Monday 12-18-17 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

76ers vs. Bulls Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017

The Philadelphia 76ers might be the hot up-and-coming team in the Eastern Conference, but the Chicago Bulls are starting to show that their rebuilding process is moving in the right direction as well. The Bulls will try to pull off their sixth consecutive victory when they host the 76ers on Monday.

Chicago's winning streak coincides directly with the return of power forward Nikola Mirotic, who missed the first 23 games recovering from facial fractures after a fight with fellow forward Bobby Portis during training camp. Portis and Mirotic are not speaking off the court, but the two are becoming a dynamic duo between the lines and are averaging a combined 35.6 points over the last five games. Philadelphia has its own dynamic duo in point guard Ben Simmons and center Joel Embiid, but the two managed to lead their team to just one win in the last six games. "We all want it all yesterday; it's the nature of all of us, especially in this city," 76ers coach Brett Brown told the team's website. "The evolution of our guys, where we are right now, what I feel in the locker room, what I feel at the practice facility, I'm proud of our guys, and I'm confident in our team, and the way we're trying to steer the program."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia-plus, NBCS Chicago

ABOUT THE 76ERS (14-14): Philadelphia will be taking the court for the first time since suffering a heartbreaking 119-117 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in triple-overtime on Friday. Embiid logged a career-high 48 minutes and scored 34 points in the setback and Simmons came up one rebound shy of a triple-double, but the 76ers still suffered their fourth straight single-digit defeat. "We put ourselves in a great position to really be in the game," small forward Robert Covington told reporters. "It was unfortunate that we took a loss. These are the types of losses that hurt the worst, especially all the fight we put into the game."

ABOUT THE BULLS (8-20): Portis scored a career-high 27 points and Mirotic added 22 in a 115-109 win at Milwaukee on Friday, and the two are moving beyond their off-the-court issues. "Everything is the team," Portis told reporters. "We're professionals, we're basketball players and this is our job. We have to come in every day and find a way to make it work and I feel like we've done it to this point. It's been fun playing with Niko. He's a hell of a player. He's been playing out of his mind since he's been back. I'm happy for him. I'm happy to have him back." Mirotic scored at least 22 points in each of the last three games and is shooting 56.3 percent from the floor in that span.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Bulls rookie PF Lauri Markkanen (back spasms) missed the last three games and is day-to-day.

2. 76ers PF Trevor Booker (ankle) left Friday's game and was already ruled out for Monday.

3. The Bulls took three of the four meetings last season, with Philadelphia's lone win coming at Chicago on March 24.

PREDICTION: 76ers 115, Bulls 111

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Trail Blazers vs. Timberwolves Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats08:00 PM
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017

The Portland Trail Blazers have turned around their fortunes on the road and seek their fourth straight win to close out a long road trip when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. After opening the five-game trip with a loss at Golden State, the Blazers turned it up on the defensive end to defeat three straight Eastern Conference opponents.

"Even though it wasn't in a sexy way on the offensive end, in a sense, I think defensively we stuck in there and did the right things to make some plays," guard Evan Turner told the media after Saturday's 93-91 victory in Charlotte. While Portland is making the most of a five-game road trip, the Timberwolves are just 2-2 on a five-game homestand that has already featured three of the four teams at the bottom of the Western Conference. One of those squads - Phoenix - trailed by as many as 15 points before rallying for a 108-106 triumph Saturday in Minneapolis. Karl-Anthony Towns recorded his NBA-leading 24th double-double with 28 points and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who lost at home against a conference opponent for the first time in nine games.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCSN Northwest (Portland), FSN North (Minnesota)

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (16-13): Guard CJ McCollum scored a game-high 25 points at Charlotte and is averaging 24.4 while shooting 52.3 percent over a five-game stretch. Running mate Damian Lillard was held to 18 points and is averaging 19 - nearly seven below his season average - in the last three games while going 19-for-49 from the floor, although he had 11 assists Saturday. Portland hosts San Antonio on Wednesday as it tries to snap a four-game home losing streak.

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (17-13): Saturday's loss at home to a sub-.500 team without its leading scorer was another example that Minnesota - while talented - has some work to do to learn how to win consistently. "I didn't like it from the jump," forward Taj Gibson told the media. "I felt like we were getting loose from the bench. It just didn't feel right. We always do that. We get a good lead, get up 20, maybe 15 and start feeling good, and we just have a letdown." Gibson also had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds but the Timberwolves were dominated on the glass by a 52-31 margin.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Portland entered Sunday ranked fourth in the NBA in opponents' field-goal percentage (44.2), while Minnesota was 29th (48.0).

