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**TheGame** · 04-29-2016, 07:35 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/29

Preview: Predators (41-27) at Sharks (46-30)

Date: April 29, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Since the San Jose Sharks last played a game, the Nashville Predators fell behind Anaheim in their first-round series with a Game 5 loss and then responded with two straight wins to eliminate the Ducks.

While the Predators have played three grueling games and taken two long flights, the Sharks have been resting and practicing for six days and are eager to get back on the ice when their second-round series opens against Nashville on Friday night.

'I don't think we have to get ramped back up,' coach Peter DeBoer said Thursday. 'I'm guessing that I'm probably going to have to calm them down a little bit. They're ready to go. They've got some pent up energy here after four or five days sitting around watching, and they want to play. I don't think our energy is going to be an issue. I think it's just going to be getting that composure and working smart.'

The Predators overcame a lull in their first-round series after winning the first two games in Anaheim. They lost three straight following that before rallying for two wins to take the series in seven games with a 2-1 victory Wednesday night.

They took a little time to celebrate in Anaheim before taking the short flight to the Bay Area on Thursday. They won't even have time for a full practice before Game 1 begins.

'It's going to turn around quick, so we've got to realize that we're moving on and we've still got a lot of work left to do,' defenseman Shea Weber said. 'It's a step. We've got a lot of work left to do. Enjoy it for a couple of minutes and start to focus on San Jose.'

That extra time off hasn't always benefited the Sharks, who have lost their past four playoff series after having at least five days off between rounds.

Here are some other things to watch in the second-round series:

IN THE NETS: After Pekka Rinne allowed 11 goals in three straight losses to Anaheim that put Nashville in a 3-2 hole, there were some critics calling for a change in nets in Nashville. Good thing coach Peter Laviolette stuck with Rinne. He stopped 62 of 64 shots in the final two games, once again looking like a three-time Vezina Trophy finalist.

'He's a goalie that can steal games,' Sharks forward Logan Couture said. 'He's proven that over his career.'

San Jose's Martin Jones has much less of a pedigree in his first year as a starter. But he outplayed his former stablemate Jonathan Quick in the first round, allowing 11 goals in five games to Los Angeles.

HIGH-SCORING D: Led by 61 points from Roman Josi and 51 more from Weber, the Predators got more offense from their defense than almost any team in the NHL, tying Calgary with a league-best 203 points from the blue line in the regular season. The Sharks were next on the list with 179 points from their defense led by All-Star Brent Burns, who led all defensemen with 27 goals to go along with 48 assists.

SPECIAL TEAMS: The Sharks rely heavily on their power play, with an experienced five-man top unit anchored by Burns, Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski. San Jose ranked third in the NHL with a 22.5 percent success rate in the regular season and added five goals on 21 chances (23.8 percent) against the Kings.

'Their top players are some of the top players in the league, and really dangerous individuals,' Rinne said. 'Their power play is really good.'

The Predators had less success in the first round with just one power-play goal on 26 chances against the Ducks for a league-worst 3.8 percent conversion rate in the first round.

ROAD-ICE ADVANTAGE: Opening the series at home is not exactly an advantage for the Sharks, who won a league-high 28 road games in the regular season and swept all three games in Los Angeles in the first round. The Predators also proved they can play well away from home, winning three of four in Anaheim, including the Game 7 clincher.

GOOD LUCK CHARM: Nashville forward Craig Smith played a key role in the opening round, getting a goal and an assist in the Game 2 win. Smith then got hurt early in Game 3 and also missed the two losses that followed. He returned to play the final two games and the Predators were 4-0 in the first round when he was healthy.

**TheGame** · 04-29-2016, 07:35 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/29

Preview: Raptors (56-26) at Pacers (45-37)

Date: April 29, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

The Indiana Pacers are trying to get their spirits back up after putting their season in jeopardy by blowing a huge lead.

The Toronto Raptors now have a cushion in this first-round series, although they don't want to think about that as they go back on the road.

The Pacers aim to force a seventh game when they host the Raptors on Friday night, while Toronto tries to capture a seven-game series for the first time.

Indiana led by 15 late in the third quarter Tuesday but lost 102-99 at Toronto. The Pacers, outscored 25-9 in the fourth, were still feeling the effects of the collapse at Thursday's practice with star Paul George saying he wasn't over it.

"A chance to make Friday night a special Friday night in a close-out game and we blew it, we blew the opportunity, it's frustration," said George, who scored 39 points.

Now the Pacers, who have won their three previous first-round series, are looking to stay alive and earn a return to Toronto on Sunday.

"It's a desperation feeling," George said. "We'll give everything we have tomorrow night and make sure that that's enough."

