Sunday's NBA matchup notes
ASSOCIATED PRESS
L.A. Lakers at New York
This is the first 2007-08 meeting between these teams after New York swept two games from Los Angeles last season for the first time since 2000-01.
Houston at Detroit
The Pistons lost 80-77 at Houston on Dec. 12, the teams' most recent meeting. Detroit shot a season-low 36.1 percent from the floor en route to its lowest point total of the season.
Golden State at Cleveland
Cleveland defeated the Warriors 108-104 on the road Nov. 6, and has averaged 112.7 points while winning its last three meetings with Golden State.
Orlando at Boston
The Magic beat Boston 104-102 in Orlando on Nov. 18 in the teams' first meeting this season, handing the Celtics their first loss after an 8-0 start.
Denver at Sacramento
Denver won its last visit to Sacramento - 113-101 on March 11 - after losing 20 straight trips there dating to Jan. 7, 1997. The Nuggets won at home in the only meeting this season, 101-97 on Dec. 8.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks
- The Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at Madison Square Garden.
The Lakers' Andrew Bynum notched 24 points and 11 rebounds in Friday's 106-101 win at Philadelphia, covering the 2-point road spread. The 207 points scored were OVER the posted total of 199.
Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher added 21 points apiece for the Lakers.
New York had 17 turnovers in Friday's 105-95 loss at Charlotte, falling as 6-point road underdogs. The 210 points scored were OVER the posted total of 192.5.
Nate Robinson came off the pine with 20 points, and Jamal Crawford had 16 points for the Knicks.
Team records:
Los Angeles: 16-10 SU, 16-9-1 ATS
New York: 8-18 SU, 11-15 ATS
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Phoenix are 3-7
After playing Philadelphia are 6-4
After a win are 6-4
New York most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing Orlando are 3-7
After playing Charlotte are 6-4
After a loss are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
LA Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 6 games when playing New York
LA Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the LA Lakers last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of New York's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of New York's last 6 games when playing LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New York's last 6 games when playing at home against LA Lakers
New York is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games
Next up:
LA Lakers home to Phoenix, Tuesday, December 25
New York at Orlando, Wednesday, December 26
Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
- The Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at Quicken Loans Arena.
Stephen Jackson led the Warriors with 21 points in their 100-95 loss to the New Jersey Nets on Saturday night.
The Nets covered as 2-point home underdogs as the game played under the 210.5-point total listed by books.
LeBron James scored a game-high 33 points with 10 rebounds for a double-double Thursday night, as the Cavaliers defeated the Lakers 94-90. The Cavaliers won the game as a slight 2.5-point underdog, while the 184 points were well UNDER the posted total of 204.
Daniel Gibson threw down 15 points for the Cavaliers, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas chipped in with 12 points in the win.
Team records:
Golden State: 15-12 SU, 13-14 ATS
Cleveland: 12-15 SU, 11-16 ATS
Golden State most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing Minnesota are 4-6
After playing New Jersey are 3-7
After a loss are 6-4
Cleveland most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 8-2
Before playing Miami are 6-4
After playing LA Lakers are 6-4
After a win are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Golden State's last 6 games when playing on the road against Cleveland
Golden State is 15-6 SU in its last 21 games
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Golden State's last 14 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Golden State's last 13 games on the road
Cleveland is 12-2 ATS in its last 14 games when playing at home against Golden State
Cleveland is 12-2 SU in its last 14 games when playing at home against Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Cleveland's last 6 games when playing at home against Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Cleveland's last 8 games
Next up:
Golden State home to Minnesota, Wednesday, December 26
Cleveland home to Miami, Tuesday, December 25
Houston Rockets vs. Detroit Pistons
- The Houston Rockets and the Detroit Pistons will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
Tracy McGrady had 20 points and dished out eight assists to lead the Rockets past the Chicago Bulls 116-98 on Saturday night.
The Rockets covered as 1.5-point road favorites as the game played well over the 180.5-point total set by oddsmakers.
Detroit held Memphis to 33.8% from the floor in Friday's 94-67 win, covering the 11-point home spread. The 161 points scored were UNDER the posted total of 202.
Tayshaun Prince led the way with 16 points, and Chauncey Billups added 14 points for the Pistons.
Current streak:
Detroit has won 4 straight games.
