Wednesday 12/14/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[superbeets]

Premier League TODAY 19:45

West Ham

v

Burnley

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		13/20	31/10	19/4	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT WEST HAM	RECENT FORM
H DA LA DA LH LA D​ Most recent​	1 - 0 1 - 2 5 - 1 5 - 3	A DH WA LH LA LH W​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Burnley have lost five of their six away matches

EXPERT VERDICT: West Ham’s home troubles continued when they lost 5-1 against Arsenal but that pales in comparison to Burnley’s travelling woes. The Clarets have picked up just one point away from Turf Moor and it’s hard to make a case for them. It won’t be easy for the Hammers but they should get the job done.

RECOMMENDATION: West Ham to win 1-0
1


REFEREE: Robert Madley STADIUM:

Premier League TODAY 19:45

Middlesbro

v

Liverpool

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		5	16/5	3/5	More markets

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

KEY STAT: Liverpool have conceded 14 goals in eight away games

EXPERT VERDICT: Liverpool’s defensive troubles contributed to the 4-3 defeat away at Bournemouth and the 2-2 draw with West Ham but Middlesbrough are light on attacking threat so might not cause quite as many issues for the Reds. Jurgen Klopp’s team are vulnerable but they are the likely victors so back them to win with both teams getting on the scoresheet.

RECOMMENDATION: Liverpool to win 2-1
1


REFEREE: Jonathan Moss STADIUM:

Premier League TODAY 19:45

Sunderland

v

Chelsea

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		8	9/2	4/11	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT SUNDERLAND	RECENT FORM
H LA WH WA LH WA L​ Most recent​	3 - 2 0 - 0 2 - 1 3 - 4	A WH WA WH WA WH W​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Chelsea haven’t won in their last three Wearside visits

EXPERT VERDICT: Chelsea are flying but they could suffer a surprise setback at Sunderland. The hosts have found some form and confidence, winning three of their last five games, and, despite bumping along near the bottom in recent seasons, have a proud tradition of ruffling fancy feathers at the Stadium of Light.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
1


REFEREE: Neil Swarbrick STADIUM:

Premier League TODAY 20:00

C Palace

v

Man Utd

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT1		17/4	3	7/10	More markets

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

KEY STAT: Manchester United are unbeaten in seven meetings with Crystal Palace

EXPERT VERDICT: Alan Pardew’s time at Selhurst Park could soon be up and the Crystal Palace manager will not be looking forward to hosting Manchester United in this clash. A run of six straight league defeats piled the pressure on Pardew and defensively they were poor in Saturday's 3-3 draw at Hull, while United are beginning to play much better.

RECOMMENDATION: Man Utd
3


REFEREE: Craig Pawson STADIUM:

Premier League TODAY 20:00

Stoke

v

Southampton

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		11/5	11/5	6/4	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT STOKE	RECENT FORM
H WA DH LA WH WA L​ Most recent​	1 - 2 2 - 1 2 - 3 1 - 1	A LH WA WA LH DH W​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Southampton have won just one league away game

EXPERT VERDICT: A decent fine run of form has propelled Stoke to a respectable league position and the Potters rate a value selection when they host Southampton. The Saints look comfortable but their away form has been less than impressive, as emphasised by a 3-0 defeat at Crystal Palace. They are also in the middle of a hectic schedule and must do without Charlie Austin for several months.

RECOMMENDATION: Stoke
2


REFEREE: Anthony Taylor STADIUM:

Premier League TODAY 20:00

West Brom

v

Swansea

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		21/20	5/2	3	More markets

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

KEY STAT: Swansea have lost five of their last six away games

EXPERT VERDICT: Bob Bradley’s Swansea future is under scrutiny and his problems could worsen at the Hawthorns. West Brom have won three of their last five at home, scoring 12 goals in the process, and their sole defeat came against Manchester City. They rate a confident selection to continue their decent form after only losing narrowly at Chelsea on Sunday.

RECOMMENDATION: West Brom
3


REFEREE: Michael Oliver STADIUM:

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL roundup: Stars shoot past Ducks
By The Sports Xchange

DALLAS -- Captain Jamie Benn had a goal and two assists and the Dallas Stars erupted for five third-period goals in a 6-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday at American Airlines Center.
Dallas also got goals from Stephen Johns, Dan Hamhuis, Adam Cracknell, Patrick Eaves and Radek Faksa to start a five-game homestand on a positive note.
Tyler Seguin had two assists and Antti Niemi made 32 saves for the Stars, who are playing eight of their next nine at home. Jordie Benn also had two assists.
Anaheim got a goal and an assist from Ryan Getzlaf and a goal from Corey Perry in the start of a six-game road trip.

Blue Jackets 3, Oilers 1
EDMONTON, Alberta -- Columbus scored three straight goals, two of them in the third period, to post a rare road victory over Edmonton.
The Blue Jackets, who have won just six of their previous 26 visits to Edmonton, got goals from Cam Atkinson, Matt Calvert and Sam Gagner.
Tyler Pitlick scored the Oilers' lone goal.

Wild 5, Panthers 1
SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- Zach Parise's first goal of December got things rolling early for Minnesota and a quartet of his teammates chipped in during a win vs. Florida.
The Wild, winners of five straight, got 29 saves from Devan Dubnyk while Erik Haula, Eric Staal, Mikko Koivu and Jason Zucker added goals.
Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo, who had a dozen saves on 17 shots, fell to 3-12-3 all-time in Minnesota's home rink. Dylan McIlrath scored the Panthers' lone goal.

Predators 6, Blues 3
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Down 3-0 less than two minutes into the second period, Nashville rallied past St. Louis at Bridgestone Arena.
Mike Fisher scored twice and Mike Ribeiro, James Neal, Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen also scored for the Predators.
Kevin Shattenkirk, Ryan Reaves and Brad Hunt scored for the Blues.

Sharks 3, Maple Leafs 2 (SO)
TORONTO -- Logan Couture was the only player to score in the shootout, and San Jose defeated Toronto.
Justin Braun and Joe Pavelski scored in regulation for the Sharks, who won their second game in a row.
Rookie Auston Matthews scored a goal and added an assist for the Maple Leafs, who lost their second in a row. Zach Hyman also scored for Toronto and William Nylander had two assists.

Coyotes 4, Red Wings 1
DETROIT -- Jamie McGinn scored two goals to lead Arizona over Detroit at Joe Louis Arena.
Anthony DeAngelo and Lawson Crouse also scored for the Coyotes, who are 2-4-3 in their last nine games. Peter Holland had two assists in his Coyotes debut and Mike Smith made 36 saves.
Andreas Athanasiou scored for the Red Wings, who are 2-8-3 in their last 13 at home. Jimmy Howard stopped 15 shots.

