Editor's Note: Kevin Rogers' NBA selections can be purchased on VegasInsider.com Click to win!
The Friday night card in the NBA involves nine games, and interestingly only three contests feature teams that own .500 records or better. The nationally televised doubleheader showcases four teams that have at least six wins or more.
Hawks at Celtics - 8:00 PM EST
There is still a shred of animosity when these two clubs get together, stemming from the first-round playoff matchup two seasons ago when the C's eliminated the Hawks in seven games.
Boston (8-1 SU, 5-4 ATS) continues to be the class of the Eastern Conference this season, dropping its only game at home to Phoenix last Friday. The Celtics have been a single-digit favorite just once this season, blowing out the Sixers as seven-point road 'chalk.'
The Hawks (6-2 SU, 7-1 ATS) own the best ATS mark in the league right now, with the lone non-cover coming against at Charlotte last Friday, a 103-83 loss. Atlanta was swept by Boston last season, dropping four games. Three of those contests were decided by six points or less, including Paul Pierce's buzzer-beater in a 103-102 victory last November in Boston.
Atlanta has suddenly turned into an 'over' machine, hitting the 'over' in four straight and five of the last six. Seven of the last nine meetings between these teams have gone 'over' the total, including three of four last season.
Sportsbook.com has listed the Celtics as 8 ½-point favorites, while the total is listed at 194 ½.
Lakers at Nuggets - 10:30 PM EST
The rematch of last season's Western Conference Finals pits two teams that own two of the three best records in the West. Basically, not much has dropped off between Los Angeles (6-1 SU, 2-5 ATS) and Denver (6-3 SU, 4-5 ATS), as the teams meet up for the first time since June.
The Lakers are 3-1 SU against teams that own a record of .500 or better, but are 0-4 ATS. L.A.'s offense has woken up following a slow start, as the Lakers have scored 100 points or more in five straight games. The scoring binge has resulted in four 'overs' in this span.
The Nuggets are back at home following a 3-3 road trip, as Denver has dropped three of four. The lone win came at Chicago with the disputed buzzer-beater shot by Brad Miller called off, giving the Nuggets a 90-89 victory.
These two teams met ten times last season, including six times in the conference finals. The Lakers went 7-3 SU, but only 5-5 ATS, while the 'under' cashed seven times.
The Nuggets opened up as three-point home 'chalk,' while the total is set at 212, according to Sportsbook.com.
What else to watch for:
-- Two of the surprising teams out west meet at Arco Arena, as the Kings host the Rockets. Sacramento (4-4 SU, 5-3 ATS) has won three straight despite the loss of leading scorer Kevin Martin to a fractured wrist. The Kings have taken care of their homecourt, picking up three victories in four home contests, while being listed as an underdog three times. The Rockets (5-3 SU, 6-2 ATS) are succeeding in life without Yao Ming and Ron Artest, scoring at least 100 points in each of the last seven games. Houston is a perfect 3-0 ATS with one day of rest this season, coming off a win on Wednesday over Memphis.
-- The Hornets will begin the post-Byron Scott era, after New Orleans (3-6 SU/ATS) axed its head coach just nine games into the season. The hot Trail Blazers (6-3 SU/ATS) travel to the Big Easy, as Portland is 2-0 on its current five-game road trip. Portland has been favored in each of its nine games, while going 3-1 on the road. These two clubs split four meetings last season, with the 'under' hitting in six of the last seven matchups.
-- The Jazz continue their East Coast swing in Philadelphia after getting blown out in Boston. Utah (3-5 SU, 2-6 ATS) has been a horrible road underdog since the middle of last season, compiling a 1-16 ATS mark when receiving points away from home since January, including an 0-3 ATS ledger this season. The Sixers (4-4 SU, 2-6 ATS) have burned plenty of tickets through the first three weeks, while putting together an 0-4 ATS record as an underdog. The Jazz have won seven of the last eight meetings, with a 5-2-1 ATS mark.
You can reach Kevin Rogers via e-mail at rogers@vegasinsider.com
