Denver (11-8, 9-10 ATS) at Dallas (12-7, 7-12 ATS)
After a brief three-game homestand, the Nuggets head back on the road to face the Mavericks in a battle of teams coming off upset losses on Wednesday night.
Denver had its two-game winning streak snapped with last night’s 111-107 loss to the Lakers as a nine-point home chalk. George Karl’s team is just 3-6 ATS in its last nine games.
The Mavericks are coming off Wednesday’s 97-95 defeat to the Tim Duncan-less Spurs as a three-point road favorite. Dallas has dropped five of its last eight games and is just 2-9 ATS in its last 11 (1-9 ATS as a favorite).
The Nuggets snapped a four-game SU and ATS losing streak to Dallas with a 75-71 win as a 2½-point home underdog last April. The home team is 7-2 SU in the last nine meetings (6-3 ATS), and the straight-up winner has covered the pointspread in each of the last six clashes.
Denver has dropped three straight road games SU and ATS, losing by margins of 28, 28 and 11 points. The straight-up winner is 7-1 ATS in the Nuggets’ eight road contests this season.
Dallas is 8-1 at home, but has failed to cover the spread in each of its last five games at the American Airlines Center.
The under is 7-3 in the last 10 head-to-head meetings, 20-7 in Denver’s last 27 against Southwest Division teams and 41-16 in Dallas’ last 57 against Northwest Division foes.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
LSU (5-2, 0-2 ATS) at (25) Villanova (5-1, 3-1 ATS)
Having returned to the Top 25, Villanova will now try to move up the polls when it battles LSU in an intriguing non-conference clash.
The Wildcats bounced back from their first loss of the season – a 69-68 setback to N.C. State on Nov. 25 – with Saturday’s 87-61 rout of Penn as a 22-point home favorite. Villanova is 3-0 on its home floor (1-0 ATS).
LSU has been idle since Friday, when it crushed Southern University 88-45 in a non-lined game, which came on the heels of a 68-41 rout of Nichols State in another non-lined contest on Nov. 28. The Tigers have played just two Division I teams this season, losing 87-84 to Arizona as a 1½-point underdog and 83-77 as a 2½-point pup, both at neutral sties.
LSU is 1-4 ATS in its last five away from home going back to last season.
Villanova is 35-17-2 ATS in its last 54 non-league games, but only 1-4 ATS in its last five versus the SEC.
The under is 17-8 in LSU’s last 25 non-conference lined games. However, the over is 8-3 in Villanova’s last 11 lined contests overall.
ATS ADVANTAGE: VILLANOVA
gametimepicks.com
NBA Today - Thursday, Dec. 6
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SCOREBOARD
Thursday, Dec. 6
Miami at Portland (10:30 p.m. EST). The Trail Blazers return home after picking up their first road win on Monday.
STARS
Wednesday
-Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix, scored 35 points and the Suns beat Toronto 136-123.
-Luol Deng, Chicago, scored 30 points to lead the Bulls to a 91-82 victory over Charlotte.
-Tracy McGrady, Houston, had 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists in the Rockets' 105-92 win over Memphis.
-Manu Ginobili, Spurs, scored a season-high 37 points in San Antonio's 97-95 win over Dallas.
-Nick Collison, Sonics, finished with 18 points and 17 rebounds, leading Seattle to a 95-88 win over the Clippers.
SIZZLING
Leandro Barbosa scored 35 points, Steve Nash had a season-high 18 assists and Phoenix set a season high in points, beating Toronto 136-123 on Wednesday night. The Suns have won four straight and 12 of their past 13. Phoenix has won seven straight against Toronto. The Raptors haven't beaten the Suns since a 101-94 victory at Phoenix on Feb. 10, 2004.
GOLDEN TOUCH
Golden State made 10 of its first 14 shots from 3-point range and finished 15-for-22 from long distance in a 120-90 win over Milwaukee on Wednesday. The last time a team shot better than that in a game it made at least 15 3-pointers was when Toronto made 17 of 24 on Dec. 3, 2003, against Boston. Golden State has won 10 of 12 games after an 0-6 start.
