MONDAY 3-PACK

The Dallas Mavericks pounded the Los Angeles Clippers 108-82 on Saturday, and I think they'll make light work of the Denver Nuggets Monday night. The Nuggets are winners of three of their last four, but they'll be without their best player, center Nikola Jokic, who is out with a sprained ankle and Paul Millsap had surgery to fix a torn ligament in his left wrist and is likely to need up to three months to recover.

Sure, Denver defeated the Lakers 115-100 at home on Saturday, but the game was much closer than the scoreline would suggest as the Nuggets scored the last 15 points. We can also note that they're 0-7 ATS in their last seven games following a straight up win of more than 10 points and 1-5 ATS in their last six road games. The Mavericks are 14-6 ATS in their last 20 home games vs. a team with a losing road record and Denver fits the bill at 3-7 SU on the road this season (compared to 10-2 at home). 

My selection is an 8* play on Dallas Mavericks. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA NO-BRAINER

The San Antonio Spurs knocked off Oklahoma City 104-101 at home on Nov. 17, and I would not be surprised to see them win straight up when they take on the Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena Sunday night. 

OKC is coming off a 111-107 win over the Timberwolves on Friday, but it failed to cover the spread for a fourth straight game, and it is just 1-6 ATS through its last seven. We can also note that the Thunder are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games vs. a team with a winning straight up record and 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games playing on one days rest.

The Thunder are still trying to figure out how to get the best out of Carmelo Anthony, Russell Westbrook and Paul George, and perhaps even more importantly how to get the rest of the team more involved when having the ball. San Antonio on the other hand is a solid machine that has started the season 15-7 despite playing without injured All-Star Kawhi Leonard, and its defense is (as per usual) among the best in the NBA. 

The Spurs are winners of four straight games and I think they'll be up for this Western Conference clash. 

My selection is a 10* play on San Antonio Spurs.

TOP RATED 10* NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

The LA Clippers took a 126-107 beating by Utah on Thursday. It was their first game without star forward Blake Griffin who is expected to miss two months due to a knee injury. 

The injury was the last thing this reeling Clippers side needed as they're now playing without four starters -- Griffin, Patrick Beverley (knee surgery), Danilo Gallinari (sprained ankle) and Milos Teodosic (plantar fascia). I like the Mavs to add to the misery when they host the Clip Show at American Airlines Center Saturday afternoon. 

The Mavs had covered the spread in three straight games prior to losing 109-104 as a 5.5-point favorite against the Nets their last time out. The Mavericks are 4-1 ATS in their last five games following a ATS loss and 13-6 ATS in their last 19 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. There's also a strong revenge angle favoring the Mavs after taking a 119-98 loss at LA on Nov. 1. 

My selection is a 10* play on Dallas Mavericks. 

FRIDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL

Seven of the Chicago Bulls eight games home at United Center this season have gone under the total, but I think the books have set the number way too low when they host the Sacramento Kings Friday night. Note that the Bulls will be playing on no rest after taking a 111-110 loss at Denver last night, so fatigue and tired legs on defense might become an issue for the home team. Four of the Kings' last five games have gone over the total and over is 6-1 in Kings last seven against teams from the East.

My selection is an 8* play on Over.

TOP RATED 10* NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

The Pacers have lost two of their last three after a five game win streak which included a 107-104 triumph against the Raptors home at Indiana. The two losses have come against Boston and Houston, and I think the solid Raptors will get revenge for the most recent setback when they host the Pacers at Air Canada Centre north of the border Friday night. 

The Raptors have won their two games since the loss to Indiana comfortably, beating the Hawks 112-78 at Atlanta and most recently Charlotte 126-113 here in Toronto. The Raptors are 7-2 ATS in their last nine games following a straight up win of more than 10 points and 6-2 ATS in their last eight games overall. We can also note that Toronto beat Indiana twice at home last season, by an average of 18 points.

My selection is a 10* play on Toronto Raptors. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BASKET BRAWLER

The Portland Trail Blazers look like a solid home favorite when they host the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday night. This is the Bucks' final stop on a four-game road trip. They're coming off a 112-87 win at Sacramento on Tuesday, but they're just 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record and 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games playing on one days rest. The Blazers are back home from a successful 4-1 road trip which they closed out with a 103-91 win over the Knicks at MSG on Monday. They're 9-1-2 ATS in their last 12 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points and 5-2 ATS in their last seven home games following a road trip of seven or more days.

My selection is a 10* play on Portland Trail Blazers. 

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The Cavaliers took a 117-115 loss when they hosted Atlanta on Nov. 5, but I think they'll get revenge when they visit the Hawks at Philips Arena Thursday night. The red hot Cavs have won nine straight games SU and they're 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 road games. The Hawks took a 112-78 beating by the Raptors last Saturday, and they've covered the spread in just one of their last five games. Cavaliers are 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings in Atlanta.

My selection is an 8* play on Cleveland Cavaliers.

GAME OF THE MONTH (NBA) - MIKE'S MIDWEEK MAJOR WAGER 

The San Antonio Spurs have won nine of their last 12 and four of their last five games. I think they'll get the job done and win by double-digits when they host the reeling Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday night. 

The Grizzlies took an 98-88 loss to Brooklyn on Sunday, their eighth consecutive defeat and head coach David Fizdale was fired the very next day after just 101 games in charge. J.B. Bickerstaff will the interim head coach, and he sure got his work cut out for him. 

The Spurs are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a losing road record and 5-2 ATS in the last seven when hosting Memphis which is 3-13 ATS in its last 16 games overall. We can also note that the Spurs just got their PG Tony Parker back from injury and he delivered six points and four assists in 14 minutes of Monday's 115-108 win against Dallas. 

Memphis had to get rid of Fizdale as he clearly lost the locker room, but taking on the well organized Spurs tonight will be too tough of a task. 

My NBA Game of the Month is a 10* play on San Antonio Spurs. 

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The Houston Rockets are expected to make light work of the Indiana Pacers home at Toyota Center Wednesday night, but I think the visitors will keep this relatively close. Pacers have played well lately, coming off a 121-109 triumph over the Magic on Monday and they're 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall. The Rockets have won five straight and 11 of their last 12 games, but they're often overvalued at home going just 6-14 ATS in their last 20 home games. Pacers are 5-1 ATS in their last six road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600 and they've won three of the last four head-to-head meetings with Houston straight up. 

My selection is an 8* play on Indiana Pacers. 

ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE BANKROLL BUILDER

The Ohio State Buckeyes will play their first game since taking a 67-66 OT loss to Butler in the last game of the Phil Knight Invitational, despite holding a 54-39 lead with less than four minutes left to play. They've had plenty of time to mull it over and I think they'll come out sharp and focused here when hosting the Clemson Tigers Wednesday night. Clemson has started the season 5-1 SU without really being put to the test, and its lone loss was when it faced a decent team in Temple. 

Buckeyes are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 vs. Atlantic Coast. Tigers are 1-5 ATS in their last six vs. teams from the Big Ten and 1-5-2 ATS in their last eight games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

My selection is an 8* play on Ohio State Buckeyes. 

LATE NIGHT NBA NIGHTCRAWLER TOTAL

The total for this game is set way too low IMO. The Sacramento Kings recorded a major upset Monday night with a 110-106 victory over the Golden State Warriors - their first victory in Oakland since March 2013. That must have cost a lot of energy, something that will hurt them on defense tonight. The Milwaukee Bucks have dropped three of their last four games following a 121-108 loss at Utah on Saturday, so they'll no doubt be pumped up for this one. Note that Milwaukee is scoring an average of 106.1 ppg on the road (102.4 ppg at home) while allowing 109.7 ppg (105.6 ppg at home).

Over is 10-1 in the last 11 meetings overall and 6-0 in the last six meetings at Sacramento.

My selection is a 10* play on Over.

GAME OF THE MONTH (CBB) - MIKE'S TOP RATED 10* MAJOR WAGER

The Purdue Boilermakers had lost back-to-back games (as rather large favorites) in the Battle 4 Atlantis before blowing away Arizona their last time out while shooting 57 percent from the floor and making 11-of-22 attempts from beyond the arc. The 89-64 triumph marked their second-largest margin of victory against a ranked foe in school history. "It's good that they were resilient and they bounced back and they won a game," Purdue coach Matt Painter said. 

