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Game of the Day: Nets at Heat
Brooklyn Nets at Miami Heat (-8, 192)
The Brooklyn Nets were no match for the Miami Heat in Game 1 and will try to even the Eastern Conference semifinal series when the teams again meet in South Beach on Thursday. The Nets were bullish on their chances against Miami after sweeping the four regular-season meetings but were easily handled by the Heat in the opener. The two-time defending champions dominated the second half and shot 56.8 percent from the field for the contest while posting a 107-86 victory.
Miami was well-rested after having not played since April 28 and chipped the rust off in the first half before kicking its play into a higher gear. “Having eight days off before a game, I feared the rhythm,” forward LeBron James said afterward. “I guess I don’t have to fear that anymore.” James scored 22 points and veteran guard Ray Allen made four 3-pointers en route to 19 points. The Nets also were pushed around in the interior as Miami recorded a 52-28 edge in points in the paint.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2
LINE HISTORY: The Heat opened as 8-point faves in Game 2. The total opened at 192.
INJURY REPORT: Miami: Chris Andersen - probable (knee).
WHAT BOOKS SAY: "After sweeping the season series against the Heat the Nets found out in Game 1 that the playoffs are a different story. The Heat came out after half and put the Nets away with a big 3rd quarter run. Will Game 2 be more of the same? Or will the Nets bounce back? Right now the action on the 7.5 point spread is seeing good 2 way action." - Michael Stewart from Carbonsports.ag
WHAT SHARPS SAY: "The Nets were simply outclassed in Game 1 of this series - particularly in the second half. Don't count on the Heat shooting close to 60 percent from the field on Thursday night, but it remains to be seen whether the Nets can hang defensively for 48 minutes. We're actually looking at a higher line in favor of the Heat than we saw in Game 1, which I believe is a bit of an overreaction. The total may be worth a look here. I'm leaning 'under' after a late scoring flurry helped Game 1 creep over the number." - Covers Expert Sean Murphy
ABOUT THE NETS: Brooklyn’s bravado evaporated pretty quickly as Miami operated at will on the offensive end in the opener. “Our defensive game plan wasn’t executed at all,” point guard Deron Williams told reporters. “We made a lot of defensive mistakes. We allowed them to roam free. I know I got beat on a lot of backdoor cuts.” Williams and Joe Johnson were solid on the perimeter with 17 points apiece but the frontcourt was highly inefficient. The veteran club figures to come out with an edge in Game 2 with the possibility of a 0-2 hole looming.
ABOUT THE HEAT: Allen was at least partially motivated by the sight of former Boston teammates Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett even if he declines to admit so publicly. The two players criticized Allen for leaving the Celtics for the Heat two years ago but Allen isn’t fond of looking back on those times. “For me, those other five guys on the other team are blank to me,” Allen told reporters. “Regardless of who they are, you just have a team you want to beat and you have to do what you can to beat them.” The big Game 1 outing comes on the heels of Allen averaging only 3.3 points on 26.3 percent shooting in the four-game first-round sweep of the Charlotte Bobcats.
TRENDS:
* Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings in Miami.
* Nets are 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Home team is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
* Underdog is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
COVERS CONSENSUS: Fifty-one percent of the wagers are on the Heat at -8. -
Cappers Access
Heat -8
Trailblazers +7
W. Sox -130Comment
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Mighty Quinn
Mighty hit with the Penguins on Wednesday and likes the Heat on Thursday.
The deficit is 361 sirignanos.Comment
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Today's MLB Picks
San Francisco at LA Dodgers
The Giants head to LA to open their NL West series tonight against a Dodger team that is 1-7 in Josh Beckett's last 8 starts. San Francisco is the pick (+135) according to Dunkel, which has the Giants favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (+135). Here are all of today's picks.
