Wednesday, October 31

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

Washington (41-45, 37-47-2 ATS) at Indiana (35-47, 38-40-4 ATS)

After missing out on the playoffs for the first time in a decade last year, the Pacers begin their quest to return to the postseason when they host the Wizards in the opener for both teams.

Indiana’s nine-year playoff run ended when they closed last season on a 6-23 slump (9-20 ATS), including losing its final four regular-season games (1-3 ATS).

The Wizards begin the campaign in search of their fourth consecutive postseason appearance, something the franchise hasn’t accomplished since the mid-1980s. Unfortunately for the Wizards, they’ve gotten ousted by Cleveland in the first round each of the last two years, including getting swept in four games last spring. Overall, Washington went 7-20 SU in its final 27 games and 12-19-1 ATS in its last 32 contests, the majority of which were played without injured All-Star Gilbert Arenas.

Washington went 3-0 SU and ATS against the Pacers last year, and the Wizards are 5-1 in the last six meetings (4-1-1 ATS).

The over was 10-3 in Indiana’s last 13 games, but the under was 8-2 in Washington’s last 10. The under is also 6-2 in the last eight meetings in Indiana.

ATS ADVANTAGE: WASHINGTON and UNDER

Chicago (55-37, 44-46-2 ATS) at New Jersey (47-47, 49-43-2 ATS)

Two teams looking to rebound from second-round playoff exits last year meet up at the Continental Airlines Arena.

After closing last year’s regular season on a 14-5 SU run, the Bulls opened the playoffs by sweeping the previous defending-champion Heat in four games. However, they couldn’t sustain the momentum in Round 2, losing to the Pistons in six games (2-4 ATS). Including the playoffs, the straight-up winner went 18-0-1 ATS in Chicago’s last 19 contests.

New Jersey took care of the Raptors in six games in the opening round of last year’s playoffs, then succumbed to Cleveland in six games in the conference semis. The Nets ended the regular season on a four-game SU and ATS winning streak and they went 11-5 ATS in their last 16 (playoffs included).

The Nets went 3-1 SU and ATS against Chicago last year, with the winner getting the cash in all four games. Going back to 2005, the home team is 8-1 in the last nine meetings (7-2 ATS).

The Bulls are mired in ATS slumps of 4-10 against New Jersey and 3-7 against Atlantic Division foes.

The over is 7-4 in Chicago’s last 11 games, but the Nets stayed under the number in each of their final four contests against Cleveland. Also, the under was 3-1 in the four series meetings between these teams in 2007.

ATS ADVANTAGE: NEW JERSEY and UNDER

Dallas (69-19, 44-40-4 ATS) at Cleveland (62-40, 54-55-3 ATS)

Reigning MVP Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks open the season against LeBron James and the defending Eastern Conference champion Cavaliers in a matchup of teams with unfinished business from last year.

Nowitzki helped lead the Mavericks to an NBA-best 67-15 regular-season record last year. But a year after reaching their first NBA Finals, the Mavs suffered a stunning first-round upset loss to the Warriors, falling in six games (1-5 ATS). Going back to the regular season, Dallas went just 5-13 ATS in its final 18 contests.

Cleveland’s first trip to the NBA Finals was a brief one, as it got swept by the Spurs in four games, going 1-3 ATS. The team’s only spread-cover came on a meaningless three-pointer at the buzzer in an 83-82 loss as a 2½-piont home underdog in the deciding Game 4.

Dallas beat the Cavs twice last year, prevailing 95-92 as a nine-point home chalk and 98-90 as a three-point road underdog. The favorite has cashed in nine of the last 13 battles between these squads, but Cleveland is 4-1 ATS in the last five (3-1 ATS as an underdog).

Going back to last season, the Cavs are on a 39-18-1 ATS run.

The Mavs will start the season without starting forward Josh Howard, who was suspended a game for a fight in the preseason.

The over is 7-3 in the last 10 series meetings.

ATS ADVANTAGE: CLEVELAND and OVER

Seattle (31-51, 35-40-7 ATS) at Denver (46-41, 46-40-1 ATS)

The Kevin Durant era is scheduled to begin at the Pepsi Center in Denver, as the highly touted rookie is expected to lead the Sonics against the Nuggets in a Northwest Division showdown.

Durant, the No. 2 overall pick out of Texas, is listed as probable despite being hampered by a recent ankle injury. The wiry-yet-dynamic 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward is being counted on to turn around a franchise that’s made just two playoff appearances since 2000. Last year, Seattle went 1-9 down the stretch (4-6 ATS) and finished dead last in the Northwest and had the second-worst record in the Western Conference.

The Nuggets are looking to halt a disturbing trend that has seen them get bounced in the first round of the playoffs for four straight seasons, losing in five games each time. Last year, the Nuggets stole Game 1 at San Antonio, only to lose the next four SU and ATS. On the bright side, the Nuggets ended the regular season on a 10-1 run (8-3 ATS), including four straight wins at home (2-2 ATS).

Seattle went just 11-30 on the road last year, but 21-16-4 ATS.

Denver finished 3-1 SU and ATS against Seattle last year, with the road team winning the final three games. The Nuggets are 7-3 SU and ATS in the last 10 series meetings, with the winner covering the spread in all 10 contests.

Denver stayed under the total in each of its last six games in 2006-07, all of which came against San Antonio. Also, Seattle was 4-1 “under” in its last five. Conversely, the over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings between these teams and 6-2 in the last eight battles in Denver.

ATS ADVANTAGE: DENVER

Al DeMarco, General Manager of PickNation.com, is a 25-year veteran of the handicapping industry who is also the featured handicapping analyst on Comcast Sports TV in New York and Chicago and a regular contributor on Fox Sports, MSNBC and The Sporting News. Read his Daily Blog for his gambling insight, tips and observations at PickNation.com