Wednesday 1/13/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pacers (22-16) at Celtics (19-19)

Date: January 13, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The Boston Celtics are searching for answers during their longest losing streak of the season. They may not find them against an opponent that's had their number.

The Celtics limp home looking to end a frustrating four-game skid in Wednesday night's matchup with the Indiana Pacers.

An inability to win close games has Boston (19-19) at .500 for the first time since it was 7-7 on Nov. 24. The Celtics have lost four times by six points or less during a 1-6 stretch that began with home defeats to two of the league's worst teams, the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn.

'Very frustrating, especially when they're winnable games,' guard Isaiah Thomas said. 'We're just not doing enough of the little things to win these games."

Offensive woes have been the biggest contributor to the tailspin, though the Celtics were let down by their usually reliable defense in Tuesday's 120-114 loss at New York. The Knicks were 13 of 18 from the field during a 35-point fourth quarter and shot 53.1 percent overall, the second-highest mark by a Boston opponent this season.

"It's hard not to think that basket's bigger than it is because of the way we defended them," coach Brad Stevens said.

The Celtics shot 38.3 percent and averaged 94.7 points over their previous three losses, and they've been woeful from the 3-point line throughout their seven-game slump, making 25.5 percent.

Those numbers don't match up well against Indiana (22-16), among the NBA's top defensive teams. The Pacers have been especially stingy during the new calendar year, limiting opponents to 93.5 points per game and 39.2 percent shooting while winning four of six.

They improved to 19-3 when allowing less than 100 points with Tuesday's 116-97 victory over depleted Phoenix. The Pacers showed some offensive skill as well, particularly during a fourth quarter in which they outscored the Suns 36-21 while hitting 14 of 21 shots.

"We have a lot of guys that can score the ball," said George Hill, who had 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting. "It's on us. When we have those bad shooting nights, it's because we're forcing, not making the extra pass and playing the right way."

Hill is 18 of 31 from 3-point range while averaging 15.6 points over a seven-game span.

Boston has received plenty of production from Thomas, who followed up a 35-point effort in Sunday's 101-98 loss at Memphis with 34 against the Knicks. Marcus Smart is shooting 21.6 percent over his last four, however, and Evan Turner was 7 of 24 while averaging 5.7 points over the team's 0-3 trip.

Turner had 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting in Indiana's Nov. 11 visit to TD Garden, but the Pacers held Thomas to 14 in earning a 102-91 win. Paul George finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds that night and had the same line in Indiana's 100-98 home victory over Boston a week earlier.

Boston, which has lost three straight and six of eight at home, has dropped seven of 10 in the series.

Indiana's Rodney Stuckey is questionable for the game after exiting Tuesday's contest with a right foot injury.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mavericks (22-17) at Thunder (27-12)

Date: January 13, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

After succumbing to a long night against LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, now the Dallas Mavericks must face Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

The visiting Mavericks figure to be the more tired team after an overtime loss although the Oklahoma City Thunder are also playing the second half of a back-to-back set Wednesday night.

Dallas (22-17) fell 110-107 at home to Cleveland on Tuesday. James had three points and an assist on Irving's 3-pointer in a 6-2 run over the final minute of the extra session, and they combined for 49 points.

"We can't hang our heads," forward Chandler Parsons told the Mavericks' official website. "We've got the same type of monster tomorrow night in OKC, dealing with similar personnel with Westbrook and Durant. It's not going to get easier going forward, so we've got to lock in get back at it tomorrow."

Three Mavericks logged at least 40 minutes, including the starting backcourt of Deron Williams and Wesley Matthews. Dallas built an early 16-point lead.

'We knew we weren't going to blow them out. We knew that the lead at some point was going to get chipped away,' Matthews said. 'But this was our game. We should have won it and we didn't.'

Fatigue will be a factor versus the Thunder, who won 101-96 at Minnesota on Tuesday. Durant scored Oklahoma City's final 12 points over the last 2:54 in a 30-point effort.

'It felt like I need to get it going in the first three quarters,' he said. 'I can't just come out and try to save the game and make shots in the fourth. I've got to get it going earlier. I've got to make shots, man. That's what it's about.'

Westbrook added 22 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds as Oklahoma City (27-12) won for the seventh time in nine games.

The Mavericks will face Durant for the first time since he was out when the Thunder won 117-114 on Nov. 22. Westbrook had 31 points and 11 assists, scoring Oklahoma City's final six points as it held on down the stretch.

Williams and Matthews combined for 38 points that night.

Dallas is 6-3 in the second half of back-to-backs and Oklahoma City is 2-4. It's not clear who will even play for the Mavericks after Tuesday's grueling loss.

Last Tuesday, Dallas won in two overtimes at home over Sacramento. The next night, coach Rick Carlisle rested Williams, Matthews, Dirk Nowitzki and Zaza Pachulia in a 100-91 win at New Orleans. Parsons was the only regular starter who remained in the lineup.

Parsons led Dallas with a season-high 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting Tuesday. Nowitzki had 17 points and 11 boards.

Nowitzki entered Tuesday averaging 8.0 points on catch-and-shoot attempts to rank third in the NBA. Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka was seventh at 7.1 per game.

The Thunder have won nine of their last 11 at home over the Mavs, including two playoff wins. Tuesday's victory completed their longest trip of the season to this point at 2-1.

"It was a good trip for us, we won more than we lost," Durant said. "We're looking forward to coming home and playing in front of our great fans."

Dallas is opening a three-game trip that includes matchups with Chicago and San Antonio.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Timberwolves (12-27) at Rockets (20-19)

Date: January 13, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The Houston Rockets have their swagger back, and it's showing during a four-game winning streak.

They'll have a chance for another confidence-building result when the floundering Minnesota Timberwolves visit Toyota Center on Wednesday night.

After failing to meet expectations over the season's first two months, Houston (20-19) has begun to resemble the free-wheeling team that reached the 2015 Western Conference finals in matching its longest unbeaten run of this campaign. Improved efficiency on both ends has triggered the turnaround, with the Rockets having regained their touch from the 3-point arc and shored up a defense that was often non-existent during their sluggish start.

Those strides were evident in Tuesday's 107-91 win at rival Memphis, where Houston was 18 of 35 on 3s and outscored the Grizzlies 24-8 over the final 7:13.

"I think our guys are in a great spot right now," interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "There's confidence, there's belief, there's togetherness, there's poise, all those things that we talked about in October are starting to come to fruition. When things kept coming, times got hard, we didn't fracture, we stayed together."

The Rockets have shot 43.0 percent from 3 over the last nine games after a 33.5 percent rate over the first 30. They're allowing 95.8 points per game during the win streak after permitting 116.5 in losing their previous four.

Houston is 16-12 since Bickerstaff replaced Kevin McHale on Nov. 18 and can move two games over .500 for the first time this season by extending the Timberwolves' losing streak to eight games.

Minnesota (12-27) has dropped 11 of 12 overall and eight of nine on the road, though there were a few encouraging signs in Tuesday's 101-96 home loss to Northwest Division-leading Oklahoma City. With second-year pros Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine leading the way, the Timberwolves cut an 18-point third-quarter deficit down to three in the final minute.

"OKC's a really good team and got off to a really quick start on us, but everyone played well tonight,' said forward Shabazz Muhammad. "We have to carry that on to tomorrow night."

Wiggins scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half and is averaging 26.0 over his last three games. Muhammad is averaging 19.3 during that stretch after recording 20 on Tuesday.

LaVine added 21 points to break out of a horrendous seven-game slump in which the 20-year-old managed 21 total while shooting 20.5 percent.

"He slowed down, he was patient, he found his rhythm shooting the ball," coach Sam Mitchell said. "The thing we've been telling Zach is just focus on running a basketball team, playing defense and everything else will come. I thought he played his best game."

