1-21-14

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See spot. See spot bet: This week's best NBA spot bet opportunities
By STEVE MERRIL

Spot bets are classic handicapping practices that have proven profitable no matter what sport you’re betting. Whether it’s a team looking past this week’s opponent, one coming off a hard-fought victory, or a rough patch of schedule, bettors can find value picking their spots.

Covers Expert Steve Merril points out the best spot bet opportunities on the NBA schedule this week:

Letdown spot

Denver was in terrible form for the entire month of December. The Nuggets went 5-10 SU and ATS during the month. The first two weeks of January were strong, going 6-2 SU and 5-3 ATS, but the Nuggets have lost back-to-back games coming into Thursday’s game in Portland.

The Nuggets will have three full days of rest going into that game, and then they have Friday off before hosting Indiana Saturday night. That’s two Class-A teams in back-to-back games. On Sunday, the Nuggets will play at Sacramento, so Denver may not be too sharp after playing the Blazers and Pacers in their previous two contests.

Lookahead spot

Indiana began a five-game West Coast road trip at Golden State Monday night. The Pacers will play in Phoenix Wednesday, in Sacramento Friday, and then at Denver Saturday. In that sequence, Indiana will face just one bad team, and that’s the Kings.

Indiana just beat Sacramento 116-92 at home on January 14. That game was never close, as the Pacers led by as many as 29 points. After facing the Warriors and Suns, Indiana will play the Kings on the first night of a back-to-back set before playing in the thin air and altitude of Denver. The Pacers will be looking ahead to the Nuggets, especially since they just crushed the Kings by 24 points in their previous meeting.

Schedule spot

The Utah Jazz have had a miserable season, but they will be in a terrific scheduling spot Saturday, January 25. Utah is hosting the Washington Wizards that night, and the setup couldn’t be any better for the Jazz.

Utah will be coming into that game with a full three days of rest. It will also be just its second game in seven days after hosting Minnesota Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the Wizards will be playing in the thin air and altitude of Utah after playing in Phoenix the night before. It will also be the third game in four nights for Washington, and their fourth game of the week.

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Are things starting to Dino-sour for Raptors' ATS success?
By NICK PARSONS

If there is a forgotten franchise in the NBA, it is the Toronto Raptors. All tucked away up there.

Vince Carter - the team’s first superstar - made no secret of his desire to find a new home in the lower 48. The Raptors thought they had gotten over the Carter stink when they drafted Chris Bosh in 2003, but Bosh had neither the talent nor the inclination to be “The Man” in Canada, and now he’s more comfortable as LeBron James’s caddie.

Bosh’s departure left the few remaining Raptors fans on suicide watch, especially when everyone realized that 2006 overall No. 1 pick Andrea Bargnani would be no more than a glorified NBA journeyman.

To Toronto’s credit, though, things are starting to turn around. After a 6-12 start, due in part to the team’s inability to make things work with volume shooter/scorer Rudy Gay, the Raptors now find themselves at the top of the weak-sister Atlantic Division.

Sending Gay to the West Coast (Sacramento Kings) brought in a gust of fresh air to the Air Canada Centre, and for a three-week period that started right after Christmas, Toronto went 8-2 SU (the only losses at Miami and at Indiana) and 10-0 ATS.

Toronto is testing the NBA maxim that no team can win consistently without a superstar who can get the calls and make key baskets in the final minutes of games. The Raptors are doing it with a backcourt of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, and several little-known bigs, including Jonas Valanciunas in the middle.

The Raptors were a solid 22-14 ATS heading into last Wednesday's game against Boston. But now there are signs (unexpected losses at Boston, at home to the patched-together Lakers, and a road loss to Charlotte) that Toronto’s spurt may have run its course and other teams and starting to show the Raptors more respect than in the recent past.

Whether the Raptors can continue to make money for bettors who were savvy enough to see past their bad start is another issue. On Wednesday, the Raptors begin a four-game stretch against teams (Mavericks, 76ers, Clippers and Nets) they have handled pretty well this year. But at the end of January, Toronto begins a nasty five-game, eight-day Western road trip that includes games in Denver and Portland (back-to-back) and finishes with a track meet in Los Angeles against the Clippers.

And maybe that respect is a sign that Toronto – one of the great cities in North America – will no longer be just a jumping-off point for the Vince Carters and Chris Boshes of the league.

