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NBA Betting Info. 4/3

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  • NBA Betting Info. 4/3

    NBA Knowledge

    Sunday's hot teams
    -- Dallas won its last three games, allowing 89-89-88 points (6-1 last 7A)
    -- Charlotte won seven of last nine games (9-4 last 13A).
    -- Cleveland won five of its last seven games (4-7 last 11HF).
    -- Thunder won nine of their last ten games (5-2 last 7AF).
    -- Clippers won four of their last five games (3-5 last 8HF).
    -- Utah won seven of its last ten games (8-4AF).
    -- Orlando won three of its last four games (4-1 last 5HF).
    -- Bucks won three of last five home games (8-2 last 10HF).
    -- Golden State won six of its last seven games (0-4 last 4HF).
    -- Blazers won their last four games (2-3 last 5AU).
    -- Celtics won five of their last seven games (7-4 last 11AF).

    Cold teams
    -- Pelicans lost four of their last six games (4-1 last 5AU).
    -- Nets are 2-7 in their last nine games (2-2HF).
    -- Minnesota lost three of its last four games (0-3 last 3H).
    -- Rockets lost five of their last seven games (5-3HU).
    -- Washington lost four of its last six games (2-4 last 6AU).
    -- Phoenix lost its last five games (3-2 last 5HU).
    -- Grizzlies lost their last five games (4-2 last 6AU).
    -- Bulls lost five of their last seven games (5-1 last 6AU).
    -- Indiana lost three of last four games (1-3 last 4AF).
    -- Knicks also lost three of last four games (2-6 last 8HU).
    -- Lakers lost eight of their last ten games (5-7 last 12HU).

    Series records
    -- Pelicans won their last four games with Brooklyn.
    -- Mavericks won their last six games with Minnesota.
    -- Cavaliers won five of last six games with Charlotte.
    -- Houston won five of last seven games with Oklahoma City.
    -- Clippers won eight of last ten games with Washington.
    -- Jazz won six of their last eight games with Phoenix.
    -- Grizzlies won last nine games (6-3 vs spread) with Orlando.
    -- Bulls won three of last four games with Milwaukee.
    -- Knicks lost their last five games with Indiana.
    -- Warriors won five of last six games with Portland.
    -- Lakers won five of last six games with Boston.

    Totals
    -- Four of last five New Orleans games stayed under.
    -- Five of last seven Minnesota games stayed under.
    -- Four of last five Cleveland games stayed under total.
    -- Six of last seven Houston games stayed under.
    -- Five of last six Clipper games stayed under the total.
    -- Eight of last ten Utah games stayed under the total.
    -- Under is 5-3 in last eight Orlando games.
    -- Seven of last eight Chicago games stayed under.
    -- Five of last six Indiana-New York games stayed under.
    -- Five of last six Portland games stayed under.
    -- Five of last six Boston games stayed under total.

    Back/backs
    -- Bulls are 4-10 in last 14 games if they played night before.
    -- Indiana covered four of last six if it played night before.
    -- Portland covered four of last five if it played night before.

  • #2
    Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/3

    StatFox Super Situations


    NBA | PORTLAND at GOLDEN STATE
    Play Under - Home teams where the total is greater than or equal to 200 after going under the total by 30 or more points total in their last three games, on Sunday games
    81-40 since 1997. ( 66.9% | 37.0 units )
    7-6 this year. ( 53.8% | 0.4 units )


    NBA | INDIANA at NEW YORK
    Play On - Any team vs the money line (INDIANA) off an upset loss by 15 points or more as a home favorite, with a winning record on the season
    54-27 over the last 5 seasons. ( 66.7% | 28.9 units )
    5-4 this year. ( 55.6% | 2.6 units )


    NBA | NEW ORLEANS at BROOKLYN
    Play Under - Home teams where the first half total is greater than 100 off a loss by 10 points or more to a division rival, on Sunday games
    46-18 since 1997. ( 71.9% | 26.2 units )
    5-2 this year. ( 71.4% | 2.8 units )

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/3

      Preview: Pelicans (28-47) at Nets (21-55)


      Date: April 03, 2016 1:00 PM EDT


      Out of playoff contention and depleted by injuries, the New Orleans Pelicans have hope for a brighter future. The Brooklyn Nets are still trying to sort out theirs.


      The Pelicans' makeshift lineup attempts to build on their latest effort and match the franchise's longest winning streak over the lowly Nets on Sunday.


      New Orleans (28-47) has been decimated by injuries with star forward Anthony Davis out for the season due to his knee. The injured list also includes the rest of the Pelicans' top five scorers; Ryan Anderson (groin), Jrue Holiday (eye), Eric Gordon (finger) and Tyreke Evans (knee) while Norris Cole (back), Alonzo Gee (quadriceps), Bryce Dejean-Jones (wrist) and Quincy Pondexter (knee) are also lost for the season.


      While the injuries are piling up and New Orleans has already clinched a last-place finish in the Southwest Division, there's hope for improvement in 2016-17 with Davis as the face of the franchise and another lottery pick coming this summer.


      Brooklyn hosts the draft, but the Nets (21-55) don't currently have a first-round pick after trading it to Boston three years ago. That pick will at least be in the top five since Brooklyn's record is only ahead of league-worst Philadelphia, Phoenix and the Los Angeles Lakers.


