Wednesday 11/30/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[superbeets]

EFL Cup TODAY 20:00

Man Utd

v

West Ham

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS1		2/5	4	8	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT MAN UTD	RECENT FORM
H DA LA WH DH WH D​ Most recent​	1 - 1 1 - 1 0 - 0 2 - 1	H WH WA LH DA LA D​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: West Ham have lost by two goals in four of their seven league defeats this season

EXPERT VERDICT: Following the frustration of their league failure against West Ham, Manchester United get a shot at swift revenge in the EFL Cup. Jose Mourinho may have put on a petulant display in Sunday's 1-1 draw, but the hosts were right to bemoan their luck given how dominant they were in that match and can make amends at Old Trafford.

RECOMMENDATION: Man Utd to win 2-0
1


REFEREE: Mike Jones STADIUM:

French Ligue 1 TODAY 20:00

Paris St-G.

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Angers

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT3		2/11	6	16	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT PARIS ST-G.	RECENT FORM
A WA WH WH WA DA W​ Most recent​	5 - 1	H DA LA LH WA DH L​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: PSG have kept nine clean sheets from their last 11 home Ligue 1 matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Attacking talents Javier Pastore and Angel Di Maria remain sidelined for the French champions but they should still have too much flair for mid-table Angers. The Parisians are unbeaten in 11 matches in all competitions, while the visitors have managed just six goals in their last 12 away games and could find Unai Emery’s backline too resolute.

RECOMMENDATION: PSG to win 3-0
1

Championship Th 1Dec 19:45

QPR

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Wolves

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS1		6/4	23/10	21/10	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT QPR	RECENT FORM
H WA LH LA DH WA L​ Most recent​	1 - 1 1 - 2 1 - 0 0 - 0	A LH LA DH LA DH L​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Wolves have conceded 13 goals in their last nine games

EXPERT VERDICT: Ipswich condemned Ian Holloway to a first defeat since his return to the Rangers dugout on Saturday after he opened his account with an impressive 2-1 home win against ten-man Norwich. Wolves are hopelessly out of form, however, and are on a current run of nine games without victory which suggests QPR can land a low-scoring victory.

RECOMMENDATION: QPR to win 1-0
1


REFEREE: Tim Robinson STADIUM:

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL roundup: Eichel lifts Sabres in season debut
By The Sports Xchange

OTTAWA -- Center Jack Eichel made an immediate impact upon his return to the Buffalo Sabres lineup, scoring one goal and assisting on another in a 5-4 victory over the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on Tuesday night.
Eichel, the second overall pick of the 2015 entry draft, missed the first 21 games of the season with a high ankle sprain suffered on the eve of the opener.
Center Ryan O'Reilly scored twice and wingers Kyle Okposo and Sam Reinhart had the other goals for the Sabres, who connected three times on the power play.
The lost spoiled the hat trick performance by Senators winger Mike Hoffman. Mark Stone had the other Ottawa goal.

Rangers 3, Hurricanes 2
NEW YORK -- Jimmy Vesey scored a power-play goal with 5:12 remaining to lift to the New York Rangers to a come-from-behind victory against the Carolina Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden.
The Rangers trailed 2-0 after one period but rallied behind goals from defenseman Nick Holden, left winger Rick Nash and Vesey's goal that came with defenseman Ron Hainsey in the penalty box for four minutes.
Nash tied the score early in the third period and assisted on Vesey's winner by cutting across the front of the net and sweeping the puck across to Vesey for the back-door goal.
Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist overcame a shaky start to earn the win with 26 saves. Former Ranger left winger Viktor Stalberg scored twice for the Hurricanes. Goaltender Cam Ward stopped 18 shots.

Flyers 3, Bruins 2
PHILADELPHIA -- Shayne Gostisbehere scored in the ninth round of the shootout to give Philadelphia the win over Boston at the Wells Fargo Center.
Defenseman Michael Del Zotto and center Claude Giroux scored in regulation and goaltender Steve Mason (6-8-3) stopped 45 of 47 shots for the Flyers (11-10-3), who won for the second straight time.
Forwards David Krejci and Brad Marchand netted goals for the Bruins (12-10-1), who fell for the fourth time in five games.
Tuukka Rask stopped 19 of 21 shots to fall to 12-4-1.

Jets 3, Devils 2
WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- Winnipeg continued to reap the benefits of home cooking by beating New Jersey.
It's the second consecutive win at the MTS Centre for the Jets -- they beat the Nashville Predators 3-0 on Sunday -- following a five-game losing streak on the road. It's also their fifth consecutive win on home ice.
Rookie Patrik Laine scored the winner early in the third period and Connor Hellebuyck continued to have the hot hand in the Jets net, stopping 23 shots.
The win improved the Jets record to 11-12-2 for 24 points while the Devils fell to 10-7-5 for 25 points. The Jets outshot the Devils 29-25.

Columbus 5, Tampa Bay 1
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Josh Anderson had a goal and two assists as Columbus beat Tampa Bay.
The Blue Jackets (12-5-4) finished with a 9-2-3 record in November despite winning just twice in the past five games.
Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 25 shots for his 12th win of the season. Scott Hartnell added a goal and an assist for Columbus, which also got goals from William Karlsson, Alexander Wennberg and Sam Gagner while building a 5-0 lead.
The Lightning (13-10-1) lost a third consecutive game, only breaking Bobrovsky's shutout bid on Valtteri Filppula's goal at 17:10 of the third period.

Detroit 3, Dallas 1
DETROIT -- Petr Mrazek made 34 saves and Detroit held on to defeat Dallas at Joe Louis Arena for a come-from-behind win.
Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha and Steve Ott scored for Detroit (11-10-2), which has a four-game point streak (3-0-1).
Esa Lindell scored the only goal for Dallas (9-9-6), which was playing the second of back-to-back games. The Stars lost 4-3 in overtime at St. Louis Monday night. Kari Lehtonen made 17 saves.
Ott added an empty-net goal with 1:03 left.

Blackhawks 2, Panthers 1
CHICAGO -- Right winger Richard Panik scored once in regulation and scored again in the shootout round to lift Chicago over Florida.
Blackhawks left winger Artemi Panarin also scored during the shootout round. Chicago (15-6-3) improved to 9-1-2 on home ice.
Right winger Jaromir Jagr scored in regulation as Florida (11-10-2) salvaged a point on the road in the coaching debut of Tom Rowe, who replaced Gerard Gallant two days earlier.
Goaltender Corey Crawford turned aside 38 of 39 shots in regulation and overtime. Crawford stymied Panthers centers Vincent Trocheck and Aleksander Barkov during the shootout round. Goaltender Roberto Luongo stopped 32 of 33 shots in regulation and overtime.

