At 7:00 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Atlanta Hawks (539) and the Miami Heat (540) in Game Four of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Atlanta (46-42) has lost three of their last four games after their 110-86 loss at home to the Heat as a 1-point underdog on Sunday. Miami (56-30) has a 3-1 lead in this series.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Hawks have played 12 of their last 18 games Under the Total after a loss to a Southeast Division rival — and they have played 6 of their last 9 games Under the Total after a double-digit loss to a divisional opponent. Miami has stymied Trae Young and this Atlanta offense that likes to get most of their points in the half-court. The Hawks led the NBA by scoring 101.1 points per 100 possessions in the half-court in the regular season — but they are scoring just 92.1 points per 100 possessions in the postseason which is second-to-last of all sixteen teams that made the playoffs. The Heat are defending Young with double and triple teams and preventing him from driving into the paint. Young has taken more shots from 3-point land than inside the arc in this series — and his teammates are not offering enough help. Bogdan Bogdanovic is only making 23.6% of his 3s in this series and Kevin Huerter is hitting just 27.2% of his 3s. Now Atlanta goes on the road where they have played 8 games Under the Total as an underdog. Miami has played 6 of their last 9 games Under the Total after a loss by 20 or more points. They will be without Jimmy Butler tonight who is out with knee inflammation. Butler has been outstanding in this series by scoring 30.5 Points-Per-Game with the Heat posting an Offensive Rating of 131.2 points per 100 possessions when he is on the court. His absence complicates matters for this team when they have the ball since point guard Kyle Lowry is out as well. Without either player, head coach Erik Spoelstra really only has Gabe Vincent as a reliable ball-handler and initiator of the offense. Miami has played 4 straight Unders when favored — and they have played 33 of their last 45 games Under the Total against teams with a winning record.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams have played 5 straight Unders. With Butler out and the Heat stymying the Hawks’ half-court, expect another lower-scoring game. 10* NBA Tuesday Daily Discounted O/U Deal with Under the Total in the game between the Atlanta Hawks (539) and the Miami Heat (540). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:30 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Utah Jazz (535) and the Dallas Mavericks (536) in Game Five of their Western Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Utah (51-35) evened this series at 2-2 with their 100-99 victory against the Mavericks as a 5.5-point favorite on Saturday. Dallas (54-32) has still won six of their last eight games.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Mavericks have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after loss where they covered the point spread as an underdog. Dallas has also played 27 of their last 42 games at home Under the Total after a point spread win. Additionally, the Mavericks have played 21 of their last 31 games Under the Total after a game where no more than 205 combined points were scored. And while they have covered the point spread in six of their last eight games, they have then played 12 of their last 17 games Under the Total after covering the point spread in six or seven of their last eight games. Dallas goes back home where the Under is 47-20-1 in their last 68 games — and they have played 20 of their last 31 home games Under the Total when favored. The Mavericks have also played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total against teams with a winning record. Utah has seen the Under go 16-5-1 in their last 22 games after a straight-up win — and they have played 49 of their last 71 games Under the Total after a win by three points or less. They hit the road again where they have played 11 of their last 14 games Under the Total. These two teams have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total when playing in Dallas.

FINAL TAKE: The Mavericks have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total when playing with revenge from a loss of three points or less. 20* NBA Monday Late Show O/U Bailout with Under the Total in the game between the Utah Jazz (535) and the Dallas Mavericks (536). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:00 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the Toronto Raptors (533) plus the points versus the Philadelphia 76ers (534) in Game Five of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Toronto (49-37) staved off elimination on Saturday with their 110-102 upset win against Philadelphia as a 2.5-point underdog. Philadelphia (54-32) still holds a 3-1 lead in this series.

REASONS TO TAKE THE RAPTORS PLUS THE POINTS: Toronto pulled out Game Four despite only making 42.0% of their shots which was the worst shooting effort in their last four games. They made just 8 of their 34 shots from behind the arc — so they should make more than 24% of their shots from 3-point range tonight. The Raptors will be without Fred VanVleet tonight as he is dealing with a hip injury — but they may be better off without him when considering the liability he has been on defense in this series. The 76ers are scoring at a 128.6 points per 100 possession rate with VanVleet on the court. They are getting outscored by -29.1 points per 100 possessions in this series with VanVleet on the court. The healthy return of Scottie Barnes in Game Four really helps this Toronto team. The rookie pulled down 11 boards while playing 25:34 minutes. Head coach Nick Nurse can rely on Barnes and Siakam Pascal to be the primary ball handlers. The Raptors score at a 128.9 points per 100 possession with Barnes and Pascal on the court together — and the duo is still scoring 124.4 points per 100 possessions even when not joined by VanVleet on the court. More importantly, Toronto holds their opponents to scoring at a 111.4 points per 100 possession rate with Barnes and Pascal on the court but without VanVleet. A benefit of not having VanVleet on the court is that Nurse can put five players on the court that are already comfortable in switching the players they are defending. The Raptors had been on a four-game losing streak before their win on Saturday — and they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after losing four of their last five games. They have also covered the point spread in 14 of their last 23 games after a win at home. Furthermore, Toronto has covered the point spread in 9 of their last 13 games when playing with one day of rest — and they have covered the point spread in 14 of their last 21 games when playing for the second time in five days. They go back on the road where they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games against teams with a winning record at home — and they have covered the point spread in 13 of their last 20 road games as an underdog getting 6.5 to 12 points. Philadelphia played their best defensive game in their last 13 contests by holding the Raptors to 42.0% shooting. The Sixers have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a point spread loss. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games when playing with one day of rest. Additionally, Philadelphia has failed to cover the point spread in 14 of their last 17 games after playing their last two games on the road. The 76ers return home where they have covered the point spread in just 10 of their last 16 games when favored by 6.5 to 12 points. Joel Embiid will play tonight — but his shot seems to be impacted by the injured thumb on his right hand. He missed 9 of his 16 shots including his only 3-point attempt on Saturday.

FINAL TAKE: Philadelphia has failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against teams with a winning record. Toronto has covered the point spread in 27 of their last 39 games against teams with a winning record. 10* NBA Monday Daily Discounted Deal with the Toronto Raptors (533) plays the points versus the Philadelphia 76ers (534). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:30 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the New Orleans Pelicans (528) plus the points versus the Phoenix Suns (527) in Game Four for their Western Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: New Orleans (39-48) looks to rebound from their 114-111 loss at home to the Suns as a 2-point underdog on Friday. Phoenix (66-19) took a 2-1 lead in the series with the victory.

REASONS TO TAKE THE PELICANS PLUS THE POINTS: New Orleans should bounce-back and play well tonight. They have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after a straight-up loss — and they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after a point spread loss. They have also covered the point spread in 18 of their last 27 games when playing their second game in five days. The Pelicans were certainly in position to win the game — despite making only 11 of their 32 (34%) shots from behind the arc. New Orleans should continue to dominate the boards tonight as they have this entire postseason. The Pelicans have outrebounded each of their five playoff opponents by at least nine boards while winning the rebounding battle by at least ten rebounds in each of the first three games in this series. New Orleans has then covered the point spread in 11 of their last 16 games after outrebounding their last two opponents by at least 10 rebounds. Phoenix rallied to make 50.6% of their shots playing without the injured Devin Booker who will remain out for at least the next two weeks. But the Suns have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games when playing with one day of rest. Phoenix has also failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games on the road when favored — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games when favored overall.

FINAL TAKE: New Orleans has covered the point spread in 37 of their last 61 games when avenging a same-season loss. 10* NBA Sunday Late Show Bailout with the New Orleans Pelicans (528) plus the points versus the Phoenix Suns (527). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Chicago Bulls (522) plus the points versus the Milwaukee Bucks (521) in Game Three of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Chicago (47-38) has lost six of their last eight games after their 111-81 loss at home to the Bucks as a 2.5-point underdog on Friday. Milwaukee (53-32) took a 2-1 lead in this series.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BULLS PLUS THE POINTS: We were not surprised that the Bucks stepped up to play their best game in this series in Game Three in response to Khris Middleton’s MCL strain in Game Two which will keep him out the rest of the series. But with the knowledge that the defending champions gained that they can raise their level of play and blow this Chicago team off the court, do they resort back to the lackadaisical group that was sluggish in the first two games of this series? Milwaukee swept the Bulls in their four regular-season games by a +14.7 net Points-Per-Game average. But they only made 40.5% of their shots in Game One which was the worst shooting effort in their last 35 games before losing Game Two with their mild improvement in shooting to a 45.8% clip. Sloppiness with the basketball played a large role in the first two games — they committed 21 turnovers in Game One before committing 15 turnovers in Game Two. The Bucks were better in protecting the basketball on Friday with them only turning the ball over nine times. But with point guard George Hill still out with an abdominal injury, don’t be surprised if these turnover issues rear its ugly head again. The Bucks have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a point spread victory. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a double-digit victory. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 17 of their last 25 games after not allowing more than 105 points in their last contest. Milwaukee made 47.3% of their shots without Middleton in Game Three which was the best shooting effort in their last four games. But the Bucks are likely to have trouble consistently getting baskets without Middleton who was scoring 20.1 Points-Per-Game. Milwaukee was fifth in the NBA by scoring 115.6 points per 100 possessions in non-garbage time — but that clip drops to 109.7 points per 100 possessions when playing without Middleton on the court. The Bucks have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against teams with a winning record — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 14 of their last 19 games against teams with a winning percentage in the 51% to 60% range. Chicago has covered the point spread in 16 of their last 27 games after losing two of their last three games. After a sluggish second half to the season, the Bulls have more closely resembled the team that opened the campaign with a 27-11 record. Getting Alex Caruso back from injury has made a big difference as he is the team’s best player on defense. The team certainly still misses Lonzo Ball — but their team dynamic may be better served to compete under the pressure of playoff basketball. They have a savvy veteran in DeMar DeRozan who silenced his critics that he disappears in the playoffs from his past experiences with Toronto and San Antonio by scoring 41 points in their upset win in Game Two. Chicago only made 9 of their 34 shots from behind the arc on Friday for a 26% shooting percentage en route to a 39.3% mark for the game. They should shoot better in Game Four on their home court again where they make 48.3% of their shots including 36.8% of their shots from 3-point range to generate 113.4 PPG. The Bulls had a 27-14 record while covering the point spread in 25 of their 41 games on their home court. They have covered the point spread in 11 of their last 18 home games with the Total set in the 210-219.5 point range.

FINAL TAKE: Chicago has covered the point spread in 8 of their last 13 games when playing with revenge from a loss at home by 20 or more points. 25* NBA Central Division Underdog of the Year with the Chicago Bulls (522) plus the points versus the Milwaukee Bucks (521). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 10:00 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Memphis Grizzlies (517) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (518) in Game Four of their Western Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Memphis (58-27) won their second straight game in this series with their 104-95 victory against the Timberwolves as a 2-point road favorite on Thursday. Minnesota (48-38) blew a 26-point lead in the game and now trail 2-1 in this best-of-seven series.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: Head coach Taylor Jenkins has made an important adjustment in this series which should generate lowering-scoring games. After the Timberwolves scored 130 points in their 13-point upset victory, Jenkins only played big man Steven Adams for less in three minutes in Game Two with the Grizzlies holding Minnesota to 96 points. Adams did not play in Game Three. Karl Anthony-Towns was too much for Adams to defend — but Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brandon Clarke have been a handful for Towns to handle. Towns scored only 8 points on Thursday while taking a mere four shots from the field. The T-Wolves scored just 12 points in the fourth quarter in their historic collapse which was the biggest blown lead in loss in the history of the NBA playoffs. Memphis has played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after a point spread win — and they have also played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after a game where neither team scored more than 105 points. They have also played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total after holding their last two opponents to no more than 100 points. The Grizzlies are a very good defensive team who ranked sixth in the NBA by holding their opponents to scoring just 108.9 points per 100 possessions — and they are better on that end of the court when benching Adams (while losing his significant offensive contributions). Memphis is fourth in Offensive Rating this season — but they score -2.0 fewer points per 100 possessions when playing on the road at a 112.3 rate, dropping to tenth in the league. The Grizzlies have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total on the road — and they have played 5 of their last 7 road games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60% at home. They have also played 9 of their last 11 road games Under the Total with the Total set at 230 or higher — and they have played 4 straight road games Under the Total when favored. Furthermore, Memphis has played 8 of their last 9 games Under the Total against teams with a winning record — and they have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total when favored. Minnesota is seventh in the NBA by scoring at a 113.8 points per 100 possession rate — but their offensive efficiency at home drops to 111.8 points per 100 possession rate which is 19th in the league. The Timberwolves are scoring just 95.5. Points-Per-Game in the last two games in this series — and now their leading scorer, Anthony Edwards, might be slowed with a knee injury. Minnesota has played 5 of their last 7 home games Under the Total as an underdog. They have also played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total against teams with a winning record.