Hurricanes 8, Canucks 6
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Jeff Skinner, Ron Hainsey, Victor Rask and Justin Faulk scored in a span of 4:40 early in the third period as Carolina erased a three-goal Vancouver lead for its seventh straight home win.
Jordan Staal, Lee Stempniak, Sebastian Aho also scored, and Skinner added a second goal in the game for the Hurricanes.
Sven Baertschi scored twice and Brandon Sutter, Alexandre Burrows, Markus Granlund and ben Hutton scored one each for the Canucks.

Capitals 4, Islanders 2
NEW YORK -- Matt Niskanen scored 94 seconds into the third period and added a late power-play goal as Washington extended its winning streak to five games with a victory over New York.
Brett Connolly and Justin Williams scored second-period goals for the Capitals, who are 5-0-1 in their last six games since a 3-0 home loss to New York on Dec. 1
Brock Nelson and Nikolay Kulemin scored for the Islanders, who are 5-2-1 in their last eight games.

Sabres 6, Kings 3
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Buffalo scored four goals in a span of 6:13 on their way to a victory over Los Angeles.
Jack Eichel had two goals for the Sabres and Ryan O'Reilly, Brian Gionta, Evander Kane and Sam Reinhart also scored. Robin Lehner made 30 saves.
Jeff Carter had two goals for the Kings and Anze Kopitar also scored. Peter Budaj made 18 saves.

Blackhawks 2, Rangers 1
NEW YORK -- Artem Anisimov scored late in the second period and Scott Darling made 33 saves as Chicago edged New York at Madison Square Garden.
Trevor van Riemsdyk scored the other Blackhawks goal.
Antti Raanta stopped 24 shots in his fourth consecutive start for the Rangers and had a shutout streak snapped at 176 minutes. Jesper Fast scored the lone Rangers goal.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Sharks (15-11) at Senators (16-9)

Date: December 14, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

OTTAWA -- After making strides of improvement with their defensive game over the first two months of the season, the Ottawa Senators are starting to stumble.

They have allowed nine goals in their last two games, both losses, and 19 in their last four, a span that includes a single victory which happened to come against the opponent they will meet next.

Desperate to stop the slide, coach Guy Boucher was screaming and slamming his stick on the ice during the last practice before Wednesday's visit by the San Jose Sharks. He was unhappy with the way the players were doing drills, and still seething over their compete level in Sunday's 5-1 loss in Anaheim

"It was just a no-show," Boucher said of the last stop on a four-game road trip. "That's unacceptable for us. We want to hold high standards. We have all year long and that's why we were having success. That can't slip away. We need our identity back. That's hard, tight defense and a much better shooting mentality on the other side."

Now one game into their own four stop road swing, the Sharks overcame a 2-0 in the second half of the third period deficit for a 3-2 shootout victory Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.

Justin Braun and Joe Pavelski scored 2:07 apart to tie the game and Logan Couture won it in the shootout.

"It was a fight tonight, to find our game, to find our legs. It didn't look good and we found a way," said Sharks coach Peter DeBoer. "It was a testament to our group because it definitely wasn't an 'A' effort by our group. You've got to win kind of in different ways in this league."

The Sharks will be out to avenge a 4-2 loss against Ottawa in San Jose last Wednesday, a game which they rallied from a 2-0 deficit before a break down allowed Ottawa veteran Chris Kelly to score the winner with 66 seconds left in the third.

The Sharks outshot the Senators 37-17 but were stymied by goalie Mike Condon. Since that night, Condon has allowed seven goals in four periods and was pulled 20 minutes into the loss to the Ducks.

"In my eyes that's so far in my rearview I don't really think about it anymore," Condon said Tuesday. "I already went over the film, I already digested what I need to from it. With the condensed schedule, you've got another game coming up, so we're on to San Jose."

With defenseman Mark Borowiecki serving the second of a two-game suspension, the Senators have recalled Ben Harpur, a 6-foot-6 blue liner who will be playing in his sixth NHL game.

Prior to the opening face-off, Senators veteran Chris Neil will be honored in a ceremony to recognize his 1000th game, which he played in Los Angeles on Saturday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Bruins (15-11) at Penguins (17-7)

Date: December 14, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

PITTSBURGH -- The Boston Bruins needed overtime Monday to beat Montreal 2-1 and break a three-game losing streak. If they want to keep the winning going, they might well need a lot more than two goals Wednesday to solve the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena.

The Penguins have been nearly unstoppable during a six-game winning streak. They have scored 35 goals during that stretch.

"We hope we can continue to just try and play the game the right way. I think when we do that we have some talented guys that can finish," said Mike Sullivan, who celebrated his one-year anniversary as Pittsburgh's coach Monday with a 7-0 thumping of Arizona.

"We're finding offense throughout our lineup, and that's what's helping us win games."

The Penguins have won in different ways lately -- by blowout, by comeback, with even-strength goals, with power-play tallies -- and their offense has overshadowed some solid defensive efforts. During the six-game winning streak, opponents have managed just 14 goals.

"The message we continue to preach to them is to make sure we create our offense off our defense and we don't become a chance-for-chance team because it's hard to sustain winning when you play that way," Sullivan said.

Still, it's the goal count that stands out.

"We showed how well we can put the puck in the net," Penguins goaltender Matt Murray said after earning his second shutout of the season against the Coyotes.

The usual suspects have been present and accounted for. Sidney Crosby leads the NHL with 21 goals (in just 23 games). Evgeni Malkin (32 points) and Phil Kessel (31 points) are among the league leaders. Kris Letang (19 points) is holding his own among defensemen.

But it hasn't been just the stars. Fifteen players, including members of all four lines plus the defense, have contributed to the 35 goals during the streak.

The Bruins might be a little envious of that as they game-plan for Wednesday.

"We need to be a team where we're not going to be looked that if you shut down this line then they're done," Boston coach Claude Julien said. "I want us to be a team that spreads the goal-scoring around."

And that might lead to more goals, period.

The Bruins scored just six goals during their three-game losing streak. Before that, they won three in a row and needed just eight goals to do that. Pittsburgh nearly reached that total in Monday's game alone.

Boston has relied heavily on goaltender Tuukka Rask, and he has delivered. He is 15-5-2 and among the league leaders in goals-against average (1.80), and save percentage (.932).

To help find Rask more goal support, Boston shook up its line combinations before its win Monday.

"I think sometimes the changes can create some excitement," Julien told the Bruins' website. "It's not the first time, probably won't be the last time that we've changed."

While the new look netted just two goals -- both from third-liners Austin Czarnik and Ryan Spooner -- it was enough for a win.

"It (wasn't) working the way it was. What do you have to lose?" David Backes told the team website.

"We can talk about it until we're blue in the face. It's about going on the ice and getting the job done, doing what we need to do to get to those hard areas and score goals."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Lightning (14-12) at Flames (15-13)

Date: December 14, 2016 9:30 PM EDT

CALGARY, Alberta -- The Calgary Flames host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome in a battle of two well-rested teams.

Both the Flames (16-13-2) and Lightning (14-13-2) have enjoyed a break in their schedules since they last played on Saturday night.

