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Friday 12-8-17 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc
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Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts
Bar
Fair Grounds - Race #1 - Post: 1:00pm - Maiden Claiming - 8.0 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $14,000 Class Rating: 69
Rating: 4
#5 SPEEDY CHORDE (ML=6/1)
SPEEDY CHORDE - Don't throw this one out due to his last race at Fair Grounds where he ran fourth in the slop. Should improve this time around.
Vulnerable Contenders: #1 STAR ROCKET (ML=5/2), #3 A CROWN FOR BEAU (ML=3/1), #4 ARNAUD (ML=7/2),
STAR ROCKET - That was merely not a very good showing in the last affair. A CROWN FOR BEAU - Will not be easy for this entrant to beat this group off of that last speed fig. Not probable to improve enough to run a figure close to today's class figure, so put him on the likely underpriced equines list. ARNAUD - This gelding is always around, but just doesn't win. Hard to invest in him on the front end. This mount didn't do too much last time finishing sixth. Don't see any hint of improvement in today's event. The speed figure last time around the track doesn't fit very well in this contest when I look at the class rating of today's race. Mark this racer as a likely underlay.
STRAIGHT WAGERS:
Go with #5 SPEEDY CHORDE on top if we're getting at least 1/1 odds
EXACTA WAGERS:
None
TRIFECTA WAGERS:
Skip
SUPERFECTA WAGERS:
Skip
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Handicapped by The Walker Group at Golden Gate Fields
Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.
Race 8 - Claiming - 8.0f on the Turf. Purse: $12000 Class Rating: 97
FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES. THREE YEAR OLDS, 123 LBS.; OLDER, 125 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $12,500, IF FOR $10,500, ALLOWED 2 LBS.
RECOMMENDED CHOICES
The Walker Group Picks
# 1 LORD OF CHAOS 7/5
# 3 NOWHERE MAN 6/1
# 7 CALL SAUL 10/1
My choice in this race is LORD OF CHAOS. Shows solid speed figures on average overall when compared with the rest of this group. Horses who have been prepared to race at this distance and surface by Morey have shown sharp results lately. Will most likely come out strong - I have liked the way this gelding has moved quickly to the front end recently. NOWHERE MAN - Is a solid contender - given the 90 Equibase Speed Figure from his most recent race. CALL SAUL - Had one of the most competitive Equibase Speed Figures of this group in his last contest. He has been travelling solidly recently while recording sharp speed figures.
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Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts
Bar
Hawthorne - Race #4 - Post: 2:25pm - Maiden Claiming - 6.0 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $10,000 Class Rating: 79
Rating: 3
#2 MEET ME HALF WAY (ML=6/1)
#3 PUT POSITION (ML=5/1)
#1 FRINGE (ML=8/1)
MEET ME HALF WAY - I really like that latest contest on Nov 17th at Hawthorne where she finished second. PUT POSITION - Filly is a 1st time starter whose last three morning drills were on this track. Rider and trainer do well when they team up. Santiago and Becker have been dependable together. Generally speaking, horses on Lasix for the first time should be considered. That's what we have here. FRINGE - Rode this thoroughbred on Nov 17th and Roman is back again in the irons in today's contest. The addition of Lasix might make this animal wake up and run very well in this field.
Vulnerable Contenders: #4 REAL DE JALPA (ML=1/1), #8 SILVER SAVER (ML=6/1),
REAL DE JALPA - This filly hasn't had any strong victories in sprint races in the last sixty days. SILVER SAVER - This filly probably won't be close near the finish line.
STRAIGHT WAGERS:
#2 MEET ME HALF WAY is the play if we get odds of 7/2 or better
EXACTA WAGERS:
Box [1,2,3]
TRIFECTA WAGERS:
Box [1,2,3] Total Cost: $6
SUPERFECTA WAGERS:
Skip
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Handicapped by The Walker Group at Los Alamitos (Thoroughbred)
Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.
Race 3 - Claiming - 8.0f on the Dirt. Purse: $16000 Class Rating: 83
FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES. THREE YEAR OLDS, 122 LBS.; OLDER, 124 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE AT A MILE OR OVER ALLOWED 3 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $12,500, IF FOR $10,500, ALLOWED 2 LBS.
