Football Betting News

NBA Monday/Tuesday Outlook

Posted on 3/15/2010 12:00:00 AMby Getchalk

There is a calm before the storm, or should we say madness, this week while the college kids prepare for the NCAA Tournament. If you're itching to bet on basketball or prefer the consistency of the NBA compared to the volatile, bracket-busting NCAA games, Monday and Tuesday have some great matchups for your wagering pleasure.

Monday - Denver Nuggets at Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets are making things very interesting in the middle of the Western Conference. They sit in 10th place in the West and just five games out of the eighth and final spot in the postseason. Houston has won back-to-back contests and four of its last six games, going 3-3 against the spread in that span. Heading into Monday's date with Denver, the Rockets are riding the momentum of a 116-108 beating of the New Jersey Nets at home Saturday night.

Houston got a big lift from forward Luis Scola against the Nets. He dropped 44 points and grabbed 12 rebounds after averaging just over 15 points this season. Scola has stepped up his play over the past four games, scoring 28 points a night in that span. The Rockets have also benefited from the return of forward Trevor Ariza, who missed seven games with a hip injury. Ariza, who is also the team's top defender, has scored 12 and 13 points in his first two games back.

Denver has its sights set on a higher playoff spot as well. The Nuggets are currently in second in the Western Conference, a half a game ahead of the Dallas Mavericks and three games back of the Los Angeles Lakers. They've won six games in a row including the first three games of their current four-game road trip which wraps in Houston Monday night. Denver is 4-1-1 against the spread in this span but has covered in just five of its past 10 contests.

The Nuggets are still without coach George Karl as they complete this away swing. He underwent surgery as part as his treatment for throat cancer, leaving assistant Adrian Dantley to prowl the sidelines for the team. However, with leaders like Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony leading this push, it might not matter who is holding the white board Monday. Anthony is averaging over 28 points per game during the past six outings while Billups is putting up more than 19 points a night in this span.

Tuesday - San Antonio Spurs at Miami Heat

The Spurs are crossing their fingers that the latest injury to plague their roster doesn't cost them ground in the Western Conference playoff race. Point guard Tony Parker will be out until April with a broken hand, leaving San Antonio to once again shuffle its starting five. Sixth man Manu Ginobili has slid into the starting lineup, averaging more than 21 points per game since Parker went down. That effort has helped the Spurs win three of those four games and boast an 8-2 record in their last 10 games. San Antonio is 8-2 ATS in that stretch including seven straight covers heading into Tuesday.

The Spurs are currently in sixth in the Western Conference standings, sitting eight games back of the Lakers. While that three-game winning streak has helped them maintain their ticket to the postseason, those wins weren't turning any heads. San Antonio took victories over the Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks – all of which are well below .500 and outside of even the broadest playoff picture. The Spurs head to South Beach for Tuesday. They've been hit-and-miss on the road, going 15-15 with a 14-16 mark against the spread in those games.

Miami is picking up steam in the Eastern Conference, moving up to seventh after winning three straight games. The Heat have won six of their last seven heading into Tuesday, covering the spread in five of those contests. Six of those wins have come inside American Airlines Arena, where Miami is 20-14 but has split against the spread with a 17-17 ATS mark.

The Heat have maintained their high level of play despite missing versatile forward Michael Beasley for the last two outings. The second-year power forward, who is averaging more than 15 points and six rebounds, is nursing a thigh contusion. The team hopes he can return against the Spurs, especially with Tim Duncan on the floor. The last time Miami met San Antonio, Duncan poured in 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while Beasley scored 26 points and pulled down eight boards in a 108-78 blowout for the Spurs.