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

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Tuesday's six-pack

-- Home team won eight of last nine AFC title games; home team is 4-4 in last eight NFC title games.

-- Iowa State 82, Oklahoma 77-- Last time Cyclones beat a #1 team, the best player on the other team was Wilt Chamberlain (1957).

-- Syracuse 64, Duke 62-- Duke lost its last three games, all to unranked teams.

-- Greg Norman got dumped by FOX as its #1 golf analyst.

-- Indianapolis Colts named Brian Schottenheimer as their new QB coach.

-- There apparently is growing momentum to have the DH in both leagues.

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Armadillo: Tuesday's List of 13: Nobody asked me, but......

13) Detroit Tigers signed Justin Upton for $22M a year for six years, which tells me there is something about Yoenis Cespedes that the general public doesn't know. I'd rather have Cespedes than Upton, although Cespedes is two years older.

12) Warriors 132, Cavaliers 98-- Ugly no-show at home for Cleveland. You play the team that beat you in the Finals last year, you're supposed to compete.

11) Knicks 119, 76ers 113 2OT-- New York was 25-30 on the foul line; Philly was 13-25. Sixers had rallied back from down 18 late in third quarter.

10) Charlotte 124, Utah 119 2OT-- Solid set of afternoon games in the NBA. Kemba Walker had 52, the first Hornet ever to score 50+ points.

9) Purdue 107, Rutgers 57-- If you're in your third year as coach of a Big 14 team and you lose by 50 at home, it is time to start updating your resume. There are lot of good basketball players in New Jersey-- no excuse for Rutgers to be this bad.

8) Robert Morris won the NEC tournament LY, won a play-in game in the NCAAs, but last spring Clemson poached their best player, 6-3 G Marcquise Reed (he is sitting out this season at Clemson) and now Robert Morris is 4-15 and floundering. It is a free country, but poaching players from mid-majors is a growing trend and it stinks.

7) You'll see some Saturday afternoon NBA games starting later this month for this reason: the league now has a Saturday night TV deal in Europe- since they're 5-6 hours ahead of us, for games to be shown live there they have to be afternoon games here.

6) Odd stat: West Virginia won the Big East tournament in 2010, then made it to the Final Four in DeSean Butler's last year there; since then, the Mountaineers are 0-5 in conference tournament games- that surprised me.

5) Guy in the Australian Open Sunday night was wearing two different sneakers as he played, one black, one orange. Hopefully this is not a portent of the future. Some wiseguy said he probably has another pair just like that one back in his hotel. .

4) I enjoy the instant replay system in tennis; it is quick and it makes a difference.

3) This is the first time since 2004 that both conference championship games have the #1 seed playing #2 seed. Home sides were 4-0 this past weekend, after being 0-4 the week before. Sunday should be an interesting day.

2) It wound up not mattering Saturday night, but Patrick Peterson drew a taunting penalty as he ran back an INT for a TD, turning and waving to guys who were chasing him. How stupid can he be? If not for another Arizona penalty on the same play, he would've cost his team a TD in a game that wound up going to overtime. Wise up!!!

1) If you like politics or are interested by it, there is a good reality show on Showtime called The Circus, about this year's Presidential race. Lot of behind-the-scenes looks at rallies, interviews with candidates. Stuff we don't normally get to see.

[StarDust Bum]

Inside the Paint - Tuesday
January 19, 2016

The Association put out a 10-game slate on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the holiday card lived up to the billing.

A lot of bettors have often leaned to ‘under’ wagers in the past for this day but points were a plenty yesterday as the ‘over’ produced an 8-2 record and four of those games were helped with overtime, two needing double-overtime as well.

Favorites went 6-4 straight up on the hardwood but underdogs prevailed with a 7-3 record against the spread.

The biggest surprise of the night occurred in Cleveland as the Warriors earned a wire-to-wire 132-98 victory as a 3 ½-point road underdogs over the Cavaliers. Golden State had dropped two of its three previous games headed into this matchup and certainly silenced any critics who were starting to write them off.

One of those losses for the Warriors came to Detroit, who was caught in a letdown on Monday as it fell to Chicago 111-101 at home. Bettors should note that every team that has beaten Golden State this season has lost in their following game.

Tuesday’s NBA card slows down the pace with only four games and here’s my quick handicap.

Milwaukee (18-25 SU, 23-20 ATS) at Miami (23-18 SU, 20-20-1 ATS)

A solid bet in the NBA is fading a team in its first game at home after a long road trip and that applies to this matchup as the Heat return from a six-game roadie that saw them go 2-4 SU and 3-3 ATS, with the two wins against the Suns and Nuggets.

The Heat opened as six-point favorites but the number has dropped to 5 ½ at most shops. Miami heads back on the road tomorrow for another five-game trip, which makes this spot even more difficult.

The Bucks have won two straight and three of their last four heading into this game, plus they should be rested since they haven’t played since Saturday when it dropped Charlotte 105-92 on the road.

Last season, Milwaukee won and covered all four meetings against Miami. The two victories at American Airlines Arena saw the Bucks win both contests by seven points and the ‘under’ cashed in each game as well. Prior to the season sweep, Miami had won eight straight and 11 of 12 against Milwaukee but it also had a guy named LeBron on its roster during this span.

Miami has gone 15-8 SU and 11-11-1 at home this season while Milwaukee has struggled to a 6-18 SU and 12-12 ATS mark on the road.

These teams will meet again in 10 days from Wisconsin.

Minnesota (13-29 SU, 17-24-1 ATS) at New Orleans (13-26 SU, 16-24 ATS)

The Pelicans are listed as five-point favorites over the Timberwolves and that line seems short considering most believe the home squad is much better despite both clubs having the same amount of wins. Despite its horrible start, New Orleans is only 5 ½ games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the West but it needs to start winning.

