NBA TNT doubleheader: Clippers at Nets, Rockets at Blazers
Los Angeles Clippers at Brooklyn Nets (+2.5, 195.5)
The Brooklyn Nets seek their first three-game winning streak of the season when they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday in what could be another emotional night for forwards Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. The veteran stars will be opposite Clippers head coach Doc Rivers, who guided them to the 2008 NBA title during a solid run with the Boston Celtics that ended this offseason. Pierce and Garnett already got through one emotional affair Tuesday, when they topped the Celtics in the first meeting with their former team.
Rivers' current crew is coming off a 96-88 win in Boston on Wednesday in his return to TD Garden, where fans gave him a rousing ovation. The victory gave the Clippers a 3-2 mark on their season high-tying seven-game road trip, during which they have held four opponents to 88 points or fewer. Blake Griffin scored 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in Los Angeles' 110-103 victory over Brooklyn at home on Nov. 16.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (15-8): Wednesday's win featured another standout performance from Jamal Crawford, who scored 21 points in 27 minutes, including back-to-back 3-pointers in the closing minutes. Crawford has always been a quality scorer, but has stepped up his offensive game in the wake of the injury to fellow shooting guard J.J. Redick. Including the game at Sacramento on Nov. 29 in which Redick hurt his right hand, Crawford is averaging 18.1 points off the bench.
ABOUT THE NETS (7-14): Brooklyn has won three of five games after a 4-12 start. That may not mean much in the grand scheme of things, but if star guard Deron Williams can remain healthy there should be better days ahead. Williams returned from a nine-game layoff Tuesday against the Celtics and instantly provided a boost, scoring a game-high 25 points as the Nets topped the century mark for the first time in seven games.
TRENDS:
* Over is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings.
* Underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.
* Nets are 1-6 ATS in their last seven home games.
* Under is 4-0 in Clippers last four overall.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Clippers F Antawn Jamison scored his 20,000th point Wednesday.
2. Brooklyn played without Pierce, Garnett, Williams and leading scorer C Brook Lopez in the loss at Los Angeles last month.
3. The Clippers' seven-game trip ends in Washington on Saturday, after which the team will fly home to complete a 6,103-mile excursion.
Houston Rockets at Portland Trail Blazers (-3.5, 211.5)
The Portland Trail Blazers and the Houston Rockets are following a similar formula to the top of the Western Conference with strong inside-outside combinations and rapid ball movement leading to 3-pointers. The Trail Blazers will attempt to prove they run it better when they host the Rockets on Thursday. Portland holds the top record in the West and is second in the NBA in scoring, behind only Houston.
The Rockets are winners of two straight thanks to an improved effort on the defensive end and the continued acclimation of Dwight Howard to Houston’s high screen-and-roll offense. That high screen system between James Harden and Howard should look familiar to the Trail Blazers, who run plenty of the same with Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge. Portland did not respond well to that scheme in the first meeting, a 116-101 home loss on Nov. 5.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (15-7): Houston is in the bottom half of the league in scoring defense but is making its way up by holding its last two opponents to an average of 85.5 points. “I think we have a better mindset and we are more comfortable and executing to the scouting report very well,” forward Chandler Parsons said of the last two games. “I think out problem is we haven’t fully grasped that we can lose to any team on any given night.” That should not be a problem against the Blazers if the first meeting was any indication. Harden led the way with 33 points in that one as Rockets shot 54.7 percent from the field.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (18-4): Portland had a four-game winning streak come to an end with a loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday but bounced right back with a win at Utah and is making a brief stop at home before heading out on a four-game road trip. Aldridge was named the Western Conference Player of the Week for last week after posting four straight double-doubles and even began to hear “MVP” chants in Utah on Monday. “It was a blessing and definitely something I feel I’ve worked hard for,” Aldridge told the team’s official website. “I’ve never heard MVP chants on the road, that was definitely new for me.”
TRENDS:
* Over is 4-0 in the last four meetings.
* Rockets are 5-0-1 ATS in the last six meetings in Portland.
* Trail Blazers are 5-0 ATS in their last five Thursday games.
* Underdog is 7-2-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Houston has taken three straight in the series and has won five of its last six in Portland.
