Wednesday 12-13-17 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Grizzlies vs. Wizards Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats07:00 PM
by Gracenote on 12/13/2017

The Washington Wizards expect to have John Wall back in the lineup on Wednesday, when they host the lowly Memphis Grizzlies. Wall has missed the last nine games with a knee injury, and it will be decided after the mid-day shootaround whether or not he is healthy enough to play in the opener of Washington's four-game homestand.

The Wizards have gone 4-5 during Wall's absence after Tuesday's 103-98 setback against Brooklyn. The four-time All-Star point guard last played on Nov. 22, and that has meant shooting guard Bradley Beal has had to carry the team - and he has put up an astounding 113 shots over his last four games. Memphis is experiencing deep issues as Monday's 107-82 loss to Miami was the squad's fourth straight defeat and 15th in 16 contests. "There are going to be times like this, and again, it's the decisions that we make as individuals in moments like this that define who we are," Grizzlies interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters after the loss. "I have no doubt in the character in that group in the locker room. None whatsoever. So we will bounce back, we will figure it out and we will be the team that we set out to be."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Memphis), NBCSN Washington

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (8-19): Center Marc Gasol has been part of seven consecutive playoff teams with the franchise and is highly frustrated with the losing. But Gasol, who scored 19 points in the loss to the Heat, said he isn't sure that all of his teammates are as disgusted about the porous record as he is. "I couldn't tell you that," he told reporters. "Everybody has to look in the mirror, and as a man, you have to take it personally because wearing this jersey means a lot."

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (14-13): Beal is averaging 34.5 points over his last four games - he scored a career-high 51 against Portland on Dec. 5 - but his 28-point effort against the Nets came with lackluster 11-of-33 shooting, including misses on all seven 3-point attempts. The loss to Brooklyn was highly disappointing and left the squad with a 2-3 record on a road trip that included a horrific 47-point setback against Utah. "We got to figure it out as a team," forward Markieff Morris told reporters. "Obviously, we don't have our best player, but we just got to figure it out. We can't tip off like this as we did (Tuesday) and the last couple of games, because we're better than that."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Grizzlies have dropped each of their last three visits to Washington.

2. Memphis is 0-9 against Eastern Conference foes, its worst start versus the East since losing its first 11 such games in 1996-97.

3. Washington backup SG Jodie Meeks is just 6-for-25 from the field over his last five contests.

PREDICTION: Wizards 110, Grizzlies 102

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Nuggets vs. Celtics Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats07:30 PM
by Gracenote on 12/13/2017

Kyrie Irving is expected to return to the lineup, but Al Horford will be sitting out when the Boston Celtics host the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. Boston suffered its worst loss of the season when Irving was sidelined with a quadriceps injury on Monday, while Horford is being rested against the Nuggets.

Horford's knee has been ailing since he banged it during Sunday's victory over Detroit, but the Celtics' real pain occurred the next night as they were routed 108-85 by lowly Chicago without the services of Irving. "Sometimes you get your butts kicked. It's as simple as that," Boston coach Brad Stevens told reporters. "Chicago dictated the whole game. They played harder than we did, they played with more presence than we did, they played more competitive than we did, they played with more authority than we did. We're not going to win many games if we play like that." Denver is looking for a split of its six-game road trip after posting an impressive 103-84 win over Detroit on Tuesday. The Nuggets also expect center Nikola Jokic (ankle) to return after a six-game absence.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Altitude (Denver), NBCSN Boston

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (15-12): Denver has been surprisingly good over the first third of the season, particularly with the expected three-month loss of four-time All-Star power forward Paul Millsap (wrist). Getting Jokic back is key for a team that doesn't have a go-to scorer but has evolved into a well-balanced squad as any of six or seven different players might emerge on a given night. In fact, backup forward Trey Lyles is averaging 22.5 points on 16-of-22 shooting over his last two games, tallying 20 on 7-of-7 shooting against the Pistons after scoring a career-high 25 versus Indiana on Sunday.

ABOUT THE CELTICS (23-6): Boston has lost two of three games following a 22-4 start, and the beating suffered at the hands of the Bulls was baffling - even with Irving sidelined. "We usually find the time to find some energy, but (on Monday), we didn't," second-year forward Jaylen Brown told reporters. "It didn't feel any different. We're not making any excuses. We've just got to come out and play better, and play harder, regardless of the circumstance. And, I think we will." Rookie small forward Jayson Tatum recorded just four points against Chicago on 1-of-7 shooting after scoring in double digits in each of his previous 16 games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Nuggets are just 8-33 all-time in Boston but did post a 123-107 victory in last season's visit.

