Washington Wizards vs. Indiana Pacers
- The Washington Wizards and the Indiana Pacers will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Washington were outrebounded 49-33 in Friday's 97-92 loss to Atlanta, falling as 4.5-point home favorites. The 189 points scored were UNDER the posted total of 190.5.
Antawn Jamison notched 30 points and nine rebounds, and Nick Young came off the bench with 14 points for the Wizards.
Indiana lost an early 20-point lead in Friday's 131-118 loss at Minnesota, falling as 5.5-point road favorites. The 249 points scored were OVER the posted total of 202.
Mike Dunleavy led the way with 30 points, while Danny Granger had 14 points for the Pacers.
Current streak:
Washington has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Washington: 13-12 SU, 15-10 ATS
Indiana: 14-13 SU, 15-12 ATS
Washington most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 3-7
Before playing Charlotte are 8-2
After playing Atlanta are 7-3
After a loss are 4-6
Indiana most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 6-4
Before playing Atlanta are 4-6
After playing Minnesota are 6-4
After a loss are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Washington's last 5 games
Washington is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Indiana
Washington is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Indiana
Washington is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Indiana's last 9 games
Indiana is 19-6 SU in its last 25 games when playing at home against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Indiana's last 8 games at home
Indiana is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games
Next up:
Washington at Charlotte, Wednesday, December 26
Indiana at Atlanta, Wednesday, December 26
Utah Jazz vs. Miami Heat
- The Utah Jazz and the Miami Heat will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Utah shot 53.2% from the field in Friday's 113-94 win at Orlando, coming in as 4-point road underdogs. The 207 points scored were a PUSH with the posted total of 207.
Carlos Boozer had a huge night with 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, and Paul Millsap came off the bench with 28 points for the Jazz.
Miami were upset 107-103 by New Jersey in OT last time out, as 2-point favorites. The 210 points sailed OVER the posted total of 189.
Dwyane Wade tossed in a game-high 41 points from 15-for-23 shooting from the field in the loss.
Current streak:
Miami has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Utah: 15-13 SU, 13-15 ATS
Miami: 7-19 SU, 12-14 ATS
Utah most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 5-5
Before playing Dallas are 4-6
After playing Orlando are 6-4
After a win are 6-4
Miami most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 4-6
Before playing Cleveland are 7-3
After playing New Jersey are 6-4
After a loss are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Utah's last 5 games when playing Miami
Utah is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games when playing on the road against Miami
Utah is 2-8 SU in its last 10 games
Utah is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Miami
Miami is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Utah
Miami is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Utah
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Miami's last 5 games when playing Utah
Miami is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Utah
Next up:
Utah home to Dallas, Wednesday, December 26
Miami at Cleveland, Tuesday, December 25
Golden State Warriors vs. New Jersey Nets
- The Golden State Warriors and the New Jersey Nets will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at Izod Center.
Al Harrington poured in 25 points on Wednesday night as the Warriors knocked off the Minnesota Timberwolves by a final score of 111-98.
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).
Vince Carter netted 31 points with eight rebounds to lead New Jersey to a 107-103 OT win against Miami last time out, as 2-point underdogs. The 210 points sailed OVER the posted total of 189.
Richard Jefferson had 29 points and eight rebounds in the win, and Malik Allen added 18.
Current streak:
Golden State has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Golden State: 15-11 SU, 13-13 ATS
New Jersey: 11-15 SU, 9-16-1 ATS
Golden State most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 4-6
Before playing Cleveland are 4-6
After playing Minnesota are 7-3
After a win are 6-4
New Jersey most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 5-5
Before playing Detroit are 6-4
After playing Miami are 5-5
After a win are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Golden State's last 5 games when playing New Jersey
Golden State is 12-4 SU in its last 16 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Golden State's last 12 games on the road
Golden State is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games on the road
New Jersey is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Golden State
New Jersey is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Golden State
New Jersey is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Jersey's last 5 games when playing Golden State
Next up:
Golden State at Cleveland, Sunday, December 23
New Jersey home to Detroit, Wednesday, December 26
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Hornets
- The Minnesota Timberwolves and the New Orleans Hornets will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at New Orleans Arena.
Minnesota fought back from a 20-point first-period deficit in Friday's 131-118 win over Indiana, coming in as 5.5-point home underdogs. The 249 points scored were OVER the posted total of 202.
