NBA Betting Info. 2/10

[TheGame]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: Rockets (27-27) at Trail Blazers (26-27)


Date: February 10, 2016 10:30 PM EDT


Allen Crabbe believes the Portland Trail Blazers have learned how to lock down defensively during a surprising push that has them eyeing a playoff spot.


They've already shown that ability against the high-scoring Houston Rockets.


In a matchup between teams vying for eighth place in the Western Conference, the Trail Blazers hope to head into the All-Star break with their 12th win in 15 games and second victory in five days over the visiting Rockets on Wednesday night.


Portland (26-27) was nine games under .500 and in 10th place, two games out of a playoff spot, on Jan. 8 before an 11-3 stretch brought the club within a half game of eighth-place Houston following the Rockets' 123-110 loss at Golden State on Tuesday.


The Blazers have averaged 105.8 points - well above their previous 100.9 mark - during that surge. Damian Lillard has had four 30-point performances and six double-doubles, while reserve Gerald Henderson has scored in double figures in five straight.


Portland also has stepped up defensively in crunch time, allowing 40.7 percent shooting - far below its 44.8 season mark - in the final period of its last 13 games.


Lillard finished with 33 points and hit five 3-pointers Monday, C.J. McCollum had 21 with six assists and three steals and Henderson scored 16 in a 112-106 overtime win at Memphis. Portland held the Grizzlies to 2-of-13 in the extra period.


"We know how to close games out now," said Crabbe, who had 13 points and three steals. "We know what it takes now. Everybody is digging down defensively to get the stops we need. I think everybody's game has taken that next step."


The Blazers hope to continue that trend back home as they look to move past the Rockets and get back to .500 for the first time since they were 4-4 on Nov. 9.


Houston ranks among the league's leaders with 105 points per game, but has had all kinds of trouble knocking down shots in this series. After rallying from 17 points down despite shooting 34.8 percent in a 108-103 overtime home win Nov. 18, the Rockets shot a season-low 32.5 percent in Saturday's 96-79 home defeat.


They were outrebounded 54-43 and fell behind by 32 points en route to their third loss in the past four meetings. James Harden had 33 points but committed 10 of the team's 23 turnovers, while Dwight Howard finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds.


The rest of the team scored a combined 50 while shooting just 24.4 percent.


Harden, second in the NBA with 27.9 points per game, has averaged 37 over his last five meetings. He scored 45 with 11 assists and five steals in the November win.


The All-Star overcame a scoreless first quarter to finish with 37 points against the Warriors. Trevor Ariza scored 19 and Howard added 16 with 15 rebounds.


'We didn't win the game but we gained some momentum. It was a competitive game against an undefeated team at home and we put ourselves in a position to win,' Harden said.


The Rockets (27-27) will try to avoid their fifth loss in seven road games and sixth in their past eight overall. They've been awful defensively away from home, allowing an average of 120.8 points and 45.6 percent shooting from 3-point range in their last six.


Terrence Jones is likely to miss a fourth straight game with a concussion, while Portland's Noah Vonleh is probable after a three-game absence from an ankle sprain.

[TheGame]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

NBA Odds: Wednesday, February 10 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews


I'm not a huge fan of either Kobe Bryant or LeBron James, but I obviously respect their greatness. And it's a shame that arguably the two best players of this generation never got to play against one another for an NBA championship. Of course they have played together for Team USA in the Olympics, winning gold in 2008. But their best chance for a Finals matchup probably was in 2009. Those Cavaliers led the NBA with 66 regular-season wins and the Lakers were second with 65. But the Cavs were knocked off by Orlando in the conference finals. The Lakers beat the Magic in a five-game Finals. The Lakers got back the next year, too, but Cleveland didn't, losing to Boston in the East semis. I bring this up because Wednesday could be the final time Kobe and LeBron square off. Yes, the Cavs visit the Lakers on March 10, but who knows if Kobe will be healthy by then.




Hornets at Pacers (-4.5, 201)


Charlotte got back to .500 with a 108-91 pounding of the visiting Bulls on Monday. Kemba Walker had 30 points and Nic Batum 19 points and 13 rebounds. Indiana beat the visiting Lakers 89-87 on Monday. Paul George scored six straight points late to lead a comeback. Ian Mahinmi suffered a gash over his eye and had eight stitches but returned to action. This is the first meeting of the season between the teams. Indiana has won 11 consecutive regular-season home games in series.


Key trends: The home team is 4-0-1 against the spread in the past five meetings. The "over/under" has gone under in six of the past seven in Indiana.


Early lean: Pacers and under.


Spurs at Magic (+9, 199.5)


Wouldn't shock me to see Gregg Popovich rest some guys here as San Antonio was in Miami on Tuesday and this is the team's final game before the All-Star break. I'd actually be surprised if Pop doesn't do that. The Magic completed a home-and-home sweep of Atlanta on Monday, 117-110 in OT. They were down as much as 20 in that one. Nikola Vucevic scored 25 of his 28 points after halftime. Forward Tobias Harris sat out both games with a sprained ankle. San Antonio has won nine straight vs. Orlando, including 107-92 at home on Feb. 1.


Key trends: The Spurs are 4-0 ATS in the past four in Orlando. The under is 5-2 in the Magic's past seven vs. the West.


Early lean: Magic and under.


Kings at 76ers (+4, 217.5)


Will this be the final game for Kings head coach George Karl? Some reports are that it will be but then others that he's still safe after a last-second change of heart by Kings management. What a clueless franchise. The Kings have dropped four straight and allowed at least 120 points in the past three. Ironically, Karl took over the Kings during last year's All-Star break. Former Kings forward Corliss Williamson was expected to take over as interim coach if there's a move. Philadelphia blew a 19-point lead Monday in a 98-92 OT home loss to the Clippers. The 76ers had a chance to win it in regulation, but Jahlil Okafor's 18-foot jumper was long. The Sixers won in Sacramento 110-105 on Dec. 30.