2. Denver SG Jamal Murray scored 28 points against Detroit for his eighth 20-point performance of the campaign.

3. Boston F Marcus Morris (knee) will miss his third straight game.

PREDICTION: Celtics 117, Nuggets 102

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Jazz vs. Bulls Preview and Predictions

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

The Chicago Bulls lost by 30 points at Utah less than a month ago as part of a dismal 10-game losing streak. The Bulls enter the rematch at home Wednesday night under very different circumstances as they aim for a fourth consecutive victory while trying to send the Jazz to a fourth straight loss.

Wins over Charlotte in overtime and by two points at home over the New York Knicks got Chicago going, but a 23-point rout of the NBA-best Boston Celtics on Monday turned some heads, even though the Celtics were shorthanded. "I don't know what tanking is," forward Bobby Portis told reporters when pressed on whether the team's sudden success will hinder its efforts to rebuild. "We want to win. We don't want to be looked at as if, 'Aw, they're just going out there, tanking,' whatever. We want to be guys who go out there and compete and earn our keep too." Utah's win over the Bulls last month began a six-game winning streak, but the Jazz have dipped back below .500 with their three consecutive losses. All five starters scored in double figures and reserve Alec Burks had 20 points but Utah was unable to slow down Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo in a 117-100 loss on Saturday.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Utah), WGN (Chicago)

ABOUT THE JAZZ (13-14): Rudy Gobert also had 20 points and a team-leading nine rebounds in Saturday's loss, which dropped Utah to 6-10 with its star center in the lineup. "It's little details that I have to work out," Gobert told reporters while referencing a leg injury that caused him to miss 11 games. "It's moving quicker, it's boxing out. Physically, I'm feeling better and better. It's definitely more mental. I have to get better at my usual habits. But it's coming back." The Jazz hope guard Rodney Hood comes back soon as the team's leading scorer has missed seven straight with an ankle injury.

ABOUT THE BULLS (6-20): Monday's victory was notable in that it saw Portis and Nikola Mirotic - a pair that fought in the preseason, forcing Mirotic to miss 23 games with facial fractures and Portis to earn an eight-game suspension - team up to vanquish the Celtics. "Those guys were playing off each other," coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters. "When we got switches, they were hitting each other in the high-low, finding each other. I just love the chemistry that those two are playing with right now." Mirotic had 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting in his third game since returning while Portis added 23 on 10-of-15 while making all three of his 3-pointers.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Derrick Favors scored 23 points and Utah made 14 3-pointers in the first meeting.

2. Bulls PG Jerian Grant has 18 assists and one turnover in 41 minutes over the last two games.

3. Jazz SG Donovan Mitchell was held to 12 points on 4-of-17 at Milwaukee after averaging 28.6 points over the previous five games.

PREDICTION: Jazz 106, Bulls 104

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Bucks vs. Pelicans Preview and Predictions

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

The Milwaukee Bucks are streaking in the right direction again with wins in each of their last three games and six of the last seven as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Eric Bledsoe get more comfortable playing together. The Bucks will try to improve to 12-4 since Bledsoe joined the lineup when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.

Milwaukee's only loss in the last seven games came at Eastern Conference-best Boston on Dec. 4, and coach Jason Kidd is excited about his team's improvement. "Us, as a team, (we're) growing up and understanding what it takes to win in this league," Kidd told reporters after a 117-100 win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday. "It's not easy. The week didn't start off well for us, but we ended it on a positive note. Now we turn the page to another week with three (games) in four (nights)." That stretch begins with the Pelicans, who are lighting up the scoreboard of late but only hit the win column in three of their last nine games. New Orleans averaged 120.7 points in the last six games but won only three of those contests, including a 130-123 setback at Western Conference-best Houston on Monday.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS New Orleans

ABOUT THE BUCKS (15-10): Antetokounmpo recorded a double-double in each of Milwaukee's last three games and punctuated a 37-point, 13-rebound, seven-assist performance against Utah on Saturday by dunking over center Rudy Gobert in the final minute. The "Greek Freak" just turned 23 on Dec. 6 and is averaging 29.8 points on 54.6 percent shooting and 10.4 rebounds. Bledsoe reached the 20-point plateau in each of the Bucks' last three games and is averaging 18 points and 4.2 assists in 15 games with the team since coming over in a trade from the Phoenix Suns.

