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  • NBA Betting Info. 1/27

    StatFox Super Situations


    NBA | OKLAHOMA CITY at MINNESOTA
    Play On - Favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points (OKLAHOMA CITY) poor defensive team (98-102 PPG) against a horrible defensive team (>=102 PPG) after 42+ games, after a game where both teams scored 105 points or more
    49-20 since 1997. ( 71.0% | 27.0 units )
    1-0 this year. ( 100.0% | 1.0 units )


    NBA | CHARLOTTE at UTAH
    Play On - Home teams vs. the money line (UTAH) off an upset loss as a home favorite against opponent off a road win by 3 points or less
    80-32 since 1997. ( 71.4% | 37.8 units )
    0-1 this year. ( 0.0% | -1.0 units )


    NBA | PHOENIX at CLEVELAND
    Play Under - All teams where the first half total is 100.5 to 105 average defensive team (92-98 PPG) against a horrible defensive team (>=102 PPG), after scoring 110 points or more
    41-15 over the last 5 seasons. ( 73.2% | 24.5 units )
    5-4 this year. ( 55.6% | 0.6 units )

  • #2
    Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/27

    NBA notebook: Clippers' Griffin breaks hand in fight
    By The Sports Xchange


    His return from a torn quadriceps imminent, five-time All-Star Blake Griffin is again weeks from playing for the Los Angeles Clippers.
    Griffin fractured the fourth metacarpal in his right hand and reportedly suffered the injury punching one of the team's equipment managers outside of a Toronto restaurant on Saturday. According to the Orange County Register, the two had an argument inside the establishment and once outside, Griffin hit the staff member multiple times.
    The Clippers confirmed that Griffin was injured while throwing a punch but gave no additional details. Griffin returned to Los Angeles on Monday for X-rays and had surgery on Tuesday, the team announced. He will be sidelined for four to six weeks.
    "This conduct has no place in our organization and this incident does not represent who we are as a team," the Clippers said in a statement. "We are conducting a full investigation with assistance from the NBA. At the conclusion of the investigation, appropriate action will be taken."


    ---Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal was diagnosed with a broken nose and concussion that sidelined him for Tuesday night's game against the Toronto Raptors.
    The Wizards said Beal's status is day to day. According to the NBA's concussion policy, he must complete the Return to Participation Exertion Protocol before he's cleared to play again.
    Beal was injured during the second quarter of Monday night's 116-91 loss to Boston while guarding Celtics guard Marcus Smart, whose forearm struck Beal in the face. He left the court with four points and blood pouring from his nose.


    ---Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin said that there are no discussions with any NBA teams about a deal for forward Kevin Love.
    "You'd have to go a long way to convince me that we're a better team winning in the Finals without a player like Kevin on our team," Griffin said on ESPN 850 AM in Cleveland. "We've never once put together an offer involving Kevin, nor have we taken a call on an offer for Kevin."
    Love joined the Cavaliers before the 2014-15 season, signing a five-year, $112 million contract. As of Jan. 15, he was eligible for a trade, fueling speculation that the Cavs might have something brewing.
    Since point guard Kyrie Irving returned in December from his injury absence, Love is averaging 15.6 points per game and shooting 42 percent from the field. :ast week, Griffin fired coach David Blatt and replaced him with Tyronn Lue. How that impacts Love's production remains to be seen.


    ---Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is day to day with hamstring and back injuries.
    The Bulls started Aaron Brooks in the second half of Monday's loss to the Miami Heat after Rose left late in the second quarter with four points in 13 minutes. Rose previously missed a three-game stretch with tightness in his hamstring.
    Chicago was already without Kirk Hinrich and E'Twaun Moore because of injuries.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/27

      Three-pointer: Kidd back with Bucks
      By Tony Mejia


      Milwaukee will get its leader back on Tuesday, which means the next few weeks prior to the All-Star break are going to be vital for perhaps the Eastern Conference’s biggest underachievers.


      The Bucks, considered to be a team on the rise after finishing last season at .500 and taking a couple of games off the Bulls in the playoffs, opened the season 0-3 and were 11-18 when Jason Kidd took his leave on Dec. 21 to undergo hip surgery, getting a metal prosthesis inserted to ease his stiffness and pain.


      "I think people from the outside thought it was just going to be automatic and we'd pick up from last year," Kidd told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "Expectations were a lot higher. But also, we had new pieces, with Jabari (Parker) being one of them, and Moose (Greg Monroe). Our defense did take a step back. Sometimes, you have to get games under your belt and see the good and bad and hopefully make the adjustments. As you can see, the guys are starting to play as a team."


      Assistant Joe Prunty fared slightly better than Kidd upon taking over on an interim basis, but Saturday night’s 116-89 loss in New Orleans dropped the Bucks to 8-9 (10-7 ATS) under his guidance. Once again, the Bucks failed to defend the 3-point line and went into lulls offensively. Kidd has expressed his displeasure with the team’s defense and will look to place more of an emphasis on that end of the floor upon his return against Orlando. The under prevailed in six of Milwaukee’s 11 wins when Kidd was at the helm, so look for his return to be a major catalyst in the team picking up its attention to detail at that end of the floor.


      Milwaukee gave up 100 or more points in 13 of the 17 games where Prunty filled in. The situation has been so poor that 116 scored by the Pelicans over the weekend ranked as only the fourth-highest total given up during his stint. Houston and New Orleans combined for 32 3-pointers in handing the Bucks their last two loss.


      Michael Carter-Williams was expected to lead the charge in taking a step forward in his own development, but he’s been wildly inconsistent. Having Kidd back can only aid his development. He’s averaged 11.3 points in January, but comes off his best shooting game of the season, going 9-for-12 in New Orleans. If the Bucks can get him going, they will have a decent shot at righting the ship and coming through on their short-term goal.


      "We would like to finish on a high note before the (All-Star) break and then come back after the break ready to make a push," Kidd said.


