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**TheGame** · 02-28-2016, 07:43 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/28

Preview: Cavaliers (41-16) at Wizards (27-30)

Date: February 28, 2016 1:00 PM EDT

The Cleveland Cavaliers have one of the best point guards in the world. Yet, it is Kyrie Irving's counterparts who are causing the team problems.

After being badly burned by one All-Star point man, Irving and the Cavaliers must deal with another one as they visit John Wall and the Washington Wizards on Sunday.

In Cleveland's four losses this month, including two this week, the opposing point guard has had at least 22 points every time. The first three were far from superstars - Charlotte's Jeremy Lin, Boston's Isaiah Thomas and Detroit's Reggie Jackson. On Friday, though, it was Eastern Conference All-Star starter Kyle Lowry who dealt the Cavaliers a crushing blow, scoring 43 points and hitting the winning jumper with 3.8 seconds left as Toronto won 97-95.

The assignment isn't any easier against Wall, second to Russell Westbrook among guards with 33 double-doubles.

"We just gotta come ready to play, understand that John Wall is gonna be going 100 miles per hour," Cavs guard J.R. Smith said. "He's gonna be a lot like Kyle. We just gotta figure out a way as a team to stop him."

Cleveland (41-16) also must recover from a game in which it never trailed for the first 45 minutes but ended up seeing its lead atop the East dip to two games over the Raptors, who in turn won the season series tiebreaker.

"Obviously, it was a 1-2 matchup and we wanted to come out on top, but they beat us," said Irving, who had 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting with one assist. "... Now we just gotta get ready for Sunday going against a Wizards team that's trying to get into the playoffs."

Washington (27-30) would settle for being Cleveland's first-round opponent considering its 10th-place standing in the East. The Wizards also want to show they can beat the league's elite because they're 0-5 this month against teams with winning records.

"On Sunday, we're gonna come out with a lot of intensity because you don't wanna get embarrassed in front of your home crowd and lose by 20 or 30," Wall said of the nationally televised game.

His 23 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds lifted Washington to a 103-94 win over league-worst Philadelphia on Friday.

In their four victories since the All-Star break, the Wizards have allowed an average of 89.5 points on 40.1 percent shooting. They've given up 110.7 points per game in their 30 losses this season, worst among East teams.

'We just have to defend. Offense is not our problem," Wall said.

He had no answer defensively for Irving in the last meeting as the Cavaliers won 121-115 in Washington on Jan. 6. Irving scored 32, hitting a season-best 14 of 22 from the field. Wall had 20 points and 12 assists but committed seven turnovers.

Wall scored 35 in a 97-85 win in Cleveland on Dec. 1, but an injured Irving didn't play that game - the Cavs' only blemish during their 15-1 start at home.

"We were the only team earlier in the season to go beat Cleveland at home," Wall said. "... We've shown glimpses, but you gotta be able to do it not matter who's on the court and who you're playing."

LeBron James scored 34 in D.C. last month but hasn't topped 25 in five straight games and has a poor 19-to-14 assist-to-turnover ratio in the last three. He didn't hit the rim with a potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer Friday.

'People get so caught up in the physical side of the game, we lack mental (strength) right now and we've got to continue to get better with it,' James said after committing six turnovers.

**TheGame** · 02-28-2016, 07:43 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/28

Preview: Hornets (30-27) at Hawks (32-27)

Date: February 28, 2016 3:30 PM EDT

The Charlotte Hornets entered February outside the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

They're wrapping up the month bearing down on first place in the Southeast Division.

Seeking five wins on a six-game trip for the first time in franchise history, the Hornets look to move percentage points ahead of Atlanta for second place by sending the Hawks to their worst five-game homestand in 14 years on Sunday.

At 7-2 this month, Charlotte (30-27) is in the midst of the franchise's best February - in terms of winning percentage - to climb within 1 1/2 games of division-leading Miami. It has stepped up its play on defense, allowing an average of 98.3 points after yielding 106.3 in its final 10 games of January, and is no longer a pushover on the road.

The Hornets, who last won eight February games in 1996-97 when they finished the month 10-3, beat Indiana for the second time on their six-game trip with a 96-95 victory Friday. Kemba Walker scored nine of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and put Charlotte ahead on a layup with 2.4 seconds left.

"I just want to make plays," said Walker, averaging an East-beat 24.1 points in February. "I love those kind of moments."

The Hornets have won five of six on the road after opening the season 6-17 away from Charlotte. Their only loss on this trip came Wednesday against conference-best Cleveland.

