Monday Night NBA

By Divol

Miami Heat v Cleveland Cavaliers



26th January 00:35 GMT

Both teams come in good form to this game. Cleveland have won six of their last seven games while Heat have won five of their last seven games, but still, I do think that Heat are in better form and you can see it through ATS. Cleveland covered only two of those seven games while Heat did it in five of the those seven games. Heat need this win right now. They are only 1 game ahead of Toronto who are in 6th place in the East and only 2.5 games ahead of the 8th place in the East (Bulls) so if they want to avoid playing the East “big three”, they need to get home wins, especially before heading out to a three games road trip.

Cleveland are in need of a win as well, since Lakers have given them a chance for the first place in the league with last night’s loss, but they short on two guards (if West is out) and it's big especially playing Wade, that is known for drawing fouls of his opponents. Cleveland almost lost to Thunder this week and Lakers as well and only luck plus a superb finish of the game by LeBron allowed them to keep the win. I believe we will see some luck turn now.



Pick: Heat to win, 1.94 odds - 2.5 units play - Pinnacle


Memphis Grizzlies v Orlando Magic



26th January 01:05 GMT

Just as Charlotte's game, I think it's a good chance to bring back to earth another black horse of this season so far. Memphis are good, but not that good to make 13 - 4 run SU and ATS as well. Orlando starts to get back to themselves with three straight wins and that fourth one is exactly what they need before playing two important home games against revenge seeking Boston and Atlanta.

I think that Lewis is a huge miss match for Grizzlies. Gasol and Zach are just too big and slow to guard him, not to mention Thabeet and if they go with their better suited PF's that can guard Lewis, they lose one of their best offensive weapons and duo's in the league.

Two wins against black horses isn't easy to do, but I will go with Magic once again, since I do feel it's their time.



Pick: Magic to win, 1.91 - 3.5 units play - Betsafe


Houston Rockets v Atlanta Hawks



26th January 01:35 GMT

Rockets off a tough loss to the Bulls, despite making a nice comeback in the final minutes. Rockets have a long home stretch right now, but they wouldn't want to start it with 0 - 2, especially since they got the Nuggets up next.

Houston also got a great record on the Hawks, winning the last five games between them ATS and 8 of their last 10 overall. The fact that Hawks are only 10 - 9 on the road, while Rockets are 13 - 6 at home and the fact that Hawks play Spurs on the road, Boston at home and Magic on the road, so while they need this win, since they can really go on a bad streak here, can't help but feel that Hawks are much more interested battling the big boys now, since they still feel that people don't give them enough credit and they're right.



Pick: Rockets to win, 1.95 - 4 units play - Pinnacle