The Bum's Best Bets For Thursday February 26th NBA -NHL-NCAABB- !

[StarDust Bum]

A Quick Recap On Today's GOM's Denver screwed a perfect sweep of the GOM's.

NHL went 5 - 1/ NBA GOM's 2 - 0 / CBB went 3 - 1 GOM's......a very good night....

I see at least two games right now that Qualify as GOM's.....so stay tune....

[StarDust Bum]

MONEYLINE


NBA > (501) GOLDEN STATE@ (502) CLEVELAND | 02/26/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play AGAINST GOLDEN STATE using the money line in Road games after allowing 105 points or more
The record is 1 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (-13.2 units)

NBA > (503) OKLAHOMA CITY@ (504) PHOENIX | 02/26/2015 - 10:35 PM
Play AGAINST PHOENIX using the money line in All games in February games
The record is 1 Wins and 7 Losses for the this season (-11.15 units)

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TOP POWER LINES


NBA > (501) GOLDEN STATE @ (502) CLEVELAND | 02/26/2015 - 08:05 PM
Line: CLEVELAND -4 BTB PowerLine: CLEVELAND -4
Edge On: CLEVELAND (0)

NBA > (503) OKLAHOMA CITY @ (504) PHOENIX | 02/26/2015 - 10:35 PM
Line: PHOENIX 5.5 BTB PowerLine: PHOENIX 7
Edge On: PHOENIX (1.5)

[StarDust Bum]

ATS

CBB > (515) DELAWARE@ (516) DREXEL | 02/26/2015 - 07:00 PM
Play ON DELAWARE using the against the spread in All games off a loss against a conference rival
The record is 8 Wins and 0 Losses for the this season (+8 units)

CBB > (507) MINNESOTA@ (508) MICHIGAN ST | 02/26/2015 - 07:00 PM
Play ON MICHIGAN ST using the against the spread in All games as a home favorite of 6.5 to 9 points
The record is 35 Wins and 9 Losses for the since 1992 (+25.1 units)

CBB > (537) TX-ARLINGTON@ (538) ARKANSAS ST | 02/26/2015 - 08:30 PM
Play ON TX-ARLINGTON using the against the spread in Road games off a loss against a conference rival
The record is 9 Wins and 0 Losses for the last three seasons (+9 units)

CBB > (511) VANDERBILT@ (512) TENNESSEE | 02/26/2015 - 07:00 PM
Play AGAINST TENNESSEE using the against the spread in All games in all home games
The record is 2 Wins and 12 Losses for the this season (-11.2 units)

CBB > (543) RUTGERS@ (544) PURDUE | 02/26/2015 - 09:00 PM
Play ON PURDUE using the against the spread in All games after a conference game
The record is 12 Wins and 2 Losses for the this season (+9.8 units)

CBB > (551) CS-FULLERTON@ (552) CS-NORTHRIDGE | 02/26/2015 - 10:00 PM
Play AGAINST CS-NORTHRIDGE using the against the spread in All games revenging a road loss vs opponent
The record is 0 Wins and 7 Losses for the this season (-7.7 units)

CBB > (569) E TENN ST@ (570) THE CITADEL | 02/26/2015 - 06:00 PM
Play AGAINST E TENN ST using the against the spread in All games against conference opponents
The record is 3 Wins and 13 Losses for the this season (-11.3 units)

CBB > (559) ARIZONA ST@ (560) UTAH | 02/26/2015 - 10:30 PM
Play ON UTAH using the against the spread in All games in all lined games
The record is 36 Wins and 15 Losses for the last two seasons (+19.5 units)

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CBB MONEYLINE

CBB > (505) NORTHEASTERN@ (506) ELON | 02/26/2015 - 07:00 PM
Play AGAINST ELON using the money line in All games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games
The record is 1 Wins and 12 Losses for the last two seasons (-12.85 units)

