Friday 11/13/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[superbeets]

International TODAY 19:45

Spain

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England

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT ALL VENUES	RECENT FORM
HWAWHWAWHWAW​ Most recent​	0 - 1 2 - 0 1 - 0 1 - 0	ADAWAWHWHWAW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Three of Spain’s last four friendlies have featured two goals or fewer

EXPERT VERDICT: England progressed serenely to the Euro 2016 finals with a perfect qualification record of ten wins from ten matches but doubts persist about their ability to mix it with the elite nations and Spain can highlight the difference. A home win to nil looks the most likely outcome.

RECOMMENDATION: Spain to win 1-0
1

 

[superbeets]

Euro Championships TODAY 19:45

Bosnia-Hz.

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Ireland

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSIN BOSNIA-HZ.	RECENT FORM
ADHWALHWHWAW​ Most recent​	Unknown	HDHDAWHWHWAL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Ireland have lost only one of their last eight matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Ireland saved their best group performances for their four battles with powerhouses Germany and Poland and could ensure their playoff tie remains level after the first leg away to Bosnia. The hosts are excellent up front but lack defensive stability which could cost them against the gritty Irish.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
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[superbeets]

International TODAY 19:45

Wales

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Holland

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSIN WALES	RECENT FORM
AWHWAWHDALHW​ Most recent​	1 - 3 1 - 2	HLAWHLALAWHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Holland conceded 14 goals in Euro 2016 qualifying

EXPERT VERDICT: Wales netted 11 times en route to qualifying for Euro 2016 but, in contrast to Holland, they were the epitome of composure in defence, conceding on just four occasions. Wales have found success in solidarity and the Dutch, who failed to qualify for Euro 2016, are a team to oppose.

RECOMMENDATION: Wales
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[superbeets]

International TODAY 19:45

N Ireland

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Latvia

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSIN N IRELAND	RECENT FORM
NDHDAWHDHWAD​ Most recent​	1 - 0	ADHLADHLADHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Latvia haven’t won in 11 international matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Northern Ireland are on a high after qualifying for Euro 2016 and they can continue their fine form against Latvia. The Latvians endured an awful qualification campaign, failing to win a single game, and they even lost 1-0 at home to Kazakhstan in their final Group A contest.

RECOMMENDATION: Northern Ireland to win 2-0
1

 

[superbeets]

League One Sa 14Nov 12:30

Rochdale

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Wigan

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT ROCHDALE	RECENT FORM
ADHDHDADHWHL​ Most recent​	0 - 2 0 - 1 3 - 1 0 - 2	HWAWADHWALHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Rochdale have drawn their last four league games

EXPERT VERDICT: An FA Cup thrashing at Bury put paid to Wigan’s long unbeaten run and Gary Caldwell’s team will be aiming to bounce back but the draw appeals as the best bet. Rochdale have shared the points in their last four league games and the visitors have also played out their fair share of stalemates in recent weeks.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
1

 

[superbeets]

Euro Championships Sa 14Nov 17:00

Ukraine

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Slovenia

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSIN UKRAINE	RECENT FORM
NWHWHWADAWHL​ Most recent​	1 - 1	ALHLALHWHDAW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Ukraine have never beaten Slovenia

EXPERT VERDICT: Ukraine have a terrible playoff record, losing every one of the five in which they have been involved. And they also have a poor record against Slovenia, failing to beat them in four attempts, so the favourites could be worth taking on. First legs of qualifiers are often nervy affairs but the away side could nick it.

RECOMMENDATION: Slovenia
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[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Jim Feist's Bonus Play for Friday, Nov 13, 2015

(709) ATLANTA HAWKS VS (710) BOSTON CELTICS

Take: UNDER THE TOTAL.

Reason: Your Bonus Play for Friday, November 13, 2015 comes in the NBA as the Celtics host the Hawks in Boston. The Celtics play good defense for coach Brad Stevens, on a 3-1 run under the total. Boston has moved up to No. 5 in the NBA in field goal shooting defense. Boston is on a 4-1 run under and the under is 6-2 in the Celtics last 8 games playing on one day of rest. Atlanta is in town, a team that knows how to play great defense off a 60-win campaign. Atlanta is 12th in the NBA in points allowed, the young Celtics 9th. The under is 4-1 in the Hawks last 5 vs. Eastern Conference and when these teams meet the under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings. Play the Hawks/Celtics under the total.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Southern California at Colorado

When: 9:00 PM ET, Friday, November 13, 2015
Where: Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado


USC was counted out by many after falling to 3-3 last month, but three straight wins have the Trojans in the thick of the chase for the Pac-12 South title. USC continues that quest in a rare Friday night game, visiting Colorado to open a two-game road swing.