Raptors stars DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry have been far from their best in the series, with Lowry averaging 15.2 points and 31.4 percent shooting. DeRozan broke out with 34 points in Game 5 after averaging 13.3 and 29.6 percent in the first four.

'It's all about patience,' DeRozan said. 'You can't get flustered, you can't get frustrated. You've got to stay the course. That's what we're going to continue to do.'

The Raptors have won a playoff series once, beating New York in five games in 2001. They are eager to get off to a better start after facing double-digit deficits after one quarter the last two games.

"You gotta treat this like Game 7," coach Dwane Casey said. "We gotta come out fighting, we know their backs are going to be against the wall. We can't go and get ambushed."

Toronto wasn't eager to re-visit being in this position against Brooklyn two years ago, when it lost Game 6 on the road and Game 7 at home.

"What happened two years ago is in the past as well as what happened last year is in the past," forward Patrick Patterson said. "To think about it, to dwell about it, none of us really do that. We focus on this opportunity we have now."

Patterson made his first start of the series Tuesday in place of Luis Scola, who did not play.

The Raptors' strong finish came with three reserves on the court for the final 12 minutes in Bismack Biyombo, Cory Joseph and Norman Powell. Biyombo had 10 points and 16 boards.

Toronto was down 13 when it scored the first six points of a 21-2 run to open the fourth quarter with George on the bench. The same scenario occurred in the second quarter as the Raptors cut a 15-point deficit to three with George resting.

George said he would be willing to play 48 minutes Friday, although he won't lobby coach Frank Vogel to do so.

"Coach is getting a lot of criticism for taking me out," George said. "Both times he took me out we were in the drivers' seat and looking comfortable, up 15, up 13 both times. We're supposed to do our job and maintain that lead, extend that lead."

**TheGame** · 04-29-2016, 07:35 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/29

Preview: Heat (48-34) at Hornets (48-34)

Date: April 29, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The Charlotte Hornets are in position to win their first playoff series in 14 years, yet remain faithful to the role of underdog.

Facing elimination, the Miami Heat seem ready to welcome that challenge.

The upstart Hornets can take the series on their home court from the third-seeded Heat with a fourth consecutive victory Friday night in Game 6.

Though Charlotte won 48 games in the regular season, as the sixth seed it's played with something to prove throughout this series.

"We definitely have a chip on our shoulder," guard Kemba Walker said. "It doesn't get talked about the things that we do. We have a huge chip on our shoulder."

The Hornets are on the verge of their first playoff series win since beating Orlando in 2002 after they overcame losing the first two games on the road by 44 points. Courtney Lee hit two of the nine shots he attempted Wednesday, but the final one was good from 3-point range with 25.2 seconds left in a 90-88 win at Miami.

Charlotte is shooting 40.7 percent in the series but has gained the advantage with defense. The Heat averaged 119.0 points and shot 57.8 percent in the first two before putting up 84.3 per game on 38.6 percent since.

"We've got to play with that same edge, that same mentality," Hornets forward Marvin Williams said.

Including this series, Charlotte has won five of six at home against Miami.

"We're definitely going to feed off our crowd's energy," said Walker, who scored 34 in Monday's 89-85 home victory in Game 4.

"We're just going to play. I don't think we have any pressure. We're not supposed to be here anyway."

The pressure should fall on Miami, which has won four straight first-round series but knew this one would not be a walk.

"Nobody said this was going to be easy," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Nobody's giving out free tickets to the second round. You do have to earn it. You do have to go through situations together. It's our first real test when our backs are against the wall."

And one Spoelstra wants his team to embrace.

"We have to play confident and free of mind," he said. "Frustration is what we can't bring out there.

"This is what you want as a competitor. These are the games you remember. You don't remember the games that are double-digit wins, you remember the ones that you're tested and challenged."

Since star Dwyane Wade entered the league in 2003-04, Miami is 8-7 when facing elimination. The 34-year-old scored 25 on 11-of-19 shooting Wednesday, but had a combined 29 while going 11 of 31 from the field in the two playoff games at Charlotte.

"Figure out a way to get a win," Wade said. "It gets no tougher than that in the playoffs."

The Heat benefited from going 18 of 34 from beyond the arc in the first two games, but have shot 33.3 percent over the last three and went 5 of 18 in Game 5. Luol Deng went 11 of 17 from distance in the first three games but 4 of 14 in the last two.

"I think we've got the looks we've wanted in the series," Miami guard Josh Richardson said. "We've just got to stay aggressive. We can't play any different because it hasn't fallen our way."

