Sports Handicapper Frank Sawyer's Picks & Predictions

At 10:00 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the Golden State Warriors (522) plus the points versus the Minnesota Timberwolves (521). THE SITUATION: Golden State (8-8) has lost two straight games with their 127-108 loss at Utah as an 8-point underdog on Saturday. Minnesota (4-11) snapped their four-game losing streak on Saturday with their 120-110 upset victory against New Orleans as an 8.5-point underdog.

REASONS TO TAKE THE WARRIORS MINUS THE POINTS: The Timberwolves are likely due for a big emotional letdown after they triumphed over a Pelicans’ team coached by a 1990s’ relic Stan Van Gundy that everyone is handling. Minnesota has failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games after a straight-up victory — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a point spread win. Furthermore, the Timberwolves have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 9 games after an upset win by double-digits — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 13 games after pulling off an upset win as a home underdog getting at least 7 points. Minnesota goes back on the road where they are a mess — they are 1-5 away from home while getting shellacked by -15.0 PPG due to their defense that allows their home hosts to nail 50% of their shots which is resulting in 121.3 PPG. The Timberwolves have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games on the road — and hello, Steph Curry! Golden State has lost their last two games by double-digits as their 19-point loss to the Jazz was preceded by a 119-104 upset loss at home to the Knicks on Thursday. The Warriors have bounced-back to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 14 games after losing two straight games by at least 10 points. Golden State simply did not work very hard on Saturday as they let the Jazz outrebound them by a 69 to 41 margin. Head coach Steve Kerr should see a better effort from this team tonight as they have covered the point spread in 15 of their last 21 games after being outrebounded by at least 15 boards in their last game. This is a good matchup for the Warriors since Minnesota plays no defense while pushing the pace. The T-Wolves average 91 shot attempts-per-game — and Golden State has covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games against opponents who average at least 88 shots-per-game. The Warriors have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 8 home games with the Total set at 220 or higher. Golden State does hold their visitors to just 42.5% shooting.

FINAL TAKE: Minnesota is not very good — and they devolve into pretty ugly when Karl-Anthony Towns is out as he will continue to be with him being in quarantine. D’Angelo Russell has also been downgraded to doubtful with a quad. Lightning struck for the T-Wolves on Saturday — but this is an opportunity for a decent but not great Warriors team to get right after a two-game losing streak. Curry should have a big game making open shots tonight. 10* NBA Monday Late Show Bailout with the Golden State Warriors (522) plus the points versus the Minnesota Timberwolves (521). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:30 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the Dallas Mavericks (518) plus the points versus the Denver Nuggets (517). THE SITUATION: Dallas (8-8) has lost four of their last six games after their 133-108 upset loss at home to Houston on Saturday as a 7-point favorite. Denver (9-7) has won their last three games defeating Phoenix in overtime on Saturday by a 120-112 score as a 2.5-point favorite.

REASONS TO TAKE THE MAVERICKS PLUS THE POINTS: Dallas made only 44.6% of their shots against the Rockets which was the lowest shooting effort in their last three games. But it was the Mavericks’ defense that was the bigger issue on Saturday as they allowed Houston to shoot 54.7% of their shots which was the worst defensive effort in their last 14 games. Dallas should respond with a strong effort as they have bounced-back to cover the point spread in 28 of their last 40 games after a double-digit loss — and they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after a loss by at least 10 points at home. The Mavericks have also covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a point spread loss. Dallas will be shorthanded in this game with Kristaps Porzingis questionable with his right knee he is nursing back to health along with Josh Richardson, Maxi Kleber, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Dwight Powell still in quarantine. But head coach Rick Carlisle still has Luka Doncic and Tim Hardaway leading this team. The Mavericks have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games as an underdog — and they have covered the point spread in 15 of their last 22 games at home as a dog. Denver played their best defensive game of the season by limiting the Suns to just 40.2% shooting from the field which was the lowest opponent’s field goal percentage for them all year. But the Nuggets are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games after a straight-up win — and they are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 games after a point spread victory. This may be a tired team playing their third game on the road in four days with both their games over the weekend in Phoenix going to overtime — and Denver has failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games when playing their third game in four days. The Nuggets have also failed to cover the point spread in 23 of their last 32 games after winning two in a row.

