NBA Odds: Los Angeles Lakers a strong road favorite in Orlando
By Phil Watson
The Los Angeles Lakers are 6½-point favorites against the Orlando Magic on the road. The new LakeShow is the safest bet from an 11-game slate Wednesday.
Some things have changed since the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic last met more than a year ago. Anthony Davis is now a Laker, former No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz was traded to Orlando and Los Angeles shares the best record in the NBA.
On a jam-packed 11-game schedule for Wednesday, the Lakers — favored by 6½ on the road at Orlando, according to information provided courtesy of The Action Network — appear to be the safest bet.
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This is the first of two meetings between the Lakers and Magic this season after Orlando swept the season series in 2018-19, winning at home on Nov. 17, 2018, and in Los Angeles eight days later on Nov. 25, 2018.
The Lakers are 11-1 straight up on the road this season and have gone 5-1 against the spread in their last six games. The Magic are 5-5 SU and 6-4 ATS over their last 10 games and while they are 4-1 ATS over their last five games, they have covered only once in their last three games at Amway Center.
Los Angeles has won four straight games SU and have gotten the cover in each of them, while Orlando had a four-game winning streak ended at Milwaukee Monday night, though they did get the cover at plus-13 in the 110-101 decision.
The Lakers have lost six in a row at Orlando, but Wednesday night seems like the time that drought might end. After all, there have been a lot of changes since the last time they were in the Magic Kingdom.
Los Angeles Lakers (minus 6½) at Orlando Magic
TV: Spectrum SportsNet, Fox Sports Florida
Tickets: Amway Center, 7 p.m. Eastern
Records: Los Angeles 21-3 (15-8 ATS, 7-4 road ATS), Orlando 11-12 (10-12-1 ATS, 4-7-1 home ATS)
Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday)
Los Angeles: OUT–Kostas Antetokounmpo (two-way, G League), DeMarcus Cousins (right knee rehabilitation), Zach Norvell (two-way, G League); QUESTIONABLE–Avery Bradley (hairline fracture, right leg), Rajon Rondo (left hamstring strain); PROBABLE–Anthony Davis (right shoulder soreness), Kyle Kuzma (mild sprain, left ankle).
Orlando: OUT–Al-Farouq Aminu (torn meniscus, right knee), Josh Magette (two-way, G League), Nikola Vucevic (lateral sprain, right ankle).
As for the rest of a very busy slate on Wednesday:
Houston Rockets (minus 11) at Cleveland Cavaliers
TV: AT&T SportsNet-Southwest, Fox Sports Ohio
Tickets: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, 7 p.m. Eastern
Records: Houston 15-8 (11-12 ATS, 5-6 road ATS), Cleveland 5-18 (8-13-2 ATS, 4-7-1 home ATS)
Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday)
Houston: OUT–Tyson Chandler (illness), Chris Clemons (two-way, G League), Michael Frazier (two-way, G League), Eric Gordon (right knee arthroscopy), Gerald Green (left cuneiform fracture), Isaiah Hartenstein (G League), Nene Hilario (left adductor strain), Austin Rivers (illness).
Cleveland: OUT–Tyler Cook (two-way, G League), Dean Wade (two-way, G League), Dylan Windler (stress reaction, left lower leg).
Notable: This will be the first of two games this season between the Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers, with the Rockets scuffling a bit (5-5 SU over their last 10 games) and the Cavaliers in a free fall (1-9 SU in their last 10, have lost 13 of 14 overall). Houston is 5-5 ATS over its last 10 games and, not surprisingly, 2-2 ATS on the road in that span.
Cleveland is just 1-6 ATS over its last seven games, all straight-up losses, and the Cavs have lost five in a row SU at home. The Rockets will be missing some of their depth pieces, with Tyson Chandler and Austin Rivers already ruled out because of illness and young big Isaiah Hartenstein currently assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the G League.
Boston Celtics at Indiana Pacers (minus 1½)
TV: NBC Sports Boston, Fox Sports Indiana
Tickets: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 7 p.m. Eastern
Records: Boston 17-5 (14-6-2 ATS, 7-4-1 road ATS), Indiana 15-9 (11-11-2 ATS, 5-5-2 home ATS)
Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday)
Boston: OUT–Tacko Fall (two-way, G League), Romeo Langford (right ankle sprain), Tremont Waters (two-way, G League), Robert Williams (left hip soreness); QUESTIONABLE–Marcus Smart (left eye infection).