The Trojans found themselves in a 14-0 hole early in the second quarter last Saturday against visiting Arizona but outscored the Wildcats 38-16 the rest of the way to remain a game behind Utah in the South standings. "This team, no matter what happens, no matter what's coming, they keep fighting back," USC quarterback Cody Kessler told reporters. "We know how to handle adversity." Colorado is facing its own adversity, dropping two straight against ranked foes UCLA (35-31) and Stanford (42-10) following a 17-13 win at Oregon State on Oct. 24 that snapped a 14-game Pac-12 skid. "There is a sense of urgency for us to make sure we get some more wins, there’s no doubt, " Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre said at his weekly Tuesday news conference. "There is also a sense of urgency by the seniors, especially with our last home game being now."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: USC -16



ABOUT USC (6-3, 4-2 Pac-12): The Trojans are 3-1 under interim coach Clay Helton, thanks largely to Kessler who has completed 70.9 percent of his passes with three TDs and no interceptions during the team’s current three-game run. Tailback Ronald Jones II also provided a huge boost against Arizona, rushing for a school freshman-record 177 yards on 19 carries and likely has earned himself extra touches with fellow tailback Tre Madden battling a lingering knee issue. Defensively, USC is led by freshman linebacker Cameron Smith (72 total tackles, three interceptions) and is ranked fourth in the Pac-12 in both scoring defense (22.6 points allowed per game) and total defense (397.1 yards).

ABOUT COLORADO (4-6, 1-5): The Buffs will be attempting to bounce back from the 32-point home drubbing by the seventh-ranked Cardinal – Colorado's most lopsided loss of the season – in which they were outgained 472-231, including 275-83 on the ground. Quarterback Sefo Liufau led the team with 43 rushing yards in the game but also finished with a season-low 125 passing yards and has been intercepted three times with no TD passes the last two weeks. Despite having surrendered 35 or more points in all five of their Pac-12 losses, the Buffs rank in the top half of the conference in season scoring defense (28.3 points) and passing defense (219.3 yards).



EXTRA POINTS

1. USC has won all nine meetings against Colorado, including a 56-28 homecoming win last season in which Kessler threw for a school record-matching seven TDs.

2. Liufau needs 107 passing yards to eclipse Cody Hawkins (7,409) and become the Buffs’ all-time leader.

3. The Trojans own a Pac-12-best plus-10 turnover differential, having lost the ball a conference-low eight times.



PREDICTION: USC 35, Colorado 24

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL notebook: Red Wings sign Abdelkader to extension
By The Sports Xchange

Left winger Justin Abdelkader signed a seven-year, $29.75 million contract extension with the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.
After setting a career high with 23 goals and 21 assists last season, Abdelkader has four goals in the first 15 games this season. It was the final season on the four-year, $7.2 million deal the Michigan native signed in 2012.
Abdelkader, 28, was drafted in the second round out of Michigan State in 2007. He has played his entire NHL career with the Red Wings and has recorded 139 points (65 goals, 74 assists) in 413 NHL games.

---Goaltender Kevin Poulin was traded to the Calgary Flames from the Tampa Bay Lightning for future considerations.
Poulin, 25, was a fifth-round pick in 2008 of the New York Islanders and will report to the Stockton Heat, Calgary's American Hockey League affiliate.
Poulin has played 50 career NHL games for the Islanders and has a record of 18-25-3 with a 3.07 GAA and a .899 save percentage.

---Winnipeg Jets coach Paul Maurice joined the coaching staff for Team Europe for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Team Europe also announced former NHL players Peter Bondra, Sean Burke, Lorne Henning and Vaclav Nedomansky, and executive Ricky Olczyk, as additions to the scouting staff.

---The Nashville Predators signed fourth-round draft choice Alexandre Carrier to a three-year, entry-league contract, the club announced Thursday.
The 19-year-old defenseman has three goals and 12 assists for 15 points in 17 games with the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

---The Boston Bruins signed forwards Jake DeBrusk and Zach Senyshyn and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon to entry-level contracts, the club announced.
DeBrusk, 19, plays for the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League; Senyshyn, 18, competes for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League and Lauzon, 18, plays for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Flames (5-11) at Capitals (10-4)

Date: November 13, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

Justin Williams joked that he should be up for the Selke Trophy for going offsides and preventing teammate Alex Ovechkin from becoming the NHL leader in goals among Russian-born players.