Key trends: The underdog is 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings. The over is 6-1 in the Kings' past seven overall.


Early lean: 76ers and over.


Clippers at Celtics (-1.5, 209)


Los Angeles clearly took Philadelphia for granted early in Monday's game in falling behind by those 19 points, the Clippers' largest deficit of the season. But L.A. managed to win in OT despite giving Paul Pierce the night off to rest. J.J. Redick had 23 points, including the tying 3-pointer late in regulation. The Clips have won 12 of their past 14 on the road. Pierce certainly will play here against his former team. Boston was in Milwaukee on Tuesday on a four-game winning streak. The Clippers have won four straight games against the Celtics, their longest win streak against Boston in franchise history.


Key trends: The road team is 4-0 ATS in the past four. The under is 5-1 in Boston's past six in the second of a back-to-back.


Early lean: Clippers and over.


Grizzlies at Nets (TBA)


Memphis dropped a second straight home OT game on Monday, 112-106 vs. Portland. Jeff Green accidentally tipped in a Blazers miss at the end of regulation. Marc Gasol scored 11 points before leaving late in the first quarter with a right foot injury. He did not return. My guess is he gets this game off. Brooklyn beat visiting Denver 105-104 on Monday thanks to a buzzer-beating banked-in 3-pointer from Joe Johnson. Rookie Chris McCullough made his NBA debut for the Nets, more than a year after suffering a torn ACL while at Syracuse. Memphis beat the visiting Nets 101-91 on Halloween.


Key trends: The road team is 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings. The under is 7-2 in the past nine in Brooklyn


Early lean: Wait on Gasol.


Nuggets at Pistons (-6.5, 210)


Denver lost by one at Brooklyn on Monday on that buzzer-beater by the Nets' Johnson. Danilo Gallinari scored 24 points and Kenneth Faried had 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Nuggets. Detroit lost a second straight Monday, 103-89 at home to Toronto. The highlight of that game was a made 80-footer by Pistons center Andre Drummond, the longest made shot in the NBA since 2007. Denver beat the visiting Pistons 104-101 on Jan. 23.


Key trends: The home team is 5-0 ATS in the past five meetings. The over is 9-4 in the past 13.


Early lean: Pistons and over.


Lakers at Cavaliers (-16, 207)


First game of an ESPN doubleheader and should have live betting at sportsbooks. L.A. lost a second straight Monday, 89-87 at Indiana. Kobe was just 6-for-25 from the field and 4-for-14 on 3-point attempts. The Lakers shot a season-low 31.2 percent from the field and were 8-for-35 on 3-point attempts. L.A. center Roy Hibbert missed his first game of the season due to a sprained ankle. Cleveland blew out the Kings on Monday behind LeBron's first triple-double of the season: 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He didn't even play the fourth quarter. Kyrie Irving matched his season high with 32 points and tied his career high with 12 assists. Kevin Love was back after missing a game with a bruised thigh.


Key trends: The Lakers are 1-4 ATS in the past five in Cleveland. The over is 4-0 in the past four.


Early lean: Cavs and over.


Hawks at Bulls (TBA)


Atlanta was swept in a home-and-home by previously struggling Orlando on Monday, 117-110 in OT. The Hawks were up 20 in the first quarter. Al Horford led Atlanta with 27 points and Paul Millsap had 22 points and 13 rebounds. Millsap made a jumper at the end of regulation, but it was just after the buzzer. Chicago finished a seven-game road trip at 2-5 after a 108-91 loss in Charlotte on Monday. Jimmy Butler, Nikola Mirotic and Derrick Rose all sat out; only Rose has a shot of playing here. Butler could miss up to another month and thus the All-Star Game. Hawks won first meeting of season with Bulls 120-105 at home on Jan. 9.


Key trends: The Hawks are 3-7 ATS in the past 10 meetings. The under is 8-1 in the past nine in Chicago.


Early lean: TBA for Rose. I like Hawks regardless.


Raptors at Timberwolves (+6.5, 208.5)


Toronto won its third straight and 14th in the past 15 on Monday, 103-89 in Detroit. Kyle Lowry led the way with 25 points. Toronto outscored the Pistons 16-3 in fast-break points. The Raptors have now won 23 consecutive games when allowing fewer than 100 points. Minnesota had a two-game winning streak end in a 116-102 win over New Orleans on Monday. Karl-Anthony Towns had 19 points and 12 rebounds in the loss. First meeting of the season between the Raptors and Wolves.


Key trends: Toronto is 9-1 ATS in its past 10 at Minnesota. The under is 8-3 in the past 11.


Early lean: Raptors and over.


Jazz at Pelicans (-2.5, 194)


New Orleans snapped a four-game losing streak with a 116-102 win in Minnesota on Monday. Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday scored 27 points apiece. The Pelicans turned it over only four times. Tyreke Evans sat out again and won't play here. Utah was in Denver on Tuesday looking for a seventh straight win. The Pelicans and Jazz have split two meetings this season in Salt Lake City.


Key trends: The Jazz are 4-0-1 ATS in the past five in New Orleans. The over has hit in 10 of the Pelicans' past 13 overall.


Early lean: Jazz and under.


Warriors at Suns (+17, 218.5)


Golden State hosted Houston on Tuesday on a nine-game winning streak. Phoenix lost 122-106 to Oklahoma City on Monday for its ninth straight loss. The Suns scored on their first 15 possessions but still couldn't take the lead. The Warriors have won both meetings this season and five straight vs. Phoenix.


