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

[StarDust Bum]

NBA

Friday, January 22

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7:00 PM
CHARLOTTE vs. ORLANDO
Charlotte is 6-17 SU in its last 23 games when playing on the road against Orlando
Charlotte is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games when playing Orlando
Orlando is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games when playing at home against Charlotte
Orlando is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games

7:30 PM
UTAH vs. BROOKLYN
Utah is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Utah's last 6 games on the road
Brooklyn is 3-10 ATS in its last 13 games when playing Utah
Brooklyn is 1-6-1 ATS in its last 8 games at home

7:30 PM
CHICAGO vs. BOSTON
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Chicago's last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 5 games on the road
Boston is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Boston's last 7 games

7:30 PM
LA CLIPPERS vs. NEW YORK
LA Clippers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing on the road against New York
LA Clippers are 11-2 SU in their last 13 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of New York's last 5 games
New York is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games

8:00 PM
MIAMI vs. TORONTO
Miami is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Miami is 17-3 SU in its last 20 games when playing Toronto
Toronto is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Toronto is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home

8:00 PM
MILWAUKEE vs. HOUSTON
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Milwaukee's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Milwaukee's last 6 games when playing on the road against Houston
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Houston's last 7 games at home
Houston is 13-2 SU in its last 15 games when playing at home against Milwaukee

8:30 PM
OKLAHOMA CITY vs. DALLAS
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Oklahoma City's last 6 games when playing on the road against Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Oklahoma City's last 6 games
Dallas is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games when playing at home against Oklahoma City
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Dallas's last 6 games when playing at home against Oklahoma City

10:30 PM
SAN ANTONIO vs. LA LAKERS
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of San Antonio's last 7 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 6 of San Antonio's last 9 games
LA Lakers are 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 games when playing San Antonio
LA Lakers are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games when playing at home against San Antonio

10:30 PM
INDIANA vs. GOLDEN STATE
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Indiana's last 7 games when playing on the road against Golden State
Indiana is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Golden State is 7-15 ATS in its last 22 games when playing Indiana
Golden State is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Indiana

[StarDust Bum]

Friday's Tip Sheet
January 22, 2016

Bulls at Celtics – 7:35 PM EST

Chicago (24-17 SU, 16-25 ATS) is coming off its worst loss of the season on Wednesday, getting blown out by Golden State, 125-94 as six-point home underdogs. Fred Hoiberg’s team has lost five of their last seven games, while allowing at least 100 points six times in this span (‘over’ 6-1). The Bulls have won three of their last five games as a road underdog, including Monday’s 111-101 victory at Detroit as three-point ‘dogs. Chicago and Boston have split a pair of meetings this season, as the Bulls won the previous matchup at the United Center, 101-92 as 6 ½-point favorites earlier this month.

The Celtics (22-21 SU, 22-20-1 ATS) continue to put up plenty of points by cashing the ‘over’ in six of the last seven games. Boston fell short at Toronto on Wednesday, 115-109 as the Celtics hit triple-digits for the fifth straight contest. Brad Stevens’ squad has won two straight at TD Garden since a three-game home skid, but the Celtics are 2-3 at home against Central division opponents. Boston has been a coin-flip proposition as a home favorite this season by posting an 8-8 ATS record, while winning three of four home games when coming off a road loss.

Clippers at Knicks – 7:35 PM EST

Los Angeles (27-15 SU, 19-20-3 ATS) continues a five-game road swing at Madison Square Garden, looking for its seventh straight win over New York since 2013. The Clippers have dropped two of three since a 10-game winning streak, as Doc Rivers’ team heads to the Big Apple following Thursday’s 115-102 defeat at Cleveland as 6 ½-point underdogs. The Cavaliers loss snapped a six-game road winning streak for the Clippers, as L.A. owns a 5-2 SU and 3-3-1 ATS road record against Eastern Conference opponents.

It’s been a terrific turnaround for New York (22-22 SU, 26-18 ATS) this season, who won just 17 games last season. The Knicks wrap up a three-game homestand after pulling off a pair of overtime victories over the 76ers and Jazz, as New York erased an 11-point halftime deficit to stun Utah on Wednesday, 118-111 to cash as 2 ½-point favorites. New York is currently riding a five-game ‘over’ streak, while sailing ‘over’ the total in 10 of the last 11 contests at MSG. Derek Fisher’s club has built a nice home-court advantage at the World’s Most Famous Arena by winning eight of the last nine in Manhattan.

Heat at Raptors – 8:05 PM EST

It will be interesting to see what kind of lineup Miami (23-20 SU, 20-22-1 ATS) puts out at the Air Canada Center as Dwyane Wade missed Wednesday’s loss at Washington with a shoulder injury, while point guards Goran Dragic and Beno Udrih are also banged-up. To make matters worse, the Heat lost center Hassan Whiteside to a hip injury in 106-87 defeat to the Wizards, the third straight loss for Miami. Erik Spoelstra’s squad continues a brutal stretch on the road this month that included a 2-4 trip against Western Conference foes, while the Heat remain on the highway for the next four games.

The hottest team in the Eastern Conference is Toronto (27-15 SU, 24-18 ATS), who has won six straight games to capture a commanding lead in the Atlantic division. The Raptors have topped the 100-point mark in each of the past four victories, including a 115-spot in Wednesday’s division triumph over the Celtics. Toronto has split its first two meetings with Miami (both played in South Florida), as the Raptors shot 51% from the floor in a 108-94 December victory at American Airlines Arena.

