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**Udog** · 08-19-2020, 09:03 AM

Armadillo: Wednesday's six-pack

Odds for Northern Trust tournament this weekend:
12-1— Bryson DeChambeau
14-1— Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy
16-1— Jon Rahm
20-1— Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele
22-1— Collin Morikawa
25-1— Jason Day

Americans who have died from COVID-19: 170,905
Please wear a mask when you go out.

**********

Armadillo: Wednesday's Den: Mid-week musings……..

13) Mike Trout has had 35 games in his career where he hit a home run and also stole a base; during his career, no other big leaguer has more than 20 such games.

12) Strange turn in baseball; umpires aren’t traveling as much as they used to, and sometimes when they do travel, they travel on team charters, which has to be a little awkward.

11) Red Sox have already used 11 different starting pitchers this season.

10) Twins 4, Brewers 3 (12)
— Kenta Maeda had a no-hitter thru 8 innings, then Twins blew his 3-0 lead.
— Brewers lost their DH in extra innings, but pitcher’s turn to bat never came up
— Milwaukee used five IF, two OF for last two batters of game.
— Jed Gyorko failed to tag up on liner to RF in top of 12th, costing Milwaukee a run.

9) I’m thinking that baseball may eventually change the rule about a starting pitcher having to finish five innings to get credit for a win, which opens a whole mew statistical can of worms that nerds like me will get a kick out of.

They should leave it up to the official scorer to award the win if a starter goes less than five IP; if it happens, it would have a pretty big impact on fantasy baseball, and a lot of money is spent on fantasy baseball.

8) NBA ref Leon Wood has been an official for 20+ years, after playing seven years in the league- he was an excellent player at Cal State-Fullerton. He also played pro ball in Italy and Spain.

7) Toronto pitcher Shun Yamaguchi wears #1; I cannot remember another major league pitcher wearing #1.

6) Reds-Royals were postponed Tuesday, will play twinbill today.

Cardinals-Cubs also play a pair today; it will be third DH in five days for St Louis.

NBA playoff games (all Game 1’s):
5) Orlando 122, Milwaukee 110
— 8-seed Magic win as a 14-point underdog.
— Vucevic scored 35 points; five others were in double figures.
— Magic used only four subs; they were a combined +32

4) Miami 113, Indiana 101
— Heat outscored Indiana 61-40 in 2nd/4th quarters.
— Tyler Herro scored 15 points off bench for Miami.
— Victor Oladipo played only 9:00, scored four points.

3) Houston 123, Oklahoma City 108
— Rockets led 68-52 at halftime.
— Houston was 20-52 behind arc, 23-37 inside arc.
— Green was +28, McLemore +27 off bench for Houston.

2) Portland 100, Lakers 93
— 8-seed Portland wins as a 6.5-point underdog.
— Lillard scored 34; Portland only used eight players.
— Laker starters other than Lebron were 15-50 from the floor.

1) If the baseball playoffs started today (they do not):
AL East- New York, Tampa Bay
AL Central- Minnesota, Cleveland
AL West- Oakland, Houston
AL Wild Cards- Baltimore, Chicago

NL East- Miami, Atlanta
NL Central- Chicago, Milwaukee
NL West- Los Angeles, Colorado
NL Wild Cards- Arizona, San Diego

**Udog** · 08-19-2020, 09:06 AM

NBA public betting, line movement, sharp money for August 19
Patrick Everson

Luka Doncic and the Mavericks hope to even up their series against the Clippers in Wednesday's Game 2. Los Angeles is a 6.5-point favorite at The SuperBook at Westgate.

NBA betting odds are on the board for a Wednesday quartet of Game 2s in the NBA playoffs. Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers meet Luka Doncic and the Mavericks, and the Celtics begin an anticipated four-week stretch without Gordon Hayward when they face the 76ers.

The SuperBook at Westgate provided insights on NBA opening lines and early line movement, sharp money and public betting for Wednesday’s matchups.

NBA line movement

The No. 2 seed Clippers got a stern Game 1 test from the No. 7 Mavericks, but ultimately won and covered 118-110 as 6.5-point favorites Monday. For Game 2, Los Angeles opened -6.5 at The SuperBook on Tuesday morning, and the line dipped to -5.5 for a couple of hours before rebounding to -6.5 for a 9 p.m. ET tipoff.