STRUGGLING
Caron Butler had 27 points to lead Washington past Cleveland 105-86 on Wednesday night. Cleveland has lost four straight without LeBron James, sidelined with a sprained left index finger. It was the fifth straight loss for the Cavaliers -their first five-game skid since Feb. 22-March 1, 2006. ... Memphis has lost eight of 12 after a 102-95 loss to Houston. ... The Clippers lost their seventh straight, most since dropping eight consecutive games in February 2005, after a 95-88 loss at Seattle.
SNAPPED
Jamal Crawford scored 29 points, Zach Randolph added 25, and New York beat New Jersey 100-93 on Wednesday night. New York got its first road win in eight tries this season.
COMING BACK
The Cavaliers will match the three-year offer sheet made by Charlotte to restricted free agent Anderson Varejao, ending a protracted contract dispute that has kept the 6-foot-10 Brazilian out this season. Varejao, known for his energy and defense, averaged a career-best 6.8 points and 6.7 rebounds last season in helping the Cavaliers reach the NBA finals for the first time.
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Allen Iverson scored a season-high 51 points in Denver's 111-107 loss to Los Angeles. ... Richard Jefferson had 31 points but New Jersey fell to New York 100-93. ... Andre Miller scored 26 points and had 12 assists in Philadelphia's 113-103 loss to Boston. ... T.J. Ford scored 27 points but Toronto lost to Phoenix 136-123.
SPEAKING
''Everything that I saw open, I attacked, and I was able to knock down shots. When I got the ball, it seemed like every move that I made, it would throw the defender off.'' - Denver's Allen Iverson after scoring 51 points in 111-107 loss to Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Thursday's NBA betting matchup notes
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Minnesota at Atlanta
The Hawks look to win their fourth straight against the lowly Timberwolves. Minnesota which hasn't won in this series since an 84-83 victory on April 9, 2006.
Denver at Dallas
The Nuggets have dropped five straight games in Dallas since a 107-102 win on Jan.31, 2004, and 18 of 19 since the start of the 1997-98 season.
Miami at Portland
The Heat stand a good chance of turning things around against the Blazers, who have lost five straight against Miami.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Atlanta Hawks
- The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Atlanta Hawks will both be gunning for a victory on Thursday when they meet at Philips Arena.
The Timberwolves were defeated 116-95 by the Lakers last time out, as 8-point underdogs. The combined 211 points were OVER the posted total of 205.
Al Jefferson led the Timberwolves with 12 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double in the loss.
The Hawks were defeated 106-95 by the Pistons last time out, as 6-point underdogs. The 201 points made it OVER the posted total of 188.
Josh Childress led the Hawks with 18 points from 5-for-7 shooting, and Salim Stoudamire added 15 points in the loss.
Current streak:
Minnesota has lost 4 straight games.
Team records:
Minnesota: 2-14 SU, 6-10 ATS
Atlanta: 7-10 SU, 8-9 ATS
Minnesota most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 6-4
Before playing Phoenix are 2-8
After playing LA Lakers are 1-9
After a loss are 2-8
Atlanta most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 6-4
Before playing Memphis are 6-4
After playing Detroit are 2-8
After a loss are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Minnesota's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 17 of Minnesota's last 25 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 6 games when playing Atlanta
Atlanta is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Atlanta's last 8 games
Atlanta is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Minnesota
Atlanta is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Minnesota
Next up:
Minnesota home to Phoenix, Saturday, December 8
Atlanta home to Memphis, Saturday, December 8
Denver Nuggets vs. Dallas Mavericks
- The Denver Nuggets and the Dallas Mavericks will both be trying to pick up a win on Thursday when they battle at American Airlines Center.
The Nuggets lost 111-107 by the Lakers last time out, as 9-point favorites. The 218 points were UNDER the posted total of 220.
Allen Iverson scored nearly half his teams points, netting a game-high 51 for the Nuggets and finished 18-for-27 from the field.
The Mavericks lost 97-95 to the Spurs last time out, as 3-point favorites. The 192 points fell just UNDER the posted total of 192.5.
Josh Howard shot 7-for-12 from the field with 22 points and nine rebounds in the loss.
