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Friday 1-5-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc
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Handicapped by Rick Needham at Aqueduct
RACE #7 - AQUEDUCT - 3:34 PM EASTERN POST
8.0 FURLONGS DIRT FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD ALLOWANCE $67,000.00 PURSE
#7 BACKYARD HEAVEN
#8 MR. BUFF
#1A DONJU
#2 HAMMERIN AAMER
#7 BACKYARD HEAVEN qualifies as a TrackMaster PLUS "PowerPony," and has hit the board in both of his two career starts to date, including a 5-length, "POWER RUN WIN" to break his maiden in his last start. #8 MR. BUFF an 8-1 shot, is the only entry in this allowance field this afternoon not taking a step-up in class, and has hit the board in "POWER RUN FASHION" in four of his last five starts, including a trio of "POWER RUN WINS" embedded in this recent streak of racing consistency.
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Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts
Bar
Turfway Park - Race #4 - Post: 7:45pm - Claiming - 6.5 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $6,100 Class Rating: 70
Rating: 4
#2 RUNAWAY ROSIE (ML=4/1)
RUNAWAY ROSIE - Deleon is right back for another event today after racing atop this horse for the initial time on Dec 8th and ought to know the ropes to this one a little better.
Vulnerable Contenders: #11 SISTER JIB (ML=8/5), #2B ELMA (ML=4/1), #4 DREAM PARK (ML=5/1),
SISTER JIB - This entrant hasn't been on the track since December 8th. Not even any workouts. ELMA - This filly hasn't been showing me anything in the last two races. DREAM PARK - Tough to wager on any horse to turn things around if there is no value to taking the risk.
STRAIGHT WAGERS:
Bet on #2 Entry to win if we can get at least 1/1 odds
EXACTA WAGERS:
None
TRIFECTA WAGERS:
None
SUPERFECTA WAGERS:
Pass
** Some or all wagers above involve entries and assume all parts of entry start the race **
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Jim Feist
Jim Feist's Comp Pick, Friday, January 5, 2017
CB (851) NIAGARA VS (852) SIENA
Take: (851) NIAGARA
Reason: Your Free play for Friday, January 5, 2017 is in the College basketball game between Niagara and Siena. Metro Atlantic Conference play here has Niagara and Siena matching up. Siena has lost both it's conference games thus far with a road loss to Marist and home loss to Quinnipiac - both as favorites. They return home tonight to face 7-8 Niagara. Niagra also lost both its conference games, both home setbacks to Iona and Rider. This Niagara team gives up lots of points, 99 to Rider at home, 86 to Cornetll, 93 to St Francis PA and on and on. In fact, three teams have scored over 100 points against them this year. One of these teams gets its first conference win tonight and that's Siena. Play the home team.
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Arthur Ralph Sports
Fri Wisconsin -1½ CBB
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PURE LOCK
Pure Lock's FREE CBB play Friday 1-5-18
Penn State -6
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JESSE SCHULE
NCAA-B | Jan 05, 2018
Elon vs. Northeastern
Elon+6
This is what I had to say about Elon prior to the 2017 season: "If you are thinking that Elon is just some minnow from a weaker conference, think again! They finished fourth in the CAA last year, and they faced the conference champs twice, going 1-1 in those games. UNC Wilmington is a team that people are a little more familiar with, as they qualified for the NCAA Tournament, and were eliminated by Virginia in a game decided by four points. The Blue Devils have played Elon every year since 2012, and they have only covered the spread twice in their last six versus the Phoenix. Last year Elon covered in a 72-61 loss, and in 2014 they covered in a 75-62 loss. They are bringing back all five starters from last season, including leading scorer Brian Dawkins (one of two seniors in the starting lineup)." They come into today's road game against Northeastern as winners of two of their last three road games. They have won their last two at Northeastern outright, and these two teams have played close games decided by six points or less in three straight meetings. The Huskies have failed to cover in six straight against teams with a winning record, and the road team has covered in four straight meetings in this series. I'll take the points. Take ELON. GL,
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SCOTT SPREITZER
NBA | Jan 05, 2018
Knicks vs. Heat
Heat-5
I'm recommending a play on the Miami Heat minus the points on Friday night. The Knicks are in a rough patch right now, dropping six of seven and their leader, Kristaps Porzingis might not be up to carrying the load, at least not right now. The Latvian star went public talking about how tired he is at this point of the season following the Knicks' loss on Wednesday. The fact is, virtually the entire team looks gassed. New York must figure out a way to regain their energy against Miami who will look to exact revenge for a 115-86 loss earlier this season. The Heat were anything but hot, making 38 percent of their FGA, including a horrible, 10 of 38 night from behind the arc. Miami was the tired team that night, playing their fourth road game in six nights and facing New York the night after a game in Cleveland. The Heat enter on a 9-4 SU run, and have covered five of their last seven games. They're 10-4 ATS in the last 14 meetings with the Knicks and we'll back them here. We're recommending a play on the Miami Heat minus the points. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.