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See spot. See spot bet: This week's best NHL spot bet opportunities
By SEAN MURPHY

Spot bets are classic handicapping practices that have proven profitable no matter what sport you’re betting. Whether it’s a team looking past this week’s opponent, one coming off a hard-fought victory, or a rough patch of schedule, bettors can find value picking their spots.

Covers Expert Sean Murphy points out the best spot bet opportunities on the NHL schedule this week.

Letdown spot

The Toronto Maple Leafs will head into Monday's trip-opening stop in Phoenix fresh off a big win over the rival Canadiens on home ice on Saturday. That marked the Leafs fourth straight victory, but three of those came at home, and two by way of a shootout.

The Coyotes are a force at home, where they're 14-7-3 on the season. Phoenix has righted the ship following an ugly stretch, notching back-to-back wins over the Canucks and Devils. Staying home works in the 'Yotes favor against a 'fat and happy' Leafs squad on Monday.

Lookahead spot

The L.A. Kings have been playing a rather uneven brand of hockey lately, and they'll find themselves in a difficult spot on Tuesday, as they head to Columbus for a non-conference date with the red hot Blue Jackets.

The spot is made even tougher thanks to the game that the Kings have on deck two nights later. That's when they'll head back out west for a matchup against an even hotter opponent, and a rival at that, in the Anaheim Ducks. Don't count on a Tuesday night game in Columbus drawing the Kings full attention.

Schedule spot

It's going to be a tough week for the Ottawa Senators, as they pack their bags and hit the road for three games in four nights. After falling in blowout fashion against the Rangers on Saturday, the Sens will make the trip to Washington for a game against the Capitals on Tuesday night.

After enjoying a day off, they'll be back at it in Tampa on Thursday before facing the Hurricanes in Carolina on Friday. We could see a drained Sens squad taking the ice by the time Friday rolls around, and the Canes are never an easy out at home, where they're 11-9-5 this season.

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Indiana at Michigan State: What bettors need to know

Indiana Hoosiers at Michigan State Spartans (-12.5, OFF)

Third-ranked Michigan State has sealed the best start in program history and now looks to complete a regular-season sweep of Indiana when the Hoosiers visit East Lansing for Tuesday’s Big Ten matchup. The first-place Spartans have won 10 consecutive games since their lone defeat and one of the victories was an impressive 73-56 road win over Indiana. The Hoosiers are struggling during a rebuilding campaign and suffered a dismal 54-47 loss to Northwestern on Saturday.

Spartans guard Gary Harris scored a career-high 26 points in the win over the Hoosiers on Jan. 4 and the sophomore had another big outing last Saturday against Illinois when he scored 23 points in a 78-62 victory. Indiana’s sub-par showing against Northwestern – the Hoosiers shot a porous 25 percent from the field – was doubly painful coming just four days after a big upset of then-No. 3 Wisconsin. “We actually took a step back now,” said guard Stanford Robinson after the contest, “and so we have to take a couple steps forward just to catch up to where we were.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

LINE: Michigan State opened as 12.5-point faves. The total is currently off the board.

ABOUT INDIANA (12-6, 8-8-1 ATS): The Hoosiers have three double-digit scorers in guard Yogi Ferrell (17.4), forward Noah Vonleh (12.4 points, team-best 9.2 rebounds) and forward Will Sheehey (10.4) but aren’t coming close to meeting coach Tom Crean’s expectations. “I try to understand more than ever that you coach potential during practice, you coach performance during the game and you try to give your team every possible chance to win, whether people understand it or not,” Crean said after the Northwestern loss. “You’re trying to get your team – and I’m with this team every day so I have an idea of what it looks like.”

ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (17-1, 10-5-2 ATS): The Spartans haven’t missed a beat with center Adreian Payne (16.2 points, 7.7 rebounds) about to miss his fourth consecutive game with an ankle injury and Harris views his loss as a blessing in disguise. “We learned to play without him,” said Harris, who averages a team-best 17.9 points while accumulating a team-leading 29 steals. “Some other guys stepped up. We’re building a team.” Point guard Keith Appling (16.1 points, team-best 4.6 assists) and forward Branden Dawson (10.1 points, team-leading 8.7 rebounds) are also playing solidly.

TRENDS:

* Over is 6-1-1 in the last eight meetings at Michigan St.
* Home team is 16-6 ATS in the last 22 meetings.
* Indiana is 2-8 ATS in the last 10 meetings at Michigan St.

