Wednesday's Tip Sheet

ATS Rankings | Totals Report | Injuries

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

Two teams in the bottom half of the Western Conference top eight hook up at Staples Center for the first time this season. Utah (24-21 SU, 22-22-1 ATS) hits the road following a perfect 4-0 homestand, capped off by a 100-94 victory over Detroit on Monday. The Jazz failed to cover for the second straight game, but held its third opponent to 95 points or less in the last four games, while Rudy Gobert pulled down 25 rebounds and scored 18 points.

The Clippers (24-19 SU, 24-19 ATS) have dropped three straight games, including back-to-back home defeats. The latest setback came on Monday in a 121-117 loss to the Pelicans as one-point underdogs, in spite of knocking down 18 three-pointers. The Clippers are currently on a 6-1 run to the UNDER, which includes three UNDERS on totals of 234 ½ and higher. Wednesday’s total opened at 222, as the past two home games for L.A. with a total in that range finished UNDER against the Pistons and Magic.

The Jazz eliminated the Clippers in the opening round of the playoffs two seasons ago, while Utah captured three of four matchups from Los Angeles last season. Utah has won three of the past four visits to Staples Center, while all four meetings in 2017-18 were decided by double-digits.

They’re Back

It was just a matter of time before someone woke the beast. Golden State (30-14 SU, 19-25 ATS) picked up its fifth consecutive victory last night at Denver, but the most impressive part was the opening 12 minutes. The Warriors dropped 51 points (yes, 51), while knocking down 10 treys in the first quarter of a 142-111 trouncing of the Northwest division-leading Nuggets. The defending champions scorched the Nuggets by shooting 60% from the floor, while the Splash Brothers duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson each scored 31 points to win their ninth road game in the last 10 tries.

The Warriors welcome in the Pelicans (21-23 SU, 20-24 ATS) in a rematch of their second round playoff series from last season. Golden State made quick work of New Orleans in five games, while knocking off the Pelicans in their first matchup at Oracle Arena back on Halloween, 131-121 as nine-point favorites. The Pelicans grabbed only their sixth road victory in 23 tries this season in Monday’s 121-117 triumph over the Clippers, as New Orleans has quietly won five of the past seven games.

Beasts of the East

The Celtics (25-18 SU, 22-21 ATS) have hit the skids of late by dropping all three games on their recent road trip, capped off by Monday’s 109-102 setback at Brooklyn. Kyrie Irving didn’t suit up for Boston as the Celtics trailed by 24 points heading into the fourth quarter. Irving is expected to return to the lineup tonight against Toronto as the Celtics have covered the spread in their last 14 home victories.

The two Atlantic division rivals have split a pair of matchups this season with the home team winning each time. Toronto cruised past Boston in the first meeting in mid-October, while the Celtics held off the Raptors in overtime on November 16 as two-point favorites, 123-116. Irving torched the Raptors for 43 points, while Kawhi Leonard posted a double-double with 31 points and 15 rebounds.

The Raptors (33-12 SU, 20-25 ATS) are riding a five-game winning streak, including a 140-138 double-overtime triumph over the Wizards on Sunday. Toronto cashed its sixth OVER in the last seven games, but the Raptors slipped to 1-7 ATS in the past eight contests on the highway. The Raptors have seen their issues in Beantown over the years by dropping four straight visits to TD Garden, while the home team is 9-0 in the past nine meetings.

Too Easy?

The Rockets (25-18 SU, 22-20-1 ATS) have been consistently inconsistent this month by alternating wins and losses throughout January. Houston is coming off its third victory over Memphis this season in Monday’s 112-94 blowout of the Grizzlies to improve to 12-1 SU and 11-1-1 ATS the last 13 games at Toyota Center. The Rockets continue to play without Chris Paul, Eric Gordon, and Clint Capela due to injuries, but James Harden keeps carrying the load for Houston by coming off a season-high 57 points against Memphis.

Houston hosts Brooklyn (22-23 SU, 24-21 ATS), as the Nets are currently in the top eight of the Eastern Conference playoffs in spite of a losing record. The Nets held off the Celtics on Monday, 109-102 to pick up their ninth home win in the last 10 tries. Brooklyn has dropped four of its previous six contests away from Barclays Center, including double-digit defeats at Boston and Toronto this month. The Nets fell at home to the Rockets earlier this season, 119-111, the fifth consecutive setback to Houston since December 2015.

Texas Toast

Both the Mavericks and Spurs are coming off losses in their last trips to the court as the two Lone Star State rivals hook up for the second time this season. San Antonio (25-20 SU, 26-18-1 ATS) held off Dallas (20-23 SU, 26-17 ATS) at AT&T Center in overtime in late October, 113-108, but the Mavs cashed as seven-point underdogs. It marked the eighth cover in the last nine matchups by Dallas in the series, but San Antonio has won five of the past six meetings at American Airlines Center.

Dallas is coming off a 119-114 home defeat to Golden State on Sunday as 5 ½-point underdogs, but the Mavericks improved to 8-0 ATS in the last eight as a home underdog. The Mavs slipped to 5-12 the last 17 games following a strong start, as three wins in this span have come by four points or less.

The Spurs are fresh off consecutive losses for the first time since early December after falling to the Thunder and Hornets since Saturday. San Antonio has seen plenty of ups and downs away from AT&T Center, but is on the downward turn by losing seven of the past 10 on the highway. The Spurs have won three straight games after scoring less than 100 points in their last contest, while putting up at least 122 points each time.

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

Kevin Rogers can be followed on Twitter at virogers.