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

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

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

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

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

NBA CAPSULES – EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE NBA

by JEFF ALLEN SPORTS

CLEVELAND (AP) – LeBron James scored 25 points as the Miami Heat overcame a 27-point deficit in the third quarter and won their 24th straight game, 98-95 over the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night to extend the second-longest winning streak in NBA history.

The Heat are within nine games of matching the record of 33 consecutive wins held by the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers.

James and his teammates have insisted the record isn’t one of their goals, and for more than 30 minutes the defending champions seemed disinterested and on the verge of losing for the first time since Feb. 1. Miami trailed 67-40 with 7:44 left in the third quarter.

But behind the irrepressible James, who added 12 rebounds and 10 assists, the Heat inched closer to history by matching the biggest comeback in the NBA this season, according to STATS.

James had 14 points in the fourth as Miami completed its second straight comeback. The Heat rallied from 17 down – 13 in the fourth quarter – to beat Boston 105-103 Monday night and snap a tie with the 2007-08 Houston Rockets for the second-longest winning streak in NBA history.

Although the Cavs were missing All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters and Anderson Varejao – their top three scorers – they pushed Miami to the limit.

It wasn’t until James, playing his fourth game back in Cleveland since leaving as a free agent in 2010, made two free throws with 4.7 seconds left that Miami could relax a little. The Cavs had one last chance to tie it, but C.J. Miles was long with a 3-pointer in the final second, letting Miami off the hook.

GRIZZLIES 90, THUNDER 89, OT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Marc Gasol tipped in Zach Randolph’s miss with less than a second left in overtime, lifting the Grizzlies to the win.

In a game that had all the intensity of a playoff matchup, Jerryd Bayless connected from the top of the key for Memphis with 3.7 seconds left in regulation to tie it at 83. Bayless had 10 points in the fourth quarter.

After Gasol’s tip over Kevin Durant put the Grizzlies ahead, Russell Westbrook’s desperation shot from past halfcourt was off the mark and Memphis walked away with its 16th victory in 19 games.

Mike Conley led the Grizzlies with 24 points and Bayless had 20.

Durant led the Thunder with 32 points, including 15 in the third quarter.

KNICKS 106, MAGIC 94

NEW YORK (AP) – Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points to lead New York over Orlando after missing the previous three games with a knee injury.

J.R. Smith had 22 points for New York, still short-handed in the frontcourt but looking much better with Anthony back. The NBA’s second-leading scorer hadn’t played since leaving the Knicks’ road trip last week to have fluid drained from the back of his right knee.

He said he felt much better after the morning shootaround and moved much better, shooting 7 of 14 and grabbing eight rebounds.

The Knicks shot 53 percent and won their second straight after dropping the first four games of their five-game trip. All-Star center Tyson Chandler is expected to miss about a week with a bulging disk, and reserve forwards Amare Stoudemire, Rasheed Wallace and Kurt Thomas all could miss the rest of the regular season. But New York had no trouble despite using a small lineup that featured 6-foot-9 Kenyon Martin as the center.

Tobias Harris and Andrew Nicholson each scored 14 points for the Magic in their fifth straight loss. They played without center Nikola Vucevic because of an illness in the second night of a difficult back-to-back, after losing by 22 at Indiana on Tuesday.

New York beat Orlando for the sixth straight time and swept the season series for the first time since 1997-98.

HAWKS 98, BUCKS 90

ATLANTA (AP) – Jeff Teague scored 27 points and Al Horford had 26, taking control after a sluggish first quarter to lead Atlanta past Milwaukee.

Teague scored 11 points in the second quarter and a dozen more in the third as the Hawks pushed out to a 77-59 lead. Horford scored 10 points in the final period and finished with 15 rebounds, stepping up to help the Hawks hold off a Milwaukee comeback.

Led by Brandon Jennings with 21 points, the Bucks closed to 94-90. But Jennings missed a free throw that could have made it a one-possession game, then came up short on a tough jumper with Teague in his face. Josh Smith clinched it by making two free throws with 27.9 seconds left.

Smith also had a double-double, scoring just 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting but helping out with a season-high 16 rebounds. Devin Harris added 15 points.

BOBCATS 107, RAPTORS 101

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Byron Mullens scored 25 points, Gerald Henderson had another solid all-around game and Charlotte beat Toronto to win consecutive games for the first time since mid-November.

Mullens scored 12 points in the fourth quarter. The reserve made his final eight free throws, including four with less than 13 seconds to go as Charlotte won its third straight at home.

Henderson scored 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting and added seven rebounds and five assists, continuing the best stretch of his four-year NBA career. He has scored at least 20 points in five of the last seven games.

Rudy Gay had 25 points and DeMar DeRozan added 19 points for the Raptors, who have lost seven of their last eight in Charlotte and fell to 9-25 on the road.

Ben Gordon finished with 16 points for the Bobcats and Josh McRoberts had 12 points and 12 rebounds.

