Daily Sports Roundup
Friday, January 22
Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Devils host the Canadiens, the Suns take on the Bulls, and the Celtics and Trail Blazers hit the hardwood in Boston.
Tipping off on the hardwood . . .
The NBA has a busy slate of 13 games on tap for Friday, including Portland at Boston. The Trail Blazers picked up a 98-90 win in Philadelphia in their last game on Wednesday, with Andre Miller scoring a team-high 24 points in the win. Brandon Roy left that game early with a hamstring injury. The Celtics lost 92-86 in Detroit in their last game on Wednesday, with Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce each scoring 21 points in the losing cause. Rasheed Wallace tossed in 16 points.
Also on the NBA schedule for Friday: Sacramento at Orlando, Milwaukee at Toronto, Miami at Washington, Dallas at Philadelphia, Charlotte at Atlanta, the Lakers at New York, New Orleans at Minnesota, Indiana at Detroit, Oklahoma City at Memphis, New Jersey at Golden State, Houston at San Antonio, and Chicago at Phoenix. The Suns had no trouble getting past lowly New Jersey on Wednesday night, with Amare Stoudemire scoring 27 points in a 118-94 victory.
As well, the top two matchups on the college basketball schedule for Friday are Wofford at Charleston and St. Peter's at Niagara. The Peacocks (10-8 SU, 7-5 ATS) knocked off Loyola 48-43 in their last game; Nick Leon scored 20 points for St. Peter's in that win. The Purple Eagles (11-9 SU, 8-10-1 ATS) are coming off an easy 72-56 win over Marist. Rob Garrison led Niagara with 18 points that day.
Taking a trip around the rink . . .
Finally, the NHL offers up three games on Friday, with Dallas at Edmonton, Nashville at Colorado, and Montreal at New Jersey. The Canadiens were defeated 4-3 in overtime by the Blues in their last game on Wednesday night; Benoit Pouliot scored twice for Montreal in that loss, while Carey Price stopped 24 of 28 St. Louis shots. The Devils blanked the Panthers 2-0 in their last game Wednesday night. Martin Brodeur made 22 saves for the shutout for New Jersey.
Today's Wagering Tips
Friday, January 22
Lines off the board
New Orleans Hornets at Minnesota Timberwolves – Kevin Love (illness) has missed the last two games and is probable.
Indiana Pacers at Detroit Pistons – Ben Gordon (groin) and Tayshaun Prince (knee) have not played in a week and are questionable. Tyler Hansbrough (ear) missed last two games and is questionable.
Wofford at Charleston – Both teams face the rare college basketball conference back-to-back scenario. Wofford won the first of its two games, 44-42, over Citadel Thursday while Charleston enjoyed a 92-80 victory over Furman.
Lines to keep an eye on
The Thunder-Grizzlies’ total has risen a solid point since opening at 203.5. Memphis has played in two straight overs and the over has hit in seven of the last 10 meetings in this matchup.
Who’s hot
Charlotte Bobcats – Won nine of last 10 and went 6-4 ATS in that span.
Carlos Delfino – Averaging 18.3 ppg and connecting at a 40 percent rate from 3-point range in last four games.
Benoit Pouliot – Scored six goals in last seven outings with 19 shots on goal.
Colorado Avalanche – Won four games in a row, earning 5.04 units on the moneyline.
Who’s not
New Jersey Nets – Lost nine consecutive games and four straight ATS. Nets are 7-14 ATS in last 21 games.
Montreal Canadiens – Lost three straight, dropping 3.57 units during that span.
Rider Broncos – Dropped three of last four straight up and ATS.
Key stat
9 – Consecutive one-point games won by the Mavericks. Dallas has not lost a one-point game since January of 2007 and is one win shy of tying the all-time NBA record of 10 established by the 1959-60 St. Louis Hawks.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
Kevin Love is expected to return to the Timberwolves lineup Friday after missing two games with strep throat. Minnesota split games without Love against the Sixers and Thunder and went 2-0 ATS. Love missed the first 18 games of the season and saw his team go 7-11 SU and ATS in his absence. He is averaging 15.2 ppg and 12.3 rpg this year.
Game of the Day
Los Angeles Lakers at New York Knicks (+5, 200.5)
Notable Quotable
"We've got a state-of-the-art shower; 2020 state of the art. We've got a microwave. Stainless steel. Twelve bunks. Twelve waterbeds. Each one has an individual TV. If you don't have one, we'll stop at Best Buy. In the back we've got a big TV and computer whizzes."
-- Chad Ochocinco told Bengals.com in regards to the Pro Bowl bus he will be taking to Miami that will make various stops to serve food to the needy.
Tips and notes
- New Jersey has scored 11 goals in its last seven games, posting two or fewer in five of those outings. The Devils ranks 19th in the league with a 2.65 gpg average and have failed to reach the 3-goal mark in 23 of their 48 games this season.
- The Eastern Washington Eagles have defeated Idaho State in 18 of the teams’ last 26 meetings. EWU is 20-7 at home since the 1983-84 season versus the Bengals. The Eagles have covered in four straight and eight of the last 10 in this series.
- Portland guard Brandon Roy reinjured his hamstring in the first half of Wednesday’s game versus Philadelphia. Roy left the game and did not return, and missed two games last week with the same setback. The Blazers went 1-1 straight up and ATS without their leading scorer on the floor and are 13-26 SU and 17-22 ATS sans Roy since 2006.