Bobby Conn – NBA Handicapper Picks

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Flyers +140

The Avalanche (19-8-3, 41 points) are second in the Central, and the Flyers (17-8-5, 39 points) are third in the Metropolitan. Tonight, these two teams will face off in Colorado.

A well-rested Philadelphia team that hasn’t played since Saturday has won six of their last seven games. The Flyers have also won each of their last three away games while scoring a total of 12 goals. Most recently, Philly defeated Ottawa by a score of 4-3.

On average, the Flyers are scoring 3.10 goals per game (14th) while allowing 2.67 goals per game (7th).

Both Philadelphia goaltenders have been good. While Carter Hart is allowing 2.39 goals a game with a .909 save percentage, Brian Elliott is allowing 2.66 goals per game with a .915 save percentage.

Colorado had won six games in a row before they ran into Calgary Monday night. In that contest, the Flames needed overtime to take down the Avalanche, but managed to do so by a score of 5-4. Tonight, Colorado will be playing their fifth game in eight days.

On average, the Avalanche are scoring 3.70 goals per game (1st) while allowing 2.80 goals per game (10th).

Center Nathan MacKinnon leads Colorado in all major offensive stats with 19 goals and 28 assists for 47 points.

50* Powerhouse Play on Celtics +1½ -109

The Pacers (15-9) are aiming to prove they’re a real threat in the Eastern Conference. They’ll have a chance to do so this evening when they host the Celtics (17-5) in Indiana.

Boston may be on the road for tonight’s contest, but they’re taking a four-game winning streak with them. While racking up those four wins, the Celtics scored at least 108 points in each and held their opponents to 95 points or fewer in three of the four games.

On average, the Celtics are scoring 110.6 points while allowing 102.8 points per game.

Kemba Walker leads this Boston team with 21.8 points per game, but both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are putting up 20 points or more of their own. Gordon Hayward is fourth on the team in scoring with 18.3 points per game.

Indiana is 9-3 at home, but they’re coming off a home defeat against the Clippers by a score of 110-99. Additionally, the Pacers have lost two of their last three with only a one-point win over the Knicks separating losses against Los Angeles and Detroit.

On average, the Pacers are scoring 108.8 points while allowing 104.7 points per game.

Malcolm Brogdon leads the way in Indiana with 19.1 points per game, meaning the Pacers don’t have a single player putting up 20 points a game.

50* Powerhouse Play on North Dakota State -3 -109

The North Dakota State Bison (6-4) will go on the road this evening for a contest against the CSU Northridge Matadors (2-8).

North Dakota State enters tonight’s game as winners of two of their last three. After taking down Idaho by a score of 70-53, the Bison recovered from a loss to Indiana State to defeat East Tennessee State by a score of 78-68. North Dakota State has held three opponents to 53 points or fewer.

On average, the Bison are scoring 68.1 points while allowing 62.6 points per game.

Both Vinnie Shahid and Tyson Ward are averaging double-digit points for North Dakota State. While Shahid is putting up 13.4 points, Ward is adding 12.1 points per game.

After starting the year with seven straight losses, CSU Northridge won back-to-back contests over Fresno State and Portland. However, the Matadors won one of those games by just one, and they most recently returned to their losing ways by falling to Portland State.

On average, the Matadors are scoring 70.2 points while allowing 84.2 points per game.

Northridge funnels most of their offense through Terrell Gomez, who’s averaging 22.6 points per game. After him, only one other player is scoring more than 8.6 points per game.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Missouri State -8 -109

With a win at home this evening, the Missouri State Bears (5-5) would earn themselves a winning record. To do so, they’ll have to get by the visiting Arkansas State Red Wolves (7-2).

Thus far, Arkansas State has had decent success against a relatively weak schedule. However, each of the Red Wolves’ last three wins have come by five points or fewer. Against Ole Miss and Stephen F. Austin, Arkansas State was outplayed by significant margins.

On average, the Red Wolves are scoring 69.1 points while allowing 66.8 points per game.

