Friday, November 20

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NBA

Houston (7-5 SU, 8-4 ATS) at Atlanta (10-2 SU, 11-1 ATS)

The high-flying Hawks, winners of six in a row SU and ATS, close out a four-game homestand with a visit from the Rockets at Philips Arena.

Atlanta has beaten New Orleans, Portland and Miami to start its current stint in front of the home fans, and crushed the Heat 105-90 as a 7-point favorite on Wednesday. Joe Johnson had 30 points while Al Horford and Josh Smith had 16 points apiece to pace the Hawks. Atlanta is a perfect 6-0 SU and ATS at home, averaging 111.7 points a game and shooting 47.7 percent from the floor.

Houston has alternated wins and losses in its last nine games (6-3 ATS), but went to Minnesota on Wednesday and beat the Timberwolves 97-84 as a six-point road favorite. Luis Scola led the way with 20 points and 16 rebounds while Trevor Ariza chipped in with 18 points.

The Rockets have won three of the last four in this series (4-0 ATS) and six of the last nine (7-2 ATS). The home team has taken nine of the last 10 meetings, including both games last season. Atlanta won 103-100 at home but failed as a 5-point chalk while Houston won the rematch in Texas, 92-84 as a five-point favorite.

The SU winner is 11-1 ATS in each team's 12 games this year.

Houston is just 1-5 ATS in its last six Friday games but it is otherwise on pointspread runs of 8-3 overall, 5-1 after one day off, 22-6 against Southeast Division teams and 5-1 as an underdog. Atlanta is on a plethora of positive ATS streaks, including 20-7-2 at home, 11-1-1 overall, 13-2-1 against Western Conference teams, 21-6-1 as a chalk and 21-7-1 after a spread-cover.

The Rockets have stayed below the posted total in four of their last five overall, but they've topped the total in four of five on Friday and five of six as an underdog. The Hawks are on "over" streaks of 7-1 overall, 4-0 at home, 16-5 as a favorite and 4-0 as a home chalk. Finally, in this rivalry, the "under" is 11-5 in the last 16 meetings and 6-2 in the last eight matchups in Atlanta.

ATS ADVANTAGE: ATLANTA

Orlando (9-3 SU, 7-5 ATS) at Boston (9-3 SU, 5-7 ATS)

The Magic head to TD Banknorth Garden in Boston looking for their fourth straight win as they take on the Celtics in a battle of Eastern Conference heavyweights.

The Magic have won three straight (2-1 ATS), all at home, including Wednesday's 108-94 win over the Thunder, cashing as 12-point favorites. Vince Carter had 18 points while Rashard Lewis finished just shy of a triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

Boston is just 3-3 in its last six games and 1-6 ATS in its last seven overall. The Celtics got double-digit scoring from all five starters on Wednesday, beating Golden State 109-95 but coming up just short as a 16-point home favorite.

These teams had a seven-game war in the Eastern Conference semifinals back in May with Orlando prevailing (4-3 SU and ATS) 101-82 in Game 7 back in Boston, cashing in as a 2 -point underdog. The Magic won two of the four games in Boston, taking Games 1 and 7 both SU and ATS, but they're still just 5-14 ATS in the last 19 visits to Beantown. The home team is 25-12 ATS in the last 37 series clashes (playoffs included).

Orlando is just 1-5 ATS in its last six after a straight-up win, but it is on positive ATS streaks of 38-17-1 as an underdog, 12-5 against Eastern Conference teams, 6-0 against the Atlantic Division and 4-1 on Friday. The Celtics are on ATS slides of 1-6 overall (all as a favorite), 1-4 at home, 1-4 after a non-cover and 2-5 at home against teams with winning road records.

The Magic are on "under" streaks of 6-1 on the road and 6-2 against Atlantic Division squads. Boston is on several "under" streaks, including 8-3 against the Eastern Conference, 11-5 overall, and 6-0 against Southeast Division teams, but the "over" is 28-13-1 in the Celtics' last 42 road games. Finally, the last four playoff games between these teams back in the spring stayed low, and the under is also 4-1 in the Magic's last five trips to Beantown.

ATS ADVANTAGE: ORLANDO

Al DeMarco, General Manager of ATS Edge.com, is a 25-year veteran of the handicapping industry who is also the featured handicapping analyst on Comcast Sports TV in New York and Chicago and a regular contributor on Fox Sports, MSNBC and The Sporting News. Read his Daily Blog for his gambling insight, tips and observations at ATSedge.com