Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics
- The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at TD Banknorth Garden.
Cleveland shot 39% in Friday's 91-82 loss at Toronto, falling as 6.5-point road underdogs. The 173 points scored were UNDER the posted total of 188.5.
Daniel Gibson had 24 points and seven assists, while Drew Gooden put up 15 points and 14 boards for the Cavaliers.
Boston had to hold off a late Miami rally in Friday's 95-85 win, covering the 3-point road spread. The 180 points scored were UNDER the posted total of 185.
Paul Pierce poured in 27 points, and Kevin Garnet had 23 points for the Celtics.
Current streak:
Cleveland has lost 2 straight games.
Boston has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Cleveland: 9-8 SU, 7-10 ATS
Boston: 13-2 SU, 11-4 ATS
Cleveland most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 7-3
Before playing New Jersey are 5-5
After playing Toronto are 6-4
After a loss are 5-5
Boston most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing Philadelphia are 5-5
After playing Miami are 5-5
After a win are 8-2
A few trends to consider:
Cleveland is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing Boston
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Cleveland's last 6 games when playing on the road against Boston
Cleveland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Boston
Cleveland is 6-2-1 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Boston
Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Boston is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games at home
Boston is 13-2 SU in its last 15 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston's last 6 games at home
Next up:
Cleveland home to New Jersey, Tuesday, December 4
Boston at Philadelphia, Wednesday, December 5
Indiana Pacers vs. Los Angeles Clippers
- The Indiana Pacers and the Los Angeles Clippers will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at STAPLES Center.
Indiana shot 35.9% from the field in Friday's 95-93 loss at Seattle, falling as 2-point road favorites. The 188 points scored were UNDER the posted total of 210.5.
Danny Granger led the way with 21 points, while Mike Dunleavy had 14 points for the Pacers.
The Clippers had 20 turnovers in Friday's 123-107 loss at Denver, falling as 9-point road underdogs. The 230 points scored were OVER the posted total of 207.5.
Corey Maggette fired in 26 points, while Chris Kaman had 16 points for the Clippers.
Current streak:
Los Angeles has lost 4 straight games.
Team records:
Indiana: 8-9 SU, 8-9 ATS
Los Angeles: 6-8 SU, 5-9 ATS
Indiana most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Phoenix are 4-6
After playing Seattle are 2-8
After a loss are 3-7
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Milwaukee are 7-3
After playing Denver are 5-5
After a loss are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Indiana's last 5 games when playing LA Clippers
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Indiana's last 8 games when playing on the road against LA Clippers
Indiana is 19-6 SU in their last 25 games when playing LA Clippers
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Indiana's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the LA Clippers last 5 games when playing Indiana
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of the LA Clippers last 8 games when playing at home against Indiana
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the LA Clippers last 5 games at home
LA Clippers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games when playing at home against Indiana
Next up:
Indiana home to Phoenix, Tuesday, December 4
LA Clippers home to Milwaukee, Tuesday, December 4
Portland Trail Blazers vs. San Antonio Spurs
- The Portland Trail Blazers and the San Antonio Spurs will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at AT&T Center.
Portland shot 43.2% in Friday's 91-80 loss at Dallas, falling as 13.5-point road underdogs. The 171 points scored were UNDER the posted total of 198.
LaMarcus Aldridge put up 22 points and 12 rebounds, and Steve Blake tallied 12 points for the Trailblazers.
San Antonio outscored Minnesota 32-11 in the final stanza in Friday's 106-91 win, covering the 10-point road spread. The 197 points scored were OVER the posted total of 192.
Manu Ginobili came off the bench with 31 points, while Tim Duncan had 20 points and 14 boards for the Spurs.
Current streak:
Portland has lost 3 straight games.
