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

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-17-2018, 08:56 AM

New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers Preview and Predictions 2018-12-17

NFL Predictions 15th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/15/2018

The Carolina Panthers reached the midway point of the season riding a three-game winning streak and hot on the heels of the first-place New Orleans Saints in the NFC South. The Panthers have not won since and now face the prospect of having to beat the NFC-leading Saints twice in the final three weeks to make the playoffs, beginning with Monday night's matchup at Carolina.

The Panthers' five-game slide, which includes four losses on the road, has them sitting among three teams that are one-half game behind Minnesota for the second wild card in the NFC. "We feel like we are going to win every game," Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers told reporters. "It is not for a lack of confidence. It is just a lack of execution." New Orleans appeared on the verge of a second straight defeat before scoring 25 unanswered points in last week's 28-14 win at Tampa Bay (as the Saints -9.5 point favorite at intertops) to maintain its hold on the top overall seed in the NFC. The Saints, who swept three meetings with the Panthers last season, including a 31-26 playoff victory, can clinch a first-round bye with a win on Monday and a loss by Chicago to Green Bay.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Saints -6.5 O/U: 50.5

ABOUT THE SAINTS (11-2): While Drew Brees and the offense understandably receive the bulk of the publicity, New Orleans has limited its last five opponents to 17 points or fewer and ranks No. 1 in the NFL against the run, allowing an average of 77.6 yards. Brees has one touchdown pass and one interception in each of the last two games, but he still leads the league in passer rating (120.8) and completion percentage (75.7). Brees, who has posted 31 TD passes against four interceptions, has an elite receiver in Michael Thomas, who ranks second in the NFL with 102 catches. Alvin Kamara is a two-way threat out of the backfield with 1,384 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns while Mark Ingram has rushed for 519 yards and five scores.

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (6-7): Cam Newton, battling a sore throwing shoulder, failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time since the season opener in last week's 26-20 loss at Cleveland, although he joined Peyton Manning as the only players with 3,000 yards passing in each of their first eight seasons. Christian McCaffrey continues to carry the offense, rushing for two touchdowns and catching six passes last week to give him 1,627 yards from scrimmage and 13 scores on the season. Rookie wide receivers D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel have emerged as Newton's top targets, although Ian Thomas made nine catches for 77 yards in place of injured tight end Greg Olsen last week. Carolina ranks seventh in run defense (97.8 yards).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Brees has thrown for 1,521 yards with 13 TDs and three picks in his last five meetings with Carolina.

2. Newton has rushed for five touchdowns in his last seven home contests versus New Orleans.

3. Thomas has 298 career receptions, the most by any player in his first three seasons.

PREDICTION: Saints 27, Panthers 26

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-17-2018, 08:56 AM

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Detroit Pistons Preview and Predictions 2018-12-17

NBA Predictions 16th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/16/2018

The Detroit Pistons ended a free fall by knocking off an Eastern Conference contender on Saturday but starting a winning streak will mean beating another team with aspirations for the top spot in the conference. The Pistons will try to solve Giannis Antetokounmpo and earn back-to-back victories when they host the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday.

Detroit dropped six straight to fall to .500 before bouncing back by beginning the two-game homestand with a 113-104 victory over the Boston Celtics as wing Reggie Bullock (ankle) returned from a five-game absence to provide some much-needed spacing. "It just opens up the floor so much," Pistons star Blake Griffin told reporters of having Bullock and fellow wing Luke Kennard both healthy. "You have to respect those guys from anywhere and they're both capable of putting it on the floor, getting to the hole and making plays. It just gives us two more weapons that people have to be aware of." The Bucks began a stretch of six of seven on the road with a loss at Indiana on Wednesday but bounced back by knocking off Cleveland 114-102 on Friday as Antetokounmpo broke out of a brief slump and poured on 44 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. "I think he was ultra-aggressive," Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters of Antetokounmpo. "He's a competitor, he wants to be great. I think any time he doesn't meet the standards and expectations he sets for himself I think the next game he's going to come out with a very aggressive mindset and he did that."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS Detroit

ABOUT THE BUCKS (19-9): Antetokounmpo scored a season-low 12 points and attempted only six shots in the loss at Indiana but still handed out seven assists and takes the most pride in his ability to find open teammates. "Since I was a little kid, I wasn't a good scorer, I wasn't a good ball handler, I couldn't rebound the ball well, but the only thing I could do is find open guys," Antetokounmpo told reporters. "It's something I've been working on my whole life. If a guy asked me right now what my talent is, that's my talent; finding open guys, seeing over everybody on the floor and coach Bud wants me to do that, and I'm going to keep doing that all year." Antetokounmpo leads the Bucks in scoring (26.6), rebounds (13.2) and assists (6.1).

