The Bum's 2017 NBA Best Bets-Trends-News Thru Playoffs !

[StarDust Bum]

George, Westbrook help Thunder clinch playoff spot
April 9, 2018

MIAMI (AP) Paul George scored 27 points, Russell Westbrook got his 25th triple-double of the season and the Oklahoma City Thunder clinched a playoff spot with a 115-93 win over the Miami Heat on Monday night.

Westbrook finished with 23 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists for the Thunder, who were down 18 in the opening minutes before outscoring the Heat 39-12 in the fourth.

The 27-point margin was the third-worst for any quarter in Heat history, and the worst ever in a game at Miami.

Jerami Grant scored 17 points and Carmelo Anthony added 11 for Oklahoma City, which made 14 3-pointers.

Josh Richardson scored 18 points and Hassan Whiteside added 16 for the Heat, whose playoff seed won't be decided until the season-finales Wednesday. Justise Winslow and Tyler Johnson each scored 12 for Miami, and James Johnson added 11.

CAVALIERS 123, KNICKS 109

NEW YORK (AP) - LeBron James had 26 points and 11 assists, Kevin Love scored 28 points, and the Cavaliers got their 50th win and another Central Division title by beating the Knicks.

The Cavaliers pulled within a half-game of Philadelphia for the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference, bouncing back from their loss to the 76ers on Friday and winning for the sixth time in seven games.

They reached 50 wins for the fourth time in four seasons since James returned from Miami and the 11th time in franchise history.

J.R. Smith and Jordan Clarkson added 16 points apiece for the Cavaliers, who made 19 3-pointers and won for the ninth straight time at Madison Square Garden.

Michael Beasley scored 20 points for the Knicks in their final home game of the season, which opened a home-and-home series. Rookie Frank Ntilikina added a career-high 17 and Courtney Lee also had 17.

SPURS 98, KINGS 85

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Rudy Gay scored 18 points, Manu Ginobili had 17 and the Spurs rallied late to beat the Kings and clinch their 21st straight postseason appearance.

Sacramento, which was eliminated from the postseason on March 11, led by 14 points before being outscored 38-19 in the fourth quarter.

Reserves Gay, Ginobili and Bryn Forbes combined for 25 points in the fourth quarter. Forbes finished with 11 points total.

Willie Cauley-Stein led Sacramento with 25 points and 10 rebounds.

RAPTORS 108, PISTONS 98

DETROIT (AP) - Jonas Valanciunas scored 25 points, and the Raptors scored the first 13 points of the fourth quarter before holding on for a victory over the Pistons.

Detroit was without injured stars Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin for its home finale, but the Pistons still led by 17 in the first half. The margin was only three, however, at halftime, and Detroit managed only 38 points over the final two quarters.

Detroit is out of playoff contention, and Toronto had already wrapped up the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors played without Fred VanVleet and Serge Ibaka.

Luke Kennard led Detroit with 20 points and Reggie Jackson scored 16 with nine assists. Langston Galloway had 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting.

NETS 114, BULLS 105

NEW YORK (AP) - Allen Crabbe scored 20 of his career-high 41 points in the first quarter and the Nets beat the Bulls for their first three-game winning streak this season.

D'Angelo Russell had 21 points and 11 assists, and Spencer Dinwiddie scored 20 points for the Nets, who had not won three straight since April 1-4, 2017.

Former Net Sean Kilpatrick was one of seven players for the Bulls to score in double figures, tallying 16 points. Cameron Payne had 15 for Chicago, which has lost its last three games.

Brooklyn hit 18 3-pointers in its first game since falling one shy of the NBA record with 24 in a rout of Chicago on Saturday.

Crabbe celebrated his 26th birthday by going 8 of 11 from deep Monday.

TIMBERWOLVES 113, GRIZZLIES 94

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Karl-Anthony Towns slammed his way to 24 points and grabbed 18 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who toughed out a victory over the Grizzlies to move one step closer to a long-sought spot in the playoffs.

Jeff Teague added 24 points and Jimmy Butler scored 15 points for the Timberwolves, who trailed by 10 points early before taking over against a depleted Grizzlies team that beat them 101-93 exactly two weeks ago in one of their worst losses of the season. Towns had five dunks to help ignite the crowd.

Ben McLemore had 18 points for the Grizzlies, who moved one loss closer to a prime lottery pick.

The Wolves entered the evening with more than just payback on the agenda. They had the opportunity to secure their first appearance in the playoffs since Kevin Garnett was patrolling the post with Latrell Sprewell as a wing man and Sam Cassell running the offense in 2004.

BUCKS 102, MAGIC 86

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Shabazz Muhammad scored a season-high 22 points and helped spark a key third-quarter run, Eric Bledsoe had a triple-double and the Bucks beat the Magic.

The Bucks leapfrogged Miami for sixth in the Eastern Conference. The Heat lost to Oklahoma City on Monday.

Milwaukee won its second straight game without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is resting a sore right ankle. Both victories came against 50-loss teams.

Nikola Vucevic led Orlando with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Bismark Biyombo had 14 points.

Bledsoe had 20 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists for Milwaukee.

