Thursday's NBA Tip Sheet
By Brad Young
**Lakers at Pistons**
-There is no overnight line or total on the Los Angeles-Detroit contest due to various injuries. This game is scheduled to start at 7:35 p.m. ET.
-Detroit guard Richard Hamilton (groin) and forward Rasheed Wallace (calf) are ‘doubtful’ versus the Lakers, while guard Allen Iverson (back) is ‘out.’
-Los Angeles (56-14 straight up, 36-34 against the spread) has won three games in a row SU and back-to-back outings ATS after Tuesday’s victory over Oklahoma City as a 7 ½-point road underdog, 107-89. The combined 196 points failed to eclipse the 207-point closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve to 4-1 the past five games.
-The Lakers were outrebounded, 45-41, but prevailed by shooting 50 percent (43-of-86) from the field and 39 percent (5-of-13) from behind the arc. Kobe Bryant led a balanced attack with 19 points on 6-of-18 shooting, while Pau Gasol added 14 and 14 rebounds.
-Los Angeles sports a solid 25-9 SU and 20-14 ATS road record, with the ‘over’ going 18-15. The Lakers have been winning their road endeavors by an average score of 108-102. Los Angeles continues a lengthy seven-game road trip after this contest with games against New Jersey, Atlanta, Charlotte and Milwaukee.
-Detroit (34-36 SU, 30-40 ATS) is currently mired in a two-game SU and ATS losing skid after Tuesday’s setback to Chicago as a four-point road underdog, 99-91. The combined 190 points eclipsed the 189-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ go 8-1 the previous nine outings.
-The Pistons shot 48 percent (40-of-83) from the field, but lost the game by getting outscored at the free-throw line, 20-9. Tayshaun Prince and Will Bynum each netted 20 points in the setback, while Antonio McDyess contributed 16 and eight rebounds.
-Detroit is 18-18 SU at home, but an awful 11-25 ATS by losing their home efforts by an average score of 95-94. The Pistons are in the midst of a schedule that has them alternating six home-and-away games.
-Detroit is 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS the previous five meetings with Los Angeles after winning the last matchup November 14 as a 10-point road underdog, 106-95. The combined 201 points went ‘over’ the 194 ½-point closing total, ending a string of four straight ‘under’ outings in this series.
**Heat at Bulls**
-There is no overnight line or total on the Miami-Chicago contest due to various injuries. TNT will provide coverage of this contest beginning at 8:05 p.m. ET.
-Miami center Jermaine O’Neal (hip) is ‘probable’ against the Bulls. Chicago guard Derrick Rose (wrist) is ‘questionable’ versus the Heat.
-Miami (38-33 SU, 33-37 ATS) wraps up a brief two-game, two-day road trip with this contest after Wednesday’s setback to Indiana as a one-point road favorite, 90-88. The combined 178 points never seriously threatened the 204 1/2-point closing total. Dwyane Wade scored 21 points in the loss, but shot a miserable 5-of-24 from the field.
-The Heat are 13-22 SU and 16-18 ATS on the road, dropping those games by an average score of 100-96.
-Chicago (34-38 SU, 37-34 ATS) improved to 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS its last five games after knocking off Detroit Tuesday as a four-point home ‘chalk,’ 99-91. The Bulls have seen the ‘over/under’ alternate their last nine games.
-Chicago connected at a 44-percent clip (37-of-84) from the field, and 36 percent (5-of-14) from 3-point land. Guard Kirk Hinrich led all scorers with 24 points along with eight assists, while Tyrus Thomas added 18 and 12 rebounds.
-The Bulls sport a solid 22-12 SU and 19-15 ATS home ledger, with the ‘over’ going 21-13. Chicago has been winning its home endeavors by an average score of 104-100.
-Miami is 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS the previous four meetings with Chicago after winning March 9 in overtime as a five-point home favorite, 130-127. The combined 257 points soared ‘over’ the 202 ½-point closing total, ending a string of four straight ‘under’ outings in this series.
**Suns at Blazers**
-There is no overnight line or total on this matchup due to various injuries. TNT provides coverage of this contest beginning at 10:35 p.m. ET.
