The Bum's National Basketball League January Picks/Trends/News !!

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Preview: Pacers (19-15) at Magic (19-16)
Date: January 06, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

On the precipice of their longest slide of the season, the Orlando Magic are at a crossroads. They're also tired.

Coach Scott Skiles is trying to find a solution.

With changes imminent, the Magic again seek their first win of 2016 by getting a rare one against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.

Orlando (19-16) opened the season with a three-game skid, and the team matched it with a winless road swing after falling 115-89 at Detroit on Monday.

"We've just got to figure it out because if we don't it could get ugly," guard Victor Oladipo told the team's official website. "We've got to figure it out and I believe that we will.

"We've got to decide if we want to be successful or it's going to get ugly."

The Magic have been outscored by an average of 21.0 points over the last three games, shooting 26.2 percent from beyond the arc. That doesn't bode well considering they've lost five straight and nine of their last 10 to the Pacers.

A lack of energy is a problem and it showed early against the Pistons.

"Two or three minutes into the game, and we already had guys bending over and grabbing their shorts. We've been a low-energy team for a while now," Skiles said. "We certainly look tired."

He's planning to make changes to end the slump.

"I have to take action. It might not work, but I've got to do something to change things so that we can try to get back on track," Skiles said.

While Skiles didn't offer specifics, he'll likely be forced to start Oladipo a second straight game with Elfrid Payton nursing an ankle injury.

Oladipo totaled 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists while starting in Payton's place Monday after averaging 12.1, 3.8 and 4.2 as a reserve over the previous 20 games.

He had 15 points and seven boards in a 97-84 loss at Indiana on Nov. 9.

Nikola Vucevic sat out that meeting with a knee injury. The center leads the team with 16.8 points per game and 8.3 rebounds, but he's only produced 11.3 and 4.3 over the past three games.

His 27 points weren't enough in a 106-99 loss to the Pacers (19-15) in the most recent home meeting Jan. 25. Orlando has averaged 85.6 points in its last 10 versus Indiana, shooting 39.8 percent.

The Pacers have dropped seven of their last eight on the road, surrendering an average of 107.3 points - 8.6 above their season mark.

They blew an 18-point, third-quarter lead while falling 103-100 in overtime at Miami on Monday, their sixth loss in nine games.

"It's tough, you know. George Hill is out, C.J. Miles is out. Chase (Budinger) is struggling (with an illness) so we were limited with our three point options," coach Frank Vogel told the team's official website.

It's unknown if Vogel will have Hill (food poisoning) and Miles (shoulder) available Wednesday. Miles started for Hill on Monday, scoring seven points in seven minutes before getting hurt.

Glenn Robinson III and Joe Young filled in for Miles, but they combined for three points on 1 for 6 from the floor.

Paul George has been outstanding over the last three games, averaging 31.7 points while connecting on 14 of 29 3-pointers. The star forward had 13.0 points per game and shot 27.7 percent - 29.7 from long range - over the five prior contests.

He scored 27 against the Magic on Nov. 9, while Hill added 23.

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Preview: Cavaliers (23-9) at Wizards (15-17)
Date: January 06, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

Perhaps a matchup with a fellow All-Star point guard helped fuel Kyrie Irving in what was easily his best game since making his season debut. If so, he might have another one coming.

If Cleveland listens to LeBron James, Irving won't be the only one locked in.

Irving and the Cavaliers kick off a six-game road trip Wednesday night against John Wall and a Washington Wizards team that James is sizing up for some revenge.

Irving averaged 13 points and 3.4 assists while shooting 33.9 percent in his first five games back from knee surgery, but he looked much more like a three-time All-Star on Monday against one of the other two point guards who joined him on last season's Eastern Conference team. He had nine of his 25 points in the fourth quarter against Kyle Lowry and Toronto, also finishing with eight assists and six rebounds in Cleveland's 122-100 win.

"For me, it's about continuing to progress and get better for my teammates," Irving said. "And that's making plays and being decisive. When I'm able to play like that and get other guys shots and be aggressive, (that's what matters)."

James earlier Monday tweeted his support of Irving - currently ahead of Wall and Lowry in All-Star votes despite his very brief 2015-16 resume - as an East starter. After sitting out the fourth quarter, he continued to play campaign manager.

'He's special. He's that special, man. He's much better than an All-Star,' James said. 'If he continues to play the way he's been playing, but also progress in his game over the years, he can do something that's very special."

Wall was awfully good himself in December, averaging 22.6 points and 11.7 assists to earn East player of the month honors, but perhaps his best game in that stretch was the first. He had 35 points, 10 assists and five steals as the Wizards (15-17) led wire to wire - holding Kevin Love and Timofey Mozgov to a combined eight points - in a 97-85 road win over the Irving-less Cavaliers.

The man who has won 29 East player of the month awards still has that one fresh in his mind as Cleveland (23-9) starts its longest road trip of the season.

'We only have one back-to-back,' said James, who had 24 points and nine turnovers in what remains the Cavaliers' lone home loss. 'We'll see what happens. It starts in D.C., a team that beat us really good. We remember that.'

Irving and Wall have faced each other nine times, with Wall's team winning five while he's averaged 20.4 points and 9.1 assists. Irving has averaged 21.8 points and 5.4 assists, and the Cavs have won two of the three he's had James for.

Washington's win in Cleveland seems to have been little more than an aberration for a team that can't find any consistency. The Wizards have followed a four-game winning streak by dropping three of four, the latest Sunday's particularly ugly 97-75 loss to Miami.

Wall and Garrett Temple shot a combined 10 of 37 for Washington, which went 4 of 29 from 3-point range and scored seven second-quarter points. It hung 114 on the Heat in early December in Miami.

"We stopped moving the ball," coach Randy Wittman said after the Wizards fell to 5-14 when they fail to total 25 assists. "As I told our guys, we're not an isolation team. When we hold the ball ... we end up taking really bad shots or we turn it over."

The Wizards had only nine players against the Heat and nine practiced Tuesday. Bradley Beal still isn't ready to return, but Gary Neal (quad) and Nene (calf) could play against the Cavs.

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Preview: Pistons (19-16) at Celtics (19-15)
Date: January 06, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

The first two games between the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics resulted in entertaining duels at point guard between Reggie Jackson and Isaiah Thomas.