The Timberwolves still failed to score 100 points for a 12th consecutive game and could have trouble keeping up with the high-powered Rockets, fourth in the league at 104.0 points per game. Minnesota hasn't had a longer stretch of games without reaching the century mark since going 16 in a row in 2004.

The Timberwolves also have to defend the perimeter better after allowing opponents to shoot 40.4 percent on 3-pointers over their last four. Houston's Patrick Beverley is 17 of 27 from 3 over his last eight and Trevor Ariza 7 of 14 in the last two.

Minnesota wasn't able to stop James Harden last season, as the 2015 MVP runner-up averaged 31.3 points in leading Houston to a four-game sweep. The Rockets have won eight of nine in the series and five straight at home.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Warriors (36-2) at Nuggets (14-24)

Date: January 13, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

On pace to shatter the NBA's season wins record, the Golden State Warriors are starting to look ahead to the bigger prize.

With Draymond Green not expected to play, the Warriors vie for an eighth consecutive victory Wednesday night against the Denver Nuggets.

Golden State will play its fourth game in six days when it visits Denver and hosts the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, a grueling stretch that has interim coach Luke Walton contemplating resting some key players. Among those is Green, averaging a team-high 34.9 minutes while playing in all 38 games.

Walton also mentioned giving breaks to veterans Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston during the back-to-back sequence.

"They always want to play but they also understand the big picture," Walton said during Tuesday's practice. "I think earlier in the season it was tough to have them included in the conversation, but this is a hard part of the season. Guys are worn down and I think they understand now if we come to them with the training staff, if they think it's a smart idea to give them a night or two off here or there, then they'll be more receptive to that."

Green was forced into heavier minutes with Harrison Barnes sidelined 16 games by a sprained ankle and Stephen Curry missing two with a shin injury. Both have since returned to give Walton the option of reducing the versatile forward's court time.

"Now that we have Harrison back (Green's) definitely a guy we can look into giving a little bit of time off to," Walton said.

Depth has been a prime reason why Golden State (36-2) is halfway to the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls' league mark of 72 wins three games prior to the season's midpoint. It was again a factor in Monday's 111-103 victory over Miami, with the bench sparking a pivotal 12-4 run to begin the fourth quarter after the Heat pulled within 80-77 after three.

'They came in and took control of the game and got us to the finish line," said Curry, who combined with backcourt mate Klay Thompson for a 17-of-42 shooting effort.

Barnes contributed 12 points in his fifth game back and totaled 38 in two of the Warriors' three wins over Denver (14-24) this season. He sat out a 111-108 overtime victory in Oakland on Jan. 2 in which Curry was limited to 14 minutes and Green compiled 29 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists.

That loss was part of a seven-game skid for the Nuggets, but they've since won two of three as they've gotten healthier. Leading scorer Danilo Gallinari is averaging 25.8 points in five games since returning from a sprained ankle, while rookie Emmanuel Mudiay (ankle) had 11 and six assists in his first game back from a month-long absence during Sunday's 95-92 win over slumping Charlotte.

Gallinari recorded 27 points and the Nuggets held on despite going scoreless over the final 4:17.

'It was kind of an ugly win at the end,' he said. 'I'll take it. We needed one.'

Denver was without Kenneth Faried (personal) for a second straight game and Jameer Nelson sat out with a hip injury, though both are expected to play Wednesday.

The Nuggets, playing the second of a season-high eight-game homestand, have lost four straight and six of seven in the series. Golden State earned a 118-103 win at Denver on Nov. 22.

The Warriors have 40, 35 and 34 assists in the season series, three of their top seven totals in 2015-16.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pelicans (11-26) at Kings (15-22)

Date: January 13, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

It's not too early for the Sacramento Kings to think that this week represents a crucial stretch in their bid to earn a playoff spot for the first time in 10 seasons.

They start an important back-to-back set Wednesday night when they host a struggling New Orleans Pelicans team that may be without star forward Anthony Davis.

Sacramento (15-22) is in ninth place in the Western Conference standings, two games behind Utah. Both teams play Wednesday before they meet Thursday in Salt Lake City.

Coach George Karl emphasized Monday how important sweeping this set would be.

"I told the team today that every season comes down to a tiebreaker, every season comes down to a one game situation," Karl told the Kings' official website. "We can put a foot forward in that situation if we take care of business starting Wednesday."

The Kings' chances of winning will be greater if Davis misses a third straight game because of a bruised back. Davis, who leads the club with averages of 22.8 points and 10.8 rebounds, was injured when he dove over the first row of seats chasing a loose ball early in a 91-86 home loss to Indiana on Friday.

Coach Alvin Gentry said the club is being cautious and decided not to play him in Tuesday's 95-91 road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. New Orleans (11-26) has now lost four straight and fell to 0-5 without Davis after getting outscored 10-2 in the final 2:14.

The coach didn't want to use the superstar's absence as an excuse.

"It's about playing hard and competing, that's what it's about," Gentry said. "If we play hard and compete and then we don't have enough talent, then we'll talk about that."

The absence of Davis would make Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins clearly the best player on the floor. Cousins leads all NBA players with an average of 32.4 points in 2016, shooting 51.4 percent in that five-game stretch in which he is also averaging 13.0 rebounds.

The sixth-year power forward is eager for his first taste of the postseason.

"It's been a better feeling, a better vibe," Cousins said. "It's the best vibe I've seen since I've been in Sacramento."

He had 33 points and 10 rebounds in Saturday's 128-116 home defeat to Golden State. Rudy Gay added 23 points and Rajon Rondo handed out 12 assists.

The Kings may get a major weapon back in Omri Casspi, who has returned to practice after missing the last four games with a sore upper back. Casspi is fourth in the league in 3-point shooting at 47.7 percent.

Former Sacramento guard Tyreke Evans is averaging 22.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists as a visitor to Sleep Train Arena, with the Pelicans going 3-1.

Evans scored 21 on Tuesday for New Orleans, which is shooting 39.1 percent in this losing streak. The Pelicans are 1-7 in the second of back-to-back games.

'You just have to decide if you are going to play hard every night and if we want to have a good team,' Gentry said. 'That's the bottom line. It doesn't involve soul-searching. It involves looking in the mirror and being able to say, `I gave the best effort that I could tonight.' That's not what we are getting.'

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Jazz (17-20) at Trail Blazers (16-24)

Date: January 13, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

The Utah Jazz are after their longest win streak of the season with Rudy Gobert back patrolling the middle. It'll be no easy task against Portland's high-scoring backcourt.

With Derrick Favors likely a game-time decision, the visiting Jazz will try to win three straight for the first time Wednesday night with their second victory in three meetings against the Trail Blazers.

Utah (17-20) certainly seemed to miss Gobert while he was sidelined 18 games due to a sprained left MCL. The club allowed an average of 100.8 points on 46.3 percent shooting while going 7-11 without the 7-foot-1 center, who leads the team with 9.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.

The Jazz, however, are 2-0 since he returned to the starting lineup. Gobert had seven blocks while helping Utah limit Miami and the Los Angeles Lakers to an average of 78.5 points and a 36.8 field-goal percentage. The Jazz are 10-6 while holding foes to 91.7 points per game on 43.4 percent shooting when he starts.

Favors, the team's second-leading scorer at 16.8 per game, could return after missing 10 games because of a back injury. Alec Burks, though, isn't expected to return before the All-Star break following ankle surgery, and Dante Exum hasn't played after suffering an ACL tear in August.

"We've been going through adversity. But this group, we never quit. We're just going to keep fighting," Gobert said. "The good thing (about) the coaches is that they don't give up on us."

