NBA Odds: Wednesday win likely for Phoenix Suns at Orlando Magic
By Phil Watson
The Phoenix Suns visit the battered Orlando Magic on Wednesday’s NBA schedule as a 1½-point favorite and that could be a bet worth taking.
The NBA will serve up a full plate of 10 games on Wednesday and based on odds provided courtesy of The Action Network, it is a road favorite that might be the smartest bet of the bunch.
The Phoenix Suns are coming off a win at Charlotte on Monday night and face the injury-depleted Orlando Magic on Wednesday at Amway Center in Orlando. While the Suns are just 2-6 against the spread in their last eight games, the Magic are only 3-6 ATS in their last nine games and just 1-5 ATS in their last six games at home.
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Orlando has won two straight games and three of its last four, but are still adapting to life without injured All-Star center Nikola Vucevic and are now without reserve forward Al-Farouq Aminu as well.
The Suns won’t have Aron Baynes in Orlando as he continues to manage a left calf strain, while point guard Ricky Rubio is questionable with an injury to his left hand.
On the season, Phoenix is 9-10 overall, 11-8 against the spread and 5-2 ATS on the road. Orlando checks in at 9-11 overall, 7-12-1 ATS and 3-7-1 ATS at home.
Here are the particulars for the Suns and Magic:
TV: Fox Sports Arizona, Fox Sports Florida
Tickets: Amway Center, 7 p.m. Eastern
Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday)
Phoenix: OUT–Deandre Ayton (league suspension), Aron Baynes (strained left calf), Jared Harper (two-way, G League), Jalen Lecque (G League); QUESTIONABLE–Ricky Rubio (left hand); PROBABLE–Cheick Diallo (illness).
ORLANDO: No report submitted. At Washington on Tuesday, the Magic played without Al-Farouq Aminu (torn meniscus in right knee), Josh Magette (two-way, G League) and Nikola Vucevic (lateral sprain in right ankle).
As for the rest of Wednesday’s NBA slate, we have:
Golden State Warriors at Charlotte Hornets (minus 5)
TV: NBC Sports Bay Area, Fox Sports Southeast-Charlotte
Tickets: Spectrum Center, 7 p.m. Eastern
Records: Golden State 4-18 overall, 10-11-1 ATS, 6-7 road ATS; Charlotte 8-14 overall, 10-11-1 ATS, 5-5 home ATS
Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday)
Golden State: OUT–Stephen Curry (fractured left hand), Jacob Evans (strained left adductor), Damion Lee (two-way, G League), Alen Smailagic (G League), Klay Thompson (left ACL rehabilitation); QUESTIONABLE–D’Angelo Russell (sprained right thumb).
Charlotte: OUT–Robert Franks (two-way, G League), Caleb Martin (G League), Cody Martin (G League), Jalen McDaniels (G League), Kobi Simmons (two-way, G League); PROBABLE–Nicolas Batum (left hand discomfort).
Notable: The Charlotte Hornets appear to have the edge at home Wednesday night against a Golden State Warriors team that holds the NBA’s worst record at 4-18, although the Warriors are 4-2 ATS in their last six games. This will be just the third time this season Charlotte plays as a favorite — the Hornets are 1-1 straight up in those games.
Charlotte is only 3-6 ATS in its last nine games and in their last 18 games against Pacific Division opponents are 5-12-1 ATS, including a loss Monday night at home to the Phoenix Suns, when the Hornets were getting four points and lost 109-104.
Milwaukee Bucks (minus 7) at Detroit Pistons
TV: Fox Sports Wisconsin, Fox Sports Detroit
Tickets: Little Caesars Arena, 7 p.m. Eastern
Records: Milwaukee 18-3 overall, 10-11 ATS, 5-6 road ATS; Detroit 8-13 overall, 8-12-1 ATS, 6-4 home ATS
Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday)
Milwaukee: OUT–Frank Mason (two-way, G League), Cameron Reynolds (two-way, G League); QUESTIONABLE–Sterling Brown (sprained right AC joint); PROBABLE–Brook Lopez (back soreness).
Detroit: No report submitted. At Cleveland on Tuesday, the Pistons did not have Jordan Bone (two-way, G League), Reggie Jackson (stress reaction in left lumbar spine), Louis King (two-way, G League) or Khyri Thomas (right foot surgery).
Notable: The Milwaukee Bucks are rolling coming into their road matchup with the Detroit Pistons, having won an NBA season-high 12 straight games, including their last two against Charlotte and New York by a combined margin of 85 points. Over their last 10 games, Milwaukee is 5-5 ATS, including a 104-90 win at home as a 13-point favorite over the Pistons on Nov. 23.
This will be the second of four meetings between the Central Division rivals this season and the first played in Detroit. The Pistons come in off a pair of blowout victories as well, beating San Antonio and Cleveland in their last two games by a combined 67 points, including their 127-94 win on the road over the Cavaliers on Tuesday night.
