Friday 12-8-17 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Wild vs. Ducks Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017

Adam Henrique made quite a first impression in his first home game with Anaheim, scoring a pair of goals to help the Ducks snapped a three-game skid and win for just the second time in nine games. The Ducks look to build off their first shutout victory of the season when they continue a three-game homestand versus the Minnesota Wild on Friday.

An injury-ravaged lineup has put a drag on the offense of Anaheim, which suffered three shootout losses in its just-concluded six-game road trip and face another six-game trek following this homestand. "I didn't even realize how many guys were injured," said Henrique, who was acquired from New Jersey for defenseman Sami Vatanen at the end of last month. "But that's certainly an exciting part of it, to think about what we can do when we're healthy." Minnesota had won four of six before surrendering four third-period goals in a 5-2 loss at Los Angeles -- a troubling trend for former Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau. "They don't have that self-confidence that I think we had last year," said Boudreau, in his second season with the Wild. "When our third periods came, they just knew they were going to win. Now every game has been a battle."

TV: 10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet1, FSN North (Minnesota) Prime Ticket (Anaheim)

ABOUT THE WILD: With Mikael Granlund -- a 26-goal scorer last season -- notching two points in his last six games, Boudreau opted to move him off the line with captain Mikko Koivu, who is mired in an 18-game goal drought and has been held off the scoresheet in five straight. Charlie Coyle will take the spot of Granlund, who will play alongside Eric Staal and Nino Niederreiter. Joel Eriksson Ek was recalled from Iowa after collecting three goals and four assists over the past seven games, joining center Tyler Ennis and Chris Stewart at practice.

ABOUT THE DUCKS (12-11-6): Anaheim was desperate for help due to the lengthy injury absences of its top two centers, captain Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler, and Henrique has delivered with two goals and three assists during a four-game point streak. "He's a smart hockey player," coach Randy Carlyle said. "You don't have to tell him things more than once. He gets it. That's a great asset. He's got hockey sense and a hockey IQ that is up there." Corey Perry, paired with Henrique, has two goals and four points in the past three games.

OVERTIME

1. Perry has 18 goals and 36 points in 41 games versus Minnesota.

2. The Wild are 0-for-7 on the power play over the past four games.

3. Ducks D Hampus Lindholm (upper body) will sit out Friday's game.

PREDICTION: Ducks 3, Wild 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Bulls vs. Hornets Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017

The Charlotte Hornets have endured an uneven homestand without their head coach and hope to get back in the win column when they host the Chicago Bulls on Friday. With coach Steve Clifford out indefinitely for health reasons, the Hornets split the first two games of the four-game stay at the Spectrum Center, falling 101-87 to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.

"I thought we started the game out pretty slow. At the beginning of the second quarter we weren't getting the ball moving offensively and playing with the right pace," associate head coach Stephen Silas told the media. "We finally got it going a little bit at the end of the second quarter with some pace. ... Those guys made big plays down in the stretch but to hold that team to 101 points isn't all bad." Despite the loss, the Hornets are still 8-4 at home, compared to a woeful 1-10 opening on the road that includes a 123-120 loss at Chicago on Nov. 17. Unfortunately for the Bulls, they've dropped 10 in a row since that triumph, including six straight on the road, the latest a 98-96 setback at Indiana on Wednesday. "This one, it stings a lot," coach Fred Hoiberg told the media after the loss. "It's a really, really hard (loss) because we had control for the majority of it and played really good and hard unselfish basketball. The big message to our team is if we continue to play with that type of effort, if we continue to play the right way, and unselfish, we're going to start winning games."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCSN Chicago, FSN Southeast (Charlotte)

ABOUT THE BULLS (3-20): Three of the last four losses for Chicago have come by two points or fewer and a dismal stretch run against the Pacers was the culprit on Wednesday, as the Bulls had a 13-point lead with just over seven minutes to go. "When adversity hits, we just aren't handling it like a mature team," forward Denzel Valentine told reporters. Valentine was one of six Bulls in double figures with 15 points, a group led by Kris Dunn, who is averaging 16.4 while shooting 55.6 percent over a five-game span.

ABOUT THE HORNETS (9-14): Charlotte was playing its second game with star point guard Kemba Walker back from a shoulder injury, but it suffered a pair of injuries along the front line with reserve big men Frank Kaminsky (ankle) and Cody Zeller (knee) exiting Wednesday's loss. "I don't know," Silas told the media. "Hopefully those guys will be OK because we got some home games coming up and we'll need them." Walker is averaging 26.5 points since returning from the injury and he had a season-high 47 points in the loss at Chicago last month.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Hornets C Dwight Howard is averaging 17 points on 58.3 percent shooting and 12.7 rebounds at home.

