The Bum's NBA Regular and Playoff Season's Best Bets !!

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Playoff Record:

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record

04/25/13 4-*1-*1 80.00% +*1450 Detail
04/24/13 1-*5-*0 16.67% -*2250 Detail
04/23/13 2-*4-*0 33.33% -*1200 Detail
04/22/13 2-*2-*0 50.00% -*100 Detail
04/21/13 3-*5-*0 37.50% -*1250 Detail
04/20/13 3-*4-*1 42.86% -*700 Detail

04/26/13 15-21-1 41.66% -4050



Friday, April 26

Game Score Status Pick Amount

New York - 8:00 PM ET New York +2.5 500 POD # 3

Boston - Over 184.5 500 POD # 2


San Antonio - 10:30 PM ET San Antonio -6 500

L.A. Lakers - Over 185 500 POD # 4


Denver - 10:30 PM ET Golden State +1.5 500 POD # 1

Golden State - Under 210 500 POD # 5

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Inside the Paint - Saturday

April 26, 2013


The NBA playoffs continue Saturday night with a double-header and the two matchups feature teams facing 2-0 deficits. In case you’re wondering, only 15 teams in NBA history have overcome this hole and managed to win a best-of-seven series, which doesn’t bode well for the Hawks and Rockets.

Let’s break down the primetime battles.

Indiana at Atlanta (ESPN, 7:00 p.m.)

In my opinion, the Pacers have been the biggest surprise of this year’s playoffs so far. After humbling Atlanta 107-90 in Game 1 last Sunday, Indiana outdid itself in Game 2 and cruised to a 113-98 victory in Game 2 on Wednesday. The 113 points scored by the Pacers was the highest output in a playoff game since the team crushed the L.A. Lakers 120-87 in Game 5 of the 2000 NBA Finals.

What’s even more surprising about the 2-0 lead is that Indiana wasn’t in great form heading into this series. Head coach Frank Vogel and the Pacers closed the season with a 1-5 straight up and 0-6 against the spread mark, yet they still earned the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.

For the second straight game, the Pacers’ Paul George led all scorers with 27 points. The second-year player is now the face of Indiana franchise and he can do it all, which was proven with his triple-double performance (23 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists) in Game 1.

Along with George’s dominance, the Pacers have received great production from their bench. The reserves put up 24 in Game 1 and 38 in Game 2. The top sub in Wednesday’s win was Gerald Green, who scored 15 points in 27 minutes.

Offensively, Atlanta was far from terrible. It shot 49 and 50 percent in the two losses but the defense and constant foul trouble disrupted any chemistry and screwed up the rotation. The Pacers went to the free throw line 63 times in the first two games and connected on 51 of the freebies. Meanwhile, Atlanta has gone 18-of-34 in this series from the charity stripe.

Despite losing both games in Indiana by double-digits, oddsmakers aren’t selling off the Hawks just yet. Atlanta opened as a two-point home favorite for Game 3 and the number has been bumped up to 2 ½ at most shops.

Including the two wins in this series, Indiana has won four straight games against the Hawks. So why is Atlanta favored? For starters, all four of those wins came at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. And more importantly, the Hawks have won 11 straight home meetings against Indiana, eight of them by double digits. Indiana went 19-21 SU and 20-20 ATS on the road this season, which includes two straight losses away from home. Also, the Pacers had their Apr. 16 road battle at Boston cancelled due to the bombings.

Atlanta has produced a 25-16 record at home but gamblers should be weary of backing a team that’s just 14-25 ATS at home. Keep in mind this line is short and Atlanta has gone 11-5 ATS as a favorite of 3 ½-points or less this season and the Pacers are 4-8 ATS (33%) in the same scenario as underdogs.

Including the two games in this series, the ‘over’ has gone 5-1 between the pair this season. The total is sitting at 190 for Game 3, which is a slight jump from the closing numbers (185, 187) in the first two installments.

The Hawks are listed at an 8/1 price (Bet $100 to win $800) to win the best-of-seven series. The two teams will square off in Game 4 on Monday from Philips Arena.

Oklahoma City at Houston (ESPN, 9:35 p.m.)

On Friday afternoon, the Thunder announced that All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook will undergo surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee. He’s been ruled ‘out’ for Game 3 and possibly the rest of this series and the playoffs. How will Oklahoma City respond? That’s a difficult to question to answer considering Westbrook has never missed a game in his NBA career.

Oddsmakers had Oklahoma City listed a listed as a three-point road favorite for Game 3 prior to the Westbrook injury. After the announcement, Houston is now being listed as a one-point home favorite for Saturday’s matchup.

With Westbrook, Oklahoma City finished the regular season as the top seed in the Western Conference and it has lived up to the billing in the first round. The Thunder blasted the Rockets by 29 points (120-91) in Game 1 last Sunday and followed up the wire-to-wire victory with a 105-102 win in Game 2 on Wednesday. Oklahoma City failed to cover as an 11-point home favorite in the second installment and they almost blew a 15-point lead late in the fourth quarter. The Rockets used a 21-2 in the final 12 minutes and led 95-91 with a little over three minutes left on the clock. Then OKC decided to play defense and they closed the game with a 14-6 burst, which include crucial 3-pointers from Kevin Durant and Thabo Sefolosha. Durant finished the game with 29 points and nine assists while Westbrook added 29 points as well. Houston’s James Harden led all scorers with 36 points, 17 of them coming from the free throw line.

Can Houston rebound from the tough setback? They will be at home for two games and they seem to be ready for the challenge. "We were down 15, we could have just given up the game and said, `Let's go to Game 3,' but we fought back and took the lead," Harden said. "So, we definitely have some confidence going into Game 3 and going back home."

Including the victories in this series, OKC has won four of five against Houston this season. The lone win for the Rockets came on Feb. 20 from the Toyota Center as they notched a 122-119 win as three-point home ‘dogs. In that game, Harden scored 46 points and Jeremy Lin added 29 points.

Lin sat out the second-half of Game 2 due to a chest bruise but is listed as ‘probable’ for Game 3. Head coach Kevin McHale switched things up on Wednesday and started Patrick Beverly with Harden and Lin in the backcourt, which worked. The Rockets have conceded that they can’t stop OKC so they’re going to win with offense. Now with Westbrook banged up, you wonder if McHale goes back to his normal lineup for Game 3 or does he push the tempo even more without Westbrook.

OKC went 26-15 SU and 22-17 ATS on the road this year, which included five straight wins and covers to close the season. Houston has gone 29-12 SU and 24-17 ATS at home.

If you believe the Rockets can create a rally and still win this series against the short-handed Thunder, then you should take a look at the series price. Houston was listed at a 30/1 price (Bet $100 to win $3,000) to overcome the 0-2 deficit and win the best-of-seven battle but that number has dropped to 24/1 (Bet $100 to win $2,400) due to the injury.

Total players have watched the ‘under’ go 2-0 in the first two games and those results were helped with some scoring droughts in the second-halves. The total for Game 3 opened at 211 and dropped to 209. After the Westbrook news, the number was adjusted to 208.

A possible elimination matchup in Game 4 is set for Monday from Toyota Center.

