Monday 11/21/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Wild (9-7) at Stars (7-7)

Date: November 21, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

DALLAS -- Saturday night wasn't kind to either the Minnesota Wild or the Dallas Stars, which makes the meeting between these Central Division rivals Monday night at American Airlines Center even more interesting.

Minnesota (9-7-1) had a two-goal lead after 40 minutes against the Colorado Avalanche at XCel Energy Center. However, the Wild coughed up that edge and ended up losing 3-2.

"I need more from a lot of guys," Wild first-year coach Bruce Boudreau told the media postgame. "When was the last time any of us had a multi-point game? You can't win every night in this league 1-0, 2-1."

The Wild was without forward Zach Parise (illness) on Saturday. Parise, who also missed six games with a foot injury earlier this season, practiced Sunday in the Twin Cities and appears likely to play against Dallas, although the club recalled forward Christoph Bertschy from Iowa of the American Hockey League

Minnesota goaltender Devan Dubnyk, who saw a 156-minute shutout streak end with Colorado's first goal, sounded shell-shocked after the loss.

"We stopped playing," Dubnyk said. "I don't know what happened. That is not like us. ... We just stopped playing in our end."

The Stars (7-7-5) allowed the first four goals to Edmonton on Saturday night in Dallas and ended up losing 5-2 as Oilers phenom Connor McDavid delivered a hat trick.

Dallas will conclude its four-game homestand on Monday and the first three games, in which the Stars are 1-1-1, have been a mixed bag.

On Tuesday, Dallas lost 2-1 to New Jersey in overtime and followed that with a 3-2 win against Colorado on Thursday, a game where the Stars nearly blew a 3-0 lead.

Against Edmonton, veteran forward Patrick Eaves scored, giving him goals in a career-best five consecutive games. Eaves currently is tied with Dallas captain Jamie Benn for second on the Stars with 15 points.

Eaves also leads Dallas with nine goals and five power-play goals.

Benn has also done his part so far this season, but he is the first to take responsibility for the Stars' maddeningly inconsistent play so far this season, whether a rash of injuries to key players is to blame or not.

"We just have to come together as a team more, play for each other and keep each other accountable," Benn said after the loss to Edmonton. "I don't think we're playing as a team right now. We really need to do better, and that starts with myself."

Veteran forward Patrick Sharp saw his first action in nearly a month. Sharp, fifth on the Stars with 55 points last season, was up and down in his first game since Oct. 20 against Los Angeles, when he sustained a concussion.

"I thought that there were times he really skated well," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said of Sharp's performance against the Oilers. "I just think it's going to be a little bit of time. I saw him in the training room in between periods so it's going to be a bit up-and-down and that's why I kind of mixed the lines and tried to find who was going the best."

Dallas, which is 4-3-2 at home, did not practice on Sunday due to a mandatory day off.

Last spring, the Stars drew the Wild in the opening round of the playoffs and eliminated them in six games, Dallas' first playoff series win since 2008.

However, Minnesota has a new coach in Boudreau and on Oct. 29, the Wild blitzed Dallas 4-0 in St. Paul.

Both teams made considerable changes from the squads which faced one another in the playoffs. Dallas' biggest changes came at the blue line as the Stars jettisoned three of their most experienced defensemen, trading Alex Goligoski while letting Jason Demers and Kris Russell leave in free agency.

Dallas added veteran defenseman Dan Hamhuis, but otherwise the plan has been to give what is a pretty young defensive corps the chance to step up, a strategy which, like the Stars' season thus far, has produced results on both sides of the ledger.

The Stars have allowed 64 goals, second-most in the NHL. Only the Philadelphia Flyers, who lead the league with 67 goals allowed, have conceded more goals than Dallas.

And that's a number Ruff knows must improve.

"We've got some young defensemen who I think, when the going gets tough, their vision narrows," Ruff said after Saturday's loss. "That will come with more experience. That's hard right now. We made some good plays and had some better options (against Edmonton), which was encouraging. There was still some plays that we just left out there."

That defensive depth will be put to the test again. On Sunday afternoon, Dallas placed veteran defenseman Johnny Oduya on injured reserve after he sustained a lower-body injury on Saturday.

Dallas recalled Julius Honka and Esa Lindell from AHL Texas. Honka, the 14th pick in the 2014 NHL draft, figures to make his long-awaited NHL debut while Lindell made his debut last season and appeared in 10 games for Dallas before being sent to the AHL last Thursday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blackhawks (13-4) at Oilers (10-8)

Date: November 21, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

The Circus Trip is living up to its name for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Coming off its most thrilling win this season, Chicago seeks its third consecutive victory Monday night when it visits the Edmonton Oilers, who will try to build off a career milestone from 19-year-old captain Connor McDavid.

When the circus comes to Chicago's United Center every November, it forces both the Blackhawks and the NBA's Bulls on extended road trips. Rogers Place will be the fourth stop on a seven-game trek for the Blackhawks (13-4-2), who head to California after this contest.

First, they look for their 10th win in the past 11 against the Oilers -- including five of six in Edmonton. Over the past 10 matchups, the Blackhawks have scored 41 goals while allowing only 21.

If the Blackhawks are to continue their success against the Oilers, then they must do so on the heels of an improbable 4-3 overtime win Saturday over the Vancouver Canucks. With Chicago down 3-0 in the third period, Artemi Panarin, Vinnie Hinostroza and Ryan Hartman scored before Marian Hossa tallied the game-winner in the final minute of the extra session after an apparent overtime goal was overturned.

Hossa also broke a 2-2 tie with 2:23 to play Friday night, lifting Chicago to a 3-2 win over the Calgary Flames. In 10 games this month, Hossa has eight goals -- including three game-winners -- and two assists.

"Hossa continues to do what he's been doing all year; he's been scoring some huge goals for us. Biggest one we've scored all year," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said after Saturday's win.

Hossa, who turns 38 on Jan. 12, leads the team with 11 goals, and he has notched two goals and six assists in a four-game points streak in Edmonton. That includes an overtime marker that lifted Chicago to a 4-3 win on Nov. 18, 2015.

Though he has faced Edmonton only three times and taken just nine shots, Panarin -- who beat out McDavid for the 2016 Calder Trophy as the top rookie -- has four goals and three assists.

After Scott Darling started against the Canucks, Corey Crawford will likely be back in goal for Chicago on Monday. Crawford has allowed just nine goals in his past four road games, winning three of those contests. He is 4-1-0 with a 2.32 goals-against average over five career starts in Edmonton.

"Our goaltending is the reason why we've been doing well all year," said Quenneville, whose team has opened up a five-point lead over the St. Louis Blues in the Central Division.

After being a league doormat in recent season, the Oilers (10-8-1) have been at or near the top of the Pacific Division for much of this season, but it has been a roller coaster ride.They are currently in a tie with the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks for the top spot.

Edmonton got off to a 7-1-0 start before coming back to Earth with a 3-7-1 stretch that included a five-game losing streak.

That was snapped Saturday night when McDavid's first career hat trick helped the Oilers to a 5-2 win over the Dallas Stars.

