Saturday 11/12/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL

Saturday’s games

Home side won eight of last ten St Louis-Columbus games; last three series games stayed under. Blues lost three of last four games in this building. St Louis lost last couple games 2-1ot/3-1; seven of their last nine games stayed under total. Columbus won last four home games and four of last six games overall; eight of their last ten games stayed under.

Road team won last five San Jose-Tampa Bay games; Sharks won last three games in this building. Nine of last ten series games went over total. San Jose won its last two games 4-2/3-0; they’re 4-3 on road, 5-3 in last eight games overall. Tampa Bay is 5-2 at home but lost five of last eight games overall- under is 2-0-1 in their last three games.

Washington won seven of last nine games with Carolina; under is 5-2 in last seven series games. Hurricanes lost last four visits here (two in OT). Caps in Chicago last nite; they won five of last six games, including four of last five on road. Carolina lost five of its six games, losing last three home games by combined 12-6 (over 2-0-1).

Penguins won seven of last eight games with Toronto; under is 3-1-1 in last five. Maple Leafs lost four of last five visits here; they’re 1-6 on road, but won three of last four games overall after Flyers last night. Pittsburgh won six of its last eight games; over is 5-1-1 in their last seven tilts. Penguins are 6-2 at home this season.

Islanders won five of last seven games with Florida; four of last five series games stayed under the total. New York lost three of last five visits here (3 OT games); they won six of last eight games overall- over is 6-2-1 in their last nine. Panthers lost six of their last nine games; three of their last four games went over the total. Florida is 5-3 at home; Islanders are 0-4 on road.

Flyers won six of last eight games with Minnesota; over is 5-2-2 in last nine series games. Wild lost three of last four visits to Philly. Minnesota won four of last six games, including three of last four on road; under is 7-2 in their last nine games. Flyers are 3-4 at home; six of their last eight games went over the total.

Home side won last five Detroit-Montreal games; Red Wings lost last five visits to Molson Centre. Over is 3-1-1 in last five series games. Detroit won its last two games after an 0-5 skid; last three Red Wing games stayed under the total. Montreal is 12-2, won its last three games; its only loss in regulation was 10-0. Over is 2-0-2 in Canadiens’ last four games.

New Jersey won five of last six games with Buffalo; under is 6-1-2 in last nine series games. Devils won last three visits here by combined score of 9-4. New Jersey is 5-3 in its last eight games but is 1-5 on road (under 4-1-1). Sabres lost three of last four games; their last eight games stayed under. Buffalo is 1-4 at home this season.

Bruins won their last eight games with Arizona; over is 4-0-1 in last five series games. Boston won its last five visits here, by combined score of 19-6. Bruins won five of last seven games; over is 3-1-1 in their last five. Boston is 5-3 on road. Arizona is 4-3 in its last seven games, 3-2 in home games; four of their last six games stayed under total.

Anaheim won four of last six games with Nashville, team that KO’d them from playoffs last spring. Teams split last four meetings played here. Ducks won three of their last four games; under is 3-1 in their last four road games. Nashville won three of its last four home games; six of their last seven games overall stayed under the total.

Rangers won six of last eight games with Calgary; four of their last six games went over total. New York lost three of last five games in Saddledome (over 3-1-1). Rangers won five of last six games, with last four going over the total- they’re 2-2 on road. Calgary lost five of last six games; they were outscored 13-3 in last three. Under is 6-3 in their last nine games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Sabres (5-5) at Devils (7-3)

Date: November 12, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The New Jersey Devils will look to extend their season-best winning streak to four games on Saturday when they face the Buffalo Sabres in the second half of a home-and-home series.

On Friday night, the Devils skated away with a 2-1 overtime road win in a game that featured an unlikely hero in captain Andy Greene. The steady defenseman was given a penalty shot opportunity 29 seconds into overtime and made no mistake, firing a wrist shot past Sabres goalie Anders Nilsson.

"A blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while," Greene said. "I came in and I was just trying to be patient there. Make sure I don't fall and get a decent shot off. I was thinking about going blocker there, he took it away and try to sneak it five hole and luckily it went in."

The Devils dominated the second half of the first meeting between the two teams and had several chances to put it away on the power play before Greene's game-winner. New Jersey outshot Buffalo 43-26 overall and 18-5 in the third period.

"We knew that this team was good at home and we had a hard time at the beginning of the game," said defenseman Yohann Auvitu, who scored in regulation for New Jersey. "But I think that we came through the game and our third period was really good and at the end we get two points and we're really happy for that."

Both teams are expected to play their starting goaltenders after using their backups on Friday night, and both Cory Schneider and Robin Lehner have gotten off to nearly identical starts to the season. In 10 games, Schneider has a record of 5-3-2 and a save percentage of .928. Lehner, meanwhile, has a record of 4-4-2 and a save percentage of .929 in 10 games.

The Sabres may be without top forward Ryan O'Reilly, who aggravated a previous injury in Friday's loss to the Devils. O'Reilly left the game early in the third period and did not return.

"He felt fine to go and I haven't talked to him other than to know he re-aggravated it in the face-off circle there in the third period," Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma said. "Obviously it's day-to-day at this point. I don't know if he can't go (Saturday) ... I don't see it lingering longer than getting that chance to rest."

The Sabres must find a way to create more offense no matter who is in the lineup. They have struggled to generate offense with injuries to several key players and rank 29th in the league in goals per game.

The Devils may be without a key forward as well. Left winger Mike Cammalleri missed Friday night's game due to personal reasons and his status for Saturday was uncertain after the win.

"I haven't spoken with Mike since he left," Devils head coach John Hynes said. "Will talk with him today and then tomorrow and see where he's at. He flew back to Jersey.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Celtics (4-4) at Pacers (4-5)

Date: November 12, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The Indiana Pacers will host the Boston Celtics on Saturday night in an Eastern Conference showdown.

Both teams will be playing their second game in as many nights. The Pacers (4-5) continue to be a tale of two teams. They've yet to win on the road in five attempts but haven't lost at home (4-0). It will be the first of three matchups this season with the Celtics.

Both teams made changes to their starting lineups on Friday. The Pacers inserted C.J. Miles into the lineup and moved Monta Ellis to the second unit. For Boston, Brad Stevens moved Kelly Olynyk and Marcus Smart into the lineup with Brown and Zeller coming off the bench.

The Pacers have played two consecutive overtime games this week, both against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers picked up their first victory of the season Friday night at the expense of Indiana.

One player who won't be bothered by the back-to-back games is Myles Turner. He was limited to 20 minutes on Friday night because foul trouble. He eventually fouled out and finished with just five points on the night.

"I was never able to establish any sort of rhythm," Turner told The Indianapolis Star. "Once I got out there, it was like I was right back out. I let the team down."

Coach Nate McMillan knows his team let one get away. "The things that you need to do to win a ballgame, we didn't do," he said.

The Celtics snapped a three-game losing streak on Friday as they trounced the Knicks 115-87, evening their record at 4-4 on the season. "That's the way we should play," Brad Stevens said after the win. "I thought our whole team played better, but we still have work to do."

Boston was able to get to the line 43 times, more than doubling their season high to this point.

Isaiah Thomas led the way with 29 points, and figures to be a tough matchup for Indiana. Thomas didn't shoot well in four games last season against the Pacers (39 percent), but with George Hill playing on another team, Indiana has struggled with guard penetration so far this season.

Slow starts have plagued the Celtics in the early going this season, but they put up 31 points in the first quarter this time around.

"If we didn't come out like that, we were probably going to lose again," Thomas said.

The Pacers and Celtics have both shot well from behind the arc this season. They each came into Friday night's games tied for third in the NBA, shooting 37.8 percent from deep.

Both of these teams were predicted by many to be in the top half of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The slow starts for each make for an intriguing early November game.

The Celtics are once again expected to be without Al Horford (concussion) and Jae Crowder (sprained left ankle). The Pacers will be without Rodney Stuckey (hamstring).

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA's worst teams are covering the spread at better than 62 percent clip

The best teams don’t always make the best bets.

That statement rings true in the early workings of the 2016-17 NBA season, where the best teams in the NBA are among the worst wagers basketball bettors could make. And, conversely, the worst teams in the NBA are among the top moneymakers against the spread.

