Friday 10/30/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Canadiens (9-2) at Flames (2-7)

Date: October 30, 2015 9:00 PM EDT

The Montreal Canadiens were just 20 minutes from getting back in the win column on their road trip when their normally stellar defense faltered, sending them to their first losing streak of the season.

The Canadiens will get a quick opportunity to bounce back from their stunning defeat and try to avoid a winless trek through Western Canada on Friday night against the scuffling Calgary Flames.

Montreal took command early Thursday against Edmonton, scoring three times in the first 18 minutes, and carried a two-goal lead into the final period. The Canadiens and star goaltender Carey Price then proceeded to give up three goals in a span of 12:43 in a 4-3 loss.

Leon Draisaitl's second goal of the game with 1:02 remaining provided the winning margin for the Oilers.

"It shouldn't happen to good teams. We've got to make sure it doesn't happen again. There's not much to say other than that. We let our foot off the gas," captain Max Pacioretty said. "We have a game (Friday) where we've got to come back and prove this was a fluke and this is not our team."

In the opener to their three-game trip Tuesday, the Canadiens (9-2-0) were denied a chance to tie the best start in NHL history with a 5-1 drubbing to Vancouver. Price, who had a 1.29 goals-against average in his first seven starts, was also in net for that game.

Montreal, a winner in its first five road games, could give Mike Condon his third NHL start in this visit to the Flames (2-7-1). Calgary enters this game having lost three straight (0-2-1) and is 1-6-1 in its last eight.

Sam Bennett's first NHL goal with 7:28 left in regulation gave the Flames a point Wednesday against Ottawa, but they fell 5-4 in a shootout. Calgary was outscored a combined 8-1 in the first two games on its road trip.

The Flames also lost goaltender Jonas Hiller to a lower-body injury when he collided with Bobby Ryan in the third period, and Karri Ramo was recalled from AHL Stockton on Thursday, one week after he was placed on waivers.

"Injuries unfortunately are a part of our game, at any position," coach Bob Hartley said. "Obviously, it's been a rough start, but there's no quit in this organization. We're going to keep pushing."

The Canadiens split their two games with the Flames last season and won in a shootout in Calgary on Oct. 28 to end a string of seven consecutive defeats there. They lost 6-2 at home Nov. 2.

Josh Jooris scored a pair of goals in that victory for Calgary, but he has zero points in his first eight games this season. Mark Giordano had two goals and one assist in the two meetings, and fellow defenseman T.J. Brodie provided four assists.

Brodie returned from a broken bone in his hand Wednesday.

Lars Eller has five goals and two assists in nine career games against the Flames, but he has two points in his last nine overall contests. Pacioretty has three goals and three assists in his last six matchups.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Canucks (3-2) at Coyotes (5-4)

Date: October 30, 2015 10:00 PM EDT

Getting Martin Hanzal back would give the Arizona Coyotes a lift offensively. It could also provide a spark for Max Domi.

With Hanzal among a trio potentially set to return from injury, the Coyotes attempt to bounce back from their worst loss of the season Friday night against the struggling Vancouver Canucks.

Hanzal is one of six players with a league-high 10 assists. The veteran center has been a major influence on Domi, Arizona's star rookie who has four goals and six assists.

With Hanzal sidelined with a lower-body injury, Domi was a minus-3 while the Coyotes (5-4-1) lost 6-0 at Boston to conclude a 2-2-1 road trip.

Arizona may have Hanzal back, but it's also awaiting word on center Antoine Vermette while defenseman Connor Murphy (both lower body) is expected to be back.

Vermette has been held without a point in seven games, while Murphy has two in nine.

"Murphy will play for sure," coach Dave Tippett told the team's official website. "Vermette and Hanzal we'll re-evaluate in the morning.

"It would be ideal to get them both back, but we'll see. Neither one we're going to put into trouble if we think there's a possibility of injuring things further, but if they can play they'll play and that would certainly help."

Production from Anthony Duclair would also be helpful. The 20-year-old left wing has a team-leading five goals, but none in the last four games.

The Coyotes fell 3-1 in the most recent home matchup with Vancouver on March 22, ending their four-game winning streak in the series there.

The Canucks (4-2-4) have dropped five of six (1-2-3) and they'd like to settle this matchup in regulation after blowing a two-goal, third-period lead to fall 4-3 in overtime at Dallas on Thursday.

Vancouver is 1-0-4 in games ending in overtime or shootouts after going 12-0-5 in such contests last season.

"We were good last year 4-on-4 and in shootout," coach Willie Desjardins said. "We won quite a few games that way. And that's been a big difference in the games this year."

Radim Vrbata is starting to get going, totaling three goals and one assist in the past four games. The right wing's 31 goals led the team last season while his 32 assists were a career high.

Vrbata, who had two stints with the Coyotes from 2007-14, had four points in five matchups last season with three coming in two at Arizona.

Jared McCann is looking to get back on the score sheet after being held without a point by the Stars. The center, the 24th overall pick in the 2014 draft, had two goals in a 5-1 win over Montreal two days earlier, giving him four on the season to put him in the thick of the rookie scoring race with Duclair, Domi and others.

McCann, though, is yet to score through three road games.

Daniel Sedin has six points in his last four matchups with Arizona, scoring a goal and assisting on another in a 5-0 home victory April 9. He enters this meeting with four points in four games after getting two assists Thursday.

Sedin's eight points lead Vancouver.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Heat (1-0) at Cavaliers (1-1)

Date: October 30, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

The last time LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were all on the same court in a meaningful game was also the last time all three were wearing a Miami Heat uniform.

Given what they've gone through since, the former Big 3 should be thrilled to see each other healthy Friday night.

James figures to be fired up for the Cleveland Cavaliers' home opener against his old friends at Quicken Loans Arena, where Bosh played his final competitive game last season before blood clots put his life in jeopardy.

James returned to Cleveland while Wade and Bosh stuck around in Miami after the Heat's loss to San Antonio in the 2014 NBA Finals, and though the trio all played in a preseason game in Brazil last October, they've yet to face each other as opponents when it counts. James played every meeting last season - home teams won all four, each by double digits - but the one Wade missed was the only one Bosh played.

That changes Friday, and don't expect any of the three to take the circumstances for granted. James was at least briefly a question mark for Cleveland's opener due to a sore back, Wade's knees have long been an issue and Bosh missed the final two months of last season with blood clots in his lungs.

Everyone's healthy for now, though, and expectations are high for both the defending conference champions and a Heat team with perhaps the most talented starting five in the East. Yet as good as that group seems on paper, there's concern over the chemistry of the unit, even after Wednesday's 104-94 season-opening home win against Charlotte.

"If people are worried, that means they have expectations, and that's a very good thing," Bosh said after scoring a game-high 21 points in his first regular-season action since Feb. 12 at Cleveland. "We've had our challenges, but we've always believed in each other. We're making sure we talk to each other and we talk through it."

