NBA Basketball Picks - Daily ATS Predictions

Sacramento’s inability to take advantage of free points compared to Charlotte makes the Hornets a quality play here with a low line to cover. However, this game could easily be settled by more than just a possession as Charlotte could potentially come out juiced in the first quarter and never look back against a Sacramento team prone to come in flat. Hornets win this one and cover easy while they do.

The Sixers have the more talented roster, but talent doesn't always win games in the NBA. The Pacers have won 14 of their first 19 home games of the season, and are quickly emerging as one of the top teams in the East. This should be a wildly entertaining game, but I'm putting my money on the Pacers.

There was once a team that you had to pay to back the Knicks at home as Madison Square Garden is one of the most recognized venues in the world. However, given the Knicks fall from grace they are now a team that begs for action. On the contrary, Philadelphia used to be that team until they became a playoff-caliber outfit that some have even considered a Finals contender. It is for these reasons Philadelphia has produced a losing record against the spread this season (20-23) despite owning one of the best records in the East and why New York’s against the spread record (18-23) is far better than their straight-up mark. We’ll take advantage of a likely overlay here.

As a general rule of thumb, the Raptors are bound to be overpriced at home. However, given the variables here the opposite is likely to be the case. It is, for this reason, some of the sharper books have priced the Raptors a half-of-a-point higher here as they are taking a position that the Raps should cruise here. We couldn't agree more, and Toronto will win this one by substantial margins.

Last year, the Heat snuck into the playoffs and made a poor showing when they were dominated in a gentleman's sweep by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. This contest will be an excellent venue for Miami to show that they are not a team to trifle with and we can expect them to be the more motivated and fresher team in this contest. Keep the points, we'll take the Heat outright.

San Antonio loves to shoot the three, and they are the best in the league in doing so hitting 39.8% of their attempts. The bad news is they in a hostile environment against a Detroit club that is the best team in the league in shutting down the three-pointer as they allow opponents to shoot 31.7% from beyond the arc. When you combine this with Detroit's edge on the boards with Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin comprising their frontcourt, Detroit can play this contest on its terms. Pistons outright get the call.

Miami has been playing at a high level for the most part in their previous ten fixtures as they have lost just two games over this span. This can be chalked up to their stingy defense which has kept opponents under the 100-point mark in seven of these affairs. Against a team, as beleaguered such as Atlanta, the Heat should have their way in this one as the Hawks will also give their offense a helping-hand in compiling what could very well be a blow-out win.

This situation seems like a classic win no-cover spot for the Pelicans. New Orleans will finally get the monkey off their back, but the Cavaliers will not make it easy for them. Cleveland will make this a four-quarter game and perhaps even hold a substantial lead at one point when NOLA's Anthony Davis or Jrue Holiday are catching a breather.

The Pacers will continue their winning streak, and they will do so with style against a team they love to beat. The last game in Chicago in November was settled by a basket, but the outcome here will be far different as the Pacers are more inclined here to win this by double-digits and thus come in over the number as they do so. Chicago's offense will struggle mightily against the NBA's top-ranked Indiana scoring defense (101.1 points per game) and they will no answer for Victor Oladipo and Darren Collison on the opposite end of the court.

Charlotte is a team that relies on its offense to win games to outscore their opponents as they score 113.4 points per game while giving up a 20th ranked 111.4 points per game. Unfortunately for Charlotte, they are up against a unit that can stymie those very offensive operations and take advantage of mediocre to create an influx in scoring. The upset possibility is high in this one, but the points are more than enough for Orlando to come in under the number.

This game has upset written all over it, and thus we'll trade the points away here to enhance our return on a Money Line play. Minnesota comes into the affair low enough on the public radar (thanks to their recent debacle) to ultimately trip up a Miami team whose stock is through the roof. Minnesota will use its advantages to pick up its fifth road win of the season.

Charlotte led by seven points with 3:34 remaining in the game before they saw the lead diminish and ultimately fall in overtime. Brooklyn did all it had to do to ward off the Hornets, and Charlotte knows now what it needs to get the win and avert another defeat. The Hornets will use their home court advantage to avenge Wednesday’s loss and cover while they do so.

On Christmas, the market saw the Bucks at one point spotting 12.5 points to the Knicks until it diminished to its closing figure of -9.5 This three-point swing showcased a lot of late steam pouring in on New York and a lot of Christmas coal for those that backed New York. In this spot, many expect the opposite to happen and for the action to go on the Bucks here. After all, we have seen the line half of a point upward to indicate such a trend. This is called a zig-zag and takers do not want to find themselves on the wrong end of such an event. Take the points.

Just last year Philadelphia took a trip to the Big Apple to square off with the New York Knicks in a Christmas Day game where they met with a hostile environment and still managed to pull out a 105-98 victory over their arch-rivals. The Sixers are the team playing better basketball at the moment, and they will use their positive experiences in these scenarios to put together an effort to halt Boston’s dominance in this rivalry series.

It is safe to surmise here that the Wizards likely do not have enough gas in the tank here to roll up their sleeves and play a physical game against a Pacers team that remains the best in the league in defense (101 points per game) and a juggernaut on the boards in shutting down second chances (3rd overall in NBA with 42.7 rebounds per game). This contest has Indiana written all over it, and the Pacers should trample the Wizards as they head into a three-day hiatus of their own for the holiday festivities.

Given what appears to be a noticeable difference in quality between these two teams, there is no other rationale as to why Chicago is such a low-priced dog other than the possibility of an upset being at a maximum here. The Bulls in fairness are traditionally a dangerous team on their own court, and they will hone that custom to produce a win against an Orlando team that will continue to struggle to score.