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ACCESS
PICKS FOR TODAY SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020 |
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NCAAF |
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1/18/2020 |
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FOUND
2
GAMES |
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COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+109
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+1.5 (-101)
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Over 35.5 (+114)
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-125
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-1.5 (-113)
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Under 35.5 (-131)
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NBA |
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1/18/2020 |
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FOUND
11
GAMES |
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GAME PREVIEW
Jan 17, 2020Kawhi Leonard is on a roll offensively.So is Brandon Ingram.The two will be center stage when Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers visit Ingram and the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday afternoon.Leonard has scored more than 30 points in four consecutive games. He had 22 in the first half on his way to 32 as the Clippers coasted to a 122-95 victory over visiting Orlando on Thursday night."My teammates are being aggressive, getting me open looks as well, just creating a chain reaction," Leonard said.Two nights earlier, Leonard had a season-high 43 points in 29 minutes in a 128-103 home victory against Cleveland."He's getting more used to playing with new guys on the floor and where they're at, and they're starting to get used to him," Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers said. "And you can just see it growing." Leonard didn't play while he rested his surgically repaired knee in the Pelicans' 132-127 victory in New Orleans on Nov. 14. That was Paul George's first game with the Clippers.Ten days after the first meeting, the teams met again in Los Angeles and Leonard and George both played, but it was Montrezl Harrell, who made the biggest difference, tying a career high with 34 points in the Clippers' 134-109 win.On Saturday, the Clippers likely will be without George, who has missed the last four games due to a strained left hamstring."They're a very good basketball team, obviously," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said. "With Kawhi you're talking about a guy who has been an MVP in two Finals. He makes a huge difference when he's out on the floor -- offensively and defensively.Ingram returned from a one game-absence due to right knee soreness to score a career-high 49 points as host New Orleans ended Utah's 10-game winning streak with a 138-132 overtime victory Thursday."To be honest with you, it doesn't surprise me that much," Gentry said of Ingram's performance. "I just think that the way he works and the way he's gotten better and worked on his craft -- sooner or later he was going to have a game like this. I thought he did everything we asked him to do. He just played a terrific game. I think you're going to see more of those games like that." Center Derrick Favors returned from a two-game absence due to a hamstring strain and contributed 21 points and 11 rebounds against his former team. The Pelicans prevailed even though guards Jrue Holiday (elbow) and JJ Redick (hamstring) remained sidelined.Ingram's jumper gave New Orleans a one-point lead with 0.2 seconds in the fourth quarter, but the Jazz lobbed the ball toward Rudy Gobert and Jaxson Hayes was called for a foul. Gobert missed the first free throw but made the second to send the game into overtime.The Pelicans remained confident entering the overtime and after falling behind by five points, they finished the game on an 11-0 run."It was great," Gentry said. "They said, 'Don't worry about it, we'll win the game in overtime.' They said, 'Don't worry about it -- we'll dig in, we'll find a way to win.'"The Pelicans, who have won nine of their last 12, are awaiting No. 1 overall draft choice Zion Williamson's NBA debut next Wednesday against San Antonio.--Field Level Media
 Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
6:05 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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-568
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-10.5 (-107)
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Over 235 (-113)
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+450
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+10.5 (-103)
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Under 235 (+102)
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GAME PREVIEW
Jan 17, 2020The Milwaukee Bucks visit the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night in what could be a preview of an Eastern Conference playoff series.Milwaukee owns the league's best record (37-6) and heads to Brooklyn on a five-game winning streak. The Bucks, who hold a comfortable lead over Miami in the conference, also are 13-3 in their last 16 games since winning 18 straight from Nov. 10-Dec. 14.Milwaukee added to its win total Thursday when it held on for a 128-123 home win over the Boston Celtics. The Bucks picked up their latest victory despite blowing a pair of 20-point leads."We were up 20 twice and they came back," Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo said. "We didn't play the best basketball and how we usually play. I was kind of upset after the game. We talked in the locker room. We talked to one another. We were up 20 and we won but we've got to play for 48 minutes." Antetokounmpo, averaging 30.1 points and 12.9 assists, finished with 32 points and 17 rebounds for his 35th double-double.The Nets are 3-15 in their past 18 meetings with Milwaukee and enter Saturday in eighth place in the East as they were without Kyrie Irving for 26 games due to right shoulder impingement.If the playoffs started now, the Bucks and Nets would meet in the first round.Brooklyn is 2-9 in its last 11 games, a stretch that has featured numerous fourth-quarter struggles.The latest slide happened Wednesday, when Philadelphia earned a 117-106 home triumph. The Nets shot 6 of 23 in the fourth and allowed a game-ending 13-2 run while being unable to contain Tobias Harris, who scored 34 points."That's been the issue for us all year," Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said after his team was outscored 31-16 in the final 12 minutes. "Not being able to score in the fourth quarter efficiently. It follows a trend. We played well for three quarters and had a ton of good looks. We were getting to the rim, but we weren't finishing." The Nets were unable to keep pace because Irving experienced the worst game of the three he has played since returning in Sunday's win over Atlanta. After scoring 53 points on 22-of-30 shooting in the first two games, Irving was held to 14 points on 6-of-21 shooting in 36 minutes Wednesday and missed six of seven shots in the fourth.Irving's postgame comments, which included remarks saying the Nets' needs were glaring, had many people talking and attempting to interpret."I mean, it's transparent,' Irving said. "It's out there. It's glaring, in terms of the pieces that we need in order to be at that next level."I'm going to continue to reiterate it. We're going to do the best with the guys that we have in our locker room now, and we'll worry about all the other stuff, in terms of moving pieces and everything else, as an organization down the line in the summer." The Nets have other concerns, such as figuring out how to stop Antetokounmpo, especially if backup center DeAndre Jordan sits out with a dislocated right middle finger.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
