NBA: Tuesday Three-Pack
The NBA post All-Star break begins tonight and we are focusing on three games with some good betting opportunities.
Charlotte Bobcats (+8.5) at Orlando Magic – 7 pm ET
The Orlando Magic (38-13, 34-17 ATS) are still learning about life after Jameer Nelson and are looking to return to earlier season form.
The Magic are 2-3 straight-up and ATS since Nelson went down with an injury and were stumbling a bit even before then. Though Orlando is 20-6 (16-10 ATS) at home, they are just 4-3 in their last seven and are coming off their worst shooting performance of the season, as they missed 69.6% of their shots in scoring a mere 73 points against Denver.
When you score that few points, it is usually a team effort and Orlando is 41-14-1 ATS after a straight up loss. The Magic face a Charlotte club that has been remade since Larry Brown returned as coach.
The Bobcats (21-31, 31-21 ATS) are two games behind Milwaukee in the loss column for the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference and recently traded for former Laker Vladimir Radmanovic, who could be a terrific outside threat.
Charlotte is 6-17 on the road with a quality 14-9 ATS record and they are 7-2 ATS in their next game after covering the number.
Orlando is 7-1 straight-up and ATS hosting Charlotte, with the home team 14-3 ATS.
New Orleans Hornets (-3) at Oklahoma City Thunder – 8pm ET
The New Orleans franchise is glad to be returning to health and is looking to be a real factor in the stretch run. The Hornets lost six of their last eight before the break as Chris Paul, Peja Stojakovic, David West and Tyson Chandler have all been on the sidelines at some point lately.
These four players haven’t been on the court together since January 17th and it remains uncertain when they all will be again, with Chandler still out. Paul played in the last game against Boston and looked fresh and ready to go in the All-Star contest.
It would appear New Orleans (30-20, 22-27-1 ATS) is starting in the right location to get the remainder of the season going, traveling to Oklahoma City (13-40, 31-21-1 ATS).
The Hornets have stung Oklahoma City seven straight times (4-3 ATS) and are 28-13 ATS after two or more consecutive losses. The Thunder are an inept 10-18 at home, but are showing signs of life after a miserable start in their new town.
Thanks largely to Kevin Durant, the Thunder have struck hard, winning and covering four of their last five at home and are 18-9 ATS playing a team with a winning record.
Note that the Hornets are 21-6-1 ATS when favored by less than five points.
L.A. Clippers (+7.5) at Phoenix Suns – 9 pm ET
The city of Phoenix by most accounts did a splendid job hosting the All-Star game and now the Suns have to pull together from a tough situation.
With the Terry Porter firing, owner Robert Sarver is looking like a buffoon, GM Steve Kerr is looking inexperienced and the players childish and foolish. Porter also was part of the problem, never relating to this group of iron-willed players.
Assistant Alvin Gentry steps in and will return to a run and gun offense. “We are who we are and I think we have to go back to trying to establish a breakneck pace like we’ve had in the past,” Gentry said.
The Suns (28-23, 18-32-1 ATS) have the worst home record in the NBA among the true playoff contenders at 14-10 and are a miserable 8-16 ATS.
Not sure if you could call the Suns time off rest, with all the unrest surrounding the team, but they are 1-9-1 ATS with three or more days between games.
Phoenix has a home and home with the L.A. Clippers (13-40, 22-31 ATS), starting in Arizona and they are 3-8-1 ATS versus teams with losing records.
