NBA Saturday

[Raji]

Sacramento Kings at Washington Wizards (-8, 197 ½)

The Wizards have been magical at home recently, going 4-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) in their last five at the Verizon Center.

Washington is coming off Thursday’s 104-91 victory against Miami. Caron Butler, who tallied 19 points and 10 rebounds, was one of four Wizards to register a double-double.

The Wizards are 3-1 ATS in their last four meetings with the Kings in D.C. They are also an impressive 6-1 ATS in their last seven overall outings.

Pick: Wizards

Charlotte Bobcats at Atlanta Hawks (-7, 186)

Charlotte has lost and failed to cover in each of its last seven road games. That includes last Sunday’s 19-point setback in Motown.

The Bobcats are averaging a meager 88 points in their last five games outside the Tar Heel State, which is four points less than their season average. They are also allowing more than 105 points per game during that stretch.

Charlotte lost to the Hawks on Nov. 14, failing to cover as a 5 ½-point road underdog.

Pick: Hawks

Memphis Grizzlies at Orlando Magic (off)

Memphis has covered the spread just twice in its last six outside Tennessee.

The Grizzlies managed a meager 78 points on 41 percent shooting in last Saturday’s setback to the Hawks. Rudy Gay (17) and Pau Gasol (14) were the lone starters to score in double figures.

Gasol sprained his toe in Tuesday’s setback to the Pistons and could miss Saturday’s tilt versus the Magic. He is second on the Grizzlies in scoring (17 PPG) and is grabbing more than seven rebounds per night.

Pick: Magic

New Jersey Nets at New York Knicks (+3, 188)

New York could be without two starters on Saturday.

Quentin Richardson, who strained his right knee in Wednesday’s 117-110 loss to the SuperSonics, is questionable. Richardson is averaging seven points and six rebounds.

Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury, listed as doubtful, has missed three of the Knicks’ last five games because of the recent passing of his father. He is also averaging more than 13 points and four assists.

The Knicks are 1-4 ATS in their last four against New Jersey. They also have failed to cover the spread in their last four games at Madison Square Garden.

Pick: Nets

Indiana Pacers at Miami Heat (-5, 207 ½)

Miami is just 2-8 SU and 3-6 ATS in South Beach, including Friday’s loss to a Washington team playing without Gilbert Arenas.

Shaquille O’Neal scored seven points on 3-for-6 shooting against the Wiz. Dwyane Wade took 11 shots and scored a mere 18 points, five points below his average.

The Pacers have covered the spread in seven of their last 10 tilts against Miami, including four straight in South Beach dating to 2005.

Pick: Pacers

Philadelphia 76ers at Cleveland Cavaliers (-7 ½, 191)

Cleveland has won three of its last four in Ohio, including Tuesday’s triumph over the surging Pacers.

LeBron James played just 22 minutes off the bench, but scored 17 points. James is averaging more than 29 points, seven assists and seven rebounds.

Philadelphia is 1-2 ATS in its last three trips to the Buckeye State dating back to February 2006.

Pick: Cavaliers

Phoenix Suns at New Orleans Hornets (off)

Excluding Monday’s hiccup in Minnesota, the Phoenix Suns have been shining outside Arizona.

Phoenix is 10-3 SU on the road and has covered the spread in three of its last four road outings. The Suns also are averaging 117 points in their last five road tilts.

New Orleans is 1-4 ATS in its last five contests in the Big Easy. The club is also 2-6 ATS in its last six meetings with Phoenix.

Pick: Suns

Minnesota Timberwolves at Milwaukee Bucks (-9, 193 ½)

Don’t be fooled by the Bucks’ 10-2 record at the Bradley Center. They aren’t that good.

Milwaukee has lost eight of its last 10 and is 2-8 ATS during that stretch. The Bucks have also lost two of their last three in Wisconsin, including a 15-point setback against Philadelphia.

Minnesota has covered the spread in five of its last seven road outings, including a narrow setback earlier this week in Philadelphia.

Pick: Timberwolves

Dallas Mavericks at Houston Rockets (-3 ½, 189 ½)

Houston has won three straight in Texas, including Wednesday against the Pistons. Tracy McGrady scored 29 points and six assists against Detroit, five points above his team-leading average.

The Mavericks are 2-3 ATS in their last five road games and 1-5 ATS in their last six versus the Western Conference.

The home team is 5-2 ATS in the last seven tilts between the Mavs and Rockets.

Pick: Rockets

Denver Nuggets at San Antonio Spurs (off)

Tim Duncan should return to the lineup, but the same can’t be said for Tony Parker.

Parker missed Thursday’s matchup against the Lakers after suffering a sprained ankle in the Spurs’ Nov. 30 matchup with the Timberwolves.

“The MRI was negative but it’s real sore,” Spurs head coach Greg Popovich told reporters. “It became obvious in the Golden State game. Two days of rest didn't do any good. I just had to make the call and have him sit. He buys it. He understands we had to do it.”

Duncan, who has missed four straight games with a sprained ankle, is averaging more than 17 points and eight rebounds.

The Nuggets are 0-4 ATS in their last four trips to San Antonio.

Pick: Spurs

Seattle SuperSonics at Utah Jazz (-12 ½, 212 ½)

The absence of Mehmet Okur has not been a problem for the Jazz.

Utah second-year forward Paul Millsap replaced Okur in the starting lineup Sunday against the Suns and amassing 20 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks.

Okur could also miss Saturday’s tilt with Seattle due to a shoulder injury, which should give Millsap his third straight start. Millsap is averaging six points and eight rebounds.

The Jazz are 14-5-1 ATS in their last 20 contests in Salt Lake.

Pick: Jazz

Raji