NBA Wednesday Dallas Mavs vs. L.A. Lakers
Lakers at Dallas Tonight
In what could be an eventual Western Conference finals matchup the Los Angeles Lakers travel to AmericanAirlines Center in Dallas to take on the Dallas Mavericks February 22. The Lakers beat the Portland Trail Blazers Monday night after suffering a road loss in Phoenix Sunday. The Lakers are 19-13 and sitting in second place in the Pacific division. Dallas is 21-12 and currently in second place in the Southwest division behind the San Antonio Spurs.
As usual, the trio of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum leads the Lakers. Bryant leads the team in scoring, assists and steals. He is scoring 29 per game while averaging 5 assists and 1.3 per contest. Bynum is pulling down 12.8 rebounds per game and scoring 16.3 per game. Gasol averages 16.6 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.
Dirk Nowitzki leads the Mavericks in scoring with a 19.4 average. Brenden Haywood is averaging 6.7 rebounds to lead the team in that category. Veteran point guard Jason Kidd is leading the team in both assists and steals this season.
Head to head Dallas holds a 6-4 SU and 7-3 ATS edge over Los Angeles in the last ten games between the two teams. The total has been OVER 6 of the last 10 times the two have met. Dallas has averaged three more points in those ten games.
Of late, the Lakers are playing better ball with the Phoenix loss their only loss in their last five games. Dallas also has played well of late with a 4-1 SU record in their last five games. They have beaten Boston, Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Clippers during that time frame.
Bryant recently expressed his displeasure with management over their handling of trade rumors about teammate Gasol. That could have an effect on how the team plays on the road against the Mavericks. Dallas should be a good bet SU in this matchup.
NCAA Basketball Pick: Kansas @ Texas A&M
Kansas Hoops
The powerful Jayhawks of Kansas travel to Reed Arena in Texas to take on Texas A&M. Kansas is enjoying another successful season with an overall record of 22-5 and is in first place in the Big 12. The Aggies on the other hand are at .500 overall with a record of 13-13 and are in eighth place in the conference with a 4-10 conference record.
Two Jayhawks lead the team in scoring, while two others are averaging nearly ten per game. Thomas Robinson leads the team in scoring with 17.7 per game with Tyshawn Taylor is averaging 16.6 per game. Robinson is also leading the team in rebounding with a per game average of 11.8.
Elston Turner who is averaging a team high 14 points per game leads the Aggies. Three players are averaging over five rebounds per game for the team. Dash Harris leads the team in assists with 4.4 per game. He is day to day with an ankle injury but should play.
Kansas holds a decisive advantage head to head against Texas A&M. The Jayhawks are 9-1 SU and 6-4 ATS in the last 10 games between the 2 teams. The total has been UNDER 6 times in the last ten games between the two teams. In the last ten games between the two teams, Kansas is averaging a full 10 points more per contest.
Kansas is 4-1 SU over their last five games all against Big 12 opponents. Their only loss was against Missouri who they are battling with for first in the conference. A&M on the other hand is just 1-4 SU in their last five games.
Kansas should easily defeat Texas A&M SU. The Jayhawks offense is overpowering and their defense should shut down the weak offense of the Aggies. Look for a lopsided win for the Jayhawks in this Big 12 affair.
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Atlanta Hawks at New York Knicks
The sizzling hot New York Knicks play host to the Atlanta Hawks in Madison Square Garden Wednesday February 22. The Knicks are enjoying recent success and are amidst “Linsanity” as newcomer Jeremy Lin has brought game to MSG once again. Nevertheless, the Knicks lost Monday night to the New Jersey Nets and their record dropped to 16-17 overall. The Hawks are 19-13 overall and lost a tough game to Chicago Monday night.
The Hawks have a balanced attack on offense. Four players average double figures in scoring with Joe Johnson leading the way with 17.6 points per game. Josh Smith chips in with 16 point per game and leads the team in rebounding with 9.6 a game.