Gordon Hayward has carried the load offensively, totaling 59 points in the past two games. He scored 25 on Sunday when Utah snapped a seven-game road skid with an 86-74 win over the Lakers at Staples Center.

Coach Quin Snyder's club is bracing for a more difficult challenge as it seeks its first three-game win streak since March 28-April 1. Portland star Damian Lillard enters the third meeting on a tear after totaling 71 points, 14 3-pointers and 19 assists over his last two games.

The point guard finished with 31 points, a career high-tying eight 3s - including five in the last 3:07 - nine assists and seven rebounds, while backcourt mate C.J. McCollum scored 22 in Sunday's 115-110 home win over Oklahoma City that snapped a three-game losing streak.

"You just keep competing," coach Terry Stotts said after his team made a season-high 19 3s on a franchise-record 44 attempts. "It was a rough week, no question, and we knew it was going to be a rough week. To come out and get a win against one of the top teams... I'm happy for our guys."

Portland (16-24) has allowed an average of 108.8 points in its last six games, though Stotts said he did like some of the things the team did defensively Sunday. The Blazers didn't make things difficult enough on the Jazz in a 109-96 loss in Salt Lake City in the most recent meeting Dec. 31.

Utah's Trey Burke had 27 points, Hayward added 23 and Hood scored 18. McCollum finished with 32 points and six 3-pointers for Portland, which did not have Lillard due to plantar fasciitis.

Lillard led the way with 35 points and McCollum had 27 in a 108-92 road win Nov. 4. Hayward scored 19 for the Jazz, while Burke contributed 17 off the bench.

Utah snapped a three-game losing streak at Portland with a 111-105 victory April 11.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Heat (22-16) at Clippers (25-13)

Date: January 13, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

Chris Paul feels the Los Angeles Clippers' surge without Blake Griffin is just a bonus until their leading scorer returns from injury.

After all, it's not as if the Clippers are beating up on the best teams in the league during their nine-game winning streak.

Los Angeles faces its first .500 team of the run when the Miami Heat visit Staples Center looking to win for the fifth time in six meetings Wednesday night.

Griffin has missed the last eight with a partially torn quadriceps tendon that likely will keep him out at least another week, but the Clippers (25-13) have gotten by just fine without him so far.

Paul has increased his scoring average from 16.8 through his first 23 to 21.1 over his last 10 and finished with 25 for the second straight game in Sunday's 114-111 overtime win over a New Orleans team missing Anthony Davis.

Paul also added 11 assists to help Los Angeles earn its fourth winning streak of at least nine games over the last four seasons. The Clippers are 20-8 when Griffin sits out in his career, not counting when he missed the entire first season because of injury after being drafted No. 1 overall in 2009.

That doesn't mean they aren't missing him this time around, though. The Clippers have won four times by six points or fewer during their streak despite every opponent currently sitting below the .500 mark.

'We're happy that we're winning games, and we want to continue to try to keep winning and build up the team as much as possible. But this is not our team until 32 gets back,' Paul said.

'When you lose somebody as important as Blake, everybody knew they had to step up. A lot of times we just throw it to him and watch him go to work, and now we're having to do a lot more. But our defense has come together, and we just keep trying to hold it down until he gets back.'

The Heat (22-16) didn't have much trouble beating the Clippers with Griffin in the last meeting, getting 34 points from Chris Bosh and 17 and 10 assists from Dwyane Wade in a 104-90 road win Jan. 11, 2015.

Hassan Whiteside finished with 23 points and 16 rebounds, but his availability for this contest is unclear. Whiteside sat out Monday's 111-103 loss to Golden State with a right knee injury after being listed as a game-time decision, and as of now has that same status for this matchup.

Justise Winslow made the first start of his career in Whiteside's place and finished with seven points, but he wasn't a match for Whiteside's inside presence.

Wade had 20 points and 11 assists, while Bosh finished with 15 and 12 rebounds.

Miami has dropped three of four overall and is 1-2 on a six-game trip that ends Sunday against Oklahoma City. Wade played through a strained left shoulder that he suffered in Friday's loss to Utah and had it wrapped in ice after the game.

"You've just got to fight and give your team whatever you have," said Wade, who is 9 for 37 from the field over the last two and shooting what would be a career-low 45.2 percent on the season. "Everyone in this locker room is going through something. I just try to battle, get some rest and go on to the next one."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA

Hot teams
-- Hawks won nine of their last 12 games (2-4 last six AF).
-- Knicks won five of last six games, covering all six.
-- Pacers won three of their last four games (1-4 last five AU).
-- Warriors won their last seven games (13-5-1AF).
-- Thunder won seven of their last nine games (1-6 last 7HF).
-- Houston won its last four games (6-2 last eight HF).
-- Clippers won their last nine games (4-2 last six HF).

Cold teams
-- Charlotte lost its last seven games (1-6 vs spread).
-- Washington lost its last three home games (1-7 last 8HF). Bucks lost three of last five games (10-11AU).
-- Nets lost their last five games (0-5 vs spread).
-- Celtics lost six of their last seven games (0-3 last three HF).
-- Mavericks are 3-4 in last seven games (8-6AU).
-- Minnesota lost its last seven games (1-6 vs spread).
-- Denver lost seven of its last nine games (3-0-1 last four HU).
-- New Orleans lost six of last seven games (4-8 last 12AU). Kings are 3-5 in their last eight games (1-3 last four HF).
-- Utah lost seven of its last eight road games (1-4 last five AU). Portland lost three of last four games (4-4HF).
-- Miami lost three of its last four games (4-1 last five AU).

Series records
-- Hawks won four of last five games with Charlotte.
-- Wizards won six of last seven games with Milwaukee.
-- Knicks lost four of last five games with Brooklyn.
-- Pacers won seven of their last ten games with Boston.
-- Dallas won five of last seven games with Oklahoma City.
-- Rockets won eight of last nine games with Minnesota.
-- Warriors won last four games with Denver, but Nuggets are 4-1 vs spread in last five.
-- Pelicans won three of last four games with Sacramento.
-- Jazz lost seven of last ten games with Portland.
-- Clippers lost four of last five games with Miami.

Totals
-- 11 of last 12 Atlanta games went over the total.
-- Three of last four Washington games went over.
-- Last six Brooklyn games stayed under the total.
-- Last four Indiana-Boston games stayed under.
-- Five of last six Maverick-Thunder games went over.
-- Last six Houston-Minnesota games went over total.
-- Last five Golden State-Denver games went over total.
-- Six of last seven New Orleans games stayed under.
-- Six of last seven Utah-Portland games went over.
-- Three of last four Clipper games went over total.

Back/backs
-- Milwaukee is 7-2 vs spread if it played night before.
-- Knicks are 5-3 vs spread if they played night before.
-- Indiana is 2-6 vs spread if it played night before; Boston is 3-4.
-- Dallas is 6-2 vs spread if it played night before; Thunder is 2-4.
-- Pelicans are 4-4 vs spread if they played the night before.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

This Week's Best Spot Bets
Ben Burns

Spot bets are classic handicapping practices that have proven profitable no matter what sport you're betting. Whether it's a team looking past this week's opponent, one coming off a hard-fought victory, or a rough patch of schedule, bettors can find value picking their spots. Ben Burns points out his favorites:

Letdown spot

Even the best teams in the NBA are susceptible to a letdown, especially after playing another of the NBA’s elite. The Cleveland Cavaliers visit Western rivals the San Antonio Spurs Thursday, in a possible Finals preview. LeBron James has plenty of history with San Antonio going back to his original stint with Cleveland and his Miami days and this will be a huge litmus test for the Cavs as they get their lineup back to form.

