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NBA Betting Info. 1/13

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  • NBA Betting Info. 1/13

    NBA notebook: Wizards' Wall to have knee checked
    By The Sports Xchange


    Washington Wizards point guard John Wall will undergo tests on his sore left knee.
    Wall led the Wizards to a win at Chicago on Monday night and scored 17 points with 10 assists and five rebounds, but he continues to be bothered by soreness above his left knee.
    Wall is averaging a career-best 19.6 points and 9.6 assists -- the second-best average in the NBA -- and has not missed a game this season despite dealing with multiple nagging injuries, including ankle and rib ailments.


    ---The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired the Portland Trail Blazers' protected 2020 second-round NBA Draft from the Orlando Magic in exchange for guard Joe Harris, the Sacramento Kings' 2017 protected second-round pick owned by the Cavs and cash.
    Harris played in five games for the Cavaliers this season and 10 games for the Canton Charge in the NBA Development League. A second-round draft pick in 2014, Harris had foot surgery on Tuesday in Indianapolis to repair a fifth metatarsal apophysis.


    ---The Denver Nuggets signed guard Sean Kilpatrick to a 10-day contract.
    Kilpatrick has started 21 of 22 games for the Delaware 87ers of the NBA Development League this season and is averaging 27.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.14 steals. He provides depth after Nuggets point guard Jameer Nelson missed Sunday's game against the Charlotte Hornets with a right hip injury and is listed as day to day.

  • #2
    Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/13

    Three-pointer: Clips to be tested
    By Tony Mejia


    The nonsensical hot take that the Clippers are better off without Blake Griffin is growing louder. The All-Star power forward, who was playing at an all-NBA level before being lost to torn quad tendon following a Christmas night win against the Lakers, has now watched his team win eight consecutive games without him.


    For the record, they’re winning in spite of his absence, not because of it. Griffin is averaging 23.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. The Clips run a lot of offense through him, which helps take pressure off Chris Paul, making the game easier since they flourish playing the two-man game.


    While it’s great that the Clippers have responsibly stepped up with Griffin gone, they haven’t beaten a single team with a winning record on the nine-game winning streak they take into Wednesday’s home date against Miami. The Heat have been nursing their own injuries over the past week, but represents the best team L.A. has seen since a 100-99 loss to Oklahoma City on Dec. 21.


    Take a look at the Clippers’ victims. The 76ers are on the list, 130-99 losers at home. L.A. has beaten the Pelicans twice, only running into Anthony Davis once. Injury-plagued Charlotte, which enters the week with seven straight setbacks, have also lost a pair. The Jazz were without Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert in their loss. Slumping Portland had Damian Lillard back, but he shot 7-for-25.


    This isn’t to disparage L.A.’s role in its success, but to point out they haven’t exactly faced murderer’s row. Paul Pierce, Wesley Johnson and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute have gotten the bulk of the frontcourt minutes in Griffin’s absence, which served to reduce expectations enough that the last seven of L.A.’s wins before Sunday’s OT win over New Orleans also managed to cover the spread.


    Six of the wins came on the road, which is impressive regardless of the competition, but don’t listen to the noise that Griffin’s contributions somehow hold them back. Odds are good that he’ll be back by the time the Clippers go back to living out of suitcases for a five-game East trek that begins in Cleveland on Jan. 21, so this stint of Staples Center games against Miami, Sacramento and rival Houston should be particularly challenging. All three teams will be underdogs at Staples, but have been playing at a significantly higher level than the opponents L.A. has defeated of late.


    Spurs, Cavs remain on collision course


    The teams that entered the week with the second-longest winning streaks in the NBA just happen to be my projected Finals participants, San Antonio and Cleveland. Both carried seven-game surges into action and have a few hurdles to clear before squaring off in a nationally-televised Thursday night showcase. The Spurs already cleared their first in winning their eighth straight by destroying Brooklyn.


    Head coach Gregg Popovich has done a masterful job building around Kawhi Leonard while getting LaMarcus Aldridge settled in, accomplishing this without over-working any of the veterans. The Spurs have lost two games out of 21 since December began. Their largest loss of the season came by six points on opening night. Overshadowed by Golden State’s incredible 36-2 start, San Antonio’s dominance has flown under the radar.


    Cleveland has lost only once in games that Kyrie Irving has appeared in since his return from a kneecap fracture suffered in Game 1 of the 2015 Finals. Although he’s still working his way back into a rhythm, his mere presence has made LeBron James and Kevin Love more efficient. Tristan Thompson, who will be vital against Aldridge and Tim Duncan, has been impressive defensively and on the boards. Over the past four wins, J.R. Smith, who is going to be the beneficiary of open looks due to the attention everyone else gets, has shot 22-for-42 from 3-point range, averaging 22.5 points per game. He’s got the green light and the Cavs offense is flourishing.


    These teams will meet again in Cleveland on Jan. 30, but you can expect this one to be played with a playoff intensity. The Spurs are perfect 22-0 at home this season, which makes this a tremendous opportunity for both teams to send a message to an opponent they’ll be expecting to see come June.


    Raptors-Magic goes international


    Both Orlando and Toronto will play only one game this week, but they’re already on the clock as ambassadors for the NBA in London before playing at O2 Arena on Thursday.


