Friday 1/29/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[superbeets]

German Bundesliga TODAY 19:30

Mainz

v

Mgladbach

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BTEU		17/10	12/5	8/5	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT MAINZ	RECENT FORM
ADHWAWHDALAL​ Most recent​	2 - 2 0 - 0 2 - 4 0 - 3	HWALALHLHWHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Gladbach have lost one of their last seven domestic away games

EXPERT VERDICT: Borussia Monchengladbach resumed after the winter break with a 3-1 loss at home to title-chasing Borussia Dortmund but they remain in fourth place and can cement their position this weekend. They travel to mid-table Mainz, who have lost their last two matches and have failed to score in their last three.

RECOMMENDATION: Gladbach
1

 

[superbeets]

French Ligue 1 TODAY 19:30

Marseille

v

Lille

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT2		19/20	23/10	10/3	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT MARSEILLE	RECENT FORM
AD*HDAD*AWHW*AD​ Most recent​	2 - 1 0 - 0 1 - 0 2 - 0	HDAD*ALAD*HLHW*​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Marseille are unbeaten in their last nine league games

EXPERT VERDICT: Lille stunned Bordeaux with a 5-1 demolition in the French League Cup on Tuesday but they face a Marseille team with a long unbeaten record. However, draw specialists L’OM have not won at home in the league since September and at the prices a stalemate looks the best bet.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
1

 

[superbeets]

English FA Cup TODAY 19:55

Derby

v

Man Utd

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BBC1		16/5	5/2	Evs	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT DERBY	RECENT FORM
ADALAWHDHLAL​ Most recent​	1 - 4 1 - 0 0 - 1 2 - 2	HDHWHWADAWHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Derby have not won any of their four matches against top-eight opponents this season

EXPERT VERDICT: Derby have hit a sticky patch and Monday's heavy 4-1 defeat at Burnley made it five Championship games without a win so a shock FA Cup win over Manchester United would seem unlikely. United sunk to a new low with their 1-0 home defeat to Southampton but the benefit of two extra days of preparation should see them squeak through.

RECOMMENDATION: Man Utd
1

 

[superbeets]

English FA Cup Sa 30Jan 12:45

Colchester

v

Tottenham

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT2		8	9/2	4/11	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT COLCHESTER	RECENT FORM
ALADHWHLHDAL​ Most recent​	Unknown	ADHDHLHWAWAW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Colchester have not won in 14 league games

EXPERT VERDICT: Tottenham are enjoying a fine season and while Mauricio Pochettino will almost certainly rest key players for this tie, Spurs should still breeze through. Colchester are languishing near the bottom of League One and the out-of-form hosts are likely to find it tough against Spurs’ second-string from the first whistle.

RECOMMENDATION: Tottenham-Tottenham double result
2


REFEREE: Michael Oliver STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

English FA Cup Sa 30Jan 17:30

Liverpool

v

West Ham

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT2		21/20	5/2	3	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT LIVERPOOL	RECENT FORM
ADHDHLHWAWHL*​ Most recent​	0 - 3 2 - 0 4 - 1 0 - 0	HWHWHWAWALHD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Liverpool's last six matches have produced 24 goals

EXPERT VERDICT: We have come to expect the unexpected under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, but it will be a major surprise if this FA Cup fourth-round clash lacks entertainment. West Ham have already completed a Premier League double over Liverpool this season – 3-0 at Anfield in August and 2-0 at Upton Park at the start of January - and this should be full of goals.

RECOMMENDATION: Both teams to score
3


REFEREE: Martin Atkinson STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

German Bundesliga Sa 30Jan 17:30

Stuttgart

v

Hamburg

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BTEU		19/20	13/5	14/5	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT STUTTGART	RECENT FORM
ALHDADHD*HWAW​ Most recent​	2 - 1 1 - 0 0 - 1 2 - 1	HWAWHLADHLHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Stuttgart have won seven of their last ten home games against Hamburg

EXPERT VERDICT: Lowly Stuttgart have put together back-to-back league wins and can continue to enhance their survival prospects by beating Hamburg at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. They were impressive 3-1 winners at Cologne last Saturday and have no reason to fear 11th-placed Hamburg, who have taken one point from their last four games.