      The Pelicans, meanwhile, have won two of three while dipping into the D-League to fill out their roster. Tim Frazier, James Ennis and Jordan Hamilton combined for 42 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists in Thursday's 101-95 win over Denver, as coach Alvin Gentry extended the franchise record with a 38th different lineup.


      Frazier was signed to a 10-day contract on March 16 before being re-signed for the rest of the season, while Hamilton and Ennis are still on 10-day deals.


      "It's been really impressive," said forward Luke Babbitt, who had 22 points and 10 boards. "Tim's done a good job, and the two new guys (Hamilton and Ennis) have done a great job just playing hard, knocking down shots and defending. It's not always going to be pretty, but we're going to fight and that means a lot in the NBA."


      It could also mean a fifth straight win over the Nets, tying the club record set from 2007-10. However, six of the nine players New Orleans used in a 105-103 win Jan. 30 are out. The only healthy starter from that meeting is Omer Asik, who had six points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.


      The center has averaged 11.1 points and 13.6 boards over his last seven meetings with Brooklyn.


      The Nets are in the midst of their seventh losing streak of at least four games in length. They fell 105-91 at New York on Friday, shooting 35.6 percent from the floor and 4 for 24 from 3-point range.


      "It's a little tough finding a rhythm out there but there's no real good reason," center Brook Lopez said. "We just haven't been playing up to our standards."


      That's certainly true for Lopez, who has totaled 21 points and 11 rebounds while playing two of the last three games. He was averaging 25.0 points and 7.3 boards over the previous four games, and he had 33 and 10 at New Orleans in January.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/3

        Preview: Mavericks (38-38) at Timberwolves (25-51)


        Date: April 03, 2016 3:30 PM EDT


        Back where they expect to be in the playoff race, one might forgive the Dallas Mavericks for overlooking their next opponent given the series history and the matchup that follows.


        With a huge game looming against another postseason hopeful, the Mavericks visit the slumping Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday seeking a season sweep and seventh straight win in the series.


        Dallas and Utah hold matching 38-38 records for the final two playoff spots in the Western Conference, while Wednesday opponent Houston sits one game back.


        A 2-10 slump threatened to knock the Mavericks out of the tight pack, but a three-game win streak and a 2-5 slump from the Rockets has jumbled the back end of the standings yet again.


        Dallas closes the season with four games against current playoff teams - Memphis, the Los Angeles Clippers, Utah and San Antonio - and may be missing some key pieces for the stretch run.


        While Deron Williams (sports hernia) missed his fifth straight game Friday and Raymond Felton (groin strain) sat out, J.J. Barea ran the show and poured in 29 points in a 98-89 win at Detroit.


        "We are where we need to be right now," Barea said. "We have six games left and we're focused. We're in a good rhythm, so hopefully we can finish strong."


        Barea's offensive workload has increased with no timetable for Williams' return and Chandler Parsons (knee surgery) out until the second round of the playoffs at the earliest. Barea has averaged 20.3 points - nearly double his season average of 10.7 - on 52 percent shooting with 5.8 assists the last six games.


        He will try to help the banged-up Mavericks to their seventh straight win in this series and a four-game sweep of the Timberwolves (25-51). Dallas has won three in a row in Minnesota and is 14-3 there in the last nine years.


        While the Timberwolves are 13-25 at Target Center, the Mavs are 17-21 on the road.


        Dirk Nowitzki dropped 29 points in this season's first matchup, but the Mavericks will have to make up for Parsons' production in the last two. He torched the Timberwolves for 59 points on 65.7 percent shooting, including 7 of 13 from long range.


        The Mavericks' offensive numbers have taken a hit by failing to reach 100 points the last three games, but it's their defensive stinginess that has led to their surge. Dallas held Denver, New York and the Pistons to fewer than 90 points after allowing an average of 124 while losing four of five games previously.


        Minnesota has struggled mightily to score in consecutive losses to the Clippers and Jazz, shooting 39.2 percent in losses of 99-79 on Wednesday and 98-85 on Friday.


        Andrew Wiggins scored 24 points against Utah, and Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in 17 and 11 rebounds. Coach Sam Mitchell praised the effort of his players, two days after blasting them.


        "Our guys played hard, I thought they competed," Mitchell said. "I thought we made some mental mistakes, but we didn't make shots and that team is long, so you are not going to get a lot of second shots."


        Zach LaVine was red-hot in mid March, but he has made 1 of 15 shots for three points the last two games combined. Ricky Rubio is 4 of 17 from the floor in that time while averaging only 7.5 points and 5.0 assists.


        The Timberwolves couldn't help the Mavericks with a win over the Jazz, but they still have games left against Portland, which holds the West's sixth spot, and the Rockets.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/3

          Preview: Hornets (44-31) at Cavaliers (54-22)


          Date: April 03, 2016 3:30 PM EDT


          The Charlotte Hornets are playoff-bound, and now they will face some tough matchups against the best in the Eastern Conference.


          This three-game trip begins against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, with the Hornets still in contention for a division crown.


          Charlotte (44-31) clinched Saturday when Chicago lost to Detroit. The Hornets are also in a tight Southeast Division race with Atlanta and Miami.