"Three pretty lucky goals," McDavid said. "It's a funny league that works that way. You get grade-A chances and they're not going in, then you start putting it there and they are going in. It's weird that way. Definitely happy to get off that slump."

McDavid leads Edmonton with eight goals and 14 assists through 19 games, but he has failed to score a goal in four consecutive home games. This also is McDavid's first chance to face the Blackhawks -- a broken collarbone as a rookie last season limited the top overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft to 45 games.

Edmonton coach Todd McLellan said the Oilers shouldn't get overly excited about the win at Dallas.

"We still have a lot of work to do," McLellan said. "Frustrating in some areas of the game, but we can't over-evaluate a win right now. We'll take it any way we can get it. Reload and get back home."

Edmonton has managed just three goals while dropping three straight in its new arena to fall to 4-4-0 at home. The Oilers have also scored only two power-play goals in 25 chances at Rogers Place so far.

Goaltender Cam Talbot has never faced the Blackhawks while with Edmonton. As a member of the New York Rangers, Talbot went 1-1-0 with a 1.01 GAA and .968 save percentage against Chicago.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Devils (9-5) at Sharks (9-8)

Date: November 21, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

The San Jose Sharks are glad to be back home for an extended period. Perhaps it will get their struggling offense going.

San Jose opens a five-game homestand and a stretch of seven of eight at SAP Center on Monday night against the New Jersey Devils, who are dealing with their own problems trying to generate offense.

The Sharks are coming off a 3-3-0 road trip -- their longest of the season. Things started well with 10 goals scored in wins over the Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. They followed by tallying only four goals in losses to the Carolina Hurricanes, St. Louis Blues and Arizona Coyotes.

Joe Pavelski, who had two goals and two assists on the trip, said playing at home for the first time since Nov. 5 and for a long period will be good for the team.

"(We'll) spend a little bit of time (at home) and try to create that home-ice advantage," he told the CSN Bay Area website. "We haven't had much time there. There's a little bit of disconnect from the fans just because we've been gone.

"We want to get back there, we want to get the crowd going where we score a goal and the place erupts on your side. Those are good feelings."

That was certainly the case early in the season when San Jose won four in a row, but open this homestand trying to avoid a third consecutive loss in northern California.

San Jose (9-8-1) is near the top of the Pacific Division despite having one of the more lackluster offensive units in the league. San Jose has scored just 41 goals so far, one more than New Jersey.

Pavelski is tied with Brent Burns for the team lead with six goals, but Burns has failed to score in four straight. Joe Thornton has only two goals and none in his last five games, and Patrick Marleau has scored four goals with one coming in his past eight games. Thornton and Marleau have combined for 16 goals, including five game-winners, and 18 assists versus the Devils.

"I think all the guys in here have high expectations as far as how we want to play. I think guys put a lot of pressure on themselves," Sharks defenseman Paul Martin told CSN Bay Area.

Another player who's struggled is Tomas Hertl, who set career highs with 21 goals and 25 assists last season, but has only four goals and five assists through 17 games. Hertl suffered an injury against the Blues, and may need knee surgery.

The Devils are 1-2-0 on their four-game road trip and will be trying to leave California with a win. After defeating the Dallas Stars in overtime on Tuesday, New Jersey dropped a one-goal decision to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday before falling 4-2 to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

New Jersey (9-5-3) has failed to score more than 197 goals in each of the last four seasons and is on pace for about 172 this season. The addition of Taylor Hall from the Edmonton Oilers was meant to address the lack of goal scoring, but a knee injury is expected to sideline him until mid-December. Michael Cammalleri (three goals) remains day-to-day for personal reasons.

With Hall and Cammalleri out, that leaves journeyman P.A. Parenteau as the team's leading goal scorer with five. Defenseman Damon Severson also leads the Devils with nine assists and 12 points.

"We need more performances from the players who are here," Devils coach John Hynes said after the loss to the Kings.

One player Hynes could be targeting with that statement is Kyle Palmieri. Playing in his first season with the Devils in 2015-16, Palmieri had career bests with 30 goals and 27 assists in 82 games. He's slumped to three goals and four assists in 17 games, and played just 15 shifts against Los Angeles -- his fewest this season.

New Jersey also has failed to score a power-play goal in its last eight games, going 0-for-26 in that stretch.

On the bright side, New Jersey has won two straight at SAP Center by a combined 8-2 score. That includes a 30-save shutout by Keith Kinkaid in the Devils' 3-0 win on March 10.

Kinkaid, who has not played since Nov. 11, is 2-0-1 with a 1.65 goals-against average as Cory Schneider's backup.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Grand Salami - November

The Grand Salami in pro hockey is decided by adding up all the goals scored in every game scheduled for that particular day. You can wager on 'over' or 'under' the Grand Salami total. The total is set by adding up all listed 'over/under' odds for each game on that particular day.

Note: The Grand Salami will have no action if any game is suspended or cancelled before the regulation time of three twenty minute periods. Also, regardless of the number of goals scored during the shoot out portion of the overtime, the final scored recorded for the game will give the winning team on more goal than its opponent based on the score at the end of regulation time.

*The majority of sportsbooks do not put out a total on the Grand Salami when there is only one game on the card. For tracking purposes, we will continue to show the 'over/under' for goals and combined goals scored on days with just one game.

NHL GRAND SALAMI
Date No. of Games Total Goals Combined Goals Scored Result
11/1 12 66.5 57 UNDER
11/2 3 16.5 16 UNDER
11/3 12 65.5 65 UNDER
11/4 3 16 24 OVER
11/5 13 69 70 OVER
11/6 6 32 33 OVER
11/7 3 15 14 UNDER
11/8 10 55.5 60 OVER
11/9 3 15.5 11 UNDER
11/10 10 54.5 54 UNDER
11/11 6 31.5 30 UNDER
11/12 11 56.5 61 OVER
11/13 6 32 28 UNDER
11/14 1 5.5 4 UNDER
11/15 13 70.5 63 UNDER
11/16 2 10.5 11 OVER
11/17 10 53.5 52 UNDER
11/18 5 26 22 UNDER
11/19 11 57 53 UNDER
11/20 5 - - -
11/21 7 - - -
11/22 5 - - -
11/23 12 - - -
11/24 2 - - -
11/25 11 - - -
11/26 9 - - -
11/27 6 - - -
11/28 2 - - -
11/29 12 - - -
11/30 3 - - -

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA roundup: Kings edge Raptors
By The Sports Xchange

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Rudy Gay scored 23 points, the final four on a pair of dunks off turnovers, and referees nullified a potential game-tying 3-pointer by Terrence Ross to give the Sacramento Kings a 102-99 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
Ross appeared to tie the game with a 30-foot prayer from in front of the Kings' bench with less than one second left. Replays showed that Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins tipped the inbounds pass, but also that Ross' shot fell well before the final horn. The refs, however, ruled that the clock didn't start upon the tip as it should have, so time was up before Ross took the shot.
Jonas Valanciunas and Kyle Lowry each scored 23 points for the Raptors, but Lowry missed the last of three free-throw attempts with 26.2 seconds left to keep Toronto down 102-99. Valanciunas added 14 rebounds.
Cousins finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Knicks 104, Hawks 94
NEW YORK -- Carmelo Anthony poured in 31 points, and Kristaps Porzingis contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds as New York earned a win over Atlanta.
The Knicks, who led by as many 13 points in the fourth quarter, won for the second time in three games.
Atlanta received 19 points from Paul Millsap and 18 points and 18 rebounds from Dwight Howard.

