Memphis Grizzlies face Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Playoffs

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Apr 302011

Sports Picks previews the Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder clashing in Game 1 of their NBA Playoffs Western Conference semifinal series on Sunday at the Ford Center (1 pm ET, ABC).

NBA Betting has the Thunder as a 6.5-point favorite and the over/under total at 197.

Head-to-head, both teams are 5-5 straight up in the past 10 meetings, and Oklahoma City has a slight edge against the spread at 6-4 ATS. But Memphis dominated the four-game season series, going 3-1 straight up and against the point spread. The Grizzlies won the last meeting 107-101 on March 7, cashing as a 3-point home favorite.

The No. 8 seed in the West, Memphis should be on a high after accomplishing what just three teams before them have managed in NBA Playoffs history: eliminating the No. 1 seed in the conference in the first round. The Grizzlies beat the No. 1 San Antonio Spurs in six games, the first time a No. 8 has knocked off a No. 1 since the Golden State Warriors beat the Dallas Mavericks four years ago. Memphis is just the fourth team in NBA history to accomplish the feat.

Memphis closed out the series with a 99-91 win Friday, cashing as a 3-point road underdog. The score went over the total of 189.

The 4th-seeded Thunder (55-27 SU, 43-38-1 ATS) made short work of the Denver Nuggets, winning the best-of-seven series in five games. Oklahoma City closed out the series with a 100-97 win on Wednesday, but failed to cover as a 6.5-point home favorite. The score went under the total of 205.

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Sports Picks: Boston Celtics at Miami Heat in NBA Playoffs

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Apr 292011

The conference semifinals of the NBA Playoffs tip off this weekend, with the  Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat meeting in Game 1 of their highly anticipated Eastern Conference series Sunday at the American Airlines Arena (3:30 pm ET, ABC).

Sports Picks and NBA Betting have the Heat as a 5-point favorite and the over/under total at 183.

The Celtics have dominated the head-to-head series in the past 10 meetings, going 8-2 straight up and 7-3 against the spread. Boston went 3-1 SU and ATS in the season series, winning the first three games. Miami won the last meeting on April 10 routing the Celtics 100-78. The Heat easily cashed as a 6-point home favorite and the score stayed under the total of 183.5.

In the first round of the NBA Playoffs, Boston swept the New York Knicks, finishing off the best-of-seven series with a 101-89 win in Game 4 last Sunday. The Celtics cashed as a 3.5-point road underdog and the score stayed under the total of 193.5.

Miami didn’t take much longer to eliminate the Philadelphia 76ers, winning the series in five games. The Heat advanced to the second round with a 97-91 win Wednesday. Miami could not cover as an 11-point home favorite, and the score went over the total of 187.5.

The Celtics (56-26 SU, 38-42-2 ATS) are the No. 3 seed in the Eastern conference while the Heat (58-24 SU, 39-42-1 ATS) are No. 2. The teams fought for the No. 2 spot right up until the last week of the regular season.

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San Antonio Spurs try to avoid elimination from NBA Playoffs

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Apr 282011

NBA Picks takes a look at the San Antonio Spurs trying to avoid elimination – and being on the wrong side of NBA Playoffs history – when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 6 of their first round series Friday at the FedEx Forum (9 pm ET, ESPN).

NBA Betting has Memphis as a 3-point, -150 moneyline favorite and the over/under total at 189.5.

Memphis (46-36 SU, 52-29-1 ATS), the No. 8 seed, can become the first team since 2007, and only the second in NBA Playoffs history, to knock off a No. 1 seed, as San Antonio (61-21 SU, 45-35-2 ATS) finished in top spot in the Western Conference.

Memphis leads the best-of-seven series 3-2.

Four years ago, the No. 8 seeded Golden State Warriors shocked the No. 1 Dallas Mavericks, and the entire NBA, by upsetting the Mavericks in the first round. Dallas was coming off a 67-win season.

In some ways, the Grizzlies having a stranglehold on the series should come as no surprise, as the Spurs sputtered down the stretch, and are just 2-5 SU in their past seven. San Antonio also can’t cover the spread, going just 0-4-1 ATS in its last five games overall and 2-5 ATS in its last seven on the road.

Memphis is 6-4 SU in the past 10 meetings of the head-to-head series, and a stunning 9-0-1 ATS. The Spurs needed overtime to beat the Grizzlies 110-103 in Game 5 on Wednesday, with the score a push as San Antonio was a 7-point favorite.

Posted by Mike Reynolds at 3:14 pm Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Orlando Magic try to stay alive against Atlanta Hawks

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Apr 272011

Sports Picks previews the Orlando Magic looking to avoid elimination from the NBA Playoffs for the second straight game when they visit the Atlanta Hawks in Game 6 of their first round Eastern Conference series Thursday at Philips Arena (7:30 pm ET, NBA TV).

NBA Odds have the Magic as a 2-point favorite and the over/under total at 178.