RECOMMENDATION: Stuttgart
2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL notebook: Blackhawks' Toews pulls out of All-Star Game
By The Sports Xchange

Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews pulled out of the NHL All-Star game in Nashville this weekend due to illness.
Nashville Predators left winger James Neal was named to replace Toews.
NHL rules require a player named to the game who chooses not to participate to also miss the game before or after the All-Star Game. The Blackhawks announced Toews won't play on Feb. 2 against Colorado.
Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov, who is fifth in the NHL with 49 points, was named to his first All-Star Game. The 23-year-old replaces teammate Alex Ovechkin, who said Wednesday night that he is battling a lower-body injury.

---Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman apologized for cross-checking a linesman during a game Wednesday night against the Nashville Predators but was suspended for his actions a day later by the NHL.
The suspension is pending until Wideman has an in-person hearing with NHL hockey operations on Tuesday, the league said in an announcement on Thursday. The NHL is currently in its All-Star break.
Wideman said he cross-checked linesman Don Henderson unintentionally in a woozy scramble to get back to the team's bench at 11:19 of the second period. Wideman flattened Henderson with a hard shot to the upper-middle back but was not penalized for the blindside move.
If the hit is determined to be intentional, the minimum suspension would be 20 games.

---The Los Angeles Kings sent forward Kyle Clifford to the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League for a conditioning assignment, the team announced.
Clifford has three points in 26 games with the Kings this season. He has missed the past 23 with an upper-body injury.

---The Toronto Maple Leafs are loaning forward Josh Leivo to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, the club announced.
Leivo, 22, played four games for the Maple Leafs this season. He has 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in 35 games with the Marlies.

---The Washington Capitals reassigned defenseman Ryan Stanton to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, the team announced.
Stanton, 26, has four goals and 23 assists in 120 career NHL games with Washington, Vancouver and Chicago. He has seven points (two goals, five assists) in 30 games with Hershey this season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Grand Salami - January

The Grand Salami in pro hockey is decided by adding up all the goals scored in every game scheduled for that particular day. You can wager on 'over' or 'under' the Grand Salami total. The total is set by adding up all listed 'over/under' odds for each game on that particular day.

Note: The Grand Salami will have no action if any game is suspended or cancelled before the regulation time of three twenty minute periods. Also, regardless of the number of goals scored during the shoot out portion of the overtime, the final scored recorded for the game will give the winning team on more goal than its opponent based on the score at the end of regulation time.

*The majority of sportsbooks do not put out a total on the Grand Salami when there is only one game on the card. For tracking purposes, we will continue to show the 'over/under' for goals and combined goals scored on days with just one game.

NHL GRAND SALAMI
Date No. of Games Total Goals Combined Goals Scored Result
1/1 2 10.5 9 UNDER
1/2 12 61.5 63 OVER
1/3 4 21 22 OVER
1/4 5 27 17 UNDER
1/5 8 43.5 46 OVER
1/6 5 26.5 23 UNDER
1/7 7 38.5 29 UNDER
1/8 6 31.5 34 OVER
1/9 10 53 47 UNDER
1/10 6 30 32 OVER
1/11 4 20.5 22 OVER
1/12 8 42.5 45 OVER
1/13 4 21.5 20 UNDER
1/14 8 42.5 37 UNDER
1/15 6 31 31 PUSH
1/16 10 52 48 UNDER
1/17 7 35 34 UNDER
1/18 5 26.5 26 UNDER
1/19 8 42.5 50 OVER
1/20 3 15.5 10 UNDER
1/21 10 53.5 49 UNDER
1/22 6 *PPD *PPD *PPD
1/23 11 *PPD *PPD *PPD
1/24 5 *PPD *PPD *PPD
1/25 6 31 33 OVER
1/26 9 48.5 50 OVER
1/27 4 21.5 18 UNDER
1/28 No games scheduled - - -
1/29 No games scheduled - - -
1/30 No games scheduled - - -
1/31 No games scheduled - - -

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL

Hot teams
-- NHL is on its All-Star break.

Cold teams
--

Series records
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Totals
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Back-to-backs
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[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA notebook: Chase Center to be name of Warriors' new area
By The Sports Xchange

The Golden State Warriors have secured a 20-year naming-rights deal with JP Morgan Chase, the team said on Thursday.
The 18,000-seat facility will be called the Chase Center. It is scheduled to open for the 2019-20 campaign.
Financial terms weren't released by the club, but published reports pin the price at between $15-20 million annually.
"These deals don't usually come together as quickly as this one did," Warriors president Rick Welts told the Sports Business Daily. "We had commonality in terms of goals and it allowed us to progress quickly, which was unique."
The arena was originally scheduled to open one season earlier but the club is facing opposition from the Mission Bay Alliance, a group that opposes the building of the facility.

