INSIDE THE LINES
THURSDAY, APRIL 30
Updated by 2:00 P.M. Eastern Weekdays
Updated by 9:00 A.M. Eastern Weekends
NBA PLAYOFFS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(2) Boston (3-2, 1-3-1 ATS) at (7) Chicago (2-3, 3-1-1 ATS)
The Celtics got a somewhat controversial Game 5 victory at home and now head to the Windy City with a chance to eliminate the Bulls when this best-of-7 series resumes at the United Center.
For the second straight game and the third time in this series, the Celtics and Bulls needed overtime to settle things Tuesday, with Boston prevailing 106-104 but once again failing to cover, this time as a 7½-point home chalk. Point guard Rajon Rondo (game-high 28 points, eight rebounds, 11 assists) nearly notched another triple-double and Paul Pierce finished with 26 points, including the game-winning basket with less than four seconds to play. Boston, which rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit to force the extra session, also got huge contributions from Glen Davis (21 points, six rebounds) and Kendrick Perkins (16 points, 19 rebounds).
Chicago had a chance to force a second overtime in Game 5 when Brad Miller, going up for a layup, was fouled hard by Rondo with two seconds to play. However, Miller missed both free throws (the second one intentionally) to end the Bulls’ upset bid. Ben Gordon, playing on a bad hamstring, had a team-high 26 points as six of the seven Bulls who played significant time scored in double figures (the only exception was Miller, who had five points). Chicago finished with a 50-44 rebounding edge, the fourth time in five games in this series that the Bulls have finished with more rebounds.
The Celtics are now 15-4 SU in their last 19 games overall, but just 5-6-1 ATS in their last 12. Boston has now topped the century mark in seven straight games and 13 of its last 14. Meanwhile, Chicago is on a 14-7 SU roll and a 7-4-1 ATS streak, and the Bulls have scored in triple digits in 20 of their last 26 contests, putting up 107 ppg during this stretch.
Boston is now 9-3 SU in the last 12 meetings with the Bulls and 8-4-1 ATS in the last 13. However, Chicago is 4-1-1 ATS in the last six clashes since March 17. Also, the underdog is 5-0-1 during this six-meeting stretch after the favorite cashed in each of the previous nine in this rivalry.
Chicago is 29-14 at home this year (22-20-1 ATS), while the Celtics are 28-15 as a visitor (23-19-1 ATS). The teams split Games 3 and 4 at the United Center, with Boston winning 107-86 as 3½-point road underdog Thursday and the Bulls prevailing 121-118 in double-overtime Sunday, pushing as a three-point chalk.
The Bulls are in the midst of pointspread streaks that include 13-4-1 after a SU loss, 6-1-1 in first-round postseason games, 5-1-1 versus winning teams, 5-2 when playing on one day of rest and 8-3 on Thursday. However, they’re 1-4-1 ATS in their last six at home (all as a favorite) and 1-4-2 ATS in their last seven when laying points in the playoffs.
Despite their troubles covering the number in this series, the Celtics remain on ATS tears of 6-1-1 on the road, 36-15-1 as an underdog, 5-1-1 when catching less than five points, 43-17-1 as a road underdog, 6-0-1 as a playoff ‘dog and 13-5 when playing on Thursday. But Doc Rivers’ squad is just 1-6-1 ATS in its last eight against Central Division squads.
The over is 6-1 in the last seven meetings between these teams (4-1 in this series). Additionally, for the Celtics, the over is on streaks of 6-1 overall, 19-7 against the Eastern Conference, 8-2 in first-round postseason games and 5-1 when playing on one day of rest. Finally, the Bulls are on “over” stretches of 8-2 in first-round playoff action, 10-4 against the Atlantic Division, 6-1 against winning teams and 9-3 when favored by less than five points.
