Believe it or not, the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers would be seeded third and fourth in the Eastern Conference playoffs if the NBA regular season ended now.
Ok, the 2011-12 season is already short enough without wandering into the "if" scenarios this soon on the abbreviated schedule. It remains something to keep an eye on, however, especially with the Pacers and Sixers meeting in what amounts to Monday's marquee NBA matchup at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia (7:00 p.m. ET).
Philadelphia is presently leading the Atlantic Division while Indiana is just a half-game behind the Chicago Bulls in the Central. Oddsmakers opened the 76ers as 4½-point favorites with 183½ for the total.
Both teams are coming off easy home wins Saturday night, each playing the tail-end of back-to-backs. Just a night after dispatching the Celtics in Boston, Indiana (6-2 straight up, 5-3 against the spread) poured it on Charlotte during the second half for a 99-77 triumph as hefty 10-point home chalk. Philadelphia (5-2 SU, 6-1 ATS) was having an even easier time with the Toronto Raptors, coasting to a 97-62 victory while also laying 10 points on the NBA betting board.
The Sixers' win marked their fourth straight, covering each time as favorites in that span, while the Pacers were picking up their third dubya in the last four games, beating the number in all but the blowout defeat at Miami during the short stretch.
Having Sunday off should help both squads' centers recover from minor injuries this past weekend. Indiana's Roy Hibbert, who scored 20 in the win over the Bobcats, twisted his right ankle Saturday and left the game for a bit but returned later and should be ready to go tonight. Philly's Spencer Hawes missed most of the second half vs. Toronto with a sore back. He's officially listed as probable for the contest.
This is the first of four meetings between the two this season, the next coming in Indiana on March 14. The clubs split their four games last season, both straight up and against the spread, each going 1-1 on their home floor.
Bulls In Bounce-Back Mode Hosting Pistons
Home today, gone tomorrow will fit the Chicago Bulls M.O. over the next couple of weeks as they alternate games at home and on the road. They will begin a back-to-back-to-back in Chicago on Monday night (8:00 p.m. ET) against the Detroit Pistons as hefty 13½-point favorites with 176½ for the total.
The Bulls (7-2 SU, 5-4 ATS) saw their 6-game win streak snapped Saturday in Atlanta, dropping a 109-94 decision to the Hawks who were getting six points on their home court. The upset loss came just four days after the two met in the Windy City where the Bulls needed a huge fourth quarter to eke out a 76-74 win while surrendering 11 on the NBA odds.
Chicago could still be a bit thin in the backcourt on Monday with both Richard Hamilton (groin) and CJ Watson (elbow) on the mend. Watson definitely won't play, leaving John Lucas to spell Derrick Rose at the point. Hamilton is officially doubtful on the Don Best Sports injury report, and quite honestly, shouldn't be needed against the lowly Pistons.
Detroit (2-6 SU & ATS) has skidded into the loss column the past three games, failing to stay inside the spread each time. The streak started at home against the Bulls on Jan. 4, a 99-83 setback with Chicago favored by 6½ and the final just scooting over the 180½-point mark.
The Pistons are also dealing with a key guard on the sideline as Rodney Stuckey is questionable with a groin injury he suffered in last week's loss to the Bulls. That could yield a third career start at the point for rookie Brandon Knight.
Three games on successive nights is tough enough on any team, but Tom Thibodeau's troops have the added task of traveling to Minnesota for Tuesday's game before returning home to meet Washington on Wednesday. Detroit also will be back on the floor Tuesday when the Pistons host the Dallas Mavericks.
Hornets, Nuggets In Quick Rematch
Second in the league in scoring, and No. 1 in the hearts of their backers, the Denver Nuggets begin a big week at home with a visit from the New Orleans Hornets on Monday (9:00 p.m. ET). Denver will be laying 13 in the game that began with a 191½-point total.
Denver (6-3 SU, 8-1 ATS) starts the week 1.5-games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder in third place of the Northwest Division, and has covered six straight after just staying inside the spread in Saturday's 121-117 loss at San Antonio (-4½). That contest went well past the 199½-point total, snapping a 5-game run for the 'under' in Nuggets affairs despite Denver averaging 104 points per game and giving up 96.
The Nuggets were without Nene Hilario in the Spurs contest, and their big center is questionable for Monday's game with a left heel injury.
New Orleans (2-6 SU, 3-5 ATS) is in the throes of a 6-game losing streak, going 1-5 vs. the number in that stretch. The Hornets will be without Eric Gordon who has answered the bell just twice so far this season as he deals with a bad knee. Forward Trevor Ariza (groin) is also questionable.
The two squads just saw each other last Friday in New Orleans, a 96-88 win and cover for Denver (-6½) that closed with a 190-point total. Danilo Gallinari paced the Nuggets with 23 points with Denver outscoring the Hornets at the free-throw line, 17-8.