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**TheGame** · 03-20-2016, 07:45 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 3/20

Preview: Trail Blazers (36-34) at Mavericks (34-35)

Date: March 20, 2016 4:00 PM EDT

Though they're in a tight race for one of the final playoff spots, the Portland Trail Blazers and Dallas Mavericks are still trying to shake out of their March blues.

Portland's postseason hopes were nearly dashed when Damian Lillard took a hard fall on Friday, but the star guard insists he's fine as the Blazers attempt to brush aside their lengthy road struggles against the short-handed Mavericks on Sunday.

Portland appeared to be on its way to a playoff berth before dropping six of its first nine games this month. It snapped a two-game slide with Friday's 117-112 win at New Orleans, but received a scare when Lillard was clotheslined by Kendrick Perkins.

Lillard lay on the court for several moments while teammates got into it with New Orleans players. He finally regrouped and finished with 33 points, eight rebounds and six assists before saying "it's going to take a lot more than that to take me out.'

C.J. McCollum added 30 points and Gerald Henderson scored 19 as Portland ended a season-high six-game road skid. McCollum has totaled 56 points while hitting 8 of 13 from 3-point range in his last two after failing to score 20 in his previous four.

'It's easy; (Lillard) does all the work,' McCollum said. 'I just catch and shoot.'

The Blazers (36-34) will try to win back-to-back games for the first time this month in the opener of this home-and-home set with the Mavericks (34-35) that concludes Wednesday. It certainly won't be easy as they've lost 31 of their last 38 trips to Dallas, including the playoffs.

The Mavericks, however, have dropped seven of eight to fall below .500 for the first time since Nov. 11. Now Dallas, Portland, Houston and Utah are separated by only a couple games in the race for the Western Conference's final three playoff spots.

The Mavericks hope to snap a five-game losing streak at American Airlines Center that's their longest at home since a six-game skid in 1999-2000 at the old Reunion Arena. They've been particularly awful defensively, allowing an average of 111.4 points on 48.3 percent shooting.

Dirk Nowitzki had 24 points and David Lee added 16 and 16 rebounds Friday, but Dallas let Golden State shoot 22 for 38 from 3-point range in a 130-112 home defeat.

'If we play like that for the remaining 13 games, we will beat 80 percent of the teams,' said former Blazer Wesley Matthews, who endured a scary fall of his own Friday as his right knee buckled. "Those guys shot the lights out of the ball, but we were never out of it.'

The Mavericks, though, suffered a big loss when Chandler Parsons went down with a strained hamstring that will likely keep him sidelined versus Portland. The veteran, listed as doubtful, has averaged 19 points and made 46.9 percent from 3-point range in his last 26 games.

Parsons did not play in the first meeting Dec. 1 when Deron Williams had a season-high 30 points, Nowitzki scored 28 and Zaza Pachulia pulled down 21 rebounds in a 115-112 overtime victory. Matthews chipped in with 18 points in his return to Portland.

The Mavericks held McCollum to 11 points on 4-of-21 shooting, limited the Blazers to 41 percent shooting and outscored them 32-19 in points off turnovers. Lillard still had 25 points and 10 assists.

Williams, who's listed as questionable with a right calf injury but says he'll play, has averaged 24.3 points and 8.0 assists in his last three meetings.

**TheGame** · 03-20-2016, 07:45 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 3/20

Preview: Magic (29-39) at Raptors (47-21)

Date: March 20, 2016 4:30 PM EDT

The Toronto Raptors can continue to press for the top spot in the Eastern Conference while simultaneously letting some more air out of the Orlando Magic's chances to crack the top eight.

The likelihood of each scenario seems to gain steam each day.

The Raptors close a home-heavy stretch looking for their seventh straight win at Air Canada Centre over the reeling Magic on Sunday.