The Knicks leading scorer Carmelo Anthony has recently returned to action and is scoring at a pace of 21.8 per game. Lin is leading the team with 5.7 assists per game and is averaging 14.6 points as well. Tyson Chandler leads the Knicks in rebounding with an average of 9.6 per game.
New York holds the head-to-head advantage over Atlanta. The Knicks are 7-3 SU and ATS in the last ten games between the two teams. The total has been OVER 6 times during those same 10 games.
The Hawks are in a tailspin of late as they are 1-4 SU over their last five games. The only win during that run was against the Phoenix Suns. The Knicks are 3-2 SU in their last five games including a 104-97 win against Dallas.
The Knicks have played much better ball of late than the Hawks. They are getting used to all the hype and craziness that Lin has brought to MSG. In this matchup, the Knicks should be victorious SU and ATS against the Hawks. The Hawks are quickly heading in the wrong direction after a very strong start.
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Kentucky at Mississipi State Pick
Miss St. Hoops
A Southeastern Conference showdown will take place February 21 when the Kentucky Wildcats, the nation’s number 1 team, visit Mississippi to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Both teams are having a successful season. Kentucky has lost just once all season. The Wildcats are 26-1 overall and in first place in the SEC. The Bulldogs are 18-9 overall and in fifth place in the conference.
Kentucky has four players averaging in double figures and another two players averaging over nine points per game. The scoring and rebounding is led by Anthony Davis. Davis is scoring 13.9 a game and grabbing 9.7 rebounds per game. Marquis Teague leads the team in assists with 4.8 per game.
Two Bulldog players lead their team. Arnett Moultrie is averaging 16.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game to lead the team in those two categories. Dee Bost is leading the team in assists with 5 per game and is the second leading scoring on the team with 15.8 points per game.
On the road, the Wildcats are impressive. Kentucky is 5-0 SU over their last five road games. However, against the Bulldogs the Wildcats are just 6-3 SU over the last nine games played in Mississippi. Kentucky is 7-3 SU in the last ten head to head games with the Mississippi State. The total has been OVER 6 times in the last 10 games the two have met.
Kentucky has gone undefeated thus far in SEC play with a record of 10-0. They have played exceptionally well all season. The Bulldogs on the other hand are struggling of late as they have lost three in a row and are just 2-3 SU in their last five games. Kentucky should be able to withstand the additional pressure of playing on the road and should prevail against the lesser talented Bulldogs. Look for Kentucky to win SU and Mississippi a good bet ATS.
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NCAA Preview N.C. State vs. North Carolina
UNC coach Roy Williams
As March Madness approaches, NCAA basketball conferences nationwide are having conference battles night in and night out. The Tar Heels of the University of North Carolina visit PNC Arena February 21 to take on the Wolfpack of the North Carolina State. This heated rivalry has been played for decades and team records are usually thrown out when the two meet
The Tar Heels, with a record of 23-4 and in a tie for first in the Atlantic Coast Conference, are one of the nation’s top ranked teams. Harrison Barnes who is averaging 18 points per game leads them. Tyler Zeller is scoring 15. 6 points a game and hauling down 9.5 rebounds each game. Leading the team in rebounding is John Henson who averages 10.3 per game. The ‘Heels assist man is Kendall Marshall who is averaging nearly 10 a game.
The Wolfpack, with a season record of 18-9 and fifth in the ACC has five players averaging in double figures in scoring. C.J. Leslie leads that pack with an average of 13.3 but all five averages between 11 and 13 points per game. Richard Howell leads the team in rebounding with 9.2 per game. Lorenzo Brown averages 6.5 assists per game to lead the team in that category.
The Heels are playing well on the road, as they are 9-2 SU over their last 11 road games. They are also 7-1 SU in their last eight road games against North Carolina State. Head to head the Tar Heels are 10-0 SU over the last ten games the two have played against one another. The total has been OVER 6 out of the last 10 games the two have played head to head.
The Tar Heels are pressuring to take sole possession of first place in the ACC and have dominated the Wolfpack over the past five years. The Heels should win SU and the OVER looks food.