2. Dunn is 9-for-14 from 3-point range in his last five games to bump his percentage up to 44.4 after shooting 28.8 percent from long distance as a rookie last season.

3. Chicago won three straight meetings while averaging 118.7 points.

PREDICTION: Hornets 110, Bulls 104

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Warriors vs. Pistons Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats07:00 PM
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017

The Golden State Warriors passed their first test without Stephen Curry in the lineup and are one win away from sweeping their longest road trip of the season. The Warriors will try to cap off a 6-0 trip when they visit the Detroit Pistons on Friday.

Curry went down with a sprained ankle late in a 125-115 win at New Orleans on Monday and is likely to miss a couple of weeks, so Golden State turned up the defense and leaned on its other MVP as Kevin Durant recorded a triple-double with 35 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a 101-87 win at Charlotte on Wednesday. "It wasn't so much vocal leadership," Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters of Durant. "It was an 'I got this' type thing with the way he carried himself. Clearly the dominant player on the floor, and I think he showed, without Steph in particular, he almost had a different bounce in his step." The Pistons are not quite as strong on the road and finished off a 0-4 trip with a 104-100 loss at Milwaukee on Wednesday. "We've just got to keep our head up," Detroit center Andre Drummond told reporters. "We can't allow these losses to get us down. It's a long season."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN, NBCS Bay Area (Golden State), FS Detroit

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (20-6): Golden State was also without All-Star forward Draymond Green (shoulder) but got 22 points from Klay Thompson on 9-of-14 shooting. Thompson is averaging 22 points on 61.8 percent shooting, including 54.8 percent from 3-point range, on the trip but knows Friday's contest will be a challenge. "It's the hardest game of the trip because you look forward to going home so badly," Thompson told ESPN.com. "But we have to lock in for 48 minutes and realize that Detroit's a tough team and not going to lay down because we're 5-0."

ABOUT THE PISTONS (14-10): Each of the last three losses on the trip came by five or fewer points, and coach Stan Van Gundy lamented the things his team failed to do in Milwaukee. "We didn't do enough of the little things," Van Gundy told reporters. "We gave up free-throw rebounds - two of them. Screw up some out-of-bounds play defense. Simple stuff that's easy to do and we didn't take care of it." The bright spot in Wednesday's loss was Drummond, who collected 27 points on 12-of-16 shooting and 20 rebounds in his fourth straight double-double.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Pistons SF Stanley Johnson shot 25.8 percent from the floor on the four-game trip, including 3-of-14 from 3-point range.

2. Warriors SG Patrick McCaw is in the concussion protocol while C Zaza Pachulia (shoulder) was knocked out of Wednesday's game and is unlikely to play Friday.

3. Detroit earned a 115-107 win at Golden State on Oct. 29 behind a combined 45 points from Gs Reggie Jackson and Avery Bradley.

PREDICTION: Warriors 109, Pistons 102

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Cavaliers vs. Pacers Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017

LeBron James continues to find different ways to lead his team to victories, and the Cleveland Cavaliers don't seem like they're going to lose anytime soon. James will try to guide the Cavaliers to a franchise-record 14th consecutive win when they visit the Central Division rival Indiana Pacers on Friday.

James is putting up big numbers throughout the streak but did his finest work from beyond the arc on Wednesday, when he buried a season-high five 3-pointers on eight attempts in a 101-95 win over the Sacramento Kings. "I try to get better each and every year, and shooting the ball is what this league has kind of turned into, so for me to continue to improve, that's what I wanted to do," James told reporters in reference to his .587 shooting percentage, including 43 percent from 3-point range. "I put a lot of work into my offseason training and I just try to implement it into the season once it gets here." The Pacers opened a six-game homestand with a 98-96 win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday and are winners of two straight and eight of their last 11. "They're a great team," Indiana guard Victor Oladipo told reporters of Cleveland. "They're playing very, very, very well right now, and they've got a lot of great players. We're going to have to be ready to play."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cleveland), FS Indiana

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (18-7): James was part of two different 13-game winning streaks with Cleveland in 2009 and 2010 and came within an assist of a triple-double in leading the team to another 13-game run on Wednesday. James could be close to getting more help with both Tristan Thompson (calf) and Isaiah Thomas (hip) participating in four-on-four drills at practice. "It went well, I felt good out there," Thompson, who is closer to a return than Thomas, told reporters. "I was happy to play some contact, so, I was excited. I want to play pick-up again. Felt like summertime."

