Thursday's Double-Header
VegasInsider.com
Regardless of a loss in Golden State on Tuesday (96-84), San Antonio has been solid as a rock. A big blow to the team came on Sunday when only after 11 minutes on the court, power forward Tim Duncan suffered a bruised knee and sprained ankle. A timetable for his return is unknown at this time and now the weight on Tony Parker, Michael Finley and Manu Ginobili has just increased.
On Thursday, the Spurs will take their 5-4 SU and 4-5 ATS road record into the Staples Center when they meet the L.A. Lakers at 10:30 p.m. EST. But before this Western Conference showdown takes place, the NBA will warm up the evening when the Wizards go south to Miami. The Heat may be showing signs of bouncing back into competition after finishing November off with a 4-11 SU record.
Match up: Washington (11-10 SU, 13-8 ATS) at Miami (6-15 SU, 12-9 ATS)
Tip-off: 8:00 p.m. EST
While it may be too premature to say the Heat are turning their season around after finishing up a tough West Coast trip (2-4 SU, 4-2 ATS), two straight wins against the L.A. Clippers and the high flying Phoenix Suns where a good indications of improved court skills.
What should be noted is that Miami hasn’t showed any intensity inside the American Airlines Arena, going a lonely 2-6 SU and 3-5 ATS. Ranked second worst in the league at scoring at home, the Heat are tossing up just 92 PPG. Other horrible home court stats include shooting 71.3% from the free throw line and going 33% from beyond the arc. Miami is also at the bottom of the league in total rebounding (39.7 RPG).
Getting Dwyane Wade back from injury, the Heat are only 5-9 SU, but have been better at cashing tickets with an 8-6 ATS record. Miami is 1-8 ATS in its last nine contests versus NBA Southeast teams.
Since losing Gilbert Arenas to a torn meniscus in his left knee (reports indicate that he’ll be out of the lineup for at least three months), the Wizards have gone 8-5 SU. Going 4-1 SU and ATS in its last five, Washington has executed tough defense by allowing opponents to tally up 96.4 PPG.
On the other side of the ball, the Wizards have been scoring in droves. With Caron Butler (22.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG) and Antawn Jamison (21.4 PPG, 10.4 RPG) blazing the trail, the entire team has come together to make the bucket its best friend. Going back to the successful last four victories, Washington has burnt the net for 103.8 PPG (a difference of plus-7.4 PPG).
While it’s still too early to make a case for a sure win, the Wizards are 3-1 SU on the road versus teams that are playing under .500 ball. With a 6-2 ATS record in its last eight road games, Washington has been a success story for bettors in this situation.
Match up: San Antonio (17-4 SU, 12-8-1 ATS) at L.A. Lakers (12-8 SU, 12-8 ATS)
Tip-off: 10:30 p.m. EST
Knocking down the opposition like bowling pins, the Spurs are on a current 8-2 SU and 7-2-1 ATS run in their last 10 games. As said earlier Tim Duncan is MIA with knee and ankle problems, but Manu Ginobili has stepped up to the main stage. Ginobili has scored 30-plus points in three of his last five outings on the hardwood pushing his season scoring average to 21.2 PPG.
One surprise coming out of San Antonio is the emergence of Matt Bonner in the absence of Duncan. In the last two games, Bonner has jumped from averaging 14.4 minutes a game to 36 MPG. This boost in playing time has given the 27-year-old forward a chance to drain 19 PPG and grab a total of 21 boards in his last two outings (25 points in a loss against Golden State on Tuesday).
In their first and only head-to-head meeting this season, the Spurs pulled away from the Lakers by the final of 107-92. San Antonio covered the spread which was minus-eight points and the ‘over’ cashed in by one point (set at 198). Tony Parker and Bruce Bowen combined for 49 points in this Nov. 13 contest, giving the Spurs plenty of firepower to overwhelm Los Angeles.
While the Lakers are averaging 102.7 PPG when coming off three or more days of rest, opponents are scoring just as much with 102.5 PPG. L.A.’s Kobe Bryant has been sensational in three games with this amount of rest, scoring 30.3 PPG in 39.7 minutes of work per contest. Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher and Vladimir Radmanovic have combined for an average of 39.7 PPG within the same time frame (making up 68% of the scoring of the team when factored in with Bryant’s numbers).
The Lake Show is 4-1 ATS in their last five versus Western Conference teams and is 6-2 ATS in their last eight following a SU win.
