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Thread: Monday 1-15-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

  1. #21
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    Bucks vs. Wizards Preview and Predictions

    By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
    by Gracenote on 01/14/2018

    The Washington Wizards have endured an up-and-down homestand and will try to end it on a good note when they host the Milwaukee Bucks in a Martin Luther King Day matinee Monday. After dropping the first two games of the five-game stay in the nation's capital, the Wizards claimed back-to-back contests, although both wins came against some of the Eastern Conference's lesser squads and they needed overtime to get past Brooklyn on Saturday.

    "The whole second half was just nasty for us, period," John Wall told reporters after his team lost a 20-point halftime lead before surviving the extra session. "We have to do better. We have to do a lot better." Wall scored 17 of his 23 points after the break and matched his season high with 16 assists as Washington improved to 9-4 at home against conference opponents. One of those four defeats, however, came at the hands of the Bucks to begin the homestand, a 110-103 decision in which Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points and 12 rebounds to lead the visitors. Antetokounmpo was held to 22 and Milwaukee shot 31.6 percent from the field, a season low by a wide margin, in Sunday's 97-79 loss at Miami.

    TV: 2 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), NBCS Washington

    ABOUT THE BUCKS (22-20): Milwaukee has struggled to find consistent production from its bench all season and Sunday offered up another rocky performance by the reserves, as six players combined for 12 points on 3-of-18 from the field. "We were playing from behind," Bucks coach Jason Kidd told the media. "We've got some guys who can't make shots right now. We've just got to keep grinding, keep getting those guys a look, and believe that they're going to make the next shot." Starter Khris Middleton can also be included in that group of struggling shooters as the 26-year-old is 5-for-28 over the last two games, including 1-for-13 from beyond the arc.

    ABOUT THE WIZARDS (25-18): Wall and Bradley Beal (24 points) combined to shoot 19-for-47 from the floor in the win over the Nets, while their teammates were 27-for-46, led by Marcin Gortat (6-for-8) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (5-for-6). But it was Wall who carried the load when it mattered most in OT, when he hit a pair of jumpers and recorded three assists. "We've got an All-Star point guard. That helps, right?" coach Scott Brooks said of Wall, who is averaging 29.3 points and 12 assists over his last three games. "He made big plays, big shots down the stretch."

    BUZZER BEATERS

    1. Washington will play 11 of its next 14 games on the road after Monday's contest.

    2. Bucks PG Malcolm Brogdon is shooting 47.9 percent for the season but has made at least 50 percent of his shots in 10 of his last 11 contests.

    3. Gortat has back-to-back double-doubles for the first time since before Thanksgiving.

    PREDICTION: Wizards 109, Bucks 102

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    Spurs vs. Hawks Preview and Predictions

    By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
    by Gracenote on 01/14/2018

    Kawhi Leonard is back just in time for the San Antonio Spurs, who begin a stretch of four of their next six games on the road Monday at the Atlanta Hawks looking to make a move in the Western Conference standings. The Spurs stand six games behind West leader Golden State and are just 10-13 away from home this season, but Leonard scored 19 points with eight rebounds and four steals in 28 minutes Saturday as San Antonio cruised to a 112-80 home rout of Denver.

    "I need to string some games together," Leonard told reporters after just his ninth appearance of this season - a shoulder strain sidelining him for the previous three games after he missed the first 27 contests with a right quadriceps injury. The Spurs also saw Tony Parker and Danny Green start Saturday, and now head to Atlanta to face a Hawks team sporting the NBA's worst record. The Hawks have dropped five of their past six games, falling 110-105 at home Friday to Brooklyn despite guard Dennis Schroder's career-high 34 points. "As a competitor, you go out there and give it your all for 48 minutes," Atlanta guard/forward Kent Bazemore told the media after the Hawks were outscored 6-0 in the final 52 seconds.

    TV: 3 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Southwest (San Antonio), FS Southeast (Atlanta

    ABOUT THE SPURS (29-15): Forward Davis Bertans hit six 3-pointers Saturday, matching a career high he established Monday, and is averaging 16 points on 12-of-18 from 3-point range in his past three games. Forward LaMarcus Aldridge leads San Antonio in scoring at 22.4 points per game while missing only two games this season, and has a team-best 17 double-doubles. Despite the injuries, the Spurs are second in the NBA in points allowed per game (97.8).

    ABOUT THE HAWKS (11-31): Schroder leads Atlanta in scoring at 20.1 points per game and has made 23 of his past 24 free throws, but committed a critical turnover with five seconds left in the loss to Brooklyn. Bazemore finished with 16 points Friday and has averaged 14.5 across his past four games. The Hawks rank fifth in the NBA in 3-point shooting (37.7 percent) with 10-plus made 3-pointers in each of their past four games.

    BUZZER BEATERS

    1. San Antonio's projected starting lineup in preseason played together Saturday for just the sixth time this season.

    2. The Hawks play eight of their next nine games at home, where they are 7-12.

    3. Aldridge scored 22 points with 11 rebounds to lead the Spurs by the Hawks 96-85 on Nov. 20, while Atlanta rookie F John Collins finished with 21 points and nine rebounds.

    PREDICTION: Spurs 107, Hawks 96

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    Knicks vs. Nets Preview and Predictions

    By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
    by Gracenote on 01/14/2018

    The New York Knicks must heal their mental wounds from another demoralizing loss quickly as they return to the court less than 24 hours later to face the host Brooklyn Nets on Monday afternoon. New York coughed up a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter on Sunday and suffered a 123-118 overtime setback against visiting New Orleans for its sixth loss in seven contests this month.

    The Knicks have allowed an average of 121 points in losing their last three contests, and things don't get any easier as they begin a season-high seven-game road trip with a 4-15 record away from home. The Nets, who have lost both meetings with New York this season, have dropped four of their last five overall and three in a row at home. Brooklyn battled back after falling behind by 15 points after one quarter and 20 at halftime before losing 119-113 in overtime at Washington on Saturday. "We had a good second half, fought hard, but we can't come out the way we did to start," Nets guard Caris LeVert told reporters after recording 12 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the loss. "We just came out sluggish, not cutting hard on offense, not fighting through screens on defense. The score got out of hand early."

    TV: 3 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), YES (Brooklyn)

    ABOUT THE KNICKS (19-24): Tim Hardaway Jr. poured in 25 points off the bench Sunday in his second game back from a leg injury and Kristaps Porzingis matched him, but the 7-3 Latvian is shooting just 37 percent this month. Enes Kanter recorded his third double-double in four games on Sunday (18 points, 10 rebounds) and the 6-11 Turkish center has made 65.7 percent of his shots in January. Jarrett Jack scored a season-high 22 points against the Pelicans and is averaging 17 - more than double his season average - over the last four games.