Now the Pistons have another dangerous guard to throw into the equation.

Brandon Jennings has gradually been getting up to speed for the Pistons, who try to end a three-game road slide Wednesday night against a Celtics team struggling at home.

This contest features two of the leaders in drives per game, with Jackson averaging an NBA-best 12.0 and Thomas fourth at 11.3.

These teams split two meetings last month, with Detroit (19-16) winning 119-116 on Dec. 16 despite Boston holding a 28-16 edge in drives. Thomas had a team-high 15 and scored a season-best 38 while Jackson had seven drives and scored 23.

The Celtics (19-15) won 99-93 on Dec. 26 even though the Pistons held a 24-20 edge in drives, with Jackson recording 12 and Thomas 10.

Perhaps the production of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been more critical to the outcome. He scored a season-high 31 in the Pistons' win but was held to six in their defeat.

Boston is concerned about defending Jackson and Caldwell-Pope.

"Those guys off the pick-and-roll, Reggie Jackson, Caldwell-Pope, all those guys making plays," Celtics center Kelly Olynyk said. "You've got to make sure that you pull in and help each other."

Slowing down those players could be even more difficult because Boston guard Avery Bradley is expected to miss a second straight game with a left hip contusion. The other issue is that Jennings is back and rounding into form.

The veteran guard has played four times since returning from rupturing his left Achilles last January. He had season highs of 17 points and six assists in 18 minutes in Monday's 115-89 rout of Orlando.

'He continuously pushed the pace, which might be something that most people probably wouldn't look for with that injury that he came off of,' Jackson said. 'He really was a floor general out there.'

Coach Stan Van Gundy now says he's working with the idea of playing Jackson and Jennings together at times.

Jackson is 4-0 in his career at Boston, a city he is familiar with from his career at Boston College.

The Celtics are known for pushing the pace, averaging 100.8 possessions per 48 minutes to lead the Eastern Conference.

Detroit's Andre Drummond posted his league-best 30th double-double Monday with 17 points and 12 rebounds. He is averaging 19.0 and 17.1 over a nine-game streak of double-doubles against Boston.

"Obviously you just have to be alert to guys of that size and that ability to block shots and try to move them around as much as you can, it's easier said than done," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. "And he poses a huge problem on the other end obviously with his deep post-ups and offensive rebounding."

Boston won 103-94 at Brooklyn on Monday behind Jae Crowder's 25 points and Thomas' 19.

Now the Celtics hope to avoid a second three-game home slide. They have dropped five of seven in Boston while Detroit has lost 11 of 15 on the road.

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Preview: Raptors (21-15) at Nets (10-24)
Date: January 06, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

All of a sudden, the Toronto Raptors aren't playing much defense.

Among the better teams in the NBA at stopping the opposition for most of the season, the Raptors look to rediscover that form after a pair of alarming losses when they visit the offensively challenged Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night.

First-place Toronto (21-15) had given up 96.4 points per game through Friday, but the Raptors played nothing like an elite defensive team in defeats to Chicago on Sunday and Cleveland on Monday. The Bulls' Jimmy Butler ripped them for a team-record 40 second-half points in a 115-113 loss before Kyrie Irving, J.R. Smith and LeBron James combined for 69 points in a 122-100 final the next night.

Cleveland shot 55.4 percent and went 17 of 33 from 3-point range. Chicago shot 51.2 percent.

"Until we get defense back into our repertoire, into our mentality, we're going to have a lot of nights like this," coach Dwane Casey said. "Somewhere the last couple games, we've lost our defensive thought process or whatever; we're more worried about touches than we are our defensive approach and until we get back to that ... we're gonna struggle."

Kyle Lowry continued his strong season with 23 points Monday, pushing his career-best average to 20.7 and recording his third straight double-double in points and assists. The Raptors, though, were without starting forward DeMarre Carroll and his 11.7 points per game due to a sore right knee that has forced him to play at less than 100 percent.

'His right knee is swollen a little bit more than usual,' Casey said. 'It's a concern, but we've got to look at the long term with him and get him right.'

Toronto, which had won four of five before its last two, has dropped two straight to Brooklyn (10-24), falling 114-109 at Barclays Center in the most recent meeting April 3. Thaddeus Young had 29 points for the Nets, who didn't have to face the injured Lowry in that game.

Young had team highs of 23 points and 15 rebounds Tuesday, but Brooklyn fell 103-94 to visiting Boston for its seven straight loss at home. The Nets average 97.1 points, among the lowest marks in the league, and they also suffered a major blow in Saturday's 100-97 victory over the Celtics when starting point guard Jarrett Jack was lost for the season with a torn ACL.

The veteran averaged 12.8 points and 7.4 assists. Replacement Shane Larkin managed four points and two assists Tuesday and the Nets committed 14 turnovers that led to 20 points - though the giveaway total wasn't out of line with their season average of 15.0.

'If you want to make excuses, yeah. There's always a rationalization for anything bad that happens, both on the court and in life if you choose to,' coach Lionel Hollins said. 'But I choose to say that we've got to keep working and getting better.'

Still, Jack's injury removes a key offensive option for Brooklyn - especially at the end of games.

'We're going to miss that about Jarrett because Jarrett wasn't afraid to take the shot,' Hollins said. 'He certainly had enough confidence to believe that he could make them and he wanted the shot.'

The Brooklyn franchise hasn't dropped eight in a row at home since a 14-game slide Jan. 29-March 22, 2010.

Toronto's DeMar DeRozan, who's averaged 25.8 points in his past 10, scored 27 with eight rebounds and eight assists April 3.

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Preview: Nuggets (12-23) at Timberwolves (12-23)
Date: January 06, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The Minnesota Timberwolves are taking a new approach in an effort to solve their recent problems. The Denver Nuggets hope a little rest can help cure theirs.

Both will be aiming to halt lengthy losing streaks when the Northwest Division's bottom two teams meet for the final time this season Wednesday night.

Each has seen encouraging starts go by the wayside, with Minnesota having lost 15 of 19 and Denver 18 of 24. The Nuggets (12-23) have dropped six straight and nine of 10, while the Timberwolves (12-23) suffered a third straight loss with Monday's 109-99 defeat at 4-33 Philadelphia.

