Saturday 12/12/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Wild (14-7) at Sharks (13-13)

Date: December 12, 2015 10:30 PM EDT

If San Jose is going to end its losing streak, it'll once again have to come without Logan Couture.

Another leg injury will claim an undetermined amount of the forward's time, including Saturday night visit from the Minnesota Wild as the Sharks try to halt a 0-4-1 span.

In Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss in Edmonton, Couture left with a lower-body injury and didn't return. It was his second game back from missing 23 games because of a fractured right fibula at the ankle, and upon returning to San Jose, a small arterial bleed was discovered in the right thigh. He underwent a procedure to close the bleeding artery, and he isn't expected to be out long term.

The Sharks (14-13-1) have struggled at times without him, going 11-13-1 since his leg injury with his biggest contribution being limited ice time in Tuesday's 4-2 defeat in Calgary.

Aside from losing his No. 2 point producer from a season ago against the Oilers, coach Peter DeBoer saw some promise that fortunes could shift.

"I was real happy with our effort, I thought we could have had two or three in the first, we came ready to play," DeBoer told the team's official website. "Their goalie was good and it was a good hockey game. But for us playing back-to-back and four (games) in six nights, I thought we gave a (heck) of an effort and probably deserved better. We had chances all night, they just weren't going in for us, but we knew if we stuck with it, eventually, we would get rewarded."

That reward was their first point on the skid, but they've been outscored 18-9 and are in danger of their first six-game losing streak since an 0-4-3 span in February 2013.

The Sharks have won the last five meetings in San Jose as part of a 6-1-1 overall span. Joe Pavelski had five points in three games against the Wild last season and has five goals and six assists in his last seven in the series.

Minnesota (14-7-6) has started a three-game road stretch with consecutive 2-1 overtime losses, first at Colorado followed by Friday's in Arizona. Scoring has been an issue with 1.75 goals per game over a 3-2-3 span, and it fell to 1 for 20 on the power play in the last seven games. Even so, the Wild saw promise in their four chances against Arizona.

"I thought the power play was very good tonight," Zach Parise said. "We just couldn't get one."

To some extent, the limited scoring has been a product of the type of conservative games the Wild have been involved in. They've given up four goals in their last four contests while limiting opponents to 22.3 shots per game.

The Wild are without goaltender Devan Dubnyk, who has practiced since sustaining a lower-body injury in Saturday's home game against Colorado but didn't join them on the trip to Arizona. Seldom-used backup Darcy Kuemper has played the last two games to fall to 1-0-4 with a 2.80 goals-against average and .906 save percentage for the season.

Martin Jones will start for San Jose hoping to improve on a 1-4-1 span with a 3.33 GAA and .871 save percentage. He's 1-0-0 with a .974 save percentage in two games against the Wild, including a shutout on Nov. 26, 2014.

San Jose defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic practiced Friday and figures to return after missing three game with a lower-body injury.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Grand Salami - December

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
12/1 10 53.5 51 UNDER
12/2 4 22.5 18 UNDER
12/3 8 41.5 37 UNDER
12/4 7 36 33 UNDER
12/5 10 52 54 OVER
12/6 7 36 37 OVER
12/7 3 16 15 UNDER
12/8 9 48.5 55 OVER
12/9 4 21.5 20 UNDER
12/10 7 37 44 OVER
12/11 7 36 37 OVER
12/12 10 - - -
12/13 3 - - -
12/14 5 - - -
12/15 11 - - -
12/16 2 - - -
12/17 11 - - -
12/18 6 - - -
12/19 10 - - -
12/20 6 - - -
12/21 8 - - -
12/22 10 - - -
12/23 No games scheduled - - -
12/24 No games scheduled - - -
12/25 No games scheduled - - -
12/26 9 - - -
12/27 9 - - -
12/28 6 - - -
12/29 10 - - -
12/30 5 - - -
12/31 9 - - -

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL

Hot teams
-- Panthers won six of their last eight games.
-- Washington won seven of its last nine games. Tampa Bay won three of its last four.
-- Islanders won five of their last six games.
-- Los Angeles won last six games, allowing 11 goals.
-- Dallas Stars won five of their last seven games.
-- Colorado is 5-4 in its last nine games.
-- Hurricanes won three of their last four games.
-- Calgary won its last four games, scoring 17 goals.

Cold teams
-- Boston lost three of its last five games.
-- Montreal lost five of last six games. Senators lost three of their last four road games.
-- Columbus lost five of its last six games.
-- Buffalo lost four of its last five games.
-- St Louis lost four of its last five games.
-- Nashville lost five of its last eight games.
-- Arizona lost five of its last six games.
-- Rangers lost seven of their last nine games.
-- San Jose lost its last five games. Minnesota lost three of its last four road games.

Series records
-- Bruins won eight of last ten games with Florida.
-- Lightning lost their last three games with Washington.
-- Canadiens won five of last eight games with Ottawa.
-- Islanders lost four of last six visits to Columbus.
-- Kings lost four of last six games with Buffalo.
-- Visiting team won eight of last nine Dallas-St Louis games.
-- Home side won last four Colorado-Nashville games.
-- Hurricanes won their last four games with Arizona.
-- Rangers won six of last seven games with Calgary.
-- Sharks won six of last eight games with Minnesota.

Totals
-- Under is 3-1-1 in last five Florida-Boston games.
-- Nine of last ten Tampa Bay-Washington games went over.
-- Five of last six Ottawa-Montreal games stayed under.
-- Under is 5-1-2 in last eight Columbus games.
-- Last five Buffalo games went over the total.
-- Under is 4-1-1 in last six St Louis games.
-- Four of last five Colorado games stayed under.
-- Over is 5-0-1 in last six Carolina games.
-- Four of last five Ranger games stayed under total.
-- Under is 7-1-1 in last nine Minnesota games.

Back-to-backs
-- Los Angeles is 3-0 if it played the night before
-- Dallas Stars are 2-1 if they played night before.
-- Carolina is 2-2 if it played night before; Arizona is 3-3.
-- Rangers are 5-2 if they played the night before.
-- Minnesota is 0-4 if it played the night before.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Clippers (13-10) at Nets (7-15)

Date: December 12, 2015 5:00 PM EDT

Playing at home or on the road has made all the difference for the Brooklyn Nets. That's also been the case when they face the Los Angeles Clippers.

No Eastern Conference team has been better on its home floor over the past month than the Nets, a team against which Los Angeles has one road win since the turn of the century. Blake Griffin and the Clippers have never tasted success in Brooklyn heading into Saturday evening's matchup.

The only worse road record than the Nets' 1-11 mark is league-worst Philadelphia's 0-13. The 76ers are also the only East team with a worse overall record, but Brooklyn (7-15) has played better lately and could continue its rise with three games left on a six-game homestand.

The Nets' 6-1 home record since Nov. 12 is topped only by Golden State and San Antonio. The only visitor to win in Brooklyn during that span was the Warriors, and the Nets even held a late third-quarter lead in that one.

Defense has been the difference during their hot stretch at home, holding opponents to 96.1 points per game. They've allowed an average of 108.9 in their last seven road games - all losses.

The Clippers (13-10) are coming off their worst offensive performance, shooting 34.1 percent in an 83-80 loss at Chicago on Thursday. Griffin was ejected in the third quarter for a flagrant foul 2 but still led Los Angeles with 18 points.