ABOUT THE PISTONS (14-13): While Bullock, Kennard and small forward Stanley Johnson being healthy at the same time is a boost to the team on both ends, the play of center Andre Drummond in the middle is the key to the defense. Drummond finished with 19 points, 20 rebounds, five blocks and three steals on Saturday - his second straight game with five blocked shots. "There was a play late, Marcus Smart got a little reverse layup, and I went to (Drummond) and I said, 'No more,'" Griffin told reporters. "'Somebody's got to go through your chest or go over the top of you and they can't do either.' Next play down, Jayson Tatum went up for a dunk and you all saw (Drummond block it). That's winning basketball. You guys see the box score and you see 20-20, but his effect on the game goes so much further than just the box score that those plays like he had tonight are why you come out with a win."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Bucks PG Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring) and SF Khris Middleton (finger) both sat out Friday and are day-to-day.

2. Detroit C Zaza Pachulia (illness) is questionable for Monday.

3. Milwaukee knocked off Detroit 115-92 at home on Dec. 5 behind 27 points from PG Eric Bledsoe.

PREDICTION: Bucks 108, Pistons 105

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-17-2018, 08:57 AM

Phoenix Suns vs. New York Knicks Preview and Predictions 2018-12-17

NBA Predictions 16th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/16/2018

The New York Knicks finished their three-game road trip with a loss but hope to take some positives into a rare home game on Monday against the Phoenix Suns. Two nights after posting a dramatic comeback win in Charlotte, the Knicks played Indiana tough until the very end of Sunday's 110-99 loss and completed the trek with a 1-2 record.

New York fell to 5-13 away from home, and its 18 road games are the most in the Eastern Conference - with a visit to Philadelphia on tap for Wednesday and a six-game trip beginning just after Christmas. The Suns, who are kicking off a five-game trek of their own, have won back-to-back contests for the first time this season and welcomed back Devin Booker for Saturday's 107-99 home triumph over Minnesota. Booker, who missed the previous six games with a hamstring injury, finished with 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting to go along with seven rebounds and seven assists. "Getting a win? It's fun," Booker told reporters. "I'm just having fun playing with high energy. Crowd's involved, fans are involved, playing good basketball. Nothing more than that I could ask for. Just going out there, playing the right way, playing together."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Arizona (Phoenix), MSG (New York)

ABOUT THE SUNS (6-24): T.J. Warren finished with 21 points in Saturday's win and rookie Deandre Ayton registered his fourth double-double in five games with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Phoenix played its first game without veteran swingman Trevor Ariza, who was traded to Washington for forward Kelly Oubre Jr. and guard Austin Rivers. That sets up an interesting matchup later in the road trip, when the Suns visit the Wizards and Ariza, Oubre and Rivers get a chance to face their former teammates.

ABOUT THE KNICKS (9-22): A 3-pointer by Courtney Lee with about nine minutes to go in Sunday's contest forged a tie with the Pacers, who entered with a six-game winning streak, and the Knicks took some pride in playing them tight. "Obviously, I would've liked to see us execute better down the stretch, but the fact that we were on the road against arguably one of the hottest teams in the league right now, last game of the trip, felt like our young guys really came here to try to win it," coach David Fizdale told reporters. The team also got a bit healthier as Lance Thomas (knee) was active for the first time in well over a month and Trey Burke (knee) returned from a six-game layoff to score three points on 1-of-7 shooting in 13 minutes.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Knicks C Enes Kanter recorded 20 points and 15 rebounds at Indiana and averaged 18 and 12.5 to help his team sweep two meetings with the Suns last season.

2. Booker scored 34 points in his last visit to Madison Square Garden

3. New York PF Noah Vonleh has averaged 11 points, 11.5 rebounds and five assists over his last two games while committing one turnover in 73 minutes.

PREDICTION: Knicks 112, Suns 107

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-17-2018, 08:57 AM

Chicago Bulls vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Preview and Predictions 2018-12-17

NBA Predictions 16th December 2018 by Gracenote
Bulls vs. Thunder Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 12/16/2018

The Oklahoma City Thunder will try to avenge one of their more surprising losses of the season when they host the Chicago Bulls on Monday. The Bulls picked up just their sixth victory when they held off the Thunder 114-112 at home earlier this month, igniting a 1-3 swoon for Oklahoma City.

Behind 33 points from Paul George, the Thunder snapped out of the funk with a 110-104 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday to begin a two-game homestand. "We lost two straight, and it was good for us to come home and get one," George, who is shooting 57.1 percent over his last four games, told reporters. "That was big for us." The Bulls are coming off another surprising victory, erasing a 21-point deficit at San Antonio on Saturday before picking up a 98-93 win over the streaking Spurs. Since its embarrassing 133-77 loss to the Boston Celtics on Dec. 8, Chicago has held its last three opponents to an average of 99.3 points.

