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**TheGame** · 02-20-2016, 07:34 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/20

Preview: Wizards (25-28) at Heat (30-24)

Date: February 20, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

Dwyane Wade never has played a full season in his 13-year career because of an injury history that has taken its toll on nearly every part of his body.

That trend is something the Miami Heat have come to expect, but the serious medical condition of Chris Bosh and the uncertainty that accompanies it has left them even more shorthanded.

The Heat hope to have Wade back in the lineup with the previously suspended Hassan Whiteside on Saturday night when they host a Washington Wizards team completing the NBA's only three-games-in-three-nights stretch of the season.

Wade has played through hip and shoulder soreness to average 18.7 points per game while shooting 45.8 percent from the field. He hasn't averaged fewer points since scoring 16.2 per contest in his 2003-04 rookie season and has never shot worse than the 46.5 percent mark he had that same year.

Now he's being bothered by soreness in the back of his left knee that kept him out of Friday's matchup with Atlanta. The Heat (30-24), who moved percentage points ahead of the Hawks for the Southeast Division lead with a 115-111 win, already were without Bosh because of another battle with blood clots that forced him to miss the final part of last season following the All-Star break.

Whiteside served a one-game suspension for throwing an elbow at San Antonio center Boban Marjanovic's head on Feb. 9, but he's expected to be back against the Wizards (25-28). Miami played with nine players after trading Chris Andersen and Jarnell Stokes in cost-cutting moves before Thursday's deadline.

Wade will have an MRI in the morning to determine if he'll be able to go.

'Obviously it's never a good time (to miss games), but if you say there's a bad time, this is a bad time,' Wade said. "It's nothing I'm overly concerned about. I just want to make sure everything's good.'

The Heat snapped a two-game skid behind Luol Deng, who finished with season highs of 30 points and 11 rebounds. Josh McRoberts also set season highs with 19 points and 10 assists.

'We easily could have said we had guys out, we could have said we lost this game, that's the reason for it,' Deng said. 'But we came out and played hard.'

Wade missed the last meeting as John Wall finished with 18 points and 10 assists in Washington's 106-87 victory Jan. 20, the Wizards' fifth victory over the Heat in the last six matchups.

Wall had 22 points in Friday's 98-86 win over Detroit to give the Wizards back-to-back victories following the All-Star break. Washington held the Pistons to 42.7 percent shooting after Utah shot 40.3 percent in Thursday's 103-89 win.

'We've been saying it half of the season - play defense," Wall said of the Wizards, who came in 24th in the league in scoring defense allowing an average of 105.1 points per game. "It's great to see that we're back to doing what we used to do.'

The NBA no longer is scheduling teams to play back-to-back-to-back, but Washington is in that unique situation because the Jazz game was rescheduled after the original meeting Jan. 23 was postponed because of a snow storm.

The Wizards are 3 1/2 games back of Charlotte and Chicago for the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot and acquired Markieff Morris at the trade deadline to help their playoff push. Morris scored six points in 22 minutes in his debut.

After turmoil surrounded his tenure with Phoenix, Morris is happy to be reunited with former Suns teammates Marcin Gortat and Jared Dudley.

'It's just guys that actually know me and not on the outside looking in,' Morris said. 'Getting compliments from those guys means a lot.'

**TheGame** · 02-20-2016, 07:34 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/20

Preview: Bucks (22-33) at Hawks (31-25)

Date: February 20, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

While he still believes the Atlanta Hawks can rediscover last season's form, coach Mike Budenholzer knows at some point his players have to start showing it on the floor.

After a troubling defeat to open the second half, the Hawks will try to avoid their longest home skid in nearly two years and deal the Milwaukee Bucks a seventh straight road loss Saturday night.

With the club far off last year's record-setting 60-win pace, Al Horford and Jeff Teague were the subject of trade rumors prior to Thursday's deadline before Atlanta opted to stick with its core.