That result prompted coach Sam Mitchell to forgo Tuesday's practice, with the team instead spending approximately 90 minutes discussing ways in which it can improve.

'It's probably the best practice of the year, for us,' rookie center Karl-Anthony Towns said. 'Especially more like a therapeutic session, allowing us even more to come together as a team and as a family.'

The impromptu meeting came with the Timberwolves mired in a 1-7 stretch, with six of the losses by double figures. They've been held under 100 points in all eight games.

Defense was a bigger problem in the latest loss after the 76ers, last in the NBA in scoring, shot a season-high 55.2 percent.

'I think we've touched the bottom now,' guard Ricky Rubio said. 'So we've got to find it somehow. Maybe because we're young and the rookie wall is on our minds or whatever. I don't want to say any excuses. It's us being aggressive going out there and wanting to win.'

Denver appeared on its way to ending its skid before wilting down the stretch of Sunday's 112-106 home loss to Portland. Coming off a tough overtime loss in Golden State the previous night, the Nuggets were outscored 38-26 over the final 13:31.

"We expended so much energy (Saturday) night in an overtime game, then you fly back and get in at 3:30 a.m.," coach Mike Malone said. "We were gassed. Guys that are usually energy players for us came out flat as a pancake."

The Nuggets, 5-5 when playing on two or more days of rest, did receive 29 points from Danilo Gallinari in his second game back after missing six straight due to an ankle sprain. Kenneth Faried added 13 and nine rebounds one night after being hospitalized from an elbow to the back of his neck against Golden State.

Emmanuel Mudiay is expected to return for Denver on Wednesday. The rookie point guard has missed 12 straight with a sprained right ankle.

Minnesota could have a key player back as well, as Mitchell said Tuesday that Nikola Pekovic is 50-50 to make his season debut. The bruising center, sidelined by offseason ankle and Achilles surgeries, has been practicing in full since Sunday.

"Man, we could use that size. We need that bulk," Mitchell said.

Pekovic's potential presence could help sway the series back to Minnesota's favor. After posting a 95-78 win in Denver on Oct. 30 behind Towns' 28 points and 14 rebounds, the Timberwolves have been outrebounded 89-74 in losing the last two meetings.

The Nuggets, 0-12 when outrebounded, edged Minnesota 111-108 in overtime Dec. 11 in Denver and got 19 points and 10 boards from Faried in a 112-100 victory in Minneapolis four days later.

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Preview: Jazz (15-18) at Spurs (30-6)
Date: January 06, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

Among the many blowouts the San Antonio Spurs have enjoyed during the longest home winning streak in franchise history, none has been bigger this season than the one they handed the Utah Jazz.

There's little reason to think the Spurs won't become the seventh team in NBA history to record a 30-game home winning streak Wednesday night when the Jazz return - they haven't won a road game in six weeks and haven't won in San Antonio in nearly six years.

Plus, the Spurs (30-6) have been blowing out opponents lately, winning their last three games by at least 18 points apiece. Utah's last three road losses have been by an average of 23.0, including a 118-81 defeat in San Antonio on Dec. 14.

The Jazz (15-18) trailed by as many as 46 and lost there for the 11th straight time, a streak dating to Jan. 20, 2010. That drought includes the playoffs, as does their 2-34 record in San Antonio since May 1999.

The Spurs are 20-0 at the AT&T Center this season, winning by an average of 16.4 points to match Houston's start in 1985-86 as the second-best at home by a Western Conference team. Portland opened 26-0 in 1977-78.

San Antonio has won 29 straight regular-season home games, but that's not even the best run going because Golden State's streak is at 35. The Spurs are among only seven teams in league history to have home winning streaks last that long.

The Warriors are also the only team with a better overall record than the Spurs, who have won five straight and 12 of 13 behind MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard.

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has a plus-minus of 10.0 which ranks fifth in the league, and his average of 2.4 steals since Dec. 10 is third-best. He's leading the league in 3-point shooting at 50.0 percent, including 11 of 14 in the last five games as he's shot 62.5 percent overall.

Leonard scored 10 of his 24 points in the decisive third quarter of Monday's 123-98 win in Milwaukee.

'(Leonard) has been great at both ends of the floor,' coach Gregg Popovich said. 'He is one of very few two-way players in the league at that level.'

Leonard had a game-high 22 points in the only meeting with the Jazz this season. Utah's Gordon Hayward and Rodney Hood combined for eight points on 3-of-13 shooting.

The Jazz have lost all five road games since beating the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 25 behind Hayward's season-high 33 points. He's averaged 8.7 in the last three road games while shooting 24.1 percent.

Hayward and Hood combined for 43 points at home Monday, but Utah blew a 15-point lead in the second half to lose 93-91 to Houston.

"It's all a part of being a young team and growing," said Hood, a second-year guard who had his first child Sunday. "The good thing is we're playing good basketball, we're playing hard. We're gonna be in a lot of games like this going forward."

Hood had a season-high seven assists and enters Wednesday amid the best three-game scoring stretch of his career with an average of 24.3 points.

It's unclear if Derrick Favors will return after missing the last six games with back spasms, or if San Antonio's Tony Parker will play after sitting out Monday due to hip soreness.

Jeff Withey has played reasonably well starting for Favors, averaging 10.8 points and 9.0 rebounds in the last five games.

Spurs big man LaMarcus Aldridge has averaged 20.3 points and 10.7 boards in his last three.

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Preview: Grizzlies (19-17) at Thunder (24-11)
Date: January 06, 2016 9:30 PM EDT

A visit to Oklahoma City would typically pose a serious threat to a Memphis team that's on quite a stingy streak, but the version of the Thunder the Grizzlies will see Wednesday night should find scoring more difficult.

The Grizzlies try to continue their recent defense dominance against a Thunder team that will likely be without Kevin Durant.

Memphis (19-17) has held opponents to 92.5 points per game since Dec. 14, a return to its top-5 defensive form of the previous four seasons. The Grizzlies are 6-5 during the stretch, winning three of the last four, but a closer look reveals that just one of their opponents entered Tuesday as a top-10 scoring team while four ranked 25th or worse.