The Calgary Flames might have to hope similar situations arise Friday night given their struggles keeping the puck out of the net.

Ovechkin gets his third crack at the record as Washington faces a Calgary team looking to avoid a fourth straight road loss.

A replay review nullified Ovechkin's goal late in the second period of Thursday's 5-2 victory at Philadelphia that would've pushed the three-time Hart Trophy winner ahead of Sergei Fedorov with 484.

Williams had a goal and an assist to make up for it, and Jason Chimera scored twice and added an assist. Ovechkin now gets a chance to set the record at home.

'(Williams) owes me dinner,' Ovechkin joked. 'No, it's not his fault. He was a player of the game. It would be nice to do it in front of our fans."

The Capitals (11-4-0) have won six of eight at home and have yet to lose consecutive games this season, responding with Thursday's win after falling 1-0 at Detroit on Tuesday. Coach Barry Trotz said his club has come out stronger following losses and has made a point to put those setbacks in the past quickly.

'You've got to understand that you can't accept losing,' Trotz said. 'Put the last one behind you and get really committed. I think we had a lot more conviction in our game (Thursday) and probably more than the last three or four. It showed. I think guys enjoy playing that way.'

Washington certainly had some fun dominating Calgary (5-11-1) in the first meeting Oct. 20. Ovechkin had a goal and an assist, Nicklas Backstrom scored twice and Evgeny Kuznetsov had a career high-tying three assists in a 6-2 victory.

Allowing big offensive performances has become a trend for the Flames, who have surrendered a league-high 65 goals. They fell 3-1 to Tampa Bay on Thursday and have dropped the first two of their four-game road trip.

Sam Bennett tied the game in the second before Calgary allowed a pair of goals in the third. It has been outscored 52-23 in the second and third periods on the season.

"We have a long trip to Washington and a big game tomorrow night, so we have to roll up our sleeves," coach Bob Hartley said. "It's a big test of character and I think we'll be ready. In our situation right now, we have to battle."

Hartley expressed his confidence in Karri Ramo prior to and after Thursday's contest, but Ramo fell to 3-6-0 with a 3.54 goals-against average for one of the league's worst marks.

Jonas Hiller is still about a week away from returning from a lower-body injury. Hartley said he hasn't decided who will start this contest, but Joni Ortio, who is 0-2-1 with a 4.27 GAA, could get his first start since losing 6-2 to Montreal on Oct. 30.

Braden Holtby made 18 saves Thursday for Washington and has allowed two goals or fewer in 10 of his last 11, going 8-3-0 with a 1.82 GAA in that stretch. Trotz said he hasn't decided if Holtby or Philipp Grubauer will get the nod in this one.

Defenseman Brooks Orpik sat out against the Flyers with a minor injury, but Trotz said he could be ready to play against Calgary.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jackets (4-12) at Penguins (9-5)

Date: November 13, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

The Pittsburgh Penguins continue to win despite offensive woes highlighted by minimal contributions from Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

The Columbus Blue Jackets enjoyed success against them last season and may be happy to be on the road for Friday night's matchup.

Pittsburgh (10-5-0) averages 2.3 goals for one of the league's lowest marks with Malkin and Crosby combining for six after each had 28 a season ago.

Neither scored Wednesday, though Crosby had a pair of assists in a 4-3 shootout win over Montreal.

'We haven't really played our best through this first (15) games but we're still winning games,' said winger Patric Hornqvist, who scored the tying goal in the third period off an assist by Crosby.

Malkin has gone five games without scoring. He has six goals and eight assists in 10 regular-season games against Columbus, with at least one point in each of them.

Crosby has two goals in 15 games for his slowest start to a season. He has 20 points in 14 regular-season contests against the Blue Jackets.

Columbus (4-12-0) took three of four from Pittsburgh in 2014-15 behind five goals from Nick Foligno after dropping the previous six regular-season matchups.

The Blue Jackets have posted all of their wins on the road, dropping to 0-6-0 at home with Tuesday's 5-3 defeat to Vancouver. They blew a one-goal third-period lead by conceding two goals in a 4:47 span.