Following two straight defeats at the hands of Utah and Orlando (combined score of 224-193), L.A. has had three straight solid wins over Minnesota, Denver and Golden State. Since Nov. 18, Bryant has led the Lakers in highest scoring by an individual player, averaging 27.3 PPG.
San Antonio (17-4, 13-8 ATS) at L.A. Lakers (12-8 SU and ATS)
The Lakers return to the court for the first time since Sunday, and they’ll try to become the first team this season to hand the Spurs consecutive losses when they meet at the Staples Center.
Los Angeles enjoyed three days off following Sunday’s 123-113 rout of the Warriors as a 2½-point home favorite. The Lakers have won three in a row SU and ATS, and they’re 5-2 in their last seven (4-3 ATS).
San Antonio saw its five-game SU and ATS winning streak halted in Tuesday’s 96-84 loss at Golden State as a 1½-point road underdog. All-Star forward Tim Duncan was a late scratch, missing his third straight game with an ankle injury.
The straight-up winner is 11-0 ATS in San Antonio’s last 11 games, with the Spurs going 9-2 SU and ATS during this stretch. The winner has also covered in 18 of the Lakers’ 20 games this season, including the last six in a row.
These longtime rivals met on Nov. 13 in Texas, and the Spurs rolled to a 107-92 home win as an eight-point favorite. Still, the teams have split their last six battles, with the Lakers going 4-2 ATS. Also, the road team is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 series clashes.
San Antonio is just 5-4 on the road (4-5 ATS), while the Lakers are 7-4 SU and ATS in L.A.
The under is 6-3 in the last nine head-to-head meetings, though last month’s contest in San Antonio hurdled the posted price. Also, the over is 11-4 in the last 15 series meetings at the Staples Center.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Miami, Fla. (8-0, 5-0 ATS) at Mississippi State (5-3, 3-4 ATS)
The undefeated Hurricanes take their unblemished SU and ATS records to Starkville, Miss., where they will be looking to avenge last year’s home loss to Mississippi State.
Miami has recorded three straight double-digit victories, most recently topping Florida International 67-53 on Saturday, barely covering as a 13-point home chalk. Although the Hurricanes have won their eight games by an average of 10 points per contest (66-56), they are shooting just 41.6 percent from the field and have yet to face a quality Division I foe.
Mississippi State has followed up consecutive losses with a pair of blowout home wins over Murray State (78-61 as a 15½-point favorite) and Southeastern Louisiana (84-59 in a non-line game). The Bulldogs are averaging 73 points per game on 46.4 percent shooting.
These teams met last year in South Beach, and the Bulldogs cruised to a 70-52 win as a two-point road underdog.
Mississippi State is 4-1 at home (2-2 ATS). Going back to 2005, the Bulldogs are on a 20-8 ATS roll in their building, and they’re 4-1 against the number in their last five when facing ACC competition.
The Hurricanes are a perfect 4-0 SU and ATS in road and neutral-site games this season. They’re also 7-2 ATS in their last nine against SEC opponents.
The over is 10-2-1 in Mississippi State’s last 13 home games and 9-4-1 in its last 14 overall. On the flip side, all five of Miami’s lined games this year have stayed under the number, and the under is 4-1 in its last five on the highway.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
gametimepicks.com
Marbury out again for Knicks, could miss two more games
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK -- Stephon Marbury missed his second straight game Wednesday night when the Knicks hosted Seattle, and the point guard may not play again this week.
Marbury is still struggling following the Dec. 2 death of his father, Donald. Marbury played in the first two games following the funeral, but left the team last Sunday and hasn't returned.
The Knicks visit Chicago on Friday and return home to face New Jersey on Saturday, but coach Isiah Thomas said he talked to Marbury earlier Wednesday and doesn't expect him for either game.
''He sounds better, but I think he's still going to be out a couple of more games,'' Thomas said. ''Just from a physical standpoint, conditioning-wise and everything else, I don't know if he'll be ready to play Friday or Saturday.''
Arkansas State's leading scorer charged with firing gun
ASSOCIATED PRESS
JONESBORO, Ark. -- Arkansas State's leading scorer, Adrian Banks, is suspended through the end of the calendar year after being charged with firing a handgun within Jonesboro's city limits, coach Dickey Nutt said.
Banks, who averaged 21.7 points through the season's first six games to rank 16th in the nation in scoring, has been suspended since Dec. 2. Police say he fired the handgun after leaving a nightclub early that morning. Banks said he did it to empty the gun of bullets and keep anyone else from firing it. Banks said he fired the gun into the air, which police confirmed.
