INSIDE THE LINES
THURSDAY, APRIL 23
Updated by 2:00 P.M. Eastern Weekdays
Updated by 9:00 A.M. Eastern Weekends
NBA PLAYOFFS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(2) Boston (63-21, 43-41 ATS) at (7) Chicago (42-42, 44-39-1 ATS)
After barely escaping with a split at home, the Celtics head to the United Center in the Windy City looking to regain control of this best-of-7 opening-round playoff series against the upstart Bulls.
Ray Allen, who missed a game-tying shot at the buzzer in overtime in Game 1, redeemed himself with a three-pointer in the waning seconds Monday to push Boston to a 118-115 Game 2 victory. However, the Celtics once again failed to cover as an 8½-point home favorite. Allen, who missed 11 of his 12 shot attempts in Game 1, had a team-high 30 points Monday as all five Boston starters scored in double figures. That includes point guard Rajon Rondo, who contributed a triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 16 assists.
Chicago, which scored a 105-103 upset victory in Game 1 to steal home-court advantage in this series, came up short in Game 2 despite shooting 50 percent from the field, going 9-for-20 from three-point range and making 26 of 29 foul shots. After rookie point guard Derrick Rose poured in a game-high 36 points in the series opener, shooting guard Ben Gordon went for 42 points on 14-for-24 shooting. The difference for the Bulls in Game 2 was they got outrebounded 50-36, including 21-8 on the offensive glass, after having a 53-46 rebounding edge in Game 1.
The Bulls shot 46 percent in the two games in Boston, compared with 44.1 percent for the Celtics. Boston has topped the century mark in four straight and 10 of its last 11 games, while the Bulls have done so in 18 of their last 23 contests, putting up 107.4 ppg during this stretch.
Chicago is 28-13 at home this year (22-19 ATS), while the Celtics were 27-14 as a visitor in the regular season (also 22-19 ATS).
Boston is still 7-2 SU in the last nine meetings with Chicago, but the Celtics have failed to cash in the last three battles after going 7-0 ATS in the previous seven. The squads have split their last four clashes at the United Center in Chicago, including the Bulls’ 127-121 victory as a 1½-point home underdog on March 17. Also, even though Chicago got the cash as an underdog in the first two games of this series, the favorite is still on a 9-4 ATS run in this rivalry.
The Celtics are now mired in ATS funks of 0-5 against the Central Division, 2-5 in first-round playoff action and 0-4 when coming off two days’ rest. On the bright side, Doc Rivers’ squad carries pointspread hot streaks of 5-1 on the road, 12-5 on Thursday, 39-17 as an underdog overall, 42-17 as a road pup and 5-0 when catching points in the playoffs.
Chicago has cashed in five straight first-round postseason games and is on additional ATS runs of 11-5 at home, 5-1 on Thursday, 13-3 after a SU loss and 5-2 when laying less than five points.
The last four meetings in this rivalry – including both games in this series – have easily gone over the total. However, prior to Chicago’s 127-121 home win over Boston last month, the under had hit in five straight clashes at the United Center.
For the Celtics, the over is on runs of 4-0 overall, 17-5 against the Eastern Conference, 5-2 against the Central Division, 6-1 in first-round postseason games, 6-1 after a SU win and 16-5 after a non-cover. Also, the Bulls are on “over” stretches of 8-3 against the Atlantic Division, 6-1 in first-round playoff action, 4-1 after two days off and 5-2 as a favorite.
ATS ADVANTAGE: CHICAGO and OVER
(3) San Antonio (55-29, 41-41-2 ATS) vs. Dallas (51-33, 41-43 ATS)
Having salvaged Game 2 in San Antonio, the Spurs travel to American Airlines Arena for Game 3 against the Mavericks in this best-of-7 Western Conference opening-round series.
San Antonio jumped up 30-19 after one quarter in Game 2 on Monday and carried that to a 105-84 victory, covering as a six-point home favorite. The Spurs got a huge game from point guard Tony Parker, who finished with 38 points and eight assists and led five teammates with double-figures in points, including Tim Duncan (13 points, 11 rebounds). San Antonio dominated the boards, outrebounding Dallas 44-28, and held the Mavs to 40.3 percent shooting.
