Monday 1/18/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[superbeets]

Spanish La Liga TODAY 19:30

Eibar

v

Granada

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS2		3/4	13/5	4	More markets

​

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT EIBAR	RECENT FORM
ALHWAWHLHWAL​ Most recent​	1 - 1	HLALHWALALHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Eibar’s only defeats in ten home games were against Atletico and Real

EXPERT VERDICT: Eibar found themselves in a European spot going into this round of matches after a run of three straight wins and they can make it four in a row against lowly Granada. The visitors haven’t kept an away clean sheet and have shipped two or more in five of their last eight road trips.

RECOMMENDATION: Eibar
2

 

[superbeets]

Premier League TODAY 20:00

Swansea

v

Watford

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS1		7/5	9/4	23/10	More markets

​

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT SWANSEA	RECENT FORM
HDHWADALALHL​ Most recent​	1 - 1 1 - 1 0 - 1 3 - 1	HWADHLHLHWAL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Watford have lost on only one of their last five visits to Swansea

EXPERT VERDICT: Swansea are slowly sinking into relegation trouble and Watford can push them deeper into the mire. Watford were pre-season favourites for an immediate return to the Championship but have made a mockery of such predictions. Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo can fire the Hornets to another positive result.

RECOMMENDATION: Watford
1


REFEREE: Michael Oliver STADIUM:

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL notebook: Oilers sign G Talbot to extension
By The Sports Xchange

The Edmonton Oilers signed goaltender Cam Talbot to a three-year contract extension on Sunday.
Financial terms were not released, but TSN reported Talbot's contract is worth $12.5 million with an average annual value of $4.17 million.
Talbot, 28, was in the final season of his current contract with a salary-cap charge of $1.45 million and could have been an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Talbot is 8-13-3 with a 2.58 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in 26 games this season. He has started 11 of the Oilers' last 12 games, accumulating a 1.79 goals-against average and 939 save percentage.

---The Winnipeg Jets placed center Adam Lowry and right winger Drew Stafford on injured reserve with upper-body injuries. The moves are retroactive to Jan. 14.
Lowry has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 41 games this season. Stafford has 24 points (14 goals, 10 assists) in 44 games.
The Jets also recalled forwards Patrice Cormier and JC Lipon from the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

---The St. Louis Blues recalled defenseman Andre Benoit from the Chicago Wolves of the AHL.
Benoit, 32, has played in 37 games for the Wolves this season, ranking second with 25 points, including a team-leading 21 assists.

---The Chicago Blackhawks reassigned forward Bryan Bickell to the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL.
Bickell, 29, has registered two assists in 23 games with the Blackhawks this season. He has recorded 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 12 games with Rockford.
Bickell was selected by Chicago in the second round (41st overall) of the 2004 NHL draft.

---The Minnesota Wild reassigned defenseman Mike Reilly to the Iowa Wild of the AHL.
Reilly, 22, has played in four games for Minnesota, with no points, after being recalled from Iowa on Jan. 8. He has 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in 32 games with Iowa this season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Avalanche (22-21) at Jets (21-21)

Date: January 18, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The last time the Winnipeg Jets won three in a row, they were in the process of wrapping up the Western Conference's final playoff spot in April.

Should they win a third straight Monday night against the visiting Colorado Avalanche, they'll still be looking up at the top eight, but they'll at least have emerged from sole occupation of last place in the competitive Central Division.

Winnipeg (21-21-3) is starting a six-game homestand after Friday's 1-0 win in Minnesota, which came on the heels of Thursday's 5-4 home victory over Nashville. Within the division, the Jets have gone 3-0-1 since the calendar flipped and have a chance to beat the three teams immediately ahead of them in a five-day period.

The latest win was of the patchwork variety with Adam Lowry (undisclosed), Drew Stafford (undisclosed) and Mark Scheifele (lower body) out of the lineup, and defenseman Adam Pardy played forward.

"I judge so much by the bench and how the players respond to (Thursday's), effort," coach Paul Maurice told the team's official website. "That might have been better than our game last night. It was a bit of a roller coaster. Some guys couldn't play tonight, new lines. I could talk about every guy and that's usually a good sign. Blocked shots, big saves. Just some great play."

The scoring came from Blake Wheeler, who has three goals and an assist in his last four games and 16 points in his last 15 games. The forward also has 23 points in 17 career games against the Avalanche.

At the other end, Connor Hellebuyck recorded his second shutout in his last 10 games, over which he's 6-3-1 with a 1.70 goals-against average and .942 save percentage. And that's with the rookie having allowed 10 goals in his previous three games.

"He's looked exactly the same in every game he's played," Maurice said. "He's just poised, big, square. Doesn't let pucks come off him very often."

The Avalanche (22-21-3) have won the last three meetings, including the first two of this season, and a fourth straight would double Colorado's lead over Winnipeg rather than even the clubs at the bottom of the Central. Matt Duchene has four goals and four assists in his last five games against the Jets, and he and Blake Comeau have scored in both this season.

Patrick Roy's team started a two-game road swing with Saturday's 2-1 loss to Columbus, falling behind in the first minute for its third defeat in the last four.

"We were really sharp tonight, except for that first shift where they scored that first goal. Other than this, we were impeccable in our own end," Roy told the team's official website. "I thought we certainly deserved more than that, but that is the way this game is. You're going to win some that you don't deserve to win, and you're going to lose some that you deserve to win and tonight is an example."

Colorado has been limited to seven goals in the last four games after scoring 13 on a three-game winning streak. The power play was 5 for 14 in those games and has gone 0 for 9 since.

