Indiana Pacers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Indiana Pacers and the Minnesota Timberwolves will both be trying to pick up a win on Friday when they battle at Target Center.
Marquis Daniels netted a game-high 26 points in leading Indiana to a convincing 102-85 victory over Philadelphia last time out. Indiana easily covered the 5-point spread, but the 187 points were well UNDER the game's posted total of 202.
Jermaine O'Neal shot 8-for-17 from the field and chipped in with 19 points with nine rebounds in the win.
Al Jefferson led the way for Minnesota with a team-high 24 points in their 111-98 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.
The Warriors managed to cover the 7-point spread on the road in that contest, while the combined score was a PUSH against the posted total (209).
Current streak:
Indiana has won 3 straight games.
Minnesota has lost 6 straight games.
Team records:
Indiana: 14-12 SU, 15-11 ATS
Minnesota: 3-21 SU, 11-13 ATS
Indiana most recently:
When playing on Friday are 7-3
Before playing Washington are 5-5
After playing Philadelphia are 3-7
After a win are 4-6
Minnesota most recently:
When playing on Friday are 4-6
Before playing New Orleans are 3-7
After playing Golden State are 5-5
After a loss are 1-9
A few trends to consider:
Indiana is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
Indiana is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Indiana is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Indiana is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games when playing Indiana
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Minnesota's last 8 games
Minnesota is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games when playing Indiana
Minnesota is 4-11 ATS in its last 15 games when playing Indiana
Next up:
Indiana home to Washington, Saturday, December 22
Minnesota at New Orleans, Saturday, December 22
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks
The fans at American Airlines Center will be treated to a game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks when they take their seats on Friday.
The Clippers were defeated 80-77 by the Raptors last time out, as 4.5-point underdogs. The combined score fell UNDER the posted total of 187.5.
Chris Kaman had a double-double with 12 points and 16 rebounds in a losing effort.
Dirk Nowitzki scored a game-high 31 points to lead Dallas to a 108-105 win over Phoenix on Wednesday, as 3-point favorites. The combined 213 points fell UNDER the posted total of 217.
Josh Howard netted 23 points and Devin Harris added 21 in the win.
Current streak:
Los Angeles has lost 2 straight games.
Dallas has won 4 straight games.
Team records:
Los Angeles: 9-15 SU, 10-14 ATS
Dallas: 18-9 SU, 11-15-1 ATS
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Friday are 4-6
Before playing San Antonio are 5-5
After playing Toronto are 1-9
After a loss are 3-7
Dallas most recently:
When playing on Friday are 9-1
Before playing Utah are 7-3
After playing Phoenix are 9-1
After a win are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of the LA Clippers last 12 games when playing Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the LA Clippers last 6 games when playing on the road against Dallas
LA Clippers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of the LA Clippers last 13 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Dallas's last 12 games when playing LA Clippers
Dallas is 14-2 SU in its last 16 games at home
Dallas is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas's last 6 games
Next up:
LA Clippers at San Antonio, Saturday, December 22
Dallas at Utah, Wednesday, December 26
Denver Nuggets vs. Portland Trail Blazers
The fans at Rose Garden will be treated to a game between the Denver Nuggets and the Portland Trail Blazers when they take their seats on Friday.
The Nuggets defeated the Rockets with a 112-110 double overtime victory Thursday, as 8-point favorites. The combined score made it OVER the posted total of 198.
Allen Iverson shot 14-for-30 from the field with 36 points, and Carmelo Anthony added a game-high 37 points in the win.
The Trail Blazers defeated the Raptors 101-96 last time out. The Trail Blazers managed to cover the 3-point spread at home, and the 197 points made it OVER the posted total of 185.5.
Brandon Roy had a game-high 25 points with nine rebounds and eight assists to lift the Trail Blazers.
Current streak:
Portland has won 9 straight games.
Team records:
Denver: 15-10 SU, 10-15 ATS
Portland: 14-12 SU, 16-10 ATS
Denver most recently:
When playing on Friday are 5-5
Before playing Sacramento are 6-4
After playing Houston are 6-4
After a win are 6-4
Portland most recently:
When playing on Friday are 4-6
Before playing Seattle are 2-8
After playing Toronto are 4-6
After a win are 8-2
A few trends to consider:
Denver is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games when playing Portland
Denver is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Portland
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Denver's last 8 games when playing Portland
Denver is 9-3-1 ATS in its last 13 games when playing on the road against Portland
Portland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Portland is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Portland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Portland is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Next up:
Denver at Sacramento, Sunday, December 23
Portland home to Seattle, Tuesday, December 25
Toronto Raptors vs. Seattle SuperSonics
The Toronto Raptors and the Seattle SuperSonics will both be trying to pick up a win on Friday when they battle at KeyArena.
The Raptors fell asleep and were badly outplayed in the fourth quarter, costing them a 101-96 loss to the Trail Blazers. The Raptors were 3-point underdogs in the contest, while the 197 points made it OVER the posted total of 185.5.
Jose Calderon netted 19 points with nine rebounds in a losing effort for the Raptors.
Seattle were defeated 107-93 by New Orleans on Wednesday, as 3-point underdogs at home. The 200 points made it OVER the posted total of 191.5.
Kevin Durant shot 7-for-15 from the field with 18 points in the loss for Seattle.
Current streak:
Seattle has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Toronto: 15-12 SU, 16-11 ATS
Seattle: 7-19 SU, 12-14 ATS
Toronto most recently:
When playing on Friday are 6-4
Before playing Phoenix are 5-5
After playing Portland are 2-8
After a loss are 7-3
Seattle most recently:
When playing on Friday are 3-7
Before playing Portland are 4-6
After playing New Orleans are 4-6
After a loss are 3-7
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games when playing Seattle
Toronto is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
Toronto is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games when playing Seattle
Toronto is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Seattle
Seattle is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Toronto
Seattle is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Seattle's last 5 games when playing Toronto
Seattle is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games when playing Toronto
Next up:
Toronto at Phoenix, Saturday, December 22
Seattle at Portland, Tuesday, December 25
T-Mac's knee no better
Tracy McGrady, who missed the second half of Wednesday's loss to Orlando and was inactive for Thursday's game, does not feel any improvement in his sore left knee.
But he is hopeful the rest will enable him to play at Chicago on Saturday.
"Nothing's changed," McGrady said. "I was optimistic about (playing Thursday). Keith (Jones, the Rockets' trainer) told me the best thing to do is give it another day and we'll try again on Saturday. So that gives me two days to treat it and get the medicine in there."
McGrady does not want to have an MRI exam because he is fearful of discovering a more serious injury. Jones said the MRI is not necessary and that there have been times that he has sent McGrady for tests the player did not want.
"It's happened before," Jones said. "He said, 'I don't want the MRI,' and I said, 'Let's get it anyway' and he does. He doesn't fight us. But right now, in talking to the doctors, they don't see a need for it.
"It's a bone bruise. There's not any swelling, no deformity, no clicking. We're treating a bruise. Any time you get hit on the knee or around the knee, it's going to be sore. Only the guy who got hit knows how sore.
"Tracy McGrady has shown he'll play. It's obviously bothering him. We're treating him, doing everything we can to give him the best opportunity to get back out there safely."
chron.com