Wednesday 4/13/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Raptors (54-26) at Nets (21-60)

Date: April 13, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The Toronto Raptors will enter the postseason as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference after accomplishing what they set out to do: improve defensively and win a third straight Atlantic Division title.

The Brooklyn Nets' run of three playoff appearances since relocating will end following their worst season since playing in New Jersey.

With nothing left to play for, Toronto concludes the regular season Wednesday night against a Brooklyn team that will finish with one of the worst records in the NBA but won't have its first-round pick in June.

After earning the fourth seed in the East last season, the Raptors were swept by Washington in the first round and allowed the Wizards to average 110.3 points.

Toronto has shut down opponents this season, ranking among the league leaders with 98.2 points allowed per game in going 55-26 to establish a team record for wins for the third straight year.

However, that hasn't led to any postseason success after the Raptors also lost in the opening round to Brooklyn in 2014. Toronto has appeared in the playoffs seven times with its only series win coming in 2001.

The Raptors finished their home slate Tuesday with a 122-98 rout of league-worst Philadelphia behind seven players scoring in double figures. They open the playoffs against Indiana after taking three of four in the season series and seven of the last eight meetings.

"We know what happened and there's definitely a thought, but it's past," point guard Kyle Lowry said of the last two postseason failures. "We've got to worry about the future and continue to grow."

The 76ers are the only team in the East with fewer wins than Brooklyn (21-60), which entered this season hoping it could return to the playoffs despite a less-than-stellar roster.

Deron Williams was bought out in July, five months after the Nets traded Kevin Garnett and a year after they decided to not re-sign Paul Pierce. That left Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson as the go-to players, but Johnson was bought out in February.

The Nets' worst season since going 12-70 in 2009-10 won't result in a high draft pick because they sent their first-round selection - unprotected - to Boston in the deal for Pierce and Garnett in the summer of 2013.

Brooklyn also reassigned general manager Billy King and fired coach Lionel Hollins in January following a 10-27 record. Interim coach Tony Brown has gone 11-33.

"I feel like the situation has been tough from the beginning, I've tried to make the best of it and I'm going to continue to do that ... and whatever happens, happens," Brown said. "I'm not worried about my fate with this organization."

Brooklyn lost its ninth straight Monday, 120-111 to visiting Washington. The Nets, who have reached 60 losses for the fifth time, haven't dropped 10 in a row since an 11-game slide in January 2010.

They've averaged 91.0 points in losing all three meetings with Toronto this season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Hawks (48-33) at Wizards (40-41)

Date: April 13, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The Atlanta Hawks' nine-year playoff run stands as the longest in the Eastern Conference, and they know they'll open the postseason at home after making a run to last year's conference finals.

The Hawks, though, firmly reside in the second tier of NBA postseason teams - a clear reality with six of their last seven defeats coming against some of the league's top competition.

Washington is the only non-playoff team to beat them in that span, and the Wizards will try to send last year's second-round opponent into the postseason on a sour note with a home victory in Wednesday's night's season finale.

Atlanta (48-33) has gone 17-7 in its last 24, a stretch that includes two losses apiece to Golden State, Cleveland and Toronto. It had a three-game winning streak snapped with Monday's 109-94 road defeat to the Cavaliers, but it's guaranteed to finish third or fourth in the East after Boston fell to Charlotte later that night.

The Hawks will face one of those teams when the first round begins this weekend depending on how Miami finishes. They'll be looking to make another deep playoff run after Cleveland swept them out of the East finals last year despite a franchise-record 60-win season that gave them the No. 1 seed.

Monday's contest proved they have some work to do to reach the Cavaliers' level. Kent Bazemore scored 23 points, Jeff Teague had 21 and nine assists and Al Horford finished with 20 and 11 boards, but the Hawks' reserves managed only 18 points.

"We've got to find a way to get more from them," coach Mike Budenholzer said. "That's important to find some kind of rhythm with that group. I can do a better job with that."

Bazemore shot 1 of 5 and scored two points in the second half.

"I've got to grow as a player," Bazemore said. "Great players do it for 48 (minutes). I've got to tap back into that focus and try to keep it going."

Bazemore shot 3 for 11 and totaled eight points in the previous two meetings with Washington (40-41), which won at Atlanta 117-102 behind 27 points and 14 assists from John Wall and 25 from Bradley Beal on March 21. The Hawks earned a split of the home-and-home set two nights later with a 122-101 victory.

Wall is hurting, though, much like he was when he missed three games in Atlanta's six-game victory in the second round last year. Right knee soreness has sidelined him for the last four after playing the first 77 games, and it doesn't appear he'll play in the season finale.

Beal also sat out Monday's 120-111 win over Brooklyn after injuring his pelvis early in Sunday's victory over Charlotte. The Wizards are still playing hard despite finishing up a disappointing season, as Ramon Sessions scored 21 points and added 12 assists on his 30th birthday.

Marcus Thornton started in place of Beal and finished with 19 points, helping Washington jump out to a 20-0 lead before hanging on.

'We knew at the end of the game if we continued to play that pace we'd be fine,' said Sessions, averaging 16.5 points and 10.5 assists in Wall's absence. 'We just had to get some stops and we did in that second half.'

It's uncertain if Beal will be able to play as Washington attempts to finish .500 in three straight seasons for the first time since a four-year run from 2004-08.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pacers (43-37) at Bucks (33-48)

Date: April 13, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The Indiana Pacers will head north of the boarder later this week in their return to the playoffs. For now, they'll go as north as Milwaukee to cap the regular season.

With their postseason fate determined, the Pacers are afforded the luxury of resting key personnel Wednesday night against the last-place Bucks.

Indiana (44-37) is one game ahead of Detroit in the Eastern Conference, but it went 3-1 in the season series to give it the tiebreaker, the seventh seed and a first-round series with Atlantic Division champion Toronto.

The Pacers avoided a possible matchup with reigning East champion Cleveland by winning five of six after beating New York 102-90 in their home finale Tuesday.

"It's the best feeling. Just putting it in perspective from last year. Last year we had a different feeling on this night because we had one more game ahead of us to (try to) get in the playoffs," said forward Paul George, citing last year's failure to reach the postseason.

This time, Indiana gets a chance to plan ahead for the Raptors, but coach Frank Vogel hasn't decided if he'll give anyone the night off.

George could be a candidate since he's finishing his first full season after suffering a horrific broken leg with Team USA ahead of the 2014 Olympics. He's averaging a career-high 23.1 points.

George had 15 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and a career high-tying seven turnovers as seven Pacers scored in double digits in a 104-99 win at Milwaukee on March 2.

Indiana has won 10 of its last 13 against the Bucks (33-48), including four of five at Bradley Center.

George Hill is averaging 16.5 points while hitting 13 of 27 from 3-point range in his last four meetings with the Bucks. He enters this one after making 7 of 11 from long range while totaling 37 points over the last two games, matching George with a team-high 19 against the Knicks.

The Bucks are concluding a sixth straight season without a winning record while missing the playoffs for the fourth time over that stretch.

They've dropped nine of 12 after never leading and trailing by as many as 20 in a 107-98 loss at Orlando on Monday.

"When you're down in this league, you have to be perfect," coach Jason Kidd said. "Whether it's two minutes or three minutes, your defense has to be perfect. And offensively you have maybe a small margin of error because of the 3-point shot."

Greg Monroe had 23 points after being rested a day earlier as Milwaukee won 109-108 in overtime at Philadelphia. The center was averaging 11.8 points over the previous 12 games.

Monroe has totaled 39 points during the past two meetings with Indiana, while Khris Middleton has put up 56 over that span.

The guard is averaging 26.5 points on 20-for-35 shooting during the past two games after sitting out three in a row with a thigh injury.

Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 22 points against the Pacers last month. He managed three more combined in the last two games after averaging 27.7 during the previous three.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pistons (43-37) at Cavaliers (57-24)

Date: April 13, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons are about to see plenty of one another, therefore expect neither to show its cards during a now-meaningless regular-season finale.

Both teams figure to rest most or all of their regulars in Wednesday night's prelude to an opening-round playoff series.

LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love earned their expected nights off after Cleveland (57-24) clinched the East's No. 1 seed with Monday's 109-94 win over Atlanta. Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy could follow suit with his stars with Detroit (43-38) locked into the eighth seed and a matchup with the Cavaliers following Tuesday's 99-93 home loss to Miami.

The Pistons could have surpassed Indiana by winning their final two games and if the Pacers lost at Milwaukee on Wednesday. Still, an opportunity to face the East's defending champions in the franchise's first postseason trip since 2009 remains appealing.

"Nobody's picking us anyway. They're supposed to be the title contenders from the East. If we're not favored anyway we might as well get a crack at them, right?," guard Reggie Jackson said. "I don't want to fight Goliath's homeboy or little brother, I want to go and fight Goliath. I think that's how this locker room feels."

Detroit has reason to be confident despite its lack of experience relative to the playoff-tested Cavaliers. The Pistons have won two of three previous meetings between the Central Division rivals this season, including a 96-88 victory in Cleveland on Feb. 22 in which James was held to a season low-tying 12 points on 5-of-18 shooting.

James has been much tougher to stop of late, having averaged 28.4 points, 8.5 assists and 8.0 rebounds while shooting 62.0 percent over a noticeably focused 10-game stretch. The four-time MVP was in top form during Monday's clincher, finishing 13 of 16 from the field and amassing 34 points in three quarters against one of the league's best defensive teams.

'I hope he can keep it up,' Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said. 'If he plays like this, man, we're going to be tough to beat. He's just taken it to a whole other level the last three or four weeks, playing at a very high level, shooting the ball very well, shooting it with confidence and also getting it to the basket."

Irving also appears to be ready after matching a season high with 35 points against Atlanta and bouncing back from a 5-of-17, 11-point performance in Saturday's 105-102 loss at Chicago.

Detroit received a taste of a playoff-like atmosphere Tuesday against a Heat team still in the mix for a Southeast Division title. Despite missing Jackson due to an abdominal strain, the Pistons trailed by one midway through the fourth quarter before Joe Johnson scored eight straight to help Miami pull away.

Jackson, coming off a 39-point effort in Friday's playoff-clinching 112-99 win over Washington, is expected to return for Game 1. Detroit's leading scorer had 23 points and three of the Pistons' 10 steals in the Feb. 22 victory.

Irving had 30 that night and 28 in a 114-106 win at Detroit on Jan. 29. He missed a 104-99 road loss to the Pistons on Nov. 17 while still recovering from last June's fractured kneecap.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: 76ers (10-70) at Bulls (41-40)

Date: April 13, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

It isn't surprising the Philadelphia 76ers won't be going to the playoffs thanks to a horrific rebuilding project that led to the resignation of general manager Sam Hinkie last week.

That the Chicago Bulls are missing out is a much bigger surprise given the club had made seven straight trips and won 50 games a year ago before losing a tight series in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

These teams are disappointing for far different reasons and the Bulls seek their 10th straight win in this series Wednesday night at home to close the season.

Philadelphia's wretched three-year run with Hinkie's imprint on the team will come to a merciful end. He quit last Wednesday after running an analytics-minded front office and stripping the organization of all major talent with the idea of bottoming out in the standings and acquiring lottery picks. A loss Wednesday will make this season's edition the second-worst team in NBA history to the 1972-73 Philadelphia club that went 9-73.

While the 76ers (10-71) are badly in need of a new direction, the road forward for Chicago is less clear. The Bulls (41-40) fired popular coach Tom Thibodeau and brought in Fred Hoiberg before 2015-16 to guide a squad considered a leading contender in the East after a six-game loss to Cleveland in last year's playoffs.

Instead a season full of turmoil has ensued that saw star guard Jimmy Butler criticize Hoiberg in December while injuries to Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose hampered the club's rotation.

Rose and Pau Gasol opted to sit out the final two games once the Bulls were eliminated, and that decision caused controversy when Butler played through a sore knee Monday and had 23 points and 11 assists in a 121-116 victory at New Orleans.

'I don't want anyone to think I'm quitting on my team,' Butler said. 'I love this game and I'm fortunate to play every day. I don't care if we're in the playoffs or out of the playoffs. I don't like to lose, period. I play to win.'

Butler, who had a career-high 53 points in a 115-111 overtime win in Philadelphia on Jan. 14 in the last meeting, later clarified that his comment didn't mean that he thought Rose and Gasol had quit for the last two games.

Rookie Cristiano Felicio, who has totaled 32 points on 13-of-15 shooting in his last two games, will get major minutes in this contest. So will Bobby Portis and Justin Holiday, who combined for 27 points Monday.

The word quit is what the 76ers used to describe how Hinkie parted ways, although the club was clearly headed in a different direction once Jerry Colangelo was named chairman of basketball operations Dec. 7. That move came in the wake of an embarrassing stretch for the organization when star rookie Jahlil Okafor was attached to a string of off-court incidents that included reckless driving and a fight in Boston.

Colangelo helped bring in veteran players like retiring center Elton Brand, who will play his final game Wednesday if he gets into this contest. Brand, the No. 1 overall pick by the Bulls in 1999, sat out Tuesday's 122-98 defeat to Toronto

Philadelphia, which has dropped 15 of 16, is 0-11 in road games in the second half of a back-to-back.

Robert Covington, who grew up outside Chicago, is averaging 24.3 points in his last three games and scored 25 in the last meeting.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Heat (47-33) at Celtics (47-34)

Date: April 13, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The race to win the ultra-competitive Southeast Division has fittingly come down to the final day, and the Miami Heat have the simplest path.

It's not necessarily the easiest, however.

The visiting Heat can wrap up a fifth division title in six years Wednesday night by earning this season's first win over the Boston Celtics, who are seeking to secure home-court advantage for the opening round of the playoffs.

Miami (48-33) moved into a tie atop the Southeast with Atlanta with a 99-93 win in Detroit on Tuesday, its fourth in five games but just its second in six road contests. Joe Johnson provided 25 points, his second-most in 23 games with the team.

"To get a win on the road at this time of the year, when you're desperate, is good as we go into the playoffs," guard Dwyane Wade said. "There are going to be moments like that in the playoffs, where you go on the road, and you might need a win. The mentality that we had today was very good. I like to see the growth in us."

The Heat hold the tiebreaker over the Hawks by going 3-1 in the season series. Charlotte is one game behind both teams, and Miami would also win out in the event of a three-way tie.

The Heat can avoid the latter scenario by beating the Celtics (47-34) for the first time in three tries.

"We're a desperate team at this point. We know what's at stake. We've got to treat it like a Game 7," Johnson said.

Miami has lost each of the previous two meetings by double digits, falling 101-89 at TD Garden in the most recent matchup Feb. 27, part of a 14-game home win streak for the Celtics.

Boston suffered just its third loss in the past 21 contests on its own floor Monday, 114-100 to Charlotte, matching a season low for points in a quarter with 13 in the second. The Celtics were also beaten 118-107 in Atlanta on Saturday and are one game behind the Hawks for the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference.

They also have the same record as Charlotte but occupy fifth place because they won two of this season's three meetings.

Boston can gain home court with a victory and an Atlanta win in Washington on Wednesday night, which would give the Hawks the Southeast crown.

"We'll do everything we can to control that and it starts with a win (Wednesday)," guard Isiah Thomas told the team's official website. "Hopefully we can get fourth place and have home court in the first round because it will definitely help us."

Wade is averaging 27.7 points in his last three games against Boston. He scored 30 in a 105-95 home defeat Nov. 30.

