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**TheGame** · 02-21-2016, 07:10 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/21

Preview: Cavaliers (39-14) at Thunder (40-15)

Date: February 21, 2016 3:30 PM EDT

Cleveland could be without its best perimeter defender, and its trade deadline acquisition has yet to join the team. Even so, the status of the Cavaliers' roster for a visit to Oklahoma City might be considered a net positive.

That's because Iman Shumpert missed the Cavaliers' first meeting with the Thunder and Channing Frye was still in Orlando, the difference Sunday being Kyrie Irving has long since been back and found his form.

Shumpert has missed practice time while dealing with a sprained left shoulder sustained in Thursday's 106-95 home win over Chicago, and his status hasn't yet been determined. He would typically spend plenty of time on Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, while Frye is awaiting medical clearance. Frye, who was acquired Thursday, missed the 2012-13 season with a heart condition, but Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said there's "no concern at all" he won't be cleared to play.

The piece Oklahoma City (40-15) is likely most concerned with is Irving, whose 24-game absence to start the season while recovering from a knee injury ended one game after the Cavs' 104-100 home win over the Thunder on Dec. 17. There's also the matter of Lue having taken over for David Blatt.

"They're a different team now so we have to be prepared to play the right way defensively," Westbrook told the team's official website.

He's likely referring to Cleveland's 12-of-29 mark from 3-point range, an area where Irving can do some damage. The point guard has averaged 26.0 points on 53.5 percent shooting in his last nine games, including 9 of 17 from long range in the last three.

It's helped Cleveland (39-14) to a four-game winning streak, over which LeBron James has also been strong with 25.5 points on 54.5 percent with 9.5 assists, 7.2 rebounds and a triple-double while flirting with two more.

Cleveland has won four of the last six meetings and both with James on the floor since his return to Cleveland, though he missed the one played in Oklahoma City - a 103-94 Thunder win on Dec. 11, 2014. James had 33 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds in this season's meeting and has scored at least 33 in his last five against Oklahoma City.

"It's just a lot of the little things," coach Billy Donovan said. "They got us in transition for several points with the floor not being balanced. They got us on some different actions. Their ability to move LeBron to the four gives you a different look. We'll try to take things from that game and try to utilize them and do things better."

Friday's 101-98 home loss to Indiana provided little encouragement, though the Thunder have won nine of their last 10 home games and haven't lost consecutive contests of any kind since Nov. 30 and Dec. 3, going 29-7 since.

They acquired Randy Foye in a trade from Denver at the deadline in an attempt to add scoring from the shooting guard spot, but for James, it unsurprisingly still comes down to two names.

"I know they got two dynamic, great basketball players in Westbrook and KD, and they have a great core behind those guys that's been there for a while," James said.

Like Irving and James, the duo has been plenty efficient lately with Westbrook averaging 24.8 points on 50.3 percent shooting with 12.4 assists and 9.0 rebounds over the last nine games, including two triple-doubles. Durant has averaged 32.8 points on 51.0 percent over the same period.

"They're a matchup problem," James said. "Like I said, when you have two guys that can give you 40 or 50 on any given night, it's a matchup problem. For our team, we just have to defend the best way we can, try to make it tough on those guys and live with the result."

**TheGame** · 02-21-2016, 07:10 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/21

Preview: Pelicans (21-33) at Pistons (27-28)

Date: February 21, 2016 3:30 PM EDT

While the Detroit Pistons are banking on a flurry of trade-deadline moves leading to a playoff berth, the New Orleans Pelicans hope the ones they didn't make can help them get there.

After earning a much-needed win in their return from the All-Star break, the Pelicans attempt to continue their recent success against the slumping Pistons on Sunday.

The teams took far different approaches to Thursday's trade deadline, with Detroit among the most aggressive clubs and New Orleans largely standing pat in hopes of maintaining its improved play over the past month.

The Pelicans' decision to hold on to Ryan Anderson paid off in their first game back from the break, as the impending unrestricted free agent scored 26 points to complement big efforts from Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday in Friday's 121-114 win over Philadelphia.

"At this point for us we want to win," Anderson said. "We want wins and we want to build a winning stretch of games, and a winning culture. We think of this as a new season and a new start so this is a good way to start this second half of the season."

Despite going 10-7 since Jan. 13 and winning three of four, New Orleans (21-33) faces an uphill climb to garner a second straight playoff appearance. The Pelicans sit 12th in the Western Conference, six games behind Houston and Utah for eighth place.

Detroit (27-28) looms just 1 1-2 back of Charlotte and Chicago for the final two spots in the East, prompting coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy to make two major moves. He acquired forward Tobias Harris from Orlando for Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova, then traded a protected first-round pick to Houston for forward Donatas Motiejunas and veteran guard Marcus Thornton.