    For Europeans like Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier and Mario Hezonja as well as Toronto’s Jonas Valanciunas, it’s an opportunity to play a game on their home continent, but it’s always worth monitoring to see how the teams are handling their roles off the floor in a Global Games setting.


    The Raptors have been over to London back in 2011, marking the first time a regular-season game was played in Europe, while a young Orlando team actually has a lot of experience in other countries, playing in Rio de Janeiro this preseason and exhibitions in China and Mexico over the past decade.


    Toronto has won and covered in each of its last three games, all on the road. The Raptors have pulled four games ahead of Boston in the Atlantic Division and own a 1-0 edge on the Magic in the season series, having won in Orlando on Nov. 6. They’re playing without small forward DeMarre Carroll, who got his knee scoped last week and is out indefinitely, which means James Johnson and Terrence Ross have gotten extended minutes.


    The Magic have been without Elfrid Payton since suffering an ankle contusion on Jan. 2 and are 1-5 in ’16. Orlando has covered only once in its last seven games and has seen a dip in the production of Fournier, once the team’s leading scorer due to multiple nagging injuries as well. After averaging 17.8 points in November, he averaged 11.6 in December and is down to 9.5 through the first six games in January, shooting less than 26 percent from 3-point range.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/13

      Preview: Hawks (23-15) at Hornets (17-20)


      Date: January 13, 2016 7:00 PM EDT


      The Atlanta Hawks excel in scoring in the paint and the Charlotte Hornets do not - a fact that has been decisive in two meetings this season.


      The visiting Hawks can improve to 3-0 against their Southeast Division rivals by handing the Hornets an eighth straight defeat Wednesday night.


      Atlanta (23-15) is averaging 45.0 points in the paint while Charlotte (17-20) is at 38.2. The Hawks outscored the Hornets by an average of 43-31 there in winning 97-94 on Oct. 30 and 94-92 two days later.


      Al Horford was a big reason for that advantage as he totaled 34 points and 16 rebounds. Things should be easier for the big man this time since he won't have to contend with the injured Al Jefferson.


      Horford figures to be confident after he scored a season-high 33 points with 10 rebounds in Saturday's 120-105 victory that ended Chicago's six-game win streak. The Hawks finished with 66 points in the paint - two off their season high.


      "We understood this was a good measuring stick game for us," Horford said. "They're a really good team, they just won six straight so we know the effort had to be there more than ever."


      The Hawks have scored 246 points with 69 assists while shooting 52.7 percent in their last two games with 48 fast-break points.


      'We got up and down, guys were running the floor, we rolled to the basket, got easy lobs and things like that,' point guard Jeff Teague said. 'That's how we have to play for us to be a good team."


      Teague will match up with Kemba Walker, the Hornets' leading scorer at 19.0 points per game. Teague has outscored Walker 32-30 in the first two meetings.


      Walker has been held to consecutive 11-point efforts in which he is shooting 25.0 percent.


      The Hornets are more concerned about the other end of the court in their longest losing streak since a 10-game slide last season. They are allowing an average of 107.0 points in this skid compared to 98.9 prior to the slide.


      "It's the defense, obviously," coach Steve Clifford said. "We've got to get back to, in the games 12 through 23, we were the second-best defensive team in the league against a good schedule so we're capable of much better."


      Second leading scorer Nicolas Batum, who averages 16.0 points, returned with a nine-point effort in Sunday's 95-92 loss at Denver after missing four games with a sprained right toe.


      Hawks forward Thabo Sefolosha is uncertain after he sat out Saturday with a right wrist injury. Coach Mike Budenholzer described the injury as 'a little bit of a problem' and hopes Sefolosha won't miss much time.


      The Hornets, back home after a four-game trip, know they will have their hands full with the Southeast leaders, who have won 15 of 18 in the series since the beginning of the 2011-12 season.


      "Everybody knows how good Atlanta is and of course they beat us twice early on in the season," Walker said. "We just want to go out and play hard and execute our game plan and try our best to come out with a big win."

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/13

        Preview: Bucks (16-24) at Wizards (17-19)


        Date: January 13, 2016 7:00 PM EDT


        A pair of road wins have the injury-riddled Washington Wizards building momentum as they try to avoid their longest home losing streak in two years.


        A matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks could be just what they need.


        The Wizards attempt to snap their four-game home losing streak by continuing their success against the Bucks on Wednesday night.


        Washington (17-19) is without Bradley Beal (right leg) and Kris Humphries (right knee), while Marcin Gortat's sore left knee could sideline him a second straight game.


        Scoring depth was key to overcoming those absences Monday, with seven Wizards reaching double figures in a 114-100 win at Chicago.


        "I believe in these guys," said guard John Wall, who had 17 points and 10 assists. "I see these guys put in work every day, and I put in the work every day also, and if these guys get open, I believe they're going to make shots."


        Washington could get a lift if Gortat returns. The center averages 13.4 points and 9.7 rebounds but was scratched Monday after getting 12 and 10 in Saturday's 105-99 win at Orlando.


        "I don't know if it's a staph infection. Just a small cut on his knee from diving on the floor, and something got in there," coach Randy Wittman said, "and it swelled up and he had a high temperature. So we know it's an infection of some kind, we just got to do the treatment."