Only two Arkansas State players are scoring double-digit points per game. The team’s third scorer, Marquis Eaton, is putting up 9.9 points a game while shooting just 32.1% from the field.

Missouri State will be at home for tonight’s contest, where they boast a record of 4-1. Most recently, the Bears won back-to-back home games over Murray State and Mississippi Valley State. And four of Missouri State’s five losses have come by four points or fewer.

On average, the Bears are scoring 68.4 points while allowing 65.1 points per game.

Missouri State has three players scoring 11.1 points per game or more. Leading the way is Keandre Cook, who’s averaging 17 points per contest while shooting 43.4% from three.

1* Free Play on Grizzlies/Suns under232½ -109

Neither the Grizzlies (7-16) or Suns (11-12) own a winning record, but the latter team has a chance to get back to .500 when they play host to the former in Phoenix tonight. The over/under is set at 232.5 points.

The Grizzlies beat up on Golden State Monday evening, but they were previously on a run of one win out of their last 10 games. Offensively, Memphis has only managed to score more than 112 points once over their last six games. The Grizzlies scored 104 points or fewer in three of those contests.

On average, the Grizzlies are scoring 108.7 points while allowing 116.3 points per game.

No Memphis player is scoring 20 points per game. Ja Morant leads the way with his 19.1 points a game, and Jaren Jackson Jr. is second on the list with 16.2 points per contest.

Phoenix has followed up a three-game losing streak with three wins out of their last five. However, the Suns have scored more than 114 points just three times in their last nine games. In their most recent defeat, Phoenix scored 109 points against Houston.

On average, the Suns are scoring 115.7 points while allowing 114 points per game.

After Devin Booker, who’s averaging 25.5 points per game, no other Phoenix player is putting up more than 18 points a game.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Lakers -6½ -110

The Magic (11-12) can get back to .500 with a win tonight, but to do so they’ll have to get by the Lakers (21-3), whom they host in Orlando.

Los Angeles has lost only three times all season, and only one of those defeats has been on the road. Since falling by four to Dallas, the Lakers have won four straight. Los Angeles scored 121 points or more in three of those contests, and held their opponent to 96 points in two of them.

On average, the Lakers are scoring 114.5 points while allowing 104.6 points per game.

Both Anthony Davis and LeBron James are having big years on the offensive end. While Davis is averaging 27.7 points and nine rebounds, James is averaging 25.9 points and 10.8 assists per game.

The good news for Orlando is that they own a record of 8-4 at home. The bad news for this Magic squad is that they’re coming off a 110-101 loss to Milwaukee and now face a star-studded Lakers team. Offensively, Orlando has scored 101 points or fewer in four of their last six games.

On average, the Magic are scoring 103 points while allowing 103 points per game.

Evan Fournier leads the Magic with 20 points per game, but only he and Nikola Vucevic are scoring more than 13.7 points per contest for Orlando.

50* Powerhouse Play on Rockets -11 -109

The Cavaliers (5-18) have been one of the worst teams in the NBA. Tonight, they’ll be hosting the Rockets (15-8) in Cleveland.

Houston has won four of their last six games, and their two losses over that stretch have come by way of a one-point game against Sacramento and a two-point, double-overtime game against San Antonio. The Rockets have scored 115 points or more in each of their last eight contests.

On average, the Rockets are scoring 120.4 points while allowing 115.1 points per game.

James Harden continues to put up MVP-level numbers for Houston. Thus far, Harden is averaging 38 points per game. Russell Westbrook is adding another 22.4 points per contest.

Cleveland is currently suffering through a seven-game losing streak, which is separated from a six-game losing streak by only a single win over Portland. The Cavs have failed to score more than 94 points in any of their last four games.

On average, the Cavaliers are scoring 102.3 points while allowing 113 points per game.

Scoring has been an issue in Cleveland, which is exemplified by the fact that Collin Sexton leads the team with just 17.3 points per game.