Marc Lawrence
Apr 26 '17, 7:10 PM
MLB | Mariners vs Tigers
Play on: Mariners -128 at 5Dimes
Play - Seattle w/Paxton (Game 921).
Edges - Mariners: Paxton 1.78 ERA and 0.87 WHIP this season with 29 K’s and 5 BB’s; and 1.80 ERA with 0.80 WHIP, along with 13 K’s and 1 BB this spring… Tigers: Norris 6.43 ERA and 1.67 WHIP this spring. With Norris in wobbly current form with 11K’s and 9 BB’s this season, we’ll back the better arm tonight. We recommend a 1* play on Seattle. Thank you and good luck as always.
Apr 26 '17, 7:10 PM
MLB | Mariners vs Tigers
Play on: Mariners -128 at 5Dimes
Play - Seattle w/Paxton (Game 921).
Edges - Mariners: Paxton 1.78 ERA and 0.87 WHIP this season with 29 K’s and 5 BB’s; and 1.80 ERA with 0.80 WHIP, along with 13 K’s and 1 BB this spring… Tigers: Norris 6.43 ERA and 1.67 WHIP this spring. With Norris in wobbly current form with 11K’s and 9 BB’s this season, we’ll back the better arm tonight. We recommend a 1* play on Seattle. Thank you and good luck as always.
Preview: Nashville at St. Louis
When: 8:00 PM ET, Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Where: Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri
Two familiar rivals who have saved their best for last this season will square off in the Western Conference semifinals when the Nashville Predators visit the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series. The Blues and Predators finished third and fourth, respectively, in the Central Division before springing impressive first-round upsets.
Nashville finished as the eighth seed in the West but turned up its game in the postseason with a stunning four-game sweep of the top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks. “I think we match up well against any team,” St. Louis coach Mike Yeo told reporters. “But that said, I know that we’re playing a great team with a ton of confidence. They’re deep, they’ve got speed, they’ve got skill and they play a good game, so it’s going to be another great test for us.” The Blues were not as dominant in the opening round as the Predators, but they continued their stellar play since Yeo replaced Ken Hitchcock behind the bench and needed only five games to dispatch the Minnesota Wild, which finished seven points above St. Louis in the Central. Nashville won three of five regular-season meetings against St. Louis, but the teams played only once since December - a 4-1 Blues victory in St. Louis on April 2.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, CBC, TVAS
ABOUT THE PREDATORS: Pekka Rinne posted his fewest wins (31) in a full season since 2008-09 but the veteran netminder turned back the clock against the Blackhawks, stopping 123 of 126 shots and coming within 5 1/2 minutes of posting three shutouts in the series. Nashville's No. 1 line features 31-goal scorers Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson flanking center Ryan Johansen, who tied for the team lead in scoring during the regular season and torched Chicago with a goal and five assists. The Predators also feature an elite blue-line corps headed by the pairings of Roman Josi-Ryan Ellis and P.K. Subban-Mattias Ekholm, who each logged at least 20 minutes in all four games versus the Blackhawks.
ABOUT THE BLUES: Like Rinne, Jake Allen had his share of rocky moments in net during the regular season - to the point where he was left home during a road trip just prior to the All-Star break. Allen set the tone against the Wild with a 51-save performance on the road in Game 1 and turned aside 174 of 182 shots in the series, boosting his save percentage to .942 since Yeo took over for Hitchcock. While St. Louis forward Vladimir Tarasenko is the most dangerous offensive player on the ice for either side with 116 goals over the past three seasons, the return of linemate Paul Stastny from a month-long injury absence and the late-season addition of Vladimir Sobotka from the Kontinental Hockey League bolsters the team's balance.
OVERTIME
1. Tarasenko has 10 goals and 22 points in 24 games against Nashville.
2. Forsberg averages more than a point per game against the Blues with nine goals and nine assists in 16 contests.
3. St. Louis advanced to the conference finals last season while Nashville lost in the second round, but the teams have never met in the playoffs.