"You're going to have to take some risk in order to get better," Van Gundy said. "There are no deals where there's no risk and we feel like this was a risk we could handle."

Harris had a team-high 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting in an impressive debut, though it wasn't enough to prevent the Pistons from a season high-tying fourth straight loss in Friday's 98-86 defeat at Washington.

Thornton, who averaged 10.0 points in 18.8 minutes per game with the Rockets, is expected to debut Sunday and Motiejunas is nearing a return from a back injury that's sidelined him since Dec. 31. Both will be counted on to boost one of the league's least productive benches at 26.7 points per game.

Though Detroit is struggling offensively, averaging 89.0 points over the last three games, its defense may hold the key to ending a seven-game series losing streak. The Pelicans have won five straight and 10 of 11 when scoring 100 points or more but are 0-25 when held under that number.

The Pistons provided little resistance in a 115-99 loss at New Orleans on Jan. 21, with the Pelicans amassing 60 points in the paint and recording their second-highest field goal rate this season at 53.5 percent.

Davis had 32 points that day, and the All-Star is averaging 27.7 over a seven-game stretch after scoring 34 against Philadelphia. Holiday added 24 points and 12 assists Friday, and he's averaging 23.8 and 9.0 over his last four.

The Pelicans have won three straight in Detroit and haven't lost to the Pistons since Feb. 4, 2012.

**TheGame** · 02-21-2016, 07:10 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/21

Preview: Spurs (46-9) at Suns (14-41)

Date: February 21, 2016 5:00 PM EDT

Manu Ginobili's injury prior to the All-Star break shortened San Antonio's bench before its depth became further depleted when Kawhi Leonard couldn't play in the first two following the hiatus.

In customary Spurs fashion, they've won far more often than not despite the setbacks.

Leonard is questionable for Sunday night's contest in Phoenix as the Spurs continue their rodeo road trip looking to beat the Suns for a seventh straight time.

Ginobili underwent testicular surgery Feb. 4 after being accidentally kneed the night before by New Orleans' Ryan Anderson, and he recently wrote in an Argentine newspaper that there's no timetable for his return. The Spurs (46-9) won the first four without him as part of a six-game winning streak prior to the break.

San Antonio has gone 21-3 since the day after Christmas, with the latest defeat a 105-86 setback against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday. Leonard sat out with tightness in his left calf, then missed Friday's 119-113 win over the Lakers as Tony Parker finished with 25 points and Tim Duncan added 12 and 13 boards.

The Spurs said Leonard, who averaged 24.2 points in the five games before sitting out, could return against the Suns (14-41). Kyle Anderson has scored 22 points while shooting 11 of 20 from the field starting in place of the All-Star.

Anderson played nearly 30 minutes against the Lakers to help the Spurs overcome the media craze of Kobe Bryant and Duncan matching up for the final time.

"(Friday) wasn't about (Bryant)," Duncan said. "This was about us trying to get back on track. We came here to win a game."

San Antonio's streak against Phoenix includes victories in the last five by an average of 23.6 points while handily winning each of the three meetings this season.

Duncan and Parker sat out the last matchup Jan. 21, but Leonard scored 21 points in a 117-89 road win.

The Suns should have a tough time snapping that skid even if Leonard can't go. They've lost a season-worst 10 straight after falling 116-110 to Houston on Friday. This will be the last of a seven-game homestand, and they've gone 2-13 at home since Dec. 20.

Phoenix traded Markieff Morris to Washington at the deadline in a deal that netted Kris Humphries, who finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds off the bench in his debut. He missed 19 of his last 20 games with the Wizards because of a knee injury.

"I've always been kind of a hustle player - rebound, defend, run the floor," Humphries said. "I can bring that to this team and just play hard and do whatever the coaches ask me to do."

Eric Bledsoe is out for the season and Brandon Knight has missed the last 12 with a groin injury, but Knight reportedly is close to returning. Interim coach Earl Watson praised reserve Ronnie Price despite his scoreless return from sitting out the previous 16 with a sprained toe.

"His presence calmed us," Watson said. "It just shows that we need a point guard on the court constantly. Until we get Brandon Knight back, we have to find ways to stay within the game."

Mirza Teletovic, who sat out the last matchup with the Spurs, scored a season-high 25 points against the Rockets and is averaging 17.2 over his last five.

Rookie Devin Booker scored 24 against San Antonio last month and is hitting 44.5 percent from the field on the season, but he's shooting 32.1 percent over his last five.

