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NBA |
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2/28/2020 |
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FOUND
10
GAMES |
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COMING
UP
7:05 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
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+279
|
+8 (-103)
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Over 233.5 (-101)
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-328
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-8 (-107)
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Under 233.5 (-109)
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GAME PREVIEW
Feb 27, 2020The Orlando Magic have reversed course following a disastrous stretch to both strengthen their grasp on the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot and inch closer to the No. 7 seed.The Magic aim to continue their ascent Friday, when they host the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves.Orlando answered a run of eight losses in nine games with its fourth win in five outings on Wednesday, courtesy of a 130-120 victory over Atlanta.Mo Bamba flourished in the early stages against the Hawks, Aaron Gordon scored 18 of his 25 points in the third quarter and Evan Fournier added 14 of his 28 in the fourth."That's the way it's gotta be," Magic coach Steve Clifford said. "That's what the NBA is. If you want to win, you've gotta have everybody playing well, and our guys know that. We've won four out of five and that's the way it's gotta be." Bamba matched a career high with 15 points after Nikola Vucevic picked up two quick fouls. Bamba also had 10 rebounds and four blocked shots.Gordon has turned it up in February by averaging 19.9 points and 9.0 rebounds. The spirited stretch has boosted the 24-year-old's season averages to 14.5 and 7.5, respectively."No adjustments ... just playing the same game, bringing a little bit more energy to it," Gordon said, per the Orlando Sentinel. "Just kind of being more physical ... turning my motor on." Fournier, who shares the team lead with 19.0 points per game, has upped the ante over his last three. He's averaging 25.7 points while shooting 54.7 percent (29 of 53).The recent drive has enabled Orlando to grab a 4 1/2-game lead for the final playoff spot in the conference standings and pull to a half-game behind seventh-place Brooklyn. The No. 7 seed holds greater weight considering the owner of the eighth slot likely will face reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and league-best Milwaukee in the first round.The Timberwolves answered a dismal 1-18 run with a sterling comeback in a 129-126 victory at Miami on Wednesday. Minnesota overcame a 12-point deficit with 3:59 remaining in the fourth quarter to complete its second straight season sweep of the Heat."You just can't say enough about the group in the locker room," Timberwolves coach Ryan Saunders said. "It's a special group the way these guys are pushing through a lot of unknowns, a lot of change, a lot of adversity right now so I'm just really thrilled for this group." D'Angelo Russell highlighted his 27-point performance by sinking seven 3-pointers against Miami. The 24-year-old is averaging 24.4 points, 8.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds in five games since being acquired from Golden State earlier this month.Malik Beasley, acquired from Denver in a blockbuster four-team trade earlier this month, is averaging 21.7 points and 6.0 rebounds in seven games with the Timberwolves.--Field Level Media
 Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
7:35 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+822
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+14 (+101)
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Over 213.5 (-106)
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-1191
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-14 (-112)
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Under 213.5 (-104)
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GAME PREVIEW
Feb 27, 2020The rebuilding Charlotte Hornets forced the Toronto Raptors to overtime before losing to the reigning NBA champions at home on Jan. 8.The Hornets will be the visiting team Friday night, when they look for their first win in three games against the Raptors.Toronto won the overtime meeting 112-110 when Serge Ibaka made two free throws with 5.1 seconds to play.The Raptors lost for only the second time in 19 games Tuesday, falling 108-97 to the visiting Milwaukee Bucks.Charlotte ended a two-game skid Wednesday night, defeating the visiting New York Knicks 107-101 for their fifth win in 20 games. Terry Rozier scored 26 points.The Hornets will be without guard Malik Monk, who was suspended indefinitely Wednesday by the NBA for a violation of the league's anti-drug policy."(The suspension) does put us in a bind," Hornets coach James Borrego said. "But in the end, this could be a very positive story. I look forward to talking to him." Monk was averaging 17.0 points his last 13 games, shooting 35.0 percent from 3-point range. He made the first start of his three-year NBA career Tuesday in a road loss to the Indiana Pacers."Not just for a couple of games -- he had a good month's stretch here where he had been playing extremely well," Borrego said. "I think (he was) our leading scorer the last 15 games." Rookies Cody Martin (nine points and nine rebounds in 25 minutes Wednesday) and Caleb Martin (five points in 14 minutes) will get more playing time and Dwayne Bacon could be recalled from the G League's Greensboro Swarm. Bacon began the season as a Hornets starter.Hornets center Cody Zeller did not play for the second time in four games Wednesday despite being healthy. Charlotte is taking a long look at centers Bismack Biyombo and Willy Hernangomez, who will be free agents in July.The Raptors had their nine-game home winning streak stopped by the Bucks on Tuesday. The Bucks, who lead the Eastern Conference standings, held the Raptors to 35.2 percent shooting and 34.6 percent (18 of 52) from 3-point distance."Look at the shooting percentages it wasn't too good either way," Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. "Pretty good defensive game both ways, I was pretty happy. I thought we were amazing for about 22 minutes and then we had the ball and had a little weird turnover in transition there to start their run and end the second quarter."I don't know, we just didn't for some reason make enough of those (3-point) shots. I think we had some pretty good ones there. You probably can't have Serge (Ibaka) go 1 for 10, Kyle (Lowry) go 1 for 7 and Fred (VanVleet) go 3 for 9, but in saying that Serge had like 21 straight great games." Raptors guard Norman Powell (broken finger) was cleared to practice Thursday. He has missed the past nine games. He is considered questionable for Friday, but Nurse said there is a chance he will play.Raptors center Marc Gasol (hamstring) will not play. He has missed the past 11 games.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
7:35 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
-146
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-3 (-104)
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Over 236.5 (-104)
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+132
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+3 (-106)
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Under 236.5 (-106)
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GAME PREVIEW