[StarDust Bum]

SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY APRIL 10, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
7:00 PM Charlotte Hornets Indiana Pacers Bankers Life Fieldhouse
7:30 PM Philadelphia 76ers Atlanta Hawks Philips Arena
8:00 PM Boston Celtics Washington Wizards Capital One Arena
8:30 PM Phoenix Suns Dallas Mavericks American Airlines Center
9:00 PM Golden State Warriors Utah Jazz Vivint Smart Home Arena
10:30 PM Houston Rockets Los Angeles Lakers Staples Center


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DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

04/09/2018 12-6-0 66.67% +27.00
04/08/2018 6-7-1 46.15% -8.50
04/07/2018 6-6-0 50.00% -3.00
04/06/2018 10-9-0 52.63% +0.50
04/05/2018 4-8-0 33.33% -24.00
04/04/2018 4-5-0 44.44% -7.50
04/01/2018 15-8-1 65.22% +31.00

Total...............57-49-1......53.77%.....+ 15.50

[StarDust Bum]

Tuesday’s 6-pack

Odds to win the Super Bowl:

5-1— Patriots

8-1— Steelers, Eagles

10-1— Rams

12-1— Vikings, Packers

16-1– 49ers

18-1— Saints Jaguars Texans Chiefs

Quote of the Day
“It’s a fine line between who makes a team and who doesn’t in the NFL. We don’t have a minor league of professional football. Those players get a chance to continue playing even if they don’t play at the highest level and then maybe someday they play well enough to go to the highest level.”
Steve Spurrier

Tuesday’s quiz
Giancarlo Stanton was traded this past winter after hitting 59 homers last year; who is the only other player who was traded after a season where he hit 50+ home runs?

Monday’s quiz
Bill Belichick was the last coach of the old Cleveland Browns, before they moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens— he was 37-45 as coach of the Browns, with one playoff win— against the Patriots.

Sunday’s quiz
Houston Texans’ coach Bill O’Brien coached Penn State’s football team, after Joe Paterno and before current coach James Franklin.

*********************

Tuesday’s List of 13: Nobody asked me, but……

13) Was watching Invincible Sunday night, a movie about a 30-year bartender who tried out for the 1976 Philadelphia Eagles and wound up playing three years in the NFL. True story.

Things have changed a lot in 42 years; in training camp back then, the Eagles had six straight weeks of 2-a-day practices, and also had six preseason games.

Nowadays, teams rarely hit in practices, there are four preseason games; any coach who tried to run 2-a-days on consecutive days would probably get scolded by the league or just told he couldn’t do it.

12) “The hockey rink is the gathering place for our people throughout Canada. You want to know what’s going on in town? Go to the rink. We’ve got no movie theater in Nipawin, no casino. We’ve got a hockey rink. That’s how so much of Canada is. That’s why this hits us so hard.”
Dan Ukrainetz, a radio announcer in Nipawin, Saskatchewan, talking about the Humboldt bus tragedy this past weekend

11) Saturday is the earliest the Atlanta Braves can bring up top prospect Ronald Acuna and keep him under contractual control for an extra year.

10) After playing in 384 games over 10 years in the G-League, 32-year old Andre Ingram finally got the call Monday; the Lakers called him up to the NBA.

Can you imagine how exciting that must be, after 10 years to finally make it to the NBA, when he had to have thought it was never going to happen? Ingram played four years at American U; good for him.

9) Cubs were supposed to open at home Monday, the last team to do so, but it snowed so they will try again today. Lot of cruddy weather so far in April.

Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo (back) is on the DL now.

8) When Masters champ Patrick Reed was 10, he stopped wearing shorts and wore long pants at tournaments in hot weather, because he knew pros had to wear long pants, and he wanted to be a pro. All the other kids were wearing shorts.

7) Reed won the Masters Sunday with 13 clubs in his bag that were made by five different manufacturers, which is very unusual for a touring pro.

6) Through Sunday, Astros, White Sox, Pirates, Diamondbacks were only four teams whose starting pitcher went 5+ innings in every game so far early in this season.

5) Eli Manning gets a $500,000 bonus for going to the Giants” “voluntary” off-season workouts. OT Ereck Flowers was only Giant who didn’t “volunteer” to work out Monday.

4) Last year, Evan Longoria, Logan Morrison, Steven Souza and Kevin Keirmaier all hit 20+ homers for Tampa Bay; they were all traded over the winter.

That was the first time EVER a team traded away four players in the same off-season, all of whom had hit 20+ HR’s the year before.

3) Baltimore Orioles turned a 1-2-5 double play over the weekend; pitcher to home to third, with two force plays- that is the first time the Orioles have ever done that- the last one anywhere in the major leagues was in September of 2012 by the Astros.

2) NHL trivia: Tampa Bay Lightning scored 196 goals while teams were 5-on-5 this season, the most 5-on-5 goals by any team since the 2009-10 Washington Capitals.

1— Northwestern poached Evansville’s 6-6 Ryan Taylor, who scored 21 ppg for the Purple Aces last year— he is a graduate transfer, so he will eligible to play in the fall.

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Tuesday's six-pack

Odds to win the Super Bowl:

5-1— Patriots

8-1— Steelers, Eagles

10-1— Rams

12-1— Vikings, Packers

16-1– 49ers

18-1— Saints Jaguars Texans Chiefs

**********

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

13) Was watching Invincible Sunday night, a movie about a 30-year bartender who tried out for the 1976 Philadelphia Eagles and wound up playing three years in the NFL. True story.

Things have changed a lot in 42 years; in training camp back then, the Eagles had six straight weeks of 2-a-day practices, and also had six preseason games.

Nowadays, teams rarely hit in practices, there are four preseason games; any coach who tried to run 2-a-days on consecutive days would probably get scolded by the league or just told he couldn’t do it.

12) “The hockey rink is the gathering place for our people throughout Canada. You want to know what’s going on in town? Go to the rink. We’ve got no movie theater in Nipawin, no casino. We’ve got a hockey rink. That’s how so much of Canada is. That’s why this hits us so hard.”
Dan Ukrainetz, a radio announcer in Nipawin, Saskatchewan, talking about the Humboldt bus tragedy this past weekend

11) Saturday is the earliest the Atlanta Braves can bring up top prospect Ronald Acuna and keep him under contractual control for an extra year.

10) After playing in 384 games over 10 years in the G-League, 32-year old Andre Ingram finally got the call Monday; the Lakers called him up to the NBA.

Can you imagine how exciting that must be, after 10 years to finally make it to the NBA, when he had to have thought it was never going to happen? Ingram played four years at American U; good for him.

