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Warriors embrace chase of wins mark
March 31, 2016

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) If anyone still doubted whether the Golden State Warriors were truly going to push for a record 73 wins instead of saving energy for the playoffs, that thought should now be put to rest for good.

Playing on the back end of a back-to-back on the road against a hungry team fighting for the playoffs, Stephen Curry played his most minutes since before Christmas, Draymond Green crashed hard to the floor in overtime and the Warriors (68-7) conceded nothing in a 103-96 win at Utah on Wednesday night that left them five wins away from breaking Chicago's record of 72 wins with seven games left to play.

''It is something we want to do,'' Green said. ''We've spoken on this. It is no secret.''

After spending much of the season deflecting talk of breaking the mark set by the Bulls in 1995-96, the Warriors are now embracing it.

Never was that more apparent than in Utah, when Curry played more than 42 minutes for his most playing time since a double-overtime win in Boston on Dec. 11, Green played nearly 43 minutes and Klay Thompson played nearly 39. The combined 124 minutes for Golden State's three biggest stars were their most in any game this season.

Coach Steve Kerr, a member on the Bulls team that set the record, was a latecomer to the cause. After stressing the importance of rest for much of the season, he recently changed his tune and said if the players wanted the record, he'd play them as long as they were healthy.

''Our team wants it,'' Kerr said. ''They've made it pretty clear, so what we're doing is listening to them and trusting them that if they're injured, they're going to let us know. And if that's the case, we'll give them a rest. And if they feel like they're perfectly capable of getting out there and playing and that's what they want to do, then that's what we'll do.''

What once was a hypothetical question about whether the record was in reach has become reality in recent weeks as the players have sensed how close 73 wins really are.

''We realize we can make history and that helps because it keeps you focused every game,'' Thompson said. ''You don't want to lose and get this far and not go for it. We have a young youthful team and a great mix of vets that know how to pace themselves. We put a lot on the young guys' shoulders and go out there and perform every night and that's great. We are 26 and younger so we can do it right now and give our vets a rest.''

For much of the season, the Warriors were fighting for their top regular-season goal of earning home-court advantage in the playoffs more than a record. With San Antonio nipping close behind, the Warriors could afford few slipups to remain the top seed.

But with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich resting many of his key players of late, the Warriors have a five-game lead with seven games to play, all but assuring them of home-court advantage. Kerr has not given his top players the same type of time off that his former coach Popovich has done with the Spurs.

''It doesn't matter, to me, how he plays it,'' Kerr said. ''His team is a little older than ours, too. We are very aware of our guys and how they feel and if there is a chance to rest Shaun Livingston, Bogues (Andrew Bogut), Andre (Iguodala), then we would do that. ... We have a core group of young guys that if I asked them to skip a game they wouldn't be really thrilled with me right now.''

Making the decision slightly easier for Kerr is the fact that even with the increased intensity of the playoffs, the drawn-out postseason schedule will give the team plenty of rest.

In the 62 days between the end of last season and when the Warriors won the championship, they played just 21 games. Even if they get tested more and have longer series, the playoffs have no back-to-backs and often have multiple days off between games.

In contrast, Golden State has played 23 games in the past 41 days since the All-Star break with six sets of back-to-backs.

''If the playoffs were compressed, I probably would be more apt to rest guys,'' Kerr said. ''The fact is, once the first round gets under way, it's like days of rest.''

With the regular season ending in less than two weeks, that time is coming up soon.

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Preview: Pelicans (29-47) at 76ers (9-68)
Date: April 05, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

There may be a paucity of NBA-caliber players on the court Tuesday night in Philadelphia, but the 76ers won't complain if they avoid league infamy.

They stand to have a decent shot at finally notching their 10th victory if they can end their 12-game slide while facing the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans.

It's more notable who isn't available for these teams than who is. The Pelicans' lengthy injury list includes Anthony Davis (left knee), Ryan Anderson (sports hernia), Tyreke Evans (right knee), Eric Gordon (fractured right ring finger), Jrue Holiday (right inferior orbital wall fracture) and Norris Cole (lower back).

Philadelphia (9-68) is without rookie Jahlil Okafor because of a knee injury while Nerlens Noel has missed six straight games with a right knee contusion and Richaun Holmes four in a row with a right Achilles tendon strain. In addition, Hollis Thompson was a late scratch for Saturday's 115-102 defeat to Indiana with an upper-respiratory infection.

There's plenty on the line for the 76ers, who need one victory in their last five games to avoid matching the 1972-73 Philadelphia club for the worst full-season record in NBA history.

They showed plenty of fight against the playoff-contending Pacers, leading by two with 4:38 left before being outscored 19-4. Philadelphia had 17 turnovers after averaging 11 in its previous five games; it averages 16.6 for the Eastern Conference's worst mark.

"The turnovers got the better of us," coach Brett Brown said. "I think we've been doing a good job lately caring for the ball."

Isaiah Canaan scored 24 and Jerami Grant added 20 for Philadelphia in the opener of a four-game homestand that could be promising. The 76ers host two more non-playoff teams in New York and Milwaukee in their quest to avoid ignominy.

'Perhaps it gets a little deflating, but our guys are still there," Brown said. 'We will see everybody soon, and we will play hard like we did tonight, when we see New Orleans."

One player who may have extra incentive is guard Ish Smith, who was traded by the Pelicans (29-47) to the Sixers on Dec. 24. He scored 12 in Philadelphia's 121-114 loss at New Orleans on Feb. 19.

The Pelicans also have plenty of fringe NBA players trying to make a name for themselves down the stretch. Point guard Tim Frazier had career highs of 19 points and 13 assists in Sunday's 106-87 win at Brooklyn.

Frazier, who spent part of last season as a rookie with the Sixers, is averaging 13.6 points in 10 games with New Orleans.

'I think Tim Frazier has done a really good job,' coach Alvin Gentry said. 'That's a tough position to play, but I think he's been really good at what he's done.'

The Pelicans seek their first three-game win streak since Jan. 19-23. Luke Babbitt has totaled 43 points in the last two games.

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Preview: Hornets (44-32) at Raptors (51-25)
Date: April 05, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

A loss by the Charlotte Hornets guaranteed the Toronto Raptors a top-two seed in the Eastern Conference.