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

ABOUT THE BULLS (7-23): Saturday's comeback win was even more impressive given the absence of leading scorer Zach LaVine, who will also miss the visit to Oklahoma City due to an ankle injury. "I thought in the second half we drove the ball better," coach Jim Boylen told reporters. "Lauri [Markkanen] got downhill. Kris [Dunn] got downhill. Defensively, I thought we were pretty good. I'd have to look at the film, but it looked like we knocked a lot of balls loose. We were flying around pretty good." Dunn scored a season-high 24 points in his third game since returning from a knee injury and Markkanen added 23 in his seventh contest after sitting out the first two months with an elbow sprain.

ABOUT THE THUNDER (18-10): Former MVP Russell Westbrook continues to have shooting issues from time to time and finished 4-for-17 from the floor against the Clippers, but he made up for it with an all-around effort that left him with 12 assists, nine rebounds and six steals. "The hustle plays, diving on the floor, the deflections that he generated, and by being disciplined doing that - it wasn't like he was running around helter skelter," Thunder coach Billy Donovan told reporters of Westbrook. "He was really disciplined. I thought it was a game where, yeah he didn't shoot it great, but I'm not really worried about that." Westbrook, who is shooting 36.2 percent in December, had 24 points, 17 rebounds and 13 assists with a season-high 10 turnovers in the earlier loss to Chicago.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Westbrook has made only five of his 25 shots inside the arc over the last two games.

2. Bulls SF Justin Holiday was 1-for-12 from the floor at San Antonio and is 12-for-42 over a four-game span.

3. Oklahoma City has won four straight games at home.

PREDICTION: Thunder 113, Bulls 104

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-17-2018, 08:57 AM

Sacramento Kings vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Preview and Predictions 2018-12-17

NBA Predictions 16th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/16/2018

The Minnesota Timberwolves could not salvage anything from their four-game road trip but hope to turn around their fortunes when they return home on Monday for a matchup against the surging Sacramento Kings. The Timberwolves dropped a 107-99 decision at league-worst Phoenix on Saturday to end a trek during which they allowed an average of 119.3 points, but they have been tough to beat at home (11-4) this season.

Minnesota went 9-3 over its first 12 games after trading All-Star guard Jimmy Butler, but leading scorer Karl-Anthony Towns told reporters after Saturday's loss: "I think right now, we got too loose. We're too cool for school." Now with Philadelphia, Butler played his final game for the Timberwolves on Nov. 9 in a 121-110 win by host Sacramento, which has put itself in position to fight for its first playoff spot since 2005-06. The Kings have won six of their last eight games, including a 141-130 home triumph over Minnesota on Wednesday and a 120-113 victory at Dallas four days later in which Buddy Hield and De'Aaron Fox each scored 28 points. Hield, the sixth overall pick in the 2016 draft by New Orleans, has recorded at least 20 points in six of his last seven contests and leads the Kings at 19.2 per game.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), FS North (Minnesota)

ABOUT THE KINGS (16-13): Hield connected on 31 shots from 3-point range in eight games this month and Fox has shot at least 50 percent from the field in five of his last six contests, averaging 23.2 points in that stretch. Bogdan Bogdanovic added 15 points in Sunday's win and is averaging 16.9 over his last 10 games while Nemanja Bjelica has produced 19.3 per contest over his last three, converting 20-of-34 shots in the process. Rookie forward Marvin Bagley III, who is averaging 12.7 points, missed the win over Dallas with a bruised knee and will be re-evaluated in 10-to-14 days.

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (13-16): Derrick Rose told reporters Minnesota did not play with enough urgency on the trip, but the veteran guard averaged 22 points over the last three games to push his season mark to 18.7. Towns leads the team in scoring (21.7 points - including 25.1 this month) and rebounds (11.8) while Andrew Wiggins checks in at 16.3 points per contest - 19.7 in December. Robert Covington, who was acquired in the trade for Butler, is just 9-for-28 from the field in his last three games, but coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters: "Physically, now he's good, and he's just got to get his basketball rhythm back."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Sacramento C Willie Cauley-Stein is averaging 10.4 rebounds over his last five games and shooting 56 percent in his past nine.

2. Minnesota F Taj Gibson (10.4 points, 6.9 rebounds) missed Saturday's game for personal reasons but is expected to play against the Kings.

3. Sacramento SG Iman Shumpert was scratched from the win over Dallas with a hip contusion and is questionable for Monday's contest.