    ABOUT THE NETS (16-27): Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is averaging 16.3 points over his last four games while Spencer Dinwiddie has scored 18.7 per contest over his last six to become the team's top two active point producers. Tyler Zeller, who averages 7.8 points and 4.9 rebounds, missed Saturday's contest with a hip injury but could be back for the matchup with the Knicks. "It's nothing major," Zeller told the New York Post. "It's just a lot of soreness, trying to move, not moving the way I want to. I just needed a day to hopefully get it to all calm down."

    BUZZER BEATERS

    1. Brooklyn rookie C Jarrett Allen matched his season high with 16 points on Saturday and is shooting 67.6 percent this month.

    2. New York officially signed Trey Burke on Sunday and released fellow G Ramon Sessions, who averaged 3.7 points in 13 games this season.

    3. The Nets entered Sunday fourth in the NBA in rebounds per game (45.7), with Hollis-Jefferson and F DeMarre Carroll leading the way at 6.7 apiece.

    PREDICTION: Knicks 108, Nets 100

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    Heat vs. Bulls Preview and Predictions

    By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
    by Gracenote on 01/14/2018

    The Chicago Bulls dropped two meetings with the Miami Heat earlier this season, but they were a very different team at the time. The Bulls welcomed back Zach LaVine over the weekend and seek their third consecutive victory when they host the streaking Heat on Monday afternoon.

    LaVine had 14 points in his first game in 11 months and Nikola Mirotic - who missed both meetings with Miami in November as he recovered from facial fractures - returned from a two-game layoff to add 16 points in 22 minutes in Chicago's 107-105 win over Detroit on Saturday. "Just [him] being there is a huge confidence for us," Mirotic told reporters of LaVine, who was coming off ACL surgery. "Because we all know he's been practicing hard, working hard to be back and to be with us. He's a great guy, he's a great teammate, and we were all looking forward for this." The Heat return to Chicago with the NBA's longest winning streak at seven in a row - the latest a 97-79 triumph over Milwaukee at home Sunday afternoon. They held the Bucks to 31.6 percent from the field, a season low for a Miami opponent.

    TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Miami), NBCS Chicago

    ABOUT THE HEAT (25-17): Goran Dragic led the way with 25 points in the win over Milwaukee as Miami picked up its first double-digit victory of the winning streak. "It was good to see us put together one of our better, more complete defensive efforts for the entire game," coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters. Hassan Whiteside recorded his fourth straight double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and the 28-year-old big man has exactly four blocked shots in three of those four games.

    ABOUT THE BULLS (16-27): Lauri Markkanen scored a team-high 19 points while making 4-of-7 from 3-point range in the win over the Pistons as he continues a hot stretch from the perimeter. The rookie from Arizona is 21-for-38 from beyond the arc over a five-game span, during which he is averaging 19.4 points, and he also saw the benefit of having the athletic LaVine back on the court. "It means a lot and it's especially nice to have Zach back," Markkanen told the media. "Just to see how he moves and how quick he is, how well he can shoot the ball. All around he's a great player and he's going to bring a lot to the team."

    BUZZER BEATERS

    1. Chicago has tied a franchise record with seven straight games of at least 10 3-pointers.

    2. Dragic averages 22 points while shooting 42.9 percent from 3-point range against the Bulls this season.

    3. Bulls PG Kris Dunn has at least eight assists in six consecutive games.

    PREDICTION: Bulls 104, Heat 101

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    Lakers vs. Grizzlies Preview and Predictions

    By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
    by Gracenote on 01/14/2018

    The Los Angeles Lakers are enjoying a season-best four-game winning streak and will try to push it to five in a row when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday. The Lakers dropped nine straight before embarking on their current streak and took the opener of a three-game road trip 107-101 in overtime at Dallas on Saturday.

    Los Angeles' surge comes amid rumors that head coach Luke Walton might be on shaky ground, though team owner Jeanie Buss and president Magic Johnson both took to Twitter to publicly express their support for Walton. "Jeanie's always been great," Walton told reporters. "So, there's no doubt that they support me. I haven't seen the tweet but, again, I don't have Twitter. So, if you want to send it to me later I'll take a look, but I know they support me." The Grizzlies are already on their second head coach of the season after letting go of David Fizdale but still can't find the win column consistently and missed out on an opportunity to earn back-to-back victories for the first time since October when they suffered an 87-78 loss at Denver on Saturday. "Concentration and consistency has to keep improving for us to become a good team," Memphis center Marc Gasol told reporters after the loss. "Some mental mistakes on some plays we walked through, miscommunication or loss of focus, whatever it was, we had too many of those down the stretch."

    TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, TNT, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles), FS Southeast (Memphis)

    ABOUT THE LAKERS (15-27): Los Angeles could find its way into the win column more if it figured out how to get consistent numbers out of power forward Julius Randle. The 23-year-old led the way with 23 points and 15 rebounds against Dallas and put up 22 and 14 against Sacramento on Tuesday, but sandwiched those around a scoreless effort on 0-of-6 shooting against San Antonio on Thursday. The Lakers are starting to pick things up on the defensive end and held the last three opponents to an average of 89.3 points.

    ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (13-28): Memphis had a season-best string of six straight games scoring at least 100 points come to an end while shooting 39 percent in Denver. "Sometimes we get a little stagnant with the ball," Gasol told reporters. "When we create an advantage, sometimes we hold the ball and that flattens out our offense sometimes. We have to keep our advantage and keep driving and moving for the next guy sometimes. But they did a good job. Sometimes you just have to congratulate the other team and you have to learn and be better next time." Gasol led the way with 22 points and 11 rebounds but only two other players scored in double figures against the Nuggets, with Tyreke Evans and James Ennis III adding 12 points apiece.

    BUZZER BEATERS

    1. The Grizzlies signed G/F Myke Henry to a two-way contract on Saturday and waived F Vince Hunter.

    2. Lakers PG Lonzo Ball (knee) and SF Brandon Ingram (ankle) are considered day-to-day.

    3. Memphis snapped a three-game losing streak in the series with a 109-99 win at Los Angeles on Dec. 27.

    PREDICTION: Grizzlies 95, Lakers 92

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    Kings vs. Thunder Preview and Predictions

    By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
    by Gracenote on 01/14/2018

    The Oklahoma City Thunder were in danger of losing four straight before a furious fourth-quarter rally led to a critical road win. The Thunder will try to build off that performance when they begin a two-game homestand against the Sacramento Kings on Monday.