San Antonio has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Portland: 5-11 SU, 7-9 ATS
San Antonio: 14-3 SU, 10-7 ATS
Portland most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 1-9
Before playing Memphis are 5-5
After playing Dallas are 3-7
After a loss are 2-8
San Antonio most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 9-1
Before playing Dallas are 6-4
After playing Minnesota are 6-4
After a win are 8-2
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Portland's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Portland's last 5 games when playing San Antonio
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Portland's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 15 of Portland's last 23 games on the road
San Antonio is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
San Antonio is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Portland
San Antonio is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Portland
San Antonio is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
Next up:
Portland at Memphis, Monday, December 3
San Antonio home to Dallas, Wednesday, December 5
New Jersey Nets vs. Detroit Pistons
- The New Jersey Nets and the Detroit Pistons will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
Vince Carter had 24 points and nine rebounds off the bench as the Nets defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 94-92 in overtime on Saturday night.
The Nets couldn't cover as 8-point favorites as the teams played over the 185.5-point total sey by books.
Tayshaun Prince had 20 points to lead a balanced attack as the Pistons defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 117-91 on Saturday night.
The Pistons covered as 4-point road favorites as the teams played over the 193-point total set by books.
Current streak:
Detroit has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
New Jersey: 8-8 SU, 6-9-1 ATS
Detroit: 10-5 SU, 7-8 ATS
New Jersey most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing Cleveland are 7-3
After playing Philadelphia are 5-5
After a win are 4-6
Detroit most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Atlanta are 8-2
After playing Milwaukee are 8-2
After a win are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Jersey's last 5 games
New Jersey is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of New Jersey's last 8 games when playing Detroit
New Jersey is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Detroit's last 6 games at home
Detroit is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
Detroit is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing New Jersey
Detroit is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against New Jersey
Next up:
New Jersey at Cleveland, Tuesday, December 4
Detroit at Atlanta, Tuesday, December 4
Phoenix Suns vs. New York Knicks
- The Phoenix Suns and the New York Knicks will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at Madison Square Garden.
Six Phoenix players scored in double digits in Friday's 110-106 win over Orlando, failing to cover the 5.5-point home spread. The 216 points scored were OVER the posted total of 215.
Raja Bell dropped 20 points, while Amare Stoudamire had 19 points and ten rebounds for the Suns.
New York outscored Milwaukee 26-11 in the fourth quarter of Friday's 91-88 win, coming in as 2-point home underdogs. The 179 points scored were UNDER the posted total of 195.
Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph each scored 25 points for the Knicks.
Team records:
Phoenix: 12-4 SU, 7-9 ATS
New York: 5-10 SU, 7-8 ATS
Phoenix most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 7-3
Before playing Indiana are 6-4
After playing Orlando are 8-2
After a win are 8-2
New York most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 2-8
Before playing New Jersey are 2-8
After playing Milwaukee are 3-7
After a win are 3-7
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Phoenix's last 5 games when playing on the road against New York
Phoenix is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing New York
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Phoenix's last 12 games when playing New York
Phoenix is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of New York's last 5 games when playing at home against Phoenix
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of New York's last 7 games
New York is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Phoenix
The total has gone OVER in 10 of New York's last 12 games when playing Phoenix
Next up:
Phoenix at Indiana, Tuesday, December 4
New York at New Jersey, Wednesday, December 5
Miami Heat vs. Denver Nuggets
- The Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at Pepsi Center.
Miami's comeback bid fell just short in Friday's 95-85 loss to Boston, falling as 3-point home underdogs. The 180 points scored were UNDER the posted total of 185.
Jason Williams came off the bench with 22 points, while Udonis Haslem added 18 points and ten rebounds for the Heat.
Denver shot 54.1% from the field in Friday's 123-107 win over the Clippers, covering the 9-point home spread. The 230 points scored were OVER the posted total of 207.5.
Allen Iverson led the way with 26 points, and Carmelo Anthony added 24 points for the Nuggets.
Team records:
Miami: 4-11 SU, 8-7 ATS
Denver: 10-7 SU, 8-9 ATS
Miami most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 8-2
Before playing Utah are 6-4
After playing Boston are 6-4
After a loss are 4-6
Denver most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 4-6
Before playing LA Lakers are 5-5
After playing LA Clippers are 4-6
After a win are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Miami's last 6 games when playing Denver
Miami is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Denver
Miami is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Miami's last 6 games
Denver is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Miami
Denver is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
Denver is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Miami
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Denver's last 6 games when playing Miami
Next up:
Miami at Utah, Monday, December 3
Denver home to LA Lakers, Wednesday, December 5
Golden State Warriors vs. Seattle SuperSonics
- The Golden State Warriors and the Seattle SuperSonics will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at KeyArena.