RECOMMENDED CHOICES
The Walker Group Picks
# 5 CORONADO COOL 2/1
# 4 ZANAB 3/1
# 1 DIXIE CRYSTAL 10/1
CORONADO COOL is the top wager in this race. Has performed solidly lately in route races, posting a nifty 81 avg speed fig. Will probably come out sharp - I have liked the way this filly has moved swiftly to the front end recently. Ought to be given a chance based on the competitive speed figure earned in the last contest. ZANAB - Looks very good for the conditions of this contest today, showing solid numbers in dirt route races lately. DIXIE CRYSTAL - Has formidable early pace and will most likely fare strongly against this group.
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F.A.S.T. Sheets Free Race for Laurel Park
Laurel Park - Race 3
EXACTA, TRIFECTA &DAILY DOUBLE (RACES 3-4) / 10 cent SUPERFECTA 50 cent PICK 3 (RACES 3-4-5) / $1.00 SUPER HIGH 5
Claiming $11,000 • 1 Mile • Dirt • Age 2 • CR: 59 • Purse: $21,000 • Post: 1:30P
(PLUS UP TO 30% MBF) FOR FILLIES TWO YEARS OLD. WEIGHT, 122 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF TWO RACES AT A MILE OR OVER SINCE OCTOBER 8 ALLOWED 2 LBS. SUCH A RACE SINCE THEN ALLOWED 4 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $11,000, FOR EACH $1,250 TO $8,500 2 LBS. (RACES WHERE ENTEREDFOR $8,000 OR LESS NOT CONSIDERED IN ALLOWANCES) (WINNERS PREFERRED).
Contenders
Race Analysis
P#
Horse
Morn
Line
Accept
Odds
Race Type: Basic Race. This race has a mixed pace scenario. Check on scratches of any of the Front-runners (to look for a lone Front-runner). * KEY ANGLES * MARVELOUS MARTHA: Horse has run a Good Race within the last 30 days. CRAZY ELEXIS: Horse ranks in the top three in TrackMaster Power Rating. QUEEN TO CHECKMATE: Horse has the highest TrackMaster Power Rating. SHECOR: Horse has a TrackMaster "+" designation or an "L" designation.
1
MARVELOUS MARTHA
9/5
6/1
1A
CRAZY ELEXIS
9/5
6/1
7
QUEEN TO CHECKMATE
9/2
6/1
2
SHECOR
4/1
9/1
4
MISDRIVEN
5/1
10/1
P#
Horse (In Running Style Order)
Post
Morn
Line
Running Style
Good
Class
Good
Speed
Early Figure
Finish Figure
Platinum
Figure
1A
CRAZY ELEXIS
7
9/5
Front-runner
52
60
49.4
49.4
41.9
4
MISDRIVEN
4
5/1
Alternator/Front-runner
57
52
44.2
44.2
32.2
1
MARVELOUS MARTHA
2
9/5
Stalker
57
59
52.8
52.8
47.8
6
PRINCESS A'GO GO
6
12/1
Alternator/Stalker
36
43
54.8
29.9
11.9
7
QUEEN TO CHECKMATE
8
9/2
Alternator/Stalker
61
43
48.5
46.6
38.6
3
TICTICBOOMDYNAMITE
3
15/1
Alternator/Stalker
55
36
35.6
27.9
15.9
2
SHECOR
1
4/1
Trailer
60
54
48.5
48.5
44.5
8
TWO HUNDRED PROOF
9
20/1
Alternator/Trailer
59
54
44.6
44.6
33.1
5
CENTR OF THE STAGE
5
4/1
Alternator/Trailer
54
50
34.3
34.3
23.8
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F.A.S.T. Sheets Free Race for Remington Park
Remington Park - Race 2
Exacta / Trifecta / Superfecta (.10 Cent Minimum)
Maiden Special • 6 Furlongs • Dirt • Age 2 • CR: 81 • Purse: $33,000 • Post: 7:37P
FOR MAIDEN, TWO YEAR OLDS. WEIGHT, 120 LBS.
Contenders
Race Analysis
P#
Horse
Morn
Line
Accept
Odds
Race Type: Lone Stalker. CASH KITTEN is the Lone Stalker of the race. * KEY ANGLES * CASH KITTEN: Horse has a TrackMaster "+" designation or an "L" designation. Horse has run a Good Race within the last 30 days. NASTY CRITTER: Today is a sprint and this is the horse's third or fourth start after a layoff. Horse has run a Good Race within the last 30 days. KISS HIM GOODBYE: Horse ranks in the top three in TrackMaster Power Rating. Horse ranks in the top three in average Equibase Speed Fig ure at the distance/surface.