2. Rockets G Jeremy Lin (knee) is expected to make his return from a six-game absence on Thursday.
3. Howard has pulled down 18 or more rebounds in each of the last three games to boost his average to 13.3 boards.
Los Angeles Clippers at Brooklyn Nets (+2.5, 195.5)
The Brooklyn Nets seek their first three-game winning streak of the season when they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday in what could be another emotional night for forwards Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. The veteran stars will be opposite Clippers head coach Doc Rivers, who guided them to the 2008 NBA title during a solid run with the Boston Celtics that ended this offseason. Pierce and Garnett already got through one emotional affair Tuesday, when they topped the Celtics in the first meeting with their former team.
Rivers' current crew is coming off a 96-88 win in Boston on Wednesday in his return to TD Garden, where fans gave him a rousing ovation. The victory gave the Clippers a 3-2 mark on their season high-tying seven-game road trip, during which they have held four opponents to 88 points or fewer. Blake Griffin scored 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in Los Angeles' 110-103 victory over Brooklyn at home on Nov. 16.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (15-8): Wednesday's win featured another standout performance from Jamal Crawford, who scored 21 points in 27 minutes, including back-to-back 3-pointers in the closing minutes. Crawford has always been a quality scorer, but has stepped up his offensive game in the wake of the injury to fellow shooting guard J.J. Redick. Including the game at Sacramento on Nov. 29 in which Redick hurt his right hand, Crawford is averaging 18.1 points off the bench.
ABOUT THE NETS (7-14): Brooklyn has won three of five games after a 4-12 start. That may not mean much in the grand scheme of things, but if star guard Deron Williams can remain healthy there should be better days ahead. Williams returned from a nine-game layoff Tuesday against the Celtics and instantly provided a boost, scoring a game-high 25 points as the Nets topped the century mark for the first time in seven games.
TRENDS:
* Over is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings.
* Underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.
* Nets are 1-6 ATS in their last seven home games.
* Under is 4-0 in Clippers last four overall.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Clippers F Antawn Jamison scored his 20,000th point Wednesday.
2. Brooklyn played without Pierce, Garnett, Williams and leading scorer C Brook Lopez in the loss at Los Angeles last month.
3. The Clippers' seven-game trip ends in Washington on Saturday, after which the team will fly home to complete a 6,103-mile excursion.
Houston Rockets at Portland Trail Blazers (-3.5, 211.5)
The Portland Trail Blazers and the Houston Rockets are following a similar formula to the top of the Western Conference with strong inside-outside combinations and rapid ball movement leading to 3-pointers. The Trail Blazers will attempt to prove they run it better when they host the Rockets on Thursday. Portland holds the top record in the West and is second in the NBA in scoring, behind only Houston.
The Rockets are winners of two straight thanks to an improved effort on the defensive end and the continued acclimation of Dwight Howard to Houston’s high screen-and-roll offense. That high screen system between James Harden and Howard should look familiar to the Trail Blazers, who run plenty of the same with Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge. Portland did not respond well to that scheme in the first meeting, a 116-101 home loss on Nov. 5.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (15-7): Houston is in the bottom half of the league in scoring defense but is making its way up by holding its last two opponents to an average of 85.5 points. “I think we have a better mindset and we are more comfortable and executing to the scouting report very well,” forward Chandler Parsons said of the last two games. “I think out problem is we haven’t fully grasped that we can lose to any team on any given night.” That should not be a problem against the Blazers if the first meeting was any indication. Harden led the way with 33 points in that one as Rockets shot 54.7 percent from the field.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (18-4): Portland had a four-game winning streak come to an end with a loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday but bounced right back with a win at Utah and is making a brief stop at home before heading out on a four-game road trip. Aldridge was named the Western Conference Player of the Week for last week after posting four straight double-doubles and even began to hear “MVP” chants in Utah on Monday. “It was a blessing and definitely something I feel I’ve worked hard for,” Aldridge told the team’s official website. “I’ve never heard MVP chants on the road, that was definitely new for me.”
TRENDS:
* Over is 4-0 in the last four meetings.
* Rockets are 5-0-1 ATS in the last six meetings in Portland.
* Trail Blazers are 5-0 ATS in their last five Thursday games.
* Underdog is 7-2-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Houston has taken three straight in the series and has won five of its last six in Portland.