TIP-INS:

1. The Spartans have won seven of the last nine meetings.

2. Michigan State is committing just 11.4 turnovers per game and is on pace to set the mark for the fewest turnovers during Tom Izzo’s 19-season tenure, supplanting the 13 per contest of 2011-12.

3. Indiana is outrebounding its opponents by 11.3 per game and Michigan State (34-32) is the only team to win the battle of the boards against the Hoosiers.

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Australian Open betting tidbits: Day 9

Day 9 at the Australian Open kicks off the quarterfinals, so we dug up some essential betting tidbits for all the day's tennis action as the end is in sight for players with Gran Slam title hopes.

Tomas Berdych (7) v David Ferrer (3)

- Berdych hasn't dropped a set in four rounds and hasn't played in even one tie break.
- Ferrer hit 64 winners last round, and has reached the quarterfinals for the ninth straight Grand Slam.

Stanislas Wawrinka (8) v Novak Djokovic (2)

- Wawrinka is winning 88 percent of his first serve points, but hasn't beaten Djokovic since 2007.
- Djokovic has qualified for at least the semi finals in the last 14 Grand Slam events.

Ana Ivanovic (14) v Eugenie Bouchard (30)

- Ivanovic will try to make it two the semi finals for the first time in Australia since 2008.
- This is Bouchard's first appearance in a Grand Slam quarterfinal.

Na Li (4) v Flavia Pennetta (28)

- Li disposed of fourth round opponent No. 22 Ekaterina Makarova in just 59 minutes.
- This is Pennetta's first Australian Open quarterfinal.

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NBA

Hot teams
-- Nets won seven of their last eight games (5-3 last eight HF).
-- Trailblazers won five of their last six games. Oklahoma City won four of their last five.
-- Jazz won four of their last five home games.

Cold Teams
-- Magic lost ten of their last eleven games (0-7 last seven AU).
-- Heat lost four of their last six games. Boston lost 11 of last 12 games, covered one of last four.
-- Kings lost three of last four games but covered five of last seven. New Orleans lost eight of last nine games, but covered four of last five.
-- Minnesota lost four of its last six games.

Series records
-- Nets won four of last five games with Orlando.
-- Heat won five of last seven games with Boston, but Celtics covered the last four meetings.
-- Pelicans won four of last five games with Sacramento.
--Thunder is 0-2 vs Portland this year, losing by 7-4 points.
-- Minnesota beat Jazz by 26 Saturday, its first win in last six games vs Utah.

Totals
-- 10 of last 11 Orlando road games stayed under total.
-- Four of last five Miami games went over total. 14 of 21 Boston road games stayed under the total.
-- Under is 4-1-1 in last six New Orleans games.
-- 15 of 21 Portland road games went over the total.
-- Five of last seven Utah games went over the total.

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NHL

Hot teams
-- Rangers won six of last seven games. Islanders won six of their last eight games.
-- Columbus won last six games, outscoring foes 25-12.
-- Minnesota won seven of its last nine games.
-- Colorado won eight of last ten ganes. Maple Leafs won last five games, scoring 20 goals.
-- Anaheim won 19 of last 21 games. Jets won their last three games, allowing five goals.

Cold teams
-- Buffalo lost four of last five games; four of those games went to SO. Panthers are 3-4 in their last seven games.
-- New Jersey lost three of its last four games. Blues are 2-3 in last five games, but won four of last five on road.
-- Carolina lost three of its last four games. Flyers lost four of last six.
-- Washington lost its last five games, scoring seven goals. Senators lost last two games, allowing nine goals.
-- Los Angeles lost seven of its last eight road games.
-- Dallas Stars lost nine of their last ten games.
-- Canucks/Oilers both lost eight of their last ten games.

Totals
-- Five of last seven Florida games stayed under total; last three Buffalo games went over. .
-- Under is 5-0-1 in last six St Louis games.
-- Under is 5-0-1 in last Ranger games. Four of last five Islander games went over total.
-- Five of last seven Carolina games stayed under the total. Over is 5-0-1 in Flyers' last six.
-- Three of last four Ottawa games stayed under the total.
-- Five of last seven Columbus games went over the total.
-- Under is 3-0-1 in last four Minnesota games.
-- Over is 7-1-1 in last nine Toronto games.
-- Under is 3-1-1 in last five Vancouver games.
-- Five of last six Winnipeg games went over the total.