The Spurs, who have won five of their last six overall (3-3 ATS), are in the playoffs for the 12th straight year and gotten out of the first round in eight of those seasons. They ousted Phoenix in five games in last year’s opening round (2-2-1 ATS).
The Mavericks, who have still won eight of their last 11 (6-5 ATS), are trying to get out of the first round after going one-and-done in the playoffs each of the last two years, losing to Golden State in six games (1-5 ATS) in 2007 and then falling to New Orleans in five games (2-3 ATS) last season.
Despite San Antonio’s Game 2 victory, the road team has still dominated this Texas-sized rivalry, going 15-7 ATS in the last 22 meetings, with the underdog posting a 16-6 ATS mark in those 22 games. Dallas is also 18-9 ATS in the last 27 series clashes.
San Antonio is 7-3-1 ATS in its last 11 conference quarterfinal games and 4-1 ATS in its last five Thursday outings, but the Spurs are on pointspread slides of 0-5 after a spread-cover, 1-6 after a straight-up win, 2-6 as a playoff ‘dog and 2-5 after getting two days off
Dallas is on ATS slides of 1-5 as a postseason favorite, 5-21 on Thursdays and 3-8 in first-round playoff games, but the Mavs are on positive ATS runs of 12-4 after a straight-up loss, 14-6 as a home chalk and 8-1 after getting two days off.
Both games in this series have gone over the total, with Monday’s contest barely getting over the 188½-point line. Going back to the regular season, the over is on a 4-1 streak in this rivalry.
Rhe under has been the play in each of the Spurs’ last five as a playoff ‘dog, but they’re otherwise on “over” streaks of 10-4-1 overall, 6-2-1 when installed as a road ‘dog, 5-2 in first-round postseason action and 11-5-1 as a ‘dog of less than five points. Dallas is on “over” runs of 13-5 as a home favorite, 16-7 as a favorite, 5-1 after two days off and 4-1 against teams with winning records, however the under is 5-2 in the Mavericks last seven at home and 13-3 in their last 16 as a playoff favorite.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
(1) L.A. Lakers (66-18, 44-40 ATS) at (8) Utah (48-36, 40-44 ATS)
The Lakers, who opened this best-of-7 set with a pair of double-digit home wins, now trek to Salt Lake City looking to grab a commanding 3-0 series lead with a victory over the Jazz at Energy Solutions Arena.
Los Angeles mimicked its Game 1 effort in Game 2, building a big first-half lead before letting off the gas in the second half and eventually winning, this time taking a 119-109 decision Tuesday but coming up short as an 11½-point home favorite. The Lakers, who have won nine of their last 10 games (6-4 ATS), led by more than 20 points late in the first half, but Utah chipped the deficit to three late in the fourth quarter. L.A. shot a blistering 60 percent from the field in Game 2, including going 11-for-20 from three-point range, but it committed 21 turnovers to allow the Jazz to stay in the game.
Deron Williams (35 points, nine assists) led six players in double figures in Game 2, but it wasn’t enough for the Jazz, who lost their third straight game, all in Los Angeles, including a 125-112 setback in the regular-season finale. Additionally, Utah has now dropped six of its last seven and nine of its last 11 overall, and despite getting the money Tuesday, the Jazz are still stuck in a 5-15 ATS funk (2-5 ATS in their last seven at home).
Including the two wins in this series, the Lakers are now 5-1 against the Jazz this season (4-2 ATS). Also, they’re 11-5-1 ATS in the last 17 meetings with Utah overall. However, the Jazz have won seven of the last 10 clashes with Los Angeles in Salt Lake City, including a 113-109 victory as a one-point home chalk on Feb. 11. Finally, the host has won 10 of the last 11 in this rivalry and is 14-5-1 ATS in the past 20 series battles (4-1 ATS in the last four).
Utah, which has played eight of its last 11 games on the road, won 16 of its last 18 regular-season contests at Energy Solutions Arena, finishing 33-8 at home (22-19 ATS). Los Angeles went 29-12 on the road in the regular season (23-18 ATS), including 8-3 in the last 11 (7-4 ATS).