**TheGame** · 02-21-2016, 07:11 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/21

Preview: Celtics (32-24) at Nuggets (22-33)

Date: February 21, 2016 5:00 PM EDT

Slow and sluggish coming out of the All-Star break, the Boston Celtics turned in their worst offensive performance in six weeks.

The Celtics go for a bounce-back effort Sunday when they try to beat the Denver Nuggets for a fourth straight time.

Boston (32-24) entered the break averaging 113.1 points during a 10-2 run, becoming a factor in the Atlantic Division race. The Celtics are 4 1/2 games back of first-place Toronto but failed to close that gap in falling 111-93 at Utah on Friday.

With their momentum failing to carry through the layoff, they shot 37.0 percent and went 7 for 25 from beyond the arc. It was Boston's worst effort since shooting 35.7 percent and missing 20 of 25 from long range in a 101-92 loss at Chicago on Jan. 7.

The Celtics allowed the Jazz to shoot 54.4 percent, marking the third straight game a Boston opponent has hit more than half its shots.

"We can't make excuses, everyone had a layoff," guard Isaiah Thomas said. "We were just slow to everything offensively, and defensively we just weren't there. Every time we play like that we end up losing and somehow we have to change that."

Thomas was the club's lone All-Star last week and leads the team with career highs of 21.6 points and 6.6 assists per game. He had 25 points Friday but shot just 7 of 19 after going 12 for 21 with 36 points and 11 assists in a 139-134 overtime win against the Los Angeles Clippers prior to the break Feb. 10.

Avery Bradley had averaged 20.3 points over the prior three games before being limited to 12 against the Jazz. A matchup with Denver should be just what he needs since he's scored 20.7 per game while shooting 54.3 percent shooting, including 10 of 20 from 3-point range, during Boston's three-game winning streak in the series.

Bradley scored 27 in a 111-103 home victory against the Nuggets on Jan. 27.

Denver (22-33) dropped its first game following the break with a 116-110 loss at Sacramento on Friday. The Nuggets surrendered 70 points in the first half, four shy of their season high set in a loss to NBA-leading Golden State on Nov. 6.

"We are not good enough to defend for two quarters. It has to be for 48 minutes. We did not do that (Friday) and that's disappointing," coach Mike Malone said.

Danilo Gallinari is averaging 23.7 points over the past six games after scoring 27 against the Kings. The forward, whose career-high 19.9 points per game lead the Nuggets, scored 23 at Boston last month.

Will Barton also scored 23 after totaling seven in his previous four matchups. The guard is averaging 19.0 points over the past three home games.

Joffrey Lauvergne is trying to improve upon his career-high 22 points Friday. The center was five shy of matching his total from the six prior games following a three-game absence due to a right toe infection. That stretch included sitting out the visit to Boston.

**TheGame** · 02-21-2016, 07:11 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/21

Preview: Pacers (29-25) at Magic (24-29)

Date: February 21, 2016 6:00 PM EDT

Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova gave promising signs they could aid Orlando's playoff push in their debuts for the Magic.

The two veterans would appear to have a more difficult task Sunday night when they try to help end Orlando's lengthy skid against the Indiana Pacers.

Jennings and Ilyasova, acquired from Detroit on Tuesday for Tobias Harris, combined for 34 points in 47-plus minutes off the bench in a 110-104 overtime victory against Dallas on Friday.

Nikola Vucevic had 21 points and 12 rebounds while Victor Oladipo had a career-best 14 boards to go with his 17 points.

"It's definitely good to come here and get the first win. We've got a tough one against Indiana, who has been playing really well," said Jennings, who averaged 6.8 points in 23 games for the Pistons. "We've got to be consistent. That's the main thing, being consistent in the last 30 games."

Orlando, 3 1/2 games out of the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot, has won three of four since its 2-15 start to 2016, with two of those victories coming in overtime.

The Magic (24-29) will next face a team that's beaten them six straight times and in 10 of the last 11 meetings. The Pacers (29-25) have earned two of those victories this season, including a 95-86 win in Orlando in the last matchup Jan. 6.

The Magic have averaged 85.6 points while shooting 39.9 percent in the past 11 meetings - their worst totals against any opponent in that span - and have committed 39 turnovers in this season's two losses.

"They've been really physical with us. They've slapped balls out of hands in the paint, and we haven't reacted that well," Orlando coach Scott Skiles said. "(On Friday night), as the game got more physical, we actually rose to that challenge. ... We need a game where we respond to (Indiana's physicality)."

Like the Magic, Indiana has won three of four and was victorious in its return from the All-Star break Friday, 101-98 in Oklahoma City. The Pacers rallied from a seven-point deficit in the final 2 1/2 minutes, and Monta Ellis made the go-ahead 3-pointer with 18.8 seconds to go.