Key trends: The home team is 9-4 ATS in the past 13. The over is 5-0 in Golden State's past five vs. teams with a losing record.


Early lean: Suns and over.


Rockets at Trail Blazers (TBA)


The ESPN nightcap. Houston was in Oakland on Tuesday with James Harden questionable. Portland won at Memphis 112-106 in OT on Monday for its second win in a row. Damian Lillard had 33 points. Forward Noah Vonleh missed his third consecutive game with a left ankle sprain. The Rockets and Blazers have split two meetings in Houston this season. Portland has won the past two at home in series.


Key trends: Houston is 0-4 ATS in the past four meetings. The over is 6-2 in the past eight in Portland.


Early lean: Portland regardless of what Houston does vs. the Warriors.

[TheGame]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

NBA


Wednesday's hot teams
-- Spurs won their last five games (15-7AF). Orlando split its last six games, covering five of them (7-4HU).
-- Hornets won four of their last five games (9-8AU). Indiana won five of its last seven games (2-4 last 6HF).
-- Denver is 4-3 in last seven games; they covered 10 of last 12.
-- Memphis won nine of its last 12 games (2-4 last 6AF).
-- Clippers won seven of their last eight games (6-4HF). Celtics won eight of their last ten games (5-1 last 6HF).
-- Cleveland won seven of its last nine games (3-3HF with Lue).
-- Utah won its last seven games (2-7 last 9AU).
-- Raptors won 14 of their last 15 games (7-7AF).
-- Golden State won its last ten games (6-3 last 9AF).
-- Portland won seven of its last eight games.


Cold teams
-- Sacramento lost eight of last nine games (1-3AF). 76ers lost five of their last ix games (5-2 last 7HU).
-- Pistons lost five of their last seven games (12-2 last 14HF).
-- Brooklyn lost six of its last eight games (4-2 last 6HU).
-- Lakers lost 12 of last 14 games, but covered seven of last ten.
-- Pelicans lost four of their last five games (0-4 last 4HF).
-- Hawks lost five of their last eight games (5-9 last 14HU). Bulls lost five of their last six games (5-3 last 8HF).
-- Minnesota lost six of its last eight games (4-1 last 5HU).
-- Suns lost their last eight games (7-5HU).
-- Houston lost five of its last seven games.


Series records
-- Spurs won last nine games with Orlando,, but Magic covered three of last four.
-- 76ers won six of last eight games with Sacramento.
-- Pacers won eight of their last ten games with Charlotte.
-- Nuggets won eight of last ten games with Detroit.
-- Nets lost six of last eight games with Memphis.
-- Clippers won their last four games with Boston.
-- Lakers lost three of last four games with Cleveland.
-- Jazz lost five of last eight games with New Orleans.
-- Hawks won three of last four games with Chicago.
-- Raptors won last eight games with Minnesota (7-1 vs spread).
-- Warriors won last five games with Phoenix (4-1 vs spread).
-- Portland won three of last four games with Houston.


Totals
-- Over is 8-1-1 in last ten San Antonio games.
-- Six of last seven Sacramento games went over.
-- Five of last seven Charlotte games stayed under.
-- 12 of last 15 Denver games went over the total.
-- 12 of last 14 Memphis games went over the total.
-- Under is 6-1-1 in last eight Clipper games.
-- Five of last seven Cleveland games went over.
-- Six of last eight Utah games stayed under total.
-- Five of last seven Chicago games went over.
--Over is 8-2-1 in last eleven Minnesota games.
-- Seven of last ten Golden State games went over.
-- Eight of last nine Houston games went over total.


Back/backs
-- Spurs are 7-2 vs spread if they played night before.
-- Boston is 8-4 vs spread if it played night before.
-- Utah is 4-3 vs spread on road if it played night before.
-- Warriors are 10-2 vs spread if they played night before.
-- Houston is 3-8 vs spread in its last 11 games if it played nite before.

