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**TheGame** · 02-03-2016, 07:32 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/3

NBA notebook: Howard draws one-game suspension
By The Sports Xchange

The NBA on Tuesday suspended Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard for one game and fined head coach J.B. Bickerstaff $10,000 for criticizing the officials.
With 8:08 left in the fourth quarter of the Rockets 123-122 loss to the Washington Wizards on Jan. 30, Howard made contact and struck the arm of one of the officials.
Bickerstaff made his comments to the media in the postgame news conference
Howard served his suspension Tuesday night when the Rockets faced the Miami Heat.

---The Sacramento Kings nixed a promotional giveaway before Monday night's game against the Milwaukee Bucks after center DeMarcus Cousins raised concerns about insensitivity.
The Kings planned to give away T-shirts with an image of a purple monkey to commemmorate the Chinese Year of the Monkey, which begins Feb. 8. But Cousins thought the shirts could be construed as offensive, particularly on the first day of Black History Month, and the staff canceled the giveaway before fans arrived at Sleep Train Arena.
Cousins, an All-Star who is averaging 27.0 points and 11.3 rebounds per game this season, sat out Monday night with a sprained left ankle.

---Phoenix Suns guard T.J. Warren has a broken right foot and will miss the rest of the season, Yahoo Sports reported.
Warren was averaging 11.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per game and shooting 52 percent from the field and 40 percent on 3-pointers this season. The 22-year-old is the Suns' third leading scorer behind injured guards Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight.

---Miami was without center Hassan Whiteside when the Heat play the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night as he missed his sixth straight game while recovering from an oblique injury.
The Rockets were without starting center Dwight Howard, who has been suspended one game for making contact with an official over the weekend.

---President Barack Obama will honor the NBA champion Golden State Warriors on Thursday at the White House.
The Warriors captured the 2014-15 NBA title with a 4-2 series victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, securing the team's fourth championship in franchise history and first in 40 years (1974-75).
This year, the Warriors, who will play at the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, own a 44-4 (.917) record. That mark equals the best record through the season's first 48 games in NBA history (1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers).

---San Antonio guard Tony Parker, a four-time NBA champion with the Spurs, told a French radio station that he could miss the Summer Olympics because his wife is due to give birth to the couple's second son at the end of July.
The Olympic basketball tournament runs from Aug. 6-21 and Parker said he has yet to decide whether his wife's pregnancy will force him to cancel his commitments with the national team.

---The Golden State Warriors recalled forward Kevon Looney from Santa Cruz of the NBA Development League.
Looney was assigned to Santa Cruz on Jan. 28 and played in two games, averaging 13.0 points and 4.0 rebounds, before his return to Golden State. In seven games for the D-League team this season, he has averaged 9.4 points and 8.3 rebounds. Looney has played in one game for the Warriors in 2015-16 and scored two points.

**TheGame** · 02-03-2016, 07:32 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/3

Preview: Cavaliers (35-12) at Hornets (23-25)

Date: February 03, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

It's not easy getting a trio of elite players to jell on offense, but the Cleveland Cavaliers and their three stars are clicking under Tyronn Lue.

Since losing Lue's first game as coach, the Cavaliers have been playing well and can extend their win streak to six Wednesday night against the Charlotte Hornets.

Elevated to head coach when David Blatt was fired Jan. 22, Lue had less than 36 hours to prepare for an eventual 96-83 home loss to Chicago that closed a 3-3 stretch in which Cleveland averaged 95.5 points.

The win streak has provided a different look from the Cavaliers (35-12), who have quickened the pace and spread the floor while averaging 114.2 on 51.5 percent shooting.

The previous three games in particular have shown what an offense led by LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love can do. Prior to Friday's win at Detroit, those three hadn't scored 20 apiece this season, but they did it again Saturday against San Antonio and just missed a third when Love had 19 in Monday's 111-106 overtime win at Indiana.

"We're out there playing basketball," said Love, who has averaged 22.5 points in his last four after scoring 15.5 per game prior to that. "We're helping one another, we're having each other's backs, and I think that's going a long way right now."

With their top players taking quality shots, the Cavs haven't forced much with 23 or fewer 3-point attempts in three straight games. They averaged 28.2 before this stretch.

"We're just learning how to win, that's all," James said after Cleveland recovered from blowing an 11-point lead to force the extra period against the Pacers. "We're learning how to win in tough situations and tonight was one of those."

James had 24 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, but he scored only seven after taking what he called a stinger to his shoulder in the third quarter. The injury doesn't appear to be a concern, however, and he's likely to play.

Irving scored six of his 25 in overtime, J.R. Smith had 19 points and Tristan Thompson 14 to put all five Cavs starters in double digits for just the seventh time.

The drawback to the new pace has been an average of 103.0 points allowed on the streak, and the Cavs may need to rely more on defense against the Hornets (23-25).

Charlotte's numbers point toward an ability to slow the Cavs in transition and stuff them in the lane. The Hornets are second in the NBA with 38.5 points allowed in the paint per game and are among the top 10 with 11.8 allowed on the fast break.

Those stats held in Cleveland's 95-90 win at Charlotte on Nov. 27, when both teams had just six points on the break and the Cavs owned a slight 40-36 advantage in the lane - but the biggest factor there was that Irving didn't play.

The point guard's presence should open things up considering the last time he faced Charlotte on Jan. 23, 2015, the Cavs scored 27 on the break in a 129-90 rout.

The Hornets will also be at a disadvantage in that regard if point guard Kemba Walker sits in the opener of this four-game homestand because of a sore left knee.

Walker had 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists, and Marvin Williams and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 19 points and 12 rebounds apiece in a 101-82 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday that closed a 2-2 trip.

"We just wanted to end the road trip the right way," Walker said. "The energy and intensity was all there. We did everything we wanted to do."

