NBA Today
SCOREBOARD
Monday, April 27
Utah at Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 p.m. EDT). The Lakers look to close out the Jazz after taking Game 4. Kobe Bryant responded from one of his worst shooting performances in Game 3 with a 38-point effort to give the Lakers a 3-1 series lead.
STARS
Sunday
— LeBron James, Cavaliers, had 36 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists as Cleveland completed a sweep of Detroit with a 99-78 victory.
— Derrick Rose, Bulls, had 23 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists to help Chicago even its series with Boston at two games apiece with a 121-118 double-overtime victory.
— Ben Gordon, Bulls, scored 22 points, hitting the tying 3-pointer in the first overtime of Chicago’s victory over Boston.
— Hedo Turkoglu, Magic, scored 17 points and made the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left as Orlando tied its series with Philadelphia 2-2 with a 84-81 victory in Game 4.
— Yao Ming, Rockets, had 21 points and 12 rebounds to give Houston a 3-1 series lead with an 89-88 win over Portland.
SUPER SERIES
Boston and Chicago played their third thriller in four games Sunday, with the Bulls winning 121-118 in double overtime to even the series at two games apiece. The Bulls took Game 1 in Boston in overtime and the Celtics answered by winning Game 2 by three on Ray Allen’s late 3-pointer. The Celtics’ easy victory in Game 3 was the only game that wasn’t close.
HEDO’S HEROICS
Hedo Turkoglu was just 7-for-30 from the floor in the first three games of Orlando’s first-round series with Philadelphia. But he was 8-of-11 in Game 4, including a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left that gave the Magic an 84-81 victory and tied the series at two games apiece.
DETROIT’S DEMISE
After six straight trips to the Eastern Conference finals, the Detroit Pistons couldn’t even win a game in this postseason. The Pistons, who went from title contenders to a sub-.500 team after trading Chauncey Billups, were swept by Cleveland, which won Game 4 99-78 Sunday. The Pistons’ string of conference finals appearances was the longest such streak in the NBA since the Los Angeles Lakers’ run two decades ago.
CHARITY STRIPE
Portland was 17-for-17 from the free throw line, including Brandon Roy’s 13-for-13 effort, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Houston in Game 4. The Rockets lead the series 3-1.
SPEAKING
“I said, `LeBron doesn’t just show up at the game with a Superman outfit on.”’ Cleveland coach Mike Brown, recalling a conversation with his son about LeBron James’ work ethic.
Monday's Tip Sheet
By Brad Young
Only one series in the NBA Playoffs has already been decided after Eastern Conference top-seed Cleveland swept through Central Division rival Detroit. Western Conference top-seed Los Angeles can join the Cavaliers in the second round with a home victory Monday night over Utah. The only other series that could end with the next game is the Texas showdown between Dallas and San Antonio, who meet again in Tuesday's Game 5. However, the Mavs will have their work cut out for them trying to end the series on the road.
Monday's action also has an interesting tilt between Atlanta and Miami, but this Tip Sheet is going to focus on the Denver-New Orleans and Utah-Los Angeles matchups. The Nuggets just missed out on a 3-0 series advantage in Saturday's setback, but now the Hornets are just one home win away from tying things up. New Orleans was dominated the first two games in Colorado, but the Hornets do maintain a solid 10-1 home ledger in the postseason.
Now let’s take closer look at Game 4 in the Denver-New Orleans series, and Game 5 concerning Utah-Los Angeles.
**Nuggets (2) at Hornets (7)**
-Caesars Palace installed New Orleans as a 2 ½-point home ‘chalk’ over Denver, with the total set at 193 ½. NBA-TV will provide coverage of Monday’s Game 4 starting at 8:35 p.m. ET. The Nuggets lead this series, 2-1, and remain a decided $5.00 favorite to advance to the next round while the Hornets are a $4.00 underdog.
-New Orleans (50-35 straight up, 36-48 against the spread) got back on the winning track by holding off Denver (56-29 SU, 48-36 ATS) Saturday as a 4 ½-point home ‘chalk,’ 95-93. The combined 188 points failed to eclipse the 194 ½-point closing total, ending back-to-back ‘over’ outings in this series.
-The Hornets were outrebounded in the Game 3 victory, 44-40, but prevailed by shooting 44 percent (30-of-69) from the field and 35 percent (7-of-20) from behind the arc. Point guard Chris Paul led all scorers with 32 points while dishing out 12 assists, and power forward David West contributed 19 and nine rebounds.