The Cavs will be without two key players for a while longer, and while the absence of Kyrie Irving and Iman Shumpert was felt in Tuesday's season-opening 97-95 loss in Chicago, it hardly registered a night later in Memphis. Cleveland got 50 points from its bench and hit 13 3-pointers in a 106-76 rout of the Grizzlies, cruising despite James only scoring 12 points in 31 minutes.

To the four-time MVP, though, holding Memphis to 35.4 percent shooting after the undermanned Cavs forged their way to the finals with hard-nosed defense was the most encouraging sign.

"It's who we need to be, it's who we are. It's what we stress every day," James said. "In order for us to be who we want to be long term, we've got to defend at a high level and we need to share the ball."

They've done that thus far, piling up 55 assists compared to their opponents' 28. Twelve of Kevin Love's 13 field goals have been assisted, and James is responsible for seven of those as he tries to get his power forward heavily involved.

"Kevin is going to be our main focus, he's going to have a hell of a season and he's going to get back to that All-Star status," James said. "He's the focal point of us offensively. I know I can go out and get mine when I need it, but I need Kevin to be as aggressive as he was (Thursday)."

Cleveland has outscored its first two opponents by 39 from the 3-point line and is a plus-17 on the boards, but it may need to guard the perimeter a little closer against the Heat. Miami hit 12 of 20 3s in its opener after finishing 24th in 3-point percentage (33.5) last season, with Gerald Green knocking down 5 of 8 off the bench.

The Heat assisted on 23 of their 36 field goals, efficient ball movement they're intent on continuing.

"It's easy to do it in your home opener, everyone is feeling good. We made a couple shots," Bosh said. "But when it's not going as well as we want it to, when things hit the fan a little bit, that's when we have to trust and continue to move the ball."

The Cavs have won 20 of their last 21 at home, including the postseason, with both James and Love in the lineup.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Jazz (0-1) at 76ers (0-1)

Date: October 30, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

While Joel Embiid has yet to make his debut and Nerlens Noel is still developing, the Philadelphia 76ers may have found their sought-after dominant big man.

Jahlil Okafor will try to build on his promising debut in the home opener Friday night when Philadelphia looks to avoid a sixth straight loss to the defensive-minded Utah Jazz.

The 76ers were set on building a strong frontcourt when they traded for Noel shortly after New Orleans made him the sixth overall pick in 2013. After missing all of 2013-14 following knee surgery, he led all rookies with 18 double-doubles in 75 games last season.

Philadelphia also took a chance on Embiid with the third pick in 2014. The 7-footer, however, is expected to miss his second straight season after another foot surgery.

The determined club continued to add big men by selecting Okafor third overall in this year's draft. The 76ers didn't have to wait for the arrival of Okafor, who finished with a team-high 26 points in Wednesday's 112-95 season-opening loss at Boston.

The 6-11 center hit all six of his free throws, leaving him 14 of 15 from the stripe dating to his last two preseason contests, and added seven rebounds and two blocks.

"I leave encouraged... (Okafor) has capabilities beyond what I thought... He didn't disappoint," coach Brett Brown told the team's official website.

Okafor also has developed some solid chemistry with Noel, who finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Guard Isaiah Canaan had 18 points and seven assists for the 76ers, who opened the season with just nine healthy players.

Philadelphia needs to take care of the ball and play better defensively if it wants to beat Utah for the first time since November 2012. The Celtics scored 34 points off 22 turnovers, outscored the 76ers 26-7 on the break and went 26 of 27 at the foul line.

Although the Jazz aren't prolific offensively, Philadelphia will have to keep a close watch on Derrick Favors after he had 26 points in Wednesday's 92-87 loss at Detroit.

Alec Burks, playing for the first time since December following knee surgery, contributed 18 points off the bench. Gordon Hayward, who led the team with 19.3 points per game last season, will try to get on track after finishing with 13.

"It was just that kind of game - a one- or two-possession game," coach Quin Snyder, a former 76ers assistant, told the team's official website. "There's gonna be a lot of them like that. We know that."

Utah has high expectations in Snyder's second season after winning 21 of its final 32 games in 2014-15. The club, though, will try to avoid its fifth 0-2 start in six seasons.

The Jazz made their push last season while leading the NBA with 94.9 points allowed per game. They limited Detroit to 40.5 percent shooting but sent it to the line 34 times.

Utah held Philadelphia to 77.0 points per game on 34.6 percent shooting in taking both meetings last season. Favors totaled 32 points and 25 rebounds in the season series.

Trevor Booker served a one-game suspension Wednesday for taking a swing at Roy Hibbert of the Los Angeles Lakers in the preseason. Nik Stauskas, acquired from Sacramento in the offseason, could make his 76ers debut after back spasms took him out of the opener.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Thunder (1-0) at Magic (0-1)

Date: October 30, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

Although he's revered by many basketball fans in Florida, it won't be surprising if Billy Donovan hears a chorus of boos and taunts upon his return to the Sunshine State.

It's been just over eight years since Donovan parted ways with Orlando after serving as coach for less than a week, and the acrimonious split is sure to be a focal point for some Magic fans when he and the Oklahoma City Thunder visit Amway Center on Friday night.

After winning his NBA debut 112-106 over San Antonio on Wednesday, Donovan may get a mixed reception in Orlando despite a stellar 19-year tenure at the University of Florida that featured four Final Four appearances and back-to-back NCAA championships from 2006-07 with a team that featured current NBA stars Al Horford and Joakim Noah.

Donovan was coming off the second of those titles when he signed a five-year, $27.5 million deal with the Magic in June 2007. However, the coach immediately had a change of heart, and after some back-and-forth legal wrangling that reportedly featured a five-year non-compete clause, he was released from the deal and returned to Gainesville.

"I feel terrible about it," he said at the time. "(The Magic) have great ownership, and they're great people. I feel sorry and have apologized. It was my decision, it was my mistake. I have to take responsibility for that, which I'm trying to do."

The now 50-year-old coach remained at Florida for eight more seasons, finishing his time there with a 467-186 record before the Thunder finally - and fully - lured him back to the NBA this past offseason with a five-year contract worth close to $30 million.

His first game in the league was a success with Oklahoma City rallying from a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's victory. Russell Westbrook had 33 points and 10 assists, while Kevin Durant - who missed most of last season with a broken right foot - scored 22 in his first game since February.

"I was very pleased that our guys just kept their composure," Donovan said. "They kept battling, they kept fighting, and I think everyone knew it was going to be a game that was going to come down that way."

Durant shot just 6 of 19 from the floor but hit two free throws with 11.5 seconds left to put the Thunder in control. Enes Kanter had 15 points and 16 rebounds off the bench.