---NBA security officials interviewed Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan regarding the incident involving Blake Griffin and Matias Testi in Toronto that resulted in a broken hand for Griffin and facial injuries for Testi.
Jordan and assistant athletic trainer Joe Resendez were interviewed and the NBA plans to interview Testi and Griffin as soon as possible, the Los Angeles Times reported.
No charges were filed but coach Doc Rivers referred to the incident as a legal matter and the league could fine or suspend Griffin for his conduct. Rivers said Testi is welcomed back to the team and Griffin could be back with the club by Friday after he underwent surgery on his broken hand that will sideline him four to six weeks.

---Shaquille O'Neal will be honored with a statue outside of the home arena of the Los Angeles Lakers.
O'Neal was taken aback when he learned of the news not from the team but during an interview on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on Wednesday night.
O'Neal joined the Lakers in 1996 after starting his career with the Orlando Magic. The Lakers won the NBA championship in 2000, 2001 and 2002. O'Neal was the 1999-2000 NBA MVP and all three title runs ended with O'Neal taking Finals MVP honors.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Suns (14-33) at Knicks (22-26)

Date: January 29, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

The New York Knicks certainly miss Carmelo Anthony. They may not have to endure another absence Friday night.

With Anthony reportedly nearing a return, the banged-up Knicks attempt to capitalize on a meeting with the Phoenix Suns and send them to their longest road losing streak in three decades.

New York (22-26) is 0-6 without Anthony, dropping the last two games while he nurses soreness in his left knee.

The Knicks have allowed an average of 108.5 points - 7.2 higher than their season mark - in games without the nine-time All-Star.

Their troubles were at the line and on the boards Thursday at Toronto. New York, which was also without forward Kristaps Porzingis (upper-respiratory illness) and guard Jose Calderon (groin), was outrebounded 50-40 and converted just half of its 20 free throws in a 103-93 loss.

The Knicks lead the NBA with 80.7 percent shooting from the line.

"We didn't do enough things to win regardless of who suits up," coach Derek Fisher said. "Simple things, we missed free throws again. We've been a great free throw-shooting team all season; didn't have the focus necessary to make those free throws. Offensive rebounding again hurt us a little bit. We had our chances; we couldn't capitalize."

Having Anthony back would be a huge help as New York tries to avoid a season-high fifth consecutive loss. Anthony claimed he's feeling better and is aiming to return Friday.

It's uncertain if Porzingis and Calderon will be back.

Porzingis leads the Knicks with 7.8 rebounds per game and Anthony isn't far behind at 7.5. If the forward tandem is unable to play, New York is likely to turn to Kyle O'Quinn and Lance Thomas, who combined for 15 points and eight boards Thursday.

Without Anthony, much of the offensive burden falls on Arron Afflalo, who scored 20 points Thursday after averaging 10.7 over the three prior games. He's totaled 20 over his last two meetings with the Suns, but those came with Portland last season.

The Knicks are averaging 89.0 points during a three-game losing streak against the Suns (14-33), but Phoenix is 4-20 on the road and facing the potential of its longest slide away from home since dropping 14 in a row from Jan. 3-Feb. 17, 1984.

Their current skid - which includes surrendering 115.1 points per game - reached 12 with Wednesday's 115-93 defeat at Cleveland.

Injuries have been a major problem for Phoenix, which will reportedly be without Brandon Knight for a fifth straight game due to a left groin strain. Knight's averages of 19.7 points and 5.1 assists rank second on the team behind Eric Bledsoe's 20.4 and 6.1. Bledsoe, however, is out for the season after undergoing knee surgery last month.

"The injuries have kind of put us under the ball," coach Jeff Hornacek said.

Devin Booker has been one of the few bright spots lately for the Suns, averaging 19.8 points over the past five games. The rookie guard was averaging 8.0 points through his first 36 contests.

Tyson Chandler has 25 points and 39 rebounds in two games against the Knicks after spending three seasons with them from 2011-14. He had 14 boards and eight points in a win with Dallas in his return to Madison Square Garden on Dec. 16, 2014.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cavaliers (32-12) at Pistons (25-21)

Date: January 29, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

LeBron James took offense when reports recently surfaced that some around the game consider him to be a "coach killer."

He's certainly made new coach Tyronn Lue look good with his remarkable efficiency in the Cleveland Cavaliers' back-to-back victories.

James and the Cavaliers go for a third consecutive win under Lue as they look to avoid a second straight road loss to the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.

Though James' 23.0 points per game over the last two is below his season average, his shooting has been exceptionally accurate, going 18 of 23 in those contests. He needs 15 points to become the 17th player with 26,000.

