Tuesday NBA Picks
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their NBA picks and predictions for Tuesday, February 17.
New Orleans Hornets at Oklahoma City Thunder, 8:00PM ET
All games in this series since 1996
NEW ORLEANS is 15-14 against the spread versus OKLAHOMA CITY since 1996
NEW ORLEANS is 17-13 straight up against OKLAHOMA CITY since 1996
18 of 30 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL since 1996
Games over the last 3 seasons
OKLAHOMA CITY is 5-4 against the spread versus NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons
NEW ORLEANS is 7-2 straight up against OKLAHOMA CITY over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
All games played at OKLAHOMA CITY since 1996
NEW ORLEANS is 8-6 against the spread versus OKLAHOMA CITY since 1996
OKLAHOMA CITY is 9-6 straight up against NEW ORLEANS since 1996
9 of 15 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL since 1996
Games played at OKLAHOMA CITY over the last 3 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 2-2 against the spread versus NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons
OKLAHOMA CITY is 2-2 straight up against NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
NBA Free Pick: New Orleans – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
Memphis Grizzlies at Utah Jazz, 9:00PM ET
Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams has done an outstanding job of setting up his teammates during an eight-game win streak against the Memphis Grizzlies. Now he’s starting to pick up more of the scoring load.
With Williams enjoying the best scoring stretch of his career, the Jazz look to continue their dominance of the Grizzlies on Tuesday night in their first game since the All-Star break.
Utah (30-23) is playing without Andrei Kirilenko (ankle), Carlos Boozer (knee) and Brevin Knight (quadriceps), so it has needed Williams to be more aggressive on offense. He’s been more than up to the challenge recently, averaging 33.0 points and shooting 59.8 percent in his last five games.
Williams’ scoring has increased every season since he averaged 10.8 points as a rookie in 2005-06, but he’s often deferred to Boozer, the Jazz’s main offensive option. Williams’ 10.0 assists per game rank second in the NBA.
With Boozer playing only 12 games this season, however, Williams has had the chance to prove that he’s a top scorer in addition to being one of the league’s best passers. The point guard is healthy after missing 13 of the first 15 games with a sprained ankle and later being hobbled by knee swelling. He’s averaging 19.2 points on the season.
Williams had 31 points and 11 assists as the Jazz snapped the Los Angeles Lakers’ seven-game winning streak with a 113-109 victory Wednesday night.
NBA Free Pick: Memphis – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
Atlanta Hawks at Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30PM ET
The reunion of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in the All-Star game Sunday night was one of the highlights of the All-Star break. Now that the weekend’s over, however, Bryant’s focus is back on leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a title without his former teammate.
Bryant and the league-best Lakers resume their quest for a championship Tuesday night when they host the Atlanta Hawks.
Bryant and O’Neal took the floor as teammates Sunday for the first time since Los Angeles lost to Detroit in the 2004 NBA finals. O’Neal was traded that summer, breaking apart a duo that led the Lakers to three straight titles but was perhaps better known for the frequent feuding that made the breakup inevitable.
In their reunion, Bryant and O’Neal were selected as co-MVPs after leading the Western Conference to a 146-119 win over the East. Bryant said he enjoyed himself but has more important things to worry about now.
NBA Free Pick: Atlanta – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
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Posted: 2/17/09 1:42PM ET