Toronto (47-21) has stayed right behind East-leading Cleveland by winning 12 of its last 15, with 11 of the victories coming at home. The Raptors are 16-2 in their last 18 at Toronto, but follow this contest with eight of their final 13 on the road.

They recorded their third straight win to close a stretch of four games in five days with Friday's 105-91 home victory over Boston.

Luis Scola scored all 17 of his points in the opening 11 minutes and Kyle Lowry had 15 of his 32 in the fourth quarter to extend Toronto's Atlantic Division lead to 8 1/2 games over the Celtics.

After opening their busy week with Monday's 109-107 home loss to Chicago, the Raptors earned road wins of 107-89 over Milwaukee on Tuesday and 101-94 in overtime over Indiana on Thursday before beating Boston.

'It's a good win for us,' Lowry said. 'It was a good test for us, four tough games and four tough teams, but it was fun.'

Toronto has enjoyed a dominating run in this series, though this season's first two games were split in Orlando. The Magic beat the Raptors for the first time since March 2012 with a 92-87 win Nov. 6, but Toronto's 106-103 overtime victory Jan. 14 was its 12th in 13 meetings.

Orlando's Victor Oladipo has averaged 22.5 points and 50 percent shooting in the series, going 6 of 9 from 3-point range. DeMar DeRozan and Lowry, meanwhile, shot a combined 9 of 39 on Jan. 14.

The Magic (29-39) were still considered one of the league's top defensive teams at that point but have dropped off since. They've surrendered 109.6 points per game in their last 27, with four teams reaching at least 120.

Three of Orlando's last four opponents have shot 50 percent or better.

The Magic couldn't help the Raptors on Friday, falling 109-103 to the Cavaliers for their sixth loss in eight games.

Oladipo scored a career-high 45 points and went 6 of 7 from beyond the arc, though he had only six points in the final 12 minutes.

'I'm still upset about the fourth quarter," he said. "I've got to demand the ball much more. That's something I need to learn and get better at."

While Oladipo made 16 of 22 shots, the rest of the team hit 35 percent.

Orlando would need to pass four teams for the final playoff spot with 14 games left on the schedule. The Southeast's last-place team opens a difficult four-game trip that also goes through Boston, Detroit and Miami. The Magic have lost 15 of their last 19 on the road.

Elfrid Payton's status is cloudy for Orlando after missing the last five games with an elbow injury. Toronto's Jonas Valanciunas has missed three in a row with a bruised left hand and is uncertain.

**TheGame** · 03-20-2016, 07:46 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 3/20

Preview: Celtics (39-30) at 76ers (9-60)

Date: March 20, 2016 6:00 PM EDT

One quarter returned a glimpse of the Boston Celtics team that recently made a push for a top-three seed in the Eastern Conference.

If they can't sustain that for more than 12 minutes, their current rough patch might continue.

The Celtics will try to avoid their longest losing streak of the season against a team notorious for extended slumps when they visit the league-worst Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night.

Boston (39-30) is not far removed from a 17-5 stretch that put it in the East's No. 3 position and within 4 1/2 games of Atlantic Division-leading Toronto.

But Friday's 105-91 loss to the Raptors just over a week later was the Celtics' fourth straight, dropping them to sixth in the conference and 8 1/2 back in the division.

Boston's slide is one game shy of its longest since early last season, and the way it has unfolded is particularly surprising.

The Celtics were third in the league in scoring from Jan. 15-March. 9, their 111.7 average ranking behind only Golden State (116.5) and Oklahoma City (112.5). During their skid, they are averaging 99 points on 40.6 percent shooting, including 29.4 from deep.

One of the only positives was Friday's third quarter, which coach Brad Stevens said was the best his team has played in two weeks.

The Celtics cut into what was once a 19-point first-half deficit with a 33-24 advantage in the third, trimming Toronto's lead to 79-74. Still, a 30-14 flop in the first quarter and a 26-17 clunker in the fourth were far too much to avoid a fourth straight road loss.