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JOEY JUICE
Let's back the Miami Heat who are coming off their 2nd straight win after disposing of the very tough Detroit Pistons 111-104 in Miami Wednesday night.
The Knicks, on the other hand, lost their second straight 121-103 to the Wizards in Washington Wednesday night.
We already know that the Knicks are horrible road team, but they haven't been playing well anywhere lately, they are a disgusting 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall. The Heat have been playing pretty good ball especially against the East, they are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. the Eastern Conference.
Bottom Line, New York will be playing their third game in four nights, they lost to San Antonio Tuesday at the Garden, and Washington Wednesday on the road. They must be tired. Besides, New York is 3-13 on the road thus far this season. Miami has picked up seven wins in their last 10 games and playing with enough momentum to roll right over these NY stiffs.
Miami is the play.
3* MIAMI
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TOMMY BRUNSON
They have been a bit of a "pebble in their sneakers" these days. I am speaking of the Raptors to the Bucks.
Toronto comes into this Friday affair against Milwaukee having eliminated the Bucks from last season's playoffs in 5 quick games, and then in this year's first series meeting on New Year's Day, the Raptors did it again to the Bucks, beating them in overtime by 4 as the -6 point home choice.
Tonight is where the Bucks put a stop to this Raptors recent upper-hand.
Milwaukee followed that OT loss in Canada with a ringing 122-101 home win over Indiana on Wednesday night. The Bucks have now won 8 of their last 10 games on home hardwood - the only 2 losses coming to the Bulls of all teams!?!? - and they have been able to go 4-1-3 against the spread in those 8 victories.
Toronto has been on a little bit of a bender, winning 3 straight (Bucks game included), and 9 of their last 11 straight up. The only 2 losses in that stretch did come on the road at Dallas and OKC, as they failed both against the spread as well.
With this meeting possibly foreshadowing another postseason clash, it is very important for Milwaukee to "hold their serve" on their home court, so in this near pick spot, going to side with the home team to do just that.
Bucks for the bucks!
3* MILWAUKEE
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CAPPERS ACCESS
(NBA)Bulls
(CBB) Penn St
(CBB) Oregon St
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Knicks vs. Heat Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/04/2018
The Miami Heat are getting healthier while piling up victories and hope to continue that trend Friday night when they host the struggling New York Knicks, who won the first meeting this season by 29 points. The Heat have won five of seven and nine of their last 13 after outlasting Detroit 111-104 on Wednesday as guards Goran Dragic and Josh Richardson led the way again.
"We're grinding. We see progress," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters after his team moved three games over .500 for the first time (20-17) since the end of the 2015-16 season. "Guys played with confidence in the second half (Wednesday). You always like to see that." The Knicks will have to control the backcourt duo of Richardson and Dragic, who combined for 46 points against Detroit, if they are to snap out of a tailspin that has seen them lose six of the past seven contests. New York was outscored by 17 points in the second half during a 121-103 loss at Washington on Wednesday night, dropping to 3-13 on the road in its fifth game in an eight-day span. "It was tough mentally for us," Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis told reporters after the loss. "Our energy wasn't there. Coach said they had three days of rest. They came out fresh. We didn't have it for the second half."
