Tuesday 4-16-19 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 04-16-2019, 05:08 AM

Orlando Magic vs. Toronto Raptors Preview and Predictions 04-16-2019 in NBA

The Orlando Magic posted a stunning upset in the series opener behind an unlikely hero and now look to take a 2-0 lead when they visit the second-seeded Toronto Raptors on Tuesday. Veteran point guard D.J. Augustin drained the winning 3-pointer with 3.4 seconds left in Game 1 as seventh-seeded Orlando recorded a 104-101 win in the Eastern Conference first-round matchup.

The Magic can really make things interesting with a second straight upset and Game 1 star Augustin wasn't willing to accept a lot of plaudits. "Honestly, man, I've been in this league a long time," Augustin told reporters. "I've played great a lot of years and I've had some success, but none of that (adulation) matters to me no more until the team wins. Nothing matters in this league if you don't win and it's all about winning. Now that we're winning, it feels amazing and winning is all I really care about." The Raptors were confused on the decisive play as neither small forward Kawhi Leonard nor center Marc Gasol made a move to contest Augustin's shot and the end result was a surprising setback. "It was a mistake made on that play," Gasol told reporters of the missed assignment. "We miscommunicated and he made a good shot."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT, FS Florida (Orlando), TSN (Toronto)

ABOUT THE MAGIC: The 31-year-old Augustin was 9-of-13 shooting - including 4-of-5 from 3-point range - while pouring in 25 points in the opener. Augustin topped that output just twice in the regular season - both times in the last week of December - but nonetheless he was ready, willing and able to take the crucial shot and could see it was on target. "Oh yeah, I knew it when I shot it," Augustin said after the victory. "When I saw it going toward the rim, I knew it and that's why I started running back the way that I did. I'm just happy it went in - that's all that matters."

ABOUT THE RAPTORS: Toronto is used to facing pivotal games as it dropped to 2-14 in Game 1s in its playoff history but Leonard isn't much interested in the franchise's patterns. "It's the playoffs, you're going to go up and down," Leonard told reporters afterward. "Towards the end of the game, they made their shots in the corner, and we missed some shots down the stretch." Leonard scored 25 points in his first playoff outing with the Raptors, while forward Pascal Siakam also stood out with 24 points and nine rebounds.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Raptors PG Kyle Lowry missed all seven of his shots - six from 3-point range - while going scoreless in the opener.

2. All-Star C Nikola Vucevic (3-of-14), PF Aaron Gordon (3-of-10) and reserve swingman Terrence Ross (2-of-11) all shot poorly for Orlando in Game 1.

3. Toronto SF OG Anunoby (emergency appendectomy) will miss the entire series.

PREDICTION: Raptors 110, Magic 102

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 04-16-2019, 05:09 AM

San Antonio Spurs vs. Denver Nuggets Preview and Predictions 04-16-2019 in NBA

The San Antonio Spurs have stolen homecourt advantage away from Denver and look to take a 2-0 lead when they visit the Nuggets on Tuesday. Second-seeded Denver struggled down the stretch of Game 1 and the seventh-seeded Spurs were happy to take advantage and notch the victory.

The Nuggets had an opportunity to force overtime but Spurs rookie point guard Derrick White stole the ball from guard Jamal Murray with 2.1 seconds remaining and hit two free throws with 1.3 seconds left to seal the 101-96 victory. Shooting guard DeMar DeRozan had 18 points and 12 rebounds as one of five San Antonio players to score in double digits. Denver trailed by six points with under 3 1/2 minutes left in the opener and had a chance to take the lead but Murray missed a wide-open 18-footer with 9.4 seconds left prior to the ending sequence. "Obviously, this was not the desired result, giving them home court advantage right back after Game 1," Nuggets coach Michael Malone told reporters afterward. "I reminded our guys that we did some good things, we gave ourselves a chance down the stretch."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Southwest (San Antonio), Altitude (Denver)

ABOUT THE SPURS: White grew up in the Denver area and completed his college career at Colorado and he definitely had a stellar homecoming with 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting and five assists in his first playoff start. "He's spectacular for somebody who got put into that position," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich told reporters of White, who eventually became a starter due to Dejounte Murray's preseason knee injury. "To learn that position with a bunch of new players is really remarkable when he's done what he's done. So hopefully he'll continue to play that way because it's gonna be a long series." All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge was just 6-of-19 shooting while contributing 15 points and eight rebounds in Game 1.

