**Nets at Grizzlies**
–Las Vegas Sports Consultants installed Memphis as a 3 1/2-point home ‘chalk’ over New Jersey, with the total set at 182. Tipoff for this contest is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET.
–New Jersey (19-13 straight up, 17-15 against the spread) had won 10 games in a row SU before falling to San Antonio Tuesday as an eight-point road underdog, 96-91. The combined 187 points eclipsed the 185-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash the third consecutive contest. The Nets had dropped three games in a row ATS before covering versus the Spurs.
–Forward Vince Carter paced the offense with 34 points, six rebounds and five assists, while guard Jason Kidd accounted for 15, eight and six. New Jersey led San Antonio in fast-break points (19-5) and points in the paint (40-26), while shooting 45 percent (37-of-82) from the field.
–The Nets, 9-7 SU and 10-6 ATS away from home, are in the midst of a schedule that has them playing 10 of their 12 games on the road.
–Memphis (22-11 SU, 20-13 ATS) improved to 4-1 both SU and ATS its last five games after dumping Sacramento Tuesday as an 8 1/2-point home favorite, 99-85. The combined 184 points failed to topple the 190-point closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve to 2-1 the past three games.
–Forward Pau Gasol led all scorers with 27 points on 12-of-18 shooting, while Mike Miller contributed 21, 10 rebounds and 10 assists off the bench. The Grizzlies trailed by 12 points after the first quarter, but shot a blistering 52 percent (42-of-81) from the field for the game.
–Memphis sports a 12-5 SU and 11-6 ATS home ledger, while the ‘under’ has gone 13-4. The Grizzlies, winning those games by an average score of 91-85, wrap up a brief two-game homestand with this contest before playing five of their next six games on the road.
–Memphis is 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS the previous four encounters with New Jersey, but this is the first meeting of the season between these teams.
–New Jersey forward Richard Jefferson has been upgraded from ‘questionable’ to ‘probable’ versus the Grizzlies due to a back injury.
**Nuggets at Timberwolves**
–LVSC opened Minnesota as a five-point home favorite over Denver, with the total listed at 189. This matchup is scheduled to begin at 8:05 p.m. ET.
–Denver (18-18 SU, 19-17 ATS) has won back-to-back games SU and five in a row ATS after outlasting Phoenix Tuesday in triple overtime as a 2 1/2-point home underdog, 139-137. The combined 276 points soared ‘over’ the 209-point closing total.
–Forward Carmelo Anthony poured in 43 points on 15-of-31 shooting while also grabbing 11 rebounds. Guard Earl Boykins contributed with 33 and eight assists. The Nuggets led the Suns in fast-break points (25-18) and points in the paint (58-40), while shooting 49 percent (51-of-104) from the field.
–Denver is a pedestrian 6-10 SU and 8-8 ATS on the road, with the ‘under’ going 10-6. The Nuggets, losing those games by an average score of 100-95, begin a three-game road trip with this contest.
–Minnesota (16-17 SU, 19-13 ATS) was mired in a three-game SU losing skid before beating Chicago Wednesday as a five-point home ‘chalk,’ 99-93. The combined 192 points eclipsed the 184 1/2-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash the second game in a row.
–The Timberwolves dominated the Bulls on the boards (46-34), helping them overcome shooting just 39 percent (30-of-77) from the field. Kevin Garnett accounted for 28 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists in the victory, and Wally Szczerbiak added 25, nine and five.
–Minnesota is 11-6 both SU and ATS on its home court, with the ‘under’ going 10-7. The Timberwolves, winning those contests by an average score of 93-88, wrap up a quick two-game homestand with this matchup before embarking on a two-game road trip.
–Denver is 2-0 both SU and ATS its previous two meetings with Minnesota after winning Nov. 13 as a 4 1/2-point home ‘chalk,’ 102-91. The combined 193 points toppled the 187-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ occur the second game in a row in this series.
–Denver forward Kenyon Martin (back) and guard Greg Buckner (wrist) are ‘questionable’ versus the Timberwolves.