2. Timberwolves PG Tyus Jones has made all six of his shot attempts over the last three games and is 4-for-4 from long range over a five-game span.

3. McCollum averaged 27.5 points on 56.3 percent shooting as Portland took three of four meetings last season.

PREDICTION: Timberwolves 111, Trail Blazers 107

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Nuggets vs. Thunder Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017

The Oklahoma City Thunder made some progress this month despite their last game and hope to take advantage of a big stretch at home which begins with a visit from the improving Denver Nuggets on Monday night. The Thunder were routed at New York 111-96 on Saturday but won six of nine in December and play seven of the next eight at home, where they are 9-4 this season.

Oklahoma City won the first two games on its recent trip against Indiana and Philadelphia before allowing 55.1 percent shooting from the field against the Knicks on Saturday as Carmelo Anthony struggled to 5-of-18 from the field in his return to New York. The Thunder hope to settle back into the form that helped lead to a win over San Antonio earlier in the month when they take on Denver, which is one-half game out of fourth in the Western Conference after missing the playoffs in each of the last four seasons. The Nuggets, who beat Oklahoma City 102-94 on Nov. 9, recovered from a rough 2-4 road trip by outlasting New Orleans 117-111 in overtime Friday as Will Barton went 4-for-4 from the field in the extra period. "We want to be a playoff team," Denver coach Michael Malone told reporters after the win. "And these are the kinds of physical games you have to win to get there."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBATV, Altitude 2 (Denver), FS Oklahoma

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (16-13): Center Nikola Jokic returned from a seven-game absence due to an ankle injury with 13 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in the victory over New Orleans. Guard Gary Harris accumulated 57 points in the last two games combined to take over the scoring lead for the balanced Nuggets at 16.1 while Barton (15.8) is next, including a 41.4 percent success rate from 3-point range. Guard Torrey Craig made his first career start Friday and finished with six points along with a key block late in regulation.

ABOUT THE THUNDER (14-15): Reigning MVP Russell Westbrook shot at least 50 percent from the field for the first time in 17 games Saturday (9-for-18), scoring 25 points in the loss to the Knicks, and tops the team at 22.8 overall. Paul George (20.3) and Anthony (17.8) give Oklahoma City thee prime scoring threats, but only one other player averages more than eight. Center Steven Adams (13.7 points, 8.8 rebounds) is the top inside threat, but the former first-round pick is questionable after missing the last game with a concussion.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Denver PF Trey Lyles, who is averaging 7.6 points overall, scored at least 19 in three of the last four games.

2. Oklahoma City F Patrick Patterson reached double figures in scoring for the first time this season on Saturday with 12.

3. Nuggets PG Emmanuel Mudiay, who is averaging 9.6 points, left Friday's game with a sprained ankle and is questionable.

PREDICTION: Thunder 110, Nuggets 100

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Clippers vs. Spurs Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017

The road trip started out on a positive note for the Los Angeles Clippers, but the last two games saw the offense disappear again. The Clippers will try to find the missing points and come out even on the four-game trip when they visit the San Antonio Spurs on Monday.

Los Angeles missed 20 of its 28 3-point attempts and turned the ball over 17 times in a 90-85 loss at Miami on Saturday, but it was a phantom foul call that went against the team in the final minute that took most of the blame for the loss. "I don't know if we would have won the game or not, but I thought we got missed calls down the stretch and I thought that hurt us," Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters. "Having said that, I just love our spirit. There are so many reasons not to hang in there, not to play and our guys just keep doing it." The Spurs found their spirit during a 13-0 run to end the game on Saturday that gave then a 98-96 win over the Dallas Mavericks. San Antonio continues to be cautious with stars Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard while coming off injury, but ageless wonder Manu Ginobili and star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge are keeping the team afloat.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), FS Southwest (San Antonio)

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (11-17): Injuries to Blake Griffin (knee), Austin Rivers (concussion), Danilo Gallinari (hip) and Patrick Beverley (knee) rob Los Angeles of an average of 63.7 points, and the team had trouble making up the difference while averaging 88 points in losses at Washington and Miami. Veteran shooting guard Lou Williams (19.9 points) is second on the team in scoring behind Griffin (23.6) but struggled to a combined 9-of-30 from the floor in the two setbacks. DeAndre Jordan continues to do his part and collected his fourth consecutive double-double with 12 points and 20 rebounds on Saturday.

