Sunday's Betting Tips
By Covers.com
Weather to watch
A 12-mph wind will be blowing in from right when the Cubs host the Dodgers on Sunday afternoon. There’s a 20 percent chance of rain; temperatures will be in the low 70s.
Who’s hot
NBA: Chicago is 4-1 ATS after scoring 75 or fewer points in its previous game.
NBA: Miami is 7-1 ATS in its last eight playoff games as a favorite of 5.0-10.5 points.
NHL: The Devils are 7-1 in their last eight home games.
MLB: Baltimore is 7-1 in Tommy Hunter’s last eight starts.
MLB: The Angels are 5-0 in Jerome Williams’ last five home starts, and 7-2 in his last nine starts on grass.
Who’s not
NBA: The favorite is 1-6 ATS in the last seven Hawks-Celtics games.
NBA: The over is 6-21 in the last 27 Lakers-Nuggets games.
NHL: St. Louis is 2-8 in its last 10 games as a road underdog.
MLB: Minnesota is 0-6 in Nick Blackburn’s last six starts.
MLB: Houston is 1-10 in its last 11 games facing St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright.
Key stat
19-1 – That’s the Celtics’ record when point guard Rajon Rondo records a triple-double. In Boston’s overtime win in Game 3, Rondo became the first player in NBA history with at least 17 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists and four steals in a playoff game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Since the start of the 2008-09 season, Rondo has posted an NBA-high 20 triple-doubles, one more than LeBron James. Rondo’s seven career playoff triple-doubles are tied with James for second-most among active players; Jason Kidd leads that category with 11.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
Padres closer Huston Street strained his right shoulder while pitching in the 10th inning of Friday’s 9-8 loss to the Marlins. It is unclear how long the injury will sideline Street, who has four saves and a 0.93 ERA. He went for an MRI on Saturday. In the meantime, Andrew Cashner will move into the closer’s role.
Games of the day
Philadelphia Flyers at New Jersey Devils (-110, 5.5)
Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets (-2, 201)
Notable quotable
"The thing is, injury is part of the game. You have to have a mental toughness to get past all of that. We've had injuries all year and you just deal with it. If you look, you can find something every night, every game. Shorthanded, regular season, back to back, early start, whatever it is, or you can find a way to win. That's what you need. You need guys that have great will to win, and no matter what the circumstances are will find a way to win." – Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, whose depleted team trails 2-1 in the series to Philadelphia.
Notes and tips
Coyotes defenseman Rostislav Klesla faces a disciplinary hearing Sunday for boarding Predators winger Matt Halischuk during the first period of Game 4 on Friday night. Replays showed Klesla grabbing Halischuk’s jersey before shoving him into the boards. "I looked at it and it was a really dangerous hit in my eyes," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "How the referees or the league will view it, I can't really speak on that, but from my eyes and knowing from playing defense, drilling him when you do that whiplash effect of pulling the shirt and then driving him, it was really fortunate that Halischuk did sort of spin at the last moment." Klesla drew a two-minute penalty for boarding. Halischuk left the game but returned. With a 3-1 lead in the series, Phoenix can close it out at home on Monday.
Flyers center Sean Couturier could return to the lineup for Sunday's Game 4 in New Jersey. He injured his leg in the first period of Philly’s 4-3 OT loss on Thursday night. Analysts said the absence of Couturier, who anchors the checking line, enabled Devils winger Ilya Kovalchuk to get loose for a goal and two assists.
Cubs right-hander Matt Garza (2-1, 2.67 ERA) won’t start Sunday against the Dodgers because of the flu. Garza and infielder Jeff Baker were the latest to come down with the virus that has spread through the team’s clubhouse. Travis Wood was called up to make the spot start in Garza's place.