Calvin Pickard was in goal against the Blue Jackets, so Semyon Varlamov will face the Jets. Varlamov has lost consecutive starts and has a 3.75 GAA and .881 save percentage over a 3-4-2 span. In Winnipeg, he's 2-3-1 with a 3.64 GAA and .877 save percentage.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Sabres (17-23) at Coyotes (22-17)

Date: January 18, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

(AP) - Mike Smith's injury should have sent the Arizona Coyotes into a tailspin. The loss of a No. 1 goalie is tough for any team, and it figured to be crippling to a club that relies so much on defense.

Louis Domingue changed Arizona's fortunes. Instead of tumbling down the standings, the Coyotes have climbed within reach of the Pacific Division lead behind their confident-beyond-his-years rookie goalie.

After getting a much-needed rest, Domingue will be back in net Monday night against the visiting Buffalo Sabres looking to help the Coyotes earn at least a point for the eighth time in nine games.

Domingue made a brief stop in the NHL last season, going 1-2-1 with a 2.73 goals-against average in seven games. With that short stint, he realized he belonged in the NHL and worked harder than ever over the summer - on his game and his conditioning.

"You never know you can play in the NHL until you actually do," Domingue said. "Last year, I had a chance to measure myself against the best players in the world and it showed me that I could be here and made me confident for sure."

Domingue didn't make the roster coming out of training camp, though he wasn't too surprised about it. The Coyotes already had Smith and veteran backup Anders Lindback, so he kind of expected to be sent to Springfield of the AHL to get more playing time.

Domingue took advantage of that extra playing time and was confident when he was called up after Smith underwent abdominal surgery Dec. 15. He's 7-2-3 with a 2.21 goals-against average in 10 starts and two relief efforts, and he's the first rookie goalie in team history to win three straight starts.

Arizona (22-17-5) has gone 8-2-3 since Dec. 19 to climb into second in the Pacific. It suffered a rare regulation loss Saturday, 2-0 to New Jersey with Lindback in net.

Coach Dave Tippett confirmed Domingue will be in goal against the Sabres (18-23-4).

"There's two things when (a rookie replaces a veteran goaltender)," Tippett said. "A team will look at that situation and say we've got to hunker down and make sure we play a good team game to help the goaltender, and the goaltender feels confident that the group is going play well in front of him. It's been a good match."

Domingue will get his first crack at Buffalo, which beat the Coyotes 5-2 on Dec. 4 behind two goals from Evander Kane. The Sabres have won all five meetings in Arizona since last losing there in 2008.

Kane scored and had an assist Saturday to help Buffalo win for the third time in four tries with a 4-1 victory over NHL-leading Washington. The Sabres had dropped six straight prior to this run, with Kane having a goal and three assists in that stretch.

He went without a point during the losing streak.

"We lost the one (Friday) against Boston, so we were really just trying to come out with a solid effort," said Cody Franson, who had a power-play goal. "We knew they were going to keep coming at us and we had to play solid systematically. For the most part, I think we did that."

Chad Johnson made 33 saves, getting the start despite presumed No. 1 goaltender Robin Lehner returning Friday from a lower-body injury that caused him to miss 39 games. Lehner could be back in net for this one.

Josh Gorges missed Saturday's contest with an upper-body issue but will make the trip. Zemgus Girgensons will miss his second straight with an upper-body injury.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Senators (18-18) at Sharks (21-18)

Date: January 18, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

The San Jose Sharks won five home games over the season's first three months and looked more like bait than the predators they'd been in a place dubbed the Shark Tank.

Now they're winning everywhere.

San Jose seeks a fourth consecutive home victory and season high-tying sixth straight overall Monday night when it faces an Ottawa Senators team looking to win back-to-back games for the first time in six weeks.

The Sharks (23-18-2) have climbed into third place in the Pacific Division by extending their surge with two wins at the SAP Center - 2-1 in a shootout against Edmonton on Thursday and 4-3 in overtime versus Dallas on Saturday.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored twice and Chris Tierney had a goal before Tomas Hertl beat the Stars 1:12 into the extra session. San Jose is in the midst of playing six of seven at home, which could have been seen as daunting after a 5-12-0 home start.

"I think everyone just has the right mindset," Tierney said. "Everyone is positive when we come in here. I think we're having a lot of good starts at home right now and that's been a big help. The guys are having fun. We're just carrying the momentum right now."

Hertl has three goals and three assists over the last five games, and Joe Thornton's assist Saturday gave him 13 along with five goals over his last 14. His next assist will pass Stan Mikita for 17th place on the all-time list.

"You just have to find a way to win," Vlasic said. "We've put a couple in a row. We have to keep it rolling. We have teams to catch if we want to secure a playoff spot. We're far from it, but it's good right now."

The Eastern Conference playoff race is more jumbled with teams switching spots almost daily, making Ottawa's 3-6-0 stretch more disappointing. The Senators (21-18-6) are making the fourth stop on a five-game trip after scoring four times in the third period Saturday to overcome a two-goal deficit and beat Los Angeles 5-3.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Bobby Ryan and Mika Zibanejad had a goal and an assist apiece for Ottawa, which hasn't won two straight since beating Chicago and the New York Rangers in early December. The Senators are 3-10-1 on the road since starting the season 7-2-1.

"We showed a lot of resiliency," said Alex Chiasson, who scored after being a healthy scratch for the previous four. "Our guys had a lot of jump. Maybe the whole 60 minutes wasn't the way we wanted to play, but we found a way."

Craig Anderson picked up his 200th victory by making 30 saves against the Kings, but he's just 2-4-0 with a 3.33 goals-against average since Dec. 29.

"We were desperate for a win, and we found a way to get it done," Anderson said. "We dug deep in the third, got some good hard plays by our guys and got a little bit of puck luck. We were able to get back in the game and take it over."

Anderson was in net Dec. 18 when the Senators scored three times in the third period of a 4-2 victory over San Jose for their third straight win in the series. Ryan had a goal and an assist in that contest.

