Wednesday 12/23/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[superbeets]

Premier League Sa 26Dec 12:45

Stoke

v

Man Utd

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS1		9/4	11/5	13/10	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT STOKE	RECENT FORM
AWALHWHWADHL​ Most recent​	1 - 1 2 - 1 0 - 2 0 - 2	HDADHDALALHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: United have won one of their last six away games

EXPERT VERDICT: The increasingly praised Stoke attack still doesn’t create quite as many chances as it should but the same can be said of Manchester United. Both teams have the defensive solidity to keep things tight but preference is for the draw over the skinny prices on the goal-related markets.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
1


REFEREE: Kevin Friend STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League Sa 26Dec 15:00

Chelsea

v

Watford

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		4/9	10/3	7	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT CHELSEA	RECENT FORM
AWADHLHWALHW​ Most recent​	3 - 0 5 - 0 4 - 0 4 - 0	ALHLAWHWAWHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Watford’s games *average 2.18 goals per match

EXPERT VERDICT: Interim Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink faces an awkward fixture against a confident Watford side who will be set up to frustrate their under-fire hosts. Chelsea’s misfiring attack is unlikely to have been rebuilt overnight and the Hornets will be buzzing after keeping out Liverpool at the weekend.

RECOMMENDATION: 1-1 draw
1


REFEREE: Andre Marriner STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League Sa 26Dec 15:00

Liverpool

v

Leicester

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		10/11	13/5	3	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT LIVERPOOL	RECENT FORM
HWAWALADHDAL​ Most recent​	2 - 2 2 - 1 1 - 0 1 - 0	HWAWHDAWHWAW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Leicester are unbeaten in their last 12 league away games

EXPERT VERDICT: Liverpool were abject in their 3-0 loss at Watford on Saturday but they can restore some pride by holding Leicester to a draw. Victory will be the target for the Reds as they seek to reduce the 14-point gap between themselves and the league leaders, but Leicester are flying and will be a tough nut to crack.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
1


REFEREE: Martin Atkinson STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League Sa 26Dec 15:00

Aston Villa

v

West Ham

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		13/8	9/4	7/4	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT ASTON VILLA	RECENT FORM
HDALHLADHLAD​ Most recent​	1 - 0 0 - 2 2 - 1 3 - 0	HDALHDADHDAD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Villa have scored just five goals at home this season

EXPERT VERDICT: West Ham’s injury issues have blunted their attack in recent weeks but they are getting key men back to fitness and should overpower Aston Villa. Villa’s last home win was over the Hammers but the fact it was in May tells you all you need to know – the tepid Villans struggle to take a grip on games.

RECOMMENDATION: West Ham
1


REFEREE: Mike Dean STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League Sa 26Dec 15:00

Man City

v

Sunderland

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		1/5	6	12	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT MAN CITY	RECENT FORM
HWHWALHWHWAL​ Most recent​	3 - 2 2 - 2 3 - 1 3 - 0	HLAWHWALHLAL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Sunderland have scored in their last seven matches against Man City

EXPERT VERDICT: Sam Allardyce has made Sunderland more competitive but they are likely to be overwhelmed by Manchester City’s potent attack. However, the weaknesses at the back which have hampered City could be exploited by the battling Black Cats.

RECOMMENDATION: Both teams to score
1


REFEREE: Anthony Taylor STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League Sa 26Dec 15:00

Swansea

v

West Brom

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		10/11	12/5	7/2	More markets

​

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT SWANSEA	RECENT FORM
ALHDALHLALHD​ Most recent​	3 - 0 1 - 2 3 - 1 3 - 0	ALHWADHDADHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Swansea have failed to score in five of their last seven

EXPERT VERDICT: Two out-of-form teams clash at the Liberty Stadium and with confidence low we could be in for a dour encounter. West Brom have scored more than once in just one of their last six, while for Swansea it’s one in seven, and they managed just two shots on target against West Ham on Sunday.

RECOMMENDATION: No goalscorer
1


REFEREE: Roger East STADIUM:

 

[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 10 53.5 51 UNDER
12/2 4 22.5 18 UNDER
12/3 8 41.5 37 UNDER
12/4 7 36 33 UNDER
12/5 10 52 54 OVER
12/6 7 36 37 OVER
12/7 3 16 15 UNDER
12/8 9 48.5 55 OVER
12/9 4 21.5 20 UNDER
12/10 7 37 44 OVER
12/11 7 36 37 OVER
12/12 10 52 47 UNDER
12/13 3 15 12 UNDER
12/14 5 25.5 24 UNDER
12/15 11 58.5 61 OVER
12/16 2 10.5 6 UNDER
12/17 11 59.5 56 UNDER
12/18 6 30.5 38 OVER
12/19 10 52 46 UNDER
12/20 6 31 42 OVER
12/21 8 42.5 54 OVER
12/22 10 54.5 45 UNDER
12/23 No games scheduled - - -
12/24 No games scheduled - - -
12/25 No games scheduled - - -
12/26 9 - - -
12/27 9 - - -
12/28 6 - - -
12/29 10 - - -
12/30 5 - - -
12/31 9 - - -

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Knicks (14-15) at Cavaliers (18-7)

Date: December 23, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

Kyrie Irving's return has the Cleveland Cavaliers largely healthy and close to peak form nearing their most anticipated game of the season.

