6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Utah Jazz -9.5

The Key: The Utah Jazz have won 4 straight games by an average of 20 points per game.  Look for their domination to continue tonight against the Miami Heat.  The Heat are running on fumes right now as they will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 5th game in 7 days.  They are also dealing with some injuries, and after playing in the altitude last night in Denver, they won't have a whole lot left to give tonight.  The Jazz are 17-4 ATS in their last 21 vs. a team with a losing record and 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.  The Heat at 12-27 ATS in their last 39 following a road win.  Take Utah.

7* Clippers/Cavs TNT *HEAVY HITTER* on UNDER 215.5

The Key: This is a battle between two of the best teams in the NBA.  Both squads will be laying it all on the line defensively tonight to get a win.  The Clippers are coming off 3 straight losses, while the Cavs are coming off an upset loss to the Bucks where both teams didn't play well defensively.  That will be the focus heading into tonight's game.  The Clippers rank 2nd in the NBA in defensive efficiency this season.  Clippers games have averaged roughly 207 combined points per game while Cavs games have averaged roughly 214.  I think there's some value with the UNDER tonight.  Bets on the UNDER in a game involving 2 very good teams who outscore their opponents by 7-plus points per game after a combined score of 205 points or more are 43-13 over the last 5 seasons.  Take the UNDER.

6* Wednesday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Spurs/Mavs UNDER 189.5

The Key: We have two of the slowest teams in the NBA matching up tonight in the Spurs and Mavs.  The Mavs rank 29th in the NBA in pace this season while the Spurs are 27th.  The Mavs haven't done much with those few possessions as they also rank 28th in offensive efficiency.  The Spurs have beaten the Mavs 96-91 in consecutive meetings for 187 combined points in each.  The most recent was on November 21st just over a week ago, so these teams are familiar with one another.  And I can't see them getting to 190 combined points here, which is what it would take to top this 189.5-point total.  The UNDER is 9-2 in Spurs last 11 vs. NBA Northwester Division opponents.  The UNDER is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings.  The UNDER is 5-1 in Mavericks last 6 home games.  Take the UNDER.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Detroit Pistons +3

The Key: The Detroit Pistons have owned up to their road woes as they are just 1-8 away from home this season.  They realize it's a problem if they want to be a playoff contender, and look for them to tackle it head-on tonight.  There's every reason they should win this game against Charlotte.  The Hornets will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 4th game in 5 days, one of the toughest situations you'll find in the NBA.  I expect a pretty weak effort from them here tonight as they just don't have much left to give.  The Pistons come in on 2 days' rest after last playing on Saturday.  This is a huge scheduling advantage that they must capitalize on tonight.  Take Detroit.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Charlotte Hornets -1

The Key: The Charlotte Hornets opened as 2.5-point dogs and are now 1-point favorites.  I completely agree with this move as they should beat the Memphis Grizzlies.  They'll be out for revenge from a home loss to the Grizzlies on November 21st exactly one week ago today.  And they should be able to get it because they are nearly 100% healthy, while the Grizzlies are battling several key injuries right now.  They are without two starters in Chandler Parsons and James Ennis, and they are also without the best 6th man in the NBA in Zach Randolph.  I can't see the Grizzlies even being competitive tonight this short-handed.  Memphis is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 home games.  The road team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.  Take Charlotte.

6* NBA Dog of the Week on Indiana Pacers +10

The Key: The Indiana Pacers should not be catching double-digits at home to the Los Angeles Clippers today.  The Clippers are overrated right now because they have the best record in the NBA.  Bets on underdogs of 10 or more points after being beaten by the spread by 18 or more points total in thier last 3 games, with a winning percentage between 40% & 49% on the season are 25-5 ATS over the last 5 seasons.  Take Indiana.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Oklahoma City Thunder -3.5

The Key: This line has been bet down from -6.5 to -3.5 and I feel that we are now getting the right price to back the Thunder.  I get the move because the Thunder played on overtime game last night against the Nuggets.  But they showed a lot of fight in that game to end a 3-game losing streak.  And now they'll want revenge from an 88-104 loss in Detroit back on November 14th just less than 3 weeks ago.  They were in a bad spot there as they were on a back-to-back while the Pistons were not.  And the Pistons also played yesterday in a 108-97 home win over the Clippers, so it's not like they'll be much fresher than the Thunder here.  They'll be playing their 6th game in 9 days.  And they could have a letdown off such a big win over the Clippers, plus the fact that they've already beaten the Thunder once this season.  And the Pistons have been a terrible road game, going 1-7 SU & 1-7 ATS on the highway this season while losing by 11.3 points per game.  The home team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.  Take Oklahoma City.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Detroit Pistons +6.5

The Key: This is a very nice price for the Detroit Pistons at home tonight.  They have had one of the more underrated home-court advantages over the past few seasons.  They are 6-2 SU & 6-2 ATS at home this season with their only two losses coming to Boston (92-94) and Houston (96-99) by a combined 5 points.  They are actually outscoring opponents by 13.1 points per game at home this year.  The Los Angeles Clippers are getting too much respect from the books now after their NBA-best 14-2 start to the season.  The Clippers are 9-22 ATS in their last 31 games as a road favorite of 6.5 to 9 points.  The Pistons are 8-0 ATS in home games revenging a loss where they scored 85 points or fewer over the last 3 seasons.  The home team is 4-0-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.  Take Detroit.

6* Thunder/Kings Western Conference *BAILOUT* on Sacramento -2.5

The Key: The wheels have fallen off in Oklahoma City.  The Thunder are 2-6 SU & 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games overall.  This is a tired team right now as they will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 7th game in 11 days.  The Sacramento Kings are rested as they have had 2 days off and will be playing just their 4th game in 12 days.  They only lost by 5 to the Spurs, by 6 to the Clippers and beat the Raptors by 3 in their last three contests, which are three of the best teams in the NBA.  The Thunder are 3-15 ATS in road games after playing 5 consecutive games as favorite over the last 2 seasons.  Oklahoma City is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 road games.  The Kings are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 home games.  Sacramento is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games vs. a team with a winning record.  The Thunder are 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings.  Take Sacramento.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Cleveland Cavaliers -11.5

The Key: I think we're actually getting a discount on the Cleveland Cavaliers for once because they have gone 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 games overall.  But Lebron James returned to the lineup last time out, and they rolled the Pistons 104-81 at home.  That was five days ago as they have had four days off in between games.  They will be primed for a big performance tonight.  The Blazers are running on fumes right now as they will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 5th game in 7 days.  They have gone 1-4 straight up in their last 5 games, and they are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games as they have been consistently overvalued.  Portland is 1-9 ATS vs. good offensive teams who score 99-plus points per game this season.  The home team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.  Take Cleveland.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Atlanta Hawks -8.5

The Key: The Atlanta Hawks have lost two straight road games to the Hornets and Knicks to fall to 9-4 on the season.  It's safe to say they will be very hungry for a win tonight to get back on track.  The opposite is true for the Pelicans, who are coming off two straight home wins over the Blazers and Hornets to get to 4-10 on the season.  Now the Pelicans hit the road where they are 1-5 and losing by 7.3 points per game.  The Hawks are 6-1 SU & 6-1 ATS at home this season, outscoring opponents by 10.0 points per game.  Take Atlanta.