Al Jefferson was 13-for-21 for 23 points, and Sebastian Telfair added 27 points and 11 assists for the Timberwolves.
New Orleans dominated the first half and went on to defeat Seattle 107-93 on Wednesday. New Orleans covered the 3-point spread, and the 200 points made it OVER the posted total of 191.5.
Chris Paul had 21 points and 15 assists, while Morris Peterson had a game-high 25 points.
Team records:
Minnesota: 4-21 SU, 12-13 ATS
New Orleans: 16-10 SU, 13-12-1 ATS
Minnesota most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 6-4
Before playing Golden State are 3-7
After playing Indiana are 5-5
After a win are 0-10
New Orleans most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 6-4
Before playing Memphis are 6-4
After playing Seattle are 1-9
After a win are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Minnesota's last 6 games on the road
Minnesota is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Minnesota is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against New Orleans
Minnesota is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New Orleans's last 6 games
New Orleans is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
New Orleans is 11-3 ATS in its last 14 games when playing Minnesota
New Orleans is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Minnesota
Next up:
Minnesota at Golden State, Wednesday, December 26
New Orleans at Memphis, Wednesday, December 26
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Memphis Grizzlies
- The Philadelphia 76ers and the Memphis Grizzlies will both be gunning for a victory on Saturday when they meet at FedExForum.
Philadelphia were outrebounded by ten in Friday's 106-101 loss to the Lakers, falling as 2-point home underdogs. The 207 points scored were OVER the posted total of 199.
Andre Miller paced the attack with 21 points and eight assists, while Andre Igoudala had 20 points for the 76ers.
Memphis shot 33.8% from the field in Friday's 94-67 loss at Detroit, falling as 11-point road underdogs. The 161 points scored were UNDER the posted total of 202.
Rudy Gay fired in 18 points, while Pau Gasol had ten points and ten rebounds for the Grizzlies.
Current streak:
Philadelphia has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Philadelphia: 10-16 SU, 11-14-1 ATS
Memphis: 8-18 SU, 13-13 ATS
Philadelphia most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 7-3
Before playing Miami are 6-4
After playing LA Lakers are 6-4
After a loss are 5-5
Memphis most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 3-7
Before playing New Orleans are 3-7
After playing Detroit are 4-6
After a loss are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
Philadelphia is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 5 games when playing on the road against Memphis
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Philadelphia's last 8 games when playing Memphis
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Philadelphia's last 10 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Memphis's last 5 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Memphis's last 8 games when playing Philadelphia
The total has gone OVER in 17 of Memphis's last 23 games at home
Memphis is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Philadelphia
Next up:
Philadelphia home to Miami, Wednesday, December 26
Memphis home to New Orleans, Wednesday, December 26
Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs
- The Los Angeles Clippers and the San Antonio Spurs will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at AT&T Center.
The Clippers were 3-for-13 from three-point land in Friday's 102-89 loss at Dallas, falling as 11-point road underdogs. The 191 points scored were UNDER the posted total of 194.
Chris Kaman put up 24 points and 19 rebounds, while Cuttino Mobley came off the bench with 13 points for the Clippers.
Manu Ginobili had a team-high 20 points in San Antonio's 88-85 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.
The Spurs had been favored by 7 points on the road in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (200).
Current streak:
Los Angeles has lost 3 straight games.
San Antonio has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Los Angeles: 9-16 SU, 10-15 ATS
San Antonio: 18-7 SU, 14-10-1 ATS
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 2-8
Before playing Phoenix are 5-5
After playing Dallas are 6-4
After a loss are 3-7
San Antonio most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 5-5
Before playing Chicago are 7-3
After playing Memphis are 8-2
After a loss are 8-2
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the LA Clippers last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of the LA Clippers last 22 games when playing San Antonio
LA Clippers are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games on the road
LA Clippers are 3-8 SU in their last 11 games on the road
San Antonio is 5-0 SU in their last 5 games when playing LA Clippers
San Antonio is 5-0 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against LA Clippers
San Antonio is 19-1 SU in its last 20 games at home
San Antonio is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games at home
Next up:
LA Clippers home to Phoenix, Thursday, December 27
San Antonio home to Chicago, Wednesday, December 26
Charlotte Bobcats vs. Milwaukee Bucks
- The Charlotte Bobcats and the Milwaukee Bucks will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at Bradley Center.