Indiana: OUT–Brian Bowen (two-way, G League), Victor Oladipo (right knee rehab); QUESTIONABLE–JaKarr Sampson (sore lower back).
Notable: This will be the first meeting between the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers since the Cs swept Indiana out of the playoffs in the first round last April. Both teams are playing fairly well of late — each has won seven of its last 10 games overall — with the Celtics 4-1 ATS in its last five on the road and 5-1 ATS over its last six games.
While the Pacers are 4-1 in their last five home games, they have covered just twice in that span and including the postseason, Indiana has lost seven of its last eight games at home to Boston. The Celtics have come in with a four-game winning streak and are a perfect 4-0 thus far in December, while the Pacers have lost two of their last three.
LA Clippers at Toronto Raptors
NOTE: This game had no line, per The Action Network, as of 5 a.m. Eastern
TV: Fox Sports Prime Ticket, TSN 1, TSN 4, TSN 5, ESPN
Tickets: Scotiabank Arena, 7 p.m. Eastern
Records: LA 18-7 (13-11 ATS, 4-7 road ATS), Toronto 16-7 (12-10 ATS, 7-3 home ATS)
Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday)
LA: OUT–Amir Coffey (two-way, G League), Rodney McGruder (right hamstring strain), Landry Shamet (high left ankle sprain); DOUBTFUL–JaMychal Green (tailbone contusion).
Toronto: OUT–Oshae Brissett (two-way, G League), Dewan Hernandez (G League), Stanley Johnson (stress reaction, left groin), Patrick McCaw (left knee surgery), Shamorie Ponds (two-way, G League), Matt Thomas (left middle finger fracture); QUESTIONABLE–Fred VanVleet (right knee contusion).
Notable: Of course, the big story in The 6ix Wednesday night will be the return of Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard to Toronto. The Toronto Raptors have prepared a special pregame ceremony to present Leonard with his ring. As for on the court, the LA Clippers have won four of their last five, while the Raptors snapped a three-game losing streak with a win at Chicago Monday.
The Clippers are 4-1 ATS over their last five games, while Toronto is 1-4 ATS in its last five. In the first meeting of the season between the teams at Staples Center on Nov. 11, LA came away with a 98-88 win and a cover of the 9½-point spread. Despite being out-shot by the Raptors in that first meeting, the Clippers came away with the win thanks to a 66-38 edge on the boards.
Charlotte Hornets at Brooklyn Nets (minus 9½)
TV: Fox Sports Southeast-Charlotte, YES Network
Tickets: Barclays Center, 7:30 p.m. Eastern
Records: Charlotte 10-16 (12-13-1 ATS, 5-6-1 road ATS), Brooklyn 13-10 (13-10 ATS, 7-4 home ATS)
Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday)
Charlotte: Not submitted. In their win at home over the Wizards on Tuesday, the Hornets did not have Robert Franks (two-way, G League), Caleb Martin (G League), Jalen McDaniels (G League), Kobi Simmons (two-way, G League) or Marvin Williams (right knee soreness).
Brooklyn: OUT–Wilson Chandler (league suspension), Nicolas Claxton (left hamstring soreness), Kevin Durant (right Achilles rehab), Kyrie Irving (right shoulder impingement), Caris LeVert (right thumb surgery); DOUBTFUL–Iman Shumpert (left knee soreness).
Notable: The Brooklyn Nets have played extremely well, winning eight of their last 10 games, and have already beaten the Charlotte Hornets twice this season. The Nets won at home 101-91, covering as 4½-point favorites, on Nov. 20, and beat the Hornets in Charlotte on Friday 111-104, getting the cover on a minus-3 spread.