        If Gortat is out, Nene would start at center again after scoring 14 points while making 7 of 11 from the field against the Bulls.


        The Wizards, though, are averaging 92.7 points while losing three straight games at home, and they last dropped four straight there from Jan. 1-11, 2014.


        But Washington has won nine of its last 11 matchups with Milwaukee (16-24), including a 115-86 rout in the nation's capital Nov. 17. Six Wizards scored in double digits, with Wall and Otto Porter leading the way with 19 points apiece.


        Washington has won three straight at home over the Bucks by an average of 17.7 points.


        Milwaukee is trying to build on its own win over the Bulls, a 106-101 victory Tuesday thanks in large part to Giannis Antetokounmpo. The forward had 29 points, 10 rebounds and five assists after totaling 13, 15 and six over the two previous games.


        "That's what we need from him," said Greg Monroe, who added 17 points and 12 boards. "He's at his best when he's attacking the rim and getting into the lane."


        Antetokounmpo had no trouble doing that against the Wizards on Oct. 30, scoring 27 points with nine rebounds in a 118-113 home loss. He struggled in the defeat at Washington, scoring nine points on 3-for-13 shooting.


        Monroe also had a tough time at Verizon Center, finishing with a season-low four points while missing 5 of 6 from the floor. He had 22 against the Wizards at home in October, and enters this meeting averaging 20.8 points over the last four road games.


        Khris Middleton leads the Bucks with 16.9 points per game, but he's putting up 23.8 while connecting on 49.6 percent from the floor - 47.7 from 3-point range - over the past eight contests.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/13

          Preview: Knicks (20-20) at Nets (10-28)


          Date: January 13, 2016 7:30 PM EDT


          The New York Knicks haven't owned a winning record in almost two months. Getting there might require overcoming Carmelo Anthony's absence.


          While Anthony's status is unknown, the Knicks look to continue their surge and send the Brooklyn Nets to an 11th straight home loss Wednesday night.


          New York (20-20) has followed a four-game slide by winning six of eight. The Knicks have a chance to move above .500 for the first time since they were 8-7 following a loss at Miami on Nov. 23.


          They may have to do it without Anthony, who suffered a sprained right ankle when he ran into a referee heading up the floor before halftime of Tuesday's 120-114 win over Boston. He left 19 seconds into the third quarter and X-rays were negative.


          New York also won despite Kristaps Porzingis, who finished with 26 points, fouling out in the fourth quarter.


          "There's turning points in seasons, and I think this is a good turning point for us," said forward Derrick Williams, who had 15 points and a season-high 10 rebounds. "When KP fouls out and Melo got injured, things like that happen. It's a team effort, and it gives those guys confidence in us that we can pull out games even when they're not on the court."


          That confidence will be vital if Anthony is out. He leads the team with 21.6 points per game and had 28 in a 108-91 home win over the Nets on Dec. 4 after the Knicks lost all four matchups last season.


          Porzingis contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds. The rookie forward is averaging 23.0 points on 52.0 percent from the floor - 8 for 21 from beyond the arc - over the last three games.


          The Knicks have split six visits to Brooklyn, losing the last two after falling 92-88 on Feb. 6. However, they should like their chances this time since the Nets (10-28) have lost 10 straight for their longest slide at Barclays Center.


          It's also the second-longest in franchise history. They dropped 14 in a row in New Jersey from Jan. 29-March 22, 2010.


          The current losing streak was in no danger of ending Monday when the Nets were thumped 106-79 by San Antonio, one day after the firings of general manager Billy King and coach Lionel Hollins.


          "We ran into a sledgehammer of a team," interim coach Tony Brown said. "They definitely know how to play together and that's something we're going to strive and try to do here."


          Brook Lopez was again a bright spot, averaging a team-high 19.7 points and 8.5 rebounds. He led the way with 18 points against the Spurs, while the rest of the starters combined for 35.


          The center has averaged 23.0 points on 55.4 percent shooting over his last five home meetings with New York. He scored 22 while adding nine rebounds and six blocks off the bench Feb. 6.


          Brown may opt to start Wayne Ellington and Donald Sloan in the back court again, but they combined for 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting Monday. Sloan got the nod ahead of Shane Larkin, who started the previous four games after Jarrett Jack was lost for the season with a torn ACL.

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          • #6
            Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/13

            Preview: Pacers (22-16) at Celtics (19-19)


            Date: January 13, 2016 8:00 PM EDT


            The Boston Celtics are searching for answers during their longest losing streak of the season. They may not find them against an opponent that's had their number.


            The Celtics limp home looking to end a frustrating four-game skid in Wednesday night's matchup with the Indiana Pacers.


            An inability to win close games has Boston (19-19) at .500 for the first time since it was 7-7 on Nov. 24. The Celtics have lost four times by six points or less during a 1-6 stretch that began with home defeats to two of the league's worst teams, the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn.


            'Very frustrating, especially when they're winnable games,' guard Isaiah Thomas said. 'We're just not doing enough of the little things to win these games."


            Offensive woes have been the biggest contributor to the tailspin, though the Celtics were let down by their usually reliable defense in Tuesday's 120-114 loss at New York. The Knicks were 13 of 18 from the field during a 35-point fourth quarter and shot 53.1 percent overall, the second-highest mark by a Boston opponent this season.