ABOUT THE NUGGETS: Murray, who had 17 points and six steals, insisted that he will bounce back in Game 2 after being just 8-of-24 shooting, including that dreadful wide-open miss that might have been the difference between winning and losing. "He was wide open, I think it's a great shot for us," All-Star center Nikola Jokic told reporters afterward. "He didn't make it. I'm good with that. At least he was wide open. It was uncontested. We're good. We're going to live with that." While Murray struggled, shooting guard Gary Harris continued to put a recent slump in the rearview mirror by scoring 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Nuggets are 6-21 all-time in the playoffs against the Spurs after the Game 1 loss.

2. San Antonio was 7-of-15 from 3-point range in the opener, while holding Denver to 6-of-28.

3. Jokic had 10 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists in Game 1 to become the fourth player in NBA history to record a triple-double in his first career playoff game.

PREDICTION: Nuggets 102, Spurs 99

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 04-16-2019, 05:09 AM

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Portland Trail Blazers Preview and Predictions 04-16-2019 in NBA

The Portland Trail Blazers snapped a 10-game playoff losing streak in taking Game 1 from the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, but they're not getting overly excited about one victory. The third-seeded Trail Blazers will try to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series when they host the sixth-seeded Thunder on Tuesday.

"Last year we didn't win a game, this year we did," Portland star point guard Damian Lillard told reporters. "We've gone two playoffs without winning a game, so obviously it's a good feeling to get back on the winning side. It's only one game. That's all it is. We know how it feels to win a game and now we can just kind of move on from that and stay focused on this series." Lillard led the way with 30 points and CJ McCollum added 24 in the 104-99 Game 1 triumph. Oklahoma City fell behind by as many as 19 points before battling back on Sunday and is not getting down about dropping Game 1. "It's a series, the first to four. They won the first game," Thunder All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook told reporters. "That's a part of the series, make adjustments, come back, play harder the next game and try to take care of business."

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT, FS Oklahoma, NBCS Northwest (Portland)

ABOUT THE THUNDER: Westbrook recorded his customary triple-double with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists on Sunday and Paul George added 26 points and 10 boards but Oklahoma City went 5-of-33 from beyond the arc. "We were well-balanced on offense in terms of shots we got, we got downhill, we got to the front of the rim, we scored points in the paint and I thought we got really good open looks, but listen, we just didn't shoot the ball particularly well from behind the 3-point line," coach Billy Donovan told reporters. Westbrook and fellow point guard Dennis Schroder combined to go 0-of-11 from 3-point range while George was 4-of-15.

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS: Portland was counted out as a threat in the West when center Jusuf Nurkic went down with a season-ending broken leg late last month but Enes Kanter is stepping up in his absence, even on the defensive end. Known as a sub-par defender in the middle, Kanter, who finished with 20 points and 18 rebounds on Sunday, drew raves for his work on that end Sunday. "I think Enes has really been good for us defensively," Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts told reporters. "He gives great effort. He wants to do what we want to do. One-on-one against Steven Adams, he can hold his own on the block. Pick-and-roll defense, he gives good effort, he's communicating, so as a coach all you can ask for is that a player is giving effort, trying to do what you want him to do. Enes has been like that from Day One with us."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Trail Blazers recorded nine blocks in Game 1, with SF Maurice Harkless and PF Al-Farouq Aminu recording three each.

2. Lillard hit a game-high five 3-pointers on Sunday.

3. Oklahoma City SF Jerami Grant recorded four blocks in Game 1.

PREDICTION: Thunder 102, Trail Blazers 96

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 04-16-2019, 05:09 AM

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Preview and Predictions 04-16-2019 in NHL

The Columbus Blue Jackets can win their first playoff series in franchise history after 18 years when they host the Presidents' Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning for Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round matchup Tuesday night. The Blue Jackets trailed 3-0 after the first period of Game 1, but have outscored the Lightning 12-2 in the last eight periods to take an astonishing 3-0 lead in the series.

"The job's not done, but at the same time this is fun," Columbus center Matt Duchene told reporters after scoring for the second straight game in a 3-1 victory Sunday. "This has been unbelievable, and we want to finish the job and leave no doubt. Obviously, we have a great opportunity Tuesday at home in front of our fans. I think these fans deserve that we get the job done here at home." Only four of 190 teams in NHL history have come back to win a best-of-7 playoff series after dropping the first three games, but Tampa Bay is coming off a regular season in which it matched the league record with 62 victories. "We've won a lot of hockey games as a team," Lightning forward Tyler Johnson told reporters after helping set up Sunday's goal. "We can definitely do it. If there's a group that can, it's us. We've just go to play the right way. Everyone's got to step up. Everyone's got to play a solid game, and we've got to make it a little bit harder." Tampa Bay will have Art Ross Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov back in the lineup after the right wing was suspended for Game 3, but coach Jon Cooper told reporters reigning Norris Trophy winner Victor Hedman (upper body) is doubtful after missing the last contest.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, CNBC, TVA, Sportsnet360; FS Sun (Tampa Bay), FS Ohio (Columbus)

