NBA Weekend Betting Picks

New York at Houston

The first of our Saturday pick games takes place in Houston, where the 10-8 Rockets host the 7-11 New York Knicks (8 pm Eastern, MSG).

Houston started 3-7 this season, then won seven games in a row. The Rockets had their winning streak snapped their last time out, falling at home to Milwaukee Wednesday night 105-99. Still, through Thursday's play Houston is only a game and a half out of first place in the Southwest Division, and just a half-game back of eighth-seeded Dallas in the Western Conference standings.

New York, meanwhile, continues to disappoint. Since winning six of their first 10 games the Knicks have lost seven of their last eight. Wednesday night in Cleveland the Knickerbockers shot three-for-20 from 3-point land and lost to the Cavaliers 91-81. So New York is five games back of first-place Philly in the Atlantic Division, and sits in 10th place in the Eastern Conference.

The Knicks are a dismal 4-14 ATS so far this season. And as New York has shot less than 42 percent from the field as a team, the 'over/unders' are 5-13 in Knicks games.

Last year the Rockets swept the two games from New York. And both those games played 'under' the totals.

Pick: Houston/under

Lakers at Milwaukee

In our second Saturday NBA pick we look to Milwaukee, where the Bucks, now without C Andrew Bogut, host Kobe and the Lakers (8:30 pm Eastern).

Milwaukee stumbled out of the gate this year 2-7, but has won five of its last nine, after beating Houston Wednesday night. But the Bucks took a big hit when Bogut, who's averaging 11 points and eight boards a game, suffered a broken ankle (ouch!) vs. the Rockets. He's out for the foreseeable future.

Milwaukee is tied for the eight spot in the East with Cleveland.

The Lakers, meanwhile, just beat the Clippers for just their second victory in their last six games. So LA sits in second place in the Pacific Division and is tied for sixth in the West.

With the Lakers hitting the 100-point mark just once so far this season, and holding opponents to 41.5 percent FG shooting, LA is 7-12 on the 'over/unders.'

Pick: Take the 'under'

Chicago at Miami

Sunday the Association offers up a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference Finals when the Chicago Bulls visit the Miami Heat (3:30 pm Eastern, ABC).

Chicago just had a four-game winning streak snapped by a 95-90 loss to Indiana Wednesday night. And they've been dealing with injuries to both Derrick Rose and Luol Deng. Nonetheless the Bulls, at 16-4, lead the East standings by two games over the Heat.

Miami went through a three-game losing streak a couple weeks ago, but has won five of six games since. Wednesday night the Heat held off Detroit for a 101-98 victory. But the Heatles have also been dealing with injury, as G Dwyane Wade has missed recent action with bad wheels.

Last May Miami dispatched of the higher-seeded Bulls in five games in the East Finals.

Pick: Heat/under

San Antonio at Dallas

And for our second Sunday pick we look to Texas, as the defending league-champion Dallas Mavericks host the San Antonio Spurs (6:30 pm Eastern, ESPN).

Dallas struggled through a bit of a post-championship hangover early this season, losing five of its first eight games. But the Mavs have come back to win eight of their last 11. And they've managed to go 2-1 with Dirk Nowitzki resting an ailing knee.

San Antonio, meanwhile, has gone through spurts and stops this season, winning three in a row twice and losing two in a row twice, to get to 12-7. So the Spurs lead the Southwest Division by a game over Dallas.

In the first meeting this season between these teams three weeks ago San Antonio held the Mavs to 29 first-half points on its way to a 93-71 victory. And that was a Dallas team with their big German.

Pick: The Spurs