Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Portland Trail Blazers
- The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Portland Trail Blazers will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at Rose Garden.
Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
Ryan Gomes had a team-high 23 points on Friday as the Timberwolves picked up a 121-116 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics.
The Sonics had been favored by 1.5 points at home in that contest, while the combined score went OVER the night's posted total (201.5).
Brandon Roy led Portland with 21 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in its 96-85 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.
Sacramento covered as 3-point home favorites as the teams played under the 205.5-point total listed by oddsmakers.
Team records:
Minnesota: 15-49 SU, 31-32-1 ATS
Portland: 34-32 SU, 34-32 ATS
Minnesota most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 4-6
Before playing LA Clippers are 5-5
After playing Seattle are 2-8
After a win are 3-7
Portland most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 2-8
Before playing Phoenix are 1-9
After playing Sacramento are 4-6
After a loss are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota's last 6 games when playing Portland
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Minnesota's last 8 games when playing on the road against Portland
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Minnesota's last 18 games when playing Portland
Minnesota is 5-13 SU in its last 18 games
Portland is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Portland's last 6 games when playing Minnesota
Portland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Minnesota
Portland is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Minnesota
Next up:
Minnesota home to LA Clippers, Monday, March 17
Portland home to Phoenix, Tuesday, March 18
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors
- The Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at Oracle Arena.
Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
The Grizzlies were pounded 108-86 by the Nuggets on Wednesday, as 16.5-point underdogs. The 194 points were UNDER the posted total of 226.5.
Juan Carlos Navarro tossed in 16 points with seven rebounds in the loss.
Baron Davis led Golden State with 38 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists in its 123-115 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night.
Phoenix covered as 4.5-point home favorites as the teams played under the 238.5-point total listed by sportsbooks.
Current streak:
Memphis has lost 3 straight games.
Team records:
Memphis: 15-49 SU, 25-39 ATS
Golden State: 40-24 SU, 28-36 ATS
Memphis most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 4-6
Before playing Charlotte are 4-3
After playing Denver are 5-5
After a loss are 1-9
Golden State most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 6-4
Before playing Sacramento are 7-3
After playing Phoenix are 4-6
After a loss are 9-1
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Memphis's last 6 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Memphis's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Memphis's last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Memphis's last 6 games when playing on the road against Golden State
Golden State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Memphis
Golden State is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Golden State's last 6 games when playing Memphis
Golden State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Memphis
Next up:
Memphis home to Charlotte, Monday, March 17
Golden State at Sacramento, Tuesday, March 18
NBA Gameday
Two teams fighting for playoff spots take to the court on Saturday as the New Jersey Nets host the Utah Jazz and the Golden State Warriors welcome the Memphis Grizzlies. Also in action are the Phoenix Suns who are at home to the Sacramento Kings.
Utah at New Jersey
The Jazz were red-hot having won six of their last seven games heading into Friday night’s tough test against Boston. Earlier in the week Utah knocked off Milwaukee 114-100, but they were unable to cover the 8-point spread. Deron Williams unleashed 26 points and 13 rebounds in the win, while Carlos Boozer had his usual double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
The Nets are still holding on to eighth place in the Eastern Conference after finally snapping their six-game losing streak on Wednesday night. The Nets upset Cleveland 104-99 as a 4-point underdog behind 24 points from Richard Jefferson. Bostjan Nachbar scored 21 points off the bench in the win, while Vince Carter had 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
The Jazz and Nets have met up once already this season way back in November, when Utah defeated New Jersey 102-75 as an 11-point favorite. Williams led the Jazz with 20 points and six assists, while Jefferson delivered 22 points for a Nets' squad that played without Vince Carter.
Memphis at Golden State
The Grizzlies are a welcome sight for any NBA team looking for a win these days. Memphis has only one win in their last 13 games and they’re 1-12 ATS in those games. The Grizzlies' latest loss came on Wednesday night when they fell to Denver 108-86 as a 16.5-point underdog. Juan Carlos Navarro led Memphis with 16 points and seven rebounds in the lopsided loss.