PREDICTION: Blues 3, Predators 2
When: 8:00 PM ET, Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Where: Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri
Two familiar rivals who have saved their best for last this season will square off in the Western Conference semifinals when the Nashville Predators visit the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series. The Blues and Predators finished third and fourth, respectively, in the Central Division before springing impressive first-round upsets.
Nashville finished as the eighth seed in the West but turned up its game in the postseason with a stunning four-game sweep of the top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks. “I think we match up well against any team,” St. Louis coach Mike Yeo told reporters. “But that said, I know that we’re playing a great team with a ton of confidence. They’re deep, they’ve got speed, they’ve got skill and they play a good game, so it’s going to be another great test for us.” The Blues were not as dominant in the opening round as the Predators, but they continued their stellar play since Yeo replaced Ken Hitchcock behind the bench and needed only five games to dispatch the Minnesota Wild, which finished seven points above St. Louis in the Central. Nashville won three of five regular-season meetings against St. Louis, but the teams played only once since December - a 4-1 Blues victory in St. Louis on April 2.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, CBC, TVAS
ABOUT THE PREDATORS: Pekka Rinne posted his fewest wins (31) in a full season since 2008-09 but the veteran netminder turned back the clock against the Blackhawks, stopping 123 of 126 shots and coming within 5 1/2 minutes of posting three shutouts in the series. Nashville's No. 1 line features 31-goal scorers Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson flanking center Ryan Johansen, who tied for the team lead in scoring during the regular season and torched Chicago with a goal and five assists. The Predators also feature an elite blue-line corps headed by the pairings of Roman Josi-Ryan Ellis and P.K. Subban-Mattias Ekholm, who each logged at least 20 minutes in all four games versus the Blackhawks.
ABOUT THE BLUES: Like Rinne, Jake Allen had his share of rocky moments in net during the regular season - to the point where he was left home during a road trip just prior to the All-Star break. Allen set the tone against the Wild with a 51-save performance on the road in Game 1 and turned aside 174 of 182 shots in the series, boosting his save percentage to .942 since Yeo took over for Hitchcock. While St. Louis forward Vladimir Tarasenko is the most dangerous offensive player on the ice for either side with 116 goals over the past three seasons, the return of linemate Paul Stastny from a month-long injury absence and the late-season addition of Vladimir Sobotka from the Kontinental Hockey League bolsters the team's balance.
OVERTIME
1. Tarasenko has 10 goals and 22 points in 24 games against Nashville.
2. Forsberg averages more than a point per game against the Blues with nine goals and nine assists in 16 contests.
3. St. Louis advanced to the conference finals last season while Nashville lost in the second round, but the teams have never met in the playoffs.
PREDICTION: Blues 3, Predators 2
Preview: Edmonton at Anaheim
When: 10:30 PM ET, Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Where: Honda Center, Anaheim, California
After making short work of one Alberta representative, the Pacific Division champion Anaheim Ducks would love to take the first step in repeating the feat against the other on Wednesday as they begin their second-round series against the visiting Edmonton Oilers. Anaheim is riding an 18-game point streak (15-0-3) and collected a point in four of five encounters (2-1-2) with Edmonton, although Leon Draisaitl scored in overtime to give the Oilers a 3-2 overtime victory on April 1.
"We had heated meetings with those guys, and I don't expect anything less than that," said Draisaitl, who scored two goals in overtime and six overall to highlight his eight-point performance in the season series against the Ducks. The 21-year-old German overcame a bout with the flu that kept him off the scoresheet in the first four contests of the first-round series with San Jose before setting up two goals in Game 5 and opening the scoring in Game 6 as Edmonton dismissed last season's Stanley Cup finalist. Like his team, Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf has been blistering hot with 32 points (seven goals, 25 assists) in his last 22 games overall. The 31-year-old Getzlaf scored three goals and set up two others in a first-round sweep of Calgary while amassing seven points (one goal, six assists) in the season series against the Oilers.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, Sportsnet, TVAS
ABOUT THE OILERS: Coach Todd McLellan took issue with the notion that Art Ross Trophy winner Connor McDavid was seemingly held in check with just four points (two goals, two assists) versus the Sharks. "It's not about winning a scoring title in the playoffs," McLellan told reporters. "Connor was tremendous. His line was excellent. They played with tenacity and wore the other team down so the other lines could go out and create some offense." McDavid collected two goals, five assists and a plus-4 rating versus the Ducks this season, and that's with five-time Selke Trophy finalist Ryan Kesler shadowing his every move.
