Wednesday's Tip Sheet
December 20, 2017
Game of the Night: Lakers at Rockets ? 8:05 PM EST
Houston (25-4 SU, 16-12-1 ATS) became the fastest team to 25 victories this season as the Rockets rallied past the Jazz on Monday, 120-99. After trailing by five points heading into the final quarter, Houston silenced Utah with a 41-15 fourth quarter spurt to easily cash as 12-point favorites. Eric Gordon drilled seven three-pointers off the bench to lead Houston with 33 points, while big man Clint Capela posted a solid 24-point, 20-rebound effort for the Rockets, who won their 14th consecutive game.
The Lakers (10-18 SU, 14-14 ATS) dropped their third straight game on Monday, falling in overtime to the Warriors, 116-114. Los Angeles managed a cover as 5 ?-point home underdogs, as the Lakers held the banged-up Warriors to 40% shooting from the floor. In spite of the defeat, the Lakers improved to 4-1 ATS in the past five games, while cashing the OVER in three consecutive contests.
This series has been all Rockets since January 2015 as Houston owns an 8-1 SU/ATS record in the past nine matchups with Los Angeles. The Rockets ripped the Lakers at Staples Center on December 3 as 12-point favorites, 118-95, led by James Harden?s 36 points. Lakers? rookie guard Lonzo Ball was held to two points in 22 minutes of action, while his counterpart, Chris Paul put up 21 points in his first appearance at Staples Center since getting traded from the Clippers in the offseason.
Blazin? Home
At one point this season, the Blazers (16-14 SU, 14-13-3 ATS) stumbled to a 2-8-1 ATS stretch over 11 games in late October through mid-November. Portland is currently riding a 6-0 ATS run after covering all five games on its recent road trip. The Blazers finished 3-2 after dropping a one-point decision at Minnesota on Monday, but Portland cashed as 4 ?-point underdogs to cover its seventh straight game away from the Moda Center.
Portland faces San Antonio for the first time this season after splitting four games with the Spurs last season. The Spurs (21-10 SU, 15-15-1 ATS) rebounded from a blowout loss at Houston to win consecutive home games over the Mavericks and Clippers. Gregg Popovich?s squad has hit the UNDER in 11 of 14 road contests this season, while the Spurs have scored less than 100 points in nine of the past 12 road games. However, the Spurs will be without their top player as Kawhi Leonard will sit to rest his quad injury.
Not Feeling OK
The Thunder (15-15 SU, 10-20 ATS) managed another close victory on Monday by rallying past the Nuggets, 95-94, but Oklahoma City failed to cash as five-point favorites. OKC dropped to 4-19 ATS this season as a single-digit favorite, as the Thunder will be in that pointspread situation on Wednesday against Utah. Billy Donovan?s team has won eight of their last 10 home contests, but the Thunder have slipped to 0-6 ATS in their last six opportunities as a home favorite.
A rough six-game road swing for the Jazz (14-17 SU, 17-14 ATS) comes to an end on Wednesday, two nights after getting chased in the fourth quarter at Houston. Utah fell to 3-12 on the road following that 21-point setback at the Toyota Center, while cashing the OVER for the fourth time on this road trip. The Jazz and Thunder have split a pair of games this season with the home team winning each time as Utah has lost 13 consecutive visits to Chesapeake Energy Arena since 2011.
Hitting the Highway
Following an up and down homestand, the Wolves (18-13 SU, 12-17-2 ATS) begin a three-game road swing at Denver. Only one the past five games for Minnesota was decided by double-digits, as the Wolves split four contests that were decided by six points or less. After getting tripped up by the Suns as 12-point favorites, the Wolves rebounded by edging the Blazers, 108-107 as 4 ?-point favorites on Monday. Jimmy Butler led Minnesota with 37 points as the Wolves slipped to 2-6 ATS the last eight games.