The red-hot Warriors won their eighth in nine tries Thursday, as they dumped the Rockets 113-94. The Warriors won the game as a slight 2-point underdog, while the combined score fell just UNDER the posted total of 207.5.
Baron Davis scored 27 points to lead the Warriors, while Stephen Jackson had 19 points and Al Harrington added 18.
Seattle's Kevin Durant exploded for 35 points in Friday's 95-93 win over Indiana, coming in as 2-point home underdogs. The 188 points scored were UNDER the posted total of 210.5.
Jeff Green and Chris Wilcox dropped 12 points apiece for the Supersonics.
Current streak:
Golden State has won 5 straight games.
Team records:
Golden State: 8-7 SU, 8-7 ATS
Seattle: 3-14 SU, 7-10 ATS
Golden State most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing Orlando are 5-5
After playing Houston are 5-5
After a win are 6-4
Seattle most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 3-7
Before playing LA Clippers are 5-5
After playing Indiana are 5-5
After a win are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
Golden State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Golden State is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Seattle
Golden State is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games when playing Seattle
Golden State is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Seattle's last 10 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Seattle's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Seattle's last 5 games when playing at home against Golden State
Seattle is 18-5 SU in its last 23 games when playing at home against Golden State
Next up:
Golden State home to Orlando, Monday, December 3
Seattle home to LA Clippers, Wednesday, December 5
Orlando Magic vs. Los Angeles Lakers
- The Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at STAPLES Center.
Orlando had 17 turnovers in Friday's 110-106 loss at Phoenix, falling as 5.5 -point road underdogs. The 216 points scored were OVER the posted total of 215.
Dwight Howard had a monster game with 30 points and 23 rebounds, and Hedo Turkoglu added 25 points for the Magic.
The Lakers had 20 turnovers on Friday's 120-96 loss at Utah, falling as 7-point road underdogs. The 216 points scored were OVER the posted total of 210.5.
Kobe Bryant fired in 28 points, while Jordan Farmar added 21 points as a sub for the Lakers.
Team records:
Orlando: 14-4 SU, 15-3 ATS
Los Angeles: 9-7 SU, 9-7 ATS
Orlando most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 4-6
Before playing Golden State are 6-4
After playing Phoenix are 4-6
After a loss are 6-4
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 4-6
Before playing Minnesota are 5-5
After playing Utah are 4-6
After a loss are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
Orlando is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Orlando is 10-1 ATS in its last 11 games on the road
Orlando is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games on the road
Orlando is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games
LA Lakers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games when playing Orlando
LA Lakers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against Orlando
LA Lakers are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games at home
LA Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games when playing Orlando
Next up:
Orlando at Golden State, Monday, December 3
LA Lakers at Minnesota, Tuesday, December 4
Cassell could sit out three more games
Veteran point guard is doubtful because of a strained calf muscle.
Veteran point guard Sam Cassell is doubtful for today's game against the Indiana Pacers, and his strained left calf might cause him to sit out the next couple of games.
Cassell, who suffered the injury during the first quarter of Monday's game against the Houston Rockets, originally targeted today for his return.
In the team's first game against the Pacers on Nov. 7, Cassell scored 35 points, the highest tally of any Clipper this season.
Coach Mike Dunleavy said the team missed Cassell during Friday's loss to the Denver Nuggets.
"Sam can make a difference in any game," he said. "Obviously, offensively he has the capability of putting points on the board when you need them and being able to run a team. He always has a chance to be a big part of the influence no matter who you play."
Until Cassell returns, Brevin Knight and Dan Dickau will continue sharing the point guard duties.
Knight scored 13 points on five-for-11 shooting and had five assists in 35 minutes against the Nuggets. Dickau made a three-point basket and had five assists in 13 minutes.
Dickau, in his sixth season, said such opportunities were the main reason he signed with the Clippers shortly after training camp started.
"When it looked like I was going to get out of New York and go somewhere, this was the place I wanted to be," he said.