Griffin hasn't even reached 15 in any of the Clippers' three visits to Brooklyn as their road losing streak in the series has reached seven. They're 1-15 in road games against the Nets over the past 17 years with the lone win coming Dec. 11, 2007, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

These teams won't meet again until Feb. 29 in Los Angeles, where the Nets have lost 10 of 11. The Clippers have averaged 105.2 points during that span whereas they've failed to surpass 100 in 15 straight on the road in this series.

They're 1-5 this season when not reaching the century mark after Thursday's dreadful effort, but coach Doc Rivers saw one positive sign. After Griffin departed, veteran bench players Lance Stephenson, Wesley Johnson and Josh Smith keyed the Clippers rallying from a 12-point deficit early in the fourth quarter to tie the game.

"I liked the way we fought back," Rivers said. "... We had a group of I don't even know who was out on the floor when we made that run. But it was nice."

Stephenson had five points and four assists after totaling three points and one assist over the previous three games. Johnson hit three 3-pointers and Smith made a pair while grabbing seven rebounds.

"We just have a lot of guys on that (second) unit that can make plays," Griffin said.

Brooklyn was even happier with its bench performance Thursday.

Andrea Bargnani returned after missing four games with a hamstring injury to score a season-high 23 points, and Shane Larkin scored 12 of his 14 in the second half as the Nets defeated Philadelphia 100-91.

"A.B. was so huge coming off his injury, and Shane was his usual aggressive self," said Brook Lopez, who battled foul trouble and had a season-low seven points.

Thaddeus Young posted a career-high fourth consecutive double-double for the Nets, who have won of four of six after opening the season 3-13.

"We've got a team that can do some things," Young said. "... Hopefully we can transition these wins into more wins and continue to get ourselves back into the hunt."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Celtics (13-10) at Hornets (14-8)

Date: December 12, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

The Charlotte Hornets are unexpectedly atop the Southeast Division. It's not at all surprising that Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum are leading the way.

In search of a season-high five straight wins, the Hornets look for Walker and Batum to help them build on one of their best performances of the season Saturday night against the visiting Boston Celtics.

Charlotte (14-8) has missed the playoffs in nine of the last 11 seasons, but winning 14 of their past 19 has the Hornets in the process of turning things around with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.

They've been particularly impressive at home, winning 10 of 13. Charlotte has allowed an average of 82.5 points and 37.7 percent shooting while taking the last two there. That's part of a four-game overall winning streak during which the Hornets are yielding 90.0 points per game.

They last won five straight March 1-8.

Walker and Batum were instrumental to getting Charlotte closer to equaling that run Friday. The guards combined for 53 points after the Hornets gave up the first 11 and trailed by as many as 14 in the opening quarter of a 123-99 win at Memphis.

Walker and Batum combined to make 19 of 30 from the field and shoot 10 for 16 from beyond the arc.

"We came out kind of flat and (the Grizzlies) came out really strong," Walker said. "As a team in the huddle, we told each other we've got to do better."

Walker leads the Hornets with 18.1 points per game while Batum is second at 16.8 - over five points higher than last season's average with Portland.

Walker is averaging 26.8 points over his last four meetings with Boston. However, his 28 points and 12 assists weren't enough in a 116-104 home loss March 30.

Batum hasn't come close to being that productive in his last five matchups with the Celtics, scoring 12.8 per game. He had no points while missing six shots in a loss with Portland on Jan. 22.

Boston (13-10) is in search of a bounce-back effort after falling 124-119 in double overtime Friday to Golden State, which improved to 24-0. The Celtics had two chances at the end of regulation to win it, but Isaiah Thomas' shot was blocked before Kelly Olynyk's jumper was way off at the buzzer.

Coach Brad Stevens was asked if there's such a thing as a "great loss."

"No," he said. "Not even a good one."

Stevens, though, should be encouraged by Olynyk's recent production. The 7-footer is averaging 21.3 points while hitting 53.3 percent from the floor - 7 of 16 3-pointers - over the last three games.

He had a season-high 28 points Friday, topping 20 for the third time in five games. Olynyk is averaging 8.4 points in five meetings with Charlotte.

Thomas had 10 points against the Hornets on March 30 after totaling 51 over the previous two. The guard was four rebounds shy of a triple-double against the Warriors, scoring 18 points with 10 assists while making 7 of 22 from the field.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pacers (13-8) at Pistons (13-11)

Date: December 12, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

Regardless of how Paul George performs offensively, the Indiana Pacers have shown they aren't going to be successful without a strong defense.

After returning to their stingy ways, the Pacers will try to capture their seventh win in the last eight road meetings with the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night.

George struggled early this season while continuing to work his way back from a gruesome broken leg, but he's averaged 30.5 points since Nov. 6. That mark is tied with Houston's James Harden and second to Golden State's Stephen Curry (31.6).

George poured in 81 points over a two-game span heading into Friday, but Indiana had allowed an average of 125.3 and a 51.1 field-goal percentage in three straight defeats.

The Pacers (13-8) ranked fourth in the NBA entering that skid, allowing 95.3 points per game. With George not at his best Friday, they put an end to that slide by limiting Miami to 43.2 percent shooting in a 96-83 home win.

"It was a good win for us and we want to build off this," center Ian Mahinmi said after Indiana moved to 6-0 when holding opponents to fewer than 90 points.

Monta Ellis led the way with 24 points, six assists and six steals after averaging 5.7 points while shooting 30.4 percent over his previous three games. George added 23 points and eight rebounds and Mahinmi scored a season-high 18 with 12 boards.

"(Ellis) came out (after halftime) and said `Enough is enough,'" coach Frank Vogel said. "He willed us to victory with his defensive intensity."

Indiana extended its series win streak to three with a 94-82 win at Detroit on Nov. 3. The Pacers limited the Pistons to a season low in points and a 38.4 field-goal percentage.

Rodney Stuckey led the way with 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting in that contest, though George only scored 16 on 5-of-17 shooting. Stuckey has hurt his former club with a combined 47 points in his last two trips back to The Palace of Auburn Hills.

The Pistons (13-11) had their five-game home winning streak snapped Wednesday when Matt Barnes hit a half-court shot with 1.1 seconds left to give Memphis a 93-92 victory. They had averaged 112.0 points and shot 40.6 percent from 3-point range during the streak.

Detroit will look to bounce back on its home court in the opener of a three-game stay after snapping a two-game losing streak with Friday's 107-95 win at Philadelphia.

Reggie Jackson has averaged 22.5 points and made 20 of 47 (42.6 percent) from long range in his 11 home games. Jackson and Marcus Morris finished with 21 apiece, while Andre Drummond had 18 points and 16 rebounds against the 76ers.

"We know how much this win means for the team," Morris told the team's official website. "We just wanted to come here and take care of business."

Drummond had 25 points and 29 rebounds in the first meeting with Indiana for only the second 25/25 game by a Pistons player in the last 30 years. Detroit, which held a 50-42 advantage on the boards, ranks in the NBA's top 10 with a plus-2.6 margin.

The Pistons could again have the edge in that area against an Indiana team that has struggled with a minus-6.3 rebounding margin over its last four games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Spurs (19-5) at Hawks (14-10)

Date: December 12, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

Spending nearly two decades in the organization obviously has not provided Mike Budenholzer with any inside information on how to defeat the San Antonio Spurs.

The reigning NBA coach of the year is still searching for his first victory against former mentor Gregg Popovich three years into his tenure with the Atlanta Hawks.

