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

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[superbeets]

Euro Championships Th 12Nov 19:45

Norway

v

Hungary

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSIN NORWAY	RECENT FORM
HDHDAWHWHWAL​ Most recent​	4 - 0	HWAWHDADHWAL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Norway kept three clean sheets in five home qualifiers

EXPERT VERDICT: Two late goals from Italy consigned Norway to third place in Group H, but Per-Mathias Hogmo will fancy his side’s chances of making amends over two legs against Hungary. The Norwegians were unbeaten in five before that 2-1 loss in Rome and look capable of regaining the winning thread in Oslo.

RECOMMENDATION: Norway
2

 

[superbeets]

Euro Championships Fr 13Nov 19:45

Bosnia-Hz.

v

Ireland

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

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

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

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
1

 

[superbeets]

International Fr 13Nov 19:45

N Ireland

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Latvia

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

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

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

RECOMMENDATION: Northern Ireland to win 2-0
1

 

[superbeets]

International Fr 13Nov 19:45

Spain

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England

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

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

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

RECOMMENDATION: Spain to win 1-0
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[superbeets]

International Fr 13Nov 19:45

Wales

v

Holland

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

KEY STAT: Holland conceded 14 goals in Euro 2016 qualifying

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

RECOMMENDATION: Wales
2

 

[superbeets]

League One Sa 14Nov 12:30

Rochdale

v

Wigan

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

KEY STAT: Rochdale have drawn their last four league games

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

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
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[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Jim Feist's Bonus Play for Wednesday, Nov 11, 2015

(719) DETROIT PISTONS VS (720) SACRAMENTO KINGS

Take: UNDER THE TOTAL.

Reason: Your Bonus Play for Wednesday, November 11, 2015 is in the NBA scheduled contest between the Detroit Pistons and the Kings in Sacramento. Detroit is a good defensive team and a great rebounding one a long way from home, on a 4-1 run under the total. Detroit is Top 6 in the NBA in points allowed and the under is 13-3-1 vs. the NBA Pacific division. The under is also 10-4 in the Pistons last 14 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. The Kings defend the perimeter well but can't shoot free throws, 28th in the NBA from the line. The Kings are 8-3-2 under the total vs. a team with a winning record and when these teams clash the Under is 9-3-1 in the last 13 meetings in Sacramento. Play Pistons/Kings Under the total.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

CAPPERS ACCESS

W. Michigan
N. Illinois
Bucks

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Canadiens (13-2) at Penguins (9-5)

Date: November 11, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

Thanks to being the highest-scoring team in the NHL - and some strong play from their backup goaltender - the league-leading Montreal Canadiens have been just fine without Carey Price.

They'll try for their fifth win in six games since losing the league's reigning MVP when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night.

Montreal (13-2-1) continues to flourish despite being without Price the last five games due to a lower-body injury. Coach Michel Therrien said Price isn't expected to be out for the long term after he received a second opinion confirming team doctors' diagnosis.

"It's good for him, mentally. There's no worry. He's not going to play this week," Therrien said. "We hope he'll be able to get on the ice pretty soon, so this is good news."

Mike Condon has gone 6-0-1 with a 1.57 goals-against average in Price's absence through his first seven career games. The Canadiens have also taken the pressure off with plenty of scoring, leading the league with 3.7 goals per game and converting on the power play in each of the last six games.

David Desharnais' power-play goal with 1:08 left put Montreal ahead in Saturday's 4-2 home victory against Boston after the club trailed 2-1 entering the third period. Max Pacioretty followed with an empty-netter in the final minute, his eighth goal to tie for the team lead.

Desharnais has seven points in the last five games and 14 on the season, second-most on the team.

"I don't know what to say, everybody's getting rewarded and I'm one of them," said Desharnais, who was dropped from Montreal's top line earlier in the season. "No matter what happened this season, I was going to keep a good attitude."

The Penguins (9-5-0) lost 5-2 to Calgary on Sunday to close a four-game trip. They fell behind 3-1 in the first period while being outshot 16-8.