Golden State remains two games up on Denver for eighth place in the Western Conference after losing to Phoenix 123-115 as a 7.5-point underdog on Thursday night. Baron Davis had a huge game in the loss with 38 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, but still the Warriors came up short.
The Warriors are 2-0 both SU and ATS against Memphis this season, and they have won five straight against the Grizzlies overall. Golden State and Memphis last clashed on January 11 when Davis scored 20 points and added 19 assists to lead the Warriors to a 116-104 win as a 9.5-point favorite. The now-traded Pau Gasol led Memphis with 43 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.
Sacramento at Phoenix
The Kings have won their last two games after defeating Portland 96-85 as a 3.5-point favorite on Thursday night. Ron Artest played some stifling defense for the Kings and also scored a team-high 22 points in the win. Beno Udrih added 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Brad Miller chipped in with 14 points and seven rebounds.
The Suns are finally coming together after winning their last three games, including Thursday night's aforementioned 123-115 win over Golden State as a 7.5-point favorite. Amare Stoudemire scored 36 points and had 11 rebounds for the Suns, and Steve Nash added 21 points and 13 assists in the win. Boris Diaw had a strong all-around game with 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Shaquille O’Neal had a short night after playing only 14 minutes and recording nine points and four rebounds.
The Suns are 3-0 straight up and 2-1 ATS in three games against Sacramento this season. The last time these two teams met up back in December, the Suns won 117-102 as an 8-point favorite. Stoudemire led the Suns with 31 points and 17 rebounds, while the Kings were shorthanded playing without Artest and Kevin Martin.
NBA Today
Sacramento at Phoenix (10 p.m. EDT). The Suns are 6-6 since trading for Shaquille O'Neal.
Sunday, March 16
L.A. Lakers at Houston (3:30 p.m. EDT). The Rockets' 21-game winning streak is the second longest in NBA history.
STARS
-Chris Paul, Hornets, had 27 points and 17 assists to lead New Orleans to a 108-98 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
-Deron Williams, Jazz, had 32 points and eight assists in a 110-92 victory over the Boston Celtics.
-Richard Hamilton, Pistons, scored 25 points and made an important three-point play with 20.6 seconds left to lead Detroit to an 84-80 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
RAREFIED AIR
The Houston Rockets' 21st consecutive victory gave them the second-longest winning streak in NBA history and a share of first place in the Western Conference. Tracy McGrady scored 30 points and the Rockets beat the Charlotte Bobcats 89-80 on Friday night to break a tie with the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks for the second-best victory streak in league history. Only the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, who won 33 in a row, had a longer streak.
SNAPPED
Deron Williams had 32 points and eight assists, and Carlos Boozer added 17 points and 12 rebounds Friday night to lead the Utah Jazz to a 110-92 victory over Boston that snapped the Celtics' 10-game winning streak. ... San Antonio's Bruce Bowen was suspended one game by the NBA for kicking Chris Paul, ending his consecutive games streak at 500. Bowen began his streak, the longest in the NBA, on Feb. 28, 2002, and he started every game until missing the Spurs' 84-80 loss to the Pistons on Friday night. Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince took the league lead in starts with his 338th in a row.
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Kobe Bryant had 36 points and nine assists for the Lakers in a 108-98 loss to the New Orleans Hornets on Friday night. ... Miami's Jason Williams scored 34 points with seven assists in a 103-94 loss to the Orlando Magic.
STREAKS
The Denver Nuggets won their fifth straight game at home, blowing out the Toronto Raptors 137-105 on Friday night.
SPEAKING
``This is pretty remarkable. I'll always remember this. I'm definitely cherishing this moment.'' - Houston's Tracy McGrady, after the Rockets beat the Charlotte Bobcats 89-80 on Friday night for their 21st straight victory, giving them the second-longest winning streak in NBA history and a share of first place in the Western Conference.