7:05 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+211
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+6 (-102)
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Over 222.5 (-108)
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-240
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-6 (-108)
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Under 222.5 (-102)
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GAME PREVIEW
Jan 17, 2020The Boston Celtics have been in a tailspin of late, but you couldn't tell it from the fourth quarter of their latest loss.Trailing 106-87 to the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, the Celtics roared back to get within four points with 38 seconds left before ultimately falling 128-123. The defeat was Boston's fifth in seven games, but coach Brad Stevens kept focused on what he saw in those final 12 minutes."That was more Celtics basketball than we've seen in a while," Stevens said.Boston will look to carry that into its matchup against the visiting Phoenix Suns on Saturday night. The meeting will finish the season series between the teams. The Celtics won the first meeting 99-85 at Phoenix in November.Boston has won eight of its last 10 against the Suns, who enter having won three of their last four games.The Celtics might be tempted to overlook the Suns with a matchup against the Western Conference-leading Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, but the memory of a blowout loss at home to the struggling, shorthanded Detroit Pistons a day before their game against the Bucks remains fresh.The game in Milwaukee appeared headed in a similar direction before the fourth-quarter push, keyed by Kemba Walker, who scored nine points down the stretch to push his total for the game to 40 to go along with a season-high 11 rebounds."(He was the) only reason we had a chance," Stevens said. "He just willed himself to baskets." Walker missed time with the flu earlier this month and had scored more than 20 points in just one of five games before Thursday. His return to form comes at a key time for the Celtics, as Jaylen Brown is questionable with a right thumb sprain that required further testing Friday.Though the Suns are far from a threat in the West, they showed Thursday just how dangerous they can be in a 121-98 rout of the New York Knicks. Devin Booker led the way with 29 points. Deandre Ayton stole the show with a 26-point, 21-rebound double-double."Every game, he's taking tremendous strides," Booker said of Ayton, who missed time in his second season after a failed drug test. "I've been saying he's a couple of months behind us, and he's catching up quick. The way he defends, the way he runs the floor, how athletic he is. You can't teach those things. He's a freak of nature." Ricky Rubio added 25 points and 13 assists as Phoenix enjoyed one of its most complete efforts of the season."We are only out there for one another," Ayton said. "Without team success, you are not going to reach your individual accolades. That is big on this team, and we feed off each other." The Suns played Thursday without Kelly Oubre Jr. (concussion protocol) and he is questionable for Saturday's game. Aron Baynes will return to Boston with Phoenix on Saturday after playing the last two seasons with the Celtics.-Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
7:35 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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-119
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-1.5 (-109)
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Over 227.5 (-109)
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+107
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+1.5 (-101)
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Under 227.5 (-101)
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GAME PREVIEW
Jan 18, 2020The Atlanta Hawks will have a recognizable new face on the roster when they return home to host the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.In a move expected to bolster the bench, the Hawks acquired point guard Jeff Teague from the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday along with guard Treveon Graham in exchange for guard Allen Crabbe.The Hawks selected Teague No. 19 overall out of Wake Forest in 2009, and he played in Atlanta from 2009-16 before being part of a three-team trade that saw him land with the Indiana Pacers.Teague should be helpful for a young team that has struggled to find a suitable backup for leading scorer Trae Young, who averages more than 35 minutes per game.In searching for someone to give Young a break, Atlanta has had luck of late using G-League graduate Brandon Goodwin. However, Evan Turner has been a bust, and the team suffers when forced to use Cam Reddish or Kevin Huerter out of position.Young embraced the idea of bringing Teague back to Atlanta."I know a lot about his game," Young recently told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "He's very smart, a really good scorer, knows how to draw fouls, knows how to get his teammates involved." Teague is averaging 13.2 points and 6.1 assists in 34 games, and Graham is averaging 5.2 points in 20 minutes per game. Teague and Graham are expected to be available for the game against Detroit.The Pistons broke a three-game losing streak on Wednesday with a 116-103 road victory over the Boston Celtics. Two of the losses on that skid came in overtime.Detroit is led by Derrick Rose, who averages 18.1 points and 5.8 assists. He scored 22 against Boston, his 17th game with at least 20 points this season.Forward Sekou Doumbouya is coming off a career-high 24 points against the Celtics, his seventh double-digit scoring effort in the past eight games. He is averaging 14 points and 5.3 rebounds since being placed in the starting lineup on Jan. 2."He's come along," Pistons coach Dwane Casey told reporters. "He's developing right before us. He has a way to go. You don't want to overreact, but I like what his future holds." Atlanta is coming off a dramatic 121-120 win in San Antonio on Friday. It was the