Isolating the five teams with the best win/loss records from the 2015-16 season, we have the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors and Oklahoma City Thunder. Those five teams have started the new season with a collective 17-20-1 ATS mark, with last year’s NBA Finals contenders - Golden State at 3-5 ATS and the Cleveland Cavaliers at 2-5 ATS – as the biggest money pits to start the schedule.

Looking at the bottom of the 2015-16 standings, we have the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns, and Minnesota Timberwolves. Considered to be the cellar dwellers of the NBA, these clubs combine for a 24-15-0 ATS mark – covering the spread 61.5 percent of the time. The Lakers and Nets are among the top bets in the NBA for the young season at 6-2 ATS while the Suns have started 6-3 ATS as of Thursday.

Of course, this has to do with public perception and sportsbooks tacking on extra points to the spread when these teams are involved - making top teams like the Warriors and Cavs bigger favorites, with the public pounding those elite clubs, while giving bad squads like the Lakers and Nets extra helpings of points, with NBA bettors fading those poor teams.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Knicks (3-5) at Raptors (6-2)

Date: November 12, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

TORONTO -- While the Raptors were bouncing back for an impressive win against the Hornets in Charlotte on Friday, the New York Knicks were literally being bounced in Boston in a loss to the Celtics.

The teams meet Saturday at the Air Canada Centre with the Raptors riding the high of two road wins over tough opponents and the Knicks merely trying to regain their composure after Carmelo Anthony and Brandon Jennings were ejected from the game in Boston.

DeMar DeRozan continued his run of 30-plus point games with 34 against the Hornets, who used an 18-0 run to take a 10-point lead before the Raptors came back for the 113-111 victory.

He has scored 30 or more points in seven of eight games this season.

Anthony had 12 points when he was ejected in the second quarter of the 115-87 loss to the Celtics after he picked up two technical fouls. Jennings was tossed late in the game, also being assessed two technical fouls. The Knicks took six technical on the game overall.

"I was just frustrated, we were getting blown out," Jennings said. "We were getting blown out. I felt we got punked tonight."

"I can't comment on that, but on some of those, I can't blame the guys," Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said. "When (Anthony) gets kicked out early like that, he was playing well, we were hanging in there and climbed back into the game, then KP (Kristaps Porzingis) gets a third foul. It's tough when those two guys are not able to play a full rotation."

The Knicks, who are 3-5, will have a quick turnaround to figure things out on how to deal with the Raptors who welcomed back center Jonas Valanciunas Friday after he missed two games with a left knee contusion and forward-guard Terrence Ross after he missed a game with a sprained finger.

Raptors coach Dwane Casey would not commit to playing both on back-to-back nights.

Valanciunas scored 12 points and gathered eight rebounds in 21 minutes against the Hornets on Friday and Ross scored eight points in 20 minutes off the bench.

DeRozan is not only scoring a lot of points, he is scoring them when it counts, in crunch time.

"Win, win, just win," he said after dominating down the stretch Friday. "As long as I know I'm out there trying whatever I need to do to win, I'm fine with that. That's just my mentality. Understanding teammates look to you, coaches look to you, and this is what you work for, to be in that position. I try to make the most out of them every time."

"I've been watching (DeRozan) for a long time, but it's honestly crazy what he is doing," Raptors reserve guard Norman Powell said. "We are witnessing history. It's great to watch."

Powell did not play during the first three quarters on Friday but was used defensively for 10 minutes late in the game when the Raptors tried to find ways to stop Kemba Walker.

"It's great that he's looking down the line when we need stops, or we need somebody to go in there and change the game up and he puts you in there," Powell said. "I feel like I'm building a little bit of trust in that, just waiting for my opportunities when they come, and just going in there and trying to make an impact when I play."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Spurs (6-3) at Rockets (5-3)

Date: November 12, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

HOUSTON -- What was once a legitimate concern for the Rockets over how big a hole they'd find themselves in after opening the season with seven of eight games on the road turned into glee following their victory in San Antonio on Wednesday night.

With their 101-99 win, the Rockets (5-3) closed a five-game road swing that took them through Cleveland and New York, Atlanta, Washington D.C. and San Antonio with a 3-2 mark that seemed improbable given the amount of time needed to build chemistry under a new coach and with a largely reconfigured roster and rotation.

Instead, the Rockets will host the Spurs on Saturday night at Toyota Center somewhat galvanized not only by their successful road trip, but by the gritty performance they showcased in outlasting San Antonio in the finale of their roadie.

"We know how good we are and we know how good we can be," said Rockets forward Ryan Anderson after the win. "It's tough to win in this building. They're a team that obviously has some great players and to get a win in here, you've got to be happy."

The Rockets continue to learn on the fly, having entrusted James Harden with the lead guard duties while also overcoming a rotation shortened by the loss of guard Patrick Beverley, who is slated to return from knee surgery later this month. Houston coach Mike D'Antoni tweaked his lineup midway through the road trip, inserting swingman Corey Brewer aside Harden and shifting guard Eric Gordon to the bench in search of some offensive punch with the second unit.

Harden has been sensational, averaging 30.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and a league-leading 13 assists. He leads the NBA in assist percentage (62.0), is fourth in usage rate (33.8 percent), and entered Friday third in player efficiency rating (32.3). Because the Rockets have relied so heavily on Harden to both score and facilitate, it's no shock their offense collapses in those 10.4 minutes per game when he rests.

Houston owns a 10.7 net rating in the 301 minutes Harden has played. Without Harden, the Rockets' net rating is minus-28.5 over 83 minutes. When the second unit squandered an 11-point second-half lead against the Spurs, Harden was forced to reenter earlier than usual in the fourth quarter to stave off the San Antonio rally.

"We ask so much from him," D'Antoni said of Harden.

The Spurs (6-3) snapped a surprising three-game home losing skid with a 96-86 win over the Pistons on Friday night. When they opened the season with a 29-point drubbing of the Warriors on the road, it seemed like business as usual for the Spurs.

But San Antonio has been undermined by backcourt injuries, with Tony Parker (knee) returning from a three-game hiatus one game after Danny Green (eye) made his season debut. Like Houston, the Spurs underwent roster upheaval during the offseason, and the result of those changes has been basketball not quite up to snuff.

"It could be a bunch of things but the bottom line is we've just got to get it done," said Spurs guard Patty Mills. "And it's not like we haven't got it done before. We've done it, we know how to do it, it's a matter of going out and getting it done. We understand that it's not going to be easy every night and it shouldn't be."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Lakers (5-4) at Pelicans (1-8)

Date: November 12, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Pelicans swept the regular-season series against the Los Angeles Lakers last year for the first time in franchise history.

New Orleans will find the going much tougher this time around, however.

The 5-4 Lakers will continue their three-game road trip with a matchup against the 1-8 Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center Saturday. The Lakers are showing growing maturity, especially in downing Sacramento 101-91 on Thursday night. The Lakers had lost all four games to the Kings last season and had dropped seven in a row dating back to the 2014-15 season.

But the Lakers erased a first-half deficit by outscoring the Kings 56-36 in the second half. Point guard D'Angelo Russell scored 17 points, but he is trying to be more careful with the ball. He is averaging 3.2 turnovers a game.

"He has the ball handling and passing vision not to turn the ball over," said Lakers coach Luke Walton. "We've seen it. He's still young, and there are good defenders. ... He's got to take care of the ball better."

The Pelicans, meanwhile, picked up a pair of important "victories" within 12 hours on Friday.

After defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 112-106 on the road Thursday night for their first win of the season after eight consecutive losses, the Pelicans found out Friday they soon will be reunited with their second-best player, point guard Jrue Holiday.

Although Holiday will not be in the lineup Saturday when the Pelicans host the Lakers, he appears ready to return next week from his leave of absence, which was necessitated by his wife Laura's surgery to remove a benign brain tumor.

The Vertical broke the story Friday, citing an NBA source who said Holiday plans to return next week. He may be back for the Pelicans' road game in Orlando next Wednesday, but it was more likely that he would return when New Orleans hosts Portland next Friday.

Holiday's wife gave birth to the couple's first child in September and then underwent the successful surgery.

"What he's got going on with his family is important," said Pelicans forward Anthony Davis, who scored 32 points and grabbed eight rebounds in New Orleans' victory over Milwaukee. "He knows when he's ready to come back in, when everything's situated over there. You got to give him his space and just respect that. We try to keep in contact with him as much as possible. He knows when he' feels like he's ready to be back.