ABOUT THE SPURS (20-10): Ginobili, 40, scored 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting in 23 minutes off the bench on Saturday, with his biggest bucket coming with 3.5 seconds left and serving as the game winner. "Man, with Manu, when it's crunch time, I think he's going to make everything," point guard Dejounte Murray told ESPN.com. "That's just Manu. Manu's gonna Manu." Leonard sat out the win as part of the effort to maintain his health as he works his way back from quad tendinopathy, but he is expected to play on a minutes restriction Monday.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Rivers is expected to return for the Clippers on Monday.

2. Spurs SG Danny Green (groin) sat out Saturday's game and is day-to-day.

3. San Antonio earned a 120-107 home win over Los Angeles in the last meeting on Nov. 7.

PREDICTION: Spurs 103, Clippers 96

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Suns vs. Mavericks Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017

The Phoenix Suns used a dramatic fourth-quarter rally to steal a win on the road Saturday, while the Dallas Mavericks were coughing up a late lead. Both teams will look for a complete 48-minute effort when they meet Monday in Dallas.

Phoenix trailed by as many as 15 points before surging for a 108-106 win at Minnesota on Saturday, utilizing three free throws from new addition Isaiah Canaan in the closing seconds. "Playoff experience really helps in moments like those just to be able to calm down and just know that it's a regular free throw, regular part of the game" Canaan - who signed with the Suns on Wednesday - told reporters. "When I got fouled, I knew I was going to make them. Stepped up to the line and made them." While Phoenix was finishing strong, the Mavericks choked away an 11-point lead in the final four-plus minutes of a 98-96 loss at San Antonio. The setback concluded a seven-game stretch against winning teams, during which Dallas went 2-5.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona (Phoenix), FSN Southwest (Dallas)

ABOUT THE SUNS (10-21): Canaan had 15 points, seven assists and five rebounds in his debut with Phoenix and led an outstanding effort by the team's bench. While the Suns' starters combined for 39 points on 11-of-37 shooting, six reserves had 69 points on 22-of-35, with Troy Daniels and Dragan Bender going for 17 points apiece. Center Alex Len added 12 points, a career-high 19 rebounds and a season-high six assists behind starter Tyson Chandler, who returned from a one-game layoff for personal reasons.

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (8-22): The bright spot in the loss at San Antonio was the play of forward Maximilian Kleber, who made 9-of-10 shots en route to a personal-best 21 points. Fellow rookie Dennis Smith Jr. (hip) missed his fifth straight game and Dallas simply fell apart late in its fifth road game in an 11-day span. "We did everything right to lose," forward Dirk Nowitzki told the media. "We missed shots offensively, bad turnover, gave them some offensive rebounds. Letting (Manu) Ginobili go left down the stretch to lay it in. We literally had to do everything perfect to lose this one and we did."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Daniels is averaging 24.5 points on 16-of-24 shooting - including 11-of-16 - over the last two games.

2. Nowitzki has played 1,424 career games, tied with Kevin Willis for sixth on the all-time list.

3. Phoenix took three of four meetings last season with Dallas picking up its only win in a matchup in Mexico City.

PREDICTION: Mavericks 108, Suns 104

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Warriors vs. Lakers Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats10:30 PM
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017

The Los Angeles Lakers will retire Kobe Bryant's jersey during halftime on Monday and the Golden State Warriors, who will be visiting, intend to watch the ceremony. The Lakers will retire both Nos. 8 and 24 in honor of Bryant, who was part of five NBA championship teams while spending his entire career with the franchise.

"Just the experience in seeing one of the greatest players in the history of the game getting his jersey retired and we happen to be there," Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters. "I'm not going to keep them in the locker room to watch tape of the first half. The players would look at me like I was nuts. There's something interesting going on the floor. Let's go out there." Golden State hopes to have a lead at halftime and continues to battle through injuries while posting eight consecutive wins. The Lakers are returning home after dropping the final two of a four-game road trip and have been off since 121-112 setback in Cleveland on Thursday. "I think that we showed what our identity is going to be, we are just not all the way there yet," Lakers coach Luke Walton told reporters. "It is tough to do it for entire stretches of games."

