I think I’m pretty close to insanity-status on betting Houston. Readers– remind me to not bet the Rockets ever again. Seriously, hit me up on Twitter (@ChrisRFarley1) and yell at me if I do. Also follow me on Twitter for nightly updates and live betting opportunities as they come up. Okay, with that, let’s take our 60% NBA win rate into Tuesday:
Hawks -7 (-110), 1 unit: The Cavaliers are an automatic fade for me until proven otherwise. With Andre Drummond still benched until traded and Kevin Love looking improbable for tonight’s game, it makes matters even worse. During this 10 game losing streak, the Cavaliers have lost by an average of 23.9 points. That’s an OMG stat. And not every team they’ve faced this past month was elite. The Knicks pounded them by 21 points, Denver beat them by 38, and OKC easily beat them by 16. Atlanta comes into tonight feeling a little fat and sassy after winning 2 of their last 3 against above-average opponents. Cam Reddish should play tonight and we’ve seen he can be a real difference maker when back in the lineup. This is just a 1 unit bet since we’re dealing with 2 flawed teams, but I’m on Atlanta tonight.
Lean, Boston -2.5 (-110): I don’t love the way the Celtics are playing lately and I just don’t think they’re a great team. Kemba Walker seems to be regressing and even though Tatum and Brown are super talented, it’s not enough. It’s like Brad Stevens has to call the perfect game for them to all be in lock-step. It’s frustrating for Boston and frustrating for fans to watch a team with so much potential. That being said, the Mavericks will be without Kristaps Porzingis Tuesday and they could be looking ahead since they travel to Philadelphia in 2 days, which starts a tough 3-game road stretch. Boston faces Atlanta tomorrow night, not a scary thought, and they should be motivated to redeem themselves after that awful let-down against New Orleans on Sunday. I may not bet this game, but I lean Celtics.
Warriors -1.5 (-110), 1.5 units: The Warriors will get Steph Curry back after an illness on Saturday, and according to multiple sites Steve Kerr thinks Kevon Looney and James Wiseman will return, too. This would give a huge boost to Golden State’s front court, who would essentially go from having no centers to two talented centers overnight. I get why the line is close, the Knicks are a tough team to beat at home, but this is a better spot for a Golden State team on a 2-game skid. I expect a big night from Steph, too. Take the Warriors.
76ers -1.5 (-110), 2 units: Toronto edged out Philly 2 days ago in a good matchup between Eastern Conference rivals. The Sixers will be healthy with all hands on deck tonight and it’s a great revenge spot. I’m taking this with little thought and confidence in Philadelphia to perform better than they have in recent past, particularly on the road. Tampa isn’t as intimidating as Toronto in February, and I love taking the better team in a double-header. Expect a big night from Philly’s big 3, too. PS– Ben Simmons is quietly playing his best basketball yet. He’ll be a difference maker tonight.
Blazers/Nuggets over 230.5 (-110), 2 units: As long as Paul Millsap, Gary Harris and P.J. Dozier are out of the Nuggets’ lineup, I’ll be looking at overs in Denver games. This game is even more likely to go over with Damian Lillard coming to town. Trae Young dropped 35 points on Denver on only 10-19 shooting 2 nights ago– will “Dame-Time” score 50+ Tuesday? He could. The Blazers are in need of a win and they’ll be experiencing a big drop-off in defensive prowess against the Nuggets after that sound beating from Phoenix last night. Portland is starting to lose their short-lived grip on defense, too. This sets up as an easy over– take it with confidence.
