Suns vs. Spurs Betting Line, Knicks vs. Heat Betting Line
We have two good games in the NBA Monday night with the Suns vs. Spurs betting line set at San Antonio -9 and the Knicks vs. Heat line at Miami -5.
PHOENIX SUNS (7-6) at SAN ANTONIO SPURS (10-3)
Sportsbook.ag Line: San Antonio -9, Total: 197.5
The Spurs try to stay perfect at home when they entertain the heavy underdog Suns on Monday night.
Phoenix (8-5 ATS) is wrapping up a three-game road trip where it shot 51% FG in Friday's 114-107 win at Denver, but made only 39% FG two days later in a 122-116 loss at New Orleans.
San Antonio (8-5 ATS) is a perfect 6-0 SU at home this year where it allows a mere 85.3 PPG and has held four of six visitors to 83 points or less. This includes a 92-82 win over Memphis on Saturday.
The Suns are just 1-9 SU in their past 10 trips to south Texas, but are an even 4-4-2 ATS during this span. The Spurs also hold a 15-5 SU advantage (10-8-2 ATS) in the past 20 meetings overall in this series. This includes three straight victories last season, with the final two coming in blowout fashion (101-74 and 107-91).
Both teams provide plenty of reasons to boost bettor confidence on Monday, as Phoenix is 45-25 ATS after an ATS loss over the past three seasons, and is 18-6 ATS on the road versus good passing teams (23+ APG) in this same timeframe. However, San Antonio is 51-29 ATS versus dominant rebounding teams (5+ RPG margin) under head coach Gregg Popovich and is also 50-33 ATS versus good three-point shooting teams (36%+ threes) in the past three seasons. The only significant injury for either team is Spurs star PF LaMarcus Aldridge, who is questionable for Monday's game due to a sprained ankle.
Phoenix has a high-powered offense that likes to push the pace with 106.5 PPG on 44.2% FG and a blistering 39.5% threes. This long-range accuracy has been even more impressive on the road (41.8% threes), but the team shoots a paltry 42% FG overall in games away from home. The offense has really been clicking in the past five games with 110.4 PPG, including 115.0 PPG on the current three-game road trip.
The Suns are propelled by their backcourt of Eric Bledsoe (23.2 PPG, 5.8 APG, 2.0 SPG) and Brandon Knight (21.7 PPG, 5.2 APG, 4.6 RPG, 1.5 SPG) who are shooting 39% and 41%, respectively, from three-point range. Bledsoe posted his eighth straight 20-point game on Sunday when he lit up the Pelicans for 29 points (7-of-15 FG, 4-of-8 threes, 11-of-12 FT), seven rebounds and six assists, but he also had five turnovers and five fouls. Knight has also been scoring in bunches with 19+ points in four straight games, but made only 5-of-18 shots on Sunday and has nearly as many turnovers (14) as assists (17) over the past three contests.
When Phoenix feeds the paint, the ball usually goes to PF Markieff Morris (12.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG), but he is shooting a dismal 37% FG and 27% threes this season. But Morris contributed a strong 17 points and eight boards on Sunday, and the potential absence of LaMarcus Aldridge could allow for another big night on Monday.
The Suns are not a bad defensive team with 102.6 PPG allowed on 45.3% FG and 33.2% threes. Although they have been much more generous on the road with 109.0 PPG allowed on 46.3% FG, host teams are making a meager 27.5% threes when entertaining Phoenix.
San Antonio averages a modest 100.4 PPG this season, but rarely takes a bad shot, with 25.5 assists per game leading to 47.3% FG and 36.3% threes. The Spurs have leaned mostly on SF Kawhi Leonard for points, as he leads the team with 21.3 PPG on 50% FG and 45% threes. The 2014-15 NBA Defensive Player of the Year also has 7.4 RPG, 1.7 SPG and 1.3 BPG this season.
PF LaMarcus Aldridge is averaging only 15.3 PPG on 43% FG this year, which are well below his career averages of 19.3 PPG and 48% FG. But he's also grabbing 9.9 boards per game, and had double-doubles in two straight games before missing Saturday's affair with a sprained ankle.