Thunder at Mavericks – 8:35 PM EST

The Western Conference has turned into a three-horse race between Golden State, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City with three months to go. The Thunder (32-12 SU, 19-25 ATS) won’t likely catch the Warriors for the top seed, but OKC is running away with the Northwest division. Oklahoma City is coming off its sixth consecutive victory on Wednesday, taking care of Charlotte as 9 ½-point home favorites, 109-95. The Thunder starts a four-game road trip, as Billy Donovan’s team looks for a highway cover after failing to cash in their last four contests away from Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Dallas (25-19 SU, 26-17-1 ATS) has lost twice to Oklahoma City on the road this season, including a 108-89 setback on January 13. The Mavericks rested four starters on the second of a back-to-back that night, but may not have Dirk Nowitzki in the lineup after the All-Star forward sat out Wednesday’s overtime win over Minnesota with swelling in his right knee. Amazingly, each of Dallas’ last four home games have gone to overtime (3-1 SU/ATS), while the Mavericks have posted a 4-2 ATS record in the home underdog role this season.

Pacers at Warriors – 10:35 PM EST

Simply put, Golden State’s offense is an absolute machine. The Warriors (39-4 SU, 26-16-1 ATS) lit up the Cavaliers and Bulls by a combined 65 points to close out their road trip at 2-1 through the Midwest after losing at Detroit. In Wednesday’s 125-94 rout at Chicago, the Warriors scored 63 first-half points, but were impressive on the defensive end by limiting the Bulls to 1-of-20 shooting from three-point range. Luke Walton’s team has won all 19 games at Oracle Arena this season, while going for the season sweep of the Pacers after winning at Indianapolis in December, 131-123 as 5 ½-point favorites.

Indiana (23-19 SU, 22-20 ATS) has stumbled from an ATS perspective of late by failing to cash in each of the past four games. The Pacers held off a late Suns’ rally in a 97-94 victory at Phoenix on Wednesday as 5 ½-point favorites, but Frank Vogel’s club snapped a three-game skid. Indiana has dropped six straight games in the road underdog role, while covering just once in this span (at Chicago in an overtime loss on December 30). The Pacers are listed as a double-digit underdog for the first time since March 20, 2015 as Indiana cashed in a 95-92 loss at Cleveland as 10 ½-point ‘dogs.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA ATS

NBA > (867) SAN ANTONIO@ (868) LA LAKERS | 2016-01-22 22:30:00 - 2016-01-22 22:30:00
Play ON SAN ANTONIO against the spread in All games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 18 Wins and 4 Losses for the this season (+13.6 units)

NBA > (867) SAN ANTONIO@ (868) LA LAKERS | 2016-01-22 22:30:00 - 2016-01-22 22:30:00
Play ON SAN ANTONIO against the spread in All games as a favorite
The record is 30 Wins and 12 Losses for the this season (+16.8 units)

NBA > (859) MILWAUKEE@ (860) HOUSTON | 2016-01-22 20:00:00 - 2016-01-22 20:00:00
Play AGAINST HOUSTON against the spread in All games off a upset loss as a favorite
The record is 1 Wins and 11 Losses for the this season (-11.1 units)

NBA > (859) MILWAUKEE@ (860) HOUSTON | 2016-01-22 20:00:00 - 2016-01-22 20:00:00
Play AGAINST MILWAUKEE against the spread in All games after allowing 85 points or less
The record is 4 Wins and 19 Losses for the last three seasons (-16.9 units)

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

NBA MONEYLINE

NBA > (859) MILWAUKEE@ (860) HOUSTON | 2016-01-22 20:00:00 - 2016-01-22 20:00:00
Play ON HOUSTON using money line in Home games after a non-conference game
The record is 19 Wins and 4 Losses for the last two seasons (+15.05 units)

NBA > (865) INDIANA@ (866) GOLDEN STATE | 2016-01-22 22:30:00 - 2016-01-22 22:30:00
Play AGAINST INDIANA using money line in All games revenging a home loss vs opponent
The record is 5 Wins and 18 Losses for the last two seasons (-17 units)

NBA > (855) CHICAGO@ (856) BOSTON | 2016-01-22 19:30:00 - 2016-01-22 19:30:00
Play AGAINST BOSTON using money line in Home games in January games
The record is 4 Wins and 13 Losses for the last three seasons (-16.95 units)

NBA > (855) CHICAGO@ (856) BOSTON | 2016-01-22 19:30:00 - 2016-01-22 19:30:00
Play ON CHICAGO using money line in Road games against Atlantic division opponents
The record is 13 Wins and 2 Losses for the last two seasons (+11.75 units)

NBA > (865) INDIANA@ (866) GOLDEN STATE | 2016-01-22 22:30:00 - 2016-01-22 22:30:00
Play ON GOLDEN STATE using money line in All games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game
The record is 20 Wins and 2 Losses for the this season (+16.25 units)

NBA > (867) SAN ANTONIO@ (868) LA LAKERS | 2016-01-22 22:30:00 - 2016-01-22 22:30:00
Play ON SAN ANTONIO using money line in All games when playing on back-to-back days
The record is 32 Wins and 11 Losses for the last three seasons (+20.1 units)

NBA > (853) UTAH@ (854) BROOKLYN | 2016-01-22 19:30:00 - 2016-01-22 19:30:00
Play ON UTAH using money line in Road games after allowing 105 points or more
The record is 13 Wins and 10 Losses for the last three seasons (+19.9 units)