**TheGame** · 02-03-2016, 07:32 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/3

Preview: Hawks (28-22) at 76ers (7-41)

Date: February 03, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

It's not unfair to say the Philadelphia 76ers are living up to expectations with the worst record in the league. Jerry Colangelo, however, sees progress and credits the acquisition of Ish Smith.

After putting a scare into the reigning NBA champions, Smith and the 76ers seek a rare win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.

With a roster that includes 10 of 15 players with two or fewer years of experience, Philadelphia (7-41) was expected to be among the NBA's worst teams for a third straight season.

It's dead last.

Colangelo was hired as Chairman of Basketball Operations in December, tasked with the challenge of improving the moribund franchise.

So far, he likes what he sees from a 6-11 stretch that followed an abysmal start to the season.

"There's a lot of things that we want to continue to discuss regarding the future," Colangelo told the team's official website. "We just keep looking at options, and I think the good news is, just after a few weeks, there's been a real improvement, and I think that's a plus.

"I see it in practice, just the attitude of the players is much more positive. I think that's important, especially with a young group, that there's something to cling to."

Colangelo cited Smith as the key to that improvement. The guard was re-acquired from New Orleans for two second-round picks this summer, and he's averaging 15.9 points and 8.1 assists in 17 games. He had 12.0 points and 6.1 assists in 25 games for the Sixers last season before moving to the Pelicans as a free agent, bringing his total to nine teams in six seasons.

"I think he has shown he has the capacity to do a lot more than maybe where he was picked," Colangelo said of Smith, who went undrafted in 2010. "He's bounced around quite a bit, and it's a great story that finally maybe he's landed somewhere where he could do a lot more than fit that description or that role."

Smith had 16 points, nine assists and four steals before Philadelphia gave up Harrison Barnes' 3-pointer with 0.2 seconds left in a 108-105 loss to Golden State on Saturday.

"It shows we have no letdown, no backdown," coach Brett Brown said.

Jahlil Okafor should see an increased role after scoring 13 points in 20 minutes against the Warriors following a two-game absence due to illness. The rookie center has totaled 40 points and 14 rebounds in two meetings with Atlanta - both losses. That includes 21 in a 126-98 home loss Jan. 7.

The Hawks' Jeff Teague only had seven points in that matchup. He hit 12 of 15 from the floor on his way to a season-high 32 points while dishing out eight assists in Monday's 112-97 win over Dallas, ending Atlanta's three-game skid.

"Just be aggressive, play with a lot of energy and play with a lot of speed," Teague said. "When we do that, we feel like we're a pretty good team."

That hasn't happened on the road, where the Hawks (28-22) are 12-14 after compiling a 25-16 record last season. They've lost six of the last eight away from Atlanta, mustering just 91.2 points per game in those defeats.

Teague is averaging 10.8 points on 35.4 percent shooting over the last 10 road games.

Paul Millsap had 18 points and six rebounds at Philadelphia last month, but he's scoring just 9.7 per game over the last three.

Atlanta has won nine of 10 against the 76ers, averaging 109.3 points in those games.

**TheGame** · 02-03-2016, 07:32 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/3

Preview: Pacers (25-23) at Nets (12-37)

Date: February 03, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

Paul George admits his diminished role in the Indiana Pacers' offense sometimes disrupts his game and causes him to go against his instincts.

Coach Frank Vogel would be inclined to give George the ball more often if he'd simply make more of the shots he's getting now.

George looks to bounce back from another off night and help the Pacers deal the host Brooklyn Nets a fifth consecutive defeat Wednesday night.

Over his first 20 games, George averaged 27.9 points and shot 44.8 percent while attempting at least 20 shots 10 times. He's had that many attempts on only six occasions over his last 28, averaging 19.9 points and shooting 37.5 percent.

George went 3 of 15 from the field and finished with 11 points for the second time in three games Monday as the Pacers (25-23) lost to visiting Cleveland 111-106 in overtime. He also has nine turnovers over the last two games after committing that many over his previous five.

"It's been a little tough trying to get shots within the offense without taking away from getting other guys going," George said. "It's just something in the back of my mind always, whether I'm doing too much or shooting too much.

"I'm a guy who is all about rhythm, and sometimes late in the games I haven't had the ball in a long stretch. It's for us to figure out how to catch a rhythm and how to maintain a rhythm."

Monta Ellis also struggled against the Cavaliers, going 5 of 18 from the field - 1 of 8 from 3-point range - and finishing with 14 points. George Hill matched his season high with 23, though, and rookie Myles Turner had his first double-double with 14 and 10 rebounds.

Vogel has inserted Turner into the starting lineup for the last three and said doing so will benefit him for when the playoffs come around. He's also not concerned about the amount of touches George has been getting and believes his current role best suits the Pacers.

"We'll keep calling his number and keep getting him involved," Vogel said. "Obviously if he's 3 for 15 we're going to call (plays for George) a little bit less, and if he's 13 for 15 we're going to call a little bit more. We're going to go with the hot hand, but I feel like we're getting him involved at the right level."

George shot 7 of 15 and finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds in a 104-97 home win over Brooklyn on Dec. 18. He'll try for another solid effort against the Nets (12-37), who believe they've been playing better lately despite dropping 14 of 16.

Three of the defeats during their four-game skid have come by five points or fewer, including Monday's 105-100 loss to Detroit that marked their 15th loss in their last 17 at home. Brook Lopez scored 27 points and is averaging 26.4 over his last five, but he had trouble containing Andre Drummond as the Pistons held a 27-8 advantage in second-chance points.

Interim coach Tony Brown was pleased with the spark off the bench, as Andrea Bargnani scored 18 points and Shane Larkin had a career-high 14 assists.

"We need to look to be more aggressive and more confident, each individually and as a whole," Lopez said. "We're on a bit of an upswing. We need to keep improving each and every game."

