Sunday, January 31

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NBA

Denver (31-15, 21-23-2 ATS) at San Antonio (27-18, 23-21-1 ATS)

The Nuggets, coming off their first loss in nearly three weeks, complete a three-game road trip when they visit the AT&T Center for a clash with the Spurs.

Denver’s eight-game winning streak was snapped in Friday’s 101-84 loss at Oklahoma City, falling as a two-point road underdog. Forward Carmelo Anthony (ankle injury) missed his third straight game, and without their All-Star, the Nuggets were held to season-low in points while shooting 40.3 percent from the field. Nearly a quarter of the team’s points came from the free-throw line (20-for-22). Denver has dropped eight of its last 11 road games (2-8-1 ATS).

San Antonio has followed up a 1-5 SU and ATS slump – including a three-game SU and ATS home losing streak – with consecutive home wins over the Hawks (105-90 as a three-point chalk on Wednesday) and Grizzlies (104-97 as a five-point favorite on Friday). Prior to exploding in the last two games, the Spurs’ offense had reached triple digits in scoring just once in their previous six games.

Like Denver, San Antonio has an All-Star dealing with an ankle injury, as point guard Tony Parker missed Friday’s game. Parker has been ruled out today, while Anthony is doubtful.

The Nuggets scored a 106-99 upset win in San Antonio as a four-point underdog back on Dec. 9, the first meeting between these Western Conference powers this season. Denver has won two in a row, three of the last four and five of the last seven in this series, going 5-2 ATS. The road team and underdog have cashed in five straight meetings.

The SU winner has covered the spread in each of the Spurs’ last 10 games and 21 of their last 22, and the winner has cashed in eight of the last 10 meetings in this rivalry.

The Nuggets have cashed in four straight games when coming off a non-cover, but otherwise George Karl’s club is in pointspread slumps of 2-8-1 on the road, 3-10-2 against the Western Conference, 1-4 against the Southwest Division, 4-11 after one day off and 0-5-1 on Sunday. Likewise, San Antonio is in ATS ruts of 2-7 on Sunday and 2-8 against the Northwest Division.

The under is 20-7 in the last 27 Spurs-Nuggets matchups and 16-5-1 in the last 22 clashes at the AT&T Center. Additionally, Denver is riding “under” streaks of 5-1 on the road, 13-6 against the Western Conference, 4-1 versus Southwest Division squads and 24-8-1 against winning teams, while the under is 21-6 in San Antonio’s last 27 against winning teams and 8-1-1 in its last 10 on Sunday. On the flip side, the Spurs are on “over” runs of 3-1-1 overall (all at home) and 20-8-1 against Northwest Division foes.

ATS ADVANTAGE: DENVER and UNDER

L.A. Lakers (36-11, 22-24-1 ATS) at Boston (29-15, 18-26 ATS)

The surging Lakers, in the midst of a season-long eight-game road trip, go after their fourth straight win and cover when they make their only visit of the season to TD Banknorth Garden to renew their rivalry with the Celtics.

Los Angeles dumped the 76ers 99-91 as a 6½-point favorite on Friday and is now 4-2 SU and ATS on the road trip, including 3-0 SU and ATS in the last three. The Lakers have also won seven of nine overall (6-2-1 ATS), but Phil Jackson’s troops are just 13-8 SU and 9-12 ATS on the highway this year.

Star forward Kevin Garnett returned to the Celtics’ lineup last week after missing 10 games with an injury and he immediately helped his team to a pair of home wins over Portland (98-95 in overtime) and the Clippers (95-89). However, Boston then went on the road and blew a 16-point fourth-quarter lead at Orlando on Thursday (losing 96-94 as a 3½-point underdog) followed by Friday’s 100-91 loss in Atlanta as a four-point pup. The Celtics have dropped 10 of their last 16 games, going 5-11 ATS, and they’ve split their last six home games, failing to cover in the last five.

The SU winner is 14-0-1 ATS in the Lakers’ last 15 games, including 6-0 ATS in the last six, and the winner has cashed in each of L.A.’s last 14 road contests.

After losing the 2008 NBA Finals to the Celtics, the Lakers got a little revenge last year as they swept the season series, winning 92-83 as a two-point home favorite and 110-109 in overtime as a seven-point road underdog. Prior to those two wins and covers, Boston had been on a 6-2 SU and 8-0 ATS roll in this rivalry, including 4-0 SU and ATS at home. Finally, the underdog has gotten the money in five of the last seven series clashes.

Los Angeles is on ATS runs of 4-1 overall (all on the road and all against the Eastern Conference), 4-1 versus Atlantic Division foes and 6-1 on Sunday, but it is 1-3-1 ATS in its last five games against winning teams.

The underdog is 6-1 ATS in Boston’s last seven games, with the Celtics going 0-5 ATS as a favorite during this stretch. Additionally, Doc Rivers’ squad is in pointspread ruts of 1-6 overall, 0-5 at home, 0-6 versus Western Conference foes, 0-8 against the Pacific Division, 2-6 when playing after one day of rest and 1-4 against winning teams.

The Lakers had a four-game “over” streak snapped at Philadelphia on Friday, and the under is 5-2-1 in their last seven against Atlantic Division teams and 20-6-2 in their last 28 on Sunday. Similarly, Boston is on “under” runs of 9-4 on Sunday and 4-1 against the Pacific Division.

Finally, the over is 3-0 in the last three Lakers-Celtics battles in Boston.

ATS ADVANTAGE: L.A. LAKERS

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 Chicago and a regular contributor on Fox Sports and MSNBC. Read his Daily Blog for his gambling insight, tips and observations at PickNation.com