Wins in Atlanta have been few and far between, however, as the Hornets are 2-15 there since 2007-08. The Hawks, though, are struggling to protect home court.

After opening its homestand with three straight losses, Atlanta (32-27) bounced back Friday with a 103-88 win over a Chicago team missing Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose.

'It hasn't gone the way we wanted,' center Al Horford said. 'Being able to come out here tonight and get a win is big for us.'

Still, the Hawks' only two wins in their last seven games have come against the banged-up Bulls, and a loss Sunday would give them their first 1-4 homestand since January 2002.

Shaky 3-point shooting is one of the biggest reasons Atlanta is on pace for 44 wins after leading the East with 60 last season.

Second in the league in 3-point shooting at 38.0 percent in 2014-15, the Hawks hit just one of their first 18 attempts from beyond the arc Friday and finished 7 of 34. They're shooting 23.9 percent over their last three games with Kyle Korver going 3 of 14 and Kent Bazemore 1 of 15.

Leading scorer Paul Millsap is 5 of 19 from deep on the homestand, scoring 12 points or less three times.

Breaking out of the funk won't be easy against a Charlotte team that is limiting opponents to 30.0 percent from 3-point range and an average of 6.6 made 3s per game on its trip.

The Hornets have held the Hawks to 25.9 percent 3-point shooting in the last two meetings.

Walker had 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting in leading Charlotte to a 107-84 win over Atlanta on Jan. 13. The Hornets had lost the previous three meetings as Walker averaged 13.7 points and shot 36.1 percent.

Bazemore had nine points in the last meeting after combining for 39 in Atlanta's home-and-home sweep of Charlotte during the first week of the season. He's 7 of 14 from 3-point range in the season series, and the Hawks are 16-8 when he hits at least two.

**TheGame** · 02-28-2016, 07:43 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/28

Preview: Raptors (39-18) at Pistons (30-29)

Date: February 28, 2016 6:00 PM EDT

With leading scorer DeMar DeRozan slowed by flu-like symptoms, Kyle Lowry delivered the best game of his career for the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.

With his fellow All-Star still on the mend, Lowry may need a similar performance two days later.

Lowry will try to help the ailing Raptors win their fifth straight when they visit the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night.

Toronto (39-18) needed every one of Lowry's 15 field goals in 20 attempts in Friday's 99-97 win over Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland. DeRozan made just 1 of 11 shots for six points, even retreating to the locker room at one point, but Lowry came through with a career-high 43.

The 10th-year point guard added nine assists, five rebounds and four steals while turning the ball over just twice. He capped the performance with his first NBA game-winning shot, a 23-foot pull-up jumper with four seconds left before LeBron James' 3-pointer at the buzzer missed everything.

"It's one of the top performances I've been around, especially with the circumstances," coach Dwane Casey said. "Him taking the team that's at the top of the conference like that, and I think the best player in the league, and putting us on his back and carrying us home."

But while his Raptors pulled within two games of the Cavaliers and claimed an all-important tiebreaker by winning the season series, Casey still downplayed it.

'Again, it is just one game,' he said. 'If we come back and stub our toe on Sunday, what does it mean? Nothing, zero, it is one of 82.'

Game No. 58 might come without DeRozan, who averages a team-high 23.2 points ahead of Lowry's 21.4. DeRozan missed Saturday's practice, and Casey said he was better but not quite 100 percent.

Lowry, who has averaged 26.2 points and 8.2 assists while shooting 55.1 percent over the last five games, had opposite performances in the Raptors' two wins this season over Detroit (30-29). After making only 4 of 15 shots for 18 points and no assists in a 111-107 victory in Toronto on Jan. 30, he made 9 of 14 to finish with 25 points and seven assists in a 103-89 victory on Feb. 8 in Detroit.

Toronto has won nine of 12 against the Pistons, including four of five at The Palace.

Andre Drummond was held to more subdued numbers than he's used to against the Raptors, averaging 11.5 points and 12.5 rebounds, and although he scored only 15 points on Saturday, he played a key role inside in Detroit's 102-91 win at Milwaukee.

Drummond grabbed 17 boards, including seven on the offensive glass, for his league-leading 50th double-double while opening up the 3-point line for the Detroit shooters. Marcus Morris made 3 of 6 shots from deep for 20 points - his most in 15 games - and Reggie Jackson finished with 22 points and eight assists.

The Pistons have responded from a season-high five-game skid with their first three-game winning streak since Jan. 4-9.

'Guys are getting more comfortable with their roles," Jackson said. "We've been trying to attack downhill and just take what the defense gives us."