While the Flames beat the Winnipeg Jets 6-2 at home on Saturday for their sixth straight win, the Lightning dropped a 4-3 decision to the Pittsburgh Penguins in Tampa earlier the same evening.

Although the streaking Flames are back in contention, Calgary coach Glen Gulutzan cautioned that his players will have to continue to build on that momentum to stay in the mix in the highly-competitive Pacific Division.

"We have moved the bar for ourselves in the last month," Gulutzan said. "Everybody knows about our start, we dug ourselves a hole and we are starting to get ourselves out of it. We've got a lot of work to do, but we have a great group."

Included in that group is goaltender Chad Johnson, who has gone 9-1-0 in his past 10 starts.

"Obviously, it starts with (Johnson) back there in the pipes," said center Sean Monahan, who has shrugged off a slow start to his season with the Flames by recording points in seven straight games, which is a career high.

"He's giving us that confidence to go out there and work for him. When we're getting the chances we're putting the puck in the back of the net. I think that comes down to us sticking to our structure and keeping it simple. That's why we're getting our chances."

While the Flames are on fire, the same can't be said for the Lightning, who have gone 1-6-1 in its past eight games and 4-7-1 since superstar center Steven Stamkos suffered a meniscus tear in his right knee.

After enjoying a three-day break from action, Tampa Bay will play three road games in four nights starting with Wednesday's tough test against Calgary. The Lightning will then play the Canucks in Vancouver on Friday before taking on the Oilers in Edmonton the next night.

"We've had a little time to practice," Lightning coach Jon Cooper told the Tampa Bay Times on Tuesday. "We've had a little rest. We're going to need that going on the road here especially that we're playing three in four nights. I think every team that we play is sitting home waiting for us for a couple of days, so we have to be on our game."

Despite the slump his team is in, Cooper said his players have kept up a positive attitude.

"Nobody wants to be in the situation that we're in, but we are in that situation and we have to work our way out just like everybody else," said Cooper.

The Lightning recalled right winger Erik Condra and defenseman Slater Koekkoek from the AHL's Syracuse Crunch on Monday. Koekkoek was sent down to the AHL for two games to get some much-needed playing time before being called back up.

"He's taking big steps, positive steps every single year," Cooper told the Times. "When our D corps finally got healthy, we could afford to play him some games in Syracuse. He's definitely part of our team. He's coming with us out west. Our goal is to get him in and getting back helping us."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Flyers (16-10) at Avalanche (10-14)

Date: December 14, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

Things are going so well for the Philadelphia Flyers that even when they have a setback, it's mitigated with some good news.

The Flyers lost defenseman Mark Streit for two weeks to a left shoulder injury but fellow defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere is returning to the lineup after missing a game with a hand injury.

Gostisbehere returns in time to help the Flyers try to extend their winning streak to 10 games at the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night. If Philadelphia pulls it off it will be the organization's longest winning streak since 1985, before most of the roster was born.

The current nine-game winning streak has catapulted the Flyers (18-10-3) to third in the competitive Metropolitan Division, but more importantly it has dragged them out of mediocrity that plagued the first 22 games of the season.

Now they have a chance to keep building on the recent success.

"It's more about the two points," coach Dave Hakstol told The Philadelphia Inquirer. "I don't think anyone in here is distracted by anything. We're trying to build. We're trying to do anything we can every night to get points with a goal in mind. That's what it's all about."

The Flyers might not find a more facilitating atmosphere to extend their streak than Denver. The Avalanche have lost five straight at Pepsi Center and are a disappointing 4-8-1 at home. It's the main reason they are last in the Central Division at 11-15-1.

"We've got to find a way to scrape up some points on home ice," captain Gabriel Landeskog told HockeyBuzz.com. "This hasn't been good enough so far and it's not going to be good enough if we keep this going. I think we showed a lot of urgency in Toronto and a lot of character from the whole group, and that's something we need on home ice."

The urgency in Toronto on Sunday came less than 24 hours after they had a total team meltdown in a 10-1 loss at Montreal. The Avalanche showed some grit in coming back and beating the Maple Leafs 3-1 and finish 2-2 on their road trip. Now they have to carry that over to Wednesday.

"We need to come out a little pissed off, and I think that's what we're going to look to do Wednesday," Landeskog said. "(It's been) a lack of urgency, really. We come out sometimes flat, and there's no excuse for that. We have to come out and have some energy and urgency, a little bit of punch-first mentality, get a little pissed off and take control of the game."

Calvin Pickard, who started and finished the blowout loss in Montreal, will be in net against the Flyers because Semyon Varlamov, who had 51 saves against Toronto, is out with a groin injury. The team called up Spencer Martin from the AHL to back up Pickard, but coach Jared Bednar said he doesn't think Varlamov's injury is serious.

"I don't think it's anything major, but he'll miss (Wednesday's) game," Bednar told HockeyBuzz.com. "I'm hopeful that it's not (serious). Apparently, he's feeling better (Tuesday) than (Monday). I'm hopeful it's going to be shorter than what he's had in the past."

Pickard will be tested against a streaking Flyers team that is 7-5-1 on the road. Gostisbehere said missing Sunday's win in Detroit was the smart move.

"It just made more sense for the team," Gostisbehere told The Philadelphia Inquirer. "I think a guy that is 100 percent is going to be more effective than me out there. You have to put the team first, and it worked out for us."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Grand Salami - December

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
12/1 12 64.5 70 OVER
12/2 2 10 8 UNDER
12/3 12 63 58 UNDER
12/4 7 36 40 OVER
12/5 4 21 30 OVER
12/6 9 49.5 49 UNDER
12/7 4 20.5 29 OVER
12/8 10 54.5 58 OVER
12/9 6 30.5 26 UNDER
12/10 10 53 68 OVER
12/11 8 42 32 UNDER
12/12 2 10.5 10 UNDER
12/13 10 54.5 69 OVER
12/14 4 - - -
12/15 8 - - -
12/16 7 - - -
12/17 10 - - -
12/18 6 - - -
12/19 5 - - -
12/20 12 - - -
12/21 2 - - -
12/22 10 - - -
12/23 12 - - -
12/24 No games scheduled - - -
12/25 No games scheduled - - -
12/26 No games scheduled - - -
12/27 10 - - -
12/28 5 - - -
12/29 12 - - -
12/30 4 - - -
12/31 11 - - -

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL

Wednesday’s games

Senators won their last five games with San Jose; Sharks lost 4-2/5-2 in last two visits here. Last six series games went over total. San Jose won seven of its last ten games but lost four of last six on road. Sharks are 3-1 if they played night before. Under is 3-0-4 in their last seven road games. Ottawa lost five of its last seven games, two of last three at home. Over is 3-0-1 in Senators’ last five games.

Bruins won seven of last eight games with Pittsburgh; Boston won its last three games in this building, outscoring Pitt 11-4. Bruins lost three of last four games; five of their last eight games went to OT. Under is 2-1-1 in their last four road games. Penguins won their last six games, outscoring foes 35-14; four of those six games were at home. Last 11 Pittsburgh games went over the total.

