Thursday’s Betting Tips
By Covers.com
Who’s hot
NBA: The Knicks are 20-6 against the spread in their last 26 home games.
NBA: The over is 6-2 in Dallas’ last eight overall.
NHL: The New Jersey Devils are 11-4 in their last 15 overall.
NHL: The Los Angeles Kings are 8-3 in their last 11 home games.
MLB: Toronto is 10-4 in its last 14 starts with Brandon Morrow set as an underdog.
Who’s not
NBA: Oklahoma City is 0-5 ATS in its last five overall.
NBA: The Miami Heat are 1-5 ATS in their last six road games.
NHL: The under is 4-10-1 in Philadelphia’s last 15 overall.
NHL: The St. Louis Blues are 2-7 in their last nine games as a road underdog.
MLB: Kanas City has lost 11 straight home games.
Key stat
29.9 – LeBron James averages 29.9 points per game at Madison Square Garden in New York, second only to Kobe Bryant among active players. What’s worse for the Knicks is Heat guard Dwyane Wade sits fourth on that list, putting up 27.3 points per game at MSG. The Heat are set as 5-point road favorites in Thursday’s Game 3.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
Ilya Kovalchuk, New Jersey Devils – After missing Game 2 with a lower body injury, Kovalchuk is listed as questionable for Game 3. However, coach Pete DeBoer hinted that the injury probably isn’t that serious. “I’m sure you’re going to see him again in the series,” DeBoer told WFAN 660 AM. “It could be sooner than later.”
Game of the day
Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks (-3.5, 194.5)
Notable quotable
"Mickey should never tell you guys what we talk about in a meeting. I think that's something that's private. That needs to stay with the team. No disrespect to Mickey, but this is our ballclub. This is stuff that needs to be private, and that's something that I'm going to tell him. He should never talk to the media about the things that are going on in the meetings." – Slumping Angels slugger Albert Pujols on hitting coach Mickey Hatcher, who told the media Pujols stood up and reassured the team that its offense would come around. The Angels were hitting just .237 heading into Wednesday’s action, with Pujols still without a home run.
Notes and tips
Tiger Woods is back in action Thursday at the Wells Fargo Championship, his first tournament since his disappointing performance at the Masters. Woods and swing coach Sean Foley have put a lot of time in to correct his posture and Woods heads into Round 1 at +850 to win the tournament, just behind favorite Rory McIlroy (+800).
New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma was suspended for the 2012 season for his role in the team's bounty scandal, the most severe of the punishments handed out Wednesday by commissioner Roger Goodell. Three other players received suspension for their parts: defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove (now with the Green Bay Packers) will miss eight games, defensive Will Smith four games and linebacker Scott Fujita (now with the Cleveland Browns) received three games apiece. None of the players will be paid during their respective suspensions. The players can appeal the decision within three days, and be heard by Goodell.
The Boston Red Sox placed third baseman Kevin Youkilis on the 15-day disabled list due to a nagging lower-back strain, according to ESPNBoston.com. The injury flared up over the weekend during the Red Sox' four-game series at Chicago vs. the White Sox. Youkilis sat out the final game of the series because of the ailment.In other news, due to stiffness in his right lat muscle, Red Sox pitching ace Josh Beckett will miss his next scheduled start, this Saturday, against the visiting Baltimore Orioles. He will be replaced by Aaron Cook, also called up from Pawtucket. He will be added to the major league team roster on Saturday.