Tuesday 1/24/17 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL

Tuesday’s games

Devils won four of last six games with Los Angeles; under is 7-3 in last ten series games. Teams split last four series games played here. Kings were outscored 12-7 in losing last four games; they’re 1-5 in last six road games. Under is 2-1-1 in their last four games. New Jersey won four of its last five games but lost four in row at home; under is 5-1-2 in their last eight games.

Islanders won five of last six games with Columbus; over is 7-3 in last ten series games. Blue Jackets lost 5-2/4-3 in last two visits to Brooklyn. Columbus won three of its last four games overall, is 2-3 in last five road games; three of their last four games stayed under. New York is won three of last four games but split last four at home; Under is 6-3 in their last nine games.

Blues won six of last nine games with Pittsburgh, are 3-1 in last four visits to Steel City; over is 3-0-1 in last four series games. St Louis was outscored 18-10 in losing their last three games; they split last four road games. Over is 7-2 in their last nine games. Penguins won last four games, outscoring last three victims 16-3; over is 7-2 in their last nine games.

Bruins won eight of last ten games with Detroit but split last four; Red Wings were outscored 18-8 in losing their last four visits here. Detroit is 3-5 in its last eight games, losing 3-2/1-0 in last two, both in OT; Red Wings lost last four road games, outscored 18-10. Boston was outscored 16-6 in losing its last four games; they were shut out in last two home games. Over is 5-3 in last eight Boston games.

Road team won last four Calgary-Montreal games; Flames won six of last nine in series, winning 6-2/4-1 in last two visits here. Under is 4-2 in last six series games. Calgary lost three in row (outscored 15-6) and five of last six games; they lost last four road games. Three of their last four games went over. Canadiens lost three of last four games, both overall and at home; under is 3-0-1 in their last four games.

Washington won seven of its last eight games with Ottawa, winning 4-2/1-0 in last two visits here; under is 7-3 in last ten series games. Capitals won 12 of their last 13 games, are 5-1 in last six road games. Over is 6-0-1 in their last seven games. Senators won five of their last seven games but lost last two games at home; three of their last four home games went over the total.

Road team won eight of last ten Buffalo-Nashville games; Sabres lost five of last six games with the Predators, losing two of last three visits to Music City. Under is 2-0-2 in last four games in series. Buffalo won three of last four games, winning last two in OT; over is 4-0-1 in their last five road games. Nashville won three in row, six of last seven games. Under is 5-2 in their last seven games.

Road team is 5-3 in last eight San Jose-Winnipeg games; teams split last four games played in this building. Over is 3-1-1 in last five series games. San Jose won its last five games, allowing total of nine goals; over is 2-0-2 in their last four road games. Winnipeg lost five of last seven games but is 3-2 in last five home games. Over is 5-1-1 in their last seven games.

Dallas Stars are 6-4 in last ten games with Minnesota, over is 4-2-1 in last seven series games. Wild lost three of last five visits to Texas. Minnesota won six of last eight games, four of their last five on road. Over is 8-1-1 in their last ten games. Dallas lost four of its last five games overall, three of their last four at home; over is 7-3 in their last ten games.

Blackhawks won four of last five games with Tampa Bay, winning last three meetings here by a total score of 5-1. Under is 9-1 in last ten series games. Lightning lost three in row, eight of last ten games; four of their last five games stayed under total. Blackhawks won three in row, seven of last nine games; they won five of their last six home games. Over is 5-1-1 in their last seven games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA roundup: Heat shock Warriors in final second
By The Sports Xchange

MIAMI -- Dion Waiters hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key in the final second, giving the lowly but suddenly hot Miami Heat a 105-102 upset of the NBA's best team, Golden State Warriors, on Monday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Waiters matched his career high with 33 points for the second consecutive game.
Golden State's Kevin Durant tied the score with 11.7 seconds left on a baseline dunk, setting the stage for Waiters' heroics with six-10ths of a second left.
The Warriors (38-7) had their seven-game win streak snapped. It was only Golden State's fifth loss in regulation this season.
The Heat (15-30) have a season-best four-game win streak, as they completed a 4-0 homestand.

Clippers 115, Hawks 105
ATLANTA -- Things are looking up for Los Angeles, which won for the first time since losing Chris Paul to thumb surgery and is on the verge of getting Blake Griffin back.
Austin Rivers scored 27 points and Jamal Crawford helped hold off a comeback bid by Atlanta in the fourth quarter as the Clippers defeated the Hawks 115-105 on Monday night.
Crawford, who had been in a slump, hit a 3-pointer after Atlanta had pulled within 102-98 with three minutes left and followed with two more late baskets as he scored 14 of his 19 points in the second half.

Kings 109, Pistons 104
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- DeMarcus Cousins powered for 22 points and 14 rebounds, and Sacramento snapped a five-game losing streak with a victory over Detroit at The Palace.
The Kings own just two wins in their past 10 games, both against Detroit. Sacramento also ended a six-game losing streak at The Palace. Its last victory in Michigan occurred Feb. 10, 2010.
Ty Lawson tied his season high with 19 points off the bench for the Kings. Sacramento also had four other players in double figures: Willie Cauley-Stein and Darren Collison supplied 12 points apiece, Garrett Temple chipped in 11 and Matt Barnes added 10.

Spurs 112, Nets 86
NEW YORK -- Patty Mills scored 10 of his 20 points late in the first half when the short-handed Spurs took control, and San Antonio rolled to a rout of Brooklyn.
Mills missed five of his first six shots, and he returned to action when the Spurs trailed by one with about 5 1/2 minutes remaining in the second quarter. Mills helped the Spurs surge ahead to a 52-42 halftime lead in differing ways.
The reserve guard sandwiched two 3-pointers around a 19-footer and a 20-footer in a span of 2:15, and San Antonio's lead never dipped into single digits again. Mills finished three shy of his season high by shooting 7 of 13 and making four 3-pointers.

Wizards 109, Hornets 99
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- John Wall scored 24 points and Markieff Morris added 23, and Washington rolled to a victory over Charlotte at the Spectrum Center.
Wall outplayed Charlotte's Kemba Walker in a head-to-head battle of All-Star hopeful point guards. He had 18 points in the first half, helping the Wizards pull out to a 12-point halftime lead. Walker scored 21 points but struggled, going 7 of 24 from the field.
The Wizards have now won five of their last six. They were in control throughout the game, leading by as many as 16 points in the third quarter and 15 midway through the fourth.

Bucks 127, Rockets 114
MILWAUKEE -- A late 11-0 run helped Milwaukee hold off Houston and a snap a five-game losing streak with a victory at the Bradley Center.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 31 points and Jabari Parker had 28 to lead the Bucks, who shot 58.2 percent from the floor and made 11 of 23 3-point attempts.
Houston shot 50.6 percent, making 39 of 76 shots, 14 of 35 3-point tries. Patrick Beverley (18 points) knocked down four from long distance, while Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon added three apiece.

Thunder 97, Jazz 95
SALT LAKE CITY -- Russell Westbrook drilled a jumper to break a tie with 1.4 seconds left as part of his 22nd triple-double of the season and lifted Oklahoma City to a victory over Utah.
Russell Westbrook had 38 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. Victor Oladipo added 18 points and Enes Kanter chipped in with 14 off the bench.
Oklahoma City snapped Utah's six-game winning streak.

Knicks 109, Pacers 103
INDIANAPOLIS -- Carmelo Anthony hit a baseline jumper with 23.4 seconds remaining, and Courtney Lee sank four consecutive free throws during the final 15.1 seconds, leading New York to a victory against struggling Indiana.
Anthony led the Knicks with 26 points, Derrick Rose had 20 points and six assists, Indianapolis native Lee added 14, Willy Hernangomez scored 14 and Justin Holiday had 13.
Paul George led Indiana with 31 points and seven rebounds, Myles Turner had 22 points and 10 rebounds and Al Jefferson added 13 off the bench.

