Nba Trends For Thursday

[NFLMINNOWPHD]

Today's NBA analysis

Hot Teams
-- Pistons won last three games, by 8-8-6 points.
-- Mavericks won four in row, 12 of last 14 games. Celtics won five of their last seven games.
-- Cavaliers won eleven of their last thirteen games.
-- Suns won seven of their last eight games.

Cold Teams
-- Lakers lost four of their last six games.
-- Sonics lost fourteen of their last fifteen games.
-- Spurs lost three in row, covered two of last nine games.

Previous meetings this season
-- Pistons (+4) lost 103-91 at the Lakers Nov 16.
-- Sonics (+9.5) lost 95-79 in Cleveland Jan 8.
-- Suns (+6.5) won 100-95 in San Antonio Dec 17.

Totals
-- Three of last four Detroit games went over the total.
-- Under is 9-3 in last twelve Dallas road games.
-- Under is 12-6 in Cleveland's last eighteen games.
-- Last nine San Antonio games stayed under the total.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Los Angeles Lakers at Detroit Pistons (7:30 PM ET)

LA begins its longest road trip in franchise history in Detroit, a 9-game trek that covers 14 days. The Lakers will travel a total of 8,173 miles, and they have lost 8 in a row at The Palace of Auburn Hills by an average of nearly 16 points. LA star Kobe Bryant has averaged just 21.4 points in 20 lifetime meetings with the Pistons, his lowest scoring average against any opponent. EDGE: PISTONS
Detroit has won 3 games in a row after dropping 6 of 9, which followed a season-high 11-game winning streak. The Pistons open a 5-game homestand against the Lakers and are 15-4 SU at The Palace this season. "We're just playing ball," Detroit's Rasheed Wallace said. "We've run into some teams that are all geeked up to play us and that just lets us know that we're still one of the top teams in this league." EDGE: PISTONS
The Lakers are hurting not only without center Andrew Bynum but also sans Trevor Ariza (broken right foot) and Luke Walton (hip), who injured himself in the 1st quarter of a win over the Knicks on Wednesday. Sasha Vujacic has averaged 10.8 points in his last 6 games and will need to step up if Walton can't go. "Everybody loves to play," Vujacic said. "My moment has arrived here with the Lakers. Unfortunately, it's because of injuries." EDGE: PISTONS
Pistons are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 home games.
Lakers are 1-7 ATS in the last 8 meetings in Detroit.
Lakers are 3-11-1 ATS in the last 15 meetings.
Lakers are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 Thursday games.
The UNDER is 37-15-1 in LAL last 53 vs. Central Division.
The UNDER is 39-13-1 in Detroit's last 53 Thursday games.


Dallas Mavericks at Boston Celtics (TNT | 8 PM ET)

Boston had no problems crushing the Heat on Wednesday without Kevin Garnett (abdominal injury) and Ray Allen (flu). The Celtics won by 30 points but will face a bigger challenge at home hosting Dallas. Allen is more likely to play while Garnett could be held out longer to prevent a more serious injury. "If he can play Thursday, we'll play him," Boston head coach Doc Rivers said. "But again, it's got to be almost 100 percent. That's the way I look at those types of injuries." EDGE: MAVS
Dallas cruised to an easy 103-84 win at Memphis on Monday but now must play 3 Eastern Conference division leaders to close out a 4-game road trip. "It's going to be a tough trip," Mavs star Dirk Nowitzki said. "Boston is the best team right now in the league. Best record. We all know what Detroit is like at home. They're tough to beat. It's going to be a fun trip. Very tough." SLIGHT EDGE: CELTICS
Celtics are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 home games.
Mavs are 9-4-1 ATS in the last 14 meetings and have won the last 7 games between the teams SU.
The OVER is 7-3 in Boston's last 10 home games.
The UNDER is 9-3 in Dallas' last 12 road games.
The UNDER is 16-7 in Dallas' last 23 overall.


Cleveland Cavaliers at Seattle SuperSonics (10 PM ET)

Cleveland is coming off a thrilling victory at Portland on Wednesday, as LeBron James made a reverse layup with less than a second left to win the game. The Cavs have won 5 straight on the road for the 1st time in almost 10 years, and they are 11-2 SU in 2008. BIG EDGE: CAVS
Seattle snapped a team-record 14-game losing streak with an 88-85 win over San Antonio on Tuesday. Rookie Kevin Durant hit the go-ahead jumper with 32.6 seconds left and admitted this was a huge weight lifted off his shoulders. "It was like we won the championship," Durant said. "It was a big-time win for us." That being said, insiders believe there could be a huge letdown after breaking the skid. EDGE: CAVS
The OVER is 6-2 in Seattle's last 8 games vs. Central Division.
The UNDER is 6-2 in Cleveland's last 8 road games.
The UNDER is 36-17-1 in Cleveland's last 54 Thursday games.
The UNDER is 6-2 in SEA last 8 home games.


San Antonio Spurs at Phoenix Suns (TNT | 10:30 PM ET)

San Antonio will be trying to avoid its 1st 4-game losing streak in over 4 years. The Spurs are continuing their longest road trip of the season, coming off a stunning loss at Seattle on Tuesday. They are just 8-11 away from home this season. EDGE: SUNS
The Spurs have shut down point guard Tony Parker due to a bone spur in his left heel, and they are also playing without 3-point specialist Brent Barry due to a calf injury. They are only 1-4 without Parker in the lineup this season. EDGE: SUNS
Spurs are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 road games.
Spurs are 5-16 ATS in their last 21 games overall.
Suns are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
The UNDER is 21-6 in San Antonio's last 27 games overall.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pick 'n' roll: Thursday's NBA picks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Note: We will update when lines and picks are posted.)

L.A. Lakers at Detroit Pistons (no line yet)

The Lakers start a nine-game road trip in Detroit Thursday night, but they head into that stretch in patchy form. They have dropped four of their last six games, falling 3.5 games behind Phoenix in the Pacific Division.

L.A. has not done well at the Palace of Auburn Hills in recent times. It has lost eight straight games there, covering the spread just once. In fact, the last time the Lakers won a game at Detroit was on Jan. 8, 2002.

The Pistons' impressive home record is not limited to games against the Lakers. They have won 15 of their 19 home contests this season and have covered the spread in nine of their last 11 games in Detroit.

Pick: TBA


Dallas Mavericks at Boston Celtics (no line yet)

The Celtics were without two key players in Tuesday's blowout win over Miami, but they will not get off as lightly without them on Thursday. Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are both doubtful against visiting Dallas.

Garnett, the Celtics' second-leading scorer (19.2) and leading rebounder (9.9), sat out for the second straight game against Miami. He strained an abdominal muscle on Saturday night. Allen missed the game because of flu and it's unclear if he will play against the Mavs.

Dallas has won seven straight games against Boston, and is 9-4-1 ATS in its last 14 against it.

Pick: TBA


San Antonio Spurs at Phoenix Suns (no line yet)

The Spurs will be without point guard Tony Parker for Thursday's trip to Phoenix. That's a major blow as they look to avoid their first four-game losing streak since the 2003-04 season.

Parker is struggling with a bone spur in his left heel and his performances - as well as the team's - have suffered. He has played through the pain for six weeks, but coach Gregg Popovich said enough is enough ahead of Tuesday's loss to Seattle.

"He was told he was going to get better, but he's gotten worse," Popovich told the Associated Press. "I don't know how long it's going to be, but he's going to sit.

"He doesn't like it, but this is the way it's going to be."

Parker, averaging 19.2 points and 6.1 assists per game, missed four contests in December in which the Spurs went 1-3.
_________________________