That same defeat dropped the Hornets to sixth place, and there is still plenty to be ironed out on their end in the season's final week and a half.

While the Raptors continue to prepare for a first-round playoff series that will start north of the border, the banged-up Hornets are hoping to jump back into position to secure their own home start when two of the East's hottest teams since the All-Star break meet in Toronto on Tuesday night.

With six games left and Cleveland holding a 3 1/2-game lead atop the East, Toronto (51-25) has started looking ahead to the postseason.

Coach Dwane Casey opted to rest DeMar DeRozan, and Kyle Lowry sat with an elbow injury in Saturday's 102-95 loss at San Antonio, relaying a message that healthy and rested players is more important than home-court advantage should the Raptors meet the Cavaliers in the conference finals.

Even with two All-Stars and a combined 45.2 points, 10.5 assists and 9.2 rebounds on the bench, the Atlantic Division winners put up a fight against the Spurs, who haven't lost at home in nearly a calendar year.

Rookie Norman Powell finished one point shy of his career high with 17, and Jonas Valanciunas and Cory Joseph added 16 apiece.

"I loved the fight. l loved the spirit," Casey told the team's official website. "The young guys came in and competed. You're talking about a potential championship team right there (in the Spurs) from top to bottom. We didn't back down."

Make no mistake, Toronto's championship chances hinge on DeRozan and Lowry, who are expected back in the lineup Tuesday when the Raptors try to improve on their 29-9 record at Air Canada Centre.

DeRozan totaled 54 points as Toronto split the first two games against Charlotte, and Lowry had 38, 18 assists and 10 rebounds.

The Hornets (44-32) pulled out a 109-99 overtime home victory Dec. 17 behind Jeremy Lin's season-high 35 points and Kemba Walker's 27, but the Raptors won 104-94 in Toronto on Jan. 1 for their third victory in the last four games of this series.

Al Jefferson did not play in either matchup and Nicolas Batum missed the first. Jefferson sat out Sunday's 112-103 loss at Cleveland with a bruised thigh, and Batum did not return after spraining his knee in the first half.

Batum ranks second on the team behind Walker with 15.2 points per game, and coach Steve Clifford said he will be cautious with him down the stretch.

"It's not the time of year to be messing with it," Clifford said. "I don't think it will be anything long term, but we need him healthy. The priority will be him getting back to 100 percent before he plays again."

Charlotte is in a tight race in the Southeast, tied with Miami a half-game back of Atlanta. After Clifford congratulated his team for clinching a playoff berth during a shootaround early Sunday, the Hornets' loss later in the day dropped them from the No. 3 seed all the way back to sixth.

Walker scored 21 of his 29 in the second half and Marvin Williams added 22, though Charlotte's three-game win streak ended with just its sixth loss in the last 26 games.

Four of the Hornets' final six are away from home, where they've already played five of the last six. They're 4-2 during that stretch but just 16-21 on the road all season.

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Preview: Pistons (41-36) at Heat (44-32)
Date: April 05, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

Stan Van Gundy isn't usually a coach who shies away from telling it exactly like it is, but it's hard not to look at his take on the Detroit Pistons' playoff hopes as slightly pessimistic.

Barring a collapse, his team is headed for its first postseason appearance in seven years.

That could become a reality by the time the Pistons finish a back-to-back in South Florida, though the Miami Heat will surely have something to say about Tuesday night's first stop as they continue to fight for home-court advantage.

Detroit (41-36) didn't wrap up its first playoff trip since 2008-09 on Saturday in Chicago, but it made things a whole lot easier on itself heading into the final five games. The starters, who provide a league-high 74.9 percent of the Pistons' points, had all but 11 at the United Center in a 94-90 victory over the ninth-place Bulls.

Van Gundy's team is tied with Indiana for the seventh and eighth spots, and while Detroit would lose a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Pacers, Saturday's win gave it the edge on Chicago along with a magic number of three.

"You like being ahead, but until we're in, I'm not the least bit comfortable," the coach told the team's official website. "The way this season has gone? It's up and down. And look who we have to play now."

A visit to Orlando on Wednesday will conclude the Pistons' 19th back-to-back of the season - no team will play more times on consecutive days than their 20 - and with the Bulls traveling to Memphis that night, Detroit could return home as a playoff team should these three results go its way.

"There's nothing easy and we've still got to get more wins," Van Gundy said after Saturday's victory. "I'm happy tonight with the win. It would've been a lot harder with a loss. In fact, it would've been a real uphill battle with a loss. So am I happy tonight? Yeah. But by (Sunday), no. I won't be the least bit comfortable. (Sunday), I'll be grumpy again."

The Heat (44-32) have the Pistons to thank for clinching a spot in the playoffs Saturday - the win in Chicago punched Miami's ticket - but they went out and played like a team with little motivation to wrap up a 1-2 road trip with a 110-93 loss to Portland.

'With this organization, we always have big expectations, that doesn't change from year to year,' coach Erik Spoelstra said. 'So, getting over that hurdle does mean something to us, but we still have more that we're working on for right now and that's really what we're focused on."

Dwyane Wade missed the final two games on the trip with back and neck injuries suffered in Wednesday's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, though he said he was feeling better prior to the game in Portland.

Miami still has plenty to play for as part of a four-team cluster separated by a half-game that's battling for the third and fourth spots in the Eastern Conference.

Assuming Wade plays, the Heat could certainly use more than he gave them in the first two games this season against Detroit. Wade was held to two points in a 104-81 loss Nov. 25 - his lowest total ever in at least 20 minutes - and then shot 8 of 21 in a 93-92 home defeat Dec. 22.

A chunk of the credit for those wins goes to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope despite an ugly 7-for-28 shooting line. He hit the winning 3-pointer in the final minute of the December victory, and held Heat players to 6-of-24 shooting between the two games when he was the primary defender - which he often was on Wade.

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Preview: Suns (20-57) at Hawks (45-32)
Date: April 05, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

After their momentum was halted by back-to-back losses to the Eastern Conference's top teams, the Atlanta Hawks are looking to regroup in what appears to be a less-challenging matchup.

However, nothing came easy when they last faced the lowly Phoenix Suns.