6* NBA Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Phoenix Suns +8

The Key: The Washington Wizards have only one win by 8 points or more this season in 12 games.  I like the Suns for that reason alone.  Plus the Suns have gone 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games in Washington.  They haven't lost to the Wizards by more than 7 points in any of their last 6 meetings.  The Suns are 17-4 ATS in their last 21 games following an ATS loss, and 16-4 ATS in their last 20 games following a loss by 10 points or more.  Take Phoenix.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Denver Nuggets -3.5

The Key: The Denver Nuggets have been one of the more underrated teams in the NBA as they are 8-4 ATS in their 12 games this season.  They had yesterday off following an OT loss to the Raptors, and they'll be hungry to bounce back and get a win at home against the Jazz.  And the Jazz have been overvalued, going 0-3 SU & 0-3 ATS in their last 3 games.  They are dealing with a plethora of injuries right now as starters George Hill and Derrick Favors are out, while key role player Boris Diaw is questionable.  Now the Jazz are playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 days after a run-and-gun 102-111 loss at Houston last night.  They won't have much left in the tank for the Nuggets, who also like the push the pace like Houston.  The Nuggets are 8-0 ATS after allowing 100 points or more in 5 straight games over the last 2 seasons.  Take Denver.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Detroit Pistons -3.5

The Key: The Detroit Pistons are 5-0 SU & 5-0 ATS at home this season, outscoring opponents by 17.4 points per game.  The Pistons are 24-8 ATS as a home favorite over the last 2 seasons.  Both the Celtics and Pistons played yesterday, but while the Pistons are relatively healthy, the Celtics are not.  They are expected to be without Al Horford and Jae Crowder again tonight, and those are two of their best players.  The Pistons are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 games playing on 0 days' rest.  Detroit is 37-17-2 ATS in its last 56 home games.  Take Detroit.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Denver Nuggets +4

The Key: The Toronto Raptors are in a very tough spot mentally here.  They just played two huge games on back-to-back nights against the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, the two teams who played in the NBA Finals each of the past two seasons.  And now they face the Denver Nuggets and won't be able to emotionally get up for this game tonight.  The Nuggets want revenge from a 102-105 road loss at Toronto in their first meeting this season. The Nuggets are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.  The underdog is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings.  The Nuggets are 35-16-1 ATS in their last 52 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.  Bets against favorites in a game involving two bad defensive teams who allow at least 102 points per game, after scoring 110 points or more in 4 straight games are 27-6 ATS since 1996.  The Nuggets are 14-1 ATS after allowing 100 points or more in 5 straight games over the last 3 seasons.  Take Denver.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Minnesota Timberwolves -11

The Key: The Philadelphia 76ers are playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 5th game in 7 days.  They will be missing two key players tonight in Jahlil Okafor and Nik Stauskas, who combined for 34 points last night against Washington.  I think the 76ers will show their fatigue here and fail to keep this game against the Minnesota Timberwolves competitive.  The 76ers are 0-4 on the road this season and getting outscored by 17.7 points per game.  The 76ers are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games following an ATS win.  Philadelphia is 0-4 ATS in its last four games playing on zero rest.  Take Minnesota.

7* NBA Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Oklahoma City Thunder -2

The Key: The Oklahoma City Thunder will be hungry for a win following 4 consecutive losses.  I like the price we are getting here as they basically just have to win to cover the spread.  I like the fact that the home team has won 7 of the last 9 meetings between OKC and Houston, and the home team went 4-0 straight up at home in their 4 meetings last season as well.  The Thunder are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a loss by double-digits.  Take Oklahoma City.

6* Bulls/Blazers Non-Conference *BAILOUT* on Portland -3

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers are 7-4 this season with two of their losses coming to the Los Angeles Clippers, who are the best team in the NBA right now.  The Blazers are 5-1 in their last 6 games overall.  But they have failed to cover the spread in 4 straight, which has them undervalued right now as only 3-point favorites over the Chicago Bulls.  With wins and covers in 3 of their last 4 games against the Magic, Heat and Wizards, the Bulls come into this game overvalued.  I think the Blazers are the far superior team on a neutral court, and home-court advantage should be worth more than 3 points for them here.  This is a discount.  Take Portland.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Detroit Pistons -2.5

The Key: The Oklahoma City Thunder are a tired team right now.  They have lost 3 straight games coming in and now will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 8th game in 12 days.  I don't expect a very good effort from them here tonight off their 117-119 home loss to the Magic last night.  The Pistons are 4-0 at home this season.  Not only are they winning, they are dominating, beating opponents by over 17 points per game.  The Pistons are 24-8 ATS in their last 32 games as a home favorite.  Take Detroit.

6* NBA Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Phoenix Suns -4.5

The Key: The Phoenix Suns have been competitive in almost every game this season.  They have won three of their last five overall and were competitive in the other two in road losses to the Lakers and Blazers.  The Brooklyn Nets have lost three of their last five with blowout losses to Chicago by 30 and New York by 14.  All three of the Nets' wins this season have come at home, but they are 0-3 on the road.  I look for the supremely talented Suns to put them away early and win this one going away.  The Nets are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 road games.  Phoenix is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 home games.  The Suns are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.  Take Phoenix.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Portland Trail Blazers -6.5

The Key: The Sacramento Kings are in the midst of the toughest early schedule in the NBA.  They are being asked to play an 11th game in 17 days to open the season tonight.  This will be their 5th game in 7 days and the 2nd of a back-to-back after a home loss to the Lakers last night.  The Blazers have owned the Kings, going 6-0 SU & 5-1 ATS in the last 6 home meetings while winning 5 times by at least 11 points.  Given the tough spot for the Kings, another blowout win for the Blazers can be expected tonight.  Take Portland.

6* NBA Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Milwaukee Bucks -5.5

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks have won 3 of their last 4 games coming in.  They throttled the Pacers 125-107 and the Kings 117-91 in the process.  Their only loss came on the road in overtime at Dallas while playing the 2nd of a back-to-back.  But the Bucks have had the last 3 days off to get ready for the Pelicans, who they already beat 117-113 on the road just over a week ago.  The Pelicans are a mess as they are 0-8 SU & 2-6 ATS this season.  They should be much bigger underdogs here to the Bucks on the road.  The Pelicans are 10-22 ATS in their last 32 vs. Eastern Conference.  Take Milwaukee.

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Los Angeles Clippers -9.5

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers are in a very tough situation here.  They are playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 6th game in 9 days.  They used up a lot of energy in a 124-121 home win over the Phoenix Suns last night as Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum combined for 71 points.  The Clippers are 6-1 this season and outscoring teams by 14.9 points per game.  They have been the best team in the NBA thus far in point differential.  And they want revenge on the Blazers after getting knocked out of the playoffs by them last year once Chris Paul and Blake Griffin were lost to injury.  Los Angeles is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 home games.  That includes 20 and 21-points wins over the Blazers in Game 1 and 2 of the playoffs last year when they were healthy.  Take Los Angeles.

7* NBA Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Phoenix Suns +7.5

The Key: The Phoenix Suns, with their terrific guard trio of Eric Bledsoe, Devin Booker and Brandon Knight, match up very well with the Portland Trail Blazers and their superb guard duo of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.  That probably helps to explain why the Suns have had so much success against the Blazers recently.  Dating back to last season, the Suns have won 3 of their last 4 meetings with the Blazers outright.  Bets on road underdogs after allowing 105 points or more 3 straight games against opponent after a win by 6 points or less are 24-3 ATS over the last 5 seasons.  I think the Suns are catching too many points tonight.  Take Phoenix.

6* NBA Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Oklahoma City Thunder -5

The Key: The Oklahoma City Thunder aren't missing Kevin Durant too much.  They are 5-1 this season with their only loss coming to Durant's Warriors on the road.  They also have a road win over the Clippers, and they are 3-0 at home this season with an average margin of victory of 13.4 points per game.  The Miami Heat are clearly taking a step back this season as their roster is one of the worst in the NBA now.  They have lost 3 of their last 4 with all 3 losses coming by at least 6 points.  The Thunder have won their last 2 home meetings with the Heat by 25 and 18 points.  Take Oklahoma City.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Houston Rockets +3

The Key: The Atlanta Hawks will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 days after playing a road game against the Washington Wizards last night.  Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets come in on 2 days' rest and chomping the bit to hit the court.  The Rockets' up-tempo style will test the legs of the Hawks as they have to be tired right now.  The Rockets are scoring 110.2 points per game on 47.2% shooting.  Houston is 20-8 ATS in its last 28 games when playing on 2 days' rest.  Take Houston.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on San Antonio Spurs -4.5

The Key: I really like this spot for the San Antonio Spurs.  It's a home and home situation for them after losing to the Jazz at home on Tuesday night.  Now they've had two days off and will get their shot at revenge against the Jazz here on the road.  The Jazz don't have that same luxury as they came back and played the Mavs on Wednesday, so this will be their 3rd game in 4 days.  And the Jazz are short-handed right now playing without Alec Burks, Gordon Hayward and Boris Diaw.  The Spurs have still won 4 of their last 5 meetings with the Jazz with 3 of those wins coming by 18-plus points.  San Antonio is 19-6 ATS off an upset loss as a favorite of 10 points or more since 1996.  Utah has only covered in 3 of its last 15 games vs. a team with a winning record.  Take San Antonio.