9) Cubs were supposed to open at home Monday, the last team to do so, but it snowed so they will try again today. Lot of cruddy weather so far in April.

Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo (back) is on the DL now.

8) When Masters champ Patrick Reed was 10, he stopped wearing shorts and wore long pants at tournaments in hot weather, because he knew pros had to wear long pants, and he wanted to be a pro. All the other kids were wearing shorts.

7) Reed won the Masters Sunday with 13 clubs in his bag that were made by five different manufacturers, which is very unusual for a touring pro.

6) Through Sunday, Astros, White Sox, Pirates, Diamondbacks were only four teams whose starting pitcher went 5+ innings in every game so far early in this season.

5) Eli Manning gets a $500,000 bonus for going to the Giants” “voluntary” off-season workouts. OT Ereck Flowers was only Giant who didn’t “volunteer” to work out Monday.

4) Last year, Evan Longoria, Logan Morrison, Steven Souza and Kevin Keirmaier all hit 20+ homers for Tampa Bay; they were all traded over the winter.

That was the first time EVER a team traded away four players in the same off-season, all of whom had hit 20+ HR’s the year before.

3) Baltimore Orioles turned a 1-2-5 double play over the weekend; pitcher to home to third, with two force plays- that is the first time the Orioles have ever done that- the last one anywhere in the major leagues was in September of 2012 by the Astros.

2) NHL trivia: Tampa Bay Lightning scored 196 goals while teams were 5-on-5 this season, the most 5-on-5 goals by any team since the 2009-10 Washington Capitals.

1— Northwestern poached Evansville’s 6-6 Ryan Taylor, who scored 21 ppg for the Purple Aces last year— he is a graduate transfer, so he will eligible to play in the fall.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Tuesday, April 10

Pacers won three of last four games with Charlotte; under is 4-2 in last six series games. Hornets are 0-3 vs spread in last three visits to Indiana. Charlotte lost five of its last six games; they’re 4-7 in last 11 games as road underdogs. Last three Hornet games went over the total. Pacers won seven of their last nine games; they’re 5-1 vs spread in last six home games. Four of their last six games went over.

76ers won last two games with Atlanta, after losing previous seven meetings; Sixers are 1-3 vs spread in last four visits to Atlanta. Six of last nine series games went over total. 76ers won their last 14 games; they covered five of last six games as road favorites. Five of their last seven games stayed under. Hawks are 3-2 in their last five games; they’re 2-5 in last seven games as a home underdog. Five of their last six games stayed under.

Wizards/Celtics split their last six meetings; Boston is 2-2 vs spread in last four games in this arena. Over is 8-2 in last ten series games. Celtics lost three of their last four games; they’re 12-5 as road underdogs this season. Four of their last five games went over. Washington lost eight of its last ten games; they’re 2-8 in last 10 tries as home favorites. Under is 6-3-1 in their last ten games.

Suns won their last four games with the Mavericks; they’re 4-2 vs spread in last six visits to Dallas. Six of last eight series games stayed under the total. Phoenix lost nine of its last 10 games; they’re 4-2 vs spread in last six games as road underdogs. Eight of their last 10 games stayed under total. Dallas lost six of its last seven games; they’re 7-8 as home favorites this season. Three of their last four games went over.

Jazz won their last two games with Golden State, after losing previous five series games; Warriors are 2-2 vs spread in last four visits to Utah. Last four series games went over total. Golden State is 4-5 in its last nine games; they’re 1-3 vs spread as an underdog this season. Under is 3-1 in their last four road games. Jazz won its last five games; they’re 1-4 vs spread in last five home games. Over is 8-1 in their last nine games.

Lakers lost eight of last ten games with Houston; over is 7-1 in last eight series games. Rockets covered three of last four series games played here. Houston won eight of its last ten games; they are 4-4 in last eight games as road favorites. Under is 7-2 in their last nine games. Lakers lost five of their last six games; they’re 1-4 in last five games as home underdogs. Three of their last four games went over.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA

Tuesday, April 10

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Trend Report
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Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games
Charlotte is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
Charlotte is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Charlotte's last 6 games on the road
Charlotte is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Indiana
Charlotte is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Indiana
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Charlotte's last 6 games when playing Indiana
Charlotte is 2-4-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Indiana
Charlotte is 2-15 SU in its last 17 games when playing on the road against Indiana
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Charlotte's last 7 games when playing on the road against Indiana
Indiana Pacers
Indiana is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Indiana is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Indiana's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Indiana's last 21 games
Indiana is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Indiana is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Indiana's last 8 games at home
Indiana is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Charlotte
Indiana is 5-10-1 ATS in its last 16 games when playing Charlotte
Indiana is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Charlotte
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Indiana's last 6 games when playing Charlotte
Indiana is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Charlotte
Indiana is 15-2 SU in its last 17 games when playing at home against Charlotte
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Indiana's last 7 games when playing at home against Charlotte


Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia is 10-2 ATS in its last 12 games
Philadelphia is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 7 games
Philadelphia is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Philadelphia is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Philadelphia is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Atlanta
Philadelphia is 3-14 SU in its last 17 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Philadelphia's last 9 games when playing Atlanta
Philadelphia is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
Philadelphia is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Atlanta is 6-11-1 ATS in its last 18 games
Atlanta is 4-13 SU in its last 17 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta's last 6 games
Atlanta is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Atlanta is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games at home
Atlanta is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Philadelphia
Atlanta is 14-3 SU in its last 17 games when playing Philadelphia
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Atlanta's last 9 games when playing Philadelphia
Atlanta is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
Atlanta is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Philadelphia