Two weeks after getting routed in San Antonio, Budenholzer will get another chance Saturday night when the Hawks try to snap a 10-game slide against the visiting Spurs.

Budenholzer served as an assistant coach under Popovich from 1996-2013 before taking Atlanta's head job before the 2013-14 season. He's made an immediate impact on the Hawks, leading them to an Eastern Conference-best and team-record 60 victories last season.

Budenholzer's club, however, has dropped all five meetings with his former team by an average of 13.8 points. Atlanta's struggles against San Antonio go back long before Budenholzer's arrival with its last victory in the series coming in March 2010.

The Hawks (14-10) also have lost 29 of the past 33 meetings dating to the 1997-98 season. They didn't have much success in the first meeting this season, shooting 42.5 percent - including 6 of 26 from 3-point range - in a 108-88 loss at AT&T Center on Nov. 28.

'Defensively, a lot of it looks very similar,' Budenholzer said after the reunion. 'Offensively, they are constantly tinkering, constantly changing and evolving and doing different things. That's part of what makes the whole group and Pop unique.'

Atlanta, which has won five of six at Philips Arena, hopes to put forth a better effort and avoid its second straight defeat following Thursday's 107-94 loss at Oklahoma City.

Kent Bazemore had 22 points while Jeff Teague added 18. Teague has struggled against the Spurs (19-5), averaging 7.0 points on 36.4 percent shooting in his last four matchups.

He's likely to have to deal with Tony Parker in this contest after Popovich chose to rest the star point guard for Friday's 109-87 home win over the Los Angeles Lakers. LaMarcus Aldridge led the way with 24 points and 11 rebounds and Patty Mills scored 22 off the bench.

After starting slow, Aldridge seems to be getting more comfortable in his first season with the Spurs. He's averaged 19.6 points on 55.4 percent shooting in his last five games.

The four-time All-Star forward has sparked the team's surge over that stretch as San Antonio has scored 106.6 per game while shooting 52.5 percent from the field.

"It's a process for me, but I think I've been getting better with it," Aldridge said. "The last few games I've kind of found my way a little bit more."

Aldridge had 13 points on 6-of-15 shooting in last month's meeting, but he put up 25.5 points and 12.8 rebounds per game in his last four at Atlanta while with Portland. Kawhi Leonard, averaging a team-high 20.7 points, has totaled 42 in his last two against the Hawks.

Tim Duncan pulled down a season-high 18 rebounds in the first matchup as San Antonio held a 49-43 edge on the glass. The Spurs rank among the NBA leaders with a plus-5.9 rebounding margin, while the Hawks are near the bottom with a minus-3.9 mark.

San Antonio, which lost 97-94 at Toronto on Wednesday, will try to avoid dropping back-to-back road contests for the first time since a four-game slide in February.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pelicans (6-16) at Bulls (12-8)

Date: December 12, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

(AP) - Chicago Bulls general manager Gar Forman could envision it years ago when he was an assistant coach at Iowa State and Fred Hoiberg was starring for the Cyclones.

He saw a player maximizing every ounce of his ability.

"He was a big-time worker, was a terrific teammate," Forman said. "Probably one of the best, if not the best, teammates that I coached in the 17 years I coached in college. Was always working on his game, very conscientious, had a high basketball IQ. He wasn't the most talented guy, but got the most out of his talents."

These days, it's Hoiberg's job to get the most out of the Bulls, who will continue to search for consistency Saturday night when the New Orleans Pelicans visit United Center.

Chicago hired Hoiberg away from Iowa State in the offseason with an eye on opening the offense and preserving a veteran core that management thought former coach Tom Thibodeau wore out because of his hard-driving approach.

With a 12-8 record, the results have been mixed in the early going this season.

The Bulls are showing a maddening pattern of inconsistency and look more like a run-of-the-mill team than the Eastern Conference contenders they expect to be.

Of course, it still is early.

The offense isn't humming the way they envisioned, be it because of injuries, underperforming players or possibly a system that doesn't quite mesh with the roster. They've struggled down the stretch in games, particularly the past few.

It doesn't help that Derrick Rose suffered an eye injury on the first day of practice and missed almost the entire preseason. The former MVP point guard's vision still is blurred and he's off to his worst start, averaging 13.4 points on 36.3 percent shooting.

"We've got to get more consistent," Hoiberg said. "We show flashes. The biggest thing is consistency with our group as far as getting out and playing with pace. When we do play with pace, we're pretty darn good."

But it's hard to know which team is going to show up on a given night.

Chicago - which is 8-3 at United Center but has lost two of its last three there - has wins over contenders Cleveland, Oklahoma City and San Antonio but has lost to teams that didn't make the playoffs last season such as Phoenix and the improved Charlotte Hornets.

A recent three-game skid that saw the Bulls get outscored a combined 102-70 in the fourth quarter left Hoiberg and players questioning the team's killer instinct. That slide ended Thursday with an 83-80 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, a game where they made just enough plays down the stretch after blowing a 16-point lead in the second half.

The laid-back Hoiberg seems on the surface to be the polar opposite of Thibodeau, whose firing after a clash with management ended one of the most successful five-year runs in franchise history.

The Bulls made the playoffs in each of those seasons even though Rose was injured for much of that time. There's no guarantee they will get back there in the tight Eastern Conference, where they're one of 10 teams with winning records.

"It's huge when you lose a coach like Thibs," Rose said. "Coach Fred, he has all our respect. We're trying to play as best as we can for him and give him nothing but respect. He's been great."

New Orleans (6-16) would like to carry the momentum from a successful homestand into its five-game trip. The Pelicans are 1-10 away from home, including three straight losses.

They will search for their second winning streak of the season, though, after closing a 2-1 homestand Friday with a 107-105 win over Washington.

The Pelicans made the most 3-pointers in franchise history by finishing 16 of 27 after shooting 30.7 percent from long range in their previous six games.

Tyreke Evans made 5 of 6 3-point attempts on his way to 27 points and Jrue Holiday went 5 of 7 and scored 19.

"Well, we did need every one of them," coach Alvin Gentry said. "If we have good ball movement, then the 3 is available to us because we drive and kick and that gives us an opportunity to get the spacing."

The Bulls have won 11 of the last 14 in this series, including five of seven at home.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Warriors (24-0) at Bucks (9-15)

Date: December 12, 2015 8:30 PM EDT

The best overall start and longest road winning streak to begin an NBA season have already been added to the Golden State Warriors' historic list of accomplishments, and they're moving closer to the longest run the league has ever seen.

On Saturday night in Milwaukee, they can do something no one has ever pulled off.

Fatigued as they may be, the Warriors face the Bucks trying to become the first team to sweep a road trip of at least seven games as they look to make it 29 straight regular-season victories before heading back to the Bay Area.

It's been 2 1/2 weeks since Golden State (24-0) set the NBA record for the best start at 16-0 and four days since they broke the 1969-70 New York Knicks' mark for the best road start in Indiana with their 13th consecutive victory away from home.

That tied the Warriors for the second-longest winning streak in league history at 27, but separating themselves from that mark was perhaps their toughest challenge yet.

Even with Klay Thompson out due to a sprained right ankle and Harrison Barnes still missing because of a sprain to his left, Golden State overcame its first sub-40 percent shooting effort in 53 regular-season games to outlast Boston 124-119 in double overtime.

"We will definitely cherish this, because it doesn't happen often," center Andrew Bogut said. "The record, the history, the team - it doesn't happen often so we will cherish it. Who knows? Next year you could be on a different team and nobody's talking about you."