Lightning won five of last seven games with Calgary; Tampa Bay won three of last five games in Saddledome. Under is 5-1 in last six series games. Tampa Bay lost seven of last eight games, losing last five on road; over is 6-2-1 in their last nine games. Flames won their last six games, outscoring opponents 24-9, with four of those six at home; under is 6-3-1 in their last ten games.

Philly-Colorado split last ten games with home side winning 8 of 10 (0-2 last two). Flyers lost four of last five games in this building. Three of last four series games went over. Philly won its last nine games, with four wins in OT/SO, three of those nine were on road. Over is 3-1-1 in their last five games. Avalanche lost last five home games, seven of last nine overall; three of their last four games went over.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA roundup: Warriors steal win in New Orleans
By The Sports Xchange

NEW ORLEANS -- Stephen Curry scored a team-high 30 points, including a 15-foot jumper from the left baseline and a stop-and-scoop layup in the final three minutes, and Draymond Green made a key strip of Anthony Davis in the final three seconds to lift the Golden State Warriors to a 113-109 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night at the Smoothie King Center.
The Pelicans trailed 111-108 with 13.4 seconds left when the Warriors intentionally fouled Jrue Holiday in the backcourt. Holiday made the first free throw but missed the second, and Pelicans guard E'Twaun Moore came up with the loose ball on the miss.
The Pelicans fed the ball into Davis, who was getting ready to make his move 15 feet from the basket. But Green, playing aggressive defense, slapped the ball from Davis with his right hand and forced a turnover.
The Warriors also got 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists from Green for his first triple-double of the season. Kevin Durant scored 27 points as Golden State finished a 4-1 road trip. Davis led the Pelicans with 28 points.

Timberwolves 99, Bulls 94
CHICAGO -- Minnesota overcame a 21-point deficit to defeat Chicago in coach Tom Thibodeau's return to the United Center.
Jimmy Butler tied it 91-91 for the Bulls on a fadeaway jumper with 1:34 left, but Minnesota responded with eight straight points scored by Zach LaVine, Ricky Rubio and Andrew Wiggins.
The Timberwolves ended a four-game losing streak for Thibodeau, who coached the Bulls for five seasons before he was fired following the 2014-15 season. Butler led all scorers with 27 points for the Bulls. LaVine had 24 points and Wiggins finished with 23 for Minnesota, which had five players finish in double figures.

Magic 131, Hawks 120
ATLANTA -- Orlando hit 15 3-pointers while shooting 58.6 percent overall, and the Magic got 62 points off the bench in snapping a three-game losing streak.
Serge Ibaka had 29 points and Evan Fournier scored 23 points as the Magic had their biggest offensive night of the season.
Elfrid Peyton, who lost his starting spot this season to D.J. Augustin, had career highs with 26 points and 14 assists in leading the bench effort, which also featured 20 points from Jodie Meeks and 16 from Jeff Green. Dwight Howard had 20 points and 16 rebounds for the Hawks.

Cavaliers 103, Grizzlies 86
CLEVELAND -- Kevin Love scored 29 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and LeBron James added 23 points, eight assists and six rebounds in Cleveland's win over Memphis.
On a night when Cleveland was without guard Kyrie Irving (rest), J.R. Smith broke out of a deep shooting slump and filled in admirably with six 3-pointers and 23 points. Zach Randolph scored 18 points and grabbed five rebounds in his first start this season for the Grizzlies, who rested All-Star center Marc Gasol.
The Cavaliers' Big Three -- James, Love and Irving -- will all sit out the rematch Wednesday in Memphis, coach Tyronn Lue announced.

Trail Blazers 114, Thunder 95
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Mason Plumlee scored 18 points to lead six Portland players in double figures in a rout of Oklahoma City.
Plumlee also grabbed seven rebounds despite not playing the entire fourth quarter as the Trail Blazers snapped a four-game losing streak.
Damian Lillard scored 17 points and dished out nine assists, and CJ McCollum and Moe Harkless each added 15 points for Portland, which led by 26 points early in the fourth quarter.
Russell Westbrook collected 20 points, six rebounds and six assists despite sitting out the fourth quarter for the Thunder.

Suns 113, Knicks 111 (OT)
PHOENIX -- Eric Bledsoe scored 16 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as Phoenix recovered from blowing a 14-point third-quarter lead to beat New York.
Bledsoe has three straight games with 30 points, making him the first Sun to accomplish that since Amar'e Stoudemire in March 2010. Bledsoe added eight assists and six rebounds. Tyson Chandler tallied 13 points and a season-high 23 rebounds for the Suns.
Kristaps Porzingis scored 34 points for New York, one shy of his career high, but fouled out with 1:34 left in overtime, just after giving the Knicks a 108-105 lead with his fourth 3-pointer of the game. Kyle O'Quinn recorded 22 points and 14 rebounds for the Knicks, who won six of their previous seven, including four straight on the road.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA betting road map: Revenge is a key angle early this season
By BIG AL MCMORDIE

Al McMordie is back with the latest edition of his weekly betting roadmap series, to take a look at the betting landscape in the upcoming week in the NBA.

We're through seven weeks of the NBA season, and home and road teams are virtually dead-even against the spread (home teams are 175-176-8 ATS), as are favorites and underdogs (favorites are 176-175-8 ATS). A big money-maker, though, has been revengers, as teams playing with revenge from a loss earlier in the season have gone 56-29-1 ATS, including 33-12-1 ATS off a loss.

Let's take a look around the league to see if we can find some other wagering situations to line our pockets.

Spread Watch

The San Antonio Spurs own the league's second best record at 19-5. But when San Antonio lost their first road game last week at Chicago (following 13 road wins to start the season), coach Gregg Popovich called out his team's lack of effort. Indeed, San Antonio's been winning in spite of lackluster play. They've trailed by double-digits in seven of their last nine games, but have done just enough to go 7-2 in those games. So, Popovich criticized his team, and said, "It's your job. If you're a plumber and don't do your job, you don't get any work....If you're a basketball player, you come ready. It's called maturity."

Not surprisingly, the Spurs responded to their coach's words, and blew out Brooklyn, 130-101 on Saturday. It was the highest-scoring game for San Antonio this season, and was its biggest margin of victory since opening night, when it also won by 29 points.

That win improved the Spurs to a not-so-gaudy 6-4 at home (the Spurs were 40-1 at home last season). Patty Mills explained the team's mindset after the Brooklyn game, "We came into this game knowing we had to lace 'em up and do what we do. No more messing around."

This week, San Antonio will host Boston on Wednesday and New Orleans on Sunday, with a road game in between, at Phoenix. The Spurs have owned all three teams of late, with 10 straight wins vs. Boston, seven vs. Phoenix, and four vs. New Orleans. I look for the Spurs to string together a bunch of good games, as they're a veteran-laden team, and the "no more messing around" attitude should prevail, at least, for the short term.