          "It would be nice, especially for me," guard Kemba Walker said. "I've been through a lot in the last couple of years with this team. I think it would be really cool if we could win the division."


          Charlotte will face the East's first two division champions on this trip, including Tuesday's game at Toronto. Up first is Cleveland (54-22) and James, whose 469 isolations rank third in the league.


          "LeBron is gonna iso a lot and both (DeMar) DeRozan and (Kyle) Lowry are going to iso a lot," coach Steve Clifford said. "I don't know what the percentages would be but when you look into it, in a league where people don't iso a lot anymore, those teams do."


          James is averaging 27.3 points in 24 home games against the Hornets, including two contests in the postseason with his career-best 61-point effort two seasons ago.


          His 23-1 overall home record versus Charlotte trails only his 12-0 mark versus the Los Angeles Clippers and a 7-0 mark against Cleveland as far as winning percentage.


          James was magnificent as he just missed a triple-double with 29 points, a season-high 16 rebounds and nine assists in Friday's 110-108 overtime road victory over the Hawks. He assisted on the Cavaliers' first two baskets of the extra session as they never trailed after regulation.


          "We've been together for almost two years now, anytime we get an opportunity to experience a one-possession game or some adversity and you're able to come through it, it's a big moment for our team," said James, who moved past Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson into 11th place on the NBA's scoring list.


          Kyrie Irving scored 20 and Kevin Love added 15 for the Cavaliers, who made 12 of 38 3-pointers to extend their streak of double-digit 3s to a franchise-best 14 straight games. Only Golden State had a longer run this season with 16 straight.


          Cleveland is 2-1 against Charlotte this season, with James scoring between 23 and 25 in each contest. The team that has won the rebounding battle has prevailed each time, although Love managed his second-lowest total with two in a 114-103 home win Feb. 24 as the Cavaliers held a 47-43 edge.


          Tristan Thompson, who grabbed 14 boards Friday, has totaled 22 in the wins over the Hornets. He was held to four as Charlotte enjoyed a 49-28 advantage in its 106-97 victory Feb. 3, prevailing despite playing without an injured Walker.


          Charlotte is an East-leading 14-3 since the start of March and enters with a three-game win streak after defeating league-worst Philadelphia 100-85 on Tuesday and 100-91 on Friday. Walker had 27 points and a season-high 11 rebounds in the latest triumph.


          Guard Nicolas Batum is averaging 21.0 points and 9.0 assists in his last three games. He is averaging 12.0 points and 5.0 assists versus Cleveland.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/3

            Preview: Thunder (53-23) at Rockets (37-39)


            Date: April 03, 2016 3:30 PM EDT


            It may seem oddly masochistic to be pining for a playoff matchup with one of two record-smashing NBA powers, but that's the exact sentiment of the Houston Rockets.


            Sitting one game below the postseason cutoff in the Western Conference, the Rockets need a win against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday before a key matchup with one of the two teams they're battling for a postseason berth.


            Houston (37-39) was tied with Dallas and clinging to a playoff spot after winning its third straight March 11, but seven losses in 11 games, coupled with Utah's 9-3 surge in the same span, have dropped the Rockets into ninth place in the West.


            They entered the fourth quarter against Chicago on Thursday with a nine-point lead only to be outscored 32-20 en route to a 103-100 loss. Houston shot a paltry 28.6 percent (6 for 21) in the final 12 minutes.


            The Rockets have actually shot the ball well in the fourth during the 11-game slump at 49.3 percent, but their defense has been horrid with an average of 28.1 points allowed.


            Wednesday's loss was another sign of the club's wild inconsistency. Houston's wins in the last seven games came against Toronto and Cleveland - the top two teams in the East - while they've lost to teams at the cutoff like the Jazz, Bulls and Indiana.


            "It's very frustrating, especially in games where we should win," said James Harden, who had only four points in the fourth after netting 18 in the final period of Wednesday's win against the Cavaliers. "We've got to figure it out."


            A win against Oklahoma City (53-23) would be a good start ahead of Wednesday's crucial game against the Mavericks, who are tied with Utah in the standings.


            The Jazz and Mavs both play Sunday, so a three-way tie is possible once the weekend is over, and there is also the benefit of Utah facing San Antonio on Tuesday before the Rockets head to Dallas. Houston can avoid Golden State in the first round by moving above Dallas and Utah, but seventh place only leads to the Spurs.


            Neither matchup is a welcoming proposition, but first things first against the Thunder, who have won two of the first three meetings this season and don't necessarily need to send their star players out on the floor for this contest.


            Oklahoma City moved 5 1/2 games ahead in the race for the No. 3 seed in the West with a 119-117 win over the fourth-place Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.


            Kevin Durant scored 31 points and Steven Adams made a go-ahead tip-in with 26.9 seconds left against a Clippers team that rested Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan. Russell Westbrook added 26 points and 11 assists and the Thunder overcame a 16-of-29 outing from 3-point range by Los Angeles with a 46-26 rebounding edge.


            "I give our guys credit for battling and hanging in there through an incredible shooting night by them," coach Billy Donovan said.


