Daily Sports Roundup
Tuesday, December 1
Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Kings take on the rival Ducks, the Suns play in New York, and the Lakers and Hornets meet on the court in Los Angeles.
Tipping off on the hardwood . . .
The NBA offers up a half-dozen games on Tuesday night, including New Orleans at the Lakers. The Hornets (7-10 SU, 8-9 ATS) were beaten 112-96 in Sacramento on Sunday, with David West scoring a team-high 24 points. Emeka Okafor added 20 points and nine rebounds in the contest. The Lakers (13-3 SU, 8-8 ATS) are coming off a 106-87 home win over New Jersey on Sunday, as Kobe Bryant poured in 30 points. Pau Gasol picked up 20 points and nine boards.
Also on the NBA schedule for Tuesday: Washington at Toronto, Boston at Charlotte, Golden State at Denver, Miami at Portland, and Phoenix at New York. The Suns (14-3 SU, 12-5 ATS) had no trouble winning in Toronto on Sunday, rolling to a 113-94 victory; Steve Nash picked up 20 points and 16 assists on his home soil. The Knicks (3-14 SU, 7-10 ATS) fell 114-102 at home to Orlando on Sunday for their fifth straight loss. David Lee picked up 18 points and 12 boards.
No. 11 North Carolina (6-1 SU, 1-4 ATS) hosts No. 2 Michigan State (5-1 SU, 2-3 ATS) in the top college hoops matchup on Tuesday. The Tar Heels beat Nevada 80-73 last time out, while the Spartans are coming off a 106-68 drubbing of UMass. Other games involving ranked teams on Tuesday: Wake Forest at No. 6 Purdue, No. 21 Maryland at Indiana, and also Idaho State at No. 23 Notre Dame.
Taking a trip around the rink . . .
As well, there are four games on the NHL's schedule for Tuesday, with Toronto at Montreal, Columbus at Chicago, Ottawa at San Jose, and Los Angeles at Anaheim. The 15-10-2 Kings slipped past the Blackhawks 2-1 in a shootout on Saturday night , with Wayne Simmonds scoring in regulation and Jon Quick making 32 saves. The 10-11-4 Ducks fell 3-2 in overtime to the Coyotes on Sunday night, with Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan each potting goals in that loss.
Today's Helpful Tips
Tuesday, December 1
Nene a go go
Despite missing Monday's practice with a bruised knee, big man Nene is expected to suit up for Denver's tilt with Golden State Tuesday night at the Pepsi Center.
Nene is averaging 13.9 points and 9.2 rebounds for the NBA's second-highest scoring team and his production will be needed against the fast-paced Warriors.
Golden State is 3-8 ATS in their last 11 meetings in Denver. The total for this matchup is set at 233.5 and the Nuggets are 13-point faves.
Now way San Jose
The Ottawa Senators have only notched 18 goals in their eight road games this season and face a tough test when they take on the league's stingiest home ice opponent on Tuesday night.
The Sens lack of offensive output on the road ranks them dead last in the NHL for goals scored away from home. That doesn't bode well against a team like the Pacific Division leading San Jose Sharks.
Visiting teams have only scored 22 times against the Sharks at the HP Pavilion at San Jose, the lowest amount of production against any team at its home arena this season.
These teams have gone 3-0-1 under the total in their last four meetings and 3-1-2 in the last six meetings in San Jose.
The Sharks are favored at -180 with the total set at 5.5.
Bow down to the Bobcats?
At 13-4 the Boston Celtics sit atop the NBA's Atlantic Division and only trail the Southeast Division leading Orlando Magic for top spot in the Eastern Conference.
So why should Boston backers be worried about Tuesday's contest against the Charlotte Bobcats?
The Bobcats are one of the league's lowest scoring teams and their record finds them resting quietly in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference. But for some reason, Charlotte has the Celtics' number.
The boys from Boston are only 2-5 ATS in their last seven meetings in Charlotte and 3-12 in their last 15 meetings overall. The Bobcats have taken the Celtics to overtime in two of their last three meetings, winning once and covering in seven of their last nine meetings.
Oddsmakers have the Celtics favored by 3-points with the total at 178.5.
Notable quotable
"I'm going to be at Oklahoma next year, so I can't be at two places at once."
-- Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops on possibly replacing recently fired Charlie Weis as Notre Dame's head coach next season.