Charlotte Bobcats vs. Los Angeles Lakers
- The fans at STAPLES Center will be treated to a game between the Charlotte Bobcats and the Los Angeles Lakers when they take their seats on Wednesday.
Oddsmakers currently have the Lakers listed as 14½-point favorites versus the Bobcats, while the game's total has not yet been posted.
The Bobcats lost 128-106 last time out, as 13-point underdogs against the Jazz. The 234 points sailed OVER the posted total of 207.
Jason Richardson added 26 points with five rebounds in a losing effort.
The Lakers dominated the third quarter and then held on to defeat the Warriors 111-108 last time out. The Lakers won the game as 2.5-point favorites, while the combined score fell UNDER the posted total of 229.
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with a team-high 28 points, and Lamar Odom had 21 points and 19 rebounds in the win.
Team records:
Charlotte: 25-45 SU, 29-39-2 ATS
Los Angeles: 49-22 SU, 43-27-1 ATS
Charlotte most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 3-7
Before playing Seattle are 1-6
After playing Utah are 1-6
After a loss are 2-8
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 6-4
Before playing Memphis are 7-3
After playing Golden State are 7-3
After a win are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Charlotte's last 6 games
Charlotte is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games when playing LA Lakers
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Charlotte's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Charlotte's last 6 games when playing LA Lakers
LA Lakers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games
LA Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games
LA Lakers are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the LA Lakers last 6 games at home
Next up:
Charlotte at Seattle, Friday, March 28
LA Lakers home to Memphis, Friday, March 28
NCAAB Trend Sheet
DAYTON (23 - 10) at OHIO ST (21 - 13)
Top Trends for this game.
OHIO ST is 31-20 ATS (+9.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
OLE MISS (23 - 10) at VIRGINIA TECH (21 - 13)
Top Trends for this game.
OLE MISS is 12-28 ATS (-18.8 Units) in road games on Wednesday games since 1997.
OLE MISS is 9-22 ATS (-15.2 Units) when playing with one or less days rest since 1997.
OLE MISS is 30-52 ATS (-27.2 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games since 1997.
VIRGINIA TECH is 20-10 ATS (+9.0 Units) in all games this season.
VIRGINIA TECH is 20-10 ATS (+9.0 Units) in all lined games this season.
VIRGINIA TECH is 13-3 ATS (+9.7 Units) as a favorite this season.
VIRGINIA TECH is 10-3 ATS (+6.7 Units) in all home games this season.
VIRGINIA TECH is 10-3 ATS (+6.7 Units) in home lined games this season.
VIRGINIA TECH is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in March games this season.
VIRGINIA TECH is 16-7 ATS (+8.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
OLE MISS is 19-6 ATS (+12.4 Units) after scoring 80 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
BRADLEY (19 - 15) at VIRGINIA (17 - 15)
Top Trends for this game.
BRADLEY is 57-39 ATS (+14.1 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
BRADLEY is 57-39 ATS (+14.1 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
BRADLEY is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games this season.
VIRGINIA is 23-39 ATS (-19.9 Units) on Wednesday games since 1997.
VIRGINIA is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) when playing with one or less days rest over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
HOUSTON (24 - 9) at TULSA (22 - 13)
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 4-13 ATS (-10.3 Units) after scoring 80 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
TULSA is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) as a favorite this season.
TULSA is 10-3 ATS (+6.7 Units) in all home games this season.
TULSA is 10-3 ATS (+6.7 Units) in home lined games this season.
TULSA is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
TULSA is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) after allowing 60 points or less this season.