**TheGame** · 02-03-2016, 07:33 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/3

Preview: Pistons (26-23) at Celtics (28-22)

Date: February 03, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

The Boston Celtics have done in the last three weeks what Stan Van Gundy hoped his Detroit Pistons would: make a move as most of the Eastern Conference treads water.

While the ailing Pistons are stuck in the current, the Celtics are looking to continue swimming downstream when they host Detroit on Wednesday night.

Boston (28-22) has dropped two of three in this series already this season, the latest a 99-94 home loss Jan. 6 that began a season-worst four-game skid. The Celtics, however, have followed with nine wins in 12 games to climb up the East standings and tie Southeast Division-leading Atlanta for the third-best record in the conference.

Tuesday's 97-89 victory at New York gave Boston six wins in seven games, and the Celtics (7-3) join Cleveland (8-2) and Toronto (9-1) as the only Eastern teams with winning records in their last 10.

The latest victory wasn't pretty as Boston's six-game streak of scoring at least 110 points ended with the help of a 3-for-19 effort from 3-point range, including misses on all 13 attempts in the first half. It was the Celtics' defense that delivered the difference - as has often been the case over the last two weeks.

Boston, which has won five straight at TD Garden, has held six of its last seven opponents below 43 percent shooting, and the Knicks finished at 37.8 while committing 17 turnovers that led to 16 points for the Celtics.

"Eventually we started wearing them down playing great defense, and we got stops and turned them into buckets," said Evan Turner, who came off the bench for 14 points, 10 rebounds and three of Boston's nine steals.

Fellow reserve Tyler Zeller added 16 points and 10 boards, while Isaiah Thomas finished with 20 points and eight assists. Thomas matched a career high with 38 points in a 119-116 loss at Detroit on Dec. 16, and he's averaged 27.8 and 8 assists in his last four games against the Pistons.

While Boston's defensive effort has keyed its latest run, Detroit's inconsistencies on that end of the floor have given Van Gundy headaches.

The Pistons (26-23) were ranked in the league's top 10 by allowing 99 points per game through Jan. 9, but are 5-7 since while surrendering an average of 105.4.

While an offense that spent the first month of the season regularly scoring fewer than 100 points and often under 90 has taken a step forward, it's a midseason defensive lull that has kept the Pistons from gaining any ground in the East - though they did snap a two-game skid with Monday's 105-100 win at Brooklyn.

"You don't feel a sense of urgency to put out maximum effort," Van Gundy told the team's official website. "That's where we've been, content to just stay in games and then if we get behind we'll go really hard. We're looking for chances to rest instead of playing a 48-minute game and we're just going to have to fight through that."

A plethora of injuries isn't helping the cause for Detroit, which is 11-15 away from home. Reggie Jackson jammed his thumb Monday and then aggravated it in Tuesday's practice. Marcus Morris and Aron Baynes are tending to knee issues, Ersan Ilyasova has a groin injury and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is dealing with a strained oblique muscle.

**TheGame** · 02-03-2016, 07:33 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/3

Preview: Magic (21-26) at Thunder (37-13)

Date: February 03, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

Nearing a showdown against the NBA's top team, the Oklahoma City Thunder could easily look past their next opponent. After all, they're on a roll while the Orlando Magic are in a prolonged slump and visiting a city where they haven't won in seven years.

Still, the Magic have been anything but a pushover against the Western Conference, and the Thunder needed a near miracle to beat them.

The rematch Wednesday night in Oklahoma City will feature Russell Westbrook going after a third consecutive triple-double. His well-rounded play has keyed the Thunder (37-13) winning 11 of 12, including four straight while averaging 121.0 points.

"We're very comfortable," Westbrook told the team's official website. "Everybody is doing a great job of spacing and moving without the basketball. My job is to find those guys in scoring positions and get them easy baskets."

Assuming Orlando doesn't end a six-game skid in Oklahoma City which dates to November 2008, the Thunder would carry plenty of momentum into Saturday's matchup with Golden State. Those title contenders have yet to meet but play three times in the next four weeks.

The Magic (21-26) have dropped five straight on the road and 13 of 15 overall to fall into the Southeast Division basement. Now they visit the Northwest Division leader, but playing West powers hasn't intimidated Scott Skiles' young team.

Orlando is 10-7 against the conference with six losses decided by six points or less, including three in overtime. The only result that wasn't close was Monday's 107-92 defeat in San Antonio, but the Magic rallied from a 14-0 deficit to take the lead in the third quarter before falling to a Spurs team which is 26-0 at home.

That came 24 hours after Orlando halted Boston's five-game winning streak with a 119-114 victory.

"I still believe in our team and I still believe in our guys," said Victor Oladipo, who had 19 points Monday. "I still feel like a turn and a change is coming for us and we're going to get things rolling again. We just all have to believe it, too."

The Magic must believe they can take down the Thunder considering they should have done so Oct. 30, but Westbrook banked in a 40-footer at the end of regulation and Oklahoma City won 139-136 in double overtime. Westbrook's 48 points from that night are a season high, and so were Kevin Durant's 43 until he had 44 last week in New York.

Durant is averaging 32.8 points and 10.8 rebounds in the last five games, but Westbrook taking fewer shots and finding teammates more often have been as important to the Thunder's surge. He's averaged 11.6 assists in the last 10 games with four triple-doubles, and Oklahoma City is 22-4 when he gets one (7-0 this season).

'It means that my teammates do a great job of getting open, creating lanes where I'm able to be effective, and I'm trying to find ways to get those guys the basketball and trying to play my game,' he said.

During the Thunder's seven-game home winning streak, Westbrook has averaged 13.4 field-goal attempts and 14.9 points. They are 19-1 overall when he attempts fewer than 18 shots.

"He's really been efficient," coach Billy Donovan said.