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NCAA Pick Michigan at Northwestern
Michigan ATS
The Big Ten Conference is shaping up for tournament time and the Michigan Wolverines will be looking to improve their conference record when they visit the Northwestern Wildcats in a key Big Ten matchup February 21. Michigan has an overall record of 20-7 and is 10-4 in conference play, and tied for second place. Northwestern is in seventh place in the conference with an overall record of 16-10 and a conference record of 6-8.
Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. who both are averaging over 14 points per game lead Michigan. Burke also leads the teams in assists with 4.8 per game. Two players, Evan Smotrycz and Jordan Morgan lead the team in rebounding as both are averaging over 5 per game.
John Shurma leads the Wildcats of Northwestern. Shurma averages 20.2 points per game and 5.6 rebounds. Leading the team in assists is Dale Sobolewski who is averaging 3.7. Drew Crawford scores 16.6 points per game to help the offense.
Michigan is 6-4 SU and 5-5 ATS in the last ten games head to head with Northwestern. Both teams are averaging 64 plus points per game over the ten games. The total is been OVER 5 times and UNDER 5 times in those same ten games.
Michigan in its last five games is 4-1 SU and Northwestern is 3-2 SU. All of the games have been Big Ten conference games for both clubs and Michigan needs a victory to stay in a tie for second place to have a good seeding in the upcoming conference tournament. The Wolverines should be able to control the boards and play a tight defense against the Wildcats offense that does not have many options. Michigan is a smart choice SU and ATS in this game.
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NBA Dallas Mavs vs. Boston Celtics
Mavs Pick
The Boston Celtics face the Dallas Mavericks February 20 in American Airlines Center in Dallas. Boston is in a tailspin now, as they have lost 3 of 4 and are barely hanging on to second place in the Atlantic division and falling further behind division leading Philadelphia. Dallas on the other hand is playing very good and is only two back of San Antonio. The Mavericks have won six straight games.
Boston is a team of savvy veterans that are conserving their energy for a late run later in the season. At 15-14, they are led in scoring by guard Paul Pierce who is averaging 17.3 per game. Kevin Garnett leads the club in rebounding with 7.8 per game. The team has five players scoring in double figures and has a very balanced overall attack. Currently Brandon Bass is injured and his scoring and rebounding has been missed.
The Mavericks current win streak of six is thanks in part to Dirk Nowitzki their higher scorer and team leader. He has regained his form after an early season injury and is averaging 18.6 per game. Veteran playmaker Jason Kidd leads the Mavericks in both assists, with 5.5 per game and steals with 1.6 per game. Dallas has four players averaging in double figures in scoring. Jason Terry a shooting guard is day to day for the Mavericks, while Delonte West is out with a hand injury.
Head to head the two teams are nearly even. Boston is 5-5 SU and 6-4 ATS in the last ten games between the two clubs. The total has been UNDER 7 out of the last 10 games the two teams have played. The clubs are averaging 192 points between them over the last ten games.
Boston is struggling mightily and is just 1-3 SU over their last four games. They have lost to Chicago, Detroit and Toronto in that span. The loss to Chicago is understandable but the other two clubs are struggling to say the least.
Dallas is 6-0 SU over their last six games and has defeated strong teams such as division leaders Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Clippers. The game should be a defensive struggle as Boston’s defense is one of the best in the league. Nevertheless, the strength of Dallas should help them to the victory SU. Dallas line is currently -6 but we like the Dallas MoneyLine to protect against a “backdoor cover”.
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Portland TrailBlazers @ L.A. Lakers – NBA Free Pick
Portland
The Portland Trailblazers visit Staples Center in California to take on the Los Angeles Lakers February 20. The Trail Blazers are having a good season and currently have a record of 17-15. The Lakers are in second place in the Pacific division with an 18-12 record and looks as if they are starting jell.
The Trail Blazers, who are currently in third place in the Northwest division, are led in scoring by LaMarcus Aldridge who is averaging 22.6 points per game. Veteran center Marcus Camby leads the team in rebounding with 9.6 per game.
