Posted on 1/21/2008 2:21:29 PM

Bet On NBA - Double-Header

By Robby Maddux

Following the NBA betting weekend, there's eleven teams in the league with ATS (against the spread) records over .500. So what's the key to clubs turning profits for their supporters? Defense!

Eight of the eleven are among the fewest points allowed in the league and are 254-173-5 ATS combined. The Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings are the trio not included in the money-making eleven. The Boston Celtics have given up the fewest points in the group at a stingy 87.3 ppg.

Defense is certainly key to turning a profit and none of the bottom eight teams in the NBA with defensive woes are profitable ATS, and they have a truly soured combined ATS record of 129-186-2.

While defense wins championships and builds bankrolls, offense also obviously plays a role in both categories, in particularly to the NBA wagering public looking to turn a profit.

But of the top five teams in points scored so far this year (Phoenix, Golden State, Lakers, Denver and Utah) only one, the Lakers, are profitable ATS. Scoring few points is worse than scoring a lot because the bottom five teams in scoring (Miami, Minnesota, New Jersey, Clippers and Philadelphia) have all sent their investors to the loan office with a dismal combined ATS mark of 81-92-3. The Heat are scoring the fewest points in the NBA at an embarrassing 93.0 ppg.

Among the eleven teams with ATS winning records, only two won't see action today, Toronto and Sacramento. It's Martin Luther King's Day so the NBA will celebrate with a full day of NBA wagering excitement beginning at 1:00pm EST.

Theirs two games pairing up teams in the top-eleven ATS as Portland travels to Atlanta and the Magic, who own the NBA's best ATS mark of 27-15-0, take on the visiting Pistons.

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Atlanta Hawks

The Portland Trail Blazers split the two-game season series with the Atlanta Hawks in 2006-07 and have won 14 of the last 17 SU (straight up) meetings.

- Trail Blazers are 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings in Atlanta.

- Road team is 7-0 ATS in the last 7 meetings.

The Blazers had won 17 of 18 before traveling to Toronto last Sunday, but fell to 2-3 on their trip with Saturday's money-dropping 101-94 loss to Orlando. Portland has not lost consecutive games since dropping four in a row Nov. 26-Dec. 2.

- Trail Blazers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a SU loss.

- Trail Blazers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.

- Trail Blazers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games playing on 1 days rest.

- Trail Blazers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 vs. Eastern Conference.

- Trail Blazers are 4-15 ATS in their last 19 Monday games.

- Trail Blazers are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games overall.

Atlanta is coming off an 89-78 loss to Toronto on Friday, as it matched a season low in scoring. Atlanta has had some success at home lately, though, winning two in a row and six of eight at Philips Arena. The Hawks are 7-2 ATS in their last nine home games.

- Hawks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.

- Hawks are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games playing on 2 days rest.

The Hawks have dropped two straight and seven of 10 since a 7-2 stretch. They're averaging 93.1 points in their last 10 games after averaging 103.3 in their previous four, which were all victories.

NBA betting odds list this game as a pick with a game total of 181½. The over is 5-1 in the last six meetings.

Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic

The Detroit Pistons and the Orlando Magic still sit atop of their respective divisions, but recently they have not played like owners of division supremacy.

- Pistons are 5-2-2 ATS in the last 9 meetings.

- Pistons are 10-2 ATS in the last 12 meetings in Orlando.

- Road team is 14-3-3 ATS in the last 20 meetings.

Saturday, Detroit was downed 97-81 by Chicago, as the Pistons look to avoid a season-high third straight defeat on Monday.

- Pistons are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a SU loss.

- Pistons are 11-1 ATS in their last 12 games playing on 1 days rest.

Detroit lost just seven of its first 33 games, racing to a 10-game lead in the Central Division. That stretch concluded with an 11-game winning streak, which ended with a 92-85 home loss to Eastern Conference-leading Boston on Jan. 5.

Detroit is shooting 40.9 percent from the field over the last eight games while getting held to an average of 88.3 points, nearly 10 below their season average.

- Pistons are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.

- Pistons are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Southeast.

- Pistons are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.

- Pistons are 20-7-1 ATS in their last 28 games overall.

Detroit handed the Magic what remains their biggest loss of the season, 116-92 in Orlando on Nov. 2. That was one of just four defeats in November for the Magic as they took control of the Southeast Division.

They ended 2007 on a four-game winning streak, but have gone 3-6 SU this month to see their division lead shrink to two games over Washington.

- Magic are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 Monday games.

- Magic are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

It had been a month since the Magic beat a team with a winning record before they posted a 101-94 home money-making victory over Portland on Saturday in their last outing.

- Magic are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a SU win.

- Magic are 17-8 ATS in their last 25 games following a ATS win.

- Magic are 16-7 ATS in their last 23 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.

- Magic are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.

NBA odds list Detroit the 3½-point favorites with a game total of 192.

- Pistons are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite of 0.5-4.5.

- Magic are 22-8 ATS in their last 30 games as an underdog of 0.5-4.5.

- Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.

- Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Orlando.

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