NBA > (853) UTAH@ (854) BROOKLYN | 2016-01-22 19:30:00 - 2016-01-22 19:30:00
Play AGAINST BROOKLYN using money line in Home games after 3 or more consecutive losses
The record is 4 Wins and 11 Losses for the last two seasons (-14.3 units)

NBA > (851) CHARLOTTE@ (852) ORLANDO | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play AGAINST ORLANDO using money line in All games in January games
The record is 1 Wins and 8 Losses for the this season (-9.65 units)

NBA > (857) LA CLIPPERS@ (858) NEW YORK | 2016-01-22 19:30:00 - 2016-01-22 19:30:00
Play ON NEW YORK using money line in Home games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game
The record is 12 Wins and 3 Losses for the this season (+9.35 units)

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

NBA FIRST HALF

NBA > (865) INDIANA@ (866) GOLDEN STATE | 2016-01-22 22:30:00 - 2016-01-22 22:30:00
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 17 Wins and 43 Losses for the last three seasons (-30.3 units)

NBA > (867) SAN ANTONIO@ (868) LA LAKERS | 2016-01-22 22:30:00 - 2016-01-22 22:30:00
Play ON SAN ANTONIO ?>in the first halfin All games when playing on back-to-back days
The record is 21 Wins and 6 Losses for the last two seasons (+14.4 units)

NBA > (865) INDIANA@ (866) GOLDEN STATE | 2016-01-22 22:30:00 - 2016-01-22 22:30:00
Play AGAINST INDIANA ?>in the first halfin All games when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season
The record is 12 Wins and 33 Losses for the last three seasons (-24.3 units)

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

NBA TOTALS

NBA > (853) UTAH@ (854) BROOKLYN | 2016-01-22 19:30:00 - 2016-01-22 19:30:00
Play UNDER UTAH on the totalin All games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season
The record is 4 Overs and 25 Unders for the last two seasons (+20.6 units)

NBA > (853) UTAH@ (854) BROOKLYN | 2016-01-22 19:30:00 - 2016-01-22 19:30:00
Play UNDER UTAH on the totalin Road games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game
The record is 13 Overs and 49 Unders for the last three seasons (+34.7 units)

NBA > (867) SAN ANTONIO@ (868) LA LAKERS | 2016-01-22 22:30:00 - 2016-01-22 22:30:00
Play UNDER SAN ANTONIO on the totalin Road games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game
The record is 9 Overs and 35 Unders for the last two seasons (+25.1 units)

NBA > (851) CHARLOTTE@ (852) ORLANDO | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play UNDER ORLANDO on the totalin All games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 3 Overs and 17 Unders for the this season (+13.7 units)

NBA > (851) CHARLOTTE@ (852) ORLANDO | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play OVER CHARLOTTE on the totalin All games after a loss by 10 points or more
The record is 10 Overs and 0 Unders for the this season (+10 units)

NBA > (867) SAN ANTONIO@ (868) LA LAKERS | 2016-01-22 22:30:00 - 2016-01-22 22:30:00
Play UNDER SAN ANTONIO on the totalin Road games after 3 or more consecutive wins
The record is 10 Overs and 35 Unders for the last three seasons (+24 units)

NBA > (867) SAN ANTONIO@ (868) LA LAKERS | 2016-01-22 22:30:00 - 2016-01-22 22:30:00
Play UNDER SAN ANTONIO on the totalin All games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game
The record is 26 Overs and 60 Unders for the last two seasons (+31.4 units)

NBA > (861) MIAMI@ (862) TORONTO | 2016-01-22 20:00:00 - 2016-01-22 20:00:00
Play UNDER MIAMI on the totalin Road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game
The record is 7 Overs and 25 Unders for the last two seasons (+17.3 units)

NBA > (861) MIAMI@ (862) TORONTO | 2016-01-22 20:00:00 - 2016-01-22 20:00:00
Play UNDER MIAMI on the totalin All games revenging a loss vs opponent
The record is 4 Overs and 17 Unders for the this season (+12.6 units)

NBA > (865) INDIANA@ (866) GOLDEN STATE | 2016-01-22 22:30:00 - 2016-01-22 22:30:00
Play UNDER INDIANA on the totalin All games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game
The record is 6 Overs and 20 Unders for the this season (+13.4 units)

NBA > (865) INDIANA@ (866) GOLDEN STATE | 2016-01-22 22:30:00 - 2016-01-22 22:30:00
Play UNDER INDIANA on the totalin All games after a non-conference game
The record is 23 Overs and 53 Unders for the last three seasons (+27.7 units)

[StarDust Bum]

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


CHA at ORL 07:00 PM

ORL -5.0 BEST BET


UTA at BK 07:30 PM

UTA -5.5


LAC at NY 07:30 PM

NY +2.0 BEST BET


CHI at BOS 07:30 PM

BOS -3.5


MIL at HOU 08:00 PM

MIL +2.5


MIA at TOR 08:00 PM

TOR -11.5 BEST BET


OKC at DAL 08:30 PM

OKC -6.0


IND at GS 10:30 PM

IND +12.5


SA at LAL 10:30 PM

SA -16.0

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Bucks (19-25) at Pelicans (15-27)
Date: January 23, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The Milwaukee Bucks faltered in their attempt to match a season-high win streak and bouncing back from that defeat could prove challenging.

The Bucks would have to end a 13-game road losing streak against New Orleans when they face the resurgent Pelicans on Saturday night.