Maple Leafs 4, Oilers 2
EDMONTON, Alberta -- Toronto began its trip through Western Canada in convincing fashion, dumping Edmonton at Rogers Place.
The Oilers were looking for revenge after losing a hard-fought game to the Leafs in overtime earlier this month, but all they got was more frustration.
Captain Connor McDavid cut Toronto's lead to 4-2 four minutes into the third period, but that was as close as the Oilers would get. Edmonton lost its third in a row to fall to 12-10-2 (5-6-0 at home in its new arena).
The win was just Toronto's second of the season on the road (2-5-4) and lifted the Leafs to 10-8-4.

Blue Jackets 5, Avalanche 3
DENVER -- Ryan Johansen scored a goal in the first minute of the third period and assisted on another goal seven seconds into the second, and Nashville beat Colorado.
Austin Watson had a goal and an assist and Mike Fisher, Viktor Arvidsson and Kevin Fiala also scored. Roman Josi had two assists and Pekka Rinne made 37 saves for the Predators.
Nashville (11-8-3) scored four of its five goals in the first few minutes of the second and third periods to win for the fourth time in five games.
Rene Bourque and Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist apiece and Mikhail Grigorenko also scored for Colorado (9-11-1), which is 4-6-1 at home. Calvin Pickard stopped 28 shots.

Canucks 5, Wild 4
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Sven Baertschi scored with 2:35 remaining in the third period as Vancouver battled back from an early deficit to defeat Minnesota.
Brandon Sutter and Ben Hutton both had a goal and an assist for Vancouver. Loui Eriksson and Bo Horvat also scored for the Canucks (10-11-2).
Jason Pominville had two goals for Minnesota. Erik Haula and Jason Zucker also scored for the Wild (11-8-3)..

Sharks 2, Coyotes 1 (OT)
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Brent Burns blasted a power-play goal 19 seconds into overtime as San Jose beat Arizona at SAP Center.
San Jose finished its five-game homestand with four wins and a loss.
Max Domi scored for the Coyotes and Chris Tierney scored for the Sharks in regulation.

Ducks 2, Canadiens 1
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- John Gibson tied a career high with 39 saves to lead Anaheim over Montreal at the Honda Center.
Rickard Rakell and Cam Fowler scored, while Ryan Kesler contributed two assists for the Ducks. Anaheim earned its second consecutive victory.
Andrew Shaw scored for the Canadiens, who received 36 saves from goalie Carey Price.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

In the Crease - Week 8
By Joe Williams

Streaky Teams
Wins and Losses Streak Over/Under Streak
Buffalo 2-5-3 past 10 overall Buffalo Under 12-2-2 past 16 overall
Edmonton 1-4 past five at home Calgary Under 6-2-2 past 10 overall
Los Angeles 5-0 past five overall, 6-0 past six at home Ottawa Under 12-2-1 past 15 overall
Nashville 6-0 past six at home Pittsburgh Over 4-0 past four overall
New Jersey 7-0-2 past nine at home San Jose Under 13-1-5 past 19 overall

Toothless Sharks
The San Jose Sharks have been a tough team to figure out. While they're tied for the lead in the Pacific Division, they have the fourth-lowest goals scored total in the Western Conference. Despite the offensive woes, the Sharks are still 15-6 in their past 21 home games, and 5-1 in their past six at home against teams with a road winning percentage under .400. The 'under' is 20-3-5 in their past 28 games overall, and 6-0-3 in their past nine against Western Conference foes. The 'under is also 13-4-6 in their past 23 home games, while going 17-5-6 in their past 28 against teams with a losing overall record.

Duck, Duck...Push?
The Anaheim Ducks head into Tuesday's home game against the Montreal Canadiens on an amazing run. The total has pushed in seven consecutive games for Anaheim, with each of their past five games resulting in a 3-2 win or loss. The 'over' is 1-0-7 in their past eight games overall, the 'under' is 1-0-5 in their past six at home and the 'under' is 5-2-4 in their past 11 games against the Eastern Conference.

Looking Ahead

Wednesday, Nov. 23
The Penguins and Islanders do battle in Brooklyn on Hump Day. The Penguins have rolled lately, going 11-5 in their past 16 trips to Brooklyn/Uniondale, while winning 36 of the past 51 meetings overall against the Isles. Pittsburgh is 22-6 in their past 28 against teams with an overall losing record, while New York is 3-13 in their past 16 against teams with a winning overall mark. ... The Sharks and Kings renew acquaintances in SoCal. San Jose has crowned the Kings in five straight meetings at Staples Center, while going 6-1 in their past seven overall in the series. The road team is 8-3 in the past 11 battles.

Thursday, Nov. 17
The Hurricanes blow into Boston looking to take down the Bruins. Four of the past five meetings in this series have went to overtime and/or a shootout. Carolina won both games in Boston last season, with one game decided in a shootout and another in overtime. The 'under' is 5-0-1 in the past six in this series. ... The Kings and Coyotes will battle for the first time this season. In 2015-16 the Coyotes went 3-1-1 against the Kings, winning both meetings at Staples Center. The 'over' went 2-0-3 in the five meetings. ... The Canucks host the Ducks, and they're looking to avenge a 4-2 loss in Anaheim back on Oct. 23. That was the only 'over' result in the past eight, as the 'under' is 6-1-1 in the past eight in this series.

Friday, Nov. 18
The Wild look to extinguish the Flames Friday night. It's the second meeting of the season, as the Flames won 1-0 in St. Paul back on Nov. 15. It was a rare win, as the Flames are just 3-6-1 in the past 10 meetings. The 'under' is 3-1-1 in the past five for the Flames at home, while the 'under' is 5-2-1 in the past eight games on the road for the Wild. ... Montreal hits the road for San Jose. The Habs have struggled on the road, going 1-3 in their past four away from Bell Centre, including a 10-0 beatdown in Columbus at the hands of the Blue Jackets Nov. 4. Last season the Habs were trampled 6-2 in San Jose on Feb. 29, and the Sharks swept the series outscoring Montreal 9-3. The Canadiens are a dismal 0-7-2 in their past nine trips to San Jose, last winning in the Bay Area Nov. 23, 1999 by a 3-2 score in overtime.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Penguins (13-6) at Islanders (7-10)

Date: November 30, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

NEW YORK -- The Pittsburgh Penguins will be eager to get back on the ice Wednesday night after a three-day break. The New York Islanders are hoping a spate of three games in four days can revive their flagging season.

A pair of teams at opposite ends of the Eastern Conference will meet Wednesday night, when the Islanders host the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins at Barclays Center. Each club earned a win in its previous game. New York edged the Calgary Flames 2-1 in overtime on Monday while Pittsburgh beat the New Jersey Devils 4-3 in the shootout on Saturday.