Meanwhile, Tuesday’s news of Hayward potentially missing a month with an ankle sprain led to an adjustment in the Game 2 line. The SuperBook opened the Celtics -5.5 and moved to -4.5 for a 6:30 p.m. ET start against the 76ers.

“The market moved 1 point on the Hayward news, so we went with it,” SuperBook manager Eric Osterman said.

The Nuggets, who needed overtime to beat the Jazz in Game 1, opened -4 for a 4 p.m. ET Game 2, and that line was steady.

NBA sharp money

Osterman said the moneyline was a popular place for early sharp action on Wednesday’s games. The SuperBook saw wiseguy bets on the 76ers moneyline +200, and that price is now +165, and on the Mavericks moneyline +250, now +240.

NBA public betting

The Consensus, often indicative of where public play is, showed solid two-way action on the Mavs-Clippers tilt. In fact, underdog Dallas had a modest edge, landing 52 percent of picks on Tuesday night. The Celtics were seeing 60 percent of early Covers Consensus picks, and most of those were at -4.5, after the Hayward announcement.

The Jazz-Nuggets contest also had two-way on Covers Consensus, with Denver drawing 53 percent of the picks. And in the first game of the day, a 1:30 p.m. ET Nets-Raptors matchup, 11-point chalk Toronto was taking 62 percent of early Consensus picks.

**Udog** · 08-19-2020, 09:11 AM

705PHILADELPHIA -706 BOSTON
PHILADELPHIA is 1-11 ATS (-11.1 Units) in road games versus good shooting teams - making >=46% of their shots - 2nd half of the season in the current season.

707DALLAS -708 LA CLIPPERS
LA CLIPPERS are 9-1 ATS (7.9 Units) in road games versus good ball handling teams - committing <=14 turnovers/game - 2nd half of the season in the current season.

NBA
Long Sheet

Wednesday, August 19

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BROOKLYN (35 - 38) vs. TORONTO (54 - 19) - 8/19/2020, 1:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TORONTO is 41-30 ATS (+8.0 Units) in all games this season.
TORONTO is 31-21 ATS (+7.9 Units) as a favorite this season.
TORONTO is 68-45 ATS (+18.5 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
TORONTO is 21-12 ATS (+7.8 Units) in road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game this season.
BROOKLYN is 39-19 ATS (+18.1 Units) in road games after a division game since 1996.
BROOKLYN is 54-34 ATS (+16.6 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent over the last 2 seasons.
BROOKLYN is 25-12 ATS (+11.8 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
BROOKLYN is 32-22 ATS (+7.8 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
BROOKLYN is 68-50 ATS (+13.0 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
BROOKLYN is 24-13 ATS (+9.7 Units) in road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 7-6 against the spread versus BROOKLYN over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 11-2 straight up against BROOKLYN over the last 3 seasons
7 of 13 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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UTAH (44 - 29) vs. DENVER (47 - 27) - 8/19/2020, 4:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DENVER is 25-13 ATS (+10.7 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
DENVER is 4-16 ATS (-13.6 Units) in road games after a win by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
DENVER is 23-35 ATS (-15.5 Units) after scoring 115 points or more over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
DENVER is 7-5 against the spread versus UTAH over the last 3 seasons
DENVER is 7-5 straight up against UTAH over the last 3 seasons
8 of 12 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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PHILADELPHIA (43 - 31) vs. BOSTON (49 - 24) - 8/19/2020, 6:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 11-24 ATS (-15.4 Units) in road games vs. division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 5-13 ATS (-9.3 Units) in road games revenging a loss vs opponent this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 23-32 ATS (-12.2 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) in road games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 10-23 ATS (-15.3 Units) in road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) in road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season this season.
BOSTON is 41-28 ATS (+10.2 Units) in all games this season.
BOSTON is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) after a division game this season.
BOSTON is 17-5 ATS (+11.5 Units) after 3 or more consecutive unders over the last 3 seasons.
BOSTON is 22-10 ATS (+11.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
BOSTON is 21-10 ATS (+10.0 Units) in road games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
BOSTON is 103-81 ATS (+13.9 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 27-14 ATS (+11.6 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 13-5 against the spread versus PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 12-6 straight up against PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
10 of 18 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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DALLAS (43 - 33) vs. LA CLIPPERS (50 - 23) - 8/19/2020, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LA CLIPPERS are 41-31 ATS (+6.9 Units) in all games this season.
LA CLIPPERS are 75-61 ATS (+7.9 Units) when the total is greater than or equal to 220 over the last 2 seasons.
LA CLIPPERS are 34-25 ATS (+6.5 Units) as a favorite this season.
LA CLIPPERS are 41-27 ATS (+11.3 Units) in road games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
LA CLIPPERS are 14-6 ATS (+7.4 Units) in road games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season this season.
LA CLIPPERS are 40-27 ATS (+10.3 Units) in road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 86-70 ATS (+9.0 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 455-369 ATS (+49.1 Units) as an underdog since 1996.
DALLAS is 231-184 ATS (+28.6 Units) in road games revenging a loss vs opponent since 1996.
DALLAS is 36-21 ATS (+12.9 Units) after allowing 115 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 71-51 ATS (+14.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 72-51 ATS (+15.9 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
LA CLIPPERS are 243-297 ATS (-83.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
LA CLIPPERS is 7-4 against the spread versus DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
LA CLIPPERS is 8-3 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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NBA

