Saturday NBA

[Raji]

Washington Wizards at Indiana Pacers (-6, 206 ½)

The Pacers have been impressive at home lately, going 3-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last four at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Indiana routed Philadelphia at home Wednesday, 102-85. Marquis Daniels, who accumulated 26 points off the bench, was one of five Pacers to score in double figures.

The Pacers toppled Washington on Oct. 31, covering the spread as a 1 ½-point home underdog. They are 4-1 ATS in their last five versus the Eastern Conference.

Pick: Pacers

Golden State Warriors at New Jersey Nets (+2 ½, 209)

The Nets don’t have the offensive firepower to compete with the Warriors.

Golden State has won eight of its last 12 road games and has scored more than 110 points in each of its last two road encounters.

New Jersey, 3-11-1 ATS at home, could be without its sixth man Saturday. Bostjan Nachbar, listed as questionable, has missed the Nets’ last three contests with a sprained ankle. Nachbar is averaging 10 points and three rebounds.

Pick: Warriors

Utah Jazz at Miami Heat (-1, 202)

Miami is a remarkable 6-0 ATS in its last six tilts with the Jazz, including a Dec. 3 setback in Salt Lake City.

Utah has lost eight of its last nine, including back-to-back road defeats to the lowly Hawks and Bobcats.

Jazz starting center Mehmet Okur (shoulder), forward Matt Harpring (stomach) and guard Gordon Giricek (personal) could all miss Saturday’s meeting.

Pick: Heat

Philadelphia 76ers at Memphis Grizzlies (-4 ½, 200 ½)

The Grizzlies are 3-1 straight up (SU) in their last four home games versus the 76ers dating back to 2004.

Second-year forward Rudy Gay, averaging 19 points, has scored more than 30 points twice in Memphis’ last four outings. Gay also accumulated 23 points and nine rebounds in Wednesday’s 88-85 victory over the Spurs.

Philadelphia is a shaky 3-7 ATS in its last 10 versus the Western Conference.

Pick: Grizzlies

Minnesota Timberwolves at New Orleans Hornets (-11, 184)

The Timberwolves, 1-11 SU on the road, will have trouble slowing down the Hornets.

Minnesota is conceding more than 100 points per game on 45 percent shooting. That should prove costly against New Orleans, averaging more than 110 points in its last three road victories.

The T-Wolves will be without veteran Antoine Walker, who missed the last two games with a sprained ankle. Walker, listed as doubtful, is averaging 10 points off the bench.

Minnesota has also lost seven in a row outside Minneapolis.

Pick: Hornets

Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls (off)

Houston has covered the spread in four of its last five trips to Chicago going back to 2003. It has also won three straight over the Bulls.

Chicago starting center Ben Wallace is doubtful because of sore foot. Wallace is the Bulls’ stingiest defender, registering more than one block per night.

The road team is 5-0 ATS in the last five matches between the Rockets and Bulls.

Pick: Rockets

Charlotte Bobcats at Milwaukee Bucks (- 6 ½, 188)

The Bucks might not be as good as their 8-3 SU home record would indicate.

Milwaukee has lost seven of its last 10 and is 4-6 ATS during that stretch. The Bucks have failed to cover the spread in two of their last three at the Bradley Center, including this week’s loss to the Kings.

Charlotte defeated the Bucks on Nov. 2 in North Carolina to raise its record to 7-2 ATS in the last nine home games versus the Bucks.

Pick: Bobcats

Los Angeles Clippers at San Antonio Spurs (off)

The Spurs could be without starting point guard for a fifth straight game.

Tony Parker, who sprained his right ankle in a Dec. 11 setback to Golden State, is doubtful. Parker is leading the Spurs in scoring with more than 20 PPG and is also averaging seven assists and three rebounds.

The Spurs are 1-3 SU and 2-2 ATS in Parker’s absence. The Clippers are 4-1 ATS in their last five road outings.

Pick: Clippers

Toronto Raptors at Phoenix Suns (-10, 209 ½)

Toronto is 5-1 ATS in its last six trips to Phoenix dating back to 2003. Chris Bosh, averaging a team-high 19 points and nine rebounds, missed the Raptors’ Dec. 5 setback against the Suns.

Still, the Raptors managed to score 136 points and had five players with double-digits. That included Jose Calderon’s 14 points and 10 assists.

Phoenix is winless ATS in its last four home games. The road team is also 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings between the Raptors and Suns.

Pick: Raptors

Raji