Charlotte is only 2-4 ATS in its last six games and have gotten the cover just once in their last six road games. Brooklyn is 5-0 ATS over its last five games and have covered each of its last five at Barclays Center. The Hornets are 1-2 ATS in their last three road games. The Nets are now 9-3 since Kyrie Irving was sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls
NOTE: This game had no line, per The Action Network, as of 5 a.m. Eastern
TV: Fox Sports Southeast-Atlanta, NBC Sports Chicago
Tickets: United Center, 8 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. local)
Records: Atlanta 6-18 (11-13 ATS, 5-8 road ATS), Chicago 8-17 (12-13 ATS, 6-7 home ATS)
Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday)
Atlanta: Not submitted. In their overtime loss at Miami on Tuesday, the Hawks were without Charlie Brown (two-way, G League), John Collins (league suspension) and Brandon Goodwin (two-way, G League)
Chicago: OUT–Chandler Hutchison (right shoulder sprain/viral illness), Adam Mokoka (two-way, G League), Otto Porter (left foot fracture), Max Strus (two-way G League); DOUBTFUL–Cristiano Felicio (right wrist fracture); PROBABLE–Ryan Arcidiacono (right elbow sprain), Wendell Carter Jr. (viral illness), Daniel Gafford (left finger sprain), Zach LaVine (mid-back contusion/right shoulder strain), Denzel Valentine (left ankle), Coby White (left hamstring tightness).
Notable: Two struggling teams collide Wednesday, with the Atlanta Hawks on a road SEGABABA after being demolished 18-4 Tuesday night in overtime at Miami., but the Hawks have split their last four games on the heels of a 10-game losing streak. The Chicago Bulls have lost three straight by a total of eight points, losing close to good teams (Toronto/Miami) and bad (Warriors).
Chicago has covered in five of their last six games, even as it has lost six of its last eight SU. The Hawks have gone 3-3 ATS in their last six road games (1-5 SU). The Bulls blew out Atlanta in their first meeting of the season, getting a 113-93 win at Atlanta as a one-point road dog back on Nov. 6.
Utah Jazz (minus 1) at Minnesota Timberwolves
TV: AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain, Fox Sports North
Tickets: Target Center, 8 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. local)
Records: Utah 13-11 (9-15 ATS, 4-8 road ATS), Minnesota 10-13 (9-13-1 ATS, 2-7-1 home ATS)
Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday)
Utah: OUT–Jarrell Brantley (two-way, G League), Mike Conley (left hamstring tightness), Juwan Morgan (G League), Miye Oni (G League), Justin Wright-Foreman (two-way, G League).
Minnesota: OUT–Jake Layman (left toe sprain), Kelan Martin (two-way, G League), Jordan McLaughlin (two-way, G League), Jaylen Nowell (G League); QUESTIONABLE–Jeff Teague (left ankle soreness).
Notable: You could be forgiven if you just decided to stay the heck away from this one. The Utah Jazz have lost four of their last five, while the Minnesota Timberwolves enter the game on as five-game losing streak. The Jazz are 1-4 ATS over their recent cold snap; Minnesota has failed to cover in all five of its most recent losses.
The TImberwolves are not playing well at home either, going just 3-7 at Target Center this season. Utah and Minnesota have traded road wins in their first two meetings this season, with the Wolves winning in Salt Lake City 112-102 as a 9½-point road dog on Nov. 18 and the Jazz taking a 103-95 victory in Minneapolis as a three-point road favorite on Nov. 20.
Memphis Grizzlies at Phoenix Suns (minus 7)
TV: Fox Sports Southeast-Memphis, Fox Sports Arizona
Tickets: Talking Stick Resort Arena, 9 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. local)
Records: Memphis 7-16 (9-14 ATS, 4-6 road ATS), Phoenix 11-12 (14-9 ATS, 7-6 home ATS)
Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday)
Memphis: OUT–Grayson Allen (right ankle soreness), Andre Iguodala (not with team), Josh Jackson (G League), John Konchar (two-way, G League); PROBABLE–Kyle Anderson (right heel soreness), Brandon Clarke (left oblique soreness).
Phoenix: OUT–Deandre Ayton (league suspension), Jared Harper (two-way, G League), Jalen Lecque (G League); PROBABLE–Aron Baynes (left calf strain), Mikal Bridges (left finger sprain), Cameron Johnson (left hip soreness).
Notable: The Memphis Grizzlies enter off a road win at Golden State on Monday, but are 2-4 ATS over their last six games. The Phoenix Suns have righted the ship somewhat, winning three of their last five games while going 4-1 ATS over that stretch. That followed the Suns losing six of seven after their strong start.
