Sunday 3/27/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[superbeets]

International Mo 28Mar 19:00

Ukraine

v

Wales

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BBC2		8/15	14/5	9/2	More markets

​

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSIN UKRAINE	RECENT FORM
ADAWHLHWADNW​ Most recent​	1 - 1	AWHDALHWHLHD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Ukraine have won four of their last five home matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Wales could only draw at home to Northern Ireland on Thursday night and they look vulnerable against a decent Ukraine side. Chris Coleman is missing some key players including Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey so his team could be set for a difficult evening in Kiev.

RECOMMENDATION: Ukraine
2

 

[superbeets]

International Tu 29Mar 19:45

Ireland

v

Slovakia

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
PMSK		5/4	21/10	12/5	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSIN IRELAND	RECENT FORM
HWHWALADHW*HW Most recent	0 - 0 1 - 0	HDHLAWHWHWHD Most recent

KEY STAT: Ireland have lost one of their last 11 matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Ireland continued their good form with a 1-0 win over Switzerland on Friday but they may struggle to double up against fellow Euro 2016 qualifiers Slovakia. Martin O’Neill’s men are missing a number of influential forwards, including Jonathan Walters, and could be held to a draw by the organised visitors.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw

 

[superbeets]

International Tu 29Mar 20:00

Scotland

v

Denmark

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS1		15/8	21/10	6/4	More markets

​

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSIN SCOTLAND	RECENT FORM
ADALHLHDAWAW​ Most recent​	2 - 1 0 - 1 0 - 1 0 - 1	ADALHLALHDHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Denmark have lost four of their last five away games

EXPERT VERDICT: Scotland battled to a 1-0 against the Czech Republic on Thursday and they can reward backers again by following up against Denmark. The Danes have failed to qualify for the finals and their recent away record does not inspire confidence.

RECOMMENDATION: Scotland
1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL notebook: Wild signs D Seeler
By The Sports Xchange

The Minnesota Wild signed defenseman Nick Seeler on Saturday to a two-year, entry-level contract starting with the 2016-17 season.
Seeler, 22, collected 10 assists in 36 games during his junior season at the University of Minnesota and led the team with a plus-21 rating, 43 penalty minutes and 91 blocked shots. The 6-foot-2, 192-pound native of Eden Prairie, Minn., was an Academic All-Big Ten selection. He redshirted for the 2014-15 season due to NCAA transfer rules after playing two seasons at the University of Nebraska Omaha.
Seeler spent the 2011-12 season playing for Muskegon and Des Moines in the United States Hockey League and totaled 28 points (four goals, 24 assists) in 56 games. He was selected by Minnesota in the fifth round of the 2011 NHL draft.

---The Montreal Canadiens agreed to terms with free agent defenseman Tom Parisi on a two-year, two-way contract for the next two seasons.
Parisi, 22, played 38 games with the Providence College Friars in 2015-16, recording 16 points (one goal, 15 assists). The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder displayed a plus-12 differential and served 24 penalty minutes.
Since making his college debut in 2012-13, Parisi appeared in 144 regular-season games with Providence College, contributing 55 points (12 goals, 43 assists) and 96 penalty minutes.

---The Tampa Bay Lightning recalled defenseman Slater Koekkoek and forward Joel Vermin from the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL.
Koekkoek has five goals and 10 assists with 24 penalty minutes in 55 games with the Crunch this season. He has appeared in six games with the Lightning this season, notching one assist.
Vermin also has an assist in six games with the Lightning this season. In 29 games with the Crunch, he has six goals and 11 assists.

---The Calgary Flames assigned defenseman Tyler Wotherspoon to the Stockton Heat of the American Hockey League.
Wotherspoon, 23, has played in 11 games for the Flames this season with one assist. He has skated in 45 games for Stockton, recording six assists and 14 penalty minutes.
Wotherspoon was Calgary's second-round pick (57th overall) in the 2011 NHL draft.

---Defenseman Brenden Kitchon of the Winnipeg Jets was reassigned to Manitoba of the American Hockey League.
Kichton was called up from the Moose on Friday on an emergency basis. He has played 62 games for the Moose this season, leading the team with 34 points on nine goals and 25 assists, and has 36 penalty minutes.
Kichton has yet to play in his first NHL game.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Devils (36-31) at Hurricanes (32-28)

Date: March 27, 2016 5:00 PM EDT

The New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes are in virtually identical situations in the Eastern Conference playoff race, needing points with seven games left.

The Devils' push has gone better lately, and they seek their sixth win in nine contests Sunday in Raleigh.

New Jersey (36-31-8) has only one team between it and Philadelphia, which occupies the East's final wild-card spot, while Carolina (32-28-15) lurks just behind the Devils in the standings.

While New Jersey is 5-2-1 in its past eight games, the Hurricanes dropped to 1-2-4 in their last seven after a 4-3 overtime defeat to the New York Islanders on Saturday.

Carolina couldn't hold on to a second-period lead while moving one shy of matching its team-record of 16 defeats via overtime or shootouts set in 2011-12. The franchise also registered 16 or more ties in five other seasons.

"We're in games. We're right there," said forward Jordan Staal, whose team has earned at least one point in nine of its 11 contests this month. "Unfortunate endings. I thought we battled pretty hard, besides the first period. ... Just didn't come up with the two points."