Totals Watch

After going 44-38 last season, and earning a No. 5 Playoff seed, the Portland Trail Blazers have struggled out of the gate this year, and are just 12-13 SU and 9-16 ATS through 25 games. The Blazers have also gone 'over' the total in 17 of 24 games this season, including 9-2 'over' at home. The main reason has been a defense which has an NBA-worst Defensive Efficiency Rating of 1.13. Last year, the Blazers ranked 19th in Defensive Efficiency, and had a 1.08 Rating.

To kick-start this week, the Blazers will travel to Los Angeles to play the Clippers on Monday. The over/under line has been installed at 217.5, and that's key, as Portland has gone 'over' the total in all eight games this season when the line has been north of 217 points. Los Angeles has sailed 'over' in 15 of its 24 games, as well, so I look for a relatively high-scoring game on Monday.

Injury Watch

The Los Angeles Lakers dropped their 6th game in a row on Sunday, when they fell to the New York Knicks, 118-112. And Los Angeles has surrendered over 115 ppg during this 6-game skein. But the good news for Purple-and-Gold fans is that their two leading scorers, Nick Young and D'Angelo Russell, returned to action - though in a limited capacity.

Russell had missed all but one of the Lakers' last 13 games due to a sore left knee, while Young had missed seven of nine games to heal his strained calf muscle. Against New York, Russell played just 17 minutes, and was ineffective (1-for-8 shooting; 5 assists; 4 turnovers). Young fared better in his 20 minutes, as he scored 15 points on 6-for-11 shooting. Going forward, the Lakers definitely need their starting backcourt duo on the court, if they're to be competitive.

This week, LA will play four road games vs. the Kings, Nets, 76ers and Cavaliers, so things might get worse before they get better. But there's reason for optimism in Los Angeles this season, if they can stay healthy, as LA was 7-5 before Russell succumbed to his knee injury.

Schedule Watch

The Houston Rockets are 17-7, and have outscored their opponents by 5.9 ppg - both of those stats place Houston among the top 5 in the league. Even better for our purposes, Houston is 17-7 ATS this year, and has covered the spread by an average of 4.29 ppg (both of which rank second behind the Raptors' 16-6-1 ATS mark and avg. pointspread differential of +5.28). And this success has come even though Mike D'Antoni's men have played the hardest schedule in the league thus far. Only nine of the Rockets' 24 games have come at home, so they're likely even better than their stats currently indicate.

This week, Houston will finish a 4-game home stand which started with Saturday's 22-point win over Dallas, as the Nets, Kings and Pelicans will visit the Toyota Center. Then, on Saturday, Houston will travel to Minnesota to face the T-Wolves. The Rockets will certainly be heavy favorites this week at home, so they'll likely own a 9-game win streak going into that game vs. the T-Wolves. And even though Houston's won seven in a row vs. Minnesota, don't be surprised if the Wolves upset James Harden & Co.

First, Houston will be unrested off a home game, and playing its third game in four nights vs. a very well-rested Minnesota club which will have had the three previous days off (it's worth noting that such teams have only covered 32% over the past 27 years, if they're also off back to back wins). And second, the Rockets will play that game with a revenge match vs. their rival, the Spurs, on deck. Assuming the Rockets go into that game on a nine-game win streak, I'll definitely fade Houston on Saturday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'NBA- Off one point exact loss'

After coming up one point short in an NBA regular season contest one would assume teams should have a chip on their shoulder and come out looking to make a statement next time they hit the court.

In testing the theory, surprisingly teams do not always have the ability to bounce back after the aggravating event. In fact, since 2012 teams are just 85-110 straight-up, 87-104-4 against the betting line after being nipped by one point exact on the scoreboard.

Breaking those numbers down further, a consistent long term patterns tells us to 'Play-On' any favorite running the hardwood against a team off a one point exact loss. That's because it will result in a money-making 62.0% hit rate as chalks are 67-39-2 against the betting line split between 46-25-2 ATS on home court, 21-14 ATS wearing road jersey's.

Although, a winning percentage of 62.0% is considered major success, we can improve the hit rate to a whopping 79.2% by 'Playing-On' any home chalk of -4.0 to -6.5 points facing a road team off a one point demoralizing effort (19-4-1 ATS).

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pacers (11-12) at Heat (7-16)

Date: December 14, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

MIAMI -- The team that bonds together wins together -- or so the Miami Heat hopes.

One day after the team sat in a luxury suite -- as guests of forward Udonis Haslem -- and watched the Miami Dolphins defeat the Arizona Cardinals on a last-second field goal, the Heat players enjoyed a home victory of their own.

The Heat snapped a five-game losing streak by defeating the Washington Wizards 112-101 on Monday night. Point guard Goran Dragic led the way with 34 points, the most he has scored in his two years with the Heat.

Next up, Miami (8-17) plays host to the Indiana Pacers (13-12) on Wednesday night.

As for Dragic, who was plus-25 on Monday, the Sunday outing was the first time he has watched an NFL game in person.

"I prefer soccer more," said Dragic, who grew up in Europe, where the other kind of football is king. "But this is my ninth year in the U.S. I like watching (American) football. I understand the rules a lot better now than before. It's an interesting game."

The only Heat player who did not attend the Dolphins' game was guard Dion Waiters, who was given a pass, Haslem said, because he had made previous plans to celebrate his 25th birthday.

Haslem, a native of Miami whose son is a high school senior offensive lineman for local power St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the 10 best teams in the nation, is a huge football fan.

Every time there was a touchdown scored in Sunday's Dolphins game, Haslem made sure to find Dragic.

"That's American football baby!" Haslem yelled to Dragic.

Besides all the jokes, there was a business side to bonding over food and football at the Dolphins game.

Haslem, a veteran of the three Heat NBA championship teams, said that those previous squads all had great chemistry.

That type of trust is a work in progress on the current Heat team, which has gotten together a couple of times this season in ways similar to the Dolphins game.

For example, in Portland, the team met for a meal at Hoyt23, a restaurant that's owned in part by Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.

Of course, team chemistry will only take you so far. A playoff team needs sufficient talent, and the Heat is clearly lacking in that area at the moment.

Part of the problem has been injuries.

Center Hassan Whiteside is the only member of the team who has played in every game this season.

Dragic has missed five games -- and it's a major loss any time he's out. Forward Justise Winslow has missed 16 games and is still not back due to a wrist injury. Wayne Ellington, one of the few pure shooters on this team, missed the season's first 16 games. Waiters has missed nine games and is still out.

In addition, Josh Richardson missed 10 games to start the season, Josh McRoberts missed nine games, and James Johnson, who has become a key player off the bench, missed four games.

Add it all up, and the Heat may be one of the most injury-riddled team in the league so far this season.

