Given the fact both teams enter on losing streaks, it is very difficult to trust Milwaukee in particular spotting this volume of points when they are away from home. The popular opinion here is that Milwaukee needs to win this game while Philadelphia is assuredly in tank mode given the fact their post-season prospects have long since been put to rest. However, the need to win angle has been on many occasions a bankroll crusher. While the Bucks may win this game, they may assuredly be spotting too much lumber here to compel takers to buy some stock in Philly since not many want any part of them. The Sixers are generally quite dangerous when they are off the radar like they are in this scenario. Thus, the 76ers are often a great choice to fade any team with when it is highly likely that they are taking back more points than required to foster a cover.

The Heat took the first two meetings and find themselves in a must win position for this game. Miami is just 3-4 in their seven games, but did battle to buzzer in all four matches with the largest margin of defeat being four points. The schedule isn’t to their advantage coming off of a game last night against Toronto and being in a three games in four nights playing back to back with travel situation. Go easy on this one.

We can throw out the metrics and any statistics be that this is a game of little consequence for either side. San Antonio is the best three-point shooting team in the league and Dallas has the worst scoring offense in the league but again this is likely irrelevant given the nature of this fixture as a dress rehearsal. The market has assessed this contest in what may actually be quite accurate despite the fact Dallas is clearly an inferior basketball team on paper. San Antonio will assuredly be treating this contest as a bye given the fact they have just three games to play in the regular season after this one and they assuredly have bigger fish to fry. Dallas has been a formidable team on their own court this year and despite their overall ghastly record, they have been over .500 at the American Airlines Arena. Dallas will also likely treat this game as a scrimmage but given the fact the contest is at home and against an arch rival, they may try to win this one for their fans or at least make it interesting to entertain them. Dallas offers tremendous value in this contest even if they are likely more concerned about the NBA Draft Lottery at this point.

Both teams have a lot to play for this in this game. The Hawks catch the Celtics playing back to back with travel. However, it would be difficult to count on Atlanta to take advantage of the scheduling. The Hawks have been backdooring it into the playoffs with just a paltry two wins in their last 11 games and won’t be getting my money tonight.

Very simply wins here are of the essence for the Indiana Pacers as the Eastern Conference has been a snake’s den for most of the 2016-17 season. With just a handful games remaining on the regular season docket for both these teams, it is possible for Milwaukee to fall out of the playoffs even if they are a five seed at the moment as a win for Indiana puts them within a game of the Deers. The same holds true for Chicago, Atlanta and Miami who are all battling for positioning and survival. Indiana is the sixth-ranked three point shooting team in the NBA and they are ranked eighth overall in lowering opponent shooting proficiency. Much of these accolades are fostered in Indianapolis. Look for home cooking to power the Pacers to a much needed win. Milwaukee with points given their recent dominance appears as a deceptively good dish. Often when it seems too good to be true, it most certainly is.

The Raptors won their last visit to Detroit knocking off the Pistons 87-75. They played that game without star guard Kyle Lowry, so his absence tonight should be of any concern. Toronto is playing on back to back nights something they haven’t done a lot in recent months, but they have had success in this role going 4-2 on the backend of their last six in that role. Detroit is just 1-6 in their last seven games overall.

Bottom line, the Hornets need to win this game more if they want to have any chance of making the post-season. The Hornets have the privilege of playing this one in The Hive where the Heat have struggled mightily on the road and where Charlotte has excelled against premium competition, all season long. The Hornets were favored in this contest for a reason and the fact they have beaten teams like Oklahoma City and Toronto on the road no less in their previous three outings, such suggest this team is starving for playoff action. The Hornets have been dominant on the boards in all three outings and they will look to take advantage of a Miami Heat team that ranks a middle of the road 15th in rebounding operations. Swallow the points.

The Wizards got the win and the money in the first two games in this series this season, but dropped the latest when on the road in Charlotte. Washington comes into this game on a three game losing streak after starting their five game road trip with two victories. They’re in a strong go against situational angle with this being their first back after an opposite coast road trip.

It’s no secret here. Both the Nets and the Sixers will not be going to the playoffs this year. However, the Nets and Sixers have engaged in some robust contests as of late even if Philly has come out on top. The fact remains, the Sixers are expected to win this one alone by virtue of the fact they get Brooklyn at home. The Nets have had a lot of trouble away from Brooklyn and at this point in the season, they have been validated as a popular lay option in these scenarios. The Nets’ own the worst scoring defense in the NBA and but they have clamped down in two of their previous three games, holding opponents do under 90 points. Given the fact Philadelphia has won margins much larger than the price presented here, the market is showing a lack of faith that the Sixers can do it again with the recent trend of Nets successes to cap off the regular season. We’ll go ahead and reduce our juice here and take the Nets outright.

The Timberwolves injuries are a concern, but they’ve played well enough at home winning five of their last seven matches. They did lose on this very same court 95-89 back on January 1st, but I always treat those at throwaway games.

