Free NBA Picks: Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, Opening Line Report and Handicapping

by Alan Matthews - 1/9/2017

Often it just takes one trade in the NBA to sort of jump-start the trading season. The Cleveland Cavaliers definitely got better over the weekend in adding Hawks sharpshooter Kyle Korver without giving up anything of current value. Now you are starting to hear plenty of other trade rumors. One that could happen soon is Phoenix, which is in full-blown rebuilding mode, trading center Tyson Chandler to disappointing Portland. The Blazers have a stellar backcourt but one of the worst frontcourts in the NBA. The 34-year-old Chandler is still an excellent rebounder -- third-best rebounding percentage among players averaging at least 20 minutes per game -- and has two years left on a four-year, $52 million contract. The Suns probably would want a first-round pick back for Chandler, and would need matching salaries, but they really have no use for him as Phoenix won't be contending for a playoff spot for a few years.

Bulls at Wizards (TBA)

Chicago hosted Oklahoma City on Monday with Jimmy Butler a game-time call (illness) and you also probably see Dwyane Wade get this one off in the second of a back-to-back and on the road. Washington won a second straight Sunday, 107-101 in Milwaukee to get back to .500. Bradley Beal led Washington with 26 points and Markieff Morris added 20 points and 10 rebounds. The Bulls and Wizards have split two meetings this season, both in Chicago. The Bulls have dropped their past two in D.C.

Key trends: The Wizards are 10-1 against the spread in their past 11 at home. The "over/under" is 5-2 in the past seven meetings.

Early lean: Wait on Butler & Wade.

Celtics at Raptors (-4.5, 219)

First of an NBA TV doubleheader. Boston won its fourth in a row Saturday, 117-108 over New Orleans. Isaiah Thomas had 38 points, his 21st straight game with at least 20, and Marcus Smart a season-high 22 points as he started in place of an injured Avery Bradley (strained Achilles). Boston knocked down 18 3s, marking its fourth consecutive game with at least 17. Toronto lost a second consecutive game Sunday, 129-122 at home vs. Houston. Down 99-95 entering the fourth quarter, the Rockets went on a 15-0 run to take an 11-point lead. Toronto was 19-0 entering the weekend in games it led entering the fourth this year and is now 19-2. DeMar DeRozan had 36 in the loss to the Rockets. Toronto won in Boston 101-94 on Dec. 9 in the first meeting.

Key trends: The Celtics are 1-4 ATS in the past five meetings. The over is 10-3 in Toronto's past 13 at home.

Early lean: Raptors and over.

Hawks at Nets (+7, 212.5)

Atlanta has won six straight, the past two without Korver. On Saturday it was 97-82 in Dallas. Tim Hardaway and Dennis Schroder combined for 42 points and 8-for-13 3-point shooting. If those two keep that up and Mike Dunleavy actually reports to the Hawks from Cleveland, I'm not sure Korver will be missed all that much. But if Paul Millsap is dealt as expected, then I'd start betting against this team. Brooklyn dropped its sixth straight Sunday, 105-95 at home to Philadelphia. Brook Lopez, whom the Nets would love to trade, had 26 points. They led by 11 at the half. This is the first meeting of the season between Atlanta and Brooklyn and thus Nets coach Kenny Atkinson's first time coaching against the team where he was an assistant the past four seasons.

Key trends: The Hawks are 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings. The under is 4-0 in the previous four.

Early lean: Nets and under.

Hornets at Rockets (-9.5, 220.5)

Charlotte lost a second straight Saturday, 102-85 in San Antonio. Nic Batum sat it out with a knee injury that is expected to keep him out all week. He's the Hornets' second-best player, so they won't be a great bet as long as Batum is out, in my opinion. Houston won its eighth in a row Sunday, 129-122 in Toronto. James Harden had his 10th triple-double of the season with 40 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds -- and technically had a quadruple-double with 10 turnovers. He became the first player with a 40-point triple-double and at least 10 turnovers since the NBA started keeping track of turnovers in the 1977-78 season. Charlotte and Houston split last year. The Rockets have won the past 11 at home in the series.

