THE LAKERS TRY TO STAY IN THE PLAYOFF PICTURE AS THEY HOST THE HORNETS

by DAVID THE MAVEN CHICOTSKY

The Lakers host the Hornets, coming into the game as nearly double-digit favorites.

Line Information for this game.

Amazingly, just 12 days after getting surgery to repair a tear to his lateral meniscus in his left knee, the artist formerly known as Ron Artest says he will play Tuesday night against the Hornets. It has been all hands on deck for the Lakers as they furiously strive to make the playoffs. They come into the game only a half game back from the Utah Jazz, trying to get into the last spot in the Western Conference, the 8-seed.

Kobe Bryant went on to say, “I call him Logan now – he’s Wolverine (with special powers of healing himself at an accelerated rate). I’m not very surprised,…He takes care of himself. He eats all the right stuff. Still, it’s very impressive.”

What’s also been impressive is the amount of time Kobe Bryant has spent on the floor this week, despite suffering from a bone spur in his left foot and is recently coming off a severe ankle sprain. He rested only 56 seconds against the Mavericks last week and has been virtually on the court full-time every game they play over the past week or so. Expect the same as they face the Hornets – as there is zero room for error for the Lakers at this point.

The Hornets aren’t a team worth talking about. The Warriors just swept them and they’re going into the Laker game as massive dogs. Tony Montana would be proud though, as they’rechanging their name next year to the Pelicans.

Betting Information

The Hornets are 26-50 straight up, 37-37-2 against the spread and 39-36-1 Over on the year. They’ve gone 2-3 SU and 2-3 ATS in their last 5 games, with a 3-2 Under record against the total. On the road they’re 11-27 SU, 20-16-2 ATS and 21-17 Over.

The Lakers are 40-37 SU, punishing bettors bigtime with their 31-45-1 ATS and 40-35-2 on the year. In their last 5 games they’re 3-2 SU and 2-3 ATS with a 3-2 Under record against the total. At home they’re a stout 25-12 SU, but still losing money for bettors with their 17-20 record against the spread and 18-18-1 against the total.

Sources: Yahoo! Sports, SLAM, New York Times

DAILY FREE PICK: MINNESOTA TWINS VS. KANSAS CITY ROYALS

by ODDSFATHER STAFF

MLB is just getting started and we have a game locked and loaded in our sites.

The Twins are out to a hot starts, going 4-2 straight up in their first 6 games.  They very likely will be a better team than the Royals this year.

Injury Report

The Royals are throwing Ervin Santana who is known for giving up the long ball. He demonstrated that in his first appearance of the season, giving up 3 homers in the first 4 innings. Lucky for him, they play in a pitcher’s park.

Meanwhile, the Twins are pitching Kevin Correia who is coming off a very solid start, giving up only 2 runs in 7 innings of work against a tough Tigers team.

Free Pick: Under 8.5 (game #967/#968)

YOUTH VS. EXPERIENCE: SHELBY MILLER VS. RYAN VOGELSONG

by JONATHAN YALES

Starting Pitchers:

Shelby Miller, RHP

The Cardinals’ 22-year-old 2009 first-round selection makes his second Major League start Saturday. Miller beat out Trevor Rosenthal and Joe Kelly during spring training to earn the fifth and final spot in St. Louis’ starting rotation. The right-hander’s only Major League start was last October against the Cincinnati Reds. In the final game of the Cardinals regular season Miller pitched six shutout innings, allowed only one hit and struck out seven against the then 97-64 SU Reds. This spring, Miller started three games, appeared in five and ended spring training with a 3.94 ERA. He pitched 16 innings, allowed 17 hits, five walks and seven earned runs.

Ryan Vogelsong, RHP

The Giants throw-out their 35-year-old veteran to combat the Cardinal’s young starting pitcher. Last season Vogelsong started 31 games, finished 14-9 and pitched 189.2 innings. He set career-highs in strikeouts (158), hits allowed (171), wins and innings pitched in 2012. However, Vogelsong has a history of struggling at the start of his seasons. He is 2-4 with a 6.31 ERA lifetime in April.