"The goals we gave up were way too easy," coach John Tortorella told the Blue Jackets' official website. "We worked hard for our chances and gave up too many easy goals. It's underneath the hash marks, people getting behind us, and simple puck battles."

Columbus continues to search for offense from its 2014-15 leaders in points, Foligno and Ryan Johansen. Foligno has six points while enduring an 11-game goal drought while Johansen hasn't scored in his last 12.

Another underachieving player is Brandon Saad, who has eight points after signing a six-year, $36 million contract in the offseason. The Pittsburgh native is eager for this game, though he has never scored in four against the Penguins.

"I think once you're out there on the ice and playing, it becomes just another game," Saad said. "But, any time you get to see family and friends out there, it's pretty special."

The Blue Jackets are 4-3-0 on the road under Tortorella, who replaced Todd Richards on Oct. 21.

Columbus' Sergei Bobrovsky is 5-2-0 with a 2.98 goals-against average in seven regular-season starts at Pittsburgh.

The Penguins will likely start Marc-Andre Fleury, who is among the NHL leaders with a 2.01 GAA. Fleury left briefly in the first Wednesday after taking an inadvertent stick to the mask from teammate Ben Lovejoy, and needed stitches under an eye.

"Guys get those often," Fleury said. "It's good to be part of the team a little bit, the stitchings."

Fleury is 5-2-0 with a 2.30 GAA in seven regular-season home starts versus Columbus.

The Blue Jackets have been successful on the power play at 20.7 percent while the Penguins have one of the best penalty-kill units at 87.5.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Sharks (6-8) at Red Wings (8-6)

Date: November 13, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

The Detroit Red Wings haven't been generating many offensive chances, but they've made up for it with stout defensive play and an excellent penalty kill.

That could mean bad news for the San Jose Sharks, who have performed well in five-on-five situations but continue to struggle on special teams ahead of Friday night's meeting at Joe Louis Arena.

Detroit (8-6-1) has won four of five while limiting opponents to five goals in those victories. The Red Wings held Washington scoreless Tuesday despite 38 shots - including 15 from Alex Ovechkin - and three power plays in a 1-0 home victory. Petr Mrazek improved to 4-1-0 with a 1.57 goals-against average in his last five starts, while rookie Andreas Athanasiou scored his first career goal in the third period.

Coach Jeff Blashill's team has been getting by despite ranking last in the league with 25.3 shots per game.

"We ground out two points," he said. "We still have to continue to hit the net more. But I thought we did lots of good stuff."

Detroit's penalty kill has made major strides, allowing two goals on 24 opportunities over the last seven contests. Previously, it had given up seven goals on 27 chances.

The Sharks are 3-8-0 since winning their first four games, scoring twice on 29 power plays while surrendering 10 on 31 opportunities. During the first four games, they scored three times on 15 chances and yielded one goal on 17 opponent power plays.

They're plus-4 at even strength while the Red Wings are minus-1.

San Jose lost 4-2 against the New York Islanders on Tuesday, finishing its homestand 1-3-0 despite recording at least 31 shots in each game. The Sharks trailed 2-0 after the first period and have been outscored 12-11 in the first 20 minutes this season.

"We're going to keep fighting. We're in games that are coming right down to the wire," captain Joe Pavelski, who is tied for the team lead with eight goals, told the Sharks' official website. "We're usually down a goal right now. Guys are working, just like tonight, we get back to within one. We want to play with the lead."

San Jose was scoreless on two power plays to fall to 0 for 21 at home. The Sharks' power play has at least shown signs of life on the road, scoring twice in 10 chances over the last five games.

They've also fared well recently in this series, winning 11 of the last 14 meetings, including seven of eight in Detroit. Joe Thornton has at least one point in 15 of his last 17 matchups, totaling eight goals and 13 assists, and Patrick Marleau has five goals and two assists in his last five in Detroit.

The Red Wings agreed with Justin Abdelkader on a seven-year extension Thursday worth almost $30 million. Abdelkader has four goals and seven assists after finishing with a career-high 44 points in 2014-15. He has just three points in 17 career meetings with San Jose.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Islanders (8-6) at Ducks (4-7)

Date: November 13, 2015 10:00 PM EDT

The Anaheim Ducks aren't fond of the NHL's new overtime rules. Winning in regulation would help them avoid that problem altogether.