The Hawks (31-25) did little to instill faith in a potential surge upon returning from the All-Star break. They committed 21 turnovers and lost sole possession of the Southeast Division lead with Friday's 115-111 home defeat to a Miami team that played without All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

"I do believe in the character of our group, but at some point it has to happen on the court," Budenholzer said after Atlanta lost for the eighth time in 13 games. "That character has to come out on the court. It has to come out in the games, and I believe it will."

It'll have to if the Hawks hope to avoid losing three straight at home for the first time since March 2014. They haven't had much trouble there versus Milwaukee, winning 12 of the past 14 meetings.

The Bucks (22-33) have dropped six in a row and 23 of 28 on the road. They've averaged 93.3 points - well below their 98.1 on the season - during their away skid.

Milwaukee couldn't hold on to a 13-point third-quarter lead as its two-game winning streak ended in Friday's 98-95 home loss to Charlotte. It committed nine of its 22 turnovers in the fourth.

"We have to take care of the ball," coach Jason Kidd said. "We get offensive rebounds, and we throw it out of bounds. We have to be able to take care of the ball to get a shot in."

Jabari Parker had season highs of 23 points and 11 rebounds, Middleton added 20 points but also had a team-high six turnovers, and Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 18 with 11 boards.

Antetokounmpo has averaged 18.2 points and 8.3 rebounds in his last 16 games. He's also been tough on Atlanta, scoring 21.7 per game on 57.1 percent shooting in the past three meetings.

The third-year forward led the way with 28 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks in a 108-101 overtime home win in the first matchup Jan. 15. Middleton also came up big with 26 points, though he's scuffled with 7.3 per game on 30.6 percent shooting in three career trips to Atlanta.

Paul Millsap finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds in that contest, while Horford contributed 18 and eight. They'll look to bounce back after totaling 26 points on 8-of-24 shooting against the Heat.

Teague has averaged 21.3 points while hitting 10 of 21 from 3-point range in his last four games, but he's totaled 17 on 6-of-21 shooting with eight turnovers in his past two versus Milwaukee.

Jerryd Bayless remains out for the Bucks due to a sprained knee, while Kirk Hinrich, obtained from Chicago on Thursday, is expected to make his debut with the Hawks.

**TheGame** · 02-20-2016, 07:34 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/20

Preview: Knicks (23-33) at Timberwolves (17-38)

Date: February 20, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The New York Knicks hit a new low during a dismal stretch this week, but maybe a matchup against one of the NBA's worst teams will help.

Of course, it could also result in another rock bottom.

The reeling Knicks seek only their second win in the last month when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.

New York (23-33) followed six straight losses before the All-Star break with Friday's 109-98 defeat at Brooklyn, the club's seventh straight road loss to the Eastern Conference's second-worst team.

The seven-game overall skid is the Knicks' longest of the season and drops them to 1-11 since a 118-111 overtime win over Utah on Jan. 20.

The drought resulted in the firing of Derek Fisher on Feb. 8, though interim coach Kurt Rambis insists the Knicks still have playoff aspirations this season. They have plummeted six games back of Charlotte and Chicago for the eighth seed in the East.

Performances like Friday's won't help as New York's 16 turnovers turned into 21 points for the Nets, who dominated inside with a 48-32 scoring advantage in the paint.

"That's the game right there," said Carmelo Anthony, who finished with 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists. "We can't be giving away games like this. It's crunch time now."

It's hard to pinpoint if it's the offense or defense that has resulted in New York's demise. The Knicks' 42.2 field-goal percentage and 97.1 points per game since Jan. 22 each rank toward the bottom of the league, and their opponents are shooting 46.4 percent in that stretch, including 40.8 from 3-point range.

New York might soon get a shot in the arm offensively, but it won't come in this game. The Knicks announced Friday that they plan to sign guard Jimmer Fredette to a 10-day contract on Monday.

Fredette is a former college player of the year at BYU and has played well for New York's Development League team, though he has averaged just 6 points for three NBA teams since Milwaukee took him with the 10th pick of the 2011 draft.