Trail Blazers 129, Nets 109
NEW YORK -- CJ McCollum scored 33 points as Portland clamped down defensively in the third quarter and snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over Brooklyn.
Evan Turner added 19 for Portland while Damian Lillard contributed 18. Allen Crabbe and Meyers Leonard added 14 apiece as the Trail Blazers shot a season-best 57.6 percent and made a season high 15 3-pointers.
Brook Lopez made his first seven shots and scored 21 for Brooklyn, which lost its fourth straight game. Trevor Booker added 16 as the Nets lost for the fifth time in six games by allowing 100 points for the 11th time and shooting 26 percent in the second half.

Pacers 115, Thunder 111
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Jeff Teague scored 30 points to lead Indiana past Oklahoma City.
Teague shot 9 of 16 from the field and was 9 of 9 from the free-throw line. Thaddeus Young added 20 points and 11 rebounds. Glenn Robinson III posted 16 points and 11 rebounds as the Pacers improved to 8-7.
Russell Westbrook earned his fifth triple double of the season for Oklahoma City with 31 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds. Enes Kanter came off the bench to post 16 points while Victor Oladipo scored 14 points.

Nuggets 105, Jazz 91
DENVER -- Jusuf Nurkic had 16 points and 11 rebounds, Wilson Chandler scored 17 points off the bench, and Denver beat Utah.
Danilo Gallinari added 13 points and eight assists, and rookie Jamal Murray scored 16 of his team-high 18 points in the fourth quarter for the Nuggets.
Gordon Hayward had 25 points and seven rebounds for Utah, which dropped its fourth in a row.

Bulls 118, Lakers 110
LOS ANGELES -- With Dwyane Wade taking the night off, Jimmy Butler carried Chicago past Los Angeles.
Butler scored 40 points on 14-of-23 shooting, including 12 points in the third quarter as the Bulls took control of the game. The win gave the Bulls a split of their back-to-back weekend in Los Angeles (they lost to the Clippers on Saturday) and a 3-1 start to their six-game road trip.
Nikola Mirotic added 15 points and 15 rebounds for the Bulls. Lou Williams paced the Lakers with 25 points, and Larry Nance Jr. added 18.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'On the hardwood'

Toronto Raptors at Los Angeles Clippers November 21, 10:30 EST

'Under' has been the right choice when these two clash in Los Angeles. However, Clippers dropping 110.5 per 100 possesions, Raptors with its defensive woes allowing 104.9 per 100 possesions there is an 'Over'-Whelming change this one busts 'Over' the 211 total. Raptors have played 'Over in seven of eight road games when giving up 100 or more points, seven straight 'Over' after running the hardwood vs Kings, 7-1 'Over' after a loss, 13-5 'Over' playing without rest. Clippers on a 5-1 'Over' stretch, 4-0 'Over' with extra shut-eye the numbers point to 'Over' .

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Suns (4-10) at Wizards (3-9)

Date: November 21, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

WASHINGTON -- The Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards have suffered surprising losses in recent games. Then again, the way they're racking up setbacks, the shock is starting to wear off.

The Suns (4-10) fell to the 76ers 120-105 Saturday night in a start-to-finish beat-down against a Philadelphia team that entered the week with one win. Now the 76ers are up to three victories as they downed the Wizards 109-102 on Wednesday.

The Suns and Wizards meet Monday night at 7:00 p.m.

Washington (3-9) rebounded with a victory Thursday over the New York Knicks, but momentum quickly faded. The Wizards lost 114-111 to the Heat Saturday night against a Miami team that entered 28th in the NBA in scoring.

Eric Bledsoe scored 27 points against Philadelphia as Phoenix fell to 1-3 on its current six-game road trip. 76ers rookie center Joel Embiid set a career-high 26 points.

"You give any team confidence at home and they can get rolling," Suns coach Earl Watson said. "They have a lot of confidence here. Their crowd was energetic and Embiid in limited minutes was more than effective."

It's unclear what the Suns will receive from second-year guard and leading scorer Devin Booker for the remainder of this stretch because of a sprained left ankle. The perimeter threat averages 19.2 points, but had only 10 Saturday.

"He struggled," Watson said of Booker. "He gave all he had. He knew he wanted to play because we didn't have T.J. He sacrificed his body. That's just the type of person he is. You could see he could barely move."

The Suns were without forward T.J. Warren (illness) and C Tyson Chandler (personal reasons) in Philadelphia.

Miami attacked Washington off the dribble, dominated the boards 48-38 and sank 13 of 27 from beyond the 3-point arc. The Wizards faded in the second half, trailing by 17 points midway through the fourth quarter before an unsuccessful rally.

"We're getting beat off the dribble, (allowing) offensive rebounds and we're not guarding the 3-point line," Wizards coach Scott Brooks lamented. "We have to get better at playing defense. That's the bottom line."

Guards John Wall and Bradley Beal each set season-highs with 34 points, but the Heat set a season-best scoring total.

"They got wide open 3s," Wall said after the middle contest of a three-game homestand. "They had some guys that usually don't make shots that made shots because they were basically workout shots. There was nobody there to contest them."

Another defensive challenge comes against the Suns, who average 108.4 points, sixth in the NBA.

Markieff Morris left in the second quarter with a sprained ankle and did not return, though was walking without an issue in the postgame locker room. Traded from Phoenix to Washington last February, Morris is hopeful to face his former team Monday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Warriors (11-2) at Pacers (7-7)

Date: November 21, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers will host the Golden State Warriors on Monday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. It will be the Warriors' only trip to Indianapolis this season. Defeating the Warriors is never an easy task. The task will be even tougher for the Pacers, however, as they'll be playing on the second night of a back-to-back. They will also be without Paul George (ankle) and C.J. Miles (knee) due to injury.

"It's a long season, and you're going to have injuries," said coach Nate McMillan. "No one needs to get down."

George added, "I'd rather be strong for us late in the year than earlier in the year. Hopefully this isn't a long-term decision of sitting out."

George and Miles also missed Sunday's game, and the Pacers were still able to pick up their first road win of the season, an overtime win in Oklahoma City. Jeff Teague led the way with 30 points, nine assists, six steals, and five rebounds.

"We wanted him (Teague) to be aggressive," McMillan said. "I thought Jeff played a solid floor game, not only scoring but setting up his teammates."

The Pacers (7-7) have had a lot more success at home compared to the road, as they've gone 6-2 in Indianapolis this season. They will look to their home crowd and the adrenaline of playing the Western Conference Champions to try and play well in the quick turnaround.

The Warriors are 11-2 on the season, and 3-0 on this current road trip. Their road trip will conclude on Monday night.

