NBA *LATE SHOW*
Play: Brooklyn Nets
Rating: 8*

The 9-1 Los Angeles Clippers are going for their seventh consecutive win when they host the Brooklyn Nets Monday night. The 4-5 Nets have played decent basketball this season though, and they scored a season-high for points in a 122-104 victory at Phoenix on Saturday. The Nets are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 vs. Western Conference while the Clippers are 2-7 ATS in their last nine vs. Eastern Conference teams. The Nets are 8-1 ATS in the last nine meetings with the Clippers and Los Angeles took both meetings last season by an average of just 7.5 points. The Clippers have nothing to prove here, and I think the visitors will give the Clippers a tougher game than the spread would suggest.

College Basketball
Play: Western Michigan
Rating: 8*

The Western Michigan Broncos are coming off a 90-74 victory against Marygrove College in their season opener, and they outrebounded their opponent 57-33. The team returns four starters from last season and the Broncos have one of the best players in the MAC in Thomas Wilder. He had a fairly quiet first game, but managed 12 points in 23 minutes and he averaged 18.0 points per game last season. The Golden Grizzlies opened the season with a 78-70 win against Bowling Green as they just barely failed to cover the closing line of eight points. They've lost a couple of key pieces during the off-season and I think they're in for a very tough game here. 

Mike's Late Night NBA Nuggets/Blazers
Play: Denver Nuggets
Rating: 8*

The Denver Nuggets visit the Portland Trail Blazers Sunday night, and this looks like a good spot to back the visitors. The Nuggets will be hungry for a win after dropping three straight, the two most recent home at Pepsi Center, and we can note that they're 10-0 ATS on the road off a home game since Jan 06, 2016. They'll also play on revenge after losing 115-113 to Portland at Denver on Oct. 29. 

This Portland Trail Blazers team has proven itself to be highly unreliable lately. The Blazers have won four of their last five, but failed to cover the spread in each of their last three. The underdog is 11-5-1 ATS in the last 17 meetings and the road team is 11-4-1 ATS in the last. I like the Nuggets chances of covering the spread here. 

Top Rated 10* NBA *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Oklahoma City Thunder
Rating: 10*

The Oklahoma City Thunder will close out a five-game homestand Sunday night. The Thunder will be looking to get back in the win column after back-to-back setbacks, and I think they'll take this opportunity put a beating on the lowly Orlando Magic before heading to Detroit tomorrow. The Magic are also playing their first game of a back-to-back set as they will take on the Pacers at Indiana on Monday. 

Orlando has lost each of its last three games and failed to cover the spread in each of its last four. The Magic's 92.3 points per game ranks dead last in the NBA, and it's not even close. OKC ranks near the middle of the pack with a 103.2 scoring average as Russell Westbrook has carried the team averaging 30.9 points, 9.4 assists and 8.9 rebounds. 

The Magic are coming off an 87-74 home loss to Utah on Friday. They're 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games following a double-digit loss at home and 1-4-1 ATS in their last six games after scoring less than 75 points in their previous game. The Thunder kept the Clippers close in a 111-108 defeat on the same day and are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up loss.

The Thunder have not played great D lately, but I think they're excused considering they've faced the Clippers and the Raptors. Orlando does not pose even nearly the same offensive threat, and I don't see the Magic being able to keep this a close game. 

CBB Crusaders/Gamecocks
Play: South Carolina
Rating: 8*

The South Carolina Gamecocks will host the Holy Cross Crusaders Sunday night, and my money is on the home team to win and cover the spread. 

Holy Cross finished last season strong and can return four starters from the team that managed to win the Patriot League Championship as the 9-seed. The Crusaders are easily outmatched when facing teams from the stronger conferences though, and while this will be the their first game of the season the Gamecocks have one game under their belt already as they defeated Louisiana Tech 85-76 on Friday. South Carolina has lost some pieces from last year’s team, but the most important player is still there in Sindarius Thornwell who scored 18 points with seven boards and six assists in the season opener. 

The Gamecocks are 20-6 ATS in their last 26 non-conference games, and I think they'll roll over Holy Cross with ease tonight. 

NBA Wizards/Bulls
Play: Washington Wizards
Rating: 8*

The Washington Wizards are getting a ton of points at Chicago Bulls on Saturday night, and I think the teams are more evenly matched than this. Sure, Washington fought hard in a 105-94 home loss to Cleveland last night, but the Wizards always play well against Chicago and are 9-2 ATS in the last 11 meetings at United Center. The Bulls have not really played well lately winning just two of their last five games, and they're 2-5 ATS during that stretch. Coming off an emotional (at least for Dwayne Wade) 98-95 win at Miami I don't think this is an ideal spot for the Bulls either even though they're rested. Take the points on the visitors. 

NBA
Play: Boston Celtics
Rating: 8*

The Boston Celtics are coming off a dominant 115-87 rout of the New York Knicks on Friday. Am I concerned about them playing on back-to-back nights? Absolutely not, this Celtics team is extremely pesky when it comes to B2B games, going 36-14-1 ATS in its last 51 games playing on no rest. Marcus Smart made his first start of the season yesterday and finished with 12 points and a season-high 10 assists, great news for the Celtics. Indiana has had a disappointing start to the season and is 2-7 ATS. The underdog is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 head-to-head meetings, and while I like the Celtics' chances of winning this game outright, taking the points seems like the better option in what should be a close game. 

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Portland Trail Blazers
Rating: 8*

Great spot to back the Portland Trail Blazers here as they host the Sacramento Kings Friday night. The Kings fell apart in the second half of a tough loss to the Lakers home in Sacramento on Thursday, and how much gas do they have left in the tank for this contest? Some teams are more preferred than others to take on at the tail of a back-to-back set, and this young up-tempo Blazers team must be one of the worst options out there. Particularly this time around as the Blazers will be looking to bounce back after getting embarrassed in a 111-80 loss to the Clippers. The Trail Blazers are 6-2 ATS in their last eight Friday night games and Moda Center will surely be rocking tonight. The home fans will be firmly behind the Blazers, and so will I. The Kings are 1-4 ATS in the last five head-to-head meetings. Take Portland minus the points. 

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Over
Rating: 8*

Two teams that are allowing plenty of points, particularly the Los Angeles Lakers who are surrendering 108.5 points per game but also scoring 108.6 points per game. The Lakers are pretty effective defending the three (2nd in the league), but they struggle in the paint and will have their hands full defending star center DeMarcus Cousins tonight. 

The Sacramento Kings allowed an average of 108.3 points during a four-game slide but have stepped up a notch defensively in recent games as they've held the Raptors and the Pelicans to an average of 92.5 points in back-to-back wins. 

I think the Lakers will find holes to exploit though, and both teams must fancy their chances of winning this game which should lead to a wide open high tempo affair. Over is 20-8-1 in the last 29 meetings at Golden 1 Center.

NBA Warriors/Nuggets
Play: Golden State Warriors
Rating: 8*

Laying only five points on the red hot Golden State Warriors at Denver on a Thursday night? Yes please! The Warriors are 12-2 ATS in their last 14 Thursday games and 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings in Denver. 

Golden State rolled to a 116-95 victory over the Mavs on Wednesday, and the Warriors have found their range from behind the arc again. They made 17 3-pointers last night and 16 in a 116-106 win against New Orleans on Monday with Steph Curry responsible for a total of 17. 

Denver has covered the spread in four of its last five games, but it suffered a heartbreaking 108-107 loss to a buzzer beater shot against Memphis on Tuesday. The Warriors are not really the ideal team to face when you're looking to bounce back from a defeat, and I like Golden State to win big in the Rocky Mountains tonight.

