won the previous two games versus Indiana by an average margin of 17 points. The Bucks have won eight of their last 11, and should be able to hold off the Pacers at home tonight. Take MIL. GL, Jesse Schule
03-09-17	Spurs v. Thunder UNDER 213.5	Top	92-102	Win	100	20 h 10 m	Show
This is a 10* play on SA@OKC to go UNDER the total. We all know that scoring drops dramatically in the NBA Playoffs in comparison to the regular season. When two post-season contenders meet late in the season, these games have major playoff implications. That will be the case when the Thunder host the Spurs on Thursday, looking to snap a four game losing streak. The Spurs are certainly taking this game seriously, as evidenced by the fact that they sat their starters in last night's win over Sacramento. That game went over the total, but the Spurs had gone under in seven of their previous eight games. These two teams have failed to reach the total in seven of the last 10 meetings, and of the three games that went over, two of those saw less than 213 points. The total for tonight's game is significantly higher than it was in any of the previous 10 meetings in this series. Oklahoma City lost at San Antonio by a score of 108-94 earlier this season, and the Thunder shot just 35.3 percent from the field in that game. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
03-08-17	Clippers v. Wolves UNDER 211.5	Top	91-107	Win	100	15 h 26 m	Show
This is a 10* play on LAC@MIN to go UNDER the total. The Clippers are in Minnesota tonight, and this is a big game for two teams that are trying to improve their playoff position. The Wolves are trying to catch Denver, sitting three and a half games back of the eighth place Nuggets. The Clippers are a game and a half back of the Jazz for fourth place in the West. This is the time of year when we see an increased emphasis on defense, and teams still in the hunt should be battling hard for ever single possession all night. That's resulted in a trend of low scoring games for Minnesota, who have gone under in five of their last six overall. During that span they allowed 100 points only once, in a 142-130 loss at Houston. Previous meetings in this series have trended over, but tonight's total is higher than it was in seven of the last eight. The Clippers lost at home to Minnesota by a score of 104-101 in the last meeting. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
03-05-17	Celtics -6 v. Suns	Top	106-109	Loss	-110	11 h 9 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Boston Celtics. The Phoenix Suns have won back to back games, and that has them climbing in the standings. They are no longer the worst team in the Western Conference, but all that means is that the Lakers are getting the better position in the upcoming draft. Of course nobody will admit to tanking games, but let's just say that motivation is dubious at the moment for the league's bottom feeders. The Celtics on the other hand are coming off back to back wins over Cleveland and the Lakers, and they are just 2.5 games out of first place in the East. Isaiah Thomas scored 31 points on 10-of-20 shooting in the win over the Cavs, and he might have a little added motivation facing his former team. He should put up big numbers against this Suns defense, Phoenix ranks 29th in the league allowing over 112 points per game. I think this looks like a let down spot for the rebuilding Suns who have failed to cover in five of their last six versus teams with a winning record. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
03-03-17	Clippers -3.5 v. Bucks	Top	101-112	Loss	-110	30 h 28 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the LA Clippers. The Clippers have lost three of four since the All Star break, but those losses came against three of the league's best teams (Warriors, Rockets and Spurs). The head out East to play their next two games on the road, and they really need to pick up some points. LA is in a dogfight for the fourth spot in the Western Conference. Only two points separate the 4th and 7th spot (Utah, OKC, The Clippers and Memphis). They will be in Milwaukee tonight, and the Bucks are a team with a promising future. They are not ready to compete right now though, as evidenced by the fact that they have lost two of three home games coming out of the All Star break. The Clippers have won eight of the last nine meetings in this series, and they are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games playing on 1 days rest. They are also 6-1-1 ATS in their last eight following a double digit home loss. Take LAC. GL, Jesse Schule
03-03-17	Cavs v. Hawks UNDER 214	Top	135-130	Loss	-110	29 h 29 m	Show
