Saturday 12-23-17 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Trends - Denver at Golden State

ATS Trends
Denver

Nuggets are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 road games.
Nuggets are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Nuggets are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
Nuggets are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 vs. NBA Pacific.
Nuggets are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games playing on 0 days rest.
Nuggets are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Nuggets are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Nuggets are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Nuggets are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Nuggets are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up win.
Nuggets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games when their starting 5 players combine for more than 160 minutes of the previous day.
Nuggets are 1-7-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a ATS win.
Nuggets are 1-10-1 ATS in their last 12 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.

Golden State

Warriors are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Warriors are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 Saturday games.
Warriors are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games playing on 0 days rest.
Warriors are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Warriors are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.

OU Trends
Denver

Over is 4-0 in Nuggets last 4 games playing on 0 days rest.
Over is 11-1 in Nuggets last 12 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 5-1 in Nuggets last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Nuggets last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 4-1 in Nuggets last 5 games following a ATS win.
Over is 4-1 in Nuggets last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 9-3 in Nuggets last 12 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 5-2 in Nuggets last 7 Saturday games.
Over is 5-2 in Nuggets last 7 vs. NBA Pacific.

Golden State

Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Warriors last 6 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Warriors last 7 overall.
Under is 5-2 in Warriors last 7 games following a straight up win.

Head to Head

Nuggets are 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings in Golden State.
Over is 24-8 in the last 32 meetings in Golden State.
Nuggets are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
Over is 36-17 in the last 53 meetings.
Road team is 7-2 ATS in the last 9 meetings.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 9:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 23, 2017
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, Arizona
Matchup Edge
MIN Edge in: PHO
Points Per Game
Field Goal %
Free Throw %
Defense
Rebounding
Turn Overs
Bench

Preview: Timberwolves at Suns
Gracenote
Dec 22, 2017

The Minnesota Timberwolves are beginning to string together some wins and will go for their sixth in the last eight games when they visit the Phoenix Suns on Saturday. The Timberwolves lead the Northwest Division and are beginning to get the hang of working together on the defensive end.

Minnesota is trying to build around former No. 1 overall picks Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, but it was the acquisition of veteran swingman Jimmy Butler over the summer that took the team to another level, and he is at his best down the stretch. "You can't say enough about the way Jimmy closes out," Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters after Butler scored 25 points in Wednesday's 112-104 win at the Denver Nuggets. "It's just one big play after the next. Big shots, drawing the foul again, making the right plays. It's tremendous." Butler suffered through one of his worst games last Saturday, when he was held to 10 points and missed a chance to tie or win in the final seconds of a 108-106 home loss to the Suns. That win snapped a five-game slide for Phoenix and gave the team enough momentum to win three of four, capped by a 97-95 triumph over Memphis on Thursday.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Arizona (Phoenix)

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (19-13): Since going 5-of-18 from the field and not attempting a free throw in the loss to Phoenix, Butler is 20-of-36 from the floor and 19-of-20 from the line in back-to-back wins. "My teammates, they have the utmost confidence in me to take and make shots as of late," Butler told reporters. "But if I'm open and it's my shot, I'm going to shoot it. If it's not, I'm going to pass it. I have just as much faith in my teammates as I do myself." Butler should have some confidence in fellow veteran Jamal Crawford, who totaled 43 points on 17-of-30 shooting in the last two games after scoring in single digits in each of the previous three contests.

ABOUT THE SUNS (12-22): Devin Booker's extended absence due to a groin injury is giving other players a chance to shine, and Isaiah Canaan is making the most of his opportunity. Phoenix signed the 26-year-old free agent with an injury hardship waiver and has gotten four straight double-digit scoring efforts and an average of five assists off the bench from Canaan. Shooting guard Troy Daniels is also stepping up of late and buried the go-ahead 3-pointer to cap off a 14-point effort on Thursday and boost his scoring average over the last five games to 16.4 points.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Wiggins is 12-of-42 from the floor, including 1-of-11 from 3-point range, in the last three games.

2. Suns C Greg Monroe recorded eight points, 12 rebounds and seven assists on Thursday after sitting out the previous three games.