Martin Jones had that night off for the Sharks but could be in goal for this one. He's won four straight starts with a 1.95 GAA.

 

[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 - - -
1/17 7 - - -
1/18 5 - - -
1/19 8 - - -
1/20 3 - - -
1/21 10 - - -
1/22 6 - - -
1/23 11 - - -
1/24 5 - - -
1/25 6 - - -
1/26 9 - - -
1/27 4 - - -
1/28 No games scheduled - - -
1/29 No games scheduled - - -
1/30 No games scheduled - - -
1/31 No games scheduled - - -

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: 76ers (5-37) at Knicks (20-22)

Date: January 18, 2016 1:00 PM EDT

The Knicks have been hurting without Carmelo Anthony, though a return home and a matchup with the NBA's worst team could provide a remedy.

With Anthony hopeful to return, the Knicks look to end a two-game losing streak in Monday's Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Knicks recorded a fourth straight win at Madison Square Garden but lost Anthony to a sprained right ankle in Tuesday's 120-114 victory over Boston. They've since dropped two straight on the road with the star forward out of the lineup to fall to 0-4 when Anthony hasn't played.

Anthony's absence was felt down the stretch of Saturday's game at Memphis, where New York (20-22) was tied after three quarters but went 6 of 18 in the fourth in a 103-95 loss.

The Knicks finished 5 of 20 from 3-point range after a 7-of-22 effort in Wednesday's 110-104 loss to Brooklyn. Arron Afflalo and Langston Galloway, the primary perimeter threats with Anthony out, were a combined 7 of 22 overall against Memphis.

"We still had enough," coach Derek Fisher said. "We were there through three quarters and they won the fourth quarter."

Anthony did participate in Saturday's shootaround before being held out of the game as a precaution, leaving the Knicks optimistic he'll be available for the team's annual Martin Luther King Day home game.

New York has won three straight and seven of eight over last-place Philadelphia (5-37), including a 99-87 victory at the Garden on Dec. 2. They'll be facing a 76ers team with a different look than the one they defeated twice last month, however.

Jahlil Okafor missed that Dec. 2 meeting while serving a team-issued suspension for an altercation outside a Boston nightclub and Philadelphia had yet to acquire point guard Ish Smith. Four of Philadelphia's five wins have come since it acquired the journeyman from New Orleans on Dec. 24.

Smith is averaging 21.5 points over a four-game stretch and had 16 in Saturday's 114-89 rout of Portland, the 76ers' most-lopsided win of the season. Okafor added 25 points on 12-of-16 shooting to help Philadelphia match its highest scoring total of 2015-16.

'We think that we're playing good basketball lately and I think the games confirm that," coach Brett Brown said.

Okafor recorded 20 points when the Knicks visited Philadelphia on Dec. 18. Though the Sixers were dealt a 107-97 loss, they outscored New York 56-46 in the paint.

The Knicks had trouble stopping Memphis' post players, allowing 37 points to center Marc Gasol and 14 to Zach Randolph.

Anthony has struggled in the two meetings with the 76ers, going 9 of 30 while compiling 28 points. Afflalo had 22 on 9-of-13 shooting in the latest matchup and is averaging 17.7 over his last three games.

Philadelphia, 0-24 against the Eastern Conference, has lost four straight and eight of 10 at MSG.

The Knicks are 18-11 on Martin Luther King Day and have hosted a game on the holiday every year since 1987. They defeated New Orleans 99-92 last MLK Day to snap a four-game losing streak on the holiday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Jazz (18-22) at Hornets (18-22)

Date: January 18, 2016 2:00 PM EDT

The Charlotte Hornets have two reasons to be jealous of the Utah Jazz. One, the Jazz are getting healthier and two, they're in the Western Conference.

The stumbling Hornets have dropped seven straight to West opponents as they host the Jazz on Monday.

These teams have identical 18-22 records but likely far different outlooks on their seasons. That's because Utah is in eighth place in the West while Charlotte faces remote postseason hopes in an improving East that features 11 teams with better records.

The Hornets have dropped nine of 10 as they play without former Utah center Al Jefferson, who is out with a knee injury. Key reserve Jeremy Lamb has missed two straight games with a toe injury, further limiting their options.

'To be honest, when we get those guys back, I think there could be some (lineup) decisions to make,' coach Steve Clifford said. 'Right now, I don't see anything. You've got to start the game with guys who have a chance at both ends of the floor. I don't know what an option would be.'

The Jazz have split six games since the return of center Rudy Gobert, who missed 18 with a MCL sprain. He is working his way back to his regular form and turned in his best effort since coming back Saturday with 18 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks in a 109-82 rout of the hapless Los Angeles Lakers.

'I'm feeling better every game,' Gobert said. 'My teammates are looking for me. I try to stay running to the basket. ... This game I tried to be more aggressive, especially on defensive rebounds."

Gobert played over 30 minutes for the first time since returning.

"I just feel better," he said. "My legs are stronger. My cardio was better this game, I didn't get really tired. That was a good thing.'

Feeling worse is his French compatriot Nicolas Batum, who has failed to score in double digits in three of four games since missing four with a sprained right toe. The Hornets' second-leading scorer had six points on 2-of-10 shooting in Saturday's 105-92 home defeat to Milwaukee.

"We've gotta keep playing and keep working," Batum said. "The way we've played the last 10 games is not us."

Utah forward Trevor Booker has been cleared to return Monday after missing the Lakers game with a concussion. Derrick Favors has missed the last 13 contests with back spasms, but will travel on this four-game trip versus the East.

The Jazz are 8-5 against East foes with four straight wins.

"We're just trying to get some guys healthy, we've been playing a bunch of different lineups which I think ultimately has been good for guys' confidence, their experience," said top scorer Gordon Hayward, who averages 19.2 points.