Boston Celtics
Boston is 13-5 ATS in its last 18 games
Boston is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games
Boston is 11-3 ATS in its last 14 games on the road
Boston is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games on the road
Boston is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Washington
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Boston's last 7 games when playing Washington
Boston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Washington
Boston is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Washington
Washington Wizards
Washington is 5-12-1 ATS in its last 18 games
Washington is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
Washington is 3-6-1 ATS in its last 10 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games at home
Washington is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Boston
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Washington's last 7 games when playing Boston
Washington is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Boston
Washington is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Boston


Phoenix Suns
Phoenix is 1-17 SU in its last 18 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Phoenix's last 10 games
Phoenix is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Phoenix is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Phoenix's last 5 games on the road
Phoenix is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Dallas
Phoenix is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Phoenix's last 8 games when playing Dallas
Phoenix is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Dallas
Phoenix is 6-17 SU in its last 23 games when playing on the road against Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Phoenix's last 5 games when playing on the road against Dallas
Dallas Mavericks
Dallas is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Dallas's last 9 games
Dallas is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Dallas is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Dallas's last 12 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas's last 6 games at home
Dallas is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Phoenix
Dallas is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Phoenix
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Dallas's last 8 games when playing Phoenix
Dallas is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games when playing at home against Phoenix
Dallas is 17-6 SU in its last 23 games when playing at home against Phoenix
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas's last 5 games when playing at home against Phoenix


Golden State Warriors
Golden State is 6-14 ATS in its last 20 games
Golden State is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Golden State's last 5 games
Golden State is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Golden State is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games on the road
Golden State is 18-4 SU in its last 22 games when playing Utah
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Golden State's last 6 games when playing Utah
Golden State is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Utah
Utah Jazz
Utah is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Utah's last 5 games
Utah is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Utah is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Utah's last 6 games at home
Utah is 4-18 SU in its last 22 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Utah's last 6 games when playing Golden State
Utah is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Golden State


Houston Rockets
Houston is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Houston is 22-3 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 6 games
Houston is 9-3-1 ATS in its last 13 games on the road
Houston is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Houston is 14-2 SU in its last 16 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 7 games on the road
Houston is 12-4 ATS in its last 16 games when playing LA Lakers
Houston is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games when playing LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Houston's last 8 games when playing LA Lakers
Houston is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
Houston is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
LA Lakers is 4-9 ATS in its last 13 games
LA Lakers is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Lakers's last 6 games
LA Lakers is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
LA Lakers is 14-6 SU in its last 20 games at home
LA Lakers is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home
LA Lakers is 4-12 ATS in its last 16 games when playing Houston
LA Lakers is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games when playing Houston
The total has gone OVER in 7 of LA Lakers's last 8 games when playing Houston
LA Lakers is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games when playing at home against Houston
LA Lakers is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Lakers's last 6 games when playing at home against Houston

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Long Sheet

Tuesday, April 10

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CHARLOTTE (35 - 46) at INDIANA (48 - 33) - 4/10/2018, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHARLOTTE is 32-45 ATS (-17.5 Units) in all games this season.
CHARLOTTE is 9-24 ATS (-17.4 Units) as an underdog this season.
CHARLOTTE is 17-29 ATS (-14.9 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent this season.
CHARLOTTE is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) after allowing 115 points or more this season.
CHARLOTTE is 15-26 ATS (-13.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
CHARLOTTE is 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season this season.
INDIANA is 47-34 ATS (+9.6 Units) in all games this season.
INDIANA is 24-12 ATS (+10.8 Units) as a favorite this season.
INDIANA is 47-34 ATS (+9.6 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 12-2 ATS (+9.8 Units) in April games over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 19-10 ATS (+8.0 Units) in the second half of the season this season.
INDIANA is 16-5 ATS (+10.5 Units) in home games after scoring 115 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
INDIANA is 23-11 ATS (+10.9 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.

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

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PHILADELPHIA (50 - 30) at ATLANTA (24 - 57) - 4/10/2018, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 47-33 ATS (+10.7 Units) in all games this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 32-21 ATS (+8.9 Units) as a favorite this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 21-11 ATS (+8.9 Units) in the second half of the season this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) against Southeast division opponents this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 20-9 ATS (+10.1 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 20-9 ATS (+10.1 Units) after a win by 10 points or more this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 47-28 ATS (+16.2 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 14-6 ATS (+7.4 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record - 2nd half of the season this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 23-11 ATS (+10.9 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 16-5 ATS (+10.5 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season this season.
ATLANTA is 5-13 ATS (-9.3 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 7-2 against the spread versus PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
ATLANTA is 7-2 straight up against PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
6 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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BOSTON (54 - 26) at WASHINGTON (42 - 38) - 4/10/2018, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 47-29 ATS (+15.1 Units) in all games this season.
BOSTON is 17-4 ATS (+12.6 Units) as an underdog this season.
BOSTON is 27-12 ATS (+13.8 Units) in road games this season.
BOSTON is 26-15 ATS (+9.5 Units) against Southeast division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 15-5 ATS (+9.5 Units) in road games revenging a home loss vs opponent over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 16-4 ATS (+11.6 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent this season.
BOSTON is 24-13 ATS (+9.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
BOSTON is 15-7 ATS (+7.3 Units) in road games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
BOSTON is 26-14 ATS (+10.6 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game this season.
WASHINGTON is 35-43 ATS (-12.3 Units) in all games this season.
WASHINGTON is 17-32 ATS (-18.2 Units) as a favorite this season.
WASHINGTON is 14-24 ATS (-12.4 Units) in home games this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 13-5 against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 11-7 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
12 of 18 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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PHOENIX (20 - 61) at DALLAS (24 - 57) - 4/10/2018, 8:35 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 5-4 against the spread versus DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 5-4 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
6 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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GOLDEN STATE (58 - 23) at UTAH (47 - 33) - 4/10/2018, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
GOLDEN STATE is 33-45 ATS (-16.5 Units) in all games this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 14-26 ATS (-14.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 4-15 ATS (-12.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season this season.
UTAH is 19-10 ATS (+8.0 Units) after a win by 10 points or more this season.
UTAH is 16-7 ATS (+8.3 Units) after 3 or more consecutive wins this season.
UTAH is 23-14 ATS (+7.6 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
UTAH is 29-15 ATS (+12.5 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
UTAH is 12-3 ATS (+8.7 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 129-94 ATS (+25.6 Units) in April games since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
UTAH is 7-7 against the spread versus GOLDEN STATE over the last 3 seasons
GOLDEN STATE is 11-3 straight up against UTAH over the last 3 seasons
8 of 14 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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HOUSTON (64 - 16) at LA LAKERS (34 - 46) - 4/10/2018, 10:35 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
HOUSTON is 7-3 against the spread versus LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
HOUSTON is 8-2 straight up against LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
8 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Dunkel