The LINE for this game

Last Game:

In the first game of the series Friday afternoon, the Giants defeated the Cardinals 1-0. Barry Zito out-pitched Jake Westbrook in their season debuts. Zito pitched seven scoreless innings allowing three hits, three walks, all while striking out four Cardinals. San Francisco’s starters have gone 26 innings without allowing an earned run.

Notable Injuries:

San Francisco

(1B) Brandon Belt – Flu

St. Louis

(3B) David Freese – Back – 15-day DL

(SS) Rafael Furcal – Elbow – 15-day DL

(CP) Jason Motte – Elbow – 15-day DL

TWO BIG NAME PROGRAMS FACE OFF IN FINAL FOUR: MICHIGAN VS. SYRACUSE

by ANDY MORRISSEY

When: Saturday, April 6^th, 8:49 PM

Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Line: Michigan -2

Line Movement

Matchup: The two 4 seeds come in hot off of big wins as Michigan destroyed Florida in the Elite 8 and Syracuse held Marquette to 39 points as the Orange’s 2-3 zone continues to cause struggles for opposing teams. Michigan is 4-0 ATS in the tournament so far, while Syracuse is 3-1 ATS the past 4 games. Michigan likes to play fast break basketball and push the tempo, and shoot 3’s in transition, while Syracuse makes teams use the entire shot clock as they sit in their zone. Contrasting styles will lead to a great final four matchup.

Why Syracuse Covers: The Orange are playing great basketball at the right time, as they look to continue their tournament run with a spot in the National Championship game Monday. They are led by their stellar sophomore point guard Michael Carter-Williams who leads the 2-3 zone with his 6-6 frame and long wingspan. He averages 12.1 points per game and also averages 7.4 assists per game.  Shooters C.J Fair and James Southerland can be deadly if left open from 3 point territory. Fair is the team’s leading scorer with 14.4 points per game and he shoots 50% from 3- point land, while Southerland averages 13.9 points per game and shoots 41.6% from downtown. If the Orange continue to play strong defense and hit their open shots look for them to not only cover the 2 point spread but win the game straight up.

Why Michigan Covers: Michigan is led by their stud point guard and National Player of the Year Trey Burke, he had the biggest shot in the tournament against Kansas which sent the game to overtime where the Wolverines came back and won. He averages 18.8 points per game and 6.8 assists per game and only 2.2 turnovers per game. The wolverines go as he go and look for him to have another big game as he seems to perform better on the national stage. Freshman Mitch McGary has been stellar this tournament and is a hard worker both on defense and on the glass. He can cause matchup issues in the middle of the zone and has the opportunity to get a lot of second chance points against Syracuse’s zone. He has really come on in the tournament and look for his run of good play to continue. The X-factor in this game will be freshman Nik Stauskas he is a shooter and can make Syracuse pay for playing zone. He went 6 for 6 from behind the 3 point line against Florida and he shoots 45% from beyond the arc and will have open looks on Saturday. With Burke penetrating the zone and kicking out to Stauskas for 3 point looks and McGary cleaning up the misses and long rebounds the Wolverines have a good shot of beating Syracuse and their zone defense.

Prediction: Michigan -2. Michigan has the perfect formula for beating Syracuse’s 2-3 zone which has given teams headaches all tournament long. Burke can penetrate the zone and feed McGary in the paint or find open shooters who can knock down open 3’s. Michigan likes to run and could easily beat Syracuse’s zone down the floor and have fast break points. Michigan will dictate the tempo and pace of the game and will be in control of the game. The Wolverines will easily cover the 2 point spread and play in the title game on Monday.

