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Only three days of action for NBA bettors to get wagers on before the All-Star Break this weekend in Dallas. However, the Tuesday card is loaded with plenty of solid matchups, including several late tip-offs. We'll start in South Florida with the struggling Heat looking to end a five-game skid.
Rockets (27-23 SU, 24-26 ATS) at Heat (24-27 SU, 24-27 ATS)
Miami has fallen apart at the seams recently, dropping five straight and six of seven, returning home to host Houston. The Heat finished up a three-game road trip at 0-3 SU and 1-2 ATS at Boston, Cleveland, and Chicago. The Rockets arrive in Miami off a come-from-ahead home loss to the Sixers on Saturday.
The Heat has played just seven home games since the New Year, as opposed to 14 on the highway. Miami is 3-4 SU/ATS, with two of the victories coming over Indiana and Sacramento. The only substantial home victory in this stretch came against the Hawks on January 4 as a two-point underdog, 92-75. The scoring has fallen by the wayside for Erik Spoelstra's squad, tallying less than 100 points in five of the last six games.
The Rockets began the season as a solid road underdog play, starting 7-3 ATS. From December 23 to January 18, Houston went on an 0-6 ATS road 'dog slide. The Rockets are starting to bounce back in that role, compiling outright away 'dog victories at San Antonio and Memphis over the last two weeks. This is the only game all week for Rick Adelman's club, as the Rockets are off until next Tuesday against Utah after the contest in Miami.
The Rockets had owned the Heat prior to the first meeting of the season, winning and covering five of six meetings. Miami got the better of Houston at the Toyota Center on January 15, beating the Rockets, 115-106, as four-point 'dogs. Dwyane Wade put up a game-high 37 points in the victory, while ex-Rocket Rafer Alston added 17.
Hawks (32-17 SU, 31-18 ATS) at Grizzlies (26-24 SU, 27-22-1 ATS)
Memphis has hit the skids as of late, losing each of its last three games, hosting Atlanta at FedEx Forum. The Grizzlies' lone victory in their previous six contests came by two points over the Lakers last Monday, while going 1-5 ATS. The Hawks have been off since beating the Bulls on Friday, as Saturday's game at Washington was postponed due to snow.
Atlanta has not been strong against the number recently, failing to cover four of its last six games. Mike Woodson's team is 1-3 SU/ATS the previous four on the highway, including losses at San Antonio, Orlando, and Oklahoma City. The Hawks took care of the Grizzlies at Philips Arena, 110-97 back on December 16 as 9 ½-point favorites.
The Grizzlies went on a 19-7 SU stretch since the start of December, including 11 straight home victories. It's been a cold span for Memphis since, allowing over 100 points in each of its last six losses, while failing to cover each of its last three games.
Mavericks (32-19 SU, 21-30 ATS) at Nuggets (34-17 SU, 23-25-3 ATS)
Dallas comes into the Pepsi Center with no rest following Monday's win at Golden State. Denver will try to come back to full strength, as both Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups are nursing ankle injuries. Billups sat out Saturday's loss at Utah, while Anthony has been sidelined each of the last eight games (5-3 SU, 4-3-1 ATS).
The Nuggets have two important home contests against Texas opponents prior to the All-Star Break, with the Mavs on Tuesday and the Spurs on Thursday. Denver is 8-1 SU and 3-5-1 ATS the last nine at home, while Anthony missed five of those games. In the eight games without 'Melo, the total hasn't swung one way or the other consistently, going 4-4 to the 'over.'
The Mavs are a dreadful 3-12 ATS their last 15 games, but each cover came on the road in wins at Boston, New York, and Golden State. Dallas picked up a surprising victory at Pepsi Center as 5 ½-point 'dogs, 104-96 on December 27. What was even more impressive about that road triumph was the Mavs playing with no rest, as will be the case on Tuesday.
The Nuggets are 6-4-1 ATS at home this season against teams playing the second of a back-to-back, while going 10-1 SU (Dallas is the lone blemish to Denver's perfect mark).
Thunder (29-21 SU, 31-19 ATS) at Blazers (30-23 SU, 28-24-1 ATS)
These two Northwest Division rivals meet up for the first time since November, as the Thunder looks for a sixth straight win. Oklahoma City continues a three-game road swing, coming off Saturday's 104-95 victory at Golden State. The Blazers are off a disappointing 99-82 home loss to the Kobe Bryant-less Lakers on Saturday.
Portland is 6-1 ATS and 5-2 SU off a loss since January 8, and 6-2 SU at home off a defeat since December 5. The Blazers have played the last ten games without Brandon Roy, covering six times, despite a 4-6 SU mark. Portland did knock off Oklahoma City at the Ford Center, 83-74 back on November 1, as three-point road 'chalk.'
The Thunder continues to impress, especially on the road. Oklahoma City is 14-3 ATS the last 17 on the highway, including a 4-2 ATS ledger as an away favorite this season. OKC's offense has heated up as well during this hot streak, topping the 100-point mark in each of those wins. The Sonics/Thunder has struggled at the Rose Garden, losing each of its last five road meetings.
You can reach Kevin Rogers via e-mail at rogers@vegasinsider.com