TV: 8 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), FS Sun (Miami)
ABOUT THE KNICKS (18-20): Porzingis had 16 points Wednesday, but is just 10-of-32 from the field the last two games and admitted he is tired, while center Enes Kanter has drained 11 of his 15 attempts from the floor in the same span. Forward Michael Beasley came off the bench to lead the way with 20 points against Washington and has connected on 30 of his 54 shots from the field while scoring 19 per game in his last four outings. Backup center Kyle O'Quinn notched his third double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds in Wednesday's setback.
ABOUT THE HEAT (20-17): Dragic is averaging 24.5 points and 10.5 assists in the last two games after a poor outing against Brooklyn (3-for-12 from the floor) in a loss and Richardson is scoring 20.1 per contest over his past nine appearances. Forward James Johnson returned to the lineup Wednesday after missing the previous three games with an ankle injury and contributed 16 points in 24 minutes. "He put in a lot of time," Spoelstra said of Johnson. "You could tell he's not 100 percent with his timing and fluidity. We're a totally different team when he's out there."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. New York SF Doug McDermott is shooting 39.4 percent from 3-point range overall, but is 3-for-16 from behind the arc the last five games.
2. Miami C Kelly Olynyk had 25 points and 13 rebounds Wednesday for his second double-double in four games and third of the season.
3. Kanter had 22 points and 14 rebounds and the Knicks shot 60.3 percent from the field in the 115-86 win over the Heat on Nov. 29.
PREDICTION: Heat 104, Knicks 94
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Pistons vs. 76ers Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats07:00 PM
by Gracenote on 01/04/2018
The Detroit Pistons dropped their last three on the road, including a 111-104 setback at Miami on Wednesday that marked the start of a stretch with five of six away from home. The Pistons will try to rebound and snap the road slide when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.
Detroit played one of its best games of the season in a 93-79 home win over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday but followed that up by allowing the Heat to knock down 17 3-pointers in Wednesday's setback. "They were in the paint all night," Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters of the Heat. "The ball was coming inside out. They just broke you down on the dribble, on pick and rolls and on drives. We could not keep the ball out of the paint and that was the story of the game." The 76ers enjoyed their own win over the Spurs with a 112-106 triumph on Wednesday that marked their third straight win and fourth in the last five games. Philadelphia, which dropped nine of 10 before turning things around recently, can get back to .500 with a win on Friday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Detroit-plus, NBCS Philadelphia
ABOUT THE PISTONS (20-16): One big difference between the win over the Spurs on Saturday and the loss on Wednesday was the absence of center Andre Drummond, who sat out in Miami after taking a shot to the ribs in practice on Tuesday and is day-to-day. "What Andre's able to bring for us on the defensive end, I think he is the best big man in pick-and-roll defense in the NBA," Detroit shooting guard Avery Bradley told the team's website. "It was tough. We still had a chance to help each other and talk on the defensive end because that's what it's all about. But we did miss him on both ends of the floor tonight." Bradley (groin) is battling through his own injury and returned from a seven-game absence on Wednesday, contributing 15 points on 6-of-19 shooting in 38 minutes.
ABOUT THE 76ERS (18-19): Philadelphia rookie point guard Ben Simmons scored 11 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter on Wednesday and went 10-of-15 from the free-throw line in the contest, marking the second straight game in which he attempted double-digit free throws. "That in itself is a huge win for me when he gets back to the line," 76ers coach Brett Brown told reporters of Simmons. "It's a mentality more than it is a skill, and that mentality of him attacking the basket, and going to the free throw line, then growing the confidence. ... That's a hell of a package." Simmons averaged 23.5 points and went a combined 17-of-26 from the line in the last two games after slumping to six points without attempting a free throw in a win over Denver on Dec. 30.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Pistons SF Reggie Bullock is 12-of-20 from 3-point range over the last three games.
2. 76ers SG JJ Redick is averaging 20.6 points over the last games and buried multiple 3-pointers in each of those contests.
3. Philadelphia took each of the first two meetings this season, including a 108-103 home victory on Dec. 2.
PREDICTION: 76ers 106, Pistons 103
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Timberwolves vs. Celtics Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/04/2018
The Boston Celtics seek their longest winning streak since their memorable 16-game run earlier this season when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. The Celtics rebounded from a 5-6 stretch with four straight wins, including a decisive 102-88 triumph over Eastern Conference rival Cleveland on Wednesday at home.
