Xam’s Daily Gems:
Hawks -5 -110
At first look, it can be hard to be confident in the Hawks. They’re just 5-19 against the spread as a favorite this year, and overall they’re 11-35 against the spread. Their defense has been horrible for much of the year. However, even with all of that, this is a really good spot for them tonight. They have played just one game since January 26th, so they should be rested for this game. The Lakers, meanwhile, are playing on the second night of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 nights. They continue to be terrible on the road, with a 7-16 record. The Hawks are better than their 19-27 record would suggest. They are scoring 120 points per game and are currently tied for the last Play-In spot in the Eastern Conference. The key tonight will come down to how much energy and will the Lakers have. There is little doubt that the Hawks will do what they want offensively, as they have for much of the year. If they can play even a tiny bit of defense, they should be able to cover the spread tonight. Anthony Davis is out tonight. This may just be a game that the Lakers don’t play their starters for regular minutes. They’re a veteran team and can use a break. The Hawks are at home, the more rested team, and need this game more. Expect them to come out with plenty of energy tonight.
Knicks Money Line -172
There is a little concern about the Knicks being on the 2nd night of a back-to-back and on their 3rd game in 4 nights, but OG Anunoby didn’t play last night, and they still won by 21 points on the road. Anunoby should be back tonight. The Jazz are just terrible defensively. They’re giving up 120 points per game and they’re 9-18 on the road this year. This is also their 2nd game of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 nights. They just gave up 147 points to the Nets last night! The Knicks are also 16-5 at home this year, proving they have a decided edge in front of the Knicks faithful at Madison Square Garden. Every game is important for the Knicks, as they are currently tied for the 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. Head Coach Tom Thibodeau will have this team prepped and ready to go. The team shouldn’t have any issues scoring tonight. As long as they bring their usual defensive intensity, they shouldn’t have any issues taking care of business tonight.
Blues Money Line -170
The Columbus Blue Jackets, to put it mildly, a bad hockey team. So bad, in fact, that they’re in last place in the Eastern Conference at 15-24-10. The big reason for this is they’ve given up 184 goals this season, which is 2nd most in the entire league. The Blues are hot, having won 5 straight games. A big reason for their recent success has been goalie Jordan Binninngton. In the month of January, he’s been awesome, giving up just 2.22 goals per game on average. At home this year, he’s giving up just 2.71 goals per game on average. The Blues also have a rest advantage, as they have only played one game since the 26th. For the Blue Jackets, this will be their 3rd game in 4 nights. If St. Louis can continue their run of success with their offensive output, they should have no issues getting it done tonight. The Blues have no room for error right now. They are currently tied for the 8th spot in the Western Conference. They’re 15-8-1 at home, so they usually bring their best when playing in front of the home crowd. They know they need this game tonight.
Warriors Money Line -158
It was a good time for the Warriors to have 2 days off, as they haven’t played since dropping that instant classic double OT game against the Lakers on the 27th. The 76ers, meanwhile, are playing on the 2nd night of a back-to-back, their 3rd game in 4 nights, and their 4th game since January 25th. Superstar Joel Embiid has also been battling a knee injury, which has caused him to miss the last 2 games. The Warriors will need all hands on deck to slow down Philly’s offense, but the rest advantage and being at home should help. Guys like Draymond Green and his friends should be able to clog the middle and force Philly into some tough shots. They’ve been bad defensively this year, but this is a game they should be able to get some stops in. The Warriors are clearly at the end of their dynasty run, but they have the players, coaches, and championship pedigree to play better than what they’ve shown so far. Look for them to come out with some pride tonight against a team with NBA Finals aspirations.
Jalen Brunson Under 32.5 Points -125
More is being asked of Brunson than ever before. As the focal point of the offense, he is playing more and more with Julius Randle out. It’s the 2nd night of a back-to-back and his 3rd game in 4 nights. He’s played 72 minutes in the last 2 games, so he can definitely be tired coming into this game. He’s been efficient lately, hitting over 53% of his shots in the last 10 games. However, when the Knicks played the Jazz last time, he shot just 31% from the floor and didn’t hit a single 3-point shot. The Jazz have been good defensively against point guards this year, and with Randle out, all their efforts will be on slowing down Brunson. Randle being out is baked into this line. It should also be noted, that even with increased usage and his efficiency in the last 10 games, he’s still averaging less than 32 points per game. Betting on Utah’s defense can be risky, but asking for Brunson to be better than he’s been in the last 2 games is just a lot to ask for.
Jonathan Kuminga Over 0.5 Made 3s -158
Kuminga has been efficient from beyond the arc in the last 10 games. He’s hitting over 44% of his 3s in the last 10 games. He’s hit a 3-pointer in 6 of his last 10 games, 2 3s in each of his last 2 games, in 5 of his last 6 games, and multiple 3s in 4 of his last 6 games. Once again, the rest factor comes into play, and it favors the Warriors. This is a game with a very high projected game total, which means we should see plenty of buckets tonight. The Warriors are a good passing team and Kuminga has been hot recently. He will certainly has his chances to hit tonight. He’s attempted 3 or more 3-pointers in 6 of his last 8 games as well.