Ellis finished with 27 points, one more than in his final three games before the break combined. Ian Mahinmi tied a career high with 19 points and had 11 rebounds.

"Hopefully, this is a springboard victory," coach Frank Vogel said. "What we talked about before the game is an opportunity to get the best win of the year, to have a momentum-building victory to start the final 29 games, this stretch run."

Indiana has won two of three on the road after losing five of its previous six, and the Pacers will try to add their fourth consecutive win in Orlando, which would match their longest streak there.

The Magic are 3-2 at home since a season-worst five-game skid, which began with the loss to Indiana. Vucevic will seek to keep his team heading in the right direction while improving on his 22.8-point average in the past four games.

He's totaled 44 points while shooting 61.3 percent in the past two home matchups with Indiana.

Ellis has 44 points and 20 assists while shooting 51.5 percent in his last two games in Orlando.

**TheGame** · 02-21-2016, 07:11 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/21

Preview: Grizzlies (32-22) at Raptors (35-18)

Date: February 21, 2016 6:00 PM EDT

The Toronto Raptors had another uncharacteristically poor defensive effort in their first game after the All-Star break, but a return home could get them back into the groove.

The Raptors seek an eight straight win at the Air Canada Centre, where they haven't played in three weeks, as they face the new-look Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night.

Toronto (35-18) fell flat in its return to action after hosting the All-Star game with Friday's 116-106 loss to a Chicago team which had lost five straight. The Raptors gave up 37 points in the third quarter - matching their second-most allowed in any period this season - and let the Bulls shoot 51.6 percent.

"We had no semblance of defensive presence," coach Dwane Casey said. "... If we think we're going to go anywhere playing like that, we're kidding ourselves."

Toronto caused only nine turnovers after forcing just seven in its final game before the break, a 117-112 loss to Minnesota on Feb. 10. The Raptors, among the league leaders with 97.7 points allowed per game, are looking to avoid giving up more than 110 points in three consecutive games for the first time since March 2011.

They had won 14 of 15 before losing the last two games to cap a 3-3 stretch on the road.

The Raptors will play at Air Canada for the first time since beating Detroit on Jan. 30 and will have 10 of their next 12 games there. Toronto is riding its longest home win streak since an eight-game run in 2009-10.

The Atlantic Division leaders face a Grizzlies team seeking a season-high fourth consecutive road win, but the previous three opponents were all out of playoff position. Memphis (32-22) has lost its last two visits to Toronto but won the most recent meeting 92-86 on Jan. 21 last season, though half of the top six in the Grizzlies' rotation from that day are no longer with the team.

Marc Gasol, who averaged 24.0 points in last season's two meetings, has a fractured right foot that might keep him out the rest of the season. Courtney Lee was shipped to Charlotte in a three-team deal Tuesday that brought Chris Andersen and P.J. Hairston to the Grizzlies, and Jeff Green was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers shortly before Thursday's trade deadline for Lance Stephenson and a protected first-round pick.

Even with all the changes, and playing their second game since losing Gasol, the Grizzlies returned from the break to beat Minnesota 109-104 on Friday.

"I thought every guy who played tonight tried to bring energy to the game, brought a good spirit to the game," coach Dave Joerger said. "If we play that hard, we'll get some results we like."

While Andersen and Hairston combined for just six points in 18 minutes off the bench, Mike Conley stepped up with 25 points. He's averaging 24.0 and shooting 55.1 percent in the past three contests.

Stephenson could be available for the first time Sunday, though it's unclear if starting guard Tony Allen will play after leaving Friday's game with a sore left knee.

"It's next man up. Whoever can play will have to play. We've got to find a way to get it done," said forward Brandan Wright, who returned from a knee injury that had kept him out since Nov. 7.

Zach Randolph averaged 18.5 points and 15.5 rebounds last season against Toronto and enters Sunday amid one of his best stretches of the season, scoring 19.5 per game over the last four.

**TheGame** · 02-21-2016, 07:11 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/21

Preview: Hornets (28-26) at Nets (15-40)

Date: February 21, 2016 6:00 PM EDT

Charlotte Hornets star Kemba Walker hails from the Bronx, but he hasn't been too comfortable in Brooklyn.

Walker seeks his first win on the road against the Brooklyn Nets franchise Sunday night as the Hornets search for a season-high fifth straight victory.

Charlotte (28-26) can win five in a row for the first time since March 1-8, with this four-game run keyed by Walker's 25.8 points per game.