3. Phoenix earned a 118-110 home win over Minnesota behind 35 points apiece from Booker and TJ Warren on Nov. 11.

PREDICTION: Timberwolves 110, Suns 102

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Trends - Minnesota at Phoenix

ATS Trends
Minnesota

Timberwolves are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
Timberwolves are 16-34-3 ATS in their last 53 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Timberwolves are 5-11-1 ATS in their last 17 games overall.
Timberwolves are 7-18-2 ATS in their last 27 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Timberwolves are 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 games playing on 2 days rest.
Timberwolves are 2-6-2 ATS in their last 10 vs. NBA Pacific.
Timberwolves are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Timberwolves are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
Timberwolves are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Timberwolves are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
Timberwolves are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Saturday games.

Phoenix

Suns are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 Saturday games.
Suns are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Northwest.
Suns are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Suns are 19-7-1 ATS in their last 27 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Suns are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

OU Trends
Minnesota

Under is 5-0 in Timberwolves last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
Under is 6-1 in Timberwolves last 7 Saturday games.
Over is 5-1 in Timberwolves last 6 road games.
Under is 5-1 in Timberwolves last 6 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Over is 4-1 in Timberwolves last 5 overall.
Under is 12-3 in Timberwolves last 15 games following a straight up win.
Over is 4-1 in Timberwolves last 5 vs. NBA Pacific.
Under is 8-2 in Timberwolves last 10 games following a ATS win.
Over is 8-3 in Timberwolves last 11 vs. Western Conference.
Over is 35-16-1 in Timberwolves last 52 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 13-6 in Timberwolves last 19 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.

Phoenix

Under is 6-0 in Suns last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 4-0 in Suns last 4 overall.
Under is 6-0 in Suns last 6 vs. Western Conference.
Under is 4-1 in Suns last 5 home games.
Under is 4-1 in Suns last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Suns last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 10-3 in Suns last 13 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Over is 15-6 in Suns last 21 games following a straight up win.
Under is 5-2 in Suns last 7 vs. NBA Northwest.
Over is 37-18 in Suns last 55 games following a ATS win.

Head to Head

Under is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings in Phoenix.
Home team is 3-1-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Timberwolves are 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Phoenix.
Timberwolves are 0-3-1 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
Underdog is 3-0-1 ATS in the last 4 meetings.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 9:30 PM ET, Saturday, December 23, 2017
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Matchup Edge
POR Edge in: LAL
Points Per Game
Field Goal %
Free Throw %
Defense
Rebounding
Turn Overs
Bench

Preview: Trail Blazers at Lakers
Gracenote
Dec 23, 2017

Winning at home has been a challenge lately for the Portland Trail Blazers, and it certainly didn't get any easier Friday with Damian Lillard sitting out because a hamstring injury. The two-time All-Star guard will again be sitting out Saturday when the Trail Blazers hope to continue their recent success on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Portland predictably struggled without the NBA's eighth-leading scorer, who is hopeful he can return for his team's following game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Dec. 28, and amassed its third-lowest point total of the season in a 102-85 loss to the Denver Nuggets. While the loss was the Trail Blazers' sixth in a row at home, they are 9-6 on the road and have won six of their last eight away from the Moda Center. Los Angeles played the Golden State Warriors tough for the second time in four days, but not even Kyle Kuzma's third big game of the week (27 points and a career-high tying 14 boards Friday) was enough to keep his team from falling for the fourth time in five tries. The No. 27 overall pick in June's NBA draft did make some history in defeat, however, becoming the first Lakers rookie since Jerry West (1961) to score 25 or more points in three consecutive games.

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN Northwest (Portland), Spectrum SportsNet Los Angeles

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (16-16): Jake Layman drew a rare start in place of the injured Lillard but was quickly removed for Shabazz Napier, who logged a season-high 37 minutes and posted his third straight double-figure scoring game with 14 points, four rebounds, five assists and three steals. CJ McCollum led the Blazers with 15 points, although Friday marked the second straight contest in which he failed to score 20 points after reaching that mark in each of his previous six games. Rookie Zach Collins flashed with a career-high 10 points before fouling out in 18 minutes, while Pat Connaughton enjoyed his most productive game in nearly a month with 12 points in 22 minutes off the bench.