Sources: ESPN, Covers

PLAYOFF PUSH: LAKERS HOST GRIZZLIES ON FRIDAY

by TYLER WOGALTER

Line: Lakers -2.5, Total: 191.5

Last Meeting: The Grizzlies defeated the Lakers 106-93 in Memphis on 1/23/13

Matchup

With only seven games left in their season, the Los Angeles Lakers can see the postseason in sight. But they will need to win games down the stretch, including Friday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies at 10:30 ET in Los Angeles. With a half-game lead over the Utah Jazz for the final spot in the Western Conference playoffs, the Lakers must continue securing victories to keep their season alive. Their journey will be difficult, especially on Friday against a Memphis team currently riding a four-game winning streak. The Grizzlies have been dominant all season and will look to take a wave of momentum with them into the playoffs.

The Grizzlies have secured their spot in the postseason and are seeded 5^th in the Western Conference. Because the other Los Angeles basketball team won their division, the only way for Memphis to improve their playoff standing is by finishing with more wins than Denver, which will grant them the 3 seed. The Lakers have a half-game lead over the Jazz for the 8^th seed and trail the 7^th seeded Houston rockets by 3 games.

Betting Information

The Lakers are 39-36 straight up and 31-44 against the spread on the season. At home, Los Angeles is 24-12 SU and 17-19 ATS. Against the total, the Lakers are 40-34 Over and are averaging 102.3 PPG.

Memphis has a record of 51-24 SU and 42-32 ATS. While playing on the road, the Grizzlies are 21-16 SU and 22-15 ATS. Against the total, Memphis is 42-32 Under on the year and are putting up 93.8 PPG.

Injuries

Lakers point guard Steve Nash is listed as doubtful for Friday’s game with a hamstring injury. Nash missed the Lakers previous game on Tuesday and is not likely to play against Memphis. Los Angeles will miss Nash and his 12.7 PPG and 6.7 APG if the two-time MVP is unable to suit up.

What to watch for

One major difference between these teams is how many points they allow per game. While the Grizzlies lead the league in points allowed with 89.8 PPG, the Lakers rank 24^thand average 101.3 PPG to opponents. Pay attention to Memphis’ incredible defense, which will be on display in LA on Friday.

Kobe Bryant has played well beyond his years recently, notching a triple-double and scoring over 30 points three different times over the Lakers past five games. Watch for the Black Mamba to take over this game on Friday and light up the Grizzlies for 30.

If Steve Nash is out of service, look for Grizzlies point guard Michael Conley to be seen throughout this one. Conley has improved his game this season, scoring more than he ever has in his career. Keep an eye on Conley and his 14.5 PPG and 6.2 APG to torch Lakers backup Steve Blake in Nash’s absence.

The pick

Although I think the Lakers will sneak their way into the postseason, I believe the outcome of this game will favor the Grizzlies. Los Angeles has been playing significantly better basketball in the second half of their season, but that won’t stop Memphis from sweeping their season series with the Lake Show. The Grizzlies big men will be too much for the Lakers to handle, adding another defeat to the Lakers loss column and another thousand discussions of whether Kobe, Dwight, Steve and Pau will be playing ball after the regular season has commenced on April 17th. I like the Grizzlies to handle the aging Lakers on the road, 104-96.

Source: ESPN

A NEW MLB SEASON IS UPON US: CUBS VS. PIRATES

by MICHAELANGELO MILLER

Line Breakdown

The Chicago Cubs are 1-0 against the spread, going 1-0 Under. The Pittsburg Pirates are 0-1 ATS and are 1-0 Under.

