 Tuesday NBA
Toronto Raptors at Milwaukee Bucks (+3, 191 ½)
The Raptors, fresh off a heartbreaking 98-95 overtime loss to the new-look Boston Celtics, will look to take out their frustrations against the inconsistent Bucks.
Raptors star Chris Bosh and second-year sensation Andrea Bargnani missed all of their shot attempts against the Celtics in the first half and still managed to force overtime. Bosh finished the night with 19 points on 5-of-15 shooting, while Bargnani finished with a meager nine points on 2-of-13 shooting.
Milwaukee star Michael Redd has struggled in 20 career contests against Toronto, posting his second-lowest scoring average (17.0) against any team. Redd is averaging 24.3 points per game this season on 40 percent shooting. The Bucks sharpshooter is also shooting a horrendous 23 percent from the three-point line this season.
The Raptors outlasted the Bucks in three of their four meetings last season, covering the spread in all three victories. They are also 5-2 against the spread (ATS) in their last seven contests at the Bradley Center.
Pick: Raptors -3
Atlanta Hawks at New Jersey Nets (-3 ½, 189)
Nets star Vince Carter is playing with a sore thumb on his shooting hand, something that is hurting his shot this season. That puts more pressure on Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson to carry the scoring load tonight against the Hawks.
Jefferson is averaging a team-leading 26 points this season and Kidd is notching an impressive 9.7 assists, 8.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals per outing. The Nets reserves have also been outstanding this season, scoring 31 points in a 93-88 win over the Philadelphia 76ers last Saturday.
That's an advantage we have this year and I think the bench proved in this game it doesn't have to be Vince or R.J. to make a big shot, Nets forward Bostjan Nachbar told reporters. It can be somebody else.
The Nets outlasted the Hawks in two of their three meetings last season and have won 10 of their last 11 meetings straight-up (SU) at Continental Airlines Arena.
Pick: Nets -3 ½
Los Angeles Clippers at Chicago Bulls (-7 ½, 194)
The Clippers are looking to start the season 3-0 for the second time in three years with a victory over the winless Bulls tonight in Chicago.
Clippers mainstay Corey Maggette leads his team with 21 points per game and Chris Kaman is averaging an impressive 16 rebounds in star forward Elton Brands absence this season.
Chicago ranks near the bottom of the league in points per game (86.7) and field-goal percentage (37.8). The Bulls are coming off back-to-back losses to the Bucks and the 76ers, two of the leagues worst teams last season. Ben Gordon leads the team with 22 points per game, while Luol Deng is second with a meager 13 points per outing this season.
It is tough, Chicago forward Deng told reporters. It's something we didn't expect. Now that we're here, we've got to find a way to get out of it.
The Clippers are 4-1 ATS versus the Bulls in their last five meetings, including a 103-89 road victory over the Bulls in March as 8-point underdogs.
Pick: Clippers +7 ½
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