-Phoenix guard Leandro Barbosa (knee) and forward Amare Stoudemire (eye) are ‘out.’ Portland guard Brandon Roy (ankle) is ‘probable’ versus the Suns, while guard Nicolas Batum (ankle) and forward Travis Outlaw (finger) are ‘questionable.’
-Phoenix (39-31 SU, 28-39 ATS) has gone 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS its last five games heading into Wednesday’s contest with Utah.
-The Suns are 16-18 SU and 13-19 ATS on the road, with the ‘over’ going 21-12. Phoenix has been losing its road games by an average score of 107-106.
-Portland (44-27 SU, 37-34 ATS) dropped to 1-2 SU and 2-1 ATS its last three games after Monday’s overtime loss to Philadelphia as an eight-point home ‘chalk,’ 114-108. The combined 222 points soared ‘over’ the 191-point closing total.
-The Blazers shot 41 percent (41-of-101) from the field, but lost the game by getting outscored at the free-throw line (35-16). Forward LaMarcus Aldridge accounted for 24 points and 12 rebounds, while guard Steve Blake added 22 and five assists.
-Portland maintains an impressive 28-7 SU and 21-14 ATS home ledger, winning those affairs by an average score of 103-94.
-Phoenix had gone 9-0 SU and 7-2 ATS the past nine matchups with Portland before falling December 18 as a four-point road underdog, 124-119. The combined 243 points soared ‘over’ the 204-point closing total.
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NBA Today
SCOREBOARD
Thursday, March 26
Los Angeles Lakers at Detroit (7:30 p.m. EDT). Winners of three in a row, the Lakers face the Pistons, who are playing without Allen Iverson, Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton.
STARS
Wednesday
— Tony Parker, Spurs, had 42 points and 10 assists in San Antonio’s 102-92 victory at Atlanta.
— Mike Taylor and Zach Randolph, Clippers. Taylor scored a career-high 35 points and Randolph had 33 in Los Angeles’ 140-135 overtime victory at New York.
— Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, Nuggets. Anthony scored 29 points and Billups added 26 in Denver’s 101-88 win at New Orleans.
— Dwight Howard, Magic, had 24 points and 21 rebounds in Orlando’s 84-82 win over Boston.
— Thaddeus Young, 76ers, had 29 points in Philadelphia’s 96-88 win over Minnesota.
— Antawn Jamison and Nick Young, Wizards. Jamison scored 27 points and Young had 23 in Washington’s 95-93 win over Charlotte.
— Grant Hill, Suns, scored 26 points—including a tiebreaking jumper in the lane with 31.5 seconds remaining—to lift Phoenix to a 118-114 win over Utah.
— Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry, Mavericks, scored 26 points each in Dallas’ 128-106 win over Golden State.
SELECT COMPANY
LeBron James scored 22 points in Cleveland’s 98-87 win over New Jersey on Wednesday night, joining Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to post 2,000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists in a season at least four times. Robertson, who once averaged a triple-double for a season, did it six times. Larry Bird reached the 2,000-500-500 plateau three times, and John Havlicek and Michael Jordan each did it twice. James also became the ninth player to have five consecutive 2,000-point seasons and the only active player to do so.
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Al Harrington scored 38 points in New York’s 140-135 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. … Joe Johnson had 30 points in Atlanta’s 102-92 loss to San Antonio. … Anthony Morrow scored 29 points on 10-of-11 shooting and Monta Ellis had 22 points in Golden State’s 128-106 loss at Dallas. … Paul Pierce scored 26 points in Boston’s 84-82 loss at Orlando. … Deron Williams had 25 points and 11 assists in Utah’s 118-114 loss at Phoenix.
CLINCHED
Dwight Howard had 24 points and 21 rebounds as the Orlando Magic beat the Boston Celtics 84-82 Wednesday night. Coupled with Atlanta’s loss to San Antonio, the Magic clinched their second straight Southeast Division title. Orlando (53-18) also bumped Boston (54-19) by percentage points for second in the Eastern Conference behind Cleveland. Orlando remains five games back of Cleveland for the conference lead with 11 games left.
SETTING A RECORD
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ 98-87 victory over New Jersey on Wednesday night was their franchise-record 58th win.