[Satch]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Spurs’ injuries pile up before a short week of NBA betting
By BIG AL MCMORDIE
With the NFL’s Super Bowl now in the rear view mirror, the NBA takes center stage on the American sports landscape. This week, though, will be an abbreviated one, with just 58 games on the schedule, as the league heads into the All-Star break. And there are few, if any, marquee matchups in the coming days.
The best of the lot is the Miami-San Antonio tilt Tuesday, though the game between Kobe Bryant’s Lakers and LeBron James’ Cavaliers also merits attention. “Big” Al McMordie takes a look at some of the goings-on around the NBA, so we can fatten our wallets.
Spread watch
The Denver Nuggets are on a seven-game pointspread win streak. And it’s the fifth time this season that a team has accomplished that feat. The first four times all resulted in an ATS loss, which is not surprising, as teams on exactly a seven-game ATS win streak are a money-burning 45.5 percent ATS since 1990.
This week, the Nuggets will play at Brooklyn Monday night and then play at Detroit Wednesday, before going on holiday. Denver’s been installed as a road favorite at Brooklyn, which I feel is too high a tariff for a team which has won just 10 road games this season. Indeed, this will be just the second time all season the Nuggets have been a road favorite. The first time was at Philadelphia in early December, and the Nuggets pushed the 3-point spread, in a 108-105 victory.
Even worse for the Nuggets: they’re 0-3 SU/ATS the last three meetings and have covered just 14 of the last 40 games between these two teams (6-14 ATS on the road). I look for Denver’s ATS win streak to come to a halt Monday.
Total watch
San Antonio has the league’s best defense, but has been playing without its defensive stalwart, Tim Duncan, for the last seven games. When it was announced that Duncan would miss the much-anticipated game at Golden State on January 25 because of a sore knee, some assumed coach Gregg Popovich was trying to cloak his intention to test out some unusual lineups against the Warriors.
Of course, nothing worked that night, and the Spurs gave up a season-high 120 points. Since then, the Spurs have gone Under the total in just one of their six games. Not having Duncan on the floor clearly hurts. Going into the game at Golden State, the Spurs had given up just 89.7 ppg. But with Duncan sidelined over the last two weeks, the Spurs have surrendered 102.4 ppg.
It’s possible that Duncan may return prior to the All-Star break, as he’s resumed participating in 3-on-3 scrimmages with the team. However, if Popovich chooses to keep him in street clothes, then Wednesday’s game against the Magic has all the earmarks of another high-scoring contest, as 12 of the last 17 between these two teams have flown Over the number.
Injury watch
Manu Ginobili suffered a cringe-worthy injury last Wednesday vs. New Orleans. With just over two minutes remaining, the Pelicans’ Ryan Anderson kneed Ginobili in the groin. Normally, players are able to shake off such contact. But Manu absorbed such force, a surgical procedure was required the following day to relieve swelling in his testicles. Ginobili has been terrific this season (19.31 PER), so his absence over the next six weeks will no doubt be felt by his team.
This season, San Antonio is 28-14-1 ATS with him on the court, but a pedestrian 4-4 ATS with him not in the lineup. Both of San Antonio’s opponents this week (Miami, Orlando) have been playing decent basketball. The Heat have covered six of eight, while the Magic have covered four of five. And both have played well this season as home underdogs (Miami 2-1 ATS; Orlando 9-4 ATS).
Though San Antonio has generally played well (75-34 SU; 57-48 ATS) on its “Rodeo Road Trip” – its annual trek which coincides with the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo – I would be surprised if it was able to start its trip with two SU/ATS wins, without Ginobili in the lineup.
Schedule watch
This season, not only is Golden State destroying teams on the court (46-4 SU; 31-18-1 ATS), but it also seems to be having an effect on its opponents before they even play. And that’s because teams are severely under-performing in the game immediately prior to playing the Warriors, perhaps because they’re looking ahead to the match-up against the NBA Champions. This year, teams are a dismal 16-34 ATS in this situation.
On Monday, the Suns could fall victim to this scheduling spot, as they’ll host the Thunder prior to welcoming the Warriors to Talking Stick Resort Arena two days later. With Oklahoma City in an ornery mood following a loss at Golden State this past Saturday ((W) OKC’s 128-86 ATS in the regular season off a loss since Nov. 22, 2008), it could get ugly for Phoenix.

[Satch]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: Charlotte At Indiana
When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
The Charlotte Hornets can glance at the Eastern Conference standings and notice that they are only two games behind the Indiana Pacers, who occupy the No. 6 spot, and are moving up. The Hornets will try to draw within a game and pull over .500 when they visit the Pacers on Wednesday.
Charlotte’s up-and-down season is on the upswing of late and features four wins in the last five games, including an impressive 108-91 thrashing of the Chicago Bulls on Monday and a win over Cleveland last week. Health is a big reason for the Hornets’ recent stretch, as the return of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist from a preseason shoulder injury solidified the defense on the wings and Nicolas Batum js overcoming a troublesome toe ailment to add firepower to the backcourt. The Pacers can relate to the roller-coaster nature of the season’s nominal first half and hope to head into the All-Star break with a little momentum after barely surviving the Los Angeles Lakers in an 89-87 win on Monday. The triumph was the fifth in the last seven games for Indiana, which showed off on the defensive end by holding Los Angeles to 31.2 percent from the floor.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Charlotte), FSN Indiana
ABOUT THE HORNETS (26-26): Charlotte is still waiting for center Al Jefferson (knee) to recover from surgery but is otherwise whole, and the results of late have been impressive. Kidd-Gilchrist was always recognized as a top defender on the wing but is contributing on both ends and is averaging 13.5 points on 52.6 percent shooting in six games since his return, including a 20-point outburst in Monday’s triumph. Batum looked like a shell of himself while moving in and out of the lineup in January but has come on of late and averaged 22.5 points, 12 rebounds and 8.5 assists in the last two games to take some pressure off of star guard Kemba Walker.
ABOUT THE PACERS (28-24): Indiana has been up-and-down on a week-to-week basis and sometimes quarter-to-quarter, as was the case after they blew a 17-point third-quarter lead on Monday. All-Star Paul George scored all seven of his second-half points in the final minute-plus but finished 6-of-18 from the field, including 2-of-10 from 3-point range. “You have to figure out a way to get everybody on the same page going one direction,” Lakers star Kobe Bryant told reporters of his advice to George. “What I figured out is, it’s not just about the skills you possess. It’s also about how you integrate everybody else’s skills and emotions into it, which is the challenge. So it’s not just him as a player and his skills. It’s also understanding those dynamics that help you win multiple championships.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Pacers are 11-1 when holding the opposition under 40 percent shooting.
2. Batum and Walker have combined to make 22 3-pointers in the last three games.
3. Indiana took three of the four meetings last season, with the lone setback coming at Charlotte in overtime on Jan. 17, 2015.
PREDICTION: Hornets 103, Pacers 101