Feb 27, 2020The Brooklyn Nets suffered a tough loss at Washington on Wednesday despite succeeding in not letting Bradley Beal hit a game-winning shot.The Nets continue their four-game road trip Friday, when they visit the Atlanta Hawks. And this time, the Nets don't want to let second-year guard Trae Young take that potential game-winning shot.Beal scored 30 points in the Nets' 110-106 loss, and they double-teamed the Wizards' star to keep him from getting a shot off on a late possession. However, the Nets did not finish the defensive sequence when Spencer Dinwiddie was late to defend Jerome Robinson, who sank the game-winning 3-pointer with 8.4 seconds left.The shot sent the Nets to a second straight close loss after having won eight of 12 games. Brooklyn blew a 19-point lead at home in a 115-113 loss to Orlando on Monday.Two nights later, the Nets stormed back from 18 points down and took a three-point lead into the fourth quarter before seeing their lead over eighth-place Orlando shrink to one half-game."We were in a junk defense, box-and-one type of defense, and there was a screen at the top. They overloaded the back side," Brooklyn's Caris LeVert said. "If we'd have talked better we probably would've matched up better." LeVert scored 34 points and is averaging 23.8 points in his past nine games, but he also acknowledged the Nets lacked focus in the past two games."That's our job," LeVert said. "We've got to come in locked in from the start, no matter who we're playing, for a full 48 minutes. I feel like for stretches of the game we'll have it, but not for a full 48 minutes." Brooklyn enters on an eight-game winning streak against the Hawks. During the Nets' longest winning streak in team history against an opponent, the average margin of victory is 13 points and the only one-possession game in the streak was a 114-112 win in Atlanta on March 9, 2019.When the Nets rolled to a 108-86 rout of the Hawks on Jan. 12, Atlanta was in a stretch of 15 losses in 17 games. Since the last meeting, Atlanta is 9-11, with seven of those wins coming at home.Young did not play in the last meeting because of a left hamstring injury but scored 39 points on Dec. 4 in a 130-118 loss to Brooklyn. He then scored 47 in a 122-112 defeat on Dec. 21.Young scored 37 points Wednesday when the Hawks were handed a 130-120 home loss by Orlando. He played through flu-like symptoms, but along with the rest of his teammates, endured a third quarter in which the Hawks allowed 39 points."The third quarter was brutal," Atlanta coach Lloyd Pierce said. "The first timeout is called, and we just kind of fell apart the rest of that third quarter. It's really our defensive end. We just couldn't get stops." Being unable to get stops is hardly a new development for the Hawks. While Atlanta has watched Young produce 29 games with at least 30 points, it also has allowed at least 130 points 14 times."There's a lot that needs to be changed," Young said. "We've just got to bring it more. We need to fight harder. It's stuff that we can control. Defensive end, we've got to fight harder." --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
8:05 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+526
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+11.5 (-105)
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Over 227.5 (-107)
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-684
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-11.5 (-105)
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Under 227.5 (-103)
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GAME PREVIEW
Feb 28, 2020The Oklahoma City Thunder were supposed to be entering a rebuilding phase after dealing stars Russell Westbrook and Paul George in the offseason.Don't look now, but the Thunder are a season-best 15 games over .500 as they try to upset the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night.Oklahoma City (37-22) has won five straight games and 14 of 17 entering the contest in Milwaukee. The hot stretch has seen the Thunder pass the Utah Jazz and move into fifth place in the Western Conference.Though Oklahoma City does have an All-Star in point guard Chris Paul, the squad is made up mostly of young players and castoffs who are fitting together well in coach Billy Donovan's schemes and methodology."Our intensity and character are two things that are getting better and better," veteran forward Danilo Gallinari said after Thursday's 112-108 comeback victory over the visiting Sacramento Kings. "That's what you want, especially in the second part of the season." Gallinari scored 24 points for the second straight game, as Oklahoma City rallied from a 19-point, third-quarter deficit to defeat the Kings. The Thunder are his fourth team, and he was nearly traded to the Miami Heat at the trading deadline earlier this month before talks broke down.Gallinari and Paul give Oklahoma City a solid veteran presence, while young gun Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rates as the future go-to force.Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 points against the Kings, and Paul added 17 points and seven assists in a contest that seemed destined to be a Sacramento victory through the first 2 1/2 quarters."For the first 30 minutes of the game, we were back on our heels," Donovan said afterward. "They were the aggressor. We were not doing the things that were necessary." There will be little margin for mistakes against the well-rested Bucks.Milwaukee (50-8) last played on Tuesday, when it delivered a sharp 108-97 road win against the Toronto Raptors. The victory was the club's fourth in a row and ninth in the past 10 games.The Bucks are on pace to become just the third 70-win team in NBA history. Only the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors (73-9) and 1995-96 Chicago Bulls (72-10) have reached 70.Reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 19 points, 19 rebounds and eight assists against the Raptors in his latest strong effort, and he said the team prospers from a simple approach."We just come out and try to do our job," Antetokounmpo told reporters. "We have a winning culture. So it doesn't matter if you are hurt, it doesn't matter if you are tired -- the next guy up is ready to go. Everybody wants to play, everybody wants to win, and that's why we win games." Veteran forward Marvin Williams is a newcomer who is still surveying the scene.The victory over Toronto was his fifth with the Bucks, and Williams said he has been impressed that the atmosphere isn't the least bit tense."Guys here are very relaxed," Williams told reporters. "Honestly, much more relaxed than I thought they would be before I got here. It's their comfort zone, so it's kind of fun to watch. Their preparation -- they are very relaxed and focused about how they go about doing things." Williams knocked down three 3-pointers while recording nine points and five rebounds in 16 minutes against the Raptors.All-Star small forward Khris Middleton scored 22 points against Toronto and has topped 20 in four straight games. Middleton is averaging 28.8 points during the stretch, including a 40-point effort in Monday's 137-134 overtime win over the Washington Wizards.Milwaukee notched a 121-119 road victory over the Thunder on Nov. 10. Antetokounmpo led the way with 35 points and 16 rebounds. Reserve guard Dennis Schroder scored 25 points to pace Oklahoma City.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
8:05 PM EST |
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|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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|
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+643
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+12.5 (-103)
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Over 235 (-109)
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|
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-875
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-12.5 (-107)
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Under 235 (-101)
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GAME PREVIEW