    Behind 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists from Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City stormed from behind to top Charlotte 101-91 on Saturday, utilizing a big fourth quarter from veteran backup Raymond Felton. "I think every night is a must need win at this point," Felton told reporters after recording eight points and four assists in the fourth. "At the same time, this is definitely a win that we wanted. We just dropped three in a row and this team beat us pretty bad in our building, so we definitely wanted to get this win." The Kings have lost four in a row, giving up 247 total points in consecutive losses to the Los Angeles Clippers in a home-and-home set. "Like, enough is enough," center Willie Cauley-Stein told reporters. "Coach (Dave Joerger) is at that point where he's not going to play you if you're not doing the right thing, and that's how it should be. Kind of like a college team. If you're not doing the job right, next man up and you'll get your turn when it comes back around."

    TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), FS Oklahoma

    ABOUT THE KINGS (13-29): Cauley-Stein had 23 points and 13 rebounds in the 126-105 loss to the Clippers on Saturday to record his sixth double-double. Veteran Zach Randolph still leads the team in scoring with 14.8 points per game but has been held to single digits three times during the losing streak and Sacramento dropped seven in a row with the 36-year-old in the lineup. Randolph was the only starter in double figures with 18 points when Sacramento topped Oklahoma City 96-85 at home earlier this season.

    ABOUT THE THUNDER (23-20): Westbrook is on one of his typical tears and has at least a double-double in 13 consecutive games, recording five triple-doubles in that span. Carmelo Anthony is trending in another direction with an average of 13.8 points on 34.4 percent shooting over his last four games. He was 4-for-17 and the team shot a season-low 33.7 percent in the loss at Sacramento in November.

    BUZZER BEATERS

    1. Oklahoma City G Andre Roberson (knee) missed seven straight games.

    2. Kings G Buddy Hield is shooting 48.5 percent from 3-point range in 19 home games.

    3. Thunder C Steven Adams had 14 points and 11 rebounds against Charlotte for his 12th double-double.

    PREDICTION: Thunder 104, Kings 100

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    Warriors vs. Cavaliers Preview and Predictions

    By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
    by Gracenote on 01/14/2018

    The Cleveland Cavaliers' latest meltdown comes just as the team is preparing to host the rival Golden State Warriors on national TV on Monday. The Cavaliers will try to put their internal griping aside and get some stops on the defensive end against the Warriors, who are enjoying a string of 12 straight road wins.

    The Cavaliers were blasted by a total of 62 points in losses at Minnesota and Toronto before going into Indiana on Friday and building a 22-point lead in the first quarter only to fall 97-95. "We have enough talent here to get over that hump and make good things happen," forward Kevin Love told reporters. "But right now it's just tough to see the light at the end of the tunnel but it is there and, this being my fourth year here, we will get out of it and we will get better." The Warriors, who beat the Cavaliers 99-92 on Christmas Day, are battling through their own rough stretch of schedule and nearly squandered a 27-point halftime lead at Toronto on Saturday before holding on to earn a 127-125 win on the second night of a back-to-back. "Obviously, we wanted to extend that, keep that lead, but they're a good team, and it's hard to win on the road in the NBA," Warriors guard Klay Thompson told ESPN.com. "It doesn't matter who you play, and they have a great home crowd. A win is a win, especially on a back-to-back."

    TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT

    ABOUT THE WARRIORS (35-9): Golden State got point guard Stephen Curry (ankle) back from a two-game absence on Saturday and watched him collect 24 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Curry, who sat out the meeting with the Cavaliers on Christmas with an ankle injury, was the only player that might have been well-rested in Toronto, which marked the Warriors' third game in four nights and seventh in 11 days. Kevin Durant played in each of the last three games but is not showing any fatigue while shooting 64.3 percent from the floor and 58 percent from 3-point range in that span.

    ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (26-16): Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue cryptically talked to reporters about the need to get rid of "agendas" on the team after a 133-99 loss in Toronto on Thursday but was trying to look at the positives after the loss in Indiana. "It was a great effort," Lue told reporters. "With (Dwyane Wade) out and (Isaiah Thomas) out. Guys may have been a little tired, but I thought we fought and played with the right purpose, defensively especially. We've just got to continue to build off that." Thomas, who is sitting out back-to-backs after coming off a hip injury, is expected to play on Monday and is hoping for a better performance after going 2-of-15 for four points at Toronto.

    BUZZER BEATERS

    1. Cavaliers SG JR Smith is 4-of-22 from the floor, including 1-of-12 from 3-point range, in the last three games.

    2. Warriors SF Omri Casspi (back) sat out the last two games and is day-to-day.

    3. Golden State took six of the last seven from Cleveland, including a five-game win in the NBA Finals last spring.

    PREDICTION: Warriors 120, Cavaliers 111

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    Pacers vs. Jazz Preview and Predictions

    By Gracenote for Scores and Stats09:00 PM
    by Gracenote on 01/14/2018

    The surging Indiana Pacers look to match the offensive efficiency from the opener of their five-game road trip when they visit the struggling Utah Jazz on Monday. The Pacers, who led by 30 points after three quarters, shot 54.5 percent and drained 11 of their 23 attempts from 3-point range while seven players scored in double figures en route to Sunday's 120-97 rout at Phoenix.

    "We wanted to start the road trip off right," Indiana coach Nate McMillan told reporters after his team committed just six turnovers. "I thought defensively we were focused, making them earn everything they got. Offensively, we had good ball movement, and we were pretty consistent with that all night." The Pacers hope to take advantage of an injury-depleted Jazz squad that has dropped four of its last five contests and is 4-14 since starting the season with 13 wins in 24 games. Rookie guard Donovan Mitchell poured in 35 points and is averaging 24.3 over his last six games, but Utah managed to score just 16 in the fourth quarter before suffering a 99-88 setback at Charlotte on Friday. The Jazz lost more than the game as Thabo Sefolosha, who is averaging 8.2 points and 4.2 rebounds, suffered a right knee injury and may need season-ending surgery.

    TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Indiana, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Utah)

    ABOUT THE PACERS (23-20): Leading scorer Victor Oladipo was limited to 21 minutes in Sunday's blowout win but still finished with 17 points and is averaging 20 in five games since returning from a four-game injury absence during which Indiana failed to record a victory. Darren Collison is 17-for-25 from the field and averaging 20.5 points over his last two games after scoring just seven in Wednesday's loss to Miami. Myles Turner (13.9 points) missed his third straight game Sunday due to an elbow injury as Domantas Sabonis, who was questionable with a shoulder ailment, grabbed a team-high 14 rebounds in his place.