Following this stop in San Antonio, Cleveland takes the court at the Toyota Center in Houston the very next night. The Rockets play the seventh–fastest pace in the NBA and could take advantage of a tired Cavaliers squad coming off a big game. If this contest opens up and turns into a shootout, Houston could have the edge at home.

Lookahead spot

The San Diego Toreros have a big WCC meeting with Gonzaga this weekend, traveling up the coast to face the Bulldogs in Spokane Saturday. San Diego hits the road for an extended trip after losing four in a row, including the last two inside Jenny Craig Pavilion. A strong effort against Gonzaga could snap the Toreros out of this funk but it could also be setting them for a lookahead spot.

San Diego is in Portland two days earlier, playing the Pilots Thursday. Portland is coming off a loss at Gonzaga and is mired in a losing skid itself, dropping three in a row – all coming away from home. The Pilots haven’t played at home since before Christmas and could catch San Diego looking past them and to the WCC gatekeeper.

Schedule spot

The Ottawa Senators could be looking ahead to their upcoming West Coast road trip, if just to get away from the bitter Canadian cold and the equally chilly Ottawa media. The Senators have alternated wins and losses in their last four and have just three victories in their last 10 games heading into Wednesday’s opener in Anaheim.

Following the clash with the Ducks, Ottawa takes on Los Angeles and San Jose, then comes back East to play at New Jersey on Jan. 21. Last year, this California swing served as a launch pad for the Sens’ second-half push, sweeping Anaheim, L.A., and San Jose as part of a 15-1-1 winning streak. Can the warm weather once again thaw Ottawa for a big run?

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Trojans visit Bruins

USC TROJANS (14-3) at UCLA BRUINS (11-6)

Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA
Tip-off: Wednesday, 11:00 p.m. ET
Line: NA

Local rivals USC and UCLA meet at Pauley Pavilion for a Pac-12 showdown with both teams riding high after beating Top 10 Arizona last week.

USC (12-5 ATS) is off to a fantastic start under coach Andy Enfield, having won nine of their last 10 contests (7-3 ATS) and shooting for its first NCAA berth since the 2010-11 season under former coach Kevin O’Neill. The Trojans are fresh off a game that would make Oklahoma and Kansas blush, a 103-101 (USC +3) four-overtime thriller over Arizona at the Galen Center last Saturday. It was the third quadruple-overtime game in USC history and the last since 1985 – an 80-78 defeat of UCLA.

Speaking of the Bruins, they also downed Arizona at home, 87-84 (UCLA +3) on a last-second three by G Bryce Alford (17.4 PPG) on a night where the Bruins honored Russell Westbrook. UCLA’s most recent victory was last Saturday over Arizona State (87-81, UCLA -5.5). The Trojans also defeated Arizona State last week, 75-65 (USC -6). UCLA’s two home wins have improved coach Steve Alford’s Bruins to 8-1 (5-4 ATS) at Pauley Pavilion and 2-2 in Pac-12 play.

USC is 3-1 in conference play and 2-1 SU (2-1 ATS) on the road overall this season. UCLA has owned this series recently, going 9-1 SU (7-3 ATS) since 2012. UCLA has been the favorite in each of the last 10 games and has been a double-digit favorite in each of the past five meetings at Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins have won seven straight in this matchup (6-1 ATS), including three wins just last season (including the Pac-12 tournament). The total has gone OVER in each of the last five contests between USC and UCLA.

USC is playing fast and exciting basketball. It boasts six double-figure scorers and averages 84.3 PPG (14th NCAA). Not only is it scoring, but USC is locking down on the defensive end, too. Led by three players averaging more than one block per game, the Trojans swat 6.7 shots per game (3rd NCAA). USC will challenge shots not just at the rim, but on the perimeter (38.8 % FGA, 23rd NCAA; 31.8% 3PT, 65th NCAA). Enfield’s squad relies on the long ball for offense (40.9% 3PT, 12th NCAA) as four Trojans average between 1.7 and 2.1 threes per game, all of them shooting better than 39.5% 3PT.

G Julian Jacobs (12.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 5.8 APG) is not one of the aforementioned four marksmen, but he is arguably USC’s most important player. Finally at full strength due to a nagging ankle injury, Jacobs stuffed the stat sheet in a team-high 53 minutes in the four-OT win over Arizona (18 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 7 steals). G Elijah Stewart (10.8 PPG, 44% 3PT) has seen his playing time fluctuate, but was really feeling it with a team-high 27 points in the win on Saturday. Second only to Jacobs’ 53 minutes against the Wildcats was his backcourt partner, G Jordan McLaughlin (12.9 PPG, 5.2 APG, 45% 3PT).

USC’s frontcourt is anchored by two 6-foot-10 forwards who do completely different things: F Bennie Boatwright (12.3 PPG, 39.5% 3PT) is a sweet-shooting freshman who leads the team with 2.1 3PM, while F Nikola Jovanovic (12.5 PPG, 7.7 RPG) is their most potent inside force. He averaged 17.6 PPG in the three meetings against the Bruins last season. Jovanovic has 8 blocks over his past two games. USC could run into problems on the glass against the Bruins, as the Trojans are extremely vulnerable on the offensive glass (11.8 Off Reb Allowed, 335th NCAA).

UCLA comes into this game, as USC does, on the heels of sweeping the Arizona schools at home, capped by the thrilling defeat of Arizona on Thursday with Alford’s step-back three pointer just before time expired. Alford, who went 9-18 FG (5-11 3PT) for a team-high 25 points in that win, played very efficient basketball this past week, going 16-29 FG overall with only two turnovers. The elder Alford’s club will look to punish USC on the glass (42.1 RPG, 14th NCAA) and especially on the offensive boards, where USC struggles to box out (12.1 Off Reb/Game, 18th NCAA).

The Bruins will lean on the inside tandem of F Tony Parker (13.0 PPG, 9.9 RPG) and F Thomas Welsh (12.8 PPG, 8.8 RPG) to overpower the leaner Trojans in the paint. Welsh has grabbed 10-plus rebounds in four of his past five games. Winning the battle on the boards will mitigate a subpar defense (76.8 PPG, 268th NCAA) that could have real trouble against USC’s multitude of weapons on the perimeter, as teams hoist a ton of threes against UCLA (24.4 3PA/G, 333rd NCAA), hitting eight threes per game on average.

Along with Alford, the Bruins do boast a solid perimeter attack of their own, supported by G Isaac Hamilton (16.5 PPG, 49% FG) and G Aaron Holiday (10.6 PPG, 3.8 APG). Hamilton and Holiday were keys in the win over Arizona State on Saturday. Hamilton led the team with 26 points while Holiday’s three with one minute left put the Bruins ahead of the Sun Devils for good. Hamilton scored a career-high 36 points the last time UCLA met USC, a 96-70 win for the Bruins in last season’s Pac-12 Tournament.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mustangs (15-0) at Pirates (8-8)

Date: January 13, 2016 6:15 PM EDT

Larry Brown is feeling better and ready to help SMU remain undefeated.

The veteran coach will be back on the sideline as the visiting No. 10 Mustangs look to continue the best start in school history and open 4-0 on the road for the first time in over 80 years with a win against East Carolina on Wednesday night.

Brown was back running practice Monday, one day after he missed the second half of SMU's 88-73 win over UCF because of dizziness.

"I'm going to be all right," he said. "With me, if I turn the wrong way, or if I jump up too quickly ... I lose some equilibrium. Maybe it's because I'm 75, and I don't realize it."

Brown said fatigue, dehydration and a virus aggravated symptoms he's dealt with in the past, including fluid in his ears. But he appears ready to return as the Mustangs (15-0, 4-0 American Athletic Conference) look to continue a strong start to a season in which NCAA sanctions won't allow them to compete in any postseason competition.

