Thursday 3-15-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Radford Highlanders vs. Villanova Wildcats Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

14th March 2018 by Gracenote
Top-seeded Villanova starts the quest for a second NCAA Tournament championship in three years when it when takes on No. 16 seed Radford in the first round of the East Region on Thursday in Pittsburgh. The Wildcats take a five-game winning streak into the Big Dance after outlasting Providence 76-66 in overtime in the Big East title game and set their sights on the Highlanders, who advanced out of the First Four on Tuesday.

"The biggest challenge is always this first game," Villanova coach Jay Wright told ESPN. "One game at a time." Wildcats junior guard Jalen Brunson, the Big East Player of the Year, matched his career high with 31 points in the conference title game and leads the nation's most productive offense that boasts six players averaging in double figures, 87.1 points per contest and 388 made 3-pointers - second-most in the country. Villanova, which is the top seed in the East for the third time in four seasons, will face a Radford team that has won a program record 23 games and lost to Ohio State, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech earlier in the season. Ed Polite Jr. and Carlik Jones each notched double-doubles as the Highlanders won their first NCAA Tournament game by knocking off LIU Brooklyn 71-61 in Dayton on Tuesday.

TV: 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT

ABOUT RADFORD (23-12): Polite, a junior forward, leads the team in scoring (13.5), rebounds (7.9) and steals (1.9) while going over 1,100 points for his career after scoring 13 on Tuesday. Jones, a freshman who drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer in the Big South Tournament final to send the Highlanders to the NCAA Tournament for the third time, averages 11.8 points (13.5 in the last four) and 3.1 assists. Sophomore guard Travis Fields Jr. is averaging 12 points in the last three games (12-for-18 from the field) to push his season mark to 6.3.

ABOUT VILLANOVA (30-4): Brunson averages team highs of 19.4 points and 4.7 assists while draining 53.1 percent from the field and fellow junior guard Mikal Bridges (18.0 points, 52.1 from the field) is scoring 23 per game over the last five. Junior guard Phil Booth, who missed seven games with a hand injury earlier this season, is also a major threat but must recover from an 0-for-5 shooting effort in the Big East final. The Wildcats will also need a big tournament from sophomore guard Donte DiVicenzo (13.1 points), but he has scored only 6.3 per game in his last three outings.

TIP-INS

1. Villanova junior F Eric Paschall is averaging 11.3 points and 8.3 rebounds - both above his season marks - over the last four games.

2. It's the first meeting between the schools and the winner plays Virginia Tech or Alabama in Saturday's second round.

3. The Wildcats are making their 13th NCAA Tournament appearance in 14 seasons and are 21-11 in that stretch.

PREDICTION: Villanova 92, Radford 62

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Davidson Wildcats vs. Kentucky Wildcats Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

11th March 2018 by Gracenote
Davidson stole an NCAA Tournament bid from a bubble team with a surprising run to the Atlantic 10 tournament title and is looking for its first Tournament win since Stephen Curry led Davidson to the 2008 Elite Eight. Standing in the way is fifth-seeded Kentucky, which rolled to the SEC tournament title and hosts No. 12 seed Davidson in the first round of the South regional in Boise, Idaho, on Thursday.

Davidson picked up its first A-10 tournament title by knocking off top-seeded Rhode Island in the title game and cruises into its 14th NCAA Tournament with wins in four straight, during which it allowed an average of 62 points. Davidson won 11 of its last 13 games to come into March Madness hot and will lean on defense after forcing the Rams into 14 turnovers and 38.5 percent shooting in Sunday's 58-57 triumph. That defense will have its work cut out for it against Kentucky, which is averaging 80.4 points over its last eight games and features four players averaging double figures in scoring. "Every situation and experience is new to them, so you don't really know what they're going to do, and we need as many of these kinds of things as we can going into next weekend," Kentucky coach John Calipari told reporters of his young team. "So proud of them. Really proud of them."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBS

ABOUT DAVIDSON (21-11): Davidson will counter Kentucky's young, balanced attack with some experienced scoring in senior forward Peyton Aldridge, who averages over 21 points and was named the co-Player of the Year in the Atlantic 10. Aldridge was held to 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting in Sunday's win over Rhode Island but went over 30 points five times on the season, including a 45-point outburst in a triple-overtime loss at St. Bonaventure on Feb. 27 - the team's lone setback in the last nine contests. Davidson can't match Kentucky's young talent but does have a freshman in guard Kellan Grady averaging over 18 points.

ABOUT KENTUCKY (24-10): Freshman guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 29 points in Sunday's SEC championship game win over Tennessee and is averaging 18.4 points over the last seven games. The Canada native is also emerging as a team leader due to his hard work. "He will miss guys sometimes, but he's gotten so much better," Calipari told reporters of Gilgeous-Alexander. "But it's taken film and practice and talks and one-on-ones. The kid is a great kid in trying to do the right thing. These kids know, if a guy's - it's hard to lead if you're not the hardest guy working it. It's hard to lead if you're not the first one in there. It's hard to lead if you're not a guy that's capable to go on the court and win games. I'm not following you. Who wants to follow you? I mean, you've got to be that guy."