Though reports surfaced this week that Miami star Chris Bosh (blood clots) believes he's healthy enough to play for the first time since early February, the club does not appear ready to make it happen Friday.

Charlotte, meanwhile, will be minus reserve center Spencer Hawes because of a knee injury.

**TheGame** · 04-29-2016, 07:36 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/29

Preview: Clippers (53-29) at Trail Blazers (44-38)

Date: April 29, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

Damian Lillard's fourth-quarter outburst pushed the Portland Trail Blazers within one win of eliminating the injury-plagued Los Angeles Clippers.

The Blazers could use a better start from their point guard as they attempt to finish off their opening-round series in six games Friday night at home.

Lillard made four of Portland's six 3-pointers and scored 16 points in the final period as the Blazers pulled away for a 108-98 victory Wednesday. He also missed his first six shots from the floor and didn't register his first field goal until hitting a 3-pointer with 9:39 left in the third quarter, giving him six points at the time.

That allowed the Clippers to hang with Portland despite missing Blake Griffin and Chris Paul.

"I've always been able to put the first three quarters behind me and come up big when my team has needed it," Lillard said. "I just had to be patient. It wasn't even so much missing the shots that were bothering me, it was just that I couldn't get any attempts because they were so aggressive. But I stayed with it, kept my mind right and I saw one go in. That was it."

C.J. McCollum scored 27 points and has averaged 24.3 in the Blazers' comeback from a 2-0 deficit. Portland is seeking to avoid returning to Los Angeles on Sunday for Game 7.

"We've got a unique opportunity to play an elimination game at home, and now we want to make sure we take full advantage of it," McCollum said.

The Blazers outpaced Los Angeles by a combined 22 points in its Game 3 and 4 victories with Griffin and Paul on the floor. Paul broke a bone in his right hand Monday, requiring surgery, and Griffin re-aggravated a quad injury.

J.J. Redick - reportedly dealing with an ailing left heel - led the Clippers with 19 points, his best performance in the series. Jamal Crawford had 17 points while making a rare start but missed 17 of 23 shots as Los Angeles shot 41.9 percent.

The Clippers have shot 39.5 percent in their three losses in the series - including a 25.4 mark from 3-point range - after connecting at 49.7 percent and 36.8 percent from beyond the arc in taking a 2-0 series lead.

The Blazers' 44.6 percent effort in Game 5 was their best in the series and followed a combined 39.3 in the first four games. They've made 25 3-pointers in the last two contests after hitting 21 in the first three.

"We just made some simple mental mistakes and with Blake and Chris out, we cannot really afford to make mistakes," said Clippers guard Austin Rivers, Paul's replacement in the starting lineup Wednesday. "We played pretty good defense overall, I just think we need to be better offensively."

The Clippers faced a 3-2 deficit against San Antonio in last year's opening round but rallied for a seven-game victory. They also blew a 3-1 lead over Houston in a seven-game defeat in the Western Conference semifinals.

"I think now that we know what to expect, you'll see a much better game for a full game," Rivers told the team's official website. "We win Game 6, it's right back to our momentumâ?¦We're still focused and ready to go."

Los Angeles has been bounced in the opening round just once in its last five trips to the playoffs, losing in six games to Memphis in 2013.

The Blazers are seeking just their second win in 10 series since reaching the West finals in 2000. They topped Houston in six games in 2014.

**TheGame** · 04-29-2016, 07:36 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/29

Friday's Tip Sheet
By Chris David

Eastern Conference – Game 6 – Raptors lead 3-2
Toronto at Indiana – ESPNews/NBATV, 7:35 p.m. ET

Backing teams off a bad loss is never a smart decision and bettors face that dilemma on Friday with Indiana. In Game 5 on Tuesday the Pacers built a 90-77 lead after three quarters but forgot to show up for the final 12 minutes. The Raptors outscored Indiana 25-9 in the fourth and captured a 102-99 win and 3-2 series lead.

Indiana’s Paul George was once again the best player on the court (39-8-8) but he only managed to take three shots in the final quarter. Rookie Norman Powell did a great job defending the All-Star and his plus-16 effort in Game 5 was the top mark for the Raptors.

Toronto was also helped with a 34-point performance from DeMar DeRozan, which made many forget his 13.3 points per game production in the first four games. Fellow All-Star Kyle Lowry still hasn’t found his shot (15.2 PPG) in this series for the Raptors but he’s been picked up by backup Corey Joseph (10.4 PPG) and the aforementioned Powell.

Despite collapsing on Tuesday, Indiana opened as a two-point home favorite for Game 6 and that says something since the Raptors opened as road favorites in the first two games played at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in this series.

