After weathering the New York Knicks in their last game, the Miami Heat face the Brooklyn Nets, who are looking for a regular season sweep of the defending champions. In another game, Tony Parker-less San Antonio Spurs visit injury-plagued Minnesota Timberwolves for the two team’s last meeting this season.
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Brooklyn Nets vs. Miami Heat (7:30 PM EST)
Line: Brooklyn Nets (+7) at Miami Heat (-7); total 190.5 – view these lines
Betting on the Brooklyn Nets
[sc:NBA240banner ]Kevin Garnett played his first game in five weeks against the Sixers, helping the Nets avoid an upset loss by scoring 10 points and hauling down four boards in the Nets’ road victory. It was Brooklyn’s fifth win in six games but lost its second against the spread over the same stretch.
Garnett (back) won’t be available to play tonight against the Heat but with the way the Nets have played against the defending champs, it seems Brooklyn would be fine without him.
Paul Pierce and Joe Johnson have played sweet music together when up against Miami, scoring 23.7 PPG and 19.7 PPG, in three games vs the Heat this season. The Nets are 3-0 SU and ATS in their last three games against Miami.
Betting on the Miami Heat
The Heat have taken advantage of the implosion happening in Indiana. With the Pacers still stuck in a losing rut, Miami has won five of its last six games to cop the no. 1 seed in the eastern conference.
Inside scoring will be an integral factor for the Heat against Brooklyn. Miami is one of the best scoring teams in the paint with an output of 45.7 PPG, but only scored 36 against the Knicks on Sunday. However, the low production from the shaded area in that game could be attributed to the absence of Dwyane Wade and Chris Andersen. Both players are questionable to play tonight, thus giving additional burden for LeBron James, who muscled his way through the Knicks for 14 paint points.
Miami is 6-1 ATS in its last seven games. The team also went over the totals in its last two.
Prediction
Miami will play playoff basketball tonight against the Nets despite the absence of a couple of key personnel. The Heat will win against Brooklyn by at least five points.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (8:00 PM EST)
Line: No. 7 Connecticut (+2.5) at No. 8 Kentucky (-2.5); total 134.5 – view these lines
Betting on the San Antonio Spurs
After seeing their lengthy winning streak end at the hands of Oklahoma City last April 3, it was business as usual again for the Spurs, who pounded the Grizzlies at home 112-92 as seven-point home favorites. The victory pushed San Antonio to 9-1 SU and 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games.
Although it was nice for the Spurs to win again, it sure was not when they learned that Tony Parker will be out for at least two games after hurting his back against the Grizzlies. Without Parker, Patty Mills and Corey Joseph will need to step in able to assure that the Spurs’ offense will run flawlessly against the Timberwolves.
The Spurs are the NBA’s best in sharing the ball with 25.3 APG and own the seventh-best scoring average of 105.6 PPG.
Betting on the Minnesota Timberwolves
After back-to-back morale-boosting victories against Memphis and Miami, the Timberwolves were roughed up by Orlando, 92-100, last Saturday to spoil Minnesota’s search for its first three-game winning streak since February.
Now, the Timberwolves will begin their last multi-game homestand of the season against San Antonio. They are 3-1 SU and ATS in their previous three contests at Target Center.
Kevin Love will be suiting up tonight against the Spurs after sitting out the game against the Magic due to back spasms. In the two meetings of the Timberwolves and Spurs this season, Love has averaged 28 PPG and 10.5 RPG; he exploded for 42 points back in the first game in December but only had 14 points in the next meeting.
Minnesota owns the NBA”s highest scoring average over the last 10 games as it scored 108 PPG during that stretch. The Timberwolves are also putting up 107 PPG at home this season and have gone over the totals in three of their last five home games.
Prediction
The Spurs are sharpening their knives for the playoffs. Notwithstanding the absence of Tony Parker, the Spurs will blow out the T’wolves by 15 points or more.