The Lakers are led, as usual, by one of the league�s best players the last ten years, Kobe Bryant. Bryant is averaging 28.9 points a game along with 5 assists per game. Big man Andrew Bynum controls the boards for the Lakers with an average of 12.6 per game. Both Bynum and power forward Pau Gasol are averaging over 16 points per game to help Bryant with the scoring load
Head to head the Lakers are 4-6 SU in the last ten games the two teams have played. Portland is 7-3 ATS in those same 10 games between the two teams. The total has been OVER 6 times in the last 10 games the two have played head to head.
Portland has not been playing the best in their last five games. The Trail Blazers are just 2-3 SU in their last five. The Lakers on the other hand are 3-1 SU in their last four games with the only loss to red-hot New York.
Even though the games between the two have been evenly matched of late, the Lakers are playing much higher caliber ball at this time. They should win SU with Portland a good choice ATS. The total should be OVER as the Lakers are starting to jell better on offense and have put more points on the board of late.
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Connecticut at Villanova NCAA Pick
UConn Hoops
The Connecticut Huskies will visit Villanova Pavilion to take on the Villanova Wildcats February 20 in a Big East matchup. Both teams have enjoyed much better seasons in the past but the Huskies are trying to play their way into a berth in the NCAA tournament. UConn has an overall record of 16-10 and is 10th in the Big East. Their only hope at making the tournament would be winning the Big East Tournament.
The Huskies are led in scoring by Jeremy Lamb who is averaging 17.3 points per game. Shabazz Napier chips in with 13 point per game and leads the team with 5.8 assists per game. The team’s rebounding is very balanced but Andre Drummond is the leader in that department with 7.4 boards per game.
The Wildcats are struggling at 11-15 and are playing the spoiler at this point in the year. Maalik Wayns lead them in scoring with an average of 17.8 per game. He is also the team leader in assists with 4.5 per contest. Mouphtaou Yarou who is averaging 8.2 a game leads the rebounding chores.
UConn is only 1-7 ATS in their last eight road games. They are also just 16 SU in their last seven road games. UConn is only 1-4 ATS in their last five games playing at Villanova. Nevertheless, Villanova is only 4-11 SU in their last 15 games against UConn.
Head to head UConn is 7-3 SU and 3-6-1 ATS in the last ten games between the two schools. Over the last five games UConn is just 2-3 SU including losses to Syracuse and Louisville. The Wildcats are just 1-4 SU over their last five games and have lost to Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Marquette during that stretch.
Look for a tough low scoring defensive struggle with UConn winning SU. The total should be UNDER as both clubs have a tough time scoring many points. Currently UConn is -2.
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NBA Thunder vs Nuggets
Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets, currently in second place in the Northwest division will visit Oklahoma City to take on the division leading Oklahoma City Thunder February 19. The Nuggets have a record of 17-14 while the Thunder sport an impressive 23-7 record.
The Nuggets are led in scoring by Danilo Gallinari who averages 17 points per game. Nene Hilario rules the boards for the Nuggets with a rebounding average of 7.8. Both players however are out indefinitely with injuries and others have had to pick up the slack. Andre Miller is averaging 6.5 assists per game to lead the team in that category along with averaging just over 10 point per game. His leadership is helping the team through their injury woes.
The Thunder have superstar Kevin Durant who is carrying the team. He averages 26.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game to lead the team in those two categories. The team averages over 101 points per game. Four players are injured for the Thunder. Russell Westbrook who is day to day with a ankle sprain leads the team in assists.
Head to head the division rivalry has been dominated by Oklahoma City. The Thunder is 7-3 SU in the last ten games between the two teams. Of late, the Nuggets have struggled with injuries and are only 2-3 SU over the last five games. The Thunder is 3-2 SU in their last five games.
Both Denver and Oklahoma are high scoring teams. Denver leads the league in scoring and the game should be a high scoring one. When the two play against one another, they average over 208 total points. With Denver suffering from injuries, including their leading scorer, they may not be able to stay up with the high scoring Thunder. The OVER should be a good choice for the total and the Thunder should control the game and escape with a victory SU.
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