Based on recent playoff history for the pair, NBA Expert Kevin Rogers doesn’t have much confidence in either club. He explained, “The Raptors haven’t advanced past the first round of the playoffs since 2001, losing in the conference quarterfinals five consecutive times. The Pacers put together an incredible 6-0 both SU and ATS record as a home favorite during the 2013 playoffs, but Indiana has dropped off in that department recently by posting a 3-6 ATS mark in its past nine opportunities when laying points at home in the postseason.”

Indiana has gone 3-3 in Game 6 when facing elimination at home and according to Rogers, you might be inclined to bet against teams with their backs to the wall.

“In the 2015 postseason, all six road teams looking to close out a series in Game 6 up 3-2 won and covered. Only two of these squads were listed in the underdog role as the Hawks and Cavaliers each finished off their series as a road 'dog in the conference semifinals.”

Those of you watching this year's playoffs can note that Atlanta helped that record improve to 7-0 last night as it eliminated Boston on the road.

Indiana has gone 5-3 both SU and ATS when listed as a favorite between 1-2 points this season while the ‘under’ has gone 6-2 in those games. Toronto has gone 8-10 SU and 10-7-1 ATS as a road underdog this season and that includes a 1-1 record versus Indiana.

Toronto (7-3) and Indiana (10-6) have both been solid bets on two days of rest this season but if you’re playing percentages, the Raptors get a slight lean.

Eastern Conference – Game 6 – Hornets lead 3-2
Miami at Charlotte – ESPN, 8:00 p.m. ET

After watching the home team win the first four games in this first round series, the Hornets defeated the Heat 90-88 as six-point road underdogs (ML +210) in Game 5 on Wednesday. Charlotte took the lead with 25 second left on a 3-pointer from Courtney Lee and Miami couldn’t come up with an answer but many believe Heat guard Dwyane Wade was fouled on a late attempt.

The win snapped the Heat’s eight-game winning streak at home and also was the first road playoff win for Charlotte in 14 years. Including that victory, the Hornets have won three straight in this series and have a chance to finish the Heat in a possible Game 6 clincher on Friday.

The Hornets opened as 1 ½-point home favorites and that number is much shorter than the first two games (-3, -2.5) played at Time Warner Cable Arena. A couple major outfits have moved to Charlotte to -2 and based on what we’ve seen from Miami the last three games, I’d expect the line to go up.

Miami scored 123 and 115 points in its two wins while connecting on 18-of-34 shots (53%) from downtown. Since then, the Heat are 23-of-69 (33%) and it makes you believe that the first two games were offensive anomalies especially when you realize that the team only made 34 percent from 3-point land during the regular season.

Make no mistake, Charlotte hasn’t been great in this series either but it’s hard to see them losing at home. Including wins in this series, Charlotte has gone 15-2 in its last 17 home games. Plus, Miami is 7-10 SU and 6-11 ATS as a visitor since the All-Star break and that includes a 1-7 record as a road underdog.

Rogers pointed out that past clubs from Miami have been known to pack it in when facing these kind of situations. He said, “The Heat haven’t fared well with their backs to the wall on the road in postseason play. Since 2009, Miami has been eliminated three times on the road, all by double-digits. In 2009, the Heat fell by 14 points in the decisive Game 7 of the first round to Atlanta, followed by a 10-point defeat at Boston the next postseason. In the 2014 NBA Finals, the Spurs blasted the Heat by 17 points, as Miami hopes to avoid a disappointing end to the season.”

To be fair, this Heat team has a lot of new faces on the roster with a lot less experience. Wade is the only tested veteran and his 7-7 record when facing elimination is simply ordinary.

Western Conference – Game 6 - Trail Blazers 3-2
L.A. Clippers at Portland – ESPN, 10:35 p.m. ET

Oddsmakers opened the Trail Blazers as 10-point home favorites over the Clippers in Game 6 on Friday and I believe that number is inflated and solely based on the outcome from Wednesday.

Portland earned a 108-98 win in Game 5 as a 2 ½-point road favorite at the Staples Center and certainly capitalized on the absence of Clippers’ Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. The backcourt of Damian Lillard (22) and CJ McCollum (27) finally got going for the Trail Blazers as they combined for 49 points but the game was much tighter than the final score.

Los Angeles led by five points (50-45) at halftime and the game was knotted 71-71 after three quarters. In the final 12 minutes, Portland opened with a 19-6 run and they just couldn’t miss offensively. They scored 37 points on 12-of-21 shotsin the fourth, which includes an eye opening 6-of-11 effort from 3-point land. On the other end of the court, the Clippers were just 1-of-6 from downtown in the fourth and 6-of-20 (30%) overall.