The three-day break is the third such mini-vacation so far this season for the Penguins (13-6-1), who are four points behind the New York Rangers in the Metropolitan Division and tied for third overall in the conference, four points free of the second wild card.

And three days off are more than enough as far as Penguins star center Sidney Crosby is concerned, even if he knows fresher legs can help later in the season.

"It's amazing -- after two days you feel it, you definitely feel it," Crosby said following the Penguins' practice in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. "You're used to going every day or every other day, at least, especially with the amount of games we've played. I think you feel it even more.

"Ultimately I think it was good for us. It's important and it's something that hopefully will, down the road, make a big difference for us."

Down the road looks murky at best for the Islanders (7-10-4), who entered Tuesday tied with the Arizona Coyotes for the fewest points in the NHL. New York is already seven points behind the Devils in the race for the second wild card.

If the Islanders are to begin turning season around, they'll have to do so against two perennial Eastern Conference powers. After facing the Penguins, New York travels to Washington to face the Capitals on Thursday night.

"Each game is crucial for us -- obviously haven't started the season the way we wanted to," Islanders center John Tavares said Monday night. "We know Wednesday's going to be a good test. If you're going to have success in the playoffs, you've got to beat a lot of the top teams."

Any chance the Islanders have of crawling out of the hole they've dug begins with generating more offense. New York has scored three goals or fewer in eight straight games and in 18 of 21 games overall. The Penguins are 8-0-0 when scoring more than three goals.

"We're going to have to find some offense and that's the big thing when you play Pittsburgh," Islanders head coach Jack Capuano said. "They can make you look silly, they've got a lot of offensive weapons, their power play is dynamic."

The Islanders may be without defenseman Adam Pelech, who left after the second period Monday night due to an upper body injury. For the Penguins, right winger Patric Hornqvist is expected to return to the lineup after missing the last six games with a concussion.

This is the third of four meetings this season between the Islanders and Penguins. Host Pittsburgh beat New York 4-3 on Oct. 27 before earning a 3-2 overtime win at Barclays Center Nov. 18. The season series is scheduled to conclude in Pittsburgh on March 24.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Maple Leafs (10-8) at Flames (10-13)

Date: November 30, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

CALGARY, Alberta -- Following their longest road trip of the season, the Calgary Flames start a three-game homestand Wednesday when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Although they lost 2-1 in overtime to the New York Islanders on Monday, the Flames (10-13-2) finished their six-game road trip a respectable 3-2-1.

Those three wins are as many as the Flames have recorded at the Scotiabank Saddledome -- they have a league-worst 3-7 record on home ice -- which is something that Calgary captain Mark Giordano said has to improve.

"We've got to get some big wins at home," said Giordano, whose team also hosts the Minnesota Wild on Friday and the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday. "We haven't been good enough at home."

The Flames get several chances to improve their home record over the coming weeks as they play six of their next eight and seven of their next 11 games in Calgary.

"We have to be positive coming back home here," said goaltender Brian Elliott, who made 25 saves to help the Flames salvage a point against the Islanders.

Sean Monahan also has some positives to build upon as he snapped out of a five-game goalless drought in New York by scoring his sixth goal of the season in the third period.

"It's nice to put one in there, but at the end of the day we're here for the two points and we got one out of it," Monahan said. "We're got to find a way to get the job done. Unfortunately we didn't, but we've got to bounce back here at home."

Calgary coach Glen Gulutzan was happy to see Monahan finally find the back of the net and he's hoping the 22-year-old center can build off of it.

"I think that'll be a little bit of a weight off his shoulders," Gulutzan said. "You know how goal scorers are. They can be streaky and I think that was a big goal for him."

While the Flames have to improve at home, the same can be said for what the Maple Leafs need to accomplish on the road.

After a 4-2 victory over the Oilers in Edmonton on Tuesday night, the Leafs (10-8-4) have a 2-5-4 road record.

"It probably wasn't our prettiest win, but we're very happy to kick this road trip off with two points," defenseman Morgan Rielly told reporters following the win, which snapped Toronto's three-game losing streak away from the friendly confines of the Air Canada Centre, where they boast an impressive 8-3-0 mark.

Despite his squad's sub-.500 record on the road, Rielly was eagerly anticipating Toronto's trip out west to play the Oilers, Flames and Vancouver Canucks, who they'll face Saturday at Rogers Arena.

"I just really look forward to it," Rielly told the Toronto Star. "When the league releases our schedule, that's the first thing I look for -- when we go out west. It's home. I spent a fair bit of time on the Prairies."

Rielly hails from Vancouver and played three seasons for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League before turning pro in 2013.

"I like going on the road in general," Rielly said. "We have a chance to play some huge games on the road, try to get some points and improve our road record."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Sharks (13-9) at Kings (12-9)

Date: November 30, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their season-high five-game winning streak in another encounter with the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night at Staples Center.

The Kings, who have won six in a row at home, will face the Sharks for the first time at Staples since San Jose bounced them from the opening round of last season's playoffs. The Sharks defeated the Kings 2-1 in the season opener on Oct. 12 at San Jose.

"They beat us the first game of the year, so it's time that we owe them," said Kings center Tyler Toffoli, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The Kings (12-9-1) have been off since Saturday, when they recorded a 2-1 overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at Staples. Carter scored the game-winner, his league-leading sixth such goal of the season, at 1:06 of the extra session.

Carter is on a roll. He leads the Kings in points (19) and goals (10) and is tied for tops in assists (nine). Carter has five goals and three assists in the past five games.

"Carter is playing very good right now, he's working hard and he is a veteran player," Kings goalie Peter Budaj said. "He has done it for many years, he knows what to do. He doesn't get too high or too low. He has to stick to the system and wait for his opportunity."

Budaj believes the Kings are thriving with contributions from several players. He could include himself, as he has 12 wins in 18 starts this season since taking over as the regular. He replaced Jonathan Quick, who is out indefinitely after sustaining a groin injury in the opener against the Sharks.

"It is a combination of everybody, and I think the power play in OT (against the Blackhawks) was moving the puck really well and recovering after the blocks," Budaj said. "It goes hand in hand, but it's a team effort to get a chance to win every night."

In addition to Carter, solid performances from Alec Martinez and Toffoli are boosting the Kings. Martinez and Toffoli are tied for second with 14 points each (five goals, nine assists). Martinez scored his fifth goal, tops among Los Angeles defenseman, against the Blackhawks.

Toffoli recorded a point in four of the past five contests.

The Sharks (13-9-1) are playing the second end of a back-to-back. San Jose seized the top spot in the Pacific Division by a point over the Anaheim Ducks and the Edmonton Oilers when they earned a 2-1 decision in overtime against the visiting Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday.

Defenseman Brent Burns scored a power-play goal just 19 seconds into the extra frame. The Sharks won four of five during their just-completed homestand.