Top Rated 10* NBA Western Conf. *GAME OF THE MONTH*
Play: San Antonio Spurs
Rating: 10*

The San Antonio Spurs head into Wednesday looking to bounce back from a 116-92 beatdown from the Clippers on Saturday their second consecutive home loss. This looks like a perfect spot to back the Spurs to come up with a big game. They're 5-0 ATS in their last five games playing on three or more days rest, 10-2 ATS in their last 12 Wednesday games and 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games following a double-digit loss at home. The Rockets are coming off a 14-106 win over the Washington Wizards on Monday to improve to 4-3 on the season. No desperation in the Rockets camp in other words, and this is a series the Spurs have dominated completely in recent years. The Spurs have won six of the past seven meetings outright and they're 5-2 ATS during that span. They've covered the spread in four straight matchups at AT&T Center and I really like the Spurs to win big in this contest.

Late Night NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER* Mavs/Lakers
Play: LA Lakers
Rating: 8*

The Dallas Mavericks are struggling big time. They're 1-5 SU and 2-4 ATS on the season, and things won't get any easier as they visit the surging LA Lakers Tuesday night. The Lakers are riding a three-game winning streak, including a victory at Atlanta and wins against Golden State and Phoenix here at Staples Center. The Lakers are a perfect 3-0 ATS at home on the season. 

Dallas has had its way with the Lakers in recent seasons as its going for its 11th consecutive win in the series. This is a completely different Lakers team than the one they've beaten up on in previous years though, and the Lakers are stacked with talent finally allowed to flourish after taking the backseat to Kobe Bryan. Add the fact that the Mavs are likely to be without two key starters in Dirk Nowtizki and Deron Williams, and I think we have a solid play on the Lakers to win and cover the spread. 

Top Rated 10* NBA *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Cleveland Cavaliers
Rating: 10*

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 6-0 SU but just 2-4 ATS on the season. As reigning NBA champions they spread is often inflated as the public loves to back the champs, but I think they're in a good spot to demolish the Atlanta Hawks and win by double digits Tuesday night. 

The Hawks have a matchup with the Bulls home in Atlanta on deck tomorrow, and I would not be surprised to see the visitors rest starters if the game is out of reach late in the game. The Cavs meanwhile will have plenty of days off before travelling to Washington on Friday, so there's no reason for the to give anything but 100 percent throughout the whole game.

The Cavs will also need to bounce back from a poor display on Saturday when they just barely stayed unbeaten on the season with a tight 102-101 win at the lowly 76ers. Kyrie Irving shot 3-for-17 from the floor and finished with eight points, but I expect him to come back with a strong performance in this contest. 

Cleveland swept Atlanta in the Eastern Conference semifinals last spring and the Hawks are 1-7 ATS in the last eight meetings, 0-5 ATS in the last five at Quicken Loans Arena. The Hawks are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 road games while the Cavs are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 home games.

Top Rated 10* Eastern Conference *GAME OF THE MONTH*
Play: Charlotte Hornets
Rating: 10*

The Indiana Pacers head to Spectrum Center to take on the Charlotte Hornets Monday night, and I like the home team to win and cover the spread. The Pacers are are 1-7-1 ATS in the last nine meetings overall and 0-4 ATS in the last four meetings in Charlotte. 

Indiana had failed to cover the spread through each of its four games before routing the Bulls 111-94 as a 3.5-point home favorite its last game. The Pacers are still 0-3 SU and ATS on the road this season though, allowing an average of 115.3 points in the process. 

Charlotte has won four of its last five games and it's 7-2 ATS in its last nine Monday night games. The Hornets have a solid D and are holding opponents to 41.4 percent from the field - fourth best in the league. They came from behind to beat the Nets 99-95 at Brooklyn in their last game, while limiting their opponent to just 40 percent shooting on the night. Two fairly evenly matched teams, but the home court advantage is massive here and I'm firing a BIG BET on the Hornets. 

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: LA Lakers
Rating: 8*

The Los Angeles Lakers head into Sunday's clash with the Phoenix Suns with a solid 3-3 record. That's particularly impressive as they've been a six-point underdog at a minimum in each game, and they're now favored for the first time of the young season for very good reasons.

The Lakers are coming off a stunning performance in a 117-97 win against Golden State, and I think they keep rolling here against the Suns. While it looks like a letdown spot for the Lakers, the same can be said about the Suns who are coming off back-to-back OT victories against Portland and New Orleans. The Lakers should be in a better spot though, home in LA and with plenty of talent ready to bust out after taking the backseat to the now retired Kobe Bryant. The Lakers are 5-1 ATS on the season, 2-0 SU and ATS home at Staples Center where they've averaged 118.5 points in wins against Golden State and Houston. I'm not ready to jump on the Lakers bandwagon completely just yet, but for this game I am.

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Atlanta Hawks
Rating: 8*

The Atlanta Hawks will be looking to rebound from a 95-92 setback at Washington last night. Odds are they were overlooking the at the time winless Wizards, and I expect a strong performance from the Hawks tonight as they host the Houston Rockets. Atlanta has put up solid numbers on both ends of the court this season, and this is a big game for Atlanta center Dwight Howard as he'll take on his former team for the first time. 

I'm not all that concerned about the fact that Atlanta played last night, and keep in mind that the Rockets are not in perfect shape either as four of their five games have been on the road. The Hawks are 4-0 ATS in their last four games playing on no rest and 4-1 ATS in their last five Saturday games while the Rockets are 0-9 ATS in their last nine Saturday games. Houston has the O to compete with Atlanta, but not the D and I think the Hawks will cover this spread comfortably in the end. 

Top Rated 10* NBA *LATE SHOW* Spurs/Jazz
Play: San Antonio Spurs
Rating: 10*

Huge revenge spot here for the San Antonio Spurs. They had started the season with a perfect 4-0 record before a 106-91 setback to the Utah Jazz home at AT&T Center Tuesday night, and that was perhaps a wake up call the team needed. "Just disappointed in our defensive effort. Our energy wasn't there in the first quarter." All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard stated after the defeat. San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich was even more disappointed with his teams performance after the perfect start to the season, and he'll have the team fired up here. The Jazz tend to struggle against the top teams in the league and are 3-12 ATS in their last 15 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record. No way they'll upset the Spurs two times a row. 

NBA 3-Pack
Play: Portland Trail Blazers
Rating: 8*

The Portland Trail Blazers will be looking to bounce back from a tough 118-115 overtime buzzer beater loss in Phoenix as they travel to Dallas to take on the Mavericks Friday night. The Mavs are still looking for its first win of the season, and I fear they'll have to wait a bit longer. Dallas established a season low for points in Wednesday’s 97-81 loss to the Jazz, and the team is ismply lacking chemistry. The Mavericks won four of the past six meetings, but this game has Portland win written all over it. 

NBA 3-Pack
Play: Charlotte Hornets
Rating: 8*

The inconsistent Brooklyn Nets will host the Charlotte Hornets Friday night, and I think this looks like a good spot to back the visitors. Charlotte outscored visiting Philadelphia by 19 points during the third quarter of a 109-93 victory on Wednesday, and I like what I've seen from the Hornets. They're 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points and 2-0 SU and ATS on the road so far this season, winning at Milwaukee (107-96) and at Miami (97-91). The Nets are coming off a 109-101 win against Detroit but had lost 118-88 against Chicago in their previous game. You just can't trust the Nets to come up with back-to-back solid performances, and we can note that the Nets are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games following a straight up win.

Top Rated 10* NBA *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Minnesota Timberwolves
Rating: 10*

The Denver Nuggets are coming off back-to-back defeats following a 105-102 loss at Toronto Monday night. The Minnesota Timberwolves on the other hand showed what this talented bunch is capable of as they went off in a 116-80 demolition of the Grizzlies in their home opener Tuesday night. Denver is a capable team, at least home in the Rocky Mountains. I don't really trust them on the road and I expect the Wolves to roll to their second win of the season here. 