The Devils also earned one point in their latest game, falling 1-0 in overtime to league-leading Washington on Friday. They were coming off a 3-0 shutout against Pittsburgh the day before, and John Carlson ruined Scott Wedgewood's attempt at back-to-back blankings in his third NHL start.

"All points are valuable. It's disappointing not to get the second one. It's tough to get points this time of year so you'll take what you can get," forward Kyle Palmieri said.

Wedgewood was called up last Sunday due to No. 1 goaltender Cory Schneider's knee injury. Coach John Hynes said Schneider is not expected to return until next week at the earliest.

"He's played great since he got here," Palmieri said of Wedgewood. '"Hopefully he can keep that going. It makes it a lot harder on other teams. They come in and see that he's only had three NHL games and they think it's going to be point night. He goes out and surprises them."

New Jersey has split its four games with Carolina this season, and each team is 1-1-0 on visiting ice. The Hurricanes are 1-3-1 in their last five at home and have given up a combined 19 goals in those games.

The Devils allowed 13 in back-to-back road losses before beating Pittsburgh.

"Against them, it's always a tight checking game. They do a pretty good job of clogging up the neutral zone," Carolina forward Jeff Skinner said. "We've got to try to make plays."

New Jersey forward Adam Henrique scored in the victory over the Penguins and has four of his career-high 27 goals in the past five games. He has eight goals in his last 12 versus Carolina.

Hurricanes forward Chris Terry has three goals and two assists in a career-high five-game point streak but hasn't recorded one in his last four matchups against New Jersey.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Penguins (41-25) at Rangers (43-24)

Date: March 27, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

The New York Rangers have ousted the Pittsburgh Penguins from the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. Owning home-ice advantage would improve their chances at doing it again.

The Rangers attempt to separate themselves further from the injury-riddled Penguins in the race for second place in the Metropolitan Division in this potential first-round playoff preview Sunday night.

New York (43-24-8) has won five of the last seven matchups with Pittsburgh at Madison Square Garden, including two of three while winning last season's first-round postseason series in five games. However, the Rangers fell 5-3 in the most recent matchup at MSG on March 13.

Another playoff series is possible with the Rangers leading the third-place Penguins by four points with seven games remaining.

Pittsburgh is also trying to hold off the New York Islanders, who are one point back and in the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Penguins (41-25-8) continued their high-octane offense Saturday with a 7-2 rout of Detroit, scoring four times in the second period. They are averaging 3.75 goals during a 7-1-0 surge.

Phil Kessel and Nick Bonino set career highs with five points apiece. Bonino's effort was a major surprise since he matched his production from the previous 13 games, despite being a game-time decision with an upper-body injury.

The scoring outburst also came with star center Evgeni Malkin sidelined for at least four more weeks with an arm injury.

"He had a terrific game for us," coach Mike Sullivan said of Bonino on the team's official website. "When we're in the situation we're in right now with some of the injuries that we have, we need guys to step up at key times and he certainly did."

Sullivan has already ruled out defenseman Brian Dumoulin, who suffered an upper-body injury while being checked Saturday. It's unknown if Chris Kunitz will also be out with an upper-body injury that forced him to leave in the second period.

"We'll re-evaluate (Kunitz) and he'll be a game-time decision," Sullivan said.

One player whose status isn't in question is Sidney Crosby, who has 21 points over the last 14 games. He has three goals and two assists in his last three visits to MSG.

Conor Sheary unexpectedly scored twice at New York this month, but those are the rookie forward's only points over his last 13 games.

Chris Kreider has a goal in each of the last two meetings with the Penguins. He had no points in five games before scoring twice and assisting on Derick Brassard's tally in Saturday's 5-2 win at Montreal.

"We're trying to find chemistry between lines right now," said Brassard, who added two assists. "Chris is a big part of our team. To see him score two goals like that and be involved in the game, that's something our team is pretty excited about.

"Hopefully it's going to give him some confidence. I really like our line."

Brassard has 23 points in his last 25 games against Pittsburgh, including 13 in 12 at MSG. He has one point in each of the past seven matchups there.

The Rangers are expected to have Henrik Lundqvist in net after backup Antti Raanta made 24 saves against the Canadiens.

Lundqvist is 21-5-2 with a 2.17 goals-against average at home. He owns a 1.95 GAA while winning five of his last seven there against the Penguins, including four playoff matchups.

He stopped 28 of 32 shots against them earlier this month.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blackhawks (43-25) at Canucks (27-34)

Date: March 27, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

Needing just one point to assure themselves of an eighth straight trip to the playoffs, the Chicago Blackhawks are likely more concerned with avoiding falling into a wild-card spot.

The Blackhawks look to continue turning around their rough stretch by capitalizing on their final meeting with the collapsing Vancouver Canucks on Sunday night.

Chicago (43-25-7) is 13 points clear of ninth-place Colorado and the postseason cutoff with seven games remaining. Since the Blackhawks hold the tiebreaker with the Avalanche, one point will be enough to put them back in the playoffs.

