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00:00We are also fully back in the NBA after a standalone game last night, our first and in the all-star break, nine games of association action on this Thursday, DRS, including 18 teams.
00:14Will Luka Doncic and LeBron play tonight in Portland and plenty other questions around the NBA, some college basketball to end it, a ton of fun here on the early line.
00:25Absolutely.
00:26Hour number three.
00:27And by the way, we got a little bit out of the scope here with Major League Baseball.
00:30Understand this.
00:31We don't need 30 spring training games and 162 game schedule.
00:34Can we speed this up?
00:35Can we make pitchers actually arrive in December, get stretched out so we can hit the ground running right off the bat and not say, oh, I'll see you sometime in May and I can't go more than four innings here.
00:44Stop the nonsense.
00:45But also baseball.
00:46You need to correct this problem and do it fast.
00:48Let's equate this, Ben, to the NFL compared to Major League Baseball.
00:52Next year, opening night on a Thursday.
00:54Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, let's call it there.
00:56Ooh, what a great game it was.
00:58Let's just say the Eagles win 27-24.
01:00Then the Eagles go back and play two preseason games before their first regular season game with the rest of the league.
01:05Why do we do this in baseball?
01:06I don't – Major League Baseball opening day is a special day for everybody to compete at the same time with your team here.
01:13We open the season overseas and then stop the season, and then that team goes back to spring training before they play their next regular season game.
01:21I can't stand that.
01:22It makes no sense, and it ruins the thought of opening day.
01:25All about international branding, I guess, DRS, and with so many Japanese superstars on both of those rosters, that's why they do it.
01:35Not just Shohei Otani, Yoshi Yamamoto, and now Roki Sasaki for L.A., but Shota Iminaga.
01:40But we can't do it opening day?
01:42Like we can't just have that series opening weekend?
01:45What's the point?
01:46You're right.
01:47I don't know.
01:48You're commissioner on the right side.
01:51We're not super far from MLB's offices here in Manhattan.
01:55If you want to come in for the day, I can probably get you in.
01:57Exactly.
01:58I mean, I will whip this sport in the shade.
02:00By the way, Rob Manfred, by far, if we're talking about the rankings on commissioners here, he'd be the toughest one to topple.
02:05The man has been absolutely gold the past five years.
02:08So when you talk about the Mount Rushmore of great commissioners, Manfred, number one all time, not even close.
02:14That's a joke, right?
02:16No.
02:18Every single decision he's made in the rules market in the past five years, absolutely grand slam, quadruple home runs.
02:26How so?
02:28Pitch clock, DH, shift.
02:30I mean, legendary moves in the market.
02:34By far the best commissioner in professional sports.
02:36Not even close.
02:37In terms of game play, okay, some of those updates.
02:41We've never seen better changes ever.
02:43Never in any sport from any commissioner here.
02:46Every one was a home run.
02:48I feel like you might be standing alone and thinking that Rob Manfred is the best commissioner even currently, let alone in the history of sports.
02:55Like, what do we not like about it?
02:57Oh, we wanted the shift so nobody can get a base hit.
02:59Oh, we love pitchers striking out.
03:01Oh, we love sitting around for nine hours in the ballpark because pitchers pitch once every five minutes.
03:06Like, he's made legendary changes that you can't even argue with.
03:09Only imbeciles out here that are like, man, I miss the old game when pitchers would walk around the mound for 30 minutes here.
03:15Like, actually people can play like, I used to like to go to the ballpark and drink seven beers.
03:19Now I can only drink three because the game's faster and more entertaining.
03:22Idiots.
03:23You can still drink seven if you drink fast enough.
03:26I do like that for you, DRS.
03:29He's got some big picture questions, though, to answer when that new collective bargaining agreement comes up to try to stop what many feel is the unfair nature now that the Dodgers have exposed in Major League Baseball.
03:42All right, let's get to the NBA because we are fully back around the association now after the all-star break.
03:48And as we have shared, DRS, countless times here on the early line in the last few days and few weeks, it's not the second half of the season.
03:56It's the stretch run of the regular season.
03:59Many teams around the NBA, 53, 54, 55, 56, even 57 games already played out of 82 in the regular season.
