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**StarDust Bum** · 12-26-2010, 12:14 PM

Spurs host a depleted Wizards roster Sunday

WASHINGTON WIZARDS (7-20)

at SAN ANTONIO SPURS (25-4)

Tip-off: Sunday, 7:00 p.m. EDT
Line: TBD

San Antonio hopes to rebound from its worst loss of the season when it looks for its 11th straight home win over Washington on Sunday night.

The Spurs had their 10-game losing streak snapped in a 123-101 loss at Orlando on Thursday. The 123 points allowed were a season-high, and it marked the fifth straight game in which San Antonio has surrendered at least 100 points. By comparison, in the previous 24 games, the Spurs allowed their opponents to reach 100 points only seven times. The Magic also shot 59.5% in the game, which marked a new high in the Tim Duncan-era.

But the Wizards might be just what the Spurs need to break out of their defensive slump. San Antonio has held Washington to an average of 78.4 PPG in the past five meetings and has won nine consecutive overall versus the Wizards. Washington also hasn't won in San Antonio since Dec. 11, 1999 when it claimed a 99-89 victory. The Wizards have averaged just 82.7 PPG in their past 10 visits.

Five Spurs average double-digits in scoring, led by Manu Ginobili's 19.4 PPG. Ginobili scored only 10 points in Orlando on 3-of-10 shooting. Although he's shooting 45.1% on the season, he's struggled in his past five games, hitting only 36% (22-of-61) of his shots. Tony Parker averages 17.7 PPG and 7.0 APG, and Richard Jefferson is third on the team in scoring with 14.1 PPG.

The Wizards, the NBA's only winless team on the road (0-13), will be without Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee, who are suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team. Washington scored a season-low 80 points in an 87-80 loss to Chicago last Wednesday, its eighth loss in nine games. Blatche leads the Wizards in scoring with 16.8 PPG and is second in rebounding with 7.7 RPG. McGee leads the team in rebounding (8.3 RPG) and is scoring 9.2 PPG.

Washington will also be without John Wall (16.7 PPG, 8.9 APG), who will miss his sixth straight game with a bruised knee. He's sat out 12 of the Wizards' 27 games this season.

Meanwhile, Nick Young (14.8 PPG) will play against the Spurs, and he hopes to continue his recent hot streak. He's averaging 23.2 PPG and shooting 50% from the field (45-of-90), including 9-of-21 on three-pointers, in his last five games. And Kirk Hinrich (11.2 PPG, 5.3 APG) has filled in admirably in Wall's absence. He's scored in double-figures in eight of 11 games in December, including the past four. He's also had 38 assists in his last four games.

The Spurs should get back into the win column rather easily on Sunday against an overmatched Washington.

This FoxSheets trend likes the San Antonio to win and cover what expects to be a double-digit spread.

Play On - Favorites (SAN ANTONIO) - good team - outscoring their opponents by 3+ points/game, after a blowout loss by 15 points or more. (106-61 over the last 5 seasons.) (63.5%, +38.9 units. Rating = 2*).

Play Against - Road underdogs of 10 or more points (WASHINGTON) - after beating the spread by 24 or more points total in their last three games, a bad team, winning 25% to 40% of their games on the season. (53-25 since 1996.) (67.9%, +25.5 units. Rating = 2*).

**StarDust Bum** · 12-26-2010, 12:14 PM

Richmond seeks 10th win at Seton Hall

RICHMOND SPIDERS (9-3)

at SETON HALL PIRATES (6-5)

Tip-off: Sunday, 12:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Seton Hall -2

After falling to an Atlantic-10 team in its last game, Seton Hall looks to defeat another A-10 team when it hosts Richmond on Sunday. The Pirates hope to rebound from a 69-65 setback versus Dayton last Wednesday. The Flyers outscored Seton Hall 43-25 in the second half to erase a 14-point halftime deficit and snap the Pirates' three-game winning streak and hand them their first home loss this year.

Despite its five losses, the Hall (4-5 ATS) has managed to be competitive in every game. All five of its defeats have come by single-digits (6, 5, 6, 9 and 4 points), including a 62-56 setback to then-No. 22 Temple in the season opener.

Jeremy Hazell (24.0 PPG, 11-for-17 (65%) on three-pointers) is one of three Seton Hall players who averages double-figures in scoring, but he's missed the past eight games and is out until at least mid-January with a broken wrist. The Pirates certainly miss Hazell's scoring and shooting. They rank 250th in the nation in shooting percentage (41.9%) and hit only 38% of their field goals in the loss to Dayton. Seton Hall is 0-5 when shooting below 40 percent, and 6-0 when connecting on more than 40 percent of its field goals. Jordan Theodore is second on the team with 12.3 PPG and leads the Pirates with 5.1 APG.