Tuesday, April 10


Charlotte @ Indiana

Game 501-502
April 10, 2018 @ 7:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Charlotte
118.839
Indiana
121.331
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Indiana
by 2 1/2
211
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Indiana
by 6
217 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Charlotte
(+6); Under

Philadelphia @ Atlanta

Game 503-504
April 10, 2018 @ 7:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Philadelphia
120.704
Atlanta
113.668
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Philadelphia
by 7
223
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Philadelphia
by 9 1/2
218
Dunkel Pick:
Atlanta
(+9 1/2); Over

Boston @ Washington

Game 505-506
April 10, 2018 @ 8:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Boston
116.467
Washington
124.896
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Washington
by 8 1/2
202
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Washington
by 4 1/2
206 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Washington
(-4 1/2); Under

Phoenix @ Dallas

Game 507-508
April 10, 2018 @ 8:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Phoenix
00.000
Dallas
00.000
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Phoenix

Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Phoenix

Dunkel Pick:
Phoenix
( );

Golden State @ Utah

Game 509-510
April 10, 2018 @ 9:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Golden State
117.451
Utah
126.969
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Utah
by 9 1/2
210
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Utah
by 5
212 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Utah
(-5); Under

Houston @ LA Lakers

Game 511-512
April 10, 2018 @ 10:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Houston
00.000
LA Lakers
00.000
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Houston

Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Houston

Dunkel Pick:
Houston
( );

[StarDust Bum]

Spurs, Pels, OKC in; one spot left in West
April 10, 2018

A look at the NBA playoff picture, with two days remaining in the regular season and now only one berth left to be decided:

WEST UPDATE

The playoffs start Wednesday.

Officially, that's not true. But the Denver at Minnesota game on Wednesday night may as well be considered a play-in game: Winner moves on, loser goes home.

Monday started with four spots available out West, and ended with only one still unclaimed. New Orleans, San Antonio and Oklahoma City all won to clinch their playoff berths - the Spurs doing so for the 21st consecutive year, tying Portland for the second-longest run in NBA history and moving one shy of tying Philadelphia's league record (which started when the 76ers were the Syracuse Nationals).

The funny part about Monday's triple-clinchings is that nothing changed in the standings. The order of the top eight remains the same, going into the next-to-last day of the regular season.

It won't stay that way. Get ready for craziness.

Portland and Utah can still get to No. 3. The Blazers, Jazz, Pelicans, Thunder and Spurs are in the mix for No. 4. The Spurs could also fall as far as No. 8. The Thunder, who are in seventh, cannot finish seventh. There's at least a dozen more scenarios.

Wednesday night will be great fun.

EAST UPDATE

Cleveland won the Central Division and locked Indiana into the No. 5 seed with a win at New York.

Milwaukee is now up to No. 6 in the East, flip-flopping spots with now-No. 7 Miami. The Bucks beat Orlando, while the Heat could get nothing going and got routed in the fourth quarter on the way to losing to the Thunder.

The Bucks wrap up No. 6 with a win at Philadelphia on Wednesday night. But the 76ers will go into the final day with a chance at the No. 3 spot, regardless of whether they win in Atlanta on Tuesday.

TUESDAY'S GAMES

- Charlotte at Indiana: No playoff impact, Pacers will be the No. 5 seed.

- Philadelphia at Atlanta: Philadelphia can be No. 3 seed by winning last two, and stretching its winning streak to 16.

- Boston at Washington: A potential first-round matchup if Wizards finish seventh. Washington can also be No. 6 or No. 8.

- Golden State at Utah: Jazz could get to No. 3 seed with a 2-0 finish. Warriors could be first NBA team with 30 road wins in three straight seasons.

- Phoenix at Dallas: No playoff impact, Suns have clinched NBA's worst record.

- Houston at L.A. Lakers: No playoff impact, Lakers aiming for winning home record.

CURRENT BRACKET

First-round matchups if the season ended Monday ...

East: 1-Toronto vs. 8-Washington, 2-Boston vs. 7-Miami, 3-Philadelphia vs. 6-Milwaukee, 4-Cleveland vs. 5-Indiana.

West: 1-Houston vs. 8-Minnesota, 2-Golden State vs. 7-Oklahoma City, 3-Portland vs. 6-San Antonio, 4-Utah vs. 5-New Orleans.

NOTE OF THE DAY

Neither Denver nor Minnesota has ever missed the playoffs in a 46-win season. One will this year.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

''We know we can beat anybody when we're playing our best.'' - Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, after the Thunder clinched their spot.

[StarDust Bum]

Inside the Paint - Tuesday
April 10, 2018

Bettors riding the NBA favorites on Monday are probably still celebrating as the ‘chalk’ went 9-0 straight up and an eye-opening 8-1 against the spread. The Thunder, Spurs and Pelicans all clinched playoffs spots in the West with double-digit wins last night. Denver kept its playoff hopes alive with a home win over Portland last night and will now play in an elimination game on Wednesday at Minnesota, with the winner earning the last spot in the West.