            Westbrook has been electric against the Rockets this season with a pair of triple-doubles - both in victories - and has posted three in the last four meetings. He's averaging 28.0 points, 13.3 assists and 10.3 rebounds over that span.


            Harden has been the horse for Houston with 31.3 points per game against the Thunder this season despite shooting 29.6 percent (8 for 27) from 3-point range.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/3

              Preview: Wizards (37-39) at Clippers (47-28)


              Date: April 03, 2016 3:30 PM EDT


              The Washington Wizards' final push for the Eastern Conference's last playoff spot starts in a place they haven't won in over eight years.


              Not to mention the opponent is expected to finally get its leading scorer back.


              The rested Los Angeles Clippers hope to start jelling for the postseason with the return of Blake Griffin on Sunday at Staples Center while simultaneously derailing the Wizards' last-ditch effort to get there.


              Washington (37-39) snapped a two-game losing streak and moved to 2-2 on its five-game trip with Friday's much-needed 106-99 victory at Phoenix. The win came on the heels of Wednesday's disappointing 120-111 loss at Sacramento in which Bradley Beal said his team "gave up."


              However, the Wizards are still within striking distance of the East's No. 8 seed, though they need to pass two teams to get there.


              A good first step would be snapping a seven-game skid against the Clippers at Staples, where the Wizards haven't beaten them since Feb. 13, 2008. A 108-91 victory in Washington D.C. on Dec. 28 gave Los Angeles 12 wins in the last 14 of this series.


              That was just the second game without Griffin for the Clippers (47-28), who are likely locked into the fourth spot in the West.


              The five-time All-Star was posting MVP-caliber numbers with 23.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game, but he hasn't played since Christmas because of a torn quadriceps and fractured hand, the second injury from punching a team employee that also cost him a four-game suspension.


              The Clippers, who went 30-15 without their star, are expected to plug Griffin back into the starting lineup for their final seven games hoping to build him up to the 34.9 minutes he averaged previously.


              "We always say we can get through the regular season and win a lot of games, but our goal is to win a championship," Paul Pierce told the team's official website.


              "We know we can't do that without Blake, so it's going to be good to get him back for the last few games of the season so he can get his legs under him, and hopefully we can get a hot streak going into the playoffs."


              The Clippers, who are 25-12 at Staples Center, offset a 1-5 stretch with four straight wins and then used Thursday's 119-117 loss at Oklahoma City as a chance to rest Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and J.J. Redick.


              With two more back-to-back sets left on the schedule, coach Doc Rivers said he may rest his starters again. In the meantime, he was happy with the 32 points the Clippers got from both his son Austin Rivers and Jamal Crawford.


              After their demoralizing loss to the Kings, the Wizards rallied from an eight-point third-quarter deficit to pick up a win over the lowly Suns and keep their dim playoff hopes alive.


              John Wall had 22 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, and Beal and Markieff Morris each scored 21 to help Washington to just its second win in the last six games.


              The Wizards have surrendered an average of 119 points on 51.6 percent shooting in their four losses during their down stretch compared to 93.5 points on 38.3 percent in their two wins.


              "When we play defense and we're locked in, we're a totally different team," Wall said. "It's the end of the season, there's only six games left, but that's something we've been preaching all year."

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/3

                Preview: Jazz (38-38) at Suns (20-56)


                Date: April 03, 2016 6:00 PM EDT


                The Utah Jazz have become known for their defense under Quin Snyder, and they've certainly tightened things up while taking control of their own playoff destiny.


                That effort, along with Trey Lyles' performance, is making it easier to play without Derrick Favors.


                With their second-leading scorer's status uncertain, the visiting Jazz hope to keep pace in the Western Conference playoff chase Sunday night when they seek their first four-game sweep of the Phoenix Suns in 16 years.


                Utah surrendered a league-low average of 94.9 points in Snyder's first season and ranks second with 96.1 allowed per game so far in 2015-16. The club has elevated its defensive intensity of late, giving up just 87.8 in the last 10 of its current 9-3 stretch.


                The Jazz (38-38) held mighty Golden State well below its league-leading scoring average (115.3) in Wednesday's 103-96 overtime home loss before limiting Minnesota to 37 points in the second half of Friday's 98-85 home victory. Rudy Gobert led the effort with three blocks as Utah improved to 17-6 when the center has turned away at least that many.


                Gordon Hayward led the way offensively with 22 points while Lyles added 18 and Rodney Hood scored 17. Lyles could get another start after finishing one shy of his career high with Favors likely to be game-time call after sitting out due to right knee soreness.


                Tied with Dallas for seventh in the West and one game ahead of ninth-place Houston, the Jazz can't afford to stumble against lesser opponents as they look to earn their second trip to the postseason in the past six years. They'll try to take care of business versus Phoenix (20-56) ahead of tough home matchups with San Antonio and the Los Angeles Clippers.


                "We know every game is not going to be a blowout because you think it's going to be a blowout. ... It might be a grind," Hood said. "We're playing with urgency. ... It's hard not to (watch what other teams are doing.) But we control what we can control.'


                Hood has given the club a lift in the past three games, averaging 22.3 points while hitting 12 of 21 from 3-point range. He had scored 18.7 per game over his previous three against Phoenix before finishing with eight on 4-of-13 shooting in a 103-69 home rout March 17.