first time the Hawks had beaten the Spurs on the road since 1997, ending a 21-game losing streak there and giving Atlanta a two-game sweep in the season series.Huerter made a 3-pointer with seven seconds remaining to help the Hawks overcome a 15-point deficit. Atlanta, which played without Teague, has a two-game winning streak for the first time since opening the season with a pair of victories."Our guys, gritty, tough," Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce said. "That's a lot of growth out there tonight. The way they competed, the way they got down and came back. It was fully a team effort." Detroit, meanwhile, hasn't won two in a row since early December.Pistons forward Blake Griffin has missed 24 games this season and is currently sidelined because of left knee surgery. Atlanta will be without Jabari Parker (right shoulder impingement) and seldom-used reserve Chandler Parsons (concussion following an auto accident) but remains hopeful Alex Len will able to return after missing two games with lower back pain.This will be the third of four meetings between the Hawks and Pistons this season. They split the two previous games, both in Detroit. The finale will be April 7 in Atlanta.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
7:35 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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-172
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-4 (-107)
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Over 217.5 (-114)
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+154
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+4 (-103)
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Under 217.5 (+103)
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GAME PREVIEW
Jan 18, 2020The Philadelphia 76ers continue to get healthy at home with 20 wins in 22 games, but their road record still leaves plenty to be desired.After completing a sweep of a brief two-game homestand, the 76ers aim to snap a six-game road losing streak on Saturday when they visit the New York Knicks.Reserve Furkan Korkmaz drained six 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 24 points as Philadelphia posted a 100-89 victory over Chicago on Friday."Everybody saw that I was really feeling it, and then they just tried to find me," Korkmaz said. "I got some good open looks." Sixers coach Brett Brown likened Korkmaz's performance to that of former Philly sharpshooter JJ Redick."For us to see him come in, do JJ-like stuff, and have that type of a (shooter) that was different," Brown said. "That was different from what we have as it related to the current skill set." Ben Simmons reached the 20-point plateau for the third straight game, landing on that total Friday after making 10 of 17 shots from the floor. He also added 11 rebounds, but Simmons wasn't interested in talking about himself."He was in rhythm," Simmons said of Korkmaz, "just keep trying to find him whenever he's open." The 76ers hope the sharpshooting of Korkmaz and consistent performances of Simmons travel with them on the road, where they sport a dismal 7-14 mark.Philadelphia, however, has defeated New York in both encounters this season, albeit with Joel Embiid leading the team in scoring in both contests. The All-Star center had 23 points in a 109-104 victory in Philadelphia on Nov. 20 and 27 points in a 101-95 win nine days later in New York.Embiid, however, remains sidelined with an injured left finger, causing the 76ers to rely heavily on veteran Al Horford."If you look at it, he may go up a little bit, but it's never a reckless amount," Brown said of the 33-year-old Horford. "In regard to cutting our nose off to spite our face, that won't happen. We're very mindful of it." New York has its own injuries to address, with rookie shooting guard RJ Barrett expected to be sidelined at least a week with a right ankle sprain. Barrett, the third overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft, sustained the injury during the Knicks' 121-98 setback to Phoenix on Thursday, marking the team's seventh loss in eight games."It hurts. I never really been hurt before," Barrett said. "I don't remember the last time I missed a game. But we play so many games, it was bound to happen." Julius Randle scored 26 points versus the Suns, marking his third straight contest with at least 25. Randle, who is tied with Marcus Morris Sr. for the team lead in scoring with 19.0 points per game and is tops in rebounding at 9.1, had 17 and 22 points, respectively, in the first two meetings with the 76ers.Morris scored 17 points on Thursday in his return following a five-game absence due to a sore neck. He has averaged 21.0 points in the two meetings with Philadelphia this season.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
8:05 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+226
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+6.5 (-102)
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Over 214 (-106)
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-260
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-6.5 (-108)
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Under 214 (-104)
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GAME PREVIEW
Jan 18, 2020Inclement winter weather in Chicago is presenting itself as a pesky obstacle for the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Saturday night game the teams are slated to play at United Center.According to reports, the Bulls were stuck in Philadelphia for an extra night following Friday's 100-89 loss to the 76ers, while the Cavaliers planned to stay in Memphis after Friday's 113-109 loss to the surging Grizzlies.Both struggling teams planned to fly to Chicago early Saturday. The Cavaliers have lost three straight and eight of 10, while the Bulls have also lost eight of 10.The Bulls led the 76ers 47-46 at halftime but were unable to keep pace, falling behind by 10 points entering the fourth quarter.Chicago was unable to corral Furkan Korkmaz, who swished six 3-pointers en route to a game- and career-high 24 points. Still, Bulls coach Jim Boylen said he felt content enough about a defensive effort that limited the 76ers under their season average on their home floor, where Philadelphia is 20-2."To hold a team to 100 on their home floor, we've got to try to score 101, and we didn't do that," Boylen told reporters after the game.While Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 23 points -- his sixth straight game with at least that many -- the Bulls were unable to produce a consistent secondary scoring option. Coby White (14), Luke Kornet (13) and Lauri Markkanen (12) followed LaVine in double figures, but Boylen offered constructive criticism for the tentative Markkanen, who attempted just nine field goals."I just want him to be aggressive in his opportunities," Boylen said. "Be as aggressive as you can." Markkanen, a former lottery pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves, remained diplomatic."I know I can probably attack the rim a little bit more often and be more aggressive and try to get to my spots," he said. "But I didn't feel that I had the opportunities where I could really attack the closeout. So I just tried to play the system and find the open man." Cleveland enters the finale of a six-game road trip at 2-3. The games have featured a mixed bag, including a three-point victory in overtime and two lopsided losses by 25 or more points. On Friday, Cleveland trailed by as many as 21 before a fourth-quarter comeback attempt fell short.Collin Sexton has led Cleveland in scoring in three of the past four games, including 28 points against the Grizzlies."Just making the right play," Sexton said after Friday's game. "If I had the shot, shoot it. But if I didn't, make sure I pass to my teammates. ... I feel like I had an all-around good game tonight. We didn't come out with a win, but we're going to bounce back tomorrow against Chicago." Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland went just 1-for-5 from 3-point range against Memphis. He had drilled at least two treys in 10 consecutive games before Friday to extend his league-leading streak among rookies this season.Saturday's game marks the first of two games between the Bulls and Cavaliers over the next week. The teams are set to meet on Jan. 25 in Cleveland before concluding the season series on March 10 at United Center.The Cavaliers topped the visiting Bulls 117-111 on Oct. 30 behind double-doubles from Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
8:05 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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-203
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-5 (-104)
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Over 223.5 (-104)
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+180
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+5 (-106)
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Under 223.5 (-106)
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GAME PREVIEW
Jan 18, 2020After recording consecutive victories for the first time in nearly a month, a healthier Toronto Raptors team will push for more Saturday night in a road game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.The defending NBA champions crushed the visiting Washington Wizards 140-111 on Friday, two days after they got the best of the Thunder by scoring 130 points at Oklahoma City. A resurgent offense is no surprise with a number of Toronto players back in the mix.The last time the Raptors won as many as two consecutive games was during their five-game winning streak from Dec. 14-22. Since then, it has been an on-again, off-again run that included four home defeats in a 4-6 stretch that tested the team's resolve prior to the Wednesday and Friday victories.However, with Pascal Siakam (groin) and Norman Powell (shoulder) returning Sunday, and then Marc Gasol (hamstring) playing two games since his return, the Raptors are looking more like themselves. Fred VanVleet (hamstring) is expected to be back Saturday after missing five games.Powell had 28 points and Siakam had 12 against Washington. Gasol contributed 20 points while tying his career high for made 3-pointers in a game at six (in seven attempts). Now comes a chance for coach Nick Nurse to dial in his preferred rotations."I think it's time to start honing that in a little bit, and I think it starts with a lot of experimenting," Nurse said, according to the Toronto Star. "And I think we want to be flexible." Nurse will have plenty to work with. Not only did all five Raptors starters score in double figures Friday, but so did two reserves. And the two players off the bench were the high scorers, Powell and Terence Davis (23 points).The Wolves can relate when it comes to getting healthier. It's the part about stringing together victories that is tough to identify with.Minnesota is back home after falling 116-114 at Indiana on Friday, the Timberwolves' fourth consecutive defeat. The Wolves have won consecutive games once since the start of the new year, but the last time it occurred before that, the turkey was thawing for Thanksgiving dinner.Minnesota center Karl-Anthony Towns made his return from a sprained left knee Friday after missing the previous 15 games. But with the team dedicated to easing him back into action, he could end up a scratch for Saturday's back-to-back contest."He hasn't played for a while here, so rhythm will be a factor," Wolves coach Ryan Saunders said about Towns before Friday's game. "Wind will be a factor, so we'll take all those things into consideration." Looking spry, Towns scored 27 points on 9-of-21 shooting in the Friday defeat, the second loss in two games to the Pacers."It felt good," Towns said postgame of getting back to action, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "I had to take my time and had an unfortunate setback getting sick. If I could really say, I'm just so happy basketball is here for me, because it was some great therapy for me today." Andrew Wiggins added 22 points as Minnesota lost for the fifth time in six games.The Wolves are expected to get Allen Crabbe into the mix for the first time Saturday. He was acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday in exchange for Jeff Teague and Treveon Graham.Shabazz Napier played 30 minutes as the starting point guard for the Wolves on Friday, dishing out nine assists while scoring 12 points.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
8:35 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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-237
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-6 (-108)
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Over 214 (-110)
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+208
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+6 (-102)
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Under 214 (+100)
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GAME PREVIEW