Pelicans 124, Cavaliers 122
NEW ORLEANS -- Terrence Jones, subbing for the injured Anthony Davis, tied his career high with 36 points and guard Jrue Holiday added a season-high 33 points and 10 assists to overcome a 49-point effort by Kyrie Irving and spark New Orleans to a victory over Cleveland at the Smoothie King Center.
The Pelicans led by 20 points at halftime and by 17 two minutes into the fourth quarter, but they had to hold on for the victory as Irving led the Cavaliers back with 35 second-half points.
The loss was the sixth for the Cavaliers in their last 10 games. The Cavaliers also got 26 points from LeBron James and 22 points and 16 rebounds from Kevin Love.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA Betting Road Map: Is the 76ers' recent success for real?
By BIG AL MCMORDIE

After last season's historic accomplishments, this season was never going to match in terms of drama, and the season has always had the feel of an inevitable march to the title by Golden State, so the first real drama of the season came in the form of the All-Star vote which resulted in the possible MVP (Russell Westbrook) not being named to the starting unit. To his credit, Westbrook took it in stride and declared that he's only interested in championships. Unfortunately, now that he's signed with the Thunder for the long term, it's likely he will end his career without winning a ring.

Let's take a look around the league.

Spread Watch

Break out Brett Brown's Philadelphia 76ers! The oft-maligned franchise is one of the hottest teams in the league. Since Dec. 30, the Sixers are 8-3 straight-up and 9-2 ATS and are tied for the fourth best record in the league over this stretch. Of course, a slightly easy schedule hasn't hurt. Philly played six of those 11 games against teams that currently have a losing record, and won all six straight up and against the spread.

This week, the 76ers will alternate home and road games with matches against the Clippers, Bucks, Rockets and Bulls. The game at Milwaukee will be particularly difficult for the young Sixers and that's because Philly just stunned the Bucks, 113-104, in Milwaukee on January 16 as a 9-point underdog. The Bucks had won nine straight games (7-2 ATS) in the series before that defeat and Milwaukee is 26-17-1 ATS when playing with revenge from an upset loss.

Also, Philly is a poor 44-68-3 ATS in the regular season when playing a revenge-minded opponent, including 3-12-1 ATS if Philly was an underdog of at least nine points in the previous meeting.

Totals Watch

It was an upside-down week. The two highest-scoring teams (Warriors and Rockets) were a combined 8-0 'under' the total, while the league's two stingiest teams (Jazz and Spurs) were a combined 6-0 'over' the total. Of course, that's what makes sports gambling such a challenging enterprise.

The aforementioned Spurs have now played 15 of their last 20 games 'over' the total, including their last six in a row. And that's a departure, of course, from what the Spurs have done the previous two seasons when the majority of their games went 'under' the total. In fact, the Spurs have been an 'under' team, generally speaking, since coach Gregg Popovich took over on December 10, 1996.

Interestingly, the one area where the Spurs have gone 'over' the total is in non-competitive games with double-digit pointspreads. In that situation, the Spurs have gone 'over' 215-191-8. In contrast, San Antonio has gone 'under' the total 744-655-16 in games with pointspreads below 10 points. This season, the Spurs have gone 'over' the total in 10 of their 14 games as a double-digit favorite, including nine of their last 10.

This week, San Antonio will travel to Brooklyn, Toronto and New Orleans, before returning home to face the Mavericks on Sunday. San Antonio should be double-digit favorites vs. the Nets and Mavericks, and the game against the Nets has all the makings of a high-scoring contest. Brooklyn has gone 'over' the total 25-17-1 in Kenny Atkinson's first year as head coach, including 11-4 when catching double-digits.

Injury Watch

The Los Angeles Clippers received the worst-possible news last week when they learned star point guard Chris Paul would be sidelined upwards of two months following surgery to repair a torn ligament in his thumb. Paul's value is enormous. He's not only averaging 17.7 ppg, 9.8 apg and 5.3 rpg, but he's one of the best defensive guards in the league, and averages 2.25 steals per game, tops in the NBA. His player efficiency rating is 27.48, which ranks sixth in the NBA and the Clippers have been 20.8 points better per 100 possessions with him on the court.

Paul's absence was immediately felt by the Clippers, who lost two games this past week without him. On Thursday, the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Clippers, 104-101, at Staples Center. That win was the first time all season that the T-Wolves won a close game - decided by less than five points. Until then, Minnesota was 0-10 in that situation.

Even worse: On Saturday, Denver blew out Los Angeles, 123-98, which lowered Los Angeles' record the past two seasons without Paul to 5-12 (compared to 79-35 with him in uniform).

The good news for Doc Rivers' crew is that Blake Griffin's status is day-to-day, so I look for him to return from his injury at some point this week, though he won't play in Monday's game at Atlanta.

Schedule Watch

The Memphis Grizzlies will host the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday and will have a decided advantage due to the two teams' respective schedules.

Memphis will play this game with three days off, following a loss at home this past Saturday to the Houston Rockets. Unfortunately for the Raptors, they will come into Wednesday's game with no rest as they will host the Spurs on Tuesday.

This is a terrific spot for Memphis, as it will also be playing with revenge from a 120-105 loss to the Raptors at the Air Canada Centre in November - since 1990, NBA revenge-minded teams, playing with at least three days' of rest, have gone 91-59 ATS at home off a loss vs. unrested foes.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Celtics (26-17) at Wizards (24-20)

Date: January 24, 2017 7:00 PM EDT

WASHINGTON -- The Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards are among the better teams in the Eastern Conference. They also form one of the more random and heated rivalries in recent NBA history.

Despite no clear reason for tension, the two sides have been involved in several altercations over the past two seasons. Tuesday's clash comes less than two weeks after a postgame showdown on the court between Wizards guard John Wall and Celtics forward Jae Crowder moments after Boston's 117-108 win.

The matchup also comes as Washington continues its surge. The Wizards (24-20) have won eight of 10, including Monday's 109-99 road victory against the Charlotte Hornets, plus 13 straight at home. While Boston is 7-3 over its last 10 games, the Celtics (26-17) have dropped two in a row.

Such big picture matters take a backseat or at least share the marquee entering the third of four meetings this season.

Last January, Crowder accused ex-Wizards coach Randy Wittman of cursing in his direction, a scenario that led to a late-game technical foul on Boston's energy leader.

Wall received a flagrant-2 foul in the first meeting this season, a 118-93 Washington rout at home on Nov. 9. Marcus Smart took the hard hit and earned a technical for his aggressive reaction.

Then came the meeting on Jan. 12. Isaiah Thomas scoring 20 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter carried Boston to the win, handing Washington a rare recent loss. Yet his brilliant display was overshadowed.

Following an angry exchange of words near center court, Crowder shoved a finger in Wall's face, touching the point guard's nose, which led to a retaliatory jab from Washington's leading scorer.

"They talk a little more," Crowder said Monday of the Wizards, according to MassLive.com. "They say a little more disrespectful things than other teams. So that's what escalated it."

Though eventually separated before major escalation, more jawing occurred in the locker room area, leading to several police officers standing guard. Crowder later received a $25,000 fine while Wall was hit for $15,000 by the league.

Washington's Otto Porter, second in the NBA with a 45 percent shooting percentage on 3-pointers, described Boston as a "dirty" team after the game.

"I think a lot of teams around this league know we don't play dirty, we just play very hard," Thomas said Monday. "Like I said before, it may seem dirty because we play so hard but we're not a dirty team."

Playing with an edge played a factor in Washington's first winning road trip of the season. The Wizards took two of three with the lone loss coming Saturday on a buzzer-beating putback by Detroit Pistons forward Marcus Morris.

"When you win on the road, you have to play with toughness, you have to play with complete belief in each other and what we do," Wizards coach Scott Brooks said after Washington held Charlotte to 38.9 percent shooting. "I thought we've been doing that."

The Wizards never trailed, but needed to fend off the Hornets after Charlotte pulled within 82-77 early in the in the fourth quarter.

"A lot of guys stepped up in different situations," said Wall, who had 24 points.