James scored 21 and shot 7 of 8 in a 115-93 win over Phoenix on Wednesday, a day after Miami minority owner Raanan Katz said in a radio interview that James wanted Erik Spoelstra fired when he was with the Heat.

Katz later retracted his statement, but not after his comments led to further speculation that James had pushed for Cleveland's front office to fire David Blatt last week. James insists he hasn't undermined his coaches.

"I can't worry about a select group of people that want to use their negative energy to take away my positive energy," he said.

James' recent performances have re-energized a Cleveland team that shot 37.2 percent in a 96-83 home loss to Chicago in Lue's debut Saturday. The Cavs have averaged 114.5 points and 52.9 shooting in the ensuing two wins.

'I think that's the way we want to play is fun, everybody gets involved," said Lue, who will coach the Eastern Conference in the All-Star Game on Feb. 14.

Following a 3-1 homestand, Lue's club looks for its ninth win in 10 road games. Detroit, though, has given up an average of 94.5 points in its last two overall.

"If we could ever play consistently for 48 minutes, we'd have a chance to do some big things," coach Stan Van Gundy said.

Cleveland (32-15) is tied for the best road record in the Eastern Conference at 14-9 and has limited opponents to 92.4 points per game in regulation in its last nine away from home.

The Cavs, however, did not have an answer for the Pistons' Andre Drummond in a 104-99 loss Nov. 17. The center, shooting 35.5 percent from the free-throw line, had 25 points and 18 rebounds while going 4 of 5 on foul shots in the last three minutes.

Reggie Jackson took advantage of Kyrie Irving's absence, scoring 23 to go with 12 assists after Cleveland had won six of the previous seven matchups.

James scored 30 and Kevin Love added 19 for the Cavs. Love has totaled 43 points in his last two trips to Detroit (25-21), but James' 24.4 career scoring average versus the Pistons is his lowest against any East opponent.

Jackson led the way with 27 points and Drummond had 25 points and 18 boards in Wednesday's 110-97 home victory over Philadelphia. Jackson has scored 56 with seven 3-pointers in the team's back-to-back wins, while Drummond bounced back after totaling 11 points and 14 rebounds over his previous two games.

"He had his energy back and he played like a great player again," Jackson said.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Magic (20-24) at Celtics (26-21)

Date: January 29, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

While the Boston Celtics are in the midst of an impressive scoring run, a continued aggressive approach defensively has fueled their current winning streak.

The Celtics can record a season-high fifth straight victory Friday night by continuing their home dominance over the Orlando Magic, who hope to halt their January misery by avoiding an eighth consecutive defeat.

Paced by the backcourt of Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley, Boston's 104.4 scoring average is the club's highest since 1991-92 (106.6). Averaging 112.4 points in the last 10 games, the Celtics (26-21) are in position to score at least 100 in 11 straight for the first time since 1995-96.

However, the premium remains on defense where Boston has forced a league-leading 17.1 turnovers per contest and at least 20 in the last four. It hasn't accomplished that feat in five straight since February 1998.

"Really our main focus is defense," veteran forward Amir Johnson said after Wednesday's 111-103 win over Denver. "Once we get stops on defense we're able to get out and get finishes and points. Defense these last four games has been huge for us. Just lock down and stop our opponents."

Boston has 13.8 steals per game in the last four while averaging 24.8 points off turnovers. Those opponents were all held below 43 percent shooting and averaged 96.8 points after the Celtics yielded 113.3 per game in the previous four.

'We have a lot of room to improve, but when we turn it up and we're in the right position, we can be a good defensive team,' coach Brad Stevens said. 'If we don't guard, we won't win. That's a part of us playing well."

The Celtics didn't guard very well Nov. 29 in a 110-91 road loss to Orlando (20-24), which shot 48.4 percent and held a 54-34 rebounding advantage. The Magic, however, have averaged 88.7 points and shot 40.4 percent while losing nine in a row at Boston.

Orlando was a game ahead of Boston for fifth place in the Eastern Conference at the end of 2015, but the Celtics have since climbed to fifth while the Magic have fallen out of the playoff picture by going 1-11 in the new year.

The Magic made 13 of 24 3-point attempts Tuesday at Milwaukee but shot 35.7 percent inside the arc and blew a 16-point lead in a 107-100 defeat. Their season-worst losing streak reached seven after failing to hold a double-digit advantage for the third time in four games.