This is a 10* play on CLE@ATL to go UNDER the total. It's that time of year again... the stretch run in the NBA regular season. Teams are jockeying for playoff position, and preparing for the post-season. That means more attention to detail, and a lot more effort on the defensive side of the ball. Historically we know that playoff basketball tends to be significantly lower scoring than the regular season, but I believe that trend starts right now. The Hawks have failed to reach the total in six straight, and eight of their last 10. They host the Cavs, who have gone under in four of their last five. These two teams have trended over in recent meetings (7 of the last 10), but tonight's total is far higher than it was in an of those previous games. In fact, the listed total was under 200 in six of those games, and never higher than 208. The Hawks have more to play for, at home and sitting just 2.5 games out of first in their division. Atlanta ranks in the Top 10 in the league in points allowed, and the bottom 10 in points scored. They've gone under in four of their last five home games. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
03-01-17	Cavs v. Celtics UNDER 222	Top	99-103	Win	100	16 h 25 m	Show
This is a 10* play on CLE@BOS to go UNDER the total. The Celtics host the Cavs Wednesday, and both teams are gearing up for a playoff run. This time of year we see teams step up the intensity on defense, especially in games like this. Boston has lost two of three games since the break, and the Celtics scored an average of less than 100 points in those games. These teams have a history of playing low scoring games, especially at The Garden where they've failed to reach the total in the last four meetings. Cleveland won nine of 11 games in February, and they've gone over in five straight road games. The total for tonight's game is higher than it was in all five of those games though, and it's far higher than it was in any of the previous 10 meetings in this series. Boston's leading scorer Isaiah Thomas is ice cold since the All Star break, shooting just 31.4 percent from the field in three games. He's not the only one struggling, Al Horford has totaled 10 points on 5-of-20 shooting the last two games. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
02-27-17	Heat v. Mavs UNDER 200	Top	89-96	Win	100	25 h 26 m	Show
This is a 10* play on MIA@DAL to go UNDER the total. The Heat have won 16 of their last 18 overall, but they face a tough test on the road in Dallas tonight. Both these teams are battling for a playoff spot, and Dallas has won three of their last four home games. The Mavs rank 4th overall in the NBA allowing just 100 points per game, and they rank 30th in scoring, averaging just 97.8 points per game. Dallas is coming off a 96-83 home win over New Orleans, and they held DeMarcus Cousins to just 12 points in that game. History favors the Heat, who have won four of the last five in this series. All five of those games saw fewer than 200 points scored, and I expect another defensive battle tonight. The under is 7-1-1 in the Mavs last nine games against Eastern Conference teams. Miami has gone under in five of it's last seven against Western Conference teams. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
02-27-17	Hawks v. Celtics UNDER 213	Top	114-98	Win	100	20 h 51 m	Show
This is a 10* play on ATL@BOS to go UNDER the total. The Atlanta Hawks have come out of the All Star break in a slump. They lost their last game 108-86 at Orlando, and they've scored an average of 86.6 points per game while losing three straight. It won't get any easier tonight, playing on the road at Boston. The Celtics are 20-8 at home, and the have covered the spread in three straight home meetings with Atlanta. These two teams have a history of playing low scoring games, going under in four straight meetings. The Celtics have gone under in nine of their last 10 home games when returning from a road trip. The total for tonight's game is higher that it was in each of the last 10 meetings. This time of year, when you have two teams jockeying for playoff position, you expect more emphasis on defense. The Hawks have failed to reach the total in four of their last five road games, and I expect another low scoring game here at the Garden. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
02-26-17	Suns v. Bucks -6.5	Top	96-100	Loss	-110	9 h 44 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Milwaukee Bucks. The Phoenix Suns are sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference Standings, with nothing left to play for. The Bucks are just two games out of a playoff spot in the East, and they went into the All Star break as winners of three straight. Both teams lost their first game following the break, but the Suns lost in particularly disturbing fashion. They blew a double digit fourth quarter lead, and Devin Booker missed a potential game winning free throw in the final second of regulation, before losing 128-121 at Chicago. The Bucks have won four of the last five meetings between the two teams, covering the spread in all four of those games. The Greek Freak has score 30 or more in three straight games, and he should have another monster game against a Suns team that allows 112.7 points per game (29th in the NBA). The Bucks last home game was a 137-101 win over the Lakers, and a similar result is expected today. Take MIL. GL, Jesse Schule
