NBA Betting Info. 2/10

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StatFox Super Situations


NBA | UTAH at NEW ORLEANS
Play Against - Home teams (NEW ORLEANS) in a game involving two average teams (+/- 3 PPG differential.), after a win by 10 points or more
136-76 over the last 5 seasons. ( 64.2% | 52.4 units )
18-13 this year. ( 58.1% | 3.7 units )


NBA | SACRAMENTO at PHILADELPHIA
Play On - Road favorites of -165 to -500 vs. the money line (SACRAMENTO) revenging a straight up loss vs opponent as a favorite, with a losing record
94-23 since 1997. ( 80.3% | 46.4 units )
1-2 this year. ( 33.3% | -3.3 units )


NBA | LA LAKERS at CLEVELAND
Play Under - Home teams where the first half total is 100.5 to 105.5 good shooting team (45.5-47.5%) against an poor defensive team (45.5-47.5%), in a game involving two good ball handling team (<=14.5 TO's)
41-15 over the last 5 seasons. ( 73.2% | 24.5 units )
2-1 this year. ( 66.7% | 0.9 units )

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Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

NBA notebook: Bulls' Butler will be out 3-4 weeks
By The Sports Xchange


Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler will miss the next three to four weeks with a strained left knee.
Butler suffered the injury in the second quarter of Friday night's game at Denver. He will miss at least seven to 10 more games.
The team said Butler "has begun rehabbing his injury and he will be allowed to engage in all activities as tolerated with the primary goal of maintaining his conditioning over the ensuing weeks."
Butler is averaging 22.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.


---Bulls center Pau Gasol was selected by NBA commissioner Adam Silver to replace Jimmy Butler in Sunday's All-Star Game in Toronto.
Butler suffered a strained left knee in Friday's game against Denver and will miss about three weeks.
This marks the sixth NBA All-Star Game selection for Gasol, who is averaging 17.0 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.0 blocks for the Bulls.


---A few days ago, it appeared that George Karl was on his way out with the Sacramento Kings, but the coach met with team officials and ironed out their differences -- at least for now.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Kings general manager Vlade Divac confirmed that Karl is still the coach and "we're collectively working through our issues."
The major issue is a four-game losing streak and eight losses in the last 10 games for the Kings (21-31). The latest setback with a 120-100 loss in Cleveland to the Cavaliers on Monday night.


---The Los Angeles Clippers and the NBA suspended forward Blake Griffin for four games and he will lose an additional game paycheck after his altercation with a team employee last month.
Griffin fractured his right hand on Jan. 23 when he punched assistant equipment manager Mathias Testi during an argument at a Toronto restaurant. Griffin hit Testi with multiple punches during the disagreement, but no police was filed. The broken hand has required two medical procedures to aid recovery.
The suspension is expected to begin sometime in March after Griffin is able to return from the injury.


---Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol is out indefinitely with a broken right foot.
The 7-foot-1 Gasol was averaging 16.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.35 blocks in 52 games this season. He had started every game for Memphis.
The fracture is in the mid-foot area and it's possible he could be out for the season.
It's uncertain when the injury occurred. He played 11 minutes in Monday night's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers before leaving the game for good late in the first quarter. Gasol said the foot was bothering him during the weekend.


---Memphis recalled forward Jarell Martin from the Iowa Energy, the Grizzlies' Development League affiliate.
Martin was averaging 13.6 points and 6.3 rebounds in 30.6 minutes in seven games with the Energy. Martin, who has been sidelined with foot injuries, was a first-round pick from LSU. He has scored two points in two appearances with the Grizzlies.


---Turner Sports agreed to a long-term contract extension with play-by-play broadcaster Marv Albert, who will continue to lend his iconic voice on TNT.
Albert, who has announced games for 18 years on TNT, will continue to work the network's signature NBA events including regular season games, NBA All-Star coverage and the NBA playoffs. This week's NBA All-Star Game in Toronto will mark his 21st year working the event.

[TheGame]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Kobe keeps Lakers cashing, but is a bad bet vs. LeBron
By JASON LOGAN


In the midst of Kobe Bryant’s retirement tour, the Los Angeles Lakers have quietly become a good bet.


Los Angeles enters Wednesday’s showdown with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on a four-game ATS streak, and have flipped their fortunes at the sportsbook since Christmas, posting a 15-10 ATS mark (6-19 SU) in the last 25 games, starting with their showcase against the rival Clippers on the holiday.


Before that December 25 outing, L.A. was 5-24 SU and 10-19 ATS – covering just 34 percent of the time, despite some being an underdog in all but two of those games. But since then, the Lakers are 60 percent ATS winners facing an average spread of almost +9.5 points in that span.


Earlier this season, when Bryant announced his retirement, we broke down his impact on Los Angeles’ betting results since the 2004-05 NBA season, when Shaquille O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat, leaving Bryant as the go-to guy in La-La Land. And that analysis wasn’t kind to Kobe, with data revealing that the more Bryant did on the scoresheet, the less the Lakers covered the spread.


However, much like Los Angeles’ recent ATS results, that trend has been flipped on its ear in 2015-16. With a group of youngsters and underperforming veterans on the roster, Bryant has become the X-factor for Lakers bettors and their chances of covering the spread each night.


Heading into Wednesday, Bryant is averaging just under 17 points per game. Los Angeles has gone just 5-15 ATS when he scores below that average this season, and has excelled when Bryant shows flashes of his former self.


In games in which Kobe drops 20 or more points, L.A. has produced a 9-6 ATS mark. And isolating those games in which Bryant scored 25 or more, the Lakers are a profitable 6-1 ATS. During this current four-game ATS run, the 37-year-old shooting guard has posted outputs of 38, 27, 25, and 19 points, averaging 27.25 points per game in this span.