Reserve guard Terry Rozier led a balanced attack with 20 points in 20 minutes for Boston, which downplayed the big win and immediately moved on. "I mean, they were playing on the second night of a back-to-back, we had a couple of days off, we looked fresh, I thought, which is a welcome sign," coach Brad Stevens told the media. "And then, and then we've got a tough one Friday, that we've got to turn our attention to." The Timberwolves won seven of eight before they were done in by a late jumper in a 98-97 loss at Brooklyn on Wednesday. Jimmy Butler stayed hot with 30 points but missed a potential game-winner at the buzzer.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, NBCS Boston
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (24-15): Butler made 16-of-18 free throws in Wednesday's loss but contributed to a dismal perimeter game for Minnesota, which made a season-low one 3-pointer in 11 attempts. "The thing is, I told them this: 'It may not be going our way early but then we've got to make it go our way,'" coach Tom Thibodeau said after his team rallied from an eight-point deficit in the third quarter. "I thought we showed some resiliency in the second half but we talked about how important it is to play for 48 minutes and sometimes you miss some shots." Karl-Anthony Towns missed all four of his 3-point tries but finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds for his league-leading 31st double-double.
ABOUT THE CELTICS (31-10): Rozier and three other reserves - Marcus Smart, Aron Baynes and Daniel Theis - combined to shoot 19-for-31 from the floor and make 9-of-14 3-pointers in the win over the Cavaliers. "Just playing ball," Rozier told the media when asked of his aggressive approach. "Same thing applies. Not thinking. Just having a lot of fun. Competing. It opened it up for me." Kyrie Irving was held to 11 points - more than 13 below his average - but set a season high for rebounds for the second straight game with nine.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Celtics have won 11 straight meetings at home.
2. Rozier is 15-for-27 from 3-point range over a five-game stretch after going 0-for-6 in his previous three contests.
3. Butler scored at least 20 points in nine straight outings.
PREDICTION: Celtics 108, Timberwolves 104
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Raptors vs. Bucks Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/04/2018
The Milwaukee Bucks are creeping up the standings in the Eastern Conference with wins in three of their last four games, but the lone loss in that span was an overtime setback at the Toronto Raptors. The Bucks will try to return the favor when the Raptors visit Milwaukee on Friday.
The Bucks could not figure out how to contain Toronto star DeMar DeRozan in Monday's loss as the shooting guard scored a Raptors franchise-record 52 points. Milwaukee bounced back by breezing by the Indiana Pacers 122-101 on Wednesday in a win so convincing that star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was able to sit out the entire fourth quarter. "We would all like to have a game like this where you can keep them under 30 minutes, but unfortunately that hasn't happened a lot this year," Bucks coach Jason Kidd told reporters. "So, this is a good win, especially having that game in Toronto (on Monday)." The Raptors followed up that win over Milwaukee by pulling away in the fourth quarter and downing the Chicago Bulls 124-115 behind 35 points from DeRozan on Wednesday.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TSN 2 (Toronto), FS Milwaukee
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (26-10): DeRozan attempted 124 3-pointers all last season but is already up to 114 attempts in 2017-18 and is becoming more confident from beyond the arc. The All-Star knocked down five 3-pointers in each of the last two games and is 12-of-21 in the last three games to bring his season mark to 36.8 percent. "We've never told DeMar DeRozan not to shoot the three," Casey said. "Never, ever, ever. If you want to join the party, go ahead and shoot the three. He's worked on it, it's paying off for him right now. He's shooting it with a lot of confidence. It's a balance. Don't forget where you came from, keep attacking the paint, and that's going to set up your 3-point shot."