            "It's hard not to think that basket's bigger than it is because of the way we defended them," coach Brad Stevens said.


            The Celtics shot 38.3 percent and averaged 94.7 points over their previous three losses, and they've been woeful from the 3-point line throughout their seven-game slump, making 25.5 percent.


            Those numbers don't match up well against Indiana (22-16), among the NBA's top defensive teams. The Pacers have been especially stingy during the new calendar year, limiting opponents to 93.5 points per game and 39.2 percent shooting while winning four of six.


            They improved to 19-3 when allowing less than 100 points with Tuesday's 116-97 victory over depleted Phoenix. The Pacers showed some offensive skill as well, particularly during a fourth quarter in which they outscored the Suns 36-21 while hitting 14 of 21 shots.


            "We have a lot of guys that can score the ball," said George Hill, who had 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting. "It's on us. When we have those bad shooting nights, it's because we're forcing, not making the extra pass and playing the right way."


            Hill is 18 of 31 from 3-point range while averaging 15.6 points over a seven-game span.


            Boston has received plenty of production from Thomas, who followed up a 35-point effort in Sunday's 101-98 loss at Memphis with 34 against the Knicks. Marcus Smart is shooting 21.6 percent over his last four, however, and Evan Turner was 7 of 24 while averaging 5.7 points over the team's 0-3 trip.


            Turner had 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting in Indiana's Nov. 11 visit to TD Garden, but the Pacers held Thomas to 14 in earning a 102-91 win. Paul George finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds that night and had the same line in Indiana's 100-98 home victory over Boston a week earlier.


            Boston, which has lost three straight and six of eight at home, has dropped seven of 10 in the series.


            Indiana's Rodney Stuckey is questionable for the game after exiting Tuesday's contest with a right foot injury.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/13

              Preview: Mavericks (22-17) at Thunder (27-12)


              Date: January 13, 2016 8:00 PM EDT


              After succumbing to a long night against LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, now the Dallas Mavericks must face Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.


              The visiting Mavericks figure to be the more tired team after an overtime loss although the Oklahoma City Thunder are also playing the second half of a back-to-back set Wednesday night.


              Dallas (22-17) fell 110-107 at home to Cleveland on Tuesday. James had three points and an assist on Irving's 3-pointer in a 6-2 run over the final minute of the extra session, and they combined for 49 points.


              "We can't hang our heads," forward Chandler Parsons told the Mavericks' official website. "We've got the same type of monster tomorrow night in OKC, dealing with similar personnel with Westbrook and Durant. It's not going to get easier going forward, so we've got to lock in get back at it tomorrow."


              Three Mavericks logged at least 40 minutes, including the starting backcourt of Deron Williams and Wesley Matthews. Dallas built an early 16-point lead.


              'We knew we weren't going to blow them out. We knew that the lead at some point was going to get chipped away,' Matthews said. 'But this was our game. We should have won it and we didn't.'


              Fatigue will be a factor versus the Thunder, who won 101-96 at Minnesota on Tuesday. Durant scored Oklahoma City's final 12 points over the last 2:54 in a 30-point effort.


              'It felt like I need to get it going in the first three quarters,' he said. 'I can't just come out and try to save the game and make shots in the fourth. I've got to get it going earlier. I've got to make shots, man. That's what it's about.'


              Westbrook added 22 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds as Oklahoma City (27-12) won for the seventh time in nine games.


              The Mavericks will face Durant for the first time since he was out when the Thunder won 117-114 on Nov. 22. Westbrook had 31 points and 11 assists, scoring Oklahoma City's final six points as it held on down the stretch.


              Williams and Matthews combined for 38 points that night.


              Dallas is 6-3 in the second half of back-to-backs and Oklahoma City is 2-4. It's not clear who will even play for the Mavericks after Tuesday's grueling loss.


              Last Tuesday, Dallas won in two overtimes at home over Sacramento. The next night, coach Rick Carlisle rested Williams, Matthews, Dirk Nowitzki and Zaza Pachulia in a 100-91 win at New Orleans. Parsons was the only regular starter who remained in the lineup.


              Parsons led Dallas with a season-high 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting Tuesday. Nowitzki had 17 points and 11 boards.


              Nowitzki entered Tuesday averaging 8.0 points on catch-and-shoot attempts to rank third in the NBA. Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka was seventh at 7.1 per game.


              The Thunder have won nine of their last 11 at home over the Mavs, including two playoff wins. Tuesday's victory completed their longest trip of the season to this point at 2-1.


              "It was a good trip for us, we won more than we lost," Durant said. "We're looking forward to coming home and playing in front of our great fans."


              Dallas is opening a three-game trip that includes matchups with Chicago and San Antonio.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/13

                Preview: Timberwolves (12-27) at Rockets (20-19)


                Date: January 13, 2016 8:00 PM EDT


                The Houston Rockets have their swagger back, and it's showing during a four-game winning streak.


                They'll have a chance for another confidence-building result when the floundering Minnesota Timberwolves visit Toyota Center on Wednesday night.