ABOUT THE DUCKS: Although Anaheim's defense received a jolt from the offensive contributions of rookie Shea Theodore (two goals, three assists) in the first round, the back line is expected to be strengthened all the more by the potential returns of All-Star Cam Fowler and top-four Sami Vatanen. "They should be made available to us if they continue to heal the way they are. We're happy to have them back in the fold," coach Randy Carlyle told reporters. Fowler, who has been sidelined since April 4 with a knee injury, admitted to "no restrictions" following his second straight day of skating on Tuesday and Vatanen is ready to go after playing in just one game versus the Flames due to an upper-body injury.
OVERTIME
1. Edmonton G Cam Talbot is tied with Nashville's Pekka Rinne with two shutouts in the first round.
2. The Ducks led the league with a 54.7 percent faceoff winning percentage while the Oilers (47.0 percent) resided last during the regular season.
3. Edmonton's fifth-ranked power play went just 2-for-16 in the opening round versus the Sharks, although it will face Anaheim's fourth-best penalty killing unit that thwarted just 62.5 percent of Calgary's man-advantage opportunities.
PREDICTION: Ducks 3, Oilers 2
When: 10:30 PM ET, Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Where: Honda Center, Anaheim, California
After making short work of one Alberta representative, the Pacific Division champion Anaheim Ducks would love to take the first step in repeating the feat against the other on Wednesday as they begin their second-round series against the visiting Edmonton Oilers. Anaheim is riding an 18-game point streak (15-0-3) and collected a point in four of five encounters (2-1-2) with Edmonton, although Leon Draisaitl scored in overtime to give the Oilers a 3-2 overtime victory on April 1.
"We had heated meetings with those guys, and I don't expect anything less than that," said Draisaitl, who scored two goals in overtime and six overall to highlight his eight-point performance in the season series against the Ducks. The 21-year-old German overcame a bout with the flu that kept him off the scoresheet in the first four contests of the first-round series with San Jose before setting up two goals in Game 5 and opening the scoring in Game 6 as Edmonton dismissed last season's Stanley Cup finalist. Like his team, Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf has been blistering hot with 32 points (seven goals, 25 assists) in his last 22 games overall. The 31-year-old Getzlaf scored three goals and set up two others in a first-round sweep of Calgary while amassing seven points (one goal, six assists) in the season series against the Oilers.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, Sportsnet, TVAS
ABOUT THE OILERS: Coach Todd McLellan took issue with the notion that Art Ross Trophy winner Connor McDavid was seemingly held in check with just four points (two goals, two assists) versus the Sharks. "It's not about winning a scoring title in the playoffs," McLellan told reporters. "Connor was tremendous. His line was excellent. They played with tenacity and wore the other team down so the other lines could go out and create some offense." McDavid collected two goals, five assists and a plus-4 rating versus the Ducks this season, and that's with five-time Selke Trophy finalist Ryan Kesler shadowing his every move.
ABOUT THE DUCKS: Although Anaheim's defense received a jolt from the offensive contributions of rookie Shea Theodore (two goals, three assists) in the first round, the back line is expected to be strengthened all the more by the potential returns of All-Star Cam Fowler and top-four Sami Vatanen. "They should be made available to us if they continue to heal the way they are. We're happy to have them back in the fold," coach Randy Carlyle told reporters. Fowler, who has been sidelined since April 4 with a knee injury, admitted to "no restrictions" following his second straight day of skating on Tuesday and Vatanen is ready to go after playing in just one game versus the Flames due to an upper-body injury.
OVERTIME
1. Edmonton G Cam Talbot is tied with Nashville's Pekka Rinne with two shutouts in the first round.
2. The Ducks led the league with a 54.7 percent faceoff winning percentage while the Oilers (47.0 percent) resided last during the regular season.