The Boilermakers are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points and I think they'll come out focused here when hosting the Louisville Cardinals Tuesday night. 

Louisville is a perfect 4-0 on the season, but this will be the Cardinals' first real test of the season after beating up on weak, small-conference opponents. We can note that they're 6-14-1 ATS in their last 21 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600 and 1-7 ATS in their last eight games overall. The Cardinals lost junior Ray Spalding to an ankle injury in the second half of Friday's win over St. Francis (Pa.) and he's questionable for tonight's contest.

Cardinals are 1-4 ATS in their last five non-conference games. Boilermakers are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 non-conference games.

My CBB Game of the Month is a 10* play on Purdue Boilermakers. 

LATE NIGHT CBB BOOKIE BREAKER

The Virginia Cavaliers have started the season with six straight victories, and they're coming off a pair of particularly impressive triumphs against Vanderbilt and Rhode Island to claim the NIT Tip-off tournament, winning by 26 and 15 points respectively as 6-point favorites. They've won all their games by nine points or more while holding opponents to 52.3 points per game. I think they'll keep rolling here when taking on the Wisconsin Badgers home at John Paul Jones Arena Monday night. 

Wisconsin had lost three straight games before cruising to a 71-49 win as a 16.5-point favorite against Milwaukee, but we can note that the Badgers are 1-4 ATS in their last five games following a straight up win of more than 20 points and 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

My selection is an 8* play on Virginia Cavaliers. 

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER TOTAL

The San Antonio Spurs will open the week with a matchup with Southwest Division rival Dallas Mavericks, and I think we'll see a low-scoring contest.

The Spurs have played excellent defense while winning three of their last four games, conceding an average of just 90.6 points in the wins. The Dallas Mavericks have also won three of their last four and allowed an average of just 84.7 points per game in the wins and an average of 87.5 points in regulation during the 3-1 stretch.

Both teams are playing at slow pace with the Mavs ranking 24th in the league in pace and the Spurs dead last. Under is 5-1 in both the Mavs and the Spurs last six overall and under is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BASKET BRAWLER

The Indiana Pacers have owned Orlando in recent seasons as they're going for a sixth straight win in the series when they host the Magic Monday night. The Pacers were riding a five-game winning streak before taking a 108-98 loss against the Celtics here at Bankers Life Fieldhouse Saturday night, and they're a magnificent 22-6 ATS in their last 28 games following a double-digit loss at home. 

The Magic have lost eight straight games and covered the spread just once through their last five games. They've allowed and an average of 117 points during the slide and this will be the Magic's third road game in four nights. I think they already have their eyes on Wednesday's home game against OKC, and I expect an easy win and cover for Indiana.  

My selection is a 10* play on Indiana Pacers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (CBB) - TOP RATED 10* MAJOR WAGER ALERT

The Texas Longhorns shot just 4-of-23 from 3-point range and managed to blow a 16-point lead when they lost 85-78 in overtime to top-ranked Duke on Friday. This should be another tough matchup when they take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs Sunday afternoon. Gonzaga took seventh-ranked Florida to double overtime before taking a 111-105 loss. We're likely to see some tired legs, particularly on defense, for both teams, and that's when the Zags superior offensive players will take advantage. 

Longhorns are 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven games following a straight up loss. Bulldogs are 4-1 ATS in their last five games following a straight up loss. 

My CBB Game of the Week is a 10* play on Gonzaga Bulldogs. 

LATE NBA NIGHTCRAWLER

The Milwaukee Bucks are coming off an overtime win over Phoenix their last time out, but they had dropped back-to-back decisions to Washington and Dallas prior to that. The Utah Jazz have won two of their last three including a 110-80 blowout of the Bulls just before Thanksgiving. Utah has won the six in the series and the Jazz are a dominant 24-5 ATS last 29 meetings (14-2 ATS last 16 at Utah). They won the two meetings last season by an average of 15 points.

The Jazz own a disappointing 8-11 record overall this season but they're a solid 7-4 SU and ATS home at Vivint Smart Home Arena. 

My selection is a 10* play on Utah Jazz. 

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The San Antonio Spurs had won back-to-back games before taking a 107-90 beating at New Orleans on Nov 22. Tonight they'll visit a Charlotte Hornets side that put up a good fight at Cleveland last night, losing by just one point. Tough spot here though for Charlotte against the well rested Spurs who have won the past three head-to-head meetings and that includes a 108-101 victory on Nov. 3. 

My selection is an 8* play on San Antonio Spurs. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BASKET BRAWLER

The Cleveland Cavaliers are playing well at the moment coming off six straight victories. They're 9-1-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings with the Charlotte Hornets, and I expect another easy win and ATS cover for the Cavs when the teams clash at Quicken Loans Arena. 

Charlotte is coming off a 129-124 OT win against Washington to make it three wins in a row. All at home though, and the Hornets have dropped five straight on the road (0-4-1 ATS) and they're 1-9-1 ATS in their last 11 road games. We can also note that guard Nicolas Batum injured his left elbow against the Wizards, the same elbow that caused him to miss the first 12 games of the season.

My selection is a 10* play on Cleveland Cavaliers. 

CBB BANKROLL BUILDER

The Seton Hall Pirates head into the NIT Season Tip-Off against Rhode Island Rams Barclays Center in New York unbeaten through their first four games of the season. They have the advantage of returning several key pieces from a team that won 21 games last season, and I think they'll keep rolling tonight. Rhode Island has won two of three games, but it is surrendering 71.3 ppg to opposing teams and that won't cut it here against a Seton Hall team scoring 82.8 ppg while shooting 50% from the floor. Seton Hall has the experience and talent to win and cover the spread. 

My selection is an 8* play on Seton Hall Pirates. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Oklahoma City Thunder are inconsistent and still very much a work in progress, highlighted in back-to-back losses to San Antonio and New Orleans. Here they'll face a Warriors team that has failed to cover the spread in four straight games, but all against teams from the East. They're 20-8-1 ATS in their last 29 vs. Western Conference while the Thunder are just 2-8 ATS in their last 10 vs. teams from the West. Warriors are 7-0 ATS in the last seven meetings. I expect Golden State to show up for this game, and if it does it will cover the spread with ease. 

My selection is an 8* play on Golden State Warriors. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Boston Celtics are riding an amazing 16-game winning streak to Miami Wednesday night, and I think they'll deliver the goods once again. They're 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings overall and 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings in Miami. The Heat have lost three of their last four games and they've averaged just 93.2 ppg through their last five. That won't cut it here against a Celtics team that is holding opponents to an NBA-best 94.8 ppg on the season. 

Heat are 2-12-2 ATS in their last 16 home games and 1-7 ATS in their last eight games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. There's no need to try and be "smart" and contrarian here; ride the Celtics gravy train for at least another stop. 

My selection is an 8* play on Boston Celtics.

NBA 3-PACK

The New York Knicks took a 107-84 loss at Toronto on Nov. 17, but they bounced back right away by defeating the Clippers by 20+ points here at Madison Square Garden a couple of days later. The Knicks are a sizzling 8-3 (9-2 ATS & 7-0 ATS L7) at home on the season, and I think they'll get their revenge against the Raptors here. Toronto enters Wednesday's tilt riding a four-game winning streak but I would not be surprised to see the Raptors come out flat tonight. 

Raptors are 2-5 ATS in the last seven meetings in New York.

My selection is an 8* play on NY Knicks. 

CBB BOOKIE BREAKER

Two undefeated teams will clash at Coleman Coliseum Tuesday night when the Alabama Crimson Tide take on the UT Arlington Mavericks in the Barclays Center Classic. Alabama has won its first three games by an average of 23.7 points, but the Mavs shocked BYU by winning 89-75 as an 8-point road dog their last time out and they have plenty of routine with five senior starters. I think Bama has had it too easy so far and running a major risk of underestimating UT Arlington. Take the points. 

My selection is an 8* play on UT Arlington Mavericks. 

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The Oklahoma City Thunder had won three straight prior to taking a 104-101 loss at San Antonio last Friday. I think they'll bounce back here when visiting the struggling Pelicans at New Orleans Monday night. The Pels have surrendered an average of 135.5 points through back-to-back losses to Denver and Toronto. They allowed the most points in an NBA game this season in Friday's 146-114 loss at Denver and are just 2-6 ATS in their last eight games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points. Thunder are 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings, and this looks like a good enough spot to make it five in a row. 

