Posted on
12/27/2007 6:35:34 PM
NBA Basketball Betting – Thursday Night Free Picks
By Dave Golokhov
Cleveland Cavaliers (13-16) @ Dallas Mavericks (19-10)
The Cleveland Cavaliers have not won consecutive games in a month but will get an opportunity to do so on Thursday night. The task figures to be an arduous one as they head to Dallas where the Mavericks have only lost twice this season.
The Cavs just finished up a three-game homestand with a decisive 96-82 victory over the Miami Heat. In the last three years, the Cavs are 12-1 against the spread after playing three consecutive home games.
The Cavs have been a road dog of 6.5 to nine points six times this year and have failed to win a game yet. They are only 1-19 in that role over the last three years.
The Dallas Mavericks are 9-3 straight up against teams with a losing record and have won eight of the last 10 home meetings with Cleveland. Cleveland has covered in their last two contests in Dallas, though.
Dallas is playing on the back end of back-to-backs after losing last night to the Utah Jazz.
NBA Free Pick: Cleveland +7
Phoenix Suns (19-9) @ Los Angeles Clippers (9-17)
Believe it or not, the Los Angeles Clippers started the season 4-0. Since then, they have won only five games.
Now they face the Suns, who have dominated this series of late. The Suns have won 17 of their last 25 games on the Clippers’ home court and 33 of the last 51 overall.
The Suns haven’t been so hot of late, though, as they’ve lost three of their last five games overall and four of their last five road games.
Furthermore, the Suns have only covered the spread in three of their last 11 contests against teams with a losing record.
The Clippers, though, are fairly shorthanded. Corey Maggette, who sat out the Clippers last contest with a knee injury, is questionable tonight. So is Tim Thomas, who sprained his knee on Saturday against the Spurs. The Clippers are also without Shaun Livingston, Elton Brand and Paul Davis.
NBA Free Pick: Los Angeles +7.5
Boston Celtics (23-3) @ Seattle Supersonics (8-20)
The Boston Celtics continue their western road trip on Thursday as they will be the feature of the second half of the TNT double-header.
On Wednesday night, they trampled the Sacramento Kings en route to their 23rd win of the season.
Ray Allen returns to his former home to face the Supersonics, who are clearly a rebuilding outfit.
The Sonics, though, have been a much better home team of late. They lost their first seven home games to start the season but have won four of their last six at KeyArena.
The Celtics have yet to lose a game to a team with a losing record this year (10-0) and are 8-2 against the spread in those games. Meanwhile, the Sonics have just one win in thirteen tries against a team with a winning record.
The Celtics are playing on back-to-back nights, which hasn’t affected them too much. They are 5-0 straight up and 4-1 ATS in that situation.
Seattle should have its hands full but given the way they’ve played at home of late, they should be able to keep it close.
NBA Free Pick: Seattle +9.5
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