**TheGame** · 02-28-2016, 07:43 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/28

Preview: Trail Blazers (31-28) at Pacers (31-27)

Date: February 28, 2016 6:00 PM EDT

Damian Lillard didn't take much of a break from the scoring prowess that helped his Portland Trail Blazers become one of the NBA's hottest teams this month.

The Trail Blazers hope his unrest continues so they can keep climbing the Western Conference standings.

While looking to start a new streak of 30-point games, Lillard aims to help Portland start another lengthy run when it visits the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night.

The Blazers (31-28) avoided their first losing streak since early January by opening a six-game road trip with Saturday's 103-95 victory at Chicago, their 12th win in 14 games.

Lillard made 12 of 26 shots for 31 points after a 23-point effort in Thursday's 119-105 loss to Houston, which snapped his five-game run with at least 30 - the franchise's longest streak with at least that many points since Geoff Petrie during the Blazers' inaugural 1970-71 season.

Lillard was snubbed from the All-Star team for the first time since his 2012-13 rookie season earlier this month but has responded by averaging 33.8 points in five games since, including a career-high 51 in a win over league-leading Golden State on Feb. 19.

His personal spurt has helped Portland to the league's second-best record since Jan. 23, shy of only the 13-1 Warriors, while climbing into a tie with Dallas for the West's sixth seed.

Saturday's victory was Portland's fourth straight on the road and sixth in seven games there.

"Going on a six-game road trip, it's easy to let that linger over and come out here (Saturday night) and not have a good performance," Lillard said. "We showed some true character."

The Trail Blazers are one of three teams with 600 made 3-pointers this season and had drained at least 10 in eight of nine games prior to Saturday. They matched a season low with five in Chicago, including an 0-for-4 showing by Lillard - just his fourth game this season without a make from deep.

Portland sank 18 of 36 shots from long range in a 123-111 home win over the Pacers on Dec. 3, the most 3-pointers ever made by an Indiana opponent. The Trail Blazers have won three straight in this series, including a win last season at Bankers Life Fieldhouse to snap a four-game skid there.

Indiana (31-27) had won five of seven before Friday's 96-95 loss to Charlotte when Kemba Walker's shot with 2.4 seconds left wiped away Monta Ellis' previous go-ahead bucket.

Walker and the Hornets bothered the Pacers with the pick-and-roll all game, taking advantage of dribble-drive matchups against Indiana's bigs, something coach Frank Vogel expects plenty of against the Trail Blazers.

"They've got one of the best point guards in the world that obviously was a shock he wasn't on the All-Star team," said Vogel of Lillard. "And C.J. McCollum's not far behind. They're both playing at a high level."

Lillard and McCollum combined to make only 13 of 35 shots but still combined for 47 points and 14 assists in Portland's December victory. Paul George missed all nine of his 3-pointers and finished 4 of 17 from the floor for 11 points with five turnovers.

The Pacers play five games this week and follow Sunday's contest with six of seven on the road, where they are 13-17.

**TheGame** · 02-28-2016, 07:44 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/28

Preview: 76ers (8-50) at Magic (25-32)

Date: February 28, 2016 6:00 PM EDT

A late-February matchup between the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers won't move the needle much in regards to the Eastern Conference playoff race, but it should at least make for another entertaining game.

Two of the NBA's worst defensive teams of late, they'll square off for the second time in six days Sunday night in Orlando in what projects as another high-scoring affair.

The Magic recorded their highest point total in a non-overtime game this season in Tuesday's 124-115 victory in Philadelphia, a result that fostered hope of a belated playoff push. Those chances have since dwindled with two consecutive losses in which Orlando (25-32) consistently failed to get stops.

After surrendering 51 points to Stephen Curry in Thursday's 130-114 loss to Golden State, the Magic allowed New York to shoot 51.2 percent during a 62-point first half en route to Friday's 108-95 defeat at Madison Square Garden.

"If there are any teams in the league that don't have any excuse for being flat on the second night of back-to-backs, it's young teams," coach Scott Skiles said of the slow start. "We should be out there wild, playing free and having a ton of energy. So it's very disappointing.'

A defensive decline has contributed to Orlando's 6-19 record since Jan. 1. Opponents have averaged 109.8 points and shot 47.3 percent over the Magic's last 16 games and they've allowed 112.4 points per game in five since the All-Star break.

That mark still betters that of the 76ers, who've permitted 117.6 points per game in five losses following the break. Philadelphia (8-50) has dropped seven straight and 11 of 12 to retain ownership of the league's worst record.