      Following Tuesday’s home date with Orlando, Milwaukee faces a back-to-back on Thursday and Friday, visiting Memphis and returning home to face injury-riddled Miami. The Bucks open February on the West Coast for games at Sacramento, Portland and Utah, a stretch that will be followed up by a few days off and home dates with the Celtics and Wizards.


      Clips taking cautious approach with Griffin


      L.A. power forward Blake Grifffin was expected to be back in action this past weekend, or at the very least, ready to go as the Clips closed out a five-game Eastern road swing. Neither happened.


      Griffin was sent home to L.A. despite the organization stressing that the change in plans was not setback-related. He won’t play in stops at Indiana and Atlanta and was considered doubtful for a meeting with the Lakers on Jan. 29. After a fight with a member of the team's equipment staff, he's now expected to be out another 4-6 weeks.


      Griffin hasn’t played since posting a Christmas night double-double in helping rout the Lakers, suffering a partially torn tendon in his left quad. The Clippers won the first nine games without him, but enter the week with losses in three of their last five as his absence has begun to catch up to them. Sunday’s 112-94 loss in Toronto was the team’s worst of the season, so it’s going to be interesting to see how Doc Rivers prepares his team to bounce back as they wrap up the road trip with a Tuesday-Wednesday back-to-back against the Pacers and Hawks. Both teams have winning records, which is of importance since the Clippers haven’t seen many teams with more wins than losses throughout Griffin’s absence. L.A. is just 2-2 against teams over .500 without their star power forward.


      Given the stiff competition for reserve spots in the West, Griffin’s run of five consecutive All-Star nods will certainly end on Thursday despite averages of 23.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists over 30 games.


      Warriors/Spurs blowout fallout


      When it was all over, Gregg Popovich had jokes.


      "We almost got them," said the Spurs coach following a 120-90 blowout loss at Golden State. "My opening comment here will be, I'm just glad my general manager wasn't in the locker room, because it might have gotten me fired."


      San Antonio fields the team least likely to let a loss like the one suffered on Monday night fester. The 30-point deficit was the largest the Spurs have lost by since 2012, when they fell in Portland by 40. The Warriors shot over 50 percent, won every quarter and out-rebounded San Antonio.


      Since the Spurs had won 13 consecutive games prior to the demolition in Oakland, they’ve already been installed as a double-digit favorite against Houston on Wednesday. They’re 17-6-1 at home against the spread and are 24-0 overall, so you can expect they’ll be at their best against the Rockets. San Antonio hasn’t lost consecutive games all season and has covered the spread after every setback, winning by double-digits each time.


      The Warriors, now 21-0 at home, have won four straight and are a whopping 15.5-point favorite against Dallas. The Mavericks handed Golden State its worst loss of the season by a 114-91 count on Dec. 30. The teams will play twice more in March, which will give us an opportunity to see whether the lopsided setback was a fluke or the beginning of an interesting trend. The over is 7-3 in the Warriors last 10 games. It’s also 4-0 of late for the Mavs.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/27

        Preview: Suns (14-32) at Cavaliers (31-12)


        Date: January 27, 2016 7:00 PM EDT


        New Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue continues to reiterate that he wants his team to push the pace and they'll next face an opponent willing to do that, albeit a lowly one.


        The Cavaliers should be primed to get their running game untracked Wednesday night against a short-handed Phoenix Suns team that has lost 11 in a row on the road.


        Lue earned his first win in his second game in charge in Monday's 114-107 home victory over Minnesota. LeBron James had 25 points and nine assists and Tristan Thompson added 19 points and 12 boards.


        The coach was presented the game ball in the locker room following the win. At Tuesday's practice, he once again stated that he wants Cleveland (31-12) to get into better shape in order to play at a faster tempo.


        "It's tough but I told them at the expense of playing more guys or at the expense of losing a couple games, we're looking forward to playing in the playoffs and we've got to get in shape for the playoffs," Lue said. "And I believe that if you're in shape, it makes you tougher mentally and physically and you can do things harder and you things better and you don't give into fatigue."


        The Cavaliers average 95.0 possessions per 48 minutes for the league's third-slowest tempo.


        Phoenix (14-32) averages 100.7 to rank fourth, although the injury-plagued Suns are unlikely to pose much of a threat Wednesday.


        They are already without the injured Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight missed his third straight game Tuesday with a strained groin.


        The result was an embarrassing 113-103 loss at Philadelphia as Phoenix was swept by the NBA's worst team. Archie Goodwin scored a season-high 26 points for the Suns, who trailed by as many as 19 points in the second half before their rally fell short.


        'You don't want to get down big and try to have to make comebacks,' coach Jeff Hornacek said.


        Phoenix is enduring its longest road slide since dropping 12 in a row in 2012-13. The Suns have dropped seven straight on the road to teams led by James and are 2-6 in the second of back-to-back games.


        It's possible James will become the 17th player in NBA history to reach 26,000 career points since he needs 36, although an expected blowout would cut his minutes down and lessen those chances.


        The Cavaliers won 101-97 at Phoenix on Dec. 28. Kyrie Irving scored 22 points, including a 3-pointer with 22 seconds left that put Cleveland up by four.


        T.J. Warren led the Suns with 23 points in that game and Knight added 18.


        Former Cavs coach David Blatt gave Tristan Thompson his first start in over a month that night, leading to nine in a row for the center. He then went back to the bench for a five-game stretch before Lue started him Monday, leading to Thompson's strong effort.


        Cleveland is 11-2 when Thompson starts.


        "I think starting Tristan does give a lot of energy, you can put him on 4s or 5s to match up," Lue said. "That's something that we're going to look at going forward."

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/27

          Preview: Nuggets (17-28) at Celtics (25-21)


          Date: January 27, 2016 7:30 PM EDT


          Isaiah Thomas has ignited a turnaround for the Boston Celtics, and they may be able to maintain their home dominance over their next opponent if he remains hot.


          The surging Celtics look to improve on an already sparkling mark in Boston against the Denver Nuggets when the two meet at TD Garden on Wednesday night.