But the Heat, even though not at full strength with the injuries to Winslow and Waiters, will try to handle the Pacers, who won both games of their mini-homestand in the past week, beating the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday and the Charlotte Hornets on Monday.

Paul George led Indiana with 37 points against Portland and 22 against Charlotte.

Indiana will be without starting guard Monta Ellis (groin), who has been ruled out for this three-game road trip. Reserve guard Rodney Stuckey (knee) is questionable after being hurt against the Hornets.

The Stuckey loss could be even more difficult for the Pacers to overcome than the one to Ellis. Pacers coach Nate McMillan had been using Stuckey to close out games recently.

"Stuckey's been doing a great job on both ends of the court," McMillan told reporters. "He guards well on the perimeter, and he can initiate offense."

Indiana has lost its past three games in Miami.

Of course, this is a much different Heat team. In fact, the Heat are just 3-8 at home this season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Raptors (16-7) at 76ers (5-18)

Date: December 14, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey has called the NBA "a make-or-miss league." This season the Raptors have been making, and winning.

Toronto, which visits the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night, entered Tuesday's games leading the NBA in offensive efficiency, averaging 114.9 points per 100 possessions. That's a fraction of a point better than the explosive Golden State Warriors.

The Raptors are also second in the league in field goal percentage (47.6), tied for first with Cleveland in 3-point percentage (40.1) and tied with San Antonio for the lead in free-throw percentage (81.8).

Toronto's 122-100 rout of Milwaukee on Monday night was its ninth victory in the last 10 games, vaulting the Raptors 10 games over .500 for the first time this season, at 17-7. They lead the Atlantic Division and are second in the Eastern Conference only to the Cavaliers, who beat them in last year's conference finals.

DeMar DeRozan poured in 30 points against the Bucks and is fifth in the NBA in scoring at 27.9 per game. Terrence Ross added a season-high 25 in 21 minutes off the bench.

"I mean, we have a whole bunch of great scorers, so when anybody gets going, it's infectious," Ross told the Toronto Star. "Everybody kind of gets in a rhythm -- once you make a shot, somebody else makes a shot. It's a good feeling. I think that kind of spreads throughout the team."

Ross sank 10 of 17 shots against Milwaukee, including 4 of 6 3-pointers. Toronto was 14-of-25 from the arc in all.

Point guard Kyle Lowry, a Philadelphia native, has been particularly hot of late. He scored 18 points Monday and is averaging 24.9 points a game over his last nine games, while shooting 58.6 percent from the floor and 62.5 percent from 3-point range.

Overall Lowry is averaging 21.2 points and 7.3 assists a game, while shooting 44.4 percent from the arc.

The Sixers (6-18) remain last in the Eastern Conference, but beat New Orleans last Thursday to snap a franchise-record-tying 23-game road losing streak. They followed that up with a 97-79 victory Sunday in Detroit, the first time Philadelphia has won back-to-back road games since December 2014.

Robert Covington had 16 points, Ersan Ilyasova added 15 and Jahlil Okafor contributed 14 against the Pistons, and T.J. McConnell had 12 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and three steals while making his first start of the season at point guard in place of Sergio Rodriguez (illness).

"I think it gives you a little more confidence knowing that you are going to play more minutes," McConnell told Philly.com. "But it's for the wrong reasons, though. We want Sergio here. I just tried to step in and hold down the fort for as long as I could.

"Guys were telling me that I was getting close to the triple-double, so I was just trying to get guys the ball at the end."

Joel Embiid did not play against New Orleans, as he was resting and plagued by elbow inflammation. Nerlens Noel, making his first appearance after missing the first 23 games following minor knee surgery, left the game with an ankle sprain but told Philly.com he hopes to play Wednesday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Hornets (14-9) at Wizards (8-13)

Date: December 14, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

WASHINGTON -- Just as John Wall and the Wizards were seemingly taking steps in the right direction, Washington's defense melted down against the Heat in Miami.

Now Wall and company must open a three-game homestand against a Charlotte Hornets squad that typically gets the job of guarding their opponents done right.

The Wizards (9-14) fell 112-101 Monday night in Miami despite 59 points combined from Wall and Bradley Beal. The Heat, who entered the game 28th in scoring, used the pick-and-roll prowess of guard Goran Dragic and big man Hassan Whiteside to befuddle Washington. Dragic scored a season-high 34 points as Miami shot 51 percent from the field and outscored Washington 31-19 in the fourth quarter.

"It was just a back-and-forth game going into the fourth quarter," Wall said. "We kept chipping away and making runs, but when we got those stops we needed we didn't convert on the other end. That kind of hurt us."

This struggle came after back-to-back stingy defensive efforts for the Wizards, who held the Milwaukee Bucks without a point for over four minutes late in the fourth quarter of a 110-105 home victory Saturday. Washington had won two straight and three of four before Monday's setback.

"I think we'll figure it out," Beal said of the defensive issues. "From here on out, it's a learning lesson. Never really dealt with the four-man or five, at the time, playing pick-and-roll and handling the ball, playing small the way they were. We just have to find a will to win. That's all it is at the end of the day. We just got to do whatever it takes to get the win."

Typically, the Hornets, sixth overall in field goal percentage defense (43.8), use their defense for success. Their 110-94 road loss at the Indiana Pacers on Monday was not one of those nights. The Pacers sank 17 of 36 from 3-point range and pulled away in the fourth quarter behind 22 points from All-Star Paul George.

"They started the fourth quarter on like an 8-2 or 10-2 run, and then Paul George just took over at the end, just like he did in their game Saturday night," Charlotte coach Steve Clifford said. "Our coverage on George really wasn't bad. I mean, he is a terrific player and a tough cover."

It was also tough for the Hornets to make any shots. Charlotte shot 33 percent from the field in its second straight loss after three wins in a row.

"We just missed a lot of open shots," forward Nic Batum said, "Those are shots we are used to making. This is a good team on defense, but still, we missed some open shots we need to make. We actually had the lead in the third quarter, and we have to keep it."

Kemba Walker scored a season-low 12 points in the loss, well below his season average of 22.8. It's possible another rough night is on deck for the point guard. Walker averaged 18.3 points in four games against Washington last season, but shot only 39.4 percent from the field.

The Wizards and Hornets split four games last season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Lakers (10-15) at Nets (6-15)

Date: December 14, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

NEW YORK -- The Brooklyn Nets were glad to get Jeremy Lin back. Now they will be even more pleased if they can start getting some wins.

The Los Angeles Lakers will take a win regardless of who is on the court.

Lin makes his first home appearance in over a month Wednesday night when the Nets face the Los Angeles Lakers, who will be looking to stop a seven-game losing streak.

Lin returned from missing 17 games with a strained left hamstring Monday night in a 122-118 loss to the Houston Rockets. He was initially injured during the first half of a 109-101 win over the Detroit Pistons and the Nets lost 13 times with Lin watching games from the bench in various suits.

In his first live action following one practice, Lin was used as reserve. In 20 minutes, he scored 10 points and handed out seven assists as the Nets were a plus-17 with Lin on the floor.