"We were really separated from each other. We weren't supporting each other really well," forward Eric Fehr said. "We were going for home-run plays and that's not the way we've been winning lately."

Pittsburgh had won nine of 10 prior to Sunday. Phil Kessel continued to get comfortable with his new club, scoring for the second straight game to give him four goals in seven contests after scoring twice in the first seven.

These teams have split the last eight meetings after Montreal won the season series opener 3-2 at Pittsburgh on Oct. 13 behind Pacioretty's two goals. He has seven goals and two assists n his last seven matchups.

The Penguins have gone 9 for 28 on the power play in the past eight meetings.

Pittsburgh, though, will be looking to avoid dropping four in a row at home against the Canadiens for the first time since Oct. 21, 1975-Oct. 23, 1976.

Sidney Crosby's two goals are his fewest through 14 games in a season, though he has 10 and nine assists in his last 15 against Montreal. Evgeni Malkin has recorded four goals and 10 assists in his past 10 meetings.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Oilers (5-10) at Ducks (4-7)

Date: November 11, 2015 10:00 PM EDT

Though the Anaheim Ducks have followed a miserable October with a strong start to November, they're hardly a polished product.

Coming off their first loss this month, the Ducks should have a good opportunity to rebound and continue their dominance over the visiting Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night.

After going 1-7-2 in October, Anaheim (5-7-3) won the first four this month before failing to hold an early two-goal lead in Monday's 4-3 overtime defeat to Arizona.

"One point is always good, but you've got to believe at home, against a divisional opponent, you want two points," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "When you have a 2-0 lead after one (period), you should be able to close it out. We didn't."

Boudreau was irritated with veteran Ryan Getzlaf, whose intended drop pass for teammate Corey Perry at the Arizona blue line was instead picked up by Mikkel Boedker for the game-winner.

"You can call it whatever you want," Boudreau said. "You don't drop-pass to nobody. You don't do it."

Lapses like that still plague the Ducks, who realize that not all the October kinks have been ironed out. The top line of Getzlaf, Perry and Patrick Maroon was a minus-5 and recorded one shot on goal Monday after totaling 10 points and a plus-8 rating in the previous two contests.

"At least we got the point and we can take a little bit out of that moving forward, but as a line, I thought we let our other guys down," said Getzlaf, who has six giveaways in the last three games to match the total from his first eight.

"For whatever reason, we seemed a little out of sync - as a line, as a unit. (The overtime) was another example of it."

Despite Getzlaf having no goals and two assists in his last eight home games against Edmonton (5-10-0), Anaheim has dominated this series in recent years. The Ducks swept last season's four meetings and have won 21 of the past 25, including six straight at home.

The Oilers haven't scored more than two goals in nine straight visits to Anaheim. Frederik Andersen has a 1.50 goals-against average while going 4-0-0 against them, though he did allow more than two goals for the first time in five starts Monday.

Edmonton had scored four goals in three straight games before totaling three in their last two and losing both. Those defeats have come since 2015 overall No. 1 pick Connor McDavid (five goals, seven assists) suffered a broken clavicle last Tuesday.

The Oilers trailed 2-0 after 18 minutes at Chicago on Sunday and didn't score until Jordan Eberle's goal in the third period of a 4-2 loss. It was the first for Eberle, who was playing his second game after missing the first 13 with a shoulder injury.

"We fall behind and then we have nothing to lose so then we play hard," coach Todd McLellan told the Oilers' official website. "That has to happen right off the bat. I think that's mental and I think that's massaging the mindset and belief system that we have in place right now.

"It's just not strong enough."

Taylor Hall has no points in the past two games after a six-game point streak during which he had four goals and eight assists. He has no goals in his last eight in Anaheim - all losses.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL

Hot teams
-- Pittsburgh won six of its last seven games. Montreal won four of last five.
-- Anaheim won four of its last five games.

Cold teams
-- Edmonton lost six of its last eight games.

Series records
-- Canadiens won their last three visits to Pittsburgh.
-- Ducks won their last four games with Edmonton.

