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[StarDust Bum]

Portland's Nurkic out for Game 2
April 18, 2017

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) The Golden State Warriors figured out how to win during a long stretch without Kevin Durant once. Now they might have to do so again on the playoff stage.

Durant missed Golden State's practice Tuesday because of a strained left calf and was listed as questionable for Wednesday's Game 2 against Portland, which will be playing without injured center Jusuf Nurkic.

''Obviously you want to have everybody healthy, and we'll see how it goes tomorrow, but we've been in this situation very recently so understand next man up and the way that we need to play when certain guys are out,'' Stephen Curry said. ''It all starts obviously defensively. Based on our Game 1 we need to pick it up on that end anyway so it should be a good challenge. ... If that's the case, I know those guys want to play, tomorrow we'll be ready for whatever lineups we throw out there.''

The Warriors, who won Game 1 on Sunday, also listed Shaun Livingston as questionable with a sprained right index finger and bruised hand, while forward Matt Barnes is questionable with a sprained right ankle and foot.

Coach Steve Kerr said Durant's injury happened in the game, when he had 32 points and 10 rebounds in his playoff debut with the Warriors. Durant received treatment Tuesday after the team took Monday off from formal workouts.

Kerr didn't hear about the injury until after the 121-109 win. He expects Durant to return sometime during the best-of-seven first-round series, if not Wednesday against the Trail Blazers.

''I'm not sure if he felt it at the end of the game or if he felt it after,'' Kerr said. ''That's totally the expectation but you've got to be careful with this stuff, too. So we'll see how he feels tomorrow.''

Durant recently missed 19 games with a left knee injury before returning for the final three regular-season games.

When asked after the game about an athletic trainer checking him in the third quarter and whether anything was wrong, Durant said, ''No, I'm cool.''

Curry understands the frustration. He sprained the MCL in his right knee slipping on a wet spot during Game 4 of the first round last year at Houston and missed the first three games against the Blazers in the Western Conference semifinals before coming off the bench in the fourth.

''Anybody who's going through that, you feel bad because everybody wants to play, especially this time of year when it matters the most,'' Curry said. ''There's no kind of sugarcoating that at all.''

Livingston jammed his hand while diving on the floor, Kerr said. Barnes did more work in practice Tuesday, and ''he probably needs a little more work but there's a chance he could play,'' the coach said.

The 7-foot Nurkic spoke before Portland's practice in San Francisco, saying he's not yet ready to return following a nondisplaced fracture in his right leg that sidelined him the final seven regular-season games.

Blazers coach Terry Stotts didn't want to guess when Nurkic might be back, noting it's still too early to tell.

''I'm not 100 percent. I'm close, but I'm not going to play the second game,'' Nurkic said. ''Right now definitely I want to play. There's no question because I'd do everything for this. I came here, I wanted to be in the playoffs and we make it. I think the team is right I need to be watching out for the future. And right now Game 2 I'm not ready.''

[StarDust Bum]

GS' Durant questionable for Game 2
April 18, 2017

Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant did not practice on Tuesday because of a left calf strain and is questionable for Game 2 on Wednesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Durant was injured in the second half of the Warriors' Game 1 victory on Sunday. He clutched his leg a few times in the third quarter but he finished the game and had 32 points.

"If he didn't practice, there's concern," Warriors coach Steve Kerr told the San Jose Mercury-News. "He's questionable."

Kerr said he expects Durant to return quickly, but added "you have to be careful" when the injury is a strained muscle.

Durant will be evaluated during shoot-around Wednesday, at which time a decision will be made regarding his playing status.

Durant returned to action a little over a week ago after missing 19 games with a knee injury.

The Warriors may also be without backup guard Shaun Livingston, who jammed his right index finger in Game 1. He did not practice Tuesday.

Warriors swingman Matt Barnes, who has been out the past few weeks with an ankle injury, may play in Game 2. He is listed as questionable, and Kerr said that Durant's status may have an effect on whether Barnes is pushed back into action.

[StarDust Bum]

Retired KG still has itch for playing, beef with T-Wolves
April 18, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The playoffs have started, and after a season out of the NBA for the first time in more than two decades, Kevin Garnett's body is starting to talk to him.

The mileage on his legs and knees may have limited his playing time over his final couple of seasons in the NBA, but now that he has had a year away from the competition and the camaraderie, he is ''definitely getting itchy.''

''You get sweaty at night and I'm tossing and turning,'' Garnett told The Associated Press in a phone interview. ''My wife is like, `What the hell is wrong with you?' When you do something for so long and you start to program your body, muscle memory and everything it comes back to you inadvertently.''

Retirement has not extinguished the fire that burned in him for 21 NBA seasons, nor has it healed the wounds opened during an acrimonious split with the Minnesota Timberwolves last summer. When former team President Flip Saunders brought Garnett back to Minnesota in a trade in 2015, the two talked about KG eventually becoming a minority owner.

Then Saunders suddenly died after a battle with lymphoma and the Wolves were forced to move on with new leadership. They hired Tom Thibodeau as coach and president and Scott Layden as GM, and a new course was set. Garnett believes that promises were broken and he left last summer after a tense buyout negotiation with owner Glen Taylor.

''I love those young guys,'' Garnett said, referring to the Wolves' young core of Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine that he mentored in his final season. ''I told Thibs I want to work with him, but obviously me and Glen don't see eye-to-eye on a lot of things and that's how it's going to be.''

Garnett envisioned having a large role in the decision-making process, particularly when it came to the move to fire GM Milt Newton and coach Sam Mitchell - Garnett's close friend - after last season.

Garnett also told the AP that he was upset with the way the team handled a memorial service for Saunders, the coach who drafted Garnett as a skinny teenager out of Farragut Academy High School in Chicago in 1995.

Saunders was honored in an emotional service before the team's home opener against Portland last season. It included a touching video tribute, with players, coaches, media members and others speaking about the impact Saunders had on their lives.

One glaring absence was Garnett, who said he ''couldn't put a lifetime of friendship into three minutes.''

''How do you put a time limit on something like that?'' Garnett said. ''And then, too, I thought he wasn't celebrated the proper way. You have high school banners, you have (expletive) hockey banners (hanging in the rafters). You couldn't put a Flip banner in Target Center, some place that we helped build? ... We established that market. I helped grow that with him. You can't put him in the (rafters)?