HOMECOMING
Luol Deng is returning home for an NBA preseason game in London, part of a European tour that will feature fewer teams and games than years past. Deng, who grew up in London after his family fled conflict-torn Sudan, is expected to play for the Chicago Bulls when they face the Utah Jazz on Oct. 6 at the O2 Arena. This year’s NBA Europe Live Tour will be the league’s fourth straight on the continent, but so far only one game has been finalized. Another, expected to include the Jazz against either the Bulls or a local team, is still in the planning stages, NBA commissioner David Stern said Wednesday.
SHOOTING 3s
Toronto and Milwaukee combined to make 25 3-pointers in the Raptors’ 115-106 win on Wednesday night. The Raptors were 13-for-27, while the Bucks made 12 of their 24 attempts.
SPEAKING
“I could tell that we were going to be really good. I knew we could make this into something special—and we’ve been able to do that.”—Cleveland star LeBron James after the Cavaliers set a franchise record with their 58th victory, beating New Jersey 98-87 on Wednesday night.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons
Kobe Bryant scored 19 points and had four steals, as the Lakers cruised past the Thunder 107-89 on Tuesday night.
Los Angeles covered as 8-point road favorites as the game played under the 207-point total listed by oddsmakers.
Reserve Will Bynum put up 20 points and nine assists for Detroit in its 99-91 loss to Chicago on Tuesday night.
Chicago covered as 5-point home favorites as the game played under the 191-point total posted by oddsmakers.
Current streak:
Los Angeles has won 3 straight games.
Detroit has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Los Angeles: 56-14 SU, 35-34-1 ATS
Detroit: 34-36 SU, 30-40 ATS
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 8-2
Before playing New Jersey are 6-4
After playing Oklahoma City are 5-5
After a win are 7-3
Detroit most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 8-2
Before playing Washington are 6-4
After playing Chicago are 5-5
After a loss are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
LA Lakers are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games
LA Lakers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games on the road
LA Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the LA Lakers last 5 games
Detroit is 5-0 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against LA Lakers
Detroit is 10-2 SU in their last 12 games when playing LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 5 games at home
Next up:
LA Lakers at New Jersey, Friday, March 27
Detroit at Washington, Saturday, March 28
Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls
The Heat were defeated 90-88 by the Pacers last time out, as a pick'em. That game's 178 points went UNDER the posted total of 205.
Udonis Haslem had 18 points to go with 14 rebounds in a double-double performance.
Kirk Hinrich had 24 points and eight assists to lead the Bulls past the Pistons 99-91 on Tuesday night.
Chicago covered as 5-point home favorites as the game played under the 191-point total posted by oddsmakers.
Current streak:
Chicago has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Miami: 38-33 SU, 34-36-1 ATS
Chicago: 34-38 SU, 37-34-1 ATS
Miami most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 5-5
Before playing Milwaukee are 3-7
After playing Indiana are 1-9
After a loss are 8-2
Chicago most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 3-7
Before playing Indiana are 4-6
After playing Detroit are 3-7
After a win are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Miami's last 5 games when playing Chicago
Miami is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Miami's last 7 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Miami is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Chicago is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
Chicago is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games at home
Chicago is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Chicago is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Miami
Next up:
Miami home to Milwaukee, Saturday, March 28
Chicago home to Indiana, Saturday, March 28
Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers
The Suns were locked into a tight matchup with Utah and came out with a 118-114 victory on Wednesday. The Suns managed to cover the 3-point spread, and the game's 232 points made it OVER the posted total of 228.5.
Grant Hill dropped a game-high 26 points to lead the Suns, and Matt Barnes had 21 points to go with nine rebounds in the win.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points and 12 rebounds for Portland in its 114-108 overtime loss to Philadelphia on Monday night.
Philadelphia cashed as 7.5-point road underdogs as the teams played over the 190-point total listed by oddsmakers.
Current streak:
Phoenix has won 6 straight games.
Team records:
Phoenix: 40-31 SU, 30-40-1 ATS
Portland: 44-27 SU, 37-34 ATS
Phoenix most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 6-4
Before playing Utah are 7-3
After playing Utah are 6-4
After a win are 7-3
Portland most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 2-8
Before playing Memphis are 5-5
After playing Philadelphia are 2-8
After a loss are 8-2
A few trends to consider:
Phoenix is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Phoenix is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games when playing Portland
Phoenix is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Portland
Phoenix is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Portland
Portland is 13-2 SU in its last 15 games at home
Portland is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Portland's last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Portland's last 6 games when playing Phoenix
Next up:
Phoenix at Utah, Saturday, March 28
Portland home to Memphis, Saturday, March 28
LA LAKERS (56 - 14) at DETROIT (34 - 36)
Top Trends for this game.
