Warriors guard Troy Hudson's hip injury could end his career
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MINNEAPOLIS -- Golden State Warriors guard Troy Hudson has visits scheduled with two medical specialists regarding a hip injury that could end his career.
In Minnesota for Wednesday's game against the Timberwolves, Warriors coach Don Nelson was bluntly pessimistic about the prognosis for the 31-year-old Hudson.
''I think Troy is probably done,'' Nelson said. ''I don't think he'll play again.''
Hudson, who played five seasons with Minnesota before signing with Golden State in August, said he was anxious about the doctor appointments and bracing for the possibility of not being able to play again.
''It's going through my mind, because hips are serious things,'' Hudson said. ''You do a lot of side-to-side movement in this game.''
Hudson was more optimistic than his coach, though.
''Hopefully it's something where a few weeks of rest will be all I need,'' he said.
Hudson has appeared in only nine of Golden State's 25 games this season. He last appeared on Dec. 12 while scoring a season-high 10 points against Portland. The injury is a new one that began bothering him during training camp.
''It's tough, because you finally get in a situation that you want to be in, and you can't play,'' said Hudson, who had the remaining two years on his contract bought out by the Wolves for more than $12 million.
Three of his five seasons in Minnesota were marred by ankle injuries. The 3-point specialist has a career average of nine points per game. Hudson was at his best in 2002-03, when he averaged 14.2 points and 5.7 assists per game.
Wolves center Ratliff to miss 6 more weeks after knee surgery
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Timberwolves center Theo Ratliff had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, and his recovery is expected to keep him out for another six weeks.
Ratliff missed his 17th straight game on Wednesday night, when the Timberwolves hosted the Golden State Warriors. The 12-year veteran's operation was done on Tuesday night in Alabama by Dr. James Andrews, who found a small tear in the meniscus cartilage. Coach Randy Wittman said he was concerned Ratliff could be out longer.
''So good news,'' Wittman said.
Guard Randy Foye (knee) has not yet played this season for Minnesota, which was also missing guard Marko Jaric (flu), guard Greg Buckner (calf), and forward Antoine Walker (ankle) on Wednesday night.
Miami's Alonzo Mourning leaves game with knee injury
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ATLANTA -- Miami Heat center Alonzo Mourning tore the patellar tendon in his right knee Wednesday night against the Hawks.
Miami spokesman Michael Lissack said an examination at Philips Arena, including X-rays, revealed the injury. Lissack said it was not immediately known if the injury could end Mourning's season. Injuries like this typically take around three months to heal.
Mourning, 37, is in his 15th year in the league, including 11 seasons with Miami.
Mourning was hurt when attempting to defend the basket on a layup by Atlanta's Mario West.
Replays showed Mourning's knee buckled without contact from West as Mourning was about to jump.
With Mourning laying on his back clutching his knee, a stretcher was brought to his side. Mourning was placed on the stretcher and then sat up, rose to his feet and limped to the Miami bench with the assistance of teammates.
L.A. Lakers (15-9 SU and ATS) at Cleveland (11-15, 10-16 ATS)
The two best players in basketball square off for the first of two regular-season meetings, as Kobe Bryant leads his Lakers into the Quicken Loans Arena for a battle with LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
Los Angeles kicked off its four-game Eastern Conference road trip with Tuesday’s 103-91 rout of the Bulls as a two-point road underdog. All five Lakers starters scored in double figures in the victory, led by Bryant’s 18 points, as L.A. improved to 6-1 SU and ATS in its last seven games.
Cleveland returns home after getting crushed by the lowly Knicks last night, falling 108-90 as a 3½-point road chalk. James tallied a game-high 32 points to go with eight rebounds and six assists for the Cavaliers, who just 2-9 in their last 11 contests (3-8 ATS).
LeBron is 4-1 SU and ATS in his last five battles with Bryant and the Lakers, including three consecutive wins (2-1 ATS). Last year, Cleveland swept the season series with a 99-90 home win as a 3½-point favorite and a 114-108 upset victory in L.A. as a 7½-point underdog. The ‘dog has cashed in three of the last four encounters.
The underdog is 6-1 ATS in Cleveland’s last seven games and 4-2 ATS in L.A.’s last six.
