Temple 134
Syracuse -2
Scheduled Start Time: 3:30pm (Pacific Time)
NIT consolation game from Madison Square Garden finds the Big East against the Atlantic-10. 23-12 Syracuse is not playing great ball of late, having gone 3-5 SU the last 8 games while on a 2-5 ATS run. Syracuse does have a nice one-two offensive punch in Preston Shumpert (19 ppg) and DeShaun Williams (17 ppg). The Orangemen average 73 points per game, but are weak from the field (44%) and average from long range (33%). They're off a 66-59 loss to South Carolina, another UNDER game for Syracuse (12-6 UNDER the total this season). Temple is 8-2 SU/8-2 ATS the last 10 games and off a tough 78-77 loss to Memphis. The Owls (18-15 SU, 14-16 ATS) have played the last two games without point guard and leading scorer Lynn Greer, who sprained his right ankle in the previous round against Louisville. "We're in this tournament to win, not just to be in it," one player said. "It's very important to us, especially the guys who will be back next year." Temple is not a great scoring team, shooting 41% from the field and 34% from 3-point land, averaging 70 points per game. Tough one to call, but Syracuse has two decent scoring weapons while Temple has weaknesses and is missing their best scorer.
Projected Score: Syracuse 73, Temple 64
Injury Report
Memphis 135½
So Carolina -1½
Scheduled Start Time: 6:00pm (Pacific Time)
NIT championship game from Madison Square Garden, New York finds two southern teams banging heads. Memphis is 26-9 SU, 20-12 ATS and has struggled the last two games, nipping Tennessee Tech 79-73 as an 11-point favorite and beating Temple by one point. The Tigers have a strong one-two punch with center Kelly Wise and freshman guard Dujon Wagner. Wagner finished with 32 points in the win over Temple. He drove the lane and fed Kelly Wise for a dunk with 18.6 seconds left to put Memphis in the final with a 78-77 victory over Temple. Memphis outscored teams by an 80-69 average this season, and they were a solid 7-4 SU/7-3 ATS away from home. But they probably won't get 80 points against a South Carolina team that plays sensational defense, outscoring teams by a 68-61 average. The Gamecocks are also getting hot at the right time (6-1 SU/ATS run). The 61 points allowed was the best in the SEC. South Carolina got here by beating Ball State (leading 48-12 at the half!) and Syracuse, 66-59. South Carolina (22-14 SU, 14-17 ATS) is playing in its first national tournament semifinals and Aaron Lucas led the Gamecocks with a season-high 20 points. "This is uncharted waters for this group," SC Coach Dave Odom said. "Nobody on this team has ever had a winning season. Nobody." SC is not an offensive dynamo, and after hitting 50 percent (30-of-60) from the field and 17-of-18 on free throws against Ball State, South Carolina missed 9 free throws (56%) against Syracuse, though they nailed 8-16 3-pointers. With Wise still recovering from an ankle injury and South Carolina playing better defense, the defense should lead the way to victory for the motivated Gamecocks.
Projected Score: So Carolina 67, Memphis 64
TOR Raptors 186
ATL Hawks -6½
Scheduled Start Time: 4:35pm (Pacific Time)
The Raptors hosted the Miami Heat on Wednesday. On Sunday, the Toronto Raptors snapped their nine-game home losing streak with a 92-91 triumph over the Washington Wizards. Antonio Davis, who finished with 17 points and nine rebounds, stripped the ball from Jordan's hands at Toronto's end and put home the layup with 15 seconds left for the game winner. Morris Peterson scored 26 points to lead the Raptors in the absence of All-Star Vince Carter, who will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. After its triumph at Cleveland on Friday, Toronto has recorded consecutive victories for the first time since January. Shareef Abdur-Rahim was among six Atlanta players scoring in double figures, leading the Hawks to a 103-77 rout of New Jersey, the best team in the Eastern Conference. It was the worst loss of the season for the Nets. The Hawks, winning for the seventh time in nine games, took control with a 36-point second quarter. They hit 16-of-24 shots (67 percent) in the period to build a 59-44 lead at halftime. Four Atlanta players were in double figures by halftime. Six finished there, with Jason Terry and Toni Kukoc scoring 13 each, Alan Henderson 12 and DerMarr Johnson 11. The Raptors without Vince Carter will have big trouble scoring points and winning games over the last two weeks of the season. Hot-lanta looks to take advantage at home on Thursday.
Projected Score: ATL Hawks 103, TOR Raptors 90
Matchup Report
Injury Report
No line available at this time.
DEN Nuggets
MIL Bucks
Scheduled Start Time: 5:05pm (Pacific Time)
The Nugget (6-27 SU, 13-18 ATS) reserves put on a show on Tuesday, but the starters couldn't pull their share, as Denver succumbed to Washington 103-87 on the road. Donnell Harvey had a team-high 18 points and seven rebounds, Voshon Lenard added 16 points and Kenny Satterfield tallied 12, all off the bench. Milwaukee couldn't hold on to a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter as Dallas forced overtime and eventually handed the Bucks (H: 21-15 SU, 14-22 ATS) a 112-106 loss at home on Tuesday. Anthony Mason and Glenn Robinson posted a combined 38 points and 22 rebounds for the Bucks, who played without Ray Allen and Sam Cassell and lost Michael Redd to a sprained knee. The Bucks want two things right now, they want to get healthy and they want more games against the Nuggets.