"It's almost like a repetitive thing, almost like a bad dream,' guard Victor Oladipo told the Magic's official website. "It's tough, but (at) the end of the day our confidence can't waver because once that happens, it's over.

"(If the team loses confidence) we might as well pack up and go home. We've just got to remain confident in ourselves and one another."

Oladipo had 18 points after finishing with five the previous night at Memphis on 1-of-10 shooting. He's averaged 10 points and shot 26.2 percent in his last three at Boston.

Nikola Vucevic has posted six straight double-doubles but is shooting 40.0 percent in that span after previously being at 52.4 percent.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Heat (25-21) at Bucks (20-28)

Date: January 29, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

An injury was a big reason why Dwyane Wade struggled against the Milwaukee Bucks last week. He seems just fine now.

Wade looks to continue his outstanding stretch by leading the Miami Heat to their first win over the Bucks in nearly two years Friday night.

Bothered by shoulder soreness, Wade matched his season low with two points while missing 5 of 6 from the field and committing five turnovers in 21 minutes of a 91-79 home loss to Milwaukee on Jan. 19.

While the guard sat out a loss at Washington the following day, the injury doesn't seem to be an issue any more. Wade is averaging 25.7 points while hitting 50.8 percent in three games since returning.

He was outstanding Tuesday, scoring 27 points with eight assists, three steals and two blocks in a 102-98 win at Brooklyn.

"The coaches and my teammates put the ball in my hand to make plays or to score the basketball," Wade said. "That's what I do."

The same could be said of Chris Bosh, who was named to his 11th All-Star Game as an Eastern Conference reserve on Thursday. The Heat's leading scorer is averaging 22.4 points over the last five games, matching Wade's 27 against the Nets while they combined to score Miami's final 14 points.

"We have to be aggressive all the time, really, no matter who is in the game," Bosh said. "The team is looking for us to be effective all the time, especially late. That's our job.

"Dwyane, he's one of the best in the world at it. He's going to get his shot and he's usually going to make it. I just try to work off of him and shoot the ball with confidence and make plays when it's time."

Bosh scored 23 points against the Bucks last week, a total equaled by Hassan Whiteside, who added 18 rebounds. The center, though, has missed three straight games with a strained oblique and seems unlikely to play.

The Heat (25-21), however, are expected to have Goran Dragic (calf) back for the first time in nine games.

"It's finally over. I have no pain and I'm ready to go," Dragic told the team's official Twitter feed.

He was averaging 17.0 points on 52.8 percent shooting - 7 of 12 from beyond the arc - over his last three games before being sidelined.

Miami's five-game losing streak to the Bucks matches its longest in the all-time series set from March 4, 2003-Feb. 29, 2004.

Milwaukee (20-28) has dropped three of the past four games, but it's won nine of 12 at home. The Bucks won a fourth straight game there Tuesday, 107-100 against Orlando. They followed two days later with another awful performance on the road, trailing by as many as 25 points before falling 103-83 to Memphis while converting 1 of 16 3s.

Khris Middleton had 15 points and missed 12 of 18 shots after he averaged 23.6 points and hit 48.0 percent from the floor over the previous seven games. One of his best all-around performances over that stretch came at Miami on Jan. 19, scoring 22 points with seven rebounds and seven assists.

Greg Monroe had 15 points and 10 boards and is averaging 21.3 points on 56.9 percent shooting in four games since.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rockets (25-23) at Thunder (35-13)

Date: January 29, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

There was a time when James Harden felt nostalgic each time the Houston Rockets visited Oklahoma City.

Not only has that feeling subsided, he's been beating up on his former team in recent matchups.

Harden looks to help the Rockets win a sixth consecutive meeting as they complete a three-game road trip Friday night against the surging Thunder.

Oklahoma City (35-13) dealt Harden to Houston the offseason after making a run to the 2012 NBA Finals, subsequently turning him into one of the league's top scorers after three seasons of mostly coming off the bench.

Harden is averaging 33.4 points during the Rockets' winning streak in the series, with four of the victories coming by five points or fewer. He scored 37 as Houston (25-23) won 110-105 at home in this season's first matchup Nov. 2.

The seven-year veteran now has spent more time with Houston than he did in Oklahoma City and simply takes these visits in stride.

"It's been four years, so the emotions aren't really there for me anymore," Harden said. "Now it's just about doing whatever it takes to get a win. They're playing well right now. It's just another game for us."

Interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff hopes they come out more prepared for this one, though. San Antonio crushed the Rockets 130-99 on Wednesday to snap Houston's three-game winning streak while holding it to 38.4 percent shooting.