TIP-INS

1. Kentucky fell in the Elite Eight last season and last made the Final Four in 2015, which capped a run of four consecutive Final Fours.

2. Davidson bowed out in the first round in each of its last three NCAA Tournament appearances - 2012, 2013 and 2015.

3. Kentucky beat Davidson 75-55 in the first round of the 1986 NCAA Tournament - the only other time the teams faced off in March.

PREDICTION: Kentucky 75, Davidson 68

[Can'tPickAWinner]

San Diego St. Aztecs vs. Houston Cougars Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

11th March 2018 by Gracenote
Sixth-seeded Houston will have to cool off red-hot San Diego State to win its first NCAA Tournament game in 34 years. The 11th-seeded Aztecs head to Thursday's West Region first-round game in Wichita, Kan., on a nine-game win streak.

San Diego State's streak includes two victories against Mountain West Conference regular-season champ - and NCAA Tournament at-large pick - Nevada and Saturday's 82-75 win against New Mexico in the conference tournament finals. A healthy and full roster has helped the Aztecs - who feature balanced scoring from the starting five and the bench - get hot at the right time. The Cougars are in the Big Dance for the first time since 2010 and haven't won a tournament game since reaching the championship game in 1984. Senior guard Rob Gray leads a high-scoring Houston squad that can also play tough defense, allowing 64.9 points.

TV: 7:20 p.m. ET, TBS

ABOUT SAN DIEGO STATE (22-10): Senior forward Malik Pope - who missed one game after his name was included in a report for possible impermissible benefits but was later cleared by his school - leads the Aztecs with 12.9 points and 6.6 rebounds. Freshmen forwards Jalen McDaniels (10.2 points, 7.5 rebounds) and Matt Mitchell (10.7, 4.0) give the Aztecs additional options in the frontcourt, while senior playmaker Trey Kell - who had a career-high 28 points in Saturday's title game - does a little bit of everything with 10.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals. Junior guard Devin Watson (12.3 points, 3.8 assists) is the fifth Wolf Pack starter averaging double digits.

ABOUT HOUSTON (26-7): Gray leads the Cougars with 18.5 points and 4.5 assists, while senior forward Devin Davis adds 10.8 points and a team-best 6.2 rebounds. Junior Corey Davis Jr. contributes 13.5 points while shooting 44 percent from the 3-point line and sophomore Armoni Brooks - the American Athletic Conference's Sixth Man of the Year - adds 9.8 points and shoots 42.3 percent beyond the arc. The Cougars can get defensive - holding opponents to 39.6 percent shooting, forcing 13.3 turnovers and control the boards - as shown in Sunday's 56-55 loss to Cincinnati in the AAC championship.

TIP-INS

1. Corey Davis Jr. led the AAC with 3.1 made 3-pointers and the Cougars average 8.6 3s per game. They went 7-of-23 in Sunday's loss to Cincinnati.

2. The Aztecs went to the NCAA Tournament six straight years (2010-2015) - winning at least one game four times - before missing the past two tournaments.

3. Houston coach Kelvin Sampson is one of 14 coaches to take four schools (Washington State, Oklahoma, Indiana, Houston) to the NCAA Tournament.

PREDICTION: Houston 70, San Diego State 62

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

11th March 2018 by Gracenote
Texas Tech didn't win the Big 12 regular-season or tournament title, but it did earn a favorable NCAA Tournament draw. The Red Raiders, third-seeded in the East region, will stay in the Lone Star State to open the Big Dance in Dallas, facing 14th-seeded and in-state foe Stephen F. Austin on Thursday.


Coach Chris Beard's Red Raiders finished second in the Big 12 behind perennial champion Kansas and beat Texas 73-69 in their Big 12 Tournament opener before falling to third-seeded West Virginia 66-63 in the semifinals. Overall, Texas Tech enters the NCAA Tourney with a 24-9 record - its first 20-win season in 11 years and its most wins since a school-record 30-2 season in 1995-96. It also will be the second NCAA Tournament appearance in the last decade for the Red Raiders and their first since 2016 when coach Tubby Smith's eighth-seeded squad was upended 71-61 in the first round by ninth-seeded Butler. Stephen F. Austin, located in Nacogdoches, Texas, also has punched its first Big Dance ticket since 2016 and got there by winning the Southland Conference tournament title as a third seed.