04:10These are the most significant games of the year to crystallize your playoff position.
04:14Play in tournament spot, playoff spot right away, trying to get into either.
04:20And, of course, your seed line to make that deep playoff run.
04:24So let's talk about the best of the best in the race for the Larry O'Brien trophy.
04:29Who's going to win this year's championship?
04:31What's the best bet?
04:33That was the question for all of you and fade the public.
04:43Which team is the best bet to win the NBA championship at SportsGrid on Twitter?
04:48That was the question. The Celtics, the reigning champs and the short favorites all year at plus 175.
04:54But the gap used to be a lot wider for Boston in front of everybody else around the NBA.
05:00Now the Oklahoma City Thunder matching the Cavaliers with that best record in the NBA in the best record by far out west.
05:07Not all that far behind two to one price for OKC.
05:11As I mentioned, the Thunder 44 and 10.
05:13Same mark for the Cavs 44 and 10 as well.
05:16But the third best price to win the NBA championship at plus 850.
05:22Or we asked for another team in there and asked for a reply.
05:28Donny, as the odds makers have it, which is not overly shocking.
05:32It's a pretty tight race between the Celtics and the Thunder and both of those teams well in front of everybody else.
05:3838% of the votes or that for Boston.
05:4133% for OKC.
05:44Which way did you vote in this fade the public poll?
05:46I voted for the Cavaliers plus 850.
05:48Just price appropriate.
05:49That's all. Plus 175 with the Celtics, the best team over in the NBA.
05:52They probably are, but I'm not paying a plus 175 price.
05:55It's not enough return on my investment.
05:57You take a look at the Thunder.
05:58I do think are the best team out there on the West.
06:00No question about it.
06:01But they don't have the pedigree of making multiple runs to, you know, to say Western Conference Finals, NBA Finals and winning NBA championship.
06:08So you're still going to have to get over the hump.
06:10Now, you might say, well, Donny, what do you mean Cavaliers?
06:12They're not known for making multiple runs outside of LeBron James here to make the Eastern Conference Finals and win NBA championships.
06:18But to me, it just looks good.
06:20Plus 850, the number one seed here.
06:22It's going to have to go through their building in the East Conference.
06:25So you do take a look at the Celtics and say maybe that's the advantage they need to get into the finals and play a team in the Thunder who, again, aren't used to being in the NBA finals, let alone winning championships here.
06:35Price appropriate.
06:36If it was all plus 100, of course, my chain, my stance is different.
06:40Cavs plus 850 for me.
06:42DRS, I think it's a great point, right?
06:44Because the fate of the public poll question was not who is going to win the NBA championship.
06:48What is the best bet for the NBA championship odds?
06:52I still believe that one of the two, Boston or OKC, will play in the NBA finals.
06:58Frankly, I think both of them will play each other.
07:00I think that is going to be more likely than not our NBA finals matchup.
07:05But it's not the greatest bettable price right now.
07:08You're not getting value on that for any of the other seven playoff teams on either side of the league to stand in the way of the Seas or the Thunder.
07:18So I selected other, and I backed the Denver Nuggets, a 13-1 price for the Nugs who have won eight straight games entering the All-Star break in action tonight at home at Mile High.
07:30And frankly, DRS, of the other teams, and certainly in the Western Conference, Denver's that main team that has the postseason pedigree and the proven track record winning an NBA championship just two years ago.
07:44We'll continue to talk the NBA and get you ready for the day after the All-Star break.
07:48That's today. Next.
07:50Live right here on the early line on Sports Grid.
07:54We are back in the association.
07:56A full, not quite all 30 NBA clubs or a 15-game slate, but much larger than a standalone game, NBA action tonight following the All-Star break.
08:07Again, this begins not the second half, but the stretch run of this NBA season around out our 82-game regular season.
08:15And an interesting game, DRS, begins with the San Antonio Spurs and the Phoenix Suns, but not in Phoenix, not even in San Antonio, but elsewhere in the Lone Star State.
08:27Tonight's game between the Spurs and Suns played in Austin at the home of the Texas Longhorns.
08:35This will be a matchup to welcome back KD, a homecoming for Durant, but also part of the Spurs' I-35 series to have them engage with other parts of the state of Texas.