The New York Knicks, meanwhile, are holding their breath over Carmelo Anthony's new injury.

Anthony's availability for Wednesday night's road game against the rolling Cavaliers is in question after he sprained his right ankle in the Knicks' last outing.

New York (14-15) was outplayed down the stretch of Monday's 107-99 home loss to Orlando that snapped a four-game win streak, but the greater concern lies over Anthony's status. The star forward did play most of the fourth quarter after getting hurt late in the third, but attempted just two shots while clearly affected by the injury.

Anthony said following the game he plans to play Wednesday, though it was too early to know for sure.

"It's hard to gauge right now," he said.

Cleveland (18-7) is heading toward full strength for its NBA Finals rematch at Golden State on Christmas night now that Irving is back from a fractured kneecap suffered in Game 1 of June's championship series. The playmaking point guard scored 12 points in 17 minutes to help the Cavaliers extend their win streak to five games with Sunday's 108-86 rout of lowly Philadelphia.

"Kind of been a long, long road, but finally getting out there with my teammates was a pleasure," said Irving, whose career average of 26.0 points versus the Knicks is his highest against any opponent.

Irving is the second key Cavalier to return in the past two weeks, with former Knick Iman Shumpert having played in three of the last four games after missing 21 with a wrist injury. His addition is a welcome one for a team that's been increasingly dependent on LeBron James' production.

James is averaging 29.2 points during the win streak and had 31 in a 90-84 road win over New York on Nov. 13, Cleveland's fourth straight in the series and second this season.

The Knicks have scored 87 or less every time during that four-game skid. They could have trouble generating offense again with the Cavaliers having held opponents to averages of 84.8 points and 37.9 percent shooting over their last four.

New York has been getting contributions from sources other than Anthony. Lance Thomas was 9 of 9 from the field in matching a career high of 24 points against the Magic, his sixth straight game in double figures. Arron Afflalo averaged 23.0 points on 63.4 percent shooting over a three-game stretch prior to Monday's four-point effort.

Both have been needed with Kristaps Porzingis going through a prolonged slump. The impressive rookie is 3 of 21 from 3-point range and shooting 29.0 percent overall in his last seven after finishing 3 of 12 against Orlando.

"My shot is feeling fine. I don't know, it's just not falling," he said. "Maybe I need to take my time a little more. Maybe I need to be focused a little more, maybe all those little things add up. Sooner or later they will start to fall again. I'm not too worried about that."

New York has won its last two road games but is facing a Cleveland team which is 12-1 at home.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Celtics (15-13) at Hornets (15-12)

Date: December 23, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

Avery Bradley said a recent game in Charlotte showed the Boston Celtics are a get-up-and-go team capable of gutting it out.

The Celtics should have fresher legs for their second game in Charlotte in 12 days as they go for a fourth consecutive victory over the Hornets on Wednesday night.

Bradley scored 23 points and Isaiah Thomas had 21 with 13 assists to lead the Celtics to a 98-93 win over the Hornets on Dec. 12. It came one night after the Celtics fell in double overtime to then-unbeaten Golden State in Boston.

The quick turnaround after a grueling loss could have been an excuse for the Celtics to knuckle under against Charlotte, but Bradley said that's not their style.

"It's our determination to come out every single night and play hard for each other," the guard said. "Mentally some guys could say we played a double-overtime game and we're tired and we're hurting, but we came out tonight and no matter what we wanted to get the win and that shows a lot about the team."

The Hornets were also playing the second night of a back-to-back after beating Memphis 123-99 on the road.

"They played with more energy than us," Charlotte's Nicolas Batum said. "They should be more tired than us. We played a different game than them (the previous night). They had double overtime but they had more energy and they came out to beat us."

The Celtics (15-13) failed to build on the win, dropping their next three games before snapping the losing streak with Monday's 113-99 victory over Minnesota. Kelly Olynyk scored 19 points in his first start of the season, Jae Crowder had 18 with 10 rebounds and the Celtics made 12 of their 25 3-point attempts, including six of their first seven.

Seven-footer Olynyk was 3 for 3 from behind the arc as the Celtics improved to 13-2 when leading entering the fourth quarter. They're 7-3 when making more than 10 3-pointers.

"Three-point shooting is probably the next most contagious thing to the flu," Olynyk joked. "When one person knocks them down, they usually come in waves, so it's good to get people going that way."

With Amir Johnson (plantar fasciitis) and Jared Sullinger (back spasms) sidelined, Tyler Zeller scored a season-high 14 points in 17 minutes off the bench before fouling out. David Lee got his first start since Nov. 1 and had one of his most productive games with 13 points and eight rebounds.

It's unclear if Johnson or Sullinger will return Wednesday. Marcus Smart, out since Nov. 20 with a knee problem, traveled to Charlotte but will not play.

The Hornets (15-12) no longer lead the Southeast Division after dropping four of five games dating to the Boston loss. But they play five of their next six at home, where they are 11-4.