PREDICTION: Timberwolves 112, Kings 106

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-17-2018, 08:57 AM

Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets Preview and Predictions 2018-12-17

NBA Predictions 16th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/16/2018

The Houston Rockets are hitting their stride during a three-game winning streak with James Harden in triple-double, MVP form. Harden will try to guide the Rockets to a fourth consecutive triumph when they host the Utah Jazz on Monday.

Harden scored 29 points in a win over Portland on Tuesday to begin the winning streak and kicked it up a notch on Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers, when he collected 50 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in a 126-111 triumph. The reigning MVP was at it again on Saturday at Memphis, filling up the boxscore with 32 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists as Houston fought off the Grizzlies 105-97 to move back to .500 at 14-14. The Jazz are trying to get their own winning streak off the ground but dropped three of their last four games, including a 96-89 setback to the Orlando Magic in Mexico City on Saturday, and are struggling to find consistency on offense. "I think a lot of it is just focus, getting turnovers and sprinting to get out in transition," Utah guard Donovan Mitchell told reporters. "We just kind of stopped. We've done it in spurts, and in certain games, but we haven't been able to do it on a continual basis."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBATV, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Utah), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)

ABOUT THE JAZZ (14-16): Utah was even further above sea level than usual while playing in Mexico City and shot 31.5 percent from the floor, including 7-of-29 from 3-point range in the loss. "We absolutely felt it," power forward Derrick Favors told reporters of the altitude. "It could have affected our shooting, you never know, but we don't want to use that as an excuse." Center Rudy Gobert was held to six points on 2-of-6 shooting on Saturday and was held below his season average (14.3 points) in each of the last five games.

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (14-14): Houston is more than just Harden and got a big boost on the inside Saturday from center Clint Capela, who scored 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting and added 10 rebounds. Capela's production on the inside is helping the Rockets overcome some shooting woes on the outside from shooting guard Eric Gordon, who is battling through knee soreness and is 1-of-17 from 3-point range over the last three games. Gordon was held to a season-low four points on 2-of-11 shooting in 31 minutes during Saturday's victory.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Jazz PG Raul Neto (thigh) sat out the last two games and is questionable for Monday.

2. Rockets SG Gerald Green is 9-of-11 from 3-point range over the last three contests.

3. Utah took each of the first two meetings this season, including a 100-89 win at Houston on Oct. 24.

PREDICTION: Rockets 106, Jazz 104

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-17-2018, 08:57 AM

Philadelphia 76ers vs. San Antonio Spurs Preview and Predictions 2018-12-17

NBA Predictions 16th December 2018 by Gracenote
76ers vs. Spurs Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 12/16/2018

Just as the San Antonio Spurs were beginning to look like their old selves, they collapsed at home against one of the worst teams in the league. The Spurs will try to bounce back against a more formidable opponent when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.

San Antonio had won four in a row by an average of 22.3 points and led lowly Chicago by 21 points in the third quarter on Saturday before falling 98-93. "Their defense took us out of things," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters after his team was outscored 55-31 in the second half. "We turned it over because of their pressure. The ball stopped moving, and at the right time, they started making some shots down the stretch. They deserve a lot of credit, and that's a real tough loss for us." The 76ers lost two straight games with star swingman Jimmy Butler sidelined with a groin injury before getting him back for Sunday's 126-103 win at Cleveland. Joel Embiid scored 24 points and Ben Simmons recorded his 15th career triple-double with 22 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds without committing a single turnover as Philadelphia became the third team in the NBA with 20 wins.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, FS Southwest (San Antonio)

ABOUT THE 76ERS (20-11): Simmons is averaging 19.6 points on 61.2 percent shooting with 10.2 rebounds and 7.6 assists over his last five games. "I just like to play the game the right way. Find my teammates if they're open, if I can get an easy bucket, get it," Simmons said during a postgame television interview on Sunday. Butler recorded 19 points in his return and backup guard Landry Shamet tied his career high with 16 points in just 15 minutes while making 4-of-5 3-pointers.

ABOUT THE SPURS (15-15): LaMarcus Aldridge scored 29 points and DeMar DeRozan added 21 in Saturday's loss while two other starters - Bryn Forbes and Derrick White - were held scoreless while combining to go 0-for-7 from the field. San Antonio shot 52.6 percent and averaged 26.5 assists during its four-game winning streak but finished at 43.8 percent with 18 assists against the Bulls. "A combination - turning the ball over, they were aggressive, we couldn't score the ball - it was a combination of a little bit of everything," DeRozan told reporters.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Spurs SG Marco Belinelli averages 9.8 points but has scored in double digits in five straight games, registering a season-high 17 in the loss to Chicago.

2. Shamet is 9-for-12 from 3-point range over his last three contests.

3. Philadelphia won both meetings in 2017-18, holding the Spurs to a season-low 78 points in the second encounter at San Antonio on Jan. 26.