Wednesday, August 19

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Trend Report
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Brooklyn @ Toronto
Brooklyn
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Brooklyn's last 6 games when playing on the road against Toronto
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Brooklyn's last 5 games on the road
Toronto
Toronto is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Brooklyn
Toronto is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games

Utah @ Denver
Utah
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Utah's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Utah's last 18 games when playing on the road against Denver
Denver
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Denver's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Denver's last 5 games at home

Philadelphia @ Boston
Philadelphia
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 5 games when playing Boston
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Philadelphia's last 15 games
Boston
Boston is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
Boston is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Philadelphia

Dallas @ LA Clippers
Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Dallas's last 8 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Dallas's last 6 games when playing on the road against LA Clippers
LA Clippers
LA Clippers is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Dallas
LA Clippers is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Dallas

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**Udog** · 08-19-2020, 09:48 AM

NBA
Dunkel

Wednesday, August 19

Brooklyn @ Toronto

Game 701-702
August 19, 2020 @ 1:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Brooklyn
119.012
Toronto
123.666
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Toronto
by 4 1/2
222
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Toronto
by 11 1/2
226 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Brooklyn
(+11 1/2); Under

Utah @ Denver

Game 703-704
August 19, 2020 @ 4:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Utah
110.690
Denver
122.161
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Denver
by 11 1/2
241
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Denver
by 4
217 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Denver
(-4); Over

Philadelphia @ Boston

Game 705-706
August 19, 2020 @ 6:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Philadelphia
116.111
Boston
128.301
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Boston
by 12
221
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boston
by 4 1/2
215
Dunkel Pick:
Boston
(-4 1/2); Over

Dallas @ LA Clippers

Game 707-708
August 19, 2020 @ 9:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Dallas
116.031
LA Clippers
125.479
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
LA Clippers
by 9 1/2
227
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA Clippers
by 6
230
Dunkel Pick:
LA Clippers
(-6); Under

**Udog** · 08-19-2020, 11:49 AM

Game 2 Odds: Nets vs. Raptors

The Eastern Conference first round matchup between No. 2 Toronto Raptors and No. 7 Brooklyn Nets will continue on Wednesday as the pair meet in an afternoon matinee from the NBA Bubble in Atlanta.

Betting Resources

Matchup: Eastern Conference Game 2
Venue: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Location: Orlando, Florida
Date: Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020
Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBATV

Betting Odds - Nets vs. Raptors

The Raptors opened as 11-point favorites for Game 2 and most books quickly added the hook and pushed Toronto up to 11 ½.

The majority of betting shops have Toronto listed as a 1/10 (Bet $1000 to win $100) on the money-line for Game 2, while the return on Brooklyn to pull off the upset is 13/2 or +650 odds.