My selection is an 8* play on Oklahoma City Thunder. 

NBA NO-BRAINER

The Indiana Pacers are riding a three-game winning streak as they head to Orlando to take on the Magic Monday night. I think they're about to run into some serious trouble here though with the Magic desperate for a win after suffering four straight defeats. The last was the worst of the bunch when they took a 125-85 beating against the Pacers here at Amway Center. "Monday is a must-win for this group," Magic point guard Elfrid Payton told the Orlando Sentinel. "Obviously, it’s still early. We still have time to get better. But internally I feel like we’ve got to show some fight." Sounds like the home team will play with a lot of desire, and we can note that Indiana won 120-95 at Miami last night and just 6-14-1 ATS in its last 21 games playing on no rest.

My selection is an 8* play on Orlando Magic. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA)

The Detroit Pistons are sitting top of the Central Division with the Cleveland Cavaliers in second place two games back. I have no doubt that the roles will be reversed shortly though, and I expect a blowout win for the Cavs when the two division rivals clash Monday night. Note that Detroit is in a letdown spot after snapping a two-game skid with a 100-97 win at Minnesota on Sunday. How much gas is left in the tank for this contest? 

The Cleveland Cavaliers have finally started to show the grit and desire they missed at the start of the season and enter this game on a four-game winning streak. 

My NBA Game of the Week is a 10* play on Cleveland Cavaliers. 

SUPER EARLY UMKC/MANHATTAN MONEYMAKER

The Manhattan Jaspers look like a good favorite when they take on the UMKC Kangaroos in the Gulf Coast Showcase at Germain Arena early Monday. Manhattan has started the season with pair of wins and its coming off a 73-69 win as a 3.5-point dog against Harvard. It held the lead for the majority of the game and shot a solid 49 percent from the field (58.8 percent from behind the arc). The Kangaroos have dropped three of their first four games of the season and took a 66-56 loss against Loyola Chicago their last time out. They're 2-6 ATS in their last eight games vs. a team with a winning straight up record and 1-6-1 ATS in their last eight neutral site games. The Jaspers meanwhile are 7-2 ATS in their last nine neutral site games.

My selection is an 8* play on Manhattan Jaspers. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BASKET BRAWLER

The Denver Nuggets are aiming for their fifth win in six games when they visit the Lakers at LA Sunday night. They shot an amazing 62.9 percent from the floor in Friday's 146-114 drubbing of the Pelicans, and I don't think they should have any trouble to pile up the points here against a Lakers side that has lost five of its last six and allowed 218.5 ppg through its last two games. Nuggets are 24-9 ATS in their last 33 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game and 7-1 ATS in the last eight meetings at Staples Center.

My selection is a 10* play on Denver Nuggets. 

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The Boston Celtics extended their winning streak to 14 games when they defeated Golden State 92-88 on Thursday to end the Warriors' own seven-game winning streak. We've cashed in plenty and often with the Celtics during their run, and I don't see any reason not to back them again, this time at Atlanta Saturday night. 

The Hawks handed Sacramento a 126-80 defeated their last time out, but they still own one of the worst records in NBA and they're just 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points. 

My selection is an 8* play on Boston Celtics.

TOP RATED 10* NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

The Golden State Warriors had won seven straight prior to taking a 92-88 loss at Boston their last time out. They'll be looking to get back to their winning ways right away, and Philadelphia 76ers look like a perfect victim. The 76ers will play their first game following a five-game road trip, which included a 135-114 loss at Golden State a week ago. They did however conclude the trip with back-to-back wins against Clippers and Lakers, putting them in a letdown spot here. 

My selection is a 10* play on Golden State Warriors. 

NBA 3-PACK

The LA Clippers took an 118-113 OT loss at Cleveland Friday night, making them an auto-fade for me here the next night. The Clippers are banged up and Blake Griffin and the rest of the starters were forced to log heavy minutes in the defeat. Note that Clippers are 0-4 ATS in their last four games playing on no rest.

The Charlotte Hornets did also take a loss last night then they fell 123-120 at Chicago. They have the luxury of not coming off an OT though, and managed to spread out the minutes better among their players. 

The Clippers have lost six straight and the Hornets five in a row. I like the home team to come through and and its skid here at Spectrum Center Saturday night. 

My selection is an 8* play on Charlotte Hornets.

TOP RATED 10* NBA

The Cleveland Cavaliers are riding their first three-game winning streak of the season despite playing the last four on the road, and I like what I've seen from the Cavs lately with come-from-behind wins in each of the last two games. Not that they've played terrific basketball or anything, but at least they're showing some fight, and it's only matter of time before they really start to click. 

Here the Cavs host a banged up Clippers team that has lost six straight games and failed to cover the spread each time. They really miss Patrick Beverley who has missed the last three games with a sore right knee and is expected to miss this game as well.

The Cavs are 9-2 ATS in the last 11 meetings at Quicken Loans Arena. 

My selection is a 10* play on Cleveland Cavaliers. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Detroit Pistons had won five straight before losing 99-95 at Milwaukee on Wednesday. I think they'll rebound right away with a win at Indiana Friday night. Note that the Pistons are 4-0 ATS in their last four games following a straight up loss and 4-1 ATS in their last five Friday night fights. The Indiana Pacers meanwhile are just 1-5 ATS in their last six Friday games and in a letdown spot after winning 116-113 at Memphis as a 3-point underdog on Wednesday. They've won just two of their last seven games and nearly coughed up a 17-point lead in the final nine minutes against the Grizzlies. 

My selection is an 8* play on Detroit Pistons.

NBA 3-PACK

The Washington Wizards are going for five wins a row when they host the Heat Friday night. They won the first game of the home-and-home set 102-93 in South Beach Wednesday night, and I think they'll prevail with a similar scoreline home at Capital One Arena. Note that the Heat are struggling to upset good teams and just 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record while the Wizards are 4-0 ATS in their last four games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.

The Wizards are playing well at the moment and I expect them to win and cover.

My selection is an 8* play on Washington Wizards. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA GAME OF THE WEEK

The Boston Celtics are aiming for a 14th straight victory when they host the reigning NBA champions Golden State Warriors Thursday night. We've cashed in plenty with the Celtics during their winning streak, and I think they're catching way too many points to pass up on in this matchup. 

The Warriors have played some impressive basketball lately as well and own the second-longest winning streak in the NBA at seven games, but we can note that they're just 1-6 ATS in their last seven games vs. a team with a winning % above .600 and 2-6 ATS in their last eight against teams from the East.

A thigh contusion kept Warriors' Stephen Curry inactive in their last win, a 110-100 victory against the visiting Magic on Monday, but he is expected to go tonight. Still, the Celtics own the best defense in the NBA limiting opponents to an average of 94.5 points and the underdog is 24-8-1 ATS in the last 33 meetings. 

My NBA Game of the Week is a 10* play on Boston Celtics. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Toronto Raptors impressed (and probably spent a lot of energy) when they defeated the Rockets 129-113 at Houston on Tuesday. I think they'll struggle here at New Orleans the following night. New Orleans has won its last two games and five of its last six. Note that the Pels will be looking to revenge a 122-118 loss at Toronto on Nov. 9 and that they're 5-1 ATS on the season against opponents they lost the last meeting against.

My selection is an 8* play on New Orleans Pelicans. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be looking to make it three wins in a row when they visit the Charlotte Hornets Wednesday night. They showed great morale and fighting spirit on Monday as they overcame a 23-point deficit to defeat the Knicks 104-101 at the Garden. Tonight they'll visit a Hornets side Hornets who will play its first game since returning home from an 0-4 road trip, typically not a pretty tough spot. The Cavs are 5-0-1 ATS in the last six meetings with the Hornets and I would not be surprised to see them go on a big run after a slow start to the season. 

My selection is a 10* play on Cleveland Cavaliers. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Utah Jazz are struggling big time at the moment, travelling to New York as losers of five of their last six games. Tonight they'll take on a Knicks team that has played great basketball of late, and the Knickerbockers will be looking to bounce back from a tight loss to Cleveland after a second-half collapse. The Jazz are 2-10 ATS in the last 12 meetings at MSG and the only Western Conference team without a road win (0-4 on the season).

