darrell,

2-2 last night. Four picks tonight.

My NBA Power Rankings are here. Updated! After relinquishing it last week, Detroit reclaims the top spot, bumping Dallas and San Antonio each down one spot. Phoenix and Miami hang on to the #4 and #5 spots. The Clippers leapfrog Cleveland for #6...

Good luck , darrell!

**Orlando +6.5 over INDIANA (7:05 Eastern)

The Pacers on the back end of back-to-back games are 9-11 SU and 9-10 ATS this year and find themselves playing a late game last night, geting on a plane and flying home to play Orlando. They squandered a big lead last night and lost in Toronto. Orlando is playing their best basketball of the year in which they are 11-9 ATS on the road against the Pacers. Coming off back-to-back home wins over Cleveland and Golden State, Indiana's defense won't be able to slow this Magic team down. Orlando is 3-1 ATS in the last four played here. Take the points and the Magic for two stars.

**Atlanta +7 over MILWAUKEE (8:05 Eastern)

The Hawks ride into this game on a 7-4 ATS run, which includes a perfect 5-0 ATS mark away from Hotlanta. The simple fact remains is that the Bucks are not delivering right now. They check into this game on just a 5-10 SU and 4-11 ATS slide. Going further, I find that Milwaukee is a mere 1-7 ATS their last eight games as a host, which has dropped them to 13-18 ATS this season. Way too many points for the struggling Bucks, who are giving up 108 PPG over their last five games, to be giving at this time. Two stars on the Hawks.

**New Jersey/HOUSTON UNDER 175.5 (8:35 Eastern)

The Houston Rockets haven't had much success without star Tracy McGrady, but will have to go it without him again tonight as they host the New Jersey Nets. Jersey is 15-7 under as a road dog this season, and the Rockets are 19-12 under at home this season. The last five games have seen NJ shoot 42.7% from the field and Houston has hit just 43% on the year. The total has opened at 178.5 and has already dropped quickly. It doesn't help as many games as Tracy McGrady has missed, and with T-Mac out for the next five weeks, there are a lot more unders in their future. McGrady's back will cause him to be out of commission for a while, making this total too high in this one. To top it off, in expected close games (line of +3 to -3), the Nets have gone under 14 out of 19 games this season. Two stars on the under here.

***LA CLIPPERS -8 over Minnesota (10:35 Eastern)

Lets ride the Clippers backs once again here tonight as they face a struggling Minnesota team that has lost 4 straight and 7 of their last 10. The T-Wolves are just 8-22 on the road this season and they don't stand a chance at Staples tonight against a Clippers squad that is hitting on all cylinders, winning 3 in a row. The Clips are most recently 7-3 After a win and Minnesota is 0-8 ATS as a road underdog of 6.5 to 9 points over the last 2 seasons. Three stars on the Clippers.