Brad Powers
San Antonio -4
San Antonio is playing with double-revenge for the first time this season after losing the first two meetings to the Clippers. Therefore I expect a MOTIVATED San Antonio team here. Meanwhile, the Clippers are playing back-to-back nights and ran out of gas last night vs Golden St. LA is 0-6 SU/1-5 ATS in the second game of a back-to-back.
Jack Brayman
It's real simple here, as I take the Toronto Raptors as my free play for Friday night, over the Boston Celtics.
Toronto was supposed to be the chief contender to the Cleveland Cavaliers, in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors are currently fourth in the conference. The Celtics are currently second, behind Cleveland and in front of the third-place Washington Wizards and Toronto.
With the Raptors' second half beginning tonight, and Serge Ibaka making his Raptors debut at the Air Canada Centre, my money is on a statement win here.
The Raptors also acquired forward P.J. Tucker at the trade deadline yesterday, grabbing him from the Phoenix Suns for forward Jared Sullinger and two second-round draft choices.
Toronto is suddenly better defensively, and that could pose a problem for the Celtics, who have won 11 of the past 13 games.
The Raptors have lost 11 of their past 16 games, and are in dire need of a winning run. It begins tonight.
1* RAPTORS
Brad Wilton
Utah starts their second half of the year out of a suitcase, as their first 3 games come on the road. Stop one is tonight in Milwaukee for a date against a Bucks team that hasn't solved the matchups in this series lately, as Utah has won the last 5 series meetings and 8 of the last 10 overall. Included are 4 wins in their last 5 visits to the Bradley Center, and covers in 8 of the past 10 meetings!
Utah followed 4 straight wins to open February with 3 straight losses, but the Jazz were able to right the ship in a home blowout win over Portland just before enjoying the long break.
Milwaukee did go to the break with 3 straight wins, but the Bucks are just 14-14 at home this season, and 13-15 against the spread at home for the year.
Rather lay the small number with the West's Northwest Division leader to come out firing on Friday.
Jazz to play that sweet money music!
4* UTAH
TONY KARPINSKI
Thunder -10
The Thunder have beaten the Lakers 10 straight times, and OKC has covered its last seven home games against L.A. I don't think the Lakers improved themselves in the near term by trading leading scorer Lou Williams. Lay the points. Look for another big game from Russel Westbrook.
Bruce Marshall
Celtics +4
Atlantic Division dynamics in play, as Toronto trails Boston by 4 games, while Boston needs a win to even the season series with the Raptors. Celtic G Isaiah Thomas has scored 35.5 ppg in first 3 against Toronto, but Celtics will likely be without defensive ace G Avery Bradley, who's practicing but still not quite ready. Toronto has had some time to integrate F Serge Ibaka into its lineup, and Raptor Gs DeMar DeRozan & Bradley Beal have combined for 62.5 ppg vs. Boston this season, and DeRozan missed the Feb. 1 loss to the Celts. Still, Celtics are 17-12 SU and 20-9 vs. the points on the road.
Carmine Bianco
Arizona Coyotes at Dallas Stars
Play: Dallas Stars -1.5 +130
Coyotes come into this off a game last night in Chicago and are 1-6 this season on the road in the 2nd half of back to backs. Dallas playoff hopes are fading fast (10 back) but have won 2 straight at home and should make it a 3rd tonight.
Mike Rose
Oakland at Wisc Green Bay
Play: Oakland +1
Oakland’s revenge tour continues in Green Bay where the Golden Grizzlies will be out to avenge a loss to the Phoenix suffered on their home floor back in late January. For one reason or another, Oakland simply just jumped the shark at the tail end of the month. They dropped four of five with the final defeat in that mix coming against WIGBY. Since that defeat, Martez Walker and company have been unstoppable. They’ve rattled off seven straight wins and covered five of them including five straight leading up to this one. The Phoenix will be way up for this tilt with it their first home game since Feb 4, but the Grizzlies owe them one and they check in 19-7-1 ATS their L/27 on the road. This revenge bout gets ugly folks!