NBA *RIM WRECKER*
Play: Chicago Bulls
Rating: 8*

The Chicago Bulls's roster had a pretty big turnover in the offseason, but the team has gelled nicely and heads into this game off three consecutive victories. That includes a 105-99 home win against Boston on October 27, and I think they'll give the Celtics a run for their money at TD Garden tonight. Boston is 2-1 on the season with wins against Brooklyn and Charlotte, but the team is in a huge look ahead spot with a matchup against the Cavs on deck tomorrow. The Bulls are 16-7-2 ATS in the last 25 meetings, and while I think the Celtics have an interesting team this season I think they're asked to give too many points here all things considered.

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Toronto Raptors
Rating: 8*

The Washington Wizards are still looking for their first win of the season as they host the Toronto Raptors for their first home game of the season Wednesday night. Toronto swept the four-game series last season, and I like them to get the better of the Wizards once again. Washington has struggled at times on both ends of the floor, sitting 19th in the league in scoring offense with 101 points per game and third worst with 113 ppg allowed. Washington's new head coach Scott Brooks sure got his work cut out for him. 

The Raptors have opened the season with a 2-1 record home at Toronto. They're not the strongest road team in the league, but star guard DeMar DeRozan has started the season on fire and Kyle Lowry is heating up as well. Toronto is a team that knows how to close down its opponent, and I think they'll take care of business tonight. Let's go Toronto. 

NBA 3-Pack
Play: Charlotte Hornets
Rating: 8*

This looks like an extremely rough spot for the Philadelphia 76ers. They're coming off a demoralizing 103-101 setback against Orlando on Tuesday, despite leading by as much as 18 point at one time. The 76ers are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games playing on no days rest and here they'll take on a rested Charlotte Hornets team looking to rebound from a 104-98 loss to Boston in their home opener Saturday. The Hornets had opened the season with a pair of victories at Milwaukee and Miami and I like them to get back in the win column with big win here on Wednesday. 

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Miami Heat
Rating: 8*

The Sacramento Kings are coming straight off a 106-95 loss at Atlanta last night. They'll visit the Heat at Miami here the next day, and I think the home team will cover this spread easily. The Kings' game revolves around DeMarcus Cousins, but he'll be tired after battling it out with Dwight Howard yesterday. Tonight he'll have to take on arguably the best center in the NBA in Hassan Whiteside, and that won't be an easy task with heavy legs after last night's matchup. 

The Heat have dropped back-to-back games since a 108-96 win against Boston in the season opener, but there's no shame in defeats to Charlotte and San Antonio. By the same token, the Kings' 2-2 record is a bit skewed in their favor due to wins against Phoenix and Minnesota. Take the Heat to win and cover the spread. 

Top Rated 10* NBA *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Atlanta Hawks
Rating: 10*

The Atlanta Hawks will be looking to stay undefeated on the young season as they host the Sacramento Kings Monday night. The Kings snapped a 15-game losing streak in the series with a 91-88 home win in the last meeting on Jan. 21, but they're 3-13 ATS in the last 16 meetings overall and 0-4 ATS in the last four meetings in Atlanta.

Sacramento came from behind to pick up a 106-103 victory against the Timberwolves on Saturday. The team has won two of its first three games with the lone loss against San Antonio. This looks like a tough matchup against a team the Kings have struggled with in recent seasons though, and Atlanta has looked very good in its first two games. The Hawks are playing solid D combined with a balanced offense and Dwight Howard has slotted in perfectly with his hometown team since coming over from Houston. 

The Hawks have covered the spread in each of their two wins on the season and they're 14-6 ATS in their last 20 games following a ATS win. Look for the Hawks to keep rolling at Philips Arena Monday night. 

NBA *TEXAS TERROR*
Play: Over
Rating: 8*

The Dallas Mavericks will visit the Houston Rockets for the back end of a home-and-home set between the two interstate rivals. The Rockets picked up a 106-98 victory at American Airlines Center on Friday, but I think we'll see more points in this contest.

James Harden is adjusting to his role as point guard and he dished out a career-high 17 assists in a loss at the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday before handing out eight with 26 points against the Mavs two days later. Ryan Anderson, Trevor Ariza and Eric Gordon combined to go 9-of-14 from 3-point range in that game and I think they'll get plenty of good looks from the perimeter in this game. Dallas D has given up an average of 118 points through its first two games, but Harrison Barnes has slotted in nicely offensively with 25 points per game on 57 percent shooting. 

Wizards/Grizzlies Total
Play: Over
Rating: 8*

The Washington Wizards will visit the Memphis Grizzlies Sunday night, and I think we'll see a high-scoring affair. Memphis is known as a solid, defensive team, but note that the Over is 14-3 in Grizzlies last 17 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400 and 6-2 in their last eight Sunday games. Over is 6-1 in the Wizards last seven overall and this is not a team focused on D what so ever. The Wizards fell 114-99 to the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday as John Wall finished 3-of-15 from the floor. Expect a big game from the point guard tonight to make up for that subpar performance. 

NBA *BOOKIE BASHER*
Play: Milwaukee Bucks
Rating: 8*

The Nets upset the Pacers with a 103-94 home in Brooklyn on Friday. They head to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks here the very next day, and I don't see another upset in the cards. The Nets are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 road games and 0-6 ATS in their last six games playing on no days rest. The team pushed itself to the limit in last night's game and they'll face a highly motivated Bucks team looking to rebound from a 107-96 loss to Charlotte on Wednesday. Nets are 3-9 ATS in the last 12 meetings in Milwaukee and 5-20-1 ATS in the last 26 meetings. 

Top Rated 10* NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER* Total
Play: Under
Rating: 10*

The Boston Celtics will visit the Charlotte Hornets in what should be a terrific Eastern Conference battle Saturday night. Under is 7-1 in the last eight meetings at Time Warner Cable Arena, and I predict another low-scoring affair. 

The Celtics opened the season with a 122-117 win against the Nets on Wednesday but played a much lower scoring game in a 105-99 setback at Chicago the very next day. Under is 13-3 in Celtics last 16 games playing on one days rest and 4-0 in their last four on the highway. 

The Hornets have opened the season with back-to-back wins following a 97-91 victory at Miami last night. They've looked solid on D in both their games and will surely be 100 percent focused here against another contender in the East. 

NBA *LATE SHOW*
Play: Utah Jazz
Rating: 8*

The Los Angeles Lakers opened the season with a 120-114 upset against Houston home in LA on Wednesday. All set up for a let down game as they head to Utah to take on the Jazz Friday night, and I like the home team in this contest. 

Utah is still looking for its first win of the season coming off a 113-104 loss at Portland. It was a close game though, and the Jazz played pretty good basketball. They're 5-2 ATS in their last seven games following an ATS loss and 4-1 ATS in their last five games against the Lakers who are 0-8 ATS in their last eight road games. 

Utah will still be without small forward Gordon Hayward (finger), but power forward Derrick Favors might return from a knee injury. Either way, I think the Jazz will come out strong here in front of the home town crowd. 

Top Rated 10* NBA *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Indiana Pacers
Rating: 10*

The Indiana Pacers looked good on the ball and shot 50.5 percent from the floor in a season-opening 130-121 OT win against Dallas on Wednesday. The Pacers might very well be a contender in the East this season and they should take care of the Brooklyn Nets with ease tonight. 

The Pacers are 10-4 ATS in the last 14 meetings in Brooklyn and they'll face a Nets team that opened the season with a 122-117 loss at Boston. It was never quite as close as the scoreline would suggest though as the Celtics headed into the last quarter with a 16-point lead and just slowed down after that. 

New coach Kenny Atkinson is trying to get the Nets to play at a higher tempo with more shooting from behind the arc. I'm not sure if that's a winning recipe for a poor team like Brooklyn, and this looks like a spread Indiana should cover without much trouble. 

Nets are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 vs. Eastern Conference. Pacers are 4-0 ATS in their last four vs. Eastern Conference. Nets are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games overall.