ABOUT THE PACERS (14-11): Indiana was in a 16-point hole in the fourth quarter to the NBA-worst Bulls before mounting a comeback led by Oladipo, who hit a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute and finished with 27 points. "I feel like we just made the right play down the stretch," Oladipo told reporters. "In the fourth quarter, whatever the play is, we make the right play as a team. We do a great job of that, and we did a great job of that (Wednesday) down the stretch." The right play often means getting the ball to Oladipo, who is averaging a team-high 23.3 points on 48.3 percent shooting.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Cleveland PF Kevin Love is enjoying a streak of four straight double-doubles.

2. Pacers SG Bojan Bogdanovic is 6-of-11 from 3-point range over the last two games.

3. Indiana crushed the Cavaliers at Cleveland 124-107 on Nov. 1 despite James' 33 points and 11 assists.

PREDICTION: Cavaliers 108, Pacers 107

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Nuggets vs. Magic Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017

Two teams fighting through injuries to key players meet Friday night when the Denver Nuggets visit the rejuvenated Orlando Magic. The Magic grinded out a 110-106 overtime victory over Atlanta on Wednesday for their third win in five games, but saw second-leading scorer Evan Fournier go down with a sprained ankle, while Denver is without two of its top three scorers - Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap - with injuries.

Orlando had lost nine straight contests before its recent improvement and trailed by nine with under 10 minutes to go Wednesday, but battled back against the second-worst team in the league at home. "The guys stuck with the plan, stayed with the fight and played a great fourth quarter and great overtime," Magic coach Frank Vogel told reporters after his team improved to 6-5 at home. The Nuggets allowed an average of 122.5 points while losing the last two games, including a 123-114 setback at New Orleans on Wednesday when they allowed the Pelicans to shoot 53.5 percent from the field. "It's becoming the same story every single night," Denver coach Michael Malone told reporters. "And until our guys start taking it personally, until our guys start understanding the importance of playing defense and guarding your man 1-on-1, forget the playoffs. That is a word we should not use with this team."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Altitude (Denver), FSN Florida (Orlando)

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (13-11): Jokic (ankle) is expected to miss his fourth straight game and Millsap (wrist) will sit out his ninth in a row, taking almost 31 points and 17 rebounds per game out of the lineup. Will Barton tops the balanced offense at 15.8 points per contest after averaging 22.8 over the last four games and Gary Harris (15.3) scored almost 20 per outing in the same span. Jamal Murray has raised his level of play the past three contests, averaging 21.7 points, while Emmanuel Mudiay scored 17 in the loss to New Orleans after totaling 37 in the previous seven outings.

ABOUT THE MAGIC (11-15): Fournier, who scored at least 20 in three of the last four games and averages 18.3, will be re-evaluated after initial x-rays on his ankle came back negative for a fracture. Forward Aaron Gordon, who averages a team-high 18.7 points, scored 24 and hauled in 15 rebounds against Atlanta last time out while center Nikola Vucevic recorded his second double-double in the last three contests. Jonathon Simmons is averaging 16 points over the first four games of December, but connected on just three of his 17 tries from 3-point range in that span.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Denver PF Trey Lyles is averaging 11.3 points over the past four games - almost six above his season mark.

2. Orlando PG D.J. Augustin drained 8-of-11 from 3-point range in the last five games, including one to tie Atlanta at the end of regulation Wednesday.

3. The Nuggets have won the last three meetings after a 125-107 triumph at home on Nov. 11, led by 32 points from Murray.

PREDICTION: Magic 106, Nuggets 98

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Kings vs. Pelicans Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats08:00 PM
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017

New Orleans Pelicans center DeMarcus Cousins always gets up for games against his former team, but he might have some trouble getting over the bar he set for himself on Wednesday. Cousins will try to follow up a 40-point, 22-rebound effort when the Pelicans host the Sacramento Kings on Friday.

"I think he's the most dominant player in our game, especially when he gets the ball in the post," New Orleans point guard Rajon Rondo told reporters of Cousins. "He demands double- and triple-teams. When you put three or four bigs in foul trouble every night, it speaks for itself." Cousins, who added four assists and four blocks to his big night in Wednesday's 123-114 win over the Denver Nuggets, has the Pelicans at 2-1 in three games since fellow frontcourt star Anthony Davis went down with a groin injury. The Kings traded Cousins to New Orleans during the All-Star break last season and will battle their former franchise player with veteran Zach Randolph in the frontcourt. Randolph, 36, led Sacramento with 18 points in Wednesday's 101-95 loss at Cleveland and paces the young team at an average of 14.1 points.

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

ABOUT THE KINGS (7-17): Sacramento lost some of the length it could throw at Cousins on the defensive end when center Willie Cauley-Stein went down with a back strain and did not join the team on the trip. Small forward JaKarr Sampson got the start with a smaller lineup at Cleveland and shined while hauling in a career-high 16 rebounds in 33 minutes. Sampson, who got his first extended run of the season with 25 minutes at Milwaukee after Cauley-Stein went down on Saturday, also had the misfortune of trying to guard LeBron James and could not get his hand on a key 3-pointer by the superstar down the stretch in the loss.