TV: 7:27 p.m. ET, truTV

ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN (28-6): The Lumberjacks enter the NCAA Tournament - their fourth appearance in the last five years - with 10 wins in the their last 11 games, including a 59-55 upset win over top-seeded Southeast Louisiana in the Southland championship game. Forward T.J. Holyfield closed the Southland Tournament with consecutive double-doubles and averages 13.0 points and a team-best 6.4 rebounds per game. Guards Shannon Bogues (15.4 points) and Kevon Harris (14.6) also average double figures with the latter shooting a team-best 43.2 percent from 3-point range, which ranked second in the Southland.

ABOUT TEXAS TECH (24-9): The Red Raiders started 14-1 and were 22-4 a little more than a month later when they climbed to No. 6 in the national polls - the high-water mark in program history. But guard Keenan Evans, the team's leading scorer at 17.5 points, suffered a toe injury in a Feb. 17 loss to Baylor and totaled only 12 points in the school's final four games in February, including a Feb. 26 contest at West Virginia where he sat out entirely, contributing heavily to Texas Tech's four-game tailspin entering March. Evans has averaged 20.3 points in the Red Raiders' three games since and is joined by freshmen guards Jarrett Culver (11.7, team-best 4.8 rebounds) and Zhaire Smith (11.2) in double figures on the season.


TIP-INS

1. Texas Tech has won eight of the nine meetings over the last 21 years, but the two teams haven't met since 2011.

2. The key matchup will be the Lumberjacks' offense, tied for 35th nationally with 81.1 points per game, against the Red Raiders' defense, which led the Big 12 and is tied for 17th nationally with 64.7 points allowed per contest.

3. In two of their last three NCAA tourney appearances, the Lumberjacks have notched first-round upsets as a 13th and 12th seed, respectively, beating West Virginia (70-56 in 2016) and VCU (77-75 in 2014).


PREDICTION: Texas Tech 72, Stephen F. Austin 68

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Toronto Raptors vs. Indiana Pacers Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

14th March 2018 by Gracenote
The two hottest teams in the Eastern Conference tangle Thursday when the Toronto Raptors seek their 10th consecutive victory with a visit to the hard-charging Indiana Pacers. The Raptors' nine-game run is two shy of matching the franchise mark established just over two years ago and it has allowed the team to enter Wednesday with a four-game lead over Boston in the race for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Tuesday's 116-102 triumph in Brooklyn gave Toronto 50 victories for the third straight season. "There's a bigger goal," guard DeMar DeRozan told reporters after the win. "Success during the regular season is great, but we're playing for something bigger than all of us. That's to get in the postseason and win all the rounds to get that gold trophy." The Pacers hope to be in that discussion as well and scored a big win Tuesday in Philadelphia to maintain their grip on third place in the East, a half-game ahead of Cleveland. Myles Turner scored 25 points in the 101-98 triumph as Indiana won for the 10th time in the last 13 contests.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Toronto), FS Indiana

ABOUT THE RAPTORS (50-17): While DeRozan and fellow All-Star Kyle Lowry were limited to a total of 26 points - 14 below their combined average - at Brooklyn, center Jonas Valanciunas shouldered the load with 26 points and 14 boards as Toronto kept alive several other impressive streaks. The victory was the squad's seventh straight on the road, tying a franchise mark set early in the 2006-07 season. The Raptors also tied a franchise record for consecutive 100-point games with 20 in a row, first accomplished by the 2009-10 edition.

ABOUT THE PACERS (40-28): Turner was 9-for-12 from the floor - including 2-for-4 from long distance - and is averaging 21.3 points while shooting 61.8 percent over his last four games. Thaddeus Young added 19 points and 10 rebounds as Indiana showed its resiliency and depth in a tough road game that saw guards Victor Oladipo and Bojan Bogdanovic combine to make only 5-of-32 shots. "These guys just continue to fight. If there's time on the clock they continue to fight," head coach Nate McMillan told the media after the victory. "Tonight showed growth, playing in a hostile situation having to scrap and not give in to the adversity and play through it and continue to stay together and pulled out a big road win."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Valanciunas averages 17.3 points and 10.7 rebounds over his last six games.

2. Pacers C Domantas Sabonis suffered a sprained ankle in the win at Philadelphia and is day-to-day.

3. The teams split the first two meetings, with DeRozan scoring 26 points to lead the Raptors to a 120-115 win on Dec. 1 at home in the most recent matchup.

PREDICTION: Raptors 109, Pacers 106

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

14th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Philadelphia 76ers are closing in on their first playoff spot since 2012 and have a run of sub-.500 teams on the schedule to help their cause. The soft stretch, which involves five in a row against losing squads, begins Thursday when the Sixers visit the New York Knicks, losers of eight in a row.