Injuries

The Cubs have placed these players on the 15-day disabled list:

Matt Garza (P) – Side injury

Darwin Barney (2B) – Knee injury

Ian Stewart (3B) – Quad injury

The Pirates have placed these players on the 15-day disabled list:

Brandon Inge (3B) – Shoulder injury

Charlie Morton (P) – Elbow injury

Francisco Liriano (P) – Arm injury

Jeff Karstens (P) – Shoulder injury

Match-Up

The new MLB season is upon us and teams are eager to start their journey towards the Fall Classic, also known as the World Series. In their first match-up of the season, the Cubs beat the Pirates 3-1, behind a stellar performance by pitcher Jeff Samardzija. Due to injuries to starting pitchers Matt Garza and Scott Baker, Samardzija stepped in as starter allowing just two hits through 8 innings and striking out 9 players. This gave the Cubs their fist opening day win in four years. The Cubs are one of baseball’s most beloved teams and the fans must be happy to see them start the season off on the right foot.  Samardzija is now 4-0 all time against the Pirates in his short career. The Pirates faced troubles with Samardzija all afternoon as he kept them at bay with his two-seam fastball and changeup. The just couldn’t get the handle of his combinations and they were left unbalanced the whole game. They only managed two balls out of the infield the whole time Samardzija was pitching. They didn’t even score until the last inning when Alvarez (3B) singled to center and McCutchen (CF) ran it home for the Pirates but that was about the only bright spot for the team. Pirates’ pitcher, A.J. Burnett, didn’t fair too well in his season debut ending with a 4.76 earned run average, allowing 6 hits. The Pirates will look to turn things around quickly as this was but the first of a three game series. They still have plenty of time to get things on the right track and come out on top of the overall match-up.

The Cubs, as a team, have a .182 batting average with a .333 slugging percentage. The Pirates have a .097 BA with a .129 SLG.

Sources: ESPN

FOR ALL THE MARBLES: MAVERICKS VS. LAKERS

by DAVID THE MAVEN CHICOTSKY

It’s the end of the season and these final games will determine who ends up in the playoffs and who will be watching it from their couch at home.

TRACK LINE MOVEMENT – Opening line: Lakers -3, Total: 207

With Dirk Nowitzki playing well, the Mavs have made a run for it. They’ve won 4 out of their last 5 games straight up (2-3 ATS) and are now 1.5 games back from the Lakers (and the Jazz have slipped ahead of the Lakers by a half game) who are vying for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, the 8th seed.

The Lakers have been a team scrambling to play well all year and now is no exception. They’ve only won 2 out of their last 6 games straight up, absolutely pounding bettors by only covering once during that stretch. The Lakers have Gasol and Blake back in the lineup, but their newest concern stems from a bone spur in Kobe’s left foot.

Pre-game Injury Report for both teams

Typically in the NBA, the home team will gain a 3 point advantage as it relates to the spread. In this game with the Lakers favored by 3 points at home, it’s the linesmakers’ way of saying that these teams are evenly matched.

These two teams have met three times this year, with the Mavs winning and covering the first game and the Lakers winning and covering both the 2nd and 3rd game. This game, both teams are coming off a day of rest. It’s the beginning of a 2-game homestand for the Lakers and the beginning of a 4-game roadtrip for the Mavs. This is one of the biggest games of the year for both teams; expect a hard-fought game worth watching.

Sources: Bleacher Report, Medicine Net

BEST IN THE WEST: LOB CITY TRAVELS TO SAN ANTONIO

by TYLER WOGALTER

Last Meeting: The Spurs defeated the Clippers 116-90 in Los Angeles on 2/21/13

Check out Line Information for this game

Two of the best teams in basketball face off in San Antonio as the Los Angeles Clippers battle the Spurs on Friday at 8:30 ET. The Spurs have won five of their last six games and sit atop the Western Conference. With only 11 games to play in the regular season, San Antonio appears to be the favorites to enjoy home court advantage throughout the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Clippers have won three of their last four and have continued scoring the rock with ease. The Clips are firing on all cylinders and look ready to make a splash in the playoffs.

San Antonio is the best team in the Western Conference, and occupies the top seed in the current playoff picture. With a 1 ½ game lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Spurs are the team to beat in the West. The Clippers are currently the 3^rd seed in the West, and trail the 2^nd seeded OKC Thunder by 4 games. The Clips only have a half game lead over the 4^thseeded Denver Nuggets and will need to keep winning ball games if they want to keep their spot in the playoff picture.