Milwaukee had won three in a row until a 102-98 loss in Houston on Friday. The Bucks (19-26) nearly rallied from an 11-point deficit in the final 2 1/2 minutes but couldn't get closer than two with 6.9 seconds left.

"We kept fighting and hung with them on their runs and kept trying to grind it out. We did give ourselves a chance to win the game. We were just a little too late," said guard Khris Middleton, who tied Greg Monroe for the team scoring lead with 21 points.

The Bucks now will try to win in a city where they haven't since Jan. 27, 2003. The lengthy road losing streak against the Pelicans includes two defeats in Oklahoma City in January 2006 and February 2007.

Milwaukee has also dropped five in a row overall to New Orleans (15-27) and will face a team that's seeking its fifth win in six games.

The Pelicans will also try for a season-high fourth in a row at home after beating Detroit 115-99 on Thursday. New Orleans shot 53.5 percent - its second-best performance this season - and Anthony Davis had 32 points on 13-of-23 shooting.

"We're just playing desperate. That's it," Davis said. "That's how we've got to play from here on out. Like coach said, in a couple weeks we're going to see where our season goes - whether it's just playing it out or every game matters."

Davis has a combined 67 points in the first two of a season-high seven consecutive home games.

"I'm just coming out being aggressive, trying to get the team to fight back and just play hard." he said. "They're doing a great job of finding me. I'm not hesitating anymore. I'm just playing basketball, having fun with it. My teammates see it and they're playing hard. We're all just playing hard, having fun playing together."

Davis had 20 points on 6-of-18 shooting and 12 rebounds in his latest game against the Bucks, an 85-84 home victory March 17. He totaled 72 points while shooting 64.4 percent in his previous two matchups and tied a career with 43 in a 114-103 win in Milwaukee on March 9.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 29 points on 11-of-16 shooting for the Bucks in that home defeat but had a more pedestrian 15 in the visit to New Orleans.

Middleton, averaging 23.6 points in his last five games, had four on 2-of-14 shooting in the most recent road matchup with the Pelicans. He totaled 42 points and made 16 of 28 shots in his prior two meetings.

Monroe is averaging 19.4 points on 54.6 percent shooting and 10.7 rebounds in his last seven games.

This will likely mark the Bucks' last game without coach Jason Kidd on the sidelines. Kidd has missed 16 contests since undergoing surgery on his right hip Dec. 21 but is expected return for Tuesday's home game against Orlando.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Knicks (22-22) at Hornets (19-23)
Date: January 23, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The New York Knicks just got picked apart by a top point guard and now they have to face one who has been very explosive.

Kemba Walker has scored at least 40 points twice in his last three games and the New York native will try to lead the short-handed Charlotte Hornets to a fifth straight home win over the Knicks on Saturday night.

New York (22-23) allowed the Los Angeles Clippers to shoot 56.6 percent - a season-high for an opponent - in Friday's 116-88 home loss. Chris Paul had 13 of his club's 23 assists, as New York had no answer for his repeated pick-and-rolls with teammates.

"The game got away from the start. We weren't ready to play against this team tonight," coach Derek Fisher said. "They were physically, faster, better tonight. We've had very few of these so far this year."

New York will now try to slow down Walker, who scored a franchise-record 52 points in Monday's 124-119 victory over Utah in double overtime. After he scored 21 two nights later in a loss at Oklahoma City, Walker came through with 40 in Friday's 120-116 overtime win at Orlando.

"Great week," Walker said. "I would never have thought this would happen but I'm playing pretty well, and I'm just playing off my teammates, playing the game, letting the game come to me."

The Hornets (20-23) ended a 10-game road losing streak Friday despite trailing by 15 points in the third quarter behind Walker, who added nine assists and seven rebounds as he played the entire final period and overtime.

"He'll do anything to win so if he feels he has to keep scoring the ball, he's going to do it," forward Marvin Williams said. "But he's making the right plays, though, he's getting assists as well, he's rebounding as well so he's going to give you his all each and every night and I think that's why he's playing so well."

Charlotte's win came without two starters. Second-leading scorer Nicolas Batum was out with a sprained right toe while center Cody Zeller was out with a strained right shoulder. It's unlikely either will play Saturday.

Former Knicks guard Jeremy Lin replaced Batum in the starting lineup and had seven points. Spencer Hawes took Zeller's spot and finished with a season-high 16 points and 10 boards for his first double-double since April 4, 2014.

Knicks center Robin Lopez was ejected with two technical fouls Friday. He got involved in an altercation with DeAndre Jordan and finished with six points and seven boards after totaling 38 and 22 in his previous two games.

"Things were getting really chippy out there, it happened so fast it's kinda hard to recall," Lopez said. "Maybe I overreacted a little bit but what happened, happened. I'm OK with it."

New York's Lance Thomas has missed two straight game with a sore left knee. Fisher said the reserve forward was getting better, but wasn't sure if he could play Saturday.

The Knicks are 3-6 in the second half of back-to-back games while the Hornets are 3-4.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Grizzlies (25-19) at Timberwolves (13-31)
Date: January 23, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

While Marc Gasol is keying a strong offensive stretch for the defensive-minded Memphis Grizzlies, Rookie of the Year candidate Karl-Anthony Towns hopes to keep adding to his resume for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The veteran star and emerging big man are likely to spend a lot of time defending one another as the visiting Grizzlies chase a season-high fifth straight win Saturday night against the free-falling Timberwolves.

Gasol had been shooting 45 percent - far below his 50.9 mark entering the season - after averaging 9.5 points while going just 15 for 57 (26.3 percent) from the field over a four-game span earlier this month.

