Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Tuesday 12/18/18
Tuesday’s games
Cavaliers lost nine of last 12 games; they’re 2-5 vs spread in last seven road games. Five of their last seven games went over total. Pacers won their last seven games, covered five of last six; they are 4-3 vs spread in last seven home games. Indiana’s last ten games stayed under. Home side won seven of last ten Cleveland-Indiana games; Cavaliers are 1-3 vs spread in last four visits here. Last three series games went over the total.
Lakers won seven of their last ten games; they’re 3-6 vs spread in last nine road games. Five of their last seven games went over. Brooklyn won last five games, covered last six; four of those six games were at home. Nets’ last three games went over. Lakers won five of their last six games with the Nets; LA is 3-1-1 vs spread in its last five visits to Brooklyn. Four of last six series games stayed under.
Wizards lost four of their last five games; they’re 4-12 vs spread on road this season. Five of their last six games went over. Atlanta lost seven of its last eight games; they’re 2-7 vs spread in last nine home games. Over is 9-4 in their last 13 games. Washington won five of its last seven games with the Hawks; they covered three of last four trips to Atlanta. Over is 4-1-1 in last six series games played here.
Dallas split its last six games; they’re 1-4 vs spread in last five road games. Seven of their last nine games stayed under. Denver won/covered 10 of its last 12 games; they won/covered their last six home games. Three of their last four games stayed under. Nuggets won five of last seven games with Dallas; four of last six series games stayed under the total. Mavericks are 3-2 vs spread in their last five visits to Denver.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers Preview and Predictions 2018-12-18
The red-hot Indiana Pacers seek to extend their season-long winning streak to eight games when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. The Pacers have won five games by double digits during the stretch, including Sunday's 110-99 victory over the New York Knicks.
Indiana is allowing just 96.3 points per game during the winning streak with a high of 101 and feels the strong defense is the reason for the impressive run. "That's just our makeup. It's just something that's embedded in our heads," veteran point guard Darren Collison told reporters. "We know we have to be in our spots to help our teammates. We're just caring about one another. Everybody's making the right plays." Cleveland has lost back-to-back games and is beginning a stretch in which it plays six of seven games on the road. Backup guard Jordan Clarkson scored 18 points in Sunday's 128-105 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers and is averaging 23 points over the past three games.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cleveland), FS Indiana LINE: Pacers -12.5
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (7-23): Coach Larry Drew is trying to keep the team together as it struggles during the start of the second post-LeBron James era. Injuries to frontcourt stalwarts Kevin Love (toe) and Tristan Thompson (foot) have made it tough for Cleveland to compete against strong interior players and that was evident in the loss to the 76ers. "With our team, the margin for error is small," Drew told reporters. "We have to accept that. We have to do all the little things because they sum up to be big things for our ball club and that's just who we have to be."
ABOUT THE PACERS (20-10): Star guard Victor Oladipo put together his best performance against the Knicks since missing 11 games with a knee injury. Oladipo produced 26 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and a season-best five steals in the contest, just his third since returning from the injury. "He's letting the game come to him," center Myles Turner told reporters. "He's doing a great job of setting us all up and then taking the big shots when he needs to. And he's playing defense, too. He's back to being himself on the defensive end."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. SF Bojan Bogdanovic scored 25 points to lead the Pacers to a 119-107 home win over the Cavaliers on Oct. 27.
2. Cleveland SG Alec Burks is just 7-of-35 shooting over the past four games.
3. Indiana G Tyreke Evans (knee) is questionable after sitting out Sunday.
PREDICTION: Pacers 109, Cavaliers 98
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Washington Wizards vs. Atlanta Hawks Preview and Predictions 2018-12-18
The Washington Wizards are fresh off an impressive performance and hoping they can produce another when they visit the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday. Washington dismantled LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers 128-110 on Sunday to halt a four-game slide.
