Daily Sports Roundup
Friday March 12
Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: College hoops tournaments continue around the country, while the Kings meet the Stars, and the Suns play host to the Lakers.
Tipping off on the hardwood . . .
The NBA offers up a dozen games on Friday night, including a big Western clash between the Lakers and Suns in Phoenix. Los Angeles (47-18 SU, 27-36-2 ATS) shook off their skid with a 109-107 home win over the Raptors on Tuesday night. Kobe Bryant led the way with 32 points for the Lakers in that contest, while Andrew Bynum was good for 22 points on the night. The Suns (40-25 SU, 37-27-1 ATS) got past Indiana 113-105 in their last game on Saturday. Phoenix is 1-2 vs. the Lakers this season, and forward Channing Frye (suspension) is out Friday.
Also on the NBA hardwood on Friday: the Clippers at Charlotte, Indiana at Boston, Chicago at Miami, New York at Memphis, New Jersey at Oklahoma City, Washington at Detroit, Denver at New Orleans, San Antonio at Minnesota, Utah at Milwaukee, Portland at Sacramento, and Cleveland at Philadelphia. The Cavaliers (50-15 SU, 31-32-2 ATS) got back into the win column with a 97-95 home win over San Antonio in their last game on Monday night. LeBron James sat out that contest to rest his sore ankle, but he is expected to play Friday night.
As well, the bigger college basketball tournaments in the ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big 10, C-USA, MWC, Pac-10, and SEC hit their middle stages on Friday, in advance of the weekend's championship games. Two ranked teams will also hit the floor in the Atlantic 10 tournament at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on Friday, with St. Bonaventure at No. 17 Temple, and Dayton at No. 24 Xavier. The Owls (26-5 SU, 20-11 ATS) had no trouble with St. Bonaventure in their regular-season meeting, winning 73-55 on the road. The Musketeers (23-7 SU, 19-10 ATS) beat Dayton 78-74 at home but lost 90-65 on the road in their two meetings.
Taking a trip around the rink . . .
Finally, there are just six games on the NHL's schedule for Friday, with Tampa Bay at Washington, Pittsburgh at New Jersey, Minnesota at Buffalo, the Rangers at Atlanta, Nashville at Anaheim, and Los Angeles at Dallas. The 39-22-5 Kings are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss in Chicago on Wednesday night. Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar scored for the Kings in that game, while Jon Quick made 40 saves. The 29-25-12 Stars fell 5-3 in Buffalo in their last game on Wednesday night, and they've picked up the loss in all four games vs. the Kings this season.
Friday's Wagering Tips
Lines off the board
Cleveland Cavaliers at Philadelphia 76ers: Cavs forwards LeBron James (ankle) is probable and Antawn Jamison (knee) is doubtful.
Los Angeles Clippers at Charlotte Bobcats: Clippers guard Eric Gordon (leg) is questionable. Bobcats centers Nazr Mohammed (back) and DeSagana Diop (knee) are questionable.
Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat: Heat forwards Michael Beasley (thigh) and Dorell Wright (possible suspension) are listed as questionable. Bulls guard Derrick Rose (wrist) left Thursday night's game vs. Magic.
Lines to keep an eye on
Washington Wizards at Detroit Pistons: Total opened at 190.5 and had jumped to 191.5. The Wizards have hit the under in their last five.
Utah Jazz at Milwaukee Bucks: Total opened at 196.5 and dropped to 195.5. The Bucks have played in four straight unders but the over is 8-1 in Jazz's last nine.
Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns: After opening as a pick 'em, the Lakers are now 1-point favorites. The Lakers are 2-8-1 ATS in their last 11 while the Suns are 8-2 ATS in their last 10.
Who's hot
Milwaukee Bucks are 10-0-1 ATS in their last 11.
San Antonio Spurs are 10-0 SU in last 10 vs. Timberwolves.
New Jersey Nets are 8-0-1 in their last nine road games.
Cleveland Cavaliers are 7-1 SU in their last eight.
Charlotte Bobcats have won four in a row SU and ATS.
Who's not
Minnesota Timberwolves are 1-13 SU in their last 14.
Philadelphia 76ers are 1-7 SU in their last eight.
Los Angeles Clippers are 1-7 SU in their last eight.
Chicago Bulls have lost five in a row SU and ATS.
Tampa Bay Lightning have lost six of their last seven.
Key stat
25 - Number of SEC Tournament titles won by Kentucky. The other 11 teams in the conference have combined to win 22.
Injury that shouldn't be overlooked
LeBron James should be back in the lineup for the Cavs tonight, but they will be without forward Antawn Jamison, who has stiffness in his knee. Since coming to Cleveland from Washington at the trade deadline, Jamison has blended well with his new teammates. He scored 47 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the last two games without James.
Game of the day
Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns
Notable quotable
"I read Mike tried to answer that by saying we'll know it when we see it. At the same time, it'd be nice to know what that is and what that meant."
NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Brad Keselowski, who was wrecked by Carl Edwards last week at Atlanta, said of NASCAR president Mike Helton and the new "have at it, boys" policy regarding rough driving.
Tips and notes
The Miami Heat have been feeling the heat lately with the loss of two key role players over the last week. After guard Rafer Alston stunned the team by going AWOL last Friday, forward Dorell Wright was arrested for DUI Thursday morning and will likely sit out with a suspension tonight against the Bulls. Injuries are part of the game, but these kinds of losses can take a toll on a team.
Virginia won its first-round ACC Tournament game over Boston College but the Cavaliers had lost nine straight SU and ATS before the win and lost two of their top players - leading scorer Sylven Landesberg (academics) and guard Calvin Baker (personal) - earlier this week. Duke, which is 9-1 SU and ATS in its last 10 have won the last four meetings by an average margin of 20 points per game.
The schedule crunch is catching up to the Nashville Predators, who are on a three-game, four-day road trip that spans three time zones. The Preds lost at Atlanta on Tuesday, flew cross-country on Wednesday and did not have a time to get on the ice before Thursday's game at San Jose, which hadn't played since Saturday. Now they must catch the red-eye down the coast to face the Ducks, who are on two days rest.