The Cavs are 6-5 on their home floor, but just 3-8 ATS. On the bright side, they’re on a 7-2 ATS roll against teams from the Pacific Division.
The Lakers are 3-1 SU and ATS in their last four on the highway, but 2-7 ATS in their last nine Thursday-night affairs, including a non-cover in a home win over San Antonio last Thursday.
The over is 6-1 in Cleveland’s last seven overall and 7-4 in the 11 games played at Quicken Loans Arena this year. However, the Lakers’ game against Chicago stayed under the total, pushing the under to 36-17-1 in L.A.’s last 54 games against Central Division foes.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
(6) Duke (10-0, 6-3 ATS) vs. (11) Pitt (10-0, 4-2 ATS), at New York City
Arguably the best game of the young college hoops season tips off at Madison Square Garden in New York, where Duke takes on Pitt in a battle of unbeatens.
The Blue Devils are coming off back-to-back blowout home wins over Michigan on Dec. 8 (95-67 as a 24-point favorite) and Albany on Monday (111-70 as a 28½-point chalk). Duke, which ranks fourth nationally with a whopping 89.1 points per outing, has tallied at least 77 points in every game this season.
Pitt crushed Oklahoma State 85-68 on Saturday, getting the cash as a 13½-point home favorite. The Panthers are averaging a shade under 80 points per contest, tallying at least 73 in all but one game, when they finished with 69.
Both teams shoot lights out from the field, with the Blue Devils making 51 percent of their shots and Pitt converting at a 49-percent clip. Both are also strong defensively, with the Panthers yielding 58.2 points on 38 percent shooting, compared with Duke’s averages of 62.8 ppg and 41 percent shooting.
Duke has played four neutral-site games this year, going 4-0 SU but only 1-3 ATS. Meanwhile, Pitt has been away from home just twice, both true road games, and it edged Duquesne 73-68 as a 4½-point favorite and held off Washington 75-74, failing as a 2½-point chalk.
The Blue Devils are on a 4-1 ATS uptick, but they’re just 1-5 ATS in their last five against Big East foes.
The Panthers have cashed in four of their last five lined games, all as a favorite. However, last season, Jamie Dixon’s squad went just 1-6 SU and ATS as an underdog.
The over is on runs of 9-4 for Duke overall and 7-3 for Pitt in neutral-site affairs.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
gametimepicks.com
Kobe versus LeBron highlights Thursday tripleheader
While there are only three games on the NBA schedule on Thursday night, there is no shortage of superstars, highlighted by a duel between the league’s scoring leaders in Cleveland.
Los Angeles Lakers at Cleveland (-1)
Kobe vs. LeBron will be the focus of the Lakers’ visit to Quicken Loans Arena to meet the Cavaliers, as these two stars top the scoring charts in the NBA. The Cavaliers have won four of their past five meetings with the Lakers, but prior to Tuesday they had lost eight of their previous ten outings.
Bryant had the upper hand over James when the teams met twice last season, outscoring him 35 points to 28, but the Cavaliers won both times. The stars will take the attention, but the battle in the post between Los Angeles’ Andrew Bynum and Cleveland’s Zydrunas Ilgauskas could be the biggest factor in this one.
New Jersey at Miami (-4)
Two slumping teams do battle at American Airlines Arena when the Heat host the Nets, who have fallen in four of their last five meetings with Miami. The point guard position should contain the best battle of the night, as Miami’s Dwayne Wade will take on New Jersey’s Jason Kidd, who has been the speculation of many trade rumors lately.
The Heat defeated the Nets 91-87 in New Jersey on November 17th, behind 23 points from Wade, who added nine assists and six rebounds. Sean Williams led the Nets with 22 points and eight boards.
Houston at Denver (-5.5)
After a bright start, the Rockets have fallen to .500 ahead of a Western Conference showdown with the Nuggets at Pepsi Center, and Houston has won four of their last five meetings with Denver. The most recent win came in a 109-81 blowout in Houston on November 24th, which was powered by 35 points from Tracy McGrady and a double-double from Yao Ming.
