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Monday’s Tip Sheet

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

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

Los Angeles (24-18 SU, 24-18 ATS) has been riding a roller coaster of late as the Clippers have won two straight, lost two straight, won three in a row, and have currently dropped consecutive games in this stretch since Christmas. Following a 21-point setback at Denver on Thursday, the Clippers returned home and fell to old friend Blake Griffin and the Pistons on Saturday afternoon, 109-104 as seven-point favorites. Three Clippers finished with 20 points or more, but couldn’t slow down Griffin, who torched Los Angeles for 44 points in his first road game against his former team since getting traded last season.

The Pelicans (20-23 SU, 19-24 ATS) started their five-game road trip with a loss on Saturday at Minnesota, 110-106 as a short favorite. New Orleans was limited to 5-of-25 shooting from three-point range, while scoring only 17 points in the fourth quarter. Anthony Davis led the Pelicans with 30 points and 14 rebounds, but New Orleans fell to 1-6 in the last seven games away from Smoothie King Center.

These two Western Conference squads have split a pair of matchups in New Orleans this season. The Pelicans held off the Clippers in the first matchup in October, 116-109, but finished UNDER the total of 237. L.A. picked up revenge in the second meeting, 129-126 as 1 ½-point underdogs in December. The Clippers shot 59% from the floor, led by 27 points from Tobias Harris, as the game eclipsed the total of 234 ½. Last season, the Pelicans captured both meetings at Staples Center, while New Orleans is 4-2 in the past six matchups since the start of the 2017-18 season.

Unrested Rockets

Houston (24-18 SU, 21-20-1 ATS) dropped to 3-8 ATS the last 11 games as a road favorite following Sunday’s 116-109 setback at Orlando. The Rockets squandered a 12-point lead, while getting outscored in each of the last three quarters to a Magic club that played on the second of a back-to-back after beating Boston on Saturday. James Harden scored 38 points for Houston, but somehow shot 1-of-17 from three-point range, as the Rockets converted 10-of-42 attempts from downtown.

The Rockets seek their third home win this season with no rest, while also going for their third victory against the Grizzlies (19-23 SU, 18-24 ATS). Memphis has dropped seven of its past eight games, including Saturday’s 112-108 defeat at Miami to fall to 1-8 in the previous nine contests away from FedEx Forum. Now, the Grizzlies will be trying to break through against the Rockets for the first time this season as each of the first two meetings finished OVER the total and Houston grabbed the cover as a favorite each time.

Monday, Monday

For the second consecutive Monday, the Celtics and Nets are hooking up. Boston (25-17 SU, 22-20 ATS) cruised past Brooklyn (21-23 SU, 23-21 ATS) a week ago at TD Garden, 116-95 to easily cash as 10 ½-point favorites. The Celtics used balanced scoring as eight different players posted double-figures, paced by Kyrie Irving’s 17 points, while Boston put up at least 30 points in three different quarters. However, the Celtics look to finish off their three-game road trip with a win after losing in the first two stops at Miami and Orlando as a favorite.

The Nets return to Barclays Center where they have won eight of their last nine games. Brooklyn tries to rebound after getting crushed at Toronto on Friday, 122-105 to suffer their third loss in the last month as a double-digit road underdog. The Nets have covered four of their last five as a home underdog, but Brooklyn has dropped 10 consecutive meetings with Boston since January 16, including five straight home defeats.

Staying Golden

The Kings (22-21 SU, 25-18 ATS) look to close out a perfect 3-0 homestand at Golden 1 Center following victories over the Pistons and Hornets. Sacramento has lost seven of its past 11 home contests to Western Conference opponents, including a 113-108 overtime setback to Portland (26-18 SU, 23-21 ATS) on New Year’s Day. The Kings are riding a four-game UNDER streak, while holding three straight foes to 102 points or fewer at home.

The Blazers head to Sacramento with no rest after suffering a 116-113 defeat at Denver on Sunday night. That loss ended a four-game skid, although Portland cashed as 4 ½-point underdogs to improve to 6-2 ATS the past eight contests. Portland has captured four consecutive meetings with Sacramento since last season, while limiting the Kings to 38% shooting back on January 1. The Blazers have seen success with no rest this season by posting a 4-2 SU/ATS mark, but both losses came away from the Moda Center.

Lotte of Losses

Things have unraveled for the Hornets (19-23 SU, 20-22 ATS) on their six-game road trip as Charlotte has posted a 1-4 SU/ATS record in the first five contests. Three of the four losses have come by double-digits, while being held to 97 points or less in the last two defeats at Portland and Sacramento. Since starting the season at 2-0 on the road, the Hornets have dropped 15 of the past 18 games at Spectrum Center, while posting a 2-9 ATS mark in the last 11 on the highway.

Charlotte travels to San Antonio to face the Spurs (25-19 SU, 26-17-1 ATS), who have won seven straight games at AT&T Center. The Spurs dropped the back-end of a home-and-home set with Oklahoma City on Saturday, 122-112, two nights after a thrilling a double-overtime win over the Thunder. San Antonio fell to 15-4 ATS the last 19 games overall, but the Spurs have covered in each of their last 15 home wins dating back to November.

Back on Track

The Jazz (23-21 SU, 22-21-1 ATS) have stepped up following an up and down start to the season, as Utah is 9-4 the last 13 games to pull above the .500 mark. Utah seeks a perfect 4-0 homestand after winning the first three games against the Magic, Lakers, and Bulls, while winning five of the past six at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Jazz failed to cash in Saturday’s 110-102 victory over Chicago as 12-point favorites as Utah trailed by one point heading into the fourth quarter.

The Pistons (18-23 SU, 18-22-1 ATS) look to capitalize off Saturday’s 109-104 victory over the Clippers as seven-point underdogs. Detroit has dropped five consecutive matchups with Utah since 2017, including a 110-105 setback at Little Caesars Arena on January 5. The Pistons blew an early 18-point lead after one quarter as Detroit fell to 0-5 ATS in the last five meetings with Utah, while they look to end a five-game losing streak off a win.

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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