Chicago is also trying to maintain its hold on third place in the Central Division, sitting just two points ahead of Nashville, which occupies the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

This wasn't a concern as recently as three weeks ago when the Blackhawks were vying for the top spot in the conference, but a 1-4-2 stretch all but ended those hopes.

They started to turn things around Saturday, beating Calgary 4-1 in the opener of this four-game trip with three coming against teams outside of the playoff race.

'We've lost a ton of ground here and trying to get a win was the most important thing,' coach Joel Quenneville said. 'We've still got to be better, but we found a way to win, which was nice.'

That sense of urgency isn't lost on Andrew Ladd, who had two goals and one assist Saturday to give him eight points in 12 games since being re-acquired in a trade with Winnipeg last month.

'We know where we're at in terms of the standings,' Ladd said. 'Nashville's right on our heels and St. Louis is pulling away. We understand this road trip is a big road trip for us.'

Chicago beat the Canucks 4-0 at home on Dec. 13 behind 30 saves from Corey Crawford, who isn't on this trip due to an upper-body injury. Scott Darling is 2-2-1 with a 2.28 goals-against average during a stretch of five straight starts.

He made 31 saves against the Flames and Quenneville could give him the nod on consecutive days for the first time.

Darling could be poised for another impressive performance since the Canucks (27-34-13) are on the verge of their first eight-game losing streak since January 2009. They've been outscored 21-5 over their last seven games (0-6-1) and have been shutout in four of the last five.

Vancouver mustered a season-low 15 shots in Friday's 4-0 loss at St. Louis. Frustration seems to be mounting for coach Willie Desjardins, who has a roster that includes 10 players 23 years old and younger.

"We are young for sure ... Sure you learn from it, but there's a point where you want to quit learning and you want to just play. You want to do it," he said.

Daniel Sedin leads the Canucks with 27 goals, his highest total since netting 30 in 2011-12, but he's only scored once during the slide.

He had a hat trick and an assist against the Blackhawks in November, giving him 69 points in 73 career matchups - including playoffs.

Henrik Sedin averages a point in 37 lifetime home meetings with Chicago after tallying a career-high five in a 6-3 victory Nov. 21.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Grand Salami - March

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
3/1 8 48.5 49 OVER
3/2 3 16.5 17 OVER
3/3 12 65.5 69 OVER
3/4 3 15.5 20 OVER
3/5 11 58 62 OVER
3/6 6 30.5 34 OVER
3/7 7 36 38 OVER
3/8 8 44.5 41 UNDER
3/9 6 32.5 32 UNDER
3/10 6 32.5 29 UNDER
3/11 5 26.5 28 OVER
3/12 12 63.5 66 OVER
3/13 3 16 13 UNDER
3/14 6 30 41 OVER
3/15 8 43.5 40 UNDER
3/16 6 32.5 32 UNDER
3/17 8 43.5 51 OVER
3/18 6 32 26 UNDER
3/19 11 56.5 53 UNDER
3/20 7 37 34 UNDER
3/21 4 20.5 25 OVER
3/22 10 54.5 51 UNDER
3/23 2 10.5 11 OVER
3/24 11 59.5 68 OVER
3/25 3 15 16 OVER
3/26 14 72.5 84 OVER
3/27 3 - - -
3/28 8 - - -
3/29 9 - - -
3/30 3 - - -
3/31 10 - - -

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL

Hot teams
-- New Jersey won three of its last five games.
-- Penguins won seven of last eight games. Rangers won last three games, scoring 14 goals.

Cold teams
-- Carolina lost six of its last seven games.
-- Blackhawks lost six of their last eight games. Vancouver lost seven in row, outscored 22-5.

Series records
-- Devils won three of last five visits to Carolina.
-- Rangers won seven of last ten games with Pittsburgh. Rangers are 3-7 in last ten games if they played night before.
-- Chicago-Vancouver split their last ten games.

Totals
-- Last three New Jersey games stayed under the total.
-- Over is 5-1-1 in last seven Ranger games.
-- Under is 5-0-1 in last six Vancouver games.

Back-to-backs
-- Carolina is 7-3 in last ten games if it played night before.
-- Penguins won five of last seven if they played night before.
-- Chicago is 1-6 on road if it played the night before.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA notebook: Griffin practices with Clippers
By The Sports Xchange

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin returned to practice on Saturday as he moves closer to a return from quadriceps and hand injuries.
Griffin has missed the past 41 games and also still faces a four-game suspension for the incident in which he broke his right hand while punching equipment staffer Matias Testi. Griffin isn't allowed to start the suspension until he is medically cleared to play.
"I don't know if one practice is enough to activate him," coach Doc Rivers told reporters. "We've got to activate him when we think he's ready to play."
The Clippers would like to activate Griffin as soon as possible to get him some playing time before the start of the playoffs.

---Sacramento Kings All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins said he will undergo a procedure on his feet after the season.
Cousins has been plagued with tendinitis in both feet most of the season and he said he will have a procedure involving platelet rich therapy, which will use platelets from his blood to repair the tendons. He is expected to be sidelined from four to six weeks but hopes to be recovered in time to try out for the U.S. Olympic squad for the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. He is one of 30 finalists for the 12-player U.S. squad.
Cousins is averaging 27.1 points and 11.6 rebounds this season for the Kings. .