TULSA is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
TULSA is 69-47 ATS (+17.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
HOUSTON is 3-0 against the spread versus TULSA over the last 3 seasons
HOUSTON is 3-0 straight up against TULSA over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
NBA -– Trend Sheet
CHICAGO vs. PHILADELPHIA
Chicago is 11-4 ATS in its last 15 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
Chicago is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
Philadelphia is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 6 games when playing Chicago
DETROIT vs. TORONTO
Detroit is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games when playing on the road against Toronto
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit's last 6 games when playing on the road against Toronto
Toronto is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Detroit
Toronto is 2-10 SU in its last 12 games when playing Detroit
MIAMI vs. NEW YORK
Miami is 2-11 SU in its last 13 games
Miami is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing New York
New York is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Miami
New York is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Miami
MILWAUKEE vs. ATLANTA
Milwaukee is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Milwaukee's last 6 games when playing Atlanta
Atlanta is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Atlanta is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games at home
NEW ORLEANS vs. CLEVELAND
New Orleans is 8-2-1 SU in its last 11 games
New Orleans is 1-4-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Cleveland is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games when playing New Orleans
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Cleveland's last 7 games when playing New Orleans
UCLA worried about status of two starters
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
UCLA's Luc Richard Mbah a Moute was set to undergo an MRI on his sprained left ankle and Josh Shipp was recovering from strep throat Monday, putting two of the Bruins' starters at less than full strength.
Top-seeded UCLA (33-3) plays Western Kentucky (29-6) Thursday night in the NCAA tournament regional semifinals in Phoenix.
Coach Ben Howland said the MRI on Mbah a Moute was being done as a precaution.
"His ankle was swollen pretty severely yesterday," he said. "I was surprised and a little bit down by it. We don't anticipate there being any issue."
Mbah a Moute returned Saturday night against Texas A&M after missing two games. He had two points, eight rebounds, six turnovers and four fouls in 32 minutes of the Bruins' 51-49 second-round victory.
"It hurt his timing that he hadn't practiced," Howland said. "His rebounding, defense and double-teams created a lot of havoc that helped us. I don't think we can advance much further without him."
Howland said the junior forward would play Thursday "barring any unforeseen abnormality on the MRI."
Shipp was given antibiotics for strep throat after Saturday's game, when he was scoreless in 37 minutes but came up with a key block on A&M's final shot to preserve the victory.
The Bruins didn't practice Monday, but Shipp spent more than an hour working on his shooting, Howland said. The junior forward who averages 12.8 points has been in a prolonged slump, including an 0-for-20 stretch from 3-point range earlier this month.
Howland said Shipp took about 325 shots, most under game-type conditions, and made 91 of 100 free-throw attempts.
"He shot it very well," Howland said. "We'll do some extra shooting tomorrow. I probably have waited too long to do that."
Mbah a Moute, Shipp and guard Russell Westbrook were a combined 3-for-18 against A&M. Westbrook had five points, four rebounds and went 0-for-3 from long-range in 39 minutes. His game-ending dunk was disallowed a day later by the NCAA because the ball didn't leave his hands before time expired.
Darren Collison and Kevin Love scored 40 of UCLA's 51 points against the Aggies.
"That's an aberration," Howland said. "We want to get more production out of our other three starters."
Portland loses Brandon Roy with groin injury
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy left Portland's game against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night after straining his right groin at the end of the first quarter.
Roy was attempting to block a long 3-pointer by Caron Butler and came down awkwardly. The All-Star crumpled to the floor, but then got up and limped off the court.
Roy, Portland's scoring leader with 19.5 points per game, tried to return at 8:13 in the second quarter but left the court after less than 2 minutes and didn't return.
The Blazers, also playing without second-leading scorer LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle), led the Wizards 59-43 at the half. They went on to win the game 102-82 as 1 1/2-point underdogs.
Portland plays Golden State Thursday night in its next game and there's no word yet whether Roy will be in the lineup or not.
Dancing all over the odds
Jeff Haney recaps March surprises, including the high-stepping by spread-busting Washington State
When the odds were posted on teams to win the NCAA Tournament before the 65-team field began play last week, the line on the Washington State Cougars seemed accurate at 40-1.
The odds weren’t in single digits like those accompanying big favorites UCLA, North Carolina or Kansas. But they weren’t in George Mason (500-1), Georgia (1,000-1) or San Diego (5,000-1) territory, either.
Since then, however, no team has exceeded the expectations of the oddsmakers and the betting public more than Washington State — at least from a purely analytical, point-spread perspective.
In the first round Washington State opened as a 9-point favorite against Winthrop in a matchup of No. 4 and No. 13 seeds. The Cougars were bet up to 9 1/2 or 10 at some sports books, and the bettors had the right idea.
Washington State won by 31 points to beat the spread by 21 or 22 — the easiest cover by any team in the tournament’s first round.