Bryant seems to be peaking at a perfect time, with LeBron and the Cavaliers up next. Basketball fans could be witnessing the final showdown between these two talents – depending on Bryant’s health come their scheduled March 10 meeting in L.A. This is a grudge match that has been one-side in James’ favor since he came into the league in 2003.


Kobe and LeBron have faced each other 20 previous times, with James’ teams (Cleveland, Miami, Cleveland) going 14-6 SU and ATS in those head-to-head battles with Bryant and the Lakers. James has outscored Bryant by an average of 28.4 to 25 points per game in those battles.


Perhaps the most intriguing trend to come out of those Kobe-LeBron wars is that the Under has been a significantly smarter wagers, with 16 of those 20 games playing Under the total.


Cleveland is a 15-point home favorite hosting Los Angeles Wednesday, with the overnight total being sent out at 207. The Lakers are 10-12 ATS as double-digit underdogs and 2-4 ATS when getting 15 or more points from oddsmakers. The Cavaliers are 6-7-1 ATS as double-digit chalk this year, including covering as big favorites in their last two games.

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Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Three-pointer: Bulls avoid disaster
By Tony Mejia


The Bulls came face-to-face with their mortality this season as Jimmy Butler writhed around in pain in Denver over the weekend, ultimately being wheeled off to the locker room to await on MRI on his left knee.


No, Chicago wouldn’t have been booted from the NBA or immediately forfeited the remaining games on their schedule, but as far as any legitimate playoff aspirations are concerned, those would’ve realistically ceased to exist.


“Sure, it’s scary,” head coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters. “He took off. He heard a pop. You expect the worst when you hear that. It happened on the takeoff. I saw the film of it and it didn’t bend funny. But anytime the ligaments are intact, it’s a relief.”


Fortunately, Butler’s MRI indicated no structural damage, just a strain of the soft tissue around the knee. Although he’ll miss this week’s two games and won't play in the All-Star Game, Chicago is hoping to have its leading scorer and top defender back by March, listing him as unavailable for the next 3-4 weeks.


After looking like the top contender to take down the Cavs and ascend to the Eastern Conference throne as recently as Jan. 7, a disastrous last 30 days have the Bulls fighting simply to make the playoffs. Since beating Boston that night, Chicago is 5-12 in its last 17 entering Wednesday’s game at Atlanta. They were blown out Monday in Charlotte on the final leg of a seven-game road trip that closed out a stretch of 10 straight games in a different arenas.


A loss against the Hawks would drop the Bulls to just two games above .500, their worst mark since they fell to 4-3 on Nov. 7. Entering the week, only the Knicks and Nets have had worst runs in the East over the last 10 games.


Fortunately, since Butler received good news about his knee, the Bulls should be able to turn things around in a season that has already seen Joakim Noah be lost for the duration after shoulder surgery and Nikola Mirotic sidelined by an appendectomy to remove a hematoma. Kirk Hinrich is finally playing regularly again and Mike Dunleavy just returned, but Chicago is still quite short-handed and likely drained. Few teams need the All-Star break more.


One positive is that Derrick Rose has found his legs and could be set to be a force down the stretch. Despite the fact the Bulls have been losing, Rose has averaged 17.6 points over the last 16 games and is definitely being more aggressive. He sat out the Hornets loss with general soreness, but if Rose can remain on an upward trend, Butler returns and Pau Gasol continues playing at a high level, then Chicago’s Big Three can be as formidable as Cleveland’s is.


The Bulls have dodged a bullet in spite of their current slump, but you shouldn’t count them out. There are a lot of quality veterans on the roster who could respond under first-year coach Fred Hoiberg’s looser style. A lot hinges on Butler picking up where he left off. He’s the LeBron in the equation. If you’ve watched his season, the discrepancy between the two is nowhere near as vast as one would think.


Incidentally, there isn’t a better candidate to replace Butler on the East All-Star roster than his teammate Gasol, who has averaged 17.0 points and 10.9 rebounds in giving the Bulls a consistent presence inside.


Knicks fire Fisher, forge ahead


Early Monday, the Knicks let go of Derek Fisher.


In the second season of a relatively large contract, Fisher being fired certainly came as a surprise, one of those moves that can only truly be explained if we could get in Phil Jackson’s head and decipher what he’s really thinking.


Jackson, who settled on Fisher after Steve Kerr rebuffed him to stay closer to home and coach the Golden State Warriors, said all the right things in discussing the move. He called Fisher a hard worker, essentially giving him his public blessing for future employment, but felt a change was necessary. Considering Fisher has had his dirty laundry aired due to his fight with Matt Barnes over being involved with his ex-wife, Jackson’s approval is important, but actions speak louder than words. If Knick players lost respect for him as part of tuning him out in his first coaching stint, it’s going to require the right opportunity for him to get his next shot.


Fisher’s Knicks tenure ends after five consecutive losses and a 1-9 mark (2-8 ATS) over his last 10 games. New York is 23-31 entering the final game before the All-Star break, a home date against the Wizards on Tuesday, five games behind in the playoff chase.


While Jackson’s actions are a tad drastic, promoting trusted lieutenant Kurt Rambis gives the Knicks an opportunity to have renewed faith entering the final two months. It would be hard to believe that Carmelo Anthony wasn’t consulted, which tells you that Fisher had to play a part in his dismissal beyond results. New York plays at Brooklyn on Feb. 19 to open the season’s “second half.”


The appointment of Rambis shouldn’t come as a surprise since he was the team’s associate head coach, but it’s definitely worth noting that he’s only won 28 percent of his games in the head seat, going 24-13 in L.A. way back in 1998-99 as interim Lakers coach and 32-132 at Minnesota from 2009-11. The Timberwolves recorded a pair of last-place finishes under his watch, and while he did have a disparity in talent to overcome, he certainly didn’t help his own cause strategically.