"We're just trying to stay undefeated," freshman Jarrey Foster said. "As long as we stay undefeated, we don't have to worry about anybody else. That's been the goal since we found out about the sanctions."

Halfway through its 30-game schedule, SMU and 19th-ranked South Carolina are the only remaining unbeaten teams in Division I.

Cracking the top 10 for the first time since February 1985, the Mustangs lead the AAC in points per game (81.6) and in field-goal (52.1) and 3-point (43.1) percentages. They're second in points allowed (62.7) and yield a AAC-low 28.4 rebounds per contest.

"It means a lot but we're still looking forward to the next game," said forward Jordan Tolbert, who had 19 points Sunday.

Following an 81-69 win at Tulsa in its league opener Dec. 29, SMU can improve to 4-0 on the road for the first time since the 1934-35 season. Leading scorer Nic Moore (16.1 points per game) has averaged 22.0 points and shot 46.8 percent on the road, where SMU as a team is connecting at an even better 51.7 clip.

Moore scored 20 in last season's 74-68 win over East Carolina in the quarterfinals of the AAC tournament. The Mustangs, who won both 2014-15 meetings with the Pirates (8-8, 0-3), have split four road meetings but last played there in February 2012.

Looking to avoid its second 0-4 league start in three seasons, East Carolina averaged 78.9 points and shot 49.7 percent to go 7-0 at home in nonconference action, but hit 34.8 percent of its shots in a 71-68 loss there to UCF in its AAC opener Jan. 2.

The Pirates followed by averaging 51.5 points while losing at Tulsa and Temple by a combined 30 points.

Leading scorer B.J. Tyson (14.1 ppg) has averaged 9.5 points and shot 28.0 percent while ECU has gone 0-6 on the road, but he's scored 20.0 per game while shooting 60.6 percent in the last six at home.

Teammate Caleb White (13.7 ppg) had 14 points in each meeting with SMU last season.

The Pirates have dropped 23 in a row against ranked opponents since beating then-No. 13 Marquette on Dec. 30, 2002.

It's uncertain if SMU guard Keith Frazier (11.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists per game) will miss a fourth consecutive game due to personal reasons.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Devils (14-2) at Tigers (10-6)

Date: January 13, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

Amile Jefferson's injury crippled Duke's depth and put the onus on Brandon Ingram and Marshall Plumlee to hold serve in the frontcourt.

They've answered the call, and the ninth-ranked Blue Devils are rolling because of it.

Extending their winning streak to six Wednesday night could be a difficult task, though, as they visit a Clemson team looking to beat ranked opponents in back-to-back games for the first time in nearly 27 years.

A right foot fracture to the 6-foot-9 Jefferson not only depleted an already thin rotation, but also took away some on-court senior leadership coach Mike Krzyzewski said is invaluable. Jefferson started the first nine games, averaging 11.4 points and 10.3 rebounds, and there's still no timetable for his return.

Duke (14-2, 3-0 ACC) has won six of seven without him, though, despite only six players playing at least 10 minutes in five of those games. Ingram is averaging 20.7 points and 36.1 minutes over the last nine games after averaging 10.9 points and 24.6 minutes in his first seven.

The 6-foot-9 freshman has helped make up for the loss of Jefferson in other ways, too, blocking four shots in last Wednesday's win at Wake Forest before swatting six in Saturday's 82-58 rout of Virginia Tech. Ingram and Plumlee have each averaged 8.3 rebounds with Jefferson sidelined.

Plumlee has had back-to-back career games, finishing with 18 points against Wake and 21 with 10 boards Saturday. The senior 7-footer had two double-digit scoring performances in his first 14. He's played more than 30 minutes in four straight games after doing so once through the first 12.

Guards Grayson Allen (16 points), Matt Jones (13) and Luke Kennard (11) also had solid games against the Hokies and have contributed to Duke winning by an average of 23.6 points during its streak.

"Losing (Jefferson) cost us to do more different things than probably any other guy we would've lost," Krzyzewski said. "On the perimeter we have a little bit of depth, but Amile is a very unique player."

Duke beat the Tigers 78-56 in last season's only meeting, but the Blue Devils lost their last trip to Clemson 72-59 on Jan. 11, 2014, when Jaron Blossomgame finished with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Blossomgame again helped the Tigers (10-6, 3-1) pull off an upset Sunday, scoring a game-high 17 points in a 66-62 win over then-No. 16 Louisville. Avry Holmes added 16 for Clemson, which hasn't beaten ranked foes in consecutive games since March 1 and 4, 1989.

The Tigers have won three straight following a three-game skid and were able to beat the Cardinals despite shooting 32.6 percent from the field.

"They're playing very well and they've played in four very difficult (ACC) games," Krzyzewski said. "They were good and now they're better, and you get better through accomplishment. They can put four guys on the court at any one time that can really spread you."

This will be the second of five consecutive games against ranked opponents for Clemson, with No. 8 Miami on Saturday, No. 13 Virginia on Jan. 19 and No. 20 Pittsburgh on Jan. 27 also looming.

The good news? Only the Virginia game is on the road.

"When you play in a league like this, you're going to have some tough stretches," coach Brad Brownell said. "What's tough about it is you can play well and lose, and that's tough on the guys. Hopefully the wins come, but you just focus on what you can control."

These teams are Nos. 1 and 2 in the ACC in blocks per game, with Duke averaging 5.88 and Clemson 5.75.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Horned Frogs (9-6) at Bears (12-3)

Date: January 13, 2016 8:15 PM EDT

After the coaching staff urged him to become more aggressive, Baylor hopes Johnathan Motley is ready to make a breakout run through the Big 12 schedule.

Motley aims to build on the best game of his career as the 22nd-ranked Bears seek their third straight league win and 14th in a row overall at home Wednesday night against in-state rival TCU.

Motley displayed his potential over a three-game stretch Nov. 23-Dec. 2, averaging 19 points on 71.4 percent shooting, but he scored more than eight only once over the following eight contests - and that 23-point performance came in a 104-59 rout of Division-III Hardin-Simmons at Fort Hood on Dec. 16.

The sophomore forward again played like a rising star Saturday with career highs of 27 points and 13 rebounds in a 94-89 upset at then-No. 13 Iowa State. The Bears have dealt the Cyclones their only two losses in their last 32 games at Hilton Coliseum.

"My coaches have been telling me that I need to go out and dominate every time I step out onto the court, so it was just the kind of thing we had been talking about," said Motley, who was 13 of 15 from the floor and is shooting 60.3 percent this season.

Taurean Prince contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds to help Baylor win its second straight since a 102-74 loss at then-No. 2 Kansas in its league opener Jan. 2.

Lester Medford finished with 16 points and 11 assists without a turnover, and the Bears committed only five in the second half. Medford is averaging 13.3 points with a 4.4 assist-to-turnover ratio over his last six games.

"I think this is just a stepping stone for what we've got planned for the Big 12," Motley said. "We want to start stringing (wins) together and hopefully we can do some big things in the conference."

Rico Gathers hopes to bounce back after being held to four points and five rebounds. The senior forward, who had 17 and 17 in a 79-62 home win over Oklahoma State on Jan. 5, totaled 31 points and 35 rebounds in Baylor's two wins over TCU last season.

The Bears (12-3, 2-1) will try to continue their pursuit of a perfect home record after winning their past 13 in Waco dating to February by an average of 20.1 points. They've won seven in a row overall against the Horned Frogs (9-6, 1-2), winning the three meetings at home by 19 per game.

TCU seeks only its second back-to-back wins in its last 60 conference games after Saturday's 58-57 home win over Texas. Chris Washburn scored 14 points and was 5 of 9 from the field, including the go-ahead basket with 1:12 left, in his first start since returning from a broken right pinky.

