Daily Sports Roundup
Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The NIT stages its championship game, while the Blazers meet the Nuggets, and the PGA Tour plays the Shell Houston Open.
Tipping off on the hardwood . . .
The NBA offers up a pair of games for doubleheader Thursday, with Orlando at Dallas and Portland at Denver. The Nuggets (48-27 SU, 31-38-6 ATS) enter Thursday's matchup riding a two-game losing streak, but they are 2-1 against the Trail Blazers so far this season. The Nuggets and Blazers last met on March 7 in Denver, with the home team pulling out a 118-106 win as a 7-point favorite. Carmelo Anthony led the way for the Nuggets with 30 points in that contest, while Chauncey Billups was good for 21 points on the day. Jerryd Bayless tossed in 24 points off the bench for Portland, while Brandon Roy was limited to just 12 points.
As well, the National Invitation Tournament stages its championship game at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night, with Dayton taking on North Carolina. The Flyers won their semifinal matchup with Mississippi on Tuesday by a score of 68-63 as a 1.5-point favorite; Chris Johnson tossed in 22 points for Dayton in that victory. The Tar Heels got past Rhode Island 68-67 in overtime as a 1-point 'dog on Tuesday. Deon Thompson scored 16 points for North Carolina.
Taking a trip around the rink . . .
There are eight games on the National Hockey League's schedule for Thursday night, with Florida at Boston, Philadelphia at the Islanders, Buffalo at Toronto, Atlanta at Washington, Columbus at Detroit, Carolina at Ottawa, St. Louis at Nashville, and Vancouver at Los Angeles. The Canucks and Kings have met three times already this season, with Vancouver winning each of those contests. In their last meeting on December 14 the Canucks picked up a 3-1 home win behind the goaltending of Roberto Luongo. Ryan Kesler, Sami Salo, and Mason Raymond all scored for Vancouver. Alexander Frolov had the goal for the Kings.
Rounding out the Roundup . . .
Finally, the golfers of the PGA Tour begin their last Tiger-free tournament on Thursday when they hit the links at Redstone for the Shell Houston Open. Ernie Els, who won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill last week, is the 8/1 Vegas favorite to win the Masters tuneup, with Phil Mickelson just behind him on the odds list at 10/1. Paul Casey (15/1), Padraig Harrington (18/1), and Geoff Ogilvy (20/1) round out the top contenders, with Lee Westwood pegged at 22/1. Woods is set to get back in action next week at The Masters at Augusta National.
Thursday's Wagering Tips
Lines off the board
Orlando Magic at Dallas Mavericks – Vince Carter (toe) missed most of the team’s last game and is questionable. Jose Barea (ankle) missed Tuesday’s game and is questionable.
Buffalo Sabres at Toronto Maple Leafs – Raffi Torres (hand) is expected to play after missing the last week. Thomas Vanek (lower body) missed the team’s last game and is questionable.
Vancouver Canucks at Los Angeles Kings – Mikael Samuelsson (shoulder) missed Tuesday’s game and is questionable.
Line to keep an eye on
The NIT championship spread has moved a point and a half since opening. Dayton opened as 1.5-point favorites but most shops are currently dealing the Flyers as 3-point chalk over North Carolina. The spread in Dayton's semifinal game against Ole Miss moved in the same fashion and the Flyers came away with a cover.
Weather to watch
Wind could be a factor for the Shell Houston Open played in Humble, Texas beginning Thursday. The afternoon forecast projects winds from 14-16 mph for the PGA event. Other than that, temperatures are expected to be in the mid-70s.
Foreign players usually benefit when the wind kicks up because they are more accustomed to playing golf in those conditions.
There is a chance of isolated thunderstorms on Friday and Sunday.
Who’s hot
Dayton is 4-0 SU and ATS in its four NIT games.
The Senators have won five straight games, earning 6.48 units on the moneyline.
Portland is 3-0 SU and ATS in its last three outings.
Who’s not
The Nuggets have lost five of their last six and are 1-8-1 ATS in their last 10 games.
Washington has dropped three straight games as favorites, losing 6.25 units on the moneyline.
Dallas has played to the under in four consecutive games.
Key stat
97.1 – Points per game averaged by Denver during its last eight games. The team went 3-5 SU and 0-7-1 ATS in that stretch.
Suspension that shouldn’t be overlooked
Canucks defenseman Shane O’Brien is in the midst of a three-game benching for disciplinary reasons. He missed Vancouver’s game on Tuesday, a 4-1 win over the Coyotes, and will be in the press box for Thursday’s game versus the Kings and Friday’s matchup in Anaheim. O’Brien has played in 63 games this season and has a +/- margin of 16.
Games of the Day
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Dayton Flyers (-2.5, 136)
Orlando Magic at Dallas Mavericks
Portland Trail Blazers at Denver Nuggets (-4.5, 201.5)
Notable quotable
"I was taking so many meds for my back and cold that I actually felt a little loopy."
-- Suns point guard Steve Nash said after the team’s win over the Bulls on Tuesday. Nash had 22 points and 10 assists as Phoenix clinched a playoff spot.
Tips and notes
- Fred Couples became eligible for the Champions Tour this year and has won three straight starts on the circuit. He will jump back to the PGA field for the Shell Houston Open. The tourney is being played at Redstone Golf Club where Couples won the event in 2003. He finished T4 and T3 the last two years of this event. Couples is getting +3050 odds to win the tournament.
- The Flyers have a chance to win their third NIT title and first since 1968 on Thursday. It will be experience over youth as Dayton starts three seniors and a junior while UNC has three freshmen and two sophomores that see extended playing time. Dayton has won and covered in four straight and coach Brian Gregory said, "We are playing our best basketball of the year right now” and that his team was “fresh” and “playing hard with great energy." The Flyers are 10-4 against major conferences over the last four seasons.
- The Nuggets backup point guard position is one in limbo right now. Anthony Carter had taken over the role once Ty Lawson got hurt, but now that Lawson is back the two players seem confused about their roles. George Karl said Carter had earned the right to play more minutes, but he only played three minutes in the loss to Dallas Tuesday. Since Lawson returned to the court, Denver is 1-3 SU and 0-2-1 ATS and the two backup guards have combined for a total of 14 points and 10 assists.