My selection is an 8* play on NY Knicks.

TUESDAY NIGHT CBB BANK BREAKER

The No. 4 Kansas Jayhakws will take on the No. 5 Kentucky Wildcats at United Center in Chicago Tuesday night, and I'm not afraid to give the points and back the Jayhawks in this matchup. 

Kentucky has a talented team, but it has not impressed through its first two games despite going undefeated, only beating Utah Valley by 10 points and Vermont by four points. Here the Wildcats will run into an experienced Jayhawks side which put a 92-56 beating on Tennessee State on Friday. The Jayhawks have the experience the Wildcats miss, and I think it will shine through in this game. 

My selection is an 8* play on Kansas Jayhawks.

TOP RATED 10* NBA NO-BRAINER

The Toronto Raptors fought hard in a 95-94 loss to a shorthanded Celtics side on Sunday. I don't think they have a enough gas left in the tank to keep up with the high-tempo Houston Rockets here just one day later. Note that the Raptors are 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine games vs. a team with a winning straight up record, 1-4 ATS in their last five games playing on one days rest and 0-7 ATS in their last seven Tuesday games.

The Rockets are flying high, coming off six straight victories and covering the spread in all but one game during that stretch (a 117-113 win against the Cavs, closing as a 5.5-point favorite). The Rockets are streaky, but well worth to ride when they're shooting well from the perimeter. That's certainly been the case lately, and I would not be surprised to see the score run away in the end here and I think the home team will win this one by double-digits.

My selection is a 10* play on Houston Rockets.  

TOP RATED 10* NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

The red hot Golden State Warriors have found their groove, coming off six straight victories (6-0 ATS) and covering the spread by double-digits more often than not during that stretch. Here they'll close out a three-game homestand before travelling to Boston to take on the Celtics, and I think they'll avoid the temptation to look ahead and that we'll instead see a focused Warriors side preparing for that contest. 

The Orlando Magic took a 125-107 beating at Denver their last time out, and this will be their third game on a four-game trip. Their defending has been really suspect of late, and the Magic are just 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record while the Warriors are 3-1 ATS as a favorite of 13 points or more on the season.

There's no way Orlando can slow down the high-scoring Warriors, and as a bonus we can note that Magic are 1-5 ATS in their last six Monday games while Warriors are 6-1 ATS in their last seven Monday games.

My selection is a 10* play on Golden State Warriors. 

SUPER EARLY ATS ANNIHILATOR

The Richmond Spiders took a 76-63 home loss as a 10-point favorite against Delaware in their season opener, but I think they'll do much better here when they host the Jacksonville St. Gamecocks Monday night. Jacksonville St. comes off of a 100-42 victory versus the Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs, but this is obviously a big step up in competition. Richmond is vastly underrated because of its clunker in the season premiere, and we can note that it won all four home games coming off a home loss last season. I predict an easy ATS cover for the home team in this contest.

My selection is an 8* play on Richmond Spiders.

LATE CBB BANKROLL BUILDER

The Washington Huskies opened the season with an 86-82 win against Belmont on Friday, despite closing as a 2-point dog and trailing by eight at the break. They fought hard in the second half, and we could see some stiff legs in the Huskies camp here when they host instate rival Eastern Washington Eagles Sunday night. The Eagles are coming off a comfortable 82-61 thumping of the Walla Walla Warriors, and they're 8-3 ATS in their last 11 road games. 

My selection is an 8* play on Eastern Washington Eagles. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

Here we have two teams in a completely different spot with the Detroit Pistons looking to cap off a five-game homestand with a fifth straight victory while the Miami Heat are closing out a tough six-game road trip. On top of that, the Heat must have spent a lot of energy when they came from behind to outscore the Jazz 47-25 in a 84-74 win at Utah on Friday. 

Heat are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 Sunday games and 1-5 ATS in the last six meetings in Detroit. Pistons are 7-1 ATS in their last eight Sunday games and a dominant 6-1 SU (4-2-1 ATS) at home this season. 

My selection is a 10* play on Detroit Pistons. 

LATE NIGHT NBA NO-BRAINER

The Orlando Magic are coming off a blowout victory at Phoenix Friday night to make it two wins in a row. They're in a really tough spot here though playing the second game of a back-to-back set as fatigue and the high altitude in Denver don’t mix well at all. The Nuggets have won four of their last five and handed OKC a 102-94 defeat here at Pepsi Center on Thursday. Denver defeated Orlando in both meetings last season, covering the spread with ease in both contests.

My selection is an 8* play on Denver Nuggets.

TOP RATED 10* NBA BASKET BRAWLER

The New York Knicks have won six of their last eight, but they took a 112-99 loss at Orlando on Wednesday. It was a really tough spot though with star forward Kristaps Porzingis sitting out with a sore ankle and elbow and the team playing the second game of a back to back. Porzingis, who did not make himself available to reporters after practice Friday, said on WFAN radio his "swelling" was down in his elbow "so I’ll be ready to go." The Knicks are a solid 5-1 ATS in their last six home games and I expect a big performance from them here at the Garden Saturday night.

The Sacramento Kings are in a prime spot for a let-down game following back-to-back upset home victories against OKC (covering by 18.5 points) and Philly (covering by 6.5 points). They Kings are however still just 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine games overall.

My selection is a 10* play on NY Knicks.

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The Boston Celtics are without a doubt the the hottest team in the NBA entering Friday aiming for their 11th consecutive victory. They'll host a Charlotte Hornets team coming off three straight losses (SU and ATS), and this is not the time to bank on them to end the slide.

Hornets are 1-5 SU and ATS on the road this season, 1-8 ATS in their last nine road games dating back to last season while the Celtics are 8-0 ATS in their last eight home games vs. a team with a losing road record. They put a 107-96 beating on the Lakers on Wednesday and have a solid 8-1 ATS record in their last nine games following a straight up win of more than 10 points. 

As icing on the cake; Boston swept the four-game season series in 2016-17, covering the spread in each game. 

My selection is an 8* play on Boston Celtics. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

The Detroit Pistons are playing great basketball here at the start of the campaign. They aim for their fourth straight win as they host the Atlanta Hawks Friday night, and I think this will be an easy win for the home team. Note that Detroit is 8-3 SU and 8-2-1 ATS on the season. 

Atlanta has won just two games all season, although it has played better in its two most recent games, first beating Cleveland then losing by just three points at Boston. This is a tough spot though with a matchup against the Wizards at Washington on deck tomorrow. 

Pistons are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 home games vs. a team with a losing road record and they won two of the three head-to-head meetings with Atlanta last season, including the lone matchup in Detroit 118-95.

My selection is a 10* play on Detroit Pistons. 

OPENING NIGHT CBB ATS ANNIHILATOR

The Elon Phoenix will visit the #1 ranked Duke Blue Devils Friday night, and I think the visitors are spotted way too many points to pass up on here. Note that Elon is returning four players that averaged double-digits in points last season, and it lost by just a 72-61 score to Duke as a 26-point dog last season. Duke has lost its top two scorers from last season with Luke Kennard and Jayson Tatum moving on to the NBA. The Blue Devils are still the more talented side, but covering this many points in the first game of the season is far from easy. 

My selection is an 8* play on Elon Phoenix. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA GAME OF THE WEEK - OKC @ DEN

The Oklahoma City Thunder are losers of three straight, both SU and ATS. They took a 94-86 loss as a 10.5-point favorite at Sacramento on Tuesday, and I think they better prepare for another setback when they visit the Denver Nuggets Thursday night. This is normally a good spot to back a team to bounce back from an upset loss, but I wouldn't trust the Thunder to do so in their current state. This is the finale of a three-game road trip and I wonder if they're not looking ahead to tomorrow's matchup with the Clippers home in Oklahoma City. 

The Nuggets have opened a six-game homestand by winning three of the first four contests, with the lone loss coming against Golden State. They cruised to a 112-104 win against Brooklyn their last time out and the Nuggets are never easy to beat home at Pepsi Center.

My NBA Game of the Week is a 10* play on Denver Nuggets.