          Boston (25-21) has won two straight and four of the last six in this series, three of those coming as host to extend a impressive home stretch against Denver (17-28).


          The Celtics have won the last five meetings in Boston and 21 of 24 dating to 1990. The Nuggets are 3-16 at TD Garden since it opened its doors for the 1995-96 season.


          However, the final two games of Boston's current three-game win streak came on the road at Philadelphia and Washington. After dismantling the 76ers 112-92 on Sunday, Thomas led the Celtics to a 116-91 rout of the Wizards the next night.


          The 5-foot-9 lefty shooter won a marquee point guard matchup against the Wizards' John Wall, logging his sixth straight 20-point game by finishing with 23 to go with nine assists in three quarters. Wall had 10 assists, but he turned the ball over four times and scored just eight points on 3-of-11 shooting.


          Thomas has averaged 25.4 points and 6.4 assists in his last 10 games, helping Boston win six of the final eight.


          "You always are excited when you're a guy like Isaiah who's got a chip on his shoulder to challenge himself against the best," said coach Brad Stevens, whose team has won three straight home games. "But I think Isaiah's pretty consistent regardless of who we're playing in how he approaches every night."


          The Nuggets don't have the same All-Star caliber point guard, especially with Jameer Nelson missing the last five games with a sprained left wrist, and Thomas scored 33 points the last time he faced them while with Sacramento in February 2014.


          The Celtics went cold offensively at 40.5 percent shooting while averaging 98.3 points in seven games Dec. 27-Jan. 10, but they've hit 45.7 percent in nine games since while averaging 112.6 points - short of only Golden State's 117.1 from Jan. 12-25.


          While Boston will try to match a season-best winning streak set exactly one month ago, Denver is trying to avoid sinking into another lull.


          The Nuggets have enjoyed positive stretches this season, logging wins in four of six, four of five and five of six games, but it's the long droughts that have hurt them: losses in four of five and nine of 10 along with an eight-game losing skid.


          They dropped three of their final four on an eight-game homestand to negate a positive start. Denver had opened its longest home stretch of the season with wins in three of four, including a 112-110 victory over NBA-leading Golden State on Jan. 13.


          Monday's flat 119-105 loss to Atlanta closed the 4-4 homestand on a down note before the Nuggets play eight of the next 10 on the road - where they've lost five of six.


          "It's definitely frustrating only going .500 (on the homestand)," said Will Barton, who scored a team-high 21 points against the Hawks. "We did some good things but we've got to figure out how to bring it every night."


          Denver has followed a solid five-game defensive stretch in which it allowed an average of 93.0 points on 41.8 percent shooting by surrendering 111.6 on 49.4 percent over its last five.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/27

            Preview: 76ers (7-39) at Pistons (24-21)


            Date: January 27, 2016 7:30 PM EDT


            If Reggie Jackson can maintain his level of play from Monday's victory, the Detroit Pistons may finally reach the postseason for the first time this decade.


            Jackson tries to follow up a game that had his coach singing his praises as the Pistons host the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.


            He's averaging team highs of 19.2 points and 6.6 assists, and had 29 points in a 95-92 victory over Utah, but what earned Stan Van Gundy's praise was Jackson's defensive effort as he harassed Trey Burke into an 0-for-8 shooting performance. Though the Jazz scored 33 points in the fourth quarter, Detroit (24-21) limited the Jazz to 40 percent shooting and never trailed to gain a split of its four-game trip.


            'He had a hell of a game and forget the offense,' Van Gundy said. 'That is the most consistent effort from start to finish defensively that I've seen Reggie make since we've had him.


            'I've never seen him work to that level like he did tonight. ... I thought our team as a whole made that effort defensively.'


            The team's effort was one of its best of the season, just the fifth time it limited an opponent to 40.0 percent and far better than its season mark of 45.4 percent. The latter figure is a strong bell weather of the Pistons' success - they're 17-6 when holding opponents at or below that percentage.


            It was also Jackson's best game offensively since scoring 31 at Chicago on Dec. 18. He made 12 of 19 shots versus the Jazz after going a combined 15 for 41 in the first three games of the road swing, and the Pistons were outscored by 28 when he was on the floor in their losses at New Orleans and Denver prior to Monday's victory.


            Jackson and Detroit now have the opportunity use Philadelphia (7-39) as a momentum-builder for its home game Friday versus Central-leading Cleveland. The Pistons have already beaten the 76ers once this season, cruising to 107-95 road win Dec. 11 as Jackson had nine points and three assists in a 27-7 run over the first 8:36 that Philadelphia could not overcome.


            A consistent driver, Jackson is fourth in the NBA in drives with 11.2 per game and is second in scoring in those situations, averaging 7.7 points. That bodes well against a 76ers team that is soft defensively in the interior, giving up 44.0 points per game to rank 22nd in the league.


            That could be an issue since rookie center Jahlil Okafor has been ruled out for a second straight game due to illness. Philadelphia, though, overcame his absence to finish a season sweep of Phoenix with a 113-103 victory Tuesday behind Ish Smith, who had 20 points, nine assists and eight rebounds as eight Sixers scored in double figures.


            'We're just going out there trying to collect wins,' said Smith, who has five 20-point games in 14 contests since being re-acquired on Dec. 24 via trade from New Orleans.


            He averaged 12.0 points in 25 games with the 76ers last season after being dealt from Oklahoma City.


            Smith has a 3.03 assist-to-turnover ratio with Philadelphia, which has given up 18.2 points per game off turnovers since he arrived - a marked improvement from its NBA-worst average of 21.6.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/27

              Preview: Rockets (25-22) at Spurs (38-7)


              Date: January 27, 2016 8:00 PM EDT


              Sugarcoating a 30-point loss in a showdown with the defending NBA champions simply isn't the San Antonio Spurs' style. They shrugged their shoulders, accepted the defeat and moved on before they even reached the airport.


              San Antonio had the same mentality after losing to the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day and went on to win 13 in a row. It hasn't lost back-to-back games all season, and it'll try to avoid another losing streak against the visiting Rockets on Wednesday night.