Rambis has lost both his games since taking over for Fisher and faces his former team on Saturday. He coached the Timberwolves to a 32-132 record from 2009-11.

Minnesota (17-38) entered the break with wins in three of four games but returned with Friday's 109-104 loss at Memphis.

The Timberwolves, who have won four of six at Target Center, have averaged 109.7 points over their previous six games overall but allowed 110.5 in the same span.

Turnovers also doomed the Wolves in their latest loss with their 22 against the Grizzlies marking their most since matching that number Dec. 26.

"We were a little careless with the ball and the outlet passes," said Zach LaVine, who made 4 of 6 from 3-point range and scored 22 points. "We were making some dumb passes. You know, just not the right ones."

The Knicks' 107-102 win at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 16 snapped Minnesota's two-game streak in this series.

Anthony fell one assist shy of a triple-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds, while Ricky Rubio had 12 assists, 10 boards, nine points and eight steals for the Wolves.

Arron Afflalo had 29 points for the Knicks, and Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota.

**TheGame** · 02-20-2016, 07:35 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/20

Preview: Warriors (48-5) at Clippers (36-18)

Date: February 20, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Clippers acquired Jeff Green prior to the trade deadline hoping he will eventually make a difference in a potential playoff series with the Golden State Warriors.

They will get a glimpse of that Saturday night when Green makes his Clippers debut against a Warriors team coming off a stunning loss.

The Clippers (36-18) are highly unlikely to overcome a 12 1/2-game deficit and catch Golden State (48-5) in the Pacific Division. However, they're looking ahead to the postseason, where they could meet as early as the second round.

Getting Green for Lance Stephenson and a draft pick in a trade-deadline deal with Memphis on Thursday was done for exactly that reason.

"I really wanted more length," coach Doc Rivers told the team's official website. "When you look at the teams we have to beat, we need to get longer, more athletic, and we need to increase our shooting. I think with Jeff we did all three of those things."

Green was averaging 19.9 points and 5.3 rebounds while coming off the bench in his final eight games with the Grizzlies. He's capable of playing either forward position - a huge help with Blake Griffin still out with a broken hand.

"As a player, as a competitor, all I want to do is win," said Green, who played under Rivers in Boston from 2011-13. "That's what this organization is about, and that's what this team's trying to do. I'm happy to be a part of that."

Green joins a team on a 20-5 run, with all but one win coming without Griffin.

The Clippers turned in perhaps their most impressive performance of that stretch Thursday, getting 28 points and 12 assists from Chris Paul in a 105-86 rout of San Antonio.

Paul is averaging 24.1 points over the past eight games.

"Chris' leadership has been through the roof," said guard Jamal Crawford, who is averaging 21.0 points in a seven-game stretch, 7.4 higher than his season average.

Paul has scored 28.7 on 53.7 percent shooting in his last three matchups with Golden State, including 35 in a 124-117 home loss Nov. 19.

That was the Clippers' fourth straight loss in the series, and the Warriors have scored 113.0 points and hit 45.5 percent from 3-point range during that span.

Golden State is trying to avoid consecutive losses for the first time since April after it was blown out 137-105 at Portland on Friday - its most lopsided defeat in nearly four years.

'This is the NBA, so there's going to be nights where the other team gets hot,' said coach Steve Kerr, whose team committed 13 of its 20 turnovers in the third quarter. "I'm OK with the other team making shots. What I'm not OK with is losing our poise in the third quarter.'

Stephen Curry reached 30 points for the 24th time this season, scoring 31 with 7 of 13 from long range. The league's leading scorer is averaging 33.8 points over the past five games, and his 29.8 season average is the highest by a Warrior since Ricky Barry's 30.6 in 1974-75.

Curry has totaled 71 points in two season meetings with the Clippers, including 40 at Los Angeles in November.

Draymond Green, who could find himself matched up with Jeff Green, fell two assists shy of a triple-double Friday. He finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high nine turnovers.