2. Rockets G Jeremy Lin (knee) is expected to make his return from a six-game absence on Thursday.
3. Howard has pulled down 18 or more rebounds in each of the last three games to boost his average to 13.3 boards.
NCAAB
Thursday, December 12
Home side won last four Maryland-BC games; Terps lost last two trips to Boston by 4-11 points, losing 69-58 LY. Eagles are 3-6 after losing at USC by 16 Sunday; they 2-1 at home, losing 95-92 to Toledo, beating two non-top 200 stiffs. Maryland is 5-4 after losing to local rival GW Sunday; they're 2-4 vs top 125 teams, they turn ball over 21% of time.
DePaul is 0-4 vs top 100 teams, 4-0 vs everyone else, winning by 9-9-12-38 points; Blue Demons are 2-2 at home, losing to Southern Miss, Arizona State. FAU is 3-1 at home, 0-5 away from home; they won last two games, beating UCF by 11, Jax'ville by 20, but Owls shoot just 29% from arc, 61.7% from line. Big East home favorites are 16-12 vs spread.
Thursday, December 12
Home side won last four Maryland-BC games; Terps lost last two trips to Boston by 4-11 points, losing 69-58 LY. Eagles are 3-6 after losing at USC by 16 Sunday; they 2-1 at home, losing 95-92 to Toledo, beating two non-top 200 stiffs. Maryland is 5-4 after losing to local rival GW Sunday; they're 2-4 vs top 125 teams, they turn ball over 21% of time.
DePaul is 0-4 vs top 100 teams, 4-0 vs everyone else, winning by 9-9-12-38 points; Blue Demons are 2-2 at home, losing to Southern Miss, Arizona State. FAU is 3-1 at home, 0-5 away from home; they won last two games, beating UCF by 11, Jax'ville by 20, but Owls shoot just 29% from arc, 61.7% from line. Big East home favorites are 16-12 vs spread.
Has anyone else ever noticed that the LA SYNDICATE and the CHICAGO SYNDICATE never go opposite of each other?? And, just like Brian Macs house of horrors, they hardly ever play the same game??? You know one has the total on the MNF game say, then the other one has the side?? If there is a short card in any given sport like 3 or 4 games then one plays 1 or 2 games and the other one plays the other 1 or 2 games?? Just curious, I mean i know its not costing me for their pix but......???
NFL Football Play of the Day December 12, 2013 6:58 AM by GT Staff
San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos at 5:25 p.m. PST
In their first meeting in San Diego the Broncos got the win 28-20 but this game could be a little closer as we think the Chargers are getting better and even better. This will be the Chargers last road game of the year in regular season and they have won and covered their last road game the last six years.
301 San Diego Chargers +10½
San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos at 5:25 p.m. PST
In their first meeting in San Diego the Broncos got the win 28-20 but this game could be a little closer as we think the Chargers are getting better and even better. This will be the Chargers last road game of the year in regular season and they have won and covered their last road game the last six years.
301 San Diego Chargers +10½
GamingToday's Consensus Picks December 12, 2013 6:43 AM by GT Staff
NBA Basketball
502 Brooklyn Nets +2½: This looks like a great spot for the Nets as the schedule really favors their chances to win this game as the road weary Clippers play their sixth straight road game and 3rd in as many as 4 days.
NHL Hockey
2 Philadelphia Flyers +115: This is one of our top system high percentage plays as we get the Flyers at home with a five game losing streak and plus money.
NCAA Basketball
505 Maryland -2½: This will be both teams first conference game and we have to reasons to play on Maryland, Parry’s Power Page has them as a -5 1/2 point favorite and the home team Boston College plays little or no defense.
NBA Basketball
502 Brooklyn Nets +2½: This looks like a great spot for the Nets as the schedule really favors their chances to win this game as the road weary Clippers play their sixth straight road game and 3rd in as many as 4 days.
NHL Hockey
2 Philadelphia Flyers +115: This is one of our top system high percentage plays as we get the Flyers at home with a five game losing streak and plus money.
NCAA Basketball
505 Maryland -2½: This will be both teams first conference game and we have to reasons to play on Maryland, Parry’s Power Page has them as a -5 1/2 point favorite and the home team Boston College plays little or no defense.