3. Edmonton's fifth-ranked power play went just 2-for-16 in the opening round versus the Sharks, although it will face Anaheim's fourth-best penalty killing unit that thwarted just 62.5 percent of Calgary's man-advantage opportunities.
PREDICTION: Ducks 3, Oilers 2
Trends - Nashville at St. Louis
W/L Trends
Nashville
•Predators are 5-0 in their last 5 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Predators are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. Central.
• Predators are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Predators are 4-0 in their last 4 overall.
• Predators are 19-7 in their last 26 vs. Western Conference.
• Predators are 5-2 in their last 7 Wednesday games.
• Predators are 11-5 in their last 16 games following a win.
• Predators are 4-9 in their last 13 Conference Semifinals games.
• Predators are 1-6 in their last 7 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
St. Louis
•Blues are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. Central.
• Blues are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Blues are 16-5 in their last 21 vs. Western Conference.
• Blues are 18-6 in their last 24 games following a win.
• Blues are 19-7 in their last 26 overall.
• Blues are 8-3 in their last 11 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
• Blues are 68-29 in their last 97 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
• Blues are 7-3 in their last 10 home games.
• Blues are 39-18 in their last 57 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Blues are 4-9 in their last 13 Conference Semifinals games.
OU Trends
Nashville
•Under is 1-0-3 in Predators last 4 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Under is 3-0-4 in Predators last 7 games following a win.
• Under is 2-0-3 in Predators last 5 vs. Western Conference.
• Over is 4-0-3 in Predators last 7 Conference Semifinals games.
• Under is 7-1-4 in Predators last 12 overall.
• Under is 6-1-4 in Predators last 11 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 4-1-2 in Predators last 7 road games.
• Under is 4-1-2 in Predators last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
• Over is 15-6-6 in Predators last 27 vs. Central.
• Under is 7-3-1 in Predators last 11 Wednesday games.
St. Louis
•Under is 5-0 in Blues last 5 Wednesday games.
• Under is 5-0 in Blues last 5 games following a win.
• Over is 3-0-3 in Blues last 6 Conference Semifinals games.
• Under is 6-1-2 in Blues last 9 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 5-1 in Blues last 6 overall.
• Under is 5-1-2 in Blues last 8 home games.
• Under is 5-1 in Blues last 6 vs. Central.
• Over is 4-1 in Blues last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
• Under is 16-4-3 in Blues last 23 vs. Western Conference.
• Under is 3-1-1 in Blues last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
• Under is 36-17-10 in Blues last 63 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Head to Head
•Home team is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
• Under is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings in St. Louis.
• Under is 52-22-8 in the last 82 meetings.
• Predators are 8-18 in the last 26 meetings.
• Predators are 1-6 in the last 7 meetings in St. Louis.
W/L Trends
Nashville
•Predators are 5-0 in their last 5 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Predators are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. Central.
• Predators are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Predators are 4-0 in their last 4 overall.
• Predators are 19-7 in their last 26 vs. Western Conference.
• Predators are 5-2 in their last 7 Wednesday games.
• Predators are 11-5 in their last 16 games following a win.
• Predators are 4-9 in their last 13 Conference Semifinals games.
• Predators are 1-6 in their last 7 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
St. Louis
•Blues are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. Central.
• Blues are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Blues are 16-5 in their last 21 vs. Western Conference.
• Blues are 18-6 in their last 24 games following a win.
• Blues are 19-7 in their last 26 overall.
• Blues are 8-3 in their last 11 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
• Blues are 68-29 in their last 97 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
• Blues are 7-3 in their last 10 home games.
• Blues are 39-18 in their last 57 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Blues are 4-9 in their last 13 Conference Semifinals games.
OU Trends
Nashville
•Under is 1-0-3 in Predators last 4 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Under is 3-0-4 in Predators last 7 games following a win.
• Under is 2-0-3 in Predators last 5 vs. Western Conference.
• Over is 4-0-3 in Predators last 7 Conference Semifinals games.
• Under is 7-1-4 in Predators last 12 overall.
• Under is 6-1-4 in Predators last 11 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 4-1-2 in Predators last 7 road games.
