darrell,

3-3 last night. 21-14 over the past week. Four picks tonight.

My NBA Power Rankings are here. Changes this week: Dallas opens up a slightly bigger lead over San Antonio in the #1 spot. The Spurs and Pistons remain at #2 and #3 while Miami leapfrogs Phoenix for the #3 spot. The biggest drop this week was Celeveland who falls from #6 to #10, making room for Denver who catapults from #12 to #6...

Good luck , darrell!

**Atlanta +13.5 over DETROIT (7:35 Eastern)
**Atlanta/DETROIT OVER 193.5

Can't see Detroit being real focused here as they have games against Miami, Indiana, New Jersey, and Dallas up next. The Pistons are 1-9 ATS in the second half of the season vs. teams who allow 99 or more points a game. We will take the generous points here as Atlanta has gone 15 straight games without losing by double digits. Also, these teams that have gone OVER in 2 of their 3 meetings this season and 6-3-1 OVER in the last 10. Detroit is 6-1 over in their last 7 and are averaging 102 points/game at home while the Hawks allow 103 points/game on the road. Expect alot of 3-pointers in this one as Detroit averages 40% and Atlanta 38% behind the arc.  Two stars each on Atlanta and the OVER.

***LA Lakers +2 over BOSTON (7:35 Eastern)

Magic vs. Bird - doesn't get any better than this. Oops. Wrong era. Seriously though - tonight we get Kobe v. Pierce. Not as good a matchup but not bad. Kobe and company look to make amends for yesterday's one-point loss in Cleveland knowing they are 4-1 ATS the L5 games in this series and 8-2 ATS the L10 games in Boston. With the Celts off a 15-point win, look for the Lakers to revenge a home loss they suffered earlier this year to Boston as Boston is 1-9 ATS in their last ten off a road underdog win. Three stars on LA.

 **HOUSTON +5.5 over LA Clippers (8:35 Eastern)

The Clippers begin a three-game road trip when they tip off against the Houston Rockets on Monday night. Oddsmakers don't give the Rockets much of a chance in this one , installing them as 4-point home underdogs. Bettors give them less respect as they've pushed it up to 5.5 already. The Rockets have taken two of three meetings with the Clippers this season and are 9-1 the last 10 meetings in the series overall. That should serve as a motivating factor for the Clippers, right? Wrong. I see it different tonight. I know the Rockets have lost four straight games with the last three losses all coming by double-digits and they are now a dismal 2-17 without McGrady in the lineup. But, that's why we get line value here. And let's not forget about the inside presence of the big 7-footer in the middle for HOuston. Los Angeles will have no answer for him tonight. Take the generous points and back Houston for two stars.