Celtics guard Avery Bradley had 25 points in that game but was held to nine against the Heat in February. Thomas is averaging 10.7 points on 26.8 percent shooting - including a 2-of-11 performance from 3-point range - in his last three matchups.

Boston hasn't swept a regular-season series from Miami since winning three games in 2009-10. The Celtics haven't gone 4-0 against the Heat since 2007-08.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Magic (35-46) at Hornets (47-34)

Date: April 13, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

Charlotte is back in the NBA playoffs thanks in large part to the improved play of Kemba Walker.

The fifth-year point guard has improved dramatically in nearly every statistical category this season for the Hornets, who go into Wednesday's matchup against the Orlando Magic tied for the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference at 47-34.

Not bad for a team that only won 33 games last season.

Just as Walker has improved, so have the Hornets - the correlation in their success is undeniable.

Walker has upped his scoring average to 21.1 points this season - 15th in the NBA - compared to 17.3 in 2014-15. The biggest improvement has come in his 3-point shooting which is at 37.4 percent after he shot 30.4 percent last season. His true shooting percentage is up 7 percent to 48.6, and even his rebounding numbers and free throw percentage have climbed.

'He's playing at an All-Star level,' teammate Nicolas Batum said.

Walker's notable improvement over last season prompted the Hornets public relations staff to put together an online spoof based off this year's political campaigns featuring Walker as a prime 'candidate' to win the NBA's Most Improved Player.

Hornets coach Steve Clifford said Walker's competitiveness is 'contagious' and he's never met anyone who has worked harder in an effort to take his game to the next level.

'He's done everything he could to make himself a better player,' Clifford said.

He scored a career-high 52 points in a win over Utah on Jan. 18 and had 40 in a win at Orlando four days later, among his 13 30-point games this season. Walker said he's finally found the consistency he lacked during his first four NBA seasons.

He's scored 20 or more points in 40 games this season, doubling last year's total. He's one of only five NBA players with at least 1,600 points, 400 assists, 300 rebounds, 100 3-pointers and 100 steals.

'The last couple of years, I have always had stretches where I have played pretty well, but this year I have had multiple stretches where I was just on fire - just playing really well for a long period of time,' Walker said.

The Hornets will finish either fifth or sixth in the East and play Atlanta, Miami or Boston in the first round.

Charlotte won 114-100 in Boston on Monday behind Jeremy Lin's 25 points, but he's shot 7 of 22 for a combined 20 points in three meetings with the Magic (35-46). The Hornets have won the last two, including a 107-99 home victory March 16 as Batum and Marvin Williams each scored 26.

Orlando's Victor Oladipo averaged 27 points in those defeats, but he and Aaron Gordon are likely to miss a third straight game due to concussion symptoms. Fellow starter Nikola Vucevic (groin, leg) may also sit out the season finale for a team that has had some too little, too late success.

The Magic have won six of nine following a 10-30 stretch that took them out of playoff contention. Still, Orlando will post its highest win total since 2011-12 in coach Scott Skiles' first season at the helm.

"We're going the right way,' point guard Elfrid Payton told the team's official website. "I honestly thought that everybody in this locker room got better (from last) summer and I expect the same thing this year.'

Payton, averaging 8.6 assists in the last 11 games, has been joined in the backcourt lately by rookie Mario Hezonja with Oladipo sidelined. The No. 5 overall pick had 19 points along with career highs of seven assists and five steals in Monday's 107-98 win over Milwaukee.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Jazz (40-41) at Lakers (16-65)

Date: April 13, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

(AP) - Kobe Bryant is down to one last shot, and everybody knows he's going to take it.

After two decades spent dazzling the world, Bryant will end his basketball career at home with the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz. He'll walk off the court in front of his devoted fans in the building where he hung five championship banners.

He retires this week as the third-leading scorer in league history. Nobody ever got to spend 20 seasons with one NBA team before the 37-year-old Bryant, and he intends to thank Los Angeles with one last display of his transcendent talent.

'It means everything' to finish at home, Bryant said.

'I grew up a die-hard Laker fan, so it's like a dream come true for a kid to grow up and play for his favorite team, and play here for 20 years, his entire career,' he added. 'I've seen the city grow. I've seen the city develop, and vice versa. There's no place I'd rather end my career.'

Tickets are reselling for hefty sums, and merchandise commemorating the day is moving briskly. Fans without seats will gather downtown to show love for Bryant, a globally admired athlete who both fearlessly represented and strongly resembled LA.

Flashy. Confident. Clever. Combative. Bursting with ambition.

And always entertaining.

'I've grown up in front of this crowd from the age of 17,' Bryant said. 'A lot of faces that I saw in the crowd in my very first game are still here. That's very special. Kids that are sitting there now, that were kids when I first came in, now come to the game with their kids. You know, that's pretty cool to see.'

While Bryant's fellow Nike athletes around the globe wear shoes honoring the event they've dubbed 'Mamba Day,' the Lakers will attempt to send Bryant out in style against the Jazz, who could be eliminated from the playoff race shortly before tipoff.

Utah (40-41) can only claim the Western Conference's last remaining playoff spot if it wins this game and Houston loses earlier in the night to Sacramento. The Rockets enter with the same record but hold the tiebreaker over the Jazz, who lost control of their destiny by falling 101-92 to Dallas on Monday for their third loss in four games.

"We gotta go to Los Angeles and try to win a game under very different circumstances, with it being Kobe's last game, and see what happens elsewhere and hope for the best," Utah coach Quin Snyder said.

Lakers coach Byron Scott expects Bryant to play more than 37 minutes, and Kobe's teammates will be feeding the ball to him on practically every possession - admittedly not much of a change from most games during this otherwise horrific season.

With two 30-point performances this month, Bryant has proven he's still capable. He'll have every opportunity to run up the score one last time.

'I think it's going to be crazy,' Scott said. 'We got a chance to celebrate one of the greatest to ever play the game this season, and I think we did it the right way.'

Although some things went very wrong, they turned out all right for Kobe.

Bryant said last week that every season is a failure unless it ends with a title. The 15th such failure of his career has been comically bad, yet the ineptitude of the worst team in Lakers history (16-65) actually has made it easier to enjoy his farewell tour.

'We're not playing for a championship, and I'm pretty black-and-white on where I stand with that sort of stuff,' Bryant said. 'I've allowed myself to take the blinders off and enjoy the fans, enjoy the crowd. Laugh a little bit more. Engage a little bit more.'

Indeed, the Lakers' recent games effectively have been tribute evenings for Bryant, with opponents shaking his hand and lining up for turns to guard a player who profoundly inspired most of the current NBA.

When Bryant was asked to name his greatest basketball accomplishment Monday, he didn't cite his rings. Instead, he chose his ability to find the motivation to return from three consecutive season-ending injuries from 2013-15.

Bryant hasn't had a major health setback this season, although he sat out 16 games, constantly iced his joints, rarely practiced and hardly ever attended morning shootarounds.

He reached the finish line on his feet.

'He didn't take nights off,' Scott said. 'I think his competitive nature and the way he went about his business gained him a lot of respect around the world.'

Scott calls Bryant's farewell tour 'much-deserved and much-needed.' He has even fantasized about the perfect walk-away moment for Bryant: A patented fallaway jumper in the final seconds of a tied game.

'I would love for that to be the ending of the story,' Scott said.

Bryant knows he can't have an ideal finish because he isn't playing for a championship in his final game. He won't join Peyton Manning, Joe DiMaggio, Bill Russell, John Elway, Ray Bourque, David Robinson, John Wooden or the other sports icons who ended their careers at the pinnacle.

Instead, Bryant's finale is the conclusion of a 20-year competition with himself.

One last time, Kobe just wants to play.

'For me, it's coming out in front of the fans and competing hard, and playing against Utah and them not taking it easy at all,' Bryant said. 'To me, that is the greatest form of competition. That's the best last game to have. A very competitive one. A physical one. That's the way basketball should be.'