PREDICTION: Spurs 113, 76ers 109

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-17-2018, 08:57 AM

Portland Trail Blazers vs. LA Clippers Preview and Predictions 2018-12-17

NBA Predictions 16th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/16/2018

The road has not been kind to the Portland Trail Blazers of late, but an impressive home win on Friday might be just the boost the team needs ahead of a visit to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. The Trail Blazers busted out of an offensive slump by outlasting the NBA-best Toronto Raptors 128-122, avoiding a third straight setback.

Portland is suffering through a six-game road slide and scored a season-low 83 points at Memphis on Wednesday before making the brief stop back in the northwest and lighting up the scoreboard. "Obviously, it was a very good win against a very good team," Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts told reporters. "I was really proud of our bench. They played extraordinary. I was happy for them, it's been a struggle lately and they had a lot of good rhythm, a lot of good energy, played well together, played with confidence. It's an understatement that they made the difference in the game." The Clippers are in a slump with losses in three straight and five of the last six games but are beginning a three-game homestand against Portland and showed some spark in a loss at Oklahoma City on Saturday. "I don't like to lose at all but tonight I felt like the Clippers were back again," Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers told reporters. "I don't know where it came from, but the energy was phenomenal. I just liked our energy, our spirit. It was just good to see. I thought for whatever reason our team returned today and so moving forward I think we'll be in good shape."

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Northwest (Portland), FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (16-13): Power forward Zach Collins led four reserves in double figures with 16 points and the five bench players combined to go 22-of-36 from the floor on Friday. "I think it really was just our energy," guard Nik Stauskas, who scored 13 points, told reporters. "We were moving the ball from side to side, we were cutting hard. I think most importantly, we were getting stops on the defensive end and were kind of able to run out in transition and not have to call as many plays. I think that's when we're kind of most effective, we call it playing out of flow. I think the more we can do that, the more effective we can be." The bench was so effective that no starter logged more than Damian Lillard's 29 minutes in the win.

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (17-12): Los Angeles fell by a total of 62 points in losses to Toronto and San Antonio before battling the Thunder in a 110-104 road loss on Saturday. The Clippers shot 50.7 percent from the floor, including 13-of-25 from 3-point range, and had three players score at least 20 points in the setback. "Seeing the ball go in for a lot of guys tonight was a good sign, too, of that confidence that we've been missing for some time now," small forward Tobias Harris told reporters. "I thought as a team everybody, including myself, had too many turnovers and just mentally we let the referees get to us and let that disrupt our composure that we've got to be better at. I think we take away a couple of those things it would have been a great game for us, overall."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Trail Blazers C Jusuf Nurkic is 5-of-30 from the floor over the last two games.

2. Clippers SG Lou Williams (hamstring) is expected to miss his fourth straight game.

3. The teams split the first two meetings, with Los Angeles earning a 104-100 victory at Portland in the most recent matchup on Nov. 25.

PREDICTION: Trail Blazers 116, Clippers 108

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-17-2018, 08:58 AM

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors Preview and Predictions 2018-12-17

NBA Predictions 16th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/16/2018

The Memphis Grizzlies are struggling to score points while dropping four of their last five games and are about to go up against one of the best scoring teams in the NBA. The Grizzlies will try to avoid a third consecutive setback when they begin a four-game road trip by visiting the defending-champion Golden State Warriors on Monday.

Memphis failed to reach 100 points in any of its last five games but still feels that the problems start at the defensive end. "It's a broken record with this team, but we have to defend," veteran guard Garrett Temple told reporters while looking ahead to the Warriors. "We have to finish possessions because they have that whole team back. We've got to figure out ways to put them in uncomfortable situations, limit them to one shot, and get some easy baskets, slow down the pace because they obviously like to run." The Warriors exploded for 130 points in a five-point triumph over Sacramento on Friday, bouncing back from a 113-93 home loss to the East-leading Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. Golden State All-Stars Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 95 points in Friday's triumph.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Southeast (Memphis), NBCS Bay Area (Golden State)

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (16-13): Rookie point guard Jevon Carter made his NBA debut on Saturday with 22 minutes off the bench and scored 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting. "It's just part of the game," Carter told reporters of waiting until Dec. 15 to make his debut after being drafted in the second round. "It's a process. Every day I come in here, I work, and I just wait. I just give my best effort - being a good teammate on the bench for these guys. I love these guys, so whatever I can do to help is what I'll do." Carter provided a compliment to starting point guard Mike Conley, who scored a team-high 22 points in the 105-97 loss to the Houston Rockets.

