Clippers' Thomas day-to-day after MRI
December 26th, 2007
Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Los Angeles Clippers forward Tim Thomas is listed as day-to-day with a sprained left knee after an MRI taken Wednesday came up negative.
The 6-foot-10, 240-pound Thomas, in his 11th season out of Villanova and his second with the Clippers, is averaging 12.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in 25 games this season.
NBA Today - Dec. 27
ASSOCIATED
SCOREBOARD
Thursday, Dec. 27
Phoenix at L.A. Clippers (10:30 p.m. EST). The Suns have lost five of eight, while the Clippers have dropped four straight.
STARS
Wednesday
-Chris Paul, Hornets, had 40 points and nine assists to lead New Orleans to a 116-96 victory over Memphis.
-Monta Ellis, Warriors, scored a career-high 35 points in Golden State's 105-101 win against Minnesota.
-Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets, had 29 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth straight double-double as Denver beat Milwaukee 125-105.
-Andre Iguodala, 76ers, scored a season-high 28 points in Philadelphia's 96-85 victory over Miami.
FLYING HIGH
Atlanta beat the Indiana Pacers 107-95 on Wednesday night for its first five-game winning streak in eight years. The Hawks are three games over .500 this late in the season for the first time since the 1998-99 season, the last time they made the playoffs. The Hawks' last five-game winning streak came early the following season, from Nov. 27-Dec. 8 in 1999.
ON THE ROAD
Boston won its first game in Sacramento in more than 11 years, an 89-69 victory Wednesday night. It was the opener of the Celtics' first West Coast trip this season. The Celtics played just their 11th road game of the season and first against a team in the Western Conference. They have three more in the next four days of this trip, including Allen's return to Seattle on Thursday and weekend games at Utah and the Los Angeles Lakers.
STREAKING
The Detroit Pistons shot 78 percent in the third quarter in beating the New Jersey Nets 101-83 on Wednesday night for their sixth straight victory. ... Golden State beat Minnesota 105-101 for its fifth straight home victory.
ON THE REBOUND
Shaquille O'Neal had 10 rebounds in Miami's 96-85 loss to Philadelphia on Wednesday night, giving him 11,606 in his career. O'Neal is two shy of passing Patrick Ewing, who is 22nd with 11,607.
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Gerald Wallace scored 32 points in Charlotte's 108-104 loss to Washington on Wednesday night.
SIGNED
The San Antonio Spurs signed forward Marcus Williams on Wednesday The Spurs drafted the 6-foot-7 Williams, who played two years at Arizona, with the 33rd overall pick in the draft in June. Williams participated in the Spurs' training camp and was waived in late October.
SPEAKING
''They told me I was three points away and I was upset with myself because I missed some layups and free throws earlier and I said to myself, 'If I get a chance, I'm going to let it go.''' And luckily it went in.'' - Marcus Camby after helping Denver to a 125-105 victory over Milwaukee on Wednesday night. Camby hit his ninth 3-pointer of his eight-year NBA career, giving him 10 points to go with his 10 blocked shots and 11 rebounds.
Thursday's NBA matchup notes
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cleveland at Dallas
Playing Dallas has been a struggle for the Cavaliers regardless of location. They're 2-12 against the Mavericks since Feb. 15, 2001, and haven't won in Dallas since March 23, 2000. They've dropped the last seven road games in the series by an average of 16.7 points.
Phoenix at L.A. Clippers
Phoenix beat the Clippers 113-94 on Nov. 23 in the teams' first meeting this season.
Boston at Seattle
The Celtics split two meetings with the Sonics last season en route to a 24-58 finish.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Dallas Mavericks
- The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Dallas Mavericks will both be gunning for a victory on Thursday when they meet at American Airlines Center.
LeBron James tossed in a game-high 25 points on Christmas Day, leading the Cavaliers to a 96-82 win over the Heat. The Cavaliers covered the 5-point spread, but the combined 178 points fell UNDER the posted total of 193.
James shot 9-for-19 from the field and grabbed six boards with 13 assists in the win.
Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 21 points and nine boards in their 99-90 loss to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.
The Jazz covered as 3-point home favorites as the game played under the 203-point total posted by sportsbooks.