Betting Information

The Spurs are 54-17 straight up and 37-32 against the spread on the season. At home, San Antonio is 31-4 SU and 18-15 ATS. Against the total, the Spurs are 39-31 Under and are averaging 104.3 PPG, which is 4th best in the league.

Los Angeles has a record of 49-23 SU and 39-32 ATS. While playing on the road, the Clippers are 21-15 SU and 18-18 ATS. Against the total, Lob City is 39-33 Over on the year and are putting up 100.9 PPG.

Injuries

After missing three games with an injured groin, Clippers guard Chauncey Billups re-aggravated his injury on Wednesday against the Rockets. Billups is listed as day-to-day, but is not expected to play on Friday. The 2004 Finals MVP is averaging 8.2 PPG on the year.

What to watch for

Look for solid ball movement and quick, crisp passes for both teams, as this game features two of the top five teams in assists per game. The Spurs lead the league in assists with 25.1 APG, while the Clippers are averaging 23.5 APG, good for 4^th in the NBA.

Tim Duncan is proving that age is nothing but a number. The 36-year-old veteran has played phenomenal during the Spurs past six games, notching a double-double in five of the contests and averaging 23.6 PPG and 13.5 RPG over that stretch. Watch for Duncan to grab another double-double in this one.

A major reason for the success of the Clippers this season has been the play of Jamal Crawford. Believed by many to be the favorite for the Sixth Man of the Year Award, Crawford has contributed greatly to the winning ways of the Clips this season. Watch for Crawford and his 16.7 PPG to make an impact on Friday.

The pick

With Tim Duncan playing beyond his age, a healthy Tony Parker and Gregg Popovich leading his team into the postseason, it will be a difficult task for Lob City to come into San Antonio and knock off the Spurs. Losing this one will be only the fifth loss at the AT&T Center this season, but I don’t believe that it will happen. This will be a high-flying, fast paced game, but San Antonio will pull away late and take this one, 115-107.

Source: ESPN

DAILY FREE PICK: LAKERS VS. BUCKS

by ODDSFATHER STAFF

Both teams have been getting killed on the court and have been punishing bettors as a consequence. The Bucks are in the playoffs, having all but locked up the 8-seed in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Lakers are treading on thin ice as they have the Mavericks and Jazz nipping at their heels.

The news going into this game is the season ending knee injury to Metta World Peace. With Pau Gasol and Steve Blake back on the court, they still have weapons to compliment Kobe, Superman and Nash. With World Peace out for the count, the average square bettor isn’t going to want to touch the Lakers with a 10-foot pole. That’s our cue to take a closer look at the Lakers’ side.

Free Pick: Lakers +1

GOING FOR 28 STRAIGHT WINS: HEAT VS. BULLS

by DAVID THE MAVEN CHICOTSKY

All eyes are on the Heat as they need 6 more wins to break the longest winning streak in NBA history; they look to take down the Bulls on Wednesday 8:05 PM EDT on ESPN.

During their 27 game winning streak the Heat have gone 16-11 against the spread, putting extra coin in the pocket of bettors. They’re coming off back-to-back games in which they covered. The Heat face a Bulls team that has gone 3-4 straight up and 3-3-1 against the spread in their last 7 games.

The Oddsfather’s Injury Report

Even if the Bulls had their star Derrick Rose on the court, they still would be big dogs against a Heat team with momentum in their sails.

Keep in mind that Dwyane Wade has sat out the past two games, which didn’t stop the Heat from wiping the floor with the Charlotte Bobcats and Orlando Magic.

During the 27 game win-streak LeBron James has been the stone-cold nuts, putting up 27 points (57.5% from the field and 37.4% from 3-pointland), 8.1 rebounds, 8 assists, 1.9 steals and 1 block per game. Go ahead and make room on the mantle for his second straight NBA MVP award.

