**Detroit at New York**
-- This matchup marks the second meeting between New York’s head coach Larry Brown and his former team, Detroit. The Pistons got the better of the coach in the first meeting at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Dec. 2 by holding off the Knicks, 106-98. To Brown’s defense, his team did cover as 12-point road ‘dogs.
-- Detroit (30-5 straight up, 20-15 against the spread) will be playing its second road game in two nights after facing Atlanta on Wednesday. The Pistons are 6-3 SU and 4-5 ATS when playing on no days rest, while the ‘under’ has gone 6-3.
-- Head coach Flip Saunders has loosened the reigns this season, giving a lot more freedom on offense to his troops. The results have been positive, with the Pistons averaging 98 points per game.
-- Two other stats that should be looked at for the Pistons are assists and 3-point shooting. Detroit is averaging 24 APG and shooting 39.8 percent from downtown, both ranked second in the league.
-- The Pistons are holding teams to 90.6 PPG on the year, ranked fourth in the league.
-- Detroit owns the league’s best road mark, going 14-3 SU and 10-7 ATS. The ‘under’ is 10-6.
-- The Bad Boys have taken five straight and seven of the last eight meetings against the Knicks. However, Detroit is just 3-5 ATS during this stretch, with the ‘over’ going 6-2.
-- Following this tip, Detroit will be off until Sunday when the team welcomes Houston.
-- New York (13-23 SU, 19-17 ATS) is on the second end of a back-to-back spot as well after playing at Chicago on Wednesday. The club is 2-3 SU and 3-2 ATS on no days rest, with the ‘under’ going 3-2.
-- After winning six straight games and showing signs of hope, the Knicks have lost their last two contests by an average of 16 PPG.
-- Coach Brown wishes he could get the same defensive effort that he received from his days in Motown. The Knicks are giving up 101 PPG, ranked fifth worst in the league.
-- New York has been steady at home this year, going 9-9 both SU and ATS. The scoreboard operator has been busy this season at Madison Square Garden, helping the ‘over’ go 13-5.
-- This is the first game of a four-game homestand for the Knicks, with New Orleans visiting the Big Apple Saturday.
**Los Angeles Lakers at Sacramento**
-- Los Angeles (21-17 SU, 21-17 ATS) extended its winning streak to three games Monday after dropping Miami 100-92 as a three-point home underdog. The victory for the Lakers was their first over the Heat since center Shaquille O’Neal left the Lakers for South Beach.
-- The Lakers have more wins on the road (11) then at home (10) this season. L.A. backers have also flourished at the window, watching the team go 14-6 (70%) against the number.
-- Phil Jackson hopes to get the Lakers’ swagger back against Sacramento in their first meeting this season. Last year, the Kings won and covered three of the four meetings against Los Angeles. The ‘over’ cashed in all four contests.
-- This will be the first of back-to-back games for the Lakers before traveling to Phoenix on Friday.
-- Sacramento (16-21 SU, 17-20 ATS) won its second straight game Tuesday after crushing Phoenix 119-90 as a 7 ½-point home underdog. Despite eclipsing the century mark, the combined 209 points fell ‘under’ the closing total of 210.
-- The Kings have seen the ‘under’ cash in five of their last six games.
-- Rick Adelman’s team currently sits in last place of the Pacific Division, largely in part of injuries. The Kings have been without starters Bonzi Wells (groin), Shareef Abdur-Rahim (jaw) and Peja Stojakovic (back) for a combined 30 games.
-- ARCO Arena used to be a tough place for opponents to visit, but Sacramento is just 11-11 SU and 10-12 ATS at home this year. To put things into perspective, the Kings only had 11 setbacks at home last year and an average of six home losses over the previous four seasons.
-- Another thing down this year for Sacramento is its scoring. This year’s team is averaging 98 PPG, which is the lowest in seven years and down five points from last season when team posted 104 PPG.
-- The Kings might sit in last place of their division, but they are 4-1
-- After this game, the Kings embark on a six-game road trip, starting in Orlando on Saturday.