FINAL TAKE: The pace has slowed down in this series — and that is likely to continue. Memphis averages 94 shots per game — but they attempted only 83 shots on Thursday after taking 86 and 92 shots in the first games in this series. Minnesota averages 91 shots per game — but after taking 90 shots in Game One with Adams still in the rotation, the T-Wolves took only 76 shots in Game Two and 85 shots in Game Three. These two teams have played 4 of their last 5 meetings Under the Total — and they have played 7 of their last 10 games in Minnesota Under the Total. 25* NBA Saturday ESPN Total of the Month with Under the Total in the game between the Memphis Grizzlies (517) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (518). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:30 PM ET on Friday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Phoenix Suns (505) and the New Orleans Pelicans (506) in Game Three of their Western Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Phoenix (65-19) comes off a 125-114 loss at home to the Pelicans as a 9.5-point favorite on Tuesday. New Orleans (39-47) evened this series at 1-1 with the victory.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Suns will miss Devin Booker who is out for at least two weeks with the Grade One hamstring injury he suffered in Game Two. Booker is the team’s best offensive player with a 26.8 Points-Per-Game scoring average with a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% clip from behind the arc. He also average 4.8 Assists-Per-Game. Phoenix scores 10 fewer points per 100 possessions without Booker on the court — and, surprisingly, they hold their opponents to 5.3 fewer points per 100 possessions when Booker is not playing. As it is, the Under is 20-5-1 in the Suns’ last 26 games after a straight-up loss — and they have played 4 straight Unders after a point spread loss. They have also played 22 of their last 33 games Under the Total after an upset loss. The Under is also 15-5-1 in their last 21 games when playing with two days of rest. Phoenix goes on the road where they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total. The Under is also 9-2-1 in their last 12 games in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. New Orleans has played 8 of their last 9 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and the Under is 34-15-2 in their last 51 games after a point spread victory. They have also played 7 of their last 10 games Under the Total after a double-digit victory. And in their last 8 games played with two days of rest, the Pelicans have played 7 of these games Under the Total. New Orleans has allowed the Suns to nail 50% of their shots in both of the first two games in this series. They have played 12 of their last 16 games Under the Total after posting a defensive field goal percentage of at least 50% in their last two games. The Pelicans are dominating the boards — they have out-rebounded Phoenix by 20 and 10 boards in Games One and Two. They have played 11 of their last 15 games Under the Total after winning the rebounding battle by at least 10 rebounds in their last two games.

FINAL TAKE: Phoenix has played 18 of their last 26 games Under the Total when avenging a loss in a road game. 10* NBA Friday Late Show O/U Bailout with Under the Total in the game between the Phoenix Suns (505) and the New Orleans Pelicans (506). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:30 PM ET on Friday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Milwaukee Bucks (503) and the Chicago Bulls (504) in Game Three of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Milwaukee (52-32) looks to rebound from a 114-110 upset loss at home to the Bulls as a 10-point favorite on Wednesday. Chicago (47-37) evened this series at 1-1 with the victory.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: With the series-ending MCL strain to Khris Middleton on Wednesday, the Bucks lost their second-best player who made significant contributions on both ends of the court. But Middleton’s impact will probably be felt more on offense. Middleton is the chief ball-handler for Milwaukee — especially with George Hill still out with his abdominal injury — and he is the team’s second-leading scorer with 20.1 Points-Per-Game scoring average. He also dishes out 5.4 Assists-Per-Game. Without Middleton, the Bucks lack a reliable scorer to complement Giannis Antetokounmpo — especially when playing on the road. The Bucks have played 7 of their last 10 road games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60% on their home court. Milwaukee has also played 16 of their last 21 games Under the Total against teams with a winning record. Additionally, the Under is 4-0-1 in the Bucks’ last 5 playoff games when they are favored. And in their last 21 games when listed in the +/- 3-point range, Milwaukee has played 15 of these games Under the Total. Chicago has played 7 of their last 9 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 7 of their last 9 games Under the Total after a point spread victory. They return home where they have played 5 of their last 7 home games Under the Total against teams with a winning record on the road. The Bulls are only posting a 100.0 Offensive Rating in this series — but they have held the Bucks to just a 101.5 Offensive Rating. They have played 6 of their last 8 games Over the Total against teams with a winning percentage of 60% or higher. Chicago has also played 5 of their last 6 playoff games Under the Total as an underdog.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams have played 5 of their last 6 meetings Under the Total. Milwaukee has also played 10 of their last 16 games Under the Total when avenging an upset loss where they were a home favorite laying at least 10 points. 10* NBA Friday Daily Discounted O/U Deal with Under the Total in the game between the Milwaukee Bucks (503) and the Chicago Bulls (504). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:30 PM ET on Friday, we will be playing the Milwaukee Bucks (503) minus the points versus the Chicago Bulls (504) in Game Three of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Milwaukee (52-32) looks to rebound from a 114-110 upset loss at home to the Bulls as a 10-point favorite on Wednesday. Chicago (47-37) evened this series at 1-1 with the victory.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BUCKS MINUS THE POINTS: Milwaukee had their worst shooting game in 35 contests in Game One of this series by making just 40.5% of their shots. Rather than tightening things up, the Bucks were flat — particularly on defense — in Game Two against a team they had beaten in all five of their meetings this season. It is not uncommon for reigning NBA champions to become complacent. But now after that embarrassing result at home and now the series-ending injury to Khris Middleton, Milwaukee has lost the luxury of thinking they can take things for granted. The loss of Middleton is tough — but head coach Mike Budenholzer has credible options to turn to in Bobby Ports, Grayson Allen, and Pat Connaughton. Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez remain as core pieces to this championship team. And the Bucks still have Giannis Antetokounmpo who is scoring 30 Points-Per-Game in this series on 53.8% shooting while averaging 17 Rebounds-Per-Game and 6.0 Assists-Per-Game. Led by Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee should play their best game of the series tonight with this new sense of urgency. As it is, the Bucks have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a straight-up loss — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after a point spread loss. They have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games on the road — and they have covered the point spread in 9 of their last 11 road games when favored. This veteran team has also covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 playoff games when the series is tied. Chicago has failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after an upset win against a Central Division rival. Now the Bulls return home where they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight games — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 home games against teams with a winning record on the road. Furthermore, Chicago has failed to cover the point spread in 49 of their last 72 home games as an underdog — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 15 of their last 20 games as an underdog this season. And in their last 8 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%, the Bulls have failed to cover the point spread 7 times.

FINAL TAKE: Milwaukee has covered the point spread in 11 of their last 12 games against the Bulls in Chicago. They have also covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games when avenging an upset loss where they were at least a 7-point favorite. 25* NBA ABC-TV Game of the Month with the Milwaukee Bucks (503) minus the points versus the Chicago Bulls (504). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:00 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing the Utah Jazz (572) minus the points versus the Dallas Mavericks (571) in Game Three of their Western Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Utah (50-34) looks to rebound from their 110-104 upset loss on the road against the Mavericks as a 5-point favorite on Monday. Dallas (53-31) has won five of their last six games while evening this series at 1-1.

REASONS TO TAKE THE JAZZ MINUS THE POINTS: Utah allowed the Mavericks to make 47.0% of their shots which was the highest opponent’s field goal percentage in their last three games. The Jazz have still held their last five opponents to just a 42.9% field goal percentage which has resulted in them giving up 99.0 Points-Per-Game during that span. The extra day of rest should help Utah as they are 17-7-2 ATS in their last 26 games when playing with two days of rest. They return home where they have a 29-12 record with a net point differential of +9.9 Points-Per-Game. The Jazz are a scoring juggernaut at home where they make 48.0% of their shots and 36.4% of their 3-pointers which generates 116.8 PPG. They have covered the point spread in 16 of their last 22 home games when playing for the second time in five days. Utah is also 9-4-2 ATS in their last 15 games on their home court. The Jazz do have a matchup problem on defense with the Mavericks’ small-ball lineup with five outside shooters since Rudy Gobert is not an effective perimeter defender. But the flip side of this coin is that Utah is dominating the glass in this series. Utah has won the rebounding battle by at least 19 boards in three straight games after out-rebounding Dallas by a 50-31 margin on Monday. The Jazz have covered the point spread in 38 of their last 57 games after out-rebounding three straight opponents by at least 10 boards. Luka Doncic has been upgraded to questionable to play tonight with his calf injury — but the reports this afternoon remained pessimistic that he would play. Even if Doncic plays, how effective he will be able to be with an injured calf remains a significant question. Without Doncic on Monday, the Mavericks stepped up to nail 22 of their 47 shots from behind the arc. Maxi Kleber made 8 of his 11 shots from 3-point range — despite making only 18% of his 3-pointers scene the All-Star break. Dallas makes only 34.7% of their shots from behind the arc when playing on the road so they are not likely to come close to replicating that performance. They have failed to cover the point spread in 3 of their 4 games this season on the road with the Total set in the 200-209.5 point range. The Mavericks have also fueled to cover the point spread 3 of their last 4 playoff games when the series was tied.

FINAL TAKE: Dallas has failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 playoff games as an underdog — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Utah has covered the point spread in 7 of their last 10 playoff games when favored — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. 10* NBA Thursday Daily Discounted Deal with the Utah Jazz (572) minus the points versus the Dallas Mavericks (571). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:30 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing the Minnesota Timberwolves (570) plus the point(s) versus the Memphis Grizzlies (569) in Game Three of their Western Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Minnesota (48-37) looks to bounce back from their 124-96 loss at Memphis as a 6.5-point underdog on Tuesday. Memphis (57-27) evened this series at 1-1 with the victory.

REASONS TO TAKE THE TIMBERWOLVES PLUS THE POINTS: Minnesota only made 39.5% of their shots on Tuesday in what was the worst shooting effort in their last 27 games. The Timberwolves have covered the point spread in 14 of their last 21 games after a loss on the road. They have also covered the point spread in 10 of their last 12 games after a loss on the road by double-digits. They return home where they have covered the point spread in 19 of their last 29 home games with the Total set at 220 or higher. Memphis shot 47.8% from the field which was the best shooting effort in their last three games. But the Grizzlies have failed to cover the point spread in 21 of their last 25 road games when playing for not more than the fourth time in the last ten days. Memphis is 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games on the road. They are also 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 road games against teams with a winning record on their home court.

FINAL TAKE: Minnesota has covered the point spread in 8 of their last 12 games when avenging a double-digit loss on the road. 20* NBA Memphis-Minnesota TNT Special with the Minnesota Timberwolves (570) plus the point(s) versus the Memphis Grizzlies (569). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:30 PM ET on Wednesday, we will be playing the Milwaukee Bucks (566) minus the points versus the Chicago Bulls (565) in Game Two of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Milwaukee (52-31) has won four of their last five games after their 93-86 victory as a 10.5-point favorite on Sunday. Chicago (46-37) has lost five of their last six games.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BUCKS MINUS THE POINTS: Milwaukee beat the Bulls by 7 points despite only making 40.5% of their shots from the field which was the worst shooting effort in their last 35 games. They only made 18.9% of their shots from behind the arc after the first quarter which is almost 50% below their 36.5% clip from 3-point range for the season. The Bucks have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 12 games after not scoring more than 95 points in their last game. They have also covered the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games after a point spread loss. Milwaukee has still covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with a losing record on the road. Furthermore, the Bucks have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games in the playoffs when favored — and they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 playoff games when leading in the series. Chicago played their best defensive game in their last 26 contests by holding Milwaukee to 40.5% shooting — but defense was a big problem for this team after injuries to Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso. The Bulls allowed their opponents to score 117.9 points per 100 possessions which was the sixth-worst mark in the league. Chicago does have Caruso back — but they miss Ball. The Bulls also allow their opponents to make 37.2% of their shots from behind the arc in the regular season which was the worst mark in the NBA. Chicago double-teamed Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game One — but the Bucks did not punish them by nailing their 3s. Don’t be surprised if the Bucks respond to double-teams on the Greek Freak by scorching the nets from distance tonight. The Bulls have failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 15 games after a straight-up loss — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a point spread loss. They stay on the road where they have failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 12 games as an underdog. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 14 games against teams with a winning record.

FINAL TAKE: Chicago has now lost 17 of their 18 games against the Bucks in the Antetokounmpo era — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 meetings with Milwaukee. 10* NBA Wednesday Late Show Bailout with the Milwaukee Bucks (566) minus the points versus the Chicago Bulls (565). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:00 PM ET on Wednesday, we will be playing the Toronto Raptors (564) plus the points versus the Philadelphia 76ers (563) in Game Three of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Toronto (48-36) has lost three straight games after losing on the road to the 76ers by a 112-97 score as a 7.5-point underdog on Monday. Philadelphia (53-31) has won four straight games while taking a 2-0 lead in this series.