Track Line Movement for this game.

The Bulls are definitely rivals with the Heat, as they’ve been a thorn in their side in the past. Two of the biggest market teams will clash in what will be a display of defensive intensity (Bulls) and all-around basketball excellence (Heat).

In the first time these two teams met this year the Bulls won and covered on the road in Miami, 96-89 – in a game where the Heat were favored by 7 points and the total was set at 189 points. The second matchup had the Heat winning and covering in Chicago 86-67 – the Heat were favored by 3 points and the total was 186 points.

Betting Information

The Heat are 56-14 straight up, 37-33 against the spread and 34-34-2 against the total. They’re 24-11 SU, 19-16 ATS and 19-15-1 Under on the road. The Over has hit in 3 out of the last 4 Heat road games.

The Bulls are 38-30 SU, 28-37-3 ATS and 39-29 Under on the year. At home they’re 19-16 SU, 10-24-1 ATS and 24-11 Under. The Under has hit in 3 out of the last 4 Bulls home games.

Source: Bleacher Report

NIT SHOWDOWN: #2 MARYLAND VS. #1 ALABAMA

by JEFF ALLEN

ACC/SEC conference bragging rights are on the line as Maryland and Alabama meet in the NIT on Tuesday.

Check out Line Movement for this game.

Alabama is coming off a game where beat defending champion #4 Stanford 66-54 on Saturday – in large part due to their smothering defense. Alongside their tough defense, they controlled the pace of the game, pulling as far as 15 points ahead at one point. The key to the Alabama-Stanford game was how often and how well Alabama shot from the free throw line: 22 of 26 compared to Stanford’s 8 of 9.

Maryland shot down Denver last Thursday 65-52, ending the game on a 23-4 run. Maryland had the shooting advantage, shooting 5.8 percent better than Denver. Sophomore wingman Dez Wells had a great game, putting up 19 points. Despite going 3-7 on the road this year, Maryland lost several big games in overtime that they very likely could of won (against Florida State, Virginia and #5 Miami). The Terps were also 3-2 when playing at a neutral site – losing to both Kentucky and North Carolina by only 3 points.

Betting Information

Maryland is 23-12 straight up, 15-11-2 against the spread and 9-7 Over on the year. Alabama is 22-12 SU, 15-15 against the total and 16-4 Under on the year.

Extra Game Details

The Kiplinger Out-of-State Ranking has Maryland ranked much higher than Alabama (#6 vs. #89)

Maryland has recruited 14 McDonald’s All-Americans out of high school compared to 10 by Alabama.

Maryland has more experienced players than Alabama (15,018 minutes played vs. 13,094 minutes played).

Maryland’s rebounding leader (Alex Len, 255 rebounds) has more rebounds than Alabama’s (Rodney Cooper, 142 rebounds).

The Oddsfather’s Injury Report

Source: Sports Chat Place, Bleacher Report

THE MAVERICKS NEED WINS TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS: CLIPPERS VS. MAVERICKS

by DAVID THE MAVEN CHICOTSKY

With 12 games left in the regular season, the Mavericks are a couple games back from the 8-spot. They’ll need a win against the Clippers to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Track Line Movement for this game

About the Mavericks:

The Mavs are coming off a win in which they failed to cover against the Utah Jazz. Veteran guard Mike James led the team to victory behind his 7-10 shooting from the field, 3-4 shooting from behind the 3-point arc, 5 assists and 3 rebounds. The Mavericks bench put up an impressive 45 points, led by Vince Carter who had 15 points in 21 minutes. The Mavs have won 3 out of their last 4 games, going 2-2 against the spread. They’re coming off back-to-back home wins (1-1 ATS). With the 8-seed in the Western Conference still up for grabs, look for the Mavs to lay it all on the line for a win. All eyes in Mavs country are on the Lakers as they currently hold the 8-seed. The hate for the Lakers comes all the way from the top of the Mavs’ organization, Mark Cuban. For the sake of the Mavs, they’ll need the Lakers to continue to stumble.

