Rating: 2 Units

The Dallas Stars are enduring another mini-slump during their see-saw season and it won’t be easy to break out of it yet as they prepare to host the NHL-best Tampa Bay Lightning tonight. The Stars have lost three of four, managing one goal each in losses to Philadelphia (Thursday) and St. Louis (Saturday) - two of the league’s worst teams - but still hold down a playoff spot in the Western Conference.  Tampa Bay is 18-2-1 in their last 21 games.

Rating: 2 Units

The streaking Indiana Pacers look for their ninth victory in the past 11 games when they host the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. Indiana is a stellar 14-5 at home as it opens a five-game homestand while the Suns are a porous 4-16 on the road. Phoenix begins a stretch of four straight road games and seven of nine.  The clincher:  Indiana is 35-15-2 ATS in their last 52 games playing on 3 or more days rest.

Rating: 2 Units

Jimmy Butler will play against his former team for the first time since being traded when the Philadelphia 76ers host the Minnesota Timberwolves today. Butler clashed with the Minnesota organization prior to the season and was critical of teammates Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins before eventually being dealt to Philadelphia on Nov. 12. The 76ers have gone 20-10 since the trade, but Butler is having trouble fitting in and recently challenged coach Brett Brown about his offensive role. Butler is averaging 18.7 points in 25 games with Philadelphia after being acquired along with center Justin Patton for forwards Robert Covington and Dario Saric and guard Jerryd Bayless.   The clincher:  Philadelphia is 39-18-1 ATS in their last 58 vs. Western Conference.

Rating: 2 Units

LSU is 9-23-4 ATS in their last 36 games following a ATS win, 2-6-3 ATS in their last 11 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600, 2-7-3 ATS in their last 12 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, and 2-8-3 ATS in their last 13 road games. While Mississippi is 11-1 ATS in their last 12 games following a straight up win, 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games overall, and 21-7 ATS in their last 28 games following a ATS win.

Rating: 2 Units

North Carolina State second-year coach Kevin Keatts has put together a competitive team much faster than anybody expected, piecing together a team last season that made it to the NCAA Tournament before taking a squad that returned just three players this season and getting them ranked for the first time in six years. His 16th-ranked Wolfpack hope to continue surging when they visit a struggling Wake Forest team. N.C. State rebounded from a 90-82 loss to No. 15 North Carolina by knocking off the Panthers 86-80 on Saturday. The clincher:  Wake Forest is 9-23 ATS in their last 32 games overall.