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Nba Write Ups
Courtesy Of Sports Gambling Hotline's NBA Staff
New Orleans at Philadelphia
Philadelphia needed every single one of Allen Iverson's personal playoff-high 55 points in Sunday's 98-90 series' opening win since starting forwards Kevin Van Horn and Kenny Thomas, along with center Derrick Coleman, combined for only 11 points, well off their combined season average of 35.4 a game.
What made Iverson's double-nickel performance all the more amazing is that he hit 21-of-32 shots from the field after shooting only 41.4% during the regular season.
Iverson abused everyone in New Orleans' backcourt, and the Hornets' guard line-up is at less than 100% with Baron Davis hobbled by a bone bruise to his troublesome left knee. Davis managed just 10 points in 32 minutes in Sunday's opener with his mobility obviously impaired. If Davis can't play tonight, Paul Silas could team David Wesley with either George Lynch or Kenny Anderson in the backcourt.
The Hornets, who had closed the regular season with five straight wins, are now 18-24 SU and 16-25 ATS on the road. They're 13-21 ATS as a dog this year, including 5-12 when getting between 3 1/2 and 6 points on the road. And, they're 11-16 ATS versus Atlantic Division foes.
Philly is 26-16 SU at home, but despite Sunday's win, which was its fifth cover in the last six series' showdowns, the Sixers' pointspread record at home remains atrocious. Philly is 14-27 ATS at home this year, including 6-11 as a home chalk of 3 1/2 to 6 points. On the year, the Sixers are 21-31 ATS when laying points anywhere.
Conflicting total trends to report: New Orleans closed the regular season by staying under in nine of its final 12 games. But Philly is now 26-15 over at home this year after Sunday's opener topped the total.
Point to Ponder: The Sixers are 1-3 SU in the second game of a first-round playoff series under Larry Brown's direction.
Orlando at Detroit
Detroit ran six different defenders against Tracy McGrady to no avail as T-Mac exploded for 43 points on 15-for-28 shooting in Sunday's series' opener.
Almost left unnoticed by McGrady's outburst was the performance turned in by forward Drew Gooden who scored 18 points and grabbed 14 boards, allowing the Magic to outrebound Detroit, 44-43. The "battle of the boards" winner is 4-0 straight-up (3-0-1 ATS) in this season's four meetings.
With the victory, Orlando improved to 17-25 SU and 20-18 ATS on the road this year.
Detroit, 30-12 SU at home, had won and covered four of the previous five series' showdowns at home prior to Sunday's setback.
The Pistons shot just 31.6% from the field in game one against an Orlando defense that was the NBA's fifth easiest to score on this year, allowing opponents to hit nearly 45% of their shots. Chauncey Billups misfired on 16 of 19 attempts, including all seven of his three-pointers. And Chucky Atkins, Corliss Williamson and Ben Wallace were a combined 4-for-19.
As for the total, Sunday's over snapped a string of five straight under performances by Orlando. And four of the previous five meetings in Detroit had remained under the total prior to the series' opener.
Portland at Dallas
Playing in double revenge, Dallas rebounded from a 10-point halftime deficit to prevail 96-86 in Saturday's series' opener. Dirk Nowitzki led the charge by hitting 16-of-27 shots and finishing with 46 points and 10 rebounds.
Nowitzki's explosive outing was needed since the other two members of the Mavs' "Big Three," Steve Nash and Michael Finley, combined for only 23 points on 8-for-23 shooting.
The Trail Blazers had won and covered 18 of the previous 27 meetings, including three of four this year, prior to Saturday's opener, but a 34-point second-half performance resulted in Portland's eighth consecutive postseason loss.
Portland, 19-9 ATS as a dog this year, carries a 23-19 SU and 24-17 ATS road record into game two.
Saturday's triumph improved Dallas' home record to 34-8 SU, and put the Mavs over the top versus the oddsmakers at 21-20 ATS. Despite the win, the Mavs remain only 35-42 ATS as a favorite this year, and even worse, only 7-22 ATS versus members of the Pacific Division.
Red Cross Zone: Scottie Pippen had just five points on 2-for-8 shooting in game one, struggling throughout his 32 minutes of action because of ongoing knee problems. Pippen did not practice Monday or Tuesday, but hopes to play tonight. And Rasheed Wallace, who scored 26 in the opener, is probable despite a sprained ankle suffered in the first game.
Interesting tidbits: The straight-up winner has also scored the ATS win in 11 of the last 13 meetings. And the Mavs allowed only 80.5 points in winning the regular season's first two meetings, but surrendered 106 in losing the final two.