The Sixers did show some improvement on the defensive end Friday against Washington, but they shot 38.5 percent in the second half as the Wizards rallied for a 103-94 win.

"I think by and large it was a good game but those portions of it, that's the difference whether you win or lose," coach Brett Brown said in reference to a 13-0 run that gave Washington a 79-72 lead early in the fourth quarter.

The 76ers also struggled from the outside, finishing 8 of 25 from 3-point range after a 7-of-23 effort in Wednesday's 111-91 loss at Detroit. They averaged 12.3 3s on a 44.1 percent success rate over their previous four games.

Philadelphia has made 41.1 percent of its 3-pointers in three season meetings with the Magic, including a 9-of-19 performance in a 96-87 win in Orlando on Jan. 20. Isaiah Canaan is 11 of 19 while averaging 16.7 points for the series but 1 of 7 over the last two games.

Orlando figures to again feature former Sixer Nikola Vucevic, who scored a season-high 35 on Tuesday and is averaging 22.6 points and 11.1 rebounds over a seven-game stretch.

Evan Fournier added 21 points in the last matchup and scored 20 against the Warriors before being held to eight on 3-of-10 shooting by the Knicks.

The Magic also hope to again capitalize on Philadelphia's ball-control issues. They scored 28 points off 22 turnovers Tuesday and had 27 on 17 giveaways in a 105-97 victory in Philadelphia on Nov. 7.

Philadelphia's Nerlens Noel had 16 points and 11 rebounds in Tuesday's meeting but is questionable for this one after exiting Friday's game late with a left leg injury.

**TheGame** · 02-28-2016, 07:44 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/28

Preview: Timberwolves (19-40) at Mavericks (31-28)

Date: February 28, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

Chandler Parsons believes the Dallas Mavericks can't afford any more losses to lesser opponents if they hope to make a run in the Western Conference playoff race.

The Minnesota Timberwolves currently fall into that category, though they're starting to show glimpses of a bright future behind Karl-Anthony Towns.

The Mavericks hope to take care of business with their first back-to-back victories this month Sunday night when the improving Timberwolves go after their sixth win in 10 games.

After overtime losses to Utah and Orlando, Dallas (31-28) hoped to get hot during a six-game stay at American Airlines Center. The Mavs split their first two and nearly suffered another tough defeat Friday before rallying from a 23-point deficit in a 122-116 OT win over Denver.

Parsons led six players in double figures with 27 points and Dirk Nowitzki finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Raymond Felton keyed the comeback, hitting the tying basket with 10.8 seconds left in the fourth quarter and scoring eight of his 16 points in the extra period.

Nowitzki is averaging 23.7 and Wesley Matthews is scoring 17.7 on the homestand.

"We're trying to get that fifth seed, make a run here and be playing the best basketball we have down the stretch," Parsons, who has scored 20 per game in the past 16, told the team's official website. "We can't be giving up many more games to teams that are not as good as us."

The Mavericks, however, have won consecutive games just three times since the calendar flipped to January. As a result, they've fallen into a sixth-place tie with surging Portland.

The Northwest Division-worst Timberwolves qualify as a lesser foe at 19-40, but they have wins over the Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago, Toronto and Boston over this 5-4 stretch.

They pulled off a rally from 14 points down in Saturday's 112-110 victory at New Orleans. Towns finished with 30 points and 15 rebounds, Zach LaVine added 25 points and Andrew Wiggins scored 20 and knocked down the go-ahead free-throws with four seconds left.

'It's our 19th win, and they've all been satisfying,' interim coach Sam Mitchell said. 'The young guys made plays. It makes you feel good that they're learning and growing.'

Towns, the Rookie of the Year favorite, certainly appears to be doing that. He's averaging 22.4 points while shooting 57.2 percent and pulling down 12.1 rebounds over his last 16 games.

LaVine has been more than just a slam dunk champion, scoring 17.3 per game and making 42.6 percent from 3-point range in his past 14. Wiggins has contributed 23 per game over his last 10.

Although they've averaged 109.4 points on 48.7 percent shooting in their past 10 games, the Timberwolves have also surrendered 111.2 and a 47.8 field-goal percentage over that span.

Dallas has won five straight in this series, though the two meetings this season have gone down to the wire. Nowitzki led the way with 29 points in a 93-87 win at Minnesota on Jan. 10 before Parsons had 30 with Nowitzki sidelined in a 106-94 home victory Jan. 20.

