NBA LONG SHEET
Saturday, April 19
WASHINGTON (43 - 39) at CLEVELAND (45 - 37)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 12-8 against the spread versus CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
CLEVELAND is 13-8 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
11 of 21 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX (55 - 27) at SAN ANTONIO (56 - 26)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 9-7 against the spread versus SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 10-7 straight up against PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
11 of 17 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
DALLAS (51 - 31) at NEW ORLEANS (56 - 26)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
DALLAS is 6-5 against the spread versus NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons
DALLAS is 10-2 straight up against NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
UTAH (54 - 28) at HOUSTON (55 - 27)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
UTAH is 10-6 against the spread versus HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
UTAH is 11-6 straight up against HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
8 of 16 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
NBA SHORT SHEET
Saturday, April 19th
Eastern Conference
Opening Round
Game One
Series Tied, 0-0
Washington at Cleveland, 12:35 EST
Washington:
21-10 ATS as road underdog
14-5 ATS Away off ATS loss
Cleveland:
15-26 ATS in home games
4-12 ATS at home playing with same season revenge
Western Conference
Opening Round
Game One
Series Tied, 0-0
Phoenix at San Antonio, 3:05 EST
Phoenix:
13-5 ATS Away off ATS loss
60-34 ATS off home SU win/ATS loss
San Antonio:
8-19 ATS as a home favorite of 6 points or less
22-10 Under off home win
Western Conference
Opening Round
Game One
Series Tied, 0-0
Dallas at New Orleans, 7:05 EST
Dallas:
1-10 ATS after 3 games with 11 or less turnovers
25-14 Under Away off home game
New Orleans:
9-0 ATS at home revenging same season loss
7-0 ATS off DD road loss
Western Conference
Opening Round
Game One
Series Tied, 0-0
Utah at Houston, 9:35 EST
Utah:
4-13 ATS Away off an Over
13-5 Under vs. Southwest Division
Houston:
8-1 ATS off cover as DD favorite
13-3 ATS off win by 15+ points
NBA TREND SHEET
APRIL 19, 12:30 PM WASHINGTON vs. CLEVELAND
Washington is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Cleveland
Washington is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games when playing Cleveland
Cleveland is 3-9 ATS in its last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cleveland's last 5 games
APRIL 19, 3:00 PM PHOENIX vs. SAN ANTONIO
Phoenix is 4-12 SU in its last 16 games when playing on the road against San Antonio
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Phoenix's last 6 games when playing on the road against San Antonio
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of San Antonio's last 7 games when playing Phoenix
San Antonio is 12-4 SU in its last 16 games when playing at home against Phoenix
APRIL 19, 7:00 PM DALLAS vs. NEW ORLEANS
Dallas is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games when playing New Orleans
Dallas is 23-2 SU in its last 25 games when playing New Orleans
New Orleans is 11-2 ATS in its last 13 games at home
New Orleans is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games at home
APRIL 19, 9:30 PM UTAH vs. HOUSTON
Utah is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games
Utah is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
Houston is 13-3 ATS in its last 16 games at home
Houston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Tips and Trends
Washington Wizards at Cleveland Cavaliers
Wizards: Washington's DeShawn Stevenson got the opponent he wanted in the first round and believes Cleveland is definitely vulnerable in their third first-round meeting in 3 years. "They are a very beatable team right now," Stevenson said. "We?re all happy to be playing them again." However, it will interesting to see if this trash talking hurts or helps the team. "I think the Washington Wizards have to be the dumbest team in the history of civilization," said TNT analyst Charles Barkley regarding the pregame chatter.
The OVER is 21-7 in Washington's last 28 games vs. Eastern Conference.
The OVER is 8-3 in Washington's last 11 games overall.
Key Injuries - F Caron Butler (20 ppg; knee) is probable.
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Cavs (-2, O/U 188): Injuries continue to be a cause of concern for Cleveland after Sasha Pavlovic sprained his left ankle against Philadelphia on Monday. Pavlovic was finally starting to see quality minutes again, and head coach Mike Brown will now play either Devin Brown or Wally Szczerbiak in his spot. Star LeBron James rested his back in the regular-season finale against Detroit while centers Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Ben Wallace are also nursing back injuries.
