Utah Jazz vs. Portland Trail Blazers
- Divisional bragging rights will be on the line on Friday when the Utah Jazz and the Portland Trail Blazers meet at Rose Garden.
Carlos Boozer led the Jazz with 24 points and 13 rebounds in their 103-98 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.
The Suns failed to cover as 7.5-point home favorites as the game played well under the 224.5-point total set by oddsmakers.
Travis Outlaw had 22 points and eight rebounds off the bench to lead the Trail Blazers to a 105-95 win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.
The Blazers easily covered as 4.5-point home underdogs as the game played under the 209-point total posted by oddsmakers.
Current streak:
Utah has lost 5 straight games.
Portland has won 5 straight games.
Team records:
Utah: 13-10 SU, 11-12 ATS
Portland: 10-12 SU, 12-10 ATS
Utah most recently:
When playing on Friday are 5-5
Before playing Seattle are 6-4
After playing Phoenix are 5-5
After a loss are 4-6
Portland most recently:
When playing on Friday are 1-9
Before playing Denver are 6-4
After playing Golden State are 4-6
After a win are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
Utah is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games when playing Portland
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Utah's last 6 games when playing on the road against Portland
Utah is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Portland
Utah is 6-16 SU in its last 22 games when playing on the road against Portland
Portland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Portland is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Utah
Portland is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games at home
Portland is 16-6 SU in its last 22 games when playing at home against Utah
Next up:
Utah home to Seattle, Saturday, December 15
Portland at Denver, Sunday, December 16
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors
- The fans at Oracle Arena will be treated to a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors when they take their seats on Friday.
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with a game-high 28 points Thursday, as the they cruised past the Spurs 102-97. The Lakers Los Angeles won the game as 6-point underdogs, while the combined 199 points fell UNDER the posted total of 199.
Kobe Bryant led the way with a game-high 30 points from 10-for-24 shooting for the Lakers. Lamar Odom chipped in with 14 points in the win.
Baron Davis led the Warriors with 23 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds in their 105-95 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.
The Blazers easily covered as 4.5-point home underdogs as the game played under the 209-point total posted by oddsmakers.
Current streak:
Los Angeles has won 4 straight games.
Team records:
Los Angeles: 13-8 SU, 12-8-1 ATS
Golden State: 12-10 SU, 11-11 ATS
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Friday are 6-4
Before playing LA Clippers are 6-4
After playing San Antonio are 5-5
After a win are 7-3
Golden State most recently:
When playing on Friday are 5-5
Before playing Detroit are 3-7
After playing Portland are 5-5
After a loss are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
LA Lakers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 11 of the LA Lakers last 12 games when playing on the road against Golden State
LA Lakers are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games when playing on the road against Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 10 of the LA Lakers last 12 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Golden State's last 12 games when playing at home against LA Lakers
Golden State is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Golden State's last 12 games when playing LA Lakers
Golden State is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games
Next up:
LA Lakers home to LA Clippers, Sunday, December 16
Golden State at Detroit, Sunday, December 16
Iowa's Lickliter: Freeman may be back from toe injury
Iowa City, IA -- Iowa head coach Todd Lickliter iterated Wednesday that while Tony Freeman is expected to return Friday night against Drake, it's remains unclear when, if ever, the junior guard will compete at full-strength this season.
Fighting continued soreness in a fractured toe on his left foot - a condition that kept him out of the team's first nine games and again last weekend - Freeman worked through a regular practice session Tuesday for the first time in six days after logging 24 minutes at Northern Iowa.
And although the severity of the soreness was the deciding factor in Freeman's choice to sit out against Iowa State, Lickliter and the third-year point man seem to be on the same page six weeks into rehabilitation.
"I really think it's tolerating the soreness and the foot adjusting to this kind of pressure again," the coach said. "Eventually, it will subside. But I think he's going to have to go through some of this no matter what it is.
"So maybe practice is actually better than rest - he's been off of it a long time."
Continuing to ice his foot on a daily basis, Freeman appears to be doing just that. From early pool workouts to the more high-stress action of the hardwood last week, he appears to be working hard and adapting to the injury process as he feels comfortable.