• Under is 4-1-2 in Predators last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
• Over is 15-6-6 in Predators last 27 vs. Central.
• Under is 7-3-1 in Predators last 11 Wednesday games.
St. Louis
•Under is 5-0 in Blues last 5 Wednesday games.
• Under is 5-0 in Blues last 5 games following a win.
• Over is 3-0-3 in Blues last 6 Conference Semifinals games.
• Under is 6-1-2 in Blues last 9 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 5-1 in Blues last 6 overall.
• Under is 5-1-2 in Blues last 8 home games.
• Under is 5-1 in Blues last 6 vs. Central.
• Over is 4-1 in Blues last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
• Under is 16-4-3 in Blues last 23 vs. Western Conference.
• Under is 3-1-1 in Blues last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
• Under is 36-17-10 in Blues last 63 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Head to Head
•Home team is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
• Under is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings in St. Louis.
• Under is 52-22-8 in the last 82 meetings.
• Predators are 8-18 in the last 26 meetings.
• Predators are 1-6 in the last 7 meetings in St. Louis.
Trends - Edmonton at Anaheim
W/L Trends
Edmonton
•Oilers are 4-0 in their last 4 Conference Semifinals games.
• Oilers are 11-2 in their last 13 Wednesday games.
• Oilers are 16-5 in their last 21 overall.
• Oilers are 11-4 in their last 15 games following a win.
• Oilers are 21-8 in their last 29 vs. Western Conference.
• Oilers are 107-222 in their last 329 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Oilers are 96-201 in their last 297 road games.
• Oilers are 61-131 in their last 192 vs. Pacific.
• Oilers are 17-40 in their last 57 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
• Oilers are 28-88 in their last 116 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Anaheim
•Ducks are 4-0 in their last 4 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Ducks are 4-0 in their last 4 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
• Ducks are 4-0 in their last 4 Wednesday games.
• Ducks are 15-2 in their last 17 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Ducks are 5-1 in their last 6 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Ducks are 13-3 in their last 16 games following a win.
• Ducks are 4-1 in their last 5 Conference Semifinals games.
• Ducks are 16-5 in their last 21 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
• Ducks are 20-7 in their last 27 overall.
• Ducks are 19-7 in their last 26 vs. Western Conference.
• Ducks are 39-15 in their last 54 vs. Pacific.
• Ducks are 44-19 in their last 63 home games.
OU Trends
Edmonton
•Under is 9-2 in Oilers last 11 Conference Semifinals games.
• Over is 7-2-1 in Oilers last 10 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Under is 10-3-2 in Oilers last 15 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
• Over is 3-1-4 in Oilers last 8 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Over is 3-1-1 in Oilers last 5 Wednesday games.
• Over is 5-2-1 in Oilers last 8 road games.
• Under is 37-18-5 in Oilers last 60 games following a win.
Anaheim
•Over is 3-0-2 in Ducks last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
• Over is 4-0-2 in Ducks last 6 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Over is 5-1-1 in Ducks last 7 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Under is 3-1-2 in Ducks last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 12-5-12 in Ducks last 29 vs. Pacific.
• Under is 13-6-1 in Ducks last 20 Wednesday games.
• Under is 19-9-9 in Ducks last 37 vs. Western Conference.
Head to Head
•Under is 4-1-2 in the last 7 meetings.
• Home team is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
• Oilers are 8-27 in the last 35 meetings.
• Oilers are 2-9 in the last 11 meetings in Anaheim.
W/L Trends
Edmonton
•Oilers are 4-0 in their last 4 Conference Semifinals games.
• Oilers are 11-2 in their last 13 Wednesday games.
• Oilers are 16-5 in their last 21 overall.
• Oilers are 11-4 in their last 15 games following a win.
• Oilers are 21-8 in their last 29 vs. Western Conference.
• Oilers are 107-222 in their last 329 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Oilers are 96-201 in their last 297 road games.
• Oilers are 61-131 in their last 192 vs. Pacific.
• Oilers are 17-40 in their last 57 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
• Oilers are 28-88 in their last 116 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Anaheim
•Ducks are 4-0 in their last 4 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Ducks are 4-0 in their last 4 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
• Ducks are 4-0 in their last 4 Wednesday games.