Utah averages a league-low 93.5 possessions per 48 minutes while averaging an NBA-high 349.2 passes. The Jazz have a percentage of 5.1 assists on their baskets for the league's worst mark.

These teams split two 2014-15 matchups after Utah had taken 10 straight in the series.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Trail Blazers (18-25) at Wizards (19-20)

Date: January 18, 2016 2:00 PM EDT

The Washington Wizards and Portland Trail Blazers both had winning streaks come to an end over the weekend - one excusably and one embarrassingly.

Portland's three-game road trip is already scarred with a loss to the NBA's worst team, but it'll try to wrap it up Monday night with a win in Washington.

While the Trail Blazers (18-25) saw a three-game winning streak halted in Saturday's humbling 114-89 loss in Philadelphia, the Wizards (19-20) fell 119-117 to Boston to start a five-game homestand. It was just the 76ers' fifth win and their first of 25 points in 133 games, but Portland coach Terry Stotts understands his team's situation has more in common with the bottom than the top.

"Nothing surprises me in this league," Stotts said. "We're not even a .500 team, so losing on the road, that's not a surprise. I was disappointed in how we played. I was disappointed we weren't able to build on the momentum that we have. But we've got to learn and understand that any team can beat you on any night."

Damian Lillard struggled through his second-worst shooting effort of the season, going 4 of 18 for 14 points after averaging 31.3 points on 50.6 percent shooting - hitting 23 of 46 3s - in his previous four games.

"Terrible. We didn't come out and show them the respect that we should have shown them," Lillard told the team's official website. "They competed harder than us, they played better defensively, they played better offensively. It was probably one of our worst games of the season."

The reliance on Lillard continues to be alarming. When the guard shoots under 38 percent, Portland is 0-12 with Lillard averaging 18.3 points. When he's over that mark, the team is 14-10 with him averaging 27.9.

The Blazers and Wizards have split four games over the last two seasons and Washington has won the last three at home while limiting Lillard to 19.7 points on 32.8 percent.

Washington's loss to the Celtics came with John Wall missing a layup at the buzzer, though he finished with a season-high 36 points and 13 assists. He's totaled 64 points and shot 52.2 percent in his last two games.

The Wizards, who topped 45 wins last season for the first time since 1978-79, have struggled to stay at or above .500, and that has plenty to do with home struggles that are showing no signs of improving. They're 9-12 there for the season and have dropped four of their last five after losing 12 home games all of last season.

"We've got to find a way to put teams away when we get the opportunity," Wall said. "... We know what it takes to win."

That may be helped along if Washington can get healthy. Bradley Beal rested after scoring 22 points in 22 minutes in Friday night's victory at Indiana. He returned from a 16-game layoff for a lower right leg stress reaction on Wednesday. Otto Porter (right hip) has missed the last two games, Kris Humphries (right knee) missed his seventh in a row and Drew Gooden was out with a sore left calf.

"Well, we lost two guys again. Drew ain't playing, Bradley ain't playing," Wall said. "That was a key for us to have some guys come off the bench. We only had four guys coming off the bench today on a back-to-back. Everybody who played gave their best effort."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pelicans (13-26) at Grizzlies (23-19)

Date: January 18, 2016 2:30 PM EDT

Marc Gasol's high-scoring performance led the Memphis Grizzlies to another win on their successful homestand, and he had an even better showing against the New Orleans Pelicans earlier this season.

The Grizzlies center will try for a repeat when his team wraps up its six-game stay at FedExForum with Monday's rematch versus New Orleans.

Gasol scored 37 points in a 103-95 victory against New York on Saturday, lifting Memphis to 4-1 on its season-high homestand. Jeff Green chipped in 18 and has a combined 34 on 13-of-24 shooting in the past two games.

"(Gasol has) got to be like that every night," forward Matt Barnes said. "Marc's one of the best centers in the league. We go as he goes. We're a little short-handed right now with Mike (Conley) being out. He's a great passer but sometimes he's too unselfish. We want Marc to have these kinds of nights every night."

The Grizzlies (23-19) have also won eight of their last nine on their own floor even with Conley missing the past five of those games because of a sore left Achilles. Conley is considered doubtful for Memphis' attempt at a third consecutive win over New Orleans (13-26) and its third in a row at home in the series.

Gasol had a career-high 38 points and a season-best 13 rebounds in a 113-104 road victory against the Pelicans on Dec. 1.

"They've been playing well. It's definitely going to be a good challenge for us. They beat us on our home court so we definitely want to go in there and try to get that game back," Pelicans guard Norris Cole said. "(Gasol) is playing at an extremely high level. They pose a challenge for us, but I think we'll be up for it."

New Orleans is heading into Memphis seeking to match its season-best three consecutive wins Nov. 20-25.

The Pelicans have shown improved ball movement, averaging 28.0 assists, in its back-to-back victories and have shot a combined 46.7 percent from 3-point range. Ryan Anderson went 6 of 8 from beyond the arc while scoring a season-high 32 points Friday against Charlotte but the Pelicans needed Anthony Davis' dunk with two seconds left for a 109-107 victory.

"They've got some explosive guards and obviously Anthony Davis, an MVP-caliber player," Grizzlies swingman Tony Allen said. "We're going to have to make it another defensive, grind-it-out type game and try to make those guys uncomfortable."

After the trip to Memphis, New Orleans will begin a seven-game homestand Tuesday.

"This is our chance to get ourselves back in the playoff race," coach Alvin Gentry said. "If you look at the past dozen games or so, we've been very competitive and they've done everything that I've asked them to do."

The Pelicans' 109-97 win in Sacramento on Wednesday was their fourth road victory in nine games since their 1-12 start there. They haven't won back-to-back games away from home since April 1-3.