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Brooklyn Nets @ Chicago Bulls

2:00 PM Game Time Record Line Betting Trend

Teams Win-Loss Streak ATS Open Current 1Half 2Half Side Money O/U

501 Brooklyn (49-33) (23-18 A) L-2 39-41-2 177.5 89.5 89.5 48% 59% 55%

502 Chicago (45-37) (24-17 H) W-2 36-46-0 -3 -2.5 -1.5 -1.5 52% 41% 45%

Analysis · Line Movements · Preview · BT Movements · Injuries · Scoreboards · Picks



Los Angeles Clippers @ Memphis Grizzlies

4:30 PM Game Time Record Line Betting Trend

Teams Win-Loss Streak ATS Open Current 1Half 2Half Side Money O/U

503 L.A. Clippers (56-26) (24-17 A) L-1 44-37-1 177 89.5 89.5 49% 58% 93%

504 Memphis (56-26) (32-9 H) W-1 46-34-2 -3 -3.5 -2 -2 51% 42% 7%

Analysis · Line Movements · Preview · BT Movements · Injuries · Scoreboards · Picks



Indiana Pacers @ Atlanta Hawks

7:00 PM Game Time Record Line Betting Trend

Teams Win-Loss Streak ATS Open Current 1Half 2Half Side Money O/U

505 Indiana (49-32) (19-21 A) W-2 42-39-0 190 95 95 84% 92% 79%

506 Atlanta (44-38) (25-16 H) L-4 37-43-2 -2 -2.5 -1.5 -1.5 16% 8% 21%

Analysis · Line Movements · Preview · BT Movements · Injuries · Scoreboards · Picks



Oklahoma City Thunder @ Houston Rockets

9:30 PM Game Time Record Line Betting Trend

Teams Win-Loss Streak ATS Open Current 1Half 2Half Side Money O/U

507 Oklahoma City (60-22) (26-15 A) W-2 48-32-2 -3 -1 104.5 104 45% n/a 38%

508 Houston (45-37) (29-12 H) L-4
41-40-1 207 104.5 104 55% n/a 62%

Analysis · Line Movements · Preview · BT Movements · Injuries · Scoreboards · Picks

Updated Sat Apr 27 10:52 AM EDT

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Preview: Nets (49-33) at Bulls (45-37)

Date: April 27, 2013 2:00 PM EDT


CHICAGO (AP) - Deron Williams is struggling. Joe Johnson is hobbled, and the Brooklyn Nets suddenly look as if they could be headed for an early playoff exit.

They trail the Chicago Bulls 2-1 after back-to-back losses and will fall into a really big hole in this best-of-seven series if they lose Game 4 on Saturday afternoon.

It's a tough spot for a team that won 49 games in its first season in Brooklyn and ended a six-year postseason drought.

The Nets answered one question by announcing a contract extension for general manager Billy King on Friday. Now they need to find their touch after shooting 35 percent the past two games.

Williams is having trouble getting to the paint. Johnson's ailing left foot is feeling ``a lot better,' but remains a concern. And Gerald Wallace is not sure where he fits in.

Even with all those questions, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said: ``We know how good they are.'

The Nets just aren't showing it at the moment, and the frustration appears to be mounting.

A slasher who prefers playing in the open court, Wallace went from 14 points in Game 1 to just two on 1-of-7 shooting, with Brooklyn unable to push the ball in a 90-82 loss on Monday night. And things were no better for him or the Nets in Game 3 on Thursday.

Wallace hit just 2 of 8 shots for five points and joined Reggie Evans on the sideline for the entire fourth quarter in a 79-76 loss, watching as C.J. Watson's 3 at the buzzer missed and a late rally came up short.

``I couldn't tell you my role now,' Wallace said at the team hotel. ``I don't have a clue what my role is on this team.'

It was a surprising comment so late in the season, but interim coach P.J. Carlesimo basically shrugged it off and pointed the finger at himself.

``I just think we're going through a tough time right now. That's what playoffs are all about,' Carlesimo said. ``We're all frustrated. And we have to - I have to - do a better job constantly defining roles and redefining roles so we can perform the way we're capable.'

It hasn't been easy for Williams, either.

He turned it on in the second part of the season, going on a surge that carried right through his 22-point, seven-assist performance in the series opener. But he's struggled in a big way the past two games, shooting a combined 6 of 23, with the Bulls clogging the paint.

He knows he needs to do better. He's also trying to strike a balance.

Williams knows the Bulls will continue to zero in on him, and he has to find a way to the rim. He also can't afford to force shots.

``After Game 1, they're definitely keying on me,' he said. ``It's tough for me as a point guard. I don't want to go out there and just shoot 20 bad shots. But pretty much every shot I'm going to take is going to be contested (with) two people around me, three people around me. I just have to find ways to be more aggressive and get to the basket, but it's tough right now.'

That's where the lineup the Nets used down the stretch in Game 3 could help.

``I would think they'd probably go back to that,' Chicago's Nazr Mohammed said. ``Reggie and Gerald, that's huge for them, too. They contribute in different ways.'

For all Wallace and Evans contribute on the glass and on defense, the Bulls can sag off them in the half court. That limits room for Williams, Johnson and center Brook Lopez.

Carlesimo considered changing the starting lineup but indicated he would keep it in place unless Johnson's plantar fasciitis keeps him out on Saturday.

Changing the rotation is another matter. Carlesimo won't hesitate to do that if the problems on offense continue.

``It's a tough balance because some of the problems that we have are not because those guys (Wallace and Evans) aren't scoring,' he said. ``It's because other guys aren't. If we do some of the things that we normally do - if we make some 3s or finish in the paint, then we're OK. And we can take advantage of other guys' skill sets and not just say, `To hell with it, we've got to put an offensive team out there.' That can also get you in trouble where all of a sudden we're not as good defensively. Or, we're not as good rebounding anymore.'

As for Johnson, he sounded as if he will be ready.

Bulls center Joakim Noah is expected to be available, too. Thibodeau expects to keep him to about 25 minutes again in Game 4 because of the plantar fasciitis in his right foot.

``He said he feels fine,' Thibodeau said. ``I think he's encouraged by how he feels and was not great, but he's not having that soreness like he did previously when he played, so that's a good sign.'

Johnson seemed encouraged, too, although he's not completely in the clear.

``I still have my concerns,' he said.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Clippers (56-26) at Grizzlies (56-26)

Date: April 27, 2013 4:30 PM EDT


MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Chris Paul has had a chance to watch the tape, and the Clippers guard is not happy with himself.

He was averaging 23.5 points as the Clippers won the first two games in Los Angeles. Then the series shifted to Memphis, and the Grizzlies held him to eight points with only four assists and five turnovers in winning 94-82 on Thursday night to pull within 2-1 in this first-round series.

``I just got to be more aggressive you know what I mean?' Paul said Friday after practice. ``I've just got to be more aggressive. I played 30 some minutes and didn't shoot one free throw. Something ain't right.'

The Grizzlies are expecting the Clippers' guard to try to take control from the start Saturday in Game 4. A win by the Clippers gives them the chance to close out this series Tuesday night in Los Angeles. If Memphis can holds its court, then the Clippers will be returning to Tennessee.