They used a 13-0 run to overcome a 13-point deficit to Houston in the fourth quarter Monday night, taking a lead with under two minutes remaining. But James Harden scored six of his game-high 36 points after that to lead the Rockets to a 102-95 win.

Kemba Walker scored a team-high 14 points but was 3 of 10 from the field for the Hornets, who shot a season-worst 34.9 percent - 12 for 41 from 3-point range. They were 11 for 35 shooting 3s against the Celtics.

"We fought hard," coach Steve Clifford said Monday. "I thought their defense was really good. We struggled to consistently get good shots."

Hornets center Al Jefferson is completing a five-game suspension for violating the NBA's drug policy. He is eligible to return Saturday against Memphis.

Bradley has keyed Boston's three-game win streak over the Hornets, averaging 24.0 points and hitting 10 of 18 from 3-point range, but he's scored 7.3 per game on 30.0 percent shooting in his last three games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Grizzlies (16-14) at Wizards (12-14)

Date: December 23, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

While the Memphis Grizzlies are finally enjoying their transition into a smaller lineup, the Washington Wizards are figuring out how to survive after getting forced into a similar change.

The Grizzlies go for a third straight win after an early season adjustment when they visit the banged-up Wizards on Wednesday night.

Memphis (16-14) moved 15-year veteran Zach Randolph out of the starting lineup last week for the first time since March 2013, hoping to benefit from a faster pace. After losing three of four games, the Grizzlies have back-to-back victories for the first time in three weeks.

They beat Indiana 96-84 on Saturday before opening a three-game road trip with Tuesday's 104-90 win at Philadelphia.

The offense is still lagging with 97.0 points per game in six contests since Matt Barnes moved into Randolph's spot, but the defense has turned a corner. Memphis has held five consecutive opponents to fewer than 100 points, and Indiana and Philadelphia combined to shoot 42.7 percent with 45 turnovers.

Memphis snapped a three-game road losing streak, finishing with 21 fast-break points and 36 points off 28 turnovers against the 76ers.

'I thought the level of defensive pressure that we had, our activity was phenomenal, on the ball, weak side,' Mike Conley said. 'Guys were communicating, trusting each other.'

Barnes has averaged 13.0 points on 51.8 percent shooting since moving into the starting lineup, including a season-high 20 against Washington on Dec. 14.

That 112-95 home win was the first glimpse of what Memphis' small-ball lineup can do. The Grizzlies shot a season-high 56.4 percent and made 10 of 15 3-pointers. Marc Gasol finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and three blocks while Conley had 18 points and 11 assists.

The Wizards and Grizzlies have split the last six meetings.

Mounting injuries have forced Washington (12-14) to alter its lineup. While Nene, Bradley Beal, Drew Gooden and Alan Anderson have been out for extended periods, Otto Porter and Gary Neal have missed time of late.

The Wizards had just eight players available on Monday for the middle contest of a three-game homestand, but John Wall still finished with a career-high 19 assists in a 113-99 win over Sacramento. Nine of those went to Marcin Gortat, who poured in a season-high 27 points.

The win gave the Wizards consecutive victories for the first time since a three-game streak in mid-November. They climbed to 6-7 at the Verizon Center, where they went 29-12 last season and didn't lose their eighth game until Feb. 2. Washington plays six of its next eight at home.

"It's just an opportunity to try to win these games, take one game at a time and try to get closer to .500," Wall said. "Play better basketball until we get guys back."

Wall left in the final minute of Monday's win with sore ribs, but said he will play against the Grizzlies - he kind of has to.

Beal is set to be re-evaluated on Saturday after missing six games with a stress reaction in his lower right fibula, but his likely January return will come with a minutes restriction. The statuses of Nene (calf), Neal (lower back), Porter (bruised left thigh), Gooden (calf) and Anderson (ankle) are unclear.

In the meantime, the Wizards are riding a small lineup around Gortat. Garrett Temple, Ramon Sessions and Kelly Oubre Jr. have seen an uptick in minutes.

Neal and Sessions combined for 38 points off the bench against Memphis earlier this month, but the rest of the team shot 35.9 percent. Wall was held to a season-low six points on 2-for-11 shooting.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Kings (11-17) at Pacers (16-11)

Date: December 23, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

After a rough two-game trip, the Indiana Pacers are glad to be coming home. None of them more so than Paul George.

The forward looks to shake off his worst performance of the season as the Pacers try to continue their recent home success Wednesday night against the Sacramento Kings.

Indiana (16-11) quickly lost the momentum gained from a perfect three-game homestand Dec. 14-18 by suffering frustrating losses in Memphis and San Antonio. The most recent was particularly maddening for George, who scored seven points and shot 1 of 14 in Monday's 106-92 defeat to the Spurs. His point total was the lowest of his career with that many shot attempts.

'Lot of it was me,' George said. 'I had a lot of good looks, lot of open looks, lot of shots I've made all season long. Just wasn't my night, couldn't get it to fall.'

George also committed seven turnovers in a matchup with reigning Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard, giving him 20 in three games.

"Most of his turnovers are bad passes, but he is trying to be a willing passer," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "He is trying to create but just not completing a lot of them. When a guy is trying to make the right play, you let him play through it and hopefully it resolves itself."