The Knicks have seen the under prevail in their games in eight of the last 10, but that’s a testament to their offensive inefficiency, not a nod to an improved defense. Since they come out of the All-Star break playing in Brooklyn, the Knicks are currently in a stretch where they’re playing 18 of 24 games in New York from Jan. 10 to March 1. Thus far, they’re 5-11, and you get the sense that if they’re not able to take advantage when the season starts back up, they’re not going to be a factor down the stretch. Making matters worse, New York’s first-round pick will end up in Toronto or Denver this season due to previous trades.


New East Beasts


At the opposite end of the spectrum from the woeful Knicks, Atlantic Division neighbors Toronto and Boston have ascended to No. 2 and No. 3 in the Eastern Conference, going 9-1 over the last 10 games. The Raptors and Celtics join the Cavs as the only teams in the East with records above .500 at home and on the road. Since Golden State's Kerr missed nearly half the season, it would appear the Coach of the Year race will be wide open and is likely to include the Raptors’ Dwane Casey and the Celtics’ Brad Stevens.


Toronto (10-5 ATS L15) will play host to the NBA All-Star Game this coming weekend, so the team will already be the center of the basketball universe, but if the Raptors can take care of business as a road favorite in Minnesota on Wednesday, they’ll enter the break with wins in 15 of 16 games. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan are looking like the conference’s top backcourt, behind only Golden State’s Splash Brothers in the league’s hierarchy. The Raps are home at the Air Canada Centre for 10 of the first 13 coming out of the All-Star break, giving them an opportunity to strengthen their hold on the second spot and make a run at Cleveland for the top seed and homecourt advantage.


Boston closes in Milwaukee on Tuesday and back home for a date with the Clippers on Wednesday. The Celtics have covered eight of 10 during the 9-1 run they take into Bradley Center. Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley have been excellent as a backcourt combination that is really making Stevens look smart.

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Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: Spurs (44-8) at Magic (23-28)


Date: February 10, 2016 7:00 PM EDT


A win over the Orlando Magic on the first day of February reignited the San Antonio Spurs, and another would put them in familiar territory - heading into the All-Star break on another lengthy winning streak and still on pace for the third-best regular season in NBA history.


The Spurs seek their fourth run of at least six wins and their 10th consecutive victory over the Magic when they continue their rodeo road trip Wednesday night in Orlando.


San Antonio (44-8) closed January with losses in two of three games without Tim Duncan, who will likely miss his ninth straight with a sore right knee. The Spurs, though, haven't had any troubles without him since, shooting above 50 percent in four of their last five while winning by an average of 15.2 points.


LaMarcus Aldridge has been huge inside this month, averaging 26.4 points and 2.2 blocks while making 60.3 percent of his shots. That spurt started with the All-Star's 28 points and five blocks in a 107-92 win over the Magic on Feb. 1.


Aldridge, who also scored 28 points in Tuesday's 119-101 win at Miami, has had at least 26 in four of the last five games to soften the blow of playing without Duncan and Manu Ginobili, who is out until March with a testicular injury.


With all of the buzz surrounding Golden State's historic start, the Spurs have flown somewhat under the radar despite an .846 winning percentage that is on pace to trail only the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' mark of .878 and this season's Warriors.


'We prefer it that way,' said Danny Green, who has averaged 12.5 points and 5.8 rebounds the last four games. 'Even if we weren't under the radar, we'd still have to be focused and not pay attention to what goes on outside of what we're doing.'


Especially on a season-high eight-game road stretch that continues after the break. The Spurs won't play another home game until March 2 due to the annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.


They've had little trouble in Orlando, winning four straight there as part of nine consecutive victories in this series. The Magic haven't beaten the Spurs since a 123-101 home win on Dec. 23, 2010.


Orlando (23-28) shot 40.6 percent against the league's top defense earlier this month, making only 5 of 17 3-pointers and committing 16 turnovers. That loss came on the tail end of 15 defeats in 17 games that dropped the Magic to last place in the Southeast Division, though they steadied themselves a bit with a home-and-home sweep of Atlanta to start this week.


First, Nikola Vucevic sank a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer for Sunday's 96-94 home win before scoring 25 of his 28 points in the second half of Monday's 117-110 victory in Atlanta. Vucevic finished with 22 rebounds between the two games while shooting 62.9 percent.


"It's big, it's really big for us," Victor Oladipo said. "It's going to help our confidence as individuals and as a team."


An upset over the Spurs entering the break would go a long way in boosting that confidence even more, supplying the Magic with their first three-game winning streak since Dec. 14-18.


Orlando opened the season 12-6 at Amway Center but has dropped six of its last eight there.

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Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: Kings (21-31) at 76ers (8-44)


Date: February 10, 2016 7:00 PM EDT


It seemed that George Karl was well on his way out of Sacramento, but he is getting a second chance from general manager Vlade Divac.


Karl will try to take advantage of his new opportunity by leading the Kings to a much-needed win in their final game before the All-Star break Wednesday night against the Philadelphia 76ers.


Sacramento was reportedly set to fire Karl in the coming days with the team having watched its playoff hopes quickly fade following eight losses in nine games. The Kings (21-31) were blown out 120-100 in Cleveland on Monday for their fourth consecutive defeat after showing little motivation heading into the contest.


Point guard Rajon Rondo said only "three or four" players showed up for an optional shootaround Monday morning.


That was likely among the reasons for a rumored meeting between Karl and Divac on Tuesday, where the coach agreed to make changes. The league's fifth-winningest coach has gone 32-50 since taking over just after last year's All-Star break.


"(George Karl) is our coach and we're collectively working through our issues," Divac said in a statement.