It was the first time they defeated the Coyotes in three tries this season.

"They're just tough games," Burns said. "We haven't really found the points from that team this year. I mean, every game is going to be tough. They're no different."

Burns has a team-high nine goals this season. He and center Joe Pavelski have a club-best 21 points apiece. Pavelski and center Logan Couture both have seven goals.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Grand Salami - November

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
11/1 12 66.5 57 UNDER
11/2 3 16.5 16 UNDER
11/3 12 65.5 65 UNDER
11/4 3 16 24 OVER
11/5 13 69 70 OVER
11/6 6 32 33 OVER
11/7 3 15 14 UNDER
11/8 10 55.5 60 OVER
11/9 3 15.5 11 UNDER
11/10 10 54.5 54 UNDER
11/11 6 31.5 30 UNDER
11/12 11 56.5 61 OVER
11/13 6 32 28 UNDER
11/14 1 5.5 4 UNDER
11/15 13 70.5 63 UNDER
11/16 2 10.5 11 OVER
11/17 10 53.5 52 UNDER
11/18 5 26 22 UNDER
11/19 11 57 53 UNDER
11/20 5 26 24 UNDER
11/21 7 37 36 UNDER
11/22 5 26.5 25 UNDER
11/23 12 64.5 68 OVER
11/24 2 10.5 7 UNDER
11/25 11 58.5 61 OVER
11/26 9 47.5 42 UNDER
11/27 6 32 26 UNDER
11/28 2 10.5 10 UNDER
11/29 12 63.5 66 OVER
11/30 3 - - -

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL

Wednesday’s games

Islanders lost last four games with Pittsburgh; Penguins won 5-0/3-2 in last two visits to Long Island. Under is 4-1 in last five series games. Pittsburgh is 4-5 in its last nine games, 2-3 in its last five on road; last four Penguin games went over total. Islanders lost six of last eight games; they’re 2-3 in last five home games. Under is 3-1-2 in their last six games.

Home side won last five Toronto-Calgary games; Maple Leafs lost four of last five games in the Saddledome, losing 4-3/6-3 in last two. Over is 5-2 in last seven series games. Leafs won in Edmonton last night; they’ve won last two games, are 1-3 in last four on road. Over is 8-3 in last 11 Toronto games. Flames are home for first time in 12 days; they lost two of last three home games. Under is 3-1 in their last four games.

Sharks won six of last seven games with Los Angeles; Kings lost last four visits here, outscored 17-10. Under is 3-1-1 in last five series games. San Jose beat Coyotes in OT last night; they’ve won four of last five games, but were outscored 7-4 in losing last three road games. Kings won their last five games, allowing nine goals; they won last four at home. Over is 3-1-1 in their last five games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA roundup: Kilpatrick, Nets end seven-game losing streak
By The Sports Xchange

NEW YORK -- Sean Kilpatrick scored 31 of his career-high 38 points in the fourth quarter and two overtime periods, and the Brooklyn Nets stopped a seven-game losing streak by rallying for a wild 127-122 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.
Kilpatrick finished off Brooklyn's first win since Nov. 12 in Phoenix by providing the final margin with 13.5 seconds left. He drove through the lane, flipped up a layup while getting fouled by DeAndre Jordan and made the basket.
Before the 3-hour, 5-minute marathon finished, the Nets had to withstand game-tying 3-pointers by Chris Paul and Jamal Crawford.
Paul finished with 26 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds, and his shot with 1.8 seconds left tied the game at 107-107. Crawford's shot put the game in a 118-118 deadlock with 10 seconds left in the first overtime after the Nets held a five-point lead and missed four of six free throws in 11.6 seconds.

Magic 95, Spurs 83
SAN ANTONIO -- Serge Ibaka scored 18 points and Nikola Vucevic added 12 points and 10 rebounds off the bench as Orlando ended a 10-game losing streak vs. San Antonio.
Evan Fournier added 13 points, Aaron Gordon scored 11 and Efrid Payton 10 as the Magic (7-11) snapped a four-game skid this season.
The Spurs' Kawhi Leonard led all scorers with 21 points, while LaMarcus Aldridge hit for 16 points and Manu Ginobili added 13 for San Antonio (14-4), which lost for the first time in 10 games. All four of the Spurs' defeats this season have been at home.

Bucks 118, Cavaliers 101
MILWAUKEE -- Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Bucks over the defending NBA champions.
Antetokounmpo hit 13 of 19 shots and finished with five steals and two blocked shots, setting the tone for a Bucks' offense that shot 53.5 percent and made 7 of 19 3-point attempts.
Jabari Parker added 18 points and Michael Beasley 17. LeBron James led Cleveland with 22 points but scored just eight over the final three quarters.

Pelicans 105, Lakers 88
NEW ORLEANS -- Anthony Davis recorded his 11th double-double of the season -- finishing with 41 points and 16 rebounds -- as New Orleans ended a two-game losing streak with its fifth consecutive home victory.
Davis recorded a double-double featuring at least 20 points and 10 rebounds for a fourth consecutive game. It was the seventh time this season that Davis finished with at least 35 points and 10 rebounds.
Los Angeles (9-10), already playing without point guard D'Angelo Russell (knee), lost shooting guard Nick Young to a strained right Achilles just 1:50 into the game. The Lakers said Young will undergo an MRI on Wednesday in Chicago, where Los Angeles plays the Bulls.

Pistons 112, Hornets 89
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Pistons lost star center Andre Drummond to an ejection late in the first half but rolled to just their second road win of the season.
Tobias Harris led the Pistons with 24 points, going 9 of 12 from the field on a night when the Pistons shot 48.9 percent and hit a season-high 12 3-pointers.
Drummond was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected with 4:09 remaining in the first half, with the score tied 46-46. The Pistons went on to lead 57-54 at halftime, and then they dominated the second half.

Jazz 120, Rockets 101
SALT LAKE CITY -- Gordon Hayward scored a season-high 31 points and Rudy Gobert added 16 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots as Utah won its third straight home game.
Rodney Hood added 19 points for the Jazz before leaving with a right hamstring strain in the third quarter.
James Harden scored 26 points and dished out seven assists to lead the Rockets and Eric Gordon chipped in 24 points off the bench. Houston (11-7) trailed through all of the second, third and fourth quarters and lost for just the second time in its last seven games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Kings (7-11) at 76ers (4-14)

Date: November 30, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The Sacramento Kings' latest loss left All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins feeling frustrated. He and his teammates will be looking to right the ship when the Kings play the third game in a six-game road trip Wednesday night against the 76ers in Philadelphia.