George wasn't the only Indiana player that struggled on the trip. C.J. Miles, a 40 percent 3-point shooter on the season, was 1 of 10 from beyond the arc over the two games and 0 of 9 from the field in Saturday's 96-84 loss to Memphis.

Monta Ellis has shot 33.3 percent while averaging 7.0 points over the last three.

Indiana has won 10 of 11 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and faces a Sacramento team that's 3-10 on the road.

The Kings are 1-2 on a four-game trip. Playing for the third time in four days, they were outscored 29-15 by Washington in the fourth quarter of Monday's 113-99 loss.

'I thought we did a hell of a job until the beginning of the fourth,' coach George Karl said. 'They went up eight on us and that fatigued us.'

The Wizards shot 50.6 percent to end a string of improved defensive efforts from Sacramento, which ranks 28th in scoring defense at 107.1 points per game but held its previous four opponents to 96.8 points and 41.3 percent shooting.

Regaining that defensive efficiency could be vital to the Kings earning a third straight win over Indiana, which is 12-4 when recording 100 or more points.

Sacramento limited the Pacers to 39.2 percent in sweeping the 2014-15 season series, capped by a 99-94 victory in Indianapolis on Jan. 31 behind Rudy Gay's 31 points and DeMarcus Cousins' 20 and 19 rebounds.

Indiana played both games with George sidelined by a broken leg, though, and it's won the last four meetings in which he's played. He averaged 33.5 points in two Pacers victories over the Kings in 2013-14.

Cousins scored 22 points against Washington but was 8 of 22 from the field. The star center has shot 37.9 percent over a nine-game stretch.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mavericks (15-13) at Nets (8-20)

Date: December 23, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

Wednesday night's matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and Brooklyn Nets should've been Deron Williams' first game against his former team.

A hamstring injury took care of that.

The Mavericks will likely be without their starting point guard as try to avoid a fifth loss in seven games.

Williams spent four seasons with the Nets before the team bought him out of his contract last summer after a very disappointing 2014-15. The Mavericks quickly signed the three-time All-Star to a two-year, $11 million contract, and the move has turned out be a good one with Williams playing well and helping Dallas exceed expectations thus far.

The Mavericks, though, don't figure to have their second-leading scorer available after Williams strained his left hamstring in Tuesday's 103-99 loss at Toronto. He scored a season-low seven points on 2-of-7 shooting before departing in the third quarter.

"My hamstrings have been a little tight the last couple of games, and then I came to the bench and told (head athletic trainer Casey Smith) they were a little tighter than normal," Williams told the team's official website. "As soon as I went back out there, I went to plant and push off, and I just felt a little pop."

Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points and Wesley Matthews had 15 for the Mavericks (15-13), who made a late charge behind their reserves to erase almost all of an 18-point deficit before losing for the fourth time in six games.

"The guys in the last six minutes were unbelievably scrappy," coach Rick Carlisle said. "They played unconditionally hard, they played unselfishly, and they gave us a chance. You know, I'm proud of the way those guys played, and I hope everybody on our roster sees the example that they set."

Without Williams, J.J. Barea likely will make his first start of the season.

Nowitzki needs 10 points to pass Shaquille O'Neal for sixth on the all-time scoring list. He seems a good bet to reach that total since he's scored 20 in back to back games and hasn't scored fewer than 11 in 18 straight.

Brooklyn (8-20) also hasn't been very good defensively lately, allowing 100 or more points in six straight and nine of the last 10 games. The Nets did so again Monday at Chicago but did enough on the other end to snap a five-game skid with a 105-102 victory.

Brook Lopez had 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Thaddeus Young added 16 and 13 for Brooklyn, which was coming off a 100-85 home loss to Minnesota.

'We came in focused, we were energetic and our bench did a great job of coming in keeping the energy high and responding to runs,' Lopez said. 'We were all there for each other. We were pulling for each other.'

The Nets will try to end a four-game skid at home during which opponents have averaged 103.5 points and shot 51.1 percent. That stretch comes after they won six of seven at Barclays Center and limited the opposition to 96.1 points and 42.8 from the field.

Brooklyn clearly needs more from Joe Johnson, whose 10.8 scoring average is his lowest since 2002-03 with Phoenix. He's averaged 8.0 points on 28.3 percent (15 for 53) shooting the last five games.

'He's just not finishing some of the shots he normally finishes,' coach Lionel Hollins said. 'That happens.'

The Nets have won four of five against the Mavericks with the loss coming Jan. 5 in the most recent meeting in Brooklyn.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Spurs (24-5) at Timberwolves (11-17)

Date: December 23, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

The late Flip Saunders lamented about Kawhi Leonard's dominance on the defensive end the last time the San Antonio Spurs manhandled the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Reigning Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins is already too familiar with it.

With their stopper leading the way, the Spurs seek their longest winning streak of the season Wednesday night against Wiggins and the host Timberwolves.

Leonard, the 2014-15 Defensive Player of the Year, has been a driving force behind the Spurs leading the league with 89.0 points allowed per game. That mark is on pace to be the lowest since Washington gave up an NBA-best 85.9 during the 1961-62 season.