ABOUT THE BUCKS (20-16): Milwaukee shot 58.7 percent from the floor and handed out 33 assists on Wednesday, with Matthew Dellavedova (nine), Malcolm Brogdon (five) and Eric Bledsoe (five) joining Antetokounmpo (five) in getting the whole team involved. "It's great having other playmakers out there," Antetokounmpo told reporters. "For me, personally, it's good for me because I'm always alert because I know at any point I can get the ball. So, it's fun to play with Delly, Malcolm and Bledsoe out there." Antetokounmpo recorded seven of the Bucks' 27 assists at Toronto on Monday.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Raptors backup PG Delon Wright recorded career highs with 25 points and 13 rebounds on Wednesday.
2. Brogdon is shooting 56.3 percent from the floor over the last five games.
3. Monday's win was the fourth straight in the series for Toronto, which took the final three games of a first-round playoff series from Milwaukee last spring.
PREDICTION: Bucks 120, Raptors 117
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Bulls vs. Mavericks Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/04/2018
Both the Chicago Bulls and Dallas Mavericks have climbed out of last place in their respective conferences, but both enter their meeting Friday in Dallas on a sour note. The Bulls dropped three in a row following a 10-2 surge and they are giving up an average of 120.7 points during the slide.
"Guys in the locker room were talking about we have to be better," Chicago guard Justin Holiday told reporters after Wednesday's 124-115 loss to the Toronto Raptors. "We don't have to be perfect, but defensively we have to make sure we are doing everything right; can't just go out and think we are just going to outscore people." The Mavericks won a pair of defensive battles and then a pair of shootouts in an impressive four-game winning streak that included a victory over the Raptors. That run came to an end when Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry got free for a 3-pointer in the closing seconds in a 125-122 win over the Mavericks on Wednesday. Wesley Matthews made seven 3-pointers en route to a team-high 22 points for Dallas, which has won four straight over Chicago.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS Southwest (Dallas)
ABOUT THE BULLS (13-25): Holiday was outstanding against Toronto with 26 points while fellow starting guard Kris Dunn had a game to forget on the offensive end by shooting 1-for-6 in 29 minutes. Dunn did hand out eight assists and may soon have another target to pass to as guard Zach LaVine is nearing a return from ACL surgery. Coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters that LaVine - who averaged 18.9 points with Minnesota last season - is expected to travel with the team to Dallas and Indiana and then reassess his situation once the team returns to Chicago.
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (13-26): The Dallas players were taking no solace in pushing the defending champs to the wire, another indication that they have turned a corner following a difficult start to the season. "This is who we were supposed to be all along," Matthews told reporters. "We don't have a moral victory that we took the champs to a one-possession game. We really felt in our hearts we were supposed to win that one." The game against Golden State kicked off a stretch in which the Mavericks play eight of 11 at home, where they had won six of eight prior to the loss to the Warriors.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Bulls PF Lauri Markkanen is averaging 21 points on 53.4 percent shooting over his last four games.
2. Mavericks PF Dwight Powell tied a career high with 21 points against Golden State and he is 18-for-24 from the field over a four-game stretch.
3. Dallas entered Thursday ranked 24th in the league in scoring (101.6) and Chicago was 25th (101.4).
PREDICTION: Mavericks 110, Bulls 106
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Suns vs. Spurs Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/04/2018
The San Antonio Spurs suffered through a disappointing three-game road trip, but the bigger picture is always what is in the team's view. The Spurs will try to pick things up during a brief stop at home when they host the Phoenix Suns on Friday.
San Antonio sat five players on the second night of a back-to-back on Wednesday at Philadelphia, including Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker, and ended up suffering a 112-106 loss to complete a 1-2 trip. That road trip marked the start of a stretch with nine of 11 on the road for the Spurs, who take off for the west coast after Friday's contest and will try to balance injury maintenance and winning again with a back-to-back at Portland and Sacramento on Sunday and Monday. The Suns are in the midst of their own rough stretch after dropping the opener of the two-game road trip 134-111 at Denver on Wednesday that marked a second loss in three games. "The whole night defensively we weren't very good," Phoenix interim coach Jay Triano told reporters. "That's two games in a row where we've kind of relied on scoring to try to beat teams. We're not good enough. We don't have enough depth to do that. We have to be better at the defensive end. We're not executing the way we need to."