"He means a lot on both ends. He's talented offensively and defensively. He brings a lot to our team. He's our point guard, and it's going to be good to have him back."

The Pelicans were breathing a sigh of relief after getting their first win of the season, especially since their margin of defeat in seven of their eight losses was 6.0 points.

"It's a load off our shoulders to finally get a win, to pull one out," said point guard Tim Frazier, who will be headed for a backup role when Holiday returns. "The whole team was saying we can't lose this one. We bit down and grinded it out."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: 76ers (1-7) at Hawks (6-2)

Date: November 12, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Hawks no longer have to worry about being the first team to lose to the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Sixers got that monkey off their back on Friday, when they beat the Indiana Pacers 109-105 in overtime. Philadelphia had started the season with seven consecutive losses. The win broke a 44-game losing streak in October and November that began on Nov. 22, 2013.

Now the two Eastern Conference foes meet for the second time on Saturday at Philips Arena. Atlanta crushed Philadelphia 105-72 on Oct. 29, despite trailing 8-0. It was the worst loss of the season for the Sixers.

But the Sixers (1-7) have played better lately, losing to the Pacers 122-115 in overtime on Wednesday and dropping a one-point decision to Cleveland on Nov. 5.

Joel Embiid led the Philadelphia win with 25 points -- 18 in the fourth quarter and overtime -- and seven rebounds and Ersan Ilyasova and Nik Stauskas each added 14 points off the bench.

"It feels great to finally close a game out," Embiid said. "We should be like 5-3. I want to be the best player every time I step on the court."

Coach Brett Brown said, "We saw the best of Joel Embiid when it mattered the most."

The Hawks (6-2) haven't played since their 115-107 win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. Atlanta had eight players score in double figures that game, led by reserve Thabo Sefolosha with a season-high 20 points.

"We're still building and learning to play with one another," Sefolosha said.

Dwight Howard has fit into his role with the club. No longer expected to carry a large percent of the offensive load, Howard has been able to concentrate on his defense and rim protection duties. Howard is averaging 15.9 points, 12.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots. Howard has six double-doubles in eight games.

Howard has helped elevate the Hawks to No. 7in the league in rebounding. Last year they were 24th.

"The effort by everybody to rebound has been good, but particularly in their effort on the offensive boards there is a real noticeable different," Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said.

Atlanta has won the last four meetings between the two teams and has won five straight at home. Philadelphia hasn't won in Atlanta since April 5, 2013.

Atlanta forward Tiago Splitter has taken a step toward rejoining the team from the right hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined since training camp. Splitter has started to participate in the non-contact portion of practice.

Philadelphia forward Jahlil Okafor was supposed to be inactive on Friday, part of the scheduled rest he's receiving while recovering from knee surgery. But he was pressed into action and played two minutes. Okafor is expected to start against Atlanta. He's played seven games and is averaging 10.3 points and 3.4 rebounds.

The Sixers are expected to rest Embiid on Saturday while Okafor plays. The center, who averages 17.6 points and 6.8 rebounds, is recovering from a second foot surgery.

Philadelphia has struggled with injuries all season. Top draft pick Ben Simmons had foot surgery and may miss the entire season. Jerryd Bayless (sore left wrist ligament) and Nerlens Noel (left knee) are also out.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview and Prediction: Los Angeles Clippers (8-1) at Minnesota Timberwolves (2-5)
By Randy Chambers
Saturday, November 12, 2016 at 8:00 pm (Target Center)
The Line: Minnesota Timberwolves +5 -- Over/Under: 204
TV: FSN/PT

The Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves meet Saturday night in NBA action at the Target Center.

The Los Angeles Clippers look to build on their five-game winning streak and their 8-1 start overall. The Los Angeles Clippers are averaging 105.1 points on 44.6 percent shooting and allowing 88.2 points on 39.6 percent shooting. Blake Griffin is averaging 19.6 points and 10.1 rebounds while Chris Paul is averaging 19.3 points and 8.4 assists. J.J. Redick is the third double-digit scorer and Marreese Speights is grabbing 4.8 rebounds. The Los Angeles Clippers are shooting 33.8 percent from beyond the arc and 74.6 percent from the free throw line. The Los Angeles Clippers are allowing 30.3 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 46.5 rebounds per game. The Los Angeles Clippers have won seven of their last nine road games.

The Minnesota Timberwolves need another victory in order to climb out of a slow 2-5 start to the season. The Minnesota Timberwolves are averaging 105.9 points on 45.8 percent shooting and allowing 104 points on 46.9 percent shooting. Andrew Wiggins is averaging 24 points and two assists while Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 21.9 points and 8.3 rebounds. Zach LaVine is the third double-digit scorer and Gorgui Dieng is grabbing 8.3 rebounds. The Minnesota Timberwolves are shooting 41.4 percent from beyond the arc and 74.3 percent from the free throw line. The Minnesota Timberwolves are allowing 33.7 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 42.9 rebounds per game. The Minnesota Timberwolves have lost five of their last eight home games.

The Clippers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Northwest and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games. The Timberwolves are 16-34-1 ATS in their last 51 home games and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Western Conference. The Clippers are 9-1-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings in Minnesota and the over is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings.

The Timberwolves aren't playing like the possible playoff team some expected, and while it's still early, that is concerning. Meanwhile, the Clippers are playing as well as anybody and seem like they want to fight for the top seed in the West this season. The defense is elite level and the stars are making big buckets. Even with the Clippers playing Friday, you have to like LAC and the reasonable line. Minnesota hasn't shown consistency and is hard to like against one of the more talented teams in the league.

RANDY'S PICK
Los Angeles Clippers -5

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Wizards (2-6) at Bulls (5-4)

Date: November 12, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

CHICAGO -- If you ask Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler, the formula for success is pretty simple.

Compete hard on defense. Every play, every quarter, every night.

"We can score, that's not a concern," Butler told the Chicago Sun-Times this week. "But we'll only go as far as our defense carries us. You can bet on that."

Now it is up to Butler and his teammates to put their words into action.

Chicago (5-4) will seek its third win in the past four games Saturday night as it hosts the Washington Wizards (2-6). The game marks the final home game for the Bulls before they embark on a six-game road trip that stretches past Thanksgiving.

Meanwhile, the banged-up Wizards would be thankful to improve upon a disappointing start to the season. Coach Scott Brooks' squad remains winless (0-3) on the road, and it will not be at full strength as it looks for success in Chicago.

Point guard John Wall will miss the game as Brooks tries to preserve his health and effectiveness for the bulk of the season. Wall, who underwent surgeries on both of his knees during the offseason, played 35 minutes against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night and will be rested rather than playing back-to-back nights.

Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal also could miss the game. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2012 draft experienced tightness in his right hamstring earlier this week and did not play Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. His status for Saturday is uncertain.

"It's early in the season, but we want our players to be able to compete at a high level and feel comfortable out there right now," Brooks told The Washington Post. "He's definitely progressing and we'll see how he feels (Saturday) morning."

Injuries limited Beal to 55 games last season.

"I hate being injured," Beal told the Post. "This is something that could have been a lot worse, and thankfully it's not. Just more tightness than anything and irritation of nerves and everything that's involved in the human body. It's just a matter of me just being smart about it."

In Wall's place, guard Tomas Satoransky likely will receive more playing time. The 6-foot-7, 210-pound rookie from the Czech Republic has averaged 3.8 points per game.

Veteran shooting guard Marcus Thornton could start if Beal is unable to go.

The Bulls are healthy with the exception of guard Michael Carter-Williams, who could miss another month with a left knee injury. The team is coming off a three-point win over the Miami Heat on Thursday in Dwyane Wade's return to South Florida.

Wade has scored 17.3 points per game since signing a free-agent contract with his hometown Bulls. The only player averaging more points per game is Butler (22.3).

Defense has determined the Bulls' fate this season. The team is 4-0 when limiting opponents to fewer than 100 points, and it is 1-4 when allowing 100-plus points.

A similar storyline has unfolded for the Wizards. They are 0-5 when surrendering 100-plus points, compared with 2-1 when holding opponents to double digits.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Jazz (6-4) at Heat (2-5)

Date: November 12, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

MIAMI -- When the Utah Jazz (6-4) invade AmericanAirlines Arena on Saturday night, they will be looking to beat the Miami Heat (2-5) and put an exclamation point on what has so far been an excellent road trip.