The Ducks try to make things easier on themselves in order to continue their success against the punchless New York Islanders on Friday night.

Anaheim (5-7-4) is 1-4 in games that go beyond three periods. Three of those defeats have come in the league's new 3-on-3 OT format with each goal coming within the first 80 seconds.

"It's kind of gimmicky, but it's here and it's not going anywhere," center Shawn Horcoff said. "So maybe we ought to spend a little more time on it."

The Ducks could surely use the practice after their four-game winning streak ended with Monday's 4-3 overtime loss to Arizona before falling to Edmonton by the same score on a goal 76 seconds into the extra session.

Blowing leads has also contributed to the team's frustration. Anaheim gave up a two-goal, second-period advantage to the Coyotes before surrendering a pair of leads in the third Wednesday.

"We've just got to find a way to close out games," Corey Perry said. "We get a 2-1 and a 3-2 lead, and you see it evaporate pretty quickly. We're doing a lot of good things. We've just got to keep working, and we're going to start to keep these leads."

Perry has done his part with four goals and three assists over the last five games after getting just three assists through the first 11. He scored twice against the Oilers.

The Ducks have won four of their last five meetings with New York (8-6-3), but that defeat was a 3-2 home loss in overtime on Nov. 5, 2014.

John Tavares' second of that meeting came midway through OT, giving him four goals with three assists in five career visits to Anaheim.

The captain's seven goals and 14 points lead the Islanders. He assisted on a first-period goal by Brock Nelson on Thursday, but New York failed to capitalize on a 32-22 shot advantage and fell 2-1 at Los Angeles.

The Islanders have scored 13 goals - excluding one into an empty net - during a 2-4-2 stretch.

There's plenty of blame to go around for the offensive struggles. Josh Bailey has no points in seven games, Anders Lee has one goal in 12 games and Mikhail Grabovski has one in eight.

"Right now it's not going our way. You can't fault the guys," coach Jack Capuano told the team's official website. "We should win games when we play like this."

Getting the power play going could provide a boost. The Islanders are 1 for 16 on the man advantage over the last five games after going 8 for 24 during a 6-2-2 stretch.

Thomas Greiss is likely to get the start in net after Jaroslav Halak made 20 saves Thursday. Greiss is 4-1-2 with a 2.39 goals-against average, and he's won both of his starts on the road by stopping 72 of 76 shots.

He had 27 saves for Pittsburgh in a win at Anaheim on March 6 after losing his first five starts against the Ducks behind a 3.12 GAA.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL

Hot teams
-- Washington won five of its last seven games.
-- Penguins won seven of their last eight games.
-- Red Wings won four of their last five games.

Cold teams
-- Flames lost seven of their last ten games.
-- Blue Jackets lost four of their last six games.
-- San Jose lost five of its last seven games.
-- Anaheim is 4-6 in last ten games, losing last two games 4-3 in OT. Islanders lost six of their last eight games.

Series records
-- Flames lost five of their last seven games with Washington.
-- Blue Jackets won three of last four games with Pittsburgh.
-- Sharks won five of last six games with Detroit.
-- Islanders lost six of last eight games with Anaheim.

Totals
-- Six of last eight Calgary-Washington games went over.
-- Eight of last ten Columbus-Pittsburgh games went over total.
-- Under is 4-1-2 in last seven San Jose games.
-- Under is 8-1-1 in last ten Islander games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Jazz (4-4) at Magic (4-5)

Date: November 13, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

After overcoming a slow start without their leading scorer from last season, the Orlando Magic now have to move on without one of their top all-around players.

With forward Victor Oladipo sidelined indefinitely, the Magic will go after their fifth win in seven games Friday night as they look to end a four-game home skid versus the Utah Jazz.

Things seemed to go from bad to worse Nov. 4 when Nikola Vucevic banged knees with Dwight Howard in a 119-114 overtime loss to Houston that dropped Orlando to 1-4.

The Magic (4-5), however, won two of the next three games without Vucevic, who averaged a team-high 19.3 points in 2014-15. The center then hit a 20-foot jumper at the buzzer for a 101-99 home victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in his return on Wednesday.

The win proved costly for Orlando as Oladipo banged the side of his head into Dewayne Dedmon in the first quarter. The 23-year-old, who had scored 16.1 per game over his first eight, will have to go through the concussion protocol until he is symptom-free.