Grizzlies guard Tony Allen credited Memphis coach Lionel Hollins with keeping fresh bodies on Paul helping make it as difficult for Paul as possible.

``We got a scheme for him we want to stick to it,' Allen said. ``And we definitely know that he's going to come in aggressive tomorrow. We know all those guys are going to be aggressive. What we have to do is come in with the mentality we want to hit first and protect our home court.'

The team that wins on the boards has won each of the games in this series. The Grizzlies regained their inside dominance Thursday night with a 45-33 edge in rebounding along with a 22-4 scoring difference on second-chance points. They also disrupted the Clippers' offense by staying out of foul trouble until late in the gmae.

Paul is a perfect 12-of-12 at the free throw line in this series, but he didn't reach the stripe even once in Game 3. Memphis made more free throws (28) than the Clippers even attempted (23). Paul said that left them taking the ball out of the net all night long foul after foul.

``They were in the bonus with 8 minutes left in just about every quarter,' Paul said. ``That slows the game down, which obviously feeds into their style, and we can't do that.'

The Clippers' guard had 16 assists combined in Los Angeles. Paul wound up matching his four assists in Memphis with four fouls, and the Clippers, a team that ranked fourth in the NBA averaging 23.9 assists a game, finished with only 14. They also had 18 turnovers, though Paul said his mistakes are something he can control.

The Grizzlies cut down on the defensive breakdowns that allowed the Clippers to dominate on the boards in the first two games. Randolph, the league's top offensive rebounder, and Gasol are a big reason why Memphis ranked fourth in the NBA in rebounds per game this season.

Being so long and deep allowed the Clippers to outrebound Memphis 87-61 with guards getting plenty of easy boards off tipped balls.

The struggles rebounding caught the Grizzlies a bit by surprise. Allen and Conley combined for one rebound in Game 1, though Allen has 19 combined over the past two games. Conley had six Thursday night.

``It's tough because it's new to us,' Conley said. ``We're so used to dominating the glass with Marc and Zach we never had to come back and get rebounds. So with a team that rebounds as good as we do, we have to be around the rim and around the paint just to pick up a loose ball or a tipped ball, and those are the type of plays that help us get over the edge.'

Rebounds are at a premium with Randolph literally wrestling with Clippers forward Blake Griffin so much that double fouls have been called on them in each game this series. Gasol also has his hands full with DeAndre Jordan and Ryan Hollins and Ronny Turiaf off the bench.

Griffin said the Clippers did a pretty good job in the first two games helping out their big men and containing Randolph.

``So do that,' Griffin said.

Memphis hasn't beaten the Clippers in consecutive games since taking Games 5 and 6 in their opening series a year ago. Randolph said they expect both Paul and Griffin to come out aggressive.

``We got to be ready ourselves,' Randolph said. ``We got to play defense and match the energy.'

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Pacers (49-32) at Hawks (44-38)

Date: April 27, 2013 7:00 PM EDT


ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta Hawks are trying to stay upbeat.

Yet, they know the playoffs can't keep going like this.

Beaten up and blown out in the first two games of their opening-round series against the Indiana Pacers, the Hawks were pondering lineup changes heading into Game 3 Saturday night. Coach Larry Drew said he's looking for improvement at both ends of the court, but it's clear that he's mainly concerned about getting tougher defensively.

The Pacers averaged 110 points in taking a 2-0 lead in Indianapolis. Their average margin of victory was a comfortable 16 points.

``We may look to change the lineup a little bit,' Drew said Friday. ``It's about adjustments. We've done some good things in the first couple of games, but there are some things we need to do better. Some changes may push us over the edge in that respect.'

The Pacers have a huge size advantage, and they've taken full advantage of it so far. The Hawks had no answer for Paul George, who put up a triple-double (23 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists) in the series opener, then added 27 points in Game 2.

With Atlanta focused on trying to stop George, David West and big center Roy Hibbert, guard George Hill has turned out to be another big weapon for the Pacers. He's averaging 20 points in the series.

``When they kick it out, he's knocking down shots,' Hawks guard Jeff Teague said. ``He's killing us.'

Atlanta doesn't have a lot of options on the inside, especially after rugged center Zaza Pachulia went down with an Achilles injury late in the regular season.

Drew's most likely option is to go with little-used 7-footer Johan Petro at center, which would have the ripple effect of moving Al Horford to power forward and Josh Smith to small forward, allowing 3-point specialist Kyle Korver to come off the bench.

But it's not like Petro is suddenly going to become an All-Star-caliber player. Sure, he's got size, but there's a reason he played only 31 games during the season.

``Certainly, minus Zaza, that kind of puts us behind the eight-ball,' Drew said. ``But I feel confident we can match up. We have ability to go big. We have ability to go small. The first couple of games, we played a lot of small. We tried to utilize our speed and our quickness. Now we may change a little bit. ``

Teague conceded that Pachulia would have been a valuable weapon against a team such as Pacers.

``Zaza brings a physicality to the game,' Teague said. ``I don't think too many people in the locker room bring that. But we just have to take a piece of what he does on the floor and implement it in our game. Petro is going to come in and play big for us.'

Indiana certainly has no intention to change the way it's playing.

The Pacers manhandled Atlanta on their home court, and they hope to do the same in a building where they haven't had much success in recent years. Indiana has lost its last 11 games at Philips Arena.

``We haven't won down there for a couple of years, so what's a better time to change it than playoff time?' Hibbert said. ``We know we have to get at least a split down there. Our mindset is to get both.'

George promised a different Pacers team than the one that's struggled so much in Atlanta. They plan to stick with the bruising style that's worked so well in this series, most notably creating a huge disparity in free throws. Indiana is 51 of 63 at the foul line, while Atlanta is just 18 of 34.

``We're real confident,' George said. ``Physicality is our brand of basketball and that's how we play. We'll step up to the occasion.'

Hill and fellow guard Lance Stephenson sat out part of the practice Friday in Indianapolis before the Pacers flew to Atlanta. But they are merely nursing minor ailments, nothing that was expected to keep them out of Game 3, coach Frank Vogel said.

For Indiana, this is a chance to gain a stranglehold on the best-of-seven series.

``We don't think about losing or a team coming back on us,' George said. ``We just want to keep our foot on the gas.'

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Thunder (60-22) at Rockets (45-37)

Date: April 27, 2013 9:30 PM EDT


HOUSTON (AP) - The Houston Rockets could be without starting point guard Jeremy Lin when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 on Saturday night.

The Thunder definitely will be missing their point guard, with All-Star Russell Westbrook out indefinitely with a knee injury that will require surgery.

The Rockets hope Lin can return for the first playoff game in Houston since 2009. He missed practice on Friday due to a bruised chest muscle and is listed as day to day.

The Thunder lead the first-round series 2-0, but the injury to Westbrook, which occurred in the first half of Game 2, could change the complexion of the series. He averaged 24 points and 6 1/2 rebounds this postseason.

It's difficult to know just how Westbrook's absence will change the Thunder since he's never missed a game in his career. But it's probably safe to say superstar Kevin Durant, who is averaging 26.5 points in the series, will have to do even more than usual.

