Betting news, trends, odds and predictions for Friday, April 6, 2018 from various handicappers and websites
Friday’s NBA games
Hornets won their last 10 games with the Magic (8-2 vs spread); they’re 3-1 vs spread in last four visits to Orlando (over 3-1). Charlotte lost its last four games, is 0-5 vs spread in its last five; they are 7-4 as road favorites. Three of their last four games stayed under total. Orlando split their last six games; they’re 10-6 in last 16 games as home underdogs. Under is 7-2 in their last nine games.
Pistons won four of last six games with Dallas; five of last six series games stayed under. Dallas is 3-2 vs spread in their five visits to Detroit. Mavericks lost eight of their last 10 games; they’re 3-12 in last 15 games as road underdogs- five of their last seven games stayed under. Detroit won seven of its last nine games; they covered last four games as a home favorite. Four of their last six games went over.
Wizards won four of last five games with Atlanta; home side won eight of last ten series games. Hawks are 2-3 vs spread in last five games in this building (under 4-1). Atlanta lost seven of its last eight games; they’re 3-6-1 in last ten games as road underdogs. Under is 7-2 in their last nine games.
Cavaliers won nine of last ten games with Philly; they’re 1-4 vs spread in last five visits here. Six of their last eight games stayed under. Cleveland won 10 of its last 11 games; they’re 7-5 as road underdogs this season. Cavaliers’ last five games stayed under the total. 76ers won their last 12 games; they covered their last six home games. Four of their last five games stayed under the total.
Celtics won/covered six of last seven games with Chicago (under 5-2); Bulls are 2-3 vs spread in last five visits to Boston. Chicago won its last three games; they’re 4-11 in last 15 games as road underdogs. Under is 3-1-1 in their last five games. Celtics lost its last two games after a 6-game win streak; they’re 1-7 vs spread in last eight games as home favorites. Under is 7-3 in their last ten games.
Toronto won five of last seven games with Indiana; home side won nine of last ten series games. Pacers are 3-2 vs spread in last five visits to Canada. Indiana won six of its last seven games; they’re 7-2 in last nine games as road underdogs. Under is 5-3 in their last eight games. Raptors split their last ten games; they’re 1-5 in last six games as home favorites. Over is 4-2 in their last six home games.
Miami is 6-4 in its last ten games with the Knicks; they covered three of last four visits to MSG. Under is 7-2-1 in last ten series games. Heat won four of their last five games; they’re 5-6 as road favorites this season. Four of their last five games stayed under the total. New York lost its last four games; they covered three of last four games as a home underdog. Under is 5-2-1 in their last eight games.
Memphis won/covered 8 of its last 10 games with Sacramento (under 7-3); Kings are 1-5 vs spread in last six visits to Tennessee. Sacramento lost seven of its last nine games; they’re 4-0 vs spread in last four games as a road underdog. Under is 7-1 in their last eight games. Memphis lost seven of its last nine games; they’re 6-11 as home favorites this season. Seven of their last nine games went over total.
New Orleans won its last five games with Phoenix; they covered four of their last five visits to the desert. Three of last four series games stayed under. Pelicans lost four of their last five games; they’re 11-3 as road favorites this season. Four of last five series games stayed under the total. Suns lost 15 of their last 16 games; they’re 3-8 in last 11 games as home underdogs. Seven of their last eight games stayed under.
Minnesota won its last three games with the Lakers, by 17-18-8 points; they’re 2-3 vs spread in last five series games played here. Over is 8-2 in their last ten series games. Wolves lost four of their last six games; they’re 2-7 vs spread on road if they played night before. Over is 7-4 in their last 11 games. Lakers lost seven of their last 10 games; they’re 2-3 vs spread in last five home tilts. Three of their last four games went over.
Preview: Mavericks at Pistons
Gracenote
Apr 5, 2018
The Detroit Pistons were mathematically eliminated from postseason contention with a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, and the final four games of the season will give the team a chance to look at some different lineups. The Pistons will begin that evaluation period by hosting the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.
Detroit kept its slim playoff hopes alive with a five-game winning streak but finally watched it slip away on Wednesday and would need to win each of its final four games to finish the season with a .500 record. "It's just tough to end up with a loss," Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson, who went 1-of-11 from the floor on Wednesday, told reporters. "Just watching the last seconds ticking and realizing we’re out of playoff contention, that was the toughest part, the most frustrating part." The Mavericks fell out of the race in the West months ago and are turning the final games over to the young players with Dirk Nowitzki (ankle) and J.J. Barea (oblique) expected to sit out the rest of the way. Dallas is 9-30 on the road and began the current three-game trip with a 105-100 loss at Orlando on Wednesday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Dallas), FS Detroit
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (24-55): Nowitzki underwent surgery on his right ankle on Thursday and heads into the offseason with an uncertain future. The future Hall of Famer, who is expected to make a quick recovery from surgery, will turn 40 in June and averaged 12 points this season - his lowest mark since his rookie campaign in 1998-99. Rookie power forward Johnathan Motley got the start on Wednesday in place of Nowitzki and recorded season highs with 14 points, eight rebounds and 41 minutes.
