Gold Sheet
MEMPHIS 104 - San Antonio 100—Two go-with situations collide, as
Memphis (22-13 vs. points at home) takes on San Antonio (23-11 vs. the
number on the road). San Antonio took a blow with ankle injury to Tim Duncan,
but Gregg Popovich’s crew managed to cover first game without him at Denver.
Memphis has been one of the few teams that has compiled a solid winning mark
as a small home favorite; the Grizzlies are 7-3 laying fewer than 4 points at the
FedEx Forum, while the rest of the league is just 82-110 in that category.
Memphis has covered last 4 against the Spurs, including a 16-point win here on
March 1. Griz F Zach Randolph scored 23 ppg & grabbed 16 rpg in first 3
meetings, although he shot just 39.7% against the Spurs. Without Duncan,
Randolph figures to get some easier looks at the basket this time around. San
Antonio an ordinary 3-4 SU in last 7 road games prior to visiting Portland on
Friday, so can’t be too intimidated by Spurs, but wouldn’t lay any more than 4
points. 10-SAN -11 112-106 (OT-197), SAN -9 95-88 (198), MEM -1' 109-93
(193); 09-MEM -1' 92-86 (200), SAN -5 104-97 (200), San +1 102-92 (198),
Mem +10' 107-99 (200)
★★★Houston 95 - MIAMI 93—Streaky Miami has downshifted again,
dropping 3 of last 4 against the number after brief 3-0 spread run. Heat playing
to level of competition and generally doing just enough to win, as Erik
Spoelstra’s bunch is just 3-9 vs. the number last 12 as a favorite and 13-22 as
AmericanAirlines Arena chalk before hosting the Sixers Friday. Hard-trying
Houston is 7-1-1 against the number last 9 as an underdog and is attempting to
run down Memphis for final playoff spot. Miami’s triumvirate of LeBron James,
Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh getting little help from teammates, and PG Mike
Bibby contributed just 5 points while committing 5 fouls in his first start in place
of injured Mario Chalmers, as the Heat were outscored by 13 pts. in Bibby’s 26
minutes against Detroit on Wednesday. Rockets need to do a better job
defending Wade this time around, however, as the Heat all-star scored 45
points in first meeting. Houston almost covered that game, as Luis Scola
missed a “meaningless” shot with 5 seconds left that would’ve gotten Rocket
backers the money. 10-Mia -5 125-119 (198); 09-Mia +4' 115-106 (195), MIA -
5' 99-66 (192)
Atlanta 96 - CLEVELAND 91—Atlanta has posted a pair of double-digit
wins against Cleveland already this season, but both of those games were
played before Christmas. The Cavs are 15-12-1 against the number in last 28
after their 13-28-1 pointspread record in the first half of the season, and Byron
Scott’s rag-tag bunch isn’t getting blown out as often these days. Conversely,
Atlanta has gone in a negative direction, logging a 13-20 spread mark in last 33
games. The Hawks have been outscored by 8 ppg in their last 10, as a power
shortage has crippled HC Larry Drew’s offense. Atlanta has been held to 91 pts.
or fewer in 10 of last 14 games, and Hawks have failed to score more than 100
points in 19 of last 22 through March 25. "Totals" note: Cleveland 8-1 “under”
last 9 through March 24, while Atlanta “under” 8-1 last 10 on the road. 10-Atl -
3 100-88 (190), ATL -9' 98-84 (191); 09-Cle +2' 95-84 (194), CLE -5' 106-101
(193), CLE -5' 93-88 (196), ATL -5 99-83 (195)
Boston 100 - MINNESOTA 85—Dig out your old Garnett jerseys from the
closet Timberwolf fans, K.G. is in the house. Kevin Garnett is good to go, but
the same can’t be said for the league’s leading rebounder, Minny’s Kevin Love
(15.4 rpg; could miss the rest of the season due to a groin injury). It was Love’s
24 rebounds that kept the first meeting between these two close, as the
Timberwolves actually held an 8-point lead with 6½ minutes to play. “Big Baby”
Davis, who collected only 1 rebound in first game vs. Minny, has been pulling
down 8 per game coming off the bench in March. Boston holds foes to a leaguelow
90.9 ppg, while the Timberwolves allow a league-high 107. The Celtics are
a game behind Chicago for the best record in the East, after the Bulls took
advantage of a mediocre 5-5 SU run by the Celtics to catch and then pass Doc
Rivers’ crew in the standings. Anticipate a Celtic win, and given Minnesota’s 8-
14 spread mark as a home dog, Boston likely to get the cover as well. "Totals"
note: Boston is on an 8-0 “under” run thru March 24 and has gone “under” in 6
straight road games. 10-BOS -8 96-93 (203); 09-Bos -12 92-90 (186), BOS -14
122-104 (196)
OKLAHOMA CITY 93 - Portland 92—Not much Ok City margin for error in
previous meetings vs. Portland, narrow 1 and 2-point Thunder wins. Teams
haven’t met since early November, however, and Blazers have a different look
nowadays with Gerald Wallace in the fold. (“I think I’ve found a comfort zone
playing with the guys,” said Wallace after his Portland-best 28-point effort
March 22 vs. Wizards.) NBA observers indicating that Wallace has proven a
quick study alongside post weapon LaMarcus Aldridge, as the Blazer attack
works better “inside out” with Wallace and Nicolas Batum playing off Aldridge,
allowing for proper spacing on attack end. Nate McMillan’s bunch might need
an extra spark to deal with the recent Ok City defensive lockdown that’s seen
the Thunder allow just 87.7 ppg its last 7 thru March 24, with “unders” in all of
those outings as well. But with five straight covers entering last Friday’s game
vs. Spurs and all hands apparently on deck (Marcus Camby expected back from
recent ankle problems), any points surging Portland receives are hard to ignore.
10-Okc +5' 107-106 (OT-194), OKC -2' 110-108 (194); 09-Por -3 83-74 (186),
Okc -1 89-77 (191), Por +4 92-87 (190), POR -2 103-95 (186) CABLE TV—
ESPN
GOLDEN ST. 106 - Washington 95—Tickets probably aren’t going to be
too hard to find for this Sunday night non-thriller in Oakland, although the
depressed Golden State fan base might relish the opportunity to see the
Warriors take out their frustrations on somebody. And the woeful Wizards
would appear to be a good candidate, as their dismal road fortunes continue
(just one SU win all season, and that came at Cleveland, and 10-23 vs. line away
thru March 24) as the likelihood grows that Washington will match the 1990-91
Kings’ 1-40 road mark as the NBA’s all-time worst. The occasional green
shoots of hope occasionally spring from the Wizards, however, as the young
core of John Wall, JaVale McGee, and Jordan Crawford combined for 79 points
in last Wednesday’s OT loss at the Clippers. But as extended 5-game lateseason
road trip winds to a conclusion, not sure we can expect much from
Wizards, still likely without Andray Blatche (shoulder) and Rashard Lewis
(knee) out for the season. Expect better effort at Oracle Arena from Golden
State star G Monta Ellis, who struggled (only 15.3 ppg and 38.5% FG shooting)
on recent road trip during which Warriors lost four straight by a whopping 18.3
ppg margin. 10-Gs -1 106-102 (212); 09-Was +3 118-109 (222), WAS +2' 112-
