Michael Alexander

Rating: 2 Units

Bad luck losing Pistons plus the points at Atlanta in OT the other night. Whaddya’ gonna do? Houston’s three-point attempt rate of 35.2% in their home loss vs. Phoenix the other night (third straight "L" since celebrating Harden’s departure with a win) was their lowest of the season. John Wall and Danuel House remain out for the Rockets. Houston head coach Steven Silas: "We’re dealing with a lot of different things. But mainly without those guys it’s stagger minutes and try to figure it all out." Hopefully, they won’t figure it out until at least one day from now. "Houston off a straight-up loss" is 30-44-1 ATS the last two-plus seasons (worst in the NBA), could get worse under current conditions.

Rating: 2 Units

The Toronto Raptors are not sure whether they will have All-Star Pascal Siakam in the lineup Friday night at their temporary home in Tampa, Fla., when they complete a two-game set against the Miami Heat. Siakam took an awkward fall on a dunk late in the first quarter of the 111-102 loss to the undermanned Heat on Wednesday night and left the game. He returned in the second quarter and finished with 18 points. He did not practice Thursday and his status was uncertain for Friday. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Raptors, who will complete a five-game stretch of home games on Friday. Consider that Miami is 1-8-1 ATS in their last 10 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game, and 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win.

CBB Play of the Day

The over is 12-3 in 49ers last 15 games as a road underdog, 12-3 in 49ers last 15 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, 6-2 in 49ers last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600, and 7-3 in 49ers last 10 games following a ATS win. While the over is 4-0 in Owls last 4 games as a favorite, 6-1 in Owls last 7 overall, and 5-1 in Owls last 6 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.

Rating: 3 Units Mismatch of the Day

The visitor has won the last three meetings, one of them taking place as they were a 2-16 team in C-USA in 2018-19. The pack-line defense they are playing rather well in low possession games is in stark contrast to the no-defense played by the up-tempo opponent that FAU swept last weekend, Florida International. FAU is one of the best underdogs in college hoops over the last two-plus seasons. Unless our calculations are way off, they’ll be favored on their home floor. They scored 107 points in their last game. What went up must come down.

Rating: 2 Units

Detroit is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games, 7-2 ATS in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a losing home record, 9-3 ATS in their last 12 Friday games, 6-2 ATS in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400, and 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 games as a road underdog. In addition, the road team is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.

Rating: 2 Units

Monmouth is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a losing home record, 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games overall, and 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record. While Manhattan is 6-13 ATS in their last 19 games overall, 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win, and 2-8 ATS in their last 10 home games following three or more consecutive road games.

Rating: 2 Units

Ohio is 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games overall. While the road team is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings and the underdog is 19-7-1 ATS in the last 27 meetings.

Rating: 2 Units

IUPUI is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. While Wright State is 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games following three or more consecutive home games,  2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points, and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.

Rating: 2 Units

New York can shift its concerns to other areas, such as scoring. The Rangers have logged eight goals, and same number they have given up in winning one of their first three games. Fingers could point in various directions, but it stands out that center Ryan Strome has yet to record a point and registered just six shots this season. He had a career-high 59 points (18 goals, 41 assists) in 70 games in 2019-20. "(Strome) is still trying to find his game," Quinn said. "He's not happy with the way things have gone in these three games, but, obviously, we need him at the top of his game if we're going to have a chance." Alexis Lafreniere, the first overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, has yet to notch a point and had only two short shifts over the second half of the third period Tuesday. Consider New York is 7-15 in the last 22 meetings.