The Kings (7-11) lost 101-95 to the Washington Wizards in overtime Monday despite Cousins' 36 points and 20 rebounds. Cousins, fifth in the NBA in scoring (28.7) and 11th in rebounding (10.4), poured in 12 of his points in the fourth quarter, including the tying basket with 10.1 seconds left.

The Wizards then reeled off the first seven points of the extra period to take command. Sacramento's only points in OT came on Rudy Gay's 3-pointer with 16.8 seconds remaining, and Cousins missed all three of his shots from the floor and both his free throws.

"Overtime, I'm sick about that," he told the Sacramento Bee. "I feel like I completely choked in overtime. I'm not happy about the overtime."

Gay finished with 18 points and Ty Lawson scored 12 off the bench for the Kings, who have dropped two of their last three games.

"This was a very winnable game," Cousins told the Bee. "Hopefully this doesn't come back to bite us in the butt later on."

Gay is averaging 19.6 points a night, while Darren Collison checks in at 12.9 per game.

The Sixers also played Monday night, losing 122-97 in Toronto. Philadelphia, which rested rookie center Joel Embiid, suffered its 22nd straight road loss, one shy of the franchise record established from March 29 to Dec. 23, 2015.

The Sixers (4-14) have dropped four in a row overall to sink to the bottom of the Eastern Conference, a position they assumed the previous three years as well.

Embiid leads the team (and all NBA rookies) in scoring (18.2), rebounding (7.8) and 3-point accuracy (50.0 percent), and is expected to return against Sacramento. The third overall pick in the 2014 draft, he missed his first two seasons following a pair of foot surgeries. The team has also been limiting him to 24 minutes a game as a precaution, and plans to continue to do so until at least Christmas.

While Embiid figures to be back Wednesday, the status of veteran point guard Jerryd Bayless is far less certain.

Bayless, signed as a free agent in July, tore a ligament in his left wrist in the preseason and missed the first 13 games. He played the next three, then sat out Sunday's loss to Cleveland as well as the game in Toronto with soreness in the wrist.

"Personally, I'm a little bit worried," coach Brett Brown told the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Sixers have been without forward Ben Simmons and center/forward Nerlens Noel all season.

Simmons, the top overall pick in the last draft, broke his right foot in training camp and underwent surgery. He is not expected to return until January.

Noel underwent minor surgery on his left knee in late October and is expected to miss a few more weeks.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Grizzlies (11-7) at Raptors (11-6)

Date: November 30, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

TORONTO -- The Memphis Grizzlies will be dealing with yet another injury when they play the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday at the Air Canada Centre.

Point guard Mike Conley is expected to be out for about six weeks with a broken bone in his back.

It is bad news for the Grizzlies (11-7), who will be facing a Raptors team that was able to rest some players down the stretch in a 122-95 home win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.

The Raptors (11-6) are 5-3 at home and the Grizzlies are 6-3 on the road.

Memphis has lost two of its last three after winning six straight. The Raptors have won three in a row.

Conley was injured during the third quarter of the 104-85 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Monday after taking a charge from Michael-Kidd Gilchrist.

The Grizzlies said that Conley was diagnosed with transverse fractures in the vertebrae located in his lower back. The injury is expected to resolve itself with rest. Conley is expected to miss six weeks and will be re-evaluated in four weeks.

Conley scored seven points in the first four minutes of the third quarter in trying to lead a comeback from a 56-39 disadvantage at the half. The deficit had been cut to 11 points when Conley was injured. He left with 14 points and five assists.

"There was another setback with Mike leaving the game," Memphis guard Tony Allen said. "A lot of guys looked like they were worried. I think the game got away from us at that point."

"At that point you are only concerned about that guy's health," center Marc Gasol said. "You just worry if he is OK or not."

The Grizzlies said that Vince Carter also was injured early in the fourth quarter on Monday. Carter, a former Raptors star, suffered a right hip flexor strain. He traveled with the team to Toronto and will be listed as questionable for the game.

The Grizzlies already have plenty of absences. Chandler Parsons, James Ennis and Brandan Wright are out with injuries. Zach Randolph has missed the past three games after the death of his mother last week.

Meanwhile, the Raptors had better news on the injury front. Center Jonas Valanciunas did not play in the fourth quarter Monday because of a minor ankle injury. The ankle was rewrapped and he could have returned but coach Dwane Casey rested him with the game well under control.

"He's OK," Casey said.

The Raptors' concern has been the defensive part of their game. They have kept the opposition under 100 points the past two games. Casey is still not satisfied.

"We had a lot of defensive mistakes," Casey said Tuesday. "Our defensive fundamentals, we've got to continue to work on."

The Raptors easily defeated Philadelphia despite getting only 14 points from DeMar DeRozan, who has been averaging 30 per game.

"Teams are sending extra bodies to him," Casey said. "They stay a little longer on the pin-downs."

Kyle Lowry led the Raptors with 24 points and Terrence Ross scored 22 off the bench as six players hit double figures.

"Consistency has been huge for him," Casey said of Ross. "I know he had 22 points but the most important thing is his defensive focus."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pistons (9-10) at Celtics (10-7)

Date: November 30, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

BOSTON -- Al Horford will be back in the Boston lineup when the Celtics host the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.

Horford, who missed nine games this season because of a concussion, was not with the team in its easy win at Miami on Monday night because his wife gave birth to the couple's second child.

Amazingly, Horford had to defend not being at the game after a local talk-show host said he should have chartered a jet and joined his team in Florida.

"My family's very important to me," he said Tuesday. "For me, I'm in more of a unique situation because this is our first year here (in Boston) and my wife, we all moved in the middle of the pregnancy. And just a lot going on. So I just felt like it was important for me to really be there, supporting her. And we have a son as well.

"So for her, it's been a lot thrown at her these past few months. So I know that it meant a lot for me to be there with her, and knowing our schedule ahead and everything. So I'm just very happy that the Celtics really take the time and they consider us not only as players but as people. And people that have families."

After Horford's sister came to his defense on Twitter, the player put the whole thing in perspective, saying, "I don't really read into any (criticism). I don't read Twitter and stuff, and the radio and all that. I just kind of focus on the court, on my job here, and then off the court on my family.

"Everybody has their opinion. I respect anything that anybody has to say. I care a lot about the group and our guys. Like I was explaining earlier, for my family's sake it was important for me to be there for them. Just with our transition and everything. So that's that. Now I can put that behind me and get focused again on (Wednesday's game)."

That contest will be against a Detroit team that won easily beat the Hornets on Tuesday night, a 112-89 win at Charlotte.

"Give them their due -- four games in five nights, it's awfully difficult in this league," Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy said of the Hornets. "I think they ran out of gas a little bit in the second half. But still, we did what we were supposed to do. It was important for us to do that, so I was happy."