The two-time All-Star has recovered by averaging 23.8 points on 50.5 percent shooting in his last five games. He scored 27 and converted a go-ahead three-point play with 12.2 seconds left in Thursday's 102-101 win at Denver.

"I think he can let so many things bother him, in a good way, but he gets so much in his mind that he forgets about scoring," guard Mike Conley told the team's official website. "Now he is just letting everything play out."

Conley also has provided a spark, totaling 35 points while hitting 5 for 8 from 3-point range in two games since missing six due to a sore left Achilles. He also had 12 assists without a turnover in those contests.

The Grizzlies (25-19) have averaged 102.3 points on 48.2 percent shooting during their four-game streak after scoring 94.7 with a 43.1 percentage in the previous 21. They haven't scored 100 in regulation over five straight games since February 2011.

"Well, we are going to score. We have guys who can score points and put the ball in the basket," forward Jeff Green said. "(But) defense has been the staple of this team for the past couple of years and nothing has changed."

The scoring, though, could continue against a Minnesota team that's given up an average of 105.4 points on 47.8 percent shooting in its last five games. The Wolves allowed 17 points in overtime of Wednesday's 106-94 loss at Dallas.

"We definitely took a great step," Towns said. "We just couldn't contain."

Towns shined with 27 points, a season-high 17 rebounds and a season high-tying six blocks. He's totaled 47 points and 30 boards in his last two, leads all rookies with 9.7 rebounds per game and ranks second with 15.9 points.

With starting center Nikola Pekovic working his way back from ankle and Achilles injuries, Towns could see a lot of action on Gasol. That was the case Nov. 15 when he had 14 points and nine boards with Pekovic sidelined in a 114-106 home loss to the Grizzlies. Gasol finished with 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting as Memphis shot 56.3 percent and hit 9 of 17 from 3-point range.

Conley made four of those 3s en route to 20 points, though he couldn't contain Zach LaVine, who scored 25 in place of the injured Ricky Rubio.

Andrew Wiggins, who had 21 points in November, is playing well heading into this meeting with 24.1 points per game in his last eight. Memphis stopper Tony Allen might not be available after he was scratched Thursday due to injury.

The Wolves (13-31) have dropped two in a row and 15 of their past 17. They've also lost two straight at home and 19 of 23 overall versus Memphis.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Bulls (24-17) at Cavaliers (30-11)
Date: January 23, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

Though Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin is no stranger to orchestrating midseason shakeups, no one saw this one coming.

Reportedly, not even LeBron James.

The Cavaliers will try to get over the shock of David Blatt's stunning firing when they take the court Saturday night against the Chicago Bulls, whose recent play on the court has created a bit of unrest as well.

Blatt was dismissed midway through a season in which Cleveland (30-11) holds a 3-game lead over Toronto atop the Eastern Conference and is 6 1/2 ahead of the second-place Bulls in the Central Division. Though the second-year coach went 64-20 after a 19-20 start last season and guided the Cavaliers to the 2015 NBA Finals, Griffin said he wasn't pleased with the team's direction or its atmosphere.

'Sometimes you can win games in the regular season and get worse,' Griffin said during Friday's press conference announcing the move. 'We were regressing over a period of time. There's a lack of connectedness and spirit that I just couldn't accept. And frankly, halfway through the season, I think we have the time to right the ship."

Blatt's .732 winning percentage is the highest for a coach fired this late in a season. The New Jersey Nets let go of Larry Brown with a 47-29 record in 1981-82.

'I know that sounds crazy when we're sitting with a 30-11 record. I understand that," Griffin said. "But we were 30-11 with a schedule that was reasonably easy. And I'm judging a lot more than wins and losses.'

Associate coach Tyronn Lue was promoted into Blatt's position on a permanent basis, with the 38-year-old former NBA point guard becoming the league's youngest active head coach.

'He has the pulse of our team,' said Griffin, who also reiterated that he did not seek any input from James nor any other player in making the decision.

The change takes place after the Cavaliers won two straight to bounce back from Monday's embarrassing 132-98 defeat to Golden State, the most lopsided home loss in James' career. They were sharp in Blatt's finale, hitting 13 of 28 attempts from 3-point range and outrebounding the Los Angeles Clippers 47-35 in Thursday's 115-102 victory over a team that won 11 of 12 coming in.

J.R. Smith, one of several acquisitions Griffin made last January to help spark Cleveland's turnaround, had 22 points and finished 6 of 7 from 3 after a 2 of-14-effort over the previous three games. Kevin Love posted a sixth double-double in his last seven with 18 points and 16 rebounds.

Lue will be in a potentially advantageous spot to start his head coaching career with the Cavaliers on the second of a four-game homestand and Chicago (22-18) struggling to make shots and prevent them. The Bulls have gone a woeful 20.5 percent on 3-pointers in losing three of four and are yielding 108.8 points over a 2-6 stretch.

After a 1-of-20 performance from beyond the arc in Wednesday's 125-94 home loss to Golden State, the Bulls were 3 of 13 in Friday's 110-101 defeat at Boston. They also committed 20 turnovers that led to 26 Celtics' points.

'It's about being on the same page when we're out there," guard Derrick Rose said. "All the hustle plays - it's effort. We're not getting the extra effort to be a championship team right now.'

Rose had 27 points Friday and is averaging 25.3 in his last three games. Jimmy Butler added 28 but is 0 of 12 from 3 over his last four, while Nikola Mirotic has shot just 17.1 percent while averaging 4.8 points over his past five.