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, NBCS Bay Area (Golden State), Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (23-6): Golden State expects to be without point guard Stephen Curry (ankle) for another week and already declared starters Zaza Pachulia (shoulder) and Draymond Green (shoulder) out for Monday along with key reserve Shaun Livingston (knee). "It's gotta be as beaten up as we've ever been since I've been here," Kerr told reporters. "I don't remember having this many guys out, in particularly the starters. It's all part of it and we've handled it really well, obviously, and it's created some opportunities for other guys and I think they've taken advantage. So, it's all good." Kevin Durant is carrying a heavier load with all the injuries and is averaging 33.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists over the last four games.

ABOUT THE LAKERS (10-17): Los Angeles dropped seven of its last nine games and allowed at least 113 points in each of those seven setbacks. The Lakers allowed the Cavaliers to shoot 50 percent from the floor in Thursday's 121-112 loss but got some strong performances on the other end of the floor from some of its young stars. Second-year small forward Brandon Ingram bounced back from a 2-of-12 effort at New York on Tuesday to score 26 points on 10-of-15 on Thursday while rookie Kyle Kuzma added 20 points off the bench.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Warriors SG Nick Young (concussion) is expected to return on Monday.

2. Lakers SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will sit out road games outside of California for the next month as part of a plea agreement tied to his arrest for suspicion of drunk driving.

3. Golden State took the last four in the series but needed overtime to earn a 127-123 win at Los Angeles in the last meeting on Nov. 29.

PREDICTION: Warriors 119, Lakers 116

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Anaheim Ducks at New Jersey Devils Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017

The Anaheim Ducks look to extend their point streak to eight contests as they continue their six-game road trip Monday against the New Jersey Devils. Anaheim dropped a 3-2 overtime decision at Washington on Saturday, falling to 1-0-1 on its trek, and has gone 3-0-4 since losing in regulation to Columbus on Dec. 1.

The Ducks carried a 2-0 lead into the third period against the Capitals but came unglued and fell to 2-0-8 in overtime this season. New Jersey continues a six-game homestand that began Friday with a 5-2 triumph over Dallas. Brian Boyle led the way with a pair of goals - including the 100th of his career, which proved to be the game-winner. The 33-year-old, who also notched an assist in the win, has scored seven of his eight goals on the season over his last 11 contests.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, KCOP-13 (Anaheim), MSG Plus (New Jersey)

ABOUT THE DUCKS (14-11-8): Hampus Lindholm returned to the lineup Saturday and registered three shots while blocking one in 17 minutes, 48 seconds of ice time. The 23-year-old Swedish defenseman had missed five games with a concussion. Adam Henrique has recorded three goals and three assists in eight contests since being acquired from New Jersey on Nov. 30.

ABOUT THE DEVILS (18-9-5): Taylor Hall leads the team with 31 points and ranks second with 11 goals but has missed the last two games with a knee contusion. Brian Gibbons tops the club with 12 tallies in 32 games after registering five in 66 contests over his first two NHL seasons with Pittsburgh (2013-14) and Columbus (2014-15). The 29-year-old left wing is tied for fourth on the team with 20 points and has collected five in his last five games.

OVERTIME

1. Ducks LW Andrew Cogliano has gone nine games without an assist, remaining stuck on 199 for his career.

2. New Jersey D Will Butcher ranks second among NHL rookies with 19 assists.

3. Anaheim RW Jakob Silfverberg, who has landed on the scoresheet in four of his last five contests, is one assist shy of 100 in the NHL.

PREDICTION: Devils 3, Ducks 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Kings vs. Flyers Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017

Two teams streaking in opposite directions face off Monday as the Philadelphia Flyers continue their five-game homestand against the Los Angeles Kings. Philadelphia has made its 10-game slide (0-5-5) a distant memory with a season-high winning streak that was extended to six contests with Saturday's 2-1 overtime triumph over Dallas.

Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere scored both goals, including the winner at 3:50 of the extra session as the Flyers improved to 3-0-0 on their stretch at Wells Fargo Center. Los Angeles, meanwhile, has followed an eight-game winning streak with a three-game skid (0-2-1) and looks to salvage the finale of its four-game road trip. The Kings earned a point against the New York Islanders on Saturday as captain Anze Kopitar scored the tying goal with 13 seconds remaining in the third period but went on to fall 4-3 in overtime. The 30-year-old Kopitar has netted a team-high 17 tallies in 34 games after recording only 12 in 76 contests last season.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, FSN West (Los Angeles), NBCSN Philadelphia

ABOUT THE KINGS (20-10-4): Tyler Toffoli registered his 100th career assist in Saturday's setback and can reach two more milestones against Philadelphia. The 25-year-old center is one goal shy of the century mark and one point away from 200 in the NHL. Los Angeles has allowed a power-play tally in five consecutive games after yielding one in back-to-back contests only twice this season.