                After failing to meet expectations over the season's first two months, Houston (20-19) has begun to resemble the free-wheeling team that reached the 2015 Western Conference finals in matching its longest unbeaten run of this campaign. Improved efficiency on both ends has triggered the turnaround, with the Rockets having regained their touch from the 3-point arc and shored up a defense that was often non-existent during their sluggish start.


                Those strides were evident in Tuesday's 107-91 win at rival Memphis, where Houston was 18 of 35 on 3s and outscored the Grizzlies 24-8 over the final 7:13.


                "I think our guys are in a great spot right now," interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "There's confidence, there's belief, there's togetherness, there's poise, all those things that we talked about in October are starting to come to fruition. When things kept coming, times got hard, we didn't fracture, we stayed together."


                The Rockets have shot 43.0 percent from 3 over the last nine games after a 33.5 percent rate over the first 30. They're allowing 95.8 points per game during the win streak after permitting 116.5 in losing their previous four.


                Houston is 16-12 since Bickerstaff replaced Kevin McHale on Nov. 18 and can move two games over .500 for the first time this season by extending the Timberwolves' losing streak to eight games.


                Minnesota (12-27) has dropped 11 of 12 overall and eight of nine on the road, though there were a few encouraging signs in Tuesday's 101-96 home loss to Northwest Division-leading Oklahoma City. With second-year pros Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine leading the way, the Timberwolves cut an 18-point third-quarter deficit down to three in the final minute.


                "OKC's a really good team and got off to a really quick start on us, but everyone played well tonight,' said forward Shabazz Muhammad. "We have to carry that on to tomorrow night."


                Wiggins scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half and is averaging 26.0 over his last three games. Muhammad is averaging 19.3 during that stretch after recording 20 on Tuesday.


                LaVine added 21 points to break out of a horrendous seven-game slump in which the 20-year-old managed 21 total while shooting 20.5 percent.


                "He slowed down, he was patient, he found his rhythm shooting the ball," coach Sam Mitchell said. "The thing we've been telling Zach is just focus on running a basketball team, playing defense and everything else will come. I thought he played his best game."


                The Timberwolves still failed to score 100 points for a 12th consecutive game and could have trouble keeping up with the high-powered Rockets, fourth in the league at 104.0 points per game. Minnesota hasn't had a longer stretch of games without reaching the century mark since going 16 in a row in 2004.


                The Timberwolves also have to defend the perimeter better after allowing opponents to shoot 40.4 percent on 3-pointers over their last four. Houston's Patrick Beverley is 17 of 27 from 3 over his last eight and Trevor Ariza 7 of 14 in the last two.


                Minnesota wasn't able to stop James Harden last season, as the 2015 MVP runner-up averaged 31.3 points in leading Houston to a four-game sweep. The Rockets have won eight of nine in the series and five straight at home.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/13

                  Preview: Warriors (36-2) at Nuggets (14-24)


                  Date: January 13, 2016 9:00 PM EDT


                  On pace to shatter the NBA's season wins record, the Golden State Warriors are starting to look ahead to the bigger prize.


                  With Draymond Green not expected to play, the Warriors vie for an eighth consecutive victory Wednesday night against the Denver Nuggets.


                  Golden State will play its fourth game in six days when it visits Denver and hosts the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, a grueling stretch that has interim coach Luke Walton contemplating resting some key players. Among those is Green, averaging a team-high 34.9 minutes while playing in all 38 games.


                  Walton also mentioned giving breaks to veterans Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston during the back-to-back sequence.


                  "They always want to play but they also understand the big picture," Walton said during Tuesday's practice. "I think earlier in the season it was tough to have them included in the conversation, but this is a hard part of the season. Guys are worn down and I think they understand now if we come to them with the training staff, if they think it's a smart idea to give them a night or two off here or there, then they'll be more receptive to that."


                  Green was forced into heavier minutes with Harrison Barnes sidelined 16 games by a sprained ankle and Stephen Curry missing two with a shin injury. Both have since returned to give Walton the option of reducing the versatile forward's court time.


                  "Now that we have Harrison back (Green's) definitely a guy we can look into giving a little bit of time off to," Walton said.


                  Depth has been a prime reason why Golden State (36-2) is halfway to the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls' league mark of 72 wins three games prior to the season's midpoint. It was again a factor in Monday's 111-103 victory over Miami, with the bench sparking a pivotal 12-4 run to begin the fourth quarter after the Heat pulled within 80-77 after three.


                  'They came in and took control of the game and got us to the finish line," said Curry, who combined with backcourt mate Klay Thompson for a 17-of-42 shooting effort.


                  Barnes contributed 12 points in his fifth game back and totaled 38 in two of the Warriors' three wins over Denver (14-24) this season. He sat out a 111-108 overtime victory in Oakland on Jan. 2 in which Curry was limited to 14 minutes and Green compiled 29 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists.


                  That loss was part of a seven-game skid for the Nuggets, but they've since won two of three as they've gotten healthier. Leading scorer Danilo Gallinari is averaging 25.8 points in five games since returning from a sprained ankle, while rookie Emmanuel Mudiay (ankle) had 11 and six assists in his first game back from a month-long absence during Sunday's 95-92 win over slumping Charlotte.


