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Monday’s Tip Sheet

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
6 minute read
Game of the Night: Wolves at Clippers – 10:35 PM EST

Minnesota (30-18 SU, 23-23-2 ATS) has captured each of the first two meetings with Los Angeles this season as the teams meet for the third of four matchups. The Wolves have won each contest by six points apiece, as the first victory came at Target Center in early December, 112-106, but the Clippers covered as 12-point underdogs. Minnesota won the rematch three days later at Staples Center, 113-107, as the Wolves cashed barely as 5 ½-point favorites.

The Clippers (23-22 SU, 25-19-1 ATS) saw their six-game winning streak disappear on Saturday in a 125-113 defeat at Utah as two-point underdogs. L.A. allowed 76 first half points and Utah to shoot 55% from the floor. Lou Williams paced the Clippers with 31 points and 10 steals in the loss, as Los Angeles had its three-game road winning streak snapped.

The Wolves played without guard Jimmy Butler on Saturday night, but Minnesota rallied past Toronto as short home underdogs, 115-109 to snap a two-game skid. Minnesota knocked down 32-of-42 free throws in the win, while Andrew Wiggins led the Wolves with 29 points. Butler is listed as questionable on Monday with a knee injury, as Minnesota looks to end a four-game road losing streak.

First Things First

A pair of division leaders meet up in Houston as the Rockets (32-12 SU, 22-21-1 ATS) try to avoid a letdown as the Heat invade the Toyota Center. Houston knocked off Golden State for the second time this season on Saturday, 116-108 to cash as 2 ½-point home underdogs, as Chris Paul led the Rockets with 33 points and 11 rebounds. The Rockets improved to 5-1 SU/ATS the last six games following consecutive losses to the Pistons and Warriors earlier this month, while recording four consecutive UNDERS.

The Heat (27-19 SU, 21-23-2 ATS) conclude their five-game road swing after rallying past the Hornets on Saturday, 106-105 as seven-point underdogs. Miami continues to cash tickets in the away ‘dog role by going 7-2 ATS in the last nine opportunities, including victories over Toronto, Milwaukee, and Boston. The Heat swept the Rockets last season, as Miami won both games as a hefty underdog, while surprising Houston at the Toyota Center as 10-point ‘dogs last February.

Georgia ‘Dogs

The Hawks (13-32 SU, 24-19-2 ATS) are near the bottom of the Southeast division, but Atlanta has been a solid look in the role of a home underdog of late. Although the Hawks are coming off a 16-point defeat to the Bulls on Saturday (as a home favorite), Atlanta has won and covered five straight times when receiving points at Philips Arena. During this hot streak, the Hawks have knocked off the Pelicans, Blazers, Spurs, Mavericks, and Wizards.

The next test for Atlanta as a home ‘dog comes against Utah (19-27 SU, 23-23 ATS), who hasn’t won consecutive games since early December. The Jazz held off the Clippers on Saturday, 125-113, as Utah hit the OVER for third straight contest. Quin Snyder’s team has struggled away from Salt Lake City this season by compiling a 5-18 road mark, but the Jazz have won two of their past three away games.

American Dream

The “process” is working for the 76ers (22-20 SU, 24-17-1 ATS) of late by winning seven of their last eight games. Interestingly, the only defeat in this span came in London against the Celtics on January 11 as Philadelphia squandered a 22-point lead. So the last eight games played in the United States, the Sixers have been victorious, including a 116-94 blowout of the short-handed Bucks on Saturday. Philadelphia owns a 4-1 SU/ATS record in its past five road contests as the Sixers travel to Memphis.

The Grizzlies (16-29 SU, 19-24-2 ATS) have been a covering machine since December 27 by putting together a 9-2 ATS record in the previous 11 contests. The latest ATS win came in Saturday’s 111-104 defeat at New Orleans, but Memphis managed a cover as nine-point underdogs. Memphis has fared extremely well at FedEx Forum of late by winning five of the last six on their home floor, while covering five straight in this span.

Back on Track

Following a 1-4 ATS stretch, the Bulls (18-28 SU, 28-17-1 ATS) have covered five consecutive games, including a 113-97 blowout of the Hawks on Saturday as a short underdog. Since losing at Golden State by 49 points on November 24, Chicago has compiled a 10-2 ATS record in its past 12 games away from the United Center. The Bulls have won six of those road contests, but the last three have come against teams currently below .500 (Atlanta, Dallas, New York).

Chicago heads to the Big Easy to face New Orleans (24-21 SU, 23-21-1 ATS) as the Pelicans are heating up of late by going 4-1 in the last five games. Two wins in this stretch have come in overtime at Boston and New York, but the Pelicans have struggled to cover numbers as a home favorite recently by posting a 1-4 ATS mark in the last five opportunities. The Pelicans held off the Bulls in overtime at the United Center in their first meeting this season, 96-90 as 5 ½-point favorites.

Blazing Back

After its defense was torched in the final three losses of its recent road trip, Portland (25-21 SU, 21-21-4 ATS) swept a three-game homestand by beating Phoenix, Indiana, and Dallas. The Blazers extended their home winning streak to six with Saturday’s nine-point triumph over the Mavericks, as their last home defeat came to the Nuggets on December 22. Portland will look to avenge that defeat with a trip to Pepsi Center in Denver as the two Northwest rivals have split two meetings this season.

The Nuggets (23-23 SU, 20-24-2 ATS) have gone backwards of late by dropping consecutive games to the Clippers and Suns, while failing to cover in four straight contests. Denver is riding a six-game UNDER streak, while scoring 105 points or fewer in each of those contests. Each of the past four meetings between these teams at Pepsi Center have eclipsed the OVER, including both matchups last season.

Fast Break

-- The Kings look to halt a seven-game losing streak as they continue their road swing against the Hornets. Charlotte routed Sacramento at Golden 1 Center earlier this month, 131-111, while the Hornets are 5-0 SU/ATS the last five games off a loss following Saturday’s one-point setback to the Heat.

-- The Bucks seek their sixth straight win against the Suns dating back to 2015 as the teams meet in Milwaukee. The previous matchup in Phoenix went to overtime as the Bucks held off the Suns, 113-107 in November. Giannis Antetokonmpo will sit once again for the Bucks to rest his knee, as the Bucks try to improve on a 1-6 ATS record the last seven games.

-- Dallas shocked Washington as 10-point road underdogs in their last matchup in November, 113-97 at Capital One Arena. The two squads hook up in Dallas as the Mavericks attempt to halt a three-game skid. The Wizards rebounded from a horrible defensive effort at Charlotte to rally past Detroit on Friday, 122-112. Washington hasn’t been a reliable favorite by going 3-14 ATS the last 17 tries when laying points.

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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