Kevin Durant has now scored 30-plus points five times this season, including in the win against Milwaukee on Saturday.

Draymond Green had a big defensive stop Saturday night, proving how the Warriors can beat you in many different ways.

"That's what Draymond does," coach Steve Kerr said. "He sees the game. He knows what's coming. Draymond is unbelievable in those situations."

The Warriors lead the NBA with 117 points per game, and also own the league's best field-goal percentage (49.8%.) They have three players averaging 20 points per game or more (Durant, Curry and Thompson.) They've been every bit as advertised so far this season.

Former Pacer David West will be in the building with his new team. He was a fan favorite in his time with Indiana.

Both teams are in the top seven in the NBA in 3-point percentage and overall field-goal percentage. It could be another high-scoring affair.

The Pacers are 3-1 against the Western Conference this season, and the Warriors are 3-0 against the East. All three of those games have been on this current road trip.

The Warriors swept the two-game season series over the Pacers last year in their record-breaking regular season. Steph Curry averaged 34 points per game against Indiana in those games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Heat (4-8) at 76ers (3-10)

Date: November 21, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers' rookie center, continues to make the most of his opportunities. In doing so, he has helped the downtrodden Sixers fashion a modest home winning streak.

Embiid scored 26 points, the highest total in his nine-game NBA career, to lead Philadelphia to a 120-105 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night, the Sixers' third straight home victory.

On Monday, he faces a sizable challenge when the Miami Heat, featuring NBA rebounding leader Hassan Whiteside, visits Philadelphia (3-10).

Whiteside, who had 18 points, 18 boards and three blocked shots in the Heat's 114-111 victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night, is averaging 17.7 points, 16.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks for Miami (4-8).

Embiid, the third overall pick in the 2014 draft, missed his first two seasons while recovering from a pair of foot surgeries. The team has been limiting him to 24 minutes a game as a precaution and will do so until at least Christmas. He has also been held out of four games to date.

Embiid, who is averaging 22 minutes a game, nonetheless leads the Sixers in scoring (18.0) and rebounding (7.6).

On Saturday, he poured in 17 points in the first quarter. Embiid told reporters afterward he was hoping to atone for the team's dismal performance on national television Thursday, a 110-86 loss at Minnesota.

"That's just probably one of the main reasons I came out (on fire) in the first quarter," he told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I just wanted to dominate."

Embiid added that he was further motivated by social media criticism about being outplayed by Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns had 25 points and 10 rebounds while Embiid finished with 10 points and 10 boards. Embiid didn't think the criticism was justified because Towns didn't guard him.

"That made me mad," Embiid told the Inquirer. "And that's food for me. I like that. I like competition. I want to fight. I want to win. So tonight I think it helped me a little bit."

Miami guard Goran Dragic scored 22 points against Washington on Saturday, as the Heat won back-to-back games for the first time this season. Miami, which dropped six straight prior to that, generated a season-high point total and made half its shots. The Heat was shooting 42 percent from the floor, third-worst in the NBA, entering the game.

"Much better," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told the Miami Herald. "We still have a long ways to go. But guys are getting more comfortable, one in their roles and two where our strengths are. So that's a start."

Heat backup center Willie Reed is not expected to play Monday, after hyperextending his right knee against Washington.

Top overall pick Ben Simmons (foot) has yet to play this season for the Sixers, and is not expected to return until January at the earliest. Philadelphia has also been without guard Jerryd Bayless (wrist) and center/forward Nerlens Noel (knee), but both have ramped up their rehab in the last week.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Grizzlies (8-5) at Hornets (8-4)

Date: November 21, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

A week ago, Memphis Grizzlies coach David Fizdale had an important film session. The first-year coach showed Grizzlies footage of a 10-point loss in Milwaukee that dropped the Grizzlies to 4-5.

The film session did not get rave reviews since it highlighted many of the defensive deficiencies on a team known for defending. Through the first nine games, the Grizzlies allowed over 100 points six times. But since the film meeting things have improved, especially defensively.

Memphis takes a four-game winning streak into Monday night, when they visit the Charlotte Hornets.

During this streak, the Grizzlies are allowing 84.5 points, but that figure is even better from a successful back-to-back against the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves. Memphis allowed 64 and 71 points, respectively, in those two games and held its opponents to a combined 33.5 percent shooting (46-of-137).

"That's what we do. That's what we've been doing," Memphis forward Zach Randolph said of the defense. "That ain't no surprise."

Just as notable is what Memphis has done to opposing scorers in the last four games.

In Saturday's 93-71 win, the Grizzlies held Timberwolves star Andrew Wiggins to 2 of 11 shooting, and Friday in Dallas Harrison Barnes was 5 of 17. In the first two games of this streak, Memphis held Utah's Gordon Hayward to 4-of-14 shooting and Los Angeles Clippers star Chris Paul to 3-of-11.

And while Memphis has been clamping down on defense, it has been getting enough offense from different sources. Marc Gasol scored 48 points in Utah and Los Angeles but was held to six points on 2-of-12 shooting Saturday.

"Offensively, our main guys didn't score a lot," Gasol said. "But our defense was very consistent."

Instead, JaMychal Green led Memphis with 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds. He has led the Grizzlies in scoring twice and is one of six players to lead the team in points this season.

While Memphis rebounded with a good week, the Hornets will be looking to recover from their worst defensive night of the year.

Charlotte is among the league's top defensive rated teams but wound up with a 121-116 overtime loss at New Orleans Saturday. The Hornets blew a 14-point lead through the opening minute of the fourth quarter.

In their fourth loss in 12 games, Charlotte gave up 23 fast break points, 14 3-pointers and committed 15 turnovers.

"There's a difference between doing the right thing and losing and then not doing the right thing that allows the other team to get going," Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. "So, that's what's disappointing is if we're going to be the team I think we can be, you can't play like that."

Kemba Walker scored 25 points on 10-of-25 shooting, marking the 11th straight game he reached 20 points. Reserve Marco Belinelli added 22 points and Frank Kaminsky had 15.

Those totals were not enough since Charlotte was 8-of-27 from the floor after Kaminsky's 3-pointer gave them a 14-point lead.

"They just made the right plays," Walker said. "As a team, we just made so many mistakes and they capitalized on every mistake that we made. We paid for it. We played in spurts and that's something that's been hurting us."

One player who might not be able to help the Hornets recover is Cody Zeller. Zeller sat out with a shoulder injury and is day-to-day.

Last season, the Hornets swept the season series for the first time since 2009-10. Walker scored half of his 22 points in the fourth quarter in Charlotte's 98-92 home win on Dec. 26 and finished with 33 in a 123-99 rout at Memphis on Dec. 11.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rockets (8-5) at Pistons (6-8)

Date: November 21, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

The frustration and losses keep piling up for the Detroit Pistons, who have very little time to correct their mistakes.

Boston handed them their third consecutive defeat on Saturday, as Al Horford's putback with 1.3 seconds left allowed the Celtics to pull out a 94-92 victory. The Pistons had been the league's lone remaining unbeaten team at home before Horford ruined the opener of a four-game homestand.