About the Clippers:

The Clippers are coming off a game in which they beat the Nets 101-95 in a game where they were favored by 8 points. Chris Paul had a huge game, scoring 29 points behind 8-16 shooting from the field  – with 11 assists on the night. They’ve won 3 out of their last 4 games, despite punishing bettors by going 1-2-1 during this stretch. With their playoff spot comfortably locked-up, the Clippers don’t have a ton of extra motivation in this game. They’re a solid team that’s stacked with talent – with the luxury of having such a strong bench (see Jamal Crawford just to start).

Betting Information:

The Clippers are 48-22 straight up, 38-31-1 against the spread and 36-34 Over on the year. On the road they are 20-14 SU, 17-17 ATS and 18-16 Under.

The Mavs are 34-36 SU, 41-29 ATS and 42-28 Over on the year. At home they’re 20-14 SU, 18-16 ATS and 21-13 Over.

Click HERE for the Oddsfather’s injury report.

Sources: USA Today, ESPN

DAILY FREE PICK: 76ERS VS. JAZZ

by ODDSFATHER STAFF

The 76ers will be wrapping up the 4th and final leg of their road trip – they just finished beating and covering against the Kings 117-103 in a game in which they were 3 point dogs.

The Jazz are finished with their 3 game road trip in which they lost all 3, but covered in them all. It looked like they had a chance to win last night against the Mavericks, but slowly let the game get out of site – ultimately losing 113-108.

Neither team has had a day off to rest their legs, that’s one reason the total is set so low at 192 (opened at 191).

Track LINE MOVEMENT for this game.

The 76ers have covered in back-to-back road games, while the Jazz failed to cover in their last home game against the Knicks.

Free Pick: 76ers +7

BIGGER IN TEXAS: SPURS AND ROCKETS DUEL ON SUNDAY

by TYLER WOGALTER

Line: Spurs -1, Total: 213.5

Last Meeting: The Spurs defeated the Rockets 122-116 in San Antonio on 12/28/12

Matchup
The two best teams in Texas will have a Sunday showdown in Houston, as the San Antonio Spurs take on the Rockets at 7:00 ET. The Spurs are the best team in the Western Conference and are currently on a four-game winning streak. San Antonio will enjoy the services of Tony Parker, who suited up for the first time in 8 games on Friday in a win against the Jazz. Meanwhile, the Rockets have won four of their last five and continue to score the basketball with ease. Houston will need to continue winning games if they want to make the playoffs. The San Antonio Spurs have the best record in the West, providing them with home court advantage throughout the playoffs. With a 2 ½ game lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Spurs look to be the favorites to come out of the West and make the Finals. Houston currently finds themselves the 7-seed in the West and have a 2 ½ game lead over the Lakers for the last spot in the postseason. The Rockets are only a half game back from the 6th seed and the Golden State Warriors.

Betting Information
The Rockets are 38-31 straight up and 36-32 against the spread on the season. At home, Houston is 24-10 SU and 21-13 ATS. Against the total, the Rockets are 35-34 Over and are averaging 106.5 PPG, which is the best in the league. San Antonio has a record of 53-16 SU and 37-30 ATS. While playing on the road, the Spurs are 23-12 SU and 19-16 ATS. Against the total, San Antonio is 38-31 Under on the year and are putting up 104.4 PPG.

After missing a few weeks due to an injured thumb, Rockets rookie Terrence Jones is ready to play, but not for Houston. The Rockets sent the recovering Jones to play for Rio Grande Valley of the NBA’s D-League. Jones is averaging 3.1 PPG.

What to watch for
Expect a high final score and for the total to go over, as both the Rockets and Spurs are among the top five teams in the league in scoring. Houston is scoring more than any other team, while the Spurs are the 4th highest scoring team this season.