Only one Warrior all season had topped 42 minutes in a game - Stephen Curry in a November OT win over Brooklyn - but the reigning MVP (47), Draymond Green (50) and Andre Iguodala (44) all got there Friday. The bench could be asked to log major minutes in Milwaukee, particularly if Thompson remains out.

"Now I can admit I'm tired," Curry said. "We'll dig deep for (Saturday)."

A victory in Milwaukee would give the Warriors a record as improbable as anything they've done. No team in NBA history has gone 7-0 or better on a single road trip.

The Bucks (9-15) should be relatively well rested after Friday's 90-83 regulation loss in Toronto, but they'll be playing their sixth game in nine days. They'll have Sunday and Monday off before beginning a four-games-in-six-days trip that includes a visit to Golden State on Friday.

Milwaukee is averaging 89.1 points in its last eight games.

"We have to play a complete game," Khris Middleton said. "We can't take quarters, minutes, plays off. ... Our margin of error is very small right now, so we can't have any lapses."

Milwaukee is 4-1 concluding back-to-backs, though the opponents - Brooklyn and Denver twice along with New York - have left a bit to be desired.

If the Bucks hope to have a chance, they'll likely attempt to slow the Warriors down. Milwaukee games average the second-fewest possessions (95.29 per 48 minutes) in the league while Golden State plays at the third-fastest pace (101.74).

The Warriors, however, might welcome a less-frenetic tempo in their final contest before hopping a plane and heading home to begin a five-game homestand Wednesday.

Another poor shooting effort - Golden State hit 29 percent from long distance against the Celtics - seems unlikely, even with some tired legs. The Warriors shot below 35 percent from 3 five times prior to Friday, and they shot better than 50 beyond the arc in their next game four times.

Golden State has won 17 of 19 back-to-backs since last Christmas, and Curry has been fantastic in its six this season. He averages 32.8 points and is a 56.1 percent shooter with no rest, and his team's 117.7 points per game in those situations is 10.1 better than anyone else.

The Warriors have won four straight against Milwaukee and topped 50 percent in the last three.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Wizards (9-12) at Mavericks (13-10)

Date: December 12, 2015 8:30 PM EDT

Days removed from the experience, the Washington Wizards might still be having nightmares about Wesley Matthews knocking down one 3-pointer after another.

The defensively challenged Wizards get an opportunity to exorcise that demon Saturday night when they attempt to snap an 11-game losing streak against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center.

Matthews has been slowly working his way back after rupturing his Achilles in March, but he seemed to be feeling strong in the nation's capital last weekend.

The shooting guard scored 28 of his career high-tying 36 points in the second half, leading Dallas (13-10) to a 116-104 victory Sunday. He also hit eight of his career-high 10 3-pointers over the final two quarters.

'It's one of those nights where those same shots that I've been shooting and missing, they were falling,' said Matthews, who has a career-worst 35.9 field-goal percentage.

Matthews has averaged 27.7 points while sinking 19 of 37 (51.4 percent) from beyond the arc in his last three meetings dating to his time with Portland. He had 17 points on 6-of-17 shooting in Wednesday's 98-95 home loss to Atlanta.

The Mavericks, 5-4 at home, shot a season-low 36.0 percent and 7 of 31 (22.6) from long range as their two-game winning streak came to an end. They'll try to avoid their first three-game home skid since dropping four straight in 2013-14.

"I think when teams go to road arenas and environments, it's kind of an us-against-them mentality," forward Chandler Parsons told the Mavericks' official website. "You know, we kind of embrace being the villain. We have to somehow transition that over to when we're playing here."

Matthews, who was the villain against the Wizards (9-12), has averaged 8.8 points while missing 31 of 35 from beyond the arc in his last five home games.

The Mavericks might be able to get better looks against a Washington team that has allowed an average of 108.2 points and a 49.7 field-goal percentage over its last six games. The Wizards couldn't hold a seven-point, fourth-quarter lead Friday when they opened a four-game trip with a 107-105 loss to New Orleans.

Washington, which ranks near the bottom of the league with 10.3 3-pointers allowed per game, let the Pelicans hit 16 of 27 from beyond the arc. It allowed Dallas to make 16 of 31 last weekend.

'We have to find a way to stop teams from making so many 3-pointers,' guard Garrett Temple said.

The Mavericks have scored 104.1 per game while winning 11 straight in this series. Dirk Nowitzki had 19 points at Washington but was 1 for 8 on 3-pointers Wednesday and is scoring 14.0 per game over his last five at home.

The Wizards had a scare in the first meeting when John Wall had to be carried off the court after colliding with Jeremy Evans late in the game. He did not miss any time and is averaging 26.5 points on 55.8 percent shooting to go along with 10.3 assists over his last four games.

Bradley Beal scored 21 with four 3-pointers against Dallas last weekend, but his status is uncertain after sitting out Friday due to tightness in his right leg.

The Wizards, who were outrebounded 50-31 by the Mavericks, are already missing Kris Humphries, Nene, Drew Gooden and Alan Anderson.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Knicks (10-14) at Trail Blazers (10-14)

Date: December 12, 2015 10:00 PM EDT

C.J. McCollum is doing all he can to keep Portland afloat. He regrouped from a tough five-game stretch by catching fire in the last two, the latest helping the Trail Blazers salvage a .500 road trip.

Portland hopes to carry the momentum into a quick stop at home, starting on Saturday night against the sinking New York Knicks.

McCollum shot 29.0 percent and averaged 15.6 points from the final game of November through the first four in December. In his last two, though, the third-year guard has made 20 of 34 shots and 9 of 16 from 3-point range en route to 50 points.

His effort in Friday's 106-96 victory at Phoenix helped Portland (10-14) snap a two-game skid and close its road trip at 2-2. McCollum poured in 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting, while knocking down 5 of 8 from long range.

McCollum and Damian Lillard, averaging 44.1 points, each hit 3-pointers during a key 13-0 run in the fourth quarter.

'We've been through this before many games where we've been up or been close at the end and squandered leads,' McCollum said. 'So I think it was really important for us to really focus on the defensive end and then offensively get good shots, run some clock.'

Portland finished 12 for 34 from 3-point range, making it five of six games and six of eight the Trail Blazers have made at least 10 3s.

They have won 13 of 16 against the Knicks and six straight, including three in a row at home. New York is 2-12 in its last 14 trips to Portland.

The Blazers are 5-5 at home and will try to win two straight there for the first time this season. They'll host New Orleans on Monday night before starting another five-game road trip in Oklahoma City.

The Knicks (10-14) won four games in a row in mid-November to climb above .500 but have lost eight of 10 since. The slide includes a pair of four-game losing streaks, the latest extended by a missed call at the end of Thursday's 99-97 loss at Sacramento.

The NBA said on Friday that Carmelo Anthony was fouled with 2.9 seconds left prior to his shooting motion on a 3-pointer that clanked off the rim.

"It was still a clean look... I got the ball up there," said Anthony, who has made just 34.3 percent of his shots the last four games. "Anything other than that I'd rather not speak on."

It was the Knicks' fifth straight road loss and puts them in danger of a winless three-game trip after opening with Wednesday's 106-85 loss at Utah, a game the Knicks trailed by as many as 33 points.

New York trailed by 19 in the third quarter in Sacramento. The Kings scored 23 points off 18 turnovers and outscored the Knicks 62-26 in the paint.