Kent Bazemore says he'll play Tuesday night when the host Hawks try resume their push for the third seed and avoid their longest skid in six weeks.

X-rays were negative after Bazemore suffered a left wrist injury in Friday's 110-108 overtime home loss to Cleveland. The starting forward, who finished with seven points and 12 rebounds, said he's sore but won't miss any playing time.

Atlanta soared into the third spot with a 14-3 surge but slid back into a tie with Boston for that seed with Wednesday's 105-97 loss at second-place Toronto and Friday's defeat, in which the club's rally from a 21-point deficit fell short.

'Obviously, those games kind of gauge where you're at and we lost them both,' said guard Kyle Korver, who had 14 points and four 3-pointers against the Cavaliers.

Among four teams separated by a half-game between third and sixth place, Atlanta (45-32) has an opportunity to regain sole possession of third Tuesday before taking on the Raptors, Celtics and Cavaliers in its next three.

Finishing third could be crucial since the Hawks wouldn't have to face a Cleveland team that has beaten them six straight times - including last postseason - until a potential conference finals rematch.

Atlanta, which hasn't lost three in a row since Feb. 19-22, also has a half-game lead over Miami and Charlotte in the Southeast as it tries to win back-to-back division titles for the first time since a four-year run from 1957-61, when the team played in St. Louis.

After totaling 18 points in his previous two games, Paul Millsap bounced back to score a season-high 29 on Friday. He did not play Jan. 23, when Archie Goodwin finished with 24 and made a 3-pointer with 0.1 seconds left to give Phoenix a 98-95 victory.

Atlanta will have to keep the Suns (20-57) off the glass in this contest after they held a 52-43 rebounding advantage in the first meeting. Tyson Chandler pulled down a franchise record-tying 27 boards, while Alex Len had 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Chandler had 21 points and 18 boards in Phoenix's sixth consecutive defeat Sunday, 101-86 to visiting Utah. He's averaged 15 points and 15.3 rebounds in posting three consecutive double-doubles and has averaged 23 boards in his last three against Atlanta.

"It's about going out there and getting better," Chandler said.

Mirza Teletovic has provided a spark for the banged-up Suns by averaging 18.8 points in his last six games. Brandon Knight has been ruled out for the season due to a sports hernia, while Jon Leuer is likely to miss his third straight due to a right ankle sprain.

'I can't live with myself putting our players at risk for further injury just to secure a job,' interim coach Earl Watson said.

Atlanta's Jeff Teague has heated up by averaging 24 points in his last three games, but he's averaged 11 and 35.9 percent shooting in his past three against Phoenix.

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Preview: Cavaliers (55-22) at Bucks (32-45)
Date: April 05, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

Through all the uncertainty surrounding the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving continue to insist they're ready for the postseason.

It may be tough for some to believe, especially given Irving's recent injury, though the Cavaliers can inch closer to securing the Eastern Conference's top seed with their third straight win over the host Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night.

A couple days after Irving said the Cavaliers (55-22) were the "team to beat" - not really clarifying if he meant in the East or the entire league - James issued his own concise postseason statement following Sunday's 112-103 win over Charlotte.

"If it started tomorrow, we'd be ready to go," James said after Cleveland's third straight victory.

The Cavaliers lead Toronto in the East by 3 1/2 games with five left, though the Raptors have a game in hand and hold the tiebreaker, keeping Cleveland from a clinching scenario Tuesday.

James' assuredness comes without knowing if Irving will be available against the last-place Bucks (32-45). The three-time All-Star sprained his right ankle late in the first half of Friday's 110-108 overtime win at Atlanta, and soreness and swelling kept him out against the Hornets.

Irving played in the second half and extra period against the Hawks, though it seemed the Cavaliers were playing it safe two days later. Coach Tyronn Lue said he doesn't know if Irving will require more rest.

Lue has rested his star players down the stretch, including James twice in the last three weeks. The four-time MVP has responded well, averaging 28.6 points, 9.6 assists and 8.9 rebounds while playing in seven games during a 6-2 stretch. He has two triple-doubles in that span and just missed two more over the weekend.

After going for 29 points, a season-high 16 rebounds and nine assists in Atlanta, James logged 31 points, 12 assists and eight boards against Charlotte.

"I think he's been leading by example knowing that the playoffs are coming up and we have to get ready for this stretch," Lue told the team's official website. "I think he's done a great job of setting the tone for us."

The Cavaliers, who are 23-15 on the road, have games remaining against three possible first-round opponents - Indiana, Chicago and Detroit - with another against an Atlanta team that could line up in the second round.

First, they'll try to win the four-game season series against Milwaukee.

James has averaged 30 points, 9 rebounds and 6.3 assists and Kevin Love 23.3 points and 13 rebounds in this series, helping Cleveland to back-to-back wins. The Cavs, who were without Irving in the first two, have won four of the last five meetings.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has averaged 24.3 points against Cleveland this season, and he logged his second straight big game in Sunday's 102-98 loss to Chicago. He had a career-high 34 points, nine assists and five rebounds two days after posting his fifth triple-double in a 113-110 win over Orlando.

Jabari Parker chipped in 24 points against the Bulls, but Milwaukee's two-game winning streak was snapped as leading scorer Khris Middleton sat with a strained left thigh while the Bucks fell to 23-16 at BMO Harris Bradley Center.

"We missed Khris," Antetokounmpo said. "I told (Parker) before the game we have to be aggressive, we have to push the team. We have to make the other guys play hard and just try to compete."

Milwaukee made only 2 of 7 from 3-point range, the third-lowest total attempted in a game by any team this season. It is unclear if Middleton will be available Tuesday.

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Preview: Bulls (39-38) at Grizzlies (41-36)
Date: April 05, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

It's been eight years since the Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls both missed the postseason, but that's the direction both former defensive-minded clubs could be headed.

Injuries have taken their toll on sinking Memphis, while similar setbacks have left Chicago's playoff hopes on life support.

The Grizzlies try for a home win over the Bulls on Tuesday night that they feel will help reverse their bad fortune while Chicago looks to continue its push to get back into playoff position.

Memphis, seeking a sixth straight playoff appearance, had a nine-game lead for a spot March 4. The loss of Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, Brandan Wright and P.J. Hairston have since caught up with the club, fifth in the West, during a six-game losing streak and 4-12 stretch.