Wizards point guard John Wall had his best game of the season with 40 points and 14 assists against Los Angeles and he hopes the trouncing is the start of a turnaround. "We haven't been the team we want to be and all we kind of do is take this as a positive step and try to move forward," Wall told reporters after the victory. Atlanta has dropped three straight games and seven of its past eight and its defense was atrocious in Sunday's 144-127 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. The Hawks allowed an average of 129 points during a three-game road swing against the Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics and the Nets.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington, FS Southeast (Atlanta) LINE: Wizards -4.5
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (12-18): Washington doesn't know yet if veteran forward Trevor Ariza will be suited up for the game on Tuesday to begin his second stint with the club. Ariza was acquired from the Phoenix Suns for forward Kelly Oubre Jr. and guard Austin Rivers and shooting guard Bradley Beal is looking forward to seeing him back on the floor. "Trev has a spark about himself. He has a true desire to win," Beal told reporters. "He doesn't care what it looks like - he is going to go out there and do it. He always accepts the challenge defensively and his leadership qualities and his [ability to be vocal], everything he's about, his morals on and off the floor, is everything that we need. He's a great character guy, perfect fit."
ABOUT THE HAWKS (6-23): Second-year power forward John Collins is looking like a future star and he has scored 20 or more points in five of the past six games. The 21-year-old had a streak of five double-doubles until contributing 29 points and eight rebounds in Sunday's loss to the Nets and he is averaging 23.3 points and 12.7 rebounds during the six-game stretch. Point guard Trae Young posted his ninth double-double of the season when he had 13 points and 10 assists against Brooklyn.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Beal scored a season-high 36 points as Washington posted a 131-117 road win over the Hawks on Dec. 5.
2. Young scored 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting and committed six turnovers in the loss to the Wizards.
3. Washington PF Markieff Morris (neck) departed Sunday's game and is questionable to play against Atlanta.
PREDICTION: Wizards 126, Hawks 117
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Los Angeles Lakers vs. Brooklyn Nets Preview and Predictions 2018-12-18
The Brooklyn Nets have knocked off two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference during their recent surge. They will now take aim at one of the West's better squads when they host the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.
The Nets have followed up an eight-game slide with a season-high five-game winning streak and they're averaging 122.8 points along the way while knocking off Toronto and Philadelphia. "I think just our commitment for wanting to see each other do better," guard D'Angelo Russell told reporters after scoring 32 points and handing out seven of the team's season high-tying 34 assists in 144-127 win over Atlanta on Sunday. "Like I said, everybody is aggressive at the appropriate time but still wanting to make that extra pass for the next guy, still having your teammates' back on the defensive end, that rotation. We're making those plays." The Lakers are 1-2 on their four-game road trip following a 128-110 loss at Washington on Sunday. LeBron James was held to a season-low 13 points and Los Angeles gave up 71 first-half points while falling to 7-8 on the road.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles), YES (Brooklyn) LINE: Lakers -2
ABOUT THE LAKERS (18-12): James shot 5-for-16 and teamed with his fellow starters to make only two of their combined 18 3-point shots in a sluggish effort at Washington. "We're a team that's built on energy and depth," James told reporters. "We didn't have either tonight." Seemingly contrary to James' assessment was the play of a bench that shot 63.9 percent and received a season highs of 25 points and five assists from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
ABOUT THE NETS (13-18): Brooklyn's recent eight-game losing streak included several close losses and late-game malfunctions, but such issues have seemingly been kicked to the curb by a club displaying more of a killer instinct. "Our aggressiveness to close the game was different. I felt a different vibe. I can't describe it," coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters after the offensive onslaught against the Hawks. "In the past, teams -- I don't care who it was, whether it was a great team or average team -- we just let them back in the game. I just felt there was a conviction, a spirit on the bench [the Hawks] weren't going to come back. I hope that's going to continue." Russell, the former Laker, has scored at least 26 points in five of his last eight home games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Lakers PF Kyle Kuzma is averaging 22.9 points on 52.2 percent shooting in December.
2. Nets rookie SF Rodions Kurucs is averaging 13 points and six rebounds in two consecutive starts after 12 games coming off the bench.
