**Pacers at Pistons**
--Indianapolis (27-23 straight up, 27-21 against the spread) destroyed New Orleans on Tuesday night by a 97-75 count, easily covering the number as a 6 1/2-point favorite. The victory wrapped up a seven-game homestand for the Pacers, who went 6-1 SU and 7-0 ATS over that span at Conseco Fieldhouse.
--Detroit (43-9 SU, 27-24 ATS) came back from the All-Star break Tuesday to capture a 97-87 win against Atlanta. However, the Pistons gave up a backdoor cover, failing to cover the number as 14-point favorites. Richard Hamilton scored 24 points and dished out four assists but most importantly, he locked down Joe Johnson defensively, holding the Hawks' leading scorer to three points on 1-of-9 shooting from the field.
--This is the first road game for Indy since Jan. 31. The Pacers have lost five straight road games, but they have a respectable 2-2-1 spread mark during that stretch.
--Both of these squads come into this spot off one day of rest. The Pacers are 13-8 ATS with one day between games, while the Pistons are just 11-13 versus the number in those situations.
--These teams have met once this season (Feb. 4) with the Pacers collecting a 93-85 win as eight-point home underdogs. Stephen Jackson scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds, draining 4-of-6 shots from 3-point land. Hamilton scored 31 points in the losing effort.
--The 'under' has cashed in five consecutive head-to-head games between these Eastern Conference rivals.
--The 'under' is 8-2 in the Pacers' last 10 games. Likewise, the Pistons have seen the 'under' go 8-2 in their last 10 outings.
--The 'over' is 16-10 in Detroit home games, but the 'under' is 15-9 when Indy goes on the road.
--Most sports books are listing Detroit as an 8 1/2-point favorite with a 177-point total. The Pacers are plus 325 on the money line.
**Grizzlies at Mavericks**
--Most spots have installed Dallas (42-11 SU, 26-25 ATS) as a 7 1/2-point 'chalk' with a total of 181. Bettors can earn a plus-290 payoff by backing the Grizzlies to win outright.
--Memphis (30-23 SU, 28-22 ATS) has won four in a row on the heels of a five-game losing streak. Mike Fratello's club had to play from behind in its first game back from the All-Star break Tuesday vs. Toronto. Despite taking an elbow in the first quarter that led to four stitches in his mouth, Pau Gasol scored 21 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out six assists to spark the Grizzlies to a 94-88 win over the Raptors.
--Avery Johnson's team is 23-4 SU at home, 14-13 ATS.
--Gasol leads the Grizzlies in scoring (19.9 points per game) and rebounding (9.3). Who do Memphis fans have to thank for the acquistion of Gasol? Well, the answer is two-fold. Billy Knight, the current GM for the Hawks, was serving in the same capacity for the Grizzlies, when he dealt Shareef Abdur-Rahim to the Hawks for Lorenzen Wright and the No. 5 pick in the draft that he used to take Gasol. In reality, former Atlanta GM Pete Babcock is the man to thank for getting his pocket picked -- again. (More on Babcock in Bonus Nuggets below...)
--Memphis is tops in the NBA in scoring defense, allowing only 87.7 points per game.
--The 'under' is 7-2 for the Mavs in their last nine games. The 'under' is 15-12 for Dallas at home.
--The 'under' is serious money maker for the Grizzlies, cashing at a 32-21 clip. However, the 'under' hasn't been as prevelant for Memphis on the road, compiling just a 14-14 mark.
--Dallas has won seven of the last eight head-to-head meetings between these team, posting a 6-1-1 spread record in the process.
**Kings at Lakers**
--Most books have tabbed the Lakers as two-point favorites with a total of 199.
--Sacramento (25-29 SU, 27-26 ATS) has won seven of 12 games since trading Peja Stojakovic for Ron Artest, who is averaging 17.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. The Kings are 8-3-1 ATS in those 12 outings.
--Rick Adelman's team is 7-0-1 ATS in its last eight games.
--Los Angeles (27-26 SU, 27-26 ATS) is 14-10 SU at home, but it has struggled to a 10-14 spread record at Staples Center.
--The Kings are 7-2 ATS in their last nine games against the Lakers.
--The 'over' has hit in five straight head-to-head meetings between these teams. During that five-game stretch, Sacramento and L.A. have combined for at least 214 points in each game.
--Sacramento's Bonzi Wells (groin) is "doubtful" and Kenny Thomas is "questionable." Thomas had to take four stitches in his face after taking an elbow in the third quarter against Golden State.