San Antonio (24-5), which is also off to the second-best start in team history, held Indiana to 42.2 percent shooting in Monday's 106-92 win that marked its 25th in a row at home. Leonard had 24 points, six rebounds, five assists and helped limit Paul George, who came in fifth in the league with 26.2 points per game, to a season-low seven on a career-worst 1-of-14 shooting.

"(The effort) was pretty ordinary," coach Gregg Popovich joked after the game. "He did a great job on a great player - that's all you can say. He did a fantastic job."

Leonard has held players he's closely guarded to a 37.6 field-goal percentage and 25.0 mark from 3-point range while ranking near the top of the NBA among starters with 0.77 points allowed per possession.

Now the 2014 NBA Finals MVP is expected to be the primary defender on Wiggins as San Antonio goes after its seventh consecutive victory. Leonard played a major part in limiting the rising star to 11.0 points on 32.4 percent shooting in three matchups last season.

In the only game Leonard didn't play in the '14-15 season series, Wiggins played his best with 18 points while making 5 of 11 shots. Leonard only scored 15 in a 123-97 home win March 15 in the most recent meeting, but finished with five of the team's 13 steals.

Afterward, Saunders said he "took the game totally over" and "just mauled" his guys.

Wiggins, the team's leading scorer this season, has averaged 24.0 points on 48.3 percent shooting over his last five. He scored 26 and Karl-Anthony Towns added 25 with a season-high 16 rebounds in Monday's 113-99 loss at Boston that ended a two-game winning streak.

Towns, who is averaging 16.1 points and 9.3 boards in his rookie season, has an interesting matchup in this contest as he faces Spurs legend Tim Duncan for the first time.

The Timberwolves (11-17) have won eight of 11 games when holding an opponent to less than 100 points, but they've given up an average of 107.2 over their last 10 games.

That doesn't bode well facing a San Antonio team that has scored 110.8 per game during its winning streak. The Spurs rank second in the NBA behind Golden State with 25.3 assists per game.

"We have a very unselfish group and they know when the ball moves, we're in better shape," Popovich said. "But if it doesn't move and we hold it, our offense really sticks."

Popovich's club averaged 118.8 points and shot 54.8 percent, including 48.2 from 3-point range, while winning all four meetings last season by 23.0 points per game.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Trail Blazers (11-19) at Pelicans (8-19)

Date: December 23, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

The Portland Trail Blazers have not won since continuing their dominance of the New Orleans Pelicans a little more than a week ago.

Maintaining that series success could be more difficult Wednesday night, especially if the Trail Blazers don't have their top two scorers to help avoid being swept on a trip of at least five games for the first time in more than 40 seasons.

Damien Lillard scored 30 and backcourt mate C.J. McCollum added 16 with six assists to help Portland (11-19) record a seventh straight victory over New Orleans, 105-101 on Dec. 14. The Trail Blazers began this five-game trip two days later and have averaged 97.5 points and allowed 107.5 on 49.8 percent shooting to lose the first four.

Sitting 5-13 away from home, Portland has not gone winless on a trip of five or more games since an 0-5 trek Feb. 17-24, 1974.

Making matters worse, Lillard (24.6 points per game) could sit with lingering plantar fasciitis in his left foot that forced the All-Star to miss the first game of his four-year career in Monday's 106-97 loss at Atlanta. McCollum (20.1 ppg) also sat for the first time this season with two sprained ankles.

The duo is responsible for 42.6 percent of Portland's scoring.

"Obviously without C.J. and Damian (there were) different dynamics to the game," Blazers coach Terry Stotts said after Monday's defeat.

While there's no timetable for either to return, Lillard's injury seems to be less serious, though he won't jeopardize his entire season.

"I know it won't be long," he said. "It could be one game, maybe two. But I've just got to rest it. Try to stay off it. But that's it ... The reason why I'm not concerned with it really is because if I had to play right now I would go out there and play."

McCollum, who injured both ankles in Sunday's 116-109 loss at Miami, said the decision to sit Monday was "not my call."

"It's hard to play on two tweaked ankles," he added.

In their place Monday, Allen Crabbe had a season-high 19 points in almost 31 minutes and second-year point guard Tim Frazier scored 12 with seven assists, seven rebounds and five turnovers in 47 minutes as Portland tried to fight back from a 21-point hole.

"We're really a couple plays away," Crabbe said. "We came back, fought hard ... Just go back, look at the things we could clean up on, go to New Orleans and try to get a win."

Anthony Davis has totaled 53 points, 20 boards and blocked seven shots while the Pelicans (8-19) dropped the season's first two meetings - both in Portland.

Davis wouldn't let an illness and four IV treatments keep him from putting up 27 points, six rebounds and four blocks in a little less than 20 minutes Sunday to help New Orleans conclude a 2-3 trip with a 130-125 win at Denver.

"I was pretty sick," said Davis, who scored a career-high 19 first-quarter points. "I just wanted to leave it all out on the floor and get ready (to be) on the flight (back) home."

The only time New Orleans has recorded consecutive victories came during a three-game run Nov. 20-25.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: 76ers (1-29) at Bucks (11-18)

Date: December 23, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

(AP) - The Milwaukee Bucks are about to experience another unique test.


