1 - Lakers
Weekly Rewind: The Champs rolled the Pacers to begin the week as 11 ½-point favorites, 122-99, but the trip through the Southeast Division turned into a disastrous one. The Lakers fell at Miami, Charlotte, and Orlando, but managed a cover against the Magic as 2 ½-point underdogs, despite a 96-94 setback.
Weekly Outlook: The Lakers return to Staples Center on Tuesday to host the Raptors, looking to avenge a late January loss at Toronto. Los Angeles begins a three-game road trip within the division on Friday, traveling to Phoenix for the final regular season meeting with the Suns. The home team has taken the first three matchups, as the Suns torched the Lakers in their meeting in the Valley in late December, 118-103.
2 - Mavericks
Weekly Rewind: Dallas remains on fire after picking up its 11th straight victory on Saturday at Chicago. The Mavs rallied past the Bobcats as road underdogs, then failed to cover in home victories over the Wolves and Kings. The 'over' has been nailed in six of their last seven games, while playing the last two games without Jason Terry, who suffered an orbital fracture against Minnesota.
Weekly Outlook: This is basically a show-up week for Rick Carlisle's club. The Mavs can show up and be riding a 14-game hot streak by next Sunday. Dallas heads to Minnesota on Monday, before returning home for four games. The Mavs host the Nets on Wednesday and the Knicks on Saturday, however, Dallas is 2-22 ATS the last 24 in the role of a home favorite.
3 - Nuggets
Weekly Rewind: After running out of gas in a 101-85 loss at Phoenix to start the week, Denver's offense reloaded in three straight home victories over Oklahoma City, Indiana, and Portland. The Nuggets covered easily in the wins against division opponents, while finishing 'over' the total in the last three games.
Weekly Outlook: George Karl's squad hits the road for a four-game trip beginning Wednesday in Minnesota against the Wolves. Denver heads to New Orleans on Friday, then makes the quick turnaround on Saturday to Memphis, trying to avenge a six-point loss to the Grizzlies in late December.
4 - Jazz
Weekly Rewind: Utah captured two of three games, including a huge comeback victory at Phoenix, 116-108 as two-point 'dogs. The Jazz split a pair of games with the Clippers, as the home team won each time, including a 107-85 blowout of Los Angeles in Salt Lake City as 14-point favorites.
Weekly Outlook: The Jazz heads to the Midwest this week, starting with a matchup in Chicago on Tuesday against the Bulls. Jerry Sloan's club travels to Detroit with no rest on Wednesday, prior to a Friday meeting in Milwaukee with the Bucks. Utah wraps up the week with a division showdown in Oklahoma City on Sunday.
5 - Suns
Weekly Rewind: Phoenix is still on fire, while trying to finish in the top half of the Western Conference. The Suns are 14-4 SU/ATS the last 18 games, including a 3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS week. Alvin Gentry's team ran out both the Nuggets and Clippers before falling to the Jazz. Phoenix outlasted Indiana, 113-105, but failed to cover as 13-point home 'chalk.'
Weekly Outlook: The Suns continue their seven-game homestand, but they don't take the court again until Friday against the Lakers. Phoenix wraps up the long week with New Orleans on Sunday, as the Suns look to beat the Hornets for a third time this season.
6 - Thunder
Weekly Rewind: Oklahoma City took care of its business with a pair of wins over Sacramento, while knocking off the Clippers. The Thunder felt the high altitude with a 29-point loss at Denver with no rest, allowing a season-high 119 points.
Weekly Outlook: The Thunder comes home for three games this week, starting with the Hornets on Wednesday. New Jersey invades OKC on Friday, prior to a meeting with Utah on Sunday. OKC is 2-0 against Utah this season, but the Jazz covered at the Ford Center on New Year's Eve in an 87-86 loss.
7 - Spurs
Weekly Rewind: San Antonio is catching fire, owning a four-game winning streak, including a perfect 3-0 SU/ATS week. The Spurs took care of their divisional business, sweeping the Hornets and downing the Grizzlies on the road. The victory at Memphis did come at a price, with point guard Tony Parker likely out the next six weeks with a broken hand.
Weekly Outlook: The Spurs head to Cleveland on Monday for their first meeting this season, as San Antonio is 4-2 ATS the last six as a road underdog. San Antonio returns home on Wednesday to host New York, before a quick trip to Minnesota on Friday. The Spurs entertain the Clippers on Saturday, as both teams will play with no rest, while L.A. wraps up a four game in five night stretch.
8 - Blazers
Weekly Rewind: Portland wrapped up a five-game road trip at 4-1 SU/ATS with a comeback victory at Memphis, 103-93. The Blazers returned to the Rose Garden with a 102-79 blowout of the Pacers, but Portland was tripped up in Denver to finish off the week in a 12-point setback.