FINAL TAKE: Denver will be looking to avenge a 124-117 upset loss at home to Dallas (playing without Porzingis) on January 7th as a -2.5-point favorite — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 6 opportunities to avenge a loss. The Nuggets have also failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against the Mavericks — and they are just 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games when playing in Dallas. 20* NBA Monday Daily Discounted Deal with the Dallas Mavericks (518) plus the points versus the Denver Nuggets (517). Best of luck for us — Frank.

FRANK’S CUTTING ROOM FLOOR FOR MONDAY, 1/25:

My “Cutting Room Floor” plays are the situations I considered the closest to being worthy of investment but did not make the “final cut” for my official plays today for subscribers. The last play I cut tonight in All-Sports is with Over the Total in the game between the Denver Nuggets and the Dallas Mavericks. Denver (9-7) has won three in a row after their 120-112 win at Phoenix yesterday. The Nuggets have played nine of their last 11 games Over the Total after a win. Denver has also played thirteen of their last sixteen games Over the Total on the road as a favorite. Dallas (8-8) has lost four of their last six after losing at home to Houston by a 133-108 score on Saturday. The Mavericks have played 17 of their last 24 games Over the Total are a loss by at least 20 points. Dallas has also played 5 of their last 7 home games Over the Total as an underdog. Take the Over. Best of luck — Frank.

** Frank Sawyer’s Hollywood Sports CA$HED their NBA play on Charlotte yesterday to continue their 45 of 75 (60%) NBA run! Now Frank RAISES THE STAKES by furthering his 47 of 64 (73%) mark with his highest-rated 25* plays in All-Sports along with his 22 of 31 (71%) NBA 25* mark with his 25* NBA Conference Underdog of the Month! DON’T MISS IT! **

At 9:05 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the Chicago Bulls (516) plus the points versus the Boston Celtics (515). THE SITUATION: Chicago (7-9) had their three-game winning streak snapped on Saturday with their 101-90 loss at home against the Los Angeles Lakers as a 9.5-point underdog. Boston (9-6) ended their three-game losing streak yesterday with their 141-103 thrashing of Cleveland at home as a 6-point favorite.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BULLS PLUS THE POINTS: Chicago shot only 39.3% from the field against the Lakers which their lowest field goal percentage in their last 14 games — and their 90 points scored was a season-low. The Bulls should respond with a big effort as they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after a straight-up loss. Chicago has also covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a point spread defeat. And in their last 9 games playing with one day of rest, the Bulls have covered the point spread in all 9 games. Chicago is starting to find a rhythm under first-year head coach Billy Donovan. They had averaged 121.7 PPG in their three-game winning streak. They are making 47.5% of their shots in the Donovan offense — and they rank 9th in Offensive Efficiency in the league over their last ten games. They will be without Wendell Carter who is doubtful with a thigh injury while Otto Porter may get the night off for rest. But they will have Zach LaVine who is thriving under Donovan’s system by scoring 26.8 PPG — and second-year pro Coby White is developing into a nice compliment. There is a good vibe with this team who is becoming competitive every night. The Bulls have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games against teams with a winning record — and they have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 9 games as an underdog. Boston made 55.9% of their shots yesterday which was the best shooting effort in their last eight games — and the 40% field goal percentage they limited the Cavaliers to was tied for a season-low for them so far this season. Yet the Celtics have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a double-digit victory. This Boston team has been uninspiring this season — they rank just 17th in the NBA in Defensive Efficiency. They lost an important piece in the offseason with Gordon Hayward signing with Charlotte. They added Tristan Thompson — but he has been a disappointment and may be past his prime. Rookie Payton Pritchard has been a nice surprise to how quickly he has acclimated to the NBA — but he is out with a knee injury. Romeo Langford is also questionable with a knee. Head coach Brad Stevens does expect Jayson Tatum to return to the court after COVID quarantine — and who knows if he will have rust. But Stevens is using his return to give Kemba Walker the night off — and he is a vital piece to the equation in their Big Three since his 3-point shooting makes things easier for Tatum and Jaylon Brown. The Celtics go back on the road where they have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games on the road — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 straight road games when favored.

FINAL TAKE: The Bulls have covered the point spread in 18 of their last 26 games in expected high-scoring games with the total set at 220 or higher — and the Celtics have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games with the Over/Under at 220 or higher. 25* NBA Eastern Conference Underdog of the Month with the Chicago Bulls (516) plus the points versus the Boston Celtics (515). Best of luck for us — Frank.