    ABOUT THE JAZZ (17-25): Mitchell turned over the ball four times late in the game at Charlotte, but the Louisville product tops the team with 18.8 points per contest and is averaging 3.4 assists. "We try to not put a ceiling on him, one way or the other," coach Quin Snyder told the Salt Lake Tribune on Friday. "From that standpoint, he continues to get better. He struggled late in a playmaking position. But he's figuring things out." Rodney Hood is second on the team in scoring (16.5), but the former Duke standout is shooting just 33 percent over his last six games.

    BUZZER BEATERS

    1. Utah SF Royce O'Neale recorded his first career double-double on Friday with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

    2. Indiana veteran C Al Jefferson reached double figures for the third time this season on Sunday with 10 points.

    3. The Pacers won the last meeting 107-100 in March after the Jazz had captured three straight in the series, which is tied at 42-42.

    PREDICTION: Pacers 110, Jazz 96

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    Rockets vs. Clippers Preview and Predictions

    By Gracenote for Scores and Stats10:30 PM
    by Gracenote on 01/14/2018

    The Los Angeles Clippers are just beginning to win consistently without former star point guard Chris Paul, just in time to welcome him back. Paul, who is carrying the Houston Rockets in the absence of James Harden, will make his first appearance in Los Angeles since being traded over the summer when the Rockets visit on Monday.

    Paul, who expects to be booed by his former home fans, is averaging 28.7 points in three straight wins and is embracing Houston's offensive philosophy by hoisting a career-high 6.8 3-point attempts on the season and connecting at 38 percent. "Tomorrow is not about me," Paul, who referred to Los Angeles as "home" told reporters after practice on Sunday. "It's about us and doing what we came out here to do." The Clippers are ravaged by injuries and won't have Paul's former teammates DeAndre Jordan (ankle) or Austin Rivers (Achilles) available, but Blake Griffin should be on the court trying to lead his team to a fifth consecutive win. Griffin, who missed two games last week recovering from a concussion, was a combined 8-of-22 from the field in two games since his return but totaled 16 rebounds and 15 assists in back-to-back triumphs over the Sacramento Kings.

    TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT

    ABOUT THE ROCKETS (30-11): Harden, who leads the NBA in scoring (32.3 points) and ranks third in assists (9.1), is expected to sit out his seventh straight game on Monday but could return later in the week, possibly in time for a showdown with the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. "It could be Thursday or Saturday, I don't know," Houston coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters of Harden's potential return. "He's got to get better. We'll see. Whenever he's ready." The Rockets are replacing part of Harden's scoring load with veteran shooting guard Gerald Green, who is averaging 19.5 points over the last six games.

    ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (21-21): Los Angeles' list of injuries includes the point guard that came over from Houston to replace Paul, Patrick Beverley (knee), but it's another player acquired in that deal that is carrying the team's scoring load. Veteran sixth man Lou Williams averaged 14.9 points in 23 games with Houston last season and began 2017-18 as the sixth man for the Clippers before injuries forced him into the starting lineup, and he is thriving while averaging 26.7 points in 11 starts. Williams is putting up an average of 35 points during the four-game winning streak and knocked down at least four 3-pointers in each of those four contests.

    BUZZER BEATERS

    1. Rockets PF Luc Mbah a Moute (shoulder) sat out the last 15 games but practiced on Sunday and could return Monday.

    2. Clippers PF Montrezl Harrell, who also came over in the Paul trade, is averaging 18.7 points on 25-of-37 shooting over the last three games.

    3. Los Angeles earned a 128-118 win at Houston on Dec. 22 behind 32 points from Williams while Paul sat out with an adductor injury.

    PREDICTION: Rockets 123, Clippers 117

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    Stars vs. Bruins Preview and Predictions

    By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
    by Gracenote on 01/14/2018

    The Boston Bruins look to continue an offensive surge and extend their point streak to 13 games when they host the Dallas Stars on Monday afternoon. The Bruins rallied for a 4-3 shootout victory at Montreal on Saturday to improve to 9-0-3 in their last 12 contests and have scored 25 goals during a five-game span, giving them the third-most points in the Eastern Conference (55).

    "We seem to be able to show that character. We seem to have a lot of it in this room," Bruins leading scorer Brad Marchand told reporters after the latest win. "We didn't have a great game. But we dug down and capitalized when it mattered." Boston has not lost in regulation since Dec. 14 at home against Washington and has won its last three meetings with Dallas, which dropped a 4-1 decision to Colorado on Saturday to finish a 4-2-0 homestand. The Stars only gave up 23 shots in the loss to Avalanche but surrendered three third-period goals to fall to 0-2-1 in their last three road contests. "We didn't have that extra push that we've been having lately," Dallas forward Tyler Pitlick told reporters. "When you're not feeling great, we've got to find a way to make it happen anyways and find plays and play hard. So that's something we've got to figure out."

    TV: 1 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, FS Southwest (Dallas), NESN (Boston)

    ABOUT THE STARS (24-17-3): Captain Jamie Benn scored the only goal in Saturday's loss, giving him five tallies and six assists over his last 10 games to pull even with Tyler Seguin and defenseman John Klingberg for the team lead at 40 points. Seguin has recorded seven of his club-high 21 goals in the last nine contests while Klingberg has netted two tallies and set up seven others during his six-game point streak. Alexander Radulov is just behind the top three with 39 points after posting two goals and five assists over his last three contests.

    ABOUT THE BRUINS (24-10-7): Boston's top players are producing offensively, with Marchand collecting three goals and six assists in his last four games to push his team-best total to 41 points. David Pastrnak has recorded six of his 39 points in the last five contests and Patrice Bergeron (33 points) has notched six goals and three assists over his last five games. Tuukka Rask (15-8-4, .919 save percentage) has given up a total of nine goals in his last two outings but has not lost in regulation in his last 14 starts (12-0-2).

    OVERTIME

    1. Dallas G Ben Bishop has allowed 17 goals over his last nine games (6-3-0) but is 4-6-3 lifetime versus the Bruins.

    2. Boston C David Krejci has registered two tallies and two assists in five contests since returning from a two-week injury absence.

    3. Dallas C Mattias Janmark has collected four goals and three assists over his last seven games to push his season total to 23 points.