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS Arizona (Phoenix), FS Southwest (San Antonio)
ABOUT THE SUNS (15-25): Phoenix allows an NBA-high 112.7 points per game and let the Nuggets shoot 62.2 percent from the floor in Wednesday's setback. On the other side of the ball, star shooting guard Devin Booker slumped to 17 points on 4-of-13 in the setback, snapping a string of four straight games in which he scored at least 26 points. Booker managed to stay on the attack at Denver and went 7-of-8 from the line, making him 48-of-54 from the stripe in five games since returning from a groin injury that cost him nine games.
ABOUT THE SPURS (26-13): San Antonio never hesitates to rest its players but still managed to stay in Wednesday's game despite the depleted roster due to the efforts of power forward LaMarcus Aldridge. The 32-year-old played in 38 of the team's 39 games this season and collected 24 points and 14 rebounds at Philadelphia while logging 36 minutes in the second night of the back-to-back. Aldridge got some help on Wednesday from point guard Patty Mills, who made the most of some extra playing time with Parker out and scored a season-high 26 points after totaling four points in the previous two contests.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Phoenix SF Jared Dudley (illness) sat out the last two games and is questionable for Friday.
2. Spurs SG Danny Green (groin) could miss his second straight game.
3. San Antonio took 11 of the last 12 in the series, including the first two meetings this season.
PREDICTION: Spurs 123, Suns 108
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Jazz vs. Nuggets Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/04/2018
The Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets have played some extremely one-sided contests this season and both will try to be on the right side of things when they finish their four-game season series in the Mile High City on Friday. After a 10-point Utah win in the season opener for both teams on Oct. 18, the next two meetings were decided by an average of 26.5 points, with the Nuggets picking up their first victory in the series with a 107-83 triumph at home the day after Christmas.
Denver followed that up with back-to-back losses before riding Gary Harris to a 134-111 rout of the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. "Gary had it going tonight. He was aggressive from the jump," teammate Will Barton told reporters of Harris, who scored 36 points for the second time in less than a month. "Once a guy gets going, you look for him." Utah has gone a month without a winning streak and fell for the 11th time in 14 games with Wednesday's 108-98 home loss to New Orleans. The Jazz now begin a stretch in which they play 12 of 16 on the road, where they are a Western Conference-worst 3-15.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Utah), Altitude (Denver)
ABOUT THE JAZZ (16-22): With center Rudy Gobert injured and rookie Donovan Mitchell carrying the bulk of the scoring load, Utah often finds itself with little margin for error against teams like the Pelicans, who are loaded with star power. "Other teams, they have two superstars they can rely on. Not saying our guys aren't talented, but other teams can get away with certain things," Mitchell told the Salt Lake Tribune on Wednesday. "We have to play with extra energy and we have to play with an assertiveness that we didn't play with tonight. We did at points, but not the whole game." Mitchell scored 24 points in the loss after averaging 23.1 in December, although he was held to 13 in the recent matchup with Denver.
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (20-17): Harris was 14-of-17 from the field against Phoenix and 20 of his points came in the first quarter alone. "The start he got off on was incredible," coach Michael Malone told the media of Harris, who also had two steals and entered Thursday ranked fifth in the NBA in that category (1.91). Trey Lyles added 16 points, and he scored in double figures in nine straight games to raise his season average to 9.7.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Denver outrebounded each of its last 13 opponents.
2. Nuggets C Mason Plumlee tied season highs with six assists and five blocked shots against the Suns.
3. Gobert (knee) has missed 10 games in a row and will be reevaluated in another week or so.
PREDICTION: Nuggets 108, Jazz 98
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Wizards vs. Grizzlies Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/04/2018
The Memphis Grizzlies are starting to pick up the pace offensively, but hanging with the Washington Wizards may be a tough task. The Grizzlies will try to slow a Wizards offense averaging 118.7 points during a three-game winning streak when they host Washington on Friday.
