Vegas Play of the Day: Toronto vs. Houston in NBA Summer League

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Monday, July 13, 2015 | 9:42 a.m.

We've reset the Play of the Day with fresh bankrolls and turned it into a yearly competition. Our three sports writers have re-started with $10,000 bankrolls to continue using on odds from the South Point.

Toronto Raptors vs. Houston Rockets in NBA Summer League — Total Over 167.5: $330 to win $300: With Major League Baseball on its four day all-star break, it’s slim pickings on the betting odds board. This is the time of the year handicappers take the week off to gear up for the football season, and sports books have shortened hours of operations.

The NBA Summer League on the UNLV campus provides the best opportunity to find a wager.. Yes, they put betting numbers on these celebrated scrimmages. And, yes, they are impossible to handicap. With that said, there’s small value in playing the Houston Rockets over the points total because they have scored more than 100 points in both summer league games.

Sunday, the Rockets beat Phoenix, 108-89; Friday, the took down the D-League all-stars, 111-104. More important, the referees used in the summer league, just like the players, are auditioning for a job during the regular season. They constantly are calling fouls, which is why players are given 10 fouls before they are disqualified in the summer. It’s six fouls the regular season. More fouls lead to more free throws, and scoring with the clock stopped is the best way for a total in basketball to go over the spread.

Here’s hoping everyone enjoys their handicapping break. And, for us betting junkies, here’s hoping you can cash a ticket in the summer league. Cheers!

Current Standings: (as of July 1): Brewer (4-1, $11,400), Bern (1-0, $10,400), Keefer (1-5, $7,260)

Lifetime Records: 2014-15 champion Bern (86-74-1), Keefer (85-90-2), Brewer (75-90-2)

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21