The Kings have been so good this year. They’ve played way beyond expectations and then some. They have 45 points, which is one point behind the league leader, Washington. However, they’ve played 35 games thus far, which is the most of any team in the NHL. They’re also losing some key bodies, as Wayne Simmonds is out and last night Jarret Stoll left the game and his return tonight is highly unlikely. This is also the Kings third game in four days after that 3-1 loss in Vancouver last night. They were extremely flat yesterday and could be running strictly on fumes tonight and without two of its most important players, Stoll and Simmonds, this assignment becomes even more difficult. The Oilers return home from a five-game trip and that’s usually not the best time to jump on board. Thing is, they won all five games on that trip, they’ve been off since Friday and the packed house and the noise that goes with it has to keep them energized. So, while the Kings are losing bodies and are dead tired the Oilers are rested and getting some back, as another good Oiler Denis Grebeshkov, makes his return tonight after being out since Nov 11. Play: Edmonton -˝ +1.26 (Risking 2 units).
The Knicks are on a four-game winning streak and it’s no fluke. They’re getting better and more confident with each passing week and for the first time since Isiah Thomas ruined them they have some direction. In the Knicks last game in New Orleans they trailed by nine points and came back and once they got the lead down the stretch they buried the Hornets in very impressive fashion. That is a great sign of a team coming together and what’s most impressive about the Knicks is that they battle hard for 48 minutes every game. They started off the win streak by going into Atlanta and beating a highly quality team and followed that up with wins over New Jersey and Portland. The Knicks also have a recent win over the Suns by 27 points. The Bobcats are really not capable of blowing out anyone and they’re just so much more appealing taking back points than they are laying them. Every game you can count on the Bobcats going on a prolonged scoring drought and that’s one of the reasons they’re a very risky favorite. Hell, they were the first team to lose to the Nets and that’s significant. Fact is, they can lose to anyone and a well-rested Knicks team playing with a ton of confidence can absolutely come in here and leave with a win. Play: NY Knicks +5 (Risking 2.06 units to win 2).
PHOENIX –2 over San Antonio
The Suns remain undefeated at home and that alone makes them worthy of a look here. We get a decent lay on them here because they’re laboring a bit with just two wins in its last seven games. However, five of those games were on the road and the two home games were both wins including one over Denver. They had a tough road schedule, losing in New York, Cleveland, Lakers, Dallas and Denver. The latter four are four of the leagues best. Steve Nash is so good it’s sick and when you have him on your side you always have a great chance to win. Anyway, the Spurs are warming up a bit with three straight wins. However, the three wins came against the Clip Joint, Charlotte and Sacramento and all I can say to that is big deal. They lost its previous three games to Utah, Denver and Boston and it looks like the Spurs can beat up on weaklings but can’t so much against the stronger clubs. The Spurs have just two road wins in seven tries, one over the aforementioned Clippers and one in Houston. Its five road losses were to Chicago, Utah twice, Portland and Dallas. In fact, of the Spurs 12 total wins, just two of them have come against teams over .500 and one of those teams, the Rockets, is barely above .500. The other one was over Dallas over a month ago. So, yeah, the Spurs have won three in a row and they’re 12-9 on the year. However, they have perhaps one good win on the year and after this one, they’ll likely still have one good win on the year. Spurs getting way too much credit in this one. Play: Phoenix –2 (Risking 2.06 units to win 2).
Sports Wagers 12/15
Reply With Quote