Richmond (6-4 ATS) looks to win its 10th game of the season on Sunday. Justin Harper (14.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG) scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Spiders to a 63-53 victory over winless North Carolina-Greensboro last Wednesday. It marked the sixth straight game he's scored in double-figures and the 10th time in 12 games.

Richmond shoots the ball well as a team, ranking 12th in the nation in shooting percentage (49.3%). The Spiders are led in scoring by Kevin Anderson who averages 16.3 PPG. The defending Atlantic-10 Player of the Year has 11 straight games scoring 11+ points, and he is shooting 45% from behind the arc for the season.

The Spiders have just three losses on the season (at Iona, 81-77 in OT, at Old Dominion, 77-70 and against Georgia Tech 67-54). The Spiders also have a couple great road wins this season. They beat then-No. 8 Purdue in late November at the Chicago Invitational Challenge, 65-54 and won at Arizona State, 67-61 on December 5. The win over Purdue marked their first victory over a top-10 team since a 69-68 win at then-No. 10 Kansas in 2004 and their sixth over a ranked team since 2007-08.

These teams have met twice since 2004, with Richmond winning both contests, 77-71 in 2004 and 60-49 in 2005. The FoxSheets show three highly-rated trends siding with Richmond to pull off the mild upset on Sunday.

SETON HALL is 1-12 ATS (-12.2 Units) versus good shooting teams - making >=45% of their shots over the last 2 seasons. The average score was SETON HALL 70.1, OPPONENT 73.3 - (Rating = 4*).

SETON HALL is 0-9 ATS (-9.9 Units) after having won 3 of their last 4 games over the last 2 seasons. The average score was SETON HALL 76.5, OPPONENT 75.1 - (Rating = 4*).

RICHMOND is 10-1 ATS (+8.9 Units) versus very good teams - outscoring their opponents by 8+ points/game over the last 2 seasons. The average score was RICHMOND 65.3, OPPONENT 63.3 - (Rating = 3*).

**StarDust Bum** · 12-26-2010, 12:15 PM

Hornets try to add to Atlanta's road struggles

ATLANTA HAWKS (19-12)

at NEW ORLEANS HORNETS (17-12)

Tip-off: Sunday, 7:00 p.m. EDT
Line: New Orleans -3.5, Total: 183.5

Joe Johnson looks to be rounding into All-Star form, which is good news for an Atlanta team that hopes to cure its road woes. The Hawks will need Johnson to improve on his road numbers when they visit New Orleans on Sunday night. Atlanta has lost its past four away from home and is 1-5 in road games since Johnson's elbow injury, averaging 83.5 PPG. Johnson is shooting only 36.5% away from home, including 8-of-46 (17%) on three-pointers.

Johnson (17.1 PPG, 5.5 APG), who had elbow surgery earlier in the month, finished with 23 points (9-of-17 shooting) and seven assists in 29 minutes in a 98-84 win over Cleveland last Wednesday. That's a stark contrast from his first three games back in the lineup, when he shot 33.3% from the field, including 3-of-16 on three-pointers, while averaging 15.7 PPG.

Atlanta could also use a boost from Jamal Crawford's return to the lineup. Crawford (14.8 PPG, 3.5 APG) has missed the past five games with back spasms and is listed as day-to-day.

The Hornets are 12-3 at home and have won their past three home games by an average margin of 15.3 PPG. David West leads New Orleans in scoring with 19.2 PPG and 7.2 RPG and is shooting 52.8% from the field. Chris Paul averages 16.1 PPG, 9.8 APG, 2.8 SPG and has compiled 12 double-doubles this season, including four in his past five games.

Reserve Marcus Thornton has played a key role in the recent home wins. He's scored at least 18 in each game (a 94-91 victory over Sacramento, a 100-71 rout of Utah and a 105-91 blowout over New Jersey).

Emeka Okafor (10.3 PPG, 9.6 RPG) posted a third straight double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds in Wednesday's victory over the Nets. Okafor's contributions on the defensive end haven't gone unnoticed, either. In the last two games, he's helped limit Indiana's Roy Hibbert and New Jersey's Brook Lopez to a combined 7-of-26 shooting and seven rebounds. He'll get another big challenge when he faces Atlanta's Al Horford (16.9 PPG, 9.7 RPG) on Sunday.