"We make some corrections on that, along with some other things, we walk out of here with a win," Anthony said.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA Odds: Saturday, December 12 2015 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich is an ornery cuss, and it's embarrassing how badly he treats reporters during those nationally televised games where Pop is mandated by the league to at least say one word to those reporters considering how much the TV networks pay the NBA. And usually all Pop does say is one word. Anyways, the guy is a Hall of Fame coach, without question. And I see his point in a way when talking about the 3-point shot: "I don't think it's basketball. I think it's kind of like a circus sort of thing. Why don't we have a 5-point shot? A 7-point shot? You know, where does it stop, that sort of thing." Michael Jordan's Bulls didn't shoot a lot of 3-pointers and didn't shoot them very well when they did. I do think perhaps it's time to move the arc back a bit because so many teams, the Warriors primarily, are relying so much on that shot. But that's not likely to happen soon. The NBA of today is a drive-and-dish to an open 3-point shooter league.


Clippers at Nets (+5.5, 205.5)

Los Angeles had its three-game winning streak end with an 83-80 loss in Chicago on Thursday. Blake Griffin was ejected in the third quarter for a Flagrant 2 foul, but he shouldn't be looking at a suspension. He was on the way to a potentially monster game. The Clippers shot a season-low 34.1 percent from the field. Brooklyn won a second in a row Thursday, 100-91 over the 76ers. There was an Andrea Bargnani sighting in that one as he scored a season-high 23 for Brooklyn. The Nets won for the sixth time in their last seven home games.

Key trends: The Clippers are 1-6 against the spread in the past seven meetings. The "over/under" has gone under in eight of the Nets' past 11 vs. the West.

Early lean: Nets and under.

Celtics at Hornets (-1, 200)

This looks like a huge letdown game for Boston no matter what happens for the Celtics at home on Friday night against Golden State. Charlotte was in Memphis on Friday night looking to extend a three-game winning streak. These teams split four games last year, each going 1-1 at home. Boston won the final two games.

Key trends: The over is 4-1 in the past five meetings. Charlotte is 1-4 ATS in its past five in the second of a back-to-back.

Early lean: Hornets and under.

Pacers at Pistons (-1, 200)

Indiana hosted Miami on Friday looking to end a three-game slide. Detroit was in Philadelphia aiming to end a two-game skid. These teams met in Detroit on Nov. 3, and the Pacers won 94-82. Indiana had an absurd 43-2 advantage in bench points led by Rodney Stuckey's 23 points. Indiana was down eight in the first quarter and scored 22 straight to take control. Andre Drummond had 25 points and a career-high 29 rebounds for the Pistons.

Key trends: The underdog is 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings. The over is 7-2 in the previous nine.

Early lean: Pistons and over.

Spurs at Hawks (+3.5, 194.5)

This is your only national TV game, on NBA TV. San Antonio hosted the Lakers on Friday. Normally Popovich doesn't rest his guys at home, so I wouldn't be surprised if a Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and/or Kawhi Leonard get the night off here. Atlanta lost in Oklahoma City 107-94 on Thursday. The Hawks were clobbered on the boards and shot only 37 percent in the second half. Atlanta lost 108-88 in San Antonio on Nov. 28. Leonard had 22 for the Spurs. It was San Antonio's 18th consecutive home win against Atlanta and 10th straight overall against the Hawks.

Key trends: The Spurs have covered nine straight in the second of a back-to-back. The road team is 6-1 ATS in the past seven meetings. The under is 5-0 in Atlanta's past five.

Early lean: Hawks and under.

Pelicans at Bulls (-7.5, 205)

New Orleans hosted Washington on Friday. Thus you are on back-to-back alert here for Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans. Chicago ended a three-game losing streak with an 83-80 win over the Clippers on Thursday. Pau Gasol had 24 points, including a career-high three 3-pointers. Derrick Rose shed his protective facemask in the second half; he had been playing with it all season. The Bulls set season lows for points allowed, points given up in the paint (18) and fouls (12). Expect a big game here for the Pelicans' Anthony Davis in a return to his hometown.

Key trends: New Orleans has covered five straight in Chicago. The under is 8-1 in Chicago's past nine vs. the West.

Early lean: Pelicans and over as Bulls usually play down to competition.

Lakers at Rockets (-11.5, 209.5)

Los Angeles almost surely was going to lose a fifth straight game on Friday night in San Antonio. There's a pretty decent chance that Kobe Bryant thus sits this game out. Houston won 109-103 in Washington on Wednesday. James Harden had 42 points, nine rebounds and seven assists a night after scoring only 10. Starting small forward Trevor Ariza sat out with a bruised lower back but could be good to go Saturday. If not, Corey Brewer starts again. Houston has won five of its past six against the Lakers but lost the most recent home game last season.

Key trends: The Lakers are 1-5 ATS in the past six meetings. The over is 4-0 in Houston's past four Saturday games.

Early lean: Rockets and over.

Wizards at Mavericks (-6.5, 210)

Washington was in New Orleans on Friday to start a four-game road trip. Dallas lost at home to Atlanta 98-95 on Wednesday to end a two-game winning streak. The Mavericks shot a season-worst 36 percent from the field. There were 20 lead changes in the game. J.J. Barea played 10 minutes after missing Dallas' previous six games with a sprained ankle. The Mavs won in Washington 116-104 last Sunday. Wesley Matthews scored a season-high 36 points with 10 3-pointers. Dallas was without Chandler Parsons. John Wall led the Wizards with 28 points.

Key trends: Dallas has covered six straight in the series. The under is 5-0 in the Mavs' past five at home.

Early lean: Mavericks and over.

Warriors at Bucks (TBA)

Can Golden State complete the longest unbeaten road trip in NBA history? The Warriors were in Boston on Friday, and this concludes the seven-game trip. I am pretty confident in saying that if the Celtics end the Warriors' 27-game winning streak then Golden State interim coach Luke Walton is going to rest a few guys here. Klay Thompson was a game-time call for Friday and if he plays and the Warriors lose, I know he's sitting here at a minimum. Milwaukee was in Toronto on Friday. The Warriors have won the past four against the Bucks.

Key trends: The Bucks are 6-0 ATS in their past six in the second of a back-to-back. The under is 4-1 in the past five meetings.

Early lean: Bet big on the Bucks if Warriors lose Friday.

Knicks at Trail Blazers (-4, 199)

New York lost a fourth straight on Thursday at Sacramento, 99-97. The Knicks haven't hit triple digits in the skid, and Carmelo Anthony is complaining about the offense already. Go away, Melo! He had a good game vs. the Kings with 23 points and 14 rebounds but missed the potential winning 3-pointer at the buzzer. Portland was in Phoenix on Friday. Portland swept the Knicks last year for the third consecutive season. The Knicks have been held under 100 points in the past five in the series.

Key trends: The Knicks are 1-5 ATS in the past six meetings. The under is 7-3 in their past 10 vs. the West.

Early lean: Knicks and under.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA

Hot teams
-- Clippers won three of last four games (3-4-1AF). Brooklyn won four of its last six games (5-2HU).
-- Hornets won seven of last nine games (4-3HF). Boston won six of last nine games, lost to Warriors in double OT Friday (4-1AU).
-- Detroit won five of its last seven games (5-1 last six HF).
-- Rockets won six of last eight games (2-8HF0.
-- Spurs won nine of their last 11 games (7-4AF). Hawks won three of last four home games (1-0HU).
-- 24-0 Warriors are 10-3-1 as road favorites- they won tough game in double OT last night, without Thompson/Barnes.
-- Wizards won three of last five games (3-0 last three AU).
-- Portland won three of its last five games (2-3HF).

