Tuesday’s Betting Tips
By Covers.com
Who’s hot
NBA: Boston is 6-1-1 against the spread in its last eight and have covered in four of their last five vs. New York.
NBA: Cleveland has covered in six of its last eight and is 7-1 against the spread in its last eight games in Detroit.
NHL: New Jersey has won seven of its last eight.
NHL: Phoenix has won six of its last seven.
MLB: Toronto is 21-9 in its last 30 games when coming off an off day.
MLB: Texas has won 14 of its last 20 road games.
Who’s not
NBA: Minnesota is 1-6 against the spread in its last seven meetings with Memphis.
NBA: Los Angeles Lakers have covered just two of their last 12 home games.
NHL: Detroit is 2-12 in its last 14 games against a team with a winning record.
NHL: The under is 1-7-1 in Chicago’s last nine home games.
MLB: The Chicago Cubs have won just one of Ryan Dempster’s last six starts.
MLB: Boston is 9-21 in its last 30.
Key stat
1 – Real Madrid has conceded just one goal in five away games during Champions League play. Madrid, which hasn’t lost in 20 games in all competition is set at +160 for the first leg of its semifinal series against Bayern Munich (+150). The draw is pegged at +225.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies - Gasol suffered a hyperextended left knee in Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Hornets. Gasol was hurt when he banged knees with Xavier Henry in the fourth quarter. He is scheduled to undergo an MRI exam. The 7-foot-1 center entered Sunday's game averaging 15.0 points and 9.5 rebounds, which are both career highs.
Game of the day
Boston Celtics at New York Knicks (N/A)
Notable quotable
"I think some are really kind of weak calls. We just have to not worry about that, because we can't do anything about it. But of course, it's a little bit frustrating with the inconsistency of some calls. We slashed the stick and it's laying there and the stick doesn't even break. They do the same thing to Mule [Johan Franzen], but no call is made. I think it's a little bit inconsistency from the refs." – Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson after his team took 19 minor penalties over the first three games of Detroit’s series with Nashville.
Notes and tips
Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng is questionable for Tuesday's game with a rib injury he picked up in Sunday's overtime win against Detroit. Deng, who is already playing with a torn ligament in his wrist, took a shot from Pistons guard Ben Gordon to the ribs, according to the Chicago Tribune. Deng tied a season low with two points on 1-of-8 shooting in 44 minutes. He went into Sunday's game averaging 15.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and a league-high 39.4 minutes per game.
Vancouver Canucks left wing Daniel Sedin will return to practice in hopes of playing in the postseason. Sedin has missed the past 12 games due to a concussion. He is expected to join the Canucks in Los Angeles for a Tuesday practice. Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault did not say if he thought Sedin would be ready to return to game action. Vancouver, which finished with the NHL's best record during the regular season, could use a boost provided by Sedin as the Canucks are in a 3-0 hole to the Kings in the best-of-seven series. Sedin had 30 goals and 37 assists this season.
San Francisco starter Madison Bumgarner climbs the mound Tuesday a day after he inked a fat five-year, $35 million contract extension. The 22-year-old lefty is 21-20 with a 3.12 ERA over the last three seasons and is coming off a win at Colorado in which he gave up just one earned run in 7 1/3 innings of work. Bumgarner shares the hill with Philadelphia’s Joe Blanton.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward James Neal and Arron Asham will have hearings with the NHL following their actions during Sunday's Game 3 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series versus the Philadelphia Flyers. Neal's hearings will focus on his hit on rookie Sean Couturier during the third period - as well as his charging penalty against All-Star Claude Giroux later in the session. Asham's hearing will stem from his cross-check on rookie Brayden Schenn during the first period.