[bigboydan]

**Heat at Raptors**

This contest is scheduled to tipoff at 7:00 p.m. ET.

–Miami (47-23 straight up, 32-37 against the spread) rebounded from its recent two-game SU losing skid with back-to-back victories. The Heat are off Monday’s triumph over Indiana as a 7 1/2-point home favorite, 96-91. The combined 187 points failed to eclipse the 192 1/2-point closing total. Miami is just 1-3 ATS its last four games.

–The Heat dominated in rebounding, 53-32, while shooting 43 percent (36-of-83) from the field. Center Shaquille O’Neal led the charge with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Dwayne Wade added 22, eight and five assists.

–Miami maintains a 19-16 SU and 18-17 ATS road record, prevailing by an average score of 98-97. The Heat begin a three-game road trip with this contest before taking on Cleveland and New Jersey.

–Miami is 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS the previous five encounters with Toronto after prevailing Feb. 27 as an 8 1/2-point home ‘chalk,’ 101-94. The combined 195 points never seriously threatened the 210-point closing total. The Heat have not covered their last two encounters with the Raptors.

–Toronto (26-44 SU, 37-28 ATS) has alternated wins and losses both SU and ATS its past four games after falling to Milwaukee Sunday in overtime as a 4 1/2-point road underdog, 125-116. The combined 241 points soared ‘over’ the 204-point closing total, snapping back-to-back ‘under’ outings.

–The Raptors connected at a solid 49-percent clip (46-of-94), but allowed the Bucks to shoot a sizzling 55 percent (41-of-74). Toronto’s Charlie Villanueva led all scorers with 48 points on 20-of-32 shooting, while Morris Peterson accounted for 17 on 6-of-15 shooting.

–The Raptors, 14-20 SU and 15-17 ATS on their home court, begin a four-game homestand with this contest that continues against Phoenix, New Orleans and Boston.

–Miami center Alonzo Mourning is expected to miss the next few weeks due to a calf injury.

–Toronto forward Chris Bosh is ‘questionable’ versus the Heat due to a hand injury, while guard Jose Calderon (heel) is ‘out’ indefinitely.

**Celtics at Knicks**

Boston is a 3 1/2-point road favorite over New York, with the total set at 202. This Atlantic Division contest is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET.

–Boston (29-42 SU, 34-36 ATS) is presently mired in a two-game SU and ATS losing funk after Sunday’s setback to Chicago as a five-point home ‘chalk,’ 101-97. The combined 198 points went ‘over’ the 192-point closing total, ending a string of six consecutive ‘under’ outings.

–The Celtics appeared to have the victory before being outscored, 33-19, in the fourth quarter. Boston was on the short end of points in the paint, 56-36, but did enjoy a rebounding advantage, 48-37. Paul Pierce led the team in scoring for the seventh straight game with 24 points along with eight rebounds and eight assists.

–The Celtics have struggled to a 9-26 SU and 16-19 ATS road record, with the ‘over’ going a solid 22-13. Boston, dropping those affairs by an average score of 104-98, begins a three-game road trip with this matchup.

–The Celtics have dominated New York recently, going 6-1 both SU and ATS the last seven encounters. That trend continued Dec. 4 when Boston prevailed as a 3 1/2-point road underdog, 102-99. The combined 201 points eclipsed th 198-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ improve to 4-1 the last five meetings in this series.

–New York (19-50 SU, 31-38 ATS) continues its sorry season stuck in a five-game SU losing skid after Sunday’s setback to Minnesota as an 8 1/2-point road underdog, 98-94. The combined 192 points failed to topple the 198-point closing total, enabling the ‘under’ to cash the third game in a row. The Knicks had dropped four straight outings ATS before covering versus the Timberwolves.

–New York dug itself into an early hole by being outscored in the first quarter, 30-14, and trailed by 25 points at one point during the game. Jamal Crawford led the team with 20 points off the bench, while Steve Francis added 15 and seven rebounds.

–The Knicks are just 13-22 SU and 15-20 ATS at Madison Square Garden, with the ‘over’ going 21-14. New York, dropping those affairs by an average score of 103-99, wraps up its modest two-game homestand with Friday’s contest against Philadelphia.

–Boston forward/guard Paul Pierce is not 100 percent healthy due to a calf injury, while forward Al Jefferson (ankle) is expected to be ‘out’ until later this week.

–New York forward Qyntel Woods (flu) and guard Quentin Richardson (thumb) are ‘questionable’ against the Celtics.

**Hornets at Warriors**

–Sportsbook.com did not provide an overnight line for this contest due to a couple of injuries for both teams. This game is slated to start at 10:30 p.m. ET.

–New Orleans (32-37 SU, 31-37 ATS) hits the court trying to snap its current four-game SU and ATS losing skid. The Hornets were routed by Utah Monday as an eight-point road underdog, 104-80, while the combined 184 points went ‘under’ the 187 1/2-point closing total.

–New Orleans was dominated for points in the paint, 48-24, and rebounds, 45-23. The Hornets were in the game until getting outscored, 49-28, in the second half. Six players reached double digits in scoring, led by Rasual Butler’s 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting.

–New Orleans is 12-22 SU and 14-20 ATS away from home, with the ‘over’ going 19-15. The Hornets, dropping those affairs by an average score of 97-91, wrap up a four-game road trip with this contest.

–New Orleans is 2-2 both SU and ATS the previous four games against Golden State after dropping the latest encounter Nov. 28 as an eight-point road underdog, 99-83. The combined 182 points went ‘under’ the 192 1/2-point closing total.

–Golden State (30-39 SU, 34-34 ATS) had won back-to-back games SU and five consecutive ATS before Monday’s loss to Washington as a one-point home ‘chalk,’ 116-98. The combined 214 points slithered ‘over’ the 213 1/2-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ improve to 3-1 the last four games.

–The Warriors never led in the game, and were outclassed in fastbreak points, 26-12. Guard Jason Richardson accounted for 18 points and five rebounds in the setback, while Derek Fisher contributed 16 and 10 assists.

–Golden State is 18-17 SU and 17-17 ATS on its home court, winning those contests by an average score of 100-98. The Warriors wrap up their current three-game homestand with Friday’s contest versus Sacramento.

–New Orleans forward David West (ankle) is ‘questionable’ versus the Warriors, while forward Desmond Mason (knee) is ‘out’ another week.

–Golden State guard Baron Davis has missed the previous few games due to an ankle injury, but might return later this week.

[Illusion]

Graet stuff as always.