NBA
Friday, March 16
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Pick 'n' roll: Friday's best NBA bets
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Oddsmakers have yet to set a line for the Magic-Nets matchup. Pick should be considered an early lean.
New Jersey Nets at Orlando Magic (N/A)
Now that the Orlando Magic can finally put this Dwight Howard mess behind them, maybe they can finally start focusing on basketball.
After flip-flopping on whether he wanted to stay with the team numerous times, Howard waived his early termination option on Thursday, meaning he will be with Orlando through the 2012-13 season.
“It’s been very tough for me the past couple of months to make a decision," Howard told reporters. "I’ve gone back and forth. It’s not as easy as people think. It’s very hard. I just love this city too much. I love the people here. I love this organization."
Orlando took a 122-111 loss at San Antonio on Thursday, which snapped a three-game winning streak. Howard was his usual dominant self, putting up 22 points and 12 rebounds in the loss.
You can expect a real love-in when the club gets back on its home floor now that the Howard drama is over and the Magic have covered in six of their last seven at the Amway Center.
Pick: Magic
Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers (3.5, 190.5)
The Philadelphia 76ers will get a second chance to make a statement game at home against the Miami Heat on Friday night.
They hope it goes better than the last opportunity, when Miami snapped Philadelphia's four-game winning streak with a 20-point blowout victory on Feb. 3 that triggered a stretch of 11 losses in 17 games for the Sixers. The Heat have won the last nine regular-season meetings and have covered in four of the last six.
In the midst of a six-game stretch against Eastern Conference contenders, Miami is coming off back-to-back road losses at Orlando and Chicago, which was without reigning league MVP Derrick Rose. Dwyane Wade (36) and LeBron James combined for 71 of the 102 points vs. the Bulls as the Heat absorbed their fourth consecutive defeat away from home.
The Heat will get back on track and continue their dominance against Philly.
Pick: Heat
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Friday, March 16
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pick 'n' roll: Friday's best NBA bets
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oddsmakers have yet to set a line for the Magic-Nets matchup. Pick should be considered an early lean.
New Jersey Nets at Orlando Magic (N/A)
Now that the Orlando Magic can finally put this Dwight Howard mess behind them, maybe they can finally start focusing on basketball.
After flip-flopping on whether he wanted to stay with the team numerous times, Howard waived his early termination option on Thursday, meaning he will be with Orlando through the 2012-13 season.
“It’s been very tough for me the past couple of months to make a decision," Howard told reporters. "I’ve gone back and forth. It’s not as easy as people think. It’s very hard. I just love this city too much. I love the people here. I love this organization."
Orlando took a 122-111 loss at San Antonio on Thursday, which snapped a three-game winning streak. Howard was his usual dominant self, putting up 22 points and 12 rebounds in the loss.
You can expect a real love-in when the club gets back on its home floor now that the Howard drama is over and the Magic have covered in six of their last seven at the Amway Center.
Pick: Magic
Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers (3.5, 190.5)
The Philadelphia 76ers will get a second chance to make a statement game at home against the Miami Heat on Friday night.
They hope it goes better than the last opportunity, when Miami snapped Philadelphia's four-game winning streak with a 20-point blowout victory on Feb. 3 that triggered a stretch of 11 losses in 17 games for the Sixers. The Heat have won the last nine regular-season meetings and have covered in four of the last six.
In the midst of a six-game stretch against Eastern Conference contenders, Miami is coming off back-to-back road losses at Orlando and Chicago, which was without reigning league MVP Derrick Rose. Dwyane Wade (36) and LeBron James combined for 71 of the 102 points vs. the Bulls as the Heat absorbed their fourth consecutive defeat away from home.
The Heat will get back on track and continue their dominance against Philly.
Pick: Heat
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