Wednesday picks

[Raji]

Phoenix Suns at Toronto Raptors (+7, 207)

Chris Bosh could be in the Raptors lineup Wednesday after injuring his groin in last week’s victory over the Grizzlies.

Toronto has covered the spread in seven of its last 10 games against the Suns, including a two-point loss in which Bosh tallied 26 points and 14 rebounds. The fifth-year forward has scored more than 20 points in each of his last two meetings with the Suns.

Toronto has covered the spread in three of its last five meetings with Phoenix in Canada. It is also 4-0 ATS in its last four games at the Air Canada Centre.

Pick: Raptors

Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers (+9, 180)

Boston has covered the spread in each of its last six trips to the City of Brotherly Love.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, has lost four straight at the Wachovia Center, including Monday’s 88-79 setback to the struggling Hawks. The Sixers have also failed to cover the spread in three of their last four in Philly.

The road team is also 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings between the Celtics and Sixers.

Pick: Celtics

Cleveland Cavaliers at Washington Wizards (-11, 187 1/2)

Cleveland is reeling after losing its third straight road game Sunday.

The team should find comfort Wednesday against Washington, which is without its leading scorer Gilbert Arenas. The Cavaliers have covered the spread in each of their last two tilts with the Wizards, dating back to last season.

The road team is also 6-2-1 ATS in the last nine meetings between the Cavs and Wiz.

Pick: Cavs

Chicago Bulls at Charlotte Bobcats (-2, 183 ½)

Charlotte has lost six straight since a Nov. 19 win against the lowly Blazers.

The struggling Bobcats are also 3-9 all-time versus the Bulls, including Saturday’s embarrassing 15-point setback in the Windy City.

Chicago is 4-1 ATS in its last five meetings with Charlotte.

Pick: Bulls

New York Knicks at New Jersey Nets (-6 ½, 183 ½)

Knicks starting point guard Stephon Marbury will miss Wednesday’s showdown after his father’s sudden death on Sunday.

Marbury is averaging more than 14 points and five assists. He also led the Knicks in scoring on Sunday, tallying 21 points in a loss to the Suns. Second-year guard Mardy Collins will likely replace Marbury in the starting lineup on Wednesday. Collins, though, could be ineffective after missing the Knicks’ last two contests with a sprained ankle.

New York is 1-4 ATS in its last five contests in the Swamp.

Pick: Nets

Detroit Pistons at New Orleans Hornets (+1, 189)

The Pistons have trounced their last three opponents by a combined 84 points.

That’s bad news for the inconsistent Hornets.

Detroit has covered the spread in its last three trips to the Big Easy, dating back to 2004. It also trounced the Hornets 92-68 in its most recent showdown last January.

The Pistons are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 meetings in New Orleans. The road team is also 4-0 ATS in the last four tilts between the Pistons and Hornets.

Pick: Pistons

Memphis Grizzlies at Houston Rockets (-9, 201 ½)

The Grizzlies toppled the Rockets 105-99 in Tennessee in November. They have also covered the spread in six of their last eight meetings with Houston, going back to 2005.

Pau Gasol tallied 26 points in the most recent Memphis win over the Rockets. He’s averaged more than 20 points in his last three trips to the Toyota Center.

The road team is also 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings between Houston and Memphis.

Pick: Grizzlies

Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs (+3, 189 1/2)

San Antonio is a remarkable 10-0 at the SBC Center this season.

However, with starters Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili sidelined with injuries it is unlikely that the Spurs will stay unbeaten past Wednesday.

Dallas has won four straight over the Spurs dating back to last season. It also overpowered San Antonio in a November tilt, covering as a 2-point home favorite. The Mavericks are also 7-0 ATS in their last seven visits to San Antonio.

Pick: Mavericks

Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets (-6 ½, 221)

There is bad taste in Denver’s mouth stemming from its 127-99 setback to the Lakers last Thursday.

The Nuggets, though, improved to 7-3 ATS at the Pepsi Center after cashing back-to-back victories against the Heat and Clippers.

Denver is also 6-2 ATS in its last eight in Colorado. The Lakers, meanwhile, have only covered once in their last seven games overall.

Pick: Nuggets

Milwaukee Bucks at Golden State Warriors (-9, 216 ½)

Let’s face it, the Bucks don’t have the firepower to compete with the Warriors.

Golden State has won six of its last seven, while covering the spread in five. The Warriors have also averaged more than 113 points in that stretch – 18 points more than Milwaukee’s season average.

The Bucks are also a shaky 1-6 ATS outside the Bradley Center.

Pick: Warriors

Los Angeles Clippers at Seattle SuperSonics (- 3 1/2, 195 1/2)

Seattle has a golden opportunity on Wednesday to register its third victory this season.

The Clippers could be without starters Sam Cassell and Corey Maggette because of injuries. Cassell is hampered by a strained calf and Maggette has a strained hamstring that he suffered on Sunday against the Pacers.

Maggette leads the team in scoring, with more than 20 points per contest. Cassell leads the team in assists, with more than four per night.

Pick: Sonics

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Raji