6* NBA Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Boston Celtics +10

The Key: I know the Boston Celtics will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back here, but this is one of the deepest teams in the NBA.  That depth allows the Celtics to play well on no rest.  They are actually 35-15-1 ATS in their last 51 games playing on 0 days' rest.  The city of Cleveland is down right now after losing the World Series.  I think that will carry over to their basketball team here tonight.  Either way, it's going to be hard for the Cavs to win by double-digits against these pesky Celtics.  Take Boston.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Dallas Mavericks +4

The Key: The Dallas Mavericks are hungry for their first win of the season.  They are 0-3 with an overtime loss to the Pacers and a 1-point loss to the Rockets.  But they've had two days in between games, which has helped Dirk Nowitzki get over his illness, and he should be good to go tonight.  This is an awful spot for the Jazz, who will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and 3rd game in 4 days.  They beat the Spurs on the road last night and will likely be in a letdown spot here.  The Mavs are 7-2-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games against a team with a winning home record.  Take Dallas.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Miami Heat -3.5

The Key: The NBA schedule makers did the Kings no favors to start the season.  They have to be gassed right now considering they will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 5th game in 7 days.  I look for the Miami Heat to take advantage and put away the Kings early in a blowout victory.  The Heat have been solid this season with a 12-point win over the Magic on the road, and narrow 6 and 7-point home losses to the Hornets and Spurs, respectively.  The Kings showed signs of wearing down last night as they were outscored 14-27 in the fourth quarter in a 95-106 loss at Atlanta.  The Heat are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 home games, 21-7 ATS in their last 28 meetings, and 11-3 ATS in their last 14 home meetings.  Take Miami.

6* NBA Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Brooklyn Nets +6.5

The Key: The Brooklyn Nets are a perfect 3-0 ATS in three games this season.  They are just 1-2 straight up, but they only lost by 5 on the road to the Celtics, and by 2 on the road to the Bucks.  They won their only home game, beating the Pacers by 9 as 6-point dogs.  I think they will give the Chicago Bulls a run for their money here tonight with a chance to win outright as 6.5-point dogs.  The Nets are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games vs. a team with a winning record.  The Bulls are 1-11 ATS in road games after scoring 105 points or more over the past 2 seasons.  Take Brooklyn.

6* T'Wolves/Kings Saturday NBA *BAILOUT* on Timberwolves/Kings UNDER 206

The Key: Tom Thibodeau has installed a defensive mindset into this Minnesota team that has been missing over the past couple seasons.  The Timberwolves held opponents to just over 94 points per game in the preseason.  They started the season with a 98-102 loss at Memphis, and I look for them to lock in defensively tonight against the Kings.  The Kings have shown defensive improvement under Dave Joerger as well as they are going all-out on that side of the court in the early going.  They held Phoenix to just 94 points in the opener and San Antonio to a respectable 102 points in their second game of the season.  The UNDER is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings with combined scores of 202, 217, 194 and 192 points.  Take the UNDER.

7* Warriors/Pelicans ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Golden State -10.5

The Key: The Golden State Warriors have been steaming mad since their 100-129 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the opener.  Look for them to take it out on the hapless New Orleans Pelicans, who are the worst team in the Western Conference to open the season.  The Pelicans are missing two starters in Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday, and their lineup is one of the worst in the NBA as a result right now.  Even the Denver Nuggets beat them 107-102 in the opener despite committing 24 turnovers.  The Warriors should roll from start to finish and easily win this game by double-digits.  The Pelicans are 0-9 ATS after a game with 30 or more assists over the last 3 seasons.  Take Golden State.

6* Celtics/Bulls TNT *CA$H COW* on UNDER 211

The Key: Because the Celtics played a shootout against the Nets last night in a 122-117 win, this total has been inflated tonight.  The Celtics won't be playing with the same energy as they did last night, and the Bulls are a much better defensive team than the Nets.  The Bulls have plus-defenders in Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson, Robin Lopez, Rajon Rondo and Dwayne Wade in their starting lineup.  They will be a great defensive team this year.  I worry about their offense, though, as they lack shooting in their starting 5.  This may be one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA this season.  All 3 meetings between these teams last season saw 211 or fewer combined points.  They combined for 211, 193 and 205 points in them.  The UNDER is 14-3 in Celtics last 17 games following a straight up win.  The UNDER is 40-18-3 in Celtics last 61 Thursday games.  Take the UNDER.

6* Rockets/Lakers ESPN *BAILOUT* on OVER 222

The Key: Mike D'Antoni was a perfect fit for Houston's roster.  That has proven to be the case in the preseason as the Rockets led the league with an average of 118.6 points per game, which was 6 points more than second-place Golden State.  Their defense leaves a lot to be desired as they gave up 108.1 points per game in the preseason.  The Lakers are going to be improved offensively this season with their young nucleus in Luke Walton's system, which he brings over from Golden State.  They average a solid 105.9 points per game in the preseason to finish in the Top 10.  But they had the fourth-worst scoring defense in allowing 107.2 points per game, and that will be the case all season.  Look for plenty of points in this opener as the combined scored of this game sails way OVER 222 points.  Take the OVER.

7* NBA Non-Conference *BLOWOUT* on Indiana Pacers -6.5

The Key: The Indiana Pacers made some nice moves this offseason in adding Jeff Teague, Thaddeus Young and Al Jefferson.  They already have their star in Paul George and an emerging star in Myles Turner.  Look for the Pacers to get off to a fast start in their opener and not let up at home against the Dallas Mavericks.  The Mavericks went just 2-5 in the preseason and were outscored by nearly 9 points per game.  They spent too much money on Harrison Barnes, and the rest of their roster are far past their primes.  The Mavs will be a mess this season as they finish as one of the worst teams in the West, while the Pacers finish among the East's elite.  Take Indiana.

7* Spurs/Warriors TNT *BAILOUT* on Golden State -8

The Key: The Golden State Warriors should hit the ground running tonight at home against the San Antonio Spurs in front of a hostile home crowd.  The Warriors are far and away the best team in the NBA, and they showed signs of that in the preseason by going 6-1, clearly not taking long at all to adjust to some new faces in Kevin Durant and Zaza Pachulia.  The Warriors will be favored by double-digits in most games this season.  They have gone 33-15 ATS as a home favorite of 6.5 to 12 points over the last 3 years.  I think we are getting a discount on them in the opener against the Spurs, who will take a few steps back this season.  Take Golden State.

7* Cavs/Warriors NBA Finals *HEAVY HITTER* on Golden State -4.5

The Key: The Golden State Warriors will win the NBA Finals with a convincing victory in Game 7.  They have not played up to par their last two games, but a big reason was being without Draymond Green for Game 5.  Look for them to make a statement in Game 7 and come up clutch, which is what they have done all season.  They have only lost back-to-back games twice all year.  They are 50-4 at home and this is the smallest favorites they have been all year.  We're really getting them at a discount here tonight.  Take Golden State.

7* Warriors/Cavs NBA Finals *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland -2

The Key: After the home team dominated the first 3 games of this series in blowout fashion, the road team has escaped with victories in each of the last 2 contests.  I find it hard to believe that the road team can win 3 straight, so I'll side with the Cavaliers in Game 6 tonight.  They have to be brimming with confidence after winning by 15 points in Oakland in Game 5 thanks to a pair of 41-point efforts from Lebron James and Kyrie Irving.  Look for these two to get much more help from their supporting cast at home in Game 6.  The Cavs are 41-9 at home this season and 8-1 at home in the playoffs with 7 of those victories coming by 11 points or more.  The Cavs are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 home games.  Take Cleveland.