Philadelphia is 4-5 in its last nine games after dropping a painful 101-98 decision to fellow playoff contender Indiana on Tuesday at home and enters the favorable portion of the slate in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. "I think the difference between this game is maybe [they] wanted it more this game," forward Dario Saric told reporters after his team committed 21 turnovers versus the Pacers. "Maybe, you can say something like that. But I don't know, it's weird sometimes when you lose like that, you don't know where to start." The Knicks are 7-30 since just before Christmas and they've lost by an average of 15 points during their eight-game slide. Tuesday's 110-97 loss to Dallas at home dropped them to 16-16 at home, all after a 15-5 start at Madison Square Garden.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia-plus, MSG (New York)

ABOUT THE 76ERS (36-30): Philadelphia scored 128 points, 99 points, 120 points and 98 points in consecutive games as it navigates an inconsistent stretch. Joel Embiid did his part on the offensive end in Tuesday's loss - which snapped a 13-game winning streak in the Sixers' home arena - but he had eight of the 21 turnovers and missed all five of his 3-point tries as Philadelphia suffered another missed opportunity. "The fact is that we have not been able to get through the Miamis, the Washingtons, the Milwaukees and tonight the Indianas," coach Brett Brown said, citing recent losses to teams surrounding the Sixers in the standings. "With each one of those games, we learn a little bit about what we need to get better for the playoffs."

ABOUT THE KNICKS (24-44): The one highlight for New York on Tuesday was the return - at least in street clothes - of injured All-Star Kristaps Porzingis, who made his first public comments since suffering a torn left ACL in February. "Not only just getting bigger and stronger but just my movement, my body, the way my body moves and all those things," Porzingis said of his goal of coming back better than ever. "That's going to be big for me also because of how long I am. So I think I don't know how many months I have, [but] I'm going to use it as efficiently as I can to come back as a better player and also work on my mind ... and come back sharp." The organization has given no specific timetable for Porzingis' return, but the initial expectation is that the 7-3 Latvian would be out at least 10 months following the Feb. 13 surgery.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Knicks C Enes Kanter (back) returned from a one-game absence to grab 15 rebounds against Dallas but he was held to a season-low three points.

2. Sixers PG Ben Simmons recorded 10 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists against Indiana for his seventh triple-double.

3. Embiid averaged 21 points and 11 rebounds as Philadelphia took the first two meetings this season.

PREDICTION: 76ers 111, Knicks 104

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Charlotte Hornets vs. Atlanta Hawks Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

14th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Charlotte Hornets are struggling, having lost six of their past seven entering Thursday's visit to the Atlanta Hawks, and defense has played a big role in their recent skid. The Hornets lost 119-115 on Tuesday at New Orleans to drop 10 games below .500 for the first time since Dec. 31, and in the past seven games have allowed 119.1 points per contest while limiting just one team to fewer than 110 points.

"In the second half we held them to 47 (points), and played the kind of defense that would allow us to play well every night," Charlotte coach Steve Clifford told reporters after Tuesday's defeat, a game in which the Hornets gave up 72 points in the opening two quarters. Atlanta began Wednesday tied with Orlando for the bottom spot in the Eastern Conference following Tuesday's 119-107 loss to Oklahoma City. The Hawks pushed the Thunder most of the night and were tied at 103 with 5:15 remaining, only to give up the game's next 16 points. "They made one last run and separated from us and closed out the game," Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer told the media afterward.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Southeast

ABOUT THE HORNETS (29-39): Former Atlanta center Dwight Howard - traded to Charlotte in the offseason - finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds Tuesday for his 41st double-double of the season. Kemba Walker also scored 22 points and ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference with 43 games of 20-plus points this season. Charlotte continues to get strong play from its bench, led by Frank Kaminsky (21 points Tuesday) and Jeremy Lamb (16 points).

ABOUT THE HAWKS (20-48): Taurean Prince followed up his career-high 38 points Sunday with 25 points Tuesday, and is 10-for-21 from 3-point range in his past two games after scoring a combined 12 points in his previous two contests. Atlanta, which has lost Kent Bazemore (knee) for the season, got 13 points from rookie Damion Lee in his NBA debut Tuesday. Rookie John Collins is averaging 10.3 points and seven rebounds per game on 57.8 percent shooting from the field.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Walker is averaging 22.7 points per game and is 14 3-pointers shy of reaching 1,000 for his career.

2. Charlotte opponents are shooting 49.9 percent from the field against the Hornets since Feb. 5.

3. Atlanta has made 42 3-pointers in its past three games, including 19 against Chicago on Sunday.

PREDICTION: Hornets 109, Hawks 102

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Chicago Bulls vs. Memphis Grizzlies Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

14th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Chicago Bulls are not doing so well against teams above them in the standings of late but are not having much trouble against teams fighting for the bottom. The Bulls will try to take advantage of the worst team in the NBA and win for the fourth time in seven games when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday.