Feb 27, 2020The New Orleans Pelicans' playoff push is off to a good start.The Pelicans won two of three on a road trip to start their post-All-Star break schedule and moved closer to the eighth playoff position in the Western Conference.The Cleveland Cavaliers aren't going to the playoffs, but they have been playing well of late, too. They have won four of five as they prepare to visit New Orleans on Friday.The Pelicans have won five of their past seven games overall. They beat Portland and Golden State before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers 118-109 in the final game of their road trip on Tuesday.Rookie Zion Williamson had 29 points and six rebounds, his ninth consecutive game with at least 20 points. All-Star forward Brandon Ingram had 34 points. It was the first time Ingram and Williamson, who has played just 13 games, both had at least 25 points in the same game."I think it was only a matter of time," Williamson said. "Eleven, 12, 13 games in, the chemistry was eventually going to be found and I think we're finding it." The Pelicans are in 10th place in the West, three games behind eighth-place Memphis but just 1 1/2 games out of 13th place."We understand what's at stake," New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry said. "We have 24 games left and the margin for error is almost none. You have five teams trying to get one spot." New Orleans, which has won its past eight home games against the Cavaliers, won 125-111 at Cleveland on Jan. 28. That was the Cavs' 13th loss in 16 games -- but things have changed."They're probably on a high right now because they're playing very, very well," New Orleans guard Jrue Holiday said of the Cavaliers. "But we're also playing very, very well." The Cavaliers never trailed in a 108-94 home victory against Philadelphia on Wednesday. They played without starting center Andre Drummond, who is day to day because of a strained left calf. Tristan Thompson started in his place and had 14 points and 13 rebounds.Cleveland is 3-1 under coach J. B. Bickerstaff since John Beilein resigned during the All-Star break."Defense, defense, defense," said forward Larry Nance Jr., who had 13 points and 15 rebounds. "J. B. has been preaching that -- just energy and unselfishness. We've really been doing that on both ends, especially the defensive end." Collin Sexton scored 28 points to lead six Cavaliers in double figures against the Sixers. The victory was the Cavs' second in three nights against a team with a winning record. They overcame a 19-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Miami 125-119 in overtime Monday."There's been a concerted effort, to a man, to go out and get after it a little bit harder," Bickerstaff said. "There's an energy that's building and you don't want to be the one guy that's not participating in it."You see the leadership, you see the young guys, they are pushing one another, they are holding each other accountable, they are having real conversations to fix problems. The environment and culture we are creating is growing and that's going to be the foundation of it. It's a bunch of guys who play hard but play well together also." --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
8:05 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
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+133
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+3.5 (-112)
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Over 226.5 (-108)
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-148
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-3.5 (+102)
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Under 226.5 (-102)
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GAME PREVIEW
Feb 28, 2020The Memphis Grizzlies get an opportunity to avenge a recent defeat and add some distance between themselves and their Western Conference playoff competition at the same time when they host the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.Neither team enters the contest in an ideal situation, with the injury-plagued Grizzlies having lost four in a row, while the Kings will be enduring the second night of a road back-to-back after a tough loss at Oklahoma City on Thursday.Memphis, which will begin the night in the eighth and final playoff spot in the West, has suffered back-to-back drubbings since losing Jaren Jackson Jr. to a sprained left knee last week.Jackson isn't expected back until at least mid-March.Jackson had 16 points when the Grizzlies began a four-game trip last Thursday with a 129-125 loss at Sacramento.He suffered the injury in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers the next night, then missed a 124-97 thumping at the hands of the LA Clippers and 140-112 defeat to the Houston Rockets before the Grizzlies returned home to begin a two-game homestand on Friday.The Lakers also come to town on Saturday.The Grizzlies also lost valuable reserve Brandon Clarke to a strained right quad on the trip. He is out indefinitely."There's no magic recipe," Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said of potential solutions with two key players out. "We've got to roll with the guys we got, the depth that we've always trusted all season long. No matter who's out there, we got to play at a higher level. We got to play better." Memphis lost at Sacramento 128-123 on Jan. 2 after beating the Kings 119-115 at home in December, so the Grizzlies are looking to even up the season series.The Kings have moved within four games of the Grizzlies in the playoff chase thanks in large part to a three-game winning streak that began with last week's win over Memphis. Sacramento won that game by owning the 3-point line, outscoring the Grizzlies 57-36 from deep.The Kings had that winning streak come to an end in Thursday's 112-108 loss at Oklahoma City.The Kings also outscored the Thunder 36-27 on 3-pointers in the loss, but the hosts forced 15 Sacramento turnovers and had a 21-14 edge at the free throw line to overcome the long-range disparity.Sacramento went without star guard De'Aaron Fox, who had been expected to play but showed up at the arena with a tight lower right abdomen.It's possible he'll be rested, healthy and ready to face the Grizzlies.Kings coach Luke Walton was asked about Fox's nagging injuries after he played through a sore shoulder to score 21 points in Tuesday's win over Golden State."We'll go about it smartly," he told reporters. "We'll give him off days where he needs it." With Marvin Bagley III also out of action, Harrison Barnes has helped take up the scoring slack for the Kings.He had 32 points, including seven 3-pointers, in the win over the Grizzlies last week, then contributed 21 points to the win over Golden State on Tuesday.He had another 21-point effort in Thursday's loss to Oklahoma City.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
8:05 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+150
|
+4 (-102)
|
Over 228.5 (-103)
|
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-168
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-4 (-108)
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Under 228.5 (-107)
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GAME PREVIEW
