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**TheGame** · 04-26-2016, 07:41 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/26

Preview: Pacers (45-37) at Raptors (56-26)

Date: April 26, 2016 6:00 PM EDT

A lineup change revitalized the Indiana Pacers and helped them tie up their first-round series with the Toronto Raptors.

The change the Raptors would like to see is for DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry to wake up from some series-long woes.

These teams were also involved in a scuffle toward the end of the last matchup, and the tension only figures to be raised Tuesday night in a pivotal Game 5 in Toronto.

Indiana moved forward Myles Turner into the lineup in place of Lavoy Allen in Saturday's 100-83 rout. The Pacers held a rebounding edge for the first time in this series at 43-40, limiting Jonas Valanciunas to six after he totaled 48 in the first three games.

"I think our just general team awareness of the ways Jonas is hurting us is why we did better in Game 4 and it's gonna be a battle the entire series," Indiana coach Frank Vogel said.

While Valanciunas was bottled up on the glass, the production by DeRozan and Lowry remained consistent for Toronto - and it's not nearly good enough. The two All-Star guards were a combined 8 of 27 from the field and 0 for 7 on 3s for a total of 20 points.

Lowry is averaging 15.5 points on 32.2 percent shooting while DeRozan is at 13.3 points and 29.6 percent in the series.

"Give Indiana credit, they've done a good job on DeMar and Kyle," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "But we haven't seen their best, they know that and it may not be by scoring points, it may be by moving the basketball, it may be by helping defensively."

The Pacers are using Paul George to defend DeRozan and George Hill to slow down Lowry. They are wary that the Raptors duo, which averaged a combined 44.7 points during the regular season, may be due to break out.

"The efficiency has not been great for those guys but we're not comfortable in any way as good as those guys are," Vogel said. "We're going to continue to fine tune what we're doing with those guys, with the plan, George and Paul are doing a good job on them, but it's more than that, it's gotta be a team effort."

Hill and Ian Mahinmi, who is listed as questionable but expected to play through a back injury, each scored 22 points Saturday in a series that is getting nastier as it is progresses.

A scuffle developed with 5:03 left after Valanciunas gave George a small shove underneath the basket. George responded with words and then DeMarre Carroll ran into the gathering crowd. All three players drew technical fouls, including George's second in two games.

Toronto's Patrick Patterson also was assessed a technical in Game 4. Game 3 featured three technicals on Indiana after the first two games in Toronto saw neither team get one.

"I'm looking at flagrant fouls, Jonas Valanciunas gets cracked across the head and again, I've got to get an understanding, and the officials didn't review it but they were hitting us going through the lane and DeMar DeRozan shoots zero free throws with the same drive," Casey said.

DeRozan has failed to reach the line twice in this series after ranking third in the league in free-throw attempts.

Casey refused to acknowledge that the Pacers lineup change with Turner was a factor. Instead, the coach claimed that Monta Ellis had a huge impact despite a second straight seven-point effort; Ellis scored 15 in each of the first two games.

"I thought the guy who had the most effect on the game and didn't score a lot of points was Monta Ellis," Casey said. "His speed of pushing the ball down the floor, getting down the floor impacted the game as much as anything else. We have to look at that."

George has been the star of the series with 26.3 points per game and 36 free-throw attempts compared to 15 for DeRozan. He totaled 61 points on 54.1 percent shooting in the first two games in Toronto before averaging 22.0 points on 34.3 percent shooting in two at home.

"Toronto's a very hostile environment, hostile crowd," George said. "Game 5 is going to be about taking their crowd out of the equation."

**TheGame** · 04-26-2016, 07:42 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/26

Preview: Celtics (48-34) at Hawks (48-34)

Date: April 26, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

The Boston Celtics have a different look since their last visit to Atlanta, and so does their playoff series with the Hawks.

Let down by their usually dependable defense in the past two matchups, the Hawks may have to rely on home-court advantage to regain their lost momentum when the series shifts back to Philips Arena for Tuesday night's pivotal Game 5.

Done in by poor starts and inefficient shooting in losing the first two in Atlanta, Boston has been harder to defend since Brad Stevens inserted Jonas Jerebko and Evan Turner into starting roles prior to Friday's Game 3. The Celtics have shot 44.3 percent since the switch after being held to 34.2 percent in Games 1 and 2.

Jerebko, who averaged 4.4 points and 15.1 minutes during the regular season, has emerged as the unlikely X-factor to Boston's resurgence. The stretch forward totaled 27 points and 22 rebounds in the two home wins, and his ability to create space has allowed Isaiah Thomas to be more productive in attacking the basket.