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New Orleans at Philadelphia
Philadelphia needed every single one of Allen Iverson's personal playoff-high 55 points in Sunday's 98-90 series' opening win since starting forwards Kevin Van Horn and Kenny Thomas, along with center Derrick Coleman, combined for only 11 points, well off their combined season average of 35.4 a game.
What made Iverson's double-nickel performance all the more amazing is that he hit 21-of-32 shots from the field after shooting only 41.4% during the regular season.
Iverson abused everyone in New Orleans' backcourt, and the Hornets' guard line-up is at less than 100% with Baron Davis hobbled by a bone bruise to his troublesome left knee. Davis managed just 10 points in 32 minutes in Sunday's opener with his mobility obviously impaired. If Davis can't play tonight, Paul Silas could team David Wesley with either George Lynch or Kenny Anderson in the backcourt.
The Hornets, who had closed the regular season with five straight wins, are now 18-24 SU and 16-25 ATS on the road. They're 13-21 ATS as a dog this year, including 5-12 when getting between 3 1/2 and 6 points on the road. And, they're 11-16 ATS versus Atlantic Division foes.
Philly is 26-16 SU at home, but despite Sunday's win, which was its fifth cover in the last six series' showdowns, the Sixers' pointspread record at home remains atrocious. Philly is 14-27 ATS at home this year, including 6-11 as a home chalk of 3 1/2 to 6 points. On the year, the Sixers are 21-31 ATS when laying points anywhere.
Conflicting total trends to report: New Orleans closed the regular season by staying under in nine of its final 12 games. But Philly is now 26-15 over at home this year after Sunday's opener topped the total.
Point to Ponder: The Sixers are 1-3 SU in the second game of a first-round playoff series under Larry Brown's direction.
Orlando at Detroit
Detroit ran six different defenders against Tracy McGrady to no avail as T-Mac exploded for 43 points on 15-for-28 shooting in Sunday's series' opener.
Almost left unnoticed by McGrady's outburst was the performance turned in by forward Drew Gooden who scored 18 points and grabbed 14 boards, allowing the Magic to outrebound Detroit, 44-43. The "battle of the boards" winner is 4-0 straight-up (3-0-1 ATS) in this season's four meetings.
With the victory, Orlando improved to 17-25 SU and 20-18 ATS on the road this year.
Detroit, 30-12 SU at home, had won and covered four of the previous five series' showdowns at home prior to Sunday's setback.
The Pistons shot just 31.6% from the field in game one against an Orlando defense that was the NBA's fifth easiest to score on this year, allowing opponents to hit nearly 45% of their shots. Chauncey Billups misfired on 16 of 19 attempts, including all seven of his three-pointers. And Chucky Atkins, Corliss Williamson and Ben Wallace were a combined 4-for-19.
As for the total, Sunday's over snapped a string of five straight under performances by Orlando. And four of the previous five meetings in Detroit had remained under the total prior to the series' opener.
Portland at Dallas
Playing in double revenge, Dallas rebounded from a 10-point halftime deficit to prevail 96-86 in Saturday's series' opener. Dirk Nowitzki led the charge by hitting 16-of-27 shots and finishing with 46 points and 10 rebounds.
Nowitzki's explosive outing was needed since the other two members of the Mavs' "Big Three," Steve Nash and Michael Finley, combined for only 23 points on 8-for-23 shooting.
The Trail Blazers had won and covered 18 of the previous 27 meetings, including three of four this year, prior to Saturday's opener, but a 34-point second-half performance resulted in Portland's eighth consecutive postseason loss.
Portland, 19-9 ATS as a dog this year, carries a 23-19 SU and 24-17 ATS road record into game two.
Saturday's triumph improved Dallas' home record to 34-8 SU, and put the Mavs over the top versus the oddsmakers at 21-20 ATS. Despite the win, the Mavs remain only 35-42 ATS as a favorite this year, and even worse, only 7-22 ATS versus members of the Pacific Division.
Red Cross Zone: Scottie Pippen had just five points on 2-for-8 shooting in game one, struggling throughout his 32 minutes of action because of ongoing knee problems. Pippen did not practice Monday or Tuesday, but hopes to play tonight. And Rasheed Wallace, who scored 26 in the opener, is probable despite a sprained ankle suffered in the first game.
Interesting tidbits: The straight-up winner has also scored the ATS win in 11 of the last 13 meetings. And the Mavs allowed only 80.5 points in winning the regular season's first two meetings, but surrendered 106 in losing the final two.
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