Chicago's recent run of solid play includes a 119-110 home win over the Grizzlies on March 7 and wins over Dallas and Atlanta -- two other teams fighting for draft lottery position. The Bulls put together a solid effort against a team with a winning record on Tuesday in a 112-106 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, but coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters that his team needed "to come out with more grit, more fire." The Grizzlies could use more grit and fire as they try to snap a slide that reached 18 straight with a 121-103 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday. "As professionals, our job is to show up every day and give our best effort," Memphis interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters. "I don't think they need to be reminded of that. Through and through, they haven't laid down yet, and I don't expect them to. They owe it to each other, to the fans, to everybody to continue to compete. Show up and compete every single night."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FS Southeast (Memphis)

ABOUT THE BULLS (23-44): Bulls guard Zach LaVine has been plagued by inconsistency since returning from knee surgery in mid-January and slumped to 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting on Tuesday. "It sucks to go out and not play the way you want to, but you can't dwell on it," LaVine told reporters. "I'm going to get right back in the gym, keep my head up. It's a process and I'm going to stick with it. I'm excited to get to the offseason. I didn't get one last year and that's where I really build, develop my game and get better and do things I didn't do the year before. I came in more than halfway through, so obviously (I will be) getting more continuity with the coach and the players throughout the offseason." LaVine's best game this month came against Memphis on March 7, when he scored 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting.

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (18-49): Memphis began the season with playoff aspirations but dealt with a rash of injuries throughout the campaign and is now slogging through the longest losing streak in the NBA. "It's not time to reflect on it and pinpoint what went wrong," Grizzlies center Marc Gasol told reporters. "I don't think it's one thing that went wrong, obviously it's multiple things. But, at this point it's irrelevant completely. It's about finding enough guys to go to battle and win a game. And that, to me, is the only thing that matters right now. It's to, as bad as it sounds, it's to win a game." Gasol led the team with 17 points in Monday's loss and is averaging 17.7 on 41.7 percent shooting -- the lowest shooting percentage of his career.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Grizzlies SG Ben McLemore is averaging 14.3 points over the last four games, nearly double his season mark (7.2).

2. Bulls PF Bobby Portis averaged 20 points over the last two games after managing two points on 1-of-10 shooting in a loss on Friday.

3. Chicago rookie PF Lauri Markkanen (back) is expected to miss his second straight game.

PREDICTION: Bulls 115, Grizzlies 103

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Houston Rockets Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

14th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Los Angeles Clippers jumped into the No. 7 spot in the Western Conference with a win in the first of a three-game road trip at the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, but the road is about to get significantly tougher. The Clippers will try to improve their position in the standings when they visit the NBA-best Houston Rockets on Thursday.

Los Angeles scraped by with a 112-106 win at the lowly Bulls but was not happy about the performance. "We haven't done this a lot," Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters. "We just felt like it was one of those games where guys struggled a little bit offensively and they let it affect them on the defensive end. I think they felt they were going to win anyway. We're not good enough to do that, but we did it tonight and got away with it." Los Angeles won't get away with a similar effort against the Rockets, who won 19 of their last 20 games and opened the two-game homestand by skipping past the San Antonio Spurs 109-93 on Monday, but still feel as if there's room to improve. "We don't have the luxury of just taking nights off," Houston star James Harden told reporters. "We're not where we want to be. We're not that good yet. So, we have to go out there and approach every single game, no matter who we're playing, like it's a playoff game."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (37-29): Los Angeles center DeAndre Jordan led the way with 29 points on 11-of-12 shooting and 18 rebounds in Tuesday's win. "He was great," Rivers told reporters of Jordan. "They were going to trap. We told them that before the game and we told them, 'If they trap, DJ you roll and let's keep finding him.' I think that's the one thing we did well. In the game plan, we kept finding DJ rolling down the middle of the paint and he finished for us." Jordan is averaging 19 rebounds in six games this month and grabbed 16 boards in a 105-92 home loss to Houston on Feb. 28.

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (53-14): Houston point guard Chris Paul scored 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting against the Spurs in just 23 minutes. "It's about us," Paul - who is questionable for Thursday due to a sore knee - told reporters. "Every game we go into we're trying to continue to build and we don't want to start getting bad habits and start letting teams do whatever. For us, it's about consistency and building." Paul's consistency comes at the free-throw line, where he has not missed since Feb. 25 and is shooting 92.1 percent on the season.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Rockets SG Eric Gordon followed up a 26-point effort on 9-of-16 shooting on Sunday by going 0-of-7 from the floor and managing one point on Monday.

2. Clippers SG Avery Bradley is expected to miss the rest of the regular season after undergoing abdominal surgery on Tuesday.

3. Los Angeles took two of the first three meetings, including a 128-118 win at Houston on Dec. 22.

PREDICTION: Rockets 110, Clippers 101

[Can'tPickAWinner]

New Orleans Pelicans vs. San Antonio Spurs Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

14th March 2018 by Gracenote
The San Antonio Spurs are in a very different position than usual right now, staring up at eight teams above them in the race for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Spurs will get a chance to gain back a game at the expense of one of the teams they're chasing when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.