Atlanta has a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series and can advance to the second round with a win Thursday.

Orlando (52-30 SU, 34-46-2 ATS) is the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference while Atlanta (44-38 SU, 37-45 ATS) is the No. 5 seed.

Head-to-head, the Hawks are 6-4 SU and 8-2 ATS in the past 10 meetings, and 6-2 SU in the last eight. Nine of the past 10 have gone under the over/under total, including the past four games in this series.

In fact, looking closer, there is a really strong under trend, as 10 of the past 11 meetings overall and all five of the past five in Atlanta have gone under, as have six of Orlando’s last seven games and seven of Atlanta’s last eight.

The Magic staved off elimination with a 101-76 win over the Hawks in Game 5 on Tuesday at the Amway Arena. Orlando cashed as a 7-point home favorite and the score went under the total of 179.

Orlando has struggled against the spread in this series, going 1-4 ATS. The Magic have also struggled on the road, going 2-5 SU in their last seven on the road and 3-8 ATS in their last 11 on the road.

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Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls look to close out NBA Playoffs series

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Apr 262011

Sports Picks sets up two teams looking to advance to the second round of the NBA Playoffs with wins tonight, starting with the Atlanta Hawks when they face the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of their first-round series at the Amway Center (7:35 pm ET, NBA TV).

NBA Odds have the Magic as a 7-point favorite and the over/under total at 177.5.

Atlanta has a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and will earn a berth in the next round with a win.

The teams split the first two games in Orlando, and Games 3 and 4 in Atlanta were like identical twins – Atlanta won Game 4 by a 88-85 score on Sunday, covering as a 1.5-point home underdog, after winning Game 3 on Friday by an 88-84 score, cashing as a 1.5-point home underdog.

Bettors should take note of a significant under trend: The score has gone under the over/under total in nine of the last 10 meetings overall, and has also gone under in six of the last eight meetings in Orlando.

Also facing elimination Tuesday are the Indiana Pacers, while the Chicago Bulls can move on to the second round with a win over the Pacers at the United Center (8:05 pm ET, TNT).

The Bulls are a 9-point, -600 moneyline favorite and the over/under is 186.5 in NBA Betting. 

Chicago leads the best-of-seven series 3-1.

Indiana stayed alive in the series with an 89-84 win in Game 4 on Saturday. The Pacers cashed as a 4.5-point home underdog and the score was under the total of 189.5.

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New Orleans Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers clash in Game 5 at Staples Center

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Apr 252011

Basketball Picks sets up the New Orleans Hornets and the Los Angeles Lakers squaring off in Game 5 of their first-round NBA Playoffs series on Tuesday at the Staples Center (10:30 pm ET, TNT).

NBA Odds have the Lakers as a 10.5-point favorite and the over/under total is 183.

New Orleans squared the best-of-seven series at two games apiece when its beat the Lakers 93-88 in Game 4 on Sunday in New Orleans. The Hornets cashed as a 6-point home underdog and the score went under the total of 183.5. Over the past 10 meetings, the Lakers are 7-3 SU but just 4-6 ATS.

New Orleans (46-36 SU, 39-40-3 ATS) is the No. 7 seed in the conference while Los Angeles (57-25 SU, 38-44 ATS) is second.

Shannon Brown had to sub in for Kobe Bryant when the Lakers’ co-captain rolled his ankle late in the fourth quarter. Bryant was up against New Orleans guard Willie Green when Bryant appeared to turn his ankle over. He fell into Green and was assessed a foul.

The injury is worrisome as Bryant entered the game already suffering from a sprained left ankle he picked up against the Dallas Mavericks on March 12, and injury he described as the “scariest” ankle sprain of his career.

Chris Paul had a triple double to lead New Orleans, scoring 27 points, dishing out 15 assists and pulling down 13 rebounds. Paul was especially huge with the game on the line in the fourth quarter, when scored 14 of New Orleans’ 24 points.

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Colorado Rockies, Chicago Cubs open four-game set

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Apr 242011

Sports Picks action on Monday sees the Colorado Rockies and Chicago Cubs clashing at Wrigley Field, as two of the top teams in the National League open a four-game set.

MLB Betting has the Cubs as a -125 moneyline favorite.

The Rockies have the edge in the head-to-head series over the past 10 meetings, going 7-3 SU. This is the second series of the season between the NL rivals. They last met in a three-game set April 15-17, won 2-1 by the Rockies. Colorado won the rubber match 9-5 and covered as a -114 home favorite.

Colorado (14-6 SU) leads the NL West by four games over the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Rockies are tied with the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies for the best record in baseball.

Chicago (10-10 SU) is in an early-season dogfight for first place in the NL Central. The Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers are in second, both just a half-game back of the division co-leading Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals.