08:50The Spurs remain in Austin for a matchup tomorrow against the Detroit Pistons as well.
08:56Intriguing game, DRS, for two teams with some very noteworthy players around the NBA, but two teams currently on the outside of the Western Conference play-in tournament looking in.
09:07Phoenix, a two-point favorite in Austin, over under .239 on the rise. What's the play?
09:13Yeah, you take a look at the opening line. It was minus two for the San Antonio Spurs.
09:16You say, well, how did it get to minus two here for the Phoenix Suns?
09:19Well, it looks like Victor Webb and Yama are not going to play tonight, so that, hey, let's take our superstar on the road throughout the state of Texas, and it looks like he won't play tonight.
09:26Advantage for the Suns. Jones, Booker, O'Neal, Durant, and Richards expected to be in the starting lineup, and of course, Bradley, Beal, and Grayson Allen coming off the bench.
09:33I agree with the line movement, and I do think the Phoenix Suns are the better team tonight without Victor Webb and Yama here for the San Antonio Spurs.
09:40KD in the final week before the All-Star break. Multiple 30-plus point games, but I think both coming in losses for the Suns.
09:48You would think returning back to Austin tonight where he spent a sensational freshman season with the Texas Longhorns, 2007-08, if I'm not mistaken.
09:59His points prop tonight, 26-and-a-half to give the people a show against the Spurs.
10:05And Donnie, again, every game for teams trying to improve their playoff positioning, to get into the play-in tournament, to have that postseason possibility,
10:14or just their seed in the regular playoffs is going to be important now.
10:18The Suns, 26-and-28, lost three straight entering the All-Star break, a game-and-a-half behind both the Kings and the Warriors for those final two spots in the play-in tournament.
10:29And of course, after San Antonio acquired De'Aaron Fox and a blockbuster deal during NBA trade deadline week,
10:35would they be able, the partnership of Wemby and Fox, to realize a playoff spot?
10:42A lot of work to be done, three-and-a-half games behind those two teams from Northern California.
10:47Yeah, no, there is a lot to be determined here over the remaining parts of the season, and it's one of those teams that I talked about with the Phoenix Suns.
10:54I hate them in the regular season. They don't perform all that well. They don't look like a good ball club.
10:59Then you get to the playoffs with the extended breaks, and you look at that roster and say,
11:03Why not KD? You know, why not Booker? I can't Bradley Beal step up one more time.
11:07Grayson Allen do a couple maybe kick-leg trips out there to help out the boys and get the tensions rising in the locker room.
11:14Like, why not Phoenix? Games like this, though, are very important.
11:17Now that you're the favorites, and if Webanyama doesn't play, you've got to win this game,
11:21because if you don't, these games slip away further and further away from you trying to even make the playoffs,
11:25which means even getting in the play-in rounds.
11:28The Suns, the worst covered team in the NBA, also the worst underdog with their favorites tonight.
11:3419-34-1 against the spread, a cover percentage shy of even 36%.
11:41Even money, plus $100 for Phoenix to be a Western Conference play-in tourney team.
11:46San Antonio, more work to do at plus $210.
11:50Same story, DRS, for Philadelphia. Despite, despite the fact the 76ers are 14 games sub-500,
11:59at 20-35, they are only a game and a half out of the Eastern Conference play-in tournament
12:06because of how porous most of the teams in that play-in tournament range are.
12:11Everybody, all four teams, currently two games below 500 or worse.
12:16The Sixers at home tonight. That should be good, but they get the NBA title favorites
12:21and the reigning champs in the Boston Celtics.
12:23The Seas, a seven-point road favorite in Philadelphia, total stands at 223 and a hook.
12:29Yeah, Sixers are really bad, but they actually should be rested coming out of the break.
12:32Not too many all-stars on that roster for the Sixers here,
12:35but if you do look at the anticipated starting lineup for the Celtics, it's good to go.
12:39Holiday, White, Brown, Tatum, and Porzingis right out of the gate,
12:42but also, like you saw, sometimes when you're away from the game
12:45and it's going to be a road game-slash-home game, it doesn't matter.