ABOUT THE FLYERS (14-11-7): Jakub Voracek recorded two assists on Saturday, giving him a league-leading 33 and a team-high 40 points. Philadelphia has done a good job staying out of the penalty box lately, permitting fewer than three power-play opportunities in seven consecutive games. Sean Couturier tops the club with 15 goals but has scored just once in his last eight contests.

OVERTIME

1. The Flyers are the third team in NHL history to win at least six in a row after losing 10 straight, joining the 1966-67 Toronto Maple Leafs and 2005-06 San Jose Sharks.

2. Los Angeles RW Dustin Brown will be playing in his 999th career game on Monday.

3. Philadelphia's winning streak is its longest since a 10-game run from Nov. 27-Dec. 14, 2016.

PREDICTION: Kings 4, Flyers 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Blue Jackets vs. Bruins Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017

The Boston Bruins look to avoid a winless homestand when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. The Bruins had won nine of 11 games before dropping a 5-3 contest against Washington on Thursday and a 3-2 overtime decision to the New York Rangers two days later.

"We certainly had opportunities to take advantage early, and we didn't," Boston coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters after Saturday's setback. "Even in overtime, just lost control of pucks and lost our footing, and it took some good chances away." Bruins leading scorer David Pastrnak brings a career high-tying 11-game point streak into the matchup with the Blue Jackets and teammate Brad Marchand has landed on the scoresheet in eight straight contests. Columbus built a 36-24 advantage in shots Saturday in Carolina but came away with its second loss in three contests, a 2-1 defeat on the first leg and a two-game road trip. "I don't think we really got to it, as far as rebounds and getting to second opportunities," Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella told reporters of his team, which has scored fewer than three goals in three of its last four contests. "To score goals, you're going to have to score some ugly ones along the way."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, TVA, FSN Ohio (Columbus), NESN (Boston)

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (20-12-1): Oliver Bjorkstrand is warming up with a goal and five assists in his last three games and ranks second on the team with 22 points - six behind Artemi Panarin. Alexander Wennberg, who recorded a career-high 59 points in 2016-17, also is starting to increase his production with a pair of goals and two assists in his last five contests after managing one point in the previous 10 games. Columbus could take some pressure off with better play on the power play, which is last in the league at 9.67 percent.

ABOUT THE BRUINS (15-10-5): Pastrnak, who leads the team with 30 points, has collected five goals and eight assists during his point streak while Marchand has netted five tallies and set up seven others during his career-best run. Boston is getting healthier as Ryan Spooner returned Saturday from a four-game absence due to a lower-body injury, and defenseman Adam McQuaid (broken fibula) could be back Monday after missing two months. Tuukka Rask has allowed just 10 goals in his last seven games, going 5-1-1 after a slow start to the season.

OVERTIME

1. The Blue Jackets earned a 4-3 shootout victory over the Bruins at home on Oct. 30 as Panarin and Bjorkstrand both scored in the bonus format.

2. Boston rookie C Danton Heinen (18 points) has recorded three goals and three assists in his last six games.

3. Columbus recalled D Cameron Gaunce and LW Sonny Milano from Cleveland while assigning LW Jordan Schroeder and D Gabriel Carlsson to the American Hockey League team on Sunday.

PREDICTION: Blue Jackets 4, Bruins 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Sharks vs. Oilers Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017

After earning three points over the first two contests of their three-game road trip, the San Jose Sharks attempt to extend their streak to six games Monday without their leading scorer as they visit the Edmonton Oilers. San Jose, which has gone 3-0-2 in its last five, lost Logan Couture to a head injury in Friday's 4-3 overtime loss at Vancouver.

