NBA Betting Info. 4/8

[Satch]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/8

Preview: New York At Philadelphia
When: 7:00 PM ET, Friday, April 8, 2016
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Philadelphia 76ers set themselves on a path to several losing seasons in an effort to stock the team with young talent through the top of the draft under general manager Sam Hinkie, but the organization finally appears to be changing tactics. The 76ers will start their search for a new general manager as the roster Hinkie put together continues to play out the string on another losing season by hosting the New York Knicks on Friday.
Hinkie resigned as Philadelphia’s general manager with a 13-page letter on Wednesday but left the team with plenty of frontcourt talent, cap space and assets for the future. The 76ers went 47-195 in Hinkie’s tenure and his position within the front office became less secure when the team brought in veteran executive Jerry Colangelo in December. The Knicks aren’t on their way to the playoffs, either, and are trying to find a path to future greatness behind a front office led by Phil Jackson. The 11-time champion coach is so far not as successful as an executive but got a great return from first-round pick Kristaps Porzingis this season and still has Carmelo Anthony committed to sticking around and building a winning team.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), CSN Philadelphia
ABOUT THE KNICKS (31-48): Jackson is in charge of personnel decisions but Anthony would at least like to have a discussion with his boss. “I think you have to have some type of input, whether it’s input or dialogue, whatever word that you want to use, I think you have to have that,” Anthony told reporters. “I think at this point it needs to be some type of connection, some type of communication, especially if we want to right this ship – there definitely needs to be some type of communication.” The biggest decision for Jackson is who will coach the team going forward, and interim coach Kurt Rambis dropped to 8-17 since taking over the job when New York fell 111-97 to Charlotte on Wednesday.
ABOUT THE 76ERS (10-68): Hinkie’s “process” was often criticized by fans and media, and Colangelo’s arrival cut into his decision-making power. Philadelphia is reportedly close to bringing in Colangelo’s son, Bryan Colangelo, to help out in the front office and Hinkie took the opportunity to step away. “While we are disappointed in Sam’s decision, we would like to sincerely thank him for his contributions over the past three seasons,” 76ers managing general partner Josh Harris said in a statement. “There is no question that Sam’s work has put us in a very strong position to take advantage of numerous opportunities for an exciting future.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The 76ers became the last team in the NBA to reach double figures in wins with a 107-93 triumph over New Orleans on Tuesday.
2. New York G Sasha Vujacic is 11-of-18 from 3-point range in the last four games.
3. Philadelphia F/C Nerlens Noel (knee) returned from a six-game absence on Tuesday and collected four points and six rebounds in 18 minutes.
PREDICTION: Knicks 103, 76ers 99

[Satch]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/8

Preview: Milwaukee At Boston
When: 7:30 PM ET, Friday, April 8, 2016
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
The battle for third place in the Eastern Conference promises to come down to the final days of the regular season, and the Boston Celtics intend to win that race. The Celtics will try to keep the pressure on Atlanta, Miami and Charlotte with a fourth consecutive win when they host the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.
Boston is 26-12 at home and is aiming for homecourt advantage in the first round with the third or fourth seed in the East and will play Atlanta, Charlotte and Miami in the final three games of the regular season after playing the Bucks. The Celtics got 32 points from Isaiah Thomas in holding off the New Orleans Pelicans 104-97 on Wednesday and will play just one of their final four games on the road (at the Hawks on Saturday). Milwaukee has had plenty of chances to play spoiler of late but is struggling to embrace the role with seven losses in the last nine games. Each of those seven losses came against teams fighting for playoff position, including a 109-80 home loss to the East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), CSN New England (Boston)
ABOUT THE BUCKS (32-46): Milwaukee’s season has come down to an assessment of individual performances, and Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to meet every challenge the coaching staff sets. The 6-11, 21-year-old small forward was given ball-handling responsibilities after the All-Star break and blossomed into the team’s starting point guard while becoming a nightly triple-double threat. Antetokounmpo posted a triple-double with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in a win over Orlando last Friday and averaged 28 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists in the next two contests – losses to Chicago and Cleveland.
ABOUT THE CELTICS (46-32): Boston lets Thomas do most of the ball-handling and decision-making and has thrived with that arrangement. The 5-9 All-Star already broke Larry Bird’s franchise record for consecutive 20-point games and delivered his 17th straight 20-point outing on Wednesday. “I just want to be great,” Thomas told reporters. “I’m just going to keep going, keep grinding and keep being in attack mode. That’s what my team needs from me, and I’m going to continue to do that. My guys are just putting me in position to be successful – them and the coaching staff. My job is pretty easy.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Bucks G Khris Middleton (thigh bruise) sat out the last two games and is day-to-day.
2. Celtics G Marcus Smart received four stitches for a cut above his eye on Wednesday but is not expected to miss any time.
3. Boston took two of the first three meetings this season, including a 112-107 home win on Feb. 25.
PREDICTION: Celtics 112, Bucks 98