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (20-10): Power forward Draymond Green did not join his fellow All-Stars in lighting up the scoreboard on Friday but had just as big a hand in the offensive explosion while handing out 10 assists and grabbing 14 rebounds. Green totaled 11 points in three games since returning from a toe injury but is averaging 9.7 rebounds and eight assists in that span. Durant was one of the few Golden State players to have some success with 30 points on 13-of-22 shooting in the loss to the Raptors and followed that with 33 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in Friday's victory.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Warriors SF Andre Iguodala (hip) sat out the last three games and is questionable for Monday.

2. Grizzlies SG MarShon Brooks, who had his name bandied about in trade discussions on Friday, scored seven points in 13 minutes off the bench Saturday.

3. Golden State took the last three in the series, including a 117-101 home win on Nov. 5.

PREDICTION: Warriors 113, Grizzlies 98

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-17-2018, 08:58 AM

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Preview and Predictions 2018-12-17

NHL Predictions 16th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/16/2018

The Vegas Golden Knights have found their stride after a slow start to the season and can finish a four-game trip without a regulation loss when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. Vegas, which started the season 1-4-0, has earned at least one point in 11 of its last 13 games (10-2-1) after Alex Tuch scored in overtime on Sunday for a 4-3 triumph over the New York Rangers.

The Golden Knights began their trek with a 3-2 win against the New York Islanders but coughed up a three-goal lead in a 5-4 overtime loss at New Jersey on Friday before registering 41 shots in the victory over the Rangers. "I thought it was a great response by everybody, myself included," Vegas goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury told reporters after tying Tony Esposito for ninth place on the all-time list with his 423rd win. "Nobody was happy about that last loss. From start to finish, we played a good game and we deserved to win." The Blue Jackets opened their five-game homestand with a 4-0 setback against Washington but outshot their next three opponents 114-77 while going 1-1-1 after Saturday's 2-1 overtime loss to Anaheim. "We haven't been getting rewarded, but we've played three good hockey games here," Columbus coach John Tortorella told reporters. "We just have to keep our wits about ourselves here and keep on playing. We've found a good little piece here of playing the right way."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Vegas), FS Ohio (Columbus)

ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (19-14-2): Jonathan Marchessault notched an assist on Sunday to take over the team lead with 27 points - one more than William Karlsson, who had his three-game goal-scoring streak halted in his 300th NHL contest. Tuch has recorded a goal in three of his last four games to push his season total to 12 while Reilly Smith has netted two tallies and set up two others during his four-game point streak. Paul Stastny notched a goal and an assist on Sunday - his first points with the club - in his just second game after missing more than two months with a lower-body injury.

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (17-12-3): Columbus has scored only seven times during the first four games of the homestand, with many of its top point producers cooling off and the power play going 1-for-17 over the last five contests. Cam Atkinson has not scored in five games since registering a hat trick - though he has recorded four assists in that span - while Artemi Panarin has tied him for the team lead with 34 points after collecting seven in his last six contests. Sergei Bobrovsky has allowed three goals on 52 shots in his last two games, but he gave up five in a loss at Vegas last season.

OVERTIME

1. Columbus captain Nick Foligno, who has recorded just two points in his last eight contests, is slated to play in his 800th NHL game on Monday.

2. Vegas D Colin Miller has registered five assists in his last four games, including a pair in Sunday's win.

3. Panarin and C Pierre-Luc Dubois notched three points apiece as Columbus beat Vegas 4-1 at home last season to earn a split of the two-game series.

PREDICTION: Blue Jackets 3, Golden Knights 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-17-2018, 08:58 AM

Anaheim Ducks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Preview and Predictions 2018-12-17

NHL Predictions 16th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/16/2018

The Pittsburgh Penguins bid to post their fifth straight win at PPG Paints Arena on Monday when they conclude a three-game homestand against the Anaheim Ducks. The Penguins improved to 6-1-1 in their last eight home contests after they followed Friday's 5-3 victory versus Boston with a 4-3 overtime triumph against Los Angeles the following night.

Phil Kessel recorded his ninth career overtime goal and first of the season on Saturday as Pittsburgh improved to 5-1-1 in its last seven contests overall. The 31-year-old answered a fruitless three-game road trip by scoring in back-to-back contests to move within one of Sidney Crosby (15) for the team lead in goals while matching the captain and Evgeni Malkin with a club-best 35 points. Red-hot Anaheim emerged victorious in its third straight contest and improved to 8-1-0 in its last nine after opening a six-game road trip with Saturday's 2-1 overtime triumph in Columbus. Daniel Sprong, who was traded from the Penguins on Dec. 3, capped his two-goal performance by scoring 1:19 into overtime as Anaheim skated to its fifth straight victory on the road.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, Sportsnet, Prime Ticket (Anaheim), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

ABOUT THE DUCKS (18-11-5): Pittsburgh native John Gibson has seen a change in attitude for his club after Anaheim dropped a 5-2 decision in Music City on Nov. 25. "After that Nashville game, we knew our record wasn't very good," the 25-year-old Gibson told reporters. "We had to take more pride in it. We're playing the right way now. You're seeing the results." Gibson enjoyed positive results against his hometown team last season, highlighted by a 29-save shutout in a 4-0 win on Dec. 23 to improve to 3-3-0 with a 3.73 goals-against average and .889 save percentage in six career encounters with the Penguins.