In the East, Cleveland captured the Central Division and at least the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. Seeds 6 through 8 in the East are still jumbled and with Miami losing last night and Milwaukee winning. Washington is the other team in the mix and it plays tonight. The Heat control their own destiny and hold tiebreakers over both teams, however most pundits believe the No. 7 seed is the best option against No. 2 Boston. Instead of playing No. 1 Toronto or No. 3 Philadelphia/Cleveland.

Tuesday’s card has six games on tap and below is my quick handicap.

Meaningful Games

Philadelphia (50-30 SU, 46-33-1 ATS) at Atlanta (24-57 SU, 39-39-3 ATS)

The 76ers have been on a mission lately, winning 14 straight games and if the club captures two more then they’ll lock up the No. 3 seed in the East. During this winning streak, six of those wins have come away from home and they’ve produced a 10-4 ATS mark but they have failed to cover the number in their last two wins. Wins are wins in the NBA but of the 14 wins, only one came against a playoff team and they barely held on to beat Cleveland last Friday at home. They did notch victories against Minnesota and Denver, but neither of those clubs have locked up a spot yet.

One of the victories during their current winning streak came against the Hawks, a 101-91 decision at Atlanta on Mar. 30. Including that outcome, these teams have only met twice this season and the 76ers won and covered both games, both decisions decided by exactly 10 points.

Despite playing with a short-handed roster filled with raw talent, the Hawks have gone 3-2 SU and 4-1 ATS in their last five games which included impressive road wins over the Wizards (103-97) and Celtics (112-106). This will be the home and season finale for Atlanta, who will be missing the playoffs after clinching a spot in the 10 previous postseasons. The Hawks haven’t been in great form lately at home, going 0-5 SU and 1-4 ATS in their last five games.

Philadelphia hosts Milwaukee at home on Wednesday and the 76ers have gone 9-4 this season in front end of back-to-back spots and that includes a run of seven straight wins (6-1 ATS).

Golden State (58-23 SU, 34-46-1 ATS) at Utah (47-33 SU, 42-37-1 ATS)

It’s rare to see Golden State listed as an underdog but that’s the case tonight when it meets Utah (-7) at Salt Lake City. This game is much more important for the Jazz, who can keep hopes for claiming the No. 3 seed in the West alive. Portland sits ahead in the standings by a game but Utah owns a 2-1 season edge versus the Trail Blazers and the pair meet on Wednesday from the Moda Center. If the Jazz win tonight, tomorrow’s game will be for the third seed.

With nothing to play for, Golden State might rest a ton of players since it’s the last game of the season for them. The Warriors did right the ship on Sunday with a 117-100 win at Phoenix but in their two recent games against playoff clubs, they were outgunned by the Pacers (126-106) and the Pelicans (126-100), the game versus New Orleans coming at home.

Regardless of who plays for Golden State, the Jazz should have confidence knowing that they’ve won two straight against the Warriors which includes a 129-99 home win on Jan. 30. All three encounters between the pair this regular season have gone ‘over’ the number.

Golden State, due to injuries, hasn’t been sharp in the second-half of the season and a 7-9 record in its last 16 games is a bit alarming. Steve Kerr’s team still owns the second-best road record (29-11 SU, 18-22 ATS) in the league but when listed as underdogs, they’re just 1-4 both SU and ATS this season.

This is the regular season finale at Vivint Smart Home Arena tonight and the Jazz have gone 27-13 SU and 21-19 ATS overall. Utah is 8-2 SU in its last 10 at home but they’ve been pedestrian (5-5 ATS) for bettors.

Sort of Meaningful

Boston (54-26 SU, 49-29-2 ATS) at Washington (42-38 SU, 36-43-1 ATS)

This is an intriguing matchup because the pair could also be meeting in the first round of the playoffs and I’m guessing the Wizards would rather play Boston than Toronto. The only way it could happens is if Washington wins tonight and then defeats Orlando on the road Wednesday but the final outcomes for the Bucks and Heat also changed things up as well.

Even though the Celtics are locked into the No. 2 seed, Brad Stevens said he’s playing his starters major minutes tonight and getting ready for the postseason. Boston has gone 14-7 this season without All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving but they limp into this game with a 1-3 record in their last four.

Backing Washington right now doesn’t appear to be a sound investment with the club dropping four straight (1-3 ATS) and eight of their last 10. Last Friday’s 103-97 home loss to Atlanta as a 10 ½-point favorite was embarrassing and it was their fourth defeat to a non-playoff team in the last two weeks.

These teams met in the playoffs last season and the home team won all seven of the games as Boston advanced. However, the trend has flip-flopped this regular season and the visitor is 3-0 this season. The one consistency between the pair has been scoring and that’s helped the ‘over’ go 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.

Meaningless

There will be a lot of rested players in the below games and I would tread lightly on all of them.

Charlotte (35-46 SU, 33-44-4 ATS) at Indiana (48-33 SU, 47-34 ATS)
Phoenix (20-61 SU, 36-42-3 ATS) at Dallas (24-57 SU, 41-38-2 ATS)
Houston (64-16 SU, 41-37-2 ATS) at L.A. Lakers (34-46 SU, 41-39 ATS)

[StarDust Bum]