When the Jazz left home a little more than a week ago, they were a .500 team at 3-3. But they have since gone 3-1, including an 87-74 win over the Orlando Magic on Friday night.

Saturday's game will be Utah's fifth in seven nights.

"You have to be mentally tough," Jazz shooting guard Rodney Hood told the media. "This is the end of the trip. We have to be smart and focused."

An interesting aspect of this winning road trip is that most of it has been accomplished without starting point guard George Hill, who is second on the team in scoring (20.4) and first in assists (5.0).

Hill has missed the past three games due to a sprained right thumb, and the 30-year-old veteran was the team's key offseason acquisition.

Dante Exum, a 6-6 Australian and the No. 5 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, has been starting in Hill's place, although his numbers this season are modest -- 6.3 points, 1.7 assists.

Fortunately for the Jazz, 6-8 small forward Gordon Hayward just keeps getting better -- he has led Utah in scoring in each of the past three years. This season, he is leading again, averaging 25.7 points.

Hood, a 6-6 former Duke star, is also improving. He averaged 8.5 points as a rookie, 14.5 points last season and is at 17.9 this year. Derrick Favors (10.6 points, 7.6 rebounds) is a solid veteran at power forward and is capable of more -- he averaged 16.4 points last season.

Rounding out the Utah starting lineup is 7-1 French center Rudy Gobert, who is nearly averaging a double-double -- 9.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks.

Gobert, who will be a restricted free agent after this season, should have an interesting matchup on Saturday against Heat center Hassan Whiteside, who got paid this past summer.

Whiteside, who signed a four-year, $98 million extension with Miami, is averaging 17.9 points and 14.7 rebounds -- monster numbers.

Still, Whiteside's heroics are not enough for the Heat, who are on a three-game losing streak. The skid could have been six in a row had Miami not escaped with an overtime win over the Sacramento Kings.

Whiteside stated what is pretty obvious, that there has been a talent drain on the Heat and that losing Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh off of last season's team has hurt him in particular.

"With D-Wade, I never had to work on it," said Whiteside, explaining that his former teammate would often feed him lobs that led to easy dunks. "He just saw it."

Whiteside is still putting up impressive numbers -- he had 20 points and a season-high 20 rebounds on Thursday against the Chicago Bulls. But the lob dunks aren't there as much, and Miami lacks the perimeter shooting to make teams pay for sagging and doubling on Whiteside.

"If teams collapse on Hassan, we have to be ready to make a play," said Miami's Justise Winslow, who could be emerging as a point forward. "We would love to get Hassan lobs. But we have to read the defense and take what they give us. We can't force."

Perhaps Saturday is the night the Heat break out of their slump. After all, the Jazz, who have former Heat forward Joe Johnson as part of their bench brigade, have talked openly about fatigue setting in at the end of this trip.

"We've played a lot of games," Hayward said. "It feels like we've been on the road for quite a while now."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Grizzlies (4-4) at Bucks (4-4)

Date: November 12, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

MILWAUKEE -- After dropping back-to-back games against opponents that had yet to win a game this season, the Milwaukee Bucks will look to get back on track Saturday night when they host the Memphis Grizzlies at the Bradley Center.

To do that, Milwaukee will need another strong night from forward Jabari Parker, who has averaged 23.2 points on 46.3 percent shooting over his last five games and is coming off a season-high 33-point effort in the Bucks' 112-106 loss to the Pelicans on Thursday night.

"Jabari was great," Bucks head coach Jason Kidd said after the loss to New Orleans. "He came out and played. He kept us in the game on the offensive end. At the end, we kind of made a game of it. You have to be perfect coming down the stretch, and we just weren't."

Parker also made three 3-pointers in that contest but the Bucks, as a team, are still looking to bolster their 3-point attack, especially late in games.

Improving that aspect of the offense was a key focus over the summer for general manager John Hammond, who added Matthew Dellavedova, Mirza Teletovic and Tony Snell to the roster before the season began. But Milwaukee lost its go-to long-range shooter in training camp when Khris Middleton was lost for most of the season with a knee injury.

"It is going to be a group effort," Kidd said. "It's not just we can lean on Khris. We can look at Jabari in that group to be able to get a three, and not just be able to get a three but to make a three."

The Grizzles come to Milwaukee looking to string together consecutive victories for the first time this season. A Marc Gasol buzzer-beater allowed Memphis to narrowly escape with a 108-107 victory over Denver on Tuesday night that the Nuggets ultimately protested because they believed -- and the NBA's two-minute review confirmed -- that the ball went out of bounds on the previous play.

Andrew Harrison scored 10 points with six assists and four steals in that contest as he battles fellow rookie Wade Baldwin for Memphis' backup point guard role behind veteran Mike Conley.

Head coach David Fizdale handed the assignment to Baldwin for the team's first six games and he responded well, averaging 4.3 points and 3.5 assists in 21 minutes per game. But Baldwin has sat out the last two games, looking on from the bench as Harrison gets his shot.

"It's a good competition," Baldwin told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "Coach has been even with it. We'll see how it goes.

"I want it. It's a team environment but at the end of the day he's going to put on the floor who he feels most confident with," Baldwin added. "When I'm out there I've got to be productive. The last game I played I had four turnovers in however many minutes I played. That's unacceptable. I look at that, among other things, as why I'm not in games."

Fizdale said both players will see plenty of action as the season goes on and will, at some point, share the court together.

"We're feeling our way through," Fizdale told the newspaper. "Andrew did a heck of a job last game. He was a big reason why we won. He stepped up and helped us on both ends of the floor. They both understand that they are always on deck. No one is out of the rotation. I might play them together. There's never a time when you can get down and feel sorry for yourself. I have confidence in both of them."

The two teams split the season series a year ago, with each winning on its own home court. The Grizzlies have lost two straight at the Bradley Center.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nets (3-5) at Suns (3-6)

Date: November 12, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

Pace is playing a key role in how the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns are performing on offense.

Heading into Saturday game in Phoenix, the Nets and Suns own among the quickest paces in the league.

The Nets are averaging 103.50 possessions per game through their first eight games in new coach Kenny Atkinson's motion offense. The Suns have averaged 104.37 possessions through their first nine games.

En route to losing a combined 61 games under coaches Lionel Hollins and Tony Brown last season, the Nets were 21st in pace at 97.37 possessions per game. Last year, the Suns lost 59 games and averaged 100.9 possessions, which placed them fourth.

It is what teams do with those possessions that ultimately leads to wins.

While the Nets are playing at a high pace, it is other categories in which they are inconsistent. Brooklyn is attempting nearly 34 3-pointers per game but is only making 31.7 percent of those shots.

The difference can be explained in their five losses. In defeats, the Nets are shooting 28.6 percent (51-of-178) from behind the arc as opposed to 37.6 percent (35-of-93) in wins.

In Wednesday's 110-96 loss at the New York Knicks, the Nets were 11 of 33 from 3-point range. Brooklyn held a 67-56 lead after a 3-pointer by Justin Hamilton with 6:16 left but missed 12 of its last 15 attempts from the arc and was outscored 54-29 the rest of the way.

"They did a great job pressuring us and we went away from what we know," Nets guard Sean Kilpatrick said. "We let them speed us up a little bit. We didn't share the ball like we've been."

Part of the problem was not having an experienced point guard and a lack of depth at the position.

Jeremy Lin missed the last three and a half games after straining his left hamstring in the first half against Detroit on Nov. 2, and will not be re-evaluated until next week. Isaiah Whitehead has shown some glimpses but did not play Wednesday due to a concussion, and his return will not take place until he completes the league's concussion protocol.

"It seems like every night it's a different point guard and some guys have to play out of position," Brooklyn forward Trevor Booker said. "So it's tough. At the same time, we have to keep the ball moving and play together."

When the Nets reach Phoenix, they will face a team coming off an effective defensive showing down the stretch. The Suns are allowing 113 points per game but won for the third time in five games following a 0-4 start by holding the Detroit Pistons to 13 points in the final 9:20 of a 107-100 victory Wednesday.

The win was even more notable since the Suns played a grueling overtime loss Tuesday in Portland and did not land in Phoenix until 3 a.m.

Eric Bledsoe came through in the fourth with 14 of his 21 points to go along with 11 rebounds and eight assists.