Denver (16-14 SU, 13-16-1 ATS) has excelled at home this season by winning 11 of 13 games at Pepsi Center, including eight in a row. The Nuggets couldn?t hold onto a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter of Monday?s one-point setback at Oklahoma City, but Denver covered to improve to 4-1-1 ATS the last six games. Denver and Minnesota split four meetings last season, while all four games finished UNDER the total.
Seventh Heaven?
Two weeks ago, the Bulls (9-20 SU, 16-12-1 ATS) owned a dreadful 3-20 record. Chicago has turned things around recently by winning six consecutive games, while covering seven straight overall. During this six-game hot stretch, Chicago has won four times at the United Center, including underdog victories over Philadelphia, Utah, Boston, and New York.
The Bulls welcome in the struggling Magic (11-20 SU, 12-18-1 ATS), who have dropped five in a row and 16 of their past 19 games. Orlando picked up a backdoor cover in Sunday?s 114-110 setback at Detroit as 8 ?-point underdogs, snapping a six-game ATS slide. Frank Vogel?s squad owns a horrific 1-10 record the past 11 games on the highway, while looking to avenge a 22-point home loss to Chicago on November 3.
Comeback Kids
The Celtics (26-7 SU, 21-10-2 ATS) jumped out to big leads in each of their last two games on the road only to see those advantages disappear. Boston pulled away from Memphis on Saturday, 102-93, while blowing a 19-point edge on Monday at Indiana. However, the Celtics rallied from a five-point deficit in the final 30 seconds to stun the Pacers, 112-111, but Boston failed to cash as 2 ?-point favorites. Boston has slumped to a 3-6-1 ATS record the last 10 games as the C?s try to avenge a November loss to Miami.
Last month, the Heat (15-15 SU, 11-17-2 ATS) ended Boston?s 16-game winning streak as Miami ventures to TD Garden tonight. The short-handed Heat fell to the Hawks on Monday, 110-104 as point guard Goran Dragic and forward Justise Winslow were sidelined due to injury. In two visits to Boston last season, the Heat lost each time, but picked up covers twice in the underdog role.
Fast Break
-- The Raptors have won nine of their past 10 games as they travel to Charlotte. The Hornets snapped a three-game skid in Monday?s blowout of the Knicks, as Charlotte lost at Toronto in its first meeting of the season, 126-113 as 7 ?-point underdogs in late November.
-- The Pacers and Hawks used to be an annual playoff matchup, but that isn?t the case anymore. Indiana has been a pleasant surprise at 17-14, but has dropped three of four since a four-game winning streak. Atlanta ended a four-game skid in Monday?s victory over Miami as the Hawks lost two of three meetings with the Pacers last season.
-- The Kings reached the 10-win mark in Tuesday?s six-point triumph at Philadelphia, improving their road record to 5-13. Sacramento travels to Brooklyn with no rest to face a Nets? squad that has lost three straight games. The road team won each of the two meetings between these clubs last season, including a 17-point blowout by Sacramento at Barclays Center.
-- The Pistons have turned things around since a seven-game skid by picking up three consecutive victories. Detroit heads to Dallas to face a Mavericks? team that has dropped six of seven, while riding a five-game UNDER streak. Each of the past five matchups between Detroit and Dallas have gone UNDER the total, while the Pistons swept the Mavericks last season.
-- Memphis seeks its second victory over Golden State this season after upsetting the Warriors, 111-101 as 8 ?-point underdogs on October 21. The Grizzlies haven?t been the same since Mike Conley?s injury by losing 17 of the past 19 games, including seven consecutive road setbacks. The Warriors slipped by the Lakers on Monday in overtime to improve to 9-0 in the past nine games as seven of those victories came on the road.
-- Past Golden State, the other four teams in the Pacific division all sit under the .500 mark. Two of those meet at Staples Center as the Clippers entertain the Suns. Phoenix is coming off consecutive wins at Minnesota and Dallas, while covering in seven of the past nine games. The Clippers dropped the last three games of their four-game road swing, as L.A. seeks its sixth consecutive win over the Suns since 2016.