'We have to change something up,' Isaiah Thomas said. 'We got ourselves back into the game, so we showed signs of playing like we know how, but a good team like the Raptors you can't just play one good quarter.'

Philadelphia (9-60) might be the streak-snapping opponent. The 76ers have dropped four in a row and 17 of 18, and their only two wins since Jan. 27 have come against Brooklyn, the second-worst team in the East.

The Celtics have won seven straight games in this series as they go for their second consecutive sweep. Thomas has shot 50.9 percent while averaging 25.7 points against the 76ers in the three this season.

One more win would help Philadelphia avoid matching its own NBA-low victory total in an 82-game season, set when the 1972-73 team finished 9-73.

The 76ers have struggled mightily on the boards since rookie center Jahlil Okafor was lost for the season with a cartilage tear in his right knee. They have held a rebounding advantage in one of 10 games without him, getting edged on the glass by an average of 13.1 per game.

Philadelphia was outrebounded 63-36 in Friday's 111-97 loss to Oklahoma City, the best rebounding team in the NBA.

'We're small and we're not thick,' coach Brett Brown said after his team fell to 6-29 at Wells Fargo Center. 'We're light right now. ... I wish it was better than that.'

**TheGame** · 03-20-2016, 07:46 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 3/20

Preview: Clippers (43-25) at Pelicans (25-43)

Date: March 20, 2016 6:00 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Clippers couldn't get past a short-handed team to start this weekend but will get to face another to close it out.

The New Orleans Pelicans might not have star Anthony Davis for the rest of the season, and the Clippers will try to take advantage of his absence Sunday night while earning a fifth consecutive win in the series.

Los Angeles (43-25) fell 113-102 on Saturday night to a Memphis team that was missing several key players and dropped to 1-2 on its five-game trip.

"I'm just disappointed that we got outcompeted tonight, and it was clear," coach Doc Rivers told the team's official website. "It actually started in practice (Friday). It was a waste-of-time practice, it was a waste-of-time game for us today, it was a waste-of-time shootaround.

"We didn't do anything today. That's on me too, though. I've got to get them ready. They weren't ready to play."

The Clippers remain four games in front of the fifth-place Grizzlies for homecourt advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, but they could use some wins to bolster that position.

If recent matchups with New Orleans (25-43) are any indication, they might get one Sunday. Los Angeles has won all three meetings against the Pelicans this season and 11 of 13.

The Clippers have faced Davis in two of those games, holding him to a combined 31 points and well below his average of 24.3. The Pelicans' three-time All-Star is currently dealing with knee and shoulder ailments, and coach Alvin Gentry indicated the option of shutting him down the rest of the way isn't off the table.

"I wouldn't say no to that. I think we have to be smart collectively," he said. "I think that's something we have to consider."

Los Angeles has won four of six in New Orleans, including a 95-89 victory in its only other trip this season Dec. 31.

J.J. Redick had 26 points in that game but was held to 11 on 2-of-10 shooting in a 114-111 overtime win in Los Angeles on Jan. 10. Chris Paul led the way with 25 points but could only manage nine on 3-of-18 shooting in the visit to New Orleans.

The Clippers point guard had 25 points in Saturday's defeat, 10 more than in a 122-106 victory against Houston on Wednesday.

Paul will try to lead Los Angeles to its first sweep of the Pelicans franchise in its 14 seasons of existence.

New Orleans will attempt to fend that off while earning just its third win in 12 games and second in six at home. The Pelicans fell 117-112 to visiting Portland on Friday with Davis missing the second half due to a left knee injury.

He scored 19 points in 14-plus minutes. Ryan Anderson and Jrue Holiday each finished with 30.

Anderson has a combined 59 points in his past two games but is averaging a more pedestrian 16.5 in his last two matchups with the Clippers.