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING: Tampa Bay finished the third period with a 17-8 edge in shots, creeping within 2-1 on Ondrej Palat's goal, and captain Steven Stamkos told reporters: "If anything, maybe we found a recipe to break some of their structure there, but obviously it wasn't enough." More is needed from the team's three 40-goal scorers - Kucherov, Stamkos and Brayden Point - as the trio has yet to make the scoresheet in the series. Rookie Erik Cernak tops the team with three points - all assists - and fellow defenseman Mikhail Sergachev has eight shots to share the team lead with Stamkos, who had none Sunday.

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS: Sergei Bobrovsky played a big part in Columbus' 7-1-0 finish to the regular season and has stopped 69 of the 71 shots he faced in the past eight periods. "You don't win playoff games without your goalie, so I thought he stood really big in those 10, 12 minutes there when they turned it up," coach John Tortorella told reporters of Sunday's third period. "Bob doesn't say anything. He just goes about his business. ... We're going to need him, because there's going to be another push in Game 4." Duchene has led the way for Columbus in the series, notching his first two postseason goals and three assists.

OVERTIME

1. Tampa Bay G Andrei Vasilevskiy, who led the league with 39 wins this season, was 6-2-0 with a .948 save percentage against the Blue Jackets coming into the series.

2. Columbus D Markus Nutivaara (upper body), who suffered the illegal hit that prompted Kucherov's suspension, missed Game 3 and is questionable for Tuesday.

3. Lightning LW Alex Killorn, who has a team-best plus-2 rating, left Sunday's game with an undisclosed injury and his status is uncertain for Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Lightning 4, Blue Jackets 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 04-16-2019, 05:09 AM

New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Preview and Predictions 04-16-2019 in NHL

Sidney Crosby has tormented the New York Islanders throughout his decorated career, however the two-time Hart Trophy recipient has been held without a point on six shots while recording a minus-4 rating in the Eastern Conference first-round series. Crosby looks to help the Pittsburgh Penguins avert a sweep when they host the Islanders in Game 4 on Tuesday night.

"It's not the position that you want to be in, but I would love to be a part of a team that comes back from that," Crosby told reporters Monday, one day after a 4-1 setback put Pittsburgh in its first 3-0 series deficit since the 2013 Eastern Conference final versus Boston. The Penguins' sixth-ranked offense has been limited to the first career postseason goals of defenseman Erik Gudbranson and Garrett Wilson over the last two games. Jordan Eberle answered just 28 seconds after Wilson's tally in the first period in Game 3 to become the first Islander to open the playoffs with three goals in as many games since Ray Ferraro (1993 versus Washington). "It's been the storyline for the last couple of games. They score and we come back," the 28-year-old Eberle told the media. "Playoffs are all about momentum. When you can take some teams (momentum) away and continue to build yours, it's key."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, CBC, TVAS2; MSG, MSG-Plus (New York), AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS: Robin Lehner entered this series with 49 minutes of playoff action accumulated in a relief role with Ottawa in 2013, but the 27-year-old Swede has looked at ease in this set versus Pittsburgh by turning aside 98 of 103 shots. "We work for each other and care for each other and play as a group. I feel calm in the net right now," Lehner, who split the William M. Jennings Trophy with Thomas Greiss, told reporters. Reigning Calder Memorial Trophy recipient Mathew Barzal has four assists in the series after setting up three goals in the season series versus Pittsburgh.

ABOUT THE PENGUINS: Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and defenseman Kris Letang are the lone remaining members of the last Pittsburgh team that trailed 3-0 in a series. Malkin has collected a goal and two assists in the series to join defenseman Justin Schultz with a team-leading three points, while Letang set up a third-period tally in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss in Game 1. Like Crosby, Jake Guentzel has been held without a point and owns a minus-3 rating in the series after erupting for a career-high 40 goals this season.

OVERTIME

1. New York is 9-0 all-time when holding a 3-0 lead in best-of-7 series while Pittsburgh is 0-5 when facing same deficit.

2. The Penguins have held a lead for 3 minutes, 17 seconds in the series.

3. NHL teams that lead 3-0 in a best-of-7 series are 186-4 with the 1975 Islanders one of the four to erase a 3-0 deficit against Pittsburgh.