''So I just had problems with how they were shoving this down all of our throats. The young guys, they weren't invested enough to really understand what was going on. I chose to be mute, to be professional and keep all the negative energy down. There was a bigger message I wanted to tell, but I supported it and just kept my mouth shut.''

The Wolves declined to comment.

''I wish the Timberwolves all the best. I talk to KAT and some of the young guys all the time,'' Garnett said. ''I hope they can find a special place in commemorating Flip and celebrating him properly.''

The organization did honor Saunders while trying keep a young team moving forward. Saunders patches were sewn on the team's jerseys last season. Everyone from coaches to executives to Target Center ushers wore Saunders pins. His son, Ryan, stayed on as an assistant coach and his daughter, Rachel, works in the basketball operations department, while wife Debbie and daughters Megan and Mindy still watch games from seats just behind the Wolves bench.

And it remains unclear just what Garnett was promised. League rules prevented Taylor from negotiating any kind of ownership stakes with Garnett while he was still playing and their relationship was already frayed from Garnett's first exit in 2007 when he was traded to Boston. So the bulk of the conversation occurred between Garnett and Saunders, whom Garnett trusted like few others.

Taylor also signed off on a two-year, $16.5 million contract for the 39-year-old Garnett in the summer of 2015, not to mention the then-record $126 million deal he negotiated with Garnett during the 1997-98 season.

Garnett hasn't strayed far from the game. He hosts ''Area 21,'' an irreverent show-within-a-show on TNT that runs every Monday night during the playoffs in which he invites guests into a lounge to watch games. He also has done consulting work with the Bucks and Clippers, showing up for practices and working with the players. That's when that fire burns hottest.

When he attended a Clippers practice before the playoffs, Garnett said it was ''like being dropped in the jungle and smelling that atmosphere and that (stuff) hits your chest, man. You know, it's like almost your body knows.''

There may be a time when Garnett and the Timberwolves reunite. Taylor told the AP in February that the Wolves reached out to Garnett in hopes of arranging a ceremony to retire his jersey.

''We think that's the appropriate thing to do,'' Taylor said. ''At this time he hasn't commented on a timetable. We just have left it open.''

Garnett said he has never heard from the Wolves.

''I choose to let the Timberwolves focus on what they're focused on and I'm focused on what I'm focused on,'' Garnett said. ''I still live in Minny. I still got love for Minny. You know what it is. I'm still a Timberwolf until I die, as I am a Celtic. And that's what it is.''

[StarDust Bum]

When Stephen Curry sees Mark Few, it's fond NCAA memories
April 18, 2017

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Mark Few watched the Golden State Warriors practice Tuesday as they prepared for Game 2 of their playoff series against Portland, and the Gonzaga coach was sure to remind Stephen Curry that Few had seen him shoot lights out long before.

Curry made 8 of 10 from beyond the arc during a dazzling 40-point performance for Davidson during an 82-76 first-round NCAA Tournament victory over Gonzaga in 2008 - 30 of those points coming after halftime.

''I'm throwing a little shade, when I see him, I have good memories of '08 playing against him when I was with Davidson,'' Curry said. ''He mentioned it when I was shooting, `This all started with you making (eight) 3s against us back in '08 in Raleigh. I do have an appreciation for obviously the consistency and the high level that he's led that team, that program to since before I was even in college. So it's pretty special that he's still there doing it and who knows, they might be back on that stage next year.''

The AP Coach of the Year, Few was Tuesday's special guest at Warriors practice - coach Steve Kerr loves opening the doors to show others how Golden State goes about its business - and he and Curry had a little fun. The two-time reigning NBA MVP smiled thinking back to that special win by his 10th-seeded Davidson team against the seventh-seeded Zags in Raleigh, North Carolina.

It was the Wildcats' first NCAA win in 39 years, since coach Lefty Driesell put the tiny liberal arts school on the map in the 1960s.

An overlooked guard because of his stature, Curry - whose top-seeded Warriors host the Trail Blazers again Wednesday night holding a 1-0 series lead - shot 14 for 22 that day and had five steals.

Few is fresh off his team's run to its first Final Four and a runner-up finish to North Carolina. Star Nigel Williams-Goss declared for the NBA draft on Tuesday. Few and his coaches were in the Bay Area for a visit and stopped by to see the Warriors and assistant coach Mike Brown. Few and Brown worked together with USA Basketball.

Curry certainly can appreciate the success of a mid-major that is a perennial national power.

''For sure, obviously they were right there on the doorstep of doing something historical,'' Curry said, ''and still had an historical season making it to the Final Four and the championship game.''

[StarDust Bum]

Wizards, Rockets seeking 2-0 leads
April 18, 2017

The bad news for Atlanta, Oklahoma City and Portland is obvious: They're down 1-0 and on the road.

There's worse news, too. Washington, Houston and Golden State all saw ways they can get better in Game 2.

The Wizards, Rockets and Warriors will aim to take 2-0 leads in their respective series on Wednesday night, when those first-round matchups resume. Washington plays host to Atlanta, Houston to Oklahoma City and Golden State to Portland.

Win, and Wednesday's home teams will be in control. Lose, and the home-court edge that came after a six-month regular season would be gone just a few days into the postseason.

''We saw some things we definitely need to improve on going into Game 2,'' Washington coach Scott Brooks said.

Same went for Golden State coach Steve Kerr, who thought his two-time defending Western Conference champions were jittery in the first half of Game 1 against Portland before settling down. And the Rockets - even after beating Oklahoma City by 31 points in their series opener - didn't go overboard with the celebrating.

''One game,'' Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said. ''Got to come back here Wednesday and do it again.''

Some things to know about Wednesday's matchups:

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Hawks at Wizards, Washington leads 1-0. Game 2, 7 p.m., NBA TV.

NEED TO KNOW: John Wall (32 points, 14 assists) controlled Game 1 for Washington, and Markieff Morris (21 points, seven rebounds, four blocks) was outstanding. Atlanta is now 1-4 against the Wizards this season, and no Hawks team has ever overcome a 2-0 series deficit (0 for 24). ''We've got to be ready, to be prepared, for their punch,'' Washington's Otto Porter said of bracing for a desperate Atlanta approach to Game 2.

KEEP AN EYE ON: Atlanta went 32 for 39 from the foul line in Game 1, Washington 16 for 17. The Wizards don't get to the line a ton, but if they put themselves in that sort of predicament again they'll be asking for trouble.

INJURY UPDATE: Washington's Ian Mahinmi (left calf) is out.