8
CASH KITTEN
5/1
3/1
6
NASTY CRITTER
3/5
4/1
2
KISS HIM GOODBYE
9/2
8/1
P#
Horse (In Running Style Order)
Post
Morn
Line
Running Style
Good
Class
Good
Speed
Early Figure
Finish Figure
Platinum
Figure
2
KISS HIM GOODBYE
2
9/2
Front-runner
68
57
64.9
56.2
49.2
5
ROYAL HILLBILLY
5
15/1
Front-runner
0
0
53.6
44.5
36.5
8
CASH KITTEN
8
5/1
Stalker
78
62
52.1
58.8
55.3
6
NASTY CRITTER
6
3/5
Trailer
74
74
57.5
58.7
56.2
1
WAR OR PEACE
1
30/1
Alternator/Non-contender
0
0
54.0
16.1
7.6
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Jim Feist
Jim Feist's Comp Pick, Friday, December 8, 2017
NBA (511) DALLAS MAVERICKS VS (512) MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Take: UNDER
Reason: Your free play for Friday, December 8, 2017 is in the NBA contest between the Dallas Mavericks and the Milwaukee Bucks. The Dallas Mavericks (7-18 S/U, 11-14 ATS) takes on the Milwaukee Bucks (13-10 S/U, 9-11-3 ATS) tonight. I'm going to be looking at the UNDER here tonight. The Mavs have been a good under team this year, averaging just 100.3 ppg and going under in 10 of their 25 games with 1 push. The Mavs are also 3-10 O/U in their last 13 games as an underdog. In addition they are 5-11 O/U in their last 16 games overall. The Bucks have also been a decent under team, 2-6-1 O/U their last nine home games. Your free play is on the UNDER.
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Arthur Ralph Sports
FRI: UNDER Total Cav's/Pacers 218
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RYAN WORDEN
NBA | Dec 08, 2017
Bulls vs. Hornets
Bulls+9
This is a good spot for Chicago to not only get the cover but maybe win their 5th game of the season. It's no secret that Chicago is going to finish with an historically bad record. The Bulls are actually not that bad at the betting window though, cashing about half of their games including 7 of the 13 on the road. You can't accuse the Bulls players of not trying hard of late to get back in the winners circle. They have lost 5 of their last 6 games by 7 points or less, the lone blowout was against Cleveland.
The Hornets aren't very good right now, losers of 11 of their last 15 straight up. They've only managed to cash in 5 of those 15 games. To make matters worse, after all star Kemba Walker returned from injury two games ago the Hornets lost Frank Kaminsky and Cody Zeller to injury in their loss to the Warriors. Charlotte also just happens to be the last team Chicago beat, a 123-120 win at the United Center on November 17th. I see a tight game coming down to the wire with both teams having a chance to win it. Take The Points and The Bulls To Cover Friday Night.
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SCOTT SPREITZER
NCAA-B | Dec 08, 2017
Air Force vs. UC Riverside
Air Force-1½
I'm recommending a play on Air Force on Friday night. UC-Riverside has struggled badly on the offensive end, ranked 329th, 339th, and 349th, in FG percentage, points per game, and 3-point percentage, respectively. It's hard to imagine things getting much better tonight against the deliberate pace of the Air Force Falcons. Neither team scores a lot of points, but the Falcons own advantages in a few key categories. AFA is the better shooting team. They're better at forcing turnovers and UCR has a poor 0.72 assists/turnovers ratio, averaging just 12 assists per game and 17 turnovers per contest. The Mountain West entry also makes 79% of their FTA, while UCR is south of 70% at the stripe. I bring these stats up because the importance is magnified in what might turn out to be a "first team to 60" pace. The Falcons are actually on a 7-2 ATS run against Big West opposition, while UCR has covered just 1 of their last 11 against MWC teams and they're on a 5-17 ATS slide at home. I'm recommending a play on Air Force on Friday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.
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Blue Jackets vs. Devils Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017
The New Jersey jumped into first place in the Metropolitan Division with a 4-1 victory at Columbus on Tuesday night, but the Blue Jackets will try to reclaim the top spot in the back end of their home-and-home series Friday night at Newark, N.J. Devils netminder Cory Schneider earned career win No. 100 in style with 41 saves in Tuesday's matchup.
