The San Antonio Spurs are a win away from setting a new franchise-record for most consecutive wins. Can they accomplish the feat with a win tonight against the struggling Indiana Pacers? In another game, the Toronto Raptors are still chasing their first win against the Miami Heat since the departure of Chris Bosh. With the Heat wracked by injuries, can Toronto finally halt their skid against the defending champions?
[sc:MarchMadness ]San Antonio Spurs vs. Indiana Pacers (7:00 PM EST)
Line: San Antonio Spurs (-4) at Indiana Pacers (+4); total 190.5 (View Lines Here)
Betting on the San Antonio Spurs
[sc:NBA240banner ]The San Antonio Spurs brushed aside the New Orleans Pelicans, 96-80, to gain Gregg Popovich’s team its 17th straight victory, easily the longest current streak in the NBA. The Spurs never trailed in the ballgame, perfectly capitalizing on the absence of Pelicans’ center Anthony Davis by scoring 48 big points in the paint.
Just as impressive as their winning streak is the Spurs’ job in covering the spreads. They are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games with their five-point win against the Denver Nuggets being the only failed cover. The Spurs were 13.5-point favorites in that game.
The Spurs are the NBA’s no. 1 passing team (25.5 APG), and their ability to find the open man will be key to solving the stringent defense of the Indiana Pacers. The Spurs dished out at least 30 assists in three of their last five games, and are 9-1 SU in their last 10 meetings with Indiana.
Betting on the Indiana Pacers
With the Heat back on track, winning two in a row, the Indiana Pacers should find a solution to their woes if they intend to keep their seat atop the eastern conference. The Pacers have dropped four of their last five games, including a 90-76 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night.
Along with a recent pile of losses are the Pacers’ troubles against the spread. Indiana has been a miserable team for bettors, as the team is 0-5 ATS in the last five games – in all games the Pacers were the chalks.
While their defense is still there, the Pacers have been struggling badly on the other end of the floor. They averaged just 80.2 PPG on 37.8% shooting in their last five games, both league-worst numbers over the same period. No wonder the Pacers went under in each of their last eight games.
Prediction
Indiana’s interiors tandem of Roy Hibbert and David West will be a puzzle for the Spurs in this game. With the two men in the middle, the Pacers will be able to hang close with San Antonio. Plus the fact that Indiana is a very difficult team to beat on the road. Pick the +4 on Indiana.
Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat (7:30 PM EST)
Line: Toronto Raptors (+5.5) at Miami Heat (-5.5); total 193.0 (View Lines Here)
Betting on the Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors continued to flourish as they dealt the Orlando Magic a 98-93 loss on Sunday.
DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas combined for 48 points and the Raptors went almost perfect from the free throw line, knocking down 26 of their 27 attempts from the charity stripe. DeRozan is averaging 23.5 PPG in the Raptors’ last 10 games.
The Raptors barely covered their spread of -4.5 against the Magic but nonetheless got their fifth successful cover in seven games. Up ahead for the Magic is a road game against the Heat, whom they have yet to beat in the last 14 meetings. However, the Raps are riding the momentum of a three-game winning streak and are facing a Heat squad withered by injuries.
Toronto carries to Miami a 3-1 SU and ATS record in their last four road games.
Betting on Miami Heat
Hopefully for the Heat, back-to-back wins against the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks are signs that better days are ahead after a difficult March. They head back home tonight after a three-game road trip, in which they went 2-1 SU.
Against the Bucks, Miami cruised to an easy 88-67 victory for their third cover in a row. It was a total team effort for the Heat as five players scored in double-figures with Chris Bosh leading the way with 14 markers and Rashard Lewis contributing 13 off the bench.
Aside from the Heat’s balance scoring, defense played a key role in the win. Miami has been limiting opponents to just 85.0 PPG and the 67 points they gave up to the Bucks was Milwaukee’s lowest this season. The Heat are 4-0 under in their last four games.
Prediction
This is the best time to bet on Toronto against the Heat. There’s just too many hurt bodies in Miami’s side and even if the offense was clicking in the Heat’s last game, it offers little value as it was against a miserable Bucks team.
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