**Magic at Blazers**
–LVSC has this contest as a ‘pick,’ with the total set at 189. This contest is set to tipoff at 10:05 p.m. ET.
–Orlando (13-20 SU, 17-16 ATS) is mired in a two-game SU and ATS losing funk after Wednesday’s setback to Seattle as a 5 1/2-point road underdog, 113-104. The combined 217 points eclipsed the 205 1/2-point closing total, enabling the ‘over’ to improve to 4-1 the last five games.
–The game was marred by a fight early in the second quarter that eventually spilled into the crowd. Jameer Nelson stepped up with 32 points and eight assists off the bench, while Hedo Turkoglu added 16.
–The Magic are 4-11 SU and 8-7 ATS on the road, losing by an average score of 97-89. Orlando concludes its four-game West Coast road trip with Sunday’s matchup versus Sacramento.
–Portland (11-24 SU, 17-18 ATS) had dropped six games in a row SU and five consecutive ATS before beating the Lakers Wednesday as a six-point home underdog, 113-93. The combined 206 points soared ‘over’ the 190-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ occur the second consecutive contest.
–The Blazers outrebounded Los Angeles, 42-33, while shooting a blistering 52 percent (43-of-82) from the field. Juan Dixon scored 27 points on 10-of-16 shooting, while Ruben Patterson had 21 off the bench.
–Portland maintains a 7-10 SU and 8-9 ATS home ledger, with the ‘over’ going 11-6. The Blazers have been dropping those affairs by an average score of 96-91. This marks the third game of Portland’s current eight-game homestand.
–Orlando has won the previous two encounters with Portland both SU and ATS after prevailing Nov. 25 as a four-point home favorite, 104-89. The combined 93 points soared ‘over’ the 174 1/2-point closing total, ending a string of four straight ‘under’ outings in this series.
–Orlando guard Kenyon Dooling is ‘questionable’ versus the Blazers due to a possible suspension, while forward Grant Hill (groin) is ‘doubtful.’
–Las Vegas Sports Consultants installed Memphis as a 3 1/2-point home ‘chalk’ over New Jersey, with the total set at 182. Tipoff for this contest is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET.
–New Jersey (19-13 straight up, 17-15 against the spread) had won 10 games in a row SU before falling to San Antonio Tuesday as an eight-point road underdog, 96-91. The combined 187 points eclipsed the 185-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash the third consecutive contest. The Nets had dropped three games in a row ATS before covering versus the Spurs.
–Forward Vince Carter paced the offense with 34 points, six rebounds and five assists, while guard Jason Kidd accounted for 15, eight and six. New Jersey led San Antonio in fast-break points (19-5) and points in the paint (40-26), while shooting 45 percent (37-of-82) from the field.
–The Nets, 9-7 SU and 10-6 ATS away from home, are in the midst of a schedule that has them playing 10 of their 12 games on the road.
–Memphis (22-11 SU, 20-13 ATS) improved to 4-1 both SU and ATS its last five games after dumping Sacramento Tuesday as an 8 1/2-point home favorite, 99-85. The combined 184 points failed to topple the 190-point closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve to 2-1 the past three games.
–Forward Pau Gasol led all scorers with 27 points on 12-of-18 shooting, while Mike Miller contributed 21, 10 rebounds and 10 assists off the bench. The Grizzlies trailed by 12 points after the first quarter, but shot a blistering 52 percent (42-of-81) from the field for the game.
–Memphis sports a 12-5 SU and 11-6 ATS home ledger, while the ‘under’ has gone 13-4. The Grizzlies, winning those games by an average score of 91-85, wrap up a brief two-game homestand with this contest before playing five of their next six games on the road.
–Memphis is 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS the previous four encounters with New Jersey, but this is the first meeting of the season between these teams.
–New Jersey forward Richard Jefferson has been upgraded from ‘questionable’ to ‘probable’ versus the Grizzlies due to a back injury.