New Jersey coach John Hynes expects a major push-back from Columbus, which has dropped consecutive games following an 8-1-0 stretch that propelled it to the top of the Metropolitan. "It's a good challenge for us," Hynes said. "We won the first game. I think any time you play a team back-to-back, the game becomes more intense." While Hynes heaped praise on Schneider's performance, the Blue Jackets were pointing to their own lack of intensity. "That's the first time I actually felt embarrassed, toward the end of the game, in a while," defenseman Zach Werenski said. "We didn't play hard enough. ... They did whatever they wanted to do."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Columbus), MSG-Plus (New Jersey)
ABOUT THE DEVILS (16-7-4): Rookie Nico Hischier didn't enter the league with the buzz that accompanied Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews, the previous two No. 1 overall picks. Still, the 18-year-old Hischier has 20 points in 27 games after collecting a pair of assists in Tuesday's win. "We weren't drafting by need when we selected Nico first overall," Devils general manager Ray Shero said. "We had good young players, but we didn't have anyone like him with the playmaking, the vision, the creativity. And he cares more defensively than he does offensively. It's starting to come together."
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (17-10-1): Josh Anderson leads Columbus with 10 goals -- the only forward to score more than seven -- and the power play is a disaster, failing on all six chances against New Jersey to dip to a ghastly 7-for-81 on the season. "We can slice it 10 different ways and talk about it 10 different ways -- our top players haven't been our top players," coach John Tortorella said. "And they have to start being our top players." Cam Atkinson, a 35-goal scorer last season, has six tallies while Boone Jenner, Brandon Dubinsky and Alexander Wennberg have combined for seven.
OVERTIME
1. Devils rookie F Jesper Bratt has three goals in the past four games to give him 19 points in 27 games.
2. Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno has followed a 13-game goal drought by scoring three times in the last six games.
3. New Jersey has killed off 17 of 18 short-handed situations over the past five games.
PREDICTION: Blue Jackets 3, Devils 2
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Rangers vs. Capitals Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017
New York Rangers defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk didn't take too kindly to the remarks of Washington Capitals coach Barry Trotz, who said that "everybody thought of him as a (Nos.) 1 or 2, and he really wasn't. He was a little lower." Shattenkirk aims to show his former coach a thing or two on Friday when the Rangers visit the Capitals.
Shattenkirk admitted that "it doesn't sit well" to hear Trotz's comments following his abbreviated stay in Washington last spring, but the 28-year-old insists he's more concerned about this season. Shattenkirk set up a goal in New York's 4-2 win over Pittsburgh on Tuesday for his 13th point (three goals, 10 assists) in the last 16 games. Like the Rangers, the Capitals have won six of their last seven overall following Wednesday's 6-2 rout of Chicago. Captain Alex Ovechkin (one goal, three assists) and new linemate Tom Wilson (two goals, two assists) each registered four-point performances as Washington improved to 7-1-1 in its last nine contests at Capital One Arena and 3-1-0 on its season-high five-game homestand.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, MSG (New York), Sportsnet, TVAS, NBCSN Washington
ABOUT THE RANGERS (15-10-2): After recording his 100th career assist on Tuesday, Chris Kreider can secure yet another milestone as he remains one goal shy of 100 and one point short of 200 for his career. The 26-year-old Kreider has joined linemates David Desharnais and Pavel Buchnevich in posting 13 points (five goals, eight assists) over his last three games, with at least one of the three players netting a goal in each contest. Desharnais has one goal and four assists during his three-game point streak while Buchnevich has two goals and two assists in his last three contests.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (17-11-1): Ovechkin has scored eight goals and set up four others in his last seven games, including tallies in three straight. Fellow forward Brett Connolly also has scored in three consecutive contests, with his last two coming on the power play. Evgeny Kuznetsov has four goals and an assist during his four-game point streak, which is one shy of the five-game run by Nicklas Backstrom from Oct. 7-14 in which the Swede collected 11 points (three goals, eight assists).
OVERTIME
1. Washington's Andre Burakovsky is poised to return from a 20-game absence due to a broken thumb, although fellow F T.J. Oshie is expected to miss Friday's tilt with an upper-body injury.
2. New York F Mats Zuccarello has collected a point in six of the last seven games, totaling five goals and three assists in that stretch.