12:49You saw last night with the Charlotte squad going out to Los Angeles and winning a game
12:52where they were getting double digits outright.
12:54I'm not saying the Sixers are going to win outright, but if you remember,
12:57the last time I believe the Celtics played the Sixers in Philadelphia,
13:00we were down in New Orleans for the Super Bowl.
13:02The Sixers had like a 20-plus lead late in the third quarter
13:05and ended up losing that game outright to the Celtics,
13:07but that was without really any starters in that game outside of Tyrese Maxey.
13:11So for me, I'll take the Sixers, who were getting as many as eight points this morning.
13:15It's now down to seven, still seven and a half, so a lot of outlets out there.
13:18I'll take the Sixers in an underdog role to keep it close right out of the all-star break.
13:2352 games for the Celtics this year, booked as a favorite,
13:27as you would expect for the reigning champs in the short favorites all season long.
13:3352 games of 55 for the Celtics.
13:36They are 39-16.
13:38They trail the Cavs by five and a half games,
13:41covering the number as a favorite, just 22-29-1 against the spread.
13:46Don, we've said this a few times as well.
13:48Only five and a half games back, I guess, of Cleveland,
13:52but the way the Cavaliers are playing,
13:54that's a really large margin to make up in about 27 games to end out the regular season.
14:00Boston would have to go on an absolute tear,
14:02and at 39-16, they've been pretty good,
14:04but maybe not matching our sky-high expectations,
14:07at least in the regular season.
14:09And the Cavaliers would truly have to stumble.
14:12We don't expect Cleveland to do that.
14:14So to your point about the Cavs, earlier to start off this hour,
14:17the number one seed feels pretty firm for the Cavaliers.
14:21The Sixers, they need to win games.
14:24I was going to say keep winning games.
14:26They have not done that.
14:28But they can't take too many nights off,
14:30and you're not sure exactly who is going to be in the lineup early this year, DRS.
14:34Just 12-17-2 against the spread as an underdog.
14:39I shared this earlier this week, Donny.
14:41I used a 30% profit boost on our lovely FanDuel Sportsbook
14:44to bet the Sixers to make the postseason with just a little sprinkle for some hope.
14:49Yes, and that's all you can ask for at this point, too.
14:52And understand this, there's going to be a short leash.
14:54You're probably going to get 10 games to try to be competitive.
14:56If not, they might shut it all down here
14:59and try to tank out to see if they can capture the flag.
15:02It's a great point, DRS.
15:04If it doesn't work quickly, might MP just rest up for the remainder of this year.
15:09More around the NBA up next.
15:11Live right here on the Early Line on SportsGrid.
15:14A big NBA slate now as we return to action around the Association
15:18after the All-Star break.
15:21Two games we have already previewed, the Spurs and the Suns in Austin.
15:25A return for Kevin Durant.
15:27The 76ers at home hosting the reigning champs
15:30in the current championship favorites in the Boston Celtics.
15:34Donnie, a team that I know you are intrigued by, the Milwaukee Bucks.
15:37Currently right now in the Eastern Conference standings,
15:4029-24 in the five spot.
15:43Only a game out of that four spot,
15:45which would be hosting an opening round playoff series
15:48behind the Indiana Pacers.
15:50If fully healthy, can Giannis and Dame get them there
15:54to have home floor advantage, at least to start off the postseason
15:57and maybe make some playoff noise?
16:00Milwaukee at home tonight, playing host to the LA Clippers,
16:03but as an underdog, as I believe the Bucks are still awaiting
16:07the return of Giannis Ntendekumpo.
16:09228.5 the number tonight inside the Pfizer Forum.
16:12Yeah, that line might be indicating there that we might not see him just yet.
16:16A minus one and a half point favorite at the opening number
16:18on the Fandul Sportsbook here in New Jersey
16:20has now moved to a minus two point favorite
16:22towards the road team, the Los Angeles Clippers.
16:25I am looking at the anticipated starting lineups tonight.
16:27It does include Ntendekumpo, along with Lillard, Jackson, Kuzma,
16:30and Brook Lopez here for the Bucks.
16:32But if we are looking at the Clippers, full go for them.
16:34Harden, Dunn, Powell, Leonard, and Zubach.