NETS 113, MAVERICKS 96

DALLAS (AP) – Brook Lopez led Brooklyn with 38 points and Deron Williams had 31 in his first visit to Dallas since spurning his hometown team in free agency.

Williams scored 26 in the second half, repeatedly hitting shots and occasionally assisting on a basket by Lopez to prevent a Dallas rally in the fourth quarter.

Williams also hit a fadeaway jumper after a blocked shot by Lopez, running to his bench with a big smile after Dallas called timeout with the Nets up 97-88 midway through the fourth. The Mavericks didn’t get closer than six after that.

Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 16 points and had a team-high six rebounds, compared to 22 boards for Reggie Evans of the Nets, who outrebounded the Mavericks 45-34.

HORNETS 87, CELTICS 86

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Anthony Davis outreached Kevin Garnett and Jeff Green for a last-second tip-in, and the Hornets snapped a four-game skid.

Davis, who missed the morning shootaround with an illness, finished with nine points and eight rebounds. Ryan Anderson scored 21 points and Eric Gordon had 18 for the Hornets.

Paul Pierce scored 11 of his 28 points in the last six minutes to nearly lead Boston back from a nine-point deficit, but missed a jumper with 16 seconds left that could have put the Celtics up by three.

Garnett, returning from a two-game absence caused by a left thigh injury and the flu, had 20 points – not quite enough to prevent a second straight loss.

SPURS 104, WARRIORS 93

SAN ANTONIO (AP) – Tim Duncan had 25 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and four blocks, leading San Antonio to the win.

Tiago Splitter added 17 points, Manu Ginobili had 16 points and seven assists and fellow reserve Nando De Colo had 10 points for San Antonio (52-16), which is second to Miami (53-14) for the league’s best record.

Stephen Curry had 24 points for Golden State (39-31), which remains sixth in the West. Harrison Barnes added 13 points, Jarrett Jack had 14, David Lee finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Duncan was 11 for 17 from the field. It was his 13th game of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds this season.

ROCKETS 100, JAZZ 93

HOUSTON (AP) – James Harden scored 29 points to help Houston improved its positioning in the Western Conference playoff race.

Jeremy Lin added 24 for the Rockets, who currently hold the No. 7 spot in the West. They lead the idle Los Angeles Lakers by 1 1/2 games and are three ahead of the sliding Jazz.

The Rockets led by 19 points after three quarters and withstood a late surge by the Jazz to hold on for the victory.

Utah has lost 10 of its last 13 games. Gordon Hayward led the Jazz with 27 points and Al Jefferson added 18 points and 11 rebounds.

NBA DISS: BULLS (32-23) VS. THUNDER (40-15)

by LUCAS COMBS

When: Sunday, February 24th, 2013 at 630PM PT
Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City
Line: -8.5 Thunder
Total: 196

Line Movement

Last Meeting: November 8th – The Thunder defeated the Bulls in Chicago, 97-91.

The Match-Up

The Chicago Bulls travel to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder Sunday evening. Both teams got much needed victories Friday after stretches of poor play. The Bulls routed the Charlotte Bobcats, 105-75, after losing 3 of 4 and the Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 127-111 after losing 3 straight. Chicago moved the ball astoundingly well in the victory over the Bobcats, amassing 37 assists on 42 made baskets. The Thunder received 35 points and 9 dimes from Russel Westbrook in the victory over Minnesota.

Betting Information

Despite not having a stellar record overall against the spread, the Chicago Bulls have been a good road team to bet on, going 17-9 ATS in road games (24-30 ATS overall). The Oklahoma City Thunder are 32-21 ATS overall (19-9 ATS at home).

Chicago is just 6-14 ATS versus non-conference opponents and 1-4 ATS versus Northwest Division opponents.

Concerning the total, Chicago has a tendency to play in lower scoring games than anticipated (32-23 Under), but on the road, the Bulls are 15-12 Over in road games. Oklahoma City tends to play in higher scoring games than anticipated and are 29-24 Over overall (17-10 Over at home).

The Thunder are 7-2 Over in their last 9 contests.

Brotherly Diss

Derrick Rose’s brother isn’t happy about Chicago not making any moves before the trade deadline. Reggie Rose told ESPN Chicago that he doesn’t think the Bulls’ organization has done enough to ensure Chicago will be a contender.

“What have you pieced together? Have you made any moves? Have you made any trades to get better? You know all roads to the championship lead through Miami,” he told ESPN Chicago. “What pieces have you put together for the physical playoffs? Joakim Noah is a great player. Luol Deng is a great player. But you need more than that. You have to put together pieces to your main piece. The players can only do so much. It’s up to the organization to make them better.”

So, let’s get this straight. The Chicago Bulls, who are 9 games above .500 and fifth in the Eastern Conference without their best player haven’t done enough to become a contender? Right. Does Mr. Derrick Rose’s brother realize what Chicago has accomplished without his brother?

Perhaps, we should wait until his brother returns from injury to pass judgement. Who knows, the Bulls might just be that much better.

Injury Report

Source: USA TODAY