PRESSURE IS ON: Dwight Howard played 29 minutes and was a mere 2 for 6 from the floor in Game 1. He did the job on the glass with 14 rebounds, but he cannot be so outplayed by Marcin Gortat again if Atlanta is going to head home with a split.

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Thunder at Rockets, Houston leads 1-0. Game 2, 8 p.m., TNT.

NEED TO KNOW: Round 1 of the James Harden-Russell Westbrook matchup was no contest. Harden struggled from 3-point range and still shot 13 for 28 for the Rockets. Westbrook was only 6 for 23, one of his worst games of the season. Houston also converted on 12 of 14 second-chance opportunities in the series opener, a big reason for the rout. The Thunder have shown bounce-back ability all season, going 13-8 in games immediately following a double-digit loss. ''They won one on home court and regardless of if you win by 20, two, 40 it doesn't matter,'' Westbrook said. ''We've got to come back and be ready for the next one.''

KEEP AN EYE ON: Houston's Patrick Beverley was 11 for 41 with 31 points, total, in his most recent six playoff games - until Game 1 of this series, when he shot 8 for 13 and scored 21 points.

INJURY UPDATE: Houston's Sam Dekker (left hand and wrist) is out.

PRESSURE IS ON: Thunder guard Victor Oladipo was 1 for 12 from the floor in his playoff debut, 0 for 9 outside the paint. Even Westbrook needs help, and Oladipo has to be much better in Game 2.

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Trail Blazers at Warriors, Golden State leads 1-0. Game 2, 10:30 p.m., TNT.

NEED TO KNOW: So much gets made about ''adjustments'' between games of a playoff series. It's tough to see Portland changing much. By the NBA's count, the Blazers had 46 open shots in Game 1 and made only 19 of them. The Warriors were 20 for 33 on open shots. Translated: Portland got good looks, and had its chances. Why mess with that plan?

KEEP AN EYE ON: Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson shot a combined 15 for 35 (rather blah for them) for Golden State in Game 1. The Warriors scored 121 points, Kevin Durant sizzled and Draymond Green was fantastic, but look for the Splash Brothers to shoot better Wednesday. And if Durant can't play - he's questionable with a calf strain and didn't practice Tuesday - Curry and Thompson would be asked for more anyway.

INJURY UPDATE: Portland's Jusuf Nurkic (right leg) says he will not play in Game 2. Kevin Durant (left calf), Matt Barnes (right ankle) and Shaun Livingston (right hand) are questionable. ''If he didn't practice, there's concern,'' Warriors coach Steve Kerr said about Durant's calf and his status.

PRESSURE IS ON: An argument could be made it's actually on Golden State. Yes, the Warriors took the best shot from Blazers guards Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum (a combined 75 points) in Game 1, and prevailed. But the game wasn't in hand until late, and Portland won't go away quietly now.

[StarDust Bum]

Overall Picks of the Day:
Date W-L-T % Units Record

04/18/2017 5-1-0 83.33% +1950
04/17/2017 1-3-0 25.00% -1150
04/16/2017 3-5-0 37.50% -1250
04/15/2017 6-2-0 75.00% +1900


Best Bets Daily:
Sides / Totals


04/18/2017..................3 - 0..............+3.00..................2 - 1 +0.90
04/17/2017..................1 - 1...............-1.10..................0 - 2 - 2.20
04/16/2017 .................2 - 2..............- 0.20..................1 - 2 - 1.20
04/15/2017..................3 - 0.............+ 3.00..................1 - 2 - 1.20

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Wednesday's six-pack

Six batters who have knocked in highest %age of baserunners so far this month (minimum 20 AB):

6) Marcell Ozuna, 31.7% (13-41)

5) Travis d’Arnaud 31.8% (7-22)

T3) Scooter Gennett 35% (7-20)
T3) Asdrubel Cabrera 35% (7-20)

2) Eric Thames 35.7% (5-14)

1) Nomar Mazara 36.4% (12-33)

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Armadillo: Wednesday's List of 13: Mid-week musings……..

13) College basketball has an under-reported problem; high level teams are openly recruiting players from other teams to transfer. This is total BS, scummy behavior.

They were talking on Twitter Monday that Utah State’s Koby McEwen was being recruited by a team, and Utah State coach Tim Duryea had to be “stern” with the school. McEwen will be back in Logan next winter- he was Mountain West Freshman of the Year this year.

12) There were four OT games in the NHL playoffs Monday nite, first time that happened since 1985. Of all the pro sports, NHL has the most exciting playoffs.

11) Free throw breakdown from Game 2 in the Memphis-San Antonio series:
Memphis (whole team) 13-15
Kawhi Leonard 19-19
Rest of the Spurs 12-13 (31-32 total)

This is why Memphis Coach Fizdale was snippy in his post-game press conference; his team got hosed and it is his job to protect his team from that happening again.

10) New Mexico State hired former Bowling Green coach Chris Jans as its new basketball coach. Jans comes from the Wichita State coaching tree- he went 21-12 in his one season coaching the Falcons two years ago (their only 20+-win season since 2002), but was fired after an incident in a bar where he was hitting on a woman while drunk and the incident was captured on someone’s phone.

9) Do the Angels need to trade Mike Trout? They’re not a good team; Trout would bring back a lot of talent, but would it be enough talent to make them good again? And if they were still bad despite trading their best player, would that put a dent in home attendance?

Baseball America ranked the Angels’ farm system as worst in the major leagues, so not lot of help coming up from the minors anytime soon.

8) Good news for those of us in beautiful upstate New York; the first weekend of the NCAA tournament is coming to Albany in 2020- think it will be the third time Albany has hosted March Madness.

7) Ad behind the plate at Safeco Field; “Leafless in Seattle” for a leaf blower to put your leaves on other people’s lawns. Solid play on words/movie titles.

6) It gets annoying when national baseball writers start speculation on trades in April; could we let teams fall out of contention before we make them sellers? Milwaukee is 8-7, not a bad start, but you read lot of Ryan Braun-to-Dodgers stuff.

5) Pirates lost CF Starling Marte for 80 games for a PED offense; Andrew McCutchen was back in centerfield Tuesday night. Adam Frazier takes over in right.

4) Pirates lost 2-1 in St Louis the last two nights; their pitchers threw only 177 pitches in 16 innings, an average of 11.1 per inning, not a lot. Whats wrong with the Cardinals?

3) Toronto 106, Milwaukee 100— Raptors scored the last six points of the game, evened series 1-1.