Team records:
Denver: 11-8 SU, 9-10 ATS
Dallas: 12-7 SU, 7-12 ATS
Denver most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 5-5
Before playing Sacramento are 5-5
After playing LA Lakers are 8-2
After a loss are 3-7
Dallas most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 6-4
Before playing Utah are 8-2
After playing San Antonio are 4-6
After a loss are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Denver's last 6 games when playing on the road against Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Denver's last 5 games when playing Dallas
Denver is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Denver is 6-13 ATS in its last 19 games when playing on the road against Dallas
Dallas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Denver
Dallas is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas's last 6 games when playing at home against Denver
Dallas is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Denver
Next up:
Denver home to Sacramento, Saturday, December 8
Dallas home to Utah, Saturday, December 8
Miami Heat vs. Portland Trail Blazers
- The Miami Heat and the Portland Trail Blazers will both be gunning for a victory on Thursday when they meet at Rose Garden.
Miami were defeated 110-101 by Utah on Monday, as 9-point underdogs. The 211 points sailed OVER the posted total of 197.
Dwyane Wade led Miami with 26 points, four boards and 10 assists.
The Trail Blazers rallied in the fourth quarter for a 106-105 victory over the Grizzlies on Monday, as 8.5-point underdogs. The 211 points sailed OVER the posted total of 202.5.
Brandon Roy led the way with 26 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
Current streak:
Miami has lost 3 straight games.
Team records:
Miami: 4-13 SU, 9-8 ATS
Portland: 6-12 SU, 8-10 ATS
Miami most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 6-4
Before playing Golden State are 4-6
After playing Utah are 7-3
After a loss are 4-6
Portland most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 3-7
Before playing Milwaukee are 3-7
After playing Memphis are 3-7
After a win are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
Miami is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Portland
Miami is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Portland
Miami is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Portland
Miami is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Portland
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Portland's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Portland's last 8 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Portland's last 6 games when playing Miami
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Portland's last 6 games when playing at home against Miami
Next up:
Miami at Golden State, Friday, December 7
Portland home to Milwaukee, Sunday, December 9
Thursday NBA Preview
VegasInsider.com
In the traditional TNT double-header an explosive pairing between Denver (11-7 straight up, 9-9 against the spread) and Dallas (12-6 SU, 7-11 ATS) should have the basketball community buzzing.
The party will continue as two struggling clubs from the East and West meet in Portland at 10:30 p.m. EST. The Heat (4-13 SU, 9-8 ATS) will make the cross country trip in the hopes of breaking out of a three-game skid, while the Trailblazers (6-12 SU, 8-10 ATS) have had problems of their own. Portland is currently tied up in a 2-8 SU slump in its last 10 and the team is looking for offensive answers, averaging just 91.4 PPG.
**Denver at Dallas**
Draining 106.6 PPG, Denver isn’t worried about getting outscored on any given night. You can guess with ease that Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson lead the charge in the offensive department, but others including J.R. Smith, Kinas Kleiza and Kenyon Martin have all helped contribute to the team effort.
Minus covering the spread in their last two games, the Nuggets where tearing tickets up at the window with a five-game ATS skid. This has been an uneasy time for gamblers, given the six straight games covered from Nov. 9 through Nov. 20. Without a doubt the pattern setting itself up here is that the Nuggets profitability report is as streaky as its game play.
Denver’s Marcus Camby has been mightily impressive off the boards, snatching up 14.7 rebounds per game on the season (seven games with 15 or more rebounds).
Whether or not this has any bearing on the Nuggets results, when Anthony is the leading scorer on the team, Denver has gone 8-0 SU (versus Allen leading the stat sheet in scoring). Just something worth noting.
At home this season the Mavericks are 2-4 SU versus teams with a .500 record or better. Another team that bettors should be wary about has Dallas going 2-8 ATS in its last 10. Involved in a six-game ATS slide, bettors have been derailed from cashing in big on a club shooting 102.6 PPG and averaging a league best 84.5% from the charity stripe.
One reason for some unbalanced play centers around the defense, which is allowing opponents to register 98.1 PPG (14th ranked in the NBA). While DeSagana Diop is averaging exactly two blocks per game and grabbing 7.6 RPG, the rest of the team is struggling to out hustle the competition on the board with a difference of only plus-one (42.4 RPG versus its opponents 41.4 RPG). The Mavs are also having problems grasping offensive boards, taking in a low 10.3 RPG.
Individually speaking, Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki has had two 30-plus scoring runs in the last 10, and has nailed 20 or more points in seven of the last 10.
