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NBA Odds: Wednesday, February 24 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping

by - 2/24/2016

Kemba Walker Charlotte Hornets

All of the so-called experts thought the Detroit Pistons did pretty well in last week's three-team trade with Houston and Philadelphia that landed the Pistons forward/center Donatas Motiejunas and guard Marcus Thornton from the Rockets. Houston was to get a top-eight protected 2016 draft pick from the Pistons and rights to forward Chukwudiebere Maduabum from the Sixers, who acquired center Joel Anthony in the deal. Motiejunas is a good young player when healthy and would have helped offset Detroit's loss of Ersan Ilyasova, who was traded in another deal to Orlando for Tobias Harris. Alas, Motiejunas, a 7-footer with three-point range, had back surgery a year ago and hasn't played since Dec. 31 this season. The Pistons obviously knew this when they made the trade but on Monday the team voided the deal because of those concerns following a medical examination. Philly really loses out here because it had waived JaKarr Sampson to make room for Anthony, and Sampson already has signed a deal with Denver. Houston might now lose Motiejunas with nothing in return this summer when he hits restricted free agency.

Hornets at Cavaliers (-8.5, 206.5)

Charlotte won a season-high fifth in a row Sunday and its fourth straight on the road, 104-96 in Brooklyn. Kemba Walker had 28 points and Al Jefferson 18 in his second game back from injury. Courtney Lee made his Charlotte debut after being acquired from Memphis and had five points. He did start. Cleveland fell into a major trap on Monday, as a night after a very impressive win in Oklahoma City it lost 96-88 at home to Detroit. LeBron James looked gassed with just 12 points and six turnovers, and Coach Tyronn Lue admitted he should have rested James. Expect that to happen in the next back-to-back. Channing Frye had two points in his Cavs debut. Iman Shumpert missed a second straight game with a shoulder injury. These teams have split two meetings, both in Charlotte. The Hornets won most recently, 106-97 on Feb. 3. Charlotte has lost its past two trips to Cleveland.

Key trends: The Hornets are 7-3 against the spread in the past 10 meetings. The "over/under" has gone under in seven of the past nine.

Early lean: Cavaliers and under.

Knicks at Pacers (TBA)

New York's slump continued with a 122-95 home blowout loss to Toronto on Monday. Carmelo Anthony had 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks on the fifth anniversary of his trade to New York. Jimmer Fredette, just signed to a 10-day deal, made his Knicks debut. He's only going to see the court in garbage time. Indiana's two-game winning streak ended in a 101-93 OT loss in Miami on Monday. Monta Ellis was 2-for-17, the worst game in the NBA this season for anyone taking 15 or more shots. First meeting of the season between these teams. New York has lost four in a row overall to Indiana and six straight in Indianapolis.

Key trends: The Knicks are 0-7 ATS in their past seven in Indianapolis. The under is 5-0 in the past five meetings.

Early lean: Presuming this is TBA for Indiana's George Hill, who played through a right elbow sprain Monday but probably shouldn't have since he was 0-for-7 from the field. Pacers will win this regardless.

76ers at Pistons (-10.5, 208)

Philadelphia hosted Orlando on Tuesday. Detroit ended a five-game losing streak with that surprise in Cleveland on Monday. Reggie Jackson had 23 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 19. Harris had 14 in his first Pistons start since coming over from Orlando. Pistons rookie Stanley Johnson strained his right shoulder in the second half so he might miss some time. Forward Anthony Tolliver is out at least a few weeks with a right knee sprain. Detroit is 2-0 vs. Philly this season and has won five of the past six at home in the series.

Key trends: The home team is 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings. The over is 6-1 in the past seven in Detroit.

Early lean: Pistons and over.

Warriors at Heat (+7.5, 216)

Golden State became the fastest team in NBA history to get to 50 wins thanks to a 102-92 victory in Atlanta on Monday. Steph Curry had 36 points for the Warriors (50-5). They are 45-0 this season when leading after three quarters. That's just stupid. Of the Warriors' 50 wins, 32 have come by double digits. That's also stupid. If Curry makes a 3-pointer in this game, and you know he will, he ties Kyle Korver's NBA record of 127 straight games with one. Miami won a third straight Monday, 101-93 in OT over Indiana. Goran Dragic had 24 points and Hassan Whiteside 19 points and 18 boards. Luol Deng dislocated a finger on his shooting hand, popped it back in himself and returned. Golden State beat the visiting Heat 111-103 on Jan. 11. The Warriors have won three straight in south Florida as well. They are seeking back-to-back season series sweeps vs. Miami for the first time since 1992-93 and 1993-94.

Key trends: Golden State is 6-0-1 ATS in the past seven in Miami. The over is 4-1 in the past five meetings.

Early lean: Heat and under.