    PREDICTION: Stars 4, Bruins 3

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    Ducks vs. Avalanche Preview and Predictions

    By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
    by Gracenote on 01/14/2018

    The Colorado Avalanche attempt to extend their winning streak to seven games when they host the Anaheim Ducks on Monday afternoon. Colorado is in the midst of a stretch during which it plays nine of 10 at home, which began with a loss to Arizona but has followed with six straight victories - including Saturday's 4-1 triumph at Dallas.

    Rookie Alexander Kerfoot recorded a goal and an assist in the win, giving him four points in his last two contests as the Avalanche already have surpassed their victory and point totals from last season. The Ducks will be wrapping up their month-opening five-game road trip during which they are 2-1-1 after Saturday's 4-2 triumph at Los Angeles. Anaheim will be without iron man Andrew Cogliano against Colorado, however, as the veteran left wing received a two-game suspension for an interference infraction against the Kings' Adrian Kempe. The 30-year-old Cogliano, who has not missed a contest since making his NHL debut with Edmonton on Oct. 4, 2007, will have his streak of 830 consecutive games played - the fourth-longest run in league history - come to a halt.

    TV: 3 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Anaheim), Altitude (Colorado)

    ABOUT THE DUCKS (20-15-9): With Cogliano out, newcomer J.T. Brown could make his debut for Anaheim on Monday. The 27-year-old right wing was claimed off waivers on Sunday from Tampa Bay, with which he registered one goal and three assists in 24 games this season. Ondrej Kase recorded his second career two-goal performance on Saturday to tie Jakob Silfverberg (11) for second on the team in tallies and added an assist for his first three-point effort in the NHL.

    ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (23-16-3): All-Star Nathan MacKinnon, who leads the team with 53 points, had his five-game assist streak halted Saturday but scored a goal to give him points in six consecutive contests. The 22-year-old center has collected four tallies and nine assists during the run. Left wing Matt Nieto, who is five points shy of 100 for his career, is slated to play in his 300th NHL game on Monday.

    OVERTIME

    1. Avalanche G Jonathan Bernier has won a career high-tying five straight decisions while filling in for the injured Semyon Varlamov (lower body).

    2. Anaheim captain C Ryan Getzlaf has collected 18 points over his last 13 contests and is one assist shy of 600 for his career.

    3. Colorado's winning streak is its longest since a six-game run from March 25-April 5, 2014.

    PREDICTION: Ducks 3, Avalanche 1

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    Sharks vs. Kings Preview and Predictions

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    by Gracenote on 01/14/2018

    After making a brief pitstop at home, the San Jose Sharks return to the road as they begin a three-game trek on Monday afternoon against the slumping Los Angeles Kings. San Jose completed a 1-2-2 trip before outlasting Arizona 6-5 in overtime at SAP Center on Saturday.

    Defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored the winner 2:42 into the extra session while Joonas Donskoi recorded two goals - including the game-tying tally with 16 seconds remaining in the third period - and an assist to lead four players with three-point performances for the Sharks, who halted their three-game slide (0-1-2). The Kings enter with a three-game overall losing streak after Saturday's 4-2 setback against Anaheim, which dropped them to 0-2-0 on their four-game homestand. Jonathan Quick has allowed 11 goals during the skid, which would match the longest of the season for Los Angeles with a defeat on Monday. Captain Anze Kopitar ended his eight-game goal-scoring drought - and extended his point streak to four contests - in the loss to the Ducks.

    TV: 4 p.m. ET, NHL Network, Sportsnet, NBCS California (San Jose), FS West (Los Angeles)

    ABOUT THE SHARKS (22-13-6): Joe Thornton recorded a goal and two assists Saturday, moving him one point ahead of Adam Oates (1,420) for 17th place on the all-time list. The 38-year-old Thornton, who will pass Wayne Gretzky for 21st in NHL history when he skates in his 1,488th career game on Monday, is five assists away from tying Mario Lemieux (1,033) for 11th place. Reigning Norris Trophy winner Brent Burns, who leads the team with 33 points, has landed on the scoresheet in 13 of his last 15 contests - recording seven multi-point performances in that span - and carries a five-game point streak (one goal, seven assists) into Monday's matchup.

    ABOUT THE KINGS (24-14-5): Defenseman Jake Muzzin, who has missed two games with an upper-body injury, practiced on Sunday and hopes to be medically cleared to play against San Jose. Drew Doughty is tied for third on the team with 30 points but has registered just one in his last four contests. The 28-year-old former Norris winner's next goal will be his 100th in the NHL.

    OVERTIME

    1. The Sharks activated D Dylan DeMelo (flu) from injured reserve and loaned F Marcus Sorensen, who notched three goals in 15 games with the team this campaign, to the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League.

    2. Los Angeles recalled C Jonny Brodzinski, who recorded two tallies in 22 contests with the club earlier this season, from Ontario of the AHL.

    3. San Jose G Martin Jones, who was pulled Saturday after allowing three goals on six shots, is expected to be in net against the Kings.

    PREDICTION: Kings 4, Sharks 3

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    Islanders vs. Canadiens Preview and Predictions

    By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
    by Gracenote on 01/14/2018

    The injury-ravaged New York Islanders showed no rust after a six-day break last time out and look to match that performance when they visit the Montreal Canadiens on Monday. The Islanders, who expect to be without six regulars against Montreal, received a second five-point effort this season from rookie Mathew Barzal en route to Saturday's 7-2 victory over the crosstown-rival Rangers.

    "It was a great 20-man win, a great road win," New York coach Doug Weight told reporters after his team's second straight triumph following a five-game slide. "You can talk about structure and identity, this and that, but for you to accomplish it, you have to work and work, and we did as a unit." The Islanders lost Casey Cizikas (upper body) on Saturday and second-leading scorer Josh Bailey (lower body) is among four forwards likely to be sidelined Monday against the Canadiens, who also saw an important player get injured in their last game. Phillip Danault (23 points) suffered a head injury Saturday, when he was struck by a slap shot from Boston's Zdeno Chara in the second period of a 4-3 shootout loss, but he was released from the hospital on Sunday. The Canadiens have earned at least one point in three straight games (2-0-1), including a win against NHL-best Tampa Bay and the strong effort versus the red-hot Bruins.

    TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, TSN2, RDS (Montreal)

    ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (22-18-4): With Bailey, Cizikas, Andrew Ladd (undisclosed) and Nikolay Kulemin (shoulder) out, New York recalled fellow forward Tanner Fritz on Sunday after former first-round pick Michael Dal Colle made his NHL debut the previous night. Anthony Beauvillier has excelled after taking Ladd's spot on a line with Jordan Eberle (five assists on Saturday) and Barzal, posting three goals in his last two contests, and will play in his 100th NHL game on Monday. "I just feel more comfortable," Beauvillier, who had a three-game stint in the minors before returning recently, told reporters. "I want the puck more. I know I can make plays and have success."

