Underdogs fared well on Tuesday by covering in four of five games. The only two underdogs to win outright were the Hornets at Minnesota and the Bulls at Portland. The Hawks and Cavaliers failed to cash in the favorite role, while the Lakers pushed as seven-point favorites in a home win over the Nets.
The OVER finished 3-2, including on the highest total of the night in Los Angeles as the Nets and Lakers eclipsed the OVER on 219 total.
Game of the Night – Warriors at Raptors (8:05 PM EST – ESPN)
Golden State embarks on a four-game road swing within the Eastern Conference that starts in Toronto. The Warriors began the season with a 29-point home loss to the Spurs, but have ripped off eight wins in their last nine games to own the second-best record in the Western Conference behind the Clippers (10-1). Golden State hasn’t been great against the number by posting a 4-6 ATS mark, including a non-cover in its last game against Phoenix as 16 ½-point home favorites in a 133-120 win.
Golden State captured both matchups with Toronto last season, but the Raptors picked up covers as an underdog each time. In Golden State’s 112-109 triumph at Air Canada Center last December, Stephen Curryburned the Raptors for 44 points, while Kyle Lowry countered with 41 points for Toronto. The Warriors are currently listed as 5 ½-point favorites at most spots with the total sitting at 220.
The Hawks (8-2 SU, 7-3 ATS) continue to sit atop the Southeast division after last night’s 93-90 victory at Miami. Atlanta failed to cash as 6 ½-point road favorites for only its third non-cover of the season, while finishing UNDER the total for the third time in four road games. The Hawks return home tonight looking for their sixth straight win as the Bucks invade Philips Arena as Atlanta owns a 5-1 home mark. The Bucks moved above the .500 mark with Saturday’s win over the Grizzlies as Milwaukee has split its last four meetings with Atlanta at Philips Arena.
The Clippers (10-1 SU, 9-2 ATS) have busted out of the gate with the best record in basketball through 11 games. Los Angeles routed Brooklyn on Monday, 127-95, the third straight home win by the Clippers by at least 30 points. The Clippers host the Grizzlies tonight at Staples Center as Los Angeles knocked off Memphis at FedEx Forum on November 4 as 5 ½-point favorites, 99-88. The last three matchups between these teams at Staples Center have finished UNDER the total. Tonight’s total is listed at 201 ½.
The Thunder and Nuggets have each lost four consecutive games as the two teams each look to end their cold streaks at home.Oklahoma City (6-5 SU, 5-6 ATS) has allowed at least 104 points in each of its past four defeats, including in a 16-point loss at Detroit on Monday. The Thunder tries to win its first home game since November 7 against Miami as OKC has dropped three in a row at Chesapeake Energy Arena. James Harden and the Rockets travel to Oklahoma City tonight as Houston has won three of its past four games. Houston owns a 4-1 ATS record as a road underdog as the Rockets are listed as 1 ½-point ‘dogs. The Rockets have covered six straight meetings with the Thunder, but the home team has won the last four matchups.
The Nuggets (3-7 SU, 6-4 ATS) begin a four-game homestand at Pepsi Center as Denver is the only team in the league without a home victory. Denver has allowed at least 100 points in nine of 10 games this season, while eclipsing the OVER seven times. The Nuggets host the Suns tonight, as Phoenix has dropped four of its past five games. This is the highest total on the board in the league this evening (221 ½), but three of the four matchups between these squads finished UNDER the total.
— The Wizards swept the 76ers last season in the four-game season series, but Philadelphia cashed in the final two meetings as a heavy underdog. The last time the 76ers beat the Wizards came on February 27, 2015, as Washington has won nine of the past 10 matchups.
— Orlando captured both matchups from New Orleans last season, including a 104-89 blowout as four-point home favorites. The Magic has won each of the past four home meetings with the Pelicans since 2013, while each of the past five contests between these teams have finished UNDER the total.
— Cleveland won three of four games against Indiana last season, as the three victories came by five points or less. In the final matchup in Indianapolis, LeBron James sat out as the Pacers avoided the sweep with a 123-109 win as 3 ½-point favorites.
— In spite of a 2-7 record, Dallas has owned Boston over the years by winning seven consecutive matchups. In the two victories last season, the Mavericks beat the Celtics by four and five points, while each of the past four matchups have eclipsed the OVER.
— The Knicks grabbed two of three meetings from the Pistons last season, but Detroit won the opening matchup of this season between the teams. Detroit took care of New York at the Palace of Auburn Hills, 102-89 as four-point home favorites, but have lost each of the last two visits to New York by double-digits.
— The Spurs bring their 5-0 road record to Sacramento for the second time this season. San Antonio has won seven straight meetings with Sacramento, including a 102-94 triumph at Golden 1 Center in late October. Each of the previous five matchups have finished UNDER the total, while the Kings have scored less than 100 points in each of the last six meetings.
