NBA Odds and Predictions for February 24, 2009
With 16 teams in action, Tuesday night’s NBA card might look like March Madness odds. The Sweet Sixteen will include four of the top five teams in the NBA as the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs all suit up. Let’s take a look at the matchups for those top teams:
Memphis Grizzlies @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Sportsbook odds: Cavaliers -14
The Memphis Grizzlies have only three road wins in 24 tries this season while the Cleveland Cavaliers have just one home loss in 26 games. Sound like a mismatch? It is.
While the Grizzlies have lost their last four games, the Cavs have been at the other end of the spectrum, winning four straight and 17 of their last 23.
The Cavs are facing a big number on the spread but they have been a home favorite of 12.5 to 15 points in five games this season and have covered four of them.
NBA betting pick: Cleveland Cavaliers -14
Los Angeles Lakers @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Sportsbook odds: Lakers -7.5
The Los Angeles Lakers are again a big road favorite as they head to Oklahoma City on Tuesday night. The Thunder have really struggled in the month of February after producing their most productive month of the season in January.
The Thunder were 4-29 entering January but posted an impressive record (by their standards) of 7-7 in the first month of 2009. But they’ve reverted to their previous ways with just two wins and seven losses in February.
Furthermore, the Thunder have lost five straight, including a 105-98 loss in Los Angeles to these very same Lakers. However, if they covered 7.5 points at Staples Center, they should be able to do so at home as well.
NBA betting pick: Oklahoma City Thunder +7.5
Orlando Magic @ Chicago Bulls
Sportsbook odds: Magic -3
The Orlando Magic had only lost 10 games this season heading into February but have already lost four times this month. Part of the problem has been the loss of their All-Star point guard, Jameer Nelson, who is out for the season.
At the trade deadline, the Magic acquired a potential replacement in Rafer Alston, who has adjusted well in his first two games in Orlando. Alston has totaled 17 assists in his first two games in a Magic uniform, alleviating most of the team’s concerns early on.
This will be the third meeting between the Magic and the Bulls; the Magic won the first two by an average margin of 11 points per game.
The Bulls are widely inconsistent but have won seven of their last 11 games. Look for them to protect their home court tonight.
NBA betting pick: Chicago Bulls +3
Dallas Mavericks @ San Antonio Spurs
Sportsbook odds: Spurs -4.5
The Dallas Mavericks are 33-22 on the season, which is a respectable record, but a deeper examination into their numbers shows they are better against weak foes than they are against decent opponents.
The Mavericks are 22-9 against teams below .500 and just 11-13 against teams with winning records. On Tuesday, they will face a team above .500 as they travel to their Texas neighbor, San Antonio, for the second time this season.
The previous two meetings have been tight as both outcomes were decided within seven points. The bad news for Dallas is that the first two meetings came earlier in the season when the Spurs were barely a .500 team.
When the Spurs won at home against the Mavericks in their last meeting on Dec. 9, the Spurs were 12-8. Since then, the Spurs are 25-9. Overall, the Spurs have won eight of their last 11 games.
Surprisingly, this will be the Spurs first home game in February as they return home after an eight-game road trip. The Spurs are 6-1 in their last seven home games.
NBA betting pick: Spurs -4.5
Tags: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, Oklahoma City Thunder
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