"We can sit here and rah-rah and motivate and say what we need to do, but until we get it done on the court all the motivational speeches don't matter," veteran swingman Vince Carter said. "We just have to get over the hump. (Injuries are) not an excuse now."

The Grizzlies (41-36) allowed an average of 99.3 points in their first 61 games but have surrendered 107.6 over the last 16. They allowed host Orlando to shoot 47.8 percent and post a 28-8 advantage on fast-break points in their sixth straight loss, 119-107 on Sunday.

In the midst of its worst losing streak since a seven-game skid in November 2009, Memphis' once-comfortable lead has dwindled to three games over ninth-place Houston with five left. The club's advantage over sixth-place Portland is down to a half-game.

"We are playing for a playoff spot and to stay in the playoffs so we just have to figure it out," Carter said. "It (stinks) and there is a dark cloud over us right now but we can still see the light of day.

"It is still possible. We just have to win a couple of games and everything should feel a little better. We just have to stay the course."

The Bulls' situation is considerably more dire as they try to avoid missing the postseason for the first time since 2007-08. Chicago (39-38) is two games out of the final spot in the East.

Since a four-game losing streak put a serious dent in its postseason chances, Chicago has won three of four.

Jimmy Butler is certainly doing all he can, following up a 28-point, 17-rebound, 12-assist effort in a 94-90 home loss to eighth-place Detroit on Saturday with 25 points on 10-of-11 shooting in Sunday's 102-98 win at Milwaukee.

'They don't go by points for who's in the eighth seed. It's all about winning and losing,' Butler said. 'If we continue to win, hopefully we'll find ourselves in the postseason."

Derrick Rose is questionable for this contest after missing the past two with an elbow injury, while Taj Gibson is doubtful after sitting out the last three with a broken rib.

Since surrendering an average of 107.4 points while losing 18 of 28, the Bulls have tightened up defensively by allowing 97 per game over their last four. They limited Memphis to 42.1 percent shooting in a 98-85 win in the first meeting Dec. 16.

Butler led the way with 24 points in that contest and has averaged 28.5 in his last two at FedExForum.

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Preview: Thunder (53-24) at Nuggets (32-46)
Date: April 05, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

The Oklahoma City Thunder have blown more fourth-quarter leads than any team in the league, but Russell Westbrook doesn't seem too concerned after the latest such slip-up, even with the playoffs looming.

The Thunder usually haven't had that problem in recent matchups with the Denver Nuggets and will try to extend their dominance in the series Tuesday night.

Oklahoma City (53-24) failed to hold on to a lead in the final period for the 13th time in Sunday's 118-110 defeat at Houston.

The Rockets outscored the Thunder 21-8 in the final 5:40. They also finished with 21 second-chance points and scored 25 off Oklahoma City's 21 turnovers, its most in 12 games.

"I don't agree with us 'losing the lead' if we're up two points going into the fourth quarter because, to me, that's not losing the lead," said Westbrook, who finished one assist shy of his 17th triple-double this season. "To me, that doesn't make any sense. I think we've been doing a good job of playing well and closing out games, so I'm not worried about that."

Oklahoma City will seek to bounce back with a sixth consecutive win over the Nuggets (32-46) and the franchise's first season sweep of Denver since 1997-98 when it was known as the Seattle SuperSonics.

The Thunder won the last matchup 110-104 at Denver on Jan. 19, overcoming a 6-for-28 performance from 3-point range.

The Nuggets enter having lost four of five, and they've dropped back-to-back games against short-handed teams that are below them in the Western Conference standings. They lost 101-95 in New Orleans on Thursday and two nights later fell 115-106 to visiting Sacramento, which used eight players, resting DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo.

"You look at the last two games, we played against a depleted Pelicans team, got our butts kicked," said guard Will Barton, who has eight points on 0-of-17 shooting in the past two contests. "Tonight we played a depleted Sacramento team and got our butts kicked. It's a terrible effort. Just a bad effort."

The Nuggets were abysmal in the fourth quarter in those two, totaling 35 points on 26.7 percent shooting, including 2 of 16 from 3-point range.

Oklahoma City star Kevin Durant has scored at least 20 points in 61 consecutive games, the fourth-longest streak since the NBA-ABA merger. He is closing in on Kobe Bryant's 63-game run for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2005-06.

Durant has scored 20-plus points in 25 straight matchups with Denver, including the playoffs. The last time he failed to reach that mark against the Nuggets was a 19-point effort March 3, 2010.

Durant has averaged 32.5 points in his last four games in Denver, while Westbrook is averaging 28.5 points on 52.5 percent shooting in his last two in the series.

Oklahoma City can wrap up the Western Conference's No. 3 seed with a win or a Los Angeles Clippers defeat against the Lakers on Tuesday night.

The Nuggets have lost their past two home games after winning five in a row, their longest streak in two seasons.

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Preview: Spurs (64-12) at Jazz (39-38)
Date: April 05, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

In their bid to secure their first playoff berth in four years, the Utah Jazz may benefit from the San Antonio Spurs likely caring about only one thing.

That would be the first unbeaten home season in NBA history, so Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is likely to rest the meat of his lineup when his team visits the Jazz on Tuesday night with little to play for in the opener of a three-game trip.

With this contest and a visit to Denver sandwiching Thursday's matchup at Golden State, there's no reason for Popovich to give heavy minutes to Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili against the Jazz or Nuggets.

Sure, the Spurs (64-12) have a mathematical chance to catch the Warriors for the top seed in the Western Conference, but it's highly unlikely.

Utah (39-38), on the other hand, is battling Dallas and Houston for the West's final two postseason berths. The Jazz are tied with the Mavericks and a game ahead of Houston, and the Texas rivals are set for a crucial matchup in Dallas on Wednesday night.

If Utah can finish above both and claim seventh place, a matchup awaits against the Spurs, who swept the Jazz out of the postseason in the first round in 2011-12.

All three teams have five games remaining and each took care of business Sunday, when Utah put its stout defense on full display in Phoenix with a 101-86 victory over the Suns that was its fourth in five games.

Gordon Hayward led five players in double figures with 22 points and the Jazz forced Phoenix into 8-of-27 shooting from long range and 21 turnovers that led to 26 points.