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The LA Lakers ran out of gas down the stretch of last night's 107-96 loss at Boston, and I don't see them being able to hang around with the Wizards at Washington here on no rest. The Wizards will be looking to redeem themselves after taking a 113-99 loss to Dallas as a 10-point favorite here at Capital One Arena on Tuesday. They're 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following a double-digit loss at home.

My selection is an 8* play on Washington Wizards. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA LATE SHOW - WOLVES @ WARRIORS

The Golden State Warriors host the Minnesota Timberwolves Wednesday night, and I think we'll see a high-scoring affair. 

The Warriors have averaged a healthy 119.25 ppg through their last four contests, and that despite putting up just 97 on 36.8 percent shooting against Miami their last time out. I really expect the Warriors to shoot much better tonight, and we can note that the Timberwolves enter the game on a four-game winning streak during which they've averaged 114.4 ppg. 

Over is 10-2 in Warriors last 12 vs. Western Conference and 11-3 in their last 14 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Over is 5-1 in Timberwolves last six road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

My selection is a 10* play on Over.

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The New York Knicks gave us a 10* winner last night when they outscored the Hornets by 16 points in the 4th quarter to claim a 118-113 victory. That must have cost a lot of energy though, and I think they'll struggle here at Orlando the very next night. The Knicks might have won three straight games, but all of those were at home and they're 1-2 SU and ATS on the road this season. The Magic are in dire need of a win in front of the home town crowd after dropping back-to-back games to Chicago and Boston, and this is their last home game before embarking on a four-game road trip. 

My selection is an 8* play on Orlando Magic. 

3-PACK

We cashed a big ticket backing the Brooklyn Nets at Phoenix on Monday, but I'm going against them here at Denver the very next night. Playing without rest at the Pepsi Center is an extremely tough ask, particularly with the Nuggets looking to bounce back from a 127-108 loss to Golden State. The Nuggets are 18-7 ATS in their last 25 games following a straight up loss.

The Nuggets defeated the Nets 124-111 on Oct. 29 and the favorite is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings.

My selection is an 8* play on Denver Nuggets.

TOP RATED 10* NBA MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The New York Knicks are on a roll, having won two straight and five of their last six, covering the spread in each win. This looks like a good spot for the Knicks to keep their winning streak going as they host Charlotte Hornets Tuesday night. 

Charlotte has opened a four-game road trip with back-to-back losses at San Antonio and Minnesota. The Hornets are 1-4 ATS on the road this season and 1-7 ATS in their last eight road games dating back to last season. 

The Knicks have been putting up impressive offensive numbers lately, scoring 107+ points in five of their last six games while Charlotte has allowed an average of 110.3 points over a six-game span. 

We can also note that the Knicks took two of three meetings last season and they're 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings. 

My selection is a 10* play on New York Knicks. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

This is an absolutely terrible spot for the Phoenix Suns. They're just returning home from a five-game trip, having been on the road since October 28, and took a 112-95 beating at San Antonio last night. The Suns are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 home games following a road trip of seven or more days and 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record. 

The visiting Brooklyn Nets (3-6) fit the bill, and they must be desperate for a win after losing four straight (0-4 ATS). We also have a revenge angle in favor of the Nets as Phoenix won 122-114 at Brooklyn last week. 

My selection is a 10* play on Brooklyn Nets. 

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The Minnesota Timberwolves have won four on the bounce following Saturday's 112-99 victory against Dallas. I think they're in a tough spot here though in the 2nd contest of a back-to-back set Sunday night. The visiting Charlotte Hornets had won three straight prior to a 108-101 setback at San Antonio Friday night. They usually match up well against the Wolves, having won eight of the last 10 meetings overall straight up and going 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings. Take the points on the dog in this contest. 

My selection is an 8* play on Charlotte Hornets. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

The Houston Rockets are coming off a couple of comfortable double-digit wins at New York and Atlanta, and I think they'll keep the momentum going when they host the Utah Jazz Sunday night. 

Utah had won three straight before taking a 109-100 beating by Toronto at home its last time out. This will be an extremely tough game at Toyota Center, and we can note that although the Jazz are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games overall, they're just 1-7 ATS in their last eight road games vs. a team with a losing home record. Houston fits the bill here as it has won just one of its three home games on the season, and I think the Rockets are loading up for a blowout win in front of the home town crowd tonight.

My selection is a 10* play on Houston Rockets.

TOP RATED 10* NBA WARRIORS@NUGGETS NO-BRAINER

The Golden State Warriors dropped two of their first three games of the season, but they've won five of their last six including a 112-92 rout of the Spurs on Thursday. Here they'll face a Denver Nuggets side that just barely outlasted the Heat last night, and I don't see them keeping up with the high-tempo Warriors when playing on back-to-back nights. 

We can also note that Denver won the last meeting 132-110 back in February. Yes, it was a long time ago, but I doubt the Warriors have forgotten about it considering they don't lose many games, nevermind by 22 points! Great revenge angle here, and there's no need to overthink this one. I'm not afraid to lay the points on Golden State in this matchup. 

My selection is a 10* play on Golden State Warriors. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BASKET BRAWLER

The Boston Celtics own the NBA's longest winning streak with six straight wins, covering the spread each game during that stretch. Here they'll face another hot team in OKC Thunder who have won two on the bounce, but this is a spot for the home team. The Thunder are just coming back home from a three-game trip (Minnesota, Chicago, Milwaukee) and they'll head out on another three-game trip right after this contest.

Celtics are 7-0 ATS in their last seven road games and 4-1 ATS in their last five Friday games. Thunder are 0-4 ATS in their last four home games vs. a team with a winning road record and 0-5 ATS in their last five Friday games.

The road team is 6-0-1 ATS in the last seven meetings and I think we're getting way too many points on the visiting Celtics here to pass up on. 

My selection is a 10* play on Boston Celtics. 

NBA ATS ANNIHILATOR

The Cleveland Cavaliers are not looking like much of a super team at the moment. They've dropped four straight games SU despite playing some rather mediocre opponents, and they've covered the spread just once all season. 

I don't think a date with another contender in the East is what they need to get back on track. Cleveland took two of the three meetings last season, including a pair of wins at Washington, but the Wizards must absolutely love this opportunity to inflict more damage to the wounded Cavaliers. 

We can also note that Washington will be looking to bounce back quick from a 122-116 loss to the rising Suns on Wednesday.  

My selection is an 8* play on Washington Wizards. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

The Toronto Raptors opened their season-high six-game road swing with a pair of losses, but they've won each of the last two and I think they look good here at Denver Wednesday night. The Raptors handed the Blazers a 99-85 beating at Portland on Monday to improve to 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven games overall and they're 4-1 ATS in their last five games following a straight up win of more than 10 points. They're shooting just 29.9 percent from 3-point range on the season, but with talent backcourt like DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry that's due to improve. 

The Denver Nuggets took a 116-110 loss at New York as a 4.5-point favorite on Monday to fall to 1-4 ATS through their last five games. They've just returned home from a four-game East Coast swing, and I think that fact offsets Toronto's current road trip. 

Road team is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings and Toronto won both matchups SU last season, including a 113-111 OT win here at Pepsi Center. 

My selection is a 10* play on Toronto Raptors. 

NBA ATS ANNIHILATOR

The Phoenix Suns are coming off a 122-114 win at Brooklyn last night, and I think they'll keep this a relatively close game despite playing on back-to-back nights. 

The Washington Wizards dominated the Kings 110-83 in the finale of a four-game East Coast road swing on Sunday, but they're in a look ahead spot here with a matchup with the Cavs on deck Friday night. 

The Suns have won three of four games under interim head coach Jay Triano. They're 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings with Washington. 

My selection is an 8* play on Phoenix Suns. 

LATE NIGHT PISTONS/LAKERS ATS ANNIHILATOR

The Detroit Pistons will be looking to close out a three-game California road trip with a perfect record when they visit the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday night. They're coming off a pair of massive 8-point victories against LA Clippers and Golden State as huge underdogs, 8.5 and 14 points respectively, and I think they might feel a little bit too good about themselves to put full focus on this game.

The LA Lakers have lost back-to-back games against Toronto and Utah, failing to cover the spread both times. They're however 6-2 ATS in their last eight games playing on two days rest and  4-1 ATS in their last five games following a straight up loss.