"We've been losing these close games, so it's nice to get one, especially at home," Phoenix reserve forward Jared Dudley said.

Dudley is correct. The average margin of Phoenix's last five games has been five points after the Suns dropped their first four contests by a combined 46 points.

Center Tyson Chandler missed the last two games following the death of his mother and may not play Saturday. Chandler is averaging 13.4 rebounds, 7.4 points on 67.7 percent shooting in seven games.

On Wednesday, Alex Len capably filled in for Chandler by collecting 16 points and 14 rebounds.

The Nets have won seven of the last nine meetings. Bojan Bogdanovic scored 24 points in Brooklyn's 116-106 win in Phoenix on Feb. 25 and Brooklyn recorded a three-point home win Dec. 1.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Free NBA Picks: Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016, Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews

Very unusual schedule for the Dallas Mavericks (2-6) as they played Wednesday and don't again until Monday -- I can't really remember a team not playing once an entire weekend outside of the All-Star break -- so perhaps now is a good time to talk about potentially the first coach fired this NBA season. Already you are hearing some rumors about the Mavs' Rick Carlisle, whom I think would be on any Top-10 list of the best active coaches in the league. But sometimes you can be somewhere too long, and Carlisle has been in Big D since the 2008-09 season. Maybe it's time for him to move on and try to find a contending-type club because Dallas isn't going anywhere for at least a few years because that roster is both bad and old. Carlisle did sign a five-year, $35 million contract extension last season, but Mark Cuban finds that type of money in his couch. Perhaps Carlisle agrees to leave with a decent buyout and knowing he would be flooded with offers next offseason. If the Mavs keep losing, keep an eye on that situation.

Lakers at Pelicans (-1.5, 211.5)

Los Angeles won in Sacramento on Thursday, 101-91 to go over .500, which I didn't see happening all season. Lou Williams scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter as the Lakers rallied. They were down as much as 19 in the first half. Los Angeles has four wins in a five-game stretch for the first time since November 2013. New Orleans got its first win of the season Thursday in Milwaukee, 112-106. Anthony Davis hit a key pair of free throws with 12 seconds left and scored 32 points. Los Angeles didn't win many season series last year but did against New Orleans, 2-1. Davis played in just one of the games and had 39 points and 11 rebounds. Jordan Clarkson averaged 20.7 points in the three for the Lakers.

Key trends: The Lakers are 5-1 against the spread in their past six. The Pelicans are 1-5 ATS in their past six at home. The "over/under" is 9-1 in New Orleans' past 10 vs. the Pacific Division.

Early lean: Pelicans and over.

Celtics at Pacers (-4, 216)

Boston hosted New York on Friday without Al Horford and Jae Crowder again. For sure the latter is out another week or so, and it's not looking great for Horford. It's way too early to call the big Horford signing a bust, but he hadn't been playing anywhere near his Hawks levels before getting hurt. Granted, it was only three games and Horford likely has to find his role on the team. Indiana was in Philadelphia on Friday. Indiana took three of the four regular-season matchups over the Celtics last season, including both games at home.

Key trends: The home team is 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings. The under is 7-1-1 in the past nine in Indiana.

Early lean: Pacers and over.

Knicks at Raptors (TBA)

Both playing the second of a back-to-back. New York was in Boston and Toronto in Charlotte. Travel edge: Knicks. Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas was questionable to return Friday from his injury, so you will want to monitor that here. If not, rookie Jakob Poeltl will start again at center, and the Raptors can thank the Knicks for the No. 9 overall pick in this year's draft to take Poeltl as the final payment from the Andrea Bargnani trade. Toronto won three of four against the Knicks last year, but the one loss was at home.

Key trends: The Knicks are 4-1 ATS in the past five in Toronto. The over is 7-1 in the previous eight there.

Early lean: TBA for Valanciunas again.

76ers at Hawks (-13.5, 206)

Philadelphia hosted Indiana on Friday and Joel Embiid was going to play that game but not this one as the team monitors its prized rookie's minutes. It was likely that Jahlil Okafor was going to rest on Friday and play this game as he's also on a minutes restriction. Atlanta beat visiting Chicago 115-107 on Wednesday for its third straight win. Paul Millsap had 16 points and 11 rebounds. Kent Bazemore jammed his right pinkie against the backboard on his hard foul and had X-rays, but they were negative. Thus he should continue to play. Atlanta won in Philadelphia 104-72 on Oct. 29. Millsap scored 17 points to lead five Hawks in double figures. Embiid and Sergio Rodriguez had 14 points apiece for the 76ers.

Key trends: The Hawks are 4-0 ATS in the past four meetings. The under is 10-4 in Atlanta's past 14 home games vs. teams with a losing road record.

Early lean: Hawks and under.

Wizards at Bulls (TBA)

Washington hosted Cleveland on Friday potentially without Bradley Beal, although at least an MRI on his hamstring came back clean. Chicago won in the second of a back-to-back on Thursday in Miami, 98-95. Dwyane Wade hit two big free throws with 13.7 seconds left and had 13 points in his emotional return to south Florida. Jimmy Butler scored 20 points and Rajon Rondo finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Washington won last season's series vs. Chicago 2-1.

Key trends: The Wizards are 9-2 ATS in the past 11 in Chicago. The over is 4-1 in the past five meetings.

Early lean: TBA on Beal. Bulls regardless.

Spurs at Rockets (+3.5, 209)

Interesting scheduling here in that these two played Wednesday and the Rockets haven't since but the Spurs hosted Detroit on Friday. Thus you are likely to see a key San Antonio guy or two sit here in the second of a back-to-back. Houston won in San Antonio 101-99 on Wednesday behind 24 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds from James Harden. He's your early-season MVP in my opinion, at least statistically. The Rockets were 10-for-30 on 3-pointers in snapping a four-game skid at San Antonio. Houston played seven of its first eight games on the road. That's a ridiculous schedule and no team had opened like that since Cleveland in 1970-71.

Key trends: The Spurs are 1-6 ATS in their past seven in Houston. The under is 6-1 in those.

Early lean: Rockets and under.

Clippers at Timberwolves (+5.5, 204)

Los Angeles was in Oklahoma City on Friday. Minnesota last played Wednesday in Orlando and won 123-107 to end a three-game skid. Zach LaVine scored 37 points and Andrew Wiggins added 29 for the Timberwolves, who led by as many as 30 in the first half in their first road win. The Clippers won three of four meetings last year, but the loss was at home. Minnesota has dropped eight in a row at home against Los Angeles.

Key trends: The Clips are 9-1-1 ATS in their past 11 in Minnesota. The over is 7-2 in the past nine meetings.

Early lean: Wolves and under (so much for trends).

Jazz at Heat (TBA)

Utah was in Orlando on Friday. Miami dropped a third straight Thursday, 98-95 to Chicago. Hassan Whiteside led Miami with 20 points and 20 rebounds. However, Heat point guard Goran Dragic left with a sprained ankle and he was seen limping around after the game. X-rays were negative, but it would be a surprise if he plays here. The Jazz and Heat split the 2015-16 season series. Gordon Hayward posted averages of 29.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in the two games for Utah. The Jazz added Joe Johnson in the free agency in the offseason, and he played well for the Heat last season after they got him from Brooklyn.

Key trends: The Jazz are 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings. The under is 19-6-1 in Utah's past 26 on Saturday.

Early lean: TBA for Dragic -- Jazz and under regardless.

Grizzlies at Bucks (-2, 203)

Memphis ended a two-game skid with a 108-107 home win over Denver on Tuesday. Vince Carter threw a perfect inbounds lob to Marc Gasol, who dropped it in at the buzzer. You never see those plays work. Grizzlies guard Tony Allen was placed on the inactive list before the game with a right groin injury. Milwaukee lost a second straight Thursday, 112-106 at home to the previously winless Pelicans -- this a game after losing to previously winless Dallas. Jabari Parker scored a season-high 33 points vs. the Pelicans. Both low-scoring meetings between these two last season were decided by at least 10 points, with the home side winning each. Milwaukee has won two in a row at home in the series.

Key trends: The home team is 5-2 ATS in the past seven. The under is 10-1 in the previous 11 meetings.

Early lean: Bucks and under.

