NBA: Doubleheader Wagering
The NBA offers up a great TNT doubleheader tonight with the San Antonio Spurs at the Detroit Pistons followed by the Boston Celtics at the Utah Jazz.
San Antonio Spurs (-1) at Detroit Pistons – 8 pm ET
San Antonio (35-17, 25-25-2 ATS) has been working the phones trying to find the right deal to improve for the rest of the season and upcoming playoffs, however, first they need the full arsenal of existing players on the roster.
Manu Ginobili will likely miss a second straight contest with a bum left ankle, which takes away 16 points from the offense, not easily replaced.This was shown in an overtime loss to New York, the Spurs second loss in a row.
San Antonio is on the backend of an eight-game Rodeo road trip and is 5-0 ATS after allowing 100 or more points. The Spurs have not lost three straight since opening the season 0-3.
At least the Spurs aren’t the Detroit Pistons (27-25, 20-32 ATS) as the genie is out of the bottle. Since defeating the contaminated Clippers on January 4th, the Pistons are an awful 6-14 straight-up and ATS.
Detroit’s woes are epitomized by their record at The Palace, where they are 14-14 and a sickening 7-21 ATS. The Pistons have lost seven of eight at home and are 0-9 ATS against teams with winning records.
The Spurs are just 7-13-1 ATS against the Eastern Conference. San Antonio has rebounded quickly with a day off, sporting a 20-5 and 15-8-2 ATS record. Detroit is 5-16 ATS after a loss, however they have had the Spurs number.
The Pistons have won and covered four consecutive times against San Antonio and are 6-2 ATS at home.
Boston Celtics (-2) at Utah Jazz – 10:30 pm ET
Utah (31-23, 28-26 ATS) has enjoyed one of the best home court advantages in the NBA for a long time. In spite of dealing with a flurry of injuries most of the season, Utah is 22-6 at home, covering the spread 17 times, third best in the league.
This exceptional record will be tested by the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics, who have been running roughshod on the road.
Boston (44-11, 31-24 ATS) has the best record in the Eastern Conference due to the fact they have won nine consecutive road games (8-1 ATS).
The Celtics will be out for number 10, having last played a week ago in Dallas, when they erased a 15-point third quarter deficit to win 99-92. Boston is 6-1 ATS facing teams with winning home records.
Utah has been dealing with severe injury problems all season. Forward Carlos Boozer remains out, point guard Deron Williams missed significant time and center Mehmet Okur missed Tuesday night’s 117-99 win over Memphis due to an illness.
At least Andrei Kirilenko returned from an 11-game absence due to an ankle injury and was an immediate contributor with 14 points.
The Jazz are 26-11 ATS following a win by 10 or more points but are only 1-5 ATS in their last six meetings with Boston at Energy Solutions Arena.
The Celtics are among the betting kings of Thursday night with a 12-4 ATS mark. Keep a watchful eye on the Total of 201 points. Nine of the last 11 contests between these clubs have gone Over in Utah.