Charlotte shot 50% from the floor in Friday's 105-95 win over New York, covering the 6-point home spread. The 210 points scored were OVER the posted total of 192.5.
Gerald Wallace led the way with 27 points, while Nazr Mohammed added 20 points and 14 boards for the Bobcats.
Michael Redd scored 27 points in Milwaukee's 102-89 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.
The Bucks had been favored by 6.5 points at home in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (194.5).
Current streak:
Charlotte has won 2 straight games.
Milwaukee has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Charlotte: 10-14 SU, 8-15-1 ATS
Milwaukee: 10-15 SU, 10-14-1 ATS
Charlotte most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 4-3
Before playing Washington are 2-8
After playing New York are 3-7
After a win are 3-7
Milwaukee most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 6-4
Before playing Denver are 5-5
After playing Sacramento are 3-7
After a loss are 3-7
A few trends to consider:
Charlotte is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Charlotte's last 5 games when playing Milwaukee
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Charlotte's last 5 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee
Charlotte is 6-1-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Milwaukee
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Milwaukee's last 6 games
Milwaukee is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Charlotte
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Milwaukee's last 5 games when playing Charlotte
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Milwaukee's last 5 games when playing at home against Charlotte
Next up:
Charlotte home to Washington, Wednesday, December 26
Milwaukee at Denver, Wednesday, December 26
Houston Rockets vs. Chicago Bulls
- The Houston Rockets and the Chicago Bulls will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at United Center.
The Rockets were defeated 112-110 by the Nuggets last time out, as 8-point underdogs. The combined score made it OVER the posted total of 198.
Yao Ming had 26 points and hauled down 19 boards in the loss.
Chicago shot 35.5% from the floor in Friday's 107-82 loss at Boston, falling as 9.5-point road underdogs. The 189 points scored were OVER the posted total of 181.
Ben Gordon dropped 19 points, while Aaron Gray came off the bench with 14 points for the Bulls.
Current streak:
Houston has lost 3 straight games.
Team records:
Houston: 12-14 SU, 10-15-1 ATS
Chicago: 9-15 SU, 8-16 ATS
Houston most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 6-4
Before playing Detroit are 5-5
After playing Denver are 6-4
After a loss are 3-7
Chicago most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 5-5
Before playing San Antonio are 2-8
After playing Boston are 6-4
After a loss are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
Houston is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 6 games when playing Chicago
Houston is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 6 games when playing Houston
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago's last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago's last 6 games when playing at home against Houston
Next up:
Houston at Detroit, Sunday, December 23
Chicago at San Antonio, Wednesday, December 26
Toronto Raptors vs. Phoenix Suns
- The Toronto Raptors and the Phoenix Suns will both be gunning for a victory on Saturday when they meet at US Airways Center.
Toronto had 13 turnovers in Friday's 123-115 loss at Seattle, falling as 4.5-point road favorites. The 238 points scored were OVER the posted total of 194.5.
Chris Bosh had 26 points and 13 rebounds, while Anthony Parker added 18 points for the Raptors.
Phoenix lost 108-105 to Dallas last time out, as 3-point underdogs on the road. The combined 213 points fell UNDER the posted total of 217.
Steve Nash led the Suns with 21 points and 18 assists, and Amare Stoudemire had a team-high 25 points.
Current streak:
Toronto has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Toronto: 15-13 SU, 16-12 ATS
Phoenix: 18-8 SU, 11-14-1 ATS
Toronto most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 6-4
Before playing San Antonio are 6-4
After playing Seattle are 4-6
After a loss are 7-3
Phoenix most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 7-3
Before playing LA Lakers are 8-2
After playing Dallas are 4-6
After a loss are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Toronto's last 6 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Toronto's last 13 games when playing Phoenix
Toronto is 4-1-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
Toronto is 2-4-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Phoenix
Phoenix is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Phoenix's last 6 games when playing at home against Toronto
Phoenix is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Toronto
Phoenix is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games at home
Next up:
Toronto at San Antonio, Friday, December 28
Phoenix at LA Lakers, Tuesday, December 25
Georgetown-Memphis Preview for Saturday
by T.O. Whenham
There have been some big games in college basketball so far this year, but none have been bigger than the showdown between No. 2 Memphis and No. 4 Georgetown on Saturday. Both teams are undefeated, both teams are heading towards high seeds and deep tournament runs, and both teams have impressive star power. The odds aren't set for the game yet, but that doesn't mean that it's too early to take a look at how it breaks down and get a jump on handicapping it.