Enes Kanter has added 19.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in the last three heading into a matchup with fellow Swiss big man Nikola Vucevic, who has posted double-doubles in nine of 11.

Vucevic scored 25 in the first meeting, Oladipo posted his only triple-double of the season and Tobias Harris led Orlando with 30 points.

The Magic have lost eight of nine to the Thunder.

**TheGame** · 02-03-2016, 07:34 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/3

Preview: Warriors (44-4) at Wizards (21-25)

Date: February 03, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The good news for the Washington Wizards is that the Golden State Warriors experienced issues against lesser competition on the first two stops of their road trip.

The bad news: they won anyway.

The Warriors brushed aside some uncharacteristic stretches by extending some more telling trends over the weekend, and they will go for their eighth straight victory when they visit the nation's capital Wednesday night.

It's easy to focus on the concerns from the opening two games of Golden State's trip as it nearly blew a 24-point lead in Saturday's 108-105 win over lowly Philadelphia before scoring a season-low 18 points in the opening quarter of Sunday's 116-95 victory against New York.

Still, the Warriors improved to 44-4 to match the best mark in NBA history through 48 games.

Golden State finished with 68 assists on 89 made baskets and converted on 29 of 59 3-pointers between the two contests - extending streaks of at least 30 assists to seven games and at least 10 3-pointers to 10.

The last NBA team to record 30-plus assists seven games in a row was the 1993-94 Warriors.

"That's what we do," coach Steve Kerr said.

And they win. The Warriors are one game better than the pace set by Kerr's 1995-96 Chicago Bulls on the way to their all-time best 72-10 record.

"We're not really paying much attention to the record," Kerr said. "But we don't take winning for granted, that's for sure."

Kerr almost experienced his first loss on the sideline. The Warriors, 5-0 since his Jan. 22 return from a leave of absence due to complications from back surgery, needed a Harrison Barnes 3 with 0.2 seconds left to beat the league-worst 76ers. Things didn't completely return to normal until the second quarter at Madison Square Garden.

Golden State, which has won eight of nine in this series and five in a row at Washington, bounced back from a 20-18 first-quarter deficit by scoring 64 points over the next 24 minutes. Stephen Curry scored only 13 points, but Klay Thompson made 14 of 18 shots for 34 and Draymond Green had 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to tie a franchise record with his ninth triple-double - matching Hall of Famer Tom Gola's total from the 1959-60 season.

Golden State has also held a rebounding advantage in each game of its winning streak, an area that led to the latest loss for Washington (21-25).

The Wizards suffered their sixth defeat in eight games Monday after getting outrebounded 53-27 in a 114-98 loss at Oklahoma City. The Thunder grabbed 14 offensive boards to Washington's two.

"When you're playing from behind and you're getting a team that's making shots and getting offensive rebounds when they're missing, it's tough to win," point guard John Wall said.

The Warriors make plenty of shots as they're tied with San Antonio for the best field-goal percentage in the league at 49.1 while shooting 42.8 percent from 3-point range, far ahead of the second-place Spurs (38.7). The Wizards, who have lost seven of nine at home, allow opponents to shoot a league-high 38.6 percent on 3s and 47.0 percent overall.

Washington will play without coach Randy Wittman for the second straight game after his brother's death last week, and assistant Don Newman will assume the head coaching duties. Wittman is expected to return for Friday's home contest against Philadelphia.

**TheGame** · 02-03-2016, 07:34 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/3

Preview: Heat (27-22) at Mavericks (28-23)

Date: February 03, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

The schedule hasn't been kind to the Dallas Mavericks. Mounting injuries aren't making things any easier.

The Mavericks might be without Deron Williams on Wednesday night when they try to avenge one of their worst performances of the season against the Miami Heat.

Dallas (28-23) has played a league-high 19 games in the new year, going 9-10 while averaging 97.8 points. The schedule hasn't provided much relief lately with the Mavericks splitting the first two of this stretch of five games in seven days. That span concludes with back-to-back meetings against San Antonio and Memphis this weekend.

Dallas fell 112-97 at Atlanta on Monday, shooting 36.5 percent from the floor and 7 for 26 from 3-point range.

"I mean, we're still in the middle of a tough stretch with five games in seven nights. We've got another one Wednesday, and it's a tough one," Dirk Nowitzki told the team's official website. "But we just have to grind it out, especially with a few guys out."

Devin Harris could be out for a sixth straight game with a left toe sprain, but - more importantly - the Mavs might be missing Williams after he bruised his hip Monday.

"I don't know anything about a timetable or anything like that," coach Rick Carlisle said. "But I'm concerned."

Williams leads the team with 5.3 assists per game and is second with 13.9 points. The guard is averaging 18.6 points over the last seven home games, scoring 27 in Sunday's 91-78 win over Phoenix.

Williams had nine points in a 106-82 loss at Miami on Jan. 1. That stands as the Mavericks' second lowest point total of the season, and they shot 36.4 percent, including 7 for 31 from beyond the arc.

Nowitzki was a major culprit, missing 10 of 14 from the floor and finishing with 11 points, while Chandler Parsons was held to four on 2-of-8 shooting. Parsons, however, is averaging 22.5 points on 54.2 percent from the field over the past eight games.

Dallas has lost eight of the last nine meetings with the Heat (27-22), including four straight at home while surrendering an average of 109.3 points.

Miami is looking for a bounce-back performance after Tuesday's 115-102 loss at Houston, halting its four-game winning streak.

"I think early on we just weren't mentally sharp," Dwyane Wade said of the Heat's 17 turnovers. "We came out and were losing the ball ... and with a team like this who feeds off that you have to be very sharp and tight with the ball."

Wade is scoring 23.4 points per game over the past five on the road. He had 20 in a 105-96 win at Dallas on Nov. 9, 2014, but flu-like symptoms limited him to 10 points and seven assists in 18 minutes on New Year's Day.