Bradley Beal snapped an 0-for-20 stretch from distance with four 3-pointers. Kelly Oubre Jr. scored eight of his 10 points in the final period.

As for another meeting with Boston, Wall doesn't appear phased by the Celtics' aggressive approach.

"I think the new era, a lot of people might call it 'dirty' because it's a lot softer now in the league," Wall said, according to the Boston Globe. "But it's not dirty to me."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Bulls (22-23) at Magic (18-28)

Date: January 24, 2017 7:00 PM EDT

The Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic will be trying to get their offenses untracked when the teams meet Tuesday in Orlando, Fla.

The biggest -- and most controversial -- moment of the Bull' win over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday was not a triumph of offensive execution.

With the game tied, Kings power forward DeMarcus Cousins got the ball on the right wing and drove toward the paint, turning his back to the basket to try to bully his way in for a game-winner after already scoring 42 points.

This was a moment for some vintage Dwyane Wade defense. Wade left his man and went to trap Cousins. As Cousins turned back toward the basket, Wade met him and stole the ball. The race was on to the basket to finish the game. Never mind the controversial foul and missed dunk that came later. The Bulls pulled off the 102-99 win over the Kings.

It was the culmination of a strong offensive performance -- the Bulls posted a 107.9 offensive rating despite shooting 41.0 percent from the floor. The Bulls' defense helped produce that impressive offensive statistic.

There was the occasional Jimmy Butler game where he displays his scoring brilliance, but the Bulls' offense has largely been a struggle, especially when the team struggles to defend.

"Too many times we're taking the ball out of the net and not getting into our flow offense, which is where we're at our best," coach Fred Hoiberg told the Chicago Tribune.

The statistics show this struggle too. The Bulls are 19th in the league in offensive rating, scoring 103.8 points per 100 possessions. Chicago has the third-worst field goal percentage in the league, and that is where the defensive factor matters. The Bulls are 12th in the league in defensive rating, but force opponents to commit turnovers on just 13.6 of their possessions, 20th in the league.

The Magic have much the same problem. They are poor on defense and do not force a lot of turnovers -- ranking 23rd in the league. And with a defense ranked in the bottom 10 too, it is no wonder they struggle on the offensive end. The Magic are 29th in the league in offensive rating.

The inability to turn defense into offense has hounded the team but so has the team's difficulties keeping the ball moving.

Without a player like Butler to score seemingly at will and take much of the defense's attention, the Magic must rely on a balanced lineup and assists. The team has dealt with this difficulty all season, and no one expected them to be strong offensively anyway.

Magic coach Frank Vogel said his team must "trust the pass." At times, the team has not done that. Vogel said passing is not instinctual for this team.

"I thought we've really passed the ball well the last couple games," Vogel said. "We haven't shot the ball well. I still think we're still settling for early contested shots, but we've had some great passing possessions or stretches of the game. When you pass the ball like that, you are going to knock down shots. That is why you have to remain confident in that."

The Magic kept pace with the Golden State Warriors in the first half Sunday, but eventually gave way for a 118-98 loss. And the Magic's offense is still 29th in the league in their last 10 games. The offense remains a big issue for the team, a puzzle constantly in need of solving.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Spurs (35-9) at Raptors (28-16)

Date: January 24, 2017 7:00 PM EDT

TORONTO -- It was going to be difficult enough for the struggling Toronto Raptors to face the San Antonio Spurs Tuesday night at the Air Canada Centre.

Now they will have to do it without their leading scorer, DeMar DeRozan, who will miss at least the next two games with a sprained right ankle.

DeRozan was injured in the loss to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday when he stepped on another player's foot. He continued to play but it was worse on Monday.

"When it rains, it pours sometimes," said DeRozan who is averaging 27.9 points per game. "Once you get through that part of it, it always comes out to be worth it. That's how I always look at it. I think I'm just an optimistic type of guy and that's how I look at everything."

The Raptors have lost three in a row for the first time this season and face the Spurs, who defeated the Brooklyn Nets Monday night 112-86 despite being without star forward Kawhi Leonard, who had a sore hand.

The Spurs also were without Pau Gasol, who has a broken bone in his left hand; Tony Parker, who has a sore left foot; and Manu Ginobili, who had back spasms but was scheduled to have the game off anyway.

It did not matter against the Nets. The Spurs had seven players reach double-digit scoring and produced a 39-point third quarter.

"There's a certain level of efficiency and there's just a real level of maturity here," said David Lee, who scored 15 points off the bench for the Spurs. "This is really just a punch in, punch out, do your job type of team. Coach Pop (Gregg Popovich) is going to get his way no matter who he has in there. Our depth is one of our strengths and everybody's ready to play and of course Pop makes it clear what he expects out there whether it's the first team guys or the role players doing that."

"I just told the locker room, I thought we did a good job," Popovich said. "Every road win is hard to get and real special, so we've concentrated on that pretty well this season. We always have and this group is continuing to do that, so just because we had a good win against Cleveland (118-115 in overtime over the Cavaliers on Saturday), you know we don't want to take it away and lose your next game. It doesn't matter who you're playing. With that day off in New York, I was a little worried, because all I did was eat all day long."

The Spurs (35-9) are 19-4 on the road.

The last time the Raptors lost three in a row was in November 2015.

"Everybody's in panic mode right now, it's not time to panic," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "We're going through a tough time. This is part of the NBA. How you come out of this, how you fight against it, how you compete against it. That's the most important thing."

After playing the Spurs, the Raptors visit the Memphis Grizzlies for a game on Wednesday.

With DeRozan out, Terrence Ross and Norman Powell will try to pick up the slack. Also, Patrick Patterson could return from a strained left knee that has keep him out of all but two games since Dec. 29.

"They aren't going to score in the traditional, DeMar DeRozan way, mid-range shots and get to the free-throw line," Casey said. "We are going to have to do it different ways. Get to the rim, run in transition, run the floor, attack the rim and finish.

"We've been fortunate enough to put ourselves in a good position of being second in the East, so it's not like we're chopped liver. We shouldn't be in a situation where we're dropping our shoulders, the world is falling in, the sky is falling. We're going through a tough time. That's the NBA. We've got to be tough people to go through it."

The Raptors (28-16) are 15-7 at home.

The Spurs won the first meeting between the teams 110-82 on Jan. 3 at the AT&T Center.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Clippers (30-16) at 76ers (15-27)

Date: January 24, 2017 7:00 PM EDT

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin is expected to return Tuesday, when the Clippers visit the Philadelphia 76ers, but two other top-notch players are expected to miss the game.

Clippers point guard Chris Paul is out until March after tearing ligaments in his left thumb last week.

The Sixers are also expected to be without rookie center Joel Embiid. He injured his left knee in last Friday's victory over Portland, an injury that has alternately been described by the team as a contusion and a hyperextension.

Griffin, averaging 21.2 points and 8.8 rebounds while appearing in 26 games this season, underwent arthroscopic surgery to have loose bodies removed from his right knee on Dec. 19 and missed 18 games, including Monday's 115-105 victory in Atlanta.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters Monday that Griffin would "most likely" play against the Sixers.

"Most likely, definitely," Rivers told the Los Angeles Times. "It's an alternate fact."

Griffin seemed eager to return when he addressed reporters Saturday in Denver, as the Clippers began a five-game road trip.

"I would play tonight if they let me," he told the Orange County Register. "This trip, this is it."

Paul, averaging 17.5 points, 9.7 assists and 2.2 steals a game this season, was injured during last Monday's victory over Oklahoma City and underwent surgery last Friday. He is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks.

The Clippers (30-16) are fourth in the Western Conference, having snapped a two-game losing streak with Monday's victory over the Hawks. Austin Rivers scored 27 points and Jamal Crawford added 19 for Los Angeles, which built a 24-point lead and held off Atlanta down the stretch.

Embiid leads the Sixers (15-27) and all NBA rookies in scoring (19.8), rebounding (7.8) and blocked shots (2.5). He suffered his injury when he landed awkwardly after dunking in the third quarter last Friday, and while he later returned, he was removed for good with 8:50 left.

