**New Jersey at Cleveland**
-- New Jersey (8-9 straight up, 8-9 against the spread) is off a win Wednesday as a one-point road favorite against Charlotte, 97-84.
New Jersey and Jason Kidd have covered six of their last seven meetings against Cleveland.(AP Images)
-- Lawrence Frank’s club has been up and down on the road, going 4-5 SU and 5-4 ATS. The ‘under’ is 5-4.
-- The Atlantic Division is easily the worst group in the league and the Nets’ record at 8-9 puts them in first place.
-- This will be the first of back-to-back games for New Jersey, with Philadelphia visiting the swamp on Saturday.
-- Last year, the Nets were 3-1 SU and 4-0 ATS in their four meetings against the Cavaliers. N.J. has covered seven straight in this series. Also, the ‘over’ is 6-1 in the last seven games.
-- Cleveland (11-6 SU, 10-7 ATS) concluded its three-game West Coast trip Tuesday by holding off Sacramento 102-97 as a one-point ‘chalk’.
-- The Cavaliers were 1-2 both SU and ATS during this road stanza, while the ‘under’ prevailed to a 2-1 record.
-- Lebron James and company are averaging 102 points per game, ranked second in the league. The All Star leads the team in points (28.9 PPG) and assists (4.9).
-- Mike Brown’s team has dominated opponents at Quicken Loans Arena, outscoring opponents by an average of 16 PPG (105-89) at home. The team is 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS.
-- After this game, the Cavs will travel to Milwaukee on Saturday.
-- Tip off for this game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., with ESPN providing national coverage.
**Denver at Miami**
-- Denver (10-9 SU, 10-9 ATS) won Tuesday, but failed to cover as a 12 ½-point home favorite against Atlanta, 125-116. The 125-point effort was the highest point total of the season for the Nuggets.
-- George Karl’s team has struggled on the road, going 2-6 SU and 4-4 ATS.
-- The Nuggets are allowing 100 PPG away from home, while only scoring 92 PPG. The ‘under’ is 5-3.
-- This will be the first game of a six-game road trip for the Nuggets before heading north to Orlando on Saturday.
-- Miami (10-9 SU, 8-11 ATS) dropped its third straight game Wednesday as a nine-point road underdog against San Antonio, 98-84.
-- Wednesday’s loss wrapped up a five-game road trip for Stan Van Gundy and his troops. The club was 2-3 SU and 3-2 ATS, with the ‘under’ going 4-1.
-- The Heat lost 19 games in the regular season last year and have already seen the “L” column reach nine with just over a month action completed. Fortunately, they still sit in first place of the Southeast Division, with a 1/2-game lead over Washington.
-- Miami owns a solid 7-2 SU at American Airlines Center, but is only 3-6 ATS. The ‘over’ is 6-3.
-- All Star center Shaquille O’Neal has now missed 17 of the team’s 19 games since twisting his ankle in a 105-102 loss to Indiana on Nov. 3. Shaq is still listed as day-to-day and could suit up in the next week.
-- When you combined the loss of O’Neal and all the new faces, you can see why the team is struggling. Only one (Memphis) of Miami’s 10 victories has come against teams with a winning record. Numbers don’t like folks!
-- This series has been dominated by the home team the last three seasons, with the home team winning six straight games, including Denver’s 101-99 victory against Miami at Pepsi Center on Dec. 3 as a four-point favorite.
**Dallas at Memphis**
-- Dallas (13-5 SU, 8-10 ATS) extended its winning streak to three games Tuesday as a six-point road underdog against Indiana, 84-75. The combined 159 points never threatened the closing total of 186 1/2.
-- The Mavs’ defense has improved immensely under head coach Avery Johnson. The 93 PPG is the lowest total in the previous 20 years and four points (97 PPG) lower than last year.
-- Dallas is 7-3 SU and 5-5 ATS on the road, including 1-0 both SU and ATS when tabbed as an underdog.
-- The Mavericks will be looking to avenge a 112-92 walloping from the Grizzlies on Nov. 26 as a seven-point home favorites.
-- Prior to this setback, Dallas had won and covered five straight games against Memphis, including double-digit road victories.
-- Memphis (13-5 SU, 12-6 ATS) remained hot Tuesday after dropping New Orleans 89-73 as an eight-point home favorite.