3. Capitals G Holtby is 4-1-0 with a .932 save percentage in his last five starts.
PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Rangers 2
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Golden Knights vs. Predators Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017
While the Nashville Predators and Vegas Golden Knights each boast sterling records at home, a game within Friday's game at Bridgestone Arena likely will hit close to home as well. Predators defenseman P.K. Subban could be in line to test his mettle against his brother, Golden Knights goaltender Malcolm Subban, when the clubs face off in Music City.
"I'll take it one step at a time. I don't know if he's playing or not," P.K. Subban said after Thursday's practice. "If he's playing, obviously it'll be a special night. If not, I'm sure I'll have another opportunity some time to do it." The 28-year-old logged a game-high 23:53 of ice time in a 5-2 victory at Dallas on Tuesday, marking Nashville's third straight win and 13th in 16 outings (13-2-1). Extending his older brother's season-high point drought to seven games will be the goal of Malcolm Subban, who returned from a monthlong absence due to a lower-body injury by winning four of his last six starts - highlighted by a 26-save performance in Tuesday's 4-3 shootout win against Anaheim. "I thought he played really well and strong," Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant said of the 23-year-old netminder. "It just shows the kid is getting better and more confident."
TV: 8 p.m. ET, AT&TSN-Rocky Mountains (Vegas), FSN Tennessee (Nashville)
ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (17-9-1): James Neal is preparing himself for the funny feeling he'll experience when he opens the doors to Bridgestone Arena, marking his official return to the place he called home for three seasons prior to being selected by Vegas in the expansion draft. "I really enjoyed my time in Nashville," the 30-year-old Neal said. "It's always weird going back to play the team you once played for. You have those mixed emotions and you don't know how you'll feel. I'll just try to focus on the game." Neal, who scored his 13th goal of the season and added his eighth assist on Tuesday, is on pace for his 10th consecutive 20-goal season of his career.
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (18-7-3): Kyle Turris has made the most of a change of scenery, scoring a goal and setting up another versus the Stars to increase his point total to 12 (three goals, nine assists) in 13 games since coming over in a trade from Ottawa. Both points against Dallas came on the power play to run that total to eight since the swap, and that number could rise as Turris and the Predators face the Golden Knights' 27th-ranked penalty kill (76.5 percent). Speaking of impressive numbers, Pekka Rinne has won seven of his last eight starts and owns an 11-2-1 mark at Bridgestone Arena.
OVERTIME
1. Vegas LW Erik Haula has three goals and as many assists in his last seven games.
2. Nashville has scored 16 power-play goals in its last 13 contests.
3. Karl Subban, P.K. and Malcolm's dad, will be in attendance as part of the Golden Knights' father's trip.
PREDICTION: Predators 2, Golden Knights 1
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Sabres vs. Blackhawks Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017
The Chicago Blackhawks are in the midst of a five-game losing streak (0-3-2), but that sad song likely would be tuned out in short order by the struggling Buffalo Sabres. The Blackhawks aim to pick themselves up following a lopsided loss on Friday when they host a Sabres club that has dropped 11 of the last 13 (2-9-2) and has the fewest points in the NHL.
"Clearly, we're not happy with where we are in the standings," Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews told the Chicago Sun-Times. "... But when you say you're concerned, it means that you doubt yourself and you don't think that you have what it takes to be where you want to be in the standings. But for us, that's not at all the case." Toews has scored in back-to-back contests and carries a three-game point streak into Friday's tilt. Offense has been in short supply for Buffalo, which was shut out three straight times and mustered just one goal during the four-game losing skid before enjoying an offensive eruption - relatively speaking - in a 4-2 win over Colorado on Tuesday. "Especially in the position that we're in, it could be easy to get down and go in a different direction, but our guys fought the whole night," Sabres coach Phil Housley said. "It was a total team effort up and down the lineup."
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, MSG-B (Buffalo), NBCSN Chicago
ABOUT THE SABRES (7-17-4): Jake McCabe scored the first goal by a Buffalo defenseman this season on Tuesday, although a replay was needed to make sure the rest of the Sabres were onside. "The hockey gods were on our side I guess on that call," McCabe said. "Hopefully the floodgates open for us on the back end now." Buffalo's players - regardless of position - would like that as well as the team ranks 31st in goals per game (2.1) and 30th on the power play (11.2 percent).
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (12-11-5): Patrick Kane has been held off the scoresheet in three straight and four of five following a seven-game point streak, but the Buffalo native has torched his hometown team to the tune of 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 13 career encounters. Corey Crawford is from Montreal, but he has no problem taking it to the Sabres with an 8-0-0 career mark and 1.86 goals-against average in eight career starts. A nagging lower-body injury is his primary worry however, with Anton Forsberg in line to make his fourth straight start if he can't play.