Portland has now won three straight against Los Angeles and owns a 3-2 series lead. Winning the fourth quarter has fueled Portland during this streak, outscoring the Clippers by 27 total points (26-21, 32-20, 37-27) in the victories.

Winning at Portland won’t be an easy task for Los Angeles according to Rogers. “Since blowing a 15-point halftime lead to the Rockets on February 25, the Blazers have been nearly unbeatable at the Moda Center. Portland has won 11 of its last 12 home contests, while limiting six of those opponents to fewer than 100 points,” said Rogers.

Los Angeles owned a winning record on the road (24-17 SU, 20-18-3 ATS) during the regular season but a lot of those losses came down the stretch. Including the two postseason setbacks, the Clippers have gone 3-7 both SU and ATS in their last 10 games as visitors.

While Portland is expected to advance by the oddsmakers and win this game, you could be hesitant to lay the heavy wood. Portland was installed as a double-digit favorite five times during the regular season and the club went 5-0 in those games, which isn’t surprising considering none of the opponents made the playoffs. However, the Trail Blazers only managed to post a 1-4 record against the spread. For what it’s worth, the Clippers were 1-2 SU and 2-1 ATS as double-digit underdogs this season.

Due to the injuries and Portland winning the last three games, it’s now listed as high as a minus-1300 favorite (Bet $100 to win $7) to win this series. The takeback on the Clippers is close to 8/1 odds and while it’s wishful thinking to grab the generous return, I do believe L.A. will be competitive on Friday.

**TheGame** · 04-29-2016, 07:36 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/29

NBA Odds: Friday, April 29, 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews

The Miami Heat are in a tough position. All-Star forward Chris Bosh publicly said on Tuesday that he wants to return from his blood-clot problem (well, technically his wife did). And obviously he makes the Heat that much better, to the point where I believe Miami could challenge Cleveland for the East title. But the Heat have to protect themselves and the NBA because God forbid if we have a Hank Gathers situation with Bosh on the court. The Heat issued this statement on Bosh this week on his status: "There is no update. He is out still indefinitely." Apparently Heat doctors haven't cleared him so this is surely a pipe dream for Bosh. Odd that he would put pressure on the team, however, knowing that he could still be putting his health at risk. This all won't matter if Miami loses on Friday.

Game 6: No. 3 Heat at No. 6 Hornets (-1.5, 191)

I'll flat-out admit that I've gotten little right in this series. The road team finally won a game on Wednesday as Charlotte took its third straight against the Heat, 90-88 in Miami. How did this Heat team average 119.0 points in the first two games and then not top 90 in the next three? Courtney Lee hit a 3-pointer Wednesday with 25.2 seconds remaining to put the Hornets ahead for good. It was the second straight game he came up big in the clutch, getting two key offensive rebounds in Game 4 (he actually got an offensive rebound that led to his 3-pointer as well in Game 5). The Hornets won despite just 14 points from Kemba Walker as he was 4-for-18 from the field. Charlotte was outscored by seven points when Walker was on the court. Marvin Williams led with 17 points and added eight rebounds and three steals. Nic Batum was very questionable to play for the first time since Game 2 due to a sprained ankle but did get 25 minutes off the bench and had eight points, three rebounds and three assists.

Charlotte won despite being outrebounded, outscored in the paint and shooting 39.3 percent from the field. Miami led by six entering the fourth quarter but shot 32 percent from the field in the fourth. All five Heat starters scored in double figures, led by Dwyane Wade's 25 points. He might have been fouled on a rebound with 2.6 seconds left but it wasn't called. The Heat got very little from their bench, only 13 points. I'm a bit surprised Amare Stoudemire didn't play at all. Things aren't looking good here as counting these playoffs, the Heat have lost seven of their past nine road games have won only two away games against current playoff teams since the All-Star break. LeBron James isn't walking through that door!

Key trends: The Heat are 1-8 against the spread in their past nine road games. The "over/under" has gone under in their past four on the road. The under is 7-2 in Charlotte's past nine at home.

Early lean: Hornets and under.

Game 6: No. 2 Raptors at No. 7 Pacers (-2, 194.5)

The Raptors have never won a best-of-7 playoff series and not advanced since 2001 (winning a best-of-5) but they can do so with a victory in Indianapolis on Friday. I don't have a dog in this fight but I hope Toronto does because it's been pretty cool to see how excited the fans are up there with all those TV shots of the thousands watching outside the arena. The Raptors had no right winning Game 5 at home, trailing by 17 at one point in the third and 13 entering the fourth quarter. But they did, 102-99. Coach Dwane Casey went to a small lineup of Kyle Lowry, Cory Joseph, Terrence Ross, Norman Powell and Bismack Biyombo in the fourth. He hadn't used that combo all season. But they spurred a 21-2 run to open the quarter. DeMar DeRozan, who replaced Ross midway through the quarter, shook off his series-long struggles and finished with 34 points. It was the first time in franchise history that the Raptors won a playoff game when trailing by double digits. Still, I'm worried as a Raptors backer because Lowry is still in a funk as he was just 3-for-11 from the field in Game 5.