Eight of the next nine for the Pelicans are at home and they’ll be favored in at least seven of those games. The Pelicans have gone 8-9 SU and 6-11 ATS at the Smoothie King Center this season while the Wolves are 7-12 SU and 12-7 ATS on the road.

New Orleans lost to Memphis 101-99 on the road last night and these situations haven’t been good for the team. The Pelicans started the season 0-7 SU and 3-4 ATS when playing on no rest but they have won their last two when facing back-to-back situations. Total bettors should note that the ‘under’ is 7-2 for New Orleans on no rest.

This will be the first meeting between the pair this season. New Orleans went 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS against the Timberwolves last season and the two wins that took place in “The Big Easy” ended in blowouts by 48 and 22 points. The ‘over’ easily cashed in both those games.

Indiana (22-19 SU, 22-19 ATS) at Phoenix (13-29 SU, 16-26 ATS)

If there is a public trap game on the board tonight, then this is the one. These teams met last Tuesday and the Pacers drilled the Suns 116-97 as 12-point home favorites.

For the rematch, Indiana opened as a five-point favorite and it’s already up to seven at most books. Keep in mind that Indiana is 6-4 SU and 5-5 ATS as a road favorite this season and the team has struggled against the Western Conference this season, going 7-10 SU and 5-12 ATS. On the road, the Pacers are 4-6 SU and 3-7 ATS in non-conference games.

Phoenix was average at best with point guard Eric Bledsoe and losing him for the season has made things even worse. The club is 1-9 SU and 3-7 ATS since his injury and the offense has been held under 100 points in six of those games. To make matters worse, the Suns haven’t had a pulse this season versus the East, going 4-11 both SU and ATS. Only one opponent was held under the century mark, which has helped the ‘over’ 9-5-1.

Make a note that prior to last week’s loss, Phoenix had won four straight against Indiana and two of those wins came in the desert by a combined 41 points.

Lastly, possible look-ahead game on tap for Indiana with a nationally televised showdown on tap this Friday at Golden State.

Oklahoma City (30-12 SU, 18-24 ATS) at Denver (16-25 SU, 19-20-2 ATS)

The last game on the board is arguably the toughest to handicap just because the form for both clubs is very solid. Oklahoma City opened as an eight-point road favorite and it brings a four-game winning streak into this matchup against Denver, who has won three of its last four.

Delving into the Nuggets deeper, they’ve gone 4-6 in their last 10. While that doesn’t sound great, Mike Malone has this team playing well and their largest defeat during this stretch came by seven points.

OKC is clearly the better overall team and the team has been lights out when Kevin Durant returned at full strength. Since he came back in late November, the club has gone 22-5 with him in the lineup and all of the losses were by single digits.

You can definitely say Denver is due for a clunker but you can’t ignore recent wins against the Hornets, Warriors and Pacers at home.

The Thunder have won four straight and eight of their last 10 meetings against the Nuggets, which includes two wins this season. Both of those results came at home where the Thunder won by 24 and 10 points while going 1-1 ATS. OKC is just 1-2 both SU and ATS in its last three trips to the Pepsi Center.

OKC isn’t known for its defense but rookie head coach Billy Donovan has them focused lately. They’ve held four straight opponents under 100 points, all easy ‘under’ tickets. Also, the Thunder have gone 20-2 this season when holding opponents below the century mark. Denver likes to run but it does have trouble scoring (99.3 PPG) at times.

The total for this game is set at 212. OKC is one of the better ‘under’ teams (26-16) in the NBA but Denver (22-18-1) has leaned to the high side this season.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Dunkel

Tuesday, January 19

Milwaukee @ Miami

Game 701-702
January 19, 2016 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Milwaukee
118.435
Miami
119.425
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Miami
by 1
188
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Miami
by 5 1/2
192 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Milwaukee
(+5 1/2); Under

Minnesota @ New Orleans

Game 703-704
January 19, 2016 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Minnesota
112.298
New Orleans
115.818
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
New Orleans
by 3 1/2
196
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
New Orleans
by 5 1/2
203 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Minnesota
(+5 1/2); Under

Indiana @ Phoenix

Game 705-706
January 19, 2016 @ 9:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Indiana
116.935
Phoenix
107.396
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Indiana
by 9 1/2
217
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Indiana
by 5 1/2
208
Dunkel Pick:
Indiana
(-5 1/2); Over

Oklahoma City @ Denver

Game 707-708
January 19, 2016 @ 9:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Oklahoma City
124.659
Denver
114.063
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Oklahoma City
by 10 1/2
217
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Oklahoma City
by 8
212
Dunkel Pick:
Oklahoma City
(-8); Over