02-25-17	76ers +5 v. Knicks	Top	109-110	Win	100	18 h 24 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers have now won four of their last five overall, and they have covered the spread in six straight. They will play on the road in New York tonight, and the Knicks have lost six of their last seven, and have only covered the spread in three of their last 10 overall. The news gets bad to worse for the Knicks, as Kristaps Porzingis is out indefinitely with an ankle injury. Carmelo Anthony isn't pleased that he's still in New York after the deadline, and he is coming off an uninspiring performance against the Cavs. He scored 20 points on 9-of-25 shooting in a 119-104 loss. Playing on back to back night's is usually considered to be a disadvantage, but a young team like the Sixers coming off a long layoff, and then upsetting the hottest team in the NBA (Washington), should be up for this game. They've covered the spread in five straight when coming off a victory. Take PHI. GL, Jesse Schule
02-25-17	Hawks -140 v. Magic	Top	86-105	Loss	-140	18 h 53 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks are in position to battle for one of the top four spots in the Eastern Conference standings, but they dropped their first game back from the All Star break at home to Miami last night. It's understandable that they came out flat after a week long layoff, and it made matters worse that starting PG Dennis Schroeder was suspended for returning late from Germany and missing practice. They will play their second game in as many nights on the road at Orlando tonight, but I don't expect fatigue to be a factor. The Magic have lost five of their last six overall, and four of their last five at home. Serge Ibaka was second on the team in scoring, and their second best rebounder, but he's moved on to Toronto. The Magic got Terrence Ross in return, and he failed to impress in his debut. Ross scored 13 points on 4-of-17 shooting in a 112-103 loss to Portland on Thursday. The Hawks are 11-5 ATS in the last 16 meetings in Orlando. Take ATL. GL, Jesse Schule
02-24-17	Celtics v. Raptors UNDER 215.5		97-107	Win	100	12 h 14 m	Show
This is an 8* play on BOS@TOR to go UNDER the total. The Raptors host the Celtics in their first game back after the All Star break, and this is a huge game for both teams. Boston sits four games clear of Toronto in second place in the Eastern Conference, and the Raptors are just half a game up on 5th placed Atlanta. Toronto limped into the break as losers of 11 of their last 15. During that span they failed to score 100 points six times. I would expect both teams to be a little rusty following a week off, and I don't think either team will be giving up any easy buckets. Toronto ranks in the Top 10 in the NBA in opponent's scoring averaging, allowing just 104.3 points per game. The addition of big man Serge Ibaka at the trade deadline certainly isn't going to hurt. Tonight's total is higher than it was in nine of the last 10 meetings in this series, and four of the last five have gone under. The Raptors have gone under in six of their last eight overall, with the two exceptions coming in games against Western Conference teams. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
02-24-17	Heat v. Hawks -3.5		108-90	Loss	-107	12 h 52 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Atlanta Hawks. The Miami Heat were one of the league's worst teams during the first two months of the season, but an improbable 13 game winning streak has them back in the hunt for the playoffs. The Heat appeared to cool off right before the break though, losing to the Sixers and the Magic before beating the Rockets in Houston. They currently sit 2.5 games back of eighth place Detroit, and I think we could see the Heat struggle down the stretch. The Hawks on the other hand are just a half game back of the Raptors who are in 4th place in the East, and 2.5 games back of first place Washington in the Southeast Division. Atlanta has won five of it's last seven home games, and losses during that span came against Utah and Washington, two teams that are ahead of them in the standings. They've covered the spread in five of their last six home games against teams with a losing record. Atlanta has won two of three in the seasons series, and won by a score of 103-95 at home in December. I expect a similar result here in the final meeting between the two teams. Take ATL. GL, Jesse Schule
02-23-17	Hornets v. Pistons -4.5		108-114	Win	100	20 h 57 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons won six of nine games heading into the All Star break, putting them in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They've won five of their last six home games, with the only home loss during that span coming to San Antonio. The Pistons host Charlotte in their first game back, and the Hornets have won just once in their last 12 games. That one win came at home against the cellar dwelling Brooklyn Nets. It's no coincidence that center Cody Zeller has missed all but one game during that losing streak, and he's not expected to be ready to return tonight. Backup center Miles Plumlee is also out with a calf injury. With injury concerns, and a road record of 8-19, I would have expected the Hornets to be a bigger underdog in this game. They've only covered the spread twice in their last 13 games overall. Take DET. GL, Jesse Schule