Jan 17, 2020The Orlando Magic were unable to build off the momentum of defeating one Los Angeles team by losing to the other in their last time on the court.The Magic aim to get back on track Saturday when they continue a six-game road trip in San Francisco by facing the Golden State Warriors, who have lost a season-high 10 in a row.Orlando followed up ending the Lakers' nine-game winning streak on Wednesday by dropping a 122-95 decision to the Clippers a night later.Magic power forward Aaron Gordon answered his 21-point performance against the Lakers by making 8 of 11 shots to finish with 20 points on Thursday."It would have been nice to come in here sweep the L. A. teams, but obviously we didn't play with enough energy at all," the 24-year-old Gordon said. "This next stretch is going to be very tough for us, it's going to be a testament to our mental toughness. We have to lock in, we got dig in and get a couple more wins on this road (trip)." Orlando coach Steve Clifford credited Gordon for his play, however told reporters he needed more out of the other Magic players."Look, you have to have the necessary intensity, purpose, attitude of play, to win any night in this league, especially against a team as good as (the Clippers)," Clifford said. "You have to be on it. I thought Aaron Gordon was terrific. Except for that ... our team, our approach and our attitude has been a real strength all year. Tonight it was not." Gordon has scored 60 points while making 23 of 39 shots over his last three games.Gordon would like to avenge a porous performance in the first meeting with Golden State. He made just 2 of 11 shots and scored eight points in Orlando's 100-96 win on Dec. 1.Evan Fournier, who averages a team-best 19.1 points, scored a career-high-tying 32 with six 3-pointers in that game.As the Magic aim to move closer to .500 while playing the fifth game of their six-game trek, the Warriors find themselves continuing their pursuit for their first win in the calendar year.That search continued on Thursday, when Golden State dropped a 134-131 overtime decision to Denver. Coach Steve Kerr was quick to compliment his injury-riddled team after it featured seven players in double-digit scoring."I thought our guys were great tonight," Kerr told reporters. "They competed, they played really well together. ... When Denver came at us in the second half with multiple runs, we kept fighting. We just couldn't quite get over the hump." Alec Burks recorded a team-high 25 points off the bench while Damion Lee added 21 a day after signing a multi-year contract.D'Angelo Russell had 19 points despite his second straight woeful shooting performance. He followed up a 5-for-17 effort in Tuesday's 124-97 setback to Dallas with a 6-of-18 performance against the Nuggets.Glenn Robinson III chipped in with 17 points against Denver and had a team-high 19 in the first meeting with the Magic.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
8:35 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+108
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+2 (-109)
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Over 234.5 (-114)
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-119
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-2 (-101)
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Under 234.5 (+103)
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GAME PREVIEW
Jan 17, 2020The Los Angeles Lakers' record against teams with losing marks this season before Wednesday was both noteworthy and improbable. It stood as both a testament to their collective professionalism and a representation of a statistical anomaly likely destined for a run-in with mean regression.In falling 119-118 to the Orlando Magic, who entered Staples Center two games under .500, the Lakers dropped to 22-1 against sub-.500 teams. They were again short-handed, playing without Anthony Davis (glutes) and Rajon Rondo (finger) before losing Alex Caruso to a concussion.When the Lakers visit the Houston Rockets on Saturday at Toyota Center, odds are good L. A.'s roster will not be whole. Given their previous efforts, who is and who isn't available won't impact how the Lakers approach an opponent expected to be on par come the postseason."We don't pay attention to records," Lakers forward LeBron James said. "We're all NBA players, regardless of the record. And you have to go out to compete and to win, no matter what the record is. We respect every opponent and that's what it's all about." The Lakers own the best record in the Western Conference despite their injury woes. Although James produced a 19-point, 19-assist effort against the Magic, it was the bench brigade paced by Quinn Cook (22 points), Troy Daniels and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (17 points apiece) that kept the Lakers in contention.Cook and Daniels are typically spectators when the Lakers are at full strength, but even in defeat, the L. A. showed the potency of what it has in reserve."I have a lot of confidence in those guys, and quite frankly, this doesn't really change that," Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. "It doesn't really change anything for me, it just reaffirms the confidence I have in those guys." Conversely, the Rockets offered another uninspired display against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, falling 117-107 at home to lose both games of a back-to-back for the first time this season. Houston has dropped three of its last four games.When asked why his team appears so discombobulated on occasion, particularly defensively, Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni struggled to muster the words to fashion a legitimate excuse."I was trying to spin it some way but I couldn't do it with a straight face," D'Antoni said. "It's concerning but the focus to me is not on getting it right, the focus is more looking at the back of the jerseys instead of the front of them. We just need to get over it and we will. We'll get back."Right now we're shaky, but we have veterans that will right the ship." One of those veterans, James Harden, made clear that the Rockets are having ongoing dialogue related to fixing what ails them. There is an underlying assuredness that Houston will indeed get the wheels back on the track, but it isn't folly to describe their current state as vulnerable."We've got to figure our way through it," Harden said. "It's a tough one but it doesn't get any easier for us. We've got some tough opponents coming up and we've got to figure our way through it."We will. I think everyone goes through tough times throughout the course of the year. For us, this is now. We've got to come together and figure out what the problem is and go out there and try to fight through it." --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
9:05 PM EST |
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|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+340
|
+9 (-105)
|
Over 223 (+101)
|
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-409
|
-9 (-105)
|
Under 223 (-111)
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GAME PREVIEW