Indiana's Solomon Hill hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to apparently tie Game 5, but it was ruled the ball was still in his hands, by a nano-second, when the red light went off behind the backboard. Paul George was magnificent with 39 points and eight rebounds but he was shut down in the fourth, when Indiana scored nine points, the fewest in playoff franchise history in a fourth quarter. George had the ball in his hands for the potential tying 3-pointer but was then doubled and found an open Hill. The Pacers are 11-11 all-time in Game 6 of a seven-game series, including 5-6 at home. Indiana is 3-3 in Game 6 when facing elimination at home.

Key trends: The Raptors are 1-4 ATS in their past five after scoring at least 100 points in their previous game. Indiana is 9-3 ATS in its past 12 after a loss. The under is 5-0 in Toronto's past five on the road. It's 8-2 in Indiana's past 10 at home.

Early lean: Pacers and under.

Game 6: No. 4 Clippers at No. 5 Trail Blazers (-10, 198)

I believe this game is the end of the Chris Paul/Blake Griffin Era in Los Angeles. Playing without those injured two superstars at once for the first time since 2013, the Clippers hung in for three quarters in Game 5 at home against Portland, but the Blazers pulled away in the fourth for a 108-98 win and 3-2 series lead. Coach Doc Rivers added three new starters in Game 5: Jamal Crawford, Austin Rivers and Paul Pierce, not only shifting a healthy Luc Mbah a Moute to the bench but not using him at all. Pierce was awful in Griffin's spot with no points and three fouls in 10 minutes. He needs to retire. Crawford was 6-for-23 from the field for 17 points and Rivers had 13 points but a team-worst rating of minus-23.

For Portland, Damian Lillard scored 16 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter -- he was 1-for-10 in the first three quarters -- and C.J. McCollum finished with 27 points. Mason Plumlee continued his huge series with 10 points, 15 rebounds and four assists. Moe Harkless had career playoff highs in points (19) and rebounds (10). It was Portland's first road playoff win since 2014, having lost the previous nine. The Blazers now need to finish this off here and get as much rest as possible ahead of a conference semifinals matchup with the Steph Curry-less Warriors.

Key trends: The Clippers are 1-6 ATS in their past seven after a loss. The home team is 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings. The under is 5-1 in the past six.

Early lean: Blazers and under.

**TheGame** · 04-29-2016, 07:37 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/29

'Raps on the brink of a second-round berth'

Resilient Raptors Take 3-2 Lead Into Indiana
They were down by double-digits through most of Game 5, but the Toronto Raptors dominated the fourth quarter to win 102-99 Tuesday night over the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers still managed to cash in as 7-point road dogs, but they'll be behind the 8-ball Friday night when they host Toronto in Game 6.

This Eastern Conference quarterfinal has seen each team make multiple adjustments to gain an advantage over the other. On Tuesday, the Raptors benched Luis Scola and started Patrick Patterson at power forward; it wasn't effective, as Patterson posted a minus-20 after struggling at both ends. However, Indiana committed 14 turnovers to Toronto's seven, handing the game and the series back to the Raptors.

Game 5 also saw the two teams go over the closing total of 194 points, up from 192 at the open. The under is 4-1 in this series and 24-11 in the playoffs going into Wednesday's action. Paul George helped change that with 39 points for Indiana, while Toronto's DeMar Derozan finally broke out of his shooting slump, scoring 34 points on 10-of-22 from the floor and 12-of-13 from the free-throw line.