Totals
-- Seven of last nine Montreal games went over total.
-- Five of last six Edmonton games went over the total.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Lakers (1-6) at Magic (3-5)

Date: November 11, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

Although playing without their aging star is not how the Los Angeles Lakers envisioned ending their struggles, they may again need to find answers without Kobe Bryant.

With the status of the 37-year-old guard up in the air, the Lakers continue their road trip with the second of a back-to-back Wednesday night against the Orlando Magic.

After beating Brooklyn to open this five-game swing, the Lakers (1-6) have dropped two straight to match their start from last season, which ended with a 21-61 record.

The difference this time around was supposed to be Bryant, who missed most of the last two seasons with injuries, but the 20-year veteran was shooting 32.0 percent through six games before sitting out a 101-88 loss at Miami on Tuesday to rest a sore back.

Coach Byron Scott said he's not planning to have Bryant available against the Magic three days after revealing that the 17-time All-Star had expressed a desire to try playing as many games as he can since this may be his last season.

"If he can't go, you know he's hurt," Scott said. "The level of concern is pretty up there right now."

Bryant downplayed things, however, saying it comes with the territory for his age.

"It's wear and tear," he said. "It's soreness, something I can knock out with a little rest and treatment."

The Lakers made 11 of 22 from 3-point range to stay with the Heat into the third quarter but fizzled down the stretch and had just 39 points in the second half. Los Angeles was outscored 46-30 in the paint and attempted just 12 free throws.

"We settled on jump shots," Scott said. "You've still got to attack the rim, that's the bottom line to get to the free throw line."

After being dominated inside by Chris Bosh and Hassan Whiteside, who combined for 49 points and 26 rebounds, the Lakers may catch a break in the paint against Orlando (3-5).

The Magic leaned heavily on center Nikola Vucevic in their first four games, but he bruised his right knee against Houston on Nov. 4 and hasn't played in the last three.

Vucevic, averaging 15.8 points and 8.0 rebounds, didn't practice Tuesday and Orlando is waiting to see how he responds to treatment. He had 25 points and 13 rebounds in the Magic's 103-97 home win over the Lakers on Feb. 6. Tobias Harris, who averages 14.8 points and 8.0 rebounds, scored a career-high 34 in that win.

Evan Fournier is also capable of picking up the slack in Vucevic's absence, though much of his work comes from beyond the 3-point line. He has made 19 of 49 attempts, including 4 of 9 while scoring 21 points during a 97-84 loss at Indiana on Monday.

That was one of a handful of disappointing results for the young Magic as they look to grow past three straight seasons with 25 or fewer wins.

"We need to pick it up," said Harris. "We expect more from ourselves and from each other."

Orlando has held fourth-quarter leads against Washington, Oklahoma City, Houston and Indiana before falling short. The Magic have shot just 20.8 percent during the final two minutes when a game is within four points.

"(Finishing) is something that we're really struggling with and it's cost us," coach Scott Skiles told the team's official website. "We've got to find a way to get better with it."

The Magic have won two straight and six of seven at home against the Lakers, who are 5-28 on the road since Dec. 15, 2014.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Raptors (5-3) at 76ers (0-7)

Date: November 11, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

Brett Brown is either the most optimistic or the least realistic coach in professional sports. Sometimes, he's probably both.

Brown still insists his Philadelphia 76ers can compete with any team at any time, which is tough to make sense of since they haven't beaten anyone in nearly eight months heading into Wednesday night's visit from the Toronto Raptors.

Brown has presided over a team that's gone 37-134 since he took over at the start of the 2013-14 season, but at least publicly he's insisting that the most gradual rebuilding process the NBA has ever seen doesn't mean the 76ers (0-7) can't compete every night.

"I truly think we can beat anybody on a given night," Brown told the team's official website Tuesday, a day after Philadelphia's losing streak reached 17 in a 111-88 loss to Chicago. "You go into it thinking that, hoping that. You're there for a while, then the game's 48 minutes, and it's unforgiving.