The total has held steady at 226 ½ for Game 2.

Toronto entered this series as a -5000 favorite to win and that number is as high as -20000 on the Raptors. Put simply, every $200 wagered on Toronto would return you one dollar. For those that believe Brooklyn can win four against the Raptors, then you can grab odds as high as 50/1.

Game 1 Recap

The defending NBA Champion Toronto Raptors looked every bit the part on Monday as the club dominated the Brooklyn Nets 134-110 in the opening game of their first-round playoff series on Monday.

The Raptors couldn’t miss from the outside, finishing the game with a blistering 22-of-44 performance (50%) from 3-point land. Fred VanVleet led the charge with 30 points as the former Wichita State standout was 8 of 10 from beyond the arc. VanVleet also finished with a team-high 11 assists.

Even more impressive from Toronto was its shooting from the charity stripe. The club went 32-of-33 (97%) from the free-throw line while Brooklyn only mustered up 16 trips, making just 11 freebies.

Toronto had seven players score in double figures, including all five starters while the bench combined for 45 points.

Brooklyn cut the lead to eight points (90-82) late in the third quarter but it couldn’t keep the momentum going and Toronto went on another crazy run and the Nets wouldn’t threaten again. The Nets were led by Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who scored 26 points off the bench as the game was out of hand.

Game 1 Betting Results

The 2020 NBA Playoffs started off with a clear-cut result for bettors as Toronto helped bettors riding the ‘chalk’ cash a plethora of wagers.

The Raptors covered the game, first quarter, first-half and even though they gave the Nets a little life in the third quarter, Toronto closed with a 39-24 fourth quarter and cashed second-half wagers too.

Anybody who played the ‘under’ at any point during Game 1 was dead in the water as Toronto couldn’t miss from distance.
Outcome: Toronto 134 Brooklyn 110

Game: Raptors Win, Raptors Cover (-9.5), Over (222.5)
First Quarter: Raptors Win (37-20) Raptors Cover (-3.5), Over (55.5)
First Half: Raptors Win (73-51), Raptors Cover (-5.5), Over (111)
Second Half: Raptors Win (61-59), Raptors Cover (+0.5), Over (109.5)

Nets vs. Raptors
How to Handicap Game 2

Nets Outlook

Inside the Stats

Overall: 35-38 SU, 37-36 ATS, 37-36 O/U
Bubble: 5-4 SU, 6-3 ATS, 6-3 O/U

Brooklyn entered the NBA Bubble short-handed and despite the talent gap and lack of experience, it’s put on a great effort. The club is 5-4 both SU and ATS after Monday’s loss but it’s clearly evident that if the Nets don’t shoot a ridiculous percentage from the field, they don’t have any chance to win.

While the Raptors lit it up in Game 1, the Nets defense can’t match up with Toronto or any team that’s filled with shooters. In their four losses in the NBA Bubble, Brooklyn has allowed 136.4 PPG.

Expecting Brooklyn to take a game from Toronto in this series is a tough argument but the inflated spread could have you taking the points. Brooklyn has gone 2-2 SU and 3-1 ATS this season when listed as a double-digit underdog and that includes a recent 134-133 setback to Portland. The Nets closed as 10 ½-point ‘dogs in that game.

Raptors Outlook

Inside the Stats

Overall: 54-19 SU, 41-29-3 ATS, 36-34-2 O/U
Bubble: 8-1 SU, 7-2 ATS, 3-5-1 O/U

Despite losing NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard in the offseason, the defending champions are legit contenders and they’ve proven that since the NBA Bubble began. Including the Game 1 win, Toronto is now 8-1 SU and 7-2 ATS in games played at Orlando.

The Raptors scored 134 points against the Nets in Game 1 on Monday, which was their highest point total in their NBA Bubble games. (AP).

The 134-point outburst in Game 1 was certainly an anomaly as Toronto is only averaging 113.1 points per game in Orlando. Even if the offense doesn’t show up, head coach Nick Nurse and company can rely on their defense which has only surrendered 106.7 PPG in the NBA Bubble.

Toronto has gone 37-4 against teams with losing records this season and its dominance over Brooklyn goes back five seasons. The Raptors are 18-2 in the last 20 versus the Nets and that includes a solid 60 percent record (12-8) versus the number.