On an injury note the Mavs' Devin Harris (14.7 PPG with 21 total steals) is expected to return to the court after x-rays on his strained neck where negative.
**Miami at Portland**
The Heat are in horrible shape, while Shaquille O’Neal and Dwayne Wade are in good health. So why the damaging results?
How about scoring a league low 89.5 PPG and allowing opponents to walk all over the court with 94.8 PPG tallied up on the stat sheet. That’s a difference of minus-5.3 PPG! Shaq is surely showing his age and at 325 pounds his frame isn’t what it was as a young man in the league. His career average of 25.8 PPG is taking a huge hit, with O’Neal only draining 15.4 PPG threw the net this year.
From a gambling perspective, Miami has been surprisingly solid with a 6-3 ATS record on the road. In nine of the Heats’ successful wins in the ATS department the ‘over’ has cashed in for a 5-3-1 record.
All in all, Miami is on a collision course with a dark destiny. A 4-13 SU record has the Heat sitting at the bottom of the Southeast division and only Minnesota has a worse record throughout the NBA (2-14 SU).
The young crew that comprises Portland isn’t on fire by any means, but a mediocre defense has given bettors a solid opportunity on hitting the ‘under’. Coming off six straight games of cashing in on the ‘under’, the Trailblazers have only seen the total push ‘over’ seven times in 18 games this season.
A good indication of a solid money line play in favor of Portland is the team’s 3-1 SU home performance versus opponents with less then a .500 record.
In his second year in the pros, Blazers’ starting power forward LaMarcus Aldridge has stepped up to fill some big shoes. Averaging 34.5 minutes per game, Aldridge is leading the team with 18.6 PPG and 7.8 RPG.
Portland was looking for Channing Frye to help out after giving away Zach Randolph to the Knicks but the 6-foot-11 forward has failed to answer the call. Frye is only averaging 17.5 minutes per game of playing time and is struggling to light up the score board with only 5.9 PPG of production.
Bonus Round
- A non televised (nationally) game beginning at 7:00 p.m. EST will pit the worst team in the league, Minnesota (2-14 SU, 6-10 ATS), versus a youthful club in Atlanta (7-10 SU, 8-9 ATS).
- The Timberwolves are in desperate times, putting together just 93.1 PPG, while the defense can't hold the flood of opponents raining down on them from the field. Teams are draining 102.9 PPG against this bewildered Minnesota team and are shooting for a 47.5% from within the arc.
- In the last 10, the Timberwolves have gone 1-9 SU and 3-7 ATS, while managing to score 95 points or more three times in this stretch.
- With Atlanta going 1-7 on the ‘under’ on the road, low scoring games have also been prevalent at home. The ‘under’ inside the Philips Center has hit four times in nine games.
- At home this season the Hawks are 4-3 versus teams with a record below .500.
- Atlanta’s defense has been fairly effective, holding teams to 95.5 PPG and putting the hands up in front of opponents from the three-point line for a 33.1% success rate.
- Four players for the Hawks are averaging double-digit figures, including Joe Johnson who’s been throwing down the rock for 20.7 PPG. Josh Smith (16.9 PPG) is a block machine, rejecting 3.5 BPG, while snagging down 7.3 RPG.
- The Timberwolves are 0-6 ATS in its last six games versus a team with a losing SU record, while the ‘under’ is 7-1 in Atlanta’s last eight.
Big East/SEC Tip Sheet
By Brian Edwards
VegasInsider.com
The Pizza Hut Big East/SEC Invitational continues tonight with a pair of games on ESPN. Let’s take a look at both of these matchups.
**South Carolina at Providence**
--Most sports books are listing Providence (5-2 straight up, 3-3 against the spread) as a 3½-point ‘chalk.’ Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened the number at 4 ½ and sent out a 144-point total.
--The Friars are in bounce-back mode following a 77-60 loss at Rhode Island as two-point underdogs. They have quasi-quality wins over Arkansas, Boston College and Temple. Miami handed Providence its only other defeat.
--Providence has a balanced offensive attack with five players scoring in double figures. Sophomore guard Brian McKenzie leads the Friars in scoring with a 12.7 points per game average.
--South Carolina (4-4 SU, 4-2 ATS) is off an 85-74 loss at Clemson as an 8½-point underdog. Zam Fredrick scored a game-high 28 points in the losing effort. Fredrick, a transfer from Georgia Tech, is USC’s second-leading scorer with a 16.9 points per game average.