The Pistons won despite the ejection of big man Andre Drummond in the second quarter for throwing an elbow at Roy Hibbert -- a non-believing Drummond laughing and shaking his head as he walked off the court following the flagrant-2 call.

Tobias Harris scored 24 points and Marcus Morris and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 18 apiece for the Pistons (9-10).

"It says a lot about our team, but most importantly about guys like Aron (Baynes) and Jon (Leuer) to fill in for that role and be productive and bring the energy that (Drummond) had when he was out there," Harris said. "We just kept playing with them."

The Celtics (10-7) cruised to a 112-104 win in Miami and came away saying Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told his players that Boston guard Marcus Smart was "a hothead."

"I was begging for Spoelstra to get a technical foul because he was saying a lot of stuff," Boston's Jae Crowder said. "He was everywhere (Monday) night, but that's one of the things he did say. When they went to intentional foul Marcus, it was obvious that what they were trying to do was more than just foul. They were trying to get under his skin and play a little physical, and knowing he wanted to retaliate for the most part. So it's just part of the scouting report on I guess Marcus that he wears his emotions on his sleeve."

The Pistons and Celtics played Nov. 19 in Auburn Hills, Boston winning 94-92 with Isaiah Thomas scoring 24 points and dishing out eight assists.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Wizards (6-10) at Thunder (11-8)

Date: November 30, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

OKLAHOMA CITY -- At the end of Monday night's victory over the New York Knicks, Russell Westbrook was visibly exhausted.

He was so tired, he took a seat on the bench to do his postgame interview before lumbering back to the locker room.

The reason for the lack of energy was that he had just compiled another triple-double to his growing resume. With 27 points, 18 rebounds and 14 assists, he led the Thunder in all three categories.

"His rebounding, his loose ball plays, when he does that it sends an unbelievable message to our team the way he fights and competes," Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. "It's historic what he's doing, but there's also another side of it too, that he's a pretty complete point guard all the way around."

The numbers Westbrook are putting up on his triple-double binge are getting into the obscenely great. He is averaging double figures in points (30.9), assists (11.3) and rebounds (10.3). The only other player to average double-figure numbers in all three categories this late into the season was Oscar Robertson.

Heading into Wednesday's game with the Washington Wizards, Westbrook has eight triple-doubles on the season and 45 for his career. If Westbrook gets another triple-double Wednesday, that will be three in a row.

Yet, there is only one stat category that Westbrook will talk about when he's asked about his run on triple-doubles. That is wins and losses.

After going through a recent losing streak, the Thunder (11-8) won their last three games.

"Winning is sustainable," Westbrook said told ESPN.com. "My job is to go out and find the best way to win games. Right now, we won three straight, and that is the most important to me."

Like Westbrook, Washington's John Wall is also coming into the game after posting a triple-double -- albeit a different one -- Monday night. In a 101-95 overtime victory over the Sacramento Kings, Wall tallied 19 points, 11 assists, 11 turnovers and eight rebounds.

While Wall's hands will be full trying to slow down Westbrook, the focus of the Oklahoma City fans will be on Wall's coach, Scott Brooks.

Brooks makes his first return to Oklahoma City since being fired at the end of the 2014-15 season.

Yet, that hasn't taken away the excitement Brooks said he has for seeing members of the Thunder organization.

"We had a great run. Unfortunately it ended for me but that's the business we're in. I have a lot of respect for the organization," Brooks told The Washington Post. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for the players that I coached. I still communicate with all of them. Even now that I'm back in the NBA I'm thankful for the job that I have now but it also brings back a lot of memories."

However, his first season with the Wizards, it is not going as he had hoped. Washington is 6-10 and in third place in the Southeast Division.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Knicks (8-9) at Timberwolves (5-12)

Date: November 30, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The Minnesota Timberwolves need to find a way to right the ship after once again failing to close out a game, the latest instance coming Monday against the Utah Jazz.

They'll have two straight chances against the New York Knicks to do so. Minnesota hosts New York on Wednesday at Target Center before traveling to Madison Square Garden for another game against the Knicks on Friday.

Coach Tom Thibodeau was not pleased after his team's latest performance, a 113-103 loss to the Jazz in which Minnesota took a lead in the fourth before letting the game get away.

In several instances this season, the third quarter has been Minnesota's Achilles heel. In the loss to Utah, the fourth quarter was the undoing for the Timberwolves (5-12).

"We came back in the second half, had the lead in the fourth quarter. Then we didn't do the things that are necessary to win," Thibodeau told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "So it's getting a pick-and-roll, walking out a man. It's passing up a good shot to get a great shot, sprinting back every time."

The Knicks (8-9) are on a two-game skid of their own after winning five of six.

The latest loss was a 112-103 defeat at the hands of Oklahoma City on Monday in New York. Derrick Rose's 30-point effort wasn't enough as New York was on the wrong end of Russell Westbrook's triple-double.

"That 30 don't mean anything when we lose," Rose told the New York Times. "And the way that we lost, there wasn't any grit. There wasn't any grind. Can't come out and play like that, period."

Rose and teammate Joakim Noah will see a familiar face on the Minnesota sideline Wednesday night as their previous coach in Chicago is now in his first year as the bench boss of the Timberwolves.

"We've been through a lot together," Thibodeau told the Star Tribune. "I'm glad to see them doing well. ... I think New York is an ideal situation. I'm happy for them. I won't be happy for them (Wednesday). But they're good guys."

Noah and Co. will need to do a better job on the glass Wednesday than the Knicks did on Monday. New York was outrebounded 53-40 by the Thunder. Noah had just three boards.

Through 17 games this year, the Knicks have been one of the 10 best rebounding teams in the NBA. They now go up against a Timberwolves team that has been one of the worst.

"I want to play better, obviously," Noah told the New York Post. "I know personally I have to play better for this team to get to where we want to get to."

Minnesota's young core of players is finding out the hard way what it takes to win -- or, in their case, lose -- close games. Four of the Wolves' last five losses have been by four points or less, adding to the growing pains of youngsters Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine.

"Everyone's frustrated," Wiggins told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "It's not fun to lose."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Lakers (9-10) at Bulls (10-6)

Date: November 30, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

CHICAGO -- A thin backcourt keeps getting thinner for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Last week, the Lakers lost 20-year-old point guard D'Angelo Russell to a left knee injury that could sideline him for a couple more weeks. Now, shooting guard Nick Young could miss time after sustaining a right Achilles tendon strain Tuesday in a loss against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Young is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Wednesday before the Lakers (9-10) visit the Chicago Bulls (10-6). In the meantime, look for Jose Calderon and Jordan Clarkson to lead the backcourt during the second road game in as many nights for Los Angeles.

"You do your best -- I know it's a cliche -- but literally trying to take it one game at a time," first-year Lakers coach Luke Walton told the Los Angeles Times.