[Satch]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: San Antonio At Orlando
When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Where: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
The Orlando Magic have regained some confidence with two straight wins and look to go into the All-Star break with another when they host the red-hot San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. The Magic knocked off the Atlanta Hawks in back-to-back tight contests after losing 15 of their previous 17 outings to start the calendar year.
“We’re not a team that gives up,” Orlando forward Jason Smith told the Orlando Sentinel. “. … It’s been a rough go the last month. We’re still a good team. That’s still inside us.” The Spurs extended their winning streak to nine against the Magic with a 107-92 triumph on Feb. 1 in San Antonio as LaMarcus Aldridge scored a game-high 28 points. Aldridge matched that total as San Antonio stretched its winning streak to five with a 119-101 victory at Miami to start an eight-game road trip. Veteran Spurs forward Tim Duncan (knee) has missed eight straight contests and is close to returning to the lineup.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (San Antonio), FSN Florida (Orlando)
ABOUT THE SPURS (44-8): Aldridge has scored at least 25 in five of the last seven games and is averaging 26.4 while making 47-of-78 from the field over the past five contests. The Spurs have also been without Manu Ginobili (testicle injury) for three games and Kawhi Leonard has lifted his production, averaging 23 points over his last four outings after scoring 10 versus Orlando. San Antonio leads the league in scoring defense and has been hot on the offensive end, averaging 113 points the last seven games.
ABOUT THE MAGIC (23-28): Center Nikola Vucevic hit the winning shot in Sunday’s win over the Hawks and averaged 25 points in the two games while draining 22-of-35 shots from the field. Shooting guard Evan Fournier, who is third on the team in scoring (13.8) behind Vucevic (17) and versatile guard Victor Oladipo (14.3), has averaged 17.7 over the past three contests. Forward Tobias Harris (13.7 points, seven rebounds) missed the last two games with an ankle injury and is questionable for San Antonio.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Orlando PG Elfrid Payton averaged 16 points and 9.5 assists in the last two victories.
2. San Antonio G Patty Mills matched his season high with 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting in the first meeting against the Magic.
3. Orlando’s rookie G Mario Hezonja scored 14 points and grabbed a season-best nine rebounds in Monday’s win.
PREDICTION: Spurs 105, Magic 95

[Satch]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: Sacramento At Philadelphia
When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Sacramento Kings are reportedly on the verge of becoming the latest disappointing team to make a coaching change, though George Karl is still expected to be on the bench when the Kings visit the Philadelphia 76ers in the final game before the All-Star break on Wednesday. Sacramento has dropped four straight and eight of its last nine and looks lost on the defensive end during its road trip.
The Kings allowed an average of 125.3 points in losing the first three stops on the road trip at Brooklyn, Boston and Cleveland, and stars DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo have both hinted in recent days that the problems go beyond the effort of the players. “With optional shootarounds, it’s tough,” Rondo told the Sacramento Bee before Monday’s 120-100 loss to the Cavaliers. “We’ve lost eight of nine. When three or four guys show up for shootaround this morning, how can you expect to win?” The 76ers own the worst record in the NBA but are actually a model of stability in comparison to the Kings with Brett Brown as head coach and a front office now overseen by veteran NBA executive Jerry Colangelo and general manager Stan Hinkie. Philadelphia took the Los Angeles Clippers into overtime before falling 98-92 on Monday and has at least been competitive during most of a stretch of five losses in six games.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CSN California (Sacramento), CSN Philadelphia
ABOUT THE KINGS (21-31): Sacramento is expected to hire an internal candidate as an interim coach if it dismisses Karl during the All-Star break, and ESPN.com is reporting assistant and former player Corliss Williamson as the top choice. “Staying positive is the biggest thing right now,” Cousins told reporters. “Through the ups and downs of this season, one thing I can commend this team on is we’ve always stuck together. There hasn’t been any separation.” Defense is the biggest area of concern, and Karl’s lack of adjustments on that end are reportedly frustrating the players.
ABOUT THE 76ERS (8-44): Brown has never come under fire for Philadelphia’s terrible records the last two seasons, and he is drawing praise from his counterparts for his ability to relate to the players. “Brett, he’s a terrific coach,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters. “It’s a great example, I think people make mistakes when they judge you by your record, sometimes. His teams play hard every night. To get your guys to execute and play hard and want to play for your team is masterful. It’s hard to do, it really is. On top of that, with all young guys.” Brown is also getting an effort on the defensive end from his players, who held Los Angeles to 38.6 percent from the floor on Monday.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Rondo is averaging 15.3 assists in the last three games.
2. 76ers PG Ish Smith (ankle) returned from a one-game absence on Monday and collected 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists in 33 minutes.
3. Nerlens Noel led the way with 20 points and nine rebounds as Philadelphia earned a 110-105 win at Sacramento on Dec. 28.
PREDICTION: 76ers 116, Kings 110

[Satch]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: L.A. Clippers At Boston
When: 7:30 PM ET, Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
The Los Angeles Clippers have been steamrolling through Eastern Conference opponents of late but they will be tested in their one trip to Boston on Wednesday. The Celtics had won four in a row and nine of their last 10 before Tuesday’s 112-111 loss at Milwaukee, which involved a comeback from 19 points down in the fourth quarter before a wild finish ended the run.
Boston still owns a seven-game winning streak at home, each victory coming by at least seven points. The Clippers are 3-0 on their four-game East Coast trip, knocking off Philadelphia 98-92 in overtime on Monday behind 23 points apiece from Jamal Crawford and J.J. Redick. They’ve claimed six consecutive games against Eastern Conference opponents and are 11-3 on the road versus such teams. Redick had 27 points in Los Angeles’ last visit to Boston on March 29, 2015, spurring his team to a 119-106 win and its fourth consecutive triumph in the series.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), CSN New England (Boston)
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (35-17): Los Angeles made news on its day off by announcing a four-game suspension for star forward Blake Griffin, who is out with a broken hand suffered in an altercation with a team staff member. The Clippers are 18-4 without Griffin, and a good deal of the success can be tied to the play of Crawford, who has scored at least 20 points in five straight games. Fellow guards Redick and Chris Paul have three 20-point efforts apiece in that five-game span and Redick hit the game-tying 3-pointer late in regulation in the win over Philadelphia.
ABOUT THE CELTICS (31-23): Avery Bradley committed a unwise foul in the final second to allow Milwaukee to hit the decisive free throw, but he was a catalyst for much of the night with 18 points and a plus-minus ratio (+22) that tied a season high. The Boston bench continued its solid play with 50 points, including 13 in 15 minutes by Jonas Jerebko and 15 in 16 minutes by Kelly Olynyk. The Celtics are 9-3 in the second game of back-to-back contests.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Paul (7,387) needs six assists to move past Maurice Cheeks and into 11th place on the all-time list.
2. The Celtics have made at least 80 percent of their free throws in nine straight games.
3. Crawford’s 92.4 percent mark from the line has him on track to finish first in the NBA in the category for the second time in his career.
PREDICTION: Clippers 104, Celtics 102

