Daily Sports Roundup
Saturday March 20
Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Habs battle the rival Leafs, the Mavs take on the Celtics, and Kansas and Kentucky play their second-round matchups.
Tipping off on the hardwood . . .
The NBA has just seven games on tap for Saturday, with Chicago at Philadelphia, Charlotte at Miami, Toronto at New Jersey, Golden State at Memphis, Milwaukee at Denver, New Orleans at Utah, and Boston at Dallas. The Mavericks got back into the win column with a 113-106 victory over the Bulls in their last game on Wednesday night, and they beat the Celtics 99-90 when the teams last met in Boston back on January 18. Dirk Nowitzki led the way for Dallas with 37 points that day, while Shawn Marion turned in a 16-point effort. Paul Pierce had 24 points in the loss for Boston, and Ray Allen scored 21 points.
As well, top seeds Kansas and Kentucky are back in action in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday. The Jayhawks got past No. 16 Lehigh in their tournament opener on Thursday, grabbing a 90-74 win behind 26 points from Marcus Morris. Kansas will now take on No. 9 Northern Iowa on Saturday as a 11.5-point favorite. The Wildcats had an even easier time against No. 16 East Tennessee State on Thursday, with Eric Bledsoe scoring 29 points in a 100-71 romp. Kentucky now faces No. 9 Wake Forest on Saturday as a 9-point favorite.
Along with Northern Iowa vs. Kansas it'll also be No. 14 Ohio vs. No. 6 Tennessee (-8.5) in Midwest Region action on Saturday, while No. 11 Washington (-1.5) vs. No. 3 New Mexico joins Wake Forest vs. Kentucky on the East Region slate. In Saturday's South Region action it'll be No. 10 St. Mary's vs. No. 2 Villanova (-4.5) and No. 11 Old Dominion vs. No. 3 Baylor (-4.5), and the West Region has No. 7 BYU vs. No. 2 Kansas State (-4.5) and No. 13 Murray State vs. No. 5 Butler (-4.5). Murray State beat No. 4 Vanderbilt 66-65 Thursday.
Taking a trip around the rink . . .
Finally, there are 11 games on the NHL's schedule for Saturday, with Carolina at Pittsburgh, Ottawa at Dallas, Philadelphia at Atlanta, Buffalo at Florida, St. Louis at New Jersey, Washington at Tampa Bay, Columbus at Nashville, Chicago at Phoenix, Detroit at Vancouver, the Islanders at Los Angeles, and Montreal at Toronto. The 36-29-6 Canadiens enter Saturday's matchup on a six-game winning streak, as they defeated the Rangers 3-1 on the road in their last game on Tuesday night. The 25-34-12 Maple Leafs have won two straight games, topping New Jersey 2-1 Thursday. Montreal is 3-1 against Toronto on the season.
Saturday's Wagering Tips
Lines off the board
Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers – Derrick Rose (wrist) has missed the last three games and is questionable. Luol Deng (calf) will miss his fifth straight game. Thaddeus Young (finger) will not play in the game. Both teams played Friday night.
Toronto Raptors at New Jersey Nets – Devin Harris (illness) has missed the last two games but is expected to play. Yi Jianlian (ankle) hasn’t played since March 6 but is probable.
Golden State Warriors at Memphis Grizzlies – Marc Gasol (neck) has missed two straight games and is doubtful. Stephen Curry sprained his left ankle and he was questionable going into Friday’s game.
New Orleans Hornets at Utah Jazz – Deron Williams (ankle) and Wesley Matthews (knee) were both probable heading into Friday’s game.
Lines to keep an eye on
The total in the Bobcats-Heat game has skyrocketed since its low opener of 180. Most shops are currently offering 182.5, but the last two in this series have gone under.
The Celtics-Mavs total has risen one point since opening at 201. Four of the last five games between these teams have gone under.
Who’s hot
Charlotte is 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS in its last eight outings.
Butler has won 21 consecutive games.
The Canadiens have won six straight with four of those wins coming as underdogs.
Who’s not
Chicago has lost nine straight games, going 2-7 ATS.
North Carolina is 3-7 SU and ATS in its last 10 games.
The Hornets are 2-8 SU and ATS in their last 10 games.
Key stat
7 – Number of games decided by single digits on the first day of the NCAA Tournament. Underdogs went 11-4 ATS on Thursday.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
Nets point guard Devin Harris has missed the last two games with an upper respiratory infection but is expected to be back in the lineup on Saturday versus the Raptors. For New Jersey to have any chance of a win, or cover, the team has to have Harris in the lineup. He averages more than 20 points and six assists per game and the team is 0-2 SU and ATS in their last two games without him.
Notable quotable
"I think sometimes when he doesn’t get the basketball, he gets a little frustrated and it has been tough with sliding Chris (Bosh) back into the lineup for him to get touches.”
-- Raptors head coach Jay Triano on the recent play of center Andrea Bargnani.
Tips and notes
- Villanova head coach Jay Wright is rumored to be headed to the NBA. Wright benched two of his starters in Thursday’s win over Robert Morris and it nearly cost the team the game. Minnesota’s Tubby Smith has reportedly struck a deal to become Auburn’s next head coach and that was likely a distraction for the team in its loss Friday. Could the rumors swirling around Wright affect Nova’s players?
- Nets center Brook Lopez left in the middle of Friday’s practice because of his frustration with his team and the attention he’s been getting from opponents recently. With constant double- and triple-teams, Lopez’s numbers have dropped significantly during March. Point guard Devin Harris said Lopez is the team’s “focal point in the paint” and “we need to first and foremost try to get him going.” Things haven’t been right in New Jersey all season.
- Padraig Harrington leads the Transitions Championship after two rounds despite visiting the White House for the president’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration. He thought the missed practice day would affect him but after shooting a 65 on Friday said he is “getting more comfortable with the golf course.” The Irishman also said he will take the same carefree attitude and gameplan that allows him to just “fire” at the pins into the final two rounds. Harrington is +325 odds to win the tournament.