Durant said this will be his biggest challenge as the Thunder's leader.

``I've got faith in myself and our team,' Durant said. ``I know I can lead us. It's just a matter of me going out there and always being positive with the guys, always being encouraging ... I've been doing it all season. I've just got to rev it up a little bit more.'

The Rockets expressed sadness at Westbrook's injury, but know his absence could benefit them.

``It can create a chance for us,' Houston's Carlos Delfino said. ``You never want anything bad to happen to people ... but we've got to win. If this creates a little window or opens the window a little more for us, that's welcome.'

Westbrook, who has a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee, was hurt when rookie Patrick Beverley tried for a steal in the second quarter and ran into his knee.

The Rockets went with a new-look lineup in Game 2 that gave Beverley his first start. Some have questioned whether the play on Westbrook was dirty on Beverley's part, but he insisted he would never try to hurt anyone.

``It's definitely unfortunate,' he said. ``I was definitely looking forward to playing Westbrook again and to get to battle again.'

Beverley gave the Rockets a spark in Game 2, scoring 16 points as Houston bounced back from a blowout loss in the first game, but still fell short in a 105-102 Thunder win.

He knows some blame him for the injury and are trash talking him on Twitter, but said he isn't bothered by it. Beverley has dealt with adversity most of his life. He grew up in a tough neighborhood and wasn't even in the NBA a few months ago, instead playing in Russia.

``It was just hard trying to go to school some mornings growing up, so I can live through some Twitter beef,' he said. ``I've been in incidents in Europe where guys throw quarters at my face and I've got blood gushing down, so I'm kind of used to it. It wasn't intentional, he knows that and I know that.'

Houston coach Kevin McHale loves Beverley's intensity and said he's successful in part because he plays equally as hard whether it's practice or a playoff game.

``He's just a little fighter,' McHale said. ``That's what you've got to have in our league. If you're going to win the biggest of games, you either better be feisty and tough like he is or just ultra, ultra, ultra talented and be the most talented guy on the floor, and it's hard to be that guy.'

The Rockets haven't said whether they'll go with the three-guard lineup that they used in Game 2 on Saturday. But James Harden is hoping they do, saying he believes it's their best lineup and allows them to push the tempo.

Harden, who spent his first three NBA seasons with the Thunder, was upset upon about Westbrook's injury.

``Sad, sad story,' Harden said. ``That's one of my friends and just to see him out injured when he hadn't missed a game all career is definitely sad.'

Harden said Westbrook's being out ``changes a lot' and called him the Thunder's engine. Then he raved about backup Reggie Jackson, who'll likely take over for Westbrook in the starting lineup. Jackson, who is in his second year, averaged 5.3 points in the regular season and 7.5 in the first two playoff games.

``Reggie is definitely not a pushover,' Harden said. ``He's very talented, athletic and he's always going to work on his jump shot. He's going to make plays because he's so athletic. We definitely can't take him lightly at all.'

Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks wouldn't say if Jackson would start, but said he was definitely an option. The Thunder also have veteran guard Derek Fisher.

``Everybody's going to have to step up. That's the thing. Not one person,' Brooks said. ``Whoever I start, that's not going to be that person to play and be Russell Westbrook.'

The Rockets are in the postseason after failing to qualify in the last three years. Guard Aaron Brooks is the only current player who was on the roster during Houston's last playoff trip.

McHale believes playing on the road first was a valuable experience for his team, and he's looking forward to seeing how his young team responds in front of what he expects to be an ``electric' crowd.

``We're not a perfect team by any stretch of the imagination, but the guys will go out there and they'll fight you for it and that covers a lot of ground when you have guys that are willing to compete,' he said.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Dunkel

Indiana at Atlanta
The Hawks look to take advantage of an Indiana team that is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games in Atlanta. Atlanta is the pick (-2 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Hawks favored by 6. Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-2 1/2). Here are all of today's picks.

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

Game 501-502: Brooklyn at Chicago (2:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Brooklyn 120.622; Chicago 118.087
Dunkel Line & Total: Brooklyn by 2 1/2; 182
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago by 3; 178
Dunkel Pick: Brooklyn (+3); Over

Game 503-504: LA Clippers at Memphis (4:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: LA Clippers 123.620; Memphis 128.497
Dunkel Line & Total: Memphis by 5; 174
Vegas Line & Total: Memphis by 3 1/2; 177
Dunkel Pick: Memphis (-3 1/2); Under

Game 505-506: Indiana at Atlanta (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Indiana 115.472; Atlanta 121.649
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 6; 194
Vegas Line & Total: Atlanta by 2 1/2; 190
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-2 1/2); Over

Game 507-508: Oklahoma City at Houston (9:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Oklahoma City 126.035; Houston 121.453
Dunkel Line & Total: Oklahoma City by 4 1/2; 202
Vegas Line & Total: Pick; 208
Dunkel Pick: Oklahoma City; Under




NBA
Long Sheet

Saturday, April 27

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BROOKLYN (50 - 35) at CHICAGO (47 - 38) - 4/27/2013, 2:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 7-7 against the spread versus BROOKLYN over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 10-4 straight up against BROOKLYN 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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LA CLIPPERS (58 - 27) at MEMPHIS (57 - 28) - 4/27/2013, 4:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
LA CLIPPERS is 11-9 against the spread versus MEMPHIS over the last 3 seasons
LA CLIPPERS is 13-8 straight up against MEMPHIS over the last 3 seasons
13 of 20 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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INDIANA (51 - 32) at ATLANTA (44 - 40) - 4/27/2013, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
INDIANA is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) as a road underdog of 3 points or less this season.
INDIANA is 5-13 ATS (-9.3 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ATLANTA is 37-45 ATS (-12.5 Units) in all games this season.
ATLANTA is 14-25 ATS (-13.5 Units) in home games this season.
ATLANTA is 1-10 ATS (-10.0 Units) when playing with 2 days rest this season.

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

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OKLAHOMA CITY (62 - 22) at HOUSTON (45 - 39) - 4/27/2013, 9:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 8-0 ATS (+8.0 Units) as a home underdog of 3 points or less over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 90-63 ATS (+20.7 Units) after 3 or more consecutive unders since 1996.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 49-33 ATS (+12.7 Units) in all games this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 47-30 ATS (+14.0 Units) as a favorite this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 28-16 ATS (+10.4 Units) after scoring 105 points or more this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 14-4 ATS (+9.6 Units) in road games after playing 3 consecutive home games over the last 3 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 25-16 ATS (+7.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
OKLAHOMA CITY is 7-6 against the spread versus HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
OKLAHOMA CITY is 9-4 straight up against HOUSTON 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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NBA

Saturday, April 27

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Trend Report
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2:00 PM
BROOKLYN vs. CHICAGO
Brooklyn is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Brooklyn's last 13 games on the road
Chicago is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Brooklyn
Chicago is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home

4:30 PM
LA CLIPPERS vs. MEMPHIS
LA Clippers are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games when playing Memphis
LA Clippers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games on the road
Memphis is 2-6 SU in their last 8 games when playing LA Clippers
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Memphis's last 12 games

7:00 PM
INDIANA vs. ATLANTA
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Indiana's last 5 games when playing Atlanta
Indiana is 6-13 SU in its last 19 games when playing Atlanta
Atlanta is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Indiana
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 6 games when playing at home against Indiana

9:30 PM
OKLAHOMA CITY vs. HOUSTON
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Oklahoma City's last 6 games when playing Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Oklahoma City's last 5 games
Houston is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
Houston is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games when playing at home against Oklahoma City

[StarDust Bum]

NBA

Saturday, April 27

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NBA playoffs: Saturday's East betting preview
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Brooklyn Nets at Chicago Bulls (-2.5, 178)

Bulls lead series 2-1.