Brandon Parrish had a team-high 15 points while hitting 5 of 6 from 3-point range, but leading scorers Vladimir Brodziansky (12.2) and Malique Trent (11.7) combined for just six on 1-of-6 shooting.

"It's on to the next one," coach Trent Johnson said. "There are a lot more good teams in this league and they're very talented. We have our work cut out for us moving forward."

TCU improved to 6-0 when holding an opponent under 40 percent shooting by limiting the Longhorns to 37.1, including 3 of 21 from long range. That should be a difficult trend to continue since Baylor has been held below 40 only three times - all losses.

The Horned Frogs haven't beaten the Bears since a 72-64 road win in December 2002.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Golden Eagles (12-4) at Wildcats (14-2)

Date: January 13, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

Coach Jay Wright believes the Big East is the deepest it has been in three years, which makes Villanova's bid for a second 5-0 start in that span that much more impressive.

Behind a balanced attack and the conference's top defense, the sixth-ranked Wildcats look to remain in sole possession of first place with a 33rd consecutive home win Wednesday night against a Marquette team going after its second top-10 road win in eight days.

Villanova won its first five conference games en route to the Big East title in 2013-14, the first season after some schools left to form the American Athletic Conference. It now hopes to make a run to its third straight crown after winning its first four league games by an average of 14.7 points.

With 2014-15 Big East co-player of the year Ryan Arcidiacono struggling Sunday, Josh Hart stepped up with eight points during a late 10-2 run that keyed a 60-55 win at then-No. 18 Butler. The junior guard scored 22 with 11 rebounds in the Wildcats' sixth straight victory.

"It's definitely the best (the league has been)," Wright said. "I think we have eight teams right now playing good enough basketball to be NCAA Tournament teams. We've played Oklahoma, Virginia and some other top teams and the teams we're playing (in the Big East) are just as good."

The Wildcats will see another one in Marquette, which has recovered from an 0-2 league start with a 65-64 win at then-No. 8 Providence on Jan. 5 and an 81-75 home victory over St. John's on Saturday. The Golden Eagles are 2-0 against ranked opponents this season after losing their previous 15.

"We've got Marquette coming in and we know that's going to be tough," said Wright, whose team hasn't lost at home since January 2014. "In this league, it's just got to be on to the next game."

None of the Golden Eagles' three freshmen starters were around in the most recent meeting when Villanova (14-2, 4-0) dealt Marquette (12-4, 2-2) its worst defeat in Big East tournament history. Hart finished with 20 points in the Wildcats' 84-49 quarterfinal victory March 12.

Junior Luke Fischer had 18 points, freshman Henry Ellenson added 15 and 10 rebounds and classmate Haanif Cheatham scored 15 on Saturday against the Red Storm. Ellenson, who averages team highs of 15.9 points and 9.9 boards, has six double-doubles in his last seven games.

The up-and-coming Golden Eagles now hope to snap their six-game slide in this series.

"The reality is every game in the Big East is a battle. If you look on the floor, we've got a lot of young kids who are learning," coach Steve Wojciechowski said. "We have to remember where our guys are at. This is not some well-oiled machine where we have five seniors and you expect this amazing consistency. We've got guys who are learning on the job."

Wojciechowski's crew has shot a combined 48.5 percent in the last two wins after it made 38.3 percent in losses to Seton Hall and Georgetown. Marquette, though, has committed 39 turnovers in its last two and is going up against a Villanova team that leads the conference with 60.1 points allowed per game and a 37.6 defensive field-goal percentage.

The Golden Eagles lost all three meetings last season by an average of 21.3 points.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nittany Lions (10-7) at Boilermakers (14-3)

Date: January 13, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

Considering its dominant history against Penn State, Purdue should have a good chance to bounce back from its latest Big Ten defeat.

The No. 24 Boilermakers try for a ninth consecutive home win over the Nittany Lions on Wednesday night.

A winner of 16 of 19 in the series, Purdue (14-3, 2-2) hasn't lost to Penn State at Mackey Arena since Feb. 18, 2006. The Nittany Lions (10-7, 1-3) are 2-18 all-time against the Boilermakers on the road.

Penn State's also dropped its first two league road contests, 70-64 to then-No. 4 Maryland on Dec. 30 in a game it led most of the way and 79-56 at Michigan on Jan. 2.

The Boilermakers' lone defeat in 11 home contests came against Iowa on Jan. 2, but they rebounded to beat the Wolverines 87-70 at Mackey five days later. If Purdue is to roll again at home, though, it needs a better all-around performance than it had in Sunday's 84-70 loss at Illinois.

"We just got beat," coach Matt Painter said.

Painter made no excuses after his team yielded a season-high 54.2 percent shooting to the Illini - 9 of 17 from 3-point range - and committed 16 turnovers that turned into 24 points for the host. Purdue has allowed its last three opponents to shoot 42.9 percent from beyond the arc.

"We have to do a better job of the details," Painter said. "It's got to be difficult for them on the other end."

Foul trouble plagued starters Vince Edwards, Johnny Hill and Rapheal Davis, and the Boilermakers' inside trio of A.J. Hammons (13.9 points per game), Isaac Haas (10.8 ppg) and Caleb Swanigan (10.1) managed 28 points - 10 in the second half.

The 7-foot-2 Haas has averaged 5.8 points and 41.7 percent shooting in the last six games.

Hammons has scored 20.7 points per game in the last three against Penn State, totaling 44 as Purdue took both meetings last season. The 7-footer has averaged 10.3 rebounds in six games against the Nittany Lions.

Back at Mackey for the first time since a 65-64 loss Jan. 18, 2014, Penn State has averaged 53.8 points and 39.6 percent shooting in the last eight visits.

The Nittany Lions shot 39.3 percent in their two Big Ten road games, and 41.2 in Sunday's 92-65 home loss to then-No. 5 Michigan State. Penn State allowed the Spartans to hit half of their 70 attempts and go 10 of 20 from 3-point range. Its last three opponents have shot 53.3 percent overall and 53.8 from behind the arc.

Purdue is shooting 48.0 percent at home and went 9 for 18 on 3s against Michigan after going 10 for 44 in the previous two at West Lafayette.

The conference's worst 3-point shooting team at 29.8 percent, Penn State went 3 of 14 on Sunday.

"We are going to pick ourselves back up," coach Patrick Chambers said. "It is going to be one of the years that we are going to be up and we are going to be down, and that's OK, as long as we continue the process of getting better."

Leading scorer Brandon Taylor (15.9 ppg) struggled against the Spartans, going 3 of 12 and totaling 10 points.

Penn State has dropped nine in a row against Top 25 opponents.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Gamecocks (15-0) at Crimson Tide (9-5)

Date: January 13, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

South Carolina is two wins from equaling the best start in school history, and while its next two opponents don't appear to be streak-stopper material, neither did its last.


After a tight home game against a questionable foe, the 19th-ranked Gamecocks head to Alabama on Wednesday night hoping for a smoother next step as they emerge onto the national radar.

The Gamecocks (15-0, 2-0 SEC) are off to their best start since 1933-34 when they won their first 17 games, tied with a midseason winning streak in 1969-70 for the longest in school history. Three days after they face Alabama - winless in SEC play and the conference's lowest-scoring team - they host a Missouri team which is 0-6 away from home.

South Carolina and SMU are the only unbeaten teams left in Division I, but it didn't look very good for the Gamecocks early in Saturday's 69-65 win over Vanderbilt.

"You know you're in league play when you win a game like you did on Saturday, and by Sunday morning before church you're already worked up and consumed and concerned with the next opportunity," coach Frank Martin said.

The Commodores had lost five of seven but jumped out to an 8-0 lead - the largest deficit the Gamecocks have faced all season - and were up 38-35 at halftime. Junior Sindarius Thornwell, though, drew a distinction between this team's reaction and what it likely would have been in previous seasons.

