It sure would be nice if the basketball gods told you when your luck was going to turn. After a few weeks of horror followed by a few weeks of excellence, I went 1-4 last night following 1-3 the night before. But it's not the record as much as how the losses went down (see Losers below).
Four games, four picks.
All wagers and returns based on $10. Please check game time lineups before wagering.
Warriors at HORNETS 8:05 pm EST, Suns at GRIZZLIES 9:05 pm, Kings at BULLS 9:05 pm, Wizards at TRAIL BLAZERS 10:05 pm
3-pointers: Cody Zeller (Hornets) double-double +330 (returns $43.00) This looks like a reasonable longshot play. Zeller is coming off a double-double and has been resting for a week. The Warriors played a tough one last night in Orlando, may be a little leg-weary and have minimal size to begin with.
2-pointers: Bulls ML over Kings +105 (returns $20.50) This seems like a sucker bet so what am I missing? Both teams have the same record. The Bulls have been playing better of late, the Kings, to state the obvious, have not. The Kings are starting a road trip. The Bulls have Wendell Carter Jr. back, the Kings have Harrison Barnes and Richaun Holmes still questionable. If Barnes and Holmes play, you may want to reconsider.
Free throws: Rui Hachimura (Wizards) over 20.5 points, rebounds, assists -110 (returns $19.10) This is essentially Hachimura's average and the Blazers are not known for their interior defense. When these teams played Feb. 2, Hachimura went for 24-5-1.
Suns -4 over Grizzlies -112 (returns $19.00) The Grizzlies have had the Suns' number recently and I think they get a little payback tonight. The Grizz have been playing better recently also, but have been beating up on teams with losing records. It's a tough as for a team on a road back-to-back, but . . .
Steals: None
Winners:
Free throws: Kelly Oubre, Jr. (Warriors) over 25.5 points, rebounds, assists -110 (returns $19.10) Oubre saved my night going 26-7-1 for a 34 PRA.
Losers:
2-pointers: Devin Booker (Suns) over 26.5 points +100 (returns $20.00) Booker had over 20 points heading into the 4th and finished with 23. Ack.
Free throws: Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves) over 24.5 points, rebounds, assists -110 (returns $19.10) Edwards finished 7-3-4 for a 14 PRA. I had a sense it wasn't his (or my night) when he started 0-10 from the field, including a missed dunk and a missed technical free throw. Ack.
Zion Williamson (Pelicans) over 26.5 points -110 (returns $19.10) See Devin Booker, rinse, repeat. Williamson went 8-11 from two while his teammates went 11-33 from three. Ack.
Karl Anthony-Towns (Timberwolves) over 36.5 points, rebounds, assists -104 (returns $19.70) Towns finished with 19-13-4 for a 36 PRA. he scored easily inside with 3:40 to go put the T-wolves up 81-75 and the team never got him the ball inside again. They lost 86-81. Ack.
Canceled:
0
$50 wagered (1-4), $19.10 returned.
Day 55: -$30.90
Total: +$46.35 (121-139 off 260 $10 wagers)