Projected Score: MIL Bucks 97, DEN Nuggets 84
Matchup Report
Injury Report
DAL Mavericks -2
MIN T'wolves 213
Scheduled Start Time: 5:05pm (Pacific Time)
Former University of Wisconsin star Michael Finley returned to the Badger State on Tuesday and notched 36 points and 12 rebounds as the Mavs (R: 22-11 SU, ATS) edged Milwaukee 112-106 in overitme. Nick Van Exel, a native of nearby Kenosha, Wis., scored 17 points. Dirk Nowitzki, who was originally drafted by the Bucks, had 17 points and 14 boards. Kevin Garnett had 31 points and seven rebounds and Wally Szczerbiak had 28 points, but the Timberwolves (H: 24-11 SU, 18-17 ATS) couldn't catch the Warriors, losing 115-106 at home on Tuesday. Anthony Peeler and Felipe Lopez had 11 points apiece for Minnesota, which fell one game behind Portland for the No. 5 seed in the West. The Wolves are on a 2-9 skid right now including 1-7 at home. The Mavs appear to be getting stronger as the season winds down. The visitors with the polish rifle, Nowitki leading the charge, are the pick.
Projected Score: DAL Mavericks 111, MIN T'wolves 105
Matchup Report
Injury Report
PHI 76ers -3
CHI Bulls 179
Scheduled Start Time: 5:35pm (Pacific Time)
The 76ers hosted the Nets on Wednesday. Speedy Claxton scored 17 points, Eric Snow added 14 and Aaron McKie 12 as they compensated for the absence of the NBA's scoring leader, Allen Iverson and led the 76ers to a 90-82 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday. The 76ers had been 0-8 without Iverson this season, but the trio of guards changed all that and solidified their standing in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Snow threatened a triple-double for the second straight game, collecting 10 assists and nine rebounds. Sixers missed 24-of-35 shots in the first half -- including 11 in a row in the second quarter -- but grabbed a 40-39 halftime edge by staying busy at the line, where they made 18-of-24. Jalen Rose had 20 points and Marcus Fizer pitched in with 15, but the Bulls couldn't overcome Tracy McGrady and the Magic, losing 96-82 in Orlando on Tuesday. Travis Best added 12 points and six assists for Chicago, which returns home Thursday to host the Sixers. It took a while for the Sixers to win a game without Iverson this year, on Thursday, they get two in a row against the hapless Bulls.
Projected Score: PHI 76ers 106, CHI Bulls 90
Matchup Report
Injury Report
No line available at this time.
SAC Kings
HOU Rockets
Scheduled Start Time: 5:35pm (Pacific Time)
On Tuesday, a team from L.A. gave the Kings no problems. After taking the lead early in the first quarter, Sacramento (R: 17-15 SU, 14-18 ATS) never looked back en route to a 107-90 win over the Clippers at home. Chris Webber was spectacular with 35 points and fan favorite, rookie Gerald Wallace had 14 for the Kings, who maintained their half-game lead over the Lakers in the West. Walt Williams and Cuttino Mobley drilled three-pointers in the final 11.8 seconds as Houston (H: 17-18 SU, 15-20 ATS) tried to regain the lead, but the Rockets fell short 109-105 Tuesday in Utah. Steve Francis scored 32 points and Mobley added 28 for the Rockets, who saw a seven-point fourth-quarter lead slip away. The Kings are rolling along while the Rockets continue to plod towards the seasons’ end. The playoff bound Kings get the nod.
Projected Score: SAC Kings 121, HOU Rockets 108
Matchup Report
Injury Report
No line available at this time.
CLE Cavaliers
UTH Jazz
Scheduled Start Time: 6:05pm (Pacific Time)
Trajan Langdon nailed a clutch three with 1:10 left to cut the Cavs' deficit to four on Tuesday, but Cleveland could get no closer and fell 121-116 to the Lakers in Los Angeles. Langdon finished with 17, Ricky Davis led all scorers with 35 and Andre Miller added 21 points and nine assists for the Cavs. The Cavs (R: 8-28 SU, 18-15 ATS), who were without forwards Tyrone Hill (sinus infection) and Lamond Murray (back spasms), center Zydrunas Ilgauskas (back spasms) and guard Wesley Person (back spasms). In addition, center Chris Mihm fouled out in 19 minutes. John Stockton celebrated his 40th birthday by scoring nine of his 20 points during a fourth-quarter comeback as Utah edged Houston 109-105 Tuesday at home. Thanks to DeShawn Stevenson, Greg Ostertag and Scott Padgett, the Jazz (H: 23-13 SU, 15-19 ATS) reserves had a considerable scoring (41-7) and rebounding (23-5) advantage over their Rockets counterparts. The Cavs have not been winning many road games but they have done well against the spread. The Jazz have lost 3 of four ATS at home. The trend is your friend here so take the Cavs and the points on Thursday.
Projected Score: UTH Jazz 96, CLE Cavaliers 93
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