CBB > (513) WI-MILWAUKEE@ (514) WRIGHT ST | 02/26/2015 - 07:00 PM
Play AGAINST WI-MILWAUKEE using the money line in All games after allowing 60 points or less
The record is 1 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (-12.25 units)

CBB > (515) DELAWARE@ (516) DREXEL | 02/26/2015 - 07:00 PM
Play ON DELAWARE using the money line in Road games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 14 Wins and 2 Losses for the last three seasons (+13.8 units)

CBB > (535) CHARLOTTE@ (536) N TEXAS | 02/26/2015 - 08:00 PM
Play AGAINST CHARLOTTE using the money line in All games after a conference game
The record is 13 Wins and 16 Losses for the last two seasons (-29.05 units)

CBB > (529) LA-MONROE@ (530) S ALABAMA | 02/26/2015 - 08:00 PM
Play ON LA-MONROE using the money line in All games against conference opponents
The record is 12 Wins and 3 Losses for the this season (+12.65 units)

CBB > (587) N DAKOTA ST@ (588) ORAL ROBERTS | 02/26/2015 - 08:00 PM
Play ON N DAKOTA ST using the money line in All games off a win against a conference rival
The record is 19 Wins and 4 Losses for the last two seasons (+15.85 units)

CBB > (573) WOFFORD@ (574) MERCER | 02/26/2015 - 07:00 PM
Play ON WOFFORD using the money line in All games after allowing 60 points or less
The record is 8 Wins and 1 Losses for the this season (+10 units)

CBB > (549) BYU@ (550) PORTLAND | 02/26/2015 - 10:00 PM
Play AGAINST PORTLAND using the money line in All games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games
The record is 22 Wins and 74 Losses for the since 1992 (-60.2 units)

CBB > (525) FLA ATLANTIC@ (526) W KENTUCKY | 02/26/2015 - 08:00 PM
Play AGAINST FLA ATLANTIC using the money line in All games after failing to cover the spread in 3 or more consecutive games
The record is 8 Wins and 20 Losses for the since 1992 (-25.75 units)

[StarDust Bum]

CBB FIRST HALF LINE

CBB > (547) ARIZONA@ (548) COLORADO | 02/26/2015 - 09:00 PM
Play AGAINST COLORADO in the first half in All games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 4 Wins and 18 Losses for the this season (-15.8 units)

CBB > (599) SOUTHERN UTAH@ (600) N COLORADO | 02/26/2015 - 09:00 PM
Play AGAINST N COLORADO in the first half in All games after allowing 80 points or more
The record is 0 Wins and 8 Losses for the this season (-8.8 units)

CBB > (567) LONG BEACH ST@ (568) HAWAII | 02/26/2015 - 11:59 PM
Play ON HAWAII in the first half in All games versus the first half line in all games
The record is 17 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (+11.5 units)

CBB > (557) CAL DAVIS@ (558) UC-SANTA BARBARA | 02/26/2015 - 10:00 PM
Play AGAINST UC-SANTA BARBARA in the first half in All games versus the first half line in all games
The record is 4 Wins and 15 Losses for the this season (-12.5 units)

CBB > (533) WI-GREEN BAY@ (534) IL-CHICAGO | 02/26/2015 - 08:00 PM
Play AGAINST IL-CHICAGO in the first half in All games revenging a road loss vs opponent
The record is 0 Wins and 7 Losses for the this season (-7.7 units)

CBB > (517) HOUSTON@ (518) TEMPLE | 02/26/2015 - 07:00 PM
Play ON TEMPLE in the first half in Home games after a conference game
The record is 7 Wins and 0 Losses for the this season (+7 units)

[StarDust Bum]

TOTALS

CBB > (573) WOFFORD@ (574) MERCER | 02/26/2015 - 07:00 PM
Play UNDER WOFFORD on the total in All games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games
The record is 0 Overs and 11 Unders for the last three seasons (+11 units)