Jan 17, 2020The red-hot Utah Jazz haven't had to bounce back from a loss in 3 1/2 weeks.But that is the position the Jazz are in as they host the Sacramento Kings in Salt Lake City on Saturday.Utah's 10-game winning streak ended Thursday when the Jazz suffered a 138-132 overtime loss to the host New Orleans Pelicans. It represents only the second setback in 17 games for the Jazz, who are 28-13 at the midway point of their schedule."These games come down to a few plays," Utah coach Quin Snyder said afterward. "We made a few, but there were a few we didn't make. We tip our hats to New Orleans. They did an excellent job and made a few more plays than we did."But I think we competed. We've just got to keep playing well." Star guard Donovan Mitchell certainly played well as he matched his career highs of 46 points and seven 3-pointers.Mitchell scored 36 of his points after halftime as he and New Orleans' Brandon Ingram (career-best 49 points) engaged in a shootout.But being on the losing side of the ledger erased away some of the joy over an impressive individual effort."That was a winnable game," Mitchell said. "It's tough to lose that one." The Jazz escaped defeat in regulation when they trailed by one with 0.2 seconds left as center Rudy Gobert was fouled on a desperation in-bounds pass toward the basket. Gobert missed the first free throw and made the second to force overtime.Then Utah was in solid position with a five-point lead in overtime before missing its final nine shots. The Pelicans scored the final 11 points to hand the Jazz their first loss since Dec. 23.Now Utah looks to win the season series from Sacramento. The teams split the first two meetings this season but the Jazz have won 11 of the past 14 meetings.The Kings are struggling at 15-26 at the midway point as they begin a five-game road trip. Sacramento has lost three consecutive games and 12 of its last 15.The Kings dropped their past two games by a total of six points -- 114-112 to the Orlando Magic on Monday and 127-123 to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.Point guard De'Aaron Fox recorded 27 points and 12 assists against Dallas while small forward Harrison Barnes and shooting guard Buddy Hield each scored 25 points.While the offense was good, the defense struggled as the Kings allowed 35 or more points in three different quarters."It should be pretty clear until we can get out there and play that hard, at that pace and still keep a defensive mindset, there's going to be a lot of ups and downs," Sacramento coach Luke Walton said afterward.The team's shoddy results have reduced the tolerance of their fans. The boo-birds have been out lately and made multiple appearances during the loss to Dallas."Everybody is frustrated, it's not even them, we're trying to figure it out too," Hield said afterward. "But it's the home team and we get booed. ... We don't agree with it, but they're going to voice their opinion."I understand their frustration, but like I said, I'm going to keep shooting the ball. When I make a 3, they like me. When I don't, they hate you. That's how Sacramento fans are so you've got to embrace it." The Kings may start second-year pro Marvin Bagley III at center for the second straight game as Richaun Holmes (shoulder) remains sidelined. Backup shooting Bogdan Bogdanovic (ankle) will likely miss his seventh consecutive contest.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
9:05 PM EST |
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|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+213
|
+6.5 (-112)
|
Over 216 (-114)
|
|
|
-243
|
-6.5 (+101)
|
Under 216 (+103)
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GAME PREVIEW
Jan 18, 2020Chris Paul isn't sure what's been going on with the Oklahoma City Thunder early in games."It seems like right now we're two totally different teams in the first half and second half," Paul told reporters after Friday's home loss to Miami. "I've got to look at (why), but we've got to figure it out because it kind of sucks right now." Heading into Saturday's home game against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Thunder have lost three of their last four. In those three losses, Oklahoma City has trailed by an average of nearly 19 points at halftime. The Thunder has outscored those teams by an average of nearly nine points in the second half of those games."We've shown great resolve to be able to fight back to get back in games, but it's a hard place to play from," Thunder coach Billy Donovan told reporters recently. "At one point, it was a great thing coming back and finding ways to win, and we know we have that, but against certain teams it becomes very, very difficult to come back and win." Portland is trying to get back on the winning side of things after its modest two-game winning streak was snapped in Friday's loss at Dallas.The Blazers are 2-4 on the second night of a back-to-back, but it could've been worse without the production from point guard Damian Lillard.Lillard is averaging 30 points per game in the five games he's played on the second night of a back-to-back this season, including a 60-point explosion against the Brooklyn Nets on Nov. 8.CJ McCollum has also performed well in such situations this season, but his status for Saturday is up in the air after he suffered a sprained left ankle in the second quarter Friday night."The second day is always the worst," McCollum said after the game.Saturday's game will be just the second game back in Oklahoma City for Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony since he was traded by the Thunder after the 2018 playoffs.Last season, on Nov. 8, 2018, Anthony came off the bench to score just two points on 1-of-11 shooting for the Rockets against the Thunder.It wound up being his last game in Houston and his last game of the season. The next day, Houston announced Anthony was out with an illness. A few days later, the Rockets announced that Anthony's stay with the team was over after just 10 games.The game is the last of four meetings between the teams.Portland won the first two meetings, including 102-99 on Oct. 30 in Oklahoma City. The Thunder won the most recent meeting 108-96 on Dec. 8 in Portland.The Blazers got Mario Hezonja back Friday night after the forward missed the last two games with a lower back contusion. Hezonja, though, has not played both ends of a back-to-back since mid-November.Oklahoma City could be without center Steven Adams, who missed Friday's game with a right knee contusion he suffered in Wednesday's game.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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NCAAB |
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1/18/2020 |
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FOUND
148
GAMES |
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GAME RECAP
Jan 18, 2020INDIANOLIS Tarkus Ferguson flirted with a triple double - 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists - while five players reached double figures and Illinois-Chicago defeated IUPUI 75-66 on Saturday.The Flames (8-12, 2-3) were coming off an upset win over Horizon League leader Wright State, handing the Raiders first loss in conference.Jordan Blount added 14 points for UIC, Marcus Ottey chipped in 13 while Jamie Ahale and Godwin Boahen had 10 each.Marcus Burk had 18 points for the Jaguars (5-15, 1-6). Grant Weatherford added 17 points and eight rebounds. Elyjah Goss scored 16 points with 15 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season, and blocked three shots. Jaylen Minnett added 12 points for IUPUI, which was down to seven players. Isaiah Williams, averaging eight points and four rebounds per game, was out with an injury.The Flames shot 45%, had 20 assists on 29 field goals, and dominated the paint 40-24.Illinois-Chicago (8-12, 3-4) faces Oakland on the road on Thursday. IUPUI plays Detroit on the road on Thursday.---For more college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and http://twitter.com/-Top25---Elements of this story were generated by Automated Insights, http://www.automatedinsights.com/ap, using data from LLC, https://www.stats.com