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nuggets (31-42) at Clippers (44-27)

Date: March 27, 2016 3:30 PM EDT

It's going to take a considerable run or slide for either the Los Angeles Clippers or Denver Nuggets to alter their standing in the Western Conference before the end of the season, and only one of the two is desperate to do so.

The Clippers seem firmly planted in the No. 4 seed and content with home-court advantage, while the 10th-place Nuggets have a huge task ahead to get into the top eight. But heading into Sunday's meeting in Los Angeles, it's the visitors having won three of four while the Clippers have done the opposite.

The Nuggets (31-42) are seeking a Staples Center sweep after a 116-105 win over the Lakers on Friday in which their bench scored a road season-high 71 points on 57.4 percent shooting. The team also posted a season-high 31 assists with nine turnovers.

It's the brand of basketball coach Mike Malone wants to see over the final nine games, regardless of what kind of run they're able to make at the postseason.

"We talked pregame. This 30 wins, this 31 wins - are we playing the right way?" said Malone, whose team needs to be practically flawless down the stretch to compete with Utah, Dallas and Houston. "And I loved how we played tonight.

"I think our defense was pretty good for the most part. We had some lapses, and then I really like the fact that we're playing for each other, and that's so important going into these last nine - playing for each other on both ends of the floor. It was just another good road win for us, and we have another tough one here on Easter Sunday."

Malone said it could come with Kenneth Faried returning from a five-game absence due to lower-back soreness.

D.J. Augustin scored a team-high 20 points, while fellow reserve Jusuf Nurkic had a career-high 18. Augustin, who's played 19 games with the Nuggets after his trade last month from Oklahoma City, has averaged 15.0 points in his last eight on 47.5 percent shooting overall and 42.9 from 3-point range.

His fourth game with Denver was an 87-81 road win over the Clippers to even the season series at a game apiece, but it was the Nuggets' first win in the last five meetings and ended a six-game road skid in the series.

The Clippers (44-27), meanwhile, seem to be treading water - even sinking - until the playoffs or the return of Blake Griffin. He returned to practice Saturday and is close to getting activated after being sidelined by a quadriceps injury, but he won't play until serving a four-game suspension for punching a team staff member.

Things started extremely well without him all the way back in December with nine straight wins, but the Clippers have since gone 18-14 with Thursday's 96-94 home win over Portland ending a three-game skid.

Their 1-4 span might have more to do with perimeter scoring than the absence of Griffin. Los Angeles has shot 29.3 percent from long range after going 4 of 19 against the Trail Blazers.

Chris Paul and Jamal Crawford each scored 25 points in a win that was needed more on the mental side than it was in the standings.

"It's all about confidence," Paul said. "I think our spirit was right again today, like yesterday, but they were hitting some tough shots. You just need to know what it feels like to win again."

The next goal might be correcting things at home to make the most of likely having home-court advantage in the first round. Los Angeles' road point differential of plus-1.3 ranks eighth, while its home mark of 5.2 is 12th a season after being fifth at 8.0. The Clippers were 30-11 at home last season and are 23-12 entering this game.

"I think we've had a nice year on the road," coach Doc Rivers said, "but I don't think we've had a nice year at home."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mavericks (35-37) at Kings (28-44)

Date: March 27, 2016 6:00 PM EDT

Dallas navigated a brutal five-game stretch with little success, yet emerged in decent enough shape in a four-team race for the Western Conference's final three playoff spots.

The road gets easier over the Mavericks' next five, though it begins Sunday night in Sacramento with the Kings in position to win the season series.

The Mavericks (35-37) haven't made things easy on themselves with a 2-9 stretch that started with a 104-101 home loss to the Kings on March 3. They went 1-6 on a comparatively easy span of games before a 1-4 stretch that included two losses to Golden State, one at Cleveland, one at Portland and a home win over the Blazers.

The latest was Friday's 128-120 loss at Golden State, which has Dallas two games under .500 for the first time this season. A single-digit loss to a team chasing the single-season wins record didn't have coach Rick Carlisle in crisis mode, particularly with Dirk Nowitzki, Devin Harris, Deron Williams and Chandler Parsons all sidelined.

"We've shown that we can compete with everybody in the league. The important thing now is getting there," said Carlisle, whose team faces Denver to conclude this four-game trip, plays New York at home, then visits Detroit and Minnesota before things again get difficult. "The next 10 games are going to tell the story."

While Harris missed the game for the birth of his daughter and Nowitzki was resting in anticipation of a back-to-back against the Kings and Nuggets, the team announced Parsons would miss the rest of the season after undergoing meniscus surgery. Williams was resting an abdominal strain but figures to return.

Wesley Mathews scored 26 points and hit 6 of 11 from 3-point range, and the shooting guard has averaged 21.0 points while hitting 17 of 28 from long range in the last three games. The Mavericks have shot 46.7 percent from beyond the arc in that time with 14.0 makes per game, but opponents have averaged 111.4 points over the last 11.

"We played hard and we competed," Matthews told the team's official website. "I think that we took a step in the right direction, as far as getting better. Guys needed to step up, and guys did step up. But obviously, we can't give up 120-something points.

"We've got to continue that fight and that push to make sure we salvage this trip with two games left on it."