From the metrics alone the Warriors should simply ransack the Wizards. However, the number is like super-inflated by virtue of the fact this game is at the Oracle Arena where once against the Warriors seem unbeatable. However, the Wizards feature a dynamic duo of point guards that can well keep this contest within range. John Wall and Bradley Beal are two of the best in league when all cylinders are firing. Wall has been a machine, averaging 23.3 points per game while also racking up 10.7 assists per game. Nevertheless, Wizards have struggled mightily and this ultimately has adversely affected their playoff seeding and continued losses can result in them losing home court in the first round. This narrative should be enough for Washington to come in with fire. Nevertheless the lumber here is a lot to ask as Golden State could get out to a huge lead and sit their starters to keep them fit for playoff duty. Washington will not be doing so as wins are of the essence for the Wizards while the Warriors’ are just padding stats. Take the points.

Both teams have been a poor bet in recent games with the Pacers on 1-5 against the spread run and the Cavs on a 2-6 streak. So, the total looks like the way to go here. The Pacers didn’t step it up on defense against the Raptors in their latest and it would be a reach top think that they can keep Cleveland below 110. Indiana hasn’t been lighting it up, but they’ve hit triple digits in six of their last seven and should be able to reach and surpass that plateau against a defense that has been very generous over their last eight matches.

A prejudice of recent results is likely the prevailing influence in this market. Atlanta has had success in this arena not too long ago and the assumption here is that the points could be a gift. However, the Hawks have been overvalued as of late as they are 3-7 ATS. The Bulls are a far better club at home as they own a winning record at the United Center compared to their sub .500 mark they currently sport overall. However, an argument can be certainly made that the Central Division is the best in the NBA as all five teams are in contention for the playoffs. The results here reflect a cannibalistic division that has been a challenge for all the members to navigate. Chicago will continue to what it does best here to give it a chance to win. Chicago owns the eight-ranked scoring defense and they will need to rely it on here to get a much needed win to once again keep their playoff hopes alive. They say necessity is the mother of invention and the Bulls will invent ways to win this game in front of a live home crowd. Spot the points.

The assumption here is that Orlando will win and do so convincingly be that they need this game more Orlando doe for obvious reasons. While we cannot see how Orlando pulls off a victory here, there is likely a hidden fee to back Boston in this market. The Celtics are the best team in the East at the moment, they are at home and they are playing a team that is likely in ‘tank mode’ like a few other clubs across the league. In said situations, takers can expect to spot a lofty number if they wish to back a team like Boston. With this being said over the span of Orlando’s last six outings they are 3-3 SU in which of two of those games required overtime. The Magic lost by no more than seven points in one of these six aforementioned affairs. Most recently, the Magic took the Oklahoma City Thunder to overtime before they fell. The number here offers plenty of wiggle room for any Magic taker and given the fact the propensity for Boston to be overvalued is ever present, we will gladly step in.

I think the total is the best play here. After back to back games of allowing 110 or more points I believe that the Raptors will look to shore up their defense in this match. Indiana needs to start winning some games or could find themselves looking from the outside in for a playoff position. Their last six wins came when they played some defense allowing 100 points or less and I feel that they’ll need to do the same to have any chance at a win tonight.

Motivation is a huge narrative behind this contest. For the Rockets, they are more or less locked in to the #3 seed in the playoffs and they can’t any higher or lower than where they stand. The same is not the case for the Blazers. Rip City has undertaken a huge surge to make a late push into the playoffs. Now, they stand as the #8 seed and they need to continue to win to hold off Denver who is just a game behind them. Look for home court advantage to play an influential role in this one as Portland gathers a much needed win against a Houston team that has nothing to play for at this point.

The Cavs are winners of just one of their last four games and have covered the spread in just one of their last six. They’re coming off of two embarrassing double digit losses and are laying points on the road? Chicago has won all three meetings this season and while Cleveland could wake up here, I feel comfortable taking the home side and the points.

As we have said before, if we can get an opportunity to take back the Warriors at a value price, we will always do just that. San Antonio is a fantastic basketball team. There is no disputing that. However, the wins San Antonio owns over the Warriors combined with their recent dismantling of Cleveland is a bit overstated. Cleveland has been a mediocre basketball team on the road this season. The Spurs were able to exploit this with another stellar shooting performance as they remain the best three-point shooting team in the NBA. They also continue to rank in the top-three in three major defensive categories: scoring defense, opponent field goal percentage and opponent three-point field goal percentage. However, Golden State is better as they are the best in reducing opponent field goal shooting whether it is a two-pointer or a three-pointer. Oh and one other thing, the Warriors own the best scoring offense and they are the best in field-goal percentage in the league as well. Golden State is a far different cry from Cleveland and you can bet they are coming to San Antonio to win.

I like New Orleans at home in this one, but with Cousins still listed as questionable, covering could be a reach against a closely matched division opponent. The one trend that has held true for both of these teams this season is a heavy lean towards the UNDER on the total line.

Despite the fact that the Oddsmakers have adjusted the total line down pretty low for Wednesday night, I am still going with the UNDER as my “best bet” pick.

These two teams put up 217 in their only match this season and with the lack of any interest in playing defense by either club in recent games the total seeme like the way to go here.