"In the past, it would have gotten ugly. Eight would have turned into 16," said Thornwell, who had a game-high 19 points.

In three games since the calendar flipped, the guard is averaging 19.7 points and shooting 50.0 percent after posting marks of 10.8 and 33.6 through 12 games. Thornwell now needs backcourt mate and No. 2 scorer Duane Notice to get back on track after he shot 29.4 percent in the last four games.

That's hardly soured Martin's mood. After going 45-54 in his first three seasons at South Carolina and not finishing better than 11th in the SEC, Martin is finally having fun again.

"They've got me on a ride right now that is unreal," he said.

South Carolina has won two of the past three meetings but dropped the last three in Tuscaloosa. Thornwell was limited to an average of 5.0 points on 3-of-22 shooting in two matchups last season.

Alabama (9-5, 0-2) has split four games with the Top 25 this season, including Saturday's 77-61 loss at then-No. 9 Kentucky as its losing streak against ranked SEC teams grew to 16.

The Crimson Tide held a third straight opponent below 30 percent from 3-point range but failed to reach 70 points for a fifth consecutive game, dropping their season average to 66.0.

"We did a good job of defending the 3-point line tonight, but our interior defense just wasn't there, and then offensively we're still a work in progress in terms of trying to become a balanced team," coach Avery Johnson told the school's official website.

Leading scorer Retin Obasohan topped 20 points for a third straight game, shooting 53.5 percent with seven 3-pointers in that span. The senior is averaging 14.6 points, up from 7.8 over the previous two seasons.

Alabama got within four in the second half but shot 34.6 percent overall and made 18 field goals or fewer for the sixth time. Kentucky was the first team to shoot higher than 46.7 percent (54.9) against the Crimson Tide.

"Especially when you go on a run against a good team, you've got to be aware of the fact that they're going to attack back," Obasohan said. "We just have to a better job of executing offensively and defensively and capitalizing on the run that we made."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Sooners (13-1) at Cowboys (9-6)

Date: January 13, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

The only time Oklahoma has lost to Oklahoma State during senior Buddy Hield's time in Norman, Hield never took the court because of a broken foot. That was in his freshman season, and the Sooners have won five straight since.

Hield won't just be on the court Wednesday night in Stillwater as No. 2 Oklahoma tries to extend its winning streak in the Bedlam Series. He'll be entering feeling like everything he puts up is going to splash, while the Cowboys are well aware of their own offensive shortcomings.

Hield followed a career-high 46-point effort in a 109-106 triple-overtime loss at No. 1 Kansas on Jan. 4 with 31 on 11-of-14 shooting and 6 of 8 from 3-point range in Saturday's 86-76 home win over Kansas State.

"Everything I shoot now, I just feel like, is going in," said Hield, who is averaging 18.7 points in six wins over the Cowboys.

Three of those came last season with Hield scoring 21.3 points and shooting 60.6 percent while hitting 8 of 12 from 3-point range. That's about the level of efficiency his coach is seeing now with Hield averaging 33.3 points and shooting 58.1 percent in his last four games. His 51.3 percent from long range in that time is actually down from the first 10 games (52.3).

"It's hard to imagine anyone playing more efficiently than Buddy is, in terms of making shots, attacking, making good plays for his teammates," said Lon Kruger, whose team retained its No. 2 ranking despite the heartbreaker in Lawrence.

But there's been more to the Sooners than Hield. Oklahoma (13-1, 2-1 Big 12) hit 11 of 19 from 3-point range against Kansas State and is shooting a Division I-leading 46.4 percent from deep. Jordan Woodard had 19 points and is averaging 22.0 in his last four on 54.4 percent overall shooting and 62.5 from long range.

Oklahoma State, meanwhile, doesn't have a single-game outside-shooting effort on the level of the Sooners' season average. The Cowboys (9-6, 1-2) return home after losing consecutive road games by 17 points each, including a 77-60 defeat at then-No. 17 West Virginia on Saturday. Over a 4-5 span, Oklahoma State has averaged 64.0 points and shot 41.0 percent.

"We struggle to score no matter who we play," said coach Travis Ford, who lost top returning scorer Phil Forte to what will likely be a season-ending elbow injury in November.

Jeff Newberry has taken on the greatest offensive load and shown some positive signs in Big 12 play. After averaging 7.3 points and shooting 28.6 percent in the last four nonconference games, he's scored 15.0 per game and shot 57.1 percent in his last three.

But that doesn't matter if Oklahoma State isn't getting much in the way of attempts. The Cowboys have been dominated on the glass in the losses by a 42.0-25.5 margin while allowing their opponents 20.5 offensive rebounds.

"We obviously have been disappointed in our rebounds last game," Ford said. "We talked a lot about it, did drills and did a lot of other stuff. Sometimes it just boils down to desire. Sometimes it just boils down to toughness."

Oklahoma has won 17 straight against unranked opponents, but Oklahoma State has taken three of its last four against the top two teams in the country. The Sooners have won the last two in Stillwater, though the past five meetings there have been decided by single digits.

"It will be extremely difficult and challenging," Kruger said. "Guys on both teams will play very hard and compete against each other. We have to maintain composure and poise and go up to Stillwater and play better."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NCAAB

Notes for Wednesday's games..........

Rhode Island won last two games with Saint Louis by 9-5 points; they've lost three of last four visits to Olean, losing by 7-6-28 points, are 1-3 in true road games, with only win in OT at Brown. Rams are 2-4 vs teams in top 100, beating Houston/Richmond. Bonnies are 11-3 vs schedule #281; they're 0-2 vs top 100 teams, losing to Syracuse/Hofstra. A-14 home teams are 3-7 vs spread in games with spread of 6 or less points.

Clemson won its last three games, getting to line 44 times in upset win vs Louisville Sunday; Tigers lost seven of last eight games with Duke, losing last two by 1-22 points. Duke split last four visits here, winning by 13-7 points. Blue Devils won by 17-16 in only true road games, at BC, Wake Forest- they've won last five games, all by 16+ points. ACC home dogs are 6-5 against the spread.

Cincinnati won its last four games with Houston, with three wins by 15+ points; Cougars lost by 11-13 points in last two visits here. Bearcats are 2-3 in last five games; they struggled to win 54-51 at lowly USF Sunday. Houston is 13-2 vs schedule #349; they're 1-1 vs top 100 teams, beating LSU in OT, losing at URI by 10. Cougars allowed 54 ppg in winning first three AAC games. AAC home favorites are 6-10 vs spread.

Northern Iowa won its last three games with Indiana State; underdogs are 3-1 vs spread in last four series games. Panthers won last two visits to Terre Haute by 13-10 points. UNI is 5-6 in its last 11 games after its 5-1 start; Panthers are 2-5 in true road games, winning at North Dakota and George Mason. Indiana State scored 76.3 ppg in winning last three games all by 10+ points. MVC home underdogs are 2-4 vs spread.

Home side won five of last six Tennessee-Georgia games; Vols lost their last three visits here, by 4-10-3 points. Tennessee allowed 80+ points in last five losses, 69 or less in last four wins. Georgia lost two of last three games; they're 8-2 at home, losing to Chattanooga/K-State. Dawgs are 3-4 vs top 100 teams- they lost two of last three games overall. SEC single digit home favorites are 6-2 vs spread.

Villanova won its last six games with Marquette, crushing Eagles 84-47 in Big East tourney LY; Marquette lost its last three visits here by 4-17-18 points. Wildcats won last six games, winning first two Big East home tilts by 31-9 points. Eagles are 12-4 vs schedule #288, winning last two games by total of 7 points; they've won at Wisconsin/Providence, lost by 10 at Georgetown. Big East home favorites are 7-8 vs spread.

