Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Thursday 11/1/18
Denver Nuggets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Preview and Predictions 11-01-2018 in NBA
NBA Previews 1st November 2018 by Gracenote
Nuggets vs. Cavaliers Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 11/01/2018
The Cleveland Cavaliers finally have a win under their belt, but they will be operating in uncertainty when they host the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. Larry Drew is serving as "acting" coach and has expressed his disappointment that the Cavaliers are refusing to offer him a better deal.
Drew began running the team after Tyronn Lue was fired on Sunday, and his first contest was filled with fun as Cleveland halted its 0-6 start with a 136-114 pounding of Atlanta on Tuesday. "He's a guy who's been through the wars and he knows how to put guys in position to be successful," shooting guard Rodney Hood told reporters of Drew. "I think it was more about us forgetting the first six games and coming out, just playing well. Regardless of the results, let's just play well." Denver has been playing well all season and won for the sixth time in seven games as it pulled out a 108-107 overtime win at Chicago on Wednesday. Power forward Paul Millsap scored on a putback with one-tenth of a second remaining and finished with a season-high 19 points for his fifth double-digit performance of the campaign.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Altitude2 (Denver), FS Ohio (Cleveland)
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (6-1): Denver was in danger of losing when it trailed by six points with 2 1/2 minutes left in regulation before coach Michael Malone challenged his squad to dig down deep. "I reminded our guys, 'Opening Night in L.A. (versus the Clippers), we were down six or eight and we never panicked,'" Malone told reporters, referencing a 107-98 triumph on Oct. 17. "I said, 'Tonight, we're not gonna panic either. We're gonna execute. We're gonna get baskets on one end and we're gonna get stops on the other and we're gonna win the game.'" Center Nikola Jokic recorded 22 points and 12 rebounds but missed the potential winning shot that was rebounded and kissed off the glass by Millsap for the decisive points.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (1-6): Hood recorded 26 points against Atlanta for his highest-scoring effort since joining Cleveland in February as he made 9-of-13 shots, including all four 3-point attempts. Hood struggled upon being acquired from Utah last season and fell out of the rotation for part of the team's playoff run. "That's the Rodney Hood that I know," Drew told reporters. "Rodney is a passive guy by nature. That's who he is, but he is a very talented and very skilled guy, and when he's aggressive like that, he's hard to defend. He can make the 3, turn the corner and get to the basket. When he gets his mid-range game, he really elevates. But I thought he really started with an aggression that carried all the way throughout the game."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Cavaliers have won seven of the last 10 meetings.
2. Denver backup C Mason Plumlee scored 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting against the Bulls for his fourth double-digit performance of the campaign.
3. Cleveland C Tristan Thompson collected 13 rebounds against the Hawks to move into fifth place on the franchise's all-time list with 4,443, passing Anderson Varejao (4,434).
PREDICTION: Nuggets 122, Cavaliers 118
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Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Charlotte Hornets Preview and Predictions 11-01-2018 in NBA
NBA Previews 31st October 2018 by Gracenote
Thunder vs. Hornets Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 10/31/2018
Russell Westbrook is healthy and back to scoring in bunches while getting a little feisty with the opposition. Westbrook will try to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a third consecutive win and avoid another technical foul when they open a two-game road trip by visiting the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday.
Westbrook recorded 32 points and eight assists in Tuesday's 128-110 win over Los Angeles and got tangled up several times with Clippers point guard Patrick Beverley, leading to offsetting technical fouls in the fourth quarter. "He's the engine, he's the leader and he gets us going," Oklahoma City forward Paul George told reporters of Westbrook. "You see him getting after it and our job is to back him up. That's all it is. We see him turning that notch and going to another level. Our job is to match that." Westbrook expects to see All-Star guard Kemba Walker on Thursday but should also prepare for a challenge from veteran Tony Parker, who is settling in with his new team. Parker recorded season highs of 24 points and 11 assists in 25 minutes off the bench on Tuesday to spark a 125-113 win over Miami.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Oklahoma, FS Southeast (Charlotte)
ABOUT THE THUNDER (2-4): Oklahoma City dropped its first four games but began to turn things around with a 117-110 victory over Phoenix on Sunday and looked like a playoff team again while outscoring the Clippers 39-10 in the third quarter on Tuesday. "We just locked into the gameplan, made it difficult, made it tough," George told reporters. "We just tightened up all the loose ends." George matched Westbrook with 32 points in the win and added 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the young season.