2) Imagine being a major leaguer who is off to a bad start; when you come to bat, they put your batting average on those huge scoreboards— if you’re hitting under .200, it puts lot of pressure on you to do better. Even great athletes have crises of confidence.

1— Get well soon, Bruce Bochy; the Giants’ skipper had a minor heart procedure this week, isn’t managing the ball club in Kansas City.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Dunkel

Wednesday, April 19


Portland @ Golden State

Game 705-706
April 19, 2017 @ 10:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Portland
116.038
Golden State
137.549
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Golden State
by 21 1/2
210
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Golden State
by 13 1/2
219 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Golden State
(-13 1/2); Under

Oklahoma City @ Houston

Game 703-704
April 19, 2017 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Oklahoma City
118.154
Houston
122.020
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Houston
by 4
217
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Houston
by 8
223
Dunkel Pick:
Oklahoma City
(+8); Under

Atlanta @ Washington

Game 701-702
April 19, 2017 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Atlanta
119.011
Washington
121.055
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Washington
by 2
213
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Washington
by 5 1/2
210 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Atlanta
(+5 1/2); Over




NBA
Long Sheet

Wednesday, April 19

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ATLANTA (43 - 40) at WASHINGTON (50 - 33) - 4/19/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 17-38 ATS (-24.8 Units) in road games in all playoff games since 1996.
ATLANTA is 11-25 ATS (-16.5 Units) in road games in the first round of the playoffs since 1996.
WASHINGTON is 18-7 ATS (+10.3 Units) in April games over the last 3 seasons.
ATLANTA is 14-4 ATS (+9.6 Units) in road games after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 78-57 ATS (+15.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 10-8 against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
ATLANTA is 10-9 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
12 of 19 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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OKLAHOMA CITY (47 - 36) at HOUSTON (56 - 27) - 4/19/2017, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 12-25 ATS (-15.5 Units) when the total is greater than or equal to 220 over the last 2 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 55-75 ATS (-27.5 Units) in road games over the last 3 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 8-23 ATS (-17.3 Units) in a road game where the total is greater than or equal to 220 since 1996.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 4-13 ATS (-10.3 Units) in road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 6-14 ATS (-9.4 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 45-37 ATS (+4.3 Units) in all games this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 177-131 ATS (+32.9 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
HOUSTON is 10-2 against the spread versus OKLAHOMA CITY over the last 3 seasons
HOUSTON is 9-3 straight up against OKLAHOMA CITY over the last 3 seasons
6 of 12 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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PORTLAND (41 - 42) at GOLDEN STATE (68 - 15) - 4/19/2017, 10:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
GOLDEN STATE is 155-127 ATS (+15.3 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
GOLDEN STATE is 143-117 ATS (+14.3 Units) as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.
GOLDEN STATE is 83-61 ATS (+15.9 Units) in home games over the last 3 seasons.
GOLDEN STATE is 124-91 ATS (+23.9 Units) in April games since 1996.
GOLDEN STATE is 21-8 ATS (+12.2 Units) in the first round of the playoffs since 1996.
GOLDEN STATE is 87-64 ATS (+16.6 Units) after a win by 10 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
GOLDEN STATE is 35-20 ATS (+13.0 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.
GOLDEN STATE is 51-27 ATS (+21.3 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season since 1996.
GOLDEN STATE is 14-25 ATS (-13.5 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 19-34 ATS (-18.4 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record - 2nd half of the season over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
GOLDEN STATE is 11-6 against the spread versus PORTLAND over the last 3 seasons
GOLDEN STATE is 15-2 straight up against PORTLAND over the last 3 seasons
13 of 17 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, April 19

Wizards won their last four games with Atlanta, by 3-26-4-7 points; Wiz won game 1 by 7, with +7 turnover ratio (19-12). Hawks were 32-39 on foul line but also had nine shots blocked. Washington is 4-5 in its last nine games overall. Hawks won four of their last six games, under is 6-3 in their last nine road games. Washington is in playoffs for third time in last four years, after a 5-year drought; they won last two first round series. Atlanta is in playoffs for 10th year in row; they’re 5-4 in last nine first round series, winning in first round last two years. Four of Wizards’ five starters were +18 or better in Game 1- their subs were -53.

Houston won four of five games with Oklahoma City this year; three of the five were decided by 3 or less points, with Rockets winning last four- they won Game 1 by 31, outscoring OKC 59-33 in second half, holding Westbrook to 6-23 from floor. Thunder is 4-3 in its last seven games, with last five staying under the total. Houston is in playoffs for fifth year in row, making Western final two years ago, but since 1998, the Rockets are 2-9 in first round series. Oklahoma City won 8 fewer games this year than last; they won their last five first round series, but without Durant, they’re obviously not as good a team now.

Warriors swept Portland this season, winning five games by 23-45-8–2-12 points; Golden State won Game 1 by 12 -it was tied after 3rd quarter. Lillard/McCollum combined for 75 points, but no other Blazer scored more than 12. Golden State won 16 of its last 17 games overall, win 10-4-2 vs spread in last 16 games- over is 6-3 in their last nine. Portland won nine of its last 13 games; they covered six of their last seven road games. Golden State won NBA title in 2015, lost Finals LY, added Durant last summer. Since 2001, Portland is 2-7 in first round series, with wins coming in last three years (2-1).

First round playoff series:
Boston-Chicago
Chi 106-102, +7, O207
Chi 111-97, +7.5, O206.5

Cleveland-Indiana
Clev 109-108, -9, O208.5
Clev 117-111, -9, O210

Toronto-Milwaukee
Mil 97-83, +7.5, U197.5
Tor 106-100, -8, O195

Washington-Atlanta
Wash 114-107, -5.5, O209.5

Golden State-Portland
GState 121-109, -15.5, O220

San Antonio-Memphis
SA 111-82, -9.5, O190.5
SA 96-82, -10.5, U189

Houston-Oklahoma City
Hst 118-87 -7.5, U227.5

LA Clippers-Utah
Utah 97-95, +6, U198.5
LAC 99-91, -9, U200

Favorites: 4-9 vs spread
Over: 8-5




NBA

Wednesday, April 19

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Trend Report
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7:00 PM
ATLANTA vs. WASHINGTON
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 6 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Atlanta's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games when playing at home against Atlanta
Washington is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Atlanta

8:00 PM
OKLAHOMA CITY vs. HOUSTON
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Oklahoma City's last 7 games on the road
Oklahoma City is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Houston is 1-8-1 ATS in its last 10 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games at home

10:30 PM
PORTLAND vs. GOLDEN STATE
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Portland's last 16 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Portland's last 9 games when playing on the road against Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Golden State's last 16 games when playing Portland
Golden State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Portland

[StarDust Bum]

NBA

Wednesday, April 19

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Wednesday's NBA Playoffs Betting Preview and Odds
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In Game 1 of the "MVP Battle" James Harden and the Rockets ran Russell Westbrook and the Thunder out of the gym. Houston is 7.5-point chalk for Game 2.