Philadelphia nonetheless won that night, on a 3-pointer with 4.5 seconds left by forward Robert Covington. It was the Sixers' third straight victory, their sixth in seven games and their eighth in 10.

Embiid, named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday, did not play in Saturday's 110-93 loss in Atlanta, but the Sixers typically have not played him in the second game of back-to-back sets, after he missed two seasons following a pair of foot surgeries.

He is listed as doubtful for Tuesday's game, but coach Brett Brown took it one step further when he met with reporters after practice Monday.

"We're going to be without him (Tuesday) and in Milwaukee (on Wednesday) and we will go from there," Brown told Philly.com.

Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, citing unnamed league sources, reported that Embiid will return Friday, when the Sixers host Houston on national television.

Jahlil Okafor is expected to start in Embiid's place against the Clippers, even though Philly.com reported that he did not take part in the five-on-five portion of Monday's practice because of a sore right knee. He is nonetheless listed as probable for Tuesday's game.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Timberwolves (16-28) at Suns (15-29)

Date: January 24, 2017 9:00 PM EDT

The Minnesota Timberwolves will seek to complete their first season sweep of the Phoenix Suns in 13 years on Tuesday when the improving Western Conference clubs meet at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

The Timberwolves beat the Suns 98-85 in Phoenix in November, and repeated the result in a 115-108 victory in Minneapolis last month.

Minnesota has beaten Phoenix three straight times bridging back to the 2015-16 season.

Both clubs will take the court Tuesday on a bit of a roll.

The Timberwolves were just 11-22 on New Year's Day, but have since gone 5-6. They will take a two-game winning streak into the contest, looking to duplicate a three-game run they recorded earlier this month.

Minnesota got a boost from an unlikely source in Sunday's 111-108 home win over Denver. Rookie guard Kris Dunn responded to a rare start by recording a season-high-tying 10 points and nine assists to go with a season-best eight rebounds.

"He's been coming on for a while," Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau said of Dunn after the game. "His defense has been good from the beginning. Offensively, he's figuring it out."

Dunn, the No. 5 pick of the 2016 draft, was starting in place of Ricky Rubio, who left the club over the weekend following the death of his grandmother. The veteran point guard is expected to return for Tuesday's game.

Center Karl-Anthony Towns led the way against the Nuggets with a game-high 32 points. He had his third-highest scoring game of the season (37 points) in Thursday's 104-101 road win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Towns has recorded a pair of double-doubles, averaging 25.0 points and 12.5 rebounds, in Minnesota's first two wins over Phoenix. But the Suns have gotten much better play from their center, Tyson Chandler, in recent games.

Chandler broke a 48-year-old franchise record in Saturday's 107-105 win at New York with a seventh consecutive game with 15 or more rebounds.

He had only nine rebounds in Sunday's 115-103 win at Toronto, but contributed 16 points to the cause.

The weekend sweep gave the Suns a 2-1 trip, their first winning trip of three or more games this season.

Eric Bledsoe was Phoenix's biggest offensive weapon Sunday, pouring in a career-best 40 points.

"Wow," Suns coach Earl Watson gushed to reporters after the game. "This is the best I've seen him."

Bledsoe has averaged 25.0 points in the two losses to Minnesota this season.

Like the Timberwolves, the Suns have stepped up their play in January. Phoenix has gone 5-5 this month, including wins over two division leaders -- San Antonio and Toronto.

The game matches teams that have been winning for different reasons of late.

Minnesota has limited seven of its last 12 opponents to 99 or fewer points.

Phoenix, meanwhile, hasn't held any foe to fewer than 103 points in its last seven games. But the Suns have scored 101 or more in eight straight, winning games in three countries -- the United States, Mexico and Canada -- along the way.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Jazz (29-17) at Nuggets (18-25)

Date: January 24, 2017 9:00 PM EDT

The Utah Jazz have been building for a revival for a couple of years, and now it seems to have finally taken hold.

Utah appears to be for real in 2016-17.

The Jazz (29-17) had a six-game winning streak snapped after Monday's 97-95 loss to Oklahoma City in a matchup of the top teams in the Northwest Division.

Utah still leads Oklahoma City by two games in the division and its stay at the top might last for a while.

The key component in this successful run is point guard George Hill.

With Hill in the lineup, the Jazz are 17-5, making management look smart for trading for the 30-year-old veteran in the offseason. Utah is 10-0 when Hill scores 20 or more points in a game, and he had 30 against his former team, the Indiana Pacers, on Saturday night.

"He was unbelievable," Jazz forward Gordon Hayward said after the win over the Pacers. "I don't know if it had anything to do with playing the Pacers, but he was just tremendous."

The Jazz will try for another win Tuesday night against the Denver Nuggets (18-25). Denver is coming off a disappointing 111-108 loss in Minnesota on Sunday night, a game in which it led by nine in the fourth quarter but crumbled in the final two minutes.

"We just turned the ball over too consistently," guard Jamal Murray told The Denver Post after the loss. "There wasn't a stretch when we didn't turn it over. Our offense kept us in the game, but it should be the other way around; our defense should keep us in the game."

Murray saw his minutes increase with the absence of starting point guard Emmanuel Mudiay.

Mudiay didn't make the one-game road trip because of lower back soreness. It bothered him before Saturday's win over the Los Angeles Clippers and then it became too much to play when he was knocked to the ground on a hard, legal screen by Clippers center DeAndre Jordan in the third quarter.

Mudiay's status for Tuesday is unknown.

The Nuggets did see the return of guard Gary Harris from a right ankle sprain, and he responded with a team-high 22 points. He has missed 19 games with various injuries this season but came back flying against the Timberwolves.

"I just wanted to come out there with energy and do whatever I could," Harris told The Denver Post. "Just get out there and just try to help the team out."

While the Jazz are jockeying for a top-four seed in the Western Conference, the Nuggets are just trying to get into the playoffs. They hold the eighth and final seed in the conference, but there is a lot of basketball left for them to either secure a postseason spot or fall out for the fourth straight season.

To get there, the Nuggets have to start playing defense to match their explosive offense. It didn't happen against the Timberwolves, who pulled away in the final minute.

The defense will have to be sharp against the Jazz, who are first in the league in points against this season. Utah wins on its defense, anchored by center Derrick Favors and forward Rudy Gobert.

Gobert is a legitimate NBA Defensive Player of the Year candidate and this season he has increased his offensive production.

"It starts with strength, and that's something I've gotten better at," Gobert told the Salt Lake Tribune. "I'm also way more connected with my teammates and that's helped. They've done a great job of getting me the ball when I'm open."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Free NBA Picks: Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017, Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews

Some much-needed good news for the Los Angeles Clippers is imminent as Blake Griffin is expected to return from his knee injury. It's most likely he will do so Tuesday in Philadelphia. Griffin underwent an arthroscopic procedure to remove loose bodies from his right knee on Dec. 20. Griffin worked out Friday with Brice Johnson and Alan Anderson and reported no problems. The Clippers were 9-8 without him entering Monday's trip to Atlanta -- Griffin wasn't playing there as I'm sure the team didn't want him out there for both ends of a back-to-back -- and really looked bad in losses to Minnesota and Denver last week once they lost Chris Paul for 6-8 weeks following thumb surgery. Griffin is averaging 21.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists this season.

Spurs at Raptors (TBA)

NBA TV game. Could be an NBA preview as the Spurs are surely the West's second-best team and the Raptors are most likely the same in the East. So one injury to a key Warrior and Cavalier and we could be looking at a San Antonio-Toronto Finals that would make ABC/ESPN cringe from a ratings perspective. Alas, we likely won't see the best of the Spurs here as they played Monday in Brooklyn so Gregg Popovich probably rests a guy or two. Pau Gasol is already out with a broken finger and Tony Parker had missed the previous two games entering Monday with a foot injury. Toronto perhaps was looking ahead to this one Sunday with it was upset 115-103 at home by Phoenix for a third straight loss. To make matters worse, leading scorer and All-Star DeMar DeRozan had to leave late after rolling his ankle on a teammate's foot. I haven't seen any updates yet on his status. San Antonio routed Toronto 110-82 on Jan. 3, but the Spurs have dropped their past two north of the border.