Dallas has won seven of nine in the series, but the Kings have taken two of three this season.

Sacramento (28-44) ended a seven-game home losing streak with Friday's 116-94 win over Phoenix. It was the first time the Kings had held an opponent under 104 points over a 3-9 home span on which they've given up an average of 113.2.

"Home court is an issue that's frustrated everyone," said coach George Karl, whose team started a span of seven of nine at home. "I think to be a successful team you have to win 30 games at home, instead of 15 or 16."

Offensively, it was a breakout effort for Willie Cauley-Stein, whose career-high 26 points followed a three-game stretch with four total points on 2-of-11 shooting for the typically defensive-minded rookie.

Rajon Rondo helped him out, and the NBA assists leader's 12 gave him 795 on the season to push him past Reggie Theus' Sacramento-era franchise record from 1985-86.

"It's definitely an honor," Rondo said. "A lot of great players have played here and to be at the top of any list is humbling."

Rondo only attempted two shots, but the point guard who spent the majority of last season with Dallas has averaged 19.5 points in two games against his former team.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rockets (36-37) at Pacers (38-34)

Date: March 27, 2016 6:00 PM EDT

Like the Indiana Pacers, the Houston Rockets are fighting to hold on to a playoff spot in their respective conference.

While Houston is coming off a victory, the Pacers' postseason push hit a bump in their latest game, and they step up in class Sunday night while attempting to snap a four-game losing streak to the visiting Rockets.

Houston (36-37) is among four teams in contention for the final three spots in the West and aided its cause Friday by topping Atlantic Division-leading Toronto 112-109. The Rockets are virtually tied for the seventh spot with Utah and one-half game ahead of Dallas in ninth.

James Harden registered his third triple-double this season - 32 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds - while helping end his team's three-game slide.

"We've got to win every game from here on out," Harden said. "We've only got a handful left so each and every game is important. We've got to take advantage of opportunities."

The Rockets will try to keep taking steps in the right direction during a two-game road trip that finishes against East-leading Cleveland on Tuesday.

First, they'll seek their longest win streak against Indiana since a series-best, nine-game run from 1985-89. Houston needed overtime for its latest victory over the Pacers, 107-103 on Jan. 10.

The Rockets have dropped their last three road games, their worst in a single season since a six-game losing streak in 2012-13.

The Pacers (38-34), meanwhile, failed to sweep a three-game stretch against opponents well out of the playoff race, blowing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead Saturday in a 120-110 loss to Brooklyn.

"You've got to improve somewhere or we'll be watching the playoffs in April," point guard George Hill said.

Detroit's loss to Atlanta kept Indiana one percentage point ahead of the Pistons for seventh in the East. The Pacers also remained two games ahead of ninth-place Chicago, which lost 111-89 in Orlando.

"We have to move on. We play well against some really good teams and it's no knock on Brooklyn - they came out and played hard, but it's a bad loss," said forward Paul George, who scored 27 points. "The bigger picture is that we'll be better than that."

Indiana has won its past two home games after losing four of six but averaged 91.5 points in those victories. The Pacers allowed an average of 79.5 in those contests against league-worst Philadelphia and New Orleans.

George has averaged 27.5 points on 51.4 percent shooting in his two career home games against Houston, but he missed last season's 110-100 loss recovering from a fractured leg.

George had 20 points in the earlier matchup this season. Trevor Ariza led the Rockets with 24 while Dwight Howard had 21 along with 17 rebounds.

Howard is averaging just 7.7 points in his last seven games and scored two in Friday's win.

Harden had a relatively pedestrian 21 points in his latest meeting with Indiana after topping 40 in each of his previous two, including 44 in last season's victory at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Rockets forward Michael Beasley, signed March 4, scored 21 points on Friday and is averaging 17.5 while shooting 59.0 percent in his last six games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: 76ers (9-64) at Warriors (65-7)

Date: March 27, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

When they meet Sunday in Oakland, the Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers will participate in not just the league's most monumental mismatch this season.

It will also be the biggest in league history in terms of win-loss records.

The 76ers, though, gave Golden State all they could handle earlier this season and will try to pull off a most unlikely upset and end the Warriors' NBA-record regular-season home win streak.

Golden State (65-7) moved 56 1/2 games ahead of Philadelphia (9-64) following the 76ers' 108-105 defeat in Portland on Saturday. Two teams have been farther apart at the end of a season previously, with the 1972-73 Boston Celtics finishing 59 games better than Philadelphia's infamous 9-73 team.

At the time of tip-off, however, there has been no margin greater than 52 games between two teams. Late during their record-setting 72-win 1995-96 season, the Chicago Bulls were 67-9 and 51 1/2 games better than a 16-61 Philadelphia 76ers team they routed 112-82 on April 12, 1996.

Golden State remained one game ahead of Chicago's record-setting pace with a 128-120 victory over Dallas on Friday.

"We know we can make history," guard Klay Thompson said after scoring 40 points. "That's a good motivator itself."

Thompson and Steph Curry combined for 73 points and 14 of the Warriors' 21 3-pointers. Thompson's shot from beyond the arc with 9:51 remaining gave his team 934 3-pointers, breaking the single-season NBA mark set by Houston last season.