Game
Recap from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
|
FINAL |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
-246
|
-5.5 (-112)
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Over 126.5 (-101)
|
|
|
+205
|
+5.5 (-105)
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Under 126.5 (-120)
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VIEW ALL PICKS |
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GAME PREVIEW
Jan 16, 2020The all-around juggernaut that No. 2 Baylor has become rolls into Stillwater on Saturday afternoon to face reeling Oklahoma State in a game that looks like a huge mismatch on paper.But games in the unrelenting Big 12 are never a given, so thinking that the Bears, perhaps the league's best team, will have a walkover against the Cowboys, maybe the conference's worst, may be unwise.Baylor extended its winning streak to 13 straight games on Wednesday with a 68-55 win over Iowa State, continuing the nation's second-longest winning streak.Jared Butler scored a game-high 19 points as Baylor pulled away in the second half. Davion Mitchell added 17 points and six assists for the Bears (14-1, 4-0), while Freddie Gillespie contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds.Mark Vital chipped in 11 points as Baylor heated up and shot 45.5 percent in the second half in its first game following its first win at Kansas last Saturday."In the first half, we weren't in our groove," Baylor coach Scott Drew said, referencing the Bears' 34.5-percent shooting overall and 1-of-11 showing from 3-point range. "But our defense kept us there. In the second half, we were able to have the offense come around and get some separation."A team like Iowa State, who leads the conference in scoring, you don't want to be in a situation where you're in a one- or two-possession game, because they can score quick." The Bears dominated on the boards, 45-33, and outscored Iowa State by nine in second-chance points, 14-5."Credit to Mark, he was rebounding like a monster in that first half," Gillespie said of Vital, who grabbed five boards in the first half. "He kind of drew a lot of the guys to him and opened it up for me. The nice thing about having his inside presence is when he starts boarding really well, they look to box him out, and it opens up more rebounds for me. And vice versa." Oklahoma State is in a funk, losing four straight games following a 76-64 setback at home to Texas on Wednesday.Kalib Boone led the Cowboys (9-7, 0-4) with 12 points. Isaac Likekele and Lindy Waters III added nine points apiece for Oklahoma State, which has dropped five of its past six, all by at least 12 points.The Cowboys surpassed their previous high of 51 points in a Big 12 game this season, but they allowed Texas to make 15 3-pointers on the night."Obviously, Texas shot the ball extremely well tonight," Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton said. "They hadn't shot it particularly well all year, but they shot it better in their last game and it carried it over to today. It kind of shows how one game can change your mindset."They were 0-2, as well, but got off the schneid Saturday and carried that over to today. A lot of their 3s did come from communication breakdowns from us. We got some correctable errors there, so that's encouraging." --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
|
FINAL |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
-126
|
-1 (-117)
|
Over 137 (-113)
|
|
|
+108
|
+1 (+100)
|
Under 137 (-107)
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VIEW ALL PICKS |
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GAME PREVIEW
Jan 17, 2020Ohio State will hopes its troubles are a thing of the past when the No. 21 Buckeyes face a Penn State team dealing with its own adversity on Saturday in University Park, Pa.The Buckeyes (12-5, 2-4 Big Ten) ended a four-game losing streak with an 80-68 win over Nebraska on Tuesday. Coach Chris Holtmann announced before the game that sophomore guards Duane Washington Jr. and Luther Muhammad had been suspended indefinitely for "failing to meet program standards and expectations." Without the pair, the Buckeyes had only two scholarship guards available, junior C. J. Walker and freshman D. J. Carton. Walker had a season-high 18 points and Carton was one of five other Buckeyes to score in double figures (13 points)."It just feels really good to be back on top and win," Walker said.Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions (12-5, 2-4) suffered their third straight loss Wednesday, 75-69 at Minnesota."We'll keep working. There's a lot to learn and we're going to keep growing," Penn State coach Patrick Chambers said.It's been a disappointing stretch for Penn State after starting 12-2 and breaking into the top 25 for the first time since 1996. The Nittany Lions lost 72-61 at Rutgers on Jan. 7 and four days later a 58-49 setback to Wisconsin ended a 13-game home winning streak in the Bryce Jordan Center."We're hitting a little speed bump here, a little bump in the road for us and we just have to go back to work," Chambers said. "Our goals are all still intact. We just have to keep getting a little bit better. I would call it 'Big Ten tough.' "The Nittany Lions will be seeking to avenge a 106-74 loss at Ohio State on Dec. 7.The Buckeyes were at full strength then, but Holtmann said after the Nebraska game that he was undecided when the suspensions to Muhammad and Washington would be lifted."I don't know that there's a specific message," he said. "I'm not coaching for just one game. Ever. I'm not ever doing that. I'm not ever coaching just to win one game or put our best team on the floor for one game. They're more important to me than that, and it's more important to me than that. And if I ever get to the point to where I coach for just one game, I'm getting out. See ya. Peace out. Not doing it." Ohio State junior post Kaleb Wesson, who was suspended for three games by Holtmann last season, supported his actions."This is just a learning step," Wesson said. "We went through the same thing last year. You learn from it, you move on." Penn State isn't panicking either."Somehow, some way we've got to get together, try to regroup and get a win, stop this slide," Chambers said. "A little resiliency, a little toughness; if we can do those things, we'll come out on top." -- Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
|
FINAL |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+136
|
+3 (+100)
|
Over 137 (-107)
|
|
|
-160
|
-3 (-117)
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Under 137 (-113)
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VIEW ALL PICKS |
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|