"I know it's one of many games, but to get (Donovan) his first 'W,' especially at home on a big stage against a big-time team felt good," Durant said. "He was calm all night, and that kind of rubbed off on us."

The stage for this upcoming contest may seem big because of Donovan, but Oklahoma City has won seven of the last eight meetings with the Magic. The lone loss did come in Orlando, but Westbrook was inactive for that 103-102 defeat on Feb. 7, 2014.

The Thunder cruised to a 127-99 win in their most recent trip to Orlando on Jan. 18 with Durant's 21 points leading seven players in double figures. They shot a season-best 57.8 percent from the field despite going 9 for 25 from 3-point range.

The Magic's season opener Wednesday against Washington came down to the wire, but John Wall hit a floater with 12.7 seconds to play that gave the Wizards an 88-87 victory.

Orlando had gone ahead by eight early in the fourth quarter before Washington rallied with a 12-0 spurt. The Magic had a chance to win in the closing seconds, but Nik Vucevic's jumper bounced off the rim as time expired.

Victor Oladipo scored 17 points and Tobias Harris added 15.

"It's frustrating to be that close in the game and then to not come away with the win," Harris told the team's official website. "It's real disheartening, but with these things, we've got to learn from them."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Raptors (1-0) at Celtics (1-0)

Date: October 30, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

The Boston Celtics probably pose the biggest threat to unseat the two-time defending Atlantic Division champion Toronto Raptors in 2015-16.

They get an early opportunity to make a statement when they host the Raptors on Friday night in the second game for each team.

Boston showed off the deep roster general manager Danny Ainge has built in Wednesday's opener. Isaiah Thomas had 27 points and seven assists to lead a Celtics bench that outscored Philadelphia's reserves 67-15 in a 112-95 home victory.

"Everybody wants to start. Everybody wants to be a star. Everybody wants to be the All-Star. Everybody wants to win a championship," Ainge said.

Amir Johnson, signed to a two-year, $24 million contract in July after spending his previous six seasons with the Raptors, added 15 points and seven rebounds. Jared Sullinger, who started 49 games last season, scored 12 and also grabbed seven boards.

"Well our bench has to be a great source of energy, scoring for us and everything else for us," coach Brad Stevens said.

Thomas shot 10 of 19, Johnson was 6 of 11 and Sullinger 6 of 8, which altogether helped make up for the starting five's 13-for-33 effort.

"That's my job. I've got a job to do. I have confidence in myself and my teammates do, too," said Thomas, who was acquired from Phoenix at last season's trade deadline.

The win improved Boston to 25-12 since Feb. 3, tying for the second-most victories in the NBA in that stretch. Defending champion Golden State leads the way with 31.

Two of those 25 wins have come against Toronto, but they were by a combined three points in April. The Raptors got things going Wednesday with a 106-99 win over visiting Indiana, relying mostly on their starters.

DeMar DeRozan had 25 points, Kyle Lowry scored 23, Jonas Valanciunas had 21 points and 15 rebounds and DeMarre Carroll scored 14 with eight boards, four assists and two steals in his Raptors debut.

"That's exactly why he's here," DeRozan said of Carroll, who came over from Atlanta on a four-year deal worth $60 million. "He brings that toughness and that defensive mindset with the things he's able to do offensively."

Toronto scored 37 points in the first half before holding a 69-54 advantage the rest of the way.

"I will admit that we were nervous to start the game," Lowry said. "Not knowing who we are and how we were going to play together. We settled down and started taking the shots that were there."

Toronto won the first two meetings last season before dropping those two April matchups. DeRozan averaged 30.5 points in two of those games, while Lowry scored 23.3 in three.

Kelly Olynyk played in all four meetings for Boston and averaged 15.0 points. He'll be making his season debut after sitting out Wednesday while serving a one-game suspension for his role in Cleveland forward Kevin Love's left shoulder injury in the first round of last season's playoffs.

Boston has won 21 of the last 25 meetings at home.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Bulls (2-0) at Pistons (2-0)

Date: October 30, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

So far, so good for first-year Chicago Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg. The same can be said for Stan Van Gundy in his second season with the Detroit Pistons.

The veteran-laden Bulls have picked up where they left off with a new voice in the huddle heading into Friday night's visit to the young Pistons, who will try to start 3-0 for the first time in seven years.

The Bulls hope to spoil Detroit's fast start by winning their first three games for the first time since 1996-97, when they started 12-0 en route to a 69-win season and their fifth NBA championship with Michael Jordan.

That gap without a quick start might be surprising given Chicago averaged 51 wins in five seasons under Tom Thibodeau, including a lockout-shortened 2011-12 in which the Bulls went 50-16.

But with the defensive-minded Thibodeau out, Hoiberg has the Bulls playing with a faster, more balanced offense.

After a 97-95 win in the NBA opener against Cleveland on Tuesday, Chicago downed New Jersey 115-100 on Wednesday. The game against the Nets was closer to the offense Hoiberg envisions as the Bulls made 53.8 percent of their shots, including 14 of 28 3-pointers - up from 22.3 attempts per game last season.

Both of Chicago's games have featured more than 102 possessions after Bulls games averaged 95.4 - 21st in the league - last season. But it's a small sample size, and the only thing holding back previous Bulls teams was LeBron James in the playoffs - not what they did in the regular season.

'It's only two games, we always have room to improve,' Derrick Rose said. 'Do I love the way that we played these two games? Of course. We had some ups and downs, but we've still got to get better.'

Though the Bulls have several veterans at the forefront, they also have young talent that may get more of a look under Hoiberg.

Nikola Mirotic (18.5 points per game), Tony Snell (10.5), E'Twaun Moore (10.0) and Doug McDermott (8.0) have all seen an uptick in minutes while Hoiberg has shaved a few away from his oft-injured veterans. Joakim Noah is coming off the bench for what seems like it will be his first extended stint as a reserve since 2008-09.

"It's a marathon," Hoiberg told the team's official website. "You have to prepare your guys the best you can and try to keep them healthy."

Meanwhile, the Pistons are led by a young core that will try to deliver a 3-0 start for the first time since 2008-09, the last season they made the playoffs.

Van Gundy was hired as coach and president of basketball operations in May 2014, but two extended losing streaks during his first season kept Detroit out of the playoffs once again.

The Pistons have impressed early, though, winning 106-94 in Atlanta on Tuesday and 92-87 over Utah on Wednesday to start a three-game stretch at home.

Last season the Pistons found ways to lose late, which tormented them during a 5-23 start. They held off a fourth-quarter Jazz rally, though, to reach two games over .500 for the first time since they were 33-31 in March 2009.

'Stan puts a lot of faith in us,' said Andre Drummond, who scored 18 points in each of Detroit's first two games while pulling down 29 total rebounds. 'At the end of the day it comes down to us to close the game up.'