Bryant has had dreadful performances in the Lakers' last two matchups with Utah, scoring five points in each while shooting a combined 3 of 19 from the field in blowout losses. The most recent marked the most lopsided defeat of his career and tied the worst in franchise history, 123-75 on March 28.

Rodney Hood, who went 1 for 11 in the Jazz's loss to Dallas on Monday, led Utah with 30 points in last month's meeting - all in the first half.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Grizzlies (42-38) at Warriors (72-9)

Date: April 13, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

(AP) - Stephen Curry never figured the Chicago Bulls' 72-win mark could be matched or eclipsed.

Twenty years later, the reigning MVP and his defending champion Golden State Warriors are on the brink of doing just that and making yet more history this season.

'I knew what it was but you never really thought about it in perspective of anybody chasing it. It was kind of that number that was out there that seemed invincible,' Curry said after practice Tuesday. 'Even at the beginning of this year, even when we started 24-0, it was kind of: 'Well, maybe we can do it. We're going to keep playing every night with the intention of winning as many games as possible,' but it just sounded kind of ludicrous, 72-10, how much good play has to go into it. We're there now, 72-9, and we've got one more chance to beat it.'

That comes Wednesday night, when the Memphis Grizzlies visit Oracle Arena as Golden State goes for win No. 73 to best the 1995-96 Bulls.

'It's a big deal for sure,' Curry said. 'It's our last regular-season game, our last tuneup before the playoffs and nobody wants to lose their last game going into the playoffs if you can avoid it, and obviously 73. We want to get that number. Why not?'

Curry had 37 points as the Warriors ended a 33-game skid in San Antonio with a 92-86 victory on Sunday for their 72nd victory.

Curry and coach Steve Kerr expected the Warriors to be better this season, but this good? No way. This many wins? Hardly. Not with every opponent bringing its best every night.

Triple-double machine Draymond Green can't believe Golden State's position now, either.

He wishes the record hadn't come down to the regular-season finale.

'It would have been cool to take care of the games we were supposed to take care of and have it already out of the way,' Green said. 'The way this thing has played out, to be at home with one shot at it, it's pretty amazing. You can't not talk about it at this point. The whole world's talking about it now. It's everywhere. There's no way to hide from it now. Honestly, realistically, I didn't think it could be done.'

The Warriors received a serious test from the Grizzlies just Friday, needing to rally from 10 points down in the fourth quarter for a 100-99 road win. Green scored the game's final points on a tip-in with 1 minute left as Golden State won its first one-point game of the season.

'It should be a fun 48 minutes and hopefully a night we'll remember for a long time,' Curry said.

The Grizzlies (42-39) are also about to make NBA history, though, their milestone has not received nearly the same recognition as the Warriors'.

No team in league history has ever reached the postseason having used more than 23 players, and Memphis will be the first having already used a record 28 in an injury-riddled season.

In a season dominated by Golden State's chase of the league's single-season wins record, Kerr calls what the Grizzlies have accomplished simply remarkable.

'I think it's one of the most impressive stories in the NBA this year,' Kerr said.

A total of 12 different Grizzlies have missed a combined 291 games to injuries or illness this season, second only New Orleans.

'We've gotten hit over the head with everything you can get hit with,' Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger said.

As a result, Memphis has lost nine of 10 to drop into a tie with Dallas for sixth place in the Western Conference. The Mavericks own the tiebreaker, so the Grizzlies must beat the Warriors and have Dallas lose to a San Antonio team likely resting most of its veterans to capture the sixth seed.

Memphis lost its grip on fifth place with Tuesday's lackluster 110-84 setback to the Los Angeles Clippers.

'Emotionally, there have been times where we are just kind of out of gas,' Joerger said. "You can't be high for every single game. We took a couple hits in some games where you wish they had been closer or we had given ourselves a chance to win.'

Joerger credits veterans Zach Randolph, Tony Allen, Matt Barnes and Vince Carter for helping Memphis through the rotating cast both by playing better individually and embracing their new teammates.

Randolph said this season has been tough, yet the Grizzlies know nobody in the NBA feels sorry for them.

'We got to start the playoffs,' Randolph said. 'We ain't got our team, and we made the playoffs. Everybody count us out and look where we are now.'

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nuggets (33-48) at Trail Blazers (43-38)

Date: April 13, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

The team Portland is most likely to face in the first round just did it a favor and made it impossible for the Trail Blazers to fall to the seventh seed.

Now all that's left for them to clinch the No. 5 spot is an 11th win in the last 12 meetings with the visiting Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night or a Dallas loss to San Antonio.

The Los Angeles Clippers defeated Memphis on Tuesday to ensure the Blazers won't have to face San Antonio, but a loss and a Mavericks win would still place Portland sixth to face Oklahoma City.

Scenarios aside, Damian Lillard was more focused on simply playing well after Portland (43-38) fell 106-105 at home to Minnesota on Saturday.

"I mean, we're in the playoffs," Lillard said "We just want to do the right things every game. That's the biggest thing is play the right way and give ourselves a chance every night, the best chance. Tonight we didn't do that. 'But like I said, we're in and whoever we end up playing, that's what it is. We want to push ourselves to get as high as we can and finish the season off the right way."

The loss came despite the Blazers shooting 50 percent, and over a 2-2 span, Portland opponents have averaged 116 points while shooting 51.3 percent and 49.4 from 3-point range.

"After the first quarter, we really never were as good as we needed to be defensively," coach Terry Stotts said. "Give credit to Minnesota. They played well. They've been playing well lately. They got momentum, they made big shots and they made big plays. So it's a disappointing loss."

Lillard at least showed some individual improvement. He had 31 points on 11-of-22 shooting after a an eight-game stretch on which he'd been limited to an average of 18.8 points on 32.1 percent.

The last five meetings have been decided by single digits, but four have gone Portland's way as part of three seasons of domination in the series. Lillard hasn't played in the last two - both Blazers wins - and the latest was a 112-106 win in Denver on Jan. 3. C.J. McCollum had 25 points after posting 29 in a December victory, and he's shot 61.1 percent in those games.

The Nuggets (33-48) will finish either 10th or 11th in the West, and while their lottery slot isn't yet locked in, the pick goes to Toronto. They're more concerned with how New York and Houston finish because Denver potentially has both of those draft choices along with Portland's. If Houston doesn't finish in the top 14 slots, the Nuggets will have three first-round picks among the top 20.

They're coming of a 100-84 home loss to Utah to fall to 5-10 since a four-game winning streak from March 6-12.

"You can't let a team go on a run where you don't get stops, you don't score, don't execute," coach Michael Malone said. "That one stretch to close out the third and the fact that we gave them (18) second-chance points and they outrebounded us by eight was the story of the game."

Emmanuel Mudiay scored 19 points and has averaged 16.4 on 40 percent from 3-point range in his last seven. He missed the losses to Portland but scored 18 points in a 108-104 win in Denver on Nov. 9.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Clippers (52-28) at Suns (22-59)

Date: April 13, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

As the Los Angeles Clippers look to continue their surge into the playoffs, the Phoenix Suns hope for a positive end to the second-worst season in franchise history.

Though most of their starters expect to be rested, the visiting Clippers try to record a seventh consecutive victory Wednesday night against the Suns.

Locked into the fourth spot in the Western Conference, Los Angeles (53-28) has certainly heated up at the right time. Chris Paul had 12 points with 13 assists as the Clippers won for the 10th time in 11 games, 110-84 over Memphis on Tuesday.

'Our chemistry is great,' backup Jeff Green said. 'It's getting better and better with each game. We need to keep progressing. The playoffs are right around the corner, and we need to be focused and ready.'