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Preview: Memphis At Brooklyn
When: 7:30 PM ET, Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
Joe Johnson’s buzzer-beater gave the Brooklyn Nets a much-needed lift on Monday, and they will try to carry that momentum into a date with the visiting Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. The Grizzlies have had a hard time closing out tight games in their last two and are trying to avoid a three-game slide heading into the All-Star break.
Brooklyn is trying to find something to be positive about in front of the break and has won two of three following a five-game slide. “It was fun,” Johnson told reporters after banking in the 3-pointer off one leg as the buzzer sounded. “Obviously, we’ve had a tough season, but to get some excitement like that out of the game was exciting. I’m happy for the fans.” Memphis is missing that sort of clutch shot-making after losing at home to the Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers – both in overtime. The Grizzlies took another hit in Monday’s 112-106 loss to Portland when center Marc Gasol left the game with an injury that was revealed to be a broken right foot after tests on Tuesday.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Memphis), YES (Brooklyn)
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (30-22): Gasol managed only 11 minutes before limping off with the help of trainers against the Trail Blazers, and coach Dave Joerger figured the injury was relatively minor while speaking with reporters after the game. Memphis went smaller without Gasol on the floor and pushed reserve small forward Jeff Green to 39 minutes on Monday while pushing Zach Randolph into the middle. “Marc is a cornerstone of our franchise, and we are focused on getting him healthy,” Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said in a press release about the injury. “Marc will be out indefinitely and a further update will be provided after the All-Star Break.”
ABOUT THE NETS (14-39): Brooklyn is in the process of interviewing candidates for the open general manager position and owner Mikhail Prokhorov was on hand to see Johnson’s buzzer beater. The Russian billionaire jumped to his feet on Johnson’s winner but has so far been reluctant to give detailed answers about the GM search or the team’s future. Johnson, who is on pace to record his lowest scoring average since 2002-03, in not likely a part of that future at age 34 but has been playing better of late with averages of 17 points and 7.8 assists in the last four games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Nets PF Thaddeus Young is averaging 18 points and 11.3 rebounds in the last four contests.
2. Grizzlies PG Mike Conley scored a season-high 27 points on Monday.
3. Memphis has taken three straight in the series, including a 101-91 home victory on Oct. 31.
PREDICTION: Grizzlies 100, Nets 92

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Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: Denver At Detroit
When: 7:30 PM ET, Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Where: The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
The Detroit Pistons need a win heading into the All-Star break to maintain a winning record into the season’s nominal second half. The Pistons will try to stay above .500 and win for just the third time in the last eight games when they host the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.
Detroit got a picture of how the top teams operate in a 103-89 loss to the Toronto on Monday, when the Raptors capitalized on all of the Pistons’ mistakes. “I thought we competed really hard,” Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters. “I didn’t think we made an inordinate amount of mistakes, particularly on the defensive end. But I do think what happened is every mistake we made at both ends, they made us pay for ’em.” The Nuggets paid for leaving Joe Johnson open at the top of the key on the final play of their last game, when the veteran burned them for a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer in a 105-104 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. Denver squandered an opportunity to match its season-best winning streak of three with the loss.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Altitude (Denver), FSN Detroit
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (21-32): Denver is still trying to figure things out on the defensive end and allowed the Nets to shoot 51.9 percent from the floor on Monday. “We didn’t deserve to win the game,” head coach Michael Malone told reporters. “We played awful basketball most of the night. Bottom line is, when you don’t defend in the NBA, you don’t win.” The defensive struggles overshadowed another strong offensive performance from power forward Kenneth Faried, who is shooting 68.9 percent from the field in five games this month and has hit at least half his shots in eight straight games.
ABOUT THE PISTONS (27-26): Detroit is barely hanging on to the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference with 29 games left in the regular season. “We’re trying to keep it positive,” Pistons forward Marcus Morris told reporters. “At the end of the day we have to win games. If we want to make the playoffs we have to win. We’re definitely positive and we definitely played hard, but we have to win, bottom line.” Detroit lost its best perimeter defender in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a groin strain last Wednesday and allowed the Pacers and the Raptors to shoot a combined 54.8 percent from the field in the last two games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Nuggets G Jameer Nelson (wrist) and F Darrell Arthur (quadriceps) are both questionable.
2. Caldwell-Pope will sit out Wednesday’s game to get at least two full weeks off with the All-Star break approaching.
3. The home team has taken five straight in the series, including Denver’s 104-101 home win on Jan. 23.
PREDICTION: Pistons 111, Nuggets 105

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Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: L.A. Lakers At Cleveland