"That's pretty sweet," said Thompson, whose team has 938. "The game is kind of changing and I think we're on the forefront of that. Our team's shooting ability is second to none."

Golden State now tries to extend its home win streak to 53 and claim a sixth straight victory over Philadelphia. Last season's matchup at Oracle Arena was one-sided as the Warriors won 126-86 on Dec. 30, 2014, but the Sixers gave them everything they could handle before Harrison Barnes drilled a 3-pointer with 0.2 seconds left for a 108-105 win at Philadelphia on Jan. 30.

The Warriors have averaged 111.2 points and won by 22.2 points per game during their win streak over the 76ers. Thompson scored 32 in the January victory, during which Golden State blew a 24-point second-half lead.

Philadelphia won't have Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel for this matchup because of knee injuries.

With those two players out, the 76ers suffered their eighth straight loss and 21st in 22 games Saturday. Philadelphia has lost 12 straight on the road and is 3-34 there, but coach Brett Brown was encouraged by his team's latest performance.

"You walk away feeling like we could have stolen a win on the road," Brown said. "I'm thrilled with their effort. I think they showed a side that they've been showing.

The 76ers need one win to avoid tying their 1972-73 team for the worst record in league history, and it's a tall order here given they are 46-191 over the last two-plus seasons.

"When you lose at the rate we have lost, teams can do two things. You can disintegrate and go into separate places, a bunch of islands, or you can come together. Our group stays together," Brown said. "We just try to get better day by day. That's not real sexy but it's true. It's what we do."

Andrew Bogut (foot) is considered doubtful for Golden State while Andre Iguodala (ankle) is among the Warriors who are out.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Wizards (35-37) at Lakers (15-57)

Date: March 27, 2016 9:30 PM EDT

The Washington Wizards just played their "game of the year," and not in a good way.

After a tantalizing loss that encapsulates their season, the Wizards hope to revive their slim postseason hopes when they open a West Coast trip against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.

It will be Washington's last game against Kobe Bryant, who is expected to play despite a nagging right shoulder injury. A third straight loss would make it another step toward a painfully disappointing season.

The Wizards (35-37) entered with high expectations after second-round playoff appearances the previous two years but are in danger of missing the postseason. A season-high five-game win streak pulled them within 1 1/2 games of the Eastern Conference's eighth seed, but they have fallen back with consecutive home losses.

The latest was Friday's excruciating 132-129 double-overtime defeat to last-place Minnesota. Washington surrendered 62 points in the opening half - the 23rd time it has allowed 60 in a half - before blowing late leads at the end of regulation and in both overtimes.

'Pretty devastating,' said John Wall, who posted his eighth straight double-double with 22 points and 16 assists. 'We know how important it was. Probably the game of the year.'

Bradley Beal missed open, potential winning 3-pointers at the end of regulation and the first overtime, and Marcin Gortat missed two free throws that could've put Washington ahead with 15 seconds left in the second OT.

'It's a horrible loss, just plain and simple,' said Beal, who had 26 points. 'There's no explanation about it. ... We need to play desperate. We have no other choice.'

On top of everything, starting forward Markieff Morris left early and didn't return after straining his left calf. It is unclear if he will be available Sunday.

The Wizards were a top-10 defensive team the previous three seasons but have dropped to the league's bottom third while allowing 104.6 points per game. They're 0-6 this month when giving up more than that average.

They held opponents to 41.3 percent shooting and 92.4 points per game on their recent win streak but have imploded in the last two. Atlanta shot 53.6 percent in Wednesday's 122-101 win in Washington, and the Timberwolves shot 53.1 percent two days later.

Washington's inconsistency has lingered all season, one example being a home defeat to Los Angeles (15-57). One day after holding Cleveland to 33.7 percent shooting in a 97-85 win, the low-scoring Lakers downed the Wizards 108-104 on Dec. 2.

While Wall had 34 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, Bryant logged one of his three 30-point games of the season with 31 to help snap Los Angeles' five-game skid in this series. The Wizards have won the last three in LA.

Bryant finished with 28 points for his highest-scoring output in almost eight weeks in Friday's 116-105 loss to Denver, the Lakers' sixth defeat in seven games.

Coach Byron Scott said before the game that Bryant will try to play in each of LA's final 10, five of which are at Staples Center where the Lakers are 10-26.

'I'm just trying to save up and have as much energy as possible, and try to play all of these games,' Bryant said. 'I'm just giving it absolutely all I can.'

Julius Randle, 21, became the youngest Laker with a triple-double since Magic Johnson by posting 13 points, 18 rebounds and a career-high 10 assists against the Nuggets. D'Angelo Russell left with a sprained right ankle and is listed as doubtful for Sunday.

The Lakers must close 6-4 to avoid posting the franchise's worst record since moving to Los Angeles 56 years ago.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA

Sunday's hot teams
-- Denver won three of its last four games (2-5 last 7AU).
-- Golden State won nine of its last ten games (6-3 last 9HF).
-- Washington won five of its last seven games (4-3AF).