With little to play for in the regular-season finale, the likes of Paul, DeAndre Jordan and even Blake Griffin will be rested. Guard J.J. Redick almost certainly won't play after he suffered a bruised heel in the first half after trying his own franchise record with his 200th made 3-pointer.

"As a group we'll talk about it, but there will be several guys missing for sure," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. "Maybe even some coaches.'

Los Angeles shot 54.7 percent Tuesday, and 48.9 percent in the last 11 contests. More importantly, it's yielded 87.2 points per game and 38.3 percent shooting in the last five.

"I love the way we're playing defense right now," Rivers said.

Austin Rivers scored 14 and Green added 13 points for a Clippers bench that's averaging 41.4 points since Dec. 26 - second-most in the NBA during that span.

"We play hard at all times," Austin Rivers told the Clippers' official website about his fellow reserves.

While Rivers and Green should suit up Wednesday, Sixth Man of the Year candidate Jamal Crawford almost definitely will after he was rested against the Grizzlies. Crawford has totaled 52 points and gone 8 of 17 from 3-point range in his last two games.

Los Angeles took two of the first three from the Suns (22-59), but its four-game winning streak at Phoenix ended with a 118-104 loss Nov. 12.

Not since their 16-66 inaugural 1968-69 season have the Suns been this bad.

"I think it's important that we keep on fighting," said forward Mirza Teletovic, who had a game-high 26 points in Monday's 105-101 loss to Sacramento.

Owners of the fourth-worst record in the league, the Suns will have a legitimate chance at earning the No. 1 overall draft pick in June. They also need to decide on a coach with names such as interim boss Earl Watson, ex-coach Mike D'Antoni, Golden State assistant Luke Walton and Villanova's Jay Wright reportedly rumored to be in the mix.

Devin Booker (13.8 points per game) expects to be in Phoenix's plans going forward. The rookie guard scored 22 on Monday, and has averaged 21.3 points in the last 13 contests.

"I'm blessed to be in this situation," said the 19-year-old Booker, who is the fourth-youngest player in NBA history to score 1,000 points in a season. "I have vets around here that want to see me succeed. ... It means a lot to me."

Booker totaled just five points on 2-of-10 shooting before he fouled out in a 124-84 loss at Los Angeles on Feb. 22.

Teletovic has averaged 22.3 points in six games this month.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA Odds: Wednesday, April 13 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews

It's the final day of the 2015-16 NBA regular season on Wednesday, and what a spectacular night it should be, one of the most important final days of a regular season that I can remember. Unfortunately, the two main games I'm interested are both starting at the same time: 10:30 p.m. From Oakland, the Golden State Warriors look for their NBA record 73rd win, and while nothing is a lock in sports I can't fathom a scenario where injury-ravaged Memphis prevents that from happening. And down the state in Los Angeles, the Lakers host the Jazz in the final game in the Hall of Fame career of Kobe Bryant. Ticket prices are of course absurd for that one, and I'm sure there will be many Hollywood types in attendance. I will be continuing these stories into the playoffs as long as there are multiple games on days.

Heat at Celtics (TBA)

First of an ESPN doubleheader. Miami was in Detroit on Tuesday. The Heat are currently fourth in the East, a half-game behind Atlanta for No. 3 and a half-game ahead of Boston and Charlotte for that final home-court advantage spot in the playoffs. The C's suffered a damaging 114-100 home loss to the Hornets on Monday. That means Boston can't get higher than No. 4 now. If Miami wins on Tuesday and Atlanta wins on Wednesday at nothing-to-play for Washington, the Celtics can secure the No. 4 seed with a win over the Heat. Boston leads the season series 2-0.

Key trends: The underdog is 11-1 against the spread in the past 12 meetings. The "over/under" has gone under in five of the past six.

Early lean: Lot depends on what Miami does Tuesday.

Raptors at Nets (TBA)

Toronto has no reason whatsoever to play anyone here -- and I'm sure won't -- as it is now locked into the East's No. 2 seed plus played Monday night at home against Philadelphia. The Nets already have shut down their two best guys and also have squat to play for since their first-round pick heads to Boston. The Raptors have won all three meetings this season.

Key trends: The Raptors are 3-7 ATS in the past 10 meetings. The over is 7-3 in the past 10 in Brooklyn.

Early lean: Brooklyn wins this one.

Magic at Hornets (-10.5, 209.5)

I really think the Magic can be a playoff team next season and they will be active this summer in trades/free agency. You hear Jimmy Butler's name in a possible trade. Might Dwight Howard return to the city as a free agent? Orlando closed its home schedule with a 107-98 win over Milwaukee on Monday. Victor Oladipo and Aaron Gordon both sat with a concussion, and I'm sure they won't play here. Game still matters to Charlotte. Hornets lead the season series with Orlando 2-1.

Key trends: The underdog is 6-1 ATS in the past seven meetings. The over is 5-2 in those seven.

Early lean: Hornets and over.

Pistons at Cavaliers (TBA)

Detroit is either finishing seventh or eighth and is tied with Indiana for those spots. The Pistons hosted Miami on Tuesday. Cleveland wrapped up the top seed in the East on Monday with a win over Atlanta and already has announced LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love will sit this one out. It's very possible these two face off again this weekend in the postseason.

Key trends: The Pistons are 7-2 ATS in their past nine in Cleveland. The over is 5-2 in the past seven there.

Early lean: If Detroit still has the No. 7 to play for, it wins here.

Hawks at Wizards (TBA)

Atlanta claims the No. 3 seed with a win here. It will be the final game for Wizards head coach Randy Wittman, who will be fired right after the season. Not sure what took the team this long. John Wall isn't expected to play here as he's dealing with a knee injury. You may well see other Wizards starters sit out as well.

Key trends: The road team is 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings. The over is 5-1 in the past six in Washington.

Early lean: Hawks roll.

76ers at Bulls (-11.5, 210)

Philadelphia was in Toronto on Tuesday. Chicago has already ruled out Pau Gasol and Derrick Rose for this one. Gasol probably has played his final game in a Bulls uniform as a free agent, and Rose might be shopped this offseason. Not sure if anyone would take that contract, however, even with just a year left. This game means nothing.

Key trends: The 76ers are 4-0 ATS in their past four road games. The over is 6-0 in the past six meetings.

Early lean: 76ers and over.

Spurs at Mavericks (TBA)

This game means nothing to San Antonio, so you surely won't see several key Spurs. The Mavericks will finish seventh in the West with a loss and would face the Spurs in the first round. For the 15th time in 16 seasons, the Mavs will finish better than .500 and be postseason participants. Dallas can still move up a spot or two with a win and depending on what happens to Portland and Memphis.

Key trends: The underdog is 12-4 ATS in the past 16 meetings. The under is 6-1 in the past seven.

Early lean: Mavericks win.

Kings at Rockets (-14.5, 220)

Surely this will be it for Kings coach George Karl, who already has announced that DeMarcus Cousins will sit this game out. Rajon Rondo might too. Houston will gladly take that as the Rockets claim the No. 8 spot in the West with a win. The Rockets would still get in with a loss as long as Utah loses at the L.A. Lakers. But be aware this game tips at 8 p.m. ET and Jazz-Lakers at 10:30 p.m. ET, so Houston won't know Utah's fate until after the Rockets play.

Key trends: The Kings are 2-6 ATS in the past eight meetings. The over is 4-1 in the previous five.

Early lean: Rockets and over.

Pacers at Bucks (TBA)

Indiana hosted the Knicks on Tuesday. I'm sure the Pacers would prefer to win out and assure themselves the No. 7 seed and play Toronto in Round 1 instead of Cleveland. Bucks are just playing out the string, but I expect them to be playoff team next season. Pacers have won two of three meetings this season.

Key trends: The road team is 7-2 ATS in the past nine. The over is 4-1 in the past five.

Early lean: I could see Indiana resting Paul George here. So wait and see what happens Tuesday.