Atlanta Hawks at Washington Wizards (-5, 210.5)

Wizards lead series 1-0

ABOUT THE HAWKS: Atlanta needed to control the tempo and hang onto the ball in Game 1, but instead committed 21 turnovers and allowed 25 fast-break points in the setback. "We were ahead at halftime and 17 fast-break points (in the first half) was something we felt we could really improve on," Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters. "To some degree we did that. The game obviously changed. It will continue to be an emphasis. It's not the only thing. We have to do a lot of things well." Budenholzer started rookie Taurean Prince at small forward instead of veteran defensive stopper Thabo Sefolosha, who did not get off the bench, and intents to stick with that lineup moving forward.

ABOUT THE WIZARDS: All-Star point guard John Wall scored a playoff career-high 32 points to go with 14 assists and led the charge in the third quarter when Washington came out with a faster tempo. "Just being aggressive," Wall told reporters. "We started to get a lot of stops out in transition and I got into a rhythm of knocking down shots and being more aggressive." Power forward Markieff Morris joined Wall in the aggressive tone, getting in the face of Millsap while pouring in 21 points and recording four blocks.

LINE HISTORY: Oddsmakers opened the Wizards as 6-point home favorites for Game 2, but they have been faded a bit to sit at the current number of Washington -5. The total hit the board at 212 and that has resulted in Under money coming in, moving the number to 210.5.

INJURY REPORT:

Hawks- No injuries to report.

Wizards - SF K. Oubre Jr. (Questionable Wednesday, knee), PF J. Smith (Questionable Wednesday, knee), C I. Mahinmi (Late April, calf).

TRENDS:

* Hawks are 1-4 ATS in their last five games following a SU loss.
* Wizards are 7-0 ATS in their last seven first round games.
* Over is 6-0-1 in Hawks last seven games vs. a team with a winning percentage above .600.
* Over is 8-1 in Wizards last nine home games vs. a team with a losing road record.




Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets (-7.5, 224)

Rockets lead series 1-0

ABOUT THE THUNDER: Westbrook's off-shooting outing in Game 1 was bad enough but several members of the supporting cast had poor showings as well. Shooting guard Victor Oladipo was the biggest culprit with a 1-of-12 shooting performance while the frontcourt trio of Steven Adams, Taj Gibson and Enes Kanter combined for just 19 points and were the prime reason why Oklahoma City was outrebounded 56-41. "We got to play and do a better job, starting with myself," Westbrook told reporters. "I got to do a better job of taking care of the basketball and making some shots."

ABOUT THE ROCKETS: While Harden did his typical damage in Game 1, backcourt mate Patrick Beverley frustrated Westbrook and was a star in his own right with 21 points and 10 rebounds. "That's the reason we're in the position we're in," Harden told reporters. "He brings it every game. Whether his shot is falling or not, he brings that intensity, that resolve." Post players Nene (15 points on 7-of-8 shooting) and Clint Capela (14 points on 7-of-9) operated at will against the Thunder in Game 1.

LINE HISTORY: The Rockets opened Game 2 as 7.5-point home favorites and the line has yet to move off that number. The total for Game 2 hit the board at 224 and has been bet down to 223 after Game 1's total easily went Under the 228.5.

INJURY REPORT:

Thunder - No injuries to report.

Rockets - SF S. Dekker (Early May, hand).

TRENDS:

* Thunder are 5-1 ATS in their last six games playing on two days rest.
* Rockets are 10-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
* Under is 5-0 in Thunder last five overall.
* Under is 5-0 in Rockets last five games following a SU win.




Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors (-15, 220.5)

Warriors lead series 1-0

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS: Damian Lillard, who before the series predicted Portland would win in six games, scored 34 points and CJ McCollum added 41 but the rest of the team combined for 34 points on 12-of-39 shooting in Game 1. "It's going to take a team to beat (the Warriors)," Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts told reporters. "Damian and CJ are talented scorers and they both had great offensive nights. ... But we need everybody. Guys have to be ready to make shots. (Golden State is) good defensive help team, so when the ball is swung out, they've got to be able to take advantage of those opportunities." Portland is still awaiting word on the return of center Jusuf Nurkic, who is out with a fractured leg and is considered questionable for the series.

ABOUT THE WARRIORS: Kevin Durant sat out 19 games with a knee injury before easing his way back into the flow in the final three games of the regular season and did not appear rusty in his Golden State playoff debut. "The game ratchets up when you get into the playoffs, so it definitely felt good out there," Durant told reporters after pouring in 32 points on 12-of-20 shooting and grabbing 10 rebounds. "I didn’t worry about not playing 20 games in the regular season. I just tried to get out there and be me. Physically, I felt great." Durant averaged 29.3 points on 60 percent shooting in four regular-season meetings with the Trail Blazers.

LINE HISTORY: The Warriors were able to pull away late in Game 1, but not enough to cover the 15-point chalk and despite this the Dubs are once again currently 15-point favorites for Game 2. Oddsmakers opened the total at 221.5 and it has been bet down slightly to the current number of 220.5.

INJURY REPORT:

Trail Blazers - C J. Nurkic (Questionable Wednesday, leg), SG T. Quarterman (Questionable Wednesday, concussion), C F. Ezeli (Our for season, knee), PF E. Davis (Out for season, shoulder).

Warriors - SF K. Durant (Porbable Wednesday, calf), SF K. Looney (Questionable Wednesday, hip), SF M. Barnes (Doutbful Wednesday, ankle).

TRENDS:

* Trail Blazers are 5-0 ATS in their last five games vs. Pacific Division opponents.
* Warriors are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 games overall.
* Over is 6-1 in Trail Blazers last seven games playing on two days rest.
* Over is 5-1 in Warriors last six games following a straight up win.