Thomas' career-high 42 points helped Boston turn the tide with a 111-103 win in Game 3, and the All-Star guard scored 18 of his 28 during the second half and overtime as the Celtics rallied for a 104-95 victory in Sunday's Game 4.

Down 62-46 early in the third quarter, Boston shot 56.4 percent the rest of the way to even the series. Jerebko contributed 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting after halftime and Marcus Smart had 13 of his 20 points following the break.

"I think one of our most redeeming qualities as a team is the guys are really â?? they're fighters," Stevens said. "They never give up. They play to the end, even in games where we didn't really have it they've done that."

Smart also neutralized Paul Millsap down the stretch, limiting the versatile forward to four points over the final 14 minutes and none in overtime after Stevens changed the defensive assignments in the fourth quarter.

Millsap amassed 26 first-half points and finished with a playoff career-high 45 along with 13 rebounds.

"They got us out of whack," Hawks guard Kyle Korver said. "They put Marcus Smart on Paul and we just tried to force it to him and at times took us out of what we had been doing. Give them credit. They played really well and made some plays down the stretch."

Stevens' next task will be improving his team's play in Atlanta, where the Celtics are 0-4 this season and have lost in six straight visits. They were a woeful 3 of 23 from the field during a seven-point first quarter in Game 2 and shot 26.9 percent to trail by 11 through one period of a 102-101 loss in Game 1.

"The most important thing for us, we got to start the games better, especially on the road," Thomas said. "If we start just halfway decent on the road we'll be alright."

Boston was able to overcome a 14-0 Hawks' run to begin the second half of Game 4.

For Mike Budenholzer, the goal will be finding consistent scoring to complement Millsap. Al Horford has 13 points over the last two games after scoring 41 in the two wins, Jeff Teague finished 4 of 18 in Game 4 and top bench options Dennis Schroder and Thabo Sefolosha were a combined 3 for 17.

"I just think we needed a little bit more with him, collectively from all of us, a little more to help Paul," Budenholzer said. "They responded to being down 2-0 and now we've got to go home and respond."

Stevens said he doesn't expect Avery Bradley to return Tuesday from his Game 1 hamstring injury.

**TheGame** · 04-26-2016, 07:42 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/26

NBA Odds: Tuesday, April 26 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews

I'm guessing that a sportsbook or two will offer a prop on the next coach of the Los Angeles Lakers because they did a couple of years ago before the team hired Byron Scott. He was informed late Sunday night that he wouldn't be brought back. Really no reason to keep him around now that Kobe Bryant is gone -- that was basically a keep Kobe happy hiring. It's still a prime job even though the Lakers just had their two worst seasons in franchise history. But if I'm a top head coach with interest, I wait until after the draft lottery and see if the Lakers get to keep their first-round pick. If the lottery went chalk, the Lakers would pick No. 2. But if they drop to fourth or worse, it goes to Philadelphia. The Lakers probably will go first after current Warriors assistant Luke Walton, a former Lakers player. He's a disciple of Phil Jackson, who is rumored to possibly return to the team in a year when girlfriend Jeanie Buss takes over the day-to-day running of it from her brother.

Game 5: No. 7 Pacers at No. 2 Raptors (-7, 192)

All four games in this 2-2 series have been decided by double digits after Indiana's 100-83 home victory on Saturday. Congratulations if you had Pacers center Ian Mahinmi and guard George Hill combining for 44 points on excellent 18-for-25 shooting in that one because I sure didn't. They were the biggest reason for the result after neither did much in the first three games. Not sure you can count on that again if a Pacers backer -- Mahinmi's 22 points were a career high and he added 10 rebounds and five assists. Paul George added 19 points after scoring at least 25 in each of the first three games.

What's up with Toronto's All-Star backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan? The former was 4-for-12 from the field (0-for-5 from 3-point range) for just 12 points in Game 4 and the latter 4-for-15 (0-for-2 from long range) for eight points and six turnovers. DeRozan and Lowry are averaging 28.8 points combined during the postseason, compared to 44.7 during the regular season. They are shooting a combined 30.8 percent from the field, the worst field goal percentage by any starting backcourt this postseason. DeRozan hasn't gone to the charity stripe in two games this series after ranking third in the NBA in free throw attempts per game during the season. Defensively, Game 4 was only the eighth time Toronto has allowed an opponent to record 50 or more points in the paint this season. The Raptors responded by holding opponents to an average of 38.0 points in the paint in the next game.