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Over
Rating: 8*

The Portland Trail Blazers knocked out the injury-ridden Los Angeles Clippers in six games in the first round of the playoffs last spring. The Blazers opened the season with a 113-104 win against the Jazz on Tuesday, and I think we'll see another high-scoring encounter tonight. Over is 14-6-2 in the last 22 meetings at Moda Center, and both teams have extremely gifted backcourts that can make it rain from behind the arc. Portland went 13-of-19 from 3-point range and 22-of-22 from the free-throw line in the opening night win, and I think we'll see good efficiency from both teams. 

NBA Total
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

The Sacramento Kings are coming straight off a dominant pounding 113-94 pounding of the Phoenix Suns 113-94 on Wednesday. They'll take on the San Antonio Spurs here the next day, and I think we'll see this game go under the total. The Spurs opened the season with a high-scoring victory at Golden State, but the under is 7-1 in Spurs last eight after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game and 18-6-1 in their last 25 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game. Their defense should be able to hold off the Kings who might have tired legs after last night's game, and the under is 5-1-1 in the last seven meetings in Sacramento.

Top Rated 10* NBA *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Minnesota Timberwolves
Rating: 10*

The Minnesota Timberwolves have a young and talented team, and I really think they'll rise in the standings this season under new coach Tom Thibodeau. They finished last season on a 6-1 run against the spread on the road and the Timberwolves are 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings with the Grizzlies. Minnesota secured a 114-108 win at Memphis in the last matchup on March 16.

The Grizzlies had last season ruined by injuries and they'll might be without Tony Allen for this contest. New coach David Fizdale will be looking to speed up the pace, but the transition might be rocky and take some time. I like Minnesota to upset the Grizzlies in Memphis on Wednesday.

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Indiana Pacers
Rating: 8*

The Indiana Pacers will host the Dallas Mavericks at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse Wednesday night for their season premiere. I like the home team in this contest and I expect big things from the Pacers this season. The Pacers have brought in Al Jefferson, Jeff Teague and Thaddeus Young in the offseason to take some pressure off Paul George. The Mavs have brought in SF Harrison Barnes and C Andrew Bogut from the Warriors, but their other key pieces is not getting any younger and the team has looked sluggish in the preseason. 

The Pacers took both meetings last season, including a 107-81 triumph at home on Dec. 16, and they're 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings in the series. 

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Portland Trail Blazers
Rating: 8*

The Portland Trail Blazers were one of the biggest surprises in the NBA last season. Their backcourt consisting of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum scored almost at will at times, and I think Utah will find it tough to match up with Portland offensively. The Blazers limited the Jazz to just 37 percent shooting from the floor in the last meeting, and Utah could be without its top two scorers from last season for this contest with Gordon Heyward and Derrick Favors questionable with injuries. 

NBA Finals Game 7
Play: Golden State Warriors
Rating: 5/10*

The Cleveland Cavaliers have battled themselves back from a 3-1 deficit in the series, not without a little help from the referees. Now I'm not gonna say that the NBA is rigged, but I doubt anyone within the organization is sad to see a Game 7 ... 

Homecourt advantage should play a huge part tonight, and I think the Warriors will make the most of it. They're 35-14-2 ATS in their last 51 home games vs. a team with a winning road record, 23-10-2 ATS in their last 35 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points and 9-4 in the past 13 meetings with the Cavs at Oracle Arena.

The Cavs deserve a lot of credit for taking this to a deciding Game 7 and LeBron James has been a beast averaging 30.2 points, 11.3 rebounds and 8.5 assists in the series. I still think the Warriors have the better team and Steph Curry will be in massive revenge mode after getting ejected in Game 6 after throwing his mouthpiece and hitting a fan.

Each game in the series have been decided by a big winning margin, and since I think the Warriors will be the champs I also think they'll cover the spread. I think we're better off keeping the stake small for this spectacle though. 

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Golden State Warriors
Rating: 8*

The Golden State Warriors failed to close out the NBA Finals home at Oracle Arena on Monday as they suffered a 112-97 loss in Game 5 of the series. I like the Warriors to bounce back and secure the NBA title in Cleveland for the second straight year. 

Draymond Green missed the last game as he was hit with a one-game suspension after the NBA deemed his hit to James’ groin in Game 4 a flagrant foul. The Warriors struggled at both ends of the court without their power forward, but the future looks bright with Green back tonight. 

Kyrie Irving and LeBron James scored 41 points each in Monday's win, but with Green back the Warriors D will be much much better. The Warriors are 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a double-digit loss at home and  11-1 ATS in their last 12 Thursday games. They've covered the spread in four of the past five meetings at Quicken Loans Arena and I like their chances of closing out the series this time around. 

Top Rated NBA Finals Game 5
Play: Golden State Warriors
Rating: 10*

The Golden State Warriors won the first two home games of the NBA Finals by an average of 24 points. I think they'll seal the deal tonight with another blowout win. 

Draymond Green is suspended and won't even be allowed inside the arena after the NBA issued a flagrant 1 foul on Sunday for a Game 4 incident with LeBron James. Green has played a huge part here in the finals, but the Warriors have cover for him. Last season's NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala will be ready to step in and the Warriors bench have outplayed the Cavs' dito the whole series. 

Cavaliers are 1-5 ATS in their last six road games and 3-9 ATS in the last 12 meetings at Oracle Arena. Warriors are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 home games. This is a no-brainer play on the Warriors. 

Top Rated NBA Finals Game 4 *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Golden State Warriors
Rating: 10*

The Golden State Warriors could afford to take the night off in Game 3 after a pair of blowout wins home at Oracle Arena. I think they'll be all business again here in Game 4 to return home to Oakland with the chance of closing out the finals in front of the home fans. Golden State's coach Steve Kerr called his team “soft” after the last game, and I expect the team to respond big time tonight. Warriors are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS loss and 22-9-2 ATS in their last 33 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points. They've covered the spread in six of the past eight meetings at Quicken Loans Arena. 

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

None of the first two contests of the series was even close to reach the total, and the under is  9-3-1 in the last 13 head-to-head meetings. Golden State's D has completely shut down the Cavs, but I think Cleveland will step it up a notch defensively in front of the home fans tonight. They know they can't beat the Warriors in a shootout, so they need to keep this game tight and low-scoring. 

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Golden State Warriors
Rating: 8*

The Golden State Warriors showed what champions are made of in the NBA Finals opener as they defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers by 15 points despite their starting backcourt of Klay Thompson/Steph Curry combining for just 20 points. The Splash Brothers are likely to have a better game tonight, and I don't see the Cavs stopping the Warriors at Oracle Arena where the Warriors are 4-0 ATS in their last four games. Cavaliers are 1-4 ATS in their last five road games and 7-18-1 ATS in their last 26 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points. Keep in mind that none of Cleveland's star players had a particularly bad game in the opener, they were just outmatched by Golden State's bench. Look for a similar scenario tonight. 

Top Rated NBA *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Golden State Warriors
Rating: 10*

The Golden State Warriors battled back from a 3-1 deficit against the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals series. They've not made it easy for themselves here in the playoffs, but I think they've shown amazing mental toughness to come back and clinch important wins time and time again. 

They're 10-2 ATS in their last 12 home games and 32-12-2 ATS in their last 46 games playing on two days rest, and I think they'll take the opener of the NBA Finals here against the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

The Cavs have had a cakewalk to the finals and were only really tested by Toronto in the conference finals. Perhaps things have gone a bit too smooth for them, and they could be surprised by the quality the Warriors will bring to this game. 

Steph Curry and Klay Thompson have started to drop threes at will again and LeBron has a history of choking in the big games. Take the Warriors to win and cover tonight. 