For an encore, the Cougars pulled off the same feat in Round 2. Oddsmakers opened Washington State as a 1- or 2-point favorite against Notre Dame, which had handled George Mason in Round 1.
Washington State closed at minus-2 in Las Vegas sports books before breezing past the Irish by 20, clobbering the point spread by 18. Only two of the Cougars’ counterparts in the second round performed as well against the spread, both in late games Sunday: North Carolina beat Arkansas by 31 points and the spread by 21, and Louisville beat Oklahoma by 30 and the spread by 23.
To reach the Final Four, Washington State would have to get past the No. 1 seed Tar Heels and the winner of Tennessee-Louisville when play resumes Thursday through Sunday. The championship game is scheduled for April 7 in San Antonio.
When adjusted odds on the remainder of the field to win the NCAA Tournament were released by the Las Vegas Hilton sports book late Sunday, the line on Washington State to win the title was only a bit lower at 30-1, reflecting the team’s tough road to the Final Four.
Washington State is a 7 1/2-point underdog against North Carolina on Thursday.
Other notable items from a point-spread angle from the tournament’s early rounds:
Team with the longest odds that is still alive: Based on odds released by the Las Vegas Hilton just after the bracket draw, it’s Villanova at 500-1. The Wildcats upended Clemson in a 5-12 matchup in the first round, winning by 6 points as a 6-point underdog. In the second round, Villanova rolled past Siena — which had pulled off its own first-round upset — as a 5 1/2-point favorite.
Team with the shortest odds that has been eliminated: Again according to the Hilton’s pretournament odds, it’s Georgetown, which was listed at 12-1. The Hoyas lost to Davidson on Sunday as a 4 1/2-point favorite.
Favorites vs. underdogs: Favorites carried the first couple of days of the tournament, going 21-11 against the point spread in Round 1. It was closer in the second round, with favorites going 9-7 against the spread.
Bad beat: Bettors who backed Butler on Sunday against Tennessee can justifiably claim a bad beat. They had what gamblers call the “right side” with Butler, a 4 1/2-point underdog that took Tennessee to overtime before losing by 5.
Biggest upset vis-a-vis the point spread: San Diego knocked off Connecticut as a 12-point underdog in the first round. Runner-up was Siena against Vanderbilt as a 7 1/2-point ’dog. Both came in matchups of No. 13 and No. 4 seeds.
lasvegassun.com
Detroit at Toronto, 7:05 ET
Detroit: 39-31 ATS in all games
Toronto: 12-2 OVER off a upset loss
Milwaukee at Atlanta, 7:05 ET
Milwaukee: 17-5 OVER second half
Atlanta: 14-25 ATS when playing on BB days
(TC) Miami at New York, 7:35 ET
Miami: 7-0 OVER in a road game where where the total is between 185 and 189.5
New York: 1-11 ATS in March
Chicago at Philadelphia, 7:05 ET
Chicago: 3-13 ATS off a home win
Philadelphia: 17-8 ATS second half
New Orleans at Cleveland, 7:05 ET
New Orleans: 15-7 ATS after a non-conference
Cleveland: 11-20 ATS after covering 2 of their last 3
(TC) Phoenix at Boston, 7:05 ET ESPN
Phoenix: 33-18 ATS off a road loss
Boston: 22-8 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5
Indiana at New Jersey, 7:35 ET
Indiana: 11-7 ATS when playing on BB days
New Jersey: 1-5 ATS after DD win
Minnesota at Houston, 8:35 ET
Minnesota: 19-8 ATS in road games when playing with double revenge
Houston: 50-71 ATS in home games
(TC) LA Clippers at San Antonio, 8:35 ET
LA Clippers: 8-20 ATS after a game where they covered
San Antonio: 5-1 ATS after a DD road win
Memphis at Sacramento, 10:05 ET
Memphis: 2-10 ATS off a DD home loss
Sacramento: 13-5 ATS in home games revenging a road loss
Washington at Seattle, 10:05 ET
Washington: 9-1 ATS in road games after a blowout loss by 15 points or more
Seattle: 3-13 ATS revenging a 20 plus point blowout loss
Charlotte at LA Lakers, 10:35 ET
Charlotte: 0-8 ATS in a road game where the total is greater than or equal to 200
LA Lakers: 8-0 ATS off a road win against a division rival