[Satch]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/8

Preview: Washington At Detroit
When: 7:30 PM ET, Friday, April 8, 2016
Where: The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
The Detroit Pistons are on the verge of clinching a playoff spot while the Washington Wizards sit on the brink of elimination. The Pistons will try to seal the fate of both clubs when they host the Wizards on Friday.
Detroit’s magic number to clinch a playoff spot tumbled to one when the team pulled out a 108-104 win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, meaning a win on Friday will put them in the playoffs and push Washington out. The Pistons have three games left to earn the one win they need and are winners of eight of their last 11. “We just continue to fight,” Detroit guard Reggie Jackson told reporters. “…We never want to lose. We just find a way to look within ourselves. All 15 just buy in and continue to play harder and harder, and we figure if we continue to do that we give ourselves a chance at the end of the game.” The Wizards, who sit 10th in the East, need to win each of their four remaining games, get at least one loss from the ninth-place Chicago Bulls and have the Pistons drop each of their final five games in order to sneak into the No. 8 spot.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, CSN Mid-Atlantic (Washington), FSN Detroit
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (38-40): Washington earned a 121-103 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday despite All-Star point guard John Wall sitting out with a knee injury. Ramon Sessions took over and collected 18 points and 13 assists while Bradley Beal scored 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting. “Ramon played great,” Wizards coach Randy Wittman told reporters. “I thought he kept a good pace to the game. For us to have 36 assists on 48 baskets – it can’t get much better than that.”
ABOUT THE PISTONS (42-37): Detroit trailed by as much as seven points in the fourth quarter at Orlando on Wednesday and was still down four with under five minutes to play before a 9-0 run put it in control for good. “Any win right now is a great win for us,” Pistons forward Tobias Harris told reporters. “It wasn’t the prettiest but we came out and kept fighting like we always do, especially coming off of a back-to-back. We didn’t get distracted and let that fatigue set in. We kept fighting and kept going and was able to pull out the victory.” Detroit trails the Indiana Pacers by a half-game for the No. 7 spot.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Wizards C Marcin Gortat is 16-of-22 from the field in the last two games.
2. Pistons rookie F Stanley Johnson is 2-of-18 from the field in his last three games and was out of the rotation on Wednesday in favor of F Reggie Bullock.
3. Washington has taken four straight in the series and crushed Detroit 124-81 at home on March 14.
PREDICTION: Pistons 99, Wizards 96

[Satch]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/8

Preview: Indiana At Toronto
When: 7:30 PM ET, Friday, April 8, 2016
Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario
While the Toronto Raptors’ playoff position is all but sealed, the Indiana Pacers are on the verge of punching their own ticket. The Pacers can clinch a spot in the postseason with a victory Friday at the Raptors, who are a loss or a Cleveland win away from securing the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The matchup could be a preview of a first-round series, as Indiana enters Friday in seventh place in the East – a half-game up on Detroit – with four games to play. The Pacers have won three in a row after a 123-109 win over the Cavaliers at home on Wednesday, when they shot 16-of-31 from 3-point distance. Paul George hit four of those triples and finished with 29 points, his seventh straight contest with at least 20. Toronto, which dropped a 95-87 decision in Atlanta on Thursday, is just 4-5 in its last nine games and has scored fewer than 100 in four consecutive affairs for the first time since December.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN Indiana, Sportsnet One (Toronto)
ABOUT THE PACERS (42-36): Indiana took advantage of the LeBron James-less Cavaliers squad to match their longest winning streak since a six-gamer early in the season. The three-game run has coincided with the insertion of Lavoy Allen into the starting lineup in place of rookie Myles Turner, although Allen has provided a total of just nine points and six rebounds in the winning streak. Reserve Solomon Hill has earned more playing time of late and responded against Cleveland with season highs in points (15), 3-pointers (three) and steals (three).
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (52-26): Although it has hit a rut offensively, Toronto has to be pleased with the successful return to action of forward DeMarre Carroll, who ended a 41-game absence with a solid 14-minute effort Thursday night. He recorded five points – making his only 3-point try – and four steals, showcasing some of the defensive grit that could be huge once the playoffs begin. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, who each had 28 points in the previous meeting with the Pacers, scored 16 apiece versus Atlanta as the Raptors shot 38.1 percent.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Toronto has claimed six of the last seven matchups and four in a row at home.
2. DeRozan needs 22 points to pass Vince Carter (9,420) and move into second place on the franchise scoring list.
3. George needs 30 points to record the third-highest single-season scoring total in franchise history.
PREDICTION: Pacers 104, Raptors 102

