Lost in Denver pulling away from Minnesota was the fact that the game was tied at halftime. With added incentive, the Timberwolves could very well do the same thing at a Mile High. The Nuggets are only 10-11 ATS at halftime versus teams scoring 116+ points a game. Compare that to the T-Wolves at 12-5 ATS as a road underdog, with a drill down of 8-1 ATS after two quarters as an away underdog of 3.5 to 9.5 points. Let’s polish this off with Minny 14-6 ATS at the half versus three-point shooting teams making 36% or more of their attempts. Bet First Half on T-Wolves +4.5.  

Seattle is still a couple of games below .500, but is showing improvement in winning six of seven at home against AL West foes the past two weekends. The A’s are .500 at 11-11, but their pitching staff allowed the White Sox to jump from last to #25 in permitting 22 runs in dropping the three-game series to the Pale Hose. In fact, the Athletics have surrendered 7.2 RPG in their last five outings, and their #21 bullpen is unlikely to get much rest. Monday's series opener is set to feature a pair of right-handers in the A's J.T. Ginn (0-0, 3.31 ERA) and the Mariners' Emerson Hancock (2-1, 2.28). Ginn’s only thrown nine innings in two starts, though the Mariners are #23 in scoring overall, but #10 at home. Hancock starts for the M’s, and he and his teammates are 8-1 in division battles, including 4-0 at home. 

Normally, this would be a spot I’d strongly consider Ottawa after a close, hard-fought Game 1. But I cannot ignore that the Hurricanes are 23-2 at home in the first round. 

Dallas was terrible in all facets in Game 1 against Minnesota and was hammered. They deserved it. But this isn’t news for the Stars, who have lost seven Game 1s at home in the playoffs over the years and came right back to take six of seven Game 2s. And the Wild have hardly celebrated prosperity, losing five straight Game 2s after their road win in the series opener. I’ll close with this: Home teams like Dallas, off a blowout loss by three goals or more to a division rival, a good team (60% to 70%), playing a marginal winning team (51% to 60%) in the 2nd half of the season, are 26-4.