NBA Wednesday betting preview: Hornets, Thunder trending under
The Pelicans were caught looking ahead, the 76ers' defense continued its road dominance, and the Grizzlies stayed hot against the spread as three of our four Tuesday betting angles cashed.
Here are the key storylines for Wednesday's nine-game slate.
Hornets @ Thunder (+5, 213.5)
It's no surprise to see the Hornets-Thunder clash featuring the second-lowest total on the board: Both teams are missing key offensive pieces, and Charlotte has gone under the total in eight straight away from home with at least four points of cushion in each.
Hornets' last 8 road games
| Opponent | Result | Total | O/U Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celtics | L 116-86 | 217 | -15 |
| Pacers | W 114-97 | 218.5 | -7.5 |
| Nets | L 111-89 | 223.5 | -23.5 |
| Wizards | W 114-104 | 225 | -7 |
| Rockets | W 122-97 | 223 | -4 |
| Spurs | W 122-90 | 223.5 | -26.5 |
| Clippers | L 125-98 | 231.5 | -8.5 |
| Lakers | L 116-105 | 225.5 | -4.5 |
Oklahoma City is also trending that direction, as the club owns the second-worst offensive efficiency in basketball and is 9-4 to the under the last 13 following a straight-up loss.
Timberwolves @ Pacers (-2, 232.5)
While the Thunder and Hornets look set for a low-scoring affair, bettors should expect points aplenty when the Timberwolves travel to face the Pacers.
Minnesota has ripped off nine overs in its last 10 outings against teams with losing records and seven of its last 10 as a road underdog. Indiana, meanwhile, has cashed 15 of the last 22 overall and is on a blistering 35-17 run to the over following an outright loss.
These two have cashed 18 of their last 27 meetings and three of the last four.
Mavericks @ Rockets (+10.5, 222.5)
The Mavericks typically engage in high-scoring affairs when playing teams that struggle to win at home: Dallas and its opponents have averaged a whopping 237.5 points per game in its last four contests against teams with home winning percentages below .400.
The Rockets' 6-19 mark at home is the worst in the NBA, and their defense has allowed each of their last five opponents to shatter its team total over.
With the over cashing in four of the last five in this series, the scoreboard operator could be in for a busy night.
Spurs @ Nuggets (-7, 222)
The Spurs are right in the middle of the pack in terms of cover rate this year (25-23, 52.1%), but they might be in a sweet situational spot against a Nuggets team playing the second half of a back-to-back.
San Antonio fell 125-101 to the Cavaliers in its last outing, and the team is on a scorching hot 6-1 ATS run following a double-digit loss. The Spurs have also covered four straight on the road where they've been more comfortable in 2020-21; their 12-7 road clip is markedly better than their 12-17 home record.
The Nuggets, meanwhile, are just 7-15-1 ATS the last 23 after a double-digit win and enter this one following a 134-119 victory over the Pistons. This is the definition of a letdown spot for Denver.
Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.