Top Rated NBA *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Golden State Warriors
Rating: 10*

The Golden State Warriors 4th quarter rally at Oklahoma City in Game 6 saved their postseason life and they can now advance to the NBA Finals with a win home at Oracle Arena Monday night. They're 9-2 ATS in their last 11 home games and I think they'll get the job done tonight here against a Thunder team that must be devastated after failing to clinch the series two times over now. Thunder are 1-6 ATS in the last seven meetings in Golden State (the win in the opener of this series).

Golden State outscored the Thunder 63-9 from 3-point range in Game 6, and with both Steph Curry and Klay Thompson heating up I don't see the Thunder stopping the Warriors. 

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Golden State Warriors
Rating: 8*

I backed the Thunder in Game 5, and with the risk of looking like a complete fool I'm now switching to back the Warriors here at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Game 6. The Warriors showed what champions are made off in Thursday's 120-111 win as both Steph Curry and Draymond Green stepped up with big games. The Thunder's two superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook put up impressive performances, but the rest of the team was extremely bleak. 

I think the defending champions will take this to a deciding Game 7 home in Oakland, and if they do then there's only one possbile winner in this series. 

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Cleveland Cavaliers
Rating: 8*

Home court advantage have been extremely important so far in this series with neither team able to record a win in each others building so far. I think that's about to change Friday night as the Cavs can secure their ticket to the NBA Finals with a win tonight. 

The Cavs took a 3-2 series lead with a 116-78 annihilation of the Raptors on Wednesday and it's time for them to step up their game on the road. The Cavs now know what to expect from a playoffs game north of the border and will come better prepared. 

After Wednesday's big win, Kyrie Irving said the hostile atmosphere the Cavs encountered in Toronto made them "probably my first legitimate two road games that I've experienced in my playoff career. Our communication, everything had to be a lot sharper," Irving said of battling the noise in the North. "We took a lot that we had to learn from that game, including myself. Going into Game 6, I feel a little bit more prepared than I was going into Game 3 and 4 of knowing what to expect, what it's going to be like."

Although I believe the Cavs are pretty comfortable with a deciding Game 7 home in Cleveland, they'll be poised to gain as many days of rest as possible on their future finalist opponent. 

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Oklahoma City Thunder
Rating: 8*

The Thunder have found a gear I did not think they had. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are playing like team players and the whole team is playing with a point to prove. Their motivation and energy is too much to handle for the Warriors that look washed up after a great run during the regular season. Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry have lost their scoring touch and the Thunder are dominating the rebounding at both ends of the court. Take the points on OKC here and we might even see them advance to the finals tonight. 

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Over
Rating: 8*

The Cleveland Cavaliers put up 115 and 108 points in the first two meeting of the series. They struggled with their shooting during the two losses north of the border but should be back to their best tonight. Toronto has found holes in the Cavs D to exploit and I think they'll find it relatively easy to put points on the board. Over is 8-3 in the Cavaliers last 11 home games vs. a team with a winning road record and 5-2 in the Raptors last seven overall.

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Cleveland Cavaliers
Rating: 8*

The Cleveland Cavaliers are coming off their first setback in the NBA playoffs 2016 as they fell 99-84 in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference Finals series on Saturday. They shot just 35.4 percent from the field, but I expect them to be back at their very best for Monday's contest. They had outscored the Toronto Raptors by an average of 25 points over the first two games of the series and are 4-1 ATS in their last five games following a ATS loss. The Raptors are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games following a straight up win and I don't see them slowing down LeBron James and the rest of the Cavs for a second straight game. 

Top Rated Conference Finals *GAME OF THE YEAR*
Play: Under
Rating: 10*

Each of the first two games of this Western Conference Finals series have gone under the total, and I think that will be the case tonight as well when the series shifts to Oklahoma City. The Thunder shown a vastly improved defense in the playoffs and the under is now 5-2 in Thunder's last seven overall. With the Warriors dropping the series-opener home at Oracle Arena they now need to regain home court advantage. They know the Thunder have plenty of offensive talent and I don't think either team want a shootout here which sets up a perfect spot for an under. 

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Oklahoma City Thunder
Rating: 8*

I did not give the Thunder much of a chance in the opener of this series, but they seem to have turned a corner. Despite facing a  13-point halftime deficit they came back to win the game 108-102 thanks to great mentality and team effort that where nowhere to be found for the most part of the regular season.

The Warriors 73-win season looks like it took its toll and they struggled to match OKC's intensity in the second half of the game. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson missed nine of 10 shots in a final period in which Golden State made 6 of 23 attempts with a total of just 14 points. 

The Thunder have stepped up their defense and I think they'll keep this game close as well, although I highly doubt they'll win outright again. 

Top Rated NBA *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Under
Rating: 10*

This is indeed two teams that rely on their offensive talent, but this total looks too inflated. The Thunder put up some good defensive performances in their Conference Semifinals series against the Spurs, and they know they have to bring the same intensity on the D to have a chance against Golden State. The Warriors won the three regular season meetings 116-108, 121-118 in OT and 121-106. This is the playoffs though, and I expect a low-scoring game in the Western Conference Final opener. 

Top Rated NBA *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Under
Rating: 10*

Under is 8-3 in Heat last 11 overall and 10-4 in Raptors last 14 overall. This is of course the deciding Game 7 of this Conference Semifinals series and both teams will make sure to make the most of every possession. That should lead to a low-tempo low-scoring game.  

NBA Extra Play
Play: Under
Rating: 5*

Under is 4-0 in Heat last four home games and 8-0 in Raptors last eight road games. This will surely be a defensive battle with Miami's postseason life on the line. 

NBA
Play: Miami Heat
Rating: 10*

The Heat is on Miami as a 99-91 loss at Toronto on Wednesday have them trailing the Raptors 3-2 in this series. I think Miami will step up with a big game home at American Airlines Arena Friday night.

Miami dealt the Raptors a 94-87 OT defeat the last matchup in Miami and the Heat are a fantastic 10-2 ATS in their last 12 home games. The Raptors backcourt of DeRozan/Lowry have struggled at Miami in this series and combined for just 19 points the last matchup here at American Airlines Arena. 

We can also note that the Heat are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 Friday games and 5-2 ATS in their last seven games playing on one days rest. The Raptors meanwhile are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games playing on one days rest and 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS win.

The Heat are 7-1 in their last eight games when facing elimination, including 2-0 this season. 

Top Rated NBA *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Under
Rating: 10*

The Oklahoma City Thunder can complete an upset and defeat the San Antonio Spurs to advance to the Western Conference Finals against the Warriors with a win tonight. Elimination games tend to be low-scoring contests, and I expect the Spurs to come out with a big defensive performance. Under is 4-0 in Spurs last four games following a straight up loss and 14-3 in Spurs last 17 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Under is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings in Oklahoma City and 6-2 in the last eight meetings overall.

Top Rated NBA *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Toronto Raptors
Rating: 10*

The Toronto Raptors squandered a nine points lead midway through the fourth quarter in Monday's 94-87 OT loss at Miami. Revenge tonight home at Air Canada Centre where the crowd will put immense pressure on the referees and the Heat players. Dwyane Wade struggled through the first two meetings of the series at Toronto, and without injured center Hassan Whiteside all the pressure is now on Wade. Granted, the Raptors will have to do without their starting center as well as  Jonas Valanciunas is out with an ankle injury, but Bismack Biyombo started Game 4 and did a good job with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Top Rated NBA *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Under
Rating: 10*

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs enter Game 5 of this series tied at 2-2. The Spurs have allowed the Thunder to dictate the pace of the games so far, but I don't think that will be the case home at AT&T Center tonight. 

The Spurs can simply not afford to drop another home game, and I expect them to turn the intensity up a notch in defense to stop Kevin Durant who was allowed to put up 41 points in Sunday's 111-97 Thunder win in OKC. 

Under is 6-2 in Thunder last eight vs. a team with a winning straight up record. Under is 5-1 in Spurs last six home games and 4-1 in Spurs last five games following a straight up loss.