December 20, 2017
Game of the Night: Lakers at Rockets ? 8:05 PM EST
Houston (25-4 SU, 16-12-1 ATS) became the fastest team to 25 victories this season as the Rockets rallied past the Jazz on Monday, 120-99. After trailing by five points heading into the final quarter, Houston silenced Utah with a 41-15 fourth quarter spurt to easily cash as 12-point favorites. Eric Gordon drilled seven three-pointers off the bench to lead Houston with 33 points, while big man Clint Capela posted a solid 24-point, 20-rebound effort for the Rockets, who won their 14th consecutive game.
The Lakers (10-18 SU, 14-14 ATS) dropped their third straight game on Monday, falling in overtime to the Warriors, 116-114. Los Angeles managed a cover as 5 ?-point home underdogs, as the Lakers held the banged-up Warriors to 40% shooting from the floor. In spite of the defeat, the Lakers improved to 4-1 ATS in the past five games, while cashing the OVER in three consecutive contests.
This series has been all Rockets since January 2015 as Houston owns an 8-1 SU/ATS record in the past nine matchups with Los Angeles. The Rockets ripped the Lakers at Staples Center on December 3 as 12-point favorites, 118-95, led by James Harden?s 36 points. Lakers? rookie guard Lonzo Ball was held to two points in 22 minutes of action, while his counterpart, Chris Paul put up 21 points in his first appearance at Staples Center since getting traded from the Clippers in the offseason.
Blazin? Home
At one point this season, the Blazers (16-14 SU, 14-13-3 ATS) stumbled to a 2-8-1 ATS stretch over 11 games in late October through mid-November. Portland is currently riding a 6-0 ATS run after covering all five games on its recent road trip. The Blazers finished 3-2 after dropping a one-point decision at Minnesota on Monday, but Portland cashed as 4 ?-point underdogs to cover its seventh straight game away from the Moda Center.
Portland faces San Antonio for the first time this season after splitting four games with the Spurs last season. The Spurs (21-10 SU, 15-15-1 ATS) rebounded from a blowout loss at Houston to win consecutive home games over the Mavericks and Clippers. Gregg Popovich?s squad has hit the UNDER in 11 of 14 road contests this season, while the Spurs have scored less than 100 points in nine of the past 12 road games. However, the Spurs will be without their top player as Kawhi Leonard will sit to rest his quad injury.
Not Feeling OK
The Thunder (15-15 SU, 10-20 ATS) managed another close victory on Monday by rallying past the Nuggets, 95-94, but Oklahoma City failed to cash as five-point favorites. OKC dropped to 4-19 ATS this season as a single-digit favorite, as the Thunder will be in that pointspread situation on Wednesday against Utah. Billy Donovan?s team has won eight of their last 10 home contests, but the Thunder have slipped to 0-6 ATS in their last six opportunities as a home favorite.
A rough six-game road swing for the Jazz (14-17 SU, 17-14 ATS) comes to an end on Wednesday, two nights after getting chased in the fourth quarter at Houston. Utah fell to 3-12 on the road following that 21-point setback at the Toyota Center, while cashing the OVER for the fourth time on this road trip. The Jazz and Thunder have split a pair of games this season with the home team winning each time as Utah has lost 13 consecutive visits to Chesapeake Energy Arena since 2011.
Hitting the Highway
Following an up and down homestand, the Wolves (18-13 SU, 12-17-2 ATS) begin a three-game road swing at Denver. Only one the past five games for Minnesota was decided by double-digits, as the Wolves split four contests that were decided by six points or less. After getting tripped up by the Suns as 12-point favorites, the Wolves rebounded by edging the Blazers, 108-107 as 4 ?-point favorites on Monday. Jimmy Butler led Minnesota with 37 points as the Wolves slipped to 2-6 ATS the last eight games.