ABOUT THE PELICANS (14-14): New Orleans draws a lot of attention for its frontcourt tandem of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, but it's been the improved play of the backcourt that really has the offense operating in high gear. Rajon Rondo recorded a triple-double on Monday while Jrue Holiday (37) and E'Twaun Moore combined for 73 points, but they understand where the team needs to improve. "We've got a lot of guys who can do a lot of things, a lot of talent," Moore told reporters. "Once we get it together a little bit on the defensive end, we'll be hard to beat."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Davis (left adductor) missed four of the last six games and is day-to-day.

2. Bucks SG Tony Snell (knee) sat out the last two games and is questionable.

3. The teams split the two-game series last season, with Milwaukee earning a 117-113 win at New Orleans.

PREDICTION: Pelicans 120, Bucks 113

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Raptors vs. Suns Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/13/2017

The Toronto Raptors were thriving offensively until one subpar performance sidetracked their season-best, six-game winning streak. The Raptors look to start a new stretch of victories when they visit the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday in the finale of a four-game road trip.

Toronto averaged 117 points during its winning streak before establishing a season low for points in Monday's 96-91 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. "It happens," standout shooting guard DeMar DeRozan told reporters. "We're going to have nights like that where we miss shots. We made a lot of mistakes in the last couple of minutes of the game." The Raptors recorded a 126-113 home victory over the Suns on Dec. 5, and that contest was doubly painful for Phoenix as it lost shooting guard Devin Booker to a groin injury. That setback was the beginning of a four-game skid for Phoenix, which suffered a 99-92 road loss to the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, TSN (Toronto), FSN Arizona (Phoenix)

ABOUT THE RAPTORS (17-8): DeRozan was limited to 17 points on 5-of-13 shooting against the Clippers after averaging 25.4 points over the previous five games, a stretch that included Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors. DeRozan and point guard Kyle Lowry each scored 20 points in last week's win over the Suns but Lowry has struggled with his shooting since that game, hitting 13-of-44 overall shots and missing all eight 3-point attempts against the Clippers. Center Jonas Valanciunas registered his first double-double since Nov. 7 when he matched season highs of 23 points and 15 rebounds versus Los Angeles.

ABOUT THE SUNS (9-20): Phoenix badly missed Booker in Tuesday's loss as teams are crowding the other shooters since they don't have to focus on traps or double teams of the 21-year-old star. Small forward TJ Warren has been trying to pick up the slack but was 9-of-24 shooting while scoring 18 points against the Kings during a contest in which the Suns were 7-of-32 from 3-point range, including 15 misses (of 17) in the second half. "We've just got to get better at shooting the 3-ball," Phoenix coach Jay Triano said afterward. "The game is trending that way and we got to be able to make more than 2-of-17 in a half."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Suns have won 10 of their past 13 home games versus the Raptors.

2. Rookie Josh Jackson, who is starting in place of Booker, was only 3-of-14 shooting for seven points against the Kings.

3. Toronto SF Norman Powell scored only two points in each of the past two games and has been in single digits in four straight contests after a run of five consecutive double-digit outings.

PREDICTION: Raptors 116, Suns 111

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Hornets vs. Rockets Preview and Predictions

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

The Houston Rockets have not lost with Chris Paul in the lineup and don't appear to be ready to fall anytime soon. The NBA-best Rockets will try to push their winning streak to 11 in a row when they host the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.

Houston is averaging 120.8 points during its 10-game winning streak and shot 54.5 percent from the floor in a 130-123 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday. All but the last two of those 10 wins came by double figures, and Monday's win marked the start of a seven-game homestand. The Hornets didn't seem capable of mounting much of a challenge to Houston while dropping three in a row at home, but they began their two-game trip by knocking off the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-103 and are determined to pull out of the rut completely. "We've been struggling on the road," Charlotte forward Marvin Williams told the team's website. "We've been struggling overall, but we got a lot of fighters in that locker room. Things haven't been going the way we've wanted them to be going, but we're sticking together, we're continuing to fight and we really got a big-time win against a great OKC team."