-Denver shot 41 percent (30-of-74) from the field, and 43 percent (9-of-21) from 3-point land. The Nuggets lost the game by missing 11 free throws (24-of-35). Small forward Carmelo Anthony had 25 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the loss, while point guard Chauncey Billups added 16, seven and six.
-New Orleans sports a 10-1 SU home ledger its last 11 playoff games at New Orleans Arena. Things looked sketchy early after the Hornets found themselves down 22-6 to start the game. New Orleans is now 40-3 SU when leading going into the fourth quarter.
-Each team accounted for 29 fouls in Saturday’s Game 3.
-Denver is now 21-21 SU and 22-20 ATS on the road, with the ‘under’ going 23-19. The average score of those games has been 101-101.
-New Orleans sports a 29-13 SU and 19-22 ATS home ledger, with the ‘under’ going 26-15. The Hornets have been winning those endeavors by an average score of 96-92.
-Denver has gone 5-1 ATS the previous six meetings with New Orleans.
-Denver forward Carmelo Anthony (elbow) is ‘probable’ against the Hornets. New Orleans forward James Posey (knee) is ‘probable’ versus the Nuggets.
**Jazz (8) at Lakers (1)**
-LVSC opened Los Angeles as a 12 ½-point home favorite over Utah, with the total listed at 211. TNT will provide coverage of Monday’s Game 5 beginning at 10:35 p.m. ET. The Lakers have a 3-1 series advantage, and can advance to the second round with a victory in this spot.
-Los Angeles (68-18 SU, 45-41 ATS) took command of this series with Saturday’s Game 4 victory over Utah (49-37 SU, 41-45 ATS) as a five-point road ‘chalk,’ 108-94. The combined 202 points failed to topple the 208 ½-point closing total, helping the ‘under’ cash the second consecutive contest.
-The Lakers controlled the boards, 46-39, while shooting a solid 52 percent (40-of-77) from the field and 42 percent (8-of-19) from behind the arc. Shooting guard Kobe Bryant stepped up with 38 points on 16-of-24 shooting, while power forward Lamar Odom contributed 10 and 15 rebounds. Bryant started the game by scoring the Lakers’ first 11 points.
-Utah shot 44 percent (34-of-77) from the field, and 40 percent (4-of-10) from 3-point land. Power forward Carlos Boozer had 23 points and 16 rebounds in the setback, while point guard Deron Williams added 23 and 13 assists.
-Los Angeles put the game away with 40 points in the second quarter, and then by limiting the Jazz to just 16 points in the third.
-Utah has struggled to a 15-28 SU and 18-25 ATS road record, with the ‘over’ going 26-15. The Jazz have been dropping their road endeavors by an average score of 107-102.
-Los Angeles is 38-5 SU and 21-22 ATS at Staples Center, with the ‘over’ going 23-19. The Lakers have been winning their home games by an average score of 108-98.
-Utah is 0-10 SU and 2-8 ATS its last 10 road games against the Lakers.
-Utah center Mehmet Okur (hamstring) is ‘probable’ versus the Lakers. Los Angeles forward Trevor Ariza (ankle) is ‘probable’ against the Jazz, while Luke Walton (ankle) is ‘questionable.’
vegasinsider.com
Game 4, Heat vs. Hawks
By Chris David
The Cleveland Cavaliers were listed as overwhelming favorites to win the Eastern Conference and they lived up to their billing so far. Mike Brown’s team easily swept through Detroit in their first round series, winning all four games by double digits.
Can anybody stop this machine? It’s hard to say yes with confidence, because the remaining three best-of-seven battles are still up in the air and none of the six teams have shown any consistency comparable to the Cavs.
The Chicago-Boston and Orlando-Philadelphia series are both locked up at 2-2, and each head-to-head showdown has provided intense playoff drama with buzzer beaters galore.
While those series have gone back and forth, the 4 and 5 matchup between the Hawks and Heat has been anything but exhilarating.
Miami holds a 2-1 edge after three games and all of the outcomes have been decided by double digits. After getting destroyed by 26 points (90-64) in Game 1, the Heat have outscored the Hawks 108-93 in Game 2 on the road before ripping them 107-78 at home in Game 3 on Saturday.
The Hawks easily covered the first installment, while the Heat cashed tickets for backers in their victories. Gamblers backing the winners haven’t had to sweat at all, since every contest was practically in hand after the first 24 minutes.