Top Rated NBA Playoffs Round 2 *TOTAL OF THE YEAR*
Play: Under
Rating: 10*

The Toronto Raptors have a 2-1 lead in the series after a 95-91 win here at Miami on Saturday. Under is 9-2 in Raptors' last 11 overall and 7-1 in Heat's last eight, and I thnk this clash will stay under the total.

Both teams will have to do without their starting center as Miami's Hassan Whiteside and Toronto's Jonas Valanciunas won't square off anymore in this Eastern Conference semifinal series. Offensive rebounds will now come at a premium for both teams, which should slow down the tempo as a lost possession could prove extremely costly.

NBA
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

Top Rated *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: San Antonio Spurs
Rating: 10*

The Oklahoma City Thunder pulled a major upset with a 98-97 victory at San Antonio on Monday. The Spurs are now coming in well rested looking for revenge, and I don't think the Thunder will a chance here. Spurs are 4-1 ATS in their last five games playing on three or more days rest and 17-6 ATS in their last 23 games following a straight up loss. It's quite possible that San Antonio underestimated the Thunder after a 124-92 rout in Game 1 on Saturday. That won't happen again, look for Spurs to win BIG at Chesapeake Energy Arena Friday night. 

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Toronto Raptors
Rating: 8*

The Toronto Raptors can not afford another home loss after dropping the opener of this Eastern Conference Semifinals series 102-96 in overtime on Tuesday. 

We can note that the Raptors are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games following a straight up loss and 4-1 ATS in their last five Thursday games. Miami is still only 3-8 ATS in its last 11 road games but can now focus on winning the games at home to clinch the series. 

I expect the Raptors' All-Star backcourt to step up here and deliver an absolutely pivotal win in front of the home fans. 

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Cleveland Cavaliers
Rating: 8*

The Cleveland Cavaliers won Game 1 of this Conference Semifinals series against the Atlanta Hawks 104-93 Monday. They're 5-0 ATS in the past five meetings overall and have covered the spread in four straight meetings home at Quicken Loans Arena. We can also note that the Hawks are 0-4 ATS as a road underdog of 6.5 to 9 points this season and I'm sure you'll agree that Atlanta's chances of upsetting the Cavs here are pretty pretty small. 

The Cavs focused on closing down LeBron James in the opener, but the King still managed to score 25 points with nine assists and seven boards while Tristan Thompson dragged down 14 rebounds. We can note that Atlanta's starting backcourt of Teague/Corver combined for just 11 points, and I think they'll struggle on both ends of the court tonight as well. 

Top Rated 10* NBA *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Under
Rating: 10*

Each of the Heat's last five and seven of the Raptors' last eight have gone under the total, and I definitely think tonight's Eastern Conference Semifinals opener between the two teams will stay under. 

The Heat are putting up plenty of points home in Miami but they're averaging close to four points fewer in their road games than at home. Hassan Whiteside has been an absolute beast defensively so far in the playoffs and Toronto struggled to get its offense going against Indiana. The Raptors scrapped past the seventh-seeded Pacers despite terrible shooting slumps from Lowry (31.6 percent from the field in the series) and DeRozan (31.9), and they won't get any easy looks tonight. 

NBA
Play: San Antonio Spurs
Rating: 8*

The San Antonio Spurs put up a spectacular offensive performances when they rolled to a 124-92 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the opener of their Western Conference Semifinal on Saturday. Over is 7-2 in Thunder's last nine after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game, and I think we'll see Monday's encounter fly over the total again. 

Only Golden State finished the regular-season with a better offensive efficiency (the number of points a team scores per 100 possessions) than the Spurs and the Thunder, and while San Antonio is usually playing at a slow pace, that kind of goes out the window when playing a team like OKC which style is inviting high-tempo games.

John Aldridge scored 38 points Saturday despite logging fewer than 30 minutes, and Tony Parker had 12 assists after averaging just 4.8 during the first-round series sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies. Both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook struggled and combined for just 30 points, but the Thunder still reached 92 points. I expect more points from the duo tonight and an even higher score for OKC. 

Still, I don't see the Thunder coming close to cover the spread tonight either as the Spurs are so much better in virtually every aspect of the game. 

Top Rated NBA *LATE SHOW*
Play: Over
Rating: 10*

The San Antonio Spurs put up a spectacular offensive performances when they rolled to a 124-92 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the opener of their Western Conference Semifinal on Saturday. Over is 7-2 in Thunder's last nine after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game, and I think we'll see Monday's encounter fly over the total too. 

Only Golden State finished the regular-season with a better offensive efficiency (the number of points a team scores per 100 possessions) than the Spurs and the Thunder, and while San Antonio is usually playing at a slow pace, that kind of goes out the window when playing a team like OKC which style is inviting high-tempo games.

John Aldridge scored 38 points Saturday despite logging fewer than 30 minutes, and Tony Parker had 12 assists after averaging just 4.8 during the first-round series sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies. Both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook struggled and combined for just 30 points, but the Thunder still reached 92 points. I expect more points from the duo tonight and an even higher score for OKC.

NBA *AFTERNOON APOCALYPSE*
Play: Miami Heat
Rating: 8*

The Hornets failed to close out the series home in Charlotte when they fell 97-90 to the Heat on Friday. I think that was their only shot, and I don't like their chances at American Airlines Arena Sunday afternoon. 

The Heat are 8-1 ATS in their last nine home games, 7-1 ATS in their last eight home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Charlotte was just 19-25 SU on the road during the regular-season and are 3-6 ATS as a road underdog of 6.5 to nine points this season.

The Heat' veterans are more likely to handle this decisive Game 7 in a better manner than the young Hornets, and both Dwayne Wade and Luol Deng stepped up with big performances Friday to avoid elimination. 

Top Rated NBA *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: San Antonio Spurs
Rating: 10*

The San Antonio Spurs are coming off a four-game sweep of the Grizzlies in the previous round, and I don't think they'll have much trouble with the Thunder here in the Conference Semifinals. The Spurs have played close to perfect D here in the playoffs and held Memphis to 81 points per game on 39.4 percent shooting. Oklahoma City scored 112.0 points per game on 47.6 percent shooting against Dallas in the first round but Kevin Durant was shooting a subpar 36.8 percent from the field and 26.8 percent from 3-point land. 

San Antonio is the only team that can threaten the Warriors for the title IMO, and I don't think the Thunder are even close to being on the same level. Easy Spurs win. 

Top Rated NBA *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Charlotte Hornets
Rating: 10*

The Heat are 1-6 ATS in their last seven road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600 and the Hornets' 90-88 victory in Miami on Wednesday was the first road win in this series. Hornets G Nicolas Batum (ankle) returned from a two-game absence and scored eight points in 25 minutes off the bench, giving the Hornets a nice boost. The Hornets have the momentum and they look fresher than the fading Heat. Miami starting PG Goran Dragic recorded more personal fouls (12) than assists (10) in the last three games and with the frustration growing in the Miami camp I don't see them turning this series around. 

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Indiana Pacers
Rating: 8*

The Indiana Pacers led the Raptors by 15 late in the third quarter Tuesday but lost 102-99 at Toronto. I don't think the late collapse will affect them too much, and I expect them to stay alive in the series with a win home in Indiana tonight. The Pacers won the last meeting at Bonkers Life 100-83 and they're 4-1 ATS in their last five home games. We can also note that the Pacers are 17-4 ATS in their last 21 games playing on two days rest and 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games following a straight up loss.

The Raptors are about as far from clutch as it gets going 2-10 ATS in their last 12 Conference Quarterfinals games, and this looks like a good spot for the Pacers to add to Toronto's postseason misery history. 

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Atlanta Hawks
Rating: 8*

NBA *LATE SHOW*
Play: Golden State Warriors
Rating: 8*

I like the Golden State Warriors to overcome Stephen Curry's injury and win big Wednesday night to eliminate the Houston Rockets from the playoffs. 