ABOUT THE LAKERS (11-19): Kuzma played more than 40 minutes for the third consecutive game but has remained incredibly efficient over that time, as the 22-year-old is 31-for-48 from the field - including 14-of-22 beyond the arc - while averaging 30 points and nine boards. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (personal) returned to the lineup but managed to shoot just 4-of-16 from the floor - including 1-of-10 from 3-point range - and is expected in every game during the team's four-game homestand since they will not violate his work-release agreement, which requires him to remain in California during his 25-day sentence for violating parole. Rookie Lonzo Ball connected on a career-high five 3-pointers and finished with 24 points Friday - his second-best scoring effort of the season.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. After averaging 8.6 points on 32.1-percent shooting over his first 25 outings, Ball is scoring 17.2 points per game on 47 percent from the field in his last five contests.

2. Portland starters combined to score only 35 points against Denver, and all four who logged more than 10 minutes recorded a plus-minus of minus-20 or worse.

3. Los Angeles C Brook Lopez, who tallied 27 points in a 113-110 loss at Portland on Nov. 2, is expected to miss at least the next three weeks with a sprained right ankle.

PREDICTION: Lakers 110, Trail Blazers 100

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Trends - Portland at L.A. Lakers

ATS Trends
Portland

Trail Blazers are 9-2-2 ATS in their last 13 games playing on 0 days rest.
Trail Blazers are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Trail Blazers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Trail Blazers are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 Saturday games.
Trail Blazers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
Trail Blazers are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 road games.
Trail Blazers are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Trail Blazers are 5-12-1 ATS in their last 18 games following a straight up loss.
Trail Blazers are 4-11-1 ATS in their last 16 games following a ATS loss.
Trail Blazers are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
Trail Blazers are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. NBA Pacific.
Trail Blazers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.

L.A. Lakers

Lakers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up loss.
Lakers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Lakers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Lakers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Lakers are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 Saturday games.
Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 0 days rest.

OU Trends
Portland

Under is 4-0 in Trail Blazers last 4 games following a straight up loss.
Over is 5-0 in Trail Blazers last 5 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
Under is 5-1 in Trail Blazers last 6 road games.
Under is 9-2 in Trail Blazers last 11 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Over is 13-3 in Trail Blazers last 16 games following a double-digit loss at home.
Under is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 6-2 in Trail Blazers last 8 Saturday games.
Under is 9-3 in Trail Blazers last 12 vs. Western Conference.
Under is 19-7 in Trail Blazers last 26 overall.
Under is 19-7-1 in Trail Blazers last 27 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Trail Blazers last 7 vs. NBA Pacific.

L.A. Lakers

Over is 5-0 in Lakers last 5 overall.
Under is 6-0 in Lakers last 6 Saturday games.
Over is 4-0 in Lakers last 4 games following a ATS win.
Over is 4-0 in Lakers last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-0 in Lakers last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Over is 8-2 in Lakers last 10 vs. Western Conference.
Over is 7-2 in Lakers last 9 home games.
Over is 10-4 in Lakers last 14 games when their starting 5 players combine for more than 160 minutes on the previous day.
Over is 7-3 in Lakers last 10 games following a straight up loss.

Head to Head

Under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Los Angeles.
Favorite is 9-2 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
Trail Blazers are 21-8 ATS in the last 29 meetings in Los Angeles.
Trail Blazers are 42-17 ATS in the last 59 meetings.
Road team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 10:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 23, 2017
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California
Matchup Edge
SA Edge in: SAC
Points Per Game
Field Goal %
Free Throw %
Defense
Rebounding
Turn Overs
Bench

Preview: Spurs at Kings
Gracenote
Dec 22, 2017

When the Sacramento Kings find the win column, it's a good bet that their veteran players are the ones leading the charge. Zach Randolph, George Hill and company will try to lead their young squad to a third straight win when the Kings host the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.

