NBA Friday

[Raji]

Golden State Warriors at Washington Wizards (pk, 217)

The Wizards, winners of five straight and six straight ATS, are 3-0 against the spread (ATS) since losing scoring leader Gilbert Arenas to a knee ailment. It now looks like Arenas will be out for three months or more following knee surgery.

Fortunately, Caron Butler has been shouldering the offensive load for Washington, averaging more than 19 points per contest in his last three outings.

Washington has won three of its last four meetings with Golden State.

Pick: Wizards

Charlotte Bobcats at Orlando Magic (-9 ½, 195)

Orlando squandered a four-point first half lead on Wednesday, en route to an embarrassing 128-110 setback to the San Antonio Spurs. It marked the team’s first road loss in seven outings this season.

The Magic have won two straight at home and should respond with a strong performance against the road-weary Bobcats. Orlando is an impressive 5-0 ATS in its last five outings after a setback.

Pick: Magic

Los Angeles Lakers at Boston Celtics (-7 ½, 201)

Los Angeles has one of the NBA’s most explosive offenses and that has helped propel them to two wins in their last three road games.

The Lakers are scoring more than 106 points per contest on 47 percent shooting. Kobe Bryant leads the team in scoring with more than 26 points per night and he’s also shooting a career-high 46 percent from the field.

The Lakers, 4-1 ATS in their last five games, are also 5-0 ATS in their last five meetings at the Garden.

Pick: Lakers

Houston Rockets at Miami Heat (+2, 179)

Miami just doesn’t have the offensive firepower to challenge a healthy Rockets club.

The Heat rank last in the league in scoring with less than 86 points per outing and they’re shooting a mediocre 42 percent from the field. Miami is also hitting a meager 31 percent of their shots from the three-point line. The charity stripe hasn’t provided any relief either where they’re just 67 percent.

Pick: Houston

Philadelphia 76ers at Detroit Pistons (N/A)

Pistons star point guard Chauncey Billups piled up an impressive 25 points and 15 assists in Wednesday’s tilt against the New York Knicks.

Detroit has won eight of its last 10 against the Sixers and is 4-1 ATS in its last five meetings with Philadelphia. That includes covering the spread twice without Billups in the lineup.

Pick: Pistons

Dallas Mavericks at Indiana Pacers (+7 ½, 205)

The Mavericks have had to fight from behind to win their last two games. Dallas shouldn’t have to fight back against the lowly Pacers, though.

The Mavs have won four of their last five tilts with Indiana and have covered the spread in three of the last four meetings.

Pick: Mavericks

Memphis Grizzlies at San Antonio Spurs (-12, 203)

The Grizzlies are 1-4 on the road and have lost nine of their last 10 against the Spurs. Memphis has also struggled on defense conceding a league-worst 107 points per game on 46 percent shooting.

The Grizzlies have also been outscored by an average of seven points per contest in their last eight losses to the Spurs.The Spurs are one day removed from their blowout win over Orlando, which isn’t a bad spot for them. They are 5-1 ATS in their last six after winning their previous contest.

Pick: Spurs

Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets (-14, 203)

The Timberwolves should remain winless on the road until at least Tuesday because they don’t stand a chance against the surging Nuggets.

Nuggets’ stars Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson are both averaging more than 24 points. Marcus Camby is the NBA’s rebounding leader with more than 15 per game he’s also chipping in with 10 points a night.

The Nuggets are 6-1 ATS in their last seven outings. They are also 7-2 ATS in their last nine home meetings with the Timberwolves.

Pick: Nuggets

New Orleans Hornets at Utah Jazz (-6, 198)

New Orleans is without center Tyson Chandler, which leaves them exposed to Utah’s powerful frontcourt.

Utah forward Carlos Boozer has had his way against the Hornets in the past. Boozer scored an impressive 20 points and 10 rebounds in last season’s 96-86 win over New Orleans at the Delta Center.

The Jazz are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 home contests.

Pick: Jazz

Los Angeles Clippers at Phoenix Suns (-12 ½, 210)

The struggling Clippers were pounded by a combined 41 points in their last two contests by the Pistons and the Warriors.

It will be even more difficult for the Clippers to crack the win column on Friday. Los Angeles will be without leading scorer Corey Maggette. The athletic forward, who is scoring more than 19 points per game, will miss the next couple of weeks with a strained hamstring.

Phoenix, winner of seven straight, have covered the spread in four of their last five home meetings with the Clippers.

Pick: Suns

Sacramento Kings at Portland Trail Blazers (N/A)

The Kings aren’t athletic enough to compete with the Blazers’ deep bench, especially at the Rose Garden.

Portland had five players score double-figure points versus the Nets on Wednesday. The Blazers are also amassing more than 99 points per outing at the Rose Garden, four points more than they do on the road.

Portland is 4-1 SU and ATS at home this season while Sacramento is winless on the road. The Blazers have also covered the spread in five of their last seven meetings with the Kings in Portland.

Pick: Blazers

New Jersey Nets at Seattle SuperSonics (+3, 195 ½)

The offensively potent SuperSonics are in a good position to register their first home victory on Friday against the struggling Nets.

Seattle is averaging more than 100 points per contest and had eight players register double-digit points last Monday against Memphis. That includes 11 points from rookie Kevin Durant, who is averaging more than 19 per outing. The Sonics, coming off a five-game road swing, are averaging more than 105 points during that stretch.

The Sonics are 4-2 ATS at home and 5-1 ATS in their last six meetings with the Nets.

Pick: SuperSonics


Raji