It’s tough to find value on today’s card, but I don’t mind Orlando +4.5 points here. This is a very poor scheduling spot for Atlanta – playing their third game in 4 nights and the 2nd of a b2b.
The Hawks have generally been a poor road side this season, going just 6-11 straight up. Orlando certainly aren’t anything special, but they’ve been a reasonable 8-11 straight up and 9-10 ATS at home this season.
They look to be relatively healthy here, although Evan ‘Don’t Google Me’ Fournier is questionable and that could be a key absence. Atlanta is the better side overall, but this is a good scheduling spot for Orlando and they’ll have a few thousand fans in attendance. I see this as a close one late on, so I’ll take the dog plus the points here.
No-one wants to bet on the Wolves right now and it’s not hard to see why – they’ve won and covered in just one of their last 10. But these types of teams tend to become undervalued in the market and this is an atrocious scheduling spot for Charlotte.
The Hornets are playing the final game in their 6-game road stand, including their third game in the last 4 nights. Their injury report also looks a bit grim – with Graham out and Hayward and Zeller both questionable.
Minnesota have had a full two days off and finally appear to be getting healthy, with only D’Angelo Russell still out. You’re always taking a risk banking on a team as bad as Minnesota, but the numbers suggest they’re a good bet as underdogs here.
I’m opting for a third underdog play here, this time taking the Bulls +6 points at New Orleans. Chicago has been the best ATS road side in the NBA this season, covering 12 out of 16 road games.
They’ve also been excellent as a road underdog, winning outright in 7 of those 12 games. This is also a letdown spot for New Orleans, having beaten Utah last time out and playing Miami tomorrow.
The Pelicans have also been dreadful as a home favourite, covering in just 2 of 11 instances this season. I get the sense that this will be a close game and will happily take a competent road underdog with the 6-point head start.