CBB > (543) RUTGERS@ (544) PURDUE | 02/26/2015 - 09:00 PM
Play UNDER PURDUE on the total in All games off a win against a conference rival
The record is 1 Overs and 13 Unders for the last two seasons (+11.9 units)

CBB > (541) TROY@ (542) TEXAS ST | 02/26/2015 - 08:30 PM
Play UNDER TEXAS ST on the total in All games after scoring 60 points or less
The record is 2 Overs and 15 Unders for the last two seasons (+12.8 units)

CBB > (597) TENNESSEE TECH@ (598) MOREHEAD ST | 02/26/2015 - 09:00 PM
Play UNDER MOREHEAD ST on the total in All games after scoring 80 points or more
The record is 1 Overs and 12 Unders for the last two seasons (+10.9 units)

[StarDust Bum]

CBB TOP POWER LINES

CBB > (579) SAMFORD @ (580) UNC-GREENSBORO | 02/26/2015 - 07:00 PM
Line: UNC-GREENSBORO -3 BTB PowerLine: UNC-GREENSBORO -8
Edge On: UNC-GREENSBORO (5)

CBB > (509) NEBRASKA @ (510) OHIO ST | 02/26/2015 - 07:00 PM
Line: OHIO ST -14 BTB PowerLine: OHIO ST -18
Edge On: OHIO ST (4)

CBB > (507) MINNESOTA @ (508) MICHIGAN ST | 02/26/2015 - 07:00 PM
Line: MICHIGAN ST -8.5 BTB PowerLine: MICHIGAN ST -12
Edge On: MICHIGAN ST (3.5)

CBB > (583) NEBRASKA-OMAHA @ (584) IUPU-FT WAYNE | 02/26/2015 - 07:00 PM
Line: IUPU-FT WAYNE -9.5 BTB PowerLine: IUPU-FT WAYNE -13
Edge On: IUPU-FT WAYNE (3.5)

CBB > (593) E ILLINOIS @ (594) MURRAY ST | 02/26/2015 - 08:00 PM
Line: MURRAY ST -14 BTB PowerLine: MURRAY ST -20
Edge On: MURRAY ST (6)

CBB > (591) RIDER @ (592) MONMOUTH | 02/26/2015 - 08:00 PM
Line: MONMOUTH -2.5 BTB PowerLine: MONMOUTH -6
Edge On: MONMOUTH (3.5)

NBA > (501) GOLDEN STATE @ (502) CLEVELAND | 02/26/2015 - 08:05 PM
Line: CLEVELAND -4 BTB PowerLine: CLEVELAND -4
Edge On: CLEVELAND (0)

CBB > (543) RUTGERS @ (544) PURDUE | 02/26/2015 - 09:00 PM
Line: PURDUE -14.5 BTB PowerLine: PURDUE -20
Edge On: PURDUE (5.5)

CBB > (597) TENNESSEE TECH @ (598) MOREHEAD ST | 02/26/2015 - 09:00 PM
Line: MOREHEAD ST -8 BTB PowerLine: MOREHEAD ST -13
Edge On: MOREHEAD ST (5)

CBB > (547) ARIZONA @ (548) COLORADO | 02/26/2015 - 09:00 PM
Line: COLORADO 10.5 BTB PowerLine: COLORADO 14
Edge On: COLORADO (3.5)

NBA > (503) OKLAHOMA CITY @ (504) PHOENIX | 02/26/2015 - 10:35 PM
Line: PHOENIX 5.5 BTB PowerLine: PHOENIX 7
Edge On: PHOENIX (1.5)

CBB > (567) LONG BEACH ST @ (568) HAWAII | 02/26/2015 - 11:59 PM
Line: HAWAII -3 BTB PowerLine: HAWAII -8
Edge On: HAWAII (5)

[StarDust Bum]

NHL MONEYLINE

NHL > (57) CHICAGO@ (58) FLORIDA | 02/26/2015 - 07:35 PM
Play AGAINST CHICAGO using the money line in All games when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season
The record is 9 Wins and 16 Losses for the last three seasons (-20.1 units)