Cold teams
-- Pacers lost three of last four games (2-3AF).
-- Lakers lost their last five games (3-8 last 11 AU).
-- New Orleans lost six of its last seven games (3-8AU). Chicago lost three of its last four games (1-9HF).
-- Bucks lost seven of last ten games (5-2HU).
-- Dallas lost last two home games, by 4-3 points (4-3HF).
-- New York lost eight of its last ten games (7-4AU).

Series records
-- Home side won last nine Clipper-Brooklyn games.
-- Celtics won four of last six games with Charlotte.
-- Pacers won five of last seven games with Detroit.
-- Lakers lost five of last six games with Houston.
-- Spurs won last 10 games with Atlanta (7-3 vs spread).
-- Bulls won seven of last ten games with New Orleans.
-- Warriors won their last four games with Milwaukee.
-- Mavericks won last 10 games with Wizards, covering last six.
-- Knicks lost their last six games with Portland.

Totals
-- Over is 3-1 in last four games for both Clippers/Nets.
-- Five of last seven Charlotte games stayed under total.
-- Seven of last nine Indiana-Detroit games went over.
-- Three of last four Laker games went over the total.
-- Four of Spurs' last five games went over the total.
-- Five of last seven Pelican games stayed under total.
-- Last eight Golden State games went over the total.
-- Under is 6-3-1 in last ten Washington games.
-- Four of last five New York road games stayed under.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Bulldogs (2-8) at Friars (9-1)

Date: December 12, 2015 12:00 PM EDT

Providence will be without the Big East's second-leading scorer on Saturday and maybe the preseason conference player of the year as well.

The No. 15 Friars won't have Ben Bentil, and Kris Dunn's status is uncertain as they try to improve to 6-0 all-time against visiting Bryant.

Bentil averages 17.7 points but left Wednesday's 66-51 win over Boston College with an ankle injury after scoring 16 points in 16 minutes. The club's leading rebounder with 7.2 per game, Bentil was reportedly seen walking on crutches on campus and is not listed as a starter in the Friars' official game notes.

Neither is Dunn, who is third in the Big East with an average of 16.8 points and was named player of the year in the preseason. He did not play in the second half Wednesday due to a virus and his status is in doubt.

A third regular starter, Ryan Fazekas, missed the BC game with an illness and is also uncertain.

Quadree Smith and Kyron Cartwright started the second half for the Friars and could receive their first starts. Sophomore Jalen Lindsey started in place of Fazekas and grabbed a career-high nine rebounds.

"It was survival mode where we implored `next man up,'" coach Ed Cooley said. "Guys want opportunities and they got it."

All the shuffling made the victory especially satisfying for the Friars, who got a season-low four points from Dunn. They limited the Eagles to 37.7 percent shooting - the lowest mark for a Providence opponent.

"That was more of a culture win than a team win," Cooley said. "It could be our best win of the year. Everyone is going to look at the Arizona win or beating Illinois or winning at the University of Rhode Island. This was an incredible win for us."

Providence (9-1) may not be too concerned about rushing players back Saturday with a week off after what figures to be a mismatch. The Friars have captured the previous five meetings by an average of 27.6 points.

Bryant (2-8) has dropped seven straight, shooting 34.5 percent overall and 18.7 percent on 3-pointers, and doesn't resemble the team that posted three straight winning seasons prior to this one. The Bulldogs are statistically one of college basketball's worst teams in numerous categories and have lost by at least 30 points four different times.

They fell behind 26-9 in Tuesday's 77-55 defeat to Army. Freshman Nisre Zouzoua was a bright spot with 17 points while Dan Garvin and Marcel Pettway each had double-doubles.

The Bulldogs are 0-6 all-time against ranked teams, losing by an average of 31.0 points. They were crushed 113-75 at then-No. 5 Duke on Nov. 14.

The Friars have no players left who played in their 81-49 rout of the Bulldogs the last time these teams met three seasons ago. Three Bryant players are still on the team in Shane McLaughlin, Curtis Oakley Jr. and Andrew Scocca - who combined for 29 scoreless minutes in that contest.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Penguins (4-5) at Boilermakers (10-0)

Date: December 12, 2015 2:00 PM EDT

A big reason for Purdue's best start in six seasons has been Caleb Swanigan's strong beginning to his collegiate career.

In a final tune-up before their schedule gets much tougher, Swanigan and the No. 11 Boilermakers try to improve to 11-0 on Saturday against visiting Youngstown State.

Averaging a Big Ten-high 9.6 rebounds, the prized freshman has fit right in with a talented Purdue squad that's off to its best start since going 14-0 in 2009-10. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound McDonald's All-American from Fort Wayne nicknamed "Biggie," Swanigan had a season-high 19 points - 10.7 more than his average coming in - and pulled down 12 rebounds in Wednesday's 93-55 rout of Howard.

Swanigan's four double-doubles already are the most by a Purdue freshman since Russell Cross had seven in 1980-81.

'He has been playing really well,' teammate P.J. Thompson said. 'I kind of think people forget he is a freshman, even though he is a highly touted freshman and a high school All-American."

Swanigan has totaled 26 rebounds in the last two games but isn't just a player who does all of his work inside. He's made nine 3-pointers and is fourth on the team with 2.4 assists per game.

'His instincts are great,' coach Matt Painter said. 'He just makes really good decisions and doesn't force things. He has an excellent basketball IQ.'

Swanigan is one of six Boilermakers averaging at least 9.1 points and is joined by 7-2 Isaac Haas (13.6 ppg) and 7-footer A.J. Hammons (12.3) to make up one of the more imposing frontlines in the nation.

As for the backcourt, reserve Kendall Stephens has hit seven 3-pointers in the past two games while totaling 27 points, and the versatile Rapheal Davis scored 10 on Wednesday in his return after missing four games with a sprained knee.

The Boilermakers have averaged 82.2 points and allowed 56.9 per game while becoming the first team in school history to win 10 straight games by at least 10 points. However, they're hardly satisfied.

"We've got to keep growing in every aspect of the game," said Davis, who averages 11.3 points on 53.2 percent shooting.

That's especially true with No. 18 Butler waiting in Indianapolis next weekend and a home date with 21st-ranked Vanderbilt to follow before the Boilermakers visit Wisconsin to open conference play Dec. 29.

Purdue first tries for a 14th straight home victory when it faces a Youngstown State team which hasn't beaten a ranked opponent since knocking off 19th-ranked La Salle in 1952. The Penguins (4-5) haven't even faced one since 2010.

These teams' only meeting was a Boilermakers win Dec. 17, 1983.

Forward Bobby Hain (15.2 ppg) and guard Cameron Morse (15.1) lead four Penguins averaging in double figures. However, the pair combined for 20 as Youngstown State blew a 10-point halftime lead in its most recent contest, a 60-56 loss to American University last Friday.

"I don't think we played with much intensity," coach Jerry Slocum said. "I don't think we played with focus and ... mental toughness. With what we have coming up, it's very disappointing."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Eagles (6-3) at Cardinals (6-1)

Date: December 12, 2015 2:00 PM EDT

Louisville bounced back with an easy win after faltering in its first major test this season. It's had plenty of time to prepare for its next contest.