16:37By the way, if you are just reading into the line,
16:39maybe it does say Clippers, but also understand this.
16:41Giannis hasn't played a lot of basketball lately,
16:44being injured in the All-Star game.
16:46He's not just going to come back and play 37 minutes
16:48in a game against the Los Angeles Clippers and be right.
16:51That's one of the struggles that we see with guys like Luka Doncic
16:53just trying to return back to the court.
16:55He'll give you a great effort if he's out there,
16:57but I agree with that line movement here.
16:58It's the Clippers or nobody for me tonight versus the Bucks
17:01just for that simple form.
17:02You might catch that.
17:03If Giannis isn't playing, Clippers are going to win that game.
17:05If Giannis does play, there's no guarantee that he's going to be
17:08100% playing a ton of minutes like he usually does
17:11in the regular season.
17:12Give me the Clippers.
17:13I do think that minus two now, movement to them,
17:15makes some sense.
17:16Yeah.
17:17Donnie loves the Clippers.
17:18Donnie loves Norman Powell, who plays for the Clippers.
17:20Death, taxes, three plus made threes for Powell, minus 145.
17:26L.A. booked as a favorite this year has been darn good,
17:2918 and 11 against the number.
17:31Expected to win.
17:32They also cover quite often.
17:34We mentioned Indy, right, the Indiana Pacers,
17:37who are in that four spot right now with a game advantage
17:40over the Milwaukee Bucks.
17:42In Indy tonight, the Pacers play host to the team
17:45with the second-best record in the Western Conference.
17:48That would be the Memphis Grizzlies.
17:50The Grizz also a slight road favorite in Indianapolis,
17:53two-point spread.
17:54But, Donnie, take a look at the total, 249.5, no longer.
17:59250 are over under tonight inside Indianapolis.
18:04Crazy.
18:05Now, also, I understand that guys are just coming back from break
18:08and maybe shots aren't available.
18:09We know we're betting the total based on what we anticipate
18:11the pace to be.
18:13But what is that pace?
18:14Like, we're not playing basketball over the past week
18:16for most of these players.
18:17We're just going to get back in top-court shape and run up
18:19and down and be ultra-efficient.
18:20I actually would lean towards the under just based on that fact
18:23coming out of the break.
18:24You saw a game last night.
18:25And, again, it's only a one-game runoff here,
18:27197 total points out there with the Lakers where they basically
18:30fell asleep by the second quarter and weren't able to recover.
18:33But this line also opened up here in New Jersey for the Memphis
18:36Grizzlies as a minus one, and that's now minus two with other outlets
18:39across the board showing as high as two-and-a-halfs
18:41at this point right now.
18:42I do think the Memphis Grizzlies are the better team.
18:44I'll back them on the road even as a public favorite.
18:46But just not actually handicapping looking at the total,
18:49I'd probably just go to the under because the expectations aren't
18:52that we're getting ultra-clean basketball right off the bat.
18:56Both teams can score into the 120s.
18:58You still have a chance of this being under now at 250.
19:03Memphis has played a ton of their games to the over this year,
19:07second highest over percentage in the NBA, 63%.
19:11Only the Cavs have a higher over percentage at 67.7%.
19:16The Grizzlies the best cover team when booked as a favorite line,
19:20slightly working against them.
19:22Two right now on FanDuel was two-and-a-half,
19:25but 24-and-11 against the number this year.
19:29Two really good teams covering spreads where they are according
19:33to that number right now.
19:35Indiana, of course, as an underdog this season as well,
19:3912-and-10 against the spread,
19:41but 11 outright wins for the Pacers when booked as an underdog.
19:46We know the Pacers live up to their name in play at that
19:49up-tempo pace, if you will.
19:52Indiana, though, seven of their 10 games before the break over.
19:56They haven't been the strongest over team for the entirety
19:59of this NBA campaign.
20:02DRS, keep an eye on Memphis.
20:03If things hold, and they should,
20:05yet they're eight games back of OKC,
20:08but the Grizz have a chance to be the two-seed in the Western
20:10Conference three of the previous four years.
20:13Yeah, not a lot of huge expectations,
20:15at least from me entering into the season playing great basketball.