ABOUT THE PELICANS (13-12): Cousins is averaging 32.3 points in three games without Davis and recorded his second 40-20 game of the season on Wednesday, but coach Alvin Gentry was more interested in his effort on the defensive end. "I know you guys look at the forty points, but he was really good defensively, I thought," Gentry told reporters. "That's what we needed for him to be. We know that the points and everything were there, but I thought he did a great job in the screen-and-rolls and this is what they really hurt us with the last time." Cousins' first 40-20 effort came at Sacramento on Oct. 26, when he finished with 41 points and 23 boards in a 114-106 win.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Pelicans PG Jrue Holiday totaled 61 points on 25-of-41 shooting over the last two games.

2. Kings rookie PG De'Aaron Fox scored in single digits in five of the last six games.

3. New Orleans took both meetings against Sacramento since acquiring Cousins.

PREDICTION: Pelicans 116, Kings 107

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Mavericks vs. Bucks Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017

The Milwaukee Bucks seek payback for their most lopsided loss in nearly two years when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. The Bucks were on a four-game winning streak and the Mavericks were occupying the basement in the Western Conference entering their matchup in Dallas on Nov. 17, when the hosts pulled off a shocking 111-79 rout.

Milwaukee dropped two of its next three games but recovered with a 4-1 stretch, including Wednesday's 104-100 win over Detroit to open a three-game homestand. "We just stayed with it," forward Khris Middleton told reporters after a 21-point effort against the Pistons. "We did a great job of holding onto the lead. We have just been grinding it out and staying with it." Dallas was 2-14 prior to its earlier matchup with the Bucks, but that result kicked off a 5-4 surge and the squad gave NBA-best Boston all it could handle before dropping a 97-90 decision on the road Wednesday night. Harrison Barnes had a team-high 19 points in the loss while going without a turnover for the first time this season.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Dallas), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (7-18): Dallas scored 122 points two nights before being held to 90 at Boston as its shooting percentage went from 57 to 39.5. "It was a pretty well-defended game on both sides," coach Rick Carlisle told the media. "Obviously, they did a little better job than we did. But holding these guys under 100 is the kind of defensive game we needed. But we needed more force on offense." Rookie Dennis Smith Jr. went 4-of-16 from the floor and is making 36.8 percent of his shots on the road this season.

ABOUT THE BUCKS (13-10): Giannis Antetokounmpo celebrated his 23rd birthday with 25 points and 10 rebounds against Detroit, and he seems to have hit his stride with new point guard Eric Bledsoe (22 points). "Giannis and Bledsoe made some big plays down the stretch with some offensive rebounds," coach Jason Kidd told reporters. "Just the confidence that those two have in one another and in the team is great. Nobody is panicking trying to execute the play." Milwaukee is 9-4 since acquiring Bledsoe, whose worst performance with the Bucks came in the loss at Dallas, when he was 2-for-10 from the floor and had six points in 22 minutes.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Middleton is averaging 20.6 points on 60 percent shooting - including 12-of-23 from 3-point distance - over his last five games.

2. Mavericks PF Maximilian Kleber had 13 points, five rebounds, five blocks and a steal at Boston.

3. Dallas has won three straight meetings and nine of the last 10.

PREDICTION: Bucks 108, Mavericks 101

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Raptors vs. Grizzlies Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017

The Toronto Raptors own the best home record in the NBA but they know they need to pile up some wins on the road if they're going to keep pace in the Eastern Conference. After a 3-0 homestand, the Raptors begin a four-game road trip against Western Conference opponents when they visit the reeling Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.

Toronto's 126-113 win over Phoenix on Tuesday gave the squad a 9-1 mark at Air Canada Centre, compared to 6-6 elsewhere, and it also started a stretch in which the Raptors play eight straight teams with losing records. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan combined for 40 points and had 18 of Toronto's 30 assists as the top offense in the Eastern Conference (111.5 points per game) was in rhythm. "When you're making shots, it's good, and the confidence we all have in each other to take shots and to give the opportunity to shoot the ball and we don't care, it's always good," Lowry told reporters. The Grizzlies snapped their 11-game losing streak Monday against Minnesota before dropping a 99-88 decision at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, TSN (Toronto), FSN Southeast (Memphis)

ABOUT THE RAPTORS (15-7): Toronto is averaging 121 points during its four-game winning streak while making 13 3-pointers and handing out 28.5 assists as its ball movement has been excellent. "Everybody gets a chance to touch the ball, you don't necessarily got to work so hard," DeRozan told reporters. "Everybody gets a feel for the ball, everybody gets to make the next decision for your teammate, and with that, we still miss a lot of shots, but it's something we're still learning and something we're still trying to get better at every time we practice, every time we play." Rookie OG Anunoby was one of the beneficiaries of open looks in Tuesday's win, nailing 4-of-5 3-pointers to improve to 7-of-10 over his last four games.