Key trends: The Hornets are 1-9-1 ATS in their past 11 in Houston. The over is 8-3 in the Rockets' past 11.

Early lean: Rockets and over.

Bucks at Spurs (TBA)

Milwaukee dropped a second straight Sunday, 107-101 at home vs. Washington. Rising superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out with an illness but should be back here. Jabari Parker led with 28 points. Guard Matthew Dellevadova returned after missing five games with a strained right hamstring. San Antonio won its third in a row Saturday, 102-85 over Charlotte. The Spurs always find hidden gems and they may have with rookie Davis Bertans, who had a season-high 21 points. San Antonio has won nine straight at home. The Spurs have won nine in a row in this series too and six consecutive at home.

Key trends: The Bucks are 2-7 ATS in the past nine meetings. The over is 7-2 in the Spurs' past nine at home.

Early lean: Wait on the Greek Freak.

Cavaliers at Jazz (+3.5, 204.5)

Cleveland won its second in a row Sunday, 120-116 in Phoenix. LeBron James scored 12 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter. Kyrie Irving added 27 points and Kevin Love 25 for the Cavaliers. Korver has yet to debut but should here. Utah concluded a five-game road trip with an 88-79 loss in Memphis in the second of a back-to-back on Sunday. Gordon Hayward led the Jazz with 22 points, and George Hill added 15 points. It was the first time in nine games that Utah lost where both Hill and Hayward played. Cleveland and Utah split last year; the Jazz have won the past two meetings in Salt Lake City.

Key trends: The home team is 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings. The under is 13-3 in Utah's past 16.

Early lean: Jazz and under.

Trail Blazers at Lakers (+1.5, 224)

Portland lost 125-124 in double overtime at home to Detroit on Sunday. That was pushed back a day because of a winter storm in the Pacific Northwest. C.J. McCollum hit 3-pointers to force both overtimes and finished with 35 points. Allen Crabbe added a career-high 30 points. Los Angeles won a second straight Sunday, 111-95 over Orlando. Julius Randle had 19 points and rookie Brandon Ingram matched his career high with 17. Los Angeles held the Magic to just nine points in the third period, a season low for any quarter by a Lakers opponent. Portland won the first meeting with L.A. 118-109 and has taken the past nine in the series. The Trail Blazers have won five consecutive road games against the Lakers, their longest such streak in the history of this series.

Key trends: The favorite is 7-0 ATS in the past seven meetings. The over is 13-5 in the Lakers' past 18 at home.

Early lean: Lakers and over.

Heat at Warriors (-16, 216)

Second NBA TV game. Miami lost 98-86 on Sunday at the Clippers. Goran Dragic scored 24 points, and Hassan Whiteside had 15 points and 13 rebounds for Miami in his return after missing four games with a right retinal contusion. That was game No. 4 of a six-game trip. Golden State bounced back from a stunning home loss Friday to Memphis with a 117-106 win at Sacramento on Sunday. Steph Curry had 30 points as the Warriors reached 124 regular-season games in a row without suffering back-to-back defeats. The Warriors swept Miami last year, both games high scoring. They have won the past four meetings overall.

Key trends: The Warriors are 0-5 ATS in their past five. The over is 5-1 in Miami's past six vs. teams with a winning record.

Early lean: Heat and over.

Pistons at Kings (+1, 208)

Detroit started its West Coast trip off with a 125-124 double OT win in Portland on Sunday. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit the winning 3-pointer with 9.4 seconds left. Reggie Jackson led Detroit with 31 points, Andre Drummond had 28 points and 14 rebounds in a whopping 52 minutes, and Caldwell-Pope finished with 26 points. Starting power forward Jon Leuer left after just six minutes with a sore right knee. Sacramento has started a season-high seven-game homestand at 0-3 following a 117-106 loss to the Warriors on Sunday. DeMarcus Cousins was just 4-for-11 for 17 points. Detroit and Sacramento split last year, each winning at home.

Key trends: The Pistons are 4-1-1 ATS in the past six meetings. The under is 5-1 in those.

Early lean: Kings and under.

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