Wednesday's Tip Sheet

Game of the Night: Wolves at Blazers – 10:05 PM EST

Minnesota (31-18 SU, 24-23-2 ATS) picked up its third victory over the Clippers on Monday night, 126-118 to not only cash as 2 ½-point underdogs, but improve to 24-7 against Western Conference foes. Jimmy Butler sat out for the second straight game with soreness in his knee as the guard’s status is questionable for tonight. The Wolves snapped a four-game road skid on Monday thanks to a 40-point effort from Andrew Wiggins and a season-high 30-point output from Jeff Teague.

The Blazers (25-22 SU, 21-21-5 ATS) return home following Monday’s 104-101 setback at Denver to snap a three-game winning streak. Portland shot 8-of-25 from three-point range, while guard C.J. McCollum struggled from the floor by shooting 3-of-14 and finished with 12 points. The Blazers managed a push as three-point underdogs, but suffered their fourth consecutive road defeat. However, Terry Stotts’ team is excelling at Moda Center of late by winning six straight home games, including victories over Philadelphia, Indiana, and San Antonio.

The Wolves have captured the first two meetings this season with the Blazers at Target Center, as Minnesota routed Portland 10 days ago, 120-103 as six-point favorites. Minnesota has dropped three of the past four visits to Portland, including a pair of defeats last season as a road underdog. Following a 3-1 mark to the UNDER in their four matchups last season, each of the first two meetings this season have eclipsed the OVER.

L.A. Story – Take Two

The Celtics (34-14 SU, 27-19-2 ATS) remain in Los Angeles for the second straight night after slipping up against the Lakers on Tuesday, 108-107 to drop their fourth game in a row. Boston led by eight at halftime before getting outscored in the second half, 63-54, as Kyrie Irving paced the Celtics with 33 points. The C’s hadn’t lost three straight prior to Sunday’s home setback to the Magic, but the four consecutive losses are a season-high, while Brad Stevens’ club owns a 1-5 ATS mark the last six contests.

Exit the purple and gold court and enter the red and blue court of the Clippers (23-23 SU, 25-20-1 ATS), as L.A. tries to end a two-game skid following defeats to Utah and Minnesota. In those two setbacks, the Clips allowed 125 and 126 points, as center DeAndre Jordan is expected to be out once again with a sprained ankle. Since starting the season 0-3 at home against the Eastern Conference, the Clippers have won four consecutive games when facing Eastern foes at Staples Center, while L.A. is 5-0 in the past five home matchups with Boston.

Texas Tussle

Following a sweep of its three-game homestand, Houston (33-12 SU, 22-22-1 ATS) makes the short trip to Dallas to begin a mini two-game road swing. The Rockets failed to cover as 11-point favorites in Monday’s 99-90 victory over the Heat, but Houston knocked off three first-place teams in this stretch by beating Minnesota, Golden State, and Miami. Houston has racked up five consecutive UNDERS, while holding three of those opponents to 98 points or fewer.

The Mavericks (16-31 SU, 24-22-1 ATS) dismantled the Wizards for the second time this season on Monday in a 98-75 blowout as short home underdogs. Dallas owns a remarkable 15-2-1 ATS record in its last 18 opportunities in the ‘dog role since late November, including five consecutive covers as a home underdog. The Mavs will be looking to turn around their luck against the Rockets after dropping their last five matchups since the start of last season, including a 107-91 setback at Toyota Center as 11 ½-point ‘dogs in October.

More from the Southwest

The Spurs (31-18 SU, 26-21-2 ATS) bounced back from Sunday’s ugly home loss to the Pacers by burying the Cavaliers on Tuesday, 114-102 as 2 ½-point ‘dogs. Gregg Popovich’s team has lost six consecutive games off a win as they travel to Memphis with no rest, as the Spurs own a 3-6 record the last nine contests away from AT&T Center. San Antonio and Memphis have amazingly hooked up 20 times since the start of the 2015-16 season as the two division rivals met in the playoffs the last two seasons. In this span, the Spurs have compiled a 16-4 record, including two victories this season.

The Grizzlies (17-29 SU, 20-24-2 ATS) have played better recently by winning five of their last seven games, including rallying past the 76ers on Monday, 105-101 as three-point underdogs. Memphis has covered five consecutive games and 10 of the past 12 contests, while pulling off five straight victories at FedEx Forum. The Grizzlies had problems scoring earlier in the season, but are currently on a 4-1 OVER run thanks to topping the 104-point mark in each of the previous five contests.

Returning Home

Following a 3-2 west coast swing, the Pacers (25-22 SU, 26-21 ATS) come back to the Hoosier State to host the Suns. Indiana dominated Phoenix to begin the road trip on January 14 as 3 ½-point favorites, 120-97, while limiting all five opponents to less than 100 points. The Pacers are riding a six-game UNDER streak, as Indiana tries to pick up its fourth home victory in its past five tries.

The Suns (17-30 SU, 23-22-2 ATS) finish off their four-game road trip after falling short at Milwaukee on Monday, 109-105. In spite of the defeat, Phoenix managed its third cover on the swing in spite of losing four of its past five away from the desert. Similar to Indiana, Phoenix is on a solid UNDER run by cashing in seven of the last nine, in spite of allowing at least 100 points in 11 straight games.

Chicago Cash

The Bulls (18-29 SU, 29-17-1 ATS) have turned into a terrific team to back over the last six weeks by compiling a 20-5 ATS mark. The latest cover came in Monday’s double-overtime setback at New Orleans as 6 ½-point ‘dogs, as Chicago blew a 17-point lead with five minutes remaining in regulation. The Bulls are currently on a six-game ATS hot streak as they travel to Philadelphia tonight.

The 76ers (22-21 SU, 24-18-1 ATS) saw their three-game winning streak come to a halt in Monday’s meltdown at Memphis following victories over Toronto, Boston, and Milwaukee. Since a 1-6 ATS run in December, Philadelphia has cashed in seven of the past nine games, while riding a four-game winning streak at Wells Fargo Center. The 76ers look to avenge a 117-115 defeat at Chicago in mid-December as leading scorer Joel Embiid sat out; Philadelphia owns a 2-7 record when the former Kansas standout doesn’t play, but is 20-14 with him in the lineup.

Fast Break

-- The Pelicans have won five of their last six games as New Orleans makes a quick trip to Charlotte. Three of those victories came in overtime, while the lone loss came by one point in Atlanta. The Hornets are riding a 3-1 run following a close victory over the Kings on Monday, while looking to avenge a pair of overtime losses to the Pelicans from last season.

-- Utah fell to 5-19 on the road after dropping a 14-point decision at Atlanta on Monday. The Jazz remain on the highway with a trip to Detroit to face the struggling Pistons. Detroit has lost five consecutive games, including three at Little Caesars Arena. Utah swept Detroit last season as the Pistons scored 77 and 83 points in the two defeats.

-- Toronto seeks its third victory over Atlanta this season as the two Eastern foes meet at Philips Arena. The Raptors have failed to cover in four straight games coming off Saturday’s loss at Minnesota, while compiling an 0-6 ATS mark in its last six opportunities as a favorite. Atlanta has fared well in the home underdog role of late by winning and covering six straight since December 23 at Philips.

You can reach Kevin Rogers via e-mail at [email protected]

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