                The Jazz have won six of the past eight meetings, including three victories this season by an average of a 21.4 points. After limiting Phoenix to 82.3 points per game on 36.9 percent shooting in those contests, they can sweep this series for the first time since 1999-2000.


                The Suns shot 38.7 percent while playing without Brandon Knight and Jon Leuer in Friday's 106-99 home loss to Washington. Knight remains doubtful with a sports hernia, while Leuer's status is uncertain because of an ankle injury.


                Mirza Teletovic stepped up with 34 points and 12 rebounds while P.J. Tucker contributed 18 and 10. Devin Booker got off to a rough start this month with 14 points on 6-of-22 shooting after the rookie guard had averaged 22.4 points in 16 games last month.


                'This is part of the process for Devin, being the closer,' interim coach Earl Watson said after his team's fifth straight loss. 'I guarantee you he's more motivated (after this game).'

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/3

                  Preview: Grizzlies (41-35) at Magic (32-44)


                  Date: April 03, 2016 6:00 PM EDT


                  Bruised and battered like no other club in NBA history, the Memphis Grizzlies are desperately clinging to a playoff spot after setting a record no one hopes to reach.


                  With players like Jarell Martin, Xavier Munford and JaMychal Green forced into major roles, the Grizzlies hope to avoid their longest losing streak in more than six years Sunday night when they visit the suddenly high-scoring Orlando Magic.


                  The Grizzlies have a slim edge over sixth-place Portland in the Western Conference playoff picture, but even a four-game lead over ninth-place Houston doesn't feel safe.


                  Memphis has lost leading scorers Marc Gasol and Mike Conley for the rest of the regular season and several others have missed time. As a result, the team set a league single-season record Friday when Bryce Cotton became the 28th player to suit up.


                  'We just have to stay the course and continue to just fight,' veteran swingman Vince Carter said. 'No one said it's going to be easy, and I think everyone understands that.'


                  Zach Randolph, the club's go-to scorer by default, had 16 points on 6-of-18 shooting in a 99-95 home loss to Toronto in his second game back after missing two because of an ankle injury. No other player scored more than 12 as the Grizzlies shot 40.7 percent.


                  Memphis (41-35), however, limited the Raptors to 42.3 percent shooting after allowing an average of 106.8 points on 52 percent in the first four games of its skid. The club hopes to build on that effort as it tries to avoid dropping six in a row for the first time since a seven-game slide in November 2009.


                  Orlando (32-44) has scored 118.5 per game over its last four, including Tuesday's 139-105 home rout of Brooklyn that marked the team's highest-scoring effort since 2009.


                  "We just have to stay together and understand that the game is not won quarter to quarter. It's won in 48 minutes overall," Memphis guard Tony Allen told the team's official website. "Paying attention to detail is going to be key because that team in Orlando, I just saw the other day they had 139 points. I know they like to run-and-gun and we just have to be ready to defend and play our style of basketball."


                  Victor Oladipo filled the stat sheet for the Magic with 18 points, five assists, five steals and four blocks in a 113-110 loss at Milwaukee that snapped a three-game winning streak.


                  Nikola Vucevic has provided a boost by totaling 46 points on 22-of-28 shooting in two games since missing 13 because of a groin injury. The center also led the Magic with 16 points and 14 rebounds in a 108-102 overtime loss at Memphis on Jan. 25.


                  "The guys have played well the last few games, but it's just a (four)-game stretch and a small sample size,' coach Scott Skiles told the team's official website. "We'll have to see if we can keep it going and end the season on a high note playing good basketball."


                  The Magic look to bounce back by winning three straight at home for the first time since November, but they've dropped nine in a row in this series.


                  Randolph finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Grizzlies in January, and he's averaged 19.8 points on 50.7 percent shooting in his last five meetings.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/3

                    Preview: Bulls (38-38) at Bucks (32-44)


                    Date: April 03, 2016 7:00 PM EDT


                    The Chicago Bulls don't have much time to regroup after what could be the most damaging loss to their playoff hopes.


                    They'll make the short trip Sunday night to face the Milwaukee Bucks in a contest they can't afford to lose with postseason aspirations dwindling.


                    Chicago (38-38) is in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, trailing Detroit by 2 1/2 games and Indiana by two. The Bulls fell 94-90 at home to the Pistons on Saturday, missing a chance to pull within one-half game of a playoff spot despite Jimmy Butler's first triple-double as he had 28 points and career highs of 17 rebounds and 12 assists.


                    'I just felt like I could have done more,' Butler said. 'I could have made some more shots or played better defense. There's always room for improvement. All I want to do is win. I didn't do my job. We as a whole didn't do our job.'


                    Pau Gasol had 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Bulls, who shot 38.6 percent and know that an eighth straight trip to the postseason is in severe jeopardy.


                    "We're aware of our situation and math is probably against us at this point but we also have a mentality of continuing to compete and continuing to fight and give ourselves a chance," Gasol said. "We don't depend on ourselves but we can control our effort and our spirit on the floor so that's what we're going to continue to do."


                    Chicago isn't at full strength since Derrick Rose sat out Saturday with a bruised left elbow after he missed the second half of Thursday's 103-100 victory over Houston.