As a bonus we can note the Lakers are 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings with the Pistons home at Staples Center. I fully expect the Lakers to battle hard here and this is a prime spot to fade the Pistons. 

My selection is an 8* play on LA Lakers.

TOP RATED 10* NBA BASKET BRAWLER

The Oklahoma City Thunder are just 3-3 SU and ATS on the season, but they're coming off a dominant 101-69 thrashing of the Bulls at Chicago and I think they'll keep the momentum going here at Milwaukee Tuesday night. They'll have plenty of rest before hosting Boston on Nov. 3, so there's no need to conserve any energy while the Milwaukee Bucks have a matchup with the Hornets at Charlotte tomorrow.

Note that Milwaukee is on a 12-27 ATS run in the first contest of a back-to-back set. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been dominant for the Bucks, but the Thunder have three go-to players in the reigning MVP Russell Westbrook plus forwards Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. 

As icing on the cake; Thunder are 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings at BMO Harris Bradley Center.

My selection is a 10* play on OKC Thunder. 

LATE NIGHT WARRIORS/CLIPPERS TWISTED TOTAL

Two teams that fell victim to the Pistons their last time out will clash at Staples Center Monday night. The Warriors took a 115-107 loss at home last night while the Clippers fell 95-87 against the Detroit team at home Saturday night. 

The Clippers are playing excellent D allowing just 92.4 ppg and they rank in the bottom 3rd of the NBA for pace with 99.4 possessions per game. The Warriors are 5th for pace with 103.9 possessions per game, but I like the under here with the Golden State on the second night of a back-to-back set and unlikely to push the tempo too high. 

Under is 10-3 in Warriors last 13 games following a straight up loss. Under is 4-0 in Clippers last four games following a straight up loss.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA GAME OF THE WEEK

The San Antonio Spurs are coming off back-to-back losses, the most recent a 97-94 setback at Indiana last night. This will be their third game in four night, a very tough spot for a veteran squad like the Spurs. Note that the Spurs are 1-5 ATS in their last six games playing on no rest and 0-5 ATS in their last five games following a straight up loss.

They'll face a red hot Boston Celtics team coming off four straight victories, covering the spread each time and allowing an average of just 90 ppg during that stretch.   

San Antonio has won 11 straight meetings, but Boston won't get this good of an opportunity to end that streak anytime soon. 

My NBA Game of the Week is a 10* play on Boston Celtics. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Brooklyn Nets are coming off a disappointing 107-86 loss against the Knicks, but I think they'll show up here when they host the Denver Nuggets Sunday night. Note that Brooklyn is 7-1 ATS last eight following an ATS loss and 11-3 ATS last 14 following a straight up loss. The Nuggets will be looking to book consecutive wins for the first time this season after picking up a 105-100 win at Atlanta on Friday. The way they've struggled with consistency does not bode well though, particularly when playing on the road.

Brooklyn is a perfect 3-0 SU and ATS at home while Denver is 1-2 SU and 0-3 ATS on the road. The Nets are 6-1 SU and ATS against Denver in their last seven meetings.

We can also note that Brooklyn plays at the fastest pace in the league, and I think the home team will set the tempo here and make this a high-scoring affair. 

My selection is an 8* play on Brooklyn Nets. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Brooklyn Nets are coming off a disappointing 107-86 loss against the Knicks, but I think they'll show up here when they host the Denver Nuggets Sunday night. Note that Brooklyn is 7-1 ATS last eight following an ATS loss and 11-3 ATS last 14 following a straight up loss. The Nuggets will be looking to book consecutive wins for the first time this season after picking up a 105-100 win at Atlanta on Friday. The way they've struggled with consistency does not bode well though, particularly when playing on the road.

Brooklyn is a perfect 3-0 SU and ATS at home while Denver is 1-2 SU and 0-3 ATS on the road. The Nets are 6-1 SU and ATS against Denver in their last seven meetings.

We can also note that Brooklyn plays at the fastest pace in the league, and I think the home team will set the tempo here and make this a high-scoring affair. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Sacramento Kings have dropped three straight games and failed to cover the spread each time. I like them to come through with a big performance here on Sunday though as they host the Washington Wizards. This is a spot where the Wizards are generally overrated by both the books and the public going 3-14-1 ATS in their last 18 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.

We can also note that this is their last game of a four-game road trip on the west coast and they spent a lot of energhy in Friday's narrow 120-117 loss at Golden State. 

Sacramento is expected to give point guard George Hill and power forward Zach Randolph a night off with rookie De'Aaron Fox into the starting lineup. Not all bad news as Fox leads the team in scoring (14.8 ppg) as well as assists (5 apg) while shooting 50 percent from downtown.

My selection is an 8* play on Sacramento Kings.

SUPER LATE NBA ATS ANNIHILATOR

The Phoenix Suns have won three straight games under interim coach Jay Triano, and I think they'll keep this a reasonably close game. The Portland Trail Blazers fell to a LA Clippers buzzer-beater on Thursday. While I'm sure they would like to rebound with a win, there's really no reason to blow out the Suns, especially with a more challenging matchup with the Raptors on deck on Monday. 

Suns are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record and they'll have plenty of motivation after taking a 124-76 beating by the Blazers home in Phoenix in the season opener.

My selection is an 8* play on Phoenix Suns. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA MONEYLINE MONEYMAKER

The Boston Celtics are going for a fourth consecutive win when they visit the Heat at American Airlines Arena Saturday night. They're 3-2 SU and 4-1 ATS on the season and they've won seven consecutive head-to-head meetings and four in a row in Miami. I really like the Celtics in this matchup. 

Miami is 2-2 but just 0-3-1 ATS on the season, but star center Hassan Whiteside (knee) has missed three straight games and remains day-to-day. The Heat took a 117-100 beating by San Antonio their last time out and I think they'll struggle here as well against another solid defensive team. 

Celtics are 6-0 ATS in their last six road games. Heat are 0-7-1 ATS in their last eight home games.

My selection is a 10* play on Boston Celtics. 

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a 115-113 home loss to the Timberwolves and Andrew Wiggins 3-point buzzer beater on Sunday, but I think they look good to execute a quick revenge here at Minnesota Friday night. 

The Timberwolves have played two games since that victory, and this will be their third game in four nights. They've lost big against both Indiana (23 points) and Detroit (21 points), two teams I don't rate highly at all. We can also note that Minnesota is 1-7 ATS in its last eight games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.

The Thunder meanwhile have played just one game since their setback to the Wolves and cruised to a 114-96 victory over Indiana as a 13-point favorite. Do not underestimate the revenge angle in the NBA. 

My selection is an 8* play on Oklahoma City Thunder. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BASKET BRAWLER

The San Antonio Spurs head to Orlando with a perfect 4-0 SU (3-1 ATS) record on the season, and I think they'll defeat the Magic fairly easy here. 

Orlando is coming off a hard-fought 125-121 victory against the Nets as they managed to revenge a loss at Brooklyn from earlier in the season. Now the question is; how much gas is left in the tank for this one? The Spurs are coming off a rather comfortable 117-100 win at Miami as they pulled away big in the third quarter (as per usual). The Spurs are 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings in Orlando and might very well win this one by double digits. 

My selection is a 10* play on San Antonio Spurs. 

LATE NIGHT PELS/KINGS HARDWOOD HAMMER

Two teams with a 1-3 record will clash at Golden 1 Center Thursday night when the Sacramento Kings host the New Orleans Pelicans. 

I'm not a big fan of this "two-man team" which New Orleans could be described as, but I sure give the Pels the advantage in this matchup. Their All-Star Anthony Davis tweaked his left knee five minutes into the first quarter in a 103-93 loss at Portland on Tuesday and he's questionable for this game, but Davis' front-court companion DeMarcus Cousins is ready to go. 

Cousins will no doubt have the visitors pumped up help him beat his old team. "My representatives, they told me I shouldn't stay," Cousins said of refusing "an opportunity to leave" when the team hired George Karl in 2015 to coach the team. "But, you know, I guess being stubborn or loyal, I wanted to make things work. How you going to be loyal to something that ain't loyal to any player that's ever played the game? I was a fool." Cousins shared with ESPN.com's Marc Spears on Wednesday. 