Los Angeles center DeAndre Jordan has connected on 25 of 26 shots in the last four games and his past 19 in a row. His 70.9 shooting percentage is just shy of matching last season's 71.0, and the NBA's second-best in one season behind Wilt Chamberlain's 72.7 in 1972-73.

Jordan has shot 72.2 percent (13 of 18) while scoring 31 points in the three games against New Orleans.

**TheGame** · 03-20-2016, 07:46 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 3/20

Preview: Jazz (33-36) at Bucks (30-39)

Date: March 20, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The Utah Jazz got their best player back, although their playoff hopes took a hit as a four-game win streak ended.

The Milwaukee Bucks may face them with some unfamiliar players getting some major playing time.

The Jazz seek to even their mark on this five-game trip Sunday night when they meet a dangerous and loose Bucks team that has won four of five.

Utah (33-36) welcomed back Gordon Hayward in Saturday's 92-85 defeat at Chicago in the opener of this trip after he missed the previous two games with plantar fasciitis of the right foot. Hayward, averaging 20.0 points, was held to nine on 4-of-13 shooting.

The Jazz, who shot 40.7 percent, fell one game behind Dallas for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot. They trail Houston by 1 1/2 games and Portland by 2 1/2.

'I felt fine out there,' Hayward said. 'We didn't have a good shooting night and struggled a little bit early defensively.'

Utah likely can't afford to lose to a Bucks club it has defeated in 17 of the last 21 meetings. Milwaukee (30-39) may be poised to post a rare win in this series because of this 4-1 stretch as well as a 12-6 run at home.

Coach Jason Kidd opted for an unusual lineup in the fourth quarter comprised entirely of reserves in Thursday's 96-86 victory over Memphis. None of the starters saw any action in the fourth as the Bucks outscored the Grizzlies 28-13 behind Tyler Ennis' 13 points in the period - a career high.

Milwaukee's bench averages 27.3 points - one of the NBA's worst marks.

'They were like grasshoppers out there,' Kidd said. 'They had a lot of energy and spunk. I guess the coach has been holding them back a little bit. They earned the minutes to finish that game.'

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 15 points and 11 assists and Khris Middleton had 14 points and 10 boards among the starters, and Kidd said he may give his reserves even more minutes if his first five continues to falter.

Ennis could be the beneficiary, totaling 35 points on 55.6 percent shooting in his last four games.

"Not having to rely on guys like Khris and Giannis and those guys that play 45 minutes a game, if we have guys coming off the bench every night, different guys, it will help," Ennis said.

Rashad Vaughn was one of the reserves who played the entire fourth quarter Thursday, but he has since been assigned to the Development League.

There's a chance that guard Greivis Vasquez could see his first action since Nov. 27 after being out following right ankle surgery. Vasquez has been practicing this week.

Milwaukee takes 81.0 percent of its shots from inside the 3-point line for the league's highest mark and averages an NBA-best 50.3 points in the paint.

Derrick Favors led the Jazz with 24 points Saturday as they held a 50-36 scoring edge in the paint.

Utah averages 93.5 possessions per 48 minutes for the league's slowest pace. The Jazz are 9-6 in the second half of back-to-back games.

The Jazz beat the Bucks 84-81 on Feb. 5 behind Rodney Hood's 23 points.

**TheGame** · 03-20-2016, 07:47 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 3/20

Preview: Kings (26-42) at Knicks (28-42)

Date: March 20, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

Dysfunction has been the story for the New York Knicks and the Sacramento Kings, who have been dismal since the All-Star break.

Only two teams have worse records than these clubs in that span but one of them will win when they meet Sunday night at Madison Square Garden.

Sacramento (26-42) is 4-11 since the break and New York (28-42) is 5-10. Only the Los Angeles Lakers at 3-11 and Philadelphia at 1-15 have been worse. The Kings will finish with their 10th straight losing season and the Knicks their third in a row.