"I should be ready to go [Friday]," he said. "Last week, it was kind of early. I'm going to have to play through pain probably the first 10 months of this injury. I'm used to that, and as long as I'm able to go 90 percent of the time as far as playing with pain, I'll be fine."
At 6-5 overall, and with Freeman's limited minutes coming off the bench Friday, one thing that does bode well for Iowa (6-5) is the schedule. Following the home contest with Drake, the Hawkeyes enjoy a 13-day break away from competition leading into the Big Ten season, with final exams and a brief Christmas vacation in store for players.
"Anybody with any type of injury, to get two weeks off - and like four or five of those days are just going home and resting with your family - it's no pressure or anything that holds you back from getting better," Freeman said. "I'm looking forward to taking that time off and just getting back to 100 percent for the Big Ten.
"I never like to take time off - I'm a gym rat. But if it's going to do my body justice and give the team time to rest injuries, then it's probably worth it."
One injury to which Freeman is referring is that of freshman Jeff Peterson, who's sprained right thumb has been a nagging constant in recent weeks. Admittedly bothersome when the guard is shooting, the minor setback has also limited his once heavy workload.
While he and Freeman will both come off the bench Friday, Peterson is anxious to play alongside his backcourt mentor for the first time all season.
"It's our first game together, so it's exciting," Peterson said. "Besides Tony helping me off the court and on the court or whatever, now he's actually going to be side-by-side, so that's very exciting."
Anxious to return and understanding of the play-through-pain mentality, Freeman hopes to make an immediate impact for the Hawkeyes Friday.
"I've been playing through pain my whole life," he said. This is probably something new, but you know, whatever it takes to win, my teammates are counting on me and I'm counting on myself."
CSTV.COM
Friday's NBA Tip Sheet
By Brad Young
**Magic at Bobcats**
-Caesars Palace installed Orlando as a five-point road ‘chalk’ over Charlotte, with the total set at 204 ½. ESPN will provide coverage of this contest beginning at 7:05 p.m. ET.
-Orlando (16-7 straight up, 17-6 against the spread) is currently mired in a three-game SU and ATS losing skid after falling to Milwaukee Wednesday as a five-point road favorite, 100-86. The combined 186 points never seriously threatened the 203-point closing total, enabling the ‘under’ to cash the second consecutive contest.
-Center Dwight Howard stepped up with 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Rashard Lewis added 20 and four. The Magic were outrebounded, 48-38, and allowed the Bucks to shoot 50 percent (35-of-70) from the field.
-Orlando is 11-3 SU and 12-2 ATS on the road, winning those games by an average score of 104-98.
-Charlotte (8-12 SU, 7-13 ATS) toppled the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday as a 6 ½-point home ‘chalk,’ 108-103. That marked the fifth game in a row that the Bobcats failed to cover. The combined 211 points soared past the 187 ½-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash the third straight matchup.
-Charlotte outrebounded the Clippers, 44-39, while shooting 50 percent (40-of-80) from the field. Raymond Felton led all scorers with 26 points and six assists, while Emeka Okafor and Gerald Wallace each netted 25.
-The Bobcats are 7-5 SU and 6-6 ATS on their home court, winning those affairs by an average score of 96-95.
-The home team has won and covered the past six meetings in the Orlando-Charlotte series, with the Magic winning Nov. 23 as a 9 ½-point home favorite, 105-92. The combined 197 points in that contest slithered ‘over’ the 196 ½-point closing total.
-Orlando guard Carlos Arroyo (foot) is ‘questionable’ versus the Bobcats, while forward Pat Garrity (ankle) is ‘out.’
**Lakers at Warriors**
-There is no overnight line on this contest due to the ‘questionable’ status of key players on both teams. ESPN starts its coverage of this contest at 10:35 p.m. ET.
-Los Angeles (12-8 SU and ATS) is playing back-to-back nights after hosting San Antonio Thursday night. The Lakers won their last three games in a row SU and ATS heading into their matchup with the defending champions.