A major reason for the Spurs four-game winning streak has been the play of future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan. In each of his past four games, Duncan has procured a double-double and is averaging 25.5 PPG and 15 RPG over that stretch. Watch for Duncan to continue his dominance in Houston. If the Rockets want to win this game, they will need a quality night from Omer Asik. The Houston center is averaging 10.2 PPG and 11.7 RPG on the year, and is a vital peg in the success of the Rockets. Watch for Asik to come up big and grab a double-double in this one.

The pick
If Houston isn’t careful, this game could be a potential first round playoff matchup that does not benefit the Rockets due to San Antonio’s relentless ability to win. However, the Rockets been playing great basketball, especially inside the Toyota Center, which is why they will win this contest. While the Spurs should be able to keep up with the pace of scoring, I believe the Rockets will begin to pull away late and come away with a close victory, 119-115.

Source: ESPN

BEST IN THE WEST SPURS HOST STRUGGLING JAZZ ON FRIDAY

by TYLER WOGALTER

Last Meeting: The Jazz defeated the Spurs 99-96 in Utah on 12/12/12

Line: Spurs -11.5, Total: 199

Matchup

The dominant San Antonio Spurs will host the sluggish Utah Jazz on Friday at 8:30 ET. Aside from the Miami Heat, no team has played better basketball this season than the Spurs. Even with the loss of Tony Parker for the past 8 games due to an ankle injury, the Spurs have continued to prove their dominance as the best team in the West. Going 6 for 8 without Parker, the Spurs are also in the middle of a three game winning streak. Meanwhile, the Jazz have lost 10 of the previous 13 contests and find themselves on a two game skid. With only 14 games to play in the regular season, the Jazz will need to win a majority of their matches down the stretch if they want to play ball in the postseason.

The best record in the Western Conference comes with perks, such as home court advantage throughout the playoffs. The Spurs are currently sitting in the top seed in the West, have a 2 ½ game lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder and have the comfort of knowing that any series must go through the AT&T Center. Utah, who were in the playoff picture as recently as last month, are on the outside looking in. The Jazz are 1 ½ games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the 8^th and final spot in the West.

Betting Information

The Spurs are 52-16 straight up and 37-29 against the spread on the season. At home, San Antonio is 29-4 SU and 18-13 ATS. Against the total, the Spurs are 37-30 Under and are averaging 104.5 PPG, which is 4^th best in the league.

Utah has a record of 34-34 SU and 33-34 ATS. While playing on the road, the Jazz are 10-25 SU and 13-21 ATS. Against the total, Utah is 36-31 Under on the year and are putting up 97.8 PPG.

Injuries

After missing 8 games, Tony Parker is listed as possible, but unlikely for Friday’s game. The Spurs All-Star point guard practiced in 5-on-5 drills and could be able to suit up against the Jazz. Parker is averaging 21 PPG and 7.6 APG on the year.

What to watch for

No team is better at finding open teammates this year than the Spurs. San Antonio leads the league in assists, averaging 25.3 APG. Look for the Spurs to spread the ball around, even if their best point guard is forced to sit another game.

While his team may have caught a case of the slumps, Al Jefferson hasn’t let the Jazz’s recent woes stop him from balling. Jefferson is leading his team in both points and rebounds and has gotten a double-double in 3 of his past 5 games. Look for Jefferson and his 17.3 PPG and 9.2 RPG to make an impact in this one.

By securing 3 rebounds on Friday, Tim Duncan will leap frog Shaquille O’Neal for 13^th all-time in career rebounds with 13,100 boards. Watch for Duncan to keep moving up the career rebounding list on Friday, as well as score his usual 17.2 PPG and 9.9 RPG.

The pick

Even though the Jazz got the better of the Spurs the last time they played, the result of this one will be completely different. Utah has lost 7 straight road games, while the Spurs have won 4 consecutive home contests. San Antonio is a veteran team on a mission and will continue their pursuit of the top spot in the West with a win on Friday, 111-96.

Source: ESPN