• Ducks are 15-2 in their last 17 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Ducks are 5-1 in their last 6 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Ducks are 13-3 in their last 16 games following a win.
• Ducks are 4-1 in their last 5 Conference Semifinals games.
• Ducks are 16-5 in their last 21 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
• Ducks are 20-7 in their last 27 overall.
• Ducks are 19-7 in their last 26 vs. Western Conference.
• Ducks are 39-15 in their last 54 vs. Pacific.
• Ducks are 44-19 in their last 63 home games.
OU Trends
Edmonton
•Under is 9-2 in Oilers last 11 Conference Semifinals games.
• Over is 7-2-1 in Oilers last 10 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Under is 10-3-2 in Oilers last 15 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
• Over is 3-1-4 in Oilers last 8 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Over is 3-1-1 in Oilers last 5 Wednesday games.
• Over is 5-2-1 in Oilers last 8 road games.
• Under is 37-18-5 in Oilers last 60 games following a win.
Anaheim
•Over is 3-0-2 in Ducks last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
• Over is 4-0-2 in Ducks last 6 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Over is 5-1-1 in Ducks last 7 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Under is 3-1-2 in Ducks last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 12-5-12 in Ducks last 29 vs. Pacific.
• Under is 13-6-1 in Ducks last 20 Wednesday games.
• Under is 19-9-9 in Ducks last 37 vs. Western Conference.
Head to Head
•Under is 4-1-2 in the last 7 meetings.
• Home team is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
• Oilers are 8-27 in the last 35 meetings.
• Oilers are 2-9 in the last 11 meetings in Anaheim.
Preview: Atlanta At Washington
When: 6:00 PM ET, Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Where: Verizon Center, Washington, District of Columbia
The Atlanta Hawks did what they were supposed to do by winning at home, but the Washington Wizards can win on their floor as well and remain in control. The Wizards will try to hang onto homecourt advantage and take the series lead when they host the Hawks in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Washington controlled the first two games at home but it was a different story in Atlanta, with the Hawks emerging as the more aggressive team and rolling to a pair of wins by an average of 14 points. "I think we know how to beat this team," Atlanta star forward Paul Millsap, who is averaging 23.5 points and 8.8 rebounds in the series, told reporters. "It’s up to us to get out there and continue to play the way we’ve been playing. If we can carry this over to Washington, we’ll be fine." The Wizards are searching for answers after getting beaten on the interior and relying too heavily on guards John Wall and Bradley Beal for offense. "Basically, what I see is two very good basketball teams, evenly matched, fighting for their playoff lives," Washington coach Scott Brooks told reporters. "We’re the fourth and fifth seed. The series is tied. It’s basically the first to two now."
TV: 6 p.m. ET, TNT, FSN Southeast (Atlanta), CSN Mid-Atlantic (Washington)
ABOUT THE HAWKS: Atlanta's strength on the interior in Game 4 came from center Dwight Howard, who failed to score more than seven points in any of the first three games before exploding for 16 points and 15 rebounds in Game 4. "Obviously, it was his best game," Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters of Howard. "We needed that extra boost. He certainly brought it. I thought his defense, his activity on the boards, his second- and third-efforts getting rebounds. We need more of that every night, every possession. When he’s like that, I think it can help carry his teammates and move us forward." Howard was one of seven Atlanta players to score in double figures in Game 4.
ABOUT THE WIZARDS: Washington was outscored in the paint by a combined 104-64 in Games 3 and 4, and interior defense will be a focus moving forward. "They got too many layups, too many easy points around the paint," Brooks told reporters after Game 4. "Howard did, definitely ... hopefully we can counter that with some good positioning so he doesn’t get the lobs and the easy points around the paint. And if so we can wrap him up, put him on the free-throw line. But other than that, we have to keep them out of the paint as much as we can." Wizards center Marcin Gortat grabbed 18 rebounds in Game 4 but managed just two points.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Wizards PF Markieff Morris is averaging seven points on 8-of-27 shooting in the last three games.