REASONS TO TAKE THE RAPTORS PLUS THE POINTS: It may look tough to back Toronto after losing the first two games of this series by 20 and 15 points. Injuries have played a role. Scottie Barnes is still listed as doubtful tonight with his ankle injury but Gary Trent, Jr. should play after playing 10 minutes on Monday. He was not effective but the two additional days of fluids should help him play better tonight after a case of the flu. The Raptors still lack the size to deal with Joel Embiid with Barnes out — but in head coach Nick Nurse, I trust, to get this team playing better back on their home court. Toronto has covered the point spread in 16 of their last 23 games after a straight-up loss — and they have covered the point spread in 12 of their last 18 games after a loss on the road. Furthermore, the Raptors have covered the point spread in 16 of their last 23 games after a loss by 15 or more points — and they have covered the point spread in 23 of their last 32 games after losing two in a row by 15 or more points. Toronto has not covered the point spread in their three-game losing streak — but they have covered the point spread in 14 of their last 19 games after not covering the point spread in three straight games. And they have covered the point spread in 4 straight games when on a three-game losing streak. The Sixers have made 51.2% and 52.2% of their shots in this series — but the Raptors have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after allowing their last two opponents to nail at least 50% of their shots. Back at home, Toronto has covered the point spread in 5 straight games against teams with a winning percentage over 60% on the road — and they have covered the point spread in 4 straight home games as an underdog. The Raptors have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games as an underdog — and they have covered the point spread in 16 of their last 24 games when listed in the +/- 3-point range. They have covered the point spread in 26 of their last 37 games against teams with a winning record — and they have still covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Philadelphia has failed to cover the point spread in 17 of their last 26 games after covering the point spread in their last two games as the favorite. And while the 76ers have won their last four games by at least 12 points, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after winning at least three in a row by double-digits. Philly held the Raptors to just 42.7% shooting on Monday which was the best defensive effort in their last 11 games. But now this team goes back on the road where they have not been as effective. They are not likely to continue a 32 to 17.5 free throw attempt average as they have enjoyed in the first two games in Philadelphia. The Sixers will probably see fewer of their 3-pointers fall in Toronto as well — while they are nailing a red-hot 49% of their shots from behind the arc in this series, they should come closer to their 36.7% shooting percentage from 3-point range moving forward. Philly will not have Matisse Thybulle tonight since he is not vaccinated against COVID which precludes him from traveling to Canada. Philadelphia has failed to cover the point spread in 5 straight games on the road — and they are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 road games against teams with a winning record at home. The 76ers have failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight road games when favored.

FINAL TAKE: Toronto has covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games when avenging two straight losses by double-digits to their opponent. The Sixers have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games in Toronto against the Raptors. 25* NBA Round One Eastern Conference Playoff Underdog of the Year with the Toronto Raptors (564) plus the points versus the Philadelphia 76ers (563). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 10:00 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing the New Orleans Pelicans (553) plus the points versus the Phoenix Suns (554) in Game Two of their Western Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: New Orleans (38-47) looks to rebound from their 110-99 loss on the road to the Suns in the opening game of this series on Sunday as a 10-point underdog. Phoenix (65-18) has won two of their last three games.

REASONS TO TAKE THE PELICANS PLUS THE POINTS: New Orleans was perhaps due for a clunker after surviving the Play-In Tournament last week. They only made 37.9% of their shots on Sunday which was the worst shooting effort in their last 73 games. They missed 45 of their 72 shots from inside the arc. But this remains a team better than their record after starting the season by losing 13 of their first 14 games. The Pelicans slowly improved under rookie head coach Willie Green — and they were transformed after acquiring C.J. McCollum at the trade deadline. Even after Sunday, New Orleans has a 14-6 record when McCollum and Brandon Ingram are healthy and on the court together. The Pelicans have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a straight-up loss — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a point spread loss. They have also covered the point spread 5 of their last 7 games when playing their third game on the road in the last five days. There were two encouraging developments for New Orleans Sunday night. First, they dominated the boards against the Suns — they outrebounded them by a 55 to 35 margin with 25 second-chance opportunities on the offensive end of the court. New Orleans has out-rebounded their three postseason opponents by at least nine rebounds — and they have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 11 games after getting out-rebounding their last three opponents by at least five rebounds. The Pelicans have also covered the point spread in 13 of their last 19 games on the road. Phoenix is great — but they will be quite content to win this game by one point. The question is whether or not they will cover the 10 or so points they are being asked to lay. Despite racing out to a 53-34 halftime lead and despite nailing 53.8% of their shots — the best shooting effort in their last six games, they only won Game One by 11 points. And that brings up the second encouraging aspect from Sunday night’s game: despite such a slow start and overall underwhelming effort, New Orleans was still around in the game before the Suns pulled away to cover the point spread late. Phoenix has failed to cover the point spread in 24 of their last 37 games after not allowing more than 105 points in their last game. They have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games when playing with one day of rest. And in their last 6 games when favored, the Suns have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of these contests.

FINAL TAKE: The Pelicans have covered the point spread in 36 of their last 60 opportunities to avenge a same-season loss. 10* NBA Tuesday Late Show Bailout with the New Orleans Pelicans (553) plus the points versus the Phoenix Suns (554). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:30 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing the Memphis Grizzlies (552) minus the points versus the Minnesota Timberwolves (551) in Game Two of their Western Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Memphis (56-27) has lost four of their last five games after their 130-117 upset loss to the Timberwolves in the opening game of this best-of-seven series. Minnesota (48-36) has won five of their last seven games.

REASONS TO TAKE THE GRIZZLIES MINUS THE POINTS: Memphis’ lack of playoff experience may have caught up with them in their opening game in the playoffs this postseason against a Timberwolves team that got through the Play-In Tournament. But the Grizzlies remain a talented and deep team that was just one of two teams in the NBA to post a top-six ranking in both Offensive and Defensive Ratings. They have allowed three of their last four opponents to make at least 50% of their shots — and they missed 20 of their 27 shots from behind the arc on Saturday. Memphis locked up the second seed before the regular season ended — and now it is the time for them to ramp up their intensity again under head coach Taylor Jenkins. The Grizzlies have Ja Morant back — and Jenkins is one of the best young coaches in the game. They should respond with a strong effort to even this series at 1-1. Memphis has covered the point spread in 10 of their last 13 games after a straight-up loss — and they have covered the point spread in 22 of their last 30 games after a point spread loss. They have also covered the point spread in 37 of their last 51 games after a loss by double-digits. They still have a 30-11 record on their home court — and they have covered the point spread in 17 of their last 22 games at home. The Grizzlies have also covered the point spread in 10 of their last 12 home games against teams with a losing record on the road. They have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games when favored. Minnesota got what they needed with the victory in Game One to seize home-court advantage in this series — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a straight-up win. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight games after scoring at least 125 points in their last game. They stay on the road where they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games — and they are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 road games against teams with a winning percentage over 60% at home. The Timberwolves have failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 11 road games as an underdog.

FINAL TAKE: Memphis has covered the point spread in 15 of their last 20 games when avenging a double-digit loss. I appreciate that Minnesota is better than their record after enduring a regular-season dealing with injuries and COVID issues. But they too are inexperienced in the postseason. Don’t be surprised if their effort is underwhelming tonight. As it is, the T-Wolves have failed to cover the point spread in 15 of their last 20 games against the Grizzlies — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 15 of their last 20 games in Memphis. 25* NBA-TV Game of the Year is on the Memphis Grizzlies (552) minus the points versus the Minnesota Timberwolves (551). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 10:00 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Denver Nuggets (545) and the Golden State Warriors (546) in Game Two of their Western Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Denver (48-35) looks to rebound from their 123-107 loss in the opening game of this best-of-seven series. Golden State (54-29) has won six games in a row.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Warriors made 52.4% of their shots on Saturday while nailing 16 of their 35 shots from behind the arc. Stephen Curry returned from injury to play over 21 minutes and score 16 points. But it was Jordan Poole who led the way with 30 points on 9 of 13 shooting. Overall, Golden State scored a scorching 129.4 points per 100 possession rate. With Curry rejoining Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Poole, the Warriors are a dynamic scoring team. But it is too much to expect consistent performances like what they did to the Nuggets on Saturday. The Regression Gods are likely coming for this team tonight. While they are a great outside shooting team, a clip more like their 37.2% shooting percentage from behind the arc when playing at home is more likely tonight. And while Curry is a cheat code who unlocks scoring opportunities for others when he is not knocking down 3-pointers, Golden State scored at a 114.1 points per 100 possession rate with him on the court this season — so Game One’s numbers were definitely a high-end outlier. But the Warriors should play better on the other end of the court after allowing the Nuggets to make 46.2% of their shots which was the highest opponent’s field goal percentage in their last seven games. Golden State is second in the NBA by holding their opponents to 107.6 points per 100 possessions — and much of those numbers were generating without an injured Draymond Green. They held their opponents to more than 3 fewer points per 100 possessions with Green on the court in the regular season. The Warriors were also third in the NBA by limiting their opponents to scoring at just a 91.2 points per 100 possession rate in the half-court where Denver does most of their damage via Nikola Jokic. Golden State has played 35 of their last 57 games Under the Total after a double-digit victory — including 14 of their last 21 games after a win by 10 or more points. The Warriors have covered the point spread in six of their last seven games — and they have played 11 of their last 15 games Under the Total after covering the point spread in six or seven of their last eight games. They have also played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after winning six in a row. And in their last 23 games when playing for just the second time in five days, they have played 17 of these games Under the Total. In their last five games at home in Chase Arena, Golden State has played 7 of their last 10 games Under the Total — and they have played 4 of their last 5 home games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60% on the road. They have also played 13 of their last 21 home games Under the Total with the Total set at 220 or higher. Denver should play better on defense as the 52.4% field goal percentage was the highest opponent’s field goal percentage in their last four games. The Nuggets have issues on defense — but their starting five does hold their opponents to just 106.5 points per 100 possessions which would rank second in the league if compared to overall regular season averages. Perhaps head coach Michael Malone will adjust by shortening his bench even more. The Warriors made Jokic work very hard on both ends of the court on Saturday. He scored 25 points but he also took 25 shots from the field. Green will continue to make his life difficult. While he did not play in any of the four games in the regular season between these two clubs, Green had held Jokic to just 15.7 Points-Per-Game with a 47.9% field goal percentage in his previous 18 games in his career to defend him. The Nuggets lack a reliable secondary scorer to complement Jokic with Jamal Murray and Michael Porter, Jr. still out with injuries. Denver only got to the rim for 20% of their shots in Game One — the Warriors may be able to reduce Denver to mostly a jump-shooting team. The Nuggets score 2.1 fewer PPG on the road — and they have played 4 of their last 5 road games Under the Total as an underdog.

FINAL TAKE: While Game One finished Over the Total, these two teams have still played 6 of their last 8 meetings Under the Total. They have also played 5 of their last 7 games in Golden State Under the Total. 25* NBA Monday TNT Total of the Month with Under the Total in the game between the Denver Nuggets (545) and the Golden State Warriors (546). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:00 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Phoenix Suns (532) minus the points versus the New Orleans Pelicans (531) in Game One of their Western Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Phoenix (64-18) has lost four of their last six games after their 116-109 upset loss as a 10-point favorite last Sunday. New Orleans (38-46) has won seven of their last ten games after their 105-101 victory in Los Angeles against the Clippers as a 1.5-point on Friday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE SUNS MINUS THE POINTS: Phoenix should have a big edge in terms of energy tonight with the week off — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games when playing with at least three days of rest between games. And while the Suns have only covered the point spread twice in their last seven games, they have then covered the point spread in 19 of their last 28 games after failing to cover the point spread in four or five of their last six games. After reaching the NBA Finals last year before losing to Milwaukee, Phoenix has covered the point in 13 of their last 18 games in the playoffs when favored. They have also covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. New Orleans has won four of their last six games after their two victories this week in the Play-In Tournament — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 24 of their last 36 games after winning four or five of their last six games. They have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a point spread win. And while the Pelicans were favored and covered the point spread in both their Play-In games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after winning two straight games when favored. New Orleans has also failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games against teams with a winning record.