The Kings could go a long way toward lifting the franchise's spirits by avoiding a seventh straight road loss, something they haven't done since Jan. 22-Feb. 11, 2014.


Sacramento has dropped to 10th in the Western Conference after being eighth on Jan. 24 after winning a season-best five in a row.


"We can't just keep laying down. We've got to fight," Rondo said. "We're all men. We're all grown. You can't want it more than the other person next to you does. We've got to stop making excuses."


Philadelphia (8-44) is 12-4 against Sacramento since the beginning of the 2007-08 season and has a winning record versus only one other club over that same period - 9-7 against Houston. The 76ers are 3-2 against the Kings during their particularly hapless stretch of the past two-plus seasons (.208 winning percentage), matching their record versus Denver as their best against any opponent.


They won 110-105 in Sacramento in the latest meeting Dec. 30, seemingly a new low point for the Kings as they fell to 12-20 after falling to a Philadelphia team which entered 2-31.


Nerlens Noel led the 76ers with a season-high 20 points. Ish Smith scored five of his 18 in the final 3:16, and Jerami Grant made three late free throws to finish with 16 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks.


Grant had a team-best 17 points and 11 boards Monday, and Smith added 16 points with a career high-tying nine rebounds after missing one game due to a sprained ankle, but Philadelphia fell 98-92 in overtime to the Los Angeles Clippers.


The 76ers missed a chance at their first win streak of the season by blowing a 19-point lead against one of the league's hottest teams, totaling 33 points in the final 29 minutes.


"It's another tough loss that we have to learn from and get better from," Smith said. "These are games that we should be winning. ... We played well. We gutted it out. We just didn't have enough down the stretch."


DeMarcus Cousins is averaging 31.0 points and 17.3 rebounds in his last three games against the 76ers.


Cousins, who has had his share of problems with Karl, had his lowest-scoring game of 2016 on Monday with 14 points as he shot 5 of 14. Sacramento's only win in the past 2 1/2 weeks came when Cousins was out with a sprained ankle.

[TheGame]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: Hornets (26-26) at Pacers (28-24)


Date: February 10, 2016 7:00 PM EDT


The return of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and the play of Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum have the Charlotte Hornets surging back into the playoff picture.


Now they're hoping to move above .500 for the first time in more than a month, though they'll have to end their lengthy struggles at Indiana to get there.


In both teams' final contest before the All-Star break, Charlotte will try to win its ninth in 13 games Wednesday night and snap a 12-game road skid against the Pacers.


The Hornets (26-26) were 12th in the Eastern Conference, 3 1/2 games out of a playoff spot, on Jan. 16 after dropping nine of 10. However, they've turned things around and moved within a half game of eighth place after Monday's 108-91 home win over Chicago.


Walker finished with 30 points, Kidd-Gilchrist had a season-high 20 and Batum added 19. Charlotte held a 56-41 edge on the glass in its fourth win in five games.


'To be back at .500 a game before the All-Star break, that shows where we are,' Batum said. "We've had a lot of injuries and stuff like that, but guys kept fighting and never gave up. We've been through a lot, but we're still almost there.'


Batum has averaged 22 points while hitting 10 of 22 from 3-point range to go along with 10 rebounds and 8 assists in the last three of a four-game stretch since returning from a strained toe. Walker has averaged 24.3 points while hitting 12 of 27 from beyond the arc in three games since missing one with left knee soreness.


Kidd-Gilchrist, averaging 13.5 points and 7 rebounds, has provided a surprising lift in six games since returning from what was thought to be season-ending shoulder surgery.


"Kemba has been under the radar, but he's playing at a high level," Pacers star Paul George said. "Having Kidd-Gilchrist back is a huge boost for them. This team can play."


Charlotte looks to move above .500 for the first time since Jan. 2, but that isn't likely to come easy at Indiana. The club has lost 12 in a row there - tied for the longest active road losing streak versus any opponent - and is 10-39 all-time in Indianapolis.


The Hornets have averaged 87.4 points during that slide after shooting 35 percent in a 93-74 loss April 3 in the most recent meeting.


Walker finished with six points on 1-of-9 shooting in that contest and has averaged just 12.2 points while shooting 30.8 percent over his last six in this series.


After allowing an average of 104.4 points on 47.9 percent shooting in their previous five games, the Pacers (28-24) held the Los Angeles Lakers to 31.2 percent in Monday's 89-87 home win for their fifth win in seven games.


George totaled 61 points and hit 9 of 14 from 3-point range in a two-game stretch after shooting 30.5 percent in his previous four. He scored seven in the last two minutes Monday, finishing with 21 despite shooting 2 for 10 from beyond the arc.


Indiana shot a season-worst 4 for 27 from 3-point range but could bounce back facing a Charlotte team that allowed Chicago to make 10 of 25 from 3. The Hornets, though, have given up an average of 94.4 points on 41.8 percent shooting in their last five games.

[TheGame]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: Nuggets (21-32) at Pistons (27-26)


Date: February 10, 2016 7:30 PM EDT


Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy can accept when the Pistons simply get beat by a better team despite their best effort.


He wasn't happy at all with Detroit's loss in Denver last month.


The Pistons look to avoid their first three-game skid since late December by defeating the visiting Nuggets for just the third time in 12 meetings Wednesday night.


Detroit (27-26) scored its fewest points in 19 games and committed 16 turnovers in Monday's 103-89 home loss to Atlantic Division-leading Toronto, which took advantage of nearly every mistake and shot 55.7 percent, the highest of any Pistons opponent this season.


Andre Drummond finished with 12 points - including a heave from the opposite free-throw line at the third-quarter buzzer - and 13 rebounds. Van Gundy praised Marcus Morris, who scored 14 points and added six assists while passing out of numerous double-teams.


Detroit fell 112-104 at Indiana on Saturday and is on the verge of dropping three straight for the first time since Dec. 23-29.