Will we see a tight affair in Game 4 on Monday? The oddsmakers don’t believe the public is expecting another blowout and have opened Miami as a 4 ½-point favorite for tonight.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that close calls haven’t been a common thread between these teams this year. Of the seven meetings, six have been decided by eight points or more and the lone contest that was close didn’t even matter. Atlanta edged Miami 81-79 in the regular season finale, which saw backups garner the majority of the minutes.
If there has been a surprise in this series, it’s been the play of Jermaine O’Neal. South Florida fans were once used to seeing headlines of “O’Neal and Wade lead Heat to another victory” but that was a few years ago when Miami captured its first championship in franchise history behind Shaquille O’Neal.
After being traded to Miami from Toronto, some questioned the move due to O’Neal’s past injury problems. It took a while, but the former high school product has finally started to show some glimpses of talent.
O’Neal has scored 22 and 19 points in the two victories, but only five points in the loss. He’s also combined for 16 rebounds in the wins and just two boards in the setback. If he continues to take the scoring load of Dwyane Wade (27 PPG), then Miami can be a serious threat.
“I’m a little surprised by O’Neal’s performance in the last two games but this series has been black and white. Miami has played two great games, and one bad game. Atlanta has not played a good game in this series and is probably fortunate to have the Heat not show up in Game 1,” explained VegasInsider.com handicapper Brian Edwards.
“If Atlanta has any shot to knot this series up, then Joe Johnson better step up. He was never known for his defense but he made big shot after big shot in last year’s thrilling playoff series against Boston.”
Johnson is shooting 37 percent from the floor in the first three games and is averaging 13.6 PPG, eight points below his season average. Johnson has accepted the blame and expects things to change. “We have to make something happen, and I count myself as one who has to step up his game,” he said.
Trends are against the Hawks in Game 4 as well. The franchise has dropped 12 consecutive road games in the postseason since 1997, including all four to Boston in last year’s opening round. Even worse, all four setbacks last year to the Celtics was by an average of 27.5 PPG.
Total players are looking at an ‘over/under’ of 186 to 187 for Monday’s matchup. Six of the seven games between the two have gone ‘under’ this year, with the lone ‘over’ happening in Miami’s 108-93 triumph in Game 2. The Heat exploded for 15 bombs from 3-point land, which helped the game easily eclipse the closing number (184).
Miami owns a 29-13 straight up and 21-20-1 against the spread record at home this year, while Atlanta has struggled to a 16-26 SU and 21-20 ATS ledger on the road.
Gamblers still believing in the Hawks can back them at plus-250 (Bet $100 to win $250) to win the best-of-seven series, despite trailing after three.
TNT will provide national coverage of this battle at 8:05 p.m. EDT.
vegasinsider.com
ATLANTA vs. MIAMI
Atlanta is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games
Miami is 12-3-1 ATS in its last 16 games when playing at home against Atlanta
Miami is 22-3 SU in its last 25 games when playing at home against Atlanta
DENVER vs. NEW ORLEANS
Denver is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games when playing on the road against New Orleans
Denver is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against New Orleans
New Orleans is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
New Orleans is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
UTAH vs. LA LAKERS
Utah is 6-12-1 ATS in their last 19 games when playing LA Lakers
Utah is 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing LA Lakers
LA Lakers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games when playing at home against Utah
LA Lakers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against Utah
NBA Playoffs
Miami crushed Hawks in last two games, 108-93/107-78; they were +13 on boards in Game 3, with 12 blocked shots, 15 offensive boards. None of these games have been close-- two of three stayed under total. Hawks won Game 1 by 90-64. Heat is 27-49 from arc in last two games, after being 4-20 in opener. Atlanta is 15-49 from arc in series.
Denver won 16 of last 19 games; seven of its last nine went over total. New Orleans lost eight of last 11 games- they pulled out a win in Game 3 in foulfest where both sides took 35 foul shots. Two of three in series went over total, with home team winning all three games, and Nuggets covering all three. Denver shot 40.5% in Game 3 (50.7/50.0 first two).
Utah lost ten of last thirteen games, covered four of last 16 (3-9 in last 12 as underdog). LA is 10-2 in last 12 games, with six of last nine going over the total- they're 7-3 against spread in its last nine games as a fave, have series wins here by 13-10-14 points. Lakers shot 56-60% in first two games, 36.8% in Game 3, then 51.9% in Saturday's Game 4.
