Daily Sports Roundup
Saturday, February 27
Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Celtics try to blow past the Nets, while Villanova battles Syracuse, and the top-ranked Jayhawks meet Oklahoma State.
Tipping off on the hardwood . . .
There are seven games on the NBA's schedule for Saturday, including Milwaukee at Miami, Chicago at Indiana, Memphis at New York, Portland at Minnesota, Houston at Utah, and Detroit at Golden State. As well, there's a matinee mismatch in Boston, with the Celtics playing host to the Nets. New Jersey (5-52 SU, 20-35-2 ATS) has lost four straight games, falling to Portland 102-93 last time out. The Celtics (36-20 SU, 21-34-1 ATS) were embarrassed 108-88 by Cleveland on Thursday, but they're 3-0 vs. the Nets so far this season.
As well, there are four ranked matchups on the college basketball schedule for Saturday, with No. 21 Texas at No. 22 Texas A&M, No. 10 New Mexico at No. 13 BYU, No. 2 Kentucky at No. 19 Tennessee, and No. 7 Villanova at No. 4 Syracuse. The Wildcats (23-4 SU, 17-9 ATS) beat South Florida 74-49 last time out, with Scottie Reynolds scoring 21 points for Villanova in that contest. The Orange (26-2 SU, 16-7 ATS) got past Providence 99-85 in their last game on Tuesday night. Rick Jackson poured in 28 points for Syracuse in that matchup.
Other games involving Top-10 teams on Saturday: Michigan at No. 9 Ohio State, Cincinnati at No. 8 West Virginia, Missouri at No. 6 Kansas State, and No. 1 Kansas at Oklahoma State. The top-ranked Jayhawks (27-1 SU, 10-14-1 ATS) blew past Oklahoma in an 81-68 win on Monday night; Xavier Henry scored 23 points for Kansas in that contest. The Cowboys (19-8 SU, 12-8-1 ATS) fell 69-59 to Texas in their last game Wednesday, with James Anderson scoring 14 points.
Taking a trip around the rink . . .
Finally, the Olympic men's hockey tournament will stage its Bronze Medal Game on Saturday night, starting at 10pm ET. The Gold Medal Game is set for Sunday.
Saturday's Wagering Tips
Lines off the board
Milwaukee Bucks at Miami Heat – Dwyane Wade has missed the last three games with a strained calf muscle and is out for Saturday. Rafer Alston (hand) has also missed three straight games but is expected to play.
Line to keep an eye on
The Grizzlies-Knicks spread opened as a pick but a few shops have moved New York to 1-point underdogs. Both teams played on Friday night and the Knicks have covered in two straight in this series.
Weather to watch
Another winter snowstorm has dumped 14-30 inches of snow from New York City to Syracuse while southwest Albany received upwards of three feet of white.
There is also heavy rain in eastern New England which has caused flooding while the snow has put many people without power. Wind gusts of up to 70 mph have accompanied the powerful storm.
The storm is expected to head southwest tonight and drop anywhere from 3-10 inches of snow over Pennsylvania and Ohio. The Mid-Atlantic is also experiencing high winds exceeding 60 mph.
Airport delays are expected in Boston, New York and Philadelphia.
The 34,616 fans expected for Villanova-Syracuse game Saturday night will have to battle the ice and snow in order to get to the Carrier Dome.
The Nets could face travel troubles as they head to Boston for a Saturday matchup against the Celtics. The Grizzlies might also encounter flight problems coming into New York with a date with the Knicks Saturday night.
Who’s hot
The Bucks are 5-0 SU and ATS in their last five and are 8-2 SU and ATs in their last 10 games.
Texas A&M is 7-0 ATS in their last seven.
Richard Hamilton is averaging 28.6 ppg over this last five outings.
Who’s not
Kansas has lost four straight ATS and is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games.
Texas is 1-8 ATS on the road this season.
Key stat
153-28 – Overall record of Big 12 home teams this season. Oklahoma State (+5) and Oklahoma (+4.5) are home underdogs on Saturday while Texas A&M is a pick versus Texas.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
UCLA starting center Reeves Nelson will miss his second consecutive game after having surgery on Monday to repair a tear in his left retina. The Bruins used a three-guard starting lineup in Thursday’s win over Oregon State with Nelson out, covering as 5-point home favorites. Tyler Honeycutt started in place of Nelson and recorded 18 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in 34 minutes of action.
Notable quotable
"It was a crazy 12 minutes. I've never been a part of something like that. It seemed like we were scoring every shift."
-- USA hockey member Patrick Kane said after the team scored six first period goals versus Finland which had not been done since 1964.
Tips and notes
- With Dwyane Wade out of the lineup, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the team will play low-possession, stretch it out type of games. There is no timetable for Wade’s return and he is likely out Saturday and Sunday. Miami has averaged 95.0 ppg without Wade and have played to the under in seven of its last eight games. The lone over was a total of 183.5 and the game ended at 97-91.
- Tracy McGrady is adjusting after coming back from microfracture knee surgery. He scored 26 points in his first game with the Knicks but was on the bench for most of the overtime period in that game because he said he “didn't have any legs". Coach Mike D’Antoni expects to see a drop-off in McGrady’s production over the next few games which is consistent with the surgery and after seeing him “run out of gas” is his first game back.
- When Marcus Camby went down with a sprained ankle on Tuesday, it looked as if the Blazers injury troubles would never end. Coach Nate McMillan said that his team was “hungry” and wouldn’t “let this season slip away.” Brandon Roy is playing through pain and Portland is playing inspired ball, with or without Camby. They beat the Raptors without him on Wednesday in Toronto where the Raps were 21-7.