Meanwhile, the Bulls are grateful to wake up in their own beds after a grueling six-game road trip that spanned the West Coast before crisscrossing the country to Philadelphia. Chicago won four of six games on the trip and surpassed 100 points in each of its past three contests.

The Bulls return to their home court for the first time since Nov. 12. The team is 4-1 at the United Center this season, with its only setback coming against the New York Knicks.

The Lakers and Bulls meet for the second time in the 11 days. Chicago outlasted Los Angeles 118-110 on Nov. 20 at the Staples Center as guard Jimmy Butler erupted for 40 points.

Butler has played like a superstar in his first season alongside free-agent addition Dwyane Wade. Butler is averaging 25.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists in his first 16 contests.

The buoyant 27-year-old told reporters he looked forward to competing against the Lakers and veteran forward Luol Deng, Butler's friend and former teammate. Deng served as a mentor for Butler, whom the Bulls drafted with the final pick of the first round in 2011.

"The way I look at it, I owe him a little bit," Butler said with a sly smile to the Chicago Tribune. "That's why I'm going to show him the protege is doing it."

Wade said Butler's emergence was real.

"This is not a facade," Wade said to the Chicago Tribune. "This is not luck. This is the way he can play night in and night out. He understands that now. Once you reach that level, it's a big responsibility to stay there. But he wants to, and he has all the tools to do it."

Reserve guard Lou Williams led the Lakers with 25 points against the Bulls in the team's first meeting. Forward Larry Nance Jr. added 18 points off the bench.

Los Angeles lost five of its past seven games to slip below .500. Walton's team is searching for its first win against the Bulls since Jan. 29, 2015.

Lakers forward Julius Randle returned Tuesday after missing the previous three games because of a hip-pointer injury. Randle scored 12 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in 22 minutes.

"I don't have to be pain-free, (but) I'm just trying to figure out a way around it," Randle told the Los Angeles Times. "But the biggest thing is I don't want it to get worse."

Bulls guard Doug McDermott is expected to miss his seventh consecutive game as he recovers from a concussion. He returned to practice this week but has not been cleared for contact drills.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Spurs (14-4) at Mavericks (3-13)

Date: November 30, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

Two old rivals going in opposite directions meet for the second time in 10 days Wednesday night in Dallas.

The San Antonio Spurs (14-4) are off to the second-best start in team history and are undefeated (10-0) on the road. San Antonio had a nine-game winning streak snapped in a 95-83 loss to Orlando at home Tuesday night.

The Dallas Mavericks (3-13) are off to the worst start in Mark Cuban's ownership tenure. Dallas recently ended an eight-game slide, the longest since Cuban bought the club in 2000.

The Mavericks will be without Dirk Nowitzki, who's out for at least the next two games recovering from a right Achilles tendon injury. Nowitzki already missed 11 games this season.

"He's making gradual progress, but not enough to play him right now," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said.

The Mavericks picked up a win Sunday, beating New Orleans 91-81 and winning for only the second time at American Airlines Center this season. The victory was much needed.

"It helps a lot," Carlisle said. "We have been close in a lot of games. The Cleveland game (128-90 loss on Friday) was a bad one, but we have been doing a lot of good things and have just been a little shorthanded."

The win over the Pelicans began a stretch of eight of out 10 games at home.

"It doesn't matter in this league," Mavericks guard Wesley Matthews said. "You have to give everything you have and be prepared every single night no matter where you are. We've dropped home games and we've dropped road games, but it does feel good to get a win in front of these fans."

Harrison Barnes, averaging a career-high 20.8 points, picked up the scoring load with Nowitzki's continued absences. Barnes scored at least 20 points nine times in 16 games after doing so on only six occasions last season with Golden State.

The Spurs are the fifth team in NBA history to start at least 10-0 on the road, which is also a franchise-best winning streak away from home. The Warriors own the best road start, opening 14-0 last season.

San Antonio is 4-4 at home after losing just twice at the AT&T Center a season ago.

"It's hard to explain even for us, as players who are on the floor competing," Spurs center Pau Gasol said. "It's not like we're trying to lose games at home and then go on the road and get all of them. We understand the importance of each and every game, but it's going to have to translate into better play at home, especially."

The Spurs had a season-high 19 turnovers and a season low in points against the Magic.

"Energy could have been a little better at the beginning," Gasol said. "I think we fought back and had pretty good intensity, but they were just disrupting our offense."

Dallas visited San Antonio on Nov. 21, though the contest hardly resembled what fans have grown accustomed to when the Spurs and Mavericks hook up. Even with their current rosters, San Antonio's 96-91 victory was a mashup of player combinations and rotations.

The Spurs rested Tony Parker and LaMarcus Aldridge, while Dallas was without Nowitzki and Deron Williams. Kawhi Leonard scored 24 to lead San Antonio.

The Spurs own the series in recent years against their longtime in-state rivals. San Antonio won six straight and 20 of the last 24 regular-season meetings with the Mavericks.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Heat (5-12) at Nuggets (7-10)

Date: November 30, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

As the Denver Nuggets have tried to find footing through injuries and inconsistency, one thing has emerged for this team: Wilson Chandler has become their best player.

Chandler may be the best-kept secret early in the NBA season. Even though he has primarily come off the bench, he is averaging a team-high 18.3 points, with 7.7 rebounds, after missing all of 2015-16 due to a hip injury.

In short, he has become the most invaluable player for Denver.

"It's too early to start talking about sixth man of the year and all of that stuff," Nuggets coach Michael Malone told The Denver Post. "But he's been our MVP."

Chandler has been lights out of late. In the last eight games, he is averaging 21.8 points and 8.6 rebounds while the rotation has been in constant flux. In that time Danilo Gallinari, Will Barton, Gary Harris and Juancho Hernangomez have been out with injuries at various points.

Chandler has been the rock for Denver (7-10), and he will try to continue that play against the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.

"He's probably playing at one of the highest levels in the league right now," point guard Emmanuel Mudiay told The Denver Post. "He's a mismatch problem. Him playing (power forward) is helping us a lot. He's making tough shots."

The Nuggets may get reinforcements for their game Wednesday night. Gallinari (thigh), Hernangomez (ankle) and Barton (personal reasons) practiced Monday. Gallinari has missed the last three games and Hernangomez two straight.

The Heat are coming off two straight home losses as they embark on a three-game Western Conference road swing. They were bolstered by the return of Wayne Ellington in a loss to Boston on Monday.

His shooting from the 3-point line could help inject some life into Miami's perimeter shooting.

"I know I can help in that area," Ellington, who had been out since the preseason finale due to a thigh bruise, told the Sun-Sentinel. "And that's really what I do. I'll continue to catch my rhythm and get better while I'm out there."