Pistons at Nuggets (TBA)

NBA TV game. Detroit was in San Antonio on Friday. Denver dropped a second in a row Thursday, 125-101 at home vs. Golden State. The Nuggets are 0-2 at home for the third time in four seasons. Wilson Chandler (left hamstring), Darrell Arthur (left knee) and Will Barton (left ankle) didn't play. These two will already be finished with one another after this game as on Nov. 5 in Detroit, the Pistons beat the Nuggets 106-83. Detroit opened on a 20-4 run and never really looked back. Andre Drummond recorded 19 points and 20 rebounds. Chandler led the Nuggets with 21 points, but he's questionable here. Detroit has lost seven straight in Denver.

Key trends: The home team is 6-1 ATS in the past seven. The over is 5-2 in the previous seven in Denver.

Early lean: Like Nuggets even if all those guys are out again.

Nets at Suns (-6, 215.5)

These might be the two worst teams in the NBA, all due respect to the 76ers and Pelicans as those two will both get better as the season goes on and injured players return. Brooklyn lost 110-96 at the Knicks on Wednesday to open a five-game trip by falling to 0-3 on the road. The Nets are so thin at point guard due to injury that they gave Sean Kilpatrick his first career start. It's possible rookie Isaiah Whitehead can return from his concussion here. Phoenix beat visiting Detroit on Wednesday, 107-100. Eric Bledsoe had 21 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. Tyson Chandler missed the game after his mother died, but he might be back here. The Nets swept the two meetings vs. the Suns last season, their fourth sweep in the past five seasons in the series.

Key trends: The Suns are 4-1 ATS in their past five at home. The over is 5-1 in the Nets' past six on the road.

Early lean: Suns and over.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA

Saturday’s games

Pacers won three of last four games with Boston; last five series games stayed under. Celtics lost four of last five visits to Indy, losing last two by 2-5 points. Pacers are 4-0 at home, 2-2 as home favorites; they lost to the 76ers in Philly last night. Boston is 2-2 vs spread on road, 1-1 as underdogs- under is 5-2 in their last seven games.

Lakers lost six of last eight games with New Orleans; four of* last six series games stayed under the total. LA lost four of last five visits to Bourbon Street. Lakers are 7-2 vs spread this year, 4-1 as road underdogs, 3-2 SU on foreign soil. Pelicans got first win at Milwaukee Thursday; they’re 1-8 overall, 0-4 at home, 0-3 as a home favorite- three of their last four games went over.

Knicks lost six of last eight games with Toronto; over is 5-2 in last seven series games. NY lost three of last four visits to Canada, but covered four of last five. Raptors won five of last six games, winning by hoop in Charlotte last nite; they are 2-2 as a home favorite. New York lost four of last six games; they’re 1-3 as road dogs. Under is 3-1 in their road games.

Hawks won nine of last ten games with Philly, covering six of last eight; Sixers lost last four visits here, by 21-6-16-8 points. Three of last four series games went over. 76ers lost their first two road games by 16-7 points (1-1 as road underdog), but they did get first win of year last night, at home over Indiana in OT. Atlanta is 4-1 as a home favorite (over 4-1), 6-2 overall to start the season.

Rockets beat Spurs by hoop in Alamo Tuesday, just their second win in last eight series games. San Antonio is 2-3 in last five visits here (under 4-1). Spurs are 4-0 SU on road this year, 2-1 as a road favorite- they’re 2-3 in last five games overall. Rockets won five of last seven games (under 5-2); this is only their second home game this year- they beat Dallas by 1 in home opener.

Clippers won nine of last ten games with Minnesota; over is 7-2 in last nine series games. LA won its last five visits here (3-1-1 vs spread) winning by 4-10-20-4-5 points. Clippers won eight of first nine games, winning in OKC last night, with four of last six staying under total. Minnesota lost five of its first seven games, splitting their first two home games- they’re 1-2 as an underdog this season.

Washington won six of last nine games with Chicago; four of last five series games went over total. Wizards won three of last five visits here (over 4-1). Washington lost by 11 to the* Cavaliers at home last nite; they’re 0-3 on road (1-1 as road dog) losing away games by 15-9-2 points. Bulls lost four of last six games; they’re 3-1 at home, 2-1 as home favorites- under is 5-2 in their last seven games.

Utah/Miami split their last ten games; Jazz lost three of last four visits here, losing by 1-23-16 points (over 2-2). Utah is 1-3 as a road dog; they won by 13 in Orlando last nite- five of last seven Jazz games went over total. Heat lost three in row, five of last six games- they scored 89 pts/game win last three games, which all stayed under total. Miami is 1-3 vs spread at home, 1-2 as a favorite.

Memphis won eight of last ten games with the Bucks; nine of those 10 games stayed under the total. Grizzlies lost by 1-10 points in last two visits here, in series where home side won last five series games. Memphis is 0-2 as a road underdog, losing by 7-36 points; four of their last five games stayed under. Bucks lost last two games, are 1-2 as home favorites; four of their last five games went over.

Nuggets lost by 17 in Detroit last Saturday; home side won eight of last ten series games, with last five games staying under total. Pistons lost last five visits to Denver (0-4 vs spread in last four). Detroit lost by 10 in Alamo last night; they’re 0-3 as a road underdog. Denver lost five of last seven games, with last three going over total. Nuggets lost first two home games, by 2-24 points.

Nets won seven of last nine games with Phoenix; they won four of last five visits to Valley of Sun (over 5-0). Brooklyn lost four of last six games; they’re 2-1 as road underdogs, losing road games by 5-2-14 points. Suns beat Portland/Detroit in last two home games; six of their last eight games were decided by 7 or less points, with last six games going over the total.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA

Saturday’s games

Pacers won three of last four games with Boston; last five series games stayed under. Celtics lost four of last five visits to Indy, losing last two by 2-5 points. Pacers are 4-0 at home, 2-2 as home favorites; they lost to the 76ers in Philly last night. Boston is 2-2 vs spread on road, 1-1 as underdogs- under is 5-2 in their last seven games.

Lakers lost six of last eight games with New Orleans; four of* last six series games stayed under the total. LA lost four of last five visits to Bourbon Street. Lakers are 7-2 vs spread this year, 4-1 as road underdogs, 3-2 SU on foreign soil. Pelicans got first win at Milwaukee Thursday; they’re 1-8 overall, 0-4 at home, 0-3 as a home favorite- three of their last four games went over.

Knicks lost six of last eight games with Toronto; over is 5-2 in last seven series games. NY lost three of last four visits to Canada, but covered four of last five. Raptors won five of last six games, winning by hoop in Charlotte last nite; they are 2-2 as a home favorite. New York lost four of last six games; they’re 1-3 as road dogs. Under is 3-1 in their road games.

Hawks won nine of last ten games with Philly, covering six of last eight; Sixers lost last four visits here, by 21-6-16-8 points. Three of last four series games went over. 76ers lost their first two road games by 16-7 points (1-1 as road underdog), but they did get first win of year last night, at home over Indiana in OT. Atlanta is 4-1 as a home favorite (over 4-1), 6-2 overall to start the season.

Rockets beat Spurs by hoop in Alamo Tuesday, just their second win in last eight series games. San Antonio is 2-3 in last five visits here (under 4-1). Spurs are 4-0 SU on road this year, 2-1 as a road favorite- they’re 2-3 in last five games overall. Rockets won five of last seven games (under 5-2); this is only their second home game this year- they beat Dallas by 1 in home opener.

Clippers won nine of last ten games with Minnesota; over is 7-2 in last nine series games. LA won its last five visits here (3-1-1 vs spread) winning by 4-10-20-4-5 points. Clippers won eight of first nine games, winning in OKC last night, with four of last six staying under total. Minnesota lost five of its first seven games, splitting their first two home games- they’re 1-2 as an underdog this season.

Washington won six of last nine games with Chicago; four of last five series games went over total. Wizards won three of last five visits here (over 4-1). Washington lost by 11 to the* Cavaliers at home last nite; they’re 0-3 on road (1-1 as road dog) losing away games by 15-9-2 points. Bulls lost four of last six games; they’re 3-1 at home, 2-1 as home favorites- under is 5-2 in their last seven games.

Utah/Miami split their last ten games; Jazz lost three of last four visits here, losing by 1-23-16 points (over 2-2). Utah is 1-3 as a road dog; they won by 13 in Orlando last nite- five of last seven Jazz games went over total. Heat lost three in row, five of last six games- they scored 89 pts/game win last three games, which all stayed under total. Miami is 1-3 vs spread at home, 1-2 as a favorite.