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)

ABOUT THE HORNETS (10-16): Charlotte added some much-needed balance to its offense after leaning heavily on point guard Kemba Walker and placed all five starters in double figures while shooting 53.1 percent as a team on Monday. The biggest contributions came from the frontcourt, where Williams, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Dwight Howard combined to go 22-of-30 from the floor, led by Howard's team-high 23 points. Howard, who spent three seasons in Houston from 2013-2016, is averaging 23 points and 13 rebounds over the last three games while totaling 10 blocked shots.

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (21-4): Houston is led by James Harden and Paul, but the team is also getting solid work from its role players. Center Clint Capela scored a career-high 28 points on 13-of-14 shooting in Monday's win while Eric Gordon broke out of a slump with 27 points on 9-of-12 off the bench. Gordon was 13-of-67 from 3-point range over his previous nine games before finally catching a spark from beyond the arc and knocking down 5-of-6 against the Pelicans to mark his best scoring effort since a 29-point outing at Philadelphia on Oct. 25.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Hornets SG Nicolas Batum (elbow) sat out Monday and is day-to-day.

2. Rockets PF Ryan Anderson averages 12 points but was held to five or fewer in three of the last four games.

3. Houston took the last three in the series, including a 109-93 win at Charlotte on Oct. 27 that featured a triple-double from Harden.

PREDICTION: Rockets 128, Hornets 113

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Stars vs. Islanders Preview and Predictions

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

All the New York Islanders needed to snap a season-high three-game skid was a return to the Barclays Center, where they have lost a league-low one game in regulation. Battling for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division despite playing only 12 of its first 30 games at home, New York will take on the visiting Dallas Stars on Wednesday night.

The Islanders lost the final three on their four-game road trip but regained their mojo with a 3-1 win over the surging Washington Capitals on Monday night. That victory kicked off a stretch in which New York plays seven of eight games at Barclays Center, providing the team with a great opportunity to build on its 9-1-2 record at home. The Stars had also dropped three in a row before opening their four-game road trip through the Metropolitan Division with a 2-1 shootout win at the New York Rangers. Dallas hammered the visiting Islanders 5-0 on Nov. 10, but it has been outscored 23-13 in dropping its last four trips to New York.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Dallas), MSG-Plus (New York)

ABOUT THE STARS (17-13-1): Captain Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov form a potent top line to open the season, but coach Ken Hitchcock decided to put his top three scorers on separate lines against the Rangers. Dallas responded by pouring 45 shots on goal to end the three-game slide, with Benn, Seguin and Radulov combining for 17 of those shots. "We are starting to really play strong 5-on-5 hockey right now," Hitchcock said. "We are getting a lot of scoring chances and we're not giving up a lot, which is a really good sign."

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (17-10-3): New York allowed the opening goal in five straight games -- losing four -- before scoring first against Washington to improve to 11-0-0 when netting the initial goal. "The great thing is we always have the belief, whether it's 2-0, 3-1, 3-2, we can come back with any amount of time left," coach Doug Weight said. "But the last three weeks it's a little disheartening, it's 1-0 more than not against us. For a team like ours, it's big to get the lead." The Islanders have won 16 in a row dating to last season when scoring first.

OVERTIME

1. Islanders captain John Tavares needs two goals to reach 20 for the ninth time in as many seasons.

2. The Stars are 0-for-14 on the power play over the past five games.

3. New York blanked Dallas 3-0 on Jan. 19 in Weight's first game as the team's head coach.

PREDICTION: Islanders 4, Stars 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Rangers vs. Senators Preview and Predictions

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

The Ottawa Senators will be relieved to be in familiar surroundings on Wednesday as they return home from a disastrous road trip to face the New York Rangers. Ottawa completed its seven-game trek with a 1-5-1 record after dropping a 3-2 decision in Buffalo on Tuesday.

Defenseman Cody Ceci and Derick Brassard scored third-period goals, but the Senators' rally fell short as they lost for the ninth time in 10 road contests (1-8-1). The stretch of futility for Ottawa, which also has lost three straight at home, began on Nov. 19 with a 3-0 setback at the Rangers. New York is coming off its second defeat in three contests, a 2-1 shootout loss to Dallas at home on Monday. Former Maurice Richard Trophy winner Rick Nash scored the lone goal for the Rangers, ending his 10-game drought and giving him three points in his last two contests.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), Sportsnet, TVA (Ottawa)

ABOUT THE RANGERS (16-11-3): Top-line center Mika Zibanejad, who hasn't played since Nov. 26 due to a concussion, continued his recovery Tuesday by participating in practice as a defenseman and on the power play. "He's coming along real well," coach Alain Vigneault told the team's website. "I thought he looked real sharp, so I'm looking forward to trying him in the middle. ... He might get a couple laps in the middle there (during Thursday's practice)." Chris Kreider has gone three games without a point, leaving him one goal shy of 100 for his career and one point away from 200.