ABOUT THE PISTONS (37-41): Detroit is trying to find more minutes for its own young power forward, and Henry Ellenson averaged 15.3 minutes over the last four games. "I would think that he would play some more minutes, but we'll see," Van Gundy told reporters of his plans for Ellenson over the last four games. "I think he's developed pretty well. He's come on. He's gotten better. Over this four-game stretch, he's played pretty well. I'd like him to shoot the ball better, but I think he’s played pretty well." Ellenson got a few minutes at center on Wednesday when Andre Drummond ran into foul trouble and could continue to fill that role.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Pistons PF Anthony Tolliver went 7-of-8 from 3-point range en route to a season-high 25 points on Wednesday.
2. Mavericks rookie PG Dennis Smith Jr. (knee) sat out Wednesday and is day-to-day.
3. Dallas took the last meeting 110-93 at home on Dec. 20 behind 25 points from SF Harrison Barnes.
PREDICTION: Pistons 106, Mavericks 103
Preview: Hornets at Magic
Gracenote
Apr 5, 2018
The Charlotte Hornets were mathematically eliminated from postseason competition late last week and immediately went into building mode, giving the young players opportunities to showcase their talents. The Orlando Magic, who host the Hornets on Friday, have seemingly been in that mode since December but are still showing some fight down the stretch.
Charlotte dropped its last four games but used the last two contests to give expanded minutes to young players like guards Julyan Stone and Malik Monk and center Willy Hernangomez off the bench. Both the young players and the veterans will reportedly be trying to impress veteran executive Mitch Kupchak, who is in talks to become the Hornets' president of basketball operations. The Magic are going with young players as well but are still trying to be competitive and beat the New York Knicks and the Dallas Mavericks in the last two games. "You play for the respect of the game, the respect of your teammates and the respect of your organization, so when it comes time for those playoff games it makes it even easier," Orlando power forward Aaron Gordon told reporters. "That's because you know when there was nothing to play for, you were still playing hard. Then, when the moment comes, you’ll be ready. So, there's no time to skip; the only time is now, and we have to take care of what's happening now with these games."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Charlotte), FS Florida (Orlando)
ABOUT THE HORNETS (34-45): Monk recorded 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting in Tuesday's loss, pouring in 16 points in the fourth quarter to keep the game close. "We just started attacking more, being more aggressive on defense and offense," Monk told reporters of the difference in the final period. "Then, the offense got it going after the defense got a couple of stops, a couple big stops. Then I made a couple plays." Hernangomez scored in double figures in each of the last three games and is 9-of-15 from the floor in that span while averaging 9.3 rebounds in just 18.3 minutes.
ABOUT THE MAGIC (24-54): Orlando is grabbing players from its G League affiliate and having some success of late, with Jamel Artis providing a bright spot. Artis scored a season-high 18 points in Wednesday's win after scoring 16 in the previous contest and is 14-of-23 from the field in that span. "We do have a lot of chemistry because we’ve all been playing in the G League together," Artis told reporters of a reserve corps that lately has also included shooting guard Rodney Purvis and center Khem Birch. "Down in crunch time, we know what each other’s tendencies are, and we like to play together. We’re not selfish and we’re all unselfish. We ended out the game and I think that (unselfishness) helped us get the win."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Hornets C Dwight Howard set a franchise single-season record with his 50th double-double on Tuesday.
2. Magic PF Jonathan Isaac (ankle) sat out the last two games and is day-to-day.
3. Charlotte took the first three meetings this season by an average of 6.3 points.
PREDICTION: Hornets 108, Magic 103
Preview: Cavaliers at 76ers
Gracenote
Apr 6, 2018
The Philadelphia 76ers have matched their longest winning streak in 28 years and aim to stretch it to 13 games when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. The soaring 76ers have continued to win despite losing All-Star center Joel Embiid (orbital fracture) and the winner of Friday's game will reside in third place in the Eastern Conference.
Philadelphia ended an 11-game losing streak against the Cavaliers when they last met on March 1 and the squad feels it is now in a sustained groove entering the rematch. "I think it's all coming together at the right time," Rookie of the Year candidate Ben Simmons told reporters after Wednesday's 115-108 road win over the Detroit Pistons. "A lot of us in here haven't played in the playoffs. It's going to be interesting. As a young team, I think we're ready, we're getting there." Cleveland has recorded five straight victories and 10 in its past 11 games after overcoming a 17-point, fourth quarter deficit to register a 119-115 win over the Washington Wizards on Thursday. "We want to continue to play good ball, which we've been doing as of late," Cavaliers forward LeBron James told reporters after the contest. "But we already clinched, so we know we have a chance to compete for a championship. That's all you can ask for."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Ohio (Cleveland), NBCS Philadelphia
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (49-30): James had 33 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds against Washington in his latest stellar performance but Cleveland looked in deep trouble when the Wizards were building their big lead. "It didn't feel like we were in a very good spot," swingman Kyle Korver told reporters. "We had no rhythm. We weren't getting good shots, we weren't getting stops. They were feeling like they were getting kind of whatever they wanted to." The Cavaliers will likely be short at point guard on Friday with George Hill (ankle) expected to miss his fourth straight game and Jose Calderon (hamstring) likely to sit out his second.
ABOUT THE 76ERS (48-30): While Embiid won't return until sometime during the postseason, starting power forward Dario Saric (elbow) is expected to play on Friday after a three-game absence. Veteran Ersan Ilyasova started in Saric's place and recorded back-to-back double-doubles as the team's season-long trend of players responding to opportunities continued. "They play for each other," Philadelphia coach Brett Brown told reporters. "They really co-exist well. It's stuff with our culture you've been building over the years, and the people we have included into this program have played for each other. I really think they get along well."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Cavaliers have prevailed in each of their last five visits to Philadelphia, including a 113-91 victory on Nov. 27.
2. Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue was back on the sidelines Thursday after a nine-game absence to deal with an illness that included chest pains and sleep deprivation.
3. Philadelphia veteran SG Marco Belinelli is averaged 19.3 points on 22-of-33 shooting over the past three games and has recorded 10 straight double-digit scoring efforts.
PREDICTION: 76ers 106, Cavaliers 104
Preview: Hawks at Wizards
Gracenote
Apr 6, 2018
John Wall is rounding into shape after his recent return from knee surgery but he will likely be held out of the lineup when the Washington Wizards host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. Coach Scott Brooks will make the decision at some point on Friday but he wants to be cautious with the five-time All-Star point guard with the playoffs looming.
Wall contributed 28 points and 14 assists in Thursday's 119-115 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers but also committed six turnovers, including one in the final seconds when Cleveland rookie Cedi Osman intercepted the pass to hand the Wizards their seventh setback in the past nine games. "I tried to find a teammate for a wide open shot," Wall told reporters afterward. "You just give that guy credit for making a great defensive stop." The Hawks have dropped 13 of their last 15 games and need to win one of their final three games to avoid the second 60-loss campaign in franchise history. But losing helps Atlanta in another way as its draft lottery odds will improve if either the Memphis Grizzlies or Phoenix Suns - or both - finish with a better record.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Atlanta), NBCS Washington
ABOUT THE HAWKS (22-57): Atlanta gave a porous effort while being trounced 115-86 by the visiting Miami Heat on Wednesday in the second outing of a back-to-back between the teams. Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer could see the problem - "Energy-wise, our gas tank hit empty," he told reporters - as his squad was outscored 62-39 in the second half. Small forward Taurean Prince bounced back with 20 points in 24 minutes after back-to-back five-point efforts, the latter one on Tuesday when Budenholzer benched him for the second half.
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (42-37): Thursday's outing was Wall's third since returning from knee surgery and Washington was clicking - leading by 17 points with 7 1/2 minutes remaining before collapsing. Shooting guard Bradley Beal flirted with his first career triple-double by recording 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists but was miffed about how the team could play so well in the third quarter before falling apart late. "When we get stops, we're one of the best teams in the league in terms of scoring," Beal told reporters afterward. "The third quarter was big for us. The fourth - we have to be a lot better."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Hawks have dropped four straight visits to Washington, including a 113-94 decision on Nov. 11.
2. Washington SF Kelly Oubre Jr. was 2-of-9 shooting against Cleveland and is just 8-of-42 over the past four games.
3. Atlanta rookie G Tyler Dorsey is averaging 15.5 points over the past four contests.
PREDICTION: Wizards 104, Hawks 97
Preview: Bulls at Celtics
Gracenote
Apr 5, 2018
The injury news for the Boston Celtics just keeps getting worse, and the playoff-bound squad learned Thursday it will be without All-Star guard Kyrie Irving through the postseason. The Celtics, firmly entrenched in the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference, will continue their playoff preparation without Irving when they host the Chicago Bulls on Friday.
Irving was recovering from knee surgery and hoped to return during the postseason but the team announced that the dynamic guard will have another procedure that will require a recovery period of at least four months. "The hardest thing to do sometimes is accept the uncontrollable things life throws at you," Irving posted on his Instagram feed. "You try consistently to learn, grow, and prepare everyday to equip your mind, body, and spirit with tools to deal with some of those things, but I feel when those moments arise they all give you a sense of unfulfillment, simply because it puts some of your professional journey and goals on a brief hold." The Celtics recently surged to within two games of the first-place Toronto Raptors in the East, but losses at Milwaukee and Toronto on Tuesday and Wednesday helped the Raptors inch closer to sealing the No. 1 seed. Terry Rozier, who replaced Irving in the starting lineup, was 1-for-9 from the field in his return from an ankle injury in the 96-78 loss to the Raptors. The Bulls are showing late life with three straight wins and rookie Lauri Markkanen scored 24 points in the 120-114 victory over Charlotte at home Tuesday night.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), NBCS Boston
ABOUT THE BULLS (27-51): Chicago could improve its draft position if it lost a few more games down the stretch, but that's not going to motivate the current crop of players. "We're going out there and try to win every game," Markkanen told reporters after the win over the Hornets. "I hope we can keep this thing going." The 7-footer out of Arizona is averaging 23.5 points while making 10-of-14 3-pointers over his last two games.
ABOUT THE CELTICS (53-25): The 78 points scored at Toronto represents Boston's lowest output this season as it made a season-low three 3-pointers in 22 attempts and committed 14 turnovers in the first half alone. "It's vital that we get back on a good roll and go into the playoffs with some type of momentum," forward Marcus Morris told the media. Morris scored a team-high 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting while his teammates combined to go 18-of-61 from the floor.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Celtics PG Shane Larkin (illness) missed the last three games and is day-to-day.
2. Bulls PF Bobby Portis averaged 17 points in 19.5 minutes over the last two games.
3. Boston won two of the first three meetings, including a 117-92 triumph on Dec. 23 in the first matchup at home.
PREDICTION: Celtics 105, Bulls 101
Preview: Heat at Knicks
Gracenote
Apr 5, 2018
The Miami Heat will begin the playoffs on the road and they have one final road test in the regular season Friday against the New York Knicks. The Heat won four of their last five games and entered Thursday in sixth place in the East, a half-game ahead of both Washington and Milwaukee.