Key Injuries

Brooklyn

Jamal Crawford: Personal - Out

Toronto

No Major Injuries

The Nets said that Jamal Crawford will likely miss the first few games of this first round against Toronto.

**Udog** · 08-19-2020, 11:52 AM

Game 2 Odds: Jazz vs. Nuggets
Michael Crosson

The NBA Playoffs first round action continues Wednesday afternoon with the No. 3 Denver Nuggets looking to go up 2-0 in their opening series matchup against the No. 6 Utah. Jazz.

Betting Resources

Matchup: Western Conference Game 2
Venue: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Location: Orlando, Florida
Date: Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020
Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
TV: TNT

Betting Odds - Jazz vs. Nuggets

Line Movements

Spread: Denver -4
Money-Line: Denver -180, Utah +160
Total: 217

The line for Game 2 is in the same neighborhood as the opener with Denver sitting as a four-point favorite. The money-line has Denver at -180 (Bet $100 to win $55) while Utah is an 8/5 choice (Bet $100 to win $160).

After watching the pair combine for 260 points in Game 1, oddsmakers sent out a total of 218 ½ for Game 1. A lot of those points (30) came in the extra overtime session and the early money knocked that total down to 217.

Denver entered the series as a 1/2 betting favorite (Bet $100 to win $50) and that number has been pushed up to -550 after the Game 1 win. Utah is listed anywhere from +400 to +425 to rebound from the opening loss and win the series.

Rudy Gobert and the Utah Jazz will be looking to rebound against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday in Game 1. (AP)

Game 1 Recap

Donovan Mitchell exploded for 57 points on 57.6 percent from the floor, along with nine rebounds and seven assists in Utah’s game one opener, but that wasn’t enough to hold off Denver’s dynamic duo, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, as they combined for 65 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists in the Nuggets 135-125 overtime win on Sunday afternoon.

Jordan Clarkson picked up the slack at point-guard for Utah during Mike Conley’s absence, tallying 34 minutes, 19 points, four rebounds, and three assists across 39 minutes.

Utah controlled the pace of the game for the majority of the contest, pushing the game over the total during regulation behind the dominance of Mitchell. Ultimately, depth is what separated these teams on Sunday, Denver’s physical style of play just wearing down Utah’s interior defense as Jerami Grant and Monte Morris were able to contribute in big ways whenever Rudy Gobert left the floor, combining for 33 points off the bench.

The Nuggets now own a 1-0 series lead, and will look to extend that lead to two games on Wednesday evening.

Game 1 Betting Results

Similar to the Raptors-Nets opener, Denver won and covered as a favorite plus the ‘over’ connected too. The Nuggets also completed the so-called superfecta for bettors, winning and covering for the game, first quarter, first-half and second-half. Overtimes are often a toss-up in the NBA and Denver doubled-up Utah 20-10 to cash tickets as the short favorite.
Outcome: Denver 135 Utah 125

Game: Nuggets Win, Nuggets Cover (-4.5), Over (215.5)
First Quarter: Nuggets Win (31-25), Nuggets Cover (-1), Over (54)
First-Half: Nuggets Win (59-52), Nuggets Cover (-1.5), Over (107.5)
Second-Half: Nuggets Win (76-73), Nuggets Cover (Pick ‘em), Over (109.5)

Jazz vs. Nuggets

How to Handicap Game 2

Jazz Outlook

Inside the Stats

Utah: 44-29 SU, 39-34-2 ATS, 39-34 O/U
Bubble: 3-6 SU, 4-5 ATS, 6-3 O/U

Despite losing the game, Utah looked sharp in their round one opener against the Nuggets, controlling the flow of the game and shooting well from three-point land, considering they were already underdogs heading into this series, and are now playing without their starting point-guard.

If Clarkson is able to contribute the same way he was able to in game one, the Jazz shouldn’t miss Conley too much, as he has been a disappointment so far for Utah fans this year, averaging just 14 points, three rebounds, and four assists in a starting role.