Towns led Minnesota with 27 points and 17 rebounds and Wiggins scored 23 in that contest.

The Timberwolves, who have dropped nine of 10 in the second of back-of-back games, are reportedly working on a buyout agreement with veteran shooting guard Kevin Martin.

**TheGame** · 02-28-2016, 07:44 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/28

Preview: Heat (32-26) at Knicks (25-35)

Date: February 28, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

Losing their leading scorer seems to have finally caught up with the Miami Heat during back-to-back defeats, though help may be on the way in the form of a seven-time All-Star.

Following his departure from Brooklyn, Joe Johnson is expected to be back in New York and eligible to make his Miami debut Sunday night when the Heat try to keep the Knicks from winning consecutive games for the first time in more than five weeks.

After winning its first three games after Chris Bosh was sidelined due to blood clots, Southeast Division-leading Miami (32-26) couldn't keep up with Golden State in Wednesday's 118-112 home defeat before struggling offensively in Saturday's 101-89 loss at Boston.

Heat president Pat Riley said that the club is still exploring its options regarding Bosh, who is averaging a team-high 19.1 points. According to a recent report, the 11-time All-Star forward is under increasing pressure from physicians to sit out the rest of the season.

Goran Dragic has stepped up during this stretch, averaging 19.8 points, 7.0 assists and 5.4 rebounds in the past five games. Hassan Whiteside has put up 19.5 points and 17.3 boards while becoming the first Miami player with four straight double-doubles off the bench since 2010.

After Saturday's game, Miami announced that it had made a move to bring in another scoring option by signing Johnson off waivers after he was released by the Nets.

The veteran swingman has made 85 3-pointers this season, more than any Heat player. Since averaging 10.5 points on 35 percent shooting in his first 32 games, the 34-year-old Johnson has averaged 13.4 with a 48.4 field-goal percentage in his last 25. He could be pushed into action after Miami was down to 10 active players due to injury or illness against the Celtics.

'To put somebody on the floor that can shoot the ball, can score different areas of the floor, make plays, it just adds to what we're trying to do,' star guard Dwyane Wade said. 'Obviously losing Chris right now ... (Johnson is) another playmaker, another scorer.'

The Heat hope to avoid their longest losing streak since a four-game skid from Jan. 17-22 and win this season series for the third consecutive year. They held the Knicks to a combined 34.9 percent shooting in winning two November meetings by a total of 36 points, but Carmelo Anthony scored 25 and New York shot 55.7 percent in a 98-90 road win Jan. 6.

The Knicks snapped a six-game home slide with Friday's 108-95 victory over Orlando. Anthony led the way with 19 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, while Kristaps Porzingis added 18 points.

'I think that's the way we need to play,' Porzingis said. 'Everybody was involved. Everybody was attacking. Everybody was trying to be aggressive when we had the opportunity.'

Porzingis has found a groove with 17.4 points per game in his last eight. He had 20 and 14 rebounds in a 95-78 loss at Miami on Nov. 23 before totaling 23 and 12 in the last two meetings.

After allowing an average of 109 points on 49.1 percent shooting in its previous five games, New York (25-35) limited the Magic to 41.9 from the field. The Knicks, who have dropped 13 of 16, seek their first back-to-back wins since Jan. 18 and 20.

They snapped an eight-game losing streak in this series with last month's victory.

**TheGame** · 02-28-2016, 07:44 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/28

NBA

Sunday's hot teams
-- Cavaliers won six of their last eight games (7-14-1AF). Wizards won four of their last six games (7-5HU).
-- Charlotte won six of its last seven games (11-9AU).
-- Raptors won seven of their last nine games (9-8AF). Detroit won its last three games (3-5HU).
-- Portland won seven of its last eight games (5-2 last 7AU). Pacers are 5-3 in their last eight games (2-4 last 6HF).
-- Minnesota is 5-4 in its last nine games (4-2 last 6AU).

Cold teams
-- Atlanta lost five of its last seven games (1-3 last 4HF).
-- 76ers lost last seven games, are 0-4 vs spread in last four.
-- Magic lost three of last four games (5-7HF).
-- Dallas lost six of its last nine games; four of their last six games went to overtime (7-3 last 10HF).
-- Miami lost last two games but covered four of last five. Knicks lost eight of their last ten games.

Series records
-- Cleveland won four of last five games with Washington.
-- Hawks won three of last four games with Charlotte.
-- Toronto won seven of last nine games with Detroit.
-- Portland won five of last six games with Indiana.
-- Orlando won six of last eight games with Philly.
-- Mavericks won last five games with Minnesota.
-- Knicks lost eight of last nine games with Miami.