PREDICTION: Penguins 4, Islanders 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 04-16-2019, 05:09 AM

Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues Preview and Predictions 04-16-2019 in NHL

The Winnipeg Jets executed their plan nearly flawlessly, and need a similar effort Tuesday when they visit the St. Louis Blues for Game 4 seeking to even the Western Conference first-round playoff series at two wins apiece. Winnipeg looked like a team heading for an early exit after consecutive losses at home to open the series, but received two goals from forward Kyle Connor, a better performance from Connor Hellebuyck in goal, and held on to a third-period lead in Sunday's 6-3 triumph.

"We're building every shift, every game throughout the series," Connor told reporters after netting his first two postseason goals, giving him three points in the three games. "We're getting closer to our game, and it's pretty dangerous." Winnipeg remains in a dangerous spot given a loss Tuesday gives the Blues a 3-1 advantage, and St. Louis will be anxious to more closely resemble the team that roared from the NHL cellar to a playoff spot with a torrid second half. Rookie goaltender Jordan Binnington allowed more than four goals for the first time in his NHL career, and two assists from defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and forward Vladimir Tarasenko's first goal of the series were not enough. "We had some good pushes," Pietrangelo told the media afterward, "but overall we need to do better."

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, CNBC, TVA, Sportsnet (Winnipeg), FS Midwest (St. Louis)

ABOUT THE JETS: Forward Patrik Laine scored for the third consecutive game, giving him nine goals in seven games against the Blues this season. Hellebuyck rebounded from a substandard performance in Game 2, stopping 26 of the 29 shots he faced and keeping the Jets in the game after allowing a late first-period goal. Defenseman Dustin Byfuglien finished with a goal and an assist, giving him five points in the series.

ABOUT THE BLUES: Binnington started strong, making 13 saves in the first period, but surrendered six goals on 16 shots after the opening period. Forward David Perron, who netted his second goal of the series, and Tarasenko both scored on the power play Sunday as the Blues finished 2-for-5 with the man advantage after opening the series 0-for-7. Pietrangelo has at least one assist in each game and four assists in the series.

OVERTIME

1. Jets F Mathieu Perreault picked up an assist Sunday after missing Game 2 with an undisclosed injury.

2. Teams winning Game 4 to build a 3-1 series lead, which the Blues will attempt to do Tuesday, win the series 90.1 percent of the time.

3. Including the regular season, the Jets are 3-0-0 in St. Louis and have outscored the Blues 19-8.

PREDICTION: Jets 4, Blues 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 04-16-2019, 05:10 AM

San Jose Sharks vs. Vegas Golden Knights Preview and Predictions 04-16-2019 in NHL

The Vegas Golden Knights' second line is outplaying their first, but that's perfectly fine given that Mark Stone, Paul Stastny and Max Pacioretty are outperforming the rest of the league. The Golden Knights will look for more production from that potent trio Tuesday when they play Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round series versus the visiting San Jose Sharks.

"I love playing in Vegas, my teammates, the fans, this city. This is why I came here. ... Everything I expected and more," said Stone, who recorded his first career hat trick to go along with two assists as the Golden Knights posted a 6-3 victory Sunday to take a 2-1 edge in the series. The 26-year-old Stone, who was acquired from Ottawa on Feb. 25, leads the NHL with six goals while his eight points are matched by Stastny - two ahead of Pacioretty. "They've eaten us up this series," San Jose coach Peter DeBoer told reporters. "What do they do well? It is three very good players that are playing at a really high level. We've got to find an answer to slow those guys down." The Sharks' Martin Jones likely would welcome any and all suggestions as he has yielded 11 goals on 73 shots in the series while being pulled once.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, Sportsnet 360, TVAS2; NBCS California (San Jose), AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountains (Vegas)

ABOUT THE SHARKS: Defenseman Erik Karlsson boosted his team-leading totals in assists and points to five of both after setting up Logan Couture's power-play goal at 4:57 of the third period Sunday. Timo Meier tallied 54 seconds later to cut San Jose's deficit to 5-3, but the Sharks were ultimately done in after Vegas scored within the first 36 seconds of each period. "Not good enough," San Jose captain Joe Pavelski said. "There's always a lot of emotion in playoff games. It's the starts of periods we need to be better at it."

ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS: While San Jose lamented its sluggish start, Vegas coach Gerard Gallant praised the way his team set the tone to put its Pacific Division rival on its heels. "We went out there and found a way to get a couple of goals early," Gallant said after the Golden Knights became the 13th team in NHL history and third in the last 30 years to score in the opening minute of consecutive playoff games. "We carried the momentum a lot from those quick starts to each period." Marc-Andre Fleury is still finding his way following a three-week absence because of an undisclosed injury, surrendering 18 goals on 169 shots in his last five games.