Key trends: The home team is 5-1 against the spread in the past six meetings. The "over/under" is 8-3 in the past 11.

Early lean: Wait on DeRozan.

Clippers at 76ers (TBA)

As noted above, Los Angeles was in Atlanta on Monday. Philadelphia had a three-game winning streak snapped in a 110-93 loss in Atlanta. It's amazing how different -- i.e. bad -- this team is without Joel Embiid and how good with him. He sat that one out as it was the second of a back-to-back. I suppose it's possible he doesn't play here, either, as Embiid did suffer a knee contusion on Friday. This is the first meeting of the season between Los Angeles and Philly. The Clippers have won the past nine meetings.

Key trends: The 76ers are 5-0 ATS in their past five at home. The under is 4-1 in the Clippers' past five in the second of a back-to-back.

Early lean: Wait on Embiid and Griffin.

Celtics at Wizards (+1, 217.5)

Washington was in Charlotte on Monday. Boston dropped a second straight home game Saturday in a 127-123 OT upset to Portland. Isaiah Thomas led Boston with 41 points, his 14th time this season with 30 or more points. Guard Avery Bradley was out for the second straight game with a sore right Achilles. You won't see him here. The C's and Wiz have split two games this season, with the Wizards winning the game in Washington by 25 points on Nov. 16.

Key trends: The home team is 5-2 ATS in the past seven meetings. The over is 20-6 in the Wizards' past 26 in the second of a back-to-back.

Early lean: Wizards and over.

Bulls at Magic (+3, 206)

Chicago ended a two-game losing streak with a 102-99 home win over Sacramento on Saturday. Dwyane Wade had 30 points and two key steals in the final minute. The Kings were on the wrong side of a clearly wrong foul call on DeMarcus Cousins in the final seconds and the league has admitted it was a bad call. Orlando lost at home to the Warriors on Sunday, 118-98. The Magic were playing well against a Warriors team playing its first noon Eastern time zone game since 1995, but Golden State woke up in the third quarter by outscoring the Magic by 18. Orlando starting guard Evan Fournier missed his fifth straight game with a right foot injury. Point guard D.J. Augustin sprained his right ankle during the second quarter and did not return to the game. Orlando lost the first meeting vs. the Bulls, 112-80 in Chicago on Nov. 7.

Key trends: The Bulls are 1-7 ATS in the past eight meetings. The under is 4-0 in the previous four.

Early lean: Magic and under.

Jazz at Nuggets (+1.5, 212)

Utah hosted Oklahoma City on Monday. Denver lost 111-108 in Minnesota on Sunday. Gary Harris scored 22 points and Nikola Jokic had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Nuggets on the second night of a back-to-back. The Nugs were without Emmanuel Mudiay due to back troubles, and he's questionable here. This is the last meeting between the Jazz and Nuggets this season. Utah leads 2-1 but lost by 14 in Denver on Nov. 20.

Key trends: The Jazz are 11-3 ATS in the past 14 meetings. The under is 7-1 in the past eight meetings.

Early lean: Nuggets and under.

Timberwolves at Suns (+1.5, 214.5)

Minnesota won a second straight Sunday, 111-108 over Denver. Ricky Rubio was away from the team because of a death in the family and rookie Kris Dunn started and played well with 10 points and nine assists. That's why the Wolves want to trade Rubio, who is expected to play Tuesday, so Dunn can start every game. Karl-Anthony Towns had 32 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and four blocks. Phoenix upset the Raptors 115-103 in Toronto on Sunday. Eric Bledsoe had a career-high 40 points to go with 13 assists and six rebounds. Too bad the Suns aren't in the East as they are 11-6 against that conference. This is the last meeting of the season between Phoenix and Minnesota, which leads 2-0.

Key trends: The favorite is 6-2 ATS in the past eight meetings. The under is 5-2 in the previous seven.

Early lean: Suns and over.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA

Tuesday’s games

Boston lost its last two games after a 7-1 run; they covered their last five tries as a road favorite. Over is 5-2 in their last seven games. Wizards won five of last six games, won last 13 home games (11-1-1 vs spread). Over is 3-1-1 in their last five games. Celtics won five of last six games with Washington; they lost three of last five visits here, in series where home side won seven of last nine meetings. Under is 3-1 in last four series games played here.

Bulls lost nine of last 11 road games, are 2-2 vs spread as road favorites. Under is 4-1 in their last five road games. Orlando lost eight of last ten games, is 2-9 vs spread as a home underdog. Last four Magic home games stayed under the total. Home side won last five Chicago-Orlando games; Bulls are 2-3 in last five visits here (0-5 vs spread). Last four series games stayed under total.

San Antonio won its last four games, is 13-7 as a road favorite, 6-2 if they played night before. Six of their last seven games went over total. Raptors lost last three games, by 5-35-12 points; they’re 0-3 as home underdogs. Last three Toronto games stayed under the total. Home side won last six San Antonio-Toronto games; Spurs lost last two visits here, by 5-3 points. Over is 7-3 in last ten series games.

Clippers won 8 of last 10 games, are 1-2 since Paul got hurt; they’re 1-8 in last nine games as a road favorite. Under is 5-2-1 in their last eight games. 76ers won six of last eight games, covered last five at home. Under is 6-2 in their last eight games. Clippers won last nine games with the 76ers (8-1 vs spread); they won four of last five visits to Philly (4-1 vs spread). Three of last four series games went over. Embiid is doubtful here; Paul is out, Griffin also doubtful.

Minnesota won five of its last seven games; they’re 5-2 in last seven games as a road underdog. Under is 3-1-1 in their last five games. Suns are 5-4 in last nine games (7-2 vs spread); they’re 2-4 as a home favorite. Five of their last seven games went over. Minnesota won its last three games with Phoenix, by 5-13-7 points; T’wolves lost four of last five visits to desert (2-3 vs spread). Under is 5-2 in last seven series games.

Utah won six of last seven games; they’re 0-6 vs spread in last six road games (3-3 SU), 1-9 as a road underdog. Four of their last five games went over. Denver won four of last six games, is 7-8 as a home favorite. Over is 9-2 in their last 11 games (0-2 in last two). Utah won seven of last eight games with the Nuggets (6-2 vs spread); they won three of last five visits to Denver. Seven of last eight series games stayed under.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Top 25 roundup: N.C. State wins at No. 17 Duke
By The Sports Xchange

DURHAM, N.C. -- Dennis Smith Jr. scored 32 points and North Carolina State went on a huge late-game run to upset No. 17 Duke 84-82 on Monday night in an Atlantic Coast Conference game at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
N.C. State's Maverick Rowan hit three clutch free throws in the final 15 seconds, but his last attempt missed and that gave Duke a final chance. The Blue Devils never got off a shot because of Jayson Tatum's turnover.
Abdul-Malik Abu poured in 19 points for N.C. State (14-7, 3-5 ACC), which hadn't won at Duke since 1995. Ted Kapita added a season-high 14 points before fouling out with 5:17 to play.
Luke Kennard scored 20 points and Tatum had 16 for Duke (15-5, 3-4), which was 8 of 28 on 3-pointers. Grayson Allen had 13 points and Matt Jones added 11.

No. 3 Gonzaga 83, Portland 64
Third-ranked Gonzaga scored 18 straight points between the first and second halves and cruised to their 20th consecutive victory to start the season, beating host Portland in a West Coast Conference game.
The Bulldogs (20-0, 8-0 WCC) shot 51.7 percent from the field and had six players score at least eight points, led by reserve forward Zach Collins with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Rashad Jackson and D'Marques Tyson led the cold-shooting Pilots (9-11, 2-6) with 15 points apiece. They were a combined 10 of 21 from the field and their teammates made only 13 of 43 overall.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Auburn Tigers (13-6) at South Carolina Gamecocks (15-4)

Date: January 24, 2017 6:30 PM EDT

Sindarius Thornwell doesn't shy away from expectations, and the senior is aiming to finish his final college season in style.

