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Tuesday’s Tip Sheet

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read
Game of the Night: Pelicans at Celtics – 7:35 PM EST

Boston (34-10 SU, 27-15-2 ATS) is back on the court following a four-day layoff. The Celtics traveled to London and overcame a 22-point deficit to stun the 76ers last Thursday, 114-103 to easily cash as two-point favorites. Brad Stevens’ team captured its third victory over Philadelphia this season as Jaylen Brown (21 points) and Kyrie Irving (20 points) led Boston to its seventh consecutive victory. During this stretch, Boston has covered five times, while allowing 98 points or less on five occasions.

The Pelicans (22-20 SU, 22-19-1 ATS) have won three of their past four games, including a remarkable comeback in Sunday’s overtime victory at New York. New Orleans overcame a 19-point second half deficit to pull off a stunning 123-118 triumph and a cover as 2 ½-point road favorites. Anthony Davis carried the Pelicans by scoring a season-high 48 points to go along with 17 rebounds, while guard Jrue Holiday pumped in 31 points to improve the Pelicans’ road mark to 11-11.

The Celtics own a 5-1 record in the past six matchups with the Pelicans as the lone loss came at New Orleans last November by one point. Boston has captured three consecutive meetings with New Orleans at TD Garden as the Pelicans’ last win in Beantown came in January 2014.

No Miracles Needed

The Vikings pulled out the Minnesota Miracle on Sunday against the Saints to advance to the NFC Championship, but the Timberwolves haven’t needed luck on their side of late. The Wolves (29-16 SU, 22-21-2 ATS) swept a five-game homestand, capped off by a 120-103 blowout of the Blazers on Sunday night as six-point favorites. The key to victory for Minnesota was an outstanding second quarter, as the Wolves outscored the Blazers, 26-10 to grab a 14-point halftime edge.

Minnesota shot nearly 54% from the floor as the trio of Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins, and Karl-Anthony Towns each scored at least 20 points. The Wolves embark on a quick two-game road swing that concludes in Houston on Thursday night for a showdown with the Rockets. However, the first contest takes place in central Florida against the struggling Magic, who have lost 16 of their last 17 games.

Orlando (12-31 SU, 16-26-1 ATS) has actually covered in its last two losses against Milwaukee and Washington as double-digit underdogs, but the Magic have allowed at least 110 points in each of their past five contests. The Magic have dropped six of the last seven games in the role of a home underdog, while cashing only twice with the only victory coming against the Pistons on December 28.

Maverick Money

Dallas (15-29 SU, 22-21-1 ATS) has a long way to go to get back into the Western Conference playoff conversation. However, the Mavericks have been a terrific team to support on the road, especially as an underdog recently. Rick Carlisle’s team has not only covered four straight as an away ‘dog, but they have won all those games outright at Indiana, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, and Charlotte. Dating back to late November, the Mavs own a scorching 9-1-1 ATS in the last 11 opportunities as a road underdog.

The next test for Dallas is a trip to Denver (22-21 SU, 20-21-2 ATS) to face a Nuggets’ squad that has lost four of five. Denver’s most recent defeat came in Saturday’s 112-80 thumping at the hands of San Antonio as 7 ½-point underdogs, while finishing UNDER the total for the fifth time in six games. The Nuggets’ offense has come up dry recently by scoring 99 points or less in five of the past six trips to the court, while not scoring over 100 points at home since a 134-point effort against Phoenix on January 3.

Dallas ripped Denver in its first meeting this season at American Airlines Center, 122-105 as two-point favorites on December 4. The Mavericks jumped out to a 16-point lead after one quarter and never looked back as Dallas shot 57% from the floor, while Harrison Barnes paced the Mavs with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Last season, the Mavericks lost both matchups at Pepsi Center, as the Nuggets won each game by double-digits.

Three Times a Charm?

The Suns (16-28 SU, 20-22-2 ATS) haven’t had any luck against the Blazers this season, losing twice in two meetings. Portland obliterated Phoenix on opening night, 124-76 to hand the Suns their worst loss in franchise history, but 10 days later at the Moda Center, the Suns covered as 12-point underdogs in a 114-107 setback.

Phoenix hits the highway for four games as the Suns try to snap a two-game skid following home blowout defeats to Houston and Indiana. The Suns weren’t even competitive in Sunday’s 120-97 loss to the Pacers as 3 ½-point underdogs, falling behind 20 points at halftime and shooting a dreadful 9-of-37 from three-point range. Phoenix has dropped three of its last four games, including losses at San Antonio and Denver this month as double-digit underdogs.

Portland (22-21 SU, 19-20-4 ATS) will be happy to return to the Pacific Northwest after losing the final three games of its four-game road swing. The Blazers yielded 121, 119, and 120 points in their final three defeats, as Terry Stotts’ squad has cashed the OVER in five consecutive games. However, Portland has played better at home recently following a six-game skid from late November through Christmas as the Blazers are riding a three-game winning streak at the Moda Center.

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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