San Antonio bashed the Orlando Magic 108-72 on Tuesday to earn just its third win in 12 games and is in a virtual three-way tie for the No. 7 spot in the West but sits percentage points below the Los Angeles Clippers and would lose a tiebreaker to the No. 8 Utah Jazz if the season ended before play on Wednesday. The Spurs will play each of their next 10 games and 12 of the final 14 against teams fighting for playoff spots in their respective conferences. The Pelicans are only 1 1/2 games ahead of San Antonio but sit tied for the No. 5 spot, a half-game behind the fourth-place Oklahoma City Thunder, after another stellar performance from Anthony Davis led them to a 119-115 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday. "We've been dropping in pace and haven't been scoring in the 100s like we're used to do," Davis told reporters after the win. "Tonight, we got back to it -- running and pushing the pace. It was good to get back to that tonight. Also, defend a little bit -- that's the key. But even when we don't get stops, we're able to get the ball down and run it back down a team's throat -- putting them on their heels, maybe get a good look."

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS New Orleans, FS Southwest (San Antonio)

ABOUT THE PELICANS (39-28): Jrue Holiday scored 10 of his 25 points in the final three minutes on Tuesday and added nine assists and six rebounds. "We've got a lot of different weapons," Holiday told reporters "We can make plays down the stretch. We've got a tough road ahead of us, but we have to take it one game at a time. A lot of weight on Anthony's (Davis) shoulders, so I think we're all trying to help lift that." Holiday scored 20 or more points in 10 of the last 13 games and is 12-of-24 from 3-point range in six games this month.

ABOUT THE SPURS (38-30): San Antonio is waiting for star forward Kawhi Leonard (quad tendinopathy) to make his way back and he is reportedly close to returning. "Like anybody else, he's frustrated," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters. "He wants to be playing. He's competitive. It's been a tough year for him in that regard. But the first step is he's got to be cleared by his medical staff that he's seeing. And until he gets cleared, we can't make a decision on when he's coming back. So, once he gets cleared, then he and I can sit down and talk, and see what we think about an appropriate time to come back. But that clearance has to be obtained first." Power forward LaMarcus Aldridge is carrying the team in Leonard's absence and scored 24 points on 11-of-17 shooting in 26 minutes on Tuesday.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Pelicans PG Rajon Rondo recorded 17 assists on Tuesday and is averaging 10.1 over the last nine games.

2. Spurs G Patty Mills snapped a string of four straight games scoring in single digits by posting 13 points on Tuesday.

3. New Orleans took each of the first two meetings this season, including a 121-116 triumph in San Antonio on Feb. 28.

PREDICTION: Spurs 106, Pelicans 104

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Detroit Pistons vs. Denver Nuggets Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

15th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Denver Nuggets hurt their cause in the Western Conference playoff race with three losses in their last five games. With their longest road trip of the season on the horizon, Thursday's home matchup with the reeling Detroit Pistons is practically a must-win scenario for the Nuggets.

Denver fell 112-103 at the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday to sink into 10th place in the West, just one game out of a playoff spot but on the cusp of seven consecutive contests away from home, beginning Saturday at Memphis. "We've just got to win games," center Mason Plumlee told reporters after the second chippy contest with the Lakers in less than a week. "We've got to go home and beat Detroit. We're done with the Lakers for the season, so you've got to move on." The Pistons lost 11 of their last 14 games and opened a six-game road trip in dismal fashion, falling 110-79 at Utah on Tuesday. Detroit's starters combined for 43 points on 16-of-43 shooting as the team fell 5 1/2 games out of a playoff spot entering Wednesday.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, Altitude (Denver)

ABOUT THE PISTONS (30-37): Tuesday's lopsided affair allowed rookie Luke Kennard to see a personal-high 36 minutes and he responded with 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting. He also had one of the team's 14 steals as Detroit forced 24 turnovers. "It just shows we can defend at a high level," Kennard told reporters. "But we just need to do that for 48 minutes. There are positive things that can come out of it, but we just have to stay consistent with it."

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (37-31): Denver led by 13 points with just over two minutes left in the third quarter at Los Angeles before fading down the stretch. "I thought we had some guys out there in that end of the third quarter that were not ready to play," coach Mike Malone told the media. "That hurt us to close that quarter in a big way." Wilson Chandler was one of the bright spots with 26 points and he's averaging 21 on 68 percent shooting in two games since returning from a hip injury.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Detroit has lost 10 straight on the road.

2. Denver PF Nikola Jokic is shooting 33-for-46 from the floor over a four-game span.

3. Nuggets PG Jamal Murray scored 28 points to lead his team to a 103-84 win at Detroit earlier this season.

PREDICTION: Nuggets 110, Pistons 93

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Phoenix Suns vs. Utah Jazz Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

15th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Utah Jazz have a golden opportunity to continue their rise in the Western Conference while facing a string of lesser opponents at home. They began the stretch in dominant fashion against the stumbling Detroit Pistons and look to make it two in a row on the homestand when the Phoenix Suns visit on Thursday.