OVERTIME
1. Chicago C Artem Anisimov (team-leading 12 goals) has been held off the scoresheet in each of the last three games.
2. Buffalo D Nathan Beaulieu has been ruled out of Friday's contest with an illness.
3. The Blackhawks' 29th-ranked power play is 0-for-11 in December and 1-for-21 in the last five games overall.
PREDICTION: Blackhawks 3, Sabres 1
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Wild vs. Ducks Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017
Adam Henrique made quite a first impression in his first home game with Anaheim, scoring a pair of goals to help the Ducks snapped a three-game skid and win for just the second time in nine games. The Ducks look to build off their first shutout victory of the season when they continue a three-game homestand versus the Minnesota Wild on Friday.
An injury-ravaged lineup has put a drag on the offense of Anaheim, which suffered three shootout losses in its just-concluded six-game road trip and face another six-game trek following this homestand. "I didn't even realize how many guys were injured," said Henrique, who was acquired from New Jersey for defenseman Sami Vatanen at the end of last month. "But that's certainly an exciting part of it, to think about what we can do when we're healthy." Minnesota had won four of six before surrendering four third-period goals in a 5-2 loss at Los Angeles -- a troubling trend for former Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau. "They don't have that self-confidence that I think we had last year," said Boudreau, in his second season with the Wild. "When our third periods came, they just knew they were going to win. Now every game has been a battle."
TV: 10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet1, FSN North (Minnesota) Prime Ticket (Anaheim)
ABOUT THE WILD: With Mikael Granlund -- a 26-goal scorer last season -- notching two points in his last six games, Boudreau opted to move him off the line with captain Mikko Koivu, who is mired in an 18-game goal drought and has been held off the scoresheet in five straight. Charlie Coyle will take the spot of Granlund, who will play alongside Eric Staal and Nino Niederreiter. Joel Eriksson Ek was recalled from Iowa after collecting three goals and four assists over the past seven games, joining center Tyler Ennis and Chris Stewart at practice.
ABOUT THE DUCKS (12-11-6): Anaheim was desperate for help due to the lengthy injury absences of its top two centers, captain Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler, and Henrique has delivered with two goals and three assists during a four-game point streak. "He's a smart hockey player," coach Randy Carlyle said. "You don't have to tell him things more than once. He gets it. That's a great asset. He's got hockey sense and a hockey IQ that is up there." Corey Perry, paired with Henrique, has two goals and four points in the past three games.
OVERTIME
1. Perry has 18 goals and 36 points in 41 games versus Minnesota.
2. The Wild are 0-for-7 on the power play over the past four games.
3. Ducks D Hampus Lindholm (upper body) will sit out Friday's game.
PREDICTION: Ducks 3, Wild 2
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Bulls vs. Hornets Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017
The Charlotte Hornets have endured an uneven homestand without their head coach and hope to get back in the win column when they host the Chicago Bulls on Friday. With coach Steve Clifford out indefinitely for health reasons, the Hornets split the first two games of the four-game stay at the Spectrum Center, falling 101-87 to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.
"I thought we started the game out pretty slow. At the beginning of the second quarter we weren't getting the ball moving offensively and playing with the right pace," associate head coach Stephen Silas told the media. "We finally got it going a little bit at the end of the second quarter with some pace. ... Those guys made big plays down in the stretch but to hold that team to 101 points isn't all bad." Despite the loss, the Hornets are still 8-4 at home, compared to a woeful 1-10 opening on the road that includes a 123-120 loss at Chicago on Nov. 17. Unfortunately for the Bulls, they've dropped 10 in a row since that triumph, including six straight on the road, the latest a 98-96 setback at Indiana on Wednesday. "This one, it stings a lot," coach Fred Hoiberg told the media after the loss. "It's a really, really hard (loss) because we had control for the majority of it and played really good and hard unselfish basketball. The big message to our team is if we continue to play with that type of effort, if we continue to play the right way, and unselfish, we're going to start winning games."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCSN Chicago, FSN Southeast (Charlotte)
ABOUT THE BULLS (3-20): Three of the last four losses for Chicago have come by two points or fewer and a dismal stretch run against the Pacers was the culprit on Wednesday, as the Bulls had a 13-point lead with just over seven minutes to go. "When adversity hits, we just aren't handling it like a mature team," forward Denzel Valentine told reporters. Valentine was one of six Bulls in double figures with 15 points, a group led by Kris Dunn, who is averaging 16.4 while shooting 55.6 percent over a five-game span.