    ABOUT THE CANADIENS (18-20-5): Captain Max Pacioretty shares the team lead in points with Alex Galchenyuk (24) and has scored a goal in three consecutive games after recording just one in his previous 22 contests. Galchenyuk has tallied in two straight games to tie Pacioretty for second on the club with 11 while Jonathan Drouin notched his 15th assist Saturday to pull within one of Danault for the team lead. Carey Price (13-14-3, .911 save percentage), Montreal's representative in the All-Star Game later this month, has turned aside 107 of the 113 shots he has faced in the last three games.

    OVERTIME

    1. Montreal D Victor Mete recorded an assist Saturday in his first game back since winning the gold medal with Canada at the World Junior Championships.

    2. New York captain John Tavares has registered three points in his last four contests and leads the team with 52.

    3. The Islanders has allowed a total of one goal in winning their last two meetings with the Canadiens after dropping the previous seven.

    PREDICTION: Canadiens 3, Islanders 2

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    Butler vs. Providence Preview and Predictions

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    by Gracenote on 01/14/2018

    Butler posted a much needed victory its last time out, but things don't get much easier Monday. The Bulldogs visit Providence, a team seeking its third straight victory, in an intriguing Big East contest.

    Since upsetting No. 1 Villanova, Butler lost three straight games - all against ranked foes - before topping Marquette 94-83. "We responded really well tonight after dropping three in a row," Butler head coach LaVall Jordan said after defeating the Golden Eagles. "Tonight, we showed how we are going to continue to fight. They made a run midway through the second half, and we fought back. We were so connected tonight, and defensively we had some key stops at key times." Kelan Martin scored a career-high 37 points for the Bulldogs, who now play three of their next four on the road, beginning Monday. Providence upset Xavier last week before slipping past DePaul on Friday evening.

    TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

    ABOUT BUTLER (13-6, 3-3 Big East): The Bulldogs shot nearly 60 percent against Marquette with Kamar Baldwin (19 points) and Tyler Wideman (16) complementing Martin's personal-best effort. Martin, who had been 4-of-18 from 3-point range over the previous three games, went 4-of-6 from long distance and added seven rebounds and three assists without committing a turnover. Fellow senior Wideman has shot at least 60 percent from the floor in seven straight games and has shot below 50 percent only twice all season.

    ABOUT PROVIDENCE (12-6, 3-2): Jalen Lindsey led the way with 18 points and Alpha Diallo scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half to fuel the victory against DePaul on Friday. The other three starters, including leading scorer Rodney Bullock, combined to shoot 8-of-23, although reserve Isaiah Jackson (15 points) continued to produce with his third straight quality outing. Jackson is 4-of-4 from 3-point range over the last two games and is 22-of-24 from the foul line over the last three contests, during which he is averaging 17.3 points per game.

    TIP-INS

    1. In his last eight games, Martin has scored at least 20 points seven times.

    2. The teams split two meetings last season with each winning on its home court.

    3. Bullock, with 16 blocks in 18 games, is the leading shot blocker for Providence.

    PREDICTION: Butler 69, Providence 66

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    Maryland vs. Michigan Preview and Predictions

    By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
    by Gracenote on 01/14/2018

    Michigan looks to build on its biggest win of the season when it hosts Maryland on Monday. The Wolverines upset fourth-ranked Michigan State 82-72 on Saturday to notch their first road win over a Top 5 opponent since Jan. 25, 2014 and hope to take another step toward moving into the national rankings by posting their ninth win in 10 games.

    Michigan is 9-1 at home this season with its lone setback coming in the final seconds to No. 7 Purdue, and the Wolverines aim to stay on the winning track by avenging a 77-70 defeat to the Terrapins in Ann Arbor last season. Maryland is left to lick its wounds following a 91-69 blowout loss to Ohio State on Thursday. The undermanned Terrapins, who were down to eight scholarship players due to injury and illness, surrendered over 90 points for the second time in three games and hope to turn their fortunes around by downing Michigan for the third straight time. "We've got to get our energy level up," Maryland coach Mark Turgeon told reporters."We're feeling sorry for ourselves instead of competing the way we need to compete, especially on the defensive end of the floor."

    TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

    ABOUT MARYLAND (14-5, 3-3 Big Ten): Senior center Michal Cekovsky set a new career high with 18 points to go along with five rebounds and two blocked shots despite battling flu-like symptoms in the loss to Ohio State. Anthony Cowan Jr. and Kevin Huerter each added 12 points, but shot a combined 7-for-23 from the floor against the Buckeyes. Bruno Fernando was limited to two points as he played through an illness which required antibiotics while Dion Wiley, who is averaging 5.8 points this season, missed Thursday's clash with a concussion and will be a game-time decision against Michigan.

    ABOUT MICHIGAN (15-4, 4-2): Junior forward Mo Wagner led the way with a career-high 27 points in the win against Michigan State while Zavier Simpson continued his stellar play recently by adding 16 points and five assists. "I feel like we can beat anybody if we execute offensively," Wagner told reporters. "It's incredible how much we worked and how much we believe in ourselves." Senior guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman scored 14 points to move within seven points of reaching 1,000 for his career and Charles Matthews tallied 10 points as the Wolverines scored 25 points off 18 turnovers.

    TIP-INS

    1. Maryland has won five of the last six meetings with Michigan.

    2. The Wolverines are 6-0 when scoring more than 80 points.

    3. Simpson has dished out five or more assists in five consecutive games.

    PREDICTION: Michigan 75, Maryland 68

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    Minnesota vs. Penn State Preview and Predictions

    By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
    by Gracenote on 01/14/2018

    Despite struggling through an abysmal regulation Friday against Nebraska, Tony Carr came through for Penn State when it needed it most, scoring 11 of his 17 points in the extra session, including the game-winning jumper with 2.7 seconds remaining. Now the Nittany Lions will hope to avoid a mental letdown and look to continue their momentum when struggling Minnesota visits on Monday.