Yes, NBA's leading scorer will unfortunately miss at least two weeks with a knee-injury, but Curry scored just six points in 19 minutes when the Warriors won 121-94 at Houston in the last game of the series. Golden State managed an NBA playoff-record of 21 3-pointers in the blowout win, and with or without Curry they are still the superior team. 

Houston's mental toughness has been questioned more than once during the season and interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff was not afraid to call out his players after the last game. "When the moment calls for us to raise our intensity levels, we dropped our guard," Bickerstaff told reporters. "You could see the difference in the way that (the Warriors) played in that third quarter and how they scrapped and how they got every loose ball. You could see the intent in their guys' eyes."

The Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record while the Warriors have covered the spread in four straight home at Oracle Arena. Rockets are 2-6 ATS in the last eight meetings.

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Miami Heat
Rating: 8*

The Hornets have won a couple of games home in Charlotte to tie this series at 2-2, but I don't like their chances tonight when the series shifts back to Miami. 

The Hornets are like a completely different team on the road and they dropped the first two games in this series by a total of 34 points. They're 1-5 ATS in their last six road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600 while the Heat are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 home games and a perfect 7-0 ATS in their last seven when hosting a team with a losing road record. 

Dwayne Wade shot a combined 35.5 percent in Games 3 and 4 after amassing 28 points in the Heat's 115-103 win in Game 2, and he should be back at his best shooting against a familiar rim again tonight. 

Top Rated NBA *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Indiana Pacers
Rating: 10*

The Indiana Pacers have already defeated the Raptors once in Toronto in the opener of this series, and considering how they looked in Saturday's 100-83 rout home in Indiana Saturday I think they're catching way too many points to pass up on tonight. 

The Pacers have played some excellent defense and Toronto's backcourt of Lowry/DeRozan has been almost completely shut down. Lowry is averaging 15.5 points on 32.2 percent shooting while DeRozan is at 13.3 points and 29.6 percent in the series. "Give Indiana credit, they've done a good job on DeMar and Kyle," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. Toronto meanwhile has found it very tough to slow down Pacers All-Star forward Paul George who has been superb in the series with a 26.3 points per game average. 

This is a good spot for the Pacers who are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games playing on two days rest and the underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last six head-to-head meetings.

Western Conf Round 1 *GAME OF THE YEAR*
Play: Under
Rating: 10*

The Portland Trail Blazers will be looking to tie up Western Conference Quarterfinals series Monday night. They won Saturday's meeting 96-88 here in Portland, and I think we're in for another low-scoring encounter. 

The opening game of this series saw a total of 220 points scored, but both teams have played terrific defense since with just an average of 183.5 points per game in the last two. Under is 5-1 in Clippers last six overall and 5-0 in Trail Blazers last five overall. Under is 8-2 in Trail Blazers last 10 home games.

"You just have to bring more energy," Clippers forward Blake Griffin told the team's official website after Saturday's defeat. "They outhustled us, they were better on the glass, they got the 50-50 balls, they had more energy, they flew around. They executed their game plan." I expect the Clippers to show better intensity on D tonight while Portland should keep up its hustle in front of the home fans. Very low chance of this game reaching the set total IMO. Game of the Year material for sure, and I'm firing a BIG BET!

Top Rated NBA *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Under
Rating: 10*

Only one of the previous three games in this series have gone over 200 points, but we still see an extremely high total for Sunday's matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets. I think this will be another game in the series staying under the total. 

Houston pulled a big upset with a 97-96 win Thursday. The Warriors Stephen Curry sat out that game with an ankle injury, and even if he does play today the ankle is sure to bother him. Under is 6-0 in Warriors last six road games and 6-1 in Rockets last seven games following a straight up win. Under is 11-5 in the last 16 meetings in Houston.

NBA 
Play: San Antonio Spurs
Rating: 8*

I expect the San Antonio Spurs to book their spot in the next round with a blowout win against the Memphis Grizzlies today. They posted a 96-87 victory in Game 3 despite playing rubbish basketball up until the fourth quarter when they finally pulled away. Don't expect them to give the Grizzlies a chance to keep this a close game. 

NBA
Play: Miami Heat
Rating: 8*

The Charlotte Hornets didn't stand a chance in either game at Miami. The let the Heat shoot 57.6 percent in a 123-91 rout in their playoff opener and when it seemed like things couldn't get worse on the defense end, the Heat shot 57.9 percent in a 115-103 win in Game 2.

Next up in the series are a couple of games at Charlotte, and while the Hornets are stronger on their own building than on the road I don't think they should be favorits against the Heat right now. We can note that the Heat are 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings in Charlotte and that Charlotte's guard Nicolas Batum went down with a foot injury Wednesday and he is not expected to play here in Game 3.

NBA Early
Play: Indiana Pacers
Rating: 8*

This looks like a good spot to back the Indiana Pacers as they host the Toronto Raptors Saturday afternoon. The Pacers are in danger of falling into a 3-1 deficit on their home floor after a 101-85 loss here in Indiana on Thursday. The Pacers are good at bouncing back from big defeats though and are 4-1 ATS in their last five games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points and 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up loss. The underdog is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings, and I think taking the points on the home team today is the sharp move.

NBA 
Play: San Antonio Spurs
Rating: 8*

The Memphis Grizzlies got manhandled over a pair of losses by an average of 29 points at AT&T Center to start the series, and I don't see them flipping the script even at home. The Spurs D is simply too strong for the injury ridden Grizzlies. To that we can also add the Spurs' superior bench and the fact that they're 7-2 ATS in the last nine meetings in Memphis. San Antonio will be looking to get this series done and over with as quick as possible and I don't see them letting the Grizzlies catch their breath and running the risk of them clawing themselves back in the series. 

NBA
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

Low-scoring games have been the trend so far in the NBA playoffs this year, and I expect that to hold true in Friday's meeting between the Atlanta Hawks and the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. 

The under is 4-0 in the Hawks last four overall and 10-4 in Celtics last 14 overall. Boston will be without its second-leading scorer Avery Bradley who is out with a hamstring injury which will hamper their offense, particularly as Marcus Smart suffered bruised ribs in Game 2

Neither team shot over 40 percent in Game 2 and Boston was a pathetic 28-of-88 from the field and 5-of-28 from behind the arc.

NBA
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

The Detroit Pistons gave the Cleveland Cavaliers a scare in Game 1 of the series but the Cavs still managed to grind out a win. They showed their class in Game 2 when they held the Pistons to 90 points on 43.6 percent shooting from the field, 23.5 percent from behind the arc, and I think the Cavs will come out focused on a solid defensive performance at the Palace tonight. 

Under is 4-1 in both the Cavaliers and the Pistons last five Conference Quarterfinals games and 4-1 in Pistons last five home games. Detroit is virtually in a must-win situation as a loss here would all but book the Cavs spot in the next round, and I can see them making this game as ugly as possible to try and eek out a win. 

Top Rated NBA *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Golden State Warriors
Rating: 10*

The Golden State Warriors hold a two-game lead in this Western Conference Quarterfinals series after a pair of convincing wins home at Oracle Arena. I don't think homecourt advantage for the Rockets tonight will make any difference whatsoever, and I'm happy to lay the points with the Warriors. Golden State is 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings in H-Town and they're 18-5 ATS in their last 23 Conference Quarterfinals games. This is also a great day as they're 9-0 ATS in their last nine Thursday games.

Stephen Curry scored 24 points in the first half of Game 1 before leaving with an ankle injury and sat out Game 2. Whether or not Curry plays, Houston is going to need to find a way to hang onto the ball after totaling 43 turnovers in the first two games and they'll still need to deal with Klay Thompson who put up 34 points in Monday's 115-106 win. 

Houston is 2-6 ATS in its last eight home games vs. a team with a winning road record and is frankly not good enough to compete with the Warriors this season. Curry or no Curry, this will end with an easy Warriors win. 