Mirotic scored 19 points as Chicago edged Cleveland 97-95 in the Oct. 27 season opener. The Bulls are making their first visit to Cleveland since losing last year's East semifinals in six games.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Hawks (26-18) at Suns (13-31)
Date: January 23, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

Outside of two lengthy winning streaks, the Atlanta Hawks have been up and down this season.

The Phoenix Suns have been trying to get up since late December.

The Hawks look to end their struggles away from home Saturday night when they face the injury depleted Suns, who are trying to shake off their worst stretch in nearly four decades.

Atlanta (26-18) has followed a six-game winning streak from Dec. 16-26 with a 6-6 stretch, which has featured wildly contrasting results at both ends of the court.

It includes three of the Hawks' six games in which they've scored at least 120 points this season, as well as three of their eight in which they finished with fewer than 90. In addition, two of their four games in which they've allowed more than 110 points, as well as the two lowest-scoring outputs by opponents, are contained in the stretch.

The final three losses in the span have come against teams with losing records, the latest being Thursday's 91-88 defeat to Sacramento. That snapped the Hawks' three-game winning streak as they've opened their four-game trip 1-1.

Atlanta committed 19 turnovers and shot 41.7 percent while making eight of 33 from 3-point range. The Hawks' 24.2 percentage from beyond the arc was their worst since Dec. 28, which was also the previous time they had committed 19 turnovers.

The Kings outrebounded the Hawks 56-42 and went on an 18-0 run in the third quarter to build a 17-point lead. Atlanta chipped away in the final 12 minutes but failed to get off a shot on two possessions in the final 13 seconds.

"It's tough when you're on the road and down by 17 points (in the third quarter)," coach Mike Budenholzer said. "We just didn't have enough time to get back over the hump."

Sacramento handed the Hawks their third loss in four road games and 11th in 18 since opening the season 4-0 away from home. This trip begins a stretch of six of seven on the road.

Atlanta has split its last six matchups with sub-.500 teams, but Phoenix (13-31) is likely the one with the most issues.

The Suns are 1-15 in their last 16, the first time they've endured such a stretch since Feb. 10-March 13, 1977. They've lost six in a row and played Thursday's 117-89 defeat to San Antonio without five of their top seven scorers.

Starting guard Brandon Knight sat out due to an abductor strain, while forwards Mirza Teletovic (sprained ankle), Jon Leuer (back spasms) and Markieff Morris (shoulder strain) were injured before or during Tuesday's 97-94 loss to Indiana. Making matters worse, P.J. Tucker left in the first quarter with a chest contusion.

The recent health concerns, combined with Eric Bledsoe's season-ending knee surgery in December, have crippled a team that's averaged 94.1 points in the last eight games while allowing 108.3.

"We're down a lot of players," rookie guard Devin Booker said. "We're going out there, we know we're less talented, so we just have to play harder."

The Suns have lost seven of eight at Talking Stick Resort Arena and are trying to avoid a winless three-game homestand.

The Hawks swept the 2014-15 season series after Phoenix had won 10 of the previous 13 meetings. Atlanta is 4-18 in its last 22 in the desert.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Pistons (23-20) at Nuggets (16-27)
Date: January 23, 2016 9:30 PM EDT

For each loud win the Detroit Pistons have logged in the last week, they have followed with a whimper and a loss.

There are no more statement victories available in the final two games of their road trip, but the Pistons can start answering coach Stan Van Gundy's calls for consistency when they meet the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night.

Van Gundy called out his team's effort following Thursday's 115-99 loss at New Orleans, one day after opening a four-game trip with a 123-114 win over Houston. The up-and-down results were similar to Detroit's previous two home games when they beat Golden State 113-95 last weekend before Monday's 111-101 loss to Chicago.

'We look like a team that is firmly committed to being mediocre,' said Van Gundy, whose club closes its trip Monday against Utah.

The Pistons (23-20) have lost four of six and are 6-8 since winning five of six in mid December, keeping them ahead of only Milwaukee in a stacked Central Division.

Van Gundy had harsh words following the loss to the Pelicans, calling a first half in which Detroit surrendered 72 points "deplorable." It was one of five first halves in the NBA this season with that many points by a team not named the Warriors, and it tied for the most allowed by the Pistons in any half ever.

'In the first half we played nine guys. I thought one guy put out a good effort defensively," Van Gundy said. "Aron Baynes tried hard and I thought the other eight guys virtually put nothing into it on anything.'

New Orleans committed just 10 turnovers and shot 53.5 percent, the third-highest against the Pistons this season. The Pelicans' 65.9 percent showing in the first half equaled three other teams for the fourth-highest in an opening half this season.

Andre Drummond finished with 19 points and 22 rebounds for his seventh straight double-double, but New Orleans still owned the paint with a 60-48 scoring advantage.

Opponents have scored at least 111 points in each of Detroit's last three games, the first time the Pistons have allowed that to happen since December 2014. The Bulls, Rockets and Pelicans combined to shoot 50.2 percent and make 26 of 57 3-pointers.

Denver (16-27) is one of 11 teams in the league averaging fewer than 100 points at 99.4, but the Nuggets have passed the century mark in each of their last three games.

That stretch includes a season-high in Sunday's 129-126 win over Indiana to open a season-high eight-game homestand at 3-1, but a pair of tight losses followed - Tuesday's 110-104 defeat to Oklahoma City and Thursday's 102-101 loss to Memphis.