Series records
-- Panthers won three of last four visits to Buffalo.
-- Blues won last three games with New Jersey, allowing five goals.
-- Rangers won three of last four games with the Islanders.
-- Carolina is 2-0 vs Philly this season, both games ending 2-1, after they had lost 15 of last 17 games with the Flyers.
-- Senators won their last six games with Washington.
-- Kings won 11 of last 14 games with Columbus.
-- Dallas Stars lost four of last five games with Minnesota.
-- Colorado won last two games with Toronto, 3-2ot/2-1.
-- Canucks won eight of last eleven games with Edmonton.
-- Ducks won four of last five games with Winnipeg.

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NCAA Basketball Picks

Kansas State at Texas

The Longhorns play host to a Kansas State team that is 8-17 ATS in its last 25 games as a road underdog of 3 1/2 to 6 points. Texas is the pick (-5) according to Dunkel, which has the Longhorns favored by 7 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Texas (-5). Here are all of today's games.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21 Time Posted: 8:00 a.m. EST

Game 511-512: Temple at Connecticut (7:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Temple 58.638; Connecticut 73.172 Dunkel Line: Connecticut by 14 1/2; 150 Vegas Line: Connecticut by 12; 146 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Connecticut (-12); Over

Game 513-514: Missouri at LSU (7:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Missouri 61.390; LSU 68.436 Dunkel Line: LSU by 7; 128 Vegas Line: LSU by 4 1/2; 134 1/2 Dunkel Pick: LSU (-4 1/2); Under

Game 515-516: Kansas State at Texas (7:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Kansas State 66.152; Texas 73.840 Dunkel Line: Texas by 7 1/2 Vegas Line: Texas by 5 Dunkel Pick: Texas (-5)

Game 517-518: Indiana at Michigan State (7:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Indiana 63.249; Michigan State 79.057 Dunkel Line: Michigan State by 16; 133 Vegas Line: Michigan State by 12 1/2; 137 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Michigan State (-12 1/2); Under

Game 519-520: WI-Milwaukee at Wright State (7:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: WI-Milwaukee 51.920; Wright State 61.063 Dunkel Line: Wright State by 9 Vegas Line: Wright State by 7 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Wright State (-7 1/2)

Game 521-522: Harvard at Florida Atlantic (7:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Harvard 64.649; Florida Atlantic 51.069 Dunkel Line: Harvard by 13 1/2 Vegas Line: Harvard by 10 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Harvard (-10 1/2)

Game 523-524:Evansville at Missouri State (8:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Evansville 51.573; Missouri State 56.510 Dunkel Line: Missouri State by 5 Vegas Line: Missouri State by 7 Dunkel Pick: Evansville (+7)

Game 525-526: Notre Dame at Florida State (8:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Notre Dame 64.920; Florida State 69.454 Dunkel Line: Florida State by 4 1/2; 132 Vegas Line: Florida State by 9 1/2; 137 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Notre Dame (+9 1/2); Under

Game 527-528: Rutgers at SMU (8:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Rutgers 53.511; SMU 70.196 Dunkel Line: SMU by 16 1/2 Vegas Line: SMU by 13 Dunkel Pick: SMU (-13)

Game 529-530: Clemson at Pittsburgh (8:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Clemson 61.847; Pittsburgh 75.433 Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 13 1/2; 133 Vegas Line: Pittsburgh by 10; 127 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-10); Over

Game 531-532: Georgia Tech at Boston College (9:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Georgia Tech 59.042; Boston College 57.181 Dunkel Line: Georgia Tech by 2 Vegas Line: Boston College by 4 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Georgia Tech (+4 1/2)

Game 533-534: Texas A&M at Kentucky (9:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Texas A&M 62.306; Kentucky 73.758 Dunkel Line: Kentucky by 11 1/2; 126 Vegas Line: Kentucky by 14; 133 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Texas A&M (+14); Under

Game 535-536: Butler at Providence (9:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Butler 61.909; Providence 70.198 Dunkel Line: Providence by 8 1/2; 145 Vegas Line: Providence by 5 1/2; 137 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Providence (-5 1/2); Over

Game 537-538: Purdue at Northwestern (9:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Purdue 64.237; Northwestern 57.409 Dunkel Line: Purdue by 7 Vegas Line: Purdue by 1 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Purdue (-1 1/2)

Game 539-540: Boise State at New Mexico (9:15 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Boise State 61.863; New Mexico 69.214 Dunkel Line: New Mexico by 7 1/2 Vegas Line: New Mexico by 5 1/2 Dunkel Pick: New Mexico (-5 1/2)

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Cappers Access

Michigan St -12
Notre Dame +9
Kentucky -14

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Free Selection from Arthur Ralph Sports