The South Carolina guard also will be striving to follow up the highest scoring game of his career when the No. 23 Gamecocks host Auburn in Tuesday's SEC contest in Columbia, S.C.

Thornwell poured in 34 points in Saturday's loss to Kentucky, and he said the big outing is easy to explain. He said it is because he is now able to play without worry.

"Just play free and play confident," Thornwell said at Monday's press conference. "That's the biggest thing -- when you have the confidence with the ability, then the sky is the limit.

"Right now my confidence is through the roof."

Thornwell and the Gamecocks (15-4, 5-1 SEC) will be trying to get back on the winning side of the ledger after falling 85-69 at Kentucky.

The loss halted South Carolina's five-game winning streak, and Thornwell (team-best 19.4 points per game) was a one-man show due to sophomore guard PJ Dozier missing the contest due to back spasms.

Dozier averages 14.6 points as one of only two double-digit scorers for the Gamecocks.

Coach Frank Martin said Monday that Dozier has no structural damage in his back, but it remains unclear whether Dozier will be available against the Tigers (13-6, 3-4).

"He's past pain, he's more in soreness," Martin said. "Anytime your muscles spasm, it is just one big knot. The pain of those knots are gone."

Auburn has won three of its past four game, and the emergence of freshman center Austin Wiley has been a key reason.

Wiley averaged 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in two victories last win to earn SEC Freshman of the Week honors. He recorded career highs of 19 points and nine rebounds in Saturday's 84-64 rout of Alabama.

"I just do whatever I need to do for my team to win," Wiley said.

Wiley averages 8.6 points as part of an attack that features three double-digit scorers. Freshman guard Mustapha Heron leads the Tigers in scoring (15.6) and rebounding (6.2). Freshman forward Danjel Purifoy averages 13.1 points, and freshman guard Jared Harper chips in 12.4.

Auburn averaged 81 points in last week's wins but will find it a challenge to approach that output against the Gamecocks, who lead the nation in 3-point shooting defense (27.2 percent) and the SEC in scoring defense (60.7).

"Defensively, they are terrific," Tigers coach Bruce Pearl said at Monday's press conference. "They're also really physical offensively. It's going to be a tough one to get. South Carolina will probably be as good an environment and as tough of a matchup for us as we've faced this year."

Auburn will be hoping to see an improved effort from Purifoy. He tallied just five points in 29 minutes against Alabama after missing the previous three games with an ankle injury.

The Tigers are 3-2 on the road this season while the Gamecocks are 11-1 at home.

Meanwhile, Thornwell insists this South Carolina club is different from some of the recent editions, where a loss like the one at Kentucky might prompt another defeat or two.

"I think we're different just as far as our leadership," Thornwell said. "Us older guys won't allow our team to go in that bad place, in that down moment after a loss. We try to stay as positive as we can no matter what situation we're in and try to keep the team in a good place."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Louisville Cardinals (16-4) at Pittsburgh Panthers (12-7)

Date: January 24, 2017 7:00 PM EDT

Pittsburgh coach Kevin Stallings challenged his team this week and the Panthers will have plenty of motivation when No. 14 Louisville comes to town Tuesday night at the Peterson Events Center.

The Panthers (12-7) are a paltry 1-5 in ACC play, including an 85-80 loss to the Cardinals (16-4, 4-3) earlier this month.

Stallings wants his veteran team to get in gear.

"We've had a week off and probably needed it in some regards," Stallings said. "We have been struggling and we have not played as well as we'd like to, and it doesn't get any easier with Louisville."

The last time these two teams met, the game was well on its way to an absolute blowout when a defensive switch provided a huge boost for Pittsburgh. Louisville led 47-26 at intermission and was cruising to start the second half when Stallings reached into his bag of defensive tricks.

The Panthers switched to a 1-3-1 zone and foiled Louisville's offense long enough to allow Pitt to come roaring back on the strength of 32 second-half points from senior guard Jamel Artis. Pitt came within a possession of tying the game, but Louisville closed out the win on Jan. 11 in Louisville's KFC Yum! Center.

Will Pitt start the game with the 1-3-1 zone that was so effective against Louisville the last time?

"We've got to expect changes," Cardinals coach Rick Pitino said. "A team that wins generally doesn't make as many changes as the team that loses."

Both teams will have a different lineup due to injuries.

Louisville lost starting point guard Quentin Snider due to a strained hip flexor during the Duke game. Snider is not expected to return to the lineup until Feb. 6. Snider was a key to breaking down the 1-3-1 zone in Louisville, according to Pitino.

Pitt lost reserve forward Ryan Luther the last two games due to a right foot injury. He is still "weeks away" according to Stallings. Pitt senior forward Michael Young will play, but he will wear a clear, protective mask for the remainder of the season.

Stallings tried to impress on his team the importance of getting a win vs. Louisville Tuesday night. He said his team freely accepted his offensive system, but the four seniors in the starting lineup -- guards Chris Jones and Jamel Artis and forwards Young and Sheldon Jeter -- haven't caught on defensively.

"Right now, my assessment is the only thing it feels like they've bought into 100 percent is freedom on offense," Stallings said. "Well, anybody could buy into that. That's not a hard thing to buy into. That's just human nature. Of course I would like to have freedom on offense. I haven't gotten them to buy into the way we have to play defensively. I haven't gotten them to buy into the way we need to communicate, the way we need to support each other, the way we have to fight when adversity hits. ... That part has been a little frustrating."

Artis, 22.0 points per game, and Michael Young, 21.1, rank 1-2 among ACC scoring leaders. Stallings implied his senior starters are in danger of missing the tournament if they don't step up and lead this team to more ACC wins.

"I think what I probably overestimated would be the value of that experience and how it would pertain to leadership and how it would pertain to bringing other guys along," Stallings said. "The successful programs I've been in and the teams I've had and the programs I've had, the older guys helped coach the younger guys because they had been through it. That doesn't happen too much (here) right now.

If the Panthers needed any more motivation, the Cardinals have won nine straight games against Pittsburgh. The last time Louisville lost to the Panthers was Jan. 16, 2010 at the Peterson Events Center.

Louisville is sixth in the nation in blocked shots (6.3 bpg) and eighth in field goal percentage defense (.380).

The Cardinals faced the toughest schedule in the nation according to the RPI.

Louisville has a 13-5 series advantage over Pittsburgh and the Cardinals have won the last nine match-ups.

Prior to Louisville's current nine-game win-streak vs. the Panthers, Pitt won five of the previous eight match-ups before that.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Purdue Boilermakers (16-4) at Michigan State Spartans (12-8)

Date: January 24, 2017 7:00 PM EDT

A friendly schedule has helped Purdue rise near the top of the Big Ten standings. The Boilermakers now must prove they can be just as effective on the road as they are at home.

No. 20 Purdue plays seven of its 11 remaining conference games in hostile environments, beginning with a trip to East Lansing, Mich., to face Michigan State on Tuesday. The Boilermakers (16-4, 5-2 Big Ten) overwhelmed their two opponents at home last week, thumping Illinois 91-68 and Penn State 77-52.

That marked the first time since the 1997-98 season that Purdue won consecutive Big Ten games by 20 or more points.

In its two Big Ten road games thus far, the Boilermakers defeated Ohio State by one point and lost to unranked Iowa by five.

Junior forward Basil Smotherman believes confidence and perseverance are the biggest factors in maintaining a level of consistency.

"You just have to know when you're on the road, you're never out of the fight. You've got to find a way to win," he told the Lafayette Journal & Courier. "If we have a bad start, we have to keep pushing, and if we have a good start, we've got to keep our foot on the gas."

That's what the Boilermakers did against the Nittany Lions, opening up an 18-point halftime lead and cruising to an easy victory. Coach Matt Painter liked most of what he saw, except for the 16 turnovers his team committed.

With four of the next five games on the road, Painter knows his team can't be as generous with the ball in tighter games.