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (8-16): Center Marc Gasol scored 17 points in Wednesday's loss in New York while his fellow starters combined for 23 on 7-of-24 shooting, and the big man also played through a knee issue. "I don't know exactly what happened. It just locked up," he told reporters. "Couldn't really extend it. I never had any knee issues. So it was a new feeling for me." The bench provided some positives in the loss and forward Chandler Parsons - who had missed three of the previous four games with knee and ankle injuries - had 13 points on 5-of-9 in 22 minutes.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Grizzlies F JaMychal Green is averaging 9.5 points while making 23.5 percent of his 3-pointers at home, compared to 13 points and 70 percent on the road.

2. DeRozan is averaging a career-best 4.9 assists after handing out eight against Phoenix.

3. The teams split two meetings last season and Gasol scored a career-high 42 points in a 101-99 victory at home Jan. 25.

PREDICTION: Raptors 112, Grizzlies 103

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Celtics vs. Spurs Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017

The best road team in the Eastern Conference meets the top home team in the West when the Boston Celtics open a three-game road trip at the San Antonio Spurs on Friday. The Celtics won the last four of a five-game homestand, capped by Wednesday's 97-90 victory over Dallas, and won 10 of their last 11 road games since a season-opening loss at Cleveland.

Meanwhile, the Spurs claimed the first two on their three-game homestand to improve to 12-2 at AT&T Center, although coach Gregg Popovich isn't ready to make any dramatic proclamations. "Getting 30 assists is always wonderful," Popovich told reporters after his team did just that and shot 52.9 percent in a 117-105 win over Miami on Wednesday. "Then you sit down and start feeling good about it and you realize that Golden State does that every night. And you go 'OK, we've got a ways to go, don't get too excited.' But it is great to see." Boston had 25 assists on 36 baskets in its 97-90 win over Dallas, improving to 8-0 against the West. Kyrie Irving, who had 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting in a 108-94 win over the Spurs at home on Oct. 30, scored 23 to lead the offense against the Mavericks.

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, NBCS Boston, KENS 5 (San Antonio)

ABOUT THE CELTICS (22-4): Boston rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit in Wednesday's win despite playing without starting guard Jaylen Brown (eye) and occasional starter Marcus Morris (knee). Both players are considered questionable for Friday with guard Terry Rozier (12 points, season-high nine rebounds versus Dallas) and forward Daniel Theis (season-high 11 rebounds in 17 minutes) among those ready to fill the void. "Just covering for one another. We're a team. We're pros for a reason," Rozier told reporters Wednesday. "You put all that hard work in and you have to be ready."

ABOUT THE SPURS (17-8): While a Friday night matchup with the top team in the NBA will draw loads of attention, San Antonio fans will be looking ahead to Saturday's matchup at Phoenix, which could see the season debut of star forward Kawhi Leonard. The 26-year-old is working his way back from a nagging quadriceps injury and the San Antonio Express-News has reported that the Spurs hope to bring back the two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year when they begin a three-game road trip against the Suns. LaMarcus Aldridge has shouldered the load without Leonard in the lineup and led eight players in double figures with 18 points against Miami.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. San Antonio won 11 straight meetings prior to the loss at Boston earlier this season.

2. Celtics F Al Horford has 27 assists over his last three games and is averaging a career-high 5.4.

3. Spurs F Rudy Gay is averaging 14 points and 8.5 rebounds in back-to-back starts following 21 games off the bench.

PREDICTION: Spurs 103, Celtics 101

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Army vs. Wake Forest Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats07:00 PM
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017

Wake Forest appears to have fixed whatever had gone wrong over its first five game - and that's bad news for Army as these two teams face off Friday night in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Demon Deacons have reeled off four consecutive victories after opening the season with losses in four of their first five games, and are coming off an 80-57 rout of Charlotte.

Things have gone so well for the Demon Deacons that they barely recall getting off to a miserable start; at least, that's how the players are letting on. "It's been awhile ago," said guard Keyshawn Woods, who had 15 points in the win over Charlotte. "We're making progress as a team and we're getting closer to where we need to be." With the ACC once again expected to be one of the most competitive conferences in Division I, Wake Forest will need to continue building on its momentum against lesser opponents - and the Black Knights certainly fit the bill. They're coming off a 71-66 loss to Binghamton in which they allowed the host Bearcats to shoot better than 51 percent from the field.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ACC Network Extra

ABOUT ARMY (5-3): Black Knights freshman Alex King was one of the lone bright spots in Wednesday's defeat, scoring a career-best 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting in 21 minutes off the bench. Army has surprisingly been one of the best ball distribution units in Division I so far; they came into Wednesday averaging 18.9 helpers per game - 13th-most in the country - and dished out 17 assists in defeat against Binghamton. Jordan Fox paces the Army offense in scoring at 16.9 points per game, but has poured in a combined 32 points on 9-of-27 shooting over his past three games.