ABOUT THE SENATORS (9-13-7): Alex Burrows' nightmare offensive season continued Tuesday as he was kept off the scoresheet for the ninth consecutive game, keeping him one assist shy of 200 for his career. The 36-year-old former 35-goal scorer has recorded six points in 29 contests this campaign and notched just one assist over his last 15 games. The goal on Tuesday by Brassard, a former Ranger, ended his seven-game point drought and gave him 400 in the NHL.

OVERTIME

1. Rangers D Marc Staal will pass Andy Bathgate (719) for 11th place on the franchise list for games played with his next appearance.

2. Ottawa has been shut out three times and scored a total of five goals during its five-game slide (0-4-1).

3. New York D Nick Holden's next point will be his 100th in the NHL.

PREDICTION: Rangers 4, Senators 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Bruins vs. Red Wings Preview and Predictions

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

The Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings are like crossing ships in the night, with the former sailing in the right direction in the Atlantic Division while the latter rapidly is taking on water. Winners of two in a row and eight of 10 overall, the Bruins look to add to the woes of the reeling Red Wings on Wednesday when the Original Six rivals meet at Little Caesars Arena.

Tuukka Rask carries a 4-0-0 mark with a 1.09 goals-against average and .955 save percentage in his last five games into Wednesday's tilt. The 2014 Vezina Trophy winner turned aside 93 of 102 shots in four encounters with Detroit last season, sporting a 3-0-1 mark with one shutout to improve to 9-5-2 in his career against the Red Wings. Detroit hasn't been helping itself in many facets of its game, as it has scored just one goal in four of its last six games and dropped nine of 10 overall (1-5-4). "It's frustrating, but we have to be professionals and continue to grind away, stick with the process and, hopefully, things will start turning our way," veteran goaltender Jimmy Howard said.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCSN

ABOUT THE BRUINS (14-9-4): Ryan Spooner practiced in full for the second straight day on Tuesday as he recovers from a lower-body injury that has seen him return to the lineup and exit in short order on multiple occasions. "I guess the long and short of that (is) he's still day-to-day," coach Bruce Cassidy said after Tuesday's practice. "We'll decide Wednesday. We don't want to go backwards again. We've had a couple of starts and stops with that one." Kevan Miller's status is questionable, albeit for a different reason, as the defenseman and wife Haley welcomed the birth of the couple's first child on Tuesday.

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (11-13-6): Captain Henrik Zetterberg ended a 22-game goal drought by netting his team's lone tally in a 2-1 overtime loss to Florida on Monday. The veteran Swede isn't the only one having his difficulties, as defenseman Danny DeKeyser has been held without a point and is a minus-11 in 10 contests following a return from a 17-game absence with a broken bone in his ankle. "It's been taking me a little bit to get going to where I want to be. (Against Florida) I felt good, I thought my legs were better, I was moving a bit better on the ice, just felt stronger," DeKeyser said.

OVERTIME

1. Boston D Torey Krug, who is a former Michigan State standout, has three goals and six assists in 17 career encounters with Detroit.

2. Detroit D Mike Green has been held off the scoresheet in five straight contests and remains one point shy of 450 for his career.

3. The Bruins have scored a power-play goal in each of their last three games after going 3-for-34 in the previous 12, while the Red Wings are 0-for-13 with the man advantage in December.

PREDICTION: Bruins 3, Red Wings 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Predators vs. Canucks Preview and Predictions

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

The Nashville Predators have gone nearly six weeks without suffering back-to-back losses and will try to keep that streak intact when they visit the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night. It's the opener of a three-game road trip through Western Canada for the surging Predators, who have earned points in 15 of their last 17 games (13-2-2).