"It's very unfortunate, but we can't feel sorry,' forward Evan Fournier, who's averaging a team-high 18.7 points, told the team's official website. "We have to play harder and everybody has to step up - just like when (Vucevic) was out. We know we're going to be fine. We have the right pieces to compete even without Vic.'

Shabazz Napier had a career-high 22 points, including five 3-pointers, against the Lakers after totaling 15 over his first seven games.

Orlando led the league in defensive field-goal percentage (40.4) through six games before allowing a 46.2 percent clip in its last three. Oladipo's absence won't help as he's had 14 steals and limited players he's defended to 37.9 percent shooting.

The Magic will try to keep the Jazz (4-4) scuffling after they shot 38.2 percent and missed 13 of 17 from 3-point range in Thursday's 92-91 loss at Miami. After winning four of its previous six, Utah has dropped the first two on this four-game road swing.

'We just weren't able to knock them down," forward Gordon Hayward said. "For whatever reason they didn't fall. The good news is we got the shots we wanted.'

Derrick Favors finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds against the Heat, while Hayward contributed 24 and 12. Favors has totaled 42 points and 21 boards and Alec Burks has scored a combined 48 while hitting 7 of 8 from 3-point range on the trip.

Although it ranks among the league's leaders in defensive scoring (90.0) and field-goal percentage (41.6), Utah allowed a season-high point total in Tuesday's 118-114 loss at Cleveland and has surrendered 48.3 percent shooting in the past two games.

Making matters worse, Rudy Gobert may not be able to play after missing Thursday's contest with a sprained left ankle. The center is averaging 3.4 blocks per game, and he's allowing opponents to shoot just 31.6 percent at the rim - the best defensive mark in the league.

The Jazz have limited the Magic to 89.3 points per game in their last six meetings. They've won eight of the past nine matchups overall and four in a row at Orlando.

Favors totaled 44 points and 23 rebounds to help Utah split last season's series. Tobias Harris led the Magic with a combined 46 points.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Timberwolves (4-4) at Pacers (5-4)

Date: November 13, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

Paul George needed a few games to get into a groove while adjusting to playing big minutes again after missing most of last season.

The Indiana Pacers couldn't be happier to have him back.

Indiana seeks its sixth victory in seven tries Friday night against a Minnesota Timberwolves team looking to avoid a third consecutive defeat.

George came off the bench in the final six games of 2014-15 following his recovery from a gruesome leg injury suffered in an exhibition contest playing for USA Basketball. He averaged 16.8 points while shooting just 33.3 percent in his first four this season, with the Pacers (5-4) dropping the first three.

The last five have been a different story, though, with George averaging 29.4 points and shooting 47.6 percent, including 44.1 percent from 3-point range. He also has four double-doubles in that stretch after finishing with 26 points and 10 rebounds in Wednesday's 102-91 win at Boston.

Although his offensive contributions stick out, George has continued to work hard on the other end of the floor as well. He's helped the Pacers rank fourth by allowing 95.3 points per game.

'He's been fantastic. What nobody's talking about is his defense,' coach Frank Vogel said. 'He's putting up some big numbers offensively, but every time we put him up on a top guy, that guy just gets cooled down very quickly. That's why he's one of the best two-way players in the NBA. He's showing that he's back.'

Myles Turner won't be back for some time, however. Turner, the 11th pick in this year's draft, suffered a chip fracture in his left thumb after playing just over one minute against the Celtics and is expected to miss at least four weeks.

The Timberwolves (4-4) have some injury concerns of their own. Ricky Rubio has missed the last two with a strained left hamstring, a minor injury interim coach Sam Mitchell attributes to Rubio getting back into better shape after missing 60 games last season with ankle problems.

Andrew Wiggins missed Tuesday's loss to Charlotte with a sore right knee, but he returned Thursday and scored 19 points in nearly 35 minutes of a 129-116 loss to unbeaten Golden State.

Top overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 17 and 11 rebounds for Minnesota, which allowed Stephen Curry to score 46 points and the Warriors to shoot 53.9 percent from the field.

Mitchell still came away impressed with how Wiggins wanted to play through his injury.

'That's part of being a pro and being a good player in this league," Mitchell said. "You've got to learn how to play when you're nicked up. I was proud of him.'

Wiggins had 30-point games in each of his previous two, but he might find it tough to get going Friday. There's a good chance George could be matched up against him.

