NBA: Tale of Two NBA Friday Night Favorites (8:00 PM ET, ESPN)

The Boston Celtics are off disappointing home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in overtime and have to make the trip down to the Big Apple to take on a more rested Knicks team.

2009-02-06

The Boston Celtics are off disappointing home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in overtime and have to make the trip down to the Big Apple to take on a more rested Knicks team. The Phoenix Suns are just disappointing period and have a turnaround games with West Division foe Golden State, who defeated them 124-112 in a game that wasn’t that close. These two host clubs are tonight’s favorites in the ESPN NBA doubleheader. Getting the latest betting lines by visiting the LIVE ODDS page.

Though the Celtics (41-10, 28-23 ATS) may be a touch dishearten in losing to the Lakers, they have to feel pretty good about facing the Knicks. For fans of the Knickerbockers, New York (21-27, 28-20 ATS) used to actually have a home court advantage. As this week has shown, The Garden has become a show place for star players to post outrageous numbers. Two nights after the Lakers Kobe Bryant set a record for the most points scored at the "World's Most Famous Arena" by pouring in 61 in a nine-point victory over the Knicks, LeBron James had a triple-double, posting 52 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to victory. What’s next, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen scoring 40 points a piece?

The Celtics are a 5.5-point favorite according to Sportsbook.com and are 16-4 ATS in road games off a home loss over the last three seasons. Boston has now failed to cover last three games and faces a Knicks team that is better than they were a month ago. Since January 12, New York is 8-5 and has covered the number nine times. Having lost four of five at home to Boston, the total of 208.5 has proven profitable for the Knicks, who are 9-0 ATS in a home game where the total is between 205 and 209.5 points this season.

Out West, Phoenix (26-21, 16-30-1 ATS) is facing the reality of a franchise in decline. The Suns at the moment are in ninth spot in the West, out of the playoffs. This could not have been what owner Robert Sarver envisioned in bringing in his pal Steve Kerr to be general manager. Rumors are circulating like buzzards in the desert, with unhappy Amare Stoudemire and potentially Steve Nash available for the right deal.

Having lost eight of last 12 games (3-8-1 ATS), it is obvious Phoenix players have little use for Terry Porter as coach, with the offense running thru Shaquille O’Neal, to the dismay of the other players. In a way, Porter is like the step-dad brought in when all the children cared for their previous parent who left. The Suns are only 13-10 at US Airways Center, with dismal 7-16 ATS record and are 2-10 ATS in home games after playing a road game this season.

Phoenix is a 9.5-point favorite over the Warriors (16-34, 23-25 ATS) and should have ample confidence and revenge in their favor. The Suns have won six straight over Golden State at home (5-1 ATS) and 42 of last 47 in Arizona. The Warriors have lost 22 of 27 road games this season and is 0-7 ATS in road contests after scoring 110 points or more, losing by gargantuan 18.9 points per game. This contest will be on ESPN at 10:30 Eastern.

StatFox Power Line – Boston by 7, Phoenix by 8

NBA: Tale of Two NBA Friday Night Favorites (8:00 PM ET, ESPN) News

Click here to read latest NBA news