[Satch]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/8

Preview: L.A. Lakers At New Orleans
When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, April 8, 2016
Where: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
The Los Angeles Lakers have set a dubious franchise record for the second straight season as they arrive in New Orleans for Friday’s game against the Pelicans. The Lakers fell 91-81 to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday for their 62nd defeat, breaking the team mark set last season.
That kind of futility isn’t what Kobe Bryant had in mind for his final NBA season and he has just four games remaining before his 20-year career ends. Bryant scored 17 points in Wednesday’s 91-81 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers but his shooting woes continued as he was just 6-of-19 from the field. The Pelicans only have nine healthy players and asserted themselves well on Wednesday despite suffering a 104-97 loss to the Boston Celtics. “We played hard and we competed like crazy,” New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters. “We got down and kept plugging away at it. Just couldn’t seem to make a couple plays at the end that would get us over the hump.”
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TWC SportsNet (Lakers), FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE LAKERS (16-62): Los Angeles has lost 11 of its last 13 games and Bryant is struggling with his aim as he is just 21-of-77 from the field over the past five. Rookie point guard D’Angelo Russell has also resembled a brick layer as he is just 21-of-74 from the field over the past five outings. However, Russell did set a franchise rookie record by making two 3-pointers against the Clippers to raise his season total to 125, passing Nick Van Exel (123 in 1993-94).
ABOUT THE PELICANS (29-49): All five New Orleans players averaging more than 15 points are done for the season and guard Toney Douglas (7.6) had the highest average among the starters against the Celtics. Douglas played like a scorer with 19 points while reserve point guard Tim Frazier also fared well with 18 points. Starting forward James Ennis had 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting and is averaging 12.4 points in five games since being signed out of the D-League.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Lakers have won the past two meetings after losing the previous four.
2. Los Angeles PF Julius Randle collected a career-best 20 rebounds on Wednesday and is averaging 14 boards over the past four contests.
3. Frazier tweaked an ankle against Boston and is expected to play against the Lakers – he’s averaging 15.4 points over the last five games.
PREDICTION: Pelicans 107, Lakers 101