                  Gallinari recorded 27 points and the Nuggets held on despite going scoreless over the final 4:17.


                  'It was kind of an ugly win at the end,' he said. 'I'll take it. We needed one.'


                  Denver was without Kenneth Faried (personal) for a second straight game and Jameer Nelson sat out with a hip injury, though both are expected to play Wednesday.


                  The Nuggets, playing the second of a season-high eight-game homestand, have lost four straight and six of seven in the series. Golden State earned a 118-103 win at Denver on Nov. 22.


                  The Warriors have 40, 35 and 34 assists in the season series, three of their top seven totals in 2015-16.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/13

                    Preview: Pelicans (11-26) at Kings (15-22)


                    Date: January 13, 2016 10:00 PM EDT


                    It's not too early for the Sacramento Kings to think that this week represents a crucial stretch in their bid to earn a playoff spot for the first time in 10 seasons.


                    They start an important back-to-back set Wednesday night when they host a struggling New Orleans Pelicans team that may be without star forward Anthony Davis.


                    Sacramento (15-22) is in ninth place in the Western Conference standings, two games behind Utah. Both teams play Wednesday before they meet Thursday in Salt Lake City.


                    Coach George Karl emphasized Monday how important sweeping this set would be.


                    "I told the team today that every season comes down to a tiebreaker, every season comes down to a one game situation," Karl told the Kings' official website. "We can put a foot forward in that situation if we take care of business starting Wednesday."


                    The Kings' chances of winning will be greater if Davis misses a third straight game because of a bruised back. Davis, who leads the club with averages of 22.8 points and 10.8 rebounds, was injured when he dove over the first row of seats chasing a loose ball early in a 91-86 home loss to Indiana on Friday.


                    Coach Alvin Gentry said the club is being cautious and decided not to play him in Tuesday's 95-91 road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. New Orleans (11-26) has now lost four straight and fell to 0-5 without Davis after getting outscored 10-2 in the final 2:14.


                    The coach didn't want to use the superstar's absence as an excuse.


                    "It's about playing hard and competing, that's what it's about," Gentry said. "If we play hard and compete and then we don't have enough talent, then we'll talk about that."


                    The absence of Davis would make Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins clearly the best player on the floor. Cousins leads all NBA players with an average of 32.4 points in 2016, shooting 51.4 percent in that five-game stretch in which he is also averaging 13.0 rebounds.


                    The sixth-year power forward is eager for his first taste of the postseason.


                    "It's been a better feeling, a better vibe," Cousins said. "It's the best vibe I've seen since I've been in Sacramento."


                    He had 33 points and 10 rebounds in Saturday's 128-116 home defeat to Golden State. Rudy Gay added 23 points and Rajon Rondo handed out 12 assists.


                    The Kings may get a major weapon back in Omri Casspi, who has returned to practice after missing the last four games with a sore upper back. Casspi is fourth in the league in 3-point shooting at 47.7 percent.


                    Former Sacramento guard Tyreke Evans is averaging 22.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists as a visitor to Sleep Train Arena, with the Pelicans going 3-1.


                    Evans scored 21 on Tuesday for New Orleans, which is shooting 39.1 percent in this losing streak. The Pelicans are 1-7 in the second of back-to-back games.


                    'You just have to decide if you are going to play hard every night and if we want to have a good team,' Gentry said. 'That's the bottom line. It doesn't involve soul-searching. It involves looking in the mirror and being able to say, `I gave the best effort that I could tonight.' That's not what we are getting.'

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/13

                      Preview: Jazz (17-20) at Trail Blazers (16-24)


                      Date: January 13, 2016 10:00 PM EDT


                      The Utah Jazz are after their longest win streak of the season with Rudy Gobert back patrolling the middle. It'll be no easy task against Portland's high-scoring backcourt.


                      With Derrick Favors likely a game-time decision, the visiting Jazz will try to win three straight for the first time Wednesday night with their second victory in three meetings against the Trail Blazers.


                      Utah (17-20) certainly seemed to miss Gobert while he was sidelined 18 games due to a sprained left MCL. The club allowed an average of 100.8 points on 46.3 percent shooting while going 7-11 without the 7-foot-1 center, who leads the team with 9.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.


                      The Jazz, however, are 2-0 since he returned to the starting lineup. Gobert had seven blocks while helping Utah limit Miami and the Los Angeles Lakers to an average of 78.5 points and a 36.8 field-goal percentage. The Jazz are 10-6 while holding foes to 91.7 points per game on 43.4 percent shooting when he starts.


                      Favors, the team's second-leading scorer at 16.8 per game, could return after missing 10 games because of a back injury. Alec Burks, though, isn't expected to return before the All-Star break following ankle surgery, and Dante Exum hasn't played after suffering an ACL tear in August.


                      "We've been going through adversity. But this group, we never quit. We're just going to keep fighting," Gobert said. "The good thing (about) the coaches is that they don't give up on us."


                      Gordon Hayward has carried the load offensively, totaling 59 points in the past two games. He scored 25 on Sunday when Utah snapped a seven-game road skid with an 86-74 win over the Lakers at Staples Center.


                      Coach Quin Snyder's club is bracing for a more difficult challenge as it seeks its first three-game win streak since March 28-April 1. Portland star Damian Lillard enters the third meeting on a tear after totaling 71 points, 14 3-pointers and 19 assists over his last two games.