The Chicago Bulls are now in position to take a commanding 3-1 lead when they host the Brooklyn Nets in Saturday’s Game 4 of the Eastern Conference best-of-seven series. Chicago squeezed out a 79-76 victory in Thursday’s Game 3 in a contest in which both teams shot poorly. Nets guard Joe Johnson and Bulls center Joakim Noah are both dealing with foot ailments. Game 5 is in Brooklyn and the Nets would like to go home even.

Fourth-seeded Chicago shot just 39.7 percent on Thursday while holding the Nets to 34.6 percent. The Bulls know the contest wasn’t aesthetically pleasing but it was the results that mattered to them. “We did what we had to do to win the game,” said Bulls forward Carlos Boozer, who had 22 points and 16 rebounds. “In the playoffs, you have to win different ways. Nothing is perfect.” Fifth-seeded Brooklyn has averaged 79 points while losing the last two games and point guard Deron Williams is frustrated with the offense. “When we get the ball swung to the weak side and we get some movement, we’re fine,” Williams said. “But when we just let them keep us on one side, we’re struggling.”

TV: 2 p.m. ET, TNT, WWOR (Brooklyn), Comcast SportsNet Chicago

ABOUT THE NETS: Johnson received a cortisone shot in his sore left foot prior to Game 3 so he could play and scored 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting. Johnson indicated he wouldn’t have been able to play without the injection. “I felt pretty good the whole game other than probably about the last two to three minutes,” Johnson said. “It kind of tightened up. But other than that, I felt all right.” Johnson is averaging 16 points and shooting 42.2 percent in the series and it remains to be seen whether he will need another shot prior to Saturday’s game.

ABOUT THE BULLS: Boozer is averaging 20 points and 12 rebounds and shooting 57.4 percent in the series. He had a 25-point game in the opener and was sensational in the Game 3 victory. “Carlos is huge, man,” forward Luol Deng said. “He was hitting some big shots for us. He’s been playing great. Every time they made a run, he was just giving them an answer. Carlos is a great player, man.” Deng also had a fine outing with 21 points and 10 rebounds for his second straight double-double. Noah missed all seven of his field-goal attempts but contributed eight boards in 27 minutes despite the foot issues.

TRENDS:

* Nets are 4-1 ATS in their last five road games.
* Bulls are 1-5 ATS in their last six home games.
* Over is 7-1 in Nets’ last eight games following a loss.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Nets C Brook Lopez had 22 points, nine rebounds and seven blocked shots in Game 3. He is averaging 21.3 points in the series.

2. Bulls PG Kirk Hinrich is averaging 12.5 points in Chicago’s two victories and had just two points in the one loss.

3. Brooklyn is 15-for-56 from 3-point range in the series and the Bulls are just 8-for-35.


Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks (-2.5, 190.5)

Pacers lead series 2-0.

The Atlanta Hawks have not done a very good job defensively in the first two games of the series against the Indiana Pacers. The Hawks will try to improve on that end when the series shifts to Atlanta for Game 3 on Saturday. The Pacers were not exactly known for an uptempo style in the regular season but have put up 220 points in the first two games of the series behind a pair of strong efforts from Paul George.

George recorded a triple-double in the first game and added some offensive aggression en route to 27 points in Game 2. The small forward also provides a tough matchup on the other end for Josh Smith, Kyle Korver, DeShawn Stevenson or any other player Atlanta has sent at the defensively-sound George. Indiana has taken each of the first two games by at least 15 points and has been strong enough in the post to force the Hawks to settle for shots on the perimeter.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Indiana, Fox Sports South (Atlanta), ESPN

ABOUT THE PACERS: George has gotten plenty of help from George Hill and Gerald Green on the outside, taking some of the focus away from Roy Hibbert and David West in the middle. West struggled with foul trouble in Game 2 and was held to seven points and one rebound in 20 minutes. Indiana still managed to make the 113-98 victory look easy as seldom-used forward Jeff Pendergraph came off the bench to provide a lift. The Pacers are using the athleticism on the wings of George and Green to explode into the paint and attack, which gives an offense that finished 23rd in the regular season in scoring average some extra burst.

ABOUT THE HAWKS: Atlanta battled through foul trouble in each of the first two games and is hoping a change in venue will even up a discrepancy that has seen the Pacers attempt 63 free throws to the Hawks’ 34. Atlanta was even called for three technical fouls in Game 2, including one that had Al Horford in disbelief. Horford put up a double-double in Game 2 but Smith was limited by an ankle injury and foul trouble to 20 minutes. The Hawks tried bigger lineups with Ivan Johnson or Johan Petro in the middle but could not keep the Pacers off the offensive glass. “They handled their home court and now Game 3 is crucial for us, and now we have to handle ours,” Horford said.

TRENDS:

* Hawks are 0-7 ATS in their last seven home games.
* Over is 6-1 in Pacers’ last seven overall.
* Over is 5-0 in the last five meetings.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Pacers have won each of their first two playoff games by at least 15 points for the first time since joining the NBA in 1976.

2. Atlanta took both meetings on its home court during the regular season, 89-86 on Nov. 7 and 109-100 on Dec. 29.

3. Indiana G Lance Stephenson suffered a bruised right hip in Game 2 but returned to the floor and is probable for Game 3..


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NBA

Saturday, April 27

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NBA playoffs: Saturday's West betting preview
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Los Angeles Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies (-3.5, 177)

Clippers lead series 2-1.

The Memphis Grizzlies attempt to tie their Western Conference series with Los Angeles when they host the Clippers on Saturday in Game 4 of the best-of-seven series. Memphis recovered from two losses in Los Angeles to post a 94-82 victory in Thursday’s Game 3 and played with a higher level of aggressiveness. Clippers point guard Chris Paul seeks to bounce back from a performance in which he had more turnovers (five) than assists (four).

Paul was upset with himself after the contest as the fourth-seeded Clippers opened the door for Memphis to get back into the series. “They made some good adjustments and now it will be our opportunity to make our adjustments,” Paul said. “Game 4 will be a big game for both of us. We know we need this game so we can go back home and have an opportunity to close it out.” The fifth-seeded Grizzlies were glad to avoid a 0-3 hole but know there is plenty of work to do. “We haven’t done anything yet,” guard Tony Allen said. “We’ve won one game. There is a Game 4. We’re not even too happy about it. We just have to focus on Game 4 and take care of business.”

TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, TNT, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), Sport South (Memphis)

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS: Los Angeles averaged 102.5 points in its two victories and never got into the flow in Game 3 while shooting 38.8 percent. Paul had eight points on 4-of-11 shooting but wasn’t the lone player to have a subpar outing. Sixth man Jamal Crawford had 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting and backup guard Eric Bledsoe missed all four of his shots after going 10-for-13 over the first two games. The Clippers committed 18 turnovers with the usually reliable Paul being the biggest culprit. “It’s uncharacteristic of us,” Paul said. “I mean especially me. I had five turnovers and our turnovers led to 17 of their points.”

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES: Power forward Zach Randolph had a monster game with 27 points and 11 rebounds in Game 3 after totaling just 26 points and 12 rebounds in the first two games. It was the type of performance Memphis has come to expect from a player who had 45 double-doubles in the regular season. “I definitely wanted to come out and be aggressive,” Randolph said afterward. “They’ve been double-teaming, triple-teaming me. So just go fast, hit a couple jump shots and open it up. Most definitely, I wanted to come out and be aggressive.” Allen also had a fine game with 13 points and nine rebounds, falling one board short of his second straight double-double.

TRENDS:

* Grizzlies are 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall.
* Under is 4-1 in Clippers’ last five road games.
* Under is 5-0 in Grizzlies’ last five home games.
* Under is 5-0 in the last five meetings in Memphis.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Grizzlies have won the battle of the boards in each of the past two games after Los Angeles had a dominating 47-23 edge in the opener.

2. Clippers F Blake Griffin had just two rebounds in Game 3 and is grabbing just five per game in the series.

3. Memphis swingman Quincy Pondexter had 13 points in Game 3 after totaling just five in the first two contests.



Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets (1, 208.5)

Thunder lead series 2-0.

The Houston Rockets weren’t given much of a shot of upsetting Oklahoma City in the first place and the odds will become nearly impossible if they don’t defeat the visiting Thunder in Game 3 on Saturday. However, the Rockets' odds of winning Game 3 became a lot better Friday. Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook will require surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee. The team said that Westbrook suffered his injury in the second quarter of Game 2 against the Rockets on Wednesday and be out indefinitely. Houston lost the first two games of the Western Conference best-of-seven series and the eighth-seeded Rockets are in must-win mode after falling three points short in Game 2. Top-seeded Oklahoma City let a 15-point, fourth-quarter lead get away before sealing the 105-102 win.

The Thunder struggled with Houston’s lineup and strategy revisions in Game 2. Rookie guard Patrick Beverley moved into the starting lineup and contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds while going toe-to-toe with Oklahoma star Russell Westbrook. “I thought the lineup gave them a little issue,” forward Chandler Parsons said. “When we space the floor like that, they can’t guard us. I think we showed that and proved that we can score on them.” Houston also had 18 offensive rebounds and had a 57-40 overall edge on the boards and Thunder coach Scott Brooks wasn’t thrilled with the overall performance. “We won the game so we’re happy with that,” Brooks said. “We’re not saying we’re satisfied but we’re happy. We did a lot of good things, but we also have to understand that they’re really good.”

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Fox Sports Oklahoma, Comcast SportsNet Houston

ABOUT THE THUNDER: Oklahoma City stars Kevin Durant (10-for-26) and Westbrook (10-for-25) had trouble shooting in Game 2 as the Rockets played a zone most of the contest. The defensive alignment also forced the Thunder into several uncharacteristic turnovers. “It’s not easy. We haven’t seen it much during the year,” guard Thabo Sefolosha said. “When a team throws a zone at us like this, we try to keep the ball moving, keep bodies moving and really try to attack the paint. I think this is where the weakness is. We’ve got to do a better job at driving the ball and then maybe kicking it out.” Taking advantage in the interior didn’t happen in Game 2 as Houston had a 50-30 edge in points in the paint.

ABOUT THE ROCKETS: Whether or not Houston has point guard Jeremy Lin available will be decided prior to Game 3. Lin missed the second half of Game 2 and underwent an MRI exam on Thursday that revealed he has a bruised muscle in his chest. Lin hopes he can play but his optimism was tempered by the fact he was unable to shoot the basketball on Thursday. “I really don’t know because this is something that should heal quickly but right now I’m not there yet so I don’t know when I will be (able to play).” Lin was 4-of-14 shooting for 11 total points in the first two games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Houston G James Harden had 36 points in Game 2 and is averaging 28 points and 8.5 rebounds in the series.

2. Thunder F Serge Ibaka has nine blocks in the two games while averaging 14.5 points and nine rebounds.

3. The Rockets are 18-of-71 from 3-point range through two games.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA

Saturday, April 27

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NBA playoff notes: Westbrook out indefinitely
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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook will be out indefinitely after the team announced he will have surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee. Here is a look playoff notes for Saturday's NBA action.

Westbrook to undergo surgery

Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook is going to have surgery to repair cartilage in his right knee and will no be out indefinitely, the team announced on Friday.

The injury occurred in the second quarter of Game 2 as Houston guard Patrick Beverley collided with Westbrook on an attempted steal.

"Anyone who knows me knows I don't go out there and try to hurt anybody," Beverley told ESPN. "I play at one speed and that's fast. I was just trying to make a play on the ball before they called a timeout and it's just unfortunate."

The Thunder guard has tallied 48 points and 14 assists in the first two games of the series with Houston.

Reggie Jackson could be called on to get the start in place of Westbrook.

The Thunder are 1.5-point road favorites for Game 3 Saturday. The total is 207.


Jeremy Lin hopes to play

Houston Rockets guard Jeremy Lin is cautiously optimistic about returning for Game 3 Saturday night. His status remains questionable as of Saturday morning.

Lin suffered a muscle contusion in his chest and did not play in the second half of Game 2. The point guard played 20 minutes in Houston's Game 2 loss. He scored seven points and dished 3 assists before leaving the game.

“Not going to make any promises or anything,” Lin told the Houston Chronicle. “I just don’t know. Right now, it’s just day-to-day. I’m still hopeful, still optimistic. I just learned my lesson about making guarantees.”


Johnson probable for Nets

Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson is listed as probable for Game 4 Saturday.

Johnson was a game-time decision for Game 3 but logged 41 minutes of action. He scored 15 points on 6-14 shooting

Johnson has been dealing with a foot injury and got a cortisone shot for the pain in Game 3.

"I felt pretty good the whole game, other than probably about the last two to three minutes. It had kind of tightened up," Johnson told ESPN. "But other than that, I felt all right."

The Nets are 3-point road underdogs for Saturday's game. The total is 177.5.


Stephenson questionable after leaving Game 2

Indiana Pacers starting shooting guard Lance Stephenson is listed as questionable for Game 3 versus the Atlanta Hawks.

Stephenson landed on his right hip late in the first quarter of Game 2 and did not return until late in the second half. He totaled 18 minutes and scored 4 points in the Game 2 victory.

The Pacers are 2.5-point road underdogs in Game 3. The total is 190.