FINAL |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
-230
|
-5 (-105)
|
Over 142 (-112)
|
|
|
+193
|
+5 (-111)
|
Under 142 (-109)
|
|
|
|
|
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VIEW ALL PICKS |
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|
|
FINAL |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+398
|
+10 (-107)
|
Over 133.5 (-113)
|
|
|
-516
|
-10 (-109)
|
Under 133.5 (-107)
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VIEW ALL PICKS |
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GAME PREVIEW
Jan 17, 2020Two former Big East Conference rivals are going back to the future on Saturday.When Connecticut visits No. 14 Villanova, it will feature a matchup of teams that once made this the best basketball conference in Division I, and will aim to do it again starting next season.This is the Huskies' final season in the American Athletic Conference before they return to their Big East roots. They were a member of the conference from its inception in 1979 until it left in 2013 to join the AAC in a move related to football.With UConn's programs mostly scuffling, aside from women's basketball, a return to the Big East might lead to a resurgence for second-year coach Dan Hurley. The Huskies (10-6) have enjoyed a good recruiting year, successfully selling their change to a conference that makes more geographic sense.Villanova coach Jay Wright is looking forward to UConn's return to the Big East."Everywhere they go to play, it's going to be a great game," he told the New York Times last month. "And everyone that goes there, you know they're going to be sold out." The Wildcats' on-campus gym should be filled to its last rafter for this one. Villanova (13-3) enters this game fresh off a 79-75 overtime win Tuesday night over DePaul, which rallied from an 11-point deficit with 2:14 left in regulation to force extra basketball.However, the Wildcats fought off the Blue Demons behind 21 points from Collin Gillespie and 18 from Saddiq Bey. Five Villanova players average in double figures on the season, led by Bey at 15.4 and Gillespie at 15.1."That's what the Big East is going to be like this year," Wright said. "You're just going to have to survive. We were very fortunate to come out with a victory. We'll take it. Any Big East victory is going to be valuable this year." Villanova outscored DePaul 12-8 in overtime, Gillespie converting six straight free throws to help it win for the fourth time in five conference games.Meanwhile, UConn pushed then-No. 23 Wichita State into double overtime Sunday in Hartford before losing 89-86 as Christian Vital's bid to force a third OT rattled off the iron at the horn."It was just tough," Vital said to the Hartford Courant. "We fought. We fought for that. Some moments didn't go our way, when we thought it would or should have gone our way, but it was just tough because we fought for that."We didn't just let them come in here and let them think they were going to bully us. It was tough to end that game and not be on the winning side." Vital is the Huskies' only double-figure scorer on the season at 14.9 points per game.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
|
FINAL |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+153
|
+3.5 (+102)
|
Over 132.5 (-112)
|
|
|
-180
|
-3.5 (-119)
|
Under 132.5 (-108)
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|
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VIEW ALL PICKS |
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|
|
FINAL |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+412
|
+10 (-105)
|
Over 140 (-106)
|
|
|
-538
|
-10 (-111)
|
Under 140 (-114)
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VIEW ALL PICKS |
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|
GAME PREVIEW
Jan 17, 2020Tuesday brought another Big East Conference nail-biter for the DePaul basketball team.Unfortunately for the struggling Blue Demons, that simply meant the latest in a string of excruciating defeats.DePaul (12-5, 0-4 Big East) again will aim for its first league victory when it hosts No. 5 Butler on Saturday afternoon. After rolling through the nonconference season at 12-1, the Blue Demons have lost each of their first four Big East contests by a combined 20 points, the latest coming Tuesday in a 79-75 overtime setback at Villanova."We've just got to win," Blue Demons coach Dave Leitao said. "We're 0-4 and we had four games that could have went either way. Each one, at whatever point late in the game, were one-possession games."We've got to be able to understand how over the course of the game we don't get to that point. And then we've also got to understand when we're in that mode late in games, how to do a good job of making sure the other team doesn't score and get positive results on offense." Promising beginnings boosted DePaul's confidence against Villanova, as the visitors built an early 21-8 lead. The Wildcats, however, countered with a 22-7 run to close the half to take a two-point lead into intermission.As Leitao indicated, Villanova prevailed when it mattered, regrouping in the extra session after the Blue Demons rallied to erase an 11-point deficit with 2:14 to go in regulation.Butler (15-2, 3-1) is coming off a frustrating loss of its own after faltering down the stretch of a 78-70 home loss to No. 18 Seton Hall on Wednesday. The Bulldogs took a 66-65 lead on a Sean McDermott three-point play with 3:48 remaining but could not hold off the Pirates, who ended the game on a 13-4 run.Hosting a game as a top-five team for the first time since Hinkle Fieldhouse opened its doors in 1928, the Bulldogs suffered their first home defeat following a 9-0 start."That's one of those environments, one of those games, that's why they come to Butler for games like that," Bulldogs coach LaVall Jordan said. "It was a high-level basketball game, and at the end of the day, they had some guys step up and make some plays." After shooting 56 percent in the first half, Butler struggled to 30 percent shooting in the second. The team's perimeter game struggled to the tune of a 6-for-21 effort from long range, and point guard Aaron Thompson battled foul trouble throughout the night.The loss was only the second of the season for the Bulldogs and snapped a six-game winning streak.Butler won both meetings against DePaul last season, winning by 18 points in Chicago one month before a 13-point victory on its home floor.The Bulldogs are 11-1 against the Blue Demons since Butler entered the Big East before the 2013-14 season and boast an 11-game winning streak in the series. Butler has won 11 of 17 meetings overall.DePaul was ranked in the top five on two occasions when the programs met before they were conference rivals. The Blue Demons won both times, during the 1979-80 and 1980-81 seasons.Blue Demons junior forward Paul Reed had 18 points and 15 rebounds against Villanova for his Big East-leading 12th double-double of the season.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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