2. Atlanta rookie SF Taurean Prince is averaging 13.3 points on 63.9 percent shooting in the series after posting 5.7 points on 40 percent shooting in the regular season.
3. Wall is averaging 28.8 points and 10 assists in the series.
PREDICTION: Wizards 116, Hawks 111
When: 6:00 PM ET, Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Where: Verizon Center, Washington, District of Columbia
The Atlanta Hawks did what they were supposed to do by winning at home, but the Washington Wizards can win on their floor as well and remain in control. The Wizards will try to hang onto homecourt advantage and take the series lead when they host the Hawks in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Washington controlled the first two games at home but it was a different story in Atlanta, with the Hawks emerging as the more aggressive team and rolling to a pair of wins by an average of 14 points. "I think we know how to beat this team," Atlanta star forward Paul Millsap, who is averaging 23.5 points and 8.8 rebounds in the series, told reporters. "It’s up to us to get out there and continue to play the way we’ve been playing. If we can carry this over to Washington, we’ll be fine." The Wizards are searching for answers after getting beaten on the interior and relying too heavily on guards John Wall and Bradley Beal for offense. "Basically, what I see is two very good basketball teams, evenly matched, fighting for their playoff lives," Washington coach Scott Brooks told reporters. "We’re the fourth and fifth seed. The series is tied. It’s basically the first to two now."
TV: 6 p.m. ET, TNT, FSN Southeast (Atlanta), CSN Mid-Atlantic (Washington)
ABOUT THE HAWKS: Atlanta's strength on the interior in Game 4 came from center Dwight Howard, who failed to score more than seven points in any of the first three games before exploding for 16 points and 15 rebounds in Game 4. "Obviously, it was his best game," Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters of Howard. "We needed that extra boost. He certainly brought it. I thought his defense, his activity on the boards, his second- and third-efforts getting rebounds. We need more of that every night, every possession. When he’s like that, I think it can help carry his teammates and move us forward." Howard was one of seven Atlanta players to score in double figures in Game 4.
ABOUT THE WIZARDS: Washington was outscored in the paint by a combined 104-64 in Games 3 and 4, and interior defense will be a focus moving forward. "They got too many layups, too many easy points around the paint," Brooks told reporters after Game 4. "Howard did, definitely ... hopefully we can counter that with some good positioning so he doesn’t get the lobs and the easy points around the paint. And if so we can wrap him up, put him on the free-throw line. But other than that, we have to keep them out of the paint as much as we can." Wizards center Marcin Gortat grabbed 18 rebounds in Game 4 but managed just two points.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Wizards PF Markieff Morris is averaging seven points on 8-of-27 shooting in the last three games.
2. Atlanta rookie SF Taurean Prince is averaging 13.3 points on 63.9 percent shooting in the series after posting 5.7 points on 40 percent shooting in the regular season.
3. Wall is averaging 28.8 points and 10 assists in the series.
PREDICTION: Wizards 116, Hawks 111
Preview: Chicago At Boston
When: 8:30 PM ET, Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
The Boston Celtics have turned the tables on the Chicago Bulls in their Eastern Conference first-round series and look to become the first home team to win a game when the teams return to TD Garden for Game 5 on Wednesday. All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas, whose playoff experience has been dominated by the grief of losing his sister in a car accident prior to the series, had his best game of the set with 33 points in Boston's 104-95 win in a Game 4 equalizer on Sunday.
It was a chippy affair that Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg punctuated with a claim that Thomas carries the ball repeatedly, but Boston's floor general was unfazed by the criticism and seems to have his swagger back. "Not one man can guard me," Thomas told reporters Sunday. "And that's just the confidence I have, but also my coaching staff and my teammates put me in position to be successful." The Celtics' back-to-back wins in Chicago came after Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo was sidelined with a fractured thumb, although the former Boston star has shed his cast and could potentially return for a Game 6 or Game 7. After shooting 46.7 percent and averaging 25 assists in two wins at Boston, Chicago dipped to 40.1 percent with 16.5 assists in the two games without Rondo at home.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, TNT, CSN Chicago, CSN New England (Boston)
ABOUT THE BULLS: While the team waits on a possible Rondo return, Isaiah Canaan will be thrust into the starting lineup for Game 5 after emerging to score 13 points in 34 minutes of Sunday's loss. "It really tests your mental part of basketball," Canaan told reporters when asked about being inactive for the first three games and watching many regular-season games from the sideline. "Our job is to play, whenever it may be. It may be the first 10 games of the season. It may be the last 10 games. Everybody on this team wants to play, and you can only have five out there. So whenever your name is called, you've got to be ready to go, no matter when it is." Jimmy Butler scored a team-high 33 points with nine assists and one turnover in Game 4, attempting 23 free throws one game after failing to get to the line.