"We've got to get better. I've got to get better. Players have got to get better, but I don't leave here upset at our team," Van Gundy said. "If we bring that kind of effort every night, I don't think people are going to make all those shots every night and I think we will shoot the ball better and we'll be in games and have a chance to win. I'm not discouraged about (Monday's game)."


Van Gundy wasn't nearly as complimentary after the first meeting with the Nuggets (21-32) on Jan. 23, saying the Pistons "didn't want to make an effort" in the second half. Detroit led by as many as 14 before Denver outscored it 39-20 in the third quarter.


Danilo Gallinari scored the last of his 30 points on a fadeaway jumper with 23.8 seconds remaining that put the Nuggets ahead for good in a 104-101 victory. He had 24 points and seven assists Monday, but Denver was on the receiving end of a tough defeat this time as Joe Johnson banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Brooklyn a 105-104 victory.


Kenneth Faried had 22 points and 13 rebounds and gave the Nuggets the lead on a runner with 1.3 seconds remaining before Johnson's shot snapped Denver's two-game winning streak.


'I thought it was over,' Faried said. 'I didn't think (Johnson's shot) had a chance. He threw it up. But shooters are going shoot and they're going to make big shots. He's known for making big shots like that and he did it against us.'


Coach Mike Malone praised the effort of Will Barton, who went 4 of 7 from the field and scored nine points off the bench. Since shooting 2 of 10 and scoring seven points against Detroit, Barton has scored above his season average of 15.4 five times in nine games and is shooting 53.5 percent over his last four.


'He's been very impressive," Malone said. "He's up for Most Improved Player and Sixth Man of the Year for a reason, right? The numbers he puts up, the scoring, how efficient he does it ... I'd be lying if said I expected him to be our second leading scorer and doing what he's doing.'


Morris scored 20 points in the first meeting for Detroit, which will be without starting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope at least until after the All-Star break because of a groin strain.

[TheGame]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: Grizzlies (30-22) at Nets (14-39)


Date: February 10, 2016 7:30 PM EDT


The positive vibe that the Memphis Grizzlies had been feeling during their best stretch no longer remains following their first back-to-back losses in six weeks.


For the first time in three seasons, they'll move on for an extended period without the player general manager Chris Wallace called the cornerstone of the franchise.


With Marc Gasol sidelined indefinitely, Memphis looks to get back on track with a season high-tying third straight road win Wednesday night against the Brooklyn Nets.


The Grizzlies soared to fifth in the Western Conference with an 11-2 spurt from Jan. 8-Feb. 5. Gasol averaged 21.1 points over nine games in the middle of that surge.


The two-time All-Star finished with 22 points in a 114-110 overtime home loss to Dallas on Saturday that snapped the team's five-game winning streak before he was forced to leave Monday's 112-106 overtime defeat to visiting Portland in the first quarter.


Gasol underwent an MRI on Tuesday that revealed a broken bone in his right foot. He hadn't missed a game this season after Memphis went 10-14 without him over the prior two.


"It hurts everybody," coach Dave Joerger told The Commercial Appeal. "Marc is a guy who lays it out there for his teammates and the fans. We're going to fight, scratch and claw.'


Joerger's club hopes to do that as it tries to avoid its longest losing streak since a season-high four-game slide in early November. At the same time, the Grizzlies (30-22) are chasing their first three-game road winning streak since Nov. 25-Dec. 9.


Without Gasol, Jeff Green and Matt Barnes are likely to get more playing time in the frontcourt while Zach Randolph and Mike Conley will try to pick up the scoring load.


Green has totaled 21 points on 9-of-28 shooting in his last two games after scoring 24 per game with a 60.3 field-goal percentage during the winning streak. Randolph, though, has put up a combined 46 points and 23 rebounds over his past two.


Conley, who had a season-high 27 points against the Trail Blazers, led the way with 22 and eight assists in a 101-91 home win over Brooklyn (14-39) on Oct. 31. Randolph added 15 points and 13 boards while Gasol was held to seven points on 2-of-10 shooting.


Randolph has averaged 18 points and 11.7 rebounds over three straight wins in this series. Memphis has won two of three road meetings since the Nets moved to Brooklyn.


Brook Lopez, who averages a team-high 20.2 points, has scored 24 per game over his last seven but has been limited to 11.7 in the past three matchups with Memphis.


Thaddeus Young finished with 20 points, Markel Brown had a career-high 19 and Lopez added 16 in Monday's 105-104 win over Denver. Joe Johnson banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to put the Nets in position to win back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 8 and 10.


"I knew I had one-point-something (on the clock), so I had enough to at least take a dribble," Johnson said. "I don't even know how it went in.'


The Nets have played well offensively at home, averaging 107.8 points while making 47.9 percent from 3-point range in their last six games there. However, they've given up 110.0 per game and a 48.6 field-goal percentage over their past four overall.


Memphis has averaged 104.9 points on 48.7 percent over its last 12 games.

[TheGame]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: Clippers (35-17) at Celtics (31-23)


Date: February 10, 2016 7:30 PM EDT


There might not be another team looking forward to the All-Star break more than the Los Angeles Clippers after surviving multiple health issues and an off-court distraction.


They've kept winning through it all, though.


The Clippers look to complete a perfect four-game road trip Wednesday night and beat Boston for the fifth straight time since Doc Rivers left the Celtics to coach Los Angeles 2 1/2 years ago.


Blake Griffin suffered a quad injury Christmas Day before breaking his hand in an altercation with a team trainer Jan. 23 in Toronto, but the Clippers (35-17) have gone 18-4 without him.


Rivers and owner Steve Ballmer on Tuesday announced a four-game suspension for Griffin that will begin when he's cleared and ready to play, finally giving a resolution to a situation that has drawn plenty of unwanted attention.