Allen Iverson responded with 18 points for the Nuggets, who have a stellar 10-4 record at home and have rolled to the top of the Northwest Division. Carmelo Anthony, who was held to 17 points in the November loss to Houston, needs to have a much better performance for the Nuggets to emerge victorious.
NBA Today - Thursday, December 20
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SCOREBOARD
Thursday, Dec. 20
New Jersey at Miami (7:30 p.m. EST).
The Heat (7-18) own the worst record in the Eastern Conference.
STARS
Wednesday
-Rudy Gay, Grizzlies, hit a 3-pointer as time expired to give Memphis an 88-85 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
-Chauncey Billups, Pistons hit two free throws with one-tenth of a second left to give Detroit an 87-85 win over the Celtics.
-Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks, scored 31 points - including the Mavericks' final eight - giving Dallas a 108-105 win over the Suns.
-Chris Paul, Hornets, scored 21 points and had 15 assists in a 107-93 win over the Sonics.
DOWN TO EARTH
Chauncey Billups hit two free throws with one-tenth of a second left and the Detroit Pistons handed the Celtics their first home loss of the season, 87-85 on Wednesday night. The Celtics (20-3) had matched their best start ever, also achieved by the 1963-64 team that eventually won the NBA title. Boston had won its first 12 home games, its most since a club-record 17 by the 1957-58 squad.
BEAT THE CLOCK
Rudy Gay hit a 3-pointer over Tim Duncan as time expired to give the Memphis Grizzlies an 88-85 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. Juan Carlos Navarro threw an inbounds pass to Gay, who dribbled toward the top of the key and got off a shot as the horn sounded, sending San Antonio to its third straight road loss. It's the first time the Spurs have dropped three in a row away from home since April 2005.
WESTERN CLASH
Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points, including the Mavericks' final eight, giving Dallas just enough to hold off the Suns 108-105 Wednesday night in yet another intense, entertaining game between the Western Conference rivals. The Mavs have won four straight and six of seven, enough to tighten the top of the Western Conference standings. Dallas is 18-9, narrowly behind Phoenix (18-8) and San Antonio (18-7).
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Steve Nash had 18 assists in the Suns' 108-105 loss to the Mavericks on Wednesday night. ... LeBron James had 32 points, eight rebounds and six assists for Cleveland in a 108-90 loss to the New York Knicks.
SPEAKING
''It was wild and woolly out there. Bodies were flying everywhere. I've got to give them credit, they got this one. They were the aggressors from the start, we came back, but we couldn't get over the hump.'' - Suns coach Mike D'Antoni on a 108-105 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.
Thursday's NBA matchup notes
ASSOCIATED PRESS
New Jersey at Miami
Dwyane Wade had 23 points and nine assists in Miami's 91-87 win over the Nets on Nov. 17, the fourth victory for the Heat in the last five games of this series.
L.A. Lakers at Cleveland
Kobe Bryant has averaged 24.7 points in seven games against the Cavaliers when James is in the lineup, and the Cleveland guard has scored 26.8 points per game in eight lifetime against the Lakers.
Houston at Denver
The Nuggets have lost five of their last six games against the Rockets, including the teams' first meeting this season.
Thursday's NCAAB Top 25 matchup notes
ASSOCIATED PRESS
No. 15 Clemson at Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Clemson routed Mayaguez - a Division II independent - 101-60 on Dec. 19, 2005, shooting 61.7 percent from the field and outrebounding the Bulldogs 42-27.
No. 7 Duke vs No. 9 Pittsburgh
These teams haven't met since Duke's 78-69 win at Pittsburgh on Jan. 26, 1980. That victory gave the Blue Devils a 6-5 edge in the all-time series.
North Florida at No. 22 Miami-Florida
This is the first meeting between these teams.
No. 20 Gonzaga at Oklahoma
This is the first meeting between the Sooners and Bulldogs. Gonzaga is the third ranked opponent the Sooners have faced this season.
Citadel at No. 6 Washington State
This will be the first meeting between the teams.
New Jersey Nets vs. Miami Heat
- The New Jersey Nets and the Miami Heat will both be trying to pick up a win on Thursday when they battle at AmericanAirlines Arena.
The Nets were defeated 106-101 by the Kings on Tuesday, as 5.5-point favorites at home. The combined score sailed OVER the posted over/under (187).