"Sam and Brevin can play at a high level, but both have a history of not playing in 82 games."
The Clippers play a relatively mild schedule against struggling teams to open December, but Dunleavy isn't counting the games as wins.
After playing the Pacers, the Clippers finish the week by playing host to the Milwaukee Bucks and traveling to play the Seattle SuperSonics and Sacramento Kings.
None of those teams has a winning record.
"You can look at certain opponents and say that some will be harder to win, but in our condition there's not a game on our schedule you can point out and say that's a win for us," Dunleavy said.
TODAY
vs. Indiana, 12:30 p.m.
Site -- Staples Center.
Radio -- 830.
Records -- Clippers 6-8, Pacers 8-9.
Record vs. Pacers -- 1-0.
Update -- The Clippers beat the Pacers, 104-89, in Indianapolis on Nov. 7. The win was the last of four straight by the Clippers to start the season before they began their current 2-8 slide.
latimes.com
UCLA's Darren Collison, Alfred Aboya practice without pain, will play against No. 8 Texas
LOS ANGELES (AP) -Darren Collison and Alfred Aboya practiced without pain Friday and will play when No. 2 UCLA hosts No. 8 Texas on Sunday.
Collison scored 14 points in his season debut Wednesday against George Washington after missing the first six games because of a sprained left knee.
Aboya broke a bone under his right eye last Friday, but returned to score six points Wednesday. The Bruins' starting lineup will be a game-time decision.
Guard Michael Roll is questionable for Sunday, although he practiced Friday. Roll has yet to play this season after he tore the plantar fascia, or connective tissue that supports the arch, in his left foot during preseason practice.
UCLA said it has issued credentials to 39 scouts for the game, with 29 of the NBA's 30 teams expected to attend.
Sunday's NBA matchup betting notes
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics
LeBron James led the Cavaliers to a 109-104 overtime win Tuesday in Cleveland. Cleveland has won eight of nine against the Celtics.
Portland Trail Blazers at San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio knocked off the Trail Blazers 106-97 at home in the teams' season opener Oct. 30. That was San Antonio's 10th win in a row over Portland and 17th in 18 meetings, including nine straight at home since a 95-76 loss Nov. 9, 2002.
Indiana Pacers at Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers are looking to sweep this two-game season series for the second time in four years. The last time these teams met at Staples Center, the Clippers set a franchise record for fewest points allowed in an 87-64 victory on March 3.
New Jersey Nets at Detroit Pistons
The Nets have won just six of their last 44 road games in Detroit since the start of the 1985-86 season. Last season, New Jersey couldn't beat the Pistons (10-5) anywhere, dropping all four of its games against them.
Phoenix Suns at New York Knicks
The Knicks lost 113-102 on November 13 and have dropped seven of their last eight games against the Suns.
Miami Heat at Denver Nuggets
Denver (10-7) has won four straight over the Heat and eight of the last 10. The Heat's last win in Denver was Jan. 29, 2002.
Golden State Warriors at Seattle SuperSonics
Golden State (8-7) is 6-22 in Seattle since 1993, but the Warriors have five of those wins over the last five seasons. This is the best stretch for them in Seattle since winning six of their first eight when the franchise was based in San Francisco, and the Warriors are 32-72 there all-time.
Orlando Magic at Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles hasn't lost at home to Orlando since March 17, 1996, and has won five in a row and 15 of 17 overall in the series.
Sunday's NCAAB matchup betting notes
ASSOCIATED PRESS
No. 4 Kansas at No. 24 Southern California
Kansas leads 8-5 in the all-time series, and won 74-69 on Dec. 23, 1997 in its most recent meeting with the Trojans in Los Angeles. USC has not beaten the Jayhawks since an 89-83 home win on Dec. 21, 1978.
No. 9 Texas A&M at Arizona
Arizona is 5-0 versus Texas A&M, including an 88-44 win on Dec. 28, 1995 in the teams' most recent meeting.
No. 8 Texas at No. 1 UCLA
UCLA has won both all-time meetings between the teams. UCLA routed Texas 115-65 in the opening round of the Bruin Classic on Dec. 29, 1971, in the most recent meeting.