[StarDust Bum]

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record

04/26/13 4-*2-*0 66.67% +*900 Detail
04/25/13 4-*1-*1 80.00% +*1450 Detail
04/24/13 1-*5-*0 16.67% -*2250 Detail
04/23/13 2-*4-*0 33.33% -*1200 Detail
04/22/13 2-*2-*0 50.00% -*100 Detail
04/21/13 3-*5-*0 37.50% -*1250 Detail
04/20/13 3-*4-*1 42.86% -*700 Detail

04/27/13 19-23-2 45.23% -3150

Saturday, April 27

Game Score Status Pick Amount


Brooklyn - 2:00 PM ET Chicago -3 500 POD # 4

Chicago - Under 176.5 500 POD # 5


L.A. Clippers - 4:30 PM ET Memphis -3.5 500 POD # 6

Memphis - Under 177 500 POD # 3


Indiana - 7:00 PM ET Indiana +2 500 POD # 1

Atlanta - Over 190 500


Oklahoma City - 9:30 PM ET Oklahoma City -1 500 POD # 2

Houston - Over 206 500

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Saturday, April 27

First Post

Four of six Chicago-Brooklyn games this season were decided by 4 or less points; Nets shot 35.4/34.6% in last two games, after making 55.8% of shots in Game 1- Brooklyn guards are 18-55 from the floor in last two games. Bulls haven't had Rose all year, so you can make case that he is not missed as much as someone who played part of season. Chicago led Game 3 76-62 with 5:42 left, held on for dear life, scoring three points in rest of 79-76 win. Home favorites are 13-9 vs spread league-wide so far in playoffs, 6-5 in Eastern Conference so far.

Home side won all three LA-Memphis games; Grizzlies bench rallied to -9 last game, after being -43 in Game 2- they held their own, let starters win game. Clippers made 18-57 from arc in series- so far in series, their FG% has dropped from 55.4% to 47.4% to 38.8% in series- they need more easy baskets. Memphis outrebounded LA by 10 in last two games, after beig -24 in Game 1. Clippers won five of seven series games this year, winning two of three here- they've taken 20 less FTs than Griz so far in this series. LA's bench was just 10-26 in Game 3.

[StarDust Bum]

Sunday Afternoon Tips

April 28, 2013


The Eastern Conference playoffs showcased the most exciting game so far with Saturday's epic triple-overtime victory by the Bulls over the Nets. However, the pair of series involving the top two seeds has been one-sided, as the Heat and Knicks both look to advance to the second round with wins on Sunday afternoon. We'll begin in Beantown with New York trying to shut the door on Boston.

Knicks (-1 ½, 181 ½) at Celtics - 1:00 PM EST - ABC

Two seasons ago, Boston swept New York out of the first round by hammering the Knicks in the final two games of the series. Fast forward to this April as the Knicks have turned the tables on their rivals by taking a 3-0 series advantage following Friday's wire-to-wire blowout of the Celtics.

New York destroyed Boston, 90-76 in Game 3 to easily cash as three-point underdogs. The Knicks have been particularly sharp on the defensive side by limiting the C's to less than 80 points in each of the first three games, resulting in three 'unders.' Doc Rivers' team struggled to score points in the second half of the first two losses in New York, but the Celtics started slow in Game 3 by mustering just 31 points before halftime. Four Celtics scored in double-figures, but that didn't mean much since the bench tallied only 10 points.

Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks once again with 26 points, as New York will look to clinch without its sixth man. J.R. Smith is out of Sunday's contest after getting hit with a one-game suspension for his elbow to the face of Boston's Jason Terry in the fourth quarter of Game 3. The Knicks have beaten the Celtics six consecutive times since a home loss to Boston in January. Mike Woodson's club owns a 4-1 ATS record the last five opportunities in the road favorite role, while posting a 10-10-1 ATS mark this season when laying points on the highway.

Boston has dropped successive home games just once this season, which came to New Orleans and Chicago in mid-January. The C's have put together a 4-2 ATS record as a home underdog, which includes outright wins over the Heat, Clippers, and Celtics. Under Rivers, the Celtics have never been swept in a playoff series, while the last time Boston was swept came back in 2004 in the opening round against Indiana.

Heat (-8 ½, 195 ½) at Bucks - 3:30 PM EST - ABC

Miami is trying to accomplish something on its bucket list it hasn't been able to do since the Big Three came together in 2011: pull off a playoff sweep. Amazingly, this is the ninth playoff series that the Heat has played with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, but every series has gone at least five games. However, the Heat may be down one of its stars in the potential series-clincher on Sunday.

Wade injured his already banged-up right knee in Thursday's Game 3 victory over the Bucks, as the former Marquette standout shot just 1-of-12 from the floor for four points. The Heat rallied from an early 10-point deficit to trail by two points at the half, while busting things open in the second half with a 56-41 outburst. Miami cashed as seven-point favorites, 104-91, improving to 11-3 ATS since having its 27-game winning streak snapped at Chicago on March 27. However, the Heat won't know until nearly tip-off if Wade is going to suit up or sit out Game 4.

The Bucks are on the doorstep of elimination, losing all three games in this series by at least 12 points. Monta Ellis has struggled all season when facing the Heat, as the shooting guard has scored seven points in each of the last two losses. Ellis' backcourt mate and prognosticating specialist Brandon Jennings has shot 8-of-30 from the floor in Games 2 and 3.

Milwaukee put together one of the worst home ATS records this season at 16-26, while posting a 3-8 ATS mark when receiving points at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Heat are rolling on the highway recently by cashing in seven of the last eight road games.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Knicks (54-28) at Celtics (41-40)

Date: April 28, 2013 1:00 PM EDT


WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) - Hanging on a wall of the Celtics' practice facility, opposite the faded banners that hung in the old Boston Garden a half-century ago, is a spotless one.

It went up a few years ago to hold the location where the NBA's greatest champions would mark their next title.

That banner will apparently remain blank another year. As soon as Sunday, the Celtics' quest for No. 18 could be over for this season.

Down 3-0 to the New York Knicks, the Celtics are thinking much smaller than another title when they host Game 4 on Sunday afternoon.

``You've got to focus on the single game. You can't win four without winning one,' Boston coach Doc Rivers said Saturday.

Even that looks difficult for a Celtics team that can't get any offense going. Boston has averaged a feeble 75 points, not breaking 80 in any game, on 39.5 percent shooting.

No NBA team has overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a series, as the Knicks know. They were swept by the Celtics two years ago and managed only to get to Game 5 after dropping the first three against Miami last year, when they ran their NBA-record postseason losing streak to 13 games.

Now Carmelo Anthony sees the Celtics in the same position he was in during his first two postseasons in New York, and he wants the sweep.

``To be honest with you, to accomplish that would be spectacular. It would be a dream come true. I've never swept anybody. But we know Game 4 is win or go home for them guys,' Anthony said.

``I've been on that side of the ball plenty of times and I know that feeling, so I know the type of energy they're going to come out and display here on Sunday. We've just got to be prepared for the punches that they throw and everything they put out there on the basketball court.'

There haven't been any punches, though the Celtics' Jason Terry did take an elbow in the chin from New York's J.R. Smith late in Game 3. The NBA suspended Smith for Sunday's game.

Terry wouldn't comment on the play Saturday, but said he was annoyed by what he thought was some Knicks' showboating and is clearly agitated by what's gone on in the series.