Tips and Trends
Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers
Jazz: Carlos Boozer said, "I believe that if we - 1 through 15 - come with it defensively and share the ball offensively like we usually do, we'll have a chance to win the game. We just have to come with the mentality that we have nothing to lose. It's all or nothing." Deron Williams said, "We've just got to show some heart and some toughness and come out and give ourselves a shot to win the basketball game... The series is not over. We've still got a little hope. We know it's going to be tough to win three in a row against these guys, but we should be playing free and loose because nobody expects us to win."
The Jazz are 2-14 ATS in their last 16 games as a road underdog.
The Over is 9-0 in the Jazz's last 9 road games.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: 101
Lakers (-12.5, O/U 211): "You come out really aggressive, don't give them any life, any hope," Pau Gasol said. "Really start hard, set the tone early. Control the game. Make the game yours. That's what we're going to try to do. We're going to try to close the series and move on." Kobe said, "(In Game 3) I was operating in a space where it was harder for them to double-team me. I wasn't 30 feet from the basket. I was getting good screens, getting the ball in the deep post position and operating from there. I'm going to continue to be aggressive," he said. "If they trap and double-team, then I'll give my guys the ball that way."
The Over is 12-2 in the last 14 meetings in Los Angeles.
The Lakers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 Conference Quarterfinals games.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: 114 (OVER - Total Play of the Day)
ATLANTA (48 - 37) at MIAMI (45 - 40)
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 1-10 ATS (-10.0 Units) in road games in the first round of the playoffs since 1996.
ATLANTA is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more this season.
MIAMI is 75-90 ATS (-24.0 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 34-48 ATS (-18.8 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 63-89 ATS (-34.9 Units) in home games vs. division opponents since 1996.
MIAMI is 14-25 ATS (-13.5 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
MIAMI is 10-5 against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
MIAMI is 8-7 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
11 of 15 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
DENVER (56 - 29) at NEW ORLEANS (50 - 35)
Top Trends for this game.
NEW ORLEANS is 76-55 ATS (+15.5 Units) in home games over the last 3 seasons.
NEW ORLEANS is 24-10 ATS (+13.0 Units) in a home game where where the total is between 190 and 194.5 points over the last 3 seasons.
DENVER is 48-36 ATS (+8.4 Units) in all games this season.
DENVER is 14-6 ATS (+7.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season this season.
NEW ORLEANS is 36-48 ATS (-16.8 Units) in all games this season.
NEW ORLEANS is 16-25 ATS (-11.5 Units) second half of the season this season.
NEW ORLEANS is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) against Northwest division opponents this season.
NEW ORLEANS is 19-30 ATS (-14.0 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game this season.
NEW ORLEANS is 12-27 ATS (-17.7 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game this season.
NEW ORLEANS is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
NEW ORLEANS is 7-7 against the spread versus DENVER over the last 3 seasons
NEW ORLEANS is 7-7 straight up against DENVER over the last 3 seasons
7 of 14 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
UTAH (49 - 37) at LA LAKERS (68 - 18)
Top Trends for this game.
UTAH is 38-52 ATS (-19.2 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
UTAH is 60-87 ATS (-35.7 Units) revenging a home loss vs opponent since 1996.
UTAH is 12-21 ATS (-11.1 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent this season.
UTAH is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
UTAH is 9-18 ATS (-10.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season this season.
UTAH is 14-26 ATS (-14.6 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game this season.
LA LAKERS are 101-85 ATS (+7.5 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 47-34 ATS (+9.6 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 18-7 ATS (+10.3 Units) in home games against Northwest division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 55-36 ATS (+15.4 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 38-17 ATS (+19.3 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
LA LAKERS is 12-7 against the spread versus UTAH over the last 3 seasons
LA LAKERS is 14-6 straight up against UTAH over the last 3 seasons
14 of 20 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
Atlanta at Miami
Atlanta:
12-4 ATS revenging a DD road loss
28-16 ATS after 1 or more consecutive unders
Miami:
12-24 ATS off a home win
29-45 ATS as a home favorite
Denver at New Orleans
Denver:
16-7 ATS when playing only their 2nd game in 5 days
15-5 ATS after playing a game as a road underdog
New Orleans:
6-15 ATS against Northwest division
17-28 ATS after 1 or more consecutive unders
Utah at LA Lakers
Utah:
8-17 ATS as a road underdog
12-21 ATS revenging a loss
LA Lakers:
18-7 ATS against Northwest division
19-9 ATS off a road win