Former University of Memphis star Tyreke Evans had 20 points and 10 assists in the latest matchup with the Grizzlies. He's averaging 19.6 points in his last five meetings but was held to 10 in a 110-74 rout in New Orleans' most recent visit to Memphis on April 8.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Bulls (23-16) at Pistons (22-18)

Date: January 18, 2016 3:30 PM EDT

The Detroit Pistons have shown they can beat anybody, and this season they've made an example of Central Division rival Chicago - though the most recent matchup took a historically long time to reach that conclusion.

One month after playing the longest NBA game in nearly four years, the Bulls visit The Palace on Monday for a rematch with the Pistons.

The first meeting Oct. 30 went to overtime and Detroit (22-18) pulled out a 98-94 home victory that was its fourth in the last five against Chicago (23-16). When the Pistons added another series win Dec. 18, it took the word overtime to another level.

After 3 hours and 24 minutes, Detroit won 147-144 in four extra periods at United Center. It was the 13th NBA game to last at least four overtimes and first since Atlanta beat Utah on March 25, 2012. Eight players logged at least 48 minutes, and each side has seen ups and downs since - Detroit at 6-6 and Chicago at 8-7.

The Pistons, however, just became the league's fourth team to beat Golden State with Saturday's 113-95 win. Reggie Jackson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope each scored 20 points, and Andre Drummond finished with 14 and 21 rebounds. They held the league's top-scoring team to a season-low 36.2 percent shooting while improving to 14-6 at home.

"I think we know that we're capable of beating anybody," said coach Stan Van Gundy. "The difference between the Golden States, San Antonios, Clevelands of the world and where we are right now, is you've got to do it night after night after night after night after night, and that's our challenge."

Detroit seems to have Chicago figured out after losing 22 of 24 in the series, including 18 in a row from Feb. 2, 2009-March 31, 2013.

Jackson has averaged 24.3 points and 10.0 assists in the last four meetings, while Drummond has dominated a strong Bulls frontcourt with three consecutive 20-rebound games. The league's leading rebounder is averaging 19.8 points and 18.4 boards in the last five of this series.

The Bulls just learned they will likely be without their best inside defender for the rest of the season. Joakim Noah will have surgery to stabilize his separated left shoulder and miss four to six months.

The 2014 NBA Defensive Player of the Year has struggled to a career-low 4.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in the final year of his contract, and he may have played his final game with Chicago when he was hurt in Friday's 83-77 loss to Dallas.

Along with losing Noah, the Bulls lost for the fourth time in five games to follow a season-best six-game win streak. Jimmy Butler made just 2 of 11 shots for four points one night after scoring a career-high 53 in a 115-111 overtime victory at Philadelphia.

Butler's 53 matched Golden State's Stephen Curry for the most in the NBA this season. His four, however, matched Tony Parker of San Antonio in 2008 and Vernon Maxwell of Houston in 1991 for the least scored following a 50-point performance since 1963-64.

"He played a ton of minutes (Friday) night in a superhero performance, and yeah, he was tired, no doubt about it," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "But he's out there gutting it out and trying to battle through it."

Butler, leading the league with 38.2 minutes per game, scored what at the time was a career-high 43 last month against the Pistons.

The Bulls are opening a stretch with 10 of 12 coming on the road, where they've dropped six of their last nine.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Magic (20-19) at Hawks (24-17)

Date: January 18, 2016 5:00 PM EDT

Before the new year, the Orlando Magic were challenging the Atlanta Hawks for the Southeast Division lead.

They have lost ground to Atlanta so far in 2016 and won't have Victor Oladipo for Monday's visit to the Hawks.

Orlando (20-19) was one game behind the Hawks on Dec. 31 after winning seven of nine but now trails by three games following six losses in seven contests. The Magic rallied in the final minute of regulation to force overtime Thursday in London against Toronto but fell 106-103.

"We've definitely got to find solutions," said guard Evan Fournier, who had 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting. "It's unacceptable."

Oladipo scored a season-high 27 points but injured his right knee while taking a charge from Raptors center Bismack Biyombo in the fourth quarter. He was averaging 20.4 points and shooting 53.7 percent - including 18 of 27 from 3-point range - in five games since returning to the starting lineup.

"It's part of the game. I'm day by day right now," Oladipo said. "We're just basing it on how my body responds to the treatment. I'm taking it one day at a time."

While Oladipo is out, the Magic are expected to get point guard Elfrid Payton back in the starting lineup. He played 20-plus minutes Thursday after missing four games because of a bruised left ankle.

"If you're in the NBA then you can play. It's the next man up. That's been our whole approach," assistant coach Adrian Griffin said. "Every guy on our team is a professional and works very hard. In 82 games, (injuries) are going to happen, and you're going to get your shot. I always tell my guys to stay ready."

While short-handed, Orlando will seek to send Atlanta (24-17) to just its second loss in eight home games. A 114-86 rout of visiting Brooklyn on Saturday allowed the Hawks to avoid a third consecutive overall defeat.

Paul Millsap led the way with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting and is averaging 21.3 while connecting at 56.8 percent in his last three games.

"It was great, the way we moved the basketball, the way we played defense," Millsap said. "The test is how do we respond Monday."

Millsap was held to 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting in the first matchup with Orlando this season but had 13 rebounds. Kyle Korver had 13 of his team-best 19 points in the fourth quarter in a 103-100 win, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 44 seconds left.

The Hawks, who lead Miami by one game in the Southeast, are seeking a fourth consecutive win over Orlando and 11th in the last 12 home meetings, including the postseason.

Atlanta won both matchups at Philips Arena last season but only by a combined 13 points. Millsap totaled 43 points in the two games.

Nikola Vucevic had 20 points and 11 rebounds for Orlando in the loss in December, his sixth consecutive double-double versus the Hawks. He's averaged 13.0 rebounds while shooting 60.5 percent during that run.