"He fit in, and there was no rust," Nets center Brook Lopez said. "He was in at crunch time making big plays time and again. He had a great night."

Lin played nearly five of those minutes at the end of the game. The Nets trailed by six but scored 12 of the next 17 points before Lin shot an air ball 3-point attempt in the final minute.

"It helps having Jeremy back," Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson said. "It just organizes us."

With Lin coming off the bench, Sean Kilpatrick and rookie Isaiah Whitehead were Brooklyn's starting backcourt. They combined for 30 points while Lopez scored 26 and the Nets piled up 68 points in the paint.

"For me and our whole team, we played aggressive and we played confident and we played to win," Lin said. "I'm OK with that."

Like the Nets, the Lakers are re-integrating a guard into their offense as they continue a seven-game road trip.

D'Angelo Russell will play his third game since returning from missing 11 straight games and 12 of 13 contests with a sore knee. He played 17 minutes and shot 1-of-8 during Sunday's six-point loss to the New York Knicks and Monday, Russell scored 17 points in 20 minutes.

Russell's production was not nearly enough as the Lakers were handed a 116-92 loss at Sacramento on Monday. Los Angeles is on its eighth losing streak of at least seven games since the start of the 2013-14 season after giving up a 23-2 run in the third quarter and picking up six technical fouls.

During their losing streak, the Lakers have allowed an average of 115.7 points and teams to shoot 50.6 percent. Opponents also are shooting 40.8 percent from 3-point range and the Lakers have allowed 12 30-point quarters.

"We're talking but the next step is just doing," Russell said. "We're listening to each other but we're not making the adjustments."

Even with Russell producing in limited minutes Monday, the Lakers still shot 38 percent and gave up 66 points in the paint in the opener of its longest road trip of the season.

"I felt like for the first time this season, we caved in," said Lakers coach Luke Walton, who was ejected in the first quarter. "We gave up, and that's disheartening."

If Walton gets ejected again Wednesday, he will be the third visiting coach to get thrown out this season in Brooklyn. On Nov. 29, Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers was tossed in overtime after his team blew an 18-point loss and last Wednesday Denver Nuggets coach Mike Malone was ejected with his team down 21 in the third quarter.

The Lakers have won the last three meetings and 16 of the past 20. On Nov. 15 in Los Angeles, Russell scored 32 points and Julius Randle had a triple-double (17 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists) in a 125-118 victory.

Russell has scored more than 30 points three times in his career. The first instance was a career-best 39-point showing March 1 when Russell made eight 3-pointers in a 107-101 win over the Nets in Los Angeles.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cavaliers (16-5) at Grizzlies (16-8)

Date: December 14, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

LeBron James will not travel to Memphis for Cleveland's only appearance there this season and he's offering no apologies for it.

Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue left behind James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love for Wednesday's rematch of the home-and-home series against the Grizzlies.

Irving was fighting tired legs in the Cavs' win Saturday, so Lue elected to give him a full week off between games. James and Love will also stay home to rest, severely crippling the roster of the defending champions' lone trip to Memphis.

"My coach wants me to rest, I don't buck my coach. That's what he wants and that's what we're gonna do," James said after the Cavs beat the Grizzlies 103-86 on Tuesday in Cleveland. "I've been in this league 14 years. I shouldn't have to explain me sitting out a game or not playing games.

"I've played in every arena, including Seattle that's no longer here. It's not like it's my first year. I've got 14 years. I've paid my dues and more than a lot of guys in this league. But I'll ride with my coach."

With all three stars sitting, Lue said he would start DeAndre Liggins, Iman Shumpert and James Jones alongside regular starters J.R. Smith and Tristan Thompson. Lue could've broken up the rest and sat James or Love for the home game and played one of them on the road, but instead decided to push all in to give the Cavs the best possible chance to win at least one of these two games.

"We're home to play in front of our fans. With two of the Big Three I know we can win that game," Lue said. "It will be hard to go down and travel, and to ask one person to try to carry the team, especially the way our offense runs."

The Grizzlies won't complain about the lack of stars on the other side. They rested All-Star center Marc Gasol, the reigning Western Conference player of the week, for similar reasons during Tuesday's loss, which ended their six-game winning streak. Gasol is expected to play Wednesday.

"This was kind of marked on the calendar for a while," Grizzlies coach David Fizdale said. "We knew this stretch was coming with this back-to-back and we were going to have to make some decisions."

The Grizzlies will likely be without rookie center Deyonta Davis, who injured his left foot Tuesday and did not return. Fizdale said he doesn't believe the injury is serious, but Davis will likely miss some time as a result.

The decisions by both franchises to rest their stars will exacerbate the league-wide debate about how teams are handling back-to-back scenarios. The league is working proactively to eliminate as many as possible, but for now, teams continue to respond the way the Cavs and Grizzlies did this week. Lue said he expects those who are playing to compete.

"This is where guys get a chance to get some extended minutes and see how they really are," he said. "If they can crack the rotation or, if we need them, can they play? For me it's just giving other guys opportunities."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Kings (8-14) at Rockets (16-7)

Date: December 14, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

HOUSTON -- The Rockets delivered the type of defensive performance on Monday night against the Nets that left them scoffing for only so long, one chalked up to a lack of focus that sometimes accompanies the rigors of a grueling 82-game schedule.

Even after the Nets torched the Rockets for 75 second-half points on 65.9 percent shooting and 68 points in the paint, Houston entered Tuesday ranked fifth in the NBA in the month of December with a 99.4 defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions).

The Rockets' defense had been exceptional for the most part as they won their first six games this month, so after they improved to 7-0 in December with their 122-118 victory, the Rockets didn't spend too much time lamenting the defense.

"It was one of those games, but once again we will count it," Rockets guard James Harden said. "We will use it and just watch film and try to get better.

"There are 82 games and every game isn't going to be perfect. You've got to figure out ways to win and that's what we did."

That the Rockets (18-7), who will host the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night at Toyota Center, can sidestep one hiccup and point to their defensive improvement represents a significant positive. Houston ranks fifth in the NBA this month in offensive rating (112.9) and second to the Toronto Raptors in net rating (13.4).

And, after spending most of the first month attempting to play at a faster pace to better augment their high-powered offense, the Rockets have done exactly that thus far in December. The Nets entered Tuesday leading the league in pace for December at 104.7 possessions per 48 minutes. The Rockets were second at 103.0.

That macro view allows the Rockets room to disregard a bad night at the office defensively. Lessons were learned, but Houston didn't marinate too long on the bad stuff.

"Every night is not going to be pretty. Every night is not going to be easy," said Rockets guard Patrick Beverley. "We enjoy games like this because we can learn from it."

The Kings (9-15) won for just the second time in seven games on Monday night, blasting the visiting Los Angeles Lakers 116-92.