Reserve Austin Rivers broke his left hand last Wednesday against Minnesota, though, and is expected to be out four to six weeks. Los Angeles had its issues against lowly Philadelphia in its first game without him, but J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford scored 23 points apiece in Monday's 98-92 overtime victory.


Chris Paul added 19 points, and DeAndre Jordan added 12 and 21 rebounds.


"We refuse to talk about injury," Doc Rivers said. "We refuse to make excusesâ?¦ We come to win, that's the only thing we have to think about.


"We're becoming that team that no matter how it looks or the game is being played, we're finding ways at the end."


The Clippers look to head into the break by sweeping this four-game trip and winning on the road for the 13th time in 15 tries. Crawford especially has stepped up lately, averaging 22 points over his last five.


"I think it's a credit to Doc and his system," Crawford told the team's official website. "I think it's a credit to us believing in what he's doing, believing in each other. We just keep buying in together. Coach and his staff keep us focused, and we just take it game by game."


Rivers coached Boston (31-23) for nine seasons and won the 2008 NBA title before leaving to take over the Clippers in 2013-14. He was reunited with Paul Pierce this season when Pierce signed with Los Angeles, and the veteran is expected to play - possibly for the last time - at TD Garden after resting Monday.


The Clippers have won each of the four meetings since Rivers' arrival, including a 119-106 victory March 29 at Boston when Redick finished with 27 points and Paul added 21 and 10 assists.


Rivers' successor, Brad Stevens, has the Celtics sitting third in the Eastern Conference in his third season, and they had won four straight and nine of 10 before Tuesday's wild 112-111 loss at Milwaukee.


Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley scored 18 points apiece as Boston rallied from 18 points down in the fourth quarter, tying it with one second left on Kelly Olynyk's two free throws that resulted from a deadball foul on the alley-oop inbound attempt.


But Bradley inexplicably fouled Khris Middleton with 0.6 left, and Middleton hit a free throw to give the Bucks the win. Stevens refused to blame Bradley and instead praised Crowder, who has been bothered by an ankle injury and bounced back after scoring nine points while going 4 of 16 from the field over his previous two.


'He just wants to get better every single day," Stevens said. "His work ethic is terrific. He sets a good example.'


Boston is averaging 112 points during a seven-game home win streak.

[TheGame]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: Lakers (11-43) at Cavaliers (37-14)


Date: February 10, 2016 8:00 PM EDT


While the book slowly closes on Kobe Bryant's playing career, another is just opening for Tyronn Lue as a coach.


The next meeting between the former teammates features Lue continuing to mold his first team while Bryant waves goodbye to yet another city when the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.


Bryant and Lue won a pair of championships together on the first two legs of the Lakers' three-peat in the late 1990s and early 2000s, merely the beginning of Bryant's legacy. But as the 37-year-old superstar closes his storied career during a dismal Los Angeles season, Lue, 38, is trying to build the Cavaliers (37-14) into a stronger NBA Finals contender than they were under David Blatt.


Cleveland is 7-3 since Lue took over for the fired Blatt on Jan. 22, and the Cavs have rebounded nicely from their first losing streak under their new coach by posting consecutive blowout victories at home over New Orleans and Sacramento.


Kyrie Irving matched a season high with 32 points and tied a career high with 12 assists, and LeBron James posted his 40th triple-double in Monday's 120-100 win over the Kings. James finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, even while sitting the entire fourth quarter.


Bryant may be passing the NBA's torch on to James, who reminisced about receiving a pair of sneakers from his All-Star counterpart while in high school - the type of gift Bryant has given to Draymond Green, Paul George and Kevin Durant during his final season.


'Anytime I even watch his games, even when I'm not playing him, it's always like very emotional just knowing it's his last hurrah,' James said. "It's going to be really cool to see him for sure. I know our fans will give him a great reception, well deserved.'


The Lakers and Cavaliers meet one final time in Los Angeles on March 10.


Bryant did not play in last season's 120-105 loss at Quicken Loans Arena on Feb. 8 after undergoing right rotator cuff surgery, so the last matchup between him and James came about three weeks earlier in a 109-102 Cavaliers win in Los Angeles. The two squared off in the fourth quarter, and James finished with 36 points on 12-of-23 shooting while Bryant had 19 and a career-high 17 assists.


Cleveland's back-to-back victories ended a stretch of eight games in which these teams traded wins. The Cavaliers have won eight of the last 10 meetings in Cleveland.


Though Bryant has averaged 26.4 points in the last five games, Los Angeles (11-43) lost three of them and is mired in a 3-16 slump.


The Lakers dropped their second straight with Monday's 89-87 loss to Indiana, dropping them to 1-2 on their four-game road trip. Bryant made 6 of 25 shots for 19 points and Los Angeles shot a season-low 31.2 percent while making 8 of 35 3-pointers.


Bryant made three straight 3s late in the fourth quarter but missed his final five shots.


"Sometimes you live and die with it," coach Byron Scott told the team's official website. "And I'm willing to do it with him. ... He hit three big ones in a row for us, so I wasn't going to go away from him then."


The Lakers have lost seven of eight on the road to fall to 5-25, while the Cavaliers are an Eastern Conference-best 21-4 at home.

[TheGame]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: Jazz (26-25) at Pelicans (19-32)


Date: February 10, 2016 8:00 PM EDT


Mention jazz during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and it's not going to make many people think of any Utah basketball teams.


There might be more of a chance of the Beehive State being recognized on Bourbon Street this year with Quin Snyder's streaking team heading to the Big Easy a night after Fat Tuesday aiming to extend its own celebration through the All-Star break with a win over the Pelicans.


