Daily Sports Roundup
Wednesday March 3
Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Red Wings play host to the Canucks, while Kansas State meets Kansas, and the Grizzlies seek a win in New Orleans.
Tipping off on the hardwood.
There are a dozen games on the NBA's schedule for Wednesday, including Memphis at New Orleans. The Grizzlies (30-30 SU, 32-28 ATS) were defeated 103-93 by Portland in their last game on Monday, despite Marc Gasol's 15 points and 11 rebounds. Zach Randolph added 22 points in that contest. The Hornets (31-30 SU, 30-30-1 ATS) are 2-0 against the Grizzlies so far this year, but they lost 106-92 to San Antonio on Monday. Marcus Thornton had 30 points off the bench for New Orleans in that matchup, and Emeka Okafor picked up 18 points.
Also on the NBA's slate for Wednesday: Philadelphia at Atlanta, Golden State at Orlando, Detroit at New York, Charlotte at Boston, Washington at Milwaukee, Minnesota at Dallas, Sacramento at Houston, Oklahoma City at Denver, Indiana at Portland, Phoenix at the Clippers, and Cleveland at New Jersey. The Cavaliers (47-14 SU, 30-29-2 ATS) enter Wednesday's game on a four-game winning streak, and they got past the Knicks for a 124-93 win on Monday. LeBron James had 22 points for the Cavs that day, while Antawn Jamison had 17 points.
There are two ranked matchups on the college basketball schedule for Wednesday, with No. 4 Duke at No. 22 Maryland, and No. 5 Kansas State at No. 2 Kansas. Other games involving ranked teams on Wednesday: Indiana at No. 7 Purdue, Arkansas at No. 16 Tennessee, No. 25 Xavier at Fordham, No. 20 Temple at Saint Louis, No. 3 Kentucky at Georgia, Iowa at No. 15 Wisconsin, TCU at No. 8 New Mexico, Oklahoma State at No. 23 Texas A&M, and No. 14 BYU at Utah. The Cougars (26-4 SU, 16-11 ATS) lost a tough 83-81 game to New Mexico last time out; Michael Loyd had 19 points for BYU in that matchup.
Taking a trip around the rink.
Finally, there are six games on the National Hockey League's schedule for Wednesday, with Washington at Buffalo, Philadelphia at Florida, Edmonton at Chicago, Minnesota at Calgary, Colorado at Anaheim, and Vancouver at Detroit. The 29-21-12 Red Wings kicked off the post-Olympic schedule with a 3-2 win in Colorado on Monday night. Nicklas Lidstrom had the game-winning goal for Detroit on that night, while Tomas Holmstrom and Johan Franzen had first-period markers. Jimmy Howard stopped 22 of 24 Colorado shots for Detroit in that win.
Wednesday's Wagering Tips
Lines off the board
Charlotte Bobcats at Boston Celtics – Kendrick Perkins (illness) missed Tuesday’s game with the flu and is questionable.
Sacramento Kings at Houston Rockets – Andres Nocioni will miss the game after being suspended two games for a DUI charge. Trevor Ariza (hip) has missed the team’s last four games and is doubtful.
Lines to keep an eye on
The total in the Magic-Warriors game moved from an opener of 215.5 to 214.5. Three of the last four games in this series have gone under.
The Cleveland-New Jersey total has dropped a point to 197 since opening on the board. Six of the last seven games between these two teams has gone under.
The Wizards-Bucks total opened at 192 and now can be found as high as 193.5. These two teams have played to the over in two straight.
The Wolves-Mavs total plummeted from an opener of 203 to 201.5.
The Duke-Maryland total opened at 147 and has since moved to 148. These teams have cashed five straight unders in the last five matchups.
Who’s hot
Rajon Rondo is a dime machine right now. He’s averaging 12.8 apg over his last six, to accompany a 14.3 ppg scoring average.
The Texas A&M Aggies are 8-0 ATS in their last eight games.
Who’s not
Arkansas has dropped three straight games SU and ATS.
Houston is 3-12 ATS in its last 15 home games.
Key stat
58 – Number of consecutive home wins for the Kansas Jayhawks. They will face the No. 5-ranked Kansas State Wildcats on Wednesday at home and are laying 9 points with a total of 149.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
Elton Brand will not be available for Wednesday’s game versus Atlanta as he is dealing with a right Achilles tendon injury. These types of injuries are never taken lightly and Brand could be out for an extended period of time. Brand is posting 13.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game this season. He is expected to be replaced by Thaddeus Young in the starting lineup with the Sixers listed as 9-point road dogs to the Hawks.
Game of the day
Kansas State Wildcats at Kansas Jayhawks (-9, 149)
Notable quotable
"Later, I have to face my grandmother. I'm not really looking forward to facing her. It's not too much what she's going to say. It's about what she's going to do. That's what I'm not looking forward to, but I got to deal with it."
-- Minnesota big man Al Jefferson said after being arrested on a DUI last weekend. The Timberwolves have suspended Jefferson for the next two games.
Tips and notes
- Mike D’Antoni is back to demanding an up-tempo pace of play from his team. Last week D’Antoni said, “I tried to slow it down, but I just don’t like to coach that way. I’d rather speed it up and run.” The Knicks have played to the over in four straight games and 9-of-10. They have been given their lowest posted total in two weeks with a 204.5 number against the Pistons.
- Despite losing their first game under new owner Michael Jordan, the Bobcats could be a good bet heading forward after a rough stretch that prompted Gerald Wallace to say, “It’s no longer ‘team this’ or ‘team that’”. Gerald Henderson, who beat Jordan in H.O.R.S.E. twice in practice on Monday, said Jordan’s purchase of the team “brings a different spirit to everything we're doing.” Charlotte should be inspired to play for the greatest basketballer of all-time.
- Danny Granger has returned to basketball, but that doesn’t mean his head is in the game. Granger admitted that he will “zone out at times” because of the family issue weighing heavily on his mind. He also talked about how “inconsistent” the team has been, the Pacers have lost 7-of-10 games. Nothing is going right in Indy as the team also suspended Salomon Jones for detrimental conduct.