NBA Odds: Friday, December 11 2015 Opening Line Report and Handicapping

by Alan Matthews - 12/10/2015

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson

Getting a little tired of writing about the Golden State Warriors, but there's clearly no other story worth even noting on nights the Dubs play. And they go for a 24-0 start Friday night in their lone trip to Boston -- the C's are a young, good defensive team with a realistic chance of an upset. Those chances would increase greatly if Warriors All-Star guard Klay Thompson has to sit out with a sprained ankle. Golden State has won 27 straight regular-season games dating back to last season, tying the 2012-13 Miami Heat for the second-longest streak in NBA history. The Warriors' 13-0 start on the road marks the most consecutive road wins to begin a season in NBA history. This is game No. 5 of a seven-game road trip, and no team has ever swept a trip that long.

Heat at Pacers (-3, 195.5)

First of an ESPN doubleheader and should have live betting at sportsbooks. Miami lost a second straight Wednesday, 99-81 in Charlotte. The Heat shot 39 percent (29-for-75) and committed 18 turnovers that led to 21 points. Luol Deng returned after missing six games with a left hamstring strain and had five points in 24 minutes. Indiana lost by eight to Golden State on Tuesday. Paul George finished with 33 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the Pacers' third straight loss. They allowed 44 first-quarter points and 79 in the first half. Indiana beat visiting Miami 90-87 on Nov. 6 behind 36 from George.

Key trends: The Pacers are 5-0 against the spread in the past five meetings. The "over/under" has gone under in 10 of Miami's past 11 after an ATS loss.

Early lean: Pacers and under.

Cavaliers at Magic (+5, 198.5)

Cleveland ended a three-game losing streak with a 105-100 win over Portland on Tuesday. LeBron James had 33 points and 10 rebounds, and Cleveland rallied from an 18-point first-half deficit. Center Timofey Mozgov was scoreless in seven minutes and benched in the second half. Orlando lost 107-104 in Phoenix on Wednesday to complete a five-game road trip. Nikola Vucevic led Orlando with 21 points and 11 rebounds but missed a short follow-up in the final minute that could have tied it. The Magic lost in Cleveland 117-103 on Nov. 23. Kevin Love had a season-high 34 for the Cavs.

Key trends: The Cavs are 6-0 ATS in their past six in Orlando. The over is 5-1 in those six.

Early lean: Cavaliers and over.

Pistons at 76ers (+8, 192.5)

Philadelphia was in Brooklyn on Thursday. Detroit lost a second in a row Wednesday, 93-92, to Memphis on a fluke 3-pointer by the Grizzlies' Matt Barnes. Andre Drummond had 18 points and 19 rebounds in a losing effort but missed a late tip-in that likely would have changed things. Believe it or not, the Pistons were just 1-3 last season against the wretched 76ers. They have also dropped three straight in Philly.

Key trends: The home team is 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings. The over is 7-3 in the previous 10.

Early lean: Sixers and over.

Warriors at Celtics (TBA)

Thompson had to come back off the bench in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's win over Indiana -- he and Steph Curry presumably were done for the night -- after the Pacers had cut a massive deficit to an eight-point hole. And Thompson ended up rolling his ankle. X-rays were negative, but he's definitely questionable here. Thompson had a season-high 39 points, including 10 3-pointers, in the win. Boston beat Chicago 105-100 on Wednesday for its second straight win. Isaiah Thomas scored nine of his 20 points in the final three minutes. Golden State swept Boston last year, but they were both close. The one in Beantown was 106-101 as the Warriors rallied from a 26-point deficit. The Celtics led 56-30 midway through the second quarter. Boston has lost four straight in the series overall.

Key trends: The Celtics have covered five straight games. The over is 9-0 in Golden State's past nine on the road.

Early lean: I'd be surprised if Thompson plays (why the TBA). I truly think Boston wins this game if he doesn't.

Bucks at Raptors (-8.5, 194.5)

Milwaukee lost 109-95 at home to the Clippers on Wednesday. The Bucks took only 10 3-point shots, while the Clippers attempted 28. Milwaukee guard Greivis Vasquez missed his seventh game in a row with a right ankle injury while fellow guard Jerryd Bayless was out a third straight with a left ankle sprain. Toronto pulled a surprise at home Wednesday with a 97-94 win over San Antonio. Toronto won despite taking just 64 shots but hit 57.8 percent of them. DeMar DeRozan was 10-for-15 on the way to 28 points. The Raptors beat the visiting Bucks 106-87 on Nov. 1. Milwaukee led only once all game.

Key trends: The Raptors have covered four of the past five meetings at home. The over is 8-2 in the past 10 in Toronto.

Early lean: Letdown game for Raptors. Bucks cover, go over.

