Friday's Top Action
April 22, 2016
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (59-25) at DETROIT PISTONS (44-40)
Eastern Conference – Game 3
Tip-off: Friday, 7:05 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: Cleveland -4.5, Total: 201
The Cavaliers visit Detroit looking to take a 3-0 series lead on Friday.
Although Cleveland has needed to put away the Pistons late in the opening two games of this series, the Cavs looked relatively comfortable in a 17-point Game 2 victory. The team shot 50.0% from the field and hit 20 three-pointers, compared to just four for the Pistons, which made a huge difference in the final score.
Still, Detroit will feel relatively confident heading home, having shown that they can play with the Cavaliers. The team shot poorly from both three-point range and the free-throw line in Game 2, so an improvement in those two categories could lead to a win in Game 3.
The Pistons are 12-3 ATS in home games revenging a loss of 10 or more points this season, while Cleveland is 15-7 ATS when playing just their second game in five days during the same time period.
Detroit has no injury concerns, and Cleveland PG Mo Williams (Knee) is questionable.
The Cavaliers played a sharp Game 2, in which they were led by SF LeBron James (25.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 6.8 APG, 1.4 SPG, 52.0 FG% in regular season), who had 27 points on an effective 12-for-18 shooting performance.
PG Kyrie Irving (19.6 PPG, 4.7 APG, 1.1 SPG in regular season) scored 22 points, and SG J.R. Smith (12.4 PPG, 1.1 SPG in regular season) added 21 on 7-for-11 shooting from three-point land.
PF Kevin Love (16.0 PPG, 9.9 RPG in regular season) had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and the big man’s play will be crucial to his team’s success in the series.
Detroit saw solid Game 2 performances from C Andre Drummond (16.2 PPG, 14.8 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 52.1 FG% in regular season), who had 20 points and seven rebounds, and SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (14.5 PPG, 1.5 SPG in regular season), who added 13 points and eight rebounds.
Drummond, however, was a worrisome 4-for-16 from the free-throw line, and PF Marcus Morris (14.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG in regular season) and SF Tobias Harris (14.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG in regular season) had off nights.
The Pistons were 26-15 at home during the regular season, and they are hoping to get a win at The Palace in their first home game of the postseason.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS (69-15) at MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (42-42)
Western Conference – Game 3
Tip-off: Friday, 9:35 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: San Antonio -11, Total: 182
The Spurs aim to open up a 3-0 advantage over the Grizzlies in Memphis on Friday night.
San Antonio was the NBA’s best team at home this season, so a depleted Memphis squad never stood a chance to win away from home.
The injury-riddled Grizzlies averaged just 71 PPG as a team over the first two games, including a 68-point outing in Game 2. The team shot just 32.6% from the field and made only two of its 14 three-point attempts against the stingy Spurs defense.
On the bright side for Memphis is the fact that the team is 11-3 ATS in home games after a road loss this season. The Spurs, however, are 19-9 ATS as a road favorite of 6.5 to 12 points over the past two seasons.
San Antonio will be at full strength, while C Marc Gasol (Foot), PG Mike Conley (Achilles), SG Jordan Adams (Knee) and PF Brandan Wright (Knee) will all be sidelined with injuries for the Grizzlies.
The Spurs have been in complete control thus far in the series, and an all-around performance in which no player played more than 27 minutes characterized Game 2.
PG Patty Mills (8.5 PPG in regular season) paced San Antonio with 16 points off the bench, and PF LaMarcus Aldridge (18.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.1 BPG in regular season) had 10 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks.
Two-time Defensive Player of the Year SF Kawhi Leonard (21.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG in regular season) contributed 13 points and two steals, and he was the only other starter in double figures.
A similarly well-rounded outing should be expected from the Spurs in Game 3.
Memphis was led by SG Tony Allen (8.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.7 SPG in regular season), who had 12 points off the bench. PF Zach Randolph (15.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG) was the only other Grizzlies player to reach double-digit points with 11, although he shot just 5-for-17 from the field.
SF Matt Barnes (10.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.0 SPG in regular season) and PG Jordan Farmar (9.2 PPG, 3.1 APG, 1.3 SPG in regular season) had identical 3-for-11 shooting nights, and the rest of the team was similarly cold.
This series could very easily end in four games, and the Grizzlies are in danger of not being within striking distance in any of the games.
They will need a much better offensive outing if they hope to stay with the Spurs, even in the “Grindhouse” that is the FedExForum.