Jokic got the best of the perennial defensive player of the year candidate, Gobert, in game one, tallying 29 points and grabbing 10 boards on 52% shooting. The key to Utah stealing this game two contest in containing the Joker, and that starts with Gobert stepping up defensively Wednesday afternoon.

Nuggets Outlook

Inside the Stats

Denver: 47-27 SU, 35-36-3 ATS, 39-34-1 O/U
Bubble: 4-5 SU, 5-4 ATS, 9-0 O/U

The Nuggets stars really showed up to play in their game one matchup on Sunday afternoon, Jokic tallying 29 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists to accompany Murray’s 36 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists in Denver’s victory.

The only real concern for the Nuggets in this upcoming contest in containing Mitchell. He went for 57 points during Conley’s absence, and Denver is going to need to bring him back down to earth in game two if they want to take care of the Jazz in this one, who dominated offensively playing a relatively one-dimensional style of basketball without their lead distributor.

Key Injuries

Utah

Mike Conley: Personal - Out
Justin Wright-Foreman: Personal - Out
Ed Davis: Knee - Out

Denver

Gary Harris: Hip - Out
Will Barton: Knee - Out
Vlatko Cancar: Foot - Out

The absence of Utah’s starting point-guard had the obvious effect of the Mitchell explosion, and I expect more of that Wednesday evening, but Denver has its injury woes as well.

With Gary Harris and Will Barton set to miss another contest, look for Michael Porter Jr., Jerami Grant, and Monte Morris to fill key roles for the Nuggets and get upticks in volume stats, after the trio combined for 46 points in game one.

**Udog** · 08-19-2020, 11:55 AM

Game 2 Odds: 76ers vs. Celtics
Kevin Rogers

Betting Resources

Matchup: Eastern Conference Game 2
Venue: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Location: Orlando, Florida
Date: Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
TV: TNT

Betting Odds - 76ers vs. Celtics

The Celtics opened as 5 ½-point favorites for Game 2, but that number dropped to 4 ½ on Tuesday afternoon after the news that Boston forward Gordon Hayward will be sidelined indefinitely with an ankle injury.

The money-line on a Boston victory in Game 2 sits at -185 (Bet $185 to win $100), while Philadelphia's money-line is set at around +165 to +175 depending on the book.

The total was listed at 215 before the Hayward news as the number dropped down to 214.5 at many outlets.

Boston entered this series as a -400 favorite to win, but that price spiked to -715 after the Game 1 victory. Philadelphia has gone from +330 prior to the series and now is up to +500 to win four of the next six games.

Game 1 Recap

The Celtics had plenty of revenge on their minds after losing three of four regular season meetings to the arch-rival 76ers. Boston led Philadelphia at the end of the first quarter in all four meetings this season, but the 76ers jumped out to a 26-25 advantage after the first 12 minutes.

Boston rebounded to take a 55-49 halftime lead, but Philadelphia rallied for a four-point advantage heading into the fourth quarter. The Celtics pulled away by outscoring the Sixers, 34-22 in the fourth quarter to barely grab the cover as 6 ½-point favorites in a 109-101 win.

The Sixers are playing without their main distributor as Ben Simmons is out with a knee injury sustained in the third game of the restart. Joel Embiid paced Philadelphia with 26 points and 16 rebounds, while Josh Richardson and Alec Burks each posted 18 points. The 76ers shot 33% from long distance (9-of-27), while committing 18 turnovers compared to only seven by Boston.

The big guns for the Celtics showed up in Game 1 as Jayson Tatum (32 points) and Jaylen Brown (29 points) led the way as Boston picked up its sixth consecutive playoff series opening victory. The Celtics' bench didn't contribute much by scoring only eight points and Boston overcame a 42% shooting night from the floor for a 1-0 series lead.

Game 1 Betting Results

All four favorites cashed in Monday's round of opening games, including Boston's full-game cover.

The 'over' was close to cashing in the first quarter, first half, and second half, but ultimately it was 'unders' across the board.