02-16-17	Wizards -130 v. Pacers	Top	111-98	Win	100	16 h 15 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Washington Wizards. Washington might be the hottest team in the NBA, coming into tonight's game at Indiana as winners of 10 of their last 11. The only loss during that span came to the defending champion Cavaliers, in a game decided in overtime. The Pacers on the other hand have struggled, losing five straight, with four of those losses coming by a double digit margin. Paul George scored just 13 points on 4-of-19 shooting in a loss at Cleveland last night, and he only managed 13 points on 4-of-11 shooting the last time he played on back to back nights (a home loss to Milwaukee). The Wizards come in well rested, having had two days off since their win over Oklahoma City on Monday. They have a history of playing well in Indiana, covering the spread in seven straight visits. John Wall has averaged 27 points per game on 49 percent shooting in three games against the Pacers this season, helping the Wizards take two of the three. The Pacers will be without starting PF Thadeus Young, who has missed the last seven games due to a wrist injury. Backup PF Lavoy Allen has also missed the last two games, and is listed as questionable to play tonight. Take WAS. GL, Jesse Schule
02-15-17	Hawks v. Clippers -140	Top	84-99	Win	100	20 h 9 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the LAC. The Clippers appear to have their mojo back, coming into tonight's home game versus Atlanta as winners of three straight on the road. They put on a defensive clinic in an 88-72 win at Utah on Monday. Blake Griffin scored 26 points, pulled in 10 rebounds and dished out six assists, and the Clippers held the Jazz to just 32.2 percent shooting. Both the Clippers and the Hawks rank in the top 10 in the NBA in opponent's scoring, and both teams are coming off impressive defensive performances. Atlanta allowed Portland to score just 97 points in regulation in an overtime win at the Moda Center Monday. These two teams have failed to reach the total in four of the last five meetings at Staples Center, and the under is 16-7-1 in Hawks last 24 versus Western Conference teams. This looks like a let down spot for the visitors, and I expect the Clippers to grind out a win at home against Hawks team that is 1-5 ATS in it's last six versus the Pacific Division. Take LAC. GL, Jesse Schule
02-15-17	Hawks v. Clippers UNDER 213	Top	84-99	Win	100	16 h 23 m	Show
This is a 10* play on ATL@LAC to go UNDER the total. The Clippers appear to have their mojo back, coming into tonight's home game versus Atlanta as winners of three straight on the road. They put on a defensive clinic in an 88-72 win at Utah on Monday. Blake Griffin scored 26 points, pulled in 10 rebounds and dished out six assists, and the Clippers held the Jazz to just 32.2 percent shooting. Both the Clippers and the Hawks rank in the top 10 in the NBA in opponent's scoring, and both teams are coming off impressive defensive performances. Atlanta allowed Portland to score just 97 points in regulation in an overtime win at the Moda Center Monday. These two teams have failed to reach the total in four of the last five meetings at Staples Center, and the under is 16-7-1 in Hawks last 24 versus Western Conference teams. This looks like a let down spot for the visitors, and I expect the Clippers to grind out a win at home against Hawks team that is 1-5 ATS in it's last six versus the Pacific Division. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
02-15-17	Blazers v. Jazz UNDER 205	Top	88-111	Win	100	19 h 38 m	Show
This is a 10* play on POR@UTAH to go UNDER the total. The Utah Jazz are coming off an embarrassing 88-72 home loss to the Clippers. The Portland Trailblazers are coming off a home loss to Atlanta, shooing just 35.9 percent from the field and scoring just 97 points in regulation. The two teams will meet in Utah tonight, and we should expect to see a defensive battle. Utah is a heavy favorite, and the Jazz have a history of locking in defensively off a big home loss. They've gone under in nine of their last 10 following a double digit home loss. The total for tonight's game is far higher than it has been in recent meetings. In fact each of the last 10 meetings in this series saw a number below 200, dating back to 2014. The Jazz will be desperate to end a three game losing streak, and that should mean a heavy emphasis on defense. Two of Portland's last three visits to Utah have failed to go over 200 points, and none of the three went over the total listed for tonight's contest. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