Green had 19 points, nine assists and six boards in the last meeting with the Clippers.

**TheGame** · 02-20-2016, 07:35 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/20

NBA Odds: Saturday, February 20 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews

The trade deadline was pretty much a dud. The Chicago Bulls were rumored to be shopping All-Star Pau Gasol. Instead they traded 82-year-old backup guard Kirk Hinrich. The Houston Rockets were shopping Dwight Howard. They dealt Donatas Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton. The Atlanta Hawks surely were going to trade either Jeff Teague or Al Horford. They instead sent away Shelvin Mack. Three title contenders appeared to make solid secondary moves with Cleveland getting stretch forward Channing Frye from Orlando, Oklahoma City acquiring Randy Foye from Denver, and the LA Clippers landing Jeff Green from Memphis while dumping the headache that is known as Lance Stephenson (addition by subtraction there). The impending huge rise of the salary cap had most of the GMs around the league standing pat and hoping they can sign guys who will hit free agency like Gasol, Howard and Horford. There could be north of 20 teams able to offer a max contract this offseason. So once all that shakes out, I do think there will be plenty of trading action this summer.

Bucks at Hawks (-8.5, 207)

Milwaukee hosted Charlotte on Friday and Atlanta hosted Miami. The Bucks and Hawks have played only once, with Milwaukee winning 108-101 in overtime at home on Jan. 15. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Khris Middleton scored 26 points and Greg Monroe and Michael Carter-Williams added 15 points apiece for the Bucks. Both Monroe and MCW were rumored on the market ahead of Thursday's deadline but stayed put. They are coming off the bench of late. Paul Millsap had 23 points and Horford 18 for Atlanta in that first meeting. The Hawks better hope Horford re-signs this offseason or it was a big mistake not to accept even 50 cents on the dollar for him. Teague remains under contract.

Key trends: The road team is 8-2 against the spread in the past 10 meetings. The "over/under" has gone under in four of the past five meetings.

Early lean: Hawks and under.

Wizards at Heat (TBA)

Washington hosted Detroit on Friday, meaning this is a very rare third game in three nights for the Wizards; their game Thursday vs. Utah was a makeup game. Miami was in Atlanta on Friday with Dwyane Wade a game-time call. The Heat made a couple of minor moves this week that won't affect the team on the court but will save ownership several million dollars by getting the club under the luxury tax. Washington probably got the best player traded ahead of the deadline in forward Markieff Morris from Phoenix. He had been a very unhappy camper with the Suns since the team traded his twin brother to Detroit this past offseason. But Markieff Morris had been playing much better under Phoenix interim coach Earl Watson and has a pretty reasonable contract. On the season, he averages 11.6 points and 5.2 rebounds. Will Morris be enough to get the Wiz back into the playoffs? They didn't give up anything of current value to get him. It's the final meeting of the regular season between these two. Washington leads 2-1 and won the game in Miami 114-103.

Key trends: The Wizards are 2-5 ATS in the past seven in Miami. The over is 6-2 in the past eight meetings.

Early lean: Wait on Wade, although the Wizards should be totally gassed and might sit a guy or two themselves.

Knicks at Timberwolves (-2.5, 204.5)

New York was in Brooklyn on Friday and Minnesota in Memphis likely again without center Nikola Pekovic. Both teams were quiet at the deadline. The Knicks don't have any assets other than Carmelo Anthony, who has a no-trade clause, and untouchable rookie Kristaps Porzingis. Minnesota was hoping to deal guard Kevin Martin but might just buy him out now. The Wolves could deal Ricky Rubio this summer. It's the last time this season we see the NBA's two best rookies face off in Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns and Porzingis. That order is the same in which the NBA Rookie of the Year voting will finish as well unless Towns gets hurt soon. On Dec. 16, the Knicks beat the visiting Wolves 107-102. Porzingis had 11 points, seven blocks and six rebounds, while Towns had 25 points and 10 rebounds. Arron Afflalo led the Knicks with 29 points, and Anthony had 20 points and 15 rebounds.