Nashville had its three-game winning streak halted with a 4-3 shootout loss to expansion Vegas on Friday night, dropping the team to 11-2-2 at Bridgestone Arena. One of those home losses was the Predators' only regulation defeat in the last 11 games -- a 5-3 setback to Vancouver on Nov. 30. The Canucks scored three unanswered goals in the third period in the last meeting, including a pair by rookie Brock Boeser, who has scored in each of the past three games. Vancouver needs to find offense from someone other than Boeser, however, notching only four goals during its current three-game losing streak.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, FSN Tennessee (Nashville), Sportsnet (Vancouver)

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (18-7-4): Top-line center Ryan Johansen, sidelined the past three games due to an upper-body injury, practiced fully Monday and Tuesday and appears poised to return to the lineup on the Canadian trek. "I hope so," Johansen said Monday. "If the next couple days go well, then it should be good to go." Nashville did receive a scare at Monday's practice when center Kyle Turris, who has collected 13 points in 14 games since he was acquired from Ottawa, took a puck to the face but he was back on the ice Tuesday.

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (14-13-4): Vancouver's offense took another major hit when third-leading scorer Sven Baertschi suffered a fractured jaw after he was hit in the face by a puck Saturday night. Baertschi's injury came days after Bo Horvat, who is second on the team to Boeser with 10 goals and 20 points, fractured his ankle and also is looking at a lengthy absence. "Every team has injuries," forward Thomas Vanek said after Monday's 5-1 loss at Winnipeg. "When I have the scoring chances that I had tonight, I've got to put them away."

OVERTIME

1. Predators leading scorer Filip Forsberg has five goals in 11 games versus Vancouver.

2. Boeser has scored 11 of his 16 goals in the past 13 games.

3. Predators F Viktor Arvidsson needs two points to reach 100 for his NHL career.

PREDICTION: Predators 3, Canucks 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Villanova vs. Temple Preview and Predictions

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

Villanova became the No. 1 team in the nation earlier this week, but coach Jay Wright hopes his team can somehow rise to an even higher level. The Wildcats continue to roll over their opponents, both within the Philadelphia area and across the country, and those runs will be on the line Wednesday against host Temple.

The Wildcats moved up in the rankings after Duke and Kansas lost last week, but Wright knows that his team can improve, particularly after a subpar performance its last time out. "It's always an honor to be ranked No.1," Wright said. "It's great for the 'Nova Nation and we appreciate the respect of the writers and coaches. We know it's early, though, and we need to get a lot better." Villanova trailed at halftime against La Salle on Sunday before rallying for a 77-68 victory behind Phil Booth and Donte DiVincenzo (18 points apiece). That was the 21st straight Big 5 win for the Wildcats, who wrap up their Philadelphia series round-robin against an Owls team that has won three of its last four.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT VILLANOVA (10-0): The Wildcats rank around 30th in the nation in both scoring and scoring defense, and they do not have a natural low-post scorer, but the team just continues to win. Mikal Bridges (18.2 points) and Jalen Brunson (17.2) are the leading scorers - and both have terrific shooting percentages across the board - plus Brunson has 48 assists and only 13 turnovers as he takes aim at the Big East Player of the Year award. Booth (12.7 points) is averaging 18.3 points over the last three games and is 9-of-18 from 3-point range over that stretch.

ABOUT TEMPLE (6-2): The Owls have two primary scorers in Shizz Alston Jr. and Quinton Rose, both of whom are averaging 17.3 points, although Alston is an elite 3-point shooter (53.5 percent), while Rose is merely a competent shooter from the arc (37.5 percent). Obi Enechionyia chips in 12.6 points and is 19-of-20 from the foul line this season, while Alston is also terrific from the stripe (25-of-26). Temple's last game was a Big 5 affair against Saint Joseph's in which the Owls led by 11 at halftime before holding on to win 81-78.

TIP-INS

1. The Wildcats lead the all-time series 48-43.

2. Villanova F Eric Paschall is 0-for-10 from the field over the last two games and is 1-of-19 from 3-point range this season.

3. Alston had made a school-record 52 straight foul shots before missing one against Saint Joseph's.

PREDICTION: Villanova 88, Temple 73

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Sam Houston State vs. Ole Miss Preview and Predictions

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

Andy Kennedy is in his 13th season as coach of Ole Miss, but he is in the midst of unfamiliar territory as the struggling Rebels prepare to host Sam Houston State on Wednesday. Ole Miss lost at Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, marking the first time in Kennedy's tenure the Rebels have dropped three non-conference games in a row, and while the competition has been a challenge that does not mean Kennedy or his players are satisfied with falling short.