02-14-17	Cavs -170 v. Wolves		116-108	Win	100	11 h 17 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs have won five of their last six, scoring an average of over 123 points per game during that span. Three of those wins have come on the road, and they will be a favorite on the road at Minnesota tonight. The T-Wolves have lost five of their last seven, and their wins during that span came against Toronto (without leading scorer DeRozan) and Chicago (without Butler and Wade). The Cavs will be without one of their big three tonight, as Kevin Love is out with a knee injury. The Cavs should be in good shape with Channing Frye stepping in to replace Love. Coincidentally, the last game the Cavs played without Love, was a 125-97 win over Minnesota. Frye scored 18 points in 22 minutes in the victory. Cleveland out-scored the Wolves 62-37 in the second half of that game, and I don't think home court is going to be enough to help Minnesota avoid a sixth straight loss in this series. Take CLE. GL, Jesse Schule
02-13-17	Warriors v. Nuggets +12	Top	110-132	Win	100	20 h 2 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Denver Nuggets. The Golden State Warriors are coming off a 130-114 win over the Thunder in Oklahoma City. That game was the second of a back to back, coming off a 122-107 win in Memphis the night before. They will play their third game in four nights on the road in Denver (at altitude) and this game couldn't be any more meaningless for the visitors. This is the ultimate let down spot for Golden State. This team has nothing left to prove to anybody. Kevin Durant scored 34 points in his first game back in Oklahoma City, despite dealing with hostile fans all night long. We don't have to speculate about what the Warriors did after the game, as their party plans are well documented. Durant wanted to rent out the Mahogany Prime Steak House, but was refused. He and his teammates ended up dining with the rest of the restaurant's regular clientele, which includes Russell Westbrook. It could be hard to get up for this game in Denver coming off such a marquee win. The Nuggets have won seven of their last eight home games, and they are battling for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. Denver has covered the spread in six of their last eight versus Golden State, and they look good getting a double digit spread here tonight. Take DEN. GL, Jesse Schule
02-12-17	Pelicans v. Kings OVER 210	Top	99-105	Loss	-110	22 h 57 m	Show
This is a 10* play on NO@SAC to go OVER the total. The Pelicans are coming off a 122-106 win at Minnesota, and they shot 60 percent from the field in the victory. They play Sunday in Sacramento, and the Kings aren't the best defensive team in the NBA. Sacramento scored 65 points in the second half to come from behind and beat the Hawks 108-107 in overtime on Friday. They've scored an average of 107 points while wining three of five games during their current home stand. These two teams have gone over in three of the last four meetings, and the Kings have gone over in seven straight games coming off a win. The Pelicans have gone over in nine of their last 12 overall, mostly due to the fact that they give up an awful lot of points. Opponents have averaged over 112 points over their last five games. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
02-11-17	Warriors v. Thunder +7.5	Top	130-114	Loss	-110	13 h 53 m	Show
This is a 10* play on OKC. The Golden State Warriors visit the Thunder Saturday, in Kevin Durant's first game back at Oklahoma City. This will be the third meeting this season, and the Warriors won the previous two at home. Both of those games were high scoring, but neither game reached the inflated total. Once again the bookmakers are calling for a shootout, with another inflated number. These teams have failed to reach the total in four straight meetings, and the under is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings. This is a huge game for both teams, and we should see both sides giving 100 percent on both offense and defense. The Warriors have gone under in 19 of their last 26 road games, while the Thunder have failed to reach the total in five of their last seven home games versus a team with a winning record. The Warriors dominated the first two meetings, and Kevin Durant went off for 39 and 40 points (his two highest totals of the season). Playing on back to back nights, and dealing with all the emotions, I could see Durant struggling in tonight's game. He's hired additional security for this game, and that in itself may suggest his mind is on more than just basketball. The Warriors are just 1-5-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Oklahoma City. Take OKC. GL, Jesse Schule
02-10-17	Lakers v. Bucks -160	Top	122-114	Loss	-160	21 h 12 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Milwaukee Bucks. The Lakers come into Milwaukee as losers of six of their last seven road games, and they've lost five straight at the Bradley Center. The Bucks are coming off a blowout loss to Miami, but the Heat have been beating everybody. Miami has won 12 straight, and during that span they beat both Golden State and Houston. The Bucks are just two games back of the Pistons who occupy the eighth and final playoff spot in the East, while the Lakers are in the middle of a rebuild, looking toward the future. This is a big game for Milwaukee, not so much for the visitors. The Bucks are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home games versus LA, and they have a .500 record at home. The Lakers are just 6-24 on the road, and they've failed to cover in six of their last seven when playing on one day's rest. Take MIL. GL, Jesse Schule