FINAL TAKE: The Pelicans have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against the Suns. 10* NBA Sunday Late Show Bailout with the Phoenix Suns (532) minus the points versus the New Orleans Pelicans (531). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:00 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the New Orleans Pelicans (531) and the Phoenix Suns (532) in Game One of their Western Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: New Orleans (38-46) has won seven of their last ten games after their 105-101 victory in Los Angeles against the Clippers as a 1.5-point on Friday. Phoenix (64-18) has lost four of their last six games after their 116-109 upset loss as a 10-point favorite last Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Pelicans have proven they can ramp up their intensity on defense in the postseason after holding their two opponents in the Play-In Tournament to just 40.9% shooting which has resulted in just 102.0 Points-Per-Game. New Orleans has played 7 of their last 8 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and the Under is 33-16-2 in their last 51 games after a point spread victory. The Pelicans stay on the road to begin this series where the Under is 15-5-1 in their last 21 games — and they have played 4 of their last 5 road games Under the Total against teams with a winning record at home. New Orleans has also played 25 of their last 34 road games Under the Total as an underdog. Phoenix allowed the Kings to nail 52.6% of their shots last week with their key players resting — that was the worst defensive effort in their last eight games. The Under is 19-6-1 in the Suns’ last 26 games after a straight-up loss. Phoenix has also played 11 of their last 16 games Under the Total when playing with at least three days of rest. The Suns play outstanding defense — they rank third in the NBA by holding their opponents to just 106.6 points per 100 possessions. They host this game where they have played 4 straight Unders when favored. They have also played 25 of their last 40 games Under the Total in the with the Total set in the 220s. Additionally, the Under is 8-1-1 in their last 10 games in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams last played on March 15th with the Suns winning in New Orleans by a 131-115 score as a 4.5-point favorite. The Pelicans have played 22 of their last 33 games Under the Total when playing on the road attempting to avenge a home loss — and they have played 15 of their last 20 games on the road when playing with revenge from a  loss where they allowed at least 110 points. 25* NBA Sunday TNT Total of the Month with Under the Total in the game between the New Orleans Pelicans (531) and the Phoenix Suns (532). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 6:30 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Milwaukee Bucks (530) minus the points versus the Chicago Bulls (529) in Game One of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Milwaukee (51-31) had their three-game winning streak snapped on the final day of the regular season last Sunday in a 133-115 loss at Cleveland as an 8.5-point underdog. Chicago (46-36) ended a four-game losing streak with a 124-120 upset victory at Minnesota as a 7-point underdog last Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BUCKS MINUS THE POINTS: Milwaukee rested their starters against the Cleveland in a soft-tank job to drop back to the third seed — and avoid the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the playoffs. The reigning NBA champions should be rested and ready for this contest. The Bucks have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a straight-up loss — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games after a point spread loss. They also have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after a loss by 10 or more points. They host this game where they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with a losing record on the road. Milwaukee is also 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Chicago may be due for a letdown because they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a poking spread victory. The Bulls started the season hot with a 27-11 record. Injuries and the cooling-off of DeMar DeRozan after a red hot start in a Bulls’ uniform contributed to the team only 19-25 the rest of the way — including an 8-15 mark since the All-Star break. Chicago does have Alex Caruso back after he missed much of the second half of the season to injury — but while he helps their cause on defense, they are still without Lonzo Ball who played an important role in slowing down their opponents before he suffered a season-ending knee injury. The Bulls rank 25th in the NBA since the All-Star break by allowing 117.9 points per 100 possessions. They allowed the Timberwolves to make 50.5% of their shots last week which was the fifth time in their last six games that they have allowed an opponent to nail at least 50% of their shots from the field. Chicago has failed to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 13 games on the road. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 14 games against teams with a winning record. Furthermore, the Bulls have failed to cover the point spread in 21 of their last 28 games as an underdog — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight playoff games as an underdog.

FINAL TAKE: Milwaukee has dominated Chicago in the Giannis Antetokounmpo era with just one loss back in December of 2017 in their last 17 clashes. The average margin of victory for the Bucks this season in their four victories against the Bulls was +14.7 points — and they won their last two games against them by +24.5 PPG. 20* NBA Chicago-Milwaukee TNT Special with the Milwaukee Bucks (530) minus the points versus the Chicago Bulls (529). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Miami Heat (528) minus the points versus the Atlanta Hawks (527) in Game One of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Miami (53-29) had their six-game winning streak snapped on the last day of the regular season last Sunday in a 125-111 upset loss at Orlando as a 7-point favorite. Atlanta (45-39) claimed the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs with their 107-101 win at Cleveland as a 2-point favorite in their Play-In game on Friday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE HEAT MINUS THE POINTS: Miami is rested and fully healthy again with Bam Adebayo off the COVID list and P.J. Tucker recovered from the calf injury that kept him out of the final regular-season games. The Heat have covered the point spread in 35 of their last 51 games when playing with at least three days of rest. And while their loss to the Magic did not impact their playoff position (and they rested key players), they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a double-digit loss. Miami hosts this game where they have covered the point spread in 11 of their last 16 home games against teams with a winning percentage below 40% on the road. The Heat have also covered the point spread in 4 straight games against teams with a winning record. Miami is usually a reliable favorite. They have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games when favored — and they have covered the point spread in 37 of their last 55 games in the playoffs when laying the points. Atlanta had to survive two must-win games in the Play-In Tournament this week — so they may be ripe for an emotional letdown after surviving that two-game gauntlet. As it is, the Hawks have failed to cover the point spread in 14 of their last 19 games after a straight-up victory. If there was a dark cloud in their win on the road against the Cavaliers on Friday, it was that Clint Capela suffered a knee injury that will keep him out this afternoon. With John Collins still out with a foot injury, Atlanta is very thin upfront. They are also without a spark-plug scorer off the bench in Lou Williams. While the Hawks have a 28-14 record at home, now they go back on the road where they are just 17-25. They score -3.0 PPG away from home versus their season average while shooting 45.9% from the field which is down from their 47.1% mark overall. Atlanta has failed to cover the point spread in 15 of their last 21 games on the road — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 20 of their last 26 road games against teams with a winning record at home. Furthermore, the Hawks have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games as an underdog — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 13 of their last 18 games against teams winning at least 60% of their games.

FINAL TAKE: Atlanta has failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 trips to Miami to play the Heat. 20* NBA Atlanta-Miami TNT Special with the Miami Heat (528) minus the points versus the Atlanta Hawks (527). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:30 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Golden State Warriors (524) minus the points versus the Denver Nuggets (523) in Game One of their Western Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Golden State (53-29) enters the postseason on a five-game winning streak after their 128-107 victory at New Orleans as a 6.5-point favorite last Sunday. Denver (48-34) has lost two of their last three games after a 146-141 upset loss at home against the Los Angeles Lakers as a 6-point favorite to end the regular season on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE WARRIORS MINUS THE POINTS: Golden State expects Stephen Curry to rejoin the team tonight after he missed time with his foot injury. The Warriors were outscoring their opponents by 10 Points per 100 possessions with Curry on the court. He is scoring 25.5 Points-Per-Game while adding 6.3 Assists-Per-Game and 5.2 Rebounds-Per-Game. Remember, when Curry and Draymond Green were both healthy at the beginning of the season, the Golden State raced out to an 18-2 start — and they had the best record in the NBA on January 3rd. Injuries then hit this team with Curry and Green missing extended time — and they went 10-20 from February to March. But Klay Thompson has returned to the court and looked pretty good on April 2nd when he nailed 14 of 28 shots en route to 36 points against Utah. This will be the first time that the Big Three of Curry, Thompson, and Green will be playing together in the postseason in three years. Head coach Steve Kerr’s team has also seen the emergence of Jordan Poole with the former Michigan standout scoring 25.8 PPG with 6.2 Assists-Per-Game and 5.0 Rebounds-Per-Game while nailing 37.4% of his shots from behind the arc since Curry went down with his injury in March. The Warriors should be fresh with the week off — and they are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games when playing with at least three days of rest. They have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games at home — and they are 17-6-1 ATS in their last 24 home games against teams with a winning record on the road. Golden State has also covered the points spread in 29 of their last 41 games in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Denver held the Lakers to just 46.8% shooting last week which was the best defensive effort in their last five games. But the Nuggets have still allowed their opponents to score 118.1 points per 100 possessions in the last two weeks to end the regular season. Defense is a weakness of this team — they rank 19th in the NBA since the All-Star break by allowing their opponents to score 115.4 points per 100 possessions. Denver has failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games after scoring at least 125 points in their last game. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 13 games when playing with at least three days of rest. Nikola Jokic is likely to win his second-straight Most Valuable Player award later this year — but the Nuggets lack a reliable secondary scorer with Jamal Murray and Michael Porter, Jr. still on the shelf with injuries. This will be the first time that Nokic will battle against Green this season who did not play in the four regular-season meetings due to injury. In 18 career games defending Nokic, Green has held the superstar to just 15.7 PPG on 47.9% shooting from the field. Denver has failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games in the playoffs as an underdog.

FINAL TAKE: The Nuggets have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games against teams with a winning record. Golden State has covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games against teams with a winning record. 20* NBA Denver-Golden State ABC-TV Special with the Golden State Warriors (524) minus the points versus the Denver Nuggets (523). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 3:30 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Memphis Grizzlies (520) minus the points versus the Minnesota Timberwolves (519) in Game One of their Western Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Memphis (56-26) enters the playoffs having lost three of their last four games after their 139-110 loss to Boston as a 9.5-point underdog last Sunday. Minnesota (47-36) has won four of their last six games after their 109-104 win against the Los Angeles Clippers as a 3.5-point favorite in the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE GRIZZLIES MINUS THE POINTS: The Timberwolves orchestrated a dramatic comeback by rallying from a six-point deficit entering the fourth quarter by outscoring the Clippers by a 31-20 margin despite playing most of that final 12 minutes with Karl Anthony-Towns. After the game, Patrick Beverley partied like it was 1999 in front of the home fans after sticking it to his former team. Anthony Edwards scored 30 points and D’Angelo Russell added 29 points. After that accomplishment, I am expecting a big emotional letdown with this team now in the official playoffs. As it is, Minnesota has failed to cover the point spread in 5 straight games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 13 games after a victory by six points or less. The Timberwolves are a tough out at home where they have a 27-15 record. But on the road, Minnesota is just 20-21 while allowing their opponents to make 48.4% of their shots. The T-Wolves have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games on the road — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 10 games on the road as an underdog. Minnesota has failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games against teams with a winning record. To compound matters, they may be without Taurean Prince for this game who is questionable with a knee injury. The former Baylor star scored 10.5 Points-Per-Game while averaging more than 20 minutes per game off the bench since the All-Star break. Memphis has rested all week licking their chops for their opponent to survive the Play-In Tournament — and they are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games when playing with at least three days of rest. They rested their starters last Sunday in a game where they only made 38.2% of their shots which was the worst shooting effort in their last 23 games. But the Grizzlies have covered the point spread in 10 of their last 12 games after a straight-up loss — and they have covered the point spread in 13 of their last 16 games after a double-digit loss. They have also covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after allowing 125 or more points in their last contest. Memphis has been dominant at home with a 30-11 record — and they have covered the point spread in 27 of those 41 games. Furthermore, the Grizzlies have covered the point spread in 14 of their last 17 home games when favored — and they have covered the point spread in 10 of their last 12 home games against teams with a losing record on the road. The team has Ja Morant back in the mix after he missed extended time in the second half of the season. Memphis is real good — only they and Phoenix finished the regular season ranked in the top-six and Offensive and Defensive Efficiency. They have covered the point spread in 24 of their last 33 games when favored.

FINAL TAKE: Memphis will be motivated to avenge a 119-114 upset loss at Minnesota as a 1.5-point road favorite on February 24th. The Grizzlies have covered the point spread in 19 of their last 27 games when playing with revenge — and they have covered the point spread in 5 straight games when avenging an upset loss as a road favorite. The Timberwolves have failed to cover the point spread in 16 of their last 21 games against the Grizzlies — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 24 of their last 32 games in Memphis. 25* NBA Saturday ESPN Game of the Month with the Memphis Grizzlies (520) minus the points versus the Minnesota Timberwolves (519). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 10:05 PM ET on Friday, we will be playing the New Orleans Pelicans (511) plus the points versus the Los Angeles Clippers (512). THE SITUATION: New Orleans (37-46) snapped a two-game losing streak with their 113-103 win against San Antonio as a 5.5-point favorite in their first play-in game on Wednesday. Los Angeles (42-41) saw their five-game winning streak end with a 109-104 loss at Minnesota as a 3.5-point underdog in their first play-in game on Wednesday. The winner of this game plays at Phoenix in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals on Sunday.

UPDATE: I released this play before the news this afternoon that Paul George is out for tonight with COVID. Obviously, if you are already down with New Orleans getting 3-4 points, this is fortuitous news. I still consider this a 10* play on the Pelicans even as a small road favorite against a Clippers team without George. I do not think New Orleans laying points against the Clippers without George is a stronger play (so do not recommend upgrading the investment).

