Daily Sports Roundup
Monday March 22
Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: UConn meets Virginia Tech in the NIT, while the Pens battle the Red Wings, and the Mavericks seek a victory in New Orleans.
Tipping off on the hardwood . . .
The NBA offers up 10 games on Monday night, including Dallas at New Orleans. The Mavericks (46-23 SU, 28-40-1 ATS) were beaten 102-93 by Boston in their last game on Saturday. Dirk Nowitzki picked up 28 points and five rebounds for Dallas in that losing cause, while Jason Terry chipped in with 18 points off the bench. The Hornets (33-38 SU, 32-38-1 ATS) have lost three straight games, most recently falling 106-86 in Utah on Saturday. Marcus Thornton had 22 points in the loss for the Hornets, who are 1-2 versus the Mavs in three games this year
Also on the NBA's schedule for Monday: Orlando at Philadelphia, Miami at New Jersey, San Antonio at Oklahoma City, Toronto at Minnesota, Atlanta at Milwaukee, Houston at Chicago, Memphis at Sacramento, Phoenix at Golden State, and Boston at Utah. The Celtics (45-24 SU, 29-39-1 ATS) got 29 points from Paul Pierce and 21 from Ray Allen in their win over Dallas on Saturday; Rajon Rondo scored 20 points. The Jazz (45-25 SU, 43-24-3 ATS) were led by Paul Millsap's 22 points and C.J. Miles' 17 points in their victory over the Hornets
There are games in all three secondary college hoops tournaments on Monday. In the CIT it's Appalachian State vs. Marshall, Fairfield vs. Creighton, Louisiana Tech vs. Missouri State, and Pacific vs. Northern Colorado, while the CBI has Princeton vs. IUPUI, Morehead State vs. Boston University, Charleston vs. VCU, and Wisconsin Green Bay vs. Saint Louis. As well, the second round of the NIT concludes with Nevada vs. Rhode Island, Dayton vs. Cincinnati, Kent State vs. Illinois, and Connecticut vs. Virginia Tech. The Hokies beat Quinnipiac 81-61 in the first round, while the Huskies advanced by getting past Northeastern 59-57.
Taking a trip around the rink . . .
Finally, there are three games on the National Hockey League's schedule for Monday, with Ottawa at Montreal, Colorado at Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh at Detroit. The 42-24-6 Penguins were beaten 3-2 in overtime by the Hurricanes in their last game on Saturday afternoon. Jordan Staal and Evgeni Malkin scored for Pittsburgh in that loss, while Marc-Andre Fleury made 26 saves. The 35-23-13 Red Wings are coming off a 4-3 overtime victory in Vancouver on Saturday night, with Henrik Zetterberg providing the winner. Jimmy Howard had 29 saves.
Monday's Wagering Tips
Lines off the board
Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers: Sixers guard Louis Williams (back) is questionable.
Miami Heat at New Jersey Nets: Heat center Jermaine O'Neal (ankle) is questionable.
Dallas Mavericks at New Orleans Hornets: Hornets guard Chris Paul (knee) is doubtful.
Memphis Grizzlies at Sacramento Kings: Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (neck) is questionable. Kings guard Tyreke Evans (concussion) is day-to-day.
Lines to keep an eye on
Milwaukee Bucks opened as 3.5-point favorites over Atlanta Hawks and have jumped to 4. Bucks are 13-2-1 ATS in their last 16.
Total in the Boston Celtics-Utah Jazz opened at 202 and fell to 201 at some books. Boston has played in three straight unders.
Illinois opened as a 9-point favorite over Kent State but the line has fallen to 8 at most books.
Northern Colorado was listed as a pick 'em against Pacific but is now a 1-point favorite at most books.
Missouri State opened as a 9-point favorite over Louisana Tech but that number has dropped to as low as 8 at some books.
Who's hot
Phoenix Suns are 17-5 ATS in their last 22.
Milwaukee Bucks are 14-2 SU in their last 16.
Orlando Magic are 10-1 SU in their last 11.
San Antonio Spurs are 9-1 ATS in their last 10.
Montreal Canadiens are 7-1 in their last eight, netting 5.76 units.
Who's not
Minnesota Timberwolves are 1-17 SU in their last 18.
New Jersey Nets are 1-10 SU in their last 11.
Chicago Bulls are 1-10 SU in their last 11.
New Orleans Hornets are 2-9-1 ATS in their last 12.
Philadelphia 76ers are 1-7 SU and 2-6 ATS in their last eight.
Ottawa Senators are 1-8 in their last nine.
Key stat
38.5 - Total number of points covered by Cornell in its first two NCAA Tournament games. The 12th-seeded Big Red beat fifth-seeded Temple 78-65 on Thursday as 3-point underdogs, then ripped fourth-seeded Wisconsin 87-69 on Sunday as 4.5-point pups.
Injury that shouldn't be overlooked
Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans went from possibly missing the rest of the season to possibly not missing a single game after X-rays were negative for a broken jaw. Evans took an elbow to the face from Ersan Ilyasova in Friday's loss to the Milwaukee Bucks and suffered a slight concussion, a chipped tooth and a gum laceration, but there is a chance he will suit up tonight to face the Grizzlies. Evans, who is averaging 20. 4 points per game, will be evaluated Monday.
Game of the day
Atlanta Hawks at Milwaukee Bucks
Notable quotable
"I told our team when we were up four (points), up six, whatever it was, we were going to win this game and it's going to be one of the greatest wins in the history of Michigan State."
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said Sunday after the Spartans beat Maryland 85-83 on Korie Lucious' 3-pointer at the buzzer to advance to the Sweet 16.
Tips and notes
The Toronto Raptors are on a much-needed road trip after being blown out by Oklahoma City and then booed out by their home fans on Friday. They got the easiest road trip a struggling team could ask for - at New Jersey, which they defeated 100-90 on Saturday, and at Minnesota, which has lost 12 in a row. The Raptors are 10-0 SU and 9-1 ATS in their last 10 against the T'wolves.
The L.A. Kings' front-line trio of Ryan Smyth, Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams have finally been reunited after a injury-plagued season. They played only nine games together before Williams went out with an upper-body injury, then eight more before Smyth went down with a broken leg, scoring 23 goals and 36 assists in their 17 games together. Now reunited again, it's only a matter of time before they start playing like one of the league's premiere front lines again.
The price of betting on NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson just went up after Sunday's win at Bristol Motor Speedway, previously considered a weak spot for the four-time defending Sprint Cup champion. For all his accomplishments, short tracks like Bristol have been his Achilles heal. Fortunately for him, there are few on the circuit, but NASCAR rolls to another one this week at Martinsville Speedway. With his short-track woes in his rearview mirror, look out ahead for Johnson.