One of the youngest teams in the league will have to play without coach Jason Kidd as he recovers from right hip surgery.

It will be up to Joe Prunty, a longtime NBA assistant, to lead the Bucks while Kidd is out. Kidd has said he hopes to return to the office in a couple weeks, though it's unclear when he might be able to coach in a game again.

There is no doubt that he's still in charge, though.

'Trust me, as soon as we are able to be talking with him, we'll definitely be in touch,' said Prunty, who will make his debut Wednesday night when the Bucks host the NBA-worst Philadelphia 76ers (1-29).

The Bucks said Monday night that Kidd was expected to make a full recovery following a successful operation at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, 'though there is currently no timetable for his return to the bench.'

Kidd, 42, said the injury dated to his playing days and his second stint with Dallas between 2008-12.

The pain has been become chronic and periodic cortisone shots were no longer helping, Kidd said Sunday after Milwaukee snapped a three-game losing streak and won for the second time in seven contests with a 101-95 victory at Phoenix.

'The pain has been to the point where I can't function. I've taken all the medicine that I can do,' Kidd said.

The task of leading the Bucks out of their early hole in the Eastern Conference falls on Prunty, who is in his 20th season in the NBA and his third year working with Kidd. Prunty assisted Kidd in Brooklyn, then followed him to Milwaukee last season.

Prunty said he will continue to call offensive plays, while assistant Sean Sweeney will draw up the defense.

'Our system is our system,' Prunty said. 'There's not an intent to make any changes at all.'

Youth, defense and depth were the hallmarks of the Bucks' surprise run to the playoffs last season.

At 11-18, the Bucks have had more problems early on this year. Defense was a problem in the opening weeks, though the team has been better in that area of late.

Injuries at point guard to Jerryd Bayless and Greivis Vasquez have sapped the team of backcourt depth. Three-point shooting has also been an issue.

The Bucks did welcome back forward Jabari Parker after he missed last year with a knee injury. Center Greg Monroe has been a welcome addition, especially offensively, after arriving as a free agent from Detroit.

The ideal Bucks starting lineup, which would also include 21-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo, wouldn't have a player older than 25.

The team's average age on opening night was 24 years, 144 days. Only Philadelphia had a younger roster (23 years, 66 days).

'I think if we can put together whole games, not having lapses, I think we can be pretty good,' said forward John Henson, who at 24 is another key member of the Bucks' core.

The up-and-down season has included home wins over NBA powers Cleveland and Golden State, and a 113-95 road loss Dec. 15 to the Los Angeles Lakers, the team with the second-fewest wins in the league.

Perhaps Prunty can get a few tips from Luke Walton, the Warriors' interim coach while Steve Kerr recovers from back surgery. Golden State started the season an NBA-record 24-0 under Walton before the streak was snapped earlier this month by the Bucks.

'It wouldn't be bad for Joe to take what Luke has done,' Kidd joked.

Even-keeled and composed, Prunty isn't viewing his shot on the sideline as a showcase for himself.

'Absolutely not. I don't know what other people are going to think, but for me this is about the Milwaukee Bucks,' he said.

Milwaukee beat the visiting 76ers 91-87 in the first meeting Nov. 4 as Khris Middleton had 21 points, Monroe scored 18 and Antetokounmpo added 17. The Bucks have won seven in a row in the series and six straight meetings at home.

Philadelphia committed 28 turnovers Tuesday and fell 104-90 at home to Memphis for its 11th consecutive loss.

'You can write 28 turnovers for 36 points. That can be a headline. It can be a single-sentence article, and we can all go finish our Christmas shopping,' coach Brett Brown said.

The 76ers now play their next six away from home, where they are 0-17 and have lost 22 in a row. Philadelphia has also dropped 27 straight overall and 28 in a row on the road against East opponents.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pistons (17-12) at Hawks (18-12)

Date: December 23, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

Thanks to an unlikely source, the Atlanta Hawks' offense is thriving.

Dennis Schroder looks to help the Hawks to a fifth straight victory Wednesday night when they host a Detroit Pistons team seeking a fourth win in a row.

After averaging 86.7 points on 40.5 percent shooting during a three-game losing streak, Atlanta (18-12) is at 111.3 points per game and 51.4 percent shooting in its last four.

'It's been a while since we have been streaking,' Kent Bazemore said after Monday's 106-97 win over short-handed Portland. 'We had a little rough patch there.'

Bazemore was one of six Hawks to score in double figures with Schroder leading the way with 18. Schroder made 7 of 10 shots and showed some resiliency by playing on after getting a tooth knocked out.

The tooth came out after Schroder's mouth collided with Meyers Leonard's knee. He then casually picked it up off the court and slipped it in his sock.

'I thought the competitiveness and the toughness, you could feel,' coach Mike Budenholzer said.

Schroder has spurred Atlanta's winning streak, shooting 55.5 percent and draining 7 of 13 3-pointers. Among the players that have averaged at least 20 minutes since last Wednesday, only Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry have a higher offensive efficiency rating than Schroder's 126.9 points per 100 possessions. His season rating is at 105.5.

Three times in the last four games Schroder has scored at least 17 - the same number of times he reached that mark in his first 26 contests. One of those came in the season opener when he scored 20 against the Pistons, but Atlanta lost 106-94.

