THE SPORTS ADVISORS
NBA
Orlando (27-17, 29-15 ATS) at Detroit (30-13, 26-16-1 ATS)
Four days after ending their nine-game losing streak against the Pistons, the Magic have the chance to make it two in a row when the two square off at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Rashard Lewis hit the game-winner at the buzzer Monday lifting Orlando to a 102-100 victory as 2?-point underdogs, snapping Detroit?s stranglehold on the Magic. Despite Monday?s results, the road team has still dominated this series from a pointspread perspective, going 14-4-3 ATS in the last 2
Orlando followed up the victory over the Pistons with Wednesday?s 112-85 burial of the Grizzlies as a 3?-point chalk. Stan Van Gundy?s crew seems to be out of the funk it was in to start 2008, having won three in a row SU and ATS.
Detroit snapped a three-game SU and ATS losing skid by scoring an 86-78 victory at Philadelphia on Thursday, barely cashing as a seven-point favorite. The Pistons? offense has come up short lately, averaging just 92.6 points a game in the last five.
The Magic are on ATS streaks of 23-7-2 on the highway, 36-17-2 overall and 19-9-1 against Eastern Conference foes.
Detroit is on ATS runs of 8-2 at home, 21-8-1 overall, 13-3 when playing on one day of rest and 15-6 against Eastern Conference competition.
The over is 3-0 in the last three meetings overall, 8-0 in the last eight series clashes in Detroit and 10-4 in Orlando?s last 14 against Central Division foes. However, the under has been the play in seven of the Pistons? last 10 home tip-offs.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
Phoenix (30-13, 19-23-1 ATS) at Cleveland (23-18, 19-22 ATS)
The Suns head to Quicken Loans Arena, hoping to put an end to the Cavaliers? season-long five-game winning streak.
The Cavs destroyed the Wizards 121-85 as 4?-point favorites on Wednesday, thanks in large part to a perfect 10-for-10 field-goal night from center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who finished with 24 points. Cleveland?s offense has been the key to its recent surge (5-0 SU, 4-1 ATS), putting up 110.6 points per game in the last five while giving up 98.6.
Mike D?Antoni?s Suns? had their four-game SU and ATS winning streak halted Wednesday in Minnesota, falling 117-107 as eight-point favorites.
Phoenix has won 14 of 17 against the Cavs, including a 103-92 home win as eight-point favorites back on Nov. 4. The Suns are 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS in the last 10 against Cleveland, including last year?s 115-100 beating at Quicken Loans Arena, covering as a 6?-point chalk.
The favorite has covered in six consecutive meetings, while the host is 6-1 ATS in the last seven.
Cleveland is on ATS streaks of 18-8 as a home underdog, 7-3 against the Western Conference and 35-17 when playing on one day of rest. However, the Cavs have failed to cash in four consecutive Friday contests.
The over is 19-7 in the Suns last 26 against Central Division teams, 4-1 during the Cavs? five-game win streak and 5-2 in the last seven head-to-head meetings, including 3-0 in Cleveland. However, the under is 8-1 in the Cavs? last nine against Western Conference teams and 8-3-1 in their last 12 Friday tip-offs.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
L.A. Lakers (27-13, 23-17 ATS) at Dallas (28-13, 18-21-2 ATS
The Lakers and Mavericks, who have cooled off after red-hot starts to 2008, clash for the first time this season, with this one taking place inside American Airlines Arena in Dallas.
Los Angeles opened its two-game Texas swing with a 103-91 loss at San Antonio on Wednesday, coming up short as eight-point ?dogs after blowing a seven-point halftime lead. The Lakers are 2-2 (1-3 ATS) since losing center Andrew Bynum with a knee injury on Jan. 13.
The Lakers have followed up a 13-4 ATS roll by going 1-5 versus the line in their last six (0-2 ATS on the road). However, Phil Jackson?s squad does sport positive ATS trends of 6-2 following a non-cover and 5-2 as an underdog.
Los Angeles opened 2008 with seven straight wins (4-3 ATS), while the Mavericks were in the midst of their own seven-game winning streak (5-2 ATS) before losing 122-120 at Sacramento on Jan. 14. Starting with that defeat, Dallas has split its last four games, though it did defeat Charlotte 102-95 on Wednesday, barely covering as a 6?-point road chalk.
Dallas has won four of the last five in this rivalry (3-2 ATS), including three straight home wins (2-1 ATS). The Lakers are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 clashes (all as an underdog), and the victor has scored at least 100 points in all 10 of those contests.
Dallas is on ATS slumps of 5-13-1 against Pacific Division foes and 3-8 ATS in Friday night games, but Avery Johnson?s troops are 7-3-2 ATS in their last 12 against the Western Conference.
L.A. has cashed in four straight Friday affairs.
The under is 6-1 in the Lakers? last seven as a ?dog, 7-3 in their last 10 road outings, 12-4 in their last 16 after a SU win and 6-2 in Dallas? last eight home games.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