Denver trailed the Grizzlies by seven midway through the fourth quarter but rallied to take a 98-97 lead with less than a minute left. The Nuggets suffered their eighth consecutive single-digit loss, though, after Emmanuel Mudiay's buzzer-beating 3-pointer was all they scored in the final 41 seconds.

"It gets so old when you hear, `Hey, great game, great comeback,'" coach Mike Malone said. "We're paid to win games."

Denver has won of late in this series, at least. Detroit dominated with a 22-4 record from the end of the 1995-96 season to the beginning of 2009-10, but the Nuggets have won eight of the last 10 meetings, including all six in Denver.

The Nuggets have played the last three games without point guard Jameer Nelson (sprained right wrist), and it is unclear if he will be available Saturday.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Pacers (23-20) at Kings (19-23)
Date: January 23, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

The Sacramento Kings have a long way to go to shed their franchise's dismal reputation for defense, but they have made strides during a season-high win streak.

They used their latest effort to overcome Rudy Gay's absence, and his status is unknown for Saturday night's visit from the Indiana Pacers.

Sacramento (19-23) is currently allowing a league-high 107.4 points per game and hasn't finished better than 24th in that category since 2005-06. The Kings, though, have yielded an average of 96.3 points on 39.7 percent shooting while stringing together four consecutive victories that has lifted them into eighth place in the Western Conference.

They gave up their fewest points this season in a 91-88 victory over visiting Atlanta on Thursday. The Kings shot a season-low 35.9 percent with Gay nursing a bruised left heel, but they held the Hawks an 8-of-33 showing from 3-point range and 41.7 percent overall.

"It shows the potential of this team. It shows that we can be a defensive team," forward DeMarcus Cousins said. "It's just about us going out there and doing it. We can't always rely on offense."

Sacramento also posted a 56-42 rebounding advantage and a 17-7 edge on the offensive glass. Cousins had a team-best 15 boards and 24 points in his ninth consecutive double-double, and he's averaging 30.9 points and 13.8 boards in his first 10 games in 2016.

Rajon Rondo's go-ahead layup with 13 seconds left gave him his fifth triple-double this season (11 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds). It also tied him with Chris Webber for the most in one season since the franchise moved to Sacramento in 1985-86.

Rondo had 13 points, 17 assists and eight rebounds in a 108-106 win in Indiana on Dec. 23. Cousins made the tiebreaking free throws with 1:05 remaining and finished with 25 points and 16 rebounds.

Darren Collison had a season-high 24 points in Sacramento's third consecutive win in the series.

The Pacers (23-20) will try to end that skid and avoid their fifth loss in six contests. They won 97-94 against scuffling Phoenix in Tuesday's midpoint of a four-game trip but fell 122-110 to league-best Golden State on Friday.

Indiana couldn't recover from a 25-8 deficit in the opening seven minutes, but Myles Turner was a bright spot with a season-high 31 points. The first-round draft pick is averaging 23.7 points while shooting 73.2 percent (30 of 41) on this road trip.

"I thought we played a good basketball game. We just didn't get off to a good start," coach Frank Vogel said. "We won the final three quarters, and I was proud with how our guys competed."

Monta Ellis had a team-best 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting in last month's loss to the Kings and is averaging 20.7 while shooting 50.0 percent in his past three games. He shot 8 of 14 and finished with 18 points in Friday's loss.

Pacers starting point George Hill may return after a three-game absence following the birth of his son. He had 20 points in the loss in December.

Sacramento hasn't won five straight since Oct. 31-Nov. 7, 2014.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Saturday, January 23

Saturday's hot teams
-- Bucks won three of their last four games (8-4 last 12AU). New Orleans won four of its last five gaames (5-7HF).
-- Grizzlies won six of their last seven games (5-4AF).
-- Cleveland is 30-11 but fired its coach yesterday (5-2 last 7HF).
-- Hawks won three of their last four games (2-7 last 9AF).
-- Sacramento won its last four games (6-6HF).
-- Portland won four of its last six games (5-4HF).

Cold teams
-- New York lost their last three road games. Hornets lost seven of their last ten games.
-- Minnesota lost 11 of last 12 games (4-9-1HU).
-- Chicago lost six of its last eight games (5-7AU).
-- Suns lost their last six games, covering once.
-- Pistons lost four of their last six games (2-6AF). Nuggets lost three of last four games (6-2-1 last 9HU).
-- Pacers lost four of their last five games (2-5 last 7AU).
-- Lakers lost their last five games (10-15AU).

Series records
-- Knicks lost four of last five games with Charlotte.
-- Bucks lost their last five games with New Orleans.
-- Grizzlies won five of last seven games with Minnesota.
-- Cavaliers won three of last four games with Chicago.
-- Hawks won last two games with Phoenix by 27-9 points.
-- Pistons lost eight of last ten games with Denver.
-- Pacers lost their last three games with Sacramento.
-- Lakers lost their last seven games with Portland.

Totals
-- Five of last six New York games went over total.
-- Six of last eight Milwaukee games stayed under.
-- Last six Memphis games went over the total.
-- Seven of last eight Chicago games went over total.
-- Five of last six Atlanta games stayed under total.
-- Five of last six Detroit games went over total.
-- Five of last seven Indiana games went over total.
-- Five of last six Laker-Portland games stayed under.