If Aldridge can't return for Monday, C Tim Duncan (10.8 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.8 BPG) will take some more shots in the post. Duncan had the first zero-rebound game of his brilliant career on Friday, but bounced back the next night with 10 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks.
PG Tony Parker (13.0 PPG, 4.2 APG) is shooting a blistering 53% FG and 50% threes this year, and has also done a great job running the point in the past four games with 24 assists and only five turnovers.
The Spurs defense has been excellent all season with 91.5 PPG allowed on 42.1% FG and 32.8% threes, and has been absolutely stifling at home where visitors are scoring a meager 85.3 PPG on 41.5% FG and 32.0% threes.
NEW YORK KNICKS (8-6) at MIAMI HEAT (8-4)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Miami -5, Total: 192.5
The Knicks will be going for their fifth straight victory when they head to Miami and take on the Heat Monday night.
New York has caught fire recently, winning four straight games and covering in its past seven as well. The Knicks have not only been winning, but they have been doing so on the road. The team has come away with road victories at Oklahoma City and Houston in its past two games respectively.
Miami, however, has also been playing well as of late. The Heat have won two straight games and five of their past six despite failing to cover in their past four contests. 10 of Miami’s past 11 games have gone Under the total, and that is something to look into heading into this one.
The Heat have dominated this series in recent years, going 6-1 SU and ATS when facing the Knicks over the past three seasons and 3-0 SU and ATS when playing as the host in that time.
Bettors backing New York in this game will point to the fact that the Knicks are an absurd 7-0 ATS as a road underdog this season. The team is also facing a Miami team that is 1-12 ATS after having won three of its past four games over the past two years. The Knicks are, however, 0-9 ATS after successfully covering the spread in seven or more consecutive games since 1996.
The Knicks have been extremely hot lately and PF Kristaps Porzingis (13.2 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 1.5 BPG) is quickly emerging as one of the top candidates for Rookie of the Year. The forward was absolutely amazing in New York’s victory in Houston, finishing with 24 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocks in 36 minutes of play. He is now averaging 16.2 PPG, 8.4 RPG and 2.0 BPG over the past five contests and will need to use his length to hold his own in a matchup with Chris Bosh on Monday.
With Porzingis’ emergence, SF Carmelo Anthony (22.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 3.3 APG) has had a lot less pressure to deal with. Anthony was in foul trouble against the Rockets, scoring just 14 points in 25 minutes of action. If the same thing had happened a year ago, it would be extremely unlikely that the Knicks came away with a victory but the supporting cast is much improved.
SG Arron Afflalo (12.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG) will be an x-factor in Monday’s game, as he’ll need to go toe-to-toe with Dwyane Wade. Afflalo did not back down from his matchup with James Harden, finishing with 16 points, six rebounds and three assists in 35 minutes of play. A similar performance would put the Knicks in great shape in this one.
The Heat have won two straight games and five of their past six and C Hassan Whiteside (14.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 4.8 BPG) is a huge reason for that. Over the past five contests, Whiteside is averaging 15.0 PPG, 11.4 RPG and an unreal 6.0 BPG. He has been protecting the rim and will need to continue to be a reliable defensive presence moving forward.
SG Dwyane Wade (18.6 PPG, 4.6 APG, 3.2 RPG, 1.3 SPG) has looked as good as ever for Miami over the past two games, averaging 25.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 5.0 APG and 2.5 SPG in those contests. Wade has played over 30 minutes in three straight contests and will likely do the same against the Knicks on Monday.
PF Chris Bosh (18.1 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 1.3 BPG) is the guy that will be matched up with Porzingis for Miami. Bosh is averaging 20.2 PPG, 9.6 RPG and 1.8 BPG over the past five contests and really looks like himself again after a rough 2014-2015 year. He will need to play well on both sides of the floor against the Knicks forward, as he is one of the hottest players in the league and the Heat can’t afford to be torched by him.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