Oklahoma City (24-11) ranks second in the league with 108.5 points per game, a number that rises to 109.7 while the Thunder have won 11 of their last 13 home games.

But they look much different without Durant, who sat out Monday's 116-104 loss to Sacramento with a sprained right big toe. Durant was injured in Saturday's 109-90 win at Charlotte, and the Thunder were listing him as out for this matchup as of Tuesday night.

Anthony Morrow scored a season-high 20 points while starting for Durant, who missed most of last season with a broken bone in his right foot that required three operations and sat out six in November with a hamstring injury.

The Thunder are 3-4 without Durant this season. Memphis, though, will still have to deal with Russell Westbrook, the co-Western Conference Player of the Month for December with Durant.

Westbrook's averages bump up from 25.3 to 30.4 points, 7.3 to 10.1 assists and 5.3 to 7.7 rebounds in seven games without Durant this season - including a 40-point performance in a 122-114 loss at Memphis on Nov. 16. He finished with 17 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds against Sacramento, but made just 2 of 15 shots after halftime and finished with seven turnovers.

But while the Thunder will miss Durant's scoring, it's the defense that has coach Billy Donovan worried. Sacramento scored 50 points in the paint and 17 on the fast break while snapping Oklahoma City's four-game winning streak.

"As a team in general, we've got to be able to hang our hat on defense," Donovan said. "... Because you're going to have nights where you don't shoot the ball particularly well."

Though Memphis' defense has been great, it's averaging an NBA-low 94.8 points since Dec. 3. The Grizzlies have failed to score 100 in 14 of their last 17 games.

They have used a smaller lineup in the last month, shifting Zach Randolph to the bench. The 15-year veteran has welcomed the role and matched a season high with 26 points while grabbing 18 rebounds in Monday's 91-78 win at Portland.

'I'm a team-first guy," Randolph said. "It's not about me, it's about winning and whatever the coach thinks is best for the team. So that's how I'm approaching it."

Oklahoma City won this season's second matchup 125-88 at Memphis on Dec. 8 behind 32 points from Durant. The Grizzlies have won four of the last six meetings, though the Thunder have won four of five in Oklahoma City.

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Preview: Clippers (22-13) at Trail Blazers (15-22)
Date: January 06, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

Damian Lillard is healthy now, though he wasn't the last time he faced the Los Angeles Clippers because of an omelet he ate at the team hotel.

His Portland Trail Blazers ended up with egg on their faces in a loss that night and will try to snap the visiting Clippers' season-high six-game win streak Wednesday night.

Lillard returned from a seven-game absence because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot in Monday's 91-78 loss to Memphis. He missed his first five shots and finished with a team-high 17 points on 4-of-14 shooting.

'I was just happy to be out there,' Lillard said. 'I didn't put too much pressure on myself, it being the first game. I just wanted to come out and make sure that I was responsible and did what I needed to do defensively, get to the spots I needed to be on and make the right plays.'

The superstar succumbed to a different ailment the last time these teams met when Portland (15-22) fell 102-87 at Los Angeles on Nov. 30. He left the game because of abdominal pain with 10:13 remaining in the third quarter and did not return, later claiming he was "pretty sure" it was because of something he ate at the hotel where he consumed an omelet.

Los Angeles took advantage of his absence by outscoring Portland 53-38 in the second half.

Fortunately for the Trail Blazers, this contest is at home - where they beat the Clippers 102-91 on Nov. 20 behind Lillard's 27 points. It seems like it's also good news that they won't have to face Blake Griffin for the first time.

Los Angeles (22-13), however, has won all five games since losing Griffin to a partially torn left quadriceps tendon as part of this streak. The Clippers are shooting 50.1 percent in the last five games, connecting at a season-best 60.5 in Saturday's 130-99 rout of Philadelphia.

"I think everybody realizes that there's less room for error," point guard Chris Paul said. "We realize that we really have to play together, we gotta share the ball and I think that's what's been happening."

J.J. Redick is shooting 57.6 percent while making 19 of 29 3-pointers and averaging 20.0 points in the last five games. Paul is averaging 17.0 points on 35.1 percent shooting in that stretch, but he's averaging 11.0 assists.

DeAndre Jordan has double-doubles in the last five games, averaging 15.0 points and 14.4 boards. He leads the NBA in field-goal percentage at 72.7 percent.

The beneficiary of Griffin's absence is Cole Aldrich, who only played in five of the Clippers' first 27 games. His minutes are up now and he had eight points and a season-high nine rebounds Saturday.

"For a while, Cole wasn't playing and he's just a consummate professional, comes in and works hard every day and that's what you need," Paul said. "And then when his number is called, he's been ready."

The Clippers figure to see a more confident C.J. McCollum than the player who averaged 15.0 points on 34.4 percent shooting against them in November. McCollum was held to 16 points on 6 of 18 shooting Monday after averaging 30.3 on 54.4 percent from the field in his previous four games.

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Preview: Knicks (16-19) at Heat (21-13)
Date: January 06, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The Miami Heat feel they're improving, and their status as Southeast Division leaders certainly reinforces that belief.

They're usually at their best against the New York Knicks.

On the verge of their longest winning streak of the season Wednesday night, the Heat look to extend their dominance of the Knicks, who are trying to surpass last season's win total.

Miami (21-13) missed the playoffs last season and was just three games above .500 following a loss at Indiana on Dec. 11. The Heat have since gone 9-4, winning a season high-tying three games in a row after erasing an 18-point, third-quarter deficit in Monday's 103-100 overtime win against the Pacers.

Miami also overcame its worst shooting performance of the season at 37.8 percent.

"We're a lot better than we were at the start of the season," said guard Dwyane Wade, who had 27 points and eight rebounds while hitting a layup at the buzzer in regulation.

Chris Bosh has definitely been better over the last nine games, averaging 24.3 points while hitting 49.1 percent from the floor - 46.3 from beyond the arc. The forward was scoring 17.0 points per game through the first 25.

Bosh was superb again Monday, scoring a season-high 31 points while grabbing 11 rebounds. He's averaged 22.0 points over his last four meetings with the Knicks, collecting 20 in a 97-78 win at New York on Nov. 27.