              Tim Duncan sat out Monday's 120-90 loss at Golden State because of right knee soreness, but the Spurs (38-7) weren't making any excuses. In a matchup featuring the best combined winning percentage in NBA history this late into a season, they committed eight of their season-high 26 turnovers in the first quarter and never led.


              Kawhi Leonard scored 16 points for San Antonio, which turned it over 22 times over their previous three games combined. LaMarcus Aldridge admitted "I was bad," going 2 of 9 from the floor and finishing with five points - his fewest when playing at least 20 minutes since 2010.


              Coach Gregg Popovich called it "men among boys," but the Spurs aren't dwelling on having their winning streak snapped. It was their first loss in eight games this season without Duncan, who also won't play Wednesday.


              "It's the (45th) game of the season. It's not like we're eliminated," said Manu Ginobili, who went 1 of 6 from the field after scoring a season-high 20 points in Friday's win over the Los Angeles Lakers. "We got our butts kicked, that's for sure. We need to be thinking more about Houston."


              The Spurs had won 20 of their previous 21, with the only defeat in that stretch an 88-84 loss at Houston on Dec. 25. They avenged that defeat Jan. 2, getting 24 points from Aldridge and 22 from Leonard in a 121-103 home victory.


              Dwight Howard had a double-double in each of those matchups for the Rockets (25-22) and finished with one in each of the 10 games he played prior to sitting out the last three because of a sprained left ankle.


              Houston has done just fine without him, winning each contest after beginning a three-game trip with Monday's 112-111 win over New Orleans. Trevor Ariza has taken a more active role with Howard out and is averaging 26.3 points while shooting 60.9 percent, including 19 of 31 from 3-point range.


              Ariza had 29 points in Sunday's win over Dallas before scoring a season-high 31 and hitting eight of Houston's season-high 19 3s against the Pelicans. He averaged 11.3 points and shot 39.5 percent from the field over his first 43 games.


              'I'm just making shots,' Ariza said. 'I don't think I am really doing anything different. What's been working for us is the game has more of a flow to it. The ball's been moving a lot better than it has previously.'


              James Harden is averaging 30.3 points over his last four after finishing with 35 against the Pelicans. He's helped Houston win nine of 12 since the loss to San Antonio to move three games over .500 for the first time this season.


              Interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff said Howard could return this week, but he isn't sure if it will be against the Spurs or Friday at Oklahoma City.


              'We plan on having him on the trip,' Bickerstaff said. 'He worked out (Monday) and we'll see how he responds. He'll get an opportunity to work more and then we'll see how it goes from there.'


              San Antonio has won three of the last four meetings after Houston won the previous six. Harden is shooting just 36 percent over the last three.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/27

                Preview: Clippers (29-16) at Hawks (27-19)


                Date: January 27, 2016 8:00 PM EDT


                From infighting to last-second finishes, there's been no shortage of drama with the Los Angeles Clippers of late.


                As they prepare for a longer-than-expected absence from Blake Griffin, the Clippers seek a Hollywood ending to their road trip Wednesday night against the Atlanta Hawks.


                Griffin returned to Los Angeles midway through this five-game trek, presumably to rehab the partially torn left quadriceps tendon that's sidelined the star forward since Dec. 26. It was later revealed he fractured his right hand from punching team equipment manager Matias Testi Saturday night during the team's visit to Toronto, an injury the Clippers confirmed Tuesday.


                In a joint statement in which owner Steve Ballmer and coach Doc Rivers publicly admonished Griffin for his actions, the Clippers said he will miss an additional 4 to 6 weeks.


                'This conduct has no place in our organization and this incident does not represent who we are as a team,' the statement read. "We are conducting a full investigation with assistance from the NBA. At the conclusion of the investigation, appropriate action will be taken."


                Griffin's absence hasn't hurt Los Angeles (29-16) much on the court. The Clippers won their first nine games and improved to 12-3 without him following Tuesday's 91-89 victory at Indiana, where they overcame an eight-point third-quarter deficit and survived Paul George's missed 3-pointer in the final seconds.


                'With all the stuff in the last 48 hours, we always say it's the game that brings a team back,' Rivers said. 'You could feel that (Tuesday). That was a good win for our team.'


                Los Angeles has been able to offset Griffin's 23.2 points per game mostly by the continued hot shooting of Chris Paul and J.J. Redick. The backcourt duo combined to go 8 of 18 from 3-point range against the Pacers, with Paul leading the comeback by recording 19 of his 26 points in the second half.


                Paul is 26 of 46 from beyond the arc in averaging 22.6 points over his last nine games, while Redick is 23 of 44 and has averaged 20.3 in his past six.


                Since Dec. 26, the Clippers rank among the league leaders in 3-pointers made (11.7 per game) and 3-point percentage (40.2).


                Griffin's production may be harder to replace in this matchup, as he's averaged 24.6 points on 57.0 percent shooting in his last five against the Hawks. He totaled 47 points and 21 rebounds in last season's two meetings, both Atlanta wins.


                The Clippers have lost seven straight in Atlanta, including a 107-104 defeat last season, since a 121-97 win in February 2009.


                Atlanta (27-19) returns home in a more harmonious mood after ending a tough four-game western trip on a positive note. After a pair of three-point losses to Sacramento and Phoenix - the latter on a buzzer-beating 3 - the Hawks dominated Denver most of the way in Monday's 119-105 victory.


                The Hawks shot 50 percent after struggling offensively in their two previous defeats, managing just 88 points against Sacramento and 95 versus Phoenix.


                'It was a much more focused effort,' center Al Horford said. 'You want to try to end this road trip on a good note, so it was important for us to come out ready from the beginning.'


                Having Paul Millsap back helped as well. The versatile forward, who missed the Phoenix game attending his grandfather's funeral, had 22 points and nine rebounds.