Philadelphia cashed the first quarter as a short underdog, but Boston brought home the money in both the first half, second half, and the entire game after hitting several free throws to ice the victory.
Outcome: Boston 109, Philadelphia 101

Game: Celtics Win (109-101), Celtics Cover (-6.5), Under (217)
First Quarter: 76ers Win (26-25) 76ers Cover (+2.5), Under (54.5)
First Half: Celtics Win (55-49), Celtics Cover (-3.5), Under (106.5)
Second Half: Celtics Win (54-52), Celtics Cover (-1.5), Under (110)

76ers vs. Celtics

How to Handicap Game 2

76ers Outlook

Inside the Stats

Overall: 43-31 SU, 31-39-4 ATS, 39-34-1 O/U
Bubble: 4-5 SU, 3-6 ATS, 5-4 O/U

The Sixers covered their final two regular season games in the underdog role against the Raptors and Rockets before failing to grab the cash against the Celtics. Philadelphia has lost four of its past five games since starting the bubble at 3-1.

The 76ers actually lost each of their first two playoff series openers, but won each of the Game 2's, including in the second round against Toronto in the underdog role. In the last three postseasons in the 3/6 matchup inside the Eastern Conference, a team has not taken a 2-0 series lead.

Celtics Outlook

Inside the Stats

Overall: 49-24 SU, 42-27-4 ATS, 34-38-1 O/U
Bubble: 6-3 SU, 4-4-1 ATS, 4-4-1 O/U

Boston cashed its third straight 'under' in Monday's win, while the Celtics are seeking consecutive covers for the second time inside the bubble.

Joel Embiid and the 76ers won each of their Game 2's in the 2019 postseason. (AP).

The Celtics improved to 3-0 SU/ATS inside the bubble against Atlantic division foes, while covering three of their last four games in the favorite role.

Key Injuries

Philadelphia

Ben Simmons: Knee - Out

Boston

Gordon Hayward: Ankle - Out

Hayward sustained an ankle injury with three minutes remaining in Game 1 and it will keep him sidelined for up to four weeks.

**Udog** · 08-19-2020, 11:57 AM

Game 2 Odds: Mavericks vs. Clippers
Tony Mejia

The final contest on the third day of NBA playoff action delivers Game 2 of the the West's 2-7 matchup at AdventHealth Arena.

The No. 2-seeded Los Angeles Clippers lead the No. 7 seed Dallas Mavericks 1-0 in their best-of-seven first-round series, capturing Game 1 118-110.

Betting Resources

Matchup: Western Conference Game 2
Venue: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Location: Orlando, Florida
Date: Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
TV: TNT

Betting Odds - Mavericks vs. Clippers

The L.A. Clippers opened as a 5.5-point favorite for Game 2 at BetMGM and a 6-point 'chalk' at Circa, Caesars, FanDuel and DraftKings but were quickly bet to 6.5, which is where the line has remained as of Wednesday morning.

The total opened as high as 231 at DraftKings, but has hovered in the 229.5-230 range since.

Be sure to follow all the line movements.

Game 1 Recap

The Clippers took control of a tight game in the third quarter after going into the break down 69-66. L.A. held Dallas to just 13 points in the third, using a 16-5 run to take control.

The Mavericks did managed to tie the game at 91 early in the fourth quarter but were never able to recapture the lead despite having a number of shots at it halfway through the final quarter. L.A. finished the game with a 10-4 run, bolstered by timely 3-pointers from Patrick Beverley and Marcus Morris, Sr. Despite shooting just 1-for-7 from 3-point range, reigning Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 29 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in his first playoff game with his new squad. Paul George, similarly debuting for L.A. in the postseason, scored 27.

Luka Doncic, playing his first career NBA playoff game, scored 42 points, the most ever for someone making his postseason debut, but called his performance "terrible," citing his 11 turnovers. He shot 13-for-21 from the field. Kristaps Porzingis was ejected from his playoff debut after accumulating two rather soft technical fouls. He finished 14 points and six boards in just 20 minutes of work.

Outside of Doncic, the Mavs shot 24-for-60 from the field and only Porzingis (7-for-8) and Boban Marjanovic were able to get to the free-throw line. Doncic went 14-for-15 from the stripe in a testy contest. Dallas will look to get more players involved in Game 2.

Game 1 Betting Results

Anyone riding the Mavs plus 5.5-to-6.5 points rode the rollercoaster of being up for the majority of the game only to watch it slip away late.

