Monday NBA

[Raji]

Utah Jazz at Atlanta Hawks (+4, 192)

The Jazz are a remarkable 9-0 both straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) in their last nine meetings with the Hawks.

Utah travels to Atlanta on the back of one of its best defensive performances of the season. In Saturday’s 96-75 win over Seattle, it came up with 15 steals – including eight in the second quarter alone.

If the Jazz can produce a similar defensive performance against the Hawks, their fifth-ranked offense will propel them to a comprehensive win.

Pick: Jazz

Milwaukee Bucks at Cleveland Cavaliers (-8, 192 ½)

The Cavaliers have lost eight of their last nine games, and no longer have the excuse of missing LeBron James.

He returned last week Tuesday for the win over Indiana, but the Cavs have gone straight back to their losing ways in the last two games. Cleveland is now 3-7 ATS in their last 10 home games.

Milwaukee has covered the spread in two straight games against Cleveland, and should extend that streak on Monday night.

Pick: Cavaliers

Minnesota Timberwolves at Miami Heat (-9 ½, 193 ½)

The Wolves are 6-2 ATS in their last eight road games, a stat they should be able to improve on against a struggling Heat franchise.

Miami has one of the worst home records in the NBA (2-8) and has covered the spread just three times in 10 games at American Airlines Arena. That’s mainly due to the Heat’s inability to put points on the board. Their offense ranks 24th in the league and is averaging just 93.5 points per game.

While the Timberwolves have a terrible road record (1-10) they have covered in seven of those 11 games. They should make that eight in Miami.

Pick: Timberwolves

Indiana Pacers at New York Knicks (off)

The Pacers have alternated between wins and losses in their last eight games. A visit to Madison Square Gardens gives them a great opportunity to win back-to-back contests for the first time since November.

On Saturday, Indiana won a thriller against the Heat thanks to the attacking power of Jamaal Tinsley and Jermaine O'Neal. Tinsley had 26 points and four rebounds in the 106-103 win, while O’Neal added 24 points and seven rebounds.

The Knicks are in trouble if those two can produce similar performances Monday. New York is allowing 101.7 points per game and has covered the spread just four times in 12 home games.

Pick: Pacers

Golden State Warriors at Memphis Grizzlies (+3 ½, 225)

Few players are as important to their team as Stephen Jackson is to the Golden State Warriors.

Without their 6-foot-8 guard, the Warriors began this season by losing six of their first seven games. Since he returned to the lineup they have put together an impressive 12-4 record, with Jackson averaging 20.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per contest.

Golden State also covered the spread in nine of those 16 games.

Pick: Warriors

Orlando Magic at Dallas Mavericks (off)

Josh Howard seems to have led Dallas out of its first major slump of the season.

The Mavericks dropped six of nine games around the turn of the month, but have since recovered to win in four of their last five. Howard is averaging a team-high 21.9 points per game. He had 23 points in the Mavs’ 96-83 win over Houston on Saturday.

Orlando, meanwhile, has dropped four of its last five games, covering the spread just once over that stretch.

Pick: Mavericks

Phoenix Suns at San Antonio Spurs (off)

It has been a tough week for the Phoenix Suns. They lost to Miami and Minnesota, two of the worst teams in the league, before splitting games against Utah and New Orleans.

Despite having the league’s top ranked offense the Suns have now failed to cover in four straight games. Before this mini skid, Phoenix had won five consecutive games and 13 of the previous 15.

The Spurs are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games overall, and have covered in three of their last four home games against Phoenix.

Pick: Spurs

New Orleans Hornets at Portland Trail Blazers (off)

The Trail Blazers are on a seven-game winning streak. On Monday, they get a further boost when leading scorer LaMarcus Aldridge returns to the lineup.

Aldridge, who leads the team in both rebounds and points, missed the last three games with a foot injury (plantar fasciitis). In his absence Travis Outlaw has stepped up. The forward is averaging 18.8 points over the past five games, including a 29-point performance in Saturday’s win over Utah.

The Blazers have covered the spread in seven straight games and Aldridge’s comeback should help them make that eight.

Pick: Trail Blazers

Raji