                The Hawks are 25-3 when scoring 98 or more this season, while the Clippers are 19-2 when allowing 99 or less.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/27

                  Preview: Thunder (34-13) at Timberwolves (14-32)


                  Date: January 27, 2016 8:00 PM EDT


                  The Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook form the kind of superstar combination that the Minnesota Timberwolves believe they are in the process of developing.


                  For now, these young Wolves have yet to prove they can beat Durant and Westbrook.


                  The Thunder have won nine straight over the Timberwolves as well as 23 of the last 26 meetings heading into Wednesday night's matchup at the Target Center.


                  Oklahoma City (34-13) can post a 3-1 road trip after Tuesday's thrilling 128-122 overtime win at New York. Durant scored a season-high 44 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, while Westbrook finished with 30 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in the Thunder's eighth win in nine games.


                  Durant hit the tying jumper with 16.2 seconds left in regulation off an assist by Westbrook before they combined for 11 points in overtime. Oklahoma City was down by four with under a minute left in the fourth quarter.


                  'We've been here before,' Westbrook said. 'We have a lot of older guys that know what to do and we did a good job of playing the right way.'


                  The poise and clutch play by Durant and Westbrook is something Minnesota (14-32) knows all about. Durant totaled 51 points in two January wins over the Timberwolves and Westbrook nearly had a pair of triple-doubles.


                  The trio that features second-year stars Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine and rookie Karl-Anthony Towns has yet to beat Oklahoma City. That unit has been compared to how the Thunder became formidable - led by the trio of Durant, Westbrook and James Harden, who is now with Houston.


                  That comparison came up again after Minnesota fell 114-107 at Cleveland on Monday. Towns scored 26, LaVine had 21 and Wiggins 20 as the Timberwolves became the first team with three players younger than 21 to each score at least 20 in a game.


                  "They've still got two great people on the team, Westbrook and Durant, arguably the best players in the NBA right now," Wiggins said. "So it's never bad to be compared to them, especially at a young age."


                  Towns is averaging 21.8 points and 12.5 rebounds in a four-game stretch with three of his 22 double-doubles that lead all rookies. He has totaled just 23 points on 37.0 percent in the two games against the Thunder, although he has 22 rebounds.


                  Wiggins is averaging 23.5 points in those games and LaVine 17.0 for Minnesota, which has lost 12 of 14 overall.


                  The Thunder's Dion Waiters started Tuesday for the injured Andre Roberson, who is out at least three weeks with a right knee sprain suffered in Sunday's 116-106 defeat to Brooklyn. Coach Billy Donovan didn't commit to Waiters remaining the starter during Roberson's absence, saying the former No. 4 overall pick had developed good chemistry with the second unit.


                  Minnesota can post its first three-game home win streak in three seasons. The Wolves expect to be without veterans Kevin Garnett (knee) and Kevin Martin (wrist), and are 0-8 without Garnett.


                  The Thunder are 9-1 against Northwest Division foes, and the Wolves are 2-7.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/27

                    Preview: Hornets (22-23) at Jazz (19-25)


                    Date: January 27, 2016 9:00 PM EDT


                    Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Hornets have enjoyed a successful week-long stretch that began with the point guard's career night at home against Utah.


                    Neither Walker nor the Hornets, however, have fared well in Salt Lake City.


                    Looking to avoid a ninth straight loss there, the Hornets can match a season high with their fourth straight win and second in 10 days over the Jazz on Wednesday night.


                    Charlotte (22-23) had lost nine of 10 entering the first meeting Jan. 18 but apparently received a spark when Walker scored a career-high 52 points in a 124-119 double-overtime victory over Utah.


                    "When you get it going like that, the basket gets awful big," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. "He's one of those guys that even if you are doing a good job on him, he's capable of scoring."


                    Walker went 16 of 33 from the floor, made a season-high six 3-pointers on 11 attempts and was 14 of 15 from the free-throw line. He also had nine rebounds and eight assists for the Hornets, who went 14 of 27 from beyond the arc and won despite blowing a 15-point third-quarter lead.


                    "I just try to make the best plays possible," Walker said. "Anything can happen over a course of a basketball game."


                    Beginning with that win over Utah (19-25), Walker has averaged 32.6 points and shot 90.7 percent from the line in his last five games.


                    He hit half of his 76 field-goal attempts in the first three and scored 40 in Friday's 120-116 overtime win at Orlando that snapped a 10-game road skid. Walker has shot 12 of 50 in the last two but totaled 50 points while the Hornets won both.


                    On Monday, Walker and Co. couldn't prevent Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins from scoring a career-high 56, but they won 129-128 thanks to Troy Daniels' go-ahead 3-pointer with 9 seconds left in the second overtime. Three of the Hornets' four wins in the last five contests have come in overtime, and they're 5-0 in OT games this season.


                    "As a team, we've all got to stick together," said Daniels, who scored a career-high 28. "You've got to keep pushing."


                    Walker has averaged 25 points and shot 51.1 percent in five career home games against the Jazz, but has totaled 31 on 11-of-38 shooting while going 0-3 at Utah.


                    Looking to win three straight road games for the first time this season, Charlotte has averaged 84.0 points and shot 40.3 percent while going 0-8 in Salt Lake City since a 104-89 win March 1, 2006. The Hornets are 5-20 all-time there.


                    The Jazz, however, have dropped five of seven following Monday's 95-92 home loss to Detroit. Though Utah fought back from a 14-point hole, it shot 40 percent and never led.


                    Forward Derrick Favors sat out against Charlotte last week, but he had 14 points over 19 minutes Monday in his return after missing 16 games with back spasms.


                    "At this point it becomes what type of shape is he in?" Snyder said. "(It's) us not wanting to play him beyond what he's capable of right now."


                    It's uncertain if starting Utah point guard Raul Neto will play after the rookie was hit in the head and exited Monday with what was later revealed to be a concussion.


                    Teammate Gordon Hayward has averaged 26.5 points in four games, beginning with a season-high 36 and nine assists at Charlotte.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/27

                      Preview: Mavericks (26-21) at Warriors (41-4)


                      Date: January 27, 2016 10:30 PM EDT


                      After one of the most impressive performances by any team in the NBA all season, next for the Golden State Warriors is a chance to beat the only team they have faced that they've yet to defeat.