7* Cavs/Warriors *TOTAL* Annihilator on UNDER 205

The Key: The Golden State Warriors will no longer be able to go small with Draymond Green at center, which is their best lineup.  They will have to go bigger and give Andrew Bogut more minutes.  I believe that chance will make the Warriors' offense much less potent, and it will help lead to a low-scoring Game 5.  These teams are now very familiar with one another after playing four games already, which also favors the defenses.  Cleveland is 8-1 UNDER as an underdog of 3.5 to 9.5 points this season.  The UNDER is 7-1 in Warriors last eight vs. Eastern Conference.  The UNDER is 19-6-1 in Warriors last 26 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.  Take the UNDER.

7* Warriors/Cavs NBA Finals *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland -2

The Key: We'll stick with the home team once again in Game 4.  The home team has won in blowout fashion in the first three games of this series, and I look for them to follow suit tonight.  Cleveland is 41-8 at home this season and has upped its game at home even more in the playoffs.  Indeed, the Cavs are 8-0 at home in the postseason with an average margin of victory of over 20 points per game.  Golden State has actually been outscored by over 13 points per game in its last six road games while going 2-4 in the process.  The Cavs are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 home games coming in.  Take Cleveland.

7* Warriors/Cavs NBA Finals *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland +1.5

The Key: The Cleveland Cavaliers will certainly be hungry for a win in Game 3 tonight after taking it on the chin both on the floor and through the media over the past week.  Now they get to return to the friendly confines of Cleveland, which is going to make all the difference.  The Cavs are 40-8 at home this season.  They are 7-0 at home in the playoffs with an average margin of victory of more than 20 points per game.  They are also a perfect 6-0 ATS in their last 6 home games.  Golden State has lost 3 of its last 5 road games coming in while getting outscored by 10 points per game.  Take Cleveland.

7* NBA Finals GAME OF THE YEAR on Cleveland +6.5

The Key: It has been a very profitable move to back the losing Game 1 team in Game 2 throughout the NBA playoffs for years.  In fact, the Game 1 loser is 204-159 ATS since 1991 in Game 2.  I love the Cavaliers here catching 6.5 points.  They had the Warriors on the brink with a lead late, but the Warriors' bench exploded in the 4th quarter and they essentially won without Curry or Thompson needing a big game.  While some will look at that as the Warriors will be even better if Curry and Thompson perform, I look at is as the Warriors will never get another game like that from their bench again.  The Cavs' bench was nearly non-existent, but after getting their feet wet, I look for a lot more production from them in Game 2 so James, Irving and Love don't have to completely carry the load again.  Take Cleveland in a Game 2 that they will likely win outright.

7* Cavs/Warriors NBA Finals *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland +6

The Key: Cleveland is 12-2 ATS when playing just its 2nd game in 7 days over the past 3 seasons.  This team has proven it plays its best on rest, and that has been the case this postseason as well.  The Cavs covered the 8-point spread in Game 1 against the Hawks with an 11-point victory after sweeping the Pistons.  They also throttled the Raptors by 31 as 11-point favorites in Game 1 after sweeping the Hawks.  They will be their best version of themselves in Game 1 tonight against the Warriors, especially with revenge in mind from last year's NBA Finals.  The Warriors could be in a tough spot mentally here in Game 1 after what they accomplished in winning the final three games to beat the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.  They are ripe for the upset here.  Take Cleveland.

7* Thunder/Warriors *TOTAL* Annihilator on UNDER 219

The Key: The Thunder and Warriors have now squared off six straight times.  It's obvious that they are familiar with one another now, and that will lead to a low-scoring battle in Game 7 that favors the defenses with everything at stake.  These teams combined for 209 points in Game 6, and I look for a similar output tonight in Golden State.  The Warriors have been going with a bigger lineup to counter the Thunder, which also favors the UNDER.  The Under is 8-3 in Thunder last 11 Conference Finals games.  The Under is 7-2 in Warriors last 9 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.  The Under is 8-3 in Warriors last 11 Conference Finals games.  The Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Golden State.  Take the UNDER.

7* Warriors/Thunder *TOTAL* Annihilator on UNDER 221

The Key: The Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder are obviously extremely familiar with one another as they've played five games in this series already.  That clearly favors the defenses and will lead to a low-scoring affair in Game 6.  The Warriors made an adjustment and decided to go bigger for longer stretches in Game 5, and it worked, so look for them to go big again.  That also favors the defenses as the Thunder prefer to play big anyways.  OKC is 13-3 UNDER after two straight games where it made 9 or more 3-point shots.  Golden State is 17-5 UNDER off two straight games where it made 85% or more of their free throws this season.  The UNDER is 8-3 in Warriors last 11 road games.  Take the UNDER.

7* Cavs/Raptors Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland -6

The Key: The Cleveland Cavaliers roll into Game 6 brimming with confidence after their 38-point statement victory over the Raptors in Game 5.  The Raptors come in deflated knowing that they really stand no chance of winning this series.  The Cavs want to prove that they can win on the road in Game 6 here tonight and I believe they roll to victory again.  They also do not want to have this series go to 7 games as they can take advantage of some extra rest if they win tonight.  I was mostly impressed with the Cavs' 57-38 rebounding edge in Game 5 where they held the Raptors to only 5 offensive rebounds.  Well, Toronto is 1-10 ATS off a game with 5 or less offensive rebounds over the last 2 seasons.  The Raptors are also 0-8 ATS after scoring 85 points or less in their previous game over the last 2 years.  Take Cleveland.

7* Thunder/Warriors *TOTAL* Annihilator on UNDER 220.5

The Key: The UNDER is 3-1 through the first four games of this series, yet the oddsmakers have failed to adjust enough tonight in setting this total above 220 points once again.  They combined for 210 points in Game 1, 209 in Game 2 and 212 points in Game 4.  I expect a similar result tonight here in Game 5 as these teams are now extremely familiar with one another, which only favors the defenses even more as this series goes on.  OKC is 8-1 UNDER in road games vs. teams who outscore their opponents by 9-plus points per game this season.  The UNDER is 4-0 in Thunder's last 4 road games.  The UNDER is 7-2 in Thunder's last 9 conference finals games.  The UNDER is 19-7-1 in Warriors last 27 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.  The UNDER is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Golden State.  Take the UNDER.

7* Raptors/Cavs Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland -10.5

The Key: Home-court advantage has been huge all season long when the Raptors and Cavaliers have gotten together.  In fact, the home team is a perfect 7-0 SU & 7-0 ATS in seven meetings between Cleveland and Toronto dating back to the regular season.  The Cavs have won their 3 home meetings with the Raptors by an average of 24 points per game.  The Cavs are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games overall.  The Raptors have gone 0-4 ATS in their last four road games.  These three trends equate to a 16-0 angle backing the Cavaliers in Game 5 here tonight.  Take Cleveland.

7* Warriors/Thunder Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Golden State ML -110

The Key: This is essentially the series in my opinion.  Golden State must win to tie the series at 2-2 and regain home-court advantage, or this series is overall.  With their backs against the wall, look for the Warriors to come out with one of their best games of the season.  After all, they are 12-0 in games following a loss this season, and I expect them to be 13-0 in this situation after tonight.  It was critical that Draymond Green was not suspended, and he'll have a big bounce-back performance tonight to lead the way alongside Steph Curry.  Take Golden State.

7* Cavs/Raptors Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto +6.5

The Key: The Toronto Raptors have one of the most underrated home-court advantages in the NBA.  They are 39-11 at home this season, and they rolled to a 15-point victory over the Cavaliers in Game 3 at home on Saturday.  They are now 3-0 at home against the Cavaliers this season, yet they are 6.5-point dogs in Game 4.  Home-court advantage has been huge between these teams in recent meetings to say the least.  The home team is a perfect 6-0 ATS in the last 6 meetings.  That trends continues here tonight.  Take Toronto.