Pelicans at Timberwolves (-9, 213)

New Orleans will finish with the sixth-worst record in the NBA and Minnesota the fifth-worst in terms of ping-pong balls for the draft lottery. Just been a stellar season for Wolves rookie Karl-Anthony Towns, who is averaging 18.2 points and 10.4 rebounds a game. He and Andrew Wiggins are why the Wolves could have just about their pick of coaches this offseason assuming they move on from interim coach Sam Mitchell.

Key trends: The home team is 10-3 ATS in the past 13 meetings. The over is 4-1 in the past five.

Early lean: Wolves and over.

Grizzlies at Warriors (-16.5, 211.5)

Second ESPN game. Memphis was at the L.A. Clippers on Tuesday. The Grizzlies could slide as far as No. 7 in the West if they lose out. I don't think it matters who they play in the postseason -- it will be a sweep. Obviously this means everything for Golden State as the Warriors players have made no secret of wanting that wins record. Just get a big lead and get the stars out of there to avoid injury. When Memphis visited Oakland back in November, it lost by 50. One individual note here: with eight 3-pointers, Steph Curry would reach 400 for the season. Unthinkable even a few years ago. .

Key trends: The Grizzlies are 1-5 ATS in the past six meetings. The under is 8-1 in the past nine.

Early lean: Warriors and over.

Jazz at Lakers (+8, 189.5)

This game was shifted to ESPN2 with the Warriors' record game picked up by ESPN. Utah has to win it and have Houston lose earlier in the night to the Kings, which I don't see happening. The Jazz will know by the time they take the court. And it looks like Utah will be without center Rudy Gobert after he hurt his ankle in Monday's loss to Dallas. The Jazz are going to be really dangerous next year with Dante Exum's return from a torn ACL. Obviously it's all about Kobe here as he plays in the 1,346th regular-season game of his 20-year career. Coach Byron Scott says Bryant will play the first 10 minutes or so of the first quarter and then they will see how Bryant feels as to how many more minutes the rest of the night.

Key trends: The Jazz are 4-0 ATS in the past four meetings. The under is 4-1 in the past five in L.A.

Early lean: I love the Lakers here if Houston does win as expected. If somehow the Rockets don't, then Utah.

Clippers at Suns (TBA)

Los Angeles hosted Memphis on Tuesday. Coach Doc Rivers already has said he would rest some of his guys for this game but didn't say who. I'm sure Chris Paul will be one. I think Blake Griffin will play, though, as he needs all the minutes he can get to get into tip-top shape off that long injury absence. This presumably will be Earl Watson's final game as Suns interim coach. Phoenix is targeting the likes of Mike D'Antoni (really?), Luke Walton and former Suns fan-favorite player Dan Majerle, currently the coach at Grand Canyon University. Phoenix also is looking at Villanova's Jay Wright, but no one expects him to take the job.

Key trends: The road team has covered seven of the past 11. The under is 7-3 in the past 10 in Phoenix.

Early lean: Wait on Rivers' decision.

Nuggets at Trail Blazers (-8.5, 217.5)

Denver is playing out the string. Portland is currently fifth in the West and would stay there with a win, which would mean a first-round series with the Clippers. The sixth and seventh seeds are in play, however. But by the time Portland takes the court, it might already be locked into No. 5 and thus have no reason to play its top guys. The Blazers are 10-1 in their past 11 at home in the series.

Key trends: The road team is 9-4-1 ATS in the past 14 meetings. The over is 4-0 in the past four.

Early lean: Blazers if they have any reason to care and over.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'History in the making'

Golden State's guest for a league-best 73 wins continues Wednesday when the Warriors play host to visiting Memphis Grizzlies. Warriors tough nuts to crack at Oracle Arena own an amazing 38-2 (21-19 ATS) record in front of its friendly crowd with a winning margin of 14.3 points/game.

The fact, Warriors have had little trouble vs Grizzlies going 3-0 (2-1 ATS) this season, 6-0 (5-1 ATS) the past six encounters along with life on the road not the best for Grizzlies at 16 wins vs. 23 losses (19-19-1 ATS) the likelihood of history being made is high.

Oddsmakers have placed a -16.5 point premium on Curry and company. Might be a touch generous. Warriors haven't exactly been money in the bank recently as double digit chalk posting a 1-6 record against the betting line with a winning margin of only 6.2 points/game. Additionally, as bad as Memphis has been on the road the Grizzlies have kept backers happy of late handed double digits on enemy hardwood going 5-2 against the number.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Northfield: Wednesday 4/13 Analysis + Pick Four ticket
By Jeremey Day

DRF HARNESS

Race 8 - $10,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool

Jeremey’s $1 Pick Four Play:

1,2 / 4,9 / 1,3,4,5 / 1 = $16



Best Bet: MISS PANTHERS (11th)

Spot Play: LIGHTENING WAR (9th)

Race 1


(3) CERVEZA DINERO has room to improve second start back against a suspect bunch. (9) ANNIE'S MASTER has not visited the winner circle in quite some time but did put in a solid qualifier less than a week ago. (2) LARRY P has question marks coming off a scratch but could hit the ticket underneath.

Race 2

(1) JL JOHN'S LADY filly pacer looks primed for a better effort in her third career start. (4) HEAVEN'S PRINCESS well bred filly raced big in her last race from a tough spot; big chance. (3) CIRCLE M DIRECTOR had no excuse last week and will offer another short price; use caution.

Race 3

(2) ABC CAPTAIN MAN lightly raced trotter gets sent out second start in a new barn. The 4-year-old used a decent burst last week before tiring late. (6) CREDIT CHARGER will offer a big price in a field full of question marks. (8) WOMANS RIGHT mare is 0 for her career but does drop down a notch.

Race 4

(3) HYD-DAT-SHOOTER will offer a big price and is capable with a good setup. (5) JEDD KIDD SQUAKING tough to believe the pacer is still 0 for the year. The pacer put in a big effort last week from an impossible spot. (1) FANGLED HANOVER gets sent out second start for the top trainer; threat.

Race 5

(5) TRAFICANT raced greenly last week but has upside. (4) BOUNDLESS RAYNE gets sent out for proven connections. (2) MATTER OF PRIDE is best used on the bottom of your tickets.

Race 6

(4) TUG RIVER CLAUDE thirteen-year-old pacer has a history of being competitive against better. (3) VON RYAN'S EXPRESS has been facing much tougher in recent weeks. (2) SALESMAN has ability but needs to mind his manners.

Race 7

(3) SON OFA SPUR will look to make it two straight against similar. (1) ROSE RUN PRINCESS picks up a good driver change but looks to offer low value. (4) HUSTLINHANNAH couldn't seal the deal last week off a perfect trip; use underneath.

Race 8

(1) WESTERN COBY gelding pacer has not won a race in quite some time, however he should be primed for a better effort second start off the bench. (2) HA HA owns a win at this level and will be much closer turning for home. (3) DUSTY DUNES has been competitive but is probably best used underneath.

Race 9

(4) LIGHTENING WAR had no shot from a tough post last week. The 4-year-old picks back up the top driver and should offer value. (9) HANGIN JUDGE has burned cash in three of his last five. If the 6-year old stays trotting he's the horse to beat. (5) GREEN ACRELOLLYPOP owns ability but has trouble sealing the deal; use underneath.

Race 10

(4) MAJOR SPEED owns the fastest win of the field on the year. The pacer just needs a smooth trip for a piece. (1) HERES HOOTER should be primed for a better effort third start back off a long layoff. (3) AUTO PILOT rarely wins but is capable of beating this bunch with some racing luck.

Race 11

(1) MISS PANTHERS will look to drop and pop with the best post. (7) FLYING MUSCLES gelding trotter might need a start but has the most upside in the field. (5) REVERAND SPEED comes off a nice win down in class but will need more; command a price.