Team records:
Cleveland: 13-16 SU, 12-17 ATS
Dallas: 19-10 SU, 12-16-1 ATS
Cleveland most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 7-3
Before playing New Orleans are 5-5
After playing Miami are 8-2
After a win are 4-6
Dallas most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 9-1
Before playing Atlanta are 8-2
After playing Utah are 8-2
After a loss are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Cleveland's last 10 games when playing on the road against Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cleveland's last 6 games
Cleveland is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Dallas
Dallas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Dallas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Dallas's last 8 games
Dallas is 12-2 SU in its last 14 games when playing Cleveland
Next up:
Cleveland at New Orleans, Saturday, December 29
Dallas home to Atlanta, Saturday, December 29
Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers
- The division rival Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers are set to renew hostilities on Thursday when they meet at STAPLES Center.
The Suns were upset 122-115 by the Lakers on Christmas Day, as 2.5-point favorites. The combined score sailed OVER the posted total of 222.
Steve Nash led the Suns with 24 points and 14 assists in the upset loss.
Al Thornton was the high scorer for the Clippers with 25 points in their 99-90 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night.
The Spurs failed to cover as 15-point home favorites as the teams played just over the 187-point total set by books.
Current streak:
Los Angeles has lost 4 straight games.
Team records:
Phoenix: 19-9 SU, 12-15-1 ATS
Los Angeles: 9-17 SU, 11-15 ATS
Phoenix most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 7-3
Before playing LA Clippers are 3-7
After playing LA Lakers are 8-2
After a loss are 7-3
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 4-6
Before playing Phoenix are 5-5
After playing San Antonio are 4-6
After a loss are 3-7
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Phoenix's last 5 games on the road
Phoenix is 17-7 SU in their last 24 games when playing on the road against LA Clippers
Phoenix is 16-7 SU in its last 23 games
Phoenix is 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games when playing LA Clippers
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the LA Clippers last 5 games at home
LA Clippers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of the LA Clippers last 12 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of the LA Clippers last 9 games when playing Phoenix
Next up:
Phoenix home to LA Clippers, Friday, December 28
LA Clippers at Phoenix, Friday, December 28
Boston Celtics vs. Seattle SuperSonics
- The Boston Celtics and the Seattle SuperSonics will both be gunning for a victory on Thursday when they meet at KeyArena.
Ray Allen had 17 points as the Celtics shut down the Sacramento Kings 89-69 on Wednesday night.
The Celtics covered as the 7.5-point road underdogs as the game played well under the 190-point total posted by oddsmakers.
Seattle fell 89-79 to Portland on Christmas Day, as 7.5-point road underdogs. The combined score fell UNDER the posted total of 200.
Kevin Durant had 23 points and six rebounds for the SuperSonics.
Current streak:
Boston has won 3 straight games.
Team records:
Boston: 23-3 SU, 18-7-1 ATS
Seattle: 8-20 SU, 13-15 ATS
Boston most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 6-4
Before playing Utah are 5-5
After playing Sacramento are 4-6
After a win are 9-1
Seattle most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 2-8
Before playing Minnesota are 3-7
After playing Portland are 5-5
After a loss are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Boston is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games
Boston is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston's last 6 games when playing on the road against Seattle
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Seattle's last 6 games when playing at home against Boston
Seattle is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games when playing at home against Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Seattle's last 15 games at home
Seattle is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
Next up:
Boston at Utah, Saturday, December 29
Seattle home to Minnesota, Saturday, December 29
Cleveland (13-16, 12-17 ATS) at Dallas (19-8, 12-15-1 ATS)
The Mavericks look to sweep the season series from LeBron James and the Cavaliers for the second straight year when these two hook up at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Cleveland is coming off a 96-82 Christmas Day rout of the Heat as a 4½-point home chalk. The Cavaliers have alternated wins and losses in their last six outings, but they’re just 2-5 ATS in their last seven.
Dallas had a five-game winning streak snapped with last night’s 99-90 loss at Utah as a three-point road underdog. Despite that setback, the Mavs are still on runs of 7-3 SU and 5-3-1 ATS.