Feb 27, 2020The slumping Miami Heat have lost two straight games to two of the NBA's five-worst teams -- the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.On Friday, the Heat will play host to the rising Dallas Mavericks, a young team that has won two straight games.Dallas' stars are two Europeans -- Kristaps Porzingis, 24, and Luca Doncic, who turns 21 on Friday."We're still learning," Doncic said of the relatively inexperienced Mavs. "It's not always going to be perfect." Even so, there's a lot of potential on the Mavs. Doncic, a 6-foot-7, second-year guard from Slovenia, is sixth in the NBA in scoring, averaging 28.7 points. He also leads the team in rebounds (9.6) and assists (8.7).Porzingis, a 7-3 center from Latvia, leads the team in blocks (1.9) and ranks second in scoring (18.7) and rebounds (9.2).In Wednesday's 109-103 win over the host San Antonio Spurs, Porzingis had 28 points and 12 rebounds, and Doncic added 26 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds."We're getting to know each other and the little details of the game," said Porzingis, a former New York Knicks star who is in his first season playing with Doncic. "We have better rhythm now." The Heat, meanwhile, have no rhythm at the moment, having lost seven of nine games. Much of that has to do with seven road games during that stretch and the Heat's poor 13-18 road record.But on Wednesday, the Heat sunk to a new low by losing to Minnesota at home. The Timberwolves entered that game having lost 18 of their previous 19 games overall."We just don't know," Heat veteran guard Goran Dragic said of the loss. "It's frustrating. It feels like we're not the same team we were in the first half of the season." Miami's 23-4 home record is still one of the three best marks in the NBA. But this slump has to be a concern for the Heat.Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is trying to steady the proverbial ship, saying -- in essence -- that this too shall pass."I just think that this is our period of the season where we have adversity," Spoelstra said.Friday's game should be interesting because Doncic and Dragic are countrymen. When the Mavs visited Miami last season, there were more than 2,000 Slovenians attending the game, and a similar showing is expected on Friday.Dragic, who on Wednesday passed Grant Long for 10th place on the Heat career scoring list, is one of the veteran leaders on the team, along with Jimmy Butler and emerging star Bam Adebayo.Butler leads Miami in scoring (20.5), assists (6.2) and steals (1.8). Adebayo leads the team in rebounds (10.5) and blocks (1.2) while also ranking third in points (16.2) and second in assists (5.1).Adebayo is playing despite a sprained right ankle. In fact, his streak of consecutive games played is at 144, which puts him in fourth place in franchise history.Dragic is Miami's top reserve, ranking second in points (16.3) and third in assists (5.0).The Heat again are expected to be without Tyler Herro and center Meyers Leonard, who have each missed nine straight games due to ankle injuries.Dallas is without 7-foot center Willie Cauley-Stein, who is expected to miss another couple of games due to personal reasons. Mavs guard Jalen Brunson (shoulder) and power forward Dwight Powell (foot) are also out.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
9:05 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+412
|
+10 (-101)
|
Over 232.5 (-109)
|
|
|
-512
|
-10 (-109)
|
Under 232.5 (-102)
|
|
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|
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|
|
|
GAME PREVIEW
Feb 27, 2020The Utah Jazz will look to end a four-game losing streak when they host the Washington Wizards on Thursday night.All four losses have come at home for Utah, which sits solidly in playoff positioning in the Western Conference but has been taking on water of late.The Wizards, meanwhile, have playoff aspirations of their own. They're ninth in the Eastern Conference, coming off a win over the Brooklyn Nets two nights after taking the Milwaukee Bucks into overtime.The Jazz faced one of the East's top teams on Wednesday night, falling to the Boston Celtics 114-103.Utah started the game 3-for-17 from the field, including 0-for-8 from 3-point range, but recovered to trail 53-51 at halftime and by 85-82 entering the fourth quarter. But the Celtics pulled away with a 13-3 run early in the fourth."I thought we did a good job playing through it when we weren't making shots. Our defensive effort and our energy stayed at a good level. I felt differently about tonight's game compared to the games we've played the last couple days," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said."It's not a moral victory in that sense at all, but our team is going to keep working and finding it and keep getting better from where we were two nights ago (in a 20-point loss to the Phoenix Suns)." Utah's Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 37 points on 15-for-32 shooting. The third-year guard has scored 30-plus points in three straight games, and he's now scored 35-plus points seven times this season.Mike Conley (15 points) and Royce O'Neale (14 points, three steals) were the only other Utah players to score in double figures.Joe Ingles (two points on 1-for-3 shooting) and Bojan Bogdanovic (three points on 1-for-8 shooting, including 0-for-4 from 3-point range) continued to struggle for the Jazz. O'Neale replaced Ingles in the starting lineup."We've got some guys we believe in who are going to find it," Snyder said. "That's all of us, as much as anything. That's why it's a team game. The message is really that simple: Everybody just keep playing and competing. Play hard and play together and play defense." Washington lost its first three games after the All-Star break and squandered an 18-point lead against the Nets before pulling out the victory on Jerome Robinson's 3-pointer, followed by his rebound and two free throws after a Brooklyn miss in the final seconds. That sealed a 110-106 victory.After scoring 53 and 55 points in consecutive games, Bradley Beal settled for 30 points and an assist on the winning basket against Brooklyn."If coach (Scott Brooks) has you on the floor, there's a reason you're out here," Beal said of Robinson. "I'm not going to chuck it up from 45 when I've got two, three people running at me. I've got wide open teammates. Win, lose or draw, I'm always going to trust guys who are wide open." Rui Hachimura added 17 points, and Davis Bertans (14 points) was back after missing the Milwaukee game with a sore right knee."It's huge and it gets us back on track for the road," Robinson said of the win, which kept Washington on the doorstep of playoff eligibility. "We have got some tough ones on the road, but if we can keep going the way we are and keep pushing the pace like that, I think we will come out all right." Washington, which is opening a four-game Western Conference swing, lost to Utah 127-116 in D. C. on Jan. 12.The Wizards defense has improved since then. They had forced 20 or more turnovers in five straight games before settling for 18 against Brooklyn.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
9:05 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+302
|
+8.5 (-105)
|
Over 218.5 (-104)
|
|
|
-358
|
-8.5 (-105)
|
Under 218.5 (-106)
|
|
|
|
|
|
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GAME PREVIEW