OVERTIME

1. San Jose C Joe Thornton had a hearing with the NHL on Monday following his illegal check to the head of Vegas C Tomas Nosek.

2. Golden Knights D Shea Theodore has set up four goals in the series after recording a career-high 25 assists this season.

3. San Jose RW Kevin Labanc has four points (one goal, three assists) in five games versus Vegas in 2018-19.

PREDICTION: Sharks 4, Golden Knights 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 04-16-2019, 07:44 AM

Marc Lawrence

Apr 16 '19, 6:35 PM in 9h
MLB | Red Sox vs Yankees
Play on: Red Sox -103 at BMaker

Play - Boston Red Sox w/Sale (Game 965).
Edges: Sale 3-0 last three team starts in this series … Yankees: Tanaka 0-3 last three team starts during April … With Sale winless in his three starts this season, look for him to break into the win column today We recommend a 1* play on Boston. Thank you and good luck as always. Red Sox: We recommend a 1* play on Boston. Thank you and good luck as always.

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 04-16-2019, 07:44 AM

Red Dog Sports

Apr 16 '19, 2:45 PM in 6h
Soccer | Cardiff City vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Play on: Brighton & Hove Albion +105 at pinnacle

B&H +105
The free soccer pick takes place in England on Tuesday afternoon.
Cardiff 1
B&H 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 04-16-2019, 07:45 AM

Wesley Scott

Apr 16 '19, 7:05 PM in 10h
MLB | Giants vs Nationals
Play on: Giants +185 at pinnacle

The San Francisco Giants (7-10 Overall, 2-5 Away) are looking to get back on track. They face the Washington Nationals (7-7 Overall, 3-5 Home).
The Giants are a somewhat surprising team at 7-10 to start the season. Quality pitching has led to most of their seven wins this season.
Dereck Rodriguez (1-2, 4.15 ERA) will take the bump for the Giants. He faced the Nationals once in his short career.
He is 0-1 with a 16.88 ERA. He lasted only two innings giving up six hits and five runs.
The Nationals will counter with Stephen Strasburg (1-0, 5.40 ERA). Strasburg is 0-2 with a 3.45 ERA against the Giants in his last two starts against them.
This game could go either was, but I like the Giants bullpen to get it done in this matchup.
Take the Giants in W.Scott's free play of the day.

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 04-16-2019, 07:45 AM

Mark Wilson

Apr 16 '19, 7:40 PM in 10h
MLB | Blue Jays vs Twins
Play on: Blue Jays +137 at pinnacle

Free Play on Blue Jays +137

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 04-16-2019, 08:07 AM

Hunter Price

Apr 16 '19, 8:05 PM in 11h
NBA | Magic vs Raptors
Play on: Raptors -9½ -110 at Mirage

1* Free Pick on Raptors -9½ -110

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 04-16-2019, 08:07 AM

Ricky Tran

Apr 16 '19, 9:05 PM in 12h
NBA | Spurs vs Nuggets
Play on: OVER 207½ -110

Ricky's 1* Free Play on the over FIRST HALF Spurs/Nuggets.
Key Angle: It's important to remember that Ricky never makes a bet on any game based on just one angle. In order to make the grade, all his premium picks must meet several important criteria. He doesn't share all his secrets within his analysis, instead he chooses to reveal only the angle that he feels is the most significant.
- Do or die for the home side. I think the home side is going to be forced to push the pace from the outset here as it looks to avoid the dreaded 0-2 hole. I had a play on the Spurs in Game 1 (I also have a play on the SIDE in this contest!), but for my FREE PLAY selection, I think the “over” is worthy of a second look in the FIRST HALF. Denver has been scuffling and it’s big break out season is going to be over pretty quickly if it doesn’t lay everything on the line from the “get go” in this one.
Key Trends:
- San Antonio has seen the total go over the number in 12 of its last 17 as a road underdog in the 6.5 to 12 points range (including in all six such instances this season).
- The Spurs have seen the total go over in four of five off an upset win as a road underdog this year.
- The Nuggets have seen the total soar over in five of their last six revenging a SU loss vs. an opponent as a home favorite.
The verdict: I’m expecting a much more frenetic pace in Game 2. Consider the OVER in the FIRST HALF!

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 04-16-2019, 08:07 AM

Steve Janus

Apr 16 '19, 9:10 PM in 12h
MLB | Rockies vs Padres
Play on: Padres -128 at GTBets

1* Free Sharp Play on Padres -128

Tuesday 4-16-19 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

Tuesday 4-16-19 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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