The Mavs have defeated the Cavaliers three straight times, including a 92-74 rout in Cleveland on Halloween, easily covering as a 2½-point road favorite. Last year, Avery Johnson’s squad swept the season series, winning 98-90 as a three-point road chalk and 95-92 as a nine-point home choice. Although Dallas has cashed in the last two meetings, Cleveland covered in the previous four. Also, the favorite is on a 10-4 ATS roll in this series.
Dallas is mired in ATS slumps of 4-13-1 against the Central Division and 3-7-1 at home. For the season at American Airlines Center, the Mavs are 13-2 SU, but just 7-7-1 ATS. Also, they’re just 5-9 ATS as a favorite of less than eight points.
Cleveland has dropped seven consecutive road games, going 2-5 ATS (2-3 ATS as an underdog).
The under is 7-1 in Dallas’ last eight, while Cleveland has followed a 6-1 “over” streak by staying under the total in three straight. Also, the under is 4-2 in the last six series meetings (2-0 in Dallas). However, the over is 12-5 in the Mavs’ last 17 games played at American Airlines Arena.
ATS ADVANTAGE: DALLAS and UNDER
Phoenix (19-9, 12-15-1 ATS) at L.A. Clippers (9-17, 11-15 ATS)
The Clippers return to work for the first time since Saturday when they host Pacific Division rival Phoenix, which is playing its second straight game inside the Staples Center in L.A.
Los Angeles went into the holiday break on a four-game losing skid, including Saturday’s 99-90 loss at San Antonio. On the bright side, the Clippers cashed as a 15-point underdog against the Spurs, improving to 5-2 ATS in their last seven, all as an underdog.
The Suns dropped a 122-115 decision to the Lakers as a two-point road underdog on Christmas Day. They’ve now alternated wins and losses in their last seven contests, but they’re just 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight, including 1-5 ATS as a favorite.
In the first meeting between these teams this season, Phoenix cruised to a 113-94 home win, covering as a 14-point chalk. The host is 7-2 SU and ATS in the last nine series clashes and the favorite has cashed in eight of those nine. Also, the straight-up winner has covered in each of the last 16 meetings, with the Suns going 9-7.
L.A. has lost seven consecutive games at the Staples Center – including a defeat to the Lakers, who share the same facility with the Clippers – going 1-6 ATS. For the season, the Clippers are just 4-9 SU and ATS on their home floor, getting outscored by an average of four points per game (95-91). The straight-up winner is 11-2 ATS in those 13 contests.
With Tuesday’s loss to the Lakers, Phoenix fell to 11-6 on the road (7-9-1 ATS). The Suns put up nearly 110 points per game (109.6) on the highway, but give up 105.5.
This game pits the NBA’s top offense (Phoenix puts up 109.7 ppg) against one of the worst (L.A. scores just 93.3 ppg, fourth-lowest in the league).
The under is 3-0 in the last three meetings after the previous six battles soared over the posted price. Also, the under is 9-5 in L.A.’s 14 designated home games.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
gametimepicks.com
Assistant Jim Boylan named interim coach for Bulls
December 27, 2007
DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) -Jim Boylan was promoted Thursday to interim head coach of the Chicago Bulls, who fired Scott Skiles on Monday after the team's disappointing start.
Boylan was in his fourth season as an assistant under Skiles and has 14 years experience in the NBA but none as a head coach at the pro level.
``Jim has paid his dues as an assistant coach and has his own ideas on the way he wants us to play,'' Bulls general manager John Paxson said in a statement.
Assistant coach Pete Myers was in charge of the team during Wednesday night's 94-79 loss at San Antonio that dropped the Bulls' record to 9-17.
The 52-year-old Boylan also has been an assistant in Cleveland under Mike Fratello (1993-97), Vancouver under Brian Hill (1997-2000), Phoenix under Skiles (2000-01) and Atlanta under Terry Stotts (2003-04).
He also coached in the Continental Basketball Association and in college, including stops at Michigan State as an assistant under Jud Heathcote (1986-89) and as head coach at New Hampshire (1989-92).
As a player, Boylan helped lead Marquette to the 1977 NCAA Championship. He was later drafted by the Buffalo Braves in the fourth round of the 1979 NBA draft.