ATS ADVANTAGE: CHICAGO and OVER
(3) Orlando (3-2 SU, 1-4 ATS) at (6) Philadelphia (2-3 SU, 4-1 ATS)
The Magic go on the road for Game 6 at the Wachovia Center aiming to put the 76ers away, but they’ll have to do so without center Dwight Howard, who was suspended for this contest after intentionally throwing an elbow in Game 5.
Orlando got 24 points and 24 rebounds from Howard in Tuesday’s 91-78 victory as an 8½-point favorite, as the Magic covered for the first time in this series. Rashard Lewis matched Howard with 24 points, and Orlando had a 45-33 rebounding edge, including 15-4 on the offensive end, and went 8-for-23 from three-point range en route to halting a 2-8 ATS dive. However, the bad news for the Magic came Wednesday when the NBA suspended Howard for Game 6 after he intentionally elbowed Philadelphia center Sam Dalembert in the back of the head early in the contest.
Andre Iguodala led Philadelphia with 26 points in Game 5, and Andre Miller had 17 points, six assists and four steals, but Miller also had five turnovers. Philly also made just 4 of 18 three-pointers (22.2 percent). The Game 5 non-cover ended the 76ers’ 6-0 ATS surge against Southeast Division opponents.
Orlando is 7-2 SU (5-4 ATS) in the last nine games between these teams. However, the Magic have been favored in all five games in this series and have gone just 1-4 ATS, and the underdog in this rivalry is still 27-12 ATS in the last 39 clashes.
Orlando is 28-15 SU (26-16-1 ATS) on the highway this year, including Sunday’s 84-81 Game 4 win at Philly in which it failed to cash as a 4½-point chalk. Philadelphia is 25-18 SU (20-21-2 ATS) on its home floor.
Despite Tuesday’s effort, the Magic remain on pointspread slides of 3-8 overall, 0-5 in roadies, 1-10 against the Atlantic Division, 2-7 against the Eastern Conference and 2-7 as a favorite.
On the flip side, the 76ers are still 13-4-1 ATS in their last 18 contests against Southeast Division foes, including 6-1 ATS in the last seven, and they’re on additional ATS rolls of 5-2 at home and 6-2 after a SU loss of more than 10 points. On the downside, the Sixers are 1-6 ATS in their alst seven after a SU loss and 1-4 ATS in their last five after a non-cover.
The last four games in this series have stayed below the posted total, and the under is 6-2 in the last eight contests overall and 4-1 in the last five matchups at the Wachovia Center. Additionally, the under for Orlando is on tears of 17-5 overall, 10-2 against Atlantic Division foes, 11-2 after a day off, 7-1 in first-round playoff games, 6-1 after a SU win and 5-1 on the road. Likewise, the under for Philadelphia is on streaks of 10-3 in first-round playoff games and 10-3 when catching points in the playoffs.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
WESTERN CONFERENCE
(4) Portland (2-3, 3-2 ATS) at (5) Houston (3-2 SU, 2-3 ATS)
The Rockets will try advance to the Western Conference semifinals for the first time since 1997 when they host the Trail Blazers inside the Toyota Center in Houston in Game 6 of this best-of-7 opening-round playoff series.
Houston took a 3-1 series lead to Portland on Tuesday but failed to close out the Blazers, losing 88-77 as a 5½-point underdog. The Blazers got 25 points apiece from Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, and they forced 17 Rockets’ turnovers. Houston got 21 points from Luis Scola and 15 points and 12 rebounds from Yao Ming, but the Rockets got outscored 24-15 in the fourth quarter.
The Rockets have won eight of their last 11 overall (6-5 ATS) and now they return home where they squeaked by in Games 3 and 4, failing to cover in either contest as a favorite. The Trail Blazers have won eight of their last 11 overall, going 9-2 ATS, including three consecutive spread-covers in this series.
Houston has won eight of the last 11 in this rivalry (6-5 ATS) and the host has won seven of the last eight (3-5 ATS). The Rockets have won five straight over the Blazers in Texas (2-3 ATS), and Portland has not scored more than 94 points in any of its last five trips to Houston.
