Doc’s Sports NBA Picks & Against the Spread Plays

We think that this is a very public line and will go with the home underdog tonight. The Raptors enter having won five straight. But we feel this is a letdown spot after their big win over Philly last time out. The Raptors have been getting some press, and the public is buying in, and we think this line has been inflated as we think 6 would be a more appropriate number and we are getting the Knicks, who have covered in three straight games and are playing hard, on the other side of the key NBA betting number of 7. We think this will be a close game tonight.  

NBA handicapping can be very streaky. The Houston Rockets had lost four straight and people were wondering what was wrong with the team. Then they flexed their collective muscle in an extremely impressive home win over the Nuggets last time out. We think they will build on that positive momentum tonight against a very lousy Minnesota team. The Wolves have lost seven straight. They have covered in only one of those games despite some very generous lines courtesy of the oddsmakers. Houston is 10-4 ATS in the last 14 meetings between these teams. We don’t think there is any chance of a letdown tonight since that losing streak is still fresh on the Rockets minds, and they need to take care of business, hopefully with an exclamation point, against a sub-par opponent.

The Grizzlies have three more wins on the season than do the Pistons. But Memphis was putting together a whole new roster this season and it took them awhile to get it together. But they have been playing their best basketball of the season lately and this team is solid. Detroit just can’t put anything together consistently. We think the disparity in these teams is greater than those three extra wins on Memphis’ record and we think the better team will take this one tonight.