20:18Still feel like they're flying under the radar,
20:20but as you said, probably going to wind up with the number two
20:22seed in the West here.
20:24Could be some fun to watch the rest of the way.
20:26Live right here on the early line on SportsGrid,
20:29a nine-game slate as we return to the NBA tonight,
20:32back in the association after the all-star break,
20:35but some pretty big news for a Milwaukee Bucks team trying to make
20:38a charge of the Eastern Conference standings to better their playoff
20:42position.
20:43Big game BP.
20:44Bobby Portis has been suspended for 25 games by the NBA DRS for
20:49violating the league's anti-drug policy.
20:53In a statement from his agent, quote,
20:56Bobby unintentionally took a pain medication called Tramadol,
21:01thinking he was taking a pain medication called Toradol.
21:05Toradol is an approved pain medication that he has used previously and
21:09that the teams and players use for pain and inflammation at times.
21:13Tramadol, however, is not an improved pain medication.
21:17Those ticky, tricky dolls, man.
21:19Tora, Trama, you never know what's going to happen.
21:22Yeah, like I play for an NBA team,
21:25which has an extensive group of doctors,
21:27any medications you want to prove,
21:29but I'm going to take an assistant to my wife's pill here from a
21:33prescription. Stop the madness. Can we just admit it? Hey, look, man,
21:36I was taking this. I shouldn't have been taking it.
21:38I'll take the 25 game suspension and be through with it.
21:41But the fact that we're led to believe what, again,
21:43a fleet of doctors at every call you make that they tell you repeatedly,
21:48do not take anything that we do not prescribe.
21:50You're a professional athlete making millions of dollars,
21:53and you're just going to take a prescribed thing that your wife or an
21:56assistant gave you. Stop it.
21:57Just admit you tried to cheat and cut corners here, live up to it.
22:00We'll forget about it. It's no big deal.
22:02That's not going to help an appeal DRS to admit you were guilt right from
22:07the very jump.
22:08The Bucks are going to need big game BP down this stretch to be that
22:12reserve role player that has been key for Milwaukee at times 29 and 24.
22:18You do the quick mental math, 53 games for the Bucks played so far,
22:22only 29 remaining missing 25 or 29.
22:27That's not good. Milwaukee rested and ready.
22:32He'll be rested and ready for the playoffs, man. Maybe, maybe it's good.
22:37Two point home dog for Milwaukee tonight,
22:39inside the Pfizer forum as they take on Donnie's West coast team,
22:43that would be the LA Clippers.
22:45So we have already previewed a ton of our nine games today around the
22:49association. Let's go to Madison square garden. Huge one for the Knicks tomorrow.
22:54I believe at home against the Cavaliers,
22:56but before that they take on the Chicago bulls,
22:5912 points spread in favor of New York. Not your father's Tom Thibodeau,
23:04two 44, that total now on the rise for the garden party against Chicago.
23:09What do you like? Yeah, why not take the points in this one?
23:12Again, that same scenario we saw last night.
23:14I'm so glad you just pointed out that the Knicks have a monster game tomorrow
23:17night in the garden.
23:18So we playing guys Tibbs, 48 minutes,
23:21a piece only to play the Cavaliers tomorrow. Once again, me, my goodness,
23:25give me the points here. Again, no X's and O's in this game.
23:28We don't know how these teams are going to come out.
23:30I usually take the underdogs specifically when they don't even have to win the
23:33game or play well and still cover that spread.
23:36We have seen it often DRS. You can lose his game by 10.
23:40It might not be all that competitive and Chicago can still cover 18,
23:4422 and one for the Bulls as a dog this year,
23:4841 of their 55 games booked as a dog.
23:51Chicago is 11 games sub 500 installed.
23:55The season ended right now.
23:57They would be in a play in tournament as the 10 seed in the Eastern conference,
24:01trying to hold off the Philadelphia 76ers,
24:04huge one for the Knicks tomorrow night at home inside the garden against the
24:08Cleveland Cavaliers, the New York Knicks trying to prove DRS,
24:12that against the best of the best,
24:13they can go out there compete and win games,
24:16not just be the worst of the worst in Cleveland,
24:20not going to have a very far trip,
24:21even on the second leg of a back-to-back as the Cavs are in Brooklyn tonight
24:25to take on the Nets Cleveland, 13 point favorite,
24:29two 25 and a half is the total.