Kelly Olynyk and Josh Richardson scored 19 points apiece as Miami won at Atlanta 115-86 its last time out to begin the final road trip of the season. "We're not going to shut this thing down," coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters when addressing various injuries. "We're not in that position right now. We're still playing for something. ... So, let's get to New York, evaluate how those guys are and evaluate how anybody else is. But we intend on playing it out. We can't control what the other teams can do, but we want to continue to play and compete and be ready." The Knicks have dropped six of seven, a stretch that began with a 119-98 loss at Miami. They matched their worst offensive output of the season in Tuesday's 97-73 home loss to Orlando.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Miami), MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE HEAT (43-36): With Goran Dragic (ankle), Dwyane Wade (wrist) and James Johnson (ankle) sidelined, Olynyk and Richardson took advantage of their opportunity to carry the load. They both shot 7-of-12 and combined to make 7-of-9 3-pointers, five of them from Olynyk. "I was kind of in the zone," Olynyk told the media. "I felt like whatever I threw up was going to go in."
ABOUT THE KNICKS (27-51): A humiliating home loss to a team like the Magic can make a team wonder what it has left, but some players were still talking about a strong finish. "I want to see pride. Everybody having an urgency and that fight to go out there to compete on every given night," guard Tim Hardaway Jr. told reporters. "What do we have to lose? Other teams destroyed our season, so let's do a good job of making these guys that are going to the playoffs next couple of games to make it difficult for them." Hardaway led the team with 16 points and made 1-of-7 3-pointers, part of the Knicks' 4-of-27 effort from beyond the arc.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. New York PG Trey Burke is averaging 22.4 points on 52.7 percent shooting in five starts.
2. Olynyk is 12-for-21 from 3-point range over a five-game span.
3. The Knicks won the first meeting in New York on Nov. 29 by a 115-86 margin.
PREDICTION: Heat 110, Knicks 102
Preview: Pacers at Raptors
Gracenote
Apr 6, 2018
The Toronto Raptors continue their final homestand of the regular season Friday against the Indiana Pacers with the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs just about sewn up. The Raptors hold a three-game lead over the second-place Boston Celtics with four to play, giving them a chance to clinch homecourt advantage throughout the conference playoffs.
While locking up first place is practically a formality at this point, there is plenty more for Toronto to accomplish in the final week of the regular season. "We've got, what, four games left?" guard DeMar DeRozan asked reporters. "Every single one is extremely important because once next weekend starts, it's literally win or go home. No 'my bad,' or 'I'll get the next one,' so these four games are critical on us playing extremely hard and understanding we want our confidence to be at an all-time high going into next week." The Pacers can do no worse than fifth place in the East but could get as high as third. They routed Golden State 126-106 on Thursday for their sixth win in the last seven games and sit 1 1/2 games behind Philadelphia and two in back of Cleveland.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Indiana, Sportsnet One (Toronto)
ABOUT THE PACERS (47-32): Bojan Bogdanovic led the way in Thursday's win with 28 points while making 11-of-13 shots - including 6-of-7 from 3-point distance - and Victor Oladipo added 21 points as Indiana completed a season series sweep of the defending champs. "I don't know if anyone else has respect for them but I do," coach Nate McMillan told reporters of his players. "Tonight, they beat a very good team and pretty much controlled the game throughout the game." Oladipo had three steals and has recorded at least one in 62 straight games, the sixth-longest streak in NBA history and one game shy of a run accomplished by Gary Payton in 1996.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (56-22): DeRozan scored 16 points to lead a balanced attack in a 96-78 win over the Celtics on Wednesday as Toronto snapped its first two-game losing streak since mid-January. "We didn't score the way we needed to but we played defense the way we needed to," guard Kyle Lowry told reporters as his team improved to 32-7 at home. DeRozan made 3-of-4 3-pointers after going 1-of-18 over his previous six contests.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Bogdanovic is 3-of-21 from the field over his last two games against the Raptors.
2. The Pacers play each of their final two games of the regular season against Charlotte on Sunday and Tuesday.
3. Toronto has won eight straight meetings at home.
PREDICTION: Raptors 111, Pacers 107
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Preview: Kings at Grizzlies
Gracenote
Apr 5, 2018
The Sacramento Kings are struggling on the offensive end as they turn the team over to the young players and play out the string in another losing campaign. The Memphis Grizzlies, who host the Kings on Friday, are in the same boat and are experimenting with different lineup combinations down the stretch.
Sacramento earned the dubious honor of helping Phoenix snap a franchise-record 15-game losing streak when it dropped a 97-94 decision at the Suns on Tuesday, marking the eighth time in the last 10 games that the Kings failed to reach 100 points. The Kings shot 37.1 percent from the floor in the setback as the rookie point guard tandem of De'Aaron Fox and Frank Mason III combined to go 3-of-19. Memphis is playing out the string as well and was rocked 123-95 at New Orleans on Wednesday to suffer its third straight loss. The Grizzlies will play their next two games against teams eliminated from postseason contention before getting another chance to impact the race by finishing against Minnesota and Oklahoma City.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), FS Southeast (Memphis)
ABOUT THE KINGS (25-54): The rookie bright spot in Tuesday's loss came from small forward Justin Jackson, who is making the most of increased playing time of late and scored 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting while adding eight rebounds and four assists. "So, if it's defensively and I don't touch the ball for seven minutes that's OK," Jackson told the Sacramento Bee. "If it's I'm getting shots, I'm going to try to knock them down the best I can. So, just trying to keep that mindset because when you start acting selfish, that's when it all blows up in your face." Jackson went 3-of-5 from 3-point range on Tuesday after going a combined 1-of-11 from beyond the arc in the previous three contests.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (21-57): Memphis is looking for signs of growth from its young players and is getting positive results from rookie power forward Ivan Rabb. The 21-year-old scored a season-high 16 points and added eight rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench on Wednesday. "I think Ivan competed his tail off," interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters. "I think he showed the ability to score the ball on the block and he showed his will to not give in. I watched him compete on the glass whether he was outsized physically. ... It didn’t matter to him. He continued to be aggressive on the glass. He never backed down once. He had a matchup with Anthony Davis. He went after Anthony Davis. He showed no fear."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Kings PF Skal Labissiere (ankle) sat out Tuesday and is day-to-day.