"It's our defense. We know that's our calling card," said Rodney Hood, who had 18 points and seven assists. "We're really helping each other out and making people take tough shots and we're just living with the results."

Utah is second to San Antonio (92.6) at 95.9 points allowed per game, but it's been even better at 88.9 during its 10-3 surge into contention. The only teams to top 100 in those 13 games are Oklahoma City (113) and Golden State, which needed overtime for 103.

The Jazz may be playing outstanding defense, but that hasn't been the case while losing the first three matchups against the Spurs this season. San Antonio has averaged 112.3 points while holding Utah to 85.7, a differential of 26.6 that is the Spurs' largest against a West opponent this season.

Hayward was held in check with 11 points per game on 32.4 percent shooting in those contests, while Hood averaged just 8.3 and shot 33.3 percent.

Since the start of the 2010-11 season, Utah has lost 16 of 20 against San Antonio with all the victories coming in Salt Lake City.

Losing to the Spurs on their home floor is a league-wide epidemic, one the Raptors got a taste of in Sunday's 102-95 loss as San Antonio improved to 39-0 at AT&T Center. Leonard had a career-high 33 points and Aldridge had 31 points and 15 rebounds to help the Spurs set a franchise record for wins in a season.

San Antonio is trying to top the 1985-86 Boston Celtics, who went 40-1 at home, and they'll certainly have to earn it with their final two home games coming against the Warriors and Thunder.

"We don't pay attention, nor are allowed to care," guard Danny Green said. "It's fun to be a part of something big, or be a part of history or make history, but we're looking at the bigger pictures."

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Preview: Trail Blazers (41-37) at Kings (31-46)
Date: April 05, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

After Stephen Curry and mighty Golden State ended their run, the Portland Trail Blazers hope to find the going easier against Seth Curry and the Sacramento Kings.

The Blazers will try to bounce back while inching closer to a playoff berth Tuesday night when they visit Sacramento, which has played well lately despite little incentive to do so.

Stephen Curry finished with 38 points on Sunday when the Warriors snapped Portland's four-game winning streak with a 136-111 home victory. The Blazers (41-37), however, remained just a half game behind free-falling fifth-place Memphis.

Now they have an opportunity to move three games ahead of ninth-place Houston, which will still have five games left after Tuesday. That seems to be incentive enough for coach Terry Stotts to play his starters down the stretch.

"The goal is to win every game," Stotts told the team's official website.

Portland's position is somewhat surprising after losing four starters from a team that won 51 games and ended up with the West's fifth-best record last season. Damian Lillard, the lone returning starter, believes there's motivation to finish fifth again.

"I think it would say a lot about how hard our team worked if we can finish in the same spot that we finished in last season," he said. "If we finish the right way and have our minds right then that's definitely a possibility."

There doesn't appear to be much of a difference in the potential matchups. The Blazers were blown out twice in three meetings with Oklahoma City and dropped the last three of their four-game season series with the Los Angeles Clippers.

"Every matchup is going to be tough in the playoffs," CJ McCollum said. "We're going to have our hands full. We just want to give ourselves the best chance."

Portland should be able to take a step forward eight days after building a 28-point lead in cruising to a 105-93 home win over the Kings. Allen Crabbe led the way with 21 points off the bench as the Blazers were able to rest starters in the fourth quarter.

Lillard has averaged 30.7 points while hitting 14 of 26 from 3-point range in his last three trips to Sacramento (31-46). He got back on track Sunday with 38 points and four 3s after averaging 15.8 points on 29.3 percent shooting over his previous five games.

Seth Curry, Stephen's younger brother, had a team-high 21 points last week when the Kings played without Rudy Gay, DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo. All three could be available after Cousins and Rondo were rested in Saturday's 115-106 win at Denver.

Sacramento, currently with the eighth-worst record in the league, loses its first-round pick to Chicago if it falls outside the top 10.

Cousins has averaged 30.3 points over his past four at home against the Blazers.

Gay led the way with 25 points and Curry added 17 on Saturday for Sacramento, which has averaged 113.8 per game while winning four of the past six. Gay has totaled 45 points and 22 rebounds and Curry has scored a combined 38 over the past two.

'You have to play with the guys available,' Gay said. 'It was a back-to-back (on Saturday) and guys came in and kept our play at the same level.'

With Lillard sidelined on Dec. 27, McCollum stepped up with 35 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and four steals in a 98-94 win in the most recent meeting at Sacramento.

Portland has won five in a row and nine of the past 11 in this series.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Timberwolves (25-52) at Warriors (69-8)
Date: April 05, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

Seventy is a number long sought by NBA teams, but accomplished by only one.

The Golden State Warriors have the chance to make it two Tuesday night when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves and continue their chase of the standard set by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls.

With the prospect of losing back-to-back games for the first time this season, the Warriors (69-8) put forth one of their best offensive efforts of the season in a campaign full of them, overwhelming Portland 136-111 on Sunday. The Warriors became the first team to reach 1,000 3-pointers in a season when Curry connected in the second quarter, and they finished 18 of 30 from beyond the arc.

Golden State needs to go 4-1 to surpass Chicago's revered 72-10 mark, yet Curry and coach Steve Kerr weren't talking about joining the Bulls as the only team to reach 70 wins at practice Monday. Instead, both spoke with pride about having the chance to be the first team to go an entire season without losing two games in a row.

"With five games left we still have a piece of the regular season to finish off, but not losing two in a row is special," said Curry, who needs 22 3-pointers to finish with a once-unfathomable 400. "Last year it was not lose three in a row and we were able to accomplish that. Every time we had a loss we've been able to bounce back and have a top-notch performance. ... When we take a punch, we learn from it and be aggressive the next opportunity like last night."

"It's incredible, it's never been done before," added Kerr, a guard on that 1995-96 Bulls team. "It just shows the consistency and the will, the competitiveness. ... it's an amazing feat if we can pull it off through 82 games."

Curry and Klay Thompson alone have combined for 640 3-pointers - far above the 544 Kerr's Bulls sank in their title-winning season. A good portion of those makes are due to Draymond Green's all-around game. To go with his 13 triple-doubles, Green is the only player in NBA history with 1,000 points, 700 rebounds, 500 assists, 100 steals and 100 blocks in a season, and the Warriors are shooting 55.4 percent on his passes that could be assists.

