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Let’s continue this heater in February, with our 3 unit play absolutely crushing last night! Articles are up +6.10 units on the month, with a record of 15-8-1!
Denver at Charlotte +8.5 (O/U 237.5)
Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said, “We’re not playing hard enough.” As well as “Hopefully against Charlotte, we can find a way to play with a lot more effort, play with a lot more urgency.”
Essentially the HC called out his Nugget team to stop taking teams lightly. Losing at Orlando two nights ago by quite a margin due to, lack of effort. I expect a big effort tonight in Charlotte, Denver is 8-1 ATS off an ATS loss. The Nuggets are 1-8 away vs teams under .500, which in my opinion is more of a reason to play Denver tonight!
Charlotte is playing on back-to-back nights, playing 5 of their last 6 games away, as well as 11 of 16 away. They gave up 25 3’s vs Boston last night, that is not a good sign for the Hornets. With Denver ranking 1st offensively in FG and 3 point %, as well as 2nd in assists per game.
In Charlotte’s last 12 games being 7.5 point dogs or more, they are 3-9 ATS. They are in shreds right now, just trying to get through the season, losing and not covering in their last 5. I believe nothing changes tonight, so I’ll be backing Denver in the 1st half as well as the game.
1H: Nuggets -4.5 (BetMGM -110) 1.5 units
Nuggets -8.5 (Barstool -108) 0.75 unit
Utah at NY Knicks -6 (O/U 228.5)
This is a rare game where you have both teams playing back to backs, while playing different teams the night before. This is certainly foreign territory for the Utah Jazz, only playing 3 games away from Salt Lake in their last 14 and their 1st back to back in different cities since December 20th. The Jazz come off a comeback win in Toronto, being down 14 at one point, but were able to hold Toronto to 20 4th quarter points.
This Utah squad doesn’t exactly play a whole lot of defense, giving up 123 points a game in their last 7. Now facing a Knicks team who can get hot from the field, when they do look out! The Jazz desperately missed Clarkson last night, shooting as a team 6/24 from 3 point land. While he might come back tonight, they will need him and a lot more. What comes with is a player who turns the ball over consistently averaging almost 3 a game and 4 of his last 9 committing 4+. Utah ranks 25th in the league in TO’s, averaging 15.1 per game, this does not bode well facing a Knick team who ranks 4th in the league in forced TO’s.
The Knicks enter this game winning 5 of their last 9, with home wins vs Miami, Cleveland and Philly. As 6 point favorites or more, they are 5-1 ATS their last six games. When they’re heavier favorites they tend to take care of business. They have too much speed for Utah and play a pressuring defense, ranking 3rd defensively in FG%. They have rebounded the heck out of the ball recently, out-rebounding their last 7 of 9 opponents. Now face a Jazz team who have given up 14.6 offensive rebounds a game in their last 5.
Knicks -6 (FanDuel -110) 1.75 units
San Antonio at Atlanta -13.5 (O/U 240)
This young Spurs team of quite honestly no-names, head to Atlanta Saturday night to face the Hawks. San Antonio came off an OT loss in Detroit last night, while the Pistons caliber may not be as high as Atlanta these kids tried hard all the way to the buzzer. I found this stat interesting, they rank 4th in offensive assists per game. This shows me good coaching, and that the kids will listen. The proof is in the pudding.
I think this will be an up and down the court game tonight, with these two teams ranking 5th and 10th in pace. The Hawks have been scoring a plethora of points for a while, averaging 117 in their last 10, north of 115 in 6 of 9. Not good for the Spurs who give up 122.7 points a game, rank 30th in field goals made, as well as 3 point %. San Antonio is 5-3-1 to the over on back to back’s, with 5 straight overs. Giving up an average of 126 points defensively in each!
San Antonio is 16-9-1 to the over in away games, with 13 of their last 16 going over. As double digit dogs, the over is 8-1 their last 9. Atlanta comes into this game when 7 point favorites or more, the over is 6-1.
Over 240 (DraftKings -110) 1.25 units