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

1 z-Toronto 59 22 0.728 - 34-7 25-15 40-11 12-4 W4 6-4

2 x-Boston 54 26 0.675 4½ 26-14 28-12 32-18 11-4 L1 7-3

3 x-Philadelphia 50 30 0.625 8½ 29-11 21-19 32-18 9-7 W14 10-0

4 y-Cleveland 50 31 0.617 9 29-11 21-20 35-16 11-5 W1 8-2

5 x-Indiana 48 33 0.593 11 27-13 21-20 32-19 10-6 W1 7-3

6 x-Milwaukee 44 37 0.543 15 25-16 19-21 27-24 6-10 W2 7-3

7 x-Miami 43 38 0.531 16 25-15 18-23 30-21 11-5 L2 5-5

8 x-Washington 42 38 0.525 16½ 22-18 20-20 27-23 8-7 L4 2-8


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

1 z-Houston 64 16 0.800 - 34-7 30-9 40-10 12-4 L1 8-2

2 y-Golden St. 58 23 0.716 6½ 29-12 29-11 34-17 13-3 W1 5-5

3 x-Portland 48 33 0.593 16½ 27-13 21-20 30-21 8-7 L4 4-6

4 x-Utah 47 33 0.588 17 27-13 20-20 33-17 7-8 W5 7-3

5 x-New Orleans 47 34 0.580 17½ 23-17 24-17 26-25 8-7 W4 6-4

6 x-San Antonio 47 34 0.580 17½ 33-8 14-26 29-22 9-6 W2 6-4

7 x-Oklahoma City 47 34 0.580 17½ 26-14 21-20 27-24 5-11 W2 5-5

8 Minnesota 46 35 0.568 18½ 29-11 17-24 33-18 9-6 W2 6-4

Denver 46 35 0.568 18½ 31-10 15-25 28-23 9-6 W6 8-2

[StarDust Bum]

TUESDAY, APRIL 10
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

CHA at IND 07:00 PM
CHA +3.5
U 215.0

PHI at ATL 07:30 PM
ATL +8.5
U 218.0

BOS at WAS 08:00 PM
BOS +7.0
O 205.5

PHO at DAL 08:30 PM
DAL -3.5
U 208.5

GS at UTA 09:00 PM
GS +7.5
O 211.5

HOU at LAL 10:30 PM
HOU -7.5
O 217.5

[StarDust Bum]

76ers win 15th straight, move closer to No. 3 seed in East
April 11, 2018

ATLANTA (AP) JJ Redick scored 28 points and the surging Philadelphia 76ers set a franchise record with their 15th consecutive victory, holding off the Atlanta Hawks 121-113 Tuesday night to move a step closer to locking up the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.

The 76ers overcame a tough outing for rookie star Ben Simmons, who missed the morning shootaround after coming down with the stomach flu. He still managed to put up 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists before fouling out with 7 seconds remaining.

His teammates helped pick up the slack. Redick hit 6 of 9 from beyond the 3-point arc, while former Atlanta players Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli burned their old team. Ilyasova scored 26 points, Belinelli added 20 and the duo combined for nine 3-pointers.

Philadelphia went 17 of 37 beyond the arc.

Taurean Prince led the Hawks with 27 points.

JAZZ 119, WARRIORS 79

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points and set an NBA rookie record for 3-pointers, Derrick Favors added 16 points and nine rebounds, and Utah cruised to a victory over Golden State.

Jonas Jerebko scored 14 points, and Rudy Gobert and Ricky Rubio added 13 points apiece for the Jazz. Utah (48-33) won its sixth straight game and went 3-1 in the season series with Golden State. The Jazz can claim the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference with a win over Portland on Wednesday night.

Even with a loss to the Blazers, Utah is assured of falling no lower than the No. 5 seed.

Klay Thompson scored 23 points and Kevin Durant added 13 for the Warriors, who finished the season at 58-24. Golden State, the No. 2 seed in the West, never led in the game and shot just 35 percent from the field.

WIZARDS 113, CELTICS 101

WASHINGTON (AP) - John Wall surpassed 5,000 career assists and Washington beat Boston despite Jaylen Brown's 21 first-quarter points to remain in play for the No. 6, No. 7 or No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.

For now, the Wizards are eighth in the East, and potentially more worrisome is this: Starting small forward Otto Porter Jr. left at halftime with a right lower leg strain and did not return.

Wall finished with 29 points and 12 assists as Washington ended its four-game losing streak. The Wizards will wrap up the regular season at Orlando on Wednesday.

That result, along with how Miami fares against Toronto and what Milwaukee does at Philadelphia, will determine where the Wizards, Heat and Bucks all wind up in the standings ahead of the playoffs.

Brown wound up with 27 points.

ROCKETS 105, LAKERS 99

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Chris Paul scored 22 points, James Harden had 21 points and 10 assists, and Houston kept steamrolling toward the playoffs with its 31st victory in 34 games.

Gerald Green scored 16 points as Houston hung on late to avoid its first back-to-back losses since Jan. 6. But in the first half, the Rockets lost backup forward Luc Mbah a Moute to a dislocated right shoulder in a meaningless game.

Andre Ingram scored 19 points with four 3-pointers for the Lakers in the 32-year-old guard's impressive NBA debut. Los Angeles promoted the 10-year G League veteran from its South Bay affiliate for the final two games of the regular season, and the developmental league's career leader in 3-pointers hit a 3 on his first NBA shot.

Ingram's fourth 3-pointer with 51 seconds left trimmed Houston's lead to 102-99, but the Lakers couldn't score again. Ingram finished 6 for 8 from the field and 4 for 5 on 3-pointers along with three rebounds, three blocked shots and a steal.

HORNETS 119, PACERS 93

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Dwight Howard finished with 14 points and 17 rebounds, and Frank Kaminsky tied his career high with 24 points to lead Charlotte past Indiana.

Charlotte ended the season with two wins in its last seven games.

The Pacers, who are locked into the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference, lost for the second time in three games with three starters sitting out. Darren Collison, T.J. Leaf and Glenn Robinson III all scored 13 points for Indiana.

SUNS 124, MAVERICKS 97

DALLAS (AP) - Rookie Alec Peters scored a career-high 36 points and Phoenix beat Dallas in a reserve-filled finale for two teams headed to the lottery.

The Mavericks (24-58) entered the game tied for the third-worst record in the NBA and stayed that way while sitting eight players. That included star Dirk Nowitzki, whose 20th season ended last week when he had ankle surgery.