The Lakers are still on ATS streaks of 5-2 overall, 6-1 in first-round playoff action, 5-1 as a favorite, 13-3 when playing on Thursday, 9-4 after a SU win and 4-1 when playing on one day of rest. However, Phil Jackson’s squad has failed to cover in four of its last five on the road and five of its last six as a playoff chalk.
In addition to pointspread slumps of 3-11 overall and 2-8 at home, Utah is in ATS funks of 3-15 as an underdog, 3-13 against winning teams, 3-9 after a SU defeat and 2-5 against the Pacific Division. However, the Jazz are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 first-round playoff contests.
The first two games in this series have gone over the total, making the over 19-6 in the last 25 head-to-head clashes and 8-0 in the last eight (including 5-0 in playoff meetings over the past two seasons). Additionally, Utah is on “over” runs of 10-2 overall, 8-0 against winning teams, 9-2 versus the Western Conference, 35-17 versus the Pacific Division, 41-19-2 as an underdog, 6-2 as a home ‘dog and 5-0 as a playoff pup. For the Lakers, the over is on streaks of 6-1 overall, 6-1 against the Northwest Division and 5-0 against the Northwest Division.
Conversely, the under is 11-2 in Utah’s last 13 home games, 6-2 in L.A.’s last eight on the highway and 14-5 in L.A.’s last 19 on Thursday.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Tampa Bay (6-9) at Seattle (9-6)
Two of the best young pitchers in baseball are set to square off at Safeco Field, where the Rays’ James Shields (2-1, 4.58) opposes Felix Hernandez (2-0, 4.26) and the Mariners in the finale of a three-game series.
Tampa Bay snapped a three-game losing skid in emphatic fashion with Wednesday’s 9-3 victory over Seattle. The defending American League champs are still just 2-6 in their last eight games, scoring two or three runs in all six defeats. Going back to last year’s playoffs, the Rays have lost eight of their last 12 on the road and they’re 2-6 in their last eight as an underdog, but they’ve now won 10 of their last 14 against the A.L. West.
Seattle has followed up a six-game winning streak by going 2-4 in its last six. Also, although they’re still 7-4 in their last 11 home games, the Mariners have dropped seven of their last 10 as a chalk and five of their last six on Thursday.
Tampa is now 6-2 in the last eight meetings between these squads.
Despite giving up five runs on seven hits (two home runs) in seven innings on Friday against the White Sox, Shields escaped with a 6-5 victory. The shaky outing was in contrast to his 2009 debut at Baltimore, where he scattered three hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings in an 11-3 road win. Last year, Shields was just 5-6 with a 4.82 ERA in 16 road starts (compared with 9-2, 2.59 ERA at home).
Shields is 1-1 despite a sterling 2.12 ERA in four career starts against the Mariners (1-1, 2.38 ERA in three games at Safeco). He’s given up three earned runs or fewer and pitched into the seventh inning in all four contests. With Shields toeing the rubber, the Rays are on streaks of 18-8 overall, 4-1 on the road and 13-3 versus the A.L. West, but they are 6-14 in the right-hander’s last 20 outings as an underdog (playoffs included).
The Mariners are a perfect 3-0 with their ace on the hill, including Friday’s 6-3 home win over Detroit, with Hernandez allowing all three runs in six innings in his first home start of the season. The hard-throwing right-hander went 5-5 with a 3.88 ERA in 16 outings at Safeco last season.
Although Hernandez is only 1-1 with a 2.54 ERA in five career starts against the Rays, the Mariners have won four of those contests, all in Seattle.
For Tampa Bay, the under is on streaks of 4-2 on the road, 4-0 as an underdog, 12-2 when Shields takes the mound as a ‘dog and 4-0 in Shields’ four career starts versus Seattle. Also, Seattle sports “under” trends of 20-10 against A.L. East opponents, 6-0 when Hernandez pitches on Tuesday and 10-1 when Hernandez faces the A.L. East.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
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