Phoenix At Dallas
When: 7:30 PM ET, Sunday, January 27, 2013
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Arizona (Phoenix), Fox Sports Southwest (Dallas)
Prediction: Mavericks 98, Suns 92

Oddsmakers currently have the Mavericks listed as 6-point favorites versus the Suns, while the game’s total is sitting at 202½.

Forward Michael Beasley scored a season-high 25 points in the loss to the Spurs and has played well in two of three games since Hunter took over. Beasley started the first 20 games of the season but his production slipped and Gentry decreased his minutes. Beasley had 19 points in Hunter’s debut and was splendid by hitting 11 of 16 shots against San Antonio. Guard Jared Dudley also had a superb shooting night by going 10-of-12 en route to 23 points. Dudley had tallied just 11 points over the previous two games.

Last time out for Phoenix, they were a 108-99 loser as they battled the Spurs on the road. The Suns earned a push in the match as a 9-point underdog, while 207 combined points moved the game OVER for totals bettors.

Team record: 15-29 SU, 18-24-2 ATS
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of last 5 games when playing on the road against Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of last 7 games when playing Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of last 8 games
is 4-14 SU in its last 18 games
When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing LA Lakers are 4-6
After playing San Antonio are 5-5
After a loss are 3-7

Guard Roddy Beaubois reached double digits for only the second time all season when he scored a season-high 19 points in the loss to San Antonio. Beaubois’ only other double-figure outing came when he scored 11 points in the season-opening victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. “Just trying to be more aggressive because I haven’t been myself lately,” said Beaubois, averaging just 3.5 points this season after scoring 8.9 per game last season. Coach Rick Carlisle was highly impressed with the performance. “He was terrific,” Carlisle said. “To me, it’s not the points, it’s the energy, the enthusiasm and the disposition and it’s up to him. If he plays like this, he’s got a chance to secure the backup (point guard) position and he’ll challenge for the starting position.”

The Mavericks were a 113-107 loser in their most recent outing at home against the Spurs. They failed to cover the 2-point spread as favorites, while the total score (220) made winners of OVER bettors.

Team record: 18-25 SU, 23-20 ATS
is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Phoenix
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of last 5 games when playing at home against Phoenix
is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games when playing Phoenix
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of last 7 games when playing Phoenix
When playing on Sunday are 8-2
Before playing Portland are 8-2
After playing San Antonio are 7-3
After a loss are 3-7

The post Phoenix Suns vs. Dallas Mavericks Free Betting Pick & Matchup appeared first on IdealCapper.

Toronto At Miami
When: 7:30 PM ET, Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Where: American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN2 (Toronto), Sun Sports (Miami)
Prediction: Heat 108, Raptors 96.

Oddsmakers currently have the Heat listed as 11½-point favorites versus the Raptors, while the game’s total is sitting at 197.

Toronto is finally getting some production from Landry Fields. The veteran small forward, signed to a lucrative multi-year deal as a free agent in the offseason, struggled to open the season before suffering a major elbow injury that knocked him out of action for a month and a half. He was inserted back into the starting lineup seven games ago and has been a solid contributor, averaging 7.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals. He had his best performance in a Toronto uniform against Los Angeles, scoring 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting while adding 10 rebounds and four steals.

Toronto won its last outing, a 108-103 result against the Lakers on January 20. The Raptors covered in that game as a 4.5-point underdog, while the 211 combined points took the game OVER the total.

Team record: 15-26 SU, 21-19-1 ATS
The total has gone OVER in 5 of last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 5 games when playing Miami
is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Miami
When playing on Wednesday are 5-5
Before playing Orlando are 4-6
After playing LA Lakers are 2-8
After a win are 7-3

Being the defending NBA champions has undoubtedly taken its toll on the Heat, making their five-day layoff akin to having an early All-Star break. For players like Dwyane Wade and LeBron James – perennial participants in the midseason showcase – the extra days of rest in January are even more critical. “It was good for our team,” Wade, who will take part in his ninth All-Star Game next month, told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “We kind of get a rest. We are one of the oldest teams in the league. Guys mentally and physically kind of get away from the grind and get back into it.”

Miami won its last outing, a 99-90 result against the Lakers on January 17. The Heat covered in that game as a 2.5-point underdog, while the 189 combined points took the game UNDER the total.

Team record: 26-12 SU, 19-19 ATS
Current streak: won 2 straight games.

is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Toronto
is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of last 9 games at home
is 20-3 SU in its last 23 games at home

When playing on Wednesday are 8-2
Before playing Detroit are 8-2
After playing LA Lakers are 9-1
After a win are 6-4

The post Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat NBA Betting Pick & Matchup appeared first on IdealCapper.

These teams will get well acquainted with four meetings over the next five weeks, beginning with Sunday’s matchup in Dallas.

Who: Vacouver Canucks vs. Dallas Stars
When: 3:00 PM ET, February 26, 2012
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Oddsmakers currently have the Stars listed as 225-moneyline favorites versus the Canucks, while the game’s total is sitting at 5.

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Vancouver (40-16-6) has won six straight over Dallas (32-26-4) heading into the season series opener. The Sedin brothers have combined for 23 points in that span, and Henrik has amassed 19 during a 10-game streak against the Stars while Daniel has 14 in an eight-game run.

The clubs also play three times in March, and more matchups could come in the first round of the playoffs considering they’re at opposite ends of the West playoff picture. Vancouver is in a tight chase with Detroit for the top spot and Dallas is part of a close race for eighth place.

The Canucks are 12-1-3 in their last 16, including 3-1-0 to start this six-game trip. The Stars, meanwhile, are seeking their first four-game win streak since Oct. 29-Nov. 8.

Kari Lehtonen is 1-5-0 with a 4.16 goals-against average in six career starts against Vancouver but has played well lately. He’s allowed one goal over his last two starts and won both, making 28 saves in Friday’s 4-1 home victory over Minnesota.

“We’ve been talking about that for a month now, wanting to get some wins put together and now we’re finally doing it,” said Lehtonen, 3-1-1 with a 1.59 GAA in his past five games. “It’s just an interesting time of the year, with every game so important and we’re having fun, so hopefully, we can keep it going.”

The Stars will play again without All-Star winger Jamie Benn, who has missed the last five games with a leg injury. Loui Eriksson has five points in that span to pass Benn for the team lead with 53.

“It’s always good to have everyone going and I thought every line has been playing really well the last couple of games here, so we just have to keep going,” Eriksson said after scoring his 20th goal Friday.

Vancouver no doubt welcomed Saturday as an off day after grueling wins the previous two nights. After ending Detroit’s NHL-record 23-game home win streak with a 4-3 shootout victory Thursday, the Canucks were outshot 31-16 in Friday’s 2-1 road victory over a New Jersey team which had won nine of 11.

“This was five games in seven nights, and it was not easy to say the least,” coach Alain Vigneault said. “We have nothing left in the tank, and we left it all on the ice.”

Vancouver continues to own one of the league’s best power plays at 21.6 percent, although the unit is 4 for 37 over the last 15 games. The Canucks are 9 for 22 in the six-game streak over the Stars.

Vigneault used Roberto Luongo in goal Thursday and Cory Schneider on Friday.

Luongo has won his last eight starts versus the Stars and is 13-4-2 with a 2.00 GAA lifetime against them. Schneider is 2-1-0 with a 1.35 GAA in three starts versus Dallas.

Luongo is 8-1-3 in his last 12 overall with eight of those games going to shootouts — he’s won five. Schneider has won a career-high seven consecutive starts, including six on the road.

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