Fournier is averaging 18.0 points and shooting 55.6 percent in his last three matchups against Atlanta.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nets (11-30) at Raptors (25-15)

Date: January 18, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

The Toronto Raptors have yet to match their soaring start to this season, though a long homestand brings an opportunity to possibly exceed it.

The Atlantic Division leaders first have the chance to tie a season high with a fifth consecutive win when they begin a seven-game residency Monday night against the stumbling Brooklyn Nets.

Toronto (25-15) returns to Air Canada Centre for the first time since Jan. 3 following a five-game trip it concluded Thursday in London, where the Raptors recorded a hard-earned 106-103 overtime victory over Orlando. It's the team's third four-game win streak since opening the season a franchise-best 5-0.

The Raptors showed plenty of resolve in the finale of the 11-day trek, battling back after losing an 11-point fourth-quarter lead and overcoming poor shooting performances from DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. DeRozan finished with a season-low 13 points on 4-of-19 shooting and Lowry was 5 of 20.

"It happens," said Lowry, who still managed 24 points and is averaging 22.0 over his last six. "At the end of the day, our teammates picked us up and we got the win. That's all that matters. We have a full team and we can have off-shooting nights."

The Raptors have made just 28.6 percent of 3-point attempts during the streak but are excelling at the foul line and defensively. They've shot 84.3 percent from the charity stripe and allowed an average 90.0 points while forcing 16.8 turnovers over the four games.

Toronto's surge began with a 91-74 win in Brooklyn on Jan. 6 in which it held the Nets to 39.7 percent to offset a 4-of-22 effort from 3.

Brooklyn (11-30) has fired coach Lionel Hollins since that meeting, and fell to 1-3 under interim replacement Tony Brown and 3-24 when scoring less than 100 points in Saturday's 114-86 blowout loss at Atlanta.

'I know there are nights like this in the NBA. But what I told them is I want to see a little more fight," said Brown, whose team was outscored 59-38 in the second half. "When you get into adversity, things are not going your way, it's easy to not do as much. We've got some guys not playing their best basketball, but they have to fight their way out of these situations. I can sit there and talk to them all day, run plays for them, but you've got to reach deep down and see how bad you want it. I thought (Saturday) we let go of the rope a little bit."

The Hawks finished with a 64-30 advantage in the paint, capitalizing on a continued weakness during Brown's brief tenure. The Nets are allowing 55.5 points in the lane over his four games, during which opponents have averaged 110.0 points and shot 51.0 percent. Brooklyn previously allowed an average of 43.8 points in the paint.

Toronto took advantage as well in the last meeting, with center Jonas Valanciunas scoring a season-high 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting.

Brook Lopez had 24 points and 13 rebounds in the Jan. 6 matchup but was held to 10 points and a season-low three rebounds by the Hawks.

The Nets are 4-15 on the road but did record a 109-93 win in their last visit to Toronto on Feb. 4, 2015.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Warriors (37-4) at Cavaliers (28-10)

Date: January 18, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The last time Golden State visited Cleveland, it left with the Larry O'Brien Trophy. It will still be the Warriors' no matter what happens during their next trip, but a recent slump has them looking a little less invincible.

The Warriors will try to avoid their first losing streak since June's NBA Finals in their second matchup against the Cavaliers since then on Monday night.

Golden State's 89-83 win on Christmas Day was its fourth straight in this series, including three in a row on the way to its first championship in 40 years.

But after going from the NBA champs to seemingly immortal with 24 straight wins to open this season, the Warriors (37-4) suddenly look human again. They've followed a seven-game winning streak with losses in two of three, and hope to avoid their first losing streak since dropping the second and third games of the Finals.

Saturday's 113-95 loss at Detroit was unique. In each of the Warriors' first three losses, they were missing either Stephen Curry, Draymond Green or Harrison Barnes, but they had all of their top scorers available and still had trouble putting the ball in the basket. Golden State scored fewer than 100 points for the fourth time, shot a season-low 36.2 percent and had 18 assists - the first time this season it's totaled fewer than 20.

The Warriors are 1-3 when shooting worse than 41 percent, all three defeats coming by at least 13 points.

'We've been saying it all year, but no matter where we go, teams are going to give us their best shot,' interim coach Luke Walton said. 'In this league if you're not ready to fight back, you're going to get blown out.'

Cleveland (28-10) likely is the team with the biggest bone to pick. Kyrie Irving fractured his left kneecap in Game 1 and Kevin Love was out due to a shoulder injury sustained earlier in the playoffs, but the full group is back and looking like the Eastern Conference's top dog again.

The Cavaliers' lone loss in the last three weeks was Thursday's 99-95 defeat at San Antonio, where the Spurs have rarely been tested. Cleveland won eight straight games prior and followed with Friday's 91-77 win at Houston to complete a 5-1 road trip.

"We're the best two teams playing right now," Irving said of the heavyweight matchup with the Warriors. "We're No. 1 in our respective conference, they're No. 1 in their conference."

Irving has averaged 17 points since returning in mid-December, and he led the Cavs with 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting against the Rockets. He is back as a high-level second option to LeBron James, who is averaging 25.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists while shooting 54.8 percent in the last six games.

Golden State is the only team James averages more than 30 points against in his career with 30.4 in 28 games, including the postseason. He had three 40-point games and a pair of triple-doubles in the Finals, but the lack of a second scorer heavily impacted the Cavs.

James finished with 25 points and nine rebounds in this season's first matchup, but no other Cleveland player scored more than 14. Green had 22 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists for the Warriors in their lowest-scoring game.

The Cavs play five of their next six games at Quicken Loans Arena, where they have won six straight and are 15-1.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Celtics (22-19) at Mavericks (23-18)

Date: January 18, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle rested plenty of his starters the last two times his club played in the second half of back-to-back contests. That probably won't happen this time since most of his stars got plenty of rest in a blowout loss in the first game.