Banks said he picked up the gun during a dispute after leaving the club.
Banks has missed an 88-68 loss at Northwestern and a 101-49 home victory over Central Baptist. He will also miss a game Sunday against Ball State and the Dec. 20 Sun Belt Conference opener against Florida Atlantic, both at Jonesboro. He'll miss another league game at New Orleans on Dec. 22 and a home game Dec. 30 with MacMurray College.
Banks is to be back with the Indians for a Jan. 3 stop at Sun Belt rival Louisiana-Lafayette.
Nutt said the term of the suspension was made by the school's judiciary board at his recommendation. The panel told the athletic department Tuesday of its decision. "Anytime that something like this happens, it affects your basketball team," Nutt said. "I'm just relieved that the decision is made and we're moving forward."
Nutt said he has faith that Banks will avoid trouble in the future. "I feel that we're happy to get Adrian back on Jan. 1," Nutt added. "I'm a believer in second chances and I think Adrian is getting a tremendous second chance. I have always been very proud of what Adrian has stood for and I have every reason to believe that he will finish strong, and that is exactly what I'm expecting."
Last season Banks set the school single-season scoring record with 695 points, averaging 21.1 points per game. He finished No. 6 in the nation and first in the Sun Belt Conference in three-point shooting, at 47.5 percent.
Banks was arrested when his car was stopped at 2:35 a.m. on Dec. 2. Police said he fired the shots from a moving car. Banks' vehicle had four other athletes inside, though they were not named by police.
"I want to be perfectly clear that we don't condone bad decisions and we know from time to time that bad decisions are made that have to be dealt with," Nutt said. "Sometimes there are tough consequences for those decisions, but we're good and I'm fine with it. We just want to move on now and put this behind us."
The Indians are 2-4-0 ATS this season and play Ball State on Saturday.
NBA Today - Thursday, Dec. 13
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SCOREBOARD Thursday, Dec. 13
Washington at Miami (8 p.m. EST). The Heat (6-15) are trying to win three straight for the first time this season.
STARS Wednesday
-Kevin Durant, SuperSonics, scored 30 points to lead Seattle to a 117-110 victory over New York.
-Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets, had 32 points, including a three-point play with 38.4 seconds left, to lift Denver to a 105-99 win over New Orleans.
-Steve Nash, Suns, had 29 points and 11 assists in Phoenix's 103-98 win against Utah.
-Samuel Dalembert, 76ers, had 18 points, 11 rebounds and tied a career high with nine blocked shots in Philadelphia's 98-94 win against Minnesota.
-Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, Rockets. McGrady scored 29 points and Yao added 21 points and 13 rebounds in Houston's 80-77 win over Detroit.
CELTIC PRIDE
Rookie Glen Davis scored 16 points to help Boston to a 90-78 win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night, keeping the Celtics unbeaten at home. Boston improved to an NBA-best 18-2 overall.
SNAPPED
Kris Humphries had 16 points and 12 rebounds and Toronto beat Dallas 92-76 Wednesday night for the Raptors' first win over the Mavericks in more than four years. Toronto won its third straight and ended an eight-game slump against Dallas. The Raptors' last win over the Mavericks was a 77-71 victory on Nov. 6, 2003. ... The Seattle SuperSonics beat the slumping New York Knicks 117-110, snapping a five-game road skid.
STREAKS
The Portland Trail Blazers beat the Golden State Warriors 105-95 Wednesday night for their fifth straight victory. ... The Phoenix Suns defeated Utah 103-98 to hand the Jazz their fifth straight loss.
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Chris Paul had 30 points and 12 assists in New Orleans' 105-99 loss to Denver on Wednesday night.
SIGNED
Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson signed a two-year contract extension Wednesday believed to be worth about $24 million, keeping him on the bench through the 2009-10 season. The Hall of Fame coach had previously announced the extension Nov. 30.
MAKING MOVES
Penny Hardaway's comeback attempt with the Miami Heat ended when the forward was waived on Wednesday. The move cleared the roster spot the Heat needed to sign another former first-round draft pick - guard Luke Jackson. ... The New Jersey Nets waived guard Eddie Gill. The sixth-year pro from Weber State signed with the Nets in November and appeared in 13 games, averaging 2.9 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists.