Series line: Raptors -325, Pacers +270

Key trends: The Pacers are 2-7 against the spread in their past nine following a double-digit win. The Raptors are 5-0 ATS in their past five after a loss. The "over/under" has gone under in six straight Pacers games and five straight for Toronto.

Early lean: Raptors and under.

Game 5: No. 5 Celtics at No. 4 Hawks (-7, 199.5)

Much like the above series, this looks to me like one that will go the distance with the home team winning each game. Atlanta really should have put this away in Boston with the Celtics missing Avery Bradley. But Boston evened things up with a 104-95 overtime win on Sunday. Isaiah Thomas followed his 42-point Game 3 with 28 in Game 4. Frankly, I thought he should have been suspended for Game 4 after hitting Hawks guard Dennis Schroder in the face in Game 3. Thomas guarded Jeff Teague on the final play of regulation Sunday and prevented him from getting a shot off. Marcus Smart stepped up and scored 11 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, helping Boston force overtime. Like Bradley, Smart is a great defender and he limited the Hawks to 1-of-10 shooting overall and forced two turnovers when serving as the primary defender on a guy.

Paul Millsap was brilliant in Game 4 for Atlanta with 45 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks. It was the most points scored by a Hawk in a playoff game since Dominique Wilkins had 47 points in Game 7 at the old Boston Garden in the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals. Millsap had just 12 combined points in Games 2-3. Smart held Millsap to two baskets in the final nine minutes of regulation and none in overtime. The Hawks, who led by 16 in the third quarter, were 0-5 in OT in the regular season and have not won an overtime game in more than two years.

Series line: Hawks -225, Celtics +195

Key trends: The Celtics are 3-10 ATS in their past 13 road games. The Hawks are 0-5 ATS in their past five after a loss. The under is 13-3 in Boston's past 16 after a win. The under is 4-1 in Atlanta's past five at home.

Early lean: Hawks and under.

**Satch** · 04-26-2016, 09:14 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/26

“NBA Playoffs betting preview and odds”
Two games on the board Tuesday night, both feature a pair of pivotal Game 5 matchups in Conference Quarterfinal series’ tied 2-2. The Raptors host the Pacers and the Hawks welcome the Celtics back to town.
Indiana Pacers at Toronto Raptors (-6.5, 192)
Series ties 2-2
The Toronto Raptors continue to perform below the standard of a 56-win team and look to get their act together when they host the Indiana Pacers in Tuesday’s Game 5 of the first-round series. The Pacers posted an impressive 100-83 victory in Game 4 to tie the series at 2-2 and a second win in Toronto would put seventh-seeded Indiana in the driver’s seat.
The main issue for the second-seeded Raptors continues to be the subpar play of the All-Star backcourt of point guard Kyle Lowry and shooting guard DeMar DeRozan. Lowry is averaging just 15.5 points on 32.2 percent shooting and DeRozan is performing even worse with a 13.3 average and 29.6 percent shooting. “Give Indiana credit, they’ve done a good job on DeMar and Kyle,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey told reporters. “But we haven’t seen their best, they know that and it may not be by scoring points, it may be by moving the basketball, it may be by helping defensively.” Pacers All-Star forward Paul George has been superb in the series with a 26.3 average and finally received some help from his teammates as point guard George Hill (9-of-11 shooting) and center Ian Mahinmi (10 rebounds) each tallied 22 points in the Game 4 victory.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, TNT, Sportsnet (Toronto)
LINE HISTORY:
The Raptors opened as seven-point favorites and the line was dropped slightly to -6.5. The total hit the board at 192 and hasn’t moved up to this point. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT THE PACERS (47-39, 43-42-1 ATS, 37-49 O/U):
George’s 19 points on Saturday was his lowest output of the series but he was excited about receiving some offensive help along with the defensive effort that included twice holding Toronto to 16 points in a quarter. “This was how I wanted this team to respond, how I wanted us to respond to the Game 3 loss,” George told reporters. “I thought we were very pissed off and very attentive and very focused to even the series out. We knew we let one go in Game 3 and had a great opportunity to go up in the series.” Hill is averaging 17.5 points in the past two games while Mahinmi’s contributions were stunning after he averaged 4.3 points and four rebounds over the first three games.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (58-28, 47-39 ATS, 42-43-1 O/U):
Lowry (12 points) and DeRozan (eight) were a combined 8-of-27 from the field in the Game 4 defeat and Toronto can’t find an offensive flow with both cornerstones shooting so poorly. “I would be lying to you if I said I’m not upset with how I’m playing,” Lowry told reporters. “But I have to stay positive and lead these guys – and that’s what I’m going to do no matter how I’m shooting the ball.” DeRozan’s aggressiveness is practically nonexistent as he has failed to attempt a free throw in two different games after averaging 8.4 attempts during the regular season.
TRENDS:
* Pacers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
* Raptors are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.
* Under is 6-0 in Pacers last 6 overall.
* Underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.