Free winner Tues: Over 203 Kings/NO

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Today's NBA Picks

Portland at Oklahoma City

The Trail Blazers look to bounce back from last night's loss in Houston and build on their 8-3 ATS record in their last 11 games when playing with 0 days of rest. Portland is the pick (+6) according to Dunkel, which has the Trail Blazers favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Portland (+6). Here are all of today's picks.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21 Time Posted: 8:00 a.m. EST

Game 501-502: Boston at Miami (7:30 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Boston 111.071; Miami 124.191 Dunkel Line & Total: Miami by 13; 204 Vegas Line & Total: Miami by 9; 198 Dunkel Pick: Miami (-9); Over

Game 503-504: Orlando at Brooklyn (7:30 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Orlando 111.886; Brooklyn 118.962 Dunkel Line & Total: Brooklyn by 7; 186 Vegas Line & Total: Brooklyn by 10; 191 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Orlando (+10); Under

Game 505-506: Sacramento at New Orleans (8:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Sacramento 118.825; New Orleans 115.896 Dunkel Line & Total: Sacramento by 3; 199 Vegas Line & Total: New Orleans by 1; 204 Dunkel Pick: Sacramento (+1); Under

Game 507-508: Portland at Oklahoma City (8:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Portland 125.174; Oklahoma City 124.231 Dunkel Line & Total: Portland by 1; 224 Vegas Line & Total: Oklahoma City by 6; 215 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Portland (+6); Over

Game 509-510: Minnesota at Utah (9:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 125.309; Utah 118.046 Dunkel Line & Total: Minnesota by 7 1/2; 210 Vegas Line & Total: Minnesota by 3; 202 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (-3); Over

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Today's NHL Picks

Vancouver at Edmonton

The Canucks come into Edmonton tonight carrying an 8-3 record in the last 11 meetings between the two teams. Vancouver is the pick (-125) according to Dunkel, which has the Canucks favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Vancouver (-125). Here are all of today's picks.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21 Time Posted: 9:00 a.m. EST

Game 51-52: Los Angeles at Columbus (7:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Los Angeles 11.590; Columbus 12.595 Dunkel Line & Total: Columbus by 1; 4 Vegas Line & Total: Columbus (-110); 5 Dunkel Pick: Columbus (-110); Under

Game 53-54: Ottawa at Washington (7:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Ottawa 12.349; Washington 10.132 Dunkel Line & Total: Ottawa by 2; 6 Vegas Line & Total: Washington (-130); 5 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Ottawa (+110); Over

Game 55-56: Carolina at Philadelphia (7:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Carolina 11.862; Philadelphia 10.645 Dunkel Line & Total: Carolina by 1; 6 1/2 Vegas Line & Total: Philadelphia (-135); 5 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Carolina (+115); Over

Game 57-58: NY Islanders at NY Rangers (7:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: NY Islanders 11.278; NY Rangers 12.827 Dunkel Line & Total: NY Rangers by 1 1/2; 5 Vegas Line & Total: NY Rangers (-185); 5 1/2 Dunkel Pick: NY Rangers (-185); Under

Game 59-60: St. Louis at New Jersey (7:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis 12.826; New Jersey 10.652 Dunkel Line & Total: St. Louis by 2; 4 Vegas Line & Total: St. Louis (-135); 5 Dunkel Pick: St. Louis (-135); Under

Game 61-62: Florida at Buffalo (7:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Florida 11.866; Buffalo 10.279 Dunkel Line & Total: Florida by 1 1/2; 5 1/2 Vegas Line & Total: Buffalo (-120); 5 Dunkel Pick: Florida (+100); Over

Game 63-64: Minnesota at Dallas (8:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 11.888; Dallas 9.953 Dunkel Line & Total: Minnesota by 2; 6 Vegas Line & Total: Dallas (-130); 5 Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+110); Over

Game 65-66: Toronto at Colorado (9:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Toronto 10.078; Colorado 12.150 Dunkel Line & Total: Colorado by 2; 4 Vegas Line & Total: Colorado (-180); 5 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Colorado (-180); Under

Game 67-68: Vancouver at Edmonton (9:30 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Vancouver 11.506; Edmonton 10.064 Dunkel Line & Total: Vancouver by 1 1/2; 5 Vegas Line & Total: Vancouver (-125); 5 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Vancouver (-125); Under