NBA
Long Sheet

Tuesday, January 19

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MILWAUKEE (18 - 25) at MIAMI (23 - 18) - 1/19/2016, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MIAMI is 3-13 ATS (-11.3 Units) on Tuesday nights over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 6-19 ATS (-14.9 Units) against Central division opponents over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
MILWAUKEE is 4-3 against the spread versus MIAMI over the last 3 seasons
MILWAUKEE is 4-3 straight up against MIAMI over the last 3 seasons
5 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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MINNESOTA (13 - 29) at NEW ORLEANS (13 - 27) - 1/19/2016, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 51-70 ATS (-26.0 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 26-44 ATS (-22.4 Units) after scoring 105 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 19-31 ATS (-15.1 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 10-19 ATS (-10.9 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game this season.
NEW ORLEANS is 2-12 ATS (-11.2 Units) as a home favorite of 3.5 to 6 points over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
NEW ORLEANS is 4-3 against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
NEW ORLEANS is 5-2 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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INDIANA (22 - 19) at PHOENIX (13 - 29) - 1/19/2016, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
INDIANA is 17-8 ATS (+8.2 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game this season.
PHOENIX is 16-26 ATS (-12.6 Units) in all games this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 4-1 against the spread versus INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 4-1 straight up against INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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OKLAHOMA CITY (30 - 12) at DENVER (16 - 25) - 1/19/2016, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 21-35 ATS (-17.5 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 5-14 ATS (-10.4 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 45-26 ATS (+16.4 Units) after playing 3 consecutive home games since 1996.
DENVER is 18-34 ATS (-19.4 Units) in home games after allowing 105 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
DENVER is 1-9 ATS (-8.9 Units) in home games after scoring 105 points or more this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
OKLAHOMA CITY is 6-3 against the spread versus DENVER over the last 3 seasons
OKLAHOMA CITY is 8-2 straight up against DENVER over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Tuesday, January 19

Tuesday's hot teams
-- Bucks won four of their last six games (7-3 last 10AU).
-- Thunder won six of their last seven games (5-8AF). Denver won three of its last four games (4-1-1 last six HU).

Cold teams
-- Miami lost four of its last five games (4-6 last 10HF).
-- Minnesota lost nine of its last ten games (2-5 last seven AU). New Orleans lost five of last seven games (3-7HF).
-- Pacers lost four of their last five games (5-4AF). Phoenix is 1-13 in its last fourteen games (3-2HU).

Series records
-- Bucks won their last four games with Miami.
-- Pelicans won their last four games with Minnesota.
-- Suns won four of last five games with Indiana.
-- Thunder won six of last seven games with Denver.

Totals
-- Five of last six Milwaukee-Miami games stayed under.
-- Four of last five Minnesota games stayed under total.
-- Four of last five Indiana games went over the total.
-- Last four Oklahoma City games stayed under total.

Back/backs
-- Pelicans are 5-4 vs spread if they played night before.




NBA

Tuesday, January 19

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Trend Report
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7:30 PM
MILWAUKEE vs. MIAMI
Milwaukee is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Milwaukee is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Miami
Miami is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games when playing Milwaukee
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Miami's last 16 games when playing at home against Milwaukee

8:00 PM
MINNESOTA vs. NEW ORLEANS
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games when playing on the road against New Orleans
New Orleans is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New Orleans's last 6 games when playing Minnesota

9:00 PM
INDIANA vs. PHOENIX
Indiana is 1-9 ATS in its last 10 games when playing Phoenix
Indiana is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Phoenix
Phoenix is 1-13 SU in its last 14 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Phoenix's last 9 games at home

9:00 PM
OKLAHOMA CITY vs. DENVER
Oklahoma City is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Denver
Oklahoma City is 5-1-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Denver
Denver is 3-5-2 ATS in its last 10 games when playing at home against Oklahoma City
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Denver's last 5 games at home

[StarDust Bum]

NBA MONEYLINE

NBA > (705) INDIANA@ (706) PHOENIX | 2016-01-19 21:00:00 - 2016-01-19 21:00:00
Play AGAINST PHOENIX using money line in All games in non-conference games
The record is 4 Wins and 11 Losses for the this season (-16.55 units)

NBA > (703) MINNESOTA@ (704) NEW ORLEANS | 2016-01-19 20:00:00 - 2016-01-19 20:00:00
Play AGAINST MINNESOTA using money line in All games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game
The record is 15 Wins and 54 Losses for the last two seasons (-39.45 units)

NBA > (703) MINNESOTA@ (704) NEW ORLEANS | 2016-01-19 20:00:00 - 2016-01-19 20:00:00
Play AGAINST MINNESOTA using money line in All games after scoring 105 points or more
The record is 22 Wins and 45 Losses for the last three seasons (-40.2 units)

NBA > (707) OKLAHOMA CITY@ (708) DENVER | 2016-01-19 21:00:00 - 2016-01-19 21:00:00
Play AGAINST OKLAHOMA CITY using money line in All games in a road game where the total is greater than or equal to 210
The record is 10 Wins and 20 Losses for the last three seasons (-25.35 units)

NBA > (701) MILWAUKEE@ (702) MIAMI | 2016-01-19 19:30:00 - 2016-01-19 19:30:00
Play AGAINST MIAMI using money line in Home games on Tuesday nights
The record is 7 Wins and 12 Losses for the last three seasons (-18.65 units)

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NBA FIRST HALF

NBA > (705) INDIANA@ (706) PHOENIX | 2016-01-19 21:00:00 - 2016-01-19 21:00:00
Play AGAINST INDIANA ?>in the first halfin All games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season
The record is 16 Wins and 43 Losses for the last three seasons (-31.3 units)

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NBA TOTALS

NBA > (701) MILWAUKEE@ (702) MIAMI | 2016-01-19 19:30:00 - 2016-01-19 19:30:00
Play UNDER MIAMI on the totalin All games after a non-conference game
The record is 11 Overs and 36 Unders for the last two seasons (+23.9 units)

NBA > (703) MINNESOTA@ (704) NEW ORLEANS | 2016-01-19 20:00:00 - 2016-01-19 20:00:00
Play UNDER NEW ORLEANS on the totalin All games when playing on back-to-back days
The record is 5 Overs and 23 Unders for the last two seasons (+17.5 units)

NBA > (703) MINNESOTA@ (704) NEW ORLEANS | 2016-01-19 20:00:00 - 2016-01-19 20:00:00
Play UNDER NEW ORLEANS on the totalin All games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 14 Overs and 35 Unders for the last two seasons (+19.6 units)