NHL > (65) DETROIT@ (66) SAN JOSE | 02/26/2015 - 10:35 PM
Play AGAINST SAN JOSE using the money line in Home games in February games
The record is 0 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (-8.6 units)

NHL > (55) ARIZONA@ (56) NY RANGERS | 02/26/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play AGAINST NY RANGERS using the money line in Home games after a 3 game unbeaten streak
The record is 36 Wins and 52 Losses for the since 1992 (-49.9 units)

NHL > (59) PHILADELPHIA@ (60) TORONTO | 02/26/2015 - 07:35 PM
Play AGAINST TORONTO using the money line in All games when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season
The record is 8 Wins and 24 Losses for the last two seasons (-18.4 units)

NHL > (51) MONTREAL@ (52) COLUMBUS | 02/26/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play ON MONTREAL using the money line in All games in a road game where where the total is 5 or less
The record is 14 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (+9.55 units)

[StarDust Bum]

NHL TOTALS

NHL > (59) PHILADELPHIA@ (60) TORONTO | 02/26/2015 - 07:35 PM
Play OVER PHILADELPHIA on the total in Road games after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game
The record is 17 Overs and 4 Unders for the last two seasons (+13.35 units)

NHL > (51) MONTREAL@ (52) COLUMBUS | 02/26/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play UNDER MONTREAL on the total in All games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game
The record is 11 Overs and 30 Unders for the last two seasons (+17.8 units)

NHL > (61) ST LOUIS@ (62) WINNIPEG | 02/26/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play OVER WINNIPEG on the total in All games second half of the season
The record is 16 Overs and 5 Unders for the this season (+11.1 units)

NHL > (53) VANCOUVER@ (54) BUFFALO | 02/26/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play UNDER BUFFALO on the total in Home games in February games
The record is 0 Overs and 7 Unders for the this season (+7.2 units)

NHL > (57) CHICAGO@ (58) FLORIDA | 02/26/2015 - 07:35 PM
Play UNDER CHICAGO on the total in All games in non-conference games
The record is 4 Overs and 14 Unders for the this season (+9.9 units)

[StarDust Bum]

nba


*****...............................11- 14
double play........................19 - 18 - 1
triple play..........................5 - 13
slam dunk.........................12 - 18
gom...................................3 - 0

ncaabb


*****................................63 - 63 - 1
double play.........................56 - 46 - 1
triple play...........................21 - 28 - 1
slam dunk..........................63 - 53 - 2
gom................................... 7 - 1

nhl


*****.............................12 - 12................... + 0.89
double play......................24 - 20.................... - 0.98
triple play........................8 - 10...................... - 6.42
hat trick..........................14 - 34.................... - 102.64

[StarDust Bum]

Thursday's Top Action

February 25, 2015


NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS(13-14) at OHIO ST BUCKEYES (19-8)

Value City Arena - Columbus, OH
Tip-off: Thursday, 7:00 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: Ohio State -14.5

After being embarrassed at home on Sunday, Nebraska visits Ohio State trying to end a five game skid.

It was only a year ago that Nebraska was the surprise team in the conference, as they picked up their first NCAA berth since 1998. A season built on hope, with leaders returning, has turned into disaster for the Cornhuskers, as they hit a new low in a 28-point home loss to Iowa on Sunday. Following the game, Coach Tim Miles banned his players from all the amenities of Nebraska’s new facilities and from speaking to the media. Nebraska is 1-7 SU (2-6 ATS) in their last 8 games. Furthermore, they haven’t won a conference game on the road all season (0-8 SU, 2-6 ATS).

Coach Thad Matta’s host Buckeyes are also not playing their best ball of the season, having lost their last two (at Michigan State, at Michigan). The most recent loss to Michigan on Sunday, 64-57, was highlighted by sloppy play (9:14 A:TO ratio), and a first half that saw Ohio State fall 16 points down, rendering them unable to come all the way back for the road win. The Buckeyes return home to the friendly confines of Value City Arena where they are undefeated since the calendar flipped to 2015 (5-0 SU, 5-0 ATS), with their lone conference home loss coming in late December to Iowa.