Weekly Outlook: The Blazers play four times this week, starting with three matchups against Pacific Division foes. Portland hosts Sacramento on Tuesday, followed by a two-game trip through Northern California against the Warriors (Thursday) and Kings (Friday). Portland comes back home on Sunday to battle Toronto, as the Raptors will be playing with no rest.
9 - Rockets
Weekly Rewind: It was an up-and-down week for the Rockets, alternating wins and losses in four games. Houston ran out Toronto as six-point home favorites, but slipped up two nights later as 7 ½-point 'chalk' against the Kings, losing outright to Sacramento, 84-81. The Rockets split a road back-to-back set with a win at Minnesota, followed by an overtime loss at Detroit.
Weekly Outlook: The Rockets wrap up their three-game road trip on Tuesday in Washington, as Houston is 3-0 SU/ATS the last three off a loss. The short week concludes on Saturday at home against the Nets, but the Rockets are just 2-11 ATS the previous 13 as favorites at the Toyota Center.
10 - Grizzlies
Weekly Rewind: Memphis sandwiched in a pair of road victories over New Orleans and Chicago, surrounded by home losses to Portland and San Antonio. Following the setback to the Spurs, the Grizzlies are on a disappointing 0-7 ATS run as home favorites.
Weekly Outlook: The Grizzlies will be busy with four contests, including the first three against Eastern foes. Memphis hosts New Jersey on Monday, trying to win its first home game since February 1. The Grizzlies travel to Boston on Wednesday, prior to a back-to-back home set against the Knicks (Friday) and Nuggets (Saturday).
11 - Hornets
Weekly Rewind: New Orleans is suddenly coming apart at the seams, falling in six of its last seven games. The Hornets dropped all three games this past week against division opponents, losing to the Spurs twice and a four-point home decision to the Grizzlies. The defense for the Hornets has cost them dearly during this cold streak, allowing over 100 points in each of the five losses.
Weekly Outlook: The Warriors invade the Big Easy on Monday, as Golden State concludes a five-game road trip. The Hornets make the trek to Oklahoma City on Wednesday, with the road team winning each of the first two meetings. Jeff Bower's club hosts the Nuggets on Friday, followed by a trip to Phoenix on Sunday, the start of a five-game trip for New Orleans.
12 - Clippers
Weekly Rewind: Los Angeles upended Utah as home underdogs to start the week, 108-104. The Clips remembered who they were for the remainder of the week, falling in three straight losses to the Suns, Thunder, and Jazz. Following the loss at Utah, the Clips are now 0-5 SU/ATS the last five on the road.
Weekly Outlook: The Clippers' family truckster heads east for four games in five nights starting Tuesday in Orlando. L.A. stays in the Sunshine State on Wednesday to battle the Heat, prior to a back-to-back in Charlotte (Friday) and San Antonio (Saturday) to conclude the trip.
13 - Kings
Weekly Rewind: Prior to Sunday's home loss to Oklahoma City, Sacramento cashed in five straight games for the second time this season. The Kings finished a three-game trip through the southwest at 1-2 SU, but 3-0 ATS with covers against the Thunder, Rockets, and Mavs.
Weekly Outlook: Sacramento travels north to Portland on Tuesday, trying to avenge a seven-point loss at the Rose Garden on December 15. The Kings come back to Arco Arena on Wednesday to start a five-game homestand with the Raptors. The Blazers battle the Kings for a second time this week on Friday, followed by a Sunday contest with the Wolves.
14 - Warriors
Weekly Rewind: Golden State's East Coast trip has been a winless one so far, with losses in four of the first five games. The Warriors managed covers at Miami and Atlanta, but fell short of cashing at Orlando and Charlotte. Golden State is still playing a bit undermanned, with leading scorer Monta Ellis missing the trip with a sore back.
Weekly Outlook: The road trip concludes in New Orleans on Monday, as the Warriors are 9-3 ATS the last 12 away from Oracle Arena. Golden State returns to the Bay Area on Thursday to start a four-game homestand with Portland. The Warriors wrap up this week with the first meeting against the Raptors this season on Saturday.
15 - Timberwolves
Weekly Rewind: It's been tough times for the Wolves, dropping 11 of 12, including both games this week. Minnesota played without center Al Jefferson in losses to Dallas and Houston, as the big man was suspended following a DWI arrest. The Wolves have allowed at least 109 points in each of the last four games, but did cover in the loss to the Mavs as 13-point road 'dogs.
Weekly Outlook: Minnesota is in for another long week, playing three games at home against solid Western Conference opponents. The Wolves host the Mavs on Monday, followed by the Nuggets on Wednesday and Spurs on Friday. Kurt Rambis' squad heads back on the road on Sunday for a four-game trip that starts in Sacramento against the Kings.
You can reach Kevin Rogers via e-mail at rogers@vegasinsider.com