"We feel we've been playing more of the 48 (minutes) than we did at the start. You see that with injury, there's no wiggle room. ... All over the place, there's just no margin for error."

That's especially true if Nerlens Noel isn't available, which he wasn't against the Bulls because of soreness in both wrists. He considers himself "game to game." Robert Covington, who has only played in one game because of a knee injury, could return as soon as Saturday.

The Raptors (5-3) are dealing with a pair of lingering injuries to rotation players. Terrence Ross suffered a ligament injury in his left thumb Monday during a workout and is out indefinitely, while DeMarre Carroll seems likely to miss at least a third straight game Wednesday as he deals with plantar fasciitis.

After averaging 81.5 points in losses to Orlando and Miami to wrap up a four-game trip, Toronto returned home to find that defense was the issue in a 111-109 loss to New York on Tuesday.

Brown may think that the 76ers can go toe to toe with anyone, but they haven't beaten Toronto since he's been on the sidelines. The Raptors have won all eight meetings in the past two seasons, making them the only Eastern Conference team Philadelphia hasn't topped at least once in Brown's tenure.

DeMar DeRozan has had a big hand in those victories, averaging 24.8 points.

DeRozan had a season-high 29 in Tuesday's loss, but having a shooting guard who's no threat beyond the 3-point line might start to become a problem for Toronto without Carroll and Ross, who shot a combined 38.2 percent from the arc last season.

Kyle Lowry and Patrick Patterson are the only somewhat viable 3-point threats left, and the Raptors are 22 of 90 (24.4 percent) from long distance in their past five games.

James Johnson has started the last two at small forward, but with Cory Joseph playing well as Lowry's backup, Dwane Casey indicated he may occasionally play his two point guards together in a smaller lineup.

"We probably have to go that way for a little bit," Casey said. "We've got to get all men on board right now."

The 76ers have been even worse from long range in the early going, shooting just 30.6 percent with only Isaiah Canaan (38.1) showing any sort of proficiency.

Jahlil Okafor is getting plenty of touches down low - his 84 post-ups lead the NBA and his 19.9 points per game are easily the most among rookies - but his solid numbers haven't meant much on a team level. Of the 142 players to average 25 minutes, no one has a worse net rating (points per 100 possessions) than Okafor's minus-22.3.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Knicks (4-4) at Hornets (3-4)

Date: November 11, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

The New York Knicks have an opportunity to match their longest winning streak from last season in their first nine games, but the Charlotte Hornets are also showing some aptitude lately.

That winning streak last season also came to an end in Charlotte, where the Knicks will be Wednesday night with both teams trying to win a back-to-back set.

New York (4-4) won 111-109 in Toronto on Tuesday, two nights after beating the Los Angeles Lakers at home, and can match a three-game streak from Jan. 19-23.

Carmelo Anthony had 25 points, and while he's still searching for his shot to some extent, he's at least averaging 24.5 points and hitting 41.9 percent in the consecutive wins after being at 17.7 and 31.4 on the preceding three-game losing streak.

The Knicks improved to 3-1 on the road a season after finishing 7-34 and being outscored by 10.6 points per game in opponents' arenas.

While they've been strong defending the 3 over the last six games (27.5 percent), they countered on the other side by hitting 11 for 23 from 3-point range against the Raptors with Lance Thomas going 3 for 3. The reserve forward had a season-high 17 points and is shooting 58.5 percent for the season after finishing last season at 41.2.

"He's another guy who adds value to what we are and he helped us win this game tonight," coach Derek Fisher said.

It's also helped that the Knicks have taken care of the ball with 19 total turnovers in the consecutive wins after averaging 16.2 over the previous five contests, but there's still plenty of room for improvement. They were outscored 60-34 in the paint and allowed Toronto to get to the line 39 times.

"We were fortunate to get out with the win giving up 60 points in the paint and fouling as much as we did," Fisher said. "Those are areas that we're really trying to improve in a major way."