ABOUT WAKE FOREST (5-4): Junior guard Bryant Crawford leads the Demon Deacons in scoring at 16.3 ppg and comes into Thursday ranked sixth in the conference in free-throw success rate at 90.6 percent; he and Woods (87.1 percent, eighth) are the only teammates to rank inside the top eight in the ACC. Doral Moore adds 10.1 points and 8.3 rebounds and has been an unbelievably accurate shooter, connecting on an NCAA-best 83 percent of his field-goal attempts. He also has 16 of Wake Forest's 32 blocks on the season, including five in his past two games.

TIP-INS

1. The Black Knights have already had 20 players see the floor through their first eight games.

2. Moore hasn't missed more than two shots in any game this season.

3. Wake Forest has allowed opponents to shoot 38.3 percent from long range, good for 295th out of 351 Division I teams.

PREDICTION: Wake Forest 86, Army 66

[Can'tPickAWinner]

St. John's vs. Arizona State Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017

Off to its best start since 1980-81, No. 17 Arizona State faces St. John's on Friday as part of the Hall of Fame Classic tripleheader at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The up-tempo Sun Devils are averaging 92.7 points but will be tested by a stingy St. John's defense that has held opponents to 60.0 points per game on 36.1 percent shooting.

One of nine remaining unbeaten teams in the country, Arizona State moved into the national rankings for the first time in nine seasons after beating Kansas State and Xavier last week in Las Vegas. "We haven't just stayed at home to play a bunch of bye games," coach Bobby Hurley told reporters. "We've gone out, and we've played good teams and we've proven that we belong where we are. We feel happy to be where we are, knowing that we have a big week ahead of us." Senior guards Shannon Evans II, Tra Holder and Kodi Justice are each averaging at least 15.0 points for the Sun Devils, who visit No. 2 Kansas on Sunday. Arizona State will need to be careful not to underestimate St. John's, which has limited opponents to 52.7 points and forced 22.3 turnovers per contest during its current three-game winning streak.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network

ABOUT ST. JOHN'S (8-1): Sophomore guard Shamorie Ponds averages a team-high 20.2 points and scored a team-high 28 on Tuesday as the Red Storm opened its two-game Arizona road swing with a 68-60 win over Grand Canyon. Guard Justin Simon, a transfer from the University of Arizona, added a double-double in the win and ranks third in the Big East in rebounding at 8.3 per game. Coach Chris Mullin is hopeful that dynamic guard Marcus LoVett (14.9 points per game) can return Friday after missing the last two games due to a sprained left knee.

ABOUT ARIZONA STATE (7-0): After scoring at least 90 points in its first six games, the Sun Devils were held to a season-low point total in last Saturday's 75-57 win over San Francisco. Freshman forward Romello White scored 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead five players in double figures as the Sun Devils dominated the paint and held the Dons to 28.6-percent shooting. White is averaging 15.7 points and 9.3 rebounds for the Sun Devils, whose frontcourt will receive a welcome boost Sunday when Ohio State-transfer forward Mickey Mitchell becomes eligible to face Kansas.

TIP-INS

1. St. John's won the only previous meeting (67-58) between the teams in the championship game of the 2010 Great Alaska Shootout.

2. Arizona State ranks fifth nationally in field goal percentage at 53.1 percent.

3. St. John's junior forward Marvin Clark II, a transfer from Michigan State, is averaging 9.4 points while shooting 51.9 percent from 3-point range.

PREDICTION: Arizona State 84, St. John's 75

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Colorado State vs. Oregon Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017

A half-court heave at the buzzer last Friday by Boise State's Lexus Williams ended Oregon's home win streak at a national-best 46 games. Now, a week later, the Ducks will try to start a new streak when they host Colorado State on Friday night.


Oregon, retooling after a Final Four appearance a year ago, has dropped three of its last four games after a 4-0 start. The loss, though, to the visiting Broncos was particularly stinging as the Ducks were unable to hold a 56-48 lead with 9:43 remaining in the game. Including the game-winner, Boise State connected on 7-of-11 3-point attempts in the second half and finished with a 33-30 rebounding edge. "We'll learn to play together, but the physicality of the game, the defense, the rebounding - that has to improve," Oregon coach Dana Altman said in his post-game news conference. "It comes down to toughness, and it comes down to leadership. We've got to get more out of our older guys."