Gordon Hayward sunk a fadeaway jumper as overtime expired to give Utah (26-25) a 121-119 win in Dallas on Tuesday and push its winning streak to seven, matching a run from 2010-11 for its longest since winning nine straight the season before. The Jazz are over .500 for the first time since being 8-7 on Nov. 28.


"I think we are learning more and more how to make winning plays," Snyder said. "Gordon made the right play, and he made the shot."


It wasn't the only one with time running out. Hayward's shot was made possible by Rodney Hood's game-tying 3-pointer with under two seconds left in regulation, and it's more often been Hood rather than Utah's top scorer leading the way lately. The second-year guard finished with 29 points, has scored at least 23 in his last three and is averaging 21.8 in his last 10. He's also scored 24.8 in his last four on the road.


"It was great playing against a veteran team like that and being able to gut one out at their place," Hood said.


Hayward has averaged 20.7 over the same 10-game span, and the team has generally made the pair's points count with strong defensive efforts.


The Jazz have given up more than 95 points four times in their last 11 games, and all four of those contests went to at least one overtime. On the winning streak, they've limited opponents to 89.9 points and 41.8 percent shooting, and that includes two OT contests.


The Jazz and Pelicans have split two games in Utah this season, and Anthony Davis is averaging 31.8 points on 66.2 percent shooting with 11.7 rebounds in his last four games against the Jazz.


New Orleans (19-32) ended a four-game losing streak with Monday's 116-102 win in Minnesota. The Pelicans shot 48.5 percent and hit 10 of 24 from 3-point range for a much-needed offensive effort after averaging 93 points on 42.9 percent and 25 percent from long range on the losing streak.


Davis had 27 points, as did Jrue Holiday to combine with Ryan Anderson's 26 and pace the Pelicans' 67 bench points. New Orleans averages an NBA-leading 42.5 for the season and that's only improved over an 8-6 span in which it's managed 45.6.


"Even when we have bad starts (to games), we have guys who can come in and make plays," said Davis, who has averaged 29.5 points in the last four games. "We're very grateful for (Holiday and Anderson)."


It might seem strange to have Holiday coming off the bench with Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans out, but New Orleans has been monitoring Holiday's minutes to try to keep him healthy. Coach Alvin Gentry has had to appoint an assistant who has the power to overrule him and remove Holiday from the game. The guard has averaged 19.8 points in the last nine games.


"I had to assign a guy to do that because it would be hard for me to do it," Gentry said. "It really is, especially when he's playing at the level that he is and the game is still teetering either way."

[TheGame]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: Hawks (30-24) at Bulls (27-24)


Date: February 10, 2016 8:00 PM EDT


Bruised and battered - physically and mentally - from a miserable trip, the Chicago Bulls return home looking to salvage something positive before the All-Star break.


Things aren't as rough for the Atlanta Hawks, but they're also feeling frustrated following back-to-back defeats.


The Bulls can avert their longest home skid in six years by avoiding a season-high fourth consecutive defeat overall Wednesday night against the Hawks.


A loser in 12 of 17, Chicago (27-24) sits seventh in the Eastern Conference after Monday's 108-91 loss to Charlotte concluded a 2-5 trip.


"You've got to be upset," said center Pau Gasol, who had 22 points and 10 rebounds. "It's up to us to get out of it ... We've got to do it together."


The Bulls' season-long road stretch proved to be a grueling one.


All-Star Jimmy Butler missed the last two games after suffering a left knee strain in Friday's 115-110 loss at Denver and will be sidelined the next three to four weeks. Derrick Rose sat Monday with general soreness after he averaged 20.6 points in the previous five contests.


Though the Bulls shot a respectable 44.8 percent for the trip, their last six opponents averaged 110.3 points and made 47.7 percent of their attempts.


"We have to put this trip behind us,' coach Fred Hoiberg said. 'It was a long, grinding trip. It took a toll on our guys.'


It remains to be seen if Chicago can recover in time to rebound in this final contest before the break. The Bulls haven't dropped four straight since December 2013 and five in a row at home since March 2010.


The Bulls have averaged 85 points and shot 37.6 percent while losing their last three home games to Dallas, Golden State and Miami.


"It's rough," forward Taj Gibson said. "We've just got to figure out how to win one quarter at a time. We've got to be better."


Chicago's lost three of four to Atlanta (30-24), which led by 11 after one quarter and shot 52.1 percent - third-highest by a Bulls' opponent - in a 120-105 victory Jan. 9. Al Horford had a season-high 33 points with 10 rebounds, six assists and four blocks.


Horford scored 27, Paul Millsap had 22 with 13 boards and Jeff Teague added 21 points Monday but the Hawks lost to Orlando for the second time in as many days, 117-110 in overtime. Atlanta never led by more than two in Sunday's 96-94 road loss and failed to hold a 20-point advantage in the rematch.


'We lost our focus at times,' Horford said. 'We've had this problem ... It's hard to take.'


The Magic shot 49.5 percent Monday, owned a 29-18 scoring advantage in the fourth and became the first Atlanta opponent in five games to score more than 97 points.


'I think we've got to be better late in games - myself, the players, everybody," said Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer, whose team has dropped seven of 11.


Ex-Bull Kyle Korver went 4 of 6 from 3-point range for 16 points Monday. He's shot 52.2 percent from beyond the arc in 11 games against the Bulls since leaving Chicago after 2011-12, but has scored more than 10 points once in the five road meetings.


Gasol totaled 40 points and 28 rebounds in two at home against Atlanta last season.

[TheGame]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: Raptors (35-16) at Timberwolves (16-37)


Date: February 10, 2016 8:00 PM EDT


The Toronto Raptors might be earning an extended break more than any other team, but given how they're playing, they might also be the last to want to kill their momentum.


Toronto can head into the All-Star break with 15 wins in 16 games Wednesday night, and there's been no shortage of success against the Minnesota Timberwolves for 12 seasons.