Historically, since Nebraska joined the Big Ten (2011) Ohio State has dominated this matchup, going 7-1 SU (5-3 ATS), and 3-0 in Value City Arena. The most recent game between these two teams was in the 2014 Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis, where Ohio State rallied from an 18-point second-half deficit to win. Nebraska’s lone win in this series was last season, in late January, when they defeated the then No. 17 Buckeyes in Lincoln, 68-62.

Nebraska’s outlook for this contest, and the rest of the season, is shockingly dim, as Coach Miles realized that his players needed a wake-up call with the facilities and media ban after the home loss to Iowa. The Cornhuskers will surely be underdogs in Columbus, and are 1-7 SU (1-5-1 ATS) as road underdogs this season. At the root of their issues all season is putting the ball in the basket (61.7 PPG, 13th in Big Ten, 306th in NCAA).

Nebraska is even worse on the road (55.2 PPG). Considering the Cornhuskers boast two of the conferences better offensive players in F Terran Petteway (18.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.9 APG) and G Shavon Shields (15.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 45% FG), Nebraska’s offensive issues become that much more mysterious. The fact of the matter is that they don’t have anything close to a third reliable offensive option.

Maybe F Walter Pitchford (7.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.3 threes/game) can fill that role. Pitchford likes to roam the perimeter, and has pitched in double-digit scoring in three straight games, after only going above 10 points once in his previous 12 conference games. After Pitchford, though, no Cornhusker has scored in double figures in any of Nebraska’s last five losses, and only one player (F Tarin Smith – 4.3 PPG) has scored more than five points in a game in that span. Besides the rare outburst from deep (10 threes at Maryland), the Cornhuskers have been awful from three (27% 3PT, 14th in Big Ten, 343rd in NCAA) in conference play.

Nebraska relies on its slow pace and defense (62 PPG allowed, 5th Big in Ten, 69th in NCAA) to keep games close, in hopes that Petteway or Shields can make big pressure shots down the stretch. That said, their field goal defense (50% versus Iowa, 47% at Maryland) in recent games hasn’t been fearsome at all.

As star freshman G D’Angelo Russell (19 PPG, 5.4 APG, 5.8 APG) has gone this season, so goes Ohio State. Russell struggled in the state of Michigan the past two weekends, only averaging 13 points on 36% FG. Russell also committed more turnovers than assists (2:5 A:TO) at Michigan for the first time since early January.

F Sam Thompson (10.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG) and F Jae’Sean Tate (8.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG) both shoot it well from the field (49% for Thompson, 58% for Tate) and both boast double-figure scoring potential nightly, they just need more opportunities to score.

The biggest mystery with the Buckeye offense is the disappearance of senior G Shannon Scott (7.6 PPG, 6.1 APG, 1.6 SPG). Scott is a pure point guard who’s been forced to play off the ball for long stretches as Matta funnels his offense through Russell. Not a knockdown shooter, this has forced Scott into some major struggles on offense in the past month (5.7 PPG, 3.8 APG, 32% FG, 22% 3PT in last six games).

F Marc Loving (10.9 PPG) had started for most of the season, but is working his way back slowly into the rotation after a recent suspension and has been a non-factor in the past two contests (4 points in 17 minutes versus Michigan). If exciting freshman F Keita Bates-Diop (4.5 PPG, 0.8 BPG) can continue impressing in limited minutes (12 points in 19 minutes at Michigan) he could provide Matta with another dimension on both ends of the floor with his length, versatility, and potential.

If Ohio State can glean anything from Iowa’s victory over Nebraska, it’s that the Cornhuskers aren’t playing great defense at the moment. As long as the Buckeyes can control the pace, their 49.7% FG (1st in Big Ten, 5th in NCAA) would seem to indicate that their offensive woes should come to an end now that they’re back in Columbus versus a very vulnerable opponent.