    Carr, who ranks second in the Big Ten in scoring (18.8 points), shot 2-of-17 during regulation but drained three of his four attempts in overtime. "(Hitting the game-winner) felt great. My last game-winner didn't go. This one did," Carr told reporters referring to his potential game-winning shot in a one-point loss to Wisconsin on Dec. 4. "There's going to be nights like (tonight) when your shot isn't falling and defense is keying on you. You just have to keep attacking and keep taking those shots. I've been working so hard, and I'm going to keep taking them as the season goes on." While the Nittany Lions experienced the highest of highs, the Gophers experienced the lowest of lows Saturday, getting drubbed 81-47 at home by Purdue - the second-largest margin of defeat at home in program history. Minnesota has lost all three games since center Reggie Lynch was suspended and small forward Amir Coffey was sidelined by a shoulder injury.

    TV: 7 p.m ET, Big Ten Network

    ABOUT MINNESOTA (13-6, 2-4 Big Ten): Isaiah Washington scored 11 points and Jordan Murphy added 10 on Saturday for the Gophers, who shot a season-low 28.8 percent and were outrebounded 46-29. "It's difficult. We got a lot of pieces out there playing that weren't playing a lot, but more than anything we got to practice and get better," Minnesota coach Richard Pitino said. "What's hard is we're right back at it on Monday. We just got to get back to work." Murphy leads the team in scoring (17.9 points) and rebounding (11.7) while Nate Mason adds 15.2 points and 4.4 assists, but Lynch and Coffey are big pieces, combining for 25.0 points and 12.1 rebounds with Lynch averaging 4.1 blocks per game - third in the nation.

    ABOUT PENN STATE (13-6, 3-3): Friday wasn't Carr's only poor shooting night of late in conference play, as the 6-4 sophomore is shooting just 29 percent from the floor in six games. Lamar Stevens (15.9 points, 6.7 rebounds) had 26 points and seven rebounds against Nebraska for his third consecutive 20-plus scoring outing and Michael Watkins (13.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.1 blocks) collected his fourth consecutive double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Freshman guard Jamari Wheeler had no points, five rebounds and three assists in 26 minutes starting in place of Josh Reaves (10.8 points, 2.4 steals), who missed his second consecutive contest while dealing with academic concerns.

    TIP-INS

    1. The squads split last season with Watkins scoring 15 points and grabbing 15 rebounds off the bench in the Lions' 52-50 home win and Mason and Murphy scoring 16 apiece in the Gophers' 81-71 home win.

    2. After starting the season with 17 consecutive double-doubles, Murphy has 18 points and six rebounds combined in the last two games.

    3. Watkins is the first Nittany Lion since Geary Claxton in 2007-08 to record four consecutive double-doubles.


    PREDICTION: Penn State 74, Minnesota 62

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    Duke vs. Miami Preview and Predictions

    By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
    by Gracenote on 01/15/2018

    Offense meets defense in a clash of ranked ACC foes when No. 19 Miami hosts sixth-ranked Duke on Monday. The Blue Devils have one of the most explosive offensive teams in the nation, but they'll take on one of the stingiest defensive clubs in the country in the Hurricanes.


    The Blue Devils have won two straight and four of five overall but have lost their first two ACC road games, falling at Boston College (89-84) on Dec. 9 and North Carolina State (96-85) on Jan. 6. Duke picked up its first road win in conference play with a rout of Pittsburgh on Wednesday before beating Wake Forest 89-71 three days later. The Hurricanes are coming off a 72-63 loss at Clemson on Saturday, but they're 6-0 at home and have won 33 of their last 35 at Watsco Center. Miami is 7-18 against Duke, but five of the seven victories have been recorded since 2011-12.

    TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN


    ABOUT DUKE (15-2, 3-2 ACC): The Blue Devils are the only team ranked in the top 10 in the nation in scoring (93.2 points), rebounds (44.1) and assists (19.9), as they are second in all three categories. Freshman Marvin Bagley III leads the ACC in scoring (22.5 points) and rebounding (11.7), and he has turned up his production even more in conference play - averaging 24.8 points and 13.8 boards. All five starters average at least 12.2 points, and they rarely come off the floor as only three reserves average double digits in minutes and just one has done so in ACC play.

    ABOUT MIAMI (13-3, 2-2): The Hurricanes rank in the top five in the nation in scoring defense (60.6 points), field-goal defense (37.3 percent) and 3-point defense (28.5 percent). Dewan Huell (13.6) and Bruce Brown Jr. (11.3) are the team's only double-digit scorers, and the latter also leads the Hurricanes in rebounds (7.1) and assists (3.9). Five others average at least 7.8 points - including reserve guard Chris Lykes (7.8 points), who was named the ACC Rookie of the Week after averaging 13 points and 3.5 assists in a loss at Georgia Tech and a win over Florida State last week.


    TIP-INS

    1. Bagley has recorded 14 double-doubles, tying him for second in the nation as well as the Duke freshman record.

    2. Brown has averaged 20.4 points in five home games against ranked opponents, including 25 in a 55-50 win over the Blue Devils last season.

    3. Duke G Gary Trent Jr. (13.4 points) has scored in double figures in six straight games, making six 3-pointers twice during that stretch.


    PREDICTION: Duke 78, Miami 73

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    Florida State vs. Boston College Preview and Predictions

    By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
    by Gracenote on 01/15/2018

    With the gauntlet that is the ACC already showing its teeth, there aren't many games teams can mark as ones they definitely should win. Both Florida State and host Boston College could make that case when they go head-to-head on Monday.


    It's a quick turnaround for both teams but could be especially tough on the Seminoles, who had to make the long trip north after posting a 101-90 double-overtime win over visiting Syracuse on Saturday. Florida State has been tested by a brutal league schedule thus far, losing to Duke and Miami on the road and at home to Louisville while defeating North Carolina and Syracuse on its own court. The Eagles have been tough at home, going 10-1 with wins over then-No. 1 Duke and Wake Forest - with the lone setback a 74-70 loss to No. 17 Clemson. The Seminoles hammered the Eagles 104-72 at home last season and have won six straight meetings.

    TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU


    ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (13-4, 2-3 ACC): The Seminoles rank 18th in the nation in field-goal defense (38.9 percent) but still allow a whopping 70.6 points per game because they play at such a fast pace. A talented group of veteran guards affords them that luxury, with Terance Mann (15.1 points, 6.2 rebounds) and Braian Angola (14.2 points) leading the way. After missing 11 games with a foot injury, 7-4 center Christ Koumadje (8.7 points, 6.3 rebounds) has been easing his way back into the rotation and recorded a career-high 23 points to go with eight rebounds against Syracuse.

    ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (12-6, 2-3): The Eagles have an awfully thin bench since losing Deontae Hawkins to a season-ending knee injury in late November. The starting lineup has plenty of firepower, though, with the trio of Jerome Robinson (18.1 points), Ky Bowman (16.3, 6.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists), and Jordan Chatman (13.4 points) all capable of scoring from anywhere on the court. Robinson has heated up in ACC play, scoring 24 or more points in four of the five games.