Brooklyn Nets (minus 1) at Atlanta Hawks
TV: YES Network, Fox Sports Southeast-Atlanta
Tickets: State Farm Arena, 7:30 p.m. Eastern
Records: Brooklyn 10-10 overall, 10-10 ATS, 4-6 road ATS; Atlanta 5-16 overall, 10-11 ATS, 6-4 home ATS
Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday)
Brooklyn: OUT–Wilson Chandler (league suspension), Kevin Durant (right Achilles rehab), Henry Ellenson (two-way, G League), Kyrie Irving (right shoulder impingement), Rodions Kurucs (G League), Caris LeVert (right thumb surgery), Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (two-way, G League).
Atlanta: OUT–Charlie Brown (two-way, G League), John Collins (league suspension), Allen Crabbe (right knee soreness), Bruno Fernando (G League), Brandon Goodwin (two-way, G League), Tyrone Wallace (G League); DOUBTFUL–De’Andre Hunter (dislocated right index finger); QUESTIONABLE–Kevin Huerter (strained left rotator cuff), Chandler Parsons (flu-like symptoms).
Notable: The Brooklyn Nets are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games and come into Wednesday off a bitter 109-106 loss at home to the Miami Heat on Sunday in a game they led by seven points before the Heat closed with a 10-0 run. The Atlanta Hawks snapped a 10-game straight up losing streak by beating the Warriors on Monday and are 4-2 ATS in their last six games.
Some things working against the Hawks, however, are their 1-5 SU record in their last six home games and Atlanta’s 1-10 SU record in their last 11 games overall. Brooklyn will again be without Kyrie Irving, but the Nets are 6-3 over the nine games the All-NBA point guard has missed so far.
Miami Heat at Boston Celtics (minus 5½)
TV: Fox Sports Sun, NBC Sports Boston
Tickets: TD Garden, 7:30 p.m. Eastern
Records: Miami 15-5 overall, 14-5-1 ATS, 6-5-1 road ATS; Boston 14-5 overall, 11-6-2 ATS, 4-2-1 home ATS
Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday)
Miami: No report submitted. Tuesday night at Toronto, the Heat were without Goran Dragic (strained right groin) and KZ Okpala (strained left Achilles).
Boston: OUT–Tacko Fall (two-way, G League), Gordon Hayward (fractured left hand), Romeo Langford (G League), Tremont Waters (two-way, G League); DOUBTFUL–Marcus Smart (abdominal contusion).
Notable: The Miami Heat are on the second game of a road back-to-back after a 121-110 overtime win at Toronto on Tuesday night, while the Boston Celtics haven’t played since winning at New York on Sunday. The Heat have been hot of late, going 8-2 SU over their last 10 games (7-3 ATS over that span). The Celtics are 6-4 in their last 10 games and 5-2 ATS over their last seven.
Miami may be dealing with some fatigue after the long game in Toronto. Jimmy Butler played 41 minutes, Kendrick Nunn logged 39, Bam Adebayo was on the floor for 37, with Kelly Olynyk and Justise Winslow booking 35 apiece. Coach Erik Spoelstra only went nine deep on Tuesday. But Boston is likely without Marcus Smart, its most versatile defender, and that could even things.
Memphis Grizzlies at Chicago Bulls (minus 6)
TV: Fox Sports Southeast-Memphis, NBC Sports Chicago
Tickets: United Center, 8 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. local)
Records: Memphis 6-14 overall, 8-12 ATS, 3-4 road ATS; Chicago 7-14 overall, 9-12 ATS, 4-6 home ATS
Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday)
Memphis: OUT–Brandon Clarke (left oblique soreness), Andre Iguodala (not with team), Josh Jackson (G League), John Konchar (two-way, G League), Ja Morant (back soreness); QUESTIONABLE–Kyle Anderson (right heel soreness), Jonas Valanciunas (illness).
Chicago: OUT–Cristiano Felicio (fractured right wrist), Adam Mokoka (two-way, G League), Otto Porter (bone bruise in left foot), Max Strus (two-way, G League); DOUBTFUL–Chandler Hutchison (sprained right shoulder).
Notable: Bad is meeting worse for the Memphis Grizzlies, who will be without their rookie forward Brandon Clarke on a week-to-week basis. Clarke joins Rookie of the Year front runner Ja Morant on the week-to-week plan, as Clarke is dealing with a left oblique problem and Morant has a sore back. Memphis is 5-5 ATS over its last 10 games, even as they’ve lost seven of eight straight up.
The Chicago Bulls are 3-6 ATS in their last nine games and only 1-4 ATS in their last five games at United Center. The Bulls are 4-5 this season as favorites, but have taken seven of their last 10 meetings with the Grizzlies, going 7-3 ATS over that span. That includes a 3-0 mark in the last three games against Memphis.
Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder (minus 1)
TV: Fox Sports Indiana, Fox Sports Oklahoma
Tickets: Chesapeake Energy Arena, 8 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. local)
Records: Indiana 13-7 overall, 10-8-2 ATS, 5-4 road ATS; Oklahoma City 8-11 overall, 12-7 ATS, 7-3 home ATS
Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday)
Indiana: OUT–Brian Bowen (two-way, G League), Naz Mitrou-Long (two-way, G League), Victor Oladipo (right knee rehab), Edmond Sumner (fractured right hand); DOUBTFUL–JaKarr Sampson (sore lower back).