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday's Tip Sheet
April 19, 2017

**Atlanta at Washington**

-- Washington took a 1-0 series advantage with Sunday’s 114-107 win over Atlanta as a 5.5-point home favorite. The 221 combined points went ‘over’ the 209.5-point total. After the Wizards raced out to a 23-12 advantage, the Hawks’ reserves sparked them to a lead that stretched out to eight in the second quarter. Trailing by three at intermission, Washington’s John Wall led a 38-28 blitz in the third quarter. The lead grew to as many as 15 in the final stanza, but Taurean’s Prince’s 3-pointer with 2:07 remaining trimmed the deficit to 108-103. The Wizards would respond with straight free throws to put the game on ice.

-- Wall was the catalyst in Game 1, producing 32 points, 14 assists and four rebounds on 12-of-24 shooting from the field. Bradley Beal added 22 points, three steals, three boards and three assists, while Markieff Morris recorded 21 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots. Six players scored in double figures, including Marcin Gortat (14 and 10 boards), Kelly Oubre (11) and Otto Porter Jr. (10).

-- Atlanta won the battle of the boards by a 48-42 margin and hit 32-of-39 FTs compared to 16-of-17 for Washington. However, the Wizards had a 28/12 assists-to-turnovers ratio, while Atlanta had 18 assists compared to 21 turnovers.

-- Dennis Schroder scored a team-best 25 points and had nine assists compared to merely two turnovers. Paul Millsap added 19 points, while Prince scored 14 points and pulled down six rebounds in his postseason debut. Kent Bazemore finished with 12 points and four assists, while Dwight Howard had seven points and 14 boards. Tim Hardaway Jr. struggled mightily, making just 2-of-11 attempts from the field and misfiring on all six launches from 3-point range. Although Mike Budenholzer declared him healthy, Thabo Sefolosha took a DNP – CD (did not play – coach’s decision).

-- As of late Tuesday afternoon, most betting shops had Washington (50-33 straight up, 43-39 against the spread) installed as a 5.5-point ‘chalk’ with a total of 211. The Hawks were +185 on the money line (risk $100 to win $185).

-- Scott Brooks’s squad is 31-11 SU and 24-18 ATS at home this year.

-- Wall averages team-bests in scoring (23.1 points per game), assists (10.7 APG) and steals (2.0 SPG). Beal scores at a 23.1 PPG clip as well. Morris (14.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG) gives Washington to the type of physical/nasty presence that’s so vital in the playoffs. He set the tone from an intensity level in Game 1.

-- Atlanta (43-40 SU, 39-44 ATS) owns a 20-22 SU record and a 22-20 ATS mark in its road assignments this season. The Hawks are 6-2 ATS with three outright victories in their last eight games as underdogs.

-- Since Atlanta won a 114-99 decision at home in late October, Washington has won four in a row in this rivalry. The Wizards are 3-1 ATS in those four contests. The ‘under’ had hit in three straight encounters until the series opener went ‘over’ the number.

-- The ‘under’ is 48-33-2 overall for the Hawks, 25-15-2 in their road outings. However, they’ve seen the ‘over’ go 4-2 in their last six contests.

-- The ‘over’ is 52-31 overall for the Wizards, 26-16 in their home games.

-- The updated series price at Sportsbook.ag is Washington -360 (risk $360 to win $100), with Atlanta as +280 underdogs.

-- Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Eastern on NBA-TV.

**Oklahoma City at Houston**

-- Houston (56-27 SU, 43-40 ATS) took a 1-0 series lead by virtue of Sunday’s 118-87 win over OKC as a 7.5-point home favorite. The 205 combined points went ‘under’ the 227.5-point total. Just as he has throughout a career season, James Harden led the way with 37 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and three steals. Patrick Beverley exploded for 21 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals. The University of Arkansas product buried 4-of-6 attempts from long distance. Clint Capela contributed 14 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and a pair of assists without a turnover. Nene was also in double figures, scoring 15 points and grabbing five boards in 18-plus minutes of playing time from off the bench.

-- In the Game 1 setback, OKC lost the rebounding battle by a lopsided 56-41 margin. The Thunder shot 30-of-81 FGs (37.0%) and 9-of-29 (31.0%) from 3-point range. They committed 15 turnovers compared to just 19 assists.

-- Russell Westbrook had a horrific Game 1. He made merely 6-of-23 FGs and 3-of-11 from downtown, finishing with 22 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, two steals. Westbrook coughed up nine turnovers. Andre Roberson contributed 18 points, eight boards, two steals and a pair of rejections. Jerami Grant was also in double figures with 10 points.

-- As of Tuesday night, most spots had Houston listed as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 224. Gamblers could take the Thunder to win outright for a +290 return (risk $100 to win $290).

-- Oklahoma City (47-36 SU, 45-37 ATS) owns a 19-23 record both SU and ATS on the road.

-- Totals have been an overall wash (41-41-1) for the Rockets, with the ‘over’ going 22-20 in their home games.

-- The ‘under’ is 45-37-1 overall for OKC, 25-16-1 in its road contests. The ‘under’ has cashed in five straight games, nine of the last 11 and 12 of the last 15.

-- Sportsbook.ag has the updated series price as Houston -950, leaving OKC at +635 on the comeback (risk $100 to win $635).

-- TNT will have the broadcast at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

**Portland at Golden State**

-- As of Tuesday night, most books had Golden St. (68-15 SU, 40-40-3 ATS) listed as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 219.5. The Trail Blazers had 10/1 odds to win outright at The Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas, but there were a few offshores that were offering a 13/1 payout. The line opened at 15 but moved down to 13.5 on Tuesday when Kevin Durant was declared ‘questionable’ for Game 2 due to a calf injury.

-- Steve Kerr’s team captured a 121-109 win in Sunday’s Game 1 at Oracle Arena in Oakland. The 230 combined points hopped ‘over’ the 219.5-point tally. Bettors on the Trail Blazers cashed tickets catching 15 points. The Warriors used a 15-2 run in the fourth quarter to pull away in a tight game that was tied going into the final stanza. Reserve point guard Ian Clark scored seven points in the crucial surge.

-- Kerr remarked to the media afterward, “It was, to me, the perfect way to win in Game 1. You get a real taste for what you’re up against. You see how good they are, but you’re able to overcome everything and still get the win. So, I like it.”

-- Durant was the catalyst with 32 points and 11 rebounds. Steph Curry produced 29 points, five rebounds and four assists. Draymond Green was terrific, tallying 19 points, 12 boards, five blocked shots, three steals and a 9/1 assists-to-turnovers ratio. Klay Thompson (15) and Clark (12) also scored in double figures, but Thompson buried only 1-of-6 from distance.