The Heat have held the Knicks to 85.1 points per game while winning eight straight matchups. That includes two this season as New York has averaged 78.0 points on 34.9 percent shooting while missing 31 of 38 from 3-point range.

It's unknown if Miami will be without Hassan Whiteside for a second straight game due to a sore right knee. The center is fourth in the NBA with a career-high 11.3 rebounds per contest, and he pulled down 14 in the most recent win.

The Knicks (17-19) gave the Heat some help in the Southeast race by sweeping a home-and-home set with Atlanta, which is one game behind Miami in second place.

Carmelo Anthony came three assists shy of a triple-double, finishing with 23 points and 11 rebounds in Tuesday's 107-101 road victory over the Hawks.

"He was doing everything for us, as a leader should do," said forward Kristaps Porzingis, who had 17 points and 11 boards.

New York will exceed last season's win total with its next victory, a considerable improvement from its franchise-worst 17-65 in 2014-15 that was the worst record in the Eastern Conference.

"I told y'all I don't remember last season," Anthony said. "I'm serious. I don't remember any of it."

He'd probably like to forget his performance against the Heat on Nov. 27, finishing with 11 points while making 4 of 13 from the floor. Anthony averaged 29.9 points over his previous 11 meetings.

Arron Afflalo has totaled 15 points in two games against Miami this season, matching his season low with four in the most recent game. However, the guard feasted on the Hawks, scoring 23 points Tuesday after getting a season-high 38 in a 111-97 home victory two days earlier.

New York is 9-2 when Afflalo scores at least 15 points but 4-13 when he has 14 or fewer.

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Preview: Hornets (17-17) at Suns (12-25)
Date: January 06, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

Injuries continue to pile up during the Charlotte Hornets' four-game losing streak, though the outlook could still be worse.

Just ask the Phoenix Suns.

The Hornets hope to end their longest skid of the season by pinning a 10th consecutive loss on the wayward Suns when the slumping teams square off Wednesday night.

Charlotte (17-17) has fallen back in a competitive Southeast Division by dropping nine of 12 as several key players have missed time. Center Al Jefferson, currently sidelined by knee surgery, has played just twice since Nov. 30, versatile wing Nicolas Batum (sprained toe) has missed the last two games and guard Jeremy Lin (ankle sprain) sat out two straight prior to returning Saturday against Oklahoma City.

Batum, second on the team in scoring (16.3 points per game) and rebounding (6.5 rpg), is considered questionable for Wednesday. The Hornets were dealt yet another blow, however, when guard Jeremy Lamb suffered wrist and hip contusions during the first half of Monday's 111-101 loss at Golden State.

Lamb managed to remain in the game and score 22 points, though the Hornets have listed the sixth man doubtful for the second test of this four-game trip.

'We are short-handed but we've got guys that are capable of playing big games as well," guard Kemba Walker said. "We do have to get better. We're in a tough stretch. We just have to be better.'

A matchup with Phoenix (12-25), mired in its longest winless stretch since losing 10 straight from March 20-April 8, 2013, may help matters.

The Suns have been particularly bad in their two most recent outings. After yielding their most points in a non-overtime game since December 1990 in Saturday's 142-119 drubbing by Sacramento, they set a franchise record low with 22 first-half points in Monday's 97-77 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers that concluded a four-game trip.

'It's tough,' coach Jeff Hornacek said. 'Sometimes you try so hard you make it worse.'

With leading scorer Eric Bledsoe having missed six straight after undergoing season-ending knee surgery Dec. 29, Phoenix has averaged 95.8 points during the skid. The Suns are 0-15 when recording 100 or less.

"Guys are trying,' Hornacek said. 'They just don't have enough, especially with Eric out. Even with Eric in there, we have to be playing full bore all the time to win a game. So without him, it's even more where we have to get out there and really play our best.'

Charlotte coach Steve Clifford can relate with his team becoming increasingly dependent on Walker due to its injury woes. The dynamic guard is averaging 27.8 points on 22.0 shot attempts over the last five.

Phoenix shot 52.4 percent and had six players reach double figures in a 111-106 win at Charlotte when the teams last met on Dec. 17, 2014, though that Suns team barely resembles the current one. Of their top five scorers that night, three (Isaiah Thomas, Goran Dragic, Gerald Green) are no longer with the organization and two (Bledsoe, Markieff Morris) are either injured or out of the rotation.

Brandon Knight has totaled 48 points in the last two after recording 25 against the Lakers, while T.J. Warren averaged 20.5 over a four-game run before going scoreless on Monday.

The Hornets, 4-10 on the road and losers of five straight, stopped a three-game skid in Phoenix with a 103-95 win last season. They've dropped six of seven overall in the series.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA ATS

NBA > (515) UTAH@ (516) SAN ANTONIO | 2016-01-06 20:35:00 - 2016-01-06 20:35:00
Play ON UTAH against the spread in All games revenging a loss vs opponent
The record is 47 Wins and 16 Losses for the last two seasons (+29.4 units)

NBA > (515) UTAH@ (516) SAN ANTONIO | 2016-01-06 20:35:00 - 2016-01-06 20:35:00
Play ON UTAH against the spread in Road games revenging a loss vs opponent
The record is 26 Wins and 7 Losses for the last two seasons (+18.3 units)

NBA > (513) DENVER@ (514) MINNESOTA | 2016-01-06 20:05:00 - 2016-01-06 20:05:00
Play AGAINST MINNESOTA against the spread in Home games revenging a loss vs opponent
The record is 1 Wins and 11 Losses for the this season (-11.1 units)

NBA > (513) DENVER@ (514) MINNESOTA | 2016-01-06 20:05:00 - 2016-01-06 20:05:00
Play AGAINST MINNESOTA against the spread in All games in a home game where where the total is between 200 and 204.5 points
The record is 0 Wins and 9 Losses for the this season (-9.9 units)

NBA > (521) LA CLIPPERS@ (522) PORTLAND | 2016-01-06 22:05:00 - 2016-01-06 22:05:00
Play ON LA CLIPPERS against the spread in All games as a road favorite of 3.5 to 6 points
The record is 41 Wins and 16 Losses for the since 1992 (+23.4 units)