The five-game win streak in March included a 115-91 rout at Brooklyn (15-40) in a game Walker missed after knee surgery. That contest ended Charlotte's six-game road slide in this series - all since Walker joined the league in 2011-12 - and included an 0-4 mark in Brooklyn.

The rims at Barclays Center haven't been kind to Walker, who is shooting 29.5 percent and averaging 8.8 points there. His road average of 10.2 points in six games against the Nets is his lowest versus an Eastern Conference foe.

Walker scored a game-high 25 and Cody Zeller added a season-high 23 in Friday's 98-95 victory at Milwaukee. Marvin Williams finished with 15 points, Jeremy Lamb scored 14, Jeremy Lin had a season-high four steals and Al Jefferson scored six and grabbed five boards in his first game since Dec. 28 after arthroscopic knee surgery.

'Everybody made plays. Al made big plays. Jeremy Lin made big plays,' Walker said. 'Everybody contributed to the win."

The Hornets will debut former Nets guard Courtney Lee, acquired from Memphis on Tuesday in a three-team deal that included Miami. Lee, expected to join the starting lineup, averaged 10.0 points this season for the Grizzlies and shot 37.0 percent on 3-pointers.

'He's smart and dependable and doesn't make a lot of mistakes,' coach Steve Clifford said. 'He's a good spot-up 3-point shooter and he actually is a really good mid-range shooter, which is his biggest strength offensively.'

Lee's last game was ironically at Brooklyn as he scored 10 in a 109-90 rout by Memphis on Feb. 10.

Charlotte's game Friday was its first since announcing that oft-injured former No. 2 overall pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist would undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. The Hornets trailed by as many as 13 points in the second half before prevailing to open a five-game trip.

'It was a gritty win for us, especially coming off the All-Star break,' Zeller said. 'We needed this one to get going. Five away games here to start the break. We picked it up and found every energy we could in that fourth quarter.'

Brooklyn won for the third time in five games with Friday's 109-98 home victory over New York. Brook Lopez matched a season high with 33 points.

The Nets played their first game since hiring general manager Sean Marks and the day after their first practice in Brooklyn after previously training in New Jersey.

'We're 100 percent the Brooklyn Nets now,' Lopez said. 'It's an exciting feeling to have everything situated out here. We're completely in New York and we obviously had a first, very positive step forward tonight.'

Charlotte won 116-111 at home over Brooklyn on Nov. 18 behind Nicolas Batum's 24 points and eight assists.

The Hornets signed Jorge Gutierrez to a 10-day contract Saturday. The guard played a total of 25 games for the Nets over the previous two seasons.

**TheGame** · 02-21-2016, 07:11 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/21

Preview: 76ers (8-46) at Mavericks (29-27)

Date: February 21, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The Dallas Mavericks let another game get away, and their grasp on a playoff spot is slipping as well.

A tough recent stretch has increased the urgency of a season-high six-game homestand the struggling Mavericks begin Sunday night against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Though still in position to reach the postseason, Dallas (29-27) has had its margin for error greatly reduced by losing five of six. The Mavericks own just a one-game edge on two teams tied for eighth in the Western Conference, Houston and charging Utah.

The Mavericks weren't playing especially well entering the All-Star break and were sluggish coming out of it, falling behind by 21 points late in the first quarter Friday in Orlando. They then tired late in losing 110-104 in their third straight overtime game and league-high ninth this season.

Dallas overcame its early deficit behind a franchise-record 19 3-pointers but couldn't hit shots down the stretch, going 7 of 24 in the fourth quarter and overtime while being outscored 31-17 over the final 14 minutes of regulation.

'It's a long game and you've got outlast a team like this and we were unable to do it,' said Dallas coach Rick Carlisle. 'Frankly the group we have is not doing a good job finishing games.'

Playing nine of their next 10 at American Airlines Center could help the Mavericks get back on track, though they've lost their last three there. Dallas hasn't dropped four straight at home since Dec. 20, 2013-Jan. 5, 2014.

The Mavericks don't seem to be in much danger of matching that skid considering Philadelphia (8-46) is a league-worst 3-25 on the road and has lost seven of eight overall. The 76ers did play Dallas tough Nov. 16, however, leading by one with four minutes left before the Mavericks rallied for a 92-86 win.

Philadelphia outscored the Mavericks 48-24 in the paint and appears to have an advantage there with youngsters Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel, coming off a season-high 24 points in Friday's 121-114 loss at New Orleans. The Sixers' 45.1 points per game in the lane ranks fourth in the NBA.

Dallas has allowed opponents to convert 60.1 percent of their attempts at the rim, among the NBA's worst marks, and has been outscored 196-110 in the paint over its last four.