NBA > (705) INDIANA@ (706) PHOENIX | 2016-01-19 21:00:00 - 2016-01-19 21:00:00
Play UNDER INDIANA on the totalin All games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game
The record is 6 Overs and 19 Unders for the this season (+12.4 units)

NBA > (705) INDIANA@ (706) PHOENIX | 2016-01-19 21:00:00 - 2016-01-19 21:00:00
Play UNDER INDIANA on the totalin All games after a non-conference game
The record is 23 Overs and 52 Unders for the last three seasons (+26.7 units)

NBA > (703) MINNESOTA@ (704) NEW ORLEANS | 2016-01-19 20:00:00 - 2016-01-19 20:00:00
Play UNDER NEW ORLEANS on the totalin All games versus the first half line in all games
The record is 43 Overs and 78 Unders for the last two seasons (+30.7 units)

NBA > (707) OKLAHOMA CITY@ (708) DENVER | 2016-01-19 21:00:00 - 2016-01-19 21:00:00
Play UNDER DENVER on the totalin All games as a home underdog of 3.5 to 5 points vs. the 1rst half line
The record is 16 Overs and 42 Unders for the since 1992 (+24.4 units)

NBA > (703) MINNESOTA@ (704) NEW ORLEANS | 2016-01-19 20:00:00 - 2016-01-19 20:00:00
Play OVER MINNESOTA on the totalin Road games against Southwest division opponents
The record is 11 Overs and 1 Unders for the last two seasons (+9.9 units)

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Short Sheet

Tuesday, January 19

Milwaukee at Miami, 7:35 ET
Milwaukee: 17-8 ATS after playing 2 consecutive games as an underdog
Miami: 2-11 ATS in home games after 2 consecutive non-conference games

Minnesota at New Orleans, 8:05 ET
Minnesota: 3-11 ATS after having lost 3 of their last 4
New Orleans: 22-11 ATS when playing 6 or more games in 10 days

Indiana at Phoenix, 9:05 ET
Indiana: 16-5 ATS after having lost 3 of their last 4
Phoenix: 5-14 ATS after having lost 4 or 5 of their last 6

Oklahoma City at Denver, 9:05 ET
Oklahoma City: 45-26 ATS after playing 3 consecutive home games
Denver: 1-9 ATS in home games after scoring 105 points or more

[StarDust Bum]

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


MIL at MIA 07:30 PM

MIA -4.5


MIN at NO 08:00 PM

NO -5.0 BEST BET


OKC at DEN 09:00 PM

OKC -9.0


IND at PHO 09:00 PM

IND -6.0

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: 76ers (5-38) at Magic (20-20)
Date: January 20, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

It wasn't long ago when the Orlando Magic were one of the NBA's biggest surprises, and the Philadelphia 76ers were the league's favorite punching bag.

Now the Magic are searching for answers while the 76ers are no longer a pushover.

Elfrid Payton played a key role in Orlando's win at Philadelphia in November, and he'll likely be pressed into the lineup with Victor Oladipo sidelined again Wednesday night when the host Magic look to continue their dominance in this series.

After losing 62, 59 and 57 games in the previous three seasons, Orlando (20-20) jumped out to a promising 19-13 start under first-year coach Scott Skiles. That optimism, however, has faded while the club has struggled to score in dropping seven of eight.

The team's top three scorers - Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier and Tobias Harris - were held to a combined 22 points on 8-of-28 shooting in Monday's 98-81 loss at Atlanta. Since averaging 104.0 points during a 7-2 stretch, the Magic have scored 88.9 per game in their past eight.

"We need to figure out what we're going to do,' Aaron Gordon told the team's official website after scoring a team-high 18 points. "There's no easy answer and we're going to work. And work we will.'

It certainly doesn't help that Oladipo will miss a second straight game because of a sprained right knee. He had been averaging 20.4 points while hitting 18 of 27 from 3-point range in five games since replacing Payton in the starting lineup.

Payton returned to the first unit Monday, finishing with 16 points and five assists but also committing five turnovers. The second-year guard, who was drafted by Philadelphia and immediately traded to Orlando, led the way with 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting with five assists and two turnovers in a 105-97 win over the 76ers on Nov. 7.

The league-worst 76ers (5-38) have lost 26 of the past 32 meetings and 13 of 15 in Orlando, but they're much improved from when the Magic last saw them. Since opening 1-30, they have won four of 12 games and forced overtime in their last two defeats.

Philadelphia lost one of those to Chicago before cruising past Portland 114-89 on Saturday for its most lopsided victory, then fell 119-113 in double overtime to New York on Monday. Jahlil Okafor finished with 20 points, Nerlens Noel added 18 with 13 rebounds and former Magic guard Ish Smith had 16 points and 16 assists but shot 8 for 28.

The 76ers are playing better on both ends, scoring 112.7 per game over their last three and surrendering 96.0 in regulation in their past four. They've shot 48.3 percent from the field in the last seven games after previously hitting 42.0 percent.

Smith, acquired from New Orleans on Dec. 24, has averaged 20.4 points and 8.6 assists over his last five.

"We're getting better, and the excitement to go play games gets us going again," coach Brett Brown told the team's official website. "I think Ish's arrival has pushed us forward."

There could be lingering hard feelings between Noel and Orlando's Jason Smith after Noel was ejected in November for retaliating when Smith elbowed him in the ribs.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Cavaliers (28-11) at Nets (11-31)
Date: January 20, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

Cleveland is in a 10-day stretch with plenty of strong opponents, but its next game is a much-needed break.