SPEAKING
''Baby was good after hyperventilating through the first half. He was terrific.'' - Coach Doc Rivers said after rookie Glen Davis had his best game as a pro to spark the Celtics to a 90-78 win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.
Thursday's NBA betting matchup notes
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Washington at Miami
Dwyane Wade's outstanding play against the Wizards (11-10) has helped the Heat to a 15-1 record in the last 16 matchups, including eight consecutive victories at home.
San Antonio at L.A. Lakers
San Antonio has won eight of its last 10 road games against the Lakers.
Josh Chichester Joins U of L Basketball Team
6-8 U of L wide receiver was a two-sport star in high school
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Josh Chichester, a 6-8, 225-pound wide receiver on the University of Louisville football team, has joined the Cardinals men's basketball team and is available to participate immediately. He began practicing with the team on Wednesday, adding to a severely depleted U of L front line.
"We're real happy to have Josh on our team," said U of L Coach Rick Pitino. "It's been a difficult few weeks in practice. Josh has very good athleticism and will help us in practice. It will take him a few weeks to learn the system and then will possibly be able to help us in games. (Assistant coach) Walter McCarty has been able to become a coach again and Josh's arrival will relieve him of most of his playing duties in practice."
Chichester redshirted his freshman year with the Cardinal football team this fall after enrolling at U of L in the spring of 2006. He is expected to compete for a starting wide receiver position next season with the Cardinals.
Chichester was a two-sport star for Lakota West High School in West Chester, Ohio. As a senior in basketball in 2005-06, he averaged 13.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots in helping his team to 19-4 record and district runner-up finish. The three-year starter was a first-team all-conference and all-city selection and finished as the school's career rebounding leader. He averaged 11 points and 7.9 rebounds as a junior.
On the football field, Chichester caught 36 passes for 723 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior for the 7-3 Firebirds. The three-year starter at wide receiver for Lakota West was ranked No. 14 in the nation among wide receivers by Scout.com and No. 36 by Rivals.com in his recruiting class, and was ranked 17th among all football recruits in the state of Ohio.
With the indefinite suspension of 6-9 sophomore forward Derrick Caracter on Monday, the Cardinals have five front line players on the sideline. Senior foward Juan Palacios tore cartilage in his right knee on the second day of practice and will hopefully return to action in the next two weeks. Senior center David Padgett suffered a broken kneecap on Nov. 18 and is out at least 10 weeks. Freshman forward George Goode did not meet freshmen eligibility requirements. Freshman center Clarence Holloway had season-ending open heart surgery on Sept. 22 and is awaiting word on his eligibility.
Only seven scholarship players are currently available for action on Louisville's depleted roster.
cstv.com
Heat try to continue roll against Wizards
The Miami Heat will attempt to make it three wins in a row as they head to Washington, while the Lakers host San Antonio in a Western Conference showdown in Thursday night NBA action.
Washington at Miami
After a brutal start, the Heat take a modest two-game winning streak to the Verizon Center against the Wizards, who have lost four of their last five meetings with Miami. The play of Dwayne Wade has been instrumental to the Heat’s cause, as he has scored over 30 points in three straight games. Shaquille O’Neal, after complaining about his lack of touches, looked inspired in the Heat’s surprising 117-113 win at Phoenix putting up 18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and he also hit all four of his free-throw attempts.
The Wizards have fought their way up to just over .500 at 11-10, and they are showing a lot of resilience in the absence of Gilbert Arenas, who may be out for the next three to four months. Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison are doing a great job taking up the slack for the injured Arenas.
Miami is listed as a 6-point favorite at BetJamaica for Thursday night’s game.
San Antonio at Los Angeles Lakers
Two teams with a lot of momentum will go toe-to-toe at the Staples Center when the Lakers host the Spurs, who have taken four of their last five trips to Los Angeles. The Spurs are on a five-game winning streak, which is all the more impressive when you factor in the absence of Tim Duncan, along with niggling injuries to Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, who shrugged off his ailments with back-to-back 37-point games last week. The Spurs should have Duncan back for this crucial Western battle.
The Lakers have won three consecutive games of their own, and if Duncan does return, he will do battle with a much-improved Andrew Bynum in the post. The second-year center, who endured a lot of criticism last season, is picking up his game quite nicely and averaging almost a double-double per game. A legitimate inside option would be fantastic news for Kobe Bryant, who has been better at involving all of his teammates this season. But rest assured, Bryant can still take over a game and drop 50 points in a heartbeat.