3. Los Angeles took both meetings last season, including a 102-99 triumph at Brooklyn on Feb. 2.
PREDICTION: Nets 119, Lakers 117
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Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets Preview and Predictions 2018-12-18
The Denver Nuggets head into their 30th game as owners of the best record in the Western Conference. Denver attempts to win for the 11th time in the past 13 games when it hosts the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.
The Nuggets produced a 95-86 victory over the NBA-leading Toronto Raptors on Sunday as they once again displayed the strong start isn't a fluke. "I guess maybe it says we're the best team for the time being," Nuggets coach Michael Malone told reporters afterward. "There are a lot of games left. I think one thing we've done a really good job of is tempering our own excitement." The Mavericks have been surprisingly good as well but have lost back-to-back games after winning 12 of their previous 15 contests. Dallas has been energized by rookie forward Luka Doncic, who has 14 20-point outings after having 28 points and nine assists in Sunday's 120-113 loss to the Sacramento Kings.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Dallas), Altitude (Denver) LINE: Nuggets -4.5
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (15-13): Veteran forward Dirk Nowitzki is back from ankle surgery but played just 14 total minutes in his first two appearances. The plan is to increase his minutes slowly as he gets back into game shape and the 40-year-old played eight minutes against Sacramento after receiving six minutes in his season debut against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday. "It was definitely a step forward," Nowitzki told reporters after Sunday's game. "I played a couple more minutes. I thought my wind was a little better. (I'm) plugging along, plugging along in the right direction. But we are 0-2 since I've been back. We lost two tough games, two games we feel like we should have had, so it's frustrating."
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (20-9): Star center Nikola Jokic has scored at least 24 points in each of the past four games and is averaging 25.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.5 steals during the stretch. The 23-year-old is picking up the pace at a time in which starters Gary Harris (hip) and Paul Millsap (toe) are out while potent swingman Will Barton (core muscle surgery) has been sidelined nearly two months. "He's doing what he's supposed to do," Malone told reporters of Jokic. "He's our franchise player. We're committed to him. We believe in him. He's the future of this team. Whether we have guys out or we have a full roster, we expect a lot from Nikola."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Nuggets have prevailed in four straight home games against the Mavericks.
2. Dallas PG Dennis Smith Jr. (wrist) will likely sit out for the sixth time in the past seven games, while G J.J. Barea (ankle) intends to return after missing two games.
3. Denver backup PG Monte Morris has scored in double figures in six straight games and is averaging 13.5 points during the stretch.
PREDICTION: Nuggets 105, Mavericks 99
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NBA
Long Sheet
Tuesday, December 18
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CLEVELAND (7 - 23) at INDIANA (20 - 10) - 12/18/2018, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CLEVELAND is 55-77 ATS (-29.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 25-40 ATS (-19.0 Units) in the first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 20-38 ATS (-21.8 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
INDIANA is 67-50 ATS (+12.0 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 40-26 ATS (+11.4 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
INDIANA is 13-5 against the spread versus CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
CLEVELAND is 12-8 straight up against INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
10 of 19 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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LA LAKERS (18 - 12) at BROOKLYN (13 - 18) - 12/18/2018, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LA LAKERS are 4-12 ATS (-9.2 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
BROOKLYN is 36-23 ATS (+10.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
BROOKLYN is 36-22 ATS (+11.8 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 140-98 ATS (+32.2 Units) after 3 or more consecutive overs since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
LA LAKERS is 2-1 against the spread versus BROOKLYN over the last 3 seasons
LA LAKERS is 3-1 straight up against BROOKLYN over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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WASHINGTON (12 - 18) at ATLANTA (6 - 23) - 12/18/2018, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 49-66 ATS (-23.6 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 27-42 ATS (-19.2 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 4-12 ATS (-9.2 Units) in road games this season.
WASHINGTON is 4-12 ATS (-9.2 Units) in road games in the first half of the season this season.
WASHINGTON is 187-231 ATS (-67.1 Units) vs. division opponents since 1996.
WASHINGTON is 0-8 ATS (-8.8 Units) in road games after a non-conference game this season.