7* Warriors/Thunder *TOTAL* Annihilator on UNDER 220.5

The Key: The first two games of this series have stayed well UNDER the posted total, yet the oddsmakers have failed to adjust enough in Game 3 tonight.  They combined for 210 points in Game 1 and 209 points in Game 2.  The total for Game 3 has been set at 220.5, and I have a hard time seeing them combining for at least 210 points again, let alone 220.5.  Golden State is 21-10 UNDER in all playoff games over the last two seasons.  OKC is 12-3 UNDER off a road loss by 10 points or more over the last two years.  The UNDER is 6-1 in Warriors last 7 conference finals games.  The UNDER is 7-2 in Warriors last 9 road games.  The UNDER is 6-1 in Thunder last 7 conference finals games.  Take the UNDER.

7* Cavs/Raptors *TOTAL* Annihilator on UNDER 198.5

The Key: I certainly like backing the UNDER in playoff series as they get deeper into the series.  That's because teams become more familiar with each other, which favors the defenses.  The Raptors and Cavs combined for 199 points in Game 1 and then 197 in Game 2.  I look for that trend to continue and for Game 3 to be the lowest-scoring contest yet.  The UNDER is 48-23 in Cavaliers last 71 vs. Atlantic Division opponents.  The UNDER is 7-2 in Raptors last 9 vs. NBA Central Division opponents.  The UNDER is 21-5-1 in the last 27 meetings in Toronto.  Take the UNDER.

7* Raptors/Cavs Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto +13

The Key: The Toronto Raptors were clearly overmatched in Game 1 against Cleveland.  But they certainly had an excuse as they were coming off a grueling 7-game series against the Miami Heat, which concluded on Sunday.  They had to play the Cavs on Tuesday and had little time to prepare.  But look for them to make some adjustments in Game 2 now that they've seen the Cavs first-hand.  Dwayne Casey has made great adjustments all playoffs, and that is supported by the fact that the Raptors are 6-0 straight up following a loss this postseason.  Look for them to give the Cavs a run for their money here.  Cleveland is 1-9 ATS when covering the spread in at least 5 of its last 7 games this season.  Take Toronto.

7* Western Conference Finals GAME OF THE YEAR on Golden State Warriors -8.5

The Key: The Golden State Warriors aren't about to fall behind the Thunder 2-0.  They had an uncharacteristically bad second half in Game 1 where they were outscored by 19 points.  They started playing two much one-on-one, and it cost them.  Look for the Warriors to get back to playing team basketball for four quarters like they did in the first half to build a double-digit lead.  I fully expect the Warriors to cruise to a double-digit victory in Game 2 here tonight thanks to the adjustments from Steve Kerr.  The Warriors haven't lost two straight games all season.  They are 25-10 ATS in their last 35 games when revenging a loss.  Take Golden State.

7* Raptors/Cavs Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Cleveland -11

The Key: The Cleveland Cavaliers have everything working in their favor heading into Game 1 Tuesday.  They have had 9 days off following back-to-back sweeps of the Pistons and Hawks.  Now they face a Raptors team that just played a grueling Game 7 against the Miami Heat on Sunday and has had only one day off to rest.  The Cavaliers throttled the Raptors by 22 in their only home meeting this season.  The Raptors are just 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games and stand little chance of keeping Game 1 competitive given the situation.  They are also without Jonas Valanciunas, who is arguably their most important player.  Take Cleveland.

7* Thunder/Warriors Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Golden State -7.5

The Key: The Golden State Warriors have owned the Oklahoma City Thunder this season, and I expect that to continue in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.  The Warriors are 3-0 against the Thunder this season, winning by an average of 11.5 points per game in their two home meetings.  The beat the Rockets by 26 in Game 1 at home and the Blazers by 12 in Game 1 at home.  Considering the Warriors are 45-2 at home and winning by 14.6 points per game this season, getting them as only 7.5-point favorites is a reasonable discount.  The Warriors are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 home games.  Take Golden State.

7* Heat/Raptors Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Miami +4.5

The Key: The Miami Heat are a veteran bunch with Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng and Joe Johnson among others.  They have played their fair share of Game 7's before, and they certainly won't crumble under the pressure.  I don't believe the same can be said for the Raptors, who are 4-13 ATS in their last 17 playoff games and just seem to fall short of expectations every year in the postseason.  The Heat already came back from a 3-2 deficit to beat the Hornets last series, and I believe they'll pull off the same feat here against the Raptors after dominating from start to finish in Game 6.  Take Miami.

7* Raptors/Heat NBA 2nd Round GAME OF THE YEAR on Miami -4

The Key: The Miami Heat are in must-win mode here in Game 6 to avoid elimination.  They were in the same predicament last series against the Hornets, down 3-2 needing to win their final two games, and that's precisely what they did.  They certainly have shown they have the intestinal fortitude to pull it off, and I look for them to win Game 6 and cover this small 4-point spread in the process.  The Heat have been great at home all season with a 32-15 record.  They are also a superb 10-2 ATS in their last 12 home games.  Take Miami.

7* Spurs/Thunder *TOTAL* Annihilator on UNDER 195.5

The Key: This series continues to get lower-scoring as the series progresses and the Spurs and Thunder get more familiar with one another.  We've seen 3 of the last 4 games finish with 196 or fewer combined points, including a series-low 186 points in Game 5.  I look for a similar total in Game 6 tonight as this will be yet another defensive battle.  San Antonio is 27-12 UNDER off an ATS loss this season.  Oklahoma City is 8-1 UNDER in home games when playing 4 or less games in 10 days this season.  The UNDER is 14-3 in Spurs last 17 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  The UNDER is 7-2 in Thunder last 9 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.  The UNDER is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings in Oklahoma City.  Take the UNDER.

7* Blazers/Warriors Western Conference *BAILOUT* on Portland +13

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers could easily be up 3-1 in this series instead of down 3-1.  They blew a double-digit lead in the 4th quarter of Game 2, won Game 3 by 12, and led most of the way in Game 4 before losing in overtime behind heroics from Steph Curry.  But after that Game 4 performance from Curry, the Warriors are way overvalued here heading into Game 5.  They will have a very hard time putting away the Blazers by 13-plus points, especially since I expect Curry to play more limited minutes here.  The only reason he played 36 minutes in Game 4 when he was supposed to play 25 was because Shaun Livingston got ejected in the 1st half.  Steve Kerr will be much more cautious with Curry tonight.  I also like the mindset of the Blazers and Damian Lillard, who has stated that the Blazers aren't going to just lay down now.  Portland is 8-1 ATS after playing 4 consecutive games as a dog this season.  The Blazers are 12-4 ATS after having lost 3 of their last 4 games this season.  Bets on any team after leading their last 2 games by 10-plus points at the half against opponent after scoring 105 points or more in 3 straight games are 52-21 ATS since 1996.  Take Portland.

7* Thunder/Spurs *TOTAL* Annihilator on UNDER 199.5

The Key: After combined scores of 195 and 196 in Games 2 and 3, the Spurs and Thunder combined for 208 points in Game 4.  But the Thunder shot 50.6% in that contest and the Spurs 47.1%, and that won't happen again in Game 5.  The series is pretty much on the line in this game tonight, so look for the defensive intensity to be very high.  Also, these teams are now so familiar with each other that scoring will be at a premium.  The Spurs only give up 90.4 points per game at home this year.  The UNDER is 12-3 in Thunder's last 15 games off two straight games where they made 9 or more 3-point shots.  The UNDER is 5-1 in Spurs last 6 home games.  The UNDER is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.  Take the UNDER.

7* Raptors/Heat Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Miami -5

The Key: Miami is essentially in a must-win situation here in Game 4 to avoid falling behind 3-1 in this series.  The Heat got a huge break when arguably Toronto's most important player in Jonas Valanciunas got injured in Game 3 and will likely miss the rest of the postseason.  The Raptors don't have an inside presence to replace Valanciunas' scoring and he will be missed badly.  This game will be played small ball style, and the Heat have proven they can play small and be very effective.  Miami is 16-7 ATS after having lost 2 of its last 3 games this season.  The Heat are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 home games.  Take Miami.