Colorado will have Esmil Rogers on the mound. The righthander has a 6.75 ERA and a 2-1 record and only lasted three innings in his last start Monday, an 8-1 loss to the Giants. Chicago will counter go with righthander Matt Garza, who is 0-2 with 4.74 ERA and last pitched Wednesday against the San Diego Padres. He lasted six innings in a 2-1 win.

The Rockies lost a three-game set against the Florida Marlins 2-01 this past weekend, and the Cubs also lost their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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Sports Picks sets up San Antonio Spurs facing Memphis Grizzlies in NBA Playoffs

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Apr 222011

Sports Picks previews the San Antonio Spurs taking on the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 3 of their Western Conference NBA Playoffs series Saturday at the FedEx Forum (7:30 pm ET, ESPN).

NBA Odds have the Grizzlies as a 2-point, -130 moneyline favorite and the over/under total at 191.

The Spurs evened the best-of-seven series at 1-1 with a 93-87 win in Game 2 on Wednesday. San Antonio dropped the opener 101-98 last Sunday. San Antonio failed to cash as an 8-point home favorite in Game 2, and the score stayed under the over/under total of 193.5.

Manu Ginobili, who missed Game 1 with a sprained right elbow, returned to the San Antonio lineup and  scored 17 points. Even with Ginobili, it was not an easy win for the Spurs, as the Grizzlies drew to within 2 points when Sam Young, who led Memphis with 17 points, hit a 3-pointer with 14.9 seconds left to cut the lead to 89-87.

San Antonio (61-21 SU, 45-35-2 ATS) stumbled down the stretch and lost their last two games of the regular season, and have now lost three of their past four. 

Memphis (46-36 SU, 52-29-1 ATS) also lost its last two games of the regular season but had won six of its previous seven as they surged down the stretch to secure the last playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Head-to-head, both teams are 5-5 SU in the past 10 meetings. Memphis has an edge against the spread at 8-2 ATS in the past 10.

Posted by Jack Clark at 4:20 pm Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

Basketball Picks: Boston Celtics @ New York Knicks

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Apr 212011

Basketball Picks sets up the New York Knicks trying to claw their way back into their NBA Playoffs series with the Boston Celtics when the teams meet in Game 3 on Friday at Madison Square Garden (7 pm ET, ESPN).

NBA Betting has the Knicks as a 2-point favorite and the over/under total at 191.

Boston leads the best-of-seven series 2-0 after a 96-93 win at home on Tuesday. The Celtics failed to cover the spread as a 6.5-point home favorite.

It was Boston’s six straight win against the Knicks after sweeping the four-game regular season series. Boston definitely has the Knicks’ number straight up, going 9-1 SU in the past 10 overall, and 10-2 SU in the last 12 meetings in the Big Apple. But covering the spread is a different matter for the Celtics, who are just 3-7 ATS in the past 10 meetings overall, 2-5 ATS in the last seven meetings overall, and 2-4 ATS in the past six trips to NYC.

Over/under bettors should note that the total has gone under in 17 of Boston’s last 22 games overall, in 10 of Boston’s last 13 games on the road, and in six of New York’s last seven games overall. 

Boston is 4-2 SU in its last six games overall but just 1-5 SU in its last six games on the road.  New York is 1-4 SU in its last five games overall but 4-1 SU in its last five games at home.

Game 4 of the series is scheduled for Sunday at 3:30 pm ET on ABC.

Posted by Mike Reynolds at 4:02 pm Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Basketball Picks sets up Miami Heat @ Philadelphia 76ers in NBA Playoffs

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Apr 202011

Basketball Picks takes a look at the Miami Heat trying to take a stranglehold on their Eastern Conference NBA Playoff series when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers for Game 3 on Thursday (8 pm ET, TNT).

NBA Odds have Miami as a 4.5-point favorite and the over/under total at 187.

Head-to-head, Miami is a dominating 9-1 SU but just 5-5 ATS in the past 10 head-to-head meetings. Miami is a perfect 5-0 SU in the last five meetings overall, but just 5-16 SU in the last 21 meetings in Philadelphia. Miami is 3-11 ATS in the last 14 games in Philadelphia.

The Heat won Game 2 by a 94-73 score on Monday, taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Heat covered as a 9-point home favorite. LeBron James scored 29 points and Chris Bosh had his second straight double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds.

The Heat are 5-0 SU in their past five games, both overall and on the road. The 76ers are 1-7 SU and ATS in their last eight games overall, and 16-8 SU in their last 24 games at home.

Over/under bettors should note that the total has gone under four of the past five meetings, in five of Miami’s last five games overall, in five of its past seven games on the road, in five of Philadelphia’s last five games overall, and in five of Philadelphia’s last six games at home.

Miami (58-24 SU, 39-42-1 ATS) is the No. 2 seed in the East. Philadelphia (41-41 SU, 46-35-1 ATS) is the 7th seed.

Posted by Jack Clark at 4:39 pm Tagged with: , , , , ,
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