The Los Angeles Clippers will be in Utah tonight to take on the Jazz, a team they have dominated, winning 9 of the last 10 meetings. The Clippers’ Blake Griffin has been clicking, averaging 26.8 points and 9.3 rebounds over his last 6 games. Utah is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games and are laying 8 points against a team they have trouble with. I’ll take the Clippers here and the 8 points.
Tonight’s pick:
Los Angeles Clippers +8
I like the Los Angeles Clippers’ chances to cover the 1.5 tonight when they play the New York Knicks at MSG. The Clippers have lost three in a row but have owned the Knickabockers. Los Angeles is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings with the Knicks, and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 trips to MSG. The Knicks have lost two in a row, and are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games. With all the trade rumors surrounding Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks’ chemistry just isn’t there.
Tonight’s pick:
Los Angeles Clippers -1.5
The Portland Trail Blazers and the Oklahoma City Thunder will square off in an early one today at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Trail Blazers are 22-29 on the season and 8-18 on the road, where they average 106.5 points per game and give up an average of 112.4. Portland is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 meetings with the Thunder and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 in OK City. The Thunder are 29-22 on the season and 17-7 at home, where they average 109.5 points per game and give up an average of 102.8. Russell Westbrook is a force at home, where he averages 31.4 points per game, 11.3 assists and 10.8 rebounds. The Thunder covers the number.
Today’s pick:
Oklahoma City Thunder -4.5
Toronto’s 5-game skid ended on Friday when the Raptors blew out the Milwaukee Bucks, 102-86, and that momentum should continue today when they host the 18-30 Orlando Magic at Air Canada Centre. DeRozan will probably sit again for the Rap but that shouldn’t matter. Toronto averages 112.7 at home and gives up an average of 103.1. On the flip side, Orlando is averaging 101.9 on the road and giving up 107.7. With or without DeRozan, the Raptors should cover.
Today’s pick:
Toronto Raptors -9
The Toronto Raptors have gone south, losing their last 5 games, but that should end tonight when they play host to the Milwaukee Bucks at Air Canada Centre. The Bucks are 8-13 on the road, where they average 99.9 points per game and are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games overall, 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games, and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 meetings with the Raptors. Toronto is 15-8 at home, where they average 113.2 points per game and blew out the Bucks in the last meeting on 12/12/16, 122-100 at Air Canada Centre. Even without their star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan, who will probably sit tonight due to an ankle sprain, Toronto should cover the number.
Tonight’s pick:
Toronto Raptors -5.5
The Sacramento Kings are playing the finale of a 7-game home stand and have been able to muster just 1 win in the first 6 games. After tonight, the Kings will be embarking on an 8-game road trip so a win at the Golden 1 Center would send them packing on a positive note. Turnovers have been the issue for Sac, giving it up 43 times in their last 2 games, and that is not good. Indiana struggles on the road, owning a record of 5-14, and they are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 meetings with the Kings. Sacramento averages 105.4 points per game at home and allows an average of 107.1. On the flip side, the Pacers put up an average of 103.9 on the road and allow an average of 110.6. If Sacramento keeps the turnovers to a minimum, they should get this one. The line is Sac -1.5, with a money line of just -125, so why sweat the hook?
Tonight’s pick:
Sacramento Kings – M/L
Now that the Memphis Grizzlies are healthy, they are starting to click, winners of their last 2, and will look to make it 3 when they travel to Amway Center tonight to take on the Orlando Magic. The Grizzlies are 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings with Orlando and the Magic are just 3-10-1 ATS in their last 14 home games. The line is Grizz -2, with a money line of -140. Why sweat the points?
Today’s pick:
Memphis Grizzlies -140