Race 12

(2) THE PRICE YOU PAY doesn't look the best on paper but does get a good post for a new barn. (3) FOLLOW THROUGH finds a weak and inconsistent field; threat. (4) CUSTOM MADE is capable of hitting the ticket underneath.

Race 13

(3) PRINCE BEACON will look to make it three wins in four starts at this level. (2) BUPA BRUSIER is one of few threats in the race to the top choice. (9) ROCKY BEACH pacer makes his first start for the top barn and was the driver's choice.

Race 14

(1) LIMA RITCH should handle this field with a good effort. (4) KING MIDAS' TOUCH gets sent out for a low percentage provisional pilot but has shown improvement in recent. (9) LOGAN COUNTY RALPH is very inconsistent from week to week; command a price.

Race 15

(1) BIG BAD PUDDYCAT lightly raced pacer gets the best post against a suspect bunch. (5) MIRACLE MATTY filly pacer will look to make it two straight to kick off her sophomore campaign. (6) DESIRABLE DIEDRA just missed last week at this level for the top barn; threat.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

SPOT PLAYS

For Wednesday


TRACK (RACE) HORSE, MORNING LINE


Aqueduct (5th) Nublin Ridge, 7-2
(9th) D.S. Boyd, 6-1

Charles Town (2nd) Really Boppin, 4-1
(6th) Ellie's Lil Man, 4-1

Evangeline Downs (1st) Tia's Buckaroux, 4-1
(6th) A King's Secret, 4-1


Gulfstream Park (5th) Dangerous Bend, 5-1
(8th) Catalactic, 7-2


Keeneland (6th) Ironclad, 4-1
(7th) Space Mountain, 4-1


Mahoning Valley (2nd) La Dominadora, 8-1
(8th) Crazy Giulia, 6-1


Oaklawn Park (4th) Mi Tia, 9-2
(5th) Fairwayngreen, 4-1


Penn National (2nd) Gabby's Brown, 4-1
(6th) Wild Imagination, 7-2


Sunland Park (2nd) Likeness, 4-1
(4th) U R Mean, 4-1


Tampa Bay Downs (1st) Hi Ho Heels, 3-1
(8th) Rizzi Girl Twelve, 7-2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB notebook: Former GM Richardson dies at 93
By The Sports Xchange

Former Houston Astros and San Francisco Giants general manager H.B. "Spec" Richardson died Tuesday at the age of 93.
Richardson passed away at his home in Columbus, Ga., due to natural causes.
Richardson served as Astros' general manager from 1967-75 before holding the same position with the Giants from 1976-80.
Richardson is best known for trading away future Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan. He traded Morgan to the Cincinnati Reds in 1971 in an eight-player trade that brought first baseman Lee May to Houston and Morgan went on to win back-to-back MVP awards as the Reds won consecutive titles in 1975-76.
With the Giants, Richardson traded seven players and cash to acquire Oakland pitcher Vida Blue.

---Catcher James McCann was placed on the disabled list by the Detroit Tigers.
McCann went on the 15-day DL with a right ankle sprain suffered in Monday's 7-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Tigers immediately announced the corresponding move, purchasing the contract of veteran catcher Bobby Wilson from Triple-A Toledo.

---Two pitchers were suspended by the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball for violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
Alger Hodgson, a right-hander with the Atlanta Braves, was hit with a 72-game suspension without pay for a positive test for metabolites of Stanozolol. He is on the roster of the Braves' Dominican Summer League team and will start his suspension once the season begins.
David Graybill, a right-hander in the San Francisco Giants' organization, was suspended for 50 games without pay after a second positive test for a drug of abuse. Graybill is with the Giants' Arizona League rookie team and will begin serving his suspension at the start of the season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Marlins (2-3) at Mets (2-4)

Game: 3
Venue: Citi Field
Date: April 13, 2016 1:10 PM EDT

The New York Mets won the pennant last season largely due to their vaunted rotation that featured some of the best young arms in baseball.

One of them could be headed for the disabled list already.

With Jacob deGrom scratched, the Mets send Logan Verrett to the mound as they try to shake out of their offensive slump and snap a four-game slide Wednesday against the Miami Marlins.

Pitching was instrumental to New York reaching the World Series last fall, leaning on a rotation that still includes deGrom, Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz.

For now, deGrom is taking a hiatus. He's being skipped after tightness in his right lat forced him to exit his season debut Friday against Philadelphia.

While the Mets (2-5) are claiming the move is precautionary, a trip to the DL is possible.

"We're trying to stay away from that," manager Terry Collins said.

Coincidentally, the injury allowed deGrom to be with his wife for the birth of their son on Tuesday.

The Mets' offense have been virtually non-existent. They're hitting .187 with 18 runs this season, scoring just six times during the four-game skid.

Getting the offense back in gear would be a huge help to Verrett, who allowed one run in one inning in a 5-2 loss to the Phillies on Sunday in his only appearance.

"I feel good about going into this one," Verrett told the team's official website. "I did it quite a bit last year, so I feel like I'm a little used to it. You just go out there and try to put up zeros every single inning. Not a big deal."

The right-hander went 1-1 with a 3.63 ERA in four starts with New York last year. That includes yielding one run and three hits in five innings of a no-decision in a 4-3 home win over Miami on Sept. 14.

New York has scored more than three runs in just one game this season. Curtis Granderson has been ineffective in the leadoff spot, going 2 for 27 with five walks and two runs.

Neil Walker is also struggling with a .214 average, while tying Granderson, David Wright, Yoenis Cespedes and Lucas Duda with a team-high eight strikeouts.

The Marlins (3-3) are trying to sweep their first three-game series in Flushing since Sept. 8-10, 2009.

Dee Gordon came through in the clutch Tuesday after striking out a career-high four times. He singled on the 16th pitch of his at-bat in the eighth, stole second and advanced to third after consecutive walks before scoring the decisive run on Martin Prado's sacrifice fly.

"I was just trying to put on a good battle," Gordon said. "Keep fighting. Keep trying to get on base, that's it."

Gordon is batting .435 during a 19-game hitting streak against the Mets.

Miami sends Adam Conley to the mound in place of Wei-Yin Chen, who was pushed back to Friday against Atlanta due to a bruised left elbow suffered on a comebacker in the season opener.

Conley's season debut only lasted one inning due to a long rain delay. The left-hander gave up three runs with two strikeouts and two walks in Thursday's 6-4 win at Washington in the shortest of his 12 career starts.

Conley has allowed one run in 9 1-3 innings over two appearances against the Mets. He yielded three hits in seven innings of a 6-0 win in his only start against them Sept. 16 at Citi Field.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Angels (3-4) at Athletics (4-4)

Game: 3
Venue: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Date: April 13, 2016 3:35 PM EDT

If the Los Angeles Angels are to contend in an expectedly top-heavy AL West, they'll need to rely on more than just Mike Trout.

They're doing just that during a three-game winning streak they'll bring into Wednesday's series finale with the Oakland Athletics.

Losses in four of the first five games seemed to signal the beginning of a potentially long season for the Angels (4-4), but they've bounced back well despite Trout's 5 for 27 start. After receiving strong pitching performances from Jered Weaver and Nick Tropeano over the first two games of the streak, the bats came alive during the final two innings of Tuesday's 5-4 come-from-behind victory over the A's.

The Angels scored twice in the eighth before going ahead on Geovany Soto's two-run homer off Sean Doolittle in the ninth.

'It shows that's what we're all about, we never stop, we're always going to keep coming after you,' Soto said. 'You have to beat us 27 outs. It's a good quality to have and it's a good model that we're trying to establish.'

Another win would give the Angels their first three-game sweep in Oakland since Sept. 3-5, 2012, though they may need Matt Shoemaker to improve off a rough season debut to achieve the feat.