Feb 27, 2020The Phoenix Suns will try to reignite their perimeter game when they host the floundering Detroit Pistons on Friday.Coming off victories against the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz, the Suns went cold from long distance in a 102-92 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. They made just 9 of 34 3-point attempts."Shot quality was in the green for us. We just missed a ton of shots," Suns coach Monty Williams said. "The way we shot the ball, you wouldn't guess that we made nine." The Suns' offense was smoking against the usually stout Jazz defense, as they shot 56.3 percent from the field and made 12 of 20 3-point shots in a 131-111 victory. Phoenix's backcourt duo, Devin Booker and Ricky Rubio, combined for 46 points and 21 assists.They shot a combined 10-for-30 from the field against the Clippers and committed 11 turnovers. They did combine for 20 assists."That's a really good team over there, (so) to lose by 10, especially the way we shot the ball and especially me personally, the way I shot the ball, to still be in the game and have a chance and keep fighting all the way until the end (is encouraging)," Booker told the Arizona Republic. "You see coach calling timeouts down to 10 seconds left, that's the demeanor and approach of our team." The Suns played without forward Kelly Oubre Jr., who reportedly has a torn meniscus in his right knee."It's tough when you see one of your guys go down," center Aron Baynes said to the Republic. "Right now, he's got to do the right thing for him because he needs to be able to come back whenever that is in the right shape to contribute and do what he's done for us all season long." Detroit is mired in a seven-game losing streak. It hasn't won since Feb. 5, the day before center Andre Drummond was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers to begin a rebuild. Point guard Reggie Jackson and forward Markieff Morris subsequently had their contracts bought out.Playing with a much more inexperienced unit outside of point guard Derrick Rose, the Pistons don't have enough talent or cohesion to match up against most opponents.Their defense was picked apart by the playoff-bound Denver Nuggets in a 115-98 loss on Tuesday. The Nuggets shot 57.9 percent from the field."I like some of the spurts that we had, but against good teams, you can't have the 'Oh, my bads.' We had way too many 'My bads,'" coach Dwane Casey said. "We had people wide open, all over the place, and we missed some kick-outs. Against a team like this, they're going to convert on those types of mistakes. In the first half, we had so many defensive breakdowns, guys were late rotating for whatever reason." Power forward/center Christian Wood is averaging 22.5 points over the last four games. However, Casey wants Wood to be more cognizant of what defenders are doing."He's got three guys in front of him, you've got a shooter, wide open, and until we grasp that, we're going to struggle," Casey said. "Those are plays that we work on. There are kick-out plays that generate 3-point shooting. You miss it this time, you miss it that time, and now your shooters are not ready to shoot it." Detroit's last victory came against the Suns. Drummond piled up 31 points and 19 rebounds in that 116-108 triumph.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
10:35 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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|
+211
|
+6.5 (-107)
|
Over 219.5 (-105)
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-240
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-6.5 (-103)
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Under 219.5 (-105)
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GAME PREVIEW
Feb 27, 2020The Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets should be at full strength for their Friday night showdown in Los Angeles.Injuries have hampered both teams throughout the season but that hasn't prevented them from being among the leaders in the Western Conference standings, where the Nuggets lead the Clippers by a game for second place, with the Los Angeles Lakers comfortably in first place.The Clippers have been without Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Patrick Beverley for stretches, while the Nuggets have played without Paul Millsap, Gary Harris, Jamal Murray, Will Barton and Michael Porter Jr. However, all are expected to play Friday.On Tuesday, the Nuggets pounded the Detroit Pistons 115-98 behind a career-high 29 points on 12-of-15 shooting by reserve forward Jerami Grant."I just rode (Grant) that whole second half," Denver coach Michael Malone told The Denver Post. "He was terrific." Nikola Jokic and Murray scored 16 points apiece for the Nuggets, who shot 57.9 percent from the floor and won their eighth contest in their last 11 games. Murray also had eight assists. Porter contributed 13 points, hitting 6 of 9 shots, with eight rebounds.The recent play of Millsap, who returned three weeks ago after missing 16 games with a knee injury, also pleased Malone. Although Millsap had nine points and four rebounds in 19 minutes against the Pistons, he scored 25 points on 9-of-11 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds in Sunday's 128-116 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves."Since he's come back ... I think Paul's been terrific," Malone told the Post.Millsap managed just two points and six rebounds in 27 minutes in a 113-101 loss to the Thunder on Feb. 21, but he has scored in double figures in four of the six contests since his return.The Clippers earned a 102-92 victory over the host Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. Leonard had 24 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and three steals for the Clippers. Marcus Morris, who converted 4-of-8 3-pointers, added 18 points and Reggie Jackson chipped in 12.Leonard also helped slow Suns All-Star guard Devin Booker, one of the NBA's top scorers at 26.3 points per game. Booker missed 14 of 19 shots from the floor and seven of eight 3-pointers, finishing with 14 points."That was the plan. Kawhi is Kawhi," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. "He's amazing with his reach, his hands, his foot movement, he's very smart and extremely strong. I thought that set the tone for us, for sure." George struggled offensively for the second consecutive game since he returned from a strained hamstring. He managed 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting in 28 minutes against the Suns. In Monday's rout of the Memphis Grizzlies, George had seven points in 21 minutes. He missed eight of 11 field goals, including 4 of 5 3-pointers.The Nuggets captured a 114-104 win in the lone meeting this season on Jan. 12 at Denver. Jokic had 20 points and 15 rebounds, while Leonard scored 30 points. George was sidelined with a hamstring injury.--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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2/28/2020 |
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FOUND
14
GAMES |
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FINAL |
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|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
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|
+341
|
+8 (-105)
|
Over 135.5 (-101)
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-430
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-8 (-112)
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Under 135.5 (-120)
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VIEW ALL PICKS |
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|
COMING
UP
6:30 PM EST |
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|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+111
|
+2 (-110)
|
Over 141 (-110)
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-130
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-2 (-107)
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Under 141 (-110)
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COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
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|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
-413
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-8.5 (-113)
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Over 138 (-111)
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+328
|
+8.5 (-103)
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Under 138 (-109)
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|
COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
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|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
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|
|
-119
|
-1.5 (-107)
|
Over 127 (-112)
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|
+102
|
+1.5 (-109)
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Under 127 (-108)