Utah used a 42-point first quarter and shot 55.3 percent overall in a 110-79 rout of the Pistons on Tuesday, its seventh straight win and 19th in the past 21 games. "We haven't moved the ball like that all season in my opinion," guard Donovan Mitchell told reporters after the win. "We were clicking and hitting shots." That figures to continue as the homestand progresses against the Suns - losers of six straight - and then Sacramento and Atlanta, two other teams playing out the string. Phoenix has allowed an average of 121.3 points during its losing streak and sits percentage points ahead of Memphis in the race for the worst record in the NBA.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Arizona (Phoenix), AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Utah)

ABOUT THE SUNS (19-50): Devin Booker represents the future for Phoenix and the young star was candid about the team's current struggles after the 129-107 loss to Cleveland at home Tuesday night. "We have been babied a little bit and it shows," the 21-year-old Booker told the media. "I think our whole team has been spoiled enough, including myself, with playing time at a young age to where you get to play through mistakes. We still have to learn basketball. A lot of one-and-dones on this team. Nineteen, twenty, 21-year-olds, including myself that are still learning the game." Booker averaged 21 points in three earlier meetings with Utah but shot just 34.9 percent in those games.

ABOUT THE JAZZ (38-30): Utah improved to 20-4 since center Rudy Gobert returned from a knee injury in mid-January and he has six double-doubles in seven games this month after posting 22 points and 12 rebounds versus Detroit. Five others scored in double figures, with Jonas Jerebko contributing 16 points to go along with eight boards in just 19 minutes off the bench. "It just gets better and better the longer the season goes, the more time we play together, the more we start getting to know each other," Jerebko told reporters. "We're clicking right now and we're just going to keep building."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Suns PG Elfrid Payton is 0-for-7 from 3-point range in March and 4-for-20 since being traded to Phoenix last month.

2. Mitchell averaged 32 points in Utah's two victories over the Suns in February.

3. Jazz PF Derrick Favors shot at least 50 percent from the field in eight straight games.

PREDICTION: Jazz 116, Suns 103

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Portland Trail Blazers Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

14th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Portland Trail Blazers can't seem to lose, and they are finally beginning to gain a little separation from the pack of teams chasing them for the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who visit the Trail Blazers on Thursday, already ceded the No. 3 spot in the East and are 2-2 on a six-game road trip.

Portland sits 1 1/2 games ahead of the fourth-place Oklahoma City Thunder in the West and 3 1/2 games clear of the trio of teams tied for the No. 7 spot after extending its winning streak to 10 straight with a 115-99 romp over the Miami Heat on Monday. "We just care about the next game and that's how we approach," Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic told reporters. "Every next game is going to be important for us and we're not looking that far out. We're in a great position and just trying to do every game to keep that spot." The Cavaliers sit in fourth place in the East, a half-game behind the Indiana Pacers, but are feeling better about themselves after a 129-107 thrashing of the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. LeBron James notched his 14th triple-double of the season in the win and told reporters, "I'm like fine wine; I get better with age."

TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cleveland), NBCS Northwest (Portland)

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (39-28): James does not appear to be slowing down at all at age 33 and collected 28 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists, three steals and two blocks in Tuesday's win. "It's just being around the court and being reliable to my teammates," James told reporters. "For me to be able to clean glass and get my guys good looks where they were able to just catch and shoot or catch and lay it up, it made it a lot easier for me, for sure. With the scoring, I just tried to be aggressive and got to the free-throw line tonight and was able to knock those down, too." James is on pace to play in all 82 regular-season games for the first time in his career and is averaging 26.9 points, nine assists and 8.5 rebounds.

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (41-26): All-Star guard Damian Lillard continues to come up big for Portland and led the way with 32 points and 10 assists on Monday, but Nurkic's effort on the inside stood out. The 23-year-old delivered 27 points on 12-of-18 shooting and 16 rebounds to mark his fifth double-double of the winning streak. "(Nurkic) was huge," Lillard told reporters. "That's the Nurk that we need, just a beast, taking his time scoring on the block, making plays off the block, rebounding the ball, blocking shots. I think his presence was really felt on both ends of the floor."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Cavaliers SG Rodney Hood (back) and SF Cedi Osman (hip) both sat out Tuesday and are day-to-day.

2. Lillard is 25-of-46 from 3-point range over the last four games.

3. The home team took the last eight in the series, with Cleveland earning a 127-110 home win on Jan. 2

PREDICTION: Trail Blazers 128, Cavaliers 116

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic Preview and Predictions 03-16-2018

15th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Boston Celtics are falling off the pace in the race for the top seed in the Eastern Conference and are coming off a pair of tough losses to fellow East playoff contenders. The Celtics will try to get back in the win column when they begin a stretch of eight of 10 on the road by visiting the lowly Orlando Magic on Friday.