After six days off, the 22nd-ranked Cardinals host Eastern Michigan on Saturday.

Louisville (6-1) couldn't hold a double-digit lead in a 71-67 loss at then-No. 3 Michigan State on Dec. 2. The Cardinals didn't appear to be moping last Saturday, though, routing Grand Canyon 111-63.

Louisville shot a season-high 54.3 percent and increased its scoring average to 86.0. Damion Lee had 24 points and made four of the Cardinals' season-high 10 3-pointers despite dealing with a bruised foot.

"He'll be fine with these two days' rest. And some of the other guys are banged up a little bit, so we'll get healthy and we'll get back," coach Rick Pitino said.

Along with giving some of his players a break, Pitino is looking to continue preparing his team - which features seven newcomers - to play his preferred defense. The Cardinals have been mostly in man-to-man because of their youth instead of the veteran coach's 2-3 matchup zone.

That hasn't been a problem so far, however. Louisville is allowing 55.7 points and 34.6 percent shooting - among the best marks in the nation. It limited Grand Canyon to 37.0 percent from the floor and a 3-for-13 performance on 3-pointers.

The Cardinals also had a 55-20 rebounding advantage - 23-7 on the offensive glass.

"This group of guys are new to each other, but we're all intelligent athletes. I think we'll catch on soon," freshman forward Raymond Spalding said.

Louisville faces five more unheralded opponents in 12 days ahead of a visit to No. 5 Kentucky on Dec. 26, its final game before ACC play.

Eastern Michigan (6-3) is among the highest-scoring teams in the Mid-American Conference with 79.8 points per game, but two of its worst performances have come against major conference opponents.

The Eagles lost 89-65 at then-No. 3 Michigan State on Nov. 23 while shooting a season-low 33.8 percent. They fared a little better at Penn State on Saturday with a 42.6-percent performance in an 81-70 defeat.

Eastern Michigan shot 53.2 percent in an 86-58 rout of NAIA opponent Rochester (Mich.) on Tuesday but continued to struggle from beyond the arc, going 6 for 21. The Eagles are connecting at 26.6 percent from 3-point range.

Leading scorer Willie Mangum IV (16.1 ppg) had 22 points and shot 8 of 10, while James Thompson IV recorded his fifth consecutive double-double. The freshman center had 17 points and 11 rebounds, giving him averages of 21.2 points, 13.6 boards and 75.9 percent from the field in that span.

EMU also held a fifth consecutive opponent under 40.0 percent shooting with its zone defense.

"Eastern Michigan plays the same type of zone that Syracuse plays, and it's really, really, a good zone. And you have to do a great job with it," Pitino said. "(Coach Rob Murphy) was an assistant under Jim (Boeheim), so you've have to do a good job with it to get good shots, and that'll be great for us."

The Eagles, 1-3 away from home, have lost 15 consecutive road games against Top 25 teams and 18 in a row to ranked opponents overall.

The Cardinals have won 41 straight at home against unranked nonconference squads heading into their first matchup with the Eagles.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Golden Eagles (8-2) at Sooners (6-0)

Date: December 12, 2015 2:00 PM EDT

Though Buddy Hield was a preseason All-American, Oklahoma continues to prove it's much more than a one-man team.

With so many dangerous 3-point shooters, Lon Kruger's squad is creating headaches for opposing defenses.

After blowing out a fellow top-10 team with their deadly long-range shooting, the seventh-ranked Sooners look to extend their winning streak over Oral Roberts to 14 on Saturday.

Oklahoma (6-0) faced few challenges over the season's first three weeks, winning by six at Memphis in its opener and cruising past struggling Wisconsin in its only games against major- conference opponents. It was expecting a test Monday against No. 9 Villanova in the Pearl Harbor Invitational in Honolulu, but that never materialized.

The Sooners made their first six shots - all 3-pointers - to build a 12-point lead and went on to make 14 of 26 from beyond the arc in a 78-55 victory.

Senior Isaiah Cousins hit all four 3-point attempts and led five Oklahoma players in double figures with 19 points while adding a career-high 10 assists. Hield had 18 points and made four 3s while reserve Dinjiyl Walker hit three 3-pointers and scored 11.

'That's what we do,' said Hield, the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year. 'Coach always preaches moving the basketball and we can't be selfish. That's how we make plays for each other and we've got to be an unselfish team and everybody is going to be able to get shots up."

Oklahoma is third in the nation in 3-point shooting at 46.5 percent, with Jordan Woodard (13 of 25), Cousins (14 of 26) and Hield (17 of 35) shooting better than 48 percent. In the last two games, Cousins has hit all seven 3s attempted while Woodard has made 8 of 12.

The Sooners are just as proficient defending the 3 as they are shooting it, limiting opponents to 22.8 percent - best in the nation.

Oklahoma's defensive focus will again be on Obi Emegano, among the nation's leading scorers at 23.3 points per game and shooting 45.9 percent from 3-point range on 61 attempts.

Emegano entered last December's matchup averaging a team-best 16.9 points, but went scoreless and missed all three shots while turning the ball over three times in 26 minutes.

Hield and Cousins combined to go 6 of 11 from 3-point range and total 29 points in the 85-53 win, then-No. 15 Oklahoma's 13th straight in the series since dropping the first two meetings.

That was Oral Roberts' most recent Top 25 matchup before this contest. The Golden Eagles have been outscored by an average of 21.0 points in losing five straight to ranked squads.

Oral Roberts is also 2-10 against teams from major conferences since the start of 2012-13, with both wins coming over crosstown rival Tulsa.

Four days after beating the Golden Hurricane 70-68, Oral Roberts (8-2) cruised to an 88-53 victory over NAIA member John Brown on Wednesday.

Off to its best start since opening 9-2 in 2004-05, the Golden Eagles led by 25 at halftime. With the outcome in little doubt, coach Scott Sutton had an opportunity to give his starters some extra rest with this matchup looming.

"It's always a fun night when you get to play everyone, and we got out of it what we wanted to," Sutton said.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Volunteers (4-3) at Bulldogs (7-1)

Date: December 12, 2015 2:30 PM EDT

Butler had last season's promising start ended with an upset at Tennessee, but the Volunteers are visiting Indianapolis this time and under new leadership.

Rick Barnes will face the 18th-ranked Bulldogs on Saturday for the first time since they ended his lengthy tenure at Texas, but his new team might have trouble keeping up with one of its leading scorers out.

Butler (7-1) heads into this rematch in fine form after a 93-66 rout of VMI on Monday. The Bulldogs hit a season-high 10 3-pointers while nudging their scoring average up to 91.4.

Kelan Martin had 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting and eight rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench. The sophomore forward has totaled 44 points and made 18 of 24 shots in the past two games.

Butler also had its best scoring performance and most assists (19) in the last six games.

"We have some versatility and when we're playing well, we have an unselfish bunch," coach Chris Holtmann said. "That's who they are."

The Bulldogs will try to match their 8-1 start from last season by topping a program that beat the then-No. 15 team 67-55 on Dec. 14 in Knoxville. The Vols started last season 12-5 before falling apart during SEC play en route to finishing 16-16.

Barnes, who came to Tennessee with more than 600 wins, has found the going a little rougher so far with a 4-3 record. His final game with the Longhorns was a 56-48 defeat to Butler in the NCAA Tournament March 19, his only meeting with the Bulldogs.