Detroit held a 59-40 rebounding advantage and limited the Hawks 29.6 percent shooting from 3-point range. Improving in those areas will be difficult for Atlanta seeing as the Pistons are third in rebounding at 47.6 per game and the Hawks are last in the league in rebounding differential at minus-5.0 per contest. Detroit also holds opponents to an average of 7.0 made 3-pointers per game for the league's fourth-best mark.

One advantage the Hawks have is the Pistons are playing the second of a back-to-back and had to work hard in the first one.

Detroit (17-12) rallied from 18 down Tuesday to beat Miami 93-92 for a third straight win and ninth in 12 games. Steve Blake and Stanley Johnson each hit four 3-pointers for the Pistons, who went 15 of 29 from beyond the arc.

'I give our guys credit for fighting back to get in that game," Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. "I thought we played better defense in the second half."

Detroit has won three straight road games after dropping eight of its previous nine outside of Michigan but has been sluggish offensively in the second half of road back-to-backs. The short turnaround has seemed to catch up with the Pistons, as they're averaging 88.0 points on 39.9 percent shooting in losing all three of their second half of back-to-backs played on the road.

Reggie Jackson has been in the middle of the mess, shooting 33.3 percent and averaging 11.0 points - 9.4 less than his team-leading average.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a go-ahead jumper with 55.5 seconds left Tuesday and had a team-high 21 points against the Hawks two months ago. Andre Drummond had 18 points and 19 boards in that one and recorded his league-leading 25th double-double Tuesday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nuggets (11-17) at Suns (12-18)

Date: December 23, 2015 9:00 PM EDT

A stretch that seemed like it could extend Denver's hot play instead cooled the Nuggets down. Now they will have to warm back up away from home.

The Nuggets will try to snap a three-game losing streak when they visit the reeling Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.

Denver (11-17) had won five of six and looked poised to extend its three-game winning streak with a trio of games against sub-.500 teams. But the Nuggets followed their 39.2 percent shooting performance in Friday's 97-88 loss at Utah by allowing New Orleans to make 56.4 percent of its shots in Sunday's 130-125 home loss.

Things hit rock bottom with Tuesday's 111-107 loss to the last-place Los Angeles Lakers when the Nuggets blew a 21-point first-half lead. The Lakers, one of the lowest-scoring teams in the league, shot 47.6 percent and outscored Denver 32-16 in the third quarter.

"We did a poor job of defending in the third quarter, we did a poor job of defending without fouling for the entire game," coach Mike Malone said. "It was just another very disappointing loss."

Will Barton scored 23 of his 25 points in the first half, but the Nuggets were outscored 60-43 after intermission. Danilo Gallinari (17.3 points per game) missed his first game of the season with a sprained left ankle while Emmanuel Mudiay (10.3) missed his fifth straight with the same injury to his right ankle. Gary Harris strained his right knee early, but returned to match a career high with 21 points.

Suddenly, Denver faces a stretch of seven of nine games away from home. The Nuggets are 6-8 on the road but have won three of their last four.

They open a three-game road trip against another losing team, though one they have beaten only once in nine games since Nov. 8, 2013. That stretch for the Suns includes four games in Phoenix and victories in the first two matchups this season.

The Suns (12-18) cruised to a 105-81 home win over the Nuggets on Nov. 14 and added a 114-107 victory on Nov. 20 in Denver.

Brandon Knight scored a career-high 38 points while adding 11 rebounds and six assists in the second meeting. The shooting guard finished with just 10 points in the first, but Eric Bledsoe did the damage with 30 points. Bledsoe has averaged 23.3 points in the last three meetings.

Phoenix has dropped four of its last five games and the latest loss wasn't close. The Suns shot 39.2 percent and committed 16 turnovers while finishing with a season-low 12 assists in Monday's 110-89 loss at Utah.

Knight and Mirza Teletovic combined for 43 points off the bench, but the Suns' starters combined for just 30 on 11-for-33 shooting. Phoenix started Devin Booker and T.J. Warren in place of P.J. Tucker and Knight for the first time this season.

'Trying to mix it up and see if we can get some life,' coach Jeff Hornacek said. 'We've done the same thing for most of the season in terms of some slow starts. I just thought those young guys could get in there with a little emotion and a little action in the beginning and it didn't happen.'

The Suns were outscored 33-21 in the first quarter, and it is unclear if Hornacek will continue using Knight and Tucker off the bench.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Jazz (12-14) at Warriors (26-1)

Date: December 23, 2015 10:30 PM EDT

Winning three consecutive games has been an elusive goal for the Utah Jazz. It may very well remain so considering their next opponent.

The Jazz get their shot at ending the Golden State Warriors' 30-game regular-season home winning streak when the teams square off Wednesday night.

Utah (12-14) downed Denver and Phoenix on its recent homestand to record back-to-back wins for the fifth time this season. It's the Jazz's seventh two-game streak since they last won three straight March 28-April 1.

Breaking that trend seems unlikely against Golden State (26-1), which has won 49 of its last 50 in Oakland in regular-season play, with a 113-111 overtime defeat to Chicago on Jan. 27 the lone blemish.