No love lost there, and I like Cousins to get out of Sacramento victorious. 

My selection is an 8* play on New Orleans Pelicans.

TOP RATED 10* NBA GAME OF THE MONTH

The Boston Celtics took a 108-100 loss to the Bucks in their home opener (2nd game of a back-to-back after a 3-point loss at Cleveland), but they've won two straight games since covering the spread against both the 76ers and the Knicks. I like the Celtics here in a classic revenge spot as they're 32-23-2 ATS since the start of the 2015/2016 season when revenging a loss. 

Milwaukee has won three of four to start the season with a 116-97 home loss to Cleveland the lone setback. Are the Bucks a serious contender in the East? Too early to say, and I think they're still not quite on the same level as Boston. 

Boston won in its only trip to Milwaukee last season, 112-108 in overtime back in January and the Celtics are 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings in Milwaukee. We can also note that the underdog is 12-4 ATS in the last 16 meetings.

My NBA Game of the Month is a 10* play on Boston Celtics. 

NBA 3-PACK

The San Antonio Spurs are 3-0 SU (2-1 ATS) on the season despite playing without MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard who remains out for this matchup with the Miami Heat Wednesday night. The Spurs are 8-1 ATS in the last nine meetings overall and a perfect 5-0 through the last five at Florida, and I predict another relatively comfortable Spurs victory tonight.

Miami is 2-1 SU but 0-2-1 ATS on the season, but beating Indiana and Atlanta is not all that impressive. Heat center Hassan Whiteside expected to miss his third straight game with a bone bruise on his left knee and Goran Dragic (quad bruise) and Dion Waiters (ankle) are also hurting for Miami. 

My selection is an 8* play on San Antonio Spurs. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BASKET BRAWLER

The Houston Rockets had opened the season perfect 3-0 before taking a 98-90 home loss to Memphis their last time out. The Philadelphia 76ers are in the opposite situation, picking up their first win at Detroit their last time out after starting the season with three straight losses. Classic let down spot here for Philly after winning outright on the road as a 3.5-point dog. 

Houston has been able to win despite shooting just 27.5 percent from 3-point range but, it's only  a matter of time before they start dropping bombs like last season. This is no doubt a good time to back the Rockets to get back on track and cover a low spread. 

My selection is a 10* play on Houston Rockets. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

The Portland Trail Blazers will play their home opener when they host the New Orleans Pelicans Tuesday night. They've still managed to compile a 2-1 SU (2-0-1 ATS) record through three games on the road, and I think they'll win this one big coming off the lone loss at Milwaukee.

Note that the Blazers are 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings with the Pelicans home at Moda Center and Damian Lillard averaged 27.7 points in three games against New Orleans last season.

The Pelicans picked up their first win of the season by defeating the Lakers 119-112 at LA on Sunday. They did however blow a 20-point lead late in the third quarter and fell behind before rallying down the stretch, and they're still struggling to get big men Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins to click. 

Portland has a huge advantage with Lillard and CJ McCollum in the backcourt, and I don't think New Orleans' small edge in the paint will make up for it. 

My selection is a 10* play on Portland Trail Blazers. 

3-PACK

The Nets opened the season with a loss at Indiana, but they've bounce back nicely with back-to-back victories, including a 126-121 win over the Magic home at Brooklyn. Orlando has the exact same 2-1 record but they Magic are in a massive let down spot here following a 114-93 rout in Cleveland on Saturday. Note that the Magic are 0-6 ATS in their last six games following a straight up win, and I think we're getting way too many points on the visitors to pass up on.  

My selection is an 8* play on Brooklyn Nets. 

LATE NBA NIGHTCRAWLER

The Phoenix Suns have been just terrible through their first three games of the season resulting in head coach Earl Watson getting fired on Sunday. Interim head coach Jay Triano will lead the team when hosting the Sacramento Kings Monday night, but I don't think he'll be able to do much better. 

The Kings are 1-2 SU (2-1 ATS) on the season following a 96-79 loss at Denver on Saturday, but that was a tough spot though as they had picked up a 93-88 win at Dallas the night before. Note that Sacramento is 8-2-1 ATS in its last 11 games playing on 1 days rest and 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings with the Suns. 

The Kings entered Sunday ranked 29th in the league in scoring at 90.7 points per game, but I'm not too worried about their offensive output here considering that the Suns have allowed an abysmal 128.7 ppg. 

My selection is an 8* play on Sacramento Kings. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BASKET BRAWLER

The home team is 11-1 ATS in the last 12 meetings and the Hornets 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings at BMO Harris Bradley Center. I think the Bucks are asked to cover way too many points here, especially considering that Charlotte has had Milwaukee's number recently, winning 11 of the last 14 meetings straight up. 

The Hornets opened the season with a 102-90 loss at Detroit but defeated Atlanta 109-91 in their second game. They've dominated the glass with a total of 104 rebounds and I like the Hornets to be able to slow down Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo. He's averaging a league-best 38.3 points through three games and put up a new career high his last time out when he dropped 44 against the Blazers on Saturday night in a 113-111 victory, but like I said, this will be a tough matchup.

My selection is a 10* play on Charlotte Hornets.  

TOP RATED 10* NBA BASKET BRAWLER

The Oklahoma City Thunder took a 96-87 loss at Utah on Saturday, and I think they'll find it tough to bounce back with a strong performance here against Minnesota Timberwolves the very next night. 

The Wolves picked up their first win of the season with a 100-97 against the same Jazz side in their home opener on Friday. Minnesota has a talented team and should be quite dangerous this season once new starters Jimmy Butler, Jeff Teague and Taj Gibson start to blend in better. The same can be said about the Thunder who need to figure out how to best utilize Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and Paul George together.

OKC has dominated this series in recent years but this looks like a good spot to take the points on Minnesota.

My selection is a 10* play on Minnesota Timberwolves. 

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The Atlanta Hawks have been about as inconsistent as you would expect considering they've lost three of their top four scorers from last season. They opened the season 117-111 win at the Dallas on Wednesday but took a 109-91 loss at Charlotte on Friday. I think they're in for another tough game here when the visit the Nets at Brooklyn Sunday afternoon. 

The Nets will have to do without point guard Jeremy Lin for the rest of the season, but that didn't stop them from beating the Orlando Magic 126-121 in their home opener on Friday. There's no doubt that the Nets can score points as they average 128.5 ppg through their first two games, and I'm not quite sure Atlanta can match that output as of right now. 

We can also note that this is the first contest of a back-to-back for the Hawks, so don't be surprised if they call it a day if they were fall behind early to save some energy for tomorrow's matchup with the Heat at Miami instead. 

My selection is an 8* play on Brooklyn Nets.

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The Phoenix Suns took a 124-76 beating by the Trailblazers at home on Wednesday, the worst opening night home loss by a team in the history of the league. This will no doubt be another tough game for the Suns.

They'll be playing on back-to-back nights following a Friday night fight with the Lakers, and here they'll face the way stronger of the two LA teams. 

The Clippers opened the season with a convincing 108-92 win over the Lakers, and that despite shooting just shot 39.3% from the field and 36.4 % from long range. They have a very good defensive team, especially since bringing in Patrick Beverley. The Suns defense meanwhile has been weak for years and last year they were dead last in the league in points allowed at 113.3 ppg. 

Home team is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings.

My selection is an 8* play on LA Clippers. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BASKET BRAWLER

Both teams were in action Friday night; Milwaukee with a 116-97 home loss to the Cavs while Portland won 114-96 at Indiana.

The Blazers have played very good basketball through their first two games and they have a huge advantage in the backcourt with Damien Lillard and C.J. McCollum.

The Bucks have an advantage in the paint, but this should be an easy away win as long as Portland can hit from downtown. Note that Blazers shot 47.4% from behind the arc last night while Milwaukee allowed Cleveland to shoot 42.3% from 3-point range.

My money is on the dog in this contest. 

My selection is a 10* play on Portland Trail Blazers.  

NBA 3-Pack

The Utah Jazz opened the season with a 106-96 win over Denver on Wednesday, and I think they're getting way too many points to pass up on when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center Friday night. Minnesota is coming off a 107-99 loss to San Antonio and the newcomers on the team struggled to make things happen. This will be another tough matchup against a solid Utah D. Note that the visiting team won 10 of the past 15 meetings outright and covered the spread in 14 of the last 19 meetings. 