The 28-year-old Couture, who tops the Sharks in goals (15) and points (26), is expected to miss Monday's contest and possibly more with what may be a concussion. Defenseman Brent Burns tallied twice in the setback against the Canucks, marking his second two-goal performance in three games and fourth two-point effort in his last five contests. Edmonton is beginning a three-game stretch at home, where it has lost three in a row. The Oilers are coming off a 3-2 triumph at Minnesota on Saturday in which Cam Talbot returned from a seven-game absence due to an upper-body injury and made 29 saves.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, NBCSN California (San Jose), Sportsnet West (Edmonton)

ABOUT THE SHARKS (17-10-4): Joe Thornton had his four-game point streak halted Friday, keeping him one behind Doug Gilmour (1,414) for 18th place on the all-time list. The 38-year-old Thornton also is nine assists away from tying Mario Lemieux (1,033) for 11th in NHL history. After scoring at least 29 goals in each of the previous four seasons, captain Joe Pavelski has recorded only six in 31 games this campaign.

ABOUT THE OILERS (14-17-2): Edmonton hopes to get healthier on the blue line soon as Adam Larsson (upper body) and Andrej Sekera (knee) continue to get closer to returning to the lineup. "Larsson, yes," coach Todd McLellan told the team's website when asked if the defensemen would be back before Christmas. "Sekera is getting close. We'll have to make that call as we progress, but Andrej won't play (Monday)." Connor McDavid leads the team with 40 points and has not been kept off the scoresheet in back-to-back games this season.

OVERTIME

1. Sharks G Martin Jones is 0-0-2 in his last two starts, remaining one win shy of 100 for his career.

2. Edmonton and San Jose are among four teams tied for the league lead with six short-handed goals.

3. Burns has scored five goals in as many games after recording one in his first 26 contests this season.

PREDICTION: Oilers 3, Sharks 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Penguins vs. Avalanche Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017

The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins look to string together a pair of wins to end a short road trip when they visit the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. The Penguins, who had an uneven start to the season, snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory at Arizona on Saturday and hope to avenge last Monday's 2-1 loss to the Avalanche.

Pittsburgh coughed up a two-goal lead against the Coyotes before defenseman Olli Maatta's goal with 14.6 seconds remaining snapped a 2-2 tie and improved the Penguins to 7-9-2 on the road this season. "It was a little discouraging when they tied it up. I thought we controlled a lot of the play for a lot of the night," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan told reporters after the win. "It was just one of those nights. I really liked our stick-to-it-iveness. We just went back to work." Colorado rallied from four goals down to get within one before suffering a 6-5 loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday despite captain Gabriel Landeskog's career-high five points, including his second hat trick of the season. "We're here to play and we're here to compete," Landeskog told reporters. "We're not going to be pushed around and we're not going to give up on anybody. The most important thing is that we showed that to ourselves (Saturday)."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, Altitude (Colorado)

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (17-14-3): Pittsburgh is just 4-4-0 this month, but that record could be much worse if not for a penalty-killing unit that has been a perfect 23-for-23 in the last eight contests. Phil Kessel tops the team with 15 goals, including four in his last seven games, and 38 points - five more than captain Sidney Crosby, who has recorded eight goals and nine assists in his last 12 contests. Evgeni Malkin has notched at least one point in seven of eight games this month after scoring his 10th goal of the campaign in Saturday's victory.

ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (15-15-2): Defenseman Erik Johnson was suspended two games for boarding Tampa Bay's Vladislav Namestnikov on Saturday. Landeskog's big performance gave him 13 goals and pulled him within a pair of team leader Nathan MacKinnon, who has collected four tallies and an assist in his last two games to increase his team-best total to 38 points. Alex Kerfoot (21 points), who has missed the last three contests with a lower-body injury, could return Monday.

OVERTIME

1. The Penguins have won five of their last six games at Colorado but dropped their last two at home against the Avalanche.

2. Colorado G Semyon Varlamov is 3-1-1 with a .917 save percentage in his career against the Penguins.

3. Crosby is four goals away from 400 in his career and RW Patric Hornqvist needs two assists to reach 200.

PREDICTION: Penguins 4, Avalanche 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Houston Baptist vs. Michigan State Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/18/2017

No. 2 Michigan State looks to extend its winning streak to 10 games when it begins a five-game homestand Monday against Houston Baptist in a non-conference contest. The Spartans pulled away from a feisty Oakland team for a neutral-court victory on Saturday, while the Huskies are coming off a home rout of Barclay on Friday.