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COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
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|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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|
+119
|
+2.5 (-111)
|
Over 129.5 (-110)
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-139
|
-2.5 (-105)
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Under 129.5 (-110)
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COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
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|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+185
|
+5 (-107)
|
Over 155 (-108)
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-221
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-5 (-109)
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Under 155 (-112)
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COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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|
-246
|
-5.5 (-112)
|
Over 128.5 (-111)
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|
+205
|
+5.5 (-104)
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Under 128.5 (-109)
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COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+141
|
+3.5 (-110)
|
Over 146.5 (-111)
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|
-165
|
-3.5 (-106)
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Under 146.5 (-109)
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COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
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|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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|
+476
|
+10.5 (-106)
|
Over 140 (-111)
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|
-639
|
-10.5 (-110)
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Under 140 (-109)
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GAME PREVIEW
Feb 27, 2020In what has shaped up as a historic season, the Dayton Flyers are on a mission and showing no sign of crumbling to the pressure of being ranked No. 4 in the nation.The Flyers (26-2, 15-0 Atlantic 10) have the nation's longest winning streak at 17 games. They have set a school record for victories and have clinched a share of the A-10 regular-season title.Despite the success, accolades and lofty ranking, coach Anthony Grant remains humble, knowing his team's journey is far from over."To be in the position we are in now is a blessing," Grant told the Dayton Daily News. "We appreciate having the chance to share the championship, but at the same time, we know we have more opportunities that are available to us. We want to make sure we take advantage of those opportunities." One of those opportunities comes Friday at home against Davidson.The Wildcats (15-12, 9-6) will bring plenty of firepower. Davidson was picked to finish second, one spot ahead of Dayton, in the A-10 preseason poll. The head coaches and media predicted VCU would win the title.Davidson leans on last season's A-10 Player of the Year Jon Axel Gudmundsson and 2017-18 Rookie of the Year Kellan Grady. Grady leads the team in scoring at 16.8 points per game while Gudmundsson isn't far behind at 14.0.The last time the two teams met on Feb. 19, 2019, the Wildcats trailed 63-44 with 9:38 to play. Davidson stormed back with a 27-8 streak capped by a Grady steal and two-handed jam to tie the score 71-71 with 1:11 remaining.Dayton squeaked by with a 74-73 win. Gudmundsson went off for 26 points, eight rebounds and five assists.Gudmundsson and Grady are itching for the rematch."Oh, hell yeah," Gudmundsson told the Charlotte Observer when asked if he was ready to go. "It's always fun to go play the top team in your division. We'll come out hungry. We have a lot to show." "They're talented and deep, but ultimately so are we," Grady said. "We've gone through some growing pains this year, but we're playing our best basketball right now. We get a chance to play in front of (13,000) people on ESPN against a top-five team in the country. That's what you play for. We're going in thinking we can win." The Flyers are a confident bunch as well, and rightfully so -- they've taken everyone's best shot and are still standing. Their only two losses have been in overtime. The Flyers beat 14 of their first 17 opponents by double digits. In their last 10 wins, only four have been by double digits.Four players, led by redshirt sophomore Obi Toppin's 19.7 points, average double figures. Jalen Crutcher (15.0) is shooting 41.6 percent from beyond the arc. Trey Landers (10.7) and Ibi Watson (10.1) are more than just complementary players. Both are capable of taking over and stepping up in the clutch.In Tuesday's win over George Mason, Watson came to the Flyers' rescue. His nine points included a jumper in the paint that sealed the win."I thought (Watson) came out with great confidence in the second half," Grant said. "He was able to see what was needed, and we needed a boost. The one he hit late was the biggest one of all. That was a big-time play." --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+368
|
+8.5 (-108)
|
Over 139.5 (-117)
|
|
|
-471
|
-8.5 (-108)
|
Under 139.5 (-104)
|
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|
COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
-104
|
+1 (-110)
|
Over 138.5 (-109)
|
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|
-112
|
-1 (-106)
|
Under 138.5 (-111)
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|
COMING
UP
9:00 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+128
|
+3 (-110)
|
Over 150 (-114)
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|
-150
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-3 (-107)
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Under 150 (-106)
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|
COMING
UP
9:00 PM EST |
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|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+103
|
+1.5 (-108)
|
Over 132 (-115)
|
|
|
-120
|
-1.5 (-108)
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Under 132 (-106)
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|
COMING
UP
9:00 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+369
|
+9 (-106)
|
Over 138.5 (-109)
|
|
|
-472
|
-9 (-110)
|
Under 138.5 (-111)
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MLB |
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|
2/28/2020 |
|
FOUND
12
GAMES |
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NHL |
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2/28/2020 |
|
FOUND
5
GAMES |
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COMING
UP
7:08 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
-104
|
-1.5 (+221)
|
Over 6 (-111)
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|
|
-106
|
+1.5 (-254)
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Under 6 (-102)
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GAME PREVIEW