"He breaks defenses down like Steph does," Kerr explained. "Often times Steph breaks it down to start with and gives it to Draymond in a position to drive. Obviously a lot of what we do goes through those two players, and Draymond is frequently attacking, gets the defense on his heels and finds the open shooter."

Andrew Wiggins likely will get the first crack at trying to contain Green for the Timberwolves (25-52), who aim to avoid a fourth straight loss. He had 30 points while rookie Karl-Anthony Towns added 11 and 21 rebounds, but an inability to guard on the perimeter weighed heavily in an 88-78 loss to Dallas on Sunday night.

Minnesota allowed 14 3-pointers as guards Wesley Matthews, J.J. Barea and Devin Harris combined to make 12 of 26. The Wolves are 10-24 when opponents reach double figures in 3-pointers, with the Warriors posting a 129-116 win Nov. 12 after making 18 of 38 from beyond the arc.

"They had a lot of tap-outs, offensive rebounds and I think we got 20-something points off of it and six threes off of it," Wiggins told the team's official website. "I think that right there is a game changer."

Golden State held off Minnesota 109-104 in the most recent meeting March 21 when Thompson went 5 of 5 from long distance while Green had 24 points and six assists. The Wolves got all but 16 of their points from Wiggins, Towns, Ricky Rubio and Zach LaVine.

[StarDust Bum]

EASTERN CONFERENCE W L PCT GB HOME ROAD CONF DIV STREAK L10

1 y-Cleveland 55 22 0.714 - 32-7 23-15 33-14 7-5 W3 7-3

2 y-Toronto 51 25 0.671 3½ 29-9 22-16 34-12 11-2 L1 6-4

3 x-Atlanta 45 32 0.584 10 24-14 21-18 27-21 8-7 L2 7-3

4 x-Boston 45 32 0.584 10 25-12 20-20 29-19 10-6 W2 6-4

5 x-Miami 44 32 0.579 10½ 25-13 19-19 27-19 9-5 L1 6-4

6 x-Charlotte 44 32 0.579 10½ 28-11 16-21 29-17 7-7 L1 7-3

7 Indiana 41 36 0.532 14 23-15 18-21 26-21 6-8 W2 5-5

8 Detroit 41 36 0.532 14 25-14 16-22 26-21 9-6 W1 7-3

Chicago 39 38 0.506 16 24-15 15-23 23-26 9-6 W1 5-5

Washington 37 40 0.481 18 19-19 18-21 26-21 8-6 L1 5-5

o-Orlando 33 44 0.429 22 21-17 12-27 19-28 3-10 W1 4-6

o-Milwaukee 32 45 0.416 23 23-16 9-29 20-27 4-10 L1 3-7

o-New York 31 47 0.397 24½ 18-21 13-26 20-28 7-7 L1 3-7

o-Brooklyn 21 56 0.273 34 14-25 7-31 12-35 6-9 L5 2-8

o-Philadelphia 9 68 0.117 46 6-32 3-36 3-45 2-12 L12 0-10



WESTERN CONFERENCE W L PCT GB HOME ROAD CONF DIV STREAK L10

1 y-Golden St. 69 8 0.896 - 37-1 32-7 42-5 15-1 W1 8-2

2 y-San Antonio 64 12 0.842 4½ 39-0 25-12 40-6 13-2 W3 8-2

3 y-Oklahoma City 53 24 0.688 16 31-9 22-15 35-12 12-2 L1 8-2

4 x-L.A. Clippers 48 28 0.632 20½ 26-12 22-16 26-20 7-6 W1 6-4

5 Memphis 41 36 0.532 28 25-14 16-22 25-23 7-8 L6 2-8

6 Portland 41 37 0.526 28½ 26-12 15-25 26-22 9-4 L1 6-4

7 Dallas 39 38 0.506 30 21-17 18-21 24-23 5-8 W4 5-5

8 Utah 39 38 0.506 30 24-14 15-24 23-24 7-8 W2 7-3

Houston 38 39 0.494 31 21-17 17-22 25-22 8-7 W1 4-6

o-Denver 32 46 0.410 37½ 17-21 15-25 17-31 4-9 L2 4-6

o-Sacramento 31 46 0.403 38 17-21 14-25 17-30 7-8 W1 5-5

o-New Orleans 29 47 0.382 39½ 20-18 9-29 19-30 4-12 W2 5-5

o-Minnesota 25 52 0.325 44 13-26 12-26 14-33 3-12 L3 4-6

o-Phoenix 20 57 0.260 49 13-26 7-31 14-34 5-9 L6 2-8

o-L.A. Lakers 16 60 0.211 52½ 11-28 5-32 7-39 2-12 L1 2-8



x-clinched playoff berth
y-denotes division winner
z-clinched top seed in conference
o-eliminated from playoff contention

[StarDust Bum]

NBA ATS

NBA > (713) SAN ANTONIO@ (714) UTAH | 2016-04-05 21:05:00 - 2016-04-05 21:05:00
Play ON UTAH against the spread in All games revenging a home loss vs opponent
The record is 27 Wins and 7 Losses for the last two seasons (+19.3 units)

NBA > (703) DETROIT@ (704) MIAMI | 2016-04-05 20:00:00 - 2016-04-05 20:00:00
Play ON DETROIT against the spread in All games after a division game
The record is 23 Wins and 6 Losses for the last two seasons (+16.4 units)

NBA > (709) CHICAGO@ (710) MEMPHIS | 2016-04-05 20:05:00 - 2016-04-05 20:05:00
Play ON MEMPHIS against the spread in All games after allowing 105 points or more
The record is 18 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (+12.5 units)

NBA > (713) SAN ANTONIO@ (714) UTAH | 2016-04-05 21:05:00 - 2016-04-05 21:05:00
Play ON UTAH against the spread in All games revenging a loss vs opponent
The record is 56 Wins and 28 Losses for the last two seasons (+25.2 units)

NBA > (703) DETROIT@ (704) MIAMI | 2016-04-05 20:00:00 - 2016-04-05 20:00:00
Play ON DETROIT against the spread in Road games after a division game
The record is 11 Wins and 1 Losses for the last two seasons (+9.9 units)