New York's only three-game run last season ended with a 76-71 loss in Charlotte on Jan. 24 as the Hornets won the last three meetings of the four-game season series.

The Hornets (3-4) won for the third time in four games Tuesday, defeating Minnesota 104-95 to complete a three-game road trip. They've come around offensively, averaging 109.0 points and shooting 49.2 percent in the last four games after posting marks of 93.3 and 39.1 on their season-opening three-game losing streak.

The bench has accounted for 48.3 points per game over the last four, with Jeremy Lin scoring a team-high 19 against the Timberwolves and fellow reserve Jeremy Lamb adding 18. Lamb is averaging 14.5 and shooting 66.7 percent in the last four games.

"I think if we're going to be really good, then we're going to have good bench play," coach Steve Clifford said. "I mean, I think that our starters are good, but to be a really good team our bench is going to have to be like they were tonight."

That might not be quite as necessary if Kemba Walker can recover from a 4-for-12 effort against Minnesota. The point guard is averaging 21.9 points in his last seven games against New York.

Hornets small forward P.J. Hairston left Tuesday's game with a migraine and did not return.

Knicks guard Arron Afflalo (left hamstring) remained out, though is expected to make his season debut soon.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pacers (4-4) at Celtics (3-3)

Date: November 11, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

The first game of Paul George's breakout string came when Indiana beat Boston at Bankers Life Fieldhouse a week ago.

George will look to continue his recent rise Wednesday night when the suddenly hot Pacers visit TD Garden to take on the Celtics.

After spending a significant amount of time working his way back into form, George has Indiana looking like the Eastern Conference playoff contender he headed two seasons ago before breaking his leg and missing the first 76 games of 2014-15.

The Pacers (4-4) opened with three losses but have since won four of five, mainly due to the re-emergence of their high-scoring forward. George averaged 16.8 points on 33.3 percent shooting in the first four but has since poured in 30.3 points on 48.2 percent.

He has also made 44.8 percent of his 3-point attempts (13 of 29) while adding 9.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.

The hot stretch began with 26 points and 10 rebounds in a 100-98 win against the Celtics on Nov. 4. George's 121 points are his most in a four-game span since he matched that number from Jan. 18-24, 2014.

Though he snapped his three-game double-double streak, George made 7 of 17 shots and 10 of 11 free throws for 27 points in a 97-84 home win over Orlando on Monday.

"I feel great skill-wise," he said. "I feel like I've had a whole year to work on my game."

The Pacers are feeling better with George's production leading to wins over Detroit, Boston, Miami and Orlando over the last week, and even a tight 101-97 loss at defending East champion Cleveland mixed in Sunday.

George Hill also broke out against the Magic with 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 4 for 6 from 3-point range. Indiana used a 19-3 fourth-quarter surge to bury Orlando, which shot 39.7 percent on the night and committed 21 turnovers.

"If we can get stops, we're going to get easy buckets on the offensive end," Hill said. "I think we fuel off our defense. When our defense is struggling, our offense struggles. In the five years I've been here, when our defense is settled and all clicking on the right page, our offense is clicking also."

Boston (3-3) also started slow but has won two straight behind its stiff defense.

The Celtics surrendered a season low in points during a 99-83 victory over Milwaukee on Tuesday. Boston scored 18 of 20 points to close the third, holding the Bucks without a field goal for the final 4:47 in the quarter.

"I just thought we were in good position," coach Brad Stevens said. "It wasn't like we were out in denial. We weren't trying to full-court (press), we weren't trying to do anything crazy. We were just trying to be really tough to play against within 25 feet."

Injury concerns, however, continue to plague the Celtics, who will play their second of five games in seven days. Jae Crowder scored 12 against the Bucks while playing through a bruised knee and Avery Bradley sat out the second half with a bruised lower left leg.

"I don't know what the long-term prognosis is," Stevens said of Bradley. "We're dealing with some bruises this year so far."

