Atlantic Division Preview (Mar. 10)

With New York returning to form of late, Brooklyn’s erratic results keeping the side in the mix, and Boston seemingly intent on pushing further up the playoff bracket despite an absent All-Star, the Atlantic Division has evolved into one of the most interesting divisions in basketball. At least at the top end of the table, that is.

Saturday saw both New York and Brooklyn in action while the remaining three division representatives take to the court on Sunday. Read on for the latest Atlantic Division preview from BettingSports.com.

Saturday Night Recap

The Knicks scored a big win over Utah on Saturday night, but Amar’e Stoudemire’s injury could have a long-term impact.

New York (38-22) soundly defeated Utah (32-31) at Madison Square Garden by a score of 113-84, despite the absence of Amar’e Stoudemire, who is expected to miss at least six weeks with a knee injury. The Knicks are now one-game in the loss column ahead of Indiana (39-23) for second spot in the Eastern Conference, and 2.5 games ahead of Brooklyn in the Atlantic Division.

The 29-point win saw the Knicks cover the spread (-7.5) while the 197 points scored saw the total (191.5) go over. New York is now 31-29-0 ATS this season with a 17-15-0 ATS record in Manhattan. Despite the total going over on Saturday, the Knicks (28-30-2) continue to favor the under this season.

Brooklyn (37-26) kept pace with the Knicks, defeating Atlanta (34-28) 93-80 on the road. The win sees the Nets hold on to the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, one game in the loss column ahead of Chicago (35-27).

The Nets’ win saw the team cover the spread (+4) in upset fashion, while the total (187.5) went under. With the result, Brooklyn moves to 29-32-2 ATS this season, including a 16-13-0 ATS record away from home. The Nets (26-37-0) continue to favor the under. In fact, only Washington (22-38-1) has seen more games fail to meet the marker.

Boston Celtics at Oklahoma City Thunder

Jason Terry and the Boston Celtics have been soaring in the wake of Rajon Rondo’s season-ending injury.

Boston (34-27, 12-18 road) will look to continue its good run of form with a Sunday lunchtime trip to Oklahoma City (46-16, 27-4 home).

The Celtics have strung together five wins in a row and six from the last seven. Doc Rivers’ side has also won three straight on the road and four from the last five. All told, the team is 14-4 since Rajon Rondo suffered a season-ending injury.

Boston’s most recent victory came at home on Friday as the Celtics outlasted Atlanta 107-102 in overtime.

The Thunder certainly represents a tough challenge. Kevin Durant and Co. are currently second (to San Antonio) in the Western Conference and have compiled the third best home record in the league. The side has won four straight, and 11 of the last 12, at home. All told, Oklahoma City has won four straight and seven of the last eight.

Boston secured a 108-100 victory over Oklahoma City back on Nov. 23. That game was played at TD Garden though, and the Celtics have been a very different team on the road.

The Celtics own an impressive 6-2 record against Northwest Division opponents, but a 1-2 record on the road is less appealing. The Thunder has gone 6-2 against Atlantic Division opposition, including a 2-1 record at home.

Boston enters the game as underdogs, with the spread at 10 points.

The Celtics are 29-29-3 ATS this season, with a 12-16-2 ATS record on the road and a 11-12-2 ATS record as the underdog.

Oklahoma City is 36-23-3 ATS this season, with a 21-9-1 ATS record at home and a 35-22-2 ATS record as the favorite.

The total opened at 199. Boston (30-30-1) has split the over and under evenly this season while Oklahoma City (32-28-2) has favored the over.

Boston covered the spread (+3) in the earlier meeting between the sides this season while the total (194) went over.

Cleveland Cavaliers at Toronto Raptors

The Raptors and Cavaliers will tussle for a fourth and final time this season on Sunday.

Any playoff push Rudy Gay and the Raptors might have had planned appears to have fallen by the wayside. Toronto (24-39, 15-16 home) has lost seven of the last nine games, and any shot at the postseason in the process.

The lottery-bound Raptors will host an even worse Cleveland (21-41, 9-22 road) side on Sunday evening, in a matchup few will tune in for.

The Raptors have dropped three of the last four at Air Canada Center, while the Cavaliers have actually scored two wins from the last three road games.

Cleveland is 2-7 against Atlantic Division sides this season, including 1-5 on the road. The Raptors are 4-8 when facing Central Division opponents, but alarmingly are 1-5 at home.

Cleveland has won two of the three meetings between the sides this season, including a Jan. 26 game north of the border.

Toronto opens as the favorite, with the spread at six points.

The Raptors are 32-30-1 ATS overall this season, with a 16-15-0 ATS record at home and an 8-9-0 ATS record when playing as the favorite.

Cleveland is 32-30-0 ATS this season, with a 19-12-0 ATS record on the road and a 26-24-0 ATS record when playing as the underdog.

The Cavaliers are 2-1-0 ATS this season against Toronto.

The total opened at 203. Toronto (31-32-0) has marginally favored the under, while Cleveland (34-28-0) has favored the over. Bettors will get no joy in the knowledge that the teams have combined for a 1-1-1 over/under record this season.

Philadelphia 76ers at Orlando Magic

With few things going right for the Sixers, a trip to Orlando might be just the tonic.

If Cleveland-Toronto looks like a dud, then a clash between the Sixers and Magic is really scraping the barrel.

Philadelphia (23-38, 6-22 road) will travel to Central Florida looking to secure a rare win, and an even rarer road win. The Sixers have lost 11 of the last 12 all told, and a whopping 20 of 22 on the road.

Orlando (17-46, 9-24 home) has fared even worse of late. The side has lost 22 of the last 25 including 12 of 13 at home. Jacque Vaughan’s side will be looking to put the brakes on a seven-game home losing streak.

Philadelphia has gone 4-5 against Southeast Division opponents this season, but is 0-3 on the road. That might sound bad but Orlando is 1-14 against Atlantic Division opponents, and 0-8 at home. Sadly for Philadelphia, that one win came in the City of Brotherly Love on Feb. 26.

The two sides have split a pair of games this season, both straight up and against the spread.

Philadelphia is the favorite entering the game with the spread at 3.5.

The Sixers are 28-33-0 ATS this season, including a 12-16-0 ATS record on the road and a 12-12-0 ATS record as the favorite.

Orlando is 28-35-0 ATS this season, going 10-23-0 ATS at home and 26-24-0 ATS as the underdog.

The total opened at 191. Both the Magic (35-27-1) and Sixers (32-29-0) have favored the over this season, although both meetings between the sides this season saw the total go under.