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Phoenix got a road win as three-point favorites at Memphis on Nov. 2, winning 114-105. A strange dynamic is the splits for these teams: The Grizzlies play better on the road (4-6 SU) than they do at home (3-10 SU). The Suns are the same, with a lesser difference, going 5-5 on the road, but just 6-7 at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
New Orleans Pelicans at Milwaukee Bucks (minus 13)
TV: Fox Sports New Orleans, Fox Sports Wisconsin, ESPN
Tickets: Fiserv Forum, 9:30 p.m. Eastern (8:30 p.m. local)
Records: New Orleans 6-18 (9-14 ATS, 3-7 road ATS), Milwaukee 21-3 (12-12 ATS, 6-6 home ATS)
Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday)
New Orleans: OUT–Zylan Cheatham (two-way, G League), Josh Gray (two-way, G League), Darius Miller (right Achilles surgery), Zion Williamson (right knee scope); QUESTIONABLE–Derrick Favors (personal).
Milwaukee: OUT–Dragan Bender (right ankle sprain).
Notable: So the team with the second-longest active losing streak in the NBA (the New Orleans Pelicans, who have lost nine straight) is going on the road to play the team with the longest winning streak in the NBA since the 76ers closed the 2017-18 season with 16 consecutive victories (the Milwaukee Bucks, winners of 15 in a row).
There’s a possibility this could get ugly, and fast, considering the Bucks have won the last five games by an average margin of 29.2 points and haven’t played a game that ended with a five-point margin or less since a 122-118 win over the Jazz on Nov. 25. The Pelicans are 0-6 ATS over their last six games, while Milwaukee has covered in four of its last five contests.
Oklahoma City Thunder at Sacramento Kings
NOTE: This game had no line, per The Action Network, as of 5 a.m. Eastern
TV: Fox Sports Oklahoma, NBC Sports California
Tickets: Golden 1 Center, 10 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. local)
Records: Oklahoma City 11-12 (15-8 ATS, 7-4 road ATS), Sacramento 10-13 (15-8 ATS, 5-4 home ATS)
Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday)
Oklahoma City: OUT–Deonte Burton (G League), Hamidou Diallo (right elbow hyperextension sprain), Terrance Ferguson (right hip soreness), Justin Patton (G League), Andre Roberson (left knee injury recovery).
Sacramento: OUT–De’Aaron Fox (left ankle sprain), Kyle Guy (two-way, G League), DaQuan Jeffries (two-way, G League); PROBABLE–Marvin Bagley III (right thumb fracture), Bogdan Bogdanovic (right knee contusion), Cory Joseph (low back soreness).
Notable: The Oklahoma City Thunder have won three in a row and five of their last six and with a win Wednesday could get to the .500 mark for the first time all season. The Sacramento Kings have won their last two, including a dramatic win at Houston on Monday to complete a Texas-sized back-to-back after winning at Dallas on Snday.
The Kings will likely have big man Marvin Bagley III available for the first time since he broke his right thumb on opening night. The Thunder are 5-1 ATS over their last six games, while Sacramento has rolled to 15 covers in its last 18 contests. It is the first meeting of the season between the teams, with the Kings 5-1 ATS in their last six games at home.
New York Knicks at Golden State Warriors
NOTE: This game had no line, per The Action Network, as of 5 a.m. Eastern
TV: MSG Network, NBC Sports Bay Area
Tickets: Chase Center, 10:30 p.m. Eastern (7:30 p.m. local)
Records: New York 4-20 (11-13 ATS, 5-6 road ATS), Golden State 5-20 (11-13-1 ATS, 4-5-1 home ATS)
Availability report (as of 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday)
New York: Not submitted. In their loss at Portland Tuesday, the Knicks did not have Kadeem Allen (two-way, G League), Reggie Bullock (cervical disc herniation), Wayne Ellington (sore left Achilles) or Ivan Rabb (two-way, G League)
Golden State: OUT–Stephen Curry (left hand fracture), Alen Smailagic (G League), Klay Thompson (left ACL rehabilitation); QUESTIONABLE–Eric Paschall (left hip soreness).
Notable: The New York Knicks come into a road SEGABABA off a 28-point loss at Portland and have the NBA’s longest active losing streak at 10 games. The Golden State Warriors would appear to be in great shape to get a victory, but breakout rookie Eric Paschall is the latest wounded Warrior as he is questionable for Wednesday night because of a sore left hip.
The Knicks have covered once in their last five games, while Golden State has only covered twice in its last six outings. In one of those “streaks that require context” notes, New York has lost 10 straight to the Warriors since winning at Golden State on March 30, 2014. But it’s fair to say the Dubs are a slightly different club than the one that ran off those 10 wins over the Knicks.