**Satch** · 04-26-2016, 09:14 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/26

Boston Celtics at Atlanta Hawks (-7, 199.5)
Series ties 2-2
The Boston Celtics managed to even the series on their home floor and are hoping for the same effort when the series shifts to Atlanta for Game 5 on Tuesday. The Hawks let a 16-point, second-half lead slip away before falling in overtime in Game 4 but have won five straight and 12 of their last 14 games at home going back to the regular season.
Celtics All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas had a tough time scoring in the first two games but came alive at home with 42 points in Game 3 and 28 in Game 4, including the last five of overtime. “The most important thing for us: we’ve got to start the games better, especially on the road,” Thomas told reporters. “Start the games better, start the halves better, and I think that will put us in a position to be able to win those games. If we just start halfway decent on the road, we’ll be alright.” Atlanta is a veteran group and doesn’t plan on rolling over now that the momentum has shifted. “It’s our turn to respond, that’s how the playoffs are,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters. “They are hard and it’s never easy in the playoffs. … I think being at home is always helpful and I think our group knows that they are very capable.”
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, TNT, CSN New England (Boston), FSN Southeast (Atlanta)
LINE HISTORY:
The Hawks opened as 6.5-point favorites at home for this pivotal Game 5 and the line was quickly bet up to -7. The total opened at 201 and was dropped down to 199.5 by Monday evening. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT THE CELTICS (50-36, 45-40-1 ATS, 40-46 O/U):
Guard Marcus Smart broke out with his best game of the series on both ends of the floor Sunday, scoring 20 points and playing strong defense on All-Star forward Paul Millsap down the stretch and in overtime. Smart, who went 1-for-11 in Game 2 while starting in place of Avery Bradley (hamstring), was back to coming off the bench in the last two games but logged 42 minutes in Game 4 and scored 11 straight Boston points during a key stretch in the fourth quarter. “I thought Marcus just played a great game, period,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens told reporters. “We’ve talked about it before, Marcus has had his ups and downs but Marcus on this stage – and with his consistent work ethic and with his competitive spirit – you just really trust that good things will happen.”
ABOUT THE HAWKS (50-36, 43-42-1 ATS, 39-47 O/U):
Millsap scored a career playoff-high 45 points in the 104-95 overtime loss but didn’t get a chance to take the final shot with a chance to win in regulation. Point guard Jeff Teague, who finished 4-of-18 from the field in the loss, had the ball in his hands with the clock winding down and fumbled it away at the last second with Thomas guarding. “You want to exhaust the clock in that situation, you want to take the last shot and I think Jeff just ended up mishandling it a little bit,” Budenholzer said. “But that was Jeff against (5-9) Isaiah Thomas and, you know, you obviously try to get a good look, get a good opportunity and not leave any time on the clock.”
TRENDS:
* Celtics are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
* Hawks are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.
* Under is 11-1 in Celtics last 12 games following a ATS win.
* Under is 6-0 in Hawks last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
* Home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.

**Satch** · 04-26-2016, 09:16 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/26

Indiana-Toronto (2-2)
Pacers made 10-42 on arc in losing Games 2-3, they made 17-37 in two series wins. Raptors won 8 of last 11 games against Indiana, taking three of last four here. Toronto covered 11 of last 14 series games- five of last six stayed under total.Toronto shot 38.0/36.5% in two losses, 43.8/41.5% in two wins. Pacers won eight of last 12 games overall, Raptors won nine of last 13 games overall, they are 7-4 vs spread in their last 11 games.
Boston-Atlanta (2-2)
Hawks were 12-43 on arc in Game 4, only 9-13 on foul line; they need to attack basket more. Millsaps had huge game in last game but other four Atlanta starters were 11-47. Home side won all four series games; Boston shot 46% in Game 3 win, 42.6% in Game 4, after shooting 36.3%/31.8% in two losses at Atlanta. Celtics lost five of last seven games with Atlanta, with four of seven going over the total. Seven of last ten Atlanta games stayed under the total, as did four of last five Celtic games.
Playoff tally: Favorites vs spread: 20-13, Over: 10-23

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NBA Betting Info. 4/26

NBA Betting Info. 4/26

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