--Indianapolis (27-23 straight up, 27-21 against the spread) destroyed New Orleans on Tuesday night by a 97-75 count, easily covering the number as a 6 1/2-point favorite. The victory wrapped up a seven-game homestand for the Pacers, who went 6-1 SU and 7-0 ATS over that span at Conseco Fieldhouse.
--Detroit (43-9 SU, 27-24 ATS) came back from the All-Star break Tuesday to capture a 97-87 win against Atlanta. However, the Pistons gave up a backdoor cover, failing to cover the number as 14-point favorites. Richard Hamilton scored 24 points and dished out four assists but most importantly, he locked down Joe Johnson defensively, holding the Hawks' leading scorer to three points on 1-of-9 shooting from the field.
--This is the first road game for Indy since Jan. 31. The Pacers have lost five straight road games, but they have a respectable 2-2-1 spread mark during that stretch.
--Both of these squads come into this spot off one day of rest. The Pacers are 13-8 ATS with one day between games, while the Pistons are just 11-13 versus the number in those situations.
--These teams have met once this season (Feb. 4) with the Pacers collecting a 93-85 win as eight-point home underdogs. Stephen Jackson scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds, draining 4-of-6 shots from 3-point land. Hamilton scored 31 points in the losing effort.
--The 'under' has cashed in five consecutive head-to-head games between these Eastern Conference rivals.
--The 'under' is 8-2 in the Pacers' last 10 games. Likewise, the Pistons have seen the 'under' go 8-2 in their last 10 outings.
--The 'over' is 16-10 in Detroit home games, but the 'under' is 15-9 when Indy goes on the road.
--Most sports books are listing Detroit as an 8 1/2-point favorite with a 177-point total. The Pacers are plus 325 on the money line.
**Grizzlies at Mavericks**
--Most spots have installed Dallas (42-11 SU, 26-25 ATS) as a 7 1/2-point 'chalk' with a total of 181. Bettors can earn a plus-290 payoff by backing the Grizzlies to win outright.
--Memphis (30-23 SU, 28-22 ATS) has won four in a row on the heels of a five-game losing streak. Mike Fratello's club had to play from behind in its first game back from the All-Star break Tuesday vs. Toronto. Despite taking an elbow in the first quarter that led to four stitches in his mouth, Pau Gasol scored 21 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out six assists to spark the Grizzlies to a 94-88 win over the Raptors.
--Avery Johnson's team is 23-4 SU at home, 14-13 ATS.
--Gasol leads the Grizzlies in scoring (19.9 points per game) and rebounding (9.3). Who do Memphis fans have to thank for the acquistion of Gasol? Well, the answer is two-fold. Billy Knight, the current GM for the Hawks, was serving in the same capacity for the Grizzlies, when he dealt Shareef Abdur-Rahim to the Hawks for Lorenzen Wright and the No. 5 pick in the draft that he used to take Gasol. In reality, former Atlanta GM Pete Babcock is the man to thank for getting his pocket picked -- again. (More on Babcock in Bonus Nuggets below...)
--Memphis is tops in the NBA in scoring defense, allowing only 87.7 points per game.
--The 'under' is 7-2 for the Mavs in their last nine games. The 'under' is 15-12 for Dallas at home.
--The 'under' is serious money maker for the Grizzlies, cashing at a 32-21 clip. However, the 'under' hasn't been as prevelant for Memphis on the road, compiling just a 14-14 mark.
--Dallas has won seven of the last eight head-to-head meetings between these team, posting a 6-1-1 spread record in the process.
**Kings at Lakers**
--Most books have tabbed the Lakers as two-point favorites with a total of 199.
--Sacramento (25-29 SU, 27-26 ATS) has won seven of 12 games since trading Peja Stojakovic for Ron Artest, who is averaging 17.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. The Kings are 8-3-1 ATS in those 12 outings.
--Rick Adelman's team is 7-0-1 ATS in its last eight games.
--Los Angeles (27-26 SU, 27-26 ATS) is 14-10 SU at home, but it has struggled to a 10-14 spread record at Staples Center.
--The Kings are 7-2 ATS in their last nine games against the Lakers.
--The 'over' has hit in five straight head-to-head meetings between these teams. During that five-game stretch, Sacramento and L.A. have combined for at least 214 points in each game.
--Sacramento's Bonzi Wells (groin) is "doubtful" and Kenny Thomas is "questionable." Thomas had to take four stitches in his face after taking an elbow in the third quarter against Golden State.