Hassan Whiteside dominated that matchup with 25 points and a season-high 19 boards. The center could return for this meeting after missing the past six games with a strained oblique.

Chris Bosh went 3 for 11 from the field Tuesday and finished with 13 points. He was averaging 21.8 on 51.3 percent shooting over the previous five games.

The Dallas native has totaled 42 points on 15-of-22 shooting and 15 rebounds in his last two games there.

**TheGame** · 02-03-2016, 07:34 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/3

Preview: Pelicans (18-29) at Spurs (40-8)

Date: February 03, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

The San Antonio Spurs have been so good at home that New Orleans Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry chose to provide them with some material for the "bulletin board."

Gentry's team has enjoyed some recent success against the Spurs and may not have to face Tim Duncan as it seeks to ruin San Antonio's perfect record at home Wednesday night.

San Antonio (40-8) has won 35 straight regular-season home games for the sixth-longest streak in league history. The Spurs can improve to 27-0 at home to match the 1947-48 Washington Capitols for the NBA's third-best start.

That kind of dominance caused Gentry to joke about the daunting task ahead for his last-place club against Gregg Popovich's team.

"They've won every game at home, they're due to lose one," said Gentry, a former Popovich assistant. "Play that for Pop, have Pop put that on the bulletin board, OK?"

The Spurs have gone 2-2 in a four-game stretch without Duncan, who is out with a sore right knee with no indication when he will return.

Popovich has said that Duncan is the key to the Spurs' defense. The coach has used three different lineups in Duncan's absence, and forward LaMarcus Aldridge says it has changed his role.

"With him out right now, I'm guarding more 5s, more guys down low so I'm fine with that," Aldridge said.

Aldridge and the Spurs face a major challenge against Anthony Davis and the Pelicans, who completed a 5-2 homestand with Monday's 110-95 defeat to Memphis. Davis had 23 points and Norris Cole matched a career high with 23.

"We came in and took care of our home floor, walked away with a winning record but we've got to do the same thing on the road, a big road game in a hostile environment," Davis said. "So we've got to go into San Antonio and kind of get back on our winning ways."

The Pelicans (18-29) are 4-1 against the Spurs since the start of last season with the lone defeat in overtime. New Orleans is one of only four teams to win at San Antonio in regulation during that span. Ryan Anderson scored 30 and Davis had 20 points and 18 rebounds in a 104-90 home victory Nov. 20 in the only meeting this season.

San Antonio played without Manu Ginobili that night while New Orleans was without two injured perimeter players in Cole and Tyreke Evans.

Evans, the club's third-leading scorer at 15.2 points per game, is questionable after missing three games with right knee tendinitis.

Davis is averaging 22.9 points, 13.3 rebounds and 3.3 blocks while posting seven straight double-doubles against the Spurs.

"He's talented, can shoot 3s now or is shooting more 3s now, very versatile on the block, very athletic getting to the rim, (his) mid-range has gotten a whole lot better so he's going to be tough," Aldridge said.

Aldridge is averaging 22.7 points on 67.6 percent shooting in his last three games. He scored a season-high 28 and had five blocks in Monday's 107-92 home win over Orlando.

Patty Mills matched his season best with 22 points and Ginobili added 13 as the Spurs got 56 points from their bench. Their reserves average 42.2 points, with the Pelicans at 42.5 for two of the NBA's best marks.

Anderson is the league's top scoring reserve with 17.0 points per game. He scored at least 22 in four straight before being held to nine points Monday.

**TheGame** · 02-03-2016, 07:34 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/3

Preview: Nuggets (19-30) at Jazz (22-25)

Date: February 03, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

Gordon Hayward realizes he won't receive the attention bestowed upon many of the NBA's other stars until the young Utah Jazz start winning regularly.

Riding their longest winning streak of the season, Hayward is the main reason why.

Utah can win its fourth straight game by beating the Denver Nuggets for the fourth consecutive time as it continues its homestand Wednesday night.

Hayward is averaging team highs of 19.9 points and 3.7 assists in his sixth season, tying him for the most experienced player on a roster that doesn't have one older than 28. He and Trey Burke also are the only two who have played in every game for the Jazz (22-25) this season.

Coach Quin Snyder credited Hayward for "putting the team on his back" when Rodney Hood and Derrick Favors missed time with injuries and Alec Burks was lost for the season. He did so again Monday, finishing with 27 points, a season-high 12 rebounds and seven assists in a 105-96 overtime win over Chicago.

Hayward tied it with 4.8 seconds left in regulation with a driving layup before Utah dominated the extra period. He finished 9 of 20 from the field and is averaging 23.9 points over his last seven.

Utah, which is playing its fifth on a six-game homestand, hasn't made the playoffs since the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season, but the club is in the thick of the Western Conference race past the season's midway point.

"I think I'm an elite player in this league and I think I have to find ways to help my team win more," Hayward said. "We're learning how to do that. It feels good to win three in a row. We've got two more at home and hopefully we can take advantage of that stretch."

Snyder fielded questions about Hayward's emergence, but he maintained nothing surprises him anymore.

"He's been doing this for years," Snyder said. "He's been willing to take hard shots. He's been willing to put himself out there, and over time when you're as good as he is, you're going to succeed. You're seeing a great competitor right now."

Hayward scored 20 in a 96-84 win at Denver on Nov. 5 and followed with 26 in a 97-88 home victory Dec. 18. The Nuggets (19-30) will look to end their skid in the series after snapping Toronto's 11-game overall win streak with Monday's 112-93 victory.

Denver had dropped five of its previous seven, but 20-year-old rookie Nikola Jokic came through, finishing with season highs of 27 points and 14 rebounds for his third straight double-double while going 12 of 18 from the field.

