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Free NBA Picks: Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017, Opening Line Report and Handicapping

by - 1/24/2017

Lebron James Cleveland Cavaliers

The Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers weren't the only American sports teams to lay a prodigious egg on Sunday. The Los Angeles Lakers went to Dallas and were spanked 122-73, the largest margin of defeat ever for that historic franchise. Ironically, it came 11 years to the day of one of the great regular-season moments in Lakers history, when Kobe Bryant scored 81 points, the second-most in any game, against the Toronto Raptors. Coach Luke Walton called Sunday an embarrassment, and I'm sure the team had some pretty intense practices on Monday and Tuesday. I often like to bet on teams coming off such a shellacking because they tend to bounce back and show some pride, but the Lakers have been a terrible wager on the road this season like they are Wednesday.

Kings at Cavaliers ( -12, 215.5)

Sacramento was one of an amazing eight underdogs of at least five points to win Monday, ending a five-game skid with a 109-104 victory in Detroit. DeMarcus Cousins had 22 points and 14 rebounds. Sacramento has won only two of its last 10 games, and both victories were against the Pistons. Cleveland was surprised 124-122 in New Orleans on Monday -- and the Pels didn't even have Anthony Davis. Kyrie Irving had 49 points and LeBron James a triple-double of 26 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. Sacramento lost at home to Cleveland 120-108 on Jan. 13 and has dropped the past four in the series and last three in Ohio.

Key trends: The Kings are 3-13 against the spread in their past 16 after scoring at least 100 points in their previous game. The Cavs are 2-9 ATS in their past 11 overall. The "over/under" is 8-1 in the Cavs' past nine after a loss.

Early lean: Kings and over.

Rockets at Celtics (pick'em, 231.5)

Boston was in Washington on Tuesday. Houston was upset in Milwaukee on Monday, 127-114. James Harden just missed a triple-double with 26 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds, but committed 11 of Houston's 22 turnovers. Milwaukee's 68 points before halftime were the most the Rockets have allowed this season. Houston beat Boston 107-106 on Dec. 5 and has taken six of the past seven meetings.

Key trends: The underdog is 4-0 ATS in the past four meetings. The under is 10-1 in the past 11.

Early lean: Celtics and under that massive total.

Heat at Nets (+5.5, 214)

Miami stunned Golden State on Monday, 105-102 to win its fourth straight game to complete a perfect homestand. Dion Waiters had 33 points, including the winning 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds to go. It was the second straight game in which Waiters tied his career high in points. Brooklyn was the only underdog Monday to lose, 112-86 at home to San Antonio. Isaiah Whitehead scored 19 points for the Nets, who got more bad news before the game when they announced Jeremy Lin will be sidelined another 3-5 weeks after aggravating his strained left hamstring. It was Brooklyn's eighth straight home loss. First meeting between Miami and Brooklyn. The Heat were 3-1 vs. the Nets last season.

Key trends: The Heat are 7-1 ATS in the past eight meetings. The over is 4-1 in the previous five.

Early lean: Nets and under.

Hawks at Bulls (pick'em, 203)

Chicago was in Orlando on Tuesday, but it already has been determined that Dwyane Wade will play both ends of the back-to-back. I doubt he goes heavy minutes in both, however. Atlanta's two-game winning streak ended in a 115-105 home loss to the Clippers on Monday. Kent Bazemore led the Hawks with 25 points. Dennis Schroder had 21, and Dwight Howard added 16 points and 12 rebounds. Atlanta is now 22-6 this season when scoring at least 100 points. Atlanta has taken two home meetings with Chicago this season and six straight overall in the series.

Key trends: The Hawks are 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings. The under is 4-1 in the previous five.

Early lean: Hawks and under.

76ers at Bucks (-11, 209)

Philadelphia hosted the Clippers on Tuesday. The Sixers weren't going to have Joel Embiid for that one with a bone bruise and the team already has said he wasn't going to travel to Milwaukee, healthy or not. The Bucks' five-game losing streak ended with a 127-114 win over visiting Houston on Monday. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 31 points and Jabari Parker 28. Milwaukee made 59 percent of its shots, including 11 of 23 from 3-point range. The Sixers ended a nine-game losing streak to the Bucks with a 113-104 win in Milwaukee on Jan. 16.

Key trends: The favorite is 8-3 ATS in the past 11 meetings. The over is 5-1 in the past six.

