darrell,

Either 2-1-1 or 3-1 last night depending on the spread you got on the Clippers. If you got -8, you pushed. If you got -7.5 where it closed, you won. Winning night either way. Four picks tonight.

My NBA Power Rankings are here.

Good luck , darrell!

**MIAMI -8 over Utah (7:35 Eastern)

The Jazz go east to take on the Heat - a team that continues to crush the opposition in this arena and a team off a huge comback win against Cleveland. The Heat are 24-7 in this building and 9-1 in their last 10 games overall. The Jazz are a team that seems to start slow, and has to play catch-up throughout the night. That is not a good recipe for success when you are playing Shaq, Wade and the Heat. Miami wins by an average of 7 points per game at home while Utah loses by 5 points per game on the road. The Heat know how to turn it up late in the season. They are now 21-10 ATS at home in the second half of the season over the past two years. Miami wins big here and covers the spread. Two stars on the Heat.

**MEMPHIS -6 over Boston (8:05 Eastern)

The Celtics are in a tough spot as I find them 1-8-2 ATS in its last 11 games against Memphis, and 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 away games at Memphis. Back in november 2005 Boston beat Memphis 99-98 so revenge will be served cold here. Boston is just 8-21 on the road this season and just 3-6 L9 on the road to Western teams with the 6 losses coming by a combined 58 points. That's reality when you consider that the home team is a perfect 3-0 SU L3 in this series and that Memphis is 7-2 L9 hosting Eastern teams. Two stars on the Grizzlies.

**New Orleans +10.5 over SAN ANTONIO (8:35 Eastern)

Things look bleak for the New Orleans Hornets. They attempt to snap a season-high six game losing streak on San Antonio Spurs hardwood. Since returning from the All Star break, the Hornets have won just twice in ten games (2-8 ATS) and must now face a Spurs team that is extremely difficult to beat in the AT&T Center building. But, we don't need a win here, just a cover. San Antonio as a heavy favorite failed to cover the 11 point line the other night against the T-MAC less Rockets and they are a just 9-11 ATS as a favorite of 8+ points. New Orleans needs to win to stay in the playoff hunt while San Antonio can put it on cruise control tonight. The Spurs win but not by double digits. Two stars on New Orleans with our contrarian play of the day.

**SACRAMENTO -6.5 over LA Lakers (10:05 Eastern)

Sacramento enters into this contest at home in Arco against the LA Lakers in top form having won 13 of the L/17 overall and covering 14 of those contests and are 5-1 SU/ATS L/6 at home in this series. The home team has won and covered in both series meetings this season. The visiting Lakers on the other hand, continue their inconsistent play looking great on some nights behind super star Kobe Bryant and very average on other nights. Nowhere have the Lakers looked more vulnerable than as a visitor as their 9-22 SU record would indicate. They are also 14-35 ATS L/48  vs division foes. I expect to see the same result tonight. The Kings are absolutely on fire at home, going 12-0 SU and 11-0-1 ATS their last 12 games here. That includes a perfect 9-0 mark here since the Artest trade. They've also taken five of the last six meetings (SU and ATS) here with the Lakers with all five victories coming by a minimum of eight points. The Kings recent winning streak has made the playoffs a real possibility and they can't afford to letdown against their rivals tonight. Two stars on Sactown.