                      Having Stephen Curry in the lineup should make things easier this time.


                      Curry was out when the Warriors lost to the Dallas Mavericks last month, and he'll try to help Golden State match the second-longest regular-season home win streak in NBA history Wednesday night.


                      Golden State (41-4) crushed San Antonio 120-90 on Monday in what turned out to be a mismatch between the NBA's best teams. Curry, averaging a league-high 30.3 points, hit six 3-pointers and scored 37 in 28 minutes.


                      The comparisons between the Warriors and the 1995-96 Chicago team that won a record 72 games continue to grow. Coach Steve Kerr, who played on that Bulls team, admitted at Tuesday's practice that the reigning league MVP's impact reminds him of the legendary Michael Jordan.


                      "There is an aura that's similar," Kerr said. "Steph is obviously a worldwide phenomenon now and you see a thousand people watching him warm up or you see a couple hundred people at the hotel at 2 a.m. trying to get his autograph, that's similar to the Michael phenomenon."


                      Jordan fans may like to point out that he didn't miss any games that season. Curry has missed two due to a bruised lower left leg, including a 114-91 defeat at Dallas on Dec. 30.


                      The Warriors have taken seven straight over the Mavericks with Curry in the lineup, although that isn't the streak that will be on everyone's minds Wednesday.


                      Golden State can match the 40-game run in the regular season at home by Orlando between March 21, 1995-March 19, 1996. The only longer streak is the 44-game stretch by Jordan's Bulls from March 30, 1995-April 4, 1996.


                      The Warriors' current four-game win streak includes road victories by 34 over Cleveland and 31 over Chicago, and is a run in which they are averaging 124.8 points on 51.5 percent shooting overall and 42.7 percent on 3-pointers.


                      "That's the most exciting part about it is that yeah, we're 41-4, yeah that's great, a great start but we're nowhere near where I know we're going to get and that's encouraging," forward Draymond Green said.


                      Dallas (26-21) has dropped five straight at Golden State, and it's not clear who will be available for the Mavericks after they had to work hard for Tuesday's 92-90 road win over the lowly Los Angeles Lakers on Dirk Nowitzki's tiebreaking jumper with 2.1 seconds left.


                      Nowitzki made 5 of 14 shots for 13 points.


                      "I didn't really have touch there the entire night," he told the Mavericks' official website. "They did a good job and did some switching on my pick-and-rolls, and they didn't leave me much."


                      Coach Rick Carlisle has twice rested at least four starters in the second game of back-to-back sets, with Dallas going 7-4 overall in such contests. Those two instances came after games that went overtime and nobody logged more than 34 minutes in Los Angeles.


                      Mavs guard Devin Harris sat out Tuesday with a toe injury and center Zaza Pachulia has missed two straight games with a leg injury.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/27

                        Game of the Day: Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs


                        Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (-12, 205)


                        The San Antonio Spurs got a look at just how far away they are from being the best team in the NBA on Monday, but they’re still a solid No. 2. The Spurs will try to stay undefeated at home when they return to host the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.


                        San Antonio went into a hotly-anticipated meeting with the Golden State Warriors on Monday riding a 13-game winning streak but came out of it with a 120-90 loss. "It was like men and boys out there (Monday), I thought, as far as the toughness and the aggressiveness was concerned," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters. "In every facet of the game, it was men and boys.”


                        The Rockets are enjoying a string of three straight wins but were ripped 121-103 in a visit to San Antonio on Jan. 2. James Harden was held to 17 points in that loss but is averaging 30.3 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in the last four contests.


                        LINE: Overnight odds went out with San Antonio as a 12-point home favorite with the total at 205 points. Books opened the Spurs as 10.5-point favorites and that has been bet down to -10.


                        POWER RANKINGS: Rockets (-1.5) - Spurs (-18) + home court (-3.0) = San Antonio -19.5


                        INJURIES: Rockets - Dwight Howard C (Questionable - ankle), Spurs - Tim Duncan PF (Questionable - knee)


                        TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, ROOT (Houston), KENS (San Antonio)


                        WHAT SHARPS SAY: "San Antonio comes into this game off a 30-point loss in Golden State on Monday night, but I wouldn’t put too much stock into that defeat. The Spurs will likely meet the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals, and Popovich is a shrewd coach who didn’t want to show Golden State anything in that game. San Antonio should play better now off a loss. Houston is playing solid basketball now, but they still play little defense and Dwight Howard has missed recent games with injury." - Steve Merril.


                        WHAT BOOKS SAY: "The Spurs have won three of the last four meetings including a 121-103 victory at home on January second. Dwight Howard will be making the trip but it is still unclear if he will play. Same goes for Duncan who has been out with soar knees. I suspect the Spurs will rebound from their 30-point drubbing at the hands of the Warriors Monday night." - Michael Stewart.


                        ABOUT THE ROCKETS (25-22, 20-27 ATS): Harden led the way with 35 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in a 112-111 win at New Orleans on Monday to kick off a three-game trip that concludes at Oklahoma City on Friday. “He was great again. He was flirting with another triple-double,” Rockets interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters of Harden. “When he does that, we’re hard to beat. He’s sharing the ball, he’s rebounding.” Harden is getting plenty of help of late from small forward Trevor Ariza, who is averaging 30 points in the last two games while going 14-of-20 from 3-point range.


                        ABOUT THE SPURS (38-7, 30-15 ATS): San Antonio entered Monday’s contest leading the NBA with a scoring defense that yielded an average of 89.8 points but yielded more than that through the first three quarters as the game quickly got out of hand. “They outplayed us in every single aspect of the game,” reserve guard Manu Ginobili told reporters. “Aggression was one, shooting was another one, defense, everything. It was the whole package. I don't think there was one area in which it was close. We were slow, not every sharp. It was no game." All seven of the Spurs’ losses have come on the road, and the team is an NBA-best 24-0 at home.