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

NBA MONEYLINE

NBA > (707) PHOENIX@ (708) ATLANTA | 2016-04-05 20:05:00 - 2016-04-05 20:05:00
Play AGAINST PHOENIX using money line in All games after 3 or more consecutive losses
The record is 10 Wins and 26 Losses for the last two seasons (-25.15 units)

NBA > (705) CHARLOTTE@ (706) TORONTO | 2016-04-05 19:35:00 - 2016-04-05 19:35:00
Play ON TORONTO using money line in Home games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 15 Wins and 3 Losses for the this season (+12.8 units)

NBA > (707) PHOENIX@ (708) ATLANTA | 2016-04-05 20:05:00 - 2016-04-05 20:05:00
Play AGAINST PHOENIX using money line in All games in all games
The record is 20 Wins and 48 Losses for the this season (-32.7 units)

NBA > (703) DETROIT@ (704) MIAMI | 2016-04-05 20:00:00 - 2016-04-05 20:00:00
Play AGAINST MIAMI using money line in Home games on Tuesday nights
The record is 3 Wins and 11 Losses for the last two seasons (-15.85 units)

NBA > (701) NEW ORLEANS@ (702) PHILADELPHIA | 2016-04-05 19:05:00 - 2016-04-05 19:05:00
Play AGAINST NEW ORLEANS using money line in Road games off an upset win as an underdog
The record is 2 Wins and 13 Losses for the last two seasons (-14.15 units)

NBA > (717) PORTLAND@ (718) SACRAMENTO | 2016-04-05 22:05:00 - 2016-04-05 22:05:00
Play AGAINST SACRAMENTO using money line in All games off an upset win as an underdog
The record is 11 Wins and 30 Losses for the last three seasons (-26.75 units)

NBA > (709) CHICAGO@ (710) MEMPHIS | 2016-04-05 20:05:00 - 2016-04-05 20:05:00
Play ON MEMPHIS using money line in Home games after a non-conference game
The record is 26 Wins and 6 Losses for the last two seasons (+18.5 units)

NBA > (701) NEW ORLEANS@ (702) PHILADELPHIA | 2016-04-05 19:05:00 - 2016-04-05 19:05:00
Play AGAINST NEW ORLEANS using money line in All games after 3 or more consecutive unders
The record is 6 Wins and 17 Losses for the last three seasons (-19.7 units)

NBA > (713) SAN ANTONIO@ (714) UTAH | 2016-04-05 21:05:00 - 2016-04-05 21:05:00
Play ON SAN ANTONIO using money line in All games as a favorite
The record is 46 Wins and 9 Losses for the this season (+26.15 units)

NBA > (713) SAN ANTONIO@ (714) UTAH | 2016-04-05 21:05:00 - 2016-04-05 21:05:00
Play ON UTAH using money line in All games revenging a home loss vs opponent
The record is 21 Wins and 15 Losses for the last two seasons (+21.65 units)

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

NBA FIRST HALF

NBA > (709) CHICAGO@ (710) MEMPHIS | 2016-04-05 20:05:00 - 2016-04-05 20:05:00
Play ON CHICAGO ?>in the first halfin Road games in non-conference games
The record is 12 Wins and 1 Losses for the this season (+10.9 units)

NBA > (705) CHARLOTTE@ (706) TORONTO | 2016-04-05 19:35:00 - 2016-04-05 19:35:00
Play ON CHARLOTTE ?>in the first halfin Road games against Atlantic division opponents
The record is 13 Wins and 1 Losses for the last two seasons (+11.9 units)

NBA > (707) PHOENIX@ (708) ATLANTA | 2016-04-05 20:05:00 - 2016-04-05 20:05:00
Play AGAINST PHOENIX ?>in the first halfin Road games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game
The record is 6 Wins and 21 Losses for the this season (-17.1 units)

NBA > (707) PHOENIX@ (708) ATLANTA | 2016-04-05 20:05:00 - 2016-04-05 20:05:00
Play AGAINST PHOENIX ?>in the first halfin All games versus the first half line in all games
The record is 25 Wins and 51 Losses for the this season (-31.1 units)

NBA > (713) SAN ANTONIO@ (714) UTAH | 2016-04-05 21:05:00 - 2016-04-05 21:05:00
Play ON SAN ANTONIO ?>in the first halfin All games versus the 1rst half line in road games
The record is 26 Wins and 10 Losses for the this season (+15 units)

NBA > (701) NEW ORLEANS@ (702) PHILADELPHIA | 2016-04-05 19:05:00 - 2016-04-05 19:05:00
Play AGAINST NEW ORLEANS ?>in the first halfin Road games off an upset win as an underdog
The record is 3 Wins and 17 Losses for the last three seasons (-15.7 units)

NBA > (711) CLEVELAND@ (712) MILWAUKEE | 2016-04-05 20:05:00 - 2016-04-05 20:05:00
Play ON CLEVELAND ?>in the first halfin All games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season
The record is 47 Wins and 22 Losses for the last two seasons (+22.8 units)

NBA > (717) PORTLAND@ (718) SACRAMENTO | 2016-04-05 22:05:00 - 2016-04-05 22:05:00
Play ON PORTLAND ?>in the first halfin All games as a favorite vs. the 1rst half line
The record is 26 Wins and 11 Losses for the this season (+13.9 units)

NBA > (721) LA LAKERS@ (722) LA CLIPPERS | 2016-04-05 22:35:00 - 2016-04-05 22:35:00
Play AGAINST LA LAKERS ?>in the first halfin All games revenging a loss vs opponent
The record is 21 Wins and 40 Losses for the this season (-23 units)

NBA > (721) LA LAKERS@ (722) LA CLIPPERS | 2016-04-05 22:35:00 - 2016-04-05 22:35:00
Play AGAINST LA LAKERS ?>in the first halfin All games after allowing 105 points or more
The record is 14 Wins and 30 Losses for the this season (-19 units)

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

NBA TOTALS

NBA > (707) PHOENIX@ (708) ATLANTA | 2016-04-05 20:05:00 - 2016-04-05 20:05:00
Play UNDER ATLANTA on the totalin All games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game
The record is 13 Overs and 39 Unders for the this season (+24.7 units)