"It's a combination of a number of different things," Kennedy told reporters Monday in addressing the status of his team, which now is at .500 through eight games. "When you play against quality competition, those things bite you." The Rebels led in the final two minutes of regulation in an overtime defeat to South Dakota State, led for 37 minutes in an overtime loss to Virginia Tech, and were ahead by one at halftime before losing to the Blue Raiders by 19 points. One area of concern is defense, where the Rebels are 290th in the nation in allowing 78.4 points per contest. The Bearkats have defeated just one Division I team this season, a victory over Santa Clara in the Great Alaska Shootout, and lost their last game to No. 21 Baylor by 28 points.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, SEC Network Plus

ABOUT SAM HOUSTON STATE (5-4): Senior forward Chris Galbreath Jr. is the only Bearkats player averaging in double figures at 14.8 points per game. He recorded his third consecutive double-double in the loss at Baylor, finishing with 24 points on 10-of-21 shooting from the field to go with 10 rebounds. Sam Houston State is averaging just 58.4 points in five games against Division I competition.

ABOUT OLE MISS (4-4): Several Rebels spent Monday telling reporters there is no panic in their locker room, with a four-game homestand opening Wednesday before the SEC opener against South Carolina on New Year's Eve. Junior guard Terence Davis leads Ole Miss in scoring at 16.9 points per game but scored just 10 against Middle Tennessee State. Senior forward Marcanvis Hymon matched a season high with 12 points Saturday, finishing a perfect 6-of-6 from the field.

TIP-INS

1. The Rebels shot a season-worst 5-of-18 from 3-point range Saturday, and are shooting just 27.6 percent from beyond the arc during their losing streak.

2. Ole Miss has committed 96 turnovers in eight games, the 19th lowest number of miscues in the country.

3. Ole Miss senior G Deandre Burnett is 21st in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.5).

PREDICTION: Ole Miss 77, Sam Houston State 59

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Longwood vs. Illinois Preview and Predictions

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

Illinois looks to bounce back from a disappointing two-week stretch when it hosts Longwood on Wednesday. The Fighting Illini have dropped three of their first four games in the month of December, including an 89-82 loss to UNLV on Saturday when they matched a school record with 36 fouls, and hope to turn their fortunes around in their first-ever meeting with the Lancers.

"I'm thoroughly frustrated with the fouls," Illinois coach Brad Underwood told reporters. "I'll take the fight that our guys had but we have to play a little smarter." Illinois has surrendered an average of more than 90 points in its last two losses and hopes to put the defensive clamps on Longwood, which has been held to 60 or fewer points in three games this season. The Fighting Illini have won 10 consecutive non-conference home games with their lone loss coming to Big South Conference foe Winthrop (84-80) last season. Longwood, which was picked to finish ninth in the Big South preseason poll, saw its three-game winning streak come to an end with an 81-70 loss to Virginia Military Institute and aim to get back into the win column by notching a non-conference road victory for the first time since Nov. 28, 2015.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

ABOUT LONGWOOD (3-6): B.K. Ashe led the Lancers with 21 points and Isaiah Walton added 19 before fouling out in the loss to VMI. Charles Glover, who leads the team in 3-point shooting (50 percent), went down with a lower-body injury in the second half and is questionable for Wednesday. "We really lost some momentum when Chuck went out and Isaiah got into foul trouble," Longwood coach Jayson Gee told reporters. "We're not good enough at the guard position to lose players of their caliber down the stretch and still come out on top."

ABOUT ILLINOIS (7-4): Mark Smith went 4-of-5 from 3-point range en route to a team-high 17 points before fouling out and Trent Frazier scored 12 of his career-best 16 points in the first half against UNLV. Leron Black, who leads Illinois in scoring with 13.6 points per game, played 12 minutes before suffering an elbow injury and his status for Wednesday's clash is unknown. "We're at the mercy of our doctors in terms of going through the x-rays and MRIs," Underwood told reporters. "He's having both of those procedures done and we'll wait to see what comes of them."

TIP-INS

1. The Fighting Illini are ranked 349th nationally in fouls per game (24).

2. Illinois G Aaron Jordan has made 20 of his last 28 attempts from 3-point range.

3. Longwood has dropped 12 straight non-conference road games.

PREDICTION: Illinois 88, Longwood 65

[Can'tPickAWinner]

New Orleans vs. SMU Preview and Predictions

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

SMU looks to bounce back from a tough road loss to nationally ranked TCU when it hosts New Orleans on Wednesday in a non-conference matchup. The Mustangs fell by 11 to the then-20th-ranked Horned Frogs while the Privateers are coming off a blowout win over NAIA foe Williams Baptist and are looking for their first victory over a Division I opponent.