                    Rose said the elbow is getting better each day, but it remains tender. He's unsure if he'll play Sunday.


                    "I'm too blessed, man,' he said. 'I've played in numerous games this year. Still got a chance to make the playoffs. So I'm not worried about being out.'


                    Forward Taj Gibson is also out indefinitely by a broken rib.


                    Chicago is 6-10 in the second game of back-to-back sets as it looks to capture three of four from Milwaukee. Butler has gone for 62 points and 16 assists in two games versus the Bucks.


                    Milwaukee (32-44) improved to 2-1 on this five-game homestand with Friday's 113-110 victory over Orlando. Jabari Parker scored 26 on 12-of-14 shooting and Giannis Antetokounmpo notched his fifth triple-double with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.


                    "We're not going to make it to the playoffs no more so the only thing we're thinking is to get better as a team and be as a unit," Antetokounmpo said.


                    Tyler Ennis scored a career-high 15, including two free throws with four seconds left for the final margin.


                    'Tyler's not going to panic,' coach Jason Kidd said. 'He's a guy, no matter what the score, he's always calm. He's a point guard that is always under control. His teammates trust him.'


                    Antetokounmpo is averaging 19.7 points on 52.3 percent shooting versus the Bulls while Khris Middleton is averaging 20.0 points on 39.7 percent.


                    Jerryd Bayless is uncertain after he sat out Friday with a hyperextended right knee suffered in the Bucks' previous game.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/3

                      Preview: Pacers (40-36) at Knicks (31-46)

                      Date: April 03, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

                      What appeared to be a fairly simple road trip against two terrible teams has proved to be anything but for the Indiana Pacers.

                      They needed a late run to scrape past the league's worst team and now look to defeat the New York Knicks for the sixth straight meeting Sunday night.

                      Indiana (40-36) needed a 19-4 run in the final 4:38 to rally for Saturday's 115-102 victory at Philadelphia. C.J. Miles scored 25 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:39 left.

                      'We're satisfied with winning,' said forward Paul George, who had 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. 'We're not satisfied with how we won.'

                      The Pacers hold the Eastern Conference's eighth and final playoff spot with a two-game lead over Chicago, which lost Saturday at home to Detroit. Indiana trails the seventh-place Pistons by one-half game.

                      Miles turned in his biggest effort since scoring 27 versus Brooklyn on Feb. 3. He made 9 of 14 shots, including five 3-pointers.

                      'Just playing within myself, doing what I do,' Miles said. 'If I'm open, catch and shoot. If I'm not, try to read the closeout (by a defender) or get off of it, move as much as I can, run with these guys, because they push the ball and I know I can get shots in transition."

                      George's two 3-pointers gave him a career-best 200. He and notorious Knicks nemesis Reggie Miller are the only Pacers ever to record that many in a single season.

                      Even with the poor effort Saturday and despite a 5-10 mark in the second half of back-to-back games, the Pacers have to like their chances of sweeping this trip.

                      Indiana's five-game win streak over New York (31-46) includes a 108-105 victory Feb. 24, and two Knicks starters from that game may not see action.

                      Veteran point guard Jose Calderon sat out one game with a right quad contusion while rookie sensation Kristaps Porzingis has missed two straight with a strained right shoulder. The Knicks may shut down both for the rest of the season, particularly Porzingis since he's one of the franchise's cornerstones.

                      Rookie Jerian Grant took over for Calderon on Friday in his first start and had 14 points in a 105-91 victory over the Nets that snapped a three-game slide. Langston Galloway led New York with 18, scoring 14 in the fourth quarter.

                      "It was fun to get the win, to start, to be a part of it, it was fun," Grant said.

                      The Knicks are reducing the minutes of their veterans down the stretch. Carmelo Anthony scored 13 in 25 minutes and no one played more than Robin Lopez's 29.

                      'I thought guys played very well, especially coming down the stretch, kind of just taking advantage of the minutes that were given to them,' Anthony said.

                      Anthony is second in the NBA with 495 isolations. George entered Saturday with 315 as one of seven other players with at least 300.

                      Galloway, who averages 7.6 points, has totaled 36 in his last two games versus the Pacers.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/3

                        Preview: Celtics (44-32) at Lakers (16-59)


                        Date: April 03, 2016 9:30 PM EDT


                        A few days after a brief video not intended for public consumption brought turmoil upon the Lakers, the Celtics spent 2 1/2 hours working on something that figures to have a far longer shelf life on the Internet.


                        Boston's disruption of the defending champions' run at history won't mean nearly as much if it can't follow with a win Sunday night at Staples Center, where Los Angeles will try to continue putting aside its Snapchat snafu in Kobe Bryant's final game in a rivalry that long precedes social media.


                        D'Angelo Russell and Nick Young spoke prior to Wednesday night's game against Miami after Russell's video exchange with Young - featuring the veteran speaking to the rookie about cheating on rapper fiancee Iggy Azalea - became public on Snapchat and sent a shockwave through the locker room.


                        A 102-100 overtime win over the Heat was a mere afterthought, lost in hypotheticals of how the video was leaked and how the Lakers (16-59) would be able to co-exist with the 20-year-old point guard moving forward.