Game 69-70: Winnipeg at Anaheim (10:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Winnipeg 11.558; Anaheim 11.104 Dunkel Line & Total: Winnipeg by 1/2; 6 1/2 Vegas Line & Total: Anaheim (-220); 5 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Winnipeg (+190); Over

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Trail Blazers at Thunder What bettors need to know

Portland Trail Blazers at Oklahoma City Thunder (-5.5, 216.5)

Kevin Durant attempts to run his streak of consecutive 30-point outings to eight when the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday in a battle of Western Conference heavyweights. Durant has been on a tremendous scoring spree this month, setting an NBA-season high with 54 points last Friday against Golden State and scoring 48 on two other occasions. Portland had won five straight games before falling to the Houston Rockets on Monday.

Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum reinjured his fractured left middle finger in the loss to the Rockets and said after the contest that he will probably need a new splint if he is to attempt to play against the Thunder. Forward LaMarcus Aldridge had 27 points and 20 rebounds for his third 20-20 outing of this season and fifth in his career. The Thunder will be gunning for Portland in this contest after losing the first two meetings this season; the two teams are tied for second place in the Western Conference, one game behind the San Antonio Spurs.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSN Northwest (Portland), FSN Oklahoma (Oklahoma City)

LINE: The Thunder opened as 5,5-point home faves. The total opened at 216.5.

COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Portland (-11.5) - Oklahoma City (-12.5) + home court (-3) = Oklahoma City -4

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (31-10, 24-17 ATS): Guard Damian Lillard had 24 points in the loss to the Rockets and his 131 3-pointers are the most in history for a player through his team’s first 41 games. Ray Allen made 130 3-pointers in Boston’s first 41 games of the 2005-06 campaign. Lillard is a little bit more concerned with how Portland bounces back as the effort wasn’t always top-notch against Houston. “They were beating us to all the loose balls and they were playing free and easy and getting whatever they wanted,” Lillard said afterward.

ABOUT THE THUNDER (31-10, 23-18 ATS): While Durant has been carrying the offense, power forward Serge Ibaka scored 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting against Sacramento on Sunday. It was the third straight game in which Ibaka scored 20 or more and he is 27-of-37 shooting during the stretch. “He is a guy that excels off of playing everybody else,” Durant said of Ibaka. “He gives himself up by setting screens and rolls to the rim and the ball finds him. He sets great screens and moves the defense. He shifts the defense with his hard rolls to the basket and you have to respect his jumper.”

TRENDS:
* Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
* Under is 19-5-2 in the last 26 meetings in Oklahoma City.
* Favorite is 15-5-1 ATS in the last 21 meetings.
* Trail Blazers are 2-6-1 ATS in the last nine meetings.

BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Trail Blazers had lost seven straight games against the Thunder prior to this season’s two victories.

2. Aldridge is averaging 31.5 points and 13.5 rebounds against Oklahoma City this season.

3. Oklahoma City PG Reggie Jackson is averaging 17.5 points over the past four games and has reached double digits in eight of the last nine outings.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

POINTWISE

KEY RELEASES
BUTLER over Providence (Tues) RATING: 4

(7:00) CONNECTICUT 77 - Temple 59 (CBSC) _____ _____

(7:00) Missouri 74 - LSU 64 (ESPNU) _____ _____

(7:00) TEXAS 76 - Kansas State 73 (ESPN2) _____ _____

(7:00) MICHIGAN 68 - Indiana 62 (ESPN) _____ _____

(7:00) WRIGHT STATE 59 - Wisconsin-Milwaukee 56 _____ _____

(7:00) Harvard 83 - FLORIDA ATLANTIC 65 _____ _____

(8:00) MISSOURI STATE 66 - Evansville 57 _____ _____

(8:00) FLORIDA STATE 79 - Notre Dame 74 _____ _____

(8:00) SMU 90 - Rutgers 68 (ESPNN) _____ _____

(8:00) PITTSBURGH 82 - Clemson 65 _____ _____

(9:00) Georgia Tech 70 - BOSTON COLLEGE 60 (ESPNU) _____ _____

(9:00) KENTUCKY 81 - Texas A&M 69 (ESPN) _____ _____

(9:00) Butler 77 - PROVIDENCE 68 (FOX 1) _____ _____

(9:00) Purdue 64 - NORTHWESTERN 61 (BIG10) _____ _____

(9:15) NEW MEXICO 69 - Boise State 62 (CBSC) _____ _____

BEST BETS
INDIANA
TEXAS A&M
BUTLER (4)