Coach Mark Slessinger's squad, which had 11 days off for finals prior to this contest, is led by senior forward Travin Thibodeaux's 14.1 points per game, as he is the team's lone double-figure scorer. By contrast, SMU boasts four double-figure scorers -- led by junior guard Shake Milton's 18.6 points per game -- with a fifth starter, sophomore guard Jimmy Whitt, coming up just short at 9.9 points per contest. Whitt and Milton are 1-2 on the team -- and in the American Athletic Conference -- in assists, with Whitt dishing out 4.6 per game compared to Milton's 4.5. Defensively, coach Tim Jankovich has a tenacious group that holds opponents to 41.1 percent shooting from the floor and just 60.1 points per contest.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT NEW ORLEANS (2-5): The Privateers have shown a lot of depth this year, with 12 different players averaging in double figures in minutes, but the team's bench is about to get longer -- and taller -- with the debut of 7-3 freshman Bol Riek. The center from the South Sudan by way of Moosheart (Ill.) High School will bring some obvious height to the New Orleans front line, which doesn't have another player taller than 6-9. While it's easy to get excited about the possible impact of Riek, the Privateers are certainly cognizant that it will be his first-ever college basketball game and want to temper expectations for him from teammates and fans.

ABOUT SMU (7-3): The best thing about the Mustangs this season could be the team's willingness to share the basketball, with SMU averaging 17.6 assists with a 1.5 assist-to-turnover ratio, which ranks 19th in the nation. Besides Milton, Jarrey Foster (15.1 points), Ethan Chargois (12.7) and Ben Emelogu (10.5) are averaging in double figures in scoring, and the Mustangs have recorded assists on 176 of their 263 field goals this season (67 percent). Jankovich tries to preach to move the ball, and it was shown against TCU that the team doesn't rely just on point guard Whitt to get the offense rolling, as he had to sit because of foul trouble and Milton stepped in and led the Mustangs with nine assists.

TIP-INS

1. Emelogu's current shooting percentage from 3-point range of 54.5 would be the best in school history since the stat was first kept in 1986-87.

2. The Mustangs have won 28 consecutive home games, the second longest active streak in the country.

3. SMU has been outscored in the paint in just one of its first 10 contests.

PREDICTION: SMU 78, New Orleans 62

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Savannah State vs. Texas A&M Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats08:00 PM
by Gracenote on 12/13/2017

No. 10 Texas A&M takes on a second straight overmatched opponent when it hosts Savannah State on Wednesday. It's the second of four straight home games for the Aggies leading into SEC play.


Texas A&M has faced four Power Five foes already, beating West Virginia, Oklahoma State, and USC while losing to Arizona (67-64). The Aggies bounced back from their lone defeat to rout Prairie View A&M 75-53 on Saturday, and they should have an easy time again on Wednesday. The Tigers have recorded only one win against an NCAA Division I opponent thus far - a 101-97 triumph over winless Alabama State. The Aggies won the only previous meeting 67-34 in 2005.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, SEC Network Plus


ABOUT SAVANNAH STATE (3-8): The Tigers aren't afraid to push the pace, as evidenced by the fact they score 83.2 points per game but give up 95.1. Lanky guards Dexter McClanahan (13.6 points) and Alante Fenner (12.2) are the team's only double-digit scorers, but six players average at least 7.8 points. Javaris Jenkins (7.8 points) had the hot hand with 31 points in Saturday's 102-91 loss at Georgia Southern.

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (8-1): The Aggies are one of the toughest defensive teams in the nation, holding opponents to 36.2 percent shooting, but they also have plenty of offensive prowess. Four starters average double digits in points, and the fifth is power forward Robert Williams, who averages eight while leading the team in rebounds (10.4) and blocks (2.4). Center Tyler Davis (13.8 points, seven rebounds) and swingman D.J. Hogg (15.4, 7.1) combine with Williams to give the Aggies one of the country's best frontcourts.


TIP-INS

1. Texas A&M has won 109 of its last 129 home games against unranked opponents.

2. The Aggies hold opponents to 23.3 percent from 3-point range - the second-best mark in the nation - while the Tigers average 39.5 attempts from beyond the arc.

3. Savannah State is playing its fourth road game against a team either currently ranked in the top 25 or receiving votes.


PREDICTION: Texas A&M 103, Savannah State 77