REASONS TO TAKE THE PELICANS PLUS THE POINTS: New Orleans had won eight of eleven games to clinch the eighth seed in the Western Conference and the right to host the first play-in game before dropping their last two games with nothing more that was mathematically possible to gain. This team is much better than their record. The Pelicans started the season by losing 13 of 16 games dealing with not having Zion Williamson on the court. But the team adapted and started playing better under rookie head coach Willie Greene. This club was then transformed with the acquisition of C.J. McCollum at the trade deadline. The former Portland Trail Blazer scored 24.3 Points-Per-Game while making 49.3% of his shots in the regular season for his new team— and he is averaging a career-high in assists and rebounds while embracing a leadership role he could never have playing alongside Damian Lillard in Portland. Against the Spurs, McCollum led the way with 32 points on 12 of 23 shooting while adding 7 assists and 6 rebounds. He offers the team a dynamic one-two punch with Brandon Ingram. Although those two only played 16 games together this season, they now won ten of those contests. Ingram scored 27 points on Wednesday. The Pelicans will be a tough out in this game even playing at Crytpo.com Arena. New Orleans has covered the point spread in 13 of their last 18 games on the road — and they have covered the point spread in 10 of their last 14 road games as an underdog. Los Angeles has Paul George back — but he is being asked to carry this team with Kawhi Leonard. We got a glimpse of the old self-proclaimed “Playoff P” on Wednesday with the Clippers getting outscored by a 31-20 margin to blow their 84-78 lead after the third quarter — and that all occurred despite Karl-Anthony Towns fouling out early in the final quarter. Los Angeles may win this game — but George was not dominant in clutch time against the Timberwolves. The Clippers have also failed to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 11 games when playing with two days of rest. They host this play-in game — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 26 of their last 39 home games with the Total set in the 210 to 219.5 range.

FINAL TAKE: The Clippers won the last meeting between these two teams by a 119-100 score — but the Pelicans have covered the point spread in 35 of their last 58 games when avenging a same-season loss. 10* NBA Friday Daily Discounted Deal with the New Orleans Pelicans (511) plus the points versus the Los Angeles Clippers (512). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 10:05 PM ET on Friday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the New Orleans Pelicans (511) and the Los Angeles Clippers (512) and Play-In Tournament. THE SITUATION: New Orleans (37-46) snapped a two-game losing streak with their 113-103 win against San Antonio as a 5.5-point favorite in their first play-in game on Wednesday. Los Angeles (42-41) saw their five-game winning streak end with a 109-104 loss at Minnesota as a 3.5-point underdog in their first play-in game on Wednesday. The winner of this game plays at Phoenix in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Pelicans have played 7 of their last 8 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and the Under is 33-16-2 in their last 51 games after a point spread victory. Now New Orleans goes on the road where the Under is 15-5-1 in their last 21 games — and they have played 4 of their last 5 road games Under the Total against teams with a winning record at home. Los Angeles held the Timberwolves to just 43.4% shooting which was the fifth straight game that they have not allowed an opponent to shoot better than 44.2% from the field. The intensity of jockeying for playoff positioning along with the return of Paul George has resulted in the Clippers raising their level of play on defense. They have won six of their last eight games — and they have then played 7 of their last 11 contests Under the Total after winning six or seven of their last eight contests. And while this is just their sixth game in the last 14 days, Los Angeles has played 28 of their last 42 games Under the Total when playing for not more than the sixth time in the last 14 days. The Clippers have also played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total against teams with a losing record.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams have played 4 of their last 5 meetings Under the Total. With the news this afternoon that Paul George is out after his positive COVID test, the Under remains a solid 10* play. George led the team in scoring on Wednesday with 34 points on 10 of 24 shooting — and he nailed 6 of 12 shots from behind the arc. 10* NBA Friday Late Show Bailout with Under the Total in the game between the New Orleans Pelicans (511) and the Los Angeles Clippers (512). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:35 PM ET on Friday, we will be playing the Cleveland Cavaliers (510) plus the points versus the Atlanta Hawks (509) in the Play-In Tournament. THE SITUATION: Cleveland (44-39) has lost four of their last five games after their 115-108 loss at Brooklyn as a 9.5-point underdog in their first Play-In game on Tuesday. Atlanta (44-39) won their eighth game in their last ten games with a 132-103 victory against Charlotte as a 5-point favorite in their first Play-In game on Wednesday. The winner of this game seizes the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and plays at Miami on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE CAVALIERS PLUS THE POINTS: Cleveland allowed the Nets to make 53.6% of their shots on Tuesday which was the worst defensive mark in their last 11 games. But after digging themselves a hole early with a 20-point deficit after the first quarter, the Cavs did keep fighting to stay competitive and cover the point spread. Darius Garland was outstanding as he nailed 13 of his 24 shots en route to 34 points. Cleveland is 26-10-2 ATS in their last 38 games after a point spread win. The Cavaliers have covered the point spread in their last two games — and they have covered the point spread in 18 of their last 27 games after covering the point spread in two straight games. And while they have dropped six of their last eight games, they have then covered the point spread in 12 of their last 15 games after losing five or six of their last seven games. Returning home will help this team where they were 25-16 this season (as opposed to their 19-23 record on the road). They are also 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 home games as an underdog. Cleveland also may get Jarrett Allen back for this game — and that would be a big shot in the arm for this team. The Cavaliers already got rookie big man Evan Mobley back earlier this week — and if they can also get Allen back on the court after missing 19 games from a finger injury, they have their dynamic duo in the middle which makes them a very difficult team to score against. With Allen on the court, Cleveland allows -3.2 fewer points per 100 possessions. He has been upgraded to questionable for tonight’s game — and he clearly wants to play given that the Cavs’ season could end tonight with a loss. Even if Allen does not play, Cleveland should stay competitive in this game with a real chance to extend their season. Having a veteran like Rajon Rondo playing alongside Garland should help in this one-and-done playoff game. Atlanta comes off one of their best games of the season. They held the Hornets to just 37.8% shooting which was the best defensive performance in their last 35 games. They also nailed 52.1% of their shots which was the best shooting percentage in their last seven contests. Trae Young scored 24 points but only on 8 of 24 shooting. Five other players scoring in double figures helped compensate for Young missing seven of his eight shots from behind the arc. Interestingly, the deeper analytics projected that the Hawks would typically only win that game against the Hornets by six points based on the expected points from the quality of shots taken. A letdown looks likely for this team — and this is a group not playing at full strength who has not been nearly as effective on the road. Atlanta has failed to cover the point spread in 14 of their last 19 games after a straight-up win. The Hawks have also failed to cover the point spread in 13 of their last 18 games on the road after a point spread win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 12 of their last 15 games on the road after winning two of their last three games. Atlanta thrives at home where they have a 28-14 record — but they are just 16-25 on the road. The Hawks have failed to cover the point spread in 15 of their last 21 games on the road — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 20 of their last 26 road games against teams with a winning record at home. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 12 road games when favored by up to six points. Injuries continue to keep this team undermanned. Lou Williams is out and now Bogan Bogdanovich is questionable with an ankle. But it is the likely absence of big man John Collins for the 18th straight game that looms most ominous in this matchup. Atlanta needs his size against Mobley and potentially Allen in the middle. The Hawks have managed to out-rebound their last three opponents by at least ten boards after winning the rebounding battle against the Hornets by a 54-41 margin. But Atlanta has failed to cover the point spread in 5 straight games after out-rebounding their last three opponents.

FINAL TAKE: The Hawks have won the last three meetings between these two teams — but the Cavaliers have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 13 games when playing with triple revenge. The recent success against Cleveland — and their easy one on Wednesday — may work against this Atlanta team that reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season. 25* NBA Play-In Tournament Game of the Year with the Cleveland Cavaliers (510) plus the points versus the Atlanta Hawks (509). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:30 PM ET on Wednesday, we will be playing the New Orleans Pelicans (508) minus the points versus the San Antonio Spurs (507) in the Play-In Tournament. THE SITUATION: New Orleans (36-46) enters this game coming off two straight losses after a 128-107 loss to Golden State as a 6.5-point underdog on Sunday. San Antonio (34-48) has lost three in a row after their 130-120 loss at Dallas as a 10-point underdog on Sunday. The winner of this game plays in Los Angeles against the Clippers on Friday to determine the 8th seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

REASONS TO TAKE THE PELICANS MINUS THE POINTS: New Orleans had won eight of eleven games to clinch hosting this play-in game before dropping their last two games with nothing more that was mathematically possible to gain. This team is much better than their record. The Pelicans started the season by losing 13 of 16 games dealing with not having Zion Williamson on the court. But the team adapted and started playing better under rookie head coach Willie Greene. This club was then transformed with the acquisition of C.J. McCollum at the trade deadline. The former Portland Trail Blazer is scoring 24.3 Points-Per-Game while making 49.3% of his shots — and he is averaging a career-high in assists and rebounds while embracing a leadership role he could never have playing alongside Damian Lillard in Portland. McCollum offers the team a dynamic one-two punch with Brandon Ingram. Although those two only played 15 games together this season, they won nine of those contests. Ingram was dealing with a hamstring injury last week but he has been upgraded to probable alongside Jonas Valuncianas, Devonte Graham, and Herbert Jones who should all be good to go. Since the All-Star break, New Orleans ranks seventh in the NBA in Net Rating while ranking 10th in the league with their Offensive Rating and ninth with their Defensive Rating. They did allow the Warriors to make 60.5% of their shots on Sunday — but they have covered the point spread in 9 of their last 12 games after allowing their last opponent to make at least 55% of their shots. The Pelicans have also covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a straight-up loss — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a point spread loss. Furthermore, while New Orleans has failed to cover the point spread in their last two games, they have then covered the point spread in 12 of their last 18 games after not covering the point spread in their last two contests. Additionally, the Pelicans have covered the point spread in 11 of their last 15 games at home when favored — and they have covered the point spread in 10 of their last 15 games when favored by 3.5 to 9.5 points. They have also covered the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games against teams with a losing record. San Antonio has failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 8 games after a double-digit loss to a Southwest Division rival. The Spurs are solid but unspectacular. They rank 17th in Net Rating for the season with an Offensive Rating that is 17th in the NBA and a Defensive Rating that is 16th. Since the All-Star break, San Antonio ranks 19th in Net Rating, placing 17th still in Offensive Rating and 16th in Defensive Rating. Their .414 winning percentage would not have been good enough to reach the Play-In Tournament last season, but they were the beneficiaries of the second-half collapses by the Lakers and Trail Blazers. Future Hall of Fame head coach Gregg Popovich has gotten the most out of his roster. But New Orleans holds a significant talent edge now that they have McCollum playing alongside Ingram. The Spurs have failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 13 road games as an underdog getting up to six points.

FINAL TAKE: San Antonio allows their opponents to make 46.6% of their shots — and the Pelicans have covered the point spread in 15 of their last 21 games in the second half of the season against teams who allow their opponents to make at least 46% of their shots. 25* NBA Southwest Division Game of the Year with the New Orleans Pelicans (508) minus the points versus the San Antonio Spurs (507). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:00 PM ET on Wednesday, we will be playing the Charlotte Hornets (505) plus the points versus the Atlanta Hawks (506) in the Play-In Tournament. THE SITUATION: Charlotte (43-39) has won three straight games after their 124-108 win against Washington as a 13-point favorite on Sunday. Atlanta (43-39) has won seven of their last nine contests with their 130-114 victory at Houston as a 12-point favorite on Sunday. The winner of this game plays at Cleveland on Friday to earn the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

REASONS TO TAKE THE HORNETS PLUS THE POINTS: Charlotte enters the playoffs playing perhaps their best basketball of the season. In their last 15 games, they rank second in the NBA in Net Rating. The emergence of P.J. Washington has given them an alternative strong lineup to make up for Gordon Hayward once again being on the shelf with an injury. The Hornets have closed out the regular season by winning 13 of their last 18 games despite Hayward being out with his injury. Charlotte is an elite scoring team that ranks sixth in the NBA by averaging 114.8 points per 100 minutes (non-garbage time) — and they have risen to second in the league in Offensive Rating in their last 15 games. Their 54.8% effective field goal percentage and their 37.0% mark from behind the arc both rank seventh in the league. The Hawks’ perimeter defense can be shaky — they rank 25th in the NBA by allowing their opponents to make 36.4% of their 3-pointers and they have allowed their opponents to nail 36.9% of these shots since the All-Star break. The Hornets have made at least 52.2% of their shots in each of their last four games. They have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a double-digit win — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games after a win at home against a Southeast Division rival. They have also covered the point spread in 18 of their last 27 games when playing their second game in five days. They have been reliable on the road where they are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 games — and they are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 road games against teams with a winning percentage of 60% or higher at home. Charlotte is also 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 road games as an underdog. Atlanta made 51.7% of their shots on Sunday against the Rockets which was the best offensive effort in their last six games. But the Hawks have failed to cover the point spread in 14 of their last 19 games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 15 games after a win on the road. Atlanta has also failed to cover the point spread in 15 of their last 23 games after winning two of their last three games. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 12 games when playing with two days of rest. The Hawks are not at 100% for this game with John Collins still out with a foot injury — and Lou Williams has been declared out for tonight with a sore back. Even without Collins, Atlanta has out-rebounded their last two opponents by 16 and 10 boards — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after out-rebounding their last two opponents by at least 10 rebounds.