                        "It's the elephant in the room, especially when those two guys come in the locker room," said Jordan Clarkson, a good friend of both players. "I don't know what they're doing to handle it out between them, but D'Angelo handled it the right way. He apologized. ... It was crazy, but it's LA. It's Nick and D'Angelo."


                        That story occupied the league's attention for a good portion of the week before the Celtics (44-32) brought it back to basketball on Friday night.


                        Facing what seemed like an inevitable 1-3 start to this five-game trip, Boston did the unthinkable at Oracle Arena, ending Golden State's NBA-record 54-game home winning streak and threatening the champs' pursuit of 72 victories with a 109-106 stunner.


                        "It's a big win for us, especially coming after two losses on this road trip," Amir Johnson said after Boston survived 20 Warriors 3s by forcing 22 turnovers. "Now we've gotta go finish one in LA."


                        Five of the first seven teams to beat Golden State lost their next game, but the Celtics don't seem like a team that will get too high on themselves - particularly since they're one of four teams fighting for the last two home-court advantage spots in the Eastern Conference.


                        There definitely won't be a hangover if they listen to their coach.


                        "The beautiful thing about staying with the process is that it never changes," Brad Stevens said. "Tomorrow is tomorrow."


                        There aren't many more of those in Bryant's basketball life as he'll only suit up two more times at Staples Center following Sunday's game.


                        He appears to be limping to the finish line after going 1 for 11 from the floor and finishing as a minus-43 in Monday's 123-75 loss at Utah before playing just 8:44 - and missing six of seven shots - against the Heat and exiting for good in the first quarter to get treatment on his knees and shoulder.


                        Byron Scott expects Bryant to play Sunday against the team he twice faced in the Finals.


                        "If he plays, he wants to play," Scott said. "He loves that competition. He loves competing at the highest level. The last game of playing eight, nine minutes didn't sit well with him, but what else can he do when he can't play?"


                        Bryant played a big role in the Lakers' surprising 112-104 win in Boston on Dec. 30. He finished just 5 of 18 from the field but scored nine of his 15 points in the fourth quarter, including a key 3-pointer with 1:39 left.


                        Russell had 16 points off the bench. Isaiah Thomas led the Celtics with 24 and Evan Turner had 20.


                        Boston rested Jae Crowder on Friday after he returned from an eight-game absence the night before, but Crowder should play Sunday.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/3

                          Preview: New Orleans At Brooklyn
                          When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, April 3, 2016
                          Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
                          The depleted New Orleans Pelicans have not given up on the season and are using the remaining games to take a look at some players that would not have gotten a chance with a fully healthy roster. The Brooklyn Nets, who host the Pelicans on Sunday, are attempting something similar but don’t have the luxury of a franchise cornerstone like Anthony Davis or an early pick in the upcoming draft.
                          New Orleans was without Davis (knee, shoulder), Ryan Anderson (sports hernia), Tyreke Evans (knee), Jrue Holiday (orbital fracture), Norris Cole (back) and Alonzo Gee (quad) on Thursday and used the opportunity to get a long look at newcomers like Tim Frazier, Jordan Hamilton and James Ennis. The three have played a combined 15 games with the Pelicans and totaled 42 points in Thursday’s 101-95 home win over the Denver Nuggets. The Nets have several of their own players trying to establish themselves in the NBA but are having a more difficult time generating wins. Thomas Robinson and Sean Kilpatrick each had strong games in expanded roles on Friday but Brooklyn suffered its fourth straight loss with a 105-91 setback at the New York Knicks.
                          TV: 1 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, YES (Brooklyn)
                          ABOUT THE PELICANS (28-47): Hamilton, Frazier and Ennis combined to go 8-of-15 from 3-point range in Thursday’s win while each playing at least 29 minutes. “There is a closeness within this group, when you get guys trying to establish themselves in this league and are trying to find a way,” New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters. “When you put them all out there together, there is a bond there, where they feel like they have to help each other.” That help came in the form of eight assists from Frazier, who is averaging 5.2 assists in nine games since joining the team.
                          ABOUT THE NETS (21-55): Brooklyn’s first-round draft pick, which figures to be in the top five, belongs to the Boston Celtics as part of the Paul Pierce-Kevin Garnett trade, so the team is instead trying to turn over some gems that were missed by other teams. Kilpatrick is with his third organization since the preseason but seems to have found a place as a scorer off the bench for the Nets and scored 17 on Friday to reach double figures for the 13th time in 16 games since joining the team. Robinson is a former No. 5 overall pick in 2012 but is already with his fifth organization and has been strong with three straight double-doubles since earning an expanded role with Brooklyn.
                          BUZZER BEATERS
                          1. Pelicans PG Toney Douglas has scored in double figures in each of the last 10 games and added 10 assists on Thursday for his first double-double since Mar. 18, 2011.
                          2. Nets G Wayne Ellington is 3-of-21 from the field, including 1-of-9 from 3-point range, in the last two games.
                          3. New Orleans grabbed a 105-103 home win over Brooklyn on Jan. 30 behind big games from Holiday (26 points), Anderson (24) and Davis (20).
                          PREDICTION: Pelicans 91, Nets 88