7* Spurs/Thunder *TOTAL* Annihilator on UNDER 198.5

The Key: The last two games in this series have gone UNDER 198.5 points.  The Spurs and Thunder combined for 195 points in Game 2 and 196 points in Game 3.  Now that they are even more familiar with one another, I look for Game 4 to actually be the lowest-scoring game of this series yet.  Oklahoma City is 8-0 UNDER in home games when playing 4 or less games in 10 days this season.  The UNDER is 14-2 in Spurs last 16 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.  The UNDER is 6-1 in Thunder last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.  The UNDER is 9-2 in the last 11 meetings in OKC, and 5-1 in the last 6 meetings overall.  Take the UNDER.

7* Raptors/Heat Game 3 *TOTAL* Annihilator on UNDER 187.5

The Key: The Heat and Raptors have somehow managed to go to overtime in three straight games dating back to the regular season.  The first two games of this series were extremely low-scoring in regulation.  They combined for 180 points at the end of regulation in Game 1, and 172 points at the end of regulation in Game 2.  I look for Game 3 to take a similar pattern and to stay well UNDER the posted total of 187.5, obviously assuming they don't go to OT for a 4th consecutive time.  The UNDER is 6-0 in Raptors last six road games.  The UNDER is 6-1 in Heat last seven games overall.  Take the UNDER.

7* Spurs/Thunder Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on San Antonio -2

The Key: The San Antonio Spurs won Game 1 by 32 points before getting upset 98-97 in Game 2 thanks to some controversy for the refs.  I fully expect the Spurs to take Game 3 and regain home-court advantage in this series.  They are clearly the better team and have the Thunder figured out.  The Spurs are 9-1 ATS revenging a straight up loss vs. opponent as a favorite of 7 or more over the last 2 seasons.  San Antonio is 9-1 ATS off a close loss by 3 points or less over the last 2 seasons.  Take San Antonio.

7* Heat/Raptors Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto -4.5

The Key: The Toronto Raptors lost Game 1 in overtime at home and now are looking at this Game 2 against the Miami Heat as a must-win.  3-point shooting was their demise in Game 1 as they shot 23.8% while the Heat shot a scoring 72.7%.  That's unlikely to happen again.  After all, the Raptors were 3-0 in their final three meetings with the Heat in the regular season, outscoring them by a whopping 14.0 points per game in the process.  So I still believe this to be a great matchup for them, and I think that will show in Game 2 as they want this one more.  The Heat are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 road games in the 2nd half of the season against teams who outscore the opposition by 3 or more points per game.  Take Toronto.

7* Hawks/Cavs Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Atlanta +7.5

The Key: The Atlanta Hawks gave the Cleveland Cavaliers all they could handle in Game 1.  They even had the lead in that game down the stretch but couldn't close the deal despite shooting under 38% from the field for the game.  After an off shooting night, look for the Hawks to be more on target in Game 2.  They will take this game down to the wire and cover the 7.5 tonight.  Atlanta is 16-6 ATS revenging two straight losses where opponent scored 100 points or more over the last 2 seasons.  Cleveland is 10-19 ATS after 3 or more consecutive wins this season.  Take Atlanta.

7* Blazers/Warriors Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Portland +10

The Key: I expect the Portland Trail Blazers to rebound nicely following their 12-point loss in Game 1 to the Warriors. They were at a serious disadvantage in Game 1 because they were playing on just 1.5 days of rest, while the Warriors had four days off in between games.  But now it's much more even and the Blazers will stay within single-digits of the Warriors as a result in Game 2.  To only lost by 12 points despite shooting only 40.2% from the floor is actually quite an accomplishment.  Look for them to be more on target in Game 2 and to get off to a much better start than they did in Game 1.  The Blazers are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games after a loss by more than 10 points.  Take Portland.

7* Thunder/Spurs Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Oklahoma City +8

The Key: The Oklahoma City Thunder will show a lot more fight in Game 2 knowing that they do not want to go down 0-2 in this series if they want to win it.  The Spurs couldn't miss in Game 1 as they shot over 60% from the field behind a combined 34-of-43 shooting from the trio of LaMarcus Aldridge, Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green.  These teams actually split the regular season series 2-2 with the Thunder not losing by more than 8 points in any of the four games, so their 32-point loss in Game 1 certainly came out of nowhere.  I look for the Thunder to make this game much more competitive and to have a chance to win in the end thanks to some key adjustments from head coach Billy Donovan.  Take Oklahoma City.

7* Blazers/Warriors Game 1 *TOTAL* Annihilator on UNDER 208.5

The Key: With no Steph Curry, the Golden State Warriors have had to win with defense in the playoffs up to this point.  They held the high-octane Houston Rockets to an average of only 91.2 points per game last series.  Now they're going to make it tough on the Blazers in this series as well, starting with Game 1.  It's also worth noting the Blazers held the Clippers to 98 or fewer points in 3 of their 6 games.  This will certainly be a defensive battle today folks.  Bets on the UNDER on home teams when the total 200 or more, an excellent offensive team that averages at least 102 points per game against a bad defensive team that gives up at least 102 points per game, after scorign 55 points or more in the first half of 2 straight games are 74-33 over the last 5 seasons.  Take the UNDER.

 7* Thunder/Spurs Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Oklahoma City +7

The Key:  The Thunder have played the Spurs tough this season. The season series is 2-2 with the Thunder only lost once by more than this 7-point margin.  I think they'll give the Spurs a run today and stay within this 7-point spread in Game 1.  Take Oklahoma City.

7* Raptors/Pacers *TOTAL* Annihilator on UNDER 194

The Key: When you look at how this series has played out, there's a lot to like about the UNDER in Game 6 tonight.  The UNDER went 4-0 in their first four games before going over the total in Game 5.  They have combined for 190 or fewer points in 4 of the 5 games thus far.  They have averaged only 189 combined points per game in this series, so there's clearly value with the UNDER in Game 6.  Indiana is 9-1 UNDER in home games when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 70%) this season.  Indiana is 10-1 UNDER after scoring 60 points or more in the first half last game this season.  The UNDER is 5-0 in Raptors last 5 road games.  Take this combined 24-2 angle backing the UNDER straight to the bank tonight.  Take the UNDER.

6* Hawks/Celtics Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Boston +2

The Key: The Boston Celtics are one of the most resilient teams in the NBA.  They got blown out on the road in Game 5, but I have no doubt they'll show tremendous character and find a way to win Game 6 at home.  After all, the home team is 5-0 in this series.  The Hawks haven't won a playoff series against the Celtics since 1958.  Atlanta has also dropped 10 consecutive postseason games in Boston dating back to 1988.  It has gone 2-27 in its last 29 trips to Boston in the playoffs.  Atlanta is 16-35 ATS in its last 51 playoff road games, and 10-24 ATS in its last 34 first round playoff road games.  Boston is 15-5 ATS revenging a road loss of 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.  The Hawks are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 road games overall.  Take Boston.

7* Blazers/Clippers Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Los Angeles +3.5

The Key: Doc Rivers is one of the few coaches who could get his team to respond following the loss of two stars like Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.  He's going to play the 'everyone is counting you out' card to his players, and I look for them to respond in a big way at home tonight.  The Clippers actually showed off their depth at the end of the regular season as they kept winning despite resting their starters.  ChrisPaul controls the Clippers' offense like few others in the NBA. However, they installed a motion offense for when Paul wasn't on the floor this season, freeing up Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers while letting anyone else get the ball moving.  ''We were very effective at it,'' Doc Rivers said. ''Thank God we did that because now playing without him we'll be in motion for 48 minutes.''  Bets on home underdogs off an upset loss as a road favorite, good team winning between 60% and 75% of their games on the season are 23-5 ATS since 1996.  Take Los Angeles.