The Rockets won nine of their previous 12 to move three games over .500 for the first time all season, but they couldn't recover after being outscored by 14 in the second quarter. Harden finished with 20 points and Dwight Howard had 13 in his first game back after missing the previous three with an ankle injury.

"To get to where we want to be, we have to learn a lesson in these situations," Bickerstaff said. "At the beginning of the month (after a loss at San Antonio on Jan. 2), we set a goal for ourselves to go 11-5. We still have an opportunity to reach that goal."

Houston would have to win this matchup and beat Washington on Saturday to do so, and defeating the Thunder won't come easily. Oklahoma City has won nine of 10 after Kevin Durant capped a 27-point performance with two big shots down the stretch to beat Minnesota 126-123 on Wednesday.

Russell Westbrook finished with 24 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds, his third game this season with at least 20, 15 and five. The rest of the league has two.

Durant had 44 points and 14 rebounds while Westbrook scored 30 with 10 assists in Tuesday's 128-122 overtime win over New York, the first of two consecutive efforts that the Thunder are not proud of from a defensive perspective.

It's the first time they've allowed at least 120 points in back-to-back games since 2009.

"We like to win, but at the same time know there's room for improvement on the defensive end," Westbrook said after the Thunder finished a 3-1 road trip. "We'll definitely take our victories and get back home and get to the drawing board."

Durant scored 29 points and Westbrook had 25 and 11 assists in the first meeting for the Thunder, who have won five straight and 16 of 18 at home.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nets (12-34) at Mavericks (26-22)

Date: January 29, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

Although he avoided the wrath of potentially angry Nets fans last month, Deron Williams' recent play has started to resemble that of his last two seasons in Brooklyn.

Williams is expected to face his former team for the first time when the Dallas Mavericks try to avoid their fourth loss in five games and deal the visiting Nets a 12th loss in 14 on Friday night.

After averaging a career-high 21.0 points in 2011-12 and 18.9 the following season for the Nets (12-34), Williams scored 14.3 in '13-'14 and 13.0 last season while dealing with several injuries.

The Nets opted to buy out the final two years of his $98.5 million contract before the Mavericks (26-22) quickly signed the three-time All-Star in July. Williams was out with a strained hamstring in what would have been his first game back in Brooklyn, a 119-118 Dallas overtime win Dec. 23.

"I wish things were different, I wish it would have worked out differently but I can't control that and I just move forward," he said.

Williams appeared rejuvenated in Dallas, averaging 15.4 points and 42.7 percent shooting in the first 23 games while missing only two of the first 25. His production and health have taken a dip, however, as he's averaged 12.1 points and 40.7 percent from the field in the past 17 while sitting out six times in that 23-game span.

Williams has averaged 9.0 points and 31.0 percent in his last three after scoring 12 in Wednesday's 127-107 road loss to Golden State.

The Mavs have given up 110.3 points per game in their 1-3 stretch, but they've also scored 105.5 over their last six. Chandler Parsons has led the scoring surge by averaging 25.4 points and hitting 18 of 30 from 3-point range over his past five.

"We'll just take it game by game and try to make these games back up at home," Parsons told the team's official website.

The Mavs should get a further offensive boost from Dirk Nowitzki, who scored 22 and hit the go-ahead basket with 19.2 seconds left in last month's meeting, as he'll return after getting Wednesday off.

The Mavs should be able to continue their high-scoring ways against a Brooklyn team that's allowed 107.0 points and 51.5 percent shooting during a 1-6 stretch.

After Tuesday's 102-98 loss to Miami, the Nets begin a two-game trip with the Eastern Conference's second-worst road record at 4-16.

"Just another story of not being able to finish a game," interim coach Tony Brown said at the end of a 1-3 homestand.

Thaddeus Young proved to be a difficult matchup for the Mavs in December, finishing with 29 points, 10 rebounds and four steals. Bojan Bogdanovic added 17 points and hit all five 3-point attempts as Brooklyn shot 50.5 percent and made 10 of 19 from beyond the arc.

Dallas, however, has done a decent job on Brooklyn leading scorer Brook Lopez. The center, averaging 19.6 points this season, has totaled 20 in the past two meetings.

He might be more difficult to contain if Mavericks center Zaza Pachulia misses a fourth straight game because of a sore Achilles. Guard Devin Harris is also day-to-day after missing the past two with a strained left big toe.

