NBA
Saturday, April 25
Grizzlies are on fire ATS vs. Trail Blazers
The Memphis Grizzlies head west to Portland for Game 3 of their first-round series on Saturday carrying a 2-0 series lead.
History is showing that the Grizz have simply been too much for the Blazers both on the court and at the betting window. The Grizzlies are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 contests against Portland.
The Trail Blazers are presently listed as 3-point underdogs with a total of 188.5.
Warriors have become a bad bet all of a sudden
It's been six straight games since the Golden State Warriors covered the spread, a trend Dubs bettors will hope reverses itself Saturday in New Orleans.
The Warriors, who hold a 3-0 lead in their first-round series over the Pelicans, have been tabbed as 7-point road favorites for the clash.
The total was sitting at 205 as of this writing.
NBA roundup: Rockets, Wizards grab 3-0 series leads
DALLAS -- James Harden scored a career-playoff-high 42 points and the Houston Rockets withstood Dallas' desperate punch to beat the Mavericks 130-128 and take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference playoff series Friday night.
Houston trailed by 13 in the first half before storming back behind Harden, an MVP candidate shooting guard who scored 16 points in third quarter and knocked down a jumper with 13 seconds left that helped nail down the win. Center Dwight Howard had a playoff career-best 26 rebounds and scored 13 points.
The Mavericks had their chances in the final minute. Power forward Dirk Nowitzki (34 points) drilled three free throws with 34 seconds remaining to pull Dallas within 127-126. Harden followed with his final basket before Mavs shooting guard Monta Ellis banked in a driving layup to make it a one-point game again.
Rockets guard Corey Brewer (15 points) made one of two free throws, giving Dallas one last shot. Ellis, however, couldn't add to the highest-scoring game of his playoff career as he missed a jumper from the top of the key as time expired. Ellis finished with 34 points.
Wizards 106, Raptors 99
WASHINGTON -- Center Marcin Gortat scored 24 points and guard John Wall had 19 points and 15 assists as Washington opened a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven playoff series.
Six Wizards scored in double figures, including forward Paul Pierce with 18 points on four 3-pointers. Pierce and Otto Porter fueled a decisive 10-2 run late in the fourth quarter and both forwards sank two 3-point shots inside the final 4:23. Pierce's final bomb with 16.9 seconds left came after the Raptors pulled to 102-99.
Toronto's DeMar DeRozan started 8 of 10 from the field and scored 20 of his 32 points in the first quarter. However, the shooting woes that plagued him and backcourt partner Kyle Lowry in Toronto returned. The Raptors shot 37.4 percent from the field.
Spurs 100, Clippers 73
SAN ANTONIO -- Kawhi Leonard was handed the NBA defensive player of the year award and then showed his versatility at both ends of the court, scoring a career-best 32 points and adding three steals as San Antonio took a 2-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.
Leonard, MVP of the 2014 NBA Finals after the Spurs' fifth title, had 13 points in the third quarter, outscoring the Clippers by two. He converted 13 of 18 shots from field, including three 3-pointers.
The Clippers shot just 34.1 percent from the floor while suffering their worst-ever playoff defeat. Forward Blake Griffin and guard Chris Paul scored 14 and 10 points, respectively.
Saturday, April 25
Grizzlies are on fire ATS vs. Trail Blazers
The Memphis Grizzlies head west to Portland for Game 3 of their first-round series on Saturday carrying a 2-0 series lead.
History is showing that the Grizz have simply been too much for the Blazers both on the court and at the betting window. The Grizzlies are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 contests against Portland.
The Trail Blazers are presently listed as 3-point underdogs with a total of 188.5.
Warriors have become a bad bet all of a sudden
It's been six straight games since the Golden State Warriors covered the spread, a trend Dubs bettors will hope reverses itself Saturday in New Orleans.
The Warriors, who hold a 3-0 lead in their first-round series over the Pelicans, have been tabbed as 7-point road favorites for the clash.
The total was sitting at 205 as of this writing.
NBA roundup: Rockets, Wizards grab 3-0 series leads
DALLAS -- James Harden scored a career-playoff-high 42 points and the Houston Rockets withstood Dallas' desperate punch to beat the Mavericks 130-128 and take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference playoff series Friday night.
Houston trailed by 13 in the first half before storming back behind Harden, an MVP candidate shooting guard who scored 16 points in third quarter and knocked down a jumper with 13 seconds left that helped nail down the win. Center Dwight Howard had a playoff career-best 26 rebounds and scored 13 points.
The Mavericks had their chances in the final minute. Power forward Dirk Nowitzki (34 points) drilled three free throws with 34 seconds remaining to pull Dallas within 127-126. Harden followed with his final basket before Mavs shooting guard Monta Ellis banked in a driving layup to make it a one-point game again.
Rockets guard Corey Brewer (15 points) made one of two free throws, giving Dallas one last shot. Ellis, however, couldn't add to the highest-scoring game of his playoff career as he missed a jumper from the top of the key as time expired. Ellis finished with 34 points.
Wizards 106, Raptors 99
WASHINGTON -- Center Marcin Gortat scored 24 points and guard John Wall had 19 points and 15 assists as Washington opened a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven playoff series.
Six Wizards scored in double figures, including forward Paul Pierce with 18 points on four 3-pointers. Pierce and Otto Porter fueled a decisive 10-2 run late in the fourth quarter and both forwards sank two 3-point shots inside the final 4:23. Pierce's final bomb with 16.9 seconds left came after the Raptors pulled to 102-99.
Toronto's DeMar DeRozan started 8 of 10 from the field and scored 20 of his 32 points in the first quarter. However, the shooting woes that plagued him and backcourt partner Kyle Lowry in Toronto returned. The Raptors shot 37.4 percent from the field.
Spurs 100, Clippers 73
SAN ANTONIO -- Kawhi Leonard was handed the NBA defensive player of the year award and then showed his versatility at both ends of the court, scoring a career-best 32 points and adding three steals as San Antonio took a 2-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.
Leonard, MVP of the 2014 NBA Finals after the Spurs' fifth title, had 13 points in the third quarter, outscoring the Clippers by two. He converted 13 of 18 shots from field, including three 3-pointers.
The Clippers shot just 34.1 percent from the floor while suffering their worst-ever playoff defeat. Forward Blake Griffin and guard Chris Paul scored 14 and 10 points, respectively.