Team records:
Houston: 13-14 SU, 11-15-1 ATS
Detroit: 19-7 SU, 16-9-1 ATS
Houston most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 4-6
Before playing Memphis are 5-5
After playing Chicago are 7-3
After a win are 5-5
Detroit most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 8-2
Before playing New Jersey are 6-4
After playing Memphis are 7-3
After a win are 8-2
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Houston's last 9 games when playing Detroit
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Houston's last 12 games when playing on the road against Detroit
Houston is 7-15 ATS in its last 22 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Detroit's last 5 games
Detroit is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Houston
Detroit is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
Detroit is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Next up:
Houston at Memphis, Friday, December 28
Detroit at New Jersey, Wednesday, December 26
Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics
- The Orlando Magic and the Boston Celtics will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at TD Banknorth Garden.
Orlando had 19 turnovers in Friday's 113-94 loss to Utah, falling as 4-point home favorites. The 207 points scored were a PUSH with the posted total of 207.
Hedo Turkoglu dropped 27 points, while Dwight Howard tallied 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Magic.
Boston was 12-for-26 from three-point land in Friday's 107-82 win over Chicago, covering the 9.5-point home spread. The 189 points scored were OVER the posted total of 181.
Paul Pierce was the high man with 22 points, and Ray Allen had 18 points for the Celtics.
Team records:
Orlando: 18-10 SU, 20-8 ATS
Boston: 21-3 SU, 16-7-1 ATS
Orlando most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 4-6
Before playing New York are 9-1
After playing Utah are 8-2
After a loss are 6-4
Boston most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 3-7
Before playing Sacramento are 5-5
After playing Chicago are 6-4
After a win are 8-2
A few trends to consider:
Orlando is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
Orlando is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Boston
Orlando is 13-4 SU in its last 17 games on the road
Orlando is 18-7 ATS in its last 25 games
Boston is 13-1 SU in its last 14 games at home
Boston is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston's last 6 games
Boston is 10-2 ATS in its last 12 games when playing at home against Orlando
Next up:
Orlando home to New York, Wednesday, December 26
Boston at Sacramento, Wednesday, December 26
Denver Nuggets vs. Sacramento Kings
- The fans at ARCO Arena will be treated to a game between the Denver Nuggets and the Sacramento Kings when they take their seats on Sunday.
Denver was 5-for-20 from beyond the arc in Friday's 99-96 loss at Portland, falling as 4.5-point road underdogs. The 195 points scored were UNDER the posted total of 205.5.
Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony poured in 34 points each for the Nuggets.
Ron Artest was good for 26 points on Wednesday night as the Kings got past the Milwaukee Bucks by a final score of 102-89.
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:
Sacramento has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Denver: 15-11 SU, 11-15 ATS
Sacramento: 11-14 SU, 15-10 ATS
Denver most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Milwaukee are 3-7
After playing Portland are 5-5
After a loss are 5-5
Sacramento most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 2-8
Before playing Boston are 6-4
After playing Milwaukee are 5-5
After a win are 3-7
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Denver's last 10 games when playing Sacramento
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Denver's last 7 games when playing on the road against Sacramento
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Denver's last 6 games
Denver is 7-17 SU in its last 24 games when playing Sacramento
Sacramento is 20-1 SU in its last 21 games when playing at home against Denver
Sacramento is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Sacramento's last 10 games when playing Denver
Sacramento is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games at home
Next up:
Denver home to Milwaukee, Wednesday, December 26
Sacramento home to Boston, Wednesday, December 26
Clippers F Paul Davis has torn knee ligament
ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES -- Clippers forward Paul Davis will be sidelined indefinitely because of a knee injury.
Davis tore the anterior cruciate ligament and lateral meniscus in his right knee during the second quarter of Friday night's game in Dallas. He returned to Los Angeles for an MRI exam Saturday that revealed the damage.
The Clippers didn't set a timetable for Davis' return, saying only that he'll be examined further Monday by team physician Dr. Tony Daly.
Davis is averaging 2.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 8.8 minutes in 22 games this season.
Bucks forward Desmond Mason undergoes thumb surgery
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Bucks forward Desmond Mason had surgery Saturday to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb.
Mason, injured Wednesday night against Sacramento, is expected to miss six to eight weeks, general manager Larry Harris said.
Mason has played 25 games this season, averaging eight points and 3.9 rebounds.