This article is part of our NBA Picks series.
Today's NBA slate features eight teams in action, including four of the top playoff contenders in the Eastern Conference and three of the worst teams in the Western Conference. With the amount of offensive firepower on the court, we'll look to find value in today's game totals.
Atlanta Hawks at Toronto Raptors (-4) Total: 199
The Raptors have won seven of their past 10 games, all at home. Toronto has a top 10 ranking among NBA teams that have covered the spread this season, but have hit a bit of a rough patch in that department, resulting in the spread being covered only four times in their last 10 games. The total for today matches up well as our point of attack, with both teams combining to average 209.6 points per game over their last 10. The Raptors also enter today's action ranked eighth in the NBA overall in covering the over at 54.1 percent.
The Pick: Over 199
Chicago Bulls at San Antonio Spurs (-13) Total: 200.5
The Bulls rushed Jimmy Butler back into action last week and are now looking for a second opinion on his ailing left knee. San Antonio rested Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili and still managed to post an impressive 25-point win on the road against Minnesota. The Spurs also rested Parker and Duncan last Saturday against Sacramento and cruised to a 10-point home win. No team has performed better against the spread this season than the Spurs. The Spurs are
Today's NBA slate features eight teams in action, including four of the top playoff contenders in the Eastern Conference and three of the worst teams in the Western Conference. With the amount of offensive firepower on the court, we'll look to find value in today's game totals.
Atlanta Hawks at Toronto Raptors (-4) Total: 199
The Raptors have won seven of their past 10 games, all at home. Toronto has a top 10 ranking among NBA teams that have covered the spread this season, but have hit a bit of a rough patch in that department, resulting in the spread being covered only four times in their last 10 games. The total for today matches up well as our point of attack, with both teams combining to average 209.6 points per game over their last 10. The Raptors also enter today's action ranked eighth in the NBA overall in covering the over at 54.1 percent.
The Pick: Over 199
Chicago Bulls at San Antonio Spurs (-13) Total: 200.5
The Bulls rushed Jimmy Butler back into action last week and are now looking for a second opinion on his ailing left knee. San Antonio rested Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili and still managed to post an impressive 25-point win on the road against Minnesota. The Spurs also rested Parker and Duncan last Saturday against Sacramento and cruised to a 10-point home win. No team has performed better against the spread this season than the Spurs. The Spurs are the only team in the NBA to cover the spread at least 60 percent (60.9) of the time. Look for another big win for the rested and ready home team against a shorthanded Chicago squad.
The Pick: Spurs -13
Phoenix Suns at Denver Nuggets (-7) Total: 214
Early indications have the public putting their money down on Denver, booking 72 percent of the action on their side in this matchup according to covers.com. The problem here is that Denver has been a much more reliable team on the road than they have at home this season, where they are just 15-17 against the spread, and 4-6 in their last ten games. Both teams have struggled defensively of late, combining to allow 217 points per game over their last five and 221.9 over the past 10. Today's total looks to be a much safer place to lay our money.
The Pick: Over 214
Cleveland Cavaliers at Los Angeles Lakers (+9.5) Total: 209
Nothing cures a curious losing streak for the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed like a little west coast trip to two of the worst defensive teams in the NBA (Kings and Lakers). Cleveland battled back from a small halftime deficit to cover the -7 line with a 120-111 win in Sacramento. The Cavs have been an unreliable team when laying the points this season, posting a 29-32-2 record against the spread this season. LeBron James and Co. have done a much better job scoring lately, and so have the Lakers, as both teams have combined to average 212.2 points per game over the last five. When the Cavs are favored, they have also hit the over 53.6 percent of the time, good for ninth in the league.
The Pick: Over 209