Key trends: The underdog is 5-2-1 ATS in the past eight meetings. The over is 4-1 in the past five.

Early lean: Wolves and over.

Warriors at Clippers (+4.5, 221)

Obviously Golden State had no need to do anything at the deadline. L.A. certainly upgraded with Green over Stephenson. Green can play both small forward and as a stretch four. Green is averaging 12.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists this season while shooting 43.1 percent from the field and 30.9 percent from 3-point range. I'm not sure he was worth a future first-round pick as well (protected 2019), but the Clippers are in win-now mode. This is the Saturday night ABC game and will have live betting at sportsbooks. Tough second of a back-to-back for the Warriors as they were in Portland on Friday. And really, this is a rare game the rest of the way you can actually see them losing. The Clippers were one of two teams not to play Friday. They beat visiting San Antonio 105-86 on Thursday. Chris Paul had 28 points and 12 assists. The Clips got a huge break when the Spurs' Kawhi Leonard was a surprise scratch. Golden State has won two high-scoring games vs. the Clippers this season but had to rally from a 23-point deficit to take the first one in early November. The Warriors have won four straight in the series overall and two in a row in Los Angeles.

Key trends: The road team is 4-0 ATS in the past four meetings. The over is 9-3 in the past 12 in L.A.

Early lean: Clippers and over.

**TheGame** · 02-20-2016, 07:35 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/20

NBA

Saturday's hot teams
-- Washington won three of last four games (7-3 last 10AU). Miami won seven of its last ten games (4-7 last 11HF). .
-- Minnesota won three of its last five games (3-8HF).
-- Warriors won 11 of their last 12 games (3-5 last 8AF). Clippers won four of their last five games (1-2HU).

Cold teams
-- Milwaukee lost eight of last 11 games (1-5 last 6AU). Atlanta lost three of its last four games (5-3 last 8HF).
-- Knicks lost their last seven games (7-5 last 12AU).

Series records
-- Wizards won five of last six games with Miami.
-- Hawks won eight of last ten games with Milwaukee.
-- Knicks won six of last nine games with Minnesota.
-- Clippers lost their last four games with Golden State.

Totals
-- Three of last four Miami games stayed under total.
-- Four of last five Atlanta-Milwaukee games stayed under.
-- Over is 7-0-1 in Minnesota games if it played night before.
-- Four of last five Clipper games satyed under the total.

Back/backs
-- Washington is playing third night in row because of a makeup game Thursday; they're 5-3 vs spread last eight times they played nite before. Miami is 5-4 vs spread if it played night before.
-- Bucks are 9-5 vs spread if they played nite before, 0-3 in last three. Atlanta is 3-7 vs spread last ten times they played night before.
-- Knicks lost three of last four if they played night before. Minnesota is 4-4 vs spread if it played night before (1-7SU).
-- Golden State is 9-3 vs spread if it played the night before.

**TheGame** · 02-20-2016, 09:12 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/20

NBA

Saturday, February 20

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Trend Report
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7:30 PM
MILWAUKEE vs. ATLANTA
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Milwaukee's last 5 games when playing Atlanta
Milwaukee is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Atlanta is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Milwaukee
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games when playing Milwaukee

7:30 PM
WASHINGTON vs. MIAMI
Washington is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Washington's last 16 games on the road
Miami is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Miami's last 5 games at home

8:00 PM
NEW YORK vs. MINNESOTA
New York is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games when playing Minnesota
New York is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota's last 5 games at home
Minnesota is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home

8:30 PM
GOLDEN STATE vs. LA CLIPPERS
Golden State is 3-7 SU in their last 10 games when playing on the road against LA Clippers
Golden State is 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing LA Clippers
LA Clippers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 9 of the LA Clippers last 12 games when playing at home against Golden State

Announcement

NBA Betting Info. 2/20

NBA Betting Info. 2/20

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