After a lopsided defeat to the top team in basketball, the Cavaliers head to Brooklyn on Wednesday night to take on a Nets team piling up losses against just about any level of competition.

The Cavaliers (28-11) are coming off Monday's 132-98 home loss to Golden State, in which they fell behind by 30 in the first half and allowed the lead to grow to as much as 43. It came four days after a loss in San Antonio, and Cleveland follows this game with home contests against the Los Angeles Clippers and Chicago.

"Obviously, you want to play well against the top teams and we haven't done that," said LeBron James, who has averaged 18.8 points and shot 41.7 percent in Cleveland's last four losses. "We're 0-3 against the top two teams in the West and 0-1 against the Bulls so far. We have to play better basketball. We have a long way to go. Tonight was an example of how far we need to go to get to a championship level. We have to continue to get better."

Cleveland's top three scorers - James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love - were held to a combined 11 of 32 and 27 points.

J.R. Smith had 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting before being ejected in the third quarter for a Flagrant 2 foul, the latest in a series of punishments handed down for the shooting guard. He also arrived at the arena less than an hour before tip-off.

"He got very frustrated tonight with what was happening," coach David Blatt said. "... That does concern me. That's not a situation he can allow himself to get into because he's an important player for the team, and what he does and what happens impacts the team."

Smith has been more important lately, averaging 18.0 points and 43.9 percent from 3-point range over the last eight games. Meanwhile, backcourt mate Irving has been inconsistent and shot 36.3 percent in his last five games, and Love has been held to 9.8 points and 29.8 percent in his last four.

"We've got to do a better job helping (Love)," Blatt said.

The Cavs have won five of the last six meetings with the Nets, including a 90-88 home victory Nov. 28 to open the season series with Love scoring 26 points and hitting 6 of 11 from 3-point range.

Brooklyn (11-31) might welcome such a close loss. The Nets have dropped three in a row and eight of nine with the defeats coming by an average of 15.6 points. In Monday's 112-100 loss in Toronto, they fell despite shooting 51.3 percent and making 13 of 24 from 3-point range.

Each opponent on the three-game skid has topped 50.0 percent overall while the Nets have a minus-5.3 turnover margin.

"It seems like the same old story," interim coach Tony Brown said. "We get down late in stretches of the game, some of the things we were doing really well, we started turning the ball over late."

It's overshadowed some improvement from Joe Johnson, who had 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting. He's averaging 15.8 points on 58.7 percent in his last six games after posting marks of 11.0 and 36.4 in his first 36 games.

The Nets have lost 11 of 12 at home, while the Cavs have won seven of eight on the road.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Jazz (18-23) at Knicks (21-22)
Date: January 20, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

Carmelo Anthony is still hobbled by a sprained right ankle, but the New York Knicks' leading scorer is expected to play through it again.

Kristaps Porzingis is looking to do the same, but his status isn't quite certain.

With the rookie possibly out for the first time, Anthony will try to lead the Knicks to a six-game winning streak at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz.

New York (21-22) has lost all four games without Anthony this season, and he battled through his latest injury to hit a 3-pointer with 3.4 seconds left to force overtime Monday against Philadelphia. The Knicks emerged with a 119-113 win after two OTs, while Anthony finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in a season-high 49 minutes.

"I was going to take that, take that one regardless," said Anthony, who missed the two previous games - losses to Brooklyn and Memphis.

Another gutsy effort from the star forward may be needed if New York is without Porzingis. A sore foot kept the forward on the bench for the overtimes Monday after he scored 16 points with 12 rebounds.

"I'm sure I'll be fine," Porzingis said. "I expect to be back on Wednesday. I'm young, I recover quick."

The Knicks aren't nearly as positive, declaring him questionable against Utah (18-23). Porzingis wasn't very effective in a 106-85 loss to the Jazz on Dec. 9, getting four points and three rebounds in a season-low 13 minutes.

The rest of New York's starters weren't much better, combining for 27 points with Anthony's 12 leading the team. He averaged 36.3 over his three previous matchups.

Arron Afflalo, who had four points at Utah last month, is looking to build on his 25 from Monday. The guard has a 24.5 scoring average over the last four home games.

"There's a tone, a level of aggression, a mindset that he plays the game with," coach Derek Fisher said. "Works really hard on both ends of the floor. He's been invaluable to us so far."

The Knicks are on their longest winning streak at MSG since taking the final 10 games of 2012-13. However, they've dropped three straight to the Jazz, including a 102-100 home defeat as Trey Burke hit a fadeaway at the buzzer Nov. 14, 2014.

Gordon Hayward had 33 points in the most recent visit to the Garden, and he had 24 while making 9 of 14 from the floor against the Knicks last month. The forward is coming off a season-high 36 points while Burke poured in 25 off the bench Monday, but the Jazz lost for the ninth time in 10 road games - 124-119 in double overtime to Charlotte.

Utah has also dropped eight of 14 overall with Derrick Favors sidelined by back spasms. He's listed as doubtful for Wednesday and his return could provide a boost since he's averaged 23.3 points and 10.7 rebounds over the last three meetings with New York.

Rudy Gobert missed the most recent one with a knee sprain that kept him out for 18 games. He's been back for seven games and seems to be shaking off any lingering effects, totaling 32 points and as many rebounds with seven blocks over the last two.

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Preview: Celtics (22-20) at Raptors (26-15)
Date: January 20, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

As the youth of the Boston Celtics has made them an up-and-coming team which fights to the end, the Toronto Raptors have held them at bay in the Atlantic Division behind experienced veterans.

One thing the teams do have in common is perimeter players driving the offense, something that could lead to three guards from this game soon being named All-Stars.

DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry try to help the Raptors win a season-high sixth straight and further show they're still the team to beat in the Atlantic as Isaiah Thomas and the Celtics head north of the border Wednesday night.

No one in Boston's regular rotation is older than 28, and the 26-year-old Thomas is the only one of its top five scorers who wasn't born in the 1990s.

The only Toronto starter not born in the '80s is center Jonas Valanciunas, and starting forward Luis Scola is 35. DeRozan is 26 but in his seventh NBA season and fourth playing alongside Lowry, a 10-year veteran.

"They have played so much together, the continuity, the offensive sets, the spacing and they understand where each other is going to be," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said.

DeRozan and Lowry are averaging career highs of 22.8 and 21.0 points, respectively. Both have made one All-Star appearance and would like to double that total with this year's game being in Toronto on Feb. 14.

Lowry was third among guards in the most recent balloting so he could get a starting nod, while DeRozan was sixth and could be a reserve along with Thomas (ninth place).

The 5-foot-9 Thomas is averaging 21.8 points, including 28.0 in the last six games, to lift the Celtics into playoff position and within 4 1/2 games of the two-time defending division champion Raptors (26-15).

"He's not only a dynamic scorer, but the way he's able to run the offense, the way he's been able to defend for us, his all-around game," coach Brad Stevens said of Thomas, who averages 6.6 assists. "Obviously, he's elevated our team."

The only other players with double-figure scoring averages for Boston (22-20) are 6-2 guard Avery Bradley and small forward Jae Crowder at 14.5 apiece.

Even when the Celtics lose, the games always seem to come down to the wire. Each of their last nine losses have been by single digits.

They trailed 17-2 in Dallas on Monday but fought back to force overtime, eventually losing 118-113 to have a three-game winning streak snapped.

"We try to play until the clock runs out," Stevens said. "That's a pretty consistent trademark of this team."

His team hasn't faced Toronto since a 113-103 home loss Oct. 30. DeRozan led the Raptors with 23 points and is averaging 28.5 in his last four versus the Celtics.

He had 30 on Monday while Lowry scored 13 of his 31 in the fourth quarter to lift Toronto past Brooklyn 112-100. Lowry, averaging 26.7 points in the last three games, hit seven 3-pointers and added eight assists.

After they scored at least 30 in the same game for the first time, DeRozan says he and Lowry are "extremely comfortable" taking control down the stretch.

"It's second nature now and a lot of things do not need to be said. It's a feel thing and something that comes from years of playing and knowing each other's game."

Toronto, which opened a seven-game homestand Monday, has won eight of 10 at Air Canada Centre.

Boston has lost four of five on the road, but the defeats were by an average of 5.8 points.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Warriors (38-4) at Bulls (24-16)
Date: January 20, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The Golden State Warriors have experienced far different results on the first two stops of their road trip against Eastern Conference contenders. The third and final matchup is with a team trying to prove it isn't slipping from the East's elite.

The Warriors look to avoid their third loss in a week Wednesday night when they face the Chicago Bulls, who just started life without Joakim Noah.

Golden State (38-4) dropped two of three last week for the first time since the NBA Finals, concluding with an uncharacteristically poor offensive showing in Saturday's 113-95 loss to Detroit to open this trip.

The Warriors avoided consecutive losses for the first time this season in resounding fashion, though, pounding East-leading Cleveland 132-98 on Monday. The NBA's highest-scoring team followed a season-low 36.2-percent shooting performance by making 54.1 percent overall and 19 of 40 3-pointers. They held a 30-point advantage in the first half and led by as many as 43.

The starters sat out the final quarter, but Stephen Curry still scored 35 points and Draymond Green added 16, 10 assists and seven rebounds to help Golden State snap its two-game road skid.

"The first three quarters, that's who we know we can be," interim coach Luke Walton said. "They were absolutely phenomenal. We can't really ask to play much better than that."

Losses in three of five games hasn't happened for the Warriors in the regular season since December 2014, but they close their trip at a place where they haven't won much in the last 14 years.

Though Golden State has taken three of the last five overall matchups, Chicago has won 11 of 13 at the United Center dating to February 2002.

The Warriors took the first meeting this season 106-94 on Nov. 20 behind 27 points from Curry. The Bulls were paced by Jimmy Butler's 28 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, but Derrick Rose, backup point guard Aaron Brooks and Bobby Portis didn't play.

Chicago (24-16) dropped three straight from Jan. 9-12 but has since won two of three after a 111-101 victory at Detroit on Monday.

The Bulls are looking for their first winning streak since rattling off six in a row Dec. 28-Jan. 7, a stretch that seemed to return them to their status as a top contender in the East. But after allowing opponents to average 98.2 points during that run, Chicago has surrendered 105.8 in six games - and its defense suffered a hit when Noah left Friday's 83-77 loss to Dallas with a dislocated shoulder.

The center will miss four to six months after surgery, likely costing him the rest of the season. Chicago, though, is 9-2 without the former Defensive Player of the Year.

"I'm not going to say that we're over him or we don't need him. We need him for sure," Rose said. "But we're professionals. We know that once someone goes out, somebody has to step in and do that job, and we believe in everybody on this team."

The Bulls were outrebounded 50-38 by the Pistons for their first disadvantage on the boards in 12 games. Chicago leads the league with 48.8 rebounds per game while Golden State is close behind at 46.5. Noah was averaging 8.8 boards.

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Preview: Pistons (22-19) at Rockets (22-21)
Date: January 20, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

There was a time when Houston's Dwight Howard could teach a thing or two to Detroit's Andre Drummond in the post, but the torch seemed to be passed in November.