------------------

NBA MONEYLINE

NBA > (517) CHARLOTTE@ (518) PHOENIX | 2016-01-06 21:05:00 - 2016-01-06 21:05:00
Play AGAINST PHOENIX using money line in All games in all games
The record is 12 Wins and 23 Losses for the this season (-27.35 units)

NBA > (509) DETROIT@ (510) BOSTON | 2016-01-06 19:35:00 - 2016-01-06 19:35:00
Play AGAINST BOSTON using money line in Home games in January games
The record is 2 Wins and 12 Losses for the last three seasons (-17.4 units)

NBA > (513) DENVER@ (514) MINNESOTA | 2016-01-06 20:05:00 - 2016-01-06 20:05:00
Play AGAINST MINNESOTA using money line in Home games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game
The record is 7 Wins and 26 Losses for the last two seasons (-25.2 units)

NBA > (517) CHARLOTTE@ (518) PHOENIX | 2016-01-06 21:05:00 - 2016-01-06 21:05:00
Play AGAINST PHOENIX using money line in All games after 3 or more consecutive losses
The record is 6 Wins and 14 Losses for the last two seasons (-20.95 units)

NBA > (511) DALLAS@ (512) NEW ORLEANS | 2016-01-06 20:05:00 - 2016-01-06 20:05:00
Play ON DALLAS using money line in Road games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 33 Wins and 10 Losses for the last three seasons (+21.7 units)

NBA > (507) TORONTO@ (508) BROOKLYN | 2016-01-06 19:35:00 - 2016-01-06 19:35:00
Play AGAINST TORONTO using money line in All games after a loss by 10 points or more
The record is 8 Wins and 8 Losses for the last two seasons (-23.6 units)

NBA > (505) CLEVELAND@ (506) WASHINGTON | 2016-01-06 19:05:00 - 2016-01-06 19:05:00
Play ON CLEVELAND using money line in All games revenging a loss vs opponent
The record is 35 Wins and 16 Losses for the last two seasons (+20.4 units)

NBA > (519) MEMPHIS@ (520) OKLAHOMA CITY | 2016-01-06 21:35:00 - 2016-01-06 21:35:00
Play ON MEMPHIS using money line in All games in January games
The record is 23 Wins and 8 Losses for the last three seasons (+15.75 units)

NBA > (515) UTAH@ (516) SAN ANTONIO | 2016-01-06 20:35:00 - 2016-01-06 20:35:00
Play ON UTAH using money line in All games revenging a loss vs opponent
The record is 34 Wins and 31 Losses for the last two seasons (+25.05 units)

-----------------------

NBA FIRST HALF

NBA > (515) UTAH@ (516) SAN ANTONIO | 2016-01-06 20:35:00 - 2016-01-06 20:35:00
Play ON SAN ANTONIO ?>in the first halfin All games after a non-conference game
The record is 32 Wins and 12 Losses for the last two seasons (+18.8 units)

NBA > (513) DENVER@ (514) MINNESOTA | 2016-01-06 20:05:00 - 2016-01-06 20:05:00
Play AGAINST MINNESOTA ?>in the first halfin All games after a loss by 10 points or more
The record is 12 Wins and 32 Losses for the last two seasons (-23.2 units)

NBA > (513) DENVER@ (514) MINNESOTA | 2016-01-06 20:05:00 - 2016-01-06 20:05:00
Play AGAINST MINNESOTA ?>in the first halfin All games after allowing 105 points or more
The record is 18 Wins and 40 Losses for the last two seasons (-26 units)

NBA > (503) NEW YORK@ (504) MIAMI | 2016-01-06 19:05:00 - 2016-01-06 19:05:00
Play AGAINST MIAMI ?>in the first halfin Home games after 3 or more consecutive wins
The record is 2 Wins and 14 Losses for the last three seasons (-13.4 units)

NBA > (521) LA CLIPPERS@ (522) PORTLAND | 2016-01-06 22:05:00 - 2016-01-06 22:05:00
Play AGAINST PORTLAND ?>in the first halfin Home games in January games
The record is 0 Wins and 9 Losses for the last two seasons (-9.9 units)

--------------------

NBA TOTALS

NBA > (515) UTAH@ (516) SAN ANTONIO | 2016-01-06 20:35:00 - 2016-01-06 20:35:00
Play UNDER UTAH on the totalin Road games revenging a loss vs opponent
The record is 83 Overs and 241 Unders for the since 1992 (+149.7 units)

NBA > (517) CHARLOTTE@ (518) PHOENIX | 2016-01-06 21:05:00 - 2016-01-06 21:05:00
Play OVER CHARLOTTE on the totalin All games in non-conference games
The record is 12 Overs and 1 Unders for the this season (+10.9 units)

NBA > (521) LA CLIPPERS@ (522) PORTLAND | 2016-01-06 22:05:00 - 2016-01-06 22:05:00
Play UNDER LA CLIPPERS on the totalin All games after scoring 105 points or more
The record is 2 Overs and 14 Unders for the this season (+11.8 units)

NBA > (509) DETROIT@ (510) BOSTON | 2016-01-06 19:35:00 - 2016-01-06 19:35:00
Play UNDER BOSTON on the totalin All games in January games
The record is 2 Overs and 15 Unders for the last two seasons (+12.8 units)

NBA > (513) DENVER@ (514) MINNESOTA | 2016-01-06 20:05:00 - 2016-01-06 20:05:00
Play UNDER MINNESOTA on the totalin All games after allowing 105 points or more
The record is 18 Overs and 45 Unders for the last two seasons (+25.2 units)

NBA > (509) DETROIT@ (510) BOSTON | 2016-01-06 19:35:00 - 2016-01-06 19:35:00
Play UNDER BOSTON on the totalin All games versus the first half line in all games
The record is 39 Overs and 78 Unders for the last two seasons (+35.1 units)

NBA > (503) NEW YORK@ (504) MIAMI | 2016-01-06 19:05:00 - 2016-01-06 19:05:00
Play UNDER MIAMI on the totalin All games in January games
The record is 2 Overs and 14 Unders for the last two seasons (+11.8 units)

NBA > (507) TORONTO@ (508) BROOKLYN | 2016-01-06 19:35:00 - 2016-01-06 19:35:00
Play OVER TORONTO on the totalin Road games after allowing 105 points or more
The record is 29 Overs and 9 Unders for the last three seasons (+19.1 units)

NBA > (501) INDIANA@ (502) ORLANDO | 2016-01-06 19:05:00 - 2016-01-06 19:05:00
Play UNDER INDIANA on the totalin Road games against Southeast division opponents
The record is 6 Overs and 23 Unders for the last three seasons (+16.4 units)

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Mavericks (20-15) at Pelicans (11-22)
Date: January 06, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

Anthony Davis was criticized by coach Alvin Gentry for "coasting" his last time out for the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Dallas Mavericks probably wish Gentry never voiced that concern.