7* Celtics/Hawks Game 5 *TOTAL* Annihilator on UNDER 198

The Key: The Boston Celtics have shot 36.3% and 31.8% in their first two games in Atlanta in this series.  The Hawks have only been slightly better, shooting 40.7% and 39.0%, respectively.  Look for a very low-scoring contest in Game 5 similar to Game 2 when these teams only combined for 161 points.  Now very familiar with one another, this is sure to be a defensive battle.  Atlanta is 11-2 UNDER in home playoff games over the last 3 seasons.  The UNDER is 11-1 in Celtics last 12 games following an ATS win.  The UNDER is 11-5 in the last 16 meetings in Atlanta.  Take the UNDER.

7* NBA 1st Round TOTAL OF THE YEAR on Blazers/Clippers UNDER 205.5

The Key: After combining for 210 points in Game 1, the last two games of this series have been extremely low scoring as these teams have become more familiar with one another, which has clearly favored the defenses.  They combined for 183 points in Game 2 and 184 points in Game 3.  Now the total is set at 205.5 for Game 4, which is more than 20 points more than they combined for the past two games.  This is about as easy as it gets ladies and gents as this game will stay well UNDER the posted total as well.  Five of the last seven meetings have seen 193 or fewer combined points also.  The Clippers are 14-6 UNDER revenging a loss vs. opponent this season.  Los Angeles is 9-0 UNDER versus good 3-point shooting teams who make 36% or more of their attempts in the 2nd half of the season this season.  The Clippers are 10-1 UNDER versus teams who average 7 or fewer steals per game in the 2nd half of the season this season.  The UNDER is 35-17 in Clippers last 52 games following a straight up loss.  Take the UNDER.

7* Cavs/Pistons Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Detroit +6.5

The Key: It should be a crime that the Pistons are down 0-3 in this series.  They have had their chances in every game, but have ultimately come up short in the 4th quarter each time.  This is far from the blowout of a series that this 3-0 deficit would indicate.  I look for the Pistons to play with some pride and avoid the sweep today and win outright, but we'll take the points for some insurance.  Detroit is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) in home games revenging a loss vs opponent of 10 points or more this season.  Cleveland is 8-20 ATS (-14.0 Units) after 2 straight wins by 10 points or more over the last 3 seasons.  Take Detroit Sunday.

7* Raptors/Pacers Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Indiana +1.5

The Key: This is a must-win game for the Indiana Pacers tonight as they know they cannot afford to fall behind 3-1 to the Raptors if they want to win this series.  Paul George was disappointed in his team's effort in Game 3, and look for him to now take it upon himself to lead this team to victory in Game 4.  The Pacers are a very good home team as they went 26-15 in Indiana during the regular season.  Toronto is 4-14 ATS after covering 5 or 6 of their last 7 against the spread over the last 2 seasons.  Indiana is 14-4 ATS after trailing in their previous game by 15 or more points at the half over the last 3 seasons.  The Raptors are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 Conference Quarterfinals games. The Pacers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up loss.  Take Indiana.

7* Cavs/Pistons Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Detroit +5

The Key: The Detroit Pistons have largely outplayed the Cleveland Cavaliers for the majority of this series, but they find themselves in an 0-2 hole.  They held the halftime lead in Game 1 and led by 5 in the 3rd quarter of Game 2, but lost both contests.  The Cavs made 20 3-pointers in Game 2, which isn't going to happen again.  Now the Pistons get to play at home in Game 3 and will get a victory to get back in this series.  The Pistons went 26-15 SU & 24-15-2 ATS at home this season, outscoring opponents by 5.0 points per game.  Cleveland is 3-15 ATS in its last 18 road games after scoring 100 points or more in 5 straight games.  The Pistons are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.  Take Detroit.

7* Thunder/Mavs Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Oklahoma City -8.5

The Key: After getting upset in Game 2 and losing home-court advantage, look for the Oklahoma City Thunder to gain back that home court in a big way tonight.  They could not have played worse in Game 2, particularly Kevin Durant, who went 7 for 33.  His 26 misses shots were tied with Michael Jordan for the most ever in a playoff game.  He and his teammates have been seeing all of the negative headlines in the media, and that's only going to fuel their fire heading into Game 3.  This one will be over after the first quarter folks as the supremely talented Thunder play up to their potential off that loss.  The Thunder have won 3 of their last 5 meetings with the Mavs by 13 or more points.  They have outscored the Mavs by a total of 72 points over those 5 games, or by an average of 14.4 points per game. Take Oklahoma City.

7* Pistons/Cavs Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Detroit +10.5

The Key: The Detroit Pistons have played the Cleveland Cavaliers extremely tough this season.  After winning the season series 3-1, they held their own in Game 1 while only losing by 5 points.  Now they are a double-digit underdog once again when they shouldn't be, and we'll take advantage.  Cleveland is 26-54-1 ATS in its last 81 games vs. division opponents.  The Cavs are also 1-11 ATS this season against teams who average 7 or less steals per game.  Take Detroit.

7* Grizzlies/Spurs Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Memphis +18

The Key: Without question, Game 1 of Spurs/Grizzlies was not pretty for Memphis.  They lost 106-74 and looked like they never stood a chance.  However, I have little doubt they'll put forth a much better effort in Game 2, and it will be enough to stay within this massive 18-point spread.  We saw the short-handed Mavs pull the upset over the Thunder as 14-point dogs yesterday.  I'm not calling for the upset here, but definitely see it going down to the wire.  Memphis is 13-3 ATS in its last 16 road games when revenging a road blowout loss of 20 points or more.  Take Memphis.

7* Pacers/Raptors Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto -7

The Key: After losing Game 1 to the Pacers, the Raptors are now desperate for a win in Game 2.  I look for them to put the pedal to the metal for four quarters and to blow the Pacers out of the building.  I also expect the Pacers to take their foot off the gas after winning Game 1 and earning home-court advantage, which had to be their goal leaving Toronto.  Indiana is 1-11 ATS in its last 12 games following two or more consecutive upset wins as road underdogs.  Take Toronto.

6* Grizzlies/Spurs Western Conference *CA$H COW* on Memphis +15.5

The Key: Everyone is writing the Grizzlies off in this series, which has created some nice line value in Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs.  They are getting 15.5-points, making them the biggest underdogs in all of the Game 1's.  The Grizzlies were swept by the Spurs in the regular season, but they played a lot tougher in both meetings in San Antonio.  They lost both those meetings by 8 and 6 points.  They've only lost one of their last seven meetings in San Antonio by more than 14 points.  Memphis is 7-0 ATS in road games off a combined score of 215 points or more this season.  The Grizzlies are 11-2 ATS off two or more consecutive ATS losses this season.  The Grizzlies are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games playing on 3 or more days rest.  The Spurs are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games overall, and 0-5 ATS in their last 5 home games.  Take Memphis.

7* Pistons/Cavs Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Detroit +11

The Key: The Detroit Pistons showed during the regular season that they could hang with the Cleveland Cavaliers.  In fact, they went 3-1 against Cleveland this season and won both road meetings outright as underdogs.  That's why it makes no sense that the Cavs are laying 11 points in Game 1.  The Pistons present all kinds of matchup problems for the Cavaliers, and it starts with Andre Drummond, who Cleveland simply does not have an answer for inside.  He'll dominate the boards as he always does and create extra, crucial possessions for the Pistons all series long.  Cleveland is 26-53-1 ATS in its last 80 games against division opponents.  The Pistons are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 trips to Cleveland.  Take Detroit.

7* Mavs/Thunder Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Dallas +12

The Key: The Thunder did sweep the season series with the Mavericks, but I believe that has them overvalued coming into Game 1.  They won those four meetings by an average of 9.5 points per game.  Now we're getting 12 points with the Mavericks, who should put up more of a fight than oddsmakers and the betting public are anticipating.  Dallas is 19-6 ATS vs. teams who outrebound opponents by 3-plus boards per game over the last 3 seasons.  The Mavs are 277-208 ATS in their last 485 games as a road underdog.  Dallas is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games following an ATS loss.  The Mavs are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games.  The road team is 35-16-2 ATS in the last 53 meetings. The Mavericks are 19-7-1 ATS in the last 27 meetings in Oklahoma City.  Take Dallas.

