Daily Sports Roundup April 23
Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Jazz look to bury the Nuggets, the Yankees head west to battle the Angels, and the Capitals look to eliminate the Canadiens.
Tipping off on the hardwood …
There are three games on the NBA playoff schedule tonight: Boston at Miami, Dallas at San Antonio and Denver at Utah. The Jazz head home for Game 3 of their series against the Nuggets after splitting the first two games in Denver. Deron William led the Jazz to a 114-111 win in Game 2 with 33 points and 14 assists. Carmelo Anthony netted 32 points for Denver, but that was down from the 42 points he had in Denver’s Game 1 victory. Utah has won five of their last six at home against the Nuggets and they’re a 2-point favorite tonight.
Meeting up on the diamond …
In the American League today you’ve got Baltimore at Boston, Toronto at Tampa Bay, Detroit at Texas, Seattle at the White Sox, Minnesota at Kansas City and Cleveland at Oakland. Also, later on the Yankees are at the Angels with A.J. Burnett (2-0, 2.37) taking on Ervin Santana (1-2, 4.35). Burnett tossed seven shutout innings last time out, scattering six hits while striking out seven. Santana dominated Toronto in his last start, pitching a complete-game four-hitter and allowing one run while striking out six.
The National League schedule includes the Dodgers at Washington, Atlanta at the Mets, San Diego at Cincinnati, Pittsburgh at Houston, the Cubs at Milwaukee, Florida at Colorado and Philadelphia at Arizona. The Cardinals and Giants also clash, with young gun Jaime Garcia (1-0, 0.69) facing Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum (3-0, 0.90). Garcia held the Mets to one hit in seven shutout innings in his last start. Lincecum has picked up where he left off last year; last time out he threw six shutout innings versus the Dodgers.
Taking a trip around the rink …
There are four games on the NHL playoff schedule tonight: Boston at Buffalo, Montreal at Washington, the Kings at Vancouver and Detroit at Phoenix. The Bruins and Capitals can both move on to the next round with wins, as they lead their series 3-1.
Boston took a 3-1 series lead on Wednesday night with a 3-2 victory in double overtime. Tuukka Rask has backstopped the Bruins to three straight wins while outplaying Vezina Trophy candidate Ryan Miller. The Sabres need Miller to step up and their slumbering offense to start scoring or their playoff run is over.
Meanwhile the Capitals are one win away from eliminating Montreal after a 6-3 win on Wednesday. The Caps have outscored the Habs 11-4 in their last two games with Alexander Ovechkin netting three goals.
Friday's Wagering Tips
Line off the board
Los Angeles Dodgers at Washington Nationals: When Nats' scheduled starter Jason Marquis was placed on the disabled list, the line was pulled pending the announcement of his replacement.
Line to keep an eye on
Boston Celtics at Miami Heat: The Heat opened as 3.5-point favorites but quickly jumped to 4.
Who's hot
Spurs are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 at home.
Mavericks are 6-1 SU and ATS in their last seven.
Bruins are 6-1 in their last seven overall and 6-2 in their last eight road games.
Rays are 8-1 in their last nine overall and 7-1 in last eight vs. Jays.
Mariners are 7-1 in their last eight.
Who's not
Heat are 1-7 ATS in last eight at home vs. Celtics.
Kings are 1-7 in their last eight Friday games.
Rangers have lost six in a row.
White Sox are 1-5 in their last six.
Key stat
36-1 - Combined score from the Milwaukee Brewers' three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park. After wins of 8-1 and 8-0, the Brewers broke out the bats and broom Thursday with a 20-0 victory, the worst defeat in the Pirates' 124-year history.
Injury that shouldn't be overlooked
Buffalo Sabres left wing Thomas Vanek will be a game-time decision for Friday's Game 5 against the Boston Bruins with a foot injury. Vanek practiced Thursday for approximately 45 minutes and said that his foot was feeling better, but how much better will go a long way in determining tonight's outcome. Vanek has recorded 28 goals, 25 assists and 42 penalty minutes in 71 games this season for the Sabres.
Game of the day
Nuggets at Jazz
Notable quotable
"I know that certain referees were trying to bait me to get a tech. You could see it coming from a mile away. Like I say, I don't like to be cheated. I can deal with a loss. I can deal with playing bad. I can deal with getting my ass busted. I just don't like to be cheated."
Celtics forward Rasheed Wallace told the Boston Globe after Game 1 against the Miami Heat, comments for which he was fined $35,000 on Thursday.
Tips and notes
The Washington Capitals canceled Thursday's practice after the team's plane was delayed getting back from Montreal following Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Habs. Because of fog delays, the team's plane did not land until after 1 a.m. The late arrival had prompted customs agents to go home, forcing the players to spend nearly three hours on the tarmac and take a day off from the ice to recover.
The tide may have turned in the Jazz-Nuggets series when Utah pulled the upset in Game 2 to return home tied at one game apiece. The Jazz are 23-9-2 in their last 34 home games while the Nuggets are 1-6-1 ATS in their last eight on the road. Of course that slump came while Kenyon Martin was out, and he may be again in Game 3. Martin (knee) missed practice Thursday and is a game-time decision tonight.
The defense of Rajon Rando against Dwyane Wade has been good enough to cut back on the Celtics' need to double-team. Rando hasn't kept Wade from scoring, but he has stopped him from creating. Wade is averaging 27.5 points in the series after two games, but his teammates have added just 49. It's not a fluke; the Celtics have won seven in a row against the Heat dating back to last season and 13 of the last 14 meetings overall.