Daily Sports Roundup
Friday, December 11
Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Stars look for a win in San Jose, the Volunteers take on Middle Tennessee State, and the Mavericks battle the Heat.
Tipping off on the hardwood . . .
The NBA offers up 11 games on Friday night, including Dallas at Miami. The Mavericks (15-7 SU, 12-10 ATS) edged Phoenix 102-101 in their last game on Tuesday night. Dirk Nowitzki led the way with 33 points and eight rebounds in that win, while Josh Howard added 20 points. The Heat (11-9 SU, 10-10 ATS) picked up a 115-102 win in Sacramento in their most recent matchup, with Dwyane Wade pouring in 34 points. Michael Beasley tossed in 20 points that day.
Elsewhere around the NBA on Friday it'll be Atlanta at Toronto, Houston at Philadelphia, New Jersey at Indiana, New York at New Orleans, Golden State at Chicago, Oklahoma City at Memphis, Charlotte at San Antonio, Minnesota at the Lakers, Orlando at Phoenix, and Portland at Cleveland. The Cavaliers (15-7 SU, 11-11 ATS) will be looking to bounce back from a 95-85 loss in Houston on Wednesday night, with LeBron James pouring in 27 points in that losing cause.
As well, the only ranked team in action in college basketball on Friday is No. 9 Tennessee, which will take on Middle Tennessee State at the Sommet Center. The Volunteers (6-1 SU, 2-2-1 ATS) got past Tennessee State 78-66 in their most recent game, with Tyler Smith picking up 15 points. The Blue Raiders (3-5 SU, 2-1 ATS) are coming off an 83-71 loss to Belmont in their game on Tuesday.
Taking a trip around the rink . . .
Finally, there are eight games on the NHL's schedule for Friday night, with Florida at New Jersey, Carolina at Washington, Chicago at Buffalo, Anaheim at Detroit, Edmonton at St. Louis, Minnesota at Calgary, Tampa Bay at Colorado, and Dallas at San Jose. The 13-8-9 Stars fell 4-3 in overtime to the Ducks on Tuesday night, with Brad Richards scoring two goals. The 19-7-6 Sharks have lost three in a row, getting beat 5-4 in overtime by the Kings on Wednesday night.
Today's Helpful Tips
Friday, December 11
Tor-off-to
The Raptors may still be licking their wounds from the thrashing they took at the hands of the Hawks a little more than one week ago. Hotlanta dropped 146 points on Toronto in the game, outscoring the Raps 75-54 in the first half.
Toronto’s porous defense ranks second-to-last in the league, giving up 108.7 ppg. And forward Chris Bosh has to do everything offensively with point guard Jose Calderon and center Andrea Bargnani nursing injuries. Calderon has missed the last two games while Bargnani was absent in the 117-95 loss to the Bucks on Wednesday. Both players are questionable for Friday’s affair.
The over has cashed in each of the last two meetings between these teams and is 8-2 in the last 10 games of this series in Toronto.
Hawkeye State showdown
Iowa and Iowa State square off in the annual Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series matchup on Friday night. Last season, the Hawkeyes dismantled the Cyclones, 73-57, as 8.5-point favorites. However, Iowa State is 4-2 ATS in the last six meetings of this series.
The Cyclones will try to end a current three-game skid and will receive a tremendous boost if forward LaRon Dendy is back at 100 percent. The JUCO transfer has missed five games this season with a knee sprain. He is averaging 6.0 ppg and 2.5 rpg in four games played. Dendy played only 13 minutes in the loss to Cal on Wednesday, scoring five points off the bench.
The largest spread in the past decade has been posted for this game. The 6-3 Cyclones opened as 12-point favorites with a total of 127. Iowa is 1-7 ATS so far this season.
Florida bedeviled
Team A has lost four straight, Team B has won four straight. Team A is averaging 1.3 goals per game during its losing streak; Team B is posting 3.5 goals per outing during its winning streak. Team A is the Panthers while Team B is the Devils, and it’s easy to conclude who the favorite is between these two teams on Monday night.
Florida has been decimated by injuries recently. Minor league players have littered the Panthers’ lineup lately with regular wingers Gregory Campbell, Cory Stillman and David Booth missing time.
Results from a concussion test will be available on Friday to determine whether or not Campbell can return to action.
New Jersey has won four of the last five meetings in this series and is listed as a hefty -240 favorite with a total of 5.
Answer me this…
Since Allen Iverson showed back up in Philadelphia, the 76ers have failed to win a game. Sure, the fans are back in the stands, but Philly’s native son is missing bunny layups for a team that desperately needs him to put up a 30-point night. The 76ers 11-game slide continues.
The Rockets, however, have won four of their last five, including a home win over the Cavs on Wednesday. Houston takes to the road again where they just came off a four-game trip, going 3-1 straight up and ATS during that stretch.
Seven of the last 10 games in the series have gone over, but the Rockets are back to defensive ways, playing to the under in six straight outings.
Houston opened as a 3-point favorite with a total of 196.
Notable quotable
“That's one thing about Mother Nature; you can't control that. You can't run people over getting to work. There's nothing to apologize about. You leave home, cars sitting there, it's not The Jetsons, I can't jump up and fly. What the hell am I supposed to do?"
-- Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas providing his reason for why he was running late for practice after being sent home for tardiness by head coach Bill Belichick on Wednesday.