Cold teams
-- Clippers lost five of their last seven games (1-5 last 6HF).
-- Dallas lost eight of its last ten games (5-0 last 5AU). Sacramento lost seven of last ten games (3-4 last 7HF). .
-- Rockets lost four of their last six games (5-3 last 8AU). Pacers lost four of last seven games (4-6 last 10HF).
-- 76ers lost their last eight games (5-3 last 8AU).
-- Lakers lost six of their last seven games (1-4 last 5HU).

Series records
-- Clippers won four of last five games with Denver.
-- Mavericks won seven of last nine games with Sacramento.
-- Pacers lost their last four games with Houston.
-- Warriors won last five games with Philly (4-6 vs spread last 10).
-- Lakers lost five of last six games with Washington.

Totals
-- Last six Nugget-Clipper games stayed under the total.
-- Eight of last nine Dallas-Sacramento games stayed under.
-- Five of last seven Indiana games stayed under the total.
-- Five of last six Philly games stayed under the total.
-- Over is 3-0 in last three games for both Wizards/Lakers.

Back/backs
-- Indiana is 3-9 vs spread in last 12 games if it played the night before.
-- 76ers are 4-8 vs spread in last 12 games if it played the night before.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Previews, Streaks, Tips, Notes

Philadelphia at Golden State Warriors March 27, 8:00 EST

Life on the road has been a nightmare for Sixers. A sputtering offense (96.2 ppg) and inability to keeping the ball out of their own basket (106.9 ppg) away from home the result has been 3 wins, 33 losses (prior to Saturday's game). Sixers' playing without rest (1-15 SU, 6-10 ATS) will try to solve Golden State the best team in the league at 65-7 (40-30-2 ATS) and in one of toughest venues where Warriors have an umblemished record at 34-0 (19-15 ATS).

Pickin's may not be as easy as it seems. It hasn't been profitable backing Warriors recently as double digit chalk (5-5 ATS). Curry and company haven't exactly been money in the bank as home chalk in non-conference games going 3-9 ATS including 2-6 ATS laying double digits. Additionally, as bad as Sixers are they're tops against the betting line in non-conference action cashing 66.7% of tickets (18-8-1 ATS), 9-4 ATS away from Philly, 5-2 ATS on enemy hardwood handed double digits.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Orange (22-13) at Cavaliers (29-7)

Date: March 27, 2016 6:09 PM EDT

CHICAGO (AP) Before every game, the door knocker comes out, and each of the Virginia Cavaliers takes a turn. While the swings are different for each player, the message is the same.

Just keep going.

'We don't want to take steps back,' junior guard London Perrantes said Saturday. 'We want to keep on knocking until the door opens for us.'

The next door for the top-seeded Cavaliers (29-7) leads to the Final Four in Houston, but standing in the way is resurgent Syracuse (22-13) after a late slide almost led to another empty March for the Orange. With coach Jim Boeheim deftly pulling the right strings on his tricky, 2-3 matchup zone, 10th-seeded Syracuse is allowing 53.7 points per game in the NCAA Tournament.

The Orange appeared to be in big trouble in the Midwest Regional semifinals against Gonzaga, but used their full-court pressure to rally for a 63-60 victory and an all-ACC rematch with Virginia on Sunday.

'They're a very disciplined team, and we've just got to be smart defensively and offensively, as well,' said Michael Gbinije, who scored 20 points against the Bulldogs, including a go-ahead layup with 22 seconds left.

The Orange visited Virginia on Jan. 24, and the Cavaliers used a strong finish to secure a 73-65 victory. Syracuse trailed 49-48 with 5:58 to go before Malcolm Brogdon hit consecutive 3-pointers to help Virginia pull away.

The Cavaliers shot 56.8 percent from the field in their third consecutive victory against the Orange. It was the highest shooting percent against Syracuse since North Carolina State shot 57.7 percent in the Orange's 88-72 victory on Dec. 17, 2011.

'It's a good zone. You have to be able to attack it in different ways,' Virginia coach Tony Bennett said. 'You have to knock down some shots. The ball has to move, you have to dent it off the dribble, get on the glass, different kinds of things.

'I just think I have the guys that have the right spacing and the right mindset, and these are the guys who have made the shots and made the plays.'

Mostly known for its defense since Bennett took over in 2009, Virginia is averaging 80.7 points and shooting 55.7 percent from the field in the NCAA Tournament. Led by Anthony Gill's 23 points, the Cavaliers placed four players in double figures in their 84-71 win against Iowa State in the regional semifinals.

'They have a very, very good defensive system, and they have a much better than people think offensive system, as well,' Boeheim said, 'and that's why they've had the success they have.'

Here are a couple more things to watch when the Cavaliers and Orange play their third NCAA Tournament game in the series between the schools:

AT STAKE: Virginia is going for its third consecutive 30-win season and the school's third appearance in the Final Four. It also made it in 1981 and 1984.

Syracuse is trying for its first Final Four since 2013 and No. 6 overall. It also made it in 1975, 1987, 1996 and 2003.

GBINIJE VS. VIRGINIA: Gbinije also had four rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots against Gonzaga. The graduate student, who is from Richmond, Virginia, leads the Orange with 17.8 points and 4.3 assists per game.

'I enjoy playing against teams from Virginia just because I'm from Virginia, and there's a sense of familiarity,' said Gbinije, who scored 24 points in the January loss to the Cavaliers.

