There are three games on the NBA card for Tuesday night and each of the three games involves key injuries to the starters. Below is a detailed look at all three matches tonight.
ORLANDO (-6½, 177) at NEW ORLEANS (NBA-tv)
The Hornets’ 8-3 SU season start was a distant memory after the 4-19 SU slump that followed from November 22 to January 8. That slump coincided with numerous injuries and the Hornets remain without their top three scorers as Chris Paul (18.4 ppg), Peja Stojakovic (17.8 ppg) and David West (17.4 ppg) are each out for at least another month. The Hornets are also without Bobby Jackson (10.9 points per game), who hopes to return soon from a rib injury.
The Hornets have started to turn things around, as evidenced by their recent back-to-back wins over the Hawks and Wizards as +5½ and +7½ point underdogs. Overall, New Orleans has covered three of its last four games and the team is 8-6 ATS over the last month.
The Magic also turned things around after battling some injuries in mid-December. Orlando is a perfect 8-0 ATS over its last eight games, but has suffered back-to-back SU losses along the way against the Lakers and Suns.
HOUSTON at DALLAS (-7½, 179½)
The Rockets continue to win without leading scorer and rebounder Yao Ming (25.9 ppg, 9.4 rpg), who is out with a knee injury and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. Houston lost their first two games without Ming, but have since gone 9-1 SU (7-3 ATS) over their last ten games.
Tracy McGrady continues to carry the team and has scored at least 31 points or more in seven of the last nine games. Another key has been the play of backup center Dikembe Mutombo, which has seen his playing time increase with Ming out of the lineup. Mutombo did not have more than 10 rebounds in any of the first 28 games this season, but has since posted double-digit rebounds in each of the last 10 games averaging 14.2 rebounds per game during that span.
Houston is a strong 63-42 ATS as an underdog on the road under current head coach Jeff Van Gundy, but the Rockets are in a tough spot tonight as they face a red-hot Dallas team playing with an embarrassing revenge for a loss on highway 107-76. on November 4.
The loss was part of a surprising 0-4 SU start for Dallas; however, the defending Western Conference champions have turned things around with a 31-4 SU record in all games since Nov. 9.
CLEVELAND (-2½, 196) at SEATTLE
Seattle continues to play without its second leading scorer, Rashard Lewis, who has missed the last 13 games with a hand injury that will keep him out through the end of February. Lewis is second on the team in points (21.9 ppg) and third in rebounding (6.8 rpg).
Seattle has been just 2-8 SU in its last ten games, but is coming off an impressive 122-114 home overtime win against Utah last Friday. Ray Allen had a career-high 54 points against Utah and continues to lead the team in scoring this season with 25.8 points per game.
Cleveland is also likely to be without its second leading scorer, as Larry Hughes missed Saturday’s 104-92 win over the Clippers with a calf injury. Hughes is doubtful tonight and is second on the team in scoring (14.8 ppg) and steals (1.4 spg) and third in assists (3.2 apg).
The Cavaliers have played 11 games this season without Hughes and are 6-5 SU but just 4-7 ATS in those games. Cleveland easily won 106-84 at home against Seattle on Dec. 15, and Hughes led the team in scoring with 25 points in that game.
STEVE MERRIL is a professional sports handicapper and a documented member of The Professional Handicappers League. Get your Premium plays here.