LA LAKERS are 13-26 ATS (-15.6 Units) in March games over the last 3 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 92-78 ATS (+6.2 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 50-32 ATS (+14.8 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 27-10 ATS (+16.0 Units) in road games second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 32-20 ATS (+10.0 Units) in road games after scoring 105 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 23-12 ATS (+9.8 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 23-10 ATS (+12.0 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 30-40 ATS (-14.0 Units) in all games this season.
DETROIT is 11-25 ATS (-16.5 Units) in home games this season.
DETROIT is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) after a division game this season.
DETROIT is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) in home games in non-conference games this season.
DETROIT is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) after 3 or more consecutive overs this season.
DETROIT is 4-13 ATS (-10.3 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 3-2 against the spread versus LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 4-1 straight up against LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
MIAMI (38 - 32) at CHICAGO (34 - 38)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 8-6 against the spread versus MIAMI over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 9-5 straight up against MIAMI over the last 3 seasons
7 of 14 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX (39 - 31) at PORTLAND (44 - 27)
Top Trends for this game.
PHOENIX is 29-40 ATS (-15.0 Units) in all games this season.
PHOENIX is 6-14 ATS (-9.4 Units) as an underdog this season.
PHOENIX is 10-25 ATS (-17.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
PORTLAND is 25-14 ATS (+9.6 Units) after scoring 105 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
PORTLAND is 36-20 ATS (+14.0 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 7-3 against the spread versus PORTLAND over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 9-1 straight up against PORTLAND over the last 3 seasons
5 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
LA LAKERS vs. DETROIT
LA Lakers are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games when playing on the road against Detroit
LA Lakers are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games when playing on the road against Detroit
Detroit is 10-5 ATS in its last 15 games
Detroit is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
MIAMI vs. CHICAGO
Miami is 3-9 ATS in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Miami is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Chicago is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games
Chicago is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
PHOENIX vs. PORTLAND
Phoenix is 6-12-1 ATS in its last 19 games on the road
Phoenix is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Portland is 4-12-1 ATS in its last 17 games when playing Phoenix
Portland is 1-11 SU in its last 12 games when playing Phoenix
Hot Teams
-- Lakers won eight of their last ten games.
-- Bulls won five of their last six games.
-- Suns won their last six games (5-1 vs spread). Portland is 7-1 SU in game after its last eight losses.
Cold Teams
-- Pistons lost five of their last six games.
-- Heat lost five of their last six road games.
Totals
-- Under is 10-5 in Lakers' last fifteen games.
-- Four of last five Chicago home games went over the total.
-- Three of last four Phoenix games went over the total.
Back-to Back
-- Lakers are 6-7-1 vs spread if they play again the next night.
-- Miami is 3-10 vs spread if it played the night before.
-- Phoenix is 6-2 SU if it won the night before.
Thursday NBA Research
By Indiancowboy
Lakers vs. Pistons
Lakers have covered back to back games defeating the Bulls and OKC on the road. The Pistons come off losing to Miami at home and the Bulls on the road. These two hooked up in November of this year when the Pistons went into L.A. and won 106-95. The Pistons with all their injuries have become very deep with the emergence of Stuckey and Bynum. Iverson is out in this game, Hamilton and 'Sheed are both listed as doubtful - wihch means I would not be surprised to see Hamilton as he will be itching to play in this game. If anything, a small lean on the Pistons first half.
Phoenix vs. Portland
In thier most recent meeting, Portland beat this team by 5 at home. Phoenix beat this team by 11 and 10 at home before that. Phoenix does have revenge coming into this game and the Suns did get it done at home against the Jazz. The Suns need this game per seating out west as well as they are still looking to get into the playoffs. The Suns have covered 5 of their last 6 and won their last 6. Portland comes off a loss to the Sixers at home in OT and prior to that had covered 4 in a row. This game reminds me a bit of the Spurs vs. Hawks line yesterday.