The Mavericks figure to be at full strength as they look to bounce back Monday night by defeating the visiting Boston Celtics for the seventh straight meeting.

Carlisle rested starters Dirk Nowitzki, Deron Williams, Wesley Matthews and Zaza Pachulia in a 100-91 victory at New Orleans on Jan. 6 the night after a double-overtime win over Sacramento. The coach did one better when he sat those four along with Chandler Parsons in Wednesday's 108-89 defeat at Oklahoma City one night after losing in overtime to Cleveland.

On both occasions, he cited the heavy minutes logged by the starters in the first game. That won't be the case this time since Parsons' 28 minutes were the most on the team in Sunday's 112-83 loss at San Antonio.

Carlisle wasn't even around for the end since he was ejected 43 seconds into the fourth quarter. The Mavericks (23-19) actually led by two after one before things quickly fell apart.

"We've just got to play better," he told the club's official website. "I loved our first quarter. Second quarter, we had some mistakes that really took the air out of the game. We had a chance to recover, and we didn't."

Dallas has lost four of six overall and is 2-5 at home against Eastern Conference foes.

The Mavericks have taken the last five home meetings with the Celtics, and won 106-102 at Boston on Nov. 18 to extend their overall run in the series. Nowitzki scored 23 and Matthews added 18 as Dallas rallied from an 18-point deficit.

Isaiah Thomas was relatively held in check that night with his team-high 19 points. He is averaging 29.6 points in his last five games, with a 32-point effort in Saturday's 119-117 victory at Washington.

Thomas is among the NBA's leaders with 11.5 drives per game.

"He's just going," coach Brad Stevens said. "He's got a nice rhythm. We've got guys that are looking for him. He's playing on and off the ball, which I think is good."

Boston (22-19) is averaging 113.0 points in a three-game win streak coinciding with Jared Sullinger replacing Kelly Olynyk in the starting lineup at center. Jae Crowder is averaging 21.3 points in this run and Olynyk has provided a spark at 14.3.

"We've got a lot of guys that are really contributing and it's been good to get these last three," Stevens said.

Crowder will play at Dallas for the first time since he was traded by the Mavericks to the Celtics in the Rajon Rondo deal on Dec. 18, 2014. Second-year guard Marcus Smart, who has 23 points in his last two games, grew up not far from the city in Flower Mound, Texas.

The Mavs struggled on offense in a 1-2 trip, averaging 85.0 points on 37.9 percent shooting. They shot a season-low 35.8 percent Sunday.

Matthews was the only starter to score in double digits with 12 points. Nowitzki, Parsons and Pachulia combined for 14 points on 5-of-24 shooting.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rockets (21-20) at Clippers (26-14)

Date: January 18, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

Blake Griffin is already out for the Los Angeles Clippers, and another game missed by DeAndre Jordan could result in another loss.

That's because Dwight Howard has been dominant in two wins over the Clippers this season, and will likely be relishing the chance to face a depleted frontcourt for the visiting Houston Rockets on Monday night.

Los Angeles (26-14) had its 10-game win streak end with Saturday's 110-103 home defeat to Sacramento. The Clippers have played the last 10 games without Griffin, who is out with a partially torn left quadriceps tendon and may return Thursday to face LeBron James and Cleveland.

Cole Aldrich has turned in consecutive 19-point efforts - the highest two-game total of his career - starting in place of Jordan, who has missed two games due to pneumonia.

"I think through this stretch we've improved as a basketball team," coach Doc Rivers said. "And I think when D.J. comes back first and then Blake, we're going to be a much better team because of all this. We've still got a long way to go and neither one of them are back yet."

Jordan is questionable for Monday's matchup with Howard, with the centers ranked first and second in field-goal percentage at 71.5 and 61.0, respectively. They are also known for their awful foul shooting, with Jordan second-worst in the NBA at 41.2 percent and Howard fourth-worst at 53.4. Both could be sent to the line intentionally due to those woes.

Howard, who is averaging 18.9 points and 13.4 boards during a stretch of nine straight double-doubles, has flexed his muscles by amassing 42 points and 34 rebounds to help Houston (22-20) capture both meetings this season. The Rockets won't miss the sight of Griffin, who totaled 57 points and 19 boards.

Rivers said there's no obvious adjustments he can make against Howard if Jordan joins Griffin in street clothes. His club shot a season-high 39 3-pointers Saturday.

"We just keep doing what we doing," Rivers said. "We just have to play the way we have to play without those guys. We'll be fine, we'll be ready for sure."

Houston has won five straight overall over Los Angeles, including the final three games of last year's Western Conference semifinal series which it captured in seven. That included a memorable Game 6 victory at Staples Center in which the Rockets outscored the Clippers 40-15 in the fourth quarter of a 119-107 victory.

James Harden scored 46 and Howard had 20 and 20 rebounds in a 109-105 road win Nov. 7 over the Clippers, who played without Chris Paul. The Rockets built a 21-point lead after one quarter in a 107-97 home win over Los Angeles on Dec. 19.

Houston did not have a starter log more than Harden's 27 minutes in Sunday's 112-95 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Harden scored 31 and Howard and Clint Capela each had 14 as the Rockets scored a season-high 70 points in the paint in their sixth win in seven games.

The Rockets had fewer than 50 points in the paint in their previous 11 games.

"We attacked the basket," Howard said. "When we attack the basket, you make things happen. We've gotta continue to do a better job of attacking and putting teams on their heels."