'It's how I made my name in this league, wanting to guard the best player or match up against the best player,' George said. 'That's what I do. It's fun to me. I don't take it as it's going to drain me or tire me out. It energizes me when I can get a stop on the best player. It gets me going when I can get a stop against the best guy on the other team.'

George scored 35 points and grabbed 11 rebounds the last time he faced the Timberwolves on Feb. 19, 2014.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cavaliers (7-1) at Knicks (4-5)

Date: November 13, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

LeBron James turned in a magnificent fourth quarter to help rally the Cleveland Cavaliers their last time out.

The New York Knicks were already victimized by a spectacular final period from the superstar last week.

The Knicks get a chance for revenge Friday night at home when they meet a Cavaliers team seeking its best start in 39 years.

James scored 17 of his 31 points in the fourth Tuesday as Cleveland (7-1) erased a nine-point deficit with just over seven minutes left for a 118-114 home victory over Utah. His point total matched a season high and he added eight assists.

"Bron is the greatest player in the game," coach David Blatt said. "I don't think there's anyone with a higher basketball IQ or a better understanding of the moment."

James has exhibited increased aggressiveness with 26 foul shots in the last two games. He never shot more than eight in his first six games.

The Cavaliers, winners of seven straight, are seeking their first 8-1 start since 1976-77.

They begin a three-game trip against a Knicks team they defeated 96-86 at home Nov. 4 after coming back from 15 points down. That contest featured a fourth quarter in which Cleveland held a 26-17 scoring edge, with James scoring 11 points in the final 7:13.

Carmelo Anthony made 1 of 5 shots for two points in the fourth that night. He is shooting 31.7 percent in the final period compared to 51.2 for James.

New York (4-5) fell 95-93 at Charlotte on Wednesday, with Anthony's baseline jumper from the left wing hitting the side of the backboard as the shot clock expired with 3.7 seconds left with the score tied. The Knicks were outscored 26-14 in a fourth quarter in which they shot 27.3 percent.

'I didn't deliver,' Anthony said. 'I had in my mind I was going to deliver. Everything felt good going into it."

Rookie Kristaps Porzingis drilled a 3-pointer that set off a celebration before it was ruled to have gone in after the buzzer as New York missed a chance at a three-game win streak. Porzingis had 10 points and 15 boards for his fourth double-double.

These teams each got a key player back this week.

Cavs guard J.R. Smith returned Tuesday after missing three games with a bruised right knee with seven points in 22 minutes. Smith will return to New York for the second time since the Knicks traded him to Cleveland on Jan. 6.

'The biggest thing is wind, trying to get your wind back,' Smith said. 'There's no shape like game shape. I think that's the biggest thing. Other than that, everything should be like riding a bike.'

Arron Afflalo started in his Knicks debut Wednesday with 12 points in 28 minutes after being out with hamstring issues.

"I'm very, very excited to get my first game in the Garden," Afflalo said. "I think that will provide me with even more energy, the entire team for that matter, so I'm just extremely excited.'

The Knicks will be wary of Mo Williams, who had a season-high 29 points Tuesday on 8-of-9 shooting and scored 22 against New York last week. Kevin Love has turned in consecutive 22-point efforts but had a season-low 11 versus the Knicks.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pelicans (1-7) at Raptors (6-3)

Date: November 13, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

The Toronto Raptors ended their first losing streak of the season by taking advantage of a matchup with a struggling team.

They'll get another such game Friday night against the severely depleted New Orleans Pelicans, who didn't have Anthony Davis in their latest contest.

Toronto (6-3) ended a three-game slide Wednesday with a 119-103 victory at winless Philadelphia. The Raptors shot a season-best 48.3 percent, had a season-low eight turnovers and outrebounded the 76ers 56-37.

Kyle Lowry scored 23 points for a second straight game, and Luis Scola had 17 of his season-high 21 in the third quarter. The Raptors also played short-handed with DeMarre Carroll (heel) and Terrence Ross (thumb) out.

"It was a good win for our team. We needed it with the three-game losing streak," Lowry said. "We did things we needed to do. We could have been a little bit better defensively, but I think we made some effort and strides to getting back to the way we know how to play."

Playing just one of their four home games between Nov. 3-Dec. 2, the Raptors look to drop New Orleans to 1-8 before beginning a five-game trip against Western Conference teams.

