2-1 Tuesday, 94-88-1 overall.
Heat (+5) @ Jazz (216)
Pick: Jazz -5
We’ve mentioned several times recently that Miami is much better at home than on the road. We’ll see how much a veteran presence like Andre Iguodala helps the Heat find ways to win more games away from American Airlines Arena, but the current road trip for the Heat hasn’t been so kind to them as the Heat are 1-3 ATS on the trip so far. Miami wraps up the five-game trip tonight in Salt Lake City and while Erik Spoelstra almost always gets the most out of his teams on a nightly basis, this certainly has the makings of a spot where the Heat tap out and head into the All-Star break early. Utah on the other hand just won games in Texas against the Rockets and Mavericks. Now the Jazz get to play a contender in the Eastern Conference at home. Why wouldn’t they keep the momentum rolling?
Lakers (-2.5) @ Nuggets (220)
Pick: Nuggets +2.5
Teams with Denver’s roster construction are ones I like to bet on in the NBA regular season against fellow contenders. While Nikola Jokic is very talented, he’s certainly not viewed in the same light as superstars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis for the Lakers. The Nuggets are the type of contender that needs everyone going to win a championship and truly must play a team-first brand of basketball. Often times those teams have a little more to prove against the superstar-drive teams in the regular season. Superstar-driven teams now might opt to sit their best players some nights anyway knowing the spring is when things matter most. We’ll see if Anthony Davis goes tonight for the Lakers as the Kentucky product is listed as a game time decision with a finger injury. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Los Angeles use some extra caution with the break on the horizon. Denver is usually an excellent home team and this is just the third time all season the Nuggets are getting points in the Mile High City. We’ll gladly take those points.