The Mavs have won eight of 11 at home, but are looking to avoid losing consecutive games there for the first time since a three-game skid Dec. 4-12. They've dropped the last four home meetings with the Nets.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Timberwolves (14-33) at Jazz (20-25)

Date: January 29, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

Amid their longest home stretch of the season, the Utah Jazz believe they have a good opportunity to finally string together some victories.

The Jazz can win back-to-back games for the first time in almost three weeks by handing the Minnesota Timberwolves a 10th consecutive road defeat Friday night.

Utah (20-25) is in the mix for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference despite not having won more than two straight all season and going 3-5 since last doing it Jan. 9-10. The Jazz have alternated losses and wins in the last six at home but feel Wednesday's 102-73 rout of Charlotte might be the spark needed to ignite a lengthy run.

"This is one we can build on for sure," said forward Gordon Hayward, who has averaged 25.6 points in five games.

Rodney Hood scored 24 and Derrick Favors added 12 in 20 minutes in his second game after missing 16 with a back issue as the Jazz shot 49.4 percent. They held the Hornets to 36.8 percent shooting and turned 18 forced turnovers into 20 points to avenge last week's double-overtime loss at Charlotte.

Utah, which has allowed an average of 84.7 points to win two of three, is 1-1 on a six-game home stay that features one remaining opponent (Chicago) with a winning record. And even the Bulls have struggled of late.

"We've got to take advantage of this time," Heyward said. "We've got some more chances coming up to get some good wins. We're starting to get healthy and that's definitely a good feeling."

Favors rejoining 7-foot-1 Rudy Gobert - averaging 14.8 rebounds in four home games - in the paint can only help the Jazz. Hood has continued his strong second season, averaging 23.0 points and going 16 of 30 from 3-point range in the last four contests.

"(I'm) happy to be out there, be with my teammates playing basketball again and just try to make a playoff push," Favors said.

Favors and Gobert sat when the Jazz endured their second-worst shooting effort of the season (35 percent) in a 94-80 loss at Minnesota on Dec. 30. Hood went 1 of 9 from beyond the arc and scored six points.

The Timberwolves (14-33) have dropped 13 of 15 since and are allowing averages of 110.2 points and 50.2 percent shooting during their season-high road skid. Trying to avoid losing at least 10 straight on the road for the fourth time in seven seasons, Minnesota has at least been more competitive overall of late.

It suffered an overtime defeat at Dallas, beat Memphis at home, fell by seven at Cleveland and lost 126-123 to visiting Oklahoma City on Wednesday in the last four games.

"I feel like we should be winning," said guard Zach LaVine, who had a season-high 35 points against the Thunder. "It gets annoying trying to appreciate a loss ... We've just got to keep pushing."

LaVine, Gorgui Dieng, Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns combined for 96 points as the Timberwolves shot 55.6 percent - their third-best performance of 2015-16. But Oklahoma City made 52.7 percent overall and scored 35 in the fourth quarter.

"This is a game we can live with,' Towns said. 'We've just got to finish."

Averaging 21.2 points and 12.6 boards in five games, Towns had 25 and 10 against the Jazz.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Hornets (22-24) at Trail Blazers (21-26)

Date: January 29, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

Nicolas Batum played his best basketball of the season in mid-November, including a stellar performance in a victory over his former team.

The weary Charlotte Hornets sure could use another one of those efforts now.

Batum makes his return to Portland on Friday night looking to sting the Trail Blazers again.

The Hornets (22-24) haven't had more than one day off in more than two weeks and won't again until finishing a four-game trip against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. They've had some success navigating through a condensed portion of the schedule, but that wasn't the case Wednesday, when they looked tired in a 102-73 loss at Utah.

Charlotte had won four of its previous five, with two of those victories going into double overtime and another being decided in one five-minute session. It didn't help that they again were short-handed, as Cody Zeller sat out a fourth consecutive contest with a right shoulder strain and Jeremy Lamb missed a third straight with a right toe injury.

Jeremy Lin sprained his ankle in the third quarter and didn't return. His status for this contest is unclear.

"Doesn't matter. You've got to be able to play 82 times. That's what the best teams do," coach Steve Clifford said. "The good thing is we have a game Friday, but we've got to find the energy level and spirit that we've had."

Batum returned to the starting lineup against the Jazz after missing the previous three with a toe problem and finished with six points and 10 rebounds. He's missed seven games since Jan. 2 and scored in single digits in four of the seven he's played during that span, going scoreless in another.

Those numbers are far different than what Batum put up in the first meeting with Portland (21-26) on Nov. 15, when he went 11 of 19 from the field and scored a season-high 33 points in a 106-94 victory.