Boston dropped a 99-97 decision to the Indiana Pacers on Sunday and went to double overtime against Washington at home on Wednesday before falling 125-124. The Celtics, who are comfortably ahead of the third-place Pacers in the standings, are more concerned with getting healthy in the last month before the start of the postseason and were missing Kyrie Irving (knee), Al Horford (illness), Jaylen Brown (concussion) and Marcus Smart (thumb) against the Wizards. The Magic are battling to stay out of the East basement and stayed just ahead of the Atlanta Hawks by snapping a five-game slide with a 126-117 win over Milwaukee on Wednesday. "What we do right now is very important on the basketball court," Orlando coach Frank Vogel told reporters. "It's a time of growth. We're giving some of our younger guys bigger-than-usual opportunities for them to grow, but it's also an important time for our veterans to grow within our system as well and develop habits. There's going to be carry over into next year and everything we do right now is building toward that."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCS Boston, FS Florida (Orlando)

ABOUT THE CELTICS (46-22): Missing two All-Stars among five rotation players on Wednesday gave some other players a chance to shine, and power forward Marcus Morris stood out with 31 points and nine rebounds. Morris was one of three players along with forward Jayson Tatum and point guard Terry Rozier to log at least 44 minutes in the setback. Veteran center Greg Monroe chipped in 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting off the bench and is shooting 70.6 percent from the floor in five games this month.

ABOUT THE MAGIC (21-48): Vogel implored his players to keep fighting and finish the season the right way after Orlando was embarrassed in a 108-72 loss at the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, a message the team took to heart. "Once we stepped on that court, we all played with pride and showed how much we wanted to win," veteran guard D.J. Augustin told the team's website. "All of the guys on our team want to win, want to do the right thing and have pride, so we bounced back. (Tuesday) was a rough game for us and it happens to everybody now and then. We just got ready for tonight and it showed." Augustin poured in 32 points in the win while Jonathon Simmons buried seven 3-pointers en route to a team-high 35 points.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Magic PF Aaron Gordon (concussion) missed the last four games and is questionable for Friday.

2. Horford is the only one of the Celtics' injured players expected back on Friday.

3. Boston took two of the first three meetings, including a 104-88 triumph at Orlando on Nov. 5.

PREDICTION: Celtics 113, Magic 106

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Washington Capitals vs. New York Islanders Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

14th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Washington Capitals are not going to win a third consecutive Presidents' Trophy but they are in a tug-of-war with two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh for first place in the Metropolitan Division. The Capitals will look to win three in a row for the first time in two months when they visit the New York Islanders on Thursday night.

It is the first leg of a home-and-home, back-to-back for Washington, which will honor captain Alex Ovechkin for scoring his 600th goal prior to Friday's rematch against the Islanders. "You look at the standings and every point matters now," Capitals goaltender Philipp Grubauer said. "You lose one, you drop. You win one, you're back in first (place). So we've got to play the right way. We keep playing teams that are fighting for (playoff) spots, and so are we. We are fighting for the points here." New York spiraled out of playoff contention with an eight-game losing streak (0-4-4), a slide it finally halted with a 5-2 victory at Calgary on Tuesday night. "We know we've got to go on a big run," coach Doug Weight said. "It's going to start with one game. We have to plan for Thursday like it's April 8 and go from there."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet 360, NBCS Washington, MSG Plus (New York)

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (39-23-7): Ovechkin became the fourth player to reach 600 goals in fewer than 1,000 games when he scored twice in Monday's 3-2 win over Winnipeg to boost his NHL-leading total to 42. "He said the other day 40's good but 50's nicer and he's going to get 50 goals," Washington owner Ted Leonsis said. "You can just tell he's very, very determined and he is a historic player." Backup Grubauer will make his fourth consecutive start in Thursday's game, with slumping Braden Holtby set to start Friday.

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (30-29-10): New York is in 11th place in the East but has a chance to make up some ground by playing six of its next seven and nine of its final 13 at home. The Islanders got a huge lift from rookie Christopher Gibson, who turned aside 50 shots against the Flames in his third start since he was acquired from Toronto. "He's been playing really well," defenseman Johnny Boychuk said. "When he's been in net, he's been stopping a lot of pucks. Even the one in Edmonton went off a stick and off his head and in."

OVERTIME

1. Islanders F Anders Lee scored twice Sunday and needs one goal to match his career high of 34 set last season.

2. Ovechkin has been blanked in both meetings against the Islanders this season but has 34 goals in 48 career matchups.

3. New York is 2-for-22 on the power play over the past 10 games.

PREDICTION: Islanders 4, Capitals 3