Mike Bets #440

Happy Tuesday. We’re back in business. Yesterday was a huge day. The CBB record was 2-0 with two three-unit plays putting us up six units on the night. The NBA record was 6-2. It doesn’t get a whole lot better than that. Let’s use this momentum tonight. But first, a look at last night’s action…

NBA

• Jarrett Allen, Donovan Mitchell, and Darius Garland all topped 20 points, and the Cavs went into Washington and blew out the Wizards. This was a big one for Cleveland; they’re now back into the 4 seed after Brooklyn’s loss. That 4/5 seeding battle matters. The winner gets home court in the first round. The Cavs have a half game lead there for now. They’re only two games behind the Sixers too. This makes three straight losses for the Wizards, and it’s been some ugly stuff with the two blown leads and now this home blowout. They’re still tied for the 10 seed with the Raptors and Pacers, but those three have fallen two games back of the Bulls and the 9 seed. Washington gets Charlotte and Indiana at home for their next two. Winning both would be ideal.

• Jayson Tatum dropped 34, and the Celtics, down Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, eventually got rolling and ran past the Pistons in Detroit. The win helps them keep a one game edge over the Bucks at the top of the East. For Detroit, the loss pushes them a full game back of the Hornets. The Rockets are half a game back of the Pistons, who are half a game back of the Spurs, who are half a game back of the Hornets, who are currently on the outside looking in at the bottom three and equal lottery odds. It’s shaping up to be a tight race down the stretch.

• Cam Thomas dropped 47 for his second straight 40-point game, but it wasn’t enough to get past the Clippers. Los Angeles is 10-5 in their last fifteen and 8-2 in their last ten. They continue to hold sole possession of the West 4 seed by a game, and they’re just a game back of the Kings and the 3 seed. Brooklyn falls below Cleveland with the loss, as we mentioned. They still have a three and a half game edge on the Heat and the 6 seed. KD figures to be back soon, and DFS and Spencer Dinwiddie will be tossed into the lineup soon too, maybe as soon as tonight. The Nets are doing just fine.

• The Bulls blew out the Spurs in San Antonio to push their lead over the 10 seed to two games. The Spurs will stay in the bottom three with the loss. This was their ninth in a row. It was the third win in a row for a Bulls team that’s now won seven of ten. There’s plenty of season left, but Chicago has themselves in a good position to make the play-in at the moment. Whether that’s the best outcome for the future of the franchise is debatable, but the Bulls appear content with chasing the play-in and holding onto their guys. I never have an issue with trying to win games.

• Keegan Murray dropped a career-high 30 points, and the Kings blew out the Rockets in Houston. Sacramento will hold onto that 3 seed for another night with the win, and they’re within two games of the Grizzlies and the 2 seed. The Rockets will keep hold of the worst record in the league.

• Josh Green and Jaden Hardy both dropped 29, and the Mavs, down Luka and depleted from their weekend trade while they await Kyrie’s debut, won in Utah. That’s a really impressive win, and they’re tied with the Suns for the 5 seed. This will feel like a missed opportunity for the Jazz, but they still have their hold on the 10 seed for at least another day after the Blazers lost too.

• Portland was blown out at home by the Bucks, who have now won eight straight to keep the pressure on the Celtics at the top of the East. Brook Lopez led the way with 27. Portland remains half a game back of the Jazz.

• The Warriors dropped 141 points and rolled past the Thunder. Klay hit twelve threes on the way to 42 points, and Jordan Poole dropped 21 and 12. The Warriors are tied with the Timberwolves for the 7 seed. They managed to stay adrift last time Curry went out. We’ll see if they can do it again. This was a good start. The Thunder remain the 12 seed, where they sit one game back of the Jazz.

CBB

• Miami stayed undefeated at home after blowing out Duke. They’re just half a game back of Clemson at the top of the ACC. I’m all-in on the Canes. Duke falls to 2-5 on the road. They’re more than fine in terms of getting a tourney bid, but there are plenty of questions to ask about what they can actually do once they get there.

• Kansas beat Texas to tighten up the Big 12 title race. The Jayhawks needed this one, and they got it. The Big 12 is an absolute gauntlet.

TODAY’S PLAYS

NBA record: 132-116-4 ATS, 24-39 ML, 57-46-1 O/U, 1-7 parlay, 0-1 props, -11.94 units

• Knicks -1

Give me the Knicks. They’re very good on the road, and they can tie the Heat for the 6 seed with a win here.

• Suns -6

Devin Booker is back tonight for a Suns team playing pretty well. The Nets are still down KD and sorting through the aftermath of a Kyrie trade, and they played shorthanded last night too. This is a good spot for Phoenix.

• Suns Nets O225

In Booker’s return, I think there’s enough scoring to get this one over the hump.

• Bulls +8.5

This is an anti-Grizzlies bet.

• Timberwolves +9

The Timberwolves have been playing well. This is a lot of points, even in Denver.

• Thunder Lakers O239

Both teams score and score a lot.

• Thunder +6.5

This just seems like a lot of points. I think the Thunder bounce back from last night’s stinker.

CBB record: 127-117-4 ATS, 23-43 ML, 4-3 O/U, 8-12 parlay, -13.4 units

• Marquette ML (+163)

I’m all-in on Marquette. UConn loses again tonight.

• Akron -2

Akron has been awesome in MAC play. I like them at home in this one.

• VCU -4

Dayton has been very underwhelming lately. I like VCU to take this one.

• Texas A&M -3

I’m a big believer in the Aggies. They need a few more wins, and they get a big one tonight.

• Georgia -1.5

Ole Miss is the worst team in the SEC. Georgia takes this one.

• Kentucky -5.5

I’m all the way out on Arkansas. I don’t think they’re any good. Kentucky has been solid lately.

• NC State +7

This is a lot of points for a Virginia team that doesn’t really blow teams out. I like NC State a lot.

• Maryland +3.5

Maryland is starting to find their groove again.

• Kansas State -4.5

I love Kansas State. TCU will likely be without Mike Miles again.

• New Mexico -4.5

The Lobos are 14-1 at home, and they pick up another big win here.