ARIZONA WILDCATS (24-3) at COLORADO BUFFALOES (12-14)

Coors Events Center – Boulder, CO
Tip-off: Thursday, 9:00 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: Arizona -10.5

Colorado tries to post a signature win during a miserable season when it hosts No. 7 Arizona on Thursday night.

The Wildcats have ripped off 10 wins in their past 11 games (8-3 ATS), which started with a 68-54 blowout of the Buffaloes on Jan. 15. That was one of Colorado's three losses to top-25 teams this season, as the club was also blown out twice by Utah by margins of 25 and 28 points.

The Buffs are 3-9 SU (4-7-1 ATS) in their past 12 games, which includes a 2-3 mark (SU and ATS) at home where they are 10-4 SU (8-5-1 ATS) this season. Arizona is 6-3 SU (5-4 ATS) in true road games this season and is also 12-2 SU (9-5 ATS) with a +17.3 PPG margin after having at least three days of rest. Colorado is 5-6 (SU and ATS) in this heavy rest scenario.

The Wildcats have dominated this series recently with five straight wins SU, all by double-digits and a +16.6 PPG margin, but the Buffaloes hold the 5-3 ATS advantage in the past eight meetings. This includes Colorado SU wins at home in 2012 and 2013, but Arizona rolled to an easy 88-61 road win in this series last February with 57 second-half points, marking its first victory in Boulder since 1973.

Arizona is excellent in nearly all facets with 75.6 PPG and only 58.7 PPG allowed for a whopping +16.9 PPG scoring margin. The team outshoots opponents by nearly 10 percent, with an offensive clip of 49.0% FG, while posting a 39.7% FG Pct. on defense. The Wildcats are able to do this with an admirable 1.2 Ast/TO ratio and +2.9 turnover margin. The only areas Arizona's offense isn't particularly strong in are three-point shooting (4.9 per game, 35.3% threes) and foul shooting (68.7% FT). The Wildcats have a very balanced offense with six players averaging at least 22.5 MPG and 8.8 PPG.

The team's scoring leader is freshman swingman Stanley Johnson (14.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.4 SPG), who shoots 47% FG and 36% threes. He lit up Colorado for a career-high 22 points (7-of-15 FG, 8-of-9 FT) and eight rebounds on Jan. 15, but is coming off his worst offensive showing of his career on Saturday when he made just 1-of-9 FG in the win over UCLA. Junior F Brandon Ashley (11.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG) pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds (4 offensive) to go along with seven points in last month's win versus the Buffaloes. He has also scored 11+ points in eight of his past 10 games, but was dreadful in Saturday's win with just five points on 2-of-10 shooting.

F Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (11.1 PPG, 6.6 RPG) shoots 53% FG, but was 1-for-6 FG in Saturday's win and 0-for-3 from the floor in the victory over Colorado earlier this season. But entering Saturday, the sophomore had posted 11+ points in six straight contests where he knocked down 62% of his shots. PG T.J. McConnell (9.9 PPG, 6.0 APG, 3.8 RPG) has a 50% FG clip and a stellar 3.1 Ast/TO ratio this season. He posted a well-rounded eight points, seven rebounds and six assists in the Jan. 15 victory over the Buffaloes, and is riding a five-game streak of double-figure scoring (14.0 PPG).

Seven-foot C Kaleb Tarczewski (8.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG) scored 14 points (5-of-7 FG) in just 25 minutes versus Colorado last month, and has 12.3 PPG on 70% FG (14-of-20) with 7.3 RPG in his past three games.

The Buffaloes only real chance in this game is to dominate the glass as it has done so often this season (+4.2 RPG margin). The team also blocks 4.0 shots per game, which helps limit opponents to 65.3 PPG on 41.0% FG. But this is not a good offensive club, averaging a mere 66.7 PPG on 42.4% FG and 35.1% threes. It also holds a minus-1.8 turnover margin with 13.4 turnovers committed per game.