Memphis is 29th in the NBA in scoring at an average of 98.9 points but put up at least 105 points in each of the last four games, winning two of those contests. "Our success offensively comes down to shot selection and taking care of the basketball, along with our body movement and ball movement, so when we struggle in those areas, we end up doing things that we're uncomfortable doing," Grizzlies interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters after finishing off a five-game road trip with a 113-105 loss at the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday. The Wizards seem plenty comfortable on the offensive end of late and are putting up an average of 116 points while winning five of their last six games. "I think just everybody is getting healthy," Washington point guard John Wall told the Washington Post. "Me, (Markieff Morris) getting healthy. Otto (Porter Jr.) getting back healthy. Brad (Beal) has been playing great for us. He's been MVP so far this season. ... Just look at the scoreboard any day, and if we have many more assists than turnovers, we end up winning the game."
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, NBCS Washington, FS Southeast (Memphis)
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (22-16): Wall and Beal combined for 52 points in Wednesday's 121-103 win over the New York Knicks, but the most surprising contribution came from center Marcin Gortat, who scored a season-high 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting. "I'm happy we won the game. That's the most important thing," Gortat told reporters. "It's just one game in the season, I guess, when I score like that. Let's talk after 10, 20 more games, and we'll see what's going to happen." Gortat scored in double figures just four times in 16 games in December, topping out at 12 points.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (12-26): Gortat will be matched up defensively on Friday against Memphis center Marc Gasol, who is struggling to carry the load for his team and totaled 18 points on 6-of-19 shooting in the last two games. Picking up the slack is guard Tyreke Evans, who averaged 24.6 points on 50 percent shooting on the five-game road trip and leads the team in scoring at 19.6 points. Gasol and Evans are two of the few players to remain healthy most of the season for the Grizzlies, with Evans' only missed game coming in a 93-87 setback at Washington on Dec. 13.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Beal is averaging 29 points on 60 percent shooting over the last three contests.
2. Grizzlies SF Chandler Parsons (knee) is expected to miss his third straight game.
3. Washington is aiming for its first win in Memphis since April 4, 2015.
PREDICTION: Wizards 113, Grizzlies 103
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Hawks vs. Trail Blazers Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/04/2018
The Portland Trail Blazers did not have Damian Lillard last weekend when they suffered a surprising loss at Atlanta, but get a chance at revenge Friday when the struggling Hawks come to town with the All-Star guard back in the lineup. Lillard, who missed five games with a hamstring injury, returned Tuesday and scored 25 points - including six 3-pointers - in 33 minutes in a 127-110 loss at Cleveland.
"My conditioning was pretty good," Lillard told the media after Tuesday's game, citing he was not happy with committing seven turnovers. "My timing was a little bit off with some of my passes but everything else, I felt pretty good." The Trail Blazers face an Atlanta team that not only has the NBA's worst record, but owns one of the worst losses of the season in Tuesday's 104-103 meltdown at Phoenix. The Hawks led by 10 points with 2 ½ minutes to go, only to trail by three with six seconds left before Dennis Schroder inexplicably drove for a layup with less than one second remaining. "I think we'll learn from it," Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters afterward. "There are lots of mental mistakes from all of us. We can get better."
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), NBCS Northwest (Portland)
ABOUT THE HAWKS (10-27): Atlanta came into Phoenix riding its hottest streak of the season, having won three of its previous four games. Ersan Ilyasova led the Hawks with 21 points against the Suns, his third 20 point-plus outing in his past five games to raise his scoring average to 11.4 points per game. The Hawks have averaged 58.3 points in the second half in their past six games, scoring 30 points or more in the fourth quarter four times in that stretch.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (19-18): Despite losing five of its past eight games, Portland is tied with New Orleans for seventh place in the Western Conference. Lillard, who is tied for seventh in the NBA in scoring at 25.2 points per game entering Thursday, averaged 24 in two matchups against the Hawks last season. Jusuf Nurkic scored 23 points against Cleveland and is 15-for-25 from the field in his past two games after going 10-for-35 in the previous three contests.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Hawks rallied from 11 points down in the third quarter to beat the Blazers 104-89 in Atlanta last Saturday, as Schroder scored 18 of his 22 points after halftime.
2. The Trail Blazers are the only team in the NBA with a .500 or better overall record but a losing record at home (8-10).
3. Atlanta has forced 21 turnovers in each of its past two games and rank sixth in the NBA in steals per game (8.6).
PREDICTION: Trail Blazers 112, Hawks 96
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