Freshmen David Caraher and Ian DuBose are the highest-scoring duo in the Southland Conference, averaging 15.2 and 11.4 points, respectively. They'll both certainly be focused on by Michigan State's defense, which leads the nation in field-goal percentage defense, allowing just 33.3 percent shooting. Offensively, it's nearly impossible to focus on all the Spartans' scoring threats, as all five starters are averaging double digits this season - including sophomore forwards Miles Bridges (15.1 points, 6.5 rebounds) and Nick Ward (13.8, 6.9). The backcourt duo of Joshua Langford (13.3 points) and Cassius Winston (13.3, 6.4 assists, national-best 58.3 3-point percentage) is equally dangerous, with both able to bury an opponent from beyond the arc.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

ABOUT HOUSTON BAPTIST (4-7): The Huskies have been one of the top rebounding teams in the country this season, ranking 14th in rebounds per game (42.1) and third in offensive boards (15.8). Without a lot of size - 6-10 Edward Hardt is the only starter above 6-6 - coach Ron Cottrell has his team competing on the glass every night because everyone concentrates on getting to the boards. Four different players average at least 5.1 rebounds, including point guard Braxton Bonds at 6.2, although the Huskies likely will need a lot more than hustle against a Michigan State squad blessed with loads of height and depth.

ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (10-1): While the Spartans' starting five gets a lot of the attention, the bench may be what sets this team apart from others that have played for Tom Izzo, giving him versatility and answers when he needs to make adjustments. Against Oakland, despite Ward playing great, Izzo switched to forward Kenny Goins when the Golden Grizzlies went to a zone in the second half, and the junior responded with a career-high seven assists from the high post. Likewise, with Oakland's Kendrick Nunn scoring 31 points in the game's first 31 minutes, Izzo brought in senior guard Lourawls Nairn Jr. to shut him down, and Nunn was held to just a single free throw the rest of the way as Michigan State pulled away in the final minutes for the victory.

TIP-INS

1. Bonds recorded just the third triple-double in school history in the win over Barclay, finishing with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.

2. Michigan State ranks second in the nation in blocked shots per game, averaging 8.1 behind freshman F Jaren Jackson Jr.'s team-best 3.1 - which is 14th in the country.

3. The Spartans are No. 19 in the nation in scoring defense (62.4 points), allowing just three opponents to record more than 60 points this season.

PREDICTION: Michigan State 88, Houston Baptist 62

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Northern Arizona vs. South Florida Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017

South Florida looks to win consecutive games for the second time this season when the Bulls host Northern Arizona on Monday night. USF has not won back-to-back games since knocking off Howard and Arkansas State on Nov. 22 and 24, respectively.


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The Bulls hope to carry over the strong shooting performance from last Thursday's victory against Bethune-Cookman into Monday's meeting with Northern Arizona, which allows just short of 50 percent shooting. USF had its best shooting night of the season last time out, hitting on 55.6 percent from the field and draining 7-of-14 from 3-point range. It marked the first time the Bulls made at least 55 percent of their shots and 50 percent from behind the 3-point line in the same game since Nov. 28, 2016 against Kennesaw State. Only one prior time this season had USF been better than 50 percent from the field, which came during a victory at Stetson on Nov. 15.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT NORTHERN ARIZONA (2-9): Sophomore guard JoJo Anderson is coming off a career-high 30 points in the Lumberjacks' loss to South Dakota on Thursday. Anderson had not scored more than 19 in any game this season and managed just 22 combined points in the previous three contests. He is one of two players averaging in double digits scoring despite starting just four of 11 games this season.

ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA (5-6): The Bulls had five players reach double digits in scoring for the first time since Dec. 16, 2015, last time out. Senior guard Stephan Jiggetts led the way with 20 points and became the second player this season to lead the Bulls in scoring, rebounds (five) and assists (seven) in the same game. The Bulls put up a season-high in points with 83 against Bethune-Cookman, nearly 20 more than their season average.

TIP-INS

1. USF F Malik Martin is shooting 60.3 percent from the floor this season and is coming off a perfect 5-for-5 night against Bethune-Cookman.

2. Jiggets ranks second in the American Athletic Conference in free-throw percentage, hitting 92 percent from the charity stripe.

3. USF is 30th nationally among 351 Division I schools in free-throw percentage (76.3 percent).

PREDICTION: South Florida 74, Northern Arizona 69

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Northern Illinois vs. Marquette Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017

Marquette is off to a sensational start, having opened with seven wins in its first 10 games and an emphatic victory over rival Wisconsin in its first road game of the season. And things are about to get even better for the Golden Eagles, as they add towering center Harry Froling to the lineup in time for Monday's home meeting with Northern Illinois.