The one consistent scorer for Colorado this season is G Askia Booker (17.0 PPG, 3.3 APG, 3.2 RPG, 1.4 SPG) who shoots 39% from the floor and 36% from three-point range. Booker scored 30 of his team's 54 points in the loss at Arizona last month, as he drained 11-of-17 shots (6-of-9 threes) with four rebounds and three assists to keep the final score somewhat respectable. Booker will need to improve greatly on Saturday's performance when he made just 2-of-14 FG in the 14-point loss at Oregon State.

C Josh Scott (12.7 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.8 BPG) is a presence down low with a soft touch to pull opposing big men away from the rim, and he finally looks healthy after a long absence due to a back injury. Scott didn't play in the loss in Tucson on Jan. 15, but has yanked down 30 rebounds in his past three contests to go along with 7.0 PPG.

The team's third option on offense is junior swingman Xavier Johnson (11.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG) who is coming off a strong 12-point, nine-rebound effort in Saturday's loss. Johnson did not play versus the Wildcats last month, but faced them three times last season with very different results. After scoring 21 points (7-of-12 FG) in Tucson, he made just 1-of-10 shots at home for five points, before posting a respectable 11 points and five rebounds in the Pac-12 Tournament loss to Arizona last March.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Warriors (44-10) at Cavaliers (36-22)

Date: February 26, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

While Stephen Curry and the league-leading Golden State Warriors easily handled the LeBron James-less Cleveland Cavaliers last month, Thursday night's showdown should provide a much better indication of how these heavyweights stack up.

The Cavaliers and Warriors are both close to full strength headed into this possible NBA Finals preview in Cleveland.

"Everybody's going to be healthy," Cavs All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving said. "It's going to be a great test, two great teams going at it. A lot of great matchups within the game, this is what you look forward to as a competitor."

Cleveland (36-22) has dropped seven of eight to Golden State (44-10), including a 112-94 road loss in this season's first meeting Jan. 9. Irving scored 23 points but shot 9 of 23 matched up with Curry, who finished with 23 points and 10 assists as the Warriors shot 50.0 percent.

James didn't play that night due to knee and back injuries that kept him out for eight games from Dec. 30-Jan. 11. The Cavs dropped all but one of those contests, but they've since won 16 of 19 to tie Chicago for the Central Division lead.

Cleveland returns home after opening the second half with three consecutive road wins, a stretch during which it outscored opponents by an average of 21.7 points. The Cavs stayed hot with Tuesday's 102-93 victory over Detroit after storming back from 14 down in the third quarter.

Cleveland held the Pistons to 31 points in the second half for its lowest mark allowed this season.

"Defense is our mark, and we understand that," James said. "When we defend at a high level, we put ourselves in a position to win every night and be successful long-term."

James finished with 19 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, moving past Scottie Pippen for first place on the all-time list for forwards with 6,142 assists. The Cavs are 27-5 when James has more than five assists compared to 7-9 when he doesn't.

"That means a tremendous amount to me," James said. "I have always taken so much pride in my passing game. To me, the greatest rush has always been helping my teammates succeed, not succeeding myself."

The Warriors opened a season-high six-game road trip with Sunday's 104-98 loss to Indiana before bouncing back to beat Washington 114-107 two nights later. Curry, who sat out against the Pacers with an ankle injury, returned to score 32 points on 11-of-18 shooting.

"It's still not pain free, but it felt fine," he said. "Once you start playing the adrenalin kicks in and you don't feel anything. It was good to just break a sweat in the first quarter, and feel active and not limited at all."

The Warriors are 24-2 at home, but they've allowed 104.7 points per game in splitting their last 14 on the road.

"It's pretty special to be where we are, we have a lot of work left to do, obviously," Curry said. "We want to capitalize on our potential this year."

Curry has scored at least 20 in 12 consecutive games, and he's averaging 28.1 in the last 10. He's averaging 26.3 and 9.7 assists over a three-game stretch against Cleveland.