Having turned back the clock in recent weeks, Howard will try to avenge that meeting and lead the Rockets to a 10th straight home win over the Pistons on Wednesday night.

Given their similar bruising style and inability to hit free throws, Drummond drew comparisons to Howard when he came out of Connecticut in 2012. Now he's enjoying a breakout fourth season with the Pistons (22-19), leading the league with 15.5 rebounds per game and ranking second among all centers with an average of 17.6 points.

Drummond announced his arrival as a budding star Nov. 30, finishing with 24 points and 13 boards despite going 4 for 18 from the free-throw line while helping Detroit pull out a 116-105 home win over the Rockets. He had his way with one of his idols as Howard battled foul trouble and ended up with just eight points and 10 boards.

"I remember when he was a little bit younger and he said I was his favorite player. That meant a lot to me and I'm really happy for his success," Howard said. "He's doing a great job down in Detroit. He's playing really good basketball. ... I'm real proud of him and the progress he's made in the last couple of years."

Howard, who is in his 12th season, has made progress of his own over the past three weeks. He's averaged 20.6 points and 14.7 rebounds while posting 10 straight double-doubles - the NBA's longest active streak - despite dealing with back and oblique injuries. It's his longest double-double string since a 14-game run late in 2012-13.

Howard is coming off his first career 35-point, 25-rebound effort with 36 and 26 in a 140-132 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. He also went 14 of 18 on free throws and is shooting 69.6 percent from the stripe in his last five games.

James Harden, the league's second-leading scorer at 27.5 per game, had 20 as the Rockets lost for the second time in three games after a season-best five wins in a row.

Harden, who had 29 points, nine rebounds and seven assists against the Pistons, is averaging 28.3 points, 9.0 assists and 7.3 boards over his last six in the series.

The Rockets (22-21) will try to bounce back defensively as they go after their 20th win in the past 23 home meetings. They let the Clippers hit 22 3-pointers, but Detroit hit just 5 of 26 from long range in Monday's 111-101 home loss to Chicago.

Drummond had his fifth straight double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds. Reggie Jackson and Ersan Ilyasova scored 19 apiece as the Pistons lost their third in four games and failed to build on Saturday's 113-95 home win over NBA-leading Golden State.

"I'm happy where we are in terms of making progress, we've just got to be more consistent," coach Stan Van Gundy told the team's official website. "If you're consistent in terms of winning every night, then you're San Antonio or Golden State."

The Pistons have allowed 104.5 points per game in their last four after giving up 91.2 over a five-game span. They held Houston to 39.8 percent shooting Nov. 30.

Jackson was a handful for the Rockets, finishing with 31 points and eight assists.

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Preview: Kings (17-23) at Lakers (9-34)
Date: January 20, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

The Sacramento Kings' latest win over the Los Angeles Lakers opened a homestand that ended in disappointing fashion. They hope the next meeting will result in a perfect road trip while aiding in their search for consistency.

The Kings seek their third straight win and sixth in a row against the Lakers on Wednesday night in their second game this week at Staples Center.

Sacramento (17-23) has been up and down since winning five of seven in mid- December, starting with a three-game losing streak that was followed by wins in three of four. The final victory of that stretch was a 118-115 victory over the Lakers on Jan. 7.

But that three-game homestand concluded with 12-point losses to Golden State and New Orleans, and the roller coaster continued with Thursday's 103-101 win at Utah and Saturday's 110-103 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center.

DeMarcus Cousins finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds and six assists against the Clippers, who were missing DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin inside. Cousins has averaged 31.1 points and 13.4 rebounds in his last eight games.

'It's a big win for us,' said Cousins, who had 29 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in the last matchup against the Lakers. 'We're still making a lot of mistakes as a team and still having a lot of ups and downs this season, so we're just trying to find that consistency.'

The Kings are rolling offensively as the second-highest scoring team in the league this month at 114.8 points per game, shy of only Golden State's 115.1. The defense remains the issue. While Sacramento allows the most points in the league at 108.3, Los Angeles isn't far down the list at 106.0 - though that number drops to 101.9 in January.

The Kings won the first meeting this season between the Pacific Division foes, 132-114 on Oct. 30, though that also came in Sacramento. The Lakers (9-34) have won 12 of the last 14 in this series at home.

The tight loss against the Kings earlier this month was the second for Los Angeles during a stretch of seven defeats in eight games.

Kobe Bryant - who scored 28 in his final game in Sacramento - has averaged 27.2 points against the Kings in his career, including 29.3 in three postseason series in the early 2000s. The Lakers have one game remaining against Sacramento on March 15 in Los Angeles.

Bryant played through a sore right Achilles and finished with five points during Sunday's 112-95 loss to Houston that opened a three-game homestand. The 17-time All-Star was held to fewer than 10 points for the fourth straight game, but he did match a season high with nine assists - passing Jerry West for second place on the franchise's all-time list with 6,244 behind Magic Johnson (10,141).

Coach Byron Scott says Bryant "is a go" for Wednesday's game, while calling rookie Larry Nance Jr. doubtful with a sore right knee.

Nance started 22 straight games before sitting out Sunday. If he can't play, Julius Randle will take his place in the starting lineup - where he has averaged 11.7 points and 9.3 rebounds in 21 games.

"If (Randle) plays 20-25 minutes, he's almost a walking double-double," Scott told the team's official website. "He has been able to do that all season long."

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Hawks (25-17) at Trail Blazers (19-25)
Date: January 20, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

The Atlanta Hawks can create some breathing room atop the Southeast Division with their closest pursuer banged-up and trudging through an exhausting stretch.