Ole Miss won seven of last ten games with LSU, losing last two by 4-10 points; Rebels are 3-4 in last seven visits here. Ole Miss won nine of last ten games, losing only at Kentucky; they won last two games by total of nine points, first games in their new arena. LSU is 0-5 this year in games decided by 6 or less points or in OT; they split last four games, are 8-1 at home, losing to Wake Forest. SEC single digit home favorites are 6-2.

South Carolina is 15-0, one of two unbeaten teams in country; they lost last three visits to Alabama by 10-10-8 points- home side won last six in this series. Gamecocks won by 6 at Clemson, 12 at Auburn in their only true road games. Alabama is 3-5 vs top 100 teams, losing last two games by 8-16 points, scoring 63.5 ppg. Tide turns ball over 21% of time, #305 in country. SEC home underdogs are 4-4 vs spread.

Notre Dame won its last three games with Georgia Tech by 3-7-3 points; Tech lost last two visits here, by 3-7ot points. Irish lost two of last three games, are 3-4 vs top 100 teams, with best win over #12 Iowa- they've got #5 eFG%, making 40.3% on arc. Tech lost last three true road games by 14-8-5 points; they upset Virginia in last game. ACC home favorites are 6-5 against the spread.

Oklahoma won last five games with Oklahoma State, winning last two in Stillwater 77-74/64-56. Sooners split two true road games, winning by 3 at Hawai'i, losing in 3OTs at Kansas. Cowboys lost last two games by 17 points each; they're 0-4 vs top 100 teams, with three losses by 10+ pts. Oklahoma is making 46.4% behind arc, best in country. Big X home dogs are 4-2 against the spread.

San Diego State is 21-4 in last 25 games with Colorado State, but is 1-3 in last four visits to Ft Collins, as home side won eight of last nine in series. Aztecs shot 14-39 on arc last two games, an improvement- they won last three games by 12-3-15 points after shaky 7-6 start. Rams are 2-1 so far in conference, with three games decided by total of six points- both wins were by a point. Mountain West home underdogs are 3-3 vs spread.

Oregon State won at Rice/UCSB in mid-November; this is their first true road game since then. Beavers won five of last six games, but all were in Oregon. Colorado lost three of last four games, all to top 50 teams; they're 1-4 vs top 50 teams, with win over BYU. Buffs won three of last four games with OSU, winning by 6-6-7 points; Beavers lost two of three visits to Boulder. Pac-12 home favorites are 6-4 vs spread.

UCLA won 10 of last 11 games with USC, winning last six, all by 10 or more points; Trojans lost four of last five visits here, with all four losses by 10+. Bruins split their last six games, winning by 3-7 points over the Arizona schools in their last two home games. USC won nine of last ten games, beating Arizona in four OTs in last game Saturday. Pac-12 home favorites are 6-4 against the spread.

 

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Streaks, Tips, Notes

The Duke Blue Devils are heating up as conference play begins in the ACC. However, they'll hit the road for a challenging trip to Clemson to face the Tigers on Wednesday.

The Blue Devils are coming off an 82-58 win over the Virginia Tech Hokies and are now 14-2 SU and 3-0 in ACC play. Duke's Marshall Plumlee had 21 points and 10 rebounds in the home victory, while Brandon Ingram added 16 points, nine rebounds and six blocks. Duke jumped to a 50-23 lead by halftime. The Blue Devils are rounding into form quickly, but Wednesday will be a difficult test.

The Clemson Tigers moved to 10-6 SU and 3-1 in ACC play with a 66-62 win at home over the Louisville Cardinals, making it their third consecutive win. Jaron Blossomgame led the way with 17 points and nine rebounds for the Tigers, who shot just 32.6% from the field and was outrebounded 53-31. They played some tough defense with 17 forced turnovers.

Duke has dominated this ACC rivalry, winning seven of the last eight meetings. The Tigers' last win in this series came in January 2014, when they beat the Blue Devils 72-59 at home.

 

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At the Gate - Wednesday
By Mike Dempsey

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert looks as if he has a couple of early contenders for this spring’s Run for the Roses, running one-two in last Saturday’s $100,000 Sham Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita.

Collected got the job done, the colt making a successful transition from turf to dirt to win by 1 ¼ lengths over his stablemate Let’s Meet in Rio, who was facing winners for the frit time.

The future price on Collected dropped to 50-1, just sitting outside of the top 10 in future Derby wagering. Let’s Meet in Rio is sitting at a pricey 100-1.

Collected is by City Zip, who was better sprinting and I am not sure this colt really wants to go 1 ¼ miles on the first Saturday of May. However, some of us said the same thing about California Chrome.

The next Road to the Kentucky Derby points race is coming up this Saturday. The $200,000 Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds offers up 10-4-2-1 Derby points to the top four finishers.

I will have selections and analysis for the race in Saturday’s column.

Kentucky Derby Future Wagering:
Mohaymen 6-1
Mor Spirit 8-1
Airoforce 18-1
Swipe 20-1
Greenpointcrusader 25-1
Toews On Ice 25-1
Flexability 30-1
Gift Box 30-1
Drefong 40-1
Conquest Big E 45-1
Sail Ahoy 45-1
Shagaf 45-1


Here is today’s opener from Gulfstream Park to get the day off to a good start:

GP Race 1 Clm $6,250N2L (12:35 ET)
#2 Pampam 6-1
#1 Starship Galaxy 8-1
#7 Samus 7-2
#4 Lying Eyes 4-1

Analysis: Pampam went turf to dirt last out and checked in a decent third going six furlongs. The filly an into repeat winners two and three back on turf in her first two starts against winners. She tends to land for minor shares, 11 in 19 starts with just her maiden win, but she catches a weak group of non-winners of two here and she has run pretty well on dirt.

Starship Galaxy prompted the early pace and weakened to finish sixth last out at this level in her first start off the claim by the Kopaj barn. She comes back here with blinkers added and the rail draw. She broke her maiden going a mile and she ran well in a runner up finish at this distance in her first start against winners. Worth tossing in the mix if she goes off near her 8-1 morning line.

Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 4-1 or better.
EX: 1,2 / 1,2,4,7
TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,4,7 / 1,2,3,4,7

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Gulfstream Park:

GP Race 8 Alw $44,000N1X (4:05 ET)
#1 Boreggiatore 6-1
#8 Ami's Flatter 4-1
#2 Muntij 6-1
#9 No More Magic 8-1

Analysis: Boreggiatore exits a $50,000 starter allowance where it looks as if he may have bounced off back to back neck wins two and three back. The Sharp barn claimed this guy for $35,000 and he was a game winner in his first two starts for the barn. He has been freshened and has a win over the main track here breaking his maiden for a $25,000 tag last February at a mile. He fits if he runs back to his efforts two and three back and Sharp is having a solid meeting here, hitting at a 24% clip.

Ami's Flatter makes his first start since last July where he faded to finish eighth in the Queen's Plate. He mixed it up in Derby preps last year, running second in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and third in the Florida Derby (G1). The barn is showing a 4 for 14 mark (with a +ROI) with runners coming back off a +180 day layoff. The colt sports a couple of bullet works over at Payson for his return.

Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 4-1 or better.
EX: 1,8 / 1,2,8,9
TRI: 1,8 / 1,2,8,9 / 1,2,5,8,9

Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.

Gulfstream Park
R1: #1 Starship Galaxy 8-1
R2: #8 Onlytheshadowknows 8-1
R5: #4 Playa Zaragoza 15-1
R6: #8 I’m Steppin’ It Up 8-1
R7: #3 Big Yum 10-1
R7: #4 Inspire 10-1
R8: #9 No More Magic 8-1

Good luck today!