Shoemaker allowed six runs and seven hits in three-plus innings in Friday's 7-3 loss to Texas, displaying the same problems that led to a disappointing 2015 campaign and a poor spring. The right-hander allowed 24 home runs in 135 1-3 innings while finishing 7-10 last season and nine in 25 innings in posting a 6.84 ERA during spring training.

The 29-year-old is still trying to recapture the form that produced a 16-4 record and 3.04 ERA and a runner-up finish for the 2014 AL Rookie of the Year Award.

Shoemaker was 1-2 with a 6.04 ERA in five 2015 starts against the A's, surrendering five homers in 25 1-3 innings. He did yield just one run over seven innings in a 6-2 win at Oakland on Sept. 1.

Marcus Semien, who homered twice on Tuesday, is 5 for 12 with a homer off Shoemaker, while Stephen Vogt has two homers in 15 at-bats against him.

Oakland (4-5) had won three straight prior to a 4-1 loss in Monday's opener and entered Tuesday's game with a 1.86 bullpen ERA before Doolittle and Ryan Madson allowed four runs. The A's had the lowest save percentage (52.8) in the majors during a 94-loss 2015 season.

'They had some pretty good hitters get some good at-bats off `em,' manager Bob Melvin said. 'Both guys looked good out there. The bullpen's been great. You gotta give them credit, too.'

Oakland's rotation has performed well despite injuries to Henderson Alvarez and Felix Doubront, who underwent Tommy John surgery Tuesday. Kendall Graveman yielded a run on four hits over six innings Tuesday.

Eric Surkamp gets a second crack at filling Doubront's spot after an effective spot start in Friday's 3-2 win at Seattle. The journeyman left-hander, signed to a minor league contract in December, held the Mariners scoreless through four innings before permitting two runs in the fifth.

The start was Surkamp's first in the majors since July 23, 2013, with San Francisco. He made 35 relief appearances with the White Sox in 2014 and one with the Dodgers last season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rangers (4-4) at Mariners (2-5)

Game: 3
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: April 13, 2016 3:40 PM EDT

A.J. Griffin's first start in three years wasn't a work of beauty, but it was effective and ended the Texas Rangers' losing streak.

He now attempts to build on that effort and help the Rangers sweep this three-game series with the punchless Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.

Griffin went 14-10 with a 3.83 ERA and a team-high 171 strikeouts in 200 innings for Oakland in 2013, his only full season in the majors. He missed all of 2014 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and the four appearances he made last year came in the A's minor league system.

That long road to recovery finally ended Friday, when the right-hander allowed three runs in six innings of a 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels.

"I don't even know how to put that into words, but it was a grind," Griffin said. "And to be able to get out here and have the opportunity again is just fantastic.

"I took my time this past offseason and just got my body into the right shape for pitching. I'm not a supermodel or anything, but I'm in good pitching shape and I feel really good."

He's 3-2 with a 3.72 ERA in five career starts against the Mariners but hasn't faced them since Aug. 21, 2013.

The Rangers (5-4) are having little trouble with Seattle (2-6), holding a 15-3 scoring edge and a .351 average in this series after Tuesday's 8-0 rout.

That kind of production would go a long way for Griffin, who is 19-0 in 21 career starts in which he's backed by more than three runs.

Since scoring 19 runs in consecutive wins at Texas, the Mariners have totaled seven during a five-game skid and are 0-5 at home for the first time in franchise history.

'We've got to find a way to get back on our game,' manager Scott Servais said. 'It's the same team that played five, six days ago. I'm pretty sure our roster hasn't changed. We have to pick ourselves up. We have a lot of games left to play. It's a long season ahead.'

Slowing down Adrian Beltre would surely help Servais' team get back in the win column. The third baseman is 10 for 27 (.370) with nine RBIs in his last eight games against his former team, hitting a three-run homer and a two-run double Tuesday.

Seattle gives the ball to Taijuan Walker, who has allowed Beltre to go 4 for 8 with two doubles off him. The right-hander has also had a tough time with Prince Fielder and Rougned Odor, who are a combined 9 for 18 in the matchup.

Walker was hammered in his only career home start against Texas on Sept. 8, surrendering six runs and three homers in three-plus innings of a 9-6 loss. He's 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA in three road matchups - two starts.

He didn't get a decision in his season debut against Oakland on Friday, allowing two runs in six innings of a 3-2 loss. Walker worked his way out of jams in the first two innings, stranding four runners without yielding a run.

"I feel that's kind of where I matured this year, just controlling my emotions and really just making good pitches to get out of big jams like that," Walker told MLB's official website.

Robinson Cano is 2 for 20 with six strikeouts over the last five games after his first four hits of the season in 13 at-bats went for homers, driving in seven runs.

He's 0 for 8 in this series after batting .341 with six homers and 13 RBIs during his previous 11 matchups with the Rangers.

Cano is 3 for 8 versus Griffin.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Braves (0-6) at Nationals (4-1)

Game: 3
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: April 13, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

Stephen Strasburg probably couldn't ask for a cushier spot to begin an important contract year.

The Washington hurler draws a second consecutive assignment against the winless Atlanta Braves as he attempts to continue the Nationals' strong start Wednesday night.

Both Strasburg and the Nationals are banking on a better 2016 after an assortment of injuries limited the right-hander to 23 starts last season and contributed to a playoff absence for a team widely pegged as a World Series favorite. The early returns have been promising for both parties, with Strasburg tossing six effective innings in last Wednesday's season debut at Atlanta to help Washington (5-1) to the franchise's best start since the Montreal Expos opened 6-1 in 2001.

Strasburg limited Atlanta's underwhelming lineup to six singles and a run in a 3-1 victory that built off his strong and healthy finish to 2015, when the 2014 NL strikeout leader posted a 1.90 ERA in 10 starts after returning from an oblique strain.

"Just from my experience, I think this is about the time when guys really get it together, when they come together emotionally and physiologically and spiritually," Nationals first-year manager Dusty Baker told MLB's official website of the 27-year-old Strasburg. "They kind of figure it out about this time."

Strasburg has yielded one run over 24 innings in winning four straight starts against Atlanta (0-7), batting .203 with a .291 slugging percentage during its worst start since an 0-10 beginning to 1988.

'It's been a tough stretch. I feel like we're playing good ball and we just can't get that big hit or get that big out or we come up with a little miscue or something that snowballs an inning on us,' said catcher Tyler Flowers. 'We're getting close. We're all still very positive in here.'

The Braves mustered six hits in Tuesday's 2-1 loss, their 12th straight at Nationals Park and 18th in the series' past 22 matchups. It's the franchise's longest road losing streak to a single opponent since a 13-game skid at the Dodgers from 1951-52.

Atlanta's punchless offense negated a sharp debut from Jhoulys Chacin, who struck out eight while matching counterpart Gio Gonzalez with six scoreless innings. The game remained tied until Bryce Harper delivered a two-out, two-run double in the eighth.

The Braves hope for a similar effort from Matt Wisler after the 23-year-old produced an encouraging first outing of his second major league season. The right-hander allowed four runs over 6 2-3 innings Friday against St. Louis, taking a lead into the seventh before surrendering a game-tying homer to Jeremy Hazelbaker in Atlanta's 7-4 loss.

"I only gave up a few hard-hit balls and that was definitely the big mistake of the day," Wisler said. "If I execute the pitch, I get an out. I didn't execute it and he took care of it."

Wisler was 2-2 in four 2015 starts against Washington but was hit hard in two on the road, permitting 11 earned runs and 14 hits over 5 2-3 innings in losing both.

Harper is 0 for 4 with four walks against Wisler but Daniel Murphy 3 for 6 with a pair of doubles in the matchup. The offseason addition had two hits Tuesday and is 10 for 20 with seven RBIs.

Freddie Freeman is batting .387 (12 for 31) with three homers off Strasburg - tied with Miami's Giancarlo Stanton for the most hit off Strasburg - but is off to a 2-for-21 start after going 0 for 3 Tuesday.