The Carolina Hurricanes are in a hurry to get their new players up to speed.Amid a tight race for a playoff spot, the urgency will be evident as center Vincent Trocheck and defenseman Brady Skjei take spots in the lineup after arriving earlier this week in trades.Carolina's next game comes against the visiting Colorado Avalanche on Friday night in Raleigh, N. C.Trocheck and Skjei played in Tuesday night's 4-1 home loss to the Dallas Stars and had a couple of days to regroup before their second game with the Hurricanes."Things settled down after the first few shifts," said Skjei, who arrived in a trade from the New York Rangers. "I was trying not to think too much, just trying to play the game." First impressions were encouraging for Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. Trocheck came from the Florida Panthers."I thought they both were good," Brind'Amour said. "I thought it's tough for those first games, especially when you don't really know our systems that well. But I thought they looked really good." The newcomers are bound to become more comfortable as they adjust to a new system."I try to just play my game and I'll keep learning throughout this week," Skjei said. "Soaking in as much as I can and getting to know the guys. All the guys have been great so far and welcoming me in." The Hurricanes also used goalie Alex Nedeljkovic in his NHL season debut against Dallas. He was in his third NHL game, this time arriving on a promotion from the Charlotte Checkers after injuries to James Reimer and Petr Mrazek."You're not going to win every night," Nedeljkovic said. "You're not going to have your best every night ... The season is not over after one game." He gave up a goal in the first minute, but that jarring moment didn't stick with him."You've got to keep battling and you have to make that next save," Nedeljkovic said.The Avalanche are coming off Wednesday night's 3-2 home victory against the Buffalo Sabres. Colorado has won four consecutive games as it begins a three-game road trip.The Avalanche also are working in new players."It's a good opportunity and I'm hungry to get there (to the playoffs)," said center Vladislav Namestnikov, who joined the team in a trade from the Ottawa Senators.Goalie Michael Hutchinson came to the Avalanche in a deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs."It's exciting to be part of a team that's doing something really special right now," Hutchinson said.Colorado's roster also was adjusted for Wednesday's game when forward Andre Burakovsky was ruled out with what the team described as illness.Carolina is 0-2-1 in its last three home games.Hurricanes right winger Sebastian Aho has a 13-game points streak, the longest stretch for a player with the franchise since the Hartford Whalers days (Blaine Stoughton in January-February 1982).Aho scored in Tuesday night's game, giving him a team-best 36 goals this season.Teammate Andrei Svechnikov, a right winger, has an 11-game points streak. This is the first time a duo for the franchise has had streaks of 10 or more games during the same time frame since 1980.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
7:08 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+117
|
+1.5 (-219)
|
Over 5.5 (+102)
|
|
|
-129
|
-1.5 (+194)
|
Under 5.5 (-114)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GAME PREVIEW
It's been a relatively rough three-week stretch for the Columbus Blue Jackets, but they can end the month on a positive note by avenging their most recent defeat.With No. 1 goalie Joonas Korpisalo possibly ready to make his first start of 2020, the Blue Jackets aim to keep the surging Minnesota Wild from a fifth consecutive road victory on Friday night.Currently sitting in the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, Columbus is mired in a 1-4-5 stretch. That lone victory came 4-3 in overtime versus Ottawa on Monday, but the Blue Jackets were unable to build on it while losing 5-4 at Minnesota one night later. Columbus scored three third-period goals to nearly erase the Wild's 4-1 advantage, but left frustrated with the way things unfolded."It's a disappointing effort in a lot of guys (Tuesday) that normally are giving us the minutes," captain Nick Foligno, who has four goals with an assist in the last four games."I'm not trying to be negative -- I like the way we found ourselves -- but man, we're not in a position with the people we have in this room to be spotting teams leads and expect to win." While the Blue Jackets have been hit hard by injuries, including to star defenseman Seth Jones, they need to improve defensively after yielding 32 goals over the last eight games. It doesn't help that goalie Elvis Merzlikins (12-9-7, 2.44 goals-against average as a starter) exited Monday following a collision with Ottawa's Anthony Duclair.However, Korpisalo, the team's No. 1 netminder with 17 wins and a 2.49 goals-against average as a starter, could be set to make his first start since Dec. 29. Korpisalo missed 24 games with a torn meniscus before stopping 14 of 15 shots in relief on Monday. Rookie Matiss Kivlenieks saved 35 shots at Minnesota this week.The Wild, three points out of the final wild-card spot in the crowded West, kept the offense coming during a 7-1 road rout over lowly Detroit on Thursday. It was the fourth win in five games for Minnesota, which is amid an 8-3-1 stretch."This is fun when we're all going like this," Wild defenseman Matt Dumba, who had two goals with an assist Thursday, told KFAN-FM 100.3. "Winning is fun. Guys don't like to lose, especially with this race in the West. We've got to win every game we can."We know we've got to be sharp (Friday). (Columbus) is a team that is going to be hungry and looking for a little revenge." Alex Stalock made 25 saves against the Red Wings to post his third consecutive victory. He stopped 24 shots versus Columbus this week, but Devan Dubnyk could get the start for the Wild in this back-to-back scenario. Dubnyk has yielded at least three goals in three straight starts.Mikko Koivu has just four goals on the season for Minnesota, but two came against Columbus on Tuesday, and he recorded two assists Thursday. Ryan Donato, meanwhile, has two goals and two assists in the last two games, and Matt Fiala has recorded nine goals and eight assists over his last 12 contests.Columbus' Pierre-Luc Dubois, two shy of a third straight 20-goal season, has one goal and three assists in his last four contests versus Minnesota.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
7:08 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+149
|
+1.5 (-160)
|
Over 6 (-116)
|
|
|
-167
|
-1.5 (+144)
|
Under 6 (+103)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GAME PREVIEW
The Philadelphia Flyers will be looking for their fifth consecutive victory when they host the New York Rangers on Friday.The fourth straight came Tuesday, 4-2, on home ice over the San Jose Sharks.Kevin Hayes had two goals and one assist to lift the surging Flyers to 22-5-4 at home, the most home wins by Philadelphia at this stage of the season since 1986-87.The game was tied at 1 against the Sharks before the Flyers regained all the momentum from the second period on. Whenever they have needed a spark, head coach Alain Vigneault has provided it."We had a good conversation at the first intermission and came out better," said Travis Konecny, who recorded his 22nd goal and added a pair of assists. "The message was received." Lost a bit in the win was the solid play of Nate Thompson and Derek Grant, each acquired separately before the trade deadline."For the most part, I thought both players showed smarts to their game," Vigneault said. "And I thought they got better and more comfortable as the game went on." Grant won six of his 10 faceoffs and sure didn't look jet-lagged coming from the Anaheim Ducks on the West Coast."You're running on adrenaline and nervous excitement to start," Grant told Inquirer.com. "I started to settle in as the game went on. It's always nice to get the first one over with." Goaltender Carter Hart is 17-2-2 at home with a 1.65 goals-against average and .941 save percentage.The red-hot Rangers won their fifth in a row and their franchise-best ninth straight on the road, 5-2, against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.Mika Zibanejad scored his 30th goal of the season and helped the Rangers overcome a 2-0 deficit with five unanswered goals.The Rangers will now head to Philadelphia with an impressive 18-11-2 road mark."We're finding a way right now, and that's what we need going forward," Zibanejad said. "Right now we're just really consistent the way we play and the way we manage games." The Rangers have climbed their way back into playoff contention by going 12-3-0 since the All-Star break. In addition, the Rangers are 11-3-0 in February and have already set a record for most wins in a month.In their 5-2 win at Montreal, Ryan Strome scored two goals and had one assist. Phillip Di Giuseppe and Adam Fox each scored one goal, and Alexandar Georgiev stopped 32 shots.Earlier this season, the Rangers might not have come back to win after trailing by two goals late in the second period. But things have been clicking lately, especially on the road.New York knows it will take a complete effort to down the hot Flyers."If you're going to have success this time of year, you better have length up and down your lineup, and everybody's got to be pulling their weight," Rangers head coach David Quinn said.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