Atlanta finished with the same record after losing at home to Philadelphia 121-113. Orlando can join the Mavericks and Hawks with a loss at home to Washington on Wednesday.

Phoenix (21-61), which had already clinched the worst record and best lottery odds for the No. 1 pick in the draft in June, also didn't dress eight players. The Suns won for the second time in 19 games to wrap up their third straight season with at least 58 losses.

[StarDust Bum]

SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY APRIL 11, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
8:00 PM Brooklyn Nets Boston Celtics TD Garden
8:00 PM Denver Nuggets Minnesota Timberwolves Target Center
8:00 PM Detroit Pistons Chicago Bulls United Center
8:00 PM Memphis Grizzlies Oklahoma City Thunder Chesapeake Energy Arena
8:00 PM Milwaukee Bucks Philadelphia 76ers Wells Fargo Center
8:00 PM New York Knicks Cleveland Cavaliers Quicken Loans Arena
8:00 PM San Antonio Spurs New Orleans Pelicans Smoothie King Center
8:00 PM Toronto Raptors Miami Heat AmericanAirlines Arena
8:00 PM Washington Wizards Orlando Magic Amway Center
10:30 PM Houston Rockets Sacramento Kings Golden 1 Center
10:30 PM Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles Clippers Staples Center
10:30 PM Utah Jazz Portland Trail Blazers Moda Center at the Rose Quarter


*************************


DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

04/10/2018 4-8-0 33.33% -24.00
04/09/2018 12-6-0 66.67% +27.00
04/08/2018 6-7-1 46.15% -8.50
04/07/2018 6-6-0 50.00% -3.00
04/06/2018 10-9-0 52.63% +0.50
04/05/2018 4-8-0 33.33% -24.00
04/04/2018 4-5-0 44.44% -7.50
04/01/2018 15-8-1 65.22% +31.00

Total...............61-57-1......51.69%.....- 8.50

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday’s 6-pack

Odds on first round of Stanley Cup playoffs:

Tampa Bay -$300 vs New Jersey +$235

Washington -$140 vs Columbus +$110

Boston -$160 vs Toronto +$130

Pittsburgh -$235 vs Philadelphia +190

Nashville -$400 vs Colorado +$300

Las Vegas -$135 vs Los Angeles +$105

Winnipeg -$200 vs Minnesota +$165

Anaheim -$140 vs San Jose +$110

Quote of the Day
“Winning helps, and losing doesn’t.”
Bill Parcells

Wednesday’s quiz
What is the capital of Ohio?

Tuesday’s quiz
Giancarlo Stanton was traded this past winter after hitting 59 homers last year; Greg Vaughn is the only other player who was traded after a season where he hit 50+ home runs, going from San Diego to Cincinnati after the ’98 season

Monday’s quiz
Bill Belichick was the last coach of the old Cleveland Browns, before they moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens— he was 37-45 as coach of the Browns, with one playoff win— against the Patriots.

************************

Wednesday’s List of 13: Mid-week musings……

13) Rough start to the season for the Giants; Johnny Cueto (ankle) goes on the DL, joining Madison Bumgarner and Jeff Samardzija- those are San Francisco’s three best pitchers.

12) Rockets’ PG Chris Paul bought an ownership stake in the Carolina League’s Winston-Salem Dash this week. Dash are a Class A farm club of the Chicago White Sox.

11) Coming into Tuesday’s game, Ryan Zimmerman had come to bat with 33 men on base, but only knocked two of them in. In his first at-bat Tuesday, Zimmerman hit a two-run triple, which had to be a big relief to both him and the Nationals.

10) Ronald Acuna update: Braves’ big prospect has started the season 2-15 in AAA, getting his first two hits of the season Tuesday; they can bring him up Saturday and keep his under team control for that extra year.

Thats a rule that needs to be changed; just bring the good players up early when they’re ready, not when you can manipulate the rules to your advantage.

9) Dodger catcher Kyle Farmer had a cameo role in the 2009 movie The Blind Side; he played the high school QB in the scenes where Sandra Bullock interrupts the football team’s practice.

8) 7,003 fans in Miami Monday, many of them disguised as empty seats; 6,516 more Tuesday night. If you’re in the Witness Protection Program and don’t want to be seen, Marlins Park is an excellent place to hang out.

7) Someone posted on Twitter last night that the actual paid attendance (people who used tickets to get in) on a snowy Monday afternoon in Chicago for the White Sox game was 974 loyal fans, all of whom should get a free ticket to a future Pale Hose game.

6) St Peter’s hired Seton Hall assistant Shaheen Holloway to replace John Dunne, who moved on to Marist, a MAAC rival of the Peacocks.

5) Oklahoma Sooners’ basketball team will do something unusual in November; making a road trip to play Tex-Rio Grande Valley and Tex-San Antonio, two mid-major teams.

Big-time teams almost never do this, but those two clubs are both coached by former assistants to Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger, so they’re getting a break— both games should draw really well.

4) 32-year-old Andre Ingram scored 19 points, got 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 blocks in 29 minutes off the Lakers bench in their loss to Houston. It was Ingram’s first NBA game after a decade in the G-League.

Ingram will make $13,824 for playing Tuesday/Wednesday for the Lakers. His G-League salary for the whole season was $26,000.

3) Phillies reliever Pat Neshek collects baseball cards; he recently bought a few boxes of cards and found a Shohei Ohtani card that was signed in red ink, one of only 69 in existence.

Neshek sold the card on eBay for $6,100, which is the good news.

The bad news is that he sold the card before Ohtani’s great week last week; that card has to be worth a hell of a lot more than $6,100 now.

2) Washington scored in first inning in nine of their 11 games this season.

1) Before last night, Aaron Judge was 3-36 in his career at Fenway Park; he went 3-4 with a homer to centerfield last night.