From This Week's PLATINUM SHEET
STATFOX FORECASTER
SAN DIEGO (301) AT DENVER (302)
Latest Line: Denver -10.0; Total: 56.0
The Chargers try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive with a visit to the Broncos on Thursday night. San Diego is coming off its largest win of the year, a 37-14 drubbing of the Giants, while Denver crushed the Titans 51-28, behind 4 TD passes from Peyton Manning, who now has 45 TD this year. Since joining the Broncos, Manning is 3-0 (2-1 ATS) versus the Chargers, throwing for 909 yards, 10 TD and 2 INT. But Chargers QB Philip Rivers is also having a career year (26 TD, 9 INT), and his 244 passing YPG, 25 TD and 12 INT as a starter in this series is a big reason why his team is 9-6 SU (9-5-1 ATS) in the past 15 meetings.
Forecaster: Denver 34, San Diego 24
STATFOX FORECASTER
SAN DIEGO (301) AT DENVER (302)
Latest Line: Denver -10.0; Total: 56.0
The Chargers try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive with a visit to the Broncos on Thursday night. San Diego is coming off its largest win of the year, a 37-14 drubbing of the Giants, while Denver crushed the Titans 51-28, behind 4 TD passes from Peyton Manning, who now has 45 TD this year. Since joining the Broncos, Manning is 3-0 (2-1 ATS) versus the Chargers, throwing for 909 yards, 10 TD and 2 INT. But Chargers QB Philip Rivers is also having a career year (26 TD, 9 INT), and his 244 passing YPG, 25 TD and 12 INT as a starter in this series is a big reason why his team is 9-6 SU (9-5-1 ATS) in the past 15 meetings.
Forecaster: Denver 34, San Diego 24
GC: NCAB Play
Thursday triple Play has Both NBA Games from Perfect 5* systems, one is a total the other a side. NBA Sweeps on Wednesday There is also the NFL Double system Play with 7 strong Indicators, NFL Prime time releases are cashing 78% after cashing with the Bears and NBA is at or near the top of several leader boards. NCAAB Play below.
On Thursday the NCAAB Play is on Maryland. Game 505 at 7:00 eastern. An early season conference game here for these two teams as both come in off back to back losses having shot less than 40% back to back. Maryland has better numbers in this one as they are 23-2 vs teams who allow 77 or more points per game and 18-2 in their last 20 vs teams under .500. In December games Maryland has won 12 of the last 14. The Terrapins are a terrific 501 vs teams ranked outside the top 50 in the RPI Scale. Boston College has struggled early on losing 6 of 9 and is a mediocre 11-34, including 0-4 this season vs teams with a winning record. Lay the small number with Maryland here tonight. On Thursday we have 3 solid plays up. NFL Prime time plays are cashing 78% after cashing the Bears on Monday night and NBA Is at or near the top of several leader boards after sweeping on Wednesday. Tonight their are a pair of 5* Perfect systems a side and total in the NBA, Both televised and the Side in the Thursday night NFL Games from 2 systems and several solid indicators. Jump on Now and put the Power of this data on your side tonight. For the Bonus Play take Maryland. GC
On Thursday the NCAAB Play is on Maryland. Game 505 at 7:00 eastern. An early season conference game here for these two teams as both come in off back to back losses having shot less than 40% back to back. Maryland has better numbers in this one as they are 23-2 vs teams who allow 77 or more points per game and 18-2 in their last 20 vs teams under .500. In December games Maryland has won 12 of the last 14. The Terrapins are a terrific 501 vs teams ranked outside the top 50 in the RPI Scale. Boston College has struggled early on losing 6 of 9 and is a mediocre 11-34, including 0-4 this season vs teams with a winning record. Lay the small number with Maryland here tonight. On Thursday we have 3 solid plays up. NFL Prime time plays are cashing 78% after cashing the Bears on Monday night and NBA Is at or near the top of several leader boards after sweeping on Wednesday. Tonight their are a pair of 5* Perfect systems a side and total in the NBA, Both televised and the Side in the Thursday night NFL Games from 2 systems and several solid indicators. Jump on Now and put the Power of this data on your side tonight. For the Bonus Play take Maryland. GC
Wunderdog Sports Free Pick
Game: Dallas at Nashville (8:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: Dallas +108 (moneyline) at Bookmaker
Nashville has been the consummate .500 team as they entertain Dallas at home tonight. They bring with them a resume that reads 14-14-3. The problem is that home ice has not treated them any better where they are a pedestrian 6-6-3 on the season. That home mark has been deteriorating of late as they have dropped four straight here by a combined 14-5 margin against them. Dallas at 9-6-1 on the road, has done a terrific job lately by winning seven of their last nine roadies. The Stars have been strong after getting foiled on the defensive end, as they are a robust 10-2 in their last 12 after allowing 5 or more goals in their previous contest. The Predators' home woes extended when facing a team with a winning road record as they are a woeful 7-19 in their last 26. Make the play on Dallas.