My selection is an 8* play on Utah Jazz.

NBA 3-Pack

The Milwaukee Bucks opened the season with an 108-100 win against Boston Celtics, but I think they'll run into trouble here against another of the Eastern Conference's powerhouses. The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Celtics 102-99 on opening night and Lebron James was just shy of a triple-double with 29 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists. Cleveland took three of four in the series last season and six of the last seven meetings overall, so there's no doubt that the Cavs that know how to tame the Bucks. We can also note that the Bucks are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 Friday games while the Cavaliers are 23-8 ATS in their last 31 Friday games.

My selection is an 8* play on Cleveland Cavaliers. 

NBA 3-Pack

The Boston Celtics came into the season expected to compete for the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference, but they're travelling to Philadelphia still looking for their first win. We can also note that free-agent signee Gordon Hayward will miss the rest of the season due to a gruesome leg, and here they'll face a 76ers team that has covered the spread in four straight meetings (won the last one outright 105-99 here at Wells Fargo Center). 

Philadelphia showed a lot of promise in its 120-115 loss at Washington on Wednesday, and there's no doubt that this is a team packed with potential. Center Joel Embiid seems to be getting more minutes than expected (he was on minutes restrictions all last season) and Philly has the top picks in each of the last two drafts in guard/forward Ben Simmons and guard Markelle Fultz. 

The 76ers have covered the spread in nine of their last 10 Friday night fights. 

My selection is a 10* play on Philadelphia 76ers. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA SUPER LATE BATTLE OF LA

The Clippers and the Lakers will clash in the first "Battle of LA" right in their first game of the season. Under is 9-2 in the last 11 meetings and I think we'll see a lower score than the posted total would suggest tonight as well. 

The Clippers have had a lot of turnover in their roster from last season and I would not be surprised if it will take some time for them all to click offensively. They should be solid off the ball though with defensive specialist Patrick Beverley replacing the departed Chris Paul at point guard. 

The Lakers meanwhile have reportedly put a lot of effort into improving the league's third-worst scoring defense in 2016-17.  

"Our guys have really committed and bought in to becoming a better defensive team," Los Angeles coach Luke Walton told reporters. "It's still going to take time, obviously. But as long as they keep working the way they do and want to continue to get better the way they do, then we'll be a very solid defensive team. I'm thrilled with the strides they're making."

My selection is a 10* play on Under.

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The Oklahoma City Thunder have brought in All-Stars Carmelo Anthony (from NYK) and Paul George during the offseason to give NBA MVP Russell Westbrook some help.

Sure, OKC will be a strong team this season, but it will most likely take some time to utilize all their stars the best way as they're used to simply give the ball to Russell, and I think they're way overrated here in the season opener.

The Knicks should be able to cover this healthy spread and might even threaten to win outright. They have a youthful and pretty talented squad led by 22-year-old Latvian Kristaps Porzingis who will be ready to step up with Anthony gone. 

My selection is an 8* play on NY Knicks. 

NBA 3-Pack

The Houston Rockets stunned the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors with a 122-121 victory on Tuesday. Here they'll take on the Sacramento Kings the very next night, and I predict another high-scoring affair.

Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings overall and 5-1 in the last six meetings at Sacramento.

I don't think playing on back-to-back nights is as easy as it sounds right in the beginning of the season, and I'm sure the Kings can take advantage of some tired Houston legs on offense.

Scoring is rarely a problem for the Rockets as long as they're hitting the three-ball, and the Kings do not have the perimeter defense to stop them. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

NBA 3-Pack

New Orleans went just 11-14 last season even after acquiring DeMarcus Cousins from Sacramento at the All-Star break, but I think he'll click better with Anthony Davis and the rest of the Pelicans this season after more time together.

Memphis has said goodbye to Zach Randolph and Tony Allen this offseason, and coach David Fizdale will be looking to have his Grizzlies playing a different, faster paced style. "We have a team that I think has more skill and more speed, and that obviously is something that I've talked about that I'd like to have a team that can do that." Fizdale recently told reporters. That might take some time to adjust to though.

The Grizzlies closed out the preseason with a 142-101 thrashing of the same Pelicans last Friday. The Pels have surely not forgot that loss, and I expect a completely different result tonight. 

My selection is an 8* play on New Orleans Pelicans.

NBA 3-Pack

The Philadelphia 76ers won both matchups with the Washington Wizards last season, and I think they'll give the home team another scare here in the opener of the new campaign. Philly is not short on talent, and Joel Embiid, Dario Saric and the others will now been joined by 2016 No. 1 overall pick Simmons (who sat out 2016-17 with a broken right foot) and the 2017 No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz. 

The Wizards have kept their core pretty much intact from last season, for better and for worse. Sure, they were just one game short of reaching the Eastern Conference finals last season, but their defense remains a weakness. 

The 76ers are 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.

My selection is an 8* play on Philadelphia 76ers. 

ROCKETS/WARRIORS TNT NIGHTCRAWLER

We're seeing an bloated total (as per usual between these two teams) when the Golden State Warriors host the Houston Rockets Tuesday night. It's however worth noting that the under is 6-1 in the last seven meetings, and I think this one will stay under the total as well. 

The Rockets have been among the highest scoring teams in the NBA through the last couple of seasons, and now they've added nine-time All-Star Chris Paul from the Los Angeles Clippers to the mix. It might take same time for Paul to blend in with the rest of the team though, and how will James Harden feel about Paul coming in as the primary ball-handler?

The Warriors are the reigning champions, and not only thanks to their amazing offense. This is a team that can play D as well, and we can note that Golden State managed to shut down Harden quite effectively last season. Harden was harassed into 23-for-73 shooting (31.5%), including 5-for-34 (14.7%) on 3-pointer, while totaling more turnovers (26) than shots made (23) in four matchups.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The over is 4-1 in the last five meetings at Quicken Loans Arena, but I think we'll see a low-scoring affair when the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Boston Celtics for the opener of the 2017/2018 NBA season Tuesday night. 

There will be no love lost between those two teams who battled in the Eastern Conference Finals last year and were involved in the biggest trade of the off-season, which saw Cleveland send Kyrie Irving to Boston for Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder. 

We can also note that LeBron James' status for the opener is unclear. James sprained his ankle in practice on Sept. 27 and sat out the Cavaliers' first three exhibition games. He finally made his debut last week against Chicago but may have aggravated his ankle while making a spin move in the loss. He was held out of Friday's preseason finale in Orlando to rest the ankle.

Expect a matchup with playoff-like intensity, particularly on defense. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NBA Finals Game 5 *BOOKIE BREAKER*
Play: Golden State Warriors
Rating: 8/10*

The Golden State Warriors thought they deserved the night off at Quicken Loans Arena on Friday and took a 137-116 beating as a result. I fully expect the Warriors to come back and close out the series and claim the Championship Monday night. The fix is not in, the NBA is not rigged, Cavs won't make a miracle comeback like last year. It was just a matter of Golden State playing on the road, complacent with a three-game lead in the series. They won't make the same mistake in front of the home-town crowd on Monday. Warriors in a blowout. 

NBA Finals Game 4 *BOOKIE BREAKER*
Play: Golden State Warriors
Rating: 8/10*

The Cleveland Cavaliers looked like their were gonna make the NBA Finals exciting again after a strong 3rd quarter in Game 3 here at Quicken Loans Arena. The Golden State Warriors did however come back strong down the stretch to close the game as a 5-point winner. I don't think the Cavs could have played much better, and they still came up short! 

The last defeat must have been extremely draining both mentally and physically, and I don't see the Cavs coming back from this. There could be an argument made that the Warriors want to win the championship home in the Bay, but I don't think they'll take any chances after last season's finals. 

NBA FInals Game 3 *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Golden State Warriors
Rating: 8/10*

This edition of the Golden State Warriors is extremely good. The Cleveland Cavaliers couldn't have played much of a better game in Game 2 of the NBA finals series and still lost by 19 points. Home court advantage will make a small difference for the Cavs here, but not nearly enough. They don't have an answer for either the Warriors backcourt or Kevin Durant. The Warriors are both better and deeper. 

Let's roll with the Warriors.