Early lean: Whenever Embiid sits, bet against Philly.

Raptors at Grizzlies (-5, 202)

Toronto hosted San Antonio on Tuesday without All-Star and NBA sixth-leading scorer DeMar DeRozan (ankle). He won't play here, either, and will be re-evaluated before Friday's game. Memphis lost for the third time in four games Saturday, 119-95 to Houston. Marc Gasol had 32 points but the Grizz shot only 37 percent. Toronto beat Memphis 120-105 on Nov. 30 and has won the past three in the series.

Key trends: The home team is 3-0-1 ATS in the past four meetings. The under is 6-1 in the Grizzlies' past seven.

Early lean: Grizzlies and under.

Thunder at Pelicans (TBA)

Oklahoma City ended a two-game losing streak with a 97-95 victory at Utah on Monday. Russell Westbrook hit the winning shot with 1.4 seconds left and finished with 38 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his 22nd triple-double of the season and No. 59 for his career, tying Larry Bird for fifth on the career list. Yet Westbrook isn't starting the All-Star Game. Ridiculous. Center Steven Adams returned from a two-game absence due to a concussion. New Orleans was without Anthony Davis on Monday (quad) and still shocked the Cavaliers 124-122. Davis fill-in Terrence Jones blew up with a career-high 36 points along with 11 rebounds and a key block. Oklahoma City is 2-0 vs. New Orleans this season.

Key trends : The Thunder are 9-3 ATS in their past 12 in the Big Easy. The over is 4-0 in the past four there.

Early lean: Wait on Davis.

Warriors at Hornets (+7.5, 220.5)

Steph Curry returns to his hometown for this ESPN game. I'm actually not that surprised the Warriors lost in Miami on Monday, 105-102, as it was the third-game of a four-game trip and second of a back-to-back. Perhaps the Warriors players enjoyed South Beach on Sunday night (they played early Sunday afternoon in Orlando)? Kevin Durant scored 27, Klay Thompson had 22 and Curry added 21 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Warriors. Curry missed a jumper as time expired, but it apparently was only a 2-pointer regardless. Andre Iguodala got the night off for rest. Charlotte's three-game winning streak ended in a 109-99 home loss to Washington on Monday in a potential look-ahead game. The Hornets, who had won nine of their last 10 home games, shot only 39 percent. Kemba Walker was just 7-for-24 from the field. First meeting of season between Golden State and Charlotte. The Warriors have taken four straight in the series.

Key trends: The Warriors are 3-8 ATS in their past 11 on the road. The under is 6-0 in Charlotte's past six.

Early lean: Hornets and under.

Knicks at Mavericks (-2.5, 206)

New York ended a two-game slide with a 109-103 victory in Indiana on Monday. The Knicks blew a 17-point lead but were rescued by Carmelo Anthony as he hit the tiebreaking jumper with 23.4 seconds to go. He had 26 points as New York ended a nine-game losing streak at Indiana. Dallas was on the right end of that 122-73 rout of the Lakers on Sunday. It was Dallas' 13th straight win over the Lakers, and the third-largest margin of victory in Mavs history. Andrew Bogut (hamstring) sat again but is getting close. The Knicks snapped a five-game losing streak against the Mavericks with a 93-77 win at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 14.

Key trends: The Knicks are 5-2 ATS in the past seven meetings. The under is 4-1 in the Mavs' past five.

Early lean: Mavs and under.

Lakers at Trail Blazers (-11, 224)

Second ESPN game. The Lakers started a three-game trip with that terrible effort in Dallas on Sunday. The 49-point defeat just edged Los Angeles' two previous worst losses at 48 points, most recently 123-75 at Utah on March 28, 2016. The 34-point halftime deficit was also the worst in Laker history. Second-leading scorer D'Angelo Russell was out with a sprained MCL and calf and won't play for 1-2 weeks. Larry Nance Jr. (bone bruise, left knee) returned after missing 16 games and scored four points. Portland ended a four-game skid with a 127-123 OT win in Boston on Saturday. CJ McCollum had 35 points and Damian Lillard 28. Forward Ed Davis was out with a wrist injury. The Trail Blazers have won a franchise-record 10 consecutive games against the Lakers.

Key trends: The favorite is 8-0 ATS in the past eight meetings. The over is 12-5 in the past 17 in Portland.

Early lean: Blazers and over.

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