The Cavaliers are on an 8-3 SU/ATS run and have won 4 in a row. LeBron James scored 36 points to lead Cleveland to a 94-82 win over the Boston Celtics on Friday night, moving the Cavaliers closer to their first playoff berth in eight years. James added eight assists and seven rebounds. The Rockets are on a 1-6 SU, 2-5 ATS run without Tracy McGrady. They hosted the Clippers Monday (99-91 loss), then got smacked at Dallas, 88-72, before ending a losing streak with a 93-92 win at slumping New Orleans. Yao Ming is carrying the team, but not getting any help. In fact, the Mavs swarmed all over him and no one else could step up. Houston is 3-19 in games without McGrady. And, Houston is 13-22 SU, 9-26 ATS at home! The Cavs have too much offense for Houston's one-man-gang.

The Los Angeles Clippers head into Portland as 6-point favorites on Sunday. They hope their 116-point explosion last game in a win versus the Wizards was no fluke and that their defense can keep Portland in check. It likely will as the Clippers minus the points here isn't a bad play. But, we're going to look instead to the total. With the league's #30-ranked offense, Portland needs a breakout game from it's defense to keep them in this one. And they know it. The Trail Blazers average just 88.7 points per game and they are 11-22 UNDER vs. winning teams this year as their strategy against these teams is to pick up the defense. Six of the last nine meetings between the Clippers and the Trailblazers have gone UNDER the total and I see this one going that way too.