Froling, a 6-11 Australia native and SMU transfer who was forced to sit out Marquette's first 10 games, is expected to provide a significant frontcourt presence after averaging 4.3 points and 3.2 rebounds in 14.6 minutes over 10 games with the Mustangs last season. He joins a Golden Eagles team that shot a red-hot 14-of-22 from 3-point range in an 82-63 rout of the Badgers, prompting head coach Steve Wojciechowski to say afterward: "It was as good of a 40-minute effort that we've had all season." Marquette goes for its sixth win in seven games Monday as it hosts a Northern Illinois team that held off Central Connecticut 61-55 last time out. Eugene German led the way with 19 points for the Huskies, who have alternated wins and losses over their previous five games.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

ABOUT NORTHERN ILLINOIS (6-4): German leads the Huskies in scoring and ranks fourth in the Mid-American Conference in scoring (19.9 ppg), and has shot 50 percent from the field or better in three consecutive games; he has also made 15 3-pointers so far this season, just one fewer than he had in 2016-17. Junior guard Levi Bradley contributes 15.2 points and a team-best 5.8 rebounds, and has racked up nine boards in each of his last two games. Northern Illinois has been sensational at preventing opposing steals, yielding just 3.1 per game - the fewest in the nation.

ABOUT MARQUETTE (7-3): Second-year guard Markus Howard has been the driving force behind the Golden Eagles' offense, leading the Big East and ranking 16th in the nation in scoring (22.5 ppg); he has averaged nearly 30 points over his previous four games while knocking down an incredible 25 3-pointers over that span. Backcourt mate Andrew Rowsey is close behind at 21.8 points and has also been prolific from beyond the arc, making at least three 3-pointers in each of his previous four contests. Rebounding has been a major concern for Marquette, which averages just 31.3 boards per game (32nd out of 351 Division I teams).

TIP-INS

1. Howard leads the conference in made 3-pointers per game (4.0).

2. Marquette shoots 79.7 percent from the free-throw line, tied for the sixth-best rate in the nation.

3. Northern Illinois averages just 5.9 made 3-pointers per game, ranking outside the top 300 nationally.

PREDICTION: Marquette 84, Northern Illinois 68

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Charleston Southern vs. Florida State Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017

For the first time this season, Florida State has to prove that it can rebound from a loss. The 19th-ranked Seminoles suffered a tough defeat their last time out and only have 48 hours to bounce back as they host Charleston Southern on Monday.

In its last contest, Florida State led by a point with under 10 seconds left before Oklahoma State scored the decisive basket, leaving Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton bummed but not broken. "We're in a conference where you can't get caught up in streaks, because nobody in the ACC is going to go undefeated," Hamilton said. "It doesn't happen. Tonight we played against a team that played a little better than us." Phil Cofer and Terance Mann combined for 42 points, 18 rebounds and five steals against the Cowboys, but the team was doomed by 22 turnovers. Hamilton hopes to see a sharper effort against a Buccaneers team that has lost three consecutive games.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT CHARLESTON SOUTHERN (4-5): The Buccaneers have lost their last two games by eight total points and allowed the final 10 points of the game in Friday's 70-65 setback against Eastern Kentucky. Christian Keeling (26 points) was the only player on the team to score more than 10 points in that one, and the sophomore guard is averaging 23 points over his last three contests. Keeling (17.8 points) and Travis McConico (13.1) are the only players averaging above 7.5 points for Charleston Southern, which shoots only 30.1 percent from behind the arc.

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (9-1): The Seminoles have four double-digit scorers, including Mann (16.0) and Cofer (13.3), both of whom are having terrific seasons in different ways. Mann shoots a blistering 63.9 percent from the field - an awesome percentage for a guard - and has shot at least 50 percent in every game this season. Cofer has increased his scoring average from 2.9 to 13.3 this season and is shooting 53.7 percent from the floor, including 11-of-22 from the arc.

TIP-INS

1. Mann leads the team in rebounding (6.4), including an impressive 2.7 offensive boards per game.

2. Cofer had two steals all season before notching three against Oklahoma State.

3. Only 12 teams in the nation average more blocks than Florida State (6.2).

PREDICTION: Florida State 77, Charleston Southern 66