--Devan Downey is playing outstanding basketball for the Gamecocks, who were fortunate when Downey transferred after an excellent freshman year at Cincinnati. Downey is averaging 18.1 points, 4.8 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game.
--Dave Odom’s team has compiled a 14-6 spread record in its last 20 games dating back to last season.
**LSU at Villanova**
--Most spots have installed Villanova (5-1 SU, 3-1 ATS) as a 9½-point favorite. LVSC opened the total at 142.
--Villanova has one of the Big East’s premier guards in Scottie Reynolds, who is averaging 17.0 points and 4.3 assists per game. He scored a game-high 21 points in the Wildcats’ 87-61 win Saturday over Penn as 21 ½-point favorites.
--Jay Wright’s team might be without its second-leading scorer in this spot. Shane Clark (12.6 PPG, 6.8 RPG) is “questionable” with a sore leg.
--‘Nova’s lone loss to date was to N.C. St. on a neutral court. The Wolfpack beat the Wildcats by a 69-68 count as a three-point underdog.
--LSU (5-2 SU, 0-3 ATS) has won back-to-back games since losing two of three at the Maui Invitational. The Tigers are off an 88-45 win over Southern University in a non-board affair. Anthony Randolph, LSU’s dynamic freshman center from out of Dallas, scored 24 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked five shots.
--LSU junior guard Marcus Thornton leads the team in scoring with a 19.9 points per game average. Thornton, who was fifth in the nation in scoring at the junior-college level last season, had 22 points in the win over Southern.
--LSU is without its premier defender, junior Tasmin Mitchell, who was instrumental in shutting down Duke’s J.J. Redick in a Sweet 16 win at the Georgia Dome during his freshman year. Mitchell is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery a few weeks ago to repair a stress fracture in his ankle. Mitchell averaged 7.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in LSU’s first three games.
--John Brady’s squad suffered a six-point loss to Oklahoma State and an overtime defeat to Arizona St. in Maui.
--The ‘over’ has hit in all three LSU games with a total.
--Tip-off is schedulued for 9:30 p.m. Eastern with ESPN providing television coverage.
**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**
--Tim Welsh is in his ninth season at Providence, but the Friars haven’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2004.
--Kansas State freshman Michael Beasley has been 'as advertised.' Beasley is second in the nation in scoring (25.8 PPG) and first in rebounding (14.8 RPG).
--Ole Miss and Vandy are the SEC's only remaining unbeaten teams. The Commodores beat Wake Forest 83-80 last night, but they failed to cover the number as 11-point home favorites.
Kidd's absence triggers trade speculation
New York Post
Jason Kidd was "on strike" last night, several team sources claimed. He essentially called in sick, perhaps seeking to force a trade from the Nets or gain a contract extension.
Coach Lawrence Frank said Kidd phoned him complaining of a migraine yesterday at about 2 p.m. Kidd never showed for the Nets' 100-93 defeat against the Knicks, also short-handed, at the Meadowlands last night.
"Everyone is going to have to sit down and figure out where we go from here," one source claimed.
Maybe it was the contract extension he sought and did not receive. Maybe it is the general state of the team, which fell back below .500. Maybe it is a desire for a trade. Whatever the reason, the apparent protest by Kidd to show his value to the team came against the division rival Knicks.
"He's on strike," one team source said.
The Nets proved how much they need Kidd, losing to the 6-11 Knicks, who were without Eddy Curry and Stephon Marbury.
"It's tough," Vince Carter (19 points, 46 minutes) said of playing without Kidd. "J-Kidd is very valuable to this team. He does a lot of things on both ends of the court."
One teammate claimed, "I can't picture Jason doing that. I would be disappointed if he did."
Another source said the Nets were planning on — if not already — talking to Dallas, the Lakers and perhaps Cleveland about a trade. Kidd nearly was traded to the Lakers last February.
Kidd played 30 minutes Tuesday in Cleveland and chatted with LeBron James afterwards. Both have expressed the desire to be teammates. James sat his fourth straight game with a sprained finger.
Conspiracy theorists, here's you space.
"Right now my thoughts are with this game," Frank said when asked about Kidd.