**Satch** · 04-29-2016, 10:07 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/29

Toronto Raptors at Indiana Pacers (-2, 194.5)
Raptors lead series 3-2
Toronto shooting guard DeMar DeRozan emerged from his playoff hibernation in the Game 5 victory and will attempt to help the Raptors clinch the best-of-7 series when they visit the Indiana Pacers on Friday. DeRozan set a personal best for the postseason with 34 points in the 102-99 road win to give the Raptors a 3-2 series lead.
DeRozan shot just 29.6 percent over the first four games but rediscovered his All-Star form with the stellar effort. “It’s all about patience,” DeRozan told reporters. “You can’t get flustered, you can’t get frustrated. You’ve got to stay the course. That’s what we’re going to continue to do.” Indiana faces elimination after letting a 17-point lead get away in Game 5 and helped Toronto’s comeback bid by scoring just nine fourth-quarter points. “Once again, we failed to live up to that moment,” All-Star forward Paul George told reporters. “Nine points in the fourth. It’s the only thing to look at – nine points in the fourth.”
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, ESPNews, TSN (Toronto), FSN Indiana
LINE HISTORY:
The Pacers opened as 2.5-point favorites but the public hit the Raptors and the books were forced to bring the line down to -2. The total hit the board at 196 but was dropped to 194.5 by Thursday afternoon. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (59-28, 47-40 ATS, 43-43-1 O/U):
DeRozan averaged just 13.3 points over the first four games of the series before his breakout game but backcourt mate Kyle Lowry still can’t find the mark. Lowry, the All-Star point guard, went 3-for-11 in Game 5 to drop his series shooting percentage to 31.4 and he has shot below 40 percent in each of the five contests. Backup center Bismack Biyombo was a big-time standout in Game 5 with 10 points and 16 rebounds and he is averaging nine boards in the series.
ABOUT THE PACERS (47-40, 44-42-1 ATS, 38-49 O/U):
George is averaging 28.8 points in the series after enjoying another superb game with 39 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in Game 5 and was again trying to suppress frustration with some of his teammates. “I think our guys individually know, individually, that they have to bring it,” George told reporters. “I’m not about putting guys down or putting teammates down, but individually everybody has to bring it.” Shooting guard Monta Ellis is one guy Indiana could use a boost from as he has scored eight or fewer points in each of the past three games while shooting 9-of-26 from the field.
TRENDS:
* Raptors are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 Conference Quarterfinals games.
* Pacers are 17-4 ATS in their last 21 games playing on 2 days rest.
* Under is 7-1 in Raptors last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
* Under is 8-2 in Pacers last 10 home games.
* Underdog is 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings.

**Satch** · 04-29-2016, 10:07 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/29

Miami Heat at Charlotte Hornets (-1.5, 190.5)
Hornets lead series 3-2
The Charlotte Hornets have won three straight games and took full control of the their first-round series against the fourth-seeded Miami Heat by stealing a win on the road on Wednesday. The Hornets have a chance to close out the series and advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals when they host the Heat in Game 6 on Friday.
Charlotte leaned on its backcourt to even the series in Game 4 with a combined 55 points from Kemba Walker and Jeremy Lin but got only 25 points from the two in Game 5 while the frontcourt took control. Courtney Lee was having the worst night of the backcourt quartet before hitting the biggest shot of the game – a 3-pointer with 25.2 seconds left that put the Hornets in front for good. “I was wide open so I just let it fly,” Lee told reporters. “If I had to draw it up, I’ll take shooting 1-for-8 before I knock down a big shot any day.” The Heat will leave Miami with the same feelings they had after leaving Charlotte following Game 4 as they question the refereeing but the NBA said Thursday that a non-foul on Dwyane Wade with 2.6 seconds left was the correct call.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, FSN Sun (Miami)
LINE HISTORY:
The Hornets have won three games in a row to take the lead in this series against the Heat and they opened as one-point favorites – the line was bumped slightly to -1.5. The total opened at 192.5 and was dropped a full two points to 190.5. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT THE HEAT (50-37, 45-41-1 ATS, 36-50-1 O/U):
Miami was dismayed by the whistles blown against them in Game 4 and subtly questioned the disparity in personal foul calls after the game but were more open about things after Game 5. Wade told reporters that he was fouled on the layup attempt that would have tied the game in the final seconds and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, took to Twitter to advocate for fining the refs. “It hurts losing at home,” Heat coach Eric Spoelstra told reporters. “But welcome to the playoffs. The playoffs just started now. One team beat somebody on the road. Now it gets real. Now we just have to collect ourselves, as raw as it feels right now. We have 48 hours to regroup and get ready for a heck of a battle in Game 6.”
ABOUT THE HORNETS (51-36, 45-41-1 ATS, 42-43-2 O/U):
Charlotte doesn’t know what it is going to get out of forward Marvin Williams from game-to-game in the playoffs, but he stepped up with a team-high 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting to go along with eight rebounds and three steals in Game 5. The Hornets changed up the lineup before Game 3 and pushed Al Jefferson into a starting role with fellow center Frank Kaminsky, leaving Williams to do damage on the wing against smaller defenders. Williams went scoreless in 37 minutes in Game 4 and was a combined 1-of-17 in the first two games of the series but put together solid performances in two of the last three to help support Walker, Lin and Lee.
TRENDS:
* Heat are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 road games.
* Home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
* Under is 5-0 in Heat last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
* Over is 4-1 in Hornets last 5 Friday games.