"We were focused and we were ready, but we also shot the ball well," he said. "When you get into games when it does not go your way, or you aren't shooting the ball well, can you continue to defend or does the offense dictate how you play and how you handle yourself? We have had some games where we have shot it well, but we turn it over."

The Spartans (12-8, 4-3) lost two straight, falling on the road to Ohio State and Indiana. The Hoosiers downed them 82-75 on Saturday with hot perimeter shooting, making 11 of 24 3-point attempts.

Coach Tom Izzo believes his team could be on the verge of a hot streak.

"We're still not that far away," Izzo said. "We took on a team that, I don't know if you'll shoot better than they shot. I can show you on the film where of the 11 threes they made, at least seven of them were very well contested. But coming ready to play at the beginning has been a little harder on the road than at home."

Playing four freshmen regularly has contributed to his team's inconsistency. The Spartans won all three of their conference home games.

"Don't take it that this team is not as focused as other teams we've had," Izzo said. "Take it as these players cannot attain that like some other players. There's more of these freshmen and we have a sophomore (Matt McQuaid) who's struggling but not from a lack of effort. We don't have a lot of vets that can help them through it."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Kansas Jayhawks (18-1) at West Virginia Mountainers (15-4)

Date: January 24, 2017 7:00 PM EDT

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Kansas point guard Frank Mason arrives for Tuesday's game against No. 18 West Virginia as a national player of the year candidate and the Big 12's top scorer.

He is also hungry to make amends.

During last season's visit to the WVU Coliseum, then-No. 1 Kansas lost 74-63, with Mason committing a career-worst seven turnovers -- a flurry of mistakes that surprised even Press Virginia's defenders.

The Jayhawks (18-1, 7-0 Big 12) are ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press poll this time, riding an 18-game winning streak that is tied for the nation's longest. Yet Mason and fellow senior Landon Lucas are eager to halt another streak: their 0-3 record in Morgantown.

"It's not about my bucket list or whatever, but I just want to win that one," said Mason.

A week ago West Virginia (15-4, 4-3) envisioned hosting Kansas for the Big 12 lead. Then came back-to-back losses to Oklahoma and Kansas State, forcing the Mountaineers to regroup.

"You know you're going to take a loss or two, so it's all about how you bounce back," said forward Esa Ahmad.

Seemingly primed for a breakout season, Ahmad's production dipped dramatically the past three games when he made four baskets and committed 10 turnovers. When his pass was stolen pass late in the road game against Kansas State, it became the team's 23rd turnover and cost the Mountaineers a chance to tie the game.

"Last game we were just kind of throwing it everywhere," said the 6-foot-8 forward. "We've got to make sure we get the ball and get in a stance.

"I've got to get back aggressive. I feel like I haven't been putting enough pressure on defenses."

Likewise, West Virginia's full-court press hasn't been as disorienting of late. The top turnover-margin team in Division I this season finished a combined minus-11 in that category in the last two losses.

"Our ball pressure isn't what it was and we're not closing traps the way we were," said Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins. "You want to make (ballhandlers) more worried about you than they are about where they're going to throw the ball."

While Mason averages 20.1 points, shoots 53 percent from 3-point range and increased his assists to 5.4 per game, the Jayhawks' four-guard lineup features other weapons. There is Devonte Graham (13.5 points, 4.8 assists), who scorched West Virginia for 27 in the Big 12 tournament last March, and freshman Josh Jackson (15.1 points, 6.7 rebounds).

The Jayhawks, in search of their 13th consecutive league title, score 85.4 points per game and rank fourth nationally in KenPom's offensive efficiency.

"They've got multiple guys who can push the ball," Huggins said. "They've got great speed and they're great finishers. I haven't seen anybody near as good in transition."

West Virginia scores 88.3 points and ranks 10th in efficiency. Sparked by the nation's steal leader, Jevon Carter (12 points, 4.6 assists), and senior forward Nathan Adrian (10.6 points, 6.3 rebounds), the Mountaineers seek to avoid their first three-game losing slide since February 2014.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rutgers Scarlet Knights (12-8) at Maryland Terrapins (17-2)

Date: January 24, 2017 7:00 PM EDT

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Two standout guards who are coming off strong games will face off Tuesday when No. 22 Maryland hosts Rutgers in a Big Ten Conference contest.

Melo Trimble, Maryland's junior point guard, had 20 points and five assists when the Terps (17-2, 5-1 Big Ten) won 84-76 at Iowa on Thursday as his team won another close game. He hit several big shots down the stretch.

"It's what we've done all year," Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said after the game. "You don't get to where we are right now without winning like that and believing you're going to win those games. There was some doubts out there because it got really tough. Just a lot going on out there and we had to overcome it."

Trimble said: "Not calm things down, but we aggressive. I had that in my mind the whole game. I had that aggressive mindset; keep shooting."

However, Turgeon told reporters that Trimble was sick on Monday and sent home, forcing him to miss the day's practice.

"Melo was sick today," Turgeon said. "Melo did not practice today, hopefully he will be better. We'll see how he feels tomorrow."

Rutgers posted a 65-64 win at home over Nebraska on Saturday as sophomore guard Corey Sanders hit a last-second shot for the Scarlet Knights to enable them to win their first conference game of the season.

And Sanders sounded very much like Trimble.

"Just attack the basket, that was the play," the Lakeland, Fla., product told reporters. "I just wanted to get the ball on the rim, because I knew (center) C.J. (Gettys), a 7-footer, was down there to keep the ball alive and that's what he did today. He just kept it alive and I was able to finish it."

Maryland is averaging 75.7 points per contest and shooting 45 percent from the field and 71 percent from the foul line. The Terps are shooting 36 percent on 3-point shots while opponents are making 31 percent.

The Terps' opponents are shooting 40 percent from the field and averaging 65.7 points per contest.

Trimble is averaging a team-high 17.4 points per contest while freshman forward Justin Jackson is averaging 10.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest. Jackson was named co-freshman of the week in the conference Monday after he had 12 points, nine boards and six steals at Iowa.

Freshman guard Anthony Cowan is averaging 11.3 points per game and freshman guard Kevin Huerter is scoring 8.0 points per contest.

Rutgers is scoring 68.1 points per outing and shooting just 42 percent from the field, 29 percent from 3-point line and a lowly 64 percent from the charity stripe. The Scarlet Knights are outrebounding foes 42.2 to 34.7 per game.

Sanders is averaging a team-high 12.4 points per contest, while junior forward Deshawn Freeman and junior guard Nigel Johnson are averaging more than 11 points per game.

Maryland began the season ranked No. 25 in the AP poll but fell out even though the Terps began the year with a win at home over American.

The Terps entered the poll again Jan. 16 in the No. 25 spot and moved up to No. 22 this week.

Turgeon has made glowing comments all season about his young team, which starts three freshmen.

"There's a huge belief system," Turgeon said after the win against Iowa. "It's great to see Melo make shots like that for us in the clutch and that's what he's done most of his career. He has done that lately, the last couple of games. For him to step up and do that was terrific. Our belief system was good throughout."

Rutgers, meanwhile, is 12-8 overall and 1-6 in conference play.

"I'm just proud of our guys,' Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell told reporters after the game against Nebraska. "It's not been an easy road. They've been fighting and clawing. We banded to

gether, we stayed the course. I'm just happy for our guys and happy for the great environment today."

Pikiell is in his first season with the Scarlet Knights after Eddie Jordan, a native of Washington and former coach for the Wizards of the NBA, was let go following last season.

"These guys have been through a war, and this is what you have to do to win a Big Ten game. Play hard for 40 minutes. We did a good job. Every point matters. Our defense did a great job for us for 40 minutes," added Pikiell, Stony Brook's head coach last season and a former assistant at nearby George Washington University.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Villanova Wildcats (19-1) at Marquette Golden Eagles (13-6)

Date: January 24, 2017 8:00 PM EDT

MILWAUKEE -- Jay Wright openly admits that despite being a top-ranked team in the nation and leading the Big East Conference, his Villanova Wildcats are still feeling a bit of a hangover following their national championship run a year ago.