ABOUT THE HORNETS (4-4): Parker, 36, is playing outside a San Antonio Spurs uniform for the first time in his career and got off to a slow start while scoring in single digits in each of his first four games, including a pair of scoreless efforts. Parker finally broke out with 18 points and eight assists in a win over Chicago on Friday and sat out to rest in a loss at Philadelphia the next night before exploding on Tuesday with his first double-double since March 17, 2016. "I think his poise, his demeanor, his pace, it just calms everybody down," Charlotte coach James Borrego told reporters of Parker. "People find the right spots. They're in rhythm. It's not helter-skelter."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Thunder C Steven Adams (calf) returned from a one-game absence on Tuesday and collected 18 points and 10 rebounds in 38 minutes.
2. Hornets PF Marvin Williams is 2-of-16 from 3-point range over the last five games.
3. The visiting team won each of the two matchups last season, with Oklahoma City earning a 101-91 win at Charlotte on Jan. 13 behind 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists from Westbrook.
PREDICTION: Thunder 109, Hornets 104
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LA Clippers vs. Philadelphia 76ers Preview and Predictions 11-01-2018 in NBA
NBA Previews 31st October 2018 by Gracenote
Clippers vs. 76ers Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 10/31/2018
The Los Angeles Clippers made a pit stop on the way to the East Coast in Oklahoma City and put together one of their worst quarters of basketball en route to a 128-110 setback. The Clippers will try to lock in for the full 48 minutes and avoid suffering back-to-back losses for the first time this season when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday.
Los Angeles appeared to be on its way to a quality road win on Tuesday before being outscored 39-10 in the third quarter. "The first half we couldn't have played a more beautiful offensive or defensive game," Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters. "Second half, it was like we forgot all about it. We came out and one pass, shot, one pass, shot, no dribble penetration, all jump shots, all contested shots. Fouled a lot. It was 11-0 in free throws. That happens, you're going to lose." The 76ers displayed their own formula for losing by committing 23 turnovers and allowing the Toronto Raptors to shoot 51.1 percent from the floor in a 129-112 setback on Tuesday. "We didn't shoot well, we turned the ball over and we didn't play great defense," Philadelphia shooting guard JJ Redick told reporters. "So, that's the formula that's normally going to turn into a loss against a team like Toronto."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), NBCS Philadelphia
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (4-3): Los Angeles point guard Patrick Beverley managed four points on 2-of-6 shooting Tuesday but came out of the contest the source of much controversy after he was assessed a flagrant 1 foul for diving at the knees of Oklahoma City star Russell Westbrook while chasing a loose ball. "I don't know how that was a flagrant," Rivers told reporters. "They have bad blood. There's nothing wrong with that as long as they keep it clean. I thought both of them did. All that talk, you know, whatever. But there's nothing wrong with not liking someone in the league. It's allowed in this day and time." One bright spot for the Clippers was small forward Danilo Gallinari, who scored a team-high 27 points for his fourth outing this season of 20 or more.
ABOUT THE 76ERS (4-4): Reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons committed 11 turnovers on Tuesday to go with 11 points and 10 assists and knows he has more to learn in this league. "Forcing too much," Simmons told reporters. "They're good defenders, and it's a learning experience for me. ... You just have to take care of it, be more assertive when you have the ball." Simmons is averaging 2.3 turnovers in four games at home, and the 76ers are 4-0 in their own arena while dropping to 0-4 on the road with Tuesday's setback.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Clippers PF Luc Mbah a Moute (knee) missed the last three games and is questionable for Thursday.