FINAL TAKE: Charlotte qualified for the Play-In Tournament last year where they got crushed by Indiana by 27 points. They should learn from that experience — and they won ten more games this season. Trae Young may carry the Hawks to the victory — but with the Hornets having three leaders on the court in LeMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, and Terry Rozier, they should keep this game close (if they don’t pull the upset). 10* NBA Wednesday Daily Discounted Deal with the Charlotte Hornets (505) plus the points versus the Atlanta Hawks (506). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:00 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing the Cleveland Cavaliers (501) plus the points versus the Brooklyn Nets (502). THE SITUATION: Cleveland (44-38) snapped a three-game losing streak to conclude their regular season with a 133-115 victory against Milwaukee as an 8.5-point favorite on Sunday. Brooklyn (44-38) has won four in a row after their 134-126 victory against Indiana as a 16.5-point favorite on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE CAVALIERS PLUS THE POINTS: Granted, Brooklyn has a 36-19 record with a healthy Kevin Durant — that is a 53-win pace which would have tied them with Miami for the top record in the Eastern Conference. And the Nets are 11-6 straight-up this season when Durant is playing with Kyrie Irving. Brooklyn is better than their record — and they have even stepped up their play on defense in the last two weeks where they rank 11th in Defensive Rating. But the most consistent thing about this team all season has been their inability to cover spreads. The market is overrated this team as they continue to wait for them to simply flip the switch — and this dynamic has not changed with Durant and Irving both available to play. The Nets are just 7-10 ATS in the 17 games these two stars have played together. At home in the Barclays Center, Brooklyn is an ugly 6-26-1 ATS — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 17 of their last 22 home games against teams with a losing record on the road. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 23 of their last 26 home games when favored. Irving did miss most of those games given his refusal to get a COVID vaccine — but since New York City lifted the vaccine requirement for city employees, the Nets have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their 6 home games with Irving on the court rather than smirking from the stands where the vaccine requirement did not extend. Brooklyn has failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 13 home games after winning four or five of their last six games. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 16 of their last 21 home games after a point spread loss. This is a flawed roster after their Big Two with Ben Simmons and Joe Harris still our for this game. Cleveland is not the same team as they were earlier in the season given the injuries to Collin Sexton and Jarrett Allen. They have lost 17 of their last 26 games since the Allen injury who plays a crucial role in their defense. But this team still has two promising young players in Darius Garland and rookie Evan Mobley — and they have a rising head coach in J.B. Bickerstaff. The question is not “will the Cavaliers win this game?”, it is “will they keep it in single digits?” — and they are playing with house money with everyone discounting their chances. Even with a loss, Cleveland gets to host the Atlanta-Charlotte winner in the second Play-In game which gives them a back door to continue their postseason. They beat a Bucks team that was resting their starters — but the Cavaliers have still covered the point spread in 15 of their last 20 games after a win by 10 or more points. They have also covered the point spread in 11 of their last 14 games after losing five or six of their last seven games. Having a healthy Mobley again who missed time in the last few weeks helps the Cleveland cause on defense. While Allen is important, the Cavaliers have a Defensive Rating of 108.9 with him off the court — and that would rank 5th best in the NBA. Brooklyn’s offense is elite with Durant and Irving — but they have not been quite as prolific against top-ten defenses.

FINAL TAKE: The lone Nets point spread cover at home with Irving playing was against this Cleveland team in a 118-107 victory as an 8-point favorite on April 8th. But Brooklyn has failed to cover the point spread in 28 of their last 39 games when favored — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 23 of their last 33 games when favored by 3.5 to 9.5 points. 10* NBA Cleveland-Brooklyn TNT Special with the Cleveland Cavaliers (501) plus the points versus the Brooklyn Nets (502). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:40 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Golden State Warriors (561) and the New Orleans Pelicans (562). THE SITUATION: Golden State (52-29) has won four straight games after their 100-94 victory as a 7-point favorite yesterday. New Orleans (36-45) had their two-game winning streak snapped yesterday in a 141-114 loss at Memphis as a 7.5-point underdog.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: Both of these teams made the Western Conference playoffs — maintaining (or establishing) their intensity on defense should be important as they look forward to the postseason. The Warriors are dialed-in on the defensive end of the court after holding their last five opponents to just 41.4% shooting which has resulted in them allowing just 102.0 Points-Per-Game. Golden State needs to win tonight to ensure they are the third seed in the Western Conference — with the advantage of avoiding a potential showdown with Phoenix until the conference finals. The Warriors have played 8 of their last 12 games Under the Total after a victory where they did not cover the point spread as the favorite. Golden State had covered the point spread in their previous four games — and they have played 13 of their last 16 games on the road Under the Total after covering the point spread in four or five of their last six games. On the road, the Under is 22-9-1 in their last 32 games when favored — and they have played 23 of their last 33 games Under the Total when laying 3.5 to 9.5 points. Golden State has also played 8 of their last 9 games Under the Total against teams with a losing record. New Orleans played their worst defensive game in their last 14 games after allowing the Grizzlies to nail 58.9% of their shots yesterday. It was the third straight game where they allowed their opponent to make at least 51.3% of their shots. The Pelicans have played 8 of their last 11 games Under the Total after allowing their last opponent to score at least 125 points — and they have played 11 of their last 14 games Under the Total after their last two opponents made at least 50% of their shots. New Orleans is locked in as the ninth seed and one of the Play-In Tournament games — but this is no time to not worry about improving their play on defense. They have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total when playing without a day of rest. The Pelicans have also played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total against teams with a winning record. Brandon Ingram is questionable tonight with a hamstring injury — and if he does not play, New Orleans will be without one of their top two scorers.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams have played 7 of their last 8 meetings Under the Total — and they have played 4 straight Unders when playing in the Big Easy. 10* NBA Golden State-New Orleans TNT O/U Special with Under the Total in the game between the Golden State Warriors (561) and the New Orleans Pelicans (562). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:40 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Sacramento Kings (557) plus the points versus the Phoenix Suns (558). THE SITUATION: Sacramento (29-52) has lost three straight games after their 117-98 loss in Los Angeles to the Clippers as an 11.5-point underdog yesterday. Phoenix (64-17) has won two of their last three contests after a 110-105 upset win at Utah as a 3-point underdog on Friday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE KINGS PLUS THE POINTS: Phoenix has the number one seed in the NBA playoffs locked up — so they have nothing to play for tonight. Head coach Monty Williams has confirmed that he is resting his key players — so Chris Paul, Devin Booker, DeAndre Ayton, Jae Crowder, and Cameron Payne are not playing tonight. We played the Suns earlier this week under similar circumstances — but we were getting the points in that one. Phoenix as a double-digit favorite playing the backups is too much to ask — even against the Kings. As it is, the Suns have failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight games when favored — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against teams with a winning percentage of 40% or less. Sacramento had been playing pretty well for head coach Alvin Gentry playing out the string before this recent three-game slide. The Kings are now locked with the seventh-worst record in the league — so they might as well play hard tonight. They have covered the point spread in 12 of their last 16 games after a loss by double-digits — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games playing without a day of rest. Gentry has been using these games in the final few weeks of the season to get as much playing time to their rookie Davion Mitchell who has validated their investment in a first-round pick in him. The Kings are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games on the road — and they are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 road games as an underdog. They have not covered the point spread in three straight games while allowing each of these opponents to make at least 48.8% of their shots. Sacramento has covered the point spread in 6 of their last 9 games after not covering the point spread in three straight games — and they have covered the point spread in 13 of their last 19 games after allowing their last three opponents to shoot at least 47% of their shots.

FINAL TAKE: The Kings will have motivation to avenge a 127-124 loss at home to Phoenix on March 20th. Sacramento has covered the point spread in 13 of their last 21 games when playing with revenge from a loss at home — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 meetings with the Suns. 10* NBA Sunday Late Show Bailout with the Sacramento Kings (557) plus the points versus the Phoenix Suns (558). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 10:10 PM ET on Wednesday, we will be playing the Phoenix Suns (589) plus the points versus the Los Angeles Clippers (590). THE SITUATION: Phoenix (63-16) snapped a two-game losing streak with their 121-110 victory at home against the Los Angeles Lakers last night. Los Angeles (39-40) has won three of their last four games after their 119-100 victory against New Orleans as a 2-point favorite on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE SUNS PLUS THE POINTS: This is a small value play on Phoenix as I think the market has overvalued the impact of the Suns’ potentially resting their starters tonight. The logic is this: since Phoenix has locked up the best record and top seed in the NBA, there is no reason for head coach Monty Williams to play his best players on the back end of games in back-to-back days. Maybe … probably. Although Williams rested his starters on Sunday in what ended up being a 117-96 loss at Oklahoma City as a 14.5-point favorite. Williams does not want his team to go on complete autopilot since flipping the switch may be easier said than done. And there was speculation that the starters would not play last night — but they did. I can see Williams playing Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Deandre Ayton for 25 or so minutes to keep them in rhythm against playoff-caliber competition. And I am comfortable with the B team led by Aaron Gordon and Bismack Biyombo — after opening as a 3-point road favorite, the market pushing the line to the Suns getting 6 or so points looks like an overreaction to me. Phoenix has covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games when playing without a day of rest. They have not covered the point spread in four straight games — but they have then covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after not covering the point spread in three straight games and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after not covering the point spread in four straight games. They have also covered the point spread in 12 of their last 15 road games after not covering the point spread in four or five of their last six games. The Suns have also covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games as an underdog — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 road games when getting the points. The thing is about the Clippers is that they have nothing to play for either — they are locked in the eighth spot in the Western Conference playoffs. They are just waiting to see who they will face in the Play-In Tournament. There is a desire to get Paul George minutes after being injured and on the shelf for months — but that does not mean it is likely he logs in 40 minutes tonight. They are also likely to still be without Norman Powell who is doubtful with an injury. Los Angeles held the Pelicans to just 40.2% shooting which was the best defensive effort in their last 15 games. The Clippers have failed to cover the point spread in 9 straight games when playing with two days of rest — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 17 of their last 21 games when playing their second game in five days. They have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 home games against teams with a winning record on the road.

FINAL TAKE: The Clippers have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games against teams with a winning record. 10* NBA Wednesday Late Show Bailout with the Phoenix Suns (589) plus the points versus the Los Angeles Clippers (590). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:10 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Milwaukee Bucks (567) and the Chicago Bulls (568). THE SITUATION: Milwaukee (48-30) has lost two games in a row with their 118-112 upset loss to Dallas as a 6.5-point favorite on Sunday. Chicago (45-33) had their two-game winning streak snapped with a 127-109 loss to Miami as a 2-point underdog on Saturday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Bucks allowed the Mavericks to make 51.3% of their shots on Sunday — and that was after they allowed the Los Angeles Clippers to nail 60.9% of their shots on Friday in a 153-119 upset loss at home as a 3.5-point favorite. Milwaukee was without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, and Brook Lopez against the Clippers but they returned to the court on Sunday. With the playoffs looming and playing against a potential first-round opponent in the Bulls, this game is a good opportunity for the reigning NBA champions to re-embrace playoff intensity on the defensive end of the court. As it is, the Bucks have played 5 of their last 8 games Under the Total after allowing their last two opponents to make at least 50% of their shots. Milwaukee has also played 4 straight Unders after losing two straight games at home — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after getting upset at home in their last two games. With Lopez back on the court after missing much of the season injured, he offers the team their best interior defender. His post-up ability also slows down their offense when they get into their half-court offense. With the potential of earning the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs still viable, the Bucks have plenty to still play for in the regular season. They go back on the road where they have played 4 of their last 5 road games Under the Total against teams winning at least 60% of their games on their home court. They have also played 6 straight games Under the Total against teams with a winning record. Chicago allowed the Heat to nail 53.7% of their shots on Saturday which was the worst defensive effort in their last six games. They should tighten things up on defense tonight in this Central Division showdown. The Bulls have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a straight-up loss — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a double-digit loss. Chicago has also played 8 of their last 10 games Under the Total after a point spread loss. After a great start to the season, the Bulls have cooled off significantly — and a rash of injuries has not helped matters. The Bulls have lost nine of their last fifteen games whole posting a 110.3 Offensive Rating during that span, ranking 28th in the league. They are making only 46.5% of their shots with a 33.2% shooting mark from behind the arc in their last 15 games as compared to their 48.0% field goal percentage and 36.8% clip from 3-point range for the season. Chicago has played 5 of their last 7 games at home Under the Total — and they have played 4 of their last 5 home games Under the Total against teams with a winning record on the road. The Bulls have also played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total against teams with a winning record.