While the Mavericks have struggled to defend inside, they've been on target from the outside. They're 45 of 108 on 3-pointers over their last three games and shot 46.3 percent (19 of 41) against the Magic.

Chandler Parsons is 14 of 23 over that stretch and went 6 of 7 in a 24-point effort against Orlando. Deron Williams finished 5 of 9 while scoring 25 and is averaging 23.3 points over his last three.

The 76ers also have done well from the perimeter of late, making 27 of 62 attempts (43.5 percent) over their last two games. Robert Covington was 7 of 11 in recording a career-high 29 points in a 114-110 loss to Sacramento prior to the break and Nik Stauskas has hit 7 of his last 11 tries.

Philadelphia, last in the league in scoring (95.5 ppg), shot 52.6 percent overall against New Orleans but couldn't overcome a slow start of its own, with the Pelicans building a 69-47 lead late in the first half.

"They jumped us," coach Brett Brown said. "We haven't played in nine days. It felt like it, and looked like it."

The 76ers have lost six straight to the Mavericks and nine in a row in Dallas since a 93-89 win Jan. 29, 2005.

**TheGame** · 02-21-2016, 07:12 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/21

Preview: Lakers (11-45) at Bulls (28-26)

Date: February 21, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

Twice during his illustrious career Kobe Bryant flirted with joining the Chicago Bulls to follow in Michael Jordan's footsteps and add more championship banners to the six His Airness helped hang at the United Center.

He's never been shy about admitting his past desire to play in Chicago, either. But instead of changing the Bulls' history, Bryant remained with the Los Angeles Lakers both times and won the last two of his five championship rings with current Chicago big man Pau Gasol.

Bryant has played in Chicago fewer times than any other place heading into Sunday night's final trip to the Windy City, which he's said nearly became his home.

Before signing a seven-year deal as a free agent with the Lakers (11-45) in the summer of 2004, Bryant met with Bulls executive John Paxson and reportedly was close to threatening general manager Mitch Kupchak to engineer a sign-and-trade deal that would send him to the Bulls (28-26) or risk losing him for nothing.

Bryant then suffered through three disappointing seasons in Los Angeles following the deal and demanded a trade prior to 2007-08. He said in an interview in recent years that "Chicago was my No. 1 choice," and the clubs reportedly presented him with an agreed-upon deal that would've given Bryant his wish.

He scoffed at the fact then-Bulls standouts Luol Deng and Ben Gordon were included in the package and vetoed the trade thinking it would significantly deplete the Bulls' talent since he desired to play for a winner.

The Lakers acquired Gasol during the following season and lost in the Finals before winning the next two championships. Although everything worked out for Bryant, he's looking forward to his last trip to Chicago, a place he says has "a special significance to me personally."

His 14 games road games against the Bulls are his fewest against any team as a visitor during his 20-year career.

Bryant will play despite dislocating his right middle finger and returning after having it popped back in to place during Friday's 119-113 loss to San Antonio, the Lakers' fourth straight defeat. X-rays following the game showed there was no break.

He scored 25 points despite the setback and is averaging 24.9 over his last seven. Bryant, though, scored only 10 and shot 4 of 13 from the field in the first meeting with Chicago on Jan. 28, as Gasol finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in the Bulls' 114-91 victory.

Gasol, who played 6 1/2 years with Bryant in Los Angeles before signing with Chicago prior to last season, barely missed a triple-double Friday with 18 points, 11 boards and nine assists in a 116-106 home win over Toronto that snapped the Bulls' five-game skid.

Chicago hadn't won since Jimmy Butler suffered a sprained knee Feb. 5 at Denver, but Doug McDermott went 13 of 17 from the field and finished with a career-high 30 points off the bench.

'We needed that,' said Derrick Rose, who added 26 points and six assists. 'Doug came out and played aggressively.'

McDermott is averaging only 8.6 points on the season, but he's scored in double figures in five of his last seven. He had 15 while hitting 3 of 6 from 3-point range in the first meeting with the Lakers.

'It was a long time coming,' McDermott said. 'There's been a lot of ups and downs so far and I just stayed with it. It's just one game so I'm not going to get too high on myself, but it's definitely a good start for my confidence. ... Hopefully I can build off it.'

The Bulls have won seven of the last nine meetings, including the last four in Chicago. Bryant missed the previous four matchups before last month's meeting.

**TheGame** · 02-21-2016, 07:12 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/21

Preview: Jazz (27-27) at Trail Blazers (28-27)

Date: February 21, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

It's no surprise to the Utah Jazz how well Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers are playing.

The Trail Blazers have captured both meetings versus the Jazz with Lillard in the lineup, and these teams complete their season series with Sunday night's critical matchup in Portland.