Totals
-- Four of last five Cleveland games stayed under the total.
-- Five of last six Charlotte-Atlanta games stayed under.
-- Eight of last ten Toronto-Detroit games went over.
-- Six of last seven Portland games went over the total.
-- Four of last five orlando games went over the total.
-- Eight of last nine Minnesota games went over total.
-- Last three Miami-New York games stayed under.

Back/backs
-- Portland is 4-8 vs spread if it played the night before.
-- Minnesota is 4-5 vs spread if it played the night before.
-- Miami Heat won/covered last three times they played nite before.

**TheGame** · 02-28-2016, 07:48 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/28

CLEVELAND vs. WASHINGTON
Cleveland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Washington
Cleveland is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Washington is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Washington's last 17 games when playing Cleveland

CHARLOTTE vs. ATLANTA
Charlotte is 6-12-1 ATS in its last 19 games when playing Atlanta
Charlotte is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
Atlanta is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
Atlanta is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Charlotte

PHILADELPHIA vs. ORLANDO
Philadelphia is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 6 games when playing on the road against Orlando
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Orlando's last 21 games when playing Philadelphia
Orlando is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games at home

PORTLAND vs. INDIANA
Portland is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Indiana
Portland is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Indiana
Indiana is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Portland
Indiana is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games at home

TORONTO vs. DETROIT
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Toronto's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 6 games
Detroit is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Detroit's last 7 games

MINNESOTA vs. DALLAS
Minnesota is 7-18 SU in its last 25 games
Minnesota is 5-14 SU in its last 19 games when playing on the road against Dallas
Dallas is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games at home
Dallas is 4-14 ATS in its last 18 games when playing at home against Minnesota

MIAMI vs. NEW YORK
Miami is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Miami's last 6 games
New York is 1-5-1 ATS in its last 7 games at home
New York is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games when playing Miami

**Satch** · 02-28-2016, 08:46 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/28

Preview: Cleveland At Washington
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, February 28, 2016
Where: Verizon Center, Washington, District of Columbia
The Cleveland Cavaliers seem to react to each of their rare losses in a similar manner – bemoaning the mental mistakes and hanging their heads. The Cavaliers will try to reduce those mental errors and avoid back-to-back losses when they visit the Washington Wizards on Sunday.
The Cavaliers held a nine-point lead with under five minutes to play at Toronto on Friday before suffering a 99-97 loss, with LeBron James missing the rim on a 3-point attempt at the buzzer. “When you lose the way we lost, just mental mistake after mental mistake, those hurt more than anything when you can play better mentally,” James told reporters. “People get so caught up in the physical thing. We lack mental right now. And we got to continue to get better with it.” The Wizards are trying to claw their way back to .500 and into postseason competition, and they split a two-game road trip by beating the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. Washington has won four of six since the All-Star break and is back home for two straight before heading back out for a stretch of five of six away.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cleveland), CSN Mid-Atlantic (Washington)
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (41-16): Cleveland still sits in first place in the Eastern Conference but had its lead clipped to two games over Toronto with Friday’s loss. The Cavaliers allowed the Raptors to shoot 50.7 percent from the floor and had no answer for All-Star Kyle Lowry, who was on fire late and finished with a career-high 43 points. “They just did all the right things when they needed to and we knew it was going to be a tough game for us,” Cavaliers forward Kevin Love told reporters. “It came down to the wire; we just couldn’t get over the hump.”
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (27-30): Washington’s problems are on the defensive end, and the team locked down in the second half by holding the 76ers to 42 points after the break on Friday. “We got to defend, man, it’s as simple as that,” Wizards point guard John Wall told reporters. “When we defend, we’re perfectly fine.” The results are backing up Wall’s claim, and the Wizards have allowed 94 points or fewer in each of the four wins since the break while surrendering an average of 111.5 in the two setbacks.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Cavaliers G Mo Williams (knee) sat out Friday and will not play on Sunday.
2. Wizards G Bradley Beal is 1-of-12 from 3-point range in the last two games.
3. Cleveland earned a 121-115 win in Washington on Jan. 6 behind 34 points and 10 rebounds from James.
PREDICTION: Cavaliers 106, Wizards 94