The Bulls lost twice at The Palace last season, equaling the total number of losses they had in this series over the previous five seasons.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Wizards (1-0) at Bucks (0-1)

Date: October 30, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

It took some time for the Milwaukee Bucks to adjust to personnel changes midway through last season. Another transitional period appears in the works for the start of this one.

Coming off a lopsided home loss in their opener, the Bucks seek a better result in Friday's matchup with the Washington Wizards.

Milwaukee was ineffective on both ends during Wednesday's 122-97 defeat to a New York Knicks team that finished last in the Eastern Conference a season ago. The Bucks shot 34.9 percent and their 18 turnovers - six by point guard Michael Carter-Williams - led to 25 points for the Knicks.

The Bucks allowed over 120 points only once during an encouraging 2014-15 campaign that saw the club trade leading scorer Brandon Knight in mid-February in a three-team deal that netted Carter-Williams from Philadelphia. Milwaukee lost 13 of 17 following the swap, then recovered to win seven of its next 11 to earn the East's No. 6 playoff seed.

Two key veterans, center Zaza Pachulia and swingman Jared Dudley, departed from last season's squad and Milwaukee played without young forwards Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker as well as O.J. Mayo on Wednesday.

"For us to grow up we're going to have to go through this probably the first 20 games or so," coach Jason Kidd said. "We can't just say we lost because of Giannis and O.J. We felt we had enough firepower and talent to win (Wednesday)."

Antetokounmpo will be back in Friday's lineup after serving a one-game suspension for a flagrant foul on Chicago's Mike Dunleavy during Game 6 of the East quarterfinals. Mayo remains out with a hamstring injury and Parker isn't quite ready to return from a torn ACL that cut short his rookie season in December.

The Bucks envision Parker and fellow 20-year-old Antetokounmpo forming a dynamic frontcourt with free-agent addition Greg Monroe, who totaled 22 points and 14 rebounds in his Milwaukee debut.

Dudley was traded to Washington to help clear cap space for Monroe's signing, though it's uncertain if he'll face his former team after sitting out Wednesday's 88-87 win at Orlando to rest his surgically repaired back.

The Wizards unveiled a more up-tempo attack that seemed to suit backcourt starts John Wall and Bradley Beal well but produced mixed results overall. Beal had 24 points and Wall capped a 22-point night with a go-ahead floater with 12.7 seconds remaining. However, Washington shot just 39.3 percent and finished 7 of 28 from 3-point range.

"It's a process. It's different,' coach Randy Wittman said. 'We didn't play that way the last couple years, so ... this is Game 1. We've just got to keep working at it.'

Wall added a career-high five blocks on Wednesday and averaged 20.0 points, 9.5 assists and 5.0 steals in two Washington wins over Milwaukee last season. He was held to 3 for 14 shooting, however, in a 91-85 loss at the Bradley Center on March 7 that ended the Wizards' four-game series win streak.

Washington had also won four straight in Milwaukee prior to that defeat.

Milwaukee's Khris Middleton set a career high with 30 points in the teams' last meeting but struggled in the opener, scoring 11 points on 4 of 15 shooting.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Hornets (0-1) at Hawks (1-1)

Date: October 30, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

Although they were beaten on the boards again, the Atlanta Hawks performed better overall in their latest game than in a season-opening defeat.

They'll try to keep their momentum going in their quick return home Friday night by adding to their recent success there against the Charlotte Hornets.

Atlanta held Detroit to 38.5 percent shooting in its 2015-16 debut Tuesday but the Pistons posted a 59-40 rebounding advantage and a 23-7 edge on the offensive glass in a 106-94 victory over last season's Eastern Conference finalists.

New York beat the Hawks 48-39 and 16-7 in offensive rebounds Thursday, but Atlanta (1-1) shot 50.6 percent in a 112-101 victory. Jeff Teague led the way with 23 points, and Al Horford scored 21.

The Hawks put six players in double figures and made 10 3-pointers after coach Mike Budenholzer challenged them following the opener.

"I think we had a healthy film session. There he kind of told us what he expected from us, what he wanted us to do a little bit better," said Horford, whose team finished an East-best 60-22 in 2014-15. "I think everybody answered the call."

The Hawks will next seek to avoid their first 0-2 start at home since dropping their first three in 2005-06. Atlanta won its first four games there in 2014-15 on its way to finishing 35-6, one win shy of matching its best showing on its own floor.

Their last regular-season victory at Philips Arena was a 104-80 rout of Charlotte on April 10, their 14th win in the last 16 visits from the Hornets (0-1). The Hawks also won 105-75 on Nov. 29.

The teams split their four overall matchups with Charlotte scoring an average of 118.5 points in its two wins while shooting 50.8 percent. The Hornets averaged 77.5 and shot 34.5 percent in their two losses.

Atlanta was more consistent in shooting no worse than 43.0 percent in the four games and 47.9 overall. They also connected on 43.9 percent from 3-point range.

Charlotte shot 39.3 percent and missed 18 of 24 attempts from beyond the arc in its season opener Wednesday, a 104-94 loss in Miami. Kemba Walker scored a team-best 19 points despite missing 11 of 16 shots and Jeremy Lin had 17 in his Hornets debut.

"I just don't think we played at all the way we played during the preseason, at either end of the floor," coach Steve Clifford said. "We never really found our comfort level."

Charlotte hasn't opened with back-to-back losses since losing its first three games in 2010-11. The Hornets dropped their first four road games in 2014-15 and 10 of their first 11 en route to finishing 33-49.

Walker has averaged 11.2 points - 5.1 below his career mark - in his last five games against Atlanta while shooting 30.8 percent and going 4 of 22 from 3-point range.

Teague totaled 12 points and missed 10 of 15 shots in his final two games versus Charlotte last season. He had 22 points and matched a career high with 15 assists in a 122-119 double overtime loss to the Hornets on Nov. 7.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nets (0-1) at Spurs (0-1)

Date: October 30, 2015 8:30 PM EDT

While the San Antonio Spurs already have their share of stars, coach Gregg Popovich declared the arrival of another following his team's opening night defeat.

Coming off one of the best performance of his career, Kawhi Leonard will try to help the Spurs bounce back Friday night when they seek a 13th straight home win over the Brooklyn Nets.

San Antonio still has Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili and added All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge in the offseason, but Leonard stole the show with a career-high 32 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks in Wednesday's 112-106 loss at Oklahoma City.

Leonard first grabbed the national spotlight in the 2014 NBA Finals when he earned MVP honors while leading the Spurs to a five-game series win over Miami. He then averaged a career-best 16.5 points and also won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2014-15.

Still, Popovich believes we haven't seen the best of the forward because injuries have limited him to 66 games or fewer in each of his first four seasons.

"He's a confident player now and has worked on his game diligently and really it's the first year he's been whole from the very beginning," Popovich said. "He wasn't hurt during the summertime. He wasn't hurt in preseason. Every year so far, that's been his situation. He's arrived.'

