NBA Tuesday Preview
Do Heavy Favorites Mean It's 'Chalk City?'
If you’re looking to bet the chalk, this packed NBA Tuesday offers plenty of opportunities. Seven of the 10 favorites are priced at -200 or higher on the NBA betting lines. Does this means we’re in for a lot of mismatches? Is a seven-team parlay waiting for you? Can a big underdog come through?
Here’s a look at the entire schedule, along with some notes for those who wager. Keep in mind, also, that rosters for some teams are subject to change as trades are considered and/or completed prior to Thursday’s deadline.
Phoenix Suns at Philadelphia 76ers (7:10 p.m. ET)
Joel Embiid and his 76ers look to finally get over Chris Paul and his Suns. Phoenix is on the second night of a back-to-back, but has won its last three meetings against the Sixers. Paul is 3-1 in four career games against Embiid. The total has gone over in eight of these teams’ last nine games in Philadelphia.
Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets (7:30 p.m. ET)
The collapsing Nets look to survive at home against the streaking Celtics. Brooklyn lost eight straight games (1-7 against the spread), while the Celtics have won seven of their last eight (5-3 ATS) and are posting the best defensive rating in the NBA. James Harden will miss his third straight game.
Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks (7:40 p.m. ET)
The Pacers are tanking and depleted, the latter due to trades and injuries. They are just 3-12 in their last 15 road games and 1-14 in conference games this season. The Atlanta Hawks are 3-2 ATS as a double-digit favorite, having covered in seven of their last eight home games.
Houston Rockets at New Orleans Pelicans (8:10 p.m. ET)
The Pelicans are making moves. Their new acquisitions, including former Trail Blazer star CJ McCollum, won’t be part of this game, but they remain large favorites on the online gambling lines against the Western Conference-worst Rockets. The Pels, 120-107 home winners over Houston Sunday, have won three straight and are 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine.
Los Angeles Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies (8:10 p.m. ET)
Credit goes to the Clippers, who have stayed afloat despite missing their two best players and then some. However, they’re in for a tough test here as the Grizzlies have won eight of their last nine home games. Memphis has a 60.7% cover rate at the FedEx Forum.
Detroit Pistons at Dallas Mavericks (8:40 p.m. ET)
The Mavericks are the biggest favorites on the evening in a game that has the lowest total. Are we expecting Dallas to shut down the moribund Pistons? The Mavericks are just 9-8-1 ATS as a home favorites and 7-11-1 ATS against the East. Detroit is 12-15 ATS on the road, but lost 18 of its last 20 road games.
New York Knicks at Denver Nuggets (9:10 p.m. ET)
It’s been a rough season for the Knicks, and it could get worse as they visit the Nuggets. Denver has won 13 straight home games against New York. The Knicks have lost five straight road games, and are just 6-10 ATS as an visiting underdog. The total has gone over in eight of Denver’s last nine home games.
Milwaukee Bucks at Los Angeles Lakers (10:00 p.m. ET)
A pair of high-profile teams that are tough to bet online versus the spread. Results were better of late, however Both the Bucks and Lakers have covered four of their last five games, though their cover rates remain under 45% for the season. The Bucks are 6-3 ATS in their last nine games against the Lakers.
Orlando Magic at Portland Trail Blazers (10:10 p.m. ET)
The Trail Blazers have signaled their rebuild with a pair of trades-including Norman Powell and Robert Covington to the Clippers and CJ McCollum to New Orleans-while star player Damian Lillard remains sidelined. The Magic have been freefalling since the start of the season, though they’ve split their last six games. Check the ‘over’ here as five of these teams’ last seven games against one another have cashed that wager.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Sacramento Kings (10:10 p.m. ET)
It’s the highest total for the evening as the Timberwolves’ defense drops on the road, allowing 116 points (27th in league). Twenty of Minnesota’s 27 road games have gone over. As for the Kings, four of their last five conference games have gone over, as well as five of their last six against the Northwest Division.