The Pelicans earned their lone win Tuesday, 120-105 against Dallas, despite Davis sitting out the second half with a bruised right hip. Davis didn't play in the following night's 106-98 loss in Atlanta.

New Orleans tried to make up for his absence by shooting a season high 48.3 percent from 3-point range. The Pelicans made 14 shots from beyond the arc for the second straight game.

"I thought we ran out of gas a little bit. We had guys playing a lot of minutes," coach Alvin Gentry said. "I think we played hard and competed like crazy. We just weren't able to make plays to get over the hump."

Starting point guard Jrue Holiday (leg), Tyreke Evans (knee), Norris Cole (ankle), Quincy Pondexter (knee) and Kendrick Perkins (pectoral) were also out for the Pelicans, who are off to their second-worst start in franchise history.

New Orleans lost 19 of its first 20 games in 2004-05 and 29 of its first 31.

The Pelicans won both matchups against the Raptors last season - following six consecutive losses in the series - even with Davis and Holiday missing each game. Davis was nursing an injured left foot during a 95-93 victory in Toronto on Jan. 18 and had a sprained right shoulder during a 100-97 home win Feb. 23.

Holiday was limited to 40 games because of an ailing right leg, and Ryan Anderson sat out in the win in New Orleans because of a sprained right knee. Anderson is averaging 21.0 points while shooting 53.2 percent in his last three games, but the Pelicans likely won't have their hero from the latest visit to Toronto. Evans made a layup with 1.6 seconds left and had 26 points.

Alexis Ajinca averaged 19.0 points while shooting 72.0 percent in the two 2014-15 matchups. He had a go-ahead layup in the final minute in the win in February, but he has gone scoreless in his last two games.

Carroll is listed as questionable for this game while there is no timetable for Ross' return.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Hawks (8-2) at Celtics (3-4)

Date: November 13, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

Al Horford is a major presence in the paint for the Atlanta Hawks. He's now also a threat from downtown.

Horford looks to show off his growing range as the Hawks seek their best road start in 48 years Friday night against the Boston Celtics.

Horford is averaging 17.6 points and 8.0 rebounds while his 51.7 percent shooting is the highest qualifying mark for Atlanta (8-2). While those totals hover around his career averages, the All-Star center has added a new dimension; 3-pointers.

Horford has connected on 12 of 36 from beyond the arc after going 11 for 36 all of last season. He had the best 3-point game of his career in Wednesday's 106-98 win over New Orleans, making 4 of 6 while shooting 11 of 15 overall to finish with a season-high 26 points. He also added eight rebounds and three blocks.

"That's something I've been working on," Horford said. "I'm not just shooting to shoot 'em. I feel better about it, too. I'm more comfortable in the offense. I'm much more comfortable with my shooting."

Horford's added range is a big reason why the Hawks' 93 converted 3s are among the most in the NBA.

Atlanta is also the last remaining unbeaten team on the road in the Eastern Conference and has an opportunity to go 5-0 for the first time since 1967-68 - the franchise's final season in St. Louis.

Jeff Teague has been much more productive on the road, averaging 21.5 points compared to 16.0 at home. He's scored 19.5 per game over his last eight visits to Boston. However, the guard was limited to 10 while going 4 for 12 from the floor before Evan Turner's running jumper with 0.2 seconds left sealed an 89-88 win for the Celtics on Feb. 11.

Turner finished that matchup with 12 points, nine assists and seven rebounds as Boston (3-4) won for the sixth time in eight matchups with Atlanta at TD Garden.

If Avery Bradley is still bothered by a bruised lower left leg, Turner could replace him in the lineup for a second straight game. He had a season-high 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting in Boston's 102-91 loss to Indiana on Wednesday. The Celtics missed 20 of 24 from 3-point range and committed 18 turnovers - one shy of their season high.

"We didn't take care of the ball," Turner said. "I think we kind of rushed a little bit. I think we kind of did a few of them back-to-back-to-back."

Isaiah Thomas leads Boston with 20.6 points per game but was held to a season-low 14 Wednesday on 4 of 13 from the field. The guard has averaged 25.3 in his last three meetings with Atlanta.

Jared Sullinger is averaging 17.0 points and 11.0 rebounds in his past four matchups with the Hawks, hitting his scoring average with 15 boards Feb. 11. He's pulled down 21 rebounds over the past two games after averaging 7.4 in the first five.

Sullinger has started the last four contests at center, setting up a matchup with Horford on Friday.