The victory came at a cost, however, with guard Ben McLemore (left quad) and forward Rudy Gay (right hip flexor) landing on the injured list. Both were listed as day-to-day on Tuesday. The Kings recalled rookies Skal Labissiere and Malachi Richardson from D-league affiliate Reno to add bodies to their roster in advance of their second meeting with Houston.

The Kings allowed an NBA-record 50 3-point attempts in their 117-104 home loss to Houston on Nov. 25. While the Rockets lead the league in 3-pointers per game (14.2) and 3-point attempts (37.4), the Kings are allowing 10.5 3-pointers per game.

Those numbers alone are foreboding for the Kings. That Houston has made at least 10 3-pointers in an NBA-record 24 consecutive games represents a greater concern.

"We're not defending the basketball very well," Kings coach Dave Joerger said to the Sacramento Bee. "So when we reach or we gamble ... it always seems like somebody's open. Those are the shots you practice. You get open 3s, you've got to knock them down, and that's what teams have done."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pistons (13-12) at Mavericks (5-17)

Date: December 14, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

The Dallas Mavericks are coming off arguably their best performance of the season going into Wednesday night's matchup with Detroit at American Airlines Center.

The Pistons can't say the same.

The Mavericks (6-18) scorched Denver 112-92 Monday in the opener of a quick two-game homestand. Six players scored in double figures, Dallas scored a season-high in points in regulation and shot a season-high 58.4 percent.

The Mavericks also recorded new season highs for points in the paint (48) and fast-break points (21). Dallas led by as many as 28 points, its largest lead in any game this season.

The performance was even more impressive considering the Mavericks are without Dirk Nowitzki, Andrew Bogut and J.J. Barea. In their place, Dallas received big contributions across the board.

Wesley Matthews tallied a team-high 25 points to go along with four rebounds and two steals in 32 minutes. Matthews has posted at least 25 points five times in his last eight games.

Matthews is averaging 18.9 points per game over his last 15 games, and has connected on 47.3 percent (61-129) from 3-point territory in that span.

"My teammates are finding me and I'm getting good looks," Matthews said. "I put a lot of emphasis this year on working hard on my shot after practice. I'm a product of energy and when we are playing the right way and we are locked in I feel like I can knock down shots."

Harrison Barnes scored 18 and Deron Williams added 17 points. Rookie forward Dorian Finney-Smith, starting in place of Nowitzki, set or matched season highs in points (13), rebounds (nine), assists (three) and blocks (two) in 32 minutes. Justin Anderson and Seth Curry scored 11 and 10, respectively, off the bench.

The Mavericks have been forced to rely on relatively inexperienced players such as Finney-Smith, Anderson, Curry and Salah Mejri due to injuries all season. Beating the Nuggets served as a needed confidence boost.

"We've just got to keep working and build off this win," Anderson said. "We won't go away. We are not going to get down we are going to continue to build off this.

"The biggest thing, it is a huge learning experience for all the younger guys. Going through these ups and downs in the NBA, and keep pushing to get better."

The Pistons (13-13) took a step back in Sunday's 97-79 home loss to Philadelphia. The 76ers opened the game on an 18-4 run and never looked back.

Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy took blame for the loss and the team not being ready to play. He gave the team Saturday off and didn't hold a morning shootaround practice Sunday because of severe weather in the Detroit area.

"We just weren't ready. We were just not ready," Van Gundy told reporters after the loss. "It's not that they don't have some responsibility in that, no matter what the conditions. You're an NBA player. It's your job to be ready to play. But I didn't do my job in getting them ready."

Marcus Morris did score a season-high 28, and Andre Drummond recorded his seventh consecutive double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Van Gundy experimented in the Philadelphia game with duo point guards Reggie Jackson and Ish Smith together on the floor with starting shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope sitting out with a knee injury. Caldwell-Pope is expected to play against Dallas.

That pairing didn't work well against the Sixers, but Van Gundy hope to try it again in an effort to manufacture more offense.

The Pistons rank second in terms of opponents points per game, giving up just 96.1 points a game. They're also first in fewest turnovers per game, averaging just 11.6 turnovers a contest.

Detroit went 1-1 against the Mavericks last season. The Pistons have lost six of the past eight games in Dallas, but have won the last two.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Celtics (13-10) at Spurs (18-5)

Date: December 14, 2016 9:30 PM EDT

Winning is synonymous with the San Antonio Spurs, so much so that after garnering victories in 19 of their first 24 games, they still expect to play better. They'll take that goal onto the hardwood on Wednesday against the visiting Boston Celtics at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.

The Spurs head into the contest against Boston off their best overall performance of the season, a 130-101 destruction of the Brooklyn Nets in which San Antonio led by at least 13 points over the final 2 1/2 quarters. The Spurs established season-highs for points in a game, points in a quarter (41, in the first), assists (38) and 3-point baskets 14 (out of 26 attempted).

Can a team that's 19-5 turn a corner and play even better? Guard Manu Ginobili said the Spurs have not yet touched on their potential.

That's not a good sign for Boston, which has lost 10 straight to San Antonio dating to the 2010-11 campaign.

"(The win over the Nets) was a great step ahead; now we have to make sure we continue to improve and learn from these first 24 games," Ginobili said. "You won't find anyone in this locker room who's satisfied with the way we are playing. We all know we can do so much better. We won't look at our record or the success we've had."

It was just the 11th time all season that the Spurs' preferred starting five -- Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge at forward, Tony Parker and Danny Green at guard and Pau Gasol at center -- played together.

"The fun is when everyone feels involved," Ginobili said. "A lot of times we talk about how good things start for us with our defense, but over the past 15 games or so we've struggled some on offense and that's been what's slowing us down."

Leonard scored 30 points in 27 minutes in the win over the Nets, the 19th time this season and fifth straight game that Leonard led the Spurs in scoring.

Boston hits the Alamo City off back-to-back losses, at home to Toronto on Dec. 9 and at Oklahoma City on Sunday, a 99-96 setback in which the Celtics led in the final minutes but let it get away.

"That's a frustrating loss, because we played really hard on the defensive end for most of the night," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said of loss against the Thunder. "We had critical turnovers throughout the game. We screwed up a few coverages throughout the course of the night, but not very many."

The Celtics (13-11) did play enough defense to stop Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook's triple-double streak at seven games.

"It is frustrating, but we need to look at this film, have a good practice, and get focused," Celtics center Al Horford said. "No one's going to feel bad for us. We need to stay together. And we will."

Boston has five players who average double-figures in scoring, led by guard Isaiah Thomas' 26.0 points per contest. Guard Avery Bradley scores 17.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, 6.3 of those on the defensive end.

The Celtics spent the past two days in San Antonio, where they had their first taped full practice in months. It was Boston only consecutive off days on the road in this season's schedule.

San Antonio won the first matchup with the Celtics 109-103 on Nov. 25 in Boston. Leonard led the Spurs with a game-high 25 points and 10 rebounds and guard Patty Mills added 19 points off the bench in that win.