Boston, which has won two straight over Indiana at TD Garden, is hopeful Marcus Smart can return after sitting out three consecutive games with a sprained left big toe.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Clippers (5-2) at Mavericks (3-4)

Date: November 11, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

Almost everyone involved had their say concerning DeAndre Jordan's summertime fiasco when the Los Angeles Clippers hosted the Dallas Mavericks late last month.

The Mavericks' fans, however, finally get their chance to air their grievances in person.

In his first visit since spurning Dallas in the offseason, Jordan will likely be facing a hostile crowd on Wednesday night when the Clippers look to take the first two in the season series.

The All-Defensive first-teamer verbally agreed to join the Mavericks as a free agent on July 3 before Clippers personnel flocked to Jordan's home five days later and persuaded him to return. At the same time, Jordan would not to return calls from anyone in the Dallas organization.

The two-time rebounding champ's change of heart left the Mavericks (3-4) with a gaping hole in the middle following the departure of Tyson Chandler. The Clippers' role in the turnabout, which included Blake Griffin sending out a photo on Twitter of a chair wedged underneath a door handle, infuriated Mavericks owner Mark Cuban as well as the team's fans.

'I think we were disappointed, but we still have to move on as a franchise, and that's what we did,' Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki said. 'That happens in free agency sometimes.'

Cuban disparaged the Clippers (5-2) in pregame remarks before the teams combined for four technical fouls and some hard personal fouls in Los Angeles' 104-88 win at Staples Center on Oct. 29.

Jordan, who had 15 rebounds and four blocks in that contest, could be in line to face some boos from a Dallas crowd that has likely had this date circled for a while. He's pulled down 17.0 boards per game over his past eight versus the Mavericks.

"He's an adult," Clippers guard J.J. Redick told the team's official website. "It will bring out the best in him. DJ always responds to those types of atmospheres. It doesn't necessarily have to be negativity toward him, but he thrives off that energy. I expect him to have a big game."

Los Angeles had averaged 107.3 points on 48.1 percent shooting before a season-low 41.2 field-goal percentage in Monday's 94-92 home win over Memphis. Griffin led the way with 24 points and 12 rebounds, while Redick scored six of his 16 points in the final 55 seconds.

Chris Paul scored 14 against the Grizzlies after missing one game due to a sore right groin.

Since allowing 97.3 points per game on 39.8 percent shooting during a 2-1 start, the Mavericks have given up an average of 107.0 points and 47.6 percent shooting while dropping three of four.

Griffin had 26 points and 10 rebounds in the first meeting with Dallas. The five-time All-Star is averaging 28.6 points on 58.1 percent shooting so far.

Dallas, which has a minus-1.0 rebounding margin, will try to bounce back from a 120-105 road loss in the second of a home-and-home set with previous winless New Orleans.

Nowitzki finished with 18 points but Chandler Parsons, Deron Williams and Wesley Matthews totaled 11 on 5-for-20 shooting as they continue to work their way back from injuries. The trio did not play in the first meeting when Dallas shot just 36.1 percent and trailed by as many as 28.

The Mavericks lost three straight at home in the series before a 129-99 win March 13 in the most recent meeting at American Airlines Center.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pelicans (1-6) at Hawks (7-2)

Date: November 11, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

When Atlanta and New Orleans met last week, it was the Hawks continuing an impressive winning streak while furthering the Pelicans' season-opening skid.

Both have ended now, and it's the Pelicans trying to string together wins Wednesday night in Atlanta, though they might need to do so with a banged-up Anthony Davis.

The Hawks (7-2) had their seven-game winning streak snapped in Monday's 117-107 home loss to Minnesota. It was anything but a traditional loss with Minnesota leading 72-42 at halftime before Atlanta took its first lead 107-106 with a Paul Millsap runner with 3:26 remaining. Andrew Wiggins took over from there, but Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer left with some positives.

"I think to fight back from that kind of deficit shows the resiliency and character of the group," Budenholzer said. "(There were) a lot of positives from how that group fought."

Jeff Teague finished with 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting after going 9 for 32 in his previous two games, while Millsap finished with 22 points and has scored at least 21 in his last three while making 55.0 percent after failing to reach 20 and shooting 43.7 in his first six.