Starting guard Patrick Beverley, who sat out with a sprained left ankle, could return Monday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Monday's Tip Sheet
By Kevin Rogers

Bulls at Pistons – 3:35 PM EST

These two Central division rivals are meeting for the third time this season as Detroit (22-18 SU, 22-17-1 ATS) has won the first two matchups in overtime. In the last contest between these teams at the United Center on December 18, the Pistons pulled out a 147-144 triumph in four overtimes to cash outright as five-point underdogs. Detroit center Andre Drummond scored 33 points and pulled down 21 rebounds, as the Pistons look to improve on a 4-1 SU/ATS record at home against division opponents. The Pistons are fresh off a solid performance on Saturday night against the defending champion Warriors, knocking off Golden State, 113-95 as seven-point home underdogs.

Chicago (23-16 SU, 15-24 ATS) has struggled of late, losing four of its past five games with the lone victory coming against the lowly 76ers in overtime. One game after Jimmy Butler dropped a career-high 53 points at Philadelphia, the Bulls’ shooting guard was limited to four points in Friday’s 83-77 home setback to the Mavericks. Chicago shot 36% from the field, as Fred Hoiberg’s team has failed to cover in five straight games. The Bulls have struggled in the road underdog role by owning a 2-6 SU/ATS record in this situation since late November.

Magic at Hawks – 5:05 PM EST

The Hawks (24-17 SU, 20-20-1 ATS) remain atop the Southeast division in spite of losing two of their last three games. Atlanta ended a mini two-game skid with Saturday’s 114-86 blowout of Brooklyn as 10 ½-point home favorites to improve to 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS in the last seven contests at Philips Arena. Mike Budenholtzer’s club has eclipsed the 100-point mark in seven straight home games, while the Hawks have claimed five of the past six matchups with the Magic. These two met last month in Orlando as Atlanta rallied for a 103-100 victory to cash as 1 ½-point favorites.

The magic has disappeared for Orlando (20-19 SU, 23-15-1 ATS) following a promising start as Scott Skiles’ squad has lost six of its past seven games. The Magic returns to the states after an overtime loss in London to the Raptors on Thursday, 106-103, but Orlando cashed as 4 ½-point underdogs. Orlando has been limited to 99 points or less in seven straight contests, even though it has cashed the ‘over’ in the last two games. The Magic have split their last six road games, although two of those three victories came at Brooklyn.

Warriors at Cavaliers – 8:05 PM EST

The last time Golden State (37-4 SU, 24-16-1 ATS) visited Quicken Loans Arena, the Warriors captured their first NBA championship since 1975. Golden State faces Cleveland for the second time in less than a month as the Warriors held off the Cavaliers on Christmas Day, 89-83. Luke Walton’s team failed to cover as seven-point favorites, but the Warriors limited the Cavs to 31% shooting from the floor. Golden State began the season with a 14-0 road record, but have split their last eight games away from Oracle Arena, including back-to-back losses at Detroit and Denver.

The Cavaliers (28-10 SU, 17-20-1 ATS) have lost just once in 16 tries at Quicken Loans Arena, while returning home from a 5-1 road swing. Cleveland’s lone blemish came in a 99-95 setback at San Antonio last Thursday, but the Cavs bounced back with a convincing 91-77 victory at Houston on Friday. David Blatt’s club lost two of three home meetings with the Warriors in last June’s NBA Finals (all as an underdog), but beat Golden State in the regular season as a three-point favorite, 110-99.

Celtics at Mavericks – 8:35 PM EST

Boston (22-19 SU, 22-18-1 ATS) continues a three-game road trip after holding off Washington on Saturday, 119-117 to win its third consecutive contest following a four-game skid. The Celtics have cashed the 'over’ in four of the last five games, while allowing at least 100 points in four straight road contests. Brad Stevens’ team is playing with revenge after blowing a 15-point lead to the Mavericks in a 106-102 home setback in November as five-point favorites. The Celtics have lost six straight meetings with Dallas since 2013, while last winning at the American Airlines Center in 2010.

The Mavericks (23-18 SU, 24-16-1 ATS) return home with no rest after getting blown out by the Spurs on Sunday, 112-83 as 12 ½-point underdogs. Dallas owns a 6-4 SU/ATS record on the second of a back-to-back, while posting a 1-1 SU/ATS mark at home in this situation. Rick Carlisle’s club is on a strong ‘under’ run recently by cashing the ‘under’ in 10 of the last 12 games, although those two ‘overs’ in this stretch came at home.

Rockets at Clippers – 10:35 PM EST

It’s a quick turnaround for Houston (21-20 SU, 16-25 ATS), who is playing at Staples Center for the second straight night after facing the Lakers on Sunday. The Rockets have cashed the ‘over’ in seven of 10 games with no rest, while posting a 5-5 SU and 4-6 ATS record in this situation. Houston has owned Los Angeles since rallying from a 3-1 deficit in the second round of the playoffs last season, winning five straight over the Clippers, including a pair of victories this season. The Rockets held off the Clippers in their first matchup at Staples Center, 109-105 as five-point underdogs.

Los Angeles (26-14 SU, 18-19-3 ATS) saw its 10-game winning streak snapped by Sacramento on Saturday, 110-103. The Clippers played for the second straight game without center DeAndre Jordan, who sat with the flu, but Cole Aldrich stepped up by scoring 19 points each against the Heat and Kings. Los Angeles heads out of town for five games following Monday’s contest, as Doc Rivers’ team has won six of the past eight home games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Streaks, Tips, Notes

Well-Rested NBA Road Dogs Cashing January 17, 2016

So far this season one solid but simple, trend that involves NBA road underdogs and how much rest they have has been a consistent winner for handicappers.

Any road underrdog that has had two or more days rest becomes a play. The trend has racked up an impressive 31-25 ATS record (55.3%). Although, winning 55.3% in sports handicapping is considered success, it’s possible to improve the hit rate if you limit the games to those road underdogs getting +4.0 to +6.5 points. Then, it hits a money-making 15-6 against the betting line (71.4%).

As with any betting trend of this sort, it will eventually fade away, but for now, it’s worth keeping an eye out for well-rested road underdogs.