Memphis won eight of last ten games with the Bucks; nine of those 10 games stayed under the total. Grizzlies lost by 1-10 points in last two visits here, in series where home side won last five series games. Memphis is 0-2 as a road underdog, losing by 7-36 points; four of their last five games stayed under. Bucks lost last two games, are 1-2 as home favorites; four of their last five games went over.

Nuggets lost by 17 in Detroit last Saturday; home side won eight of last ten series games, with last five games staying under total. Pistons lost last five visits to Denver (0-4 vs spread in last four). Detroit lost by 10 in Alamo last night; they’re 0-3 as a road underdog. Denver lost five of last seven games, with last three going over total. Nuggets lost first two home games, by 2-24 points.

Nets won seven of last nine games with Phoenix; they won four of last five visits to Valley of Sun (over 5-0). Brooklyn lost four of last six games; they’re 2-1 as road underdogs, losing road games by 5-2-14 points. Suns beat Portland/Detroit in last two home games; six of their last eight games were decided by 7 or less points, with last six games going over the total.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NCAAB

Saturday’s games– not a lot of info early on. I’m giving you what I have.

CAA teams were 6-5 vs A-14 teams LY, an astonishing 11-0 vs spread. Towson State pulled away in last 10:00 to beat George Mason 75-54 LY; game was 30-28 at half. Tigers have 3 starters back (51 pts/game) back from LY but their 2nd-leading scorer bolted for Murray State. Towson is 75-55 the last four years after going 1-31 in Skerry’s 1st year. George Mason is 31-61 last three years; they’ve got only two upperclassmen, but are deeper, more talented than LY.

St Joe’s was 28-8 LY, won A-14 tourney and a game in NCAAs, but they’re going to miss their great forward, Deandre’ Bembry.* Hawks lost 64.8% of their scoring, 56.8% of rebounding from LY’s team- they will be a drop off this year. Toledo was 2-8 LY in games decided by 6 or less points; they lost six of last seven games and finished 17-15. Rockets have 3 starters back this year.* A-14 teams were 5-0 vs MAC squads LY, 4-1 against the spread.

Davidson has 4 starters back from 2013, is picked in top 4 of A-14. Wildcats are 115-50 the last five years- they’re headed to Puerto Rico after this, face Clemson in first round Thursday. Appalachian State is 30-60 last three years; they have 2 starters back from 9-22 team that also took trip to Europe last summer. ASU’s two best players are sophomores- they’ve got only one senior, are young and over-scheduled.

Road team won last four Kent State-Cleveland State games; Flashes won by 4-17 points in last two visits here. CSU was 9-22 LY after losing pair of graduate transfers to bigger schools- they brought in 3 JC kids this year, including a new PG, so that should help. Kent State has only 4 scholarship players back from LY; they welcome 5 transfers this year. MAC teams were 14-7 vs Horizon teams LY, 10-5 vs spread when favored.

Akron has 3 starters back from a 26-9 team that lost in MAC tourney final. Zips play two Pos normally and are favored to win MAC this year. Youngstown State is 37-59 last three years, after a couple winning seasons; Penguins have 4 starters back from LY’s 11-21 team and are mostly juniors/seniors- they need to defend better. MAC teams were 14-7 vs Horizon teams LY, 10-5 vs spread when favored.

Northern Arizona has 4 starters back from a 5-25 team that started 7 different freshmen at various times LY. Tennessee State went 20-11 LY after being 10-50 the two years before that; Tigers are relying on transfers to keep their talent level high-they beat Cal-Davis 78-64 last nite, killing Aggies on boards. OVC teams were 3-2 against Big Sky teams LY.

Cal-Davis has lot of good guards, might play two PG’s at same time; Aggies plan to play faster this year. Davis lost 78-64 to Tennessee State last nite, they were -15 on boards and put State on foul line 38 times. After going 39-57 last 3 years, Santa Clara has new coach in former NC State/ASU coach Herb Sendek; Broncos have all 5 starters back from an 11-20 team. WCC teams were 13-9 vs Big West LY, 7-6 vs spread when favored.

Cal-Santa Barbara outscored Omaha 8-1 over final 4:29, nipped Mavericks 60-59 LY in Omaha, after blowing a 14-point second half lead- teams combined to make 7-44 on arc. UCSB has 3 starters back from 19-14 team; they’ve got very good guards but are almost totally rebuilding inside. Omaha was 18-14 LY, their first winning D-I season; they’ve lost 4 of top 6 scorers from that team. Summit teams were 4-2 vs Big West teams LY, 2-1 vs spread as underdogs.

Northern Colorado has a new coach (former Boise State assistant), is on probation this year; they’re going to put in a fast-paced offense, which will be a problem when they play more talented teams. Butler beat Southern Utah of Big Sky by 36 LY; Bulldogs won 45 games last two years, but have six new players this year- they lost 49% of scoring, 36% of rebounding, 53% of assists from LY, but they’re still ranked in top 25 to start season.

Wofford lost by 9-24 LY to SEC teams Mizzou/Vandy; Terriers lost 3 starters from LY’s 15-17 team (they made NCAAs the 2 years before that)- they’re younger than usual this year. LSU begins life after Ben Simmons here; Tigers lost 3 starters from disappointing 19-14 team that lacked shooting and played like they hated each other. SEC teams were 4-1 vs SoCon teams LY, 3-2 vs spread (all as favorites).

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NCAAB

Saturday’s games– not a lot of info early on. I’m giving you what I have.

CAA teams were 6-5 vs A-14 teams LY, an astonishing 11-0 vs spread. Towson State pulled away in last 10:00 to beat George Mason 75-54 LY; game was 30-28 at half. Tigers have 3 starters back (51 pts/game) back from LY but their 2nd-leading scorer bolted for Murray State. Towson is 75-55 the last four years after going 1-31 in Skerry’s 1st year. George Mason is 31-61 last three years; they’ve got only two upperclassmen, but are deeper, more talented than LY.

St Joe’s was 28-8 LY, won A-14 tourney and a game in NCAAs, but they’re going to miss their great forward, Deandre’ Bembry.* Hawks lost 64.8% of their scoring, 56.8% of rebounding from LY’s team- they will be a drop off this year. Toledo was 2-8 LY in games decided by 6 or less points; they lost six of last seven games and finished 17-15. Rockets have 3 starters back this year.* A-14 teams were 5-0 vs MAC squads LY, 4-1 against the spread.

Davidson has 4 starters back from 2013, is picked in top 4 of A-14. Wildcats are 115-50 the last five years- they’re headed to Puerto Rico after this, face Clemson in first round Thursday. Appalachian State is 30-60 last three years; they have 2 starters back from 9-22 team that also took trip to Europe last summer. ASU’s two best players are sophomores- they’ve got only one senior, are young and over-scheduled.

Road team won last four Kent State-Cleveland State games; Flashes won by 4-17 points in last two visits here. CSU was 9-22 LY after losing pair of graduate transfers to bigger schools- they brought in 3 JC kids this year, including a new PG, so that should help. Kent State has only 4 scholarship players back from LY; they welcome 5 transfers this year. MAC teams were 14-7 vs Horizon teams LY, 10-5 vs spread when favored.

Akron has 3 starters back from a 26-9 team that lost in MAC tourney final. Zips play two Pos normally and are favored to win MAC this year. Youngstown State is 37-59 last three years, after a couple winning seasons; Penguins have 4 starters back from LY’s 11-21 team and are mostly juniors/seniors- they need to defend better. MAC teams were 14-7 vs Horizon teams LY, 10-5 vs spread when favored.

Northern Arizona has 4 starters back from a 5-25 team that started 7 different freshmen at various times LY. Tennessee State went 20-11 LY after being 10-50 the two years before that; Tigers are relying on transfers to keep their talent level high-they beat Cal-Davis 78-64 last nite, killing Aggies on boards. OVC teams were 3-2 against Big Sky teams LY.

Cal-Davis has lot of good guards, might play two PG’s at same time; Aggies plan to play faster this year. Davis lost 78-64 to Tennessee State last nite, they were -15 on boards and put State on foul line 38 times. After going 39-57 last 3 years, Santa Clara has new coach in former NC State/ASU coach Herb Sendek; Broncos have all 5 starters back from an 11-20 team. WCC teams were 13-9 vs Big West LY, 7-6 vs spread when favored.