The Jazz could be catching the defending NBA champions in a trap-game scenario, however. The Warriors are coming off Friday's emotionally charged 121-112 win over Milwaukee to avenge their only defeat this season and host Cleveland on Christmas night in their first meeting with the Cavaliers since the NBA Finals.

Golden State fell 108-95 in Milwaukee on Dec. 12 and was pushed hard in the rematch, trailing by 15 in the third quarter and 100-89 with under nine minutes left before rallying behind Draymond Green and Stephen Curry.

"We were very public about the fact that we wanted to get revenge. Then we didn't come out and play with that edge and that mentality," interim coach Luke Walton said. "If you're going to say that about another team you should expect ... they're not going to fold."

Green scored the first eight points of an 11-0 run that tied the game and was involved in a contentious moment afterward when he and the Bucks' O.J. Mayo exchanged words and shoved one another before several players intervened.

"We were searching," he said. "I know I needed to step up and make plays."

Curry scored 10 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, rising to the occasion much like he did during a 106-103 win in Salt Lake City on Nov. 30. The reigning league MVP scored 10 of his 26 in the final 6:20 to help Golden State overcome a 90-87 deficit.

Curry and Klay Thompson combined to go 8 of 15 from 3-point range that night and each enter this matchup in top form. Thompson followed a season-high 43-point effort in a 128-103 rout of Phoenix on Dec. 16 by recording 27 against Milwaukee.

Green also is going well, averaging 21.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists over a four-game stretch following Friday's 21-point performance.

Gordon Hayward has totaled 50 points in Utah's last two wins to support a pair of strong defensive displays. The Jazz held both Denver and Phoenix to 39.2 percent shooting and a combined 25.0 percent on 3s.

"Thought we had a lot of focus defensively tonight, that's where it was," coach Quin Snyder said after Monday's 110-89 victory over the Suns. "When we're precise and committed there, usually good things happen the rest of the game. Usually we take care of the ball and do things like that."

The Jazz will try to halt a four-game skid in Oakland with Rudy Gobert still sidelined by a knee injury. The third-year center hasn't played since registering 13 points and 11 rebounds in the last meeting with the Warriors.

Golden State, which has won eight of nine in the series, may be without its top center as well after Andrew Bogut exited Friday's game with back spasms.

With Walton down because of illness Tuesday, head coach Steve Kerr ran the Warriors' practice, though he said he still isn't 100 percent and gave no timeline for when he'll return to the bench after complications from back surgery.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Thunder (19-9) at Lakers (5-23)

Date: December 23, 2015 10:30 PM EDT

The Oklahoma City Thunder didn't have to face Kobe Bryant this past weekend while registering their most lopsided victory of the season.

Bryant could prove healthy for Wednesday night's rematch but even the Los Angeles Lakers' resurgent star might have difficulty stopping the soaring Oklahoma City Thunder from matching their longest win streak in the series.

Bryant is averaging 25.0 points on 50.7 percent shooting in his last four games, but Los Angeles was without his services for its trip to Oklahoma City on Saturday because of a sore right shoulder.

The Thunder (19-9) rolled to a 118-78 victory with seven players scoring in double figures, led by Kevin Durant's 22 points. They also had a 56-32 rebounding edge over the Lakers (5-23) and outshot them 54.8 percent to 34.9.

Enes Kanter had 19 of Oklahoma City's season-best 57 points from its bench and 14 rebounds.

"The guys on the court have to learn from it," Los Angeles coach Byron Scott said. "They didn't play well at all and really just got embarrassed by the way we played tonight. Like I told them, I said it was pathetic in every area. We didn't come to compete. They just played harder than we did. It just looked like we were in awe of that team."

The Lakers looked like a different team with Bryant making a quick return to the court Tuesday. He matched a season high with 31 points in a 111-107 victory in Denver.

"I can still play a little bit," said Bryant, who averaged 15.8 points on 31.3 percent shooting in his first 20 games. "It was a great test for me tonight to see if I could still play both ends of the floor."

Durant played a major role in Oklahoma City's eighth win in nine games Monday, a 100-99 victory at the Los Angeles Clippers. He made a 19-foot jumper with 5.8 seconds remaining and blocked Chris Paul's shot just before the buzzer.

Russell Westbrook had a team-leading 33 points, his most in 10 games this month.

"We believe in each other," Durant said. 'Russ hit big shots and everybody was excited for him. Serge (Ibaka) hit big shots and everybody was excited for him. And when my number was called, you saw the guys hop off the bench when I made the shot. And that's all you want - that support from your teammates."

The Thunder will next seek a sixth consecutive win over the Lakers, which would tie their best run in a series that dates back to 1967-68. Oklahoma City is also trying for just its third string of three consecutive road wins against the Lakers with the most recent Dec. 8, 2000-Dec. 11, 2001, when the franchise was in Seattle.

Bryant has appeared in just one of the last seven meetings, scoring nine points on 3-of-15 shooting in a 104-103 home loss Dec. 19, 2014.

Durant had missed the previous three matchups before last weekend's game and sat out last season's two visits to the Lakers. When healthy, he's averaged 34.9 points in his past seven road games against them including playoffs.