**Satch** · 02-28-2016, 08:46 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/28

Preview: Charlotte At Atlanta
When: 3:30 PM ET, Sunday, February 28, 2016
Where: Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
The Charlotte Hornets are one of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference with wins in six of their last seven games despite enduring a road-heavy portion of the schedule. The Hornets will try to earn a 5-1 road trip when they cap the excursion by visiting the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.
Charlotte has pushed its way into the top eight in the East and is only one game behind the Hawks in the standings thanks to the recent, Kemba Walker-led surge. The dynamic guard buried the go-ahead shot on Friday as the Hornets escaped with a 96-95 win over the Indiana after squandering a double-digit lead. Atlanta was fading with losses in five of six but looked stronger with a balanced attack in Friday’s 103-88 win over the Chicago Bulls. The Hawks had trouble holding onto a lead in the losses in three straight after the All-Star break but raced out early against the Bulls and won every quarter while limiting the visitors to 36.4 percent shooting.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Charlotte, Atlanta)
ABOUT THE HORNETS (30-27): Walker went to his left hand for the go-ahead layup with 2.4 seconds left on Friday for the latest in a long line of game-winning shots that stretches back to college. “He wants the ball, there’s no question about that,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford told reporters of Walker. “He wants to take the big shot. Make or miss, he has courage, so you know he’s raising up as if he’s gonna make it.” Walker has scored 20 or more points in in each of his eight games this month and is averaging 24.1 points in that span.
ABOUT THE HAWKS (32-27): Atlanta kept inching closer to a win, even holding a lead on the NBA-best Golden State Warriors late on Monday before falling, but finally put everything together on Friday. Center Al Horford has been one of the more consistent performers on the team and rolled to 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting in the win. Horford was limited to a season-low two points in 28 minutes at Charlotte on Jan. 13 while chasing smaller lineups around the perimeter.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Hawks G/F Kent Bazemore is 3-of-24 from 3-point range in the last six games.
2. Hornets F Marvin Williams collected 26 points and 13 rebounds on Friday and has recorded double-digits on the boards in three straight contests.
3. Charlotte snapped a three-game losing streak in the series with a 107-84 home win on Jan. 13.
PREDICTION: Hornets 106, Hawks 100

**Satch** · 02-28-2016, 08:47 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/28

Preview: Toronto At Detroit

When: 6:00 PM ET, Sunday, February 28, 2016
Where: The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry will try to stay hot after a remarkable performance as his Toronto Raptors go after their fifth straight victory Sunday night when they visit the Detroit Pistons. Lowry scored a career-high 43 points on 15-of-20 shooting, including the game-winning basket, and dished out nine assists in a 99-97 victory over Cleveland on Friday night.
“The bigger deal is that we won the game,” Lowry told reporters. “That’s all that matters. I think we grew (Friday), but we’ve got the team to get better. Now we’ve (got to) put our efforts into Detroit and worry about Detroit.” The Raptors trail Cleveland by two games for the top seed in the Eastern Conference while the Pistons are just out of playoff position after knocking off Milwaukee 102-91 on Saturday for their third consecutive victory. Reggie Jackson is averaging 24 points during the last four games and Andre Drummond leads the league with 50 double-doubles, including 13 in a row. The Pistons attempt to salvage the finale of a three-game season series.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Toronto), FSN Detroit
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (39-18): Lowry became the first Toronto player to score at least 40 points twice during a season since Chris Bosh in 20019-10 and it was needed badly Friday with his backcourt partner under the weather. DeMar DeRozan, who leads the team at 23.2 points per contest, was held to six on 1-of-11 shooting against Cleveland while suffering flu-like symptoms after scoring 31 in the previous game. Swingman Terrence Ross stepped up with 15 points Friday and is averaging 12 during his past three outings.
ABOUT THE PISTONS (30-29): Marcus Morris scored 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting to go along with eight rebounds Saturday for his best performance in more than a month while Jackson scored 22 to lead the way. Drummond has grabbed at least 15 rebounds in three straight contests (17 on Saturday) and five times in 12 games this month. Forward Tobias Harris has made a major impact since being acquired from Orlando at the trade deadline, averaging 17.6 points and shooting 50.7 percent from the field in five games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Lowry has made 579 shots from 3-point range, tied with Andrea Bargnani for second on the team’s all-time list, behind only Morris Peterson (801).
2. Detroit G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is averaging 14 points during the last four games and missed the last meeting against Toronto because of injury.
3. Toronto C Bismack Biyombo is averaging nine points, on 12-of-16 shooting from the field, and eight rebounds during the last three contests.
PREDICTION: Raptors 99, Pistons 95