When: 8:00 PM ET, Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Where: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Kobe Bryant and LeBron James square off for the first of two times this season when the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. Bryant is retiring after another dreadful season for the Lakers while James and the Cavaliers are aiming to make a title run after recently firing coach David Blatt.
James had a triple-double (21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists) in Monday’s 120-100 rout of the Sacramento Kings and is looking forward to Bryant’s final appearance in Cleveland. “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 told reporters of Bryant. “And he’s done so much, not only for the Lakers organization, but for me as a kid growing up watching Kobe and things of that nature and also competing against him.” Bryant has turned the clock back by averaging 26.4 points over the past five games but he was just 6-of-25 shooting for 19 points in Monday’s 89-87 loss to the Indiana Pacers. “Sometimes you live and die with it,” Lakers coach Byron Scott told reporters of Bryant’s shooting. “And I’m willing to do it with him.”
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, TWC SportsNet (Los Angeles), FSN Ohio (Cleveland)
ABOUT THE LAKERS (11-43): Los Angeles has lost 12 of its last 14 games and Bryant’s final campaign is overshadowing the improvement of youngsters Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell. Randle has 21 double-doubles after recording 15 points and a career-best 19 rebounds in Monday’s 89-87 loss to the Indiana Pacers and Russell had 16 points, five rebounds, five assists and a career-best four steals. “He’s been fantastic,” Scott told reporters of Randle. “If you look at his stats, besides the turnovers, other than that he’s playing just great basketball. … He’s rebounding the hell out of the ball.”
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (37-14): Point guard Kyrie Irving is in top form and matched his season high of 32 points and equaled his career best of 12 assists against Sacramento. Irving is averaging 25.7 points over the last seven games and has scored 25 or more points in five of them. Shooting guard J.R. Smith is also on a roll with three straight 20-point outings while going 17-of-39 from 3-point range to raise his career total to 1,601 – the 18th player to reach 1,600 in NBA history.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Cavaliers have won four of the past six meetings.
2. Cleveland PF Kevin Love (quadriceps) had just 11 points on 2-of-10 shooting against the Kings after a one-game absence.
3. Los Angeles C Roy Hibbert (ankle) is probable after missing Monday’s game versus Indiana.
PREDICTION: Cavaliers 110, Lakers 93

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Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: Atlanta At Chicago
When: 8:00 PM ET, Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Four wins away from playing for the NBA championship last season, the Atlanta Hawks may be on the verge of dismantling key parts of this season’s squad as the Feb. 18 trade deadline looms. Atlanta travels to visit the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, and after losing back-to-back games to Orlando, media reports surfaced Tuesday that point guard Jeff Teague, shooting guard Kyle Korver and center Al Horford could be moved before the deadline.
The latest loss on Monday was particularly frustrating for a team that won 60 games and a division title a season ago, with Atlanta blowing an 18-point home lead late in the third quarter in losing 117-110 in overtime. “We’ve had this problem all year where we get up and we give up leads,” Horford lamented to reporters afterward. The Bulls do not look like a serious playoff contender at the moment either, but at least Chicago is home after going 2-5 on a seven-game road trip, capped with a 108-91 loss on Monday at Charlotte. “We have to put this trip behind us,” Bulls first-year coach Fred Hoiberg admitted to the media late Monday. “It took a toll on our guys.” Derrick Rose was a late scratch due to soreness while Jimmy Butler did not play for the third consecutive game with a left knee strain that will keep him sidelined for at least the next three weeks.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Atlanta), CSN Chicago
ABOUT THE HAWKS (30-24): Atlanta ranked seventh after Monday’s game in points allowed per game (99.8) but surrendered 76 points in the second half and overtime Monday. Teague scored 21 points and has reached 20 points four times in the past seven games, averaging 19.7 points on 50.5 percent shooting from the field. Horford hit 12-of-18 shots in scoring a game-high 27 points in Monday’s defeat, and is shooting 50 percent from the field while averaging 15 points on the season.
ABOUT THE BULLS (27-24): Chicago will enjoy being back home but is far from healthy, as Nikola Mirotic missed the road trip after surgery to have his appendix removed. Rose is averaging 15.9 points and scored 20.8 points in his first four games in February despite shooting 37.3 percent from the field. Pau Gasol recorded his 29th double-double of the season in Monday’s loss, finishing with 22 points and 10 rebounds while falling three assists shy of a triple-double.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Chicago G E’Twaun Moore is shooting 64.7 percent from 3-point range in his past four games, averaging 15.3 points.
2. Korver’s next 3-pointer will be his 1,831st and will push him past Chauncey Billups into eighth place on the all-time NBA/ABA list.
3. Butler (22.9 points) and Mirotic (10.6) have been ruled out Wednesday.
PREDICTION: Bulls 105, Hawks 96

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Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: Toronto At Minnesota
When: 8:00 PM ET, Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Toronto Raptors look to continue their dominance over Minnesota on Wednesday as they attempt to defeat the host Timberwolves for the ninth consecutive time. Toronto has won 20 of the past 21 meetings, with Minnesota’s lone win during the stretch occurring on Jan. 29, 2011.
The Raptors are flying high with 14 victories in their last 15 games and All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan says the team’s maturity also is soaring. “We’re growing a lot,” DeRozan told reporters. “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.” The Timberwolves lost to the New Orleans Pelicans 116-102 on Monday after showing life with back-to-back victories over the Los Angeles Clippers and Chicago Bulls. “We were really trying to get four in a row before the All-Star break,” forward Shabazz Muhammad told reporters. “It’s tough in the NBA. We have to come back to practice and really work hard and get ready for Toronto.”
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TSN (Toronto), FSN North (Minnesota)
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (35-16): A victory over Minnesota would allow Toronto to match the franchise record for most victories before the All-Star break, set last season. The All-Star backcourt of shooting guard DeMar DeRozan and point guard Kyle Lowry continues to lead the way, and DeRozan strung together five straight 20-point outings before scoring 17 in Monday’s 103-89 victory over the Detroit Pistons. Lowry had 25 points and seven assists against Detroit and is averaging 27 points on 14-of-25 shooting from 3-point range over the past three contests.
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (16-37): Center Karl-Anthony Towns leads all NBA rookies with 29 double-doubles and that also ties the franchise rookie record set by Kevin Love (2008-09). Towns has posted eight consecutive double-doubles and is averaging 21.8 points and 12.5 rebounds during the stretch. Shooting guard Andrew Wiggins has seven 30-point outings this season but tallied just 15 points in the loss to New Orleans after averaging 27.3 points over the previous three games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Raptors have won 23 consecutive games when holding opponents under 100 points – the second-longest streak in franchise history.
2. Minnesota PF Kevin Garnett (knee) and SG Kevin Martin (wrist) are both expected to miss their ninth consecutive games.
3. Toronto backup SF Terrence Ross has scored in double figures in four straight games and is averaging 14.5 points during the stretch.
PREDICTION: Raptors 104, Timberwolves 97