Jokic, who is averaging 9.6 points and 5.9 rebounds on the season, has averaged 19.3 points and 11.7 boards in that stretch.

"What a performance. Every time I think he's kind of maxed out for his rookie season, he finds a way to keep on impressing me," coach Michael Malone said.

"You can talk about some of these other young bigs who are all talented, and I wouldn't trade him for anybody in the world. He's a special young man and a special young talent. He's only going to get better as he gets stronger."

The 6-foot-10 center played sparingly in the first two meetings with Utah, combining for 12 points and 13 rebounds while going 2 of 9 from the field.

Jameer Nelson was inactive against Toronto because of a sore left wrist and his status for this contest is unclear.

**TheGame** · 02-03-2016, 07:35 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/3

Preview: Bulls (26-21) at Kings (21-27)

Date: February 03, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

Although the losses continue to mount, the Chicago Bulls are trying to stay positive.

The Sacramento Kings are feeling confident after ending a four-game losing streak without their All-Star.

The slumping Bulls try to win in a venue in which they haven't played well lately when they visit a Kings team uncertain to have DeMarcus Cousins on Wednesday night.

After being three games out of first place in the Eastern Conference on Jan. 8, Chicago (26-21) is now just 3 1/2 games ahead of ninth-place Charlotte. The Bulls' 4-9 record since then is better than only Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Orlando in the East.

Their last two games were a study in contrasts, as they were blown out in Sunday's 120-93 defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers and let one slip away in a 105-96 overtime loss at Utah the next night. Jimmy Butler had his second 26-point effort in three games but the Bulls were disastrous in the extra period, with three points and three turnovers while going 3 of 6 from the foul line and 0 for 3 from the field.

Center Pau Gasol tried to put a positive spin on the result.

"At least we gave ourselves a chance, which was something more than we did last night," he told the team's official website. "I don't worry about the tough, close losses. I worry about the losses we should have won and played at a different level and kind of gave away and allowed opponents to win. Whenever you bring the competitiveness, the effort, the energy, the sense of urgency I am OK with that."

The Kings (21-27) brought the intensity Monday against Milwaukee, as Rudy Gay stepped up for the injured Cousins and Ben McLemore. Cousins exited Saturday's loss to Memphis with a sprained left ankle, but Sacramento received some good news as X-rays came back negative.

Gay filled the scoring void with 32 points while adding nine rebounds and six assists in a 111-104 win. The Kings improved to 2-7 without Cousins, with both victories coming against the Bucks.

'DeMarcus being out had a lot to do with it. Obviously, he's been carrying us for the most part of the season,' Gay said. 'When guys go down - not just him, Ben is out - guys have to step up.'

Even without Cousins, their leading rebounder at 11.3 per game, the Kings outrebounded Milwaukee 53-37.

The Bucks, however, are one of the league's worst teams on the glass while the Bulls average an NBA-best 48.6 boards.

Chicago averages 101.3 points per game but has averaged 91.0 in three defeats in its last four contests. It has been significantly worse offensively while losing three straight at Sacramento, averaging 79.0 points while being outscored by 28.7.

The Bulls have lost five of six to West teams while the Kings are 7-3 against the East at home.

Though it's managed to shut down Chicago, Sacramento is known for its offense, averaging 111.6 points over the last five games with Gay at 24.3 in three games played in that span. Sacramento, which split two with the Bulls last season, is 6-3 when Gay scores at least 23.

**TheGame** · 02-03-2016, 07:35 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/3

Preview: Timberwolves (14-36) at Clippers (32-16)

Date: February 03, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

Doc Rivers wishes everyone would focus on how well the Los Angeles Clippers are playing rather than the saga involving Blake Griffin, and he might get his wish now that the league is on the verge of announcing a potential punishment.

It's tough to ignore the Clippers' stingy defense during their winning streak no matter the situation.

Los Angeles can extend its run to five by beating Minnesota for the 15th consecutive time in the Timberwolves second straight game at Staples Center on Wednesday night.

The Clippers (32-16) have won 15 of 18 since Griffin tore his left quad Christmas Day while also dealing with the distractions stemming from his incident with an equipment manager Jan. 23 in Toronto.

Griffin broke his right hand in the fight and will be out at least a few more weeks because of the injury, but his return could be delayed further with a suspension from the league office. The Clippers have kept Griffin away from the team and the media during the process, and Rivers wants everything resolved so he can stop fielding questions on the topic.

"I swear, we have a basketball game coming up," Rivers said after Tuesday's practice. 'It's over with as far as we're concerned. The only thing is we have to get the punishment from the league and see where we're going. Other than that, we're good.'

In fact, the Clippers have been better than good. They're allowing an average of 89.5 points during a four-game winning streak with their bench outscoring opponents' 184-78 in that span.

Jamal Crawford went 11 for 15 from the field and scored a game-high 26 points in Sunday's 120-93 rout of Chicago, and fellow reserves Austin Rivers (16) and Wesley Johnson (11) also reached double figures.

J.J. Redick paced the starters with 21, while Chris Paul added 19 and DeAndre Jordan finished with 17 and 20 rebounds.

The Clippers embark on a four-game trip to the East Coast following this contest and welcomed having a couple days off between games.

"We're a little bit past the midway point of the season and this is where the legs start getting heavy," 38-year-old Paul Pierce said. "(The break) couldn't have come a better time to hit the reset button and get ready for the stretch run."

The Clippers have won both meetings with Minnesota (14-36) this season and 14 in a row since the Timberwolves last beat them March 5, 2012. Minnesota's road losing streak reached 12 with Tuesday's 119-115 loss to the Lakers and looks to snap that skid in the same building.

The Wolves, who have lost five straight overall, shot a season high-tying 57.5 percent from the floor, but they dropped to 3-5 when shooting at least 50 percent. Andrew Wiggins connected on 13 of 20 shots and finished with 30 points after combining for 20 while going 5 of 29 over his previous two combined.