Despite Leonard's career night, San Antonio couldn't hold on to a seven-point advantage while allowing the Thunder to score 33 in the fourth quarter. The team's other four starters, Parker, Danny Green, Duncan and Aldridge, combined for 33 points on 14-of-40 shooting.

'A couple of defensive mistakes, a couple of offensive plays where we were impatient," Popovich said. "We just needed to work together a little bit longer.'

San Antonio hopes to gain some cohesiveness as it tries to win a seventh straight home opener at the AT&T Center, which underwent a $110 million renovation in the offseason.

The Spurs also have won nine consecutive home games overall and 40 of 45 there against the Nets going back to the 2003 NBA Finals. They've won by an average of 14.5 points during their 12-game home winning streak in the series.

Parker had 22 points and Leonard and Green scored 21 apiece in a 99-87 win in the most recent meeting in San Antonio last November. Green has averaged 19.3 points while hitting 14 of 22 from 3-point range in his last three against Brooklyn.

The Nets are looking to avoid their first 0-2 start since dropping their first 18 in 2009-10 en route to their worst record in 40 NBA seasons at 12-70.

Brook Lopez started strong with 26 points, while Andrea Bargnani contributed 17 in Wednesday's 115-100 home loss to Chicago. Starting point guard Jarrett Jack could return Friday after missing the opener due to a hamstring injury.

Brooklyn, 22nd in defensive field-goal percentage (45.6) last season, will have to be better at that end after allowing the Bulls to shoot 53.8 percent and 14 of 28 from 3-point range.

'I understand that we did do some good things," coach Lionel Hollins said. "As I told the team, we have to extend those good things to a longer period of time. Cut down on our mistakes in giving them easy things and make them have to earn everything.'

Mirza Teletovic, who had five points on 2-of-10 shooting Wednesday, totaled 48 points while sinking 9 of 15 from beyond the arc in last season's series with San Antonio.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Timberwolves (1-0) at Nuggets (1-0)

Date: October 30, 2015 9:00 PM EDT

Entering his fifth NBA season, Ricky Rubio has only given the Minnesota Timberwolves glimpses of the creative brilliance that made him an overseas sensation as a teenager.

After playing in memory of his former coach sparked one of the best performances of his career, Rubio will try to help Minnesota start 2-0 on the road for the first time in 14 years Friday night in the home opener for the Denver Nuggets.

Rubio was the youngest player in Spanish ACB League history at age 14 before rising to stardom as a flashy playmaker in the Euroleague. The point guard, however, has been plagued by injuries and has played more than 57 games only once in four NBA seasons.

He missed most of the preseason following ankle surgery and also dealt with a sore quad, but three days after learning longtime coach and team president Flip Saunders had died due to complications while battling Hodgkin's lymphoma, the 25-year-old had a career-high 28 points and 14 assists in a season-opening 112-111 win at the Los Angeles Lakers.

"I think we had a little help," said Rubio, who shot 10 of 17 and also protected the ball with just one turnover. "It's been a tough week. It's hard to explain. Everybody went through a lot of pain. But even though Flip's gone, he will stay with us forever."

Saunders and Kevin Garnett guided the Timberwolves to their last playoff appearance in 2004. Garnett, who had seven rebounds to begin his 21st season, was persuaded to return to Minnesota by Saunders last season and left without speaking to reporters.

Kevin Martin contributed 23 points while shooting 5 of 11 from 3-point range and top overall draft pick Karl-Anthony Towns added 14 points and 12 rebounds in his debut.

"It's been a tough last couple of days, but the guys, they get a safe haven playing basketball," said interim coach Sam Mitchell.

The Timberwolves haven't won their first two road games since a 4-0 start under Saunders in 2001. Rubio has averaged just 8.0 points on 31.3 percent shooting in four career games at Denver and should be tested defensively by Nuggets rookie Emmanuel Mudiay.

The 19-year-old Mudiay, the seventh overall pick in the draft, finished with 17 points and nine assists but also committed 11 turnovers in Denver's surprising 105-85 win at Houston on Wednesday.

Danilo Gallinari had a team-high 23 points and was 3 of 5 from long range, and Kenneth Faried scored 18 with nine rebounds as the Nuggets shot 50.6 percent and made 13 3s.

Coach Mike Malone, who was let go by Sacramento in December, won his Denver debut after taking over a club that finished 30-52 last season.

"This should not come as a shock," Malone said. "Everybody outside of our organization can pick us last if they want, but we feel we have a chance to do something special this year and I think the way we played showed that promise."

Faried averaged 16.3 points and 13.5 rebounds to help the Nuggets take three of four meetings with Minnesota last season. Andrew Wiggins scored 23.3 per game in the series, but the reigning Rookie of the Year hopes to bounce back after finishing with nine on 2-of-10 shooting in the opener.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Warriors (1-0) at Rockets (0-1)

Date: October 30, 2015 9:30 PM EDT

Stephen Curry made sure nobody forgot he is the NBA's current MVP with an impressive opening night. There's little chance the Houston Rockets have let it slip their minds.

After opening this season the way he finished the last, Curry and the Golden State Warriors visit Houston on Friday night looking to remind the Rockets why they're the defending champions.

It was about five months ago when Curry averaged 31.2 points to oust Houston from the Western Conference finals on the way to ending Golden State's 30-year title drought.

Curry picked up right where he left off in Tuesday's season opener, scoring 40 points in a 111-95 victory over New Orleans. It was the second-highest point total by a reigning MVP in an opener since 1963-64, short of only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 41 on Oct. 13, 1972.

Curry shot 14 of 26 and went 5 of 12 from 3-point range in his 13th career 40-point game, including the postseason. One of those playoff games came when he torched Houston for 40 on May 23 in a 115-80 blowout in Game 3 at Toyota Center.

Golden State won eight of nine against Houston last season, including the five-game playoff series. The lone loss was a 128-115 shootout in Game 4 at Houston. The Warriors scored 115 or more points four times against the Rockets and less than 100 twice - and they just missed with 99 and 98 in those games.

"Obviously, we had great success against them last year," said Curry, "But that's because we were focused every single night to the game plan and sticking to it."

Already playing without coach Steve Kerr, who is resting his surgically repaired back, the Warriors might be without another major contributor. Andrew Bogut left the opener with a concussion after taking an arm to the head, and he won't return until he is symptom-free and passes the NBA concussion protocol.

Bogut, who hit all six of his shots and finished with 12 points, five rebounds and five assists against the Pelicans, played a big part in holding Dwight Howard to 14.8 points in seven games last season.

Bogut and Howard played a chippy series in the post that led to a hard Howard screen on Andre Iguodala in Game 5. In turn, Howard was given his fourth flagrant foul of the postseason and a suspension for Wednesday's season opener.