2. 76ers C Joel Embiid recorded 31 points and 11 rebounds on Tuesday - his fifth game with at least 30 and 10.
3. Philadelphia took both meetings last season with Simmons averaging 18 points, 8.5 assists, seven rebounds and 4.5 turnovers.
PREDICTION: 76ers 122, Clippers 115
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Sacramento Kings vs. Atlanta Hawks Preview and Predictions 11-01-2018 in NBA
NBA Previews 31st October 2018 by Gracenote
Kings vs. Hawks Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 10/31/2018
The Sacramento Kings are on an impressive roll and they look to improve their winning streak to five straight games when they visit the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday. Sacramento began the streak with home wins over Memphis and Washington and continued it with victories in Miami and Orlando to open a four-game road trip.
The Kings are averaging 116.5 points while quickening their pace and their confidence is growing due to the strong start. "We've never been in this situation before, but it's fun," guard Buddy Hield told reporters after Tuesday's 107-99 victory over the Magic. "... This franchise has been down for a long time, so we've got to try to build it back up." Atlanta has lost three consecutive games and was lambasted 136-114 by the previously winless Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. The Hawks committed 22 turnovers and have lost back-to-back games by more than 20 points -- including a 21-point setback against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), FS Southeast (Atlanta)
ABOUT THE KINGS (5-3): Hield, who is averaging a team-best 18.9 points, scored 25 points against Orlando for his fourth straight 20-point effort and also collected a career-high 11 rebounds. Point guard De'Aaron Fox (17.5 points, 6.9 assists) and center Willie Cauley-Stein (17.4 points, nine rebounds per game) are also thriving under the faster tempo. "Teams want to set their defense up and we're trying not to let teams be able to set their defense," Fox told reporters. "In the NBA, scoring against a set defense is probably the hardest thing to do."
ABOUT THE HAWKS (2-5): Rookie guard Trae Young scored 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting against Cleveland for this third 20-point outing of the season. Young is averaging 19.1 points but is shooting just 34 percent from 3-point range and he was stunned with how bad the team's defense was while allowing 78 second-half points against the Cavaliers. "Tale of two halves," Young told reporters. "Started out the game, matched their effort, matched their intensity. We had a really good first half and then they made adjustments. We weren't ready to play and couldn't finish it out."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Kings have dropped 11 straight games in Atlanta.
2. Cauley-Stein has recorded a double-double in all four games of Sacramento's winning streak.
3. Atlanta C Alex Len scored a season-high 22 points on 9-of-9 shooting against Cleveland.
PREDICTION: Hawks 106, Kings 102
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Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics Preview and Predictions 11-01-2018 in NBA
NBA Previews 31st October 2018 by Gracenote
Bucks vs. Celtics Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 10/31/2018
The Milwaukee Bucks knocked off one top Eastern Conference contender to keep their unbeaten start intact and will try to pull the trick again when they visit the Boston Celtics on Thursday. The Bucks pulled out a 124-109 win over the Toronto Raptors in a battle of unbeatens on Monday despite being without superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo is in the concussion protocol and remains questionable for Thursday, but Milwaukee spread out the points with seven scorers in double figures and locked down on the defensive end in the 124-109 win over the Raptors. "We have a strong belief in this locker room that we are a great team," veteran center Brook Lopez told ESPN.com. "We are more than a collection of players -- more than one player or a few players. We are a team." The Celtics are a team as well and are proving they can win when a key player or two has an off night. Boston forwards Gordon Hayward and Jayson Tatum combined to go 7-of-22 from the floor on Tuesday but Boston still escaped with a 108-105 win over Detroit.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE BUCKS (7-0): Milwaukee is the last unbeaten team remaining in the NBA and coach Mike Budenholzer, who is in his first season with the team, is getting plenty of credit. "Of course, we have more confidence with (Antetokounmpo) on the floor, but we have a lot of confidence even when he's not on the floor due to the system, due to the confidence that (Budenholzer) gives us," Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon told reporters. Budenholzer encourages ball movement and gives everyone on the court the green light to shoot, leading to centers Lopez and Thon Maker going a combined 3-of-9 from 3-point range on Monday.