Ricky Rubio had 15 assists and he's averaging 10.7 over his last seven.

'I don't know. It's painful," Rubio said. "It's painful to see us losing so many games.'

Wiggins had only eight points while shooting 3 of 15 in a 110-106 loss to the Clippers in the most recent matchup Dec. 7. Zach LaVine, who is averaging 12.7 points on the season, had 21 in that contest and is averaging 20.6 on 61.4 percent from the field over his last five.

**TheGame** · 02-03-2016, 07:36 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/3

3-pointer: Heat ride out wild month
By Tony Mejia

January was a wild roller-coaster of a month for a number of Eastern Conference teams. Cleveland won six straight, lost two of three and then fired David Blatt. New coach Tyronn Lue closed a 6-1 run in style with Saturday night’s 117-103 rout of the Spurs. Toronto lost two of its first three, then finished the month with 11 consecutive victories, a streak that currently ranks as the NBA’s best. The Bulls won their first four, lost the next three and then basically alternated wins and losses the rest of the way.

All of those sound like wild rides, but if you really like twists, turns and walking off with your legs wobbly and your lunch threatening to make a reappearance, hope you were on the Miami Heat bandwagon. Not only did starters Dwyane Wade, Goran Dragic, Hassan Whiteside and Luol Deng all miss games, they had multiple road trips of five games or more to navigate. After opening January with three straight wins, they lost eight of 10 and closed out with four consecutive victories.

Sunday’s 105-87 win over Atlanta, the fifth straight game they played with Amar’e Stoudemire filling at center for Whiteside, helped the Heat pass the Hawks by a half-game for first place in the Southeast Division. Considering all the drama they’ve been through, from veiled references to Whiteside being selfish to the inability of backups Tyler Johnson and Beno Udrih to help the offense flow the way Dragic has, it’s fairly remarkable that the Heat have been able to not only stay afloat, but surge back ahead in a competitive division.

Miami will open February right back out on the road, which is nothing new since it has only played at American Airlines Arena twice since Jan. 8. The Heat won’t be back home until Feb. 7, hosting the Clippers and Spurs two nights later before the All-Star break arrives.

This week’s challenges will take the Heat to Houston, Dallas and division rival Charlotte, teams with a combined home record of 46-28. Miami is 11-12 on the road thus far, but did put together wins in Chicago, Brooklyn and Milwaukee to close its last excursion on a high note.

Johnson has been scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery, which likely means he’ll be out until very late in the regular season. There’s no timetable for Whiteside’s return from a nagging hip injury, but the Heat haven’t missed a player averaged 12.3 points, 11.2 rebounds and an NBA-best 3.9 blocked shots per game, which has fueled speculation that they may look to move him prior to the trade deadline since he’ll be seeking a maximum contract this offseason. Rest assured, Miami’s roller-coaster ride will likely have a few more twists before the month is up.

Rockets crashing into mediocrity

At the 50-game mark a season ago, Houston was 35-15. Two seasons ago, the first in which James Harden and Dwight Howard joined forces, the Rockets went 33-17. This season, they’re 25-25 as the Heat come into town on Tuesday to begin a pre-All-Star stretch that also features a home-and-home against Portland and road games at Phoenix and Golden State.

The frustration is certainly bubbling over. Howard has been ejected in consecutive games, accumulating four technical fouls that the team is hoping the league will look at and potentially rescind. The NBA suspended Howard for Tuesday's matchup with Miami for striking the arm of a game official and fined head coach J.B. Bickerstaff$10,000 for criticizing refs.

“The last two games have been kind of tough for this ballclub,” the recently reacquired Josh Smith told ESPN Houston. “We felt like we haven’t gotten a fair whistle, but we just got to move forward and focus on having a must-win game on Tuesday.”

Must-win? In February? That slip tells you the Rockets are certainly feeling the strain of falling below everyone’s expectations. Between Howard’s injury struggles and Harden’s defensive miscues, Houston’s stars haven’t been their best. Kevin McHale already paid with his job, leaving Bickerstaff a difficult situation to work with in his first time in the head chair.

Must-win means that no matter what happens without Howard in the Heat game, you can count on the Rockets to play with a sense of urgency Thursday night in Phoenix. The Suns just fired a coach themselves, relieving Jeff Hornacek of his duties as they shop pieces like Markieff Morris around the league. If Houston can’t find a way to pick up a win there, it might be time for a major move of their own. Following Saturday night’s home date with the Trail Blazers, the Rockets begin a stretch where they close out the month with six of seven on the road. The only home date is against the Spurs. Following a home date to open March, Houston departs on a five-game East Coast swing. Unless they get matters figured out quickly, things could get ugly.

Wonderful Warriors face light week

After Wednesday night’s stop in Washington, D.C., Golden State closes a stretch of 12 road games in 19 outings from Dec. 30-Feb. 3. Considered a major hurdle in the Warriors’ pursuit of the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls NBA-best 72-10 record, the Dubs have gone 15-3 and are 44-4 overall.

At the 48-game mark in ’96, the Bulls were 43-5, having already come out of the All-Star break that season. They progressed to 50-6 by March and won 54 games before they lost their seventh. Following the Wizards game, the Warriors only play three more times before the upcoming All-Star break. They get a few days off before Saturday night’s showcase game against Oklahoma City, next hosting Houston on Tuesday. They’ll head to the break off a Feb. 10 visit to slumping Phoenix.

Expect Golden State to be favored in every game they play in between now and a Feb. 27 visit to Oklahoma City. They’ll open action after All-Star in Portland, part of a six-game road swing that ends against the Thunder and also includes dates with the Clippers, Hawks, Heat and Magic. There are a couple of trouble spots where they could slip up if they’re not sharp, but the Warriors have enjoyed terrific health thus far and should be formidable if that continues going forward.