2. Grizzlies SG MarShon Brooks scored over 20 points in each of his three games since signing with the team last week.
3. Memphis took each of the first two meetings this season, including a 106-88 home win on Jan. 19.
PREDICTION: Kings 99, Grizzlies 92
Preview: Pelicans at Suns
Gracenote
Apr 5, 2018
The New Orleans Pelicans are trying to lock up a spot in the Western Conference playoffs and have the schedule working in their favor. After bludgeoning the lowly Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, the Pelicans will visit the only team lower than the Grizzlies in the West standings when they face the Phoenix Suns on Friday.
New Orleans is locked in a seven-team battle for the final five playoff spots in the West and went into play on Thursday sitting in the No. 8 spot after snapping a four-game slide with a 123-95 win over the Grizzlies. "If we win three, there are no questions," Pelicans point guard Rajon Rondo told reporters of the team's three-game road trip. "We have to take care of what we can control and can't worry about other teams winning or losing. Take care of what's in front of us. We're going to try to win all three on this road trip." New Orleans visits Golden State and the Los Angeles Clippers after Phoenix before ending the season at home against the San Antonio Spurs. The Suns ended a franchise-record 15-game losing streak by edging the Sacramento Kings 97-94 at home on Tuesday, which marked the first time they held an opponent under 100 points since Jan. 31.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS New Orleans, FS Arizona (Phoenix)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (44-34): New Orleans is not concerned about which team it might play in the first round of the playoffs and is content finishing anywhere from No. 4 to No. 8, as long as it makes the playoffs. “For us, our goal all along has been to make the playoffs,” Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters. "It doesn’t matter who you play, you’re going to play a really good team. Obviously if you’re talking about being in the West, from the fourth-place team to the 10th-place team, there is just not a whole lot of separation, so you have no idea what could happen." E'Twaun Moore led the way with 30 points in Wednesday's win while going 7-of-10 from 3-point range.
ABOUT THE SUNS (20-59): Phoenix is missing its two leading scorers with shooting guard Devin Booker (24.9) and small forward TJ Warren (19.6) out while battling injuries, and rookie swingman Josh Jackson is trying to fill the void. Jackson finished with 28 points in Tuesday's triumph and is averaging 21.8 points over the last 11 games. "It's a little different being in this type of role," Jackson told reporters. "The thing I try to do is just pick and choose my shots. I know that for us to be successful, I've got to score a little bit here and there."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Suns SG Troy Daniels sprained his right ankle in Tuesday's win and is day-to-day.
2. The Pelicans reportedly will sign SG Jordan Crawford for the remainder of the season.
3. New Orleans took the first two meetings this season by an average of 16.5 points.
PREDICTION: Pelicans 118, Suns 106
Preview: Timberwolves at Lakers
Gracenote
Apr 6, 2018
The Minnesota Timberwolves are in a ferocious fight for a Western Conference playoff spot and they will have the services of All-Star guard Jimmy Butler for Friday's road game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Butler (knee) was active for Thursday's 100-96 road loss to the Denver Nuggets but sat out for the 17th consecutive game.
The latest setback leaves Minnesota with the same record as Denver but the Timberwolves are in possession of the tiebreaker edge for the eighth and final playoff spot with three games remaining. "You have to play for 48 minutes, that's the big thing," dejected Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau said in his press conference following Thursday's setback. "We need everyone to play well now. We've got to get it done." Los Angeles enters on a high after completing a three-game season sweep of the San Antonio Spurs with Wednesday's impressive 122-112 overtime victory. The Lakers will again be short-handed Friday as rookie point guard Lonzo Ball (knee) will miss his fifth straight contest and small forward Brandon Ingram (concussion) will be sidelined for a fourth consecutive game.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS North (Minnesota), Spectrum Sports Net (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (44-35): Butler has been sidelined since being injured Feb. 23 against the Houston Rockets and the team's recent dive - losses in nine of 14 games - has created an urgency for his return. "He's real close," Thibodeau said after Thursday's game while confirming Butler will play against the Lakers. "Just taking everything into consideration, we just thought it was best to wait another day." Prior to the contest, Butler said he had to think about his career and needed to know he could "go 100 percent, no matter for how many minutes it's going to be for."
ABOUT THE LAKERS (34-44): Forward Kyle Kuzma needs 20 rebounds over the final four games to become the first rookie in NBA history to accumulate 1,200 points, 500 rebounds and 150 3-pointers in a season. He has established himself as a building block for the youthful franchise and displayed that again when he knocked down five 3-pointers while scoring 30 points in 43 minutes in the victory over the Spurs. "He plays to exhaustion, and then most times plays through it," Los Angeles coach Luke Walton told reporters. "They have the saying, 'Fatigue makes a coward of us all.' And that's true, except for a few special players. They know how to fight through that."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Timberwolves are 3-0 against the Lakers this season with an average winning margin of 14.3 points.
