Monday’s Tip Sheet
ATS Rankings | Totals Report | InjuriesGame of the Night: Warriors at Pacers – 7:05 PM EST
The runaway train known as the Golden State Warriors (35-14 SU, 22-26-1 ATS) is steamrolling through the league once again. The two-time defending champions finished off their 10th consecutive victory in Saturday’s 115-111 triumph over the Celtics as a 3 ½-point road favorites. Kevin Durant led the Warriors with 33 points, while Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 45 points. Golden State is riding a nine-game winning streak away from Oracle Arena, while going 13-1 SU and 8-6 ATS in the past 14 games away from the Bay Area.
The Pacers (32-16 SU, 25-23 ATS) are dealing with life after Victor Oladipo as the guard is sidelined for the rest of the season following a gruesome leg injury suffered last Wednesday against Toronto. In the first game post-Oladipo, Indiana fell behind early at Memphis on Saturday and never recovered in a 106-103 setback as five-point favorites. The loss ended a three-game winning streak for the Pacers, while Indiana sailed OVER the total for the first time in five contests.
Indiana is listed as a home underdog for the fourth time this season, as the Pacers own a perfect 3-0 SU/ATS mark after beating the Celtics, Jazz, and Bucks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Pacers swept the Warriors last season, but those results are skewed as Golden State played without Curry, Thompson, Durant, and Draymond Green in a 92-81 home defeat. In the second matchup in Indianapolis, Curry remained sidelined in a 126-106 victory by the Pacers as a short ‘dog, ending a two-game home skid to the Warriors.
Boston Bounce-Back?
The Celtics (30-19 SU, 25-24 ATS) saw their five-game winning streak come to a halt in Saturday’s 115-111 setback to the Warriors. Boston and Golden State went back-and-forth in the fourth quarter, but the Celtics scored only thee points in the final 2:30 minutes to suffer its first home loss since December 21 to Milwaukee.
Boston welcomes in Brooklyn for their third meeting this month as the two Atlantic division rivals have split the first two matchups. The Celtics routed the Nets at TD Garden, 116-95 as 10 ½-point favorites on January 7, but Brooklyn bounced back a week later at home, 109-102 as 2 ½-point underdogs. Kyrie Irving sat out in the contest at Barclays Center as the Nets outscored the Celtics, 44-21 in the fourth quarter. Both matchups finished UNDER the total, while Boston has won five straight home meetings with Brooklyn.
The Nets (27-23 SU, 28-22 ATS) have vaulted to the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs heading into Monday’s action, while seeking their seventh straight victory. Brooklyn will be without bench spark Spencer Dinwiddie (17.2 ppg) for the next month with torn ligaments in his right thumb. The Nets have won four of their last six games away from Barclays Center, but Brooklyn owns an 0-3 SU/ATS record as a double-digit underdog this season.
Rocky Road
The Nuggets (33-15 SU, 27-21 ATS) continue to dominate at home by improving to 22-4 at Pepsi Center following Saturday’s 126-110 victory over the short-handed 76ers. Nikola Jokic kept up his MVP-caliber season by scoring 32 points, pulling down 18 rebounds, and dishing out 10 assists for Denver, who cashed the OVER for the seventh straight game.
However, Denver has struggled on the highway by compiling an 11-11 record, while starting the season with an 8-4 road mark. Seven losses in the last 10 road games doesn’t bode well for the Nuggets, who play six of the next seven away from Pepsi Center, starting Monday in Memphis.
The Grizzlies (20-30 SU, 20-30 ATS) snapped an eight-game losing streak in Saturday’s 106-103 mild upset of the Pacers as five-point home underdogs. Memphis pulled off this win after losing to Sacramento the night before, as the Grizzlies started this five-game homestand at 0-3. The Grizzlies and Nuggets have split two meetings this season with the home team winning each time, while Memphis knocked off Denver at FedEx Forum as short underdogs in November.
Four Score
The Clippers (28-22 SU, 28-22 ATS) have gone through plenty of ups and downs this season, but Los Angeles is currently on the uptick. Following a five-game skid earlier this month, the Clippers have won four of their last five contests, while seeking their fourth consecutive win on Monday. Los Angeles topped Sacramento for the third time this season in Sunday’s 122-108 triumph at Staples Center. The Clippers knocked down 27-of-29 free throws, while Montrezl Harrell posted 25 points off the bench on 11-of-13 shooting.
Los Angeles is playing with no rest for the ninth time this season, compiling a 4-4 SU and 5-3 ATS mark, while hitting the OVER six times. The Clippers host the Hawks (15-33 SU, 21-27 ATS), who are in the midst of five straight road games against Western Conference opponents. Atlanta lost at Portland on Saturday, 120-111 as 8 ½-point underdogs, but received a solid output from rookie Trae Young, who scored 30 points on 11-of-15 from the floor. The Hawks will be looking to avenge a 127-119 home loss to the Clippers in November, as L.A. outscored Atlanta, 38-23 in the fourth to cash as 6 ½-point favorites.
All Knicked Up
It’s been a long season in the Big Apple, as the Knicks (10-38 SU, 21-26 ATS) sit at the bottom of the Atlantic division. New York lost its ninth straight game in Sunday’s defeat to Miami, while dropping 11 consecutive contests at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks will try to turn around their luck with a trip to Charlotte looking to beat the Hornets for the second time this season.
The last time the Knicks faced the Hornets on December 14, New York trailed Charlotte by 19 points late in the fourth quarter before rallying to force overtime. The Knicks shocked the Hornets, 126-124 as 10-point underdogs to pick up their only win in a 14-game span from December 3 through January 1. New York owns a respectable 4-2 ATS mark in its last six games away from the Garden, although the Knicks only picked up one victory, which came against the Lakers earlier this month.
The Hornets (23-25 SU, 25-23 ATS) squandered an 11-point lead heading into the fourth quarter in Friday’s 108-99 setback at Milwaukee. Although Charlotte covered as 11-point underdogs, the Bucks outscored the Hornets in the final 12 minutes, 32-12, while Kemba Walker shot 3-of-12 from the floor for 10 points. The Hornets improved to 5-1 ATS the last six games, as Charlotte won its past two home contests by double-digits over Phoenix and Sacramento.
You can reach Kevin Rogers via e-mail at rogers@vegasinsider.com
Kevin Rogers can be followed on Twitter at virogers.
Nba News
- NBA APR 17, 2024
NBA First Round Playoffs Series Odds, Betting Trends: Everything You Need To Know
- NBA APR 16, 2024
Heat vs 76ers Picks, Odds | NBA Play-In Tournament Prediction
- NBA APR 16, 2024
Hawks vs Bulls Picks, Odds | NBA Play-In Tournament Prediction
- NBA APR 17, 2024
Kings vs Pelicans Picks, Odds | NBA Play-In Tournament Prediction
- NBA APR 17, 2024
NBA Playoffs Daily Free Picks, Predictions, Odds
- NBA APR 17, 2024
Today’s NBA Player Prop Bets for April 17, 2024