``I mean, when you get your butt kicked like they've been doing to us the last week or so and you're seeing the same team every day, you're going to get tired of it. Or you're going to lay down. I'm tired of it,' Terry said.

The Celtics haven't lost in the first round since 2005 and haven't been swept since Indiana beat them in the first round a year earlier.

They returned to prominence six years ago when they acquired Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to team with Paul Pierce, and it's been a good run for the Celtics. They won a title in 2008, lost in a Game 7 to the Lakers two years later, and pushed Miami to seven games in last year's Eastern Conference finals.

But Allen then joined the Heat, and All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo was lost to a knee injury around midseason. Garnett will turn 37 next month and Pierce is 35, and the Celtics have had opportunities to trade both of them. There may be more decisions in the offseason, so the end of this series could actually be the end of an era.

``I dread the end all the time. I really do,' Rivers said. ``I just like to be able to know when the end is, meaning you're in Game 7 of the world championship. Then you know you're playing for the end. I hate when the end can come early. But I dread them all.'

Game 5 would be Wednesday, though the Knicks would prefer to wrap it up Sunday and give one of the oldest rosters in NBA history some extra rest before their first appearance in the second round since 2000.

``For sure,' said point guard Raymond Felton. ``Just like Melo said, I've been on the other end of the stick as well. I was in Charlotte, made the playoffs for the first time and we got swept by Orlando. So it feels good to be on the winning side. So if we could come out and definitely sweep this game, it would be something special for all of us. For me, for him, especially individually, and then on top of that we'd get a lot of rest. And hopefully Indiana and Atlanta can go to Game 7.'

The Celtics believe they can turn things around with more effort, though their execution has been just as poor. Not even Pierce has been immune to their woes, missing a layup on the first possession of Friday's 90-76 loss and just fumbling the ball away on a couple of occasions later in the game.

But forward Jeff Green said his confidence is ``still high,' even if the Celtics' chances of advancing aren't.

``I mean, look at the guys on this team, guys who have been through so much throughout their career,' he said. They've been down. I mean you have guys who are confident in their game and believe that we have a chance, and that's all that it takes.'

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Heat (66-16) at Bucks (38-44)

Date: April 28, 2013 3:30 PM EDT


MILWAUKEE (AP) - Now it's Dwyane Wade's turn to make a decision.

The Miami Heat star is getting treatment ``around the clock' for his aching right knee, and coach Erik Spoelstra said they'll wait until Sunday to decide whether he'll play in Game 4 against the Milwaukee Bucks. With a chance to close out the series in four games, something the Heat haven't done since LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Wade in Miami, he's sure to want to play.

But with the outcome of the series almost inevitable - no team has come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series - and so much of the playoffs left, taking a game off might be the wiser option.

``It's very difficult right now because it's the playoffs and tomorrow is never promised. During the regular season, you can really pick and choose your spots,' Chris Bosh said after the Heat practiced Saturday. ``Now, it's just doing what you're supposed to do off the court as much as possible, and hoping when you play out there in the game, you can play as close to 100 percent as you can.

``It's a very tough position to be in right now,' Bosh added. ``But Dwyane's a competitor and he'll do best thing for himself and for the team.'

Wade missed six games near the end of the regular season with three bone bruises, one each along the top, bottom and one side of his right kneecap. Though he continues to feel better, he got banged around good in Miami's 104-91 victory in Game 3 on Thursday night. He was hit in the knee, face and elbow in just one play, and he'd be sure to face similar contact from the Bucks on Sunday.

Miami didn't practice Friday, but Wade spent several hours at Marquette University, his alma mater, getting treatment. He took part in practice Saturday, though Spoelstra said he sat out the ``majority' of the Heat's full-court work.

``We'll just continue to evaluate,' Spoelstra said. ``He's feeling better than yesterday. Tomorrow, we'll see how he feels with more treatment today and we'll go from there. He's been feeling better, really making progress, for three straight weeks.'

Losing a top player during the playoffs is a nightmare scenario for any team. When Bosh missed nine games during last year's playoffs with strained abdominal muscles, the Heat went 5-4 in his absence.

But with the addition of Ray Allen and Chris Andersen, this Miami team is even deeper than the one that won the NBA title last season. Allen is averaging almost 17 points in the first three playoff games, and he picked up the slack when Wade struggled offensively in Game 3. He scored 23 points, and his five 3-pointers gave him 322 for his career, topping Reggie Miller's old playoff record by two.

Andersen has played less than 45 minutes, yet has 31 points and 19 rebounds.

``They've had a huge impact, Andersen, Ray, (Norris) Cole,' Milwaukee coach Jim Boylan said.

``Anytime you have a championship team, you're always going to have some `unsung heroes.' They have multiple guys who can do it,' Boylan added. ``They're a team that's built for a championship.'

If Wade can't play, Spoelstra would likely start Mike Miller in his place. Though Miller has played all of 2 minutes and change in the first three games, putting him in the starting lineup instead of, say, Allen would allow the Heat to preserve its typical order of substitutes. And continuity is key at this time of year, which partly explains why the Heat refused to get overly excited at the prospect of this group sweeping its first playoff series.

The Heat have had 3-0 leads in the first round the last two years - Philadelphia in 2011 and the Knicks in 2012 - only to lose Game 4 each time.

``It's the most important game because it's our next game,' James said flatly. ``That's how we approach this game and we look forward to the challenge.'

Added Bosh, ``Before we got too much ahead of ourselves. That was a problem. We have to keep playing, keep working the game, and not really think about sweeping people.'

Make no mistake, though, the Heat would like to cross a sweep of their ``to-do' list. (If nothing else, they'd have at least five full days off before the Eastern Conference semifinals would start.)

``That was our concentration and emphasis today: It's 24 hours to do what we have to do,' Spoelstra said. ``That's why we don't want to short cut any of the preparation. It's their last stand, we know what that can be like. The last two years, we've lost a game in this situation. Hopefully we can learn from that and find a way to close it out.'

Milwaukee, meanwhile, would love nothing more than to extend its season by at least two more days. Game 5 would be Tuesday in Miami.

This is still a relatively young Bucks team with Larry Sanders in only his third season, Brandon Jennings his fourth and Ersan Ilyasova and Luc Mbah a Moute their fifth. It's Milwaukee's first playoff appearance in three years, and the experience, regardless of how long it lasts, will be invaluable.

``Everybody's getting something out of it,' coach Jim Boylan said. ``We're in the middle of it, but there's time you reflect, you look back, you watch the games and see certain things that happened and you can adjust and make a difference for your team. I'm sure that, at the end of this series - whenever this series is over - all our guys are going to look back and take something positive from it.'

But they hope that won't be for a few more days.

``(Sunday) is going to be our fourth game and it could be our last game,' Sanders said. ``But hopefully guys don't want it to be our last game.'

Notes: Bosh sat out some of Miami's full-court work with sore legs, but Spoelstra said everyone but Wade is ``ready to go' for Game 4. ... The Bucks have no health issues, Boylan said. ... Sunday's game on ABC is a rare appearance on broadcast television for the Bucks. ``With my rabbit ears on my TV, I can get this thing,' Boylan cracked.