NBA Preview: Spurs vs Timberwolves; Clippers vs Lakers
San Antonio Spurs (53-16) at Minnesota Timberwolves (28-41), 9:30 p.m. EST
Line: Spurs -5. Total 205.5.
San Antonio seemed destined to take over the #1 spot in the Western Conference after Golden State’s Kevin Durant went down with a severely sprained MCL in the February 28 game against the Wizards. The Warriors could not find their way without Durant their first six games without him, going 2-4. The last of those six games was a 107-85 drubbing at San Antonio when Coach Steve Kerr sat four starters to give them “rest”, in addition to Durant already being out. In that game, all four of the players that Kerr sat (Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala) made it known that they were willing to play that game. As a result, the Spurs pulled within half a game of the Western Conference leaders after that win.
Since then, the Warriors have returned to form without Durant, winning four straight games, while the Spurs have gone just 2-2. Golden State has increased their lead over the Spurs to 2.5 games over that 4-game span.
The Spurs are in Minnesota on Tuesday night against a team they have beaten 12 straight games. However, the Timberwolves gave the Spurs all they could handle in their last meeting at San Antonio on March 4, losing a heartbreaker, 97-90, in overtime.
I certainly believe that the T’Wolves have a shot to beat the Spurs straight up, but I am more focused on the total for this game.
Minnesota has been a “chart play” goldmine in their last 23 games. In fact, they have been the definition of what a “chart play” is for me in nearly its purest form. Remember, the definition for my chart play is ‘when any streak of four or more overs, under, covers or not-covers ends, you immediately change course and start going the other way. The longer the streak, the stronger the play.’
I had a chart play last night, taking the Wizards’ game under after their 9-game over streak was snapped in the previous game. The game did go under.
The Timberwolves started a 10-game over streak on January 28, then went under in 8 of their next 9 games (including going under 6 in a row to conclude that streak) and now have gone over their last 4 games.
Obviously, I like the over in tonight’s game. The Spurs have gone over their 4 straight games, too.
My record (3-2, +$36). My pick:
San Antonio / Minnesota over 205.5 $110 to win $100 (1 unit, normal play).
NBA Preview: Spurs vs Timberwolves, Clippers vs Lakers
Los Angeles Clippers (42-29) at Los Angeles Lakers (20-50), 10:30 p.m. EST
Line: Clippers -9.5. Total 220.5.
The Battle of Los Angeles has hardly been a fair one lately. The Clippers had won 11 straight games in this series until the Lakers finally snapped that streak with a 111-102 win this past Christmas. The Clippers started a new streak 3 weeks later with a 113-97 win.
The Lakers have lost 5 straight and 13 of their last 14 games, covering the spread in just 3 of those games. However, the Lakers are showing signs of life, covering their last two games at home against Milwaukee and Cleveland. The Lakers played competitively against both opponents and stayed with both teams right down to the final couple of minutes before losing.
Coach Luke Walton moved D’Angelo Russell off his usual starting point guard position to the #2 guard starting spot for the Cleveland game on Sunday and Russell responded with a career high 40 points. Russell shot 14-for-22 from the field and 7-for-12 from beyond the 3-point arc. This move will hopefully jump start Russell’s career, as he has been an enigma to this point in his second season, despite being very talented.
The Lakers have gone over 6 of their last 7 games. The Clippers have gone under, then over, eight consecutive times over the last 16 games, which quite frankly, might be a record. However, I do not have time to check my database for something that innocuous, as I have 36 seasons worth of data to go through. Let me just say that the Clippers’ totals have been somewhat unpredictable the last 16 games.
I like the Lakers to cover the spread, but not enough to put money on them.
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