Denver (16-14 SU, 13-16-1 ATS) has excelled at home this season by winning 11 of 13 games at Pepsi Center, including eight in a row. The Nuggets couldn?t hold onto a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter of Monday?s one-point setback at Oklahoma City, but Denver covered to improve to 4-1-1 ATS the last six games. Denver and Minnesota split four meetings last season, while all four games finished UNDER the total.
Seventh Heaven?
Two weeks ago, the Bulls (9-20 SU, 16-12-1 ATS) owned a dreadful 3-20 record. Chicago has turned things around recently by winning six consecutive games, while covering seven straight overall. During this six-game hot stretch, Chicago has won four times at the United Center, including underdog victories over Philadelphia, Utah, Boston, and New York.
The Bulls welcome in the struggling Magic (11-20 SU, 12-18-1 ATS), who have dropped five in a row and 16 of their past 19 games. Orlando picked up a backdoor cover in Sunday?s 114-110 setback at Detroit as 8 ?-point underdogs, snapping a six-game ATS slide. Frank Vogel?s squad owns a horrific 1-10 record the past 11 games on the highway, while looking to avenge a 22-point home loss to Chicago on November 3.
Comeback Kids
The Celtics (26-7 SU, 21-10-2 ATS) jumped out to big leads in each of their last two games on the road only to see those advantages disappear. Boston pulled away from Memphis on Saturday, 102-93, while blowing a 19-point edge on Monday at Indiana. However, the Celtics rallied from a five-point deficit in the final 30 seconds to stun the Pacers, 112-111, but Boston failed to cash as 2 ?-point favorites. Boston has slumped to a 3-6-1 ATS record the last 10 games as the C?s try to avenge a November loss to Miami.
Last month, the Heat (15-15 SU, 11-17-2 ATS) ended Boston?s 16-game winning streak as Miami ventures to TD Garden tonight. The short-handed Heat fell to the Hawks on Monday, 110-104 as point guard Goran Dragic and forward Justise Winslow were sidelined due to injury. In two visits to Boston last season, the Heat lost each time, but picked up covers twice in the underdog role.
Fast Break
-- The Raptors have won nine of their past 10 games as they travel to Charlotte. The Hornets snapped a three-game skid in Monday?s blowout of the Knicks, as Charlotte lost at Toronto in its first meeting of the season, 126-113 as 7 ?-point underdogs in late November.
-- The Pacers and Hawks used to be an annual playoff matchup, but that isn?t the case anymore. Indiana has been a pleasant surprise at 17-14, but has dropped three of four since a four-game winning streak. Atlanta ended a four-game skid in Monday?s victory over Miami as the Hawks lost two of three meetings with the Pacers last season.
-- The Kings reached the 10-win mark in Tuesday?s six-point triumph at Philadelphia, improving their road record to 5-13. Sacramento travels to Brooklyn with no rest to face a Nets? squad that has lost three straight games. The road team won each of the two meetings between these clubs last season, including a 17-point blowout by Sacramento at Barclays Center.
-- The Pistons have turned things around since a seven-game skid by picking up three consecutive victories. Detroit heads to Dallas to face a Mavericks? team that has dropped six of seven, while riding a five-game UNDER streak. Each of the past five matchups between Detroit and Dallas have gone UNDER the total, while the Pistons swept the Mavericks last season.
-- Memphis seeks its second victory over Golden State this season after upsetting the Warriors, 111-101 as 8 ?-point underdogs on October 21. The Grizzlies haven?t been the same since Mike Conley?s injury by losing 17 of the past 19 games, including seven consecutive road setbacks. The Warriors slipped by the Lakers on Monday in overtime to improve to 9-0 in the past nine games as seven of those victories came on the road.
-- Past Golden State, the other four teams in the Pacific division all sit under the .500 mark. Two of those meet at Staples Center as the Clippers entertain the Suns. Phoenix is coming off consecutive wins at Minnesota and Dallas, while covering in seven of the past nine games. The Clippers dropped the last three games of their four-game road swing, as L.A. seeks its sixth consecutive win over the Suns since 2016.