Back/backs
-- New York is 5-4 vs spread if it played night before. Charlotte is 1-6 vs spread if it played night before.
-- Milwaukee is 9-2 vs spread if it played night before.
-- Indiana is 0-4 vs spread on road if it played night before.
-- Lakers are 6-4 vs spread if they played the night before

[StarDust Bum]

NBA

Saturday, January 23

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6:30 PM
UTAH vs. WASHINGTON
Utah is 2-10 SU in its last 12 games on the road
Utah is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Washington
Washington is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Washington is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games at home

7:00 PM
NEW YORK vs. CHARLOTTE
New York is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Charlotte
New York is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Charlotte
Charlotte is 15-7 SU in its last 22 games at home
Charlotte is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games at home

7:00 PM
BOSTON vs. PHILADELPHIA
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Boston's last 10 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Philadelphia's last 9 games when playing Boston
Philadelphia is 7-16-1 ATS in its last 24 games at home

7:00 PM
MILWAUKEE vs. NEW ORLEANS
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Milwaukee's last 5 games on the road
Milwaukee is 5-18 SU in its last 23 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Orleans's last 6 games when playing Milwaukee
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Orleans's last 5 games

8:00 PM
MEMPHIS vs. MINNESOTA
Memphis is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Memphis is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
Minnesota is 3-16 SU in its last 19 games when playing Memphis
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Minnesota's last 19 games when playing Memphis

8:30 PM
CHICAGO vs. CLEVELAND
Chicago is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chicago's last 6 games when playing on the road against Cleveland
Cleveland is 7-16 ATS in its last 23 games when playing Chicago
Cleveland is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Chicago

9:00 PM
ATLANTA vs. PHOENIX
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Atlanta's last 12 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
Atlanta is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Phoenix is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Phoenix's last 7 games

9:30 PM
DETROIT vs. DENVER
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit's last 6 games
Detroit is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Denver's last 6 games when playing at home against Detroit
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Denver's last 5 games at home

10:30 PM
INDIANA vs. SACRAMENTO
Indiana is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Indiana is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Sacramento is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Sacramento's last 5 games when playing at home against Indiana

10:30 PM
LA LAKERS vs. PORTLAND
LA Lakers are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games when playing Portland
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 6 games when playing Portland
Portland is 15-4 SU in their last 19 games when playing at home against LA Lakers
Portland is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games at home

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Long Sheet

Saturday, January 23

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

NEW YORK (22 - 23) at CHARLOTTE (20 - 23) - 1/23/2016, 7:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
NEW YORK is 6-4 against the spread versus CHARLOTTE over the last 3 seasons
CHARLOTTE is 6-4 straight up against NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
8 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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

MILWAUKEE (19 - 26) at NEW ORLEANS (15 - 27) - 1/23/2016, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MILWAUKEE is 135-177 ATS (-59.7 Units) on Saturday games since 1996.
MILWAUKEE is 232-288 ATS (-84.8 Units) in non-conference games since 1996.
MILWAUKEE is 10-21 ATS (-13.1 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 37-22 ATS (+12.8 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 27-14 ATS (+11.6 Units) in road games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
MILWAUKEE is 2-1 against the spread versus NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons
NEW ORLEANS is 4-0 straight up against MILWAUKEE over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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

MEMPHIS (25 - 19) at MINNESOTA (13 - 31) - 1/23/2016, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 17-26 ATS (-11.6 Units) in all games this season.
MINNESOTA is 41-64 ATS (-29.4 Units) as a home underdog of 3.5 to 6 points since 1996.
MINNESOTA is 5-17 ATS (-13.7 Units) in home games this season.
MINNESOTA is 3-14 ATS (-12.4 Units) in home games revenging a loss vs opponent this season.
MINNESOTA is 5-16 ATS (-12.6 Units) after allowing 105 points or more this season.
MINNESOTA is 19-33 ATS (-17.3 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 44-64 ATS (-26.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 181-234 ATS (-76.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 5-3 against the spread versus MEMPHIS over the last 3 seasons
MEMPHIS is 5-3 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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

CHICAGO (24 - 18) at CLEVELAND (30 - 11) - 1/23/2016, 8:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 16-26 ATS (-12.6 Units) in all games this season.
CHICAGO is 4-17 ATS (-14.7 Units) on Saturday games over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 79-48 ATS (+26.2 Units) in road games in January games since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 9-6 against the spread versus CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
CLEVELAND is 8-7 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
9 of 15 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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

ATLANTA (26 - 18) at PHOENIX (13 - 31) - 1/23/2016, 9:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

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

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

DETROIT (23 - 20) at DENVER (16 - 27) - 1/23/2016, 9:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
DENVER is 2-2 against the spread versus DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
DENVER is 2-2 straight up against DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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

INDIANA (23 - 20) at SACRAMENTO (19 - 23) - 1/23/2016, 10:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
SACRAMENTO is 3-2 against the spread versus INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
SACRAMENTO is 3-2 straight up against INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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

LA LAKERS (9 - 36) at PORTLAND (19 - 26) - 1/23/2016, 10:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
PORTLAND is 7-2 against the spread versus LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
PORTLAND is 8-1 straight up against LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
6 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

[StarDust Bum]

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


NY at CHA 07:00 PM

CHA +1.5


MIL at NO 07:00 PM

MIL +6.5 BEST BET


MEM at MIN 08:00 PM

MIN +3.0


CHI at CLE 08:30 PM

CLE -10.5 BEST BET


ATL at PHO 09:00 PM

PHO +11.5


DET at DEN 09:30 PM

DEN +4.0


LAL at POR 10:30 PM

LAL +11.5 BEST BET


IND at SAC 10:30 PM

SAC -2.5 BEST BET