NBA > (713) SAN ANTONIO@ (714) UTAH | 2016-04-05 21:05:00 - 2016-04-05 21:05:00
Play UNDER SAN ANTONIO on the totalin Road games after 3 or more consecutive wins
The record is 12 Overs and 43 Unders for the last three seasons (+29.8 units)

NBA > (713) SAN ANTONIO@ (714) UTAH | 2016-04-05 21:05:00 - 2016-04-05 21:05:00
Play UNDER UTAH on the totalin All games second half of the season
The record is 16 Overs and 48 Unders for the last two seasons (+30.4 units)

NBA > (709) CHICAGO@ (710) MEMPHIS | 2016-04-05 20:05:00 - 2016-04-05 20:05:00
Play OVER MEMPHIS on the totalin Home games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game
The record is 23 Overs and 6 Unders for the this season (+16.4 units)

NBA > (707) PHOENIX@ (708) ATLANTA | 2016-04-05 20:05:00 - 2016-04-05 20:05:00
Play UNDER ATLANTA on the totalin All games versus the first half line in all games
The record is 23 Overs and 53 Unders for the this season (+27.7 units)

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Tuesday's six-pack

Odds to win at least one major this season:

even-- Jordan Spieth

13-10-- Rory McIlroy

9-4-- Jason Day

7-2-- Bubba Watson

4-1-- Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler

6-1-- Phil Mickelson

**********

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


13) Villanova 77, North Carolina 74-- One of the great championship games ever played in NCAA tournament, an ending that will be remembered forever. A great advertisement for the sport.

12) The swing in emotions in a Las Vegas sportsbook during a game like that is fun to watch; was next to a sharp gambler who had Villanova and the under- the Marcus Paige 3-pointer cost him his under bet-- he took that loss like an adult and was rewarded by Villanova covering.

11) Mike Krzyzewski had knee replacement surgery on Sunday; who has surgery on a Sunday?

10) I had no idea Shaquille O'Neal wasn't in the Basketball Hall of Fame already; what took so long? He appeared in Wrestlemania before his election.

9) UAB hired from within, replacing Jerod Haase with assistant Rob Ehsan.

Vanderbilt hired Bryce Drew away from Valparaiso.

8) I'm driving down the Strip Sunday night, and a guy dressed in full Superman costume is walking alongside my car, carrying only a crowbar. Only in Las Vegas.

7) Random fact: Apparently Al Roker and Lenny Kravitz are cousins.

6) It snowed in the Northeast this week and baseball season started. A team in Texas that plays its home games in a dome got rained out in the Bronx yesterday. Why in the name of Willard Scott was this series not played in Houston?

There are seven dome teams in the majors; those seven, the five California teams, and the Rangers should open at home every damn year, just for weather's sake.

5) Rookie shortstop Trevor Story homered twice in his MLB debut as Colorado won in Arizona. Story looks like a terrific prospect, but sometime this year, they'll also get Jose Reyes back from whatever suspension he gets. Reyes makes $22M a year- they'll have to trade Reyes, right?

4) Mets-Royals series was put at the start of the season before the teams met in the World Series LY. Schedules for the next season come out in August.

3) Pirates gave Gregory Polanco a 5-year, $35M extension; glad to see them spend some money to keep their nucleus intact.

2) Ben Revere left the Nationals' opener yesterday, but Washington doesn't release injury information during a game- they said it was a ribcage injury after the game.

1) Sonny Gray got scratched from his start with food poisoning; Rich Hill was less than brilliant as a replacement. No word on when Gray will pitch next.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Tuesday, April 5

Hot teams
-- Pelicans won three of last four games (5-1 last 6AU).
-- Detroit won seven of its last nine games (2-5 last 7AU). Miami won five of its last eight games (4-3 last 7HF).
-- Hornets won five of their last six games (2-4 vs spread).
-- Chicago won three of its last four games (3-0 last 3A).
-- Cavaliers won four of their last five games (1-4 last 5AF).
-- Spurs won eight of their last ten games (4-6 last 10AF). Utah won six of its last eight games (6-4HU).
-- Oklahoma City won eight of its last ten games (6-4 last 10AF).
-- Portland won four of its last five games (6-3AF). Sacramento won four of its last six games (4-9HU).
-- Golden State won eight of its last nine games (6-5 last 11HF).
-- Clippers won five of their last six games (3-1 last 4F).

Cold teams
-- 76ers lost last ten games, but covered six of the ten games.
-- Toronto is 3-4 in its last seven games (3-5 last 8HF).
-- Suns lost their last six games (3-3 vs spread). Atlanta lost its last two games, by 2-8 points (5-3 last 8HF).
-- Memphis lost its last six games (2-3 last 5H).
-- Milwaukee lost six of its last eight games (7-2 last 9HU).
-- Denver lost four of its last five games (5-2 last 7HU).
-- Minnesota lost four of last five games (4-2 last 6AU).
-- Lakers lost five of their last six games (3-7 vs spread last 10).

Series records
-- 76ers lost five of last six games with New Orleans.
-- Pistons won four of last five games with Miami.
-- Raptors won three of last four games with Charlotte.
-- Suns are 6-4 in their last ten games with Atlanta.
-- Memphis is 5-3 in its last eight games with Chicago.
-- Cavaliers won four of last five games with Milwaukee.
-- Spurs won eight of last ten games with Utah.
-- Thunder won seven of last ten games with Denver.
-- Portland won its last five games with Sacramento.
-- Golden State won last seven games with Minnesota, but Wolvers are 4-1 vs spread in last five.
-- Clippers won last nine games with Lakers; Lakers covered last three.

Totals
-- Five of last six Pelican games stayed under the total.
-- Last four Detroit games stayed under the total.
-- Six of last eight Toronto-Charlotte games went over.
-- Last four Phoenix-Atlanta games stayed under the total.
-- Nine of last ten Chicago games stayed under the total.
-- Seven of last eight Cleveland-Milwaukee games went over.
-- Eight of last ten Utah games stayed under the total.
-- Five of last six Thunder-Nugget games went over
-- Eight of last ten Portland-Sacramento games stayed under.
-- Five of last six Golden State-Minnesota games stayed under.
-- Last five Clipper-Laker games stayed under the total.

Back/backs
-- None