Richard Jefferson had a game-high 36 points with nine rebounds in a losing effort.
The Heat forced overtime, but fell 117-11 to the Hawks last time out. The Heat were 2-point underdogs in the contest, while the combined score sailed OVER the posted total of 187.5.
Dwyane Wade scored a game-high 36 points with six boards and 10 assists in the loss.
Current streak:
New Jersey has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
New Jersey: 10-15 SU, 8-16-1 ATS
Miami: 7-18 SU, 12-13 ATS
New Jersey most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 5-5
Before playing Golden State are 3-7
After playing Sacramento are 3-7
After a loss are 4-6
Miami most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 5-5
Before playing Utah are 6-4
After playing Atlanta are 5-5
After a loss are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of New Jersey's last 11 games on the road
New Jersey is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Miami
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New Jersey's last 7 games when playing on the road against Miami
The total has gone OVER in 6 of New Jersey's last 9 games when playing Miami
Miami is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing New Jersey
Miami is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing New Jersey
Miami is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games when playing at home against New Jersey
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Miami's last 7 games when playing at home against New Jersey
Next up:
New Jersey home to Golden State, Saturday, December 22
Miami home to Utah, Saturday, December 22
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
- The Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers will both be trying to pick up a win on Thursday when they battle at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Lakers outplayed the Bulls in the final quarter, and came away with a 103-91 win last time out. The Lakers won the game as 2-point road underdogs, and the 194 points were UNDER the posted total of 202.
Lamar Odom led the Lakers with 17 points and 16 rebounds for a double-double, and Sasha Vujacic had a team-high 19 points in the win.
LeBron James scored 32 points on Wednesday night, but the Cavaliers still fell 108-90 on the road to the New York Knicks.
The Knicks had been listed as 4-point home underdogs in that contest, while the combined score went OVER the night's posted total (193).
Current streak:
Los Angeles has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Los Angeles: 15-9 SU, 15-8-1 ATS
Cleveland: 11-15 SU, 10-16 ATS
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 4-6
Before playing Philadelphia are 3-7
After playing Chicago are 8-2
After a win are 7-3
Cleveland most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 4-6
Before playing Golden State are 3-7
After playing New York are 5-5
After a loss are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
LA Lakers are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 6 games when playing on the road against Cleveland
LA Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games on the road
LA Lakers are 11-5 SU in their last 16 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Cleveland's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cleveland's last 6 games when playing at home against LA Lakers
Cleveland is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games when playing LA Lakers
Cleveland is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing LA Lakers
Next up:
LA Lakers at Philadelphia, Friday, December 21
Cleveland home to Golden State, Sunday, December 23
Houston Rockets vs. Denver Nuggets
- The Houston Rockets and the Denver Nuggets will both be trying to pick up a win on Thursday when they battle at Pepsi Center.
Yao Ming picked up 19 points and 17 rebounds in Houston's 97-92 loss to the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night.
The Rockets had been favored by 3.5 points at home in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (194).
The Nuggets lost to Portland 116-105 as a 9-point favorite last time out. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (205.5).
Allen Iverson led the Nuggets with a game-high 38 points and Carmelo Antony poured in 19 points.
Current streak:
Houston has lost 2 straight games.
Denver has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Houston: 12-13 SU, 9-15-1 ATS
Denver: 14-10 SU, 10-14 ATS
Houston most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 5-5
Before playing Chicago are 3-7
After playing Orlando are 3-7
After a loss are 3-7
Denver most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 7-3
Before playing Portland are 4-6
After playing Portland are 5-5
After a loss are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
Houston is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Denver
Houston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Denver
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games
Houston is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Denver
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Denver's last 5 games at home
Denver is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Denver's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Denver's last 7 games when playing Houston
Next up:
Houston at Chicago, Saturday, December 22
Denver at Portland, Friday, December 21
Double-Header Preview
By Josh Jacobs
Once again, Thursday ushers in a mild, three game tilt in the NBA. TNT will once again be front and center when it delivers its usual nationally televised double-header. The first game to hit your tube will witness the Lakers (15-9 straight up, 15-9 against the spread) continuing its long East coast expedition against the Cavaliers (11-14 SU, 10-15 ATS) at 8:00 p.m. EST.