Portland (28-27) has won four straight and nine of 10 after crushing league-leading Golden State 137-105 on Friday. Lillard scored a career-high 51 points with seven assists, six steals and no turnovers.

'It's a great feeling,' Lillard said. 'Especially against the best team in the league. I haven't scored 50 since ninth grade.'

The Trail Blazers have won two of three from the Jazz (27-27) this season and can claim the tiebreaker with a victory in this matchup of teams in contention for a playoff spot separated by one-half game.

Lillard sat out Portland's 109-96 loss at Utah on New Year's Eve with a foot injury. He has totaled 56 points in the two victories.

The first of those was a 108-92 rout Nov. 4, in which Lillard scored 35 and C.J. McCollum made 10 of 13 shots for 27. That was an early indication the Trail Blazers were a better team than many figured after losing LaMarcus Aldridge to San Antonio in free agency.

"I think our game with Portland earlier this year, when that game happened, people didn't really know who Portland was and we saw a glimpse I think of what they can be and what they are, and they've gotten even better," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said.

Lillard, who made 18 of 28 shots Friday with a career-best nine 3-pointers, is averaging 27.1 points over the last 10 games. McCollum is right on his average of 20.7 points in this stretch.

"They're playing as well as anybody in the league clearly, right, after (Friday)," Snyder said.

The first meeting was the only one of the three in which the Jazz had second-leading scorer Derrick Favors available. He had six points and 10 rebounds that night.

Favors had 23 and 10 in Friday's 111-93 home win over Boston one night after he scored 11 in a 103-89 defeat at Washington.

'I was just trying to be aggressive,' Favors said. 'I had a bad game in Washington and a lot of stuff was said, so I just wanted to come out and be aggressive and play my game.'

The Jazz have won eight of 10 as they seek to snap the Blazers' seven-game home win streak against Western Conference opponents.

The most recent game in that run was clearly the most impressive. Portland shot 53.6 percent and forced 20 turnovers in snapping the Warriors' 11-game win streak and handed them their worst loss. McCollum scored 21 points with seven assists.

"I think it gives us confidence in what we've been doing all along the last three weeks or so," Lillard said.

Utah center Rudy Gobert is averaging 13.2 points and 12.8 rebounds in a run of five straight double-doubles. He has 11 points, 17 boards and seven blocks in two games against the Blazers.

**TheGame** · 02-21-2016, 07:12 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/21

Think twice before fading LeBron when facing Durant
By ANDREW CALEY

LeBron James and Kevin Durant have been the face of the NBA for the better part of a decade and as they prepare to square off for the 21st time in their careers, the argument of who's the better player continues.

What isn't an argument, is who has been the better bet whenever the two superstars go head to head.

It's the "King" and it's not close.

James is 16-4 straight up and 14-6 against the spread all time when he faces off against Durant and he has been an even more dominant bet in recent matchups with Durant, going 9-1 SU/ATS in their last 10 meetings, including the last three in a row.

LeBron has had the luxury of having the better team in the majority of the meetings, as he has been favored in 14 of the 20 matchups. But facing that chalk hasn't been a problem for James, having gone 10-4 ATS as a favorite.

However, that won't be the case Sunday, as the Cavaliers are currently listed as 3.5-point road pups. When James has been a pup versus Durant, he is 4-2 ATS and is 3-0 ATS the last three times he's been the dog.

If Cleveland can pull off a straight up win Sunday, James will improve to 8-0 SU and 6-2 ATS as a member of the Cavs. (He was 9-4 SU/ATS as a member of the Heat).

**TheGame** · 02-21-2016, 07:12 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/21

StatFox Super Situations

NBA | CLEVELAND at OKLAHOMA CITY
Play On - Home teams (OKLAHOMA CITY) off a close home loss by 3 points or less, on Sunday games
27-7 over the last 5 seasons. ( 79.4% | 19.3 units )
1-1 this year. ( 50.0% | -0.1 units )

NBA | NEW ORLEANS at DETROIT
Play Against - Any team vs the money line (DETROIT) after failing to cover the spread in 3 or more consecutive games, with a winning percentage of between 40-49% on the season
144-89 over the last 5 seasons. ( 61.8% | 54.2 units )
24-15 this year. ( 61.5% | 8.5 units )

NBA | CLEVELAND at OKLAHOMA CITY
Play Over - Road teams where the first half total is greater than 105 good rebounding team - outrebounding opponents by 3+ per game, second half of the season
46-18 over the last 5 seasons. ( 71.9% | 26.2 units )
3-1 this year. ( 75.0% | 1.9 units )