"It's definitely there," Wright said after Villanova's victory over Providence Saturday in Philadelphia. "It's something you have to deal with all the time, and as you have success it continues, and I'm sure when it comes NCAA Tournament time, it's going to be (even stronger).

"I get it. Everybody said it to me and if someone asks me next year I would say the same thing, that it's there and you really, really have to address it and deal with it. Every day."

Judging from the numbers, though, it's hard to see: Villanova comes into their game Tuesday against host Marquette ranked first in the AP poll and second in the coaches' survey. The Wildcats have lost just once this season -- on the road to No. 8 Butler -- and currently are tied with Duke for the best start to a season by a defending national champ.

"We just have to continue to get better," said Kris Jenkins, who is averaging a career-best 14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals. "I believe every guy in our locker room wants to continue to grow and become better. We're not just satisfied with something we did last year. This is a brand-new year."

The Wildcats have won nine in a row against Marquette, including a 93-81 decision earlier this month in Philadelphia.

Markus Howard led four Marquette players in double figures with 21 points and the Golden Eagles knocked down 14 3-pointers as a team. Despite that performance, Villanova shot 65 percent from the floor and 61 percent from beyond the arc to bounce back from its only loss of the season.

"They're really good," Marquette coach Steve Wojciechowski said. "They put you on so many binds on both ends of the floor. ... I didn't think we played as hard as we could possibly play when we were in Philadelphia. I don't know if we play our butts off for 40 minutes if that's going to translate into a win, but we can play a lot harder than we did in Philadelphia."

Marquette is feeling confident after recording its first road victory of the Big East season, a 102-94 shootout over Creighton Saturday in Omaha.

Katin Reinhardt was one of seven players to score in double figures, leading the team with 21. Luke Fischer added 18 with six rebounds.

"I think our team gained some confidence from being able to go against an outstanding team in a tough venue and leaving there with a win," Wojciechowski said.

Howard went 1-for-4 from distance against the Blue Jays but leads the conference with a 50.6 3-point percentage. The Golden Eagles as a team are the league's best 3-point shooters, connecting on 41.7 percent of their shots.

The Wildcats have dominated the series with Marquette, posting a 20-9 record against the Golden Eagles.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Virginia Cavaliers (15-3) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (17-3)

Date: January 24, 2017 8:00 PM EDT

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- One down, one really big one to go for No. 14 Notre Dame.

An Atlantic Coast Conference demon was exorcised Saturday at a sold-out Purcell Pavilion when Notre Dame (17-3, 6-1 ACC) ran away with an 18-point victory over Syracuse. It marked the first time in five meetings that the Fighting Irish were successful against the Orange, and the first time they had won a game as ACC colleagues.

Notre Dame coach Mike Brey made mention of that in the postgame locker room and also touched on the fact that another streak awaits to be broken when No. 12 Virginia (15-3, 5-2) visits on Tuesday night in what likely will be another sellout.

Just as Syracuse had done, Virginia owns Notre Dame in ACC play. The Cavaliers have won all four meetings, something Brey let his veterans know Saturday afternoon.

"We have a very focused upperclass group that has had their butts beat by Virginia a bunch," Brey said. "We're playing a team that we've had no answers for."

It's a challenge that Notre Dame has not answered in any of its four previous meetings. The games have seldom been close. Notre Dame's average margin of defeat has been 13.2 points. The Fighting Irish often have trailed -- by a lot. Their average largest deficit is 19.5 points.

Virginia led by as many as 24 the first time the teams met in South Bend in 2014, then led by 25 later that season in Charlottesville, Va. The Irish team that went 32-6 and won the conference tournament in 2015 trailed by as many as 10 points at home to the Cavaliers, who opened league play last season with an 11-point win in a game they led by 19 at one point.

Notre Dame never has shot better than 49 percent from the field or better than 42 percent from 3-point range. Its point average in four games? A pedestrian 56.

The Cavaliers have done as they pleased. Notre Dame needs for that to change, as it did against Syracuse.

"They're next," junior power forward Martinas Geben said of Virginia, which comes to town as winners of four in a row. "They're next on the list. We just have to come out aggressive again and attacking and just making smart plays and take care of the basketball."

Virginia arrives the league's gold standard since Notre Dame jumped aboard in 2013-14. In that time, the Cavaliers have won 50 ACC contests. They've been good at home. They've been good on the road. They won't be intimidated by what they'll face Tuesday night. They'll just continue to play their methodical, successful brand of basketball.

"I like going on the road," said Cavaliers forward Isaiah Wilkins. "We just have young guys locked in and ready to play just as much as we are. It's going to be a crazy environment and it's just a lot of fun going and playing there."

The Irish think of themselves as "road dawgs" when it comes to venturing away from their building in league play. They won their first three road games, and lost a fourth to No. 6 Florida State by only three points. The Cavaliers have a similar mindset -- get them away from home doesn't necessarily mean it will get them out of their game.

"I think we play a little bit better on the road," senior point guard London Perrantes said Saturday. "We play with a lot more energy."

A massive matchup awaits.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Penn State Nittany Lions (11-9) at Wisconsin Badgers (16-3)

Date: January 24, 2017 9:00 PM EDT

MADISON, Wis. -- Starters for No. 15 Wisconsin had a lighter practice one day after the Badgers notched an exciting and exhausting 78-76 overtime win on Saturday at Minnesota.

Badgers coach Greg Gard gave reserves the opportunity to log additional preparation time despite a quick turnaround as Wisconsin (16-3, 5-1 Big Ten Conference) hosts Penn State (11-9, 3-4) on Tuesday night at the Kohl Center.

"We took that group of 12 non-starters and did a 10-minute scrimmage last night," Gard said about Sunday practice. "It was beneficial for both. Gave the heavy-minute guys some rest and continued to give the others more experience."

Sophomore forward Ethan Happ collected co-Big Ten Player of the Week honors on Monday, in large part due to his effort at Minnesota. Happ posted career highs of 28 points and five blocks. He also contributed 12 rebounds and matched a career high with six assists.

In two victories last week, Happ averaged 19.5 points, nine rebounds and 4.5 assists. Senior guard Bronson Koenig, who drilled a go-ahead 3-pointer with less than a minute to go in regulation against the Gophers, paces the Badgers in scoring at 14.3 points per game.

The Wisconsin program claims 17 consecutive victories against Penn State, but Gard said the current Nittany Lions corps is loaded with young talent and a couple veterans. He's familiar with freshman guard Tony Carr and freshman forward Lamar Stevens from the AAU basketball circuit.

The Nittany Lions lost two Big Ten games by three points (at Indiana, 78-75 and at Michigan, 72-69) during the first part of the league season. Penn State lost three of its last five games, but secured a 52-50 home win over Minnesota on Jan. 14.

In the Nittany Lions' most recent setback this past Saturday, they got pounded 77-52 at then-No. 21 Purdue.

Carr and Stevens, averaging 11.6 and 11.4 points per game, respectively, in their first collegiate seasons, played their prep careers together at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia. Carr leads the Nittany Lions with 3.6 assists per game.

Junior guard Shep Garner paces the team in scoring with 12.3 points per game and redshirt freshman forward Mike Watkins also provides valuable contributions with 9.8 points and 8.6 rebounds.

"In the past they've always depended on one guy to score 25, 30 points, and now they've got five guys that almost average double figures, so, they disburse that (offense) and share the ball pretty well," Gard said.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin senior forward Vitto Brown is improving every day after suffering a right leg and ankle injury last week in the second half of the Badgers' win against Michigan.

After sitting out practice leading up to the Minnesota game, Gard expected Brown to be sidelined but the starter was given the green light on Saturday after working with trainers. Brown had a lighter workload since the Badgers relied on a smaller lineup for portions of the game at Minnesota, and scored seven points in 17 minutes.

"I thought he would be somewhat limited but I was more concerned with changing direction in transition, getting up and down the floor and anything, maybe, in the half court," Gard said. "He stayed within himself and did a good job there."