24:31Another large spread DRS first game out of the all-star break.
24:34Can the Nets stay within striking distance?
24:38They probably can.
24:39They're bad.
24:40But again, the Cavaliers coming out of the break on the road,
24:42knowing they have a game in the garden.
24:44And the one thing that does actually help both of these teams is the back-to-back
24:47for the Knicks is going to be at home.
24:49The back-to-back Cavaliers won't necessarily be in the same arena,
24:52but still the same city, maybe staying in the same hotel.
24:54So you might get a cleaner product tomorrow night here.
24:57But if I'm just going to be true to what I'm looking at here,
25:00I can't tell you Ben.
25:01Yeah, we're taking the Cavs by 20 plus points tonight.
25:03Like no, just coming off of that break.
25:05It leaves a lot to be desired.
25:06And again, if you're offering me two touchdowns on a spread,
25:09even with a bad basketball team,
25:11I'm still taking the two touchdowns tonight.
25:13I just am.
25:14And I guess last night sort of can jade that thought process because it
25:17worked perfectly last night.
25:18Why not tonight?
25:19Maybe these teams are bad.
25:20They get beat by 30 tonight.
25:22That's still a possibility as well.
25:23Much like last night, DRS,
25:26the Hornets have been booked as an underdog in basically every game this
25:29year.
25:30Yeah.
25:31But they're a really good cover team.
25:32Same story for the Nets.
25:34They're 25, 20 and one against the spread.
25:37When you're a bad basketball team and the odds makers know it,
25:40but you're staying within margin and you're keeping games closer perhaps
25:44than expected.
25:45It's really all you can ask.
25:47Getting 13 points at home.
25:49First game after the all-star break,
25:51Cleveland 44 and 10 straight up 35 and 19 against the number,
25:56both matching the best straight up record alongside OKC in the best ATS
26:02record alongside Memphis around the NBA,
26:05two teams that are comfortable in play in tournament positions.
26:09At least the Atlanta Hawks for sure.
26:11Squaring off tonight,
26:12the Orlando magic and ever so slight road favorite in the a a point minus
26:17one 18 money line.
26:18Now two 22 and a half is the total,
26:21the magic in Atlanta,
26:22these two teams,
26:23the RS,
26:24this could be a play in tourney preview,
26:26Orlando,
26:2727 and 29 Atlanta,
26:2926 and 29.
26:31If the season ended today,
26:32it would be that seven,
26:34eight matchup.
26:35What do we see tonight in Atlanta?
26:37Yeah,
26:38I'm going to go Orlando in this one.
26:39I'll lay the minus one point here again.
26:40We're not taking,
26:41I think they're the better team overall,
26:42but they don't have to lay seven,
26:43eight,
26:44nine,
26:4510,
26:4613,
26:4714 points in this one.
26:48You're just asking for a victory estimated starting lineup tonight for
26:50the magic includes Cole,
26:51Anthony,
26:52KCP Wagner,
26:53Boncaro and Badazzi.
26:54So a good looking lineup tonight.
26:55I'll roll with the Orlando magic in a town tonight to create some magic.
26:58We're going to take a look at the RS two other teams,
26:59both in action last night in our standalone game,
27:01play the second leg of a back-to-back both a change of venue.
27:04The Hornets go from LA on the road to Denver.
27:07They're catching 16 points.
27:09We have told you a really good cover team.
27:11However,
27:12Denver winners of eight straight entering the all-star break playing some
27:15great basketball.
27:16The Lakers,
27:17a three and a half point road favorite in the Rose city against the trail
27:20blazers.
27:21The blazers also covering a ton of numbers booked as an underdog
27:24frequently.
27:25No props listed just yet for LA.
27:28Are we going to see LeBron and or Luca?
27:30They got to kind of start getting better out of Luca.
27:33Don't want it.
27:34And we have seen so far the RS enjoy the money line.
27:37Yeah.
27:38Have a great time on this Thursday.
27:39We'll talk tomorrow on a Friday.
27:41We round out the early.