Horford scored 18 points and had eight rebounds in the Hawks' win over Cleveland and has connected on at least 50% of his field goals in six straight games. He has also tallied 16 double-doubles and is shooting 57.7% from the floor. The Hawks are just 2-5 when Horford scores under 15 points this season.

It's been over a year (last Nov. 21) since these teams have met. The Hornets played without an injured Paul, but snapped a three-game losing streak in the series with a 96-88 win at home. Thornton scored 21 points, and Johnson finished with 14 points on 6-of-18 shooting in that game.

Since 1996, New Orleans is 17-6 SU (13-9 ATS) when hosting Atlanta. Expect the Hornets to continue their success at home on Sunday. This anti-Hawks FoxSheets trend likes New Orleans to win and cover the spread.

Play Against - Underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points (ATLANTA) - poor foul drawing team - attempting <=24 free throws/game, good shooting team - shooting >=46% on the season.(136-89 over the last 5 seasons.) (60.4%, +38.1 units. Rating = 2*).

New Orleans is 21-8 Under (+12.2 Units) in all games this season, and this FoxSheets trend also likes the Under on Sunday.

NEW ORLEANS is 25-9 UNDER (+15.1 Units) off a home win over the last 2 seasons.The average score was NEW ORLEANS 96.9, OPPONENT 97.2 - (Rating = 2*).

**StarDust Bum** · 12-26-2010, 01:16 PM

Kings and Ducks resume NHL betting slate

Pacific Division rivals Anaheim and Los Angeles hit the holiday ice Sunday battling for playoff positioning. The Kings (20-12-1-0) leapfrogged the Ducks (18-16-2-2) compliments of Thursday’s shootout victory over Edmonton, but both teams remain in a muddled mess in the middle of the Western Conference standings.

There are still plenty of games to be played during the regular campaign, but if the season ended today Los Angles would be the sixth seed with 41 points. Anaheim would just miss out on the postseason with 40 points, the same amount of points that eighth-seed Nashville currently possesses. This conference is so tight that San Jose is in fourth place with 43 points, while top-seed Detroit and second-seed Dallas have 46.

Anaheim dropped to 1-3 its last four games after Tuesday’s setback to Buffalo as a 172 road underdog, 5-2. The combined seven goals toppled the 5 ½-goal closing total, helping the ‘over’ improve to 2-1 the previous three outings.

The Ducks were unable to overcome a three-goal deficit in the first period, recording both of their goals in the third stanza. Backup goalie Curtis McElhinney had 37 saves in a losing effort, while Curtis Perry netted both goals during the power play. Anaheim gave starting netminder Jonas Hiller, who has played in an NHL-high 32 games, the night off.

Los Angeles returned home from a five-game road trip to dispose of Edmonton Thursday night in a shootout as a decided 220 favorite, 3-2. The combined five goals failed to eclipse the NHL odds, enabling the ‘under’ to cash the third consecutive contest.

The Kings recorded the victory in the sixth round of the shootout when Jarret Stroll lit the lamp. Goaltender Jonathan Quick made 27 saves in the victory, while defenseman Jack Johnson had a goal and an assist. Los Angeles improved to 12-2-1 on Staples Center ice, equaling the best home start in franchise history.

Anaheim and Los Angeles have only met once this season, with the Ducks blanking the Kings Nov. 29 as 118 home ‘chalk,’ 2-0. Anaheim is now 3-1 the past four games in this series, while the ‘over’ is 6-3 the previous nine encounters.

The Ducks continue a seven-game road trip after this contest with Tuesday’s matchup at Phoenix. The first five games of this road trip occurred on the East Coast in just seven days against Washington, the New York Islanders, Carolina, Boston and Buffalo. Anaheim is 7-10-2-1 this season when playing on the road.

The Ducks are just 19-39 their last 58 road games, but they are 9-4 the previous 13 Sunday games. Anaheim center Nick Bonino is ‘questionable’ versus the Kings due to an injured foot, while center Aaron Voros (eye) is ‘out’ indefinitely.

Los Angeles defenseman Matt Greene (concussion) is ‘questionable’ against the Ducks, while defenseman Willie Mitchell (knee) is ‘out.’ The Kings follow this contest with a two-game road trip against San Jose and Phoenix. Los Angeles is 11-3 its last 14 home games, while the ‘under’ has gone 10-2-1 its previous 13 outings overall.

Sunday’s matchup is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. PT from LA's Staples Center.

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