-- Portland’s electric guards had it right in the thick of the Game 1 fight through three quarters. C.J. McCollum was nothing short of sensational, scoring 41 points and grabbing eight rebounds. The fourth-year shooting guard out of Lehigh drained 16-of-28 shots, including 4-of-6 from 3-point land. Damian Lillard finished with 34 points (12-26 FGs), five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Evan Turner added 12 points, 10 boards and four assists compared to only one turnover, while Maurice Harkless had 11 points.

-- Golden St. is 37-5 SU at home this year, 21-19-3 ATS.

-- Portland (41-42 SU, 41-42 ATS) has struggled on the road, losing 26 of 42 games while going 19-23 ATS. The Trail Blazers have taken the cash in four consecutive games as double-digit underdogs, winning outright twice.

-- Durant (calf) and Shaun Livingston (hand/sprained index finger on shooting hand) are both listed as ‘questionable.’ Durant is averaging 25.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. Livingston averaged 5.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 76 regular-season games.

-- The ‘under’ is 50-33 overall for the Warriors, 22-20 in their home games.

-- The ‘over’ is 45-37-1 overall for Portland, 23-19 in its road assignments.

-- The ‘over’ is 6-2 in the last eight head-to-head meetings between these Western Conference rivals.

-- Golden St. exceeded its NBA-best 115.9 PPG average in Game 1. The Warriors also pace The Association in field-goal percentage (49.5%), field-goal defense (43.5%) and defending the 3-point line (32.4%).

-- Since losing Game 3 at Portland in last year’s West semifinals, the Warriors have won five in a row over Portland. However, the Trail Blazers have covered the number in the last three encounters.

-- Tip-off is slated for 10:35 p.m. Eastern on TNT.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

-- The underdogs and the ‘over’ were the winning plays in Tuesday’s two early games in the NBA Playoffs. This space has covered Toronto guard Kyle Lowry’s postseason struggles quite often in this space around this time of year. However, Lowry got it done in Game 2 with the Raptors staring at a 2-0 deficit. His stepback jumper with 8.9 seconds remaining extended his team’s lead to four in a 106-100 win. The Bucks covered the number again as eight-point underdogs, while the 206 combined points slipped ‘over’ the 194-point total.

-- After going 2-of-11 from the field in the series opener, Lowry scored 22 points, dished out five assists, grabbed four rebounds and made three steals. DeMar DeRozan finished with 23 points and seven boards, while Serge Ibaka contributed 16 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and six assists compared to just one turnover.

-- Chicago had to win its regular-season finale to earn the East’s No. 8 seed just ahead of Miami. One week later, the Bulls are headed back home with a 2-0 series advantage on the top-seeded Boston. And Game 2 wasn’t even close. Fred Hoiberg’s team got downright greedy and then some, coasting to a 111-97 win as a seven-point underdog. Chicago hooked up money-line backers with an outstanding +290 payout. The Bulls led by as many as 19 in the fourth quarter.

-- Chicago veteran PG Rajon Rondo nearly recorded a triple-double in Game 2. The mercurial Rondo, who played two years of college ball at Kentucky during Tubby Smith’s tenure, produced 11 points, 14 assists nine rebounds and five steals. Jimmy Butler stuffed the box score with 22 points, eight boards, eight assists, four steals and two blocked shots. Dwyane Wade finished with 22 points on 9-of-16 FGs, draining 3-of-4 launches from downtown.

-- Boston All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas was scheduled to fly to Seattle to be with his family following Game 2. Thomas’s 22-year-old sister Chyna was killed this past weekend in a one-car automobile accident. Thomas had 33 points in Game 1 and finished Game 2 with 20. Brad Stevens has indicated that the team will join Thomas in Washington for the funeral services, which are expected to be between now and Friday's Game 3 in the Windy City.

[StarDust Bum]

Marc has the stats, Pau has wins in Gasols' playoff battle
April 19, 2017

Marc is winning the individual battle. Older brother Pau is walking away with the victories in the Gasols' first NBA playoff battle.

The sibling showdown between the Spaniards has added another dimension to the Grizzlies-Spurs opening-round Western Conference series.

The Gasols have been competing with and against each other since they were children - with Pau winning most of time. And Pau is enjoying the upper hand once again.

''Put all those emotions aside and try to focus on what the Spurs have to do to beat the Grizzlies,'' Pau said. ''That's what I'm going to try to focus on and help as much as I can.''

Marc and Pau are not the first players to have to put family ties aside for a few hours. The Mikans, Persons, Kings, Grants and Wrights all squared off in the NBA postseason.

There is another twist to the Gasols' showdown.

Pau is returning to the city where he started his NBA career looking to do something he never managed while playing for the Grizzlies - winning a playoff game in Memphis. Pau's Grizzlies set an NBA record for playoff futility, losing their first 12 postseason games with him on the roster.

Playing for San Antonio ensures a mix of boos and cheers for Pau, who was Memphis' first All-Star. His trade to the Lakers in 2008 helped bring Marc to the Grizzlies, and now Marc is a three-time All-Star and team leader alongside guard Mike Conley - and trying to beat his big brother yet again.

''Now he has a better chance today than when he was younger,'' Pau quipped.

At 36, Pau no longer is the big man that leads a franchise, coming off the bench for San Antonio as the scoring option behind Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge and Tony Parker.

''I wish he was starting so we could get more minutes against each other,'' Marc said of Pau. ''He knows what it's about. He knows what I stand for, and how much I want to beat his team.''

Marc has let his teammates know as well.

He immediately got after rookie Andrew Harrison for not playing better defense when Pau hit a 3-pointer in Game 1. Pau, the NBA's 43rd all-time scorer, is still capable of hitting big shots.

''It's a little frustrating as a guard,'' Conley said. ''You have to hear Marc get mad at you for letting Paul score. It's always fun to see them compete, especially at the highest level.''

Of course it's even more fun when you're winning.

The Gasols tipped off against each other at the 2015 All-Star Game, becoming the first brothers to play against each other in that event. They are also Olympic teammates on Spain's national team.

Now they can add another milestone to their list of achievements, becoming the sixth set of siblings to meet in the NBA postseason.

