Locks
NBA (1 Unit) Boston Celtics/Atlanta Hawks First Half Over 116 (-110; Odds via Fanduel): 6:30 PM CT on NBA TV
First halves of Celtics games are getting wild. During this 9-game winning streak for Boston, their first halves are 7-2 over this total with 121.8 points on average. The Celtics are doing the majority of that work, and probably will again tonight as the league’s highest-scoring first half team. That will be made even easier by facing an Atlanta team that is 23rd in first half points allowed.
But the Hawks should add plenty themselves here, as they’re 4th in first half scoring and their home games trend heavily to the over in general. Plus, Boston just clinched the one seed so I wouldn’t be surprised by some lackluster defense in this spot. This should be another up-tempo start with Boston draining plenty of three’s against one of the league’s worst perimeter defenses, so look for lots of early scoring.
NBA (0.75 Unit) Detroit Pistons/NY Knicks Under 210.5 (-110; Odds via Caesars): 6:30 PM CT on MSG
I just don’t see where the points are coming from in this game. The Knicks defense is far too good right now, they’re playing much too slow to get into any kind of up-tempo game, and the Pistons are another weak opponent for them to clamp down on. What New York has done defensively the past 10 games is unreal in today’s NBA, only allowing 94.8 PPG.
Some of that is certainly due to weak competition, but it doesn’t get much weaker than Detroit, especially if they’re still without Cade Cunningham tonight. These teams are a combined 14-6 to the under in their past 10 games, while New York is 26-10 to the under at home and 27-12 as a favorite. Those are incredible numbers that I want to back again here given who they’re up against.
NBA (1 Unit) Portland Trail Blazers @ Houston Rockets -12 (-110; Odds via Caesars): 7:00 PM CT on ROOT Sports NW
The Rockets are absolutely on one right now, and I don’t see it slowing down tonight. Houston is on an 11-1 ATS run and it hasn’t even been close, covering the number by an average 9.5 point margin. And when they’ve faced an awful team like they do tonight, it’s been a blowout. That includes a 16-point drubbing of the Blazers up in Portland, and now they return home where they’re the best ATS team in the league. The Rockets are right in the play-in race, so look for them to capitalize on this weak opponent.
Degenerates
No degenerates today.
Tiny Nick is 2170-1951 ATS (+105.1 Units) on his Locks since joining Zone Coverage.
Every day he will offer his Locks and Degenerate picks. Locks are the games he’s confident in. Degenerates are entertaining but riskier picks.