THURSDAY, MAY 8
Time Posted: 6:00 a.m. ESTGame 901-902: San Francisco at LA Dodgers (10:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco (Vogelsong) 15.949; LA Dodgers (Beckett) 14.877
Dunkel Line: San Francisco by 1; 8
Vegas Line: LA Dodgers (-155); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (+135); OverGame 903-904: Miami at San Diego (10:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Miami (Turner) 16.945; San Diego (Kennedy) 15.061
Dunkel Line: Miami by 2; 6
Vegas Line: San Diego (-150); 7
Dunkel Pick:Miami (+130)); UnderGame 905-906: Minnesota at Cleveland (12:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota (Correia) 13.938; Cleveland (Masterson) 15.300
Dunkel Line: Cleveland by 1 1/2; 7
Vegas Line: Cleveland (-175); 8
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (-175); UnderGame 907-908: Houston at Detroit (1:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Houston (Keuchel) 15.211; Detroit (Smyly) 16.717
Dunkel Line: Detroit by 1 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Detroit (-220); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-220); OverGame 909-910: Baltimore at Tampa Bay (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Baltimore (Jimenez) 14.541; Tampa Bay (Price) 15.954
Dunkel Line: Tampa Bay by 1 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-190); 7
Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (-190); OverGame 911-912: Kansas City at Seattle (10:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Kansas City (Duffy) 15.388; Seattle (Iwakuma) 14.566
Dunkel Line: Kansas City by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Seattle (-135); 7
Dunkel Pick: Kansas City (+115); OverGame 913-914: Philadelphia at Toronto (7:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Burnett) 16.442; Toronto (Dickey) 15.269
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 1; 7
Vegas Line: Toronto (-130); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (+110); UnderGame 915-916: Colorado at Texas (8:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Colorado (Morales) 15.259; Texas (Harrison) 14.390
Dunkel Line: Colorado by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Texas (-130); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Colorado (+110); UnderGame 917-918: Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox (8:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cubs (Arrieta) 15.717; White Sox (Carroll) 14.914
Dunkel Line: Chicago Cubs by 1; 10
Vegas Line: Chicago White Sox (-130); 9
Dunkel Pick: Chicago Cubs (+110); OverComment
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Today's NBA Picks
Portland at San Antonio
The Blazers look to bounce back from their 116-92 loss in Game 1 as they face a Spurs team that is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games following a SU victory. Portland is the pick (+7) according to Dunkel, which has the Spurs favored by only 2. Dunkel Pick: Portland (+7). Here are all of today's playoff picks.
THURSDAY, MAY 8
Time Posted: 6:00 a.m. ESTGame 713-714: Brooklyn at Miami (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Brooklyn 119.083; Miami 129.229
Dunkel Line & Total: Miami by 10; 197
Vegas Line & Total: Miami by 8; 192
Dunkel Pick: Miami (-8); OverGame 715-716: Portland at San Antonio (9:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Portland 124.722; San Antonio 126.606
Dunkel Line & Total: San Antonio by 2; 201
Vegas Line & Total: San Antonio by 7; 207 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Portland (+7); UnderComment
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Today's NHL Picks
Boston at Montreal
The Bruins look to bounce back from their 4-2 loss in Game 3 and come into tonight's contest with a 16-5 record in their last 21 games after scoring 2 goals or less in the previous game. Boston is the pick (-135) according to Dunkel, which has the Bruins favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Boston (-135). Here are all of today's playoff picks.
THURSDAY, MAY 8
Time Posted: 6:00 a.m. ESTGame 51-52: Boston at Montreal (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Boston 13.327; Montreal 11.876
Dunkel Line & Total: Boston by 1 1/2; 4
Vegas Line & Total: Boston (-135); 5
Dunkel Pick: Boston (-135); UnderGame 53-54: Anaheim at Los Angeles (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Anaheim 11.164; Los Angeles 12.537
Dunkel Line & Total: Los Angeles by 1 1/2; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Los Angeles (-140); 5
Dunkel Pick: Los Angeles (-140); OverComment
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Gamblers Data
Free Plays Thursday
Kings -140
Rangers -130Comment
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NBA
Thursday, May 8
Brooklyn might be 4-1 against Heat this season, with three wins by one point, but Heat plays at different level in playoffs- they shot 57% in Game 1, with Big 3 making 22-39 from floor, and Allen scored 19 in 26:00 off bench- they outscored Brooklyn 61-43 in second half; Nets are 3-1-1 vs spread on road in playoffs. Heat is 4-4 vs spread in last eight home games. Five of last eight series games stayed under the total.
Spurs led Game 1 65-39 at half; Portland starters other than Aldridge hit just 13-38 shots. SA won last three games with Portland, after losing eight of previous 11 series games; Blazers are 5-5 in last ten visits here, losing two of three this season. Parker had 33 in Game 1, vs younger opponent in uncharted waters. Blazers are 27-19 against spread on road this season, winning two of three in Houston last series. San Antonio covered last two games, after being 0-8 vs spread before that.
Over is 34-20 in playoffs this season, 4-2 in this round.Comment
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NHL
Thursday, May 8
Boston was down two goals in each of first three games; team that scored first won all three games. Montreal won eight of last ten games with Boston; but Bruins won four of last seven visits here. There were only two power plays in Game 3; there were 14 in first two. Habs are 4-8 on power play in series- they are 6-1 in playoffs this spring, winning all three home games. Boston is 28-16 on road this season; they're 0-6 on power play in series. Over is 5-0-2 in Montreal's playoff games. Eight of ten Boston goals have come in third period.
Los Angeles won last its six games since being down 3-0 in San Jose series; Ducks peppered Quick with 37 shots in Game 2, but only goal came on power play, their only power play goal in eight tries this series. Over is 5-2-2 in their last nine games, with Kings allowing only eight goals in last six games. Under is 5-1-2 in last eight series games, but 1-3-1 in Ducks' last five games overall. Kings scored three goals on only 17 shots in Game 2; they were 3-0 in this building this year, after losing previous five visits to Staples.
