The Big Dog has been on a roller-coaster with more downs than ups, this week, as results have become harder to nail down. To combat this, the focus is going to shift slightly away from game result markets, to give things a chance to settle and hopefully provide a few more consistent patterns. In the meantime, today’s four-game schedule still contains the odd gem… and the Big Dog is here to bring them into the spotlight.
Los Angeles Clippers @ Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are probably right to feel as though they let every one of their last three games get away. Over the last five contests, they have won when trailing at three-quarter time and lost when leading or with scores tied. All of those losses have come in the last three games, where the Bulls have been outscored in the final period by a total of 32 points, including a 42-24 capitulation against the Phoenix Suns, in Chicago. Playing their third game in four nights and facing a team that has recently performed brilliantly down the stretch, reversing this worrying trend will be a huge task. The Clippers come to town having won their last three games, primarily on the back of going plus-24 in the last quarter of those games. The big crunch-time surges have been necessary to overcome deficits at the final change against Orlando and Minnesota. It’s important to note here that both teams are playing the closing game of a back-to-back and their third game in four nights, so while the focus for the Bulls should be on toughness down the stretch, the Clippers will need to make sure they don’t allow Chicago to get out to an early lead. The Big Dog sees this game going one of two ways. The Bulls come out firing and build a lead that the Clippers can’t quite run down… or the game remains relatively tight for the first three quarters, with Lob City powering home for the win. Either way, with a cumulative 56-point differential over the last three games, the value on offer for our first selection is off the charts. Tune into this game for the closing stages and watch the profits roll in.
Selection
Los Angeles Clippers (4th Qtr Head-to-Head) @ $1.90 (Luxbet)
New York Knicks @ Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are probably better than their 8-15 record suggests and it’s also true that they should beat the visiting Knicks, who have lost their last three and haven’t won on the road since a 107-102 victory over the Houston Rockets, almost three weeks ago… but the real focus here is DeMarcus Cousins. The Kings leader and best player is fully-recovered from a back injury that recently sidelined him for three games, producing a 37-minute outing against the Jazz where he scored 23 points, to go with 12 rebounds and six assists. The Big Dog loves him some Boogie Cousins and Cousins certainly seems to feel the same way about playing at Sleep Train Arena, this season. In eight games in front of his home fans, Cousins is averaging 29.6 points and 11.1 rebounds. Against the East, his averages of 29.7 points and 10.6 boards are just as impressive. The Knicks are exactly the kind of opposition that we can expect him to explode against. New York will likely defend by committee, using Robin Lopez, Kevin Seraphin and Kyle O’Quinn, at various times. At 6’11” and 270 lbs, Boogie has an advantage in height, strength or both, against anyone the Knicks can throw at him. If he can stay out of early foul trouble, the lines for his points and rebounds should be found well short of where they should be. So much so that The Big Dog is willing to double-up on Boogie to put together a massive stat line, in a match that the Kings will most likely win.
Selection #1:
Over 25.5 (DeMarcus Cousins Points) @ $1.87 (Sportsbet)
Selection #2:
Over 11.0 (DeMarcus Cousins Rebounds) @ $1.81 (Sportsbet)
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