02-09-17	Cavs v. Thunder -3.5	Top	109-118	Win	100	11 h 19 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the OKC Thunder. After going through a rough patch, the Cleveland Cavaliers are officially "back in business". The defending champs have won four straight, scoring an average of 127 points in those games. They face a huge let down spot tonight though, playing on the road in the second game of a back to back, coming off last night's blowout win at Indiana. Don't be surprised to see the Cavs big three play limited minutes (if at all). Oklahoma City has improved it's home record to 18-7 after beating Portland and Memphis in it's last two home games. The Thunder have covered the spread in seven of their last eight home games, while Cleveland is just 2-8 ATS in it's last 10 when playing on no rest. Take OKC. GL, Jesse Schule
02-08-17	Raptors -150 v. Wolves	Top	109-112	Loss	-150	14 h 4 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors had lost eight of 10 before putting together back to back wins. They really missed leading scorer DeMar DeRozan who missed eight games during that span with an ankle injury. DeRozan returned to score 31 points on 11-of-22 shooting in a win over the Clippers on Monday, and he's expected to be back to 100 percent moving forward. Toronto will play on the road at Minnesota tonight, and the Wolves have lost four straight. This T-Wolves team is still young, and has a long way to go before it can expect to be playing in the post-season. The Raptors have won nine of the last 10 meetings between the two teams, and that includes three wins at Minnesota. Toronto has a winning record on the road this season, and is 9-2 ATS in it's last 11 at the Target Center. Zach Lavine's season ending injury has taken the wind out of the sails of this Minnesota team. He was averaging over 18 points per game, and led the team playing 37.2 minutes per game. Take TOR. GL, Jesse Schule
02-08-17	Nuggets v. Hawks -175	Top	106-117	Win	100	13 h 29 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Atlanta Hawks. The Denver Nuggets currently occupy the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, but they are going to be hard pressed to keep it. They are in Atlanta tonight, and the Hawks have won five of the last six meetings between the two teams. Atlanta is coming off a home loss to Utah, but the Hawks are just a half a game back of Washington for the top spot in the Southeast Division. Denver is just 3-9 ATS in it's last 12 visits to Atlanta, and they've lost their last two games in Atlanta by a combined 30 points. The Nuggets leading scorer Danilo Gallinari remains out of the lineup with a groin strain, and Kenneth Faried and Emmanuel Mudiay are both banged up. The Nuggets are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Take ATL. GL, Jesse Schule
02-06-17	Suns v. Pelicans -4.5	Top	106-111	Win	100	24 h 54 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans have a losing record at home (13-14 overall), but they have won seven of their last 11 home games. During that span they beat the Spurs, Clippers and Cavs. They host Phoenix Monday, and the Suns have lost six of their last seven overall. Their last five losses have all come by a double digit margin, and they have failed to cover the spread in five of their last six overall. Anthony Davis has been banged up all year, but he's played through various injuries, and continues to dominate. He's averaged over 25 points and 15 rebounds over his last five games. They Suns have allowed opponents to average over 112 points per game, only Brooklyn ranks worse. The Bucks scored a whopping 137 points on 63.4 percent shooting, handing Phoenix a 137-112 home loss on Saturday. The worst team in the Western Conference is unlikely to provide much of a challenge to New Orleans team that is just 3.5 games out of a playoff spot. Take N.O. GL, Jesse Schule
02-05-17	Blazers v. Thunder -175	Top	99-105	Win	100	8 h 46 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Portland is coming off a tough home loss to Dallas by a score of 108-104. The Blazers now head out on the road, where they are just 8-18 this season. Oklahoma City is coming off a 114-102 home win over Memphis on Friday, and the Thunder are a solid 17-7 at home so far. Russell Westbrook went off for 38 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists, for his 25th triple-double of the season. He should light up the scoreboard here on Sunday, facing one of he league's poorest defensive teams. Portland is allowing an average of 109.9 points per game on the road this year, ranking 26th in the NBA. The home team has won seven straight meetings in this series, and OKC is 5-2 ATS in those games (3-0 ATS at home). The Thunder have covered the spread in six of their last seven home games, and they are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games against teams with a losing record. Take OKC. GL, Jesse Schule