The Mavs covered the first quarter and first-half and would have likely covered for the entire game if Tim Hardaway, Jr. hadn't misfired on a long 3-pointer in the closing seconds. Morris grabbed the rebound and wasn't fouled, preserving L.A.'s eight-point advantage to close it out.

Anybody who played the ‘under’ 230 was saved by that Hardaway miss and no more fouling at the end since the teams ended up combining for 228 points. The high side looked comfortably on track following a 72-point first quarter and a 135-point first half but action slowed down considerably in the second 24 minutes, which started with neither team being able to get on the board for the first 2:33 of the second half.
Outcome: L.A. Clippers 118 Dallas 110

Game: Clippers Win, Clippers Cover (-6), Under (230)
First Quarter: Mavs Win (38-34) Mavs Cover (+1.5), Over (63)
First Half: Mavs Win (69-66), Mavs Cover (+3.5), Over (115)
Second Half: Clippers Win (52-41), Clippers Cover (-6.5), Under (115)

Clippers vs. Mavs

How to Handicap Game 2

Mavs Outlook

Inside the Stats

Overall: 43-33 SU, 37-36-3 ATS
Bubble: 3-6 SU, 2-7 ATS

This will ultimately wind up being a fantastic learning experience for Doncic, whose efficiency shooting the ball in Game 1 was off the charts despite facing a team featuring three of the NBA's top perimeter defenders. He was his biggest critic afterward due to the high number of turnovers he was responsible for but he figures to see constant double-teams for the remainder of the series as Clips coach Doc Rivers seeks to take the ball out of his hands.

Porzingis will have to make up for losing his head in Game 1 since Dallas will need him to be Doncic's safety valve in taking some pressure off him. Porzingis was on track for a double-double before being ejected and could be dubbed the fall guy after shooting just 3-for-11 to open a matchup featuring a truly young team cutting their teeth in the playoffs and tasked with the massive endeavor of facing a veteran team led by a defending champion who expects to win another title with his new team.

Seth Curry, who has been dealing with injuries over the past few weeks, hit four of eight 3-point attempts of the bench and will need to remain productive since his scoring will be necessary in order to notch an upset or two by taking advantage of the attention Doncic commands. Trey Burke also got his opportunity and finished a team-best plus-14 despite making just one of five shots. Dallas will need him to be more aggreessive too.

Clippers Outlook

Inside the Stats

Overall: 50-23 SU, 42-31 ATS
Bubble: 6-3 SU, 7-2 ATS

After a dreadful defensive first half, it's no surprise the Clippers clamped down effectively coming out of the locker room, so it will be intriguing to see whether they can better set a defensive tone in the opening half. Dallas had its chances to take the lead in the fourth quarter, so an L.A. team that doesn't want to get tasked with a long, drawn out series can really make a statement by jumping all over Dallas early.

Beverley landed in foul trouble in attempting to slow down Doncic and only played 20 minutes due to five fouls, but he made two huge baskets down the stretch, including an enormous 3-pointer, and figures to continue being the x-factor for L.A. as the team's chief agitator. His ability to harass Beverley should keep Leonard and George fresh for fourth-quarter duty against the Dallas star, not to mention keeping those guys out of foul trouble.

Montrezl Harrell debuted in the bubble after spending the past few weeks alongside his grandmother, who sadly passed away. He'll be working the rust off as he goes along and only played 15 minutes, finishing with just six points and two boards. Considering he's one of the favorites for Sixth Man of the Year, L.A. appears vulnerable until it gets one of its emotional leaders back on track.

Key Injuries

Dallas

Dwight Powell: Achilles (Out)
Jalen Brunson: Shoulder (Out)
Courtney Lee: Calf (Out)

All of the Mavs' injuries are issues that followed them into the bubble, so the players they're counting on for this series are all good to go.

L.A. Clippers

No Major Injuries

With Harrell off quarantine and Beverley back at work despite a calf strain he was cautious with until the playoffs, L.A. is back at full strength. Shooter Landry Shamet also got in there after missing a number of seeding games, seeing eight minutes of action.

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Wednesday's NBA Trends and Indexes - 8/19

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