                        TRENDS:


                        - Home team is 8-0 ATS in last eight meetings.
                        - Over is 5-1 in last six meetings in San Antonio.
                        - Over is 4-1 in last five meetings.
                        - Rockets are 9-3 ATS in last 12 meetings.
                        - Favorite is 5-2 ATS in last 7 meetings.


                        CONSENSUS: 54 percent are on San Antonio while 69 percent are on the Over.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/27

                          NBA Odds: Wednesday, January 27 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
                          by Alan Matthews


                          I will be interested to see how the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors follow up Monday's highly-anticipated matchup in Oakland in their games on Wednesday. Unfortunately, Monday's game itself was pretty uninteresting unless you are a Warriors fan or gave the points. Golden State made a major statement with a 120-90 rout. But my favorite part from that was in the post-game interview session with usually grumpy Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. But Pop actually had a funny comment to reporters, saying: "We almost got them. ... My opening comment here will be, I'm just glad my general manager wasn't in the locker room, because it might have gotten me fired." He was clearly referring to the Cleveland Cavaliers firing Coach David Blatt not long after their blowout loss to Golden State last week. The Warriors and Spurs don't play again until March 19 unfortunately.




                          Suns at Cavaliers (-14.5, 205.5)


                          Phoenix was in Philadelphia on Tuesday likely without Brandon Knight and Markieff Morris again. Cleveland got its first win under new head coach Tryonn Lue with a 114-107 home victory over Minnesota on Monday. LeBron James had 25 points to lead six players in double figures. Lue is asking his players to go more up-tempo but says they aren't in good enough shape yet. Cleveland won in the desert 101-97 on Dec. 28. Kyrie Irving had 22 points and LeBron just 14. Irving scored the Cavaliers' final seven points of the game, including a 3-pointer that put the Cavs up 99-95 with 21.9 seconds remaining. TJ Warren led Phoenix with a game-high 23 points.


                          Key trends: The Suns are 2-5 against the spread in their past seven in the second of a back-to-back. Cleveland is 2-5 ATS in its past seven at home vs. teams with a losing road record. The Suns are 5-0 ATS in the past five in Cleveland. The "over/under" has gone under in 11 of the past 13 meetings.


                          Early lean: Cavaliers and under.


                          Nuggets at Celtics (-10, 206.5)


                          Denver lost 119-105 at home to Atlanta on Monday. The Nuggets had won eight straight at home in the series. Denver finished a season-high eight-game homestand at 4-4. Forward Kenneth Faried played after missing Saturday's game with left adductor soreness. Boston won a third straight Monday, 116-91 at Washington. Isaiah Thomas outplayed John Wall with 23 points and nine assists in just three quarters. First meeting this season between Denver and Boston, which has won five straight at home vs. the Nuggets. The Celtics swept last season but by only a combined five points.


                          Key trends: Denver is 5-0 ATS in its past seven after a loss. The Celtics are 6-0 ATS in their past six following a double-digit win. The over is 4-1 in the past five meetings in Boston. The C's have covered five straight in series there.


                          Early lean: Celtics and over.


                          76ers at Pistons (-12, 202.5)


                          Philadelphia hosted Phoenix on Tuesday. Detroit completed a four-game road trip with a 95-92 win in Utah on Monday. Reggie Jackson had 29 points as the Pistons never trailed. Andre Drummond was quiet with seven points and six rebounds and took a hard fall but stayed in the game. The Pistons won the first meeting 107-95 in Philly on Dec. 12. Jackson and Marcus Morris led Detroit with 21, and Jahlil Okafor had 22 for the Sixers. The Pistons have also won four of their past five at home in the series.


                          Key trends: The home team is 8-3 ATS in the past 11 meetings. The over is 5-1 in the past six in Detroit.


                          Early lean: Pistons and over.


                          Clippers at Hawks (-3, 209)


                          Los Angeles was at Indiana on Tuesday amidst news that Blake Griffin now might be out several more weeks after breaking his hand. ESPN is reporting that Griffin was hurt while punching a member of the team's equipment staff multiple times outside a Toronto restaurant the other night. If that's true, I'd expect some sort of suspension as well, either from the team or NBA. I'll have more on that later this week as it develops. Atlanta ended a four-game trip out West with a 119-105 win in Denver on Monday. Paul Millsap led the way with 22 points. Atlanta won both meetings with L.A. last season, scoring exactly 107 points in each. The Clippers have lost six straight at the Hawks.


                          Key trends: The Hawks are 5-1 ATS in their past six at home. The Clippers are 0-5 ATS in the past five meetings. The over is 9-4 in the past 13.


                          Early lean: Hawks and over.


                          Thunder at Timberwolves (+9.5, 210)


                          OKC was at the Knicks on Tuesday. Minnesota lost in Cleveland by seven on Monday. The Wolves did cut a 15-point deficit to three midway through the fourth. Karl-Anthony Towns led Minnesota with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Andrew Wiggins had 20 against the team that drafted him No. 1 overall. Kevin Garnett (rest) and Kevin Martin (right wrist) both sat out. Oklahoma City is 2-0 vs. the Wolves this season, averaging 107 points and holding Minnesota to an average of 94.5. The Thunder have won nine straight overall in the series and four in a row at Minnesota.


                          Key trends: The Wolves are 7-3 ATS in the past 10 meetings in Minnesota. The under is 5-2 in the past seven there.


                          Early lean: Wolves and under.


                          Rockets at Spurs (TBA)


                          This first of an ESPN doubleheader and should have live betting at sportsbooks. Houston won a third straight Monday, 112-111 in New Orleans. James Harden had 35 points and Trevor Ariza a season-high 31. Dwight Howard missed a third straight due to a sprained ankle. San Antonio played without Tim Duncan on Monday, but it wouldn't have mattered in that blowout loss at the Warriors. The defeat ended the Spurs' 13-game winning streak. They committed a season-high 26 turnovers. The Spurs and Rockets have split two meetings, each winning at home. Houston has lost three straight at San Antonio after winning two in a row prior to that.