April 22, 2016
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (59-25) at DETROIT PISTONS (44-40)
Eastern Conference – Game 3
Tip-off: Friday, 7:05 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: Cleveland -4.5, Total: 201
The Cavaliers visit Detroit looking to take a 3-0 series lead on Friday.
Although Cleveland has needed to put away the Pistons late in the opening two games of this series, the Cavs looked relatively comfortable in a 17-point Game 2 victory. The team shot 50.0% from the field and hit 20 three-pointers, compared to just four for the Pistons, which made a huge difference in the final score.
Still, Detroit will feel relatively confident heading home, having shown that they can play with the Cavaliers. The team shot poorly from both three-point range and the free-throw line in Game 2, so an improvement in those two categories could lead to a win in Game 3.
The Pistons are 12-3 ATS in home games revenging a loss of 10 or more points this season, while Cleveland is 15-7 ATS when playing just their second game in five days during the same time period.
Detroit has no injury concerns, and Cleveland PG Mo Williams (Knee) is questionable.
The Cavaliers played a sharp Game 2, in which they were led by SF LeBron James (25.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 6.8 APG, 1.4 SPG, 52.0 FG% in regular season), who had 27 points on an effective 12-for-18 shooting performance.
PG Kyrie Irving (19.6 PPG, 4.7 APG, 1.1 SPG in regular season) scored 22 points, and SG J.R. Smith (12.4 PPG, 1.1 SPG in regular season) added 21 on 7-for-11 shooting from three-point land.
PF Kevin Love (16.0 PPG, 9.9 RPG in regular season) had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and the big man’s play will be crucial to his team’s success in the series.
Detroit saw solid Game 2 performances from C Andre Drummond (16.2 PPG, 14.8 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 52.1 FG% in regular season), who had 20 points and seven rebounds, and SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (14.5 PPG, 1.5 SPG in regular season), who added 13 points and eight rebounds.
Drummond, however, was a worrisome 4-for-16 from the free-throw line, and PF Marcus Morris (14.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG in regular season) and SF Tobias Harris (14.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG in regular season) had off nights.
The Pistons were 26-15 at home during the regular season, and they are hoping to get a win at The Palace in their first home game of the postseason.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS (69-15) at MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (42-42)
Western Conference – Game 3
Tip-off: Friday, 9:35 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: San Antonio -11, Total: 182
The Spurs aim to open up a 3-0 advantage over the Grizzlies in Memphis on Friday night.
San Antonio was the NBA’s best team at home this season, so a depleted Memphis squad never stood a chance to win away from home.
The injury-riddled Grizzlies averaged just 71 PPG as a team over the first two games, including a 68-point outing in Game 2. The team shot just 32.6% from the field and made only two of its 14 three-point attempts against the stingy Spurs defense.
On the bright side for Memphis is the fact that the team is 11-3 ATS in home games after a road loss this season. The Spurs, however, are 19-9 ATS as a road favorite of 6.5 to 12 points over the past two seasons.
San Antonio will be at full strength, while C Marc Gasol (Foot), PG Mike Conley (Achilles), SG Jordan Adams (Knee) and PF Brandan Wright (Knee) will all be sidelined with injuries for the Grizzlies.
The Spurs have been in complete control thus far in the series, and an all-around performance in which no player played more than 27 minutes characterized Game 2.
PG Patty Mills (8.5 PPG in regular season) paced San Antonio with 16 points off the bench, and PF LaMarcus Aldridge (18.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.1 BPG in regular season) had 10 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks.
Two-time Defensive Player of the Year SF Kawhi Leonard (21.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG in regular season) contributed 13 points and two steals, and he was the only other starter in double figures.
A similarly well-rounded outing should be expected from the Spurs in Game 3.
Memphis was led by SG Tony Allen (8.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.7 SPG in regular season), who had 12 points off the bench. PF Zach Randolph (15.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG) was the only other Grizzlies player to reach double-digit points with 11, although he shot just 5-for-17 from the field.
SF Matt Barnes (10.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.0 SPG in regular season) and PG Jordan Farmar (9.2 PPG, 3.1 APG, 1.3 SPG in regular season) had identical 3-for-11 shooting nights, and the rest of the team was similarly cold.
This series could very easily end in four games, and the Grizzlies are in danger of not being within striking distance in any of the games.
They will need a much better offensive outing if they hope to stay with the Spurs, even in the “Grindhouse” that is the FedExForum.
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