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Wednesday Tips
December 11, 2012
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Wednesday's NBA card is filled with action as 13 games take place. Two of those contests are playoff rematches from last season (Bulls/76ers and Spurs/Jazz), while the Mavericks try to stay hot with a trip to Boston. We'll start with the Warriors looking to stay golden on their road swing heading to South Florida against the defending champs.
Warriors at Heat - 7:35 PM EST
Golden State is rolling so far on its East Coast trek with four consecutive victories, while putting up at least 100 points in each win. Mark Jackson's club makes the fifth stop on this eight-game trip to Miami against a Heat squad that is coming off back-to-back home victories over New Orleans and Atlanta. The big question for Golden State on Wednesday is if they can keep up their hot scoring ways.
In one of the more quirky turnouts from a totals perspective this season, the Warriors scored 38 and 35 points in two separate quarters, but combined for 31 points in two other quarters in Monday's triumph at Charlotte. Golden State managed a cover as 4 ½-point favorites, while improving to 8-4 SU and 7-4-1 ATS away from Oracle Arena. The Warriors have won seven of eight games overall, as Golden State's offense has helped contribute to five 'overs' in this span.
The Heat rebounded from an embarrassing loss to the Knicks last Thursday to beat the Hornets and Hawks, while covering the number each time. After allowing at least 100 points in five of the previous six contests, Erik Spoelstra's team gave up just 90 to New Orleans and 92 to Atlanta, while owning an 8-3 record to the 'over' at American Airlines Arena. Three of the last four meetings between these teams in South Florida have finished 'over' the total, but Golden State has compiled a 3-0-1 ATS record in this stretch.
Bulls at 76ers - 7:35 PM EST
Philadelphia knocked Chicago out of the first round of the playoffs in May, but the Bulls didn't have star point guard Derrick Rose for the final five games with an ACL tear. The Bulls picked up a modicum of revenge on December 1 with a 93-88 victory over the 76ers at the United Center, as Philadelphia managed a cover as 6 ½-point underdogs.
The Sixers have won just two of their last five contests following a three-game winning streak to close out November. Philadelphia used a late run to escape past Detroit on Monday, 104-97 to cash as 5 ½-point home 'chalk,' while avenging an early blowout loss to the Pistons. The offense finally got in gear after four consecutive games being held to less than 100 points, as Doug Collins' team has hit the 'over' in seven straight home contests.
The Bulls enter this game with no rest following Tuesday's home loss to the Clippers, as Chicago has split four contests when playing on the second of a back-to-back. Tom Thibodeau's club continues to be a dominating defense presence by cashing the 'under' in eight of the last nine games, while posting a 4-2 record to the 'under' in games with totals of 184 or less. Since blowing a 27-point lead in a home loss to Milwaukee, the Bulls have won five of their past seven contests.
Mavericks at Celtics - 8:00 PM EST
Dallas has quietly won three consecutive games since a 22-point beatdown by the Clippers to start its most recent road trip. The Mavs hit the highway again for three games in four nights, starting in Boston against a Celtics' club that has alternated wins and losses in each of their last seven contests. The C's dismantled the 76ers in the second of a home-and-home set on Saturday, 92-79, the sixth straight game that Boston has yielded less than 100 points.
Dirk Nowitzki remains out for Dallas, but O.J. Mayo has taken the role of leading scorer in his first season with the Mavs by averaging 20.8 points per game. The former Grizzlies' guard put up a career-best 40 points in Saturday's comeback victory at Houston, while scoring 19 points in Monday's home triumph over Sacramento, 119-96. The Mavs began the season eclipsing the 'over' in their first five games, but have hit the 'over' in just seven of their last 16 contests.
The Celtics have won four of their last five trips to the new parquet, including three victories by double-digits. Boston owns a solid 4-1 SU and 3-1-1 ATS record against the Western Conference at home this season, as the lone loss came to San Antonio in a 12-point setback. The C's have covered back-to-back games only twice this season, while putting together a 2-4-1 ATS record off an ATS win.
Spurs at Jazz - 10:30 PM EST
San Antonio continues to score points at a frantic pace as the defending Southwest Division champs have scored at least 110 points in seven of the last nine games. The Spurs are rolling with five straight victories, including Monday's frontdoor overtime triumph at Houston as seven-point favorites, 134-126.
The Jazz haven't had the best of luck when facing the Spurs recently, losing nine of the last 10 meetings, including all four in the first round of last season's playoffs. Utah dropped the first matchup with San Antonio this season, a 110-100 defeat at the AT&T Center as 7 ½-point underdogs in early November. Tyrone Corbin's club continues to be dominant at home with an 8-1 record, as the lone loss came by one point to the Clippers last Monday.
There aren't many negatives when analyzing Gregg Popovich's team, as the Spurs have put together a 13-4 ATS record the past 17 games. After starting 0-2 ATS the first two road contests, San Antonio owns a sterling 10-1 ATS mark the last 11 games on the highway. In the previous eight away games, the Spurs have nailed the 'over' each time, including each of the last three with the total set at 200 or above.
You can reach Kevin Rogers via e-mail at rogers@vegasinsider.com
Kevin Rogers can be followed on Twitter at virogers.
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