WASHINGTON is 134-171 ATS (-54.1 Units) off an upset win as an underdog since 1996.
WASHINGTON is 41-63 ATS (-28.3 Units) in road games after scoring 115 points or more since 1996.
WASHINGTON is 19-33 ATS (-17.3 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 16-30 ATS (-17.0 Units) in road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.
ATLANTA is 8-18 ATS (-11.8 Units) in home games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 8-7 against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON is 10-5 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
9 of 15 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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DALLAS (15 - 13) at DENVER (20 - 9) - 12/18/2018, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DALLAS is 422-342 ATS (+45.8 Units) as an underdog since 1996.
DALLAS is 508-431 ATS (+33.9 Units) in road games since 1996.
DALLAS is 83-54 ATS (+23.6 Units) in road games in December games since 1996.
DALLAS is 12-3 ATS (+8.7 Units) on Tuesday nights over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 39-21 ATS (+15.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
DALLAS is 5-3 against the spread versus DENVER over the last 3 seasons
DENVER is 5-3 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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NBA
Tuesday, December 18
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Trend Report
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Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
Cleveland is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Cleveland's last 7 games
Cleveland is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Cleveland is 2-13 SU in its last 15 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Cleveland's last 11 games on the road
Cleveland is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Indiana
Cleveland is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Indiana
Cleveland is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Indiana
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cleveland's last 6 games when playing on the road against Indiana
Indiana Pacers
Indiana is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Indiana is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Indiana's last 5 games
Indiana is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Cleveland
Indiana is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Cleveland
Indiana is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Indiana's last 6 games when playing at home against Cleveland
Los Angeles Lakers
LA Lakers is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
LA Lakers is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of LA Lakers's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 16 of LA Lakers's last 23 games
LA Lakers is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
LA Lakers is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Lakers's last 5 games on the road
LA Lakers is 4-1-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Brooklyn
LA Lakers is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Brooklyn
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of LA Lakers's last 16 games when playing Brooklyn
LA Lakers is 8-2-1 ATS in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Brooklyn
LA Lakers is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Brooklyn
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of LA Lakers's last 12 games when playing on the road against Brooklyn
Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Brooklyn is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Brooklyn's last 6 games
Brooklyn is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Brooklyn is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Brooklyn's last 6 games at home
Brooklyn is 1-4-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing LA Lakers
Brooklyn is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing LA Lakers
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Brooklyn's last 16 games when playing LA Lakers
Brooklyn is 2-10-2 ATS in its last 14 games when playing at home against LA Lakers
Brooklyn is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against LA Lakers
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Brooklyn's last 12 games when playing at home against LA Lakers
Washington Wizards
Washington is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Washington is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 6 games
Washington is 3-12 ATS in its last 15 games on the road
Washington is 4-21 SU in its last 25 games on the road
Washington is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Atlanta
Washington is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Atlanta
Washington is 7-18 SU in its last 25 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 14 of Washington's last 19 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
Atlanta is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Atlanta's last 7 games
Atlanta is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games at home
Atlanta is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Atlanta's last 8 games at home
Atlanta is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Washington
Atlanta is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Washington
Atlanta is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games when playing at home against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 14 of Atlanta's last 19 games when playing at home against Washington
Dallas Mavericks
Dallas is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Dallas is 12-5 SU in its last 17 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas's last 5 games
Dallas is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Dallas is 2-15 SU in its last 17 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas's last 6 games on the road
Dallas is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Denver
Dallas is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Denver
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas's last 6 games when playing Denver
Dallas is 10-5 ATS in its last 15 games when playing on the road against Denver
Dallas is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Denver
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas's last 5 games when playing on the road against Denver
Denver Nuggets
Denver is 10-2 ATS in its last 12 games
Denver is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Denver's last 13 games
Denver is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Denver is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Denver's last 5 games at home
Denver is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Dallas
Denver is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Denver's last 6 games when playing Dallas
Denver is 5-10 ATS in its last 15 games when playing at home against Dallas
Denver is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Denver's last 5 games when playing at home against Dallas
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