ABOUT THE CELTICS (5-2): Boston point guard Kyrie Irving managed a season-low three points on 1-of-5 shooing on Saturday, but the team still managed to win, and on Tuesday it was his turn to pick up the slack for some of his teammates. Irving broke out for a season-best 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting in 33 minutes. "Law of averages," Celtics coach Brad Stevens told reporters of Irving's performance. "Law of averages, which means he's got a few more coming, right? So, I mean, he's way too good of a scorer for the ball not to go in very long, and that stuff all evens out all the time. ... He's doing a great job of leading, and the ball will go through the net. That's inevitable."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Bucks PF Ersan Ilyasova recorded his first double-double of 2018-19 with a season-high 19 points and 10 rebounds on Monday.
2. Celtics PF Daniel Theis (right plantar fascia) is out indefinitely.
3. Boston knocked Milwaukee out of the playoffs with a 4-3 series win in the first round last spring.
PREDICTION: Celtics 109, Bucks 105
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New Orleans Pelicans vs. Portland Trail Blazers Preview and Predictions 11-01-2018 in NBA
NBA Previews 1st November 2018 by Gracenote
Pelicans vs. Trail Blazers Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 11/01/2018
The New Orleans Pelicans delivered a stunning blow by sweeping the favored Portland Trail Blazers right out of the playoffs last season. Portland will attempt to put up a better fight in this campaign's first meeting when it hosts the Pelicans on Thursday.
The Trail Blazers had no answers for New Orleans big man Anthony Davis or guard Jrue Holiday in the opening round of last season's playoffs, and standout guard Damian Lillard hasn't forgotten how badly his team was outplayed. "Obviously, we have this game circled," Lillard told reporters. "Obviously, we'll have (the playoffs) in our minds when we play against them. But it's only going to be the eighth game of the season and we can't get last year back. So, we'll see." The Pelicans have dropped three straight contests following a 4-0 start and couldn't contain Golden State in Wednesday's 131-121 road loss. Davis (elbow) returned to the lineup after a two-game absence and recorded 17 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in 41 minutes, and coach Alvin Gentry said after the game that he expects him to play against Portland.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE PELICANS (4-3): New Orleans, which allowed 43 points in the first quarter and 37 in the third against Golden State, has allowed an average of 126.3 points during the three-game skid. Holiday registered 28 points and nine assists and forward Nikola Mirotic added 26 points and 12 rebounds, but Davis was just 6-of-16 shooting while posting his lowest-scoring output in his five games played. "I thought he was a little winded," Gentry told reporters of Davis. "He just has to get his timing back. It takes you a game to get your rhythm back."
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (5-2): The Trail Blazers finished a 3-1 road trip with a 104-85 whipping of Houston and are now beginning a stretch of six straight home games. Portland's wins on the trek were by an average of 14.3 points, and the defense was tough in the last two games as it held Indiana to 93 points prior to the solid effort against Houston. "I thought we competed well," Lillard said. "Each game, I thought something different had to happen for us to be in position to win. If you would've told me, we would've come away from this trip 3-1, I'm sure everyone in here would've took it. I'm proud of the way we handled our first trip."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The teams split their four regular-season matchups in 2017-18.
2. New Orleans PG Elfrid Payton (ankle) has missed the last two games and is questionable for Thursday's contest.
3. Portland C Jusuf Nurkic recorded 22 points and 10 rebounds against the Rockets for his third double-double of the season.
PREDICTION: Trail Blazers 127, Pelicans 121
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