                          Key trends: The home team is 8-0 ATS in the past eight meetings. The over is 4-1 in the past five.


                          Early lean: TBA for Howard and Duncan. I expect a huge bounce-back game for the Spurs.


                          Hornets at Jazz (TBA)


                          Charlotte won a third straight Monday, 129-128 in double OT at Sacramento despite DeMarcus Cousins' 56 points. The Hornets' Troy Daniels hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with nine seconds left and finished with eight 3-pointers and a career-high 28 points. Jeremy Lin had 20 points and 11 assists. Charlotte is 5-0 in OT this season. The Hornets played without Nic Batum and Cody Zeller; for sure Zeller won't play here. Utah lost by three at home to Detroit on Monday. Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 17 rebounds. Jazz forward Derrick Favors returned from a 16-game absence and had 14 points in 19 minutes. Charlotte won the first meeting 124-119 in double overtime on Jan. 18. Kemba Walker set a Charlotte franchise record with 52 points.


                          Key trends: The Hornets have failed to cover their past eight in Utah. The under is 5-1 in the past six meetings.


                          Early lean: Jazz will win.


                          Mavericks at Warriors (-13.5, 216)


                          Second ESPN game. Dallas was in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Golden State embarrassed the Spurs on Monday behind 37 points from Steph Curry, who also became the 26th player in NBA history with 1,400 career 3-pointers. It was the Warriors' 39th straight regular-season home win. Golden State is 25-2 against the West this season and has won 35 in a row at home against Western Conference teams in the regular season. Golden State played maybe its worst game of the season on Dec. 30, a 114-91 loss in Dallas. Curry missed that one. Still, the Warriors have won seven of the past eight meetings and five straight at home.


                          Key trends: Golden State is 2-9 ATS in its past 11 on one day of rest. The under is 8-3 in the past 11 meetings.


                          Early lean: I'll say the Warriors are a bit flat. Take the points.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/27

                            NBA


                            Wednesday's hot teams
                            -- Cavaliers won three of last four games; they're 0-2 vs spread in the Tyronn Lue era.
                            -- Celtics won last three games, 9-20-25 points (7-4 last 11HF).
                            -- 76ers won three of their last five games (5-2 last 7AU).
                            -- Rockets won their last three games (4-7AU). Spurs had 13-game win streak snapped Monday night in Oakland (16-9HF).
                            -- Hawks won/covered last three home games (9-3 last 12HF).
                            -- Thunder won nine of its last ten games (0-7 last 7AF).
                            -- Hornets won four of last five games (4-2 last 6AU).
                            -- Dallas is 4-3 in its last seven games (1-3 last 4AU). Warriors won last four games, all by 12+ points (1-4 last 5HF).


                            Cold teams
                            -- Suns lost seven of their last eight games (1-0 last 11AU).
                            -- Nuggets lost three of last four games; this is their first game on road in 19 days (7-4 last 11AU).
                            -- Detroit is 3-5 in its last eight games (10-2 last 12HF).
                            -- Clippers split their last six games (3-4AU).
                            -- Minnesota lost 12 of its last 14 games (3-1 last 4HU).
                            -- Utah lost five of its last seven games (4-2 last 6HF).


                            Series records
                            -- Cavaliers won three of last four games with Phoenix, but Suns covered five of last six series games.
                            -- Celtics won three of their last four games with Denver.
                            -- 76ers won four of last six games with Detroit.
                            -- Spurs won four of last five games with Houston.
                            -- Clippers lost four of last five games with Atlanta.
                            -- Thunder won last nine games with Minnesota (6-3 vs spread).
                            -- Jazz won eight of last ten games with Charlotte.
                            -- Warriors lost by 23 in Dallas Dec 30, their first loss to Dallas in last eight series games.


                            Totals
                            -- Six of last nine Phoenix games went over total.
                            -- Six of last seven Denver games went over the total.
                            -- Over is 7-3 in last ten Philly-Detroit games.
                            -- Eight of last ten Houston games went over.
                            -- Five of last seven Clipper games stayed under.
                            -- Under is 4-1-1 in last six Thunder-Minnesota games.
                            -- Over is 4-1-1 in last six Utah games.
                            -- Over is 3-1-1 in last five Dallas games.


                            Back/backs
                            -- Phoenix is 3-5 vs spread if it played the night before.
                            -- 76ers are 3-6 vs spread if they played the night before.
                            -- Clippers are 4-3 vs spread if they won the night before.
                            -- Oklahoma City is 2-4 vs spread on road if it played night before.
                            -- Dallas is 8-2 vs spread if it played the night before.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: NBA Betting Info. 1/27

                              'Spurs Bounce Back'


                              The best thing a San Antonio bettors can do after the 120-90 shellacking in Oakland, is to 'Forget-About-It'. That's because, they're going to be motivated following the beat-down and ready to make a statement when they host in-state rival Houston Rockets.


                              Oddsmakers have opened San Antonio +10.5 point favorite. As always a higher price on a game is cause to ratchet up the tension for a sports handicapper. However, in this case, the numbers add up well enough to conclude Spurs are a good choice.


                              Spurs are a profitable 12-3 ATS as double digit chalk and have a habit of bouncing back against the betting line following a loss (6-0 ATS). Also, these telling basketball betting stats leap out in favor of San Antonio. Historically, the Spurs have been money in the bank on home court following a road loss (11-3-1 ATS), have enjoyed success at the betting window off loss by 15 or more points (10-4-1 ATS).


                              Additionally, San Antonio playing tremendous basketball at both ends of the floor behind a league 3rd best in points scored per 100 possesions (108.2) and ranking tops in the league allowing opponents 94.0 per 100 possessions haven't loss AT&T Center this season (24-0, 17-7 ATS) winning by 16.2 points/game. Going back to the middle of last March, the Spurs are an amazing 33-0 (25-8 ATS) on home court in regular season netting 106.9 points/game while allowing visitors a lowly 89.6 per/contest.

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