It doesn't get any easier on Monday, when All-Star guard James Harden and the Houston Rockets visit The Palace.

"It's tough," Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We've lost three in a row now, six out of eight. We're in a really tough stretch. That weighs on everybody."

Van Gundy would like extended practice time to work on some of his team's issues but the rugged schedule won't allow it. The Pistons are in a three-week stretch where they play 13 games, with no more than one day off in-between those games.

"I think we just have to build better habits," he said. "I was talking to (forward) Tobias (Harris) and you can see the difference as we get less and less practice time here. Our habits aren't good enough right now to carry us through, and so we had that one real good day in San Antonio (Nov. 10), where we spent a lot time working on getting the ball from side to side and moving the ball. It helped us for a few days. Now we're a long way from that."

Detroit (6-8) wasn't that far from getting a victory on Saturday. It failed to secure the rebound in the closing seconds and that proved to be the difference.

"When you get in tight games like that, it's all the little things that add up," Harris said. "We gave them five points within the span of two seconds at the end of quarters. It's little plays like those that we have to take away and be locked in and focused on. We need every little thing -- every loose ball, every 50-50 ball, every rebound and stuff like that. It will help us be a great team."

The Rockets (8-5) are feeling good about themselves after winning two straight, including a 111-102 win over Utah on Saturday. Harden had another stellar outing -- 31 points, 10 assists and no turnovers in 35 minutes. He's averaging 28.7 points and a league-high 12.5 assists.

Houston also got a big night from its young center, Clint Capela, who contributed a career-high 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

"He had a monster game and I don't think that he did anything that he can't keep repeating," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni told the Houston Chronicle. "It's just what he does. He's much more comfortable, I think, offensively."

Houston also received some big performances from two veteran bench players who signed with the club as free agents this summer. Guard Eric Gordon had 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while forward Nene contributed 16 points and six rebounds.

"We're getting better," Harden told ESPN.com. "We're continuing to get better and to grow. Each and every guy knows their role. They do it at a high level, and the result is we don't turn the basketball over and we get really good shots."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Magic (6-7) at Bucks (5-7)

Date: November 21, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Bucks will try to snap their three-game losing streak on Monday when they play host to the Orlando Magic at the Bradley Center.

To do that, they'll need to play with the same energy and enthusiasm they showed Saturday night in front of a spirited sellout crowd during a 124-121 loss to the Warriors.

"We have to make this a habit, to give this effort in every game," said forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who led Milwaukee with 30 points. "We're working on it.

"When you have a lot of fans watching the game and a lot of supporters, you get that energy. It would be good if a lot of people come and watched us play, because you feed off that."

Antetokounmpo, a 7-footer who was inserted into the point guard role late last season, has been playing center at times lately, when the Bucks look to go small.

"He does well," head coach Jason Kidd said. "He can play multiple positions. At seven feet tall, he gives you different options."

Kidd's rotation has been a mystery over the last few games, especially the role of center Greg Monroe, who played a total of seven minutes during Milwaukee's three-game skid.

Monroe said Kidd told him he wouldn't play last week against Miami, but that was the extent of the conversation.

"He didn't really give me an explanation; he just said he would be going with those guys," Monroe said. "He didn't say there would be any changes. Go ask him. Of course, I want to play."

Kidd defended his decisions -- including the one that left Mirza Teletovic on the bench for the first three quarters Saturday night -- by saying here are only so many minutes to go around.

"We're trying to give those guys (Mason Plumlee and John Henson) some confidence," Kidd said. "There's going to be limited time to play three centers in today's game. Small ball is big and sometimes the schedule doesn't permit you to play three or four centers. Playing Giannis at center (in Milwaukee's small lineup) has given us a spark.

"So, someone has to sit. That's the nature of this business. This isn't CYO, where everybody has to play. So, understanding that and being a pro. ... Greg's being a pro about it."

Since snapping their own three-game losing streak, the Magic have won two in a row and three of their last four contests, including a 95-87 decision over Dallas Saturday night in Orlando.

Backup point guard D.J. Augustin played a big role in that victory, scoring 18 points with six assists, and he was on the floor for the final 18 minutes as the Magic put the game away.

Signed to a four-year, $29 million contract over the summer, Augustin is performing well this season, averaging 9.9 points and 2.6 assists in 18.8 minutes, but has been a tentative shooter at times, including on Saturday night when head coach Frank Vogel had a few words with the nine-year veteran.

The message was simple: if the shot is there, take it.

It paid off. Augustin hit a pair of 3-pointers near the midpoint of the quarter and the Magic led the rest of the way.

"Having your coach's confidence like that is a great feeling," Augustin told the Orlando Sentinel.

The Bucks won seven of the last eight meetings with the Magic in Milwaukee but split the season series a year ago.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Celtics (7-6) at Timberwolves (4-8)

Date: November 21, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

MINNEAPOLIS -- Al Horford's return sparked the Boston Celtics on Saturday night. Coupled with Jae Crowder returning to the lineup, Boston is healthy again and looking like a team to compete in the Eastern Conference.

The Minnesota Timberwolves won't be competing until they find more consistency.

Horford and the Celtics travel to Minnesota on Monday night, having won four of their past six games. Horford scored 18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals for Boston (7-6) in Saturday's 94-92 victory at Detroit.

"I felt really good," Horford said. "It was just very frustrating these past few weeks, dealing with a lot of different things. Finally I was at the point where I felt good enough to play."

Horford was Boston's prize free agent acquisition in the offseason, but he has been limited to four games because of a concussion. Crowder also returned Saturday for Boston after missing seven games with an ankle injury.

With the two starters back, the Celtics were at full strength with Marcus Smart and Kelly Olynyk going back to the bench to boost the second unit.

Horford scored with 1.3 seconds left and provided a key block on the other end to preserve the Celtics' win over the Pistons.

"We didn't call a timeout in the last four minutes. They just played," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. "I felt like we had a good lineup in there to score and get to the basket, those types of things. Guys made the right reads and right plays."

Minnesota (4-8) was also on the road Saturday. But the Memphis Grizzlies stifled the Timberwolves' high-scoring offense in a 93-71 Memphis victory. Minnesota shot just 39.1 percent from the field and were held below 92 points for the first time this season.

In the process, the Timberwolves slipped to 15th in the NBA in scoring at 105.0 points per game. Minnesota had 16 turnovers and was outrebounded 46-34.

"There are three things -- your defense, your rebounding and your turnovers -- that put you in position to win," Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau said. "Two of those three we did not do well enough to win."

Andrew Wiggins was held to seven points on 2-of-11 shooting from the field in the loss. Wiggins had sparked the team offensively, averaging 33 points per game in his previous six games.

"That was a rare night for that kid," Memphis coach David Fizdale said of Wiggins. "He's an animal."

Wiggins will draw the defense of Crowder, who gives Boston a taller look after the team had started the 6-foot-4 Smart the previous five games. Horford could match up with Karl-Anthony Towns, who had 17 points and three rebounds on Saturday, or Gorgui Dieng, who finished with nine points and 11 rebounds.