NBA *LATE SHOW*
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

The Los Angeles Clippers coasted to a 115-95 victory in the series opener behind 28 points and 11 assists from Chris Paul, but I think we'll see fewer points tonight. The under is 4-0 in the last four meetings in Los Angeles and Portland will come into this game playing lockdown defense already trailing a game in the series. Under is 4-0 in Trail Blazers last four games following a straight up loss and under is 22-5 in Clippers last 27 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.

NBA
Play: Cleveland Cavaliers
Rating: 8*

The Detroit Pistons led by seven points early in the fourth quarter in the series-opener Sunday before losing 106-101. They made a ridiculous 15-of-29 attempts from behind the arc, and that's not a number that's sustainable for this Detroit team. The Cavs meanwhile came out very flat and shot just 44.3 percent form the field and I expect them to up their game tonight. A couple of games at Detroit awaits and they can not afford to give the Pistons any more reasons to think it stands a chance in this series. 

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Miami Heat
Rating: 8*

The Charlotte Hornets put up little resistance in the series-opener as the Heat breezed to a 32-point victory. I expect another pounding from the Heat tonight before the series shift to Charlotte where they're sure to be up for tougher games. The Heat are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 home games while the Hornets travel poorly and are 1-4 ATS in their last five road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.

"Whether you lose by 30 or one, it’s one-nothing," Hornets coach Steve Clifford told reporters after Game 1. "We lost one game. And up front, we just got manhandled. If Deng and (center Hassan) Whiteside are going to combine for those kinds of numbers, it’s going to be hard for us to win." Unfortunately for Clifford I think they can and there's no coincidence that Charlotte was outrebounded 49-37 and outscored in the paint 56-36.

NBA
Play: Boston Celtics
Rating: 8*

Top Rated NBA Total
Play: Under
Rating: 10*

NBA *MIDNIGHT MADNESS*
Play: Golden State Warriors
Rating: 8*

The Houston Rockets did not stand a chance in Game 1 of this series, and I expect the Warriors to put another beating on their opponent tonight to completely demoralize them before the series shifts to Houston. 

The Warriors cruised to a 104-78 win, even though Steph Curry scored 24 points in just 19 minutes as he rolled his right ankle and barely played in the second half. No reason for concern though; "Right now, don't see a scenario where I'll be out," Curry told reporters. With or without Curry, the Warriors should have no trouble with the Rockets who frankly shouldn't be in the playoffs this season. 

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Oklahoma City Thunder
Rating: 8*

The Oklahoma City Thunder put up a dominant performance in Game 1 of the series when they annihilated the Dallas Mavericks 108-70 on Saturday. I don't see them slowing down yet though and I fully expect them to put another beating on the Mavs to completely demoralize them before traveling to Dallas for the next two games. 

The Mavs have some injury concerns as point guard J.J. Barea aggravated a groin injury during the second half of Game 1. "I'm very, very concerned," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle told reporters. Bad news indeed as Barea has been one of the team's better players this month. 

The Mavericks haven't had much success defending Oklahoma City all season, allowing an average of 111.6 points on 48.4 percent shooting while dropping five meetings. The Thunder allowed the Mavs to shoot just 29.8 percent from the field in Game 1, and if this team can get their defense right they'll be a forced to be reckoned with in the playoffs for sure. 

NBA 
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

NBA 
Play: San Antonio Spurs
Rating: 8*

NBA 
Play: Miami Heat
Rating: 8*

NBA 
Play: Atlanta Hawks
Rating: 8*

The Atlanta Hawks wrapped up the regular-season with a pair of losses at Cleveland and Washington, but they still managed to secure homecourt advantage against the Boston Celtics here in the first round of the NBA playoffs. 

I think they'll make the most of that advantage in Saturday's opener and we can note that they logged a 118-107 home-win against Boston just a week ago. Boston took the first meeting this season but Atlanta won the next three by an average of 13.7 points.

The Celtics are 1-5 ATS in their last six road games and 3-14 ATS in their last 17 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, so this is not a team that is comfortable on the road. We can also note that the Celtics are 0-7 ATS in their last seven games playing on two days rest while the Hawks are 5-1 ATS in their last six games playing on two days rest.

NBA Total
Play: Under
Rating: 8*

There is always a risk of playing an under with two such high-scoring teams as the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors, but the nature of playoff games and the extremely high number makes me believe we'll see this one stay under the total. 

Golden State just finished up the best regular-season in NBA history and the chase for the record provided the Warriors with a playoff-style environment the past few weeks. I think that despite coming off two days of rest since a 125-104 win against Memphis in the season-finale, Steve Kerr must realize he and the team have a long postseason ahead of them. I don't think the Warriors will have to put in that much of an effort to beat the Rockets and they'll be happy to drag down the tempo to save energy once they've established a comfortable lead.  

The Warriors allowed just 101.9 points per game home at Oracle Arena during the regular-season and the under is 6-2 in Warriors last eight Saturday games. Under is 5-1 in Rockets last six road games.

NBA 
Play: Toronto Raptors
Rating: 8*

The Toronto Raptors did not have much success in last year's playoffs, but I like them to take care of business against the Atlanta Hawks Saturday afternoon. 

The Raptors are 4-0 ATS in their last four home games and wrapped up the regular-season on a 5-2 ATS streak overall. They won both home-meetings with Indiana during the season (106-99 and 111-98) and Paul George struggled in four games against Toronto this season by shooting just 30.8 percent from the field while averaging 16.3 points, well below his season mark of 23.1. He'll be in for a tough night as Toronto small forward DeMarre Carroll has returned after after missing more than three months due to right knee surgery. 

NBA *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Portland Trail Blazers
Rating: 8*

The Trail Blazers fell 106-105 at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday but are 4-1 ATS in their last five games playing on three or more days rest and 11-3 ATS in their last 14 games following a straight up loss. With so much rest I expect them to play hard tonight to get some momentum for the upcoming playoffs. The Nuggets lost 100-84 against Utah Sunday and are 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall. Kenneth Faried (rest) sat out the last two games and is questionable for Wednesday as Denver is giving younger players more time on the court. 

NBA *TEXAS SHOWDOWN*
Play: Dallas Mavericks
Rating: 8*

The Dallas Mavericks are playing to avoid facing the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs. The Spurs figure to rest most of their starters after a 102-98 OT win at Oklahoma City last night and Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker have confirmed they won't be making the trip, and probably not LaMarcus Aldridge either. The Spurs are 3-0 against the Mavericks this season, including victories by 29 and 26 points, and this looks like a good spot for the Mavs to get revenge for these embarrassing defeats. 

The Mavericks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall, Spurs are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 games following a straight up win.

NBA *LATE SHOW*
Play: Los Angeles Clippers
Rating: 8*

I like the Los Angeles Clippers to win and cover the spread against the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday night. The injury ravaged Grizzlies have lost eight of their last nine games while the Clippers have won nine of their last 10. The Clippers are 7-2 ATS in their last nine games overall and with the Clippers expected to rest players in their finale against Phoenix on Wednesday, Blake Griffin, J.J. Redick, Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan are likely to play in this one. Memphis meanwhile is without Mike Conley and Marc Gasol for the rest of the season and playoffs and the Grizzlies also did not have Jordan Adams, Tony Allen and Brandan Wright in Saturday's 100-99 loss to the Warriors. 

Top Rated 10* NBA *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Miami Heat
Rating: 10*

The Miami Heat are looking to hold on to the No. 4 seed in the East which would give them homecourt advantage in the first round of the playffs. The Detroit Pistons are doomed to travel to either Cleveland or Toronto for their playoff opener, and I think the Heat will come into this game with more motivation. The Heat are off a dominant 118-96 win against the Magic and are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points. They had lost two of the season-meetings prior to a 107-89 home-win on April 5 and I think they'll tie up the season-series with a win tonight.