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (15-11-6): Jake Guentzel set up Bryan Rust's first-period tally against the Kings to boost his home point streak to eight games (seven goals, six assists). The 26-year-old Rust has four goals and an assist in his last three contests after tallying just once in his first 29 games of the season. Crosby has set up three goals in his last two outings after being held off the scoresheet in four of his previous five contests while Malkin added to his team-leading assist total (25) by setting up a goal in each of his last two games.

OVERTIME

1. Anaheim owns a 9-3-2 mark against Eastern Conference foes - including 6-2-1 versus Metropolitan Division representatives - while Pittsburgh boasts a 9-2-1 record against Western Conference adversaries.

2. The Penguins have scored a short-handed goal in back-to-back games for the first time since April 2016.

3. Ducks captain C Ryan Getzlaf has recorded 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in 16 career meetings with Pittsburgh.

PREDICTION: Penguins 3, Ducks 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-17-2018, 08:58 AM

Nashville Predators vs. Ottawa Senators Preview and Predictions 2018-12-17

NHL Predictions 16th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/16/2018

The Nashville Predators answered a fruitless trek through Western Canada by opening a three-game homestand with a 3-1 win versus the Ottawa Senators last week. After extending past regulation to emerge victorious in their next two outings, the Predators bid for their first road win in over one month as they open a four-game trek in Ottawa on Monday.

"It was important to get three wins after coming off the road and losing a couple," Nashville coach Peter Laviolette told reporters following Saturday's 2-1 shootout victory versus New Jersey. "... The road is something we've talked about. We have to do a better job. I don't think that we played the right way or been competitive enough on the road, so there's an opportunity coming up where we have a stretch of road games and a chance to fix that." Defenseman Mattias Ekholm set up Frederick Gaudreau's first-period goal to extend his assist streak to four games for the Predators, who are a perfect 10-0-0 against Eastern Conference representatives this season. Ottawa fell for the fifth time in seven outings (2-4-1) after yielding four third-period goals in Saturday's 5-2 setback in Montreal. Colin White scored in the first period to notch his sixth point (two goals, four assists) in six contests, although he was held in check in Tuesday's 3-1 loss in Nashville.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Tennessee (Nashville), RDS2, TSN5 (Ottawa)

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (22-10-1): Although Ryan Johansen leads injury-riddled Nashville in both assists (21) and points (26), the 26-year-old provided his best offensive contribution in quite some time by converting in the sixth round of the shootout against the Devils. "I've been struggling for a long time (in the shootout)," he told reporters. "I was hot there for a while early in my career, and (since) then I've been struggling big time." Johansen has two goals in his last 17 contests overall and just one - albeit with 10 assists - in 14 career encounters versus Ottawa.

ABOUT THE SENATORS (14-16-4): Mark Borowiecki appears poised to return to the lineup after Ottawa shuffled fellow defensemen Erik Burgdoerfer and Stefan Elliott to Belleville of the American Hockey League on Sunday. The 29-year-old Borowiecki has missed a total of 12 games after initially attempting to play through an upper-body injury for the Senators, who could also see top center Matt Duchene (groin) make an appearance against Nashville. Duchene, who needed assistance to get off the ice against the Canadiens on Dec. 6, will gauge his health after Monday's morning skate.

OVERTIME

1. Ottawa RW Mark Stone has 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in his last 11 games.

2. Predators G Pekka Rinne turned aside 25 shots on Tuesday to improve to 8-3-0 in 11 career encounters against the Senators.

3. Ottawa has lost eight of 11 games (3-6-2) versus Western Conference foes this season.

PREDICTION: Predators 3, Senators 1

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-17-2018, 08:58 AM

Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens Preview and Predictions 2018-12-17

NHL Predictions 16th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/16/2018

The Montreal Canadiens look to complete a perfect three-game homestand and post their fourth straight victory at Bell Centre when they host the Original Six-rival Boston Bruins on Monday. Two of the Canadiens' triumphs during their home winning streak came against Ottawa, including Saturday's come-from-behind triumph.