The Heat (5-12) are still trying to figure things out after star Dwyane Wade signed with Chicago in the summer. Things will be tough with the absence of Dion Waiters (groin) and Justise Winslow (left wrist), who both didn't make the trip.

Center Hassan Whiteside, who had an MRI on his sore left knee Monday, and point guard Goran Dragic, who had 27 points and 17 assists in the loss to the Celtics, are also ailing. Whiteside told the Sun-Sentinel the MRI came back negative.

"It eased my mind a lot," he said. "Because it was very painful. It was bothering me, so it's just swelling and I'm going to stay on it and just keep icing it and taking care of my knees."

The Heat will need his rebounding against Denver's active frontcourt. Kenneth Faried has played well since being put back in the starting lineup for Nikola Jokic, and 7-footer Jusuf Nurkic is a load in the middle.

The biggest concern for Miami should be Chandler, who is feeling healthy and enjoying a career year after injuries cost him 153 games since his first full season in Denver in 2011-2012.

"I was derailed a lot. It happens," he told The Denver Post. "It's part of the game. So this is the first time I was able to come back fully healthy, start the season off 100 percent. And I was able to work on my game."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Hawks (10-8) at Suns (5-13)

Date: November 30, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

The slumping Atlanta Hawks will seek to avoid a winless Western swing Wednesday night they visit the Phoenix Suns.

What began as a reasonable trip -- matchups with the Utah Jazz, the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix, with the powerful Golden State Warriors interspersed -- turned into a bit of a nightmare after 27- and 15-point drubbings at the hands of the Jazz and Lakers.

Hawks players held a no-coaches meeting in Los Angeles, and it apparently made a positive impact. They led at Golden State for the better part of three periods Monday night before falling just short at the end, 105-100.

Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer applauded the players' meeting.

"If they want to talk and hammer some things out, that's usually a good thing," the longtime San Antonio Spurs assistant said Monday in Oakland.

Atlanta (10-8) lost six of its past seven after a 9-2 start despite strong play by veteran big man Dwight Howard.

The NBA's career leader among active players in rebounds and blocked shots had a 14-point, 16-rebound performance at Golden State.

Three games earlier, he led a win over the Indiana Pacers with 23 points and 20 rebounds, the 46th 20-20 game of his career.

Howard figures to get some resistance Wednesday night from fellow veteran Tyson Chandler, who had a big game of his own -- 10 points, 15 rebounds -- his last time out, Sunday against the Denver Nuggets.

Chandler missed eight of the Suns' previous 10 games while dealing with the death of his mother earlier this month.

Howard (12.8 rebounds per game) and Chandler (12.0) rank third and fifth, respectively, in the league on the boards this season.

A matchup with the Suns might be just what the doctor ordered for the Hawks. Phoenix (5-13) has the second-worst record in the West and is coming off a 120-114 home loss to Denver.

Point guard Eric Bledsoe poured in a career-best 35 points in the defeat, but he faces a stiffer challenge Wednesday in Hawks counterpart Dennis Schroder.

Atlanta's first-year starter not only contributed a team-high 24 points to the loss at Golden State, but he also helped harass Warriors star Stephen Curry into 6-of-17 shooting.

While Schroder was too quick at times for Curry, he will have to deal with Suns guard Devin Booker on Wednesday.

As Schroder did with Curry, Booker accepts the challenge to be as good on the defensive end as on offense.

"If you want to be great, that's the role you've got to take on," Booker, addressing the media at practice Tuesday, said of being a defensive stopper. "You've got to be a two-way player. All the great players in the league are two-way players."

When the Hawks last saw the Suns, they couldn't handle Booker on the offensive end. Booker had 34 points, his second-best output as a rookie, when the Suns lost at Atlanta last April.

Booker has four 30-point games this season, including one Sunday in the loss to Denver, giving him a total of 10 in his career.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pacers (9-9) at Trail Blazers (9-10)

Date: November 30, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

The Portland Trail Blazers seem determined to improve their defensive performance, beginning Wednesday night with a home date against the Indiana Pacers.

On Monday, 12 hours after a 130-114 drubbing by the Houston Rockets, the Trail Blazers began to lay the foundation with a video session and a spirited practice focused on defense.

"This is the first time we've had a real practice in what seems like forever," point guard Damian Lillard said. "It was good for us to try to sharpen up, (to have) coaches challenge us.

"It's to the point now where our pride has to kick in. We have to show how much we actually care about ... being better defensively."

The Rockets scorched the Blazers with 56.1 percent shooting, including 47.2 percent (17 for 36) from 3-point range. Portland owns the worst defensive efficiency rating in the NBA (109.80) and is giving up more points (113.7) than any team in the league other than Brooklyn (114.0).

The Blazers (9-10) are tired of talking about getting better at the defensive end.

"We keep preaching it, but it's getting old," guard Allen Crabbe said. "At some point, it has to click. We keep telling ourselves we have to get better, but at some point, we have to get it going."

The Blazers are one of the better offensive teams in the NBA, but they have trouble stopping anybody. Cleveland blitzed them for 137 points, Golden State for 127, Houston for 126 and 130, even Phoenix for 121.

"We scored 125 points against Cleveland," Lillard said. "That's a lot of points to score and not win a game. Right now, we're not getting it done on the defensive end. That's what it comes down to.

"We're going to put points on the board, but we have to find a way to get better at coming up with more stops. If (an opponent's) execution gets harder, the (shooting) percentage is going to go down. We have to make them more uncomfortable more consistently."

Indiana, meanwhile, begins a five-game road trip coming off impressive back-to-back routs at home of the Brooklyn Nets (118-97) and the Los Angeles Clippers (91-70). The wins were achieved without the services of star forward Paul George, who has missed six of the past seven games -- and will also sit out Wednesday's contest -- with ankle and back injuries.

The Pacers also emphasize defense, led by point guard Jeff Teague, who ranks fourth in the NBA in steals at 2.11 per game.

"I have to be aggressive defensively and do my best to ignite and get guys going by pressuring the ball," Teague told the media. "Everything else will take care of itself. (The last two games) we're moving the ball better, guys are making shots and guys are playing with confidence."

Coach Nate McMillan is striving for consistency in both effort and performance.

"We talked about not taking steps back," McMillan said. "We've played some good games, and then you can't recognize the team the next game. We need to build some momentum at this point in the season."

McMillan has been impressed with the work of 20-year-old center Myles Turner, who averaged 16.5 points, 10 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots the last two games going up against Brook Lopez and DeAndre Jordan.

"Hey, welcome to the center position in the NBA: (Atlanta's) Dwight Howard to Brook to Jordan the last three games," McMillan said. "They're big, powerful guys. (Turner) is still developing and growing into that position, defending the basket. He's working. That's the one thing he brings to the floor every night."