Thursday, April 26

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EASTERN CONFERENCE

Orlando (0-2, 1-0-1 ATS) at Detroit (2-0, 0-0-1 ATS)

After a couple of eight-point victories at home, the Pistons head down to Florida looking to put a stranglehold on this opening-round best-of-7 series with a win over the Magic.

Detroit dumped Orlando 100-92 in Game 1 on Saturday and 98-90 in Game 2 on Monday. The Pistons squandered double-digit fourth-quarter leads in both contests, and as a result failed to cover as a 9½-point chalk in Game 1, while pushing as an eight-point favorite in Game 2.

Detroit, which is on a quest to reach at least the Eastern Conference Finals for the fifth straight season, is 10-1 SU (5-4-2 ATS) against the Magic dating back to 2005, including a 6-0 this year (3-1-2 ATS). The Pistons are also 8-1 ATS in the last nine battles in Orlando, and the visitor is 13-3-3 ATS in the last 19 series’ showdowns.

All five of the Pistons’ starters have reached double figures in each of the first two games, and on Monday the starting five shot a combined 48.4 percent from the field.

After scoring 13 points and grabbing 19 rebounds in his first career playoff game, Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard struggled in Game 2, scoring just eight points to go with 11 boards.

Detroit is on ATS runs of 16-6-3 overall and 19-7 on the road.

The Magic are 6-1-2 ATS in their last nine overall (2-1 ATS at home). For the season, Orlando is 25-16 at home (18-22-1 ATS).

The Pistons’ defense continues to shine, having held 10 of their last 12 opponents under the century mark, with seven of the last nine scoring 92 or less.

The over is on an 11-4 run in the rivalry, with the first two games in this playoff series hurdling the total. The over is also on a 10-3 roll when the Pistons are favored. However, the under is 8-2-1 in Orlando’s last 11 home games.

ATS ADVANTAGE: DETROIT and OVER

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Utah (0-2 SU and ATS) at Houston (2-0 SU and ATS)

The Jazz find themselves in a must-win situation when they host the Rockets in Game 3 of this best-of-7 series, the first postseason game played in Salt Lake City since 2003.

After squandering a nine-point halftime lead in a Game 1 loss, Utah once again surrendered a first-half advantage in Game 2 on Monday, seeing a 41-39 advantage turn into a 98-90 loss. The Rockets covered the spread as a favorite in both games, but only by a total of 5½ points.

The teams are now dead even in six meetings this season, with the winner covering the spread in each contest. In fact, the straight-up winner is 11-1 ATS in the last 12 meetings. Also, going back to last February, the home team is 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS in this rivalry.

Tracy McGrady (31 points, 10 rebounds) and Yao Ming (27 points, nine rebounds) combined for nearly 60 percent of Houston’s points and rebounds in Game 2. The Rockets, who got outshot 45 percent to 36 percent, won Monday’s game at the free-throw line, going 34-for-38, while Utah went 13-for-17.

Utah’s Carlos Boozer bounced back from a poor performance in Game 1 (11 points) and tallied a game-high 41 in Monday’s defeat. Deron Williams (15) and Matt Harpring (14) were the only other Jazz players in double figures.

Utah continues to be the worst team to bet in the NBA, going 4-18 ATS in its last 22 games overall, including 2-7 ATS in its last nine at home. For the season, the Jazz are 31-10 at home, but 18-20-3 ATS.

The Rockets came into the playoffs mired in a 1-8 ATS slump before getting the two spread-covers against the Jazz this week.

Game 2 barely eclipsed the posted total, ending a 3-0 “under” streak in this rivalry. The over is 8-2 in Utah’s last 10 overall and 4-2 in Houston’s last six.

ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE

L.A. Lakers (0-2, 1-1 ATS) at Phoenix (2-0, 1-1 ATS)

Two days after a dreadful Game 2 performance in Phoenix, the Lakers return home with their backs against the wall heading into Game 3 of their best-of-7 series against the Suns.

After a competitive eight-point loss in Game 1, the Lakers were completely overmatched in Tuesday’s 126-98 loss, never threatening to cover as a 9½-point underdog. Phoenix scored at least 27 points in every quarter, eclipsing the 30-point mark in three of the four stanzas.

Since losing their season-opener at Los Angeles back on Halloween, the Suns have defeated the Lakers five straight times, though L.A. is still 4-2 ATS in the six meetings this year. These teams also faced off in the opening round of the 2006 playoffs, and Phoenix rallied from a 3-1 series hole and prevailed in seven games.

Los Angeles, which stumbled to the finish line in the regular season and barely made the playoffs, is now 4-10 in its last 14 games overall (2-6 at home). Also, Phil Jackson’s squad is stuck in ATS ruts of 6-17-1 overall and 3-18-1 at Staples Center.

The Suns have split their last 12 road games, going 5-7 ATS. However, they have covered the number in their last three away from the desert, and they’re 3-1 ATS in their last four games at the Lakers.

Phoenix shot a blistering 54.3 percent from the field in Tuesday’s contest, including 42.3 percent from three-point land (11 of 26). Sixth Man of the Year Leandro Barbosa scored a team-high 26 points for the second straight game, and all five Phoenix starters reached double digits in scoring, even though none played more than 33 minutes.

After scoring 39 points in Game 1, Kobe Bryant was held to just 15 points in Game 2. However, that was enough to lead the Lakers, as three other players tallied exactly 10 points. Bryant rolled his ankle late in Tuesday’s game but is expected to play tonight.

Going back to last year’s playoff series, the over is 6-3 in this rivalry, including 3-0 at Staples Center. Also, the over is 12-4 in the Lakers’ last 16 home games and 19-9 in Phoenix’s last 28 battles against Pacific Division rivals.

ATS ADVANTAGE: PHOENIX and OVER

7 Free Picks, all backed by In-Depth Analysis, plus more Rated Selections from the nation’s premier sports analysts, are available daily at PickNation.com