                      The point guard finished with 31 points, a career high-tying eight 3s - including five in the last 3:07 - nine assists and seven rebounds, while backcourt mate C.J. McCollum scored 22 in Sunday's 115-110 home win over Oklahoma City that snapped a three-game losing streak.


                      "You just keep competing," coach Terry Stotts said after his team made a season-high 19 3s on a franchise-record 44 attempts. "It was a rough week, no question, and we knew it was going to be a rough week. To come out and get a win against one of the top teams... I'm happy for our guys."


                      Portland (16-24) has allowed an average of 108.8 points in its last six games, though Stotts said he did like some of the things the team did defensively Sunday. The Blazers didn't make things difficult enough on the Jazz in a 109-96 loss in Salt Lake City in the most recent meeting Dec. 31.


                      Utah's Trey Burke had 27 points, Hayward added 23 and Hood scored 18. McCollum finished with 32 points and six 3-pointers for Portland, which did not have Lillard due to plantar fasciitis.


                      Lillard led the way with 35 points and McCollum had 27 in a 108-92 road win Nov. 4. Hayward scored 19 for the Jazz, while Burke contributed 17 off the bench.


                      Utah snapped a three-game losing streak at Portland with a 111-105 victory April 11.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/13

                        Preview: Heat (22-16) at Clippers (25-13)


                        Date: January 13, 2016 10:30 PM EDT


                        Chris Paul feels the Los Angeles Clippers' surge without Blake Griffin is just a bonus until their leading scorer returns from injury.


                        After all, it's not as if the Clippers are beating up on the best teams in the league during their nine-game winning streak.


                        Los Angeles faces its first .500 team of the run when the Miami Heat visit Staples Center looking to win for the fifth time in six meetings Wednesday night.


                        Griffin has missed the last eight with a partially torn quadriceps tendon that likely will keep him out at least another week, but the Clippers (25-13) have gotten by just fine without him so far.


                        Paul has increased his scoring average from 16.8 through his first 23 to 21.1 over his last 10 and finished with 25 for the second straight game in Sunday's 114-111 overtime win over a New Orleans team missing Anthony Davis.


                        Paul also added 11 assists to help Los Angeles earn its fourth winning streak of at least nine games over the last four seasons. The Clippers are 20-8 when Griffin sits out in his career, not counting when he missed the entire first season because of injury after being drafted No. 1 overall in 2009.


                        That doesn't mean they aren't missing him this time around, though. The Clippers have won four times by six points or fewer during their streak despite every opponent currently sitting below the .500 mark.


                        'We're happy that we're winning games, and we want to continue to try to keep winning and build up the team as much as possible. But this is not our team until 32 gets back,' Paul said.


                        'When you lose somebody as important as Blake, everybody knew they had to step up. A lot of times we just throw it to him and watch him go to work, and now we're having to do a lot more. But our defense has come together, and we just keep trying to hold it down until he gets back.'


                        The Heat (22-16) didn't have much trouble beating the Clippers with Griffin in the last meeting, getting 34 points from Chris Bosh and 17 and 10 assists from Dwyane Wade in a 104-90 road win Jan. 11, 2015.


                        Hassan Whiteside finished with 23 points and 16 rebounds, but his availability for this contest is unclear. Whiteside sat out Monday's 111-103 loss to Golden State with a right knee injury after being listed as a game-time decision, and as of now has that same status for this matchup.


                        Justise Winslow made the first start of his career in Whiteside's place and finished with seven points, but he wasn't a match for Whiteside's inside presence.


                        Wade had 20 points and 11 assists, while Bosh finished with 15 and 12 rebounds.


                        Miami has dropped three of four overall and is 1-2 on a six-game trip that ends Sunday against Oklahoma City. Wade played through a strained left shoulder that he suffered in Friday's loss to Utah and had it wrapped in ice after the game.


                        "You've just got to fight and give your team whatever you have," said Wade, who is 9 for 37 from the field over the last two and shooting what would be a career-low 45.2 percent on the season. "Everyone in this locker room is going through something. I just try to battle, get some rest and go on to the next one."

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/13

                          NBA


                          Hot teams
                          -- Hawks won nine of their last 12 games (2-4 last six AF).
                          -- Knicks won five of last six games, covering all six.
                          -- Pacers won three of their last four games (1-4 last five AU).
                          -- Warriors won their last seven games (13-5-1AF).
                          -- Thunder won seven of their last nine games (1-6 last 7HF).
                          -- Houston won its last four games (6-2 last eight HF).
                          -- Clippers won their last nine games (4-2 last six HF).


                          Cold teams
                          -- Charlotte lost its last seven games (1-6 vs spread).
                          -- Washington lost its last three home games (1-7 last 8HF). Bucks lost three of last five games (10-11AU).
                          -- Nets lost their last five games (0-5 vs spread).
                          -- Celtics lost six of their last seven games (0-3 last three HF).
                          -- Mavericks are 3-4 in last seven games (8-6AU).
                          -- Minnesota lost its last seven games (1-6 vs spread).
                          -- Denver lost seven of its last nine games (3-0-1 last four HU).
                          -- New Orleans lost six of last seven games (4-8 last 12AU). Kings are 3-5 in their last eight games (1-3 last four HF).
                          -- Utah lost seven of its last eight road games (1-4 last five AU). Portland lost three of last four games (4-4HF).
                          -- Miami lost three of its last four games (4-1 last five AU).