Sacramento brought in Randolph, 36, and Hill, 31, in the offseason to support a roster that features 11 players 25 or younger, but it turns out the veterans are the ones that could use some support. Randolph leads the team in scoring (15.9 points), rebounding (seven) and ranks second in minutes (26) behind only Hill (26.4), and it was Randolph's combined 48 points on 20-of-30 shooting at Philadelphia and Brooklyn that sent the Kings home with a 2-2 road trip. Randolph will battle on Saturday against fellow veteran LaMarcus Aldridge, who averages 21.9 points but matched a season low with 11 in Thursday's 100-89 loss at Utah. That setback snapped a three-game winning streak for the Spurs, who are 7-9 on the road and will be finishing off a three-game trip at Sacramento.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, KENS (San Antonio), NBCS California (Sacramento)

ABOUT THE SPURS (22-11): The bright spot in Thursday's loss was the continued progression of small forward Kawhi Leonard, who played a season-high 20 minutes and collected 10 points and five rebounds. The All-Star did not make his season debut until Dec. 12 after battling quad tendinopathy and is still not playing back-to-backs, but he is shooting 50 percent from the floor in four games and will get two days off after Saturday as San Antonio sits out the Christmas Day games this season. Tony Parker (quad) is making positive strides in his return as well and logged a season-high 26 minutes on Thursday.

ABOUT THE KINGS (11-20): While Randolph has been a consistent performer since the start of the season, Hill is only recently joining him as an offensive threat. The veteran point guard, who was limited to 49 games with Utah last season while dealing with injuries, averaged 8.8 points on 43.6 percent shooting in November before raising those numbers to 13.3 points on 56.9 percent in eight games this month. Hill is serving as a mentor for 19-year-old rookie De'Aaron Fox, who scored in single digits in each of his last four games and is battling a quad injury.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Spurs C Pau Gasol (groin) and SG Danny Green (groin) both sat out Thursday and are day-to-day.

2. Randolph became the 20th player in NBA history with at least 18,000 points and 10,000 rebounds when he grabbed his 10,000th board in the first quarter on Wednesday.

3. Leonard averaged 20.7 points in three games against the Kings last season - his lowest mark against any opponent in 2016-17.

PREDICTION: Spurs 102, Kings 96

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Trends - San Antonio at Sacramento

ATS Trends
San Antonio

Spurs are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
Spurs are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
Spurs are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games following a straight up loss.
Spurs are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Spurs are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Spurs are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 vs. Western Conference.
Spurs are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 Saturday games.
Spurs are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Spurs are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
Spurs are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Spurs are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.

Sacramento

Kings are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. Western Conference.
Kings are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. NBA Southwest.
Kings are 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 games overall.
Kings are 16-38-3 ATS in their last 57 games playing on 2 days rest.
Kings are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.

OU Trends
San Antonio

Under is 6-0 in Spurs last 6 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Under is 6-1 in Spurs last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 13-3 in Spurs last 16 road games.
Under is 4-1 in Spurs last 5 Saturday games.
Under is 7-2 in Spurs last 9 vs. Western Conference.
Under is 7-2 in Spurs last 9 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 23-8 in Spurs last 31 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 8-3-1 in Spurs last 12 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
Under is 5-2 in Spurs last 7 overall.
Over is 17-8 in Spurs last 25 vs. NBA Pacific.
Over is 17-8 in Spurs last 25 games following a ATS loss.

Sacramento

Under is 5-1 in Kings last 6 overall.
Under is 5-1 in Kings last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 4-1 in Kings last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 19-7 in Kings last 26 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
Under is 15-6 in Kings last 21 games following a straight up win.
Over is 5-2 in Kings last 7 vs. Western Conference.
Under is 9-4 in Kings last 13 games playing on 2 days rest.
Under is 20-9 in Kings last 29 games following a ATS win.

Head to Head

Under is 6-2-1 in the last 9 meetings in Sacramento.
Spurs are 9-3-1 ATS in the last 13 meetings in Sacramento.
Road team is 10-4-1 ATS in the last 15 meetings.
Spurs are 1-3-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Underdog is 3-1-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.