Hornets at Grizzlies (-5, 191.5)

Charlotte routed Miami on Wednesday for its third straight win thanks to a triple-double from Nic Batum: 10 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. The Hornets got bad news on injured center Al Jefferson. He remains out likely a couple of weeks due to injury but will have to serve a five-game suspension when he does get back for violating the NBA's Anti-Drug program. Memphis got the most unlikely win of the season Wednesday in Detroit, 93-92, when Matt Barnes hit a half-court shot with 1.1 seconds left. It was Memphis' only lead in the second half. Barnes was traded by Charlotte to Memphis in June.

Key trends: Memphis is 0-5 ATS in its past five at home. The under is 4-1 in Charlotte's past five after a win.

Early lean: Grizzles and under.

Wizards at Pelicans (TBA)

Washington lost 109-103 at home to Houston on Wednesday. Marcin Gortat returned after missing three games and had 18 points and 13 rebounds, while John Wall had 26 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds for Washington, which has lost six of its last seven at home. So maybe it's a good thing this starts a four-game road trip. New Orleans has been off since a 111-93 home loss to Boston on Monday. The Pelicans' starting backcourt of Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon had as many points as I did.

Key trends: Washington has covered eight straight at the Pelicans. The under is 9-1 in the past 10 meetings.

Early lean: Assuming no line yet because New Orleans plays in Chicago on Saturday and thus the Pelicans could rest the likes of Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans on Friday (I'd imagine they play them at home). So wait on word for those guys.

Timberwolves at Nuggets (-1, 201)

Minnesota ended a four-game losing streak with a 123-122 overtime win over the Lakers on Wednesday. Kevin Martin scored a season-high 37 points -- he had been in a major slump -- and Karl-Anthony Towns had 26 points and 14 rebounds. Denver lost 85-74 at home to Orlando on Tuesday. The Nuggets are 0-11 this year when failing to score at least 100 points. Center Joffrey Lauvergne missed the game due to illness, and Darrell Arthur left in the first half with right knee soreness. Gary Harris missed his sixth straight game with a concussion, but he was close to returning. The Wolves won in Denver 95-78 on Oct. 30 behind 28 points and 14 rebounds from Towns.

Key trends: The underdog is 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings. The over is 4-0 in Minnesota's past four vs. the West.

Early lean: Wolves and over.

Thunder at Jazz (+4, 201.5)

Oklahoma City hosted Atlanta on Thursday. Utah beat the visiting Knicks 106-85 on Wednesday in the second of a back-to-back for the Jazz. Utah led 70-37 early in the third quarter for its largest lead in any game this season. Rodney Hood was ejected late after shouldering Sasha Vujacic on a breakaway layup, so monitor that for a possible suspension. Utah lost at home to the Thunder 111-89 on Nov. 23. Kevin Durant had 27 points in his return from a hamstring injury. Utah had center Rudy Gobert then and he's out injured now.

Key trends: The home team has covered 12 of the past 15 meetings. The under is 5-0 in the past five.

Early lean: Jazz and under.

Lakers at Spurs (-15.5, 194.5)

This huge mismatch is the second game of the ESPN doubleheader. The Lakers lost by one in overtime in Minneapolis on Wednesday for their fourth straight loss. On the bright side, D'Angelo Russell scored a career-high 23 points and Julius Randle had 20 points and 12 rebounds in the loss. Kobe Bryant decided to rest himself in the fourth quarter and overtime. San Antonio's four-game winning streak ended in a three-point loss in Toronto on Wednesday. Kawhi Leonard played through an illness but wasn't himself in 27 minutes. The Spurs allowed a team to shoot better than 50 percent for the first time this season. Be aware that San Antonio plays again Saturday.

Key trends: The Spurs are 11-1 ATS in their past 12 after a loss. The under is 6-0 in the Lakers' past six after scoring triple digits in their previous game.

Early lean: Lakers cover in garbage time as Spurs get way ahead and then sit guys. Go over.

Trail Blazers at Suns (-4.5, 207)

Portland lost a second straight Tuesday, 105-100 in Cleveland. The Blazers led by 18 in the first half. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum combined for 57 points. This game concludes Portland's four-game road trip. Phoenix edged Orlando by three Wednesday for its second win in a row. Alex Len set a career high with 20 points and tied a career best with 14 rebounds, and Eric Bledsoe broke a tie with 1:11 left. Big men Markieff Morris (sinus infection) and Tyson Chandler (right hamstring strain) did not play. The Suns have won both of their games against the Trail Blazers this season, marking the fourth time in the past five years that Phoenix has won its season series with Portland. The Trail Blazers are 4-21 against the Suns in Phoenix since the start of the 2002-03 season.

Key trends: The favorite is 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings. The under is 5-0 in those five.

Early lean: Suns and over.

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