TV: 10 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network


ABOUT COLORADO STATE (4-5): The Rams have dropped five of their last seven after a 2-0 start and are closing out a stretch of three straight against Power Five conference foes. Junior guard Prentiss Nixon leads the team with 17.8 points per game and is coming off a career-best 31 points in Tuesday's 92-66 road loss at Arkansas. Forward Che Bob (11.7 points) and guard J.D. Paige (10.8) also average double digits for Colorado State, which struggled offensively with 36.5-percent shooting and 19 turnovers against the Razorbacks to fall to 0-5 away from home this season.

ABOUT OREGON (5-3): Sophomore guard Payton Pritchard, the lone returning starter for the Ducks, is averaging a team-best 16.4 points and 4.9 assists and has 29- and 28-point outings in two of his last three games. Guard Elijah Brown (12.9 points) and forwards Troy Brown (11.7) and Paul White (11.7) also own double-figure scoring averages for Oregon, which is averaging 85.1 points on the season and 89.8 in five home contests. Troy Brown, a 6-foot-7 freshman who leads the squad in rebounding at 7.1 per game, sat out the Boise State contest with a concussion but has been cleared to return to the starting lineup Friday night.


TIP-INS

1. Oregon leads the series 8-1, but the Ducks' 68-55 home win in 2009 has been the only meeting in the last 40 years.

2. Oregon ranks as most accurate free-throw shooting team in the nation, connecting on 81.6 percent of its attempts so far.

3. Bob (8.3 boards) and 6-11 center Nico Carvacho (9.0) are the rebounding leaders for Colorado State, which owns a plus-6.8 average rebounding margin.


PREDICTION: Oregon 90, Colorado State 72

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Oklahoma vs. USC Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017

With all five starters returning from a team that set a school-record with 26 victories and made a surprising run to the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament, the USC Trojans looked like a sleeper team to make it to their first Final Four since 1954. But the 25th-ranked Trojans will be trying to avoid a three-game losing streak when they face Oklahoma and freshman sensation Trae Young on Friday night in the Basketball Hall of Fame's Hoophall L.A. Classic at nearby Staples Center.

The Trojans (4-2) lost at home to No. 10 Texas A&M (75-59) and then at SMU (72-55), which went on a 22-3 second half run to win going away. Now they play their first neutral-court game of the season against an Oklahoma squad that is knocking on the top-25 door with a four-game win streak that includes a 90-80 neutral-floor win over 2017 Final Four participant Oregon in the PK80 Invitational in Portland, a contest that saw the 6-2 Young score a season-high 43 points to go along with a game-high seven assists and two steals. Young, who leads the nation in scoring with a 28.7 average, is looking forward to play on the same court of former Oklahoma star Blake Griffin of the Clippers not to mention the Lakers of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. "I've been able to play in the (Chicago) Bulls arena, the Brooklyn Nets arena, obviously Portland and now L.A.," Young said. "It's going to be fun. That's a legendary place to play. ... I can't wait for it."

TV: 10:30 p.m., ESPN2

ABOUT OKLAHOMA (6-1): Young doesn't just lead the nation in scoring by a wide margin -- second place Matt Young of Niagara (25.8) is almost three points behind -- but he also ranks third in the nation in assists (8.7) and is tied for 22nd in steals (2.43). "He's a handful," UTSA head coach Steve Henson said after Young had 28 points and eights assists in a 97-85 victory over the Roadrunners on Monday. "He's a handful in the open court, and he's too quick to really trap aggressively in our opinion, anyway, and you can't leave him out there one-on-one, either. Terrific player -- he's been doing a lot of good things." Junior guard Christian James (11.9 points) and senior forward Khadeem Lattin (11.1) also are averaging double figures with Lattin also averaging a team-leading 9.1 rebounds per game.

ABOUT USC (4-2): The Trojans led 30-27 at halftime at SMU last Saturday but were outscored 45-25 in the second half by the Mustangs, a similar scenario to what happened six days earlier when Texas A&M used a late 19-3 run to pull away for a 16-point victory at the Galen Center. Senior point guard Jordan McLaughlin leads the Trojans, averaging 13.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game, and likely will get the chore of trying to slow down Young. Chimezie Metu, a 6-11 forward, leads the team in scoring (16.0) and is tied for the lead in rebounding (7.7) with 6-10 forward Bennie Boatwright, who is second in scoring (15.3) but is shooting just 41.9 percent from the floor.

TIP-INS

1. Young has scored at least 28 points in five straight games.

2. USC, already without G De'Antthony Melton who is being withheld because of eligibility issues stemming from the FBI investigation of assistant coach Tony Bland, will also be without PG Derryck Thornton, a Duke transfer who is expected to miss 3-4 weeks after dislocating his right shoulder Nov. 28.

