Grizzlies take road winning streak to Boston

Basketball Betting Lines

03/10/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Memphis Grizzlies will attempt to keep the longest road winning streak in franchise history intact when they visit a place they've historically struggled over the years, Boston's TD Garden, for tonight's matchup with the Atlantic Division-leading Celtics.

Memphis heads to Beantown having prevailed in each of its last six outings as the visitor, with the team's last road loss coming at Minnesota on February 6. That success has kept the surprising Grizzlies in the Western Conference playoff race, where the club currently trails Portland by four games for the eighth and final postseason seed.

The Grizzlies haven't been nearly as successful in their own building as of late, but did manage to halt a string of eight straight defeats at FedExForum with Monday's 107-101 triumph over New Jersey. Rudy Gay and Mike Conley each scored 21 points for Memphis, with Gay coming down with 10 rebounds on the evening.

Marc Gasol also recorded a double-double as the Grizzlies posted their third win in their last four overall games, finishing with 19 points and 13 boards to help offset the absence of Zach Randolph, Memphis' leading scorer and rebounder this season.

Randolph, who's averaging 20.8 points and 11.8 rebounds in 2009-10, sat out the contest with a stiff back but is expected to play this evening.

The Grizzlies could use the services of the talented forward as they try to halt a six-game losing streak in this series. Memphis has not defeated the Celtics since a 98-96 decision at the Garden on December 6, 2006 and has fallen in four of its last five trips to Boston, where the team is 5-8 all- time.

The Celtics had won four in a row prior to last night's narrow loss at resurgent Milwaukee, which rallied late in the fourth quarter to come through with an 86-84 victory.

Boston had taken a 77-72 midway through the final period on a three-point play from Rajon Rondo, but the Bucks answered with a 14-2 run to take a seven-point lead with under three minutes to go.

A Kevin Garnett jump hook with 53.2 seconds left pulled the Celtics within 86-84, and Boston had a final chance to tie or win after Milwaukee's Brandon Jennings missed a three-point shot in the final moments. Paul Pierce's jumper from the right wing would clank off the rim as time expired, however.

"[The Bucks] just made big plays down the stretch and we didn't," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "I thought all the 50-50 plays in the game was going to be the difference in the game -- loose ball, offensive rebounds. I thought they won that battle."

Rondo ended with 20 points and six assists while Kevin Garnett compiled 14 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. Ray Allen, coming off a 25-point performance in Sunday's 86-83 home win over Washington, was limited to a mere three points on 0-of-3 shooting for the Celtics.

Pierce, Boston's leading scorer at 17.6 points per game, struggled as well. The All-Star forward finished with 12 points, but made just 3-of-13 shots from the field.

Despite Tuesday's loss, the Celtics own a comfortable eight-game lead over Toronto for first place in the Atlantic Division and are 2 1/2 back of Orlando for the Eastern Conference's No. 2 playoff seed.

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Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends

We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS.  Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned.  For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go.  As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190).  Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”.   By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet.  For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction.  On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later.  Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick.  Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com

New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors

Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
 New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season. 
 
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls

Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times. 
 
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons

Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season. 
 
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers

In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS. 
 
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”.  With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit.  Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.

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