2. Los Angeles SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is averaging 24.5 points on 15-of-23 shooting over the past two games.
3. Minnesota PG Jeff Teague (knee) had 15 points and six assists against Denver in his return from a one-game absence.
PREDICTION: Timberwolves 112, Lakers 107
NBA
Friday, April 6
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Trend Report
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Dallas Mavericks
Dallas is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas's last 7 games
Dallas is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Dallas is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Dallas is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Detroit
Dallas is 13-5 SU in its last 18 games when playing Detroit
Dallas is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Detroit
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas's last 6 games when playing Detroit
Dallas is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Detroit
Dallas is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Detroit
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Dallas's last 9 games when playing on the road against Detroit
Detroit Pistons
Detroit is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games
Detroit is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 6 games
Detroit is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Detroit is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 6 games at home
Detroit is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Dallas
Detroit is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Dallas
Detroit is 5-13 SU in its last 18 games when playing Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Detroit's last 6 games when playing Dallas
Detroit is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Dallas
Detroit is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Dallas
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Detroit's last 9 games when playing at home against Dallas
Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
Charlotte is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Charlotte's last 6 games
Charlotte is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Charlotte is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Charlotte's last 5 games on the road
Charlotte is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Orlando
Charlotte is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Orlando
Charlotte is 11-3 ATS in its last 14 games when playing on the road against Orlando
Charlotte is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Orlando
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Charlotte's last 5 games when playing on the road against Orlando
Orlando Magic
Orlando is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
Orlando is 6-18 SU in its last 24 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Orlando's last 6 games
Orlando is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Orlando is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Orlando's last 7 games at home
Orlando is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Charlotte
Orlando is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Charlotte
Orlando is 3-11 ATS in its last 14 games when playing at home against Charlotte
Orlando is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Charlotte
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Orlando's last 5 games when playing at home against Charlotte
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Cleveland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cleveland's last 6 games
Cleveland is 8-17 ATS in its last 25 games on the road
Cleveland is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games on the road
Cleveland is 7-17 ATS in its last 24 games when playing Philadelphia
Cleveland is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games when playing Philadelphia
The total has gone UNDER in 16 of Cleveland's last 21 games when playing Philadelphia
Cleveland is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
Cleveland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Cleveland's last 10 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Philadelphia is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 5 games
Philadelphia is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Philadelphia is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Philadelphia is 17-7 ATS in its last 24 games when playing Cleveland
Philadelphia is 1-11 SU in its last 12 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 16 of Philadelphia's last 21 games when playing Cleveland
Philadelphia is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Cleveland
Philadelphia is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Philadelphia's last 10 games when playing at home against Cleveland
Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta is 2-5-1 ATS in its last 8 games
Atlanta is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games
Atlanta is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Atlanta is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Atlanta's last 14 games on the road
Atlanta is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Washington
Atlanta is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Washington
Atlanta is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Atlanta's last 7 games when playing on the road against Washington
Washington Wizards
Washington is 5-11-1 ATS in its last 17 games
Washington is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games
Washington is 3-5-1 ATS in its last 9 games at home
Washington is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Atlanta
Washington is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against Atlanta
Washington is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Washington's last 7 games when playing at home against Atlanta
Chicago Bulls
Chicago is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Chicago is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games
Chicago is 4-11 ATS in its last 15 games on the road
Chicago is 3-13 SU in its last 16 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chicago's last 5 games on the road
Chicago is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Boston
Chicago is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Chicago's last 7 games when playing Boston
Chicago is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Boston
Chicago is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Boston
The total has gone OVER in 18 of Chicago's last 24 games when playing on the road against Boston
Boston Celtics
Boston is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games
Boston is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Boston's last 10 games
Boston is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Boston is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Boston's last 8 games at home
Boston is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Chicago
Boston is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Boston's last 7 games when playing Chicago
Boston is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games when playing at home against Chicago
Boston is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 18 of Boston's last 24 games when playing at home against Chicago
Miami Heat
Miami is 2-4-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Miami is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Miami's last 5 games
Miami is 15-6-2 ATS in its last 23 games on the road
Miami is 2-3-2 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Miami is 2-11 SU in its last 13 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Miami's last 11 games on the road
Miami is 11-5 ATS in its last 16 games when playing New York
Miami is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing New York
Miami is 12-4 SU in its last 16 games when playing New York
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Miami's last 10 games when playing New York
Miami is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against New York
Miami is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against New York
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Miami's last 15 games when playing on the road against New York
New York Knicks
New York is 8-17 ATS in its last 25 games
New York is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New York's last 6 games
New York is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
New York is 5-13 ATS in its last 18 games at home
New York is 2-11 SU in its last 13 games at home
New York is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Miami
New York is 5-11 ATS in its last 16 games when playing Miami
New York is 4-12 SU in its last 16 games when playing Miami
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of New York's last 10 games when playing Miami
New York is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against Miami
New York is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Miami