Minnesota split four home games last week before traveling to Memphis. Monday will be the Timberwolves' sixth game in 10 days.

"We didn't play with energy," Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio said of Saturday's game. "It was like we were the ones who playing back-to-back."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mavericks (2-10) at Spurs (10-3)

Date: November 21, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

The San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks face each other Monday at the AT&T Center in San Antonio in a battle between two teams moving in opposite directions on the NBA superhighway.

San Antonio (10-3) has won five straight games after an uncharacteristic three-game losing streak at home. The Spurs head back to the Alamo City after beating Sacramento and the Los Angeles Lakers on the road last week and after will be fresh for Monday's contest after a weekend of rest.

On Friday against the Lakers, LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points each to lead seven players in double figures in a 116-107 victory as San Antonio remained undefeated on the road (7-0).

"Tonight we got 30 assists, which is a good number for us," Spurs center/forward Pau Gasol said. "We want to continue to do that because we have so many talented and great players that when we move the ball we're hard to stop."

San Antonio shot .564 from the field and .947 from the charity stripe against the Lakers and set a season high for points in a quarter with 39 in the third.

"We are concentrating on moving the ball better and it's been improving with each game," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said.

The win was No. 1,099 for Popovich, which broke a tie for seventh on the NBA's career wins list with former Spurs coach Larry Brown.

Through its first 13 games, San Antonio leads the league in free-throw percentage and is second in 3-point shooting percentage. The Spurs have now won at least 10 of their first 13 games in 11 of the past 20 seasons. San Antonio is leading the Southwest Division and is third in the Western Conference.

Conversely, Dallas (2-10) has lost five straight outings, including Saturday night's 97-87 defeat at Orlando in which the Mavericks were outscored 31-18 in the final quarter.

Guard Jonathan Gibson, who was signed by injury-depleted Dallas on Nov. 17, appeared in his second career NBA game and scored a game-high 26 points for the Mavericks to go along with six rebounds, three assists and two steals in 32 minutes. Gibson became the first undrafted player to score at least 26 points in his first or second career NBA game since Lloyd Daniels of the Spurs scored 26 at Denver on Nov. 7, 1992 (in his second NBA game).

Seth Curry (13), Wesley Matthews (13) and Harrison Barnes (11) also scored in double figures for Dallas in the loss to the Magic.

The Mavericks continue to battle on without four key players: Forward Dirk Nowitzki (right Achilles strain) and guards Jose Juan Barea (left calf strain) and Deron Williams (left calf strain) are not with the team and guard Devin Harris (right great toe sprain) is out for Monday's game.

"I'm not gonna put lipstick on a pig here -- we've got some things we have to deal with," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "We have to play very efficiently, very tough, very together right now.

"I've been through tough stretches with multiple key personnel out before, and it's very difficult. But it's very important for me to stay positive and keep coaching these guys and keep talking about ways to put us in position to win. We gotta do the right things and find a way to get it done. There's nothing easy about this."

Barnes is averaging a career-high (team-high) 21.3 points per game this season. He's led Dallas in scoring in eight of the team's first 12 games.

"We just have to keep the fight going," Barnes said. "You can't feel sorry for yourself. You can't get down. The schedule doesn't get any easier. We just have to bring the same fight make or miss and just keep the energy up."

The Mavericks are last in the NBA in defensive 3-point percentage while the Spurs are second in the league in shooting from beyond the arc, showing San Antonio is not a good matchup for Dallas at this stage in the season.

The Spurs have won five straight and 19 of the last 23 regular-season meetings with Dallas, including all four contests between the teams last season. San Antonio has won 11 in a row at AT&T Center against the Mavericks.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Raptors (8-5) at Clippers (12-2)

Date: November 21, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES -- There is little time for the weary Los Angeles Clippers to rest.

Before they embark on a six-game road trip, the Clippers host the Toronto Raptors on Monday night.

The Clippers (12-2), who hold the NBA's best record and have captured wins in nine of their past 10 games, own a 6-0 mark away from Staples Center. They are 6-2 at home.

Los Angeles begins an 11-day journey Wednesday at Dallas. The Clippers also visit the Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers and New Orleans Hornets before returning home for a Dec. 4 date against the Pacers.

Despite their unbeaten run on the road, it is taking a bit of a toll.

"It just catches up to you at times," said reserve guard Jamal Crawford, according to the Los Angeles Times. "At times when you see some slippage, you kind of know where it's coming from. Sometimes it's practice and sometimes it's just the fatigue. It's a lot of games. I think we played like 13 games in like 20, 21 days. That's a lot. That's crazy. We will be going six weeks without back-to-back days off."

First, the Clippers face a Raptors squad that will be playing its second game in as many nights.

Toronto, which is in the midst of a five-game swing, is 4-2 on the road. The Raptors (8-5) dropped a 102-99 decision to the Kings on Sunday night in Sacramento in a controversial finish when a score-tying shot by Terrence Ross was waved off by the officials after a review.

The refs ruled that a tip on the preceding inbounds pass should have started the clock sooner.

"I knew I had at least two seconds," Ross said. "I knew I could take a dribble and still get it off. I don't know how a tipped ball can amount for a five- or six-tenths of a second. ... Nothing can justify it. It's just a bad call."

Kyle Lowry led the Raptors with 25 points and six assists in a losing effort. Jonas Valanciunas added 23 points and 14 rebounds.

Toronto is the NBA's eighth-best club on offense, averaging 107.5 points and giving up 104.3 (16th). DeMar DeRozan, who is off to an outstanding start, averaging 33 points per game before Sunday, was held to a season-low 12 points against the Kings.

It was the first time all season DeRozan, a Los Angeles native, failed to score at least 23 points in a game. In 10 of the team's 13 games, DeRozan delivered at least 30 points.

The Raptors swept last season's two meetings, posting double-digit wins in both contests.

Los Angeles is coming off a 102-95 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday. The Clippers rallied from a 19-point first-half deficit behind the play of Blake Griffin, who finished with 29 points, including a highlight-reel dunk over Robin Lopez, and 13 rebounds.

Griffin is the Clippers' leading scorer at 21.6 points per game. Chris Paul is averaging 17.9 points and a league-high three steals a game.

Defense remains the Clippers' strength so far. They are second in the NBA behind the Utah Jazz in points allowed at 95.4 per game. With their offense producing 109.1 points (tied for third), the Clippers' differential of plus-13.7 points per game is tops in the league.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA

Monday’s games

Phoenix lost four of last five games; they’re 5-3 as road underdogs. Over is 10-1 in Suns’ last 11 games, 8-1 in their road games. Wizards lost four of last five games, are 3-3 at home, 3-2 as home favorites. Last four Washington games went over total. Washington is 5-3 in its last eight games with Phoenix; under is 8-1-1 in last ten series games. Suns won three of their last five visits here.

Warriors won their last seven games, are 4-4 as road favorites. Five of last six Golden State games went over. Pacers won in OT at OKC last night; they won three of last four games, are 6-2 at home, 1-1 as home underdogs. Four of last five Indiana games stayed under. Golden State won four of last five games with Indiana; over is 5-2-1 in last eight series games. Warriors lost three of last five visits here.