Game: Dallas at Nashville (8:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: Dallas +108 (moneyline) at Bookmaker
Nashville has been the consummate .500 team as they entertain Dallas at home tonight. They bring with them a resume that reads 14-14-3. The problem is that home ice has not treated them any better where they are a pedestrian 6-6-3 on the season. That home mark has been deteriorating of late as they have dropped four straight here by a combined 14-5 margin against them. Dallas at 9-6-1 on the road, has done a terrific job lately by winning seven of their last nine roadies. The Stars have been strong after getting foiled on the defensive end, as they are a robust 10-2 in their last 12 after allowing 5 or more goals in their previous contest. The Predators' home woes extended when facing a team with a winning road record as they are a woeful 7-19 in their last 26. Make the play on Dallas.
Where the action is: Total could keep climbing for Chargers-Broncos
The final Thursday Night Football of the NFL season showcases an AFC West rivalry, with the San Diego Chargers visiting the Denver Broncos on primetime. We talk to Michael Stewart, an oddsmaker for CarbonSports.ag, about the action heading into Thursday’s kickoff:
San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – Open: -11, Move: -10
Early sharp money jumped on the Bolts at +11, and trimmed the spread to Denver -10.5 – just above the key number. Some books are dealing an even -10 as of Thursday morning.
Since making that adjustment, Stewart says action has been relatively split with 65 percent of the money coming in on the Broncos, who are looking to lock up a playoff spot and home-field advantage in the postseason.
“I have a feeling that as we get closer to gametime, we’re going to be forced to push this number back to Broncos -11,” says Stewart. “But for now, we’re very happy with our position on this game. As is the case with most Broncos games, we’re going to need the dog and we knew that when we originally hung our opener. Seeing that early support on the dog validates to us, that the Chargers are live in this contest and we don’t mind needing them to cover this double-digit spread.”
The total for Thursday’s divisional matchup opened at 56 points and took instant action on the Over, pushing the number to 56.5. The push toward the Over didn’t stop there and books are now dealing this Over/Under as high as 57.5.
“We’ve seen about 85 percent of the money come in on the Over in this contest,” says Stewart. “Unless we see sharp action bet us Under this total, we’re going to be going to 58 at some point later today.”
The final Thursday Night Football of the NFL season showcases an AFC West rivalry, with the San Diego Chargers visiting the Denver Broncos on primetime. We talk to Michael Stewart, an oddsmaker for CarbonSports.ag, about the action heading into Thursday’s kickoff:
San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – Open: -11, Move: -10
Early sharp money jumped on the Bolts at +11, and trimmed the spread to Denver -10.5 – just above the key number. Some books are dealing an even -10 as of Thursday morning.
Since making that adjustment, Stewart says action has been relatively split with 65 percent of the money coming in on the Broncos, who are looking to lock up a playoff spot and home-field advantage in the postseason.
“I have a feeling that as we get closer to gametime, we’re going to be forced to push this number back to Broncos -11,” says Stewart. “But for now, we’re very happy with our position on this game. As is the case with most Broncos games, we’re going to need the dog and we knew that when we originally hung our opener. Seeing that early support on the dog validates to us, that the Chargers are live in this contest and we don’t mind needing them to cover this double-digit spread.”
The total for Thursday’s divisional matchup opened at 56 points and took instant action on the Over, pushing the number to 56.5. The push toward the Over didn’t stop there and books are now dealing this Over/Under as high as 57.5.
“We’ve seen about 85 percent of the money come in on the Over in this contest,” says Stewart. “Unless we see sharp action bet us Under this total, we’re going to be going to 58 at some point later today.”