Cal-Santa Barbara outscored Omaha 8-1 over final 4:29, nipped Mavericks 60-59 LY in Omaha, after blowing a 14-point second half lead- teams combined to make 7-44 on arc. UCSB has 3 starters back from 19-14 team; they’ve got very good guards but are almost totally rebuilding inside. Omaha was 18-14 LY, their first winning D-I season; they’ve lost 4 of top 6 scorers from that team. Summit teams were 4-2 vs Big West teams LY, 2-1 vs spread as underdogs.

Northern Colorado has a new coach (former Boise State assistant), is on probation this year; they’re going to put in a fast-paced offense, which will be a problem when they play more talented teams. Butler beat Southern Utah of Big Sky by 36 LY; Bulldogs won 45 games last two years, but have six new players this year- they lost 49% of scoring, 36% of rebounding, 53% of assists from LY, but they’re still ranked in top 25 to start season.

Wofford lost by 9-24 LY to SEC teams Mizzou/Vandy; Terriers lost 3 starters from LY’s 15-17 team (they made NCAAs the 2 years before that)- they’re younger than usual this year. LSU begins life after Ben Simmons here; Tigers lost 3 starters from disappointing 19-14 team that lacked shooting and played like they hated each other. SEC teams were 4-1 vs SoCon teams LY, 3-2 vs spread (all as favorites).

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pistons (4-5) at Nuggets (3-5)

Date: November 12, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

A week after getting knocked around at The Palace of Auburn Hills, the Denver Nuggets have a chance to get even with the Detroit Pistons when the teams meet at Pepsi Center on Saturday night.

Detroit manhandled the Nuggets from the start in a 103-86 win Nov. 5, and the loss is fresh on the minds of Denver players and coaches. The Pistons jumped out to a 20-4 lead and never looked back.

It was a scenario that played out for the Nuggets against Golden State on Thursday. Like the game in Michigan, Denver got down early and could never get back into the game.

The Nuggets hope to turn that around against the Pistons, who are coming off a 96-86 loss in San Antonio on Friday night.

The Pistons enter Saturday's game relatively healthy. Point guard Reggie Jackson and forward Reggie Bullock have not played this year but the rest of the team is intact.

That's not the case for Denver. Guard Will Barton remains out with a sprained left ankle and forwards Wilson Chandler (hamstring) and Darrell Arthur (knee) are not expected to play.

But that might not be Denver's biggest concern. The Nuggets have not taken care of the ball this year, which has contributed directly to two losses. They had 16 last week against the Pistons, and it was a problem yet again in the loss to the Warriors.

"We cannot continue to turn the ball over 18, 19 times a game if we want to give ourselves a chance to win," Denver coach Michael Malone said.

The Nuggets are hoping they will get one of those turnovers back and maybe a chance to turn a loss into a defeat. In Tuesday's loss at Memphis, the officials ruled the Nuggets touched the ball last before it went out of bounds with 0.7 seconds left, a call that was upheld by replay. Denver was leading by one and the Grizzlies won it on Marc Gasol's buzzer-beater.

However, the NBA took another look at the play and ruled the ball should have been given to Denver. The Nuggets have filed an official protest with the league and hope to replay the end of the game the next time they play Memphis.

"Whether they do it or not I have no idea," Malone said.

That won't be a concern for the Pistons, who will be tired and playing at altitude after a tough game against the Spurs. They'll be looking for their first win in Denver since 2009, which is also the last time they swept the season series from the Nuggets.

Detroit's defense is improved over last season, which has helped bail out a struggling offense.

"What you'd like to be is good at both ends. Getting our defense established is more of the priority," Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy told The Detroit News. "We try to work on both ends of the floor and there's been more emphasis on defense."

Center Andre Drummond, who anchors the back end of the defense, is happy the focus has been on that end of the floor.

"I'd rather we have a successful defensive night than a fantastic offensive night," Drummond told The Detroit News. "When we have great defensive nights, offensively, it takes care of itself."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NCAAF opening line report: Alabama massive faves over scrappy Mississippi State
By PATRICK EVERSON

The college football season plows into Week 11 with some key matchups as the BCS standings and the College Football Playoff possibilities continue taking shape. We talk about opening lines on a few games with John Lester, senior lines manager.

No. 3 Michigan Wolverines at Iowa Hawkeyes (+17.5)

Michigan hasn’t broken too much of a sweat all season, and certainly didn’t need to worry much during Week 10. The Wolverines (9-0 SU, 5-4 ATS) hammered Maryland 59-3 Saturday as a 29.5-point home favorite, stemming a 1-3 ATS in the process.

Iowa (5-4 SU, 3-6 ATS) looks more like Michigan’s next victim than the next opponent. The Hawkeyes had a bye week to prepare for Penn State, but still got shellacked 41-14 as a 6.5-point road underdog Saturday. But Lester warned against discounting the Hawkeyes.

“This may not be the week, but it seems like Kirk Ferentz and his kids pull off a big upset every year,” Lester said. “Everybody is going to give the undefeateds their best shots from here on out, so Michigan must be focused here. The Wolverines are facing another three-score spread, and they’ve been Jekyll-and-Hyde covering those.”

This will be Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh’s first meeting with Iowa, as the two schools last squared off in the 2013 season, a 24-21 Iowa victory in which the Wolverines cashed as a 6-point road pup.

No. 25 Baylor Bears at No. 9 Oklahoma Sooners (-14)

Two weeks ago. Baylor was undefeated, ranked sixth and thoroughly in the hunt for a CFP playoff berth. Not anymore. After tumbling at Texas 35-34 laying 4 points in Week 9, the Bears (6-2 SU, 2-6 ATS) got blasted Saturday by Texas Christian, losing 62-22 as a 7-point home chalk.

Conversely, Oklahoma has won six in a row after a bump 1-2 start. The Sooners (7-2 SU, 3-6 ATS) held off Iowa State last Thursday 34-24, falling well short as a 21-point fave. Oklahoma beat Baylor 44-34 catching 1.5 points on the road last year, ending a 4-0 ATS surge by the Bears in this rivalry (3-1 SU).

“We saw Baylor unravel at the seams last weekend, and this could be a tough one to get up for now that the losing skid is rolling,” Lester said. “That said, Oklahoma has been winning, but it hasn’t looked unbeatable against some suspect competition of late.”

Southern California Trojans at No. 4 Washington Huskies (-8)

Washington aims to keep its perfect record, along with its Pac-12 and CFP hopes, rolling along in Week 11. The Huskies (9-0 SU, 5-4 ATS) boatraced California 66-27 Saturday night giving 19 points on the road.

Southern Cal has seemingly righted its ship after a rocky 1-3 SU and ATS start. The Trojans (6-3 SU, 5-4 ATS) have peeled off five consecutive victories (4-1 ATS), including Saturday’s 45-20 rout of Oregon as a hefty 17-point home chalk.

Last year, Washington edged USC 17-12, falling well short as a 17-point road favorite.

“USC is going to have to play a perfect game to pull off the upset in Washington,” Lester said. “The BCS committee isn’t giving the Huskies much respect, but from what we’ve see, they are on an even playing field with a team like Michigan. The Trojans have been rolling, but Washington is a competitive and complete team, so the big spread is warranted.”

Mississippi State Bulldogs at No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (-29)

Alabama hasn’t lost a game since Sept. 19, 2015, a stretch in which it has gone 21-0 SU and 14-7 ATS. On Saturday night, the Crimson Tide got one of their toughest tests of that streak, as they were locked in a 0-0 tie at Louisiana State into the fourth quarter. But ‘Bama (9-0 SU, 7-2 ATS) came away with a 10-0 win and cover as a 7-point favorite.

A couple of weeks ago, Mississippi State was 2-5 SU and looked like it would be little more than a footnote for Alabama. That might still be the case, but the Bulldogs are coming off an impressive 35-28 home win over Texas A&M as a 10-point ‘dog.

“Both teams are coming off emotionally draining wins, but it’s safe to say the Tide are better equipped to regroup,” Lester said. “Last week was the first in a while that we didn’t see heavy Alabama action, but the underdog bettors didn’t collect, so we don’t expect a lot of favorite fading again this week, despite the massive spread.”

The Tide had little trouble with the Bulldogs last year, rolling 31-6 as a 7-point road chalk.