Heat won its last two games, covered its last four; they’re 2-3 on road, 0-0 as road favorites. Under is 6-2 in last eight Miami games. Philly won its last three home games; they’re 6-2 as home underdogs. Over is 8-3 in Sixers’ last 11 games. Miami won its last five games with the 76ers (2-2-1 vs spread); last three series games here went over the total. Heat won last four visits here, by 10-4-18-15 points.

Charlotte is off to an 8-4 start; they’re 4-2 at home, 4-0 as home favorites. Memphis won/covered its last four games; they’re 3-3 on road, 2-3 as road underdogs. Four of their last six games went over total. Hornets won last two games with Memphis after losing six of previous seven meetings; over is 4-2 in last six series games. Charlotte covered last three series games; teams split last seven meetings here.

Detroit lost three in row, six of last eight games; they’re 5-1 SU at home, 0-0 as home dogs. Under is 7-2 in Pistons’ last nine games. Rockets won three of last four games, are 4-4 on road (1-1 as road favorites). Under is 4-2 in their last six games. Pistons won three of last four games with Houston; five of last six series games went over the total. Rockets lost by 13-11 points in last two visits here.

Orlando won three of its last four games; they’re 3-3 as road underdogs. Four of their last five games stayed under. Milwaukee lost five of last six games; they’re 4-3 at home, 2-2 as home favorites. Over is 8-4 in their last twelve games. Home side won eight of last ten Orlando-Milwaukee games; Magic lost five of last six visits to Milwaukee (3-4 vs spread). Over is 3-1 in last four series games.

Boston won four of its last six games; they’re 2-4 on road, 2-1 as road favorites. Last six Celtic games stayed under the total. Minnesota is 3-3 at home, 0-2 as home underdogs; over is 5-2 in their last seven games. Home side won last eight Boston-Minnesota games; last three series games went over total. Celtics lost last four visits here, by 18-10-2-12 points.

Dallas lost its last five games (0-5 vs spread); under is 9-2 in their last 11 games. Mavericks are 2-5 as road underdogs. San Antonio is 3-3 at home, 2-4 as home favorite; four of their last six games stayed under the total. Spurs won their last five games with Dallas (4-1 vs spread); seven of last eight series games stayed under. Mavericks lost last five visits to Alamo (2-3 vs spread).

Toronto lost tough game in Sacramento last night; they’ve lost three of last four games, are 4-2 on road, 3-0 as road underdogs. Six of their last seven games went over total. Clippers are 0-3 vs spread in last three games; they’re 6-2 as home favorites; five of their last six games went over total. Clippers lost their last four games with Toronto (under 3-1); Raptors won by 12-11 in last two visits here.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Tennessee Volunteers (1-1) at Wisconsin Badgers (2-1)

Date: November 21, 2016 2:30 PM EDT

The trip to Hawaii was booked before the coaches were hired, but Wisconsin's Greg Gard and Tennessee's Rick Barnes will accept the challenge that comes with playing in the Maui Invitational.

Ninth-ranked Wisconsin (2-1) will meet Tennessee (1-1) in the opening game of the eight-team tournament on Monday afternoon.

The Badgers will likely fall in the rankings after a 79-67 loss to Creighton last week, but they bounced back to defeat Chicago State 69-51 before heading to the islands.

Vito Brown scored 12 points in the uneven showing. Brown and Ethan Happ were a combined 9-of-13 from the field while Nigel Hayes, Bronson Koenig and Zak Showalter shot 4-of-22.

"We will continue to work and the guys will get better," Gard said. "We got a little experience and now we have something to draw back on. We will practice in Maui and we are better based on our experiences this season. What we look for is taking a step forward each day."

After 14 seasons as an assistant at the school, Gard was named interim head coach last December when Bo Ryan retired in the middle of the season. The 45-year old led the Badgers to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament to earn the job on a full-time basis.

Wisconsin is one of three ranked teams in the tournament along with fourth-ranked Oregon and No. 5 North Carolina.

The Badgers are led by Koenig with 15.7 points per game Hayes averages 11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. Hayes is shooting 38.7 percent after shooting 36.8 percent last season while Koenig is clicking at 42.5 percent.

Tennessee was upset 82-69 in its opener against Chattanooga before bouncing back to defeat Appalachian State 103-94 to start off Barnes' second season at the school.

Robert Hubbs III scored 16 points and six players reached double figures as the Volunteers scored 21 straight points in the first half and avoided their first 0-2 start since 1965-66.

"I thought we were much more aggressive offensively taking the shots that we want to take," Barnes said. "I thought that part was good. We still made so many young mistakes that you can't make."

Tennessee has a tough path as one of five unranked teams in Maui. If it beats Wisconsin, it could face No. 4 Oregon in the second round to possibly meet No. 5 North Carolina in the title game.

"It's always good to get your feet wet going and playing against teams like that, they're all well coached and they're all talented, so we're looking forward to those games," Tennessee freshman guard Jordan Bone said.

Bone is one of five players scoring in double figured with a team-high 14 points per game. Freshman guard Lamonte Turner and Hubbs III are each averaging 13.5 points per game.

Freshman forward Grant Williams is at 10.5 points while sophomore forward Kyle Alexander is at 10.0.

"We have to get better on the defensive side. But I feel like we can score the ball really well," Bone said.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Georgetown Hoyas (1-2) at Oregon Ducks (2-1)

Date: November 21, 2016 4:30 PM EDT

MAUI, Hawaii -- Oregon and Georgetown keep facing off in far-away places.

The fourth-ranked Ducks will meet the Hoyas in the first round of the Maui Invitational on Monday. Three years ago, Oregon opened the season with an 82-75 win over Georgetown in South Korea.

"We were able to play Georgetown three years ago and we had a tough game with them," Ducks coach Dana Altman said. "We know they are an awfully good team with a lot of players coming back and we have a good core group coming back."

Oregon is one of three ranked teams in the field along with No. 5 North Carolina and No. 9 Wisconsin. The Ducks and Badgers would face off in the semifinals if both advance out of the first round while the Tar Heels could await Oregon or Wisconsin in the title game.

"You look at the field and the exciting thing about it is a lot of teams have a lot of experience," Altman said. "There are good programs and good coaches. North Carolina is coming off being in the national championship and Wisconsin was in the Sweet 16 and we had a nice year. It should be a competitive field."

Oregon has its highest ranking in school history after reaching the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament last season, but the Ducks will likely fall when the new polls come out Monday following a 66-49 loss at Baylor on Tuesday.

"Sometimes it is harder to maintain a certain level of success than achieve it, so we definitely have some obstacles to overcome to get guys in the right frame of mind to compete," Altman said. "This tournament will do that because game in and game out there will be great competition."

The Ducks hope to have all-conference junior forward Dillon Brooks back to face the Hoyas after he missed the first three games of the season following foot surgery. The 6-foot-7 Brooks, who averaged 16.7 points and 5.4 rebounds last year, has been going through workouts with the team and could be medically cleared in time for the trip to Maui.