To appreciate the monumental challenge they’ll face in looking to break Chicago’s record, consider that the Bulls had five separate winning streaks of at least five games following the All-Star break. They suffered their last three losses of the season by a single point. Steve Kerr, who played all 82 games and shot a team-best 52 percent from 3-point range, will have that experience to lean on as he attempts to coach the Warriors to greatness. He knows that Golden State will wear a special kind of target on its back over the next 30-plus.

**TheGame** · 02-03-2016, 07:36 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/3

Wednesday's Tip Sheet
By Kevin Rogers

Cavaliers at Hornets – 7:05 PM EST

Since losing the first game with Tyronn Lue as head coach, Cleveland (35-12 SU, 21-23-3 ATS) has picked up five straight victories, while scoring at least 110 points each time. The Cavaliers held off the Pacers, 111-106 in overtime on Monday, led by Kyrie Irving’s 25 points. Cleveland has been nearly unstoppable on the highway, posting a 10-1 SU and 4-4-3 ATS the last 11 road games with the lone defeat coming at San Antonio on January 14 as six-point underdogs, 99-95.

Charlotte (23-25 SU, 23-24-1 ATS) returns home following a 2-2 SU/ATS trip out west, capped off by a 101-82 blowout of the Lakers as four-point favorites on Sunday. The Hornets have cashed the ‘under’ in three straight games, while finishing ‘under’ the total in their previous meeting with the Cavaliers in late November, 95-90 on a 203 total. Charlotte has won three of its past four at Time Warner Cable Arena, including recent underdog victories over New York and Atlanta.

Pistons at Celtics – 7:35 PM EST

Both these teams are currently in the top eight of the Eastern Conference, while Detroit is 1 ½ games out of the fourth spot. The Celtics (27-22 SU, 26-22-1 ATS) go for the season split with the Pistons after losing the last meeting at TD Garden last month, 99-94. Brad Stevens’ club plays with no rest on Wednesday as the Celtics have compiled an impressive 8-3 SU and 7-4 ATS record on the second end of a back-to-back. Boston has topped the 100-point mark in 12 straight games, while cashing the ‘over’ eight times in this span.

Detroit (26-23 SU, 26-22-1 ATS) wraps up its three-game road swing after holding off Brooklyn, 105-100 as seven-point favorites on Monday. Stan Van Gundy’s team is riding a four-game ‘over’ streak after scoring at least 105 points in each contest during this span. The Pistons have covered four of the last five games as a road underdog, while posting a 5-1 ATS mark as an away ‘dog in their last six opportunities with rest. In spite of both Boston and Detroit putting up plenty of points recently, the two teams have finished ‘under’ the total in their past two matchups.

Warriors at Wizards – 8:05 PM EST

It’s amazing to believe that Golden State (44-4 SU, 29-18-1 ATS) has won 91% of its games this season. The Warriors are in the midst of their third winning streak of at least seven games this season, coming off a 116-95 rout of the Knicks as 10 ½-point favorites on Sunday. Steve Kerr’s squad has taken care of business as double-digit road favorites, posting a 7-0 SU and 5-2 ATS record, while going ‘under’ the total in three of the past four in this situation.

Washington (21-25 SU, 23-23 ATS) is playing its fourth straight game against a Western Conference opponent, coming off a split of two road games at Houston and Oklahoma City. The Wizards dropped their fourth game in the last five tries at OKC on Monday in a 114-98 defeat as 10-point underdogs, as Washington has allowed at least 100 points in 10 of the last 11 contests. Washington and Golden State are facing off for the first time this season as the Warriors pulled off the sweep last season, while the defending champions have won five straight meetings at the Verizon Center.

Heat at Mavericks – 8:35 PM EST

Things are heating up at the right time for Miami (27-21 SU, 24-23-1 ATS), who closed out January with four consecutive victories. The Heat remains in the Lone Star State after facing the Rockets on Tuesday, as Erik Spoelstra’s team goes for the season sweep of the Mavericks. Miami routed Dallas on New Year’s Day, 106-82, the eighth win in the last nine meetings since losing to the Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals. The Heat has struggled against Western Conference opponents on the road this season by posting a 3-5 SU/ATS record with the only three wins coming at Minnesota, Phoenix, and Denver.

The Mavericks (28-23 SU, 29-21-1 ATS) have excelled at home recently, winning 10 of the past 13 games at the American Airlines Center with the last two losses coming to Oklahoma City and Cleveland. Dallas has scored 97 points or less in four of the past five games, while the past two home victories came against two of the league’s bottom feeders – Brooklyn and Phoenix. Rick Carlisle’s club has compiled an impressive 5-1 SU/ATS record at home off a road loss, coming off Monday’s 112-97 defeat at Atlanta.

Bulls at Kings – 10:05 PM EST

Chicago (26-21 SU, 18-29 ATS) continues a seven-game road trip as the Bulls look to snap a two-game skid. The Bulls began the West Coast swing with a blowout of the Lakers, but Fred Hoiberg’s squad scored 93 points in regulation in losses to the Clippers and Jazz. Chicago squandered a late lead at Utah on Monday as they fell in overtime, 105-96 as 5 ½-point underdogs, while scoring a measly three points in the extra session. The Bulls have struggled against the number, failing to cover in 10 of the past 13 games, including a 3-6 ATS mark on the road.

The Kings (21-27 SU, 23-25 ATS) have won three straight home matchups with the Bulls since 2013 with all three victories coming by double-digits. Sacramento rallied past Milwaukee on Monday night, 111-104 without DeMarcus Cousins to snap a four-game losing streak. Cousins is listed as questionable for Wednesday with a sprained ankle, as Sacramento is playing its final home game before the All-Star break, heading east for four games starting Friday in Brooklyn.

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NBA Betting Info. 2/3

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