10:08 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
-194
|
-1.5 (+135)
|
Over 5.5 (-117)
|
|
|
+172
|
+1.5 (-150)
|
Under 5.5 (+104)
|
|
|
|
|
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GAME PREVIEW
The Pittsburgh Penguins hoped three forwards acquired at the NHL's trade deadline would make an immediate impact.The Anaheim Ducks, sellers on Monday, had no such expectations.The teams, who will meet Friday night in Southern California, got surprising results in their first games since the trades.The Penguins lost 2-1 on Thursday at the Los Angeles Kings, the last-place team in the Western Conference. Pittsburgh newcomers Patrick Marleau, Conor Sheary and Evan Rodrigues were kept off the score sheet.It was the fourth straight regulation defeat for the Penguins, matching the total they had in 22 previous games since Christmas."We know that points are important, and we want to be playing well this time of year," Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. "You don't want to drop four in a row, but it's the reality we face. I feel like we probably deserved a little better the last few games, but you don't get points for that, so we've got to find ways to win games." Marleau, 40, who arrived in a deal with San Jose, had one shot on 19 shifts in his debut for the Penguins."It's good to shut the brain off as soon as you get on the ice," Marleau said. "I was racing before that. But yeah, felt pretty good on the ice, and the guys are all easy to play with, so it makes it easy." Sheary, who spent his first three seasons with the Penguins and helped them win Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017, and Rodrigues were acquired in a deal with Buffalo. Sheary played on the top line with Crosby and Jason Zucker, who joined Pittsburgh a couple of weeks ago from Minnesota. Rodrigues centered the fourth line.Despite the loss, the trio earned praise from their new teammates."Those guys were great. I think you can see what makes them successful players in the league," said forward Bryan Rust, who scored the Penguins' lone goal. "Obviously a lot of us are familiar with Conor and even playing against (Marleau) in the playoffs, I think we know how good he's been for so long.Rodrigues came in, (and) you could see how hard he works and his wheels and just the team game." The Ducks, with five new players, defeated visiting Edmonton 4-3 in overtime Tuesday to snap a four-game losing streak. Sonny Milano tallied twice and became the 10th player in NHL history to score an overtime goal in their first game with a franchise.Milano, acquired from Columbus, drew a tripping penalty on the Oilers' Connor McDavid at 1:09 of OT and scored on the power play at 2:05."It was definitely a lot of fun," Milano told NHL.com. "Good opportunity to be out there in overtime and capitalizing." Danton Heinen, who came over in a deal with Boston, as well as left wing Andrew Agozzino and defensemen Christian Djoos and Matt Irwin also made their Ducks' debuts."All those guys coming in, I'm sure it was an exciting day for them, but you never know what you're going to get when you plug five guys into a lineup," Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. "Obviously, Sonny coming in and scoring early certainly bodes well for his confidence, that's for sure." --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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GAME PREVIEW
The Vegas Golden Knights can tie the record for the longest winning streak in team history as they go for their eighth consecutive victory on Friday night against the visiting Buffalo Sabres in Las Vegas.The Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights improved to 11-3-2 since Peter DeBoer replaced Gerard Gallant as head coach on Jan. 15 with a 3-0 shutout of the visiting Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night. The seventh straight win matched the second-longest streak in team history.The team-record eight-game winning streak took place in the Golden Knights' memorable inaugural season -- Dec. 14, 2017 to Jan. 2, 2018 -- when they reached the Stanley Cup Final.Marc-Andre Fleury finished with 29 saves for his fifth shutout of the season, moving into a tie with Columbus' Elvis Merzlikins for the league lead. It was the 61st career shutout for Fleury, who also moved into a tie for 17th place on the all-time shutouts list with Walter "Turk" Broda."Tonight, I got a little lucky with two goals that didn't go in," said Fleury, referring to a first-period Connor McDavid shot that went off the crossbar and a third-period shot from the right circle by Leon Draisaitl that clanged off the far-left post. "I think the way our team has been playing has been more consistent. We're not giving up as many scoring chances and I think that makes me look better." Fleury improved to 5-0-0 with a 1.60 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage in his last five starts."As a team we went through ups and downs for the first part of the season," Fleury said. "We hung in there to be in a playoff spot. I feel now we're playing more consistent night after night." Max Pacioretty scored his 30th goal of the season -- the sixth time he's reach the 30-goal mark -- and Nick Cousins, acquired from Montreal at Monday's trade deadline for a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, and Shea Theodore also scored for the Golden Knights.Cousins played despite not arriving from Montreal on a flight until 11 a.m. on Wednesday morning and missing the team's morning skate. He became the sixth Vegas newcomer to score a goal in their debut this season."That was fun," Cousins said. "It's been a crazy couple of days here with all the travel and stuff like that but there's no better way to be thrown into the fire than to play a game at home." Buffalo, 5-2 over its last seven games, began a four-game western road trip with a hard-fought 3-2 loss at Colorado on Wednesday.J. T. Compher scored the game-winner for the Avalanche with 8:06 to play. Buffalo nearly tied it in the final minute after pulling goalie Carter Hutton but Victor Olofsson hit the post with one shot and Colorado goalie Paval Francouz robbed him on another attempt."It was a really good hockey game," Buffalo coach Ralph Krueger said. "If this was the fifth game of the season you'd be quite happy right now. It's just that all that matters to us are results. It really hurts but there's a lot to take with us here for how we need to play on the road. Right now, all that's at the surface is the pain." Forward Dominik Kahun, acquired by Buffalo at the trade deadline from the Pittsburgh Penguins, told the Buffalo News he hopes to make his Sabres debut on Friday after taking part in the team's morning skate on Wednesday. Kahun missed his last two games with the Penguins with a lower-body injury.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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