ABOUT THE CELTICS: Coach Brad Stevens' decision to go small - including the insertion of Gerald Green into the starting lineup - has transformed the series. Green scored 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting to go along with seven rebounds in Game 4 while regular starter Amir Johnson did not see a single minute of action. Aside from Green, the Celtics were 6-for-28 from long range and Thomas has made just 4-of-21 over his last three games, although he carved up the Bulls with dribble penetration and a string of tough layups in Game 4.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Butler averaged 26 points, 8.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.5 steals in the two wins at Boston.
2. Celtics C Kelly Olynyk hit all four of his shot attempts in Game 4 and is 4-for-7 from 3-point range over the past three contests.
3. Chicago is 72-for-85 at the foul line in the series. Boston is 48-for-67.
PREDICTION: Celtics 109, Bulls 100
When: 8:30 PM ET, Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
The Boston Celtics have turned the tables on the Chicago Bulls in their Eastern Conference first-round series and look to become the first home team to win a game when the teams return to TD Garden for Game 5 on Wednesday. All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas, whose playoff experience has been dominated by the grief of losing his sister in a car accident prior to the series, had his best game of the set with 33 points in Boston's 104-95 win in a Game 4 equalizer on Sunday.
It was a chippy affair that Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg punctuated with a claim that Thomas carries the ball repeatedly, but Boston's floor general was unfazed by the criticism and seems to have his swagger back. "Not one man can guard me," Thomas told reporters Sunday. "And that's just the confidence I have, but also my coaching staff and my teammates put me in position to be successful." The Celtics' back-to-back wins in Chicago came after Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo was sidelined with a fractured thumb, although the former Boston star has shed his cast and could potentially return for a Game 6 or Game 7. After shooting 46.7 percent and averaging 25 assists in two wins at Boston, Chicago dipped to 40.1 percent with 16.5 assists in the two games without Rondo at home.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, TNT, CSN Chicago, CSN New England (Boston)
ABOUT THE BULLS: While the team waits on a possible Rondo return, Isaiah Canaan will be thrust into the starting lineup for Game 5 after emerging to score 13 points in 34 minutes of Sunday's loss. "It really tests your mental part of basketball," Canaan told reporters when asked about being inactive for the first three games and watching many regular-season games from the sideline. "Our job is to play, whenever it may be. It may be the first 10 games of the season. It may be the last 10 games. Everybody on this team wants to play, and you can only have five out there. So whenever your name is called, you've got to be ready to go, no matter when it is." Jimmy Butler scored a team-high 33 points with nine assists and one turnover in Game 4, attempting 23 free throws one game after failing to get to the line.
ABOUT THE CELTICS: Coach Brad Stevens' decision to go small - including the insertion of Gerald Green into the starting lineup - has transformed the series. Green scored 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting to go along with seven rebounds in Game 4 while regular starter Amir Johnson did not see a single minute of action. Aside from Green, the Celtics were 6-for-28 from long range and Thomas has made just 4-of-21 over his last three games, although he carved up the Bulls with dribble penetration and a string of tough layups in Game 4.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Butler averaged 26 points, 8.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.5 steals in the two wins at Boston.
2. Celtics C Kelly Olynyk hit all four of his shot attempts in Game 4 and is 4-for-7 from 3-point range over the past three contests.
3. Chicago is 72-for-85 at the foul line in the series. Boston is 48-for-67.
PREDICTION: Celtics 109, Bulls 100