"He's a big part of our team, but who knows when he's going to be back," Altman said. "I don't. The doctors haven't told me. I know he's anxious to get back but until they release him we have to play without him."

It is unlikely Brooks will start when he first returns because he will be on a limited schedule.

"We will play him on the exact schedule the doctor gives us," Altman said. "We are not going to be conservative or push the envelope, we will do exactly what the doctors say."

Oregon opened the season with a 91-77 win over Army before losing at Baylor. The Ducks bounced back with a 76-54 win over Valparaiso on Thursday.

With Brooks on the bench, center Chris Boucher leads Oregon in scoring at 17 points per game, followed by guard Tyler Dorsey at 12.7. Junior forward Jordan Bell is averaging 12.3 points and a team-high 8.7 rebounds.

Georgetown is 1-2 after back-to-back losses against Maryland and Arkansas State. Guards L.J. Peak and Rodney Pryor each lead the team with 17.7 points per game while center Jessie Govan is averaging 14.3.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Creighton Bluejays (4-0) at Mississippi Rebels (4-0)

Date: November 21, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

No. 22 Creighton came close to scoring more than 115 points for the first time in more than 30 years Sunday.

Curious observers will be interested to see if the Bluejays can crack the 115-point mark Monday night when they face Ole Miss on Monday night in the championship game of the Paradise Jam tournament at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.

Creighton (4-0) set a tournament record for points when it advanced with a 112-94 victory over North Carolina State. It was the most points scored by the school since getting 115 against former Missouri Valley Conference rival Indiana State on Jan. 19, 1985.

The outburst was the fifth-highest total in school history and followed a 103-point showing in the opening round against Washington State. In those games, the Bluejays shot 58.3 percent (80 of 137) and made 52.5 percent (21 of 40) of their 3-pointers.

Cole Huff scored 20 points Sunday and has 39 points in the tournament, making him a candidate to be named MVP of the event. Huff was one of six Bluejays in double figures Sunday, including leading scorer Marcus Foster.

Creighton, with its high-scoring offense is on the verge of winning the school's fourth regular-season tournament title under coach Greg McDermott.

"Our pace in our transition game really impacts (the opponents') choices to go to the glass," McDermott said. "Because if they don't get it, we're going to get downhill in a hurry. That's a credit to our rebounders, our outlet guys. Our wings are doing a great job running the floor."

A win on Monday also would give Creighton its fifth 5-0 or better start under McDermott. It would also mark the second time a current Big East Conference school won the tournament.

Ole Miss (4-0) has not approached triple digits in the tournament, but its offense has been pretty good through four games. The Rebels advanced to the title game with an 81-68 win over Saint Joseph's on Sunday.

The Rebels reached at least 80 points for the fourth consecutive time, due in part to the best game of Sebastian Saiz's career. Saiz, a senior forward, helped the Rebels improve to 21-8 in regular-season tournaments under coach Andy Kennedy by getting 26 points and 12 rebounds.

Leading scorer Deandre Burnett scored 20 points after collecting 41 points with nine 3-pointers in the opening-round, 95-88 overtime win over Oral Roberts.

"We were giving up a lot of free opportunities in the last game " Saiz said. "We used the mentality of 'nothing free tonight.' I knew they were going to try to double-team me, but I was ready for it. I knew they weren't going to be able to stop me."

Before advancing to the title game Sunday, the Rebels needed to rally from a five-point deficit Saturday against the Golden Eagles. And even before reaching St. Thomas, Ole Miss rallied from nine-point deficits against Massachusetts and Tennessee-Martin in its first two games.

"It just shows how resilient this team is," Burnett said after the win over Oral Roberts. "It shows we can battle and be resilient down the stretch. We fix a couple of things, and we'll be pretty good."

If Ole Miss wins, it would be 5-0 for the first time since 2013-14.

Monday will be the second meeting between the schools. Ole Miss recorded a 75-68 victory in the semifinals of 2014 Emerald Coast Classic in Florida, the school's last win over a ranked team on a neutral court.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Northern Colorado Bears (1-2) at Arizona Wildcats (3-0)

Date: November 21, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

Arizona will bring guard Kadeem Allen along slowly as it begins a stretch of three games in five days.

Allen missed the second game of the season and played only four minutes Friday night in the third game against Sacred Heart because of a left knee sprain. He is the only available senior for the 10th-ranked Wildcats.

Arizona (3-0) will play host to Northern Colorado (1-2) on Monday night at McKale Center in Tucson as part of the non-bracketed part of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational. The Wildcats move on to play Santa Clara in Las Vegas on Thursday and either Vanderbilt or Butler on Friday.

Getting productive minutes out of Allen, a returning starter and the team's best perimeter defender, is critical during such a busy stretch for a team that has only seven other scholarship players, pending news on sophomore guard Allonzo Trier.

"Kadeem wasn't going to further injure himself," Wildcats coach Sean Miller said of Allen making a brief appearance against Sacred Heart. "That's why we were able to play him. You could make the argument that with what he's working through, getting him out there is actually a good thing. I think every couple of days, he'll feel better and better.

"Clearly, he wasn't himself. But by the time we get to Las Vegas, Kadeem might not be 100 percent, but he'll be further along than he is now and able to play heavy minutes."

Trier, the team's leading returning scorer, having averaged 14.8 points per game last season, has not played in five games, including two exhibitions. School officials have not commented on his absence or a timetable for a potential return amid rumors of eligibility issues.

In the meantime, it is full speed ahead for Arizona's trio of freshmen, including forward Lauri Markkanen. He is averaging 20.3 points per game, shooting 59.4 percent from the field (19 of 32), 45.5 percent from 3-point range (5 of 11) and 94.7 percent from the free-throw line (18 of 19).

If anything, Miller wants more of the offense to run through the 7-footer from Finland, who is versatile enough to play some small forward while still packing a punch in the post.

"Lauri on the offensive end is a real mismatch at times," Miller said.

Freshman guard Kobi Simmons is an athletic marvel with a 45-inch vertical leap. He is second on the team in scoring at 15 points per game, having gotten to the line 21 times.

And freshman wing Rawle Alkins is third in scoring at 12 points per game. He is strong and burly, also able to get into the lane and draw fouls.

Arizona, with Markkanen and 7-foot center Dusan Ristic as well as 6-11 Chance Comanche and 6-9 Keanu Pinder off the bench, will have a significant size advantage over Northern Colorado. Ristic used a similar edge vs. Sacred Heart to post 13 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.

Northern Colorado is coming off an 88-72 loss at Santa Clara on Saturday night. The Bears opened the season with an 89-52 loss at Butler before beating Colorado Christian.

Sophomore guard Jordan Davis had 24 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds in the loss to Santa Clara. He is averaging 23.7 points this season. Guard Chaz Glotta is averaging 14 points per game.

The Bears led Santa Clara by four at halftime before giving up 50 second-half points.

"When teams make a run, instead of settling down and trying to orchestrate the offense, we tend to rush things," coach Jeff Linder said. "In turn, that drops your shooting percentage and increases your turnovers."