[Satch]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/8

Preview: Memphis At Dallas
When: 8:30 PM ET, Friday, April 8, 2016
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Veteran guard J.J. Barea has fueled a five-game winning with his torrid play and the Dallas Mavericks look to move closer to clinching a playoff spot when they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday. Barea has scored 20 or more points in four consecutive games for the first time in his 10-year NBA career and he is averaging 24.2 points during the five-game stretch.
Barea was elevated to the starting role due to an injury to point guard Deron Williams (sports hernia) and he has helped Dallas move into seventh place in the Western Conference playoff race with just four games remaining. He had 27 points and eight assists and knocked down four 3-pointers in Wednesday’s 88-86 victory over the Houston Rockets. The Mavericks are also excelling on defense and have held each opponent under 90 points while allowing an average of 86 points during the five-game winning streak. Memphis has been ravaged by injuries and ended a six-game losing streak by beating the Chicago Bulls 108-92 on Tuesday to remain in a virtual tie for fifth place with the Portland Trail Blazers.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, FSN Southeast (Memphis), KTXA (Dallas)
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (42-36): Power forward Zach Randolph had 27 points and 10 rebounds in the win over the Bulls and is thriving in his return to the go-to player role. Randolph has eight 20-point, 10-rebound outings and 17 double-doubles this season and is trying to guide the injury-ravaged team above the turmoil. “If we come out and play like that every game we give ourselves a chance to win,” Randolph told reporters. “Even through the circumstances of our team and what we have going on, but all we can do is play hard.”
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (40-38): Barea’s hot streak has come during a time veteran power forward Dirk Nowitzki is struggling as Dallas coach Rick Carlisle has slowed the pace due to the loss of Williams. Nowitzki had just seven points against the Rockets and is averaging 12 points on 23-on-84 shooting – a measly 27.4 percent – during the winning streak. “One of the reasons Dirk is having a hard time getting open looks is because we are playing a different style right now,” Carlisle told reporters. “I am proud of our guys for being willing to be team guys and play this way. We lived to fight another day.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Mavericks are 31-9 at home against the Grizzlies, including a 97-88 victory on Dec. 18.
2. Grizzlies veteran swingman Vince Carter had 17 points against Chicago and has reached double figures in five of the past six games.
3. Dallas SG Wesley Matthews is averaging 17.4 points while making 38 3-pointers over the past nine contests.
PREDICTION: Mavericks 90, Grizzlies 83

[Satch]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/8

Preview: San Antonio At Denver
When: 9:00 PM ET, Friday, April 8, 2016
Where: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
The San Antonio Spurs no longer have a chance to overtake Golden State for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and also can’t reach the 70-win mark. Both those pursuits ended when San Antonio suffered a 112-101 loss to the Warriors on Thursday, and the Spurs look to return to their winning ways when they visit the Denver Nuggets on Friday.
San Antonio has recorded three double-digit victories over Denver this season and another win would increase its series winning streak to 11. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is expected to rest several players on the second contest of a back-to-back as being fresh for the playoffs is a high priority. “No matter who we’re playing (Friday), we’d sit them,” Popovich told reporters. “Doesn’t matter. So the opponent’s not the thing. It’s about minutes, time, age, all that stuff.” Denver is fading at the finish line and has lost three straight games and five of its last six.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (San Antonio), Altitude (Denver)
ABOUT THE SPURS (65-13): All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge dislocated his right pinky finger in the first quarter against the Warriors and had just 11 points on 5-of-16 shooting. Aldridge has scored 14 or fewer points in three of the past four games and San Antonio would like to see him get back on track as quickly as possible. “I was concerned,” Popovich said after the contest. “I think he’s OK. It came out and they put it back in. It came out again and they put it back in. Probably sore but probably OK.”
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (32-47): Veteran point guard D.J. Augustin has been a solid contributor since being acquired from Oklahoma City and is averaging 12.6 points and five assists in 25 games. Denver is the seventh franchise for which Augustin has played and he could be on the move again after this season as a free agent as the Nuggets are happy with rookie Emmanuel Mudiay. “The biggest challenge for D.J. is on the defensive end, like all of us,” Denver coach Michael Malone recently told reporters. “But he’s playing at a high level. The way he’s shooting the ball, the way he’s handling the ball and sharing the ball has been a big positive for us.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. San Antonio has prevailed in each of its last five visits to Denver.
2. Spurs All-Star SF Kawhi Leonard is averaging 24.7 points over the last three games.
3. Denver backup F Darrell Arthur (sore knees) is expected to miss his third straight game.
PREDICTION: Spurs 107, Nuggets 98