**Satch** · 04-29-2016, 10:07 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/29

Los Angeles Clippers at Portland Trail Blazers (-10, 198)
Trail Blazers lead series 3-2
The Los Angeles Clippers put together a strong effort without their injured superstars but in the end did not have enough to overcome the Portland Trail Blazers at home in Game 5. The Clippers will try to muster up enough to extend the series when they visit the Trail Blazers in a potential elimination Game 6 on Friday.
Los Angeles lost All-Star point guard Chris Paul (broken hand) and star forward Blake Griffin (quad) for the rest of the postseason in a Game 4 loss and could not find enough offense late to avoid a 108-98 loss at home in Game 5. “(The players) heard the same thing that (the media) said, you know, for 48 hours,” Doc Rivers said. “’Hard game, can they win?’ So, I liked the emotion, but they didn’t sustain it. Like, the pace we played at in the first half was terrific, we just couldn’t sustain the pace.” Portland weathered the early emotional storm from the Clippers and found its stride offensively in the second half, giving itself a chance to close out the series at home. “We want to close the series out,” guard C.J. McCollum told reporters. “We’ve got a unique opportunity here to play an elimination game at home, and we want to make sure we take full advantage of it.”
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), KGW (Portland)
LINE HISTORY:
The Blazers opened as 10-point favorites at home in an elimination game and the line has yet to move. The total opened at 197.5 and has also been stationary. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (55-32, 42-42-3 ATS, 35-52 O/U):
Future Hall of Famer and former NBA champion Paul Pierce started in place of Griffin and went scoreless in 10 minutes while Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford started in place of Paul in Game 5 and went 6-of-23 from the floor in 44 minutes. “I was a little winded,” Crawford told reporters. “But what can you do at this point? You have to find a way.” Austin Rivers moved into the starting lineup as well but it was J.J. Redick managing a team-high 19 points in the loss while Jeff Green came off the bench to add 17 points in 37 minutes.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (47-40, 47-40 ATS, 45-42 O/U):
Portland star guard Damian Lillard was 1-of-10 from the floor in the first three quarters on Wednesday before exploding for 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting in the final period to help put the game away. “I’ve always been able to put the first three quarters behind me and come up big when my team has needed it,” said Lillard. “All my teammates throughout the game, they just kept saying, ‘keep shooting, stay with it, stay aggressive, keep your mind right.’ I would have been doing that all along, but it felt good to have that encouragement and that support. … I just had to be patient.” Lillard finished with 22 points in the win while McCollum matched his series high with 27.
TRENDS:
* Clippers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up loss.
* Trail Blazers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
* Under is 9-1 in Clippers last 10 games following a double-digit loss at home.
* Under is 6-1 in Trail Blazers last 7 overall.
* Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.

**Satch** · 04-29-2016, 10:09 AM

Re: NBA Betting Info. 4/29

PLAYOFFS
Indiana-Toronto (T 3-2)
Pacers blew 13-point 4th quarter lead in Game 5; George scored 39 points, but Indiana bench was putrid 6-23 from floor and was -41 in only 77:00 of play. Raptors won nine of last 12 games against Indiana, taking three of last five here (under 4-1). Toronto is 12-3 vs spread in last 15 series games- five of last seven stayed under total. Toronto shot 38.0/36.5% in two losses, 43.8/41.5/40.2% in three wins. Raptors won ten of last 14 games overall, they are 8-4 vs spread in their last 12 games.
Charlotte-Miami (CH 3-2)
Charlotte held Miami to 84.3 ppg in winning last three games after Heat had taken 2-0 series lead, scoring 123-115 points. Miami lost three of last four visits here; over is 6-3 in last nine series games. Four Hornet subs who played in Game 5 had a combined +23 plus/minus- Charlotte starters were -13. Seven of nine Hornets who played last game scored between 8-17 points- very balanced. Miami lost four of its last five road games; Charlotte won its last four games at home.
Portland-LA Clippers (P 3-2)
Clippers are without Paul/Griffin for duration of this series; not having Paul is huge. LA lost three of last four visits here, five of last six games in series stayed under total. Trailblazers won ten of their last 14 games overall; eight of their last 11 games stayed under the total. Crawford was 6-23 from floor in Game 5; Rivers was -23 in 37:00, which means the Clippers were +13 in 11:00 with coach’s son on the bench. LA scored 84-88 in losses here in series- they need road win to keep season alive.
Playoff tally: Favorites vs spread: 24-15, Over: 12-27

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NBA Betting Info. 4/29

NBA Betting Info. 4/29

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