The Jazz, Rockets and Magic the Big Value in Today's NBA

On Monday February, 4th, there are two big games featuring four of the NBA's top teams including Utah, New Orleans, Phoenix, and Dallas.

In the first game of note, The Utah Jazz (30-18) host the New Orleans Hornets (32-14). Both teams are at the top of the respective divisions. The Jazz hope to extend their winning streak to nine games, while the Hornets are trying to snap their two game slide.

The last time that the two teams met in November, the Jazz smoked the Hornets en route to a 99-71 victory. Carlos Boozer led the Jazz with 16 rebounds and 19 points, while five of his teammates scored in double digits.

In Monday's match up, the Jazz will have to contain Chris Paul and David West from the Hornets. The two were recently named to the All-Star Team. Their coach, Byron Scott (a member of the L.A. Lakers championship teams in the 1980s), is trying to get his younger players to play the same up tempo offense that was successful formula for the "Showtime" Lakers from the 1980s era. During an eight-game winning streak in January, the Hornets were unstoppable, with an average winning margin of over 20 points per game. They were not just winning, but they were blowing out their opponents and racking up points in the process. However, a recent two game losing streak has halted the Hornets run.

The spread has been hovering at the Jazz -3 with the Over/Under at 203. The Jazz appear to be the logical pick since they are 7-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last 8 games as a favorite and 7-1 ATS overall. The Under has hit in 11 of their last 16 heads-up games, but since the Hornets offense has been on a rush of late, I'd stay away from betting the Over/Under. The only injury of note in that game is that Jason Hart (Jazz) is listed as day-to-day with a back injury.

The other big game involves the Dallas Mavericks (31-15) and the Orlando Magic (31-18). The Magic are in the middle of a four game winning streak and are 19-10 in road games this year. Although the Mavericks are at home, they're playing the second night of back-to-back games and are bogged down in a two game losing streak. They were blown out on Sunday by the Detroit Pistons in an ugly 90-67 loss in Detroit. The Mavs shot poorly and only connected on 30% of their total shots from the floor including an anemic 2-14 from three point range.

The Magic are at the top of their division. They have been playing well (seven wins in the last eight games) including a close six point victory against the Pacers in Indiana in their previous game. It was a well-balanced attack with all five starters scoring at least 16 points. They shot almost 56% from the field, but their abysmal 69% free throw shooting almost cost them the game.

The Magic lost by three points during their December match up when Dirk Nowitzki dropped 31 points for the Mavericks. Nowitzki is looking to improve upon his subpar 3-18 shooting performance against the Pistons on Sunday.

The line opened at the Orlando Magic at -3, which looks very enticing right now. The Magic appear to be a solid pick against the Mavericks, who have been distracted with trade rumors. New Jersey Nets point guard Jason Kidd asked to be traded to a contending team and there have been rumors involving a trade with Devin Harris and Jerry Stackhouse going to the Nets for Kidd. Rumors aside, the Mavericks are playing on back-to-back nights, which is not an easy task in the NBA. Noteworthy injuries on the Mavericks include Devean George (listed as day-to-day after he missed a game in Detroit due to a case of food poisoning), Jerry Stackhouse (he strained his right hamstring in a game on Jan. 23rd), and Devin Harris (left ankle bone bruise and he's out for at least two weeks).

In another interesting NBA matchup, the Houston Rockets (27-20) are playing against the Minnesota Timberwolves (10-36). The Timberwolves are only 8-14 at home. The line opened at Houston Rockets – 5.5, which looks like another solid pick against the hapless Timberwolves. The favorite has won in the game the last four times the two teams have played.

My Monday picks? Utah Jazz, Orlando Magic, and the Houston Rockets.

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