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Friday’s Tip Sheet

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
6 minute read
ATS Rankings | Totals Report | Injuries

Game of the Night: Spurs at Nuggets – 9:05 PM EST

Three home-and-home sets take place on Friday night (Nets/Hornets and Mavericks/Pelicans the others) as San Antonio looks to defeat Denver for the second time in three nights. The Spurs (19-16 SU, 19-15-1 ATS) knocked off the Nuggets (21-11 SU, 19-13 ATS) for the 12th consecutive time at home dating back to November 2012 on Wednesday, 111-103.

San Antonio cashed as four-point favorites, led by DeMar DeRozan’s 30 points and a 27-point effort from LaMarcus Aldridge as the Spurs moved to 14-5 at AT&T Center this season. Since losing to the Lakers on December 5 at Staples Center, the Spurs have won and covered eight of their last 10 games, which includes a 7-1 SU/ATS mark at home. Unfortunately, Gregg Popovich’s team has lost four of its past five road contests with the lone victory coming in blowout fashion at Orlando, 129-90 on December 19.

The Nuggets dropped their fourth consecutive contest away from Pepsi Center in Wednesday’s setback at San Antonio, although Denver received a career game from Juancho Hernangomez, who scored 27 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. Unfortunately, Nikola Jokic contributed only four points on 1-of-5 shooting, although the Denver big man dished out 10 assists. The Nuggets will be happy to be back in the Rockies on Friday where they own a 13-3 home mark, including riding a 7-0 SU/ATS stretch the last seven at Pepsi Center.

Round Two – Charlotte

The Nets held off the Hornets in one of the wildest games of the season on Wednesday, 134-132 in double overtime. Charlotte couldn’t put away Brooklyn late in the fourth quarter or in either overtime as Joe Harris finished off a 27-point night by picking up a loose ball and taking it for the go-ahead layup late in the second overtime. Spencer Dinwiddie continued to solidify his case for Sixth Man of the Year by scoring 37 points off the bench, including hitting seven three-pointers.

Now, the venue shifts to Spectrum Center in Charlotte as the Hornets (16-17 SU, 17-16 ATS) look to keep their hold atop the Southeast division in spite of a losing record. The Hornets have lost four of their last six games, but the two victories came at home in this stretch against the Cavaliers and Pistons. However, Charlotte owns a 1-6 ATS mark in the past seven overall, while failing to cover in four of the last five home matchups with Brooklyn.

The Nets (17-19 SU, 19-17 ATS) improved to 9-1 in their last 10 games with Wednesday’s home triumph, as Brooklyn moved to 9-2 ATS in the past 11 contests overall. A bulk of Brooklyn’s damage has come at Barclays Center in this stretch, but the Nets have won each of their past three road contests, while covering in four of their previous six opportunities as a road underdog.

Round Two – New Orleans

Although they are the bottom two teams record-wise in the Southwest division this season, the Mavericks and Pelicans are no pushovers. Dallas (16-17 SU, 20-13 ATS) edged New Orleans (15-20 SU, 15-20 ATS) at American Airlines Center on Wednesday, 122-119 to barely cash as two-point favorites and snap a six-game losing streak.

The Mavs picked up revenge for a 26-point loss in the Big Easy earlier this month as Luka Doncic continued a fantastic rookie campaign by scoring 21 points, dishing out 10 assists, and grabbing nine rebounds in the win. Dallas also cashed its sixth consecutive OVER, while hitting the OVER in its past four road contests heading into Smoothie King Center.

The Pelicans were paced by their All-Star Anthony Davis, who posted a 32-point, 18-rebound effort in the loss to finish their road trip at 0-4. New Orleans has lost five consecutive games since knocking off Oklahoma City as a home underdog on December 12, as the Pelicans start their final homestand of 2018 with matchups against the Rockets and Wolves coming up prior to the New Year.

Staples Showdown

The Lakers and Clippers hook up for the first of four meetings this season after the Clips grabbed three matchups last season. LeBron James will sit out his second consecutive game for the Lakers (20-15 SU, 15-19-1 ATS) with a groin strain, as Los Angeles plays with no rest following Thursday’s buzzer-beating loss at Sacramento.

The Lakers are considering the home team this evening as they begin a four-game homestand, which includes a revenge spot against the Kings on Sunday. Without James last night, the Lakers fell into a 12-point hole in the first quarter, but turned things around to grab a 15-point advantage with under seven minutes remaining in regulation. However, Sacramento outscored Los Angeles, 28-12 in the final 6:30 minutes to stun the Lakers, who were led by Kyle Kuzma’s 33 points and nine rebounds.

The Clippers (20-14 SU, 20-14 ATS) also faced the Kings in their last game on Wednesday, holding off Sacramento at Staples, 127-118 to win for the third time in four games. L.A. has covered in all four of these contests, while riding a five-game OVER streak as Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell combined for 46 points off the bench. Although the Clippers aren’t leaving town for this contest, they are 2-5 in their seven road games in December.

Rising Suns

Who would have thought that two of the hottest ATS teams currently are on the Nets and Suns? We told you about Brooklyn’s recent success earlier, but Phoenix (9-26 SU, 16-19 ATS) has covered the spread in seven consecutive games. The Suns not only cashed in its last two home wins as an underdog against Dallas and Minnesota, but took home the money in all five games on their recent road trip, including in a 122-120 overtime triumph at Orlando on Wednesday as five-point ‘dogs.

The Suns welcome in the Thunder (21-12 SU, 18-15 ATS), who are coming off a pair of close defeats to the Wolves and Rockets. OKC was in control early against Houston on Christmas day, but the Thunder crashed in the second half by getting outscored, 61-49 in a 113-109 setback. Paul George paced OKC with 28 points, while Russell Westbrook scored 20 points on 6-of-20 shooting as the Thunder have lost four of their last six on the road.

Oklahoma City has had its way with Phoenix this season by capturing the first two meetings, each by double-digits. The Thunder are riding a five-game winning streak against the Suns since March 2018 as all five victories have come by eight points or more.

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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