02-04-17	Magic v. Hawks -7.5	Top	86-113	Win	100	12 h 55 m	Show
This is a 10* play on the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks are just a half a game out of first place in the Southeast Division, and they host last placed Orlando tonight. The Magic are playing their second game in as many nights, coming off a home win over the Raptors. Orlando has lost five of it's last seven, with both wins during that span coming against Toronto. The Raptors played without leading scorer DeMar Derozan last night, and Kyle Lowry was unable to carry the load, scoring 18 points on just 5-of-20 shooting. This looks like a let down spot for the visiting Magic, and the Hawks have shown the ability to beat up on weaker teams. Atlanta has covered in four straight games against teams with winning percentage below 40 percent. The Hawks won the last meeting by a score of 111-92 in Orlando, and I expect a similar result here tonight in Atlanta. Take ATL. GL, Jesse Schule
02-03-17	Raptors -185 v. Magic		94-102	Loss	-185	8 h 9 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Raptors (1st half). The Raptors are slumping, coming into tonight's game as losers of seven of their last nine overall. They have slipped into second place in the Atlantic Division, a game and a half back of Boston. They played well in a losing effort at Boston in their last game, in fact they led 62-51 at halftime. They lost at home by a score of 114-113 to Orlando last Sunday, and that sets up a revenge spot as the Raptors look to return the favor in Orlando. The Magic have lost five of their last six overall, and they've lost five of their last six home games against the Raptors. Orlando is 5-16-1 ATS in it's last 22 home games, and has failed to cover in 10 of it's last 13 when playing on one day's rest. This game should mean a lot more to the visitors, and I expect to see the Raptors jump out to a fast start. Take TOR. GL, Jesse Schule
01-31-17	Hornets v. Blazers OVER 214		98-115	Loss	-110	20 h 13 m	Show
This is an 8* play on CHA@POR to go OVER the total. The Hornets are reeling, coming into Portland off four straight losses. Starting center Cody Zeller has missed all four of those games due to injury, and Charlotte has lost nine of 10 games without Zeller this season. They've struggled on defense in his absence, allowing over 110 points per game during their current losing skid. The Blazers have been a major disappointment this season, but they've won three of their last four, scoring an average of over 113 points in those games. The one loss came by just two points to defending Western Conference champs Golden State. Portland has won five straight home meetings with the Hornets, scoring an average of 115 points in those games. The over is 6-1 in the Blazers last seven versus teams with a losing record. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
01-31-17	Kings v. Rockets OVER 224.5		83-105	Loss	-110	12 h 20 m	Show
This is an 8* play on SAC@HOU to go OVER the total. The Kings came up just short in a 122-119 loss at Philly last night, but DeMarcus Cousins continued his extraordinary play, scoring a whopping 45 points and pulling in 15 rebounds. Cousins scored 35 points in Saturday's win at Charlotte, and that was the second game of a back to back for the Kings. Sacramento has scored an average of 112 points per game over their last five (all on the road). It's going to take plenty of points to keep up with the Rockets in Houston tonight. The Rockets rank 2nd in the NBA averaging over 114 points per game. Houston defeated Sacramento 132-98 at home back in December, and six of the last eight meetings between these two teams have gone over the total. Neither of these two teams are too keen on playing defense, and they should both be content to play a fast pace high scoring game in Houston tonight. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
01-30-17	Kings v. 76ers OVER 205		119-122	Win	100	8 h 52 m	Show
This is a 10* play on SAC@PHI to go OVER the total. The Kings have won three of their last four games, scoring an average of over 110 points per game during that span. They are Philly to play the Sixers tonight, and Philly has lost back to back games, giving up over 120 points in each of those losses. The Sixers appear to have cooled off after a 10-3 run prior to Friday's home loss to the Rockets. James Harden went off for 51 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists in that game. I think we could see another half hearted effort on defense tonight, and DeMarcus Cousins could pile on the points. Cousins scored 35 points in a win at Charlotte Saturday, and he's averaged over 30 points per game in his last five. The Kings have been having their way with opponents from the Eastern Conference, and they've covered the spread in five straight on this road trip. The Sixers have gone over in five straight, and the over is 9-3 in their last 12 when playing the second game of a back to back. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