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Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: Utah At New Orleans
When: 8:00 PM ET, Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Where: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
The New Orleans Pelicans are fading out of the Western Conference playoff derby but have a chance to make up ground on one of the teams they need to catch when they host the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. New Orleans, which stands 6 1/2 games behind eighth-place Houston and seven back of the No. 7 Jazz, has never recovered from a disastrous 1-11 start.
Utah has won a season-best seven straight games and posted a 121-119 overtime victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday when Gordon Hayward drained a buzzer-beating, step-back jumper. “We’re learning more and more how to make winning plays,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder told reporters afterward. “Sometimes you make them and it works out. Sometimes you make them and they are unsuccessful. Gordon made the right play and he made the shot.” The Pelicans played terrific during Monday’s 116-102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves as they matched a franchise low by committing four turnovers. New Orleans remains without starting guards Tyreke Evans (knee) and Eric Gordon (broken finger), and All-Star power forward Anthony Davis has been carrying the squad by scoring 20 or more points in 12 of the past 13 games.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ROOT (Utah), FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE JAZZ (26-25): Hayward started slowly against the Mavericks but drilled the game’s most important basket and scored six of his 20 points in overtime while stretching his streak of double-digit outings to 24 straight. “I came off the screen and hit the step-back,” Hayward said afterward, well aware the shot broke a 10-game losing streak in Dallas. “I got a good look. When you get a good look, sometimes they go in.” Power forward Derrick Favors contributed 16 points, eight rebounds and a career-high six assists against the Mavericks and the Jazz are 7-1 since he returned from a 16-game absence because back problems.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (19-32): Backup guard Jrue Holiday joined Davis in scoring 27 points against the Timberwolves and he is averaging 20.6 points over the past eight games. Holiday was on a minutes’ restriction for most of the season but the mandate has been relaxed recently because of the backcourt injuries and Holiday’s strong play. “It’s hard to take a guy out of the game when he’s going great and he’s got 20 points and he’s made seven out of his last eight shots,” New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters. “That becomes really hard to do, but for us, we’ve got to be smart enough long term and what that means. I do have an assistant that will take him out regardless of if I want to take him out or not.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Davis is averaging 26.5 points and 12 rebounds as the teams split this season’s first two meetings.
2. Utah SG Rodney Hood scored 29 points against Dallas and is averaging 25.7 points over the last three contests.
3. New Orleans SF Ryan Anderson scored 26 points against Minnesota after averaging 10.5 points during a four-game losing streak.
PREDICTION: Pelicans 105, Jazz 101

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Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/10

Preview: Golden State At Phoenix
When: 9:00 PM ET, Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, Arizona
The Golden State Warriors have dominated the NBA and look to enter the All-Star break with their 11th straight victory when they visit the struggling Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. Golden State sits with a stellar 47-4 record after beating the Houston Rockets 123-110 on Tuesday and arrives in Phoenix with a 23-4 road mark.
The Warriors have the best record through 51 games in NBA history as the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers dropped their 51st game to fall to 46-5. Golden State won this season’s first two meetings with the Suns by an average of 22 points with point guard Stephen Curry scoring 41 points in the first contest and shooting guard Klay Thompson pouring in 43 in the second. Curry had 35 points and nine assists Tuesday and is averaging 37.3 points over the last three games. Phoenix is experiencing a dreadful season and has lost eight straight games and 25 of its last 28.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area (Golden State), FSN Arizona (Phoenix)
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (47-4): Curry was the only one of the three Golden State All-Stars to have a big contest against the Rockets as Thompson (13 points on 5-of-19 shooting) and power forward Draymond Green (eight points) had low-scoring outings. Center Andrew Bogut was one of the players to step up as he had 13 points, 11 rebounds and a season-best six blocked shots for his first double-double since Dec. 23. The Warriors are averaging 122.3 points during their winning streak and have scored 120 or more on seven occasions during the stretch.
ABOUT THE SUNS (14-39): Phoenix dropped to 0-4 under interim coach Earl Watson when it suffered a 122-106 loss to Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday and Watson wasn’t the least dismayed over the latest defeat. “I think you see our team – we’re growing, we’re getting better,” Watson told reporters. “We’re not discouraged. We won’t be discouraged.” Power forward Markieff Morris is producing encouraging results as the firing of Jeff Hornacek sent him from the doghouse to the starting lineup and Morris is averaging 21 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists since Watson took over.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Warriors have won five straight meetings and 13 of the past 16.
2. Curry made seven 3-pointers against the Rockets and has 19 over the last three games.
3. Phoenix third-year G Archie Goodwin is taking advantage of the club’s plethora of backcourt injuries to average 18.5 points and 7.3 assists over the past four games.
PREDICTION: Warriors 118, Suns 92