Wednesday’s Tip Sheet

Game of the Night: Nuggets at Clippers – 10:35 PM EST

The Clippers (22-21 SU, 24-18-1 ATS) forged above the .500 mark on Monday by grabbing their fifth consecutive victory. Los Angeles knocked off old friend Chris Paul and Houston, 113-102 in a chippy game to say the least as tensions were high on both sides. Nonetheless, former Rocket Lou Williams burned his old squad with 31 points, while Blake Griffin posted a 29-point, 10-rebound effort as the Clippers cashed outright as 4 ½-point underdogs. Doc Rivers’ squad has won 11 of their past 14 games since a three-game skid in mid-December.

The Nuggets (23-21 SU, 20-22-2 ATS) travel to Staples Center with no rest after holding off the Mavericks on Tuesday, 105-102. Denver was on its way to a cover as 6 ½-point home favorites, but the Nuggets were outscored by the Mavericks in the fourth quarter, 33-19. Only three Nuggets scored in double-figures, but all three posted at least 22 points as Nikola Jokic (29 points, 18 rebounds), Gary Harris (25 points), and Will Barton (22 points) helped Denver to its fourth home win in five tries.

Denver has struggled with no rest this season by compiling a 2-6 SU and 3-4-1 ATS record, while meeting up with L.A. for the first time in 2017-18. The Nuggets had their way with the Clippers last season by capturing three of four meetings, but Denver is 2-10 SU and 4-7-1 ATS this season on the road following a victory.

Quick Turnaround

On Sunday, the Heat (25-18 SU, 19-22-2 ATS) cruised past the Bucks as two-point home favorites, 97-79. Now, these two Eastern Conference squads are hooking up once again, but this time in Milwaukee. Miami’s seven-game winning streak came to a halt on Monday in Chicago, as the Heat continue a five-game road swing tonight. The Heat allowed 119 points to the Bulls, the most they have yielded since giving up 123 in a home loss to Golden State on December 3.

Milwaukee (23-20 SU, 18-20-5 ATS) snapped a two-game skid in Monday’s comeback victory at Washington, 104-95 as 5 ½-point underdogs. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 27 points and 20 rebounds, as the Bucks knocked off the Wizards for the second time this month. The Bucks cashed the UNDER for the sixth straight game, but Milwaukee looks to improve on a 2-4-1 ATS record in their last seven contests at BMO Harris Bradley Center.

Encore Performance?

The Pelicans (23-20 SU, 23-19-1 ATS) have been heating up of late, coming off a pair of road overtime victories at New York and Boston. On Tuesday, Anthony Davis torched the Celtics for 45 points and 16 rebounds in a 116-113 triumph at TD Garden to cash as 5 ½-point underdogs and extend New Orleans’ winning streak to three games. The Pelicans have won five of their last seven games away from Smoothie King Center as they travel back south to face Atlanta.

The Hawks (12-31 SU, 23-18-2 ATS) stunned the Spurs as 5 ½-point home underdogs on Monday, 102-99 to grab their eighth win of the season at Philips Arena. Atlanta has turned into a solid home ‘dog recently by covering in their last four opportunities, including outright victories over Portland and Washington during this stretch. The Hawks look to avenge a 106-105 defeat at New Orleans in mid-November, as these two teams have split their season series each of the past four years.

Ballin’ Out

Or Lonzo Ball is just out as the Lakers’ guard is sidelined for tonight’s contest at Oklahoma City with a left knee sprain. The span style="font-weight: bold;">Lakers (15-28 SU, 21-22 ATS) had won four consecutive games prior to Monday’s 123-114 setback at Memphis as 3 ½-point underdogs, in spite of guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope knocking down six three-points and scoring 27 points. Los Angeles was embarrassed by Oklahoma City at Staples Center on January 3 in a 133-96 blowout loss as five-point underdogs, while allowing the Thunder to shoot 60% from the floor.

The Thunder (24-20 SU, 17-27 ATS) fell to 0-4 ATS the last four games at Chesapeake Energy Arena after failing to cash in Monday’s 95-88 win over the Kings. Oklahoma City led by 16 points with four minutes remaining, but was outscored 14-5 down the stretch as the Thunder couldn’t cover as 11 ½-point favorites. The Thunder have dominated the Lakers at home over the years by compiling a 10-0 SU and 9-1 ATS record the last 10 meetings in Oklahoma City, while L.A. hasn’t busted the 96-point mark in the past four visits.

Road Warriors

The defending champion Warriors (36-9 SU, 21-23-1 ATS) have actually been more impressive this season away from the Bay Area than at home. Golden State owns a dazzling 20-3 road mark, including 13 consecutive away victories, capped off by Monday’s 118-108 triumph at Cleveland to pull off a sweep of the Cavaliers. Steve Kerr’s team has gone 8-5 ATS in this 13-game road winning streak, including a 4-2 ATS mark as a favorite of eight points or more.

Kerr and the Warriors continue their five-game road swing in Chicago against the Bulls (17-27 SU, 26-17-1 ATS), who are riding a three-game hot streak. The Bulls are coming off back-to-back home victories over the Pistons and Heat, while evening their record at the United Center to 11-11. Chicago has picked up the pace from a scoring perspective by sailing OVER the total in 15 of the past 18 games, including six consecutive OVERS at the United Center.

Welcome Back Steve

The Hornets (17-25 SU, 18-21-3) have been one of the bigger disappointments this season in the NBA, but they will get their head coach back on the sidelines tonight. Steve Clifford missed the last 21 games due to headaches caused by sleep deprivation, as Charlotte put together a 9-12 record without their head coach. Charlotte has been up and down of late by alternating wins and losses in their past five games, coming off Monday’s 118-107 victory at Detroit.

Charlotte will look to find some consistency with a home contest against Washington (25-19 SU, 19-25 ATS), who embarks on a five-game road trip. The Wizards have been horrible against the number recently by failing to cover in six consecutive games, coming off Monday’s home defeat to Milwaukee. However, Washington has fared well in the underdog role by compiling a 10-3 ATS record, while trying to avenge a 129-124 overtime loss at Charlotte from November.

Fast Break

-- The Spurs seek the season sweep of the Nets for the third straight season after beating Brooklyn in the first matchup, 109-97 on December 26. San Antonio travels to Barclays Center looking to improve on a 2-5 record in its last seven road contests. Brooklyn has dropped five of its past six games, including four straight at home following Monday’s 15-point defeat to New York.

-- The Pistons and Raptors are hooking up for the first time this season after Toronto grabbed three of four meetings last season. Detroit has stumbled on the highway of late by losing six of its past seven games away from Little Caesars Arena, while Toronto tries to halt a two-game skid following a pair of defeats to Golden State and Philadelphia.

-- The Knicks haven’t won consecutive games since mid-December as New York is coming off a 119-104 victory at Brooklyn on Monday. New York travels to Memphis seeking a season sweep of the Grizzlies as the Knicks captured the first matchup at Madison Square Garden, 99-88 in early December. The Grizzlies have fared well against the number of late by compiling a 6-2 ATS record the last eight games, while winning four of the previous six contests at FedEx Forum.

-- Both Utah and Sacramento have slumped of late as the two Western Conference foes meet at Golden 1 Center. The Jazz have lost five of their last six games, while the Kings are riding a five-game skid. Utah took care of Sacramento last season with three victories in four matchups, while the Kings’ lone win came by one point in Salt Lake City.

You can reach Kevin Rogers via e-mail at rogers@vegasinsider.com

Kevin Rogers can be followed on Twitter at virogers.