The Raptors (35-16) have won three straight after Monday's 103-89 victory in Detroit. They've taken seven of eight on the road in their 14-1 span while winning three of four to start a season-high six-game road stretch that'll conclude after the break.


Toronto shot 55.7 percent against the Pistons - a season best on the road - and it's 23 of 39 (59.0 percent) from 3-point range in the last two games.


"We're growing a lot," guard DeMar DeRozan told the team's official website. "I think we've got to credit the coaching staff for really staying disciplined with us and understanding no matter how many games we win in a row or what record we stand at in the conference, we've got to play with that sense of urgency every single night."


Kyle Lowry has done that. His 25 points led the way in Detroit, and the guard has averaged 27.0 points and shot 56.3 percent in the last three games, including 14 of 25 from 3-point range. His 21.1 points per game is well up from his career high of 17.9 in 2013-14, and that has plenty to do with a career-best 39.7 percent mark from long range while attempting a career-high 7.1 per game.


Lowry has also had at least two steals in seven straight games, and his season average of 2.25 is a drastic bump from last season's career-best 1.56.


Bench play has also been a significant part of the success, scoring 42 points against the Pistons and hitting 8 of 12 from 3-point range with Terrence Ross scoring 18 and Cory Joseph adding 15 on 7-of-9 shooting. Dwane Casey's reserves have averaged 36.1 points and shot 49.9 percent over the last 13 games.


"I thought Cory and T. Ross came in, (Patrick Patterson) was a plus-23 and he was 3 for 4 from the field so he was doing some energetic things defensively, (he was) active, moving the basketball, he was screening and creating space, and Cory was Cory," Casey said. "Coming in and changing the game with his energy and toughness and grit and grime. The bench really came in and carried us tonight."


The Raptors have won 20 of 21 meetings dating to the start of 2004-05, and a 113-99 victory in Minnesota on April 1 came with Lowry sidelined.


For Minnesota (16-37), Monday's 116-102 home loss to New Orleans ended a two-game winning streak, and it has its opponent scoring average at 110.5 over the last four.


While opponents have shot 40.2 percent from long range in those games, the Timberwolves' perimeter game has been awful over the past six contests while connecting on 25.0 percent and 3 of 24 in the last two.


"We talked less last night," center Gorgui Dieng told the team's official website. "I think that's what coach (Sam Mitchell) was trying to emphasize today, just to make sure we talk more on defense. Talking defensively, especially me and (Karl-Anthony Towns), telling people where they're at. That was a big communication night and we missed it."


Towns has otherwise been a bright spot with eight straight double-doubles while averaging 21.8 points on 60.0 percent shooting with 12.5 rebounds.

[TheGame]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: Warriors (47-4) at Suns (14-39)


Date: February 10, 2016 9:00 PM EDT


Every victory brings the Golden State Warriors closer to the 20-year-old record for most in a season, and talk of their pursuit only will heat up coming out of the All-Star break.


The Phoenix Suns already have experienced a couple blowouts at the hands of the Warriors, but interim coach Earl Watson believes they're showing some signs of improvement.


Golden State can extend its winning streak to 11 by winning a sixth consecutive meeting Wednesday night in Phoenix.


The Warriors (47-4) secured the best 51-game start in NBA history with Tuesday's 123-110 win over Houston, one game ahead of the pace of the record-setting 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, who finished 72-10.


Stephen Curry had his 23rd performance of at least 30 points with 35 while adding nine assists, and Andrew Bogut had one of his best games with 13 points, 11 boards and a season-high six blocks.


The defending NBA champions have won eight times by double digits during their 10-game winning streak, which is the longest active run in the league.


'We can definitely play better and just sustain our level of play and be more consistent over 48 minutes. It's hard,' Curry said. 'As long as you keep that at the forefront and challenge yourselves, that's what hopefully inspires to continue to get better.


"It's not going to be pretty every minute we're out there, it's not going to be perfect, we're not going to blow everybody out. But we strive to be great every night.'


Curry had 41 points in a 135-116 win at Phoenix on Nov. 27, then finished with 25 while Klay Thompson poured in 43 in a 128-103 home win over the Suns on Dec. 16. Curry is averaging 32.5 points and shooting 56.3 percent - 53.3 from behind the arc - his last four against the Suns.


Opponents routing Phoenix (14-39) has been commonplace for much of the season, but it has been more competitive since Watson's debut Feb. 2 after the firing of Jeff Hornacek.


The Suns have dropped all four under Watson during their eight-game losing streak but only one by double-digits - Monday's 122-106 loss to Oklahoma City. They led by as many as six in the third quarter, though, before coming undone.


Markieff Morris finished with 23 points and is averaging 21 under Watson after scoring 10.2 in his first 32. Archie Goodwin added 20 for Phoenix, which has dropped 23 of 25 but also is dealing with injuries to Brandon Knight, Eric Bledsoe, T.J. Warren and Ronnie Price.


Knight and Price are expected to return after the break, but Bledsoe and Warren are out for the season.


"We have to love the process, embrace the process and be a part of the journey," Watson said after the Suns shot 50.7 percent for their highest mark in their last 17 games.


'I think you see our team, we're growing, we're getting better. We're not discouraged. We won't be discouraged.'


Slowing the Warriors likely will be a tough task with Phoenix allowing the second-most points per game in the league at 106.7. Golden State is averaging 122.3 during its winning streak - nearly seven more than its season average - and has shot 54.4 percent from the field and 52.9 percent from 3-point range in the two meetings this season.


Mirza Teletovic is averaging 15.7 points over his last three and had a season-high 24 in the last matchup with the Warriors.


Golden State said after Tuesday's contest that coach Steve Kerr was feeling ill, but he still plans to fly to with the team to Phoenix.