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/3

                            Preview: Charlotte At Cleveland
                            When: 3:30 PM ET, Sunday, April 3, 2016
                            Where: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
                            Kyrie Irving called his Cleveland Cavaliers the NBA’s “team to beat” but struggled to back up those words with a 5-of-23 performance in an overtime win at Atlanta on Friday. The Cavaliers will try to get one step closer to clinching the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference on Sunday when they host the Charlotte Hornets, who are locked in their own playoff battle.
                            Irving drew some criticism for his comments due to the fact that the defending champion Golden State Warriors are on a historic pace and the San Antonio Spurs aren’t far behind, but Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue supported his player before offering a modest clarification. “I think the team that we have, I think our team is very confident,” Lue told reporters. “When (Irving) says ‘the team to beat,’ I would say ‘the team to beat in the East.’ I wouldn’t say overall because the Golden State Warriors won the championship last year.” The Cavaliers have been up and down of late and struggled to look like a championship contender while squandering a 14-point halftime lead against the Hawks on Friday. Cleveland did a favor for the Hornets with that win, and Charlotte was knocking off the Philadelphia 76ers at the same time to stay in the four-team race for the No. 3 spot in the East along with Atlanta, Miami and Boston.
                            TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Charlotte), FSN Ohio (Cleveland)
                            ABOUT THE HORNETS (44-31): Charlotte had more trouble than it expected on Friday but still pulled out a 100-91 home win over the 76ers behind 27 points and 11 rebounds from Kemba Walker. The standout guard had been in a bit of a slump with one 20-point outing in his previous six games but buried three 3-pointers in the final 4:41 on Friday after Philadelphia had cut its deficit to just four points. The victory, combined with Atlanta’s loss, pulled the Hornets into a virtual tie for the No. 3 spot with the Hawks and Miami while Boston sits a half-game behind the pack entering Saturday.
                            ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (54-22): A drama-filled month of March is over and Cleveland has shifted into full-on playoff mode behind LeBron James, who pulled his team to victory with 29 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists on Friday. James moved past Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and into 11th place on the all-time scoring list in the win. “I wish I could’ve had a triple-double in passing him as well,” James told reporters. “That would’ve been the perfect thing. Any time I’m linked with the Big O, it’s an honor for myself. I understand and know how much he meant not only to the game of basketball but what he represented off the floor. It’s special to be linked with a guy like that who was so special.”
                            BUZZER BEATERS
                            1. Hornets F Marvin Williams scored in double figures in one of his last six games after putting up at least 12 points in each of the previous seven contests.
                            2. Irving is 24-of-82 from the floor in his last four games.
                            3. Cleveland has taken two of the three meetings this season including a 114-103 home triumph on Feb. 24 in which James and Irving scored 23 points apiece.
                            PREDICTION: Hornets 106, Cavaliers 104

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/3

                              Preview: Oklahoma City At Houston
                              When: 3:30 PM ET, Sunday, April 3, 2016
                              Where: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
                              The Oklahoma City Thunder likely took any slight drama out of the race for the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference with a win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday and have won nine of their last 10 games. The Houston Rockets, who host the Thunder on Sunday afternoon, are not nearly as secure in their postseason position.
                              The Rockets are fighting with the Dallas Mavericks and the Utah Jazz over the final two spots in the West and did not help themselves with a 103-100 home loss to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. Houston was outscored 32-20 in the fourth quarter against the Bulls and has dropped five of its last seven games to fall below .500, including a 111-107 setback at Oklahoma City on March 22. “We’ve done things that have worked and at times we get away from those things,” Rockets interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters. “That’s what this league is about, this league is about consistency in the approach, consistency in performance, the consistency in the belief of your system and consistency in willingness to work at it.” The Thunder leaned on Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant to pull out a 119-117 win over the Clippers, which pushed their lead over Los Angeles to 5 1/2 games with six to play.
                              TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
                              ABOUT THE THUNDER (53-23): Westbrook made the key defensive play that led to the go-ahead basket on Thursday and grabbed a rebound to clinch it at the end, capping off a 26-point, 11-assist, eight-rebound, four-steal performance. “I’m the type of guy who tries to make something happen,” Westbrook told reporters. “Sometimes I gamble and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. I’m a guy who is going to put my body on the line for my team and try to find a way to help us win.” Westbrook averaged 21.7 points, 10.6 assists and 8.2 rebounds and recorded seven triple-doubles in March.
                              ABOUT THE ROCKETS (37-39): Houston has played each of its last seven games against teams fighting for playoff spots, and the five losses came by an average of 4.8 points. The Rockets shot 6-of-21 from the field in the fourth quarter on Thursday as a nine-point lead evaporated. “It hurts them,” Bickerstaff told reporters of his players. “The opportunities are there in front of us – we have to take advantage of the opportunities. This was a team that we had on the ropes. (The Bulls) put in their second-unit guys, and their second-unit guys gave them a huge spark.”
                              BUZZER BEATERS
                              1. Rockets G Jason Terry, who is considering retirement after the season, interviewed for UAB’s head coaching job.
                              2. Thunder F Serge Ibaka is 24-of-42 from the field over his last four games.
                              3. Houston F Michael Beasley collected 20 points and 11 rebounds on Thursday for his first double-double since joining the team on March 4.
                              PREDICTION: Thunder 115, Rockets 103

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