Oklahoma City: OUT–Hamidou Diallo (hyperextension strain of right elbow), Andre Robertson (left knee injury recovery).
Notable: While the home-standing Oklahoma City Thunder are laying a point at home, much of the action so far has been on the visiting Indiana Pacers, who are 4-1 ATS over their last five games and have won six of seven straight up.
But the Thunder are 6-2 ATS over their last eight games and have covered six of their last seven at Chesapeake Energy Arena. They have three wins in their last four games, but those wins came against the woeful Warriors and a home-and-home sweep of the short-handed Pelicans.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks (minus 3½)
TV: Fox Sports North, Fox Sports Southwest-Dallas
Tickets: American Airlines Center, 8:30 p.m. Eastern (7:30 p.m. local)
Records: Minnesota 10-9 overall, 9-9-1 ATS, 7-2 road ATS; Dallas 14-6 overall, 12-8 ATS, 4-6 home ATS
Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday)
Minnesota: OUT–Jake Layman (sprained left toe), Kelan Martin (two-way, G League), Jordan McLaughlin (two-way, G League), Jaylen Nowell (G League); QUESTIONABLE–Naz Reid (right shoulder soreness); PROBABLE–Shabazz Napier (strained right hamstring).
Dallas: No report submitted. On Tuesday at New Orleans, the Mavericks did not have Antonius Cleveland (two-way, G League), Josh Reaves (two-way, G League) or Isaiah Roby (G League).
Notable: If your prevailing theory is rest vs. fatigue, the Minnesota Timberwolves have been idle since Sunday, while the Dallas Mavericks are on a SEGABABA after a win at New Orleans on Tuesday night. But because the Mavericks ended up blowing out the Pelicans, the minutes loads were low — Luka Doncic played 28 minutes, Tim Hardaway Jr. 25 and Kristaps Porzingis just 18.
The Timberwolves have covered in seven of their nine road games this season, while Dallas has failed to do so six times in 10 games at home. However, the Mavericks are 8-1 ATS and SU in their last nine games, with the lone blemish coming on Nov. 26 against the Clippers.
Los Angeles Lakers at Utah Jazz (minus 2½)
TV: Spectrum SportsNet, AT&T Sportsnet-Rocky Mountain, NBA TV
Tickets: Vivint Home Smart Arena, 9 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. local)
Records: Los Angeles 18-3 overall, 12-8 ATS, 5-4 road ATS; Utah 12-9 overall, 8-13 ATS, 4-5 home ATS
Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday)
Los Angeles: No report submitted. On Tuesday at Denver, the Lakers were without Kostas Antetokounmpo (two-way, G League), Avery Bradley (hairline fracture in right leg), DeMarcus Cousins (right knee rehabilitation), Talen Horton-Tucker (G League) and Zach Norvell (two-way, G League).
Utah: OUT–Jarrell Brantley (two-way, G League), Mike Conley (left hamstring tightness), Justin Wright-Foreman (two-way, G League); QUESTIONABLE–Juwan Morgan (left knee contusion).
Notable: The Los Angeles Lakers took care of business on the front end of their road SEGABABA Tuesday night with a solid victory at Denver and now come into Salt Lake City to take on a Utah Jazz team coming off an awful 1-4 road trip, in which their only win came after spotting the lowly Grizzlies a 15-point lead.
The Lakers are 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games, even as they’ve won nine of those contests. The Jazz will be without Mike Conley, but are returning to Vivint Home Smart Arena, where they have won nine of their last 10 games overall. However, the Jazz have covered only four times in nine home games this season.
Sacramento Kings at Portland Trail Blazers (minus 3)
TV: NBC Sports California, NBC Sports Northwest
Tickets: Moda Center, 10 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. local)
Records: Sacramento 8-11 overall, 12-7 ATS, 7-3 road ATS; Portland 8-13 overall, 9-12 ATS, 2-5 home ATS
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Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday)
Sacramento: OUT–Marvin Bagley III (fractured right thumb), De’Aaron Fox (sprained left ankle), DaQuan Jeffries (two-way, G League); QUESTIONABLE–Bogdan Bogdanovic (left hamstring tightness).
Portland: No report submitted. Tuesday night at the Clippers in Los Angeles the Trail Blazers did not have Zach Collins (left shoulder dislocation), Jusuf Nurkic (fractured left leg) or Gary Trent Jr. (strained right hamstring).
Notable: The Sacramento Kings have been a bettor’s dream of late, going 12-2 ATS over their last 14 games. The same cannot be said for the Portland Trail Blazers, who have covered in just five of their last 15. Portland’s three-game winning streak SU came crashing to a halt Tuesday night and they return home for a SEGABABA against a Kings team that lost on Monday at home.
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This really could be an immovable object against a very resistible force, as Sacramento is 7-3 ATS on the road and Portland has covered only twice in seven games at Moda Center this season.