These teams are similarly built around superstars that many basketball observers believe are flawed in New York's Carmelo Anthony and Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins. Anthony, who said earlier this week he was unsure about his future with the Knicks, was evaluated for migraines after he scored 20 in Saturday's 99-89 loss at Washington.

Cousins has repeatedly clashed with coach George Karl, who is rumored to be fired. The Knicks have already fired Derek Fisher and replaced him with interim coach Kurt Rambis.

Hope for the future is based on 7-foot rookies selected two picks apart in the draft in the Knicks' Kristaps Porzingis and the Kings' Willie Cauley-Stein. Both are showing signs of the drain of the long season.

Porzingis is shooting 39.3 percent overall and 28.0 percent on 3-pointers in his 14 games playing under Rambis. He shot 42.3 percent and 34.9 percent in 53 games under Fisher.

Cauley-Stein sat out Friday's 115-108 loss at Detroit with an illness. He has been disappointing lately, failing to score at least 10 points in nine of his previous 11 games.

Cousins had 31 points and 10 rebounds Friday in Sacramento's 11th loss in 13 games. The Kings trailed 39-25 after one quarter before rallying to get back into the contest only to get outscored 18-12 over the final 6:36.

'Slow start, slow end,' said forward Rudy Gay, who scored 19. 'We've just got to put together a whole game of good basketball.'

Rajon Rondo, averaging an NBA-high 11.9 assists, returned with 10 points and 13 assists after missing a game with a variety of injuries.

The Kings have a major edge with an average of 49.7 points in the paint to rank second in the NBA while the Knicks rank last at 36.5.

Sacramento enjoyed a 62-26 advantage in that category in a 99-97 home win Dec. 10. Cousins had 27 points and 11 boards and Anthony had 23 and 14, although he missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

New York blew an 18-point lead in its 20th loss in 26 games Saturday. Porzingis scored 20 for the Knicks, who shot 39.5 percent.

Point guard Jose Calderon was seen limping during the game. His status was in doubt due to a calf injury that he plans to test out Sunday.

"That it is the plan, that is the plan, going out tomorrow, get treatment in the morning, get treatment before the game," he said. "Hopefully it won't get a big swelling or something, so hopefully everything is good."

The Knicks are 7-8 in the second half of back-to-back sets.

**TheGame** · 03-20-2016, 07:47 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 3/20

NBA

Sunday's hot teams
-- Toronto won six of its last seven games (3-1 last 4HF).
-- Utah won its last four games (4-10 last 14AU). Milwaukee won four of its last five games (6-2 last 8HF).

Cold teams
-- Portland lost six of its last nine games. Mavericks lost seven of their last eight games.
-- Orlando lost six of its last eight games (2-3 last 5AU).
-- Boston lost five of its last six games (6-3 last 9AF). 76ers lost nine of their last ten games (3-1 last 4HU).
-- Clippers lost four of their last six games (9-2 last 11AF). New Orleans lost five of its last six (5-3 last 8HU).
-- Kings lost seven of their last eight games (2-6 last 8AU). New York lost seven of its last ten games (10-6HF).

Series records
-- Mavericks won three of last four games with Dallas.
-- Raptors won nine of last ten games with Orlando.
-- Celtics won their last seven games with Philadelphia.
-- Clippers won their last four games with New Orleans.
-- Jazz won eight of their last ten games with Milwaukee.
-- Knicks lost four of their last five games with Sacramento.

Totals
-- Seven of last eight Portland games went over the total.
-- Five of last seven Toronto games stayed under the total.
-- Three of last four Boston games stayed under the total.
-- Seven of last eight Pelican games went over the total.
-- Over is 10-2 in last 12 Utah games if it played night before.
-- Under is 9-2 in New York's last eleven games.

Back/backs
-- Clippers won last six games if they played the night before.
-- Utah is 3-5 in last eight road games if it played night before.
-- Knicks won four of last five if they played the night before.

Announcement

NBA Betting Info. 3/20

NBA Betting Info. 3/20

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