"I think (they're) similar. It's a team that has their key guys back. They have their system intact. They know what they want to get done. They're a very good team, and obviously a team that's well-coached," he said. "They are a team that will present a lot of problems because they've got so much they do on the offensive end."

Barnes has gotten nearly two weeks to work with his team before its first matchup with a ranked opponent. The Vols are coming off back-to-back losses at the Barclays Center Classic, culminating with an 82-71 defeat to Nebraska on Nov. 28.

Tennessee had its second-worst shooting performance (35.6 percent) and is averaging 79.7 points on 43.8 percent shooting this season. The Vols were giving up 73.0 points on 39.1 percent shooting in their previous six games before allowing the Cornhuskers to connect at 49.2.

They're 0-3 away from home, losing 69-67 to Georgia Tech on Nov. 16 in their only other true road game.

Tennessee won't have Robert Hubbs III for their upcoming ones after he underwent right knee surgery Dec. 1. The junior guard, who is out indefinitely, was averaging 15.3 points.

The job of replacing his production could fall mainly on Kevin Punter, one of the nation's leading scorers at 22.3 points per game. The senior guard is shooting 54.4 percent and has gone 14 of 34 from 3-point range.

Punter had 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting as the Vols rallied from a 12-point deficit in last season's win over Butler.

The teams have split four matchups with Tennessee winning the last two. They're meeting in Hinkle Fieldhouse for the first time since December 1958.

Butler has won 25 consecutive games there against nonconference opponents.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Sun Devils (6-2) at Wildcats (8-1)

Date: December 12, 2015 3:15 PM EDT

Kentucky bounced back from its first regular-season loss in nearly 21 months with its highest-scoring performance of the season and second-best shooting effort earlier this week.

The fifth-ranked Wildcats did struggle again from 3-point range, but coach John Calipari is more concerned with his team's grit and fight as it gets set to host Arizona State on Saturday.

Kentucky (8-1) was the No. 1 team in the nation when it lost 87-77 at UCLA on Dec. 3, with Calipari saying after the game 'we got kicked, we got beat, we move on.'

The Wildcats did just that Wednesday by shooting 54.7 percent in an 88-67 win over Eastern Kentucky, their 26th straight at Rupp Arena.

Forward Alex Poythress, the only senior on the team, had season highs of 21 points and 13 rebounds in his second start, showing the type of energy Calipari is asking of his players.

'I'm just trying to play hard every time I'm out there,' Poythress said. 'I'm just trying to give 100 percent out there.'

Poythress missed his two attempts from beyond the arc and Kentucky shot 4 of 19 on 3s, dropping its season percentage to 27.5. That ranks 327th out of 346 teams in the nation.

"Physical play ... that is our issue," Calipari said. "And you know what, by shooting poorly, it kind of shows he's not just saying it, we can see it. So I'm not worried. And again, we have good shooters not making shots right now. They're making them in practice. My concern is not that.

" ... Arizona State, perfect game for us. One, their inside guys are seniors and they're physical. Their best player (Savon Goodman) is a four and he's an active four. Their three man (Willie Atwood) is 6-foot-7. So they've got a big three. It's exactly what we need. They attack the glass. They play tough and physical. They will execute."

As Buffalo's coach last season, Bobby Hurley took his team into one of the most difficult environments in college basketball. The Bulls lost by 19 to Kentucky after leading by five at the half, but Hurley enjoyed the experience so much, he's taking his new team, Arizona State, to Lexington again.

'We want to try and go to the top of the mountain and see what it's like there,' Hurley said. 'Sometimes it's not always good, but we're willing to go there and take the chances.'

Hurley said from the day of his introductory news conference that he will schedule tough nonconference games for the Sun Devils (6-2). He lined up games against Kentucky, Texas A&M, UNLV and Creighton. Three of those are on the road, marking the second time since 1989-90 that the Sun Devils will play three nonconference road games.

Arizona State won 79-77 at Creighton on Dec. 2 and knocked off then-No. 18 Texas A&M 67-54 last Saturday in Tempe, but the next step will be a big one.

'It goes to a different level there,' Hurley said. 'The way people feel about basketball there and there's very few places in the world that can simulate that type of environment. I think that's why it's a real challenge.'

Arizona State stumbled out of the gate, losing to Sacramento State at home in its opener. Its other loss was to Marquette in overtime.

'I think we're just working a lot harder than we ever have,' sophomore point guard Tra Holder said. 'We know what it takes to play at a high level. We're a different team now.'

Kentucky has won all three meetings in this series - at Rupp in 1991, in the regional semifinals of the 1995 NCAA Tournament and in Maui in 2002.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Utes (7-1) at Shockers (4-4)

Date: December 12, 2015 3:30 PM EDT

Utah barely got by Wichita State at home last season in a matchup of ranked teams.


Only the No. 25 Utes are in the poll, but taking down the Shockers with Fred VanVleet back in their lineup might prove just as difficult this time at Wichita's downtown Intrust Bank Arena on Saturday.

Utah's most significant nonconference victory of 2014-15 was 69-68 in overtime against then-No. 8 Wichita State last December.

"It's a surreal feeling," guard Brandon Taylor said after scoring 17 to help the then-No. 25 Utes end the Shockers' 35-game regular-season winning streak.

Back in the Top 25 after a two-week absence, Utah (7-1) enters the rematch much less in awe of the Shockers but also guarding against taking Wichita State (4-4) lightly just because it isn't ranked.

That status wasn't always the case this season for the Shockers, who opened 10th in the poll and were a spot higher when they lost by 10 to Tulsa on Nov. 17. They fell out of the Top 25 after losing three straight to USC, Alabama and Iowa at the Advocare Invitational while VanVleet sat with a hamstring injury.

Since returning from his four-game absence, the standout point guard has totaled 28 points, shot 47.6 percent and recorded 11 assists as Wichita State won at St. Louis last Saturday and beat UNLV 56-50 on Wednesday to extend its home winning streak to 35.

"With (UNLV) coming in and followed up by Utah, we know it's a big week," said VanVleet, the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference player of the year who scored 17 in a season-high 33 minutes against the Runnin' Rebels. "We got to keep taking steps in the right direction."

If Utah is to halt that progression it likely needs a more complete effort than it had in Saturday's 96-79 win over IPFW. The Utes shot a season-high 62.3 percent to win their fourth in a row, but trailed by seven in the first half thanks to an early 77.8 percent shooting performance by the Mastodons.

'That's one of those games, when you're working on the schedule, that's very dangerous,' Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "Second half, we got some people's attention ... It was pretty easy to challenge our guys that we need to have a little more pride than that."

Seven-footer Jakob Poeltl (21.3 points, 9.9 rebounds per game) had his three-game streak of doubles-doubles end, but scored 21 on 10-of-12 shooting and added a career-high six assists.

"He's not afraid to pass and we have to make sure everyone on the team feels that way and get good shots," Krystkowiak said.

Poeltl had 12 points, 11 boards and three blocks and the Utes shot 47.1 percent while holding Wichita State to 38.1 from the field last season.

The Shockers are shooting just 39.0 percent and 29.6 from 3-point range, but Krystkowiak expects a more determined defensive performance after Utah allowed IPFW to shoot 44.9 percent and go 13 of 27 from beyond the arc.

"Our defense has to get significantly better if we want to accomplish our team goals," said Krystkowiak, whose squad is allowing opponents to shoot 42.3 percent on 3s - among the worst marks in the country.

Ron Baker, averaging 16.9 points, combined with VanVleet to score 28 at Salt Lake City last December.