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of New York's last 15 games when playing at home against Miami
Indiana Pacers
Indiana is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Indiana is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Indiana's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Indiana's last 19 games
Indiana is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games on the road
Indiana is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Indiana's last 11 games on the road
Indiana is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games when playing Toronto
Indiana is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Indiana's last 13 games when playing Toronto
Indiana is 8-17 ATS in its last 25 games when playing on the road against Toronto
Indiana is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Toronto
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Indiana's last 5 games when playing on the road against Toronto
Toronto Raptors
Toronto is 1-9 ATS in its last 10 games
Toronto is 19-6 SU in its last 25 games
Toronto is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Toronto is 15-3 SU in its last 18 games at home
Toronto is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games when playing Indiana
Toronto is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Indiana
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Toronto's last 13 games when playing Indiana
Toronto is 17-8 ATS in its last 25 games when playing at home against Indiana
Toronto is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Indiana
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games when playing at home against Indiana
Sacramento Kings
Sacramento is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Sacramento is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Sacramento's last 8 games
Sacramento is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Sacramento is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Sacramento's last 5 games on the road
Sacramento is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Memphis
Sacramento is 3-17 SU in its last 20 games when playing Memphis
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Sacramento's last 17 games when playing Memphis
Sacramento is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Memphis
Sacramento is 1-14 SU in its last 15 games when playing on the road against Memphis
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Sacramento's last 6 games when playing on the road against Memphis
Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis is 5-9-1 ATS in its last 15 games
Memphis is 3-22 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Memphis's last 5 games
Memphis is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games at home
Memphis is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Memphis's last 9 games at home
Memphis is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Sacramento
Memphis is 17-3 SU in its last 20 games when playing Sacramento
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Memphis's last 17 games when playing Sacramento
Memphis is 4-1-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Sacramento
Memphis is 14-1 SU in its last 15 games when playing at home against Sacramento
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Memphis's last 6 games when playing at home against Sacramento
New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
New Orleans is 16-8 SU in its last 24 games
New Orleans is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New Orleans's last 5 games
New Orleans is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games on the road
New Orleans is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New Orleans's last 5 games on the road
New Orleans is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Phoenix
New Orleans is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Phoenix
New Orleans is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
New Orleans is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New Orleans's last 6 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
Phoenix Suns
Phoenix is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Phoenix is 1-15 SU in its last 16 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Phoenix's last 8 games
Phoenix is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games at home
Phoenix is 1-12 SU in its last 13 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Phoenix's last 5 games at home
Phoenix is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing New Orleans
Phoenix is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing New Orleans
Phoenix is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against New Orleans
Phoenix is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against New Orleans
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Phoenix's last 6 games when playing at home against New Orleans
Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota is 1-5-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Minnesota is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 17 of Minnesota's last 24 games
Minnesota is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Minnesota is 5-16 SU in its last 21 games on the road
Minnesota is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Minnesota's last 11 games when playing LA Lakers
Minnesota is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
Minnesota is 4-18 SU in its last 22 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Minnesota's last 7 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
LA Lakers is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Lakers's last 6 games
LA Lakers is 13-5 ATS in its last 18 games at home
LA Lakers is 14-4 SU in its last 18 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Lakers's last 6 games at home
LA Lakers is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 9 of LA Lakers's last 11 games when playing Minnesota
LA Lakers is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Minnesota
LA Lakers is 18-4 SU in its last 22 games when playing at home against Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 6 of LA Lakers's last 7 games when playing at home against Minnesota
__________________
MLB
Long Sheet
Friday, April 6
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CHARLOTTE (34 - 45) at ORLANDO (24 - 54) - 4/6/2018, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHARLOTTE is 31-44 ATS (-17.4 Units) in all games this season.
CHARLOTTE is 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) after allowing 115 points or more this season.
CHARLOTTE is 124-160 ATS (-52.0 Units) after 3 or more consecutive losses since 1996.
ORLANDO is 68-89 ATS (-29.9 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ORLANDO is 29-49 ATS (-24.9 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
ORLANDO is 20-33 ATS (-16.3 Units) in home games revenging a loss vs opponent over the last 2 seasons.
ORLANDO is 10-19 ATS (-10.9 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
ORLANDO is 5-13 ATS (-9.3 Units) in home games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
CHARLOTTE is 8-3 against the spread versus ORLANDO over the last 3 seasons
CHARLOTTE is 10-1 straight up against ORLANDO over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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DALLAS (24 - 55) at DETROIT (37 - 41) - 4/6/2018, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DALLAS is 10-20 ATS (-12.0 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
DALLAS is 411-337 ATS (+40.3 Units) as an underdog since 1996.
DALLAS is 502-424 ATS (+35.6 Units) in road games since 1996.
DALLAS is 185-140 ATS (+31.0 Units) in road games after a non-conference game since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 3-2 against the spread versus DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 3-2 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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ATLANTA (22 - 57) at WASHINGTON (42 - 37) - 4/6/2018, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 2-11 ATS (-10.1 Units) after 3 or more consecutive unders this season.
ATLANTA is 4-13 ATS (-10.3 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season this season.
WASHINGTON is 17-31 ATS (-17.1 Units) as a favorite this season.
WASHINGTON is 14-23 ATS (-11.3 Units) in home games this season.
WASHINGTON is 152-200 ATS (-68.0 Units) on Friday nights since 1996.
WASHINGTON is 13-23 ATS (-12.3 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
WASHINGTON is 5-13 ATS (-9.3 Units) in home games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 9-8 against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON is 11-6 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
9 of 17 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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CLEVELAND (49 - 30) at PHILADELPHIA (48 - 30) - 4/6/2018, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CLEVELAND is 30-48 ATS (-22.8 Units) in all games this season.