**Satch** · 02-21-2016, 09:00 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/21

Preview: New Orleans At Detroit
When: 3:30 PM ET, Sunday, February 21, 2016
Where: The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
The Detroit Pistons made moves to shake up the roster this week but are still putting together the pieces. The Pistons are still waiting for Donatas Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton to make their respective team debuts and will try to end a four-game slide when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.
Detroit was one of the most active teams prior to the trade deadline and got a strong debut from Tobias Harris, who scored 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting off the bench against the Washington Wizards on Friday. The rest of Harris’ new teammates weren’t quite as sharp, and the Pistons fell behind by as many as 24 points before suffering a 98-86 setback. The Pelicans hung onto Ryan Anderson at the break and were rewarded with 26 points off the bench from the veteran forward in a 121-114 win over Philadelphia on Friday. New Orleans still believes it has a shot at a playoff spot in the Western Conference with a strong finish and has won three of its last four games.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, FSN Detroit
ABOUT THE PELICANS (21-33): New Orleans is six games behind the eighth-place Houston Rockets in the West but is treating the final 28 games like a college season and trying to rack up as many wins as possible. “At this point for us we want to win,” Anderson told reporters. “We want wins and we want to build at a winning stretch of games, and a winning culture. We think of this as a new season and a new start so this is a good way to start this second half of the season.” The Pelicans’ outlook would be a whole lot clearer if point guard Jrue Holiday stayed healthy for those 28 games and continued to put up 24 points and 12 assists, like he did on Friday.
ABOUT THE PISTONS (27-28): Detroit is on the outside looking in as well, 1 1/2 games behind Chicago and Charlotte in the East. Harris should give the team even more of a boost once he gets up to speed and is already impressing coach Stan Van Gundy. “I thought he played really well,” Van Gundy told reporters of Harris. “I mean that’s a tough situation for a guy coming in on a trade and having one full practice like that. He’s an extremely intelligent basketball player. He actually won two positions in one day. He played both the three and the four. He was very effective offensively and I thought he did a really, really nice job.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Motiejunas (back) is day-to-day and has not appeared in an NBA game since Dec. 31.
2. Pelicans G Bryce Dejean-Jones (wrist) left Friday’s game and is day-to-day.
3. New Orleans has taken seven straight in the series, including a 115-99 home win on Jan. 21.
PREDICTION: Pelicans 113, Pistons 108

**Satch** · 02-21-2016, 09:00 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/21

Preview: Cleveland At Oklahoma City
When: 3:30 PM ET, Sunday, February 21, 2016
Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a distant third place in the Western Conference but still own one more win than the East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant will try to keep LeBron James and company from notching their 40th victory when the Thunder host the Cavaliers on Sunday.
Cleveland bridged the All-Star break with four consecutive wins and came out of the vacation with a 106-95 home win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. The Cavaliers hope to debut their latest acquisition on Sunday, with forward Channing Frye expected to begin stretching the floor after being acquired from the Orlando Magic prior to Thursday’s trade deadline. Oklahoma City stumbled out of the break with a 101-98 home loss to the Indiana Pacers on Friday after squandering a seven-point lead in the final minutes. “The defensive lapses toward the end of the game, we can’t have those,” Westbrook told reporters. “Second half of the season, man, it’s getting close to playoff time. We’ve got to put more pressure on ourselves to be better.”
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (39-14): Cleveland is the overwhelming favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference and made minor adjustments to the roster instead of swinging for a big deal in front of the deadline. Frye, who is shooting 39.7 percent from 3-point range this season, gives the team another offensive weapon on the perimeter for when defenses collapse around LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. “Channing Frye is someone we know well,” Cavaliers general manager David Griffin told reporters. “His length, floor spacing ability and locker room presence will impact us positively. He is a great fit with our group, both on the court and off.”
ABOUT THE THUNDER (40-15): Oklahoma City did some tinkering as well with the addition of veteran shooting guard Randy Foye, but team defense remains the biggest concern. “Just a little bit more focus in the fourth,” Durant told reporters after Friday’s loss. “We’ll be fine. I think for the whole game we played a really good defensive game outside of those last few minutes.” The Thunder limit opponents to 43.8 percent shooting on the season, which is good enough for sixth in the league entering the weekend but puts them behind West leaders Golden State and San Antonio.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Westbrook handed out a career-high 18 assists on Friday.
2. Cavaliers G Iman Shumpert (sprained left shoulder) is day-to-day.
3. Cleveland has taken the last two meetings but suffered a 103-94 loss in its lone trip to Oklahoma City last season.
PREDICTION: Thunder 106, Cavaliers 101

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NBA Betting Info. 2/21

NBA Betting Info. 2/21

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