Cavs are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games overall.
The UNDER is 16-5 in Cleveland's last 21 home games.
The UNDER is 14-6 in the last 20 meetings at Cleveland.
Key Injuries - F LeBron James (30 ppg; back) is expected to start.
G Sasha Pavlovic (7 ppg; ankle) is OUT.
C Zydrunas Ilgauskas (14 ppg; back) is probable.
C Ben Wallace (5 ppg; back) is probable.
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Phoenix Suns at San Antonio Spurs
Suns: Phoenix will face San Antonio in the playoffs for the third time in 4 years and hopes the addition of Shaquille O'Neal will be the difference. The Suns won the season series 3-1 for the first time since 2002-03, with O'Neal playing a big role in both late-season victories. "It definitely helps to have the big guy in the middle," Phoenix point guard Steve Nash said. "(San Antonio?s) size, post-up play and offensive rebounding have been difficult for us to contend with. We?ve been close, but hopefully this is going to take us over the top."
Suns are 3-1 SU & ATS in the last 4 meetings.
The UNDER is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.
Key Injuries - F Grant Hill (13 ppg; groin) is probable.
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Spurs (-4, O/U 194): San Antonio got Manu Ginobili back at the perfect time, as he returned to action in a 109-80 rout of Utah on Wednesday. Ginobili had missed the previous 3 games with a groin injury and is arguably the team's most valuable player. He scored 12 points in 19 minutes against the Jazz and seemed to energize the team. That key victory was the difference in the Spurs finishing third or sixth in the Western Conference standings, also giving them the crucial home-court edge in this series.
Spurs are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Key Injuries - F Robert Horry (3 ppg; knee) is questionable.
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Dallas Mavericks at New Orleans Hornets
Mavs: Dallas will try to play the unfamiliar role of spoiler after getting knocked out of the playoffs a year ago as the top seed. The Mavs match up very well against the Hornets, who are not being taken lightly by head coach Avery Johnson. "They?re one of the most underrated teams in the league," Johnson said. "I don?t know how you go through this Western Conference and do what they?ve done this year and they don?t get nearly as much respect. They?ve beaten everybody. That?s why they?re the No. 2 seed."
The UNDER is 6-3 in Dallas' last 9 games overall.
The UNDER is 7-3-1 in the last 11 meetings.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Hornets (-4.5, O/U 193.5): Many insiders believe the team with better point-guard play will win this series. Dallas' Jason Kidd recorded his 100th career triple double in a 111-98 win over New Orleans in the regular-season finale on Wednesday. However, the Hornets believe they have the advantage with a younger, quicker Chris Paul, who became the first player since Golden State's Tim Hardaway to average 20 points and 10 assists in the same season. We'll find out if the Kidd trade paid off here.
Hornets are 22-8 ATS in their last 30 home games.
The UNDER is 7-3 in New Orleans' last 10 games vs. Western Conference.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Utah Jazz at Houston Rockets
Jazz: While Utah lost to San Antonio in Wednesday's regular-season finale and failed to grab the #3 seed and home-court advantage in the first round, the team still may have ended up a winner. The Jazz are 7-1 ATS in the last eight meetings with Houston, including straight-up wins in the final 2 regular-season meetings after Yao Ming went down. They also have confidence against the Rockets from last year's first-round series win in 7 games.
Jazz are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
Jazz are 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
The UNDER is 9-3-1 in Utah's last 13 games vs. Southwest Division.
Key Injuries - G Deron Williams (19 ppg; tailbone) is expected to start.
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Rockets (-1, O/U 186.5): Houston simply does not match up well against the Jazz without Yao inside and point guard Rafer Alston. The Rockets will have no answer for Carlos Boozer and must use a combination of Bobby Jackson and Aaron Brooks against Utah's Deron Williams. It's also worth noting that star Tracy McGrady still has not made it out of the first round in six attempts. This could be 0-for-7.
Rockets are 16-5-1 ATS in their last 22 home games.
Rockets are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 Saturday games.
The UNDER is 9-2 in Houston's last 11 games vs. Northwest Division.
Key Injuries - G Rafer Alston (13 ppg; hamstring) is OUT.
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD