Sean Murphy Handicapper Review & Free Sports Picks

My selection is on Columbus over Carolina at 7:05 pm et on Tuesday.

The Hurricanes picked up a big win over the Lightning in Tampa on Saturday to assure itself of at least a split on this brief two-game road trip. We'll back the Blue Jackets on Tuesday as they return home off a shootout win in Philadelphia looking to continue to build on their playoff push. Carolina has travelled well over the years but hasn't been quite as consistent away from home this season, going 18-13-4. The Blue Jackets have really had to turn it on after a poor first half to the season and they've done just that, going 16-6 over their last 22 games. They've curiously lost three of their last four games at home but all three of those defeats came in overtime. The last time the Jackets faced the Hurricanes it was no contest as Carolina rolled to a 4-1 victory in Raleigh on December 9th. Keep in mind, Columbus was playing awful hockey at the time, mired what would turn out to be a five-game losing streak as part of a 3-11 slide. It's a much different story in this rematch and we're getting a generous price to back the Jackets on home ice. Take Columbus (8*).

Eastern Conference Game of the Year. My selection is on New York over Toronto at 7:05 pm et on Tuesday.

The Maple Leafs have looked very much like a team with nothing to lose lately, reeling off two wins in their last three games, collecting five of a possible six points over that stretch with the lone loss coming in shootout fashion against the surging Sabres. I don't expect their run to continue on Tuesday, however, as they return home off a big 'upset' win over the Wild on Sunday to host the Islanders. This will be a homecoming of sorts for Islanders super-rookie Matthew Schaefer, who grew up just outside of Toronto. I like the spot for New York as it has played some of its best hockey on the road this season, going 20-16-3. The Isles have the crucial rest advantage at this late stage of the regular season as well having not played since Saturday's 3-2 win over Calgary. There are certainly positives to take away from that victory but I'm sure head coach Patrick Roy was displeased by his team letting off the gas after building a 3-0 first period lead in that contest. The Isles still aren't being priced as an elite team on most nights but the fact is they're 11-5 over their last 16 games. With that being said, they're still fighting for a playoff spot, currently third place in the Metropolitan Division but with little breathing room over the Red Wings and Blue Jackets. This is a critical spot with the schedule about to get tougher with a string of three straight games against the Senators, Canadiens and the aforementioned Blue Jackets - all teams chasing them down in the playoff race. Take New York (10*).

My selection is on Denver minus the points over Philadelphia at 10:10 pm et on Tuesday.

The banged-up 76ers have caught a break from the schedule makers recently, managing to win three of their last four games thanks to a stretch that included dates with the Grizzlies, Pistons, Nets and Trail Blazers. The lone loss over that stretch came where you would expect, on the road against the Pistons, and it came in blowout fashion (by 22 points). I'm anticipating a similar outcome as Philadelphia hits the road to face the Nuggets on Tuesday. Denver is rested and figures to be in a foul mood after Saturday's overtime loss to the red hot Lakers in Los Angeles. You can certainly see the wheels turning for Denver offensively in recent games. The problem is that its defense hasn't been along for the ride. Keep in mind, the Nuggets last six games have come against the Lakers (twice), Knicks, Thunder, Rockets and Spurs. The schedule eases up beginning on Tuesday and I look for a full-strength Denver team to take full advantage. Take Denver (8*).

My selection is on New York minus the points over Indiana at 7:40 pm et on Tuesday.

The Knicks had their hands full with the Thunder on Sunday, needing a second half rally to pull out a win but non-cover. I expect them to have a much easier time on Tuesday as they host the injury-riddled Pacers, who are simply playing out the string at this point. Indiana can only send a G-League calibre lineup to the court on most nights due to a long list of injuries. The Pacers did give the Knicks all they could handle last Friday in Indiana but that was thanks to an off shooting night from New York (42% from the field and 29% from three-point range). As I mentioned, Sunday's game against the Thunder ended up being a close call for the Knicks but that was a difficult spot returning home on just one day of rest following a five-game road trip that took them all over the map. There is a chance we see New York rest Jalen Brunson in this game but I'm not sure that it matters. This has been a tightly-contested series in three previous meetings this season but I think the Pacers are out of gas at this point, checking in on a 13-game losing streak, going 1-12 ATS over that stretch. Take New York (8*).

Western Conference Game of the Week. My selection is on San Antonio minus the points over Sacramento at 10:10 pm et on Tuesday.

The Spurs narrowly avoided an 'upset' loss against a revenge-minded, albeit Kawhi-less Clippers team in Los Angeles last night. I'm not overly concerned about them laying points in this back-to-back situation though. San Antonio has the depth to contend with these type of spots and it helps that the opponent is the lowly Kings, coming off back-to-back wins, no less. Sacramento has actually reeled off five straight ATS victories putting it into uncharted territory as that marks its season-high (its previous high was four). Keep in mind, Sacramento's last five games have come against the Bulls, Pacers, Hornets, Clippers and Jazz with four of those contests coming at home - not exactly the toughest schedule. The Kings are home again tonight but I look for their run to come to an end. Despite shooting better than its season average in both previous meetings with the Spurs, they still lost by 13 and 17 points. The Spurs are off consecutive ATS defeats but haven't dropped the cash in three straight games since mid-January. Take San Antonio (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Cleveland and Milwaukee at 8:10 pm et on Tuesday.

Off an embarrassing 130-120 'upset' loss at home against the Mavericks, you have to figure this is a spot where the Cavaliers look to clamp down defensively. We know they're capable. In fact, they're just one game removed from holding that same Dallas team to only 105 points on the road. They've been alternating good and bad defensive efforts lately and I think we see a good one in this manageable road date with the Bucks on Tuesday. Milwaukee scored 134 points against the Pacers on Sunday. That's after being held to 114 points or less in nine straight contests. I'm willing to chalk that performance up as an anomaly. Prior to connecting on 49 field goals against Indiana, Milwaukee had been limited to 42 or fewer made field goals in eight of its last nine contests. Take the under (8*).