The Hawks, however, need to carry the balance they've shown in their last few home games out on the road beginning with Wednesday night's opener of a four-game trip against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Atlanta (25-17) has been jockeying with Miami for the division lead and carries a slim advantage into this matchup with Portland (19-25). The Heat, already saddled with key injuries, are amid a vicious slate in which only two of 16 games come at home.

One of those contests is Jan. 31 against the Hawks, who don't have it much easier until then with five of their next six away from home.

They've lost four of six outside Atlanta to fall to 10-10 on the road, but a pair of home victories this week showed signs of them regaining the balance they used during last season's 60-win campaign.

After shooting a combined 40.3 percent, including 16 of 55 from 3-point range, in road losses to Charlotte and Milwaukee last week, Atlanta shot the ball well and used its deep rotation in home wins over Brooklyn and Orlando.

The Hawks hit 55.7 percent despite missing 21 of 29 from long range in a 114-86 rout of the Nets on Saturday before having one of their most effective nights from deep with a 9-for-19 effort in Monday's 98-81 victory over the Magic.

The reserves were key in both wins, providing 53 points, 24 rebounds and 18 assists against Brooklyn, and 47 points, 17 rebounds and 19 assists versus Orlando.

"Our bench has been doing great," starting forward Paul Millsap said. "When they get in the game, they push the tempo, they get after it on defense, and when you have the whole team contributing, the whole team out there fighting hard, it makes us a tough team."

The constant stream of fresh legs wreaked havoc on the perimeter, forcing the Nets and Magic to miss 30 of 42 long-range attempts - a welcome sight for a Hawks team that ranked seventh in the NBA last season with a 34.1 defensive 3-point percentage.

"Their defensive energy is fueling everything else, so hopefully we can continue to get the starters to feed off that, too," coach Mike Budenholzer said of his reserves. "It's been good to see that for a few games in a row."

The perimeter focus needs to remain against the Trail Blazers, who rank third in the league with an average of 10.3 3-pointers and fifth with 28.4 attempts per game. The outside defense was clicking in the first meeting against Portland, which missed 19 of 24 from beyond the arc in a 106-97 loss at Atlanta on Dec. 21.

It certainly didn't help that leading scorers Damian Lillard (24.4) and C.J. McCollum (20.5) sat out with injuries. The starting backcourt helped the Blazers roar back from an embarrassing 25-point loss to Philadelphia for a 108-98 win at Washington on Monday in which they shot a season-best 54.8 percent from long range.

Lillard and McCollum combined for 41 points and went 8 of 16 on 3s as the Blazers won for the fourth time in five games.

"Winning three (in a row) and then getting beat by a (76ers) team that only had four wins - the ability to come back and lock in and not dwell on what had happened is big for us," said Meyers Leonard, who scored 18 points.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Heat (23-19) at Wizards (19-21)
Date: January 20, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

Success at home was one of the major factors behind the Washington Wizards reaching the playoffs last season. Their struggles on their own court are what's costing them a chance to get back there, and the Miami Heat are looking to capitalize on another visit to the nation's capital.

The Wizards attempt to avenge one of their worst home defeats of the season Wednesday night against the Heat.

Washington (19-21) went 29-12 at home last season, and it won't be duplicating that effort. The Wizards are 9-13 there, losing five of their last six - a stretch that started with a 97-75 defeat to Miami (23-19) on Jan. 3.

Washington was abysmal in nearly every facet while its four-game winning streak over the Heat ended. The Wizards shot 34.1 percent from the floor, converted 4 of 30 from 3-point range and were outrebounded 54-45.

Their defensive play let them down in Monday's 108-98 loss to Portland. Washington gave up 51.2 percent from the field - 54.8 from long range - and was at a 48-35 disadvantage on the glass.

"It was pretty much a lack of focus," said guard Bradley Beal, who had 16 points and five assists.

Having Beal at full strength could help a lot. He's missed 17 of the last 20 games with a stress reaction in his right leg and is averaging 16.3 points off the bench in the three he's played.

Beal is still not cleared to start.

"It's still a process," he said. "Still being smart with the injury. Still probably have another week or two before my minutes ramp up or whatever. I'm still listening to the doctors and trainers. I feel great after each game and during the game there's no pain so hopefully we can ramp it up."

Beal had 21 points in a 114-103 win at Miami on Dec. 7, while John Wall poured in 26. Wall, though, could only muster 14 while going 6 for 21 from the floor against the Heat earlier this month.

He was even worse Monday, connecting on 4 of 17 from the field while finishing with nine points and 10 assists. That was a dramatic drop from his season-high 36 points two days earlier in a 119-117 loss to Boston that opened this five-game homestand.

"I was frustrated," Wall said Monday. "I had some good looks that I had from the last game, and I wasn't making them. It was frustrating to me because I feel like I was letting my team down."

The Heat enter a five-game trip trying to turn around their own rough stretch, losing five of six while averaging 87.8 points.

They fell 91-79 to Milwaukee on Tuesday, two days after losing 99-74 at Oklahoma City. Miami trailed by at least 22 in each of those games while shooting 39.0 percent - 25.0 from behind the arc.

"We obviously have to work on our mental toughness right now," forward Chris Bosh said. "We're kind of weak in that area."

Goran Dragic's absence is surely being felt. The guard, who averages 12.3 points, has missed four games with a calf injury and has no time table for a return.

Bosh scored 23 against the Wizards earlier this month, while Hassan Whiteside chipped in with 13 rebounds and six blocks.

Whiteside's 4.0 blocks per game lead the league and have him on pace to top Alonzo Mourning's franchise record of 3.9 set in 1998-99.