League-wide, over is 34-15-11 in the playoffs, 5-3-4 in this round.Comment
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Bruins at Canadiens: What bettors need to know
Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens (+120, 5)
After squandering a two-goal lead in their prior contest, the Montreal Canadiens didn't let the same advantage slip away in Game 3 as they gained a 2-1 advantage in their Eastern Conference second-round series with the Boston Bruins. The Canadiens look to remain perfect at home in the playoffs and push the Presidents' Trophy winners to the brink of elimination when they host Game 4 on Thursday. Reigning Norris Trophy winner P.K. Subban continued his splendid postseason by collecting a goal and an assist for his third straight multi-point performance and fifth in six contests in Montreal's 4-2 triumph on Tuesday.
Boston has faced two-goal deficits in each of the three contests of the series. To their credit, the Bruins have battled back in each of the games, but coach Claude Julien knows that's a slippery slope to travel. "It's the way our team plays, we play until the end," Julien said. "If we start relying on how we play in the third period, we'll be making a big mistake."
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, CBC, RDS
ABOUT THE BRUINS: Jarome Iginla's late goal in Game 3 notwithstanding, Julien has cast a wary eye toward his team's slumping top line. "This is a line that has been hot and cold in the playoffs for us," Julien told the Boston Globe of Iginla, David Krejci and Milan Lucic. "And David, he's shown a little bit of frustration, so he has to battle through that stuff." Collectively, the line has mustered 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in eight postseason games - but Krejci has failed to tally in the playoffs and been held off the scoresheet in two of the three contests versus the Canadiens.
ABOUT THE CANADIENS: Dale Weise is providing some unexpected scoring punch in the postseason. The fourth-liner recorded his second game-winning goal of the playoffs and has tallied five times in 24 contests since being acquired from Vancouver. Lars Eller matched Weise with a goal and an assist in Game 3 to run his point total to eight in seven playoff games. The production is a welcome surprise for Eller, who finished the season with a disappointing six points in his last 35 contests.
TRENDS:
* Under is 3-1-1 in the last five meetings in Montreal.
* Bruins are 2-8 in the last 10 meetings.
* Canadiens are 4-0 in their last four home games.
* Bruins are 2-6 in their last eight road games.
OVERTIME:
1. Boston C Patrice Bergeron has scored in back-to-back contests and has recorded three goals and six assists during his seven-game point streak.
2. Subban has collected three goals and eight assists during his six-game point streak and leads all NHL defensemen with 11 points in the postseason.
3. The Bruins are 0-for-6 on the power play in the series and haven't scored with the man advantage in their last 35 chances against the Canadiens in the playoffs.Comment
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JEFFREY JAMES ( Play of the Day)
#715 Portland Trail Blazers +7 (9:35 edt) TNTComment
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StatFox Super Situations™ – FoxSheets
NBA | PORTLAND at SAN ANTONIO
Play Under – All teams where the total is greater than or equal to 200 an excellent offensive team (>=102 PPG) against an average defensive team (92-98 PPG), after a blowout loss by 15 points or more
87-44 since 1997. ( 66.4% | 38.6 units )
5-1 this year. ( 83.3% | 3.9 units )
NBA | BROOKLYN at MIAMI
Play Against – Road teams vs. the money line (BROOKLYN) revenging a road loss vs opponent of 10 points or more, tired team – playing their 3rd road game in 5 days
70-17 over the last 5 seasons. ( 80.5% | 38.2 units )
2-0 this year. ( 100.0% | 2.0 units )
NBA | PORTLAND at SAN ANTONIO
Play Under – Home teams where the first half total is 100.5 to 105.5 after a combined score of 205 points or more 4 straight games
123-68 since 1997. ( 64.4% | 48.2 units )
14-11 this year. ( 56.0% | 1.9 units )Comment
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StatFox Super Situations™ – FoxSheets
MLB | COLORADO at TEXAS
Play Against – Road teams (COLORADO) with an on base percentage of .360 or better over their last 15 games, after a game where the bullpen gave up no earned runs
102-65 over the last 5 seasons. ( 61.1% | 43.3 units )
0-1 this year. ( 0.0% | -1.3 units )
StatFox Situational Power Trends™ – FoxSheets
MLB | MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND
MINNESOTA is 24-17 (+23.3 Units) against the money line in Road games after scoring 3 runs or less 2 straight games over the last 3 seasons.
The average score was: MINNESOTA (3.9) , OPPONENT (3.8)Comment
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FantasySportsGametime
THURSDAY
NBA BASKETBALL
1000* Play Brooklyn +8 over Miami (NBA TOP PLAY)
7:00 PM EST
Brooklyn has won 76 of the last 138 games when the total posted is between 190 and 199.5 points and they have won 45 of the last 82 games after having won two of the last three games.Brooklyn has won 17 of the last 24 games when revenging a road loss vs. an opponent and they have won 23 of the last 38 games coming off a game with 15 or less assists.
50* Play Portland +7 over San Antonio (NBA BONUS PLAY)
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NHL HOCKEY
50* Play Montreal +120 over Boston (NHL BONUS PLAY)
50* Play Anaheim +140 over Los Angeles (NHL BONUSComment
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