With a 6-1 SU and ATS accomplishment in its last seven, the L.A. Lakers will look to break the .500 mark versus teams in the Eastern Conference on Thursday. Game breaker Kobe Bryant (groin) may be averaging 26.8 PPG, but names like Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom have made major strides in contributing to team wins. Bynum alone has thrown down the rock for 13.8 PPG with 11.4 RPG and 3.2 BPG in his last five outings.
Playing respectable ball in November, the Cavaliers have taken a turn for the worst. Its sporadic offense (averaging 91.6 PPG in its last eight) and patchy defense has netted Cleveland a 2-6 SU and 3-5 ATS record in December. LeBron James continues to play above the rim (29.5 PPG), but the supporting cast around him has been weak to say the least.
In almost every statistical category, the Cavs have been out pointed by their opponents. In December, Cleveland has lost the battle to the opposing team in PPG (91.6 PPG vs. 101 PPG), total rebounds (40.5 RPG vs. 42.1 RPG) and in the turnover department (15.8 TPG vs. 13.4 TPG).
The last time these two clubs went head-to-head was in February when the Cavaliers walked off the court with a 114-108 victory as a 7½-point visiting underdog. In their last ten meeting, both squads have spilt a 5-5 SU and ATS record.
Coming off one-day worth of rest, Cleveland has been outscored 97.1 PPG to 101 PPG. Again, James has been amazing, averaging 32.4 PPG, but the ‘D’ continues to struggle in almost every statistical category.
The ‘under’ has hit 36 times in the Lakers last 54 games versus NBA Central teams.
The Wrap up Game
Ending TNT’s Thursday night NBA action will be an anticipated Western Conference meeting between Houston (12-12 SU, 9-14-1 ATS) and Denver (14-10 SU, 10-14 ATS). Tip-off is scheduled to take place at 10:15 p.m. EST.
Before we enter the realm of crunching numbers from the hardwood, both the Rockets and Nuggets have been off tilt against the spread. Backers for both teams have taken a hit. Houston and Denver have combined for a 7-1-12 ATS slide in its last 10 contests.
Losing traction in the fight to climb uphill in the Southwest division, the Rockets are six games behind first place San Antonio. Even though Houston’s Tracy McGrady (24.2 PPG, .443 FG %) is a proven offensive force during the regular season, injuries always seem to derail this talented superstar. The latest news coming out of the Rocket’s camp is that McGrady has been hobbled by a bruised right knee, thus missing practice on Monday and Tuesday. However, unofficial reports indicate that he is expected get starting time this week.
This contest against Denver will mark a four-game road trip ending in Memphis. While the difference in numbers isn’t drastic when playing at home versus road games, Houston has been more successful in their own building with a 6-4 SU and 4-5-1 ATS showing. The big discrepancies in numbers come from rebounding (47.5 RPG at home vs. 41.6 RPG on the road) and turnovers (13.4 TO per game at home vs. 14.5 TO per game on the road).
The ‘under’ has been golden in Houston’s last 11 overall, going 8-2-1.
Countering the Rockets will be the erratic Nuggets. After looking to manufacture a three-game winning streak into something more, San Antonio put its foot in the door and ended those hopes. Then as a nine-point favorite at home, Denver was dashed by Portland by the score of 116-105.
This point has been expressed many times by me before, but when Carmelo Anthony ends the game as the leading scorer for Denver, his team is an amazing 10-1 SU. Compare that to when Allen Iverson shoots lights out, the same organization is 4-9 SU. Obviously there’s a correlation with these numbers and Iverson’s reckless abandonment of heaving the ball up.
The pairing if the two squads will see a discrepancy in offense versus defense. With the Rockets ranked at No. 4 in allowing points (93.3 PPG), the Nuggets counter with the fourth best offense (averaging 106.2 PPG). Then again, the Rockets are the 21st worst scoring team in the NBA (93.8 PPG), complimenting the weak defense that Denver plays (No. 25 in the league with 102.6 PPG allowed).
The Nuggets enter tomorrow night’s contest with a 1-8 ATS record in its last nine versus NBA Southwest teams.
vegasinsider.com.