Timberwolves at Raptors (-10, 210)

Minnesota snapped a two-game slide with a 124-122 home win over Boston on Monday. Karl-Anthony Towns continued his brilliant rookie season with 28 points and 13 rebounds. Ricky Rubio had 15 points, eight assists and eight rebounds. Toronto spanked the Knicks on Monday for its second win in a row. Kyle Lowry had 22 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for his first triple-double of the season, and DeMar DeRozan got his 233rd career win in a Raptors uniform, breaking the franchise record. Toronto lost at Minnesota 117-112 on Feb. 19. Towns was great with 35 points and 11 rebounds. Andrew Wiggins scored 13 of his 26 in the fourth quarter to rally the Timberwolves from 18 points down at one point. The Raptors have won 11 straight at home vs. the Wolves.

Key trends: Minnesota is 7-1 ATS in its past eight vs. teams with a winning record. The under is 5-1 in the past six meetings in Toronto.

Early lean: Raptors and over.

Wizards at Bulls (-2, 211)

First of an ESPN doubleheader and will have live betting at sportsbooks. Washington hosted New Orleans on Tuesday. The banged-up Bulls have won two straight following a 126-115 home win over the Lakers on Sunday. Derrick Rose and E'Twaun Moore had 24 points apiece. Rose has really been playing well of late. Washington won the only meeting thus far 114-100 in Chicago on Jan. 11. The Bulls are 9-4 vs. the Wizards in their last 13 matchups at the United Center.

Key trends: Washington is 9-1 ATS in its past 10 in Chicago. The over is 7-1 in the past eight there.

Early lean: Wizards and over.

Lakers at Grizzlies (TBA)

Los Angeles dropped its sixth straight Monday, 108-101 in Milwaukee. Kobe Bryant was 3-for-12 from the field for 15 points. Rookie Larry Nance Jr. is having knee troubles again and the team might just shut him down for good. Coach Byron Scott has inserted fellow rookie D'Angelo Russell into the starting lineup. He had nine points vs. the Bucks. Memphis lost 98-85 in Toronto on Sunday to end a two-game winning streak. Lance Stephenson scored 16 points in his Grizzlies debut after arriving from the Clippers in a trade last Thursday. Guard Tony Allen sat out with a left knee injury. Memphis won the first meeting 112-96 at home on Dec. 27, going wire-to-wire. Memphis shot .587 through the first three quarters and .563 for the game, recording season highs for field goals made (45) and assists (30). The Grizzlies have won seven straight vs. L.A. overall.

Key trends: The Lakers are 4-1 ATS in the past five in Memphis. The over is 6-2 in the past eight there.

Early lean: TBA for Kobe because you just never know with him these days.

Thunder at Mavericks (+5, 218)

Oklahoma City dropped a second straight Sunday, 115-92 at home to Cleveland. It was the fourth-worst home loss since the Thunder relocated to OKC but the worst when Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka all played. Westbrook had 20 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds in the loss. Randy Foye, acquired in a trade with Denver last week, made his Thunder debut. He had two points in 14 minutes. Dallas ended a two-game slid with a 129-103 win over Philadelphia on Sunday. All 12 Mavericks scored, six in double figures, in Dallas' highest-scoring game of the season. It also was the Mavs' largest margin of victory this year. New Maverick David Lee, signed off waivers, could debut in this one. Oklahoma City is 3-0 vs. Dallas this year, scoring at least 106 points in each game. Prior to this year, the Mavericks had won five of the previous six regular-season meetings between the teams.

Key trends: OKC is 1-9 ATS in its past 10 road games. The over is 4-1 in the past five meetings.

Early lean: Mavs and over.

Nuggets at Clippers (-10.5, 215)

Denver hosted Sacramento on Tuesday. The Clippers bounced back from a close home loss to Golden State with a 124-84 obliteration of Phoenix on Monday. DeAndre Jordan had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Chris Paul had 16 points and 14 assists for the Clippers. L.A. hasn't lost consecutive games since right before Christmas. L.A. won the lone meeting thus far, 111-94 in Denver on Nov. 24. The Clips have won four consecutive in the series and six in a row at home.

Key trends: The road team is 4-0 ATS in the past four meetings. The under is 6-1 in the Clippers' past seven overall.

Early lean: Clippers and under.

Spurs at Kings (TBA)

Second ESPN game. Sacramento was in Denver on Tuesday. San Antonio won a second straight Sunday, 118-111 in Phoenix. Patty Mills had 21 points for the Spurs, matching his career high with six 3-pointers. All-Star Kawhi Leonard missed his third straight game with a calf injury. He has a decent shot of playing here, though. San Antonio won the first matchup 106-88 in Sacramento on Nov. 9. The Spurs have won four straight overall against the Kings.

Key trends: The Spurs are 8-2 ATS in the past 10 in Sacramento. The under is 5-2 in the past seven meetings.

Early lean: TBA for Leonard so wait on him.

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