ABOUT THE HORNETS (9-14): Charlotte was playing its second game with star point guard Kemba Walker back from a shoulder injury, but it suffered a pair of injuries along the front line with reserve big men Frank Kaminsky (ankle) and Cody Zeller (knee) exiting Wednesday's loss. "I don't know," Silas told the media. "Hopefully those guys will be OK because we got some home games coming up and we'll need them." Walker is averaging 26.5 points since returning from the injury and he had a season-high 47 points in the loss at Chicago last month.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Hornets C Dwight Howard is averaging 17 points on 58.3 percent shooting and 12.7 rebounds at home.
2. Dunn is 9-for-14 from 3-point range in his last five games to bump his percentage up to 44.4 after shooting 28.8 percent from long distance as a rookie last season.
3. Chicago won three straight meetings while averaging 118.7 points.
PREDICTION: Hornets 110, Bulls 104
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Warriors vs. Pistons Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats07:00 PM
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017
The Golden State Warriors passed their first test without Stephen Curry in the lineup and are one win away from sweeping their longest road trip of the season. The Warriors will try to cap off a 6-0 trip when they visit the Detroit Pistons on Friday.
Curry went down with a sprained ankle late in a 125-115 win at New Orleans on Monday and is likely to miss a couple of weeks, so Golden State turned up the defense and leaned on its other MVP as Kevin Durant recorded a triple-double with 35 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a 101-87 win at Charlotte on Wednesday. "It wasn't so much vocal leadership," Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters of Durant. "It was an 'I got this' type thing with the way he carried himself. Clearly the dominant player on the floor, and I think he showed, without Steph in particular, he almost had a different bounce in his step." The Pistons are not quite as strong on the road and finished off a 0-4 trip with a 104-100 loss at Milwaukee on Wednesday. "We've just got to keep our head up," Detroit center Andre Drummond told reporters. "We can't allow these losses to get us down. It's a long season."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN, NBCS Bay Area (Golden State), FS Detroit
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (20-6): Golden State was also without All-Star forward Draymond Green (shoulder) but got 22 points from Klay Thompson on 9-of-14 shooting. Thompson is averaging 22 points on 61.8 percent shooting, including 54.8 percent from 3-point range, on the trip but knows Friday's contest will be a challenge. "It's the hardest game of the trip because you look forward to going home so badly," Thompson told ESPN.com. "But we have to lock in for 48 minutes and realize that Detroit's a tough team and not going to lay down because we're 5-0."
ABOUT THE PISTONS (14-10): Each of the last three losses on the trip came by five or fewer points, and coach Stan Van Gundy lamented the things his team failed to do in Milwaukee. "We didn't do enough of the little things," Van Gundy told reporters. "We gave up free-throw rebounds - two of them. Screw up some out-of-bounds play defense. Simple stuff that's easy to do and we didn't take care of it." The bright spot in Wednesday's loss was Drummond, who collected 27 points on 12-of-16 shooting and 20 rebounds in his fourth straight double-double.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Pistons SF Stanley Johnson shot 25.8 percent from the floor on the four-game trip, including 3-of-14 from 3-point range.
2. Warriors SG Patrick McCaw is in the concussion protocol while C Zaza Pachulia (shoulder) was knocked out of Wednesday's game and is unlikely to play Friday.
3. Detroit earned a 115-107 win at Golden State on Oct. 29 behind a combined 45 points from Gs Reggie Jackson and Avery Bradley.
PREDICTION: Warriors 109, Pistons 102
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Cavaliers vs. Pacers Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017
LeBron James continues to find different ways to lead his team to victories, and the Cleveland Cavaliers don't seem like they're going to lose anytime soon. James will try to guide the Cavaliers to a franchise-record 14th consecutive win when they visit the Central Division rival Indiana Pacers on Friday.