College Cheat Sheet: Conference Tourney Championships
By MARC LAWRENCE
The road to San Antonio will be paved with the eventual winners of this weekend’s Conference Tournaments. As a reward, these champions will have earned the majority of the top seeds to be announced on Selection Sunday. And, as a result, it’s our last chance to pad our bankroll before the Big Dance begins.
Let’s take a Cheat Sheet peek at what we can expect in these title games over the weekend. All results are since 1991 in Conference Championship games only, unless mentioned otherwise. For openers, here’s a breakdown of some of the best and worst ATS title game results within each the six major conferences.
ACC – while it’s been all Duke (11 appearances) and North Carolina (10 appearances) in the title game, these two have not faced one another in a game for all the marbles since 2001. In head-to-head title games, the Blue Devils hold a 3-2 SU and ATS edge over the Tar Heels, having been favored all five times. In fact, throughout all games in the ACC tourney, Coach K’s crew is 0-4 SU and ATS in winnable roles (as a dog or favorite of less than three points). Key Stat: teams in this title game, off an ATS win of eight or more points, are 1-8 SU and 3-5-1 ATS.
Big East – the straight-up winner in the title games is 15-2 ATS, however 10 of those wins have been by the underdog. Final favorites of three or more points are just 3-7 ATS. Should Georgetown, the loop’s top seed, arrive to the championship game (they are 13-0 SU as a No.1 seed in this tourney), our key stat could likely come into play: teams who allow less than 65 points are 12-2 SU and 11-3 ATS in title games.
Big Ten – entering its 11th year of play, the Big Ten/11 has seen four teams earn the title two times each (Iowa, Illinois, Michigan State and Ohio State). The Buckeyes and the Fighting Illini lead the pack with five appearances each in the title game. No. 1 and No.2 seeds have been the big money makers, going 8-3 SU and ATS, with all other lowers seeds 2-7 SU and ATS. Key Stat: teams playing with revenge in the championship game are 1-7 ATS.
Big 12 – similar to the Big 10, this conference enters just its 12th year of competition (it was formerly the Big 8 and the SWC in years prior). Kansas leads the way with five titles (5-1 SU and 4-2 ATS), followed by three for Oklahoma. No.1 seed Texas is still a Big 12 virgin, going 0-4 SU and 1-3 ATS ATS in games for the big cheese. Key Stat: teams that score 70 or more points in the title game are 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS.
PAC 10 – arguably the strongest league in the land this year, the Beach Boys have been holding postseason parking lot conference concerts since 2002. In that span only Oregon has managed to arrive to the championship game more than once (two times), while USC has made the most appearances (four). Top seed UCLA has been here once, in 2006 when they defeated California to earn the crown. Interestingly, teams with a win percentage of less than .700 are 0-4 SU and ATS while teams with a win percentage of more than .700 are 5-1 SU and ATS. One other note in passing: teams that manage to score 74 or more points in the title game are 5-0 SU and ATS. Those who fail to score 74 are 1-6 SU and ATS.
SEC – the three-time defending champs (Florida) are gone, but a lot of history abounds in championship games inside this loop. If you don’t mind laying points then this is your conference. That’s confirmed by the fact that favorites of six or more points are 8-1 SU and 7-1-1 ATS in championship affairs. No.1 seed Tennessee has made one appearance, a 19-point loss back in 1991 against Alabama. Leading the cavalry is Kentucky with no less than 11 performances in the title game, more than double its nearest competitor (Florida, five). It doesn’t hurt knowing that teams ring the register when they put up 75 or more points in the big game. When they do they are 12-1 SU and ATS (5-16 SU and 4-15-2 ATS when they don’t).
In closing, some parting thoughts to keep in mind while seeking a dance partner this weekend: teams on home courts in championship games are 33-9 SU and 24-17-1 ATS since 1991. No.1 seeds, when playing off an ATS win of seven or more points in the semi-final round, are super tough at 39-20-2 ATS. And finally, No.2 seeds are just 6-18-2 ATS in championship games off an ATS win of 12 or more points. Enjoy the rehearsal.