Montreal trailed by a goal after 40 minutes before erupting for four in the third period to post its third 5-2 win over the Senators in 12 days and earn Claude Julien his 600th career coaching victory. Boston is hoping to avoid its second three-game losing streak of the month after dropping a 4-2 home decision to Buffalo on Sunday. The Bruins have lost four of their five contests on the road since registering a 3-2 triumph in Montreal on Nov. 24. David Backes, who scored a goal and set up another in that victory, notched an assist against the Sabres to pull within two of 300 for his career.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), TSN2, RDS (Montreal)

ABOUT THE BRUINS (17-12-4): David Krejci extended his point streak to six games on Sunday with his 23rd assist of the season, which ties him with Brad Marchand for the team lead. The 32-year-old Krejci has collected three goals and six assists during the run and is two points shy of 600 for his career. David Pastrnak, who tops the club with 39 points, had his five-game streak halted by the Sabres while Marchand's four-game run came to an end.

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (17-11-5): Julien became the 18th coach in NHL history to reach the 600-win plateau and the fifth active one - joining Edmonton's Ken Hitchcock, Barry Trotz of the New York Islanders, Winnipeg's Paul Maurice and Toronto's Mike Babcock, but it is just a number for him at the moment. "When I'm sitting in my rocking chair looking back at my career, maybe I can look at those things, but right now, I still have the drive to keep going," he told reporters. "So those numbers aren't quite as important to me right now." Jeff Petry, who leads Montreal blue-liners with 25 points, has recorded four goals and three assists during his five-game point streak and is eight away from 200 for his career.

OVERTIME

1. Canadiens RW Andrew Shaw is riding a seven-game point streak during which he has collected two goals and five assists.

2. Boston D Torey Krug, who has scored three goals and set up three others in his last five contests, needs two assists to reach 200 in the NHL.

3. Montreal captain Shea Weber scored his 30th career game-winning goal on Saturday, making him the fourth active defenseman to reach the mark (Dustin Byfuglien-36, Brent Burns-34 and Zdeno Chara-33).

PREDICTION: Canadiens 4, Bruins 3

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-17-2018, 08:59 AM

New York Islanders vs. Colorado Avalanche Preview and Predictions 2018-12-17

NHL Predictions 16th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/16/2018

The New York Islanders will need to get acclimated to life away from home as they play six of their next seven contests on the road, including Monday's opener of a four-game trek versus the red-hot Mikko Rantanen and the Colorado Avalanche. The home team has won each of the last eight encounters in the series, with the Islanders limping to an 0-3-1 mark in their last four trips to Denver.

Reigning Calder Trophy recipient Mathew Barzal recorded his second straight multi-point performance and pushed his point streak to four games after scoring a goal and setting up another in Saturday's 4-3 shootout win over Detroit. "I think it's kind of nice, get on the road, be together as a group, kind of get that bonding again," the 21-year-old Barzal told Newsday. "I get excited playing in front of other fans. I think we all do." Rantanen brings a 14-game point streak (eight goals, 19 assists) into the contest after scoring twice and setting up a goal on Saturday as Colorado snapped a three-game skid by opening a four-game homestand with a 6-4 triumph over Dallas. The 22-year-old Finn leads the NHL with 56 points for the Avalanche, who have been rather generous with 29 goals allowed during their last six contests (2-3-1).

TV: 9 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New York), Altitude (Colorado)

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (15-12-4): Barzal, who has set up at least one goal in four straight games, set a franchise-rookie record with five assists in New York's 6-4 win over Colorado on Nov. 5, 2017. Anthony Beauvillier has scored the Islanders' first goal in three consecutive contests and boasts nine in his last 14 games overall to move within one of captain Anders Lee (11) for the team lead. Josh Bailey has three assists in his last four games overall and scored New York's lone goal in a 6-1 setback at Colorado on Dec. 31 last season.

ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (18-9-6): Rantanen's linemates haven't been too shabby in their own right as Nathan MacKinnon and captain Gabriel Landeskog also had banner days versus the Stars to increase their gaudy statistics on the season. MacKinnon scored a goal and set up three others to lift his point total to 52 while Landeskog capped a two-goal performance by netting the winner with 3:20 remaining against the Stars. "I'm fortunate to be part of such a good line that finds different ways to score goals," said the 26-year-old Landeskog, who is tied with MacKinnon for the team lead in goals (21).

OVERTIME

1. Rantanen's point streak matches Joe Sakic (2000) and MacKinnon (2017) for the third-longest since the team moved to Colorado in 1995-96.

2. New York owns just a 3-7-0 mark against Western Conference representatives.

3. Avalanche G Semyon Varlamov boasts a 3-2-1 record with one shutout and a .929 save percentage in six career appearances versus the Islanders.

PREDICTION: Avalanche 5, Islanders 2

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

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

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