NBA Basketball Picks: February 4th 2011
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Pick: Orlando Magic -5.5
It can be tough to get back up after a loss like the Magic endured to Miami last night, but they have no choice. They have lost 2 in a row and Boston is on deck. Washington checks in having lost 6 in a row, and all 6 of those defeats have come by at least 7 points. Unfortunately for the Wiz, there’s no chance Orlando will overlook them tonight. Orlando only defeated Washington by 1 point when the teams last faced off in November. The Magic are a much better team now, and that narrow win will have them very focused this evening. Orlando has been an extremely reliable road fave in this range. In fact, the Magic are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games as a road favorite of 5.0-10.5 points. Orlando has also taken care of business against weak competition. In the second half of the season the last two seasons, the Magic are 11-2 ATS when playing against bad teams (Win Pct. 25% to 40%), defeating these foes by an average score of 111.6 to 94.3. In addition, Washington is just 4-15 ATS in the second half of the season the last three seasons when playing at home against a team with a winning record. It is losing to these teams by an average score of 105.7 to 94.9. Take the Magic. -Jimmy Boyd

Pick: Denver Nuggets -10
Denver is a very strong 21-5 SU at home this year where they are scoring 110.7 points per game this year. Denver is 7-1 SU and 6-1 ATS at home vs Utah last 3 years. Jazz are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a SU loss. Jazz are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss. Jazz are 8-20-1 ATS in their last 29 games as a road underdog of 5.0-10.5. Jazz are 8-21-1 ATS in their last 30 games as an underdog of 5.0-10.5. Jazz are 5-16 ATS in their last 21 games overall. Jazz are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Western Conference. Jazz are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games playing on 1 days rest. Jazz are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. Jazz are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game. Jazz are 1-11 ATS in their last 12 games vs. a team with a winning SU record. Jazz are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 road games. Jazz are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog. Jazz are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as a road underdog. Jazz are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Nuggets are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games as a home favorite. Nuggets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. NBA Northwest. Nuggets are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games as a favorite. Nuggets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games. Nuggets are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a home favorite of 5.0-10.5. Nuggets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest. Nuggets are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 games as a favorite of 5.0-10.5. Nuggets are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall. Home team is 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings. Favorite is 29-11-3 ATS in the last 43 meetings. We’ll recommend a small play on Denver tonight! Thanks and good luck, Rocky Atkinson

Pick: Los Angeles Clippers +7.5
The Clippers are a different team than earlier in the season posting a 9-5 mark the last 14 times out. In the first game of a long road trip we expect Los Angeles to be at their best. They are off a non-competitive home loss to the Bulls and face Miami, Orlando and New York after tangling with the Hawks. The second half of the trip lets up big time but they have to be able to be competitive against the upper echelon of NBA squads on the road. Atlanta beat the Clippers by 9 earlier in LA but this young team has gained a great deal of confidence since that meeting. Off a double digit victory and with a slew of Eastern Conference opponents on deck we can’t see the Hawks being inspired tonight. They play tomorrow night in Washington so it’s likely the starter’s minutes will be limited against the Clippers. As bad as Washington has been on the road they are a credible force on their home court. While Atlanta has dominated this series on the scoreboard as of late they haven’t had any edge against the spread. We expect the Clippers to give the Hawks all they can handle tonight. -Bryan Leonard (Handicapperspicks.com)