James is putting up big numbers throughout the streak but did his finest work from beyond the arc on Wednesday, when he buried a season-high five 3-pointers on eight attempts in a 101-95 win over the Sacramento Kings. "I try to get better each and every year, and shooting the ball is what this league has kind of turned into, so for me to continue to improve, that's what I wanted to do," James told reporters in reference to his .587 shooting percentage, including 43 percent from 3-point range. "I put a lot of work into my offseason training and I just try to implement it into the season once it gets here." The Pacers opened a six-game homestand with a 98-96 win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday and are winners of two straight and eight of their last 11. "They're a great team," Indiana guard Victor Oladipo told reporters of Cleveland. "They're playing very, very, very well right now, and they've got a lot of great players. We're going to have to be ready to play."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cleveland), FS Indiana
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (18-7): James was part of two different 13-game winning streaks with Cleveland in 2009 and 2010 and came within an assist of a triple-double in leading the team to another 13-game run on Wednesday. James could be close to getting more help with both Tristan Thompson (calf) and Isaiah Thomas (hip) participating in four-on-four drills at practice. "It went well, I felt good out there," Thompson, who is closer to a return than Thomas, told reporters. "I was happy to play some contact, so, I was excited. I want to play pick-up again. Felt like summertime."
ABOUT THE PACERS (14-11): Indiana was in a 16-point hole in the fourth quarter to the NBA-worst Bulls before mounting a comeback led by Oladipo, who hit a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute and finished with 27 points. "I feel like we just made the right play down the stretch," Oladipo told reporters. "In the fourth quarter, whatever the play is, we make the right play as a team. We do a great job of that, and we did a great job of that (Wednesday) down the stretch." The right play often means getting the ball to Oladipo, who is averaging a team-high 23.3 points on 48.3 percent shooting.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Cleveland PF Kevin Love is enjoying a streak of four straight double-doubles.
2. Pacers SG Bojan Bogdanovic is 6-of-11 from 3-point range over the last two games.
3. Indiana crushed the Cavaliers at Cleveland 124-107 on Nov. 1 despite James' 33 points and 11 assists.
PREDICTION: Cavaliers 108, Pacers 107
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Nuggets vs. Magic Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017
Two teams fighting through injuries to key players meet Friday night when the Denver Nuggets visit the rejuvenated Orlando Magic. The Magic grinded out a 110-106 overtime victory over Atlanta on Wednesday for their third win in five games, but saw second-leading scorer Evan Fournier go down with a sprained ankle, while Denver is without two of its top three scorers - Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap - with injuries.
Orlando had lost nine straight contests before its recent improvement and trailed by nine with under 10 minutes to go Wednesday, but battled back against the second-worst team in the league at home. "The guys stuck with the plan, stayed with the fight and played a great fourth quarter and great overtime," Magic coach Frank Vogel told reporters after his team improved to 6-5 at home. The Nuggets allowed an average of 122.5 points while losing the last two games, including a 123-114 setback at New Orleans on Wednesday when they allowed the Pelicans to shoot 53.5 percent from the field. "It's becoming the same story every single night," Denver coach Michael Malone told reporters. "And until our guys start taking it personally, until our guys start understanding the importance of playing defense and guarding your man 1-on-1, forget the playoffs. That is a word we should not use with this team."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Altitude (Denver), FSN Florida (Orlando)
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (13-11): Jokic (ankle) is expected to miss his fourth straight game and Millsap (wrist) will sit out his ninth in a row, taking almost 31 points and 17 rebounds per game out of the lineup. Will Barton tops the balanced offense at 15.8 points per contest after averaging 22.8 over the last four games and Gary Harris (15.3) scored almost 20 per outing in the same span. Jamal Murray has raised his level of play the past three contests, averaging 21.7 points, while Emmanuel Mudiay scored 17 in the loss to New Orleans after totaling 37 in the previous seven outings.
ABOUT THE MAGIC (11-15): Fournier, who scored at least 20 in three of the last four games and averages 18.3, will be re-evaluated after initial x-rays on his ankle came back negative for a fracture. Forward Aaron Gordon, who averages a team-high 18.7 points, scored 24 and hauled in 15 rebounds against Atlanta last time out while center Nikola Vucevic recorded his second double-double in the last three contests. Jonathon Simmons is averaging 16 points over the first four games of December, but connected on just three of his 17 tries from 3-point range in that span.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Denver PF Trey Lyles is averaging 11.3 points over the past four games - almost six above his season mark.
2. Orlando PG D.J. Augustin drained 8-of-11 from 3-point range in the last five games, including one to tie Atlanta at the end of regulation Wednesday.
3. The Nuggets have won the last three meetings after a 125-107 triumph at home on Nov. 11, led by 32 points from Murray.
PREDICTION: Magic 106, Nuggets 98
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