Portland is on ATS runs of 16-5 overall, 8-2 against Western Conference teams, 4-1 as a ‘dog, 6-1 after a spread-cover and 5-0 after getting one day off. The Rockets are on ATS slides of 1-6 as a playoff favorite, 1-4 as a home chalk between five and 10½ points and 5-11 in conference quarterfinal action, but they are on positive pointspread runs of 5-2 at home (0-2 in this series), 27-9-3 on Thursdays and 19-7 after a non-cover.
The under has been the play in each of the last three games in this series after the over rolled in during the first two games. The over is still 6-3 in the last nine head-to-head meetings between these two, but the under is 6-2 in the last eight matchups inside the Toyota Center.
For Portland, the under is on runs of 5-0 on the road, 15-7 as a ‘dog, 5-2 as a road ‘dog and 5-2 against the Southwest Division. Houston is on “under” streaks of 5-2 overall, 20-8 after a non-cover, 4-1 after getting one day off and 5-0 as a playoff favorite.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
NATIONAL LEAGUE
San Diego (11-10) at L.A. Dodgers (14-8)
The top two teams in the N.L. West begin a four-game weekend series at Dodger Stadium, where L.A.’s James McDonald (2-1, 7.11 ERA) is set to oppose the Padres’ Josh Geer (0-0, 4.91) in a battle of rookie right-handers.
San Diego capped a three-game series at the Rockies with Wednesday’s 7-5 defeat and it has now dropped seven of its last nine after beginning the season 9-3. During the slump, the Padres have lost five of six on the road. Additionally, the Friars are in funks of 20-48 as a road underdog, 28-58 versus winning teams, 1-4 against the N.L. West, 1-5 against right-handed starters and 1-4 in Geer’s last five starts, but they have won five consecutive games on Thursday.
The Dodgers return home after a nine-game road trip that saw them go 4-5, including last night’s 9-4 loss to the Giants. Los Angeles is unbeaten in six home games this season, outscoring its foes – the Giants and Rockies – by a combined tally of 64-17. Also, despite last night’s loss in San Francisco, Joe Torre’s club is also on positive runs of 12-5 overall, 36-16 at home, 25-10 as a favorite and 11-3 against N.L. West rivals.
These teams split a four-game series in San Diego to open the season, but Los Angeles is still 9-4 in the last 13 clashes, including taking five of the last six in 2008 at Dodger Stadium.
Geer’s only start this season came on April 19 at Philadelphia, and he allowed just two runs (one earned) on six hits and no walks in seven innings. He left with a 4-2 lead, but San Diego couldn’t hold it, losing 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth. Geer has also pitched four innings out of the bullpen, allowing five runs (six earned) on seven hits. The rookie has yet to face the Dodgers.
McDonald gave up five runs (all earned) in five innings on Saturday at Colorado, but he ended up getting the win as the Dodgers held on 6-5. The 24-year-old has pitched poorly in two road starts (10 runs allowed in 7 1/3 innings), but he’s been sharp in two home outings (one start), scattering five hits and three walks over 5 1/3 scoreless innings. McDonald’s career against San Diego includes just one scoreless inning of relief last season.
All four meetings in San Diego this month stayed under the total, but 20 of the last 28 Padres-Dodgers clashes in Los Angeles have played to the “over.” Additionally, the Dodgers are on “over” stretches of 7-1-3 overall, 4-1-1 at home this season, 8-1-1 as a home favorite, 8-0-1 against right-handed starters and 5-0-3 versus the N.L. West. Similarly, San Diego carries “over” trends of 4-1 overall, 9-3-1 on the road, 5-2 in N.L. West contests, 7-1 on the road against righty starters and 9-2 in series openers.
ATS ADVANTAGE: L.A. DODGERS and OVER