**Satch** · 02-28-2016, 08:47 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/28

Preview: Portland At Indiana
When: 6:00 PM ET, Sunday, February 28, 2016
Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
The Portland Trail Blazers lit up the Indians Pacers from the outside in their first meeting this season and look to pile up the points again when the teams square off Sunday in Indianapolis. The Trail Blazers hit 18 3-pointers – a record for a Pacers’ opponent – in 36 attempts en route to a 123-111 victory at home Dec. 3.
Portland went 7-12 after that win to fall seven games below .500, but has won 12 of its last 14 after opening a six-game road trip with a 103-95 victory over Chicago on Saturday. Damian Lillard, who had five triples in that previous encounter with the Pacers, scored 31 points as the Blazers won their fourth in a row on the road. Indiana is 1-1 on a three-game homestand after suffering a 96-95 loss to Charlotte, which got a basket from Kemba Walker with 2.4 seconds left to nullify the Pacers’ comeback. Indiana would love to pick up a victory before it plays six of seven on the road, with the home game against powerhouse San Antonio.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, CSN Northwest (Portland), FSN Indiana
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (31-28): Portland’s win in Chicago was even more impressive given the dismal shooting effort of C.J. McCollum, who was 1-of-12 from the floor and missed all five of his 3-point tries while scoring a season-low six points. Allen Crabbe picked up some of the slack with 11 points off the bench and will be watched closely by the Pacers after hitting 4-of-5 3-pointers in the win over Indiana earlier this season. The Blazers got past the Bulls on the strength of a 22-10 disparity in made free throws, and Lillard has hit 29 in a row over his last three games.
ABOUT THE PACERS (31-27): Rodney Stuckey returned after more than a month off Friday to contribute four points, five rebounds and a steal in 12 minutes and will have his minutes capped at 15 on Sunday. While he works his way back into the rotation, forward C.J. Miles is nearing a return from a calf strain, although he is expected to miss his fourth straight game Sunday. Their ailments have helped to open a door for 19-year-old rookie Myles Turner, who has scored in double digits in nine straight games while shooting 50 percent or better in eight of them.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Lillard has scored 30-plus points in six of his last seven contests.
2. Pacers SF Paul George has made at least 10 field goals in three straight games, tied for the longest such run of his career.
3. Portland is 5-1 in its last six games against Indiana.
PREDICTION: Pacers 105, Trail Blazers 103

**Satch** · 02-28-2016, 08:47 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 2/28

Preview: Philadelphia At Orlando
When: 6:00 PM ET, Sunday, February 28, 2016
Where: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Every time the Orlando Magic take a step forward, they tend to take two steps back. The Magic will try to avoid a big third step back and put some positive momentum together when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.
Orlando earned a 124-115 win at the 76ers on Tuesday but followed it up with a pair of losses, including a 108-95 setback to the struggling New York Knicks on Friday. “It was kind of a go-through-the-motions type of game and we didn’t have much life,” Magic coach Scott Skiles told reporters. “In many ways we were worse (defensively than in a 130-114 home loss to Golden State on Thursday). We were just completely fatigued. That’s what we looked like right from the beginning of the game.” Philadelphia’s latest losing streak hit seven with a 103-94 loss to the Washington Wizards on Friday. The NBA-worst 76ers held a halftime lead over the Wizards before faltering.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, CSN Philadelphia, FSN Florida (Orlando)
ABOUT THE 76ERS (8-50): Philadelphia is all about development, and the frontcourt of Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel continues to show promise. Coach Brett Brown is juggling the positioning of his two young big man, with both preferring to play the center spot. Okafor served as the nominal center on Friday and finished with 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting while Noel added nine points and eight rebounds.
ABOUT THE MAGIC (25-32): Even dunk contest star Aaron Gordon looked like he was suffering from tired legs on Friday but still managed 17 points and eight rebounds. “We’ve got to continue to play regardless of whether or not we feel the momentum is swinging,” Gordon told reporters. “Obviously, basketball is a game of runs, but regardless of what runs they go on, we need to continue to go on and continue to fight. I don’t think we did that (Friday).” Gordon bridged the All-Star break with a string of six straight double-digit rebounding efforts but was held to eight boards in each of the last two contests.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Magic F Ersan Ilyasova averaged 10.3 points in his first four games after being acquired from the Detroit Pistons but was held scoreless on Friday.
2. 76ers SF Robert Covington has made multiple 3-pointers in each of the last six games.
3. The road team has taken each of the last three in the series, with Philadelphia earning a 96-87 victory in Orlando on Jan. 20.
PREDICTION: Magic 112, 76ers 105

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NBA Betting Info. 2/28

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