Davis turned in a huge effort to lead the Pelicans to a victory over the Mavericks that night and these teams will meet again Wednesday night in New Orleans.

New Orleans (11-22) won 105-98 at Dallas on Saturday behind Davis' 31 points and 14 rebounds. He scored 21 points in the second half in a game in which he was targeted for criticism from his coach.

"I don't think I was coasting," a laughing Davis said at Tuesday's practice. "I don't know what I was doing but whatever I was doing obviously it wasn't enough until he got on me."

The Pelicans have the Western Conference's third-worst record, and Gentry said he'll do whatever it takes to motivate his team.

"Every now and then, I think you've got to push these guys to get 'em refocused on playing hard and executing and that's OK," Gentry said.

Davis is tied for second in the NBA with 21 double-doubles along with Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook. After practice Tuesday, he made the short trip to Baton Rouge to watch future NBA star Ben Simmons and LSU win 85-67 over No. 9 Kentucky.

He wasn't the only Pelican with a double-double Saturday. Norris Cole had 16 points and a career-best 12 rebounds for the second of his career while Jrue Holiday scored 20 off the bench as New Orleans took a 2-1 lead in the season series.

While the Pelicans have had three days off since that win, the Mavericks will come to town after a thrilling victory, 117-116 in double overtime over Sacramento on Tuesday. Deron Williams' 3-pointer at the buzzer capped his 25-point effort before he was mobbed by teammates.

'That was definitely my first Mavericks mob scene,' he said. 'I was at the very bottom of the pile, then all of a sudden it went dark and I couldn't breathe."

Williams had five points and an assist on Dirk Nowitzki's 3-pointer in the Mavs' game-ending 8-0 run. Nowitzki scored 23 and Wesley Matthews added 20 as Dallas (20-15) avoided its second three-game slide.

The Mavericks didn't come out of the game unscathed since starting forward Chandler Parsons left with a right hip injury in the second half. He will be evaluated for Wednesday's opener of a three-game trip.

Dallas is 5-3 when playing the second of back-to-back games.

New Orleans also has an injury concern in starting guard Tyreke Evans, who has been missing from practice after sitting out Saturday due to knee tendinitis. Evans is questionable, although Gentry expects him to play.

"I don't know where it came from but I felt something the last game," said Evans, who last played Thursday.

There's also a chance that Pelicans forward Quincy Pondexter may make his season debut after being out due to offseason knee surgery. He has been upgraded to questionable.

New Orleans is hoping to be back at full strength soon to make a push for a playoff berth.

"We've got to start making a move right now," Gentry said.

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Wednesday's six-pack

-- Indiana 59, Wisconsin 58-- Hoosiers honored their undefeated 1976 team at halftime of this game.

-- VCU 85, St Joe's 82-- Hawks blew 13-point lead in second half.

-- Marquette 65, Providence 64-- Friars need to develop a third scorer.

-- South Carolina 81, Auburn 69-- Gamecocks are a very quiet 14-0.

-- LSU 85, Kentucky 67-- Two Wildcats scored more than six points.

-- Ohio State has already had nine underclassmen declare for NFL Draft.

**********

Armadillo: Wednesday's List of 13: Rambling on a winter day......

13) It's hard to root for the Cleveland Browns.

They're rebuilding their front office; since the season eneded, they promoted a lawyer to head of football operations- he has full control of the roster and transactions, but he is a lawyer and not a GM. Maybe he's a genius; we don't know, but he has no football background that we know of. Its like making me GM of the Vancouver Canucks.

Then on Tuesday, they poached an efficiency expert from another team to help the Browns get more from the analytics movement-- they hired Paul DePodesta from the New York Mets. DePodesta apparently once had a small job with CFL's Baltimore Stallions before his baseball career began-- he played football and baseball at Harvard, but what on God's green earth are they doing? Hire a football person!!!!

12) DePodesta was the inspiration for Jonah Hill's character in Moneyball, a smart guy who played college football/baseball but rose quickly in the world of pro sports thanks to an analytical approach that helped the Oakland A's make the playoffs despite a small payroll 10-15 years ago. He later was GM of the Dodgers for a while but has never held a job in the NFL. Browns fans have to be a little queasy about this. .

11) Golden Corral had a deluge of commercials on TV last weekend about how they serve breakfast for dinner and lunch, so I go there Monday morning to have some pancakes, some bacon-- I'm not a morning person, but I happened to be awake so off I went. One small problem; Golden Corral doesn't open until 11am.

So the place that buys tons of TV commercials promoting the fact that they'll serve you breakfast all day long, isn't open when breakfast actually takes place. Oy.

10) Want to win a bar bet? Will Clark hit the most home runs (six) off of Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, hitting six taters in only 39 plate appearances.

9) There are nine states in this country where when you vote, you can just pull one lever and automatically vote for all the candidates from one party or the other.

8) Serious question: How do you vote for Barry Bonds or Roger Clemens for the Hall of Fame and not vote for Pete Rose? Bonds and Clemens cheated, plain and simple. Rose bet on games; which is worse?

7) Kansas 109, Oklahoma 106 (3OT)-- From Monday night, this was one of the best college basketball games I've ever seen. Oklahoma was 16-33 from arc, Kansas 11-22, in a 55:00 game where eight kids played 43:00+. Buddy Hield played 54:00, scored 46 points, had 7 assists. Sooners went 21:02 in this game without subbing once.

It is possible these teams could play three more times: Feb 13 in Norman, again in Big X tournament, then in Final Four???? It would be a very good national title game.