It marked Batum's first game against his former team after he was traded to Charlotte for Gerald Henderson and Noah Vonleh in June. The Hornets are hoping Batum can provide another spark after shooting just 36.8 percent against the Jazz and tying their season high with 20 turnovers.

"We've just got to regroup," said Kemba Walker, who is averaging 29.7 points over his last six. "This is the NBA, high-intensity games. We'll be all right."

The Blazers are 2-1 to begin a seven-game, 17-day homestand that gives them two-day breaks between four of those games. They've won six of eight overall after beating Sacramento 112-97 on Tuesday.

C.J. McCollum led seven players in double figures with 18 points, Henderson had 15 off the bench and Damian Lillard tied his career high with 13 assists.

Vonleh has scored in double digits in consecutive games for the first time in his career, finishing with 11 in Saturday's win over the Lakers and 10 against the Jazz.

'Everybody's been able to catch their breath (on the homestand)," coach Terry Stotts said. "(It's) unusual in January that we've had this many days off."

Portland's recent surge has it in the mix for the Western Conference's last playoff spot, though Lillard isn't putting much stock into that in late January.

"It sounds good today," Lillard said. "Everybody in here would like to stay in that spot, maybe move up. We've just got to stick with it."

The Blazers have won the last seven meetings in Portland.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Lakers (9-39) at Clippers (30-16)

Date: January 29, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Clippers have returned from a turbulent road trip in good spirits, which has usually been the case after recent meetings with their Staples Center co-tenants.

Winners of eight straight over the Lakers, the Clippers attempt to deal their fellow Los Angeles inhabitants a ninth consecutive loss Friday night.

The Clippers got a five-game trip off to a rocky start, losing two of the first three and having to send Blake Griffin home after the star forward fractured his right hand in a well-publicized fight with a team equipment manager during their stay in Toronto.

The turmoil quickly subsided after they toughed out a pair of close victories in Indiana and Atlanta, overcoming an eight-point third-quarter deficit in Tuesday's 91-89 win over the Pacers and a poor-shooting night in Wednesday's 85-83 win over the Hawks.

The Clippers (30-16) have won 13 of 16 with Griffin already sidelined by a partially torn left quadriceps tendon since Dec. 26, in large part by hitting 40.2 percent of 3-point attempts and averaging 11.7 makes over the first 15. They were just 5 of 27 and shot 38.8 percent overall against the Hawks, but forced 23 turnovers and held Atlanta to 17 fourth-quarter points.

"(Against Indiana) we had to show a lot of grit to get through that game. (Wednesday), shots weren't falling. We had to rely on our defense," said Chris Paul, named to a ninth consecutive All-Star Game when the Western Conference reserves were announced Thursday.

Paul and J.J. Redick have mostly carried the team during Griffin's absence, but the duo combined for just 23 points on 9-of-25 shooting. The Clippers instead received boosts from Jamal Crawford's 21 points and DeAndre Jordan's 13 and 19 rebounds.

Jordan, a 42.0 percent free-throw shooter this season, went 6 of 8 from the line in the fourth quarter to help the Clippers hold on.

"It was a strange game. We missed 100 layups and then D.J. makes four free throws in a row," coach Doc Rivers said.

Paul had 23 points in a 94-84 victory over the Lakers (9-39) on Christmas night in Griffin's most recent appearance, giving the Clippers 12 wins in the series' last 13 matchups. Their loss during that stretch occurred in the 2013-14 season opener.

Maintaining that dominance seems likely with the Lakers struggling to score and prevent teams from doing so during their season-high eight-game skid. They've averaged 93.4 points and allowed 110.5 over the streak, with seven of the losses by 13 or more.

The NBA's worst shooting team, the Lakers finished 37.6 percent from the field and trailed throughout Thursday's 114-91 loss to Chicago that drew a chorus of boos from the home crowd.

"They had every right to," said coach Byron Scott. "From my standpoint, you start questioning if this is important to guys because it can't be every now and then."

The Lakers' already limited offense was further hindered with second-leading scorer Lou Williams out with an upper respiratory infection. The veteran guard, averaging 20.3 points over his last 10, is questionable for Friday.

Kobe Bryant did play after sitting out Tuesday's 92-90 loss to Dallas with a sore shoulder. The retiring superstar had 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting and is averaging just 8.1 over his last eight games, during which he's 6 of 33 from 3.

Bryant has actually seen an uptick in offense when playing the second game of a back-to-back, averaging 18.1 points, but the Lakers are just 1-10 in such games this season.