George and Ed Mikan were the first brothers to battle in the playoffs, facing off in 1949, 1950 and 1953. In 1983, Bernard King's Knicks played brother Albert and the Nets, while Chuck and Wesley Person played each other in 1996. Harvey Grant with the 76ers met Horace Grant and his Orlando Magic in 1999. A year ago, Dorell Wright with Miami played brother Delon and Toronto.

Pau says it's hardest on their parents when he plays his little brother. Even though they take pride in one son being a two-time NBA champion and the other the league's 2013 defensive player of the year, these games can be tough.

''They don't enjoy the games that we play against each other too much,'' Pau said. ''They suffer. They don't want us to hurt. One is going to be happy after the game, one is going to be upset. So you feel for the one that is upset. It is what it is. Now we're in the playoffs, everything gets a little maximized, magnified.''

Marc easily has outscored Pau so far with a career playoff-best 32 points in Game 1 in a 111-82 loss to the Spurs, and he had 12 as San Antonio took Game 2 by a score of 96-82.

Whatever the stats are, Pau is busting with pride over the little brother he watched work so hard to become one of the NBA's top centers.

''I think he's had an incredible NBA career so far,'' Pau said.

And there's little doubt Pau wants Marc to have even more success - next year.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA fines Grizzlies' Fizdale $30,000 for officiating rant
April 19, 2017

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) The NBA has fined Grizzlies coach David Fizdale $30,000 for his rant against the officiating in Memphis' 96-82 loss to San Antonio in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.

The league announced the fine Wednesday. The Grizzlies are practicing later Wednesday. The Spurs lead the series 2-0 heading into Game 3 on Thursday night in Memphis.

Fizdale blasted the officiating in a nearly two-minute tirade during his postgame press conference Monday night. Fizdale called the work of veteran crew Danny Crawford, Rodney Mott and Bill Spooner ''unprofessional'' and ''unacceptable'' before slamming his fist on a table and storming off.

After initially saying he needed to ''have a glass of wine on the plane'' to analyze what happened, Fizdale unleashed a nearly two-minute tirade during a postgame interview that grew increasingly louder.

''It was a very poorly officiated basketball game,'' Fizdale said. ''Zach Randolph, the most rugged guy in the game, has zero free throws, but somehow Kawhi Leonard had 19 free throws?''

The first-year head coach noted that Leonard took more free throws (19) than all his Grizzlies (15) despite Memphis attempting 17 more shots in the paint than San Antonio.

''I'm not a numbers guy, but that doesn't seem to add up,'' Fizdale said.

The trio of Crawford, Spooner and Mott have officiated more than 400 playoff games over careers that span more than two decades for each, but Fizdale was irate with their performance.

Fizdale wasn't sure if his status as a first-year coach or his team's decorum had anything to do with the lopsided numbers, but he wasn't happy with the result.

''We don't get the respect that these guys deserve because Mike Conley doesn't go crazy, he has class and he just plays the game,'' Fizdale said. ''But I'm not going to let them treat us that way. I know (San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich has) got pedigree and I'm a young rookie, but they are not going to rook us.

''That's unacceptable, that was unprofessional. My guys dug in that game and earned the right to be in that game and they did not even give us a chance.''

[StarDust Bum]

Overall Picks of the Day:
Date W-L-T % Units Record

04/18/2017 5-1-0 83.33% +1950
04/17/2017 1-3-0 25.00% -1150
04/16/2017 3-5-0 37.50% -1250
04/15/2017 6-2-0 75.00% +1900

Best Bets Daily:
Sides / Totals

04/18/2017..................3 - 0..............+3.00..................2 - 1 +0.90
04/17/2017..................1 - 1...............-1.10..................0 - 2 - 2.20
04/16/2017 .................2 - 2..............- 0.20..................1 - 2 - 1.20
04/15/2017..................3 - 0.............+ 3.00..................1 - 2 - 1.20

[StarDust Bum]

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

ATL at WAS 07:00 PM

WAS -5.5

U 212.0

OKC at HOU 08:00 PM

HOU -7.5

O 225.0

POR at GS 10:30 PM

POR +12.0

O 219.0

[StarDust Bum]

NBA roundup: Rockets rally, take 2-0 series lead
April 20, 2017

HOUSTON -- Eric Gordon and Lou Williams caught fire from the perimeter in the fourth quarter and the Houston Rockets erased a 15-point deficit to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 115-111 on Wednesday night at Toyota Center in Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series.

Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook posted a triple-double of 51 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds. However, he shot 4 of 18 in the fourth quarter.

Gordon gave the Rockets their first lead with his 3-pointer at the 8:07 mark of the fourth quarter. Williams followed with a trey 27 seconds later before James Harden nailed a 3 to push Houston to a 104-100 lead with 5:16 left.

Gordon delivered the decisive shot with 1:48 remaining, drilling a 28-footer off a Harden pass to extend the lead to eight and give Houston a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 is scheduled for Friday night in Oklahoma City.

Warriors 110, Trail Blazers 81

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Golden State tightened the defensive screws with star forward Kevin Durant out of the lineup, limiting Portland to 12 points in a decisive third quarter en route to a run-away victory in Game 2 of their Western Conference series.

The teams will travel to Portland for the next two meetings in the best-of-seven, with the Warriors taking a 2-0 lead into Game 3 on Saturday.

Durant missed the game with what the Warriors have labeled a minor calf strain.

Golden State recorded its 11th straight home win over the Trail Blazers and 12th win in their last 13 meetings, including a 4-1 triumph in last year's Western semifinals.

Stephen Curry had 19 points and backcourt mate Klay Thompson added 16 as the Warriors won easily despite scoring 11 fewer points than in their 121-109 win in Game 1.

Wizards 109, Hawks 101

WASHINGTON -- John Wall scored 32 points and Bradley Beal had 16 of his 31 in the fourth quarter as Washington outdueled Atlanta to take a 2-0 lead in its Eastern Conference playoff series.

The series shifts to Atlanta for Game 3 on Saturday. The Wizards have won five in a row over the Hawks.

Wall and Beal scored 20 of Washington's final 21 points in the foul-plagued game after the Wizards trailed 89-88 with 6:03 remaining. That included the team's final seven field goals. Beal's layup put Washington up for good at 96-94, and Wall's free throw with 25.8 seconds left capped the decisive 16-4 run and put the Wizards ahead 107-98.

Paul Millsap had 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawks. Dennis Schroder scored 23 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 19, but Atlanta shot 4 of 20 on 3-pointers and committed 18 turnovers.