6) 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick has torn ligaments in his right thumb, a torn labrum in his left shoulder and a rod in his left leg. Other than that, he is fine. Whoever the next coach of the 49ers is has to deal with that mess of a QB situation and if the 49ers cut Kaepernick loose, which team will roll the dice and sign him up?

5) NCAA had been investigating San Diego State for various improprieties but this week they exonerated the Aztecs, which almost always gets a lot less press than when the investigation is announced. Go figure.

4) Apparently New Orleans Saints want a 2nd-round draft pick in exchange for coach Sean Payton. If they deal Payton, it would be hard to imagine them keeping QB Drew Brees around- they would probably go to a total rebuild.

3) 1972 USC Trojans had 33 players who wound up being being drafted by NFL teams, including five first-round picks- thats a lot of great players on one team. NFL Draft was longer back then than it is now, but still, thats almost half the team.

2) Tom Coughlin is a 69-year old white guy who coached the Giants to two Super Bowl titles but was fired as coach this week after three losing seasons in a row.

Jerry Reese is a 52-year old black guy who was GM of the Giants for those same two Super Bowl titles, but he keeps his job despite those three straight losing seasons.

Tuesday, the Giants held a press conference where the undercurrents of ageism and racism collided head-on. It was interesting to watch. It'll be fascinating to see who the Giants hire to replace Coughlin and if Coughlin coaches elsewhere.

1) With the Giants changing coaches, Seattle's Pete Carroll is now the oldest head coach in the NFL, at age 64.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, January 6

Hot teams
-- Knicks won three of last four games (4-6 last ten AU). Miami won its last three games (6-9 last 15 HF).
-- Cavaliers won their last four games. (3-8-1AF).
-- Boston won five of its last seven games (7-7HF).
-- Mavericks won five of their last seven games (7-6AU).
-- San Antonio won nine of its last ten games (8-2 vs spread). Jazz won three of last five games (1-4 last five AU).
-- Oklahoma City won seven of last nine games (0-6 last six HF). Grizzlies won three of last four games (0-3 last three AU).
-- Clippers won their last six games (5-3-1 last nine AF). Portland won four of its last six games (4-3HU).

Cold teams
-- Indiana lost three of its last four games (3-4AF). Orlando lost its last three games (6-2HU).
-- Washington lost three of last four games (5-2HU).
-- Toronto lost three of its last five games (4-5AF). Nets lost seven of last ten games (1-5 last six HU).
-- Pistons lost four of their last six games (2-6 last 8AU).
-- New Orleans lost three of its last five games (3-5HF).
-- Nuggets lost their last six games (6-3 last nine AU). Minnesota lost seven of last eight games (1-6HF).
-- Charlotte lost seven of its last nine games (1-3AF). Phoenix lost its last nine games (2-1HU).

Series records
-- Pacers won nine of last ten games with Orlando.
-- Heat won/covered last eight games with New York.
-- Cavaliers won three of last four games with Washington.
-- Nets won four of last six games with Toronto.
-- Road team won three of last four Boston-Detroit games.
-- Pelicans won last two games with Dallas, after losing seven of previous eight series games.
-- Nuggets won five of last seven games with Minnesota.
-- Spurs won seven of last nine games with Utah.
-- Hornets lost six of last seven games with Phoenix.
-- Grizzlies won four of last six games with Oklahoma City.
-- Clippers won four of last six games with Portland.

Totals
-- Four of last five Orlando games stayed under total.
-- Over is 7-3 in Knicks' last ten games.
-- Seven of last eight Cleveland games stayed under.
-- Six of last seven Toronto games went over total.
-- Seven of last eight Detroit-Boston games went over.
-- Four of last five Dallas games stayed under total.
-- Four of last five Denver games went over total.
-- Four of last five Utah games stayed under total.
-- Three of last four Charlotte-Phoenix games stayed under.
-- Under is 4-1-1 in last six Memphis games.
-- Four of last five Clipper-Portland games stayed under.

Back/backs
-- New York is 4-2 vs spread if ir played night before.
-- Mavericks are 5-2 vs spread if they played night before.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA

Wednesday, January 6

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Trend Report
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7:00 PM
NEW YORK vs. MIAMI
New York is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 9 of New York's last 12 games
Miami is 16-7 SU in its last 23 games at home
Miami is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games

7:00 PM
CLEVELAND vs. WASHINGTON
Cleveland is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Cleveland is 4-9-1 ATS in its last 14 games on the road
Washington is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against Cleveland
Washington is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Cleveland

7:00 PM
INDIANA vs. ORLANDO
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Indiana's last 12 games
Indiana is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games
Orlando is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Orlando is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Indiana

7:30 PM
DETROIT vs. BOSTON
Detroit is 4-11 SU in its last 15 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 6 games on the road
Boston is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Boston's last 8 games when playing Detroit

7:30 PM
TORONTO vs. BROOKLYN
Toronto is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Toronto's last 7 games
Brooklyn is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games
Brooklyn is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games at home

8:00 PM
DENVER vs. MINNESOTA
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Denver's last 5 games
Denver is 14-3 SU in its last 17 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
Minnesota is 3-15-1 ATS in its last 19 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Minnesota's last 5 games at home

8:00 PM
DALLAS vs. NEW ORLEANS
Dallas is 6-14 SU in its last 20 games when playing on the road against New Orleans
Dallas is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against New Orleans
New Orleans is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Dallas
New Orleans is 14-6 SU in its last 20 games when playing at home against Dallas

8:30 PM
UTAH vs. SAN ANTONIO
Utah is 4-18 SU in its last 22 games when playing San Antonio
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Utah's last 6 games when playing on the road against San Antonio
San Antonio is 18-4 SU in its last 22 games when playing Utah
The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Antonio's last 6 games when playing Utah

9:00 PM
CHARLOTTE vs. PHOENIX
Charlotte is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
Charlotte is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Phoenix
Phoenix is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Charlotte
Phoenix is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Charlotte

9:30 PM
MEMPHIS vs. OKLAHOMA CITY
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Memphis's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Memphis's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 17 of Oklahoma City's last 25 games when playing at home against Memphis
Oklahoma City is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Memphis

10:00 PM
LA CLIPPERS vs. PORTLAND
LA Clippers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games on the road
LA Clippers are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing Portland
Portland is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
Portland is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games