ACC POWER: The winner of Syracuse-Virginia will take on another school from the Atlantic Coast Conference in the Final Four. North Carolina meets Notre Dame in the East Regional final.

'You ask anybody, what's the toughest league in America? The one you're in,' Bennett said. 'I think every coach says that. It's a statement that's kind of true. But this isn't a tiptoe league to use something we talked about yesterday. It's a big-boy league, and there's a few of those, and it's hard and it's a fine line between being in the upper echelon and not being there.'

WATCHING PERRANTES: Perrantes' play could be key against Syracuse's zone, and he has enjoyed success against the Orange in the past. The point guard has career averages of 10.7 points and 8.0 assists in three games against Boeheim's school.

'He does what they need him to do,' Boeheim said. 'He's a very good defensive player. When he gets open shots, he makes them. He gets the ball to people - he's tough.'

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Fighting Irish (24-11) at Tar Heels (31-6)

Date: March 27, 2016 8:49 PM EDT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) The day before North Carolina and Notre Dame were to meet for a berth in the Final Four, the talk around the Wells Fargo Center was about a game played two weeks ago.

That would have been the semifinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, a 78-47 victory for North Carolina over the Fighting Irish. A 31-point blowout just 15 days ago.

'I misplaced it,' Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said about the tape of that game. 'Those are the ones that you burn, you don't go back to. But certainly you have to learn from it and we've talked about it a little bit in practice.'

Since that loss Notre Dame has become the comeback kids of the NCAA Tournament. The Fighting Irish have trailed in the second half of all three of their games and two have come down to the final seconds.

'They're playing at a really high level right now. But I think we are as well,' Notre Dame forward Steve Vasturia said. 'So especially with one day to get ready for them, we're so familiar with what they do and they know what we do. So I think mainly for us just going out there and focusing on what we do best and playing with nothing to lose and that should be good enough for us.'

The matchup between top-seeded North Carolina (31-6) and sixth-seeded Notre Dame (24-11) in the East is just one of two all-ACC regional finals. In the Midwest, top-seeded Virginia meets 10th-seeded Syracuse, guaranteeing the ACC a team in the national championship game.

North Carolina players look to another matchup the Tar Heels had with Notre Dame that turned the season around. On Feb. 6, the Fighting Irish won at home, 80-76, and the Tar Heels say that second half is what turned around for them and they have gone 12-2 since that loss.

'First thing we've learned is that defense wins championships. We've really played well defensively especially at the end of the first half and beginning of the second. And that's basically what we learned mostly out of that game,' said Brice Johnson, North Carolina's leading scorer (16.8) and rebounder (10.5). 'We can't let up on them because they're a very good team and they will make runs during the game. And that's pretty much it.'

This is North Carolina's 26th regional final and the Tar Heels have gone on the Final Four a record 18 times, the last in 2009 when they won the last of their five national championships.

For Notre Dame this is its seventh regional final and the Fighting Irish won once, its only Final Four appearance in 1978.

'I was a freshman at Northwestern Louisiana,' Brey said. 'I certainly remember watching those Notre Dame teams.'

North Carolina's Marcus Paige, who got the Tar Heels' Sweet 16 win over Indiana off to great start with four 3-pointers, brought it all back to what Sunday night's game really means.

'Revenge can't be the only motivating factor in a game that gets you to the Final Four. That's the biggest thing. This game is to go to the Final Four,' he said. 'I don't care what happened in the past. And I'm sure they don't either. This is a one-game opportunity to change your season.'

FAMILIAR FOE: This will be the second time North Carolina has faced another ACC team in the NCAA Tournament. In 1981, the Tar Heels beat Virginia in the national semifinals in Philadelphia.

SURE SHOOTING: Notre Dame's V.J. Beacham is on quite a tear in the NCAA Tournament. The 6-foot-8 junior is 20 for 31 in the three NCAA games (64.5 percent) including 52.9 percent from 3-point range (9 of 17). He is averaging 17.7 points per game in the tournament after scoring a total of four points in four tournament games last season.

FOURTH TIME: This will be the fourth NCAA Tournament meeting between the schools and North Carolina has yet to lose. They met in 1977, 1985 and 1997.

SECOND HALF STAR: Notre Dame's Demetrius Jackson had scored 26 points in the second halves of the Fighting Irish's last two games. He had 12 in the last-second win over Stephen F. Austin and 14, including the steal and game-winning basket in the final seconds, against Indiana.

SOME DEFENSE: North Carolina has held opponents to under 50 percent shooting in its last 27 games. The only team to make more than they missed against the Tar Heels was Maryland (50.8 percent) in North Carolina's 89-81 victory.

SOME NAMES: Paige moved into 14th place on Carolina's career scoring list, passing Michael Jordan during the Indiana game. Johnson became the third Tar Heel to average a double-double and shoot 60 percent from the field joining Bobby Jones in 1973 and Mitch Kupchak in 1975.

COACHING CASUALTIES: This is one tough regional. North Carolina coach Roy Williams banged his leg during the news conference on Friday night. Brey hurt his calf during the win over Wisconsin and was in a walking boot Saturday.

'I told my doc `I don't really want to do this,'' Brey said, 'We'll talk tomorrow.'