The Hawks shot 51.2 percent and have hit 50.2 percent in their last three games while averaging 114.0 points, but they've allowed a 52.1 percent clip and 110.3 points in that time after opening with 40.8 and 95.3 marks through six games.

Atlanta now shifts its attention from Wiggins back to another young star that lit it up last week. The Hawks won 121-115 in New Orleans on Friday and are seeking a sweep in the series after splitting last season's, but Davis had 43 points and 10 rebounds for his fifth straight double-double in the series while averaging 29.4 points and 11.0 rebounds.

New Orleans (1-6) ended its losing streak with Tuesday's 120-105 home win over Dallas. After opening the season shooting 40.9 percent through four games, the team is connecting on 48.5 in three dating to the loss to the Hawks. The problem is their 111.0 scoring average has been equaled exactly with opponents hitting 48.2 percent. Still, the defensive scoring average is an improvement considering the Pelicans are at the bottom of the league with a 113.3 mark.

They didn't need much out of Davis, who had 17 points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes before leaving with a bruised hip.

Coach Alvin Gentry wasn't sure the extent or the specifics, adding that Davis was having more tests done before the Pelicans flew to Atlanta. Initial X-rays at the arena were negative.

"You can do one of two things: You can just move on and try to play and do the best you can, or you can sit around and mope and have a pity party," said Gentry, who at least got center Omer Asik back from missing five of the first six games. "We don't have time for a pity party."

The bench came through with 71 points on 27 of 49 from the field and 7 of 14 from 3-point range.

Ryan Anderson had 25 points with 11 rebounds off the bench and is averaging 23.0 points on 58.1 percent shooting with 10.0 rebounds in the last two games.

"We've got a long year," Anderson said. "This is a small stretch of games. Obviously now that we have a win, we want to kind of move on past (it) and have a winning mentality now. We know what we need to do."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Warriors (8-0) at Grizzlies (3-5)

Date: November 11, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

Stephen Curry's mild slump hasn't slowed down the Golden State Warriors one bit.

With a chance to tie the best start in franchise history, the defending NBA champions visit a struggling Memphis Grizzlies team they've dominated of late Wednesday night.

Though Curry has cooled off some after a scorching six-game opening stretch, shooting a modest 41.7 percent while totaling 46 points over the past two, the Warriors haven't stopped winning. Despite the reigning league MVP finishing 7 of 18 from the field Monday against Detroit, Golden State moved to 8-0 with a 109-95 victory sparked by backcourt mate Klay Thompson and a strong bench effort.

Thompson delivered 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting and reserves Andre Iguodala and Leandro Barbosa combined for 23 while helping the Warriors pull away in the fourth quarter. Andrew Bogut returned from a six-game absence caused by a concussion to contribute eight points and nine rebounds in 19 minutes.

'Our second unit is, we feel, the best in the NBA,' interim coach Luke Walton said. 'We've got veterans on that unit that know how to win. When they give us that type of performance it just makes us that much more dangerous.'

Prior to going 2 for 10 on 3-pointers in a 24-point outing Saturday at Sacramento, Curry had scored 30 or more in four straight. That included 30 in just three quarters as the Warriors dealt Memphis (3-5) its worst defeat in club history, a 119-69 drubbing in Oakland on Nov. 2.

A win Wednesday would match the 1960-61 Philadelphia Warriors as the franchise's only teams to begin 9-0.

That aforementioned loss started a tough five-game road trip in which the Grizzlies dropped the final three, most recently coming up just short in Monday's 94-92 setback to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Memphis did hold the Clippers to 41.2 percent shooting after limiting Utah to 41.9 in an 89-79 loss Saturday. Opponents shot 47.7 percent over the Grizzlies' first six games.

'If we play like that, keep playing like that, we'll get back to our old selves," forward Zach Randolph said Monday. "A loss is a loss but we've got to take the positives, the energy, the defense, the things we did well.'