Records - Georgetown is 8-0 and Memphis is 9-0, but the two teams have amassed their marks in different ways. The Hoyas haven't really been tested. Their biggest wins have been against Alabama and Old Dominion. Neither are particularly eye-opening victories other than the fact that they both occurred on the road. They come into this game off of one-sided jokes against Jacksonville and Radford, so we don't truly know what state they are in. Memphis has had a bit tougher road, having to get past USC, Connecticut and Oklahoma. Though the opponents have been tougher, the last win against Cincinnati was Memphis' first true road game, so their scheduling has helped a bit.
It's notable that the only time one of the teams has won by fewer than nine points is when Memphis needed overtime to get past USC by four, so the teams have been doing their jobs. Despite the relative ease of the wins, both teams came into the season with very high expectations, and they haven't been living up to those expectations in the eyes of bettors. Georgetown is 3-3 ATS. They haven't managed to cover two in a row, but there is a pattern to the games they haven't covered - they were the games with the three highest spreads. Georgetown has inflated their offensive stats by playing weak opponents (they are 87th in RPI and 306th is strength of schedule), and bettors haven't shown an ability to compensate yet. Georgetown's ATS performance looks stellar next to Memphis' - 2-5-2 ATS. They haven't covered in their last five outings.
Offense - The two teams are a study in contrasts offensively. Georgetown is ruthlessly efficient, but plays with almost a glacial tempo. Memphis moves the ball much faster, but doesn't generally shoot as well. The quality of opponents makes the stats somewhat questionable, though. The defensive strength of Georgetown's opponents has been almost incomprehensibly bad, while Memphis has played a generally stronger group of opponents. That means that we can probably draw more accurate conclusions from the offensive stats of Memphis when it comes to the upcoming game than we can for Georgetown. Memphis is going to face their best defense of the year, but Georgetown's offense will face a defense much, much better than they are used to.
Defense - Coaches from across the country will be watching this game because it will be a defensive clinic. Both teams are in the top 15 in the country in both defensive rank and defensive efficiency. As we have come to expect from both programs, the defense is a team-wide priority on both sides, and mistakes are rare. Perhaps not the most important aspect of the defense but the most exciting to watch on both sides are the blocking machines they have - both Roy Hibbert for Georgetown and Joey Dorsey from Memphis get more than their share of blocks. Momentum could make a difference in the game, but neither team has a clear defensive edge going in.
Star power - Georgetown lost a major star in Jeff Green, but gigantic center Roy Hibbert has continued to be the star that he is. His free throw shooting is worse than last year, but the rest of his statistics are so close to last season's that it is almost spooky. With Green gone, Hibbert is unquestionably the leader of the team and he is living up to the role very well. That's a good thing, because the team doesn't have a lot of superstar-caliber players behind him. DaJuan Summers and Jessie Sapp have raised their games a bit, and Austin Freeman is contributing nicely as a freshman, but the Hoyas only have one eye-opening, buzz-worthy player.
By contrast, Memphis has an embarrassment of talent. The entire core of the team from last year is back, led by the incredible Chris Douglas-Roberts, and relentless brawlers Robert Dozier and Joey Dorsey. That team had enough to make the Elite Eight last year, and it probably would have been enough to go that far again this year. They don't have to settle for more of the same though thanks to the addition of freshman freak Derrick Rose. As you would expect, consistency has been an issue for a guy who is just nine games into his college career. When he is good, though, he is unbelievably good, and he's averaging almost 16 points and better than five rebounds and four assists per game. Rose's future at Memphis is very bright for as long as he stays there.
Overall - Memphis is at home, they have been tested more, they have more depth, and they are probably the better team (though not by a huge margin). The Tigers will be favored, and they should be. The challenge isn't to figure any of that out, it is to decide if they match up well against Georgetown, and if they can cover the spread when they have struggled so badly to do so all year.
docsports.com