The Rockets missed him while suffering a 105-85 home loss to a Denver team not expected to make any waves this season. James Harden, who finished second to Curry in last season's MVP voting, scored a team-high 22 points, but he shot just 6 of 21 and 2 of 12 from 3-point range. Harden averaged 27.0 points against the Warriors last season.

Ty Lawson had 12 points and six assists in his first game with the Rockets, though he made just 3 of 10 shots.

"We can't worry about what wasn't brought in Game 1," Howard said. "That's over with. There's no need to focus on that anymore."

Coach Kevin McHale, though, would like his team to improve on its 34.5 field goal percentage.

"The big thing, we didn't have any push, we didn't have any pace," McHale said. "We've got a lot of work to do to get ourselves working in the right direction."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Lakers (0-1) at Kings (0-1)

Date: October 30, 2015 10:00 PM EDT

Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott wants the ball to be in D'Angelo Russell's hands a lot more. Having it go in the basket would also help.

Russell is expected to take charge at the point while Kobe Bryant looks to improve his rusty scoring touch as the Lakers visit the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

Los Angeles fell 112-111 to visiting Minnesota after Lou Williams missed a 4-foot runner at the buzzer in Wednesday's opener.

The Lakers, however, came away more worried about Russell's involvement. The rookie guard finished with four points, three rebounds and two assists, finding himself moved off the point in favor of the quicker and more aggressive Jordan Clarkson.

Scott plans to have Russell run the team a lot more against Sacramento.

"I really just wanted to up the tempo with Jordan pushing," Scott told the Lakers' official website. "(Russell is) probably a little bit better of a decision-maker, even at 19 years old and being in his rookie year. So we want him on the ball right now, and then we go to either side and we've got Kobe or Jordan."

Bryant led the Lakers with 24 points. However, he made 8 of 24 from the floor - 3 of 13 from 3-point range - while missing his final eight shots in his return from a torn rotator cuff that kept him out since January.

"That timing will come back," said Bryant, who averaged 31.0 points over his last 14 meetings with the Kings.

He's not the only one trying to improve from the field as the Lakers shot 37.6 percent - 9 for 35 from beyond the arc - against the Timberwolves.

Julius Randle, though, gave Los Angeles reason for optimism. The forward had 15 points and 11 rebounds, exactly one year after a broken leg in his NBA debut ended his season.

The Lakers, who dropped their first five games of 2014-15, are trying to avoid losing four straight to the Kings for the first time since 1993-94.

Sacramento is facing the possibility of its worst start since going 0-3 in 2012-13. The Kings fell 111-104 to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday in the opener of their final season at Sleep Train Arena.

Bouncing back will require doing a better job with the ball. Sacramento had 18 turnovers with 12 coming in the first half.

"At first we played terrible," said center DeMarcus Cousins, who had eight turnovers - one shy of his career high. "The turnovers killed us, especially on my end. We could have done a better job sharing the ball. But that being said, we had a great chance of winning the ballgame."

Cousins, however, made his presence felt with 32 points and 13 rebounds. He also showed some stunning shooting range, sinking 4 of 5 from behind the arc after going 11 for 69 in his first 350 games.

"I'm just building confidence behind it," Cousins said. "I think it will help the team spread the floor."

Sacramento has won six of the last eight meetings at home while averaging 105.1 points and shooting 48.2 percent.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Trail Blazers (1-0) at Suns (0-1)

Date: October 30, 2015 10:30 PM EDT

The Portland Trail Blazers' overhauled roster figured to give new opportunities for its remaining players, and C.J. McCollum was the first to seize his chance.

Following a career-best scoring performance, McCollum will try to lead the Blazers to their best start in four seasons Friday night against the Phoenix Suns.

Portland retained one member of last season's starting lineup, Damian Lillard, and lost three players to free agency with franchise great LaMarcus Aldridge easily the most notable departure. The Blazers, though, looked in sync with a 112-94 victory over New Orleans on Wednesday that extended their streak of season-opening victories to a league-best 15.

McCollum scored 37 points, topping his previous regular-season high by 10, in his fourth career start and had 28 in the first half. The guard averaged 6.3 points in his first two seasons.

"It's been a long time coming for me," McCollum said. "I've worked so hard for this moment to get an opportunity to play opening night and the coaching staff to have trust in me."

McCollum gave a glimpse of his potential in the final month of the 2014-15 season and an opening-round playoff loss to Memphis.

He averaged 15.6 points on 53.2 percent shooting in the final eight games, and 25.7 points on 60.9 percent shooting in the last three of the five matchups with the Grizzlies.

"I've been telling you guys that (McCollum) can play, and he can explode," Lillard said. "I think you guys got a chance to see it last year in the playoffs just a little bit. Tonight, you guys saw what we've been seeing for two, three years now in practice, him just making shots, and tough shots."

Lillard, who finished with 21 points and 11 assists, will next try to send Portland to its first 2-0 start since it took the first three games in 2011-12 and first win in a road opener since 2010.

The Blazers will also seek a fourth consecutive win over Phoenix, which struggled in its season debut Wednesday.

The Suns trailed by 27 points in the third quarter of a 111-95 loss to visiting Dallas. Last season's leading scorer, Eric Bledsoe (17.0), missed eight of 12 shots and finished with 13.

One of Phoenix's other top scorers from 2014-15, Markieff Morris, fared even worse with four points on 1-of-6 shooting. Devin Booker had 14 points off the bench while making six of seven shots in his NBA debut, one shy of matching Brandon Knight's team-best 15.

"I think everybody from top to bottom can take a piece of this loss," said center Tyson Chandler, who had three points and six rebounds in his first game for the Suns.

Chandler will try to help Phoenix avoid its worst start and worst at home since 2011-12 on a night where the franchise will induct two-time league MVP Steve Nash into its Ring of Honor. The Suns haven't been to the playoffs since Nash was on their roster in 2009-10.

Phoenix had won seven consecutive home games over Portland until an 87-81 loss March 27.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Game of the Day: Heat at Cavs

Miami Heat at Cleveland Cavaliers (-6, 197.5)

Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt vowed to get superstar LeBron James more rest during the regular season this year, but the schedule is so far not cooperating. The Cavaliers will play their third game in four nights when they host the Miami Heat on Friday.

Cleveland bounced back from an opening night loss to Chicago by dominating the Memphis Grizzlies on the defensive end in a 106-76 victory on Wednesday. “The guys came and had energy and purpose,” Blatt explained to reporters. “Sometimes, when you’re the team that’s playing that second night of the back-to-back at the beginning of the season you have an advantage over the team that’s playing their first game.” The Heat breezed past Charlotte 104-94 in its opener on Wednesday and are happy to have a healthy lineup heading into a matchup with their famous former teammate. Forward Chris Bosh, who sat out the final two months of last season due to a pulmonary embolism, put up 21 points and 10 rebounds over 32 minutes in the victory.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN, Sun Sports (Miami), FSN Ohio (Cleveland)

LINE HISTORY: Books opened the Cavs as 6-point home faves and the total at 197.5.