    TIP-INS

    1. Florida State leads the ACC with 9.3 3-pointers per game and has made 69 over its last six contests.

    2. Bowman's 6.8 rebounds per game are the most in the nation by a player 6-1 or shorter.

    3. Boston College has hit 10 or more 3-pointers seven times this season after doing so on nine occasions last campaign.


    PREDICTION: Boston College 77, Florida State 75

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    Kansas vs. West Virginia Preview and Predictions

    By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
    by Gracenote on 01/14/2018

    The Big 12 is atop the national conference RPI rankings, and four ranked teams currently share the lead with 4-1 records. Two of those four clash in an ESPN Big Monday matchup as No. 2 West Virginia hosts No. 12 Kansas.


    The Mountaineers entered last weekend with the nation's longest win streak with 15 straight victories, but saw an 11-point lead slip away in the final 13 minutes of Saturday's 72-71 road loss to No. 8 Texas Tech. Guard Javon Carter scored a game-high 28 points and junior forward Esa Ahmad, playing his first game of the season since returning from an academic suspension, added 18 points and six rebounds off the bench, but it wasn't enough to keep Bob Huggins' team alone atop the conference standings. "We just had guys (who) were really out of character," Huggins said in his post-game news conference. "We've got our center shooting whatever that was, a 3-pointer from the top of the key. We just did a lot of things out of character from what we normally do." Kansas, meanwhile, has taken an a slightly different route to its share of the Big 12 lead, losing its second conference contest (85-73 to Texas Tech) and then reeling off three straight wins, with the latest being Saturday's 73-72 victory over visiting Kansas State.

    TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN


    ABOUT KANSAS (14-3, 4-1 Big 12): Each of the Jayhawks' last three wins have been hard-fought, nip-and-tuck affairs and have been decided by a combined total of 10 points. Senior guard Devonte' Graham scored a game-high 23 points vs. the Wildcats - his ninth straight in double figures - and continues to pace the team and rank second in the conference with his average of 18.4 per contest. Guards Saviatoslav Mykhailiuk (16.5) and Lagerald Vick (14.9), center Udoka Azubuike (14.8) and guard Malik Newman (10.7) also are averaging double figures for Kansas, which is leading the Big 12 in field-goal (51.0) and 3-point (41.5) percentage.

    ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA (15-2, 4-1): Carter's 28 points Saturday were just one off his career high and was a strong bounce-back outing for the senior who scored only eight in last Tuesday's 57-54 win over Baylor. Overall, Carter is averaging 16.8 points and a team-high 6.5 assists and is joined in double figures by guard Daxter Miles Jr. (13.2) and forward Lamont West (12.3) and, of course, Ahmad after his 18-point season debut. The Mountaineers pace the conference in steals (9.9) and turnovers forced (19.9) but had only five and 13, respectively, against Texas Tech.


    TIP-INS

    1. Kansas has won seven of the 11 meetings since West Virginia joined the Big 12 in 2012, but the Mountaineers are 4-1 in Morgantown, including an 85-69 win last season.

    2. Jayhawks freshman F Silvio De Sousa made his collegiate debut Saturday after being cleared academically by the NCAA, and he had a foul and a turnover in four minutes off the bench.

    3. When Texas Tech fans rushed the court following Saturday's win, video clips posted online appear to show an unidentified West Virginia player throwing a punch at a fan near the Mountaineers' bench so disciplinary measures likely are forthcoming.


    PREDICTION: West Virginia 78, Kansas 72

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    DePaul vs. Marquette Preview and Predictions

    By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
    by Gracenote on 01/14/2018

    Marquette can shoot the basketball with any team in Division I - but its hopes of reaching the NCAA Tournament will rest on its ability to prevent opposing teams from doing the same. The Golden Eagles look to bounce back from a humbling loss to Butler when it hosts DePaul on Monday.

    Marquette's tournament chances took a decent hit - at least according to the BPI - with Friday's 94-83 loss to the Bulldogs; the Golden Eagles would have been an 88 percent favorite to participate in March Madness with a win, but fell to 74 percent with the defeat. Of greater concern, it represented the fourth time in six Big East Conference games that Marquette surrendered 90 or more points. Ending its run of poor defense in conference play is of utmost importance to head coach Steve Wojciechowski's team heading into Monday's encounter with DePaul, which has reached the 80-point plateau three times in its first five conference games but has just one victory to show for it. The Blue Demons are coming off their worst offensive showing in Big East competition, shooting a dismal 38.8 percent from the field while converting just 5-of-21 3-point attempts in a 71-64 loss to Providence.

    TV: 9 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

    ABOUT DePAUL (8-9, 1-4 Big East): A quartet of Blue Demons players - Max Strus, Marin Maric, Tre-Darius McCallum and Eli Cain - combine for 54.7 of DePaul's 75.4 points per game; Strus leads the way at 18.2 points per contest, but was held to just eight on 3-of-13 shooting in the loss to the Friars. Maric (13.7 points, 6.1 rebounds) poured in 15 points and hauled in seven boards in defeat, and is averaging 19.3 points while connecting on 4-of-5 3-pointers over his last three games. DePaul comes into this one as one of the top teams in the nation in offensive rebounding, ranking second in the Big East and tied for 37th among Division I teams at 12.6 offensive boards per game.

    ABOUT MARQUETTE (12-6, 3-3): Tightening up on defense might be all that stands between the Golden Eagles and a legitimate shot at the NCAA Tournament; Marquette has things well taken care of on the offensive end, entering Monday ranked third in the country in free-throw success rate (79.2 percent) and 16th in 3-point field goal percentage (41.0). Second-year guard Markus Howard has been the team's offensive catalyst; he leads the conference in scoring at 22.3 points per game - thanks in large part to an 89-point eruption in consecutive games against Providence and Villanova earlier this month - and is a perfect 55-for-55 from the foul line. Andrew Rowsey is second in the Big East at 21.3 points per game, and had 31 in Marquette's 84-64 upset win over Seton Hall last Tuesday.

    TIP-INS

    1. Howard knocked down 18 3-pointers in the two-game stretch against the Friars and Wildcats.

    2. Marquette makes an average of 11.8 3-pointers per game, good for fifth nationally.

    3. DePaul ranks ninth out of 10 Big East teams in field-goal percentage (43.3).

    PREDICTION: Marquette 86, DePaul 76

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