FINAL TAKE: Chicago will be looking to avenge a 126-96 loss in Milwaukee on March 22nd — and they have played 13 of their last 21 games Under the Total when playing with revenge from a 20 point loss. These two teams have played 6 of their last 7 meetings Under the Total — and they have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total when playing in Chicago. The Bulls have also played 12 of their last 15 games Under the Total against Central Division opponents — and the Bucks have played 10 of their last 13 games Under the Total against fellow divisional rivals. 25* NBA Central Division Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Milwaukee Bucks (567) and the Chicago Bulls (568). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:10 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Sacramento Kings (552) minus the points versus the Golden State Warriors (551). THE SITUATION: Sacramento (29-49) has won two straight games and four out of their last five after their 122-117 victory at Houston as a 3-point favorite on Friday. Golden State (49-29) snapped their four-game losing streak with a 111-107 upset victory against Utah as a 2-point underdog yesterday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE KINGS PLUS THE POINTS: Sacramento is closer to qualifying for the play-in game than they are to being one of the bottom-four teams in the league with more ping pong balls for the June NBA draft. They are only 3 1/2 games behind San Antonio for tenth place in the Western Conference while being 6 1/2 games above Oklahoma City in the bottom four. This team is playing hard for head coach Alvin Gentry — even without the injured De’Aaron Fox and Damontas Sabonis. Fox being out alongside the trading of Tyrese Halliburton to Indiana in the Sabonis deal has opened the for rookie Davion Mitchell to play plenty of minutes at guard for the Kings. The former Baylor star and first-round draft pick has responded by scoring 21.8 Points-Per-Game and dishing out 8.7 Assists-Per-Game. Now after completing a five-game road trip, they return home where they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with a winning record on the road. They have also covered the point spread in 7 of their last 9 home games as an underdog. Additionally, Sacramento is 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games against teams with a winning record — and they are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog. Golden State made 47.6% of their shots against the Jazz which was the best shooting effort in their last four games. But the Warriors have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after an upset victory. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 14 of their last 20 games after losing two of their last three games. Golden State remains without Steph Curry who is out with a knee injury. The Warriors score 114.9 points per 100 possessions with Curry on the court while outscoring their opponents by +10.9 points per 100 possessions — but without Curry on the floor, they only score 104.9 points per 100 possessions while getting outscored by -3.7 points per 100 possessions. Golden State has failed to cover the point spread 4 straight games on the road when favored — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 15 of their last 23 road games when favored by up to six points. Additionally, the Warriors have failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight games against teams with a losing record — and they are 8-20-2 ATS in their last 30 games when favored.

FINAL TAKE: Golden State has won the last four meetings between these two teams after their 136-114 win against the Kings on February 3rd. But the Warriors have failed to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 13 meetings with the Kings — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 trips to Sacramento. The Kings have covered the point spread in 16 of their last 26 games when playing with double-revenge. 10* NBA Sunday Late Show Bailout with the Sacramento Kings (552) minus the points versus the Golden State Warriors (551). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:40 PM ET on Wednesday, we will be playing the Charlotte Hornets (565) minus the points versus the New York Knicks (566). THE SITUATION: Charlotte (39-37) had their two-game winning streak snapped with a 113-109 loss to Denver as a 3.5-point underdog on Monday. New York (34-42) has won four games in a row with their 109-104 upset victory against Chicago as a 3.5-point underdog on Monday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE HORNETS MINUS THE POINTS: Charlotte has been playing well — despite that loss to the Nuggets. They have won seven of their last nine games and appear entrenched to at least qualify for the Play-In games for the postseason as they are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, trailing the eighth spot by one game. After struggling to replace the injured Gordon Hayward’s contributions, they are getting solid across-the-board play from P.J. Washington. The former Kentucky star is scoring 11.3 Points-Per-Game this month while adding 4.2 Rebounds-Per-Game and 3.1 Assists-Per-Game and making 35.4% of his shots from 3-point range. The Hornets are 5-2-2 ATS in their last 9 games after a straight-up loss. They go back on the road where they are 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 games — and they had covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 road games when favored. Furthermore, Charlotte is 27-10-1 ATS in their last 38 road games against teams with a losing record at home. New York is starting to play better now that they have likely buried their shot at making the playoffs. They are 4 1/2 games behind Atlanta for the tenth spot in the Eastern Conference. In their upset victory against the Bulls, they held Chicago to just 43.0% shooting which was the best defensive effort in their last six games, and tied for the best performance on that end of the court in their last ten contests. But the Knicks have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after a win by six points or less. Additionally, New York has failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 14 home games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 14 home games after a point spread victory. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after winning at least four of their last five games. Injuries remain an issue for this team. They are without Cam Reddish, Derrick Rose, and Kemba Walker with the latter put on the shelf because he does not fit head coach Tom Thibodeau’s plans. Nerlens Noel and Quentin Grimes are both out tonight with injuries — and Evan Fournier is questionable for reasons listed as “personal”. This team is going nowhere this year — and taking some days off down the stretch as they softly tank appears likely. New York has failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 10 games at home — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 home games as the underdog.

FINAL TAKE: Charlotte will be motivated to avenge a 121-106 loss at home to the Knicks on March 23rd. The Hornets have covered the point spread in 16 of their last 24 opportunities for same-season revenge. 25* NBA Game of the Month with the Charlotte Hornets (565) minus the points versus the New York Knicks (566). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:10 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Milwaukee Bucks (549) and the Philadelphia 76ers (550). THE SITUATION: Milwaukee (46-28) had their two-game winning streak end with their 127-102 loss at Memphis as a 2-point underdog on Saturday. Philadelphia (46-28) had their three-game winning streak snapped in a 114-104 loss at Phoenix as a 4.5-point underdog on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Bucks have played three straight Unders after their game with the Grizzlies finishing Under the 233 point total. Milwaukee has played 12 of their last 19 games Under the Total after playing at least two straight Unders. They have also played 6 of their last 9 games Under the Total when playing with two days of rest. They stay on the road where they have played 10 of their last 13 road games Under the Total when listed in the +/- 3-point range. The 76ers allowed the Suns to make 51.7% of their shots which was the worst defensive effort in their last seven games. And while they only shot 41.6% from the field themselves, that was still the highest field goal percentage in their last four games. Philadelphia has played 8 of their last 11 games Under the Total after a loss on the road. They return home where they have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total — and they have played 5 straight home games Under the Total when favored. They have also played 8 of their last 9 home games Under the Total with the Total set at 220 or higher — and they have played 4 of their last 5 home games Under the Total against teams with a winning record on the road. The 76ers have also played 35 of their last 52 games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60%.

FINAL TAKE: Milwaukee has played 14 of their last 19 games Under the Total in expected close games where they are listed in the +/- 3-point range. 10* NBA Tuesday Daily Discounted O/U Deal with Under the Total in the game between the Milwaukee Bucks (549) and the Philadelphia 76ers (550). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:40 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing Over the Total in the game between the Sacramento Kings (537) and the Miami Heat (538). THE SITUATION: Sacramento (27-48) has won two straight games with their 114-110 upset victory at Orlando as a 2.5-point underdog on Saturday. Miami (47-28) lost their fourth game in a row with their 110-95 loss to Brooklyn as a 2.5-point underdog on Saturday.

REASONS TO TAKE OVER THE TOTAL: The Kings pulled off their upset against the Magic by holding them to just 42.5% shooting from the field which was the best defensive effort in their last five games. Sacramento has played 6 of their last 8 games Over the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 5 of their last 6 games Over the Total after a point spread victory. Despite the recent success, this team is in the tank with the playoffs most likely out of reach. De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis have both been put on the shelf with injuries — and Josh Jackson is not playing tonight with an injury. The effort on defense has not been as strong as of late — they have allowed their last five opponents to 49.1% shooting which is generating 121.4 Points-Per-Game for them. They stay on the road where they are allowing their home hosts to make 48.8% shooting which is resulting in 117.2 PPG for their home hosts. Sacramento has played 5 of their last 6 road games Over the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60% on their home court. The Kings have played 16 of their last 21 games Over the Total against teams with a winning record — and they have played 6 of their last 7 games Over the Total against teams with a winning percentage of 60% or higher. They have also played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total as an underdog. Miami’s 95 points on Saturday was the lowest-scoring output in their last eight contests. They have played 14 of their last 20 games Over the Total after a loss by 10 or more points — and they have played 8 of their last 10 games Over the Total after a double-digit loss at home. They have also played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total after a point spread loss. Injuries have played a role in their recent losing streak — and Caleb Martin is still out with Tyler Herro and P.J. Tucker questionable. The attrition has impacted their play on defense as their last five opponents are making 48.1% of their shots which has resulted in them giving up 112.0 PPG. They stay at home where they have played 41 of their last 57 home games Over the Total against teams with a losing record on the road. They have also played 15 of their last 20 games Over the Total against teams with a losing record.

FINAL TAKE: Miami will be looking to avenge a 115-113 loss at Sacramento back on January 2nd. The Heat have played 11 of their last 14 games Over the Total when playing with revenge from a loss on the road. 10* NBA Monday Daily Discounted O/U Deal with Over the Total in the game between the Sacramento Kings (537) and the Miami Heat (538). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:10 PM ET on Wednesday, we will be playing the Detroit Pistons (546) plus the points versus the Atlanta Hawks (545). THE SITUATION: Detroit (19-53) has lost six of their last seven games with their 119-115 upset loss to Portland as a 10-point favorite on Monday. Atlanta (36-36) comes off a 117-111 win in New York last night against the Knicks as a 3.5-point favorite.

REASONS TO TAKE THE PISTONS PLUS THE POINTS: Detroit may be eliminated from the playoff race in the Eastern Conference — but they have been playing better basketball as of late with the continued development of Cade Cunningham. The number one pick in the 2021 NBA draft had a loss start to the season after a late start to training camp after a delay in signing in his contract. Some injuries in the fall then impacted his adjustment to the challenge of the NBA — but the former Oklahoma State star is finding his groove. Cunningham is scoring 22.4 Points-Per-Game this month while pulling down 7.3 Rebounds-Per-Game and dishing out 6.9 Assists-Per-Game. Their loss to the Trail Blazers was their second-straight game and third of their last four that was decided by four points or less — so this team has usually been competitive in their losses. The Pistons made only 42.4% of their shots on Monday which was the worst shooting effort in their last five games. But Detroit has covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after a straight-up loss. The Pistons have also covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games at home — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 home games as an underdog. They have also covered the point spread in 17 of their last 24 games in March. Atlanta has been consistently inconsistent all season. They have failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 12 games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight games after a point spread victory. The Hawks have also failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games played without a day of rest — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 15 of their last 20 games on the road when playing their second game in back-to-back days. Atlanta will play this game undermanned with John Collins out with a foot injury and Lou Williams likely not playing because of personal reasons. The Hawks stay on the road where they have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 8 road games when favored. Atlanta has also failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games against teams with a losing record.

FINAL TAKE: Detroit won the last meeting between these two teams on March 7th by a 113-110 score in overtime as a 7.5-point home underdog. Cunningham starred in that game by scoring 28 points for the Pistons in the win while adding 10 rebounds. The Hawks have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 meetings against Detroit. 25* NBA Eastern Conference Underdog of the Month with the Detroit Pistons (546) plus the points versus the Atlanta Hawks (545). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:10 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing the Milwaukee Bucks (542) minus the points versus the Chicago Bulls (541). THE SITUATION: Milwaukee (44-27) had their two-game winning streak snapped with a 138-119 loss at Minnesota as a 3.5-point underdog on Saturday. Chicago (42-29) ended their three-game losing streak with a 113-99 win against Toronto as a 4-point favorite last night.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BUCKS MINUS THE POINTS: Milwaukee allowed the Timberwolves to make 51.1% of their shots which was the worst defensive effort in their last six games. The Bucks should bounce back with a strong effort tonight as they have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 13 games after a loss on the road — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a double-digit loss. Milwaukee has covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games when favored. Chicago made 48.9% of their shots in their victory against the Raptors yesterday which was the best shooting effort in their last five games. They also held Toronto to 44.0% shooting which was the best defensive effort in their last four contests. The Bulls are 5-16-1 ATS in their last 23 road games — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 road games against teams with a winning percentage of 60% or higher at home. Chicago has also failed to cover the point spread in 19 of their last 24 road games as an underdog.

FINAL TAKE: Milwaukee will be without Khris Middleton tonight as he nurses an ankle injury — but the Bulls are undermanned in this contest as well. Lonzo Ball remains out and Zach LaVine is questionable with a knee injury. Chicago has failed to cover the point spread in 5 straight games against teams who are winning at least 60% of their games. 25* NBA Central Division Game of the Month is on Milwaukee Bucks (542) minus the points versus the Chicago Bulls (541). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:10 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing Over the Total in the game between the Washington Wizards (533) and the Houston Rockets (534). THE SITUATION: Washington (30-40) snapped their six-game losing streak with their 127-119 win against the Los Angeles Lakers as a 2.5-point favorite on Saturday. Houston (17-54) has lost five games in a row with their 122-98 loss to Memphis as a 12.5-point underdog yesterday.

