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NBA Odds: Thursday, February 4 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping

by - 2/3/2016

Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant

Can you even imagine Kevin Durant on the Warriors with Golden State still able to keep Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green? Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski, who is about as plugged in as any NBA reporter, reported on Tuesday that the Warriors would be the front-runners to sign Durant as a free agent this summer if he decides to leave Oklahoma City. Just think about that. These Warriors might break the NBA single-season record for wins and then add perhaps the league's second-best player? True, it would likely cost the Warriors Andre Iguodala, Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut, but it's still a no-brainer move. Remember, the salary cap is going to skyrocket this summer. I still say Durant stays in OKC at least on a one-year deal (to link his free agency with Russell Westbrook's) and then could leave, but it's a tantalizing prospect to have him lined up next to Curry. The rest of the NBA might as well surrender if that happens.

Knicks at Pistons (-6, 204)

This is the first game of the TNT doubleheader and will have live betting at sportsbooks. Detroit was in Boston on Wednesday. New York lost a second in a row Tuesday, 97-89 at home to those Celtics. Carmelo Anthony had 16 points and 14 rebounds but shot just 4-for-16. Starting Knicks point guard Jose Calderon missed a fourth straight game but is very close to returning. New York won the first meeting 108-96 at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 29. Anthony led the Knicks with 24 points. They shot 54.4 percent from the field. Andre Drummond was largely held in check for Detroit with 13 points and nine rebounds. It was the season debut of Pistons guard Brandon Jennings off his Achilles' injury that cut short last season. Detroit has won three of its past four at home in the series.

Key trends: The Knicks are 5-2 against the spread in their past seven in Detroit. The "over/under" is 4-1 in the past five meetings overall.

Early lean: Pistons and under.

Rockets at Suns (+8, 213.5)

Houston ended a three-game losing streak with a 115-102 win over the visiting Heat on Tuesday. The Rockets were without Dwight Howard, who was surprisingly suspended because he brushed the arm of a ref in the previous game. Howard will be back here. James Harden had 26 points and a career-high 14 assists vs. the Heat. Phoenix lost a fifth in a row Tuesday, 104-97 at home to Toronto. That was the Suns head coaching debut of Earl Watson, who is the interim guy replacing Jeff Hornacek. The terrible Suns got more bad news when it was learned that young forward T.J. Morris was done for the season with a broken foot. He was averaging 11.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. It's the first meeting of the season between these teams. Houston had won five straight in the series before the Suns won the last in 2014-15, 117-102 in Houston. Eric Bledsoe, now out for the season, had a career-high 34 points. Phoenix has won 11 of the last 17 home meetings against the Rockets.

Key trends: The Rockets are 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings. The over is 5-0 in the past five in Phoenix.

Early lean: Rockets and over.

Lakers at Pelicans (-10.5, 209)

The second game on TNT. New Orleans was in San Antonio on Wednesday. Los Angeles avoided a franchise-record 11th straight loss on Tuesday with a 119-115 win over visiting Minnesota. Kobe Bryant had a season-high 38 points, and I have trouble seeing him score more than that in his final year. Kobe scored 14 of L.A's final 18 points. The team has shut down rookie forward Larry Nance Jr. until after the All-Star break due to a sore right knee. New Orleans swept the Lakers last year for the first time in franchise history but lost the first meeting this year, 95-91 in L.A. in Jan. 12. Anthony Davis missed that one and Kobe played just under 16 minutes. The starting Lakers backcourt of Lou Williams and Jordan Clarkson combined for 37 points.

Key trends: The Lakers are 3-10 ATS in their past 13 road games vs. teams with a winning home record. The over is 9-0 in the Pelicans' past nine entering Wednesday.

Early lean: Lakers cover and over.

Raptors at Trail Blazers (+1.5, 203)

Toronto's 11-game winning streak ended Monday in Denver, but the Raptors rebounded on Tuesday with a seven-point win in Phoenix. Kyle Lowry had 26 points and DeMar DeRozan 22. Those two were named Eastern Conference Co-Players of the Month for January. Portland won a fifth in a row on Tuesday, 107-95 over Milwaukee. CJ McCollum had 30 points and Damian Lillard 14 points and 12 assists. The Blazers actually hold down the final playoff spot in the West. I don't see them there at the end of the season. The Blazers' Noah Vonleh injured his ankle in the game, but X-rays were negative. Portland has won 12 of the past 13 meetings in this series. Lillard averaged a team-high 24.5 points in the two wins last year. Portland has won seven straight at home vs. the Raptors.

Key trends: The favorite is 7-3 ATS in the past 10 meetings. The over is 10-1 in Portland's past 11 at home vs. teams with a winning road record.

Early lean: Raptors and over.

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