NCAAB – Cheat Sheet
College Cheat Sheet: Conference Tourney Championships
The road to San Antonio will be paved with the eventual winners of this weekend’s Conference Tournaments. As a reward, these champions will have earned the majority of the top seeds to be announced on Selection Sunday. And, as a result, it’s our last chance to pad our bankroll before the Big Dance begins.
Let’s take a Cheat Sheet peek at what we can expect in these title games over the weekend. All results are since 1991 in Conference Championship games only, unless mentioned otherwise. For openers, here’s a breakdown of some of the best and worst ATS title game results within each the six major conferences.
ACC – while it’s been all Duke (11 appearances) and North Carolina (10 appearances) in the title game, these two have not faced one another in a game for all the marbles since 2001. In head-to-head title games, the Blue Devils hold a 3-2 SU and ATS edge over the Tar Heels, having been favored all five times. In fact, throughout all games in the ACC tourney, Coach K’s crew is 0-4 SU and ATS in winnable roles (as a dog or favorite of less than three points). Key Stat: teams in this title game, off an ATS win of eight or more points, are 1-8 SU and 3-5-1 ATS.
Big East – the straight-up winner in the title games is 15-2 ATS, however 10 of those wins have been by the underdog. Final favorites of three or more points are just 3-7 ATS. Should Georgetown, the loop’s top seed, arrive to the championship game (they are 13-0 SU as a No.1 seed in this tourney), our key stat could likely come into play: teams who allow less than 65 points are 12-2 SU and 11-3 ATS in title games.
Big Ten – entering its 11th year of play, the Big Ten/11 has seen four teams earn the title two times each (Iowa, Illinois, Michigan State and Ohio State). The Buckeyes and the Fighting Illini lead the pack with five appearances each in the title game. No. 1 and No.2 seeds have been the big money makers, going 8-3 SU and ATS, with all other lowers seeds 2-7 SU and ATS. Key Stat: teams playing with revenge in the championship game are 1-7 ATS.
Big 12 – similar to the Big 10, this conference enters just its 12th year of competition (it was formerly the Big 8 and the SWC in years prior). Kansas leads the way with five titles (5-1 SU and 4-2 ATS), followed by three for Oklahoma. No.1 seed Texas is still a Big 12 virgin, going 0-4 SU and 1-3 ATS ATS in games for the big cheese. Key Stat: teams that score 70 or more points in the title game are 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS.
PAC 10 – arguably the strongest league in the land this year, the Beach Boys have been holding postseason parking lot conference concerts since 2002. In that span only Oregon has managed to arrive to the championship game more than once (two times), while USC has made the most appearances (four). Top seed UCLA has been here once, in 2006 when they defeated California to earn the crown. Interestingly, teams with a win percentage of less than .700 are 0-4 SU and ATS while teams with a win percentage of more than .700 are 5-1 SU and ATS. One other note in passing: teams that manage to score 74 or more points in the title game are 5-0 SU and ATS. Those who fail to score 74 are 1-6 SU and ATS.
SEC – the three-time defending champs (Florida) are gone, but a lot of history abounds in championship games inside this loop. If you don’t mind laying points then this is your conference. That’s confirmed by the fact that favorites of six or more points are 8-1 SU and 7-1-1 ATS in championship affairs. No.1 seed Tennessee has made one appearance, a 19-point loss back in 1991 against Alabama. Leading the cavalry is Kentucky with no less than 11 performances in the title game, more than double its nearest competitor (Florida, five). It doesn’t hurt knowing that teams ring the register when they put up 75 or more points in the big game. When they do they are 12-1 SU and ATS (5-16 SU and 4-15-2 ATS when they don’t).
In closing, some parting thoughts to keep in mind while seeking a dance partner this weekend: teams on home courts in championship games are 33-9 SU and 24-17-1 ATS since 1991. No.1 seeds, when playing off an ATS win of seven or more points in the semi-final round, are super tough at 39-20-2 ATS. And finally, No.2 seeds are just 6-18-2 ATS in championship games off an ATS win of 12 or more points. Enjoy the rehearsal.