**Nuggets at Timberwolves**
–LVSC opened Minnesota as a five-point home favorite over Denver, with the total listed at 189. This matchup is scheduled to begin at 8:05 p.m. ET.
–Denver (18-18 SU, 19-17 ATS) has won back-to-back games SU and five in a row ATS after outlasting Phoenix Tuesday in triple overtime as a 2 1/2-point home underdog, 139-137. The combined 276 points soared ‘over’ the 209-point closing total.
–Forward Carmelo Anthony poured in 43 points on 15-of-31 shooting while also grabbing 11 rebounds. Guard Earl Boykins contributed with 33 and eight assists. The Nuggets led the Suns in fast-break points (25-18) and points in the paint (58-40), while shooting 49 percent (51-of-104) from the field.
–Denver is a pedestrian 6-10 SU and 8-8 ATS on the road, with the ‘under’ going 10-6. The Nuggets, losing those games by an average score of 100-95, begin a three-game road trip with this contest.
–Minnesota (16-17 SU, 19-13 ATS) was mired in a three-game SU losing skid before beating Chicago Wednesday as a five-point home ‘chalk,’ 99-93. The combined 192 points eclipsed the 184 1/2-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash the second game in a row.
–The Timberwolves dominated the Bulls on the boards (46-34), helping them overcome shooting just 39 percent (30-of-77) from the field. Kevin Garnett accounted for 28 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists in the victory, and Wally Szczerbiak added 25, nine and five.
–Minnesota is 11-6 both SU and ATS on its home court, with the ‘under’ going 10-7. The Timberwolves, winning those contests by an average score of 93-88, wrap up a quick two-game homestand with this matchup before embarking on a two-game road trip.
–Denver is 2-0 both SU and ATS its previous two meetings with Minnesota after winning Nov. 13 as a 4 1/2-point home ‘chalk,’ 102-91. The combined 193 points toppled the 187-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ occur the second game in a row in this series.
–Denver forward Kenyon Martin (back) and guard Greg Buckner (wrist) are ‘questionable’ versus the Timberwolves.
**Magic at Blazers**
–LVSC has this contest as a ‘pick,’ with the total set at 189. This contest is set to tipoff at 10:05 p.m. ET.
–Orlando (13-20 SU, 17-16 ATS) is mired in a two-game SU and ATS losing funk after Wednesday’s setback to Seattle as a 5 1/2-point road underdog, 113-104. The combined 217 points eclipsed the 205 1/2-point closing total, enabling the ‘over’ to improve to 4-1 the last five games.
–The game was marred by a fight early in the second quarter that eventually spilled into the crowd. Jameer Nelson stepped up with 32 points and eight assists off the bench, while Hedo Turkoglu added 16.
–The Magic are 4-11 SU and 8-7 ATS on the road, losing by an average score of 97-89. Orlando concludes its four-game West Coast road trip with Sunday’s matchup versus Sacramento.
–Portland (11-24 SU, 17-18 ATS) had dropped six games in a row SU and five consecutive ATS before beating the Lakers Wednesday as a six-point home underdog, 113-93. The combined 206 points soared ‘over’ the 190-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ occur the second consecutive contest.
–The Blazers outrebounded Los Angeles, 42-33, while shooting a blistering 52 percent (43-of-82) from the field. Juan Dixon scored 27 points on 10-of-16 shooting, while Ruben Patterson had 21 off the bench.
–Portland maintains a 7-10 SU and 8-9 ATS home ledger, with the ‘over’ going 11-6. The Blazers have been dropping those affairs by an average score of 96-91. This marks the third game of Portland’s current eight-game homestand.
–Orlando has won the previous two encounters with Portland both SU and ATS after prevailing Nov. 25 as a four-point home favorite, 104-89. The combined 93 points soared ‘over’ the 174 1/2-point closing total, ending a string of four straight ‘under’ outings in this series.
–Orlando guard Kenyon Dooling is ‘questionable’ versus the Blazers due to a possible suspension, while forward Grant Hill (groin) is ‘doubtful.’