INJURY REPORT:

Heat - PF Amare Stoudemire (Probable, knee).

Cavs - SG Iman Shumpert (Mid February, wrist), PG Kyrie Irving (Out indefinitely, knee).

POWER RANKINGS: Heat (-7.5) + Cavs (-13.0) + home court (-3.0) = Cavs -8.5

WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "Cleveland is off back-to-back high-profile games on the road to open the season; they lost to the Bulls and they waxed the Grizzlies. Now LeBron James and company will host the Heat in their home opener, so we can assume LeBron will come to play against his former team. Miami beat a decent Charlotte team in their opener, and they are catching Cleveland at a vulnerable time off a pair of games against upper echelon teams." Steve Merril.

ABOUT THE HEAT (1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS, 1-0 O/U): Miami was decimated by injuries in the second half of last season that dropped the team all the way out of playoff contention and forced it to make some additions in the offseason. The most notable of those additions so far is guard Gerald Green, who poured in 19 points and went 5-of-8 from 3-point range in the season opener. The former Phoenix Suns reserve gives the team some insurance in the event of an injury to Luol Deng or Dwyane Wade.

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (1-1 SU, 2-0 ATS, 0-2 O/U): James managed just 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting in 31 minutes on Wednesday but the rest of his teammates picked him up in the easy win. The Cavaliers made a strong push to upgrade the bench in free agency and the reserves totaled 50 points against the Grizzlies while Cleveland totaled 29 assists on 41 field goals. “We are a team that knows how to win,” James told reporters. “Offensively, we know our best basketball is when we’re sharing the ball and we don’t care who gets the shots.”

TRENDS:

* Home team is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Underdog is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
* Under is 9-4-1 in the last 14 meetings in Cleveland.

CONSENSUS: Fifty-three percent are backing the Cavs.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

CFL Betting Notes - Week 19
By David Schwab

Betting Recap - Week 18

There is just one more postseason spot up for grabs in the CFL, but the final picture for this season’s Grey Cup Playoffs is far from being clear.

Last week’s action started off with two huge upsets on Friday that shook-up the East Division title race. First, Montreal ran all over Toronto 34-2 as an eight-point road underdog and then British Columbia stunned Hamilton 40-13 as a 2 ½-point underdog at home.

Saturday’s CFL double-header started with Ottawa hammering out a key 27-20 victory against Winnipeg as a slight 1 ½-point road underdog and Edmonton closed things out with a 35-24 win over Saskatchewan as an 8 ½-point favorite on the road.


Friday, Oct. 30

British Columbia Lions (6-10 SU, 9-7 ATS) vs. Toronto Argonauts (9-7 SU, 8-8 ATS)
Point-spread: Toronto -3 ½
Total: 53 ½

Game Overview

The Lions’ huge upset of Hamilton keeps them right in the hunt for the final spot in the postseason, but it was still just their second straight-up win in their last seven games. BC remains a solid team to bet on though with a 5-1 record against the spread over its last six contests. Jonathon Jennings was impressive in the win against the Tiger-Cats with 247 yards passing and three touchdown throws while completing 23-of-33 attempts.

The fact that the Argonauts could only muster two total points in last week’s loss has to be a bit troublesome for a team that is still in the thick of the East Division title race. Toronto is averaging 24.5 points a game and its defense is allowing 28.8 points, which is another bad sign with just two regular season games left to play. One positive is the return of quarterback Ricky Ray, who saw his first action of the season in last week’s loss.

Betting Trends

BC has an 8-2 SU edge in its last 10 road games against Toronto and it is 4-2 ATS in the last six. The total has stayed UNDER in 10 of the Lions’ last 12 games on the road against the Argonauts.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

CFL

Week 19 games

British Columbia (6-10) @ Toronto (9-7)-- Argonauts (+2.5) won 30-27 in Vancouver back in Week 5; Toronto won three of last four series games, but lost three of last four here vs Lions. Argos are 3-5 in last eight games overall, losing last two games on neutral field because the Blue Jays were in baseball playoffs. BC lost five of last seven games but covered three of last four on road; they're 3-2 as a road underdog. Argos are 0-2 as a Skydome favorite this season. Last three Toronto games stayed under total; last six BC games went over. Toronto is switching back to Ray at QB this week.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

StatFox Super Situations

CFL | BRITISH COLUMBIA at TORONTO
Play On - Any team vs the money line (TORONTO) off a loss against a division rival against opponent off an upset win by 10 points or more as a home underdog
23-4 since 1997. ( 85.2% | 0.0 units )
1-0 this year. ( 100.0% | 0.0 units )

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

At the Gate - Friday
By Mike Dempsey

It is Breeders’ Cup Friday, with four championship races on tap highlighted by the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).

The race is missing defending champion Untapable, who spiked a fever this week, and the leader of the division Beholder, who is taking on the boys tomorrow in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

You would think that might affect the field for the Distaff, but the full field of 14 will feature nine Grade 1 winners and it is a great betting race.

Wedding Toast is the 4-1 morning line favorite and comes into the race off back-to-back Grade 1 wins, taking the Ogden Phihpps and Beldame Invitational.

However, handicappers are going to have a hard time separating her with Got Lucky, Sheer Drama and I’m a Chatterbox, who each figure to take some betting action.

As you can see below, I am looking for a generous price with Curalina, who may end up getting overlooked in the betting.

The Breeders’ Cup action starts at 3:30 ET with the $1 million Juvenile Turf (G1). Here are some betting trend notes I made this week on today’s four Breeders’ Cup races:

Juvenile Turf Trends

Favorites have won just one of the eight running of this race...Euro invaders have won five with trainers John Gosden and Aidan O'Brien both winning in back to back years...The Group 1 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes produced the 2012 and 2013 winners...Pounced ($6.80) in 2009 is the only short priced winner of this race, and he was the most lightly raced with just three starts...The top exacta was in 2011 with Wrote (11-1) over Excaper (33-1) returning $964.00...Jockey Frankie Dettori has won this race three times, Ryan Moore twice...Hootenanny won last year's edition off the longest break, 68 days...