3. Oklahoma ranks second in the nation in scoring (94.4) behind Virginia Tech (96.6).

PREDICTION: Oklahoma 92, USC 87

[Can'tPickAWinner]

TCU vs Nevada Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017

Friday's Basketball Hall of Fame Classic will finish its triple-header at the Staples Center with a top-25 matchup. Undefeated and 20th-ranked TCU will put its 14-game win streak on the line against No. 24 Nevada.

The Wolf Pack's undefeated start ended Tuesday with a loss at Texas Tech and Nevada looks forward to another chance at a quality win. "We don't get that many opportunities to play a team like (TCU), to make a statement like this," Nevada forward Cody Martin said. "We just have to approach it like we do any other game, a winning mentality." Twin brother Caleb Martin had a career-high 28 points against Texas Tech while TCU's Kenrich Williams is coming off a career-high 27 points in Tuesday's 94-83 win against SMU. The Horned Frogs, who own the nation's longest active win streak, are 24-2 against non-conference opponents under second-year coach Jamie Dixon.

TV: 1 a.m. ET Saturday, ESPNU

ABOUT TCU (9-0): Williams has five double-doubles and averages 14 points and 10 rebounds as the Horned Frogs' starters all average in double figures. Sophomore guard Desmond Bane leads the team with 14.1 points and is shooting 65.2 percent from the floor and 57.5 percent form the 3-point line. Vladimir Brodziansky adds 13.6 points on 66.7 percent shooting -- ranked third in the Big 12 Conference -- while the Horned Frogs are shooting 52.8 percent as a team (fourth nationally).

ABOUT NEVADA (8-1): Caleb Martin (20.0 points, 5.3 rebounds) and Cody Martin (15.0 points, 6.2 rebounds) are both shooting better than 53 percent from the floor. Junior wing Jordan Caroline adds 17.0 points and a team-high 9.4 rebounds for the Wolf Pack, who have only outrebounded three opponents. Lindsey Drew has 42 assists and eight turnovers in nine starts, and the Wolf Pack average 12.1 turnovers after a season-high 21 miscues at Texas Tech.

TIP-INS

1. Nevada has lost 13 straight to ranked opponents since beating Creighton in the 2007 NCAA Tournament.

2. Nevada has hit 10 or more 3-pointers five times this season and ranks 10th nationally with a 42.7-percent shooting clip from beyond the arc.

3. TCU was without backup point guard Alex Robinson (6.3 points, 4.7 assists) against SMU because of an ankle injury but he is expected to play Friday.

PREDICTION: TCU 84, Nevada 78

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NBA
Dunkel

Friday, December 8

Chicago @ Charlotte

Game 501-502
December 8, 2017 @ 7:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Chicago
113.766
Charlotte
120.819
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Charlotte
by 7
200
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Charlotte
by 11
203 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Chicago
(+11); Under

Cleveland @ Indiana

Game 503-504
December 8, 2017 @ 7:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Cleveland
119.626
Indiana
121.389
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Indiana
by 1 1/2
214
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Cleveland
by 3 1/2
220 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Indiana
(+3 1/2); Under

Denver @ Orlando

Game 505-506
December 8, 2017 @ 7:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Denver
115.732
Orlando
120.314
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Orlando
by 4 1/2
223
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Orlando
by 1
218
Dunkel Pick:
Orlando
(-1); Over

Golden State @ Detroit

Game 507-508
December 8, 2017 @ 7:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Golden State
131.249
Detroit
121.415
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Golden State
by 10
222
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Golden State
No Line
N/A
Dunkel Pick:
Golden State
N/A

Sacramento @ New Orleans

Game 509-510
December 8, 2017 @ 8:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Sacramento
115.322
New Orleans
118.512
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
New Orleans
by 3
218
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
New Orleans
No Line
N/A
Dunkel Pick:
New Orleans
N/A

Dallas @ Milwaukee

Game 511-512
December 8, 2017 @ 8:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Dallas
118.221
Milwaukee
122.354
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Milwaukee
by 4
212
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Milwaukee
by 7 1/2
202
Dunkel Pick:
Dallas
(+7 1/2); Over

Toronto @ Memphis

Game 513-514
December 8, 2017 @ 8:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Toronto
123.655
Memphis
116.209
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Toronto
by 7 1/2
198
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Toronto
by 5
202
Dunkel Pick:
Toronto
(-5); Under

Boston @ San Antonio

Game 515-516
December 8, 2017 @ 9:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Boston
119.412
San Antonio
123.907
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
San Antonio
by 4 1/2
192
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
San Antonio
by 1
197
Dunkel Pick:
San Antonio
(-1); Under