[Satch]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/8

Preview: L.A. Clippers At Utah
When: 9:00 PM ET, Friday, April 8, 2016
Where: Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah
The Utah Jazz traditionally struggle against the Los Angeles Clippers and their playoff aspirations will certainly be helped if they can record a rare victory on Friday. The host Jazz have dropped 14 of their last 15 games against the Clippers, including seven straight in Salt Lake City.
Utah can point to progress against the Clippers as it did record a road win in Los Angeles earlier this season to end a 13-game series slide. The Jazz are in eighth place in the Western Conference and trying to hold off the struggling Houston Rockets for the final playoff spot. Los Angeles has won seven of its past eight games and Wednesday’s 91-81 win over the Los Angeles Lakers allowed the club to reach the 50-win mark for the fourth straight season. Power forward Blake Griffin had 13 points and eight rebounds in his third game back from injury but didn’t make the trip to Utah.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Clippers), ROOT (Utah)
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (50-28): Los Angeles has fourth place in the Western Conference wrapped up and coach Doc Rivers plans to make sure his players get enough rest to be fresh for the playoffs. Veteran small forward Paul Pierce (knee) returned from a four-game injury absence to score nine points in 20 minutes against the Lakers and figures to see about the same amount of playing time against the Jazz. Point guard Chris Paul averaged just 23.5 minutes in back-to-back blowouts of the Lakers and is a candidate to sit out a game next week when the Clippers end the regular season with a back-to-back.
ABOUT THE JAZZ (39-39): Utah has held nine of its last 12 opponents under 90 points but holding San Antonio to 88 wasn’t enough to get a victory. “If we commit to our defense, that can keep us in games,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder told reporters. “Some of those games, hopefully, we cannot just stay in, we can win. But you’ve got to make shots to win. And when you don’t make shots, especially if you’re getting pretty good shots, it puts a lot of pressure on your defense.” Small forward Gordon Hayward (12 points) and power forward Derrick Favors (eight) both experienced problems against the Spurs and Favors took only five shots.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Utah’s last home win in the series was a 108-79 trouncing of the Clippers on Jan. 17, 2012.
2. Los Angeles SF Jeff Green (knee) is questionable after being injured against the Lakers.
3. Backup Jazz SF Joe Ingles hit all four of his field-goal attempts – including three 3-pointers – while scoring 13 points against the Spurs.
PREDICTION: Jazz 96, Clippers 93

[Satch]

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/8

Hot teams
— Charlotte won six of its last nine games (0-3 last 3HF).
— Miami won seven of its last ten games (6-3 last 9AF). Magic is 4-2 in its last six games (5-1 last six HU).
— Detroit won seven of its last ten games (11-6-1 last 18HF).
— Toronto won three of last four home games (4-2 last 6HF). Pacers won their last three games, all as favorites (1-2 last 3A).
— Celtics won seven of their last nine games (5-4 last 9HF).
— Dallas won its last five games (0-4 last 4HF).
— Spurs won six of their last eight games (2-4 last 6AF)- they figure to rest some guys tonight.
— Clippers won seven of their last eight games (2-3 last 5A). Utah won six of its last nine games (3-1 last 4H).
Cold teams
— Nets lost their last six games (0-6 vs spread).
— Knicks lost five of their last six games (3-4AF). 76ers lost nine of last ten games, but covered five of their last seven.
— Wizards lost five of their last eight games (3-0 last 3AU).
— Bucks lost seven of their last nine games (5-2 last 7AU).
— Lakers lost seven of their last eight games (0-3 last 3AU). Pelicans lost six of their last nine games (3-7 last 10HF).
— Memphis lost six of its last seven games (4-3 last 7AU).
— Denver lost five of its last six games (5-3 last 8HU).
Series records
— Nets lost four of last five games with Charlotte.
— 76ers lost their last four games with New York.
— Heat won nine of last ten games with Orlando.
— Wizards won their last four games with Detroit.
— Raptors won six of last seven games with Indiana.
— Celtics won three of last four games with Milwaukee.
— Pelicans are 5-2 in last seven games with Lakers, but lost last two.
— Dallas lost four of last five visits to Memphis.
— Spurs won last ten games with Denver (7-3 vs spread).
— Clippers won nine of last ten games with Utah.
Totals
— Four of last six Brooklyn games stayed under the total.
— Six of last seven New York games stayed under.
— Six of last seven Miami games stayed under the total; four of last five Orlando games went over.
— Under is 5-1-1 in last seven Washington-Detroit games.
— Six of last nine Indiana games stayed under the total.
— Four of last five Milwaukee-Boston games went over total.
— Four of last five Laker-Pelican games stayed under.
— Over is 7-2-1 in last ten Memphis-Dallas games.
— Three of last four Denver games went over total.
— Seven of last nine Clipper games stayed under the total.
Back/backs
— Miam is 8-6 vs spread if it played night before.
— Toronto covered five of its last six games if they played night before.
— Spurs covered two of last eight games if they played night before.