Dirt Mile Trends

Favorites have won just one of the eight editions of the Dirt Mile...The average win payoff is $32.30 and the exacta is $352.00...The last three winners have taken the field gate to wire, all at Santa Anita...Three-year-olds have won this race twice, Goldencents in 2013 the most recent...All of the winners of the Dirt Mile exited either a Grade 1 or Grade 2 race in their final prep...The two Churchill Downs editions were one turn events and they were both won by runners coming from off the pace...Two-time winner Goldencents used the Santa Anita Sprint Handicap (G1) as his final prep both years...2012 winner Tapizar used the Kelso (G2)...Dakota Phone was the biggest price, paying $77.40 in 2010 over the Churchill Downs main track…

Juvenile Fillies Turf Trends

Favorites have only won one of the seven runnings of this race, Lady Eli winning last year ($6.80)...U.S. based fillies have won five of the seven races...The Ms. Grillo at Belmont Park has produced three winners...The Natalma at Woodbine has produced two winners...Trainer Chad Brown has won this race twice and also has a pair of runner up finishes...Maram (11-1) and Heart Shaped (10-1) produced the largest exacta in 2008, paying $350.00...The average super for this race is over $11K...Four of the winner paid between $21.60 and $29.20...No winner has taken the field gate to wire...

Distaff Trends

Favorites have won 13 of the previous 31 editions of the Distaff...Favorites have won three of the last four...Three-year-olds have won three of last four...Royal Delta is the lone wire to wire winner going back 11 years...The average win payoff is $18.69...The top exacta was in 2005, Pleasant Home (30-1) over Society Selection (11-1) paid $692.00...The Beldame has produced five of the last nine winners...The Lady's Secret/Zenyatta has produced three in that time...Trainer Bill Mott has won the Distaff five times...Seven of the last eight Distaff winners came into the race with at least one Grade 1 win...Eight of the last nine Distaff winners came into the race with at least two triple digit Beyer Speed Figures...


Here is today’s opening race from Belmont Park to get the day off to a good start:

BEL Race 1 Clm $14,000N3L (12:45 ET)
9 Queen of the Spa 7-2
2 Midnight Champagne 5-1
10 Fiery Cat 3-1
5 Resolute Babe 10-1

Analysis: Queen of the Spa dueled for the early lead and weakened to finish fourth last out in the slop in a race washed off the turf. The runner up Saratoga Karaoke came back to beat $25,000 non-winners of three in her next outing on Oct. 23. The Gullo trainee was a good second two back at the Spa against $20,000 non-winners of three. She owns a solid pace profile throughout and she looks capable of moving forward back on a fast main track.

Midnight Champagne pressed the early pace toward the outside and weakened to finish fifth last out against straight three-year-old fillies for a $25,000 tag over a wet track here. She was making her first start off the claim by the Miceli barn that took her for $20,000. She beat $50,000 starter allowance foes back in April for her first victory against winners. She looks well spotted and gets a jock upgrade.

Wagering
WIN: #9 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 2,9 / 2,5,9,10
TRI: 2,9 / 2,5,9,10 / 2,4,5,9,10

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:

BEL Race 8 The Turnback the Alarm Hcp G3 (5:08 ET)
5 Call Pat 4-1
3 Delightful Joy 5-2
9 America 3-1
2 La Madrina 8-1

Analysis: Call Pat exits the Beldame (G1) where she checked in fourth, beaten 11 lengths for the top spot behind a couple of major players for the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) tomorrow. Two back at Ellis Park this gal won the Groupie Doll (G3) going a mile earning a career top speed fig. She fits better in this spot for the high % Cox barn.

Delightful Joy made a good late rally while wide to get up and win the Monmouth Oaks (G3) last out earning a career top speed fig in the effort. She beat Alw-1 foes two back off a similar break as she comes back here off a two-month break here. There is not a ton of pace in here but this gal looks headed in the right direction for the Chad Brown barn.

Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 3-1 or better
EX: 3,5 / 2,3,5,9
TRI: 3,5 / 2,3,5,9 / 2,3,5,6,9

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Keeneland:

KEE Race 9 The Breeders' Cup Distaff G1 (5:35 ET)
8 Curalina 12-1
7 Wedding Toast 4-1
1 I'm a Chatterbox 8-1
12 Got Lucky 6-1

Analysis: Curalina exits the Beldame which has been a key race for the Distaff. The filly tracked the early pace and could not get by Wedding Toast in the stretch in a runner up finish, the winner taking advantage of a racing strip that was kind to speed that day. She is a two-time Grade 1 winner, taking the Acorn back in June at a mile at Belmont Park and taking the Coaching Club American Oaks thanks to a DQ of I'm a Chatterbox in deep stretch. She is proven at nine furlongs and looks to still perhaps have some upside for the Todd Pletcher barn that won this racer with Ashado in 2004. Joel Rosario picks up the call as John Velazquez opted to ride Untapable who ended up scratching out of this race with a fever. The filly has three good works over the surface and is going to be a fair price in this spot.

Wedding Toast exits the Beldame where she went gate to wire to win by 2 3/4 lengths. While the effort may have been aided slightly from a speed friendly surface, she was making her first start off a 3 1/2 month break. She took the field gate to wire two back to win the Ogden Phipps (G1) and is the one runner in this field with a triple digit Beyer and she has earned them in back to back starts. There is plenty of speed in here but she showed three back in her Ruffian (G2) win that she does not need the lead.
I'm a Chatterbox stalked the early pace and finished strongly to win the Cotillion (G1) last out at Philly, the race last year's winner Untapable used as a final prep. She swept the three stakes at Fair Grounds earlier this year and then ran a decent third in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), her lone finish out of the exacta. She is consistent and should get a good tracking trip behind the speed. Her 8-1 morning line looks generous.

Wagering
WIN: #8 to win at 8-1 or better.
EX: 7,8 / 1,7,8,12
TRI: 7,8 / 1,7,8,12 / 1,7,8,12,14

Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.

Belmont Park
R1: #5 Resolute Babe 10-1
R2: #4 Media Kid 12-1
R2: #3 Neoclassic 8-1
R3: #2 Real Estate Rich 10-1
R4: #7 Macagone 10-1
R6: #6 Manofire 12-1
R8: #2 La Madrina 8-1
R9: #2 Alabama Bound 10-1
R9: #6 Out of Nowhere 12-1

Good luck today!

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by Chatsworth Consortium at The Meadows

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.


Race 5 - Post: 2:15 - 1 mile. PACE - Class Rating: 64 - Purse:$8200 - CD 2-5YO NW 1 EXT PM RACE OR $5500 LIFE. AE: 2YO NW 2 EXT PM RACES LIFE


CONSORTIUM CHOICES


Chatsworth Consortium

# 9 WESTERN WAYNE 6/1


# 5 JL JOE 5/2


# 1 POWERTERNITY 6/1


WESTERN WAYNE definitely looks like the standardbred to beat this time. This interesting entrant recorded a nice speed fig in last race. Looks fresh to come right back. Don't let a entrant with such a very compelling winning percent like this be passed over. JL JOE - Not many folks know, but the 5 hole here at The Meadows has been top notch for a much higher than average win statistic. Has respectable TrackMaster Speed Ratings and unquestionably has to be considered for a play in this one. POWERTERNITY - The handicapping group keenly points out that when Brickell trains this solid standardbred, the odds of finishing in the money go way up.