-Los Angeles toppled Golden State Sunday as a 2 ½-point home favorite, 123-113. The combined 236 points eclipsed the 225-point closing total. The Lakers are 9-0 SU and 6-3 ATS the previous nine meetings with the Warriors.
-Golden State (12-10 SU, 11-11 ATS) takes the court for the first time since falling to Portland Wednesday as a 4 ½-point road ‘chalk,’ 105-95. The combined 200 points failed to eclipse the 208 ½-point closing total, helping the ‘under’ cash the second consecutive contest.
-Baron Davis led the way with 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting and dished out 11 assists, while Matt Barnes added 15 and 12 rebounds. The Warriors shot 40 percent from the field (35-of-87) and 37 percent (13-of-35) from behind the arc.
-Golden State is 6-5 SU and ATS at home, with the ‘over’ going 8-3. The Warriors have been winning those matchups by an average score of 112-107.
-Los Angeles forward Luke Walton (ankle) is ‘questionable’ against the Warriors, while forward Lamar Odom (knee) is ‘probable.’ Center Kwame Brown (ankle) hopes to return to action sometime next week.
-Golden State guard Monta Ellis (thigh) is ‘questionable’ against the Lakers.
vegasinsider.com.
NBA Today - Friday, December 14
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SCOREBOARD Friday, Dec. 14
Milwaukee at Boston (7:30 p.m. EST). The Bucks, just 2-10 on the road, visit the Celtics, winners of seven straight and undefeated (11-0) at home.
STARS Thursday
-Kobe Bryant, Lakers, scored 30 points as Los Angeles beat short-handed San Antonio 102-97 for its fourth straight victory.
-DeShawn Stevenson, Wizards, scored a season-high 26 points to lead Washington to a 104-91 win at Miami.
DOUBLE DIGITS
All five Washington starters scored in double figures in the Wizards' 104-91 victory over Miami on Thursday night. DeShawn Stevenson topped the Wizards with a season-high 26 points, Caron Butler scored 19, Antawn Jamison had 16 points and 16 rebounds. Brendan Haywood finished with 12 points and Antonio Daniels had 11. Washington has had five players in double figures in each of the last four games, the first time since March 2004.
SHORT-HANDED
San Antonio, playing without stars Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, lost a second consecutive game for the first time this season, falling to the Los Angeles Lakers 102-97 on Thursday night. Duncan, who sat out his fourth straight game because of a sprained right ankle, had missed just two games in each of the last two seasons. Parker, who missed his first game with a sprained left ankle, has played in 492 games while sitting out just 22 in his six-plus seasons with the Spurs.
SUSPENDED
The NBA suspended Atlanta forward Al Horford on Thursday for one game for a flagrant foul against Toronto's T.J. Ford. Horford injured Ford when he struck him on the head and knocked him down as Ford was trying to score on a breakaway with 1:32 left in the Raptors' 100-88 win over the Hawks on Tuesday night. Horford, who was ejected for the flagrant foul, said he was trying to block Ford's shot.
CLIPPED
The Los Angeles Clippers waived forward Ruben Patterson on Thursday, hours after he helped them beat the Nets in New Jersey for the first time in nearly 10 years. Patterson, who signed with the Clippers as a free agent Aug. 29, made five starts in 20 games, averaging 5.1 points and 3.2 assists.
SPEAKING
''You've got to maintain your character, your poise. You're needed by your basketball club.'' - Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson on starting center Andrew Bynum, who picked up two technical fouls and was ejected with 4:32 left in the third quarter of the Lakers' 102-97 win over San Antonio on Thursday night.
Bulls F Thomas suspended; Pacers F Murphy fined
December 14th, 2007
New York, NY (Sports Network) - Chicago Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas has been suspended one game without pay and Indiana Pacers forward Troy Murphy has been fined $10,000, NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson announced Friday.
Thomas and Murphy were ejected from Indiana's 117-102 win over Chicago Wednesday, as a result of a brief altercation late in the second quarter. Thomas was suspended for striking Murphy in the face, while Murphy was fined for shoving Thomas in retaliation.
Thomas will serve his suspension tonight when the Bulls host the New York Knicks.