NBA Odds: Tuesday, November 24 2015 Opening Line Report and Handicapping

by Alan Matthews - 11/23/2015

So what's the most unlikely NBA regular-season single-game result you can remember? I can recall one of the top of my head, and that was on Dec. 9, 2004, when Houston was down 10 points with 1:02 left against San Antonio but the Rockets' Tracy McGrady scored 13 points in the final 35 seconds, including the winning 3-pointer. One I didn't see but have heard about was on Nov. 18, 1972, when the New York Knicks trailed the Milwaukee Bucks 86-68 but scored 19 straight points in the final 5:11 to win at Madison Square Garden. I mention those two games because probably the most unlikely result of this century thus far would be if the 2-11 Los Angeles Lakers won at 15-0 Golden State on Tuesday night as the Warriors try for history.

Pacers at Wizards (TBA)

Indiana beat Milwaukee 123-86 on Saturday for its second straight win. C.J. Miles had a season-high 21 points and Paul George 20. Indiana outscored Milwaukee 35-16 in the third quarter. Pacers starting guard George Hill missed his third straight game with an upper respiratory infection. He dressed and was available in the case of an emergency, Pacers coach Frank Vogel said before the game. So there's a decent chance he plays here. Washington won 97-95 at Detroit on Saturday for its third straight victory. The Wizards' reserves outscored Detroit's 51-15. Nene had 18 points on 9-of-10 shooting and was a plus-24 off the bench. Wizards guard Bradley Beal returned to the lineup after missing three games with a shoulder injury. These teams split four games last year, each 1-1 at home.

Key trends: The road team is 10-1 against the spread in the past 11 meetings. The "over/under" is 4-0 in the past four.

Early lean: Wizards win.

Celtics at Hawks (-4, 203)

Because there are no NBA games on Thanksgiving, TNT has a doubleheader on Tuesday this week, and this is your first game so will have live betting at sportsbooks. Boston lost the back end of a home-and-home on Sunday in Brooklyn, 111-101. And the Celtics lost starting guard Marcus Smart to a lower left leg injury that likely will keep him out at least a few weeks. Atlanta lost 109-97 in Cleveland on Saturday, a game in which Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer was ejected after bumping a referee. Surprised he hasn't been suspended. The Hawks' Kent Bazemore missed another game with a sprained ankle and isn't likely here. Boston beat the visiting Hawks 106-93 on Nov. 13 behind 23 points and 10 assists from Isaiah Thomas, who might start now that Smart is out.

Key trends: Boston is 7-3 ATS in the past 10 meetings. The under is 4-1 in the past five.

Early lean: Hawks and under.

Mavericks at Grizzlies (TBA)

Dallas had a six-game winning streak snapped in a 117-114 loss at Oklahoma City on Sunday as the Mavs blew a double-digit third-quarter lead. Center JaVale McGee made his season debut after signing with the Mavericks during the offseason. He finished with eight points in 11 minutes. Memphis had a four-game winning streak snapped in a 92-82 loss at San Antonio on Saturday. Grizzlies starting forward Zach Randolph was in uniform but did not play in his second straight game due to right knee soreness. He's questionable (why the TBA). Forward Jeff Green left the court early in the third quarter after bumping heads with teammate Tony Allen but was able to return.

Key trends: The road team is 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings. The over has hit in seven of the past nine.

Early lean: Wait on Randolph.

Clippers at Nuggets (TBA)

L.A. has appeared totally flat the past two games, dropping both by double digits, after that emotionally draining 124-117 loss against Golden State last Thursday. Neither Blake Griffin nor Chris Paul had a point in the first half of Sunday's 91-80 loss to Toronto. Denver lost at home to the Warriors by 13 on Sunday. Darrell Arthur had 21 points for the Nuggets, who have lost three straight. Kenneth Faried was sidelined with a sprained left ankle and Joffrey Lauvergne was out with a back injury. Don't expect either here. The Clippers won three of four against the Nuggets last season, going 1-1 in the Mile High City.

Key trends: The Clippers are 1-5 ATS in their past six at Denver. The under is 5-1 in those six.

Early lean: Clippers end their skid.

Bulls at Trail Blazers (+1.5, 202)

There's a very good chance that Derrick Rose will return after missing the past two games for Chicago due to a sprained left ankle. He was able to practice on Monday. If Rose does play, it would mark his first game playing in Portland since tearing the medial meniscus in his right knee on Nov. 22, 2013. The Bulls are likely again going to be without backup point guard Aaron Brooks, however. Portland won at the Lakers 107-93 on Sunday behind 30 points from Damian Lillard. It was the Blazers' franchise-record fifth straight road win in the series. Center Meyers Leonard missed his sixth straight game with a dislocated left shoulder. Portland and Chicago split the season series in 2014-15, with each team winning on its home floor. The Blazers have won seven straight at home in the series.

Key trends: Chicago is 5-2 ATS in its past seven after a loss. The Blazers are 0-6 ATS in their past six vs. the East.

Early lean: Bulls and over.

Lakers at Warriors (-17, 215)

This is your TNT nightcap and will also feature live betting. Golden State tied the NBA record with a 15th straight win to start a season on Sunday with a 118-105 win over Denver. Steph Curry had 19 points, his first under 20 this season. But he also got the fourth quarter off. If you are wondering, the longest overall winning streak to start a season in the four major sports is 20 straight by the 1884 St. Louis Maroons of baseball's Union Association. L.A. lost a third straight on Sunday against Portland. Don't tell Kobe Bryant that the Lakers can't win this game: "I've seen stranger things happen," he said. "We've been playing like s---. We might go up there and we might play like gangbusters up there. You never know." The Warriors have won five straight at home in the series.

Key trends: The Lakers are 3-7 ATS in the past 10 meetings. The over is 4-0 in the previous four.

Early lean: I'm always taking this many points. Go over.

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Pick:	KANSAS CITY CHIEFS -5.5
Start:	December 15, 2024 @ 1:00 PM
Expert:	Doc's Sports

Analysis:

Free Play from Doc’s Sports. Take #465 Kansas City Chiefs -5.5 over Cleveland Browns (1p.m., Sunday, December 15 CBS) The Chiefs keep winning games and sooner or later one of those wins will come by a comfortable margin. I look for that to be this Sunday against a Browns team that is just playing out the string. Cleveland currently sits at 3- 10 and will enter this game having lost 4 of their last 5 games. Their only win came against Pittsburgh in a snow game on a short week. All 4 of those losses by the Browns have come over the posted number for this game. Kansas City is better on both sides of the football, and I just do not see the Browns offense keeping pace. Do not miss out on Doc’s Sports Weekend card featuring top plays in basketball, football, and hockey. We will feature our World-Famous Nonconference Game of the Year in College Basketball on Saturday. This game has won 13 of the 15 years it has been in existence and it is a must have for any big game hunter. Read More Read Less

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