Editor's Note: Kevin Rogers is the Member Leader in the NBA, going 14-4-1 ATS (+960) this season. His picks can be purchased on VegasInsider.com Click to win!
Nearly one month of the NBA season is wrapped up, as ten games take place on the Friday card. Several teams return home from long trips (Raptors, Clippers, and Warriors), while the Kings are the only team beginning a substantial road trip. The biggest game on the card involves a rematch of the Eastern Conference semifinals between Boston and Orlando.
Magic at Celtics (-7, 191) - 8:00 PM EST
Orlando staved off a beat-up Boston squad in seven games this past postseason, as the Magic eventually advanced to the Finals. The Celtics played without Kevin Garnett, who missed the final three months of the season with a knee injury. Fast forward six months, and both teams are still among the East's elite, owning identical 9-3 records.
Several things have changed since the last time these teams met in May, as Rafer Alson and Hedo Turkoglu are out of Orlando. The Magic have another scoring threat in Vince Carter, while the Celtics are fully healthy with the return of Garnett.
The C's have burned plenty of money recently, dropping six of their last seven ATS. Boston has been single-digit 'chalk' only three times, going 1-2 ATS, as this game will feature the shortest line the Celtics have seen as a favorite this season. The Magic, meanwhile, are listed as an underdog for the first time this season, going 3-2 ATS on the road.
Eight of the teams' eleven meetings last season finished 'under' the total, while Boston held the upper-hand, going 6-5 ATS.
What else to watch for:
-- The Cavs try to bounce back after getting tripped up in Washington against the suddenly healthy Wizards. Cleveland heads to Indiana to take on a Pacers' squad that had its five-game winning streak abruptly halted by the lowly Knicks. Indiana gave away a 19-point lead to New York, as the Pacers have finished 'under' the total in seven of the last eight games. The Cavs have hit the 'over' in five straight games, including the last three without Shaquille O'Neal, who is out with a shoulder injury.
-- The Hawks own the top record in the Eastern Conference at 10-2, as Atlanta hosts surprising Houston. The Rockets continue to be inconsistent, alternating wins and losses in each of their last nine games, coming off the 13-point victory at Minnesota on Wednesday. Houston has cashed consistently as an underdog, going 5-2 ATS when receiving points. The Hawks are a league-best 11-1 ATS, including a perfect 6-0 ATS mark at Philips Arena.
-- The Raptors come home from a 1-3 SU/2-2 ATS road swing, with the only victory coming over the Clippers. Toronto has played only four home games this season, going 3-1 SU/ATS. The Raps host a Heat squad that has recently hit the skids. Miami has dropped three of four, with the lone victory coming over the winless Nets by one point. The Heat are 3-1 SU/ATS as an underdog, with all three wins coming in this price range, as a 'dog of three points or less.
-- The Kings leave Arco Arena for the first time since November 7, as Sacramento heads to Dallas to take on the Mavs. Paul Westphal's team wrapped up a four-game homestand 3-1 SU/ATS, as the Kings were knocked around by the Bulls on Wednesday. Seven of the last eight meetings in Dallas have finished 'over' the total, while the Kings are 2-13-1 ATS the last 16 trips to Texas. The Mavs were 4-6 ATS last season when laying at least double-digits at home, while the Kings are 11-4 to the OVER the since 2007 on the road off a loss as a home underdog.
-- The Blazers make a quick trip to Oakland to battle the short-handed Warriors. Portland has done plenty of traveling over the last ten days, now playing in the seventh different city since November 10. The Blazers did cover six straight prior to not cashing the last two contests against the Hawks and Pistons. The Warriors, meanwhile, are playing their first home game since dealing Stephen Jackson to the Bobcats on Tuesday. Golden State owned a 15-6-1 ATS mark last season as a home underdog, as the Warriors have opened up as 9 ½ home 'dog.
You can reach Kevin Rogers via e-mail at rogers@vegasinsider.com