-- This matchup marks the second meeting between New York’s head coach Larry Brown and his former team, Detroit. The Pistons got the better of the coach in the first meeting at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Dec. 2 by holding off the Knicks, 106-98. To Brown’s defense, his team did cover as 12-point road ‘dogs.
-- Detroit (30-5 straight up, 20-15 against the spread) will be playing its second road game in two nights after facing Atlanta on Wednesday. The Pistons are 6-3 SU and 4-5 ATS when playing on no days rest, while the ‘under’ has gone 6-3.
-- Head coach Flip Saunders has loosened the reigns this season, giving a lot more freedom on offense to his troops. The results have been positive, with the Pistons averaging 98 points per game.
-- Two other stats that should be looked at for the Pistons are assists and 3-point shooting. Detroit is averaging 24 APG and shooting 39.8 percent from downtown, both ranked second in the league.
-- The Pistons are holding teams to 90.6 PPG on the year, ranked fourth in the league.
-- Detroit owns the league’s best road mark, going 14-3 SU and 10-7 ATS. The ‘under’ is 10-6.
-- The Bad Boys have taken five straight and seven of the last eight meetings against the Knicks. However, Detroit is just 3-5 ATS during this stretch, with the ‘over’ going 6-2.
-- Following this tip, Detroit will be off until Sunday when the team welcomes Houston.
-- New York (13-23 SU, 19-17 ATS) is on the second end of a back-to-back spot as well after playing at Chicago on Wednesday. The club is 2-3 SU and 3-2 ATS on no days rest, with the ‘under’ going 3-2.
-- After winning six straight games and showing signs of hope, the Knicks have lost their last two contests by an average of 16 PPG.
-- Coach Brown wishes he could get the same defensive effort that he received from his days in Motown. The Knicks are giving up 101 PPG, ranked fifth worst in the league.
-- New York has been steady at home this year, going 9-9 both SU and ATS. The scoreboard operator has been busy this season at Madison Square Garden, helping the ‘over’ go 13-5.
-- This is the first game of a four-game homestand for the Knicks, with New Orleans visiting the Big Apple Saturday.
**Los Angeles Lakers at Sacramento**
-- Los Angeles (21-17 SU, 21-17 ATS) extended its winning streak to three games Monday after dropping Miami 100-92 as a three-point home underdog. The victory for the Lakers was their first over the Heat since center Shaquille O’Neal left the Lakers for South Beach.
-- The Lakers have more wins on the road (11) then at home (10) this season. L.A. backers have also flourished at the window, watching the team go 14-6 (70%) against the number.
-- Phil Jackson hopes to get the Lakers’ swagger back against Sacramento in their first meeting this season. Last year, the Kings won and covered three of the four meetings against Los Angeles. The ‘over’ cashed in all four contests.
-- This will be the first of back-to-back games for the Lakers before traveling to Phoenix on Friday.
-- Sacramento (16-21 SU, 17-20 ATS) won its second straight game Tuesday after crushing Phoenix 119-90 as a 7 ½-point home underdog. Despite eclipsing the century mark, the combined 209 points fell ‘under’ the closing total of 210.
-- The Kings have seen the ‘under’ cash in five of their last six games.
-- Rick Adelman’s team currently sits in last place of the Pacific Division, largely in part of injuries. The Kings have been without starters Bonzi Wells (groin), Shareef Abdur-Rahim (jaw) and Peja Stojakovic (back) for a combined 30 games.
-- ARCO Arena used to be a tough place for opponents to visit, but Sacramento is just 11-11 SU and 10-12 ATS at home this year. To put things into perspective, the Kings only had 11 setbacks at home last year and an average of six home losses over the previous four seasons.
-- Another thing down this year for Sacramento is its scoring. This year’s team is averaging 98 PPG, which is the lowest in seven years and down five points from last season when team posted 104 PPG.
-- The Kings might sit in last place of their division, but they are 4-1
-- After this game, the Kings embark on a six-game road trip, starting in Orlando on Saturday.