7* NBA Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Sacramento Kings +15

The Key: This is a must-win situation for the Houston Rockets, who would clinch a playoff spot with a win today.  The oddsmakers know that the betting public is only going to back the Rockets in this game, so they have simply been forced to inflate this number.  I believe there's a ton of value with the Kings, who have not quit.  That is evidenced by the fact that they are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall despite resting some of their starters here down the stretch.  Take Sacramento.

7* Thunder/Spurs Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Oklahoma City +9.5

The Key: The San Antonio Spurs are in a huge letdown spot here tonight.  They are coming off a home loss to the Golden State Warriors, their first home loss of the season.  They will now suffer a hangover against the Oklahoma City Thunder today.  Yes, the Thunder are resting their starters, but they're still good enough with what they have to stay within this 9.5-point spread.  San Antonio is 7-20 ATS (-15.0 Units) versus up-tempo teams averaging 83 or more shots/game - 2nd half of the season this season.  Take Oklahoma City.

7* NBA Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Minnesota Timberwolves +3.5

The Key: The Timberwolves are playing their best basketball of the season right now and making life very difficult for playoff contenders.  They are 3-0 SU & 3-0 ATS in their last three games overall, all three of which came on the road.  They even beat the record-setting Golden State Warriors, while also topping the Kings and Blazers.  Now they have their sights set on wrecking Houston's season.  I like their chances to do so considering they come in on a day of rest, while Houston will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and its 4th game in 6 days.  The Rockets lost back-to-back games to the Mavs and Suns before beating the terrible Lakers yesterday.  Houston is 10-21 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points this season.  The Rockets are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.  The Rockets are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.  The Timberwolves are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games playing on 1 days rest.  The Rockets are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 0 days rest.  Take Minnesota.

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Dallas Mavericks +5.5

The Key: The Dallas Mavericks have won a season-high six straight to play their best basketball of the season down the stretch.  Now they find themselves just one win away from clinching a playoff spot, and they'll be hungry to do so tonight against the Clippers. Los Angeles has rested its starters in recent games and won't be interested in playing its starters here either given that it is locked in to the No. 4 seed in the West.  That's why I believe the wrong teams is favored here in a game that the Mavs clearly need more.  The Clippers are 13-27 ATS in home games off 3 or more consecutive wins over the last 3 seasons.  The Mavericks are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.  The Mavs are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 road games.  Take Dallas.

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Phoenix Suns -1.5

The Key: The Phoenix Suns had yesterday off following their 124-115 win over the Houston Rockets on Thursday.  The same cannot be said for the New Orleans Pelicans, who played last night in a 110-102 home win over the Lakers.  So not only will the Pelicans be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back, they'll also be playing their 4th game in 5 days.  That's a tough spot for a team that is missing the likes of Norris Cole, Anthony Davis, Ryan Anderson, Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday and Alonzo Gee.  The Suns will put it to the short-handed Pelicans tonight in this awful spot for New Orleans.  The Pelicans are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 Saturday games.  Take Phoenix.

7* NBA Eastern Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Philadelphia 76ers +2

The Key: The Philadelphia 76ers are coming off a 107-93 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.  Now they are a home underdog to the New York Knicks, who appear to have quit on their season.  The Knicks have lost five of their last six coming in with their only win coming at home over the Nets.  They lost 97-111 at home to the Hornets in their last contest.  The 76ers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall and will continue to be a nice bet tonight.  The 76ers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.  Take Philadelphia.

7* Spurs/Warriors TNT *HEAVY HITTER* on Golden State -7

The Key: After losing two of their last three home games, the Golden State Warriors need to win out to beat the Bulls' record of 72 wins.  It starts tonight against the San Antonio Spurs.  You know the Warriors will be going all-out to try and get the win, but the same cannot be said for the Spurs.  Greg Popovich has already hinted at resting his starters in both meetings with the Warriors left because the Spurs simply have nothing to play for as they are locked into the No. 2 seed.  They also don't want to show the Warriors anything for the playoffs.  Golden State is 22-10 ATS revenging a loss vs opponent over the last 2 seasons.  The Spurs are 2-12 ATS in their last 14 games following a straight up win.  The Warriors are 8-0 ATS in their last 8 Thursday games.  Take Golden State.

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Los Angeles Lakers +10

The Key: This is a great spot to back the Lakers.  This is a home-and-home situation after these teams just played last night with the Clippers jumping out to a 20-2 lead and rolling to a 103-81 victory.  But look for the Lakers to fight back tonight, and for the Clippers to rest their starters as they have nothing to gain by winning this game.  They certainly won't be motivated to play it after beating the Lakers last night.  The Clippers are 6-19 ATS in their last 25 games off a division win by 20 or more points.  The Lakers are 15-5 ATS off a game with 15 or fewer assists this season.  The Lakers are 8-1 ATS off a game where they made 35% of their shots or worse this season.  Take the Lakers.

7* Lakers/Clippers Western Conference *BAILOUT* on Lakers +15

The Key: The Los Angeles Lakers will give the Los Angeles Clippers a run for their money tonight.  The thing is that the Clippers have nothing to play for since they are locked in to the No. 4 seed.  So to make them favored by 15 points here is absolutely insane.  The Lakers have shown some nice fight here of late with a 102-100 victory over Miami as 10.5-point dogs and a 100-107 loss to Boston as 9-point dogs in their last two games.  The Clippers rested their starters against OKC two games ago and barely beat the Wizards 114-109 at home with their starters last game.  They won't be pushing their starters in this one, though.  The Clippers are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.  The Clippers are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.  The Clippers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.  Take the Lakers.

7* NBA Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Washington Wizards +7

The Key: The Washington Wizards are showing solid value as 7-point underdogs to the Los Angeles Clippers Sunday.  They are still holding out slim hopes of making the playoffs as they are 3 games back of No. 8 Indiana.  They will continue to fight until they are eliminated.  Meanwhile, the Clippers have nothing to play for as they are locked in to the No. 4 seed in the West.  They even rested all of their starters last time out and are not interested in winning any of the remainder of their games.  The Wizards are 19-6 ATS in April games over the last 3 seasons.  Take Washington.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Chicago Bulls -1.5

The Key: The Chicago Bulls are showing solid value as only 1.5-point favorites over the Detroit Pistons today.  The Bulls are only one game behind the Pacers for 8th place in the East.  They also trail the Pistons, who just lost to the Mavs yesterday and now will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back.  The circumstances make this a great spot to back the Bulls at this short number at home.  Take Chicago.

7* NBA TOTAL OF THE MONTH on Celtics/Warriors UNDER 222

The Key: The Celtics and Warriors both have a lot to play for right now, so the defensive intensity should be high in this game.  These teams met earlier this season with the Warriors winning 124-119 in double-overtime.  But that game was tied 103-103 at the end of regulation for 206 combined points.  That's about the same output I expect tonight at the end of regulation as this game stays well below the 222-point total.  Boston is 14-3 UNDER in road games revenging a loss where opponent scored 110 or more points over the last 2 seasons.  The UNDER is 5-0 in Celtics last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.  Take the UNDER.

7* Celtics/Blazers Non-Conference *BAILOUT* on Boston +3.5

The Key: The Boston Celtics come in fresh and ready to go tonight.  They have had two days off, and now they are looking for a strong finish to the season to try and secure home-court advantage in the first round.  The Celtics are currently in 4th place, tied with 5th place Charlotte and 6th place Miami at 43-31.  They are also one game behind 3rd place Atlanta.  So, essentially there's one game separating the 3-6 seeds.  The Celtics want home court in that first round.  Bets on road dogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points who score 103 or more points on the season, after trailing in their previous game by 15 points or more at the half are 38-13 ATS since 1996.  The Celtics are 10-1 ATS vs. teams who win 51% to 60% of their games in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.  Take Boston.