REASONS TO TAKE OVER THE TOTAL: The Wizards’ losing streak likely played them out of a spot in the postseason — and their play on defense has illustrated their loss of ambition. Washington allowed the Lakers to make 52.7% of their shots which was the seventh time in their last eight games where they allowed their opponent to make at least 50% of their shots. Washington has played 6 of their last 8 games Over the Total after scoring at least 125 points in their last game. The Over is 14-3-1 in the Wizards’ last 18 games after a win — and they have played 5 straight Overs after a point spread victory. They go back on the road where they have played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total. Houston only made 43.0% of their shots against the Grizzlies which was the lowest field goal percentage in their last ten contests. The Rockies have played 7 of their last 10 games Over the Total after a double-digit loss — and they have played 11 of their last 15 games Over the Total after a loss by 10 or more points on their home court. The Over is 21-10-1 in Houston’s last 32 games after a point spread loss — and they have played 11 of their last 16 games Over the Total when playing without a day of rest. They stay at home where the Over is 13-6-1 in their last 20 games at home — and the Over is 17-8-1 in their last 26 home games as an underdog.

FINAL TAKE: Houston has played 6 of their last 8 games Over the Total against teams with a losing record — and Washington has played 5 straight Overs against teams with a winning percentage of 40% or less. 25* NBA Monday Night O/U Special Feature with Over the Total in the game between the Washington Wizards (533) and the Houston Rockets (534). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:40 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Toronto Raptors (517) plus the points versus the Philadelphia 76ers (518). THE SITUATION: Toronto (39-31) had their five-game winning streak snapped on Friday with their 128-123 upset loss at home to the Los Angeles Lakers as a 9-point favorite. Philadelphia (43-26) has won two games in a row with their 111-101 win against Dallas as a 3.5-point favorite on Friday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE RAPTORS PLUS THE POINTS: The 76ers may choose to rest Joel Embiid tonight with a showdown with Miami Heat looming tomorrow. He is listed as questionable. If Embiid does not play, this Philly team lacks size. Even with Embiid playing normal minutes, the trading away of Andre Drummond has left their second unit lacking a big man when Embiid is off the court — and it has contributed to James Harden running with the second unit not being very effective. Even if Embiid plays tonight, Toronto should stay competitive. Philadelphia has failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 12 games after a point spread victory. They stay at home where they have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 home games when favored. The Sixers are also just 5-11-1 ATS in their last 17 home games against teams with a winning record on the road. Toronto has covered the point spread in 13 of their last 18 games after a straight-up loss — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games after allowing at least 125 points in their last game. They go back on the road where they are 24-13 this season — and they have covered the point spread in 4 straight road games against teams with a winning record at home. The Raptors have also covered the point spread in 10 of their last 14 games as an underdog.

FINAL TAKE: Toronto will not have Fred VanVleet tonight — but they have depth and that is the reason they are getting up to eight points in this contest. They have covered the point spread in 21 of their last 27 games against teams with a winning record — and they have covered the point spread in 4 straight games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%. They have posted a Net Efficiency Rating of +6.1 in their last six games. Philly has a Net Efficiency Rating of -0.3 despite winning four of their last six games. The losses of Drummond and Seth Curry in the trade for Harden should not be discounted. The 76ers have also failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against teams with a winning record. 10* NBA Sunday Night Discounted Deal with the Toronto Raptors (517) plus the points versus the Philadelphia 76ers (518). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:10 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing Over the Total in the game between the Los Angeles Lakers (583) and the Washington Wizards (584). THE SITUATION: Los Angeles (30-40) snapped their three-game losing streak with a 128-123 upset win at Toronto as a 9-point underdog last night. Washington (29-40) has lost six games in a row after losing to New York by a 100-97 score as a 6-point underdog last night.

REASONS TO TAKE OVER THE TOTAL: The Wizards only made 43.0% of their shots last night in what was the worst shooting effort in their last 12 contests. But Washington remained competitive with the Knicks because New York only made 34.4% of their shots which was the lowest opponent’s field goal percentage in their last 57 games. The Wizards had seen each of their previous six opponents make at least 50% of their shots — so that effort last night probably says more about the Knicks than it does about a sudden improvement in the play of the Washington defense. The Wizards have played 6 of their last 7 games Over the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 4 straight games Over the Total after a point spread victory. They have also played 11 of their last 13 games Over the Total when playing their third game in four days. They return home where the Over is 18-7-1 in their last 26 games — and they have polled 13 of their last 16 home games Over the Total with the Total set at 220 or higher. Additionally, Washington has played 5 straight Overs at home as an underdog — and they have played 4 straight home games Over the Total against teams with a losing record on the road. Los Angeles has played 7 of their last 11 games Over the Total after an upset win as a road underdog. LeBron James is doing everything he can to carry this team into at least a Play-In game opportunity in the postseason. This team is not nearly as good on defense as they were last year. Their last five opponents have made 47.9% of their shots which has resulted in 122.9 Points-Per-Game. The Lakers have played 8 of their last 11 games Over the Total when playing on the road.

FINAL TAKE: Los Angeles has played 18 of their last 26 games Over the Total in non-conference play. 10* NBA Over/Under Situational Special with Over the Total in the game between the Los Angeles Lakers (583) and the Washington Wizards (584). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:10 PM ET on Wednesday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Chicago Bulls (543) and the Utah Jazz (544). THE SITUATION: Chicago (41-27) lost their sixth game in their last eight with their 112-103 upset loss at Sacramento as a 3.5-point favorite on Wednesday. Utah (42-26) has lost two of their last three games with their 117-111 upset loss to Milwaukee as a 2-point favorite on Monday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Bulls have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total after a straight-up loss — and they have played 4 straight Unders after a point spread loss. They have also played 18 of their last 24 games Under the Total after losing five or six of their last seven games. DeMar DeRozan has cooled off as of late with his shooting as he is making only 40% of his shots in his last eight games. Zach LaVine is not 100% with his knee. But while Chicago still misses the defensive presence of Lonzo Ball, they did get back Alex Caruso who gives them a boost on that end of the court. The Bulls stay on the road where they have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total — and they have played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total with the Total set in the 220s. The Under is also 13-5-1 in Chicago’s last 19 games on the road as an underdog. They have also played 5 straight Unders against teams with a winning record. Utah has played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a point spread loss. And while they have not covered the point spread in three straight games, they have then played 8 of their last 12 games Under the Total after not covering the point spread in at least three straight games. The Jazz will be without their second-leading scorer tonight with Bojan Bogdanovic out with a wrist injury. They stay at home where they have played 11 of their last 14 games Under the Total on their home court — and they have played 16 of their last 21 games when favored. Utah has also played 9 of their last 10 games Under the Total against teams with a winning record.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams last played on October 30th when the Bulls upset the Jazz at the United Center by a 107-99 score. That game finished well below the 219 point total — the Under is now 21-7-1 in the last 29 meetings between these two teams. 25* NBA Non-Conference Total of the Month with Under the Total in the game between the Chicago Bulls (543) and the Utah Jazz (544). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:40 PM ET on Wednesday, we will be playing the Dallas Mavericks (535) minus the points versus the Brooklyn Nets (536). THE SITUATION: Dallas (42-26) has won two games in a row after their 95-92 loss at Boston as a 7-point underdog on Sunday. Brooklyn (36-33) has won four games in a row with their 150-108 blowout victory at Orlando as a 10-point favorite last night.

REASONS TO TAKE THE MAVERICKS MINUS THE POINTS: Dallas should build off their momentum tonight. They have covered the point spread in 11 of their 15 games after winning two games in a row on the road — and they have covered the point spread in 20 of their last 30 games after winning two of their last three games. The Mavericks have also covered the point spread in 15 of their last 17 games after not scoring more than 100 points in their last game. Dallas is a reliable road team that has covered the point spread in 26 of their last 39 games when favored by up to six points. Dallas is a dangerous team now that Luka Doncic has regained his basketball shape after not being in top fitness coming back from the offseason. The addition of Spencer Dinwiddie gave this group a quality third scoring option alongside Jalen Brunson and Doncic. But the biggest difference with this team this season has been the influence of first-year head coach Jason Kidd with the team’s effort on the defensive end of the court. The Mavericks rank sixth in the NBA in Defensive Rating. Brooklyn shot 60.2% from the field last night which was the best shooting effort in their last 62 games. Kyrie Irving went off for 60 points as he played like a man knowing that he would get the next night off since he chose not to get vaccinated despite being employed by a city that requires  a COVID vaccine for their employees. So the Nets do not get Irving on the court — but he will probably showboat in the crowd which does not require vaccinations. He can’t help his teammates from the crowd — and Brooklyn has failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 10 games when playing the second game in back-to-back days. The Nets have failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 10 games after a win by at least 15 points — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 10 games after a win by double-digits on the road. And while they have covered the point spread in three of their last four games with Kevin Durant back in the fold, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 7 straight games after covering the point spread in three of their last four contests. With Irving on the court, Brooklyn has a dynamite Offensive Rating of 119.3 — but that number drops to just 109.9 when he is not on the court. The Nets’ attention to defense on the other end of the court is not consistent as they rank just 24th in Defensive Rating since the All-Star Break. Now Brooklyn returns home where they have failed to cover the point in 10 straight games after a win on the road. They have failed to cover the point spread in 25 of their last 31 games at the Barclays Center this season — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 15 of their last 19 home games with the Total set at 230 or higher. And in their last 7 home games as an underdog, they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of these contests.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams last played on December 7th when the Nets won by a 102-99 score — but the Mavericks have failed to cover the point spread in 14 of their last 17 opportunities for same-season revenge. 10* NBA Dallas-Brooklyn ESPN Special with the Dallas Mavericks (535) minus the points versus the Brooklyn Nets (536). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:40 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the Denver Nuggets (505) plus the points versus the Philadelphia 76ers (506). THE SITUATION: Denver (40-22) has lost two games in a row after their 127-115- loss to Toronto as a 6.5-point favorite on Saturday. Philadelphia (41-25) has won two of their last three games after their 116-114 victory in overtime at Orlando as a 10.5-point favorite yesterday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE NUGGETS PLUS THE POINTS: Denver should bounce back with a strong effort tonight. They have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after a double-digit loss — and they have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 10 games after a double-digit loss as a home favorite. The Nuggets have lost two games in a row by double-digits after dropping their previous contest to Golden State by a 113-102 score. Denver has covered the point spread in 22 of their last 31 games after losing two games in a row — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games after losing two in a row by 10 or more points. And while the Nuggets have not covered the point spread in four straight games, they have then covered the point spread in 18 of their last 25 games after not covering the point spread in four of their last five games. This team continues to get by without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter, Jr. although the hope is that both will return from injury in time of the playoffs. But Denver has a great head coach in Michael Malone — and with Nikola Jokic at center, they remain competitive against every team in the league. Jokic is scoring 26.1 Points-Per-Game on 57.3% shooting this season — and he is averaging 13.8 Rebounds-Per-Game and 8.1 Assists-Per-Game. They have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games on the road — and they have covered the point spread in 4 straight road games against teams with a winning record at home. Additionally, the Nuggets have covered the point spread in 4 straight games as an underdog — and they have covered the point spread in 15 of their last 23 games with the Total set in the 220-229.5 point range. Philadelphia only made 38.0% of their shots last night against the Magic — but that was still the second-best shooting effort in their last four games. The 76ers gave failed to cover the point spread in 14 of their last 21 games after a loss on the road. And while that game finished Over the Total, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 14 home games after playing their last game Over the Total. Philly now has their Big Three with James Harden joining Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris — yet they are just 4-4 ATS in their eight games since the blockbuster trade. While Ben Simmons was not offering anything to them this season, losing Seth Curry and Andre Drummond should not be underestimated. The 76ers’ 3-point shooting is down without Curry knocking down shots — they are now just 11th with a 35.6% shooting percentage from behind the arc since the All-Star Break. And the second unit with Harden leading the way has not been effective. Interior defense with the second unit is a big problem where Drummond had been spelling Embiid. The 76ers are not a good defensive team either — this is where the loss of Simmons from past seasons really is felt. In their last 15 home games against teams with a winning record on the road, Philadelphia is 4-10-1 ATS.

FINAL TAKE: Denver is looking to avenge a 103-89 upset loss at home to the Sixers as a 7.5-point favorite on November 18th — and they have covered the point spread in 16 of their last 22 games when playing with revenge from a double-digit loss at home. 10* NBA Denver-Philadelphia ESPN Special with the Denver Nuggets (505) plus the points versus the Philadelphia 76ers (506). Best of luck for us — Frank.