-- The Grizzlies are 6-0 SU and 5-1 ATS in their last six games, winning five of the six contests by double-digits.
-- Memphis is 6-2 SU and 5-3 ATS at FedEx Forum this year.
-- Mike Fratello aka The Czar is starting to see his team produce results from a defensive standpoint. Memphis is holding opponents to 84.8 PPG, ranked first in the league.
-- The ‘under’ has notched an 11-7 record on the year, including 6-2 in Tennessee.
**Detroit at Golden State**
-- Detroit (13-2 SU, 10-5 ATS) extended its winning streak to four games last Saturday as a 5 ½-point road favorite against Chicago, 92-79. The Pistons are 3-1 ATS during this run, while the ‘under’ has gone 3-1 as well.
-- The Pistons own the league’s best record on the road, going 8-1 SU and 6-3 ATS. The lone setback came against Dallas (119-82), which was also the second night of a back-to-back set.
-- Flip Saunders has revived his career in Motown after getting his walking papers from the Minnesota Timberwolves last year. Right now, you can say it’s a win-win for both teams, with the Wolves currently sitting in first place of the Northwest Division.
-- Detroit’s offense has been better at home (112 PPG) than on the road (90 PPG). This has affected the total as well, with the ‘over’ posting a 6-0 run at The Palace of Auburn Hills and the ‘under’ going 6-2 away from home.
-- After this game, the Pistons head to Staples Center on Sunday to face the L.A. Clippers.
-- Golden State (12-7 SU, 11-8 ATS) had its five-game winning streak snapped Wednesday as a four-point home favorite against Phoenix, 118-110.
-- The combined 228 points helped the ‘over’ cash for the third straight night and eighth time in the last nine tilts.
-- Before you start touting the flamboyant Baron Davis and the Warriors as a squad on the rise, please look into the record a bit. Ten of their 12 wins have come against teams with losing records, while six of the seven losses came against winning clubs.
-- Golden State is 8-4 SU and 6-6 ATS at home. The ‘over’ is 7-5.
-- Last season, Detroit swept the two-game set from Golden State, including a 92-88 triumph from the Arena in Oakland. The Warriors covered this number as 10-point home dogs, which marked the eighth straight cover against the Pistons.
-- New Jersey (8-9 straight up, 8-9 against the spread) is off a win Wednesday as a one-point road favorite against Charlotte, 97-84.
New Jersey and Jason Kidd have covered six of their last seven meetings against Cleveland.(AP Images)
-- Lawrence Frank’s club has been up and down on the road, going 4-5 SU and 5-4 ATS. The ‘under’ is 5-4.
-- The Atlantic Division is easily the worst group in the league and the Nets’ record at 8-9 puts them in first place.
-- This will be the first of back-to-back games for New Jersey, with Philadelphia visiting the swamp on Saturday.
-- Last year, the Nets were 3-1 SU and 4-0 ATS in their four meetings against the Cavaliers. N.J. has covered seven straight in this series. Also, the ‘over’ is 6-1 in the last seven games.
-- Cleveland (11-6 SU, 10-7 ATS) concluded its three-game West Coast trip Tuesday by holding off Sacramento 102-97 as a one-point ‘chalk’.
-- The Cavaliers were 1-2 both SU and ATS during this road stanza, while the ‘under’ prevailed to a 2-1 record.
-- Lebron James and company are averaging 102 points per game, ranked second in the league. The All Star leads the team in points (28.9 PPG) and assists (4.9).
-- Mike Brown’s team has dominated opponents at Quicken Loans Arena, outscoring opponents by an average of 16 PPG (105-89) at home. The team is 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS.
-- After this game, the Cavs will travel to Milwaukee on Saturday.
-- Tip off for this game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., with ESPN providing national coverage.
**Denver at Miami**
-- Denver (10-9 SU, 10-9 ATS) won Tuesday, but failed to cover as a 12 ½-point home favorite against Atlanta, 125-116. The 125-point effort was the highest point total of the season for the Nuggets.
-- George Karl’s team has struggled on the road, going 2-6 SU and 4-4 ATS.
-- The Nuggets are allowing 100 PPG away from home, while only scoring 92 PPG. The ‘under’ is 5-3.
-- This will be the first game of a six-game road trip for the Nuggets before heading north to Orlando on Saturday.
