NBA News and Notes: Wednesday Dec. 26th

Heat-Sixers 

Miami has lost six in a row straight up to the Eastern Conference, including a loss yesterday to the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers.

Philadelphia won 3-of-4 last season in the series including two straight. The 76ers have lost two in a row straight up at home.

Knicks-Magic

“It appears that Orlando is returning to their mean,” says handicapper Mike Godsey of GodsTips.com. After a stunning 16-4 straight up start, the Magic have lost 7-of-9. They’ve lost four in a row at home and incredibly the road team is 19-10 in their contests.

New York has failed in 8-of-10 and they are a rancid 1-10 on the road. Head coach Isiah Thomas has promised lineup changes.

Pistons-Nets

Detroit is 12-2 their last 14 games. Allowing just 89.7 points per game, Detroit has held their last 12 foes to less than 50 percent shooting.

Detroit is 5-1 inside the conference in road games and 9-5 away from home overall. Conversely, the Nets are just 6-10 at home.

Bulls-Spurs

Chicago will be playing their first game since head coach Scott Skiles was fired following a 9-16 start. Built on defense, Chicago is last in the league in points per game and second-to-last in shooting percentage.

The Spurs are a dominant 14-3 in the series including 7-1 in the Alamo City.

Mavericks-Jazz

Dallas has won five in a row following a slow start. Utah has lost 9-of-11 and is coming off a 1-3 road trip. Both teams have played much better on their own court. Dallas is 13-4 to the Western Conference, though just 3-3 on the road. The Jazz are 9-2 at home.   

Timberwolves-Warriors

Minnesota is a horrid 4-22 including 1-7 recently. They’ve lost eight straight road games.

Pacers-Hawks

Break up Atlanta as the Hawks have won four straight. Indiana has won 4-of-5. Indiana is also 7-3 their last 10 on the highway.

Wizards-Bobcats

Washington will get leading scorer Caron Butler back in the line-up as he missed Saturday’s loss to the Pacers. Gamblers who bet quarter odds will want to note Washington’s late game struggles.

Missing Gilbert Arenas and Antonio Daniels, the Wizards have faltered in fourth quarters recently.

Bucks-Nuggets

Denver has won 3-of-4 at home to improve to 11-4 in the thin Colorado air.

Celtics-Kings

Forensic handicapping founder Stevie Vincent notes that this is Boston’s first cross country trip this season. They now head to Sacramento looking for their first win in 12 trips there.

The Celtics are allowing just 82.8 points per game in their last eight.

For the point-spread winners on tonight’s card, visit OffshoreInsiders.com