                          Series records
                          -- Hawks won four of last five games with Charlotte.
                          -- Wizards won six of last seven games with Milwaukee.
                          -- Knicks lost four of last five games with Brooklyn.
                          -- Pacers won seven of their last ten games with Boston.
                          -- Dallas won five of last seven games with Oklahoma City.
                          -- Rockets won eight of last nine games with Minnesota.
                          -- Warriors won last four games with Denver, but Nuggets are 4-1 vs spread in last five.
                          -- Pelicans won three of last four games with Sacramento.
                          -- Jazz lost seven of last ten games with Portland.
                          -- Clippers lost four of last five games with Miami.


                          Totals
                          -- 11 of last 12 Atlanta games went over the total.
                          -- Three of last four Washington games went over.
                          -- Last six Brooklyn games stayed under the total.
                          -- Last four Indiana-Boston games stayed under.
                          -- Five of last six Maverick-Thunder games went over.
                          -- Last six Houston-Minnesota games went over total.
                          -- Last five Golden State-Denver games went over total.
                          -- Six of last seven New Orleans games stayed under.
                          -- Six of last seven Utah-Portland games went over.
                          -- Three of last four Clipper games went over total.


                          Back/backs
                          -- Milwaukee is 7-2 vs spread if it played night before.
                          -- Knicks are 5-3 vs spread if they played night before.
                          -- Indiana is 2-6 vs spread if it played night before; Boston is 3-4.
                          -- Dallas is 6-2 vs spread if it played night before; Thunder is 2-4.
                          -- Pelicans are 4-4 vs spread if they played the night before.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/13

                            StatFox Super Situations


                            NBA | UTAH at PORTLAND
                            Play On - All teams where the line is +3 to -3 (PORTLAND) after allowing 105 points or more 2 straight games against opponent after a combined score of 165 points or less
                            29-8 since 1997. ( 78.4% | 20.2 units )
                            0-1 this year. ( 0.0% | -1.1 units )


                            NBA | ATLANTA at CHARLOTTE
                            Play Against - Any team vs the money line (CHARLOTTE) after failing to cover the spread in 3 or more consecutive games, with a winning percentage of between 40-49% on the season
                            134-82 over the last 5 seasons. ( 62.0% | 51.9 units )
                            14-8 this year. ( 63.6% | 6.2 units )


                            NBA | ATLANTA at CHARLOTTE
                            Play On - Home underdogs vs. the 1rst half line (CHARLOTTE) cold team - failing to cover the spread in 12 or more of the last 15, with a losing record
                            81-40 since 1997. ( 66.9% | 37.0 units )

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/13

                              This Week's Best Spot Bets
                              Ben Burns


                              Spot bets are classic handicapping practices that have proven profitable no matter what sport you're betting. Whether it's a team looking past this week's opponent, one coming off a hard-fought victory, or a rough patch of schedule, bettors can find value picking their spots. Ben Burns points out his favorites:


                              Letdown spot


                              Even the best teams in the NBA are susceptible to a letdown, especially after playing another of the NBA’s elite. The Cleveland Cavaliers visit Western rivals the San Antonio Spurs Thursday, in a possible Finals preview. LeBron James has plenty of history with San Antonio going back to his original stint with Cleveland and his Miami days and this will be a huge litmus test for the Cavs as they get their lineup back to form.


                              Following this stop in San Antonio, Cleveland takes the court at the Toyota Center in Houston the very next night. The Rockets play the seventh–fastest pace in the NBA and could take advantage of a tired Cavaliers squad coming off a big game. If this contest opens up and turns into a shootout, Houston could have the edge at home.


                              Lookahead spot


                              The San Diego Toreros have a big WCC meeting with Gonzaga this weekend, traveling up the coast to face the Bulldogs in Spokane Saturday. San Diego hits the road for an extended trip after losing four in a row, including the last two inside Jenny Craig Pavilion. A strong effort against Gonzaga could snap the Toreros out of this funk but it could also be setting them for a lookahead spot.


                              San Diego is in Portland two days earlier, playing the Pilots Thursday. Portland is coming off a loss at Gonzaga and is mired in a losing skid itself, dropping three in a row – all coming away from home. The Pilots haven’t played at home since before Christmas and could catch San Diego looking past them and to the WCC gatekeeper.


                              Schedule spot


                              The Ottawa Senators could be looking ahead to their upcoming West Coast road trip, if just to get away from the bitter Canadian cold and the equally chilly Ottawa media. The Senators have alternated wins and losses in their last four and have just three victories in their last 10 games heading into Wednesday’s opener in Anaheim.


                              Following the clash with the Ducks, Ottawa takes on Los Angeles and San Jose, then comes back East to play at New Jersey on Jan. 21. Last year, this California swing served as a launch pad for the Sens’ second-half push, sweeping Anaheim, L.A., and San Jose as part of a 15-1-1 winning streak. Can the warm weather once again thaw Ottawa for a big run?

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