The Dallas Mavericks hosts the Seattle Supersonics in a game between the one of the best teams and one of the worst teams in the Western Conference. Dallas shares the NBA’s best home record with the Phoenix Suns. The Seattle Supersonics is having a torrid season where they will probably go to the lottery. A trip to Dallas will expose the vast difference between these 2 teams.

In the past 10 home games against the Supersonics, Dallas had won 8 games. On the ATS, Dallas has a 5-5 record. In their past 10 games, Seattle has won 4 while Dallas won 9. This season, the Mavericks are 20-3 at home while the Supersonics is a woeful 4-16 on the road.

The Mavericks has a fully healthy team. Before their loss at Chicago last week, Dallas had been on an 8-game winning streak. After their dismal start, the Mavericks have been in spectacular form, going on a series of winning streaks. The Supersonics are missing Danny Fortson, Rashard Lewis and Robert Swift. Rashard Lewis is a major player for the Supersonics so his absence is really affecting the Supersonics’ performance. The Mavericks are arguably the deepest team in the league. When Nowitzki has a good night, normally, the Mavericks win. However, Josh Howard, Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse, Devin Harris or Erick Dampier can have an impact as well. For Seattle to win, they will need a gigantic game from Ray Allen. Luke Ridnour and Chris Wilcox will also have to step up their game and play a perfect game. Dallas is looking to go on a run again to match the hot Suns.

Take the Mavericks at -12.5 pts Handicap (Bodog) because they are clearly the more superior team.

The Washington Wizards (26-17) battle the Detroit Pistons (25-17) for the best record in the Eastern Conference. In a recent game played last week in Detroit, the Wizards edged the Pistons 99-96. The significance of this game will be great if Detroit and Washington end up having the same record. Look out for a close game.

In the past 10 home games against the Pistons, Washington had won 2 games. On the ATS, Washington has a 3-6-1 record. In their past 10 games, Washington is 7-3 while Detroit is 5-5. This season, the Wizards are 17-4 at home while the Pistons are 13-8 on the road.

The Pistons has no injury problems. With the recent addition of Chris Webber, Detroit has been playing inspired ball. They are 4-1 with Webber in the starting line-up with the loss coming against the Wizards last week. Detroit will be out to gain a measure of revenge in this game. The Wizards are missing Darius Songalia and Michael Ruffin but their absence will not affect the team much. The Pistons still have the core of their championship team of a few years ago. In Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince and Chris Webber, they are potentially the best starting 5 in the NBA. On the other hand, Washington relies heavily on the performances of Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler. It will be interesting to see how the Pistons defend against these two young hotshots.

Take the Pistons at +2 pts Handicap (Bodog).

It’s Super Bowl time. The Colts are going to the Dolphin Stadium beaming with confidence after their miraculous comeback against the Patriots to win the game 38-34. Peyton Manning has at last shown his dominant form as he threw for 349 yards to lead the Colts back into the game, canceling out an 18-point deficit. With one of the most explosive games in the NFL, the Colts look extremely dangerous especially when they are peaking at just about the right time. It seems everything is going the way of the Colts and it is their destiny to pull this off convincingly. But the Bears are the last team in the NFL you would want to underestimate.

They have a solid running game and when they get their running game going, they mostly win. In the last 24 years, the Bears were 60 and 2 when they manage to run the ball 40 times or more per game and recently, they are 5-1 with more than 100 yards running. If Chicago is going to win this one, they will win it with a running game, because Grossman is a little shaky when it comes to big plays. The Bears are 2-0 against the Colts when they run more than 100 yards in their previous match-ups, and it is obvious they will keep the proven formula going for this Sunday’s game. Bodog gives the Bears a 7-point Handicap and I think the Bears will beat that mark

The Suns are looking to extend their 17-game winning streak at the Target Center tonight, not just to win another game, but to make history. Though they had convincingly routed the Wolves last weekend with a 131-102 victory, it’s a different game this time around. With Kevin Garnett and Ricky Davis back in the lineup, the Wolves are at least in a better position to handle the scorching Suns. Then again, unless Garnett whips up a miracle or two, the Wolves just don’t have the game to stop the fiery assault of Steve Nash and company. Remember that the Wolves just came out of a six-game losing streak and are still in transition with new coach Randy Wittman. But in their last game against the Clippers, which they won 101-87, the Mavericks showed some hints of good defense, resulting in 26 Clipper turnovers.

This is the kind of game they need to slow down the Suns, and it will certainly turn their season around if they manage a win tonight. Between them, Phoenix leads the series 44-23 all time and if nothing too extraordinary happens tonight, they should improve on that record. The Wolves lack power in the paint to handle the fearsome combination of Stoudamire and Marion, and a lot depends on how Wittman intends to play Garnett. A Garnett-Amare matchup always adds excitement to the game. Bodog gives a 7-point Handicap to Minnesota, but I don’t think the Suns to win by so many.

The reigning NBA champions, Miami Heat started their season in such disastrous fashion that they will not even make the playoffs if it started today. However, they have been on a good run recently. The Indiana Pacers used to be a powerhouse in the East but now, they are just an average 21-41 on games played. To shake up the roster, the Pacers were involved in an 8-player mega trade with the Golden State Warriors in which they obtained Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy, Ike Diogu and Keith McLeod. Now, both the Hear and Pacers are playing with a new breeze of optimism.

In the past 10 home games against the Heat, Indiana had won 10 games. On the ATS, Indiana has a 6-3-1 record. Currently, the Heat have won 6 of the last 10 games while the Pacers have won only 4 games. The Pacers are 11-7 at home while the Heat are 9-12 on the road.

The Pacers are missing David Harrison, Keith McLeod and Jamaal Tinsley. Of the 3 injured players, only Tinsley is a regular contributor. Indiana’s fortunes lie with the form of Jermaine O’Neal and keeping Miami’s big guys in check. The Heat are missing Shaq, Dwayne Wade and Wayne Simien. This has disrupted the team for much of the season but Shaq and Wade may return to play Indiana on Wednesday. If this happens, Miami can beat any team as they have displayed in the Finals last year.

Pinnacle gives a 3-point Handicap to the Heat, but I figure the Pacers can overcome that.

This game pits the 2 most offensive teams in the NBA, Phoenix Suns (111.47 PPG) and Washington Wizards (107.45 PPG). Since these two teams play little or no defense, it will surely be a wild, wild roller coaster of a game. The Wizards (-105.90 PPG) are the second worst defensive team while the Suns (-102.52 PPG) rank 7th worst.

In the past 10 home games against the Suns, Washington had won 7 games. On the ATS, Washington has a 6-4 record. Currently, the Suns are on a hot 13-game winning streak while Washington have won 7 of the last 10 games with a mini 4-game winning streak. The Wizards are 17-3 at home while the Suns are 13-5 on the road.

The Suns are missing Kurt Thomas but it’s hardly bothering the team. They share the NBA’s best record with the Dallas Mavericks. The Wizards are missing Michael Ruffin and Darius Songala but these are bit players so it does not really affect the team. The Suns have been winning in such clockwork fashion because Steve Nash is having another MVP type season. Of course, the Suns also have Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudemire, Leandro Barbosa and Raja Bell to form one of the best starting 5 in the league. Really, they have so many weapons to beat any team. As for the Washington Wizards, they do not have a team as deep as the Suns but the heroics of Gilbert Arenas have been nothing short of spectacular. Recently, he dropped 51 points on Utah and hit the game winner at the buzzer. The man is red hot. Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison are also on a roll so the Wizards are well poised to halt the Suns hot streak.

Take the Wizards at +5.5 pts Handicap (Bodog) because Washington has been strong at home.