-- Miami (10-9 SU, 8-11 ATS) dropped its third straight game Wednesday as a nine-point road underdog against San Antonio, 98-84.
-- Wednesday’s loss wrapped up a five-game road trip for Stan Van Gundy and his troops. The club was 2-3 SU and 3-2 ATS, with the ‘under’ going 4-1.
-- The Heat lost 19 games in the regular season last year and have already seen the “L” column reach nine with just over a month action completed. Fortunately, they still sit in first place of the Southeast Division, with a 1/2-game lead over Washington.
-- Miami owns a solid 7-2 SU at American Airlines Center, but is only 3-6 ATS. The ‘over’ is 6-3.
-- All Star center Shaquille O’Neal has now missed 17 of the team’s 19 games since twisting his ankle in a 105-102 loss to Indiana on Nov. 3. Shaq is still listed as day-to-day and could suit up in the next week.
-- When you combined the loss of O’Neal and all the new faces, you can see why the team is struggling. Only one (Memphis) of Miami’s 10 victories has come against teams with a winning record. Numbers don’t like folks!
-- This series has been dominated by the home team the last three seasons, with the home team winning six straight games, including Denver’s 101-99 victory against Miami at Pepsi Center on Dec. 3 as a four-point favorite.
**Dallas at Memphis**
-- Dallas (13-5 SU, 8-10 ATS) extended its winning streak to three games Tuesday as a six-point road underdog against Indiana, 84-75. The combined 159 points never threatened the closing total of 186 1/2.
-- The Mavs’ defense has improved immensely under head coach Avery Johnson. The 93 PPG is the lowest total in the previous 20 years and four points (97 PPG) lower than last year.
-- Dallas is 7-3 SU and 5-5 ATS on the road, including 1-0 both SU and ATS when tabbed as an underdog.
-- The Mavericks will be looking to avenge a 112-92 walloping from the Grizzlies on Nov. 26 as a seven-point home favorites.
-- Prior to this setback, Dallas had won and covered five straight games against Memphis, including double-digit road victories.
-- Memphis (13-5 SU, 12-6 ATS) remained hot Tuesday after dropping New Orleans 89-73 as an eight-point home favorite.
-- The Grizzlies are 6-0 SU and 5-1 ATS in their last six games, winning five of the six contests by double-digits.
-- Memphis is 6-2 SU and 5-3 ATS at FedEx Forum this year.
-- Mike Fratello aka The Czar is starting to see his team produce results from a defensive standpoint. Memphis is holding opponents to 84.8 PPG, ranked first in the league.
-- The ‘under’ has notched an 11-7 record on the year, including 6-2 in Tennessee.
**Detroit at Golden State**
-- Detroit (13-2 SU, 10-5 ATS) extended its winning streak to four games last Saturday as a 5 ½-point road favorite against Chicago, 92-79. The Pistons are 3-1 ATS during this run, while the ‘under’ has gone 3-1 as well.
-- The Pistons own the league’s best record on the road, going 8-1 SU and 6-3 ATS. The lone setback came against Dallas (119-82), which was also the second night of a back-to-back set.
-- Flip Saunders has revived his career in Motown after getting his walking papers from the Minnesota Timberwolves last year. Right now, you can say it’s a win-win for both teams, with the Wolves currently sitting in first place of the Northwest Division.
-- Detroit’s offense has been better at home (112 PPG) than on the road (90 PPG). This has affected the total as well, with the ‘over’ posting a 6-0 run at The Palace of Auburn Hills and the ‘under’ going 6-2 away from home.
-- After this game, the Pistons head to Staples Center on Sunday to face the L.A. Clippers.
-- Golden State (12-7 SU, 11-8 ATS) had its five-game winning streak snapped Wednesday as a four-point home favorite against Phoenix, 118-110.
-- The combined 228 points helped the ‘over’ cash for the third straight night and eighth time in the last nine tilts.
-- Before you start touting the flamboyant Baron Davis and the Warriors as a squad on the rise, please look into the record a bit. Ten of their 12 wins have come against teams with losing records, while six of the seven losses came against winning clubs.
-- Golden State is 8-4 SU and 6-6 ATS at home. The ‘over’ is 7-5.
-- Last season, Detroit swept the two-game set from Golden State, including a 92-88 triumph from the Arena in Oakland. The Warriors covered this number as 10-point home dogs, which marked the eighth straight cover against the Pistons.
