Gold Sheet
MIAMI 109 - Charlotte 89—Miami could be in an ugly mood after losing at
home to Milwaukee Wednesday and falling behind Boston in the race for the 2-
seed in the East. Charlotte has “let go of the rope” in the past week, covering just
once in last 6 games and losing 3 of last 4 by double digits, as injury to leading
scorer G Stephen Jackson caught up with Paul Silas’ Bobcats. Miami star
Dwyane Wade expects to play in this game after sitting out the loss against the
Bucks due to a strained thigh. Charlotte has had no clue how to slow down
LeBron James this season, as he’s scored 30 ppg in leading the Heat to a 3-0 SU
mark (2 covers) against the Bobcats. Offensively-challenged Bobcats have been
struggling to crack 90 points most nights since the trade deadline sent Gerald
Wallace to Portland, and an intense Heat defensive effort can be anticipated.
"Totals" note: this series went “under” 5-1 last 6 meetings, and Charlotte is
“under” 9-1 in its last 10 road games. 10-MIA -11' 95-87 (189), Mia -9 96-82
(189), Mia -5 109-97 (190); 09-Cha +6 107-97 (187), CHA -3' 104-65 (191), CHA
-4 83-78 (183), MIA -6 77-71 (181)
MEMPHIS 112 - Sacramento 95—Memphis can clinch the final West playoff
spot with a win over Sacramento, and expect Grizzlies to do so in grand fashion.
Memphis has been the league’s best home favorite this season, especially when
laying hefty points, as the Grizzlies are 11-4 as a favorite of more than 6 points
this season. Conversely, Sacramento has lost touch more often than not when
outmanned on the road, as 6-13 spread mark getting more than 9 points as a
visitor would attest. The Grizzlies had covered 8 straight until being upset by the
Clippers on Tuesday, when Memphis F Zach Randolph made just 6 of 15 shots
and was out rebounded 14-7 by Clip counterpart Blake Griffin. Randolph figures
to bounce back with a huge effort against the Kings, as he has scored 26 ppg,
grabbed 13 rpg and shot 58% against Sacto this season. Memphis has won and
covered 4 of last 5 against the Kings, and Sacramento will need a major effort
from Tyreke Evans (25 ppg vs. the Grizzlies) to keep this one close. Memphis is
23-10 against the number off a loss this season and should punch its ticket to the
playoffs. 10-Mem +5 100-91 (210), SAC +4 100-98 (195), MEM -10' 120-92
(204); 09-SAC -1 127-116 (OT-205), MEM -5' 116-105 (207), Mem -2 102-85
(207)
OKLAHOMA CITY 104 - Denver 103—Denver was likely still celebrating
Sunday’s upset at Los Angeles against the Lakers when the Nuggets were
ambushed at home by Oklahoma City on Tuesday. Thunder C Kendrick Perkins
led the frontline to a 34-21 rebounding edge over the starting Denver forecourt,
as OKC beat the Nuggets for the second time in 3 meetings this season. These
two are probably fated to meet in the first round of the playoffs, and the series
would open at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City. Expect the Nuggets to put forth
a much better effort up front, as George Karl will impress on his team the
importance of demonstrating Denver can win on this floor. The Nuggets are 19-
3 against the number since mid-February, and appear capable of advancing
deep in the playoffs despite Karl’s throwing a bit of cold water on the media’s
enthusiasm. However, the Thunder have won 9 of last 10 SU at home, so must
be getting at least a few points before rolling heavily with Denver. 10-OKLA -6'
114-106 (213), DEN -3' 112-107 (221), Okc +4' 101-94 (206); 09-DEN -10 102-
93 (209), OKLA -2 101-84 (201), DEN -7 119-90 (208), Den +2' 98-94 (214)
NEW ORLEANS 98 - Phoenix 95—New Orleans is fighting for position in the
playoffs with Portland, as the Hornets would much prefer facing Dallas than
either San Antonio or the Lakers. N.O. has been leaning heavily on PG Chris
Paul since the injury to F David West, but lately Trevor Ariza has been providing
a spark (19 pts. in each of last 2 games after suffering through a miserable March
(9 ppg & 37%). Although Phoenix has held its own against the number (11-11
last 22), the Suns haven’t beaten a playoff team since an OT win at sub-.500
Indiana Feb. 27. Still, Sun vet PG Steve Nash knows how to get the most from
what he’s got to work with, as his 16-assist effort in a Phoenix cover at Chicago
Tuesday shows. Newly-installed Phoenix starters C Marcin Gortat and G Jared
Dudley have combined for 35 ppg & 16 rpg off the bench against the Hornets this
season, and Sun Vince Carter’s production has taken an uptick in his last 5 (16
ppg) since being demoted to a bench role. Suns keep it exciting. 10-PHO -2 104-
102 (196), NO -4' 100-95 (196), No +6 106-100 (198); 09-PHO -6' 124-104 (217),
NO +8 110-103 (215), Pho P 109-100 (212), PHO -10 120-106 (216) TV—NBA
NETWORK
DALLAS 94 - LA Clippers 92—Dallas nosediving, as Mavs are riding a 4-
game losing streak triggered by a depressing, cold-shower of a loss to the Lakers
March 31. However, that SU losing streak should end here, as the Clips haven’t
won in “Big D” in 5 years and the Mavs have won 15 of the last 16 overall in the
series. However, Dallas covered just 1 of last 5 games as a host in the series,
and L.A. is on a 3-game cover streak sparked by revitalized Blake Griffin’s 25 ppg
& 14 rpg in that run. Griffin’s production waned noticeably in early March, but the
rookie seems to have caught his second wind as the season is coming to an end.
Mavs are in another downturn of fortune at home, dropping 6 of their last 8 spread
decisions at American Airlines Center. Losing streak has put Dallas in danger of
falling to the 4th seed in West, although HC Carlisle and owner Mark Cuban are
probably just worried about hitting the playoffs on a downer more than who they
play. "Totals" note: Dallas 4-0-1 “under” last 5 at home. 10-Dal -5 99-83 (192),
DAL -6' 112-105 (193), Dal -5 106-100 (199); 09-Dal -5 93-84 (195), DAL -10
106-96 (207), Dal -11 117-94 (198)
PORTLAND 99 - LA Lakers 96—If the Lakers “flipped the switch” at the All-
Star break and ignited a 17-1 SU run, it looks as if the bulb burned out. L.A. gave
San Antonio a run for the top spot in the West, but the Lakers are now on a 3-
game losing streak caused by a sudden propensity for turnovers (19 per game in
the skid). L.A. has historically had a very rough time at the Rose Garden, as Phil
Jackson’s team had lost and failed to cover 9 straight trips to Portland prior to
winning late last year and again in this season’s first visit. Portland had been
playing extremely well at home until stumbling against Golden State on Tuesday,
as the Blazers had fashioned an 8-game SU Rose Garden winning streak (7-1 vs.
the points), including triumphs over Dallas (twice), OKC, San Antonio and Philly.
Portland played at Utah on TNT last night, but the Blazers are a respectable 11-
8 when unrested, so it hasn’t been a negative. One thing is certain, the Portland
crowd will be sky-high for the game, and Blazers force the third-most turnovers
in the league, so Laker problems with miscues might be magnified. 10-LA -7'
121-96 (195), La -2' 106-101 (OT-191), LA -6 84-80 (186); 09-PORT +4 107-98
(194), La -3' 99-82 (194), Port +3 91-88 (187)