CLEVELAND is 17-26 ATS (-11.6 Units) when the total is greater than or equal to 220 this season.
CLEVELAND is 11-23 ATS (-14.3 Units) in a road game where the total is greater than or equal to 220 over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 47-31 ATS (+12.9 Units) in all games this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 16-5 ATS (+10.5 Units) when the total is greater than or equal to 220 this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 32-19 ATS (+11.1 Units) as a favorite this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 26-11 ATS (+13.9 Units) in home games this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 21-9 ATS (+11.1 Units) in the second half of the season this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 28-15 ATS (+11.5 Units) after scoring 115 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 15-5 ATS (+9.5 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 23-10 ATS (+12.0 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 16-4 ATS (+11.6 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 21-12 ATS (+7.8 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season this season.
CLEVELAND is 20-9 ATS (+10.1 Units) on Friday nights over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 6-4 against the spread versus CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
CLEVELAND is 9-1 straight up against PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
6 of 10 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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CHICAGO (27 - 51) at BOSTON (53 - 25) - 4/6/2018, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 47-28 ATS (+16.2 Units) in all games this season.
BOSTON is 23-14 ATS (+7.6 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
CHICAGO is 14-5 ATS (+8.5 Units) off an upset win as an underdog this season.
CHICAGO is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) after 3 or more consecutive wins this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 10-6 against the spread versus CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 10-6 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
9 of 14 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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INDIANA (47 - 32) at TORONTO (56 - 22) - 4/6/2018, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
INDIANA is 7-19 ATS (-13.9 Units) in road games when playing on back-to-back days over the last 3 seasons.
TORONTO is 35-22 ATS (+10.8 Units) after a win by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 46-33 ATS (+9.7 Units) in all games this season.
INDIANA is 11-1 ATS (+9.9 Units) in April games over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 18-9 ATS (+8.1 Units) in the second half of the season this season.
INDIANA is 221-165 ATS (+39.5 Units) on Friday nights since 1996.
INDIANA is 74-50 ATS (+19.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
TORONTO is 46-69 ATS (-29.9 Units) in home games in April games since 1996.
TORONTO is 187-230 ATS (-66.0 Units) in home games in the second half of the season since 1996.
TORONTO is 194-246 ATS (-76.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
INDIANA is 9-8 against the spread versus TORONTO over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 11-6 straight up against INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
11 of 17 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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MIAMI (43 - 36) at NEW YORK (27 - 51) - 4/6/2018, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MIAMI is 2-11 ATS (-10.1 Units) after a win by 10 points or more this season.
MIAMI is 89-68 ATS (+14.2 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 23-14 ATS (+7.6 Units) in road games this season.
MIAMI is 37-22 ATS (+12.8 Units) in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 32-18 ATS (+12.2 Units) on Friday nights over the last 3 seasons.
MIAMI is 43-30 ATS (+10.0 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
NEW YORK is 23-35 ATS (-15.5 Units) in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NEW YORK is 14-24 ATS (-12.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
NEW YORK is 6-14 ATS (-9.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
NEW YORK is 5-5 against the spread versus MIAMI over the last 3 seasons
MIAMI is 6-4 straight up against NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
7 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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SACRAMENTO (25 - 54) at MEMPHIS (21 - 57) - 4/6/2018, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SACRAMENTO is 9-23 ATS (-16.3 Units) when playing with 2 days rest over the last 3 seasons.
MEMPHIS is 32-43 ATS (-15.3 Units) in all games this season.
MEMPHIS is 6-14 ATS (-9.4 Units) as a favorite this season.
MEMPHIS is 9-27 ATS (-20.7 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
MEMPHIS is 5-17 ATS (-13.7 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more this season.
MEMPHIS is 9-20 ATS (-13.0 Units) after 3 or more consecutive losses this season.
MEMPHIS is 10-20 ATS (-12.0 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
MEMPHIS is 6-2 against the spread versus SACRAMENTO over the last 3 seasons
MEMPHIS is 7-2 straight up against SACRAMENTO over the last 3 seasons
6 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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NEW ORLEANS (44 - 34) at PHOENIX (20 - 59) - 4/6/2018, 10:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NEW ORLEANS is 42-71 ATS (-36.1 Units) in road games after a win by 10 points or more since 1996.
PHOENIX is 63-41 ATS (+17.9 Units) in home games in April games since 1996.
NEW ORLEANS is 20-11 ATS (+7.9 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
PHOENIX is 14-24 ATS (-12.4 Units) in home games this season.
PHOENIX is 5-14 ATS (-10.4 Units) in a home game where the total is greater than or equal to 220 this season.
PHOENIX is 0-8 ATS (-8.8 Units) in home games on Friday nights this season.
PHOENIX is 11-23 ATS (-14.3 Units) when playing with 2 days rest over the last 3 seasons.
PHOENIX is 6-14 ATS (-9.4 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
PHOENIX is 3-13 ATS (-11.3 Units) in home games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
PHOENIX is 3-15 ATS (-13.5 Units) in home games versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
NEW ORLEANS is 6-4 against the spread versus PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
NEW ORLEANS is 7-3 straight up against PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
6 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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MINNESOTA (44 - 35) at LA LAKERS (34 - 44) - 4/6/2018, 10:35 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
LA LAKERS is 5-5 against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
MINNESOTA is 7-3 straight up against LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
8 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
__________________