01-28-17	Kings v. Hornets OVER 209	Top	109-106	Win	100	16 h 51 m	Show
This is a 10* play on SAC@CHA to go over the total. The Kings appeared to be well on their way to a third straight victory last night in Indiana, leading by double digits in the fourth quarter. They couldn't hang on though, eventually losing by a score of 115-111 in overtime. They might not have much left in the tank here on their second game of a back to back in Charlotte. The Hornets though have lost three straight, giving up an average of 110 points per game in those losses. This will be their second game in as many nights, and third game in four nights. Recent games between these two teams have been high scoring, the over is 4-1 in the last five head to head meetings. The total for tonight's game is lower than it was in the last two meetings, and I don't expect to see a lot of effort here on defense from two teams that might not make the playoffs. The Hornets have gone over in 13 of their last 17 when playing their second game of a back to back, and the over is 8-3 in their last 11 home games versus the Kings. Take OVER. GL, Jesse Schule
01-26-17	Lakers v. Jazz UNDER 202	Top	88-96	Win	100	13 h 17 m	Show
This is a 10* play on LAL@UTAH to go UNDER the total. The Jazz are coming off back to back losses, failing to score 100 points in both of those games. They are one of the lowest scoring teams in the NBA, averaging just 99.4 points per game (28th). It has been their defense that has helped them win 16-of-24 at home. They rank #1 in the NBA in points allowed, giving up just 95.5 points per game. They are likely to put even more emphasis on defense tonight, looking to get back on track against a struggling Lakers team. LA has failed to score 100 points in back to back losses at Portland and Dallas. They scored just 73 points, suffering their worst ever loss at Dallas on Sunday (122-73). They've lost seven of the last eight meetings in this series, and they've scored an average of just 82 points while losing their last three visits to Utah. The Jazz have gone under in five straight following a loss, and the under is 11-5-2 in their last 18 home meetings versus the Lakers. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
01-26-17	Mavs v. Thunder -8		98-109	Win	100	11 h 56 m	Show
This is an 8* play on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Both the Thunder and the Mavs will be playing their second game of a back to back, and both teams are coming off a win. The visitors though will be shorthanded Thursday, with Dirk Nowitzki scheduled to sit out (rest), and Wesley Matthews and Deron Williams both out due to injury. Dirk scored 19 points in 25 minutes in last night's win over New York, and Williams had a team high seven assists. Russell Westbrook passed Larry Bird last night, recording his 60th career triple-double. The Thunder are a solid 15-6 at home this season, and each of their last five home wins have come by eight points or more. They've covered the spread in four straight home games, and they are 6-1 ATS in their last seven home games against teams with a losing record. Take OKC. GL, Jesse Schule
01-25-17	Knicks v. Mavs UNDER 204.5	Top	95-103	Win	100	13 h 41 m	Show
This is a 10* play on NYK@DAL to go UNDER the total. The Mavericks are coming off a blowout win over the Lakers, and they've held opponents to fewer than 100 points in four of their last five overall. Dallas only averages 96.6 points per game on offense (30th), but they have been one of the better defensive teams in league, allowing just 100 points per game (4th). They host the New York Knicks tonight, and the Knicks are struggling. New York beat the Mavs at home by a score of 93-77 at home in November, but had lost five straight in this series before that. Three of the last four meetings have gone under the total, and tonight's number is higher than it was in any of those previous meetings. Dallas has gone under in four of it's last five home games, and I expect another low scoring game in Texas tonight. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
01-25-17	Raptors v. Grizzlies UNDER 201	Top	99-101	Win	100	12 h 12 m	Show
This is a 10* play on TOR@MEM to go UNDER the total. The Raptors came up just short in a 108-106 home loss to San Antonio last night, and they have their work cut out for them on the road at Memphis in the second game of a back to back. The Grizzlies have lost three of their last four, but they will like their chances of getting back on track against a short-handed and tired opponent. Toronto's leading scorer DeMar Derozan didn't play last night, and isn't expected to play in Memphis. The Grizzlies are a tough team to score on at the best of times, ranking third in the NBA in opponent's scoring average, allowing fewer than 100 points per game. Toronto won the last meeting between these two teams in a shootout in Toronto, but they had gone under in five straight meetings prior to that. They've failed to reach the total in 13 of their last 17 trips to Memphis. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule

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