The Cavs have won 10 straight at home by an average of 15.2 points, their longest such run since stringing together 11 consecutive victories Feb. 23-April 6, 2010.

Cleveland, though, has lost four in a row there to Golden State.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Thunder (32-25) at Suns (30-28)

Date: February 26, 2015 10:30 PM EDT

Kevin Durant's health is again in a state of uncertainty for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

His absence hasn't mattered much lately, however, given Russell Westbrook's spectacular play.

Westbrook tries to lead Oklahoma City to a season-high eighth straight victory when it visits the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night.

The Thunder (32-25) have won nine of 10, surging up the Western Conference standings. They're two games behind seventh-place San Antonio and 5 1/2 back of Northwest Division-leading Portland. Their 9-1 run includes double-digit wins over the Clippers, Memphis, and Dallas, all teams they trail in the standings.

Oklahoma City is averaging 111.7 points over its last 10 games, and though Durant has missed half of them, each was a victory. It's unclear when he will return as he deals with foot soreness and won't be re-evaluated until next week.

Westbrook had 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a 105-92 win over Indiana on Tuesday. His 11 triple-doubles since entering the league in 2008-09 rank third while his three this season are tied with Michael Carter-Williams and Rajon Rondo for the NBA lead.

The All-Star Game MVP is averaging 29.5 points on 38.9 percent 3-point shooting with 10.1 assists and 8.2 rebounds over his last 10 games - up from 24.8 on 25.9, 7.4 and 5.9 previously.

Westbrook, whose 7.5 fast-break points per game lead the NBA, has averaged 9.4 in the last 10, helping Oklahoma City average 22.5 as a team, a 7.9 increase from its previous average.

"He just continues to stack games up on top of one another," coach Scott Brooks said. "He's played well. He's doing a great job of leading us, leading the new guys and leading the group. Making it all come together."

Deadline acquisition Enes Kanter has 35 points over his last two games while Serge Ibaka is averaging 20.0 points on 63.6 percent shooting in his last four.

The Suns (30-28) have been trending in the opposite direction with eight losses in 10 games. They're 2 1/2 games behind Oklahoma City for the West's final playoff spot with New Orleans (30-27) separating the two.

'Everybody knows it's a big game for us,' guard Eric Bledsoe said.

Phoenix snapped a five-game skid in Wednesday's 110-96 win at Denver, though it was against a Nuggets squad that had dropped 16 of 18. The Suns had allowed 111-plus points in four straight before limiting undermanned Denver to 38.3 percent shooting.

Brandon Knight's 19 points led six players in double figures.

"It's all new and all coming so quickly," said Knight, who has averaged 17.3 points in three games since being acquired from Milwaukee. "It will take time. But it's really just about making basketball plays."

The Suns surrendered 12 3-pointers on 34 attempts, while Oklahoma City is shooting 37.8 percent from deep during its seven-game run. Phoenix is letting opponents shoot 39.4 percent from beyond the arc while going 4-9 on the second night of back-to-backs.

The Suns have been one of the league's worst rebounding teams with a average minus-2.1 margin but are plus-33 over their last two games and recorded a league season-high 65 boards Wednesday. Alex Len has 10-plus rebounds in four straight after averaging 6.0 previously.

Oklahoma City has won 13 of 15 in the series, including two home meetings this season. Westbrook has averaged 32.3 points on 54.0 percent shooting in his last four trips to Phoenix, but was 5 of 13 for 20 points in a 137-134 overtime home win on Dec. 31 as Durant scored 44. Bledsoe led Phoenix with 29.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA

Thursday, February 26

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Golden State - 8:00 PM ET Cleveland -3.5 500 DOUBLE PLAY

Cleveland - Under 215.5 500 *****

Oklahoma City - 10:30 PM ET Phoenix +5 500 *****

Phoenix - Over 218 500 DOUBLE PLAY