Memphis continues to have trouble making shots, ranking near the bottom of the league in scoring (91.0) and field goal percentage (40.5). The Grizzlies were 3 for 23 on 3-pointers and shot 27.1 percent overall in the last meeting with Golden State.

Offensive consistency also was an issue during Memphis' six-game loss to the Warriors in last season's Western Conference semifinals. The Grizzlies were held to 95 points or less in all four defeats and shot 38.2 percent in dropping the final three matchups.

Curry was 8 of 13 on 3s while amassing 32 points and 10 assists in the clinching Game 6 at FedExForum.

The Warriors have won five of the last six regular-season meetings between the clubs as well, including two of three in Memphis after a nine-game skid there.

Memphis, which last lost four straight Dec. 19-26, will play 10 of its next 14 at home.

The Grizzlies could have new player in the mix after acquiring veteran point guard Mario Chalmers from Miami on Tuesday. They also received little-used guard James Ennis while sending Beno Udrih and Jarnell Stokes to the Heat.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nets (0-7) at Rockets (4-3)

Date: November 11, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

James Harden's slow start is now well behind him. The Brooklyn Nets' early struggles continue to linger.

While Harden's prolific scoring has fueled the Houston Rockets' four-game win streak, the reeling Nets try to avoid an eighth straight loss to begin their season in Wednesday night's visit to the Toyota Center.

Houston (4-3) has fared as Harden has through its first seven games, with the star guard's 22.2 percent shooting a key factor in the team's 0-3 start. He's averaging 38.5 points during the win streak and delivered a second consecutive 40-plus effort with 46 in Saturday's 109-105 road victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Harden followed a 43-point, 13-assist performance Friday at Sacramento by matching the third-highest point total of his career, which included him going 13 of 14 from the foul line. His final two free throws snapped a 105-all tie with 32.6 seconds left.

After going 3 of 32 from 3-point range during Houston's skid, Harden is 9 for 20 over his two-game binge. He's the first Rockets player with back-to-back games of at least 43 points since Moses Malone did so in three straight Feb. 26-March 2, 1982.

"He's making shots. He's being aggressive. He's playing faster," coach Kevin McHale said. "I thought our entire team played like they had cement boots on the first three games. We were just slow. When you watch the film we just looked sickly. We were able to turn the corner and get downhill."

Houston is averaging 113.5 points during the surge after scoring 92 or less in the three losses, two of which Dwight Howard missed. Howard has been hard to stop of late, going 18 of 20 from the field over his last two games and posting 20 points and 20 rebounds Saturday.

The Rockets are getting healthier as well, with forward Terrence Jones and guard Patrick Beverley both expected to be available Wednesday. Jones has missed five straight with an eyelid laceration and Beverley the last two due to a concussion.

Brooklyn's Brook Lopez also is probable despite leaving Saturday's 94-86 loss at Milwaukee with soreness in his surgically repaired right foot. The oft-injured center has been the Nets' one bright spot during an 0-7 start, the franchise's worst since dropping an NBA-record 18 straight to begin 2009-10.

Lopez is averaging 20.4 points, but the Nets are scoring a league-low 90.4 per game. They've been particularly bad from 3-point range, shooting an NBA-worst 23.6 percent. Joe Johnson is 4 of 23 from beyond the arc.

Turnovers have been an issue as well. Brooklyn committed eight in the third quarter and 18 overall Saturday, leading to 24 Milwaukee points.

"Once again, we come out in the third quarter and I don't know what happened," said Johnson, whose 10.3 scoring average is his worst since 2002-03. "It's just turnover after turnover and then they keep scoring and we are steadily putting pressure on ourselves to score and make plays, which kind of leads to another turnover."

A matchup with the Rockets hasn't usually been a remedy for the Nets' struggles. Houston has won 16 of 17 in the series including eight straight at the Toyota Center, where the Nets haven't won since March 13, 2006. The Nets are 3-20 in Houston since 1990-91.

The Rockets won both 2014-15 meetings, with Jones compiling 26 points and 12 rebounds in a 102-98 home win Feb. 27.